What is post-colonialism, and , with a focus on reflexivity, what is Essay

What is post-colonialism, and , with a focus on reflexivity, what is its significance for understanding international relations - Essay Example post-colonial period can be defined as the period where formerly colonised countries came to discover their national identities and this was done in such a manner that there was an emphasis on the freedoms and greatness of local peoples and cultures over those of the colonisers. Therefore, post-colonialism follows an epistemological approach that attempts to address the politics of knowledge in such a manner that ensures a study of the decolonised people and its impact on their identity in the contemporary world. Post-colonialism is essential for the understanding of international relations because it not only compares relations between states before, during, and after colonialism, but it also provides an understanding have come to handle their colonial legacy in the context of interactions with other states. Reflexivity is normally considered to be a constant assessment of knowledge and how it is related to the ways of doing knowledge (Bryant, 2002; Flanagan, 1981). In this context, an individual attempts to assess post-colonialism from a personalised point of view so that he or she comes up with ideas that suggest how the period of post-colonialism has come to affect the relationships of states at an international level. A close study of literature concerning post-colonialism will be analysed and the information gathered applied to how it has come to affect international relations in the modern age. Post-colonialist writers such as Frantz Fanon state that colonialism was essentially destructive to the people who were colonised and this was mainly because of their being dehumanised by their colonisers (Fanon 1963, p.205). Fanon notes that colonialism worked towards the debasement of the human characteristics of the colonised, and this was done in such a manner that it was almost impossible for them to retain their self-esteem under the new circumstances in which they found themselves. The use of both physical and mental violence brought about a situation where

Final Paper Week 8 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Final Paper Week 8 - Assignment Example nto five different categories namely Power (sense of wining or accomplishment), Love and Belonging (feeling of receiving love, give love, or accepted by others), Freedom (sense of autonomy, independence or having personal space), Fun( sense of pleasure and enjoyment) and Survival (basic needs of food, shelter, or sexual fulfillment). RT asserts that these essential human needs should be met in order for an individual to operate optimally. According to Dr. Glasser, every person is always struggling to achieve these needs and some of the needs are often met without the knowledge of an individual (Murdock, 2013). For instance, reaching out to support group or socializing with workmates and friends or family members is an effective way of satisfying the need for love and belonging and most of people may not be aware of this fact as they consider it an ordinary occurrence. The fact that every person is always striving to attain all the five basic needs is the central construct of Reality Therapy. This is also a clear justification that all human beings are always in control of what they want in their lives in the quest to meet their basic needs and it does not matter whether their actions help them achieve their basic desires. Murdock (2013) asserts that it is unfortunate that most individuals act inappropriately in their pursuit to achieve the basic needs and thus the issue of individual choice arises, as it is believed that it is through choices that one makes his goals attainable or not. It is noteworthy that achieving the need for love and belonging is the primary goal of most individuals as people always want to feel connected and accepted before they pursue other goals. This claim can be justified by the fact that one of the key goals of RT is to assist people reconnect with individuals they consider part of their quality world. According to RT, individuals are mainly motivated to achieve their needs but the needs for significant relationship often

The Birthplace Of The Industrial Revolution History Essay

The Birthplace Of The Industrial Revolution History Essay The Industrial Revolution started during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Great Britain. It then spread to the rest of Europe, North America and finally to the whole of the world. As luck would have it, of the western Civilized nations, Great Britain was already a world power (thanks to the English Navy) but the reason is that its an island nation. As an island nation, and no recent invasions upon their soil, there was nothing to disrupt progress. The U.S. was still learning and growing, having not yet discovered fully its own borders and interior, was behind (but closely so) Great Britain. There were so many theories on how the Industrial Revolution started in Britain. Yet there were a lot of main contributes to it. Growth of population and inventions was a main effect because it brought in more people and ideas. Others were good natural resources and agriculture and help of the overseas trade. Population, of course, had a big impact on the Industrial Revolution because as more people come into the Britain area, theyre more than likely going to need a job. The rising population, especially in the cities, did two things to further the Industrial Revolution. The first was that it created a better and growing group of labor. More people were ready and able to fill up the increasing job market. The following most important thing is that a growing population caused a greater insist for products that were being formed. Many famers found it hard to live due to the fact of new machines coming about, so they moved to the cities to find work. The enclosure movement required small farmers to either take up tenant or move to cities and become part of the urban labor force. (Martin, 230) Job openings and more chances helped increase the economy of the Industrial Revolution. More people meant more money, food, and a simpler lifestyle. More scientists that did well in studies encouraged m ore people to get into the science industry that will later lead to the Industrial Revolution. The growing population during the Industrial Revolution as well helped business to produce more good and products for customers. Population growth tended to lower the relative price of manufactured goods and real wages, thus not likely to have stimulated a search for labor-saving innovations. (Mokyr, 24) The British brought in more slaves to work on their land. The slaves grew products that were in turn sold on to Britain. The rapid development of English industry has been attributed to the exploration of colonial people and the profit wrung from the slave trade. (Ashton, 123-126) The capture of overseas markets, one after another, until England became the workshop of the world. Britain had a lot of supplies of their own. But the ones they didnt have, the borrowed from their many other colonies; which were loyal customers too. Their vast empire allowed them to import raw materials from the colonies to factories at home, and export the finished products back to the colonies. This spurred industrialization in the British Isles. now an entirely new spirit, that of the New World, was to sweep eastward overseas and along with the new forces generated from active and regular contact with orient, transform, and revivify Europe. (Gillespie, 27) The Americas helped big time to contribute to the Industrial Revolution in Britain. foreign trade, especially trade with the Americas was the very center of the English development process. (Ashton, 13-14) Progress in transportation is a reason of the Industrial Revolution because without better transport relations, Britain wou ld not have been able to trade with the other colonies. The improvement of oceangoing transport was very significant because trade was becoming a very commercial source of profits for England. Also, people were becoming wealthier; therefore they could come up with the money to buy new inventions. Wealthy people put in money into new ideas so they would make a benefit if it were successful. This is a main reason of the Industrial revolution since without it; Britain would not have had as much money to use on things such as transport and inventions. The trade triangle was skillful because the ships never sailed empty and people made lots of money. The owners of these ships made lots of profits due to the low labor cost. The trade triangle formed a market for the factory owners in Britain, selling their products overseas. New well-developed inventions can always open a door to success. Business people invested in the manufacture of new inventions. New inventions and machinery also made work faster than before. These new inventions included: banking systems, flying shuttles, spinning jenny, water frames, and cotton mills. Their development of the banking systems also contributed to the Industrial Revolution. Cash and freedom, England was the first country to have its own independent bank (the bank of England) it also was the only nation with the means to raise more cash and investments from across the country and the rest of Europe (The London stock exchange) People did not want to physically do their work themselves for the rest of their lives. During the Industrial Revolution, Europe shifted from an economy based on agriculture and handicrafts to an economy based on manufacturing by machines and automated factories. (Duiker, 405) Britain had loads of coal to use for their excellent ideas because they would use wood to heat their homes. The British soon had ideas about change for themselves. Their government also favored the change. Roads, ports and bridges played an important role in developing an industrialized nation. The products made by these factories were passed to other markets around the world by roads and rivers. Canals soon became the next most important thing to the cities. When George Stephenson made steam engine that could carry on rails which is later called railroads. After that they linked cities all over the world. The sustained growth agriculture productivity during this period led to the fall in prices of agricultural products. Britain was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution because of its power and resources. The small island country had extensive natural resources. These natural resources included: water power and coal to fuel the new machines, iron ore to construct machines, tools, and buildings, rivers for inland transportation, and harbors from which merchant ships set sail. Agriculture in Britain at the time was a main factor of the Industrial Revolution. Among all of the changes occurring at the time, agriculture and farming families changed as well. Cotton was an important item at the time. John Kays flying shuttle made clothes twice as much than usual. This was known as the textile industry. Iron wares and later of cotton played vital part in the building of those industries to the point where technical change transform their momentum of growth. (Davis, 393) Agriculture relea sed labor to industry during this period. The success of England was fundamentally based on the transformation of the agriculture and on major increase in agricultural activities. (Smit, 61-63) Economic growth continued to spread during the 19th century, and still spreading today. The Industrial Revolution reached other parts of Europe and the United States in the 1800s. In the 1900s, it reached Asia. Eventually, the causes of the British Industrial Revolution can be put down to a number of factors; Extending from new technologies, environmental, resources and economic reasons.Overall, with such factors it cannot be considered a surprise that Britain embraced industry. For location, resources, and transport networks all favored Britain and their empire; resulting in a large share of manufacturing output for Britain by the mid 19th century.

Human Nature/Cycles of Life and Escape and Adventure :: Essays Papers

Human Nature/Cycles of Life and Escape and Adventure Throughout the life everyone goes through cycles of events that inevitably lead them to new directions in life. It leaves one wanting to explore a life greater than what he or she has. Such cycles can include the creation of new friendships, longing for love or lust, boredom or simply wanting something more from life. In the book Dubliners by James Joyce, stories of escape and adventure are clearly evident in "Araby" and "Eveline" and "The Dead". Each story presents a desire to search for something greater in life and to leave something behind. But the idea of escaping from something or someone, or reaching a new place, is impeded by their situation [Dublin]. In the story Araby, a young man looks to embark on a new journey that with the hopes of pleasing his new found desire for romantic intimacy with a particular girl. The boy's adventure lies in going to a place called Araby to find a gift for this girl that he is trying to impress. If I go, he says, I will bring you something" (24). Joyce uses the cycle's theme in this story. At some point in time in life everyone finds some person that he or she likes and hope to impress in some way. A lot of times it happens more than once; most of the time a token of our attempt to "woo" a special someone is through gifts, usually materials, which he clearly wants to do in the story. Joyce clearly shows the boy's desire to adventure, through his willingness to impress this girl by going to a bazaar to search for her a gift and that seems to be all he can think of for quite some time; "I hardly had any patience with the serious work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire, seemed to me child's play, ugly monotonous" (24). He also has this idea about the bazaar form hearing other people talk about it. Another cycle the boy in Araby is going through is dealing with sexuality; "All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled" (23) A bazzar is the equivalent to a modern day Mardi Gras. Joyce uses the bazaar to symbolize, exotic delights, escape, and sensuality. Joyce uses the description of the event to represent this mode; "In front of me was a large building which displayed the magical name" (26). The boy's infatuation with this girl leaves him with fantasies about the girl

Huck Finn’s Transformation Essay

By the end of the first half of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I noticed a few changes in Huckleberry Finn’s attitude towards certain things. Huck’s outlook on life shifted rather dramatically before pap had kidnapped him. Though he had mixed feelings regarding his life with the widow, he, for the most part, was content living with her because not only was he educated, clothed, and fed properly, but he also felt slightly protected from pap. However, after pap captured Huck and locked him inside a secluded cabin, his opinion changed. Initially, he was scared of pap and was miserable being locked inside for days on end. He remained scared of pap, but gradually began to enjoy life without the widow. He said, â€Å"I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s, where you had to wash, and eat on a plate, and comb up, and go to bed, and get up regular, and be forever bothering over a book†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Twain 32). Many transformations took place in Huck after he feigned his death and ran away from pap as well. Some of the changes were fairly minor, but I felt that they added up and also proved that Huck was not as stubborn as he once was. They proved that he truly did have the ability to change. A paradigm of a minor change was in Huck’s opinion regarding praying. At the beginning of the novel, he looked down upon praying and religion because he thought them to be useless and claimed that praying didn’t work. But after he found the loaves of bread with quicksilver inside them, he thought that the widow, or someone else, had probably prayed that the bread would find him, and it did. Huck then decided that praying might be effective (45). The most significant change that I noticed in Huck was at the end of chapter 15. Jim and Huck had been separated and could not find each other because of the foggy conditions. However, Huck thought it would be funny to fool Jim and convince him that it was all in his dream. When Jim realized that Huck was lying, he was extremely hurt and offended. At first, Huck let Jim walk away, but then he said, â€Å"It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterward, neither† (89). This was a huge deal, because at that time, a white person would never apologize to a slave.

Karl Marx & Max Weber on Social Stratification

We cannot deny the existence of social structures or system by which people are categorized or ranked in a hierarchy. This people categorization is otherwise known as social stratification. It is a universal characteristic of society that persists over generations.   It is a social structure by which social issues and organizational problems arise.In a society, groups of people share a similar social status, and this is known as social class. Over the years, the importance and definition of membership in any social class evolve and change between societies. Societies have become all the more dynamic because of technological advances, industrialization, and now, globalization.Contemporary societies stratify into a hierarchical system based on economic status, income or wealth, and this is known as socioeconomic class.   In the past, societies have an upper class and a lower class. Those in the upper class are deemed to be the very wealthy and powerful, while those from the lower c lass are the poor and the weak.Considering social changes and developments in the twentieth century, new groups called the middle class and working class in urban societies emerged.   Members of the middle class are the educated, highly paid professionals like doctors, accountants, scientists, and lawyers. They nonetheless work for or render services for the upper class. Much like the working class, they receive their wages, only they earn above the minimum wage because of the market value of their professions and skills. Their market value increases as they increase their skills and competencies. They have the chance to increase their income and eventually move up the social ladder (Krieken, et al, 2001, p. 62).Meanwhile, those who belong to the working class are the trades people, factory laborers, drivers, and similar workers who has some skills training, which they use to earn a living. Although they may be considered financially stable due to regular income, they still belong to the lower class for the reason that they earn only slightly above the minimum wage.Other members of the lower class are the underemployed, unemployed, welfare beneficiaries, homeless, and everyone else who live below the poverty line. Due to lack of education and skills, their opportunities are simply limited (McGregor, 1997, p. 261).Social stratification is already an intrinsic structure of any society, and if it has its benefits and function in a society, which some scholars believe, that is reward and merit for productivity. People are rewarded for their productive efforts and skills. When we speak of reward, it does not only mean economic reward. Remember that people are also rewarded with (social) honor and this is known as social status.Karl Max and Max Weber were distinguished theorists whose works have become the basic but significant frameworks of sociology. Their concepts prove to be relevant until today. They have provided a rich reservoir of perspectives, which help contemporary social thinkers and learners, understand social stratification, classes and status groups. They both laid the groundwork for understanding social conflict and inequality in modern society such that whenever issues of social inequality arise, whether it is on the basis of social class, race, ethnicity, gender, and other dimensions, all these are explored and studied in the context of sociological traditions derived from their works.  Karl Marx’ Concept of Class Karl Marx defined class in terms of the extent to which a person or social group has the capacity to control the means of production. Those of the same social class have a common relationship to the means of production. Marx believed that the base of inequality among individuals in modern societies is economy (Sanghara).Marx believed that classes are constituted by the relationship of groupings of individuals to property ownership in the means of production. In this regard, a few own properties and capita l while others do not, many work while only a few live off the fruits of those workers. Class societies have been built around a line of demarcation between two antagonistic classes, one dominant and the other subordinate (Giddens, 1971, p. 37).Marx’ view of social stratification stemmed from his observations of early industrialization in Europe during the late part of the 19th century. He saw the existence of two major classes –the ruling class (capitalists) and the working class, or otherwise known as the bourgeois and proletariat. The capitalists were viewed as such because of their ownership of the means of production, as well as the power this creates – economically and even politically (Krieken, et al, 2001, p. 55).In a capitalist system, the ruling class, with their economic resources, lives from the productivity of the working class, and this is when social divisions and conflicts arise. Unlike in tribal, rural or simple societies where people live by hu nting (or gathering), people can not be categorized differently, because no one has more than others do.Marx believed that the conflict between the bourgeois (capitalists) who happen to control production, and the proletariat who actually produce the goods or render services in a society, on the basis of capitalism.In capitalism, control over production evokes control over the laborers, and this set-up is likely to result in exploitation of workers by the capitalists. With the craving of capitalists themselves to compete with fellow capitalists, and the greediness for more material gains, Marx predicted that in a society where the capitalist system prevails, financial resources of the few but wealthy capitalists would flourish. At the same time, the income disparity between the poor and the rich would continue. Meanwhile, as capitalists continue to exploit workers, the workers would remain victims of economic crises.The social classes that originated from the capitalist system that Marx knew during his time still holds true today, only, the bourgeois class has become fragmented over the last century due to the emergence of the so-called stockholders. Likewise, the proletariat has been changed significantly by the â€Å"white-collar revolution.† Decades ago, work involved mostly manual labor, or otherwise known as â€Å"blue-collar† occupations. â€Å"White-collar† occupations involve mostly mental or non-manual skills. However, the shared social structure of earning wages makes both proletariats during Marx’ time, and today’s educated but average office workers, a â€Å"working class.†Today, workers’ conditions have significantly improved through the efforts of labor organizations, and, because of expanded legal rights and protection of workers. While exploitation of workers still happen, and a small proportion of powerful people control the vast majority of wealth in our society, Marx’ perspectives will continue to prove valuable and significant in our understanding of social conflicts that arise from social stratification.Max Weber’s Social StratificationMax Weber expressed a two-fold classification of social stratification, with social class, status groups as distinct concepts. He believed that, the economic order was of great importance in determining the precise position of different communities, but nonetheless, he did not discount the important role of religion, ideas, status, and bureaucracy (Hadden, 1997, p. 126).Weber defined class as the disproportionate distribution of economic rewards, and the status group as the disproportionate distribution of social honor (Krieken, et al, 2001, p.58). Class position is determined by one’s market value. This market value is founded by education, talent, acquired skills and competencies. He had no notion of â€Å"surplus value,† unlike Marx. Social class is simply an aggregate of people with similar work or profess ional opportunities, and their position would depend on the choices they made out of these opportunities.Unlike social class, status groups have similar qualities like groups. They are influenced by how social honor is shared among the members of the group. Lifestyle is shared by those of the same social circle. Belonging to a status group may depend on kinship, education, and at the most extreme, through a caste system, which happens to be related to one’s culture. In a caste system, status is determined not only by law and convention, but also by religious sanction (Gane, 2005, p. 211).Contrary to Marx’ perception, Weber believed that status is more influential than economic condition. He introduced the concept of status groups as an additional social category to define one’s consumption pattern or lifestyle. If Marx focused on one’s position in the production assembly, Weber believed that status groups are actually communities held together by common l ifestyles and social esteem. Status groups share the same professions, views, as well as lifestyles. They do not just enjoy economic rewards, but social honor as well. With their professional achievement, comes social honor.Weber was concerned with individuality and generality (Ritzer, p. 114). For instance, he   recognized the individuality of people – their talents, skills and competencies and, that people have a good chance to further their career and improve their standard of living by increasing their market value through education.Weber’s theory on social mobility (or movement in the class structures) is more promising. Unlike Marx’ idea of social class which imply that animosity between the bourgeois and proletariat will not end until the proletariat eventually overthrow the bourgeois.However, Weber’s concept of social mobility does not only mean an upward movement. The reverse may also happen and that is – moving down the social ladder. M oving up or down the social ladder will depend upon the life choices the person made, as well as opportunities he had. In this case, the middle class are the most predisposed as it is only an intermediary class. Just like how Marx argued, the middle class would be eventually absorbed into both the upper and lower class, as this is not sufficiently different for it to survive (as a social class) in the long run.ConclusionKarl Marx and Max Weber were two important personalities whose theories led to our understanding of social stratification, class and status groups. Marx provided an elaborate and very systematic concept of capitalism and capitalist development, and its effect in society.   While Weber held other factors were also relevant in determining the future of our society   such as religion, culture, ideas, values, meaning, social and personal action.Marx and Weber’s perspectives amazingly still hold true in today’s modern societies. In the â€Å"Communist M anifesto,† Marx and Engels remarked that â€Å"the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles† (Bottomore, 1983,   p. 75). In any historical era, social classes were real and today, pressing economic conditions make social stratification and other structures all the more complex.Despite the fact that many work even harder to achieve more economic reward, many cannot move up the social ladder. â€Å"The class in its turn achieves an independent existence over against the individuals, so that the latter find their conditions of existence predestined, and hence have their position in life and their personal development assigned to them by their class, become subsumed under it† (Giddens and Held, p. 20)To be in the middle of the ladder, and stay there is such a long tedious struggle. Opportunities come, but sometimes, these elude them. In most modern societies in the world, many still live below the poverty line. But those who are bo rn in a wealthy or powerful family, knows just where they stand in the hierarchy system – and that is similar to that of their parents. Looking at how wealth is proportioned in today’s society, and how richer populations possess and continue to increase their wealth, Marx was right. The trend of widening disparity in wealth and social class between the rich and the poor will continue, until we brace ourselves as a social group to make a conscious and consolidated effort of reducing this gap.Weber believed, we can accomplish things which we do not even rationally or scientifically   think we are capable of doing, â€Å"namely the subjective understanding of the action of the component individuals† (Weber, 1968, p. 15). In other words, man has innate capabilities and the power to make significant change in himself and in the society where he belongs.To illustrate his viewpoint and applying it in contemporary society – and it may already sound clichà ©, o ne way of reducing the gap between social classes is through education. Through education, we are able to set the social foundation for the next generations.   It is the long route, but nonetheless, its impact has more lasting value.References:Bottomore, T (ed), 1983, A Dictionary of Marxist Thought, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, p. 75.Krieken, R, et al, 2001, Sociology Themes and Perspectives, 2nd edition, Longman, Melbourne, pp. 54-62.McGregor, C, 1997, Class in Australia, Penguin Books, Victoria, pp. 261.Gane, N, 2005, â€Å"Max Weber as a Social Theorist,† European Journal of Social Theory, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 211-226 (2005)Giddens, A, 1971, Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, p. 17.Giddens, A and Held, D, 1982, Classes, Power, and Conflict: Classical and Contemporary Debates, Berkeley, University of California Press, p. 20.Hadden, R, 1997, Sociological Theory: An Introduction to the Classical Tradition, Peterborough, Ontario, Broadview Press, p. 126.Ritzer, G, 1992, Sociological Theory, 3rd edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, p. 114.Sanghara, S, The Concept of Social Inequality, 3 March 2008, http://wps.prenhall.com/ca_ph_macionis_sociology_5/23/6031/1544046.cw/index.htmlWeber, M, 1968, Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology, New York, Bedminster Press, p. 15.

Fit In Essay

Fit In Essay Fit In Essay Donzell Jones Mr. McNeil Honors World Lit. February 20, 2014 Have you ever felt like you are lonely in a place where loneliness does not exist? Or have you felt forced to be somebody that you are not just to fit in? People often feel this way when they move from state to state or country to country. One must struggle with the harsh laws and judgment from the eyes of society. They are identified as immigrants or foreigners. Realizing that they must go through a struggle just to be accepted. In today’s society, people are categorized by their ethnicity or where they came from. Many of these people are from different places all over the world. They sometimes experience what people will call discrimination. For instance, they are treated unequally, such as being refused a place to live or simply not giving the same rights as someone else just because of their background. They often have to take even the hardest, worst paid jobs and still have difficulty adjusting entirely into society. Here in America, they see these people as aliens; fe aring and hating them just because they look or talk differently. But in reality they are no different from others around them and just want to live peacefully on this planet we call earth. Some people are not even accepted in their own community. They try their hardest just to be or look like the so called normal person next to them. An example being, they go out and buy things like clothes because other people might look good

A Needle Exchange Controversy essays

A Needle Exchange Controversy essays Needle Exchange Programs: The Best Solution? The United States of America has been contending with adverse social and economic effects of the drug abuse, namely of heroin, since the foundation of this country. Our initial attempt to outlaw heroin with the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 resulted in the U.S. having the worst heroin problem in the world (Tooley 540). Although the legislative actions regarding heroin hitherto produced ominous results that rarely affected any individuals other than the addict and his or her family, the late twentieth century brings rise to the ever-infringing AIDS epidemic in conjunction with heroin abuse. The distribution of clean needles to intravenous (IV) drug users is being encouraged in an attempt to prevent the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from sharing "contaminated needles" (Glantz 1077). It is the contention of this paper to advocate the establishment and support of needle exchange programs for intravenous drug users because such programs reduce the spread of HIV and d o not cause an increase of drug use. This can be justified simply by examining the towering evidence that undoubtedly supports needle exchange programs and the effectiveness of their main objective to prevent the spread of the HIV. Countries around the world have come to realize that prohibiting the availability of clean needles will not prevent IV drug use; it will only prevent safe IV drug use (Glantz 1078). Understanding that IV drug use is an inescapable aspect of almost every modern society, Europeans have been taking advantage of needle exchange programs in Amsterdam since the early 1980's (Fuller 9). Established in 1988, Spain's first needle exchange program has since been joined by 59 additional programs to advocate the use of clean injection equipment (Menoyo 410) in an attempt to slow the spread of HIV. Several needle exchange programs sponsored by religious organizations in Australia have "reporte...

Binomial and Black and Scholes Pricing models Essay Example for Free

Binomial and Black and Scholes Pricing models Essay The binomial and the Black and Schole models are option valuing models, the Binomial model involves determining the value of options using a tree like format whereby the value of the option is determined by the expiration time period of the option and volatility, for the Black and Schole model the value of options is determined by simply getting a derivative that helps get the discount rates of options. Binomial pricing model: The binomial pricing model was introduced by Ross, Cox and Rubinstein in 1979; it provides a numerical method, in which valuation of options can be undertaken. Application: This model breaks down the option into many potential outcomes during the time period of the option, this steps form a tree like format where by the model assumes that the value of the option will rise or go down, this value is calculated and it is determined by the expiration time and volatility. Finally at the end of the tree of the option the final possible value is determined because the value is equal to the intrinsic value. Assumptions: †¢ The model also assumes that the market is efficient in that people cannot predict the direction of change in the stock prices. †¢ The interest rates are constant and known and therefore they do not change in the time we consider an option. †¢ The model assumes that there are no dividends paid during the period in which one considers the option. †¢ The model assumes that the returns on the stocks are normally distributed. †¢ It also assumes that no commission is paid when buying or selling stock. Binomial and Black and Scholes Pricing models. (2016, Aug 11).

American Government - Bush Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Government - Bush - Essay Example He receives the same treatment as would any other major political figure who is prone to take a rigid stand on an issue, the same as any political figure who arrogantly believes that it is his way or the highway. McCain’s amendment passed in the House by a 99 to 9 vote. It was so substantial, albeit Bush was opposed, he was left with no other option except to sign the amendment. In his own recalcitrant demeanor, at the signing ceremony, President stated; In a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as a commander in chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective†¦of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks. (Bush LA Times) One does not have to project a personal bias when the principle puts forth statements such as the above quote from President Bush. He lets it be known that he begrudgingly af fixes his signature to the amendment. But even though he is compelled to sign it, he will encourage and approve disobedience when he deems it necessary. While scanning the LA Times I came across another article on Bush, which was written by a writer from the Washington Post. I felt compelled to draw a parallel between the two writers and the two papers. The piece from the Washington Post was laid out in an objective manner with all of the facts and a minimum amount of editorializing. Specifically, it was titled â€Å"Port Deal to Have a Broader View†. ... He receives the same treatment as would any other major political figure who is prone to take a rigid stand on an issue, the same as any political figure who arrogantly believes that it is his way or the highway. McCain's amendment passed in the house by a 99 to 9 vote. It was so substantial, albeit Bush was opposed, he was left with no other option except to sign the amendment. In his own recalcitrant demeanor, at the signing ceremony, President stated; In a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the president to supervisethe unitary executive branch and as a commander in chief and consistent with theconstitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving theshared objectiveof protecting the American people from further terroristsattacks. (Bush LA Times) One does not have to project a personal bias when the principle puts forth statements such as the above quote from President Bush. He lets it be known that he begrudgingly affixes his signature to the amendment. But even though he is compelled to sign it, he will encourage and approve disobedience when he deems it necessary. While scanning the LA Times I came across another article on Bush, which was written by a writer from the Washington Post. I felt compelled to draw a parallel between the two writers and the two papers. The piece from the Washington Post was laid out in an objective manner with all of the facts and a minimum amount of3 editorializing. Specifically

The ubiquitin system, disease and drug discuvary Essay

The ubiquitin system, disease and drug discuvary - Essay Example Ub as a protein is heat stable in nature that formulate into a compact global structure. Ub can be seen in all cells and has the capability to exist in free form or with other cells in a complex nature. When existing with other cell it is attached to protein in a covalent state along the glycine at the C-terminal end of ubiquitin and lysine. However, single ubiquitin molecules can be seen conjugated with lysine of these protein.Ub has a role to play in many cell processes. For example, during the GI phase of mitosis,Ub is coupled to the cyclin protein, thus play an important role in regulating the cell cycle. The coupling of Ub is also seen in, DNA repair, the regulation of transcription, programming cell death and embryogenesis. It is a family of genes which encodes Ub and has fusion proteins as it translation products. The protein in Ub exists in a linear chain of amino acids. This linear chain of amino acids can degrade over time and it is called protein - turnover. The concentration of protein in the cell is determined by the balance between the synthesis and protein degradation in a cell. It has been understood by studies on protein turnover rate that some protein are short lived where as others live for long duration. Majority of protein in the cell is comprised of long lived protein. However, the main regulatory are the shorlived protein but they are abnormal proteins. The short-lived protein are easily prone to degradation because they get partially unfold. The Ub by regulating degradation of certain protein regulate the protein turnover in a cell. This kind of regulatory action is necessary in a cell. The regulating protein degradation has the ability to avoid a protein which regulates other necessary function in a cell. This kind of control is necessary in a cell as the disposal of this kind of regulatory protein helps in the cessation of processing of the regulatory protein. Inactivation of protein is also performed by

UK employment law & Role of the State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

UK employment law & Role of the State - Essay Example sees the taxation of all items under consideration and makes sure that proper tax system and administration are in place: it is also obligated to provide enough social security to all its citizens, create and maintain public utilities, offer timely trainings on its agenda and offer job creation schemes among others. As a legislator, it endeavours to see that individuals are well justified in case proceedings and other disputes related matters, including the regulation of employment issues and trade unions (Guest 1995; p. 23). As an employer is involved in ensuring the public sector are payed with their dues and including their expenses. Also, it privatizes and nationalizes its public and private firms and by managing their ideology in employment relations. Lastly, an arbitrator in employment cases and tribunals, it forms commissions for official inquiries on special and needy and sensitive matters of the country which in turn become watchdog agencies against misappropriations of employment relations between itself and its citizens. It also puts special tribunal courts for such proceedings and hearings. The emphasis by the state of regulations is reflected by the decline of trade unions influences and its bargaining power, particularly, in the private sector. It is also shown in the increase in direct communications with its employees in its various agencies as part of Human Resources Management strategies (Storey, n.d). The following entails the Human Resource Management strategies employed by the state in various functions of employment relations. The state is being a pluralist, a unitary and global. It also enhances and employs Liberal Individualism, Liberal Collectivism and Bargained Corporatism in its human resource activities. The state emphasises the tripartite and collective nature of industrial relations (IR) as practiced in the UK until 1979. This strategy was derived by Fox (1966). This policy recognizes that employers and employees can have

Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Obesity - Essay Example Over the last centuries, research indicated that obesity was related to rich households where food was in plenty thus individuals could afford to overindulge. However, recent studies have shown a deviation from the traditional perspective where the findings indicate that households with higher risks of obesity were the poorest families in the United Kingdom (UK). This can be attributed to the fact that poor families are not in a position to afford adequate and nutritious diets. They instead tend to buy junk food, which is relatively cheaper and convenient because some nutritious diets require time to prepare and other accompaniments. This paper aims at discussing the title ‘In Western society, the poor are now for the first time in history, proportionately the most obese portion of the population’. Obesity generally translates to having too much body fat, which contributes to their being overweight. Obesity leads to reduced life expectancy because of the health risks it exposes people to like diabetes type 1 and 2, hypertension, heart disease and cancer. Obesity is caused by the consumption of excessive high-energy food intake, lack of physical activity and through genetic susceptibility although this is rare phenomena. Lack of physical exercise and adequate diets are leading causes of obesity. Consumption of low quality diets rich in energy and sugar content lead to accumulation of fat in tissues and consequent weight gain (Murphy 22). Lack of physical activity that is encouraged by a sedentary lifestyle contributes to lack of exercise. All of these factors combined, result in reduced morbidity of an obese individual because their weight becomes too much to bear. Their legs become swollen due accumulation of water caused by stress subjected to them by the excess weight. Obesity is a leading killer condition in the world, but it does not kill directly, it is the health risks that being obese one expose to, that cause death. The sad fact is that it is a preventable and treatable condition, but it continues to kill millions of people every year all over the world. The most effective mode of preventing obesity is leading a healthy lifestyle by consuming nutritious diets and maintaining proper physical health through exercise. Treatment of obesity follows the same principles applied in prevention, which are the most effective, and user friendly. There are other methods, which are considered extreme by some people, and they include surgery to remove excess body fat. Liposuction is such a surgical procedure where excess fat if sucked from an individual’s abdomen. The best way to manage obesity is by dieting which means consuming food that is low on high energy and sugars, and instead increase intake of vegetables and fruits. Physical health is also a vital component of managing obesity. Earlier research studies indicated that obesity was a condition associated with the rich, people of affluence. During the middle ages in Eur ope, rich people were revered for being obese, and it was an accepted norm, which represented their stature. In countries like Japan and China, obesity was referred to as the disease of the opulent in society. In more recent times, research studies have established a changing trend in the prevalence of obesity among rich households. The trend has changed from rich families having individuals who are obese to poor families having people who are obese. This

NURSING HEART FAILURE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

NURSING HEART FAILURE - Essay Example A diastolic heart failure is characterized by the impairment of filling capacity of the ventricles and no change in the ejection fraction. Congestive heart failure is characterized by circulatory congestion and resulting transudation, particularly in the pulmonary tissue. Decompensated heart failure is an exacerbated heart failure usually due to the non compliance of the patient to pharmacotherapy or suggested behavioral modifications. Symptoms of heart failure include dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and history of oedema (Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network, 2009). The symptoms of heart failure depend upon the side of the affected ventricle. If the right ventricle is affected, symptoms will include peripheral oedema that involves thighs, sacrum and abdominal walls, ascites, anorexia, engorgement of facial veins, tricuspid regurgitation that manifests as pulsations in neck and face, epistaxis and depression. If the left ventricle is involved, the symptoms incl ude dyspnea, impaired exercise tolerance, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, nocturnal cough with or without pink frothy sputum, cold peripheries, cardiac asthma and muscle wasting. The lifetime risk of developing heart failure in an otherwise healthy 40-year old individual is approximately 1 in 5 in the general population (Djousse, 2009). The prevalence of this disease is rising across the world and this places an extra burden on the healthcare systems. While pharmacotherapies are very important, heart failure patients benefit greatly from the behavioral modifications that are a part of standard counseling sessions. This is where the nursing staff plays a key role in managing the patient. Part 2- consider an individual who has the diagnosis of heart failure. Discuss how the nurse can enable the patient to make alterations to his/her lifestyle to improve his/her health. Within your discussion you should examine the use of relevant models/theories that can improve the process o f behavior change. Introduction Chronic heart failure has multiple risk factors and the number of patients suffering from chronic heart failure is increasing by the hour. While genetic propensity in the development of cardiovascular disease is currently under a lot of light, the elimination of risk factors has shown to prevent heart disease and delay the onset of disease in patients with a genetic tendency towards heart failure. These factors include alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco, inactive lifestyle, high intake of food rich in salts and animal fat and stress. The disease may be further aggravated by non-compliance to pharmacotherapy. None of these factors are isolated factors and one person may be exposed to more than one or all of these factors. What is even more important is the fact that these factors, as harmful as they are, are socially accepted activities and therefore, it is imperative to derive a policy and structure that not only deals with this acceptance while mak ing people aware of the hazards that these factors pose but also to take steps that translate into optimal behavioral changes that lead to better cardiac health. Behavioral change theories have been gaining a lot of importance when it comes to planning and implementing public policies as well as designing programs that maximize the number of beneficiaries in the shortest possible time. These theories

UK employment law & Role of the State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

UK employment law & Role of the State - Essay Example sees the taxation of all items under consideration and makes sure that proper tax system and administration are in place: it is also obligated to provide enough social security to all its citizens, create and maintain public utilities, offer timely trainings on its agenda and offer job creation schemes among others. As a legislator, it endeavours to see that individuals are well justified in case proceedings and other disputes related matters, including the regulation of employment issues and trade unions (Guest 1995; p. 23). As an employer is involved in ensuring the public sector are payed with their dues and including their expenses. Also, it privatizes and nationalizes its public and private firms and by managing their ideology in employment relations. Lastly, an arbitrator in employment cases and tribunals, it forms commissions for official inquiries on special and needy and sensitive matters of the country which in turn become watchdog agencies against misappropriations of employment relations between itself and its citizens. It also puts special tribunal courts for such proceedings and hearings. The emphasis by the state of regulations is reflected by the decline of trade unions influences and its bargaining power, particularly, in the private sector. It is also shown in the increase in direct communications with its employees in its various agencies as part of Human Resources Management strategies (Storey, n.d). The following entails the Human Resource Management strategies employed by the state in various functions of employment relations. The state is being a pluralist, a unitary and global. It also enhances and employs Liberal Individualism, Liberal Collectivism and Bargained Corporatism in its human resource activities. The state emphasises the tripartite and collective nature of industrial relations (IR) as practiced in the UK until 1979. This strategy was derived by Fox (1966). This policy recognizes that employers and employees can have

NURSING HEART FAILURE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

NURSING HEART FAILURE - Essay Example A diastolic heart failure is characterized by the impairment of filling capacity of the ventricles and no change in the ejection fraction. Congestive heart failure is characterized by circulatory congestion and resulting transudation, particularly in the pulmonary tissue. Decompensated heart failure is an exacerbated heart failure usually due to the non compliance of the patient to pharmacotherapy or suggested behavioral modifications. Symptoms of heart failure include dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and history of oedema (Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network, 2009). The symptoms of heart failure depend upon the side of the affected ventricle. If the right ventricle is affected, symptoms will include peripheral oedema that involves thighs, sacrum and abdominal walls, ascites, anorexia, engorgement of facial veins, tricuspid regurgitation that manifests as pulsations in neck and face, epistaxis and depression. If the left ventricle is involved, the symptoms incl ude dyspnea, impaired exercise tolerance, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, nocturnal cough with or without pink frothy sputum, cold peripheries, cardiac asthma and muscle wasting. The lifetime risk of developing heart failure in an otherwise healthy 40-year old individual is approximately 1 in 5 in the general population (Djousse, 2009). The prevalence of this disease is rising across the world and this places an extra burden on the healthcare systems. While pharmacotherapies are very important, heart failure patients benefit greatly from the behavioral modifications that are a part of standard counseling sessions. This is where the nursing staff plays a key role in managing the patient. Part 2- consider an individual who has the diagnosis of heart failure. Discuss how the nurse can enable the patient to make alterations to his/her lifestyle to improve his/her health. Within your discussion you should examine the use of relevant models/theories that can improve the process o f behavior change. Introduction Chronic heart failure has multiple risk factors and the number of patients suffering from chronic heart failure is increasing by the hour. While genetic propensity in the development of cardiovascular disease is currently under a lot of light, the elimination of risk factors has shown to prevent heart disease and delay the onset of disease in patients with a genetic tendency towards heart failure. These factors include alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco, inactive lifestyle, high intake of food rich in salts and animal fat and stress. The disease may be further aggravated by non-compliance to pharmacotherapy. None of these factors are isolated factors and one person may be exposed to more than one or all of these factors. What is even more important is the fact that these factors, as harmful as they are, are socially accepted activities and therefore, it is imperative to derive a policy and structure that not only deals with this acceptance while mak ing people aware of the hazards that these factors pose but also to take steps that translate into optimal behavioral changes that lead to better cardiac health. Behavioral change theories have been gaining a lot of importance when it comes to planning and implementing public policies as well as designing programs that maximize the number of beneficiaries in the shortest possible time. These theories

Cognitive Development of an Infant and Toddler Essay Example for Free

Cognitive Development of an Infant and Toddler Essay Piaget based the sensorimotor stage on his observations of his own children The Circular Reaction: a. Circular reactions are the means by which infants explore the environment and build schemes by trying to repeat chance events caused by their own motor activity. b. These reactions are first centered on the infants own body. Subsequently, they change to manipulating objects and then to producing novel effects in the environment. Substage 1: Reflexive Schemes a. Piaget regarded newborn reflexes as the building blocks of sensorimotor intelligence. b. At first, babies suck, grasp, and look in much the same way, no matter what the circumstances. Substage 2: Primary Circular Reactions-The First Learned Adaptations a. Infants develop simple motor skills and change their behavior in response to environmental demands. b. The first circular reactions are primary in that they are oriented towards the infants own bodies and motivated by basic needs. Substage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions-Making Interesting Sights Last a. Circular reactions of this substage are secondary in that the infants repeat actions that affect the environment. b. Infants can imitate actions that they have practiced many times. Substage 4: Coordination of Secondary Circular Reaction a. Intentional, or goal directed, behavior is the combination of schemes to solve problems. b. Piaget regarded meansend action sequences as the first sign that babies appreciate physical causality. c. Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist when they are out of sight; it is not yet complete in this substage. d. AB search errors are committed by infants in this substage. Infants 8- to 12-months-old only look for an object in hiding place A after the object is moved from A to hiding place B. Substage 5: Tertiary Circular Reactions-Discovering New Means through Active Experimentation a. Circular reactions in this substage are tertiary in that the infant repeats actions with variation-exploring the environment and bringing about new outcomes. b. Experimentation leads to a more advanced understanding of object permanence. Toddlers no longer make the AB search error. Substage 6: Mental Representation-Inventing New Means Through Mental Combinations a. mental representations are internal images of absent objects and past events. b. The toddler can now solve problems through symbolic means instead of trial-and-error. c. Representation allows deferred imitation-the ability to copy the behavior of models that are not immediately present. d. Functional play is motor activity with or without objects during the first year and a half in which sensorimotor schemes are practiced. e. At the end of the second year, representation permits toddlers to engage in make-believe play.

The History Of Reliance Fresh Marketing Essay

The History Of Reliance Fresh Marketing Essay Giant corporations like Wal-Mart and Reliance have started to try and take over the Indian retail sector. The entry of the giant corporate retail in Indias food market will have direct impact on Indias 650 million farmers and 40 million people employed in tiny retail. More than 6600 mega stores are planned with Rs40,000 crore by 2011. Our case is intended to cover two primary objectives which are: First, when experts and giants like future group WalMart and Reliance they are ready to start operations in retail what kind of strategies and structure they would be having to get the competitive edge over each other and established small and unorganized retailers. Second, what kind of impact has been on other retailers including unorganized ones with the opening of Reliance Fresh stores. In the following case findings about Reliance Fresh were quite awakening and exemplary. Even after recent shutdown of Reliance fresh stores from UP and unwelcoming vibes from states like Kerala, West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand for its retail format (which was allegedly capturing the unorganized sector and leaving thousands of self employed people jobless) Reliance was not in any mood to hamper its 25000 crore plan. Reliance responded with superb strategy in which it shifted its focus from retailer to being a supplier i.e. targeting hawkers, vendors, Push cart wheelers instead of customers. Big retailers like Reliance have huge resources and network which directly impacted many of the retailers some of whom are planning to quit. In our sample size of 75 retailers more than 30 agreed to have lost as much as 50% of their sales. This case also discusses pros and cons of contract farming which on one part assures farmers of price for their crop and knowledge about fertilizers and seed b ut on other side has some obvious drawbacks like monopoly of big retailers. As a big market in which organized sector is poised to grow with 25% 30% annually our government must come with appropriate regulations to save small retailers and our agricultural sector. BACKGROUND OF RETAIL India is a land of retail democracy- hundreds of thousands of weekly haats and bazaars are located across the length and breadth of our country by peoples own self-organizational capacities. Our streets are bazaars lively, vibrant, safe and the source of livelihood for millions. India has the highest shop density in the world, with 11 outlets per 1000 people. This does not include the village haats. Our retail democracy is characterized by: 1. High levels of livelihoods in retail with nearly 40 million employed which accounts for 8% of the employment and 4% of the entire population. 2. High levels of self organization. 3. Low capital input 4. High levels of decentralization Retail in India has started with the concept of weekly markets, where all the traders gather at one big place to sell their products every week. The people come to these weekly markets to buy the household items for the next one week. Village fairs and melas were also common as it had more of an entertainment value. Once the people started getting busy with their lives and when they turned entrepreneurial, there emerged the mom and pop shops and the kiranas in the neighbourhood. After independence, came into existence the system of Public distribution of foods through the ration shops, where food grains, sugar and oil for the daily consumption were distributed at subsidized rates through the government ration shops. The modern corporate retail formats are of the exclusive brand outlets, hypermarkets and supermarkets, departmental stores and shopping malls. But still the Indian consumer depends on the self-organized retail shops for their daily needs. This is largely due to the excell ent food retailing system that was established by the kiranas (mom and-pop) stores that continue meet with all the requirements of retail requirements albeit without the convenience of the shopping as provided by the retail chains. The Hawkers/lari galla vendors and the local kiranas are the two main forms of unorganized retail in the country, which almost account for 97% of the total retail trade. Giant corporations like Wal-Mart and Reliance have started to try and take over the Indian retail sector. Currently the value of the retail market is estimated at around $ 270 billion with a growth rate of 5.7 per cent per annum according to the Indian retail report. The size of small retail is big, the size of big retail is small, a mere Rs. 250 billion in 2004 or 3% and Rs. 485 billion or 4.7% per cent of the retail market in 2006. However, the large scale corporate retail is projected to grow at the rate of 28% to 30% per annum, reaching Rs. 1000 billion or $ 70 billion by 2010 from th e current size of US $ 8.7 billion. The tenfold increase in corporate retail will be at the cost of small scale retail, which employs nearly 10% of Indias population. The strategy here is to define the small scale self-organized retail as unorganized and the large scale corporate retail as organized. The real difference is however not unorganized vs organized. But it is self-organized vs. corporate Reliance Fresh is the convenience store format which forms part of the retail business of Reliance Industries of India which is headed by Mukesh Ambani. Reliance plans to invest in excess of Rs 25000 crores in the next 4 years in their retail division. The company already has in excess of 560 reliance fresh outlets across the country. These stores sell fresh fruits and vegetables, staples, groceries, fresh juice bars and dairy products. A typical Reliance Fresh store is approximately 3000-4000 square. feet and caters to a catchment area of 2-3 km. History Post launch, in a dramatic shift in its positioning and mainly due to the circumstances prevaling in UP, West Bengal and Orissa, it was mentioned recently in news dailies that, Reliance Retail is moving out of stocking fruits and vegetables. Reliance Retail has decided to minimise its exposure in the fruit and vegetable business and position Reliance Fresh as a pure play super market focusing on categories like food, FMCG, home, consumer durables, IT and wellness , with food accounting for the bulk of the business. The company may not stock fruit and vegetables in some states. Though Reliance Fresh is not exiting the fruit and vegetable business altogether, it has decided not to compete with local vendors partly due to political reasons, and partly due to its inability to create a robust supply chain. This is quite different from what the firm had originally planned. When the first Reliance Fresh store opened in Hyderabad last October, not only did the company said the stores main focus would be fresh produce like fruits and vegetables at a much lower price, but also spoke at length about its farm-to-fork theory. The idea the company spoke about was to source from farmers and sell directly to the consumer removing middlemen out of the way. Reliance Fresh, Reliance Mart, Reliance Digital, Reliance Trendz, Reliance Footprint, Reliance Wellness, Reliance Jewels, Reliance Timeout and Reliance Super are various formats that Reliance has rolled out. In addition, Reliance Retail has entered into an alliance with Apple for setting up a chain of Apple Specialty Stores branded as iStore, starting with Bangalore. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Today when most of the companies are busy in making profits by any means, there are few Ones who are focused to return this society, a part of what they have earned through this society. Reliance retail is one of them. Following efforts of reliance retail are aimed at benefiting the society making reliance socially responsible: 1) Reliance Retail aims at recruiting people from the underprivileged community in society. Hence, we are planning to train students from corporation schools and schools run by NGOs. And, we consider this as a part of our corporate social responsibility, he said. Asked whether the company will take students on an employment basis and pay them a stipend during the course period, he said that actually, it is planning to charge a small fee from those who want to join the course as we want to bring in some discipline and regularity among the students, and will reimburse that once they are inducted into service. 2) Farming in India is highly fragmented and subject to harsh climatic conditions: once harvested, it is very difficult to keep fruits and vegetables fresh. To secure high quality, Reliance Retail is directly sourcing fresh agricultural produce from thousands of farmers from villages through Collection Centers. With this concept, Reliance has built a business model generating shared value that links the company supply chain more closely to poor farmers in Indian villages. Reliance is providing a guaranteed market for the farmers produce, reducing transaction costs and training the farmers in better and sustainable farming practices. This initiative results in higher income and upgrading of skills for the farmers, and reduced spoilage of produce (up to 35 percent) and better quality products for Reliance retail stores. 3) Reliance retail has adopted farm to fork theory which means it is procuring Directly from the farmers thus offering them quite reasonable prices for their produce as now no intermediaries are involved. In return Reliance is giving farmers information about how can farmers improve their productivity. They have centers in villages who apart from providing information make farmers aware of market rates of different crops so that farmers can choose crops they want to sow to become profitable. farmers are provided technical help as well like information about quality of seeds and fertilizers. Service marketing environment Service marketing environment of reliance fresh can be scanned by considering the six major environment forces like demographic, economic, socio-culture, natural, technological, and political legal. As the demographic environment consists of the age mix of population, literacy and education level. Economic level consists of income distribution of different people. The rich grew by 400% in urban areas and 200% in rural areas. Socio- cultural environment consists of influence of religion, languages and customer that shapes the values and attitudes of customer preferences, habits and behaviour. Services Marketing and Marketing Mix A service is the action of doing something for someone or something. It is largely intangible (i.e. not material). A product is tangible (i.e. material) since you can touch it and own it. A service tends to be an experience that is consumed at the point where it is purchased, and cannot be owned since is quickly perishes. A person could go to a cafà © one day and have excellent service, and then return the next day and have a poor experience. So often marketers talk about the nature of a service as: Inseparable From the point where it is consumed, and from the provider of the service. For example, you cannot take a live theatre performance home to consume it (a DVD of the same performance would be a product, not a service). Intangible and cannot have a real, physical presence as does a product. For example, motor insurance may have a certificate, but the financial service itself cannot be touched i.e. it is intangible. Perishable in that once it has occurred it cannot be repeated in exactly the same way. For example, once a 100 metres Olympic final has been run, there will be not other for 4 more years, and even then it will be staged in a different place with many different finalists. Variability- since the human involvement of service provision means that no two services will be completely identical. For example, returning to the same garage time and time again for a service on your car might see different levels of customer satisfaction, or speediness of work. Right of ownership is not taken to the service, since you merely experience it. For example, an engineer may service your air-conditioning, but you do not own the service, the engineer or his equipment. You cannot sell it on once it has been consumed, and do not take ownership of it. Western economies have seen deterioration in their traditional manufacturing industries, and a growth in their service economies. Therefore the marketing mix has seen an extension and adaptation into the extended marketing mix for services, also known as the 7Ps physical evidence, process and people. Reliance Fresh Marketing Mix (7 Ps) After segmenting the market, finding the target segment and positioning itself, each company needs to come up with an offer. The 7 Ps used by Reliance Fresh are: 1. Product 2. Place 3. Price 4. Promotion 5. People 6. Physical Evidence 7. Process Target Segment what is Reliance fresh for me? A Family with children, a purchase place to be for the children. Urban customer on the move Great taste, quick service without affecting the work schedule. But keep it affordable. Product: How should the company design, manufacture the product so that it enhances the customer experience? Product is the physical product or service offered to the consumer. Product includes certain aspects such as packaging, guarantee, looks etc. This includes both the tangible and the non tangible aspects of the product and service. Reliance fresh has intentionally kept its product depth and product width limited. Reliance Fresh studied the behaviour of the Indian customer and provided a totally different menu as compared to its International offering. India is the only country where reliance Fresh serve vegetarian. Even the sauces and cheese used in India are 100% vegetarian. Place: Where should be the product be available and the role of distribution channels? The place mainly consists of the distribution channels. It is important so that the product is available to the customer at the right place, at the right time and in the right quantity. Nearly 50% of U.S.A is within a 3 minute drive from a Reliance Fresh outlet. There is a certain degree of fun and happiness that a customer feels each time he dines at. There are certain value propositions that reliance fresh offer to its customers based on their needs. Reliance fresh offers hygienic environment, good ambience and great service. Now Reliance Fresh have also started giving internet facility at their centres and they have been playing music through radio instead of the normal music. There are certain dedicated areas for children where they can play while their parents can have some quality time together. Price: What should be the pricing strategy? Pricing includes the list price, the discount functions available, the financing options available etc. It should also take into the consideration the probable reaction from the competitor to the pricing strategy. This is the most important part of the marketing mix as this is the only part which generates revenue. All the other three are expenses incurred. The price must take into consideration the appropriate demand-supply equation. Reliance fresh came up with a very catchy punch line Growth Through Value Creation. This was to attract the middle and lower class consumers and the effect can clearly be seen in the consumer base Reliance fresh has now. Promotion: What is the suitable strategy and channels for promotion of the product? The various promotion channels being used Reliance fresh to effectively communicate the product information are given above. A clear understanding of the customer value helps decide whether the cost of promotion is worth spending. There are three main objectives of advertising for Reliance fresh are to make people aware of an item, feel positive about it and remember it. The right message has to be communicated to the right audience through the right media. Reliance fresh does its promotion through television, hoardings and bus shelters. They use print ads and the television programmes are also an important marketing medium for promotion. Some of the most famous marketing campaigns of Reliance fresh are:  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Food and Fun People: How to converge the benefits of internal and external marketing? Reliance fresh understands the value of both its employees and its customers. It understands the fact that a happy employee can serve well and result in a happy customer. Reliance fresh continuously does Internal Marketing. This is important as it must precede external marketing. This includes hiring, training and motivating able employees. This way they serve customers well and the final result is a happy customer. The level of importance has changed to be in the following order (the more important people are at the top): 1. Customers 2. Front line employees 3. Middle level managers 4. Front line managers Physical evidences -Actual Experiferal evidence -A good time entry. -Sign boards. -Essential eminence of service. -Good parking place Process Process Exist are complex on railways like some processes are: -refund process / claim process. -Communication process. -Entraining/Detraining Process. The service segmentation Reliance Fresh has segmented their service to all class of people like rich, poor by providing standards of facility in different ways, for example you can find different items/buget packs for them these are the service segmentation of Reliance Fresh by which they are serving different categories of people. In all these service segmentation Reliance Fresh is providing different facilities and charging same money. Items at a Glance timetable, I have always used these on booking and have never had a problem, write the abbreviation in which you want to purchase, next to the word on the purchase form. Organizations are taking an interest in the international marketing of services because of low cost factors and the ability to compete in nearby country markets (Bradley 1995); however, international services pose special challenges for marketing managers as a result of the intangibility of services, the extent of customization, and differences in preferences across cultures. Research on international service offerings has focused on entry-mode choices technology growth , geographic roles, service influences on national competitive advantage and strategic differences across services . Yet the marketing literature has not investigated several key components of service strategy, particularly in the international domain. Customers Requirements and Customer Expectations Customers Experience after visiting the store can be said to be not much satisfactory. After this entire buzz it seemed to be a damp squib to me. 1. Choice and Range. Reliance Retail is primarily a super market store. So, one expects a wide range of goods available across various categories, brands and price ranges. Hardly there is any range available. Not even, any categories of goods. Just one or two we can easily live without. 2.  Super Markets like Nilgiris, Trinethra (recently bought by Birlas), Subhikhsa, and Modern Market especially the last one has a superb range and Reliance Fresh is nowhere in comparison to them. 3.  The Ambiance in the shop is good, but as I said nothing much different from the other super market chains. 4.  The staff is cordial and friendly very much eagerly looking forward to help. After I made the payment, the staff greeting me by saying a Namaste. This I liked a lot. Especially after horrible experiences of visiting shops in Kolkata. I do not know why but shop keepers in Salt Lake have this tendency of looking at you as if why do these customers keep bothering us, when u visits them. 5.  They accept card payment even for payments less than a hundred rupees. 6.   They have this membership card option with a free insurance thrown in, just to ensure that you show loyalty to them. As they go through the reviews by the members, they observe that the same points they have quoted above are bothering them too. Some more reading, browsing and research made me understand some of the aspects related to it, which I want to share with you. 1.  Customer is the last person in the minds of these supermarket chains. Though it might be surprising, thats the fact straightly put. What matters the most is the number. The more the number of stores opened, the more is the number of people visiting them, the more the chances of success. 2. The commission they get for selling a product. They are least bothered about providing a range of goods and brands to the Customer. In contrary, the companies that pay them the highest commission get to sell their goods from them. When they have the numbers, companies cannot afford to ignore them courtesy, the large number of customers visiting them. But why are the Customers visiting them, when they are not getting what they want? 3.  The feel good factor. The goods we buy here can be easily bought at any other grocery store round the corner. Then why do we flock to them? Just because, we feel good. We feel happy becoming a part of another India, which looks great much unlike the India we have grown in. We love the ambience. We like being greeted. 4.  By making a right balance between the numbers and the feel good factor, they achieve their targets some times much beyond the expectations they have set. We are just part of the market grind that is happening right now! Service recovery strategies -Improving the after sales services. -Admit and apologies. -rectification of any error -Compensate -Minor performance lapse need monitoring Quality concern Quality means watching the services from customer prospective. The main quality concern of Reliance Fresh is: To provide hygienic condition inside the stores. Avoiding as much as possible the delay in the schedule. Freshness is also one of the concern for Reliance fresh. Improving the infrastructure to world class level of standards. Integrated gap model of service quality Revenue% The central focus of gap model is the customer gap, the difference between customer expectations and perceptions. GAP-1 Not knowing what customer expect i.e. what are the expectation of customer of Reliance Fresh which can be due to inadequate marketing research. GAP-2 Not selecting the right service design and standards. Reliance Fresh have a good service design but not reached to that level of standards to meet all customer expectations. GAP-3 Not delivering to service designs and standards. This can be due to deficiency of human resource policy of Reliance Fresh. And may be due to failure in meeting supply and demand. Because of the huge population of India. GAP-4 Not matching performance to promises. This can be due to lack of integrating services marketing communication and ineffective management of customer expectation by Reliance Fresh. In this way the gap between expected quality and perceived quality can be calculated by Reliance Fresh. Blueprint of Reliance Fresh (near Patel chowk) Entering path Tracks for purchase of googd Tracks for purchase of googd Billing counter Gate keeper Entrance to Reliance Fresh This is the blueprint of reliance fresh. Customer when comes to this store firstly the gate keeper will check it and keep the bag if he has with him. The billing counter is first right of entrance. When customer enters it the tracks whether for seeing of goods and if he liked something than he can put it in trolley and then he can go the billing counter. If he needs some help than he also can ask for it but telling the nearest salesman. After selecting the good he can go to billing and go back to gate keeper. Gate keeper now demand for the receipt for just the security purpose. Pricing Strategies by Reliance Fresh -Discount pricing strategy -Wide price range of each items -Credit card acceptance -Accept coupons Competitive prices. -Price marked in paisas -comparable cost.

A Comparison of Communism versus Capitalism Essay -- Compare Contrast

A Comparison of Communism versus Capitalism Communism versus Capitalism is a debate that has raged on for over two centuries. Whether to allow everyone equal opportunities and to do with those opportunities as they please or to mandate class equality in order to keep peace has in itself been the cause of wars. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels saw the working class of the world--the proletariat--being squashed by the greedy business owners--the bourgeoisie. In their view, the bourgeoisie owned too much and the proletariat had no chance to make their own fortunes. In Marx and Engels Communist Manifesto, they propose doing away with private property, nationality, and even countries in order to take power away from the bourgeoisie. However, according to Samuel Smiles, it is the laziness of the working class and the poor that put them in that position. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels would adamantly disagree. There is a different underlying thought in each idea that the authors rely upon for their argument. For Smiles it is the idea that everyone has all the opportunities in the w...

Negligence Case Study Essay -- Law of Tort, Tort Law

Review the scenario below. Consider the legal principles influencing the likelihood of any successful action against Steve in negligence. Daria and her lover, Tom, were crossing the road on a pedestrian crossing when Tom was hit and killed by a car being negligently driven by Steve. The car missed Daria by inches. Since the incident Daria has had frequent nightmares and has been unable to return to work. Harry, a policeman patrolling the area, witnessed the incident and went to try to help Tom, but quickly realised that Tom was already dead. This was Harry’s first day back at work following six months recovering from psychiatric illness caused by the distressing nature of his job. As a result of seeing Tom’s injuries Harry has now suffered a return of the psychiatric damage which now appears permanent. Samira, a civilian worker in police traffic control, was watching a TV monitor which showed the road as the incident occurred. Samira recognised Tom as her husband whom she had not seen since the day, six months before, when he had left her and gone to live with Daria. Samira had always believed that, one day, he would return to her. She has suffered post traumatic stress disorder since the incident. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In our given scenario we are asked to discuss legal principles influencing the likelihood of any successful action against Steve in the grounds of negligence. Steve’s negligent driving caused a series of events that caused losses to the other people presented in the scenario and they take actions against Steve in the grounds of negligence. At first we must understand what negligence is. The tort of negligence provides the potenti... ...rameters and all the aspects of the law that appear in our given scenario we can safely say that any claim that is being made by Tom’s representative by Daria and Samira on the grounds of negligence – breach of duty of care and psychiatric injury would be successful and that even though Harry suffered psychiatric injury his claim won’t be successful since he doesn’t fulfill the necessary parameters in order to make a successful claim. Bibliography Neal Geach, Question & Answer Tort Law, Pearson Law of Tort, Module Handout. Cases Frances Quinn, Tort Law, Pearson, first edition, pp 34-35 Caparo v Dickman (1990) 2 A.C. 605 Page v Smith [1996] 1 A.C. 155 Bourhill v Young [1943] A.C. 92 Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire [1992] 1 A.C. 310 Hinz v Berry [1970] 1 All E.R. 1084 White v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police [1999] 2 A.C.455

Leadership and Supervision Issues in Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea Essay

Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea describes the tragic final voyage of the Nantucket-based whaler Essex in 1820. The Essex was a floating factory, a comparatively small but sturdy vessel designed to travel great distances to find, kill, and process whales, thus yielding the extremely valuable whale oil and other products. In the Heart of the Sea also describes a series of errors, mishaps and miscalculations—often with fatal results—in the management, leadership and supervision of the enterprise. These events, despite the distance in time, provide scenarios to compare and contrast present-day concepts of leadership and supervision. The story of the Essex illustrates numerous instances of (a) poor planning before and during the journey, (b) poor staffing decisions before and during the journey, (c) indecisive and/or poor leadership and (d) poor supervision which contributed to the difficult journey, the sinking of the Essex and the horrible aftermath. Typical of the practices of the era and locale, Essex was captained, but not owned and provisioned, by a sailor-officer who had risen through the ranks. This would be the first command voyage of Captain George Pollard, Jr. By all accounts he had successfully risen to First Mate of the Essex on previous voyages and was given captaincy when the former captain was given a newer and larger vessel. Unfortunately he inherited a worn ship soon to be out of commission. Accordingly the owners spent as little as possible on repairs of the vessel and even less on provisions for the multi-year cruise. There is no indication Pollard had any input in either decision. As this was his first command he was likely to remain in his employers’ good graces and refrain from insisting on better repairs and outfitting. To further compound these initial as well as future problems was the wage payment structure in which Pollard and the crew were essentially working on commission. Payment to officers and seamen alike would be a portion based on rank and seniority paid only if the valuable whale oil was safely in port. Other experienced captains had the ability and option to add to the original provisions. Pollard either decided to set sail despite the meager provisions or was unable to supplement them by his own means. This system strongly contrasts to management practices of the day as well as contemporary practices. Owner-operated businesses were not at all uncommon in the era with a strong â€Å"hands-on† style of leadership. Most striking would be the owner-operated vessels with a captain well-versed on ship maintenance and outfitting. Obviously today anyone would be considered naive at best and insane at worst to take on such a logistical task of any sort without having been given decision-making authority. Today even with companies having distant or publicly held ownership the leadership and decision-makers of the company are urged to â€Å"buy into† the company in the sense of making decisions and leading in a manner consistent with actual ownership. If Pollard can be excused to some extent for the poor decision-making at home port, the disastrous lack of planning during his maiden voyage is his burden alone. After almost loosing his ship virtually at the onset of the voyage he is either unable or incapable of tactical or strategic planning when the Essex is destroyed. With a previously damaged vessel prudence would dictate some sort of â€Å"disaster plan† short of a belief that lightening will not strike the same place twice. While the Essex was sinking it was the foresight of others who managed to salvage essential items. Some decisions defied common sense. Instead of cooking and preparing a substantial amount of available turtle meat he simply placed two live turtles with each surviving whaleboat. Perhaps Pollard did not think the unthinkable could happen again. Such planning and preparedness is not something novel, for his era or ours. It is simply the ability to survive the unexpected and the wisdom to learn from it. Contemporary leadership in management, government, and virtually any other field must be prepared for the unexpected. The unexpected and the disastrous will certainly occur, usually when least expected. It then also becomes a learning experience for leadership to plan and think for the â€Å"unplanned and unthinkable†. Consistent with the idea of poor or non-existent planning was the Nantucket concept of staffing vessels with the unskilled. Pollard’s ship was manned by a significant number of â€Å"sailors† who had never lived in Nantucket nor experienced life on a whaler. Other â€Å"sailors† included inexperienced Nantucket youngsters anxious for their first cruise as well as officers sailing in newly-promoted ranks. It was expected of Pollard and his officers to essentially conduct on-the-job training for the unskilled staff. However, once again, if Pollard can be excused for having to deal with something out of his control, the staffing decisions made during the disaster were his alone. Most glaring was the decision regarding the placement of the survivors in what would become their lifeboats. No consideration was given to skill, ability or health. Instead, it was a system based on whether a sailor was black or white, Nantucketer or not. Apprenticeships and on-the-job training are time-honored practices dating back centuries and still valid today. Both systems are based on both a lengthy or at least sufficient period of time and a non-critical or at least supervised situation. The apprentice or OJT worker will make mistakes and is given the opportunity to make them and learn from them in a controlled situation. Once skilled, the staffing pattern must be developed to maintain whatever production or quality standard is to be met. In an emergency situation such decisions must be made by leadership without being distracted by pointless issues of race, class, or place of birth. Again, Pollard can be shielded to some extent by the customs and practices of his day. Contemporary leaders have no such excuse. Decision-making is often made in the lonely vacuum of sole command, something that Pollard, at times, was unable or willing to do. â€Å"Leadership by consensus† was not something he learned, but he did indeed practice. Additionally, indecision is in fact a decision, and one that eats time. After the initial near-fatal keeling of his ship Pollard commits both errors: he abdicates sole leadership, procrastinates, reverses himself, and by trying to lead by consensus ultimately leads his ship to disaster. Again, forces work against Pollard. To turn back with a damaged empty ship would result in no wages and possibly a loss of command. By deciding to continue the voyage with a damaged ship, lost provisions, and lost whaleboats Pollard was not talking a calculated risk, he was essentially dooming his ship and crew to disaster. Modern management case studies abound with the disastrous stories of managers failing to decide and having that â€Å"activity† yield worse results than a bad decision. Most missions are time-critical and while many, if not most missions can have a built-in method of correcting erroneous decisions there is no method for reversing time lost in indecision. The texts are equally full of the horror stories of leaders who take the â€Å"ahead at all costs† attitude without a realistic appraisal of whether their â€Å"ship† can handle the journey. This inevitably results in the learned experience that â€Å"profitability at all costs† is very unprofitable. After the sinking of the Essex a variety of decisions were made, some based on common sense, or lack of same, and others based on the nautical knowledge of the time. Perhaps the most glaring was the decision to allow the surviving whaleboats to operate in an individual fashion, without tying together during the night. While a questionable seafaring decision, it casts some light on broader contemporary issues. During critical situations, whether a production run or a full-scale emergency it is common sense and a practical necessity to maintain communication and command. Failure to maintain either can jeopardize the personnel and the mission. In the Heart of the Sea is filled with numerous examples of poor supervision. From the very onset there is no indication Pollard really supervised the repair and provisioning of his vessel; it all likelihood he delegated a great deal of this responsibility to his First and Second Mate. There is no indication he did a thorough, hands-on investigation of his damaged vessel after the initial near-sinking. Once whaling he was out in a whaleboat, as was the custom, instead of being in a position on deck to supervise all of the events that would unfold. There is no indication he personally undertook a surveillance of Henderson Island to determine if it could sustain the crew, or in the alternative, if it could better provision the survivors on their continued voyage. During many of the catastrophic events Pollard seemed overwhelmed and incapacitated by the situation. He was unable to command and supervise what can only be described as life-threatening or life-saving activity unfolding in front of him. Once all was lost he decided to allow the boats to go their own way, and was unable to maintain the supervision of survivors when that was his most critical duty. Throughout the disastrous journey the questionable command of Pollard is and will be debated. What is certain is there was considerable doubt at the time that he exercised the decision-making responsibilities in a prudent manner. The captain of a ship and the leader of a corporation must be able to face a situation, whether mundane or critical, and make very quick and decisive actions. First and foremost is the decision of whether to take a â€Å"hands on† approach or delegate responsibility. There is no easy or set answer, and either method can be disastrous, if a leader usurps a subordinate’s better command of a situation or if responsibility is delegated to someone incapable of handling the situation. However, the command of a ship is unique and very similar to many organizational situations in that the leader at the very top is expected to be well-versed and capable of every function in the entire organization. If that is not the case, then the leader must have a clear understanding of his personal abilities and limitations as well as that of all of the subordinates in the chain of command. Throughout the narratives and accounts which the book is comprised of there is mention of, and no doubt that the captain knew his ship better than anyone. However, it became very obvious at the onset that his knowledge of his and his officers’ capabilities was suspect. At only one point was Pollard described as acting with the authority and decisiveness normally required of a ship’s captain. He quickly and ferociously responded to an early â€Å"protest† by the crew relating to what they considered poor rations. His outburst and threatened action quelled the protest and certainly left the crew with no doubt of his intent. However, what is missing is the not-unusual comments and attitude from crewmen indicating complete respect of their captain and their willingness to follow his commands, regardless of outcome, because of their knowledge of him and his ability. It is imperative upon leaders to not just know their workplace, but to know their staff. It is not enough to â€Å"go ballistic† once in a while to let the staff know what will happen if something is discovered amiss or in response to what behavior is not to be tolerated. Command through intimidation is foolhardy; what is necessary of leadership is to prove competency to staff and subordinates to the point where there is no doubt there is respect in the leader’s ability. At that point leadership becomes â€Å"natural† if and when the staff and subordinates believe the leadership will in fact lead, but do so in a manner that takes into account the well-being, if not survival, of all. In modern society â€Å"survival† is often economic survival, and depending on the organization or industry economic survival must be paramount in management’s priorities. Pollard lost on both counts; the voyage was a complete economic disaster and resulted in the deaths of the majority of his crew. The journey was a voyage of poor planning, staffing, decision-making and supervision. It is an epic of missed opportunities and unrealistic goals. It is a blueprint for any manager or leader in what not to do. Leadership cannot afford to be unprepared in any of the areas noted above. Each interact and influence the other, often in ways unanticipated and noted only too late. It is easy, but very necessary to look at situations with twenty-twenty hindsight if lessons are to be learned and errors prevented in the future. There is a host of what-if questions presented by In the Heart of the Sea which every leader should take to heart.