Child care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Child care - Essay Example Mother has a very important role in the nurturing of a child particularly in the pre-school age. A child starts to learn from the very first day of his/her life. In fact, much of the psychological development of a child happens in the very first year. Therefore, mothers should be very careful in their attitude with the child in the pre-school age. In the contemporary age, there is a growing trend among mothers to feed their babies with supplements. Many mothers prefer not to give their babies their own milk. Although there is considerable evidence and scientific research to show that artificial supplements are never nutritious enough to replace mother’s milk, yet there are several more factors that speak against such attitude of mothers. For example, when mothers feed their babies their own milk, it also lays basis for the development of a unique psychological relationship between the mother and the child in addition to the child’s health. This psychological relationshi p lasts throughout the life of both, and gains strength from the initial two years of mother-child feed relationship. Therefore, mothers should feed their children their own milk. Mothers commonly have trouble when the child becomes 2 years old because this is the age when mother’s milk has to be removed from the child’s diet plan. Mothers have a tough time saying â€Å"no† to their children when they ask for milk at that age. This requires display of extreme patience and determination on the part of mother along with the child. Mothers can say â€Å"no† to the demanding child and mean it by reading literature about child’s diet schedule. There is comprehensive information available regarding what type of diet should a child be given at a particular age. Frequently reading such digests helps a mother make up her mind and be practical on her plans. The attention mothers pay towards their children’s education in the kindergarten age lays foundations upon which the children build their academic career. The stronger the foundations, the stronger the career becomes. Children are introduced to the world of academics by their mothers. That is an age when they are least receptive towards academic load. In those days, mothers convince them to accept the load by singing nursery rhymes with them so that they feel at home doing school work. In order to facilitate the transition from pre-school age to kindergarten age, mothers should make use of moving image. Nursery rhymes on youtube are one of the best means to inculcate a liking for poems in children. Child care covers a wide range of subjects that include but are not limited to child’s education, sports, mannerism and behavior with adults and other children the age of child. Mothers lay the foundations for child’s psychological development in the pre-school age and academic career in the kindergarten age. Breastfeeding offers far more benefits that bottle-feeding the child (Lee). Therefore, mothers should resolve to breastfeed their child up to 2 years from birth. After the first 2 years when the child asks for breastmilk, mothers have to be determined and consistent in saying â€Å"no† to the child. In that phase, mothers can seek help from mothers’ digests that are frequently published. These digests offer

War in Iraq Essay Example for Free

War in Iraq Essay The United States Governments decision to invade Iraq was a mistake and so is the decision to continue to occupy the war-country. However, more than just a mistake, the war is of course wrong, and the reasons which the US declared for the rationale of the war are based on misinformed information. There are kinds of war that can be justified if the reasons behind them are morally right — the Iraq War is not one of them. The question whether the government knew this or not is not really known. Various sides claim different things regarding the rationality of the war, but one thing is for sure: This author is not for any kind of war, including the Iraq War. Iraq War in Under Fire There are a number of reasons why the war on Iraq is to be considered a bad judgment, if not a bad â€Å"scheme. † We could go on and on with a long list, but it would take a very long time. However, the main concern of the government was that Iraq had what they called â€Å"Weapons of Mass Destruction† (WMD) that are a threat to the security of not only America but also the rest of the world. There is reason to believe that misleading information influenced the decision of the president to go to war. In a press release posted on the Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) website, Jay Rockefeller, chair of Intelligence committee said, â€Å"In making the case for war, the Administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even non-existent. As a result, the American people were led to believe that the threat from Iraq was much greater than actually existed† (qtd. in United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 1). He was right; by the time the US and coalition forces was done ransacking the country, no WMD were found. There were also no threatening biological and chemical weapons found in Iraq. There were hints that Saddam wanted to create such devious weapons, but the findings suggest that the â€Å"imminent threats† that the government was so afraid about were non-existent. With these findings alone, the main justification of the US government for going to war with Iraq is nullified. Supposedly after the US was embarrassed by their Intelligence failure, the logical thing to do was to pull out of Iraq as quickly as possible and admit they have made a mistake. Yet, instead of doing this, the government even denied it, publicly declaring Iraq as an â€Å"imminent threat† to the US (Center for American Progress 1). Of course, pulling out of the Iraq would not be that easy especially because the coalition forces have done such a good job of virtually maiming the country. The chaos that the conflict created also meant that it would be morally wrong to just leave the devastated country after doing significant damage to it. The process of pulling out the troops, however, is taking longer than necessary. US troops have been in Iraq since 2003 and until now, tens of thousands of soldiers are still in the dangerous country. The longer the troops stay in Iraq, the more body bags the army have to ship back home. Apart from the unjustified nature of the Iraq War, the casualties that the conflict created and is still creating are one of the major reasons why this war is being contested. As of June 2, 2009, there have been 4,627 coalition deaths, and these only include the coalition forces that died (Cable News Network [CNN]). According to a recent research published in the New York Times, the civilian casualties that the conflict is causing may sum up to 600,000 since the war began (Tavernise and Mcneil). That is almost a hundred thousand deaths a year, which makes this war even more wrong because of the sheer number of casualties produced. Not everybody sees this war the same way. Some argue that if Iraq was not invaded by Coalition forces, Iraq may have developed the Weapons of Mass Destruction they were so eager to find inside Iraqi territory. However, since the time when Iraq was invaded up to this date, no Weapons of Mass Destruction have been detected, making this argument invalid. For others, the war on Iraq was a necessary move of the United States in order to defend itself from foreign threats, and it was a direct action to the seemingly increasing threat that Saddam supposedly had on the US. Former US President George W. Bush claimed that war was his last option. â€Å"I didnt want war, to assume that I wanted war is just flat wrong,† George Bush said in an interview (qtd. in Shakir). However, evidence suggests that he has already made up his mind long before the first coalition forces landed on Iraqi soil. Bush and then British Prime Minister Tony Blair have already met and decided on the matter as revealed in a memo dated January 31, 2003 (Norton-Taylor). Conclusion The Iraq War is just flat out wrong. The US government pretended and projected to the people that Iraq was an imminent threat despite the lack of real evidence. The rationality of the war is just based on misleading information, therefore making it a mistake. However, more important than the rationality of the war, the number of casualties that the conflict has created and is still creating is a strong enough reason to justify the immorality and irrationality of the war. Others may claim that the war was necessary, but the hard truth is that it was indeed a mistake. The failure to find WMD has caused critics to be suspicious of the real intent of the US why they invaded Iraq — Iraq is of course an oil well capable of generating enormous amounts of money that even the already rich US government could not resist. Works Cited Cable News Network. â€Å"US and Coalition Casualties: Iraq. † CNN. com/world. 2 June 2009. 4 June 2009. http://edition. cnn. com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/. Center for American Progress. â€Å"In Their Own Words: Iraqs Imminent Threat.† Center for American Progress. 29 Jan. 2004. 4 June 2009. http://www. americanprogress. org/kf/QUOTES. PDF. Norton-Taylor, Richard. â€Å"Blair-Bush Deal Before Iraq War Revealed in Secret Memo. † 3 Feb. 2006. Guardian News and Media. 4 June 2009. http://www. guardian. co. uk/world/2006/feb/03/iraq. usa. Shakir, Faiz. â€Å"Bush Insists I Didnt Want War, Overwhelming Evidence Suggests Otherwise. † Think Progress. 21 Mar. 2006. 4 June 2009. http://thinkprogress. org/2006/03/21/made-up-his-mind/.

The Nhs In England Health And Social Care Essay

The Nhs In England Health And Social Care Essay National Health Service had been created in 1948 and for the last decades it has been facing numerous reforms and structural changes in attempt to raise its effectiveness and competitiveness and to reduce costs. This report focuses on STEP analysis of major external factors and trends that might influence future activity of NHS and shape its structure. Findings of the report are: Social: Population of England has increased by 7% in last 4 decades and with average age of 38.8 years (from 34.1 years in 1971)  [1]  . Overweight/obesity, ethnic differences in health care approach and high treatment costs for immigrants present main social challenges for the NHS. Citizen participation, social inclusion and partnership programs are seen as possible answer to these challenges. Technological: Coalitional government ended National Programme for IT in England and is preparing new Information Revolution. Recent reforms that include abolition of primary-care trusts and establishment of GP commission require new IT solutions. Increasing community and home based health care are based on efficient telehealth and telecare services and require further development of IT technologies. Additional investment in research and development of IT technologies is necessary in order to cope with development of modern health care services. Economical: NHS will receive significantly lower annual budget increase, compared to previous years and it is expected to present  £20bn (GBP) in savings by 2013-14. With the abolition of PCT budget of roughly  £80bn (GBP) will be transferred to management by GP commission. Political: Coalitional government presented new reforms that focus on implementing administrative and structural changes in NHS. Emphasis of the reforms is on giving more power and choice to the consumers, decentralising management and significantly reducing administrative costs. Introduction This management report is a STEP analysis of the NHS in England. The report sets out the key issues within each STEP for the organisation and can be used as the basis for further analysis. A conclusion identifies the key issues arising from the STEP analysis for the NHS in England and also sets out the strengths and weaknesses of the STEP approach and the challenges encountered when undertaking the analysis. STEP 1: Social The majority of the population in England and Wales use the services of the NHS (about 8% of the population use private health care). The NHS needs to be aware of demographics changes as this will have a significant impact on demand for NHS services as a whole and on demand for particular products and services. The key social issues that the NHS in England needs to consider are: Population growth rate and age profile Health of the general population Issues related to ethnicity Issues related to immigration Governance patterns, social inclusion and partnerships building. Population growth rate and age profile The UK population reached 59.8 million in 2004; its highest ever level. It has increased in size by 7 per cent in the three decades since 1971, when the figure was 55.9 million. But this population growth has not occurred at all ages. In fact, some age groups have shrunk and so have become a smaller proportion of the whole population.   The ageing of the population will affect the types of services required and the way in which they are provided. Population health About 46% of men in England and 32% of women are overweight (a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2), and an additional 17% of men and 21% of women are obese (a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2 ). Overweight and obesity increase with age. About 28% of men and 27% of women aged 16-24 are overweight or obese but 76% of men and 68% of women aged 55-64 are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are increasing. The percentage of adults who are obese has roughly doubled since the mid-1980s. The effect of these trends is increasing requirements for different types of equipment (eg. stronger beds). Ethnicity Pakistani and Bangladeshi men and women in England and Wales reported the highest rates of not good health in 2001. Pakistanis had age-standardised rates of not good health of 13 per cent (men) and 17 per cent (women). The age-standardised rates for Bangladeshis were 14 per cent (men) and 15 per cent (women). These rates, which take account of the difference in age structures between the ethnic groups, were around twice that of their White British counterparts. Chinese men and women were the least likely to report their health as not good. Women were more likely than men to rate their health as not good across all groups, apart from the White Irish and those from Other ethnic groups. Reporting poor health has been shown to be strongly associated with use of health services and mortality. White Irish and Pakistani women in England had higher GP contact rates than women in the general population. Bangladeshi men were three times as likely to visit their GP than men in the general popul ation after standardising for age. Immigration Since 2004, a record 1.8 million foreign workers have come to Britain, including an estimated 700,000 from Eastern Europe. And yes there have been problems. Migrants have put pressure on the NHS by using casualty departments as GP surgeries. TB rates are also up and the cost of translators in hospitals to deal with foreign patients can be crippling for health authorities. Governance patterns, social inclusion and partnerships building Citizens participation becomes more and more important to fill the gaps of governments failure. Many initiatives related to public health issues, for example reducing the incidence of drug misuse, can never be achieved without involving citizens. The UK is a pioneer in deliberative democracy, which is an ideal vehicle for the promotion of health based voluntary / statutory sector partnerships. STEP 2: Technological The increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the NHS in England is dependent upon the appropriate use of technology, and affects both the acute and primary care sectors. The key technological issues currently facing the NHS in England are: The IT impact of the abolition of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and the move to GP Commissioning How to address the results of the UK Governments changing national health IT policy Continuing the development of teleheath and telecare to shift the balance of care from the acute to the community sector In general, continuing to fund and integrate technological developments in service provision that offer improvements in economy, effectiveness and efficiency. The abolition of Primary Care Trusts The abolition of PCTs and the move to GP Commissioning means there is a need to ensure effective IT structures are in place to support the move. PCTs will need support to ensure the data they hold is dealt with appropriately be it destruction or move to other organisations. There may be a need to consider national guidance. GPs and service providers will also need support to ensure their IT systems are able to communicate with each other effectively and have the capacity to deal with increased records. There may be a need to consider national guidance. National health IT policy The new coalition government ended the National Programme for IT in England and has just finished consultation on its new Information Revolution.  [2]  3The previous programme aimed at providing a number of national IT services, such as Choose and Book (the national electronic referral system); PACS (central picture archiving service for eg x-rays); and the national electronic subscriptions service. Some of these programmes were completed under the previous government, however, many are still in development. The coalition government has expressed their desire for local IT solutions, however, many of the programmes are tied to national contracts with the private sector. The NHS in England needs to examine the cost of termination (and the costs of providing alternative local solutions) vs continuing with the existing contracts, contrary to government policy. There is a need for further clarification from the government and continued engagements from the NHS with the coalition. The development of telehealth and telecare Moving care into the community and supporting people to live in their own homes for longer requires increasing use of telehealth and telecare technology. There are numerous benefits for the NHS in England and its users, for example those in rural communities able to access consultant appointments via computer rather than travelling large distances, and more people living longer in their own homes. These developments need continuing support from the centre if health bodies are to continue to develop these. Central funding may also be required to continue research into this area and technological development. Continuing technological developments The NHS in England needs to continue promoting the benefits of new technologies to health bodies and providing support (small scale funding, guidance) to help trusts implement these. The 2009 NHS IMT Investment Survey indicated that capital investment at local level has remained static over the past 5 years, it is only the injection of central funding that has led to increases in this area. Emphasis needs placed on health trusts to continue to fund developments.  [4]   STEP 3: Economic The key economic issues facing the NHS are: The outlook for public sector finances The effect of GP commissioning The impact of staff pay and conditions (cost of labour) The cost of capital/diminishing capital resource and investment Public sector finances As a result of the coalition governments desire to address the effects of the global economic crisis and its attempt to quickly reduce the budget deficit, resources available from central government are projected to increase less quickly than in recent years. The rise for 2011 of just 0.1% represents a significant decrease in funding compared to increases in recent years. This is further compounded by cuts in the levels of cash received by hospitals for treating patients. Commentators suggest that the effect of the cuts will require the identification of  £20bn (GBP) in savings by 2013-14. The NHS in England needs to quickly identify how it will continue to provide care with reduced levels of funding. This may include actions such as reducing staffing levels and increasing out-sourcing of services. Effect of GP Commissioning The abolition of Primary Care Trusts and the move to GP commissioning brings both opportunities and risks associated with the handover of almost  £80bn (GBP) from central to local control. While previous experience would suggest that GP commissioning improves efficient use of resources (efficiency fell by 1.6% after the abolition of internal markets in 1997) (see reference 1) it is possible that individual hospitals, patients and the GPs themselves may lose out. GPs may spend more time involved in administrative tasks and less time with patients; patients may be affected by the level of engagement with commissioning on the part of their GP and some hospitals will fare better than others under the revised arrangements. Retaining control of NHS spending is a significant challenge when accountability for the use of public funds essentially lies in the hands of private contractors. Effective financial controls will be necessary to ensure demand management is not simply left on the shel f and that resources are used both effectively and efficiently. Pay and conditions Staff costs as a proportion of total costs are high within the NHS. The effects of minimum wage and, more recently, the implementation of the European Working Time Directive continue to drive costs up, even as staffing levels remain static or fall. Efforts to ensure trusts comply with the Working Time Directive have backfired by ensuring staff record hours worked more accurately leading to increased overtime payments and identification of additional need. In addition, the effect of cuts in staffing both through voluntary and compulsory redundancies will place additional (albeit relatively short-term) pressure on finances in the form of pay-offs and pensions. Capital assets and investments Many PCTs acknowledge that the current period imposes reductions in capital investment. Short term savings accrued by delaying investment may lead to increased costs in the future. In addition, numerous trusts have sold off capital assets to remain competitive in recent years, thereby reducing asset value now and for the future. The use of PFI/PPP/DBO may offer short-term benefits (by reducing direct capital expenditure) but risks remain with regard to the long-term commitment and associated cost of such contracts. STEP 4: Political The change in government from Labour to Conservative/Liberal Democrat in 2010 resulted in a significant shift in political attitudes towards the NHS in England. The drive to reduce centralised control and increase local responsibility has resulted in a number of key policy initiatives. Coalition programme The coalition programme for healthcare included the following subjects:  [5]   Greater financial autonomy for local bodies Involvement of GPs in tackling health care problems Improved access to preventive healthcare for disadvantaged areas Reduction of long-term costs. The specific programme for the NHS included the following:  [6]   Real term budget increase for next 5 years. Reduction of quasi-non-government-organizations (quangos). Cut administrative costs by 30% and use these resources to support doctors and nurses. Discontinue closure of AE units and of maternity wards. Restructure health system giving more power and freedom of choice to patients and transferring commissioning powers from PCTs to GPs. Development of monitoring system to oversee aspects of access, competition and price-setting in NHS. Establishment external and independent board to allocate resources and provide commissioning guidelines. Introduction of rating system for health care providers that will allow patients contributions and will be accessible online. Reform NICE into value-based pricing, to allow broader access to drugs and treatments for those who need them. Introduction of per-patient funding for hospices and providers of palliative care, and allocation of additional 10 million pounds a year from the budget to support these childrens hospices. Improvement of service quality through involvement of independent and voluntary providers and through giving patients ability to choose provider that suits them most. Reforms Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, introduced plans for NHS reform in August 2010 (White Paper of announced reforms is available here). The main topics were:  [7]  8 Delivering commissioning power to purchase health care for the patients to GPs who are to join consortia by 2013. Abolishment of 10 strategic health authorities and of approximately 150 primary-care trusts and transfer some of their services to external non-for-profit outfits. NHS hospitals are to become foundation trusts and to enjoy greater autonomy in revenues and funding. Patients will be available to choose GPs regardless to their geographical areas, to make shared decisions on their health treatments and to enjoy published data on hospitals and doctors (results, waiting times, rates, etc.). NHS funding will increase in real terms for the following 5 years but it will have to do more for its money: reduction of managerial costs by 45%; efficiency savings of 20 billion pounds, which are to be reinvested to support quality and outcomes. Establishment of an independent NHS Commissioning Board, which will allocate and account for NHS resources and will audit on implementation of quality improvement and patient involvement and choice. Conclusion The NHS in England is currently facing a period of change that will affect all aspects of its operation. Delivering the required political reforms within the constraints of the current financial climate will be challenging. Coupling this with increasing demand for services caused by an ageing population and the associated technological developments that need to be put in place for this to be managed means the NHS in England must be clear on its purpose, its direction and its strategy for achieving these. Recommendations Re-examine the purpose, direction and over-arching strategy of the NHS in England to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose Develop appropriate national strategies for each element of the organisation (eg IMT) to ensure there is clarity about what is required of trusts. Emphasise citizen involvement and partnership programs. Develop appropriate IT and technological infrastructures to support new reforms. Strengths and weaknesses of the STEP approach STEP analysis has strengths and weaknesses. The key issues identified by the group are: Strengths The analysis can help focus an organisation on the key factors in each environment ensuring they think about each step. It is quite a simple process that allows consideration of many variables. It enables the organisation/unit to look outwith their immediate environment to consider important external factors The approach can be linked with other models (typically SWOT) to increase its usefulness It encourages strategic thinking and planning and allows the organisation to anticipate future issues. Weaknesses Assessing the importance of issues can be challenging if appropriate and robust data is not available. Accessing useful data can be time consuming and therefore has a cost attached. The use of the four steps can mean a pigeon-holing of some issues that span across other themes (such as the impact of government policy) It is a task perhaps best done with a group in person rather than in isolation so that ideas can immediately be discussed/challenged and priorities for the issues included are agreed by consensus Considering the factors in isolation makes it difficult to identify linkages between the various elements It may be useful to keep the focus of the analysis specific as then the outputs may be more useful rather than general statements Forecasting leads to multiple possible futures; there is a danger of assuming hypotheses are truth The exercise needs to be repeated to remain useful to account for pace of change/changing realities. Challenges encountered by the group in conducting the analysis The group encountered the following challenges: considering the factors in isolation made it difficult to identify linkages between the various elements. It may have been useful to circulate our lists in advance to encourage cross-fertilisation and consistency across the 4 factors (Delphi approach) undertaking an analysis of an institution with which some members of the group had little familiarity led to increasing reliance on assumptions we ended up with quite a broad target topic, if we had narrowed our focus the results may have been more useful accessing relevant data was difficult in some areas and hence time-consuming. References for STEP: http://rapidbi.com/management/created/the-PESTLE-analysis-tool/ http://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/organisation-management/5b-understanding-ofs/assessing-impact-external-influences http://www.nhsemployers.org/EmploymentPolicyAndPractice/EqualityAndDiversity/e-d-in-practice/get-to/IdentifyingTheObjectivesAndOutcomes/Pages/PEST_Analysis.aspx http://www.herefordhospital.nhs.uk/Portals/0/MembersArea/IBP/Appendix%20X%20-%20PEST%20and%20SWOT.pdf http://newsfan.typepad.co.uk/pestle/2009/03/pestle-summary-united-kingdom.html http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/essays-and-dissertations/pest-analysis.php http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/04_FOPM_AgeStructure.pdf http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/uk-obesity-statistics.htm http://www.medwaypct.nhs.uk/explore-nhs-medway/news/media-releases/proposed-changes-to-workforce-and-education-in-the-nhs-making-our-views-count/ Does the British media hate the NHS? http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/jun/14/NHS.conferences http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2007/10/18/immigration-the-true-cost-to-britain-115875-19969602/

The Roy Adaptation Model :: essays research papers

The Roy Adaptation Model Roy began work on her theory in the 1960s. She drew from existing work of a physiological psychologist, and behavioral, systems and role theorists. She was keenly interested in the psycho/social aspects of the person from the start and concentrated her education on this aspect of Person. Thus, the language/thinking of psychology and sociology became second nature to her. The need for intense study of the language and ideas behind Roy's Adaptation Model is its biggest drawback in applying it to many clinical areas. The confusion in the physiological mode's categories could be explained by her concentrating on the psych social during her education.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1980, Roy and Reihl advocated a single unified model of nursing and suggested this would insure stability of the discipline of nursing. They maintained concepts and propositions of other models could be combined in summary statements related to person, goals of nursing and the nursing process. According to Fawcett, this position is a simplistic solution to a difficult problem. Nursing, with its limited experience with metaparadigms and conceptual models, is not ready for restrictions on its ways of thinking. It's my belief that this act of advocating a single unified model was an act of multi-oppressed thinking influenced by men, the Roman Catholic Church and the medical world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During a 1987 conference of nursing theorists, Sister Roy made a number of deferring remarks to a speech made earlier by a male Bishop.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fawcett also says the Roy Adaptation Model has an extensive vocabulary and that some familiar words (ie adaption) have been given new meanings in Roy's attempt to translate mechanistic ideas into organismic ones. Oppressed Group Behaviour: -assimilating the values and characteristics of the Oppressors. -Nursing leaders represent an elite group promoted because of their allegiance to maintaining the status quo. -leaders of Oppressed Groups are controlling, coercive and rigid. Oppressors: -education is important to maintaining the status quo. -Roy's Model follows the Medical Model and tends to be Totalitarian and therefore is familiar to Medicine - they would want to encourage it. -behaviour preferred by Oppressors is rewarded. -token appeasement (approval) is given to halt change or revolt.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The contributions of this conceptual model are that it will lead to more systematic assessments of clients and an increased quality of nursing practice. It could foster nursing knowledge through organized research and it could provide a more organized curriculum. Roy's definition of person   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roy defines the person as an Adaptive Open System. The Systems' Input is: a) three classes of stimuli: focal, contextual and residual, within and without the system and b) the systems' adaptation level or range of stimuli in

Union and Intersection

Primary Task Response: Write at least 3 paragraphs that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas. Part I: Describe how the notion of union and intersection apply to retrieving records in databases. Give an example of 2 sets that might appear in a database to help in your description. A prominent couple is found murdered in their mansion located in an affluent neighborhood. The housekeeper found the bodies and called the police.The housekeeper tells the detectives that quite a few valuables are missing from the house: artwork, electronics, jewelry, cash etc. In the initial stages of the investigation the detectives cannot decide whether this was a robbery gone wrong or a murder the perpetrator tried to disguise into a robbery. Not wanting to miss any potential leads the police compiles a joint list of suspects: every suspect on this list is either a known robber or a known killer (or both). For the first set R={x| x has a robbery rap sheet} they access the Theft/Robbery Division database.For the second set M={y |y has a murder in his criminal record} they access the Homicide Division database. It is not uncommon that different divisions within the same police department maintain different databases. Although state and national databases do exist they are usually slow moving and most often than not they generate unmanageably long lists of suspects. The advantage of a local database consists in a much easier access and output which is oftentimes much more relevant to the investigation – in 99% of the cases the crime is perpetrated by a local suspect.Thus the initial set of suspects S is the union of R and M: S=R? M. Suppose however that S has too many suspects. Given the personnel shortage it is not feasible to investigate every name which appears in S. the police needs to find a way to narrow down this list. After re-interviewing the neighbors, it turns ou t that one of them witnessed a suspicious green Chevy van idling on a street corner close to the murdered couple’s house. The van was in a rough shape which made it unlikely to be owned by one of the local residents.The detectives have now a clue that helps them narrow down their list of suspects. They access the DMV database to extract the list of drivers who own an older model green Chevy van. In other words they retrieve the set C= { z | z owns a green Chevy van}. The investigators then compare their list of suspects S , to the names listed in C, looking for common entries. In other words they are interested in the set of prime suspects P, where P is the intersection between S and C: P=S? C. Part II :Discuss the notion of the logical â€Å"or† and the logical â€Å"and† in computer programming (coding) or flowcharts.Why is it important to know how to apply these correctly? The traditional scope of computer science was the automation of numerical operations. B ut since reasoning can be seen as a kind of computation, in principle it can be automated as well. Computers represent information using bits. A bit is a symbol with two possible values, zero and one. The word bit comes from binary digit, because zeros and ones are the digits used in binary representations of numbers Computer bit operations correspond to the logical connectives.Information is represented using bit strings, which are lists of zeros and ones. Operations on the bit strings can be used to manipulate this information. At a very basic level, the binary string approach accompanied by the operations that can be performed with these strings via the logical connectives constitute our way of translating the problem in a form the computer can â€Å"understand†. Eventually, the computer is the perfect executant so it will end up doing exactly what we told him to do – which is not always the same with what we intended to have him do.The difference between 0 and 1 ma y not seem large; however, in absolute terms is as large as the difference between true and false, or the difference between black and white. The use of 0’s and 1’s is a matter of convenience if anything else; alternatively we can work with â€Å"dinks† and â€Å"dunks† with exactly the same (logical) result. A quick example is most likely going to drive this point home. One of the places where logical connectives are used most frequently are the internet search engines. Suppose however that by a silly programming mistake a certain search engine XYZ. om reads â€Å"or† instead of â€Å"and† and vice-versa. Suppose your instructor recommended an article written by Jones and Smith on the topic of logical connectives. The instructor could not remember the authors’ first names nor the exact title of the paper but he suggested that a quick search on XYZ. com should help you locate the paper in no time. Needless to say if your search query â€Å"Jones† AND â€Å"Smith† AND â€Å"Logical† AND â€Å"connectives† is interpreted as â€Å"Jones† OR â€Å"Smith† OR â€Å"Logical† OR â€Å"connectives† the chances of locating the paper are just as great as the chances of finding thr needle in the haystack.

Seven Considerations for an Ideal Job

Seven Considerations for an Ideal Job Free Online Research Papers In American society, the purpose of education is to acquire knowledge to apply toward your eventual job; the higher the degree of the education, the more professional, and thus the higher paying, the career. But little in our education actually helps us take a step back and discover what we would be good at, or interested in, or happy doing. Most people simple stumble into a career, and whether they are happy doing it is a matter of luck and happenstance, rather than planning. At the 30 year mark, I am starting a bit late with my career path, but that is how long it took to find what it is I wanted to do, and largely, I stumbled into it. It took years to find the questions I needed to ask myself, much more the answers to those questions. When it comes to my core skills, most of them revolve around dealing with people. I am an excellent communicator, with the ability to hear and answer questions perceptively. I pay attention to the people I am communicating with, and empathize with their point of view, giving clear answers. This is important, especially as I attempt to treat them. From my education and experience of massage therapy, I have found I am quite adept at putting people at their ease, the better to earn their trust as I attempt to sooth their aches. These skills lend to my ability to counsel people. To help them identify the cause of their ailments, and recommend a course of action to treat and prevent. I am an excellent evaluator. Paying attention to a client, both what they say and how they act, allows me to appraise and judge their condition, and extract the essence of what is bothering them. An excellent sense of a touch and manual dexterity helps me with the evaluation, as well as the treatment. By handling the problem areas, I can not only identify, but also communicate to them the source of their problem, and illustrate the proper treatment. This all takes precision, and a through grasp of the micro to be as accurate as possible. Specific treatments cannot be dealt with in a general sense. I must be able to communicate specifically if I am to counsel them on the proper treatment. My core skills of communicating, treating, counseling, evaluating, handling, and precision working are not just isolated areas I have some talent at, but work together and bolster the effectiveness of each skill as a whole set. My ultimate dream location to live and work is San Diego, California. I have always loved the ocean, and wish to live close enough to visit, if not on the coast itself. I hate the cold, and want to be someplace warm, with mild to no winter, and scorching hot summers. I do not want to live too close to my family, as I do not want to put up with the prospect of them stopping by unannounced, so central California or Nebraska is out. An upper-middle class neighborhood, with access to liberal private schools would be best for raising my child; someplace safe, but not isolated from the world and its problems. I want my daughter to have advantages, but not be spoiled or naive. As my main hobby is participation in the S.C.A., access to events is critical, but a couple hours drive time is convenient enough. Above all, the absolute one thing I will not compromise on is that my wife be happy there. My main interests revolve around the human body, and human potential. What people can achieve if they are willing to push themselves to physical and emotional limits. From this comes a distinct attraction to the martial arts, gymnastics, and swordplay. From this study has come the concept that to physically achieve requires emotional balance. A willingness to accept the world that is, rather than the world we want. As I hope to achieve a personal balance, so too I wish to help others achieve a similar state. I see the main obstacle to such achievement to be injury, whether it is a mild sprain or a blown joint. Such injuries are distinctly discouraging, leading to lethargy and abandonment. I would prefer to work inside. I like my own space, and enjoy the dependability of a controlled environment (hazaa to air-conditioning!). I can work outside, and do enjoy the outdoors; but still prefer a spa setting rather than nature. I know myself, and know that attempting to work from home simply would not work. Home contains too many distractions, and a thousand things I would rather do besides work. A commute, albeit a short one, would allow me time to switch ‘mental modes’ between home and work, helping to keep those two worlds separate. While I strive to maintain a professional demeanor, a relaxed atmosphere would promote the trust and communication I am trying to accomplish. Working hands on, one person at a time is also important. My clients need to feel that I am giving them my whole, unrushed attention; not pushing them through on the way to their payment. Late afternoon hours, say 10am to 7pm, would be ideal all around, perhaps with some weekend hour s to match my wife’s schedule at the time. It would allow me the freedom to take care of any family chores that need to be done, allow me to fit into the schedule of other professionals who must toil in the 8-5 world, and still spend a quiet evening with my wife. Though I prefer the independence of accomplishing my tasks on my own, it is always best to have the support of a team. Like minded individuals who share my profession, and can offer help or advise when warranted. When I am at work, I am at work. When I am at home, I am at home. I do not bring my work home with me, to interfere with my family life, nor do I let personal affairs detract from my professional performance. As such, I hope to work with people of a similar outlook. I am looking for work mates who take their job seriously, and accept that the environment will likely change to present new challenges. Adaptation, I have always felt, is the key to successful completion, rather than constant complaining. While I hope for a team effort, with those willing to pitch in and help where needed, I have always felt it paramount that professionals take responsibility for their own work. If the group constantly has to pick up the slack for an individual, resentment quickly sets in, destroying the team spirit that once prevailed. Personally, I have a certain pride. I wish to do my work, whatever it is, with quality and efficiency. I accept to the way things are, and do not waste my time complaining about ‘the way things should be.’ These are the values I hold most dear; personal values that I adhere to, and would very much like to see in those around me. It would be nice to find a way to promote self-sufficiency and acceptance in the people around me, but I just do not have the energy. In a therapeutic career, I would have a chance to get people back on their feet, literally. By pushing them, treating them, and counseling them, I can show them what can be overcome, and perhaps give them a glimpse of what could be accomplished. I hope to have a comfortable salary, but do not have the grand dreams or desires of a Maserati and a manor. My wife and I are planning on a two income family, with each contributing equally rather than adopting the roles of ‘bread winner’ and ‘home body.’ I am not looking for the inflated salaries or bonuses of a CEO, as I am not looking to be responsible for the performance of an entire company, or even the entire group. I see myself as part of a larger whole, but an independent part; accomplishing with the support, but not the interference of those around me. I think making $50,000 gross, riding the crest of inflation towards $100,000 around retirement, is reasonable for the 8+ more years of education I must invest in. Likely, we will have to pay for our own life and health insurance, while paying to put our little girl through private school. The S.D.S. workbooks I filled out states very specifically I should be a Medical Record Technician, with a Holland Code of CIR. My main Holland type of (C) is accurate enough. I am consistent and predictable. I have always had a talent for numbers, and am mildly obsessed with time. I like to have things organized out of convenience, more than putting them that way as a hobby. The secondary type (I) also fits. I am inquisitive, and seek knowledge and answers for their own sake. The final type of (R) is actually a trait I pride myself on. I choose to confront reality as it is, rather than as I wish; though I hate working with tools and machines. With my first two letters CI, my code has average consistency, and I would likely find great satisfaction in any conventional career. Even the values and self-perceptions associated with conventional types match me very closely; while my action mode and style are consistent with a realistic personality. Despite this, I dream of, and am striving for, a career in Physical Therapist, with a Holland Code of SIE. If the true measure of a man is what he does when no one is looking, then I am a social type all the way. Renaissance studies (I am an active member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms), military history, archery, swordplay, hiking; these are the subjects and activities that fill my idle thoughts and sap my free time. If the measure of a man is taken by the company he keeps, then I best fit an enterprising type. Adventurous, energetic, agreeable, self-confident, ambitious; while I may not describe myself that way, this is the list by which my friends identify me. Part of the confusion in nailing down my type may arise from the scoring of section three, careers in the Holland Handbook. The truth is, I have had most of the careers listed under section C. It is very easy for me to see myself doing all of them as I have memories of doing most of them. The fact that I h ave done so many of them is also how I know I would be miserable doing any of them. I am currently a collections specialist, and hate how little I can do to help my customers. Even with this bias, the difference between my lowest category and my highest is 14. Since the difference is less than 15, my interests are somewhat broad, making it easy for me to fit into many categories, but difficult to find a place in any one. Luckily, I have been facing the question of what to do with my life since I was 16. After 14 years of thought, the exploration of several options, and not a little soul searching, I am confident I am on the right path as a Physical Therapist. It incorporates my skills, addresses my values, and fulfills my desires. It directly relates to my hobbies and leisure interests, and incorporates the one job I ever had I was happy in. When I worked as a massage therapist, I was happy, skilled, and good at my job. As a straight, local 30 year old male in a career flooded with young, beautiful women, massage therapy is not a realistic career path for me. But Physical Therapy is something I not only can do, but can be truly happy doing. I am one of those lucky individuals that can learn to do any job and be successful at it, but SIE is the career category where I fit. Research Papers on Seven Considerations for an Ideal JobStandardized TestingResearch Process Part OneThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XThree Concepts of PsychodynamicMind TravelInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfQuebec and CanadaAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement

International Relations Theory Essay Example

International Relations Theory Essay Example International Relations Theory Essay International Relations Theory Essay In the current Hobbesian world, true security depends on the possession and use of military might. Some argue, however, that liberalism or even constructivism has replaced realism as the proper lens through which to view the international system. Proponents of liberalism often cite Europe’s ever increasing use of laws, transnational negotiations, and cooperation or the increasing interdependence between the East and the West as evidence of the waning influence of realpolitik, or power politics. Constructivists point to the expansion of social sciences and human rights to prove that ideas hold the real power in the international system. What both of these camps miss is the underlying element, or foundation, which allows norms, ideas, economic trade, and every other positive element of the international system to exist: stability underwritten by military might and the balance of power. The following analysis will outline the influence of the theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism on the international system. Moreover, it will outline why power politics and the balance of power remain the most important influences in international relations, and why realism is the only theory adequate to explain the balance of power among states through military might. Before outlining why balance of power is the most important factor in the international system, it is important first to define and understand the three prevailing theories in international relations realism, liberalism, and constructivism and also to define the term â€Å"norm. For the purpose of this paper, norms are â€Å"a standard of appropriate behavior for actors with a given identity,† and â€Å"one difference between ‘norm’ and ‘institution’ †¦ is aggregation: the norm definition isolates single standards of behavior, whereas institutions emphasize the way in which behavioral rules are structured together and interrelate (a ‘collection of practices and rules’). † (Finnemo re and Sikkink, p. 891). Realism During the era of the Cold War, realism became the dominant paradigm within international relations (Walt, p. ). Its emphasis on the power politics, balance of power, and most importantly the actions of states within an anarchic international system provided a sense of understanding (Waltz, p. 121). According to realists, states are the only actors on the political stage. They are driven to seek power in an anarchical system, in which there is no higher, trans-governmental and universally recognized authority. States are driven by the law of human behavior, which is the drive for power, will to dominate, self-interest, and ambition. States have no one but themselves to rely on for protection and they will do all they can in order to maximize their likelihood of survival. Moreover, as all states exist in a state of anarchy, they all pursue self-interest and try to acquire power to secure themselves and ensure their survival in a system where no other state or authority will come to save them if they fail to do so. (Waltz, 1979, p. 104). Kenneth Waltz defines anarchy as a condition of possibility for or ‘permissive’ cause of war, arguing that â€Å"wars occur because there is nothing to prevent them. (Waltz, 2001, p. 232). In realist view, the world is uncertain and dangerous. Realists assume that all states have some military power and no state knows what its neighbors’ intentions are. Waltz says, â€Å"Because some states may at any time use force, all states must be prepared to do so or live at the mercy of their militarily more vigorous neighbors. † (Waltz, 1979, p. 102) However, Mearsheimer explains that there is â€Å"relentless security competition with the possibility of war looming in the background,† not a constant war. Mearsheimer, 1994, p. 9) Hobbes argues, â€Å"Man cannot assure the power and means to live well which he hath present, without the acquisition of more. † (Hobbes, 1651, p. 61). Similarly, Machiavelli states that â€Å"men never appear to themselves to possess securely what they have unless they acquire something further from another. † (Carr, in Betts, p. 91). Thomas Hobbes characterizes human nature as â€Å"competition, diffidence and gl ory† amongst humans. (Hobbes, in Betts, p. 80). The balance of power theory, according to Waltz, explains how states, being unitary actors who seek their own preservation in the first place (at a minimum) or seek universal domination (at a maximum), use all the means they have available in order to achieve a balance of power against their rivals. Waltz then divides those means into two categories internal efforts, which include increasing military and economic strength and developing clever strategies and external efforts, which include forming an alliance or weakening an opposing one. Waltz, 1979, p. 118) Once the balance of power is achieved, it becomes a game of preserving this balance to ensure the state’s survival. To reach such an equilibrium, and to achieve mutual goals and interests, states in an alliance must accept the restraints on them due to the framework of which they are a part. â€Å"Only if states recognize the same rules of the game and play for the same limited stakes can the balance of power fulfill it s functions for international stability and national independence. † (Waltz, 1979, p. 120) Liberalism Liberalism can be defined as the â€Å"freedom for the individual,† as it believes, in contrast with realism, that humans are good-natured beings. For liberals, humans are beings of progress and strive for perfection during life. â€Å"Unlike Realism, it strives for, and believes in, improvement in human condition and provides a rationale for building cooperative institutions that can facilitate better lives for human beings. † (Keohane, p. 127) The main characteristics of liberalism are individual freedom, political participation, freedom from authority and equality of opportunity. (Doyle, p. 206, 207) Liberals see a heterogenous state of global peace, in which the expectation of war disappears, instead of a homogenous state of war. â€Å"Liberal societies compete to become rich, glorious, healthy, cultured, all without expecting to have to resolve their competition through war. † (Doyle, p. 210) Although liberals agree with realists that the international system is anarchic, they also believe that international institutions are able to mitigate anarchy’s effects on interstate cooperation. Their contest is not a zero-sum game, but rather a positive- or negative-sum game, meaning that they can win or lose together (Doyle, p. 11). Liberals distinguish between liberal and non-liberal societies, capitalist from communist, republican from autocratic. These differences reflect the differences in international behavior. â€Å"The aims of the state, as do the aims of the individual, go beyond security to the protection and promotion of individual rights. † (Doyle, p. 2 11) According to liberal institutionalists, institutions are to facilitate cooperation among states, but many critics say that they cannot force states to behave in ways that are contrary to their own selfish interests. Kant, in Perpetual Peace, stipulates three â€Å"definitive articles† of peace. The first article states that â€Å"The Civil Constitution of Every State Should be Republican. † (Kant, in Betts, p. 136) Kant argues that if the consent of the citizens is required in order to decide that war should be declared, it is natural that the people will not be willing to pay the costs of the war from their own resources and take upon their shoulders the devastation that war leaves behind. (Kant, in Betts, p. 136). The second article states that â€Å"The Law of Nations Shall be Founded on a Federation of Free States. (Kant, in Betts, p. 137) The concept of pacific union between liberal states is a treaty of the nations among themselves, which prevents wars and steadily expands. The third article states that â€Å"Cosmopolitan Right should be limited to Conditions of Universal Hospitality. † (Kant, p. 105) The theory of democratic peace is built on the claim that democraci es are inherently more peaceful than autocratic states. (Walt, p. 39). It can be crudely defined as â€Å"democracies do not fight each other. † Although democracies seem to fight wars often, like other states do, they very rarely fight against each other. Walt says, â€Å"Democracies embrace norms of compromise that bar the use of force against groups espousing similar principles. † (Walt, p. 39) This perspective suggests that, for example, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newborn democracies should embrace each other in their emerging markets and live happily ever after; instead, we have witnessed years of bloody conflict. According to this perspective, we would expect â€Å"mother Russia† to support the newly emerging democracies; instead, we witnessed the blockade of Georgian goods at the Russian market, closed borders, and in 2008, military invasion of Georgia. Many believe that Russia wanted to demonstrate its sphere of influence and to show Georgia, Ukraine, and the West, that there is no way Russia is going to respect the acceptance of these countries in NATO. As a realist would say, it is the underlying balance of power being the main underlying purpose for their actions, and not the liberal democratic peace, because even democracies fight each other. Constructivism Rather than a theory, we could call constructivism an ontology- a certain set of assumptions about the world and the motivation of people. Therefore, constructivist theories are quite diverse and do not offer a unified set of explanations on any of the issues mentioned above. Realism and liberalism tend to focus on material factors power or trade. (Walt, p. 40) â€Å"Constructivists contend that their theory is deeper than realism and liberalism because it explains the origins of the forces that drive those competing theories. † (Snyder, p. 60) According to Hopf, constructivism offers alternative understandings of the issues discussed above (in the sections on realism and liberalism) including balance of power and the meaning of anarchy. However, instead of taking the state for granted and assuming that it simply seeks power, constructivists â€Å"regard the interests and identities of states as highly malleable products of specific historical processes. † (Walt, p. 40) While realists view the war as unavoidable and the international system as static, constructivists argue that interests and identities change over the course of history, allowing cooperation between states which were previously enemies. A good example might be the European Union in which member countries after World War II learned how to cooperate in order to be better off altogether. For constructivists, to explain the behavior of states, we have to recognize the importance of identity and interests. Some constructivists admit that ideas will have greater impact when backed by powerful states and reinforced by enduring material forces (Walt, p. 43). However, a constructivist would not agree with the assessment that material power is all that matters their main concerns are norms, ideas and discourse. Some constructivists might actually agree with the realist view of balance of power, but they would add the reasoning and background. Hopf contends that constructivism in general â€Å"does not specify the existence, let alone precise nature of its main causal/constitutive elements: identities, norms, values and social structure† (Hopf, p. 189) . He also states that constructivism is weak in dealing with what precisely norms are. â€Å"Constructivists are good at describing changes in norms and ideas, but they are weak on the material and institutional circumstances necessary to support the emergence of consensus about new values and ideas. † (Snyder, p. 1) Constructivism might be a way to approach international relations theory, but the fact is that theory does not create practice, as constructivists assume, but practice theory, as Machiavelli states: â€Å"Good counsels, whencesoever they come, are born of the wisdom of the prince, and not the wisdom of the prince from good counsels. † (Machiavelli, p. 50) Conclusion Realism is often criticized for not being able to explain contemporary world politics because it oversimplifies things and the world we live in today is much more complex and complicated. Realism has been valid for over 2,500 years. We have witnessed even recently that when it comes to the point no international law, treaty, or institution can stop one state from invading another. I agree with Walt that â€Å"each of these competing perspectives captures important aspects of world politics† and that the â€Å"‘compleat diplomat’ of the future should remain cognizant of realism’s emphasis on the inescapable role of power, keep liberalism’s awareness of domestic forces in mind, and occasionally reflect on constructivism’s vision of change. † (Walt, p. 44) Realism builds on fear rather than hope. The first duty of political leaders is to prevent the worst. As Waltz says, â€Å"although many academics (and more than a few policymakers) are loath to admit it, realism remains the most compelling general framework for understanding international relations. † (Waltz, p. 43) States are still worried about the possibility of major conflict. They still keep their arsenals fully armed, even though their economic ties may be very healthy and the possible costs of a conflict are high. The Kantian paradise we want to live in is great, but whether we like it or not, there are wolves in the backyard.

Online Roleplaying Rules Ver 2.1 (character Creation) Essays

Online Roleplaying Rules Ver 2.1 (character Creation) Essays Online roleplaying rules Ver 2.1 (character creation) Welcome Welcome to the Thiatre de More and our game of Vampire: The Past Returned in VP. Within this text you will find the ways to create a character for the game and how to submit yourself to engage in the game. If you seek more information on the Kindred a link named Vampire Homepage in the Thiatre will take you to a very imformitive site A little background on the game. We are currently running a game intermingled with both the Modern Day and Dark Ages campeign. The Thiatre de More and the lands of Knarl hold as grounds affected by the powers of Temporis causing it to be ripped back into time allowing the lands to fall under the old ways. Within the walls of the Thiatre a similar to a Dark Ages game takes place the time being similar to 1237 ad. Here the game strugles with oppression from the Camarilla, Sabbat, Inquisition, and Baali. Character Creation The first step to joining in with the game is to create a character. This text will leed you step by step in creating a Kindred within the Thiatre de More. As you create your character write out the information on a TXT file to send to the ST's and to keep as a reffrence for yourself. A blank character sheet can be found at the end of the character creation portion, simply cut and paste the sheet onto another TXT Step 1: Chosing your clan A vampire is a vampire no matter what. But like humans the Kindred separate themselves into groups called clans. Each clan has their own ways of looking at life (or unlife) as well as their own set of clan strength weeknesses and in clan disciplines (powers of the Kindred). The first step in creating your character is to chose your clan from the list provided. It is recomended for newer players to research the clan or clans you are interested in playing. The clans, their steriotype and their in clan Disciplines: Assimites - The mysterious "Saracens" of the Middle East have perfected the art of the silent kill. (Celerity, Obfuscate, Quietus) Brujah (old clan) - Philosophers, scholars and warriors, the fractious "Zealots" persue their dream of a perfect society. (Celerity, Potence, Presence) Catiff (not a clan) - The rare and luckless Canites with no clan are outcasts and disgraced. (any, except Thaumaturgy) Cappadocians - Seeking the wisdom of the grave, the "Graverobbers" call upon the spirits of the dead for enlightenment. (Auspex, Fortitude, Mortis) Followers of Set - Orriginally hailing from Egypt, the "Serpents" spread corruption and vice in their wake. (Obfuscate, Presence, Serpentis) Gangrel - Wanderers and rustics, the "Animals" are closer to the beasts of the forest than to any of their Cainite kin. (Animalism, Forttude, Protean) Lasombra (old clan) - Masters of darkness and shadows, the "Magisters" seek to controle mortal and vampiric society alike. (Dominate, Obtenebration, Obfuscate) Malkavian (old clan)- Cursed with insanity, the "Madmen" enjoy surreal and disturbing insight. (Dominate, Dementation, Obfuscate) Nosferatu - Hideous beyond words, the ostracized "Lepers" are spies and informants without equal. (Animalism, Obfuscate, Potence) Ravnos - Wandering vagabonds and hucksters, the "Charlatains" gleefully practice their arts of deception and theft. (Animalism, Chimerestry, Fortitude) Toreador - Lovers of art and beauty, the "Artisans" freely indulge in their tastes for the aesthetic. (Auspex, Celerity, Presence) Tremere - A young and insular clan of wizards, the sorcercerous "Userpers" struggle to establish themselves. (Auspex, Dominate, Thaumaturgy) Tzimisci (old clan) - Terrible Slavic fleshcrafters, the "Fiends" mercilessly lord over their mortal subjects. (Animalism, Auspex, Dominate) Ventrue - Imperious and commanding, the "Patricians" consider it their duty to lead vampiric society. (Dominate, Fortitude, Presence) Brujah (new clan) - Respecting no authority and acknowledging no leaders, the "Rabble" consider themselves free (Celerity, Potence, Presence) Lasombra (new clan) - Puppetmasters in the darkness, the Lasombra rule the Sabbat and controle the shadows. (Dominate, Obtenebration, Potence) Malkavian (new clan) - Commonly perceaved to be insane, the "Kooks" possess an uncany vision and wisdom. (Auspex, Dominate, Obfuscate) Tzimisci (new clan) - Called "Fiends" for good reason, the Tzimisci are noble yet cruelly inhuman. (Animalism, Auspex, Vicissitude) When you chose your clan mark it down on your character sheet as well as the disciplines listed for the clan. for further information on your clans specific flaw please

Specific Causes of the Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Specific Causes of the Civil War - Essay Example Arguments between the North and South had been growing for more than thirty years. One important issue was over taxes paid on goods that were imported into this country from overseas. This tax was called a tariff. In 1828, Northern businessmen were instrumental in getting the "Tariff Act" passed. This act raised prices f goods manufactured in Europe and sold mainly in the South. Its purpose was to subtly force the South to buy the North's products. This angered the Southern people because they were forced to pay more for the goods they needed (Rozwenc). Although most f the tariff laws had been changed by the time the Civil War actually began, the Southerners never forgot how unfairly they were treated by the northern businessmen. Northerners accepted the ideal f free enterprise. The advantage f the states in the north concerning industry was immense. The North had countless factories employing immigrants in numerous industries. Manufacturing was mainly concentrated in New England and the Middle Atlantic states. Conversely, the South had only agriculture. Large plantation farms used slaves to harvest their crops. The South had few fast running rivers, which were needed to generate power for factories. Southerners did not believe in the northern society and found no reason to exchange old agricultural traditions for what they perceived to be unsafe investments and new ways f living. The United States developed two very different economic systems: the rural south and the industrialized north. Because these differences shaped two separate cultural and social patterns, it was impossible to combine these differing philosophies without heavy resistance from both sides (Nevins). During this period, the political system was formed into what it has become today; for example, two dominating political parties and the strong power f the president. When one tries to see just how the American Civil War came about, one need look no further than the two American Presidents who faced one another in the most terrible war America has fought. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis did not cause the war. They were both moderates and shared a vision that the country could resolve its differences without bloodshed. Nevertheless, despite their good intentions, the war came. They fought one another and led others to fight. Lincoln and Davis were both leaders and victims f the times. Unfortunately, in the end the moderate way collapsed and the nation stumbled into a situation where moderation was no longer a possibility. For that reason, the country tried to work out a solution by using violence. The solution it got was imperfect and remains so even today (Catton). This period f time can also be defined as "the era f regional conflicts" (Stampp). More land was needed for settlement because f massive immigration and the rapid rise in population. This led to the expansion f the west where Native Americans were cruelly taken from their reservations. To expedite this movement west, a number f railroads were built, mainly from New England. These improved communications tied the West and the East together to the North. The South, which exported most f its cotton to Great Britain, did not need as many railroads. Consequently, the two regions depended very little upon each other commercially and, therefore, never felt connected to one

Advertising Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Advertising Research - Essay Example The different academic disciplines help in understanding these differences among the consumers. In this paper, three academic disciplines and their role in advertising research would be discussed. Psychology, perhaps, has the greatest role to play in Advertising research. The main purpose of advertising is to attract the customer and increase awareness of the brand through advertisement. In order to attract the customer, advertisers needs to understand the minds of the consumer. Consumers, nowadays, have placed a barrier around themselves and they have a cynic attitude towards advertising (Nyilasy and Reid, 2009). However, this has not changed anything. Advertisers still use advertising to reach and the customer. Many of the ads that consumers are exposed to make no impact on the product sales but sometimes an ad connects with the consumers and product sales increase directly as a result of the advertisement. An advertising connects with the consumer when it understands the consumer. Thus, understanding the consumer is vital. Psychology helps in understanding the consumer and it plays the role of effectively targeting the right consumer. Often research on a certain topic helps understand the consumer better and this then helps in improving advertising in the future. For instance, an apparel store can conduct a research on the impact on sales after using celebrity branding. This would help the advertisers to understand whether celebrity branding does impact the sales of the product. If it does, the store can use celebrity branding often to improve their sales. Thus psychology helps in advertising research by answering the simple question: Why do consumers behave the way they do? This is then used to make advertising more effective (Reijmersdal, Neijens, and Smit, 2009). Sociology is the study of human behavior within the society. Humans like to consider themselves as part of a group or a community and in order to understand a person, it is important to

The Gospels--Mark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Gospels--Mark - Essay Example Based on the reading in your text, what would be your argument for/against this belief? I would disagree with a person that said the blessing of the children advocated infant baptism. The context of the blessing was simply a way for Jesus to show that children were of worth in the sight of God. Baptism, on the other hand, is an expression of faith that involves the making of covenants with God. Infants cannot reason at this level, therefore I do not fell that Jesus blessing children was a mandate for infant baptism. Verse 21 is most important according to Brooks because this is where it is indicated that Jesus spoke to the rich young man with love, not condemnation. This indicates the tone that Jesus took towards the rich. Jesus loved everyone. He also indicated that it was the trust in riches that was the real sin, not the riches themselves. Much of the specific nature concerning the passion prediction in Mark centers on the anointing of Christ with oil. In other versions, it is clear that Jesus hints at his passing and that he will soon not be able to be with his disciples. In Mark, he clearly states that he is going to die and that the anointing has happened, as a prelude to is impending burial. 5. When James and John requested that they be seated in the most prominent places in Jesus glory, He asked them if they could drink the cup He drank or be baptized with the baptism He was baptized with. Some scholars believe these were no the words of Christ, but from the early church. Based on your reading, present your argument for or against these words being inserted in Scripture by the early church after the resurrection of Christ. I would argue that these words were Christ’s because they are in keeping with the message that he had been teaching to his disciples all along. He had been reminding them that he would not always be with them, that he would be going away and that he would leave a Comforter to

The Development Of Ideas In Creative Process Of Zaha Hadid Essay

The Development Of Ideas In Creative Process Of Zaha Hadid - Essay Example This was attributed to a split in society into competing social fragments, as well as specialization of knowledge into categories such as painting and architecture, which previously were considered to be in the integral class of arts. Works of architecture are products of art in the form of physical buildings and some other physical infrastructure, and which have cultural significance such as history of civilization. Architecture is hence not just a product distinct from art. It can be argued that architecture is in fact art, but in more physical and tangible forms such as buildings and other infrastructure . In the ancient civilizations, the architectural designs were not just magnificent; they had monumental value that still lingers to date. It can be well argued that ancient architects developed such monumental forms of architecture because they upheld and embraced a much-intertwined connection between art and architecture. Essentially, it was not possible to depict the distinction between architecture and art during the ancient times. A few architects in modern times like Zaha Hadid have fortunately borrowed a leaf from the ancient times, and have recognized and demonstrated a fundamental connection between art and architecture. ... Subsequently in recent times the artistic spirit in architects has caved in, as beauty, environmental and historical significance of building continue to be perceived as aesthetic and an unnecessary consideration. With this shift in priority, architectural articulation of artistic beauty and creativity is rapidly becoming something of the past2. With the current rapid revolution in information technology, the abilities and functions of architects will be able to be accomplished using computers; architects may have to revive the artistic fortitude that will move them beyond designing more than just functional infrastructure, but ornamental as well. However, the contribution of Zaha Hadids in illustrating the possibility of blending architecture and art cannot be emphasized. This paper seeks to prove a review and critical analysis of Zaha Hadids contribution in shaping future the architectural industry and profession. However, art, regardless of recent developments, still forms a spher e from which emerging architectural and technological inventions can be explored. It serves as an incubator for ideas, especially architectural ones, ideas that must be tested and investigated before being subjected to the real life pressures of performance. Art thus provides a platform for experimenting with ideas before they are actualized in real life situations. Every discourse, discipline and practice employs the system of art as a platform to brainstorm and experiment on new ideas. In 2006, Daniel Libeskind opened a new kaleidoscopic wing for Denver Arty museum, and which has been largely regarded as an architectural fantasy. This example reinforced an observation that quite often the architecture of museums stood as the real work of art that overshadowed the pieces of

Positioning and Differentiation Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Positioning and Differentiation - Research Paper Example They also need to differentiate themselves from the competitors in order to be attractive to the customers. Failure to position and differentiate from competitors will make it highly difficult for business to survive and sustain growth in today’s highly competitive business world. This paper analyses and compares the positioning and differentiation strategy adopted by two health insurance companies in the US. The two companies chosen are: UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint, Inc. Positioning Positioning is a marketing process used to position a product or a service in the mind of the customer in the best way that the company believes that the product or service must be perceived by the customer. There is very little change that is made to the product unlike the name product positioning suggests. Positioning is all about changing how the product is perceived by the customer (Ries & Trout, 2001). Therefore, positioning is the essence of a marketing mix. It throws light on how the c ompany defines its market segments, its competition and target markets (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2007). It does not induce any new features into a product or service but uses the existing features in order to project the product or service in an effective way to the target market. ... By highlighting the differences between its competitors, businesses try to make its products and services more attractive to the target customer group (Hoskisson et al., 2008). Differentiation is vital for any product or service as it will create a niche for the product or service within a well defined closed target market group. Therefore, a well differentiated product or service will have a competitive advantage over its competitors. Successful differentiation will also give a business the freedom in pricing the products and services as the differentiating features will make for the extra cost from a customer’s perspective (Hoskisson et al., 2009). UnitedHealth Group With headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota UnitedHealth Group is one of the leading health care companies in the world. Across the globe, the company serves more than 75 million people. It offers a range of products and services to its customers. UnitedHealth Group was created in 1977 but its origin can be dated back to 1974 when a group of physicians and healthcare professionals founded the Charter Med Incorporated. The company was incorporated with the main purpose of increasing or expanding consumer’s health coverage options (UnitedHealth Group, 2012). Today the company has grown on to become the biggest health carrier in the United States. Positioning UnitedHealth Group which primarily started as an insurance company has diversified its products and services to cater to the needs of the entire health care industry. The company positions itself as leading health care companies which not only address the needs of consumers with heal benefit products and services but also the service sector of the health care industry. It

Define and discuss sustainable development by focusing on a global Essay

Define and discuss sustainable development by focusing on a global issue - Essay Example Global warming is an issue that has to be looked into urgently in order to curb these effects before they even get worse than they are now. And in dealing with these issues, so many things have to be put into consideration. Will the measures taken be able to sustain this problem over the years to come and will the generations to come be able to put up with these measures? Without a doubt, it is evident that there exist symbiotic relationship and dependency between society (human beings) and natural resources. This relationship is what we refer to as â€Å"social metabolism† (Ghosh & Goswami, 2014, pg. 67). In any given society, natural recourses are what keep the economy moving. They are the backbone of any economy in society. Human beings depend on forests in so many ways. Forests are the sole source of wood used in construction of houses, commercial buildings; office and house hold furniture and so on. Literally in any building or place one walks into, rarely will one miss a â€Å"wood† aspect around them. Forests too are a good source of charcoal and firewood used at homes. Rural societies and some urbanites depend on forest for medicinal purposes since it is in these forests that you will find herbs and wild vegetation that contain medicinal value for curing various human and animal diseases. Forests are a good water catchment area and source of some rivers. Rivers, lakes and other water bodies provide human beings with water. â€Å"Water is life† no living thing in the world can survive without water. Water from rivers is used in irrigation and in other domestic uses by human beings. Water bodies are a source of habitat for creatures that benefit society in one way or the other (Ghosh & Goswami, 2014, pg. 68). Fish is a good source of healthy food for humans. Other than being used for home purpose, most societies living around fresh water bodies have built their economy through the sale of fish, both locally and to other

The Development Of Ideas In Creative Process Of Zaha Hadid Essay

The Development Of Ideas In Creative Process Of Zaha Hadid - Essay Example This was attributed to a split in society into competing social fragments, as well as specialization of knowledge into categories such as painting and architecture, which previously were considered to be in the integral class of arts. Works of architecture are products of art in the form of physical buildings and some other physical infrastructure, and which have cultural significance such as history of civilization. Architecture is hence not just a product distinct from art. It can be argued that architecture is in fact art, but in more physical and tangible forms such as buildings and other infrastructure . In the ancient civilizations, the architectural designs were not just magnificent; they had monumental value that still lingers to date. It can be well argued that ancient architects developed such monumental forms of architecture because they upheld and embraced a much-intertwined connection between art and architecture. Essentially, it was not possible to depict the distinction between architecture and art during the ancient times. A few architects in modern times like Zaha Hadid have fortunately borrowed a leaf from the ancient times, and have recognized and demonstrated a fundamental connection between art and architecture. ... Subsequently in recent times the artistic spirit in architects has caved in, as beauty, environmental and historical significance of building continue to be perceived as aesthetic and an unnecessary consideration. With this shift in priority, architectural articulation of artistic beauty and creativity is rapidly becoming something of the past2. With the current rapid revolution in information technology, the abilities and functions of architects will be able to be accomplished using computers; architects may have to revive the artistic fortitude that will move them beyond designing more than just functional infrastructure, but ornamental as well. However, the contribution of Zaha Hadids in illustrating the possibility of blending architecture and art cannot be emphasized. This paper seeks to prove a review and critical analysis of Zaha Hadids contribution in shaping future the architectural industry and profession. However, art, regardless of recent developments, still forms a spher e from which emerging architectural and technological inventions can be explored. It serves as an incubator for ideas, especially architectural ones, ideas that must be tested and investigated before being subjected to the real life pressures of performance. Art thus provides a platform for experimenting with ideas before they are actualized in real life situations. Every discourse, discipline and practice employs the system of art as a platform to brainstorm and experiment on new ideas. In 2006, Daniel Libeskind opened a new kaleidoscopic wing for Denver Arty museum, and which has been largely regarded as an architectural fantasy. This example reinforced an observation that quite often the architecture of museums stood as the real work of art that overshadowed the pieces of

Define and discuss sustainable development by focusing on a global Essay

Define and discuss sustainable development by focusing on a global issue - Essay Example Global warming is an issue that has to be looked into urgently in order to curb these effects before they even get worse than they are now. And in dealing with these issues, so many things have to be put into consideration. Will the measures taken be able to sustain this problem over the years to come and will the generations to come be able to put up with these measures? Without a doubt, it is evident that there exist symbiotic relationship and dependency between society (human beings) and natural resources. This relationship is what we refer to as â€Å"social metabolism† (Ghosh & Goswami, 2014, pg. 67). In any given society, natural recourses are what keep the economy moving. They are the backbone of any economy in society. Human beings depend on forests in so many ways. Forests are the sole source of wood used in construction of houses, commercial buildings; office and house hold furniture and so on. Literally in any building or place one walks into, rarely will one miss a â€Å"wood† aspect around them. Forests too are a good source of charcoal and firewood used at homes. Rural societies and some urbanites depend on forest for medicinal purposes since it is in these forests that you will find herbs and wild vegetation that contain medicinal value for curing various human and animal diseases. Forests are a good water catchment area and source of some rivers. Rivers, lakes and other water bodies provide human beings with water. â€Å"Water is life† no living thing in the world can survive without water. Water from rivers is used in irrigation and in other domestic uses by human beings. Water bodies are a source of habitat for creatures that benefit society in one way or the other (Ghosh & Goswami, 2014, pg. 68). Fish is a good source of healthy food for humans. Other than being used for home purpose, most societies living around fresh water bodies have built their economy through the sale of fish, both locally and to other

Toast Box Essay Example for Free

Toast Box Essay Firstly joining food and drink market in 2005, Toast box now becomes a well-know business with 71 outlets in Singapore and other six Asian countries. This seven-year-old trademark serves up various sorts of bread and coffee with traditional flavor, reminding of the warm atmosphere of local Nanyang coffee shops of the 60s and 70s. Aiming at reinforcing its special strong position in the market, starting a franchise in Vietnam has been put under Toast box’s consideration. This will open the business up on the one hand to opportunities of expanding its outlet system, and on the other to pressure from coping with more competitors in an unfamiliar market. Firstly, the advantages of franchising Toast box in Vietnam concerns its profit from name recognition and assorted and distinctive food and drink. It usually takes long time for a business to develop a recognizable presence with the customers; however, compared to normal start-up enterprises, Toast box has already succeeded in attaining a stable status in people’s mind through its websites and social network like Facebook. In addition, various sorts of bread and coffee also make Toast box stand out from other competitors. Its distinctive flavor of freshly toasted bread and fragrant coffee creates unforgettable experiences for everyone tries it at the first time. Toast box would soon become a part of Vietnam cuisine culture. Besides, franchising in Vietnam also puts Toast box at a considerable disadvantage. As Vietnamese personal income is not really high, Vietnam is a relatively sensitive market to price strategies. Admittedly, not many people are willing to pay 2-5$ for each breakfast with a cup of Milo Dinosaur coffee, a thick toast bread set, or Nonyan Laska in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Toast box’s competitor are putting premium on cheap price, which may pose huge challenge to the new comer. Unless the price strategy is taken into careful consideration, Toast box may lose out its fans in Vietnam. In conclusion, starting a Toast box franchise in Vietnam contains a lot of implicit advantages and disadvantages. A distinctive know-how and franchising experiences in other foreign countries such as China, Philippines, and Thailand is the driving force to help Toast box survive and develop in Vietnam market.

Case Study: Ryanair | Analysis

Case Study: Ryanair | Analysis The report is mainly a case study analysis based on Eleanor OHiggins review of Ryanair conducted in 2007. However, other secondary research has been analysed and used to support the arguments put forward in this document. Purpose of this case study is to conduct a strategic analysis of environment and the industry as well as the company. Firstly I conducted a critical evaluation in-order to figure out the critical issues of the five restructurings of Ryanair. Next I have conducted an environmental scan to analyse the external and internal environment of the organization. Then I took my attention to carry-out a SWOT analysis in-order to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the firm that would shape the competitive advantage of Ryanair. In sorder to justify my argument I will be using strategic management models and theories such as, PESTEL analysis,Poters 5 forces model,Market segmentation analysis,Strategic grouping model, Value chain analysis etc.. After concluding the analysis I will deliver my recommendation for Ryanair. Overview of the Company Ryanair started in year 1985 with only 57 staff members and with one 15 seater turboprop plane from the south of east of Ireland to London-Gatwick which carried 5000 passengers on one route. In 1986, inspired from the story of the company go after the big guys for a slice of the action and end up smashing theor British Airways high fare cartel on the Dublin-London route. The staff increased from mere 57 to 120 staff members and the plane carried for about 82,000 passengers on two routes. In 1989, the company employed 350 staff and their average maximum passengers increased to 600,000. In 1990-1991, the company has 700,000 passengers. However, despite of the increase of passengers, the company is not so good in managing cost that the company has lose its money. A new management team is brought in to sort it out and re-launch as a low fares or no frills airline, closely modelling the Southwest Airlines model in the U.S. And in 1994, Ryanair bought its first Boeing 737 aircraft which carried over 1.5 million passengers. In 1995, Ryanair is the biggest passenger carrier on Dublin-London route, the largest Irish airline on every route being operate and carried 2.25 million passengers in the year. In 1997, the EU air transport deregulation allowed the airline for the first time to open up new routes to Continental Europe with over 3 million passengers on 18 routes carried. Ryanair launched services to Stockholm, Oslo, Paris and Brussels and took time out to float Ryanair plc on Dublin and NASDAQ Stock exchanges. The company was awarded as Airline of the Year in 1999 by the Irish Air Transport Users Committee. In 2000, they announced the launch of 10 new European routes for the summer 2000 after much deliberation and watching others burning money. The company has also jump onto the internet with the launch of their new online booking site and in just 3 months the site is taking over 50,000 bookings a week. By 2001 there are more than 1500 employees working for Ryanair and more than 10 million passengers are carried to 56 cities in 13 European countries. The company has opened Frankfurt-Hahn in 2002 as their second continental European base and announce a long term partnership with Boeing which will see the company acquiring up to 150 new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft over an eight year period from 2002-2010. The booking in their web accounts have increased to 94% which has probably has something to do with opening another 26 routes. In year 2003, the company is characterised by rapid expansion and the start the year by announcing that the company has ordered an additional 100 new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft to facilitate the rapid European growth plans. They acquired Buss from KL M in April and re-launched 13 buss routes in May. In February they opened their first base in Italy at Milan-Bergamo and launched their Stockholm base in Sweden with six new European routes. In all 60 new routes are added throughout 2003 to bring the company a total of 127 routes. By 2004, the company is named as the most popular airline on the web by Google and they launched their 10thand 11th bases in Rome Ciampino and Barcelona Girona and continue to add more routes to their already extensive network. The company has also passed out British Airways to become the UKs favourite airline in United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Critical Issues Although the company had encountered different problems, specifically in line with its cost structures, the company had been able to survive and grow in the marketplace. Ryanair implement different marketing strategy to make the company survive in the competition and to be able to gain competitive position in the airline market. It is said that the company was regarded recently as the most punctual airline between Dublin and London. And because of the strategy of the industry, Ryanair is now recognised as the second largest airline in United Kingdom and Europes largest low-fares airline having a network of over 57 routes in 11 countries and served by a fleet of 31 Boeing 737-200 and -800 aircraft with over 1,400 staffs and personnel. In order to position itself in the marketplace the company continuously concentrates on driving own its costs to offer the lowest fares possible and remain profitable. In addition, Ryanair offer minimum standards of service and very low prices for point-to-point, short haul flights. The goal of Ryanair is to meet the needs oftravellingat the lowest price. The Critical Success Factors (CSFs) are as follows in airline industry: the strategic focus of having the lowest prices, being reliable within the marketplace, comfort and service and frequency. It is noted that low-cost companies concentrate on this first critical success factor by trying to offer the lowest prices. Although Ryanair has eliminated extras such as in-flight meals, advanced seat assignment, free drinks and other services, it still prioritises features which remain important to its target market. Such features include frequent departures, advance reservations, baggage handling and consistent on-time services.(Ryanair vision,mission,goals and objects has been elborated in Appendix 01 External Environmental Analysis By using a PESTEL Analysis we scan the macro environmental factors that would influence the performance of an organization. It is often used to generate market ideas and product ideas. PESTLE Analysis of Ryainair (P)olitical/(L)egal Change of government/policy Ryanair have been involved in various legal disputes with governments both in this country and the EU regarding their business deals with airports and airline regulatory bodies Political changes in countries where they have routes to (could also be affected by above point) Governments in countries they fly to may support their own flagship carrier Local councils objecting to noise and new runways being built as in past Governments looking to increase tourism might welcome Ryanair and therefore act in their favour. (E)conomic Potential economic recession, Irelands economy has already been stated as growing however this may suddenly change. Because of above main customers wouldnt fly for business as would be cost cutting Energy and fuel costs are cause of uncertainty Economic change within countries they fly to or would hope to open new routes to, for example war with Iraq has shut off any hope of tourism there for the foreseeable future and other factors such as SARS (OHiggins, 2004) and more recently, Bird Flu. (S)ocial Because of economic growth at the moment it has become normal to fly away for holidays therefore market has expanded and new opportunities for tourism have opened in previously unconsidered countries. Business trips, although Ryanair do not offer luxury they are possibly more attractive because less cost to a company means they can travel more frequently. Lower costs means attract a wider demographic of consumer (T)echnological Main threat to business market is video conferencing To a lesser extent VOIP Online check-in, self service check in at airport OHiggins, (2004) discusses that Ryanair currently have a fleet of mainly Boeng 737s which are one of the best known and used commercial aircraft. Thus, the company is able to obtain spares and maintenance services on favorable terms thanks to economies of scale, limit costs of staff training and offer flexibility in scheduling aircraft and crew assignments (E)nvironment Using more environmentally- friendly aircraft. Aviation represents 2.6 per cent of carbon emission in the EU and airline industry should pay environmental taxes for the contribution they make to global warming. Deploying more efficient aircraft that use less fuel and produce less pollution. Industry Analysis Industry can effects profitability and the competitive positions of members. To identify it we can use, Market Segmentation Ryanair lay claim to their market segment by stating they were Europes first no frills airline, www.ryanair.com. Ryanair have made strategic decisions based on increasing their competitive edge, the main one becoming involved in attracting customers at both ends of their routes. Haberberg and Rieple , support this by showing that Ryanairs key source of revenue from as far back as a decade ago has been in enticing passengers from France, Italy and Scandinavia. This has had the advantage of increasing their market share as well as the added bonus of creating a well recognised brand name across Europe. Competitive Advantages Their main competitors are carriers including easyJet, BMI baby, FlyBe and ThomsonFly all of who try to attract potential customers by emphasizing their low cost tickets. This makes the competition in this market segment fierce as in order to offer the lowest fares, costs must also be kept to a minimum. The well discussed fact that Ryanair possesses a more than favourable relationship with airport operators has benefited the carrier in a time of industry growth and aggressive pricing. The carrier continues to pay little or no costs despite being the focus of the EU Commission in February 2004, which ruled that Ryanair had been receiving illegal state subsidies for its base airport at publicly-owned Charleroi Airport, OHiggins (2004). Ryanair and the airport in question defended themselves by declaring they paid a fee for every customer and therefore complied with the EU state aid rules. OHiggins (2004) claims that Michael OLearys main argument was that the state aid rules allow the Wallonian government to stimulate traffic at an unused airport facility in exactly the same way that every private airport reduces its charges it if wishes to grow its business. However, although these decisions by the EU Commission went against Ryanair, it also made them even more of a household name across the EU. The free publicity was an added bonus, as well as the position Ryanair took, of being almost a savior of the lesser known airports, bringing them trade and tourism and then being persecuted for it. Porters Five Forces Model Porters five forces analysis is a framework for the industry analysis and business strategy development developed by Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School in 1979. It uses concepts developed in Industrial Organization (IO) economics to derive five forces which determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market. Attractiveness in this context refers to the overall industry profitability. Porters five forces model has been fully elaborated more on Appendix 02 Threat of substitutes is medium for Ryanair and is basically in the form of land,travel. Barganing power of buyer is high as low budget air travel is almost a commodity today and carriers are many. Buyer are well informed at prices and deals via internet and other mediums. Barganing power of the suppliers as Ryanair with its large scale holds the power to switch suppliers and demand better terms, especially to cut cost.Threat of new entrants is medium- as entrance to tarvel industry needs special licenses etc as well as high capital investments.Existing Rivalry is high with Ryanair competing against national carriers as well as low budget carriers for their share of market. Overall the industry witch Ryanair in is of medium attractiveness. Strategic Group Analysis The value of strategic group analysis as a tool for understanding industry dynamics and structure. Studing strategic groups, but that the analysis can help a firm in effort to understand the industry in which it competes and to identify its most relevant competitors. Internal Environmental Analysis Resources There are two kind of resources, tangible and intangible again movin further it can be categarise as financial, human, physical resources. Physical Resiurces and Human Resources has been fully elaborated more on Apendix 03 Financial Resources In the low cost structured airline industry Ryanair was the highest profit making airline.(ratioes has been fully elaborated on Appendix 04) Value Chain Analysis An analysis of an organisations resources can include its financial, physical, human, intellectual and reputational resources. In the deployment of these resources, it is also important to understand the competences and core competences of an organization. Porters (1985) value chain concept is an important part of this process. Ryanair strongly manages and forms relationships with various suppliers e.g. Boeing and food/beverages etc, to ensure goods are received of requirement standards and on time in-order to add value throughout its value chain In addition to this by forming strong relationships with Boeing, they are able to obtain spares and maintenance on favorable terms reducing costs, thus offering lower prices to passengers and safer flights (adding value). In-order to add substantial value for its service by providing low-fares, they closely monitors relationships with airports around Europe, so they provide subsidies to the airliner in order for them to provide low-fares and seen as adding greater value for customers. Furthermore they have agreed with these airports to provide storage hubs as to when a plane enters these sites its automatically refueled and beverage/duty free products are reloaded at negotiable prices reducing costs and quicker turnaround timing is achieved, thus seen as adding val ue. For the airliner to provide low-fares to consumers it contracts staff for aircraft handling, ticketing and baggage handling to third parties at competitive rates as well as engine repairs and heavy maintenances of its aircrafts. Thus reduces direct exposure to employee relationships and disputes reducing costs all through value chain. Additionally, to add greater value for customer, the aircraft staff e.g. pilot, cabin-crew, they holds close relationships, giving the right training making them competent enough to feel confident to answer on flight questions. The airliner has a commission placed for its aircraft crew linked with the sales of duty-paid goods (rewarding mechanisms).Thus close management with aircraft crew ensures good labors turnover reducing the threat of staff being absent for flights, thus seen as adding value for customers.(more on Appendix 05) SWOT Analysis of Ryanair Factor Ways which factor applies to Ryanair (S)trengths Marketing strong branding and reputation, aggressive price strategy. Low costing due to airport operator deals. Reputation as biggest budget airline. Lots of publicity due to OLeary and controversial issues. Air Transport World magazine announced that Ryanair was the most profitable air line in the world. 2006 Annual Report, Ryanair desinged itself as the Worlds Favourite Airline. (W)eaknesses Cash tied up in purchase of new planes. Entire company based on European low cost airline market. Shock profit warnings may have used cash reserves and weakened fiscal structure Refusal to back down over issues such as EU Commission Poor employee relations Total dependance on the CEO Michel O Leary (O)pportunities Possible new routes, New planes = larger capacity. Advertising space on website and planes, more revenue International Airline colloborated EU expansion (T)hreats Competitors BMI baby, Easyjet, ThomsonFly. Economic recession would mean less disposable income. EU Commission could put restrictions on company if do not adhere to state aid rules Subsitute transpotation like car and high speed trains. Fluctuatioans in fuel prices Conclusion On the whole Ryanair seem to be following a strategy which works for them. They are obviously aware of their business environment and understand the importance of monitoring it as they took advantage of the opening in the market when they restyled themselves over a decade ago. However they need to be aware that this environment is constantly shifting and evolving and therefore maintaining a close eye on it and being ready to adapt to any changes should be a fundamental part of their strategy. Recommendation Ryanairs aim to keep fares low, mainly by not introducing fuel surcharges. Actions like this, which were of course highly publicised, ensure Ryanair is constantly attracting customers. Part of Ryanairs success is made possible by the fact they are such a lean company, both in the way they operate and the services they offer. OHiggins (2004) claims that when the carrier dropped their cargo services, although they were going to be losing  £500,000 of revenue a year, they decreased the turnaround time of their aircraft from 30 minutes to 25 minutes to attract more business travellers who required the punctuality. Innovativeness like this has ensured Ryanairs sustainability and will carry them forward into the future. To recommend any major changes would be to predict how the airline industry will change which ultimately cannot be foreseen. However it has been concluded that the budget airline will continue enjoying its boom, with many passengers now enjoying the short breaks away at a low price. Also the advent of new routes will bring more custom, from both departure points. If there was to be a drop in demand Ryanair would certainly suffer and subtle shifts in their strategy could be appropriate. For example offering drinks vouchers onboard for the customers next Ryanair flight might entice more people back, or making alliances with hotel groups in order to offer a complete package, rather than just selling advertising space on their website. References Finlay, Paul (2000), Strategic Management. An Introduction to Business and Corporate Strategy. Pearson Education. ISBN 0 201 39827 3 Haberberg, Adrian Rieple, Alison (2001), The Strategic Management of Organisations. Pearson Education Ltd, ISBN 0 130 21971 1 Lynch, Richard (2000), Corporate Strategy 2nd Ed. Pearson Education Ltd, ISBN 0- 273-64303-7 McManus, John, Maybe its time for Ryanair to jettison OLeary, Irish Times, 11 August 2003 OHiggins, Eleanor, (2004), Ryanair OHiggins, Eleanor, (2007), Ryanair the low fares airline www.ryanair.com www.grin.com Appendix 01 Company Vision Ryanairs CEO, Michael OLeary, has a vision of a world where the fare could drop to nothing as local communities would subsidize the airline to bring a steady traffic of business people and tourists to their region. Main Aim To firmly establish itself as low fares,scheduled passenger airline through continued improvements and expanded offerings Rayanairs Main Objective Ryanair will become Europes most profitable lowest cost airline by rolling out the proven `low-fare-no-frills service in all markets in which we operate, to the benefit of our passengers, people, and shareholders (Ryanair Report, 1997). Ryanairs other objectives GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 6 YEARS TILL 2012. To raise the market share within the low cost sector up to 40%. Fleet of 200 airplanes in 2012, To double the annual passenger transportation to 80 million by 2012. To eliminate the rest of our costly call centers To base the distribution only on online booking. To quadruple its annual profit up to  £1,230 billion in 2012. (www.grin.com/ebook/ryanair.) Appendix 02 Suppliersbarganing power low Competitor Rivalry High Threat of new entrants Medium Threat of Subsitutes Medium Buyers barganing power low How poters 5 force analysis effect Ryanair; Appendix 03 Physical Resources The physical resources which Ryanair possess is the 196 Boeing aircrafts. The huge amount of money being spent by them on their physical resources for the maintainance. They need to keep resources proper and running to make sure that these will not harm their low cost structure. They also have the youngest fleet in whole Europe with a highly fuel efficient capacity. Human Resources Human resources can be considered one of the most important functions of a business. The vast majority of organisations all employ staff and Ryanair is no exception especially due to their size. When the carrier was established over twenty years ago they only had fifty one members of staff on their payroll. (www.ryanair.com.) With this amount of staff they have to ensure that, in order to have operations like call centres and cabin crews running smoothly, they keep their staff happy and motivated. They do this by offering incentives and a share option scheme which allows employees to participate in the success of the company overall. Ryanairs technical operations should mainly revolve around their aircraft as this is the core of their business. In February of last year they announced an order placed with Boeng for 70 firm aircraft as well as 70 options, www.ryanair.com. This means that between now and 2012 Ryanair will have 225 firm aircraft and options for another 220, allowing them to grow to over 70 million passengers per year. Due to this excellent deal negotiated by the carrier their growing amount of aircraft will not add huge amounts to depreciation costs as they will be depreciated over 23 years. Technical operations have to run smoothly for obvious reasons, if a plane scheduled to make a flight for technical problems, for example, then this will impact on all of Ryanairs operations and functions and also cause disharmony amongst their passengers, possibly costing them future ticket sales Appendix 04 Financial Ratios Net Profit Margin Net Profit Margin (NPM) tells us how much profit a company makes for every $1 it generates in revenue. Net profit margin indicates, when compared with GPM, how well a firm is managing its indirect costs in addition to cost of goods sold. Return On Assets Return on Assets (ROA) provides a view of how efficient management is at using its assets to generate earnings. ROA for all three primary competitors is virtually the same. Therefore, we can say that all three companies are generating similar revenue per dollar of assets. Current Ratio The current ratio is a financial ratio that measures whether or not a firm has enough resources to pay its debts over the next 12 months Inventory turnover Inventory turnover ratio shows how many times a companys inventory is sold and replaced over a period. This should be compared against industry averages. A low turnover implies poor sales and, therefore, excess inventory. A high ratio implies either strong sales or ineffective buying. High inventory levels are unhealthy because they represent an investment with a rate of return of zero. It also opens the company up to trouble should prices begin to fall. Here are unreasonable Inventory turnover ratios of each company. However, the inventory in the motion picture industry is not so important compared to other manufacturing companies.