Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Conflict Management At The Workplace Setting - 2263 Words

Executive Summary We are all wired with the ability to have our own opinions, ideas and sets of beliefs. Conflict, an inevitable part of life, pertains to the opposing ideas and actions of different entities. We often find ourselves in conflict in different scenarios; whether it involves other individuals, groups of people, or a struggle within our own selves. Consequently, conflict influences our actions and decisions in one way or another. Conflict can have significant impact in the workplace and should not be ignored. It is essential for managers, supervisors, and even coworkers to address individuals that are causing office conflicts. The need for managers to have better leadership and management skills to handle their complex responsibilities is well recognized. The following case introduces conflict management in the workplace setting. The foundation of conflict management centers on communication techniques including transparent communication, open discussion, active listening and tim ing of intervention. This case analyzes the cause of conflicts, reviews techniques of conflict management, and discusses specific management styles such as: avoidance, competition, accommodation, compromise, and collaboration. Case scenario (background) Bill has been working for five years for a mining company. He started in the office but has recently moved out on the road as a salesperson, obtaining business for the company. Bill is not an expert in mining butShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Workplace Violence On Nursing1329 Words   |  6 Pages Effects and Management of Workplace Violence in Nursing Gurdeep Kaur, Virender Kaur, and Ana Tolentino Jimenez California State University, Bakersfield Effects and Management of Workplace Violence in Nursing Workplace violence occurs due to an interpersonal conflict between two or more people that results from differences in their needs, ideas, goals, interests, or values (Marquis and Huston, 2015). Workplace violence is not limited to physical violence; it also includes negativeRead MoreThe Problem Of Conflict Resolution1383 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Everyday people in the educational setting are required to work in groups and make decisions that affect everyone. There are very few situations where everyone in a group or team will agree totally, as a result, conflict is inevitable. It is important that we, as Human Resource administrators understand that our schools are comprised of employees representing different cultures, backgrounds, races and religious beliefs. We must ensure that we adopt and practice modes of communicationRead MoreConflict Management and Stress Management: How to Handle Them as an Administrator988 Words   |  4 PagesConflict management and stress management: How to handle them as an administrator Although conflict management and stress management are two distinct topics, they are interrelated. A conflict-ridden workforce can be extremely stressful, and high levels of stress can produce conflict. Both need to be managed for the workplace to function in an effective manner. From an administrators point of view, certain structural reforms can make conflict easier to deal with. Having specific personnel inRead MoreOrganizational Behavior: Managing Conflict within the Workplace This essay explains the need and importance of managing conflict inside of organizations.1440 Words   |  6 Pageshead: MANAGING CONFLICT MANAGING CONFLICT Organizational Behavior: Managing Conflict within the Workplace ï ¿ ½ Abstract Our team has decided to write our research paper on conflict management. We felt that this topic would be a good choice because we feel that many of todays companies have problems dealing with conflict. If managers are trained and aware of conflict management, conflict can bring out creativity and different points of view. The positive outcomes from conflict management can greatlyRead MoreCritical Analysis : Critical Thinking In The Family Man1359 Words   |  6 Pagesthey felt about working on Christmas Day. A conflict arose between Cash and Jack who wanted to return to his old life. The culture shock, Jack encountered made him struggle to fit in as a family man. DADA Syndrome can best fit Jack at this point denial, anger, depression, and then acceptance of his family man role. We know when people work together there more than likely be conflict each person will bring about a different personality. Workplace conflict should be addressed as quickly as possibleRead MoreAn Integrated Conflict Management System1151 Words   |  5 Pagestoday Bank of America has become very conflict competent by implying an integrated conflict management system. They have integrated a Code of Conduct in their workplace and have organizations within their company to specifically deal with conflict resolution. Throughout history most major companies, like Bank of America, have changed their views on how they treated their employees to create an efficient work group. Major companies began to realize that conflict is normal and happens naturally andRead MoreDifference Between Management And Leadership1738 Words   |  7 PagesTask 1 This part of the assignment will be explaining the difference between management and leadership. Then progressing onto a style of management and leadership, discussing the impact it can have on the staff team, parents and other stakeholders. Management style and leadership style. Managers and leaders are very similar as they both lead staff teams by motivation but they do this in different ways. Managers have more authority with the team and plan, organise and co-ordinate their team to mostRead MoreConflict Between Conflict And Conflict Management1164 Words   |  5 PagesThe most important point is that conflict in organizations is increasing as they become more complex, culturally diverse, and global. Conflict has been thought of as necessary at times to keep the wheels of progress turning. Therefore, concentration on conflict in organizations has went from strategies to try to eliminate it to managing it. One issue is training managers how to manage that conflict. Conflict can be detrimental or beneficial to the organization. In order to be beneficial, leadersRead More Motivation and Conflict Management Essay1023 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation and Conflict Management Organizations strive for creative ways to enhance employee motivation and resolve conflicts with the desire to have employees perform better within the workplace. To motivate one has to be motivated. Motivation within the workplace has to be constant and requiring a goal. Motivation, if not repeated will not last. Therefore, learning to determine how different organizations apply motivation theories to motivate employees, analyzing conflict management strategiesRead MoreThe Perception Of Ethical Leadership Essay1509 Words   |  7 Pages(particularly when individuals feel that they are treated well), optimism in the future regarding the organization and their place within it, perceptions of task significance and autonomy, and voice, including a willingness to report problems to management. Similarly, voice behaviors (e.g., willingness of subordinates to share problems and concerns) are explained in part by the feeling of psychological safety or comfort in expressing thoughts and feelings engendered in subordinates by ethical leadership

Monday, December 16, 2019

How Does Stress Affect the Policing Community Free Essays

cjs210Write a 200- to 300-word response addressing the following questions: How does stress affect the policing community? Stress has many effects on the policing community as a whole. Officers may lose sleep over the stress and become fatigued which in turn causes them to lack on their duties, or delay their reaction time. Officers may also get so stressed that they go through a post traumatic disorder. We will write a custom essay sample on How Does Stress Affect the Policing Community? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Post traumatic disorder can cause officers nightmares, or worse they can wind up committing suicide. How does police culture support police officers in evolving job situations? Police culture support officers throughout the evolving job situations by protecting each other. Officers have a brotherhood and a closeness that no other career has because of the daily struggles they go through. Due to the fact that an officer’s job is so stressful they build a bond and become a family for one another to lean on. Being able for them to help each other is important because they know what the other one goes through and what they see on a daily basis. Without the support from fellow officers I feel that many may not be able to make it through being a police officer. What resources exist to help officers handle stress? Some departments have their own psychiatrists that are always there when an officer handles a call that may be too stressful. There are also other ways that they cope like with private therapists, or working out. Exercise helps some, but not all which is why there are experts that are more equipped to deal with the daily problems officers may have. How to cite How Does Stress Affect the Policing Community?, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Amanda Wingfield - Glass Menagerie free essay sample

The world in which Amanda Wingfield lived fluctuated between reality and illusion, her past life with money and her new life with none. Amanda reminisced about the days of her youth, especially the seventeen callers in one afternoon. She told this story told many times to her children, Tom and Laura. Even though she had no money, she tried to portray herself as though she did. Amanda wore her best clothes from her past and wanted to keep her home immaculate when visitors came in order to make the best impression. Amanda wanted her past life, which included a better social status, money, and happiness. Because of her past, Amanda also found it difficult to respect the differences between her daughter and herself. Amanda did not understand why Laura was not outgoing and charming the young gentlemen in town. Amanda was unwilling to accept the effects of Laura’s past physical ailments, which lead her to lead a quiet and reserved adult life. We will write a custom essay sample on Amanda Wingfield Glass Menagerie or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Amanda constantly nagged Tom to find his sister a gentleman caller. Tom was the only source of income for their family, which was also a reason Amanda felt an urgency to find Laura a man. Amanda found an acceptance letter from the Merchant Marines addressed to Tom. With little regard for Tom feelings, Amanda advised Tom he can join the Merchant Marine, but he will need to find a gentleman that can take care of herself and Laura. When Amanda’s husband left her, she found herself living an empty and meaningless life. Amanda wanted her old life back very much because of the financial security and societal prominence. Even after time passed, she refused to accept her new social status and refused to become independent from her children. She lived her life through her children and failed to recognize that her children had different personalities from her own. Her insistance to live in the past, and not accept her current reality, ultimately drove Tom to leave home and Laura back into her world of glass.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Why Golf Is a Sport free essay sample

Why Golf Is a Sport A matter of pollen has separated a variety of sports enthusiasts apart, due to the ongoing debate of whether golf Is a sport or simply a skill. Famed golfer Arnold Palmer declared, Golf Is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented. (Thinkers. Mom) These words state what every athlete experiences and feels when he/she is turning a double play, making the game winning three point shot, or whoring a hail Mary pass for a touchdown. Golfers are athletes too, they train for that big moment Just like any other athlete, but they do it individually and gain the glory for themselves. Golf has increasingly become known not as a sport, but as a skill, which is a huge misconception that I intend to set the facts straight. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Golf Is a Sport or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The definition of a sport Is narrowly defined, and to one Its own opinion, but Golf Is a competition Just Like every other sport, winning Is Its pinnacle.Golf requires the number one characteristic that Is vital to all sports hand-eye coordination. These en and women use their athletic ability to reach the top of their game. Golf takes sports to a different level and is played on its own terms. To each his own opinion, but why has the definition of a sport being termed as so narrowly? The NCAA defines a sport as: An institutional activity involving physical exertion with the purpose of competition versus other teams or individuals within a collegiate competition structure. Furthermore, sport includes regularly scheduled team and/or individual, head-to-head competition (at least five) within a defined competitive season(s); and standardized rules with rating/scoring systems ratified by official regulatory agencies and governing bodies. Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and even golf display these qualities of what Is defined as a sport. There has been a considerable amount of people who tend to disclose golf as a sport, only a skill or activity. Yet, many people object the physical exertion aspect with golf, that It does not require any.These objectors who say golf should not be included in that defined group are ignorant to athletics and its regulations. My definition of a sport is a competition that involves athletes who play to win within a certain structure of ales and regulations. Anyone can be an athlete; they do not have to be good to play a sport, as long as they try with some effort. A sport requires certain qualities of an individual too that it can not be without. Hand-eye coordination is vital to every sport out there.A basketball player has to shoot the ball into the hoop, a football player has to throw the ball to an open receiver, a baseball player has to swing a bat to hit a 95 mile per hour fastball, and golfers have to swing their club and hit a tiny ball a couple hundred yards. It Is the number one aspect that Is required In all sports. Although It Is common to associate sports with many other qualities. The manly qualities of other sports such as cheerleaders and fights usually are not even be considered a sport. Cheerleaders are important to sports. They keep the crowd excited; they keep the participants enthused about winning; and they give you something else to look at when the action on the field of play grinds to a halt. With golf theres not a lot of action to begin with. (Irvin) Although golf is missing the appendages that invigorate other sports with such audacity, the onlookers respect heir golfers need for silence and concentration. It is a sport which requires a massive amount of concentration, Just like any other sport.Irvin states his idea that cheerleaders are important to sports, when in fact; cheerleaders has nothing to do at all with the style of play. He is right that they keep the crowd excited, but that is the only reason why they are there, they do not play, they yell and dance. It makes me wonder why one would think that Golf needs to have cheerleaders to keep the crowd excited when the golfers need a massive amount of concentration. Yet regular sports NAS forget that each sport is different, and that is what makes them stand out and appeal to others.Golf does not appeal to some, but a lot of people play the sport religiously, reason being one does not have to be the typical in shape athlete that most are. Golfers are athletes too, and train to be good ones. Swinging a club and hitting a ball three hundred plus yards requires muscle strength in the torso and upper body. Golfers are Just the kind of athletes who do not need to negotiate long-term big money contracts, and scratch themselves while being interviewed after play is over (Lowe).Golf is not a team sport either; it is an individual sport and the glory is captured for them, and they take pride and honor after an amazing feat as any athlete would. The honor and competitiveness of this sport has trickled down to the much supportive fan base. After exposing the truths and presenting evidence about one of the greatest sports ever to be played, we can no longer dispute golf as Just a skill or activity, but declare Golf a real sport. It is important to sports enthusiasts everywhere that they have to look beyond the typical definition of a sport and expand their minds.Golfers are athletes too, playing for the top prize every time they step onto the course. Golf is gaining popularity by the second, no longer can it be said to be not a real sport. Golf Justifies what every sport should be, the way it is played, the professional maturity that every golfer shows, and competition. Merriam Webster defines a sport as 1): physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2): a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in. Golf qualifies as a sport according to this definition and until it is changed, it will remain one of the legendary sports to play.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

A Comparative Analysis of the Article in Chapter Eleven of the Introduction to Educational Research by Burrow

A Comparative Analysis of the Article in Chapter Eleven of the Introduction to Educational Research by Burrow A comparative analysis of the article in Chapter eleven of the Introduction to educational research by Burrow-Sanchez and Lopez (2009) in Metler and Charles (2011) and a survey research of satisfaction levels of graduate students enrolled in a nationally ranked top-10 program at a mid-western university by Sum, McCaskey and Kyeyune (2008) reveals both similarities and differences.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Comparative Analysis of the Article in Chapter Eleven of the Introduction to Educational Research by Burrow-Sanchez and Lopez (2009) in Metler and Charles (2011) and a Survey Research of Satisfaction Levels of Graduate Students Enrolled in a Nationally Ranked Top-10 Program at a Mid-Western University by Sum, Mccaskey and Kyeyune (2008) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The purpose of the first article was to carry out a survey on high school counsellors to identify substance abuse among high school students . On the other hand, the researchers in the second article sought to â€Å"determine the satisfaction level of existing master’s students attending a two-week summer session towards the same masters program in education with specializations in career and human resources education† (p. 1). Both articles adopt a similar organizational pattern as expected of a research article. They have detailed literature review sections, which outline approaches adopted by the researchers in demonstrating the existence of research gaps, articulating research questions and the effectiveness of the adopted methodological frameworks. In addition, the articles have outlined their research problems, purposes of the studies, significances of the studies, methods of data collection and analysis, findings and implications of the research. Concerning data collection, Burrow-Sanchez and Lopez (2009) employed a proportional, stratified random sampling procedure to select â€Å"sample of 289 part icipants, of which data from their surveys were coded and entered for data analysis† (p. 73).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sum, McCaskey and Kyeyune (2008) employed a convenient sampling design because of time constraints to select a sample population of 2008 students. In order to address the research questions, the researchers used SPSS Version 14.0 to perform measures of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Burrow-Sanchez and Lopez (2009) presented â€Å"a clear focus on understanding the perspectives on student substance abuse issues from counselors at the high school level† (p.78). The researchers recommend more research on the role of middle school counselors in developing substance abuse prevention or intervention programs. Sum, McCaskey and Kyeyune (2008) concluded their research by presenting â€Å"the need to allow stakeholders to pinpoint what each group (on-campus and non-traditional) of students need to be successful in obtaining their Master’s degree† (p.16). Similarly, the researchers recommend future research for the improvement of quality of human resource education career to attract and retain future students. The difference between correlation research and other types of research is that it focuses on an examination of mutual relationship between two or more things. The sources of data for experimental and quasi-experimental research are points of overlap. Both research approaches use standardized assessments. However, in addition to standardized assessments, quasi-experimental research uses surveys, interviews, and observations to obtain data.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Comparative Analysis of the Article in Chapter Eleven of the Introduction to Educational Research by Burrow-Sanchez and Lopez (2009) in Metler and Charles (2011) and a Survey Research of Satisfaction Levels of Graduate Students Enrolled in a Nationally Ranked Top-10 Program at a Mid-Western University by Sum, Mccaskey and Kyeyune (2008) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Planning study on community satisfaction would involve the views and perceptions of a large sample population. Quantitative data using survey questionnaire and qualitative data using focus group discussions would provide adequate data to gain insights on the levels of community satisfaction with the school. The selection would be random sampling technique because the focus of the study would be to collect data from all community members irrespective of their levels of education, social class or race. The data would be collected, corded and analyzed using SPSS Version 14.0 to perform measures of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. This is a mixed research approach that employs both qualitative and quantitative data to gain insights into a phenomenon. References Burrow-Sanchez, J.J. and Lopez, A.L. (2009). Identifying Substance Abuse Issues in High Schools: A National Survey of High School Counselors. Journal of Counseling Development.87 (4): 72-79. Metler, C, and Charles, C. (2011). Introduction to educational research. San Francisco: Allyn and Bacon Sum, V., McCaskey,S.J. and Kyeyune, C. (2008). A survey research of satisfaction levels of graduate students enrolled in a nationally ranked top-10 program at a mid-western university. Research in Higher Education Journal. 3(2): 1-16.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Using Genealogy Timelines as Research Tools

Using Genealogy Timelines as Research Tools Research timelines are not just for publicationuse them as part of your research process to organize and assess the mountain of information you have uncovered for your ancestor. Genealogy research timelines can help to examine our ancestors life in historical perspective, uncover evidence inconsistencies, highlight holes in your research, sort two men of the same name, and organize the evidence necessary to build a solid case. A research timeline in its most basic form is a chronological list of events. However, a chronological listing of every event in your ancestors life could go on for pages and become impractical for evidence evaluation purposes. Instead, research timelines or chronologies are most effective if used to answer a specific question. Most often such a question will pertain to whether evidence may or may not pertain to a particular research subject. Some questions which might be answered with a genealogy research timeline: When did my ancestor migrate to or from a particular location?Why might my ancestor have emigrated from Germany in 1854?Is there only one man of a particular name in a certain area and time period, or has my research (or others) erroneously combined information from two men of the same name?Was my ancestor married only once, or multiple times (especially when the first name is the same)? The items you might want to include in your timeline may vary based on your research goal. Typically, however, you might want to include the date of the event, a name/description of the event, the locality in which the event occurred, the age of the individual at the time of the event, and a citation to the source of your information. Tools for Creating a Research Timeline For most research purposes, a simple table or list in a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word) or spreadsheet program (e.g. Microsoft Excel) works well for creating a research timeline. To get you started, Beth Foulk offers a free Excel-based timeline spreadsheet on her website, Genealogy Decoded. If you make heavy use of a particular genealogy database program, check and see if it offers a timeline feature. Popular software programs such as The Master Genealogist, Reunion, and RootsMagic include built in timeline charts and/or views. Other software for creating genealogy timelines includes: Genelines - Genelines timeline software includes seven customizable timeline charts and reads directly from Family Tree Maker versions 2007 and earlier, Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Legacy Family Tree, and Ancestral Quest. Genelines also supports GEDCOM import.XMind - This mind-mapping software offers a number of different ways to look at your data. For research timeline purposes, the Fishbone Chart can be helpful for showing the causes of a specific event, and the Matrix View offers an easy way to organize and represent chronological data.SIMILE Timeline Widget - This free, open-source web-based tool helps you to visually represent your timelines for easy online sharing with family or colleagues. The SIMILE widget supports easy scrolling, multiple time bands, and inclusion of photos, however youll need to be able to work with and edit code (at a level similar to basic HTML website coding) to use this program. SIMILE also offers a Timeplot widget. See the Getting Started guide for more details. Time Glider - If you prefer a visual timeline solution that doesnt require a lot of technical skill, then this subscription, web-based timeline software makes it easy to create, collaborate on, and publish interactive timelines. A free plan is available (students only) for very simple timelines with limited photos. The regular $5 monthly plan offers extensive flexibility.Aeon Timeline - This Mac-based timeline software equips you with a variety of tools for creative and analytical thinking. It is designed for writers creating story plots, but the same tools for connecting people, places, and relationships with events is perfect for genealogical research. Want something even more creative? Valerie Craft shares a demonstration of using the free presentation software Prezi to create a visual genealogy timeline on her blog Begin with Craft. Case Studies Demonstrating the Use of Genealogy Timelines: Thomas W. Jones, Organizing Meager Evidence to Reveal Lineages: An Irish Example- Geddes of Tyrone, National Genealogical Society Quarterly 89 (June 2001): 98–112.Thomas W. Jones, Logic Reveals the Parents of Philip Pritchett of Virginia and Kentucky, National Genealogical Society Quarterly 97 (March 2009): 29–38.Thomas W. Jones, Misleading Records Debunked: The Surprising Case of George Wellington Edison Jr., National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 (June 2012): 133–156.Marya C. Myers, One Benjamin Tuell or Two in Late Eighteenth-Century Rhode Island? Manuscripts and a Timeline Provide the Answer, National Genealogical Society Quarterly 93 (March 2005): 25–37.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Art me&mrs andrews the artist is Gainsborough Research Paper

Art me&mrs andrews the artist is Gainsborough - Research Paper Example Next to the man is a dog. The couple is posing next to a wheat farm. The skies are gray and the picture is dark. The man and woman appear to be composed. A flock of sheep can be seen in the far background. Careful inspection of the woman reveals that this painting may be incomplete. It looks as if there is a space where she was supposed to be holding a baby (ITP 276: Mr and Mrs Andrews by Thomas Gainsborough, 14 August 2005). The dark clouds and bright foreground of the painting indicate that the painting was done when it was about to rain. The rifle and dog could possibly mean that the man hunts for sport. The dog seems to be tugging at the man’s clothes. The couple is wearing fine clothes, an indication that they could be wealthy. The painting makes me feel calm, because the countryside imagery is fresh and inviting. If I were in the picture, I would have felt relaxed and free. Looking at it, I can hear the bleating of sheep. Gainsborough chose this setting probably because he was a painter of sceneries and nature. The location also enables him to capture the distant features of the countryside. The artist was probably most impressed by the sheep in the background, because he seems to have painted the subjects in such a way as to leave ample space for the sheep to be

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Shiite Festivals in Iran and Iraq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Shiite Festivals in Iran and Iraq - Essay Example Although the Shiites were considered a minority in most of the Islamic world, they were the majority in countries like Iran and Iraq. Shiites who venerate Ali and his son Husayn or Hussein commemorate their death in the hands of the Sunni's in the 7th century battle in Karbala. Karbala is located in Iraq (Associated Press). The other holy site located in Iraq is Najaf. Shiites in Iraq comprised sixty percent of the Iraqi population but the most oppressed and marginalized during the regime of Saddam Hussein. There is a basic difference between Shiite Muslims in Iran and Iraq. Primarily, Iran's ethnic origin was Persian while Iraq's is recognized as Arab. The most significant festival for Shiites all over the world is the observance of Ashura, a ten-day commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein. Its observance followed the Shiite calendar usually on the tenth day of the first month of the lunar year or Muharram (Rauf). The Shiites observed it as a day of mourning when Hussein and his kinsmen were killed in 680 AD or 61 AH (Shiite calendar) ("Everyday is Ashura and Every land is Karbala", Rauf). Shiites observe the day with public display of mourning, self-flagellation or wounding to commemorate the sacrifices of Hussein. Hussein opposed against the corrupt rule of Yazid, a Muslim caliph and he and his family paid for it with their lives. Unlike the Shiites in Iran where they enjoyed majority rule and political power, the Shiites of Iraq underwent severe oppression and misfortune for decades under Saddam Hussein despite outnumbering Sunni's by 2 to 1. Many of the Shiites in Iraq sought refuge in Iran. The Shiites of Iraq had to celebrate and practice their beliefs with restraint. It was not until Saddam Hussein was deposed in 2003 could they openly commemorate Ashura. In Iran, however, Shiism was the recognized Islamic denomination and therefore everyone could observe customs and traditions freely. The Origins of the Shiite Branch of Islam Conflict ensued concerning succession after Prophet Muhammad died in 632 AD between the Sunni and Shiites. According to the Shiites, succession should come from the bloodlines of Prophet Muhammad. The Sunni's believed otherwise. For them, the selection of a successor should be a consensus among community members, on political ascendancy and individual merit. (Armanios CRS-2). However, the closest companion of the Prophet, Abu Bakr was elected by majority of the community as caliph. Although majority would accept this decision, some felt that Ali ibn Abi Talib, a cousin and the Prophet's son-in-law and husband to the Prophet's daughter Fatima was bypassed. Several members of the community supported Ali's ascension as caliph (Armanios CRS-1). The Shiites would later consider Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman as usurpers and illegitimate successors. Shiites considered Ali as the one deserving the recognition as successor. Ali would later be assassinated in 661 AD and his sons, Hassan and Hussein would die in the hands of the Sunnis (Armanios CRS-2). Those that supported Ali's leadership

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Richard Florida Critique Essay Example for Free

Richard Florida Critique Essay Brenda Parker’s article emphazises a critique of Richard Florida’s Creative Class discourse. Florida’s theory is centred on the belief that human knowledge is the main requirement in order for cities to be successful in modern society. He argues that diversity and creativity are the drivers of innovation and regional and national growth (Florida, 2003, p.3). Parker’s argues that Florida overlooks several aspects in this theory particularly labor market segmentation as it relates to race and gender. â€Å"I suggest that the Creative Class discourse forwards a seemingly soft, contemporary version of hegemonic masculinity. † (Parker, 2008, p. 202). The main goal of the article argues that the Creative Class traditional characteristics facilitate unequal gender and racial relations. She highlights the women minorities and wage inequalities in many ‘creative careers’ as well as the tensions among care giving and work (Parker, 2008, p.203). She argues that Florida’s theory allow men to thrive in society through the â€Å"creative professional† aspect, while women are undervalued. She highlights the inequality between work and home and ‘creative’ and ‘service’ work. According to Parker, Florida’s creative discourse attracts an elite population which reproduces such gender and racial relations (Parker, 2008, p.222). Critical Analysis Richard Florida developed a theory based on a Creative Class.† His theory relates to many creative cities in the world today. Is this a perfectly constructed theory that defines modern day society? The answer to that is no because it fails to account for many important aspects of inequality that exists in today’s society. Brenda Parker’s article argues that Florida overlooks important issues of race and gender in his theory of the creative class. Parker argues that Florida’s simplified theory reproduces raced and gender inequalities in the city (Parker, 2008, p.204). At first glance, Florida’s theory creates a positive image to the reader. It appears to be a relevant theory to successful global cities in modern day society. There is  a creative core and a super creative core in which diversity is claimed to be important (Parker, 2008, p.203). These creative and knowledge people are perceived as having the potential to change cities into successful ones as they are drivers of economic growth. Parker dissects this theory and illustrates how this simplistic view requires further analysis on issues of race and gender. The article provides a detailed analysis of labour segmentation in creative cities. It mainly highlights the intersection of gender and race as it relates to the distribution of jobs in the ‘creative class’ society. The dominance of a masculine figure is prevalent in Florida’s theory. According to Parker, women face significant barriers to entry, remain marginalized and operate within a society centred on masculine norms (Parker, 2008, p.203). The idea is that a creative worker is required to work long hours in order to be successful while sacrificing family life. Florida ignores the workers who aim to maintain a work life balance and maintain a family. He overlooks the fact that not every individual has the same values and beliefs. The â€Å"second shift† of women is often referred to as care work. It is clear that Florida devalues the importance of this job. â€Å"Households and social reproduction are not presented as sites of creativity or as placed wh ere social relations and identity negotiations take place.† (Parker, 2008, p.210). Florida segregates the workforce and narrows the meaning of a creative professional worker. There seems to be no opportunity for success for women who value family life. A high percentage of the women who do work are in the lower paying service class jobs. The issue of race is also an important factor which explains the labour market segmentation. As Parker (2008, p.216) explains in her statistical research, the poverty rates for black households are higher in creative cities and there is a large gap between the earnings of white and black households. Despite the desire to drive economic growth with creative workers, Florida fails to address the continuous problem of racism in the labour market. The perception that his theory encourages diversity is therefore questionable. The social construction of employment skills as it relates to gender and race are highlighted in Parker’s article. â€Å"A normative, northern, elite, white male is most unambiguously at the heart of Florid a’s idealized Creative Class.† (Parker, 2008, p.208). The creative class promotes job skills that are based on a typical masculine figure. Masculine norms based  on long hours of working as well as the hard, demanding nature of work dominates the best jobs in these cities (Parker, 2008, p.209). Therefore, it is evident that the successful jobs are dominated by men while the care work performed by women receives no recognition. As Parker (2008, p.225) states, the creative class erases reproductive and caring activities, labelling them as uncreative, and spatializing them apart from production and consumption. Many of the employed women in today’s society are in underpaid, service class jobs with little opportunity for advancement. In global cities, resident workers are women of colour, native and immigrant status (Ehrenreich Hochschild, 2002, p.258). This is also evident in Parker’s article as statistics show the unequal earnings between female minorities as compared to male. Even though the gap seems narrower than in previous years, it is still significant enough and needs to be addressed. As resources are shifted from services such as education and health care, women and families suffer negatively (Nagar et al., 2002). This shift results in an increase in poverty for these women among other consequences. Many women have shifted to subsistence food production, informal work, emigration, and prostitution (Ehrenreich Hochschild, 2002, p.266). One of the major problems arising from this is illegal trafficking in cities. â€Å"Prostitution and migrant labour are increasingly popular ways to make a living.† (Ehrenreich Hochschild, 2002, p.265). Women are exploited in such industries by illegal gangs and government institutions that promote these activities as a major source of revenue. Despite several strong arguments presented by Parker, there are a few weaknesses. Parker emphasises inequality in the creative class mainly through women inequality. With the exception of a few minor arguments, she fails to signify how racial inequality is also a major problem. The main argument for racial inequality is the statistical representation of the super creative core. Labour segmentation involves more than simply gender inequality and Parker fails to address this. Conclusion It is clear that Florida’s creative class theory needs to be reassessed. The labour segmentation aspects such as racial and gender inequality is an evident problem that exists within the theory. The significant disadvantage and devaluation women face in the workforce in comparison to men requires further analysis. The attempt to encourage diversity in creative cities is  not enough to solve the inequality problem. An analysis of this paper alerts the reader to be aware of labour segmentation and the social construction of employment as it relates to race and gender bias. It is important to note and understand how these inequalities are still significant in today’s society despite efforts to reduce them. Further research which can encourage and promote creative workers while minimising inequality should be done. The problem will always be evident but if it can be minimised in creative cities, they will be more attractive. Reference Page Ehrenreich, B., Hochschild, A.R., (2002). Global Woman. Parker, B. (2008). Emerald Book Chapter. In J.N. DeSena (Ed.), Research in Urban Sociology, Volume 9 (pp.201-232). Sassen, S. (2007). A Sociology of Globalization.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Study Of The Negro Policeman: Book Review :: essays research papers

A Study of the Negro Policeman: Book Review Nicholas Alex, assistant professor of sociology at The City University of New York, holds a Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research and a B.S. from the Wharton School. He was formerly a research assistant with the Russell Sage Foundation, an instructor at Adelphi University, and has had working experience in his academic specialty-the sociology of professions and occupations-while an industrial engineer in the aircraft industry, later as business manager of the Walden School. This is his first book. In this book Alex made an effort to examine the peculiar problems of Negro policemen who live in an age which has not yet resolved to problem of inequality in an assertedly democratic society. He drawn heavily on the reflections of forty-one Negro policemen who made plain to me the difficulties involved in being black in blue. Alex was concerned with the ways in which the men were recruited into the police, the nature of their relations in regard to their immediate clientele, their counterparts, and the rest of society. In the broadest terms, the book examines the special problems that Negro policemen face in their efforts to reconcile their race with their work in the present framework of American values and beliefs. The research for the study was based on intensive interviews collected over a period of eleven months, from December 1964 to October 1965. During that time the author talked with Negro police engaged in different types of police specialties, and men of different rank and backgrounds. Alex was interested in preserving their anonymity, and substituted code numbers for names. The language in which their thoughts were expressed is unchanged. Most of the interviews were obtained either at the policeman's home or the authors. Some were held in parks, playgrounds, and luncheonettes. All of the interviews were open-ended. All the policemen refused to have there conversations taped. "I know too well what tapes can do to you," said one. "I can refute what you write down on that pad, but I can't if it's taped. We use tapes too, you know." The author was dealing with a highly expressive and literate group of men who thought of the study as a way in which they could make themselves heard. This book is organized very well. It consist of eight chapters, and each chapter is broken into subdivisions. The first chapter talks about the policemen in the community. Within this chapter mainly describes the police as and occupation, and states how the policemen's job is uncertain. The second chapter deals with the recruitment of Negroes for police work.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Htc Paper

Evaluate HTC’s performance to date. What are its competitive advantages and vulnerabilities? Cher Wang’s vision was to develop a hand-held computer like device and HTC eventually developed its first PDA, the iPAQ in 2000. HTC has always been behind the scenes by just selling high-quality, unbranded phones to cell phone manufacturers and wireless network operators. Eventually, HTC was commissioned to be an original design manufacturer (ODM), which means that HTC only had little responsibility for sales, marketing, or inventory management as HTC manufactured smartphones for branded handset companies and it designed phones for service providers such as T-Mobile and Vodafone and it supported operators by helping them build unique value propositions and optimize their services. This helped them differentiate from other ODMs and the mobile phone operator business provided better profit margins. Then HTC took the plunge and started its own brand operations by designing phones, which would be sold with the brand name of HTC. They wanted to differentiate it from competitors and have greater control over the company’s future. They focused on high-end ‘prosumer’ (the overlap of professionals and consumers) market. Revenue had soared from $1. 1 billion to $4. 6 billion in a span of 4 years and the gross profit jumped from a mere $212 million to a staggering $1. 5 billion dollars in the same time with sales in more than 70 countries. In 2009, the global recession threatened to slow down consumer spending but since HTC had a diverse customer base and focused on a high-growth market it expected to remain sales growth. Because price expectancies from a customer point of view were quite low, HTC had to lower its average sales price. It had to increase the share of common components to deliver significant improvements in terms of economies of scale. They tried to do it by using lower ASP, which could help reduce its dependency on operators. They also lowered production cost by opening up a second production facility in Shanghai and moving manufacturing to Mainland China. As far as the competitive advantages are concerned, a dynamic CEO who had laid out a clear-cut vision led HTC. They started out with a PDA device that represented more than 80% of its revenue and they didn’t stop at that point. The CEO was already thinking about the next growth platform, which was the mobile telecommunication market. The influence of the CEO who is driven to achieve stretch goals has shown to be a big strength to the company. Their advanced product innovation gave them the position to compete with big brands as Microsoft, Google and Vodafone. They became the first Taiwanese company to secure a 3G license. All of this led to HTC’s share price to surge 1000% between 2003 and 2006. As far as vulnerabilities are concerned, as one analyst rightly predicted, mobile market is like â€Å"soup du jour: Today one brand is hot, and tomorrow its leftover†. It means that the market is so volatile that a company to be successful, it has to do a lot of investment in R&D to be able to compete and drive product innovation which will eventually make the company stronger. HTC was late to the already crowded mobile market, which could make it a less familiar brand name. The company hardly had any patents, which means that they are bound to make high expenses on royalty payments to other companies. They were so used to selling custom ordered phones for niche market called prosumers and it could weaken the position of HTC due to high costs incurred by the company. Discuss HTC’s Operating systems (OS) strategy. Going forward, should it focus on Android or develop new directions? In 2009, the majority of Smartphones ran on one of five systems- Symbian, RIM’s Blackberry OS, Apple’s OS X, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Palm. Despite of the high market share, the operating system of Microsoft, Windows Mobile, shows more disadvantages then advantages for HTC corp. The view of Windows Mobile does not fit with HTC anymore. HTC want to be seen as a firm with high-quality innovative products with attractive designs and function, where as Windows Mobile is seen by as customers as unfriendly with unattractive design. The new Touch Diamond Smartphone of HTC received bad reviews because of Windows Mobile OS and its interface. In comparison, Google Android market is still young. Despite that it has no high market share yet, their share in the Smartphone OS platform market is likely to be doubled by end of 2010. Android phones contribute already more then a third of HTC’s total sale, so this can only benefit both companies in a positive way and Android has no license fee in comparison to Windows Mobile. Creating an own operating system is a good possibility too. Because of the increasing competition on smart phones, HTC needs to establish their brand name more then ever. With its high innovative power, it can create the right system that fits with the view of the company; focusing on a high quality product that is affordable. Because creating an own operating system has major costs, HTC needs to drop Windows Mobile OS and save the operating fees that it has to pay for Microsoft. Having said that, it has to really create an OS that is very different than others and it’s a very big challenge. HTC might anger Google if it decides to create its own operating system and might have to face some trouble. So, there are a lot of pluses and minuses from both sides. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of creating a new HTC operating system Advantages: †¢The company is highly innovative and the product designs are excellent and have already proven that it could move fast in the rapidly evolving mobile market. †¢Company embraces a culture of constantly experimenting with new ideas and technology. So an own Operating System fits the company, its culture and their competencies. †¢Owning an operating system will establish the brand name of HTC. Disadvantages: †¢It would cost a minimum of $200 million to develop a new OS; double what HTC spent in R&D. Cost is a major disadvantage of creating operating system. †¢The market for mobile OS is already very crowed. The HTC operating system will face severe competition. What are your recommendations for HTC to help it become the leading Smartphone company in the world? HTC has proved itself to be a good competitor in smartphone business and to become the leading smartphone company; it has to enter into developing countries like China and India where 3G networks has just opened up and hardly 5% of its total mobile market owns a smartphone. Geographically, Taiwan is so close to both the countries and since it has already built production and manufacturing facilities in China, it can really make a big difference in supply chain management. If it can come up with a wide variety of smartphones that is affordable by middle class people, it could make a huge difference in its revenue and profit margins. The immediate step to increase the sales would be to target the area where companies/customers are looking for alternatives. One of those target areas should be businesses professionals as currently the offering from RIM is receiving a big beating with its service and HTC could prove to be a better alternative for RIM if it could develop phones that could offer seamless service to customers by offering better compatibility to exchange, IM client and office integration apps. This will make them build a strong customer base and also help HTC to build its brand value in the market place. HTC should also target the niche market with producing smartphones with greater processor speeds, better camera, big screen phones, phones with touch screens, phones with qwerty keypads, phones with better integration with gaming devices like PlayStation, Xbox and Wii, good integration with social networking apps like Twitter, Facebook, Linked In et al. It could also partner with several companies and come up with hardware and software integration apps that are available as part of its OS but the same apps are available for a fee on other phones. An example would be to offer free voice enabled GPS system on every HTC phone by partnering with companies such as TomTom or Garmin and sharing revenue with them. This would create an edge for its products and will be a better alternative for other company phones.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Ethics Log Essay

I was out shopping with a friend and saw something that struck me as very unethical. We were eating at the mall and the manager at one of the fast food places at the food court was given extra money then was due by a customer that was directly ahead of my friend in line. Instead of giving the lady back the extra money he pocketed the money. I know that we are in a financially hard time, but still the man should have told the women that she gave him too much money instead of pocketing the difference. It made me promptly decide to eat at a different place that day. September 15, 2008: I was struck today by something that made me have faith in other people. A man was rushing to leave a store and his wallet dropped out of his pocket. Two teenagers were standing around and watching the people going in and out and they both saw what happened. One of them walked over and picked up the wallet. I thought that the kid was going to pocket the money in the wallet, but instead he walked over to where the man was still putting groceries into his car. He handed the man his wallet and told him that he saw it fall out of his pocket. The man thanked him and offered him a reward. The kid shook his head and said a reward wasn’t necessary. Most of the time teenagers are given a bad name, but seeing that kid be as honest as he was made me feel good knowing that our future are the hands of kids like that. September 22, 2008: I was taking my mother to the doctor and I saw something that seemed to me to be very unethical. Two nurses were waiting for the elevator and they were discussing patients, using the first names of those patients. No one else was around the elevator, so these two women must have thought they were alone. I couldn’t believe my ears, because they were talking in very load tones and telling each other about the details of each patient. I know that doctors are held to strict ethical standards and I thought nurses were too. Anyone could have been listening to these two women gossiping. They finally stopped when I cleared my throat and gave them a look. September 29, 2008: I was watching the evening news and one story struck me as interesting. It was a story about a building contractor who had used substandard materials on some houses that he had built. The people who had bought these homes found mold and parts of their houses were falling down so that living in these homes were dangerous to the occupants. I have always believed that building contractors had an ethical right to use materials that would ensure a safe environment for the people that buy the finished homes. It seems this man cared more for the end dollar that he received then for the quality of building he produced. October 6, 2008: I was watching the news the other night and I saw a story about a psychologist that was being accused of having a relationship with a patient. I was appalled at this fact since psychologists are people who should realize how unethical something like that is. Doctors are in a position of authority over their patients and as such should not abuse hat authority by becoming involved with their patients. The psychologist is facing criminal charges and will probably have his license to practice psychology revoked. I was shocked and outraged by this story and it made me wonder what had to be going through the man’s head to get into such a situation as this where he ahs put his professional life and the reputation of his family in jeopardy. October 14, 2008: I was shopping this weekend and I saw something that struck me not only as ethical but as an example of the goodness in people. I was walking down the street from store to the next and in an alleyway there was a man who for all intents and purposes was homeless or he appears that way. As I was walking I had to stop and answer my cell phone and in vainly trying to find my phone everything in my bag fell out and spilled all over the sidewalk. This man, who was dirty from his head to his feet, came over and started helping me pick things up. I was in such a rush that I didn’t notice that my credit card had bounced in the shadows. I gave the man a curt thank you and was walking away when I heard the man come up behind me. I thought at first he was going to try and do something to me (we all don’t like to admit it but stereotypes sometimes linger in the back of the man about homeless people), and turned ready to hit the man when he smiled toothlessly at me and told me I had dropped my credit card. This man could have pocketed the card, but he chose to do the ethical and right thing of returning the card to me. October 20, 2008: An article that I read recently stuck me as very unethical practices. It was an article on how Treasury Secretary Paulson was utilizing his old Wall Street firm as a way to investigate the goings on of other Wall Street firms. The problem then is that it gives other people the idea that now Paulson’s old firm has their hands in the proverbial Treasury Cookie Jar. That kind of practice is not just unethical but wrong. The United States Treasury is something that has to investigate firms and by allowing a Wall Street firm to be seen as having ties in the department of Treasury gives the idea that the department of the Treasury is biased and will allow this firm to get by with everything and there will not be any repercussions. October 27, 2008: I was reading an article in the newspaper and came across a story about a court case in which the case had to be dismissed because the evidence that was collected was tainted. Apparently when he evidence was collected, it was misplaced and then found two days later. This struck me as highly unethical, since from my understanding when something like that happens it’s hard to know if it is really from the crime or if it had been planted. It also struck me as unethical because evidence should not be contaminated or last in order to make sure questions are not raised in the long run. November 3, 2008: I read in the newspaper about a new school curriculum that has been used at some schools around the nation. Building Decision Skills (BDS) that had â€Å"potentially positive effects† on students. This curriculum targets character education, strengthens critical thinking skills, builds leadership skills, and focuses on teaching students the best way to make ethical decisions as they enter the high school setting and are affected more by peer pressure. I remember my own high school days and how tough it can be when surrounded by friends that want you to make a decision that you don’t feel comfortable with. Ethical behavior after all is learning the right way to do something or the right choice to make when in a given situation. This new curriculum will help students with those kinds of situations. November 10, 2008: The newspaper had an interesting story about the Emperor’s Club and the case against the New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer and his charges for hiring prostitutes. Tania Hollander, the VIP scheduler for the club, also had to take responsibility in the unethical behavior of the attorney general. Ms. Hollander will face jail time for her part in this case, while the New York attorney general was cleared of the charges against him. The attorney for Ms. Hollander made a point of insinuating that this kind of nonsense was unethical in the least because it gives the public the idea that the New York attorney general is being given a slap on the wrist because of his position as an attorney general. Abuse of position such as this is always an unfair and unethical practice.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Disneyland Resort Paris

Disneyland Resort Paris Introduction The Disneyland Paris Resort is one of the many theme parks of Disney destinations situated in different parts of the world. As the name suggests Disneyland Resort Paris is located at the outcasts of Paris the capital city of France in a place called Marne-la-Vallee. Among the numerous Disneyland Resorts, the Disney Paris resort is attributed to be the most challenging resort.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Disneyland Resort Paris specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the year 2006, the Disneyland Paris had three parks that included; the Disney land Paris, the Disney Studio Park, and the Disney village. The Disney village incorporated restaurants and stores while the Disney Paris hosted the theme park itself and the Disney Studio Park was more centered on movie making concepts (Sehlinger and Testa, 2010). Factors that influenced the location of Disneyland Paris Resort Prior to its current location of Marn e-la-Vallee, at the outskirts of Paris the Disney Company had considered a number of promising and potential locations across Europe, which could be used to proposed Disney Park resort. The major countries that were under consideration were Germany, Britain, France, Spain, and Italy. After considerations and discarding of some countries off the list of contenders, the two countries that remained were France and Spain. Spain chances were boosted by its climate, which resembled that of Florida, a state in which one of the Disney resort is located. However, France carried the day after careful consideration of various factors. The availability of a suitable site that was strategically located on the outskirts of Paris was a crucial factor that was used to determine the Disney resort location. The strategic location of the proposed site as a factor was boosted by the fact that millions of people could access the proposed Disney resort in a matter of hours regardless of if one is driving or taking a flight. This therefore presented a golden opportunity to the Disney Company of tapping the vast unexploited customer base. The good infrastructure system that was coming in and going out of the proposed Disney resort site was also another crucial factor that weighed in deciding France to be the Disney resort destination of choice.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More France was about to be connected with England by a channel tunnel that was due to be opened in 1994 thus offering an additional infrastructure route that was bound to increase the customer base. In addition to this, the site connection with the rest of Europe could be facilitated by the high-speed TGV network and the French autoroutes network (Sehlinger and Testa, 2010). Paris, being one of the favorite tourist and vacation destinations in the world, was bound to rhyme with the idea of a Disne y resort that related to a vacation destination in one way or the other (Sehlinger and Testa, 2010). The favorable tourist turnover in the region was a motivating factor to its location in Paris. According to a research carried out, majority of citizens in France embraced the idea of a Disney park in France. In addition to this, both the national and local governments in France had gone a step further by offering financial incentives and even expropriation of land from its citizens all with an aim of facilitating smooth construction process of the Disney Park. Difficulties faced in the running of Disney Paris Challenges that faced the Disney Paris were eminent and rocked the park even on its opening date. On the opening date, the smooth opening of the park was park commuter trains’ strikes and to make the matters worse a bomb had exploded on the night to the opening date. The expected 500,000 people on the opening date were down sized to 50,000 people who attended. The protes ts from the neighboring villages on the noise arising from the park only added more woes to the just established Disney Paris. In the early days of its operations, Disney Paris recorded a low number of visitors as opposed to their expectation. The anticipation of more French visitors as compared to the visitors from other countries turned out to be nightmare for the newly constructed Disney Park in France (McGuigan, 2004, p. 69). The low attendance of guest was attributed to the protests that were conducted by the neighboring villages and the fear possess by the French citizens of losing their culture.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Disneyland Resort Paris specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, a glass of wine was vital while eating according to the French visitors but unfortunately, the Disney Paris was an alcohol-free park. In addition to this, the hotel rooms at the park were expensive with prices rangi ng from 110 380 dollars per night (Anon, 2011). The initial weeks of operations in the Disney Paris were filled with a huge number of employees’ resignations. Numerous reasons were stated regarding the resignations that were going on but majority of them were directed to the chaotic operations of the park (McGuigan, 2009, p. 45). The situation was made worse late in the same year when Europe was hit by a recession thereby making property value to drop. This situation forced EuroDisney to experience financial crisis. Reference List Anon. 2011. Case Study: The Not-So-Wonderful World of EuroDisney. Web. McGuigan, J., 2009. Cultural Analysis. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. McGuigan, J., 2004. Rethinking cultural policy. NY: McGraw-Hill International. Sehlinger, B. and Testa, L., 2010. Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris. London: John Wiley and Sons.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Ability To Efficiently Process Local Stimuli Psychology Essay

Ability To Efficiently Process Local Stimuli Psychology Essay This study is a replication of Navons third experiment in his 1977 paper Forest Before Trees. Participants are shown a large letter the global stimulus made up of smaller letters the local stimuli. The small and large letters are either consistent or contradictory. Participants were asked to identify the local stimuli. The aim was to determine whether global stimuli affected the reaction time of identifying local stimuli when the two are incongruent. 51 undergraduate students took part in the study which was an opportunity sample. This was a laboratory experiment of a repeated measures design. It was found that a contradicting global stimulus significantly affects the reaction time of identifying the local stimulus. From the results collected it can be concluded that global processing does affect local processing when the two figures are inconsistent and that incongruent stimuli cause a significantly delayed response to identifying the local stimuli. Is our ability to perceive and r ecognise local stimuli affected when local and global stimuli are incongruent? According to the theory of bottom-up processing, the whole is built up from its individual components. This would suggest that we first identify the local stimulus before perceiving the global one, implying that our ability to recognise the local stimulus should not be affected by the global one. However the Gestaltist law of common fate contradicts this in suggesting that we perceive the global stimulus as all of the local stimuli are positioned together to form it. Navon (1977) suggested in his paper ‘Forest Before Trees: The Precedence of Global Features in Visual Perception’ that we initially perceive the global structure and proceed to break it down to identify its components. He tested this by showing participants a large letter composed of smaller letters arranged to form the shape of the large letter. The small and large letters were either congruent or incongruent, and participants h ad to identify the small letter as quickly as possible. In this study, Navon’s original experiment was replicated to test whether the global letter affects the time taken to identify the local letter, comparing between when these letters are congruent or incongruent. The purpose of this study was to compare our findings to those already existing from Navon’s experiment to either corroborate or contradict his findings, and then discuss the possible explanations for the manner of global and local processing and how this can be applied to the real world and implicate possible future research. This study looks at whether global or local stimuli are perceived first and whether incongruence between them affects the speed at which they are recognised. Based on Navon’s findings, we expect that there will be an effect on reaction time when the local and global letters are incongruent, with it taking a significantly longer time to identify the local stimuli compared to wh en all stimuli are congruent. Method Design: This experiment was a laboratory experiment with a repeated measures design, in that the same group of participants performed the task a number of times in a row. The independent variable was the congruence of the stimuli, and the dependent variable being measured was the participant’s reaction time in seconds. The independent variable is nominal and the dependent variable is linear. All participants were tested at the same time under the same conditions, in the same setting; however this cannot account for personal factors such as attention or fatigue.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Why Do Teachers Plan Their Lessons Why is Planning Important Coursework

Why Do Teachers Plan Their Lessons Why is Planning Important - Coursework Example For a teacher to make a good lesson plan, it is necessary that he reflect on what the need of the students in that particular lesson will be so that he can be able to accommodate them in his plan. Although educationalist regards lesson planning as very important in ensuring an effective teaching a learning process during a lesson, some theorists suggests that it is not a good idea since it creates a more fixed teacher centered lessons thus reducing the chance of the students understanding (ITTT 2011). The reasons why lesson planning is an important task can be revealed by looking at the way in which the lesson plan helps the three categories of people involved in a learning process. These three categories of people include the students, the teachers and the principals and supervisors. These three categories of people derive different benefits when a lesson plan is used during a lesson. The reasons for the importance of the lesson plan contributed by its benefits to other people rathe r than the teacher himself who is making it can be regarded as external reason while those that result from the benefits that the teacher himself would gain can be regarded as internal reasons. ... As indicated by previous researches the teachers who prepare the lesson plans always go to class with a better understanding of what they are going to teach compared to those who do not. It also indicates that the teachers who use lesson plan are able to obtain a wide range of knowledge about the subject matter in which to teach about before undertaking the lesson. This enables this kind of teachers to be able to run the teaching process effectively and thus enhancing the learning process among their students. The lesson plan also enables the lesson to run smoothly. Since in a lesson plan each activity is allocated its time a teacher can easily be able to ensure that the lesson is ran smoothly without major interruptions. Moreover, since the activities in a lesson plan are sequentially arranged a lesson plan can help a teacher to avoid running his lesson in a confused manner thus increasing the effectiveness of his teaching process. When the teaching process is run in an orderly and smooth manner, the learning process among the students is enhanced and thus resulting to a greater understanding among the students about the subject matter being taught. Another internal reason why a lesson plan is important is that it can enable a teacher to anticipate problems before they happen.If a lesson plan is well prepared, it is believed that it can enable the teacher to reflect about what problems he anticipates to encounter during a lesson. This is because it reflects on the past such lesson that the teacher held with those particular student, what was achieved in those lesson and the problems that were encountered. When the teacher is able to

Thursday, October 31, 2019

High Performing Teams Analysis Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

High Performing Teams Analysis Report - Essay Example The employees can voluntarily choose participation that enhances their performance. They provide workforce with constant learning environment so that employees can meet new challenges with high success. BT’s team performance is incentive drive. It primarily relies on two new payment system vis-Ã  -vis new reward framework for managers; and field reward system for non-management grade. It promotes individual and team achievements. New reward framework for managers consists of base salary, bonus and benefits. Base salary is market driven and increment is based on individual performance. Bonus is annual one-off payment depending on outstanding performance criteria and achievement of SMART goals. Benefit package gives the managers the freedom to choose their benefits like different insurance, cars etc. from pre-defined options. The field reward system is voluntary and non-contractual system for field executives. It turns points earned by employees for good work and carrying out specialized tasks successfully into financial rewards. The major weakness is that it actually promotes inequity across workforce and lowers the importance of team work. High performing teams are one of the key strengths of a firm that are performance driven and provide firms with competitive advantage in the market (Bratton & Gold, 2007). The team selection based on job profile and interview tends to overlook the more objective screening of candidate based on Belbin questionnaire and MBTI. The personal biases could creep into selection as the interview is broadly subjective. Moreover, high performing teamwork needs to be consistent. Regular appraisal through Belbin’s questionnaire and MBTI could provide management with effective feedback so that timely measures are applied to ensure continuous high performance of the teams. Indeed, high performance

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

How can violence be used as a media spectacle and why Essay

How can violence be used as a media spectacle and why - Essay Example Media spectacle is itself becoming the key organising principle in modern economy, politics, and in other critical asocial activities (Sturken & Cartwright, 2007, p. 76). The internet-based economy has also modified and developed hit-tech spectacle useful as a mean of reproduction, promotion, in selling and in circulation of commodities. Although modern technology is with time becoming a complicated technology among a good number of modern consumers, contemporary business entrepreneurs are relying on their services to improve their productivity and effectiveness. The media has also be of essence in influencing social and political life in modern integrate society. Political and social conflicts are with time being played out on the screens of media culture that display spectacles such as political sex scandal, the explosive violence of every days activities, terrorist bombing, celebrity sex scandal and the sensational murder case that are apparent in modern modernised society (Polloc k, 2006, p.51). Apart from offering expanding moments in modern experiences, media culture also presents additional materials for modelling thoughts, dreaming fantasy, and for constructing identity. Studies have further affirmed that, popular traditional entertainment has its roots in media spectacles (Beardsell, 2000, p. 97). Theorist Jacques Lacan Jacques Lacan, in his theory â€Å"gaze theory,† states that media has played a detrimental role in shaping violence in modern society. The gaze theory is useful in describing the way violence can be used as a media spectacle. The concept gaze is a technical term that was used in film theory in the late 1970s (Pollock, 2009, p. 27). So far, the concept has become a popular concept used by media theorist. The theory is used to define the influence of gazing on individual perceptions and the way people look at subjects alongside media presentations. The theory is applicable in defining how audience views people that are presented in media. The concept gaze is extended to the theory of feminist to address how men look at women, the way women look at themselves, and other women and the effects that surrounds these observations. In the theory, male gaze is used in defining how male view their fellow women (Zehner, 2012, P. 67). On the other hand, female gaze describes the way in which females view their fellow men in the society. Other social activities such as dominant public life, religion war, and sports were fertile and useful field for propagation of spectacles for many centuries. With the emergence of new information and multimedia technologies, techno spectacle has been shaping the trajectories and contours of modern society and culture. In developed and advanced capitalist nations such as United Kingdom and United States f America, media spectacles has turned out to be a defining feature not only for globalization but also for defining modern social conflict and violence (Fourie, 2008, p. 51). As observed in â€Å"The cinema of David Cronenberg† culture has played critical role in increasing criminal activities and violence in modern society. In reporting domestic violence, journalists refer to some of the cultural concepts in justifying domestic violence. As observed in â€Å"The cinema of David Cronenberg† it is impossible and challenging to discuss any film without mentioning cultural beliefs and practices. All films revolve around a

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Equal opportunities and preventing discrimination

Equal opportunities and preventing discrimination The aim of this assignment is to focus on equal opportunities and the laws set up to protect people from discrimination on the basis of their gender, race, age and disability by providing a framework for the most vulnerable groups in society who, without legislation may feel their rights have been infringed. Prejudice and stereotyping is something we are all guilty of. From our own life experiences, beliefs and values we make assumptions about people from the way they look, speak and behave towards us. It is especially important in health care to be sensitive to the service users requirements. Negative language and labelling can make the service user feel unworthy, intimidated and deterred from accessing the very services they require. All care providers need to ensure that they view their patients as unique individuals, promoting their individual rights and supporting them in making decisions. Language is key, if the service user cannot communicate then an advocate or interpreter is required so they do not feel discriminated against. The use of positive language can be beneficial to the service user in empowering them to make choices and have greater control over the treatment they receive. Society has changed considerably in the last 40 years and we have become much more multi-cultural. Our attitudes and beliefs have had to change too e.g. more women in the workplace etc The Government has introduced equality legislation to protect vulnerable groups that may otherwise have no voice. By introducing acts that protect these groups from discrimination e.g. the disabled, mentally ill and other minority groups it ensures there is a set of legal guidelines in the way people are treated and that they have equal access to the same services and rights as everyone else. Most caring roles are governed by legislation. Older people, people with a learning disability, physical disabilities or mental health problems have service provisions, rights and other requirements laid down by the law but no overall framework for protection of abuse, except for that of children. This part of the assignment looks at The Mental Health Act, why it was conceived, who it aims to help and its limitations in practice. The basis of the act can be traced back to 1601 when The Poor Law was created but it has come a long way since then. In 1983 The Mental Health Act was put in place to protect those suffering from a disorder or disability of the mind. In previous times those with mental health issues may have found themselves locked away from society, with no proper treatment and no guidelines on how they should be treated. It wasnt unusual for young unmarried mothers to find themselves institutionalised as society found them to be deviant and morally deficient. It wasnt until the 1959 Mental Health Act reform that it was considered wrong to punish these women, however many had already been locked away and the damage done. The 1980s saw large-scale closures of psychiatric institutions in favour of the Governments care in the community policy, large numbers of long term patients were discharged into the community. By promoting the least restrictive alternative many were given freedom, the Reed Report stated care arrangements for people with mental health problems should have proper regard to the quality of care and the needs of individuals; as far as possible, in the community, rather than in institutional settings; under conditions of no greater security than is justified by the degree of danger; so as to maximise rehabilitation and the chances of sustaining an independent life; as close as possible to their own homes and families. (Mind.co.uk,2010) The 1983 Mental Health Act focuses on the assessment and treatment of people with mental health issues. The legislation has several sections. Each section provides guidance on dealing with specific situations that may arrive when a person has significant mental health problems. The following are some of the sections of the Act that must be adhered to; Section 1 gives definitions of mental disorder Section 2 describes the situations in which people can be admitted to hospital compulsorily, providing specific timeframes in which assessment must be undertaken Section 3 describes the provisions for admission for treatment, again there are specific guidelines regarding timescales Section 4 is regarding emergency admissions Section 5 is about detention of a voluntary patient for a period of assessment There are sections which deal with taking people to a place of safety and also sections relating to admissions linked to criminal behaviour. Val Michie et al,2008,(p230-231) Sectioning a person (detaining them against their will) is part of the act that needs to be done correctly as you are denying the person their right of freedom. This can only be done if the person shows significant harm to themselves or others. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a framework to empower and protect people who are unable to make decisions themselves. By the use of advocates and health professionals any decisions they make can be supported. It enables those with mental health issues to plan ahead of time in the event that they lose mental capacity and so their wishes can be considered. The Mental Health Bill aims to bring together and simplify the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 by making it easier to understand the rules on detention and definitions of mental disorders. Supervised community support can be put in place using a variety of health professionals to ensure access to treatment. The Bill introduces safeguards to stop people being locked away for long periods of time without being reviewed at regular intervals and denying them the right to their liberty. The Act however does have its limitations; lack of resources, funding, low staffing levels and poor communications between agencies, vulnerable people may escape the system and cause danger to themselves and others. There have been many high profile cases of mentally ill patients slipping through the net, being released from hospital too early and not receiving the support they need. In August 2007 Vivian Gamor was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act 1983 after admitting to two counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. Vivian had been showing increasing signs of mental illness three years prior to this, her condition deteriorated to the point where she attacked her half-sister with a knife. This led to her being sectioned under the Mental Health Act and detained in hospital where she was diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia. Doctors felt they could control her symptoms with drugs and 28 days later she was released. Her two children had been living with their father who was unaware of the reasons for Vivians sectioning. The children were killed on the third unsupervised visit to their mother. Antoine, 10, was beaten around the head with a hammer and then strangled while Kenniece, 3, was suffocated with cling film and her corpse stuffed into a black bin bag. Lord laming who chaired the public inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie said It seems to me that had the whole range of services been directed to supporting that mother and thinking and bringing to bear all their different resources it may have been possible to prevent that mother doing what I dont imagine she ever intended to do and the children paid the ultimate price for the failure of organisations to actually carry out their duty. (BBC News, 2008) A serious case review by the City and Hackney Local Safeguarding Childrens Board was launched with its results finding a lack of communication between agencies involved in the case. Guidelines under the Childrens Act obviously failed to provide the children safety and protection. Vivian had stopped taking her medication for up 10 days before the murders and was failed by the Mental Health Act as she posed a danger to herself and others. The childrens father was not married to Vivian, the law stated he had no parental rights at that time and could not stop her from having access to the children. Alan Wood, director of childrens services at Hackney Council, said: This case highlights how unpredictable mental illness can be, and the dreadful impact it can have on families. It also shows how child protection services and mental health services need to work ever more closely to successfully protect children in the future. (Communitycare.co.uk, 2008) There have been many studies into murder associated with mental health. One published in the British Journal of Psychiatry2008 called homicide due to mental disorder in England and Wales over 50- years, which looked at murders from 1946-2004. The researchers found that the number of murders committed by people with mental health problems had risen until the 1970s. Since then murder in the general population continued to grow, while those associated with mental health fell to very low levels. The researchers felt that the fall was due to better treatment and understanding within mental health. (The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2008) With the introduction of the Mental Health Act 1983, figures have shown that the legislation on the whole is successful, providing more support and treatment for sufferers of mental illness. It is those cases where the system has failed that are sensationalised, creating a negative image that people with mental illness are dangerous and pose a threat to the rest of society when this has shown not to be the case. The final part of the assignment shows how discrimination upon the individual in health care can greatly affect the way they feel about themselves and the treatment they receive. Prejudice is to prejudge, to already have an opinion or bias about a particular group of people. It is easy to assume and discriminate when an overweight person has type 2 diabetes that they have bought it on themselves, to label them as lazy and that they do not care about their own health needs. If the service user feels they are being treated this way then they can internalise those feelings and become depressed or angry. This can then lead to them feeling they are not worthy and unable to ask for or receive the help that they require. The service user is then marginalised, feeling that no-one cares leaving them isolated and vulnerable, their self-esteem suffers and the cycle of disadvantage sets in making them feel trapped in their own hopelessness, dealing with not only their medical problems but emotio nal ones too. Word Count: 1444 References. Michie,V.Baker,L.Boys,D. and McAleavy,J.,2008.BTEC National Health Social Care. Book 2: Cheltenham:Nelson Thornes Ltd. BBC News.co.uk, 2008.My two children should be alive. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 19.11.2010] Community Care.Co.UK, 2008. Hackney criticised in Vivian Gamor serious case review. [Online] Available at:[Accessed 24.11.2010] Mind.co.uk,2010. Dangerousness and mental health: the facts. [Online] Available at:[Accessed 19.11.2010] The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2008. Homicide due to mental disorder in England and Wales over 50 years. [Online] Available at:[Accessed 24.11.2010]

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Trial And Death of Joan of Arc :: St Joan of Arcs Heresy Trial and Death

On May 16, 1920, Pope Benedict XV conducted a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to canonize Joan of Arc, often referred to as the Maid of Orleans. This ceremony was the final step in a process that was begun in 1849 by the Bishop of Orleans, Felix Dupanloup, over 400 years after St. Joan’s was tried, convicted and executed in the name of the Church. A study of her heroic deeds and an intensive review of her life, virtues and the trial transcripts that condemned her to be burned at the stake, resulted first in her beatification in 1909, and finally her canonization 11 years later in 1920 (Pernoud 245). Amazingly, two years after that, the woman who had been condemned, put to death, and then canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, was declared the patroness of France (McBride 82). Jeanne d’Arc was born around January 6, 1412, in the village of Domremy in France (Thurston). At the time of her birth, France and England had been engaged in the longest war in history, which has come to be known as the Hundred Years' War. These two countries were fighting over whose right it was to rule. The English had occupied much of northern France, and the primary issue became the survival of France as an independent state rather than as part of an Anglo-French empire ruled by the English monarchy. The French were determined to drive the English out and crown Charles VII as their king (Reither 227-229).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joan was a simple peasant girl who was raised in a Catholic home as the youngest of five children (Thurston). Her mother was very religious and had a big influence on Joan's life. Joan never learned to read or write, but was skilled in spinning and sewing. She was also always very strong and healthy (Michelet 8). At the age of thirteen, Joan began to have holy visions and hear the voices of saints she identified as St. Margaret, St. Catherine, and St. Michael (Thurston). Her voices convinced her to vow to remain a virgin (Lucie-Smith). When Joan was seventeen years old, the voices revealed her divine mission. Joan was told that she had been chosen to lead the French army into battle against the English, to drive them from French soil. The voices instructed her to go to see Robert Baudricourt, the Captain of Vaucouleurs, who would arrange for her to be taken to see the king (Michelet 12).

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Jonouchi Motoharu

Jonouchi Motoharu played an important part in forming and collecting a wide variety of artistic institutions. He also formed and governed many of anti-art groups that included the cinema club formed at Nihon University, the Neo-Dada Club, and a cinematic research center known as VAN.   His works demonstrated the devastation of what took place in Japan during World War II. It represents the experiences of the soldiers and civilians who were affected by the nuclear warfare of that time. The frailty of life is a major subject of the films. People are shown in their vulnerability and the audience is allowed to view them from the perspective of the universe—which shows humans as tiny and inconsequential. It also shows the relative ease with which people’s lives can be destroyed. The films contained in this showing are â€Å"Hi Red Center Shelter Plan,† â€Å"Wols,† â€Å"Gewaltopia Trailer,† and â€Å"Shinjuku Station.† Showing these Motoharu films together highlights the violence that drives many of the processes of life. In the film â€Å"Hi Red Center Shelter Plan,† one views an initial short of body measurements. Male and female figures are shown laid out and their measurements taken. These picture images shown at the beginning represent a comparison of the gender figures. One man is shown lying naked in the bathtub, and the coldness of the picture of him being measured like meat or material is poignant in its representation of the meaningless of humanity when life is looked at on grander scales. Men and women are measured in different positions. They are made to stand facing the camera, and the made to turn around showing their backs toward the camera. They are also made to lie on the bed or to lie upside down on the bed. The film â€Å"Wols† features a rapid montage of surreal pictures with changes occurring in a manner that shocks the senses. Each picture is shot at different angles to create an even greater shock on the senses, and to give a quick and fleeting image of perspectives. The â€Å"Gewaltopia Trailer† opens with a short of a right eye stenciled or branded with some Japanese words. These words are written on the eyelid. It is followed by two shots showing nuclear explosions. The sounds used in this film’s beginning and ending sequence is the voice of a woman moaning. The content of the film is very violent. People are shown with helpless expressions on their faces. The entire film is filled with body parts of these people on which Japanese characters have been stenciled. Images of destruction are rampant, with such figures as King Kong and hellish features of life. Many images of fighting and union demonstrations are also found in the film. The camera angles itself from above and shoots down at the city representing increasing Japanese power The final film by Jonouchi Motoharu, â€Å"Shinjuku Station† begins with a devastated world in shambles. People are shown passing through Shinjuku Station and cars are shot as they drive along the roadway. A man comes on the screen speaking Japanese and it is clear from his tone that he is upset. Despite his speech being in Japanese, he constantly repeats the word â€Å"station.† Over and over he says the word in this angry tone. The scene finally changes to a shot of a wide, grassy area and then the screen goes to black. This black screen is purposefully left to be viewed by audiences for approximately a minute. The music continues for this period of blackness in which the audience is left to think about what they have seen. Humanity’s contribution to the violence in the universe is the them of   Jonouchi’s works. Two of his films, â€Å"Gewaltopia Trailer,† and â€Å"Shinjuku Station,† form part of a series called Gewaltopia. This word is made up of two parts: â€Å"Gewalt,† which is German for â€Å"violence† and a truncation of the word â€Å"utopia.† This idea is characteristic of the films produced by Motoharu. He seeks to illuminate the world in which we live and highlight how its inhabitants (primarily humans) revel in the violence that they are instrumental in creating. The four films are shown together to highlight this fact, and as a means of demonstrating the historical and artistic significance of the war in demonstrating humanity’s culture of violence. Works Cited Jonouchi Motoharu Program. Anthology Film Archives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/schedule/search/film/?id=8528&height=400&widt  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   h=730 Motoharu, Jonouchi. â€Å"Hi Red Center Shelter Plan.† 18minutes – 16mm. Japan 1964. —. â€Å"Wols.† 18minutes – 16mm. Japan 1964. —. â€Å"Gewaltpia Trailer.† 13minutes – 16mm. Japan 1969. —. â€Å"Shinjuku Station.† 14minutes – 16mm. Japan 1964.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Healthcare Marketing

An orthopedic group practice has decided to develop a pediatric sports medicine program. Identify potential target markets for this new service.At the core of the marketing program is the target market, the group of customers whom the organization wishes to attract (Berkowitz, 2011). Potential target markets for a pediatric sports medicine program may be local schools and recreational parks with athletic programs. Many kids participate in sports at their school and/or neighborhood park so the orthopedic group should definitely target its pediatric sports medicine program marketing within these targets.In developing the new pediatric sports medicine program (described above in question 3), what are some of the uncontrollable environmental factors to consider?Some uncontrollable environment factors to consider in this market would be Economic factors, Social factors, and competitive forces.A major concern for many health care professionals is the belief that marketing â€Å"createsâ⠂¬  needs. Explain the complexity of this issue.Explain the difference between existing customers, target markets, and stakeholders for an acute-care community hospital.Existing customers would be the individuals/patients already using the facility. Target market is the group of customers whom the organization wishes to attract. Stakeholders are any group with which the firm has and/or  wants to develop a relationship with (patients, board of directors, suppliers, physicians, employers).Chapter 2:2. Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, has long been considered an outstanding medical center specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric problems. This facility is linked academically to the Harvard University Medical School. Conduct a brief SWOT analysis for Children’s Hospital in light of the present health care environment.A SWOT analysis is vital for any organization because it’s a way of breaking down the organizations strengths and weakn esses including both internal and external environmental factors. A potential internal environmental factor may be being linked to Harvard University and any issues or trend changes with the University could possibly affect the hospital. A potential external environmental factor could include economic, social, an even competitive forces. Luckily according to our textbook, â€Å"in the Boston metropolitan area, Children’s Hospital has been recognized as a leader in pediatric care. Although other competitors also provide pediatric service, the differential advantage rests with Children’s Hospital and it’s narrow market focus† (Berkowitz, 2011).Describe the possible barriers to entry and exit for: (a) a physician wanting to establish a solo practice office in internal medicine, (b) a company offering a health club facility in the same building where employees work, and (c) a tertiary hospital developing a coronary bypass program.Consolidation ââ€" ª System integration ââ€" ª Certificate of NeedRetin-A is a topical ointment originally developed for the treatment of severe cases of acne and related skin disorders. An observed side benefit resulting from use of this product is its beneficial effect on aging skin.  If the manufacturer of this product decided to pursue the latter market, what type of a growth strategy would it be pursuing?Chapter 3:What environmental factors would you suggest account for: (a) in-company clinics that deal with employee medical problems, such as the one established by Toyota, and (b) the success of after-hours clinics and urgent care facilities in many metropolitan areas?Assume you were hired to design a MCO plan targeted to baby boomers in San Antonio, Texas, a city with a large Hispanic population. How would you make this service offering unique to respond to the major trends discussed within this chapter?A primary care medical group has a list of patients who had once used the group on a regular basis as their primary source of care. However, in scanning their records, these patients had not been in for an appointment in the past 2 years. The senior partner wants to send them an informational flyer about the practice and a refrigerator magnet that has the group’s telephone number and after hour’s service number. As the marketing director for the practice, evaluate this approach in light of the HIPAA regulations. Can it be implemented?