Bells Chemicals Coursework

Bells Chemicals is at present facing a major problem that it had never faced since its inception. As I have been given the responsibility to sort it out, I will work to the best of my knowledge and capabilities in arriving at an appropriate decision. The four-member team appointed to decide which of the two machines (Chemex and AFU) to purchase for its oldest product – Preserve, has not been successful in doing so.All the four members have their own viewpoints and the situation has become very confusing. The machines in the Preserve unit have not been replaced ever.They were performing well all these ten years, but now there is breakdown of one of the machines. There are two choices for the company i. e. buying the Chemex machine (the one that was being used all these years) again or to go for the new AFU unit. Arriving at a correct decision is the problem. Had the company made an autocratic decision there would have been no need to consult its key professionals. But this appr oach would have been termed unfriendly. The friendly approach has some of the disadvantages like the current dilemma.However, keeping aside other things, coming up with a perfect solution is the need of the hour now. I think the company should go for the Chemex machine. This decision of mine can be characterised as the rational way of decision-making. The Normative Decision Making model i. e. defining a problem and rigorously working around it has helped me in arriving at this decision. I have optimized as much as possible to come to a decision beneficial to the organisation. The rational approach of problem solving is the path I have taken. Main body of the report Mr. Steve Bell is not much interested in getting funds from outside.Especially when the company had recently financed most of its capital investments from its own retained profits, for products and capital investments for other products of the company. Capital required to install a new Chemex machine is much lower than th e AFU unit. Not only this, by installing the Chemex machine the company will also be saved with the hassle and stress of taking its first short term loan. The funding of regular operations of the company all round the year will get affected as the company has exhausted accumulated profits in developments and expansion of other products.Hence this financial year, internal funding is a major issue too. Operating cost of AFU unit is extremely expensive when compared to the operating cost of the Chemex. machine. At the present market stage it is impossible for the company to cover additional cost of ? 18000 as operating cost against advantages, which are not very well defined. If we go through the viewpoints of the marketing manager we can derive the following information about our present and expected market. †¢ Company’s production need for current market: 90000 Kg†¢ Company’s production need for expected market: 100000 Kg †¢ Annual market need for current market: 200000 Kg †¢ Annual market need for expected market: 250000 Kg When compared to the production and selling cost estimate of ? 320 per Kg for AFU unit to production and selling cost of ? 350 for Chemex machine, the AFU unit brings forward a brighter picture. Also with the AFU unit production and selling cost can be reduced by ? 2700000 a year at current production rate but we cannot neglect the high acquisition and operating cost attached to the AFU unit either.Retaining present market share should be the current goal of the company keeping in mind the emergence of new competitors in the market. The chief chemist has been trying to modify the product; Preserve so that it can be used in wider ranges of food products, but has not been successful yet. The increase in market demand at this market stage can also not be predicted. Therefore demand for increase in production is out of the way. Hence for the next couple of years it is advisable to install a new Chemex machine i nstead of the AFU unit to satisfactorily cover the market growth.Why to waste money on an expensive machine when a cheaper one can meet the requirements successfully? Quality is one of the major issues for the marketing manager with new competitors in the horizon. The marketing manager will naturally aim to increase, or at least retain his market share for the best benefits. If the AFU unit is installed then, there will be a major quality inconsistency. Chances are that the other Chemex machine that is giving good performance and the new AFU unit will produce different qualities of the same product. This is quiet normal because two different machines can give different end results.The integrity of the company will become questionable then. Customers will find two different items in two similarly packaged products. They might react negatively in this situation and chances are they might even turn to the products of our competitors. This is a big price to pay if AFU is installed. Inst alling AFU unit has one advantage and that is – it does not require expenditure in quality control as it has an automatic quality control system. On the other hand the recruited technicians of the company do the quality control of the Chemex machines.They are the regularly paid staff. With the installation of the AFU unit they will have to be paid the same money for half of the their actual work. Their salary cannot be cut down as chances of revolt in the company can erupt because they will never allow a cut in their salaries for no fault of theirs. Hence from this angle too it is a more intelligent step to go for the Chemex machine instead of the AFU unit. Keeping the high cost of the AFU unit, its maintenance will probably be good but we cannot be sure without testing it.Chemex machines require regular maintenance but this is not a problem for the company. Since Chemex is a local company, any breakdown is immediately rectified. After working with the Chemex machines for suc h a long period of time, the technicians have also become experts in handling its minor problems to a great extent. But the breakdown of the AFU unit will become a major headache for the company for sometime. Each time anything will go wrong, the company will have to get totally dependent on its manufactures who are not local like that of the Chemex machines.A lot of time will get wasted in all this. Keeping this factor in mind, again the Chemex machine scores over the AFU unit. Another major concern is the after sales service. After Sales Service of Chemex has been tested and they have always satisfied the company so the future is secure with this supplier. This cannot be said in the AFU’s case at the moment. I have applied Creative Decision Making model, Optimizing model, Kralijic’c Purchasing model and of course the Normative Decision Making model while arriving at the decision regarding the purchase of the correct machine.Through Creative Decision Making model I re cognized the problem after going through the case study. By going through the viewpoints of the four key members of the SMG team, I coherently arranged the information regarding the two machines. I analyzed the whole problem from different angles with the help of the information I had gathered and arranged. I came out with multiple solutions of the same problem. Then I went through all the alternatives one by one and chose the most correct option. Through the Optimizing model I was able to optimise the alternatives of the problem situation.Since this model is similar to the Creative Decision Making Model and the rational approach that I took, things became easier to sort out. According to Have et. al. (2003, p. 115) â€Å"The Kralijic’s (1983) purchasing model and the variations developed over the last decades help management select the most appropriate purchasing strategies for different types of products, thereby optimizing the trade-off between cost and risk. Costs includ e both the direct and indirect cost of purchasing, for example, management time, and trouble shooting and drawing up contracts. Two basic dimensions are included in Kraljic’s matrix:†¢ Impact on financial result †¢ Supply risk (or uncertainty)† I went through this approach too, to arrive at a strong and appropriate decision. Since requirement of this report was to base it on the Normative Decision Making model I followed the following steps while approaching the decision: †¢ Defining of the exact problem †¢ Setting of the objectives †¢ Identifying the alternatives †¢ Evaluating appropriately †¢ Making choice of the best alternative †¢ Sensitivity Analysis †¢ Arriving at the best decision Recommendation I recommend the company to go ahead and purchase the Chemex machine.By doing so the company would not only be paying attention to the profitability of the company, financial viability of the decision but also the satisfaction l evel of its entire staff. The customer will also remain loyal to the company because they will not find any inconsistency in the products they have got used to since the past ten years. The members of the SMG team who were pro AFU unit will also agree with me if they go through this report as at this stage when we have limited resources and growing number of competitors we should stick to the theory that ‘the old is gold’.References Drennan, D. , and Pennington, S. , 1999. 12 Ladders To World Class Performance: how YOUR organization can compete with the best in the world. UK: Kogan Page Limited. Fitzroy, P. , and Hulbert, J. , 2005. Strategic Management: Creating Value In Turbulent Times. Great Britain: John Wiley & Sons, INC. Have, S. T. , et. al. , 2003. Key Management Models: the management tools and practices that will improve your business. Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited. Hegde, Y. S. , and Krishna, R. , 1993. The A to Z of Management Skills. New Delhi: U BSPD.

“A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes Essay

The poem A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes basically describes what happens to dreams when they are put on hold. The speaker in the poem originally entitled it Harlem, which is the capital of African-American life in the United States. The title was changed to accommodate all dreams in general, and what happens when people postpone making them come true. The speakers attitude toward the poem is an advice-giving attitude. The poet doesnt want people to postpone getting what they want. The poem is written in an informative/caring tone to help people live the lives they dream of having. In the opening of the poem, the poet uses a visual image, which is a simile, to compare a deferred dream to a raisin. The speaker asks the question Does it dry up/like a raisin in the sun? (2-3) This phrase creates the image of a raisin that used to be a firm, moist, and healthy-looking grape that has become shriveled up into a raisin. The speaker doesnt emphasize the appearance of the raisin, so it isnt as good of an image as the simile. This image gives an emotional effect of a dream deferred shriveling up and turning dark because the sun has baked it. The words and phrases, Or fester like a sore(4), and Or crust and sugar over(7) are both symbolic of the hard manual labor that African-Americans had during the early 1900s. Maybe it just sags / like a heavy load(9-10) is a great picture of a dream that sits within a person and weighs there making everything else one does never enough. As the reader puts all of these illusions together, ones own dreams and ideals are brought to the surface just as Hughes brings his poem to a close with style. Or does it explode (11) is the most powerful line of the poem. It is separated from the other lines of the poem and italicized, adding emphasis to it visually. The concept of a dream exploding is a powerful conclusion of what could happen to the poet’s or reader’s dreams if they are pushed aside or unable to be pursued. All in all, this poem is a very universal poem as far as advocating for all types of people. This poem uses no forms of rhyme or meter, but it does use one form of a sound effect. The one example is the line Or does it explode? (11), in which the word explode gives a strong meaning of sound. The sound affects the  sense of the poem by showing that it could all end in a big disastrous bang. The elements that are most important to the poem are the quotes Does it dry up/like a raisin in the sun? (2-3) and Or fester like a sore(4). The elements that contribute least to the poems effectiveness are the quotes And then run? (5) and like a heavy load (10). The poems title means that people have dreams that they would like to pursue, but obstacles make them keep procrastinating and/or putting them off. The poem means that many people, no matter what race, all have dreams that they would like to have come true, but they just linger around in the back of their minds. I responded to it by agreeing to the whole concept. I have many dreams that I would like to of had come true, but there have been certain obstacles that have gotten in the way. It doesnt remind me of anything in particular, but there are some instances that are similar, such as wanting to drive when I turned 16, but because I took drivers training late, I couldnt. This poem tells me to pursue the dreams that I have if at all possible. A Dream DeferredBy: Langston HughesWhat happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore–And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over–like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load. Or does it explode? â€Å"A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes.† CSWNET. 25 June 1996. 25 April 2008 .

Case Study of MGM Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Of MGM - Case Study Example The highly competitive nature of the hospitality and gaming industry is considered one of the biggest threats for MGM. The competitors vary considerably in terms of their size, quality of services, financial potency and capabilities, level of facilities and the diversity that exists in terms of geographic location. MGM faces competition from several public and private companies that operate in the hotel, gaming and resort business. In just the short period, that MGM has been in the market, its portfolio has vastly increased. MGM is actively in pursuit of development opportunities in the main regions that show some form of opportunity, both domestically and internationally. However, now MGM seems to be highly reliant on Las Vegas to generate the larger part of its revenue. Secondly, MGM has taken up several initiatives in order to set it apart from its competitors. Building themed hotels came outdated and a clichà © over time, which in turn necessitated the need for MGM to take up on something different and unique. This is relevant in ensuring that the hotel can offer to its customers what the other hotels in the hospitality and gaming industry do not have to offer. Furthermore, in order to get a head start in the changing era of the competitive industry, MGM has collaborated with the digital entertainment party known, as bwin party waiting for the time when gambling shall be made legal. The world is vastly changing to be a digital and customers are everyday hoping to do everything online. Offering online poker is likely to give MGM competitive advantage in the gaming industry. The resource-based model is ideal when venturing into international markets as a way of maintaining competitive advantage and attaining above average returns. Furthermore, MGM should focus on training the employees in order to deliver consistent excellent customer service across all of its

Theories of Human Communication, the social media and the Arab spring Essay

Theories of Human Communication, the social media and the Arab spring - Essay Example The first wave of such a change was felt with the advent of mobile phones and the short messaging services (SMS) offered by them. Electronic media like e-mail and instant messaging followed next. Just when it seemed that communication couldn’t get any better, social media and networking via the internet took over, bringing people from every nook and corner of the world together onto a single platform. Though the world has been called a ‘global village’ since the beginning of this century, it was in this decade that the label served its true purpose. Human communication has attained a new definition, and is now at its full force through social media. Social media has been the major driving force behind the Arab uprising that is reverberating in the Arab world today, and it is only through social media that people are at freedom to voice their thoughts and fight for what they deserve. According to S.F. Scudder, "All living entities, beings and creatures communicate. They communicate through movements, sounds, reactions, physical changes, gestures, languages, breath, etc†1. This statement is a part of the theory of communication and is known as the ‘Universal Communication Law’. Indeed, communication is an integral part of living, and it is impossible to survive without it. Communication models and their relevance in today’s times Adler and Rodman, in their insightful book, Understanding Human Communication, describe two different modes of communication, namely linear and transactional. According to the linear communication model, â€Å"communication is like giving an injection: a sender encodes ideas and feelings into some sort of message and then conveys them to a receiver who decodes them† (12). Face-to-face contact and other conventional channels like writing are included in this form of communication. The transactional model of communication is more fluidic and relational. There is a â€Å"simultaneous sen ding and receiving† of messages. This kind of communication includes mass media2 and social interaction. Face-to-face communication is decreasing rapidly, with the advent of social networking and electronic means of communication. In fact, many major surveys have pointed out that those who are more prone to the use of social networks are less likely to maintain face-to-face interactions in daily life. This brings us to the relevance of the linear mode of communication. While it is still a necessity in daily commute, human communication in recent times is largely based on the transactional model. Everyone is turning towards video conferencing, instant messaging, tweeting, and social networking in order to â€Å"stay in touch† with acquaintances. How social media defines our lives today An assessment of the impact of social media, in recent times, indicates that a majority of the population depends on the internet for most of their daily needs. As described by Adler and R odman: Until recently, most social support came from personal acquaintances: friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and so on. In the last ?fteen years, though, there has been an explosion of â€Å"virtual communities† in which strangers meet online to share interests and concerns, and to gain support from one another on virtually every problem. The most popular support topics include medical conditions, eating disorders, sexual orientation, divorce, shyness, addictions, and loneliness (140). As is evident from this scenario,

Globalization Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Globalization - Case Study Example Many things have conspired to make this trend a reality, primary of which is the constant push for globalization from liberal political theories that a â€Å"rising tide lifts all boats† as famously uttered by former president John F. Kennedy in one of his speeches. Another is rapid technology, especially in the areas of information and communications technologies (ICT) in which both geographic distance and time zone differentials had been shortened or compressed, in what is now called as a â€Å"flat world† where people produce goods and services continuously on a twenty-four hour basis. A very frequent theme of globalization critics is the concept of a â€Å"race to the bottom† in which manufacturers try to get the cheapest products made abroad at the lowest labor costs possible. These issues are the main concerns in this management case study regarding bicycle manufacturing. Discussion Super Sized Cycles is a little niche maker of custom-built bicycles intende d for big (obese or fat) people who are too big or heavy for ordinary and conventional bicycles. It is owned by Ms. Denizot and is in existence for barely five years already and operates out of the Burlington city in Vermont State in the United States of America. Her bikes are certainly not cheap, as these costs range from $699 up to $3,395 in price but these are built sturdier to carry overweight people and not collapse under a heavy load; the wheels, tires, seats, and steel frames are built much stronger than ordinary bikes. Sales last year was around $104,000 only. Mission Statement – Big Bikes for Big People at an affordable price of high quality Target Market – the obvious target market for this small niche-market manufacturer of big bikes are people who are obese or overweight which ordinary bicycles cannot carry as their big weight cause these ordinary bikes to either collapse or suffer a flat tire. There is now a sizable number of people who belong to this cate gory of overweight people as there is an on-going obesity epidemic in the United States of America due to changing lifestyle patterns, primarily the lack of any adequate physical exercise to burn off excess calories and the habits of many people to consume a lot of junk foods such as fast-food which are low in nutrients but high in bad cholesterol. In fact, this obesity epidemic is now so bad it is estimated that one out of every three adult Americans is considered overweight based on the body mass index or BMI which is the easiest way to measure if a person is obese or not (The Economist para. 3). Even children today are also markedly obese compared to kids two or three decades ago. Economists have considered imposing a so-called â€Å"fat tax† to discourage the people from eating too much junk food these days. However, there is another more positive approach to changing people behaviors through an activist approach which is to encourage obese people to be more physically ac tive through exercise. One of the healthier and more fun ways to do so is through biking and Super Sized Cycles has wonderfully found this viable alternative by offering to overweight people the chance to own a bike that is suitable for their size. There is a clear customer need for big bikes for big people who often cannot find the right bike. A generic business-level strategy for this small company for big bikers is to market exclusively to people who are considered obese based on their individual BMI. This is a type of focused strategy which means the company should sell big bikes only and nothing else that will dilute its strategy and make it lose its marketing focus. Examples are the two models that the owner had developed by herself (named as â€Å"

DADT Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

DADT Policy - Essay Example To address the problem of cost for the American people with regards to implementing the DADT policy, it’s interesting to look at how many people have been discharged over the years. According to United States Government Accountability Office (GAO, 2009), there are around 620 discharged military personnel accused under DADT from 2006-2008. Most people discharged under the policy have served the military for more than two years, making it hard and costly to replace them. According to GAO (2009), it costs an estimated $193.3 million to replace the thousands of servicemen who have been discharged from 2004-09 due to the DADT policy. To consider the personal cost to those discharged people is harder. But most people working more than two years for the military must have chosen it as a career. To be sacked due to one’s sexual orientation is not only horrible but might also destroy these people’s financial situation and future job possibilities. It might prove hard to f ind a job that could match what they were deemed unfit for, and the recovery could take a long time. Both personal and administrative in implementing DADT is unnecessary and burden to all American taxpayers. The unfortunate truth about DADT is that its implementation is not aligned with what our allies believe in. Today, there are 25 countries that allow gays to serve their armed forces including Canada, Australia, Israel and the UK. Of all the original NAT countries, only the US and Turkey still have bans on homosexuals in the military in place.

The Driver Responsibility Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Driver Responsibility Law - Essay Example According to the Driver Responsibility Law, the revenues collected are entered in the General Fund of the state. Since the year 2003, the collections made from the Driver Responsibility Law have exceeded $65 million. In the year 2008, the revenue generated from the Driver Responsibility Law summed up to $114.2 million out of which, about $8.5 million went to the fire protection grants whereas the remaining money was added to the general fund (â€Å"Lawmakers should stop†). The rate of collection is roughly 50 % as the fees when added to the regular fine become punitively high. According to an estimate, â€Å"[m]ore than half of the surcharge notices had resulted in license suspension for non-compliance (53% or 60,723). There were a total of 112,561 DWI offenders participating in the program. Of these offenders, only 11% were in compliance (12,493 drivers)† (Price 29). ... They are common respectable citizens, who somehow could not get the license renewed before driving their cars. Reasons for which their licenses are suspended include but are not limited to having unsatisfactory driving record in terms of too many points, and drunk driving. Many drivers are penalized for committing even minor offenses like forgetting to pay a ticket. For some reason, they are not able to make it to the court, and are thus suspended. Many among these people are unemployed, foreclosed, and poor, with no money to afford such expenses. A vast majority of them are found guilty of not paying the draconian Driver Responsibility Law imposed upon them by the state. Its charges supersede those of any other offense. Currently, lawmakers are advancing towards the eradication of fees that are overly punitive because such fees play a role in filling the budget holes while being ineffective in deterring dangerous driving behaviors. However, one of the most significant hurdles in thi s way is the replacement of the driver responsibility charges worth millions of dollars a year for a cash-strapped state. The Driver Responsibility Law is imposed when a driver fails to compensate or keep-up with a plan of payment. As a result of this, the Department of Treasury sends a notice to the Secretary of State, which in turn suspends the license. The concerned driver is not even notified of the same. To make it worse, the Driver Responsibility Law offers no protection against anything. Now when the very driver displays any kind of unacceptable traffic behavior including having an expired plate on the car, having a cracked windshield, or over-speeding, the police officer stops the driver and tells him that his driver’s license is

Introduction to International Business Global Marketing Assignment

Introduction to International Business Global Marketing - Assignment Example Furthermore, as the retail market of China is growing rapidly just as United States, so, the organization of Wal-Mart desired to penetrate Chinese Markets (Yates, 2013). The Chinese retail market is recognized as one of the most growing market, with estimated revenues of $ 860 billion in the year 2006. Moreover, it is estimated that the retail revenue of the Chinese market might increase to $ 2.4 trillion by 2020. This estimated attracted the world’s leading retailer, Wal-Mart to penetrate into the market of China as compared to others. However, it had to face wide range of challenges or risks at the time of penetration or expansion. These are stated as below. Customer Preferences: this is recognized as one of the most important challenge that the organization of Wal-Mart had to face at the time of penetrating the market of China. However, in order to mitigate the challenge, the organization decided to implement the strategy of ‘go-native’, i.e. local adoption. The organization of Wal-Mart decided to implement the taste and preferences of the local customers so as to attract a wide range of customers of varying income groups and cultures. For example: Wal-Mart decided to offer fresh foods for dining purposes so as to enhance the reliability and loyalty of the customers towards the brand (Gereffi & Ong, 2012). Culture: the organization of Wal-Mart adopts the local culture of China at the time of promoting the products so as to attract a wide range of customers towards the brand that might amplify its brand value and market share. Logistics and supply Chain: in order to mitigate the logistics and supply chain issues, the organization of Wal-Mart recruited a wide range of suppliers in order to attain the ingredients very easily (Gereffi & Ong, 2012). Economic risks: inflation rates acted as one of the biggest economic risk for the organization

Using Calculus in curves for bridges, tunnels, and more (engineering) Research Paper

Using Calculus in curves for bridges, tunnels, and more (engineering) - Research Paper Example examine the role of calculus in physics at large and specifically determination of the use of calculus in the development of bridges, tunnels as well as curves. There is high level of integration of calculus within the entire discipline of physical sciences. (Charles, R. I. 2005)This can be found in both physics as a physical science and biology as a physical science. One can also be able to find calculus in statistics and all the disciplines that relate to it, engineering and its entire spectrum, in economics, business as well as in medicine. Other areas that has witnessed the exploitation of the use of calculus include modern development. By modern development, it is important to appreciate that areas such as architecture rely extensively in the use of calculus. Another are of modern development is the field of aviation. In this area, calculus are used extensively as this paper will try to reveal in the subsequent pages. From this end, the study shall examine specific areas and also try to elaborate the importance of the use of calculus in those particular areas. The first most important area where calculus has been extensively used is â€Å"finding the slope of a curve†. There is a generalized method that can always be used to find a slope of a curve. Usually, this require particular formula of operation. Calculus can always provide a tried and tested formula for this with almost absolute accuracy. The nature of the slope is that it is always fairly elementary. By the use of some algebraic formulas, this can always be determined without any problem. To find the steepness of such a slope, there is a need to utilize calculus in determining such slope. Finding the steepness of a slope can be important in a lot more areas of the study. For example, in civil engineering, construction of roads and bridges will rely on the ability of the engineers to calculate the steepness of a given place. This would enable them determine what actions need to be taken on

A Summary of the Guidelines to Achieving Effective Reading Essay Example for Free

A Summary of the Guidelines to Achieving Effective Reading Essay Effective reading is essential to a learner’s success and it can only be achieved by having the right instructions and teaching methods applied. The instructions must be given in the best way possible to ensure that the learners meet their desired objectives. Instruction implementation should happen in a way that it does cover every form of information technologies, including the networked information which evidently is rapidly growing. The following paper will summarize the guidelines to the achievement of these effecting skills. Effective Reading among Learners Learning reading methods has been found to require a lot of improvement in schools in order to have the learner reading with a lot of ease and without lots of problems. Research has shown that teachers need to employ methods that should help their learners know how to go about their reading. It has also been realised that beginners need to be given introductory skills on reading because this aids in the improvement of their performance and promotes success. In relation to this, the International Reading Association has position statements that guide teachers on how to go about teaching the reading methods. With this in place, there are still controversies over the positions. The controversy comes as a result of some children not applying the methods as taught and hence making it appear as though the teacher has not followed the instruction as stated. On the other hand, as much as there is controversy in methods of teaching reading, there seems to be less controversy in what a child should learn. A skilled reading methods teacher can see their learners and know what to teach to each of the children so that in the end, the teaching methods are effectively taught to the learners. When teaching children reading skills, the teacher must know what to teach to which learner. A child who has learnt letter sounds does not require phonemic lessons, therefore the method employed on every child, depends on the child’s level of advancement in learning. In accordance with this, it is proper that the federal state only offer support and provides resources to the policy makers for them to make the positions because they stand a better chance of formulating the positions. The International Reading Association recommends that the school district must involve the parents in helping the teachers know their children and thus aid in their academic progress. The Role of Teaching Specialists in Ensuring All Children Learn How to Read According to the National Researcher council, it is important that all schools have a reading specialist whose role is to assist children master their reading skills. This is also as a result of the complex situations and the wide range of diversity in schools today. They together with the teachers work to ensure that all children emerge good readers. A reading specialist is a person with educational credentials and therefore, is a professional with qualifications and experience required by the education body and meets the proficiencies of the standards. The specialists may work in one or more of the available education levels ranging from early childhood to secondary to private institutions across to the adult learners. It is recommended that the specialists working with the adult learners need to have more understanding for their learners. Children range from those who are fit and healthy to those from poor backgrounds, those with physical, psychological and emotional problems. There are also those that are struggling to learn English and therefore those with problems as regards their reading require the help of a reading consultant to guide them. The role of a reading specialist in helping the students improve their reading include:- (a) Instructive role whereby the specialist does the work of supplementing and enhancing the work of the classroom teacher who must work collaboratively with the reading specialist. The two can give the instructions in class or the specialist may give instructions outside the classroom if student requires specialized instructions. (b) The specialist also does the assessment of the development of literacy levels. This the specialist may do by observing the student, evaluating the results of the past literacy tests. The specialist also plays the role of coordination with the district and state standards. He or she gives the report on the development in literacy learning. (c) All coupled, reading specialists have the leadership role in that they aid the teachers, administrators and parents to get to understand more about teaching reading. By collaborating with both teachers and parents, they help build good home school connections. This therefore calls for reading specialists to be knowledgeable and be professionally fit to perform their work effectively. Internet and Its Impact on Even Literacy Levels across the Globe In today’s world, the levels of literacy change every time given the availability of the internet. With the technology in place, learners are required to update their knowledge in order to have their literacy levels right. In order to have the learners and the first improving technology at per, a number of factors must be looked into. These include the rapid rate at which the internet is getting into almost all classrooms in the developed nations around the world and therefore calls for proper measures to be put in place to ensure the children get access to it. This is done by having computers connected to the internet in every classroom. Equity in the access of internet in the developed and developing nations should be improved in order to avoid widening the literacy gap between the two sets of nations. Education that is adequate should be provided and development of staff needs to be done to ensure the teachers frequently integrate new literalises in their curriculum. Teachers’ education programs can greatly help in preparing the teachers in using the new instruction technologies. To achieve the desired results, the Professional Literacy Organization should offer support in the provision of creative initiatives and increased access, provide professional development and enhance the teachers’ education program. With the above wanting to be acted on, the public policies must be adjusted in such a manner that reading is not only defined around books but should include the networked information technologies that have become vital in the success of students. Reading must be effectively taught and to achieve this, teachers should make use of professional development to learn new instruction strategies. They should also give equal opportunities to students in accessing the ICT facilities. In general, to have reading teachings succeed; Parents, teachers, school administrators, teachers’ educators, policymakers and researchers must collaborate to have learning maintained at the required standards. Recommendation In order for reading beginners to eventually become successful students, they need to have obtained the necessary skills that mould them into perfect readers. The U. S. agenda aims at improving the literacy performance of students, considering the increasing demands for educating all students to achieve at high levels. It is important that schools have qualified personnel to address the challenges facing the students. Such personnel must include a professional reading specialist as a core member of the educational team. However, middle schools and high schools should have the same instructional support, because effective reading instruction must be guided by reading specialists across all grade levels. In addition to this, networked information technologies require incorporation so that learning meets demands of the rapidly improving education levels. References International Reading Association, 1999. Using Multiple Methods of Beginning Reading Instruction. Retrieved from www. reading. org . International Reading Association, 2000. Teaching All Children to Read: The Roles Reading Specialist. Retrieved from www. reading. org . International Reading Association, 2009. New Literacies and 21st Century Technologies. Retrieved from www. reading. org .

Recognising Children at Risk (Child Protection) | Case Study

Recognising Children at Risk (Child Protection) | Case Study A given scenario on Recognising Children at Risk (Child Protection). The essay should be based on a given scenario, which has been divided into three sections with question prompts at the end of each section which should assist the essays focus. Section One Stephen and Eileen have been together for seven years and have two children aged five and eleven months. Eileen also has a daughter aged ten from a previous relationship. The family seemed to function quite well until Stephen lost his job a year ago. He has been unable to find other employment and has been drinking heavily, this means that the family have financial worries and this impacts on family relationships. Eileen has recently found a part-time job and leaves the baby with Stephen. In light of his drinking problems, his being left in sole charge of a very young child would, in itself, be an area for concern. The neighbour’s concern was justified with regard to children she was used to seeing on a regular basis. Both the teacher and the school nurse have concerns with regard to the children’s wellbeing. The rows and screaming that the woman overheard tend to suggest that there is violence in the home and it is well documented that this has a deleterious effect on children and their behaviour. The police referred the neighbour’s concerns over the Drake/Harris family and it thus warrants an initial assessment, which should take place within seven days of the original referral. An initial assessment would involve the social worker visiting the family home and seeking permission to speak with staff at the school, the Health Visitor , and the family’s G.P. as well as the family themselves. This might also involve a request for the children to be examined by the family doctor and a report made for Social Services. There would need to be some kind of assessment as to the extent of violence in the family and how that is affecting the family’s wellbeing. It is often a good idea to see how the children respond to questions regarding what has been happening at home recently. At the same time the Social Worker might want to establish that the family are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to while the man is unemployed. I think it would also be appropria te that if the mother is to continue working then alternative arrangements need to be made for the baby’s care while she is at work. Once these initial elements are addressed then a multi-agency case conference needs to be convened in order to assess what might be the best way forward for the whole family. This would usually consist of the Social Worker his/her immediate superior, someone from the child protection scheme, the police (as the referral was made by them) teacher, health visitor and the parents. Eileen denies that her partner inflicted the bruising noted on her arms and legs and insists that she fell down the stairs. This is a common response by women subjected to domestic violence. The father has a problem with alcohol and is also known to indulge in violent outbursts and this raises serious concerns as to whether he is a suitable person to be left in charge of an eleven month old baby. Clearly the family is in need of further support under the terms of the 1989 Act and a full multi-agency assessment of those needs is required. Stephen sees this as interfering and insists that his only problems are lack of work and money. Eileen is more compliant and agrees to visit the GP with the children. Although the GP has few concerns with regard to the children’s wellbeing other than the fact that they have lost some weight and the baby is not gaining weight at the rate expected, there are some concerns that Eileen might be suffering from depression. Staff at the school report that there are some concerns over the children’s behaviour which has altered considerably over the past few months. Jack in particular has been displaying behaviour that is normally associated with a two or three year old, doing anything to attract attention. This was also noted at the initial assessment when Jack was jumping all over the place. His reception class teacher also reported that she had noticed a lack of concentration in class. Cathy and Jack were clearly unhappy with the situation at home and with any attempt to question them about what was happening. It might be that they were simply trying to protect their parent’s privacy but Cathy’s reluctance to talk about the b ruises she received and what has been going on raises concerns as to whether Stephen’s violence is restricted to their mother or whether it extends to the children. It is also of concern that a previously lively ten year old should now be withdrawn. This kind of withdrawal is a common occurrence among children who witness violence in the home and those who have worked with children witnessing domestic violence (Abbott Wallace, 1997). Section Two A week after the initial visit the Health Visitor has reported that she has some concerns over the baby’s health and is also concerned for Eileen who has just discovered that she is pregnant with a fourth child and has bruising to her face. Eileen has admitted to the Health Visitor that Stephen hit her during a row over money she agrees to again visit the GP with Lucy. The doctor did not examine Eileen but noted that the baby Lucy had some bruising on her arm which her mother said had been caused by her brother Jack throwing a toy. This is new information and actually requires a further assessment of the family’s needs. Agencies, both statutory and non-statutory, have a duty with respect to safeguarding children. This was highlighted in research evidence (1995) and further documented in the Department of Health 1999 Report Working together to safeguard children. Guidance has tended to be clearer and more prà ©cised in accordance with Lord Laming’s recommendation s over the Victoria Climbie enquiry (Laming, 2003). A whole series of measures have since been put in place to target families such as the Drake/Harris’s. The Joint Chief Inspector’s Report, Safeguarding children (2002) defines safeguarding children and their families in the following way: All agencies working with children, young people and their families take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimized, and where there are concerns about children and young people’s welfare, all agencies take all appropriate action to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies. Under section 17 of the 1989 Children’s Act the authority has a duty to treat the Drake/Harris children as children in need. This means that the family will need some service provision in order to ease the immediate strain and to give better prospects for the children’s emotional, physical and social development. Eileen has admitted to having suffered violence at the hands of her partner and is now concerned because she is pregnant with another child. The Health Visitor suggests a termination but as yet it is not clear whether Eileen is going to take this route. While there is no immediate reason to suspect that Lucy is being ill treated there is some concern that she is left in the care of her father for two afternoons a week while her mother is working. It is recommended that alternative care be found for Lucy. Under Section 18 (1) of the 1989 Act it may be possible to arrange nursery care for those afternoons.[1] At the present time there are a number of concerns associated with this family. The concern for Lucy has already been expressed and although it is not clear that either her or the other two children have suffered violence they are certainly affected by the situation. In view of this, and the husband’s resistance to outsider involvement it may be necessary to apply to the Courts for a Child Assessment Order. It seems fairly clear that the family does need some support during this crisis and that without such support the children will be at risk of harm due to a number of factors.The family circumstances i.e. unemployed father and significant financial problems, indicate that the children’s development (even without domestic violence) is liable to suffer. Sidebotham, et al’s (2002) study of parents and children and children on the At Risk Register, found that in homes where there was unemployment and financial deprivation children ran a greater risk of being abused . The researchers found a clear link between social and economic deprivation and the risk of abuse. The Health Visitor phones the next week and explains that Eileen came into the surgery that morning in a terrible state as she thinks she is pregnant again. The health visitor noticed that baby Lucy appeared unwell again, with a bad cold and problems breathing and that there was bruising on the left side of Eileen’s face and over her right shoulder. When the HV asked her about the bruising, Eileen admitted that Stephen had hit her during a row the night before. She claimed that Stephen had been full of remorse and promised to make amends and did not want the HV to tell anyone else about it. Eileen was still worried about how he would take the news that she is pregnant again. The Health Visitor had advised Eileen about the possibilities of a termination of the pregnancy and suggested that she make an appointment to discuss this with the GP and to check her injuries and Lucy’s chest and breathing, which seemed poor. On checking with the GP after surgery this morning the H V has discovered that he only examined Lucy and gave a prescription for medication for her cold and severe nappy rash. Eileen’s own injuries and her possible pregnancy were not discussed. The Doctor however did also notice bruising on the baby, which the mother told him had been caused by Jack, her brother, throwing a toy. The second assessment was decided over the telephone by several representatives. The family receive another visit and this time the social worker is joined by the Child Protection Officer injuries to Lucy are again questioned. Steven admitted to striking Eileen while she was holding the baby and the team decided that the injuries to Lucy were non-accidental. Concern was also expressed over her significant weight loss. Section Three Gardner (2002) in a study undertaken for the NSPCC found that support services could be of significant help under these circumstances and that 58% of children considered to be at risk, and had access to support services, showed significant improvement in their development after these measures were put in place. In 2001 the Government commissioned the Children in Need Census[2] which attempted to establish why children accessed children in need services, what type of provision they accessed and the costs associated with that provision. The Drake/Harris children are further at risk due to Stephen’s alcohol abuse. Harwin and Forester (2002) found that in cases where the parents misused drugs or alcohol, the children often came to the attention of Social Services as a result of concern for their safety and well being. Over 290 cases across four London Boroughs, showed that a third of those requiring long term intervention had parents with some form of substance misuse. This caused concern in a number of areas, particularly where there were children under the age of six. In the present case two of the children, Jack aged 5 and Lucy aged 11 months should be assessed as potentially being at considerable risk. It would seem that there is sufficient concern that a core assessment might be suggested at the inter-agency case conference as there is some evidence to suggest that a deeper and more comprehensive evaluation of both the family circumstances and their needs should be carried out. It is not clear how Cathy’s injuries were received and perhaps a Child Protection Plan might be considered at the Child Protection conference. The most immediate threat, the father, has agreed to leave the house for a week. This negates the need for a care order to remove the children to a place of safety. He should receive some advice and support on how to handle his drinking. It might also be appropriate to suggest anger management. However, the father is expected to return and there is therefore a need to place all three children on the child protection register. It would seem appropriate for both Jack and Cathy to be placed on the register under two categories, emotional abuse (due to domestic violence) and physical abuse, although in Jack’s case there is no evidence and in Cathy’s case the evidence as to how she received the injuries is unclear this is still a cause for concern. Lucy is the child that raises the most concern and it would seem appropriate that she be registered under three categories, emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect. This last is due to her significant weight loss, coupled with nappy rash which should have been seen by a doctor before the referral. Sometimes when domestic violence is an issue children become neglected because the mother is so engrossed with dealing with the violence and her own feelings that she does not always take sufficient notice of what is happening to her children (Dobash and Dobash, 1992). It might also be helpful if the family were assigned a regular family support worker who could keep an eye on the children’s development and lend support with baby until the mother was feeling better. She also needs to be given information regarding refuges and domestic violence issues in case the husband returns and is again violent. All of the above could be problematic, many families are frightened when they hear about the child protection register and think that children remain on it. The mother would need to be reassured that when a suitable time has elapsed and the team are convinced the children are no longer at risk then they can be de-registered. Whether the father will agree to alcohol counseling and anger management is not known at this moment and if he refuses this could become quite problematic. It is for this reason that it seems appropriate to give the mother advice over what she can do to avoid the same scenario. The parenting support might also be objected but, if necessary, this can be enforced by a court order. The school would need to be informed as to the progress of the family. The Health Visitor should continue visiting regularly and report any problem areas to the GP and to the social worker. If the father is compliant and either stays out of the family home or obtains the help outlined above then there should be no need for further police involvement or for a care order to be requested. I can see no areas where there might be conflict between the various agencies with regard to this protection plan. Bibliography Abbott and Wallace (1997) An Introduction to Sociology, Feminist Perspectives Routledge, London. Department of Health (1999) Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children HMSO. Department of Health (2000) Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families The Stationary office. Department of Health (2000) Assessing Children in Need and their Families The Stationary Office Dobash, R and Dobash, R (1992) Women, Violence Social Change, Routledge, London New York Gardner, R. 2002 Supporting Families: L Child Protection in the Community Chichester Valley Harwin J. and Forester, D. 2002 Parental Substance Misuse and Child Welfare: A study of social work with families in which parents misuse drugs or alcohol Department of Health Sidebotham, P. et al â€Å"Children at Risk of maltreatment in Children of the Nineties: deprivation, class and social networks in a UK sample† Child Abuse 26 (12) pp 1243-1259 Wilson, K. and James, A. (Eds) (1995) The Child Protection Handbook, Bailliere Tindall. 1 [1] http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/Ukpga_19890041_en_6.htm#mdiv43 Crown Copyright [2] http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/childrenactreport/docs/DfES-Childrens Act.pdf

Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia Essay -- Biodiversity Cambodi

Assessment of Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia 1. Introduction Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia has been gathering momentum in the past few years in response to international conservation efforts and increased land degradation and loss (Conservation International 2004). International monetary institutions such as the World Bank and transnational NGOs such as Conservation International have been influential in changing forestry legislation in Cambodia (Reuters 2002). However, the implementation of these laws and practices are not always as successfully carried out or adhered to on a local level (Reuters 2002). The flaws in implementation may eventually lead to the degradation of the biodiversity in question. The corrupt nature of the Cambodian government and the dependency of growing populations on the resource extraction of these areas to supplement their incomes work together to prevent sustainable conservation efforts. The Central Cardamom Mountain region is the major focus of current conservation efforts and provides a portrait of contemporary environmental policy and practice in Cambodia. The Cardamom region is part of the Indo-Burma hot spot (Environment News Service 2002). The Cardamom region and the two wildlife refuges that border it collectively make up one million hectares of contiguous forest (Conservation International 2004). The area was previously protected by the Khmer Rouge who used it as a refuge until the end of their civil war in the early 1990's (McCarthy 2002). They used devices such as landmines and boobytraps to exclude others from entering (McCarthy 2002). After the civil war ended, an onslaught of hunters, fishers and loggers forced the government along with international agencies ... ...xp/CIWEB/regions/asia_pacific/cambodia/cambodia.xml. Updated May, 2004 [accessed 4/15/04]. Downie, S. 1997. Reversing the tides. UNESCO sources. Issue 93. Le Billon, P. 2002. Logging in muddy waters- the politics of forest exploitation in Cambodia. Critical Asian Studies 34:563-586. McCarthy, T. 2002. Let them run wild. Time Europe 160. Pleumarom, A. 2002. Destruction in disguise: international tourism projects in the Mekong River Basin are a model of unsustainable development. Alternatives J 28:32. Thyl De Lopez, T. 2003. Economics and stakeholders of Ream National Park, Cambodia. Ecological Economics 46:269-282. Update on the World Bank's Involvement in Forestry in Cambodia. Online. World Bank.Available:http://siteresources.worldbank.org /INTCAMBODIA /News%20and%20Events/20193833/Forestry+Update.pdf. Updated December 18, 2003 [accessed 4/15/04].

Combining Thrilling and Killing:Use of Violence in Psychological Thrill

Combining Thrilling and Killing:Use of Violence in Psychological Thrillers As we speak, there is a man holding a gun to the back of your head. The cold muzzle stings the tender skin of your scalp and blood trickles to the floor from where the handcuffs have cut into your wrists. Your heart, sensing death approaching, struggles in vain to slip through its cage of ribs and run screaming into the night, much like how the scream just behind your eyes makes your vision blur and muscles twitch spastically. But perhaps you know the man behind you. Does that make you more or less afraid? Perhaps there’s no man at all. Perhaps it’s you who’s holding that gun. Maybe that gun isn’t there either. Is such a thing possible? A loud BANG is your only answer. Now you stand up, brush the flecks of popcorn off your shirt, and leave the theatre. Tomorrow, when you tell your friends that the movie was exciting, thrilling, and heart-stopping you’ll most likely be describing one thing - violence. Never mind the unanswered questions of identity; it’s the gun that made your heart race, the blood that made your hair stand on end. Does this mean you can’t be thrilled without violence? Certainly not. What it means is that violence does thrill. Aside from being a biological fact, it also happens to be one which filmmakers have learned to expertly exploit. When properly employed, almost any object or action can set the heart thumping and send a chill down the spine, but to do so requires greater-than-average skill on the part of writers, directors, and actors, whereas simple violence requires relatively little of these things. What motivates filmmakers to put in all that effort to replace a â€Å"cheap thrill† with a sophi sticated one? Why do extremel... ...because to us, it exists as a part of our very selves. Works Cited Harris, Sally. â€Å"Original Purpose of Escalating Violence in movies Backfired, Virginia Tech Film Critic Says.† Virginia Tech News and Information, Oct 1999. Mar 2004 . Kelley, Richard. The Donnie Darko Book. Faber & Faber, 2003. Klein, Andy. â€Å"Everything You Wanted to Know About Memento.† Salon.com ArtsEntertainment June 2001. Mar 2004 . Nolan, Christopher. Memento: A Screenplay. Oct 1999. Piluso, Robert. â€Å"Ah, Bloody Hell: Violence in Film†. Script Magazine Dec 2003. Mar2004 . Wood, Robin. Hitchcock’s Films Revisited: Revised Edition. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002.

Comprehensive Plan Part II: Implementing Chnage Essay

The hard work is done, the decision has been made which software vendor that is going to be used, now you’re ready to take the plunge in the world of electronic medical record. Most electronic medical record implementation will proceed on time with involvement of their participants and able to achieve their goals, others will find it a struggle, only obtaining partial success or in extreme cases no success at all. Many implementations issues are common in small and large organizations alike. With larger organizations due to their complexity, are more likely to have team issues and small organizations due to their limited resources and experience, will falter especially with technology issues. Everyone within the organization will play a part in the success and failure of the electronic medical record implementation, some will play a bigger part than others, but they will need to ne acknowledged and clearly understood from the beginning. Electronic medical record project will definitely need good management, but will need a vast involvement of stakeholders, a motivated team and having excellent communication plan in place. EMR’s are very complex and you will need to understand the capabilities and determine how it can be used to improve current paper based office processes. Expectations and Goals Setting measurable and specific goals that you want to accomplish will help assist in what constitutes failure or success. â€Å"Establishing goals that are ambitious, but achievable, can be motivating. Yet it’s important to understand your user’s needs and to make sure they understand and share the stated goals. Otherwise they might not play along, destroying your implementation plans†. Kenneth G. Adler, (2007). It is  always best to monitor and communicate progress or terms of achieving those goals. Having an implementation team composed of key stakeholders that can design and monitor the implementation process, a project manager should be able to direct the actual implementation and should be able to collaborate, rather than being a dictator. Tactics It can’t be said enough how important it is to plan for the eventual outcome of your EMR implementation. Write the plan down, use all resources that are available to ensure the success of the plan, a key factor of planning is to have a workflow redesign. The electronic medical record implementation will allow the opportunity to improve some of the less efficient processes through automation and with fewer steps. This will also allow to determine if the process can be improved by comparing it to a workflow diagram that was created of the EMR process that will accomplish the same thing. Roles in Change The ultimate goal in change management will be to engage employees and encourage them to adopt the new way of doing their jobs. Whether it be job role, organizational structure change, systems or all of the above, successful change will be greatly depended upon its employees are willing to change their daily workflow and behavior. This is the essence of change necessary for an initiative to be successful and deliver value to the organization. The deployment of electronic medical record really doesn’t concern technology but more about equipping the organization in order to attain its goal and objectives through providing employees, and patients with the technical capabilities that will promote the use of new inventions. Implementing the electronic medical record involves engaging everyone to the change process. Implementing electronic medical record into the organization will mean making Relationship Between the System, Process, Professional, and Personal Roles, and the Effect to the Project Change The main goal in change management is to involve employees, encourage, and to support them as they adjust to the new way of doing their job. The  change will only be successful when the organizational systems, processes, organizational structure, and job roles and other essential aspects has been considered. This simply means that all employees must change their workflow and behavior. This is very crucial of change management to be able to initiate and mobilize the needed changes for the success if the organization in obtaining their objectives and goals. Management will be responsible for enabling and managing change for everyone so that they can move together and in unison in order to obtain the goals of the project. Management should the process of change within the organization which will be affected by various forces such as technical and scientific knowledge, the roles of the professionals, changing technology, and changing demographic trends in the organization. â€Å"Organizational changes requires change in the status quo and the need to implement new paradigms. Every element in the organization has to be redesign and examined to ensure that they fit the intended purpose and to deliver results. The elements which compromise an organization are the tools, people, work processes and the structure. Structure is the traditional boundaries of decision making and authority and it identifies the vital personnel who are responsible in driving the business forward†. Organization Change Plan, (2012). Employees are the ones who will need a set of skills within the organization. The work processes will determine how the work is done at every level and department. The tools needed to determine the resources needed in supporting the change process will be the necessary equipment and physical facilities ranging from managing and reporting stem. Written documents of policies, hardware and software tools, manuals, procedures and tools of compensation. Communication Techniques Communication is a very important factor in the change process. Having frequent verbal and written messages will help the organization to describe the desired goals. It is up to the senior management team to inform employees why the introduction of the electronic medical record has to be achieved and what could happen if this change is not made. Management must also convey to employees a clear and concise expectation from the beginning and to explain how they will support and prepare them for the success to  come. Effective communication will require the use of new methods and efforts to improve performance in the organization. Management should be able to plan, motivate, solve conflicts, negotiate and to apply a style of leadership which is participative, and be able to create and provide an agreeable work climate through integrating and coordinating the internal communication. Every stage of the electronic medical record implementation require the need of effective communication techniques. Communication face to face with every employee of the organization would be very electronic medical record. This will help clear up any misconceptions and myths which employees would have concerning the change process. This will also help employees in the organization to have confidence in the process and to clear any doubts such as losing their job among many other misconceptions they may have. The primary goal of communication techniques is essential to reinforcing the process of change. The goal of electronic medical record is to gain and fulfil enthusiasm throughout the entire organization which will involve each employee and the setting up realistic approach of managing the project. Conclusion The strength and opportunities should be a positive influence that should exploit to efficiently implement the project. Threats and weaknesses can hinder, harm or destroy the electronic medical record implementation. Monitoring is a key factor at the implementation phase this is to ensure that the project implemented is on schedule. â€Å"Monitoring is also important to ensure that activities are implemented as planned. This  helps the implementers to measure how well they are achieving their targets. This is   based on the understanding that the process through which a project implemented has  a lot of effect on its use, operations and maintenance†. Phil Bartle, PhD,  (2014). When a project implementation is not on point, there will be a need for project managers to ask themselves this question, what is the best way to get there? There is however a very close and mutually supportive relationship between monitoring, implementation, and planning. None of these can be isolated from the other two, upon doing any of three the implementation and planning have to cater to the other two. It is essential that you remember all the tools needed in order to get to the goals and objectives of the organization References Adler, K.A., MD, MMM, (2007). How to Successfully Navigate Your EMR ImplementationRetrieved from www.aafp.org Bartle, P., PhD, (2014). Monitoring, Planning and Implementation. Retrieved from www.cec.bc.ca/cmp/module/mm-imp.htm Organization Change Plan, (2012). Retrieved from www.customwritingtips.com

Ethical Actions Essay

Was there anything in either the University Of Phoenix Student Code Of Conduct or the Student Code of Academic Integrity that surprised you? If so, what was it? Why were you surprised? If not, why not? There was nothing that surprised me about the University Of Phoenix Student Code Of Conduct or the Student Code of Academic Integrity. I feel that it is important to have rules and regulations that are enforced to keep the faculty staff and students safe and also provide us with a safe environment to learn. By insuring that these rules are enforced and imposing strict penalties for those that do not comply with these rules the University of Phoenix sets an example of fairness and equality. What did you learn about the behaviors considered important for an ethical learner or student in the University of Phoenix learning community? I learned that the behaviors considered important for an ethical learner or student in the University of Phoenix learning community is that being honest truly is the best policy; being truthful within ourselves and with each other is an important ethical mission; that a disruptive learning environment can make people uncomfortable and hinder our academics. Our different cultures and individualities should not become a factor in how we treat and/or respect each other. Rules are put in place at the University to assure us that we are able to fully become involved in the learning process. Being open-minded and listening to what others have to say is also an important aspect of respect. I learned that the ethical learners behavior deals with us being honest and as well as our character and how we present it to the world. Our behavior as an ethical learner also deals with our values and actions that we show every day.

Complex Phenomenon of Obesity

Obesity a Complex Phenomenon When a person hears the word obesity thoughts that may come to mind are overweight, big, or unhealthy. Obesity is a growing outbreak in America that effects all ages and gender. Obesity today is becoming or has become a problem in America. Comparing to other countries, not one has an overweight problem near as bad as the United States. With that in mind, people’s health is a huge concern in America in which obesity has a big impact on. Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than what they burn.The human body needs calories to sustain life and be physically active, but to maintain weight it needs to balance the energy we eat with the energy that’s use to operate. Childhood obesity in America is a growing disease because of advertisement of fast food, lack of physical activities, and parental control. This has made fast food a major health issue in young teenagers’ lives, parents need to take charge and help out the situati on. Obesity is a complex phenomenon, but â€Å"the main causes can be grouped into three main topics, poor food choice, lack of exercise, and the lack of awareness. (Obesity; study) Poor food choice is one of the main causes. People today eat more and more fast food which is high in fats, cholesterol, and contains too much carbohydrate. The body is overloaded with fats and sugar, which is converted into body fat. The second main cause is lack of exercise. A recent study shown in Diabetes week states that â€Å"kids in elementary schools spend an average of 22-24 hours a week watching television† (Weight Loss). Kids no longer spend their free time playing outside; instead they sit in a couch all day and watch TV or play video games.The danger in some rough neighborhoods can also add to the situation, because some parents do not feel that it is safe for their children to play outside. A third contributing factor is lack of awareness about good eating habits. Mothers give their children too much choices and too little guidance in what to eat, advertising confuses kids and leaves them debating whether a fast food product is good or bad for their health, and conflicting information about diets and healthy eating from the food industry and medical experts just makes them confused about diets.Fast-food joints have not only come to dominate the American landscape, they are also the most visible American export around the globe. Unfortunately, â€Å"fast food contains almost no nutrients and is loaded with added salt, sugar, refined flours, fat, and preservatives. †(Weight loss) The irony is that even though at the moment getting a meal from a fast food restaurant seems great, it’s not. For every dollar that is spent on fast food, and every second saved at a drive-through, over a lifetime it comes back and puts people at serious health risk.Obesity amongst children is a serious matter that goes beyond a child putting on a few pounds. It is an issu e that has many health and social consequences, which often continue into adulthood. According to Su Shaoyong in his article Genetics and Obesity â€Å"obesity increases one’s risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, cancers, pulmonary disease, bone joint disorders, and early death. † (1) Obesity also often causes psychological problems.Many are judged on their appearance rather than their personality, meaning that people with obesity also suffer from discrimination and rejection by their peers. This ultimately causes poor self-image, which leads to low self-esteem. Meaning the greater the degree of obesity, greater the chance of suffering physical and psychological health problems. The good news is that there is no doubt that obesity can be prevented at an early age. Physical activity and inputting nutritional knowledge on kids are the main methods to preventing obesity.Parents and schools provide the connection to counterfeit a kid’s urge for fast-food. Adapting a healthy lifestyle at a young age is very important, since it is difficult to change later on. â€Å"The quality of food in schools, including school meals, vending machines, has a huge impact on a children’s physical health. †(Obesity; Study) Schools should be careful and take into great consideration to try to provide a healthy overall menu. Schools need to require physical education during school and provide after-school opportunities for physical activities to help regularize a more active lifestyle for a kid.Second, parents are the most important role models. â€Å"Adults have the responsibility to encourage children to become active, help them watch their diet†. (Shaoyong 1) Some parents argue that they should be able to feed their children what they want, and it’s their kids own body so it’s up to them to take care of themselves. That should not be an excuse, being obese comes with sev eral other problems. Why would any parent want to worry about their children having any type of health risks? Adults need to fulfill their jobs as being parents towards heir children, by being able to teach and show their kids how to live a healthy lifestyle. Doing a lot of small things for example limiting the amount of times they eat out at a fast-food restaurant or buying more fruits and vegetables instead of convenience foods that have a lot of fat in it can have a big impact on their child’s health. Every day the number of obese children increases. It should be a number one priority in many families to eat properly and exercise, their lives depend on it.Most people in the United States have changed their lifestyle completely, from one in which there was more walking, physical and outdoor activity, into a lazy lifestyle with little or no exercise. Most citizens take cars to work and do office jobs, spend their days off watching TV, and would rather much prefer fast food o ver an exhausting home cooked meal. America has brought this problem upon themselves, now it’s up to its citizens to take precaution about the situation and help solve it by getting educated and becoming more aware of it. Word Count: 1030

Jet Blue

1. Is Jet Blue appropriately positioned to create and maintain a strategic competitive advantage? Yes they are. Jet blues customer service is tremendous. They had the one valentine day massacre but they bounced right back. As a company they know where they have to be in order to succeed in the future. They know about great customer service and low price. Gas prices are rising and with the expansion of the e190, I believe this flight will help their revenue increase in the future. 2. What future strategic direction would you recommend for JetBlue?Should they continue to support both the e190 and a320 or does one model look more promising than the other? I would recommend the path they are on now. Their customer service is excellent and have different types of airlines. Both airlines attract different customers our ability to adapt to new technologies and the soar of gas prices is one of the reasons they are one of the beasts in this airline industry. Numbers do not lie and they were p rofitable for 4 years in a row and I do not see them looking back. In order to keep a JetBlue a main force in the airline industry they are going to have to keep both around.There are customers who are used to the a320 and enjoy a more spacious seating compared to the e190. They should cut down on the long distance flights with gas prices high and will raise the price on some long distance flights. I do see the e190 as the main airline in seven to ten years. Their customers want to get from one location to another the fastest way and the e190 is the airline for that. 3. In light of the Feb. 2007 crisis how did JetBlue try to repair the damage to its reputation? Was the company successful? In Feb. 2007 the crisis that happened was due to lack of communication.They were not ready for this and took a hit in the media. They needed to bounce back hard and they did. They came out with jet blues bill of rights which was information-sharing, cancellations, departure delays, overbooking†™s, and onboard ground delays for arrivals and departures. This sent a message to their customers letting them know that yes they made a mistake and they are aware of it. It took them three months but after that the cleared everything up. Overall hiring the new Ceo and taking care of the crisis was a job well done.

Being and Becoming: Becoming by Being Essay

Pre-Socratic era was marked by periods from Thales of Miletus until that period when Socrates philosophy was yet to be born.   It was during this period when the fundamentals of science (both natural and social were being founded using scientific research and inquiry, and where philosophy and practical science were still married.   Sophos tried to understand and explain the origin, nature, elements, development and workings of the universe by way of argumentative reasoning, critical inquiry and justifications. Pre-Socratic philosophy was mainly characterized by its elements such as essence, change/absolute, harmony and its effort to understand the essential substance of a thing that caused its existence and the dynamic movement it undergoes (changes) to be known as what it is today.   Among the famous thinkers of this period were Thales, Heraclitus, Anaxagoras, Empedocles, Democritus and Parmenides. Whereas pre-Socratic philosophers have had formulated a common line of thought, disparity was inevitable.   Among the arguments that showed differences of the philosophy of that period was Parmenides’ theory of Being and Heraclitus’ theory of Becoming.   Heraclitus argued that the existence of everything was brought about by nothing and that it continuously exists through constant change or by undergoing a dynamic transformation.   What is more striking about the concept of change for Heraclitus is the concept of change within. According to him, it is that contradiction of elements/substance within the object that caused it to transform and that to cause its change, an external intervening need not to be imposed.   Accordingly, for Heraclitus, the world is a continuous struggle and strife, hence it needs change. In contrast, while the internal aspect of an existing element undergoes alterations, the process by which an element transforms is ever constant. Through the understanding of the nature of an element, Heraclitus recognized that the fixed states of being are all part of the varied state of perpetual becoming1.   In humans, the processes of giving birth, living, dying and rebirth are all changes that a person passes through.   However, such pattern is a never-ending cycle, after all.   What will â€Å"become† of a matter is a product of the dynamic development it subjects itself through a never ceasing rhythm. Contrary to Heraclitus’, while Parmenides likewise argued that an object exists because it does exist (that no other factor that may explain the causality of its existence), he failed to recognize if it ever underwent an evolutionary state, thus making it the â€Å"being† as it is today.   Because Parmenides believed – and apparently refuted Heraclitus – that the universe was already at the state of stability, why should it be basking on the process of modification? Everything is what it is because it is what it is and it cannot become what it is not. Both arguments are of much interest specifically in understanding how do we â€Å"become† or what make us came to â€Å"being†.   Later on during Plato’s time, both arguments could be reconciled by proposing that, what might â€Å"become† is caused by a â€Å"being†. However, unlike the foregoing arguments of Heraclitus’ and Parmenides, it is apparent that the reconciliation of the arguments were based on the thought that, indeed, there is a â€Å"first cause† that is never changing but rather causes the â€Å"second being† to become what it is today.   Note that both the initially mentioned thinkers do not believe on something that might have caused on object to exist. What could be more difficult in the understanding of this discourse is the process of analyzing concepts that flourished centuries apart and merging them into one critical explanation such that conflict resolution could be gained. References: __________. Philosophy Pages. In Britannica Internet Guide Selection. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/p.htm#parm __________. (April 16, 2002). Pre-Socratic Era. Posted to http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=628825 Ballantyne, Paul F., Ph.D. History and Theory of Psychology: An Early 21st Century Student’s Perspective. (2008). Retrieved April 10, 2008, from www.comnet.ca/~pballan/section1(210).htm Goodman, Len E. (1992). Avicenna:Arabic Thought and Culture (pp 53-54). Routledge. Retrieved April 12, 2008, from http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=VJ6x-pcqMicC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=resolving+the+argument+of+being+and+becoming&source=web&ots=gctA47HxTQ&sig=R0YNJ23QzZlvTpaLA5XclFgdKfY&hl=en#PPR5,M1 Rose, Jake. Being and Becoming. In Ezine Articles. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Being-and-Becoming&id=148729   

MARKETING ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MARKETING - Essay Example Segmentation constitutes the first step in Brand Development; it is referred to as the process of dividing and sub-dividing the entire population into ‘meaningful segments’. The word meaningful can be elaborated upon to mean segments that have distinct needs and characteristics, which different products can cater to (Kotler, Armstrong, Saunders, Wong, 1998, pp. 185). This segmentation is not done arbitrarily rather it initially was done on the basis of the demographics that match with those of the ideal consumer of the product, however over the years the focus of segmentation has changed from demographics to more qualitative measures such as psychographics. Unilever Ltd, one of the leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company has developed its own model of psychographic segmentation, that is, VALS (Values and Lifestyles). Market Segmentation is done in order to channelize the Organizations resources towards a targeted population instead of aimlessly squandering them on the whole population, majority of which does not form a part of its target market. A few years ago market segmentation was taken to be an unquestionable theory of marketing. Recently however, its validity has come into question by many researchers and critics such as Yankelovich and Meer (2006, pp. 1-10), Hoek, Gendall and Esslemont (1996, pp. 25-34). Amongst a few of the arguments presented by the afore mentioned researchers against market segmentation was the fact that market segmentation involves a lot of subjective judgment that is practiced on behalf of the researcher, the psychographic market segmentation tactics have led to all the advertising emphasis on the emotional appeal, thus rendering product functionality as insignificant as a result of which product innovation is declining and so forth. Yankelovich quoted the example of Miller Lite as an example to state that the emotional appeal used due and lack of focus on the product functionality led to an unsuccessful advertising campaign,

Political Cultures of Canada and the United States Essay

Political Cultures of Canada and the United States - Essay Example However, there has been observed a tendency of the change of attitude on this perspective by the Canadians, becoming increasingly detached to their government, fading their support for the custom political parties, in favor of new ones with new ideologies. This raises the concern as to whether the Canadian people are becoming Americanized. This issue creates different opinions from scholars, with Paul Nesbitt-Larking supporting this viewpoint while Michael Adams sees it in the contrary, citing the support for government action and universal health policy as a characteristic of Canada only. According to Paul, there has been a lot of American influence on the Canadian domestic and foreign affairs, in an attempt to have Canada annexed to the US. Although Canada is the greatest trading partner to the US, the US does not seem to recognize this, attributing this status to Japan (Nesbitt-Larking 3).The US does not seem to appreciate the monarchial system of the Canadian government, always a ttacking it through diplomacy. Described as ‘Elephantine,’ the influence of the US on Canada is apparent in various fronts. From the economy, where the US dominates the Canadian economy, having the most profitable organizations in Canada owned by the Americans to the entertainment, military and political institutions which almost replicate those of the US (Nesbitt-Larking 4). Though Canada has for long greatly struggled to maintain its ‘communitarianism’ ideology, it has been greatly affected by the ‘Individualism’ ideology of the US to the extent of perceiving the US political culture as the most perfect. Thus, according to Paul, Canada is constantly struggling between adopting the US possessive individualism and the European collective and conservative communitarianism. This spirit of Americanization is observed to have crept into the minds of the Canadians who even think it wise to have a re-union of both countries. The advocates of such opi nions are those who perceive the American spirit of entrepreneurship and individualism as the perfect spirit to embrace. Therefore, according to Paul, Americanization of the Canadians is slowly taking shape, and it might eventually turn rife and change the completely Canadian culture both economic and socio-political into the American one. The continued growth in popularity of the US political culture and the spirit of individualism is likely to cause a fading of the traditional political cultures of Canada and eventually have the new ideology adopted and the old political culture, systems and institutions done away with. This is what Paul refers to as the â€Å"danger of Americanization.’ Whether this occurs is dependent on the Canadian people’s ability to resist this cultural transformation, an aspect that has been there for long enough (Nesbitt-Larking 9). It is argued that the Canadian political parties and leaders have been propagating the individualism spirit an d ideology over the past two decades. This can been through the advocacy of the free market systems (Nesbitt-Larking 11). Through the fiscal and monetary policies, these leaders reduced the size of the public sector, through cuts to the sector and the provinces in terms of funding. The policies created unemployment and leaned the middle class earnings, through taxation. All this was meant to reduce the importance of the public sector and promote the spirit of ind

Team communication in Ford and Toyota companies Case Study

Team communication in Ford and Toyota companies - Case Study Example Organizational climate and morale means good relations and positive atmosphere which supports workers. Thus critics admit that morale "has suffered in Ford for a long time" (Ettlie, 2002). The company tried to improve morale creating new culture and rules but was not successful in its efforts. Many project teams in Ford have excellent problem solving skills and communication. Many employees follow Henry Ford's statement: "Don't find fault. Find a remedy" (Ettlie 2002). Team members use participative and enthusiastic approach to solve current problems and finding new innovative solutions (www.ford.com). Organizational coaching is not just a single conversation or a scheduled meeting that is part of the performance-management process. It is a commitment that requires the coach to establish. The uniqueness of approach implemented by Ford is coaching for competencies. The coaching relationship has the potential for deepening an individual's understanding of his influence on the organizat ion and for strengthening the personal commitment to achieving that organization's goals and outcomes. Developed by Henry Ford, the company has 'lean enterprise system'. Further this system was adopted by Toyota (www.ford.com; Lothans, 2006). B. For Ford Company, team morale and climate become the main problem.

Outlook report for Marks & Spencer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Outlook report for Marks & Spencer - Essay Example On the other hand, the market share of Marks & Spenser in Food is 3.9 percent.1 Marks & Spenser Food retailer is considered as one of the UK’s leading high-quality food provider. The company is offering fresh produce, groceries, ready and partly prepared food. Today the company has total 668 stores throughout UK, out of which 156 are simply food wholly owned outlets and 182 are simple food franchises. In order to evaluate the factors based on which Marks & Spenser Food Retailer has been able to sustain its brand name as a value-creating brand, an outlook of Marks & Spenser has been presented here. This outlook will evaluate the various challenges and prospects for the company during the last few years. In spite of the cultural differences, Marks & Spenser Food has been able to operate very efficiently in terms of macroeconomic policies. The company has been able to expand by building strong relationships with other countries. However, during the last few years, because of the worsening macroeconomic conditions, the governments of various states have been introducing different policies, which have affected the operations of Marks & Spenser and other food retailers. The economic conditions and the recession have negatively affected the operations and balance sheet strength of Marks & Spenser. According to the annual reports of Marks & Spenser, in the year 2009, the company has to reduce its dividends by 20.9 percent. The Chairman Sir Stuart has also reported in the annual report that the decision of cutting dividends have been taken because of two reasons; first, economic conditions of the company and second, the need of the company to retain financial strength and flexibility. Moreover, the profits of the company have declined by 40.0 percent because of the conditions on High Street and the important decision of the company to improve quality and value. The social needs of the

Story of Stuff Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Story of Stuff - Essay Example Leonard maintains that people are over extracting resources leading to exhaustion of certain resources that include trees and minerals. Globally, during the past decade, 30% of the planet’s resources were consumed. This was mostly done through mining and cutting of trees. To put this point across, Leonard provides statistical data showing how much the U.S is extracting and the problems that America is causing in other regions that have managed to maintain their resources (Leonard, 2007). America has less than 4% of its original forest cover remaining while 40% of their waterways have become undrinkable. Leonard stresses that this is not due to the planet’s incapacity to provide for everyone but the fact that some are using more than their share. The U.S has 5% of the world’s population but it is using at least 30% of the planet’s resources (Leonard, 2007). This implies that it is in turn creating 30% of the total waste in the world. This shows over usage o f resources, which is to blame for the disappearance of 80% of the planet’s forest cover as the developed countries exploit resources in the developing countries after exhausting theirs. In addition, the products that are being manufactured after the over-exploitation of resources are contaminated with toxins. The production stage incorporates usage of power to mix natural resources with toxic chemicals, which leads to the production of toxic products. The modern commerce uses approximately 100,000 synthetic chemicals (Leonard, 2007). However, only few of these chemicals have been tested for health related issues while none has undergone synergetic tests. A good example is the Brominated Flame Retardants, which are known to be very toxic especially to the human brain. As people dip pillows in BFR and then sleep on them for up to eight hours per night, they cannot avoid the health

Reaction paper on David Cole Interviews Dr. Franciscek Piper Essay

Reaction paper on David Cole Interviews Dr. Franciscek Piper - Essay Example Cole did a very good job doing his researches and finding the ‘right people’ to speak with in his documentary however, there are some points that could be brought into question. First, Cole seemed to have already made up his conclusions that the holocaust stories published and witnessed by survivors are not true. From his introductions about himself, he seemed to have gone to the concentration camps not to find proofs of what really happened but he went there to find proofs that will support his ideas and beliefs about the Holocaust. Secondly, he mentioned Dr. Piper to have studied her spiel to be able to work there saying, â€Å"Dr. Piper only repeats what she has been told†. How could one stand on the words of a person who has been taught what to say or not to say? I do not think the documentary would even be acceptable as a piece of informative record. The argument about Cole’s intentions in making the interview and video and the words of his interviewee are both questionable so I do not think the video qualifies as a reliable source of

Classical Music, Beethoven, Verdi, & Wagner Essay

Classical Music, Beethoven, Verdi, & Wagner - Essay Example The word Romanticism originated from the age old chivalry and adventure which was rooted in the Middle Ages. Beethoven was much taken by the ideals of the enlightenment and by French Revolution in Europe and he believed in universal brotherhood. The Romantic Period consisted of the aesthetic approach, especially in literature, and other art forms. Beethoven was called a Romantic by his contemporaries such as Spohr and E.T.A. Hoffman. However, he was influenced by the Romantic Folk Idioms and he set dozens of Romantic poems for voice, piano, and violin. It was quite amazing that when Beethoven created his masterpieces, he was in distress burdened with many personal problems. But despite the conflicts in his life, he remained committed to the art and his legacy to the music form will ever remain unsurpassed   Giuseppe Verdi, who was more than a composer, was a dramatist, and an artist who used music as an instrument to convey the art of classical drama. His contributions to Classicis m were 28 Operas, which were purely dramatic compositions. â€Å"No one would ever accuse Giuseppe Verdi of being a classicist at heart but his string quartet has this same view at its heart-- it is an intimate home entertainment. Along with his 28 operas, Verdi wrote a famous Requiem and Four beautiful Sacred pieces for choir, a handful of occasional pieces and...one string quartet, not only his one piece of chamber music but his one and only piece of purely instrumental music.† (Mendelssohn, Verdi, Dvorak, 2002).  

Business Ethics - Discrimination Essay Example for Free

Business Ethics Discrimination Essay Discrimination is defined as distinguishing something from something else (i. e. don’t hire him because he has no experience). Unjustified discrimination is distinguishing something from something else on a basis that is not justified (i. e. don’t hire him because he is black). The term discrimination commonly replaces the term unjustified discrimination in business, philosophy, psychology and day-to-day community life. In a just and fair society, such as we Canadians aspire to, a job applicant’s race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, orientation, mental ability, or physical condition should not disadvantage them in career choices or job competitions. If a short Asian female firefighter can do the job, she should get the job. Conversely she should not expect to receive concessions that are not available to all; that is in effect also discrimination. Unfortunately, discrimination often arises in business in regards to hiring, job placement, wage, and promotion. Affirmative Action Ideally, discrimination should be of no concern at all; everyone should have an equal opportunity to anything. In a perfect world a hiring manager would not have to think thoughts such as, â€Å"They are disabled, they are women, they are aboriginal,† and would only think, â€Å"This person will be perfect for the job because†¦. † Unfortunately this may never completely happen. For example if a person in a wheelchair applies to be a stock person at Costco and another person who is not in a wheelchair applies for the same position the manager will be debating, â€Å"Should I hire the person who cannot walk because I want to be socially responsible? Or should I hire the person who can walk, who will probably do a better job and who I won’t have to make special accommodations for? † Another example is a man and a woman who are applying to be a nurse on the obstetrics ward; they have both just graduated and have exactly the same experience. If only one position is available who is more likely to be hired? Affirmative action programs often come into place to encourage equal opportunity. Affirmative action refers to policies or rograms that take factors such as; age, sex, race, color or religion and give preferential treatment to people that belong to an identifiable disadvantaged group, or outgroup. Cons Reverse discrimination occurs when preferential treatment is given to one person and the other is left out. For example if a woman is hired to work in an oil patch just because she is a woman and man is not hired (perhaps only because of quota requirements), he will experience reverse discrimination. This may in fact v iolate a province’s human rights code. Some would also argue that it is wrong to place at a disadvantage a current day job applicant in order to attempt to compensate for historical wrong treatment of certain categories of job applicants. Merit may not exist if affirmative action is in place. A situation could arise where an applicant may deserve a job more because he or she has more education and more experience than the hired applicant who is disabled, if the hiring was done only in the interest of a representative workplace. May condescend or offend outgroups because the people belonging to that group don’t believe they need preferential treatment in order to succeed. Affirmative action creates a perception that all racial minorities or physically disabled persons have low self image, poor job marketing skills, missed opportunities, and are in need government regulated assistance. Efficiency may be compromised if a company is forced to hirer a proportionally representative workforce. Instead of hiring the best fitting candidate, companies would be forced to seek out a visible minority or a disabled candidate. This simply is not good business practice. A company should be free to hire the best candidate. Morale and workplace cooperation may be negatively impacted by a person being hired because of affirmative action policies which clearly give special considerations not available to all. The outgroup may develop a sense of entitlement that is not supported by the majority of the workers. Affirmative action may cause a widening of the gap (and an affirmation of bigotry) instead of a diverse and inclusive work force. For example, a white man at a steel factory may think that he got his job because he is qualified for it while being angry that the Asian man only got hired because there were no other Asians working in the plant and the hiring manager did not want to be discriminating. Pros Assistance in obtaining a desired job may be necessary for members of an identifiable disadvantaged group, or outgroup, since discrimination may make it difficult to establish a career. For example, men can be excellent nurses, but if a female hiring officer doesn’t understand or embrace the benefits of diversity, the obstetrics ward would have all female nurses. Another example might be a hair dressing trainee who is in a wheelchair; this applicant may have more obstacles to overcome and more convincing to do with a prospective employer. It is not fair, or just, that these applicants would have to be much better that the â€Å"normal† kind of applicant in order to be desirable to the employer. This â€Å"assistance† is given in affirmative action plans such as requiring employers to choose the disadvantaged applicant when all other skills are equal. Affirmative action makes working in different areas more desirable. Ex, Okanagan College has free introductory welding courses for women only. If colleges did not have these affirmative action programs there would probably be less female welders. This creates an incentive for a member of an outgroup to step forward and be part of the creation of workplace diversity. Affirmative action ensures justice for those who have historically been oppressed. Although hopefully not in Canada, there may still be a stigma attached to those whose ancestors were slaves, lower class, or aboriginal and thus seen as lesser that those with good career jobs. Some people may believe that affirmative action is necessary to change the attitudes of society by mandating a diverse work force. Canada cannot ignore the fact that a few generations ago a person with mental challenges or physical disabilities would not have been offered a position if there was a reasonable candidate who was considered â€Å"normal. † Affirmative action envisions a just work place where everyone is normal because the new normal is diverse and inclusive. Affirmative action encourages a representative work force. If 2% of the community’s population is visually impaired, then in a company of 100 employees, there should be a least two people who have some kind of sight impairment. In Canada, 3% of the population is aboriginal; therefore, there should be three members of a First Nation employed at the above company. A disabled person aged 25 to 44 accounts for 8% of the population. Statistically speaking, the above company, if it were in British Columbia, should have 27 employees who are recent immigrants. With roughly 60% of Canada’s population being Caucasian, all the numbers above would create a representative work force. It could be described as a diverse, dynamic, and exciting place to work; but does it exist? By requiring the inclusion of a representative work force affirmative action will in the long term change attitudes and encourage diversity. Thesis Affirmative action programs are still necessary to ensure equal opportunities in the work place and to encourage diversity, which over time will extinguish discrimination and contribute to a just, fair, and tolerant society. History I believe discrimination stems from history. If a young person learned from parents, schools, or media that women are not good trade workers, they will continue this discrimination for generations. This is what happens in all forms of discrimination because discrimination is learned. Discrimination can be reduced in a society with the influence of laws, education, and incentives. Affirmative action mandates exposure, which with encouragement by supportive government and ethical businesses will result in workplace diversity, and that over time will influence the thinking of society as a whole. Further Discussion: Continue Affirmative Action Dimock and Tucker thoroughly discussed their views on affirmative action policies about how such policies cause problems for employment equity in Canada. Dimock and Tucker did not discuss why such policies may still be necessary and did not thoroughly discuss a solution to discrimination. Their conclusion, while pointing out that affirmative action programs have not met intended goals, does not offer concrete solutions other than education. I disagree that the young should be the only target to ensure against discrimination. Youth can be racist, sexist, and exclusive. That’s why our society has a large problem with bullying. If discrimination is a learned trait, then the youth are learning it from above, and that is precisely the target of affirmative action. I believe affirmative action should still be used to some extent in order to encourage diversification. I think a combination of education and the experience of exposure is more useful that a single target group (such as educating the young). If groups (young, school aged, post secondary, and the work force) are created with diverse and representative participants, the likelihood of all groups beginning to like each other because of repeated exposure is much higher then if they remain separated. Well informed members of society who have personal experience with diversity are the least discriminating for several reasons: †¢They have been educated not be discriminating (from classes like this). †¢They have been put together in groups with all different types of people, and †¢They have become comfortable with that diversity. The result is that they have learned to be less discriminating than their peers or previous generation. For example, a white 18 year old’s great grandparents may have been what is now considered racist toward black people. In the grandparent’s time racism, even segregation, was thought of as perfectly normal, and those views were passed down generation to generation. However, through education and exposure racism was slowly extinguished until we have a grade 12 student who welcomes a new immigrant from Zambia. Instead of being completely racist like his great grandparents the 18 year old now only believes the stereotype that all black people like rap music which he hates. The next generation will (hopefully) not even notice that a black person is in the group. If affirmative action continues it will help the top (the existing generation of employers) meet the bottom (the well informed and accepting job applicant) and the result will be a tolerant, inclusive, and diverse work place. The attitudes of the work place will in time influence society as a whole. Conclusion I was lucky enough to learn about discrimination in both psychology and philosophy class in the same week. Although solutions are not offered in this paper, I believe discrimination can be eliminated through education and diversification. If it were normal to have a representative and diverse â€Å"melting pot† of opportunities and experiences, there would be no need to practice discrimination. Diversification is good. It makes a community tolerant and compassionate; it makes a secure and exciting place to live. Including all groups in all employment opportunities will ultimately create a better society – the melting pot that Canada so prides its identity in. Affirmative action plans ensure that the work place will contribute to this pride.