Crocs

Crocs began marketing its shoes at a November 2002 boat show. Crocs were originally intended to be sold to boaters, because of their slip proof, non-marking sole and the fact that they are waterproof and odor resistant. However, this market soon expanded to include gardeners, healthcare workers, waiters, and other professionals who had to be on their feet all day. This market began to encompass markets Crocs had never considered.Over the course of a year what had started out as simply an idea on a sailing trip evolved into one of the greatest footwear phenomena of the decade. Products and Target Market Crocs currently targets multiple market segments ranging from boaters to gardeners to simply individuals wanting a comfortable pair of sandals. However, the firm's initial target market was boaters. Crocs' initial foray into the market was an effort to provide a comfortable pair of nonslip boating shoes to a niche market.This target market soon expanded to others who would pay a premiu m price for comfort. Nurses, retail store clerks, and others who spent most of the day on their feet quickly recognized the value proposition Crocs offered: while expensive, these individuals were willing to pay a premium to avoid the discomfort of traditional shoes. Today, Crocs targets an even wider swath of the market. Crocs' product category advertisements state that Crocs are for â€Å"women, men, kid, sports, and everyone. To further broaden their market, Crocs advertises that among these segments, customer will find its products to be comfortable â€Å"on the beach, around the house, in the rain, in cold weather, off the road, for walks in town, â€Å"and even something that will â€Å"look good in the office. † Crocs has kept its original characteristics of light-weight, non-slip, brightly colored product lines while created additional styles to accommodate the needs of different consumers. Crocs also offers apparel products such as t-shirts, shorts and even women' s leggings.

Modern Technology vs Books Essay

One of the most important marvels of modern technology is the Internet, which has not just revolutionized the process of information retrieval, but also, dramatically changed the way people seek information. If in the past, people often had to spend so much time and energy going through many pages or sheets of printed media only to seek for specific information, now with the aid of the internet; information retrieval can be much easier and time-saving. The revolutionary way which the internet offers triggers an intriguing question whether it will replace books or printed media as the main source of information. From my observation, I tend to believe that it will. My main reason is because it has so many advantages over printed media, which make the former (the internet) more preferable, more interesting, more attractive, and even more reliable than the latter (printed media). As a result, more and more people turn to the internet every time they need to seek for information. Here are some of the advantages which I can list to support my belief. First, the kinds of information which the internet provides are almost unlimited. We can find almost any topics from a single computer equipped with a good connection to the internet, while it is impossible to find such a large number of topics only from a single book or a single newspaper. As a result, when people need almost any information, ranging from the latest news, house rentals, car sales, to public transport schedules and fares, they rely on the internet rather than printed media. Second, the information stored in the internet can be updated at very short intervals, enabling its users to always get the latest progress or development. This kind of updating can’t be applied to printed media and thus, printed media always lags behind the internet. Third, the internet also provides other facilities that printed media can’t provide. For example, it enables its users to perform multitasking or interactivity, so that they can communicate with other people, play online games, download or upload pictures, and so on, while seeking for  information. Fourth, the optimization of internet usage can reduce paper consumption significantly. Since the environmental awareness is on the rise, people are encouraged to reduce paper consumption. More paper consumption can lead to more deforestation because the raw materials for making paper basically come from forests. As a result, paperless office and â€Å"going paperless† are being intensively promoted, and here in this context, the internet has proved to be supportive. Looking at the rapidly widespread use of the internet and people’s increasing reliance on it, I believe that someday the internet will triumph over printed media. The first signs of it have shown. For example, the number of internet users is increasing so dramatically, while the sale of printed media is decreasing.

Budget Stimulation Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Budget Stimulation Project - Research Paper Example The result of which was to bring to light the inhumane conditions within the prison, leading to the American public questioning their continued support of the South Vietnamese Government. Senator Harkin married his wife Ruth Raduenz in 1968 and they have two daughters and three grandchildren1 Congressman Harkin began his service as a member of the U. S. House of Representatives in 1974. Then years later, Congressman Harkin became Senator Harkin and has the distinction of being the first Senator elected to a fifth term in Iowa. One of his more interesting and innovating achievements is the creation of a ’mobile office’ which is run from a van from which he travels through 99 counties each year to bring his congressional services to his constituents. One of his first achievements was through Senator Ted Kennedy who approached Senator Harkin to draft a bill in relationship to the rights of those with physical and mental challenges. Because Senator Harkin’s brother, Frank, had been deaf from birth, Senator Harkin was tapped as being sensitive to the needs and issues faced by those with physical and mental challenges, and the result was The Americans with Disabilities Act. This legislation revolutionized the accessibility afforded to those with challenges through requirements for public buildings and requirements for public transportation and employment accommodations.2 Congressional Interests The types of concerns that Senator Harkin has supported have been to endorse the needs and address the concerns of the American public. Senator Harkin has been active in promoting health and health care initiatives, his belief system centered on a concept he terms ’well-care’, which he believes is in contrast to the current system which treats people after they become sick. In addressing health throughout one’s life, the prevention of a great many health problems could be avoided, not only saving lives, but saving money in the costs of treatments. He has worked to increase the budgets for research on cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, along with working to reverse the position that President Bush held on embryonic stem-cell research. Education has been another great concern for Senator Harkin as he has â€Å"worked to reduce class size, give students better computer and internet access, expand school counseling and safety programs and inprove teacher training†.3 Additionally, Senator Harkin has had interests in agricultural issues, promoting efficiency in energy use and conservation for continued agricultural benefit. Senator Harkin is considered a moderate and has served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, with serving as Member Ex Officio for the subcommittees on Children and Families; Employment and Work Safety; and Retirement and Aging. He has served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with membership on the sub committees on Hunger, Nutrition, and Family Farms; Production, Income Protection, and Price Support; and Rural Revitalization. He has also served on Senate Committee on Appropriations, with membership

Ideology of the American Public Accounting Profession Coursework

Ideology of the American Public Accounting Profession - Coursework Example The researcher states that public interest is the collective well-being of people and the institutions they serve. Failure to fulfill this mandate can have very serious adverse consequences such as what happened to the Arthur Andersen auditing firm for being complicit in the Enron scandal. This paper examines the role of accounting in serving public interest versus self-interest when accountants and auditors are engaged for their services. I will state the answer to the above question is in the negative in relation to the financial crisis brought about by the bursting of the real estate asset price bubble and the issue of stock buybacks within the context of academic research. Real life as used in this paper refers to actual business and economic conditions; regulations pertain to all the government orders issued to control the conduct of business to protect the public interest. The accounting profession adopted a code of ethics and professional conduct for its members to guide them in serving a public interest. The dilemma that most accountants face often is the conflict of interest between public interest and their self-interest. In conflict-of-interest situations, the tendency is to side with private firms that had engaged their services. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) was formed to guide members in 164 countries how to conduct themselves to resolve issues involving professional ethics in diverse areas like public accounting and auditing. The chief ethical dilemma of most accountants is what constitutes timely and full disclosure. Another example would be the issue of what is appropriate to use: historical cost accounting or fair value accounting. There are plenty of materials that discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of either of these approaches. Accounting reports prepared for financial users such as investors and shareholders do have the important bearing on investment decisions because people rely on them. Accounting is used to improve risk disclosure among publicly-listed companies in terms of adequate internal controls so investors feel assured. Financial statements have a public interest when investors use them in evaluating the alternatives in several companies. Professional bodies emphasize to all members to put public interest over and above self-interest and accept full responsibility for all their work. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has guidelines to integrate global capital markets through a common language for financial reporting through the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It is now used in a hundred nations.

Similar to 1910s Mexico, Colombias dispossessed Essay

Similar to 1910s Mexico, Colombias dispossessed - Essay Example The internally displaced in Colombia make up for 11 percent of the total country population and 19 percent of people who are internally displaced in the whole world. Once individuals are displaced, they become vulnerable to abuses of their rights, violence, and limited access to food, healthcare and education. The main cause of displacement in Colombia is the civil war that started when the National Liberation Army and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas revolted. The government established paramilitary groups that began to counter the insurgents during the 80s. The paramilitary groups are still active and they keep on committing abuses. Other than the civil war, internal displacement is caused by wealthy land owners who dispossess people of their lands. Most of them use paramilitary groups to accomplish their mission of land acquisition. This paper will look at how Colombia’s â€Å"dispossessed† have their lands taken away by  wealthy landowners with the complicity of the government. The dispossessed or displaced people in Columbia have their lands taken away from them by land owners who are wealthy. Moreover, the government and wealthy land owners collude to help ensure the wealthy land owners acquire more land, which in turn leads to displacement of the population. Apart from government participation in their illegal an inconsiderate practice of acquisition of land, the wealthy land owners make use of the self-defense units, the guerillas, drug dealers, and paramilitary forces. While undertaking their activities, these illegal groups commit killings, rape, massacres, extortion and forced displacement (Brenner 121). They more often than not, target members of the community that do not adhere to their orders. Paramilitary organizations and other illegal groups have assisted in allowing the access of multinational companies by chasing farmers and their family members away from their land. In addition, the dispossessed individuals are

Developing an Auger (Earth Drill) one stage Gearbox System. A Dissertation

Developing an Auger (Earth Drill) one stage Gearbox System. A comparing study between two planetary gears systems, spur and h - Dissertation Example On the other hand the helical gearbox design would require output bearings of 7309 BE while input bearings of 7209 BE. The gearing materials were found out best to be AISI 304 while the casing ought to be created from cast iron. Cost comparison shows that spur gearbox is much cheaper especially because of the lower cost of the ring spur gear in comparison to the ring helical gear. Therefore the spur gearbox design was chosen as the optimal configuration for the current problem at hand. Summary In order to determine the best possible solution for a gearbox for an auger earth drill an extensive investigation was carried out. The investigation was begun with a literature review of the relevant means to transmit mechanical power such as belts, shafts, torque converters, mechanical couplings and gears. Given the relative advantages of gears in terms of power and speed scaling as well as the cost, it was decided to stick with gears to power an auger earth drill. The commonly used gear type s which are spur and helical were dealt with in detail to understand their operational perspectives. Bevels gears were also investigated but rejected early on. Epicyclical gear trains were investigated in greater detail to achieve a functional yet compact gearbox. The three configurations possible which were star, solar and planetary were all looked at in detail. Given the gearing ratio of 5.4 to 1, the planetary gearing system was found to be most suitable and was thus used as the prime choice. It was also decided to perform a comparison between a spur planetary and a helical planetary gearbox to find out which one was better. The gear based calculations were carried out and the number of teeth was found culminating in the perfectly matching gearing ratio. The gear sizes were determined using the overall dimensions of the gearbox as a constraint. The number of planetary gears was chosen as three based on its load sharing and geometrical properties. Lubrication investigation was als o carried out in detail to find out a lubricant suitable for the gearbox. Bearing selection was carried out for the gearboxes (both the spur and helical gearboxes) based on their individual requirements. The types of bearings available were investigated at length in order to discern the best possible choice. Materials for the various parts of the gearbox were also considered in detail to discern the best possible choices. This was followed by the evaluation of spur gearbox and helical gearbox design based on cost as cost was considered as an important factor. The stress analysis of the gearbox components produced satisfactory results which indicated a large operating margin for the gears involved. Images The maximum and minimum stress levels are already pretty clear in this image and other images that I have sent you. The images are always going to be the same as the gearbox under investigation is the same. The yielding strength of the material is 550 MPa and the stress levels are a pparent on the picture. FOS FOS (Factor of Safety) is a measure used to indicate the relative resilience of a component to failure during normal operation. Generally the FOS is calculated by dividing the material’s own yield stress with the maximum available stress levels.

Client Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Client Studies - Essay Example Or, it may be that sex itself, or lack of sex, is having a negative impact on ones relationships or general health. In addition, the organisation offers help with relationships where one or both partners are unhappy or are being hurt. In addition, help can be provided where a relationship has ended badly. Above all, the organisation offers help to anyone with worries about their sexuality.  Ã‚   The placement, which is situated in Wondsworth Borough in London, tends to provide services specific to the local community. The local population comprises many different ethnic groups, most notably Afro-Caribbean, Somali and Polish. Other counselling services share the Victorian terrace house, where the Albany Trust is located; this provides a dynamic and stimulating setting. The practice contains a waiting room with sitting facilities where clients wait to be met by an appointed therapist. Access to the practice is via an entry phone that is placed and accessed by the therapist in the waiting room. The consulting rooms are spacious and provide natural light, resulting in an environment that made me feel very comfortable. However, I realised that the only via starts access prevents us from seeing clients with disabilities or any other kinds of impediments. The client, Stephen, was self-referred and allocated to me after an assessment was made and a team, which included the practice manager, assessor and my supervisor, discussed my suitability for the case. Having discussed the case with my supervisor before meeting the client gave me the chance to explore my feelings and reactions towards the case. However, looking back on it now I possibly would have preferred not knowing as much about the clients case because in a way it prevented me from having a more open approach to the process with him, especially at the beginning of our therapeutic alliance. Stephen was offered open ending therapy, as he was seeking social benefits, and a low income fee of

Microsoft Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Microsoft Company - Case Study Example What accounts for this company’s international success despite the potential for intense competition in most markets? Some reasons for company’s international successes are diversity in products ranges, a continuance of professionalism and partnering with other companies for better products. One of the major reasons for success is continuous innovation in products and services (Satell, 2013). Find a list of company’s values. Pick 2 of the values and explain how you think those values would influence the way employees do their work? Although the company has listed many values, the most important two values are mutual respect and continual self-improvement. These 2 values boost the self-confidence of employees regardless of different ethnic or personal background and result into an increase in productivity (Microsoft, 2015). Research the most recent annual report of the company ( most companies post their annual reports online in the Investor Relations section of their web page ) and list all the factors in the external environment that have affected the company. Focus on both the general and specific environment. The external factors that have affected the company are the rapid rate in advance of the technology, mergers, and acquisitions of various tech companies. It is also facing problems due to patent –infringement or anti-trust suit filed against Microsoft in various countries during last few years. What is the organization’s mission? Whom does the organization serve, and how does it serve them?

Human Resource Management and the Banking Sector Essay Example for Free

Human Resource Management and the Banking Sector Essay tHuman resource management and the banking sector By Imran Samad Human resource management (HRM) has long been overlooked in the corporate sector in the country where a small section, comprising mostly the multi-national companies was practising the same. With the growing realization of proper HRM in the corporate sector, it has grown into an important activity. Now the head of HRM is an important member of the senior teams of any thriving business. Although the idea is new for many local businesses where entrepreneurs are at the beginning of the learning curve yet in reality the theme is getting support from the organized entrepreneurs. The banking sector has grown from a few institutions primarily involved in deposit acceptance and trade finance into a complex multi player markets where large number of commercial banks, financial institutions and specialized banks are operating with various products and activities. The banking has become a complex activity within the financial market linked directly and indirectly with an over-all national growth and its impact as an integral part of regional segment of a global banking environment. Almost every bank and financial institution is involved in various functions in a days job and thus requires a highly effective team and appropriate manpower to run the show. Corporate goals are translated into viable realities and profits only with human element who play their due role in achieving the desired results. Thus even the high automation would require proper man behind the machine to make things happen. This idea has been realized by top managements in progressive banks. Like many other organized sectors, banking requires a multi layer manpower for its various requirements of professionals and support staff. The range may require reasonably educated security guards on the one end and a highly educated and trained professional as head of corporate finance at the other. With liberalization of activities within the banking sector, for example, more emphasis on consumer and house finance and personal loans, etc. banking has turned itself into a more market-based business where banks have expanded their reach more to customers door steps in a big way making banking more practical. This has further highlighted the need for proper deployment of man-power to run banks efficiently. For many years, HRM banks like other institutions have been handling this sensitive activity through respective personnel departments. This means human resources were managed like other physical assets e. g. pieces of furniture, calculators, equipment and appliances. Personnel departments were primarily engaged in approval of leaves, handling of staff loans, issuance of show cause, conducting disciplinary enquiries and termination from service. Recruitment was a routine function and was done in a mechanical way to hire people with specific educational background irrespective of their real value to the institution. Success stories of large banking companies have been evident of the fact that HRM is quite different from management of physical assets. Human brain has its own peculiar chemistry. Its strong sensory and decision-making capacity has to be greatly emphasized by the employers. The work force constituting all levels of employees are constantly thinking in many dimensions. On the one hand it is the assigned duty and task they are to perform and for which they are paid by their employer, on the other they think of their long run goals and objectives. By no means, their brains can be controlled to think beyond the current situation of employment. Managing this educated, skillful and trustworthy work force is not an easy job. A few of the current challenges faced by the banking industry in terms of human resource management may be the following: Effective work force:Â  A time-consuming and hectic job is to hunt the right talent. Its just sitting by the river and waiting for the right fish to catch. Higher the professional value of the vacancy, tougher is the search. Identifying the right stuff followed by negotiation is the element which makes the job tough for the employer. Banks are keenly interested to fill up two types of breads of professionals. Ones who are outstanding professionals with high job hopping attitude these are those who come in work for some time and then leave for better prospects. Others are those who are keenly picked-up, trained and are some how retained to be developed as future management within the bank. Management trainees are a growing popular phenomenon where freshly qualified business graduates are engaged by banks and a certain percentage of these well equipped professionals stay back within the organization to grow into the footsteps of senior managers. Banking jobs being apparently lucrative for many, attract a large number of candidates against advertised vacancies in media creating a large data base management problem. This has been facilitated by specialised hiring agencies who may take up the job of hiring in case of large number of vacancies. Right people:Â  The most difficult agenda of HRM across the banking sector is to retain the right people. Sudden growth of retail banking and other services has put pressure on HR mangers in banks to engage more professionals within shorter span of time thereby attracting manpower in other banks on attractive packages has made the job market very competing. A bank in a normal course invests time and money to hire and train the appropriate work force for its own operations. This ready-made force is often identified and subsequently picked-up on better terms by others. Compensation:Â  How much to pay to the right employee and how much to the outstanding performer. Banks have traditionally followed pay scales with predetermined increments, salary slabs, bonuses and time-based fringe benefits like car and house advance, gratuity, pension, etc. The situation is not the same anymore. An increment of Rs500-800 per annum is no more a source of attraction for a professional anymore. A basic pay with traditional formulas of linkage with medical and other facilities has no soothing effect today. A promise of future growth, learning culture and corporate loyalty is out of dictionary and does not mean anything to this energetic and competent performer today. A waiting period of 3-4 years in each cadre haunts the incumbents who strongly believe in immediate compensation. There are examples to this. Thanks to the car financing modalities car is no more a fantasy item any more. A freshly hired professional requires a brand new car or car loan on resuming office quite contrary to his previous breed of bankers who would wait for the job seniority to qualify for a car loan. Job satisfaction: Everybody in the bank wants to work in the preferential department, preferential location, city of his own choice and boss of his liking. An administrative deviation from any of these results in lowered job satisfaction. Although hiring is normally based on regional requirement matching the area of activity with that of employees nativity yet other elements like appointment in the department of choice and preference makes the job of HR manager quite challenging. What the HR manger cannot afford is the dissatisfied employee who not only disrupts the smooth working himself but also spreads the negativity to others by his de-motivated attitude. Morale boosting:Â  What has long been overlooked is the morale boosting of the employees by the organizations. Human beings even if satisfied of material wellbeing need to be appraised and encouraged constantly. Smart banks have realized this need and have taken steps to keep their work force motivated through proper encouragement like man of the month awards, repeat get-togethers, conferences, sports events, dinners, company sponsored travel, reunions, etc. This is the way employees create a feeling of belongingness.

The impact of societal change on family structures Essay Example for Free

The impact of societal change on family structures Essay The impact of societal change on family structures, functions and resources has become evident through, the acceptance of, same sex marriages/couples, sole parent, extended, foster, nuclear and defacto families, physical, economic, emotional, social, cultural, moral, spiritual, religious and adaptive lifestyles. Statistics from around the world are showing the changing views and perspectives on various roles in the family. It wasnt long ago in Australia, that births outside of marriage were considered to be unacceptable. In those days the young woman was sent off to the country to have her child and give it up for adoption, as to not damage her familys reputation. Nowadays many women are having children out of marriage. Whether it is through the convenience of not being married or an unplanned pregnancy it has become frequently more common and accepted throughout Australia. This also brings in to the equation the growing number of mothers in the workplace. Previously after a woman had a child she did not return to work, but as the number of single mothers in the community has become more acceptable so has the view that women can return to the workforce after they have a child. Through the assistance of government pensions, workplace run childcare and daycare centres, single mothers have the option of full government support or returning to work, with some assistance from the government. Apart from single mothers, there is the issue of single fathers. This could occur through the death of the mother or the mother being unsuitable to her role. Support and acceptance are now widely offered to either single parent. Australians are also showing a trend to marrying later and having fewer children, often preferring to focus on their careers rather then settling down. Previously men and women were expected to have a family in their late teens, but as the necessity to have lots of money the view on this has changed. Also because of IVF and many other resources to help you have a child, both men and women do not feel the rush to have children, compared to people twenty years back. Since the number of babies has dropped dramatically over the past few years, it has brought about an increase of other nationalities to spread across Australia. Also acceptance of inter-racial and inter-religious marriages has become accepted, as many people are coming to terms that all races are th e same. This also brings in the acceptance of adoption, as many couples are starting to adopt children from overseas countries, such as Asia, Africa and Russia, as well as having their own children has increased the number of blended families, in Australia. As Australia now is a growing multicultural society it has accepted and adapted to many multicultural traditions, cultures and beliefs. This has affected the way all Australians think; as we have a more diverse background we are more acceptable and adaptive to change in our society. Divorce was once considered to be a taboo, less than twenty years ago but statistics have proven that this view has been changed dramatically with, out of 331 200 marriages 173 600, will end in divorce. Many of these marriages include children with the average age of the child being seven years old. It has also proven that women are more likely to gain custody of the children then men, and in cases like these 14% of divorced dads end up, either not wanting to see their children or neglecting them emotionally. When divorce does occur there is a dramatic drop in the familys income, assistance is sometimes required from the government to provide for the basic needs, eg food and clothing. As a result of less income the family members become extremely acceptable to breakdowns and stress, which can lead to anger and falling out between family members. This can lead to the reduction of socialisation between family members, as they can no longer stand being around one another. There is a variety of reasons in why more people are becoming divorced, they include, it being easier and more acceptable. In many cases divorced parents end up re-marrying, which creates stepfamilies. The couples who do survive the high divorce mortality rate often after their children leave home become foster parents as many couples seem to believe that having children around will keep them forever young and forever together. The largest societal change by far has been the acceptance of same-sex couples. Previously these couples were shunned by men and women alike, with many suppressing their sexuality. (Homosexuality dates back to Ancient Greece.) Is now only just becoming more readily accepted. There is now almost 18% of outed same sex couples in Australia, with a further more 9%, pursuing IVF or similar treatment to have children. The family functions has also changed through many fathers becoming the stay at home mum and the women, after having the child return to the workforce and become the breadwinners. The good old nuclear family, being 2.3 children, mother, father and a dog has a seemed to have disappeared, with the impact of societal change. People have begun to realise that they can be an individual family and that they do not have to identify and have the same religion, culture and beliefs as everybody else. I believe that the change in society on family structures, functions and resources has changed for the better.

Looking At The Child Protection System Social Work Essay

Looking At The Child Protection System Social Work Essay The literature looks previous and existing literature on how effective the local authorities are at promoting the needs of black African children and their families who are involved in the child protection system. In previous years there have been deaths of African children such Victoria Climbie and khyra Ishaq. There have also been deaths of other African children in Britain linked to witchcraft. A theme echoed by the majority of the literature is that if social work practice and policy is to prevent these tragedies there is need to understand and acknowledge different contexts of culture and diversity. The main theme is how to provide social work interventions and family support that are culturally sensitive and competent to both children and their families who are at risk of significant harm. There is need for social work professional to understand parenting practices in African families and protect children hence every child matters was implemented. The laming report (2009) set o ut challenges faced safeguarding children such as, training and workforce issues still need to be resolved and data systems need to be improved and there is still need improve knowledge and skills to understand children and their family circumstances. Also the laming report noted that despite the progress in inter-agency working there are still problems of day to day reality of working across organisational boundaries and culture, sharing information and lack of feedback when professionals raise concerns about a child. In this literature review I will be focusing on black African children and their families analysing their experiences of the child protection system that have come to live in united kingdom and how the children are protected in the child protection arena. I will be paying attention to key themes and debates in research, validity and generalisability of data, gaps in research and future implications to practice. I will be using the term black African throughout the review of literature; however I recognise that there are different races in Africa who share the same culture and beliefs. Literature search Material used for the literature reviewed varies; I included journals searched online, books from the library and articles from the internet and material published by the government. As I searched the online journals and books I discovered there was little material about my chosen topic and scarce research on the topic of the needs of black African children and child protection children. Most studies and literature focused on black and minority ethnics and mixed parentage children hence the proportion of black African children can be over-represented in these studies and the data cannot be generalised easily to the wider population. There is need for professionals to have knowledge about the identity and diversity of black African children and their families because Britain has seen an enormous growth of African people due globalisation and other environmental factors such as war, famine and work opportunities. However not all children from African families get involved in the child protection system. Review of the literature Research data and statistics on African black children are not constant and highlight mis-representations. According to the 2001 census the population of black African people was 0.8%. However, these statistics are from 2001 and the populations could have increased due to migration and the 2011 census will offer more up to date statistics. Also not everyone registers for the census especially black and minority people who are isolated and who do not have any immigration status might shy away from the census in fear of deportation. The department for education and skills (2006) estimated the number of African children in need to be 8000 in 2005. this accounted for 3% of the overall total- an over-representation compared with the 2001 census in which African children made up 1.4% of the population. Research highlights the over-representation of the African children and their families involved in the child protection system for example, data of African children is combined with afro-Car ibbean children and ethnic minority children- statistical data from British children represented 5% of the children on the child protection register in 2005, but census data 2001, black or black children made up 3% of the total population (national statistics, 2003). Research data continues to indicate that black communities are disproportionately represented across social welfare statistics (graham, 2006; barn et al 1997). Britain has experienced a massive increase in population due to people coming into Britain for better lifestyles, escaping war, famine, torture and looking for better job opportunities. Britain has experience a rise in the number of people claiming asylum and some of them are unaccompanied asylum seeking children. When looking at experiences of black African children and their families and how to offer them appropriate intervention it is important to acknowledge diversity in terms of religion, culture, language and beliefs (Bernard and gupta 2008; gibbs and huang 2003; robinson 2007). Research has shown that black families black African communities and ethnic communities are likely to live in poverty. There is well documented literature on social exclusion and poverty experienced by black African children which also is inclined to impact on the parenting abilities of parents. Also looking at histories and backgrounds of black African families is which add to poverty is also highlighted in research, (Bernard and gupta 2008; gibbs and huang 2003; robinson 2007). Research has shown some of the factors that affect African children and their families such as private fostering and asylum seeking, HIV/AIDS, poverty- highlighting grief, loss and separation, (Bernard and gupta 2008). Review of the research suggest that black African children are almost twice as likely to be looked after, however some of these children will be accommodated under section 20 of the children act 1989 due to being unaccompanied asylum seeking children (Bernard and gupta 2008; robinson 2007; barn 1993). Jones 2001, highlights the conflict between the children act 1989 and immigration legislation and policy and Jones argues that social work profession singularly failed to provide critical scrutiny on the status and relationship of immigration and child care law and the erosion of childrens rights. The number of refugee children arriving in uk is arising annually and the vulnerability of refugee children has legal, emotional and practical aspects (woodcock, 2003; chase, 2009). There is substantial evidence to indicate that many refugee children and young people from different cultures manifest symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems (Hodes, 2000 , 2002; Ehntholt and Yule, 2006; Dyregrov and Yule, 2006).Research on social work with unaccompanied children is limited (kohli and mather 2003). Research also states that there is risk of alienating black children in care by not meeting their emotional and psychological needs due to no contact with community with same culture, family and lack of black workers (bran et al 1997 pg 9). However, available research data paint a complex and contradictory picture and data is combined with other minority ethnic children Analysis of literature draws attention to that the way black African families parent their children and their daily lives had been neglected in many studies in child welfare literature and there is little empirical evidence especially about African parenting in Britain (Bernard, 2002 graham 2006). Research has looked at cultural values and how they influence parenting in African families involved with the child protection system (brophy et al 2003). Literature highlights that there is need to look at kin-ship and extended families. Family structures have been changed due to globalisation, war and other social factors. There is few research data on impact of culture, gender ideology, socio-economic status and religious belief influencing parenting and also notions of what constitutes harmful behaviour. The few data that exist states that; cultural practices appear to play some part in African children being involved in the child protection system, (mama 2004). Barn et al 2006 challeng e popular myth and stereotype that some cultural groups have more punitive punishment practices. They found no significant differences between ethnic groups with regard to physical punishment of children-thoburn et al 2005 pg 83 agree. Nobes and smith 1997s study of physical punishment by parents found physical punishment was universal in the 99 two parent families and Thompson et al 2002 found that 67 mothers in new forest are of England reported diverse behaviour management tactics and mothers who used physical punishment reported less behavioural problems in their children than mothers used reasoning. This supports the challenge the stereotypes that cultural groups have more punitive punishment practices because the majority of the above studies involved parenting by white culture in the United Kingdom. Studies on parenting by other black and ethnic cultures are scarce and there is need for research. A growing body of literature emphasises the importance of appreciating the socia l contexts of parenting and lived experiences of African children for making sense of child maltreatment (Holland 2004, Robinson 2007). Black perspective is based on the notion of common experiences that black people in Britain share and it is critical of oppressive research paradigm and theoretical formulations that have a potential oppressive effect on black people, (Robinson 2007). An understanding of black frame of reference will enable social work professionals to come up with more accurate and comprehensive assessments of African black children involved with the child protection system, (Robinson 2007). Ecological perspective is important in analysis of impacts of poverty, discrimination, immigration and social isolation on black and minority children (gibbons and huang 2003 pg 3). However there is the danger of over-generalisation and stereotyping because individual members of a culture may vary greatly from the pattern that is typical within that culture (Robinson 1998) Research argues that postmodern theories have gained a strong foothold in the profession of social work (pease and fook 1999; learnard 1997). However Their tenets have been strongly contested by those demanding a more complex understanding of identity, i.e., one that links the personal with the structural or collective elements of human existence alongside the individual ones (Dominelli 2002; graham 2002) and those drawing on the idea that what holds people together are what they share in common or their sameness (Badiou 2001). The lack of appropriate preventative suppoirt servives and lack of understanding of cultural of black families often result in social work operating against the interests of black children (barn 1993, graham 2002) Anti-discriminatory perspectives and incorporation of knowledge from service users Social workers contribute to the perpetuation of oppression through their practice by directly or indirectly engaging in structural oppression its institutional and cultural forms that are integral elements in the ways in which social relations in a globalising world have been organised, (dominelli 2007). Key to eliminating structural forms of racism is that of addressing the issue of binary dyads that reaffirm racist dynamics rather than challenging them. Nonetheless, resistance to its perpetuation is evident in many of the responses by service users and practitioners. Social work educators and practitioners have much more to contribute to the elimination of oppression. (dominelli 2007). Social work has operated within a problem oriented framework which is characterised by deficit and dysfunctional theories of black families (Robinson 2008). Dominelli (1992) argues that black children and families are over-represented in the controlling aspects of social work and under-represented in the welfare aspects of social work. Problems with communication and working in partnership have been highlighted in literature. Fifty-four young people participated in the research. Chase, 2009 study-The majority (80 per cent) of participants were identified through a single London local Authority, Young people often described complex relationships with social workers and other social care professionals and were also more mistrustful of the interplay between social care and immigration services: Hellen, from Ethiopia, said: Sometimes they dont understand you when you are sad. They keep asking you questions. It makes me angry, it makes me want to shout. It makes me remember all the bad things and they dont understand that. If they ask me (questions) I will suffer for months. The positioning of social workers within the asylum system is a difficult one to negotiate. They are expected to apply social care principles such as the best interests of the child, yet work within very clear organisational boundaries and regulatory codes-frequently dictated by resource and funding limitations. The Climbie inquiry (laming 2003) highlights the challenges faced by local authorities when developing information-sharing indexes for keeping insight of the children who are on the margins of society and whose lives are characterised by transitions. Literature highlights some of the challenges for social work assessing and making decisions about African children and families whose cultures differ from the majority white population (brophy et al 2003, laming 2003) The fear of being seen as a racist combined with cultural stereotypes can lead to a failure to make judgements and intervene appropriately regarding practices that are harmful (burman et al 2004 study) Whilst their views should form part of policy related discussions on current topics, respect for childrens rights may still be lacking. Meanwhile, such notions challenge us to take children seriously and to appreciate their contribution to social reproduction and change (Aubrey and Dahl 2006). Lots of research appear to focus on empowerment through cultural knowledge inviting new thinking about the challenges faced by black communities Relevance to policy and practice The complex social circumstance experiences by many African families pose challenges for parents, children and social work professionals working to safeguard and promote childrens welfare The framework for assessment of children in need and their families (DoH, 2000) based on the ecological approach places a requirement on workers to consider families histories and social circumstances and literature of anti-oppressive practice stresses the importance if consideration being paid to power relationships (dlrybple and burke 1995). There must be some understanding of the links between peoples personal experience of pressing and structural reality if inequality pg 123 In order to safeguard and promote welfare of African children acknowledgement of sources of discrimination and oppression, a commitment to human rights and social justice must be met. Through developing effective relationships with African children and families can professionals begin to understand their individual, emotional as well as practical needs. Global mobility and consequent changing nature of communities require local authorities to be proactive in gathering information and developing services including interpretation services that are responsive to the needs of African and minority ethnic families. Several authors have critically analysed the evidence on service provision for black families in general. A pathologising approach to black families may lead to unnecessary coercive intervention and on the other hand a cultural relativist approach may lead to a non-intervention when services are required (dominelli 1997, chand 2000). Either way appropriate intervention is not pr ovided for black and ethnic minority children. The quality of services in black communities is a focus for debate and raises important issues about the lack of policy initiatives based upon needs and aspirations of local communities (graham 2002) Subjecting cultural practices to scrutiny is a necessary party of the assessment process of professionals are to achieve better outcomes for children. A balance must be struck between sensitively challenging claims that certain types of behaviour are the norm in African families whilst at the same time not losing sight of childrens welfare needs. By drawing on strengths perspective professionals can illuminate how parents draw on cultures a s a resource to parents in circumstance of adversity whilst not excusing behaviour that is harmful to children. The issue of punishment is one of the most controversial areas relating to black families, child abuse and social work (chand 2000 pg 72) Conclusion This review has highlighted that multiple social, environmental and parental factors interact in complex ways to bring black African children into the child protection arena. Thus, making professional judgments regarding thresholds of concern for African children poses a major set of challenges and, ultimately, practitioners need the skills, knowledge and conceptual tools to distinguish between the styles of parenting that differ from those of the majority culture, but which are not necessarily harmful, and parents who seek to justify abusive and neglectful behaviour by drawing on cultural explanations to justify their actions.

Prejudice and Racism: All Men are Equal, Unless They Are Black Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Brian is a young African American male who has been pulled over by the police somewhere between twenty and thirty times and accused of committing a crime. The only problem is, he's never so much as jaywalked across a street. Brian is a hardworking, church-going man who is director of lighting at Black Entertainment Television in Washington, D.C. He has a spotless record. That matters little to the D.C. police. Time after time, the cops would pull Brian over to interrogate him for a recent murder, robbery, or assault. He would be yanked out of his car, thrown to the ground, and held until one of them figured out he was the wrong guy. -"Brian Anthony Harris is Not Wanted", by Michael Moore In his 1963 document, "Letter From Birmingham Jail", Martin Luther King Jr. prayed "in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty." To date, his prayers remain unanswered, and the radiant stars he dreamed of seem more remote and dim than ever. It seems impossible, in the wake of the Civil Rights movement of the Sixties, America would not take heed and make strides to erase the lines of inequality dividing its population. It hasn't. Superficial changes in race relations, like the halfhearted integration of schools, the ever-lessening concessions to affirmative action, and the few token minority Court and Cabinet appointments notwithstanding, the status-quo of American life illustrates the continuing failure of King's dream. In the 37 years since Martin Luther King Jr. sat in an Alabama jail cell, more black men have gone to jail than to college, and the black voice in America's democracy has quieted to a whisper. Black Americans are not m... ...anna Huffington. 10/01/00. http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2000/10/02/disenfranchised/index.html "Back to the Civil Rights Barricades", by Todd Gitlin. 12/04/00. http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/12/04/democracy/index.html Justice Policy Institute/ Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Beatty, Holman, and Schiraldi, 2000 Poor Prescription: The Costs of Imprisoning Drug Offenders in the United States. Washington DC: The Justice Policy Institute. Accessed 5/20/01. http://www.cjcj.org/drug/drugpr.html "America's One Million Non-Violent Prisoners", by V. Schiraldi, J. Ziedenberg, and J Irwin, PhD.1999. Accessed 5/21/01. http://www.cjcj.org/jpi/onemillion.html United States Department of Justice. Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1999. Allen J. Beck, Ph.D. Apr, 2000, Accessed 5/20/01. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#pjmidyear

Silas Marner :: essays research papers

Characterization George Elliot's Silas Marner tells a tale of basic human nature depicted through the words and actions of the characters. The characterization presented throughout Silas Marner is enhanced with the uses of point of view, human understanding, and literary devices. Using these techniques, she creates believable characters that develop along with the plot to create a story line that, not only seems real, but also appeals to the human senses of understanding and sympathy. George Elliot chose to write Silas Marner in the omniscient point of view (Holland, 57), meaning that the action could be viewed from any angle. In doing so, she creates an atmosphere in which any character is given the opportunity to display his or her feelings toward one another. This decision allows the reader to better understand why the characters feel the ways they do, because their reasoning is shown in their conversations and actions with others. Also, it allows the reader to realize that the characters' actions are dependent on the consequences one could face at the time it was written. This gave way for a more personal character to develop, because no one person was describing him or her. Certain traits are left for the reader to develop on his own. Since Elliot chose to write in the omniscient point of view, she allows herself to control certain traits about each character through her use of narration. This is essential in presenting certain knowledge to the reader that not every character is aware of. Therefore, a strong presence of irony exists within the novel, and is displayed numerous times. One such situation continually represented is the knowledge that Eppie is the daughter of Godfrey Cass and his secret wife who died in the snow. The fact that no one knows of this situation, besides Godfrey, are the source of much irony and eventually the climax of the novel. Another example f dramatic irony is that the reader knows, from the minute of its occurrence, that the robbery is the doing of Dunstan Cass. However, no one in the novel is presented with these details. This concealing of information is the source of much irony within Silas Marner. Along with point of view, literary devices are used to create and develop characters throughout Silas Marner. The use of speech is the most prevalent device found within the novel. The speech patterns of the "common man" are noticeably different from those of the "proper.

Talkshow on Rom Whittaker

Romulus Whitaker was only four years old when he caught his first snake in the country estate that he shared with his mother and sister in northern New York State. It was the beginning of a fascination with reptiles and a journey to conserve nature. Although born in the United States in 1943, Rom Whitaker grew up in India where he nurtured his passion for reptiles exploring the wild as a student in a boarding school up in the mountains in south India. Dr. Whitaker is one of India's leading herpetologists and conservationists. His efforts have helped to put numerous endangered wildlife on the conservation map.The world-renowned herpetologist and author is changing perceptions of reptiles through his innovative work while championing the cause for conservation of India’s rich biodiversity. (He’s 69) In an exclusive interview Romulus Whitaker shares some of his thoughts and interesting experience through the course of his work. 1. What is it about reptiles that got you fas cinated about them? My love affair with reptiles began before my ‘age of reason', in fact I was catching and keeping snakes at the tender age of 5 years at Hoosick, NY I found my first snake, a Dekay's snake and I was hooked.I Kept a terrarium full of local snakes and when I was seven I moved to India, the land of snakes. Over the years my interest broadened to all herps. 2. Were your parents or friends influential in your decision to go into herpetology as a profession? My mother in particular was very supportive of my ‘unusual' interest and bought me books by Pope, Ditmars etc. 3. Where is your favorite herping spot in the world? I guess my best place in Agumbe, Karnataka State, near the west coast of India, where we have one of our research stations. 4.What herp in the wild still gives you chills and sends your excitement levels through the roof? What herp is at the top of your list to find in the wild? I guess the king cobra tops the list but I get great pleasure in seeing any of the wonderful herps we have here in the wild. Well, having found a lot of species in a lot of places I guess it's just the mere idea of finding ‘new' species, which I've never seen in the wild, which excites me. 5. Aside from the conservation programs you’ve set-up, do you keep any herps as personal pets?Nope, no herp pets. We live on an 11 acre farm with Russells vipers, cobras, kraits, saw-scaled vipers, rat snakes, trinket snakes, vine snakes and so on, so there are rarely ‘dull' moments here. 6. What’s the best avenue people can help your conservation trusts and efforts? People can donate out right of course but perhaps more of them might be interested in coming over to India on a ‘paying volunteer' program which allows people to stay on site and do work to help keep the research and general work going, bringing their own special inputs. 7.Any advice for students looking to get into the herpetological field? Handling venomous snakes? I think the best way is to attach yourself to an existing herp program in any capacity just to get that experience and to work with people who are obviously doing it right and learning from them. 8. Do you think the increase of interest in the herp-keeping hobby has helped or hindered reptile & amphibian conservation? I can't say much about the herp keeping hobby, I know that it should be done responsibly and people should learn and know where their animals are coming from.If most of the herps on the market are from captive bred stocks fine, but taking them from the wild can be a fatal rip-off and that has hammered several species worldwide. 9. What are some of the most fascinating aspects of your job as a Reptile Expert? Every day is a fascinating experience, simply because so little is yet known about reptiles, as compared with more ‘obvious' creatures like birds and butterflies. Perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that once you have studied and been close to reptil es long enough, you realize that they too are complex beings with individual personalities, some nice and some not so nice.Venomous snakes have their tremendous killing power yet they are timid and shy and want nothing more than to stay clear of horribly dangerous human beings. I don’t have dull moments except for when I have to go into the awful city to do some chore like renew my driver's license! 10. In the course of your career, you must have had several close and dangerous encounters with crocs, komodo dragons and snakes. Is there any incident that stands out in your mind which left you completely speechless? It's kind of hard to say which experiences stand out as being exciting and memorable, in my kind of life excitement is never far away.Perhaps the incident that sticks in my mind is the first time I encountered a king cobra. It was in Agumbe (where we now have a research station) and I saw the black tail of a large snake disappearing into the bushes. Thinking it was a large, harmless rat snake I did what any snake hunter would do, I leaped on it. I managed to grab the tail and in my now prone position I looked up to see the hood of a large king cobra spread over me and a pair of not so friendly eyes glaring down at me. I needed no more encouragement and quickly released the king cobra's tail and rolled out of the way.Luckily the snake didn't want to tangle with me any more than I wanted to tangle with it and it slid away into the forest. Phew! 11. What are the challenges you have faced to dispel some of the misconceptions people have about reptiles? The main challenge is to get people to realize that their old folk tales and beliefs about snakes are usually wrong and that the reality of snakes and other reptiles is of course much more interesting than these old tales. People have a tendency to think that wild animals are ‘out to get them' when actually it's just the opposite. 2. Do you think there is adequate support / assistance for cons ervation of reptiles today or more can be done? How? Certainly reptiles are still not too high in the popularity charts and there is always a need for understanding the misunderstood creatures that we share the planet with. More media exposure to the facts about reptiles, their usefulness to us in controlling rodents and cleaning the waterways (in the case of crocs) and controlling harmful insects in the case of lizards, will certainly help their plight. 13.What do you hope people will take away from your work and films on reptiles? Is there anything you would like to do in the future? Well, I know people are not going to start hugging reptiles overnight, but I do feel we are making headway by writing, making films and bringing people to the Madras Crocodile Bank and teaching them about the wonders of the reptile world. What will I do in future? Probably just what I'm doing right now. One project is to promote research on snake venoms and the perfection of the anti-venom serum again st snakebite in India. All good fun!

Past and Present Chapter Essay

Opportunity and self-made men were the order of the day The founding fathers considered democracy to be direct rule of the people A concept they feared and rejected Jacksonians considered â€Å"the voice of the people† to be â€Å"the voice of God† Democracy and Society No one could expect social privilege because of family ties European visitors noted the lack of first class accommodations The word â€Å"servant† was disappearing; in its place was â€Å"help† Domestic workers were not considered a social subclass Members of different earning groups dressed similarly Democracy expressed itself in medicine, law and religion Unorthodox â€Å"healers† were given place alongside doctors Local bars allowed lower standards in some areas The clergy came under more control of the laity The popular press became increasingly important Written and read by common people Many small venues and a few influential papers with large readership Democratic Culture Democratic expression in literature and art Popular taste v. elite or traditional culture Romanticism was â€Å"adapted† to sentimentalism in popular literature Formulaic gothic novels sold well Possible because of increased literacy Also cheaper printing More novels written by women Universal white manhood suffrage was the rule by the 1820s Rise in elected v appointed officials Stump speaking and campaigning became the norm More festive and dramatic Martin Van Buren and others began to build statewide political organizations Idea of the â€Å"loyal opposition† developed Other political changes Two party system enhanced Electors more often chosen by popular vote Voting percentages increased dramatically 1824—27% 1828—55% 1840—78% Why more interest? Panic of 1819—concern about money issues Issues such as banks, tariffs, internal improvements Jacksonians were concerned about monied interests Opponents were concerned about rabble rousers Should the federal government become more active? Foster economic growth? Destroy corporate privilege and monopoly? Support the rights of the working man? Abolish inheritance, improve public education? New York Working Men’s Party thought so Also favored redistribution of assets Philadelphia was a center of labor activity General Trades’ Unions was formed Achieved a 10-hour workday Set an early precedent for mass action Abolitionists became more active Some also wanted equal rights for women These reformers saw little success.

Zara & Pandora Recommendations

Zara case Zara uses a vertically integrated system (VMS): In this system, wholesalers, retailers and distributors work as a unified system. One channel owns the others. They have a corporate VMS system, because Zara has managed to build a system that is controlled from the headquarters and it allows a quick response to decide and solve problems. Inditex, Zara’s parent company owns most of the resources to design, produce and distribute.Recommendations: Instead of doing everything themselves, Zara could train their managers in the local stores to already make quick decisions than to just send many ideas to the main headquarters in Spain and let them decide what is best. So spread the decision making process among their local stores. Zara’s vertical integration has many advantages, but there is a drawback for Zara as they focus distributing small batch quantities and do not receive any discounts on manufacturing large quantities. PandoraValue Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. The activities of a business could be grouped under two headings: Primary Activities – those that are directly concerned with creating and delivering a product. -Inbound logistics: All the raw materials are collected from their distributors and in Pandora’s case these are the songs from musicians. – Operations: is transforming the raw materials into a finished product and service.Pandora’s software gets smarter through the listener’s inputs of likes and dislikes and marks them as unique playlist for that same user. – Outbound logistics: All those activities associated with getting finished goods and services to buyers. Pandora has pushed the music service into a variety of channels, including apps for smart phones and tablets as well as through home entertainment systems such as video game players, DVD players and Internet ra dios. – Marketing & Sales: Essentially an information activity – informing buyers and consumers about products and services (benefits, use, price etc. Pandora informs their listeners firstly through web page, and then music has become more mobile. Pandora has formed strategic partnerships to push their music service into different channels, such as apps for smartphones and tablets, as well as through video game players, DVD players and Internet. Since listening to music goes through the radio, Pandora has also collaborated with new car brands. – Service: All those activities associated with maintaining product performance after the product has been sold. The service plays musical selections of a certain genre based on the user's artist selection.The user then provides positive or negative feedback for songs chosen by the service, which are taken into account when Pandora selects future songs. Recommendation: The client should have more possibilities to have an o pinion on the music instead of likes and dislikes. So after each opinion they have, they get a small questionnaire. Global market The activity of buying or selling goods and services in all the countries of the world, or the value of the goods and services sold. Global marketing is sometimes used to refer to overseas expansion efforts through licensing, franchises, and joint ventures. Zara got stores all over the world.If the designers design new clothes, it will come in all the stores. Zara does most of the things by themselves, like making their own fabric, produce their own clothes and having their own designers. Recommendation Zara could create a joint venture with distributors in the markets such as Asia or the US, to produce the products for them. Support Activities, which whilst they are not directly involved in production, may increase effectiveness or efficiency. Procurement: When the raw material is purchased together with other inputs to create value to the product and su pport the value chain activities.In the case of Pandora the raw materials purchased are the songs from musicians. – Technology development: Includes research and development, process automation, and other technology development to support the value chain activity. For Pandora they have an automated software-driven machine that discerns the types of music and places them in genres. – Human Resource Management Using people as a resource to support the value chain. Young analysist analyze of the music by a professional musician to analyze and decode them in different genres.Young analysts sit together with senior analysts to encode the music and add features to differentiate its service. – Firm Infrastructure Includes activities such as finance, strategic planning and control, general management, etc. Pandora is mostly focused on strategic planning ; control, because they have to critically analyze their songs they get delivered from musicians. This takes a lot of time and need be planned strategically. Strategic planning is then linked to general management. Recommendation: Pandora can hire more junior analyst which can be trained to become senior analyst so that the work is divided.

Motivation Work Performance

High performance organizations are those organizations with a culture that is flexible and encouraging dynamism, inventions, knowledge sharing, allowing diversities in working across boundaries, stimulates its people to be high performers; it is based on certain values and a great place to work.These key elements are believed to be what encourages the employees to be performing highly.Researchers use these organizations to find out several barriers as a result of cultural variations that subsequently contribute to low performance in the organization (Sanford and Bracey 1977).Such organizations have a pure formal structure of administration of which the positions in the organization have professionals. Any informality in the organization disqualifies it from being a high performance organization, since it has to have clear means of communication without misunderstandings from either the source, or towards the source.Members of such organization put mechanism in place that act in a med iating capacity to help resolve any arising matters that may result into a problem of the future e.g. if a member is rejecting another’s opinion then he is considered by being appraised positively in order to generate new opinions.Groups are people sharing one commonality. They (groups) exist because of a common interest that is necessary for the survival of individuals belonging to the group. An example of a group is the community which has a complex commonality.Groups can be informal and others can be formal depending with each one group’s interest. Group of young boys (peer group) can not be considered to be formal because of its nature of operation, even though they have their rules, regulations, code of conducts, and valued opinions amongst themselves. All the above mentioned about a peer group is not written anywhere, they all adapt to those factors through the natural process of learning as they socialize one another in relation to the society they live in. For such groups it is either you abide by the set standards in order to fit in, even if it is that bad, you either do it as a way of showing solidarity. Refusal whatsoever displays deviance and it could lead to punitive measures at times it could be death or rejection.In some instances it is correct to say that a group can improve itself till it gets to the status of a high performing organization. Some things have to be observed so that a group can finally increase its performance for better. The informal status of a group has to be changed; in that case it should have a formal procedure in terms of handling matters related to the affairs of the group. The other important initiative to consider is the manpower, and the availability of staff that are professionally fitting in the capacity they occupy in that group (Anderson 2001)Many groups have taken an initiative to offer their employees equal chances in terms of pursuing further education, or granting employees’ funds for stud ies. Such a move has a positive impact on the progress of the group towards becoming a high performer in future.Motivation is a concern of study that has varied approaches on how to define it, even though describing it seems a little more understandable and common to many of us i.e. running home very fast because of a possible down pour in the next ten, or so minutes. In such a situation is it the rain, or a person own determination and willingness to run that can be accounted for that state of motion, or action?Let’s consider here the fact that one energizes himself after thinking that he will be wet in no time unless h/she does something about it. Motivation can be described as a human’s internal state of being in need, or having a desire towards achieving a set goal, that goal is a target which acts as the source of energy we use while we engage ourselves in a goal directed/oriented behavior. This goal oriented behavior is believed to persistently continue until we achieve our set goal. Motivation thus can be said to be an activity that is result oriented, while we undergo an internal experience.Hertzberg’s two-factor-theories- of work and motivation, it is a clear and very simple theory which tends to confine itself to a circle of activities that revolve around the human-work relationship. As the theory goes it starts with satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In between the two is a neutral state; satisfaction is achieved through motivation which entails several other factors that make it achieve the state of satisfaction, they include; achieving the set goals, to move forward by advancing in whatever one is pursuing, being recognized as an important person, or personnel   in the organization, or place of work.Dissatisfaction is believed to be accelerated by several other factors that are coined into one title; hygiene factors, this factors include, low salary pay that really make one undergo too much constraints in his day to day budge ting while attempting to make ends meet, the other one is the company policies which are at times unfavorable to the employees by putting them on toes all the time throughout the working time at times draining the workers to the point of performing poorly; hence being in a constant conflict with management, the other factor is work mates who might not be getting along well with one of the employees; or even amongst themselves, one might feel out placed in such a situation, another last but not least hygiene factor is the supervisory styles from the management; supervisors at times are always a headache to employees because they at times clash at work with their juniors because most supervisors are poorly trained, of which it would have been better in the maintenance of good work relationship and performance in the company.A point to note is that when one will attempt to manage dissatisfaction h/she will get to the neutral state, and he needs to put in motivational factors in order t o achieve satisfaction (Steers and Porter, 1987).Leaders are people who are thought to be intelligent than the persons they lead this assumption is based on the fact that they (leaders) have a greater influence to the people they lead than how the people can influence them. Leaders be it political ones, religious ones, diplomatic leaders, traditional leaders, or spiritual leaders all of them have a following they command and at times these leaders are used to influence the people they lead in order to satisfy certain goals. People in organizations will always respect their bosses simply because they are above them; and that they lead them especially those people heading unions that represent the rights of workers, students and religious based organization, most of the time they are taken seriously, even in times of declaring protests, demonstration, riots, strikes, and many more activities such as ejecting other people in offices simply because their territorial leaders have declare d.Employees’ team spirit is a major contributor towards motivation at work places because of several other factors, including the relationship amongst them, and with the management. Good relationship is needed in all direction so that it improves the blame game that always interferes with group motivational abilities. Most employees will be seen as competing among one another only to spoil so much, this is a negative type of motivation since they have not realized how harmful the competition is to them. Hence employees need to realize they are one against many others out there, as a matter of concern they should convert their motivation of competing against one another, into a motivation of competing with the outside competitors.The managerial staff is in charge of many functions that go on in the organization and that they have the ability to influence employees positively and ethically in order to make them productive at will without violating the code of ethics. Employeesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ rights should be observed carefully because it is very hard at times to realize that one is oppressing employees more so if the part of pay is high and the working conditions are bad. Employees   should provided with transport services to enable them to get to work early and at the end of the day they appreciate what they are offered since they remain with an excess that would have gone towards payments of transportation costs.ConclusionHigh performance organization can be defined as agro up setting only that it has way far standard than that of an ordinary group we all feel is still immature in a number of ways, although   it is hard maybe for some people to understand such a comparison because, generally the two are made up of people.Groups ought to be motivated   by giving them examples of high performing organization, the trend of their success so that they see it as an achievable value of improvement, otherwise its easy for members of a group to disbelieve and dis miss claim that a group can grow into an outstanding performer in future. Many might be believing that, unfair means e.g. corruption might work fast towards achieving the high status.Motivation theories at times don’t simply agree to one thing as a contributing factor of motivation, why are we doing things we always do? Money is a form of external extrinsic factors of motivation we encounter in our day to day life not to forget other extrinsic factors such as promises of reward if one performs best at a given work., threat to do something; like running fast to avoid being mugged, scrambling for little food in order not to starve is intrinsic factor of motivation, but salivating to food upon seeing them on display is an extrinsic factor of motivation. Such ways of describing how motivational factors work need a closer understanding by reading almost the whole explanation of how motion is related to our environment, physiology, society, and our psychology.ReferencesAnderson. N. 2001. Handbook of Industrial, Work and Organization Psychology. Sage, ISBN 0761964894.Sanford. C. A and Bracey. J. H 1977. Human Relationship: The Theory and Practice of Organizational Behavior.Merill. ISBN 0675085055.Steers, R M. and Porter. W 1987 Motivation and Work Behavior.NY McGraw-hill

Advice I Often Receive From Parents Essays - Chitto Harjo

Advice I Often Receive From Parents A piece of advice that I often receive is "as long as you do your best." This refers to success in everything from school to careers. I believe that this is good advice because it tells me that they trust my judgment and will respect my decisions, even if they are the wrong ones. This helps to take pressure off of me when I am going to school because I don't have to live up to certain standards and try to accomplish goals that are unattainable. Instead, I can just worry about doing the best I can. It is possible that I may have a career that is not the highest paying or the most prestigious. But as long as I am happy, and I do the job to the best of my ability, I will feel like I have accomplished something. This is good because many kids have to live up to expectations that they can't attain, or do something that they don't really enjoy in order to make their parents proud. The problem with saying "as long as you do you best" is that when I know I could have done a better job, I have a sort of guilty feeling. I hate it when I get a mediocre mark or fail in something and my parents say "as long as you tried your hardest." It gets quite annoying when I second guess myself about what I could have done. However, when I know I did the work as well as I could and it isn't a good mark, I don't worry about it as much as some people might. In conclusion, the piece of advice that I receive most often from my parents is basically a good one, and often it keeps me motivated in the things I do. It also shows me that my parents will support most of my decisions and treat me like a responsible person. I believe that somewhere along the line I will probably pass along the advice "as long as you did your best" to my children.

International Cost of capital Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Cost of capital - Assignment Example Question1. Provide an illustrative example of WACC calculation using a FTSE100 company. Answer: The components of weighted average of cost of capital come from the equity side of the statement of financial position, which is commonly understood and known as balance sheet-common shares, preferred shares and debt, long term liability are the components of capital. Any change in the shape of increase in assets of the balance sheet would require increasing at least any one of components of the capital account. In order to increase the liability side of the balance sheet, the cost of these components is called as component based cost of capital. Numerous causes require to occur or to increase the cost of capital. First, the need of long term investment and long term financing requires a company to determine and decide an appropriate way of arranging finance. Either willingly or unwillingly, the company has to evaluate all possible and available means that can be used for the purpose of sa tisfying their long term business investment needs. Some companies use and issue preferred shares for the purpose of raising finance. ... On the whole, these both means have some sort of similarities and some sort of dissimilarities. Preferred shares are mostly placed with the ordinary shares, on the other hand, the debentures and other forms of long term liabilities are incorporated in the long term liability section of the statement of financial position. Following is the standard computational method of weighted average of cost of capital: WACC = Ke [(market value of equity/A)] + kd [(1-t) (market value of debt/A)]. Where; WACC= weighted average of cost of capital Ke= cost of equity A=market value of equity + market value of debt Kd= cost of debt Cost of equity (Ke) is the required return on the ordinary shares. Most of the time, it is this feature that is pretty difficult to estimate. Cost of equity can be determined by two ways: dividend growth model and capital asset pricing model (CAPM). The dividend growth model uses the following formula: P0 = D1/ (Re-g) Here, P0 is the current stock price or stock price in th e period of 0. D1 is the amount of dividend in the next period or next year. Re is the cost of equity. G is the dividend growth rate. For ke the equation would become Re= D1/ P0+ g The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) helps with the following equation to determine the cost of equity: Re= Rf+ b(Rm - Rf) Here, Rf= the risk free rate. B= beta value Rm= market return Capital asset pricing model was determined and defined and published its derivation by William Sharpe in the year of 1986 (Megginson, 1996). There are numerous assumptions on which capital asset pricing model is based on. For instance, capital asset pricing model assumes that investors hold diversified range of portfolios (Head, 2008). Example: Computation of weighted average of

Capital Punishments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capital Punishments - Essay Example In a wider context, capital punishment demeans human dignity. Violence cannot solve the rising cases of criminality. It should be stressed that toleration of execution as a means to solve criminality leaves an imprint on the citizenry’s mind that violence should be confronted with violence (Fridell 33). Capital punishment acts to legitimize violence within society. For this and other reasons to be discussed in this paper, capital punishment should be abolished since it is degrading to human life value. There are those in society who perceive capital punishments as beneficial to human society due to its ability to deter criminals from committing crimes. In addition, they believe that capital punishment ensures that violent criminals have no chance to dish violence on society (Melusky & Pesto 55). However, it is important to note that these arguments have no support in the form of scientific literature. There is no proof that a causal connection exists between criminals committi ng crimes and capital punishment. In addition, empirical research proves that many crimes committed in the US are crimes of passion or unplanned or un-premeditated crimes. Logically, when crimes are committed when a person is angry, the idea of capital punishment will not deter the prospective criminal at the time he is about to commit the crime (Melusky & Pesto 56). This is because he cannot rationally calculate the merits and demerits of his/her actions. Capital punishment can lead to wrongful execution and, therefore, must be done away with. For example, the case of Randall Adams in Texas had seen him sentenced to death for a crime he had not committed. According to Errol Morris, whose documentary led to his freeing, â€Å"Prosecutors sometimes push capital punishment cases to improve their CV† (Morris 1). Unfortunately, in other cases, the evidence that can prove the death row inmate’s innocence is only obtained following their execution. Therefore, because there i s the ever present chance of wrongful execution, capital punishment should be abolished. Capital punishment creates doubt in society that the justice system is unreliable when they really need it. It also emotionally hurts the families of people who have been executed wrongly because it is impossible to resurrect them. Because judges and juries are humans and can make wrong decisions with regards to those deserving acquittal or conviction, wrongful executions will always occur (Melusky & Pesto 57). For this reason, capital punishment, because of its irreversibility, must be abolished. Another detrimental effect of the death penalty has to do with the fact that it sends a message to society that their justice system acts as a revenge advocate, especially for those people who are victimized because of heinous crimes (Mandery 18). The death penalty sends a message to society that the reason the justice system exists is to aid the victims of heinous crimes and their families, rather tha n determine whether the suspects in the crime are guilty or innocent. Capital punishment can be interpreted in another way, which is that it does not give the offender any chance to realize their mistake and act to correct it. The American justice system, in this case, is made to look biased and partial when it uses capital punishmen

You choose a topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

You choose a topic - Essay Example But studies in the recent few years have associated the mobile phone with undesirable behavior especially among the youth and college students who are found to be on their phones for at least nine hours in a single day. This raises the question especially among behavioral scientists of whether mobile phone usage can become addictive. Even with the numerous advantages, mobile phone usage increasingly being associated with behaviors which are harmful to health and with the potential of being disturbing. Research for instance has associated the use of cell phones while driving with accidents. A wide of body of information is available to suggest the use of cell phones while on the wheel reduces ones capacity to be attentive even in cases there are hands-free devices. Many countries have even gone ahead to ban the use of phones while driving but many people still continue with the habit. In an ironic turn there is evidence of phones turning from their important role of supporting social exchanges to an object obstructing the same. Just many people have found themselves in instances where their mobile phone usage has disturbed their good social exchange. As such, just like smoking the use of mobile phones is increasingly receiving bans in public places e.g. in libraries. On the overall cell phone usage is increasingly becoming associated with antisocial and potentially dangerous behaviors as well as the uncontrollable usage and signs of dependence. it is for these reasons that researchers and clinical practitioners must be aware of the availability of instruments to measure problematic use, socio-demographic and psychological factors thought to play a significant role in mobile phone addiction. Phones were initially solely for communities purposes in terms of calls but the emergence of smart phones allows wider usage of the gadgets. People can now access the internet

Religion and Prison System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Religion and Prison System - Essay Example The current prison and jail population in recent times has shown a substantial rise of over two million. America undoubtedly leads the world in terms of number of imprisoned population and that is a disgrace. USA prison system has made millions lives to live constantly under the threat of torture. This is precisely true for the 6.9 million individuals in USA who are at present imprisoned or some way or the other subject to the USA penal body (Franklin). More insidiously, the prison system has essentially assisted in turning torture into a normal, lawful, and a common part of American culture. Imprisonment can be classified as a form of torture owing to the fact that it is considered as the legal form of both punishment and avoidance. Moreover, the American prison system is typically designed and run to maximize filth, brutality, and punishment. As mentioned by Franklin â€Å"Beatings, electric shock, prolonged exposure to heat and even immersion in scalding water, sodomy with riot b atons, nightsticks, flashlights, and broom handles, shackled prisoners forced to lie in their own excrement for hours or even days, months of solitary confinement, rape and murder by guards or prisoners instructed by guards† (Franklin) are very common within the closed walls of the American prison.... Christianity does not provide an easy answer to the viability of torture that is practiced by mankind. It does provide a sense of hope about something that Christians should respect and consider even more than their individual and national security. Due to the fact that the portrayal of the black sites are as elusive as attempts to define their legal status, a chronology from the past eight years of information pertinent to them can efficiently aid in understanding the phenomenon of the black sites. It is true that the black sites function beyond the jurisdiction of international and even, for all intents and purposes the American law. However, the way in which they do so is dependent and logically coherent with the divisions of power and accountability between various government agencies and departments-in particular, the pentagon, FBI, and CIA. The black sites are on the fringe of places that common man is able to see, but are cordoned off by essential makeshift legal fences. After the incident of 9/11, the CIA was ordered to operate and carry on their procedures without any legal restraints. By late 2001, empowered to act without restraints, the CIA fell short of places to hide their high valued detainees. Again the additional freedom that was granted to CIA instigated a desire to acquire greater control over their investigation without any sort of external indulgence. Due to this, the government of United States of America allotted millions of dollars to construct private prisons that were exclusively meant for the CIA. These private prisons are known as black sites. The first known and prominent black site was constructed in Kabul on an old factory site named as the ‘salt pit’. In the

Mannings Arm Wrestling With My Father and Vowells Shooting Dad Essay

Mannings Arm Wrestling With My Father and Vowells Shooting Dad - Essay Example His father was into guns while Vowell was into music and art. Both Vowell and Manning had expressed distance and separation from their father which is characteristic of a generation gap. The son and the daughter however begun to understand their fathers when they matured. In Manning’s case, the son understood why the father was so critical of his performance, it was because he is pushing him to be the best he can be. In Vowell’s case, the daughter understood how alike she is to her father that â€Å"We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.† Differences in opinion, taste and preference are natual between a parent and a child. They may be genetically almost similar but they are still different person. They grew up in different generation and being such, their perspectives in life general can be different. These differences however does not have to escalate to a level of conflict whereby the child will feel distant and alienated to the father. This typically happens when the father over-impose himself and when there are unhealed grudges in the child. I have personally seen how unhealed grudges can ruin a father-child relationship in some of my friends. I am just lucky because my father is very supportive, understanding and loving that even if we have differences as a result of our generation gap, they were trivial and we even kid ourselves about it. My father condescends my type of music as loud while I tease him back that his type of music as old and dragging. He may be sarcastic at times when he reminds me of my priorities but I understand it to be his way of getting in to me so I will not get wayward with my life. I know he loves me because I felt it and he does not hesitate to show it to me. I also have a profound respect for my father for the kind of man he is. I am appreciative because I know hat some of my friends are not that lucky with their parents. I have this close friend who has an abusive fat her. His father does not reprimand him out of the intention of correcting his ways or make him better but just to rebuke him and make him feel bad. I know because I witnessed it when I visited him in their house. I do not know why and the only logical thing I can think about why does it is because of his alcohol and drug problem. As a result, my friend answers back to his father in a disrespectful manner and the exchange of words between are not pretty and unfit to be written in this paper. Suffice to say that they were harsh and some were even obscene. This explains why my friend rarely stays in their house and is always hanging out with his friends and angry with the world. My friend also gets in trouble frequently perhaps due to the pent up anger he has with his father. I am well aware that children should be respectful of their father. But fathers should also strive to become respectable and really be a father to their children. They should mend their ways so that they will have the moral ascendancy to advise their children to be live upright. In the case of my friend’s father, the father cannot do anything when my friend answers back to his father that before advising him to fix his life, to fix his life first. That is pretty harsh but it is quite true. Also, when giving reprimands, fathers should be kind when they admonish their child so that it will not create distance and generation gap. This usually happens

Leadership And Management In Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership And Management In Organization - Essay Example Management, like leadership, is ethically neutral (Charan et al 2001). I understand that managers mobilize and allocate resources; they staff and ensure the continuing vitality of the team; they create and maintain appropriate procedures. They also direct, delegate, and coordinate, and they provide a system of incentives to motivate and encourage productive behavior. Managers also establish reporting systems, perform evaluations, and assign accountability. Common to both managers and leaders is the focus on the results they produce, which are based on the goals they pursue (Hoyle and Wilmore 2002). I would like to research the relations between leadership and managerial success as measured by achievement, not by the process used to accomplish the results. The research will benefit my personal communication skills and will help me to deal with difficult managerial situations in my job. Based on this results-oriented philosophy of management, the new definition of management focuses on outcome Remember that managerial performance is not judged entirely in terms of success or failure. Rather, performance is measured in terms of progress in relation to the goal. The focus is on lessons learned, and learning is a core value (Cole, 2005). In this sense, success becomes a journey, rather than a destination. We cannot produce positive results every time.

ANZ Bank Based on Porters Five Force Model Case Study

ANZ Bank Based on Porters Five Force Model - Case Study Example Substitutes are those products which are quite different in form but which offer a real alternative to the industry competitor’s product (Michael E Porter and sustainable competitive advantage, Chapter 4, p.40). A threat of substitute products means the easiness in changing consumer behavior to opt for substitute products. For example, ANZ is facing stiff challenges from other prominent banks domestically and internationally. Competitors always try to produce goods of the same quality at cheaper prices. The availability of more attractive substitute products will drive away customers from ANZ. ANZ is currently focusing more in the Asian market. â€Å"In a number of Asian countries, foreign banks cannot enter the market on an unrestricted basis† (Lewis, 2007). The restrictions in this region are a big handicap for ANZ. For the ample, Indian national banks can offer many products to their customers like mutual funds, term deposits, etc whereas it is difficult for ANZ to o ffer such products to Indian customers. The threat of new entrants depends on the barriers to entry. Barriers to entry depend on economies of scale, product differentiation capital requirements etc (Michael E Porter and sustainable competitive advantage, Chapter 4, p.35). The threat of new entrants in the second element in the analysis of an organization with respect to Porter’s five force theory. New entrants always weaken the power of an organization. In the case of ANZ, globalization has raised many concerns about the entry of new international banks in Australia and other countries. It is easy for an Indian or Chinese bank to establish the business in Australia at present because of the liberalized market conditions. In fact, the recent recession has destroyed the backbone of many of the Australian banking organizations like ANZ. On the other hand, China has not faced much trouble with respect to the recession and hence it is easy for Chinese banks to enter the Australian market and raise challenges to ANZ.