Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 45

Case study - Essay Example Cost reduction capabilities help the company to minimize operational cost and other overheads. Bella enjoys technological capabilities by producing less sophisticated products that would sell easily for customers’ consumption. The first set back that fails Baton is the sudden departure of a project manager at St Louis. The human resource finds it complicated to recruit new individuals to occupy the vacant positions. Baton faces serious technical problems and sourcing issues such as pairing of Audio-to-Digital Converter (ADC) with a higher performing low noise amplifier. Asia does not manufacture a microcontroller making the company purchase it from America causing much delay and in effect raising the cost of acquisition. Conflict of interest between design and manufacturing sections contributed to Baton failure (Leonard &Young 2012). Bella India should take on project TKO and develop EKG because of the fast growing market despite the competition faced. The low costs of their products attract the customers. Services such as warranty would outdo the competitors. The management team has the knowledge of the market places ensuring penetration and conquering new markets. Organization’s strategies such as designing a simple and affordable portable equipment (2kg) that would connect a larger community gearing its

Terrorist Attacks of Al Qaeda and Hamas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Terrorist Attacks of Al Qaeda and Hamas - Essay Example There will be clear comprehension as to what drives these groups, and since both of them are Middle Eastern in origin the research will point out that religion and culture are the two main ideologies that drive them to terrorist activities. The conclusion shows that since these people that partake in terrorist activities within these groups have adapted to this way of life there is no real way to change their mind sets and therefore it is an adverse sociological issue that will continue for years to come. Hamas and Al Qaeda view the justification for terrorism as stemming from their origin and the use of Jihad and conflict to resolve disputes. Nevertheless, other countries view the idea of conflict as being something irresolvable, despite how complex or trivial it might be if terrorist activities are the strategies being utilized to minimize it (Farah 2003). Nevertheless, in much of the Middle Eastern land it is moral in Islamic religion to use the strategy of suicide bombing or mass killing of people to gain control and understanding of other people. As for non Muslims, there is no motive for terrorism that is justified. Problems can be resolved between people or nations through negotiation. In the process of negotiation, no party should aim to be a winner; otherwise, the aim of the negotiation will be defeated. There is no motive or morality in terrorizing people for whatever reason, in the minds of non Muslims, in order to simply gain their approval. However, this is where Hamas and Al Qaeda groups differ from other groups in the Middle East. A good example of what instigates violence and terrorist activity in these groups' minds is with issues such as the widely reported Danish cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, which caused immense damage to people and properties around the world as the Muslims used the opportunity to attack non Muslim interest throughout the globe following this occurrence. Obviously they took it to the extreme left wing as even with, the burning of churches and killing of innocent people, it did not make things right. Therefore, despite the outcome that presents itself, many Muslims see the act of terrorism as a fight for a just cause in defense of their religion and Prophet Mohammed. This is the main ideology that drives both of these terrorist groups. The terrorism that is taking place between Israel and Palestine (Hamas Group) is in much part due to the terrorist government group that is utilizing suicide bombers even during negotiations of peace (Melgreen 2006). Israel is willing to embrace peace and ready to negotiate to reach peaceful agreement. This is reflected in the statement by Farah (2003), "This country is in a fight for its life against the forces of darkness in this world. We can prevail only with consistency, fortitude and by doing what is right." Israel and Palestine can only reach an agreement through peaceful means. The use of suicide bombers in the negotiation process will only prolong the peace process because Israel will not want to concede to terrorist regime and Israel would want to protect its own people against terrorism. The new regime in the

Porters Five Forces Analysis Marketing Essay

Porters Five Forces Analysis Marketing Essay Introduction The main purpose of applying the five forces analysis is to identify the key factors in the industrial environment that influence the organizations capabilities to position itself in order to merit competitive advantage. It is a framework for industry analysis and business strategy development formed by Michael Porter. An industry is a group of firms that market products which are close substitutes for each other (e.g. the car industry, the hotel industry).Some industries are more profitable than others, the answer lies in understanding the dynamics of competitive structure in an industry. Porters Five Forces Model is one of the most influential analytical models for assessing the nature of competition in an industry. Porter explains that there are five forces that determine industry attractiveness and long-run industry profitability. These five competitive forces are the threat of new competitors entry, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers, and the degree of rivalry between existing competitors. Porters five forces diagram. http://www.b2binternational.com/china/images/stories/sections/porters_five_forces.gif Source: www.valuebasedmanagement.net Introduction to hotel industry A hotel is an institution that provides a short-term paid residence. In the past, hotels were just a small room with a bed, cupboard, and a table, but now it has totally changed to something else. Nowadays hotels are luxurious residences that include different types of facilities. Most of the hotels now include spas, swimming pools, fitness centers, conferences rooms and international restaurants. Even the rooms are now bigger and include many comfort facilities. Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH)  was established in 1974. It is now being officially recognized as a National Hotel Association. Now it sets the regulations and minimum acceptable levels for being a legal verified hotel in Malaysia. It has 2,184 registered members and 17 more hotels in the next 3 years. Table: Hotels and rooms supply 2010/2011 Bargaining power of suppliers The term suppliers comprises all sources for inputs that are needed in order to provide goods or services. The two key suppliers to the Hotel industry are labors and real estate Over all the suppliers in this market are defined as property owners, developers and real estate companies, interior design and furnishings companies, architects, management and training service providers, marketing companies, industry consultants and ICT manufacturers. Category Rating 1-10 Remarks Number of suppliers 6 (medium) Considerable no. of local and Chinese contractors Small number of quality training providers and skilled employees. Availability of substitute 6(medium) Substitutes for property (real estate agents), designers, and employees are available. Switching cost category 2 (low) -substitute for hotel are few.. Suppliers threat of forward integration 2 (low) Suppliers are highly unlikely to forward integrate into the hotel business Industrys treat backward integration 5 (high) -hotels could backward integrate to own real estate company. They could have their own training wing. Contribution to quality 5 (high) -Property development and real estate companies add to the quality so does skilled labor and quality training Contribution to cost 2 (low) -Most suppliers are much smaller companies compared to hotel companies. -Hence hotel companies have a much higher bargaining power. suppliers contribution to cost is low Overall, the number of suppliers for the Hotel industry is quite large and each supplier is very small in size compared to the leading players in the industry. These few powerful players are indispensable to the suppliers. Substitutability of the suppliers is also quite feasible and inexpensive. Switching between real estate agents is not goingto affect a particular Hotel company significantly. However in terms of quality, training centers for employees and ICT manufacturers who provide IT systems thatfor property management are relatively more difficult to replace. Therefore in terms of substitute suppliers industry attractiveness is moderately high. Unlike the supplier is threat of  forward integration, Industry is threat of backwardintegration is pretty high since large hotel chains like ITC or IHCL  would have no qualms expanding into the real estate  business or developing employee training facilities in-house. Similarlythe industry is contribution to both cost and quality isrelatively high. Overall bargaining power of suppliers is low and industry is attractiveness in terms of supplier bargaining power is high (4). BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS The bargaining power of buyers determines how much customers can impose pressure on margins and volumes. The end-users of the high-end hotel industry are:- Leisure traveler Business traveler Customers who require space for conferences or other events Category Rating 1-10 Remarks -Number of Buyers 7(high) -Buyers are numerous and small in size.- Losing one customer cannot going to make a difference. Their bargaining power is low -Availability of substitutes: (medium) -Multiple substitutes for a given hotel or brand is available -Informal accommodation for friends and family is available alternative -Corporate guest houses for the business traveler -Switching cost: 2(low) -Switching costs arenegligible Buyers are price sensitiveexcept in the -Buyers threat of backward integration: 5(high) Customers are will notconstruct a hotel or buy a place of residence for each place they visit. -Contribution to quality 2(low) Additional facilities suchas spas, gyms etc. are usedmy hotels to improve thequality of customers stay -contribution to cost 5(high) Brand image is veryimportant in this industry and leads to extra cost, Additional amenities,training of staff, locationrent (like close to airport)etc. -Buyers profitability 2(low) Low buyers profitability- In the mid -segment, there are numerous buyers, of very small profitability In the premium segment, buyers are very affluent, and they have greater bargaining power comparedto the mid-segment Industrys threat of forward integration. 4(medium) -low chances or forward integration This industry has many customers who are relatively very small in size. Loss of a single customer has little impact on a hotel company and this drives down the buyers bargaining power. Similarly buyers threat of backward integration is almost impossible and so the industry is under threat of forward integration. However the industry does have several substitutes such as camping and recreational vehicles for tourists, corporate guesthouses for business travelers and other informal means of accommodation with friends and family. Switching cost for all these options is very low, except for the RV. Apart from the provision of accommodation, hotels also provide additional facilities and services such as restaurants, gyms, spas, conference halls, ball rooms, lounges etc. Therefore their contribution to quality as well as cost for the buyer is very high. Barriers of entry Category Rating 1-10 Remarks Economies of scale 5(high) High economies of scale- Very important to operatea chain of hotels in multiplelocations, especially for the premium segment. This reduces thedependence on tourismtrends at any given location Product differentiation 4(medium) Highly differentiated- Brand names and valuesare very important in attracting and retaining customers -brand identity 4(medium) Brand is very important. -switching cost 2(low) -low switching cost -capital requirement 4(medium) -capital intensive. -staff, dà ©cor, infrastructure e.t.c is very expensive. -Access to technology 3(moderate) -ICT is very important for property management. -Access to raw material 4(medium) -Labor, land and other essentials are easy to obtain. -government protection 3(moderate) -The tourism industry receives government. -exit barriers 2(low) -High exit barriers. Specialized assets for the industry. Brand names are very important in the hotel industry. Companies use their strong brand names to attract new customers and retain old ones. Besides, economies of scale are also a huge factor in this industry. Profitability of hotel chains is drastically higher than individual operations. A new entrant cannot compete with established players in terms of quality, price and even services. If they cannot establish significant economies of scale.Being a capital intensive industry with a large amount of it tied down in fixed costs, makes entry more difficult. Similarly high exit barriers due to specializedassets make the industry less attractive.The hospitality industry is strongly influenced by travel and tourism trends. Government protection for the tourism industry is very high and this in turn rubs off on the hotel industry making it thereby making the industry attractive in general. Competitive power of rivalry players This aspect describes the intensity of competition between existing players (companies) in an industry. High competitive pressure results or leads to pressure on price margins and on profitability for every single company in the industry. The following table shows the analysis of the rivalry between hotels. factors Ratings (5) Remarks. No. of competitions 4 (high) Small number of large operators Industry growth 3 (medium) Annual growth rate of 15% Fixed cost 1 (low) Highly capital intensive differentiations 4 (high) Strong brand name commands a very high price premium. Switching cost 2 (moderate) Low cost switching to similar brands Openness to terms of sale 4 (high) Price, taxes etc. are known Excess capacity 2 (moderate) Only 70% rooms occupied Strategic stakes 2 (moderate) Although large hotel companies have diversified they still have a majority stake in the hotel industry. Summary Porter Five Forces Factor Current Future Rating(5) Key Rationale Rating Key Rationale Threat of New Entrants 4   reasonable     5 sensible   Competitive Rivalry 4   reasonable   5 sensible   Threat of Substitute Products 3 average   4 reasonable   Supplier Relative Buying Power 5   sensible   4 reasonable   Buyer Relative Buying Power 4        reasonable 4   reasonable Conclusion Porter five forces analysis was used effectively to determine the hotel industries in Malaysia based on treat of new entrants, competitive rivalry, and treat of substitute products, suppliers-relative buying power, and buyer-relative buying power. Hotel is a very flourishing industry in Malaysia with not so many substitutes so the treat of substitute products is very low. Rivalry between hotels is not very high because rivalry is based on classification (5-star hotels compete against other 5-star hotels). Finally in the future relative buying powers will decrease because there will be many new entrants.

Henry James, Principled Realism :: Henry James

Henry James, Principled Realism I read a critical essay by Michael Kearns entitled, "Henry James, Principled Realism, and the Practice of Critical Reading." In it, Kearns invents the terms "principled reality" and "naà ¯ve reality" and how to apply these perspectives when reading Washington Square. As Kearns explores these two types of realities, he states that the readers should take a stance of "principled realism" which he defines as follows: "principled realism, like pragmatism, is a method which holds that no objective truths or transcendentally privileged perspective can be found but that we can understand enough about a situation or event to be able to act responsibly towards all persons involved." We can achieve this, according to Kearns, by understanding that the characters are fully dimensional. We must look at their strong points, their positions on certain issues, and we might speculate what their downfall might be. Although Kearns thinks that we who read Washington Square with a principled realistic perspective should remain ethically neutral, he does urge that we also become emotionally involved. He states: " Principled realism recognizes the importance of emotional as well as rational responses; to the extent that readers come to care about the novel's characters, they are in a position to perceive and share the fundamental ethical stance of James's fiction." On the other hand, Kearns defines his term "naà ¯ve realism" as characteristic of "someone who mistakenly elevates socially constructed and verbalized knowledge over the individual and inarticulate rather than accepting both as valuable." Kearns believes that Dr. Sloper and the narrator both practice naà ¯ve realism and this, he contends, is dangerous thinking. He continues: " Sloper's naà ¯ve realism manifests itself in his belief that he can build a valid theory on facts†¦he has reduced to propositions." Kearns implies that James creates fictional characters (such as Dr. Sloper) to help his readers form the correct ethical judgement about the novel. The doctor is so cold, so calculating, the readers naturally would want to take the opposing position. He is not the only one that Kearns believes uses naà ¯ve realism. The narrator does as well: "as the story develops and Catherine's experience expands, the narrator remains superior; in particular, he grants the young woman no depth of inner life.

Outline and Analyze the Challenges Facing Mellon Investor Services Essay

Assignment Task Outline and analyze the challenges facing Mellon Investor Services in their organizational redesign and assess how well the company have dealt with those challenges in how they are approaching and managing the change. Delong, T. and Vijayaraghavan, V. (2002) Mellon Investor Services (ECCH case reference 9-402-036, Harvard Business School) Introduction Mellon Investor Services (â€Å"MIS†) is an investment management and investment services company, focused to help clients manage and move their financial assets and succeed in the rapidly changing global marketplace. Between 2000 and 2001 MIS underwent a substantial organizational redesign, which will be critically considered in this essay. Wittington and Mayer (2002) suggest that organizational performance is driven by the company’s ability to redesign structures frequently, however the change requires participation of people leading the change i.e. agents, organizational structure that welcomes the change and appropriate managements styles. The Chief Financial Officer of MIS, Jim Aramanda led the company for few very successful years, during which MIS was providing new offerings for transfer agent services including issue services, employee plans and direct services, broker / dealer services. The company had five years of successful growth and MIS was meeting and exceeding its financial goals. In Autumn of 2002 Aramanda’s became concerned for the successful future of the company and he recognised few areas that required closer attention: †¢different business units were not consolidating their offerings and taking advantage of various products, which resulted in two Requests For Proposal coming from one client whereby both RFPs were replied to separately, as opposed to a combined and unified response, †¢current successful offering of core products did not guarantee that MIS would grow in future, †¢MIS staff were not building long-term relationship with the clients therefore business opportunities may not be spotted in good time, †¢requirement for new measures of performance and progress, †¢lack of focus on hiring and rewarding talented people, †¢lack of focus on product development, which was manifested in product being offered by the sales department without confirmation that the product may actually be delivered to the clients, †¢Some of the groups, such as technology, were too achievement oriented without being focused. In order to address the above concerns and mould the company to his new vision, Aramanda hired a number of experienced consultants to support his structural redesign of MIS. Aramanda realised that the change would also involve a dramatic shift of vision and attitudes to introduce new systems and subsystems, with the likely result of clash of wills. Buchanan & Badham (2008) argue that such a change can be successful if it involves one person influencing the organization according to their values, and Aramanda had the clear vision and skills to gather a team of knowledgeable people to fundamentally amend and adjust MIS future capabilities. The change that MIS underwent could be classified as ‘strategic’ or ‘transformational’ (Buchanan and Huczynski, 2010) and it aimed to redefine the boundaries, methods of problem-solving and doing business in the company. Aramanda acted on his vision in a very organized manner, as he instantly hired experienced, independent and talented consultants, Mary Davis and Jeanne DiFrancesco, and empowered them to accurately assess how the change should be conducted whilst keeping disruption of the day-to-day business activities to the minimum, design a four-phase project that was consistent with Aramanda’s aggressive deadlines, and work alongside all business units to manage the organizational change smoothly and efficiently. Although the organizational change instigated by Aramanda and facilitated by the consultants proved a great success, there were certain areas that should have been dealt with differently. The main challenges I have chosen as a topic of this assignment included overall communication, dealing with resistance to change and managing relationships. 1. Communication Buchanan and Huczynski (2010) note that many managers do not pay attention to communication when implementing change, which may increase employee absenteeism, turnover and low productivity. Furthermore, some of the reasons for employees’ increased expectation during the change process are availability of information through the internet as well as employees’ anticipation to contribute ideas and be kept informed. If these expectations are met, employees feel valued and therefore are more likely to be committed to the company and perform better at their work. Aramanda wanted to be supportive of a certain degree of open communication culture, which was manifested by a requirement for the employees to nominate their colleagues for newly created job posts. This approach was also constructed to represent Aramanda’s interests and to manipulate employee attitudes and behaviours. The nomination process aimed to take advantage of knowledge in the network or informal skills that perhaps could have been difficult to be evaluated by an outsider. The outcome however proved to be different than anticipated, as it created a negative feeling amongst the employees. Furthermore, one of the reasons for hiring consultants in the first place was to take advantage of their impartiality and independence from office politics. Insufficient communication was also evident in Phase One of the organizational change, during which key services, products and activities of the business were analysed. The result was anxiousness amongst the employees, who being afraid of job cuts, would feel that they were disregarded and forgotten, which in return lowered their productivity until the process was complete. As outlined by Buchanan and Huczynski (2010), many companies operate within a range of open and closed communication climate. Open and honest communication leads to employees having realistic expectations, and closed and defensive communication creates an atmosphere of distrust and secrecy. Although Aramanda’s relationship with his superiors was commendable, as he had a very open working relationship with the consultants and his direct reports, the communication with his employees was not as successful. One of the reasons for this situation was a lack of Head of Corporate Communications, whose post was vacant until June 2001, therefore all information during the process of a change was not communicated to the staff. Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) confirm that communication of ideas assists employees see the logic and need for change. The implication for MIS was that employees did not understand what was happening, therefore they were more unlikely to follow management decisions. Issues of communication also affected existing relationships with clients. One of the objectives of the organizational change was to evaluate every job function and employee in line with the new business strategy. This resulted in creation of new key groups, including new ‘business development’ team focused on growth and return on investment in new clients and ‘client management’ team whose assignment was growth and return on investment in existing clients. The new groups comprised of employees that had to move away from the relationships they took time and effort to establish with their clients. Before the change these relationships lead to more sales and generated more business through word of mouth. Furthermore, strong relationships improved the internal organization, morale, increased engagement and lead to greater satisfaction at work. By creation of new groups the above relationships were damaged or broken, which could have lead to a possible revenue loss caused by the impact that the organizational change had on the client satisfaction. 2. Resistance to change Buchanan and Huczynski (2010) confirm that change implies a positive experiment and creation of something new as well as a negative confrontation with the unknown through the deconstruction of familiar arrangements. Some of the MIS employees demonstrated unwillingness to accept the proposed changes, as they perceived them as threatening to the individual. The main causes of resistance to change were as follows: †¢Lack of facilitation and support Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) outline facilitation and support as most helpful, where fear and anxiety lie at the heart of resistance. At MIS some of the managers were not supporting their employees in new roles, as people were expected to continue to take care of their old responsibilities, therefore the new responsibilities had to take second priority. They employees were not given sufficient time to adjust to new jobs or recover after demanding period. †¢Low tolerance for change Buchanan and Huczynski (2010) stress that that people differ in their ability to cope with change and uncertainty, which may lead them to oppose even potentially beneficial changes. Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) agree that if the change is significant and the employee’s tolerance for change is low, he might begin to actively oppose the change for reasons he does not consciously understand. †¢Misunderstanding and lack of trust Buchanan and Huczynski (2010) argue that employees are more likely to resist the change if they don’t understand the reasons behind it. As outlined in the section above regarding lack of communication, it becomes transparent that MIS employees were not told what are the positive implications of change, therefore they believed the change might cost them much more than they would gain. This could be characterised by having a low level of trust between employees and managers and result in misunderstandings and increased perception of threat when change was introduced. 3. Networks and relationships Another challenge facing the organizational change of MIS was managing existing relationships and creating new networks. One of aims for the reorganization once MIS services and products and market needs were analysed, was to break down capabilities into building blocks and then to recompose the blocks to fit within the new strategy. In practice this meant changing the divisional structure of the organization from service-based to customer-based. The change from ‘squares’ to ‘squares and triangles’ caused a large power shift and a felling of unrest and injustice to many employees. In the new organization chart the ‘triangles’ comprised of market-facing professionals and were perceived as the ‘winners’. The triangles included new business development, client management, product management & development and business management & analytics units. A triangle holds its place as a symbol in the mathematics of ideal proportions and in the MIS reorganizational design employees chosen to become a part of new teams were deemed as ‘drivers’ having a superior status. This formal status was closely related to the leadership, generally accepted by the others with a power to influence and control other groups. On the other hand, the ‘squares’ represented all other employees in the company and were perceived as the ‘losers’ and ‘followers’ and deemed to have an inferior status. Buchanan and Huczynski (2010) note that lower status groups have less power and tend to be less influential, therefore employees actively seeking status in order to fulfil their self-esteem may experience personal dissatisfaction. Buchanan and Huczynski (2010) note that this method of implementing organizational change can cause confusion and increase employees’ level of stress. The MIS consultants hoped that by dismantling of social networks, new networks would grow very quickly. The presumption was made that the existing social networks used to compensate for the inefficiencies in the old system, so now they should accelerate the efficiencies of the new system. Some employees viewed this as a positive move, as it allowed transitioning some people to other teams to build communication and continuity based on their prior experiences in other business areas. This however had a more political aspect as many managers when switching roles from ‘triangles’ to ‘squares’ in their self-interest wanted to take the good people with them. In practice, whereby poor communication was also a contributing factor, the new social networks were not created as rapidly as anticipated and had a negative influence on employee engagement and work performance. Another reason for changing the divisional structure of the organization was MIS’ lack of integration. Child (2004) stresses that integration is a vital product of good organization, whereby different activities collectively create value. One of identified reasons for change at MIS was to consolidate their product offering to create more value for the customers. Although it is relatively easy to state the requirement for integration, it is not so straightforward to achieve it. The problem of integration presents itself most noticeably in the relations between functions that are responsible for producing services according to predetermined parameters established within the company, and functions that have to continuously adapt to the external environment. The organization cannot remained viable without this integration. Teams are one of the most commonly used means for achieving integration, however during the implementation of change at MIS these were taken apart under conditions of uncertainty and pressure. One of the signs that the integration needs were not sufficiently met by the new teams was conflict between departments, mainly between ‘triangles’ and ‘squares’. This situation would require ongoing monitoring to ensure that the conflict does not become persistent and threat overall teams’ performance. Summary As outlined above, the main challenges of the organizational change instigated by Aramanda included overall communication, dealing with resistance to change and managing relationships. The organizational change was possible due to a great contribution from the consultants, who appreciated that an organizational change is a complex process to dramatically adjust organization vision, structure and culture in a continuous effort to improve the performance. Reference list 1.Buchanan D., Badham R. (2008) ‘Power, politics and organizational change: Winning the turf game’, p. 9. 2.Buchanan D., Huczynski A.A. (2010) ‘Organizational behaviour’, pp. 329-330, 562-564, 570-573. 3.Child J. (2004) ‘Organization: Contemporary Principles and Practice; Chaper 4: Achieving Integration’, p. 81-82. 4.Kotter J. P., Schlesinger L.A. (1979) ‘Choosing strategies for change’ Harvard Business Review, March – April pp. 108-109. 5.http://www.bnymellon.com/about/index.html, accessed on 18 June 2012.

Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War Essay

Some have said that the United States and Iran have been involved in a â€Å"Cold War† for three decades starting with the fall of the taking of American hostages in 1979. One could trace the problems between Iran and the United States to the installation of the Shah in the 1950s. Regardless of the origins, the fact remains that Iran and the United States consider themselves enemies. As such, it is not out of the question that a war between the United States and Iran could break out. This creates a very complex scenario because of the global economic implications of a war between Iran and the United States. Iran is, of course, a major supplier of oil to the many allies of the United States. Japan, for example, is one of the United States’ strongest allies and it receives an enormous amount of oil from Iran. Similarly, many European allies receive imports of Iranian oil. A war between Iran and the United States would have tremendous global implications. Among these many implications would be serious potential negative implications for the world’s economy. Several of these different â€Å"nightmare scenarios† will be explored in this essay. First, it is important to state there are different ways to wage war. Some methods such as supporting the overthrow of the Iranian government via supporting resistance forces might not have the impact of the global economy to the same degree as a series of surgical airstrikes or a ground invasion. In this essay, the subject of ‘war’ will be discussed in its most conventional sense. Specifically, it will be defined as a large scale, drawn out military conflict between the two nations. One of the most strategic areas the United States must consider when it comes to Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 2 the issue of a war with Iran is the fact that Iran is completely reliant on the importation of gasoline. Without shipping access, the ability for Iran to maintain its importation of gasoline would be impossible. Of course, it would be to the United States’ interest to enact a naval blockade on Iran to prevent the importation of gasoline. This would almost immediately lead to Iran further rationing its gasoline supply in order to effectively operate its military. While it would not be accurate to state that a naval blockade would immediately end the war (Iran’s navy could attack the US’ navy and potentially reverse the blockade) However, the scenario of no imports or exports would also cripple Iran’s ability to deliver oil to other nations in the world. This would then have potentially enormous economic impacts on the global markets. The notion that there would be serious economic implications resulting from a war between the United States and Iran has been weighed by many serious thinkers. â€Å"earlier in July when Iran tested missiles capable of reaching Israel and other corners of the Middle East, the price —of oil jumped to a new high of over $147 per barrel. In fact, some analysts see the impact of U. S. —Iran relations on the oil market as so important as to suggest the best way to give quick relief to energy consumers around the world is a declaration by the U. S. that military force is not an acceptable option in its dispute with Iran. † (Esfahani) This is why there is so much concern globally regarding a potential United States/Iranian conflict. At the core of mostly all basic economics is the theory of supply and demand. If Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 3 the supply of something is limited and high demand remains in place, the price of the item increases. This then creates the issue of opportunity costs. When you buy something with your money, you have eliminated the potential to use that same money for something else. In other words, if the price of gasoline skyrockets and people have to pay more for it, then they will be depleted their cash reserves or increasing their borrowing. Oil is also employed for the production of electricity which would also increase in price in the face of an oil embargo. Once again, the drain on personal finances as a result of such increased energy and fuel costs would cut into every sector of the global economy. Discretionary income would drop and leisure purchases and even the purchases of necessities would diminish rapidly. What would be the effect of this on the economies of various nations? The impact would be felt on a variety of front. The stock market, for example, would experience a great deal of negative impact as a result of such diminished spending. When people are not purchasing, the stocks of many companies may decline. After all, their profit margins could decline. Granted, there are many steps a company can take to make sure its stock price remains stable. For example, reducing the workforce or cutting spending in other areas would aid in boosting stock prices. However, if something is not done to present the lowering of stock prices, economies will take an immediate tumble. Those with investments in the market would see their net worth diminish. If one Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 4 sees a 25% decline in the value of their portfolio, they will see a 25% decline in their net worth. Again, this is how simple economics works and such an impact will assuredly be the result of a large scale (or even minor military skirmish) between Iran and the United States. There really would be no way to avoid such a chain of events from occurring if a war broke out between the Unites States and Iran. This is because there will be an enormous impact on the price and flow of oil if such a war was to break out. Such an occurrence could not be circumvented in any way. As one can infer, this ties heavily into the concept of aggregate demand which would be the definitive demand for goods and services in a particular economy at certain specific price levels. As one could logical infer, demand for high priced items in this situation of reduced consumer cash liquidity would certainly hamper purchases of high priced items or items that are not considered of vital importance to one’s sustenance. This can lead to s significant reduction in output – the total value of all services and goods produced in the economy – within a very short period of time. We will see the impact of this in the Mundell-Fleming Model (An aggregate demand model) which would detail the relationship between the inflation of prices combined with the actual output of goods and services. In the simplest of terms, high inflation combined with a slow decline in goods and services could prove cataclysmic for an economy. But, even with high inflation, it would be safe to say that the potential for the Mundell-Fleming model to maintain a high supply of goods and services is possible in the United States. The reason for this is that the various sectors of the United States Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 5 economy are so vast that there will be those able to purchase goods and services even at inflated prices. Some professions would not be as significantly impacted by high fuel or energy costs. As such, there may be a certain level of maintained stability within model even though a large section of the population may still be suffering. Issues surrounding a war with Iran are complex and far reaching. This includes the actual manner in which the war would be waged. Considering the size of the US and Iranian military, no option would be off the table in terms of how the war would be waged. Case in point, the utilization of tactical nuclear weapons by the United States may be necessitated. This is not to say that tactical nuclear missiles would be a first response or that they would be directed towards civilian targets. However, there are possibilities that could necessitate the use of such weapons by the United States. For example, Iran has tens of thousands of cruise missiles. The threat of launching thousands of these missiles into Israeli cities, European cities, or neighboring American military bases would potentially require the detonation of the missile silos with tactical nuclear arms. A wide scale Iranian invasion of neighboring countries such as Iraq could require a tactical response. Use of chemical weapons by Iran would constitute a WMD attack and lead to a nuclear response. Really, there are many different variables at work here. Again, this is not to say that a war between the United States and Iran would automatically lead to nuclear strikes. However, the potential for such strikes exist in any large scale military conflict. This would have a devastating impact on the world economy Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 6 for a number of reasons. The possibility of a nuclear strike destroying oil fields would be a potential scenario. The presence of radiation reducing the amount of work that can be performed on oil wells is another. Such scenarios are grim when discussed in an antiseptic manner. In the decades since the detonation of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, the horror of a nuclear strike’s effects have not been dulled on the senses of people. However, the specter of the potential use of such weapons is always present. As such, the impact – both human and economic – must be weighed. Because of the potential for a tactical nuclear strike leading to arms races in the region (Other nations will want their own nukes as a deterrent to future strikes), the need for a significant conventional force is required. This means the war will have to be funded to handle a long campaign and potentially significantly longer post-war rebuilding phase. This will cost significantly in terms of government expenditures which, in turn, means the deficit will skyrocket. With very high, out of control deficits, a number of seriously negative economic situations could develop. First, a debtor nation may not be able to provide for the common good of society. As such, it must take steps to reduce the impact of the deficit. One method involves printing more money and the other process involves increasing taxes. Both methods have the potential for significant economic harm. When a nation prints more money in order to meet obligations tied to a deficit, it the value of the currency will decrease. A weakened dollar comes with many problems. Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 7 Namely, investment is seriously hampered since the dollars that you amass are worth less. Additionally, there will be a disinclination on the part of foreign investors to put their money into the US market. There would be limited value for their doing so since the dollar is declining meaning their investment capital in dollars would potentially decline as well. Debt holders of US bonds would also become more nervous since they would be losing money on their investment. As pointed out in BUSINESSWEEK, â€Å"As the currency deteriorates, it becomes more expensive to import goods and services from other countries, fueling inflation. In an effort to pull investors back, central banks often raise interest rates when their national currencies lose value. But as anyone who remembers the ’70s knows, the combination of rising interest rates and on-the-run inflation can be a devastating economic cocktail. † (Rosenbush) In some cases, foreign investment is critical for the spurning of employment and economic growth. With foreign companies opting to avoid putting their money into the United States, the unemployment could increase which further raises deficit potential. This is due to the fact that more unemployed people means less tax dollars paid to the government. Additionally, unemployment creates greater dependency on welfare which also contributes to higher deficits. All of this further sets the stage for inflation which makes goods and services less affordable to the public. This further damages the economy and adds to the deficits. Tax Economic Implications of a US-Iranian War – 8 increases are commonly pointed to as a solution, but their value is limited. When money is taken out of the private sector and placed in the treasury, it makes job creation harder. This, in turn, makes economic recover more difficult as well. If an economic recovery if difficult to expedite, then it becomes much harder to get out of it. That is because the sheer volume of economic pain induced by the many months or years of poor economic factors and growth create complexities and problems that multiply. Again, this makes reversing a poor economy more difficult. As such, some may wonder why the United States’ policy towards Iran may be so hard lined. The reason is that not treating Iran as a threat could prove equally harmful to economic and security interests. Iran’s agitation towards the United States prime allies is not helpful for US strategic security. Also, Iran’s potential domination of the other oil countries in the Middle East does not appeal to US economic interests. As such, there will be perpetual tension between the two countries. Hopefully, such tensions will not lead to war but preparedness for such actions is required. Considering the economic impact of such action, war should be the perennial last resort or option to be executed. So, far it has been averted and will hopefully remain averted for the foreseeable future. Most do not tie the economic ramifications to military action. However, the two are intertwined. Wars need to be funded and there are additional economic costs associated with military action. This is why sensible nations do not rush to war and as well they should not. But, this does not mean a nation should not prepare for the potential worst case scenario.While the US is not is a rush to engage Iran militarily, it understands the potential for such a conflict needs to be adequately prepared for. Works Cited Esfahani, e. (2008, September). The Economic consequences of us-iran relations. Retrieved from http://www. ideals. illinois. edu/bitstream/handle/2142/9093/ policy_brief. esfahani. final. pdf? sequence=2 Rosenbush, S. (2004, November 12). The Pros and cons of a weak dollar. Businessweek, Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. com/bwdaily/ dnflash/nov2004/nf20041112

The Wonderful World Of Kemet

The Wonderful World Of Kemet Sailing across the Mediterranean on my way to Sicily, my father‚ ¡Ã‚‚ ¯s crew and I encountered horrendous weather. We run into turbulent waters because of the ferocious storms approaching us, and all of a sudden we find our self in the mist of a horrifying thunderstorm. The wind was howling, the strong air current forced us to switch directions; we were heading towards the land of the African people. We knew about the land but the Greeks have never set forth upon the land of Africa; we knew it was a civilization different from our own much more savage-like and unsophisticated.Days later we wash up on to the shores of Kemet, stunned by what we saw before us. We the people of Greece were thought to be one of the darkest races around because of our olive complexion and dark features; but we stood before a race so rich in color with such distinguished facial characteristics.English: Reconstruction of the proto (primitive) G...

Free Essays on Stanford Prison Experiment

Stanford Prison Experiment 1. The nine men who were assigned to be prisoners were treated as if they were truly criminals. They were taken from their homes, shoved against police cars, searched, cuffed and processed. Since they were being treated like they were true criminals, they began to believe it. Upon arrival at Stanford County Jail, the men were issued a number they were called by instead of their name. The prison guards used this number and a whistle to get the attention of a prisoner. The prisoners were made to strip while the guards disinfected them from germs or lice. They were also forced to shave their heads. By doing this, it took away the prisoners individualism and made all the prisoners look alike. Each prisoner wore a long smock, which resembles a dress, to humiliate them and a steel chain around their ankle so they would be constantly aware they were someone’s property. 2. The guards gained submission from the prisoners by harassing them and forcing them to wake up in the middle of the night and do push ups. While the prisoners were doing push ups, the guards would place their foot on a prisoners back to make it harder on them, or make a fellow prisoner sit on their back. On the second day of observation, the prisoners took their stocking caps off, ripped their numbers, and pushed their beds against the cell doors. The guards regained control of the prison by spraying the men down with fire extinguishers. The men were then stripped naked and their beds were taken from them. 3. The hostility between the guards and prisoners developed at the beginning of the study because the prisoners were ordered around and harassed by men who didn’t even have enough respect to call them by their name. They were only referred to as a number. I suppose the prisoners became resentful that they were stuck in the position they were, while the guards were not being told what to do and they could do whatever... Free Essays on Stanford Prison Experiment Free Essays on Stanford Prison Experiment Stanford Prison Experiment 1. The nine men who were assigned to be prisoners were treated as if they were truly criminals. They were taken from their homes, shoved against police cars, searched, cuffed and processed. Since they were being treated like they were true criminals, they began to believe it. Upon arrival at Stanford County Jail, the men were issued a number they were called by instead of their name. The prison guards used this number and a whistle to get the attention of a prisoner. The prisoners were made to strip while the guards disinfected them from germs or lice. They were also forced to shave their heads. By doing this, it took away the prisoners individualism and made all the prisoners look alike. Each prisoner wore a long smock, which resembles a dress, to humiliate them and a steel chain around their ankle so they would be constantly aware they were someone’s property. 2. The guards gained submission from the prisoners by harassing them and forcing them to wake up in the middle of the night and do push ups. While the prisoners were doing push ups, the guards would place their foot on a prisoners back to make it harder on them, or make a fellow prisoner sit on their back. On the second day of observation, the prisoners took their stocking caps off, ripped their numbers, and pushed their beds against the cell doors. The guards regained control of the prison by spraying the men down with fire extinguishers. The men were then stripped naked and their beds were taken from them. 3. The hostility between the guards and prisoners developed at the beginning of the study because the prisoners were ordered around and harassed by men who didn’t even have enough respect to call them by their name. They were only referred to as a number. I suppose the prisoners became resentful that they were stuck in the position they were, while the guards were not being told what to do and they could do whatever...

How to Prepare for Private School Admissions Tests

How to Prepare for Private School Admissions Tests Unlike most public schools, not everyone who wants to attend, can. In fact, theres an application process, and as part of that process, most private schools require some kind of test for admission, particularly for the middle and upper grades. Independent day schools usually require the ISEE, or Independent School Entrance Exam, while boarding schools often require the SSAT, or Secondary School Admissions Test. Some schools will accept both, and still, others, have their own tests. For example, Catholic schools require different tests, such as the TACHs or the COOP or HSPT. But these entrance exams dont need to be stressful or be an obstacle to obtaining a private school education. Check out these general strategies to prepare for a private school admission test: Get a Test Prep Book Using a test prep book is a great way to get more familiar with the test itself. It gives you a chance to look over the structure of the test and get a sense of the sections that are required, which usually consist of reading, verbal reasoning (such as identifying the word that is synonymous, or the same as, the given word), and math or logic. Some tests also require a writing sample, and the test prep book will offer some prompts similar to what you might experience when you take it for real. The book will also help you get a sense of the format of the sections and the time allotted for each. While the various admission test organizations typically offer review books and practice tests that can be purchased. You may even be able to find online practice tests and sample questions for free. Take Timed Practice Tests Practice taking the test under simulated conditions, by giving yourself only as much time as the test allows. Be sure to pay attention to how you pace yourself on each section and note if you are taking too much time, or if you are rushing. Instead of getting hung up on one question, mark any question you are unsure about and go back to it when youve finished the other questions. This practice helps you get used to the environment in which the test will be given and prepare you to better manage your time and practice test-taking strategies. If you practice the entire test session, meaning, you simulate the full timed test experience, with breaks, it also helps you adjust to spending that much time sitting and working in one place. This lack of ability to get up and move around can be an adjustment for many students, and some truly need to practice sitting still and being quiet for that long.   Boost Your Weak Areas If you find that you are consistently getting certain types of test questions wrong, go back and correct those areas. For example, you may need to work on one area of math, such as fractions or percentages, or you may need to work on improving and expanding your vocabulary by making flash cards with the most commonly used vocabulary words on these tests, which are available in the test review books. Hire a Tutor if Necessary If you cannot boost your scores on your own, consider hiring a tutor or taking a test-prep course. Be sure that the tutor has experience preparing students for the test you are taking and do all the homework and practice tests that are part of the course to get the most out of it. Chances are, youre missing out on key strategies rather than needing to learn more, so a tutor who is skilled in the test itself is more important than a tutor experienced in English or math.   Read the Directions Carefully This seems obvious but is often an important strategy for test-taking success. Students often read the questions incorrectly or skip them completely, which may mean that even though they know the answers to the questions, they get them wrong. Its important to make sure you slow down and read the directions carefully and even underline KEY words such as EXCEPT or ONLY to make sure you are answering exactly what each question asks. Sometimes, there are hints right within the question itself! Get Ready for Test Day Know what you need for test day, including the proper identification and writing implements. And, dont forget to eat breakfast; you dont want a rumbling tummy distracting you (or people around you) during the test. Have the directions to your test site ready, and arrive early so that you can use the restroom and get settled in your seat. Be sure to also dress in layers, as temperatures in testing rooms can vary; its helpful to be able to add a sweater or coat if youre cold or remove your sweater or coat if the room is warm. Proper footwear can also be helpful, as cold toes when wearing flip flops could be a distraction if the room is cool. Once youre there and settled into your seat, be sure to familiarize yourself with the room. Know where the doors are, find the clock in the room, and get comfortable. When the test begins, be sure to listen carefully to the directions that the test proctor reads, and fill in the test sheet properly, as directed. Do not skip ahead! Wait for directions, as disobeying the instructions that are given could result in disqualifying you from the exam. During each section testing period, pay close attention to the time, and be sure to check that your test guide and answer sheet question numbers correspond. Bring snacks and water so that you can refresh yourself during breaks. Follow these guidelines, and youre sure to have a positive test-taking experience. If you dont you can always take the test more than once. Go online to the test organizations site to see how often you may take the exam, and if there are any restrictions you need to be aware of before you register for a second or third testing date. Good luck! Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Theatre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theatre - Essay Example Her dialogues were very spot on, and if there is any blame to be made on her part, it should be directed towards the original play instead of her performance. Others were not so great. Kate Herrell in her role as Virginia had trouble delivering the frustrated sarcasm of an actress whose career seemed to be fading away. The reaction to her first criticism regarding her performance in The Golden Egg was not as violent as that of someone who dopes and pops pills should have been. She had all the dialogues and swear words a funny crude character requires, but somehow, she returned not as many laughs as she could have. Other characters generally fulfilled their roles well, from Ira (played by Craig Ewing) the theatre-critic, to Emma (Fina Romero) the witty know-it-all oldie. Most of the one-liners presented by Ira were especially funny, as he explains why he ridicules the play when he does: Hey, I didn’t write this shit. 3. Where the play was particularly lacking was with the perfo rmance of J. Nick Dickert, who played James. He was in the lead role, but displayed little characteristics of a leading actor. James’ nature was displayed too humbly in my opinion. ... ike â€Å"He has all of my mannerisms and none of my walk†, in reference to the actor who played the role James turned down, should have been wonderfully sarcastic, but they were not. The supporting roles of Gus, the coat boy and Peter came in handy in those times, played by Noah Mittman and Christopher Lynch respectively. Mittman did a great Southern accent as Gus. 5. Directing The cast helped each other in terms of acting because of the great direction. Eileen Kearney did a wonderful job portraying the inner workings of a theatre production which the regular audience is very quick to judge. Her choice of comic cast shed some light on Mcnally’s mind-frame as it must have been when coming up with this play, which had more to show than simply portraying the backstage workings of a recently held play. The director brought to light the lack of loyalty that actors often share. They pretend to like each other only up until the point when the play is cast in a bad light, such as when a bad review comes in, which quickly turns everything into a blame game. I especially liked the way Eileen brought in the bad news, whether it would be via Emma reading the Times newspaper or through the television, and all the focus of the audience would turn towards the controversial characters of Virginia, James (who pretended to like the play) and the kleptomaniac director who hates praise Frank. This was supported by the beautiful set design which put Julia’s, the producer’s wealth on display seems as everyone was confined to her room as the reviews piled in. The lighting focused on the actors and never on objects of concern, so that the focus was always on their expressions as opposed to the television or the newspaper. The ambient light was kept to a minimum for this reason. The

Was Jesus an apocalyptic teacher Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Was Jesus an apocalyptic teacher - Essay Example Many believed Jesus was a teacher, a hero, a king, a God, who was the fulfillment of Gods promise of showing goodness first to his people-the Jews, then to the rest of the "gentile" world. As a teacher of good virtues, to the Christians, Jesus was the best. However, scholars and critics marked the contents of his messages as apocalyptic in nature and even classified him among the Jewish fundamentalists of his time who desperately portrayed the promised messiah to redeem his nation from hopelessness. Despite this we believe that his teaching, although contained some apocalyptic messages, is more deep-seated and applies to the very nature of man that when really accepted and lived into, would provide greater understanding and harmony among all the people. Most of his messages are not time-bound and can even be applied universally, for the self and for the others. Some hinted that if Jesus was not really the promised son of God, then his story is the greatest hoax ever that corrupted the earth. Amidst all criticisms we have known that the teachings he brought are priceless and have stood through the test of times. We have heard a lot about Jesus and the controversies surrounding his existence. We have no point discussing further on the controversy and we accept the fact that Jesus truly existed and brought good news in his time that created a stir globally. The question that lies ahead is putting up the teachings of Jesus on the real context and purpose. Evidences have shown that the only living sources of his teachings are the gospels, which was originally passed verbally, written, and rewritten, until finally it came out to a form so varied from the original context. The New Testament Books that we have are just few of the literatures produced almost a century after the real Jesus died. As the teachings are passed across different personalities, cultures, and communities, some thoughts are added and some are omitted. The revisions on the composition had only stopped when the final compilation came out. But the value of the message lies not on the way it is formulated. As Norman Perrin, Associate Professor of New Testament at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago stated in his Reconstruction and Interpretation of the Teachings of Jesus, it is not the accuracy of historical account that is being emphasized in the writings but the applicability of the teachings to the lives of Jesus' followers. Although many have changed in the messages and teachings, the essence is preserved and the usefulness of the teaching is still acceptable. A scholarly evaluation on the writing and rewriting of the original teachings can be discussed in technical or theological terms but what is important to an ordinary Christian believer is the impact the messages has caused their lives whatever are the motives, perspectives, orientation, and purpose of the writers. The changes may have caused vagueness or over-simplicity but the application is clear that they lived and caused to change lives until the present time. The Teachings The Apocalyptic teaching of Jesus Apocalyptic themes are very prevalent among the teachings of the early Jewish teachers and prophets and even the times of Jesus. This may have influenced him since "many of his convictions and

Education in Seattle University Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Education in Seattle University - Essay Example The combination of the world class features and effective support of the university will help learning in the university be a great experience. The school is located in the beautiful city which is valuable in different ways. It is a great place to look for a part-time job while still learning considering its idyllic location in the heart of the city. I want to develop my career in finance at Seattle University because of the splendid educational system and their excellent facilities. Finance discipline reviews how various stakeholders raise funds to be used for various investment opportunities. Finance professionals deal with the effective management of assets to generate wealth for numerous companies. I am passionate about building on my career majoring in finance at Seattle University. Seattle University provides students with a theoretical framework and tools to handle numerous financial and business functions. The combination of the programs is important in preparing the student for financial positions in the corporate world. It is one of my goals to combine a range of experience within my ability to be an intelligent finance student. It was my interest in commerce that led me to Seattle University. It is challenging to learn new things at the university seems to be an overwhelming experienced. Donating personal time to the university as a responsible team member in governing interpersonal relationships and a promotional team member will be important. I am confident I will bring a lot of energy and eagerness in the university. I would apply my skills to help students and staff members at Seattle University to engage better in their financial activities The whole student fraternity and staff will benefit from my presence in the university. I am positive of exceeding the school's expectation due to the academic and interpersonal skills that I have gained.

CEATIVE WRITING SHORT STORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CEATIVE WRITING SHORT STORY - Essay Example Professor Sam dedicated his entire inheritance to his project of finding aliens and other intelligent being in deep space spending millions of dollars in telescopes, communication equipment and other scientific devices. He was mocked by the scientific community and the academe doubted the professor that he was seldomly invited for any speaking engagement nor asked to lecture in the universities. Still, Professor Sam insisted that an intelligent being exists in deep space and may also be equally curious to find other intelligent beings in the same manner that we do or in his case, he does. Professor’s daily ritual involves checking the log of his interspace radar for any signs of unidentified flying objects. He also adjust his telescopes from time to time as he try to explore the deep skies. It has been like these for years and for years, the poor professor has been mocked. If not for his inheritance, the good professor may have been sleeping in the streets because his projects were funded by his inheritance. Until one day his radar registered an unusual bleep. At first Professor Sam did not take it seriously but it became persistent for weeks. Then on a sunny Monday morning, the Professor heard an audible voice on his com. At first they were not able to understand it but the Professor became ecstatic because the voice came from an intelligent being. Months have passed and they were able to developed a decoder and for the first time they understood the voice on the com. It said â€Å"This Captain Explorer of Planet XYZ in the Obscura Galaxy, if anyone can hear me please respond†. Professor Sam ecstatically replied and two communicated for months until an arrangement of a visit was finalized. The world was captivated by the Professor’s discovery. Suddenly, the world’s attention was now focused on the Professor and it made him an instant celebrity. From being a weird, unknown, obscured and even a loathed scientist to popular, well-loved

Neonatal Nurses' Perceptions of a Work-based Learning Approach Personal Statement

Neonatal Nurses' Perceptions of a Work-based Learning Approach - Personal Statement Example More importantly, through the work-based module, I could be able to relate theory with practice and thus develop applicability of what I lean in the classroom. Furthermore, the motivation for the work based module that I took is the need to develop my health care career in the most efficient way. Through the work based module, I was aware that would obtain an opportunity of learning the basic workplace behavior. This includes communication and interaction with other health care professionals at the workplace (Miller, Chalmers and Swallow, 2004). These concepts are important in the provision of my assistance during the care of patients and people who require nursing care. In addition, I took the work based study module to enable me to develop the required skills in health care which I would apply in my future career and thus achieve effectiveness in the workplace. Moreover, I considered the work-based learning module as the most appropriate way to acquire the relevant occupational kno wledge which will enable me to relate what I lean in the classroom with its practical application at the workplace. Reflection on my Expectations My expectations were many when I took the work-based learning module. ... These expectations were motivated by my prior knowledge that I acquired on health care and the attitudes and perceptions which I attained during my classroom learning experience. Later, I discovered that the actual situation in the workplace was quite different from my expectations. The work environment was friendlier than I had expected. The health care staff was willing to provide me with assistance when I required. Nonetheless, it was my cooperation and enthusiasm which motivated some of them to assist in the attainment of skills and more knowledge on effective care. Additionally, health care workers are more communicative than I had considered before. As a result, I was able to collaborate in the provision of care. This collaboration enabled me to be an effective learner and I was now able to relate my classroom knowledge with occupational practices. However, as opposed to my initial expectations, I discovered that classroom knowledge was much less adequate in practice. This is b ecause I realized that if I had to be an effective health care assistant, I had to apply my talents, skills, and intuition so that I would achieve quality in care.  

Nursing care delivery models and organizational structure Essay

Nursing care delivery models and organizational structure - Essay Example However, this paper tends to research how factors like organizational structure and care delivery models can influence nurse turnover rates. Introduction Health care sector across the world has been experiencing an unusual increase in nursing turnover for the past few decades. According to the NSI (2013) report, the hospital turnover rate increased to 14.7% and registered nurses is 13.1%. Nursing Solutions, Inc projects hospital turnover to be over 15.5% and RNturnover14% by2014. However, it is important to assess to what extent nursing care models and organizational structure can cause nurse turnover in modern hospital settings. This detailed analysis based on the available literature will suggest what advice Jamie Johns (in the given case context) as a Quality Improvement Leader can give to her Chief Nurse Officer on appropriate care delivery models. Impacts of Nurse Turnover Nurse Turnover is a major risk factor that affects the hospital’s functioning and effort for ensurin g quality patient care. Nursing turnover causes huge amount of financial loss to the hospital. Losing a single nurse can bring about the loss of twice the nurses’ annual salary. Therefore, loss of nurses adversely affects patient care thereby causing loss of patients, increased staffing cost, absenteeism, and accident rates. Poor communication with the management regarding their needs, low remuneration, and lack of career opportunities and career development in the hospital they work can also increase nurse turnover. Solutions for nurse turnover have been researched on a wider basis. According to Hunt (2009), the most important suggestion is to make the job attractive; and this process involves increasing job incentives, flexible scheduling and job sharing, adding career development activities. A major after effect of high turnover rate is that the existing staff is always forced to adjust with the newcomers. A study by Baernholdt and Mark (2009) showed that both rural and ur ban hospitals can improve nurse job satisfaction and turnover rates by changing unit characteristics, creating better support services and a work environment that supports autonomous nursing practice. According to the very findings, rural hospitals can also improve the work environment by providing nurses with more educational opportunities and thus career development. Scarcity of qualified nurses makes turnover so prevalent in the health care industry. The increase in job opportunities makes the existing nurses confident enough to leave their present organization and find a new one. Organizational Structure and Nurse Turnover Only by implementing key strategies, hospitals can put a curb on the turnover rate of nurses. Nursing is the largest occupation within the health care industry with 2.4 million people working. In recent reports by the International council of Nursing (Trust, 2006), one of the main reason for shortage of nurses relates to work environment. Studies have proven t hat a positive organisational climate plays a key role in job satisfaction and in lowering turnover rates. But the strength of organisational climate and job satisfaction is more compared to organisational climate and turnover rate. As Stone, Hughes, and Dailey (2008) point out, low job satisfaction leads to burnout, frequent leaves, higher rate of turnover, or loss of nursing profession. The work environment, especially the organizational structure has much to do with nursing turnover rate. A pleasant relationship with the hospital

Neonatal Nurses' Perceptions of a Work-based Learning Approach Personal Statement

Neonatal Nurses' Perceptions of a Work-based Learning Approach - Personal Statement Example More importantly, through the work-based module, I could be able to relate theory with practice and thus develop applicability of what I lean in the classroom. Furthermore, the motivation for the work based module that I took is the need to develop my health care career in the most efficient way. Through the work based module, I was aware that would obtain an opportunity of learning the basic workplace behavior. This includes communication and interaction with other health care professionals at the workplace (Miller, Chalmers and Swallow, 2004). These concepts are important in the provision of my assistance during the care of patients and people who require nursing care. In addition, I took the work based study module to enable me to develop the required skills in health care which I would apply in my future career and thus achieve effectiveness in the workplace. Moreover, I considered the work-based learning module as the most appropriate way to acquire the relevant occupational kno wledge which will enable me to relate what I lean in the classroom with its practical application at the workplace. Reflection on my Expectations My expectations were many when I took the work-based learning module. ... These expectations were motivated by my prior knowledge that I acquired on health care and the attitudes and perceptions which I attained during my classroom learning experience. Later, I discovered that the actual situation in the workplace was quite different from my expectations. The work environment was friendlier than I had expected. The health care staff was willing to provide me with assistance when I required. Nonetheless, it was my cooperation and enthusiasm which motivated some of them to assist in the attainment of skills and more knowledge on effective care. Additionally, health care workers are more communicative than I had considered before. As a result, I was able to collaborate in the provision of care. This collaboration enabled me to be an effective learner and I was now able to relate my classroom knowledge with occupational practices. However, as opposed to my initial expectations, I discovered that classroom knowledge was much less adequate in practice. This is b ecause I realized that if I had to be an effective health care assistant, I had to apply my talents, skills, and intuition so that I would achieve quality in care.  

Black Arts & Black Aesthetic Essay Example for Free

Black Arts Black Aesthetic Essay Larry Neal’s â€Å"Black Arts Movements† and Addison Gayle’s â€Å"The Black Aesthetic† are two identical mission statements for the black audience: set yourself apart from the white culture and give your culture the recognition it deserves. The two pieces are similar in ideas and purposes. The black communities were tired of always adapting to the ways of the white culture because it was the â€Å"right† way to act. The black community wanted to define their own culture and these pieces were words of encouragement for blacks to step outside the white ways of thinking and acting and step into an acceptance of their own urbanity. Once the differences were accepted that’s when you start seeing the different relationships between whites and blacks. These written pieces were significant changes in thoughts and actions at this time, and they weren’t useless. The blacks were really hoping to set themselves apart from the rest, to have people recognize they were different from the white oppressive mind set, and it worked. Larry Neal’s â€Å"The Black Arts Movement†, written in 1968, speaks directly to the needs and ambitions of Black America at the time. The main goal in â€Å"The Black Arts Movement† is to emphasize the necessity for black culture to define their world in their own terms. Larry Neal asks the question in his piece, â€Å"†¦whose vision of the world is more meaningful, ours or the white oppressors? † (Neal page 2040). He is asking his audience to move away from a white oppressor vision of the world and create their own vision of the world: a vision that has their own beliefs, thoughts, and ideas; a vision that stands out from the white patterns that have consisted years prior. The Black artists’ primary duty is to express the needs of the Black people. Neal explains this idea by saying, â€Å"†¦main thrust of his new breed of contemporary writers to confront the contradictions arising out of the Black man’s experience in the raciest West† (Neal page 2039). In other words, the goals of these new artists is to use a concept of â€Å"protest literature† (page 2040) and direct this new literature directly towards black people to summon hope and â€Å"[awaken] Black people to the meaning of their lives† (Neal page 2042). The Black community had been living in an oppressive society for years prior to this new movement. Neal believed The Black Aesthetic was the destruction of white ideas, and the destruction of white ways of looking at their world. Addison Gayle Jr. was another of these contemporary artists who encouraged a new way of life to the black community in his piece, â€Å"The Black Aesthetic†. The Black Aesthetic movement was the practice that helped those seeking to navigate and understand the experiences of black peoples. Gayle explains the Black Aesthetic movement: â€Å"The question for the black critic today is not how beautiful is a melody, a play, a poem, a novel, but how much more beautiful has the poem†¦made the life of a single black man? The Black Aesthetic, then, as conceived by this writer†¦is a means of helping black people out of the polluted mainstream of Americanism†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gayle 1916). This is a significant quote because Gayle, and many of the Black Aesthetic artists at the time, really believe that these works of art are not for the critics’ entertainment. Instead they are gritty stories of these Black Peoples’ experiences and they are intended to free the Black Man of an oppressive white America. They are to encourage these black men and women to stop conforming to the white culture and instead embrace their own. The black aesthetic period is so significant because it was a time where the artists made a significant shift in the opinions of the white culture towards the black culture, and even more, it gave a chance to the Black community to find their voice in the madness and be able to stand out amongst the white, oppressive view points of the society they were living in at the time. These two pieces of work connect really well with each other. Essentially I could connect Gayle’s piece to almost any Black Aesthetic piece just because they all have similar viewpoints in regards to the freedom of the oppressive white American culture. However, Larry Neal directly comments on the Black Aesthetics. He describes the Black Arts Movement and the Black Aesthetic as one. Neal says, â€Å"Black Art is the aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept. As such, it envisions an art that speaks directly to the needs and aspirations of Black America† (Neal page 2039). This goes with Gayle’s beliefs that the Black Aesthetic is directly made for the needs of the black peoples. Gayle says, â€Å"A critical methodology has no relevance to the black community unless it aids men in becoming better than they are† (page 1917). Gayle and Neal both have this vision for Black Americans that they be freed from this movement, not pushed further into oppression, and they believe the arts can advocate them into being better. The encouragement the artists have for the rest of their brothers and sisters is what makes these two pieces so important, especially when they’re being compared. The black people, whether they are the creators or just regular middle-class folks, share visions of positivity during hardships. They want their brothers to come out and top, so they fight together. The Black Aesthetic movement was a time period where the black Americans, whom had the privilege to create and share poems, stories, and plays, were able to share their creations with the rest of the population to motivate them. Gayle and Neal’s goals are the same: they want the blacks to find their own identity, present themselves differently, and stop following in the footsteps of the whites. They believe that these works of art really can do wonders of change for their brothers and sisters. These stories and creations, poem and plays, aren’t just useless, fictional words that these artist create out of air. They are real life accounts of the battles the black culture have fought in hopes that the oppressive layer of the white America finally comes off their backs. In the following quote, Neal demonstrates how the arts can really be significant. Neal says, â€Å"Poetry is a concrete function, actions†¦Poems are physical entities: fists, daggers, airplane poems, and poems that shoot guns. Poems are transformed into personal forces†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Page 2041). In relationship to Neal, Gayle compares the oppression to war. These two works are compatible to each other. Gayle believes the two cultures are at war, while Neal has the perfect weapon: works of art. Gayle explains the society’s conditions by saying, â€Å"The serious black artist of today is at war with the American society as few have been throughout American history† (Gayle page 1914). Gayle and Neal agree upon this. The Black American culture was at a war with the white American culture and the black artists were doing everything in their power to free themselves of this war using the one weapon they were best at using: words. Using these words of hope and encouragement, and visions of freedom and opportunities, the artists created possibilities. Neal and Gayle had similar visions for the future, as well. They both believed this movement was growing and they believed that growth had been evident in white peoples’ eyes already. Gayle states this growth by saying, â€Å"The white academician†¦calls upon a black man to write the introduction. The editor then declares that his anthology ‘represents the best black literature’ or that he has chosen these works which rank the best in American artistic production. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Gayle page 1918). In saying that a black man can write an introduction and rank the best in production is a significant amount of change for the Black community. The white editors are accepting of the different writing styles and topics, and still finding that it’s quality literature even when it’s unlike theirs; a goal the black aesthetic writers have worked to achieve. Neal has a similar idea on hope, but he also adds his beliefs on the growth of this movement by saying, â€Å"Afro-American life and history is full of creative possibilities, and the movement is just beginning to perceive them. Just beginning to understand that the most meaningful statements†¦must come from the Third World of which Black America is a part† (Neal page 2050). This statement is quite similar to Gayle’s in that the white society in America is starting to recognize the importance in black arts which is a significant change because it’s one that they worked towards for many years. At the time, progress was still being made, but some progress had been made and it was enough to make them feel happy and even more hopeful for the future of the movement. The significance in the pieces is that they set their black community apart from the rest of America. Years prior the whites oppressed the blacks and so at this point in time, the black people were trying desperately to free themselves. In comparing these two pieces you really start to see the similar ideas the black people had about their community. These ideas weren’t just small things a few people decided to write about. They were words of hope for the future. A mission statement to set themselves apart from the rest, testimonies of what the artists have been through, and explanations of why they’re different and why they should be recognized as that. The incredible thing about it: it worked. Gayle, Addison, Jr. , and Larry Neal. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York [u. a. : Norton, 2004. Print. ]

Constitutional and administrative laws

Constitutional and administrative laws Constitutional and administrative laws are collectively termed as public law. Public law has a direct impact on each individuals. For example during the passage of a new legislation piece or when an individuals civil rights are abused, the public law gives the legal structure within which the administration functions and the government operates. The laws play a very vital role in regulating the governments structure and its administration in reference to its nationals. It also defines the responsibilities of government workers and the intergovernmental relations. This presents it as a very vital component in the day to day running of the government. Constitutional law entails the study, interpretation, practice and administration of laws which are set by the constitution of a country. The sections contained in constitutional law sets out specific provisions which provides for civil and human rights as well as government entities. It is part of the consumer law which deals with issues relating to producers and consumers in the business world. Issues relating to discrimination and diversity are also underpinned in these laws. In the United States, the constitution acts as the foundation of all constitutional laws. Basically, constitutional laws deal with any legal issue revolving around constitutional rights or their violation. All cases involving constitutional law are dealt with by the Supreme Court of the United States. These cases may involve violation of the constitution or the need to amend or change the existing constitutional law in cases where they seem to conflict with the view of the nation. Judicial review is also a ve ry important subject in constitutional law where the state has to continually review the action of the legislative and executive branches. Administrative law on the other hand incorporates numerous areas of law. These include government agencies regulations and procedures, administrative rules, agency authoritys scope, agencies enforcement power and individual privacy. Basically, administrative law covers laws and legal doctrines which govern the regulation and administration of government bodies and agencies. These may include both state and federal. The Congress delegates power to these agencies prompting them to act as agents. These agencies are formed to protect the interests of the public rather than to protect private rights. The actions of a government agency ma include adjudication, rule making or implementing a particular regulatory agenda. One of the purposes of constitutional law is to ensure that each and every individual living within the borders of the country is protected. This is ensured by the section of the laws which uphold individuals civil rights. These rights are found in definite provisions in the constitution on which the constitutional law is founded. The provisions protect an individuals right from being interfered with by the state and the federal governments. In the constitution the first 8 amendments basically protects the basic civil rights of an individual. A good example is the 1st amendment which protects free speech, assembly and press fundamental rights. Other amendments just add to the scope of protection granted to an individual in regards to his basic rights. Another good example is 14th Amendment which bars a state from violating the immunities and rights of an individual without due process of law. The fair criminal justice system is also advocated for in the Fifth Amendment where it guara ntees a grand jury. The other purpose of constitutional law is protection of individuals property. Constitutional laws also very vital I ensuring that power is not concentrated I one arm. This is ensured through the doctrine of separation of powers which is part of the constitutional laws. According to this doctrine, power is divided among three arms; these are executive, legislature and judicial. The executive is responsible for implementing laws which are made by the legislature. The judiciary plays the all important role of interpreting the law. In this line of thinking, constitutional laws plays a vital role in preventing absolutism which characterizes dictatorship and monarchies. The laws are also very important in ensuring that the individuals rights are protected and checking the use of power. They also ensure that the rule of law prevails in the country by ensuring that individuals live without fear of losing their life arbitrarily or even losing their property. The constitutional laws are very significant because they instill confidence among the people in believing that their representatives will not abuse power. Most importantly, constitutional laws are a major check to laws which officials elected can impose. Administrative law on the other hand has a different approach compared to constitutional law. This is because they do not often relate to everyday life. Administrative law is mainly concerned with ensuring that there is fairness in the public decision making. The decisions must be guided by administrative discretion. This emerges as an advantage to both the government and its citizens. To the government, its status quo will be raised and it will also be able to perpetuate itself. Besides regulating relationship between the state and the citizen, administrative law also enables one of the governments arms to challenge another on the issues of legality of its actions (Stott). The law acts as a weapon used by power holders to ensure that every center of power does not exceed the legal limits of the warranted authority. By virtue of dealing with agencies, the laws made are diverse and dealing with equally diverse issues like workplace safety, environmental protection and environmental protection. Regulatory perspectives also fall in this docket of the law. The administrative laws also make decisions which affect vital aspects of an individuals life like deportation and decisions on healthcare coverage. These decisions are made by federal agencies. Fundamentally, administrative law affects an individual in real life. Its the law which determines how a government functions (good administration). The functioning of the government in this case may involve provision of certain public goods or services. The law plays a very vital role in controlling public utilities, banking, insurance, industry, finance, health and morals, finance, the professions and the response of the government to the whims of the modern society. This has addressed issues like service delivery, the role of technology, research, and economic, social economic and administrative factors. This may require the government to create an agency as stipulated by administrative law. However, it may opt to charter a non profit organization to provide such goods or services instead of creating an agency. This is considering the fact that government institutions cant be considered as government agencies. An administrative action may also be taken through a judicial review to ensure that public decision makers act within the jurisdiction of the law. Administrative law is very significant in addressing legal disputes especially those considered minor by the Supreme Court. Typical disputes involving issues like environmental protection, day to day business operations, administrative and corporate social responsibility, and policy rule and regulation are dealt with at the agency level. This is because they are equipped to deal with every day details of governing. A good example is an issue on environmental protection where a court may lack the needed expertise to decide the exact equipment needed in coal plants to avoid air pollution. However, administrative agencies are better suited to address such an issue amicably. This is because the agencies created via administrative law are able to obtain sufficient details of regulation and they also have the ability to develop expertise in a particular section requiring regulation. This also creates time for the higher courts to deal with other matters prompting attention at that level. One of the limitations of constitutional and administrative laws is their pluralistic conception. This has always put them under heavy criticism from varying directions. Consequently, there is a need for non-delegation doctrine revival to ensure great specifity in articulation the congressional standards. Administrative law is also limited I terms of scope especially because the administrative authorities are inferior to the bodies given the mandate to interpret and execute such laws. This means that administrative law has constitutional limitation.

Observation Essay †The Clown -- Observation Essays

Observation Essay – The Clown He’s a young man, the clown, with white socks striped in black, and black suspenders over a white T-shirt. White face, red nose. His MO is to follow people and imitate their motion without their noticing, to the glee of the sizeable, ever-changing audience. We’re sitting here on the steps of the Museum, hot and sweaty, watching the show. The clown can follow anyone: a slinky woman wearing pink ruffles, a kid with a mountain bike, a muscle-shirted dude talking Spanish on a cell phone, an old man walking his schnauzer, a big gray pigeon bobbing this way and that in search of food, and then taking flight. Now he slides behind high-school girlfriends, floppy-sandaled flirts leaning toward each other and flinging back their hair with unthinking charm, the clown their vampy shadow. When he bids them goodbye, he flourishes a soft, velvet-bodied top hat, and you can see his head is shaven, except for a forelock. Now he’s got a routine with a bottle of water. It’s stuck in his mouth and silently he implores a guy to get it out for him. He has a way of getting sudden spurts of water to cascade from it, while he looks surprised and delighted at once. I have persuaded my friend Kati to leave me here for an hour in the afternoon sun while she completes her tour of the Impressionists inside. She’s in New York this once, visiting from Hungary, while I live in Philadelphia and can come back any time I choose. I became hot and dizzy while standing on a Rouen street, basking in the sun before Monet’s Cathedral. A red tide rose inside my eyeballs. Kati found me clinging to a bench in front of Seurat’s Circus Sideshow and hauled me off to the Ladies’ Room, where she sprinkled cool water on my neck an... ...e gently, informing me that I have a virus, melodramatic old fool that I am. The clown has taken his place at the foot of the stairs and conducts us spectators like an orchestra, getting us to applaud in counterpoint. Then he mimes a family, three kids, all of whom need to eat and drink, and proffers his floppy hat for our sustenance. When I hold out two dollars, he comes over and mimes opening the doors of his chest, so that the heart within flutters out to me. Kati comes and we head home, our minds full of the art we saw today. As I rise from my spot on the steps, I see the clown shadow a man walking six dogs all at once, working his body back and forth on the leash of the unruliest, a sheep-dog. Then he takes a bottle of water offered by a vendor and puts it in his ear. Water squirts from his mouth, and he smiles, looking briefly skyward, one hand on his hip.

Free College Essays - Ideal Distraction in Knowles A Separate Peace :: A Separate Peace Essays

A Separate Peace  Ã‚   Ideal Distraction    A Separate Peace  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"It wasn’t the cider which made me surpass myself, it was this liberation we had torn from the gray encroachments of 1943, the escape we had concocted, this afternoon of momentary, illusory, special and a separate peace,† (128) reflects Gene Forrester after his carefree outing at the winter carnival. John Knowles in a Separate Peace uses an unusual plot to give the reader an illusionary sense of peace and security, found only at Devon, during a time of great war, through isolating specific idealistic moments from the sin and evil that encompasses them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author stresses certain events or moments in the story to deepen the illusion of peace and tranquility taking the reader further away from the real truth. Knowles uses Finny’s superior leadership skills to invent a summer game called Blitzball and conduct the winter carnival. Both of which were tools describing ideal moments used to distract the reader from reality that there is a battle being fought.   Another idyllic event Knowles uses to his advantage was when Gene found his rhythm, †Buoyed up, I forgot my usual feeling of routine self-pity when working out, I lost myself, oppresses mind along with aching body; all entanglements were shed, I broke into the clear.† (112) Utilizing this the author was able to divert the reader’s attention to the 1944 Olympic games and fool the audience into a false sense about the war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Not only actions mislead the audience but the feelings of the students as well. Mainly because of the inseparable bond between Gene and Finny,† I hope your having a pretty good time here. I know I kind of dragged you away at the point of the gun, but after all you can’t come    2    by yourself, and in this teen-age period in life the proper person is your best pal.† (40) From this Finny formed an idealistic bond between him and Gene.   Using this high to present a low, Knowles hides the evil truth going through Gene’s mind about his friend, thus enabling him to jounce Phineas from the tree without thinking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author illustrated his theme by placing certain words strategically in the novel to convince the reader that there was still peace. For instance Knowles uses the word Eden to give the audience a false picturesque landscape that resembled the watery shores.