Marketing2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing2 - Essay Example Consider, then, a business which creates childrens toys which has suddenly experienced a staggering drop in sales, which is impacting the business future longevity in relation to job creation and profitability. In this situation, identifying potential opportunities to increase these lowered sales, while creating a more stable production environment, would be two sizeable goals for this marketing company. Thus, the first step in creating a competent marketing plan would involve identifying the mission and goals of the organization (Boone & Kurtz, 2007). For example, this hypothetical company might determine that its three year goal is to boost sales by 25%, while also expanding globally. Once these options are identified, the marketing plan highlights the specific steps that will be taken in order to secure these goals, while also identifying various competitor-related risks to the plan of action. A marketing plan does not only identify specific goals, it also performs a situational analysis, identifying various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the business. For instance, this same hypothetical toymaker may realize that its strengths are in its supportive labour force and various legislation which provides tax-related breaks for businesses wishing to go global. At the same time, it may recognize that huge levels of competition exist in a particular market environment, thus the marketing plan creates a plan of action to combat competitor activities or enhance the labour pool. The marketing plan becomes more complicated as it identifies the strategy of distribution, the appropriate target market for its toy products, and further creates a pricing plan which will work for the business needs. For instance, the leadership team at the toymaker might realize that sales have dropped because consumer attitudes toward the current pricing policy are leading to less

The tension rises and falls Essay Example for Free

The tension rises and falls Essay The Italian-American Carbone Family live in a poor and humble area, just over Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan. Although American the Carbones still have their Italian values and live a Conservative Italian lifestyle. This play is in part about family values, and how two different cultures clash when Catherine and Rodolfo fall in love. But on a more perspective view, it is also about a tragic hero Eddie Carbone and his love for his step-daughter Catherine. This LOVE is not a father to daughter love but a husband to wife love, a love that is not meant to be there. A love to powerful for Eddie to give up. Eddie, the main character of this play is a longshoreman from a conservative background in Sicily. He lives with his wife Beatrice and their step-daughter Catherine. Where he came from there are very firm social and moral issues. The scene that I am going to study is when the Carbone family and their to guests from Sicily have just eaten their evening meal and are having a pleasant conversation at first, but underlying tensions soon begin to build up. The beginning of the scene originally suggests a happy family atmosphere, though we wonder if Eddie is over-protective of Catherine. But recently Beatrices cousins are coming to stay illegally in America over from Sicily. The two cousins arrive, Marco and Rodolfo. Marco simply speaks of the poverty back home and Rodolfo not a typical Italian by his appearance or personality talks about how he can sing and plans to buy a motorbike. Rodolfos singing of Paper Dolls delights Catherine, who obviously is attracted to him. But soon this relationship develops, much to the distress of Eddie who himself is in love with Catherine. He can not express or admit his love as keeps them repressed. The scene starts with a nice after dinner conversation but tension is beginning to build up. The argument starts when Eddie raises the point about submarines, slang name for illegal immigrants. I betcha theres plenty of surprises when those guys get back there, heh? He said this to provoke Rodolfo because he knows that Catherine has her eye on him and to bring up the issues of American values and how wearing a shawl doesnt mean that a girl is strict. But to Eddies disapproval the comment failed to offend Rodolfo.

Customer Based Brand Equity

Customer Based Brand Equity If all Coca Colas assets were destroyed overnight , whoever owned the Coca Cola name would walk into a bank the next morning and get a loan to rebuild everything. VP Corporate Communications, Coca Cola Abstract: The Purpose of this paper is to highlight the major contributions in the process of developing and measuring customer based brand equity (CBBE) models by looking into the contributions of different researchers in this field. From the outset this paper, then, becomes a comparison of different CBBE models. Starting from Aaker (1991) to Keller (2003), it compares four CBBE models. This paper considers Agarwal and Raos (1996) model to be the best suited one for Pakistani environment because it integrates the customers decision making process with customer based brand equity. Introduction: This paper highlights major contributions in the process of understanding different customer based brand equity models. The focus on customer based brand equity is because of three reasons: 1. it allows the assessment of equity at the brand level; 2. researchers in marketing heavily use this concept; and 3. marketing practitioners find this concept of brand equity easier to understand than other brand equity concepts (Agarwal Rao, 1996). Literature Review: A traditional definition of a brand was: the name, associated with one or more items in the product line, which is used to identify the source of character of the item(s) (Kotler, 2000) (p.396). The American Marketing Association (AMA) definition of a brand is a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of them, intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitors (p. 404). Keller (2003) defines brand as technically speaking, whenever a marketer creates a new name, logo, or symbol for a new product, he or she has created a brand (Keller, 2003) (p. 3). Before the shift in focus towards brands and the brand building process, brands were just another step in the whole process of marketing to sell products. For a long time, the brand has been treated in an off-hand fashion as a part of the product (Urde, 1999) (p. 119). Kotler (2000) mentions branding as a major issue in product strategy (p. 404). Aaker and Joachimsthaler (2000) mention that within the traditional branding model the goal was to build brand image; a tactical element that drives short-term results (Aaker Joachimsthaler, 2000). Kapferer (1997) mentioned that the brand is a sign -therefore external- whose function is to disclose the hidden qualities of the product which are inaccessible to contact (Kapferer, 1997) (p. 28). The brand served to identify a product and to distinguish it from the competition. The challenge today is to create a strong and distinctive image (Kohli Thakor, 1997) (p. 208). Concerning the brand management process as related to the function of a brand as an identifier, Aaker and Joachmisthaler (2000) discuss the traditional branding model where a brand management team was responsible for creating and coordinating the brands management program. In this situation, the brand manager was not high in the companys hierarchy; his focus was the short-term financial results of single brands and single products in single markets. The basic objective was the coordination with the manufacturing and sales departments in order to solve any problem concerning sales and market share. With this strategy the responsibility of the brand was solely the concern of the marketing department (Davis Aaker, 2000). In general, most companies thought that focusing on the latest and greatest advertising campaign meant focusing on the brand (Davis Dunn, 2002). The model itself was tactical and reactive rather than strategic and visionary (Aaker and Joachimsthaler 2000). The brand w as always referred to as a series of tactics and never like strategy (Davis and Dunn 2002). Kapferer (1997) mentions that before the 1980s there was a different approach towards brands. Companies wished to buy a producer of chocolate or pasta: after 1980, they wanted to buy KitKat or Buitoni. This distinction is very important; in the first case firms wish to buy production capacity and in the second they want to buy a place in the mind of the consumer (p. 23). In other words, the shift in focus towards brands began when it was understood that they were something more than mere identifiers. Brands, according to Kapferer (1997) serve eight functions shown in Table 1 below: the first two are mechanical and concern the essence of the brand: to function as a recognized symbol in order to facilitate choice and to gain time (p. 29); the next three are for reducing the perceived risk; and the final three concern the pleasure side of a brand. He adds that brands perform an economic function in the mind of the consumer, the value of the brand comes from its ability to gain an exclus ive, positive and prominent meaning in the minds of a large number of consumers (p. 25). Therefore branding and brand building should focus on developing brand value. Table 1 The Functions of the Brand for the Consumer Function Consumer Benefit Identification To be clearly seen, to make sense of the offer, to quickly identify the sought-after products. Practicality To allow savings of time and energy through identical repurchasing and loyalty. Guarantee To be sure of finding the same quality no matter where or when you buy the product or service. Optimization To be sure of buying the best product in its category, the best performer for a particular purpose. Characterization To have confirmation of your self-image or the image that you present to others. Continuity Satisfaction brought about through familiarity and intimacy with the brand that you have been consuming for years. Hedonistic Satisfaction linked to the attractiveness of the brand, to its logo, to its communication. Ethical Satisfaction linked to the responsible behavior of the brand in its relationship towards society. Adapted from Kapferer (1997) Kapferers view of brand value is monetary, and includes intangible assets. Brands fail to achieve their value-creating potential where managers pursue strategies that are not orientated to maximizing the shareholder value (Doyle, 2001) (p. 267). Four factors combine in the mind of the consumer to determine the perceived value of the brand: brand awareness; the level of perceived quality compared to competitors; the level of confidence, of significance, of empathy, of liking; and the richness and attractiveness of the images conjured up by the brand. In Figure 1 the relationships between the different concepts of brand analysis, according to Kapferer (1997), are summarized. Figure 1 From Brand Assets to Brand Equity Brand Awareness + Image + Perceived Quality + Evocations + Familiarity, liking Brand Assets Brand added value perceived by customers Costs of branding Costs of invested capital Brand financial value (BRAND EQUITY) Kapferer (1997), P 37 Brand Equity Many researchers, while discussing brand building models, have referred to brand equity. Urde (1999) in his model of brand orientation, Aaker and Joachimsthaler (2000) in their model of brand leadership, Davis (2002) in his model of brand asset management, de Chernatony in his model of corporate branding (De Chernatony, 1999), and Kapferer (1997) have discussed brand equity in their respective models of brand building. But what exactly is brand equity? Brand equity, as first defined by Farquhar , is the added value with which a given brand endows a product (Farquhar, 1989) (p.24). Apart from Farquhars first definition of brand equity, other definitions have appeared. According to Lassar, Mittal, and Sharma (1995), brand equity has been examined from a financial perspective (Farquhar, Han, Ijiri, 1991), (Simon Sullivan, 1993), Kapferer 1997, Doyle 2001), and a customer-based perspective ((Keller 1993; (Shocker, Srivastava, Ruekert, 1994); and (Chen, 2001)) (Lassar, Mittal, Sharma, 1995). In other words, financial meaning from the perspective of the value of the brand to the firm, and customer-based meaning the value of the brand for the customer which comes from a marketing decision-making context (Kim, Kim, An, 2003). Brand equity has also been defined as the enhancement in the perceived utility and desirability a brand name confers on a product (Lassar, Mittal and Sharma 1995, p.13). High brand equity is considered to be a competitive advantage since: it implies that firms can charge a premium; there is an increase in customer demand; extending a brand becomes easier; communication campaigns are more effective; there is better trade leverage; margins can be greater; and the company becomes less vulnerable to competition (Bendixen, Bukasa, Abratt, 2004). In other words, high brand equity generates a differential effect, higher brand knowledge, and a larger consumer response (Keller 2003), which normally leads to better brand performance, both from a financial and a customer perspective. Financial value-based techniques extract the brand equity value from the value of the firms other assets (Kim, Kim, and An 2003). Simon and Sullivan (1993) define brand equity as the incremental cash flows which accrue to branded products over and above the cash flows which would result from the sale of unbranded products (p. 29). These authors estimate a firms brand equity by deriving financial market estimates from brand-related profits. Taking the financial market value of a firm as a base, they extract the firms brand equity from the value of the firms other tangible and intangible assets, which results in an estimate based on the firms future cash flows. Along the same line of thought, Doyle (2001) argues that brand equity is reflected by the ability of brands to create value by accelerating growth and enhancing prices. In other words, brands function as an important driver of cash flow. Customer Based Brand Equity (CBBE): Aaker (1991) provided conceptual scheme which link brand equity with various customer response variables. He suggested using repurchase rates, switching costs, level of satisfaction, preference for brand, and perceived quality on various product and service dimensions as potential measures of CBBE (Aaker, 1991). Aaker and Joachimsthaler (2000) define brand equity as brand assets linked to a brands name and symbol that add to, or subtract from, a product or service. According to them, these assets, shown in Figure 2, can be grouped into four dimensions: brand awareness, perceived quality, brand associations, and brand loyalty. Figure 2 Aakers Model of Customer Based Brand Equity Brand Equity Brand Awareness Perceived Quality Brand Associations Brand Loyalty These dimensions have been commonly used and accepted by many researchers (Keller 1993; (Motameni Shahrokhi, 1998); (Yoo Donthu, 2001); Bendixen, Bukasa, and Abratt 2004; Kim, Kim, and An 2003). Brand awareness affects perceptions and taste: people like the familiar and are prepared to ascribe all sorts of good attitudes to items that are familiar to them (Aaker and Joachimsthaler 2000, p. 17). Perceived quality influences brand associations and affects brand profitability. Brand associations are anything that connects the consumer to the brand, including user imagery, product attributes, organizational associations, brand personality, and symbols (p. 17). Brand loyalty is at the heart of brands value. The concept is to strengthen the size and intensity of each loyalty segment (p. 17). The simplest way in which the brand equity can be considered is that it can be understood as the incremental value a brand name grants a product (Srivastava Shocker, 1991). According to Lassar, Mittal and Sharma (1995), brand equity can be configured against five dimensions: 1) performance, 2) value, 3) social image, 4) trustworthiness, and 5) attachment. They agree to the views of Srivastava and Shocker (1991) who believe that customers evaluate brand equity on the basis of two components; 1) brand strength and 2) brand value. Since they believe that the source of brand equity is customer perceptions, as described by Keller (1993), it is important for the managers to be able to measure and track it at the customer level (Keller, 1993). Figure 3 below explains the model. Figure 3 Lassars Model of Customer Based Brand Equity Brand Equity Performance Social Image Value Trustworthiness Attachment Keller (2003) introduced the Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) model, which approaches brand equity form the perspective of the consumer -whether an individual or an organization (Keller 2003, p. 59). The model is based on the premise that the power of a brand lies in what customers have learned, felt, seen and heard about the brand as a result of their experiences over time (p. 59). He defines CBBE as the differential effect that brand knowledge has on consumer response to the marketing of that brand (p. 60), which emerges from two sources: brand awareness and brand image. According to Keller (2003), brand awareness consists of brand recognition -the consumers ability to confirm prior exposure to the brand when given a brand as a cue (p. 67)- and brand recall -the consumers ability to retrieve the brand form memory when given the product category, the needs fulfilled by the category, or a purchase or usage situation as cue (p. 67). On the other hand, brand image is created by marketing programs that link strong, favorable, and unique associations to the brand in the memory (p. 70). These associations are not only controlled by the marketing program, but also through direct experience, brand information, word of mouth, assumptions of the brand itself -name, logo-, or with the brands identification with a certain company, country, distribution channel, person, place or event. The way to build a strong brand, according to the CBBE model, is by following four sequential steps, each one representing a fundamental question that customers ask about brands: 1. Ensuring the identification of the brand with a specific product category or need in the customers mind -who are you? 2. Establishing the meaning of the brand in the customers mind by strategically linking tangible and intangible brand associations with certain properties -what are you? 3. Eliciting customer responses to the brand identification and meaning -what about you? 4. Converting the response into an active, intense and loyal relationship between the customers and the brand -what about you and me? The CBBE model is built by sequentially establishing six brand building blocks with customers (Keller 2003 p. 75), that can be assembled as a brand pyramid, shown in Figure 4. Brand salience relates to the awareness of the brand. Brand performance relates to the satisfaction of customers functional needs. Brand imagery relates to the satisfaction of customers psychological needs. Brand judgments focus on customers opinions based on performance and imagery. Brand feelings are the customers emotional responses and reactions to the brand. Brand resonance is the relationship and level of identification of the customer with a brand. Figure 4 Kellers Model for CBBE Resonance Feelings Judgments Imagery Performance Salience Identity Who are you? Meaning What are you? Response What about you? Relationships What about you and me? Another model of customer based brand equity was presented by Agarwal and Rao (1996), who linked various components of CBBE to examine their convergent validity. To measure CBBE, they used a framework based on the perception-preference-choice paradigm and the hierarchy of effects model of McGuire (McGuire, 1972). This framework measures the stages through which a consumer passes before making a purchase decision (Agarwal Rao, 1996). The hierarchy model for CBBE is shown in figure 5 below. Figure 5 Agarwal and Raos Model for CBBE Awareness Actual Choice Perceptions and Attitudes Preferences Choice Intentions Unaided Recall Familiarity Value of Money Quality of Brand Name Explicit Preference Implicit Preference Likelihood of Buying Past Purchases Current Purchases Customer Based Brand Equity The model suggests appropriate indirect brand equity measures as conceptualized by Aaker (1991) and Keller (1993). These measures can be considered as the sources that can lead toward creation of brand equity. Conclusion: After discussing above four models to measure customer based brand equity (Aaker 1991; Lassar et al 1995; Agarwal and Rao, 1996; Keller, 2003) it is concluded that the model presented by Agarwal and Rao (1996) seems to be more appropriate to fit Pakistani environment. In addition to measuring CBBE, It seems to incorporate recent theoretical advances and managerial in understanding and influencing consumers decision making process. They have also provided a validated instrument (with Cronbachs Alpha above 0.85) to support their model of customer based brand equity.

The Ysera Realm of World of Warcraft :: Personal Narrative

The virtual worlds were good for doing what was impossible to do in the physical world rather than simply produce replicates of physical reality (Yee, 2009). This is why most people including myself, although a constant gamer, enjoy the experiences of the virtual world. The virtual world is an escape route from the actual realities of the world. This paper is going to describe my experience in The Ysera Realm of World of Warcraft MMORPG. Avatars are a key component of the virtual world and we rely on them a means of living digitally while fully inhabiting in the world (Taylor, 2002). When the chosen avatar Race (Night Elf) was announced a sense of disappointment ran through my mind, because I believed the Night elf Race was not going to be as physically attractive as the Human race or Blood Elf race which I have previously used in other realms. However, when I began customizing my avatar I was excited to begin the process, because it had to ability to create a unique identity which not only serve a personal function (individualization) but also a social function as other characters would be able to recognize me over time(Taylor, 2002). My Avatar â€Å"Elvinna† is a Level 6 Druid who has the role of a tanker, healer and damager, with the ability to shape shift into animal form. Elvinna also has the capability to use mana, rage or energy as a resource (World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, 2012). I chose my avat ar name based on its sexiness, simplicity and how ancient it sounds. My avatar was created as a desired self-image of myself, her gender was chosen solely on my gender as a female in reality, her look is very fierce which is what I was going for an avatar that looks fierce but sexy. Her class was chosen due to my unawareness of the different class, if I had the option of redoing characters I would go for hunter, because they are a better representation of the desire self (physically). Her personality is graceful and achieving, she desires to the highest to reach the highest levels in the virtual world. Elvinna’s, (which desired representation of myself) character is different from mine in the sense that she is everything I desire to be looks and goals. When given tasks she is quick to execute them in order to ascend, which is a total opposite from myself.

Examinations Should Be Abolished Essay

Examinations should be abolished. When examinations are abolished, it means that it should be ridden of. Ever since our primary education started, we were all studying for examinations every year. The education system set by the Singapore government stated that examinations are a good way to test a student’s capability of a subject. The examinations’ purposes are to also allow teachers to know where each student’s individual standards, and letting them to be able to differentiate each student’s abilities and talents. It is also a common universal yardstick used around the world, since a long time ago. But, is it an accurate method? Nowadays, students are just required to memorise formulas and texts to answer the questions in examinations. Examinations do not measure one’s capability accurately. Examinations bring about stress and sleepless nights to students. These few factors affect the students’ emotions and feelings, and they might also affect the students’ performance in examinations. When students study, they will feel tired, and they will also feel that they have not studied enough, which leads them to not having enough sleep. At this period, students are also prone to falling sick. Tiredness will affect the students’ thinking, and memory will not work well when examinations come. The results of their examinations are not desirable which might also lead to other factors like, for example, the students’ parents getting angry because they did not do well. Students might get depressed and their attitude will change towards people. Examinations are also not fair. People who took examinations and did well received paper qualifications which state how well they did and what did they achieve. By applying for a job, this acts like another examination. If you are clever enough, you will pass the exam. The same thing applies too. If you have high qualifications, you can take the job. But it is not fair because there are so many hidden talents out there. Some might not have the money to take major examinations like the O and A levels which determine their achievements and grades, and these people are not being noticed. These people are seen in an unfair light. Another factor is that quite a lot of the things that we study are not  required much when we enter the working world. Let’s take, for example, Mathematics. Not all that we learn in Mathematics needs to be applied when we work. Students study so hard about Mathematics just to do well for their examinations to get good paper qualifications and being able to get a good job. In conclusion, I feel that examinations should be abolished because it does not measure a student’s potential and ability accurately and that it is unfair. An alternative is that schools should not have any examinations at all, and teachers should just teach throughout the year.

How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Pregnancy and a Developing Child

How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Pregnancy and a Developing Child Introduction Alcohol and substance abuse during pregnancy are famous for the adverse effects they have on the fetal development during gestation. A lot of research has been conducted on this relationship and none so far has come up with any positive effects of alcohol on the growth or development of an unborn child of an alcoholic or substance abusing pregnant woman.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Pregnancy and a Developing Child specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many people abuse various drugs throughout their lives including cocaine, methamphetamine, tobacco, prescription opiate, marijuana, and alcohol among others. However, most researchers seem more inclined to conduct studies on the effects of alcohol abuse than of any other drug, with tobacco being second in popularity. The reasons for this trend in research could be that alcohol’s effects are easily identifiable, es pecially since they are embodied in a condition known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, (FASD), which outlines a range of varying health disorders in newborn babies because of prenatal exposure to alcohol. Among these are; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which affects children whose mothers consumed alcohol throughout most of the pregnancy, and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE), which are individual or separate symptoms of FAS, but are manifested in children whose mothers either drank less amounts or during specific semesters. Consequently, such children will exhibit a range of deficits in growth and development, but not to the full-blown level or combinations as FAS symptoms. The mothers may have consumed a lot of alcohol during the first semester only, which results in distorted facial features and retarded brain development. This paper will conduct a literature review of most of the studies that have been conducted in this field and further summarizing from them the adverse effects of exposing unborn babies to alcohol and drug abuse. It is important to note that such effects carry on into adulthood, although the physical manifestations are somewhat ameliorated during puberty spurts. However, mental deficits remain painfully obvious throughout the person’s life. Objectives This paper intends to bring to the awareness of pregnant women and their families the dangers associated with exposing themselves and their unborn children to both alcohol and substance abuse. Most of the research conducted in this field of study has been fragmented and disconnected from related research.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, it is the intention of the paper to link all these studies in a bid to generate a comprehensive display of both substance abuse and alcoholism during pregnancy and the effects attached to this form of deviance. In additio n to pointing out the morphological and Central Nervous System’s (CNS) shortcomings in such a child, the paper also intends to touch on the psychological harm that comes with such a condition, and its strain on the mother-child relationship. Aim The aim of such a display of adverse effects is to provide the public with comprehensive insight into what happens when one abuses any drug during pregnancy. Most FAS conditions have been diagnosed in children of young teenage mothers (16-22). The presumption behind these diagnoses is that these youth are not prepared to handle the responsibilities of child-care, right from the carrying of pregnancies to term. Consequently, they engage in binge drinking and substance abuse either to rebel or to cope with the stigma and rejection that is associated with pregnancy at this age. Mothers do not know the damage they are doing to the children in their womb, and this paper aims at creating this much-needed awareness. With knowledge comes empo werment, if they knowingly abuse drugs after glimpsing at the probable effect, it will not be in ignorance. Secondly, this study hopes to put together the propositions of previous research on how to counter the problem of fetal exposure to drugs. It will compile the proposals of past researchers and consequently have reformists adopt some of them during policy making to alleviate this problem from the society. Methodology I will compile the findings of related research while including the disclaimers given by such researchers over the accuracy of their findings. This includes indicating whether any steps were taken to eliminate other confounding variables such as post-natal exposures to socioeconomic difficulties and family problems, as well as mothers’ age and quality of antenatal care allocated to the unborn infant. Next, I will categorize the effects of substance abuse based on the drug in question across the board, i.e., I will combine all research that has been conducted on effects of tobacco for instance, then move on to those of cocaine, and so on. In other words, this paper will pick on the strengths of every study and avoid overlapping shortcomings, making it very reliable. For those studies with similar findings, they shall not all be included. The vein of the findings shall be adopted, and the different sources shall serve as additional evidence. Others with similar ideas but different characteristics shall be used to build on the already developing train of thought.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Pregnancy and a Developing Child specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Literature Review This paper derives its authority from several sources that have been cited as authority in the matter of fetal exposure to alcohol, and/ or substance abuse. These are reports on the findings of various researches including the methodology applied, the theoretica l frameworks, the strengths and weaknesses of each procedure, and recommendations for future researchers as well as for donors in terms of progressing corrective measures. Having already named them and given the topics here, in the next section of this paper where the paper discusses the findings, the write will just name the first two researchers and the title of their work then go ahead to report their findings. It is also important to note that within the above studies, are inclusions of other studies that the researchers compare or contrast their findings and methodologies. I shall include such in-text researchers where a relevant point is projected, but just to the extent which is mentioned under the current research. Findings Alcohol Alcohol is a teratogen. In other words, it is a substance that is harmful to the development of the body, both physically and mentally (Larkby, Day, 1997, p. 192). When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, it is absorbed into her mainstream and abs orbed alongside food and oxygen by the fetus’s system. Consequently, the fetus becomes inebriated, and unfortunately, its â€Å"clean-up† mechanism that is responsible of ridding the body of toxic substance is not nearly as efficient as that of its mother. The alcohol is thus retained for long periods within the fetus resulting in the adverse effects of alcohol on fetal growth and development. A child may be born with withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, muscle tremors, irritability, and eating and sleeping disorders (Nulman, Rovet, Stewart, 1997, p. 259). During the first trimester, particularly the first until the fourth week, the heart, the Central Nervous System (week 3 marks the beginning of brain development) eyes, legs, arms, ears, lungs, kidneys and genitals are the organs that are in development. Consequently, exposing the fetus to alcohol then can result into morphological deficits such as alterations in facial features as well as small eye openings (sh ort palpebral fissures). It can further result into the development of epicanthic folds on eyelids, short upturned nose, flattened philtrum, (middle ridge linking nose and lip) thin upper lip, flattened midface, underdevelopment of upper and / or lower jaw, and abnormal skull structure (Clarren, Olson, Clarren Astley, 2002, p. 315).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They also include mental development inhibition, which results in mental retardation and behavioral problems. In particular, such an individual’s brain parts are underdeveloped. These include the hippocampus, frontal lobes, corpus collosum, and basal ganglia. Consequently, they suffer delayed motor and speech development, hearing impairments, abnormalities in sleep patterns, and difficulty in adapting and responding to stimuli. One of the most effective tools used in diagnosing these deficits is the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (Loebstein, Koren, 1997, p. 195). Alcohol abuse during the third trimester causes growth retardation. Consequently, infants are born with a low birth weight and height and they remain thin and short through the rest of their lives. Some researchers carried forward their studies to investigate the continuance of these effects in the adulthood of the patient. Morphological features such as facial distortions are ameliorated during adol escence by puberty spurts as well as normal muscle development (Clarren, Olson, Clarren, Astley, 2002, p. 320). However, mental retardation remains. One study indicated that such individuals IQ ranges from a low 29 (completely retarded) to 105 (high average). Consequently, most of them have learning disabilities due to inherent mental incapacitation. Neuropsychological measures have yielded results that indicate that these individuals, (5-15) have difficulties in; processing and storing information, visual and spatial skills, problem solving-they cannot make complex decisions, and poor sequential processing. Behavioral problems that have been observed include hyperactivity, irritation during infancy, inattention, lack of concentration, lack of independent living skills, stubbornness, social withdrawal, and social problems such as depression and anxiety. Conduct problems include lying, cheating, stealing, poor communication, antisocial inclinations, and problems with substance and d rug abuse. Research has proved that the relationship between amount and duration of exposure can either be linear i.e. it is directly proportional and the more an expectant woman drinks, the more the damage caused on the infant. It can also be a threshold relationship (Nulman, Rovet, Stewart, 1997, p. 263). This came up with the few exceptional cases where alcohol did not adversely affect the fetus; therefore, there was a quest to establish the threshold amount of alcohol that can be consumed without affecting the unborn baby. Unfortunately, for drinkers, no such amount has been established this far because different people react differently to different amounts of alcohol consumed. Most researchers noted age of the mother, socioeconomic status after birth, maternal rejection of the infant and maternal co morbidity with medical or psychiatric disorders as the confounding variables of their research but that once controlled, however, these factors have negligent effects on the findi ngs. Tobacco Research has proved the directly proportional relationship (linear) between maternal smoking during pregnancy and criminal inclination and substance abuse by the adult who suffered this exposure as a fetus (Brennan, Grekin, Mortensen, 2002, p. 50). The most common crimes such individuals engage in include; murder, attempted murder, robbery, rape, assault (including domestic assault), illegal possession of a weapon, theft, breaking and entering, fraud, forgery, blackmail, embezzlement, vandalism, prostitution, pimping, and narcotics offenses. It is important to note that there was no special relationship between the inclination to commit narcotic offences and fetal exposure to tobacco. This research also proved that, male offspring of such history is given to more aggression and violence than their female counterparts are. An interesting relationship was addressed between female offspring inclination to become dependent on substance abuse and exposure to tobacco in the womb (Brennan, Grekin, Mortensen, 2002, p. 52). It was proved that this relationship is linear, and that the aggression portrayed by these females is largely in the process of acquiring illicit substances. Therefore, future researchers seeking to address the issue of violence in female offspring exposed to tobacco in the uterus are advised to focus on disturbance reports and statements instead of charge records. Cocaine In addition to some defects associated with alcohol use such as reduced circumference of skull and growth defects, addicted cocaine users who continue to use it during pregnancy have various ill effects. These range from spontaneous abortions, abruption of placenta (these two are more common when cocaine is taken intravenously, they cause fetal hypoxemia), premature labor, precipitous deliveries, stillbirths, and me conium staining (Loebstein, Koren, 1997, p. 195). A cocaine-specific effect is prenatal cerebral infraction, which results from the constriction of the veins circulating blood in the cerebrum. Such a child will have difficulty with comprehension and expression. Recommendations Most researchers recommended that the therapists to be used in counseling addicted expectant women be friendlier and give the mothers hope in recovery. This can be made possible if we use therapists who are themselves recovering from dependence (Nulman, Rovet, Stewart, 1997, p. 262). Many proposed the inclusion of the more complex psychomotor development assessment to phase out physical assessment. Finally, some proposed the incorporation of prevention and intervention strategy development by future researchers (Larkby, Day, 1997, p. 197). Critical Analysis of a Key Concept I choose to analyze alcohol consumption by expectant women. Alcohol has been a social beverage since time immemorial and most people accept it, as it is not regarding the repercussions they subject themselves into when they consume it. However, some people consume it to ‘forgetâ⠂¬â„¢ their problems or as a way of coping with their stress issues. This study has proved that alcohol consumption is detrimental to fetal health. Every drink an expectant woman consumes is taken by her unborn baby as well. The effects of this are inhuman, as the baby will be damaged for life. They can be born already addicted to alcohol and suffering withdrawal symptoms, or with physical, mental and neurological deformations, which will affect them for life. Extreme cases of deformation are difficult on the mother as well. It is interesting to note that, there is no threshold amount of alcohol that a person can consume without risking his/her baby’s health. Most women in my community consume wine almost every night after dinner ‘for digestive purposes’. There is also the misled belief that wine is not too strong a drink. A simple sip at the wrong time of fetal development can wreak havoc on the baby’s IQ. It is also important to note that such a child wi ll always blame the mother for his condition, meaning that there will be a strained relationship at best with the child, in addition to the burden of raising a deformed child. Finally, statistics show that drinking is more common among Caucasian females that African Americans or Hispanics, and that it increase with the level of education. It is therefore important that we pay attention to these statistics and findings to protect our children from deformities at birth and in life. Conclusion This paper has looked into the effects of alcohol and substance during pregnancy on the newborn and on the mother-child relationship. It has surveyed the findings of authoritative researchers and compiled them to draw its conclusions on this phenomenon. It has also indicated the aims of the study as intending to create awareness among the youth, and policy makers on the adverse effects of drug use during pregnancy. It included recommendations for future researchers as well as for policy makers se eking to alleviate this growing problem, and finally, it critically analyses alcoholism in among women. I would advice all affected parties to pay attention to its findings to stay off trouble with drugs. References Brennan, A., Grekin R., Mortensen, E. (2002). Relationship of Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy With Criminal Arrest and Hospitalization for Substance Abuse in Male and Female Adult Offspring. American Journal of Psychiatry , 3 (2), pp. 48-54. Clarren, K., Olson, C., Clarren, S., Astley S. (2002). A Child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In G. M. (ed.), Interdisciplinary Clinical Assessment of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities. Baltimore, Maryland: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Larkby, C. Day, N. (1997). The Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Health   Research World , 4 (1), pp.192-197. Loebstein, R., Koren, G. (1997). Pregnancy Outcome and Neurodevelopment of Children Exposed In Utero to Psychoactive Drugs: The Motherisk Experience. Journal ofP sychiatry Neuroscience ,2(1), pp. 192-196. Nulman, I., Rovet, J., Stewart, D. (1997). Neurodevelopment Of Children Exposed In Utero To Antidepressant Drugs. The New England Journal of Medicine , 1 (1), pp. 258-262.

BOB HOPE Essays - Bob Hope, Free Essays, Term Papers

BOB HOPE Essays - Bob Hope, Free Essays, Term Papers BOB HOPE For the past 80 years, Bob hope has been entertaining everyone, from people in the war to even the President. When Bob Hope is not entertaining his fans he is usually off at the golf court for either fun or for charities. With Bobs help he has been able to raise millions of dollars for charities in the desert area. Among Bobs acheivments is setting a world record for having "The longest running contract with a signal network lasting 61 years". One of Bob Hopes many contributions to America was to go around the world to entertain the service men and women that off in other countries stationed in other countries. During World War II in 1943, he and a small USO troupe would visit our military bases in England, Africa, Sicily, and Ireland. After WWII when the world was at peace, he still went around and visited military bases and hospitals.(B Hope Book 5) While his career started he changed his named from Leslie Townes Hope, for professional reasons, to Bob Hope. The beginning of Bobs career began after highschool when he took lessons from entertainer Rastus Brown and Johnny Root. Later he was able to team up with George Byrne and formed the name "two diamonds in the rough", they created an act and soon were playing at different houses in New York including Keith's Flushing.(Bob Hope Pixel 11) Bob was first seen in the Broadway production "Ballyhoo" and "Roberta". His personal life was changed forever when one of his co-performers introduced him to a young singer named Dolores Reade. After a brief time they were married in February of 1934. Today they have four children: Linda, Anthony, Nora, and Kelly, and also four grandchildren. Bob Hope was first herd on the radio but when herd on it was able to make it in Hollywood. In 1950 Bob Hope made his first formal debut on NBC on Easter Sunday, but his first television appearance was in 1947 on CBS. After he was a guest on the Ed Sullivan show in 1949. Though he has not won any Oscars at the Academy of Motion Pictures has honored him five times, two honorary Oscars, two special awards and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. (Bob Hope NBC 4)(Hope Enterprise 2) For more than half a century Bob Hope has been entertaining the presidents of the United States, starting with President Roosevelt. Since then he has been invited to the White House for the last 11 presidents. The last appearance Bob made was the Bob Hope "Laughing With The Presidents. This was the 283 special Bob has had on NBC he was shown through his career with all of the famous Stars and Presidents he has met and entertained through his life. The presidents that have been honored by include, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. President Kennedy presented Hope with the award of "America's most prized ambassador of goodwill throughout the world" Other specials that Hope has done on NBC include "Memories of World War II and "This is Bob on the Air".(Bob Hope Laughing with The presidents 9) Bob has been giving his support to America for the past seven decades. Among which he has lifted the spirits of the troops at was and the WWI, WWII, and Vietnam war Veterans. Today Bob Hope is 94 years old and retired. Now he spends his free time playing golf every day he is able too and raising money for charities. Bob has a school named after him called the "Bob Hope Primary School" and a yearly golf tournament called "The bob Hope Classic"(Bob Hope Kennedy 4)

African Americans in Vietnam W essays

African Americans in Vietnam W essays Fighting on Two Fronts: African Americans and the Vietnam War, begins by briefly looking at how previous wars such as the American Revolution, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War dealt with race relations in comparison to the Vietnam War. Earlier wars had a segregated system that limited the contact between white and black soldiers, and it was not until the Vietnam War when soldiers were fully integrated. In a chronological order beginning with the draft and ending with the soldiers returning home, Westheider examined how full integration brought about many problems for the US military. Prior to writing about racial discrimination in the Vietnam War, Westheider collected enormous amounts of data that ranged from official government documents to journal entries from soldiers. Over nine hundred personal interviews from white and black soldiers of varying ranks helped ensure the accuracy of his reports. The extent of racial conflicts depended on many things including the setting, the per sonnel, and the timing of military events. Despite the sensitivity of racial issues Westheider remained objective and allowed the reader to form their own opinions about the US military and their handling of racism against African Americans in the Vietnam War. Beginning with the draft, the reader is overwhelmed by the enormous amount of statistical data. Westheider discusses in a chapter what could have been best explained with a series of graphs. Earlier chapters focus on numbers while later chapters add a human element to the Vietnam experience. The draft and recruitment requirements were said to favor the middle and upper class which meant, African Americans were being drafted in disproportionately high numbers because of their lower social and economic standing. It would be useful if the reader knew what percent of Americans were eligible for service, which would put the number of black recruits in perspective. Westheider assumes...

According to case study...calculate data then analysis it about Essay

According to case study...calculate data then analysis it about Foreign exchange market - Essay Example My paper discusses some political risks, the implications, methods of valuation of stock, and risks associated with buying a business. Peterson Valve Company is interested in Milagrol LTDA because he thought of diversifying its operations globally and to gain access to processes that would be costly to develop. Milagrol LTDA needed the capital to support research and development to expand the business and they believed in venturing into a merger to be able to manage the research to expand the business. Milagrol was an already established company and had its share value in the market so Peterson did not have to start from scratch to develop the company. In buying a business an investor has to ensure that they have access to all important information about the company being bought, this way they can assess the potential risks associated with buying it and the real value of the business (Juha, 2008). Accessing all information of the company involves checking all the dimensions of the business such as financial performance, legal and tax compliance, contracts, property and rights and all assets and liabilities within a specified period of time (Miller, 1992). Some of the risks involved include changes in the branding of the company. These information will be crucial in making the buying decision and also help the values in reaching to a final method of stock valuation. The customers of Milagrol LTDA may have problems with a change in the management. Smart accountants can hide items such as debts of the company from the balance sheet and some of the expenses from the income statement hence acquiring a business with accumulated debts. C onsider the possibility of transferring losses from the old company to the newly acquired business, the practice of moving the business assets allows the newly acquired management to differentiate assets that they can develop from long term and short term losses.

With respect to the 4th ammendment, briefly explain the following Essay

With respect to the 4th ammendment, briefly explain the following concepts, in doing so be sure to present the respective cases - Essay Example In the landmark case of Silverthorne Lumber Co. v. United States [1920], Federal agents that illegally seized tax books of a suspect and made copies as records of tax evasion. The Court held that such illegal seizure circumvented the Fourth Amendment, and that the records made are fruits from the poisonous tree (illegal seizure of tax books), hence may not be considered in court. However, under the independent source doctrine evidence that is obtained based upon information unrelated to an unlawful search is not fruit of the poisonous tree. In the case of Segura v. United States (1984), law enforcers entered the private premises of the suspect and remained in there until the search warrant arrived. The Supreme Court admitted the evidence found after the search warrant arrived but excluded all others as upon entry without the warrant. The Court held that the question on the legality of entry was irrelevant to challenge the admissibility of evidence due to the independent source of the warrant. In the case of United States v. Leon (1984), a police officer that relied on a defective search warrant with no knowledge of the validity of the basis for how it was obtained was said to have acted in good faith, and the evidence obtained from such defective search warrant was allowed in Court.

Why Do We Glamorize Murder in the Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Why Do We Glamorize Murder in the Media - Essay Example Public surveys reveal that 95% of general population refer mass media as a primary source of their information about any crime.2 It implies that media and other people construct reality in a way or the other. Here, the question arises about the content media is disseminating about crime. Media is certainly not portraying the fact alone, but a combination of facts and fiction. It sensationalizes, dramatizes, and glamorizes what must be condemned and demeaned. This paper tries to explore people's fascination and media's glamorization of murder. Oscar Wild has identified American fascination with murder in 1982 when he said, "Americans certainly are great hero-worshipers, and always take their heroes from the criminal classes."3 Murder has become culturally accepted within today’s society. Phrases like â€Å"it’s a dog eat dog world†, â€Å"killing two birds with one stone† or simply â€Å"I could kill him† (when annoyed at a partner) are entwined into our everyday language. Though the meanings are not... Even television programs show murder as indifferent. The hero of the story can kill the bad guy, or commit murder and then do a heroic thing and the original wrong doing can be forgotten by all. In the Old Testament, Moses murdered an Egyptian slave-master, then supposedly went on to do many great things and became a corner stone for Islamic, Jewish and Christianity religions. How do we rationalize killing someone? Over 87% of a core group of surveyors said â€Å"justification† is the difference between killing and murder. We are happy to live our own lives excepting that people die at the hands of other as long as it is justified. In the face of brutal and hideous crimes society try to characterized the reasoning of such criminals. Often when no apparent conclusion can be established, the association with madness is almost immediate. It is a natural defence mechanism within our conscience that one wants to believe that t he criminal had to be crazy otherwise the crime would never have been committed. People try to comprehend and explain something that if it were not justified by the madness would be too disturbing to think that a "rational" human being could execute such brutal and hideous crimes. Murders are considered bad or good based on the justification provided. Regardless of the horrors associated, murder remains coloured by perpetrator's subjectiveness in devising strong judgement to entitle his or her behaviour as radical. It is evident that media understand these judgements; therefore, they treat murder as an intense experience needing dramatization. Popular media sources engineer their presentations in a certain way that implies murder as an instant, convenient, and absolute solution to problem.4 Typically, we don't care much about murder, but what makes it really significant is: when the victim is well-known; the number of victims is shocking; murderer is exceptionally wealthy or attract ive; or method of murder is horrifying and beyond our imaginations. The very moment such incident takes place people take notice and follow each step closely. The process starts with the reporting and revelation of crime details, more shocking the details more interest is piqued. With the revelation of crime evidence, we try to know from every media source possible. Media prolongs the coverage to arrest, trial, verdict, civil trials, and every bit of information behind crime. Even after the murderer's conviction and sentence, the story does not end, it takes several forms and major actors of the crime are casted in widely different stereotypical roles. As time passes, these shocking stories of crime are represented in the form of books, comics, fictional programs,

Discuss the impact of race, class and culture on responses to Black Essay

Discuss the impact of race, class and culture on responses to Black and minority ethnic womens experiences of domestic violence - Essay Example Therefore, this essay will discuss how the differences in race, class and culture varies the response of minority ethnic or black women’s response to domestic violence. For example, many black women would rather live in an abusive relationship instead of living singly forever (Mama, 2000 in Hanmer & Itzin, 2000). On the other hand, a white woman may not stand being a victim and demand separation. This example portrays how differently people of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds respond to domestic violence. However, this paper will discuss this in detail, while supporting arguments with various books and journals. Further more, the facts will be critically analyzed and evaluated. Additionally, subheadings will be used to categorize the important aspects of the topic. Blacks: In America, Blacks are those people of any known African Black ancestry, according to the â€Å"one-drop† rule that determined even a single drop of â€Å"Black blood† would make a person Black (Davis, n.d., p.5). Concerning who Blacks are, Graham (2002) commented that â€Å"Blacks were persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa† (p. 145). â€Å"A group numerically inferior to the rest of the population of a State, in a non-dominant position, whose members being nationals of the State possess ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics differing from those of the rest of the population and show, if only implicitly, a sense of solidarity, directed towards preserving their culture, traditions, religion or language†. (Caportorti, 1991, as cited by Malanczuk & Akehurst, 1997, p. 106) Domestic violence: this term is many a times referred to as â€Å"intimate partner violence/spouse abuse† (Castle, Kulkami & Abel, 2006: 93). One definition of domestic violence can be a trend of forceful authority which makes up physical, sexual and/or psychological assault toward an intimate partner, either current or former. There is no actual UK

Havoc Mouldings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Havoc Mouldings - Essay Example There will be some human resource and ethical issues but they can be dealt competently by taking necessary steps for mitigating their risks. Introduction of Havoc Mouldings Ltd. Havoc Mouldings Ltd. has been present in the market since 1977 and it has been mainly offering its services to the UK aerospace, marine, motor and chemical process industries. The product range of the company comprises of kayaks, hulls and decks for yachts, data buoys, mooring buoys, process cylinders, kit car bodies, after market body kits and radar domes; all of these products are manufactured by hand so that the customers are provided the best quality. Recently, the company has been approached by Boeing from USA for setting up and manufacturing of various precision parts required for smart bombs along with an innovative and latest cruise missile. There are certain challenges which the organisation has to deal with such as strict rules and regulations regarding usage of hazardous materials, installation of equipment for ventilation and investment in vacuum moulding process for fulfilling the requirements of Boeing. ... The main aim of these developments in IT is to provide the companies ample opportunities for enhancing their production levels and respond quickly to the customer’s demands (Agrawal, Subramania & Kapoor, 2010, p.201; Caldas & David, 2005, p.4). Considering the scenario of Havoc Mouldings, it will have to implement the new methods of operations management. According to Wamba and Bendavid (2008), the manufacturing processes have evolved from lean processes to agile ones that have the ability of anticipating the changes in customer’s requirements (p.3) and they are so flexible that they can quickly incorporate the modifications in the final output (Inman et al., 2011, p.346). An organisation has to utilise various technology theories that have been developed by the researchers in the field of IT so that it can ensure that it has the latest production process and IT system installed within the firm (Smith, McKeen & Singh, 2007, p.52). The best technology theory that is comp atible with the current business environment is Technology Adaptation Theory. According to Bardhan, Whitaker and Mithas (2006), this theory states that the technology is the main driver for altering the working environment of the organisation so that it creates innovative conditions and routines along with some problems; the issues associated with new technology have to be realized and technology has to be modified for resolving them (p.23). Hence, technological changes are part of a continuous cycle of adjustment to the new working conditions. As we all know that everything in this world has both positive aspects as well as negative aspects. The positive aspect needs to be considered

Personal development planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Personal development planning - Essay Example In addition, it motivates a positive attitude towards learning (Healey, Pawson & Solem 2013, p.141). This paper will discuss personal development planning and the importance of various aspects of a student’s life. Interpersonal skills are the evaluation of how masterful an individual is in interacting with others. Interpersonal skills are qualities, common sense, concrete and positive encounters to assist a student to become responsible and caring adults. The interpersonal competencies are necessary for the preparation of students to for the workplace. The interpersonal skills are developed through connecting with others, for instance, socialising with peers, interacting with family members and going to school. The interpersonal skills are critical to solving a dispute with others and minimise stress, promote intimacy and enhance joy. In addition, the skills improve communication, expand comprehension and help to solve disputes (Dyson & Casey 2012, p. 5). The presentation skill is the ability of a student to deliver information while at the same time attaining a maximum influence. Presentations in a students’ life are crucial in assisting them to gain and develop a hob after university. From the working life perspective, presentation skills are essential to individual prosperity, for example, reporting to superiors, sales and training. Presentation skills such as being a fine public speaker build confidence in students that can be expressed in areas of personal and business life. From social life point of view, a god presenter is perceived to have more authority compared to their colleagues (Lee-Davies & Bailey 2007, p 132). Communication skill is the capability to pass on information efficiently and effectively to another. The communication skills assist students to convey details distinctly on emotional and intellectual degrees. A student can describe concepts clearly and have the potential to raise questions in order to refine other

Discuss the impact of race, class and culture on responses to Black Essay

Discuss the impact of race, class and culture on responses to Black and minority ethnic womens experiences of domestic violence - Essay Example Therefore, this essay will discuss how the differences in race, class and culture varies the response of minority ethnic or black women’s response to domestic violence. For example, many black women would rather live in an abusive relationship instead of living singly forever (Mama, 2000 in Hanmer & Itzin, 2000). On the other hand, a white woman may not stand being a victim and demand separation. This example portrays how differently people of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds respond to domestic violence. However, this paper will discuss this in detail, while supporting arguments with various books and journals. Further more, the facts will be critically analyzed and evaluated. Additionally, subheadings will be used to categorize the important aspects of the topic. Blacks: In America, Blacks are those people of any known African Black ancestry, according to the â€Å"one-drop† rule that determined even a single drop of â€Å"Black blood† would make a person Black (Davis, n.d., p.5). Concerning who Blacks are, Graham (2002) commented that â€Å"Blacks were persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa† (p. 145). â€Å"A group numerically inferior to the rest of the population of a State, in a non-dominant position, whose members being nationals of the State possess ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics differing from those of the rest of the population and show, if only implicitly, a sense of solidarity, directed towards preserving their culture, traditions, religion or language†. (Caportorti, 1991, as cited by Malanczuk & Akehurst, 1997, p. 106) Domestic violence: this term is many a times referred to as â€Å"intimate partner violence/spouse abuse† (Castle, Kulkami & Abel, 2006: 93). One definition of domestic violence can be a trend of forceful authority which makes up physical, sexual and/or psychological assault toward an intimate partner, either current or former. There is no actual UK

Personal development planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Personal development planning - Essay Example In addition, it motivates a positive attitude towards learning (Healey, Pawson & Solem 2013, p.141). This paper will discuss personal development planning and the importance of various aspects of a student’s life. Interpersonal skills are the evaluation of how masterful an individual is in interacting with others. Interpersonal skills are qualities, common sense, concrete and positive encounters to assist a student to become responsible and caring adults. The interpersonal competencies are necessary for the preparation of students to for the workplace. The interpersonal skills are developed through connecting with others, for instance, socialising with peers, interacting with family members and going to school. The interpersonal skills are critical to solving a dispute with others and minimise stress, promote intimacy and enhance joy. In addition, the skills improve communication, expand comprehension and help to solve disputes (Dyson & Casey 2012, p. 5). The presentation skill is the ability of a student to deliver information while at the same time attaining a maximum influence. Presentations in a students’ life are crucial in assisting them to gain and develop a hob after university. From the working life perspective, presentation skills are essential to individual prosperity, for example, reporting to superiors, sales and training. Presentation skills such as being a fine public speaker build confidence in students that can be expressed in areas of personal and business life. From social life point of view, a god presenter is perceived to have more authority compared to their colleagues (Lee-Davies & Bailey 2007, p 132). Communication skill is the capability to pass on information efficiently and effectively to another. The communication skills assist students to convey details distinctly on emotional and intellectual degrees. A student can describe concepts clearly and have the potential to raise questions in order to refine other

Three Main Problems in the Middle East Essay Example for Free

Three Main Problems in the Middle East Essay The Middle East, as the West calls the Islamic region in Southwestern Asian continent, had been the focus of many recent studies. The region’s key role in shaping global economy and politics could be the main reasons why the Middle East became so intriguing within the circles of academic debates, political policies and other similar venues. News from this region usually carries banner stories of suicide bombings, wars, terrorism and similarly outrageous reportage.   Thus, Middle East was portrayed to the public as land or chaos, tyranny and intricate conspiracies and violence. Although the Middle East has a rich history of its people, culture and political sovereignty, it had long been disregarded especially that the focus of most historiography and social sciences are on the Western civilizations. . Throughout the course of societal evolutions, the Middle East had always been portrayed as the villain and the West so often portrayed as the arbiter and the good guys in wars and other social turmoil that happened in the region for the past centuries. Despite numerous attempts to deeply probe into the secrets of the region, the Islamic world had always been subjected to the probing eyes of the global community. It had long been misunderstood, maybe because of ignorance to the real situation in the Middle East that, that this part of the world is ‘no man’s land’ because of terrorism and tyrants which the Western powers so despise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hence, the dilemma that world faces regarding the situation in the Middle East is a problem caused by ignorance of the historical background which had molded the region’s economic, political and cultural dynamism. On the outside it could be viewed as a static block of nation-states, firmly anchored on Islamist fanaticism but much like any other country, the people are waging a struggle in various ways possible to change the existing order. This paper aims to break the notion that the Islamic Middle East is a rigid desert of ideological uniformity (Beinin Stork 7). Often that terrorism was linked to Islamic doctrines since the United States waged its global war on terror. Arbitrarily, the policies that sought to counter terrorism were not really directed to the ultimate cessation     of terrorism as a tool for anarchic ends but were effectively used to control the economic and political life of the countries in this region. It was effectively manipulated that from the true circumspection of terrorist movements the attention was diverted to superficial issues that were less likely to resolve the conflict, both external and internal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The lack of unity of the Middle Eastern nations can be viewed as one of the reasons why this region is continually deprived of West-defined peace and stability. One possible answer is that Western powers have greatly profited from the absence of a uniting factor among Muslim neighbors. Though almost all of these Muslim nations had laws and forms of government highly adhesive to religious thought, there were still varied interpretations in the context of ‘religious’ approaches to state affairs, not to   mention the sectarian divisions within Islam. Take Iran and Iraq for example. Although there were reasons for the war between these two nations in 1980’s, the sectarian differences of the two nations have greatly affected the course of the war for domination of the Persian Gulf (Moghadam 136-138). The Islamic nations were divided by certain issues that had created a vast misunderstanding among themselves. The dilemma brought by secularist ideas caused the rifts between and among governments to worsen. Islam was at the very first of this dilemma. Its nature had long been argued, whether it is a religion or a civilization. The answer to this question however is not on the religious aspect itself but on the political side of the. Islam’s definition is a matter of political refinement that was effectively sown to disarray the focus of scholars in finding the answer to the question of why Islamic militancy, radicalism and fundamentalism (Filali-Ansary 196-197).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the centuries that have passed, nationalism was developed in the Middle East due to external threats, especially those that was posed by Western colonial powers. Nationalism in other nations such as Turkey and Iran went far beyond the limits of nationhood. At some point during Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Shah Pahlavi’s reign, touched even the religious aspect of the nation such that they even used military force to impose a â€Å"Western† concept of nationhood, one which is secular (Hashemi 168). However, through the decades, Islamic modernism had been witnessed which broadened the spectrum for political commonality. These types of deviation from the Islamic codification and norms among Islamic societies were the start of a somewhat â€Å"betrayal† of the Islamic chord.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Those countries that have embraced westernization were isolated from the Islamic fundamentalist section of the Muslim nations. Such embrace of the infidel’s culture was to them a desecration of the Islamic customs. If history will be reviewed this divisions were more of cultural in essence. For hundreds of years, the Islamic states turn against each other for subjugation. The Ottomans annexed Egypt and many other nations in the Mediterranean belt. This display of hostility towards each other became vital in the ferment of suspicion between each nation (Moaddel 128-129). The dilemma of the forming a single political force cannot be only be blamed on the religious aspects of the society but also of foreign control and domination. The vast oilfields of the region had been enticing for Western powers so that they supported some regimes and made use of tactical alliances during the Soviet annexation of Afghanistan in the 80’s. The House of Saud of Saudi Arabia for example had strong ties to European regimes since many of these regimes have economic interests in the region (Beinin Stork 4).   This had been aggravated by the current developments in world politics directly concerning the region. The terror hysteria and the subsequent wars thereafter grappled Afghanistan and Iraq further divided the Islamic world. Regimes friendly to the United States were caught in the middle of the squabble. George W. Bush’s pronouncements in the onset of the war on terror forced these regimes to support the anti-terror war lest they would be ‘with the terrorists.’ Such actions were explicitly influential in the polarization of the Middle East. Samuel Huntington was quoted on the exact description of the implications of this event: â€Å"On the other hand, the â€Å"clash of civilizations† thesis resurfaces and reverberates. Even though many refused Samuel Huntington’s thesis for its simplistic and essentialist depiction of cultures and cultural interaction, his conceptual framework proved its resilience, particularly with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Islam quickly became the inscrutable, violent, and intractable Other, a threat to liberal democratic values† (Arat 2). The rationale of the war on terror, as claimed by US propagandists, is aimed at the Islamic regimes was to promote democracy in the backward governments that are hospitable to or actually promotes terrorist organization. In countries wherein the regimes are somewhat committed to the liberal democratic ideology: â€Å"†¦some 250 million USD that USAID alone spent in the Arab world on projects and programs related to DP () certainly seems more than the negligible amount of money, this must be contrasted with the roughly one billion USD the United States appends each year in Egypt alone – on military aid for the Mubarak regime. Some observers have recently depicted the â€Å"forward strategy for freedom† in the Middle East announced by the Bush administration as a major shift from former US policies toward the region, emphasizing today the importance of democratic rule as opposed to†¦strategies based on the primacy of stability over democracy† (Schlumberger 37-38). The Middle East was an easy prey for US military campaigns primarily because of the forms of government that these nations have adopted. It was easy to claim in totalitarian regimes that these nations must be introduced to democracy and liberate the people from the clutches of Islamic dictatorships. Such was being used today in Iran in the face of nuclear weapons issue, Syria on its human rights records, and Libya on its anti-imperialist stance, while others have remained to be isolated from their people because of their failure to address the concerns of the citizens. A post- invasion Iraq have had experienced the resurgence of Islamic militancy and fundamentalism in the outset of a US-backed puppet regime. Such events even drove the conflict outside the borders of Iraq and spilled through Syria, Iran, and Egypt, only to name a few, in the name of aiding their Muslim brothers (Beinin Stork 7). It should be understood though that this politicization of Islam did not occur overnight. This could again be traced from the past centuries and decades of Western domination. The Crusades in the middle ages could even be the source of this politicization. But most notably, this politicization was most effectively utilized by the US against the Soviet Union in the 80’s during the Afghan war. After the Afghan war these radicalized freedom fighters were transformed into terrorist groups and from then on political Islam has been interchanged with fundamentalism, militant Islamic movements and the like to directly associate genuine liberation movements to terrorism and downplay the legitimate issues raised by these groups (Beinin Stork 5). Both served the US in ridding it of its enemies and protecting its allied regimes against internal liberation movements. The question now arises whether democracy would be possible in Islamic societies. Some do believe. It is said that these societies were torn into two governing laws. One of those is Islamic or the shari’a and the other, secular. There had been stressed points that states that these governments, though harboring the Islamic hierarchy of powers still consider a ‘consultative’ form of governing, thus a democratic interaction among the ruler and ruled (Filali-Ansary 200).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is unique in the Middle East is that in order to reinstate the Islamic laws as the supreme judicial system is through revolution which has happened in Iran. Such was the perceptions in the Middle East that women, as a part of the revolutionary process, were restricted. However: â€Å"In Iran as of 1994, 30 percent of government employees were women, and 40 percent of university students were women, up from 12 percent in 1978. In the past few decades, women have thus made significant, but uneven, strides in the labor force†¦Hassan al-Turabi claims that women in Sudan â€Å"have played a more important role in the National Islamic Front than men recently† in all aspects of party, in Parliament, and as ministers and judges. Segregation is definitely not a part of Islam.[though his claims in Sudan are disputed]†¦it is clear that women elsewhere in the Muslim World –Morocco, Jordan, Egypt†¦Turkey – do hold political office† (Eickelmann and Piscatori 95) Within this basis one could assert initially that women are not bound to the patriarchal society, but in order to truly say that women have had complete freedom, would rest on the cultural and religious aspects of the society. But along with these concerns the forces of democratization have failed to touch the issues on gender. This issue in the Middle Eastern nations had been raising a movement by women who had, despite the conflicts that the patriarchal regimes fight, lack in total consideration of the women (Moghadam 139). Regimes may be considered as progressives in terms of political and economic stance but there is a difficulty in assessing whether theses same governments would consider the question on gender. Proving this may be difficult because of the religious aspect of the concern which all regimes, pro or anti-US, share. These seemingly centuries old threats to the Islamic societies from the outside caused by rifts within the regimes themselves had also been supplemented by internal difficulties which these regimes face (Dris-Ait-Hamadouche 117). Even though the states were divided by the political tensions developed by the combination of historical and contemporary Western influences, women in the Middle East are somewhat united in their fight for women’s right in the predominantly patriarchal culture of the Islamic nation. The issue of gender is completely intertwined with the issue of secularization (Nanes 113-115). Different governments were torn between allowing certain liberal manifestations of secular authority in public places and religious considerations (Najmabadi 240-241).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Seemingly, the problems of the Middle East with regards to the political and cultural aspects are not to be considered as solitary and independent of the economy. The reason that Western powers are interested in the liberal democratic conception of regimes is because of the economic interests that US has with the resource rich desserts. The only conclusive message that these events relay to us is that these were all concocted in order to divide the Islamic world and extinguish its formidable force against foreign interests especially that of US. Islamic Middle East had long been captured in that policy cage and until the resources are there, the clutches of US hegemony in the Islamic world will never loosen. Works Cited Arat, Yesim. Rethinking Islam and Liberal Democracy: Islamist Women in Turkish Politics. New York: State University of New York Press, 2005. Beinin, Joel, and Joe Stork. On the Modernity, Historical Specificity, and International Context of Political Islam.   Political Islam: Essays from Middle East Report. Eds. Joel Beinin and Joe Stork. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1997. Dris-Ait-Hamadouche, Louisa. Women in the Maghreb: Civil Societys Actors or Political Instruments? Middle East Policy 14.4 (2007). Eickelman, Dale F., and James Piscatori. The Firmest Ties and the Ties That Bind: The Politics of Family and Ethnicity.   Muslim Politics. New Jersey Filali-Ansary, Abdou. Muslims and Democracy.   Islam and Democracy in the Middle East. Eds. Larry Diamond, Marc F. Plattner and Daniel Brumberg. London: The John Hopkins University Press, 2003. Hashemi, Nader A. Islamic Fundamentalism and the Trauma of Modernization: Reflections on Religion and Radical Politics.   An Islamic Reformation? Eds. Michaelle Browers and Charles Kurzman. New York: Lexington Books. Moaddel, Mansoor. Islamic Modernism, Nationalism, and Fundamentalism: Episode and Discourse. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Moghadam, Valentine. A Tale of Two Countries: State, Society, and Gender Politics in Iran and Afghanistan. The Muslim World 94.October 2004 (2004). Moghadam, Valentine. Patriarchy in Transition: Women and the Changing Family in the Middle East. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 35.2 (2004): 137. Najmabadi, Afsaneh. Gender and Secularismhow Can a Muslim Woman Be French? Feminist Studies 32.2 (2006): 239. Nanes, Stefanie Eileen. Fighting Honor Crimes: Evidence of Civil Society in Jordan. The Middle East Journal 57.1 (2003). Schlumberger, Oliver. Dancing with Wolves: Dillemas of Democracy Promotion in Authoritarian Context.   Democratization and Development: New Political Strategies for the Middle East. Ed. Dietrich Jung. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. Princeton University Press, 1996.

Identification of unknown soil bacteria

Identification of unknown soil bacteria INTRODUCTION Microorganisms play an extremely important role in soil ecology. Soil bacteria break down organic matter into simpler compounds (Clark). Bacteria in the soil play important roles in different biochemical cycles such as the carbon cycle (Clark). Decomposition is another important role that different bacteria take part in. Without bacteria the ecology of soil would be completely disrupted. The nutrient requirements that different bacteria need to survive decide where each bacteria can be found. Agricultural soil would have a completely different array of microorganisms then soil found in a forest would have. Different conditions such as moisture, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, temperature and pH of the soil will all determine which types of bacteria will live in thrive in agricultural and forest soil. The objective of this experiment was to try to isolate and identify one specific soil bacteria from either forest or agricultural soil. The bacteria in this report was isolat ed from agricultural soil and using the morphology of the individual cells and colony along the types of chemicals that would react with the bacteria along with what type of extremes the bacteria could survive in the bacteria was identified. METHODS Starting from an original one gram sample of agricultural soil a 10-2 dilution was created and used to create a Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) streak plate (Robertson and Egger 2010). The cultures that arose from the streak plate were observed and the morphology of a specific colony was described and recorded (Egger 2010). A subculture was created from one colony on a new TSA streak plate. A gram stain was prepared using the original colony of soil bacteria and whether it was gram negative or gram positive was recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). Using the new subculture several biochemical tests were performed. A single line of bacteria was streaked onto a starch agar plate and after incubation drops of iodine were added to the culture and if starch is hydrolyzed a color change occurred, results were recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). On a Sulfide, Indole, and Motility (SIM) deep the bacteria isolate was stabbed into the tube  ¾ of the way down (Robertson and Egger 2010). After incubati on the deep was observed for movement away from the original line and three drops of Kovacs Reagent was added to see if a color change occurred (Robertson and Egger 2010). The results of the motility and H2S reduction tests were recorded. The bacteria isolate was also mixed in a peptone broth tube and after incubation a drop of Nesslers reagent and the loop of broth solution were mixed in a spot plate and the results were recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). A loop of bacteria was put into ammonium sulfate and nitrite broth tubes. In a spot plate on loop of the ammonium sulfate broth was mixed with 1 drop of Nesslers reagent and another loop was mixed with three drops of Trommsdorfs reagent and a drop of dilute H2SO4 (Robertson and Egger 2010). Also in the spot plate the nitrite broth was tested with Trommsdorfs reagent and dilute H2SO4 as well as with concentrated H2SO4 and phenylamine (Robertson and Egger 2010). The results for the four tests were recorded. To test for denitrifica tion reagents A and B were added to the nitrate broth tube with the unknown bacteria and the color change of the tube was recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). The unknown isolate was inoculated in a tube of thioglycollate medium and after incubation any growth in the tube was noted and recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). To test the bacteria for catalase and oxidase bacteria was streaked on a TSA plate and after incubation drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide was put on one end of the streak and the formation or lack of bubbles was recorded for catalase, and oxidase was tested on the opposite end of the streak and the results were noted (Robertson and Egger 2010). To test what temperature the unknown bacteria grow best at 4 TSA plates were streaked with the bacteria and each plate was incubated at a different temperature, after incubation any growth on the plates was recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). To test the optimal pH for the bacteria to grow the bacteria was inoculated into tubes that were each at a different pH (pH 3, 5, 7, 9) after incubation the pH that the bacteria grew the best in was recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). TSA plates were also streaked with the unknown bacteria to test in what amount of sodium chloride it could grow in, plates with concentrations of 0,0.5, 2 and 5% sodium chloride were used any growth was recorded (Robertson and Egger 2010). RESULTS The unknown bacterium is rod shaped and gram positive and the colony formed is a raised white circle (Table 1). Tests showed that the bacterium was positive for ammonification and denitrification from NO3- to NO2- (Table 1). Catalase and oxidase test also were positive for this bacteria (Table 1). The bacterium is also a facultative anaerobe (Table 1). Table 1 also shows that the unknown bacterium does not exhibit motility. The unknown bacteria was found to hydrolyze starch, but was negative for reducing H2S (Table 1). The unknown bacterium also does not exhibit nitrification (Table 1). The optimal temperature of the unknown bacteria was found to be about 37 °C and had an optimal pH of 5 its optimal salt concentrations was also found to be at 0-0.5% sodium chloride (Table 1). DISCUSSION The soil bacteria key created by KN Egger (2010) was used to identify what family the unknown bacteria belongs to. The closest match that could be found using the Common Soil Bacteria Key was Actinomyces. A match could not be made to a genus. Actinomyce are a Gram positive, rod shaped family. Actinomyces are not found to reduce H2S or have significant motility. From the results in Table 1 we can conclude that the bacterium is a mesophile as well as an acidophile. We can also conclude from Table 1 that the bacterium is osmotolerant and a facultative anaerobe. Many different tests could have been used to further help identify the bacterial isolate; the most accurate tests would have been to test the DNA or nucleic acids of the bacteria. Many different biochemical tests could have been used such as lactose and glucose. No test result can be considered completely accurate the bacteria could have been contaminated as well as not every bacteria colony will behave exactly the same. It is ex tremely hard to classify a specific bacterium without several more tests to safely conclude that it belongs in the chosen group Actinomyces. REFERENCES Clark, FE. 1951. Bacteria in the Soil. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 7:78-80. Egger, KN. 2010. Common Soil Bacteria Key. UNBC Robertson, S and Egger, K. 2010. BIOL 203 Microbiology Laboratory Manual. UNBC.

The Attitude of Howard Hughes :: Inventors

Although Howard Hughes had a very cocky attitude, he did what he needed to do to finish his life goals: "Things I want to be 1. The best golfer in the world. 2. The best flyer pilot. 3. the most famous producer of moving pictures." Goals written on the back of a receipt (p55) His attitude was so impressive that it led to a major contribution in the world of aviation. The steps that he took, not listening to people say that he cannot do it, great secrecy, the need for perfection, and he does what ever is necessary to get the job done, that along side of his Texan attitude would lead to one of the greatest achievements in aviation. This great achievement was that of pressurized cabins which led to being able to fly higher and faster, thus cutting down travel time and expenses. Howard Hughes?s attitude was astounding, a quote from him which reads ?Bob, please read the attached article. It refers to me as a millionaire, while others have called me a billionaire. I?m very concerned about this change in perception and the effect it will have on our businesses? (Richard Hack P xi). This is showing how great of an attitude he has if he can be so picky that he worries about if people view him as a millionaire rather than a billionaire. When Hughes had something to tell someone he had no problem with worrying about what they would think about it, or who that person is. When Howard said ?I am a little tired of being pushed around and intimidated by Senators Brewster and Ferguson just because they have some very strong powers which are granted to all Senators but which were not intended to be misused for the promotion of a three-ring publicity circus.? (P159) This shows that Hughes obviously did not care if he was talking about senators talking down on him or just a normal person. He just does not care who they are- he will not take it. We all know that Howard had money because of his great attitude, ?While the rest of America was having trouble placing food on the table, Hughes felt the effect only when he decided to buy a new plane, and was told that he needed to pay for his purchase with cash.? This shows how rich he was, but more importantly it shows that he can be very cocky about it.

AMERICANS VIEWS Essay -- essays research papers

A stereotype is the creation of an unfair opinion or view; an individual will take the behavior of one person and state that all people belonging to that particular group behave in the same manner. Stereotyping encourages people to react and behave in a manner that is both judgmental and prejudiced. The perception of Arabs and the Islamic religion has created a system in which prejudices and stereotypes worked their way so thoroughly into literature, education, history, language, and social mores that they seem to govern the conflict as much as they are created by it, while newspapers and television news play a major role in the way we perceive Arabs and the Islamic religion. Movies, books, and sitcoms also play a major role in shaping these stereotypes. Popular films such as, "Villains," "Sheikhs," "Cameos," and "Cliffhangers," which portray Arabs as Public Enemy #1, brutal, heartless, uncivilized Natives bent on terrorizing civilized Western ers. These different types of things all have the ability to enlighten and enrich the lives of all the people they touch; however, they also have the ability to perpetuate and create stereotypes, as in the case of how Americans view Arabs. Television programs and the mass media do not examine the fact that the Islamic religion preaches equality and peace. A good example of media coverage in which presented the facts of an actual event in a prejudicial manner was the Oklahoma City bombing. In 1995...

Working century

This assignment alms to analyses the careers of three Individuals by exploring the personal and situational factors considered In Supper's Archway Model as well as the Grumbler's Theory, and discuss how these factors interact and affect career decision-making. The analysis is then applied to the discussion how to use the various types of intelligences in achieving career success and advancement. Interviewee 1 Name: Jane Chug Highest Educational Qualification: Honors In Accountancy Age: 40 years old Gender: Female Race: Chinese Nationality: Singapore Work experience: 21 years Past occupation: Accountant/ General Accounts ManagerCurrent occupation: Assistant Finance Manager Brief Background Jane is currently working as an Assistant Finance Manager with Eng Lee & Associates and has been there for almost 2 years. Being the mother of two children, Jane placed a huge emphasis on being able to spend quality time with her family. Thus, the major factors which influenced Cane's career history is Job satisfaction and work life balance. When asked to classify herself under three of the six personalities and environments that Holland developed which suits her best, she chose Conventional, Social and Realistic. Career History of Individual:Jane graduated at the age of 22 and started her firstborn as an assistant accountant with Panasonic where she was only in charge of only one of the subsidiary's account. Due to outstanding performance, she was promoted several times within a span of 3 years. This was parallel to the company's policy to provide opportunities for career development to retain talents. However, even with good promotion prospects, Jane does not hold much authority In decision-making. With meeting tight deadlines and superiors' expectation the only challenges, job task were mundane and this resulted in a lack of motivation for her.Although this job provided her the work-life balance she wanted, she did not enjoyed the nature of her work at all. Furthermore, the most pivotal reason for her exit was due to the clash of personal value. During the period of economic downturn, there was a change of the management. In order to present a positive financial results to the owners, Jane was ordered to manage the earnings accounts. This made Jane faced with an ethical dilemma. Coupled with her lack of job satisfaction, she decided to leave the job. Next, she moved on to her next career to work as an Assistant Finance Manager.The Meany's value is in line with her personal value. Moreover, her current nature of made Jane highly motivated by the new challenges available to her every day, and satisfied with her working environment and work life balance offered. Interviewee 2 Name: Sam Nag Highest Educational Qualification: Primary 6 Age: 55 years old Gender: Male Work experience: 38 years Past occupation: Construction Worker, Interior Design Contractor Current occupation: Taxi Driver Sam is currently working as taxi driver of Comfort and has been there for almost 17 years.He is married with two children and has been the sole breadwinner of the Emily. Thus, the major factors which influenced Cam's career history is Job stability, health and work life balance. Being part of a big family of 12 children, Sam, who was the 10th child, could only study up to secondary 3 before he was forced to drop out of school to support the family by working for his uncle. When asked to classify himself under three of the six personalities and environments that Holland developed which suits her best, she chose Conventional, Enterprising and Realistic.Career History of Individual: Sam started working as a full time construction worker at the age of 18. He was working for his uncle and his other younger brothers were also working there, albeit with different tasks. Weighed down with the responsibility of taking care of them, he has no choice but bear with the harsh working conditions. Moreover, he knew that with his lowly education level, he could only take up Jobs of such nature. After several years, the physically-demanding Job finally took a toll on his body.He then found out that this Job could only last him as long as his body could take it and that he needed a second Job. Furthermore, the low wage demand of foreign workers led to an influx f them, resulting in suppression of his wages. This made Sam to be worried about his Job stability. With the encouragement of family, Sam went into a partnership for interior designing. However, Just when the business was doing well, came the 1997 SEA economic downturn. This resulted in the failure of the business. Having filed for bankruptcy, Sam decided to take up the taxi driver vocational license course.Subsequently, Sam has been on the road for 17 years as a taxi driver. Although this job still imposes physical strain on his body, the flexibility and stability of the Job was one that he valued. Name: Marvin Tan Highest Educational Qualification: ‘O' Levels Age: 52 years old Work experience: 35 years Past occupation: Air Force Technician, Insurance Agent Current occupation: Remised Marvin has been working as a remised with DMS & Partners Securities since year 2002 till now. As a father of three, and also the sole breadwinner of the family, Marvin seeks Jobs that had stability and regular working hours.When asked to classify himself under three of the six personalities and environments that Holland developed which suits him best, he chose Investigative, Conventional and Realistic. Career History of Individual: Marvin started working at the age of 17 due to family circumstances. He was enrolled into the first year of pre-university, only then when his father was forced into retirement at Journo shipyard, He realized that his family would not be able to afford the exorbitant university school fees even if he had made it through to university.At the age of 17, he had to look for a Job in order to shoulder the responsibilities of supporting for the family. Since young, he had always wanted to be a pilot, but the process was a long and tedious one, so he decided to put his dream aside and be an air force technician instead. The benefit of being a regular is a stable income so that he could ease his father's expenses burden, by seeing his younger brother and sister through their secondary school education.Marvin left the air force after 12 years as he felt that the way the organization worked did not really suit him, and thus decided to carve out a career for himself. During the arrears as a technician, he also picked up the habit of reading the newspapers daily, which got him to realize that his interest is in analyzing shares and stocks. Moreover, he also felt that he has a knack of analyzing the stock market. His ultimate objective was to be a remised but he opted to apply as a dealer first because he wanted to learn the ropes of the industry, and to also build a clientele.Moreover, a dealer would have a basic pay which incentive him back then because he had to raise 3 children. While waiting for a reply to his applications, he was also keen to know more about the insurance industry. He took the relevant papers to gain additional knowledge, and ended up as an insurance agent for half a year. Companies who were hiring dealers back then were looking for university graduates and moreover, Marvin found that the insurance industry was not suitable for him so he was only left with the choice of being a remised.After so many twists in Margin's career path, he finally got accepted into summit securities at the age of 30, and has been working as a remised since then. Personality, Mr.. Tan feels that he is relentless, passionate and has a high level of self- efficacy. Supper's Archway Model Supper's Archway Model shows that individual's self concept may change in the synthesizing and compromising process of the interaction between relevant psychological, personal and societal elements, which in turn influences the choice ND d evelopment of the individual's career.For Jane, the extended 5 life stages by Super (1957) suggests that Jane is in the implementation stage, where career prospect should be high on Cane's priority list. With the various advancement opportunities available to Jane, this should have encouraged her to continue employment with Panasonic. However, her decision to switch companies proved otherwise. Having an independent and ambitious personality, she is competitive and works well where there are many opportunities to succeed. She craves for more decision making autonomy than what she held at Panasonic.Even though Jane is able to complete her Job-tasks well, the lack of challenges fails to motivate her to put forth her best efforts. This resulted in her resignation as the extrinsic motivation of promotion was unable to compensate the lack of intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, Cane's family has instilled a strong notion of honesty and ethics and this personal value has been something she t ried to uphold her whole life. The ethical dilemma she faced was undo by her strong sense of personal values.Moreover, the education she received emphasized on the fact that accounting figures speaks the truth. Staying on will mean that there will be a huge conflict of value between her and the company. This shows that Jane has a high level of career maturity from a young age, due to her strong self-concept of who she is and what she likes. Hence, the change from her previous Job at Panasonic to her current one shows that Jane seeks to live out her vocational self concept through the choice of her Job in order to attain Job satisfaction which she valued.It is shown work satisfactions are dependent on the degree to which an â€Å"individual finds adequate outlets for abilities, needs, values, interests, personality traits and self-concepts† However, the theory fails to recognize which of the constructs involved in this proposition is theoretically most significant to career sa tisfaction which ultimately affects the choice of Cane's career. For Sam, he was brought up in a traditional family which value kinship deeply.Being responsible and favoring Job stability, this should have resulted in Sam continuing his work with the interaction between psychological, personality and societal elements that influences his self-concept revealed the reason behind his Job switch. With only a remarry 6 qualification in hand, his aptitude significantly limited Sam to only a few number of occupation. Together with the societal factor of family, which is to take care of his siblings and carrying on the burden of earning money for the family, made him accept the fact of working in the harsh environment.However, the physical strain on his body spark the thought of a career change. Moreover, the looser foreign policy passed by the government created an influx of foreign workers, most notably threatening his Job stability and suppressing of his wages, created the motivation of him switching Jobs. Coupled with his risk-taking personality, the need of getting a higher income for his growing family and his interest for interior designing refined Cam's self concept and prompted him to enter into the partnership.In Cam's case, although the refining of his self concept has provided reasons for his subsequent career choice, it is important to note that Sam does not have much control over the formation of his self-concept, with only control over how to translate it into occupational choices. Furthermore, Supper's Archway model should be complemented by his Life-career Rainbow to better illustrate Cam's career hoicks. His life and career may be viewed as an attempt to live out a self-concept through the blending of a selected number of life roles, each of which makes different demands on energy and time.For Marvin, being only an ‘O' levels' holder, his aptitude limited his Job choices and he could only settle between what interest him and his educational qua lifications, with his family in mind at the same time. Even though Marvin has always wanted to be a pilot since young, he was not able to realize his dream due to his family circumstances and opted to work something close o it instead, as an air force technician, compromising between individual and social factors; his self-concept and reality. As Marvin matured and the burden of supporting his family lightened, it got him pondering on what was best for his career.Over a span of 12 years, there was a gradual change in Margin's self-concept and perspective due to several factors such as realizing that repairing airplanes was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, and the protocol was not something that suited him. Having been reading the newspapers for several years, he developed a rowing interest in the stock market, and believed that he has a knack for it. Having an inquisitive personality, he decided to applied to be a dealer instead of being blinded by his primary obje ctive to be a remised.This is because he recognized the importance of learning the ropes of the industry as a dealer in order to be a good remised. Moreover, he wanted to build a clientele and that the incentive of a stable pay would be able to support his family. He also recognized that the insurance industry was growing which encouraged him to gain additional knowledge while waiting for a reply to his applications. Eventually, Marvin took up the opportunity to be a remised as his educational qualification was not enough to land him a Job as a dealer.This transition has proven the career adaptability Marvin has, whereby he has successfully adapted to a completely different and unfamiliar environment. Moreover, the takeover of his previous company, which took place n 2010, meant that Marvin also had to adapt to the new work protocol and hierarchy. It is also apparent own interests and strengths. Starting from a client base of null, Marvin has been a remised for the past arrears, wea thering through all obstacles, simply because he as been doing what he like.Marvin had no regrets when it came to the crunch, leaving his comfort zone, the stable pay he got as an air force technician, to take up a new challenge and to improve on himself, for his interest had spurred him on. Supper's model mentioned that the degree of satisfaction people attain from work is proportional to the degree to which they have been able to implement their self- concept, which is relevant in Margin's case. Essentially, Supper's theory addresses the entire span of a person's life. However, the five developmental stages that Super 1957) had developed are not completely applicable in Margin's case.Although Marvin had an aspiration during the growth stage that lasted to the age of 14, it was short-lived. His exploration stage, from age 15 to 24, was cut short as he had to find a job after his father was forced to retire. Marvin did not have the chance to plan for his preferred occupation. The es tablishment stage, took place late at when he was 30 instead of 25 years old, as he had to serve a minimum bond of 10 years before he could leave the army. Grumbler's Theory Grumbler's theory also known as the Social Learning Theory of Career DecisionMaking, explores the concept of triadic reciprocal interaction, which is the interaction between heredity and environmental attributes, and the importance of instrumental & associative learning and how they in turn influence an individual's work behavior. The 4 major factors that influence one's career development include genetic endowment, environmental conditions, learning experiences and task approach skills. For Jane, she was born in a family where both her parents worked as an Accountant. Inherited with their genes, Jane was born a fast learner with a acute sense towards numbers.Moreover, after observing the success her parents had as an Accountant, provided her an associative learning experience, where she also want to pattern her own behavior after. This resulted to her taking up Accountancy during her university. Having attained good results in her course and the good reviews she had during her internship, this provided her an instrumental learning experience. The interaction between these factors reinforced her self-concept and formed self statements of evaluation of her interest and efficacy expectations in the field of accounting which led to her taking up her first Job as an Assistant Accountant in Panasonic.Although this theory did not played an important part to show the development of her career, this provided the reason of Cane's initial decision to work as an Accountant. For Sam, he possessed an innate artistic ability for designing. His knack at designing was affirmed by the various awards he received by taking part in designing competition during his secondary school days. However, faced with environmental conditions such as the lack of Job opportunities available to him and his family encourage ment to Join the construction industry, Sam believed that this as the best choice and started work with his uncle as a construction worker.Physical exertions at the construction ground provided a form of instrumental learning experience that served to educate him about the limitations of his physical and events played a big role in shaping Cam's eventual occupation. The economic downturn in 1997, which led to his eventual bankruptcy, provided an instrumental learning experience which made him realized the risk he was exposed to by operating a business of this nature and the lack of work life balance as a result of his hectic schedule. To add on, the nature of his business requires him to travel around Singapore in order to meet his customers.This allowed him to find out his talent in remembering road names. Moreover, the relatively stable â€Å"rice-bowl† and flexibility nature off taxi-driver affiliates with his value of stability and work life balance. The interaction betwe en his genetic endowment, environmental conditions and learning experiences lead to his eventual career as a taxi-driver. For Marvin, being able to stay in the industry for arrears and more, and to build a clientele from nothing, can only prove how trustworthy and discerning he is in analyzing the stock market.Although Marvin was not given the chance to further his studies, he had the determination to pursue his interest and succeed in it. Having borne as the eldest child in the family, environmental circumstances determined his first Job, but he was not entirely satisfied with what he had at that time. The nature of the Job provided Marvin an instrumental learning experience which reminded him that the nature of the Job was not suitable for him and thus, decided to leave after serving his bond in order to pursue the interest and innate ability he had discovered n himself in the field of stock analyzing.This theory has influenced Margin's career decisions as we can see that an actio n plan was established to first become a dealer to support his family and build a clientele, before applying to be a remised. He had also recognized the growing demand of the insurance industry, thus identifying it as an alternative if he had failed to become a dealer, which was what happened eventually. He then worked as an insurance agent for half a year before leaving his post for what he had always wanted to do, to be a remised.