Planning and Strategic Management Essay

Management Chapter 10 Planning and Strategic Management Planning Overview Importance of Goals: Goals provide a sense of direction Goals focus our efforts Goals guide our plans and decisions Goals help us evaluate our progress The importance of planning at organizations The Hierarchy of Organization Plans Strategic Plans – Plans designed to meet an organization’s board goals. Operational Plans – Plans that contain details for carrying out, or implementing, those strategic plans in day-to-day activities. How Strategic and Operational Plans Differ Strategic Plans Operational Plans Time Horizons Strategic plans tend to look ahead several years or even decades For Operational plans, a year is often the relevant time period Scope It affects a wide range of organizational activities It has a narrow and more limited scope Degree of Detail Strategic plans are stated in terms that look simplistic and generic Operational plans are stated in relatively finer detail The Evolution of the Concept of Strategy Strategy: The board program for defining and achieving an organization’s objectives; the organization’s response to its environment over time. Strategic Management: The management process that involves an organization’s engaging in strategic planning and then acting on those plans. for attaining objectives The process of seeking key ideas ( rather than routinely implementing existing policy); and How strategy is formulated, not Just what the strategy turns out to be The Strategic Management Approach Dan Schendel and Charles Hofer have suggested four key aspects of Strategic Management- 1) Goal Setting 2) Strategy Formulation 3) Administration 4) Strategic Control The Strategic Management process Strategic Planning – includes both the goal-setting and strategy-formulation processes. Strategy Implementation – involves with action based decisions. Levels of Strategy: Some key Distinctions Corporate-level strategy: Strategy formulated by top management to oversee the interests and operations of ultiline corporations. Business-unit strategy: Strategy formulated to meet the goals of a particular business; also called line-of- business strategy. Functional-level strategy: Strategy formulated by a specific functional area in an effort to carry out business- unit strategy. The Corporate Portfolio Approach Portfolio framework – An approach to corporate-level strategy advocated by the Boston Consulting group; also known as the BCG matrix.

Fashion in the sixties

Sylvia Ayton, a manner alumnus of the 1960ss one time said â€Å"Suddenly it was the lilting 1960ss ; it was the most exciting, fantastic and charming clip. To be a interior decorator so was fab. We kept our bandeaus but we abandoned our girdles, drawing on pantyhose changed our lives even more than the pill.† The 1960ss was a decennary of far making alteration and London was the Centre of it. Thankss to a convergence of music, movie, manner and societal alteration such as the civil rights motion, sexual release and feminism, the 1960ss became the decennary for the immature ; it was the clip of the Youthquake. Poster misss of the youthquake such as Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy and Penelope Tree were frequently on the screen of manner magazines such as Vogue. For manner interior decorators it was a clip of great alteration, they were able for the first clip to interrupt many manner traditions, mirroring the societal motions of the clip. Couturiers like Couregges and Yves Saint Lauren t were among the few that embraced the new age of design and started making vesture aimed at the young person instead than at their parents. They were besides among the first that experimented with stuffs such as PVC and shortening hemlines. In 1961 the LBD or small black frock which had become a genre in its ain right was reborn by Hubert de Givenchy when his design featured in the movie Breakfast in Tiffany’s. Givenchy designed the frock cognizing the wearer good ; he made the manner freshman and younger and in making so created an iconic manner minute. Audrey Hepburn’s elfin expressions and little figure contrasted aggressively with the smoldering gender of Anita Ekburg in her black frock in La Dolce Vita. Givenchy was expecting a manner to come. As was the interior decorator Andre Couregges, with a background in architecture one of his first inventions in the Sixties was the white LBD, which heralded the start of a new age of infinite consciousness. Couregges, along with interior decorator Paco Rabanne and Cardin were some of the first interior decorators to research ‘space age’ expressions and the usage of different engineerings and stuffs. In ’64 and as a direct influence of infini te travel the Parisian fashion designer Couregges launches his ‘space-age look’ which was both airy and vernal in cut and visual aspect. The interior decorator clothed his theoretical accounts ; caput to toe in shimmering white synthetics, – the coloring material, harmonizing to Couregges embodied the contemplation of white – adding the coloring material Ag which evoked the Moons contemplation. In add-on to these colorss he used splinters of Rhodid plastic plating, silver coloured spangles and vinyl phonograph record, in the spring of ’65 Couregges’ ‘moon girls’ stepped onto the catwalk for the first clip. The interior decorator combined short somewhat flared frocks with snow white wool coats, angular neckbands, futuristic spectacless, and unfastened toes white boots. This aggregation was made to be wearable and comfy for immature adult females ; he besides designed level white boots – which are now known universally as â €˜go-go’ boots – to guarantee easiness of motion. Paco Rabanne besides used his preparation in architecture to force manner engineering further, the interior decorator created sculptural frocks made from fictile phonograph record and metal ironss which frequently entailed utilizing plyerss instead than run uping acerate leafs during the building. This extremist experimentation was an progressively widespread characteristic of elect manner in the Sixties. Diana Vreeland was an of import figure in the Sixties ; she was unfastened to everything that was new, different and wild, therefore she was an devouring protagonist of Couregges ‘Space Age ‘movement. She became the editor of American Vogue in 1962 and was the ‘Original High Priestess of Fashion’ . Many influential interior decorators and editors to this twenty-four hours depict her as the biggest inspiration for their callings. Her words were powerful and influential ; she christened new tendencies and the people who made them with catchy headlines and metaphors. Her words such as ‘beautiful people’ and Youth quake’ sums up the creative, smart and rich plangency of the Sixties decennary. Her reaching in ’62 had been handily timed, with her infinite energy and genius for the extraordinary ; she non merely captured the kernel of the clip but shaped them – seting unconventional beauties like Twiggy and Cher on the forepart scre en, and having the Beatles and Mick Jagger on inside spreads, she turned Vogue into a magazine that no longer catered for merely society adult females. Vreeland besides changed the face of modern beauty, Jean Shrimpton and Penelope Tree were Vreeland misss and for the first clip, theoretical accounts were stars and stars like Audrey Hepburn were theoretical accounts. One of Vreeland misss, Jean Shrimpton was the first high-fashion theoretical account to besides be a popular cover girl, her freewheeling manner made it possible for a whole universe of misss her age to link with the elegant and expensive apparels she modelled. A alumnus of the Lucie Clayton College, she was foremost spotted by David Bailey. As a twosome the brace became emblems of London in the early Sixties. Bailey said ‘it’s about impossible to take a bad image of her and that even in her passport she looked a great beauty’ . Shrimpton was a family name by the clip she was twenty five, she is besides credited with altering the class of popular manner. The miniskirt may hold been born on the catwalk but Shrimpton’s visual aspect in a mini frock at the Melbourne Cup in Australia ensured that every adult female wanted one. Shrimpton was a totem for British manner. British Vogue said of the Sixties and Shrimpton that â€Å"the universe all of a sudden wante d to copy the manner [ Britain ] looks. In New York it’s the ‘London Look’ and in Paris it’s ‘le manner anglais† . One of the most celebrated faces of the Sixties was Lesley Hornby Aka Twiggy. As a teenage theoretical account she weighed merely six and a half rock, but her organic structure matched Diana Vreeland’s description of the perfect modern-day silhouette ‘the smallest calves ; the straightest legs ; bantam, narrow, lissome pess ; beautiful carpuss and throat’ . Her calling started as a happy accident, at 5†6 Twiggy had been told she was excessively short to go a theoretical account but after Leonard of Mayfair, protege of Vidal Sassoon cut her long hair into a pixie harvest for a promotional shoot, her calling all of a sudden rocketed. This transmutation twinned with the theoretical accounts ain manner of make-up which consisted of three braces of ciliums, painted dolly ciliums on her lower palpebra and bare lips earned her the rubric of ‘The Face of 66’ . Where Jean Shrimpton embodied the realistic side of the Sixties, Twiggy came to stand for the Youth temblor coevals. Across the H2O in America there was another Sixties icon, Penelope Tree. 1968 was the ‘Tree’s’ twelvemonth, and she changed the impression of beauty. Tree non merely challenged the conventions of beauty but besides her celebrated line of descent. Similarly to Twiggy, the Tree was created her ain image, frequently shaving her superciliums and attaching false ciliums on the bottom rims of her eyes, she didn’t fit an ideal. In 2008 she said, â€Å"I felt I was an foreigner so I didn’t see anything incorrect with looking like one, † Tree was besides portion of what a journalist in 1967 called modeling’s new â€Å"Personality Cult, † which valued qualities other than cuteness. Other iconic theoretical accounts such as Veruschka, who portrayed herself as an artistic Gypsy and the alien Donyale Luna, the first black theoretical account to be internationally successful were portion of this ‘cult’ . The Sixties was a disrupti ve decennary for the African American community, civil rights militants used noncompliance and non violent protest to convey about alteration. The federal authorities in America were able to do legislative headroom with enterprises such as the ‘Voting Rights Act of 1965’ and the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1968 ) . It was besides a clip where many leaders from the African American community rose to prominence including Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X. They risked and sometime lost their lives in the name of freedom and equality. Donyale Luna’s success as a theoretical account heralded a alteration in manners attitude to African Americans. The Sunday Times Magazine hailed her as the’completely New Image of the Negro adult female. Fashion finds itself in an instrumental place for altering history’ . Naomi Sims was another black theoretical account who paved the manner for many, after infinite rejections from bureaus, during the 60s her continuity led to major track and column success. In 68 she appeared on the front screen of ‘Ladies’ Home Journal and had a strong presence in the manner universe. The interior decorator Halston told The New York Times that Naomi was â€Å"the great embassador for all black people. She broke down all societal barriers.† One interior decorator in specific was a innovator for colored theoretical accounts, Yves Saint Laurent ; he was the first of all time haute couture interior decorator to utilize colored theoretical accounts in his track shows. Saint Laurent’s repute was built on his supreme tailoring ; he was the first to feminize the dinner jacket, with ‘Le Smoking’ in 1966. The interior decorator believed that the pant suit belied a sensuous muliebrity ; paired with stilettos and a felt hat the spare men’s orienting merely highlighted a woman’s figure. The timing of this new design was perfect: It appealed to the desires of the immature adult female who was merely deriving entree to deliver control, political power, and an executive calling. Saint Laurent power-dressing by a decennary, the suit became a symbol of success for calling adult females throughout the universe. Pierre Berge, friend and concern spouse of Saint Laurent one time said that whilst ‘Chan el gave adult females freedom, Yves Saint Laurent gave them power’ . He was besides renowned along with Couregges for open uping pret-a-porter. In 1966 Yves alongside his spouse Pierre Berges turned off from the couture workshops and towards the handiness of pret-a-porter and in ’67 they opened a dress shop called Rive Gauche in Paris. The Boutique sold Saint Laurent’s ready to have on aggregations and accessories like aroma, accoutrements and cosmetics. Besides in ’66 after a brief suspension due to the pirating of his design Couregges reopened his design house holding created a tiered manner system with three scopes, priced and manufactured on a sliding graduated table ; Couture Future, Prototype and Hyperbole. This system was intended as a mass-marketed pret-a-porter, with the integrating of off-the-rack into the manner system and the cultural alterations in the 2nd half of the 20Thursdaycentury, this theoretical account was adopted by couture houses t rying to last. Mary Quant was another interior decorator who shaped the manner people dressed in the 1960ss, in 1964 she was responsible for taking the London Look to America and was renowned for being the British interior decorator that made miniskirts the icon of the sixtiess. Quant’s miniskirts were a far call off from the architectural mini lengths of Couregges in Paris, she used easy jersey forms in vivacious colorss traveling off from the 1950ss pastels. Quant besides played with the proportions of authoritative manner garments ; scaling up cardigans and doing jerseies into frocks, she was besides the first interior decorator to level the barriers between twenty-four hours and eventide wear. Quant one time said that â€Å"clothes should accommodate themselves to the minute. Girls want apparels they can set on first thing and still experience good in at midnight.†( Boutique, A 60s Cultural Phenomenon, Marine Fogg) . Not merely was Mary Quant a polar influence to all female interi or decorators as an enterpriser and an indispensable subscriber to the youthquake motion she was an icon. She wore her ain designs and epitomised the ‘dolly bird’ image of the immature 1960ss miss and modelled the archetypical 1960s Vidal Sassoon bowl haircut that rapidly became synonymous with her vesture. Decision hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Penelope_Tree hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Jean_Shrimpton hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Twiggy hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cocoandcreme.com/2010/10/iconic-cover-girls/ hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Yves_Saint_Laurent_ ( Brand )

An Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay

An Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay All over the world, rapid industrial development of metropolitan cities have always resulted in a growth in population and also in the general increase of the size of municipal solid waste generated. The management of municipal solid waste, if not handled properly, will lead to various problems now and in the future. Developed countries in the world have, to a large extent succeeded in handling their waste using various principles and methods. From suitable collection methods to technologically advanced disposal methods, they have made sure that municipal solid waste has been effectively controlled in their cities. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about other developing countries of the world. Developing countries such as Nigeria are still battling with municipal solid waste management. As a direct result of the oil boom, Port Harcourt city, the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria (which is the case study of this research work) has experienced a major rural- urban migration. The population has almost tripled over the years. This has, in turn, led to a massive increase in the sheer volume of solid waste generated within the city.. Approximately 168,201 tonnes of solid waste are produced in the city of Port Harcourt every year and waste disposal has not been effectively handled. Residents resort to indiscriminate discarding of their waste at every given opportunity The most common means of waste disposal in the city by the public are mainly by dumping the refuse by the road, burning the refuse in the open air in their compounds, littering it openly on street corners and also dumping them in rivers and streams and drainage systems. These methods of waste disposal contribute greatly to the degradation of the environment in so many ways. However, very little is done to reuse and recycle the solid waste generated. Research shows that a huge percentage of the public do not recycle and reuse their wastes which indicates that the awareness level of the public about reuse and recycling of waste in Port Harcourt city is very low and offers a lot of prospect for improvement. This study therefore investigates the reasons why proper waste disposal methods are neglected by residents of Port Harcourt. It also seeks to discover why the method of Reuse and Recycle of waste is not getting the awareness and Government support it greatly deserves. Recommendations were made about strategies that will allow the government and stakeholders involved to advance on modern methods of waste Reuse and Recycling as a core aspect of municipal solid waste management in the city. Through the use of data collated via questionnaires, it was gathered that a majority of respondents agree that reuse and recycling of waste can positively impact the environment, create revenue and also employment opportunities. It reconnoitres the link between reuse and recycling of solid waste as a means to create revenue and to ultimately achieve sustainable development in the future. CHAP TER ONE INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF STUDY According to Shah (2000), solid waste is defined as any material that is unwanted or thrown away. The general community views waste as something worthless that should be destroyed or thrown away. As such, proper disposal of waste has constituted huge disposal problems. People commonly dump their household solid waste on the road side, unapproved dumpsites and illegal landfills. This has brought about untold environmental pollution as well as major setbacks in societal development (Mbata 2010). Waste in general is a threat to the environment, because of its negative environmental impacts that result from littering, dumping of wastes illegally, and greenhouse gas emissions (Hosetti 2006). Waste contaminates ground water and can cause serious health hazards if not handled and managed properly.

The United Nations mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global Essay

The United Nations mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global community - Essay Example UNFICYP was initially developed by the Security Council in 1964 to avoid further hostility between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot population1. After the conflicts of 1974, the Council commanded the Force to execute certain supplementary functions. Without a political agreement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP has stayed on the island to supervise armistice lines, preserve a buffer zone, embark on humanitarian activities as well as sustain the proper offices mission of the Secretary-General. Subsequent to the 1974 Greek Cypriot overthrow and the Turkish offensive of Cyprus, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expanded and enlarged the mission to avert the dispute spinning into war, and UNFICYP was dispatched to patrol the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus and support in the maintenance of the armed status quo. Since its founding, the force has further worked in conjunction with the special envoy of the Secretary-General and diplomats of the two communities to inquire about an amicable discreet solution to the Cyprus row. Primarily, UNFICYP consisted of armed and civilian groups drawn from Finland, Sweden, Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom and Canada, though over its long history the force has been the theme of various UNSC declarations and restructurings, and currently encompasses contingents from Hungary, Croatia, Argentina, Peru, Italy, Australia, Slovakia, Montenegro, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, El Salvador Netherlands, India, Canada, Ireland, United King dom, and Ukraine. This paper evaluates the Cyprus problem from the perspective of the UN mission and its mandate on the island. At the heart of the discussion is the argument that the UN mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global community as a way of resolving the problem. In essence, the increasing hostility between the two warring communities - Greek and Turkish Cypriots- after independence in the 1960 was escalating, and the

STEP analysis and Market Segmentation Assignment

STEP analysis and Market Segmentation - Assignment Example The company manufactures its vehicles at 23 production and assembly plants in seven countries and sells them through 34 subsidiaries. The company operates through three business divisions: automobiles, motorcycles and financial services. The automobiles division develops, manufactures, assembles and sells passenger cars and off-road vehicles under the brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. It also sells spare parts and accessories. BMW and MINI brand products are sold in Germany through showrooms of BMW and independent dealers. The company sells passenger cars outside Germany through subsidiaries and independent import companies. The BMW is responsible for the manufacture products such as: BMW C1, BMW 1 series, BMW 3 series, BMW 5 series, BMW 6 series, BMW 7 series, BMW X3, BMW X5, BMW Z4, MINI, MINI Cooper, MINI Cabriolet and the Rolls-Royce Phantom. BMW's growth over the years had paid off from a boutique European automaker to a global leader in premium cars. Among their products, BMW's MINI Cooper is holding its own against more established rivals in the new car market. It is also one of the lowest depreciating models in terms of used car sales. It is for this reason that BMW has decided to increase its investment into the Mini. This is a wise move, since sustained demand, even after five years on the market, suggests that the model is a mini goldmine. It is unlikely that anyone predicted the success of the Mini Cooper when it was launched by BMW in 2001 - the revamped model has taken the European market by storm. Originally, BMW intended to produce 100,000 vehicles a year but given the high demand, an increased investment of GBP100 million has been set aside for Mini Cooper in 2005, taking the yearly production total to over 200,000 vehicles a year by 2007. After its 2001 launch, BMW hoped to sell 800,000 units of the current Mini in eight years. The Mini plant in Oxford, England, has been refurbished to boost annual capacity to 260,000 units from 200,000. The plant also will build a new variant, the Traveller station wagon, starting in late 2007, and the second-generation Mini convertible starting in 2008 (Ceferri and McVeigh, 18 Sept 2006). While sceptics argued whether it was the right move for BMW to launch Mini Cooper in 2001, the debate has now shifted towards whether the success of the Mini can continue into the future or whether it is just a fad, a little like Volkswagen's new Beetle, where sales fell dramatically after the initial consumer enthusiasm for the new model. BMW certainly thinks that its investment is well justified. The Mini's price point ranges between GBP11,000 to nearly GBP18,000, which pits the car against the popular Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 307. Despite this, the demand for the model is generally high across the range with a UK waiting list for several models. Additionally, another key indicator with regards to the success of the model is the demand for it in the used car market, where its rate of depreciation is amongst the lowest of any vehicle in the UK. It is these metrics which must have given BMW the impetus to continue funding the development of the Mini. It is already very valuable to BMW, having surpassed all expectations in terms of popularity, and with its sales cycle having now run for four years with demand still riding high, BMW certainly seems onto a winner. In

Contracting and procurement methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Contracting and procurement methods - Essay Example Both products have considerable support from the user community, with Globalupgrades' support somewhat higher among the user community. It is proposed that bids be invited from Worldviewupgrades as well as other product companies for e-mail upgrade software. It is also proposed that the competitive bids be reviewed, a product chosen, and a written contract signed with the selected bidder after negotiation. The contract administration would commence after award of contract. This stage would involve managing the contract and relationship with the chosen product company, reviewing and documenting its performance, and implementing required corrective actions. Upon completion of the implementation, the contract will be closed after resolution of all open items. The primary scope of work involves installation of e-mail upgrade software in the server for access of the 15,000+ employees of ODHS. The vendor shall also ensure that users' existing e-mail data shall be accessible using the new software. The software shall be suitable for working in a Local Area Network (LAN) environment. It should support internet browsing, and should allow construction of database on the software platform. The upgraded software should have multi-user capability with simultaneous use by 30,000 users. Currently about 15,000 users shall use it, but it should be expandable to 30,000 users. The software should work on the existing hardware platform without any changes. The vendor shall study the hardware system in detail to ensure that this criterion is met. Qualification criteria: The upgraded software proposed by the vendor should have at least three installations where it has successfully worked for at least 12 months. The vendor should have the financial capability of implementing a project of this magnitude. Acceptance test: The upgraded software shall be accepted subject to a Quantified User Acceptance Test. Performance warranty: The software shall be guaranteed against performance problems for a period of 18 months. Any problems during this period shall be rectified by the vendor at no additional cost. Penalty: For delay in implementation, penalty shall be charged at the rate of 0.5% of the value of the contract for every week of delay or part thereof subject to a maximum limit of 5% of the contract value. Additionally, the vendor shall provide service support at no additional charge for the existing e-mail software in case of delay in implementation for reasons owing to the vendor. Indemnification: Vendor shall certify that the upgraded software does not violate any patent rights. In case of any dispute, the vendor shall indemnify ODHS regarding any litigation and intellectual rights. Support: After sales support for the upgraded software shall be made available by the vendor for at least 5 years. Taxes & Duties: The price quoted by the vendor shall be

INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL SERVICES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL SERVICES - Essay Example The unique characteristic of the financial intermediary here is that their assets and liabilities are overwhelmingly financial.2 The financial intermediaries succeed by using customer’s savings (who save in order to maximise the savings but with minimal risk) to lend to investors (who fights to get the money at the cheapest rate as possible but with less strings attached) with the aim of making a return on their investments for themselves and their customers. Their main role can be said to be channelling of customer’s savings to investors who so need the money to make meaningful investments that give rise to an economic growth and development for the society.3 The financial intermediary strives to make the better deal of a large profit as possible from these savings as to keep the institution running. (See appendices 2) According to J.O. Sanusi (2002), availability of investible funds for investment in any economy can be said to be the key factor in the growth process of that economy especially as it is realised that these funds are a necessary condition for output production and employment growth. Efficient financial intermediaries through the role they play in any economy are of course seen as the best means of achieving higher levels of output production, employment, and income which invariably enhance the living standards of the population. It cannot be argued therefore that countries that have enjoyed or are enjoying economic prosperity such as the Western countries are having such an efficient mechanism for mobilising financial resources and allocating same for productive investment.4 Banks long ago were considered as the best intermediary since they are able to provide an important positive means of mobilising the savings from customers, and allocating these funds to the investors for finance investment projects

The Patriot Act and Outsourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Patriot Act and Outsourcing - Essay Example First, the U.S. Patriot Act is unconstitutional because it intrudes upon the privacy of American citizens by violating their First and Fourth Amendment rights. Here the author makes it clear that the nature of the U.S. Patriot Act is an issue that still remains a mystery as Congress quickly passed the bill without much debate. The author insists that citizens are guaranteed their First Amendment’s guarantee of rights of freedom of speech along with freedom to assemble are rights that most Americans hold dear, but now actions such as civil disobedience, and protests, are being defined as â€Å"domestic terrorism† under this legislation. The author engages the reader about a specific clause known as Section 215 under this legislation terrorizes Americans because it breaks the 4th and 5th Amendment, which ensures the privacy of individuals. Moreover, law officials are permitted to seek the browsing history of Internet users from e-mail services. In addition, the government can conduct â€Å"sneak-and-peek† searches, and the â€Å"victim† would have no clue his house is getting searched. Moreover, law officials are permitted to seek the browsing history of Internet users from e-mail services .Furthermore, any evidence that is obtained illegally can be used in the court. Groups such as National Reform Association, and NACOC were furious at the government who could use wiretaps for forty-eight hours without obtaining a search warrant. Peter Swire, a professor at Ohio University, reports that FBI officials have been putting pressure on telecommunication companies to turn over calling records of citizens (Chang 49). Already concerns have been raised by the public whether sharing the information with federal agencies and local police is legal. The author clearly is insisting on the fact that the Patriot Act is already having a chilling effect, even in the areas where it does not apply† What was a law

M I B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

M I B - Essay Example arget markets, and political forces that would affect the organization’s decision to venture abroad; and (3) as long as there are potentials and opportunities in the local market, Wal-Mart wanted to tap these to build enough internal resources and financial capabilities to prepare for international expansion. During the early stages of its international expansion in the 1990s, Wal-Mart predominantly selected countries closest to its geographical location and where the profile of the target market share parallel behavior with those exhibited in the local markets. The first market it expanded to was Mexico, which was located just beyond their border. The rest of the countries were also close geographically, like Puerto Rico and Canada. Expansion to other countries such as Hong Kong, could have considered the nature of expanding markets and the vast opportunities that the target markets from this location could contribute to Wal-Mart’s international growth. The organization could have also considered the incentives provided by the international governments, including tax incentives or subsidies for setting up greenfield investments in these areas. Wal-Mart chooses between acquisitions, greenfield investments and joint ventures on the following grounds: (1) after considering costs of market entry; (2) cultural underpinnings; (3) government incentives and legal laws; (4) human resources expertise and capabilities; (5) familiarity with the environment; and (6) consumer profiles. Under greenfield investments, for example, Wal-Mart decides based on lack of potential targets to be acquired and there are local resources deemed experts to operate the organization. Joint venture, are most appropriate in cases where there has been an identified organization with competencies in the area and both partners could contribute their respective core competencies to result in longer term mutual gains. As indicated by the case facts, â€Å"a joint venture agreement rather than full

Electronic and Mobile commerce Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Electronic and Mobile commerce - Assignment Example The company has also expanded its menu to include fruits, smoothies, wraps, fish, salads and seasoned fries. This company adheres to B2C model of business. The corporation offers affiliation and franchise to local people who adhere to company‘s rules and regulation  of  all aspects  to the business.   The customers can get service through directly visiting the store. The customer can order and eat there itself or get a takeaway meal. The second method is dialing toll-free number and order meal for  the door-step delivery.  As the corporation is considering a new avenue of business, that is online, it needs to create a comprehensive business strategy to get success in this venture. Creation of a  new  business strategy for  new  medium of communication is not so easy as it includes  a lot of  investment in various parts of business and new strategies.  As the proposed investment is big, it is necessary to estimate the rate of returns and increase in business sales. This issue can be resolved by commissioning market research for  the Internet  and mobile survey of the existing customer group.   As the market report is very positive, the company decides to implement electronic and mobile commerce in form of easy to access user-friendly interactive website and mobile app from  where the customers can choose food items from menu and order for  doorstep delivery.   There are  a lot of  online  tools that helps to publicize the  McDonalds  online  order services such as social networking sites,  photo-sharing  sites, blog sites.  These sites  offer  free  services,  and company can maintain close relationship among  the members of the sites and can easily update them about  fresh services, schemes,  brand new  food items  on  the menu.   Today, Smartphone  is  becoming very common as most of the people prefer to purchase them for both business and pleasure. With Smartphone app., the customers can easily order from

Potluck Essay Example for Free

Potluck Essay The meaning of Doublespeak in Lutz opinion The essay Doublespeak specifically dives into the significance of the idea. The author does not hold back, but early on defines the general meaning of Doublespeak. The authors introduction is the explanation of doublespeak in general context. He lets the reader know beforehand about many tangents in double speak. He mentions four types of doublespeak which are euphemism, Jargon, gobblygook, and complex language. From these sub groups of double speak, he further explains detail of such doublespeak and its effect to the public. In essence, the effect of the author is to nform the audience precisely about doublespeak in many angles. He does not take a strong stance on his argument, but he does let his audience know that double speak is an effective rhetoric to use in certain circumstances. The idea of euphemism is to sugar coat an instance. This can be used by simple diction or a whole statement. It is up to the writer to choose his/her method. Lutz leaves the choice to the audience, but provides certain examples to let the audience be informed with the affect of euphemism in a statement. In essence, he provides short and precise examples by omparing a straightforward statement with a doublespeak statement. He informs the reader that euphemism is a rhetoric that creates vagueness in a blunt statement. In my opinion, Lutz did a fine Job. The omission of any statements will leave the essay vague and blank, in a sense. Secondly, Lutz explains and defines Jargon to be a prestigious type language to impress and inform an audience. Many of the high class workers use this rhetoric in their professions to make a good impression. In essence, a Jargon can be used in a hospital, court, or any other professional environment. Lutz rovides the reader with positives and negatives regarding this rhetoric. He informs his reader to be well aware of using such rhetoric. The examples provided are precise and clear cut. In essence, he gets his point through. Adding on, gobblygook is a certain doublespeak that is similar to a Jargon, but way out of proportion with its complexity. Lutz lets the reader know to use this language in specific rhetorical situations. He informs the audience that gobblygook is a type of rhetoric that is used impress a bunch of ignorant audience, or to impress an educated group of audience hom will actually understand the meaning of such words. Besides that, it is not proper to use in personal conversations unless youre Einstein. Lutz efficiently explains this idea by providing examples to the audience. Furthermore, complex language is a type of rhetoric that is considered moderate compared to gobblygook. Its not out of proportion, but can stray away the audience if used too much. In oral arguments it is not functional. If used in papers, it can work, but if used too much, it can confuse the reader. Lutz explains the moderation of this rhetoric compared to Jargon and gobblygook. In essence, Lutz does a fine Job explaining the definitions of double speak in all angles. He gives the audience a general definition and provides general examples to prepare the audience for the lesson. He divides the four main definitions and gives sub examples for each definition. In addition he connects each definition back and forth providing the audience will clarification on his topic. He classifies his work in a general topic, then provides examples, and ultimately connects it to the overall meaning of doublespeak. In essence, he does an effective Job explaining the audience the general idea of doublespeak.

Ethics and Morality Essay Example for Free

Ethics and Morality Essay â€Å"In philosophy we have a problem knowing the origin of right and wrong, there are various theories and ideas but we do not seem to have a definite answer to this question. † By Jamee Ford In life people are brought up in different homes, surrounded by different people and are taught different ways of life. As we grow up we are taught the difference between what is considered right and what is considered wrong, which is based on what is socially acceptable. We learn from a young age how we are expected to behave, the rules we have to abide by given from family and the morals we should have and grow up with. In this society it is difficult to find the origin of right and wrong for there are so many theories and ideas, but yet there is no definite answer. I believe morality comes from us citizens, the law, our feelings and our religion can give a certain indication to how we set our values, but I belive it is an objective fact that what is said to be wrong is wrong and what is said to be right is right. A minority of people believe that morality comes from God. These people have a lot of faith and get their morals and understanding of right and wrong from their belief in god and their bible. For example in the Bible, there are the 10 Commandments, a list of what is acceptable and unacceptable according to God. But what if we don’t believe in god, where would our sense of right and wrong come from? If we can’t change people’s options and feelings on what is right and wrong just by saying that it is acceptable or unacceptable, then why is it okay to say God can. Without god, would their still be morality? Because if god made it acceptable to kill other people, that still wouldn’t make it okay, so I believe this theory is unproven and morality and our right and wrongs can’t come from this theory. Another theory that has brought to the attention of the origin of right and wrong is The ‘Feeling Theory’ and the ‘Boo-hoorah’ theory. The feeling theory is an example of how morality does come from us. We make things right or wrong by approving or disproving of them. If a person has certain feelings about another person’s actions, it is saying something about them. If they disprove of an action, it is considered morally wrong to that person. This theory is people making a claim about what they think; they are claiming whether the action is right or wrong. The ‘Boo-Hoorah Theory’ is another example of how morality comes from us but involves expressing what we think is right or wrong rather than making a claim about it. Something is neither true nor false and according to this theory there is no fact of the matter just an expression of what the person observing thinks. The feeling theory and the boo-hoorah theory are both wrong for everyone is different and raised differently with different beliefs (everyone has different feelings). So technically one person can truly believe that it is okay to kill while another says it’s not okay, these two people are contradicting one another which rules out both theories. Some children are brought up in an abusive home environment; does this mean that morally they think its okay to treat people differently based on how they were raised? All people are raised in a different environment, under different circumstances so if morality comes from us then morality would have to include a whole lot of different views. Another important theory is that morality and our right and wrongs come from the law. Morality and the law often correspond, our morals are what we consider right and wrong, While the law is what has been decided as right and wrong for us. Both murder and stealing are things we consider morally wrong and are also against the law. In the perfect world we all want the law to coincide with morality, but in reality most likely will never be like that. For example drugs are illegal and the law will not accept any sort of behaviour involving drugs, but in some cases people justify that is morally acceptable to deal drugs use it for personal use because of financial situations and pleasure. So they morally justify it in their own head for it to be okay. Even though morality can be guided by the law, helping us understand the differences between right and wrong, morality can’t come from the law, for there are a lot of things the law accept but us civilians see it as wrong. As we can see morality cannot come from the above theories, for they all leave the question of the origin of right and wrong UN answered. I believe that morality comes from us and that things are right and wrong anyway. I believe G. E Moores theory of the extra fact (the six sense) that can detect wrongness. I truly believe this for it is true that there is that something inside of us, guiding us and helping us know what is right and wrong. We don’t necessarily have to be taught about all the wrongs in life to just get that gut feeling that mugging an elderly person is just wrong, why do we feel that? Why don’t we do it? It is because it is something that is just there. Also everyone in the world is different, we all come from different backgrounds and everyone has been brought up differently, in different environments. So therefore we all have different feelings and beliefs, for someone can truly believe that stealing is acceptable, when another thinks it is wrong. Morality is based on how you feel and how you treat people, expecting the same in return; you wouldn’t want someone to hurt you, so why would you want to hurt them. There are no proven facts to where right and wrong comes from but it is something that is just there. It changes over time, and things that were once believed as right are now seen as wrong. So therefore we cannot place judgements for we don’t know what morality and right and wrong will be seen as in ten years time, it’s based you as a person.

Theoretical Perspectives Within Psychology

Theoretical Perspectives Within Psychology Showing a greater understanding for the different theoretical perspectives within psychology, brings the psychologist or scientist closer in understanding the complexity of human nature and the variety of personalities within society. This paper will focus on 6 of the perspectives [see appendix 1 for a list of theoretical perspectives]. The different theoretical perspectives of psychology have come to exist through the works of different schools of thoughts, who have worked on assessing behavioural patterns as well as human nature. Each of these areas have focused on the byzantine human mind in a number of different ways, through the process of employing a range of methods to analyse the brain and human mind. This has revealed remarkable details of the different human personalities. One of the important theoretical perspectives is known as the cognitive approach/Learning. This field has been influenced by John Watson and his Baby Al experiment, Skinners rat experiments (operant conditioning) and Albert Banduras social cognitive theory and experiments. Because the cognitive approach is scientific, psychologists within this field typically use laboratory experiments under strictly controlled conditions, to study behavior, which critics argue lack ecological validity. Behaviourists have criticised the cognitive approac h, because they believe individuals are born a blank slate, and not with cognitive functions like perception and memory. Finally, it does not always place importance on the physical and environmental factors when determining behaviour, like biological psychology and behaviourism do. In the 1960s Albert Bandura discovered that learning is sometimes possible without reinforcement, if the learner observes the behaviour of others and imitate it. Psychodynamics, proposed by Sigmund Freud, came to exist to describe the processes of the mind as flows of psychological energy within a complex brain. Freuds theories were clinically derived, as they were based on what his patients told him during therapy. This area studies the interrelationship between personality and the mind, by focusing on the conscious and the unconscious entities of the human mind. Based on Freuds beliefs, ego lies at the core of all psychological processes, where human behaviour displays the emotional processes active within a individuals mind. Freuds psychoanalysis was the original psychodynamic theory, but overall the psychodynamic approach includes all theories that were based on his ideas, established by Adler (1927), Erikson (1950) and Jung (1964) (Simply Psychology (2007) [online]). Within medical praxiss, psychodynamic therapies rely upon a theory of inner conflict within an individual, wherein repressed behaviours and emotions come to the surface in t he patients consciousness. The psychodynamic therapist would usually be using this approach to treat the patient for depression or anxiety related disorders. The greatest criticism of this approach is that it is unscientific in its analysis of human behaviour, as the theories are subjective; one cannot scientifically test the unconscious mind. Also, when reading about his research it becomes clear, that his case studies focused, in detail, on individuals who were often middle aged women from Vienna. Thus, the psychodynamic perspective becomes unfalsifiable because the theories cannot be empirically investigated. Biological psychology can be defined as followed: [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the study of behavior and experience in terms of genetics, evolution, and physiology, especially the physiology of the nervous system. (Helium (2009) [online]) Thus, one can state that the biological perspective uses biology as an approach to understand animal and human behavior. It is important to realise, in order to understand how psychology and biology can coexist, that animals and humans have the ability to evolve as a result of their environment in order to secure their survival. Thus, they can change to better adapt their new surroundings, which is an important factor. This area is relevant to the study of psychology in the following way. The comparative method, looks upon comparing and studying different species, which in the end can give us knowledge in understanding human behaviour. Physiology focuses on the nervous system, comprising brain and spinal cord, and the endocrine system, comprising a number of ductless glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream influence mental processes and behaviour in humans and animals. Many biological scientists today believe that these structures are actually the source of conscious awareness and that they do not just shape consciousness (William James [n.k.] [online]). One of the fundamental biological processes, which have important implications for psychology is genetic transmission/inheritance, ie. the nature-nurture problem relies heavily upon what geneticists have revealed that can be given from parents to offspring, and how genetic factors can intermingle with environmental factors. Each of the ab ove mentioned aspects, the comparative, the physiological and the genetic can all contribute to explaining human behaviour. Through research on the nervous system, scientists have been able to analyse brain functioning under a range of conditions, while also being able to map its relationship to human psychology. Hence, behaviour is regarded as a result of biological and biochemical processes. It is evident that this perspective has expanded significantly in recent years as the technology used to study the nervous system and brain has gradually become more advanced. MRI and PET scans are daily used to look at the effects of drugs, diseases and brain damage, and study its effect on cognitive functioning and general behaviour. Criticisms of this theory are, amongst others, that it often uses a reductionist approach because it specifically focuses on neurological processes. Also, it does not take other possible explanations of behaviour into account like cognitive processes or the impact of the surrounding environment. The biological approach supports a number of theories that originally establish and create d the physiological/biological perspective. Dualism, first used by Descartes, argues that the mind and body are separate entities, but that they interact via the pineal gland in the brain, however today most psychologists ignore this assumption. Materialism believes that the body and mind are the same and further argues that all behaviour is based on physiology, because the mind appears to exist in the brain, thus all feelings, behaviours and thoughts ultimately have a biological and physical cause. Also, they believe that behaviour has a genetic basis, because genes have evolved over millions of years to adapt behaviour to the environment. Heredity, focuses on the biological transmission of personal characteristics from one generation of individuals to the next. Natural selection is: [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] a process resulting in the survival of those individuals from a population of animals or plants that are best adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions. The survivors tend to produce more offspring then those less well adapted, so that the characteristics of the population change over time, thus accounting for the process of evolution. (World English Dictionary (2009) [online] As an admirer of Charles Darwins theory of evolution, Dr. Louis Leakey believed studying chimpanzees might bring great insight into our own evolutionary past, and helped fund Jane Goodalls field research with Gombe chimpanzees in 1957. Here she discovered, as expected, that chimpanzees exemplify behaviors similar to that of human cultures around the world. Adult behavior is reflected in the infants; not transmitted genetically but culturally, as variations occur from one group of chimpanzees to another, like scientists assume also occurred with our distant human ancestors. (Leakey Foundation (2012) [online]). Chimpanzees in certain parts of West Africa crack open nuts with a piece of wood. Others use a stone, or place the nuts on a wood or stone anvil first. Chimps in other areas dont use any such tools, although theres no lack of wood, stones, or the same kinds of nuts. On the west side of the Sassandra River in the Ivory Coast, nut-cracking is popular. No chimpanzees do it on the east side of the river, although the two groups are closely related genetically. Researchers use such criteria to rule out the possibility that nut-cracking behavior is inheritable. (The Harvard University Gazette (1999) [online]) When looking upon a biological model, one may find The Medical of Abnormality model, which has been of great importance to the psychiatric profession the past one hundred years. This model operates from the belief that mental illnesses resemble physical illnesses, thus they can equally be diagnosed and treated: Just as physical illnesses are caused by disease producing germs, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances or changes to the nervous system, it is assumed that this is also true of mental illnesses. (AS Psychology (2007) [online]) A patient with symptoms of depression could be diagnosed with an imbalance of brain chemicals. Because this is viewed as a physical illness, cures could be medication to re-establish the balance of chemicals or in severe cases Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) (AS Psychology (2007). A problem with this perception of mental illnesses is that physical illnesses can rely on objective symptoms such as broken bones and blood pressure, whereas mental illnesses produce subjective symptoms, such as hearing voices and depression I am of the belief that if the patients symptoms cannot be measured, the treatment given to the patient can only be based on a judgement of experience by the doctor, hence its general effect is questionable, as most individuals react differently to given situations, and may portray symptoms of one mental illness, but suffer from a yet unknown mental illness. Physiologies influence on behavior Scientists have discovered that there are specific areas in the brain that operate particular behaviors and abilities; i.e. the cerebrum, frontal lobe is concerned with behaviour. Hypothalamus is in charge of sexual maturation, moods and motivation and finally hormonal body processes control the pituitary gland. Thus: Physical damage to the brain (biological) can result in mental disorders (psychological). Psychological factors can be mental disorders, predispositions (which are largely biological), sense of well-being, motivation, perception, cognition, etc. (Yahoo Answers (2009) [online]) One of the major discussions within psychology is the nature-nurture debate, which is concerned with the extent to which particular aspects of behavior are a product of either inherited (genetic/nature) or acquired (learned/nurture) characteristics (Simply Psychology (2007) [online]). (Simply Psychology (2007) [online]) As seen above, some schools of thought believe that behavior can be changed/influenced through physiological influences, where as others believe that everyone is simply born with specific behavioral traits. In studies including rats, the role of the hippocampus in learning and memory has been studied. This can be achieved through surgical removal of the hippocampus from a rats brain followed by an assessment of memory tasks by that same rat. The Maguire study (2000) used MRI technology to scan living brains, and thereby investigate the relationship between the hippocampus and memory. This MRI technique enabled the researchers to gain lots of quantitative and objective data and they discovered that the hippocampus plays an especially important role in processing and remembering spatial and contextual information short-term, which does affects behavior to some extent, when certain things can/cannot be processed or remembered. Additionally, as our knowledge within genetics expands, new discoveries are made. The Human Genome Project for example has focused on tracing types of behavior to particular strands of DNA located on specific chromosomes, but studies within this field have also started with animal experiments, who have set the path for humans: [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the genetic mechanisms of many species (nematode worms, fruit flies, fish or mice) work in precisely the same manner as in humans, and in the mouse there are counterparts for most human genes. (Nuffieldbioethics [n.k.] [online]) Some scientists argue that much of the research in this area is very beneficial, as it can be used to diagnose and develop treatments and therapies for illnesses or problems. The main applications of the physiological approach in modern days, have been the development of anti-depressant drugs, where changing a chemical in the brain causes changes in complex emotions, however known side effects of the drugs are still an issue (Holah [n.k.] [online]). However, treatments excluding drugs and merely focusing on the psychological aspects within depressions also exist. Some of the main treatments include: Mindfulness Therapy; a form of self-awareness training taken from Buddhist mindfulness meditation, focusing on mood regulation and preventing relapses and accepting things for what they are. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); people learn to logically look upon their negative thoughts about the world and themselves, and how these negative thoughts affect their mood. CBT perceive negative thoughts as a habit that can be changed. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT); this area aims to change an individuals interpersonal behaviour by enabeling amendments to existing interpersonal situations and roles. Psychotherapies; extended treatment where a bond between a therapist and patient is created, alongside and appreciation and focus on the past and present, is believed to resolve the patients depression. Councelling; here the patient is being helped with problems arising in the family or at work. If the incident is very resent, crisis counseling is sometimes used. Nerrative Therapy; this area helps patients focus on their strengths in past situations and build on their resilience rather than the nagatives. The patient describes his problems as stories, and is helped to discover how these may restrict the patient in overcoming his difficulties in life. (Google Docs [n.k.] [online]) Underpinning concepts within the evolutionary psychology approach The evolutionary perspective focuses on the connection between psychology and evolution, stating that the sole purpose of mental processes is to help survival and enable evolution (Buzzle (2011) [online]). This approach is strongly allied to the biological approach, as they both value the importance of biological factors. One cannot mention the word evolutionary without mentioning Charles Darwin. Although his initial aim was to comprehend the diversity of species in the world, he gradually came to realise that his theory went beyond basic biology, and he eventually set out to establish the evolutionary elements to modern human behaviour. Darwins aim was to uncover the function and structure of the mind, however the basic concept behind the theory of evolution was that all species originate from simple life forms, and these first developed more than three billion years ago, roughly 1.5 billion years after the Earth was created. The theory is based on five key observations and conclusions, which have been drawn from them: 1) Species have great fertility. They make more offspring than can grow to adulthood. 2) Populations remain roughly the same size, with modest fluctuations. 3) Food resources are limited, but are relatively constant most of the time. 4) In sexually reproducing species, generally no two individuals are identical. Variation is rampant. 5) Much of this variation is heritable. (Space Motion (2010) [online]) From reading these observations, one can argue that within environments, individiduals would have to struggle to survive, and not all their young will survive, thus those with the best genes and traits, are more likely to survive so their genes can be passed on to their young, and these can be carried on and combined with other strong traits from other individuals when reproducing. This is also known under the term natural selection, which will be looked at further on in the paper. The moderations to Darwins evolutionary theory came after his passing, thus sociobiology came to be out of the work of evolutionary biologists in the 1960s. Edward O. Wilson (1975) attempted to explain all animal and human social behaviour in terms of evolution and a range of other biological principles. This area concentrated on the evolutionary origins of behaviour, and often implied rigid genetic control. He applied the principles of sociobiology and evolution to comprehend and explain the behavior of social insects and other animals, including humans, and this established sociobiology as a new scientific field. Wilson believed that free will is an illusion, and that behaviour is a combined product of past experiences, heredity and environmental stimuli. Ever since, many principles have been applied to study topics addressed by the social sciences, including psychology. Evolutionary psychologists have criticised sociobiologists for ignoring the crucial part the mind plays in estab lishing the bond between behaviour and genes. Thus, evolutionary Psychology is a side product of sociobiology, however it is also known under the names neo or modern Darwinism. Evolutionary psychology is a method to the psychological sciences, where results and principles arise from cognitive sciences, neuroscience, evolutionary biology and anthropology and these areas are integrated with basic psychology to gain knowledge of human nature. Rose (2000) explains: The declared aim of evolutionary psychology is to provide explanations for the patterns of human activity and the forms of organisation of human society which take into account the fact that humans are animals, and like all other currently living organisms, are the present-day products of some four billion years of evolution [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] (Gross, R. (2009) P.31) The purpose of evolutionary psychology is to bring the functional way of thinking about biological mechanisms (immune system) into the subject of psychology, and to approach psychological mechanisms likewise. It is closely related to biology (sociobiology), however key differences between the two are still evident, one of them being the importance of the mismatch theory, supported by the evolutionary approach. This mismatch occurs, when organisms are suited to an ancestral environment, and are brought into a new and changed environment. For instance, more people are annually killed by guns than snakes, however majority of people have learned to fear snakes, more than lizards for instance. One reason could be that snakes were a risk to our human ancestors who lived in a Pleistocene environment, where guns did not exist. Thus, a mismatch is created between our modern environment and our learned- fear reaction from our ancestors. Also, biological principles rely heavily on the present a nd what can be studied today, whereas evolutionary approach compares the past with the present, hoping to uncover unknown information. Some concepts within evolutionary psychology come from general evolutionary theory, also known as evolutionary biology. For instance, what evolutionary biologists have discovered on mating and sexual behaviour, have been discovered through a range of observations and experiments on, for instance, the consequences of altering the parental investments in offspring and seeing what effect this will have on the offspring later on in life. Leda Cosmides and John Tooby, argued that the human brain functions like a computer, hence mental processes act as computational operations, thus a visual image of a spider will lead to a reaction; possibly a reaction of fear of, perhaps, dangerous insects. Therefore evolutionary psychologists argue that human beings and some animals are biologically prepared to acquire certain kinds of fear at different times of their life span. Some scientists argue that our fear reaction to certain animals, can be remains of ancient primate ancestors, who evolved a fe ar response to dangerous animals, and this mechanism has been passed on to the modern human being. Additionally, we may be subject to the same reactions to snakes, as in an experiment where Rhesus monkeys who were raised within a laboratory showed no fear of snakes, however this changed immediately after they experienced a wild Rhesus reaction when exposed to a snake (Google Docs (1998). This was also experienced in the little Albert experiment in 1920 by John B. Watson, where 9 month old Albert was exposed to certain stimuli such as a rat, a monkey, a rabbit, burning newspapers and finally masks, while observing his reactions to these stimuli. To begin with he showed no signs of fear, however after Watson began to hit a piece of metal every time the boy was shown one of the animals, he came to associate the animals with the sounds, which made him cry with fear. However, one can argue that this computerised theory can be highly difficult to test, because we cannot conclusively know how our ancestors reacted mentally, and therefore we cannot know to what extent we have differed in brain capability in comparison to our ancestors or similarities in fear reactions; we can only assume what their mental states and reactions were like. The law that an organism can learn to associate any stimulus to any response with equal ease thrived, was supported by Pavlovs hound experiment. However this law was disproved in the 1950-60s by John Garcia and his rat experiments, where they were exposed to X-ray radiation that made then ill, and because of this they stopped drinking their sweetened water. This occurred although they did not feel the extent of the X-ray sickness until later, although Pavlov had stated that the reward/punishment should be given straight after the occurrence, for the animal to learn. Additionally, experiments that have been carried out on birds, to discover if they could separate what is good for them and what will make them sick, have illustrated that, because birds are highly visual like us humans and associate visual cues with sickness, they can learn to avoid geen food pellets (which make them sick), and eat only yellow pellets which are okay. If they were presented with pellets half-coloured geen and half-coloured yellow, the birds would peck at the pellets until they split into halfs and only eat the yellow part. Thus, the experiment proved that birds are biologically cued to associate a visual cue with sickness (Google Docs (1998). Natural Selection, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Animal Therapy Darwins theory of natural selecetion originates from a belief that conception does not always have birth as an outcome, and only a number of those who survive will reach an age where they themselves can reproduce. An examples can be alligators, where I know from work, that from the age of 12 when a wild female will reach maturity, she will lay approximately 40 eggs a year, however out of all the eggs she will lay in a lifetime, it is estimated that only three of her young will reach maturity and get to reproduce. An assumption within Darwins theory is that the young who get to reproduce, will also be those with the best traits and be better adapted to the existing environment and pass on these traits; thus each generation will be better adapted to the given environmental changes. An astonishing examples of adaption can be seen in H. B. D. Kettlewells observations of peppered moths in the 19th Century. Because of the industrial activity and burning of coal in England around this perio d, tree trunks turned from light to soothed dark colours and the peppered moth could not hide as easily. In 1848, reports of a new form of the peppered moth (Dark-coloured peppered moth) were made, which was darker and could easily hide on the darkened tree trunks. However in recent years, the burning of cleaner fuels have once again changed the environment, and the peppered moth has returned in great numbers and some biologists now believe that the dark-coloured peppered moth will be extinct in England in a few decades (Miller Levine (1999) [online]) Natural selection also focuses on a primal instinct, where we not only physically but also mentally are challenged, where only the strongest individuals will survive. I believe that in our modern day and age, we challenge this natural process by allowing the weak to live and pass on their genes, creating a more vulnerable species, both physically and mentally. Thus, we continue to develop medicines, surgeries and therapies to counteract these issue, and try to get a greater understanding of how they came to be. Through the help of medicine and psychological therapies, one can interfere with mental states, where a therapist can help modify a patients way of though, to go against his/her primal destructive instincts. Cognitive Therapy focuses on the assumption, that mentally and the way we think about things, can be the cause of mental health problems as phobias, which can have physical symptoms as well (nausea, stomach aches, hyperventilation etc.). Within this form of therapy the patient is made aware of what thoughts are destructive, worsening their condition, and they get a greater understanding of how their thought processes work. When these aims have been accomplished, the patient can work on changing the way he/she thinks and work on avoiding destructive thoughts. Within this field, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is found, containing traits of both Behavioural Therapy and Cognitive Therapy, thus CBT helps the patient change how they think (cognitive) and how they react to those thoughts (behavioural), and this form of therapy is thought to be one of the most beneficial treatments for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (NHS (2010), however Dr. Oliver James has strongly cr iticised CBT and has quoted Professor Drew Westons findings in 2004, that: [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] two years after treatment, two-thirds of those who had CBT have relapsed or sought further help. (Psychminded (2009) [online]) Furthermore, James argues that cognitive analytic therapy and the Hoffman Process are far better alternatives than CBT, when attempting to solve problems relating to depression and anxiety, as these focus on the patients childhood and the origin of the depression/anxiety, where CBT focuses more on the here-and-now aspects of the disorders. For centuries people have been aware of the unconditional bonds that can be created between humans and animals, and pets have been used in medical settings for more than 150 years, however evidence of the physical, emotional and mental benefits have not been scientifically proven until recent years. This area is now known under the term Animal Therapy, and is to some extent an integration of animal behaviour and cognitive therapy. The animals, such as dogs, elephants, dolphins etc., help to heal humans, young and old, physically, emotionally and mentally. It has been proven through experiments and observations, that: Having an animal around reduces stress, creates a relationship, helps people feel loved and needed, provides a listening ear without judgment and it can improve social skills and boost the confidence of an individual. (World Wide Health (2006) [online]) Recently, studies at the Research Center for Human/Animal Interaction have discovered that interacting with animals can increase peoples level of the hormone oxytocin, which help us feel happy. Also, this hormone does not only benefit us mentally but also physically, as it is part of the process when the body grows new cells. Animal Therapy can also be applied to only the animal, where animals presenting abnormal behaviour, can be helped by talks with the owners, psychological/physical training and zone therapy. Abnormal and uncontrollable behaviour of pets is also a rising problem in Denmark, where it is estimated that majority of danish pet owners have encountered problems with their pets behaviour. In a study carried out in 2000-2001, a range of pet owners were asked if they had encountered behavioural problems with their dogs, and 28% answered yes, where 17% stated that they had previously encountered problems. Furthermore, vetenarian Jà ¸rgen Mikkelsen estimates that each year 1 / 4 of all the dogs being euthanized in Denmark (roughly 200 danish clinics), were because of behavioural problems, and 2 / 5 of the dogs never reached the age of 3. Therefore a rough estimate concludes that 10-15.000 dogs are euthanized every year in Denmark because of behavioural problems (Dansk Veterinà ¦rtidsskrift (2006) [online]). However, animal therapy is gaining more and more ground in Denmark, and more clinics are opened within the country, proving that people are seeking this form of treatment more than before, and the awareness of the animals needs are more widely accepted, encouraging a closer animal-human bond. The relationship between scientific research and psychology as a discipline Eventually psychology was accepted as a science, although its subject matter was restricted. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, attention was placed upon mental processes and the mind. Behaviourists focused on observing phenomenon, where psychologists concentrated on studying the mental processes used to retrieve, store and acquire knowledge. Although mental processes cannot be observed as such, evidence can be gained by using a number of tests concerned with memory, perception and problem solving. Here cognitive psychology becomes of great importance, as it studies mental processes such as intelligence, memory, perception and thought. Because psychology operates with what cannot always be seen, at least in the past before we invented ways of discovering brain activities and their reactions to the surroundings we can see (MRI scans). Part of this has helped psychology become a scientific field, because it can be observed, measured and compared. Without this bond, psychology would never have been accepted as a science, and areas which are being researched today (for instance physiologies influence on behaviour), would never have existed or been made possible, and would have limited the ongoing knowledge that we posses within this area today. Also, medicine and biology have benefitted from the merger, as mental illnesses have been identified through psychological practices and treatments have been found. Many mental illnesses are approached with medicine as well as therapy, illustrating this merger in reality. Traditional and historical theories within psychology have all undergone changes throughout history, when knowledge has been gained in common ground areas, or new psychologists have decided to approach the matter from different angles. Darwins theory of evolution was challenged by believers, who approached evolutionary psychology from different views, which, as mentioned previously has resulted in sociobiology, physiological psychology and biology psychology, amongst others. I believe that therapies as mentioned above, can be perceived as a result of Darwin, Tinbergen, Lorenz Karl von Frisch, Wilson and Trivers, amongst others, theories which have influenced and challenged each other, and resulted in treatments and knowledge which benefits this branch of modern psychology, as illustrated in the number of therapies offered to patients today. Specialisms where integration is evident Specialisms where integration is evident in practice is for instance evolutionary psychology, which is a combination of evolutionary as well as cogn

Beautiful Disasters: Pearl As A Living Breathing Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

Sometimes beauty is found in places as unexpected as a rosebush growing outside of a prison in a puritan colonial village. Pearl Prynne is an unearthly beautiful child with a wild spirit born under unimaginably sinful conditions, all of which are somehow related to the ideas, actions, and views of others on Hester’s punishment. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Pearl serves as Hester’s living, breathing Scarlet letter. Pearl evokes the same emotion and reactions from the townspeople, as does the scarlet letter. The people look at the slight sense of pride Hester has in her letter in the same way they look at the way Hester lets Pearl do whatever she wants. They feel Hester isn’t fit to raise the child. The extremity of gossip from the females of the village in the beginning of the book is only matched by the amount that Pearl’s wild attitude stirs up later on. Hester’s â€Å"A† is the example for all of what sin is. The â€Å"A† makes Hester much avoided and the parents tell their children to watch out for her. Theses same parents say the same things to their kids about avoiding Pearl, who is infamous for her uncontrollable behavior with her peers and other adults. Just as infamous as Hester’s â€Å"A† for the wild sinful actions it symbolizes. Like Hester’s scarlet letter, Pearl shows extreme beauty in a form that is not traditional, positive, tame, or fully accepted. When Hester crafts the â€Å"A† that she has to wear on her chest, She uses a deep, passionate shade of red and embroiders it very intricately with bright gold thread. The â€Å"A† was meant to mark Hester in a negative manor; its purpose is to let everyone know that Hester is a sinner. Hester takes something extremely negative and makes it appear as passionately beautiful. Hawthorne portrays Pearl in a very detailed specific manor, meant to put emphasis on the similarities between Pearl and the â€Å"A†. She is the symbol of Hester’s sin but the tone that is used when referring to her makes her out to appear as a stunningly beautiful creature. The narrator states, â€Å"There was a trait of passion, a certain depth of hue, which she never lost† ( ). Even the adjectives he uses in describing Pearl suggest something color related (â€Å"hue†). There is a feeling of wildness and uncontrollably in Pearl’s appearance; more specifically in her eyes.

My Bigger :: essays research papers

My Bigger   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Richard Wrights â€Å"Native Son† he magnificently describes how he came about of configuring Bigger. He used four specific people to create Bigger. Wright chose people that stood up for themselves almost to a fault. All of the people did have bad ends, but were nevertheless influential in Wright’s, life good or bad. Wright drew from his personal experiences with these people to manufacture Bigger reactions. There were many social circumstances that held Bigger back from succeeding, like poverty, the depression and even his own stubbornness. Bigger was just reacting to his surrounding like Wright’s people did, a good example of this is when Bigger kills the rat and keeps hitting it. That relates with when Bigger No. 5 drew the knife on the streetcar driver asking him to move to the colored car, and he said â€Å"Make me.† My people I’m going to talk about didn’t have to deal with such hardships, but did deal with more n ational and social challenges.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My Bigger No.1 had a great influence and impact on my life for 17 years and still going. He was born in the first year of the baby boom era. His childhood was good and privileged but it was when he got out of high school when things changed. He did go to college for a half year and flunked out. The country was in a transition period from the mid 60’s to the late 70’s and Bigger No.1 was right in the middle of it and old enough to be affected by it all. And at this time if a man from 18 to 25 wasn’t in college he had to get into the reserves or go to Vietnam where he might die. Bigger No.1 had missed the registration date for the reserves. He didn’t believe in the war and had no intensions of going to it. He was afraid like many men were then, especially if they didn’t like the cause. His father had been in WWII and had nearly died (when he and another man were walking side by side in the jungle they somehow switched places and tw o step later the other man was killed by a sniper). Bigger No. 1’s father was in the Army and he did get into the reserves, one month late. Bigger No.1 had to spend 4 years in the reserve. Now this wasn’t the hard part, it was what was in the middle.

Divorce Essay -- essays research papers

The number of children who were living with only one of their biological parents from 1900 to 1972 increased by 700%. Can we call this beneficial on the child's maturing and mental stability and development? Between 1970 and 1996 the proportion of children under 18 living with only one of their parents grew from 12% to 28%. While the percentage of children living with both parents declined from 85% to 68%. As this century has passed, more and more divorces are taking place at an increased rate each year, and while it may be hard on the parents, it's detrimental to so many children. It confuses them, upsets them, and leaves them questioning many things, most of which they will never find out until they are older. From 1950 to 1980 there has been a total of 175% increase in divorces. The statistics now indicate, that half of all children will witness the breakup of a parents marriage, of these close to half of them will go on to see the break up of a parents second marriage, that's indicating a 25% increase each year! The latest figures released show that all in all, between 1970 and 1996 the number of divorced people has more than quadrupled. 10% of these children that witness this first divorce will go on to witness three or more family breakups. I am here to give my thoughts and opinions on the issue of now in this 20th century, the increased rate of children developing mentally without a fatherly figure in the family is harming the children's development. Tim Rotheisl...

A-B-Zee

This report evaluates the recent recruitment and selection arrangements for the sales assistants. It focuses on the opportunities and constraints that both the labour markets placed upon the recruitment and selection of sales assistants at A-B-Zee. It also examines the individual and organisational benefits that could be gained by providing non-standard working arrangements for sales assistants at A-B-Zee. The report finally proposes a strategy recommending how A-B-Zee’s next campaign might ensure a greater response from members of the ethnic minority community. Organisation’s response to the opportunities and constraints placed upon it by both local labour markets in the recruitment and selection process The general constraint in the recruitment process was that A-B-Zee was new to the each labour market and thus had no reputation to call upon in its search for quality employees. Also the rate of pay being offered still follows that of the parent company. In London, the full-page display advertisement on the newspaper was a good opportunity to get across to potential applicants because the advertisement were imaginative and attracted attention. However, the recruitment team were faced with the constraint of the accessibility to these advertisements to enough potential employees who fully met A-B-Zee’s criteria and sustenance of the candidate’s interest in the vacancy. Also, they were faced with time constraint, as the length of the ensuing recruitment process may not meet the store opening date. The Recruitment team responded, first, by trying to speed up the recruitment process. They introduced the ‘phone-in and walk-in’ facility to the advertisement. The phone-in enabled A-B-Zee to arrange immediate interviews for those evaluated as suitable from the evidence of the telephone interview. They also responded by simplifying the application form to make its completion more convenient. The ‘walk-in’ initiative involved one to one meeting with interested candidates. They were able to successfully use the ‘walk-in’ to increase the number of applicants and also to influence those that are suitable to join the company. In instances where parents wanted to cancel due to not having arrangement for someone to look after the children, A-B-Zee invited them to bring along the children. This seemed to be a good opportunity to attract potential employees with parental experience. The organisation also responded by making application forms and letters of offer readily available, thus increasing the speed of the company’s response. This particularly met the company’s needs with regards to speed. One other constraint which the recruitment team discovered was that the attraction of applicants was limited by the readership of the newspaper. The company responded by producing leaflets. These were distributed to houses fairly close to the store and to those of the ethnic minority around the store. This was carried out in order to meet the objective of having a balanced work force in terms of gender, age and ethnic minority. Apart from being easily accessible, the recruitment team also responded by making themselves more available. They worked through the evenings and weekends, thereby making them more available to applicants. At the northern store, the closure of several manufacturing companies was an opportunity to have a large pool of potential candidates. A-B-Zee took the initiative to solicit with the local Job Centre. The result was that there were too many applications to be processed. The major constraint was time. As a result of the huge number of applications, there was constraint in the task of short-listing for interview which was as a resulted of the enormous volume of applications received. Majority of the applicants were of good quality Also, given the size of the task and the time available it was very likely that the quality of the short-listing decisions would be affected. The lay-out of the application form did not help the short-listing process at all. The most relevant information was not grouped together. This was a major constraint as well because more resources, effort and time had to be devoted to responding to all the applicants. The recruitment team was also faced with the constraint of having to respond quickly and courteously to all applicants (unsuccessful as well as short-listed applicants). This was in a bid to initiate and maintain goodwill among its potential customers. Also, the bid to recruit a balanced workforce across gender, age and ethnic group could not be achieved because, of the numerous applications received, very few were from the ethnic minority. In general, the recruitment process at the northern store proved to be very resource-intensive Individual and Organisational Benefits that could be gained by providing non-standard working arrangements for sales assistants. The organization: Benefits that A-B-Zee could gain if it provides non-standard working arrangements to the sales assistants include: Reduced absenteeism as the workers will have time to attend to family and personal commitments. This will guarantee a high staff attendance and increase productivity and efficiency in the stores (Wood & Payne 1998). Apart from that, non-standard working arrangements provide a wide pool of potential employees from which the HR department can choose from. Another major benefit tot he organisation is that it could also reduce the fixed costs associated with standard contracts and a constant working force which seem to ask for more payments as they stay at the company. Hiring part-time staff is a safer choice in this time of economic uncertainty and could also be a method for the company to screen and evaluate new-hires and perhaps offer them full-time positions in the future and when needed. The sales assisatants Benefits of non-standard working arrangements to the sales assistants include a work-life balance resulting in increased motivation and job satisfaction (Nadler, 1984). It also gives the employee the opportunity to enter into other endeavours, such as studying or taking up another part-time job that is not in conflict with the current one. Apart from this, it puts the employee in a position to accept or decline job offers that would require them to work longer ZZZhours. Mothers are exposed to the job market where they can obtain work experience, gain skills and sample the employment situation. Also, reacquiring work skills and confidence may be an interesting opportunity for mothers who have withdrawn from employment for a long period of time. (Mangum n. d. ; Howe 1986) Strategy, recommending how A-B-Zee’s next campaign might ensure a greater response from members of the ethnic minority community Initial survey of the labour market In order to attract more members of the ethnic minority in future recruitment campaigns, I believe that an initial survey of the labour market in question should be carried out before commencement of the recruitment process. This would give an insight into the location, size and needs of the ethnic minority in such labour market. Location of new stores The location of new stores may be considered based on the findings above, thus bringing the stores in close proximity to the ethnic minority. Advertisement and Application forms Creating awareness in the target area would increase the chances of getting applicants. As A-B-Zee is new to the labour market, placing advertisement on the radio and television and providing information to the public on what A-B-Zee is all about, what they do and when their superstores would be open, would definitely increase its awareness to the target community. Thus when job advertisements are placed, people have an idea of what company they are going to be potentially working for. The job advertisement should be able to reflect the company’s policy of recruiting a balanced workforce across gender, age and ethnic minority. This could be achieved by including the ethnic minority in the promotional materials i. . putting images of both ethnic and non-ethnic minority on the advertisement. This would catch the eye of any member of the ethnic minority that sees the advertisement and would encourage them to apply for the job. It should also emphasize on the part-time work schedule being offered by the company. Presenting a work schedule that encourages flexibility my appeal to women of the ethnic minority who believe that they might not have time to take care of their children (Moosa, 2009). Also by offering skills training in the advertisement, members of the ethnic minority may be encouraged to apply in a bid to be trained on their communication and interpersonal skills. The application forms should be simple, well laid out and should also include statements of assurance that A-B-Zee recruits a balanced workforce across gender, age and ethnic group. The selection and hiring process To attract more members of the ethnic minority, A-B-Zee needs to convince their target that the ethnic minority is well represented in the company. This I believe can be achieved by increasing the involvement of the minority in the interview process. Other recommendations that can help with the recruitment process include, 1. Carrying out a salary survey and review; It is possible that the pay rates based on the parent company’s standards may not be appealing to the target market of future campaigns. By carrying out a salary survey, A-B-Zee can calculate the competitive position of the company in terms of recruitment and can then review the salary being offered. 2. Considering using recruitment agencies in part or all of the recruitment process. This would definitely reduce the work-load on the Human Resources team. 3. Since the target market is people with parenting experience, A-B-Zee may offer child-care program to its prospective employees. Child care programs have proven to produce reductions in turn-over, less absenteeism, recruiting advantage and positive impact on productivity and at the same time serve the compan y’s public relation interest (Howe, 1986). In conclusion, resourcing for manpower for a new superstore is a very challenging task that requires proper planning and hard work, putting into consideration that the company is new to the labour market. In order to acquire a balanced workforce across gender, age and ethnic minority, cultural norms and barrier between the age groups as well as between the majority and minority have to be overcome. Raising awareness could also help to bring about more participation by the minorities in future recruitment campaigns.

Vying for Patients, Hospitals Think Location, Location.

INTRODUCTION. Hospitals are health care institutions that are normally located in areas that are densely populated. There are over 17,000 hospitals in the whole world. In accord with the original meaning of the word, hospitals were originally â€Å"places of hospitality†, and this meaning is still preserved in the names of some institutions such as the Royal Hospital Chelsea, established in 1681 as a retirement and nursing home for veteran soldiers. (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Hospital#General) In general, hospitals are normally located in areas where they are other major hospitals as a way to acquire materials at low transportation costs. Unlike other businesses like franchises like McDonalds that would prefer to be in an area where there are no other fast food outlets, hospitals enjoy the benefits of being near other hospitals not only in terms of supply of raw materials but also to acquire bigger market shares. Most hospitals are specialized to include trauma centers, rehabilitation hospitals, children's hospitals, seniors' (geriatric) hospitals, and hospitals for dealing with specific medical needs such as psychiatric problems, certain disease categories such as cardiac, oncology, or orthopedic problems, and so forth. A hospital may be a single building or a number of buildings on a campus. Many hospitals with pre-twentieth-century origins began as one building and evolved into campuses. Some hospitals are affiliated with universities for medical research and the training of medical personnel such as physicians and nurses, often called teaching hospitals. Worldwide, most hospitals are run on a nonprofit basis by governments or charities. Within the United States, most hospitals are nonprofit. (http://en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/Hospital#General)? 1. How can sales market share and profit be optimized for entire set of locations? A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. Market share is the percentage of a market (defined in terms of either units or revenue) accounted for by a specific entity. Optimized is to make the best or most effective use of (a situation, opportunity, or resource). Sales market share can be optimized through both internal and exter nal adaptations which would include; I. Benefits of the location of competitor’s proximity. Hospitals unlike other franchise companies enjoy many advantages of competitors being located near each other like; a. Reduced transport cost by suppliers. Medical supplies companies are normally located near hospitals and the proximity between hospital and supply reduces transport costs which in turn reduces the over roll costs. This advantage can help the hospital optimize sales through reduced prices for medical care and also maximize profits through reduced costs. b. Specialization. Hospitals normally specialize for example trauma centers, rehabilitation hospitals, children's hospitals, seniors' (geriatric) hospitals, and hospitals for dealing with specific medical needs such as psychiatric problems (see psychiatric hospital), certain disease categories such as cardiac, oncology, or orthopedic problems, and so forth. In cases where a patient needs to be transferred from on medical facility to another unlike other franchise companies can share patients and proximity between hospitals helps with that especially in emergency cases. This helps in sales market share and optimization of profits. c. Facilities. Proximity of hospitals helps hospitals share facilities like operating theaters, x-rays which in turn helps in minimizing of costs. This is unlike any other business and this benefits the patient in terms of reduced prices for treatment and reduced costs for the hospital that the helps them increase sales and optimize profits. II. Internal adaptations and their benefits would include upgrading facilities like; a. Improvement of the quality of services by hiring of the best doctors and equipment can help in the optimization of market share, sales and profits due to the loyal customers that keep coming back for more services. . Accessibility. Easy access of the hospital in terms of near main transportation routes and stations improves on sales and profit optimization because patients are able to be delivered to the hospital easily especially in times of an emergency. c. Customer friendly. The friendliness of the doctors, nurses and staff to patients not only helps in the sales market s hare and profit optimization but research shows that friendly doctors and nurses helps in the faster recovery of patients. d. Advertising. Research shows that the more advertising is done for a service or product provider the more increase in sales there is. This in turn leads to the increase in the market share and optimization of profits. e. Avalabitility of parking is one of the most important facts for any company especially hospitals because when there is an emergency ambulance cannot be bothered on finding parking and need places with enough parking space. f. Building and leasing costs. This is an important factor for most companies to minimize overall cost to offer lower prices to customers and also optimize profits but for hospitals this is of little relevance because good qualities building in good locations don’t come cheap. g. Upgrading facilities in hospitals can include acquiring of newer equipment like imaging equipment, physical therapy equipment, and so on. Now updated medical equipment is most important in the health care business because as patient needs keep changing so does the equipment. Unlike other businesses like food businesses, the health care business is one of those businesses that require constant upgrading especially when it comes to the equipment. h. Expanding some sites of hospitals requires expanding the services to provide more health care services like dental care, Optic care, and physiotherapy and so on. This will help in the handling of a wider range of patients with different health care needs which will help in the acquiring of a larger market share and optimize profits. 2. What potential sales do you believe can be realized from each solution suggested? a. Emergency patients are some of the potential sales that could be realized from both enough parking space and accessibility proved by good location near major transport stations and major roads. b. Loyal customers and patients can be realized from friendly doctors and nurses and also high quality services provided by the staff. . Advertising can help in the making of potential clients who in case of hospitals are virtually human being aware of the services the hospital provides for example; American Hospital in Dubai that advertises in Dubai international airport making all the passengers who go through Dubai airport know about their services. 3. Where, in each case, should outlets be located to optimize market share, sales and profits without negatively impacting on other outlets? a. In some cases hospitals lose market share when there are too many hysicians, medical suppliers and other healthcare providers within the community, and for that reason one may even pay top dollar for a less competitive environment especially in a community with no duplicative services. This can help in the easy domination of the market share especially if it’s the only hospital providing those services which will in turn optimize profits. In some other cases locating near other hospitals as discussed earlier helps in the reduction of transport cost. So with this factor one must weigh the benefits of locating away from other hospitals versus locating near other hospitals. b. The physical facility in terms of building is an important aspect in consideration of the location of a hospital. Depending on the kind of services the hospital wants to provide the building facilities must be conducive enough to accommodate the equipment to be used in the providing of those services. This will greatly impact the quality of services provided by the hospital that will help in the acquiring of larger market share and optimize profits. . The geography and demographic of the hospital’s location may plays an important role in market share and profit optimization. The hospital industry is highly regulated and as such is vulnerable to government reimbursement. For this reason, a highly profit hospital will likely have a growing pool of commercially insured patients. So a hospital may rather locate itself in neighborhoods’ of high incom e earners because they are the ones who are likely to have both the money and the insurance to pay the medical bills. This will greatly help in profit optimization because this will mean less patients receiving services on credit but rather more patients paying cash at hand. d. Traffic volumes are also an important factor in locating of hospitals. The less traffic an area has is an added advantage in the location of a hospital because of the need for emergency clients to be able to reach the hospital for a required service in the least time possible. This will help in the securing of the market share that has emergencies hence optimizing profits. e. Customer access in terms of a hospital being located near bus stations and main transport routes is another important factor because it helps customers to reach the hospital for the services it has to offer easily. This will help the securing of a larger market share hence optimizing profits. f. Big enough parking is also an important factor in locating of hospitals because in cases of emergencies ambulances need to have ready parking at all times in order to minimize the time in takes to take the clients to inside the hospital to receive their required services. In cases of mass accidents or hazards the state or district normally has recommended hospitals in such cases because of some of these factors. 4. What probable effects would there be on market share, sales and profits if a competitor located nearby? a. If the competitors are providing the same service for example child pediatrics, dentistry plastic surgery and so on, it can be a negative impact. This is so because if a hospital is located in an area where other hospitals are all providing the same service that would mean a reduced market share for each hence a reduction in sales and profits. b. In cases where hospitals in the area are providing different services is can be an added advantage because of the proximity between supplier, customer and service provider. Some hospitals recommend other hospitals in case a customer needs another service that hospital doesn’t offer. In that way proximity is important for both the hospital in terms of maximizing sales but also for the customer in terms of reduced transport costs to go and receive that service. CONCLUSION. Location, location, location is a very important or if not the most important factor in the success or the failure of a business. The factors that will determine the success or failure of a business will depend on what kind of business, whether is profit or nonprofit business one wants to set up and the kind of service or product that business intends to provide. Some businesses require being located near the customer, for example fast food franchises while other donot even need to be located near the customer like communications service providers. For hospitals location is important depending on what kind of service they plan to offer and what target market is intended. Is it a charity hospital for low income earners or is it a profit hospital for high income earners. But the reputation of a hospital is also a very important factor for example ‘JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL’ where with such a high demand for their very high quality specialized medical services, they can afford to provide both charity services to low income earners and also exclusive services for high income earners. So in efficient location of a hospital they many factors to be examined but even more importunately the aim of the hospital.