.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 19

Case Study Example The common thing about the fixed expenditures is that they are fixed throughout the three months. Based on the above analysis, Salem Data Services is a big challenge for Salem Telephone Company. There are a number of facts that can be used to prove this assertion. One of the most visible fact is seen in Salem Data Services contribution margin income statement. The Contribution margin income statement for Salem Data Services proves that the net income is by far negative and cannot be easily turned into profits. The loss incurred through the provision of these services is far high that it cannot be turned around by simply adding or reducing customer prices. Even with the 30% increase in demand here will be minimal effect on the actual income that the company gets from these operations. The same applies to increased prices. In fact, increased prices will even make things worse because they will have lower demand as compared to what they were having at the time when this report was made. However, if they increase his prices, then they might be able to get higher per unit profit on t his service. This would not be advisable because they will o be able to raise enough money to cater for their costs. This will only imply at the end of the day they will still incur losses. If the prices are lower than they will definitely have more people demanding for their services. However, the problem assisted to lower prices is the decrease in per unit income. When the per unit income for service provision is low the company will incur losses at the end of the day. This is because the total income earned is less than the cost of producing the service. Therefore, he only thing that the company can do is trying to lower their production costs. Not all the expenses are flexible. However, the company could look at the expenses with high flexibility and adjust them

Monday, October 28, 2019

Mcdonalds Great Britain - the Turnaround Essay Example for Free

Mcdonalds Great Britain the Turnaround Essay Summary of the Problem McDonalds spacious Britain experienced a great deal of hardships and changes. McDonalds US sales have steadily change magnitude but Great Britain has not shown any significant increase. The solid ground for the sluggish sales is because of new chains such as Yo! sushi and Nandos Chicken Restaurants which tickled the Great Britains taste. An issue in the fast food industry is the mad cow sc are. at that place are some comments about McDonalds Great Britain standardised a guy just go to McDonalds for a last resort, the texture, the taste and the feel of the burger was different than before. Also, passel are becoming more health conscious. There was also a lawsuit with McDonalds and two green peace activists. For teenagers, McDonalds appeal to their taste thats why McDonalds UK profit 118 Million (in Euro). Lastly, the company monitors news articles and television references. In Great Britain, they have been rated either as negative or deaf(p). They have taken these comments and certain steps to reverse the trend. They developed new menus composed of salads, grilled chicken and fruits. Their burgers and original menus were modify to suit their audiences taste. They also developed new recipes. They informed people about their foods dietary information. They also got Destinys fry to advertise for the new salad line and they brewed coffee in receipt to the rising coffee house trend. CEO of McDonalds UK has a vision for them. They have to give more value to the customer in order to upgrade the McDonalds experience. They should get fundament to the basics of service and cleanliness. They will re-invent their food with various changes in their ingredients to suit the taste of the customers. The CEO wants McDonalds to become eat restaurant because they have opportunities there.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Economic Geography of Industry Location in India :: India Economics Industries Essays

Economic Geography of Industry Location in India ____________________________________ Paper prepared for the UNU/WIDER Project Conference on Spatial Inequality in Asia 3 Economic Geography of Industry Location in India Where do different industries locate? What factors influence the spatial distribution of economic activity within countries? Finding answers to these questions is important for understanding the development potential of sub national regions. This is particularly important for developing countries as they have relatively lower levels of overall investment and economic activity is concentrated in one or a few growth centers. Thus, regions that do not attract dynamic industries are not only characterized by low productivity, but also by lower relative incomes and standards of living. These questions on industry location and their implications are not new. Examining the locational aspects of economic activity has long been of interest to geographers, planners, and regional scientists (Weber, 1909; Là ¶sch, 1940; Hotelling, 1929; Greenhut and Greenhut, 1975, Isard 1956). However, analytic difficulties in modeling increasing returns to scale marginalized the analysis of geographic aspects in mainstream economic analysis (Krugman 1991). Recent research on externalities, increasing returns to scale, and imperfect spatial competition (Dixit and Stiglitz 1977; Fujita, et al. 1999; Krugman 1991) has led to renewed interest in analyzing the spatial organization of economic activity. This is especially true in case of geographic concentration or clustering. Models in the ‘New Economic Geography’ literature (see review in Fujita, Krugman, and Venables, 1999) allow us to move from the question ‘Where will manufacturing concentrate (if it does)?’ to the question ‘What manufacturing will concentrate where?’ These insightful theoretical models provide, for the most part, renewed analytical support for the â€Å"cumulative causation† arguments made in earlier decades on the core-periphery relationship, on agglomeration economies, and on industrial clustering. In this context, we are interested in finding empirical answers to these (very old) questions, and to go beyond, to ask, â€Å"What manufacturing will locate where and why†? Industry location and concentration decisions are driven by two fundamental considerations: a set of â€Å"pure† location or â€Å"economic geography† criteria, including well recognized elements such as urbanization and localization economies, market access, infrastructure availability, etc. The other is a set of â€Å"practical† or â€Å"political economy† criteria, where the state is a key player in industrial ownership and production, and uses location considerations that are different from the private sector. The private sector responds to the very strong influence of state regulations, and the result is an industrial geography that is shaped by factors of economic geography and political economy. To understand the process of industrial location and concentration, it is important to first analyze the location decisions of firms in particular industries.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Geomatics : Levelling

Topic 2: Levelling Aims -Heights, datums and bench marks -Levelling equipment -Field procedure for levelling -Calculating reduced levels -Sources of error in levelling -Other levelling methods Levelling – how heights are defined Engineering surveying involves the measurement of three quantities; heights, angles and distances. Levelling it the process of measuring heights. It is possible when levelling to measure heights with an accuracy of millimetres Heights can also be measured using total stations, handheld lasers and GPS devices.However, levelling offers an inexpensive, simple and accurate method for measuring heights, and it is widely used in construction sites. Any method of measuring the heights of points above or below the ground using an agreed datum. These datum's or reference points are present in all construction sites and has an arbitrary height assigned to the point. Most construction sites will have several of these benchmarks, and if they have heights based on an arbitrary datum, they are known as Temporary Bench Marks. Heights Heights are defined using horizontal and vertical lines.The figure below shows a plumbbob suspended at point P, the direction of gravity along the plumb-line defines the vertical at point P. A horizontal or level line is any line at right angles to this For site work, any horizontal line can be chosen as a datum for heights and for levelling. The height of a point is measured along the vertical above or below the chosen datum. The height of a point relative to a datum is known as its reduced level (RL). On most construction sites there is a permanent datum. The horizontal line or surface passing through this, with its height, becomes the levelling datum.The height of the datum can be arbitrary, a value often used for this is 100. 000m. This is chosen to avoid any negative heights occurring. Any reference point on site which has had a height assigned to it is known as a bench mark. For most surveys and construction work, several bench marks would normally be established by levelling from the datum. If heights are based on an arbitrary datum these are known as Temporary Bench Marks or TBMs. Curved Surfaces Level (or horizontal) lines are always at right angles to the direction of gravity. The direction of gravity is generally towards the centre of the earth.Over large areas, as the Earth is curved, level surfaces will also be curved. For these, a height difference is measured along a vertical between two curved level surfaces. When surveying over a large area, a curved level surface of zero height has to be defined. This has been established by the Ordnance Survey, this is called the Ordnance Datum (OD). This corresponds to the average sea level measured Poolbeg or Malin Head. Heights based on these are know as OD heights. The levelling staff Levelling involves measuring vertical distances with reference to a horizontal plane or surface.To do this, a levelling staff is needed to measure vertica l distances and an instrument known as a level is required to define the horizontal plane. Many types of staff are used with varying lengths and different markings. The E-type face is commonly used in the UK and Ireland. This can be read directly to 0. 01m and by estimation to the nearest mm. The staff must be held vertically – a circular bubble is sometimes fitted to help this. Automatic Level 1. Focusing screw 2. Eyepiece 3. Foot screw 6. Tangent screw 7. Circular bubble Automatic Level 4. Horizontal circle 5. Base plate 8. Collimator (sight) 9. Object lensThe main features of the telescope 1. Object lens 2. Focusing screw 3. Focusing lens 4. Diaphragm 5. Eyepiece The object lens, focusing lens, diaphragm and eye piece are all mounted on an optical axis called the line of collimation or the line of sight. This is an imaginary line which joins the optical centre of the object lens to the centre of the cross hairs. When looking through the eye piece of the surveying telescope , a set of lines called the cross hairs can be seen. These are used for taking measurements from the staff. These cross hairs are etched on a small sheet of glass known as the diaphragm.To make the telescope work, the image of the staff is brought to a focus in the plane of the diaphragm using the focusing screw. The eyepiece is rotated so that the cross hairs are in focus and its focal point is also in the plane of the diaphragm. When looking into the telescope an observer will now see a magnified image of the levelling staff focused against the cross hairs. Parallax Parallax occurs when the focusing screw and the eyepiece is done incorrectly. This condition can be detected by moving the eye to different parts of the eyepiece when reading the staff. If different readings are obtained then parallax is present.To remove parallax, hold a sheet of paper in front of the object and adjust the eyepiece so that the cross hairs are in focus. Then remove the sheet of paper and bring the staf f into focus using the focusing screw. Once again check for parallax by moving your eye around the eyepiece. If parallax is still occurring repeat the adjustment procedure. The compensator In an automatic level, the compensator is mounted on the telescope next to the eyepiece. It will only work when the instrument has been levelled to within about 15’ of the vertical using the foot screws and circular bubble.The function of the compensator is to ensure that the line of sight viewed through the telescope is horizontal even if the telescope is tilted Tilting levels Tilting levels use a spirit level instead of a compensator to establish a horizontal line of sight. When the bubble is centred the sprit level will be horizontal. When the bubble is off centre the axis will be tilted. By attaching a sprit level to the telescope such that its axis is parallel to the line of sight a horizontal line can be set. This is done by using a tilting screw, when this is rotated the telescope is tilted a small amount in the vertical plane.The tilting screw is adjusted until the bubble is centred. Digital levels Digital levels are similar in appearance to automatic levels, a horizontal line is established by a compensator and this is done by centralising a circular bubble with the foot screws. The main difference between this and other levels is that the staff readings are taken and recorded automatically. When levelling, a special bar-coded staff is sighted, and there is no need to sight this staff as the level will do this automatically and display the measurement. It can also display the horizontal distance to the staff.The advantages of digital levels are that observations are taken without the need to read a staff or record anything by hand. Introducing this automation removes two of the most common errors when levelling, reading the staff incorrectly and writing down the wrong value in the field book. The on-board computer also calculates the heights required so that the possibility of making a mistake is removed. This makes the digital level much faster to use. Laser levels Laser levels contain a rotating laser which defines a visible horizontal plane from which distance to the ground can be made and then the height can be determined.Using a level The following steps are taken when using a level to measure heights 1. Set up the tripod 2. Ensure the top is level 3. Push legs firmly into the ground 4. Attach level 5. Use foot screws to centralise the circular bubble 6. Test to see if the compensator is working 7. Remove parallax Once the level is set up its important that the line of sight is horizontal. When the foot screws have been used to centralise the circular bubble, it is assumed that the compensator has set the line of sight to be horizontal.However, most levels are not in perfect adjustment and when levelled their line of sight is never exactly horizontal. If the line of sight is not horizontal when the instrument has been levelled, the level has a collimation error. As most levels will have some level of collimation error, a method is required to check if the error is within acceptable limits. This is known as a two-peg test. This needs to be conducted when using a new or different level for the first time and at regular intervals thereafter. Two peg test Stage 1 On fairly level ground, two points A and B are marked a distance of Lm apart.In soft ground, two pegs are used, on hard surfaces nails or paint may be used. The level is set up midway between the points at C and carefully levelled. A levelling staff is placed at A and B and staff readings S1 (at B) and S2 (at A) are taken. The two readings are: S1 = (S1‘ + x) and S2 = (S2‘ + x) S1‘ and S2‘ are the staff readings that would have been obtained if the line of collimation was horizontal, x is the error in each reading due to the collimation error, the effect of which is to tilt the line of sight by angle ?.Since AC = CB, the error x i n the readings S1 and S2 will be the same. The difference between readings S1 and S2 gives: S1 – S2 = (S1‘ + x) – (S2‘ + x) = S1‘ – S2‘ This gives the true difference in height between A and B. This demonstrates that if a collimation error is present in a level, the effect of this cancels out when height differences are computed provided readings are taken over equal sighting distances. Stage 2 The level is then moved so that it is L/10m from point B at D and readings S3 and S4 are taken.The difference between readings S3 and S4 gives the apparent difference in height between A and B. If the level is in perfect adjustment then: S1 – S2 = S3 – S4 However this is not always the case and that an error term (e) needs to be estimates e = (S1 – S2) – (S3 – S4) per Lm If the results of these tests show that the collimation error is less than 1mm per 20m (or some specified value). If the collimation error is gre ater than this specified value then the level has to be adjusted. This is normally done by the manufacturer or a trained technician.Example Readings obtained from a two peg test carried out on an automatic level with a staff placed on two pegs A and B 50m apart are: Staff reading at A = 1. 283m Staff reading at B = 0. 860m With the level position 5m from peg B (L/10): Staff reading at A = 1. 612m Staff reading at B =1. 219m Calculate the collimation error of the level per 50m of sighting distance Solution S1= 0. 860M S2 = 1. 283M S3 = 1. 219M S4 = 1. 612M e = (0. 860 – 1. 283) – (1. 219 – 1. 612) per 50M = (-0. 423 – (-0. 393)) = -0. 030M per 50M Exam Question 2007 (5 marks)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Becoming Yourself from the Short Story the Secret Lion

English 102 14September2012 Becoming Yourself Alberto Alvaro Rios’ short story The Secret Lion, captures the spirit of a coming-of-age story between childhood and adolescence through the eyes of two boys, presumably from a lower-class Latino background. Through the use of various symbols, the theme of change is made apparent through the first-person, unnamed narrator. The use of this narrator is what shapes the story and the lessons learned within.Due to the author’s choice of careful character construction within the unnamed narrator, the reader faces a significant amount of emotions and reactions within a very brief, yet compelling short story. The usage of the first-person point of view immediately presents the narrator to be a round character, due to the intimate opportunities the style of writing provides for fiction writing. Although we do not know the narrator’s name, due to the narrative style the audience can relate to the stories and experiences the cha racter has.We know how the character feels internally quite often, which is iconic of the round fictional character. For example, we are provided internal insights that only a round character would allow the audience the opportunity to discover. For example, the character reveals how he felt â€Å"personally abandoned somehow† when describing junior high school (Rios 201). We also discover a lot about the character’s personality through the actions and habits mentioned in the story. The following passage exemplifies a traits only a round character could have: â€Å".. hat we would do down there was shout every dirty word we could think of, in every combination we could come up with, and we would yell about girls, and all the things we wanted to do with them. † (Rios 201) This reveals that the narrator and his friend Sergio are going through a hormonal, rebellious stage where new sensations and impulses drive what pretty much most junior high student malesâ€℠¢ experience. Since he is a round character, the reader has a stronger connection with him, and ultimately will reap the moral of the story the author wanted to provide. Feature Article –  The Plane of the Sleeping Beauty AnalysisDue to the usage of the round character, the narrator’s motivations are very apparent. The motivations explain why the character is doing what he is doing. If the narrator was a flat character, the context of growth the two boys experience within their travels would be lost, and the story would lose an immense amount of what makes it so compelling. For example, without revelations of the motivations the character speaks of, then the story would be more or less just two boys simply walking around outside the desert, arriving to a golf course, and leaving.The passage revealing what the children did to protect their treasured metal ball states â€Å"We came up with the answer. We dug a hole and buried. And we marked it secretly. Lots of secret signs†¦ We dug up the whole bank, and we never found it again. † (Rios 202) Without knowing that they were trying to hide this discovery and cherished item and then return to search for it, the audience would be left wondering exactly why these two children are digging up holes on an entire bank in the middle of an arroyo. Also, his motivations real why the character does what he does in terms of story progression.Without motivations, there would be no engaged plot with a rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, rendering this work just a series of meaningless anecdotes. Because we know the background of the character as a middle school student itching to discover life, we can understand why he and Sergio leave adventuring to the arroyo and head to the mountains in the first place (Rios 205). They wanted to find out what the adults, specifically his mother, were keeping from them first hand; all because she told them not to worry about lay on the other side of the pass.Their motivation and intrigue to discover what secret they had been missing out on led them to ultimately discover their version of heaven (the golf course) a nd ultimately the impermanence of life and change is inevitable. Due to the character’s said discovery that change is the only the thing that is permanent, makes him a dynamic character. He goes from being a curious, innocent naive boy at the beginning of the story who found magic in matters that were familiar to the realization that some things you love can e taken away from you, and that sadly, the grass is sometimes greener on the other side of the fence. This is revealed in the penultimate paragraph when the boys who had dug up the entire mound looking for their new treasure at the beginning of the story â€Å"didn’t look so hard for it† the second time (Rios 204). This newfound peace and acceptance that things get taken away is what makes the character dynamic; without the narrator would have not learned anything, been a static character, and the reader would have been left with an uncertainty no successful fiction author wishes to convey.Ultimately, the un named narrator in The Secret Lion drives the story with his well-said first person point-of-view. Due to the choices the author made when giving the character his traits of being a round, dynamic character, the story’s themes of change and acceptance are successfully conveyed. Works Cited Rios, Alberto Alvaro. â€Å"The Secret Lion. † Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirsner and Stephen R. Mandell. United States: Uhl, 2013. 201-205. Print.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

A Nucleus a Day essays

A Nucleus a Day essays Wow, another exciting day is about to begin. Sometimes I get so tired of being the brains of this whole operation, but it is fun to be the boss and give the orders. Lets examine a typical day: I am the nucleus. My life is very complicated because there are constantly things going on and I hardly have time to talk to you. But since I started telling you about myself then I might as well finish it up. I am the most important organelle in this body that I am in; I am the brain of the cell. My primary purpose is to control the actions inside the cell. I contain the RNA and the DNA of the cell, and both of these work together to build and control the cell. I also produce these things called proteins and they are carried by the endoplasmic reticulum to other parts of the cell. The proteins are messengers and they give the orders to the cells. I am studded with pores that control what comes into the cell and what leaves the cell. These pores are filled with a large nuclear protein complex and these make barriers and plugs because the NPC is so big. Bigger molecules that want to enter this cell have to go through the central part. The nucleolus that is in me is the si te for RNA and the packaging of ribosomal subunits for export to the cytosol. The DNA strand is sometimes a very long molecule, and sometimes it needs to be compacted to fit into a certain spot. It can be reduced in size by rapping it around a nucleosomes arrangement of histone proteins. This can result in the DNA strand to be reduced so it will fit in the space. Well, cant talk any longer but it was nice to take a break ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Amulet by Ralph Waldo Emerson Explication Essays

The Amulet by Ralph Waldo Emerson Explication Essays The Amulet by Ralph Waldo Emerson Explication Paper The Amulet by Ralph Waldo Emerson Explication Paper Poem Explication Ralph Waldo Emerson – The Amulet Your picture smiles as first it smiled, The ring you gave is still the same, Your letter tells, O changing child, No tidings since it came. Give me an amulet That keeps intelligence with you, Red when you love, and rosier red, And when you love not, pale and blue. Alas, that neither bonds nor vows Can certify possession; Torments me still the fear that love Died in its last expression. Analysis Point of view – The speaker of the poem is a person who has just lost a loved one. He feels that she still remains with him through all the keepsakes he has of her, and that the mementos keep their love strong. He wants to know how she is feeling and if she still loves him. He’s trying to admit to himself that he lost her. The speaker’s attitude is typical for a person who has lost someone. Always thinking about that person, wanting to know if they’re watching over them. Figurative language – In paragraph one, the picture of the girl smiling is symbolism. The smile represents the only thing that he has left of her because there is no living smile that changes. In the second paragraph there is symbolism. The amulet symbolizes remembrance, spirituality or energy force of the girl’s existence. In paragraph three there is imagery. Torment symbolizes the love and lost in death and how a person deals with a great loses. Versification – There are three stanzas in the poem. The rhythm pattern is 2-line last line rhyme. The general metrical scheme is 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. There are no breaks of rhythm in the poem. The word choices used in the poem are common words used to make rhyming pattern. The words chosen are common everyday ones and are not unusual; they are just used uniquely in sentences. Theme The theme for this poem is love, lost, cooping. The poem express the love that the man had for the girl was very strong. ‘The ring you gave is still the same’ He’s saying even though she is physically gone he thinks her spirit remains and believes that their love and bond together will last forever. ‘Give me an amulet, That keeps intelligence with you’ He’s afraid to admit that he lost her and doesn’t know whether the â€Å"Keepsakes† will guarantee that they’re connected. Alas, that neither bonds nor vows, Can certify possession’ Even though the things that he has of her still remains he doesn’t know whether she’s always watching over. Source Justification Book: The Infinitude of The Private Man By: Maurice York, Rick Spaulding This site is credible because it tells Ralph Waldo Emersonâ€℠¢s life story. Rick had a staff of people from various universities and historians who collaborated to make this book possible. Both authors are also lectures and researchers that travel North America and talk about Emerson’s works. Website: http://emerson. tamu. edu/index. tml The Emerson society was founded 29 December 1989. The society is devoted to the development of scholarships and love of the life and writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees supports this site. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/literature/Thoreau-Emerson-and-Transcendentalism-Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-Life-and-Background-of-Emerson-Emerson-s-Reputation-and-Influence. id-134,pageNum-18. html Clifton Keith Hillegass, the founder of CliffsNotes built the company that produced study guides destined to become a multi-generational icon. Real teachers and professors write CliffsNotes study guides. And it’s stable of educational and reference books. online-literature. com/emerson/ They offer searchable online literature for the student, educator, or enthusiast. The publicator of the site is Jalic Inc. Their purpose is the publication of quality informative websites. Work Citied Websites: Menon, Sindhu. Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography and Works. Search Texts, Read Online. Discuss. The Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays Summaries. Jalic Inc. , 2000. Web. 06 May 2011. online-literature. com/emerson/. Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography Ralph Waldo Emerson Childhood, Life Timeline. Famous People Famous People in History, Famous People List Biography. Famous People Inc. Web. 06 May 2011. thefamouspeople. com/profiles/ralph-waldo-emersion-41. php. The Ralph Waldo Emerson Society. 15 Apr. 2003. Web. 6 May 2011. http://emerson. tamu. edu/index. html. Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson: Emersons Reputation and Influence CliffsNotes. Get Homework Help with CliffsNotes Study Guides CliffsNotes. Web. 06 May 2011. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/literature/Thoreau-Emerson-and-Transcendentalism-Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-Life-and-Background-of-Emerson-Emerson-s-Reputation-and-Influence. id-134,pageNum-18. html. Books: York, Maurice, and Rick Spaulding. Ralph Waldo Emerson: the Infinitude of the Private Man : a Biography. Chicago: Wrightwood, 2008. Print.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Molly Ivins, Sharp-Tongued Political Commentator

Molly Ivins, Sharp-Tongued Political Commentator Molly Ivins (Aug. 30, 1944–Jan. 31, 2007) was a political commentator with a sharp wit- a take-no-prisoners critic of what she considered silly, outrageous, or unfair. Ivins was based in Texas, and both loved and made fun of her state and its culture and politicians. President George W. Bush, a frequent target of Ivins writings, nevertheless praised her after she died, saying he â€Å"respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words, and her ability to turn a phrase.† Bush added: â€Å"Her quick wit and commitment to her beliefs will be missed.† Fast Facts: Molly Ivins Known For: Political commentator with biting witAlso Known As: Mary Tyler IvinsBorn: Aug. 30, 1944 in Monterey, CaliforniaParents: James Elbert Ivins and Margaret Milne IvinsDied: Jan. 31, 2007 in Austin, TexasEducation: Smith College (BA in History, 1966), Columbia School of Journalism (MA, 1967)Published Works: Molly Ivins: She Cant Say That Can She? (1992), Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bushs America (2003), Who Let the Dogs In? Incredible Political Animals I Have Known (2004)Awards and Honors: Three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Womens Media FoundationSpouse: NoneChildren: NoneNotable Quote: There are two kinds of humor. One kind that makes us chuckle about our foibles and our shared humanity- like what Garrison Keillor does. The other kind holds people up to public contempt and ridicule- thats what I do. Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aime d at the powerless, it is not only cruel- its vulgar. Early Life Ivins was born in Monterey, California.  Most of her childhood was in Houston, Texas, where her father was a business executive in the oil and gas industry. She went north for her education, getting her bachelors degree from Smith College, after a brief time at Scripps College, and then earned her masters degree from Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Journalism. While at Smith, she interned at the  Houston Chronicle. Career Ivins first job was with the Minneapolis Tribune, where she covered the police beat, the first woman to do so. In the 1970s, she worked for the Texas Observer.  She often published op-eds in The New York Times and The Washington Post.  The  New York Times, wanting a livelier columnist, hired her away from Texas in 1976.  She served as the bureau chief for the Rocky Mountain states.  Her style was, however, apparently was more lively than the Times  expected, and she rebelled against what she saw as authoritarian control.   She returned to Texas in the 1980s to write for the Dallas Times Herald,  given freedom to write a column as she wished. She sparked controversy when she said of a local congressman, â€Å"If his I.Q. slips any lower, we’ll have to water him twice a day.† Many readers expressed outrage and said they were appalled, and several advertisers boycotted the paper. Nevertheless, the paper rose to her defense and rented billboards that read: â€Å"Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?† The slogan became the title of the first of her six books. Ivins was also a three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and briefly served on the board of the Pulitzer committee.  When the Dallas Times Herald, closed, Ivins went to work for the  Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Her twice-weekly column went into syndication and appeared in hundreds of papers. Later Years and Death Ivins was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. She underwent a radical mastectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy. The cancer went into remission briefly, but it returned in 2003 and again in 2006. Ivins waged a very public battle against cancer. In 2002, she wrote about the disease:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that.† Ivins worked nearly up to the time of her death, but she suspended her column a few weeks before she passed away. Ivins died on Jan. 31, 2007, in Austin, Texas. Legacy At its height, Ivins column appeared in about 350 newspapers. Upon her death, The New York Times noted that Ivins cultivated the voice of a folksy populist who derided those who she thought acted too big for their britches. She was rowdy and profane, but she could filet her opponents with droll precision. After her death, Time magazine called Ivins a major figure in Texas journalism. In some respects, Ivins and President George W. Bush came to national prominence at the same time, but while Bush came to embrace his political heritage, Molly veered from her own, Time noted in its obituary, adding: Her family was Republican, but she was caught up in the turmoil of the 60s and became an ardent liberal, or populist as Texas liberals like to call themselves. One of the first newspapers Ivins worked for, the Texas Observer, had a simpler take on her legacy: Molly was a hero. She was a mentor. She was a liberal. She was a patriot. And as recently as April 2018, journalists and writers were still mourning her passing and praising her influence. Columnist and author John Warner  wrote in the Chicago Tribune that Ivins work clarifies that the forces that roil our democracy are nothing new. She just saw things more clearly and sooner than many of us. I wish she were here, but I’m thankful her spirit lives on in her work. Sources Seelye, Katharine Q. â€Å"Molly Ivins, Columnist, Dies at 62.†Ã‚  The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Feb. 2007.â€Å"About Molly Ivins.†Ã‚  By Carey Kinsolving | Creators Syndicate.Warner, John. â€Å"If Only Molly Ivins Could Say Something Now.†Ã‚  Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2018.Hylton, Hilary. â€Å"Remembering Molly Ivins, 1944-2007.†Ã‚  Time, Time Inc., 31 Jan. 2007,.PBS, Interview: Molly Ivins. Public Broadcasting Service.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Would the quality of news gathering diminish if news papers no longer Essay

Would the quality of news gathering diminish if news papers no longer existed - Essay Example ly affected in a negative manner by the absence of printed newspaper distribution as professional journalistic practices have evolved along with technological advances and cultural trends. Modern technologies have provided a wider selection of news sources while simultaneously providing access to numerous resources through which to verify the veracity of the information provided. While news organizations established prior to the advent of the internet have subsequently contributed web-based versions for subscribers to the digital catalogue, other companies such as Yahoo.com have elected to create a place of their own in providing news from local, regional, national, and international sources. This glut of news sharing allows a minimum of pieces which could be regarded as yellow journalism to make it into the mainstream media as misinformation. Having numerous sources makes it more apparent when unfounded or opinion based stories are found to conflict with the reality of events. However, this spirit of collaboration and information sharing is not without its pitfalls. Numerous news agencies now employ wide spread re-publication of stories linked to national and international events throughout media, a practice which could limit the scope of available accurate and relevant reporting if left unchecked. Fortunately, circumstance dictates the limitations of duplicating information. Competition in the free market lessens the possibility of such all-consuming laziness in news gathering professions as profit remains the key to the success of an organization regardless of the medium in which the news is offered to the public. As a result, the timeliness and accuracy of the news w hich has been gathered form reputable sources constitutes the intellectual property which serves as the basis for their success and is paramount to other concerns. As familiarity and access to internet sources has spread and people have lost interest in buying printed newspapers, they have become

Friday, October 18, 2019

Tupelo's Dilemma1 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tupelo's Dilemma1 - Case Study Example    2.  Ã‚  Ã‚   What can you say about the management style of the VP of Marketing in the case? Is it appropriate? Why, or why not? The management style of the VP can be said to be quite remarkable, because he applied the techniques of Lateral thinking of trying to increase the sales and consequently increase the profit margin on the HDTV’s. Due to the intense competition of the margins on HDTV’s it can be quite demoralizing for any company. The VP’s decision can be called timely, by not laying much thrust on the strategy per se, but the decision to act in a timely manner and reduce the gap which he found through the Warranty Extension Contract.    3.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Define any Ethical Issue that you perceive in this scenario. The one hitch that one finds in this strategy for marketing is that the salespersons are compelled to make a sale under any circumstances. Which means that the customers are treated as baits in the web of Marketing and Market share. The c anned presentation approach hardly leaves any scope for the customer to exercise his discretion be it for a good product or a subversive quality product.

Wealth and Industrial Attractiveness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wealth and Industrial Attractiveness - Essay Example This is followed by acquiring valuable materials. However, majority of the people makes wealth through coming up with a budget and different estimates of what they want to acquire and setting up a plan to achieve it. For instance, they come up with a budget on how to develop a concept and sell it to other people for money. After getting money, they diversify their investments in order to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with inventing in one sector. With time these people are able to acquire valuable materials. Business environment is critical in the success of any business. Economic, social, political, environmental, legal, and technological components dictate how the customers, local administration, and the business interact. This is through creating a platform for the business to make profits without interference from external forces. Therefore, these components can be useful in acting as parameters to measure whether an investment in the industry can return the initial capital and make profits which are

Thursday, October 17, 2019

National Security Strategy Bill Clinton vs. George Bush Essay

National Security Strategy Bill Clinton vs. George Bush - Essay Example In contrast, President Bush provides the policy of national power maximization and international cooperation against terrorism as a major threat of contemporary world order and peace. His national policy reflects the events and the threats America now faces (terrorism). In general, Bush's policy is more radical in comparison with American foreign policy tradition. In contrast to Clinton, Bush supports pre-emptive military action against hostile states and terrorist groups seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction. As well as Clinton, Bush calls for engagement, but in the way of cooperation especially marked that the USA "will not hesitate to act alone, if necessary" (2002) to defend national interests and security. The major difference is that Bush reject the single-minded approach, adopted by Clinton, of multilateralism for its own sake. The similarity of both strategies is that they calls for spreading democracy and human rights in other countries, but Bush underlined that this is especially important for Muslim countries today. Both of them are aimed to protect American nation creating strong foreign security policy, but Clinton and Bush employ different doctrines to support their foreign policies. Also, the similarity is that Clinton and Bush view U.S.

Theories of Policy Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theories of Policy Process - Essay Example The theory implies some policies can only change if certain restrains like stickiness and stakes of an institution are available. Policies are categorized into long-term policies and short-term policies. An example is if the country’s constitution states that a president should rule for two terms it is very difficult to implement a new policy, which suggests that the president must rule for one term, or three terms. Punctuated equilibrium theory seeks to explain simple observations like political processes. Political processes are continually associated with incrementalism and stability; they rarely produce large-scale departures from the past. Most policy areas experience stasis even though a crisis can occur. America is experiencing large-scale changes in policymaking and politics. Some Government programs can be altered in order to accommodate change. Strengths The theory includes periods of stasis or near equilibrium. In the event that an issue is seized by a subsystem and periods of disequilibrium, then a macro political agenda occurs. A macro political agenda can advance to the extent of causing changes in the policy process. Therefore, according to this theory small changes result in large changes. Weakness The theory is only applicable to situations facing stasis or equilibrium. In the event that there is no equilibrium variables and need for change, then the policy fails to exist. The Stage Heuristic Theory The theory states that the best way to study policymaking is to break it down to stages.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

National Security Strategy Bill Clinton vs. George Bush Essay

National Security Strategy Bill Clinton vs. George Bush - Essay Example In contrast, President Bush provides the policy of national power maximization and international cooperation against terrorism as a major threat of contemporary world order and peace. His national policy reflects the events and the threats America now faces (terrorism). In general, Bush's policy is more radical in comparison with American foreign policy tradition. In contrast to Clinton, Bush supports pre-emptive military action against hostile states and terrorist groups seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction. As well as Clinton, Bush calls for engagement, but in the way of cooperation especially marked that the USA "will not hesitate to act alone, if necessary" (2002) to defend national interests and security. The major difference is that Bush reject the single-minded approach, adopted by Clinton, of multilateralism for its own sake. The similarity of both strategies is that they calls for spreading democracy and human rights in other countries, but Bush underlined that this is especially important for Muslim countries today. Both of them are aimed to protect American nation creating strong foreign security policy, but Clinton and Bush employ different doctrines to support their foreign policies. Also, the similarity is that Clinton and Bush view U.S.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Review the literature related to the effect of surgical repair in Essay

Review the literature related to the effect of surgical repair in wound healing.Discuss the influence it may have on healing - Essay Example Reports are vague on how the prehistoric man treated wounds, but in the primitive tribes, wounds are covered with plant parts and other materials believed to have healing properties. Wounds were also filled with spider web in time past. Various crude methods of wound draining and wound closing are also reported among some tribes. An ingenious wound clamp was devised out of the jaws of insects by primitive tribes of India and South America who made the insects bite across the apposed edges of a wound.(Haeger, 1988) . Wound management has two main approaches: the surgical and non-surgical categories of intervention. In the non-surgical approach, classical methods such as administration of topical or systemic therapeutic agents, locally applied enzymes, and dressings designed to optimize the wound for later surgery, or to heal the wound by secondary intention (Knox et al., 2007). The surgical approach involves the implementation of preparatory surgical procedures which help to prepare the wound for accelerated recovery and augment the body healing process. Both of these approaches are different, yet aim at the same goal. This review is concerned with the surgical aspects and how they provide a facilitating environment for timely wound healing. For effective wound healing in modern day surgery, the aims are to ensure quick regeneration of damaged tissue, reduce infection, and maximize immune response, and central to achieving these aims are blood perfusion, oxygen supply, prevention of re-injury and good diet(Hunt and Hopf, June 1997a). Reduction of infection and quick tissue regeneration are directly related to wound blood perfusion and oxygenation. Perfusion therefore appears to be the most important factor in wound healing. Wounds in well perfused areas of the body tend to heal faster, even when they are massively infected. They also form less scar. The same goes for wounds that occur in areas of

Monday, October 14, 2019

Mike Tyson; Its Not What You Think Essay Example for Free

Mike Tyson; Its Not What You Think Essay This biographical sketch will explore Mike Tyson’s life of victories, personal, and professional losses. Mike Tyson, born Michael Gerard Tyson, was born June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York to Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Lorna Tyson. Jimmy abandoned the family in 1968, when Mike was two years old, leaving Lorna to care for Mike and his two siblings, Rodney and Denise. My selection of Mike Tyson for a case study was based a several intriguing factors about him that gained my attention. Any documentary and/or interview that I’ve viewed on Mike Tyson, I initially look into his eyes. The eyes are the window to our souls, and his eyes share the pains he’s suffered in his life. Over the past 27 years, Mike Tyson has been described as erratic, volatile, and somewhat unstable. His mother, Lorna was an alcoholic and died from cancer when he was only 16 and his sister, Denise died of a heart attack due to obesity in 1991 at the age of 25, little is known about his father, Jimmy. The oldest sibling Rodney is a physician assistant in the trauma center of a Los Angeles hospital. As a boy Tyson became a pickpocket on public buses, rolled drunks and mugged old ladies of their purses. By the time he was 13, he had been arrested 38 times. Tyson lived in and around high crime neighborhood throughout his pre-teen and adolescent years. His very first fight was with a neighborhood youth that was larger than him, who had removed the head of one of Tyson’s pigeons. Mike was transferred to a reform school for boys in Johnstown, New York, where he met a counselor named Bob Stewart, who was also a former amateur boxing champion. Stewart trained Mike on how to use his fist to fight; Mike was so determined to learn everything about boxing. He would often sneak out of bed after curfew to practice throwing punches in the dark. In 1980, Mike was introduced to the late legendary boxing manager, Cus D’Amato. D’Amato provided room and board for Mike, and developed a close relationship with him. Mike looked to D’Amato as his mentor and as a father. Tys on was classified as learning disabled because he could only read at the level of a seventh grader while in high school. After the death of his mother, he was expelled from Catskill High School and continued schooling through private tutors as he prepared for the 1984 Olympic trials. Developmental Psychology is defined as the study of physical and cognitive changes from birth until death. (M.U.S.E., 2010) Physical changes are measured by height, weight, and strengths during the different stages of your life; beginning with conception through childhood, and adolescence through adulthood and eventually death. (M.U.S.E., 2010) Motivation is defined as forces determining behavior; the biological, emotional, cognitive, or social forces that activate and direct behavior. (Encarta, 2012) There are several theories stating various opinions on motivation, the most popular being Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It argues that we as individuals are motivated to satisfy a specific need, when we have a sense of belonging we are motivated by a desire to be held in esteem. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are as follows: self-actualization (doing your own best thing), esteem (need to be recognized, self-respect, and respect of others), belonging (being accepted, be coming a part of something), safety (psychological, physical, secure), physiological (sex, hunger, rest). (Goal, 2013) Personality is defined as the totality of somebody’s attitudes, interests, behavioral patterns, emotional responses, social roles, and other individual traits that endure over long periods of time. During an independent medical evaluation performed in September 1998 for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Tyson gave a history of repeated head injuries as a child. The injuries included multiple episodes of loss of consciousness as a result of being struck with various objects during street fights. During this evaluation process, Tyson was also questioned about symptoms of depression. After eight visits with a psychiatrist, Tyson was diagnosed with â€Å"dysthymic disorder† (chronic depression) and issues related to his personality by Dr. Richard Goldberg, MD, prior to the independent medical evaluation. It’s difficult to assess when this disorder began, before the evaluation took place, Tyson’s boxing license was suspended for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear during a boxing match. Dysthymic disorder is a type of chronic depression when a person’s moods are regularly low. The symptoms are not as severe as with other major depression disorders. The main symptom of this disorder is a low, dark, or sad mood on most days for a period of two years. Dysthymic disorders increase the risk of suicide. Some patients recover completely, while others continue to display the symptoms, even with treatment. (Fava, 2008) Psychology in the workplace helps employees and enterprises to achieve truly sustainable growth in workplace performance. Porath, MacInnis, Folkes (2010) found that when an employee mistreated or was uncivil (e.g., being rude or discourteous, ignoring or making derogatory remarks, passing blame for their own mistakes, belittling the efforts of others, etc.) toward another employee, customers who witnessed it tended to â€Å"make negative generalizations about (a) others who work for the firm, (b) the firm as a whole, and (c) future encounters with the firm, inferences that [went] well beyond the incivility incident† (p. 292). What researchers discovered was that â€Å"consumers [were] also negatively affected even when they [were] mere observers of incivility between employees† (Porath et al., 2010, p. 301). A survey of public sector employees in the United States found that 71% of respondents reported at least some experience of workplace incivility from a supervisor or coworker (e.g., being treated rudely or discourteously, having a coworker or boss ignore or make derogatory remarks, being blamed for a colleague’s mistakes, being belittled, having someone set them up to fail, being shut out of a team, etc.) during the previous 5 years, and 6% reported experiencing such behavior many times (Cortina, Magley, Williams, Langhout, 2001). Lim, Cortina, and Magley (2008) found that (1) â€Å"uncivil work experiences also appear to have a direct negative influence on mental health† (p. 104), (2) employees who experienced incivility were more likely to be dissatisfied with their boss and coworkers than with the job itself, and (3) those personal experiences of workplace incivility can lead to them eventually quitting their jobs. References M.U.S.E., â€Å"Conception through childhood and Adulthood† (2010) Mike Tyson. (2012). Biography.com. http://www.biography.com/people/mike-tyson Fava M, Cassano P. Mood disorders: major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001916/ Holmes, Leonard. (2006) Mike Tyson’s Assessment. Retrieved from About.com Mental Health http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/academicpsychology/a/tyson_2.htm Cortina, L. M., Magley, V. J., Williams, J. H., Langhout, R. D. (2001). Incivility in the workplace: Incidence and impact. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 6(1), 64-80. Lim, S., Cortina, L. M., Magley, V. J. (2008). Personal and workgroup incivility: Impact on work and health outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1), 95-107. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.93.1.95 Pearson, C. Porath, C. (2009). The cost of bad behavior: How incivility is damaging your business and what to do about it. New York, NY: Portfolio. Porath, C., MacInnis, D., Folkes, V. (2010). Witnessing incivility among employees: Effects on consumer anger and negative inferences about companies. Journal of Consumer Research, 37(2), 292-303.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Cross Cultural Negotiation Variables

The Cross Cultural Negotiation Variables Weiss (1993) identified twelve variables in the negotiation process which will lead to understanding negotiating style better. Different groups view the purpose and process of negotiation differently. Negotiation may be seen as a conflict in which one side wins and another loses, as a competition to identify who is best or as a collaborative process to formulate some undertaking. The winner of a negotiation in some countries is the one who gains the most concessions, regardless of the value of the concessions. Every group chooses negotiators on the basis of a variety of factors. Negotiators may be selected on the basis of their previous experience, their status, knowledge of a particular subject, or personal attributes. Different groups stress different aspects of the negotiations. Some groups stress substantive issues directly related to the agreement while others stress relationships. Different groups have their own particular etiquette associated with the negotiation process and their adherence to protocol varies according to its perceived importance. Protocol factors that should be considered are gift giving, entertainment, dress codes, seating arrangements, numbers of negotiators, timing of breaks, and planned duration of the process of negotiations. Different groups communicate in different ways and are more comfortable with one or another form of communications. Some groups rely on verbal communications, others on nonverbal. Some groups rely on one method, others mixed. The more varied method of communications, the more complex is the communication context and the more care must be given to understanding the context. Different groups attempt to persuade others and are persuaded by the use of a variety of different types of arguments. Some rely on facts and logical arguments, others on tradition and the way things were done in the past, still others on intuition or emotion and others on the beliefs associated with a particular religion or philosophy. Individuals play different roles in different societies. In some groups, the individual is seen as very important and a particular individuals success or failure can depend on the outcome of the negotiation process. In other groups, individuals are subordinate to the home negotiating party and personal ambitions are contained. Trust is a necessity if groups are going to work together to their mutual benefit and all groups seek to establish trust with the other parties in the negotiation process. Negotiation involves a degree of risk because the final outcome is unknown when the negotiations begin. Different groups view uncertainty and risk as relatively desirable or undesirable. The value of time differs from one group to another. Some people view time as limited and something to be used wisely. Others view time as plentiful and always available, therefore they are more likely to expect negotiations to progress slowly and to be flexible about schedules. Decisions are made differently in different groups. They may be made by individuals or by the group as a whole. Some groups accept the decision of the majority of the group members. Other groups seek consensus among group members and will not make a decision until all member have agreed. In some cultures, written agreements are expected; in others verbal agreements or a handshake is accepted. In some cultures, agreements are detailed and set out as many points as possible. In others, broad general agreements are preferred with details to be worked out as they arise. In some cultures, agreements are expected to be legally binding, in others, there is little faith in legal contracts and much more emphasis is placed on a persons obligation to keep his or her word. Chinese Negotiation Style China is going to be used to demonstrate that culture affects negotiation style. From Tony (2006)s research, there are three main Chinese negotiation styles. The Chinese negotiation styles includes Maoist bureaucrat in learning, Confucian gentleman, and Sun Tzu-like strategist. The Chinese negotiator as a Maoist bureaucrat always follows governments plan when doing business. The negotiator combines business with politics, avoids taking initiatives, shuns responsibility, and fears criticism. The Chinese negotiator is smart and tough because he is trained by Chinese bureaucracy daily in which bargaining is an important element (Davidson, 1987: Frankenstein, 1988; Lieberthal and Oksenberg, 1986; Pye, 1982). Being a Confucian gentleman, the Chinese negotiator behaves refers to the mutual trust and benefit, looking for cooperation and win-win solutions for everyone to succeed. He behaves high value on trust and sincerity on his own part. He analyses contracting essentially as an ongoing relationship or problem-solving process instead of a one-off legal package (Deverage, 1986; Kindel, 1990, Seligman, 1990; Shenkar and Ronen, 1987). He associated business with guanxi, friendship, and trust. His negotiation strategy is characterized by cooperation, basically. As a Sun Tzu-like strategist, the Chinese negotiator think negotiation is a zero-sum game and the marketplace as a battlefield (Chiao, 1981; Chu, 1991; Mun, 1990; Pye, 1982). He sets out to win-lose you, and never stops bargaining. The Chinese negotiator is skilful, provided with a formidable many of Chinese stratagems from his ancestors. Sun Tzu-like strategist adopts apparently soft but essentially tough tactics in negations. His negotiation strategy is characterized by competition. Managerial implications Sending the right team to negotiate in China is extremely important, the status of the team members will directly affect the attitude of Chinese host organization toward your company. Your team leader should be a person with charismatic charm, a patient personality, credibility and sufficient authority to make a key decision. It is crucial importance to show the Chinese the political support and governmental backing behind your China missions when negotiating large industrial high-risk B2B projects in China. The Chinese government is an importance player in business networks (Kock 1995). When embarking on a china venture makes sure you know the real Chinese negotiators. Despite the large Chinese team with many participants, the real Chinese negotiators usually are absent from the negotiation room. By identifying and negotiating with the real Chinese negotiators, you may, as a Chinese proverb stated, Get twice the result with half the effort. The number 8 is adored (whereas the number 4 is disfavoured) in Chinese culture. So try to use design 8 numbered products for China as a metaphor to enunciate the importance of respecting and learning Chinese sociocultural traits. From the perspective of Confucianism, China is a familistic society in which it takes time to build trust between non-family members. The Chinese distrust fast talkers who want to make quick deals (Pye, 1982, p. 92). By being patient, tolerant, calm, persistent, and honest in dealing with the Chinese, you will eventually win the Chinese heart and trust.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

In The Beginning :: essays research papers fc

In the Beginning The theory of evolution, formalized by Charles Darwin, is as much theory as is the theory of gravity, or the theory of relativity. Evolutionary theory is a scientific theory dealing with scientific data, not a system of metaphysical beliefs or a religion (Wilkins). Biological theories, and especially evolution, unlike the theories of physics, have been argued long and hard in social and political arenas. Even today, evolution is often not taught in primary schools. However, evolution is the binding force of all biological research. It is the unifying theme. Living organisms evolve through genetic changes over generations, and planets evolve through the processes of erosion and deposition. In paleontology, evolution gives workers a powerful way to organize the remains of past life forms, and better understand the one history of life. The history of thought about evolution in general, and paleontological contributions specifically, are often useful to the scientists of today. Science, like any iterative process, draws heavily from its history. We live on an ancient planet. In the Western world, however, people have long believed that Earth had a relatively recent beginning. In 1650, James Ussher, estimating from his close study of the Bible, calculated that Earth was created in 4004 B.C. (Feder 12). Although not everyone agreed with his calculations, until the nineteenth century most people in the Western world shared Bishop Ussher's view that Earth was relatively young and that its entire history was chronicled in ancient texts. During the nineteenth century, geologists and biologists accumulated evidence that Earth was much older than previously suspected. Their evidence for an ancient Earth came primarily from the fossilized remains of organisms found in sedimentary rocks. The geologists' guiding concepts were simple: Rocks form slowly by piling up of sediments, and younger rocks are deposited on top of older ones. A great canyon carved into sedimentary rocks may have a visible record of more than a billion years (Levin 4). Preserved within some rocks were fossils - the remains of organisms that lived while the sediments were accumulating. When older rocks are compared with younger ones, slight but significant differences can be observed among similar fossil organisms. The most famous example is fossil horses. The animals show an increase in size and a reduction of side toes †¦ an increase in the height and complexity of teeth, and a deepening and lengthening of the skull (Levin 318). In The Beginning :: essays research papers fc In the Beginning The theory of evolution, formalized by Charles Darwin, is as much theory as is the theory of gravity, or the theory of relativity. Evolutionary theory is a scientific theory dealing with scientific data, not a system of metaphysical beliefs or a religion (Wilkins). Biological theories, and especially evolution, unlike the theories of physics, have been argued long and hard in social and political arenas. Even today, evolution is often not taught in primary schools. However, evolution is the binding force of all biological research. It is the unifying theme. Living organisms evolve through genetic changes over generations, and planets evolve through the processes of erosion and deposition. In paleontology, evolution gives workers a powerful way to organize the remains of past life forms, and better understand the one history of life. The history of thought about evolution in general, and paleontological contributions specifically, are often useful to the scientists of today. Science, like any iterative process, draws heavily from its history. We live on an ancient planet. In the Western world, however, people have long believed that Earth had a relatively recent beginning. In 1650, James Ussher, estimating from his close study of the Bible, calculated that Earth was created in 4004 B.C. (Feder 12). Although not everyone agreed with his calculations, until the nineteenth century most people in the Western world shared Bishop Ussher's view that Earth was relatively young and that its entire history was chronicled in ancient texts. During the nineteenth century, geologists and biologists accumulated evidence that Earth was much older than previously suspected. Their evidence for an ancient Earth came primarily from the fossilized remains of organisms found in sedimentary rocks. The geologists' guiding concepts were simple: Rocks form slowly by piling up of sediments, and younger rocks are deposited on top of older ones. A great canyon carved into sedimentary rocks may have a visible record of more than a billion years (Levin 4). Preserved within some rocks were fossils - the remains of organisms that lived while the sediments were accumulating. When older rocks are compared with younger ones, slight but significant differences can be observed among similar fossil organisms. The most famous example is fossil horses. The animals show an increase in size and a reduction of side toes †¦ an increase in the height and complexity of teeth, and a deepening and lengthening of the skull (Levin 318).

Friday, October 11, 2019

Important of English Language Essay

Language plays an important role in human life. One tries to acquire, learn and use language as a means of communication, and simultaneously as social symbol of humanity. By using language someone could make statements, convey facts and knowledge, explain or report something, and keep social relations among the language users. These indicate that by means of language, people can express their ideas, feeling, information etc through communication. , As one of language in the world, English is considered and applied as international language. Since then, it is very popular and have been spoken and learnt by almost people in the world. There are some reasons why English is important and many people attempt to learn it. Some of them are: for finding job, traveling, interacting one each other, doing business, taking examination, doing research, writing in the foreign language, etc. In such developing country like Indonesia, English has a vital role in all aspects of life, particularly in science and technology. Furthermore, it can be used for developing relationships in the international forum, for reading English book (especially for students from primary school up to colleges/university), to tighten the relationship among nations in the world, etc. As students, we learn English are intended to obtain various knowledge, to comprehend and understand the textbooks learned in English, to gain knowledge and skills, and to be ready enter to the university, as one of the test requirements for students of senior High School (SMA), etc This expression reminds us how importance of English for human life is. As global or universal language, English is not only enables us to communicate and interact with every people throughout the world, but also it could alter our life to be better. Furthermore, we also must be aware that the western countries play extra ordinary role in developing and keeping science and technology. Thus, if we want to be a skilful scientists, linguists, and be able to compete with the other countries in the world, we must understand, master and learn the language they use, namely English. Before ending this speech, let me conclude the essential points of my speech: 1. English is highly necessary to be learned and mastered by everyone, in order to be able to compete in the globalization era; 2. English is a key to open and master science and technology, because most of scientists write their experts and inventions in English. 3. As students of high school (SMA), we have to prepare ourselves by learning hard, particularly English as well as the other subjects at school; 4. By mastering English enables us to become survive and go anywhere throughout the world;

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Coral Reef Essay

Mr. KrupensHow Can We Preserve the World’s Coral Reefs Critical Thinking Questions and AnswersHow does the current state of the world’s coral reefs illustrate each of the six key themes of this book? Human population: With current state of coral reefs, we are definitely valuing the quality of life of a person living today because of the fact that coral reefs are indirectly, sometimes directly, destroyed by over fishing using the methods such as using dynamites or cyanides which causes corals to be destroyed and damaged. However we have to start thinking about the future generations. Sustainability: With current state of coral reefs, the persistence of these resources for future generations is more important because of the fact that coral reefs provide priceless economic benefits (worth $375 billion dollars) and it is slowly getting destroyed. Global Perspective: With current state of coral reefs, we have to value the environment of the entire planet otherwise numerous s pecies of sea organisms, such as fishes, will lose their home which may cause other predators to eventually die out too. This will cause domino effect just by coral reefs getting destroyed around the world, which will bring huge economic and environmental effect on human. Urban World: Both human creativity and persistence of certain endangered species are important because for sure human creativity can be used to save the endangered species. For example, using art to advertise- giving awareness about endangered species. Using science to create medications for endangered species. This means we can help save coral reefs by using human creativity. People and Nature: If people have altered the environment for much of the time our species has been on earth, the word â€Å"natural† can be referred to as places where it is undeveloped by human kind. For example, very deep in the ocean bottom. Science and Values: We need knowledge about our environment so human kind can last for longest period we can possibly stay on earth for, and in order to do that, we have to cooperate with our environment and we have to study our environment. What are the utilitarian, ecological, aesthetic, and moral justification for preserving coral reefs? Utilitarian justification: Coral reefs are associated to 1 million marine organisms. It  will help fisherman to be economically stable and healthy just by preserving coral reefs as well as merc hants who live off by tourists. Ecological Justification: Coral reefs are associated with 1 million marine organisms. Some of the marine organisms that are associated with coral reefs go directly to our stomach. In addition, reef fish constitute about 15% of the entire world wide catch. Aesthetic Justification: There is countless of tourists who appreciate the beauty of nature. Millions of tourists from around the world who flock to reef areas to fish, swim, dive, and enjoy their beauty. Moral Justification: Coral reefs has moral rights to not get destroyed and stay healthy because coral reefs that exist today are 5,000 to 10,000 years old. Also by taking the brunt of the force of waves, coral reefs protect coastlines from erosion, function that is estimated to be $50,000 per year, which may be more than some people’s yearly salary. They already are associated to millions of marine organisms too, so they definitely have their rights to not get destroyed or harmed. If Maitri were making his living by fishing rather than farming shrimp, how might he view the preservation of coral reefs? What ar rangements could be made to meet his needs but at the same time preserve coral reefs in his area? Maitri will definitely have positive instinct on preserving the coral reefs because coral reefs will soon provide his living. As said, coral reefs are associated with about 1 million marine organisms and 15% of the entire worldwide catch is reef fish. In order for him to meet his needs and preserve coral reefs is to limiting himself on the amount that his catching per year, but about to making living out of it. Also he should not use dynamite and cyanide methods to catch fishes. In addition, he should definitely be aware about not to destroy or pry apart the coral reefs while fishing in any methods that he choose to. What things can you do in your everyday life to contribute to the preservation of coral reefs? For me, as a student, all I can contribute to the preservation of coral reefs are to conserve water (less waste water dumped in ocean), reduce pollution (help reduce ocean warming), dispose my trash properly (no water is polluted), use only ecological or organic fertilizers (so ocean is not polluted), volunteer for a coral reef cleanup, practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling (so no coral is harmed or destroyed), and especially spread the word.

IIO course

For example, learning through trial and error how to interact with one's spouse or one's boss intelligently may be expensive for the person as well as for others in terms of emotional energy drained, career failure, or broken relationships. This course will take you through the accumulated wisdom on interpersonal skills. After all, wise people learn from others' experience and from the accumulated wisdom.Learning Goals: In addition to the course objectives mentioned above, students should expect to develop the following by end of the course 1 . Decision Making Skills and Analytical Ability : An ability to arrive at a feasible criteria for Implementation of a decision among a set of equally competitive possibilities : through quantitative and / or qualitative analysis of data and contextual information / industry analysis . Critical Analysis and Creative Communication Skills: Each student should be able to identify key issues relevant to this course, develop a perspective supported by externally obtained / instructor provided information ; capacity to distinguish between major, minor, peripheral and irrelevant factors as well as exogenous and endogenous variables ; and present and defend the decision arrived at based on the assessment criteria already established. . Interpersonal Communication and Group Working Ability: Each student is required to demonstrate an ability to appreciate peer group member view point and work In team environment, exalting a clear understanding of Individual roles and tasks, ability to Identify and resolve Required Text Book: Hunter, J. C. (1998). The servant: A simple story about the true essence of leadership (p. 187). New York: Crown Business.Additional Readings: as per course outline EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Components of Course Evaluation Percentage Distribution Class Participation You should come to class fully prepared with each session's prescribed readings completed (prepared means being capable of starting an educated discussi on or answering the facilitator's questions in class on any section). A deep and thorough understanding of the required readings is expected. Preparedness will be tested individually by asking questions to some students.If you are unable to answer questions satisfactorily, you will lose 5 percentage points of the weighted for this course each time you fail to answer a question raised by the faculty in the class (this means that if you fail to answer four questions in class, you will lose the entire 20% for class participation). Moreover, for each session you must summarize your insights n the form of a short sentence/phrase of not more than 140-characters (including spaces). This â€Å"tweet† for each session must be submitted on the web link provided to you before 0600 hours on the day of the session.The tweet must not be picked up from any of the prescribed readings, but is a summary of your insights from the readings. Do not share your tweet with others- if two or more stu dents have very similar or same tweets, then all concerned students will lose all marks for their submission. Quizzes (There will be one quiz at the end of the course, which will include only little-choice questions with h negative marking). 80% Total 100 COURSE MATERIAL AND HANDOUTS: Soft copies of course material including case studies will be uploaded in the blackboard.Hard copies will be distributed prior to the class and will be available at resource center SESSION WISE TOPICS AND READINGS: session NO-I Session Title Introduction students learn about leadership through service to others. Journal of Business Ethics, 15 (1), 103-110. Pedagogy Lecture and Discussion Session No-2 Session Title Introduction to Karma-Yoga Reading Material Karma in its effect on character. Karma-Yoga, 1-12. Hunter Prologue. Pedagogy Lecture and Discussion Session No-3 Session Title Leadership and Power Reading Material Hunter Chapter 1 (The Definitions).What is duty? Karma-Yoga, 52-64. Pedagogy Lectur e and Discussion Session No-4 Session Title Introduction to Servant Leadership Reading Material Hunter Chapter 2 (The old paradigm) Hunter Chapter 3 (The model). Pedagogy Lecture and Discussion Session No-5 Session Title Love and Leadership Reading Material Hunter Chapter 4 (The verb). We help ourselves, not the world. Karma-Yoga, 65-77. Session No-6 Session Title Managing the Environment Reading Material Hunter Chapter 5 (The environment) Hunter Chapter 6 (The choice). Session No-7 Session Title Why lead?Reading Material Hunter Chapter 7 (The payoff Hunter Epilogue The ideal of Karma- Yoga. Karma-Yoga, 117-131. ATTENDANCE Regularity in Attendance Regular attendance is considered extremely important in the BGP. All students therefore, must comply on regular attendance in class. The relative deduction of having attendance of less than 60% (irrespective of medical certificates) shall not be permitted to appear for the examination in that term/academic year and will carry â€Å"F† read in the course. Institute uses biometric attendance for recording attendance of students.In the event of two continuous sessions, students are required to punch twice at the beginning of each session if there is a break in between the sessions. The class room doors will be closed within 5 minutes of starts for each session. Student attendance will be a component while grading them for the course. If the instructor wishes to take physical attendance along with the Biometric attendance, they will communicate the same in the class. In this case also Biometric attendance ill be the official record (and not the physical attendance) for the course.Instructors have been advised to report about habitual absentees (habitual absentee is defined as students absent in the class for more than three classes consecutively). Unauthorized absence from class/institute will be considered a breach of discipline and the Institute will be free to take appropriate action in such cases. The same stu dent will be asked to face disciplinary committee. Students will not be given any attendance for any committee related activities which warrants them to drop from the class.They are required to undertake all committee related work beyond class hours. Under extra-ordinary circumstances, students may obtain leave of absence under the following rules and procedures: Prior permission of the Director BGP must be obtained for availing of leave. Students are not permitted to go out of station during the terms. In the event of students visiting their local guardian for overnight stay, they must inform the Director BGP and adman office (Officer in charge of hostels) and only travel after receiving a proper gate pass.If a student is noticed to be out of station for overnight thou any intimation to the Director BGP, disciplinary action will be taken against him/her to the extent of debarring the student from appearing in the examinations. In case of sickness, medical certificate issued and/or countersigned by the doctor along with the prescribed application form must be submitted to the BGP Office within 3 days of Joining classes after illness. No student shall be allowed to Join the program unless he/she presents a medical fitness certificate duly endorsed by a Medical Officer of the designated hospital only.No medical certificates from doctors there than the Institute approved hospital will be entertained. Institute's approved hospital's Medical Officers will issue medical certificates only in case of diagnosed illness where they are convinced that the student is too ill to attend classes. These include hospitalizing, communicable diseases (chicken-pox, jaundice and typhoid) and accidental injuries (fractures, deep traumas). Cases depending on the genuinely of the case by the BGP Director.However no compensatory attendance and examination will be held for the period of leave. Students will be awarded grades on the basis of their attendance level and reference only in t he classes from which they were present. Before applying for leave to the Director BGP a student should contact his/her course instructors to ensure that he/she is not missing any quizzes or examinations during the leave period. The BGP Office or the faculty concerned will not be responsible for the student losing any segment of evaluation on account of his/her leave.No compensatory opportunity will be given for quizzes and other class room based components on account of leave of any kind. Attendance and Performance Grade Penalty Each student is expected to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in each course. The grade penalty will be imposed on all the students who do not meet the minimum 80% attendance requirements in each course in the following manner: Attendance of Student Performance Grade Penalty More than or equal to 70% but less than One grade drop (e. G. From A to A-) More than or equal to but less than 70% Two grade drop (e. . From A to B+) Less than 60% F grade will be awa rded If a student gets D grade in a particular course and also gets a grade drop due to attendance shortage, ‘D' will become an ‘F' grade. If a student fails to meet the specified attendance requirement, his/her grade in the respective course(s) would be ordered by the Director BGP in accordance with the grade penalty rules laid down above. Exiting and Entering Students are expected to remain in the classroom, be mentally alert, and participate in the class proceedings for the duration.If a student must leave early for unavoidable reasons, that student should obtain permission from the professor before the class begins. Leaving and re-entering the class is not permitted, except under extraordinary circumstances. Faculty members may cross check the attendance and if a student is found absent in the class, the case will be sent to spieling committee and actions will be taken by the committee. Norms of Behavior Students should demonstrate respect for Faculty and fellow stud ents. Respectful behavior contributes to the enhanced learning experience.Students should refrain from disruptive behavior such as eating, using laptops, and holding side- conversations. Using laptops during is allowed only on the instruction of the proper forum instead of seeking an immediate solution. All grievances may be addressed to the BGP-Director or respective functional heads and in his absence, to the Executive Director. In such cases, a copy should be marked o the above. Respect the Facilities Students are expected to help maintain chairs, display screen, desktop computers, LCD, tables, window curtains and electrical fittings in good usable condition and not damage them or render them useless.Students are expected not to destroy the classroom ambiance. The cost of damage, loss or theft on account of students will be recovered from them. When this cannot be attributed to one student, the cost will be recovered from an identifiable group of which the individual is a part or from the entire batch. Students are expected to use cans to dispose of trash. They are also encouraged to remove defacing or unclean material voluntarily. Essentially, students should always use proper reporting and escalating mechanisms for concerns and issues.Under no circumstances should students take matters into their own hands. Students are expected to use only the students' dining hall for dining. Classrooms or any of the other administrative or academic areas shall not be used for dining. Great Lakes has adopted the principle of preserving the environment. Therefore, it tries to inculcate in the minds of its students and staff, a sense of being one with tauter causing no harm anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances which will result in damage to the environment.Smoking, chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol in and around the premises is strictly prohibited. Severe penalties will accrue to those students caught violating this. Use of Laptops in the class Use of laptops in the class is strictly prohibited during class hours, unless specifically authorized by the Faculty or the Academic Administration. Biometric Readers: Bio-metric readers are installed for attendance in class rooms. Students must register their attendance using only these devices.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

True Grit by Charles Portis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

True Grit by Charles Portis - Research Paper Example However, Mattie goes after them and La Boeuf expresses his displeasure by switching her with her rod, and Cogburn intervenes. Mattie and her team, in their pursuit of Chaney, find two criminals, Moon, Quincy, and as Cogburn interrogates Moon, Quincy kills him, and thereafter Cogburn shoots Quinsy dead. The Pepper gang knowing the hideout of Chaney arrives at the dugout where Cogburn and Mattie hide. They kill two members of the gang but Pepper manages to escape. In the same hideout, Mattie meets Chaney and tries to kill him but to no avail. He grabs Mattie dragging her to Ned who intervenes by threatening to murder Chaney if he kills her. Consequently, she is saved by LaBouef who knocks Chaney. After this, they devise a plan on how to confront Ned and his gang. Cogburn decides to fight against Ned’s team, assassinating two and wounding Ned. LaBoeuf kills Pepper, and Mattie, using a rifle, kills Chaney. In the fight, Mattie loses one arm that results from snake bite and the movie ends by the death of Cogburn. The 2010 sequence of True Grit was produced by the two Coen brothers and it is borrowed from Charles Portis novel of 1968 entitled True Grit.The version stars Hailee Steinfeld, who takes the character of Mattie Ross, and Jeff Bridges, as Reuben J, a US Marshall. Other actors in the movie are Barry Pepper, Matt Damon, and Jeff Bridges. The production of the movie was in March 2010 and was officially released in the United States of America on December 2010 (Portis & Tartt 24).

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 327

Assignment Example ers will have a problem if they knew that the state or local government collecting political action money for the union since they will not be able to identify any fund that belong to the state and used by the local government. There is no basis in which in which the taxpayers will use to reduce the challenge (Law and Ian, 241). The funds that the state uses to support the union will not be easily identified in regard to money that is collected from the union. Distinguishing between state employees and local government employees will also be a problem. Basis for Supreme Court ruling in favor of the state was due to argument of the state that a political subdivision is a subordinate unit of the government and this could allow the state to perform delegated functions of the government (Law and Ian, 67). The local government is seen to have no privilege under the federal constitution and the state thought it could not involve in collecting political money. It is also not clear whether the state allocates funding used in the local

Monday, October 7, 2019

RN interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

RN interview - Essay Example Evidently, the humanistic aspects of nursing care can only be achieved via effective interpersonal communication. The shortlisted candidate is a registered male nurse. With respect to interpersonal power, a nurse is an authority who must exude expert power. These are the true feelings of the interviewee. He further explains that a good masterly of nursing knowledge in clinical practice instills confidence in the patient. Moreover, the patient relaxes and is more amenable to therapeutic interventions as s/he is fully trusting of the care received in the hospital. The interviewee also highlighted the need for self disclosure. A nurse needs to appreciate the emotional needs of the patient by establishing a rapport that is based on caring. The nurse needs to exhibit empathy, warmth and congruence in order to foster a trustworthy relationship that will foster self-disclosure (current nursing, 2012). The nurse should not reveal confidential relationship and whenever necessary, there is need to maintain patient anonymity in the discussion of such privileged information. The interviewee also cited the need to maintain assertive communication in the delega tion of duties to juniors and the delivery of instructions to patients. This is essential in the cultivation of a professional relationship with patients and personnel. Aggressive communication will create an uneasy environment that is laden with tension (Kinni & Kinni, n.d.). It is not the kind of environment that will nurture a caring attitude where patients can engage in self disclosure. The interviewee also indicated that all conflict in a hospital setting should be resolved via the cooperative style of managing conflict (Knapp & Daly, 2011). I aspire to be a teacher and in order to establish good teacher/student relationships; I should demonstrate good interpersonal communication skills (Roberts, 2012). A teacher needs to be assertive during the

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Credible and Reliable Sources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Credible and Reliable Sources - Essay Example Thus, those who have traditionally been university educated, were white males from privilaged backgrounds. This demographic has changed, and so to should the language conventions that reflect an era when only white males attended university – the very individuals or group that established past conventions. Thus, one important tip, is not to use 'gendered pronouns', rather, one ought to use 'gender neutral' pronouns like they, or their. One of the other elements that makes APA a desirable or optimal format, is the brevity of the style. With regard to the notion of APA Abbreviations, one of the important goals stressed, is that the style or format should do as little as possible to distract the reader from the content of what is being read. It is maintained by the APA that the less style formatting that is used, the better. The less there is formatting, the less attention a reader is going to spend paying attention to anything other than the basic text. So, for example, wherever possible, information is abbreviated. One good example of doing this, is with author's names. Author first names are not given either with 'in text' citations, which is normal for a lot of style conventions, or with bibliographical information.

Friday, October 4, 2019

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

Psychodrama - Essay Example 9). Through this, it can be said that psychodrama is deeply rooted in group therapy as the dramatic act involves the support of group members (Haworth, 1998, p. 15). It is a form of therapy that, through the undelrying concept of ‘what if’, aims to for the individual to realize what his past mistakes are, his attitude problems and develop and integrate solutions to these problems in real life (Djuric, Tomić and Veljković, 2006, p. 9). â€Å"Psychodrama not only explores one’s unspoken thoughts and feelings, but also the situations that never really happened but could have, the encounters of those who are really absent, the projections for the future, and different perceptions of the past and present† (Djuric, Tomić and Veljković, 2006, p. 9). To examine the roots of psychodrama is to examine the roots of Jacob L. Moreno, MD. He is the father of psychodrama in that he developed the method â€Å"along with sociometry, socio drama and group psychotherapy†¦ to tackle the problems of the world, of society and of human interactions rather just the individual† (Haworth, 1998, p. 16). Here, it can be seen how Moreno visualized psychodrama as a part of a triadic system in that each is linked with the other (Lipman, 2003, p. 3). Moreno lived during the First World War, at a time when people are beginning to take serious notice of the revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud and hence, his experiences urged him to make the world a better place and this started with addressing the problems and issues of individuals (Haworth, 1998, p. 16). Aside from the influence of the times, Moreno was also inspired by Socrates in that he used Socrates’ method of observing and talking to ordinary citizens in order to a rrive at the meaning of self when he first conceived of psychodrama (Haworth, 1998, p. 17). For him, â€Å"the self emerges from the roles we play† (Psychodramatic

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Focus Group Essay Example for Free

Focus Group Essay Qualitative research Definition- it is a research, which is undertaken using an unstructured research, approach with a small number of carefully selected individuals to produce non-quantifiable insights into behavior, motivations and attitudes. Qualitative and quantitative research as two distinctly separate bodies of research – many studies encompass both approaches, with qualitative research being used to explore and understand attitudes and behavior, and quantitative research being used to measure how widespread these attitudes and behaviors are. Qualitative research can be used when managers need exploratory research. Managers use exploratory research to understand customer attitudes, emotions, preferences and behaviors. It can also be used in new product development or creative development research. Individual depth interview It is an interview that is conducted face-to-face, in which the subject matter of the interview is explored in detail using an unstructured and flexible approach. As with all qualitative research, depth interviews are used to develop a deeper understanding d of consumer attitudes and the reasons behind specific behaviors. This understanding is achieved through responding to an individual’s comments with extensive probing. The flexibility of this probing sets this interview approach apart from oter questionnaire-type interviews. Although there is an agenda of topics to be covered, the interviewers will use their knowledge of the research objectives, the information gained from other interviews and the comments of the respondent to select which parts of the dialogue with the respondent to explore further, which to ignore, and which to return to later in the interview. Not only is the depth interview flexible, it is also evolutionary in nature. Focus group Focus groups are depth interviews undertaken with a group of respondents. It is different to individual interviews in the number of respondents and interaction between participants. Several factors affect focus group Recruitment is a very critical element of group discussions and has long been a major quality-control issue in the UK marketing research industry. Group discussions are unlikely to achieve their research objectives if the wrong types of participant are recruited. The research proposal will set out the type of participants required for a group discussion. For example, if Colgate is researching a new type of toothpaste for a sensitive teeth. Their specification may request respondents who regularly purchase toothpaste with sensitive protection function. Respondents age (for example 25-64), living area, etc. Managers can also use Screening questionnaire to identify suitable respondents for its group discussion. The area that respondents are recruited normally should be in street or telephone interviews. The location that group discussions were held should let respondents feel comfortable. Locations such as viewing rooms or hotels for business should have no special facilities apart from audio type recorder. Food or snacks will also be provided to assist in relaxing the atmosphere. Time to hold the discussion should be well scheduled. Times should be available to target group. For example, outside working hours, times of available public transport etc. The number of groups should be 3-4. As the 3rd and 4th group can used to exam atypical views. * There are problems involving focus groups. For example in the case of overlapping dialogues from different speakers which may affect the transcript. * Moderators must learn to control such people and encourage those less willing to speak up and let their opinions be heard. Comparing to traditional group discussion, online group discussion or chat room is becoming popular. Apart from lower cost and possible time-saving, it can allow more people to be involved in observing the research, particularly if it is being carried out in a different region or country. However, a cheaper version of online group discussion or chat room where a group is recruited who are willing to discuss a subject online usually using text. It can be difficult to develop any real group dynamics and it is impossible to see people’s facial expression. Even with webcams, the video picture is usually so poor. Participants may also be distracted by events within their own office or home, as the environment is not under the control of the moderator. However, it may be useful with people who could be unwilling to attend a group discussion because of their geographical dispersal or their introverted nature. Projective techniques Projective techniques are techniques used in group discussions and individual interviews to facilitate a deeper exploration of a respondent’s attitudes towards a concept, product or situation. They enable respondents to express attitudes that they find difficult to verbalize. Projective technique projective techniques may gather ‘richer’ data than do standard questioning and discussion. There are many types of projective techniques. The most common three techniques are projective questioning. It is a projective technique that asks the respondent to consider what other people would think about a situation. An example of this could be â€Å"What do you think people in your street would think if they saw a BMW parked in your driveway?† The advantage of projective questioning is that it usually reflect the opinions of the respondent without causing them any embarrassment. Managers can get more objective answers. Word association tests It is a projective technique that involves asking respondents what brands or products they associate with specific words. In marketing research, word association is typically used in conjunction with brand names or celerity endorsers. This can assist marketers in developing communication objectives and strategies to position or differentiate their brands from those of competitors. In addition to the direct outputs of word association, the technique is also very useful as a way of warming up a group by getting everybody contributing and involved. Brand personalities Brand personalities involve respondents imagining a brand a person and describing their looks, clothes. Lifestyles, employment etc. For example, if ‘Nokia’ was a person, what type of person would he or she be? The answer could be such as a modern, relatively young slightly quirky male. This could compare with other brands. Developing brand personification can help to verbalize the imagery and vocabulary associated with the brand. Sentence completion Sentence completion involves providing respondents with an incomplete sentence or group of sentences. Respondents are then asked to complete them. For example, ‘Tesco, as a supermarket, is†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ in many way, sentence completion is similar to word associations, although it can enable researcher to put the respondent’s thinking process into a proper context. Observation research Observation is a data-gathering approach where information on the behavior of people, objects and organizations is collected without any questions being asked of the participants. Observation can take a quantitative format where a large number of events or people are observed and the outputs are analyzed using statistical method. The major advantage of it over surveys of respondents is that the data collected do not have inaccuracies as a result of memory error or social desire bias. The data recorded reflect the actual behavior that took place. For example, video record gives a true representation of rental behavior. Observation overcomes the high refusal rates that may exist for some survey research. However, observation cannot investigate reasons behind behavior. Also, only public behavior is observed. Examples of what can be observed are consumers behavior in store, family consuming behavior at home, comments on the internet. Typical methods of observation are internet monitoring (club card, cookies), in-store observations (CCTV), mystery shopping(researchers participant into observation to look at process not the outcome of number of satisfaction), content analysis(how many time that the word appear in the article), ethnography(could be costly and have ethical issues). Ethical problem Questionnaire A questionnaire is the research instrument designed to generate the data necessary for accomplishing a project’s research objectives. Questionnaires have advantages over some other types of surveys in that they are cheap, do not require as much effort from the questioner as focus group, and often have standardized answers that make it simple to compile data. However, questionnaires also have many of the same problems relating to question construction and wording. The effect of questionnaire might also limited by the location that respondents do the questionnaire. For example, respondents who did questionnaire in high street could be affected by noise. There are many types of questionnaire. There are open-ended question, closed question, scaling questions. There are many factors when comparing Focus group, depth interviews, projective techniques, observation and questionnaire. In terms of degree of structure, focus group are relatively high as managers will guide and control the whole discussion until all tasks are finished. In terms of probing of individual respondents, depth interviews are high and focus group and questionnaire are low. Moderator bias in depth interviews are high and others are medium. Observation has none effects in terms of both probing of individual respondents and moderator bias. Focus group is also high in discovering innovative information. Projective techniques and observation are high in uncovering subconscious information and obtaining sensitive information. Questionnaire and projective techniques are involving unusual behavior or questioning.