Thursday, December 26, 2019

Health Care Programs For The United States - 855 Words

Medicaid Requirements in Michigan and In Michigan, there are many health care programs available to adults, children, and families. The goal of the health care programs are to make sure that necessary health care services are made available to those who otherwise don’t have the financial resources to purchase it. In Michigan, each health care program has certain eligibility requirements. The Healthy Michigan Plan provides health care coverage for participants who are 19-64 years old, have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, are not pregnant at the time of application, and do not qualify for Medicaid programs. Medicaid is also available to eligible parents caring for a dependent child. This program include basic health care benefits including dental, vision, and mental health services. Medicaid is available for women who are pregnant up to 2 months after delivery or miscarriage. Healthy Kids for pregnant women is for low-income pregnancy women of any age. Th ere is an income limit for coverage. A pregnant woman who has an income that exceeds the limits for Healthy Kids may be eligible for Group 2 Pregnant Women program. There is a deductible for this program. There are several options for Medicaid for children in Michigan. Healthy Kids is a Medicaid health care program for low-income children under 19 years old. There are no monthly premium for Health Kids. This program includes basic health care benefits including dental,Show MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Health Care Programs In The United States820 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many processes that shape the way health care programs go into effect in the United States. One of the key issues is that the states have the ability to decide who gets what from a specific health care program, which leads to many different determinations (Knickman Kovner, 2015). Another thing that affects the way health care systems are formed is that we have a fragmented governing institution that ofte n disagrees on a lot of issues, and makes it a lot harder to pass legislation. ManyRead MoreComparing Hong Kong and United States Heath Care Systems1192 Words   |  5 PagesHong Kong and United States Heath Care Systems The United States is currently in the process of a health care reform which will change the current private sector health care program into a universal healthcare system. A great example of a universal healthcare program is Hong Kong. There are other countries that have changed from a private to a public health care system, but Hong Kong has shown that they have done it best. When comparing Hong Kong’s healthcare system to the United States healthcareRead MorePay for Performance Paper1477 Words   |  6 Pagesboth the quality and the safety of health care in the United States is well documented. Traditional strategies to stimulate improvement include regulation, measurement of performance and subsequent feedback, and marketplace competition. Despite limited evidence, public reporting of hospital quality data and pay for performance have emerged as two of the most widely advocated strategies for accelerating quality improvement (Lindenauer, 2007). Quality health care is ver y important to both physiciansRead MoreHealth Care Systems Are Different In Every Country Around1603 Words   |  7 PagesHealth care systems are different in every country around the world. There are four main components that complete a health care delivery system, described by Shi and Singh (2015) as the quad-function model, which includes insurance, financing, payment and delivery of care (p. 5). Along with the components of the quad-function model it is important to analyze a countries access to care, their health outcomes and how public health is integrated into the health care delivery system. The United StatesRead MoreHealthcare Finance1518 Words   |  7 Pagesthe United States health care spending grew 3.9 percent. The total health care expenditures reached $2.6 trillion, which translates to $8,402 per person or 17.9 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Health care spending plays a major role in shaping our countrys health care system. Financing h ealth care influences how people access health care, the types of health care provided, and how the cost of health care is distributed among members of society by income and by health statusRead MoreThe Single Payer Reimbursement System1608 Words   |  7 Pagesis a health care financing system that â€Å"includes both the collection of money for health care and reimbursement of providers for health care costs.† In such a system, the government or a quasi public agency is the entity that bears full responsibility of collecting funds and reimbursing appropriate parties, but the provision of care remains in private hands. Through taxpayer funds, the government collects money from individuals and businesses, and then reimburses providers who delivered health careRead MoreBenefits Of Payment Reimbursement Systems Within The Health Care Industry1038 Words   |  5 PagesEffective payment program strategies are a major part of administering health care. Reimbursement programs are a part of the United States (U.S) health care system. They represent a financial tool for providing cash flow to service physicians and hospitals. Most often, the ability to provide quality health care depends on the payment for the services given by physicians and hospitals. This paper presents a view of payment reimbursement systems within the health care industry. A comparative overviewRead MoreHcs/440 Individual Essay755 Words   |  4 PagesEconomic Terms and Health Care History Amber Rainwater HCS/440 Economics: The History of Health Care February 26, 2012 Health Care History Throughout the history of the United States, the economics of the health care system has experienced many changes. There are many factors to consider that has been the drive behind many of the changes within the health care system. Medical and surgical technologies are some factors that relate to the changes in health care. Besides these factors, allocatingRead MoreThe Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act1738 Words   |  7 PagesThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010. The ACA is considered the most expansive healthcare reform legislation in the United States since the formation of Medicaid and Medicare in 1965 (Berg Dickow, 2014). The creation of the ACA ushered in a new progression for the United States healthcare system that put an emphasis on preventive services and primary care (Berg Dickow, 2014). The ACA also aided in the public problem of the being uninsured in this countryRead MoreThe United States Healthcare System1590 Word s   |  7 PagesThe United States Healthcare system is different from other countries for a variety of reasons. Other wealthy developed countries have a national insurance programs based on global budgets. There are three basic models for the structure of their National Healthcare Systems. These programs, mostly cover all citizens in those countries. In contrast, the United States is yet to develop such a healthcare system. Two programs which impact the United States healthcare system is Medicare and Medicaid

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Social criticism in The Great Gatsby and Great Expectations

Authors often use their works to convey criticisms of society. Such works of literature do not directly criticize specific real people or events. They do however present a sense of the writers concern with issues of social injustice and misguided values. Two strong examples of social criticism through literature are Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In both novels the writers project their social criticisms to the reader through the use of characterization and setting. Great Expectations was written and set in mid-Victorian England, having been first published as a serial in All The Year Round a weekly English periodical. Dickens used this form of publication to incrementally dose his†¦show more content†¦Dickens criticizes this injustice in Great Expectations buy mocking a society that values wealth and appearance. In the novel typically the poorest characters are the most honest and moral and the wealthiest are the most immo ral and corrupt. Pips moral stalwart is Joe, his much older brother in law. Joe is a poor blacksmith who is ridiculed for his humble means by his wife and also by a wealthy Pip for his humility and ignorance of wealth and high society. Despite this Joe is the only character that is universally kind and compassionate, the stories only true gentleman, but is never socially recognized as such because of his low social stature. On the other hand Miss Havisham is a character that shows this relationship between wealth and immorality. She is the most visibly wealthy person in the novel; she is also the cruelest. All of her actions are motivated by a desire to humiliate Pip and make him feel in human due to his modest upbringing. John Wemmick is a very visible example of the juxtaposition of corrupt wealth and honest humility. He is a law clerk to the powerful London lawyer Mr. Jaggers. While at work with Jaggers he conforms to the environment by being an emotionally devoid subordinate who will follow nearly any directive regardless of morality. When he is outside of work he shows aShow MoreRelated Feminist Criticism of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby810 Words   |  4 PagesFeminist Criticism of The Great Gatsby The pervasive male bias in American literature leads the reader to equate the experience of being American with the experience of being male. In F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby, the background for the experience of disillusionment and betrayal revealed in the novel is the discovery of America. Daisys failure of Gatsby is symbolic of the failure of America to live up to the expectations in the imagination of the men who discovered it. AmericaRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby Essay1077 Words   |  5 Pagesthe novel became popular. It was taught in American high schools. Many stage and film versions of the novel also appeared. The Great Gatsby even became a front runner for the title of ‘The Great American novel’. The events in the novel play out in the fictional town of West Egg in 1922. The Roaring Twenties, or the Jazz Age of America is portrayed by Fitzgerald. Social ferment, idealism, resistance to change, and decadence are dealt with in the novel. The novel sounds a warning to the believersRead MoreAssess Fitzgerald’s Negative Portrayal of the Female Characters in the Great Gatsby1683 Words   |  7 PagesAssess Fitzgerald’s negative portrayal of the female characters in The Great Gatsby. To what extent do you find similarities in Wharton’s portrayal of women in The Age of Innocence? The Great Gatsby contains three main female characters: Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker. They are interpretations of Fitzgerald’s presentation of women; two are examples of The Flapper, who Rena Sanderson in The Cambridge Companion to F. Scott Fitzgerald describes as the image of a spoiled, self-centredRead MoreAmerican Dream in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott, Fitzgerald1386 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream is what pushes the characters in The Great Gatsby. It is the idea or belief that everybody has the opportunity to accomplish their goals and become wealthy and prosperous if they only work hard enough. There is or are some things about the American Dream that never seem to meet the expectations and needs of society. The characters in The Great Gatsby cannot grasp the concept that The American Dream is somewhat an illusion because not everybody can obtain what they would like ifRead MoreImportance of Myrtle in The Great Gatsby Essay1205 Words   |  5 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many of the occurrences in The Great Gatsby produced far-reaching effects for several of the characters.   Of these occurrences, one of the most influential and important incidents was the death of Myrtle Wilson.   While her life and death greatly affected the lives of all of the main and supporting characters, her death had a very significant effect on the lives of Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tom knew Myrtle better than any of the main characters.   He had met her on a train headedRead MoreThe American Dream By Ralph Ellison1465 Words   |  6 Pagesmany white people have criticized the American Dream as a game that consists of meaningless success, most African-Americans have argued that the rules of the game have never been fairly applied to the black community. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the appearance of many of the characters differs greatly from their actual selves. The use of illusion in the novel is used effectively to portray the nature of people in the 1920 s, and the â€Å"artificial† life that is lived in this modern ageRead MoreMalala Yousafzai s Impact On The United States And Western World2523 Words   |  11 Pagesthe Middle East and Africa women are required to stay home to learn to be proper mothers and wives and cannot obtain any type of higher education. In other cases, women are restricted in the kinds of jobs that they can have based on the outside expectations of society in their lives. Many women are not able to pursue certain careers due to other obligations they have, such as being mothers. Children are another example of a group of people who dream big, but often have trouble achieving their goalsRead MoreFriendship in The Great Gatsby by F. Scoot Fitzgerald and The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger2528 Words   |  11 PagesIn a society where social criticism is the norm and status is admired, people with morals, views and opinions are considered peculiar. Where the â€Å"high life† is everything and money receives respect and friendship. The strugglers and hard workers are demeaned while the rich with fame and beauty are praised. In the novels, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald and, The Devil Wears Prada, by Lauren Weisberger, the outside observers Nick and Andrea are able to have a clear and realistic view of theRead MoreTh e Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay2486 Words   |  10 PagesThe great Gatsby shows an American culture in a certain time period. F. Scott Fitzgerald fits the modernist movement, as he writes about the horrid truth about desire and hope and how the necessity for material gain can destroy the value of life. He focuses on the culture of the twentieth century, including the growing of urbanization using the idea of self-interest through his literature. He describes the modern concept through reflecting on the flourishing middle and upper classes. The great GatsbyRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1838 Words   |  8 PagesIn Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, there are numerous themes, resonating ideas, and patterns that occur, but none are as crucial to understanding Fitzgerald’s character Gatsby and the overall story than Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the dying American Dream. Before exploring the American Dream within the context of the tex t, readers should consider the changing concept of defining ‘the American Dream. While there are several interpretations of the American Dream, the one that is continuously presented

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Networking in Business

Question: Discuss about Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Networking in Business ? Answer: Introduction: The business world has seen a lot of ups and downs ever since the competition came into being; the marketing world engulfed all the thunder the corporate world used to have (Tuten and Solomon 2014). There was once a time period when the there was discretion in the product range that a particular business brand used to make, a time in the past where the products the brands sell acted as the recognition for the brand itself. However today is the age of retail chains and multi-marketing, the brand name sells the products now (Albarran 2013). The reason behind this chaotic situation in the corporate world is the cut throat competition in the business market today where the small and large scale business ventures are choking to cope with the dynamic economy and ever changing customer demands. The success of a business venture depends on the reception and loyalty it receives from its target customer base, and companies do anything they can to impress the customers and retain them. Now taking cues from the proverbial saying pretty packages do sell well, and the corporate world pretty packaging is a good marketing strategy. The history of business marketing has seen a lot of changes as well, conventional techniques of marketing using electronic media or news papers has metamorphosed into the hip and happening social media marketing (Albarran 2013). This report will represent a literature review on the advantages and the disadvantages of using social media as a marketing tool for brand promotion. Brand promotion and social media: We live in the era of technological globalization, where internet has brought the world at our fingertips by the virtue of smartphones. While living in this age where the time is a costly commodity, the target markets are no longer fascinated by a television screen. Although still highly functional it cannot be ignored that social media has lost its charm somehow along the years. The monotony of conventional media marketing has been replaced by the attractive and innovative methods of social media marketing (Ashley and Tuten 2015). In order to understand what social media marketing entails it is important to know social media is all about. In definition social media is a web 2.0 internet-based interactive application that establishes a network of virtual communities made for creating and sharing different information (Ashley and Tuten 2015). The main different that puts social media a class apart from the paper based or electronic media is the reach and usability that it provides. There can hardly be found people in todays age that are not well acquainted with the wonders of social media, irrespective of variables like age and gender (Bae 2012). It has to be considered that with the rapidly changing economy finding a stable ground cam be very hard for small scale businesses and that stable ground can only be established through brand recognition and customer loyalty (Berthon et al. 2012). Social media tools provide the best opportunity to not only connect with the customers but also allows the customers to be connected with their favourite brands. There are various different platforms in the world of social media and each and every single one of them has something new to offer that can keep the customers enthralled (De Vries, Gensler and Leeflang 2012). Different online media platforms: There are a various different platforms in the realm of social media, with a wealth of different tools for the business ventures to exploit. Studies suggest that the social media has provided different outlets for fortifying a secure and impactful relationship with each and every individual of the target market. Facebook, the global sensation deserves the first recognition when discussing social media platforms. Facebook is easily one of the most used online platforms and it I the best and most profitable social media marketing tool as well (Erdo?mu? and Cicek 2012). Facebook allows different business brands to create a fan page allowing different individuals to follow te page to stay connected and be updated every new launch about the brand. Similarly another popular social networking site that has immerged as the global sensation is Twitter, allowing up to 140 characters to write an informative post that reach the millions in the form of tweets. When talking about different social media tools another two sites demand immediate attention, youtube being the primary one. Fosdick suggested that youtube is a social media toll that if utilized properly can change the face of marketing for ever. Youtube is nothing but a repository of videos that allows different brands to provide the most realistic and life like presentation of their products to the viewers to keep them enthralled (Fosdick 2012). These videos can be informative, promotional or just a review, the customers can get the most realistic experience of seeing the products or services that they are being offered, as the proverbial saying goes seeing is believing. Similarly Instagram does the very same thing; the only problem is Instagram allows only pictures or short videos to be posted which the followers can like (Hays, Page and Buhalis 2013). Furthermore websites like facebook and Instagram have their own stores that operate on the social networking websites only, from where the followers can see the product and order the same online which will be delivered to their doorsteps, a win-win situation for both parties, can marketing startegies get any smarter than that? Internet offers impressive variety if not anything, just like the completely different picture of social media marketing represented by Linkedin. It primarily is a website that allows different individual to create a catchy and attractive resume profile that allows different professional accounts top find you and connect to you (Hays, Page and Buhalis 2013). A valid and viable profile in the LinkedIn will aid in adding valuable business contacts in the kitty that can help in progressing the business further. Now, shifting the focus to social bookmarking websites, like Digg to the more popular and a bit different, Pinterest. They allow you to find different stiff of your interest and bookmark or as popularly known as Pin it so that you can revisit them in your leisure time. A Pinterest account of the brand that will allow you to send information about different product or services that they can check according to their time preferences, customer satisfaction at its best (Hays, Page and Buhalis 2013). Heymann-Reder on their article about customer satisfaction have stated that customer loyalty and retention rate is heightened when the customer feel that the brand values the time they spend on them and they are more lured to the company if they are willing to bend to adjust with the customer schedules and this kind of marketing tools makes the customers feel valued and adds to the customer retention rate (Heymann-Reder 2012). Lastly the blogs must be added to this list of social media marketing platform, blogs are nothing but social media platforms that showcase online journals, promotional or informative, that are openly accessible to the mass relaying information to attract the customers and offer them knowledge about the product which only adds to the craze about that product or service in particular. As a whole there are a number of different social media platforms and each one of those have something unique to offer to help the business companies keep their customers captivated (Kim and Ko 2012). Advantages of social media marketing: Social media emerged as tool so poignant that it has shaken the very foundation of the conventional marketing strategies. When discussing about the benefits of using social networking as a marketing tool authors have agreed on the reach of social media marketing being the vital element for the ground breaking success of this marketing strategy (Kumar and Mirchandani 2012). Exploratory studies on the efficacy of social media marketing suggest that the in the last few years, roughly 95% of the marketing analysts are transformed their media marketing techniques with the greatest emphasis on the social networking websites. Be it retail chains or small scale entrepreneurships, the customer base that a stable social media presence provides is unsurpassed in the figures (Papasolomou and Melanthiou 2012). The cost effectiveness of social media tools deserves recognition in this discussion as well. It has to be considered that the social media websites charge a negligible amount for making your brand visible to the whole world. Even if we consider the pay per click advertisement technique that some of the extremely popular social networking websites use, in the light of the brand recognition it provides authors have disagreed on the charges being if not completely but close to being insignificant (Saravanakumar and SuganthaLakshmi 2012). The success of a business depends on the customer traffic it entertains, and Stelzner suggested that with the lack of a good social media marketing tool in use the inbound traffic of a business venture is limited to the local customers only (Stelzner 2013). In the other hand the social media is a global platform and using the marketing tool involving this global platform will increase the traffic on a more global perspective. Apart from that, considering the key terms of business, social media marketing tool has been known to offer a much higher conversion rates. Over 50% of the marketers have claimed that the social media marketing allows the business ventures to have a closer relationship with the customers and it reflects on to the sales figures. Tuten and Solomonsuggested that social media marketing generates more than 100% lead to close rates when compared to the outbound counterparts (Tuten and Solomon 2014). Last but not the least, the level of customer retention and customer satisfaction the business ventures can receive by the virtue of social media marketing is unparalleled. Various research articles have suggested that the constant connection allows the customers to know the brand and the product or service that they purchase and the scope for them to share their concerns and grievances with the professionals makes the customers feel valued, which in turn elevates the customer retention rates radically (Vinerean et al. 2013). Disadvantages of social media marketing: With the myriad of pros that are associated with the online media marketing, there are still some risks and cons that are the part of this package deal. First and foremost the a social media account receives constant attention from a customer base all across the globe, and in order to sustain the social media presence along with coping with the choking market competition the social media presence of any business venture needs to be updated at all times. In order to do that an efficient online PR team that can keep the social presence of the business company updated at all times (Okazaki and Taylor 2013). Other than that with an open to all approach of social media tools, there are constant high risks of negative publicity. A disgruntled customer sharing grievances through very negative comments can very easily diminish the brand recognition that takes a lot of effort to establish (Papasolomou and Melanthiou 2012). The viral nature of social media marketing puts the brand or company in even more danger of losing the customer loyalty due a single instance of negative publicity. Hence an experienced online PR team adept at social media crisis management team needs to be at the beck and call for such occurrences (Okazaki and Taylor 2013). Another huge risk with online open access interface mediated marketing strategy is the chance of hacking and malware attack. Confidential company owned P content of informative content being hacked can pose a serious threat to the privacy, security and sustainability of the business venture or brand (Grundn, K. and Lagrosen, S., 2014). According to the report published by the IT system control and audit association in the year of 2010, there were five major risks associated with the social media marketing strategies, they are virus and malware, online hacking and content loss, loss of brand awareness, unrealistic customer demands and non compliance (Papasolomou and Melanthiou 2012). Conclusion: On a concluding note it can be stated that social media marketing has an abundance of scopes that can take the growth and prosperity of the business venture to a new dimension altogether. The elevated sales rate of the fashion and retail industry is a conspicuous proof of what successful and potent social media marketing can bestow upon the brands and companies. And it should also not escape notice that the time is now more expensive than people itself and that alone has dwindled the chance for paper based or electronic media being any helpful to the promotion of the brand and companies. Along with that the analytical tools and interfaces that social media marketing provides that can help in tracking the growth and success of the business ventures are reason enough for the paradigm shift in the marketing strategy. However, there surely are risks associated with this marketing innovation, but electronic media marketing had also its due risks that came along. Risks and challenges are a part of anything new technology, and similarly there can be solutions to if not all but some of these challenging issues. With careful planning and adequate strategizing the risks associated with social media marketing can also be overcome so that the wealth of benefits of utilizing the world of social networking as a potent marketing tool References: Albarran, A.B. ed., 2013.Social Media Marketing(pp. 86-104). New York and London: Routledge. Ashley, C. and Tuten, T., 2015. Creative strategies in social media marketing: An exploratory study of branded social content and consumer engagement.Psychology Marketing,32(1), pp.15-27. Bae, W.C., 2012. Social media marketing. Berthon, P.R., Pitt, L.F., Plangger, K. and Shapiro, D., 2012. Marketing meets Web 2.0, social media, and creative consumers: Implications for international marketing strategy.Business horizons,55(3), pp.261-271. De Vries, L., Gensler, S. and Leeflang, P.S., 2012. Popularity of brand posts on brand fan pages: An investigation of the effects of social media marketing.Journal of Interactive Marketing,26(2), pp.83-91. Erdo?mu?, ?.E. and Cicek, M., 2012. The impact of social media marketing on brand loyalty.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,58, pp.1353-1360. Fosdick, M.A.G.G.I.E., 2012. The globalization of social media: Consumer relationships with brands evolve in the digital space. Strategic Direction, 28(6). Hays, S., Page, S.J. and Buhalis, D., 2013. Social media as a destination marketing tool: its use by national tourism organisations.Current issues in Tourism,16(3), pp.211-239. Heymann-Reder, D., 2012.Social Media Marketing. Addison-Wesley Verlag. Kim, A.J. and Ko, E., 2012. Do social media marketing activities enhance customer equity? An empirical study of luxury fashion brand.Journal of Business Research,65(10), pp.1480-1486. Kumar, V. and Mirchandani, R., 2012. Increasing the ROI of social media marketing.MIT Sloan Management Review,54(1), p.55. Papasolomou, I. and Melanthiou, Y., 2012. Social media: Marketing public relations new best friend.Journal of Promotion Management,18(3), pp.319-328. Saravanakumar, M. and SuganthaLakshmi, T., 2012. Social media marketing.Life Science Journal,9(4), pp.4444-4451. Stelzner, M.A., 2013.2013 Social media marketing industry report: How marketers are using social media to grow their businesses. SocialMediaExaminer. com. Tuten, T.L. and Solomon, M.R., 2014.Social media marketing. Sage. Vinerean, S., Cetina, I., Dumitrescu, L. and Tichindelean, M., 2013. The effects of social media marketing on online consumer behavior.International Journal of Busine and Management,8(14), p.66. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Social Networking In Business Question: Discuss about the Reflective Journal on Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media in Business. Answer: Introduction The world of today is a world driven by the social network and we experience its presence in our lives every day. This realization actually helped me to decide my research topic which is The Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social Networking in Business. The role of social network sites in business operations cannot be ignored. I primarily focused on the business organizations use of social networking sites as an effective strategic tool and how it is helping them to enhance and expand their business. Focusing the specific area I framed my research objective. My mentor helped ad guided me throughout the journey and helped me rectify the problems. I wanted to investigate how social network sites are used to develop the brand value. I was also concerned about how the consumers are engaged through the SNS to create the brand awareness. Value of the Experience Like any other useful research project, it was not just my personal interest of gathering knowledge I considered other research scopes as well. I explored the disadvantages of organizational use of social network sites that are affecting the business performances. I also provided empirical data to support the conceptual framework I suggested. The presents scopes are making the project valuable but the future scopes will increase its value in a significant manner. The Gradual Learning Process Though social networking has not been existed more than two decades but it has successfully gained a lot of attention. We see every day how organizations are using social networks in their marketing and advertising in all forms of audio visual medium. As through social networking platform we connect to our friends and families the organizations use social network sites to connect to their consumers. While exploring the various literatures on social network sites role in brand building I realized that organizations effectively use these platforms for create the brand awareness. Through successful use of SNS, the consumers relate to their services, product and company. Few researchers stressed on the fact that the companies have to plan, nurture and support the brand image. Researchers have developed various dimensions of brand knowledge like public relations and customer service. I found that human resource department uses the social networking in the recruiting process. The companies connect to their consumers, communicate them and try to find out what exactly they are expecting and modify the operations accordingly. Evaluating the Learning Experience I developed my research based on 5 hypotheses that deal with relationship between the social networking and consumers, public relationship and customer service. Before deciding upon a specific research method I had to explore various research methods. After analyzing the existing research methods I was able to identify the most suitable one for the development of my research. I explored the main three research paradigms which are interpretivism, positivism and pragmatism. I considered positivism as it is an objective method that relies upon the statistical analysis of data. I also explored various philosophical assumptions like ontology, methodology, epistemology, axiology and methods. I decided the population to support the research with an aggregate of all subjects of the research under some specifications. I chose target clients for this research to be Optus and Telstra which are two large telecom organizations of Victoria, Australia. I selected those two companies based on their customers, ranking, profit and permission to work on them. I applied Taro Yamani formula for the population size and by calculating I finalized on 799 sample size. As I knew that smaller sample will produce less accurate data I chose the largest sample size. I followed government policies to separate the subject groups and only one cluster was selected randomly. I divided the selected cluster into groups of professionals, students, house wives and laborers. I applied quantitative approach for the data collection. For all the variables like CKM, BV and BK I set questionnaire. The questionnaire is segmented into two parts; I set 6 enquiries for the first part and 36 inquiries for the second part. In the first part I only focused on gathering information related to the age, gender, education, network, area and gender and for the second part I focused on the variables that I have already discussed. I applied the 5 point Likert Scale for the respondents to answer the questions. I initiat ed a pilot testing for the data collection to check the feasibility. I considered SEM and CFA methods for analyzing the results and hypothesis. Usefulness in the Future This research will help the telecommunication based organizations to understand the social networking and how they can develop the brand value. As a business student I will get significant knowledge out of the research which will help to grow as a skilled business professional Management. My research might be helpful for the organizations to develop customer oriented services and which areas should the company focus more. The final project indicates how the relationship between the brand knowledge and brand value can be enhanced. The research will also help to get consumer feedback which can be applied by the future researchers and managements to improve their brand value. This study has resulted in certain outcomes that involves contemporary organizations and can be used by the future researchers to further the research. I chose two large telecom companies of our country and in order to analyze my research topic and the main variables I decided upon are social networking, brand imag e, brand awareness and brand value. Conclusion I conducted this research that explored how contemporary business operations are successfully incorporating social networking systems and how they are benefiting. The research area was vast so I had to limit my direction and this was difficult. However exploring various other options may have taken up a significant amount f time but it was not wastage of time. The investigation helped to me to gather adequate knowledge to concentrate of specific areas with more depth. The research will highlight that how the social network is gradually transforming into a plethora of opportunities from where the new businesses can improve a lot.

Monday, December 2, 2019

W.C. BRYANT H.S. Stefanos Tsartsalis Essay Example For Students

W.C. BRYANT H.S. Stefanos Tsartsalis Essay W.C. BRYANT H. S.Stefanos TsartsalisMATH- 024/29/98ARCHIMEDES (287-212 BC.)Archimedes was the first scientist to use the power of the lever. This gifted Greek mathematician and inventor once said, Give me a place to stand and rest my lever on, and I can move the Earth. He also discovered the compound pulley and Archimedesscrew. Archimedes was a brilliant mathematician who helped develop geometry. He discovered the relation between the surface area and volume of a sphere and those of its circumscribing cylinder. A legend says that Archimedes discovered the principle of displacement while stepping into a full bath. We will write a custom essay on W.C. BRYANT H.S. Stefanos Tsartsalis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He realized that the water that ran over equaled in volume the part of his body that was in the water. Through more experiments, he presumed the principle of ability to float, which is called the Archimedes principle. According to this principle a body dipped in a fluid loses as much in weight as the weight of an equal volume of the fluid. Another legend describes how Archimedes uncovered a fraud against King Hieron II of Syracuse using his idea of flotation. The king suspected that a solid gold crown he ordered was partly made of silver. Archimedes first took two equal weights of gold and silver and compared their weights when put in water. Next he compared the weights of the crown and a pure silver crown of identical dimensions when each was put in water. The difference between these two comparisons revealed that the crown was not solid gold. Archimedes was born in Syracuse, Sicily. He lived there most of his life. When the Romans attacked Syracuse, Archimedes invented weapons to defend the city. He is said to have suggested a method of employing mirrors to set enemy ships on fire. After a two year attack the Romans finally entered the city, and Archimedes was killed in the next battle.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Strenghts and weaknesses of qualitative research method. Essays

Strenghts and weaknesses of qualitative research method. Essays Strenghts and weaknesses of qualitative research method. Essay Strenghts and weaknesses of qualitative research method. Essay Soma S? ¤gi Strengths and weaknesses of different research methods This semester my group was tasked with the conduction of a research about how the University of Baths great employability rates affected their University choice. We used qualitative research methods, every member of the group interviewed a first year Social Science student. We then later summarised the data, and looked for common points. All the interviews were semi-constructed, we asked questions which let the interviewee make his/her own points about the subject, thus the answers were not arrowed to the generic ones one could receive when conducting a survey. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for easier summarisation and can be accessed online ( see bibliography ). We found that the interviewees had mainly altruistic motives, they wanted to influence disadvantaged peoples lives, and one interviewee stated that his main motive was to make a world a better place ( see the interview with Adeel ). About the influence of employability rates, the results were mixed, less than half of the participants stated that such rates were a highly influential, for the others the ourse and academical structure was the bigger influence. When the interviewees were asked more specifically about the impact of their course choice on their employability, most stated that the reputation of the Universitys Social Sciences Department will give them an edge on the Job market. The great placement options and excellent quality of teaching will have a positive influence on their employability. It is unsurprising that none of the interviewees mentioned that their University choice would give them any disadvantages. On the topic of employability itself, the subjects agreed on that it is the skills that one acquires that will later being successful on ones field of employment. Extra languages, good communication skills and the ability to function as a member of a team were the most common examples given. I myself found the qualitative method much more enjoyable than the quantitative. Even though both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and both can be used with equal success in most cases, the fact that due to the interviews one an actually meet those who are the subjects of the research. Through survey questionnaire one can not do but narrow down the possible answers. The interview format can lead to much nuanced results, the interviewer can ask specific questions related to the answers, thus can clear up any misunderstandings or can acquire new information which later on can prove to be critical for the research. The personal The problem is common in natural scientific experiments as well, and is called The Observer Effect. Just by being there, one can influence the outcome of the xperiment, this even more true when conducting experiments which rely on human honesty. For my research this did not prove to be a problem but it is easily imaginable that for more personal questions, which can cause shame or other strong emotions in the subject ( for example those which involve traumatic events ) this could cause serious issues and could hinder the research until necessary trust is developed, which may cost substantial time and energy and may even not develop fully. All in all, I am satisfied how I conducted my interview. I do not know the subject ery well, thus I was a bit nervous about the trust issues mentioned above, but it turned out there were not any. I chose an environment where the subject could feel at ease, and tried to make it as unofficial as possible, turning the serious questionnaire to a light chat. I conducted my interview in the University Canteen over a cup of coffee and used Just pen and paper to write down the subjects answers, thus making it possible to maintain contact and not barricading myself behind a computer. I do not feel like I made any mistakes during the interview session, but due o its rather light questions and short duration there were no real mistakes to be made. I would prefer using the qualitative research method in the future when needing to acquire data. The quantitative methods, the survey questionnaire feels like it is narrowing down the possible answers too much and Just by the wording of the question one can influence the subjects answers. There are some ethical issues with the qualitative method that need to be addressed. First of all, one always needs the permission of the subject to use the data acquired through the interviews in ones research. Anonymity is often sought after subjects affected by trauma or when answering other personal questions, including but not limited to those about intimacy, physical and mental health. Qualitative research could require the researcher to participate in the subjects everyday life to a great degree, especially in those cases when the subject of the research is a closed group, for example a tribe, rather than a single person. Researchers need to know their boundaries and when not to push these, because that can lead to the subject group shutting out the researcher and to a loss of trust, hus making the research impossible to conduct. Another issue is the question of interception. Does one try to help a child suffering from domestic violence? Does one get involved in issues out of their authority? By doing so they destroy their own research subject. Is that such a great price for actually making an another human beings life better? What if, due to the research, a hundred lives would become better? Those conducting qualitative research in serious issues face these dilemmas every day. In the end, let me express my feeling about such matters. I believe that the main oal of every social scientist should be to somehow, through their own research, may whole but we can bring small changes, even if it is to slightly alter and improve an academic topic, or even a smaller, yet equally important change: bring happiness. Bibliography: All interviews of Qualitative Group 7: httpwwww. scribd. com/doc/190612665/Qu-Alres-Group-7-Data [10. 12. 2013] orb, A. , Eisenhauer, L. , Wynaden, D. , 2000. Ethics in Qualitative Research. Journal of nursing scholarship, 33(1), pp 93-96. Accessed from: columbia. edu/†mvp19/RMC/ M5/QualEthtcs. pdf [9. 12. 2013]

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Rules and Regulations of Youth Basketball

Rules and Regulations of Youth Basketball Team sports fill an important role in childrens lives. It teaches kids the importance of teamwork and provides an entertaining outlet for physical activity. Recreation is an important element in life and can help an individuals development both mentally and physically. Playing sports can also improve a childs self-esteem, help him develop strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and teach him the value of listening to his coach. Basketball is a fantastic sport for kids to play. Its relatively inexpensive and doesnt require much equipment. Most playgrounds, recreation centers, and gyms have basketball goals. At  least two kids and a basketball are all that are necessary to play. If youd like to get the kids in your neighborhood or homeschool group active, you may be interested in forming a basketball league. Before you get started, its important to understand the rules and regulations of youth basketball. Philosophy of Youth Basketball The philosophy of youth basketball is to offer the participants a high-quality program that will teach the basic fundamentals and the  offensive and defensive philosophy of the game. Learning good sportsmanship and teaching all participants to respect their coaches, officials, fellow players, and the rules is also an important part of youth basketball. Length of Playing Periods There will be four eight-minute periods for all divisions (except varsity and senior division). Varsity and Senior division will play four ten-minute periods. Every period will be on a running clock that is only stopped for timeouts and technical fouls. The Clock The clock will be stopped during the last two minutes of the game on all dead ball situations for all divisions (except Pee Wee division). If the point difference is ten points or more, the clock will remain running until the score arrives at less than ten points. Basketball Half Time The 1st and 2nd periods will constitute the 1st half; 3rd and 4th periods will constitute the 2nd half. Half time will be three minutes in duration. Timeouts in Basketball Each team will be allowed two timeouts in each half. The timeouts must be taken in their respective halves or they will be lost. There are no accumulations of timeouts. Player Participation Every player must play four minutes of each quarter, eight minutes per half for Pee Wee and Junior Varsity. Varsity and Seniors must play five minutes of each quarter, ten minutes per half. Every player must also sit out half of each period during the game, so as not to play the whole game, except in the case of injury or health problems. Sickness: Once the game has started and a player becomes sick or is unable to continue during a game, the coach of the player must enter, in the score book, the players name, time, and the period. The player will be ineligible to re-enter the game.Discipline: If a player misses consecutive practice without an excuse the coach will notify the site director. The site director will immediately notify the parents of the players. If these violations continue, the player will not be eligible to participate in the next game.Injury: If a player is injured and removed during a game, the player will be eligible to re-enter per the discretion of his/her coach. The partial period of play will constitute one full period for the injured player. Any player may be substituted for the injured player if the player participation rule is not affected. The player participation rules must be strictly enforced with  one full period of play for each player per half. Must Sit Rule: Every player must sit out at least half of the period. 20-Point Rule If a team has a 20-point lead at any time during the game, they will not be allowed to employ a full court press or a half-court press. No pressure is allowed. It is recommended that top players are removed and the substitutes play (only if player participation is not compromised). In the 4th period, and with a 20-point lead, the coach must take his top players out until the point difference is less than 10 points. Youth Basketball Pee Wee Division The Pee Wee Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 4 and 5,  with four players and coach on the court. Basket height:  6 feet, Basketball size: 3 (mini), Free throw line: 10 feet.​ Rules: The league will not adhere to a rule book. Since most of the participants do not understand fouls or violations, the officials will use their best judgment during the game. Penalties/violations will only be enforced if a player is gaining an advantage.Exception: Key violations - none and traveling - three steps.Defense: Teams may play zone or  man-to-man  at any time during the game. There are no limitations. Zone defense is highly recommended.Press: Teams may defend the ball only after the ball penetrates the half court line. The defensive players may not defend until the ball penetrates the half court line. No full court press.1st Pass/Back-court Rule: After the defensive player secures the  rebound, the 1st pass must be in the back-court, to the coach.Free Throws: Each player will shoot at least one free-throw prior to the start of play. Each successful free-throw will be recorded in the score book and count in the teams overall score. Officials will administer the fr ee throws. A player who missed will be allowed to shoot an extra shot to balance the team attempts, the free-throw line will be designated by the officials. A shooter may touch the line, but not cross completely over the line with his/her foot, on free-throw attempts. Players: Teams may have a maximum of four players on the court. The coach will be on the court on offense to help  dribble  and move the ball around. (The coach may not shoot the ball.) The coach may be on the court at the defensive end, may not play defense, and only coach defensively without physical contact. Youth Basketball Junior Varsity (J.V.) Division The J.V. Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 6 and 7, with five  players on the court. Basket height: 6 feet, Basketball size: 3 (mini), Free throw line: 10 feet Defense: Teams may play zone or man-to-man at any time during the game. There are no limitations. Zone defense is highly recommended.Press: Teams may defend the ball only after the ball penetrates the half court line. The defensive players must stay in the three-second area until the ball crosses the half court line.Foot in the Paint: Each defensive player must put at least one foot in the paint and stay in the 3-second area until the ball crosses the half court line.Three Second Violation: An offensive player may not be in the key (paint) for 5 seconds or more, This will be a violation against the offending team.Free Throws: Each player will shoot at least one free throw prior to the start of play. Each successful free-throw will be recorded in the scorebook and count in the teams overall score. Referees will administer the free throws. Both teams will shoot free throws at the same time but at different baskets. A player who has missed will be allowed to shoot an extra shot to balan ce the team attempts, the free-throw line will be at the dotted line inside the key. A shooter may touch the line, but not cross completely over the line with his/her foot on free-throw attempts. Youth Basketball Varsity Division The Varsity Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 8-10, with five  players on the court. Basket height:  10 feet, Basketball size: intermediate, Free throw line: 15 feet Defense: Any half-court defense may be played during the game.Press: Teams may full-court press only during last 5 minutes of the game. Any press is allowed.​Penalty: Only one warning per half for each half, a team  technical foul  will follow.Free Throws: The free-throw line will be at 15 feet. Shooters may touch the line but not completely cross over the line with his/her foot on free-throw attempts. Youth Basketball Senior Division The Senior Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 11-13, with five players on the court. Basket height: 10 feet, Basketball size: official; Free throw line: 15 feet. Defense: Teams must play man-to-man defense in the entire 1st half. Teams may play either man-to-man or zone defense in the second half.Penalty: One warning per team and then a team technical foul will be assessed.Man-to-man Defense: The defensive player must be within a six feet guardian position, A defensive team may double-team a player who has the basketball. Defensive team cannot double-team a player who does not have the ball. Officials will give one warning per half to each team. Further infractions will result in a technical foul.Press: Teams may employ a full-court press at any time during the game. During the first half, the teams must play only a man-to-man full court press, if they decide to press. Youth basketball is a low-cost team sport option that provides an opportunity for kids of all ages to reap the benefits of physical activity and sportsmanship. It also provides children the chance to learn the basics of the game so that those with the talent and inclination are ready to play at the high school level.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing management project Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing management project - Case Study Example The critical problem of the agency involves a very important decision of whether to expand or continue the way it is for the agency. Grabbing a large portfolio would lead to expansion and better avenues of growth but it comes with the risks and the costs. Maintaining the status quo would be a less risky solution but not getting any return in the long run. Firstly, In case if the Yadana account doesn’t work well it would have to reducing the manpower hired for the account will damage the agency’s image. Secondly, determining the medium of advertising seems to be a problem, ignoring television would be ignoring the urban and metro market wherein radio and print would require a different skill set for a strong customer base to create. Thirdly, the customer although aware of the market is brand loyal and needs to be educated first. Fourthly, as the market seems to have shrunken it would actually be an opportunity in disguise. Very few players would always give a chance to grab a very large share of the market. 1. The investments would again run neck to neck with operating cost versus marketing costs. If the overall market is gloomy even if the most aggressive marketing techniques are implemented the results remain uncertain. 3. A customer survey and feedback would give a clear idea to the agency regarding the customer expectations. It would also give an opportunity to review its own strengths and weaknesses which is necessary. Advertising seems to be a very volatile business that fluctuates along with the markets and economic conditions. But if all the parameters of managing a business are to be applied then any business after doing an accurate assessment of its own strengths and weaknesses should go ahead and convert market threats into opportunities. Economic downturn is not a bane but certainly can be blessing in disguise. There are some changes which are forced by the environmental factors on the organization, but organizations who

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Mission, Vision, and Value Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mission, Vision, and Value Paper - Essay Example The company is a leading player in the gum and mint category too (Hershey’s Company Profile, 2009). Continuing with the legacy of Milton Hershey, the company is committed to consumers, communities and children by providing high-quality products while conducting business in environmentally sustainable manner. At workplace, the company maintains safety and wellness for the employees fostering openness and inclusiveness making it a desirable place to work. Hersheys believes in sharing knowledge so as to grow together by not only creating an environment of mutual respect but also unleashing human potential at the workplace. In marketplace, the company is committed to consumer well-being as well as fair and ethical business dealings. The company always strives for and creates a positive impact at the local community level where it operates (Listen, learn and act, 2011). Ever since Milton Hershey laid the foundation of the company, the mission, vision and value statements have worked as a guiding spirit for the growth and development of the company earning goodwill among its customers and local communities. The company is ‘open to possibilities’ in all its endeavors, always ready to embrace diversity seeking new approaches. The aim is to achieve continuous improvement in what they do. There is no doubt that the clarity of vision and values has helped the company reach to its present state. In 2011, the company had 15.6% of its sales coming from outside the U.S. and as part of global expansion strategy the company is increasing its investments outside the U.S in the countries such as Brazil, Mexico, India and China. In view of the new growth strategy, the company needs to perform environmental scanning to assess external factors that might affect the Hershey’s in the long run (Sadler, 2003 p181). Numerous risks are

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Iliad And The Epic Style Essay Example for Free

The Iliad And The Epic Style Essay ‘Epos’ which   is the root Greek word for â€Å"epic†Ã‚   means , â€Å"early, unwritten narrative poetry, celebrating incidents of heroic traditions.(Rees.1966). High seriousness and elevated style are associated with epic, which is evidenced in the convention of Invocation at the start of an epic. In Iliad the poet invokes the muse to assist his dedicated labour:   â€Å"Sing Goddess the wrath of Achilles Pleiades/the ruinous anger that woes on the Danna’s brought.† Aristotle in his Poetics describes epic as seeing life as a whole. We see in the Iliad, the epic song as the expression of an entire nation or race, the epic spans a long period of action (at least 10 years of siege and conquest of Troy by the Achaeans). Critics named as ARCHITECTOINICS, the controlled power and design of the epic, in which the poet managed a vast canvass spanning oceans and including the gods in its scope; at the same time never wavering from its central design: the revenge of Achilles and the conquest of Troy are epic subject of the Iliad. Homeric similes and epithets became conventions following the Iliad where Homer constantly engages stock epithets like â€Å"fleet-footed Achilles†,† wine-dark sea† or â€Å"rose fingered dawn†. The epic simile is a device by which the poet would temporarily deviate from his subject while he is making a long drawn out comparison, which in itself stands like a descriptive poem independent of the subject. For example the reaction of Hector on hearing the encouraging words of Apollo in Canto 15 of the Iliad, where the poet launches a detailed comparison of a horse   highly descriptive and grand in its flow, as a parallel to the reviving spirits of Hector.(â€Å"Like a stalled horse fed to the full in the manger/breaks loose from his halter..etc.†) Other conventions like war council, elaborate games and competitions started with Iliad where Achilles is shown throwing a grand Game show after the funeral of his friend Petroclus. The intervention of gods in the destinies and affairs of men is a constant epic feature, called the â€Å"epic Machinery†. The seeds of disaster were in the Olympian incident of Paris son of Priam and prince of Troy acting as Judge in a Beauty competition among Goddesses, Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. Paris decides in favor of Aphrodite as she grants his wish of getting for wife the most beautiful woman. He meets Helen ,wife of Menelaus king of Greece, and abducts her to Troy and thus the Great War starts. It is God Apollo who guides Paris to kill Achilles by sending an arrow at his heels; the fire gods fashion the armor for the invincible Achilles.The gods represent inexorable Fate,in whose grip men are powerless; in whose hands men are puppets. The personae are all divine in origin too. Helen and Achilles’ parentage goes back to Zeus and the sea nymph Thetis respectively; Zeus Athena and Hera have direct stakes in the war, which is but an extension of their strife to control one another. Catalogues of chieftains who participate in the war and the list of the ships launched by Menelaus, which again are part of epic conventions, give an exalted setting to the heroic struggle. The revenge of Hector, the wrath of Achilles, the prolonged siege of Troy   provide the grand and solemn background   against which the characters like Agamemnon Ajax and Hector acquire supernatural stature. The Iliad has highly descriptive passages on the life in Troy, the tragic aspects of war, on friendship and simple aspects of life. The scene of Hector taking leave of his wife is immortal poetry, and the epic itself is a moving expression of heroism high Idealism. And patriotism. The Heroes themselves are partly historic and partly mythical, legendary characters.`   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   REFERENCE: S.O. Andrew M.J. Oakley, (translators) Homer’s Iliad, 1960.London JM Dent SonsLtd. RJ Rees, An Introduction To English Literature,(p.46-50).1966.Macmillan,London.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [emailprotected][emailprotected][emailprotected][emailprotected][emailprotected]_

Friday, November 15, 2019

Mechanisms of the Mind Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Mechanisms of the Mind The human brain can be seen as one of nature's finest miracle. An object that weights merely three pounds is responsible for how we perceive reality, feel emotions, remember events and learn new things. For the past two decades, scientists and researchers have explored this hot field of neuroscience in hopes of finding some answers to how something so small is able to hold a lifetime of information. How exactly does the human brain retain experiences, thoughts, and memories? The answer to this has yet to be discovered. From the time I was young, I have always been fascinated about the processes of the brain and how the mind is able to remember and recollect memories. For almost two years now, I have been fortunate enough to be able to observe the actions and development of my little sister Michelle. From infant to toddler, I have observed the how the brain constantly refines her motor and hand-eye coordination skills. From her first words to her half Burmese/half Chinese complete sentences it is amazing to be able to watch her master difficult tasks such as learning a language, not to mention two languages, at the same time. How is it that she remembers to differentiate between the language she chooses to speak and the person to whom she is speaking? For example, when she talks with my grandmother, she seems to know to speak only Chinese or Burmese so she will understand. But when she speaks to my brother in Chinese and he doesn't respond, she will repeat it in Burmese or English. One instance of this I observed just recently. Ever since Michelle was little, she has been fascinated with computers and would ask us to show her the picture images saved onto the computer. But when my brother came ho... ...since. In which case, patients become prisoners of their past. Yet they can still learn new skills such as playing bridge and improve their playing skills each time they play, although they will think it is their first time playing the game. This suggests that the memory of skill development is controlled by a different part of the brain. The human brain is something to be marveled at. It is incredible to imagine that an object that consists of billions of neural connections and is made up of three pounds of brain cells is responsible for how we perceive reality, feel emotions, remember events and learn new things. Most of who we are lies inside this small organ which sits on top of our heads. Understanding how the mind retains a lifetime's worth of memories is still one of the toughest problems in biology. Internet Sources: http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/ Mechanisms of the Mind Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers Mechanisms of the Mind The human brain can be seen as one of nature's finest miracle. An object that weights merely three pounds is responsible for how we perceive reality, feel emotions, remember events and learn new things. For the past two decades, scientists and researchers have explored this hot field of neuroscience in hopes of finding some answers to how something so small is able to hold a lifetime of information. How exactly does the human brain retain experiences, thoughts, and memories? The answer to this has yet to be discovered. From the time I was young, I have always been fascinated about the processes of the brain and how the mind is able to remember and recollect memories. For almost two years now, I have been fortunate enough to be able to observe the actions and development of my little sister Michelle. From infant to toddler, I have observed the how the brain constantly refines her motor and hand-eye coordination skills. From her first words to her half Burmese/half Chinese complete sentences it is amazing to be able to watch her master difficult tasks such as learning a language, not to mention two languages, at the same time. How is it that she remembers to differentiate between the language she chooses to speak and the person to whom she is speaking? For example, when she talks with my grandmother, she seems to know to speak only Chinese or Burmese so she will understand. But when she speaks to my brother in Chinese and he doesn't respond, she will repeat it in Burmese or English. One instance of this I observed just recently. Ever since Michelle was little, she has been fascinated with computers and would ask us to show her the picture images saved onto the computer. But when my brother came ho... ...since. In which case, patients become prisoners of their past. Yet they can still learn new skills such as playing bridge and improve their playing skills each time they play, although they will think it is their first time playing the game. This suggests that the memory of skill development is controlled by a different part of the brain. The human brain is something to be marveled at. It is incredible to imagine that an object that consists of billions of neural connections and is made up of three pounds of brain cells is responsible for how we perceive reality, feel emotions, remember events and learn new things. Most of who we are lies inside this small organ which sits on top of our heads. Understanding how the mind retains a lifetime's worth of memories is still one of the toughest problems in biology. Internet Sources: http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

John Proctor Essay

This description adds an air of mystery to him – he seems subversive and breeds paranoia, which is bound to encourage the audience to dislike him. This unpleasantness about him rubs off on the characters who side with him such as Parris, Danforth and Abigail, and hence rubs off on the society that gets caught up in his hysterical witch-hunt. Similarly to Proctor therefore, we feel alienated from this society, so different to our own. So while characters such as Hale may be portrayed as popular in the community, and therefore as good citizens following the teachings of their society, the audience sees Proctor as a good man. Furthermore, as the audience comes to dislike this society more and more, partly due to Hale’s influence upon it, and as the events of the play become more serious, our disgust with Salem as a society grows. This leads us to side even more with the characters that are portrayed as ‘good people’ (not only Proctor, but those accused of witchcraft more generally such as Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor) and against the ‘good citizens’. This is simply due to the fact that the ‘good citizens’ chose to distinguish themselves from the ‘good people’ in the eyes of the audience by accusing them of witchcraft, thus forcing us to side against them. However, the audience’s sympathy with Proctor is perhaps not absolute. In his relationship/interaction with Elizabeth, we may find a darker, less appealing side to Proctor. When we first meet her, Elizabeth is â€Å"softly singing to the children†. She obeys John’s orders, seeming mild, sweet and gentle. This serves to instantly ingratiate her with the audience. But similarly, she gains our sympathy. She has the air of a repressed housewife. In obeying John’s every command, Elizabeth appeals to the hearts of the modern liberal audience living in an age of comparative equality. Everything down to the way she laments â€Å"Pray God. I hurt my heart to strip her, poor rabbit† makes her ever more sweet and sensitive and worthy of sympathy in the eyes of the audience. Because of the audience’s sympathies with Elizabeth, when Proctor begins to grow angry and shout at her, for the first time we are encouraged to side against Proctor. Elizabeth, seeming weak and sensitive plays on our sympathies, so when John shouts â€Å"Woman †¦ I’ll not have your suspicion any more†, the audience sees her as the victim of the ‘bully’, John. Even then however, John manages to redeem himself. Elizabeth’s sweetness does seem to have an effect on him. Eventually, he recognises Elizabeth for the good woman she is, and when he comes to resolve his inner battle between truth and life, he values her opinion above all others. He appears therefore, to be a man of some compassion. He begs her to judge him, something that he had rejected bitterly before then, and was the source of their original argument. In his own words â€Å"You are a – marvel, Elizabeth†. In Proctor’s struggle at the end of the play – his choice between a virtuous death and a haunted life – we see open, frank and emotional expressions of his goodness and compassion. Indeed, it is here that we see the true evidence that John Proctor really is a good man. Here, for the first time, he openly recognises his flaws – â€Å"I cannot mount the gibbet a saint †¦ Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that wasn’t rotten long before†. The audience now recognises him as a man of great humanity, who will own up to his past sins. Furthermore, his benevolence shines through in his recognition of Elizabeth as a better person than he. This is most prominently displayed in his desperation to be judged by her. He recognises her goodness and begs forgiveness, and when she sullies her own name his pain is most apparent: â€Å"PROCTOR (In great pain): Enough, enough – ELIZABETH (Now pouring out her heart): Better you should know me! PROCTOR: I will not hear it! I know you! † Never before has Proctor used such emotion as this, denoted by the short sentences, exclamation marks and short bursts of pained speech. It is clear that he loves Elizabeth above all other things, and would willingly die for her to think better of him. He is a man of true compassion and love. But most revealing of his good nature is Proctor’s ultimate choice. When it comes down to it, he cannot lie. As he tries to give the confession, he has great trouble in physically saying it. His jaws lock, we are told, as if God himself were intervening to stop a good Christian from sullying his name. His confession is short, pained and brief. He cannot bear to elaborate, simply uttering â€Å"I did †¦ He did† in answer to the charges against him. It is too much for this good man. He cannot darken his soul to save his life. He would rather die a good and honest Christian, than live a lie and stoop so low as those who interrogate and imprison him. It is here that he proves himself truly heroic, as he rises above the hypocrisy of Salem and dies a martyr to the cause of good and truth, and this he recognises himself – â€Å"I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. † Clearly then, John Proctor is absolutely the central character of ‘The Crucible’. He is purposely detached from Salem society and moulded into the key to a play with a deeper underlying meaning. In many ways he represents Miller himself, and shares a viewpoint with the modern audience, providing a window into a very different world. In order to do this it is vital that the audience sympathises entirely with his plight. His respectable and likeable character draws the audience to him, before Miller pits both him and us against the misguided witch-hunters – Miller’s own House Un-American Activities Committee. We side and sympathise with Proctor, just as Miller requires us to side and sympathise with him, before a greater evil. 6 1 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section. Download this essay Print Save Not the one?

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Azande

We are strong Catholic believers, and we know there is ore to this world than just what our eyes can withhold. Much like the Agenda, I believe that there are people who have gifts given to them at birth as well. The Agenda people know that once they are born, they are given the gift of witchcraft. Just like some people In my culture have the ability to see, talk, and hear those who are no longer living. We both believe In the aspects and lurks about death. 2. Think about the ways in which members of your society are compelled to behave in socially acceptable ways.How do these differ from one another? The way I see this is that in our society we are all mixed and in different areas. We are all forced to learn about respect, and cooperation towards one another. In our society men and women can play the same roles, have same work ethic, and children. We are such a diverse country others might see this as a dishonor or Just straight up â€Å"unusual†. There could even be those who see our life style as a freedom. The Agenda people remind me as of being â€Å"old-fashioned†. Just for the fact that the men, play the big role in the family.They are the leaders basically the â€Å"big man on amp's† but for the family. Now the women stand by their men and take care of their children. In their community they all stick together and marry within them. They aren't so diverse like us; they even have websites so they could stay connected and together. In our society we do whatever we want basically, we really do not have much to follow but government policies. Agenda people have rules and standards they must be obeyed. We don't care and they respect their living situations. 3. Do you employ logic that Is similar or different when explain negative thoughts?I am the type of person who always thinks negatively, even when the outcome turns out to be a positive one, but I do believe that some Incidents are Just accidents. Thoughts are always luring in everyone 's mind, even when nothing bad Negative either could have stepped wrong or you couldn't have been paying attention. Necessarily, Just because that occurred doesn't mean it was planned or plotted against you. The Agenda believe that the simplest injury is never Just a coincidence or an accident, either its witchcraft or someone is against you.I can understand their viewpoint, but sometimes bad luck Just happens in life. Like say for those who are â€Å"accident prone† for instant, they are Just people who can't help but get injured in their own majestic ways. It is not that they have enemies; they are just not the most careful people in the world. I do think negative a lot, but in my standing point sometimes nature Just takes its course and things happen without our control. I'm probably the most negative person out there, but I do consider the saying â€Å"accidents happen†. . Is there several different â€Å"System of logic† that may be invoked, depending upon the circumstances? If you are depending on the situation, then yes there are different logics. Accidents do happen, but from another moral they aren't always a random act of kindness. This is a cruel world, and no one is going to hold your hand. You will always have somebody who dislikes, envies you, or Just wants you gone. Then this could possibly happen, some humans in this world will go beyond the circumstance to get there way.Agenda believe in attacking their enemy with the powers and magic f witchcraft. When someone gets injured or has a medical issue we'd all like to think it was not intentional, right? That isn't always the case now. When death takes place in our society, it is usually attempt of murder, actual murder, or suicide. Getting hurt now or hurting others isn't always an act of kindness, therefore the Agenda people do have a point when they are feeling victimized by one another. Everyone has different methods of reaction when it comes to their enemies, but they are not always a â€Å"wise† choice.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Abington School District v. Schempp Murray v. Curlett

Abington School District v. Schempp Murray v. Curlett Do public school officials have the authority to pick a particular version or translation of the Christian Bible and have children read passages from that Bible every day? There was a time when such practices occurred in many school districts across the country but they were challenged alongside school prayers and ultimately the Supreme Court found the tradition to be unconstitutional. Schools cannot pick Bibles to be read or recommend that Bibles be read. Fast Facts: Abington School District v. Schempp Case Argued: February 27- 28, 1963Decision Issued:  June 17, 1963Petitioner: School District of Abington Township, PennsylvaniaRespondent:   Edward Lewis SchemppKey Question: Did a Pennsylvania law requiring public school students to participate in religious exercises violate their religious rights as protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments?Majority Decision: Justices Warren, Black, Douglas, Clark, Harlan, White, Brennan, and GoldbergDissenting: Justice StewartRuling: Under the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, public schools cannot sponsor Bible readings or recitations of the Lord’s Prayer.  Laws requiring participation in religious exercises directly violated the First Amendment.   Background Information Both Abington School District v. Schempp and Murray v. Curlett dealt with state-approved reading of Bible passages before classes in public schools. Schempp was brought to trial by a religious family who had contacted the ACLU. The Schempps challenged a Pennsylvania law which stated that: ...at least ten verses from the Holy Bible shall be read, without comment, at the opening of each public school day. Any child shall be excused from such Bible reading, or attending such Bible reading, upon written request of his parent or guardian. This was disallowed by a federal district court. Murray was brought to trial by an atheist: Madalyn Murray (later OHair), who was working on behalf of her sons, William and Garth. Murray challenged a Baltimore statute that provided for the reading, without comment, of a chapter of the Holy Bible and/or of the Lords Prayer before the start of classes. This statute was upheld by both a state court and the Maryland Court of Appeals. Court Decision Arguments for both cases were heard on the 27th and 28th of February, 1963. On the 17th of June, 1963, the Court ruled 8-1 against of allowing the reciting of the Bible verses and the Lords Prayer. Justice Clark wrote at length in his majority opinion about the history and importance of religion in America, but his conclusion was that the Constitution forbids any establishment of religion, that prayer is a form of religion, and that hence state-sponsored or mandated Bible reading in public schools cannot be allowed. For the first time, a test was created to evaluate Establishment questions before courts: ...what are the purpose and primary effect of the enactment. If either is the advancement or inhibition of religion then the enactment exceeds the scope of legislative power as circumscribed by the Constitution. That is to say that to withstand the structures of the Establishment Clause there must be a secular legislative purpose and a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion. [emphasis added] Justice Brennan wrote in a concurring opinion that, while legislators argued that they had a secular purpose with their law, their goals could have been achieved with readings from secular document. The law, however, only specified the use of religious literature and prayer. That the Bible readings were to be made without comment demonstrated even further that the legislators knew that they were dealing with specifically religious literature and wanted to avoid sectarian interpretations. A violation of the Free Exercise Clause was also created by the coercive effect of the readings. That this might entail only minor encroachments on the First Amendment, as argued by others, was irrelevant. The comparative study of religion in public schools is not prohibited, for example, but those religious observances were not created with such studies in mind. Significance of the Case This case was essentially a repeat of the Courts earlier Court Decision in Engel v. Vitale, in which the Court identified constitutional violations and struck the legislation. As with Engel, the Court held that the voluntary nature of religious exercises (even allowing parents to exempt their children) did not prevent the statutes from violating the Establishment Clause. There was, of course, an intensely negative public reaction. In May 1964, there were more than 145 proposed constitutional amendments in the House of Representatives which would permit school prayer and effectively reverse both decisions. Representative L. Mendell Rivers accused the Court of legislating - they never adjudicate - with one eye on the Kremlin and the other on the NAACP. Cardinal Spellman claimed that the decision struck ...at the very heart of the Godly tradition in which Americas children have for so long been raised. Although people commonly claim that Murray, who later founded the American Atheists, was the women who got prayer kicked out of public schools (and she was willing to take the credit), it should be clear that even had she never existed, the Schempp case still would have come to the Court and neither case dealt directly with school prayer at all - they were, instead, about Bible readings in public schools.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How To Find A Job In Another State

How To Find A Job In Another State Looking to relocate? Whether you’re in a rut, or moving for personal reasons, or just plain need a change, it is possible to find a job in another state before you even move there. The most important thing is to try and establish and start building a network, however small, of local contacts on the ground in your new area.  Here are a few strategic tips for landing a job in a new place.Start building your network online.Use LinkedIn to begin creating a community in your new locale. Start reaching out to people in companies and fields wherein you might like to work in your new location. Join Meetups or large locally-based groups in that area to keep an eye on what is going on. Take advantage of your college or university’s alumni association and mine it for local contacts or people in your industry that might be able to connect you locally.Pretend you’re already thereThis doesn’t have to involve any dishonesty- particularly not if you are actually plannin g to move. Don’t put your old address on any of your materials. If you have a friend in that area, use their address temporarily. If you don’t, set yourself up with a local address using a service like Mailboxes, Etc. that will forward your mail to you and won’t be as obvious as a P.O. box.Network in person.Take advantage of any travel to the area by attending any Meetups or events that would be relevant to your search. Pop into companies and shake hands. Get a sense of neighborhoods you might like to live in; this is a great way to start conversations with potential contacts. Use sites like Zoominfo to try and get contact information for managers in companies you’re keen to work for and see if you can score an informational interview or two.Think through the logistics.Figure out what your tax liabilities will be in the new area- this can affect your compensation bottom line. What is the cost of living? What is the salary spread for your industry and posi tion? What salary range will you have to ask for in order to maintain your current quality of life, given discrepancies in what things cost and what people like you make in the new location. Make sure you have a good sense of what relocation would cost you- and be prepared to pay it out of pocket.Make your mission clear.When you’re writing your cover letter, make it clear that you are moving, not just that you would move. Make it clear that you’re doing this regardless of the outcome of this particular application. If you can, put a date on it. If you’re using a friend’s address, say that you’re temporarily staying with that person while you finalize your job search. That tips employers off that you’re serious and already settling in. Also that they won’t have to pay relocation expenses. (Don’t give up the possibility of this off-hand, but if you want the move or the job enough, be prepared to move yourself.)When writing your c over letter, the important thing is to convince your employer that this move is part of your long-term plan. Show them that this job isn’t the only reason, but that it’s also not some stop-gap leapfrog situation just to get you in the area.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Uncooperative Witness & Collection of Evidence Assignment

Uncooperative Witness & Collection of Evidence - Assignment Example Given such circumstances the investigator has to find ways and means of convincing that witness to agree or find another way to collect the required evidence. Introduction The process of collecting evidence to be used in the prosecution of an offender usually involves collecting evidence from witnesses. Witness accounts are usually by far the best type of evidence in criminal cases as a god truthful witness can be most convincing at a trial. However, when witnesses choose to be uncooperative due to fear or any other type of misgivings, it may make it hard for a prosecution to be successful and may even result in the acquittal of a guilty person or the throwing out of the case on a technicality. It is the investigators’ work to ensure that they get the most reliable and believable witnesses but it is also important that the witness be willing and able to testify in a court of law when called upon to do so. It is therefore the work of the investigator and the prosecution in prep aring witnesses for court and also ensuring that their testimony is availed to the judge and jury in the most efficient manner. 1. The investigator’s work is to ensure that all the evidence is presented to a court of law in a way that makes it possible for the correct finding to be made based on facts and evidence presented. One of the prime duties in accomplishing this is the finding, interviewing and preparing of witnesses that will be able to give useful evidence at trial (Shirreff, 2011). This process can be hampered when a witness is reluctant or uncooperative because of what they may perceive as negative impacts of their testifying at a particular trial. The investigator therefore needs to be very careful in their handling of the witnesses by clearly explaining to them the reasons why their evidence is required. The evidence that the witnesses give needs to be handled in a manner that ensures that it is not contaminated either by being influenced by that of other witnes ses in the same trial (Bertino, 2011). It is important that the investigator familiarizes himself or herself with the situation of the witness and that all the circumstances in which they have to testify. This needs to be clarified ducting the interview process and be recorded as such to ensure that the witness knows that the investigator is fully aware of what the witness thinks will be the impact of their testimony on himself and others. Such collection of evidence in an orderly and calm composed manner also ensures that the witness feels safe and secure in the trial. It is important the investigator also makes the witness aware of any danger that they may be placing themselves in by testifying and also, more importantly, the remedies that are available in law to mitigate this. One of the paramount duties of the investigator is to protect the integrity of all their evidence including the evidence that is given by the witnesses and in this case it means protecting the witness thems elves (Bertino, 2011). 2. There are some ways in which an investigator can ensure that an important witness co-operates with the investigation. One of the most important ways is to reassure the witness that the impact of their evidence is to get the right person imprisoned and also where

Friday, November 1, 2019

Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone - Its Impact on Companies Supply Chain Assignment

Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone - Its Impact on Companies Supply Chain Operations - Assignment Example Furthermore, this paper would analyze the costs that the company would incur, in establishing a distribution center at the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The major intention of the creation of the Jebel Ali Free Zone is to provide incentives to companies, so that they may be able to add or create value in their manufactured products (Jebeli Ali Free Zone, 9). These incentives are also given to large transportation companies, responsible for the transportation of cargo. The Free Zone achieves this objective by providing an infrastructure that helps company to efficiently manufacture their products, and also to distribute them. These are supported by other value added services, provided within the Free Zone, and various incentives and proactive marketing. The intention of this free zone is to attract large business organizations for purposes of helping in the growth and diversification of the economy of Dubai. The Jebel Ali Free Zone is the first such organization to be awarded an ISO 9002 certification (Jebeli Ali Free Zone, 2). For the last decade, this free zone has managed to attract a high level of investment, and it currently has more than 7100 companies, all coming from different regions of the world. Most of these companies engage in the manufacturing or distribution of goods that can be used for export or domestic consumption. Global international brands, such as Samsung, Sony, Colgate, Honda and Daewoo have opened manufacturing units in this region, making it one of the fastest growing economic free zones in the world. This paper will therefore provide reasons why our company should consider opening some distribution units at the Jebeli Ali Free Zone. The Port of Jebeli is the largest man made harbor in the world. Due to its large size and efficient delivery of services, the Port of Jebeli Ali has managed to attract a significant number of foreign investments. The activities in this port comprises of 40% of the foreign direct investment that is found in

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Course of Action Statement and Sketch Coursework

Course of Action Statement and Sketch - Coursework Example In accordance with Field Manual (FM) 3-21-31 (2003), â€Å"Decisive operations at any echelon (accomplished by a designated main effort) directly achieve the purpose of the mission of the higher headquarters.   At the SBCT level, there is only one decisive operation†.   By that definition, once the attack by Ahurastan forces occurs, EUCOM will automatically switch to Phase 2, which is Seize the Initiative.   With 4ID aviation assets disrupting enemy forces, it is hoped that the SBCT will be able to accomplish its main decisive operation as established by the 4ID CG, to designate two routes through AO for passage and to close said routes on/order.   These routes have been designated on the map as the primary and alternate route.   AA1 has been preliminary chosen as the primary route because of the dam adjacent to AA2.   If the Commandos choose to sabotage the dam, road traffic would be cut off, especially considering there is no improved bridge on AA2. Because the 4 ID battle plans are not finalized as of this date, it is impossible to determine whether the division CG will require simultaneous shaping and decisive operations.   Therefore this COS will assume they will be separate entities.    In order to maintain the Decisive Operations as described above, SBCT fires teams will be established at integral areas along both designated routes, as well attempting to neutralize all enemy assets in the AO.   Engineer assets should be mobilized closer to AA2 with a fires team.... If the Commandos choose to sabotage the dam, road traffic would be cut off, especially considering there is no improved bridge on AA2. IV. Shaping operations Because the 4ID battle plans are not finalized as of this date, it is impossible to determine whether the division CG will require simultaneous shaping and decisive operations. Therefore this COS will assume they will be separate entities. In order to maintain the Decisive Operations as described above, SBCT fires teams will be established at integral areas along both designated routes, as well attempting to neutralize all enemy assets in the AO. As it slow to move them, Engineer assets should be mobilized closer to AA2 with a fires team in order to keep that route operational in case AA1 is overrun. If the area is not as heavily attacked as is predicted, the engineers can work on preparing a possible bridge over the ARAKS, even temporary will work in the event of an emergency. V. Sustaining operations By the FM, sustainment ope rations are conducted throughout the area of operations, so it would probably be best to break the sustainment down into the levels as discussed in Chapter 1 of the FM. The Op Order states the SBCT should be prepared to accomplish this mission for â€Å"several weeks†, until the Task Force is fully deployed and operational, a large order considering support is â€Å"austere†. V.1 Movement Military Police will provide movement control along the designated routes, especially once enemy forces have been neutralized. This will be one shortfall for the SBCT, as the MP’s will be stretched extremely thin along some 120 kilometers of roadway. If there are any MP assets available, perhaps the 4ID CG can attach them to the Combat Team, to augment our own forces. V.2 Security (Including rear

Monday, October 28, 2019

Motivation Skills Development Plan for Nursing

Motivation Skills Development Plan for Nursing Qi-Cai Liu Leadership has been described as a relational process in which an individual seeks to influence others towards a mutually desirable goal. (RNAO, 2013). To be an effective leader, the person must be able to create a compelling vision, build up a group, inspire and motivate the group to engage and achieve that vision (Mind Tools, 2015a). Nursing is a discipline which combines the scientific caring and political action (CNA, 2009). Nursing leadership plays an essential role in the nurses life. It influences the healthy outcome of the patients, nurses, organizations, and even the health system. According to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO, 2002), each nurse, across all domains, needs to demonstrate leadership in her/his nursing professional practice by providing and advocating the best service to the client/public. Registered nurses at the entry-level are required to have the ability or skills to build up a trust relationship with the clients and colleagues, to create a safe pract ice environment, to develop the knowledge in nursing science, and to balance the conflict values and priorities (CNO, 2014). Therefore, all the nurses need to start their leadership development during their education process. As a nursing student, I also plan to develop my leadership skills to meet the requirement from the CNO professional standards. There are two surveys,which are well designed to assess the leadership skills and motivations, are available at Mind Tools website (2015b). To identify my current leadership skills, I completed these two surveys and the results are shown in the appendix A and B. This paper is trying to analyze the two survey results and then to identify the strengths and weakness of my leadership, and then create a plan to improve my leadership skills within my current acute care clinical practice by applying the transformational leadership practices. Survey Results Analysis According to the leadership standard (CNO, 2002), nursing leadership requires many personal characteristics and skills, such as respect, relationship, trust, self-knowledge, learning, communication, integrity. To assess my leadership abilities, I completed two well-designed online surveys (Mind Tools, 2015b). One is How Good are Your Leadership Skills and one is Leadership Motivation Assessment. The survey results are shown in the appendix A and B. For the survey of How good are your leadership skills? there are 18 statements which are designed to assess the personal characteristics and transformational leadership. I got a score of 58 out of 90 (See appendix A), which implies that my current overall leadership is at medium level and there are many areas I need to improve. Personal characteristics refer to the traits of a leader, such as the respect, trust, self-confidence, empathy, positive attitude, honesty, outlook, and emotional intelligence. Personal characteristics are the important part of the leadership. It influences the success or failure of leadership. In the survey, the personal characteristic part includes three components: self-confidence, positive attitude and outlook, and emotional intelligence. The survey designers think that the self-confidence and positive attitude are the two key fundaments for leadership, as they believe that people like to be friends with the person with high self-confidence, and the person with a positive attitude is also easier to inspire and motivate the surround people. The survey designers also think the emotional intelligence is important for the leader to build up interpersonal relationships, which contributes to the leadership. I got a score of 7 out of 10 in all those three components, which indicates that I already have certain personal characteristic strengths. However, there are still some spaces need to improve. For examples, my self-confidence will fluctuate according to my abilities to perform certain things. I may have a negative attitude in a helpless situation. I may bring my personal emotion into the workplace when I lost control of it. To be an effective nursing leader in the future, I need to strength these leadership related personal characteristics, as well as those didnt include in the survey. Transformational leadership refers to a process leadership style that the leader identifies the requirement of change, creates a vision, delivers the vision to the team, and inspires the team to execute the change (Wikipedia, 2015a). Transformational leadership is one dominating theory in the nursing leadership practice and research (Hutchinson and Jackson, 2013). In the survey of How good are your leadership skills? the transformational leadership part consists five components (Mind Tools, 2015c): providing a compelling vision of the future, motivating people to deliver the vision, being a good role model, managing performance effectively, and providing support and stimulation. I got a score of 7 out of 10 in the components of being a good role model and managing performance effectively, which indicates that I will be able to present myself as an example for the followers and manage performance by setting up clear rules or expected targets. I got a score of 13 out 20 in the componen t of providing support and stimulation, which implies there are more spaces to improve my ability of stimulating the followers and my competency of providing support during the facilitating process. I usually think people need to very smart to stimulate other people, otherwise it will be very hard. For the component of providing a compelling vision of the future, I got a score of 6 out of 10, which indicates I am not good at providing a good vision. That is certainly true as I thought it is too hard or complicate to make a plan for the future as there are so many unpredictable changes would occur. However, I just learned that a good leader is able to adapt to the changing of the environment during the progress. Therefore, I need to develop this ability from now. I only got a score 4 out of 10 in the component of the motivating people to deliver the vision, which is the worst score over the all parts of the survey. However, it showed out the truth that I am not good at to motivate so meone else to deliver the vision. To be a good leader, it is not only required to create and deliver a vision, but also required to be able to motivate other people to help him/her to deliver the vision. Thus, I need to put more effort to improve this ability in the future nursing practice. For the second survey of The leadership motivation assessment(Mind Tools, 2015d), there are 14 statements which are designed to assess the motivation to lead. I got a score of 51 out of 70 (See appendix B), which implies that my current motivation to lead is at medium level and needs to improve. I always think that lead other people do something is the most challenging task. If people dont have good leadership skills, they will feel very stressful as the majority of their lead attempts will be not succeed. Based on this thinking, my motivation to be a leader is not very high. I am like to communicate with and build up positive relationships with other people. I am also like to participate group activities, and contribute my ideas to them. It is fine for me to help other people to fix the problems. However, when it comes to motivating some people to do something, I am not very confident with that. I do not like to face the frustration when receiving the refuse. I also do not know how to deal with those people who are hard to be motivated. As a result, I usually like to cooperate with other people rather than to lead or motivate them. However, as a nursing student, I am required to develop my leadership competencies to meet the professional standards (CNO, 2002). Therefore, it is the time for me to promote my leadership motivation. Based on the above analysis, I identified some my leadership strengths, which including: self-confidence, positive attitude and outlook, emotional intelligence, being a good role model, managing performance effectively. However, to be a good leader, I think these areas still need to further develop in the future practice. Besides that, I also found my weaknesses to be a leader, which including: providing a compelling vision of the future, motivating people to deliver the vision, providing support, as well as increasing motivation to lead. I need to start now to put some effort to improve these weaknesses. Motivation Skills Development Plan As mentioned above, leadership is one of the seven nursing professional standards (CNO, 2002). Therefore, as a nursing student, I need to cultivate my leadership competencies and develop my leadership skills from now. Based on the two surveys, I identified several weaknesses in my leadership, such as providing a compelling vision of the future, motivating people to deliver the vision, providing support, as well as increasing motivation to lead. I think all of those areas are deserve to improve as they are the important components of leadership. However, in contrast with others, I think the skill of motivating people to deliver the vision is very urgent for me to improve as I only got a score of 4 out of 10 in the first survey. Here, I am trying to set up a plan to develop motivating skills during my current acute care clinical practice. As mentioned above, the main barrier for me to motivate other people is that I dont know how to motivate them, and I lack some skills. Therefore, the goal of this plan is to identify some strategies and develop my motivating competency through applying them in the clinical practice. After reviewing some literature articles, I find the following three strategies are helpful for the development. My first strategy is to set up effective visions in the clinical practice. According to the Mind Tools (2015e), setting up a clear and achievable vision is essential to build up a motivating environment. There is no motivation if there is no vision. The ambiguous and immeasurable vision will increase the challenge to motivate. An achievable and challenging vision will make people feel more important and valuable, and result in easier to motivate. Therefore, to improve motivating ability, I need to develop my ability for providing an effective vision, which is also one of my leadership weaknesses from the survey result. To achieve that, I plan to take the following tactics in the clinical practice. First, I will try to design some effective visions or goals which relate to the acute nursing care. According to Mind Tools (2015e), an effective goal should have the features of specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time (SMART). I will make sure each goal can meet these five feature s after designing. For example, during the patient discharge education, I will create a SMART goal like this: patient will state that he knew how to use the leg bag catheter before the discharge. Second, I will ensure each goal is consistent. According to the Mind Tools (2015e), if a goal is inconsistent with the persons long term goals, it will cause the person confusion and go to the wrong directions. Therefore, in the clinical practice, I will assess each proposed goal to see whether it matches the patients long term goals. For example, if I provide a goal which is not consistent with the patients other goals, it will be every hard or even impossible to motivate this patient to achieve it. Third, I will put some challenge in the goal. According to the Mind Tools (2015e), people usually work harder if you put more expects of them. If a goal is too simple and too easy to achieve, people may not be motivated to do it as it doesnt have any challenge. People are like to perform import ant, valuable changes. For example, if I set a goal to motivate other nursing students to increase their communication times with their patients during each shift, the nursing students may think it is too simple to do. Therefore, putting challenge in the goal will increase the possibility for motivation. In summary, I believe my competency in providing effective visions will be improved if I can persistently apply the above three tactics in the clinical practice. My second strategy to improve the motivating skill is to build trust relationships with the patients, nurse staffs, instructor, and other nursing students during the clinical practice. As we know, having a trust relationship is the foundation to motivate other people in the leadership practice, and trust can bring out the best in each individual (RNAO, 2013). Therefore, I need to learn some trust relationship building skills to improve my motivating ability. To build up and maintain a trust relationship throughout the clinical practice, I plan to take the following tactics which are the recommendations from the Best Practice Guideline (RNAO, 2013). First, I will show my care, respect, and concerns. I will recognize and respect the different values and beliefs without judgement and criticism. When providing nursing care to the patient, I will respect the patient autonomy decision. I will show my empathy and provide nursing care to the patients for their illness. Second, I will demonst rate integrity and fairness during the practice. I will openly share my values and beliefs to the patients and other nursing students. I will increase the culturally sensitive during the practice. I will set up clear performance standards to make sure the fairness during the nursing care. If I made a mistake by accident, I will admit it and take the responsibility. I will also keep the commitments during the nursing care. For example, if I said to the patient that I will come back to see him/her soon, I will implement it. Otherwise, I will lose the trust of this patient. Third, I will demonstrate the role competency and promote the teamwork. I will apply the medical and pharmacological knowledge, as well as the relationship and leadership knowledge during the practice. I will promote my collaborative relationship with other health work providers. I will give assistance to the other nursing students when they needed. I will also receive and acknowledge the helps from other nursing st udents and nurse staffs in the unit. In summary, I will be able to build up a trust relationship based on the above three tactics. However, it may be harder to maintain a trust relationship than building it. There are so many factors can cause the losing of trust, such as the inconsistency between the actions and says, seeking for the personal interesting, lie, and withhold information (RNAO, 2013). Therefore, I need to put more efforts on that during the clinical practice. My third strategy to improve my motivating ability is to identify the differences between individuals. To achieve the goal of motivating, rigid techniques should be avoided as each individual has his/her specific features. According to the Hersey Blanchard situational leadership theory (Wikipedia, 2015b), there are four mature level of the followers: M1, M2, M3, and M4. The M1 followers are lacking specific skills and are unwilling to make changes. The M2 followers are lacking specific skills, but are willing to make changes. The M3 followers are experienced, but unwilling to make changes. The M4 followers are experienced and willing to make changes. As a result, different motivation skills should be adapted according to the followers maturity level. For example, when I am trying to motivate a patient to make some healthy behavior changes, I will firstly identify the maturity level of this patient by assessing his/her willingness and capacity. If the patient has the willingness and c apacity, I may just need to tell him/her to make the change. If the patient has willingnesses but not has capacity, I may need to find out the tools to help her/him build up the capacity. If the patient doesnt have willingness but has capacity, I may need to focus on the strategies of motivation, such as assisting the patient to identify and overcome the barriers. If the patient does not have the both willingness and capacity, it will be more challenge as I am not only need to motivate but also need to help build up the capacity. In this way, I will be able to use different techniques to motivate people according to their characteristics. By applying the above three strategies in my current acute care clinical practice, I anticipate to improve my competencies of setting up compelling visions, building up trust relationship, and identifying the differences between individuals in clinical. As a result, I will increase my ability of motivation at the end. During this process, I will also be able to evaluate the ethical and legal nursing care standards in the current acute care unit when I am designing the compelling vision. I will learn how to evaluate the professional standards and guidelines and apply them in the clinical practice. For example, I learned the strategies of building up trust relationship from the Best Practice Guideline (RNAO, 2013), and I will use this knowledge to build up the trust relationship in the clinical practice. I will learn how to analysis the leadership theories and use them to lead the change during nursing practice. For example, I will use the Hersey Blanchard situational leadership theory to assess the maturity level of each individual. After obtaining some motivation competencies, I will try to practice little leadership among the nursing student group. References Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). (2013). Healthy work environments best practice guidelines: Developing and sustaining nursing leadership. Retrieved from http://rnao.ca/bpg/guidelines/developing-and-sustaining-nursing-leadership. Mind Tools. (2015a). What is leadership? Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_41.htm. Mind Tools. (2015b). Leadership skills: Become an exceptional leader. Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_LDR.htm. Mind Tools. (2015c). How good are your leadership skills? Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_50.htm. Mind Tools. (2015d). The leadership motivation assessment: How motivated are you to lead? Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_01.htm. Mind Tools. (2015e). How good are your motivation skills? Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_67.htm. Canadian Nurse Association (CNA). (2009). Position Statement: Nursing leadership. Retrieved from http://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/nursing-leadership_position-statement.pdf?la=en. College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). (2002). Professional Standards: Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41006_ProfStds.pdf. College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). (2014). Competencies for entry-level Registered Nurse Practice. Retrieved from: http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/reg/41037_EntryToPracitic_ final.pdf?epslanguage=en. Wikipedia. (2015a). Transformational leadership. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformational_leadership Wikipedia. (2015b). Situational leadership theory. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situational_leadership_theory Hutchison, M. Jackson, D. (2013). Transformational leadership in nursing: towards a more critical interpretation. Nursing Inquiry, 20 (1), 11–22. doi DOI: 10.1111/nin.12006.