Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Starbucks - traditional coffee market Case Study
Starbucks - traditional coffee market - Case Study Example These products are marketed through retail stores. It also markets coffee and tea products through other channels of distribution. Starbucks relies chiefly on an efficient market system and product improvement. The traditional market for coffee is not in maturity one, and today it offers a limited opportunity for high profits, so it sets about developing products, that are both distinctive and could be sold at a premium price. A specialized product range, namely coffee beans necessitated a clear identification of target market. The original mission had made it clear that it was in the relatively unexploited 'adult' sector that Starbucks saw its clearest opportunity for innovation. Starbucks set out to create a range of high-quality products that were distinctive in shape, and especially appealing to people who had acquired a taste for coffee. A wholesome, appetizing and, at same time, slightly exotic taste experience was what Starbucks wanted to offer. An insight into possible consumer reaction to product and packaging was obtained by arranging for big groups, drawn from the relevant market segments, to meet in a social setting where reactions could be observed and impressions and comments recorded. The favours were often an 'acquired' taste and the products were typically consumed with alcoholic beverages, at the night clubs and restaurants, including fast food. Starbucks has maintained high-speed growth through continuous optimization of is product mix and constant technological innovation. It has also realized rapid expansion through capital injections. In addition, it had begun to follow a strategy of withdrawing from small markets with limited potential for its core products and to look for markets in countries with a major growth potential for coffee products. The main markets of Starbucks are the United States, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Germany. If there are few, large competitors in the industry, it is likely that this is due to high entry barriers. Conversely, an industry of many, smaller competitors is likely to be the result of lower entry barriers. The nature of competition for Starbucks differs from other industries. The main competitors of Starbucks are: tea, juice, soft drinks, and alcohol products. Competitive rivalry on both a price and a non-price basis is higher in the industry comprising the more, and smaller, competitors. If the product is mature and the industry is subject to 'shake-out', then competition will be more intense. The main competitors in the industry are Peet's, Caribou Coffee, the Second Cup, Coffee Station, etc. In general, Starbucks is well-positioned to take on this important global leadership role. It has the global resources and certainly has the technological capability. Clearly, some comapnies in the same industry are more successful than others, lending support to the view that competitive advantage is largely internally developed. Equally, however, there is a danger of ignoring the environment, as customers and their needs, competitors, changes in technology, etc., can play an important role in determining competitive success. Bear in mind Porter's 5 P's or five "competitive forces" which include: the threat of entry of new competitors (new entrants); the threat of substitutes; the bargaining
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Organizational culture and value of strategic leader
Organizational culture and value of strategic leader Sainsbury is one of the biggest organizations which have been selected to study and determined the management and leadership. Sainsbury was started in the year 1869and showed progress slowly with the passage of time and known to be the third largest supermarket in UK. It followed its career from its parent company J Sainsbury and then created number of different branches and the way of business namely Sainsburys Local, Bells Stores, Jacksons Stores and JB Beaumont, Sainsburys Online and Sainsburys Bank. The report is consists of three segments. The first part covered the Organizational culture and value of Strategic Leader. In second part consists of Leadership style and in third part the discussion is about organizational involvement and objectives obtained by leaders. The main objective of this report is to explain and express the useful skills of retail leadership at our own or any other different occupation. This report will keep a record of the type of personal leaderships used and established and to use them to resolve different critical circumstances. 1-Ethical and value based approach to leadership 1.1Organizational Culture and value of strategic leader In this section I have covers the detail on Organizational culture and value of Strategic Leader. It has been observed that the lives of organizational culture have been affected by the leaders and they are responsible for playing a dynamic role for organizational culture. There are many hurdles and problems, good and bad approach in an organization, things tends to follow suit down hill. An organizational culture is under the control of the leader and he has the authority responsibility to make changes and maintain the processes of the organization. And this is the very sensitive and chief task for him. The organizational culture is also affected by the working style of J Sainsbury as a supermarket and its campaigning through advertisements using media. Making Life Taste Better is the slogan of quality which expresses the culture of the J Sainsbury and what it is trying to do for its customers. Many of the loyal customers of J Sainsbury has a believe on the slogan and they support this organization because it gives product with a high quality standard, fresh and delicious taste with reasonable price as compared to other supermarkets and retailers. The team members of J Sainsbury are very cheerful helpful and devoting and they always ready to tell about the special offers in order to increase their sales and creating the interest of the customers. The team of Sainsbury gives a super customer service with a quick response. The store display contain an attractive look and a lots of leaflets that describes the types of services provided by other J Sainsbury stores like bank and initiating of the property agents. These advertisements help to encourage and attract the customers to think and take advantage of using the other services of J Sainsbury organization. This organization always work for the better quality services and there supermarket consists of a couple of Customer service desks where staff is available, that are always ready to help the customer who is in need, so that the customer dont need to look for the staff themselves without wasting of time. This is the way of J Sainsbury in providing the best services to their beloved customers keeping the family value and help to increase the research and development in the organization. This approach to customers gives a feeling love and care for them and the performance of J Sainsbury is different from the other retailers which showed a special feeling to their customers as they are treated as single individual in a supermarket. Leadership is always a hot topic for discussion like love, death, money and politics. While this topic remains under attention and its significant value in every business but it gives an unclear and puzzling theory. The definition of leadership is explained by countless numbers of different theories which explain the various aspects of leadership, but the problem is there is no full and common theory explaining the whole mission of leadership easily. One of the best ways in which We can enhance our understanding of leadership is to see how various students of the subject have defined leadership (Dessler 2001) In my opinion leaders influence plays a main role in an organizational culture. However it has been observed that the leaders are being controlled by the set and strong culture. But this type of culture could harm the leadership taking to a negative result. These driving forces may include for example, union behaviour. (Shivers-Blackwell, 2006, p. 1). So therefore the leader should not leave the organization while under the control of the pre-existing culture. For the new leader it is important to know and understand the main aim of an organizational culture this will help to prevent from being controlled by the culture. He should know the in and out of the organization and these factors are useful in maintaining the even flow of culture. To ensure an organization culture stays healthy I believe that the leader must take an active role. There are a number of ways in which a leader can accomplish this. Communication and planning is a key amongst all efforts to ensure a healthy culture. If these issues are left unrecognized, it can become too late for the leader to have an influence. 1.2 Legal, regulatory and ethical impact: The ethical and legal standings are regulated by the companies as they have been growing epidemically. The three separate entitles have been explained with backgrounds in different format including the process of regulation so that the organization could run smoothly. The J Sainsbury is known to be one of the leading retailers of UK should also take part in ethical business practices; this will help to achieve the belief and reliability of their customers. The establishment of Amazon .com has helped the consumers to shop online keeping their information in a privacy and confidentiality. Therefore the consumers can review and understand the process of using the information that J Sainsbury Plc uses. While considering the legal matters, the companys Terms of Use require the use spells out and what the consumers wants to use and expect from the organization website providers and in turn, and what will be the expectation gain from the consumers. There is an unstated approval for the Term of Use and other rules and guiding principles which could be seen in the website of company (such as the Privacy and the Security Policies. These Terms of Use include: Online conduct Privacy policy Trademarks Content (proprietary rights; distribution/uploading of third-party content; third-party content; and export) Age of Users Termination of Usage Password Security Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability Severability Jurisdiction Binding Arbitration Acknowledgement; and Modification Being the leader of online book industry, it is important that the company I chose should convene all legal requirements, ethical and regulatory guidelines and policies and make every attempt to certify the safety and privacy of its users/customers. . J Sainsbury Plc Terms of Use as well as its Privacy, Security and Copyright Policies, are the most effective policies which are reviewed and revised (and this is clearly stated in each of the policies) everyone deal with these matters and give guarantee to use the site under a legal and ethical manner. 1.3 Current and emerging social concerns and expectations : Bentley Hoffman of Honeywell the computer conglomerate, states that when companies are drafting codes of ethics they must strike a balance being sensitive to foreign cultures and their own internal sense of right and wrong. Those that do so will reap rewards (Davids, 1999). The need for a comprehensive, cohesive, and universal code of conduct for multinational corporations doing business internationally is paramount as it can help foster business contacts around the world, resulting in a facilitation of trade and an increase in profit (Payne, Raiborn and Askuik, 1997). Levi Strauss have set standards for working conditions in their foreign manufacturing facilities. Richard Woo a Levi company spokesman stated that in so doing it would help them meet their overall mission, which is to achieve responsible commercial success (Cottrill, 1996). Social capital is important for multinational corporations especially in Asian countries like China (guangxi) and Japan (kankei). Multi nationals which develop this social structure will gain potential competitive advantages in global markets (Hitt, Ho-uk, and Yucel, 2002). In terms of business ethics, Richard Bay Minerals (RBM), a Rio Tinto subsidiary are pro active by sending out a team of community development workers each day to support community development projects in the adjacent Mnonambi community so fostering good community relations (Kapelus, 2002). (Richter, and Buttery, 2002), argue that the gap between the haves, and the have nots, is widening therefore global firms are obliged to deal with ethics in cultural diverse areas. One of the personal factors shows a vital role which is social characteristic in every person. This factor help to create a link with others.The characteristics and communication plays a main role. The whole work and social exchange depend on communication. It also describes the giving out of ideas sharing with others, there feeling and resources.The result of misunderstanding and disagreement takes place when communication breaks. The listening and speaking are the main elements of communication. These two words make an equal part in the establishment of communally skilled information exchange. 2 Leadership styles 2.1- Strategic management and leadership: According to Useem (2001, p 297), Leadership is a matter of making a difference. It entails changing an organisation and making active choices among plausible alternatives, and depends on the development of others and mobilising them to get the job done. Warren Bennis states Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people who do the right thing. (Bennis, 1997). Similarly, a proverb says that leadership is doing the right thing; management is doing things right. The difference between the two is not as sharp as the saying would suggest, and both are required for effective corporate growth: leadership risk creates opportunities while management strictness turns them into tangible results. (www.1000ventures.com)  There are many arguments which suggest that managers and leaders are essentially one in the same thing, but I feel that an important distinction should be made between the two Leaders decide where to go, managers are the ones who facilitate the following.  This is supported by the likes of Bennis and Nanus (1985) and Kotter (1990) Kotter produced a useful table to highlight the differences between the two Management                                                                 Leadership Planning and Budgeting                                                          Establishing direction   Making detailed steps and timetables                              Developing a vision for the future   for achieving results                                                       and plans for achieving the vision Organising and staffing                                                          Aligning people   The allocation of tasks and staffing                                 Communicating the vision so that   To carry them out; also delegating                                   others understand it and agree with it   responsibility Controlling and Problem-solving                                 Motivating and inspiring   Monitoring the results of a plan,                                      Energizing people towards the vision   Identifying problems and solving them                             so that they overcome barrier Outcomes: order and predictability                             Outcomes: Change   Produces predictability so that others                              Produces definite changes such as   can rely on consistent results                                          new products, or new directions This is an important distinction to make as it helps us understand what sort of person is required to be an effective leader and following on from that, what then are the different traits of leader and what impact do different leaders with different styles have on different situations? 2.2 -Leadership styles and strategic decisions Features Autocratic Consultative Democratic Description Senior managers take the decisions with little involvement of junior employees Dictatorial, but decisions are taken in the best interests of the employees Running a business on the basis of majority decisions Key Features Set objectives Allocate tasks Leader retains control throughout Explain decisions Ensure employees social and leisure needs are met Encourages employees to take part in decision making Uses delegation Communication used One-way communication downwards from leader to subordinate Generally form leader downwards though some feedback takes place Extensive two-way-communication between senior and junior employees Circumstances in which style may be appropriate Useful when quick decisions are required or when large numbers of unskilled employees are involved Can appear democratic, but is really autocratic leadership with a human face Useful when complex decisions are made requiring a range of specialist skills There are three main styles of leadership. These are: Autocratic Democratic Lassez-faire. The autocratic style of leadership is the first style which gives approach in a controlled process means the leader is under the control and there is no thought of the students to run anything. This type of leadership style has its own ups and downs. The good of this is if you have a good strength of young and difficult students; then have to give a brief lesson to them or if the students wont reply to any type of leadership styles. The drawback of this style is if the student become stressed and scared with your style. It is useful if your level of confidence is less because if this is the remaining thing then they would not get down if they are already in this position. The other style of leadership is the democratic approach and this includes the involvement of the students in making of plans and decision and how their lesson could be run.  The positive point of democratic approach is that it always involves students and the leader will see what they like to be done and how to be done and whether the student has the ability to become a better leader. But on the other hand democratic approach is not suitable for it there are a number of students in one class or the time of lesson is really short. Therefore if the lesson is short then you have to extend the time of it. If you asked for the students contribution then you would not be able to start. The third style of leadership is the Lassez-faire approach. The Lassez-faire approach is not really leading. In this approach the students basically get to do what they want to do. They get little direction from the leader. This is an effective style to use when you are working with very good students (ability), when the students really want to do well for themselves and if you can trust the students. It should not be used if there are people in the class with limited experience, a big group or if there is difficult people in the group. 2.3 Adapting leadership styles: All these styles of leadership work in different situations and as a leader you have to change your style to suit the group that you are leading. For example if you are leading a group with limited experience you use the autocratic style, but if you have a really experienced group then the Lassez-faire style is the best. Now I will look at how you have to change your style of leadership when involved in different activities like racket, team and individual activities. When you are leading a racket sport you are really only working one on one. This allows you to use a democratic approach because the person you are leading is going to want to succeed. This allows you to let them look at what they want to do in the training session, and then you can put your own input into the session saying what you believe they should look at. If you are leading a team activity on the other hand you need to use the autocratic approach the reason that you will use this approach is because you need to get the whole team doing the same thing. This is important because you have to get the team working as a team at all times. Also if you are in charge of a whole group of people you need to be respected and maybe even feared. The best way to do this is to use the autocratic style of leading. Finally if you are leading someone in an individual sport that you can use the Lassez-faire approach because in an individual sport they will know what they have done wrong. They may need a little input from you as the leader but ultimately they will know how to improve their own performance. I think that all of the leadership styles are effective in different situations, but I would choose the autocratic style over the others if I had a choice. The reason that I would choose this is because an autocratic leader gets things done quickly and efficiently. If you are using the autocratic style you will get more things done. The reason for this is that everyone will be doing the same thing, so you will be able to get through more drills or exercises without people with the group. 3.1 Professionalism, mutual trust, respect and support In order to meet the service users needs, you need to establish  open, accurate and responsive communication with the service users and the staff as well as reviewing service delivery with continuous focus on improved communication, effectively and efficiently, which I believe I have become quite good at. Whilst on my article ship I have learnt to act in a professional, prompt, caring and respectful manner, basing my relationships with service users on trust and mutual respect. I believe in aggressively striving to identify and meet the individual needs of all of the service users. By working together for the common good to accomplish tasks and deliver the services to the client, while striving to make every individual within the department part of my team. You also really need to respect and embrace human differences, be non-judgemental and respect the clients wishes and beliefs. Whilst on my placement I have also learnt to take the clients needs very seriously and paying attention to the details that build a strong relationship between student and client. You always have to be available for any questions, respect the departments concerns and seek sensible practical solutions to any problems that arise. As a student you need to learn to be responsible for making sure phone calls are returned promptly, updating service users on the progress of their query or problem, and anticipate upcoming needs and issues. You have to evaluate any risks, and then devise strategies to deal with them in a manner which is consistent with the service users exposure and risk tolerance. This approach ensures that the service users operate from a position of confidence rather than one of anxiety. The size and organisational structure easily accommodates the service users specific needs and all of the staff are knowledgeable in many fields and can collaborate with other agencies as part of the team. The departments approach is straightforward, as they examine the objectives of each service user and allocate the necessary skills and resources to manage the matter effectively. Over the years, the department has demonstrated exceptional depth and skills in responding both individually and collectively to the changing and complex needs of the client. 3.2 -Leader focus and the achievement of objectives: Where there is no vision, the people perish Proverbs 29:12   The strategic vision is the heart of an organization. The strategic vision gives focus, meaning, direction and power to everyone within in the organization. The strategic vision tells the members of the organization where we are going The strategic vision gives life to the organization as the members walk in the vision. Without a strategic vision there is no direction, no purpose, no motivation and the members within the organization perish and die because the welfare of the organization becomes unfocused. The strategic vision provides a glimpse of possibilities and it is the capacity to look beyond the moment into the vast potential of tomorrow. It evokes deeper meaning and deeper commitment than the goals. The vision and the mission statements are the critical elements of a successful business.  The vision and mission are linked together.  The vision addresses the where the mission is.  The vision is a goal and the mission is a strategy. The vision and the mission are the guiding principles and values of the organization.  The values that the members have give direction to the organization and define the spirit in which things in the organization should be accomplished.  A commitment flows from the values because of the organizations commitment to the members, the members in turn, become committed to the organization. An organization can reach the future by focusing on where the organization is headed. Every organization must have an end to which they are headed.  To be an effective organization there must be a strategic vision because Where there is no vision, the people perish. 3.3 -Developing support and understanding: Being one of the most predominant styles of leadership, democratic style of leadership is more likely to produce effective group performance. However, there is no one best style of leadership. Different types of leadership may also be needed at different stages of business. Effective leaders use a collection of distinct styles, in the right measure, at the right time. National culture may also influence choice of leadership style. There are many variables which underlie the effectiveness of leadership in work organisations. The most effective form of leadership behaviour is a product of the total leadership situation. Leadership development should be long term issue for any business organisation. Now that we know leadership is a crucial ingredient through which people in all the companys relationship are inspired. It takes good leaders to set a direction for the company. It takes good leaders to stimulate the whole organisation to understand what success looks like and how it will be achieved and measured. Leaders set the tone, by their deeds as much as by their words. They ensure that the organisation behaves in line with its purpose and values. However, if leaders lack the confidence to achieve and carry out these approaches it will ultimately result in poor leadership. Employee job performance and satisfaction are heavily influenced by the levels of direction and support employees receive on a day-to-day basis. Poor leadership does not just hold employees back from reaching their full potential within an organisation; it sends them in the wrong direction and seriously impacts morale, employee retention, and financial performance in the process. 3.4 -Adapting strategic leadership styles to meet change: If an organization allows for a learning environment, the future competency potential of the employees and capacity for adapting to change will be unlimited. The Leadership-Participation Model states that open participation and a specific set of guidelines helps employees become a part of the corporate decision-making process. The Path-Goal theory states that leaders assist their workers to reach their own personal goals, as well as those of the company. By using the path-goal concept as a framework, managers can achieve many tasks, and their self-esteem needs will be satisfied. One of the leadership challenges faced by many managers is transactional leadership, which involves having to identify what are the employees needs and how to help them achieve the level of performance that results in satisfactory rewards (Robbins, 2003, 325-326). Transformational leadership is how managers encourage employees to earn self-actualization by providing individual attention and logical incentives. Efficient managers create dynamic leadership policies to gain employee commitment and loyalty. Managers who use interpersonal communication skills are more sensitive to employee needs, and provide ways for them to voice their opinions. Transformational leadership motivates employees to achieve results greater than originally planned for internal rewards like achievement and self-actualization (Bolton, 1996, 34-37). According to Fiedlers psychological reasoning, most employees focus on task completion and have a sense of accomplishment, so they follow task-oriented leadership. However, some employees also value supportive associations with managers, so they follow relationship-oriented leadership. Managers who use corporate task structure allow jobs to be structured according to problem-solving and feedback on success The most successful leaders care about employees personal advancement, growth and achievements, so they use an initiating structure where the manager defines the relationships, keeps the channels of communication open, focuses on goals, and explains how to do the jobs (DuBrin, 2000, 142-148). The five disciplines that Peter Senge (1990) says are the core disciplines in building the learning organization: personal mastery, mental models, team learning, shared vision, and systems thinking. Personal mastery is what Peter Senge describes as one of the core disciplines needed to build a learning organization. Personal mastery applies to individual learning, and Senge says that organizations cannot learn until their members begin to learn. Personal Mastery has two components. First, one must define what one is trying to achieve (a goal). Second, one must have a true measure of how close one is to the goal. (Senge, 1990) Mental models are the second of Senges five disciplines a mental model is ones way of looking at the world. It is a framework for the cognitive processes of our mind. In other words, it determines how we think and act. Team Learning Starts with dialogue, the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine thinking together. Shared Vision As people talk, the vision grows clearer. As it gets clearer, enthusiasm for its benefits grow. System Thinking System thinking is useful because, among other reasons, it can be diagrammed.  There are three simple system processes that can be easily defined and understood. Reinforcing Feedback Loop, Balancing Feedback Loop, Delays. Conclusion: Summing up all discussion I conclude that the pattern in which leadership and management react with each other is like leadership being centre of management and management being its circle. It is the obligation of every manager to be at the same time an inspiring leader. Being an efficient manager has actually proved to bring successful for the organization results whereas being an inspiring leader has not yet proved its importance. So an organization can progress if its manager is efficient but cannot progress, if its manager only relies to leadership characteristics. Leadership is an art that can be obtained and learned via experience. It is the difficulties via the years that one would face that will transform him into a leadership figure. In addition I consider leadership as nominal obligation of each and every manager. This is why in my conclusion I differentiate the term managers from administrators. A manager should be a leader. Should be able to inspire and motivate withou t using his power. He should be visionary whereas at the same time very detailed oriented.        I would suggest that a word like Management ship or Leadership should describe the actions of the 21st century manager, because our time calls for managers to be leaders.
Friday, October 25, 2019
History of Shakespeare :: Essays Papers
History of Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, England. His father, John Shakespeare, was a glover. He was very successful and well respected in society, as a mayor, town council man, and justice of peace. Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother, was from a wealthy family and with John Shakespeare, they had eight children. Shakespeare went to Stratford Grammar School where he studied the Greek and Latin, and grew to love to read. It is said that his formal education ended here. On November 27, 1582, Shakespeare married Ann Hathaway who was twenty-eight years old. They had their first daughter, Susanna, on May 26, 1583 and after two years they had a twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died at the age of eleven in 1596. There are no written documents or evidence of Shakespeare between the years 1585-1592. In 1593, after establishing himself as an actor and play writer, Shakespeare with the help of his friend, Henry Wriothsley who sponsored him, wrote two long poems. His first poem, "Venus and Adonius", was written in 1593 . Then in 1594, he wrote his second long poem, "Rape of Lucrece". During that year the theatres in London opened up again after the plague. Shakespeare began to work for the "Lord Chamberlain's Men" company who later became known as "The King's Men" in 1603 after King James took over. This company became the largest and most famous acting company in London, due to Shakespeare's plays and works. In 1599, "The Globe" theatre was built, a many of Shakespeare's plays were performed there, and soon other theatres followed such as "The Curtain" and "The Rose" theatres. As an actor, director, writer, and stockholder in his acting company, Shakespeare soon became a very wealthy man. In 1597, Shakespeare brought "New Place", which was a very large house for his family to live in. In 1611, Shakespeare left London and retired. On March 25, 1616, Shakespeare made a will and he died on April 23, 1616 at the age of fifty-two.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Modern Irony Essay
Since the beginning of time, man has attempted to unravel the seemingly infinite mysteries of life. The English playwright Tom Stoppard has written plays that address the existence of â€Å"fate†(or a predestined outcome for every human being) and controlling one’s own destiny. His plays also deal with the many other uncertainties that arise during a normal person’s life; such as sex, how we know things, etc. (Tom Stoppard) Stoppard’s utilization of satire and drawn parallels mirror the image of life’s faults and intricacies. His plays serve to show people the humor and irony that life presents. During the time that Stoppard wrote his first play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstein, society was experiencing a social upheaval. The late sixties was a time of experimentation and existentialism. People were asking questions about their very existence in a way never before seen. In this climate, Stoppard saw the opportunity to begin writing plays that dealt with the issues of the time (Overview of Tom Stoppard). He took a whimsical spin though, on the method in which he delivered it. He embarked on the continuing journey of a great literary tradition, but diverged from its path by ridiculing it. His desire to write plays was not a spontaneous venture; during this era, many people wanted to express their thoughts and feelings, and plays were a common medium. Stoppard observed this and pondered if success and knowledge could be his as well. The general question being asked around this time was â€Å"Why are we here? †Man has always sought an answer to this question, but now more than ever was it expressed in literature and plays. Stoppard’s craft shows a propensity for humor, which offers a more light-hearted viewpoint of this previously serious and mundane subject. Stoppard asks the question of not only â€Å"Why are we here? †but also â€Å"How are we here? †as well. He explores the intricacies of life in an attempt to derive a meaning. His comical touch alleviates the heavy association of philosophy though. Whether or not his question is answered is secondary to the method in which we view it. In Stoppard’s eyes, it is more important â€Å"to live†rather than to comprehend â€Å"why we live. †This approach brought fanfare to Stoppard, as society saw his style as fresh; and a tangible device to which they could relate. Literary history has had a heavy impact on Stoppard’s method and conceptual presentation. He admits to being swooned by such masterpieces as Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, and ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufock†by T. S. Elliot. The ideas that he extracted from these artists and their works helped him divulge his own style to which he could further literature. A parallel may be drawn between Waiting for Godot and Stoppard’s â€Å"Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead. †Both works feature two men, and their journey in existentialism. Beckett’s version has them waiting for a surreal character (Godot) that, in the end, never appears. The characters are portrayed as confused, and the play takes on an air of severe depression. The play is very much an appeal to the audience, as they too are overcome by this depression. The characters slowly fade away, emotionless and unexcitable. Stoppard’s â€Å"version†though has his characters embark on a journey; a fruitless journey, but a â€Å"goal†to meet none the less. Beckett disarms his audience, while Stoppard embraces them into his play; making the audience feel at home and comfortable. Stoppard diffuses the rather â€Å"heavy†atmosphere belied by Beckett with satire and a whimsical wit. For example, In â€Å"Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead,†Stoppard portrays the idea of â€Å"death†as a game. He does this in an attempt to show the audience that it is not to be feared. He achieves this by his satirical depiction of the internal â€Å"play†within â€Å"Hamlet†by Shakespeare. The characters in the â€Å"play†perish, and then the actual characters die in the exact same manner. The audience can identify with death, as all humans are concerned with their own demise. They take away though, a much less serious approach in viewing it. The other author, Elliot, often depicted his characters as stumbling and indecisive. One of his most famous works, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, deals with a man who is enamored with the variables and uncertainties of approaching a woman that he admires. In the poem, Prufrock realizes that only he cares about his decision, and whether he chooses to pursue her or not, will not matter. He sees himself as part of his own world; in which he is the â€Å"sole occupant. †He, sadly, is only coherent enough in his â€Å"world†though to realize how much he is potentially missing by not being completely immersed in it. He cannot solve this problem though, and continues wandering and pondering till the end of time. Stoppard took away from Elliot a similar stance to character development. He portrays his characters as aware, but not completely in tune with their surroundings. The effect is one of dismay, but comical as well. Stoppard’s portrayal is more humorous in nature, displaying them as bungling and unresponsive. This is exemplified in his play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead. His characters attempt to divulge the plan and their â€Å"purpose†as designated by the King (Claudius), but are unable to fully grasp its meaning. These literary greats do not contribute the fabulous humor that Stoppard has developed though. His humorous elements can best be equated to his passion for the â€Å"Theatre of the Absurd. †This type of theater came into popularity during the 1950s and 1960s; and was applied to plays that portrayed the human situation without purpose and with absurd plot elements. This form was a reemergence of an attempt towards awareness of man’s purpose in life; the sense of wonder that man has always had concerning how things work and why. In some respect, it was anti-theater, as it went against the basic premise of regular theater. It was illogical and usually had very little or no plot (Culik). Stoppard’s fascination with this art form had a profound impact on his own personal style. Sigmund Freud, a proponent of the Absurd, said, â€Å"In trying to burst the bounds of logic and language, the absurd theater is trying to shatter the enclosing walls of the human condition itself. â€Å"(Culik) This confirms the spatial concepts that the theater was attempting to portray, and Stoppard’s comedic element is based upon this illogical and removed nature. The play Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead is a satirical look upon the much more staunch play Hamlet. It delves into the lives of two supporting characters named â€Å"Rosencrantz†and â€Å"Guildenstein. †The characters ‘ unimportance is exemplified in the play by their lack of understanding and baffling thought patterns. This play shows Stoppard’s portrayal of â€Å"artificiality of theater. †The performance is not about the actual play, but the context of the play; the idea of attending the performance. The characters appeal directly to the audience, instead of becoming immersed in its story and plot. The effect is comical, as the play begins with them merely spinning coins and making bizarre implications towards the audience. Rosencrantz has spun the coin and received â€Å"heads†nearly 85 times. His humorous portrayal of the â€Å"law of averages†is his â€Å"justification†for his luck. This is the play’s first look into why things happen. The characters are unable to come to a proper conclusion though; and the path that Rosencrantz begins upon (the law of averages) cannot be farther removed from the truth. The play continues with these hilarious situations, finally having the pair receive their mission from Claudius the King. The pair ponders why they have received the mission, and why they must complete it. Stoppard constantly asserts that a â€Å"play is being read. ;†instead of allowing the reader to delve into a story. He makes the reader think of Hamlet, and its tragic implications; and applies a humorous tone to it. In the end of the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are supposedly murdered (the English king is instructed to execute them, but their actual deaths are not witnessed), but instead of a grand exit, they merely fade away. Stoppard shows through this that the characters had served only a menial and insignificant purpose. The reader is unable to sympathize with the characters’ demise, as the play is portrayed with a comical tone. This disservice to death with satire is both eye widening and thought provoking. A person is assaulted with the moral implications of death, instead of offering a deaf sympathy to the character’s grief. Stoppard’s ability to allow the playgoers to analyze what they feel is his greatest achievement in the work; not the story itself. Stoppard’s play Arcadia is another intelligent play that provokes the reader to appraise man’s life long debacles. In the play, the characters attempt to grasp the mysteries of sex, and a path towards knowledge that leads to an understanding of the future. The latter is portrayed as an equation developed by Thomasina, in an attempt to control her own destiny. Her professor, Septimus, also contributes to the equation by way of a lesson to his student, Thomasina. He explains to her that the loss of knowledge isn’t the end of the world; as it is rediscovered eventually in the future. This subject is an explanation of humanity’s technological progression and our knowledge. The play attempts to allow the reader to grasp the many unknown or misunderstood concepts in life. â€Å"Mysteries†such as sex can only be acquired through practice and progression of time. Stoppard appeals to the general public that things cannot be instantly understood; they must be studied and experimented with to fully grasp the full meaning. These mysteries will eventually be solved, but it shall take time and patience; nothing is instantaneous in life. Stoppard’s inclusion of Thomasina’s â€Å"equation†is both humorous and practical in its implication. Thomasina’s goal was to create an equation that could more or less tell the future. It is humorous to surmise that a simple equation can predict the future with numbers. The limitless variables and uncertainties in life will forever impede such an â€Å"advancement. †Stoppard attempts to explain that life itself is intangible; it can neither be predicted nor reduced to a simple equation. Stoppards’ plays contain many useful outlooks on how a person should view their life on earth. People are always concerned with the future and their own death (and when it will occur). Stoppard believes that man shouldn’t view life with such a critical eye; and instead should accept certain facts to be true. Man is powerless concerning the ability to control life. There are many uncertainties in life that are both humorous and infinitely escapable to the human mind. His plays show inept characters driven into the ground by their consumption of the â€Å"study of life. †Stoppard suggests through his characters’ comical adventures that life is for living, and the consequence of a life spent longing and pondering equates to a life disenfranchised of pulp and meaning. The â€Å"meaning†which man longs for cannot be quantified; it must be experienced to break the surface of significance. Works Cited Stoppard, Tom. Arcadia. Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. â€Å"Tom Stoppard. †DISCovering Biography. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 17 January 2005 http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Proud To Be An American Essay
I am proud to live in America. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave. We have the freedom to vote, practice the religion of our choice, speak freely, and freely share our thoughts or ideas through the press. Our country is the #1 diverse country in the world. There are several reasons why I believe America is a great country to live in. If you are an American citizen over eighteen, you have the right to vote. I think it is important to allow citizens to vote because it allows them to have a say in our government, whether you’re rich, poor, different cultures, or religions your vote still counts. Our voting rights are a given as an American citizen. Our citizens voting influences laws, leaders, and other important matters. The freedoms our soldiers have fought for, including voting, are still just as important today as it was many years ago. These rights serve as a very important matter in our country, and every citizen should be grateful for having them. We have the right to speak freely and say anything we want without getting punished. We can express our selves everyday and be proud of what we do or do not believe in. Another way we can express our individualism is through the press. We can speak up about the truth, through the media including that of the internet and press. Another reason I am proud of my country is because of diversity of culture, opinion, and race. The United States of America is sometimes considered the ‘melting pot’ of the world. It has that nickname because a variety of people from all over the world have come to America to have equality. America has equality because people with different cultures, opinions,style, race, and many more, are not judged unfairly or treated differentally from other people.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Separation of Powers in New Zealand
Separation of Powers in New Zealand Free Online Research Papers The three branches; the executive, the legislature and the judiciary of government, should be separate, unique and equal. There should be a clear separation between the people and functions of the legislature, executive and judiciary. As Montesquieu said â€Å"that each function should be exercised individually by three institutions; When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty, because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws to execute them in tyrannical manner. Again there is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from legislative and executive.†However this does not mean that the bodies should have no power over each other, what is required is a â€Å"check and balance†system between them. If the branches were completely separate it would be unworkable, particularly as the Parliament is Supreme. There should be sufficient interplay between the branches, for example, the executive proposes legislation, Parliament debates and passes the law, and the judiciary upholds the Acts of Parliament. In the United States there is a formal separation of powers, with a deliberate system of checks and balances. Even in a constitution built on principle of the separation of powers, the separation cannot be absolute. There is separation of personnel between the Executive and the Legislature. The legislature controls the levying of taxes and allocation of the funds and can therefore cut off funds to executive policies and project of which Congress do not approve. The Supreme Court of United States has the power to declare legislation unconstitutional. Both the Supreme Court and the President are subject to removal by impeachment in the legislature, Hubbard, Thomas and Varnham, (2010). In New Zealand there is no formal separation of powers. Legislature/Executive There is no separation between the executive and legislature nor do many of the checks and balances exist. Hubbard et al. (2010).There is no separation of personnel between the Executive and the Legislature. The Governor-General is formal head of the executive branch and required to assent legislation before it becomes law. The MMP electoral system and the strong select committee system to ensure that the Executive does not dominate the legislature There is evidence of mixing function between the Executive and the Legislature. The legislature’s ability to delegate its law making powers to executive branch, â€Å"Parent Statutes†is the specific example of delegation of powers, McDowell and Webb, (2002). Legislature/Judiciary There is no common membership between the two branches of government. In all circumstances Judiciary is considered to be subordinate to Parliamentary control and Parliament can exercise its supreme law making power to check judicial decision. Parliamentary supremacy is clear as it may enact any law that it pleases and courts must apply the law and cannot question it. There is no power by which Judiciary can exercise any control over legislature. But courts can only exercise law making powers by interpreting legislation, developing legal principles through the common law and precedent and pronouncement of fundamental rights, McDowell and Webb, (2002). Executive/judiciary In limited circumstances, there may be an overlap in membership between them, e.g. High Court Judges may be called upon to exercise an executive function as Royal Commissioner for a commission of enquiry. On the other hand Judges are appointed by the members of the executive ( the Chief Justice is nominated by Prime Minister and Cabinet). Executive functions are capable of being limited by judiciary by way of administrative law and judicial review, McDowell and Webb, (2002). Conclusion As from all above it is clear that the New Zealand government system lack full application of theory separation of powers due to Westminster system. How ever it is not possible to adopt full separation of power but it is necessary and important to have close and coordinated interaction and must have check and balance system among the three parts of government to work effectively. References Hubbard, J., Thomas, C. Varnham, S. (2010). Principles of law for New Zealand business students (4th ed.). North Shore, New Zealand: Pearson. McDowell, M. Webb, D. (2002). The New Zealand legal system, structures, Processes legal theory (3rd ed.). Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis Butterworths. Montesquieu, C.L. (1748) Esprit des Lois, Book XI Ch. VI. Research Papers on Separation of Powers in New ZealandAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaQuebec and CanadaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperCapital PunishmentComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Project Managment Office SystemNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in Capital
Monday, October 21, 2019
How to use your time effectively when youre in between jobs
How to use your time effectively when youre in between jobs For most of us, our career paths are not a simple straight line. Instead, there are multiple twists and turns- some planned and others unexpected- along with diversions, reroutes and new and unexpected directions that appear as time goes by. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average time people spend at their jobs is now only about 4.2 years. Our paths also include times in which we’re gainfully employed and times at which we find ourselves in between jobs, either by choice or circumstance. For most people, filling the time in between jobs can be a real challenge. We want to make sure that we’re using this time to our advantage, but figuring out how to do so effectively- especially if it’s a longer time period than we’d like it to be- can be difficult. With all of this weighing on your shoulders, it’s really in your best interest to try to structure and use your time effectively when you’re in between jobs- both for yo ur long-term health and happiness as well as to help set you up for your next job.Build and maintain your networkIn today’s job market, cold calling and responding to general job ads is way less effective than it used to be. These days, a significant percentage of new jobs are obtained by leveraging your network, which includes your personal and professional contacts. That said, are you taking full advantage of your network? While you’re in between jobs, building and maintaining your contacts is an invaluable use of your time, and who knows- it may not be long before one of your connections comes up with a job opening that perfectly fits what you need and can offer.Look for contract/freelance workJust because you’re between full-time jobs doesn’t mean your time has to be completely work free. In today’s job market, many companies utilize contract and freelance staff for a wide range of projects. Consider seeking out opportunities in your field or i n an area that fits your background and skill set; not only will it provide you with some income, it will also help fill in any lengthy time gaps on your resume- and who knows, if you do a particularly good job on a project you might be considered for a longer-term position when one becomes available.Take a classKeep your mind and skills sharp while in between jobs by taking a class. You can pursue a subject in your professional field- which may help you during your job hunt- or you can take a class in a completely unrelated subject that interests you. Either way, your time will be structured, educational, and well spent.VolunteerAnother good use of your time and energy in between jobs is to volunteer- not only will you be helping to support a worthy cause, you’ll also be keeping active and may possibly even acquire some new skills. Also, you may discover some completely new interests, which may help reshape your career aspirations.Create a backup planIf things just donâ€⠄¢t seem to be going your way and the amount of time that you’re unemployed is becoming a real issue, then it may be a valuable use of your time to come up with a backup plan. Take some time to research alternate fields of interest, industries where your existing background and skills may be easily transferable, and jobs that seem hot right now and have an abundance of openings. It may turn out that your backup plan pans out and makes you happier and more fulfilled than you previously were.Just because you’re in between jobs doesn’t mean that your time can’t be well spent. Use the strategies and advice presented here to make sure you’re using your time effectively.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Education News Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian Americans
Education News Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian Americans Education News: Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian Americans Problems with discrimination and racism have always plagued social and cultural groups. Consequently, these issues have drawn continuous social and political debate. In the historical fight for equal rights and fair treatment for every one, courageous people resist any kind of social, gender or religion discrimination. A recent case connected with Harvard University alleges that the school maintained discriminatory policies toward Asian-Americans. This story has become a global scandal. The chancellor and the administration of the university were criticized for holding Asian Americans to a much higher set of entrance requirements than other candidates. It was stated that the university used fixed-quotas which were aimed to make the number of Asian-American candidates lower than other applicants. Such a bias may lead to the supposition that the educational potential of Asian-Americans is lower when compared to white students. However, the figures state just the opposite. Its been estimated that the results for Asian-Americans in general are about four hundred and fifty points higher in comparison with students of Afro-American origin, up to two hundred and seventy points higher than the result of Spanish students, and one hundred and forty points higher than white students (Belkin, 2015). So the educational potential of Asian-Americans exceeds the possible stereotype of their poor educational skills and academic incompetence. Sixty-four organizations filed a complaint accusing Harvard University of discrimination against Asian-Americans. The complaint alleges that â€Å"Many studies have indicated that Harvard University has been engaged in systemic and continuous discrimination against Asian-Americans during its very subjective ‘Holistic’ college admissions process†(Belkin, 2015). This anti-racism campaign aims to carry out an investigation at the federal level. It also demands that Harvardâ€Å"immediately cease and desist from using stereotypes, racial biases and other discriminatory means in evaluating Asian-American applicants†(Belkin, 2015). Harvards general counsel, Robert Iuliano, insisted that the procedure for accepting the students into the university is in accordance with the law. The educational establishment firmly states that apart from paying close attention to entry exams results, only personal qualities such as leadership skills and extracurricular activities participation are taken into account. Mr Iuloano specially underlined that, in terms of creating a multinational environment in class, a large number of lecturers and students should be admitted to the university. He highlighted that the number of minority applicants rose from 18% during the last ten years up to 21% nowadays. Still the difference doesnt seem that much significant. The group of the initiators stand firmly for the idea, that the percent of the Afro-American students should be much higher (Belkin, 2015). Many studies blame Harvard for using a highly subjective selection policy. Its obvious that the legal complaint against the university is a result of long-standing offenses against the Asian-American community and the mistreatment of Asian-American students. In any case, holding unfair and biased attitudes can never be viewed as a constructive policy. Even the slightest expression of anger and aggression toward people from minority groups is highly likely to cause alienation, and even lead to serious racial conflicts. One possible way out of the current unfavorable situation may lie in taking practical steps to reject all the national stereotypes regarding different racial groups. For only through decreasing social and racial tension can the aim of maintaining favourable balance between students of various races can be reached.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Women, crime, and criminology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Women, crime, and criminology - Assignment Example Violations of gender roles were treated in the 19th century by various charitable missions and voluntary social work projects that focused on instilling moral conscience and virtues into wayward girls. Social control over girls primarily targeted status violations, since girls are not as frequently involved in violent crime. Status violations include such things as resisting home or school authority, becoming pregnant, running away (Gelsthorpe & Sharpe, 2006). An overwhelming number of girls reformatories and training schools were established in the early 20th century, 23 established between 1910-1920, and only five established in each decade of the half century prior to that (Schlossman & Wallach, 1985, p. 70). They basically tried to isolate the young women from all males. Into the 20th century, girls were thought to need kind guidance rather than punishment, unlike boys, but they have also been thought to be more difficult to handle. They have been seen as being more emotionally unstable, more vulnerable to bad influence, more psychiatrically challenged, and more stubborn, yet less criminally inclined. Their efforts to engage in freedom beyond the socio-culturally and religiously encouraged gender role expectations were routinely seen from a medical model of pathology and a religious model of temptation into sin. In the past century, status offences revolved around their sexuality (Gelsthorpe & Sharpe, 2006). Currently, the tendency is to criminalize their resistance, language, and even the way they dress and to spread great concern that young teen girls are increasingly turning to drugs, alcohol and violent crime, instead of only status offenses. Young women have relocated their social activities from home to the more publicly visible streets and clubs, a move that has set off moral alarms in society. Society has responded, most
Friday, October 18, 2019
The effects of a divorce on the cognitive and social development of Essay
The effects of a divorce on the cognitive and social development of adolescents - Essay Example Intact families may also be undergoing the same dysfunctional environment, as do the families to be divorced. A phenomenal rise in divorce rates in the developed countries during the 1960s and 1970s made nations tighten the divorce laws. Studies showed that children of divorced parents experienced more emotional and behavioral problems than children who live with both biological parents. It was a widely accepted perception that marital disruption makes adolescents more vulnerable to problems. This led to the formulation of a series of legal reforms and social policies to increase and enforce child support system. With the help of professional peer reviewed journals and online database, this paper will determine the effects of a divorce on the cognitive and social development of adolescents. Adolescents’ response to parental divorce has been focus of research for many sociologists and psychologists. These responses have significant effect on their behavioral patterns, social development, their moods, and anxieties. There is convincing evidence that children of divorce experience more psychological, social and academic difficulties than the peers from intact families. The old school of thought believed that parental divorce was an event which, affected children after the divorce had actually taken place. Recently, family researchers look at marital disruptions as a continuous process that occurs much before the marriage dissolves and may continue long after the divorce takes place (Sun, n.d.). Bogenschneider, Kaplan & Morgan (1993) quote from a review of 92 studies of divorce undertaken by Amato & Keith (1991) which involved 13000 children. According to the review, children of divorce experience lower levels of well-being than children from intact families across several domains. According to Researcher Sun at Ohio State
Underwater Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Underwater Communication - Essay Example Underwater Communication The paper is aimed to present the different methods and forms of underwater communication.To communicate with the surface, the diver uses tools such as MK 12 SSDS, the MK 21 MOD 1, or the MK 20 MOD 0, both voice communications and line-pull signals. The voice communication is the primary means and the line-pull signals are used secondary tools of communication. For diver-to-diver communication, topside intercom, diver-to-diver hand signals, and slate boards are used (Dietrich, 1999, 6-19). The diver intercommunication systems are composed of diver’s earphones, microphone, the communication cable for each diver, the surface control unit, and the tender’s speaker and microphone. These systems allow the communication from the control station to a maximum of three divers. With voice correction circuitry feature, the system is the primary choice for tasks and activities that involve the need to communicate underwater. Another way of communication used by the divers is the li ne-pull signalling which is commonly a distinct pull or a series of sharp pulls on the line from the top to the diver. The said form of communication is based on the needs of the group and the objective of the activity, thus, most signals are established prior to the implementation (Dietrich, 1999, 6-19). Another type of underwater communication is the underwater acoustic communication. The technology works through underwater acoustic channels and is classified on the basis of the methods for compensating effects of multipath and phase variations. The underwater acoustic communication systems are divided into incoherent and coherent detection systems. The example of incoherent systems is the DATS or digital acoustic telemetry. Coherent digital receiver systems make use of specifically localized components to be able to achieve high data rates in the presence of ISI or intersymbol interference which usually affect the quality of communication. This is achieved through the use of special signal processing techniques to compensate other factors such as ISI. There are numerous methods employed and combined for application on goal-specific needs for underwater activities that require the acoustic communication techniques (Klemm, 2004, p.832). The application of underwater acoustic communic ation includes diving, underwater navigation in different types of vehicles and vessels, and even marine animals such as mammals. The underwater communication in mammals is similar to any other technology in underwater communication since there is a sender and a receiver of information. There are two types of underwater communication methods in mammals, one is that of a single sender and multiple receivers who reacts to the message and another is a complex exchange of information among different individuals. Common examples of the animals that utilize the method of underwater acoustic communication are dolphins and certain kinds of seals that use sonar for communication, navigation and hunting food (McGregor, 2005, 390). This method is also used by underwater vessels for navigation and exploration specifically in the deep waters. Sonar is a common means of communication in vessels. In the advent of technology though, other forms communication networks are established and used (Dietr ich, 1999). These forms of communication are included in the next classification. Wireless Underwater Communication Systems Wireless underwater commun
Postmodernism in animation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Postmodernism in animation - Research Paper Example Baudrillard and Frederic Jameson to popular animation series such as Beavis and Butt-head, Drawn Together and Harvey Birdman that aimed to target adult audiences with their content and themes. The first part of the paper intends to explore the specific theories presented by commentators on postmodernism, in order to apply the elements of the concepts with regards to the animated television series under discussion thereby concluding that aspects of postmodernism and its cultural components are visible in the animated representations of popular culture. Lyotard’s description and assessment of the world, in his essay titled â€Å"The Postmodern Condition†puts forward the limitations of believing in the positivity associated with a social and cultural agreement, thereby, postulating that postmodernism should in fact strive to work against the foundations of this widespread consensus which is an unattainable or utopian state due to the aspects related to the emergence and progress of popular culture which preaches plurality rather than singularity, this assertion led to the development of the concept of metanarratives and recognized the need to promote knowledge that is held by the general population rather than what is advocated by dominant cultural and political forces through the means of Grand narratives (til B.A-prà ³fs and Bjà ¶rnsson 2006). However, for Baudrillard (1994) the notions of postmodernism are associated with the representation of what he terms as hyperreality, such that in the society of today symbols or signs are no longer associable to their existence in reality but due to the emergence of a simulacrum can be traced to the subsistence of other elements. Perhaps, the most viable link of Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality can be traced to the projections of media such as film and television which create the hyperreality and then propogate it (til B.A-prà ³fs and Bjà ¶rnsson 2006). With its comprehensions of society and culture, postmodernism has
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Time Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Time Management - Essay Example Instead, it focuses on implementation of strategies that are involved in the process of time allocation. This paper explores issues regarding time management in nursing profession, through elaboration of strategies involved. Numerous empirical investigations have indicated that nurses should develop a habit of arriving early in their workplaces. Therefore, by arriving early, nurses get enough time to read reports, hand cover sheets, organizes their work and settle their minds (Woogara, 2012). Moreover, apart from arriving early, they can also develop a habit of making notes for their personal use. These notes are obtained from hand cover sheets and reports. In fact, they can also develop lists or grids containing patients’ names and related tasks. Besides, these notes incorporate a list of activities to be undertaken during the day, and objectives that should be achieved (Woogara, 2012). Nonetheless, nurses should estimate time required for completing each task, and this can p revent misallocation of time on some tasks, thereby neglecting others. Given that nursing is a highly challenging profession, there are chances of having numerous tasks, which cannot be completed within the working hours. Moreover, this leads to increases changes in prioritization of these tasks (Fedor, 2013). For instance, changes in prioritization of tasks occur in situations where patients need urgent attention. Nevertheless, it is wise to consider the pace of tasks in nursing practice, which can lead to burning out and stress. Therefore, time management techniques are designed in ways that facilitate achievement of objectives and preventing burning out or stress (Fedor, 2013). In this case, time management techniques are subdivided into seven strategies, which include: Planning Nursing profession has an aspect of unpredictability; thus, it calls for setting strategies and planning on ways to undertake various tasks (Tucker, 2013). The nurse is required to make necessary plans su ch as competing patients’ paperwork, establishing ways to deal with patients’ needs, making submissions of laboratory requests and attending staff meetings (Tucker, 2013). Task that are completed are noted in a â€Å"to-do-list,†thereby helping nurses to stay focused. In this case, nurses are able to ensure that time is not wasted. Nurses are urged to assess their lists in order to modify it through deletion or addition of items based on their importance and urgency (Tucker, 2013). Therefore, planning enables nurses to manage their time and reduce chances of forgetting important things. Prioritization Prioritization of tasks can facilitate management of time, thereby enabling nurses to attend to their tasks depending on level of urgency (Woogara, 2012). In this case, nurses should arrange tasks to be undertaken during the day based on their priorities in order to allow them identify tasks that can be postponed (Woogara, 2012). For instance, care of patients and their satisfaction should be highly prioritized by nurses. Therefore, they are supposed to complete tasks that are highly prioritized, thereby eliminating chances of forgetting or delaying tasks (Woogara, 2012). On the other hand, nurses are urged to revisit
Coca-Cola Company versus PepsiCo, Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Coca-Cola Company versus PepsiCo, Inc - Essay Example In 2009, the companies work under the 401k pension plan which provides insurance advantage on the medical requirements of the employees. In Coca-Cola the contributory plan is done by both the employer and the employees where the employer enjoys the benefit of taxation for their employees. The pension plan of PepsiCo is based on the willingness of the employees as the benefits are availed by both the full-time and international employees. The rates used by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo for calculating the pension amounts are rate of return on assets, rate of compensation, and rate of discount. For the year 2008, the expense discount rate and the rate of return on planned assets for Coca-Cola was 5.8% and 7.75%. The medical benefits for the retiree were calculated based on the available rates. PepsiCo had a discount rate of 5.7% on all US beneficiaries and 5.2% on foreign workers. The expected rate of return for PepsiCo in 2008 was 7.7%. Retirement rewards calculated were often based on the co mpensation rate for employees. Recent events in corporate finance have depicted the importance of efficient administration. The need to fund corporate pension plans have made many executives to offers offer defined constitution plans as because of the recent changes in IFRS. Whereas Coca-Cola have rejected such approach and have preferred the plan of cash balance plan design as it offered risk-free benefits to the employees and made the employees secured. Coca-Cola was a part of multi-employer pension plans of US, but from 2012 the company opts to change the accounting methodology for determining the market related value of assets for the defined benefit pension plans. Coca-Cola sponsors to the pension plans covering all US employees and has made necessary assumptions to determine the pension expense and other related obligations. As per the assumption the discount rates would be related to the present value liabilities and the expected long-term rate would relate to planned assets. The company decided to periodically revise asset allocation so as to improve returns and manage risks. PepsiCo is one of those major employers who are still planning to offer their new employees a final salary pension. In 2012, PepsiCo decided to decrease the fair value of pension so as to reduce the future employee benefit costs. The company made certain changes in their US Pension plans, which stated that employees earning benefit under the pension plans as stated in IFRS, were not eligible for the company matching contributions on the 401k contributions. The annual pensions is to be calculated based on 4 components, i.e. the value of benefits earned by employees during their working hours, the increase in liability due to time , other gains and losses and the expected return on assets which was based on pension plan investment strategy and the long-term rates of return by asset class. These schemes were essential to plan a secure retirement for the employees and to meet the futu re expectation of the management. Answer 2. The Coca-Cola Company In 2012 the company’s total pension expense related to defined benefit plans were $251million. The company’s primary US plan in 2012 represented 59% and 64% of the Company’s consolidated pension benefit obligations and pension assets. The pension expense is expected to decrease by $60 million in 2013 by the management because of expected $640million of contributions to be made by the
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Time Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Time Management - Essay Example Instead, it focuses on implementation of strategies that are involved in the process of time allocation. This paper explores issues regarding time management in nursing profession, through elaboration of strategies involved. Numerous empirical investigations have indicated that nurses should develop a habit of arriving early in their workplaces. Therefore, by arriving early, nurses get enough time to read reports, hand cover sheets, organizes their work and settle their minds (Woogara, 2012). Moreover, apart from arriving early, they can also develop a habit of making notes for their personal use. These notes are obtained from hand cover sheets and reports. In fact, they can also develop lists or grids containing patients’ names and related tasks. Besides, these notes incorporate a list of activities to be undertaken during the day, and objectives that should be achieved (Woogara, 2012). Nonetheless, nurses should estimate time required for completing each task, and this can p revent misallocation of time on some tasks, thereby neglecting others. Given that nursing is a highly challenging profession, there are chances of having numerous tasks, which cannot be completed within the working hours. Moreover, this leads to increases changes in prioritization of these tasks (Fedor, 2013). For instance, changes in prioritization of tasks occur in situations where patients need urgent attention. Nevertheless, it is wise to consider the pace of tasks in nursing practice, which can lead to burning out and stress. Therefore, time management techniques are designed in ways that facilitate achievement of objectives and preventing burning out or stress (Fedor, 2013). In this case, time management techniques are subdivided into seven strategies, which include: Planning Nursing profession has an aspect of unpredictability; thus, it calls for setting strategies and planning on ways to undertake various tasks (Tucker, 2013). The nurse is required to make necessary plans su ch as competing patients’ paperwork, establishing ways to deal with patients’ needs, making submissions of laboratory requests and attending staff meetings (Tucker, 2013). Task that are completed are noted in a â€Å"to-do-list,†thereby helping nurses to stay focused. In this case, nurses are able to ensure that time is not wasted. Nurses are urged to assess their lists in order to modify it through deletion or addition of items based on their importance and urgency (Tucker, 2013). Therefore, planning enables nurses to manage their time and reduce chances of forgetting important things. Prioritization Prioritization of tasks can facilitate management of time, thereby enabling nurses to attend to their tasks depending on level of urgency (Woogara, 2012). In this case, nurses should arrange tasks to be undertaken during the day based on their priorities in order to allow them identify tasks that can be postponed (Woogara, 2012). For instance, care of patients and their satisfaction should be highly prioritized by nurses. Therefore, they are supposed to complete tasks that are highly prioritized, thereby eliminating chances of forgetting or delaying tasks (Woogara, 2012). On the other hand, nurses are urged to revisit
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Insider Trading Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Insider Trading - Research Paper Example In Martha Stewart case, Martha avoided a loss of $ 46000 by selling her shares which is duly covered by the fine she was subjected to; Moreover, she lost a great deal of money as a tradeoff for her legal troubles. Furthermore, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s stock price fell and Martha was banned to serve as an officer or director of a public company for five years. Peter Bacanovic, on the other hand, was barred from working in securities industry along with a $ 75000 fine. These penalties are enough to set an example for the public. SEC can and should take measures to prevent such incidences before their occurrence. They can do so by eliminating the opportunity to insider trading because no matter what the penalty, such violations are very appealing to people as their upside is extremely lucrative. â€Å"Research shows that the certainty of punishment, rather than its severity, as well as how particular punishments are perceived, that most greatly impacts whether criminal sanctions deliver a potent â€Å"message†to would-be lawbreakers†(Berman, 18). Control person provision suggests certain internal controls that would raise the bonding cost. By incurring bonding costs, a firm’s cost of capital will be reduced. Insider trading leaves behind agency cost and since investors cannot detect insider trading within a firm, they adopt a discounting method to value the firm’s stock that leads to a raise in the firm’s cost of capital. So in essence, incurring bonding cost would reduce the cost of capital which would send a strong signal to the investors that the firm has taken extraordinary measures to control insider trading. So in short SEC should impose the control person provision which would encourage the application of internal
Monday, October 14, 2019
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhancement of Curcumin
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhancement of Curcumin Development and Evaluation of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Bioavailability Enhancement of Curcumin CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.2 LITERATURE REVIEWED ON DRUG Chirio, et.al (2011) formulated Curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles of fatty acids (FA) via coacervation technique based on FA precipitation from their sodium salt micelles in the presence of polymeric non-ionic surfactants and found higher entrapment efficiency and lowest possible cytotoxicity. Prashar, et.al (2011) studied the various biological effects and other aspects of the Curcumin, herbal remedy and dietary spice. According to them Curcumin is a lipophilic molecule and rapidly permeate cell membranes and act by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, induction of analysis, inhibition of transformation of normal cells to tumor cells and inhibition of invasion of metastasis. A number of animal studies have shown that Curcumin has a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect in colon, duodenal, stomach, esophageal and oral carcinogenesis. Curcumin possess various other activities like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-coagulant, anti-fibrotic, anti-mutagenic, anti-fertility, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-protozoan, anti-viral etc and concluded that Curcumin is an effective bioactive agent. The low water solubility and poor bioavailability of Curcumin can be overcome by various structural modifications. Stability aspect shows better effect and less toxicity offering bet ter pharmacodynamic characteristics. Choudhary, et.al (2012) studied the various potential therapeutic effects of Curcumin and reported that the research towards nanoparticles encapsulated Curcumin should be strengthened to improve bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in treatment of various disorders. Wang, et.al (2012) formulated Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles via solvent injection method using stearic acid and lecithin as lipid, tween 80 as surfactant and chloroform as cosolvent. The prepared SLNs were evaluated for various parameters like entrapment efficiency, drug loading, zeta potential, particle size, x-ray diffraction, in-vitro(via dialysis bag method) and in-vivo(in Balb/c mice) drug release and it was found that average size of C-SLNs was found to be 190 nm with zeta potential value of -20.7 mV and 75% drug entrapment efficiency. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the amorphous nature of the encapsulated Curcumin. The release profile of C-SLLNs was an initial burst followed by sustained release and the Curcumin concentration in plasma suspension were significantly higher than those obtained with Curcumin alone, following C-SLNs, all the tissue concentrations of Curcumin increased, especially in lung and liver and it was found that in animal model of asthma, C -SLNs effectively suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory cell infiltration and also significantly inhibited the expression of T-helper-2-type cytokines, such as interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared to the asthma group and Curcumin-treated group. These observations implied that C-SLNs could be a promising candidate for asthma therapy. Zheng, et.al (2013) formulated solid lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate Curcumin, by blending liquid lipids (Sefsol-218Â ®) with various solid lipids (Dynasan 114Â ®, Dynasan 118Â ®, Compritol ATO 888, Precirol 5ATO, Glyceryl monostearate, stearic acid and Hexadecanoid acid, Pluronic F68) via high pressure homogenization technique and found that the particle size decreased during the high shear process, and high pressure homogenization ensured the homogeneity of the nanoparticles. They also found that the Poloxamer 188 played a large role in the small and stable lipid nanoparticle system and contributed to the improved incorporation efficiency of Curcumin and concluded that suitable amount of liquid lipid when blended reduced the particle size of solid lipid nanoparticles and stabilized the system with improved dispensability and chemical stability in aqueous systems and exhibited sustained release and prolonged cell growth inhibition and cellular uptake in cancer cells as compare d to unformulated free Curcumin and the relative bioavailability significantly increase after intravenous administration in rats. Kakkar, et.al (2013) prepared and evaluated Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles in the experimental paradigm of cerebral ischemia (BCCAO model) in rats and found that there was an improvement of 90% in cognition and 52% inhibition of acetylcholinesterase versus cerebral ischemic group. Neurological scoring improved by 79%. Hence, study indicates protective role of Curcumin against cerebral ischemic insult; provided it is packaged suitably for improved brain delivery. Sun, et.al (2013) prepared Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (C-SLNs) by high-pressure homogenization by blending liquid lipid Sefsol-218Â ® with the solid lipids and found that the high shear process, and high pressure homogenization ensured the homogeneity of the nanoparticles thereby improving the dispersibility and chemical stability of Curcumin, prolonging its antitumor activity and cellular uptake and enhancing its bioavailability. The morphology, sbability and release of Curcumin in the optimized formulation were investigated. The anti-cancer activity of the formulation was evaluated in MCF-7 cells. Fluorescence spectrophotometry was used to quantify cellular uptake of the drug. Blending sefsol-218Â ® into a lipid matrix reduced the particle size without improving drug loading, mean size was found to be 152.8Â ±4.7 nm and a 90% entrapment efficiency. Curcumin displayed a two-phase sustained release profile from C-SLNs with improved chemical stability, compared to th e soubilized solution, C-SLNSs exhibited prolonged inhibitory activity in cancer cells, as well as time-dependent increases in intra-cellular uptake. After inravenous administration to rats, the bioavailability of Curcumin was increased by 1.25 fold and it was concluded that C-SLNs with improved dispersibility and chemical stability in an aqueous system have been successfully developed. C-SLNs may represent a potentially useful cancer therapeutic Curcumin delivery system. Chen, et.al (2014) fabricated Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles via emulsion-evaporated technique and low temperature-solidification technique using monostearin as lipid, tween 80 as surfactant and methanol as cosolvent. C-SLNs were formed by lipid recrystallisation and the blank SLNs were prepared by the same procedure without adding Curcumin. Prepared C-SLNs were evaluated for various parameters like particle size, zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, and in-vitro release and it was found that the particle size is 99.99 nm, polydispersity index of 0.158, zeta potential of -19.9 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 97.86 % and drug loading capacity of 4.35 %. The release kinetics in-vitro demonstrated Curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles can control drug-release and it was concluded that the Curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles could be prepared successfully with high drug entrapment efficiency and loading capacity and hence may be a pr omising drug delivery system to control drug release and improve bioavailability.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
United States vs. Japan in Math and Science Essay -- American Education
Over the years, tests have determined that the United States has not improved in math and science compared to Japan. Both countries have a different approach towards school. This might be the reason why American students are doing so poorly in math and science. American education should be compared to Japanese so that both can learn from each other because even though American scores are down they still have great ways to educate students. Differences that they have are ability vs. effect, teaching techniques, and parenting. In Japanese education, prime factors of their success are viewed as effort instead of ability. In his article, â€Å"Strengths, Weaknesses, and Lessons of Japanese Education,†James Fallows says, â€Å"The Japanese school system acts as though intellectual ability does not matter, assuming that just about everyone has enough ability to succeed†(208). In other words, they must give it there all. Japan does not accept 90% because they aim for 100%. If Japanese students receive a grade of 90%, then they’ll study even harder to be ready for the next test. It’s great that these students put so much effort in their school, but with all their studying, they don’t have anytime to have fun. The down fall is that all their childhood memories are going to be devoted to school and not them having fun. In the United States, education is viewed more towards ability rather than effort. Compared to Japan’s education, all students are taught the same subject at the same pace. In America, students are placed in classes by their individual levels where some will continue on as other will have to take the whole year over. Also, parents too believe that ability takes role in the learning in their children’s education. It is like parents... ...re continuing school knowing that its possible for the answer to be no. There’s not much pressure from parents in the United States for children’s education. Ultimately, in Japanese and in America, education has several gaps that can be fixed by looking at each others weaknesses and strengths. The horrific thing about the Japanese education is that they stress school too much that a thought of having fun is out the window. What United States education can learn from Japan is that students need to be pushed for effort in order for them to succeed. Group work should be involved more in American education since Japan is succeeding from it. The last thing that American’s should adapt from Japanese education is parent involvement. With the help of parents, students are more likely to succeed because they’ll have that extra help and push to achieving their school goals. United States vs. Japan in Math and Science Essay -- American Education Over the years, tests have determined that the United States has not improved in math and science compared to Japan. Both countries have a different approach towards school. This might be the reason why American students are doing so poorly in math and science. American education should be compared to Japanese so that both can learn from each other because even though American scores are down they still have great ways to educate students. Differences that they have are ability vs. effect, teaching techniques, and parenting. In Japanese education, prime factors of their success are viewed as effort instead of ability. In his article, â€Å"Strengths, Weaknesses, and Lessons of Japanese Education,†James Fallows says, â€Å"The Japanese school system acts as though intellectual ability does not matter, assuming that just about everyone has enough ability to succeed†(208). In other words, they must give it there all. Japan does not accept 90% because they aim for 100%. If Japanese students receive a grade of 90%, then they’ll study even harder to be ready for the next test. It’s great that these students put so much effort in their school, but with all their studying, they don’t have anytime to have fun. The down fall is that all their childhood memories are going to be devoted to school and not them having fun. In the United States, education is viewed more towards ability rather than effort. Compared to Japan’s education, all students are taught the same subject at the same pace. In America, students are placed in classes by their individual levels where some will continue on as other will have to take the whole year over. Also, parents too believe that ability takes role in the learning in their children’s education. It is like parents... ...re continuing school knowing that its possible for the answer to be no. There’s not much pressure from parents in the United States for children’s education. Ultimately, in Japanese and in America, education has several gaps that can be fixed by looking at each others weaknesses and strengths. The horrific thing about the Japanese education is that they stress school too much that a thought of having fun is out the window. What United States education can learn from Japan is that students need to be pushed for effort in order for them to succeed. Group work should be involved more in American education since Japan is succeeding from it. The last thing that American’s should adapt from Japanese education is parent involvement. With the help of parents, students are more likely to succeed because they’ll have that extra help and push to achieving their school goals.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Symbolic Images: The Poetry of Emily Dickinson Essay -- essays researc
The poetry of the Imagists is short, simple, and quite literal in its meaning in order to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. When they describe an object, it means just what they say. A tree is a tree, a flower is a flower, and a bird is a bird. Imagists have little use for abstract words or ideas, and tend to shy away from them as much as possible. Emily Dickinson doesn’t fall under the same category as the Imagists, as she doesn’t use the same techniques as the Imagists.      Dickinson’s poems center on very vivid images, with very different takes on them. They very often contain abstract concepts, which are often given concrete principles and are incorporated as part of her images. She implants deeper meanings behind her images, and tends to rely on a different technique than the Imagists. The majority of her work relies heavily on a different type of imagery – symbolism.      One of the poems where this symbolism is most evident is â€Å"My Life Had Stood – A Loaded Gun.†This poem is obviously based around a strong metaphoric image, as Dickinson is comparing herself to a gun belonging to someone else. In the poem, she uses the gun as a symbol to show her role in the patriarchal society she lived in. The first stanza shows this feeling:      My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun –      In Corners – till a Day      The Owner passed – identified –      And carried me away – In this stanza, Dickinson never explicitly mentions the owner to be a man, but as women didn’t use guns in those times, it is understood that the owner would be male, which she does clarify later in the poem. Even without an outright declaration of male ownership, these lines imply the role that women were supposed to take in Dickinson’s time, sitting silently in the background until a man wishes to take them away.      In the last stanza of the poem, Dickinson echoes the same theme of needing a man to access her power.      Though I than He – may longer live      He longer must – than I –      For I have but the power to kill,      Without – the power to die – These lines tell of Dickinson’s feeling of dependence... ...ase of the speaker’s reality, her sense of reason, was faulty and gave way, showing her much more beyond her reason that she could now be aware of. She now holds a new idea of reason and common sense to replace her old ideas. The use of the word â€Å"I†in the second line shows us that inside the coffin is in fact the speaker of the poem. This stanza suggests that the person being buried is perhaps the speaker’s innocence. It tells us that with the death of her naivety, she falls into a whole new set of worlds that she didn’t know about previously. After her fall, she now has a new grasp of reality and knows more than she had before.      Emily Dickinson loved to use images. Her poems are all heavily based around images, and she has an amazing talent for describing them. Each of these poems contains a different theme, and revolved around different images. While each of these poems would stand up on its own, Dickinson tied many of them together with her tendency to come back to symbolism. Like the Imagists after her, she liked to paint pictures in the reader’s mind with her words, but what made her stand out was the deeper meaning she laid beyond those images.
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