Reflective on practices Essay

This is a reflective essay based on my experiences whilst on my six week medical placement on a haematology ward at a local hospital. The aim of this essay is to discuss the psychological and sociological impact on the family when a loved one dies, and then focus on how the nurse supported the husband and relatives through their loss. I chose this particular incident as I felt very strongly about the care given to this patient shortly before her death, and felt the need to reflect on it further. In order to help me with my reflection I have chosen Gibbs (1988), as the model to help guide my reflective process (see appendix 1). This model comprises of a process that helps the individual look at a situation and think about their thoughts and feelings at the time of the incident. Reflective skills help us to think about what could have been done, so that if a similar situation occurs again the experience gained can be used to deal with the situation in a professional manner (Palmer et a l 1997). To enable me to use this situation for my reflection the patient will be referred to as â€Å"Ann†. This is in order that her real name is protected and that confidentially maintained in line with the NMC (2002) Code of Professional Conduct. Description Ann was a 58 year old lady married to a very loving husband, she had been previously diagnosed withmultiple myeloma with secondary renal impairment, and had been receiving cycles of chemotherapy. My mentor and I were looking after Ann on the day concerned, her observations were within the normal limits but she continued to complain of shortness of breath. She became very anxious and I could tell by the look in her eyes she was frightened, and asked for me to â€Å"get someone quick† as she could not breathe properly. I called my mentor as he was nearby who came over and gave Ann some oxygen. Ann said to the nurse † I can’t breathe† and seemed even more anxious and scared, she repeated several times that she could not breathe and each time the nurse replied very sternly and unsympathetically â€Å"you can breathe, you are talking to me.† Ann was by now clutching at my hand and asking me not to leave her alone, I reassured her that I would stay with her as long as she wanted me to. My mentor then summoned me to attend another patient nearby, so I explained to Ann and apologised that I had to go and reluctantly did as I was asked by my mentor. On returning to Ann she was found to be tachycardic and having great difficulty in breathing. The doctors then  arrived and it was suggested that her husband be called as she was deteriorating. It was at this time I had previous arrangements and so had to leave the ward for a short time. On my return to the ward a nurse informed me that there had been a cardiac arrest on the ward whilst I had been gone, I instinctively knew it was Ann. She had died alone, whist my mentor had been attending another patient. I was informed that an attempt had been made to resuscitate her, without success, she was then pronounced dead. Ann’s husband and family were already waiting in the relatives’ room, and so were informed that she had passed away. It was the families wish to be left alone with Ann, to allow them to say their farewells, they were reassured by the nurse that someone was available should they need company at this very emotional time. My mentor then spent a short time with the family explaining the procedures and helping them with any information they wanted, including details on where to go for help and support if they needed and where to obtain the death certificate. Feelings On reflection of the incident I felt that I did not act in the best interests of Ann, as the NMC (2002) (clause 1) states that I am answerable for my actions and omissions, regardless of advice or directions from another professional. I felt angry that I was made to leave a patient who was obviously very frightened and anxious, when there was no reason for me not to stay with her. Scrutton (1995) reinforces this by stating that the support of a friendly nurse in stressful situations can greatly reduce the anxiety and fear of the patient. I agree with this and felt that it was a shame that I was not there for her and feel she would have appreciated my company. I understand that nurses are busy and have to prioritise their work but at this present time there was no urgent situation that required me to leave her. I felt angry and annoyed that when the family came to view her body, the nurse involved actually started to show some concern for Ann when only a short time earlier he had no t ime for her at all. Evaluation It was a shame that a professional nurse acted in the way that he did, ignoring how anxious and upset she was becoming at not being able to breathe. The nurses` compassion and communication skillsseemed to be very much lacking, not listening to her concerns and not showing any feelings  towards her. Cooley (2000) acknowledges the requirement of all nurses to use basic interpersonal skills, to appear warm and welcoming to patients whilst allocating time and attention to communication. Fallowfield and Jenkins (1999) discuss how nurses can worry about not knowing what to say or saying the wrong thing when communicating with dying patients and their relatives, which can create barriers in communication. It was this lack of communication that led to a breakdown in the nurse-patient-relationship, with the patient being fearful of the nurses return to the bedside, and begging me not to leave her alone. Which was also in contravention of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2002) clauses, 1 – 2 – 5 and 7. By not listening, reassuring and comforting the patient, all of this added extra stressors to Ann who was already anxious and extremely scared. I feel that I should have reacted differently in this situation and been more confident and assertive and stand up to my mentor and say that I would stay with Ann, as she wanted me to. I could not see any good points at first in the situation itself, however on reflection of the situation I think it made me take a good look inside myself and think of how I would have handled the situation if I were the staff nurse, again I keep coming up with the same thoughts of how important good communication, compassion and basic nursing skills are, being there to reassure a patient when they are scared or anxious, also being there to hold their hand and offer some support. Which in turn made me more aware of my own communication skills and how effective they are and if there is any room for improvement, due to this reflection process and looking within myself I have seen a vast improvement in my nursing skills and patient observations and the care I deliver. From my point of view it has been a good exercise in showing me how not to treat patients. Analysis Informing the relatives of the death of their loved one is perhaps one of the most distressing and difficult acts performed by health professions, and must be handled with genuinely caring and sensitive manner (Reed 2002). The news of Ann’s death came as a great shock to her husband and relatives, even though they knew she was terminally ill they were not mentally prepared for her death, and so were in a state of shock and disbelief when initially informed of her death. Scrutton (1995) discusses how the death of a partner  is the most difficult losses to come to terms with and the nurse has an important role in supporting relatives through this very emotional time. Kà ¼bler-Ross (1981) suggests that the presence of the nurse who was looking after the patient helps the family feel more at ease, even when the news is told by a member of medical staff. According to Worden (1991) individuals react to loss in a variety of different ways, it is common for relatives to be angry, in disbelief or frustrated and nurses need to be aware of the differences responses to loss and offer appropriate support to the individual. Parkes (1988) theory of loss explains the challenges involved in situations of loss, which according to Worden (1991) can affect individuals in an emotional, physical, behavioural or psychological way. Parkes (1988) suggests a process of realisation, denial and avoidance followed by feelings of anxiety, restlessness and fear. Nurses must be fully aware of the range of emotions and the psychological affect the loss of a loved one can have on the family. The relatives wanted to spend some time alone with Ann to say their goodbyes, so the nurse ensured they were given privacy to enable them to do this. Preparing the body for the relatives to see before the last offices is very important (Wright 1991). Alexander et al (1994) have highlighted the importance of this and have stated that the last sight of their loved one will remain in their memory of the relatives for a very long time, so it is the nurses responsibility to ensure that the appearance of the body does not disturb them. The death of Ann has also had a great sociological impact on the family, they have suffered multiple losses: this being the initial loss of the person themselves, and a loss of roles and relationships the loss of the whole family unit, and finally the loss of hopes and dreams her husband and family had for their future together (Heming & Colmer 2003). It is the nurses’ role to support the family through these first stages of loss, to listen to them showing genuine care and compassion for the anguish and upset they are feeling. Conclusion I felt that the approach I took was not correct, after all the patients needs were paramount and although I am a student, I should have acted in the patients’ best interests. Overall I have found it very rewarding reflecting on this incident, I have been able to identify my weaknesses that can now be turned into strengths. I now feel that I am a stronger person growing in  confidence and now will ensure I confront my fears of acting against someone in the defence of a patient. Action Plan Using Gibbs’s reflective cycle has helped me make more sense of the situation and put things into perspective, recognising how I can put this learning experience to positive use in my future practice as a Nursing professional. If this situation were to arise again I know I would now have the courage to question the nurses attitude at an earlier stage pointing out that ‘bad practice’ by anyone is not acceptable. I have made arrangements to discus this incident, and others I am concerned with to the ward manager, as it my first consideration to protect the interests and safety of patients, in line with the NMC (2002) Code of Professional Conduct, (clause 8). This reflection has highlighted the need to increase my knowledge and understanding of the process of loss and grief, I will address these issues by visiting the bereavement officer for the trust, listening and learning from the qualified staff and by reading relevant literature. Conclusion In conclusion it can be seen that the nurse has a very important role in supporting the patients relatives through their loss, emotionally, psychologically and a caring perspective. It can be seen from this reflection that effective communication and listening skills are the key to effective care to enable nurses to support families through their loss. Parkes (1988) model of loss has been useful in understanding the psychological impact of the loss of a family member, helping nurses to support those experiencing loss, although each person will react differently it gives nurses a framework enabling them to be more prepared.

Country analysis of The Democratic Republic of Congo Essay

This location allows grief from neighboring countries on the other hand it is in an ideal location by way of trade routes to other countries and access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Congo River. The Democratic Republic of Congo is also dense with valuable minerals making it regarded as one of the richest countries as ar as natural recourses go. However, it is one of the poorest countries in the world In 1998, the second Congo war began, this war was also known as â€Å"The African world war†. It directly involved nine other African nations: Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and a few others. The war started because neighboring countries as well as citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo wanted to gain some of the minerals and natural resources from the nation originally creating a civil war which spread to other nations, sucking them in and starting a full out war between the countries. The war officially ended in 2003 however; battles and bitterness still resound and cause mass conflict between the African nations today. This war is said to be the worst conflict since World War II. Around five and a half million people have been killed so far due to this conflict. About 90% of the victims were not killed in battle. They passed on due to ravaging diseases such as malaria. They also died from pneumonia and malnutrition. These reasons for death were brought up by displaced populations living in unsanitary, heavily over populated conditions and were denied access to food, water, medicine, and shelter. This ongoing war has devastated a nation that in theory could be a rich, well off nation. The Democratic Republic of Congo has mass amounts of untapped raw mineral deposits. These deposits are worth 24 trillion dollars. This nation contains 30% of the world’s diamond reserves and 70% of the world’s coltan. There are also enormous reserves of gold, copper, and cobalt. The mineral extraction is done in a process known as â€Å"artisanal and small scale mining†. Mining has created severe problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There were many illegal organizations profiting off the mines. Because of this, the government shut down the eastern part of the country to mining. During the war, many of the commanders were making illegal trades with foreign countries with their minerals and natural resources. This trading was labeled as â€Å"mass scale looting†. When the mass scale looting died down soldiers were then encouraged to take part in small scale looting. This brought forth the â€Å"active and extraction phase†. Because of all this looting, there were large amounts of inflation. The Congolese government lost much of their profits from Uganda and Rwanda to transport their resources. They often exported diamonds and coltan out of the country. They would then repackage the diamonds and â€Å"legally’ sell them as it they were from their own country. Rwandan soldiers made around 20 million dollars a month from smuggling resources out of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These large mining operations attract migrant workers. Many people migrate to The Democratic Republic of Congo as well to escape the violence in the Great Lakes region. The number of immigrants has been rapidly decreasing over the years. The mass amounts of immigrants have taken over the work force there. In recent years immigrants are starting to migrate to the European nations rather than other nations in Africa. Due to the dense population and poor living conditions, poverty runs rampant through this nation. This also means there are large amounts of crime even though there is a police force, the Congolese national police force. One of the most prevalent crimes in this area is of rape and sexual slavery. The Democratic Republic of Congo is known as â€Å"the rape capital of the world†. With the recent war, the numbers of rape victims have drastically increased. Although the Congolese law rohibits rape these laws are almost never enforced. Rape was a main weapon used in the Second Congo war, which started this ongoing epidemic of sexual violence. Prostitution and human trafficking are prohibited and have a penalty of twenty years in Jail according to the law. However, there will be years where there is not a single investigation of either of these. Proving that the laws are not as heavily enforced in these areas, as they should be. There are also no laws against spousal abuse. This lack of law enforcement is brought up by the lack of a stable and secure government rom the ongoing war. Left with an insecure government the nation is slowly starting to repair itself. The Lusaka Peace Accords set up a government system in 1999. A president was finally elected in 2006. The economy is starting to take a turn for the bright side but it is still wrought with poverty and a failing economy due to the war and mining conflicts. Due to the violence and unstable government, there are few markets and public services. This does not allow farmers to be able to sell their own goods. It forces civilians to fend for themselves. Due to the lack of public services, here are very few hospitals and medicals centers. Disease runs rampant through this nation. Since this nation is so heavily populates diseases spread easily through the communities. There are vast amounts of major health problems in this region including; HIV, aids, malaria, polio outbreaks, cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, the Ebola virus, hemorrhagic fever, and tuberculosis. Many of the illnesses are from poor living conditions, living in filth and with bugs. Diseases are spread through bug bites. Diseases like HIV and Aids are easily spread through a multitude of ways. Diseases re spread through the movement of soldiers and refugees, few HIV testing sites, mass amounts of untreated sexual diseases, human trafficking, sexual abuse, prostitution, and diseased blood transfusions. Due to the ongoing wars and conflicts, it has made it difficult to set up an organization for stopping the spread of these diseases. Because of how poor the civilians are, they have no money for medical help, which is expensive and required to be paid in advance in full cash. The Democratic Republic of Congo is not only rich with minerals but is also a great agricultural location. The general temperature ranges between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a region covered with rainforest and savanna areas. The farming is done mainly in the open savanna areas. Some of the major cash crops include peanuts, beans, bananas, plantains, rice, yams, and sugarcane. Cottee is also a major crop grown here. It is one of the most exported natural resource. Most of the farming is done through the Feronia Arable Farming division. Smaller farmers often use the slash and burn method of farming nearer the rainforest. This method however, is destroying the environment and the rainforest. Using the slash and burn method it takes around fifteen years before the burned field can recover and be used again making the farmers cut down more and more of the rainforest to sustain products and and income. The Democratic Republic of Congo is an up and coming nation it requires vast amounts of revision with the nation’s government system, the conflicts with other countries need to be amended, and laws should be more strictly enforced to create a working nation. The DRC has the potential to be one of the richest nations in Africa by way of its large mineral reserves and demand on the natural resources cultivated here. Major reforms need to be made before this country thrives.

Bariatric Surgery Things You Should Be Aware Of

Bariatric Surgery Things You Should Be Aware Of When all other measures fail to control morbid obesity, weight loss surgery is a source of hope to the overweight. American doctors perform weight loss surgery over 140,000 times a year. The oldest form of weight loss surgery is the most familiar, stomach stapling. In this 30-year-old procedure, most of the stomach is sliced and then stapled shut. After the procedure, only a small pouch remains. Shrinking the stomach so it can only hold half a cup of food makes it easier to feel full. In fact, most people who have weight loss surgery feel full after eating the amount of food that you could put on a coffee saucer. It becomes impossible to eat more than two quarter-cup servings (about 50 grams altogether) of anything at a single meal. Weight loss follows calorie restriction. The newer and now more common form of weight loss surgery, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, also makes the stomach surgically smaller. In this procedure, however, the stomach is not dissected and stapled shut. In this newer form of weight loss surgery, the stomach is cut and sutured, or sewn, and the intestines are moved so that the end of the stomach is connected farther down the intestine. This procedure leaves a smaller stomach that fills more quickly. It also leaves a shorter length of intestine to absorb fats (and other nutrients) from the smaller amounts of food that are eaten. With this form of weight loss surgery, you dont just eat less. Your intestines absorb less of the food you do eat. Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery produces quicker and more significant weight loss than just stapling or banding the stomach. Theres also a third approach to weight loss surgery, the lap band. The benefit of the lap band is that the weight loss surgery to install it can be laparoscopic, that is, done through an incision as little as one inch (25 mm) wide. Lap band surgery can even be an outpatient procedure, with the patient going home the same day. After lap band surgery, many patients go back to work in three to four days and resume all normal activities (except eating) within a week. The other gastric bypass procedures require a minimum of four days in the hospital and six to eight weeks before resuming an active lifestyle. Another advantage of lap band surgery is a much lower risk of infection. Lap band surgery goes around the stomach, not into the stomach. The bacteria in the stomach do not leak into other parts of the body, and the risk of infection is greatly reduced. Lap band surgery is much less painful than the other procedures. And since pain in the muscles is so much less, patients are very unli kely to develop pneumonia or other breathing problems. The disadvantage of lap band bariatric surgery is that not everyone can have it. The FDA at one time required that recipients of lap band bariatric procedures be at least 18 and no more than 50 years of age. Its also utterly essential not to be allergic to the material used to make the band. And if you overeat after you have a lap band in place, the effect is a little like pulling a napkin through a napkin ring. Too much food can stretch the band so that it damages the stomach. Lap band surgery is easier, but requires more discipline. There is no form of weight loss surgery that is a complete cure for obesity all by itself. Lifetime attention to diet and exercise are still necessary. But successful weight loss surgery can give you the boost you need to regain control of your life and become truly, lastingly, healthily thin. The Promise and Potential of Fat Surgery When Diets Fail When all other measures fail to control morbid obesity, weight loss surgery or fat surgery is a source of hope to the overweight. American doctors perform surgical procedures to make weight loss easier well over 100,000 times a year. The oldest form of fat surgery is the most familiar, stomach stapling. In this well-established procedure, most of the stomach is sliced and then stapled shut. After this form of fat surgery, only a small pouch of the stomach remains connected to the esophagus. The newly resized stomach can only hold half a cup of food. Having a smaller stomach makes it easier to feel full. In fact, most people who have fat surgery feel full after eating the amount of food that you could put on a coffee saucer. It becomes impossible to eat more than two quarter-cup servings (about 50 grams altogether) of anything at a single meal. Weight loss naturally follows. Stomach stapling is the oldest form of fat surgery, an d you can probably find a physician in your area who has a lot of experience doing it. In fact, you should only consider physicians and hospitals who have performed at least 100 operations. You dont want your doctors training to be performed on you. Other procedures are little harder to arrange. The newer form of stomach reduction, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, also makes the stomach surgically smaller. In this procedure, however, the stomach is not dissected and stapled shut. Instead, after the stomachs size is reduced, it is reattached to the small intestine at a lower point. Roux-en-Y fat surgery leaves a smaller stomach that fills more quickly. It also leaves a shorter length of intestine to absorb fats (and other nutrients) from the smaller amounts of food that are eaten. With this form of fat surgery, you dont just eat less. Your intestines absorb less of the food you do eat. Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery produces quicker and more significant weight loss than just stapling or banding the stomach. Theres also a third approach to fat surgery, the lap band. The benefit of the lap band is that the weight loss surgery to install it can be laparoscopic. The entire fat surgery can be done through an incision as little as one inch (25 mm) wide. Lap band surgery can even be an outpatient procedure, so you can go home the same day. After lap band surgery, many patients go back to work in three to four days and resume all normal activities (except eating) within a week. The other forms of fat surgery require a minimum of four days in the hospital and six to eight weeks before resuming an active lifestyle. You may be asking, Why just shrink the stomach? Wouldnt it be simpler just to surgically remove all the fat? This procedure, called lipectomy, actually exists. Liposuction has the same effect. The problem with both lipectomy and liposuction is that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugars dont go down just because fat is removed from the body. Only the process of di eting seems to have this effect. There is no form of fat surgery that is a complete cure for obesity all by itself. Lifetime attention to diet and exercise are still necessary. But successful weight loss surgery can give you the boost you need to regain control of your life and become truly, lastingly, healthily thin.

Lomi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lomi - Essay Example Managers are therefore, challenged to act as advocates for their organization and products to enable them achieve their desired market share. Possession of the knowledge and skills of successful negation in such business environment is vey paramount. Steps towards a successful negotiation involve evaluating whether the situation at hand really requires negotiation. Then coming up with a plan on how to execute the negotiation progress, consequently, approaching the opposite party and creating a rapport is highly advisable. This rapport helps in creating a cooperative environment for the negotiation and preparing a critical thinking in this regard. Effective negotiation strategy is one that is systematic and involves deliberate thought. In that case, their strategies will be proactive and will be anticipative of the opponent reaction. Negotiation skills are better acquired through learning and practice. These persons will know how to present their case tactfully in a manner that is likely to be peaceful and result oriented. Concepts in the article that have similarities include the art of preparation before negotiation. Both the article and study material detail on the importance of diagnosing the essential aspects in the situation; such may include the context and history of the negotiations. Familiarity with the problem background and the reputation of the other opposing party is highly recommended. The second concept regards ethical approach used in negotiations. Here, both the article and the study material emphasize on negotiators to embrace ethical behavior. Such is the case that good negotiation will require concerned parties to avoid any aggressive approach to issues. On the contrary, such persons should put every effort to convey an attitude that encourages cooperation. This will in turn create an atmosphere where friendliness, openness, and thinking reasonably thrive. Lastly, both the article and the study materials cite

Swimming (Pleasures and meanings) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Swimming (Pleasures and meanings) - Essay Example Swimming is a pleasure that engages the literary interpretations of water, the individual and the public seeking to refresh and make new their spirit through the flow of cooling water over their bodies. Clients Name Name of Professor Name of Class Date The Pleasure of Swimming Water flows around the body, the pressure made by cupped hands propelling the movement forward or back, as the flesh parts the liquid and glides through. There is little resistance as movement presses it, manipulating the shape, and using it to change direction or displace oneself from one distinct space to the next. Never the same nor ever not defined through its volume, the shifting current is always about what is new. Water refreshes and refines, carrying great symbolism in the literary discourse, while still having stable and concrete purpose in the physical world. Nothing in the world represents purity in quite the same way as water, even though in its natural state it is constantly full of different types of bacteria, algae, and life. Bodies are mostly water, tears are water, and the road to health is full of water. Swimming through water is a pleasure of the spirit, one of the most solitary sports that, even in a room full of spectators, becomes an interaction of quiet between the water and the swimmer. Pleasure and sensation are not the same thing because pleasure is a definition of a type of sensation. The philosophy of pleasure is tied to the physiology of sensation, but sensation is not always required for pleasure. Puccetti conducted experiments trying to define the pleasure centers and concluded that pleasure was within the brain and could be located, but despite the fact that he also found the center of punishment, and that a monkey would deteriorate quickly if the punishment center was stimulated repeated over the course of hours, indicates that there is more to punishment and pleasure than can be found in physiological discourse. Pleasure is a discourse as much as an exper ience. It is the framing of ideas that result in something that extends into the social and cultural experience. Swimming is an event that can be discussed through a great many different concepts. Swimming is an isolated event, the water creating barriers between one swimmer and the next. It is also a social event where crowds of people come together to enjoy the nature of water, the cooling effect that it has on a summer day or the atmosphere it brings for enjoying the interactions of family and friends. Sometimes it involves a sporting event where crowds gather to watch the prowess of a swimmer, their sleek, long muscles gliding fervently through the water. Akiko Busch discusses the idea of swimming as a way in which to cross a divide, to summon up enough spirit to conquer space and one’s position in the greater scheme of life. When Busch took up the challenge to swim across the Hudson River, a great many cultural connections became apparent through the course of the event. The Hudson River is a place of deep history. In the late 1990s a team of scientists decided to create a sonar map of the river bed floor in order to investigate data relevant to marine life habitation. However, what they discovered was more than 200 wrecks that catalogued centuries of history from the time of the American Revolution, through the subsequent river tragedies. In addition, a 3000 year old wall

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Entrepreneurship and Innovation - Essay Example GET 2 survey personal score: Need for achievement: 8/12 Need for autonomy: 4/6 Creative tendency: 11/12 Calculated risk taking: 7/12 Locus of control: 6/12 My result for this exercise was 36 out of 54 In accordance with my results, I have medium entrepreneurial capabilities. To my mind, I am lacking of professional experience, but with respect to my age I think that this experience is enough. I have a high degree of achievement need and creativity tendency. It means that I know what I want to reach in my business. There is a lacking of appropriate risk taking and I think that it is appropriate to focus more on possible outcomes of my activities. It is evident that personal contribution to my business development is very important, but to pay attention to my personal skills means much too. 2. What do you need to develop or improve? I have analyzed a current situation and I found out that I need to strive for autonomy. On the one hand, I am found of team form. From my school years I li ked doing common projects and work in the name of a common goal. I like communicating my ideas to other people and find something interesting in the name of a common goal. Moreover, I put the main emphasis on creative thinking development. Currently a global world is on the way of a high speed development and there is a need to look for innovative and unique decisions in the field of management and leadership. 3. What is the organization you work for (or have worked for) doing to attract and keep entrepreneurial talent? I have worked for 2 years as a manager of a profit Company. I was dealing with employee training and coaching. I was interested in development of communication among employees, building a communication bridge and performing my duties in the Company. I dealt with organization moments and I had to focus on certain dates for special meetings. I had to correct a schedule of my senior manager. Therefore, my punctuality and organization skills have been perfectly developed . Moreover, I dealt with the issues of leadership and the issues of the main activities of my organization. 4. How would you describe and evaluate the influence your working environment has had upon your entrepreneurial orientation? My working environment was rather diverse. Our organization hired representatives from different countries. Both representatives from Eastern and Western countries influenced a development of a diverse background for our work. When I had to communicate with different customers, I had to fulfill their needs with respect to their needs and wants. What is more important is that the customers were offered innovative means of communication. For example, I implemented usage of emails and social networks. Moreover, my customers were also pleased with having an opportunity for communicating online. It is more comfortable than solving the problems by phone and it saves time and money. Second Journal Entry Set Tasks: 1. Describe your approach to creative thinking and problem solving? I think that creative ideas can be produced only when an individual knows exactly what he wants to reach. I have been always looking for numerous opportunities to realize my creative potential. Thus, I decided to facilitate a process of communication among customers and employees. I knew exactly that â€Å"electronic bridge† (emails, websites, online updates etc) will be helpful in our daily routine. Another measure taken was my original approach to problem solving. I decided to invent a possible outcome and think about a potential benefits of a decision making process. When I thought what I wanted, my further considerations were related to my creative thinking and a potential creative approach. We had a problem in our company, when our

Case study report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case study report - Essay Example Demands from the society surpass the educational requirements. The society relies on the services on higher educational institutions to develop future generations of responsible persons. Minus the services of higher educational institutions, the society would be filled with persons with low professional and social portfolios (Brown & Katz, 2009). For this reason, governments have put in place strategies that make the access of the services of higher education much easier. Over the years, the ease of access of higher educational have been made easier. These can be analyzed in terms of the number of higher educational institutions created and the reduced prices of servicing the institutions for educational purposes. In the United Kingdom, the situation is the same. The number of educational institutions in the U.K has increased significantly to cater for the rising demand (Howell, 2012). Additionally, the institutions have made it easier for the public to access the services. Governmen t and educational bodies have also played a major role in creating a more accessible higher education sector. There have been measures in the United Kingdom that have ensured that higher educational institutions quote reasonable prices as fees (Andy, Jon & Robert, 2010). II. Thesis This paper will analyze the major changes, opportunities and difficulties faced by higher education institutions. The paper will also highlight major barriers that limit change in these institutions. Additionally, the paper will provide change management tips that should be embraced by university leaders in order to ensure smooth transitions of changes. For this paper the main focus will be made in regards to the changes experienced by the Higher education Institutions in the United Kingdom. The major change in the U.K. is the mandatory requirement by the institutions to reduce their charges on the tuition fees. III. The case From September, 2012 universities across the United Kingdom are allowed to raise their tuition fees up to ?9,000 annually. This change was protested by many educational bodies and stakeholder but at the gain of higher educational institutions. However, after the creation of these changes challenges started to arise on how this change could be managed. This is because students would aim to go to schools with the cheapest offering. In an argument by Levin (2012) the high demand on education limits the way in which institutions price their tuition fees. The author further points out that tuition fees in the United Kingdom would be fluctuated differently in each institution in order to maintain the competitiveness in the market (Levin, 2012). Additionally, due to the high fees the government will offer bursaries to students. For this reason, institution with the lowest fee quoted will be required to expand to cater for students who could not afford expensive institution. Institutions would also be required to quote cheaper tuition fees in order to capture the atten tion of the government in enabling them to acquire students benefiting from bursaries. Many institutions are now aiming at expanding their institutions by putting place mechanisms that would please both the government and the student population. However, other institution in the United Kingdom remain reluctant to quote cheaper

Does Merger and Acquisition of banks lead to value creation A case Dissertation

Does Merger and Acquisition of banks lead to value creation A case study of US and EU firms - Dissertation Example The paper tells that the current financial crisis engulfing the whole developed world has made financial institutions specially banks more vulnerable to takeovers and mergers. The constant decline in the performance of banks and resulting negative attitude of investors has made banks a lucrative target for acquiring. Banks work in a highly regulated and supervised environment therefore the number of stakeholders is generally higher as compared to other industries. The failure of the banks therefore can create significant political as well as economic issues. It is because of this reason that the banks are often put through the phase of consolidation in order to strengthen their equity base so that they can sustain external shocks. The implementation of regulatory environments such as Basel II and III is also considered as a step ahead in highlighting the importance of protecting the banks from complete failure. The current crisis resulted into the acquisition of banks not only by the respective governments but by the private equity firms also. This tendency therefore outlines that the merger and acquisitions within the banking industry can be one of the healthiest signs as the same can allow banks to strengthen their equity base and become more responsive towards external shocks. Consolidation either through the mergers or acquisitions is often done with the purpose of achieving greater market power, expense reduction as well as scope and scale economies. These gains therefore also believed to be translated into the value creation proposition for the firms. ... ng industry can be one of the healthiest signs as the same can allow banks to strengthen their equity base and become more responsive towards external shocks. Consolidation either through the mergers or acquisitions is often done with the purpose of achieving greater market power, expense reduction as well as scope and scale economies. These gains therefore also believed to be translated into the value creation proposition for the firms. As such there are two important implications of the bank mergers in terms of value creation i.e. whether the merger will create value for the shareholders of the banks or whether it will fail to translate those gains into credible and sustained value creation for the shareholders of the banks. This proposal will therefore outline the proposed research study on the performance of banks after their consolidation in Europe and US and how it has translated into value creation. Primarily, the proposed research will focus upon performance of banks in their post consolidation phase and whether such efforts actually result into improvement in performance. Literature Review Banks are considered as one of the highly regulated industries with multiple supervisors supervising different aspects of the banks. Since failure of the banks has a direct impact on the overall financial system of a country, it is therefore always considered as desirable to have stable and strong banking sector. There are different reasons as to why banks merge with each other and some of them are also similar to other industries. One of the key reasons as to why banks merge with each other is to increase their efficiency, achieve economies or expand into new and existing markets. These motives therefore allow banks to look for opportunities to consolidate and become bigger

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 141

Discussion - Essay Example It comprises of both the internal and external attributes of the business. Selecting output as an indicator demonstrates to the customers that the firm values environmental, economic and social development. It also illustrates that Coca-Cola considers product safety and the changing customer demands. Hence, reporting on the firms output and giving the consumers a chance to contribute towards the same improves Coca Colas public image (Pride, Hughes & Kapoor, 2014). Customers behavior is an indicator of satisfaction or the reverse. Incorporating it gives Coca Cola an opportunity to gauge the products progress. A dissatisfied consumer base is an indication that the firm should invest in product innovation. It also enables efficient marketing and formulation of pricing mechanisms. Therefore, observing customer behaviors through comments, photos guides policy formulation and organizational culture. A customers attitude can result in either high profits or loss to the business. A bad attitude lowers the profit margin while a positive attitude enhances sales. Therefore, taking into consideration the customers attitudes gives Coca-Cola a competitive edge. It also facilitates product awareness across the globe (Pride, Hughes & Kapoor,

Zeus As Hero Essay Example for Free

Zeus As Hero Essay One of the reasons why Zeus is a hero is because he defeats his mighty and powerful father Cronos along with the titans, and shares the glory with his many brothers and sisters. On my opinion I think a hero is someone that does something without thinking of themselves. Someone that is willing to take the risk for the sake of someone else. A hero is someone that will always be willing to help and take any major risk. This paragraph will explain how Zeus is a hero because he has demonstrated Bravery, Sharing, and his powerfulness. This paragraph will determine why Zeus is brave and will give three example of him being brave. The first example of Zeus being brave was when Zeus defeated his father Cronos; this example is one of the greatest examples because it explains all three of Zeus’s characteristics. Zeus showed himself being brave because he faced one of the most powerful gods in the world. Not only that but Cronos eager to kill Zeus and swallow him whole. The second example of Zeus being brave is when Zeus caught lightning bolt to protect his best friend Pan, Zeus was then aware he was a god. The third and final example of Zeus being a hero is when Zeus transformed into a bull and dared to take Queen Europa out of her boundaries when she was specifically under many rules of her father and one day would become Queen. But, she luckily got to become Queen of Crete and built many ships for them and Zeus. These actions prove that Zeus is a true Greek hero. The next paragraph will show how Zeus is able to share, and examples will be given to show you why. This paragraph will determine why Zeus is able to share and will give three carefully detailed examples. The first example of Zeus being able to share is when he gives Crete a magnificent gift; King Minos was in desperate need of a wall, a warrior and an army. They pleaded to Zeus to give them these three wishes and Zeus put it all into one huge gift. He gave them Talus a great bronze giant that will protect Crete no more than a thousand years. Each nine years they would bless Zeus for his gift. The second example of Zeus being able to share is when he defeats the titans and frees his brothers and sisters, not only that but Zeus gives his brothers and sisters a part of the world. Poseidon got the sea, Zeus claimed the sky, Hades took the underworld, ECT The third and final example of Zeus being able to share is when he grants queen Europa’s wish. She is then freed from her father’s rules and became Queen of Crete. The next paragraph will tell you how Zeus is loyal in the storeys told about Zeus. This paragraph will identify why Zeus is loyal, It will provide three examples from multiple storeys in the book. The first example of Zeus being loyal was when he made Queen Europa Queen of Crete she became loyal back to him by building the ship that he had requested from her. The second example of Zeus being loyal is when he promised and did give each of his brothers and sisters a piece of the world everyone then worshipped Zeus for what he’d done. The third and final example of Zeus being loyal is when Zeus agreed with Rhea to go defeat his awful father Cronos and to reclaim his brothers and sisters and become king. The next paragraph will conclude why Zeus is brave, loyal and able to share. Zeus has many characteristics that make him a hero. He has demonstrated Bravery, being able to share, and loyalty in many of the myths. For example, Zeus defeats Cronos that trapped his many brothers and sisters and the many invincible titans. Therefore, Zeus is a true Greek hero.

Relationship Between Visibility and Invisibility

Relationship Between Visibility and Invisibility Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we cant see. It is with these understated, wise words from the conductor in the recent childrens movie The Polar Express that this exploration into social exclusion begins. How is sight related to social exclusion? Quite simply, if a person, population or space is not or cannot be perceived it cannot be engaged with. In many instances it ceases to exist as part of functioning mainstream society, to stretch the sight metaphor, it disappears in societys blind spot. What causes the location of same in this blind spot of society is to be examined elsewhere, but as a process it certainly exists. This essay attempts to outline the relational nature of the societal seen and unseen through some specific ethnographies pertaining to social exclusion. To give a structural grounding, this essay examines firstly the nature of visibility and invisibility, both theoretically and in practice which allows this work to be contextualised. The notion of how this visibility or invisibility feeds into social exclusion is outlined and finally specific references to particular ethnographic texts are made, with secondary literature being called on where necessary. The core ethnographies are Bourgois (2002), In Search of Respect and two works of Saris (2002a, 2002b) on the Cherry Orchard community; State and Culture, and The meaning of art. Concrete examples will be drawn to make reference to both the visibility and invisibility of persons, populations, causal connections and social forces in no particular order. The interplay between same will be loosely traced throughout and is dealt with in depth before the closing remarks. The construction of the notion of visibility and invisibility is a ubiquitous yet largely un-theorised dimension of contemporary anthropology. Much like its sister subject or indeed even mother subject of social exclusion which is yet to be clearly defined in modern anthropology due to its fluid nature. For the sake of this essay I propose that social exclusion be understood as that process through which people or groups are prevented from participating. As to the relationship between social exclusion and visibility, if one is invisible either as an individual or group how is one to participate? So too if a social force is invisible it cannot be dealt with or controlled. This essay asks the question of how is visibility formed? What does it take to be constructed as a visible subject, citizen or consumer in societys eyes, the market or local and global power structures? Which persons, populations and groups are forced to lead invisible lives or to make their existences seen through d rastic behaviour and so-viewed misconduct? What illegal activities and lives are constructed and maintained in the shadow of public attention? The anthropological theoretical construct of visibility and invisibility, that is to say the manner in which anthropologists highlight the existence of these phenomena permeate numerous aspects of the discipline, society and culture. Numerous forms of visibility and invisibility can be constructed whether that is a rendering of human subjects, groups or events visible or invisible based on local moral, societal or hierarchical views. Take for example the employment of social norms and national law in addition to the varying forms of challenging these. Take the enforcement of tough laws of the Irish State against horse owners in Cherry Orchard, whereby the government constructed the view that horses in suburban communities, in this instance Cherry Orchard, were undesirable and had the Gardai (police) take possession of same (Saris: 2002b). Even the preparation, writing and presentation of ethnographies can be made invisible by the mainstream academic community, often due to the issues dealt with which some would rather remain neglected and silenced. Take for example the nature of how these ethnographies are received into modern anthropological thought. Bourgois (2002) has been criticised, just like many other ethnographers in the past, for their representation of a particular reality, for Bourgois life in El Barrio. Its rawness and uncensored violence challenge and disgust many that would prefer it remain hidden or rather invisible in academic writing and thought. Bourgois examines how the inner-city street culture developed in reaction to inequalities suffered by people when they interact with the mainstream society of New York. Bourgois proposes that street culture offers an alternative forum for autonomous personal dignity (2002: 8). Respect, he goes on to say, is integral to this subculture. The construction of this respect as a social manner of placing oneself in a hierarchy within the community of drug ridden El Barrio is important in terms of its making visible a social force, that of respect, and how that articulates itself in terms of actions within the community. Even within the community which is viewed as invisible the dynamics of visibility and invisibility exist. Although the street economy is based on the sale of crack cocaine, it is important to note that, substance abuse in the inner city is merely a symptom and a vivid symbol of deeper dynamics of social marginalization and alienation (Bourgois 2002: 2). Crack, then, is not an end in itself or the aim of the subculture, but rather a centre it operates around. As Bourgois observes, The crack economy, in fact, sprang from the search for respect; people needed an alternative to undesirable minimum-wage jobs, to fit with the street-defined dignity of refusing to work honestly for low wages (Bourgois 2002: 130). The residents of El Barrio could not earn respect or feel respected in the inferior positions they would be working in: Obedience to the norms of high-rise, office-corridor culture is in direct contradiction to street cultures definitions of personal dignity (Bourgois 2002: 115). Dealing crack provides a different visual representation for dignity and respect. Although the majority o f East Harlem residents are not involved with drugs in any way, the minority who are have managed to set the tone for public life (Bourgois 2002: 10). Hence, the crack economy, serves as an important structural force in the culture of East Harlem. The ways of earning respect in East Harlem inner-city street culture vary drastically, even defiantly, from those in mainstream American society. One method of achieving respect is through violence, whereby regular displays of outward violence are essential for protecting against rip-offs by colleagues, customers, and professional holdup artists. Bourgois explains that upward mobility in the underground economy of the street-dealing world requires a systematic and effective use of violence against ones colleagues, ones neighbours, and, to a certain extent, against oneself. Behaviour that appears irrationally violent, barbaric', and ultimately self-destructive to the outsider, can be reinterpreted according to the logic of the underground economy as judicious public relations and long-term investment in ones human capital development (2002: 24). Hence within the context of inner-city street culture violence is a part of the order of society and a legitimate way to earn respect, even t hough to an outsider violence may seem like a symptom of chaos. The highly visible nature of violence when expressed acts as a key point of socialisation in El Barrio. In El Barrio Bourgois highlights one aspect of the invisible becoming visible. Violence and violent activity among the invisible community of El Barrios drug underworld makes a very distinct, and ugly, presence felt when gang members quarrel. The public display of violence or fighting is visually noticed by the members of the visible community and is highly problematic. Deaths register on the polices radar and the media, which only manage to reinforce mainstreams societies need to repress or hide the region of El Barrio. Violent incidents, even when they do not physically threaten bystanders, are highly visible and traumatic. For example, during my first thirteen months of residence in El Barrio I witnessed a slew of violent incidents: .a deadly shotgun shooting a bombing and a machine-gunning. a shoot-out and a police car chase .fire-bombing of a heroin house.. a half-dozen screaming, clothes-ripping fights. (Bourgois: 2002: 34) Saris (2002b), brings an Irish context to this visibility/invisibility argument through his example of Cherry Orchard, Dublin 12. Described as an unfashionable Dublin suburb that most people in the capital have never been to (and that many people would never want to visit) (Saris: 2002b: 14). Saris goes on to say that Irish public policy towards poverty has been spatialised, looking to address the social exclusion of areas and populations in line with continental, especially French, models. (Saris: 2002b: 14) When Cherry Orchard intrudes on the Irish national consciousness at all, it is generally through the reporting of severe problems to be found therein. Perhaps the most spectacular demonstration of this tendency in recent years is the media coverage of the serious troubles in the area around Halloween 1995. At that time, the Gallanstown Housing Estate in Cherry Orchard erupted into a major civil disturbance which was described by the Gardaà ­ at the time as an organized riot. On Halloween night, several units of the Gardaà ­ were lured into the area in hot pursuit of joyriders in stolen cars. They were then surrounded and driven off the street by crowds bearing rocks and petrol bombs. The Gardai came back in force and were driven off the streets again. Over the course of several hours, tens of people were injured, two children very seriously, and dozens of arrests were made. Indeed, the Halloween Riots are still viewed by the authorities as one of the most disturbing incidents of public unrest in the Republic of Ireland within living memory (Saris: 2002b: 15). Interestingly the Cherry Orchard community, as a population, have expressed themselves through art, in specific wall murals. A number of local activist groups joined together and began to cast around for a way to put the riots behind them (Saris: 2002b: 15). It was eventually decided that, to symbolize the new birth of the area, the dreary walls in and around the housing estates of Cherry Orchard, which had hitherto been little more than convenient graffiti canvases, were to be repainted by the youth of the area. These walls allow a space for public expression of the community identity. They are also spaces of conflict in that they are used by rival gangs to pass messages, for example, let the games begin (Saris: 2002b: 14). This is a coded statement which visualises an otherwise unseen threatening reality. This lends another dimension of how groups of people, in this case gangs, make themselves visible. That is to say they articulate their warfare to the outside world, and indeed ma ke a statement within their own community. A specific gang is now visible in the community. The community can also now by identified by this gang. Hence a small group or gang can control external perception of the entire community as they have expressed themselves and choose to be visible. They have gone from being hidden and hiding behind the wall to making their presence felt by using the wall as a canvas. Interestingly in response to this invisible community making a visual stance the authorities, in this case Dublin Corporation, repaints the wall rendering these expressions invisible again. This particular example also begs the question as to who exactly controls what is and is not visible. On these same walls a statement Mark Hall was killed by the Gardai (Saris: 2002b: 16) was placed expressing a perception of a particular gang and using this to incite further violence. Marks mother defaced the wall herself removing the slogan saying that enough is simply enough. Individual ac tors in the society or community can have influence over their visibility or invisibility. All the poorer suburbs of the Dublin fringe, Fettercairn, North Clondalkin and Cherry Orchard, including high-rise urban areas like Ballymun, have recently completed, or are currently building Equestrian Centres, under the auspices of community development. (Saris: 2002: 171) These horse based projects are undertaken to aid those communities who are perceived as being socially excluded. It is through this representation of these neighbourhoods as visibly poor that they have gained such financial assistance for this project. The importance of horse ownership in these communities historically is quite significant in that they used horses for the transportation of goods, for general transport and for work. The tradition of maintain horses continued, unnoticed by most of the sprawling suburban Dublin. The fact of horse ownership in Dublin was invisible, and would have remained so had that invisible world overlapped with the mainstream visibility of middle class Dublin. Saris details an e vent whereby a number of horses strayed onto the M50, a busy motorway which is a ring road for Dublin. The issue of horse ownership in a city travelled from the invisible quarters to the visible and this transition was problematic for the society at large. The relationship between the visible and invisible is a tentative one. When the two overlap both become visible in their sharing. This forces the visible community to deal with the issues presented and for the most part his means returning the invisible to their invisibility. Legislative and police enforcement means were chosen by the middle classes to exercise this control and boxing back into community. These law focused deeds were socially exclusive means to deal with the problem whereby those in these poorer areas lacked the social credit to engage with such policies and drawing up of same. Hence the Dail passed legislation which made it all but impossible to have a horse in the city. Thus legislating horses from visible to in visibility. The final work which I wish to examine in terms of visibility is that of Lemanski Spaces of Exclusivity or Connection? Linkages between a Gated Community and its Poorer Neighbour in a Cape Town Master Plan Development. Even from this articles title the relational nature of the article is apparent. I propose that the gated community in question is constructed visibly whereas the poorer neighbours are constructed into invisibility. The article deals with an analysis of the relationships between residents of a gated community, Silvertree Estate, and their poorer neighbouring, non-gated, area called Westlake Village. The attitudes and perceptions that exist amongst residents of each both communities towards the other neighbourhood are addressed, as well as the nature of any direct contact between residents. The case study for this paper is located in a master plan private development, constructed in 1999 in the heart of Cape Towns wealthy (and predominantly White) southern suburbs. The d evelopment hosts two vastly different residential areas that despite spatial proximity are socially and functionally isolated. (Lemanski: 2006: 397) The development comprises two housing areas: Westlake village, a state-assisted low-income housing area providing home-ownership for Black African and Coloured community and also Silvertree Estate, a luxurious security Village with 24-hour surveillance. The development also includes non-residential land use with an exclusive private school (thus attracting high-income families to Silvertree), a business park, office park, retail centre and the US Consulate office. In terms of visibility of persons Westlake village is a prime example Westlake respondents were relatively easy to locate by walking the streets, knocking on doors and gaining referrals by befriending residents (Lemanski: 2002: 399). This again echoes the earlier examples of notions visibility depending on perspective. Whereas the Westlake village community is considered by those outside to be unworthy of recognition and hence written into invisibility, within the community itself individual actors are as real as the residents of Silvertree Estate. To refer back to the opening remarks of this essay the most real things in the world are the things we cant see. In contrast the residents of Silvertree are more were less willing to pass on their neighbours contact details and security measures ensured that all interviews required a pre-arranged (usually by telephone) appointment; thus it was harder to access Silvertree residents (Lemanski: 2002: 399). The residents of Silvertree are some what invisible to each other to within the highly visible community of Silvertree Estate, the walls within walls in which they live are an exterior expression of this interrelation-ally distant outlook. The nature of what brings about this difference is striking. Silvertree residents wish to remain independent, up in their ivory towers, and do not interact easily or frequently with their neighbours. The etiquette is one of polite distance, not wishing to pry on the other and a desire to maintain security as a priority. They choose to remain invisible. The notion of access is raised, in that Silvertree residents are difficult to access. This reflects the nature of invisibility itself, it is hard to access that which is hard to perceive. As to the enforced invisibility of the Westlake Village, the structural factor of planning has planned them into physical invisibility thanks to specifically designing the two communities in such a manner that the sight-line from Silvertree Estate does not intersect with any house of the invisible Westlake Village community. In the words of one Westlake resident due to the design of the compound the sight line of residents of Silvertree is such that they cannot directly see Westlake village. They build high walls like Jericho. They dont want to see us (E.T., 11 March 2004).(Lemanski: 2006: 408) To give an opposing perspective, that of a Silvertree Estate resident speaking about Westlake people As far as were concerned theyre not even there (A.K., 28 April 2004), (Lemanski: 2006: 409). The social factor of being undesirable, that is to say in this context poor and coloured, has resulted in their being built into invisibility. The relationship between visibility and invisibility is one which functions for the betterment of the visible community. A desire to repress or hide the other is satisfied by this process, its success is evident in the Westlake and Silvertree housing project. While Silvertree has become a sought-after address, with property values far exceeding original hopes, Westlake village has become the forgotten part of the development and is barely visible even from within the development, let alone from the surrounding roads and neighbourhoods. (Lemanski: 2006: 406) Lemanski even goes on to say that this invisibility was intended by the original master-plan design, hence hinting that such an apartheid-esque approach is still considered acceptable by both developers and the city town planners. Hence invisibility can be used as a tool to socially construct and control communities. Hence it is evident that finding the truth is a matter of representation, into visibility or invisibility. Social constructs are related by their ways of making visible, or their pointing out ways of obscuring, a fundamental reality, perhaps the defining quality, of our historical moment that of gross inequalities and their systematic reproduction. Whether that be the apartheid which still exists in South Africa through particular planning and the rewarding of same with success. That is when undesirables are written into invisibility in a particular estate and the whites can exist independently in their visible world they are rewarded by increased property prices. That violence in El Barrio is rewarded with respect. It can therefore be derived that the relationship between visibility and invisibility is complex and centred on power relationships. The nature that if a person, population or space is not or cannot be perceived it cannot be engaged with is key to the usefulness of invisibility for visible communities. So to the desire for invisible communities to stay invisible is demonstrated by Saris (2002) in Cherry Orchard where once their horses ventured into a visible sphere that which the community valued was challenged. The construction of the notion of visibility and invisibility and their relationship is an ever-present dimension in societal action, which feeds directly into or is part therein of social exclusion, in that the aid they process through which people or groups are prevented from participating.

Shakespeare :: essays research papers

The Globe Theatre 1. Prehistory Shakespeare joined the Lord Chamberlain men in 1594. At that time the company didn't have an own theatre. Sometimes they played in ,,The Theatre" or in the ,,Curtain-Theatre". After James Burbage died in 1598, the lease of the land where ,,The Theatre" was built, was passed. His sons Cuthbert and Richard Burbage tried to convince the owner to renew the lease, but he didn't. So Cuthbert and Richard leased land at the south bank of the Themse. Half of the needed money was raised by the Burbage brothers, the other half was raised by five actors of the group, one of them was Shakespeare. As the owner wasn't in London for some days, the people of the company teared the theatre down and transported the material over the Themse to the new land. The Globe Theatre was established between pubs and brothels (Kneipen und Bordelle). The theatre building was finished in 1599 and the first performance was in the summer of 1599. 2.The construction of the Globe Theatre The G.T. was London's most important public theatre. The name of the G.T. came from a sign beyond the gate, where Hercules was shown together with a globe. Around the picture there was written the sentence: "Totus mundus agit histrionem", that means: "The whole world is a stage". The G.T. was made from wood. It was an almost round building. There was place for circa 1200 people. A roof made of straw protected the three galeries inside the theatre and also the dressing-room but not the stage. Even if it was raining, the actors had to play. The court was surrounded by the galeries. Most of the stage laid in the court. The stage was a large platform. At the back, on each side of the platform, were two large doors. In the centre of the platform was a recess or inner stage, which was usually concealed by a curtain. But there was no front curtain to hide the stage completely and separate the actors from their audience. 3.The actors and the audience The actors were all men. Even the female roles were played by boys. The actors had to learn 800 lines a day, that was the reason why they could play 70 roles after three years. They acted without any costumes or scenery, instead they played in their own clothes. There was no real owner of the theatre and no boss.

George Orwell and Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four Essay -- Ninet

George Orwell and Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four    "On each landing, opposite the lift shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran." (Orwell 4 "Nineteen"). George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four presents a negative utopian picture, a society ruled by rigid totalitarianism. The government which Orwell creates in his novel is ruled by an entity known as Big Brother and consists of three branches. The Ministry of Truth, overseeing the distribution of propaganda and other printed materials, the Ministry of War, the millitary unit, and the Ministry of Love, the law enforcement division, make up the government. The main character, Winston Smith, does not completely accept the ideology that is fed to him by the government, through the concept of Big Brother. When one examines George Orwell's life, it can be clearly seen that he personifies his political perceptions, social and aesthetic characteristics, and self-examination of his own writing, through Winston Smith, in Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell's political perceptions, especially his skepticism of mass media, are given life through Winston Smith. Spending time working for the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), Orwell experienced many distorted truths and propaganda (Woodcock 9). This led to an intense distrust of those in power and their influence on the information distributed to and recieved by the general public. Orwell explains how history is altered by whomever is in power. In Orwell's essay "Revising History" he examines the credibility of history and finds that it is... ...cyclopedia of Modern World Literature. New York: Hawthorn Books Inc. 1963: 343. Kollar, Maros. "George Orwell Biography." 4 pgs. Online. America Online. 18 Jan. 1999. Available: www.suldal.vgs.no/engelsk/orwell/bioorw.htm. Magill, Frank N. ed. Survey of Science Fiction Literature. Vol. 3. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1979: 1532-1533. Orwell, George."Revising History." As I Please 4 Feb. 1944. Online. America Online. 2 Jan. 1999: 1-2. ---.Nineteen Eighty-Four. Ontario: Penguin Books, 1949: 10, 61. ---."Why I Write." 1947: 5pgs. Online. America Online. 2 Jan. 1999. Available: www.resort.com/~prime8/orwell/whywrite.html. Reilly, Patrick. Nineteen Eighty-Four: Past, Present and Future. Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers. 1989: xv, xvi. Woodcock, George. The Crystal Spirit. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. 1966: 9, 57, 219, 258.

Factory Farming and Animal Cruelty Essay -- essays research papers

Factory Farming and Animal Cruelty Animal rights are practically non-existent in many different ways today. Factory farming is probably the worst thing they can do to the poor helpless animals. Factory farming effects chickens, cows, pigs, and many other animals that are used for food, milk and eggs. One of the biggest organizations against factory farming is called Compassion Over Killing (COK). They go to great lengths to protest and inform people about animal cruelty. Chickens have to endure suffering that no living thing should have to go through. The egg laying chickens have to be forced into tiny cages without enough room to stretch their wings. Up to 8 hens are crammed in to a cage that is the size of a folded newspaper, about 11"-14". Stress from the confinement leads to severe feather loss so the chicken will be almost completely bald in the cold cages. When the chickens are of egg-laying age, there beaks are cut off without any pain killers to ease the pain, they do this so the chickens don’t break their own eggs and eat them because the chickens are hungry. Broiler chickens, luckily for them, only live up to 7 weeks old until they are big enough to be slaughtered. Their life starts out in incubator trays with hundreds and thousands of other chicks without enough head room to stand up, and not enough room to take 2 tiny steps. So for the first week of their lives it goes from cramp trays, to cramp boxes, to getting dumped onto the filthy floors of t...

Nonverbal Communication: Emotions

Nonverbal communication is playing nowadays one of the most important roles in organizations and companies, because it is the only source of mutual understanding among employees and customers, directors and suppliers, etc. Apparently, one of the wide-spread barriers to communicate emotions is hierarchy or status. Hierarchy affects communication of emotions, because the fact that a person is a boss certainly creates barrier to open and sincere communication. Boss is responsible for determining rewards and penalties and thus he is often treated negatively. Therefore, the only way to improve the situation is collaboration approach meaning that boss has to motivate employees to share information and, furthermore, he has to introduce rewarding systems for skillful employees to show that he really respects their work. Other obstacles involve cultural differences, dreaming, flittering, judging, analyzing and many others. Understanding how to communicate emotions effectively will help to promote creating smoothly working project teams; responding to customers, clients, and markets; living and working in a culturally diverse world. Effective nonverbal communication skills are really important, because they will assist in better company’s performance either in domestic or international market. In a modern swiftly changing world people and cultures are circulating and interacting as at a really dizzying speed. Those people who know how to use emotions and how to communicate them effectively have a crucial advantage over others. Emotions are very important in group communications. The main benefits of communication emotions are that they replace verbal communications, complement verbal communication enhancing the message sent and express interpersonal attitudes, thoughts and feelings. The possible ways to improve communication of emotions are smile making the communication more pleasant, friendly and warm; trust and honesty in business relations; ability to help and assist others in resolving internal conflicts. References Collins, Susie. (2005). How To Dramatically Improve Communication in Your Relationship and Start Getting More of The Love You Really Want In Just One Evening. Retrieved January 8, 2007, from http://www.communication-magic.com/ Â   Â   Â   Â  

The Production Process of M

Raw Materials M&Ms' have two main components, hardened liquid chocolate and the hard candy shell. Liquid chocolate comes from a blend of whole milk, cocoa butter, sugar, and chocolate liquor, among other ingredients. The candy shell is made from a blend of sugar and corn syrup. The Production Process 1 The liquid chocolate is poured into tiny molds to create the chocolate centers of the candy. 2 After the candies are formed, they are â€Å"tumbled† to make the chocolate center smooth and rounded.Then they are allowed to harden. 3 When the chocolates are hard, they are transported via conveyor belt to the coating area, where the process called panning is performed. 4 During panning, the chocolates are rotated in large containers as liquid candy made of sugar and corn syrup is sprayed onto them. 5 The color is added to a finishing syrup and applied as the final coat. Each batch is a different color. The liquid candy dries into the hardened shell. The single-colored batches are c ombined into the mixtures of red, yellow, blue, green, brown, and orange. They are then transported to the machine that stamps the â€Å"m† on the shells. 7 A special packaging machine weighs the candies, pours the proper amount into individual bags, and heat-seals the package. 8 The finished packages are moved along a conveyor belt to a machine that assembles the shipping cartons and fills them with the appropriate number of candy packages. The machine also seals the cartons shut.

General Motors Essay

A car for every purse and purpose† – Alfred P Sloan Jr, Former President & CEO General Motors. General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. Company History: General Motors was founded on Wednesday, September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan, as a holding company for Buick by William C. Durant. Durant started acquiring many companies like Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Cartercar, Elmore, Ewing, Pontiac etc. Durant lost control of GM in 1910 to a bankers trust, due to the large amount of debt (around $1 million) taken on in its acquisitions. Durant left the firm and co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911 with Louis Chevrolet. After a brilliant stock buy back campaign, he returned to head GM in 1916. GM surpassed Ford Motor Company in sales in the late 1920s thanks to the leadership of Alfred P. Sloan. Sloan was inventing new ways of managing a complex worldwide organization, while paying special attention to consumer demands. Car buyers no longer wanted the cheapest and most basic model; they wanted style, power, and prestige, which GM offered them. During the 1920s and 1930s, General Motors assumed control of the Yellow Coach bus company, and helped create Greyhound bus lines. They replaced intercity train transport with buses. GM needs a sense of urgency regarding revising a strategic plan that incorporates the next generation of vehicles. In today’s global economy and highly competitive auto industry GM has no time to procrastinate. As stated, GM has just too much at risk in not becoming an industry leader in alternative fuel technology. Fuel-economy legislation is sparking the race. This is a critical time in auto industry with many threats, but opportunities as well. The next several years will redefine GM. Vision Statement The GM vision is as follows: GM’s vision is to be the world leader in transportation products and related services. GM will earn our customers’ enthusiasm through continuous improvement driven by the integrity, teamwork, and innovation of GM people. The proposed new vision for GM is as follows: For GM to become the automotive industry leader in alternative fueled vehicles and providing superior quality products that global consumers call to mind when they think of quality and innovation. My vision for GM is to be the industry leader in innovation, and where all other industry competition strives to imitate. Mission Statement The current GM mission statements are as follows: Drive improvements in market share, revenue, brands, people, responsiveness, and cost effectiveness through the implementation of global common metrics and best practice sharing. The new proposed mission statement will be as follows: GM will become an industry leader, not a follower. To regain lost market share that was lost to foreign competition, and once again be the auto industry leader in sales and market share in today’s global market. Values Statement The auto industry just like the global economy is going through tremendous change, due to rising fuel prices, and environmental worries, such as global warming. GM must use these threats as opportunities, and take advantage of changing consumer buying habits. GM needs to change consumer perception of the company, from a dull, poor quality, vehicles to innovative, quality, and environmentally friendly company. To do this GM must portray an image that states that GM values what the consumer wants and what the environment needs. Listen to what consumers are saying directly and indirectly about GM’s current products, and create innovative, green, vehicles that turn consumers into customers. At the same time provide GM stakeholders pride and financial incentives to remain with GM. Environmental Analysis GM and the entire auto industry are currently challenged with the perfect storm. The auto industry is being hit by a weak US and global economy, rising fuel prices, and social and political environmental concerns and issues. In order to overcome these potential threat, GM should consider mass producing a range of alternative fueled vehicles, i. e. fuel cell, electric, and hybrid. SWOT Analysis Strengths 1. Large Market Share Although GM’s market share in the US has dropped it is still very much competitive at 26 percent. They also have an increasing share in the Chinese market. With the right decisions there is no reason for GM to not become the automotive leader it once was. . Global Experience As explained above even with GM’s recent decline they still have the market share and the experience to bounce back. They have been a worldwide company for nearly a century now and have established themselves as the global leader for most of them. If you recall I mentioned above that a current opportunity for GM is to expand globally and as we can see they a lready have the experience to do so. It is just a matter of the correct planning and proper implementation of those plans that will decided whether or not GM’s goals are achieved. 3. Variety of Brand Names GM as I mentioned has been the automotive leader for the majority of the last century. A large reason for that is the wide variety of quality brand names that appeal to all target markets. The current GM brands include: Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, Saab, Daewoo, Opel, and Holden. 4. GMAC Customer Financing Program Since its establishment in 1919 it has proven to be GM’s most reliable source of revenue. 5. OnStar Satellite Technology Developed in 1996 OnStar currently has over 3 million subscribers and is standard on all GM vehicles. This technology allows the vehicles to be tracked in the event of an emergency or theft. It also allows the driver and or passengers the ability to communicate with OnStar personnel at the click of a button. Weaknesses 1. Behind on Alternative Energy Movement This is GM’s biggest weakness. The alternative energy/hybrid trend has begun to take place in the automotive industry and GM has been one step behind the competition in terms of alternative energy vehicles. This has led to many problems including loss of market share and a decrease in company profit. In order for any automotive company to be successful from this point forward they must be Hybrid friendly and fuel efficient. 2. Poor Organizational Structure As we can see in exhibit 1 of the case GM’s organizational structure seems to be too vertically integrated. This causes a lack of communication between employees from top to bottom and may have played a part in GM falling behind on the alternative energy movement. 3. Stagnant Profitability Looking at GM’s profit we see that they are certainly struggling with respect to the size of their company. Their profit margin was about 1. 5% and the ROE has dramatically decreased over the recent years dropping to 10% in 2004. This is a situation that shareholders will not be pleased with. 4. Overly Dependent on US market GM has become too dependent on the US market and must take advantage of the opportunity to expand globally. The competition is becoming too strong to focus on just one country. 5. Overly Dependent on General Motors Acceptance Corporation(GMAC) Financing GM has become too dependent on its financing program. Granted it is a great strength for GM, however they once again cannot rely solely on financing in order to turn profit, especially if they want to compete with Honda and Toyota who are rapidly growing. 6. Poor Credit Status GM’s credit status has like everything else has been steadily declining. Their current ratio is just barely above 1 and their acid test is even lower. Although, I don’t see them getting denied based on their credit at this point, the seriousness of the matter is certainly apparent. Opportunities 1. Alternative Energy movement It is obvious that GM was behind its competition with regards to the research and development of hybrid vehicles. However hybrid technology is still very much new giving GM the opportunity to once again become the automotive industry’s leader in innovation and technology. 2. Continuing to Expand Globally. Recently GM saw an increase in the Chinese automotive market, which proves their needs to be more emphasis put on foreign markets. If GM can infiltrate these markets and successfully grow along with their continuing focus on the US market they will be headed in a positive direction. . Low Interest Rates With the right marketing strategy the low interest rates have the potential to generate an immediate increase in sales. 4. Develop New Vehicle Styles and Models This is an opportunity that will never be satisfied, meaning that GM should always be attempting to develop the automotive world’s most popular vehicles, and as we know, what is in today will be out tomorrow. Th reats 1. Rising Fuel Prices With GM being a large producer in both trucks and SUV’s, sales have drastically decreased due to the lack of fuel efficiency. The rise in fuel prices has played a significant role in creating the opportunity for development of both hybrid and more fuel efficient vehicles. As you will find with most threats, an equal opportunity will usually emerge as is the case here with GM’s opportunity mentioned above. 2. Growth of Competitors GM no longer has the luxury of being the known leader in the automotive industry and faces the reality that they are in serious trouble. As I mentioned earlier Toyota took the first step in the direction of hybrid echnology and has since drastically grown and become the questionable automotive frontrunner to start the 21st century. 3. Pension Payouts. Part of this threat is their own doing and the other is simply unavoidable. GM is responsible for providing generous pension benefits to its employees, which at the time seemed like a great idea, however they are now experiencing problems as more and more people begin to collect. 4. Increased Health Care Costs GM, like many lar ge companies with quality employee health care benefits, is experiencing a large financial hit that only gets worse as time continues. . Rising Supply Costs, i. e. Steel Once again this threat affects the entire automotive industry and forces each company to cut manufacturing and production costs as much as possible, without taking away from the quality of the product. Core Competence The core competence of General Motors is innovation. This is the driving force behind its $190 above turnover. General Motors has been utilizing innovation in service ad technology to secure itself a dominant position in the automobile industry, since 1908. In 1911, it conceptualized, engineered and commercialized the self-starter engine for the first time. Then in 1926, its product Cadillac was the pioneer in devising a nationwide service strategy. In 1996 General Motors introduced OnStar satellite technology which allows equipped vehicles to be tracked in case of an emergency or theft and allows the passengers to communicate with OnStar personnel. Other new car concepts include minicars such as Chevy Aveo. However in the case of hybrid vehicles, General Motors was unable to keep up to the pace of the market demand.

Jessica Swindle Essay

In this time and age, a lot of people are struggling for their lives. We can never deny the fact how tough it is to deal with the circumstances that come along our way and it is imperative for us to weigh our capabilities in order to make our best and live our lives to the best of our abilities. As Merwin epitomized his thoughts on his â€Å"Eskimo Poem†, he freely exemplify the perception of what it entails to live in this world and at the same time possess the grip to what is in store for you in the future. At the beginning of the poem, the tender emotion shoot in as one wonders what life could bring each and every single of his life. But along the way, to some extent there is bit scepticism as the challenges hinders the happiness of a person. â€Å"But I am leaving the shore in my skin boat, it came to me that I was in danger and now the small troubles look big† (Mervin), during the moments that we feel we are alone with our predicament and that we can no longer bear the confrontation of life we tend to look for another way wherein we can build our lives again. Indeed, as the poem utters â€Å"and the ache that comes from the things I have to do every day big† (Merwin), it only means one thing, and that is to find alternative measures to make our lives better. In this regard, it was thoroughly elucidated how trials expands and it is only our hope that can uplift our spirit. â€Å"But only one thing is great only one, this in the hut by the path to see the day coming out of its mother and the light filling the world† (Merwin), positively, at the end of the day there is always a light that will shed our fears and will shelter our minds and hearts. Like the poem, we should find contentment with our lives even if it will take to some place and to different level of maturity. Acceptance of dare could be a proliferating factor in order for us to be great in the paths that we are taking.

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

Strategic Management - Assignment Example n and put into adherence through proper and strategically managing of both resources available to the company, that which that the company already possess and taking advantage of it marketing strategy to achieve its goals and those of its shareholders. This paper focuses on strategic management of an organization, its aim and concepts, principles, key factors affecting it such as external, internal and industrial environments. It also describes strategic formulation. Strategic management is the art of making decisions for an organization or company, taking into consideration the competitive market in which the organization finds itself and other factors affecting it in regards to achieving the organizations goals and objectives with the best interest in creating a profitable environment for both the company and its shareholders (Dess, 2005). Strategic management is all about analyses, making choices and seeing that those choices are implemented. Strategies are meant to give the organization or company a focus, direction in which to channel its efforts as per the environment it finds itself in and define major characteristics of the company’s goals. After this analysis, the management group needs to make appropriate decisions, on how to find their place in the market by making great and applicable marketing strategies as to help them gain and a substantial amount of clients, while attracting more for their goods and services in this market regardless of the external competition they face making sure that their ideas of marketing or goods production are not able to be copied by other competitive partners in the market. This means that the company ought to try do everything differently from their competitors in terms of decision making especially due to the constant market competition that they face as this will help them sustain themselves in the market for long as their ideas cannot be copied (Irene M. Duhaime, 2012). After a choice of decisions has been made,

Criminology - sociology -philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminology - sociology -philosophy - Essay Example According to Phillipson, traditional criminology fails to understand criminal law. The subject matter of criminology is defined by non-criminologists thus placing limits on the discipline (Phillipson:4). Even though criminology is acknowledged as the study of crime and criminals, it fails to understand criminal law because sorts of behaviours that are branded as crimes and the people who are convicted as criminals emerge out of social processes which are independent of the professional criminologists’ activities (Phillipson:3).. Traditional criminology, therefore, has his subject matter given to him through the society’s formal definitions of crime (illegal behaviours). It is also the society that identifies the individuals who commit criminal acts and not criminal law. In addition, traditional criminology has been a failure because legal definitions of what is a criminal behaviour vary within any society (Phillipson:6).. This is because what is regarded as  a crime i n a  given  Ã‚  society may not be in another because different societies have different definitions of criminal behaviours. For instance, some societies accept homosexual behaviour, gambling and drug use while others consider them criminal offenses. This, therefore, means that there is no one universal behaviour that is always and everywhere criminal because societies’ reactions to crime change with regards to time and place (Phillipson:5). Traditional criminology has ignored social processes upon which criminal law is made. It however rests upon an implicit acceptance of the legal status quo. This unquestioning acceptance of upheld values limit the questions criminologists ask as well as the answers they get from questions relating to the causes of crimes (Phillipson:7). This restricts the focus of traditional criminology in search of causes to individuals who were officially convicted of criminal offences. The limited vision of

The Future of Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Future of Power - Essay Example However, other sources have disapproved this argument terming it as inappropriate. They argue that the rise of other countries does not necessarily result into the decline of the previously powerful countries. They went ahead to state that no single country however powerful it may be, can rise without the help of the other countries. The emergence of technology has played a great role in the rise of power in several countries. For instance the internet has been of significant influence in empowering various countries. Through the internet the world politics can be conducted from anywhere in the world. Similarly, countries have been able to analyze the economic status and foreign policies of rival countries through the internet. (Lundestad 24) A group of economists recently projected the economy of China would surpass that of the United States of America come the year 2027. But Joseph Nye has refuted these claims arguing that the Chinese economy would require stability in its military force similar to that of the U.S before it can catch up. They state further that the Chinese economy is yet to face setbacks such as social challenges that could see it tumble. There are other factors in China that are also believed to be capable of causing stagnation in its economic growth. These include: the rising of the urban middle class, the one child policy, regional inequality, high level of rural poverty and an uprooted working class. Joseph Nye believes that these factors will always have the per capita income of America being superior to that of China. The rise of the Chinese economy has not gone down well with many American citizens with the recent research implicating that many American view China as a constant threat to their economic security and jobs. America has been viewed as using its role as a superpower to earn political stability, democracy and economic supremacy in the world stage. The United States has been involved in several activities including invading o ther in the name of eradicating international terrorism and promoting positive relations among countries. However, many countries have viewed this as an effort by America to enhance its power across the globe and refused to support the globe. (Lundestad 34) The growth of the Chinese economy has caused ripples across the world with many viewing China as a future power house on the world stage. China has experienced tremendous economic growth and diplomacy in the twenty first century which has been of huge significance in the entire East Asia region. This is due to the emergence of several new economic activities in the region resulting into industrialization and hence emergence of several urban centers. This has resulted into China acquiring more credibility and influence in handling world matters. Questions have risen as to whether China will join the world super powers or try to surpass them. Many analysts believe that as China gets more powerful, it will try to use its influence t o change the policies used in the operations of the international system to favour its interests. This has been the trend by many of the reigning world super powers such the United States. The rise of China may cause tension in the world stage as the reigning super powers view as a constant security threat to their dominance across the globe. This is said to be as result of China’s rise from outside the established post World War II international order. The rapid growth in the economy of China is