Your Site Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Your Site - Assignment Example Thus, a website should be user-friendly and connect with the user. It should be able to attract the customer and retain him. A website is only effective if it is able to achieve this task. The Wireframe of ABC Limited is an important component of the website design. This is the basic visual guideline of the website around which the information, pictures and other graphics are placed within the website (Kerr and Keats, 2009). When placing information and other elements on the website, it is important to consider the target customer and their way of interacting with the website. Research on this topic reveals that the average customer has a way in which he processes information on a website. This depends on his eye movement when he opens a website. A typical eye movement begins from the top left, moves to the center and then scans the right and left side of the website. This shows that the top left is the first interaction that the customer has visually with the website. It is here that most companies place their logo in order to identify the website to the customer. This will also be the position of the logo for ABC Company. The next place that the customer interacts with is the center of the website. This information will also be used strategically by ABC Limited. It will be here that ABC Limited would project its special offers that will be intended to lure the customers. This layout is quite similar to other websites of the same genre. This is an important consideration since most professional websites are built on nearly the same wireframe. These standard designs are built to reassure the customer that the website is professional and to make navigation easier. Most customers are used to the same layout and they expect others to carry the same layout. Totally unique wireframes confuse the customers and they tend to escape the website earlier (K elly, 2007). On the left side of the web page, a vertical text menu would appear. This

Compulsory education Essay Example for Free

Compulsory education Essay The K-12 education system is the public education system that most people are familiar with today. Comprised of 13 grades, kindergarten through 12th, it refers to the public school system in all of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe as well. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact history of education, as it has been occurring in some form for centuries in all parts of the world. Today, K-12 education represents the compulsory education required of all children in the US. Though this type of education can be attained from either publicly or privately funded institutions, children who have reached compulsory school age (ranging from age six to eight, depending on the state) are required by law to attend school. Compulsory education in the United States began over 150 years ago when Horace Mann established a statewide system of education in Massachusetts, which became the first state to pass school attendance laws in 1852. By 1918, children were required by law to receive an education in all states. Kindergarten was actually developed prior to compulsory education. Though it is not compulsory in all states, children are required to start school in most states at the age of six. If the child is too young to start kindergarten the year he turns five, kindergarten may technically be required since he will be turning six that school year. The word kindergarten is of German origin and means â€Å"children’s garden.† The concept was the brainchild of Friedrich Froebel, a self-educated philosophical teacher, who sought to develop a place of guided play for children to â€Å"bloom.† The first kindergarten established in England was in 1852, and the United States followed by establishing its first in 1856. Though education was required of all children in Massachusetts by that time and many other states were following suit, not all schools provided, nor required, kindergarten. Similarly, not all schools required a student to stay in school beyond a certain grade, as compulsory education initially applied only to elementary aged children. Many children were also permitted to miss portions of the  school year, especially farmers’ children who were needed at home for harvesting crops and preparing for the winter. The Education Act of 1918, or the Fisher Act, was an act of British Parliament that implemented changes in progressive education and helped form many aspects of the K-12 education system used today. The Fisher Act raised the age at which children could leave school to 14 and addressed education needs, such as health inspections and accommodations for special needs children. This act also led to the development of a committee that reported to and made recommendations to policy makers regarding education. In the United States, unlike England, public education was governed by each individual state. As early as 1791, seven states had specific provisions for education in their own individual constitutions and were formed partly on the basis of education without religious bias. Prior to the passing of compulsory school attendance laws, education was primarily localized and available only to the wealthy, and it often included religious teachings. Following the compulsory attendance laws, Catholics banned together in opposition of states mandating common schooling and created private Catholic schools. In 1925, the Supreme Court ruled that children could attend public or private schools for education. Over time, each individual state developed its own department of education to oversee the public education system. Compulsory attendance grew to include kindergarten and mandate attendance through the age of 16. Funding sources for public education also grew to include federal, state and local sources. Federal funding was overseen by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1953 to 1979, until it was divided and the US Department of Education was formed as a stand-alone entity. By the 1950s, compulsory education had become well established, but the K-12 education system was really still in its infancy. Schools were still primarily localized, but education was no longer available only to the wealthy. Even in the 1950s, however, segregation by race was still common practice in public schools in the US. Then came another landmark decision by  the Supreme Court. In 1954, in the US Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Though this decision was met with resistance and it took many years before legalized segregation was completely eliminated, especially in southern states, the federal courts eventually achieved success. This achievement was not without its repercussions, and many urban and inner city schools saw an exodus of wealthy and middle-class white families, who moved to suburban districts. In time, many urban districts were left only with poor families and it became difficult to attract and pay for quality teachers and education. Since the formation of the US Department of Education in 1979, the education system has been similar to what is found today, but has undergone a series of developments and amendments to accommodate the changing needs of education. Funding has always been a source of concern for public schools, especially in poor, urban districts, where the quality of education also came into question. As a result, federal funding is now directly related to school performance as determined by standardized testing under the current No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB was signed into law by President George W. Bush 3 January 2002. Under this law, standards of accountability were increased in an effort to improve performance and to give parents flexibility in choosing schools. NCLB requires states to administer assessments of basic skills to all students at certain grade levels and achieve the standards set forth by each state in order to receive federal funding. Specific and more rigorous goals were placed on reading achievements under this law and states also had to develop high school exit or graduation exams with specific measures of assessment in place as well. The intention was to hold schools to a higher  level of accountability, but was debated from its inception. Currently, the K-12 public education system provides a 12th grade education to eligible students for free. Families have the option of sending their children to private schools, but are then responsible for tuition. The future of education will undoubtedly experience change and social and economical challenges, just as it has in the past. Programs may soon expand to include pre-K compulsory attendance and could even expand to include options beyond the 12th grade, as these are concepts, in their earliest stages, currently being explored.

Cyberspace and the Constitution Essay -- Government Politics Internet

Cyberspace and the Constitution Cyberspace is a new frontier for American courts. In the past, when faced with new situations, courts have analogized older laws into the new situations. However, due to the many unique qualities of the Internet, courts have had a difficult time determining how to apply prior law in the realm of cyberspace. In the United States, the ultimate framework of our laws is the United States Constitution. The Constitution, and most especially the Bill of Rights, has entered arenas that the founders could not have imagined. Today, courts know that they must apply the constitution to cyberspace, but the question remains: how is it to be applied? The District Court in U.S. v. Pataki devised an interesting solution to the constitutional problems of cyberspace, by using the Commerce Clause in a situation where at first blush, the First Amendment would seem to be the constitutional provision to apply. The issue in Pataki was whether a New York statute criminalizing the use of a computer to disseminate obscene material to minors was constitutional. The statute criminalized sending sexual material to minors that was "harmful to minors." The statute defined material as "harmful to minors" if it 1) Considered as a whole, appealed to the puritant interest in sex of minors; 2) Was patently offensive to prevailing adult community standards with respect to what is suitable material to minors; and 3) Considered as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value for minors. Essentially, this is the Miller obscenity test, devised by the Supreme Court, applied to minors. Although the statute was modeled after the Miller test, it still faces First Amendment concerns. First, what are "pr... ...upply this, since they would run afoul of the Commerce Clause, as did New York in Pataki. Thus, Congress must provide the legislation. Furthermore, since the Internet is international, this legislation must stem from international treaties. This is a lot to ask, and many people are concerned about "Big Brother" controlling our communications, and they argue that the Internet should be free to regulate itself. However, there must be regulation on the Internet. The Internet allows the freest mode of expression in human history. Anyone is a publisher. With this great freedom, comes great responsibility. The framers of the Constitution never imagined the Internet, but they did imagine principles which should continue to guide us into the electronic frontier. Principles of the Commerce Clause and the First Amendment must continue to apply in the realm of cyberspace.

Educational Goals and Philosophy Essay example -- Reflective Writing T

Educational Goals and Philosophy Teaching is a complex occupation that requires as much empathy and emotion as it does educational skill. I had always dreamed of becoming a teacher, and realized after having my own children, that I would not truly be fulfilling my purpose in life if I did not pursue this dream. As a volunteer at the elementary school in my community, I loved the environment and took tremendous joy in watching the children learn. I felt that I had the ability, along with the dedication and desire, it would take to become a full time educator. To achieve this goal I will strive to give my students a positive beginning, provide confidence in their individual abilities, and prepare them for different aspects in life. I plan to teach elementary education, Kindergarten through the sixth grade. I sincerely believe that a child’s first experiences with education help to determine the path that child will choose to follow. The primary years of education sets the pace for an academic career through learning skills in conjunction with an optimistic outlook. A positive, or negative, first experience can determine a child’s attitude toward learning for the duration of a lifetime. I feel that each student has the potential and ability to gain knowledge, though each may have a different learning style. It will be my job, as a teacher, to experiment, explore, and determine the correct technique for each individual. In order to achieve this goal, I will need to be aware of the student’s personality, academic level, and any risk factors that child may have. I will work to inspire, motivate, and instill the confidence needed for each child to reach his/her full potential. I feel the purpose ... ...West Virginia. Once my career has been established, I will join the National Education Association. I will continue my education by pursuing my Master’s degree and attending various seminars and workshops. I want for myself, as well as my students, to be lifetime learners. I plan to stay up to date on current methods, ideas, and curriculums so that I can transfer the knowledge to subsequent generations. As I step closer towards the door of accomplishing my dream, I become more enthusiastic each day. To have the ability to influence, empower, and shape a young mind is breathtaking. I will strive to teach each child in a way that will meet his/her individual needs and support him/her to become all that is desired. I will indoctrinate the required knowledge along with other aspects of education that will benefit my students. â€Å"I† will make a difference.

Hag’s Nook by John Dickson Carr

Hag’s Nook is a detective story by John Dickson Carr that is first published in 1933. It is a mystery type of novel and the first to feature in the series of detective Gideon Fell. The author, John Dickson Carr was born in 1906 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His first published detective novel, It Walks by Night, was published in 1930 featuring the Frenchman Henri Bencolin. Apart from Dr. Fell, whose first appearance was in 1933 in Hag?s Nook, Sir Henry Merrivale, who debuted in The Plague Court Murders in 1934 was Carr?s other series detectives. The synopsis goes this way: Young American Tad Rampole is travelling in England who meets and falls in love with Dorothy Starberth, in a chance meet on a railway platform. Within a short period of time, after an introduction letter made by Rampole to Dr. Gideon Fell both become engaged in the affairs of the Starberth family. Dr. Fell discovers the truth behind the legends after Martin Starberth is murdered. Chaterham Prison was the legend in the village. Abandoned for a hundred of years and had kept its secrets of extreme fear and death. The Starberths die of broken necks. He must arrange ancient superstition from modern-day malice to guarantee that the responsible criminal does not go and not punished. This novel emotionally moved me clearly to the days of reading Ripper. It was quite interesting to imagine the traps and see how the villain lured their victims. Lastly, I am definitely recommending this novel Hag’s Nook for those who likes reading detective stories that is full of suspense and mystery.

Standards of Beauty Essays

Standards of Beauty Essays Standards of Beauty Essay Standards of Beauty Essay Standards of beauty: Beauty is defined as the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc. ), according to dictionary. com. Beauty has multiple interpretations in various cultures, especially in Western society, whose standards differ from the rest. In Western society, both men and women undergo cosmetic procedures to alter their physical appearance and enhance self-esteem. The most common cosmetic produces for women include Botox injections, liposuctions, rhinoplasty, facelifts, and breast ugmentations; whereas, men mostly get facelifts, Botox and liposuction. Women get breast augmentations to feel attractive about themselves, but most importantly to gain attention form men. In some cases, men view women with larger breast sizes as sexually appealing compared to women with smaller breast sizes. These standards of beauty potentially influence an increase of such procedures. It is worth noting that a womans decision to get breast augmentation may originate from another woman she idolizes. For example, a celebrity or mentor could be a source of influence seeing as though a woman may want to emulate specific attractive features. This also applies to other procedures as well and not solely with breast augmentation. In reference to weight, it is acceptable for men to be robust. This standard also applies to women: however, a woman who is too robust is considered masculine and unattractive. Similarly, a man and/or woman who is overweight are deemed unappealing in western society, on the grounds that bigger is unflattering and being skinny is beautiful. Thus, thrive to be a size 6 or below to accommodate these regulation. Generally, a woman who wears less clothing or exposes too much skin is considered enticing. This standard is more common because this invites nwanted and often times wanted attention, which explains sex as being marketable. The more tempting a woman appears, the more she is desired. Conversely, a man who wears more clothing is valued as good-looking. In conclusion, beauty has multiple interpretations in various cultures, especially in Western society, whose standards differ. These standards include: cosmetic produces, such as facelifts, Botox and liposuction and breast augmentation, to alter ones physical appearance and enhance self-esteem, general physique preferences, and wearing less clothing to appeal to desirable for men. Standards of Beauty By AmBizzle12

Making the right choice Essay Example

Making the right choice Essay Example Making the right choice Paper Making the right choice Paper I believe the research was valid, based on the answers from certain questions; although it lacked clarity in the hypothesis and vagueness in the questions asked. Despite lack of clarity in some questions, others were very direct and gave clear answers. A number stated that cost would influence their decision to undertake counselling, others said that race would not influence them but gender would.  Advantage: Brought about direct and clear responses  Disadvantage: Sample group to small to reflect wider perspective Reliability:  I believe the answers are reliable for the sample group selected. The questions were reliable in terms of being simple and not over complicated. The outcomes shown in graph gave a fair indication of perception of counselling at that given time. If I had made comparisons with other research methods such as literature interviews or surveys, it may have highlighted a different view.  Advantage: This was a good choice of research method for topic.  Disadvantage: Lack of comparison may change results on outcome. Relevance: Initially, some questions seemed relevant such as age, gender, race of respondents. However, it may not have been politically correct to request this information if the outcome did not show how it was to be used. Other factors may contribute to perception of counselling service that were not asked such as, economic factors / wage, class / geography, disability, status. If I were to do this again I would rethink why I requested this information and made sure they were relevant in the outcome of the results if requested, Alternatively, I could simply not ask for this information, even though I believe that it is relevant.  Advantage: Information may be vital in the outcome of findings  Disadvantage: Not relevant if not used, difficult to collate under Equality or Discrimination Acts. Bias:  The questions were closed therefore not giving the respondent leverage to express views. Use of language such a therapeutic is not helpful and may constitute a loaded question. If the client states they have never undertaken counselling how would they know if it is therapeutic? This may have been dealt with differently if conducted in interview method.  Advantage: Good learning outcome and evaluation for future research. Disadvantage: May have contributed to final results  ETHICAL AND VALUE ISSUES:  Questionnaires are easy to administer confidentially. Often confidentiality is the necessary to ensure participants will respond honestly if at all. Examples of such cases would include studies that need to ask embarrassing questions about private or personal behaviour. (Internet.2)  http://schatz.sju.edu/methods/sampling/intro.html  Confidentiality: Respondents were not required to give information that would personally identify them. Questionnaires were given out safely were there little or no suspicions to answers were raised. All replies were collated and keep safe.  Advantage: Privacy and safety of personal information a paramount concern.  Disadvantage: None identified.  Artificiality:  Within this research I did not identify anything that may be construed as artificiality. I assume the reason for this is based on the question being about counselling as a profession and not personalising or criticising respondent as a user of the service. The questions gave little reason for respondent to become defensive; it was also given and received collectively as opposed to privately. Therefore the permission to be honest and direct was available. However, if this research had been undertaken via interview techniques or observation it may have had a different response.  Advantages: Freedom of choice,  Disadvantage: Limited and unclear questions caused ambiguity, no room for alternative answers such as not applicable or maybe / sometimes.  Choice in participation:  Questionnaires were distributed randomly, or in large groups such as class groups. A brief was given regarding the purpose of the research and no pressure placed on participation. The same can be said to respondents on an individual basis and choice given to participate or abstain. Participants were not given enough choices for an answer; it was either yes or no. Options such as not applicable, maybe or sometimes could have been added.  Advantage: Respondents were given the choice and were under no pressure to complete questionnaire  Disadvantage: None identified.  3. Evaluate the research methods using a piece of research in counselling  Title: Brief dynamic counselling:  Making the right choice  In reading and evaluating the above article I was very impressed with the hypothesis. The background and introduction made it clear to why it was deemed to be good material for research. Unlike my research the writer had given much thought to the subject and examining its implications on counselling practice. The methodology used in this research seems to be Case Studies and Literature review. In view of the topic my thoughts were this may not have been the best method. Richards gave two good examples from both sides of the argument. However, the major context of the research seems to be bias against Brief Therapy / Dynamic counselling with negative undertones / prompts to discourage the reader from considering this could possibly be advantageous for the client.  The person carrying out a research study may be highly  committed and passionate about the project and  therefore less open to seeing potential problems  (McLeod. 2003 pg 168 -169.) The research speaks of society and organisations emphasising lack of time and funding. Although Richards does acknowledge there is a place for this therapy in schools. This highlights that the article was published in 1999 and some articles may take up to two years to be published. Many of the quotes are also almost ten or more years old. Today as I write this society is moving even faster and almost anything can be achieved within an hour or less. Clients still arrive and ask how many sessions they are expected to attend before being given the all clear. It was interesting to see finance and money are still a consideration in counselling, and that agencies, organisations and private counsellors are seeking ways of making counselling affordable.  Ethically, I totally agree that restraints placed on practitioners including strict numbers of sessions or any other description may harm the clients, whether it is financial, lack of resources, poor assessment, inadequate training, and an inexperienced or incompetent counsellor. All these and more can cause more damage than good to the client and profession. The only exception to this would be in of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) where the model may specify that target to be met by a certain number of sessions, and the clients agree to this contract,  Otherwise, ethically after assessment clients should be informed that further sessions may be required outside the allocated time or through private therapy.

Midterm Reflective Portfolio Essays

Midterm Reflective Portfolio Essays Midterm Reflective Portfolio Essay Midterm Reflective Portfolio Essay Essay Topic: Reflective Midterm Reflective Portfolio Dennis Brown Writing Fundamentals Eng 090 Instructor Rotem May A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a . single topic. A paragraph can be divided into three major parts a topic sentence, supporting details and a conclusion sentence. Paragraph writing consists of many elements, before, while and after writing. Creating a main idea and using supporting details are strategies for writing an effective paragraph. Usually I use paragraphs in school, and also for business situations. Brainstorming a topic would be the easiest aspect of paragraph writing in my opinion. Creating a topic for discussion isn’t challenging compared to other aspects. The hardest aspect would be using the guidelines of paragraph writing. In the past four weeks I have learned numerous things about writing. I learned to begin with an idea. After developing an idea support those ideas with examples for further understanding, and learning the importance of introductions and conclusions. Writing paragraphs helps to able to write more effectively for school assignments. Reflecting on my experiences with illustration paragraphs I chose an issue that related to me as choice of topic. Choosing the topic was my easiest step in the writing process. I enjoy researching information for personal purpose as well as to be visual with my ideas. Creating different ways to rephrase my examples was the biggest challenge it’s what I would need to work on most. Using different was to rephrase my examples would make my ideas flow more effectively. I learned as a writer that I have the ability to be creative in ideas. My goals of being visual in my thoughts on a college level were achieved. In remembrance with the definition paragraph I used a topic I was interested in. Using a topic that aroused my interest was the most comfortable portion of the assignment. Carefully following the structure of a definition paragraph is what I would like to work on. I believe the development of the structure will turn out better essays. I learned approaches to explain different terms. My goals of being a definitive writer have been achieved. Earlier increasing my understanding of writing, structures and grammar usage were goals that were set. Now being more efficient towards the criteria of production is an immediate goal. I would like to create a sense of urgency in creativity also in my development as a writer. In my progress I will spend more than time and motivate myself to meet the goals I set. A website entitled â€Å"Value for your life† was a resource I used in my goal setting. The tips included were kept in my thoughts in writing. In conclusion paragraph writing is a challenging aspect of writing. During the process of completing the assignment I was able to expand my level of thoughts improving my skills overall as a writer. I attend to become a better with each increasing week and will set more and more goals in my writing and will achieve those goals using strong work ethic. Upon completion of the course I intend to make easy aspects of writing easier. The hard aspects also will become easier tasks.

Gap Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gap Analysis - Essay Example Through continuing education courses, I can help build my knowledge base and improve my job skills and this is important in strengthening my abilities in my profession. Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS) policy and procedures training certification is required to be completed within six months of employment. My certification is very significant since it enhances my commitment to advanced work practice. Good communication skills are a requirement in my profession when interacting with clients as well as co-workers. I have acquired the skills to communicate ideas and instructions clearly and concisely from several communication courses. Good communication skills will significantly help in my career development and job placement. Networking is also a requirement in my profession. My work involves coordination with facilities, agencies and the community to prepare and facilitate the implementation of an informed plan of supervision. Virtually, networking can strengthen and expand my profession through collaboration with other dimensions related to

Sustainable Consumption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Sustainable Consumption - Essay Example Globalization is a process of integration among people, governments and companies through the mode of international trade, which is aided by the information technology. The procedure has an impact on culture, environment, economic development, political systems and the society. Globalization has helped to form an interdependent and interconnected world, where free transfer of capital as well as goods and services take place across national boundaries (Blowfield and Dolan, 2014). During the middle-ages, individuals, followed by corporations, bought and sold goods through the eminent Silk Road across Central Asia (Hill, Cronk and Wickramasekera, 2013). Likewise, globalization has substantially supported corporations to invest in other countries. Constant technological and policy developments over past few decades can be attributed to globalization. It has spurred a rise in the cross-border migration, investment and trade massively (Young, et al.,2014). The rapid globalization has enabled the world to enter into a new stage of economic development. Since 1950, the volume of trade globally has increased by almost 20 times (Gwynne and Cristobal, 2014). From 1997 to 1999, the inflow of foreign investment has nearly doubled from $468 to $4827 billion (Gwynne and Cristobal, 2014). The entire process of globalization has become cheaper, faster and deeper in the recent past (Daly, 2013). The fresh wave of globalization is driven by policies that have opened the econo mies internationally and domestically. Since the Second World War, the governments of various countries have adapted to the system of free market economy, which has facilitated improvement in their productivity, thereby creating innumerable new prospects for investment and international trade (Hall and Vredenburg, 2012).

New Business Project by Volkswagen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

New Business Project by Volkswagen - Essay Example As the company announced the recall of nearly 9 million cars, it was estimated that an amount of â‚ ¬ 6.5 billion was required to come up with the costs of the scandal. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the company to come up with a new business project with the changed framework to regain its brand value and market share in the car industry. As the company’s stocks which reflected the market concerns significantly fell down, it became the toughest challenge for the company to bring back their position and win the loyalty of the consumers. 2.1 Force Field Analysis of Volkswagen When Volkswagen was planning for a business change in order to gain back its hard-earned reputation, it is necessary to analyze the major factors forces which will support and hinder such change. In this context, Force Field Analysis is an important decision-making tool that can assist it in making the decision for a change within the business. Such an analysis will serve the purposes of i) deci ding whether to undertake the change after evaluating the factors; ii) of increasing the chance of success of the change by weakening the forces against the change and by strengthening those in support of the change. The new business project or the proposed change by Volkswagen is the brand enhancement. After involvement in the major emissions scandal, what suffered most is the brand appreciation of the company and its perception to the ones who are related to its product i.e. the consumers, suppliers, dealers, employees and the shareholders.

Personal Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Reflection - Essay Example Team Work and Project The first week, as in case of any other team, involved the formation of teams as well as members of these teams meeting for the first time and getting to know each other (Wech et al 1986, p.472). Those who are part of our team did not get a chance to attend the first session where the teams were selected, and this left all of us out. However, we were put into one group, which turned out to be lucky for us because each of the group members is remarkable in their own right. These group members include Ammarand, Katie, Kate, and me, and we were formed into a group by our teacher, Julie Foreman. We got to know each other in the following week, with each of the group members exchanging email addresses and phone numbers, to ensure that we would be able to effectively coordinate our activities. We also exchanged personal information so that we would know each other even better, especially concerning our backgrounds. In addition, we came to discuss matters which were pe rtinent to the group, and it is during these discussions that we decided on the team charter. Moreover, the priorities of our team were upon. One of the most fascinating parts of our discussions was coming up with a team name, and we eventually settled for The Green Machine. After all these had been decided, we went to meet our client, OPSMC, where we were made familiar with the activities of the organisation as well as what was expected of us. The first task, which we had to handle, was to write a response to the project brief. It was a task which required us to give information about our client, what the client needed from us, as well as all the information as well as the sources of such information  so that we would be able to complete the tasks given (Ahmad and Mahmood, 2011, p.32). All the team members were supposed to complete this first task individually. Once the entire individual work had been completed, we now started concentrating on the team work. Each of the team memb ers had to come up with ideas on how to best complete our tasks as a team. This ensured that all members felt a part of it, despite the fact that not all the ideas given were accepted by the group members. It was exceptionally easy to fit into the team because all four of us worked extremely well together, and we rarely had any disagreements among ourselves. When the team had decided on the ideas which we would work with, the time came for the Norming stage, where all the members of the team were required to complete tasks (Caprar and Neville, 2012, p.231). As we were working towards a common goal, all members of the team made decisions that were for its benefit. The first task that was assigned to the team was to make a podcast, although the podcast was supposed to be a matter of teamwork, we chose to do our own separately, and later put them together as a team. My podcast was quite difficult to make, but after many trials, I managed to come up with one which I think was almost per fect. All the videos, which we had made, were compiled and presented to our tutor. Our next task was External Environment, which the team also did extraordinarily well by sharing the various things to be done among the members. Once the work was done, it was sent to Kate, whose responsibility it was to compile

Lab report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Lab Report Example These occipital condyles are projections from the bottom of the skull that attach the skull to the atlas and axis of the cervical vertebrae. This gives an indication of how upright the organism stood. The more centered that the occipital condyles are along the Frankfurt plane, the higher the probability the hominid was upright. 4) Nasal cavity shape – the nasal cavity shape helps establish ancestry and racial origin. A wider nasal chamber indicates a sub Saharan origin as compared to a narrower flared/heartshaped one in the European skull. The Mystery skull 1 belongs to anatomically modern Homo sapiens. The reason I assigned this taxon is due to the high uv/tv ratio. This implies that the hominid had a lower brow and thus the frontal lobes were higher than eye level. The tw/tv ratio is also large meaning that the foramen magnum is high. This implies an upright posture. The index of condylar position is also large implying that the foramen magnum is nearly centrally placed under the skull. This also implies a near upright gait. The facial features such as zygomatic bones are not as prominent, thus showing that the hominid did not have need for large mastication muscles. The maxillary jaw is also less protruded. This is characteristic of the more evolved hominids. The saggital sutures also close to form a well rounded calvaria characteristic of higher hominids. Mystery skull 2 belongs to the Neanderthal. The reason I assigned this taxon is due to the fact that the uv/tv ratio is relatively large. This implies that the brow ridge is not as high, and thus the brain is slightly higher placed than the eyes. The tw/tv ratio shows that the foramen magnum is located lower on the skull and thus the hominid may not have been entirely upright. The xy/xz ratio is quite large. This implies that the foramen magnum was almost centred, meaning that although the hominid was not entirely upright, it may have employed bipedal gait. The

Personal Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Reflection - Essay Example Team Work and Project The first week, as in case of any other team, involved the formation of teams as well as members of these teams meeting for the first time and getting to know each other (Wech et al 1986, p.472). Those who are part of our team did not get a chance to attend the first session where the teams were selected, and this left all of us out. However, we were put into one group, which turned out to be lucky for us because each of the group members is remarkable in their own right. These group members include Ammarand, Katie, Kate, and me, and we were formed into a group by our teacher, Julie Foreman. We got to know each other in the following week, with each of the group members exchanging email addresses and phone numbers, to ensure that we would be able to effectively coordinate our activities. We also exchanged personal information so that we would know each other even better, especially concerning our backgrounds. In addition, we came to discuss matters which were pe rtinent to the group, and it is during these discussions that we decided on the team charter. Moreover, the priorities of our team were upon. One of the most fascinating parts of our discussions was coming up with a team name, and we eventually settled for The Green Machine. After all these had been decided, we went to meet our client, OPSMC, where we were made familiar with the activities of the organisation as well as what was expected of us. The first task, which we had to handle, was to write a response to the project brief. It was a task which required us to give information about our client, what the client needed from us, as well as all the information as well as the sources of such information  so that we would be able to complete the tasks given (Ahmad and Mahmood, 2011, p.32). All the team members were supposed to complete this first task individually. Once the entire individual work had been completed, we now started concentrating on the team work. Each of the team memb ers had to come up with ideas on how to best complete our tasks as a team. This ensured that all members felt a part of it, despite the fact that not all the ideas given were accepted by the group members. It was exceptionally easy to fit into the team because all four of us worked extremely well together, and we rarely had any disagreements among ourselves. When the team had decided on the ideas which we would work with, the time came for the Norming stage, where all the members of the team were required to complete tasks (Caprar and Neville, 2012, p.231). As we were working towards a common goal, all members of the team made decisions that were for its benefit. The first task that was assigned to the team was to make a podcast, although the podcast was supposed to be a matter of teamwork, we chose to do our own separately, and later put them together as a team. My podcast was quite difficult to make, but after many trials, I managed to come up with one which I think was almost per fect. All the videos, which we had made, were compiled and presented to our tutor. Our next task was External Environment, which the team also did extraordinarily well by sharing the various things to be done among the members. Once the work was done, it was sent to Kate, whose responsibility it was to compile

Willingness to Pay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Willingness to Pay - Essay Example The contingent valuation methodology was adopted in drafting the questionnaires that were used in collecting the data to be used in the analysis. An approximate 72% of all the participants who responded to the questionnaires indicated willingness to pay for the conservation though at varying levels. This therefore pointed out that the public in many instances are willing to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of the environment. The study employed use of logistic regression procedures in comparison of the persons who were willing and not willing to contribute actively in improving the environmental quality. Through the contingent valuation analysis, the use value as well as non-use value of natural resources and environmental quality can be established. This method therefore involves a hypothetical scene to establish the willingness to pay of individuals on such natural resources and quality of environment. Hypothetical case studies are often used in such a situation where after describing such a case to the respondent, he/she is then expected to quote the amount of money he/she would be willing to pay for the environmental quality. Reasons expressed for willingness to pay would therefore form the basis of policymaking especially as regards to legislation on environmental conservation and management. In often cases such as was revealed through the case study, non-use values like existence value were cited most as reasons why many people would be willing to pay for conserving natural environment or such a natural park. This study therefore shows that valuation of gains from natural reso urces and environment would contribute greatly towards efforts and willingness of people to pay for such conservations. Han, F., Yang, Z., Wang, H., & Xu, X. (2011). Estimating willingness to pay for environment conservation: A contingent valuation study of kanas nature reserve, xinjiang, china. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment,

The Problem with Polygamy in Indonesia Essay Example for Free

The Problem with Polygamy in Indonesia Essay Introduction Polygamy in Indonesia is legal. A man is permitted to have as many as four wives under the Muslim law. But Despite the low incident of polygamy in Indonesia, it has been a central issue in relations between the Indonesia women, and the state in the twentieth century. Indonesia women’s organizations have long wanted the state to legislate on this matter, yet it was most reluctant to do so until the passage of the marriage Law in 1974. After that the fire went out of the issue as far as women’s organizations were concerned, although â€Å"in very recent years† there has been a revival of interest. With respect to marital status, the census report stated that â€Å"among Indonesians† 75% of the adults’ males, and 68% of the adults’ females were married. However the number of married females was higher than the number of married adult males. The difference, amounting to 424,588 persons was in part due to the existence of polygamy. For Indonesia, approximately 25 % of the men had more than one wife (Salim 9). Why Polygamy Is Considered Wrong In Indonesia Indonesia women’s concern about polygamy are a complex mixture, touching on economic, emotional, social, sexual, moral, legal and religious aspect of marriage. The core of women’s concern was the threat of polygamy to a wife’s love and self esteem. Men have been given power to do what they want yet women are the ones suffering. When a husband took what is almost a younger girl as a new wife, repugnance at having to share a husbands sexual life with another women, and the threat to the economic basis of marriage when resources had to be spread amongst more wives and children. Women in a polygamous marriage always feel inferior towards other women in the same marriage and it often lead to jealousy, frustration and at times death (Day 28-29). Why Some Women Still Prefer Polygamy Relationships Some women still prefer polygamous relationship, if the man they are involved is a person of high position in a society. Sometimes you will hear women saying that it’s better to be married as a third wife to a rich man than a first wife to a poor man. That’s why at times you find women getting into these unions, maybe because of money, or a high position that a man holds. Women have been known to be associated in this form of relationship without caring. We can conclude that this mostly happens due to marriage security purposes (Survival). Better incomes would mean that these women could get married according to their choice and reduce the economic pressure experienced by women and children in polygamous marriages. Is Polygamy Related To Gender Discrimination In Indonesia? Ant-polygamist in Indonesia view polygamy as fundamentally undemocratic institution that perpetuates the subordination of women to men, and violates women’s basic rights. Unlike other issues, polygamy touches on a range of issues relating to gender difference, most particularly that of power within marriage. The practice of multiple marriages occurs only in families where the husband holds tremendous power, while the wife and children are in a powerless position. In other words, it is seen as a form of violence against women and children, and that Indonesia law continues to discriminate against women in allowing polygamy to exist in any form. Why should a man be privileged to have more than one legal sexual partner while women were prevented to have more than one legal sexual partner? Women in these relationships are also prevented from getting out of this relationship in case of violence, due to lack of immediate access to divorce (Susan 110-113). Conclusion Throughout the years, education and legal reforms have been regarded by most interested parties as the best ways of dealing with the problems associated with polygamy. They are viewed as the best in addressing the social causes and consequences. Since the state is heavily involved in education and legislation, it clearly has a role to play in dealing with the polygamy menace. Work Cited Day, Tony. Identifying with Freedom: Indonesia after Suharto. New York: Berghahn Books, 2007. Print. Susan Blackburn. Women and the State in Modern Indonesia. UK: Cambridge University Press 2004 .print Salim, Arskal. Sharia and Politics in Modern Indonesia. Singapore: Inst. of Southeast Asian Studies, 2003. Print.

Brand Equity in Luxury Hotels | Research Proposal

Brand Equity in Luxury Hotels | Research Proposal Introduction At the present time, globalisation which just means linking together the localities separated by distance is not an issue in terms of communication, moreover it brings together the world as one (Scheuerman, 2010). The positives of globalisation do not limit itself to just bringing the world together in terms of communication, tourism and hospitality industry has also greatly benefited by this. India is considered one of the fastest growing countries in the world and becoming an attraction for the foreign tourist. India hosted 6.58 million foreign tourist in the year 2012, which was an increase by 4.3% compared to last year. The foreign exchange earnings were a staggering $17.74 billion which was an increase of 7.15 compared to last year (India Tourism Statistics, 2012). The Indian government un It will not be wrong to assume that India has been successful in catering the basic requirements which a tourist looks for before planning their trip to a foreign country. These statistics make India one of the top tourist destinations. The basic requirements being variety of serviced accommodation to choose from, adequate infrastructure, communication system, museum, art galleries, restaurants, cafes, craft places, gardens, historic places and sports amenities. The tourism ministry of India was quick to recognise the tourism market in India and has taken necessary steps to promote it. The Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India during the eighties and nineties lacked consistency but since then it has seen steady growth. The early 2000 can be considered the best years for tourism industry as they saw double digit growth (India Tourism Statistics, 2012). This paper specifically focuses on the 5 star luxury hotels section of the hospitality industry of India. It is very important for the individuals involved in the operations of the hotel to know about the factors which might affect the competition. In the competitive setting, Brand Equity is believed to be the most important value generating asset to the organisation and its customers. Customers can benefit through Brand Equity as it would help them get a better understanding of the services provided by the brand which would eventually increase confidence and help them in making the buying decision. The organisation can benefit in terms of increasing profits, attracting new customers and retaining the loyal customers, having a competitive advantage over rivals (Aaker, 1991). Therefore, the study is carried out to better understand the brand equity of high end luxury hotels in India and the link between brand equity and the post purchase evaluation by the customers. This will provide a better understanding of brand equity of the hotel which is just a small element of brand asset. The post purchase evaluation by the customers for the brand equity in hospitality industry will be directed by analysing the already existing written texts. The suggestions given by the guests who have already visited the hotel are used to analyse as their feedback and opinion would shed light on the major issues faced in terms of brand equity during their stay. Hence, the conclusion of this paper would provide an insight of the different brand equity elements, their features and the influence these elements can have on the day to day working of the hotel by the top management, the marketing team, operations team and everybody responsible for implementing the strategy. A successful brand strategy would give the hotel a competitive advantage over its existing market rivals. Problem Statement A brand can be called an important resource for value addition to the organisation as it is used in the marketing strategy and positioning of the company in the market (Ghauri and Cateora, 2010). Brand equity is a combination of elements namely brand loyalty, brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality denoting the improved value of the brand as a whole. In case of hospitality industry, the focus is mainly on how the consumer perceives the hotel brand, this further improves chances of making more profit. The literature on brand equity have largely focused on the product aspect and not much study has been contributed to the service industry. Thus, literature on brand equity for service industry like hotels is very limited. This has attracted my attention and inspired me to study brand equity primarily focusing on the hospitality industry. As stated above, India has been successful in improving its tourism and hospitality sector over the years. This has resulted in stiff competition amongst the hotel operators. To increase the rate of growth, the government helps and extends its support in almost all domains of the tourism industry. As an example, the government’s initiative to improve the Indian tourism industry in overseas market is the brochure support. The overseas offices help promote organisations who intend to promote special tours (Ministry of tourism, 2014). There are marketing development assistance schemes to promote Indian tourism abroad which is administered by the ministry of tourism, government of India to help hoteliers, travel agents, tour operators etc. The competition in the hospitality industry is intense in parts like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra which experienced maximum domestic tourist in the year 2012. The foreign tourist preferred Delhi, Mumbai (M aharashtra), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Bangalore (Karnataka) and Kolkata (West Bengal) as their top 5 destinations in India (India Tourism Statistics, 2012). Furthermore, the intense in business competitions especially for five stars luxury hotels are higher than other hotel with fewer stars rating. Normally, the higher stars rating hotel such as five stars luxury hotel comes with the higher price of the offering. However, the competition is not only based on the price and promotion concern but also the uniqueness of the hotel brand. In addition, the emerging of new comer hotels in Bangkok area can also be the supporting evidence, for example Starwood’ St. Regis, W hotel, Four Points by Sheraton (Starwood, 2010). As a result, brand equity can play an important role in increasing the overall profit of the hotel and the people responsible for operating the day to day functioning of the hotel need to realize this. The elements of brand equity needs to be studied in terms of the hospitality industry, this would help understand the role of brand equity in hospitality industry. This paper primarily focuses on the five star luxury segment of the hotels in India. This paper is based on the comments and feedback of the guests who have visited the chosen hotels which are then linked with the elements of brand equity. Purpose of Study The main motive of this study is to understand brand equity and elements in terms of the hospitality industry in India considering the post purchase evaluation of the customers who have visited the hotel. The research also aims to find the link between the elements of brand equity and the comments and feedback of these customers after their purchase. Moreover, the objective of this study is to find the practical effects of brand equity. By the end of this research, I intend to suggest some articulated hypothesis of brand equity in hospitality industry for future studies. Research Questions The research question has been framed on the basis of the background of the topic chosen and the problem statement to accomplish the objective of this research: What are the features of brand equity of high-end (5 Stars) luxury hotels in India? Which elements of brand equity do most of the customers perceive for evaluation? Thesis Outline The first chapter gives a brief about the research topic on evaluation of post purchase behaviour on brand equity for hospitality industry in India. This is further explained by designing the problem statement and research topic to specify the path of the study with the focus only on five star luxury hotels in India. Chapter two includes the literature review. This is done by investigating the literature available in physical format and those available on the internet. The literature review explains branding and the various aspects of brand equity to give a basic understanding about brand equity. This will be followed by brand equity in hospitality (service) industry, buying decision of customers, electronic word of mouth and evaluation of customers after using the hotel (post-purchase).Along with this literature, a framework has been designed to give a better understanding of the research which includes the idea of brand equity. Chapter three begins by explaining in the research methodology, how the topic was chosen. This is followed by a discussion on the methodologies used in the research design. Qualitative and quantitative approach were used for this study. Qualitative approach was done by carrying out content analysis using a specific set of measurements. Quantitative approach was used to present the findings and the results. The process of collecting data, the use of secondary data like the feedback of hotels from customers, text and other articles on brand equity are discussed in this section. This section continuous with further explaining the limitations of this study and the sampling design in context of the total volume considered and the time period observed for the data collection. This is commenced by highlighting the validity and the reliability of the study. The fourth chapter presents the findings from the collected data from the website tripadvisor.com for feedback from the guests who have visited the hotels. The main aim for this exercise is to analyse and interpret this data and then divide them in terms of the different components of brand equity or the set of measurements. The results are explained by using the quantitative approach by denoting them in terms of percentage of each component and sub component of brand equity. The fifth chapter analyses the findings and discusses the results and a comparison is made with the earlier studies on brand equity and hospitality industry. This section is concluded by analysing each brand equity category and proposing the hypothesis on brand equity for hotel. The sixth chapter concludes the research by explaining the results obtained from findings and analysis in the previous chapter. This section also answers the research questions for the study. The seventh and the final chapter recommends on the real-world effects of the results obtained from this research. This paper is concluded by proposing a path for the future study centred on the hypotheses.

Self-Rated Competency Essay -- Language

As of 2000, 96% of Hmong households reported Hmong (L1) as the primary spoken language at home with English (L2) not being introduced to a child until later in their development (Reeves & Bennett, 2004). Upon entering school, Hmong children progress into sequential bilingual speakers where L2 is introduced after L1 is already well established. Bilingualism is frequently stated as the use of two or more languages by an individual (ASHA, 2004). Two of the most common types of bilingualism include simultaneous bilingualism (acquisition of both languages occur early on from birth) and sequential bilingualism (exposure to the second language occurs after the first language is already established, usually after 3 years of age). A potential consequence of second-language acquisition is a process called language loss or language attrition. Language attrition is defined as a process where â€Å"a person may loose his/her ability to speak, write, read, and/or understand a particular language or dialect due to a lack of use or exposure† (ASHA, 2004). Studies that involve young immigrants in the United States found that younger immigrants were more likely to switch language dominance for L1 to L2 and were more likely to rate L2 fluency higher (Jia et al, 2002; Shi, 2011). Several studies have demonstrated that sequential bilingual speakers can provide valid self-ratings of competency in L2 and the variables or factors that could affect L2 competency (Shi, 2011; Westermeyer & Her, 1996; Jia et al, 2002). The following three studies provide further evidence of the correlation of using subjective (self-rating) and objective measures to examine receptive and expressive competency in L1 and L2. Westermeyer and Her (1996) conducted a longit... ...istically appropriate services [Knowledge and Skills]. Available from www.asha.org/policy. Jia, G., Aaronson, D., & Wu, Y. (2002). Long-term language attainment of bilingual immigrants: Predicative variables and language group differences. Applied Psycholinguistics, 23, 599 – 621. Reeves, T. J. & Bennett, C. E. (2004). We the people: Asians in the United States. United States Consensus 2000. Shi, L. (2011). How â€Å"proficient† is proficient? Subjective proficiency as a predictor of bilingual listeners’ recognition of English words. American Journal of Audiology [serial online]. June 2011; 20(1): 19 – 32. Available from: Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson), Ipswich, MA. Westermeyer, J., & Her, C. (1996). Predictors of English fluency among Hmong refugees in Minnesota: A longitudinal study. Cultural Diversity and Mental Health, 2(2), 125 – 132.

An Article I Wrote for the High School Paper :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

An Article I Wrote for the High School Paper Philip Emeagwali, a man of immeasurably high intelligence, spurns the description people most often attach to him: genius. "I don't like that term. People think it only means genius in the mathematical sense or that it refers to a select group of people," Emeagwali, 44, told about 50 parents last night at a public forum on schools. "But I think every one of us has the power to be a genuis. I was not born a genius; it was nurtured in me by my father." When he was 10, growing up in western Nigeria, Emeagwali was drilled daily by his father to solve 100 math problems in one hour. There was no time to write solutions on paper -- he had 36 seconds per problem. So Emeagwali did them in his head. "People later called me a mathematical genuis, but you would be a genuis, too, if you had to do 100 math problems in an hour," he said. In the last two days, the man who has been called "one of the greatest intellectual giants Africa has produced" has been taking his message -- the importance of homework, cultivating encouragement at home, and surmounting obstacles -- to a school district that has been mired in problems. Standardized test scores here sank to such lows in recent years that the state placed the district in a special monitoring program. And even as the roofs of the town's school buildings crumbled, taxes soared. Not that Emeagwali didn't have his own trials to overcome. When he was 12, Emeagwali lived underneath ceilings that crumbled from rocket shells. From 1967 to 1970, Nigeria fell into civil war, forcing schools to close. Emeagwali had finished only seventh grade. "We ate only once a day. Some days we had nothing to eat. We were among the poorest families in the world," Emeagwali told students at a high school assembly earlier in the day. "Growing up poor and overcoming several obstacles made me a stronger person. I became more determined to succeed in life." Studying on his own from 6 a.m. to midnight, Emeagwali passed entrance examinations to the University of London with top grades. In 1974, he immigrated to the United States, obtaining degrees in several subjects.

The Value of Life

Generation after generation of societies change as time goes on. Maybe not so much the society itself, but the people in it do. The value of life now differs depending on the different kinds of experiences people go through. We will all have different obstacles in our life, but the way we get through them and live to tell the tale is the way life should be valued for. In It’s not about the bike: My journey back to life, an autobiography by Lance Armstrong, he is a great inspiration to America for winning one of the most grueling sporting events on the face of the earth, the Tour de France. A 2,290 – mile race through the hills and mountains of France on a bicycle. Yet this is still not what puts value into life, through his eyes. Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 25. As tough as it is to fight a cancer as severe as that, he says it was his profession that helped him fight it. His profession taught him how to fight and compete against all odds and obstacles. A near death experience is what made Lance ask himself, â€Å"If I live, who is it that I intend to be?† This is where I truly believe people start contemplating what the value of life is. Another example of an obstacle people sometimes go through in order to assign value to life is suicide. The world famous Shakespeare has a play precisely on the basis of this issue. In the soliloquy of Hamlet he is a man who doesn’t know whether to live or commit suicide, but carefully analyzing the aftermath of suicide and what comes after death is what makes the character have a change of heart. Again we see that what we go through in life, the obstacles we face and overcome is what we use to assign value to life. To further conclude this statement, the way society should assign value to life is the way we have been doing it for years, by basing it on the different experiences people go through and letting each individual have a say in what they think the value of life is. Everyone’s opinion is different, but that is the beauty of it. From all the differences it creates some of the greatest stories ever told. That is how value should be assigned. The Value of Life The Value of Life The value of human life is still a mystery and we as a society is still trying to figure it out. During early times, life was not valued at all. People were being turned into slaves and treated like nothing. In today’s world though, we base the value of life by our achievements, one’s past, or the salary one receives. This shouldn’t be the way we value one’s life. We as a society cannot assign a value on one’s life. Money cannot buy happiness.In the article â€Å"What Is a Life Worth† by Amanda Ripley, she argues that nowadays we base life on money. â€Å"The courts started to put a dollar value on a life-after death† (â€Å"What Life is Worth†, stanza 1). I do not agree with this because people expect money after a death occurs to a loved one. No amount of money can fill in the void of a loss someone is enduring. William Shakespeare, one of the most famous and influential writer, argues his point of view of hu man life in â€Å"Hamlet’s Soliloquy. Shakespeare uses a suicidal character, Hamlet, to show that the only time we value life is when something bad is happening. Also to show that life is full of misfortunes. Both Shakespeare and Ripley seem to be suggesting that life is only valued by death. Death opens our eyes and makes us cherish what we have. This sounds very sad, but it’s very true. The government doesn’t seem to care about human life. Cheri Sparacio, the widow of Thomas Sparacio, exclaims, â€Å"The government is not taking any responsibility for what it’s done.This was just one screw up after another. † The government tries to replace loss with money. How can one’s life value be bought? Nowadays, one way life is valued is by money. 6 On the other hand, Lance Armstrong believes that death is not an option. That the value of life should be cherished and taken for granted because your life can end any second. In the excerpt â€Å"Itâ €™s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life† by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins, it talks about Lance

Religion and Truth Essay

All Religion is TruthWhat is insanity of the religion? According to Ramakrishna, no One religion is truth, however, all the integral transmissions of sacred wisdom and contemplative practice that survive the test of time are true. (43) That means, the complete devotion to the source of knowledge and actions through prayer are the fundamental and most important walks of life that constitute to the wholeness of truth. These most important aspects of religion constitute to the wholeness of truth by what they place on the individual, which is the Grace of God. The belief that My Religion Alone is true is not the correct belief because all religions are truth from what the religion does to the practitioner. If the practitioner is in complete consciousness of God and life, that alone is the key to truth. So the basis of all these religions, be it Hindu, Christian, Jew or Muslim is primarily through the sanctity of God and that is the willingness to devote time and life through veneration to the Divine Reality, which is God, that brings all the religions together. As time transcends and religion expands, reality becomes the critical starting point through where we begin our destiny of truth. That means, knowledge is transcendent and that it is the gauntlet or tool that creates the value of truth within the individual. To understand this point fully, we must break down what Ramakrishna meant by integral transmissions of sacred wisdom. Integral means the completeness of the whole, and in this case it is used to exemplify the wholeness of truth in being the basis of knowledge. By the basis it is then completed through transmission or rather a passage of possibly enlightenment of knowledge. That is why knowledge is referred to as sacred, because of the qualities of truth that it brings within the individual. Furthermore, what constitutes to truth is the emphasis the individual places on eternal goal or spiritual peace by a means of illuminating the sacredness of knowledge. Persistence of intense awareness is the truth that Ramakrishna is trying to convey. Moreover, the goal of achieving a manifested state of sanctity is through complete sincerity. That is sincerity works in the favor of the practitioner because they not only work for truth and knowledge for themselves but indeterminately for God alone, and this is what is achieved in all religions, in essence making them very connected and similar. According to Ramakrishna, its supposed to be about what we fight for in religion, not what we fight for outside of religion. In addition, what we fight for is suppose to be for the ultimate being, God, through Divine Nature. Divine Nature is achieved through a balance of realization in our daily life. The key tool is sincerity. Sincerity is about being genuine and honest; however it is about being honest first and foremost to the individual. Because without being able to be truthful to yourself, there would be no decisive factor that contributes to inspired belief and thus creating a problem within the individual. The way to obtain divine nature is not simple, because it takes time, but those who are sincere can and will achieve it. Divine nature consists of being able to learn from our daily trials and tribulations and learning very critically from them. At the same rate, the most fundamental thing that helps us on our path is the presence of God within us. (42)Why does Ramakrishna refer to God being the only living presence within us and how do we achieve this? The benefits of having God within us are bliss and freedom. What it means to have bliss could potentially lead to freedom, freedom of the self. It is freedom of the self because the presence of God is the only thing that we become conscious of and creates a sort of ripple within us that really brings out the bliss of God. Moreover, it is the awareness of God that structure our daily life and thus creates a Divine Nature that we live. Religions create a sense of supreme happiness and that reveal an urgent desire to be at peace. Through understanding that God is present everywhere is the beginning stages of awareness, but moving to the stage that God is present with in us creates motivation and an incentive for the individual to complete his or her goal in life. Furthermore, in order to maintain a balance of the spiritual self, there are certain spiritual ideals that are really crucial in understanding the truth in all religions. Devotion seems to sound easy, whereas it is serves as a purpose for the individual. Devotion is the dedication to belief in God and resulting in profound piety. It is correlated with the idea of ideals. Ideals are processes that work hand in hand in achieving the individuals ultimate goal, which is developed by the means of devotion. Ideals are the realization of something more and that something more is the supreme presence. Ideals exist in the mind but at the same time in the heart and the entire body. It takes form in the individuals day to day action and helps in creating a balance within the individuals spiritual conscience. Once this process of ideals is followed up by proper actions and proper living, then harmony is reached in the form of the manifestation of God. Manifestation of God means that the cause of being completely habituated in living the proper way creates the effect of harmony. Harmony is a consistent pleasing effect that is caused by this absolute idea of consciousness and bliss. That is to say that all the important aspects that were stated from the beginning to now, are the primary purpose of the truth in all the religions, in essence showing the beauty that God brings forth through each and every religion. Finally we must go back to the original question of insanity. Ramakrishna in essence is saying that it is insane to believe your religion is the only and ultimate truth for we have no basis for that belief. We can see through the process of spiritual development that the beauty lays in the truth and sincerity each and every religion places on the individual in such a balanced and consistent manner. BIBLIOGRAPHY1. Philip Novak. The Worlds Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World. Harper SanFrancisco. -1st ed. Pg 42-44.

Organizational behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Organizational behaviour - Assignment Example It is a progression of sorts that keeps on happening. At Sony, this has meant that the company has understood its objectives and gone ahead with accepting them through the corridor of time and availability of resources at its end. Over the years, Sony has faced monumental losses in terms of finances and increasing competition from some of the bigger players in the technological business. Sony’s problems were broad and deep, which asked for a better understanding in terms of the change process which had to be brought in. The change that has essentially come in has accounted for a thinking amendment in terms of realizing that Sony existed as a powerhouse which is not the case anymore. Samsung and Apple – the two rivals of repute have usurped its market share which is simply an unacceptable awakening for Sony. The change process has therefore been negative for Sony more than anything else (Covin, 1999). What is needed now is a change that shall set things right, and that t oo within quantifiable proportions. Also the restructuring done within Sony amounted to heavy losses, which was another exercise in futility for the company. The profits which had poured in the recent years were not coming up like historical trends and the losses were immense. This has meant that Sony needs to change its course of action and that too within acceptable proportions. The determination to make change a success was destined for Sony, especially after Stringer wanted it to be implemented across the board. For this, he devised the policy of a central decision making authority for some of the key areas under Sony. Sony’s Electronics division was earmarked for this and Stringer decided to go ahead with it. He also played his role well within the development of the corporate culture which was deemed as an important entity (Heath, 1994). This was a change of sorts for the organization since the corporate culture decides the relevant course of action and highlights where the business can exceed the expectations that the stakeholders have of it. Since its products were top of the line and had made a name for their own selves over the years, it was only significant that Sony developed a corporate culture which could resonate well with the products that were being manufactured under its aegis. One should believe that these small incremental changes as well as the huge amendments are for the betterment of Sony at large. If a third party is appointed to oversee the change process, it will be able to fathom the kind of success that change shall eventually be able to bring in. The different types of change that Sony is planning for now are indeed focused on the right track and there is an effort to set things right. Also the incorporation of Stringer within the change methodologies is one that banks on trust and a will to do something inherently right. After evaluation of changes at Sony is done, one finds that these changes bank on the experience of Stri nger and how he wishes to take the company forward (Senior, 2006). Also his expectations from the people who matter the most within the organization is straightforward and depends on whether or not they would be able to manifest their truest selves when the need so arises. Fortunately, the need arises on a consistent basis which keeps everyone in the loop as far as change management and deployment avenues are concerned. One must not forget

The Human Resources Implications of Greater Ethnic Diversification Essay

The Human Resources Implications of Greater Ethnic Diversification - Essay Example These policies have combined with demographic shifts to leave more and more companies with the most diverse workforce, both in terms of gender and ethnicity, than they have ever had before. Despite this, the human resources implications of greater ethnic diversity have far from ended, rather, they are getting exceedingly more complex. The fact is that, while hiring initiatives have led to greater diversity in the work force, this has led to a whole swath of other implications for human resources professionals. Furthermore, the process through which much of the diversity has been achieved, such as affirmative action hiring, have failed to have either positive business or social justice outcomes. Growing diversity has requires human resources professionals to innovate new methods of team formation and culture shifts in companies, which seem to be the only way to make the gains made by having an ethnically diverse workforce sustainable. The gains of having an ethnically diverse workforc e have been well understood for some time now. ... thnically diverse backgrounds provide insight into their own positions as well as for their coworkers (Jackson et al 1992), while corporations that have a great deal of ethnic diversity on amongst their board of directors tend to perform better in a wide variety of metrics, including profitability and revenue stream (Singh 2007). Furthermore, companies that seek to go beyond simply generating ethnic diversity through hiring practices, but also entrenching cultural values that promote and respect diverse modes of thought have a whole slew of other benefits. Their workforces tend to have more a more collective orientation, more open modes of communication, and are better able to recognize talent from individuals of diverse backgrounds (Martin-Alcaraz 2011). While some indicators of the gains of diverse companies may seem coincidental (and there is a chance, especially with instances with small population studies, such as boards of directors), it does seem that a great deal of ethnic di versity has direct positive impacts for companies that foster such an atmosphere. The goals of diversity initiatives are also obviously not founded solely on improving performance, though this does seem to be an effect of a positively constructed diversity program. Diversity is also important for companies to meet social and ethical requirements and behave as good â€Å"corporate citizens.† The fact is, that with the growing ethnic diversity that has come with globalization, a work force that is not diverse represents a form of oppression rather than a lack of outreach or other such measures. A workforce should resemble the population that surrounds it, and if it has a significant difference, then the company needs to ask itself how and why it is actively excluding portions of the

Principles of Project Management Prince 2 Essay

Principles of Project Management Prince 2 - Essay Example LU Case Study Analysis The method is beneficial in project management for several reasons. For instance, the methodology is product-focused and hence all the activities are organized in a way to increase product quality. Moreover, method requires segmentation of the project in to distinct stages that are easily manageable (Hinde, 2012). The method will help the LU team to maintain focus and deliver an excellent outcome of the project at hand. PRINCE2 methodology also enhances communication among the project team members as well as other stakeholders thereby promoting effective control of the project. This is important in ensuring that all the actions undertaken in project implementation are understood by all project team members to avoid misperception and promote ownership of the project goals, which is necessary to ensure that everyone strives to achieve a common purpose. More stakeholders are allowed to contribute to the project decision making since they are at all times offered a ccess to information consistently through reports (David, 2009). With the application of PRINCE2, it is possible to make improvements in the project implementation process because of the continuous monitoring and control. Weaknesses can be detected once they emerge and solutions identified early enough to deter them from causing failure in the implementation of the project plan. The method is flexible to a great extent such that the necessary changes can be made as the project progresses (Archibald et al. 2013). Where the changes during run-time are likely to affect the project timetable, PRINCE2 ensures that the effect is curtailed. The method allows the project team members to acquire time management skills as well as cost effective ways of utilizing project resources due to the high level of organization and control, thereby ensuring that the overall project cost is lowered (Rothaermel, 2012). However, PRINCE2 methodology is not without limitations. It has a relatively high level of inflexibility due to the adherence to a step by step process. Moreover, it is likely that only the project managers may have the full knowledge of PRINCE2, meaning other project players are likely to find it complicated thereby getting discouraged or they might fail to get the best out of its application. Its application in the project will therefore necessitate training of all staff who will be involved in the project to promote competence (Seegers & Hedeman, 2009). Ten days training will be enough to sensitize the project team members and take them through practical examples of applying PRINCE2, as well to demonstrate that the method is applicable to this particular project. It should be conducted by knowledgeable professionals who have applied PRINCE2 methodology successfully in other projects. This will save time and resources during the project implementation. To support strategic and tactical decision-making on the project, it is necessary to include information that will enable successful directing of the project, which takes in to account the actions that allow the project board to make sure the project implementation plan is followed from beginning to project closure. These actions are in all the stages of project implementation. It is necessary to include in the business case the required resources for the project, the people who will

The Day of the Locust explication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Day of the Locust explication - Essay Example Alternatively, they could be waiting for a bus to deliver them to a place full of hope that, realistically, will never come. The novel depicts a poor mass that are surrounded by glitters of Hollywood, which provides them with the illusions of good life. However, the narrator cannot comprehend the irrationality of the crowd, who seem to be angry with everything. The paper analyzes the use of crowd in The Day of the Locust. There is the use of crowd to symbolize the direction American society has taken, with masses not being recognized by their contribution to the success of the Hollywood stars, who have lost touch with the reality of life, built a ringed barrier around them and creates illusions among their followers. Tod Hackett, a fresh graduate from an Art School, Yale University who has been living in Hollywood for about three months. As he works on his epic painting, â€Å"The Burning of Los Angeles† he encounters what can best be described as a dangerous crowd of people w ho cling to hope against the backdrop of hard reality. As depicted in the apocalypse of landscape, the crowd is charged; as they arm themselves with baseball bats and torches. In page 10, he describes the scene at the movie premier in the manner in which the crowd is charged and show signs of impatience; â€Å"...Thousands of people had already gathered. They stood facing the theatre with their backs to the gutter in a thick line hundreds of feet long† Nadel 226). In a view to describe the gap between the crown and those Hollywood personalities, the narrator states continues; â€Å"A big squad of policemen was trying to keep a lane open between the front rank of the crowd and the faced of the theatre...† (Gehman 10). The narrator’s description of the life of the Hollywood stars and the masses depicts two sides that are not in sync with each other. His perception is that the Hollywood art is just meant to provide some sort of mechanical fantasies to the American poor populace. In fact, the use of imagery in the description of Los Angeles is a direct creation of perception that the people have been exposed to some sort of machination to fantasize and live in some fabricated world of dreams. This kind of dream offers short term gratification, and that any form of delay to the actualization of this dream can lead to disastrous reaction from the crowd. The latter is depicted in the grotesque facial depictions of the people: â€Å"all those poor devils who can only best stirred by the promise of miracles and then only to violence† (Gehman 10). The novel relentlessly exposes the decay and constant violence that emerge from the failure to accomplish the dreams of the masses. The idealism and the actuality of the life in Los Angeles’ Hollywood is depicted as worlds apart. In this case, finding the reality from the discrepancies of imaginations is so hard that the Tod can only predict doom. The novel, in other words, predicts the imagi ned American dream that is full of fantasies remarkably addressed in symbolic characteristic of the crowd. Within the core of this dream is a seemingly eminent violence, which may arise when the masses realizes that they have not been part of the illusion of activities presented in the events. The crowd becomes difficult to control and portrays uncertainty with the goals, even as they feel threatened by the Hollywood idols. Ironically, they are prepared

Risk-Based Systems Security Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk-Based Systems Security Engineering - Essay Example The subjectivity of Morda necessitates sensitivity analysis to study the change of attack scores with respect to one another with the change of values of the subjective variables. With Morda assessment, a risk posture can be produced for a proposed architecture, that not only drives the engineering process of the system security but also influences the development of countermeasures. Costs of the countermeasure include but are not limited to expenses of purchase and maintenance, and backward compatibility whereas the benefit is effective mitigation of the risk. Morda offers an unbiased metric to the decision makers by assessing risk formally and systematically. Thus, decision makers can make informed decisions to identify proper strategy of defense. The Morda process identifies the single attacks that are most lucrative, but it does not consider the attack portfolios that are made over time so that ongoing adversary objectives can be

Franklin Pierce Essay Example for Free

Franklin Pierce Essay Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804 – October 8, 1869) was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857, an American politician and lawyer. To date, he is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a doughface (a Northerner with Southern sympathies) who served in the U. S. House of Representatives and Senate. Later, Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general. His private law practice in his home state, New Hampshire, was so successful that he was offered several important positions, which he turned down. Later, he was nominated for president as a dark horse candidate on the 49th ballot at the 1852 Democratic National Convention. In the presidential election, Pierce and his running mate William R. King won by a landslide in the Electoral College, defeating the Whig Party ticket of Winfield Scott and William A. Graham by a 50% to 44% margin in the popular vote and 254 to 42 in the electoral vote. According to historian David Potter, Pierce was sometimes referred to as Baby Pierce, apparently referring to both his youthful appearance and his being the youngest president to take office to that point (although he was, in reality, only a year younger than James K. Polk when he took office). Pierce attended school at Hillsborough Center and moved to the Hancock Academy in Hancock at the age of 11; he was transferred to Francestown Academy in the spring of 1820. In fall 1820, he entered Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he participated in literary, political, and debating clubs. There he met writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, with whom he formed a lasting friendship, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He also met Calvin E. Stowe, Seargent S. Prentiss, and his future political rival, John P. Hale, when he joined the Athenian Society, a group of students with progressive political leanings. In his second year of college his grades were the lowest of his class, but he worked to improve them and upon graduation in 1824 ranked third among his classmates. In 1826 he entered a law school in Northampton, Massachusetts, studying under Governor Levi Woodbury, and later Judges Samuel Howe and Edmund Parker, in Amherst, New Hampshire. He was admitted to the bar and began a law practice in Concord, New Hampshire in 1827. Pierce served as President from March 4, 1853, to March 4, 1857. He began his presidency in a state of grief and nervous exhaustion. Two months before, on January 6, 1853, the President-elects family had boarded a train in Boston and shortly thereafter were trapped in their derailed car when it rolled down an embankment near Andover, Massachusetts. Pierce and his wife survived, merely shaken up, but saw their 11-year-old son Benjamin crushed to death. Jane Pierce viewed the train accident as a divine punishment for her husbands pursuit and acceptance of high office. Pierce chose to affirm his oath of office rather than swear it, becoming the first president to do so; he placed his hand on a law book rather than on a Bible while doing so. He was also the first president to recite his inaugural address from memory. In it Pierce hailed an era of peace and prosperity at home and urged a vigorous assertion of US interests in its foreign relations. The policy of my Administration, said the new president, will not be deterred by any timid forebodings of evil from expansion. Indeed, it is not to be disguised that our attitude as a nation and our position on the globe render the acquisition of certain possessions not within our jurisdiction eminently important for our protection. The nation was enjoying a period of economic growth and relative tranquility. The Compromise of 1850 seemed to have calmed the storm about the issue of slavery. When the issue flamed up early in his administration, though, Pierce did little to cool the passions it aroused, and sectional fissures reopened. The greatest challenge to the countrys equilibrium during the Pierce administration, though, was the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. It repealed the Missouri Compromise and reopened the question of slavery in the West. This measure, sponsored by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, had its origins in the drive to facilitate the completion of a transcontinental railroad with a link from Chicago, Illinois to California through Nebraska.

Learning From Interprofessional Collaboration In Practice Social Work Essay

Learning From Interprofessional Collaboration In Practice Social Work Essay Interprofessional working (IPW) in health and social care is essential for effective service provision and is a key driver of modern healthcare. In a changing and more pressured working environment, health and social care professionals need to be partners in delivering services, embracing collective accountability, be flexible and adaptable and have shared goals in integrating care around service users (Fletcher 2010a, Pollard et al, 2010). According to Tope and Thomas (2007), analysis of policies from as early as 1920 in health and social care have recommended professional collaboration, improved communication and teamwork to improve outcomes for service users. There have been similar recommendations in government policy since this time (Tope and Thomas, 2007). High profile investigations since 2000 highlight deficiencies in IPW across health and social care. Inadequate communication between professionals in cases of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry (HM Government 2001), the Victoria Climbie Inquiry Report (Laming, 2003), and The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report (Laming, 2009) have caused nationwide concern beyond the professions and services involved, causing a frenzy of media comment and public debate. Core recommendations are for professionals to improve communication between agencies, to have an ethos based around teams and working together and to improve professional accountability. The investigations provide evidence that collaborative working can only improve outcomes and underpins the real need to find out how best to develop a work force that can work together effectively (Leathard, 1994, Anderson et al, 2006 and Weinstein et al, 2003). Policy also recommends putting service users at the forefront of care and coordinating services across the authorities, voluntary and private sector organisations (DoH, 1997, DoH, 2000a, DoH, 2000b, Doh, 2001a, DoH 2001b, DoH 2001c, DoH, 2002a, DoH, 2006, DfES, 2006, HM Government 2004, HM Government 2007). Literature suggests that IPW improvements begin in interprofessional education (IPE) (DoH 2000b, DoH 2002b, Fletcher 2010a, Freeth et al 2002, Higgs and Edwards 1999, HM Government, 2007 Reynolds 2005,). IPE has been defined as learning which occurs when two or more professions learn from and about each other to improve collaboration and quality of care (CAIPE, 1997). The need to produce practitioners who are adaptable, flexible and collaborative team workers has focused attention on IPE, which aims to reduce prejudices between professional groups by bringing them together to learn with and from each other to enhance understanding of other professional roles, practice contexts and develop the skills needed for effective teamwork (Barr et al. 2005; Hammick et al. 2009, Parsell et al, 1998). At our interprofessional conference, we worked in teams of mixed student professionals. We introduced ourselves, our disciplines and our course structures, elected a chair and a scribe and set about to complete our tasks. Cooper et al (2001) identify one of the benefits of IPE as understanding other professional roles and team working. In their study, they found evidence to suggest that early learning experiences were most beneficial to develop healthy attitudes towards IPW (Cooper et al, 2001). None of the members of my group knew what a social worker did and I explained my training and professional role to them. McPherson et al (2001) describe how a lack of knowledge of the capabilities and contributions of other professions can be a barrier to IPW. In our discussions, we talked about our preconceived ideas. Social workers were described as hippies and doctors described as arrogant. Leaviss (2000) describes IPE as being effective in combating negative stereotypes before these develop and become ingrained. Atwal (2002) suggested that a lack of understanding of different professionals roles as well as a lack of awareness of the different pressures faced by different team members could make communication and decision making problematic. The conference provided an opportunity for us to interact with each other and was conducive to making positive changes in intergroup stereotypes (Barnes et al, 2000, Carpenter et al, 2003). Barr et al (1999) describe how IPE can change attitudes and counters negative stereotyping. The role play exercise gave us an understanding of differing pressures faced by each professional. Our team worked well together, taking turns to let each other speak, listening, challenging appropriately when needed and creating our sentences by the end of the conference. I feel that our friendly and motivated characters made communication and thus teamwork easy in the group. Weber and Karman (1991) found that the ability to blend different professional viewpoints in a team is a key skill for effective IPW. Pettigrew (1998) emphasises that the ability to make friends in a group of other professionals can reduce prejudice and encourage cooperation in future IPW. We agreed that teamwork was essential to IPW and can assist in the development and promotion of interprofessional communication (Opie, 1997). We felt that IPE allowed us to teach each other while encouraging reflection on our own roles (Parsal et al, 1999). We were very clear on how we worked as a group and effective as meeting our tasks and I feel we reached the Tuckmans performing stage (Tuckman 1965). Baliey (2004) describes team members who are unable to work together to share knowledge will be ineffective in practice. Although, there is an argument that this is more likely to happen in teams where the concept of IPW is new and team members lack skills to understand the benefits of IPW or adopt new ways of working (Kenny, 2002). Being in our second year of study and having all had experience of working in an interprofessional setting, we were very motivated at the conference and in achieving our objectives. It is noted that personal commitment is important for effective IPW (Pirrie et al, 1998). We acknowledged the issue of power in our professional social hierarchies. In our role play exercise, we found that we all looked to the doctors first for management of the service users treatment and they commanded the most respect. We agreed that medicine was the most established out of all the healthcare professions (Page and Meerabeau, 2004, Hafferty and Light, 1995) and that other professions have faced challenges in establishing status (Saks, 2000). I felt this was especially relevant to social workers who have recently extended their professional training to degree status to bring it in line with other professions. Reynolds (2005) suggested that hierarchies within teams could contribute to communication difficulties; for example, where input from some of the team members were not given equal value. Leathard (1994) describes that rivalry between professional groups especially in terms of perceived seniority are a barrier to IPW. The Shipman Report (2005) noted the importance of ensuring all team members are valued, recommending less hierarchy in practice, more equality among staff, regardless of their position. We talked about valuing and respecting each others professional opinion. Irvine et al, (2002) discuss how IPW can break the monopoly of any single profession in providing sole expert care, promoting shared responsibility and accountability. We discussed understanding, supporting and respecting every individual in the workplace to promote diversity and fairness. We also concluded that institutions and differing professional pressures could be a barrier to IPW. Having previously worked in an interprofessional HIV team for Swansea NHS Trust, I found that team members were given priorities from their managers which impacted on their availability to attend team meetings. Wilson and Pirrie (2000) suggest that a barrier to IPW can be a lack of support from managers and the workplace structure. Drinka et al (1996) describe how during times of work related stress, individuals can withdraw from IPW. We acknowledged that institutional support would be essential to effective IPW. Dalrymple and Burke (2006) discuss that different professionals have different priorities, values, pressures and constraints, obligations and expectations which can lead to tension, mistrust and go on to cause to discriminatory and oppressive practice in IPW. In light of the above learning, we all felt that IPW had occurred naturally in our first year placements, where it was considered the norm in our working environments and where the concept was understood and encouraged. The conference had highlighted some of the barriers to IPW and we will take this knowledge into our practice settings. Word Count 1348 Section 2 How would you take what you have learnt about IP working into practice? The conference highlighted some key issues about IPW that I will take into practice. One of the most significant developments in health and social care policy in recent years has been the move away from the professional being the expert with the power and knowledge to the patient centred care with professionals applying their knowledge to the needs and rights of the service user (Barrett et al, 2005). The social model of care identities issues of power in the traditional medical model approach to care and looks at how dependency on the professional can be a side effect of the helping relationship and be disempowering for service users (Shakespeare, 2000). Informing, consulting with and incorporating the views of service users and carers is critical to effective interagency interprofessional practise. There is a drive in recent policy for service users and carers to be engaged in service provision and the recent white paper Liberating the NHS (HM Government, 2010a), calls for more aut onomy for service users, making them more accountable through choice, being able to access services that are transparent, fair and promote power and control over decisions made. Nothing about me without me ( HM Government, 2010a, page 13) is a commitment that will shift power from professionals to service users, a huge change in current culture. The service user is the central vision, a team member involved in decisions made about their care, transforming the NHS to deliver better joined up services, partnerships and productivity (HM Government, 2010) My learning has reiterated the importance of service user involvement and I have reflected on ways to implement this in practice. In previous employment, I helped to run a patient public involvement group at the HIV service, Swansea NHS Trust. This enabled service users to give feedback and make suggestions for improvements (i.e. having evening nurse led clinics, introducing the home delivery of medication). In my experience, service users were actively involved in shaping services in their communities and it was very successful. In my practice, I will continue to value the service user as part of the interprofessional team as well as encourage this practice in my places of employment. In my placement at a supported housing charity for young mothers, ways to achieve service user involvement were being introduced. One of my roles was to carry out a questionnaire with the aim of getting feedback and empowering the service users. Reflecting on this, I can now see how valuable this exerc ise was and I will continue to see the value in gaining service user feedback and always aim to do this in practice. I discussed this with my group and this added to our learning. Informal unpaid carers, the voluntary and private sector are also essential team players and the value of their contribution is being acknowledged increasingly as the success of an interprofessional workforce (Tope and Thomas 2007). In my role within the HIV service, Swansea NHS Trust, I coordinated an interprofessional team and ran a support group for African women living with or affected by HIV in conjunction with social services and the Terrence Higgins Trust. I understand the value that the third sector organisations can be for service users, often filling gaps in statutory services. The Terrence Higgins Trust were able to provide funding for activities as well as support sessions, training opportunities and counselling. Social Care Institute for excellence (2010) in a response to the white paper, Liberating the NHS (HM Government, 2010a) discuss how around 90% of direct social care services are delivered in the private and voluntary sector. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a soci al policy research and development charity, discuss that the state is withdrawing from many welfare functions and increasingly relying on the voluntary sector to fill gaps in care (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1996). The recent strategy document, Building a Stronger Civil Society (HM Government, 2010b) discusses how integration with the voluntary sector will be essential to meet the challenges faced by the health and social care provision. The report focuses on our society being able to access wider sources of support and encourage better public sector partnerships, shifting the power from elites to local communities. The government are also keen to support and strengthen the sector and promote citizen and community action (HM Government, 2010b) . My learning has made me aware that future teams will include professionals across all sectors and communication with these sectors will be essential to our professional roles. Working with the voluntary and private sector as well as statutory services, will require skills to acknowledge different agencies focus on care. Petrie (1976) acknowledges that each profession holds a direct focus to care and it can be challenging to communicate. Laming (2003) called for the training bodies for people working in medicine, nursing, housing, schools, the police etc to demonstrate effective joint working in their training. I feel that it would be useful in the future to incorporate more of these professional groups in IPE conference. Fletcher (2010a) discussed how he would hope this could be achieved in future IPW programmes at UWE. I feel that the addition of these extra professions would really add to the learning. Fletcher (2010b) discusses the central dilemma in ethics between health and social care professionals about having a different focus and the best angle for patient care. These value differences can cause conflict (Mariano, 1999). I feel, in practice, it will be important to take time to find out what each agency/ professional does and I will always remember that in IPW, we have a common goal providing a good service for the service user. Leathard (2003) identities that what people have in common is more important than difference, as professionals acknowledge the value of sharing knowledge and expertise. In my practice, I will uphold professional responsibility and personal conduct to facilitate respect in IPW. Carr (1999) explained that the professional has to be someone who possesses, in addition to theoretical or technical expertise, a range of distinctly moral attitudes and values designed to elevate the interest and needs of service user above self interest. According to Davis and Elliston (1986), each professional field has social responsibilities within it and no one can be professional unless he or she obtains a social sensibility. Therefore, each profession must seek its own form of social good as unless there is social sensibility, professionals cannot perform their social roles (Davis Elliston, 1986). The conference highlighted the benefits of professional codes of ethics, setting of standards for our professional work, providing guidance as to our responsibilities and obligations and obtaining the status and legitimacy of professionals (Bibby, 1998). I feel that is in im portant to always uphold our values and ethics to create respect in our communities and with this comes respecting each others roles. I believe that shared values will underpin this in practice. Darlymple and Burke (2006) discuss that we have a shared concern that the work we do makes society fairer in some small way and we have a commitment to social justice. I feel that IPE has facilitated respect and mutual understanding across our professions. It has made me aware of the importance of professional development, about how we are part of the wider team of health and social care services and how our common values can underpin effective partnership working. It reinforces that collaboration is required as not one profession alone can meet all of a services (Irvine et al. 2002). My social work degree is a combination of theory and practical learning. It is through combining this learning and by reflecting on my experiences throughout the course, that will set my knowledge base, allow me to relate theory to practice, allow me to test my ideas and thinking while identifying areas that need further research becoming a reflective practitioner (Rolfe Gardner, 2006 and Schon, 1983). As a group we discussed that there we all value continued professional development, reflection and awareness and personal responsibility for our learning (Bankert and Kozel 2005). It is this that we agreed we would carry forward as we start our working careers. Word count 1352 Section 3 References Anderson, E., Manek, N., Davidson, A. (2006) Evaluation of a model for maximising interprofessional education in an acute hospital. Journal of Interprofessional Care 2 182-194 Atawl A (2002) A world apart: how occupational therapists, nurses and care managers perceive each other in acute care. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(10) 446-452 Bailey, D. 2004. The Contribution of Work-based Supervision to Interprofessional Learning on a Masters Programme in Community Mental Health. Active Learning in Higher Education 5(3): 263-278 Bankert, E., G. And Kozel, V,.V (2005) Transforming pedagogy in nursing education: a caring learning environment for adult students. Nursing Education Perspectives 26 (4) 227-229 Barnes, D., Carpenter, J,. and Dickinson, C (2000) Interprofessional education for community mental health: attitudes to community care and professional sterotypes. Social work education, 565 583. Barr J, Hammick M, Koppel I and Reeves S (1999) Evaluating Interprofessional education: Two systematic reviews for health and social care, British Educational Research Journal, vol 25, no.4 533-544 Barr H, Koppel, I., Reeves S,. Hammick M, Freeth D, (2005) Effective interprofessional education, argument, assumption and evidence. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Barret, G., Sellman, D., Thomas, J. (2005) Interprofessional Working in Health and Social Care. Palgrave: London CAIPE (Centre for the advancement of interprofessional education) (1997) Inter-professional Education- a definition. CAIPE Bulletin no.13. Carpenter, J., Barnes, D, and Dickinson, C. (2003) The making of a modern careforce. 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