Saturday, August 31, 2019

Clinical Psychology OCD treatment and approaches Essay

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has a cognitive-behavioral component that includes a distortion of an individual’s environment. OCD has similar components to many anxiety disorders. Anxiety is a result of a disrupted and dysfunctional thought patterns. Anxiety produces adverse reactions affecting the nervous system and an overload of stimulation. Research suggests a genetic predisposition and hormonal malfunction can contribute to an individual’s suffering from OCD. The obsessions of OCD are impulses an individual cannot control. The individual affected by OCD feels the only relief from the compulsions is to complete the rituals to relieve the anxiety. The behavioral components associated with obsessive thoughts and impulses produce ritualistic practices. The emotional components from a psychodynamic perspective have possible implications from early childhood with negative feelings associated with the relationships with his or her parents. Psychologists suggest the underlying condition later evolve into an OCD diagnosis (Hansell & Damour, 2008). There are four major approaches for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, family systems, and psychodynamic approaches are the four major therapy treatments. These approaches have different perceptions of methods for management. Each approach understands obsessive compulsive disorder as a disorder where an individual exhibits undesirable repetitive and anxiety producing behaviors and emotions followed by a compulsive behavior of repetitive rituals. The individuals affected by OCD believe the anxiety will be reduced by performing the ritual (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Cognitive-behavioral theory establishes the negative behaviors associated to an individual’s environment with positive or negative reinforcements and consequences for the actions. The individuals suffering from OCD respond and adjust to his or her behaviors associated with interaction received in his or her environment. Cognitive-behavioral theory with OCD associates the compulsive behavior of rituals that provide perceived relief from anxiety as produced by disturbing thoughts and impulses (Hansell & Damour, 2009). The approach facilitates a decrease and reduction in the anxiety as it associates with the reinforcement of the rituals. The cognitive behavioral approach focuses on changes in the way an individual responds to the stressor, changing the ritualistic response to the disturbing thoughts. The individual is asked to think about something disturbing to become anxious and not practice the usual ritualistic behavior as part of treatment (Cottraux, Yao, Lafont, Mollard, Bouvard, Sauteraud & Dartigues, 2001). The goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy is focused on the disruption of the ritualistic behavior and allows the individual to experience the anxiety without the ritual to develop coping skills and process the thoughts (Fisher & Wells, 2005). The process of obsessive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors is interrupted causing the behavior to discontinue negative reinforcement of the anxiety breaking the ritual patterns. Treating the individuals with strategies to deal with anxiety teaches self-efficacy when reaching the desired goals. The therapist should specialize in cognitive therapy for training and knowledge to assist the individual in treatment (Barlow, 2007). The focus of this approach is different from Humanistic approach and other approaches by teaching to interrupt the ritualistic behavior The Humanistic approach focuses on the existential assumptions that personal agency and free will are the idea of all individuals. The concepts to the theory are that individuals are basically good with innate desires to become better and make the world better. The humanistic approach emphasizes the self-worth of individuals and his or her values are of good nature. This approach is positive and optimistic theorizing the understanding that humans desire to be free of pain and despair. Maslow theorized personal growth as a primal human motive and personal growth are lifelong. The Humanistic perspective was very popular after World War I (Dombeck, 2006). This approach is less effective in treating OCD than other approaches. Humanism embraces the assumption of an individual is a cognitive aware being. The main principle of humanism argues other schools of therapy apply the approach as the therapy and treatment of the mental illness instead of the individuals actively participating in maintaining his or her emotional state (Plante, 2011). The goals of humanistic therapy for OCD is focused on recreating a positive and appropriate environment. The change in the individual’s environment assists him or her in development for evolving into mature healthy individuals. Psychological dysfunction with OCD is caused by a disruption in the development of individual’s maturity and social skills. The treatment enables the individuals to develop a natural environment and the abilities to live in a healthier environment and mental state. Humanistic therapy has the expectation of normalcy and that is the goal. This behavioral therapy encourages the replacement of bad behaviors with more appropriate ones. The positive replacement of problems assists with less anxiety and fear. Research has not proven the humanistic approach to an effective treatment for relieving the symptoms of OCD (Dombeck, 2006). Unlike the Family system approach that shows best results in treating OCD. Family systems approach consists of assistance from the therapist with the family in assessing the individual’s disorder. The goal is to improve the communication of the unit. There are several techniques applied to accomplish this including for example changing the perceptions of the family. Developing a rapport with the family assists the therapist in understanding the reasons the individuals became OCD with insight to the dynamics of the family unit. The therapist identifies the anxiety producing relationships between family members (Plante, 2011). Developing coping mechanisms to the symptoms of anxiety producing thoughts and ritualistic coping behavior is the main focus of treatment. The focus on reducing the symptoms of OCD of the individual includes comprehension and understanding of the anxiety and distress the individual experiences. Identifying the source of the anxiety producing stressors assists with establishing new avenues to relate to the family unit, interrupting the individual’s obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Zohar & Insel, 1987). The therapist attempts communication repair to re-establish healthy communication within the family and decrease any inaccurate assumptions by the family about the individual’s symptoms that increase the stressors that produce OCD symptoms. The approach focuses on disengaging dysfunctional family behaviors and establishes a better family relationship. The family unit contains the dysfunction that triggers OCD behaviors (Plante, 2011). Family therapy is an effective treatment in addition to other therapies as part of a multimodal treatment focused on emotional disorders however; the severe symptoms of OCD require combined therapies (Stein, 2002). History shows psychological treatment focused on the individual with the family unit as the cause of OCD symptoms and behaviors. Family members were not included in the individual’s therapy. The family members were not considered relevant to the recovery of the individual. Later psychological discipline family system approach was established and applied in clinical applications (Plante, 2011). Family systems therapy focuses on the inadequacies in the family unit. Family systems therapy is less efficient as a single therapy for the treatment of OCD therefore in combination with other therapies increases the successfulness of the treatment (Barlow, 2007). Psychodynamic therapy focuses on anxiety associated with unconscious emotional beliefs. Therapists apply basic psychodynamic techniques to anxiety disorders (Fisher & Wells, 2005). The individual and the therapist establish a relationship where the individual is encouraged to discuss openly the underlying reasons of the anxiety. Guided imagery is applied in the this approach. The therapist assists the individual to identify and understand his or her issues as a reaction to current and past issues. The psychodynamic approach assists to uncover unconscious reactions therefore the therapist assists in interpreting the individual’s thoughts, feelings, and dreams. The therapist assists the individual in identifying the unconscious motives to resolve the negative emotions. Identifying the causes of anxiety is effective with treating anxiety disorders. Psychodynamic therapy develops treatment goals (McLean, Whittal, Thordarson, Taylor, Sochting, Koch, Anderson, 2001). Severe cases of OCD are most effectively treated with a combined cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy in relieving the symptoms of OCD. Training psychodynamic clinicians to apply cognitive-behavioral techniques assist in a more successful treatment plan and successful treatment of individuals with OCD (Barlow, 2007). The major theoretical approaches of behavior assist psychologists with the understanding of mental disorders. Cognitive-behavioral approach focuses on measuring observable behavior by applying classical and operant conditioning to the individual’s behavior. The humanistic approach focuses on the individual’s ability to develop the skills to become a more active with growth oriented goals (Plante, 2011). The family systems approach explains OCD behaviors originate from the consequences of family dysfunction. The psychodynamic approach focuses on the unconscious influence of the individual’s lack of ability to develop healthy mental processes. Psychology assists in developing a healthy relationship in the unit relieving the individual of the symptoms of mental illness. All of the approaches have advantages in treating specific disorders; some are proven more effective with specific challenges and some perspectives. The combination of various perspectives in clinical psychology allows the therapist to apply therapies for a more successful change in the individual’s behaviors. Research and clinical practice assist in uncovering the various human behaviors making development of these approaches change to accommodate these new discoveries of mental disorders and the treatments (Plante, 2011). The path to healthy homeostasis of the mind requires proper treatment to balance mental health.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Homework: Food and Patient

Homework 5 for Lesson 15 (Due on Wednesday, March 20) Read the passage below and answer the question. , , , , , , , , :â€Å" † Questions: (True/False) ( T ) 1. Li You cooked a tofu dish and invited Wang Hong to dinner. , ( T ) 2The tofu dish was the cause of Li You’s stomachache. ( F ) 3. When Li You went to the doctor, it took the doctor a long time to diagnose the problem. ( F ) 4. Li You asked Wang Peng to help her look for a new refrigerator. , , , , :† , , Questions: (True/False) ( T ) 1. Little Qian first met the doctor when she went to the hospital for her allergy. , ( F ) 2. According to Li You, Little Qian has suffered from her allergy for a long time. ( T ) 3. According to Li You, her allergy is Little Qian’s excuse for visiting that doctor. ( T ) 4. Liitle Qian’s allergy symptoms become worse when she sees the doctor. : : , : : : , , , , , : , , , : : : †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦? ,! : , : , Questions: (True/False) ( F ) 1. The pa tient and the doctor meet in a restaurant. ( T ) 2.The patient has a stomachache. ( T ) 3. Neither the doctor nor the patient had dinner at home yesterday. ( T ) 4. The doctor urges the patient to take medicine as soon as possible. ( F ) 5. The doctor always dines at expensive restaurants. Multiple choice ( C ) 6. What is the doctor’s advice to the patient about dining out? _______ a. Go to more expensive restaurants where the food is tastier. , b. Go to more reputable restaurants where the food is more expensive. , c.Go to more expensive restaurants where the food is safer. , ( B ) 7. What can we say about the doctor? _______ a. He himself follows the advice he gives to his patient. b. He himself does not follow the advice he gives to his patient. c. He advices his patient to do things his way. ?this is a form that a new patient needs to fill out in hospitals in China. Try to fill out the form as much as you can, according to your own circumstances. And translate the charac ters and phrases that you can understand into English. ? Story telling: write a story in Chinese based on the four cartons below. Mare sure that your story has a beginning, middle and end. Also make sure that the transition from one picture to the next is smooth and logical. ————————————————- ————————————————- ————————————————- ————————————————- ————————————————- ———————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- ————————————————-

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Critically evaluate the need for risk management in the event industry Essay

Critically evaluate the need for risk management in the event industry - Essay Example Risk management, as it relates to the event administration, may include action items such as fire evacuation procedures or it may be a minor problem from rowdy guests. Risk management, basically seeks to minimize the prospect of money or other forms of finance that can be utilized ineffectively or abused. It increases the profit margin for the company, by making sure that all resources are utilized safely, logically, and efficiently. Though, the actual process of risk management varies from company to company but in general, it requires support of owners, together with the management team, in order to filter the overall process and attain the lowest degree of risk possible. (What is risk management, 2003) As risk management is an integral part of any kind of business, it is also an essential component and a specific prerequisite for successful  event management. It combines many management disciplines, such as change management, knowledge management, strategy and leadership. Risk management can be considered as an informal decision making course that seeks to generate certainty from uncertainty.   The importance of risk management in the event industry has developed with the growing complexity and specialisation of service supply. Though, it does not prevent snow conditions from forcing event managers to cancel a festive marquee event, but not understanding and effective execution of useful risk management strategies can result in disastrous situations. Risk management, without any doubt, is significant part of the planning process. Analysing the risk, allows a firm to recognize the degree to which potential risks might impact the events. Risks can be measured in accordance to their possibility or likelihood of happening and they can also be considered in terms of the impacts of the risk or its consequences. Examining a risk and preparing risk matrices enable the managers to

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Economics - Essay Example For example: a company that has an ice cream machine that usually produces 40 boxes of 1 pint of ice cream a day was able to produce as much as 80 boxes of 1 pint of ice cream a day by cutting on ‘down-time’ due to machine breakdown caused by lack of machine maintenance. It could also refer to the application of a special device in a machine in order to enhance its speed and therefore increase the volume of production. Another way is to maximize the use of manpower by establishing a short and clear chain of command within the business organization. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the incidence of employing too much unnecessary employee in the crowd. In order to achieve economies of scale, a good management is essential. Basically, it is the managers and supervisors who suggests and/or make critical decisions in order to maximize the daily fixed costs (such as labour costs and over-time pay and electricity costs) of the company. These are also the same group of people who are responsible in cutting down the number of ‘rejections’ in a production line. Minimizing the number of ‘rejections’ can indirectly increase the company’s profitability by ‘cutting down the unnecessary opportunity losses’ and ‘prevent avoidable expenses’ on the part of the company. Q.2 Explain how changes in the equilibrium price and quantity are influenced by the elasticity of demand and supply. Explain the difference between a shortage and a surplus and discuss why either might occur. Basically, the market equilibrium price and quantity is the point where the quantity supplied is equal to the quantity demanded. The said equilibrium point changes when there is an imbalance between the demand and supply. For example: if the demand for a certain goods is above the supply, the price of goods will automatically go up to a certain point where a new equilibrium point will be created. Likewise, if the supply

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Enlightening Experience from the Childhood Personal Statement - 8

Enlightening Experience from the Childhood - Personal Statement Example For the other game, we would chase each other around and whoever was ‘it’ had to touch the other one so he would be ‘it’ until we were chasing each other around in a circle. For the other game, we would chase each other around and whoever was ‘it’ had to touch the other one so he would be ‘it’ until we were chasing each other around in a circle. One day we were playing ‘run’ and I was winning.   I was running so fast I thought I was flying.   But Toby wasn’t very far behind me.   I could hear him breathing, so I was putting all my effort into it.   I could feel my face getting all scrunched up so I knew I was running all out just to stay ahead of Toby.   One minute, Toby was breathing down my neck and the next I heard him yelp and no more breathing.   I looked back and some strange man was holding Toby up in the air, his legs still kicking and with a surprised look on his face.   I was so surprised I almost ran straight into the fence.  Ã‚   The man was yelling something that I couldn’t hear at first because Toby was hollering and blood was pounding in my ears from the race and I was breathing heavy.   Then the words came in crystal clear. â€Å"†¦ black boy.   What do you think you’re doing chasing that white boy like that?   Don’t you know your place?   I’ll be giving you a sound beating for this one.   You just wait till I get my belt off, you’ll get a beating like you never have seen before.   You no account †¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Monday, August 26, 2019

Movie review Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare Assignment - 1

Movie review Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare - Assignment Example I do not like the way characters in the film appear half naked during house parties. The film portrays a life pursuit of pleasure, such as drinking, dancing and making love that to some extent becomes immoral (Canby). Benedict and Beatrice are in a funny and sarcastic relationship that makes the film more appealing. Benedict himself is a funny character in the way he acts in the film. His humor is mainly found in act 2 scenes 3, especially when he falls with a chair after overhearing Don Pedro, leonate and Claudio saying that Beatrice is in love with him. I would recommend this film to adults because it is funny and involve issues that only adults can comprehend such as love affairs, sex and marriage (Canby). I have decided to examine Don John as one of the characters in the film. There are a lot of similarities in the way Don John is portrayed in the text and in the film. In the act 2, scene 1 of the film, Don John is portrayed as a jealous man (Canby). He does not like Claudio for being in relationship with the Hero. He is also jealous of Don Pedro, his half-brother, for being Claudio’s ‘wingman’ in his relationship with the Hero. Similarly, Don John is portrayed in the text as being jealous that makes him villain to an extent of breaking the relationship between Claudio and hero. The film portrays Don John as being villainy especially through his actions and the way he dresses. During the mask part held in a Tuscan villa, Don John is portrayed wearing a red evil mask implying that he is evil in his actions. However, the final scene of the film portrays how Don John gets low props after being arrested for attempts to break the relationship between Claudio and Hero (Canby). The film has applied the quality of motion in act 2, Scene 3. The camera moves to cover a wide area of the Leonato’s garden. It brings a sensual appeal to the audience and simultaneously communicates the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Proffecional report on ethical behavior and unethical behavior Assignment

Proffecional report on ethical behavior and unethical behavior articles - Assignment Example It studies what factors make the system ethical or unethical. It also aims to highlight the issues which prevail in the society and how they are effecting the environment and system of any nation. The Global business standard code is a code of conduct based on code of ethics. It helps to understand the regulation of any system internally and externally on ethical laws and codes. It is a principle of 8 codes which focus on responsible practice of ethics in any system. It’s not a one sided plan; but a complete code which applies on both authorities and underworkers. Evaluation and Assessment of the Article Article 1 summery (unethical) The Dowager Queen of Belgium is reported to have evaded 70% of bereavement duties by channeling the finances to her relations through a foundation. The Queen, Fabiola, has been getting an annual public reward from Belgium from the time when the King Baudouin, her spouse, passed away in 1993. The unpleasant incident now causes upheaval given the cu rrent economic state of the bulk of European nations. Like the majority of European states, Belgium has laid down plans underway to cut back on public spending and monarchs within the European states have been criticized for their copious public expenditure. The Queen insists that she wasn’t placing publicly funded payment within the charity. She said that fund â€Å"would only include her private money.† She further claimed that the lone costs that were covered by the payment were housekeeping costs, together with salaries. Belgium wants to cut the annual stipend of Queen Fabiola after political leaders learned she had put up a private charity to provide for her nephews and nieces and for her preferred Catholic foundations after her demise. Premier Elio Di Rupo had told MPs he sought to cut the sum to â‚ ¬923,000 (?776,000) back from â‚ ¬1.4 million (?1.18m). As the only widow of the late King Baudouin – a dedicated Catholic who in 1990 did step aside pro visionally to steer clear of signing the nation's abortion bill – insists the cash came from assets inherited from her Hispanic family. The 84-year-old at the moment maintains that she has had to dissolve the charitable vehicle set up in September that let her to forward monies. The surfacing of the plan not many weeks ago aggravated rare fury in both political and media circles in Belgium and has hit the realm to its foundations. The Property Principle and The Citizenship Principle were not respected by the monarch in her dealings with the state. Evaluation over GBS codex: This is an unethical article over the realities of the story when we see it as a system; evaluating it over Global Business Standards Codes we can classify it as an unethical one. Out of eight components of GBS codes which fit over the story are first The Transparency Principle and Fiduciary principle because being the Queen she has the duty to do charity and help poor whereas it has been reported about he r that she had been ignoring about 70% of the bereavement duties she is supposed to do. She furthermore had been controlling and channelizing the finances to a foundation she made and didn’t announce publicly; which basically is going to benefit her own relatives. All this tells that she had been ignoring the Transparency and Fiduciary principles according to GBS codex. The Queen Fabiola has an annual

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Stereotypical view of Vietnamese exchange students as communists Research Paper

Stereotypical view of Vietnamese exchange students as communists - Research Paper Example After the end of the war, the American government accepted thousands of refugees from Vietnam as citizens of the United States (Ferry 18). Before the end of the war, there were only a few thousand Vietnamese living in America, majority of whom were students, spouses of American military personnel, civilians who served in South Vietnam, or Vietnamese diplomatic corps members. As the number of Vietnamese living in America increased, some Americans had stereotypical view of them as communists. In particular, there is a stereotypical view of Vietnamese students as communists. These stereotypes have been fed by anti-communist ideology that continues to persist in many of the America’s learning institutions (Ashwill 13). This paper will discuss the stereotypical view of Vietnamese exchange students as communists. After the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, waves of migration from Vietnam to the United States were witnessed. The number of Vietnamese seeking refuge in America rose consi derably over the years. The Orderly Departure Program that was created by the United States and that allowed people who were interviewed and approved by American authorities to migrate to the United States further enhanced immigration into the United States from Vietnam (Parker 14). While Vietnam War-caused instability was the main reason for immigration from Vietnam to the United States, other factors contributed to the migration. When the United States withdrew, the South Vietnamese was toppled by the North Vietnam and the Vietnamese with ties with South Vietnam government had to seek refuge in the America to avoid being oppressed or killed (Ferry 55). Poor economic and political situation in Vietnam caused immigration. The war between China and Vietnam in 1979 further led to immigration. Since the end of the Vietnam War, the United States of America supported South Vietnam and accepted those refugees who had close ties with the American military and South Vietnamese government. G reater social and economic stability greatly contributed to the immigration – it was a major attraction for immigrants to the United States because it presented more and greater opportunities for the Vietnamese (Parker 14). Available data indicate that the Vietnamese are America’s fourth largest minority group. Recent data also indicate that there is increasing number of Vietnamese exchange students in America’s learning institutions, particularly universities and colleges (Lorenzo, Frost and Reinherz 289). Since the America’s involvement in the Vietnam War that was viewed as aimed at preventing expansion of communism, stereotypes emerged regarding Vietnamese people in America, including students. There are various types of stereotypes that are assigned to Vietnamese exchange students and that \ often create conflicts with their peers and cause them emotional distress (Ashwill 13). The main stereotype assigned to Vietnamese exchange student is that they a re communists and that they subscribe to communism ideology. Most of them are viewed advocating for communism tendencies even when they are pursuing genuine cause during their studies in various colleges and universities around America (Educational Testing Service para4). Since the Vietnam War was associated with anti-communist ideology, most

PROMOTING RECOVERY WORKING WITH COMPLEX NEEDS Essay

PROMOTING RECOVERY WORKING WITH COMPLEX NEEDS - Essay Example An increasing number of people in this group also have problems with substance misuse, often resulting in contact with the criminal justice system. These problems often interact and can appear intractable. Recent years have seen a paradigm shift in mental health, from a focus on illness and disability towards the promotion of recovery and social inclusion (Repper and Perkins, 2003). Underpinned by a stress vulnerability model of mental health problems (Zubin and Spring, 2004, 105; Nuechterlein, 2004, 300), a range of psychosocial interventions (PSI) can be used to enable service users to build on strengths and develop skills in order to manage their own mental health more effectively. This in turn can facilitate attainment by service users of socially valued roles and relationships taken for granted by most people. One of the available interventions is a structured approach to the prevention of relapse, developed by Birchwood and colleagues (Birchwood et al, 2000, 5), building on the early work of Herz and Melville (2006) and Birchwood himself (Birchwood et al, 2000, 652). This work had demonstrated that it was possible to predict relapse in psychosis on the basis of recognition of early warning signs. The intervention incorporates a strong educative element. This aims to increase understanding of the typically episodic nature of psychosis and to enhance service users' self-efficacy in relation to the management of their mental health. A Cochrane Review (Pekkala and Merinder, 2002) concluded that psychological education significantly reduces relapse rates, increases compliance with medication, and may have a positive effect on a person's well being. To deliver the relapse prevention intervention effectively calls for the use of a set of specialist knowledge and skills, in addition to general mental health nursing skills. Aims Our primary aim was to enhance the quality of service provided to users of the inpatient areas of the local mental health rehabilitation service by making the relapse prevention intervention available routinely and sustainably. An essential interim aim was to equip the multidisciplinary team with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to deliver the intervention effectively. To address these aims and evaluate whether they were achieved, we developed a project plan in six stages. In the event, workers from community settings also sought out the training, and so the original scope of the project was broadened to include all areas of the mental health rehabilitation service. This paper will focus on the aspects of the project relating to service users. Intervention The project was jointly led by the clinical nurse leader of the mental health rehabilitation services and a lecturer practitioner. At the outset we sought guidance from the Trust's research and development coordinator as to whether we should seek ethical approval for our planned project. The advice received was that the project represented service audi t/evaluation rather than research and, as such, ethical approval was not required. We began by attending clinical meetings at which we described our plans and encouraged discussion and questions by the multidisciplinary team. We refined a previously developed two-day training programme in order to meet the needs of a multidisciplinary group

Friday, August 23, 2019

Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing Change - Essay Example With the countless number of organizations worldwide, companies continue to invest on research and development for their organizations to change their perspective and obtain their goals. It is true that the only eminent thing in this world is change. People adapt, submit or contradict with change. There are many implications that we encounter when change occurs; management must view matters seriously and make critical decisions for the organization’s sustainability. The objectives of this paper is to thoroughly look into Theory E and Theory O in terms of managing change, to provide a bird’s eye view of the differences and other key notable details that help organizations transition smoothly (Johnson, pp. 39-44, 2002). It will also discuss how Theory E and Theory O can aid top management at making critical decisions and providing a detailed analysis of these two approaches to change. The scope of this paper will be focus on the experience of organizations that fostered these two approaches, how have companies and organizations come to employ either or both theories but not only limited to these. The flow of the paper will start with a brief description of each theory including its characteristics and the key differences of both theories in the field of management. Based on a new research, Theory E and O were relatively new findings as researchers (Cummings, pp. 23-25, 2008) have observed various companies practicing either Theory E or O or both of them. There are many approaches used in managing change; however, ‘Michael Beer’ and ‘Nitin Nohria’ are two researchers who have successfully identified two types of change theories that may have geared management in change initiative (Hoelbeche, pp. 151-154, 2006). As recent studies showed, researchers have identified two types of approaches commonly used by management in initiating change. The first approach is Theory E, referred to as

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Parenting Skills Essay Example for Free

Parenting Skills Essay What financial needs are parents obligated to provide and which are optional? The financial needs that parents are obligated to provide include nutritious food, shelter, clothing, and health care. The ones that are optional are luxury items such as summer classes, piano lessons, or various electronic items. 3. What other needs might a child have that a parent is expected to provide? Parents are also required to provide safety and security for their child. 4. What are the qualities of a nurturing parent? Qualities of a nurturing parent include retaining a healthy self-esteem so that their child has a basis for self-esteem, a sense of empathy for their child, a way to successfully enforce disciplinary codes, and an understanding of acceptable maturity levels for their child. Critical Thinking Questions 1. What qualities make a person a good parent? A bad parent? The qualities that make a good parent are listening skills, understanding of maturity levels, reasonable mind, and a good education and career. Qualities that make a bad parent include a bad temper or short temper, low education, and ideas of achieving their own goals above their child’s. 2. Which parental responsibilities do you think would be the most challenging? Why? The parental responsibilities that I think would be the most challenging would be having a job that is good enough to afford a child. This is because it is hard to maintain a good job while having a child and still be there for the child emotionally and physically while bringing in a decent paycheck. 3. Which parental responsibilities do you think would be the most interesting to you? Why? The parental responsibilities that I think will be the most interesting to me the education of life skills. It is interesting to think that a child picks up on habits so easily and they can use those skills for the rest of their life. 4. What are some things that people can do to prepare for parenthood? Some things people can do to prepare for parenthood is further their education and get a career. Also, they need to make sure both parties in the relationship want a child. However, no one is ever truly prepared for a child.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Creation Of The Italian Stereotype

The Creation Of The Italian Stereotype The Italian mafia has been a prominent them in the media for centuries. The portrayal of mobsters and the mafia in the U.S.s motion picture industry has created a stereotype for Italians that is very well accepted in the American culture. In this paper I will discuss various films and TV that address the topic of the Italian mafia and the way in which these shows depict citizens of Italian origin. More specifically I will try to show how movies such as The Goodfather, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, and more recent works such as HBOs hit The Sopranos create a negative stereotype for Italian American man and women, glorifying them by their flashy lifestyles and relations to organized criminal activities. Movies of such sort have reached such popular success because they appeal to the public and, unfortunately, many Italian American citizens embrace these accusations and consider them part of their heritage, thus reinforcing the stereotype made by the movie industry in the eyes of citizens wi th different ethnical backgrounds. Since the very beginning, the Italian mafia, in the eyes of Americans has been a very wide spread cultural phenomena. The origin of the mafia is very hard to investigate and report, many experts have dated its origin back to a time of instability for the Italian nation. The cause of this disturbance was the instable relationship between the northern and southern regions of Italy. Southern Italy was often insulted and considered rural and uncivilized by the wealthier businessman of the North. This unjust treatment caused the southern citizens, especially the Sicilians, to resort to violent gangs for protection of the little land and wealth they owned. As time progressed, and the demand for these bands increased, these rebel groups united into larger, and much more organized, groups that lead to the creation of the mafia. The most famous of these groups, and perhaps the first, originated in Sicily and later became known as Cosa Nosta which many often use the term incorrectly referring it to the Italian mafia overall and not just as one of its sects. These groups prospered and grew on to the Italian people, infiltrating the unstable government after the unification of Italy in 1861. The mafia made its first appearance in the US between the 19th and 20th century, as this cultural phenomenon grew in America, the mafias portrayal in the media grew with it. The media created a name for the mafia in America. The people loved gangster movies, and the film industry capitalized on this assumption. In order to give their work a more realistic feel, directors, would often cast Italians as mobster characters thus building a stereotype of Italian Americans. As time evolved however, the simple stereotype morphed past the simple gangster image; in more recent works, Italian women were also effect; being viewed as old housewives or young bimbos. Men became viewed as lazy and uneducated like in the 1995 movie To Die For. In this example from the Italic Institute of Americas websi te, Nicole Kidmans character tricks three teens into killing her lowbrow Italian husband. The development between the Italian mafia and its presence in popular American culture could have not been possible without the five million Italians who left their home country for hope in a new life and a chance at a new beginning, (Wikipedia). Prior to the rise of the fascist regime to power, America was a prime destination for many Italians during the late 19th century. This expatriation grew exponentially in the early 20th century when it was recorded that over 800,000 Sicilians immigrated to the United States. During this time however, the Italian mafia was under attack by their own government, especially thanks to the works of Cesare Mori who made life impossible for many Mafiosi. Because of the anti mafia war imposed Mussolinis regime in the southern provinces of Italy, many of the members of Cosa Nostra and similar organizations fled to America. The American press immediately attacked this movement publishing headlines such as: The boot unloads its criminals upon the United States. Many of these Sicilians in fact had connections to the mafia but, in the most part, they were regular people just looking for a better life. Italian Mafiosi and regular citizens traveled to America to escape fascism, to escape persecution from criminal charges, and to start over. Many where thrown into a society already filed with criminal gangs. Purchasing fire weapons in the US at that time was a piece of cake. Add these two together and its simple to understand how the Italian mafia succeeded in America. Just as the mafia began to take power in America, the movie industry noticed an opportunity to make some profit as well. Americans became obsessed with the mafian lifestyle; the danger associated with the mafia and their disrespect for the law managed to frighten and keep Americans glued to their TV screen at the same time. Films like Little Cesar(1931), Public Enemy(1931), and Scarface(1932) were the very beginning to a brand new genre of films. As author George De Stefano points out in his book An Offer We Cant Refuse, the Italian mobster seemed to bring a different image to the mobster lifestyle, [however], and this image of a more powerful, organized criminal system caught the public eye and has stuck every since., (De Stefano 70-94). Some of the early movies of this genre were produced during the silent motion picture time period. Producers however, did not have a hard time looking for a plot that would capture their audience; they just used whatever the print gave them. The ear liest account of a gangster film that exists is the film The Black Hand (1906). The Black Hand was a silent movie which story line pictured Italian Americans using kidnapping and extortion to gain money, known as il pizzo, from a butcher they were protecting. The movie shows the Italian protagonists were not only shown as violent, but the Italian Americans in the film are shown to speak little to no English and drinking wine as if it were water. It was not until the 1930s with the release of Little Cesar and Scarface that the stereotype was created and linked Italian Americans with the gangster image. With the introduction of these films one can clearly see that with the changing image of the gangster, the American ______ towards Italian Americans was changing as well. These new characters were no longer drunk illiterates, these Italians dressed in fancy suits, spoke better English; in a sense, they were following the American dream. Still violent and reckless. Organizations favoring the destruction of this stereotype took the subject to heart and managed to abolish violence and crime in movies. However in 1968, the Production Code was dropped and replaced by the same MPAA system still out there today. Only four years after this change, came the first of a trilogy that would change the image of Italian Americans forever. The Godfather (1972), based on Mario Puzos novel was the hit success of the great American director Ford Francis Coppola. His work was such a success for the public that it won three Oscar nominations out of the ten categories it was voted for. The American people were literally obsessed with the violent, vulgar and classic gangster films. Francis Ford Coppola in an interview with author Peter Bondonella explained his clear reasons for pursuing this movie: I always wanted to use the Mafia as a metaphor for America. If you loo at the film, you see that its focused that way. The first line is I believe in America. I feel that the mafia is an incredible metaphor for this country. Both are totally capitalistic phenomena and basically have a profit motive, (Bondonella 239). Many critics argue, with merit, that The Godfather was the first film that really started the stereotype of Italian Americans. The film established a permanent connection in the minds of Americans between the mafia and Italian Americans. De Stefano describes his own experience after the release of the film: strangers would ask me if I knew the godfather whenever they red my last name. It was this film that reallycemented the stereotype into American culture., (De Stefano 105-106). Predictably enough, after the tremendous success of The Godfather, many more films, as long as commercial products, relating to its theme followed. Today The Godfather, both the films and the novel, continue to sell as if they were new releases, and the films can still be seen, by popular demand, on ordinary television. Martin Scorseses Goodfellas (1990), showed the mafia in New York in an extremely realistic way. Based on the life of real mobster Henry Hill, it shows the process of going from a nonentity to a success in the mafia organization. The film depicts brutal murder scenes, vulgar language, and vile treatment of women. However, a particularly different element is that it also shows the consequences of being too wrapped up in the mafia life and what it is like to become the rat. This film showed a much less glorified portrayal of the mafia, and yet, it appealed greatly to society. The most recent of Hollywoods award winning creation evoking the mafia is HBOs hit series The Sopranos first airing in 1999. The show takes great inspiration from Scorseses work and Coppolas masterpiece, characters in the show are often viewed idolizing Mafiosi from these directors respective films, reciting lines, copying stunts, and even comparing themselves. This idolization showed that Italian Americans not onl y identify themselves with these gangsters but also look up to them. Tony Soprano, the protagonist of the show, is of Italian American descent and part of the mafia. Besides his connection to the gangster life, he lives in a typical residential neighborhood for the average white American male, he is a family man just like everyone else. In the book Tony Sopranos America, David Simon, states that the viewer is always reminded that the one thing that stands Tony Soprano apart from the rest of society is that he is mobster. The [TV] series successfully brought the mafia to the 21st Century, renewed the use of mafia as a household word, and took one step further in fusing the image of Italians and Italian Americans. The media has led to this stereotypical image of Italian immigrants as gangsters. This stereotype is still very much alive today. However, it is noticeable that there does not seem to be as much controversial propaganda to the use of this negative connotation against Italian Americans as stereotypical use against other ethnic groups. Going back to the stereotype against Italian American women, these movies depicted the mafia wives as enabling and looking the other way in their husbands business affair. The mother in The Godfather plays the role of the housewife. Carmela Corleone never reacts to the actions of her husband and sons, always turning a blind eye. She is shown caring for her grandchildren and providing the family with a traditional Italian meal. She is essentially the stereotypical enabling Italian mother and wife in the mafia family. On the contrary, the character Kay in The Godfather is a complete juxtaposition to the character of Carmela. For a while, she acts just like Carmela, enabling her husband activities, but eventually she can no longer accept her husband as a cold blooded killer, as Michael Corleones sister, Connie, calls him after he murders her own husband. Kay represents the American wife who marries into an Italian family not knowing what she is about to face. She is victimized. This way , the audience, feels bad for her, torn between her love for her husband and her morals that can no longer tolerate the criminal activities of the family. The third major feminine character, Connie Corleone, is a completely different character. She is the stereotypical Italian relative that cannot escape the horrors of her own family. She starts out as a princess to her father, the godfather himself. After her brother, Michael, kills her husband she goes through a brief grieving period distancing her family from her family only to realize that she cannot escape her destiny. She eventually becomes an enabler of the behavior of the rest of the family and takes on the role of the matriarch. Just like her, Karen Hill, also plays the enabler who puts up with her husband, Henry Hills pursuit as a Mafioso in Goodfellas. One scene in particular comes to mind that depicts her as the typical mob wife. In a scene she narrates herself, Karen attends a party with the other mob wives during a drug scene, she tells the audience that all the women look beat up; in fact, they do: all wear too much makeup and overdone hair. Throughout the party, these mistreated wives, discuss the horrible tribulations of being married to a mobster as if it were typical housewife gossip. Most of the women in these movies are unemployed house makers who take the events as part of the package of marrying a mob.The show The Sopranos isnt the only example of the stereotype of Italian American being represented in more recent TV production. Characters like Arthur the Fonz Fonzarelli from Happy Days, Tony the taxi driver of Taxi, and Joey the all around dimwit of Friends all represent demeaning images of It alian Americans. All appear to be uneducated womanizers, and yet most may not even realize they are stereotypes of the Italian American male. These examples show that, sadly, our culture still finds humor in stereotyping ethnical groups. In 2002, The Italic institute of America conducted a study to analyze the movie industry and its relation to Italian-American based movies and the post Godfather movie industry. Their studies showed that out of the 1233 movies made about Italian Americans, 69% of them present Italian-American characters under a negative light, against 31% that show Italian-Americans as good human beings. Moreover, out of the movies made since the sound era that deal with mob characters, 88% were revolved around fictional characters, 293 of which came out after the Godfather. The Godfather is and will always remain the most important tie between Hollywood and the Italian-American stereotype.There is much research out there that show that the Italian immigration to the US didnt only bring so called Mafiosi but also great people who beneficially influenced the United States politically and economically. This research, however, does not eliminate the fact the entertainment industry will continue to pursu e the stereotype. As for the mafia, this means that it will only continue to be a part of Americas favorite entertainment as long as the culture of violence persists.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Analysis of Tools for Data Cleaning and Quality Management

Analysis of Tools for Data Cleaning and Quality Management Data cleaning is needed in process of combining heterogeneous data sources with relation or tables in databases. Data cleaning or data cleansing or data scrubbing is defined as removing and detecting errors along with ambiguities existing in files, log tables. It is done with the aim to improve quality of data. Data quality and data cleaning are both related terms. Both are directly proportional to each other. If data is cleansed timely then quality of data will get improved day by day. There are various data cleaning tools that are freely available on net. The tools include Winpure Clean and Match, OpenRefine, Wrangler, Data cleaner and many more. The thesis presents information about WinPure Clean and Match data cleaning tool, its benefits and applications in running environment due to its three filtered mechanism of cleaning data. Its implementation has been done by taking user defined database and results are presented in this chapter. WinPure Clean and Match It is one of easiest and simplest three phase filtered cleaning tool to perform data cleansing and data de-duplication. It is designed in such a way that running this application saves time and money. The main benefit of this tool is that we can import two tables or lists at same time. The software uses fuzzy matching algorithm technique for performing powerful data de-duplication. The functions of this tool are as follows: Removes redundant data from databases in faster way. Correct misspellings and incorrect email addresses. It also converts words to uppercase or lowercase depending on user’s demand. Removes unwanted punctuation and spelling errors. Helps to relocate missing data and gives statistics in form of 3D chart. This option can be proven useful in finding population percentage of particular area. It automatically capitalizes first alphabet of every word. Advantages Increases accuracy and utilization of database (either professional database, user defined database or consumer database). Eliminate duplicity from databases using fuzzy matching de-duplication technique. Increases industry perspectives by using standard naming conventions with facility of removing duplicate data from original data. Export given file into various formats like access, excel(95), excel (2007), outlook systems etc. Applications The software is made for use from normal users to IT professionals. It is ideal for marketing, banking, universities and various IT organizations. Working of WinPure Clean and Match Clean and Match is made of three components- Data, Clean and Match. Data gives us imported list of tables. Clean option consists of seven modules each having different purposes. The clean section is basically used to analyze, clean, correct and correctly populate given table without removing duplicity. It has separate cleansing modules like Statistics Module, Case converter, Text cleaner, Column cleaner, E-mail cleaner, column splitter and column merger. Match section is used to detect duplicity using fuzzy matching de-duplication technique. WinPure Clean and Match contains a unique 3 step approach for finding duplications in given list or database. Step 1: The first step is to specify which table/s and columns you would like to use to search for possible duplications. Step 2: The second step is to specify which matching technique you would like to use either basic (telephone numbers, emails, etc) or advanced de-duplication with or without fuzzy matching (names, addresses, etc. Step 3: The final step is to specify which viewing screen you would like to use, WinPure Clean Match offers two unique viewing screens for managing the duplicated records. Limitations of WinPure Clean and Match (a) It has nothing to deal with connectivity and networking of dataset. It simply removes redundant words by cleaning and matching data. (b) It is not derived from any expert systems like Simile Longwell CSI and lacks client server terminology. (c) It means modifying/updating dataset is not possible once data is imported in tool. Google Refine Google refine overcomes the limitations of WinPure Clean and Match. It was earlier called as OpenRefine. It is powerful tool for working with dirty data and cleans, transforms data along with various services to link it to databases like Freebase. OpenRefine understands a variety of data file formats. Currently, it tries to guess the format based on the file extension. For example,.xmlfiles are of course in XML. By default, an unknown file extension is assumed to be either tab-separated value (TSV) or comma-separated value (CSV). Once imported, the data is stored in OpenRefines own format, and original data file is left undisturbed. Google Refine Architecture OpenRefine is a web application that is intended to be run on ones own machine and used by oneself. The machine has server as well as client side. The server-side maintains states of the data (undo/redo history, long-running processes, etc.) while the client-side maintains states of the user interface (facets and their selections, view pagination, etc.). The client-side makes GET and POST Ajax calls to modify and fetch data related information from server side. The architecture has come into existence from expert systems like Simile Long well CSI, a faceted browser for RDF data. It provides a good separation of concerns (data vs. Universal interface) and also makes it quick and easy to implement user interface features using familiar web technologies. Server-Side: It tells about modeling of data and storing it into given repository. Client-Side: It tells about building of GUI. Faceted Browsing: It is related to facets (text, column). It tells how to use facets in browsing data. Reconciliation Service API: It describes a standard reconciliation service structure. 5.6. Using Data Quality Services in connecting databases This section is to provide high quality data by introducing data quality services (DQS) in Microsoft SQL Server. The data-quality solution provided by Data Quality Services (DQS) enables an IT professional to maintain the quality of their data and ensure that the data is suited for its business usage. DQS is a knowledge-driven solution that provides both computer-assisted and interactive ways to manage the integrity and quality of your data sources. DQS enables you to discover, build, and manage knowledge about your data. You can then use that knowledge to perform data cleansing, matching, and profiling.It is based on building of knowledge base or test bed to identify the quality of data as well as correcting bad quality of data. Data Quality Services is a very important concept of SQL Server. Utilisation of data cleaning and quality phases The process of data cleaning starts from the starting phase when user chooses data from random dataset from internet or some books. A framework showing utility of these processes is described below in form of sequential steps listed below: Step 1) Choose random dataset Step 2) Shorten it as per user requirements Step 3) Find whether data contains dirty bits or not. Step 4) Cleanse data by testing it on application platforms like WinPure Clean and Match and Google Refine. Step 5) Then the task of creating high quality data is initiated. Step 6) Connect refined database with SQL server. Step7) Install Data Quality Services (DQS). Step 8) Knowledge base is built through DQS interface. Step 9) After building database, process of knowledge discovery has been started. Step 10) In knowledge discovery process, normalization of string values has been done to replace incorrect spellings and errors. Step 11) It leads to production of high quality data by removing dirty bits of data. Shortcomings of the existing tools WinPure Clean and Match simply clean data by removing redundant words. It does not give information about synonyms and homophones. This data cleaning tool produces moderate correctness level. The tool only gives details of incorrect words and matched words instead of removing similar words. It leads to wastage of memory and less accuracy. Data Quality Services (DQS) is somewhat complex for non technical users. A normal person cannot use this quality software without having knowledge of databases. DQS improves data quality with human intervention. If user selects correct spelling of given word, then DQS approves it else reject it. There is no automatic system for detection of strings and synonyms. One has to create set up of SQL in machine to use it. Both tools work syntactically rather than semantically. That is the reason they are unable to find synonyms. These tools corrects given data according to predefined syntaxes like spelling errors, omitting commas etc. Keeping the above shortcomings in consideration, the study has proposed data cleaning algorithm by using String detection Matching technique via WordNet.

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Early Years of Keeneland History Essay -- essays research papers

The Early Years of Keeneland History Kentucky’s open grasslands had attracted the type of settler who loved horses because of its great beauty. Also, Kentucky imposed richness of soil minerals, abundance of water, and suitable climate, terrain, and vegetation that attracted these people. People that lived in Kentucky possessed a great love and pride for sporting horses. Their love and passion of horses would shape the Thoroughbred world of today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The horse industry in Kentucky expanded rapidly with the great passion of breeding and sporting horses. Horse breeding became well established in the Bluegrass before the end of the eighteenth century. One of the reason why the great industry of the Thoroughbred business flourished is that a law was passed concerning the preservation and improvement of breeds of horses. Another dominant reason that all the inhabitants of Kentucky took great care in breeding and improving the breeds of horses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lexington had been without a racetrack since the deteriorating Kentucky Association plant operated its last meeting in the spring of 1933. Racing was needed in central Kentucky, and something had to be done. Horsemen and Owners knew that something desperately needed to be done to keep the tradition of Kentucky racing alive. If something was not done then the great industry of Thoroughbred racing would definitely decline.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On a Wednesday afternoon March 20, 1935, Major Louie A. Beard addressed a mass meeting of breeders and others interested in the future of racing in Lexington. Beard outlined the plans for the purchase and development of Keeneland at the Lafayette Hotel. â€Å"This may seem like a dream, but I believe it is a dream that can be realized.†, Beard concluded. This statement was a truer prophet than most of those present realized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These men seemed to know something that nobody else knew when it came to forming a racing and sales complex. They established policies that have existed for the past 50 years, they made predictions that have come true, and they built a horse facility that has lived up to every expectation. But, of course Keeneland was never intended to be just another racetrack. Twenty different sites were looked upon, but Hal Price Headley and company kept com... ...signed to be something special. It would cultivate an loved appreciation and respect for the noble sport of horse racing. The idea of Keeneland was to have an impression that would cater to established horse lovers and to develop new fans for the sport. Keeneland as a dream that could be realized became a dream that is now a great reality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography Faulconer, J.B. The Keeneland Story: a quarter century of racing in the finest tradition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lexington, Kentucky: Thoroughbred Press, 1960. Keeneland: opening 1936. Lexington, Kentucky: C.T. Dearing Print. Co. 1936. Wharton, Mary E., and Edward L. Bowen. The Horse World of the Bluegrass. New   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  York: The John Bradford Press, 1980. â€Å"Keeneland: the golden years, 1936-1986.† Keeneland Association, Inc., c1986. Strode, William. Keeneland: a half century of racing. New York: Harmony House,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1986. Nicholson, Nick, â€Å"Keeneland Thoroughbred Racing and Sales.† Designed by Digi Know:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Available from http://www.keeneland.com   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Assessment of Blood Brothers, by Willy Russell :: Blood Brothers Essays

Assessment of Blood Brothers. Paper 1 unit 2 'Blood Brouthers' when we first was told about the play I did not know what it was about, I had heard of it before but I had never seen or read any of the play. Then we were told the basic story of the play and the playwright's history:  · The play was set in the early 1970  · It was written by the playwright Billy Russell  · There have been two different versions of the play scripts that have been written by Billy Russell, one being the original and the other being a modern musical version.  · The story is based on two different types of people in different types of classes and how children cannot see the differences.  · The play is based in Liverpool and at this time (1970's) there was a mixture of the wealthy and working class people.  · Billy Russell has based the play on his upbringing as he was brought up in a working class family in Liverpool  · The story is basically about a working class woman who works for a wealthy woman, the working class woman has 7 children and she finds out she is pregnant again with twins and her husband has just left her so the wealthy woman persuades the working class woman to give her one of the twins. The two twins meet at various points in there life's, they meet as young children and become friends when young adults, when they find out that they are twins they both die because the wealthy women kills them both. To get us to understand the play we read more into it by taking scrip's from the musical and the original, and developing them by using: Brainstorming We brainstormed a lot about the play, what we all knew about it. We also brainstorm about the different themes of the play, money, dreams, friendship and superstition we then linked them to the play. This helped me a lot because I did not know the full play and this helped me understand the themes and how they connected to the play. Still-image In my group we created a few still-images to help use decide each theme and to make use understand it more and were the themes come into the different parts of the play. We also created a caption to go with each still-image so that it helps other groups to understand what each still image is about. Narration We used narration at many different times but that was also because

Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club Essay -- Amy Tan Joy Luck Club Essays

Amy Tan's â€Å"The Joy Luck Club† The â€Å"Joy Luck Club,† by Amy Tan, is a collection of short stories about the relationships between Chinese born mothers and their American born daughters. The story called â€Å"Four Directions† is about a woman named Waverly Jong. The story is about Waverly trying to tell her mother that she is getting married to a American man named Richard. Waverly was a chess champion as while she was a young girl and she remembers the strategy that she used in her matches, and in her life, as she tries to tell her mother about a marriage to an American man. Waverly’s mother was raised in China under Chinese traditions. Waverly’s mother wants Waverly to marry a Chinese man and dos not want Waverly to marry an American man. As Waverly brings us through her decision making process, she questions the Chinese traditions that her mother strictly follows. Since Waverly grew up in an American society, she has lost the Chinese traditions that her mother has tried to teach her and therefore has weakened the bond between Waverly and her mother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Waverly brings her mother through her house, Waverly lets her mom see the male items that are around to hint to her mother that she is living with a man, like his clothes around the bedroom and his barbells on the floor. Waverly goes to her closet and shows her mother the fur coat that Richard had given to her. After seeing the coat, Waverly’s mom says: â€Å"This is not so good,’ she said at last. ‘It is just leftover...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Positive Psychology

Martin Seligman is one of the founding fathers of positive psychology. Seligman created that Idea of â€Å"learned helplessness. † This idea Is related to depression and overlaps Julian Rotters â€Å"external local of control. † Learned helplessness explains the factors In ones lte that they cannot escape. For example, If you are a young girl growing up in a house with your mother who is depressed, sad, abusive, etc then you are more likely to become depressed, sad, and feel helpless. These traits become ur surroundings which then become your life, you dldnt do it to yourself. ut it is almost as if you were taught to be miserable. Seligman also found the three pillars to positive psychology. pleasure. gratification and meaning. These are believed to be the three factors that make happiness possible. Pleasure can come about during good conversation3 sensual experience3 hobbies and so on. This route to happiness suffers from being somewhat superficial and not long-lasting . This is why repetition is important, Repetition often has the opposite impact and can be self-destructive, Gratification is all about being engaged with ones individual strengths or positive traits.Gratification requires effort but provides a deeper level of satisfaction. Finally, meaning. this comes from using one's strengths to benefit something larger than itself. Mih?ly Csikszentmih?lyi, another psychologist important to positive psychology believes that almost everything you experience has flow. Flow iS a State Of complete engagement in an activity. Flow iS that feeling Of ‘time flies when your're having fun,† our Whole being iS involve and every action, movement and thought follows the previous one.Csikszentmih?ly believes that now is experienced by everyone in different ways. some might experience flow while playing a sport, while others might experience it in activities such as drawing or painting. He says, â€Å"Flow also happens when a person's skills are fu lly involved in overcoming a challenge that is just about manageable, so it acts as a magnet for learning new skills and increasing challenges. If challenges are too ICY†, one gets back to flow by increasing them.If challenges are too great, one can return to the flow state by learning new skills. † (Flow-The Psychology, Csikszentmih ¤lyl) Positive psychology Is a way of life that teaches you not how to ignore negative situations and experiences but how to cope and overcome those experiences. Positive psychology can have a range of real-world applications In areas including education. therapy, self-help. stress management and workplace issues. using strategies from positive psychology. teachers, coaches, therapists and employers can ngths.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Accounting Midterm

The monetary unit assumption states that transactions that can be measured in arms of money should be recorded in the accounting records. 5. The drawings account Is a subdivision of the owner's capital account and appears as an expense on the unicorn statement. 6. Revenues are a subdivision of owner's capital. 7. The trial balance has no limitations or weaknesses. 8. In an automated system, the entering of data and transferring of information is 9. Adjusting entries are often made because some business events are not recorded as they occur. 10.Adjusting entries are recorded in the general Journal but are not posted to the accounts in the general ledger. 1 1 . Adjusting entries are not necessary if the trial balance debit and credit columns balances are equal. 12. An adjusting entry always involves two balance sheet accounts. 13. The accounting cycle begins at the start of a new accounting period. 14. A work sheet is a mandatory form that must be prepared along with an income statemen t and balance sheet. 15. Both correcting entries and adjusting entries always affect at least one balance sheet account and one income statement account.Multiple Choice: Select the most correct answer. (1 5 marks) 1. As a result of corporate reporting scandals, proposals to improve business raciest have come from all of the following except a. Regulators. B. The investment community. C. The Canada Revenue Agency. D. The accounting profession. 2. Ethics are the standards of conduct by which one's actions are Judged as b. Honest or dishonest. . Fair or unfair. D. All of these. 3. All of the following are steps used to analyze ethical dilemmas except a. Using the organization's code of ethics to identify ethical situations. . Using personal ethics to identify ethical situations. C. Identifying potential stakeholders. D. Discussing the ethical dilemma with co-workers. 4. Generally accepted accounting principles are a. Income tax regulations. B. Standards that indicate how to report econ omic events. C. Theories that are based on physical laws of the universe. D. Principles that have been proven correct by academic researchers. 5. The investment of cash by the owners off business requires a debit to and a credit to a. Owner's capital; cash b. Drawings; owner's capital c. Ash; drawings d. Cash; owner's capital 6. The withdrawal of cash for personal use by the owners off business requires a to the drawings account and a a. Debit; debit b. Debit; credit c. Credit; credit . Credit; debit to the cash account. 7. An accountant has debited an asset account for $1,000 and credited a liability account for $500. What can be done to complete the recording of the transaction? a. Nothing further must be done. B. Debit an owner's equity account for $500. C. Debit another asset account for $500. D. Credit a different asset account for $500. 8.Purchase equipment with a note payable. Pay utilities with cash. . Owner withdraws money from the business for personal use. Example: (a) an d (d) are a match because both of them include one increase in assets and one decrease in assets, so there is no effect on the accounting equation. Question 1: Solution (b) and O) are a match because both of them include one increase to equity and one decrease to equity. (c) and (h) are a match because one decreases liabilities and the other increases liabilities. (e) and (f) are a match because one decreases liabilities and the other increases liabilities. (g) and (I) are a match because one increases assets, and the other decreases assets, showing that utilities were paid in cash with customer cash payments for services rendered. Question 2: 12 marks Hone's Bike Repairs opened for business on March 1, 2008. The following transactions occurred in March. March 1 Jack Hon.. Invested $5,000 cash in the business and contributed equipment March 5 Completed services for customers who paid cash $400. March 6 Paid $660 for a one-year insurance policy. The policy takes effect April 1 and wi ll expire March 31, 2009. March 8 Completed services for a major customer and invoiced the customer $1 ,OHO.March 1 5 Paid for printing advertising brochures $125. The brochures were distributed the same day. March 20 Received a bill from the utilities company for March utilities in the amount of $70. The amount is due April 4. March 5 Entered into a contract with a new customer who will use Hone's services for repairs on their entire fleet of rental bikes. The customer paid $800 in advance for repairs to be completed in April. March 31 Jack Hon.. Withdrew $1,200 for personal use. March 31 Received $600 cash from the customer billed on March 8. Instructions: Journalize the above transactions. Explanations are required.Question 2: Solution *copy answer from paper notes* Question 3: 10 marks Pierson Insurance Agency prepares monthly financial statements. Presented below is an income statement for the month of June that is correct on the basis of information insider. PIERSON INSURANCE AGENCY Income Statement Month Ended June 30 Revenues Premium commission revenues Expenses Salary expense $6,000 Advertising expense 800 Rent expense 4,200 Amortization expense $35,000 Total expenses Net income 13,800 $21,200 Additional Data: When the income statement was prepared, the company accountant neglected to take into consideration the following information: 1.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Nigerian Scams – 419 Scam

Nigerian Scams – 419 Scam Information Nigerian, or â€Å"419†, scams are one of the most common types of fraudulent email currently hitting inboxes. Nigerian scam messages can also arrive via fax or letter. The messages generally claim that your help is needed to access a large sum of money, usually many millions of dollars. In fact, this money does not exist. The messages are an opening gambit designed to draw potential victims deeper into the scam.Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to a Nigerian scam message will eventually be asked for advance fees supposedly required to allow the deal to proceed. They may also become the victims of identity theft. The so-called â€Å"Nigerian scam† is one of the longest running that I know about. In fact, it predates the Internet and email. The scams are also known as â€Å"419 scams† after the appropriate part of the Nigerian criminal code. The scammers still use surface mail and faxes as well as email.There are a great many versions of this scam. Although many originate out of Nigeria, hence the generic term â€Å"Nigerian scam†, it is certainly not only Nigerian based criminals that send them. In spite of the longevity of this type of scam and the large amounts of publicity that it has received, many people around the world are still being conned out of substantial sums of money. I regularly receive enquiries from Internet users who have received Nigerian scam emails and do not know what they are about. Basically, the scam works like this.You receive an unsolicited message that masquerades as some manner of business proposition, request for assistance, notice of a potential inheritance, or opportunity to help a charity. In fact, there is a seemingly endless array of cover stories that the scammers use in order to draw potential victims into the con. In spite of this diversity, virtually all of the scam messages share a common theme. The messages all claim that y our help is needed to access a large sum of money, usually many millions of dollars.The scammers use a variety of stories to explain why they need your help to access the funds. For example: * They may claim that political climate or legal issues preclude them from accessing funds in a foreign bank account. * They may claim that your last name is the same as that of the deceased person who owned the account and suggest that you act as the Next of Kin of this person in order to gain access to the funds. * They may claim that a rich businessman, who has a terminal illness, needs your help to distribute his wealth to charity.The messages offer to let you keep a significant percentage of the funds in question in exchange for your assistance. This percentage is the bait that the scammers use to entice potential victims deeper into the scam. Once a recipient has taken the bait, and initiated a dialogue with the scammers, he or she will soon receive requests for â€Å"fees† that the scammer claims are necessary for processing costs, tax and legal fees, or bribes to local officials.The scammers will warn the victim that these advance fees need to be paid before the funds can be procured. In reality, the supposed funds do not exist. The major purpose of these scam messages is to trick recipients into parting with their money in the form of these advance fees. Fraudulent requests for fees will usually continue until the victim realizes he or she is being conned and stops sending money. In some cases, the scammers gain enough information to access the victim's bank account directly or steal the victim's identity.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Adult essay

Introduction There are some people who graduate from high school and go directly to work, and there are others who go directly to college after high school. Jack was one of many people that went directly to work after high school. He felt like going to school was a waste of time. After working in the factory for four years he was promoted to a manager. Jack felt like he was on top of the world. Ten years after being promoted, he learned that the factory was about to close down. Now Jack was about to lose everything†¦ his job, his house, and his car.What would he to do now. Jack is not the only person to have lost his job. Many people every day lose their job and have no idea what to do next. They may lose their job due to the business closing down because of bankruptcy, or because the job is relocating overseas. There are also some people who simply just want a change of employment as well as career path. There are many of people going to college for their own personal reasons. They may have been fired, laid off, or just wanted to do something other than what they were already doing career wise.Adults who receive more life experience before going to college are known as adult learners. Most adult learners find it hard to adjust to college classes, after having been in the working environment! Kenner and Weinerman explains that working before college may affect a student’s critical foundations. While dealing with adult learners, an instructor may have a harder time planning assignments for adult learners. The college instructor may need to receive knowledge about their adult learning students’ background to understand how to assign their assignment.Also by knowing the background of the adult learner, the instructor can better know which persons might need extra help and which students may not. People can have fun while learning. Some people can learn different and new things about life through skills learned, as well as used when playing video games. It had been shown that people have learned just by playing games. Learning from playing video games can increase a person actives and engagement. â€Å"One of the advantages of using certain types of computer game in education is their ability, for many learners, to engender engagement and motivation, which contributes to effective learning.Adult Learning Kenner’s and Weinerman’s report says organizational development is necessary to help an employee gain more knowledge in their job field. They both say that Knowles discussed the four different stages of adult learning. The four stages are: †¢A. self directed, taking responsibility for their own actions, and resisting having information arbitrarily imposed on them. †¢B. an extensive depth of experience, which serves as a critical component in the foundation of their self identity. †¢C. being ready to learn.As most adult learners return to college voluntarily, they are likely to actively engage i n the learning process. †¢D. being task motivated. Adult students returning to college attend for a specific goal and the primary component of their motivational drive tends to be internal† (Knowles, 1984). The veterans have it harder than other adult learners. Veterans who may have been in active duty during war time have seen more things than the average person has seen. Most veterans can’t separate the difference from military life, school life, and life in general, after they’ve been in active duty in the military.Tacit theory, informal theory, and formal theory, are three of the ways that a person can design their own learning, stated by Schraw and Moshman (1995). The in classroom studies is a form of tacit and in formal theory. As of formal theory, the method of study is very hardly use of study, from the article of Kenner and Weinerman (Spring 2011). Game Engagement Theory It been said that video games can help a person in the learning experience in l ife. Researchers and practitioners in the field of game-based learning often assume that computer games are intrinsically motivational for most, if not all, people (e. . , Oblinger, 2004; Prensky, 2001). The U. K. is planning to make learning fun by using the video games from the report of Whitton. â€Å"The factors that the theory describes are the following: †¢1. A challenge that requires skill to achieve with an attainable goal and know rules †¢2. Complete absorption in the activity †¢3. Clear goals †¢4. Immediate feedback †¢5. Concentration on the task in hand †¢6. A sense of control, lacking the sense of worry about losing control †¢7. Loss of self-consciousness †¢8. Transformation of time† (Whitton 2011).There are two types of theories dealing with a basic model of learning games. The two theories are flow theories and the theory of androgogy. Flow theories are a part of the component. It types of engagement that can be engage in a level of the state of flow, from Csikszentmihalyi (1992). The means of having a different style of learn of a younger learner is known as the theory of androgogy. Conclusion In conclusion, adult learners have a hard time get back into, as well as adjusting to, the school environment than the traditional college students.When a person has been working numerous years and then decides to return to the school environment, it often is more difficult to adjust to forming a new train of thought. An adult learner may get so used to doing the things a certain way while in the working environment that they lose the ability for critical thinking. Learning can be fun sometimes. A person can learn also from playing video games. Some people may learn one thing while others learn something completely different from the same video game. Reflection I am an adult learner and can relate to what has been posted as well as what I have read.At times it is hard for me to get all my assignment in on time , but I am trying the best that I can. Sometimes it’s hard for me to understand what the instructor is asking me to do and what is required in the assignment for the week. Its major articles in my life they will have me pull from my studies. Things like working (need to make money to pay bills and to survive), family (need to give and receive family support in life), and other personally business. Life from adult living is hard, but to add going to school is harder on somebody like me.With the time I have in my life, I don’t have the time to sit in a classroom setting so I went a different route and taking online classing. I do agree that some things can be learned by games and some things can’t. It shows the basics about how life can or can’t be and how life should or shouldn’t be. Over all learning can be fun at times even that it may be applied to video games. REFERENCES Cari Kenner and Jason Weinerman (Spring 2011). Adult Learning Theory: appli cations to non-traditional college students. www. crla. net Nicola Whitton1 (2011). Game Engagement Theory and Adult Learning. www. sagepub. com/journalsPermissions. nav

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Case Analysis- Strategic Marketing Management Study

Analysis- Strategic Marketing Management - Case Study Example Therefore, Nintendo faces the challenge of overemphasizing on innovation per se while ignoring the needs of the mature audience that considers memory and storage capacity as important features of gaming hardware. Furthermore, customer lifestyle and trends are changing with majority of young audience switching to free-to-play versions of games on their smartphones. The report discusses the marketing and competitive environment with respect to Nintendo as well we its segmentation strategy and business strategy in the context or current dynamics. 1. Introduction Nintendo has gained the first-mover advantage in the interactive entertainment sector by providing both gaming devices and associated services since 1983. The Japanese manufacturer has evolved from its cult favorites â€Å"Super Mario† â€Å"Nintendo Game Cube† and â€Å"Nintendo 64† towards its more recent â€Å"Wii† and â€Å"Nintendo DS† (Kim, Lamont, Ogasawara, Park, & Takaoka, 2011). Altho ugh initially aimed at hard-core gamers, the company is aiming towards penetrating the market by appealing to more segments (including women and adults) and appealing to the mass market. It currently faces intense competition from Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Play station. Furthermore, market trends are changing and the dynamics are clearly not the same as they were several years ago. The new generation of young customers is demanding free-to-play mobile games which are a major consideration for Nintendo in the revamping of its strategy. 2. Strategic vision/mission Nintendo’s vision and reflects its commitment to provide the â€Å"highest quality of products and support services† for customers by valuing customer feedback and encouraging teamwork amongst employees (Nintendo Games, 2013). The company’s strategy supports this commitment by providing gaming entertainment that is enjoyed by people of all ages (including women and adults). Keeping custom er feedback in mind and the trend of games of smartphones, the company is currently rethinking its strategy to broaden its target market and include non-gamers compared to hard-core console gamers. Hence, Nintendo is aiming at penetrating the market and rethinking its strategy keeping in view the current market trends of the youth generation moving towards free-to-play games on smartphones (Negishi, 2013). 3. Current marketing strategy Nintendo’s current marketing strategy revolves around its commitment to deliver superior customer service and quality of products. The new console â€Å"Wii† includes a three month warranty along with easy to use interface and free games (Nintendo, 2013). With this, Nintendo has revamped its traditional strategy by positioning the Wii as a universal product suitable for use by all ages and gender groups. The company has capitalized the brand equity associated with the Nintendo brand by retaining the â€Å"console† and innovating b y introducing entirely new product categories through its â€Å"motion sensor† technique (O’Gorman, 2008). 4. Target market and marketing strategy

Leadership Skill-Building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Leadership Skill-Building - Essay Example The indicators are engaged in the measurement of performance drivers such as organizational vitality, productivity gain and market position strength. The metrics also measure the financial performance outcomes as well as stakeholder value generated. Research on life cycle model shows different organizational growth stages in the model’s growth through a basic illustration of revenues (for profit) and budget (non-profit) activities. Evaluation reports may illustrate absence of extensive predictors for international executive success while agreeing that open flexibility; drive, language, and personality skills contribute towards successful international leadership. More teams are comprised of people from different nationalities, languages, ideas, behaviors, cultures and ways of achieving objectives. A section of a given team may argue that international business language negates the communication issues for which cross-cultural teams are involved in developing hands-on experience for such disagreeing teams (DuBrin, 2013). People of different backgrounds of culture gather come together within settings that are always in a position of promoting interaction. The implication of such a balance is the energizing elements of the organization. Such a dimension also reflects a truthful culture and organization under which decision-making policies are traditionally held closely by smaller groups of individuals. The systems and mechanics of broadening senior teams vary based on organizational and cultural considerations. The scope of leadership includes creation of common contexts within the item and reason of the strategies that serve as critical milestones for broader leadership teams. In a number of cases, the approach prefers creating groups of between 50 and 100 people recognizing collective accountability for success of entire strategies (DuBrin, 2013). The steps present effective partnering

Monday, August 12, 2019

Southwest Airlines Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

Southwest Airlines - Case Study Example According to the report findings the remarkable success and innovative ways with that Southwest Airlines has achieved has made this study interesting. It is worth studying the business concept of Southwest, which involves attracting passengers by flying convenient schedules and getting passengers to their destination on time using several strategic initiatives. The efficiency, quality of service, controlled growth, increase in demand for reliable low-fare travel, and other key success factors like leadership, culture, strategy and coordination are some of the factors that contributed to the success of the airline. This project aims to study the relative contribution made by these distinct factors that made this remarkable transformation possible for Southwest. As the discussion declares the Company’s vision statement expresses a â€Å"dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, and individual pride and Company spirit.† The Company has the mission to â€Å"provide safe and comfortable air transportation in commuter and short-haul markets, from close-in airports, at prices competitive with automobiles and buses and to involve customers and employees in the product and the process, making the airline a fun, profitable and quality experience.† From the very start, Southwest Airlines’ goals were to make a profit, achieve job security for every employee, and make flying affordable for more people. (Freiberg & Freiber

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Business and Marketing strategy (case Study) Essay

Business and Marketing strategy (case Study) - Essay Example Beverage industry is one of the most dynamic industries that are applying this concept to great effect (Boone et al. 2009, p. 194). Beverage industry is broadly classified as alcoholic and non alcoholic. In both categories there are exemplifications of global marketing. World’s non alcoholic industry is grappled with tough competition by the two large players Coca Cola and PepsiCo. Both the giants are expanding their value horizon across different countries. Though there are numerous companies engaged in providing global beverages, the two giants are at top with extensive portfolio of products tailor made for countries. Though both companies are equally successful, Coca Cola leads the global market, with PepsiCo being on its tail continuously (Cardello 2011). Provide a detailed assessment of the environmental issues affecting Coca Cola global business and marketing strategy. Given guidance in terms of opportunities or threats they may pose for the company in the future. Coca C ola Company is one of the leading companies in the world that is dealing in the manufacturing and distribution of non-carbonated beverages. The brand portfolio of the company entails more than 400 brands including beverages, juices, tea, sports and energy drinks, coffees etc. Strong brand name and brand portfolio has led the company ahead of its close competitors, Pepsi which has a brand value of $12,690 million as compared to $67000 million of Coca Cola (The Coca Cola Company 2011). Since its inception, it has continuously improved upon its marketing strategy that has facilitated the customer recall and recognition of brand overall the world making it easy for Coca Cola to explore new markets. The international marketing strategy of the company can also be quoted as the major reason behind its huge success. However, intense competition and threats are ever-present elements of the external environment that might have a large impact on the company’s profitability. SWOT ANALYSI S SWOT analysis can provide a snapshot of the current performance of the company and of the dark areas that are required to be eradicated so as to avail the new opportunities that can further enhance the company’s performance. SWOT analysis is the best way to study the impact of external environment on the organization’s marketing and global strategy (Mind Tools Ltd. 2011). STRENGTHS: Leading Brand: This is a recognizable fact that Coca Cola has a strong brand name and brand value that is incomparable. From the last few years, company has invested a lot on the promotions that has enhanced the brand’s customer recall and recognition as well. Large scale of operations: Coca Cola is known as the largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non alcoholic beverages in the world having a large scale of operations. Currently, Coca Cola is successfully operating in more than 200 countries due to having a support of the strong infrastructure across the world. WEAKNE SSES Negative perception of coke: It is a known fact that a recognizable product â€Å"coke† can be harmful for a body. Therefore, this shift of trend towards weight reduction and health can adversely affect the company’s profitability in the future. Lack of popularity of many Coca Cola’s brands: Furthermore, many of Coca Cola’

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Review - Assignment Example Gandhi stated that, the actual meaning of civilization is ‘good conduct’, which can only come through the existence of villages. These were the people who outwardly argued with their views on the thought urban renovation. According to Jane Jacobs, the survival is impossible from World Bank. Considering the levels of urbanization and GDP per capita, they both are directly linked with each other. Due to it, the argument about the development of countryside areas on their expenses itself, has been in light from ages. The development, social justice and status discrimination (cities dominating the countryside) crisis also relate the argument. Cheap food coming out of the agriculture and their import export has also been the factor of criticism by 2008, where most of the countries imposed ban on the exports by increasing the subsidy on crops. That is the reason which backs the idea of under-funding of agriculture. Overviewing the entire scenario, Urban Bias Thesis (UBT) came into being, to resolve the crisis against Gandhi’s claim, food crisis and price issues associating the rural development. Lipton was the man who analyzed this thesis into details. The claims of Lipton involved the price issue on rural commodities which were decrease, and those of the urban bias increased outside Latin America. In 2000, the extreme increase of urban bias in China has been seen. The main discussion point of Lipton was that, reduce in urban bias haven’t been fulfilled, considering the terms of economic liberation and structural adjustments. This debate took peak under the light of four circumstances; matters of measure & definition, urban poverty, causes & consequences of urban growth and the value of rural & and urban in complex livelihood strategies & interdependencies. The main understanding which should be look up to here is the mobility benefits

Friday, August 9, 2019

Undertake An Analysis Of The Strategic Position Of Tesco In The UK Assignment

Undertake An Analysis Of The Strategic Position Of Tesco In The UK Using Concept & Tools Of External And Internal Strategic Analysis - Assignment Example Undertake An Analysis Of The Strategic Position Of Tesco In The UK Using Concept & Tools Of External And Internal Strategic Analysis. Additionally, Tesco provides both online and offline financial services with a personal touch. The total revenue received by Tesco PLC as on February 2004 added up to ?33,557 million translating in a rise of approximately 18.7 % from the preceding year’s revenues that ranked ?28, 28 million (Humby et al, 2008). 1) Analyze its task environment Using PESTEL to categorize key issues which management need to respond to, focus on 6 CURRENT issues using evidence to substantiate them, for example: current Horse meat issue   Tesco operates in a globalised environment with stores worldwide, including six European countries. These include the Ireland Republic, Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey, Slovakia and Poland. The Asian stores are located in South Korean Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan. However, Tesco’s performance relies heavily on the mother country’s political and legislative structure (Henry, 2008). Legislation requires the government to supply the populatio n with a wide range of job opportunities, including the extremely skilled, high paid and centrally located chances. The population demands students, senior citizens and working parents to be considered in terms of job availability for varied groups of individuals. Tesco comes in play as a challenge to local businesses, which include the cutting of costs and declaring the company’s products obsolete. This results in driving the companies out of the market completely (Nathan Rao Consumer Affairs, 2013). Tesco tries to work against the problems named by providing a labor market to diverse employees including students, disabled and the elderly in the society with relatively lower pay rates. Therefore, the employees depict a significant level of loyalty to organizations with the increased level of staff turnover currently in the community (Ringland, 2006). Economic factors Tesco takes matters relating to economic factors with a considerable level of seriousness as the factors dire ctly affect the demands, costs, prices, and the profit levels of the organization in place. The high unemployment levels in an economy results into decreased levels of effective demands for varied goods. The production level of goods lowers with a decreased profit levels, which, adversely reduces and affects the profit levels. In as much as the operating company cannot control the factors, they adversely affect the performance, and marketing mix of Tesco. Despite the growth levels that are evident in the international markets, Tesco substantially relies on the UK market for its survival. Therefore, decreased demand of UK’s foodstuffs can expose the company’s market to face risks of making losses (Nathan Rao Consumer Affairs, 2013). The social and cultural factors The British customers tend to adopt bulk shopping from their previous one stop shopping criteria. The situation prompts Tesco into additional production of food pre-cuts in the country. The increased rate of t he â€Å"ageing population† and participation by women in the employment sectors result, in an increased demand for Tesco products and services. Additionally, Tesco tends to gear most of its focus on its own label of business blend, supply chains and various operational improvements with the capabilities of driving costs out of business. Consumers purchase