The Four Phases Of Small Business Strategy Planning

The Four Phases of Small Business Strategy Planning There are a host of definitions for strategy. Rather than trying to be comprehensive or creating a definition that tries to be the authoritative source, I ll use a simple definition of strategy for my purposes. Strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve outcomes. That s it. This definition is loyal to best tenants of strategy as well; be flexible, nimble and leave options until you reach the appropriate time or level to add further definition. The process of defining the desired outcomes is usually incorporated into the concept of strategy planning. In an agile and well-led organization, execution is also wrapped into strategy so that the plans can stay flexible, updated, and resources can be used to increase success. The best, most refined, and most successful strategy model has evolved from ancient China, was updated in Prussia, and has slowly been creeping into the business world. There are four steps to the process and I prefer to keep them all under the strategy umbrella to help leaders reach the planned outcomes. The iterative sequence is: setting goals, planning, actions, and outcomes. In setting strategic goals, you must consider what outcomes you desire for your business. Assuming that you are in business to earn revenue, you must link your outcomes to needs that your customers have in order to capture that revenue. The best source for setting goals is your business mission, values, and visionShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding The Benefits Of Strategic Management1674 Words   |  7 Pageswith respect to an example using the struggling retailer, Sears. Sears succumbed to the lack of innovation, which shows that if a firm stands still, it will be run over by the competition. Strategic planning and innovation should go hand in hand, because innovation is the machine that generates business opportunities in the market and its implementation drives businesses to be remarkable. Theories of organizational adaptation are another important concept, because it helps a company keep track of theRead MoreUnderstanding The Benefits Of Strategic Management1625 Words   |  7 Page sthe chapter using the example of a struggling retailer, Sears. Sears succumbed to the lack of innovation, which shows that if a firm stands still, it will be run over by the competition. Strategic planning and innovation should go hand in hand, because innovation is the machine that generates business opportunities in the market and its implementation drives them to be remarkable. Theories of organizational adaptation are another important concept, it helps a company keep track of the changes inRead MoreUnderstanding The Principles Of Strategic Planning1438 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstand the principles of strategic planning 1.1 Evaluate a range of strategic planning models When evaluating a strategic plan models, we should first consider the meaning of strategic planning. Strategic planning is when an organisation has a long term project, in between a year or two and this will involve the entire organisation workers to bring ideas together and look into each contributions before working on the plans, and this can be break down in three to four faces in other too be achievableRead MoreHow to Start and Manage a Successful Business1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe high failure rate of business start-ups has become common knowledge over time. According to the study by Van de Ven, Ar, Hudson, R and Schroeder (1984), the survival of a business over a short-term period of about a year and half is 54% and 25% over a period of six years. This means that the failure rate of business start-ups is a high 75%. Although studies show that business start-ups have a high failure rate, strategic business and financial planning, good management and marketing skills areRead MoreVision And Mission Statements Provide Information About The Organization954 Words   |  4 Pagesmatters is that should be a reflection and a helpful synopsis of the organization as well as it should speak to your stakeholders. Some characteristics that makes a mission statement successful is when it is succinct and can be printed in the back of a business card, when it is memorable and unique. Lastly it ought to be realistic and current, for instance, the mission should be a description of the present and not the future as well as it can not change constantly, in this case, when the firm changes itsRead MoreQuality Management in Current Business Management and Issues1317 Words   |  5 PagesQuality Management in Current Business Management Issues Objective The objective of this study is to examine quality management in business and to apply contemporary theory. Introduction The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that effective management is the key to the establishment and growth of the business and states as well that the key to successful management is examination of the marketplace environment and create employment and profit opportunities that provide the potentialRead MorePlanning The Global Business Enterprise1309 Words   |  6 PagesPhase One: Planning the Global Business Enterprise 1. Identifying Global Business Opportunities The aircraft industry in The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is growing exponentially, both for commercial and military aircraft operations. Demand is strong for aircraft equipment, parts and services and there has been significant investment in establishing domestic MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facilities in the region. â€Å"Opportunities for U.S. companies include fleet equipment, parts and servicesRead MorePlanning Is The Process Of Determining Appropriate Goals And Courses Of Action1401 Words   |  6 Pages1. One thing I’ve learned from this chapter is that planning is the process of determining appropriate goals and courses of action. Once a plan has been created the next step is to design a strategy. A strategy is a series or managerial decisions that help managers obtain organizational goals. For most organizations, there are three steps to planning. The first step is the creation of a mission statement. A mission statement is essential for a company to clear ly communicate what it does and how itRead MoreThe Emergency Management Profession1283 Words   |  5 Pagesdisaster management. The disaster cycle has four distinct yet interrelated phases: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. The concept of the cycle implies an ongoing process in which communities, businesses, and individuals plan for and reduce potential disaster losses. Historically, emergency management programs have focused heavily on the preparedness and response phases, leaving limited resources to address the recovery and mitigation phases. This research paper will discuss the basicRead MoreStrategic Planning, Budgeting And Forecasting847 Words   |  4 Pagessteer consensus among core business disciplines. Rapid progression throughout leadership career spanning across sales, marketing, strategy and finance functions within large and small corporations. Driver for operational and financial efficiency who establishes core metrics that optimize team performa nce and maximize ROI across organizational functions. ________________________________________ CORE COMPETENCIES ï‚ § Strategic Planning, Budgeting Forecasting ï‚ § Financial Planning and Analysis ï‚ § PL Ownership

Structural Functionalist Free Essays

A society is a complex unit, made up of interrelated parts. All these parts form the structure of the society and each sub unit has to perform its given task. Social structures are stressed and placed at the center of analysis and social functions are deduced from these structures. We will write a custom essay sample on Structural Functionalist or any similar topic only for you Order Now This perspective looks at how the various parts of the society come together and perform their individual tasks interdependently and interrelated to promote social stability and order and in turn the smooth functioning of the society. Structural functionalism is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This approach looks at society through a macro-level orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, and believes that society has evolved like organisms. This approach looks at both social structure and social functions. Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms, customs, traditions, and institutions. As a structural theory, Functionalism sees social structure or the organisation of society as more important than individual. Functionalism is a top down theory. Individuals are born into society and become products of all the social influences around them as they are socialised by various institutions such as the family, education, media and religion. Functionalism sees society as a system; a set of interconnected parts which together form a whole. There is a relationship between all these parts and agents of socialisation and together they all contribute to the maintenance of society as a whole. Structural functionalism concentrates on the positive and negative functions of social structures. Societal functionalism is a particular type of structural functionalism that aims to explain the role of social structures and institutions in society, the relationship between these structures, and the manner in which these structures constrain the actions of individuals. According to structural functionalists, individuals have little to no control over the ways in which particular structures operate. Indeed, structural functionalists understand individuals in terms of social positions. It is not individuals who are ranked, but positions that are ranked according to the degree to which they contribute to the survival of society. High-ranking positions offer high rewards that make them worth an individual’s time and effort to occupy. The structural functionalist perspective also takes into account the concept of value consensus. Functionalists believe that society is held together by this consensus, or cohesion, in which members of the society agree upon, and work together to achieve, what is best for society as a whole. They share the same ideas, beliefs and morals which bind them together. Functionalists believe that without such collective shared values and beliefs, achieving social order is impossible and social order is crucial for the well-being of society. They believe that value consensus forms the basic integrating principle in society. And if members of society have shared values they therefore also have similar identities, this helps cooperation and avoids conflict. Value consensus also ensures that people have shared: – Goals, Roles and Norms. Any social system has four basic functional prerequisites: * adaptation * goal attainment * integration and * Pattern maintenance. The function of any part of the social system is understood as its contribution to meeting the functional prerequisites. Adaptation refers to the relationship between the system and its environment. In order to survive, social systems must have some degree of control over their environment. Food and shelter must be provided to meet the physical needs of members. The economy is the institution primarily concerned with this function. Goal attainment refers to the need for all societies to set goals towards which social activity is directed. Procedures for establishing goals and deciding on priorities between goals are institutionalized in the form of political systems. Governments not only set goals but also allocate resources to achieve them. Even in a so-called free enterprise system, the economy is regulated and directed by laws passed by governments. Integration refers primarily to the ‘adjustment of conflict’. It is concerned with the coordination and mutual adjustment of the parts of the social ystem. Legal norms define and standardize relations between individuals and between institutions, and so reduce the potential for conflict. When conflict does arise, it is settled by the judicial system and does not therefore lead to the disintegration of the social system. Pattern maintenance refers to the ‘maintenance of the basic pattern of values, institutionalized in the society’. Insti tutions that perform this function include the family, the educational system and religion. No theory has been there without any criticism. The structural functionalist perspective also has been criticized on the grounds that it neglects the negative functions of an event such as divorce. The perspective justifies the status quo and complacency on the part of society’s members. Functionalism does not encourage people to take an active role in changing their social environment, even when such change may benefit them. Functionalism sees active social change as undesirable because the various parts of society will compensate naturally for any problems that may arise. How to cite Structural Functionalist, Papers

This Paper Addresses the Guiding Principles and Elements That Feature

Question: Why This Paper Addresses the Guiding Principles and Elements ? Answer: Introduction An integrated report is a communication document that details how an organizations performance, governance and prospects results to values creation for the company in short, medium and long term basis. The main objective of this report is to share the company insights with various company stakeholders such as shareholders and other business partners. The report entails both financial and non-financial reporting of the company whose main advantage is wholesomely presenting the company image to the stakeholders in one document. Main Purpose To establish governing guiding principles and content elements The main purpose of the integrated report is to provide the guiding principles that and content elements that directs on what needs to be included in the report and why such items are important. The framework enables those preparing the integrated reports to have a uniform outlook that is easy to understand and captures important aspects that stakeholders need to know in the companies they have interests in. (BUSCO, 2016) The framework is basically developed in view of private sector and profit making companies of any size but the integrated report can be varied to accordingly to fit into a public sector organizations as well as non-profit organizations. It is therefore an empirical formula or guidance that can be replicated in different forms to suits different types of organizations, so long as the modification is not a great deal of departure from the basic guiding principles and elements. The integrated report framework type of information that needs to be included in the report that can be used to asses how and organization or company intents to create value based on the resources at its disposal. Once its clear how the organization intents to create value then the report can be summed up as an integrated. The framework does not provide benchmark or marking scheme to assess the quality of an organization strategies or its performance level. The integrated report captures the value created by the company is preserved or diminished in respect to resources available within the reach of the company. The value created is also captured in terms of short, medium or long term contexts. (Morros, 2016) Key benefits The integrated report key benefits to all stakeholders. The integrated report aims at creating transparency and accountability in the manner in which the company capitals are managed. The six main capitals are; financial, human, intellectual, social, natural and manufactured. Since the management is aware about how these capitals are managed the other stakeholders like strategic business partners, shareholders and government regulators need to understand or know how these capitals are managed. By producing integrated report the management or the board of the organization also fulfill their mandate of reporting on all activities concerning the organization to the other stakeholders. This is one way in which the integrated report benefits all the stakeholders. Apart from promoting accountability of the above capitals, integrated reports also promotes the interrelatedness of these capitals. To the shareholders perhaps they might not understand how the capitals interrelate with each other to result to value creation. The might know the total profits posted by the company but they dont understand the players that moved or determined the profits. The major factors that needs to be taken care of by the organization in order to keep on boosting the profits, the integrated report therefore simplifies these aspects to the shareholders in order for to have a real grip of what drives the organizations they have interests in. The international integrated reporting framework Guiding principles Strategic focus and future orientation One of the guiding principle of an integrated report is that it should provide insight knowledge in the organizations strategy and how these strategies corresponds to the organizations ability to create value. On the guidance of this principle the integrated report is able to provide insights risks and opportunities that are present in the organization. Connectivity of information With this principle the integrated report should be able to provide wholesome or holistic picture of how various factors in the organization can interrelate to create value for the capital invested over time. Stakeholder relationships The integrated report should point out the relationship of the organization with key stakeholders and to what extend does it exist. It highlights how the organization is able to benefit from such relations in terms of achieving the organizational objectives. Materiality A good integrated report should highlight information regarding matters that have fundamental bearing on the ability of the company to create value with its resources in the context of short, medium and long terms. Conciseness An integrated report should always be concise with relevant information that provides clear understanding of the organizations performance, governance and prospects to all stakeholders. This raises the understanding of the company activities and boost clarity of issues among the stakeholders. Reliability and completeness Under this principle an integrated report needs to have all important or material maters both negative and positive in correct balance without leaving out important materials that should have been included. Consistency and comparability The integrated report should always have consistent information that will remain correct even in future. The information should also be comparable to other organizations so that stake holders are able to put the report into various contexts. 4.2 Content elements Organizational overview and external environment A good integrated report needs to highlight what objectives does organization have and within what context does the organization operate in. Governance The report should show how the organizational governance enables it to create value within the short, medium and long term context, thus promoting the same understanding across all the stakeholders. Business model An integrated report should paint the picture of what organization model looks like. It helps the other shareholders to understand how the business operation of the organization they have interest in is set up. Risk and opportunities The report should highlight specific risks and opportunities the organization face /have. This enables the other stakeholders appreciate the strategies the organization have. Strategy and resource allocation The report should indicate to all shareholders the direction the organization is taking and how is it going to achieve set objectives. Performance The report should always point out the performance of the company in terms of meeting its organizational objectives in a specific period of time and in respect to the capital of the company. This enables the stakeholders to gauge if the organization is meeting their expectations. Outlook An integrated report should inform the stakeholders the challenges and uncertainties it is facing and the implications it may have on the company objectives. This will help the stakeholders to appreciate mechanism put in place by the organization to mitigate these uncertainties. Basis of preparation and presentation The report should highlight to the stakeholders on what basis did it determine what to include in the report and what not to include. This helps everyone related to the organization to appreciate the content of the report. Comparative evaluation Evaluation of the principle The 2016 AMP limited financial captured guiding principles of the integrated report in a number of ways. The report captures the companys strategy in terms of how the company is planning to meet its objectives within the context of the surrounding environment. The report is also consistent from one point to another in simple manner that is understandable. From the report it is easy to draw consistency and comparability with other reports as it highlights items such as profit, capital invested and time taken to realize the objectives. The report is also concise and provides necessary information on all parts that it has captured. Although the report is reliable it has however not addressed stakeholder relationship and thus lacking in completeness. (Soyka, 2013) evaluation of content element The element content of the integrated report is also present in the AMP 2016 financial report. The report provides the organizational overview of the company as well the governance structure. It also reports on the risks and opportunities for the bank in the Australian market context. The report also highlights the performance of the bank during the financial year 2016 and paints an outlook of the company in terms of challenges it might faces as captured in the directors report. The document does not however capture the basis of the preparation of the report and how the contents in it were determined. (Soyka, 2013) References BUSCO, C. (2016). INTEGRATED REPORTING. [Place of publication not identified]: SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PU. Mio, C. Integrated reporting. Morros, J. (2016). The integrated reporting: A presentation of the current state of art and aspects of integrated reporting that need further development. Intangible Capital, 12(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.3926/ic.700 Rezaee, Z. (2015). Business sustainability. Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing. Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M., Burritt, R. (2006). Sustainability Accounting and Reporting. Dordrecht: Springer. Soyka, P. (2013). The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) Integrated Reporting Framework: Toward Better Sustainability Reporting and (Way) Beyond. Environmental Quality Management, 23(2), 1-14. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/tqem.21357

Social Loafing free essay sample

Working in groups is essential in the business world and in general many of the tasks that humans face cannot be accomplished alone. Although group projects are essential, they can harbor difficulties in communication, time management, coordination and other aspects. One phenomenon that can occur while working in groups is called social loafing. It is the conscious or unconscious decrease in exerted effort in group settings due to the decrease in social awareness. These individuals may exert much more effort when working by themselves but when in a group setting they feel less of a need to do so. Social loafing is a complex physiological subject that is very prevalent in group settings. Social loafing is caused by task interdependence, task visibility, and group size. Although it can be detrimental to the group, there are different tactics to help prevent and cure social loafing. Social loafing is the tendency to reduce individual effort when working in groups compared to the individual effort used when working alone. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Loafing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is similar to ‘free riding’, a concept in which an individual does not bear a proportional amounts of work but shares all of the benefits of the group. Many studies conclude that individuals frequently exert less effort on collective tasks. An early example done in 1913 by a German researcher tested the size of a team verses the effort expended. He had teams do a rope pulling experiment and noted that was the number of group members increased, there was a decrease in overall performance. Social loafing is caused by a few different psychological tendencies. The first is called task interdependence. This is the degree of task-driven interaction among group members. If individuals perceive their tasks as more interdependent, they may find it difficult to feel a sense of personal achievement in their work. They may withhold their effort when conditions do now allow them to exhibit their accomplishments. With high task interdependence, individuals may feel that their efforts are indistinguishable from their coworkers. The second tendency is called task visibility. It is an individual belief that a supervisor is aware of their efforts. When tacks are not highly visible by others, they may not want to exert a high level of effort because there is no punishment from exerting low effort. Lastly, the size of the group can have an effect on social loafing. As a group size increases in size, individuals feel more anonymous and therefore contribute less consciously or unconsciously. It may also be more difficult to assess each group member’s contribution to projects when there are lots of members. The issue of social loafing is easily remedied if a few precautions are taken for group projects. It is important to articulate a role to each individual in the group and how that role plays a part in the completion of the group goal. Within each of the roles given to members, they should have specific, short-term, deliverable and measurable goals that can be tied directly to that individual. Evaluate each person based on these individual goals and reward those that meet and surpass their goals. Lastly, keeping the groups at a reasonable size for the task can prevent social loafing. If everyone in the group has a task, they will be less likely to cause social loafing. In conclusion, Bibliography http://www. radford. edu/~jaspelme/_private/gradsoc_articles/social%20loafing/Individual%20differences2. pdf http://comm. colorado. edu/~kuhnt/1600/liden. pdf http://www. joshuakennon. com/mental-model-social-loafing/

Platos Allegory of the Cave in Pleasantville Essay Example

Platos Allegory of the Cave in Pleasantville Essay Example Platos Allegory of the Cave in Pleasantville Paper Platos Allegory of the Cave in Pleasantville Paper Writer and director Gary Ross captured the essence of Plato’s philosophical views in his movie, Pleasantville. The movie is about two siblings, David and Jennifer, who live in completely different high school social scenes. Jennifer is the wild, extroverted teen who is obsessed with partying and boy drama. David, on the other hand, is a social outcast and spends most of his time watching TV, specifically, his favorite show, Pleasantville. David idolizes the show because of the perfect town in which everyone is accepted and there is never anything that goes wrong. When the siblings’ mother goes away, the two are left arguing over what TV channel to watch. As their fighting develops, they eventually break the remote, which leads to the plot twist when the two are transported into the town of Pleasantville. This movie directly relates to Plato’s philosophical beliefs, specifically his conclusions about the Allegory of the Cave. However, the movie can also be loosely related to Plato’s noumenal and phenomenal realms in the sense that it is hard to tell the difference between the intelligible and sensible realms. Plato’s beliefs are interpreted and modernized in the movie, which demonstrate the four truths that Plato realizes in his Allegory of the Cave conclusions. Pleasantville helps the audience understand the conclusions Plato draws from the Allegory of the Cave. Plato’s first conclusion explains why gathering knowledge and education can be difficult. The movie is a parallel because David and Jennifer’s cave is the life they lead as high school students. They are brought to the light when they are transported to Pleasantville. There, they must adapt to a different lifestyle and confront the truths about themselves that they ignored in the superficial world they once inhabited. When they are brought to Pleasantville, they also act as a philosopher who is bringing knowledge to the small town. For the people that live in Pleasantville, they are stuck in a cave and David and Jennifer are their keys to the light. The movie contrasts parallel universe’s, showing that perspective is what makes someone stuck in a cave. Because the people of Pleasantville and David and Jen learn new things about themselves, they all escaped the cave and gathered knowledge. The road to enlightenment was not an easy road, however. David and Jennifer had a difficult time maturing and leaving behind their old masks; the town of Pleasantville had a very difficult time gaining a new perspective- the town leaders tried everything they could to forbid people from leaving their perfect little world. This parallel of the cave explains Plato’s first conclusion of how education can often be difficult because it means turning your back on everything familiar. The movie also very clearly identifies with Plato’s second conclusion that explains why philosophers are often ridiculed. When Jennifer and David were transported to Pleasantville, they were immediately hated for disrupting the order in the town. They had to learn how to cope with a completely different world, while also instilling in others their new perspective and experience. While Pleasantville is black and white, the town represents the ignorance that people in the cave feel. However, when the town begins to turn to color, the people are finally seeing the light and escaping from the cave. This I somewhat ironic because, for both the people of Pleasantville and David and Jen, they all begin their journey in black and white. This is interesting because, from Jen and David’s perspective, the two had already experienced the world and were sent to Pleasantville to not disrupt anything. They, however, were very mistaken. They were just as ignorant as the people of Pleasantville, just in a different way. Jen’s radical actions of having sex when she goes on a date in Pleasantville do not make her turn to color because her actions are what would be expected from her back in her own cave. She only turns to color when she gets in touch with her emotions and relieves some insecurities that had hindered her from being her full self. The people that first turn to color are ridiculed by town leaders and people that had not yet left the cave. This explains why philosophers are often ridiculed; the people that were in color, representing philosophers, had divorced mundane concerns and found their true inner spirit. Plato’s final two conclusions describe the nature of education and the role of the philosopher, which are also dramatized in the movie. Plato tells that the role of an educator is to point their students in the right direction. In Pleasantville, the people are both students and teachers. They are teachers to Jen and David; the townspeople teach Jen and David the importance of tradition and good values. The townspeople are also students: they learn from Jen and David how to ignite their inner flame and break from the cave that Pleasantville once was. Similarily, Jen and David are also both students and teachers. They are students in that they take the lessons from the people of Pleasantville in order to help them reach the sun and gather knowledge about a world they were unfamiliar with. They are teachers in that they help orient the people of Pleasantville to get in touch with their daring and adventurous side. In this way, being a teacher is the role of the philosopher- the teacher must help others escape from the cave to experience life. Everyone that turned to color towards the beginning of the movie were the â€Å"philosophers† or â€Å"teachers† that helped instigate everyone else to turn to color. They helped share their knowledge and encouraged people to reach the sun and gather all new kinds of knowledge. Plato’s final two conclusions explain the nature of the philosopher in educating others and how the student has all the information inside them, they just need to tap into their inner mind to retrieve it. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Gary Ross’s Pleasantville each were very insightful in helping understand the other. By studying the allegory, it was very easy to understand the themes and symbols present in Pleasantville. Conversely, by watching Pleasantville, it was very easy to understand and modernize the conclusions Plato draws in his allegory. Through comprehending both, it is easier to understand Plato’s four truths: why knowledge can be difficult; why philosophers are ridiculed; the nature of education; and the role of the philosopher.

Analysis of Consumer Decision Making Process

Consumer decision making process is a list of steps that are carried out by consumers concerning to a potential market transaction, before, during and after the purchase of a product or service. The process includes identifying the problem, collecting information, evaluating the alternatives, making the purchase decision and evaluating post purchase. Generally, decision making is the cognitive process of selecting a course of action from among multiple options. As a consumer, I find that the consumer decision making process is a great help in choosing for the right roduct which gives a consumer the greatest satisfaction. One of the latest scenarios where I applied this process into my product purchases was buying a beautiful, yet not too costly wedding gown, as I am getting married in the coming month. I went through five stages of the consumer decision making process in buying the perfect wedding gown as follows:- Problem recognition Information search Evaluation of alternatives Purchase / Decision making Post-purchase evaluation Problem recognition is the stage where the consumer is aware of a need or want. It occurs when the consumer realize a significant difference between his or her ctual state and desire state. My problem in this situation at this stage, is having to own a new wedding gown, because I am walking down the isle with my fianc © next month. This desire of something new leads to the triggering of the decision process. In addition to my problem, I do not have a very well-funded family, so I cannot afford expensive, luxurious designers wedding gown. Information search When a consumer discovers a problem or a need, he or she is likely to search for more information on how to solve it. The information search stage involves gathering nformation from various sources in order to make a better-informed decision, it helps clarifies the options open to the consumer which may involve internal search and external search. Internal search is not required in my situation, because I do not have any past experiences or feelings with wedding gown to recall to, as it is going to be my first time buying it. Since I have no prior experience with this high-involvement product, Ill have to use external search, that is, to engage in extensive search of the outside environment for helpful information on which to support a choice. IVe obtained information from various sources. First of all, I became more attentive towards commercial sources, such as, bridal gowns advertisements on the Moreover, I went to different bridal retailers to get help from the sales consultants and also to browse through the gowns myself. I even sought some information through internet source to see what the basic idea is I need to know about wedding gowns. Last but not least, I gained more information and opinions from my friends and family that are married, through word of mouth. Through gathering information, I learnt more about the brands that compete in the market and their features and characteristics. Evaluation of alternatives With the information search from the previous stage, it helps clarifies the problem for the consumer by suggesting criteria to use for the purchase, yielding brand names that might meet those criteria and developing the consumer value perception At this stage, I have narrowed down the options available to me and I have to compare the ones that caught my attention based on the criteria that matters most. After browsing through so many types of brands of wedding gowns, there are two main ones that really meet up to my requirements or expectations, that is Vera Wangs wedding dresses collection and Mori Lees. However, I cannot possibly purchase both of the gowns, because I only need one. Therefore, I have listed down and established the criteria of these wedding gowns for evaluation, so that I can make the right choice. The table below shows the designs of both wedding gowns:- Brands I Vera Wang I Mori Lee I Color Since I have a fair skin tone, a lighter delicate hue of dress should suit me very well. I Ivory I White pastel I Fabric- I prefer much lighter and softer fabrics, as Im getting married during a hot season. I SilkThis light and floaty material is nown for its lustrous shine, which gives a lightweight look and feel. I Chiffon and Cr ©pe These two materials were used to produce the tulle gown in delicate sheets. It gives a soft flowing with a crinkled floral texture. I Length-full-length gowns are more suitable for my formal wedding. I Full-length I Full-length I Silhouette- This refers to the shape of the gown and how it hugs your body. I Mermaid shapelt is form fitting and slim, but the skirt flares out below the knee to show the perfect hourglass shape. I Full ball gownThis is the most traditional wedding dress silhouette. The bodice is fitted through the waist with full puffy skirt. I Train- The gown comes with a long train for people to carry when I walk. I It is detachable, so that it will not be stepped on or torn during the reception. I It is detachable, so that it will not be stepped on or torn during the reception. I Mood- Dresses are also categorized by moods. I RomanticThe dress is strapless and is usually complemented with a long train. I Traditional and romanticlt is described as a full gown with fluffy bottom and bares a heart-shaped neckline. I Pricing- The price of the dress. I Approximately RM13, 000 | Approximately RM9,OOO I Purchase / Decision Making After giving the criteria of both wedding gowns a thorough evaluation, I have come to a decision on which dress to purchase. I chose the second option, which is the Mori Lees full wedding ball gown, because the design, texture and color really meet up to my requirements. As I have mentioned before, I am not very well-funded, thus I cannot afford to pay requires me to pay only 20% of the original price. Vera Wangs do not provide rental services, thus this adds extra points up on why I prefer Mori Lees gown. To implement my purchasing decision, I have decided to rent the gown from Milan ridal studio, Penang. There are many sizes available there, where I can try them and loan from there easily. Furthermore, I do not need to own the wedding gown myself, because I wont be wearing it again after my wedding day, so renting the gown is the best option. I have paid for the loan fee using credit card two weeks before my wedding day, so I can get myself prepared with the wedding themes and set ups beforehand. Post-purchase evaluation Last but not least, we have come to the final stage, which is the post-purchase evaluation of the decision. It is very common for consumers to experience concerns fter making a product purchase. After buying a product, the consumer compares it with expectations and is either satisfied or dissatisfied. What I experienced after using the product was the performance of this product exceeds my expectations, causing what is known as positive disconfirmation. After wearing Mori Lees wedding ball gown on my special day, I felt completely satisfied and contented with the gown I chose. That wedding gown suited me perfectly well on that day; the floral texture on the skirt matches the wedding theme flawlessly and I felt really comfortable wearing it. The fabric of the gown did not cause me to feel hot or itchy at all, unlike some other gowns I have tried. Furthermore, I was really happy with the decision I made, that is to only rent the dress. It helped me saved a lot from my budget and I still get to flaunt that piece of beautiful gown during my wedding day at the same time. Conclusion In short, I find that the consumer decision making process is really helpful when it comes to choosing the right product to purchase. I think this process is more suitable to be used in high-involvement purchases, which include those involving high xpenditure or personal risk for example buying a house, a car or making investments, because the stages of the process really guides you to choose the best option, without having to feel guilty or regret after buying it. I will strongly recommend people whom I know to use this process when they are purchasing something important, because it lessens the risk of buying and increases post-purchase satisfaction to a consumer after going through the stages and choosing the right alternative.

Streetcar marketing communication and Marketing mix Case Study

Streetcar marketing communication and Marketing mix - Case Study Example The strategy used by the streetcar company is very exceptional as it also works in a way to preserve the environment. The advocates for a greener environment have affirmed that indeed there is no need to have many cars on the road and having a business that offers car sharing and car rental services is very effective way of ensuring that the emissions are reduced. The elements that are involved in the marketing of any company are not conclusive since there are a variety of them. Insight to the buyer behaviour and their decision making process is entrenched in the core marketing concepts. Currently, marketers have been able to develop theories and prove them scientifically to explain the stable rules that apply to the marketing sectors and business communication. The major concern is addressing the observable features that are similar among all or most consumers and try to understand them vividly. It is very difficult for one to ascertain that marketing has a theory and that it is justifiable on the basis that it is logic and consistent. In the modern market regimen, the core concepts include the market strategy, eCommunication and eCommerce. Different methods of communication are involved by different companies to market themselves as this is the first process that will initiate the eagerness in customers to buy. When customers become aware of a certain product, it evokes a curiosity. Streetcar has established good strategy that incorporates eCommerce and eCommunication. These concepts are important in marketing because the strategy for marketing will enable a company to come up with a better marketing plan which is cost effective and successful. The understanding of human behaviour can enable streetcar to meet their marketing objectives which can be evaluated by certain aspects that are practical and measurable for instance the amount of sales, the profits, the market share and the ROI- return of investment. Objectives and Strategies The main objective of implementing communication strategies in a business is to increase the sales of the business and as a result increase its profits. The success of the marketing strategy will depend on the appropriate coordination and implementation of all the elements of a marketing mix which include pricing, promotions, place and the product. Business success is achieved by the realization of the business objective. The communication style in marketing is to give answers to the following questions about customers; who How When Where And why do they buy The streetcar company has integrated all the answers to the above questions and has established a strong customer base in the UK (Pelsmacker et al 2007). Evaluation of the market, control systems and use of direct communication allows interactive exchange of information and effective marketing of the products offered (Fill 2006). Streetcar is one of the biggest car sharing and car rental clubs in the United Kingdom and it was est ablished in 2004. The customers are mainly the people who do not have personal cars and those who don't use their cars regularly. Currently, the clubs has over 40,000 members all over the country and it is operating in seven cities with seven

Benefits of Biomedical Research Using Animals Essay

Benefits of Biomedical Research Using Animals - Essay Example Breast cancer is the most common in American women (American Cancer Society). On the other hand, I went through the signs and symptoms to understand what my aunt was experiencing. The website listed symptoms like swelling in parts of the breast, irritation of the skin, pain in the breast or nipple, and sometimes discharge from the nipple (American Cancer Society). Moreover, I also learned of how cells of cancer grow in an uncontrollable manner and pose the risk of spreading to other parts of the body in what is known as metastasis. After a visit to the oncologist, my aunt level of cancer was said to be a stage that could not be controlled through surgical means. Therefore, the only option viable at the time was the use of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy helps in reducing the growth of cancer cells in the body (American Cancer Society). My aunt was placed on a combination of chemotherapy tamoxifen and Herceptin. However, chemotherapy has been associated with the side effects in human thanks to the recent development that has enabled development of drugs that mitigates side effects. One of such drugs that my aunt had to rely on was Herceptin. The drug acts by focusing on specific genetic alteration and hence has enabled in the reduction of side effects such as hair loss and nausea that is typical in another form of therapies (UCLA). The efficacies of these drugs that have been helpful to my aunt have been proved through animal research. The development of these drugs has been possible through intensive research that has been done on animals (rats) (Animal Research Info). It is the identification of estrogen receptor (ER) in the laboratory that has made it possible to describe the target site specificity of estrogen action in breast cancer (Jensen and Jordan 1). In the 1970s, there was consideration of the use of ER as a target for therapeutics.

Classical vs. Keynsian Economics Essay Example for Free

Classical vs. Keynsian Economics Essay There are several significant factors that differentiate Classical from Keynesian economics. Classical economics stays true to the laissez-faire concept of no government mediation in businesses with the assumption that the economy will work itself out. Keynesian economics, on the other hand, revolves around deficit spending and the belief that essentially â€Å"in the long run, we’re all going to die†. Both schools of economics take a different stance on the behavior of consumers, fiscal policy, and government spending. Classical economists, in essence, monitor what is currently transpiring in the economy. They believe that the economy is stable and self-sustaining because in the long run, the market supposedly automatically adjusts to â€Å"booms† and â€Å"busts†. This principle is heavily influenced by the epoch of industrialization – during and after. In a Classical economic model, economists consent individuals’ actions and desires, thus allowing prices to fluctuate based on that individuals’ needs. Say’s Law explicates this phenomenon by saying that supply creates its own demand and in result, the economy is stimulated when more goods are produced. Furthermore, Classicalists do not act with fiscal policies and strongly believe the notion that government spending impedes a nation’s economic growth Keynesian economists believe that the government is imperfect and is not able to sustain itself so government intervention is not only beneficial, but also crucial to mediate the economy. Their stance on fiscal policy is to either contract or expand the economy with specific tools depending on the gap in the economy. In a Keynesian economic model, economists rely on government spending to jumpstart an economy if it was dragged down into a depression. When there is a lack of growth, the government should stimulate demand. Personally, I would agree with Classical economics, but with all the assumptions present it is nearly impossible to side with them. Most of the assumptions are not true and are essential to accurately find a solution to economic problems. For instance, President Ronald Reagan was big on the  theory of hands-off business, yet he plundered the nation into the most drastic deficit; more than all of his predecessors combined. Not having government intervention is nearly impossible since there is always a need to mediate the economy. I would side more with Keynesian economics since there is almost always a practical solution to a problem. In other words, it is like an algorithm: you need so much to get the desired output. For instance, in the Great Depression of 2008, the government efficiently used expansionary fiscal policy to boost the economy. Government spending was vastly increased, as well as taxes. Our economy was gradually remedied by the policies that were enacted upon, thus my reason for siding with Keynesian economics.

Macroeconomic Case Studies :: essays papers

Macroeconomic Case Studies The article titled ‘Fed Unlikely to Alter Course’ by John M. Berry of the Washington Post takes an interesting look at actions that Alan Greenspan his colleges of the Federal Reserve have been taking over the last 9 months to slow the economic growth of United States. The astonishing growth rate of 7.3% is fueled by an economy that is in the midst of a â€Å"high tech revolution†. The article also explores the contrasting view of other economists that say that the Fed has increased interest rates too much in its attempts to slow the economy. The means by which Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve have chose to slow the economy is through a monetary policy, or more specifically, an increase in the national interest rate. The article states that the Fed officials have come to a â€Å"broad agreement that they will keep raising the rates until growth slows to a more sustainable pace to make sure inflation stays under control.† Because of the booming economy and the investment in the stock market the exchange of money has increased for goods and services, which in turn increases the price level or the quantity of money demanded. By increasing the interest rates the Fed commits itself to adjusting the supply of money in the United States to meet that rate at a point of equilibrium. If the interest rate is increased, less goods and services are demanded, and therefore will slow down the economy and reduce the rate of inflation. The article points out that as â€Å"stock prices have risen over the last couple of ye ars, so have American household wealth and consumer spending.† This is precisely the cycle that Fed officials want to interrupt to slow growth before it fuels more inflation. At the time this article was written the stock market prices had fallen sharply especially in the technology sector. But the Fed continued on the path to raise interest rates further noting that the index that they closely follow and contains a broader rage of public traded US stocks, the Wilshire 5000, is up for the year. Even though they began raising rates gradually 9 months ago, it takes almost a year for the economy to feel the full effects. In this case the results of the interest rates increased could be felt as last as the second half of 2000.

Case Study Report: Odi

Case Study Report: Optical Distortion, Inc. (A) For the three types of chicken farms, the appealing and unappealing characteristics of using ODI contact lens are presented as below. When it comes to appealing characteristics, the three types of chicken farms are the same: less cannibalism, less feed cost, and less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production. From the perspective of cannibalism, which is originally 25% showed in experience, flock mortality is reduced to an average of 4. 5% when ODI lens are used .On the contrary, the debeaking makes the mortality for cannibalism from 25% to only 9% , which is higher than contact lenses used. In other words, farmers can save more 4. 5% (9% minus 4. 5%) chickens in their farm. On the other words, farmers can save $2. 40(price of per hen)*4. 5%*the number of chickens in the farm. From the perspective of less feed cost, the debeaking chicken only can eat the feed in the trough at least 3/8† deep, while the ODI le ns used chicken only can eat the feed in the trough below 3/8†deep.At $158 per ton for chicken feed, this would represent considerable annual savings, especially for large farms. From the perspective of less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production, because the fewer cannibalism and the trauma resulting, farmer can get more eggs. When it comes to unappealing characteristics, the details are as below. Farm Types| Unappealing Characteristics|Small Farms| Labor cost| Lens cost| The number of birds are too small to use the new technology| Medium Farms| Yearly cash flow is only $375,000| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| Not reused and the lens cost| Large Farms| Not reused| Lens cost| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| As regards geographic areas, ODI should focus its efforts on California. Given the density of large farms n California (flock size of 50,000 or greater), it seems prudent not only to perform the initial product introduction there but to focus the entire first year of business in this single West Coast state. The first year’s planned production volume is approximately 20 million, essentially the same as California’s chicken population. Success in this region could later force farms in other states to implement the lens simply as a means of staying competitive. As regards target segment, it would seem that the focus should be initially on farms with a flock size of 50,000 and over, which means the large farms.Since this would limit the overhead (fixed costs) needed to service these accounts (fewer sales and technical experts required). Also, by focusing on large farms, the sales team could interface with the farms directly, and there would be no need for a â€Å"middle man† to be involved in product distribution. Avoiding this intermediary would help keep costs down. For ODI, pricing con siderations for a pair of lenses are as below. Item| Fixed Cost| Advertising in Trade Publications| $100,000| Headquarters Expenses| $184,000(for volume of 20 million pair)| Regional Office and Warehouse| $196,000|Costs of Molds| $12,000 x 3 = $36,000 (3 molds are needed to produce 21,600,000 pair annually)| Licensing Agreement with New World Plastics| $25,000 (per year, must be paid for first and second year of production)| Item| Variable Cost| per pair of lenses| $0. 032| ODI Cost(per year): TC=FC+MC TOTAL COST=[($100,000 + $184,000 + $196,000 + $36,000 + $25,000)/(50% of 475600000)]+0. 032=$0. 055 (5. 5 cent) per pair Farmers Saving when using ODI lens(per year): Item| Saving| Less Mortality| $2. 40*(9%-4. 5%)=0. 108| Less retardation of egg production| 0. 3/12=0. 044| Less feed cost| (0. 2446-0. 2368)*3/8*($158/2000)*365=0. 084| TOTAL SAVING=$0. 108+$0. 044+$0. 084=$0. 236(23. 6cent) The minimum price that ODI considered is 8 cent per pair, so the price stage is from 8 cent to 2 3. 6 cent, and the ODI should adopt the price policy on entry which is set the price near 23. 6 cent per pair. For the realistic goal for ODI by 1978 is the 50 percent penetration of such farms, when means ODI wants to reach the 50 percent of 470. 8 million pairs, that is, 235. 4 million pairs of lens be sold and used in the farms. Case Study Report: Odi Case Study Report: Optical Distortion, Inc. (A) For the three types of chicken farms, the appealing and unappealing characteristics of using ODI contact lens are presented as below. When it comes to appealing characteristics, the three types of chicken farms are the same: less cannibalism, less feed cost, and less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production. From the perspective of cannibalism, which is originally 25% showed in experience, flock mortality is reduced to an average of 4. 5% when ODI lens are used .On the contrary, the debeaking makes the mortality for cannibalism from 25% to only 9% , which is higher than contact lenses used. In other words, farmers can save more 4. 5% (9% minus 4. 5%) chickens in their farm. On the other words, farmers can save $2. 40(price of per hen)*4. 5%*the number of chickens in the farm. From the perspective of less feed cost, the debeaking chicken only can eat the feed in the trough at least 3/8† deep, while the ODI le ns used chicken only can eat the feed in the trough below 3/8†deep.At $158 per ton for chicken feed, this would represent considerable annual savings, especially for large farms. From the perspective of less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production, because the fewer cannibalism and the trauma resulting, farmer can get more eggs. When it comes to unappealing characteristics, the details are as below. Farm Types| Unappealing Characteristics|Small Farms| Labor cost| Lens cost| The number of birds are too small to use the new technology| Medium Farms| Yearly cash flow is only $375,000| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| Not reused and the lens cost| Large Farms| Not reused| Lens cost| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| As regards geographic areas, ODI should focus its efforts on California. Given the density of large farms n California (flock size of 50,000 or greater), it seems prudent not only to perform the initial product introduction there but to focus the entire first year of business in this single West Coast state. The first year’s planned production volume is approximately 20 million, essentially the same as California’s chicken population. Success in this region could later force farms in other states to implement the lens simply as a means of staying competitive. As regards target segment, it would seem that the focus should be initially on farms with a flock size of 50,000 and over, which means the large farms.Since this would limit the overhead (fixed costs) needed to service these accounts (fewer sales and technical experts required). Also, by focusing on large farms, the sales team could interface with the farms directly, and there would be no need for a â€Å"middle man† to be involved in product distribution. Avoiding this intermediary would help keep costs down. For ODI, pricing con siderations for a pair of lenses are as below. Item| Fixed Cost| Advertising in Trade Publications| $100,000| Headquarters Expenses| $184,000(for volume of 20 million pair)| Regional Office and Warehouse| $196,000|Costs of Molds| $12,000 x 3 = $36,000 (3 molds are needed to produce 21,600,000 pair annually)| Licensing Agreement with New World Plastics| $25,000 (per year, must be paid for first and second year of production)| Item| Variable Cost| per pair of lenses| $0. 032| ODI Cost(per year): TC=FC+MC TOTAL COST=[($100,000 + $184,000 + $196,000 + $36,000 + $25,000)/(50% of 475600000)]+0. 032=$0. 055 (5. 5 cent) per pair Farmers Saving when using ODI lens(per year): Item| Saving| Less Mortality| $2. 40*(9%-4. 5%)=0. 108| Less retardation of egg production| 0. 3/12=0. 044| Less feed cost| (0. 2446-0. 2368)*3/8*($158/2000)*365=0. 084| TOTAL SAVING=$0. 108+$0. 044+$0. 084=$0. 236(23. 6cent) The minimum price that ODI considered is 8 cent per pair, so the price stage is from 8 cent to 2 3. 6 cent, and the ODI should adopt the price policy on entry which is set the price near 23. 6 cent per pair. For the realistic goal for ODI by 1978 is the 50 percent penetration of such farms, when means ODI wants to reach the 50 percent of 470. 8 million pairs, that is, 235. 4 million pairs of lens be sold and used in the farms.

PM Profitel Inc. Case

As a formerly government-owned telephone monopoly, Profitel enjoyed many decades of minimal competition. Even today as a publicly traded enterprise, the company’s almost exclusive control over telephone copper wiring across the country keeps its profit mar- gins above 40 percent. Competitors in telephone and DSL broadband continue to rely on Profitel’s wholesale business, which generates substantially more profit than similar wholesale services in many other countries.However, Profitel has stiff competition in the cellular (mobile) telephone business, and other emerging technologies (voice- over-Internet) threaten Profitel’s dominance. Based on these threats, Profitel’s board of directors decided to hire an outsider as the new chief executive. Although several qualified candidates expressed an interest in Profitel’s top job, the board selected Lars Peeters, who had been CEO for six years of a publicly traded Euro- pean telephone company, followed by a brief stint as CEO of a cellular telephone company in the United States until it was acquired by a larger firm.Profitel’s board couldn’t believe its good fortune; Peeters brought extensive industry knowledge and global experience, a high-octane energy level, self-confidence, decisiveness, and congenial yet strongly persuasive interpersonal style. He also had a unique â€Å"presence,† which caused people to pay attention and respect his leadership. The board was also impressed with Peeters strategy to bolster Profitel’s profit margins.This included heavy investment in the latest wireless broadband technology (for both cellular telephone and computer Internet) before competitors could gain a foothold, cutting costs through layoffs and reduction of peripheral services, and putting pressure on government to deregulate its traditional and emerging businesses. When Peeters described his strategy to the board, one board member commented that this was the same strategy Peeters used in his previous two CEO postings. Peeters dismissed the comment, saying that each situation is unique. Peeters lived up to his reputation as a decisive executive.Almost immediately after taking the CEO job at Profitel, he hired two executives from the European company where he previously worked. Together over the next two years they cut the workforce by 5 percent and rolled out the new wireless broadband technology for cellphones and Internet. Costs increased somewhat due to downsizing expenses and the wireless technology rollout. Profitel’s wireless broadband subscriber list grew quickly because, in spite of its very high prices, the technology faced limited competition and Profitel was pushing customers off the older technology to the new network.Profitel’s customer sat- isfaction ratings fell, however. A national consumer research group reported that Profitel’s broadband offered the country’s worst value. Employee morale also dec lined due to layoffs and the company’s public image problems. Some industry experts also noted that Profitel selected its wireless technology without evaluating the alternative emerging wireless technology, which had been gaining ground in other countries. Peeters’ aggressive campaign against government regulation also had unintended consequences.Rather than achieving less regulation, criticizing government and its telecommunications regulator made Profitel look even more arrogant in the eyes of both customers and government leaders. Profitel’s board was troubled by the company’s lacklustre share price, which had declined 20 percent since Peeters was hired. Some board members also worried that the company had bet on the wrong wireless technology and that subscription levels would stall far below the number necessary to achieve the profits stated in Peeters’ strategic plan.This concern came closer to reality when a foreign-owned competitor won a $1 billion government contract to improve broadband services in regional areas of the country. Profitel’s proposal for that regional broadband upgrade specified high prices and limited corporate investment, but Peeters was confident Profitel would be awarded the contract because of its market dominance and existing infrastructure with the new wireless network.When the government decided otherwise, Profitel’s board fired Peeters along with two executives he had hired from the European company where he previously worked. Now, the board had to figure out what went wrong and how to avoid this problem in the future. Questions: 1. Which perspective of leadership best explains the problems experienced in this case? Analyze the case using concepts discussed in that leadership perspective. 2. What can organizations do to minimize the leadership problems discussed above?

Complementary and Alternative Medicines Essays

Complementary and Alternative Medicines Essays Complementary and Alternative Medicines Paper Complementary and Alternative Medicines Paper most notably in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. It is important for providers to understand that features of the historic Japanese culture remain within the mindset of Japanese Americans, and that these cultural characteristics influence the values, the communication practices, and the health care perspectives of Japanese Americans. In order to deliver culturally congruent care, providers should be aware that certain cultures possess differing values systems, and these values can have an effect on how a particular client within the culture communicates with health care providers. For example, if a person highly values respect, it would be wise for a provider to show the utmost respect for his or her client, perhaps by simply calling the client â€Å"Mr. or â€Å"Mrs. ,† lest the therapeutic relationship suffer. Providers should also be aware that culture has an effect on how a client perceives his or her own health, how a client views the causes of illness and disease, and how a client responds to particular health interventions (Potter Perry, 2009). Some Japanese Americans possess deep-rooted patterns of communicating that they use when interacting with other people. Providers should be familiar with these communication patterns, as well as the attitudes that some Japanese Americans may have toward alternative and complimentary therapies and death and dying issues. Only when providers understand these particular issues pertaining to Japanese Americans can they be able to deliver the culturally competent care needed to ensure desirable outcomes for their clients. Japanese Values Many health care providers are familiar with the core values associated with Japanese culture such as politeness, harmony, group orientation, and the desire for success. The Japanese also have three distinct words to  characterize three traditional values that, although dismissed by some as archaic remnants of the past, still permeate the culture (Wood, 2006). The first value, on, illustrates indebtedness. When Japanese Americans perceive that they are receiving high quality care, they may show their indebtedness by profusely thanking the caregiver. The concept of giri translates into an obligation to the community. Providers caring for a Japanese American may perceive that the client is very demanding when it comes to the care they receive, as he or she may believe that it is the obligation of the caregiver to operate in a precise and professional manner. The last traditional Japanese value is ninjo. Ninjo refers to the desire to follow a path that one thinks feels the most natural, despite social obligations (Wood, 2006). A provider who does not deliver excellent care to a Japanese American may find that the client wishes to be cared for by another healthcare professional. Communication All cultures can be categorized into two broad communication paradigms: low context and high context. People who operate in a low context culture tend to communicate in a direct manner, and they rely on the dissemination of explicit thoughts and ideas in order to give and obtain information. Conversely, people who function in a high context culture, like many people of Japanese decent, tend to be less likely to explicitly express their views, preferring instead to communicate in a less direct manner (Thill Bovee, 2008). The fact that many Japanese Americans operate in a high context cultural environment has tremendous healthcare implications. If a provider is attempting to assess the pain level of a Japanese American, the provider should take into account not only what the client actually says about his or her pain level, but also what the client may be saying with his or her eyes or through the use of body language. People of Japanese ancestry are likely to participate in a subtle exchange of messages with those in which they interact in order to attain a shared understanding. It often becomes important for a provider to look beyond what the client is actually saying, as it is not uncommon for Japanese Americans to suppress their emotions. According to Thill Bovee (2008), the high context Japanese culture does not automatically change simply because someone from a low context culture is communicating with them. Providers should be aware of the unique Japanese cultural communication and behavioral concept called amae. Although there is no English equivalent for this word, amae generally translates into a desire to be taken care of, along with the desire to depend upon another person’s benevolence. Providers should also be aware that amae often carries over into adult life in people of Japanese ancestry (Lebra Lebra, 1986). A provider caring for a Japanese American client may notice that some clients may not wish to feed or bathe themselves, or walk to the bathroom, even though he or she is able to do so. Understanding the concept of amae can help providers develop a treatment plan for increased motility by encouraging a Japanese American client to do certain tasks on their own in order to become more independent and self-confident. Alternative and Complimentary Therapies Many Japanese Americans rely upon alternative therapies that compliment traditional western medicine. These therapies include Kampo, Shiatsu massage, Japanese acupuncture, Japanese herbal medicine, and the popular therapy known as Reiki. A Japanese Buddhist Monk developed Reiki, the spiritual practice of palm healing, in the early 20th Century. The Japanese word Reiki means â€Å"universal life energy,† and this practice is used to reduce anxiety, stress, and pain; it is also used as a means to support overall well being (Mills, 2008). Providers should be aware that Japanese American clients are very open to this form of alternative and complimentary therapy. Understanding that some Japanese American clients may want a Reiki practitioner present in their room after a surgery procedure can help a provider better create a culturally sensitive health care plan for the client. Death and Dying  People of Japanese ancestry may look at the issue of euthanasia differently than those of other Americans. Whereas for the most part the Christian religious viewpoint on death and dying decries acts of euthanasia, many Japanese Americans, with their spiritual beliefs rooted in non-theistic or polytheistic religions such as Shintoism and Buddhism, may not see these issues in such unconditional terms. The country of Japan has practiced euthanasia for much of its history, and some Japanese view the prolongation of life by the use of artificial methods as an abhorrent action against life itself. A person’s right-to-die is engrained into the Japanese culture (Tanida, 2010). Providers should be culturally sensitive to the family of a Japanese American client who, for example, may be in a persistent vegetative state. Although a provider may adamantly disagree with the decision, if a Japanese American family chooses to not keep their loved one connected to artificial feeding tubes, a provider should not attempt to persuade or admonish the family simply because the family’s views on death and dying differ from his or her own views on the subject. The Japanese culture also has a history of glorifying suicide. The belief that suicide is a respectable escape from this world can be traced back to the times of medieval samurai, and this belief is still embedded in the Japanese psyche (Fackler, 2009). A provider should take into consideration the possible propensity for Japanese Americans to romanticize suicide when he or she interacts with clients. This is especially important when providing grief counseling to a client who has recently lost a loved one, or when caring for a client attempting to recover from a debilitating disease. A Japanese American may not give outward verbal signs that he or she is severely depressed or is contemplating suicide. He or she may not express their belief that life is not worth living or that people would be better off without them, due to the high context nature of the culture. Providers should pay particular attention to other common risk indicators, such as changes in physical activity, weight or sleeping patterns, as well less explicit cues, such as instances of a client giving away personal belongings or obtaining a weapon. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in people aged 15-24, men are four times as likely to kill themselves as are women, and the highest suicide rates occur among those who are over 65 years of age (Hoffman, 2009). In light of these facts, providers should pay particular attention to Japanese American clients in these demographics. Conclusion In order to properly adapt care for Japanese American clients, it is important for providers to understand how people raised in the Japanese culture communicate and perceive health issues. By recognizing differences  in communication style, providers can better interact with clients and in turn be in a better position to understand client needs. Understanding differences in views on alternative therapies and death can help a provider to better create care plans and to initiate appropriate interventions. This recognition and understanding helps providers provide culturally competent care to ensure the best possible health outcomes. References Easton, S. E. Ellington, L. (2010). Countries and their culture: Japanese Americans. Retrieved March 29, 2010 from everyculture. com/multi/Ha-La/Japanese-Americans. html Fackler, M. (2009, December 17). At Japanese cliffs, a campaign to combat suicide. New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2010 from nytimes. com/2009/12/18/world/asia/18japan. html? _r=1 Hoffman, M. (2009). Recognizing the warning signs of suicide. Retrieved March 29, 2010 from webmd. com/depression/guide/depression-recognizing-signs-of-suicide Lebra, T. S. , Lebra, W. P. (1986). Japanese culture and behavior. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. Mills, P. (2008). Reiki: a comprehensive guide. New York, NY: Penguin Group. Potter, P. A. , Perry, A. G. (2009). Fundamentals of nursing. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier Tanida, N. (2010). Implications of Japanese religious views toward life and death in medicine. Retrieved April 1, 2010 from eubios. info/ABC4/abc4288. htm Thill, J. V. Bovee, C. L. (2008). Excellence in business communication. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Wood, M. (2006). A brief introduction to Japanese society. Retrieved April 1, 2010 from http://crab. rutgers. edu/~deppen/Japan. htm

Availability Of Information Online Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Availability Of Information Online - Essay Example E-learning is electronic based training which involves the transfer of instructions and educational material through the internet or intranet and/or CD-ROM (Mason, 2006). It may include use of videos, audio, or written materials. Reflective learning Reflective learning can be classified as one of the earliest learning method. This method of learning can be explained as consciously thinking about a situation and analyzing what one has done or is doing. The thinking can involve looking for commonalities, differences, and interrelations beyond their superficial elements. It can be also seen as learning from present or past experience (Moon, 2004). Finally, reflective learning is the process by which one makes meaning from experiences that involve more than simply attending to events but also, the interaction other individuals, the environment and the world. Reflective learning encourages participation, ensures concentration of the students and offers relevant framework for development o f professionals in their respective fields. Reflective learning also enables instructors to learn from their experiences of teaching and facilitate students learning (Brookfield, 2000). By use of the Kolb cycle (a set of four different stages) instructors can acquire useful model by which to develop their practice. The assumption of the Kolb cycle is that it is insufficient to encompass an experience so as to learn and that the cycle can be entered at any stage. The four stages of the Kolb cycle are concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. Concrete experience involves actual doing of an act so as to have the first hand experience. Reflective observation may involve reviewing and reflecting on the experience acquired (Scho?n, 1987). Abstraction conceptualization involves the thinking process and concluding of the learning experience. Active experimentation is the planning and the trying out of the information and experiences acquired. It is evident that through reflective learning, the lecturer acquires the necessary skills which can enable him or her effectively teaches and counsels the students (Scho?n, 1987). E-learning and Reflective learning The introduction and continued spread of e-learning may lead to the division of academics from the scholars and tends to lead to the anticipation that classes can be triumphant without the face to face contact of the student with the instructor. E-learning may be most appropriate if three factors are thoroughly addressed, which are technology, instructional needs, and education (Lynch, 2002). However, most modern theories of learning (including E-learning) promote the concept of reflective learning as essential for deep and significant learning. The advancement in technology has enabled e-learning to overcome the traditional disadvantages of using technology to gain experience and knowledge. (Stephenson, 2001) In the past, online learning was passive, using the usual teaching centered approach. However, the e-learning approach used this days incorporates the reflective theory of learning enabling learners to observe, reflect, strategize, and even to plan their own learning. The online learning activity, featuring reflections and collaboration, attempts to assist students in self-directed learning and in improving their skills and knowledge through designing tailor made learning programmes that are well suited to each student (Clarke,

Egyptian Mythology, Egyptians and Tanakh Creations Story Essay - 6

Egyptian Mythology, Egyptians and Tanakh Creations Story - Essay Example The creation stories in the Tanakh and Egyptians epic are similar in that all things were created by the deity conceiving something and pronouncing it by his tongue. The creation stories are also different. The creation stories in the Tanakh have only one Supreme Being, who creates everything. But in the Egyptian and Mesopotamia creation epics, there are many gods, and they are struggling against each other. In the Mesopotamians epic, the opposing force (Tiamat) is destroyed through war but in the Tanakh, the opposing force is not destroyed but cursed. In the Egyptians epic story, the deity is represented by nature like the cloud, sun, earth, sky, etc. But in the Tanakh, God is beyond nature and creation, and He is not part of creation. Biblically, a covenant refers to an agreement between God and His people. God makes promises which He faithfully fulfills if the people abide by the conditions set in the covenant. In the creation, God created Adam and gave him dominion over the earth on the condition that He will not eat the tree of Knowledge of good and evil(Gen 2:17). But Adam disobeyed and ate the fruit and hence broke the covenant and, as a result, was cursed and cast out of Eden. Later on, the world became very corrupt, and God decided to destroy the whole earth by water but saved Noah and his household (Gen 6:7-8). After the Flood had receded, God made a covenant with Noah that God will never again destroy the world by water. After the flood, the people came together and decided to build the tower of Babel that was to reach the sky (Gen 11:3-4). God come and confused the people with different languages, and they were scattered (Gen 11:8). God desired to save man, and He called Abraham so that through Him, the man could come into a relationship with God (Gen 17:1-8). Abraham was to live faithfully and blameless before God. Israelites were not only a people of the covenant but also a political  community. The captives of Judah were allowed to return to Jerusalem by Cyrus, King of Persia in his first year of rule. Ezra and Nehemiah record the reconstitution of the nation of Judah through the rebuilding of the temple.  

Strengthening Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strengthening Africa - Essay Example Professor Frank Flatters from the Department of Economics of Queen's University, Canada, argues in favor of national policymaking as follows: "There are many tracks for pursuing trade policies aimed at effective global participation, the most important of which are the multilateral WTO processes, regional arrangements, and special bilateral or plurilateral preferential agreements. For each of these avenues, however, the key to success is domestic policies." (Flatters, 2003). In this context, the Ministry of Trade and Development of Ethiopia has to face the fact of taking drastic measures at a national level in order to be more competitive both locally and globally. ILMI aims at a widespread use of Information and Communications Technologies as well as assuming a new kind of leadership and management all across the nation taking as examples new paradigms for change. Globalization is a very challenging endeavor, especially for a very poor country. It seems paradoxical to recommend the implementation of Information and Communication Technologies to one of the least developed countries in the world, but ICT are unavoidable in order to achieve a successful integration. With the creation of ILMI there will be real benefits in relation to international trade and national companies will be much more competitive. E-Commerce and Outsourcing will be available to a wider range of individuals. A telecommuting work force will be created through the use of ICT enhanced with new ways of leadership and management. Ethiopia's Ministry of Trade and Development has to take advantage of the globalization efforts of many international organizations and developed countries in favor of the least developed countries. 3.- Globalization and Development in Africa. The United Nations have taken the initiative of helping the least developed countries through the Millennium Development Goals. These goals are the following: Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal health Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development (United Nations, 2000). The UN Millennium Project is clear about the issue of underdevelopment: "Whatever one's motivation for attacking the crisis of extreme poverty -human rights, religious values, security, fiscal prudence, ideology- the solutions are the same. All that is needed is action." (UN Millennium Project, 2005). In this context, the UN Millennium Project has suggested ten key recommendations: "1.- Developing country governments should

Personality Diagnostic Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Personality Diagnostic Procedures - Essay Example This paper describes the results of the Personality Diagnostic assessment, emphasizing Gods interventions. The assessment results indicated that I tend to maintain a balance in relation to communications skills. For instance, the majority of scores were precisely in the mid-range from one extreme to the other. For instance, dominant personality attributes scored at 1, indicating the ability to dominate social situations, while also taking a less-controlling role, socially, when appropriate. Further, in relation to contentious behaviors, a similar mid-range score of 0.71 tends to support the notion that I maintain the ability to voice arguments when appropriate, while also being able to silence personal arguments when required. In todays business environment, positive communication skills are cited as one of the primary elements to promoting a cohesive organizational staff (Nickels, McHugh & McHugh, 2005). A balanced leader knows when to fight for change (argumentation) and when to remain silent when another person generates better ideas for business improvement. Though I discovered that I need to develop my listening skills, with a low score of 34, I believe that the majority of scores related to communication represent a person who maintains a balance of personality attributes. balance employee autonomy with a firm desire to simply do the job myself. Perhaps my firm commitment to organizational productivity and desire for strict adherence to policies could be lightened through exhortation, by coming together to develop the skills of subordinates, visualizing and promoting their ongoing business success (George). This builds trust, camaraderie, and a legitimate commitment in employees as they rejoice in their own accomplishments. This is one of the elements of a competent Christian leader. Supporting the concept of being a

Medicalisation

Medicalisation Medicalisation Medicalisation is defined as a process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical problems usually in terms of illnesses or disorders. Initially all deviant behavior were described as sin or criminal behavior and religion had full control over how to punish such deviant behavior. Later on as societies became more complex with the growth of technology and as the hold of religion diminished as a control agent, the emphasis shifted from punishment as a preferred sanction for deviance to treatment of illness. Deviance that was considered sin or bad is now considered as sickness. With increasing success biomedicine started functioning as a control agent. Review of recent research shows that now many socially unacceptable behaviors have been medicalized and assigned disease terms in the 20th century and even normal human events and common human problems are considered under medical jurisdiction. For instance, alcoholism, drug addiction, hyperactive children, suicide, obesity, mental retardation, crime, violence, child abuse, learning problems, births, aging, menopause and many social deviances are all brought under the umbrella of medicalization. Medicine is all pervasive in our daily life. At the same time some behaviors previously considered medical problems have become more acceptable and been de-medicalized ,e.g., homosexuality and masturbation. T. Moreira (2006) suggested that the process of medicalisation is insufficient to understand the social aspect of relationship between a state that is considered as medical disorder and health. One needs to also look at the dynamics of the creation, evaluation and use of biomedical knowledge. The need for these dynamics was underlined in her research on relationship between sleep and health. She explored a very common sleep disorder,viz., obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS)and shaping of continous positive airway pressure, a very common therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea(CPAP). She used the method of case study. Two case studies were scrutinized- Historical literature review of emergence and, development of OSAS and CPAP. Initially sleep apnoea was described as Pickwickian syndrome on the basis of symptoms that led to sleep disturbances. It was believed that sleep apnoea occurs among those who are overweight, lazy and snore loudly causing inconvenience to others. Extreme obesity was associated with severe daytime sleepiness. William Dement et.al. investigated this link by using sleep laboratories. But by late 1970s, obesity was no more considered the cause of sleep aponea, it was merely seen as a risk factor that may lead to disease. With laboratory observation of sleep it became clear that sleep process was responsible for OSAS and not obesity. There was a shift from Pickwickian syndrome to sleep aponea syndrome. In Pickwickian syndrome, the clinical symptoms like obesity, hypoventilation and plethoric face were highlighted while in sleep aponea syndrome Apnea/Hypoapnea Index became progressively more acceptable. The development of CPAP showed how on one hand patients actively participate in evolving health technology and on the other hand adjust and adapt to devices available according to their own needs and circumstances. In the studies of CPAP users the emphasis shifted on recognizing patients who are likely to discontinue to use these machines rather than blaming the patient for not using it. This led to looking at patient as a natural calculative subject who will do the cost-benefit analysis and decide whether to use health technology or not. This cost-benefit analysis is influenced by many psychological constructs like self identity, self- efficacy, self-confidence and social support, etc. On the basis of these calculations, by non-participation in certain health technologies, patients have created a new area of knowledge and intervention in biomedicine, health psychology, medical sociology and in sociology of science and technology. Thus medicalization of sleep has redefined the sleep as medically problematic and whole sleep industry has come up in last one decade or so. A person suffering from OSAS is no more stigmatized individual. He is no more powerless passive, dependent on medical personnel. He is a calculating independent person, an active consumer of health technology. Evolving the design of sleep machines showed that patient groups actively influence making of , evaluation and use of medical knowledge. Advantages Disadvantages of Medicalization According to Illich medicalisation has serious adverse impact on the society as the general public is made docile and reliant on the medical profession to help them cope with their life in their society. There is also structural problem as Western medicines notion of issues of healing, aging, and dying as medical illnesses. This effectively medicalises human life, rendering individuals and societies less able to deal with these natural processes. Marxists such as Vicente Navarro et.al. (1980) linked medicalization to an oppressive capitalist society. They argued that medicine makes people see health as an individual problem rather than looking at disease as a result of social inequality and poverty. It tends to strip subjects of their social context, so they come to be understood in terms of the prevailing biomedical ideology, resulting in a disregard for over-arching social causes such as unequal distribution of power and resources. Many critics believe that the term medicalization has become much more complex now as pharmaceutical companies have increasingly taken over the role of doctors, putting everyday problems into the domain of professional biomedicine. Direct to consumer advertising further undermines the role of doctors, as patients are encouraged to ask for particular drugs by name, thereby creating a conversation between consumer and drug company. Another problem with medicalization is that it puts the responsibility for the problem on individual causes and the solution to social problems on individual treatment. The psychologizing of social problems leads away from the analyses of the social structure of culture.For example, the reason for obesity is thought to be the obese person himself rather than the change in life style, socio-economic status of the person, easy availability and convenience of ready to eat junk food, etc.

Of Mice and Men Essay example -- English Literature

Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck’s novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ is one of those books which make you believe everything that takes place between the covers. Books like these always remain as classics, because of their very informative and believable stories. John Steinbeck especially excels in this, and therefore is the reason I have chosen this book to describe. ‘Of Mice and Men’, the title of the novel, originates from the poem ‘To a Mouse’, by Robert Burns. It means that no matter what you plan to do in the future, something will always go wrong. It comes from the line ‘†¦the best laid schemes o’ Mice and Men, Gang aft agley’. The title of the book was originally ‘Something that Happened’, as the story is about what actually happened, not what should or could happen (at least to John Steinbeck). This is always at the back of the readers mind. During 1919 until 1926 (while Steinbeck was at college), he took up a few manual, and unskilled jobs, one being where he became a farm labourer on ranches between King City, and Santa Clara in Northern California. These experiences seem to have helped Steinbeck create the setting for his novel (‘Of Mice and Men’). He uses two main settings throughout the story; Curley’s father’s ranch, and rural California. Most of the story is set in and around the ranch, which allowed Steinbeck to contain all of the important events in one place. Steinbeck has written the novel in third-person, which allows him to tell the reader each characters point of view. He describes the setting around the characters in such a way that when the characters are doing or saying something, you can literally picture it in your head. He has also made all the characters in the novel talk America... ... the ranch. He wants to be able to enter the bunkhouse, or play cards with the other men. In conclusion, I believe that this book provides a very powerful impact to the reader, the main reason being because it shows how real life actually was in America at that time. It tells of how coloured people were treated differently, how women were looked upon as second class, and also how cruel real life can actually be. If say, the ending of the story was altered, where Lennie lived, and everyone lived happily ever after, you would not be able to appreciate it as much. The reason being, that life doesn’t always have a happy ending. Things never turn out the way you want them to. No matter how hard you try, events occur which can alter your hopes and your dreams. This book shows the message very loud and clear, and certainly provided a powerful impact to myself.

Survival Skills In South Central LA

While a majority of adults continually struggle to cope with the occurrence Of death, this Story tells a tale of children who have practically become accustomed to it. Beauty provides a distinct look at this urban school setting through her inside view of student emotions, evidence of pain within the kids, and the feelings that she evokes from the audience despite her straightforward tone. (simple) While first reading about Ms. Beauty and her inside story into this previously uncharted territory, sensed as though she was a woman who possessed a very intimate bond with the students.In the story, when describing what occurred on days when the students mourned someone who was killed, Ms. Beauty notes that â€Å"boys lingered over handshakes and looked into my eyes solemnly. Girls threw their arms around me and wordlessly moved away. No one said enough. † (Beauty; par. 5). A majority of her descriptions of students and events, as well as her diction, seem somewhat heartfelt yet a bit plainly stated on the surface; however, the cultural distance between Ms. Beauty and the students seemingly increases the more we observe how she interacts with them. When Ms.Beauty discusses how the kids hugged her, the description actually makes her seem somewhat aloof. The way that the author words the sentence makes it seem as though the children approach her with emotions and she is simply present, receiving the actions. As a teacher, Beauty never necessarily makes a huge effort to help the student's cope with these devastating loses, except in the case of Dander where Ms. Beauty does display some emotional involvement. On the day of this peculiar interaction between student and teacher, Beauty â€Å"was not prepared for the sight one day f Dander, standing alone behind the stairwell. (Beauty; par. 6). However, even in this case we see her as an outsider looking in: when a counselor arrives after a failed attempt to comfort her student, Ms. Beauty â€Å"watched them go wi th a mixture of relief and dread. Out of [her] hands. † She obviously had worthy intentions to comfort Dander, but the situation seemed to be bigger than anything she could resolve. Ms. Beats trustworthiness becomes another important factor to focus our attention on and her illustration of events keys us into the devastation that sakes place in South Central Los Angels.The story itself does not appear to include any influence of bias, but the author narrates from a personal point of view and therefore the article contains her opinions and viewpoints on the matter. Ms. Beauty gives credible information because she witnessed all of these hardships and events first-hand; she offers highly trust;rotor information in comparison to, for example, an internet news columnist who would write about different schools in Los Angels. When narrating, she delivers a subjective point of view that would not be attainable from an outside source.The tone throughout the article delivers a sense of authority that is unmatched to anything Vive ever read before, somehow conveying emotion in such a nondescript manner. While describing the tale of events, Beauty utilizes fairly straight forward language. When recounting Dander's story of false accusation, she gives evidence to the type of misfortune that falls upon the shoulders of young teens in this area. The story of Dander evokes both logic and sympathy because no child should have to suffer this type of harassment and blame, especially not in Dander's case because he ad such good intentions of standing up for his sister.Pathos lingers throughout this recap of Dander's accusations When discussing the accusations, the Beauty says that Dander â€Å"was taken into custody, where he was told they already had evidence that he'd killed the boy and were just looking for a confession. The smartest thing he could do, they told him, was to confess, so they could get his sentence down to a few years. If he refused, he would get life. à ¢â‚¬  (Beauty; par. 16). This section of the story really resonated with me, and cannot imagine a person falsely accusing me of murder or coaxed into making reparations for a crime of which did not take part in.Although it appears that Beauty lacks the same cultural background as the students, believe that she could have written her story with more conviction, urging readers to reach out to the hopeless children. Through researching, I found out about multiple organizations and charities that help motivate inner-city kids to graduate high school. When Beauty talked about her â€Å"heavy- footed student who looked too old for ninth grad' (Beauty; par. 3), it made me realize that what some of these students needed was a ray of hope in heir violence-filled surroundings.One charity called the I Have A Dream Foundation pledges college education funding for kids who graduate high school, and this would be a great thing for Beauty to have introduced into the school. Focusing their effort s into schoolwork and attempting to make something out of their lives might be just the spark that South Central Los Angels would need to eliminate teen violence. Beats emotional involvement with her students is never quite enough; her aloofness, insensitivity, and difference in cultural upbringing make it difficult for her to innocent on a deep level with her students.