Analysis on the Importance of HR Practices in Managing Organisations Essay

Analysis on the Importance of HR Practices in Managing Organisations - Essay Example Analysis on the Importance of HR Practices in Managing Organisations The literature suggests of the importance of managing human resources for the benefit of the company, but this practice is apparent to the large organizations. HR practice in SME has been the center of research because of the issues raised. The study found out that the size of the company is congruent to the choice of implementing HR policies because of resource constraints. This paper analyses the significance of HR practices such as training and development in managing organisations. Resourcing an Organisation SME has captured the attention of researchers due to its rapid growth which contributes to the national economy. Thousands of small businesses are established, which increase the employment of individuals; hence, failure of small businesses to remain in their business operation hurt the economy. Europe and UK narrate that two-third of its job are employed in SME, but the enterprises lose a huge number of jobs due to business failure. The business failure of SMEs is caused by the poor management of resource and informal practices of HRM. Beaver and Hutchings support that SME rejects the value of HR as the source of gaining competitive advantage. Due to their lack of knowledge in the managerial aspect, the growth of the company is sacrificed. Furthermore, majority of small and medium enterprises believe that HR practices are hindrances to the generation of profits because training and development require budget. ... commitment, adaptability, and consideration of employee.† To emphasize commitment, SME should adapt HR policies to strengthen the loyalty of employees and motivate them to render their maximum potential. Thus, it is inappropriate for SME to think that HR policies will lead to unproductive. â€Å"The management of people is strategic to success† (Harney & Dundon, 2006, p.48). This statement accentuates the role of HRM in aiding companies to achieve their mission statement. The knowledge on HRM is critical in ensuring that right employees are recruited and trained at the right time. Zheng, et al. (2009, p.177) confirm that â€Å"consistent and effective manner† of human resources management through recruiting and maintaining competitive staff who are talented will add to the companies’ competitive advantage and â€Å"sustain superior performance in the longer term.† Therefore, the failure of most companies is rooted to their inability to support HR pra ctices. In UK, the government encourages SMEs to implement HR best practices because of its positive outcome to the organisational performance. Studies have shown that companies employing HRM have attained excellent performance compared to those who are neglecting HR (Bacon & Hoque, 2005, p.1977). According to Pfeffer (1994 cited in Reid, et al., 2002, p.249), successful organisations have common HR practices such as â€Å"employment security, self-managed teams, extensive training, high compensation contingent on organisational performance, recruitment, sharing of information, and reduction of status differences.† The HR practices of organisations motivate employees to be competitive and productive in their job design and role designation. Job design and role specifications are crucial in matching the talents of the

Locked in the Cabinet Essay Example for Free

Locked in the Cabinet Essay Democracy is a form of government where people have a right enabling them to have a say in everything that affects their lives. However, our government is not a direct democracy, and as such, individuals are not empowered or able to have a say in the inner-workings of their government. Their beliefs are not heard as often as they would like, and they are given little to no opportunities to decide what the government will do. The average citizen has little access to political power, and as a result little influence in the government. But if one individual chooses to change the government, and places that as their goal, then they have a chance of altering the system that governs their lives. If one such as Robert Reich works hard towards their goal, then they can possibly change the government to some degree. Robert Reich was an average man who had strong beliefs, and among those beliefs was the belief that to help people was just. His career in law began as a law clerk to a judge, and he eventually worked his way to the position of Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. All of the time that Reich spent in Clinton’s cabinet was dedicated towards attempting to make his idea’s bear fruit. Although in the book Reich is the Secretary of Labor, he did not start out in this position. He worked his way up from the position of a law clerk, as I have previously stated, to a job that came with some measure of power. Reich attained this place in the government through his own efforts, and by showing that he had ideas suitable to fill in the role of Secretary of Labor. Reich is just one example of an ordinary person with true passion for their beliefs who was able to make a difference in the government. In Reich’s book, he talks about how an average person named Steve Wandner had an idea to reduce unemployment. Reich explains that Steve’s idea was when unemployed people claimed that they were unemployed, that they had to be screened to find out whether or not they were permanently laid off so that they could find new jobs faster. Steve worked hard in order for his idea to be heard, and after being ignored several times, Reich gave him the attention his idea deserved. Later, Wandner’s idea became an official law. Anyone can make a difference in the government if they work hard to reach a position where it is possible. During Robert Reich’s stay a part of President Clinton’s cabinet, he followed a strong belief in â€Å"putting the people first†. He cared deeply about helping the unemployed obtain new jobs and to retrain them in order to have better working skills, and in that same vein, better jobs further down the road. Reich also wanted to raise the minimum wage, show people the inequality of income in America, and much more. Reich’s ideas were not in any way offensive or unfair, he simply wanted to help people first rather than putting full attention on government issues such as reducing the deficit. Because of this, many of his ideas were igored and rejected by the members of Clinton’s moderate administration. For example, during one of his meeting with Bill Ford, chairman of the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee, Reich tried to explain to him the idea of retraining American workers. Reich ended up being yelled at and his idea rejected. Although many of Reich’s ideas were disregarded by other members of government he continued to pursue his goal of helping the working class of America. Reich was rather successful in performing his duties as Secretary of Labor. One of his successes was helping pass the Family and Medical Leave Act. It allowed working class families to have more time off from work if they were injured or had a child. He was also successful in convincing President Bill Clinton in aiding the people rather than the government. In doing so Clinton decided to pass a law in raising the minimum wage 90 cents. This pleased many of the working class of America. Finally, Reich was also able to set up several reforms in order to help provide more jobs for the unemployed. For example, Reich gave 3 million dollars to a job center helping people trying to get employment. Even though he want able to pass a law to retrain workers, he still managed to work hard and complete some of his goals. Reich was ignored by many government officials during his term as Secretary of Labor, and this greatly hindered his chances of getting his goals finished. But while this may be true, this was not the center of his experiences as the Secretary of Labor. Reich was aiming towards retraining Americans, and he is not the only one who has seen this as a valuable idea. Freddie Ray Marshall was the Secretary of Labor for Jimmy Carter, and he shared many similar ideas with Reich. Both men were working to provide jobs for others, and they both were trying to get workers to be retrained. (F. Ray Marshall) If workers could get more training, they can possibly get better jobs. He also is a teacher, like Reich. However, unlike Reich, Marshall was able to pass many programs and to help reduce unemployment. I would say that some of Reich’s experiences were unique to his time as the Secretary of Labor, and that others were not. In conclusion, Reich was a man who fought all alone for his beliefs, and was more successful in some areas than in others. To call him a failure is a little harsh, and to call him a success depends on your political views. All in all, Reich did what he felt would be best for the people who have little say in the government. Reich can be seen as a prime example of one who worked hard to have their voice heard, and as one who made a difference, even if it wasn’t as big a difference as he would’ve liked. Reich really seemed like he was a kind individual (but then again, he wrote the book) and even if he did not succeed in all his plans, he still changed some things for the better.

Rebirth in Sylvia Plaths Lady Lazarus, Fever 103, Getting There, and C

Rebirth in Lady Lazarus, Fever 103, Getting There, and Cut  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   The Ariel-period poems of Sylvia Plath demonstrate her desire for rebirth, to escape the body that was "drummed into use" by men and society. I will illustrate the different types of rebirth with examples from the Ariel poems, including "Lady Lazarus," "Fever 103," "Getting There," and "Cut." "Lady Lazarus," the last of the October poems, presents Plath as the victim with her aggression turned towards "her male victimizer (33)." Lady Lazarus arises from Herr Doktor's ovens as a new being, her own incarnation, "the victim taking on the powers of the victimizers and drumming herself into uses that are her own" (33). Linda Bundtzen also sees the poem as "an allegory about the woman artist's struggle for autonomy. The female creature of a male artist-god is asserting independent creative powers" (33). Plath confronts Herr Doktor: Herr God, Herr Lucifer Beware Beware. Out of the ash I rise with my red hair And I eat men like air. (Plath 246-247) Lady Lazarus after her psychic death became stronger than her creator: " Male- female antagonism ends with the woman defiantly asserting power over her body and releasing its energies for her own ends" (Bundtzen 233). While the outcome of the poem is positive, "Plath turns on herself, identifying with her oppressor, and sadistically punishes her body in the process of recreating it" (Bundtzen 237). Plath did not see the rebirth process as a pleasant experience, but one that is expected of her "I guess you could say I've got a call" (Plath 245). She, however, sees the benefits that come from her suffering and continues the process again and again. "Fever 103" is also about a women releasing herself from... ...poems what she thought she could not or did not achieve in life: the ability to do as she wanted, to be a mother and wife but not constricted into a domestic hell or to be pinned down by the oppressive society which did not accept her for being a poetess. She was able to "still speak from within her "deeper self" through her writing" (Kinsey-Clinton 1).    Works Cited Alvarez, A. Sylvia Plath : A Memoir. New York: Harper and Row, 1985. Bundtzen, Lynda K. Plath's Incarnations: Woman and the Creative Process. USA: University of Michigan, 1988. Kinsey-Clinton, Michelle. Once Upon a Time. (Online) Available http://www.sapphireblue.com/abyss404.html , August 17, 1998. Perloff, Marjorie. "Angst and Animism in the Poetry of Sylvia Plath". Journal Of Modern Literature. 1970: 57-74 . Plath Sylvia. The Collected Poems. New York: Harper Perennial, 1992.   

Fun for Life Essay

Many topics for you to try. Some of these came from IELTS and other textbooks, others are from websites. You can also see TWE (Test of Written English) topics from the TOEFL exam here. Use CTRL+F to find keywords or topics from this page in your browser. The destruction of the world’s forests is inevitable as our need for land and food grows. Do you agree? Write this essay in the forum! See what other people think of your writing! Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss. Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives? Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Are women are better parents than men? Are zoos are necessary for education? Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults and copying it. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Children should never be educated at home by their parents. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future? Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss. Discuss some of the arguments for and against keeping animals in zoos. Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international aid to poor countries. Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties?

Eurocrisis and Monetary&Fiscal Policy

The government will have to borrow from overseas or International Monetary Funds to pay for the differences between the import spending and export costs. The European Union lend to Greece 109 billion of euros to bailout (Foreleg and Walker, 2011, July 23). This is really a burden for a country and it may bring negative effects to the government policy and function, because the government will have to response the imbalance in both the government spending and policies. It is a real social cost. Meanwhile, the confidences of the foreign will be effect. They may care about the external imbalance in their partner country because it is related to their profits and stability.The external imbalance may make investors feel risky and then reduce the investment or charge more on the loans, which will make the imbalance worse. And for the country, it is really a risk because the economic imbalance has negative influences on many different factors, such as the value of the currency and the natio nal credit rating. Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain (PASS) face the decreasing of value of their credit rating. Now Greece is C and Portugal is B+ (Hawkers, 2012, January 14). Both of them are not optimistic. When government face recession they will consider increase public expenditure and cutting taxes to stimulate demand and decrease the unemployment rate (Quailing, Eastward and Holmes, 2009).However, in this case, the crisis countries have so many debts that make their government deficit large enough to do no actions. What they have to do is to austerity their fiscal policy to reduce the deficit. So Greece executes the 5 years plan to get loans. Comparing to other European countries, PASS are relatively falling behind. Their economies are more relied on labor force type of industry such as globalization, companies are seeking for cheaper labor forces; their advantages are no longer existed. If these countries do not adjust their industry structure, they will e much frag ile than now during the financial crisis. Also, the labor forces among European Union are also not liquid.Companies from different country have different tax system so their funds become bubbles. The theory of optimum currency area is based on labor mobility, price and wage flexibility as the preconditions. Also the mobility can instead of the floating of exchange rate. Euro zone creates a system that labor can move freely, however, because of the culture, language, welfare and social norms, the labor forces inside European Union cannot achieve completely liquid Robinson, 2008). Monetary Policy The central bank of Europe has set several targets to help to achieve and maintain the macro economic objectives. The main target is to keep the prices stable and achieve the low inflation level in the medium term.And it also set targets of maintaining financial system stability and improves the payments system. The purpose that the central bank of Europe sets these targets is to achieve the economic objectives, promoting the healthy growth of the whole economy (Paula, 2009). And the most common and effective measure used by it is the monetary policy. The central bank helps to achieve the macroeconomic objectives through meeting its targets, with using the monetary policy. Using the monetary policy, the central bank can change the interest rate to adjust the aggregate demand, and then help to achieve the macroeconomic objectives. When the inflation occurs, the central bank will carry out the cash rate target, bringing up the official interest rate.And then, the central bank will sell the government securities to commercial banks. The interest rate for cash will be increased, because the decrease of the cash supply. In order to maintain heir profits, financial institutions charges more rates on loans and so does the deposits. Therefore, the households and firms will borrow less and prefer to save money in the banks rather than spend quickly. It means that the aggregate d emand is reduced and so does the inflationary pressure. The reduction of demand brings the prices down, so domestic produced goods will have advantage in the prices in the international market. More export earnings will be got and the external balance will be achieved.In addition, the low prices may attract more foreign investors to invest, which will benefit to the long term economic growth and full employment. It means that although the higher interest rate will reduce the production and make people lose their Jobs in the short term, it could bring chances for the future development. The similar theory is suitable for the opposite condition. When the aggregate demand needs to be pulled up, the central bank will decrease the interest rate and encourage economic activities, stimulating the growth of the economy so European Central Bank decreased interest rate in December 2011 by 0. 25% to increase aggregate demand (European Central Bank, 2012).Also, European Union has the same monet ary policy but without the same fiscal policy (Brittany, Timelier, Bergsten, Exchanging and Meltzer, 2010). Government financial policy serves internal to increase economic growth and decrease the unemployment rate. Indeed, these two on the allocation efficiency, currency policy serves external to keep low inflation rate and the stable currency exchange rate (Hudson and Quailing, 2009). Currency system and government financial system are not unedited so the coordination is difficult. When European Union was founded, they do not consider the quitting system, so hen there come problems, the costs of negotiations are very high (Repack, 2010). It leads the problems to the Euro crisis.When one or two membership countries have problems with their economics, they only can discuss inside the meetings to solve the problems. Then the market will face the strong fluctuations, and these fluctuations also make the problems unsolved. The banks among Euro zone have other European Union countries' debts. This makes European banks' credit expansion crazily, and the management risks increase fast. Their ratio of total capital and Tier 1 capital is even Geiger than the banks in supreme crisis in the USA (Beg, 2009). Conclusion Overall, although investors are losing confidence with euros, the monetary policy keeps the Euro price stability at an acceptable range. MIFF also lend huge amount of euros to save the market.

Process Involved in Choosing a Measurement Tool for Variables in Research

Process Involved in Choosing a Measurement Tool for Variables in Research According to Santayana (2008, p.1), â€Å"measurement is at the core of doing research†. Generally, after conducting research, researchers have to reduce their finding to numbers in order for people to understand their study findings. Such measurements are exceptionally essential in the measurement of hypotheses. Researchers therefore must come up with sound measurement tools for both independent and dependent variables.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Process Involved in Choosing a Measurement Tool for Variables in Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Measurement is not as easy as it sounds. It is composed of four basic principles. The first two, conceptualization and operationalization are a bit simple. The other two are more advanced and complicated. They include determining the levels of measurement and measuring validity and reliability. Conceptualization involves defining a concept. Thus, researcher s must define that particular concept in a manner that is understandable by the scientific community. Researchers are allowed to borrow conceptualization from their predecessors and other researchers. On the other hand, operationalization involves making the conceptual definition more precise. This often involves linking the conceptual definition to one or more indicators. The indicators chosen must reflect observable reality in numbers. For example, in the parent involvement study, the conceptual definition is ‘parents’ involvement’. However, the operational definition is ‘parents’ role construction’. It is also important when giving an operational definition to establish the unit of analysis. In addition, a researcher needs to evaluate the level of measurement. Santayana (2008, p.1) indicates that â€Å"the level of measurement is the precision by which a variable is measured and there are four levels of measurement namely nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio†. The four levels are named from the lowest to the highest. On the other hand, Stevens (1951, p. 1) states that â€Å"everything that can be measured falls in the aforementioned levels and the higher the type, the more the precision in measurement†. Variables that are categorical in nature usually fall in the nominal level while those that have significant importance fall in the ordinal level. Variables that have significant distances between their ranks fall in the interval level. On the other hand, variables that have fixed intervals and a fixed reference point are grouped in the ratio level. It is for these reasons that Creswell (2011) holds the opinion that researchers must define their variables conceptually and operationally while putting into account the levels of measurement since these factors eventually determine how the data collected is analyzed. In the parent involvement study, ‘parents’ involvement’ falls in the ord inal level.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Creswell (2011) also notes that accurate researches are accurate and valid. Validity can be measured using four methods namely face, content, criterion and construct. On the other hand, reliability can be estimated using the following methods test retest, multiple forms, inter rater, and split half. Therefore, in order to locate an instrument that is to be used to measure a given variable, a researcher must put into account a number of factors. First and foremost, according to Slavin (1984), the researcher must define his concept conceptually and operationally. After that, the researcher must establish the level of measurement in which his or her variable falls. In addition, the researcher must detect the rationales he or she will use to estimate validity and reliability. The achievement of this goal relies on having proper concept ual and operational definition and the establishment of the level of measurement of the variable. References Cresewell, J. (2011). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. New York: Pearson. Santayana, G. (2008). Measurement, Reliability, and Validity. Web. Slavin, R. (1984). Research Methods in Education: A Practical Guide. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Stevens, S. (1951). Handbook of Experimental Psycholog. New York: Weley.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Process Involved in Choosing a Measurement Tool for Variables in Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Fry Now, Pay Later essays

Fry Now, Pay Later essays Cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers. About one million cases will be occurring in our country this year. Skin Cancer is most common in fair skinned people, and very rare in African Americans. The main way to get skin cancer is through sunburn. Those who have fair skin and red or blonde hair burn easily. The darker the skin, the better chances are of not getting sunburn that would lead to skin cancer. The suns rays are the strongest from around 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Many people dont think of their skin as an organ. It protects us against heat, light, injuries, and infections. It also helps to control body temperature and stores water, fat, and Vitamin D. The skin is made up of two layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin and is made up of sqamous cells. The dermis is the inner layer of skin that is made up of basal cells and the deepest part of the dermis is the melanocyte cells. These produce melanin, which gives your skin its color. What a lot of people like to do is get a tan. Well, really when the suns rays penetrate your skin the melanin comes further up your dermis and through your epidermis, which gives your skin the tan glow. When you do lie out on the beach for a long time, your skin can go past the tan glow and give it a red glow, meaning the melanin worked too hard and released that color instead of the color of you skins natural color. When you stay out in the sun also you may get skin cancer. There are some different types of skin cancers. There is, basal cell carcinoma, and the warning signs are: an open sore that doesnt close and bleeds continuously, reddish irritated patch that doesnt stop itching, a smooth bump that has an elevated ring around the edge, or a shiny translucent bump that can have a pinkish tint. Another type of skin cancer is, sqamous cell carcinoma. If it is not treated it can be dea...

How to Make a Volcano Using Pop Rocks

How to Make a Volcano Using Pop Rocks The classic homemade chemical volcano relies on a reaction between baking soda and vinegar to produce an eruption of foamy lava, but you can make a volcano even if you dont have these ingredients. One easy way is to use Pop Rocks candy and carbonated soda. The reaction between these two ingredients gave rise to the false notion that drinking cola and eating Pop Rocks would cause your stomach to explode. Its true the two ingredients combine to produce a lot of gas, but if you eat them, you burp out the bubbles. In a homemade volcano, you can make a cool eruption. Heres what you do: Pop Rocks Volcano Materials 20-oz bottle of any soda or other carbonate beveragepacket of Pop Rocks candy (red or orange colored flavors look most like lava)model volcano If you dont have a model volcano, you can use homemade dough to form the shape of a volcano around the unopened soda bottle. If you like, paint or decorate the dough so it looks like a volcano. How To Make the Volcano Erupt The eruption can be messy, much like the Mentos and soda reaction, so its a good idea to set up your volcano outdoors, on a kitchen counter, or in a bathtub. Otherwise, place a plastic tablecloth around the volcano to make clean-up easier.Dont open the soda until you are ready for the eruption. When its time, carefully uncap the bottle. Disturb it as little as possible, to help prevent gas from escaping.Pour in the Pop Rocks candies. One way to get all the candy into the volcano at once is to roll up a sheet of paper into a tube. Put your finger on the end of the tube to close it off and pour in the Pop Rocks. Release the candies over the mouth of the bottle. Move away quickly or youll get sprayed with lava! How the Volcano Works Pop Rocks contain pressurized carbon dioxide gas that is trapped inside a candy coating. When you eat them, your saliva dissolves the sugar, releasing the gas. The sudden release of pressure makes the popping and cracking sound  since ​the  pressure of the gas breaks out of the candy once it gets thin enough. The volcano works much the same way, except its the soda that dissolves the candy shell to release the gas. The eruption is made more forceful by the sudden release of carbon dioxide in the soda. The bits of candy provide surface area for the dissolve carbon dioxide in the soda to collect and form bubbles, which push their way out of the narrow mouth of the bottle. Things To Try If you want lava that overflows the volcano, try adding a squirt of dishwashing soda to the soda before you add the Pop Rocks. For more colorful lava, add a few drops of red or orange food coloring to the soda or else use a red-colored soda, like Big Red, or a brown soda, like Dr. Pepper or any brand of root beer. Some energy drinks are also lava-colored. At that matters is that the drink is carbonated.

Report on the Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Building a Essay

Report on the Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Building a Theme Park in a Neighbourhood - Essay Example It also assesses the expectations, both positive and negative, of the neighborhood residents from the theme park to be constructed. Methodology This study is based on a close-ended, structured and non-disguised questionnaire designed to explore the perceived effect on local residents by the building of a local theme park. The questionnaire was given to the oldest member of each household to be completed and returned within a month. The respondents were informed about the purpose of the questionnaire, and that their responses were vital for planning the construction. Respondents were assured of the maintenance of confidentiality of the information they would provide and that it would be used solely for the purpose of this survey. The questionnaire had questions relating to the demographic data, such as gender, employment status and type of household of the residents. The main part of the questionnaire was concerned with how the residents perceived the present safety of the neighborhoo d, and whether they believed that this status would change after the construction of a theme park. ‘Neutral’, ‘safe’ and ‘very safe’, ‘unsafe’ and ‘very unsafe’, were the options provided to assess perceived present safety, and ‘much safer’, ‘safer’, ‘unsafer’, ‘much unsafer’ and ‘unchanged’, were the options provided to assess the perceived change in safety . The positive and negative expectations of the local residents from the theme park, such as increase in employment opportunities, business opportunities, more activities for family and children, more crime, vandalism, pollution and parking problems, were also assessed. The questionnaire is given in appendix 1 of this document. Data was analyzed by comparing the differences in perception based on the employment status and household type of the respondents. Results and data analysis Fifty local residen ts had responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 14 were females and 36 were males. The largest proportion of the respondents was unemployed (n=15). Of the remaining respondents, 10 were employed, 10 were retired, four were self-employed and the remaining 11 were students. Based on the type of household, most of the respondents were either couples, had a family with children under 16, or were living alone. Perceived safety Data on perceived current safety of the neighborhood revealed that a large proportion of the respondents considered their neighborhood as either safe or very safe, with only a minority of them remaining neutral. A vast majority of the respondents felt that the safety status of their neighborhood would remain unchanged after the construction of a theme park. The expected change in safety of the neighborhood was then assessed based on the employment status and the type of household. This analysis revealed that most of the retired respondents believed that the neighb orhood would become unsafe. In contrast, a few students, unemployed and self-employed respondents felt that the neighborhood would become safer. It appears that the retired population of respondents is paranoid about the safety of the nei

Plato's Apology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Plato's Apology - Essay Example mary charges, namely, that he is spreading sacrilegious ideas in the marketplace, that he is associating with the Sophists, that he is corrupting the young, and that he does not honor the gods of Athens. Surprisingly, this man did not choose to flee the city in the common form of resisting arrest and instead chose to appear before the court and speak in his own defense. It is generally considered a poor choice to have the accused speak for himself, and it could be argued that Socrates didnt do himself any favors in attempting to present his case. However, after participating in the trial, I must admit I strongly disagree with my fellow jurors who have sentenced this man to death. Through his defense against that charges that have been pressed against him, Socrates has caused me to understand just why his actions are so vital to the strengthening and preservation of our fine community. The first charge brought against Socrates was that he was spreading sacrilegious ideas. This charge was levied against him as a result of his conversational habit of constantly challenging others ideas. When defending himself against this charge, Socrates admitted he did engage in this practice, but not as a means of spreading sacrilege. He instead claims that this idea has been taken out of context and twisted by old enemies of his. He said they tell "of one Socrates, a wise man, who speculated about the heaven above, and searched into the earth beneath, and made the worse appear the better cause† (Apology: 944). Socrates insisted he didnt intend to make people question the gods, but was instead working to understand the Oracles statement that he was the wisest man alive. As any same man might, Socrates had difficulty believing such a statement and he was forced to undertake a series of inquiries looking ‘into the heavens and earth" to learn why the Oracle might have sa id such a thing. Rather than an attempt to encourage sacrilege, Socrates said this was a personal journey of

Group assignment team members Emotional Intelligence results narration Essay

Group assignment team members Emotional Intelligence results narration - Essay Example 65). Because we have almost close scores on self-awareness, we were all transparent and comfortable in expressing our feelings, our moods, and temper. We did not have a unrealistic expectation from the leader that he is a superman and infallible. Because of this, we can challenge anyone’s idea which is helpfulduring brainstorming. The article, What Makes a Leader? (2004), elegantly states â€Å"Someone who is highly self-aware knows where he is headed and why† (Goleman, p. 85). Since all of the team members have results that are close to one another, the team was ver clear in its direction. Everyone cooperated well even in trying times. Since we were attuned to one another’s limitations, we provided support to members who were upset or frustrated. We believe that this trait – Self-Awareness would be a good cornerstone in the future when we become mentors in organizations. Being Self-Aware also gave a sense of direction to group members because we continually focused on the goal. Another helpful result that had positive impact was Social Awareness. Except for the case of Maria who was only a few points higher than the rest, similarities in Social Awareness quotient indicates that anyone in the group is sensitive to other group members. Leaders must have a high Social Awareness so they can adjust to their working environment. Members look up to their leaders, and when members sense that their leaders are not interested in their issues, they get demotivated. Indeed, Offermann was downright valid in his article When Followers Become Toxic (2004), when he said â€Å"The leader who automatically rejects his followers’ opinions can be as unwise as one who unthinkingly goes along with them† (p. 57). The impact of this to the team is that we realized that all of us are potential leaders. One category that made a difference was that of Relationship Management. We all had differents scores as reported in

Recent Discoveries in Egypt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Recent Discoveries in Egypt - Essay Example The exact dates of Nefertiti’s life are open to debate, but she was definitely a significant part of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, and the dates of her six daughters are estimated to range between the years of 1348-1339 B.C. Part of the difficulty ascertaining her lifetime is related to the possibility that she bore a different name prior to her marriage to Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, who himself changed his name to Akhenaten when he began to worship Aten in 1346. There is little doubt that Nefertiti wielded unprecedented influence for a queen, at some point being named co-regent, and the images depicting her beside her husband show her of similar size as his portrayal†¦ implying an almost equal status. Although Nefertiti bore Akhenaten six daughters, it was a minor wife named Kiya who bore him his son and future heir, Tutankhaten (meaning â€Å"the Living Image of the Aten†) who was later to become the pharaoh Tutankhamun. Kiya promptly disappeared from all records, possib ly due to Nefertiti feeling threatened, although Nefertiti herself would disappear from any historical reference by the year 1336. Speculation begins here, for this is the same year that Smenkhkare became co-ruler with Akhenaten, actually surviving him by two years. Many suspicions abound Smenkhkare, whose feminine image closely resembled depictions of Nefetiti, and whose regal name, Nefernefruaten, is so similar to Nefertiti that some theories conclude that it is simply Nefertiti by a different name as she continued to rise in power.

Data Examination on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Essay

Data Examination on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and on vehicle and pedestrian accidents across the US - Essay Example The continuous reduction in the rate of car accidents began in 2006, apart from 2012 when the rate increased. This information was provided by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). According to the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) that the number of individuals injured reduced in 2013. However, the reduction rate is not considered significant statistically. The level of fatality for 100 million vehicle mile traveled (VMT) reduced by 3.5%, from the 2012 value of 1.14 to the 2013 value of 1.10. This is the lowest fatality level ever recorded; also the overall injury level reduced by 2.5%, as illustrated by the 2013 figures. The general fatalities reduced by 3.1%. The reduction was minimized in all categories, apart from the pedal cyclists. 21,132 deaths were experienced in 2013 among the passenger vehicle occupants; this number is the lowest ever recorded by NHTSA. A key reduction involved the motorcycle fatalities that reduced by 6.4%. Pedestrian fatalities also reduced in 2013 by 1.7%. Hence, increased focus should be put on pedestrian

Recent Discoveries in Egypt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Recent Discoveries in Egypt - Essay Example The exact dates of Nefertiti’s life are open to debate, but she was definitely a significant part of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, and the dates of her six daughters are estimated to range between the years of 1348-1339 B.C. Part of the difficulty ascertaining her lifetime is related to the possibility that she bore a different name prior to her marriage to Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, who himself changed his name to Akhenaten when he began to worship Aten in 1346. There is little doubt that Nefertiti wielded unprecedented influence for a queen, at some point being named co-regent, and the images depicting her beside her husband show her of similar size as his portrayal†¦ implying an almost equal status. Although Nefertiti bore Akhenaten six daughters, it was a minor wife named Kiya who bore him his son and future heir, Tutankhaten (meaning â€Å"the Living Image of the Aten†) who was later to become the pharaoh Tutankhamun. Kiya promptly disappeared from all records, possib ly due to Nefertiti feeling threatened, although Nefertiti herself would disappear from any historical reference by the year 1336. Speculation begins here, for this is the same year that Smenkhkare became co-ruler with Akhenaten, actually surviving him by two years. Many suspicions abound Smenkhkare, whose feminine image closely resembled depictions of Nefetiti, and whose regal name, Nefernefruaten, is so similar to Nefertiti that some theories conclude that it is simply Nefertiti by a different name as she continued to rise in power.

Honorifics Similarities of the Guugu Yimidhirr and Japanese Languages Essay

Honorifics Similarities of the Guugu Yimidhirr and Japanese Languages - Essay Example One of the most intriguing qualities of the Guugu Yimidhirr language is its honorific system; in other words, the way in which deference is paid to certain members of the family or the society with the use of a specific word over another. In particular, the honorific system requires the use of deference words and tone to a brother-in-law or father-in-law. The Japanese and Guugu Yimidhir languages were born for essentially the same purpose: to solidify a social structure that organically evolved to support a burgeoning community and, eventually, a larger nation. Where the Guugu Yimidhirr language has maintained its more traditional deference language primarily for use in speaking to brothers- and fathers- in law who in turn provide essential services for the community, Japanese culture has evolved and with it the use of deferential language for business purposes. Whorfian theory can be used in terms of the Aboriginal group, however Japanese language has not been a mirror unto itself a nd has changed to accommodate the needs of its society. The function of the honorifics within the Guugu Yimidhirr language is to essentially uphold an established social structure. The culture of these people is such that a certain stratification is basic to the continuation of the societal framework: deference must be paid to those members of society who are, in terms of the culture, of higher importance and reverence within the community and the society on the whole. Brothers-in-law and fathers-in-law are considered honorable members of the community in that they are wise and instrumental to the running of day-to-day life. This is a generally accepted view of Guugu Yimidhirr, with many subscribers to the idea that the language is what the society was initially, and now is, fixed upon. In contrast to this theory, however, Foley suggests that the key to understanding the use of honorifics within this particular language is to bring the Whorfian theories into play; in short, to examine the idea that the words used in context are not merely a product of initial societal roles but that they are currently responsible for shaping the worldview of the Guugu Yimidhirr themselves (Foley 1997). Being raised in an environment where it is socially unacceptable to say Balin-ga (porcupine) to your father- or brother-in-law instead of the deferential nhalngarr (Shopen 1979) means that children are acculturated to believe in the existing social structures and to use them with little resistance. Shopen points out that the deferential vocabulary within Guugu Yimidhirr is not a substantial sub-language, but instead a special set of words and phrases that are interchangeable with parts of the regular language. This is notable because it shows that the social structure is not completely, strictly stratified, but that it merely demands a level of respect for those on whom the community depends. Modern Japanese Honorifics The Japanese language today is another, like Guugu Yimidhirr, that has evolved over centuries and in doing so has developed and maintained honorifics. The three specific levels of Japanese honorifics, delineated by linguists, are Polite, Respectful and Humble Language. Teineigo, or Polite Language, is marked by the use of special sentence and verb endings: desu and masu, respectively (Maynard 1997). This is the language version taught to non-native speakers of Japanese. Sonkeigo, or Respectful Language, is used in reference to superiors and is characterized by the use of alternate words. For example, instead of using the verb suwaru as would be done when referring to oneself sitting down, the phrase o kake ni natte kudasai is used to ask someone in a superior position (this includes customers)

Personal Development Essay Example for Free

Personal Development Essay I have been employed as care worker with my Company, for the last 4 years. Upon joining the Company, I received an induction, which covered guidance and training, in areas applicable for my role. I also received a job description, which informed me of what I was expected to do within my role. When I first started working here, I had no previous experience as a carer, so I found the induction very informative, to support my role, and responsibilities. It informed me of the organisational policies and procedures, which I had to sign, to say I had read and understood their contents. My induction training also made me aware of the legislation that relates to my role, and the GSCC code of practice, that all social care workers must work to. The General Social Care Council,(GSCC) is the social care workforce regulator in England and their job is to regulate the conduct and training of the care workforce. As a care employee, I am required to abide by the code of practice as defined by the GSCC. see more:explain what reflective practice is This code states that I should: * Protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and carers * Strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers * Promote the independence of service users while protecting them as far as possible form danger and harm * Respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people * Uphold public trust and confidence in social care services * Be accountable for their practice and take responsibility for maintaining and improving their knowledge and skills. During my induction period with the company, I received regular supervision with my line- manager, who assessed my progress, and competence to perform my role. When my induction period ended, my supervision then took/takes place every 3 months. My supervision covers:- * All aspects of my practice * My career development needs * My reflections on training I have attended recently, progress with my NVQ or other qualifications * Information about the policy and procedures in my organisation. * Constructive feedback on my service delivery. My supervision is always held in a confidential setting, between myself and my Manager. My Manager records details of what has been discussed, targets identified, and achievement target dates to be met by me and my Manager. This is my personal development plan, and helps me to record training received, training identified, and knowledge gained. My supervision is my opportunity to discuss issues I am concerned about. Sometimes prior to my supervision, I write down notes on issues I want to raise, so that I do not forget whilst in my supervision. I also receive appraisal (performance review), meetings with my manager, these are usually once a year. This is a review of my performance, summarising what I think I have achieved, and what my manager thinks I have achieved over the last 12 months. I discuss my training record and identify what my Personal Development Plan will be for the next 12 months. I also agree some personal objectives or targets for me to achieve before my next appraisal. Other colleagues I work with may have been asked for their opinions on my work as well. As a care worker I must be accountable for the quality of my work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving my knowledge and skills. This means I identify mandatory training I may need, and refresher courses, to keep my knowledge up to date, and so meet the current care standards. I also receive training from observing more experienced colleagues, who can teach me ‘on the job’ techniques. This is ‘informal’ training, but is most beneficial, along with ‘formal’ training courses I attend. All training helps to improve my service delivery, and enables me to use recommended safe practice in my working role. I can develop my knowledge, skills, and understanding by: * Identifying the knowledge, skills and standards required for my job role. * Reflecting on my practice, and making improvements on previous practice. * Receiving constructive feedback from my manager, and colleagues. * Undertake learning activities that inform my working practice. * Put new skills that I have learned into practice. I attend regular staff meetings, where staff members can discuss service users in a confidential setting. This is good practice as it provides a platform for staff to share their experiences, and gain moral support and advice from colleagues. My employer also provides a counselling service for staff members, due to the ‘pressures’, of the role. I can ask my Manager for this service if I feel work pressures are too much, and my Manager and organisation will support me. If I have a work related problem, I can approach my supervisor, and line manager for support. I feel comfortable in doing this, as I am confident that they will address my issues, and help me to resolve them. I have the opportunity to develop in my role, as my employer arranges regular ‘in-house’, training opportunities. My employer has also encouraged me to undertake my NVQ qualification, and has allowed me ‘paid’ time for study. My employer advertises job vacancies internally, and I have been encouraged to apply for more ‘senior’ positions, for my career progression.

Patriarchy In Twilight Saga English Literature Essay

Patriarchy In Twilight Saga English Literature Essay Its easy to observe the expansive reach of the Twilight saga. For starters, it is a cash-cow. To date, the four book series has sold approximately 85 million copies (Grossman) and has claimed the top four spots on USA Todays year-end bestseller list for the years 2008 and 2009 (Minzesheimer and DeBarros, Sellers;Twilight Sweeps). Twilight saga merchandise though sold in multiple retail outlets single-handedly brought retailer Hot Topic back from the depths of economic gloom and doom in 2008 (Odell).  [1]  The film adaptation of Twilight grossed $380 million at the box office (more than 10 times what it cost to produce) before earning over $3 million in DVD sales on its first day of release (Armstrong) while New Moon performed even better earning more than $700 million worldwide before its DVD release in March 2010 (The Twilight Saga: New Moon). Beyond the economic impact, the series inspires Beatlemania-type fanaticism among its growing, primarily female, fan-base. Conduct a G oogle search for Twilight fansite, and youll get almost 1.2 million returns. Furthermore, a November 10, 2008 scheduled appearance in San Francisco by Robert Pattinson (the actor portraying Edward Cullen in the film adaptation of Twilight) was cancelled after he was swarmed by fans. The melee also resulted in a broken nose for one fan, while another lost consciousness (News from WENN). Pattinson made the following remarks about the impassioned Twilight fandom: People know my name, ambush me in public, try to figure out what hotel Im staying at, ask me to bite them and want to touch my hair. It feels surreal (Bell). These are but a few examples that demonstrate the massive impact the Twilight saga has on audiences. The widespread audience response might cause some to wonder just what it is about Twilight that appeals so much to fans. There are others, like myself, who have chosen to question the impact the Twilight narrative may have on readers specifically female readers perceptions of culture. While there are many aspects of the Twilight narrative being debated by fans and critics alike, themes of patriarchy and misogyny are of particular interest (Mann; Myers; McClimans and Wisnewski; Housel). The Twilight Saga is Just Entertainment, Right? Why Should We Care? Before we can enter into a proper analysis about the impact of patriarchal and misogynistic themes in Twilight, its first important to understand why wed want to analyze an artifact of popular culture at all. An older academic view situates popular texts like the Twilight saga as low art, or mass produced schlock meant to dupe unsophisticated audiences, like us, into passivity (Horkheimer and Adorno; Benjamin). Postmodern cultural studies scholars, however, see popular culture as an aspect of mass culture (Storey, Cultural Theory), or the values and ideas that members of a society form from common exposure to the same cultural activities, communications media, music and art, etc.  Thus, examining popular culture texts exposes how they are used assert social values upon others (Barthes). Female-targeted popular culture artifacts like the Twilight saga are sites that are especially worthy of examination since they place the female/feminine experience at the forefront of media criti que (McRobbie and McCabe; Modleski; Radway; Ang; Mellencamp). The central concern of feminist media analyses is to examine patriarchal ideology as it relates to power and agency in society (Baumgardner and Richards; Durham; Storey, An Introduction; van Zoonen). Analyzing texts through a feminist lens can serve as a means of exposing and critiquing patriarchy in popular media and, in the process, help to liberate audiences from traditional, stereotypical representations (Durham). It is also a way to understand the concept of gender as a social construction, and posits media texts as critical sites for the negotiation of gender roles. If we read the Twilight saga closely, we might conclude that it promotes what Cynthia Enloe calls a Culture of Imminent Danger, which she defines as a culture sustained by the classical patriarchal caveat that women are in the sort of danger from which only rational men can protect them (234). One way in which the Twilight saga reinforces a Culture of Imminent Danger is seen in the roles of the adult male and female characters in the series. For example, male characters are written into roles or occupations that reflect the role of protector. Charlie, Bellas father, is the police chief in Forks; Carlisle Cullen, Edwards father, is the most prominent doctor in town; and Billy Black, Jacobs father, is a Quileute tribe elder. Meanwhile, the female characters in Twilight, are symbolically annihilated that is they are largely trivialized and either symbolized as child-like adornments who need to be protected or they are dismissed to the protective confines of the home (Tuchman 8). The ro le of Bellas mother, Renee, is muted throughout the story we know only that she has decided to follow her new husband to spring training camp in Florida and that she is childlike and harebrained (Meyer, Twilight 4). Before Renee remarried, Bella saw herself as her mothers caretaker. Esme, Edwards mother is also superficially presented. As the matriarch of the Cullen clan, she is characterized only by her ability to love passionately and her strong mothering instincts (Meyer, Twilight 307, 368). Bella, too, has been seen by some as falling victim to symbolic annihilation. In the discussion topic Bella, is she a bad influence for teens? on the TwilightMoms.com fan site, for example, fans express concern that Bella is a weak character because she sees herself less beautiful than Edward, less intelligent, and clumsier than everyone else. Bella, because she is the weak and vulnerable one, is in constant need of care and protection she is dependent upon Edward for survival. Indeed, we see what happens to Bella when she is abandoned by the protective influence of Edward she becomes a lost moon (Meyer, New Moon, 201). Later, when Bella and Edward visit Renee in Eclipse, Renee remarks to Bella that her role in her relationship to Edward is that of a satellite, or something (Meyer, Eclipse, 68). A satellite can be understood as any object that moves around a larger object. The comparisons of Bella to a moon or other satellite are significant since they symbolically place Edward at the center and Bella in the periphery. This scenario illustrates Edwards role as the actor and Bellas role as the reactor in the Twilight saga. When Edward moves, so does Bella. When Edward leaves, Bella, too, checks out. Likewise, it implies that the orbiter is the least valuable one in the relationship. Take, for example, the Earths relationship to the Sun. The Earth as a support system for human life is important in its own right, but the Sun has far more importance. Without the Sun, the Earth is annihilated. Without Edward, Bella is annihilated. Because the symbolic annihilation of women in media fails to address the full range of womens real-life goals and potential, it plays an important role in establishing and normalizing ideology that helps those in power (read: men) stay in power. But, Bella exists in a world much different than ours. How much potential can we expect Bella to posses in a situation where she is forced to battle super-human forces? Meyer acknowledges this when responding to critics. She says: There are those who think Bella is a wuss. There are those who think my stories are misogynistic-the damsel in distress must be rescued by strong heroà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I am not anti-female, I am anti-human. I wrote this story from the perspective of a female human because that came most naturally, as you might imagine. But if the narrator had been a male human, it would not have changed the events. When a human being is totally surrounded by creatures with supernatural strength, speed, senses, and various other uncanny powers, he or she is not going to be able to hold his or her own. Sorry. Thats just the way it is. We cant all be slayers. Bella does pretty well I think, all things considered (Meyer, The Story). Im willing to buy Meyers explanation to an extent. But, just because the Twilight saga narrative is set against a backdrop of fantasy does not mean its capabilities for reinforcing the oppressive ideology that exists in our real-world go unrealized. For example, Bella only becomes strong by conforming to the masculine standard put forth by Edward (that is, by becoming a vampire). Of course, Edward cannot reverse himself to his human form, but when Bella changes for Edward, it legitimizes a longstanding cultural norm of women adjusting their desires to accommodate those of her male partner.  [2]  As with the satellite analogy, this aspect of the Twilight saga highlights Edwards superiority over Bella. Edward Is The Worlds Best Predator, Isnt He? Everything About Him Invites You In. When readers buy a romance novel, they are being sold more than just the book. The ideology of romance exemplified by lessons of gender subjectivities and sexual difference in a patriarchal structure embedded in the patriarchal and misogynistic themes present in romance genre is also being sold (Brown; Cooper). The romance narrative of the Twilight saga teaches us that if social order is to be successful and maintained, then the most notable compromises will have to be made by women. This lesson establishes, then, that if women wish for patriarchy to be neutralized in society they will have to be the ones to do it. We see this perspective manifested in the online comments of several readers comments that largely are critical of Bella for failing to overcome the patriarchal constraints present in the Twilight saga (see for example beka; Jost; North; Seltzer; or any of the myriad of fan posts on TwilightMoms, Twilight Lexicon, and other fansites). However, men and women exist togeth er in society and, as such, any fair reading of the Twilight saga would also be looking at Edwards responsibility in perpetuating oppressive ideas about gender roles in human society. Perhaps the most profound way that Edward Cullen reinscribes an oppressive patriarchal ideology is that he demonstrates the classic signs of a batterer. Many readers might disagree with my assessment by pointing out that Edward is motivated by his intense desire to protect Bella and he only has her best interests in mind. The framing of Edwards actions as being in Bellas best interests is precisely what makes them so dangerous. This viewpoint normalizes and legitimizes masculine power over females for the reader. As for how Edward demonstrates signs of a batterer, one need only refer to the criteria established by nationally known domestic violence trainer and consultant Lydia Walker. As part of her Getting a Firm Foundation training, Walker has developed a list of seventeen behaviors seen in people who abuse their partners. Walker warns that if the person has several (three or more) of these behaviors, a strong potential exists for physical violence the more signs a person has, the more likely the person is a batterer. Edward exhibits at least seven of these behaviors (in varying degrees) at different points in the Twilight saga.  [3]  These are: Jealousy Of course, the tension between Edward and Jacob is at the forefront of the story, but Edward expresses his displeasure in many of Bellas potential suitors, In Twilight, for example we are most acutely aware of his dislike for Mike Newton. Edward tells Bella that when Mike asked her to the school dance, he was surprised by the flare of resentment, almost fury that he felt (Meyer, Twilight 303). Edward is surprised by his feelings, remarking that jealousy is so much more powerful that I would have thought. And irrational! (304). Controlling behavior Walker defines controlling behavior as those actions that are attributed to a concern for a womans safety and well being. We see one example of Edwards controlling behavior in Twilight when he follows Bella and her friends to Port Angeles. Walker also warns that controlling behaviors are frequently manifested in the abusers lack of willingness to let a woman make personal decisions. We see Edwards controlling behavior reappear later in the same chapter when he tells Bella when she needs to eat (even when she insists that she isnt hungry), and again when Bella is recovering in the hospital in the last chapter Edward calls for the nurse to administer pain medication to Bella even though she is clear that she does not need them (Meyer, Twilight 477). In Eclipse, Edwards attempts to control Bella are particularly disturbing as he continuously attempts to prevent Bella from visiting Jacob. First, he disconnects the cables to her car battery. Later, he manipulates Al ice into participating in a kidnapping plot designed to keep Bella away from La Push. When he finally agrees to let her go, he does so only if he can take her there and pick her up himself. Perhaps the most appalling example, though, is in Breaking Dawn when Edward attempts to arrange for an abortion for Bella without any discussion from her or her permission. Quick involvement Most battered women dated or knew the abuser for less than six months (many for less than three months) before they were married, living together, or engaged. An abuser comes on like a whirlwind (Walker). Chapter one of Twilight tells the reader that Bella moves to Forks in January. It is not until March that Bella and Edward decide to become a couple (Twilight Chapter 10). By Prom in May, shes ready to give up her mortality for Edward (Twilight Epilogue). In fact, the entire story only spans two years. Unrealistic expectations Walker characterizes unrealistic expectations in terms of possessiveness and states that abusive people will expect their partner to meet all of their needs. At one point, Edward tells Bella that he is anxious à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to be away from [her], and that he gets distracted à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ worrying about [her] (Meyer Twilight 188-9). Edward is relentless in keeping Bella close to him, unrealistically worried that some great harm will come to her. Edward tells Bella: You are my life now (314). Blames others for feelings The abuser will tell the woman you make me mad, youre hurting me by not doing what I tell you, I cant help being angry' (Walker).  The abuser is, of course, responsible for what he thinks and feels, but will use his feelings to manipulate his partner. One example of Edward acting in this way can be found in the meadow scene in Twilight. Prior to this point, Edward has made his desire for Bella known, but it is not until they are in the meadow that he drops his mask to show Bella the true extent of the danger he poses to her. Hes frenzied as he explains all the ways in which he could easily destroy her, and then blames Bella when he feels he has lost control (Meyer, Twilight 263-5). Later, when Bella and Edward kiss before meeting the rest of the Cullens for a game of baseball, he forcefully pulls himself off of her when he loses control and proclaims: Damn it, Bella! à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Youll be the death of me, I swear you will (363). Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Walker warns women to look out for sudden mood changes in which one minute the abuser is really nice and the next minute hes exploding.   She explains that explosiveness and moodiness are typical of people who abuse their partners since these behaviors can intimidate and frighten the victim and are reflections of the abusers use of threats and manipulation to establish and maintain power and control. The entire first part of Twilight (certainly until Bella is rescued in Port Angeles by Edward in Chapters eight and nine) is focused on Edwards odd behavior towards Bella that vacillates between amusement and pure contempt. At one point, his behavior causes Bella to say to Edward, I cant keep up with you, and question him as to whether he has a multiple personality disorder (Meyer, Twilight 84, 82). Even after Edward makes his true feelings for Bella known and while he continues to keep his emotions in-check around Bella, hes prone to the occasional swing. Any force during a conflict This may involve a batterer holding a woman down, physically restraining her from leaving a room, or pushing/shoving her (Walker). In Chapter five of Twilight, Bella faints during a blood-typing exercise in her Biology class. Edward convinces the school secretary to excuse them from class so that he can escort her safely home. Bella relents, happy to get out of class, but is fully intent on seeing herself home. When Bella moves to the drivers seat of her truck, Edward physically restrains her by pulling the back of her jacket, telling her, Where do you think youre going? (Meyer, Twilight 103). Later, Bella is restrained again, this time by Edwards brother Emmett (under Edwards direction) as they rush to flee James after the baseball game. While trying to decide how to counter James inevitable attack, Edward decides to take Bella away from Forks. When she protests, Edward orders Emmett to secure her by her wrists and forcibly strap her into the harness of the Jeep they are using to escape (381). Of course, not everyone will see it this way. Some will see Edward as he is presented as the ideal, romantic, doting boyfriend and rationalize that his actions are justified because they were enacted with Bellas best interests in mind and because Edward, as a vampire, has physical and mental capabilities that Bella, as a mortal, does not possess. But, we cannot let Edward off the hook just because he is a vampire and not a living, breathing person. While personhood is certainly linked to humanity, Nicolas Michaud suggests that one does not necessarily need to be human to be a person: Personhood should be granted to those who demonstrate certain qualities such as consciousness and self motivated activity; those who demonstrate certain capabilities such a practical reason and affiliation should also not be denied the ability to flourish if they so choose (45). Edwards respect for the human soul, his choice to drink animal blood instead of human blood, and his attempt to assimilate in to Forks society demonstrate his desire to pass and be accepted as a person and not a vampire. Therefore, if Edward wants to enjoy the benefits of personhood in our society, we have to demand of him the same standards that we would expect from any other male in it regardless of any supernatural power he may possess. There are those that will argue that even though Edward exhibits these tendencies, he does not cross the line to become a full-fledged physical abuser. However, while physical violence is one method by which men control women and maintain their supremacy, patriarchy does not need to be enforced by using violence alone. In this case, Edwards actions create an environment where Bella cannot love Edward without loathing herself. He demonstrates that, despite the claim to the contrary, he is actually very far from perfect. Yet, Bella still sees herself as subordinate to him. She consistently reminds the reader and herself that she is not good enough for Edward. Because the Bella/Edward relationship is presented as fated and Edwards actions are justified as being for the benefit of Bellas safety, we permit Bella to respond in ways that would concern us if we saw it manifested in others close to us. We condone her continued disregard for her own personal safety. We allow her to isolate h erself from her family and friends. We accept her explanations for her repeated injuries. Bella literally gives up her life for love. Edwards controlling behavior coupled with Bellas justification of it creates a situation in which the females subordination becomes not only acceptable to readers, but rational as well. Can Romance Narratives be Anything But Oppressive? The abuse narrative present in the Twilight saga becomes especially problematic when viewed with an understanding of the romance genre. Romance as a genre is frequently characterized by the quest for an ideal heterosexual love relationship between a strong, dashingly handsome, young man and a beautiful, vulnerable, self-sacrificing young woman (Burnett and Beto). These qualities of romance stories are at the forefront of the Twilight saga. While these aspects of romance can be read as contributing to the perpetuation of patriarchal ideas about gender roles, romance can also be interpreted as the ultimate feminist genre. Catherine Asaro reminds us that the plots of most romance stories are centered on the desires of the heroine; her values are given priority and she always ends up getting what she wants. Bella spends four books telling us, the readers, that she wants to achieve immortality as a vampire and spend eternity with Edward while still being able to keep her best friend and Edwards rival suitor Jacob around. Breaking Dawn sees Bella fighting for her right to bear a child. She ultimately achieves all of this. Asaro also asserts that romance novels are unique in that they adhere to the female gaze. Laura Mulveys concept of the male gaze rests in the assumption that the audience is forced to view the action and characters of a filmic text through the perspective of a heterosexual man. Examples of its manifestation in filmic texts are seen in camera shots focusing on the curves of the female body, cleavage, or other sexualized positioning of women. In romance novels, however, the male form is the one under the heaviest scrutiny its features extolled upon in great detail. In fact, the female heroine is frequently described with just enough detail to humanize her, while leaving enough information out of the picture so that the reader might insert herself into it. In Twilight, Bella frequently compares Edward to the mythical Greek god Adonis. Her description of his facial features is specific. We see Edward, through her eyes as perfect and angular with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a straight nose and full lips. His hair, which is always messy, is an unusual, eye-catching shade of bronze while his eyes are topaz. Bella, on the other hand, is described to the reader far more simply she has long brown hair and brown eyes. Texts presented through the female gaze are significant in two distinct ways. For one, that the heroine is presented as an everywoman can be seen as empowering to female readers who are often only presented with representations of female characters that fade into the background unless they have qualities deemed important' (Asaro). Readers are able to recognize aspects of themselves in the narrative. Also, it legitimizes female sexuality and debunks the myth that women dont notice men in that way. Physical attractiveness is just as important for females as it is for males. Female sexuality is further legitimized in romance in that the heroine is rarely punished for engaging in sexual acts and can frequently be seen as the initiator of such acts. In Twilight, it is Bella who is eager to consummate the relationship she has with Edward and Edward who is resistant to give in without being married. Still, there is plenty in the saga to support the charges that the Twilight narrative is potentially harmful. Even though Edward never crosses the line into domestic violence, his behavior is still troublesome since the heavy consumption of romance narratives can, over time, influence readers interpretations of appropriate behavior for men and women in romantic relationships. In The Killing Screens, George Gerbner discusses his cultivation theory, which was developed to help explain the cumulative and overarching impact repeated media exposure has on the way we see the world in which we live. It emphasizes the effects of media consumption on the attitudes rather than the behavior of audiences. In short, heavy exposure is seen as cultivating attitudes which are more consistent with the world of media than with the everyday world. Gerbner argues that media cultivates attitudes and values which are already present in a culture, normalizing and reinforcing more dominant values, while mak ing other, more underlying ideas more salient. In a society such as ours where masculine ideology is already privileged; where we already have historical struggles with creating safe, egalitarian spaces for women; and where we already struggle with violence and intimidation, Gerbners theory tells us that extended consumption of the over-representation of patriarchy in the Twilight saga can normalize and legitimize acts of oppression that we might witness or experience in our own lives. When abuse is made to be fun and entertaining, we run the risk rationalizing and justifying it and fail to see the tragedy in it when we come across it in our real lives. Viewing the Twilight saga through this lens moves the conversation from the question of, What are romance narratives like those in Twilight doing to women? to What are women doing with them? Romance has been, perhaps, one of the most denigrated popular culture genres (Asaro; Wethington; Holmes). Common complaints include the lack of diversity and scope of romance narratives (typically seen as a result of the demands of powerful commercial forces and publishers looking to quickly churn out formulaic narratives that have previously proven to be profitable); and the genres consistent reliance on conservatively rigid messages about race, gender and male-female relationships; and the objectification of human bodies in explicit, almost pornographic, sexual representations (Wethington). Not everyone buys into these criticisms. Feminist media scholar Janice Radway was one of the first to take seriously the pleasure that women readers consistently seem to find in romance. According to her inf luential text Reading the Romance, women use romance as a way to set up a quiet space for themselves. They not only vicariously enjoy status positions and spaces of nurturing through the books that they do not enjoy in the real world, but romance stories also provide a fictional space in which readers can rehearse and make sense of their individual identity and role in society (Radway; Burnett and Beto). The role romance plays in preparing individuals how to behave in their public lives is even greater for young readers than what it may be for adults. Girls will use romances as an alternative to a romantic relationship when one has not yet presented itself. Romance novels act as safe spaces to gain insight on how to meet boys, what kinds of things they might say to them, and what dating is like. For them, romance novels act as beginners manual for adolescence (Cherland and Edelsky; Christian-Smith; Willinsky and Hunniford) Audiences appear to carry the lessons and desires cultivated through repeated exposure to romance narratives in their youth with them throughout their lives. For example, a generation ago, at the height of the coming-of-age teen romance flick, there emerged two archetypes for the ideal boyfriend Jake Ryan and Lloyd Dobler. Jake Ryan, of course, was the cool, super-popular, super-rich, Porsche-driving, way-too-hot-to-be-in-high-school hunk who caught the Plain Jane Samantha Bakers eye in the film Sixteen Candles. Lloyd Dobler, on the other hand, was an unpretentious, earnest, boombox-hoisting everyman who was thoroughly devoted to the super-smart Diane Court in the film Say Anything. Its been more than 25 years since Sixteen Candles was in theaters and 20 years since Say Anything was released, yet women coming of age in the 1980s still find themselves longing for their Jake or their Lloyd but, not finding him. (Stuever, Real Men; Steuver, What I Did). There is evidence that the same desire audiences have for a relationship with Jake and Lloyd also exists for Edward Cullen, regardless of the age of the audience member. For example, on the discussion forum for the TwilightTeens.com fansite, for example, one can find a multitude of discussion threads in which young fans deliberate questions like On a scale of 1 to 10, how lucky is Bella Swan [to be with Edward Cullen]?; Could you see yourself dating a guy like Edward?; or What do you like about Edward? Additionally, Emily Reynolds interviews and surveys with female adult readers of the Twilight saga revealed that it was Bella with whom readers most frequently identified and whose behaviors they most saw in themselves, making it easy for the reader to slip into Bellas shoes. This identification most frequently manifests itself in a desire to be romantically linked with Edward. According to one of Reynolds participants: I would leave my husband for someone like that (30). The difference, of course, is that seeking out a Jake Ryan or a Lloyd Dobler though destined to end in disappointment is not likely to meet with a violent end, though seeking out an Edward Cullen might. Is it all bad? It is not my goal to vilify the Twilight saga. It is okay to enjoy things that are entertaining and fun, but we should not dupe ourselves into believing that our entertainment media does not also assist in formulating our ideas about our culture. Popular media help shape a worldview in audiences that re-inscribes dominant positions of power and authority (Althusser; Gitlin; Hall), which in Eurocentric cultures like ours is white, patriarchal capitalism (Fiske qtd. in Meyers 7). Patriarchy is the primary oppressor of females in a society (Firestone; Greer; Millett). Since patriarchy does not necessarily operate as an explicit, perceivable reality (meaning, we dont always recognize it when we see it), we must review the aspects of our culture pop culture included that perpetuate patriarchal ideology and cause it to be normalized. What are, in fact, dangerous ideas that devalue the female in society are too frequently seen as legitimate choices in the Twilight saga choices made in th e name of true love or in the face of supernatural forces. When presented through these lenses, Bella and Edwards relationship is seen as romantic and desirable when in any other world it would be destructive. We have to remember that patriarchy, while notable for marginalizing females, does not operate free from feminine influence (Enloe). Social systems are not made solely of men; women are also contributing members. As such, a patriarchal society relies on the participation of all members men and women to endure. Therefore, as destructive as Edward is in the Twilight narrative, the real danger exists when we fail to confront patriarchy and oppression when we encounter it. It is advantageous that Twilight appeals to readers across several generations because it can be used as a framework for encouraging discourse between adults and youth about how female oppression occurs in society. Only future analysis will tell if these conversations are happening. Lets hope that they are.

Drowsy Driving: A Health Promotion Teaching Tool Proposal Essay

Drowsy Driving: A Health Promotion Teaching Tool Proposal This paper is a proposal for a health promotion teaching tool to raise awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and to provide some tips and hints to help people reduce their risk and increase their safety while driving. The target audience is primarily the status post motor vehicle accident patient recovering as an inpatient on the medical/surgical unit of New London Hospital. However, there may be a useful spill-over effect and this tool could also be used by families and visitors to the Medical Surgical unit. The tool would be available on the medical/surgical unit of the hospital in the form of a tri-fold color pamphlet, placed in a hallway between the patient rooms and the rehabilitation gym. The expected outcome is that after picking up and reading the tool, patients would be more aware of the risks and hazards of drowsy driving and make choices to reduce their risk and increase their personal safety when driving. DROWSY DRIVING In the past several decades, our society has grown from a ‘one for the road’ attitude to a zero tolerance approach to driving while intoxicated. A quick look at the evening news shows us that many different states considering measures to prevent texting while driving, and ‘distracted driving’ is now a phase in common use. We understand the dangers of driving under the influence, texting while driving and distracted driving; however, drowsy driving continues to be a problem on our roads. Needs assessment Between 1998 and 2008, 16.5% of fatal car accidents in the US involved a drowsy driver, and 13% of non-fatal accidents where at least one person was admitted to the hospital involved a drowsy d... ... the American Medical Association .1998; 279(23):1908-1913. doi:10.1001/jama.279.23.1908. Microsoft. (2014) Test Your Documents Readability. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/test-your-document-s-readability-HP010148506.aspx#BM2 National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration (n.d.) Drowsy Driving and Automobile Crashes. Retrieved from: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/drowsy_driving1/drowsy.html Tefft, B., (2012). Prevalence of Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Drowsy Drivers, United States, 1999-2008. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 45(2012) 180-186. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1016/j.aap.2011.05.028 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). Healthy People 2020 Initiatives: Injury and violence prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=24

Innovation: What is innovation strategy Essay

According to Dictionary. com innovation strategy is a plan made by an organization to encourage advancement in technology or services, usually by investing in research and development activities. An organizations innovation strategy must align with its mission and vision statements, along with aligning with the organizations statements it must also align with outside sources strategies like suppliers and manufacturing. If the process and products strategy do not align this could quickly drive up cost and risk for the organization. There are three pillars of innovation strategy (1) research and development ideation, (2) Life cycles and product innovation strategy, (3) information/idea transference and customer feedback, using these an organization can focus on to help ensure that it is successful. Innovation: Why pick this type or product? Simple truth is a good innovation because it is a different type of product. It is natural and organic and there are many ways it comes in form from beverages to snacks. According to the website Simple Truth products are made with methods that mix cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster the recycling of resources, promote ecological balance and help conserve biodiversity. (The kroger Co, 2013) Using Simple Truth will help households to â€Å"Go Green†. Though not everyone likes the organic products because they are more expensive, if everyone can switch to just using one organic product in their household, it will help to show that society cares for what is happening to the environment. With this type of organic product being used it helps to encourage the preserving of resources that are precious to our world. This will also help future generations to be encouraged to use these organic products so that the world can continue to grow and prosper for many more generations. Evaluation: What makes this a successful innovation? Evaluation: Will this increase the success of the company overall? The success of Simple Truth depends on a trending belief that organic foods are healthier and cleaner. While there are little arguments or studies that show organic foods being healthier or safer (Smith-Spangler et al. 2012), it is agreeable that organic foods do not use chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, synthetic pesticides to reduce pests and diseases, synthetic herbicides to manage weeds, or antibiotics and growth hormones for animals to prevent diseases and spur growth (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Simple Truth considers the long-term effect of agricultural interventions on the agro-ecosystem and supports the growth of organic foods while establishing sustainability with our shared global resources such as soil, water, air and climate, and general biodiversity. Each day, as more people realize how organic foods support the environment, Simple Truth will reap the benefits of a changing societal view on sustainability. According to statistics collected from the Organic Trade Association (2011), 75% of U. S. families purchase organic products at one point or another. 41% of parents in 2010 reported buying more organic foods than previous years. 70% of organic buyers now look for the USDA organic certified seal. Since Simple Truth is USDA Organic-certified, the increase of overall organic purchases across the country is also a positive indicator pointing to the overall company success.

Brazil Macroeconomics Essay

The country of choice is Brazil for the following reasons: it is a booming economy, which provides some stark contrast with the stagnation and ever-mentioned phrase ‘double-dip recession’ which now commonly used in the West. Macroeconomics is concerned with the study of aggregate economy, which embodies all nationally relevant economic indicators. The common indicators are the unemployment rate, the rate of inflation, the GDP per capita, economic growth, the economic cycle, and the labor force. Since 2003, Brazil’s economy has been growing steadily. It has been improving its macroeconomic stability despite a small crisis in 2008 which saw its growth rate decline to 2.6%. In 2010 it grew by 7.6% amid renewed confidence from foreign investors. Part of the reason for this is the high interest rates which make it attractive to foreign investors. Note also that this was its highest growth in 25 years, whilst people especially given that many economies were struggling a t the same time. Furthermore, the continuing flows of investment into the manufacturing sector have provided greater backbone to the economy. Note that a commonly cited reason for the economic struggle of the UK for example is its everlasting trading deficit. It does not export enough, it does not manufacture enough. With natural resources such as tin, clay, uranium, platinum, petroleum, cocoa, gold, wood, and hydroelectric power (and much more), Brazil is generally recognized as one of the naturally richest countries on Earth in terms of quantity and probably the richest in terms of variety of resources. The subject being treated here is not a comparative analysis between Brazil, an emerging economy and the declining economies of the West. Comparative analysis will only be used briefly in order to further confirm the great performance of this economy since 2003. In the arena of macroeconomics, it is essential to look at things from a national and international standpoint and therefore the performance of one economy is not only relative to its past performance but also relative to other economies in the world. In the past decade Brazil’s Government has combined fiscal policy has been used at times to stave off excessive inflation and encourage consumption. The reason why this has worked out is that in the long-run, the country has consistently been creating jobs both in the manufacturing and the services sectors, which in unison with fiscal policy have helped keep a lid on inflation in the past ten years. This point of success will be analyzed inn depth given that this country was previously known to have huge inflationary problems prior to the last decade. http://www.bbc.co.uk http://www.indexmundi.com/brazil/economy_profile.html http://www.thomaswhite.com/explore-the-world/brazil.aspx

After a Careful Examination of the Arch Communication Inc.

After a careful examination of the Arch Communications Inc. case and the valuation done by the Analyst, we believe that there are following issues with valuation which should be examined very closely – 1) Technicality Error in the preparation of the Free Cash Flow: In the FCF prepared by John Adams: Tax and Change in Net Working Capital items cannot be observed. We may assume that, this was done on purpose since both of these values were accepted as â€Å"0† throughout the forecast period. In the absence of knowledge about the details for tax implications in US and the effect of the expected Westlink Holdings acquisition on existing tax base, we accepted the tax assumption made by John Adams as correct. In normal conditions we need to investigate thoroughly the tax issue and the permitted number of years that loss can be carried forward in US. * We think that accepting the â€Å"Change in Net Working Capital† as â€Å"0† throughout the forecast period is a strong assumption.The negative Net Working Capital (for 2005 Current Assets-Current Liabilities = 33,671-49,172 = 15,501 ) structure may change within forecasted period against to company due to increasing competition. But we still continue with the â€Å"0† ? Net Working Capital assumption of John Adams. 2) WACC Estimate: John Adams used the following parameters/assumptions in his WACC calculations: Rf: 7% Market Risk Premium (â€Å"MRM†): 7% Beta Arch: 1. 6 Borrowing Rate: 11% Eqity/Debt Ratio: 40% / 60% And based on these: Re= Rf+ ? Arch x MRP = 7% + 1. 6 x 7% = 18. 2 % WACC = 0. x Re + 0. 6 x Rd and accepted tax shield from cost of debt as â€Å"0† due to the â€Å"0† tax cost of the company during the forecasted period. WACC = 0. 4 x 18. 2% + 0. 6 x 11. 0% = 13. 88% =>13. 9% * In the absence of details about the ? Arch calculation of John Adams we accepted this assumption as accurate. [ Dear All: Please feel free to comment on Beta and cost of debt assumptions, also on 0 tax assumption in WACC calculation] 3) Terminal Value Calculation: John Adams calculated Terminal Value of the company at year 2005 as $3,568m with 10x EBITDA multiple. Although 10xEBITDA multiple seems close to the existing average EV/EBITDA multiple (the average is 10. 6 for the above 6 companies), this multiple reflects the existing company growth/market expectations. A multiple of 10-12 multiple can used for corporations with high growth expectations but it is unusual and flawed to accept the same multiple for Arch Communication even after 10-years. Normally for mature companies using EV/EBITDA multiple in the range of 6-7 times can be more acceptable. * When $854. m PV of Terminal Value is double checked with the calculation method by Perpetual Growth Rate at the 10th Year Free Cash Flow: 3,568=277. 3(13. 9%-g) => g=6. 118%. Assumption of 6. 12% perpetual growth is both unusual and irrational. * It seems that the discounting formula used for calculating t he PV of Terminal Value seems false. It is discounting 1 more year than the actual 9 years. Hence for discounting the PV of Terminal Value at the Year 2005, it is needed to use the discount rate of 0. 3099. * When a usual market practice was used for the growth in perpetuity (for the calculation of TV) i. . 2. 0% => TV=277. 3(13. 9%-2. 0%) x (0. 3099) =>$722m. instead of $854. 1m. 4) Cash Flow Assumptions: When we check the reliability of the assumptions and the cash flows we observe that: * EBITDA margin is increasing from 36. 2% to 46. 9%. We believe that 46. 9% at a maturing market seems very aggressive. * The book value of Fixed Assets (PP&E and Intangible Assets) decreases to $ 52. 2 m. levels at $ 760. 7 m sales figure. We believe that this seems some problematic for us. a. Whether EV/EBITDA is the right method for calculating the terminal value of Arch Communications Inc.? . If at all EV/EBITDA is the right multiple, is it justified to use a multiple of 10x for valuing the te rminal value when it is assumed that the business has achieved a stable perpetual growth rate? c. Is it valid to use FCF and EBITDA simultaneously in calculating the full enterprise value? The valuation at hand calculates the terminal value using EBITDA multiple and value generated over next ten years using FCF d. Even if the business is not generating any profit at all currently, is it valid to assume no taxes even for the rest of the forecasting period? . Is it efficacious to use a WACC of 13. 9%? Problem: Whether EV/EBITDA is the right method for calculating the terminal value of Arch Communications Inc.? Argument: Since the company is highly leveraged, it may be more prudent to value equity just by using Flow to Equity or levered cash flows. The unlevered cash flows and EBITDA may not †¦(CHOON TO ADD) Problem: If at all EV/EBITDA is the right multiple, is it justified to use a multiple of 10x for valuing the terminal value when it is assumed that the business has achieved a stable perpetual growth rate?Argument: The companies who have achieved a stable growth rate do have EV/EBITDA of 10x by any industry standard. A multiple of 10-12x is used for growing organizations but it is not guaranteed that Arch Communication would be a rapidly growing organization even after 10-years. Even if the valuation using EV/EBITDA is validated – it could only be in the range of 6-7x. Currently, the industry standard is of 10x multiple of EV/EBITDA but that is not guaranteed after 10-years Problem: Is it valid to use FCF and EBITDA simultaneously in calculating the full enterprise value?The valuation at hand calculates the terminal value using EBITDA multiple and value generated over next ten years using FCF Argument: We would also prefer to calculate the terminal value using FCF rather than using EBITDA since the value generated in the next 10-years is also calculated using FCF. We believe that FCF would provide with a better approximation of the terminal value. Problem: Even if the business is not generating any profit at all currently, is it valid to assume no taxes even for the rest of the forecasting period? Argument: FCF is calculated as Problem: Is it efficacious to use a WACC of 13. 9%? Argument:

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Education - Research Paper Example The subject school that is being documented tends to display a similar trend. The school in focus is an elementary school so the ages of the student population tend to be under 12 years of age. The Hispanic background of most student’s means that they come from families where Spanish is spoken and understood. This often occurs at the expense of learning English and a significant amount of students in class tend not to speak any English at all. Yet another significant amount of students in class tend to speak some English though there is a large need to improve the spoken English skills. Only a minor amount of students can fully communicate in and comprehend English. On average the typical Grade 4 student has trouble coping with speaking a few words of English. In this situation, expecting these children to write words and sentences in English is unrealistic because they can hardly comprehend English. Most children can however follow cue and produce some sensible words while on ly a small amount of children can produce understandable sentences. In terms of behavior, a large majority of children are inclined to create disturbance in the classroom. The imposition of order in the classroom is a separate task in itself. However, it has been felt that if these children’s behaviors are reinforced with more positive values, a significant difference could be created. This onus would fall to the school as these children hail from a relatively low socio-economic status. In most of the children’s families, either both parents are working or the mother has too many children to take care of. This indicates that the children are not given a lot of time by parents for their grooming especially as per behavior and education. In addition the language barrier that exists between the teachers and the students means that not all instructions are being carried forward as intended. Rework and repetition of the same tasks in class is common since most children fail to comprehend instructions the first time. Since most children are essentially English language learners, so there is dire need to look into the lingual skills of these children before any other form of learning is introduced. The lack of proper communication between teachers and students is a major facet of the school environment. The interaction between teachers and students is limited by the fact that both parties are unable to understand each other completely unless the teacher has a Hispanic background as well. A few Caucasian students are present in class as well but interaction with them alone cannot be taken as a guarantee for other children to learn English. In terms of teaching, the language barrier poses problems on different fronts. For one thing, the instructions passed onto children are not clear the first time and there is often the need to repeat instructions. This tends to slow down the overall pace of work significantly. Furthermore, this issue creates an evaluati on based problem as well. The limited interaction available with the students makes it hard to evaluate if a student has learning disabilities or if the student is being bogged down in translation. Language also plays a defining role in how the community tends to view itself. It is typical to see Hispanic children sitting together in class, socializing together and forming cults. This exclusion tends to take place because these children do not have the necessary language skills to