Thursday, November 28, 2019

Are You Distracted by Technology essayEssay Writing Service

Are You Distracted by Technology essayEssay Writing Service Are You Distracted by Technology? essay Are You Distracted by Technology? essayNowadays technology entered all spheres of human life and contributed to significant changes in these spheres. Communications were dramatically reshaped by technology: the availability of social networks, video games and various smartphone and computer applications allows to stay connected 24/7 and to construct own virtual world in the most convenient way. Despite numerous advantages, active use of technology also has some notable disadvantages such as excess flow of information and frequent distractions damaging the ability to concentrate. Multitasking which is so common for all technology-related activities also alters the ability to focus on particular tasks and reinforces patterns of brain activity which are different from less technology-involved generations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the distracting impact of technology and long-term consequences of this impact.The role of technology in educational sphere and in information p rocessing is invaluable; for example, technology changed the way of conducting research for students, made research findings more accessible and comprehensive for students and eased access to information in general. At the same time, mental habits of multitasking and staying online in social networks and messengers have a negative impact on the ability of students to process information, to concentrate on particular sources and to establish analytical connections between different sources of information. According to Prakash (2012), 87% of teachers note that students of the wired generation have shorter attention spans and 64% of teachers admit that technology is rather distracting students than helping their academic success.The way how information is presented and shared nowadays encourages people to focus on key concepts and sentences and skim the meaning of the messages. These skills are needed in order to navigate through multiple sources of information and multiple messages re ceived from these sources. Communications in social networks and messengers are also brief and are restrained either to sharing some information (links, photos, videos, etc.) or to exchanging short messages. Twitter actually embodies the essence of current communications 140 symbols might be enough for average information exchange activities. Furthermore, the availability of internet connection almost anywhere allows to stay online and receive updates at any time.The specifics of technology described above leads to shortening of attention spans; frequent checks of updates in various networks create distractions, and the need to stay updated and to know all the latest news hinders long-term concentration and affects the quality of activities which require thoughtful approach. Furthermore, kids who grow up in the conditions of information overload have difficulties in mastering time management and attention management. While for older adults who already have mastered time management it is easier to avoid distractions when needed, kids might not be able to develop the right skills and traits due to challenging environment.According to Rosen (2012), observation of the ability to concentrate of students of various age (middle school, high school and university) revealed alarming trends. The students had to study something important for 15 minutes, and their behaviors and distractions were observed during that time. The average time span that students spent on the task without distracting was 3 minutes (Rosen n.d.). This result was similar for all age categories of students. The major sources of distraction were technology sources such as laptops and smartphones (Rosen n.d.). These results show that the impact of technology is similar on all age categories. Furthermore, the researchers explored the relationship between academic performance and distractions, and it turned out that students who consumed more information and media every day and were prone to multitask ing had worse results. Students who were able to work longer on a specific task and developed focused study strategies showed better results (Rosen n.d.).Another study focused on the types of distractions which have the most impact on young people. It appeared that the choice of favorite distraction depended on psychosocial characteristics of an individual (Richtel n.d.). The students with a need for socializing tended to engage in texting, communicating in social networks and sending instant messages; the students who wanted to escape from the society chose video games and those students who had a tendency to procrastinate surfed various websites, watched videos and sometimes shared links with others (Richtel n.d.). Therefore, technology allows to choose the types of distractions that are most appropriate for an individual. In any case, the results of the research show that technology is a universal distraction and that active use of technology for entertainment can affect academic or working performance.Evidence shows that technology is a powerful distraction for most people. Active use of telecommunications leads to multitasking, reduces performance and attentiveness, affects attention spans and the ability to concentrate. While working with multiple sources of information might develop flexibility and short-term involvement, it is necessary to avoid excess multitasking and being distracted by technology since it can reduce the efficiency of in-depth thinking activities. In this context, it is important to remain focused in the modern world and to train the ability to concentrate on important things instead of switching between various distractions.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Surface Tension of Water Research Essay Example

Surface Tension of Water Research Essay Example Surface Tension of Water Research Essay Surface Tension of Water Research Essay My science fair project is on the surface tension of water and what affects the surface tension of water. The question that I am going to ask is how does temperature and salinity of water affect the surface tension of the water. My hypothesis is that the colder and the saltier that the water is, the stronger that the surface tension of the water will be. Some of the background research that I have done has explained to me that the surface tension of water is a property of a liquids surface that can cause it to resist external forces. Surface tension is caused by the property of cohesion which is intermolecular attraction between two or more similar molecules. The molecules on the surface of the liquid in this case water have no molecules on top of them and are pulled inward which creates internal pressure of the liquid which causes the surface to contract to the minimal area possible. An easier way to look at it is like this, a molecule that is in contact with an acquaintance is in a lower state of energy than if it were alone so there for the interior of molecules have as many neighbors as they can possibly have but the outer molecules that are on the surface do not try to do such and they have a much higher energy because of it. I also found that surface tension is measured in forces per unit length and stated in newton’s per meter but it can also be measured as joules per square meter if it is in the use of thermodynamics where it is expressed as work done per unit of area where it is stored as potential energy which is the energy that a piece of matter has because of its position or because of its arrangement of parts. Water molecules that are at the surface are like a frozen stretched out sheet of optimally bonded molecules, as the molecules shake into the minimal energy configuration. Each water molecule which consists of one oxygen and two hydrogen’s also known as H2O can form hydrogen bonds with four other water molecules. The way that surface tension forms is first that the number of hydrogen bonds of water molecules on the surface is maximized as much as possible then entropy which is a statistical measure of the disorder of a closed system is maximized by minimizing the amount of water molecules on the surface. Lastly tension on the surface of the water is increased as the high energy molecules move to the low energy regions of the fluid. The air outside of the surface film is hydrophobic which means that it cannot form a hydrogen bond that is why the water molecules cannot form hydrogen bonds with the air because air is composed of largely spaced gas molecules. The surface of the water does come into contact with the air though but it happens rarely and when it does the nitrogen and oxygen molecules collide with the water and no bonds are formed so the gas molecules return to freely float around the air. The interface boundary of the liquid in this case water is formed by the difference in attractions between liquids and gases. The measurement of surface tension of a liquid is really just a measurement of forces because of its various properties of balancing the forces which create surface tension. Surface interactions are very critical in analyzing the behavior of liquids. Modern methods of surface tension measurement can be digital, like the Goniometer method, which measures surface contact angle and the capillary pressure between two fixed fluids, like water and air. This method measures pressure differences of the two fluids and compares the pressure to the shape of the liquids surface. There are very many uses of surface tension measurement. Surface interactions are a major process in examining the behavior of liquids. The relationship between the pressures involved in surface tension measurement is very important in defining their properties. There are several different forms of surface tension which means that there are many different ways of measuring surface tension in terms of data applications and analyzations. The most commonly known way is called the du Nouy ring method developed in 1925 by Pierre Lecomte du Nouy which is a method which uses a force to lift a platinum ring from the surface of a liquid and measuring the amount of force that was required to do so. I did much research into the ideas and theories behind surface tension and what I found most interesting was the different ways of measuring the surface tension and how the surface tension cannot bond with air. Bibliography: * Coffey, J. (n. d. ). Surface Tension. Universe Today - Space and astronomy news. Retrieved November 9, 2011, from universetoday. com/81655/surface-tension/ * Surface tension. (n. d. ). Attension Precision made simple. Retrieved November 9, 2011, from attension. com/surface-tension. aspx * Viscosity-Surface Tension-properties of liquid. (n. d. ). Welcome to City Collegiate. Retrieved November 9, 2011, from citycollegiate. com/viscosity. htm * ayers, a. (n. d. ). What Is Surface Tension? : Hydrogen Bonds, Organized Water and Maximized Entropy | Suite101. com. Suite101. com: Online Magazine and Writers Network. Retrieved November 9, 2011, from suite101. com/content/what-is-surface-tension-a133497 * mcdonagh, b. (n. d. ). Surface Tension Measurement – ATA Scientific Articles. Particle Size Analyser, Rheometers, CD Spectropolarimeters ATA Scientific. Retrieved November 9, 2011, from atascientific. com. au/blog/2010/06/21/surface-tension-measurement//

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Creating a Climate of Ethical Behavior at Workplace Research Paper

Creating a Climate of Ethical Behavior at Workplace - Research Paper Example Knowledge sharing practices enable organizational members to share ideas and fully exploit knowledge-based sources. Personal commitment and trust is necessary because they help in knowledge management process. This paper will explore ethics in an organization as well as workplace safety-enhancing behaviors and qualities such as personal commitment and trust. Undoubtedly, ethical behavior significantly contributes to the success of many organizations. An ethical work climate is part of the organization and it is a representation of organizational practices that are viewed as right or wrong. Many individuals believe that an ethical work climate is indispensable for a good business. Notably, organizations striving for excellence and success in their business activities tend to focus on a strong ethical culture. Organizations need to effectively respond to both economic and non-economic surroundings in order to achieve their goals, but this requires members to be socially responsible and behave ethically. Truly, creating a working environment guided by ethics can be a very important move for an organization. In contrast, unethical behaviors negatively influence the organization. For instance, unethical behaviors are more likely to increase the organizations’ liability and financial risk. Secondly, consumers would not be attracted to the products and services of the organization with an unethical climate. More so, an unethical climate negatively affects the workers since it lowers job satisfaction and performance. In most cases, unethical behavior emerges from lack of knowledge and an inability to come up with ethical solutions (Patterson, 1989). Unethical behavior makes individuals become more sensitive to the likelihood of censure and this will in turn motivate them to avoid censure behaviors (Sinha, 1967). Therefore, it is very appropriate to institutionalize an ethical attitude in the organization. This paper provides a thoughtful

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Use of Recurring Theme in Ha-Jins Work Research Paper

The Use of Recurring Theme in Ha-Jins Work - Research Paper Example The research paper "The Use of Recurring Theme in Ha-Jin’s Work" analyses the creative works of a popular poet and novel writer Ha-Jin and his new and unique view of literature. He majorly writes about his experience during his stay in China, his experience during the proletarian Cultural Revolution of 1956, being the main fueling factor that propelled him to speak out through writing short stories in his famous collection known as The Red Flag, in which he points out the then normal daily lives of villagers. His work majorly revolves around attempts to speak the truth of life as it is without sugarcoating the psychology of the reader in order to make the work appealing. To some point, he views himself as a spokesperson of the people, but then his career as a writer prevents him from fully expressing his emotions and grievances. The main theme in his new works is humanity and human feasibility, which he explores throughout his later literary works. For instance, he focuses on the most recent political activities, as well as how these activities affect humanity’s life. He explicitly explored the political regime and its unfriendly reality, which was manifested in human’s life. An example is the story, Waiting (1999), which does not address the issues of culture revolution, but rather focuses on one's personal life, the desire of the heart, their love life. Dr. Lin Kong and Shuyu are forced to wait for eighteen years before marrying because he had not gotten his divorce approved by the court. Later, he gets the long coveted divorce then marries her after being permitted by a law that allowed those who have been separated for eighteen years to divorce; however, after marrying her, he does not seem to love her. The desires of human hearts greatly conflict the orders and values established by the la w of the land. He has to travel to the village regularly to get his divorce and be free. However, he has to wait for this long trapped by societal demands and expectations with one woman on one side while, on the other side, he longs to be with the woman he truly loves. He is in a dilemma regarding the two women who belongs to different takes of life. For example, one belongs to the new China of the Cultural Revolution and one given to him by the traditions. This is a great love story that is seen overcoming cultural barriers of his family. This story explores the antagonism between an individual’s emotional feeling and the societal norms. Ha- Jin clearly identifies the existing disagreement between the individuals and the society. The story represents the constant change in the political nature and

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Project Management - Teams, Leadership, & Negotiation [sap5] Essay

Project Management - Teams, Leadership, & Negotiation [sap5] - Essay Example Project teams develop plans required for scheduling activities, estimating costs and making decisions on resources of work to be accomplished. Project teams revise plans of every project phase in its life cycle. These constitute people and other resources needed in executing various plans. It provides services, products and the results of the project. For instance, implementing processes take into account development of project teams, managing and directing project team, carrying out quality assurance, selecting sellers and distributing information. Project progress is measured and monitored so that project teams meet the desired objectives. The staff and project manager determines progress against plans through taking corrective action. This phase includes performance reporting, where stakeholders identify significant changes keeping the project on track. The project is formally accepted and administrative activities such as project files archiving, contracts closure, documenting of lessons learned and receipt of formal acceptance of work delivered and

Friday, November 15, 2019

Whistle Blowing

Whistle Blowing We live in a complicated society. Every decision that we make is based upon our health, safety, economic and human rights. At times the decisions made are by the corrupt, incompetent and lazy, which leads to the compromise of the ethical standards of our society. Accidents happen or corruption flourishes because of employees who know about the wrong doings but are afraid of losing their jobs. In the modern society, the importance of whistle blowing is increasingly being recognized as a measure to reduce corruption and avoid dangerous situations by encouraging the disclosure of unethical, illegal or prohibited activities performed by private institutions or the government. It also helps to improve the inter-organizational culture and helps improve internal management and efficiency. Definition Whistle blowing is a process by which a person claims an occurrence of wrongdoing in or by an organization. Usually the person belongs to the organization and is at a personal risk himself. The allegations made may be internal (to people within the organization e.g. colleagues, subordinates etc.) or external (to people outside the organization e.g. law enforcement agencies, media, regulators etc.). U.S academics Marcia P.Miceli and Janet P.Near set the academic standard for whistleblowing in 1982 as Disclosure of organizations members (former or current) disclosure of illegal, immoral or illegitimate practices under the control of their employees to persons or organizations that may be able to effect action. They have defined whistle blowing as a four step process: A triggering event occurs involving questionable, unethical or illegal activities, and this leads to an employee to consider blowing the whistle. The employee engages in decision making, assessing the activity and whether it involves wrong doing, gathering additional information, and discussing situation with others. The employee exercises voice by blowing the whistle; alternatively the employee could leave the organization, or remain silent out of loyalty or neglect. The organizational members react to, and possibly retaliate against the whistleblower. Common Reactions Around the globe, whistle blowers have been hailed as heroes or selfless martyrs for revealing fraud and corruption in organizations and preventing potential disasters. They may relate to the cover up harmful diseases like SARS in China to the revealing of theft of millions of dollars of public money in Kenya. However, in many cases whistleblowers face severe ramifications for their actions. They end up losing their jobs and being ostracized for their activities. Some may be charged with violation of employee contracts and the dangers might be physical at extreme. It is therefore probable that a lot of people refrain from blowing the whistle due to the fear of retaliation or damaging relationships at work or private life. Utility of Whistle blowing Information revealed by whistleblowers is usually highly critical for the society. In China, Dr Jiang Yanyong possibly saved a million lives by revealing the extent to which the SARS virus had spread even though he was ordered by the authorities not to. In the corporate world, Sherron Watkins of Enron blew the whistle over the financial problems of the company internally which eventually led to the exposure of the scam and the arrest of the top officials. Whistle blowing is also important for improving the internal efficiency of the organization since the employees are the first to know about the problems and early disclosure can lead to remedy of the problem sooner. A 2002 study by KPMG found that around 25 percent of problems reported in an company in Australia was by whistleblowers while the same statistic was 44 percent in Africa. The essence of whistleblowing lies in the fact that staff are able to by-pass the line of their superiors since at times that might be the area where the problem arises and hence they are able to go outside in case they believe that the whole organization is in an improper course. Effective whistleblowing is therefore a necessity for a healthy organizational culture, good governance. Successful whistle blowing is when concerns inside the organization could be raised with confidence, properly investigated and addressed when necessary. Barriers to whistle blowing 1. Fear of retaliation One of the largest barriers in todays organizations against whistle blowing is retaliation against the disclosure. Retaliation can vary from minor harassment in certain cases to the extremity of costing ones life. In a typical case, the employee who blows the whistle would be put under pressure to rescind his words and refrain from further disclosures. Some of the common practices of retaliation are : Marginalise the employee by taking away the job duties. Blacklist the employee so that he cant gain further employment. Conduct retaliatory investigations in order to divert attention from the matter and abuse the whistleblower. Question whistle blowers professional competence, honesty and mental health. Reassign the employee so that he/she is unable to do the job At times, retaliation becomes extreme as Satyendra Dubey was murdered after he revealed corruption on a road project. 2. Legal liability There are significant legal barriers to whistle blowing in several countries. At times there are no significant laws or acts for whistle blowing(e.g. India). These include the traditional laws to respect the employer, act in his best interests etc. There may also be secret laws in institutions to punish whistle blowers and deter further whistle blowing. a. Duty of loyalty and confidentiality Many countries in Asia have is the duty of loyalty and fidelity to the employer. This usually deters an employee from expressing personal opinion or revealing internal information. The Indian Law Reform Commission has recently recognized that while a public servant might be subject to the duty of confidentiality, it doesnt extend to remain silent regarding the corrupt activities of other public servants. The public interest is better served if maladministration and corruption are exposed. b. Secret Acts In most common wealth countries the state has criminal laws prohibiting the release of military and state laws by officials and outsiders. e.g. Pakistan Officials Secret Acts, 1923 makes illegal the disclosure of any information that has been entrusted to him by confidence by any person holding office or to which he has access due the position he holds. These laws thus generate a significant barrier to anti corruption efforts and genrally prohibit disclosure of information without permisiion. In Malaysia, the opposition leader Mohd Ezan Mohd Noor was prosecuted in 2000 under the OSA for releasing police reports of corruption by high level government officials. In London, a whistle blower who revealed that the London police force had released incorrect statements regarding the shooting of an innocent man was also arrested. These laws are also used in political cases. c. Libel In many countries, defamation and libel laws are used to deter the whistle blowers. Power figures and senior officials use their power to threaten the whistle blowers as they can use the court systems to their advantage. In Singapore, National Kidney Foundation suppressed the whistle blowers from revealing wastage of money on first class tickets, excessive salaries etc by using defamation laws and forced apologies. Finally when a major media company refused to bow down, the story was fully disclosed. d. Other Laws There also exists a possibility of criminal or civil charges under laws such as trade secrets or theft. In some countries companies also require that workers sign confidentiality clauses. In Australia, an American who doubted the safety of the new Airbus 380 is facing criminal and civil charges by his ex employer after going public with the potential design flaws. 3. Cultural Barriers There are at times significant cultural barriers to whistle blowers which see whistle blowers as dobbers, sneaks or narks. Some of this comes from the abuses to informants historically. In Nazi occupied regimes, the Soviet Union, Aparthied- era South Africa, informants and anonymous denunciations were often used for maintain power. The organization culture is also equally important. The disclosure of information to outsiders can feel like a betrayal and hence whistle blowers often feel social sanctions for their disclosures. At times, even though formal laws are absent, being shunned or being side lined in the organization can place certain amount of pressure on individuals. Whistleblowers Laws and Protection Initiatives All the countries do not have a legal protection act for the whistleblowers. Legal protection for whistleblowers mostly differs on the basis of the country, state in which malpractice occurred and also the subject matter of whistleblowing. The first law that protected whistle blowers was the US Lloyd-La Follette Act of 1912. It guaranteed the right of federal employees to furnish information to Congress. According to the Act, the causes that encourage the efficiency in the service are defined as the just causes. It goes on to say that the right of employees to furnish information to either House of Congress, or to a committee or Member thereof, may not be interfered with or denied. The U.S. Whistleblowers Protect Act of 1989 (amended in 1994) was established to protect public interest disclosures which were made by federal employees. For aiding whistleblowers in the investigation and to prevent retaliatory action against them, an Office of Special Counsel (OSC) was created. But it was not very successful because of a series of hostile judicial rulings which undercut the protection that was afforded by the Act. A similar or even stronger legislation has been passed by more than 40 states in respect of State employees. The U.S. Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the aftermath of the debacle of Enron and WorldCom which provided for granting sweeping legal protection for whistleblowers in publicly traded companies. Any retaliation against a corporate whistleblower can now lead to imprisonment for up to 10 years. The Department of Labour (DoL) must complete its adjudication of cases relating to whistleblowers within 180 days. If not then whistleblower has following options he may opt to remain with DoL or ask for ade novotrial in court. Following are the remedies reinstatement, damages for compensation, pay back with interest, fees for attorney, special damages and costs. The U.K.s Public Interest Disclosure Act of 1998 is a one of its kind piece of legislation in the sense that it provides protection to employees in the public, private and non-profit sectors, which includes those working outside the U.K. It provides a framework of legal protection for individuals who disclose information so as to expose malpractice and matters of similar concern. It protects whistleblowers from persecution and dismissal. Under the law, employment tribunals have power to `freeze a dismissal and make unlimited compensation awards. The U.K. example has been followed by South Africa to provide protection to employees of all organisations through its Protected Disclosures Act of 2000. Other countries like Australia, South Korea, Canada, Argentina, Slovakia, Russia, Mexico and Nigeria have enacted or are in the process to enact whistleblowers protection legislation (but only to government employees). United Nations Convention against Corruption (2005) The most significant international instrument on whistleblowing is the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Work on the Convention began in December 2000 and the final version was approved by the General Assembly in October 2003. It was adopted in December 2005 after it was ratified by 30 countries. As of now, it has been signed by 140 countries and ratified by 47. Article 32 on the Protection of witness, experts and victims provides for protections of witnesses and experts and their relatives from retaliation including limits on disclosure of their identities. More fundamentally, Article 33 on Protection of reporting persons envisions countries adopting protections for reporting of corruption by any person. The UN Office on Drugs and Crimes Anti-Corruption Toolkit notes that Article 3 is advancement on previous agreements such as the 2000 Convention against Transnational Organized Crime which only protects witnesses and experts. The Toolkit extensively covers whistleblowing and recommends legal and administrative measures for reporting and protection including compensation, creation of ombudsman institutions to receive complaints, the creation of hotlines, and limits on libel and confidentiality agreements. To date, only a few of the countries that have ratified the treaty have adopted comprehensive whistleblower laws and another dozen have adopted limited provisions. UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression The Un Special Rapporteur has also recognized that whistleblowing is an important aspect of freedom of expression. In 2000, Abid Hussain criticized the use of state security and other laws against individuals disclosing information in the public interest. In December 2004, UN Rapporteus Ambeyi Ligabo joined with the Special Representatives on freedom of expression and the media from the OAS and OSCE in a statement on free expression calling for national governments to adopt better protections Whistleblowers releasing information on violations of the law, on wrongdoing by public bodies, on a serious threat to health, safety or the environment, or on a breach of human rights or humanitarian law should be protected against legal, administrative or employed-related sanctions if they act in good faith. Protecting Whistleblowers in India There are no legislations in India to protect whistleblowers here. There have increasingly been the cases of corporate or political scams and which have cost taxpayers heavily including the banks and investors to the amount of thousands of crores of rupees. A Whistleblowers Protection Act is more important for India than it was for the U.S. and the U.K. It can be a strong tool for ensuring good governance in the country if worked in congruence with the Freedom of Information Act. At this moment we are in dire need of public interest groups like the ones on the lines of Government Accountability Project and the National Whistleblower Centre in the U.S., and the Public Concern At Work in the U.K. These will help in safeguarding the rights of whistleblowers rights and defend the employees against any retaliation. In the act of protecting whistleblowers, we are maybe unknowingly also protecting ourselves. In the case of legal protection also many employees might feel hesitant to, but the very existence of whistleblowers will discourage government and corporate wrongdoings to a considerable event. Based on the experiences of other countries the following set of general principles could usefully be the guidelines for the effective Indian legislation regarding the subject: With the consent of the State governments, Parliament should try and enact a single Act for all employees who work in any tier of government. This shall also include employees working in any organisation be it the private or voluntary sector. It shall also include employees of contractors, sub-contractors and agents of an organisation; former employees and overseas employees; applicants for employment, auditors and attorneys should also be covered. The Official Secrets Act should be outlawed. This will provide for a public interest defence. Also the `gagging clauses in severance or employment contracts should be nullified for public interest disclosures. It makes no sense to ask if the Acts protection should include members of such organizations as the armed forces, the police and the secret services. But it must be made sure of that the disclosures shall not harm operations or endanger the lives of the concerned personnel. Unless the Contempt of Courts Act is first amended to provide for a public interest defence, the judiciary shall remain outside its purview. The whistleblowers information about a malpractice must be substantially true, and consequently the whistleblower must act in the good faith and true spirit. In the case of the calls that are not legitimate or are anonymous the whistleblower should not be provided protection with. The period given to file a complaint must be such long so as to provide him sufficient time (say, 1 year). There should be a clear definition of what constitutes public interest disclosures. Following can be the disclosures to which protection can be provided illegal or criminal act(s), breach of regulatory law, miscarriage of justice, danger to public health or safety or property and any damage to environment, including attempts which are intended to cover up these malpractices. The Act must be constituted in such a way so as to encourage employees to first raise the matter within the organization and mandate organisations to establish proper mechanisms for this purpose. When it is not reasonable to raise the matter within the organization, or where attempts to solve the matter from within have been unsuccessful, employees who make an external disclosure in a specified way should also be protected. It remain a matter of debate that what should be the specified way. By general wisdom, apart from certain designated offices which may include SEBI, Pollution Control Boards, etc., public interest disclosures to such personalities as MPs and MLAs; employee unions; and reputed public interest groups must be protected. Disclosures made to the media may also be protected in some cases but in such a case the whistleblower must carry the burden of proof. The protection should include any and all forms of retaliation and the possible solutions could be on the same lines as in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including criminal liability for retaliation. To carry out timely adjudication of cases there should be a fast track mechanism similar to that of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Decisions have to be made on the points that whether the existing Administrative and other tribunals should be strengthened to do the job or new agencies should be created. Some Famous Cases of Whistleblowing Sherron Watkins, an accountant in Enron blew the whistle for the company. She raised suspicions of accounting improprieties to Enron Chairman, Kenneth Lay. She also warned about Jeffrey Skilling (Chief Executive Oficeer), Fastow (Chief Financial Officer) and other executives who were duping the company. The Chairman just asked an outside law firm, to investigate about it. Before Enron finally declared bankruptcy, Watkins once again informed the chairman that the financial partnerships set up by the huge Houston energy company would prove disastrous and potentially destroy Enron. Coleen Rowley, a special agent with FBI, initially served in the Omaha, Nebraska and Jackson, Mississippi Divisions. After the 2001 attacks, Rowley wrote a paper to FBI Director, Robert Mueller, explaining that the FBI HQ personnel in Washington DC had ignored the warnings given by Minneapolis, Minnesota Field Office. In May of 2002, Rowley brought some of the pre 9-11 lapses to light and testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee about some of the endemic problems faced by FBI and the intelligence community. As a result, the FBI cleared a new Office of Intelligence and expanded the FBI personnel. Frank Serpico is yet another whistleblower. He joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) as a Probationary Officer in the year 1959. In 1967, Frank made his first formal report about the widespread, systematic police corruption, but the police department failed to do anything about it. He gave a complaint to the police Commissioner and the Mayor, but they ignored him. Frustrated, Serpico exposed the NYPD wrongdoings in The New York Times in 1971. Later, he was shot in the face during a raid. None of his colleagues came to help him. Later, Frank was promoted to the rank of detective and was given a gold shield. In May 1972, Frank was awarded the NYPDs Medal of Honor for his honesty and bravery in fighting corruption. Serpico quit NYPD in 1972. Jeffrey Wignand, Vice-President for tobacco research and development at Brown Williamson became the whistleblower on Bg Tobacco, telling how the industry minimized tobaccos health and safety issues. In a 1995 CBS news interview, 60 minutes, he went on speaking about the companys knowledge of nicotines addictive properties, its reckless use of harmless additives, its quashing of research on safe cigarettes, and a variety of other abuses. He was the center witness in the US governments lawsuit against the tobacco industry, which eventually led to the $246bn federal tobacco settlement. Later, Wignand formed a non-profit organization to educate children about health issues and reduce the usage of tobacco among teenagers. Examples of Whistle blowing from India Satyendra Dubey Talk of whistle blowing in the Indian context and one of the first cases that comes to the mind is that of NHAI engineer Satyendra Dubey. Satyendra Dubey, was one of those rare young men who was completely and uncomplicatedly honest. An engineer from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and working for National Highway Authority of India, Satyendra Dubey was supervising construction of the Prime Ministers dream project in the Koderma division in Jharkhand as a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. In August 2003 he was transferred to Gaya. At Gaya, he exposed large-scale flouting of NHAI rules regarding sub-contracting and quality control. Meanwhile, faced with the possibility of high-level corruption within the NHAI, Dubey wrote directly to the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, detailing the financial and contractual irregularities in the project. Despite a direct request that his identity be kept secret and despite the letters sensitive content, accusing some of Dubeys su periors, the letter along with bio-data was forwarded immediately to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Dubey faced several threats following this. On November 27, 2003, Dubey was found shot dead in the suburb of A.P. Colony in Gaya while he was returning from a wedding from Varanasi. Satyendra Dubeys death sparked off widespread public protest and highlighted the need and urgency of a whistleblowing act. It exposed the high levels of unethical practices being practiced in the uppermost echelons of the ministries and the unholy nexus with the mafia. Shanmugam Manjunath Another glaring example of the apathy faced by the whistle blowers in India is that of the Indian Oil engineer Shanmugam Manjunath. Manjunath was a marketing manager for the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) who was murdered for blewing the whistle on a scheme to sell impure gasoline. An MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, Manjunath worked for IOC in Lucknow. While there, he had ordered two petrol pumps at Lakhimpur Kheri to be sealed for selling adulterated fuel for three months. On November 19, 2005, Manjunath was found dead in the backseat of his own car, his body riddled with at least six bullets. M N Vijaykumar M N Vijaykumar is an IAS officer in the southern state of Karnataka. He has a penchant for disciplining colleagues who supplement their modest salaries with bribes, kickbacks and garden-variety pilferage. He exposed serious corrupt practices at high levels. His wife, J N Jayashree, set up a website detailing her husbands efforts to fight corruption, and to safeguard her husbands life. Other Examples of Whistle blowing from Asia Yoichi Mizutani blew the whistle on a scam by Snow Brand Food Co. in 2002 while working as the president of a Japanese storage company named Nishinomiya Reizo. Snow had been mislabelling Australian beef as domestic beef so that it could benefit from the beef buy-back program of the government which was issued after an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in Japan. Mizutanis reward was an order from the Construction Transport Ministry company to suspend operations a suspension that lasted 16 months during investigation of the scam. Nishinomiya was eventually cleared of participation in Snows scheme. Myron A. Mehlman was the former director of toxicology and manager of Mobil Oils Environmental Health and Science Laboratories. He claimed that Mobil incorrectly reported results of his toxicological testing of Mobil products to company officials and outside agencies. Mehlman held his position from 1978 until he was fired in 1989. He supervised about 100 employees in conducting tests and safety evaluations of Mobils petrochemical products, including gasoline. Mehlman had warned that the true benzene levels in gasoline and other Mobil products posed a serious hazard to the public health and environment and that they should be reduced and that Mobil products should be modified. After his firing, Mehlman successfully sued Mobil charging that the company systematically covered up environmental and human health problems. Sibel Deniz Edmonds is a Turkish-American. She had worked as a FBI translator and founder of the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition (NSWBC). In March, 2002, she had accused a colleague of covering up illicit activity involving foreign nationals and also alleged that there were serious acts of security breaches, cover-ups, and intentional blocking of intelligence which according to her were a danger to the United States security. Following this she was fired from her position as a specialist of language at the FBIs Washington Field Office. Since that time, court proceedings on her whistleblower claims have been blocked by the assertion of State Secrets Privilege. On March 29, 2006, she was awarded the PEN/Newmans Own First Amendment Award in recognition of her defense of free speech as it applies to the written word. Marlene Garcia-Esperat (August 29, 1959 March 24, 2005 in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines) was a Filipina whistleblower and investigative journalist who wrote a weekly anti-graft column for local newspapers. As a result of her anti-corruption work, she was murdered in her own home. Her case is significant, as it is the first in the 56 murders of Filipino journalists since 1986 for which the people ultimately responsible were identified, in addition to the people directly involved. Esperat, as former employee of the Department of Agriculture in Central Mindanao (DA-12) and Midland Review, Tacurong City columnist, exposed the alleged Jocelyn Jocjoc Bolante fertilizer funds scam, in which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was implicated. Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani (9 June 1983 10 November 2009) was an Iranian physician who examined prisoners who were wounded or killed during the 2009 Iranian elections protests. He had reported on the state use of tortureon political prisoners. He died under suspicious circumstances on November 10, 2009, at the age of 26. Tehrans public prosecutor Abbas Dowlatabadi said Ramin Pourandarjani died of poisoning from a delivery salad laced with an overdose of blood pressure medication. The findings fueled opposition fears that he was killed because of what he knew. Pourandarjani had worked as a physician at the Kahrizak detention center. Iranian authorities earlier had claimed at various points that Pourandarjani had been injured in a car accident, committed suicide, or died of a heart attack in his sleep at the health center at the police headquarters in Tehran where he worked. The Future of Whistleblowing The following are some of the principles for whistleblowing legislation based on international best practice that should be considered when developing new legislation. The work of the OAS Working Group is also a valuable resource including the Model Law on whistleblowing developed a few years ago: Broad Coverage The law should have a broad coverage. It should apply to public and private sector employees and also those who may face retribution outside the employer-employee relationship such as consultants, former employees, temporary workers, students, benefit seekers, family members and others. It should also apply to national security cases. Protection against retribution The law should have a broad definition of retribution that covers all types of job sanctions, harassment, loss of status or benefits, and other detriments. Employees should be also to seek interim relief to return to the job while the case is pending or be allowed to seek transfers to other equivalent jobs within the organization if return to the existing one is not advisable due to possible retribution. Protection of free speech The law should recognize that there is a significant importance in free speech whistleblowing. Public interest and harm tests should be applied to each release of any information that could have been released under FOI cannot be sanctioned. Confidentiality The law should allow for whistleblowers to request that their identity should remain confidential as far as possible. However, the body should make the person aware of the problems with confidentiality and also make clear that the protection is not absolute. Waiver of liability Any act of public disclosure should be made immune for liability under other acts such as Official Secrets and libel/slander laws. An even more significant move would be to eliminate archaic Official Secrets Acts such as already has been done in New Zealand. Compensation Compensation should be broadly defined to cover all losses and place the person back at their previous situation. This should include any loss of earnings and further earnings. This loss should not be capped. There should also be provisions to pay for pain and suffering incurred because of the release and any retaliation. Rewards In some cases, whistleblowers should be rewarded for making disclosures that result in important recovery of funds or discoveries of wrongdoing. Qui Tam cases, such as have been used in the US, may be an appropriate mechanism for recoveries. Disclosure Procedures The law should set up reasonable procedures to encourage and facilitate internal procedures to disclosure wrongdoing. However, the procedures should be straightforward and easily allow for disclose outside organizations to higher bodies, legislators and the media in cases where it is likely that the internal procedure would be ineffective. There should be easy access to legal advice to facilitate disclosures and reduce misunderstandings. No sanctions for misguided or false reporting The law should not allow for criminal sanctions against whistle blowers who make false disclosures. The disclosure might have been made in good faith. In case of delibarate falsehood, normal sanctions such as a loss of job should be sufficient. Extensive training and publication The

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Use of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Anxiety Essay examples -

The Use of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Anxiety According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM IV-TR) (APA, 2000), Anxiety Disorders can manifest in a number of different ways including Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety. Common threads of symptoms among these disorders include heighted autonomic response, shortness of breath, excessive worry, and of course anxiety. The treatment of Anxiety disorders has included Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Saavedra, Silverman, Morgan-Lopez, & Kurtines, 2010; White, Ollendick, Scahill, Oswald, & Albano, 2009), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Wilde, 2008), and Pharmacological treatments such as benzodiazepines (Sher, 2009). Based on empirical support, many consider these treatments to be the first line of treatment of anxiety related disorders. However, there is a growing line of research of effectiveness of alternative treatments such as Massage Therapy (MT). The following is a brief review of the history of MT, an investigation of the physiology of how or why MT works, and finally an examination of the application of various Massage Therapies in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders. Brief History of Massage Therapy The application of massage to promote comfort and healing is not a new concept. According to Moyer, Rounds, and Hannum (2004) the practice of MT is traceable back to Ancient Greek and Chinese cultures, as well as Hindu, Japanese and Roman cultures. As early as 400 BC, Hippocrates used rubbing to treat patience with stiffness and even earlier still; the use of MT is recorded in the Chinese tradition as early as the second century (Field, 1998). Although considered a part of... ...ines and the treatment of anxiety disorders in patients with comorbid alcohol and/or drug abuse. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42(2), 170–171. Sherman, K. J., Ludman, E. J., Cook, A. J., Hawkes, R. J., Roy-Byrne, P. P., Bentley, S., Brooks, M. Z., et al. (2010). Effectiveness of therapeutic massage for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Depression and Anxiety, 27(5), 441–450. White, S. W., Ollendick, T., Scahill, L., Oswald, D., & Albano, A. M. (2009). Preliminary efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral treatment program for anxious youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(12), 1652–1662. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0801-9 Wilde, J. (2008). Rational-emotive behavioral interventions for children with anxiety problems. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 8(1), 133–141.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Compare & Contrast Mont Blanc & Tintern Abbey

Shelley’s â€Å"Mont Blanc† and Wordsworth’s â€Å"Tintern Abbey† are poems written regarding nature and its connection to humanity, deities and the human consciousness; these poems can be read as a conversation between each other and their creators.A conversation where Shelley not only echoes and agrees with many of Wordsworth’s views regarding: nature and its awe- inspiring beauty, ability to mesmerize and the presence of majestical divinity amongst all things natural but also, a conversational moment where Shelley steps away from Wordsworth by expressing different views regarding the type of power nature exudes and how nature should affect and effect the human consciousness and life.Where Wordsworth feels peace, Shelley feels fear; Wordsworth sees himself amongst nature, Shelley sees himself amongst man and gains a greater understanding of the surrounding natural world. In the poems, â€Å"Mont Blanc† and â€Å"Tintern Abbey† their is a description of a landscape that, for the writer, the sight brings upon a philosophical questioning and reflection in which both writers gain a better and deeper relationship with nature. In â€Å"Tintern Abbey†, Wordsworth writes: And mountains; and of all that we behold From this green earth; of all the mighty worldOf eye, and ear, – both what they half create, And what perceive; well pleased to recognize In nature and the language of the sense, (104-109) Wordsworth believes that the natural world they see and their mind are directly connected, a philosophy that Shelley agrees with and echoes in his writings of â€Å"Mont Blanc†: I seem as in a trance sublime and strange To muse on my own separate phantasy, My own, my human mind, which passively Now renders and receives fast influencing, Holding and unremitting interchange With the clear universe of things around (35-40)Wordsworth writes of the â€Å"eye† and â€Å"ear† and their conjoined an d equal creative force, meaning it is not only what is seen but also what is heard that works with the minds understanding of viewing the natural world. Neither man can look at nature without looking at their mind and pondering on their ability to aid in the creation of the scene that unfolds. For Shelley, it is not the â€Å"eye† nor â€Å"ear† of Wordsworth’s writings but instead it is â€Å"My own, my human mind† (MB 37) rapidly â€Å"rendering â€Å" and â€Å"receiving† a clear depiction of nature. Shelley echoes the musings of Wordsworth regarding a divine presence amongst the workings of nature.Wordsworth writes of â€Å"A motion and a spirit†¦ † that â€Å"rolls through all things†; while Shelley writes of, â€Å"The everlasting universe of things† that â€Å"flows through the mind†. Shelley’s poem echoes Wordsworth’s ideas by writing of a â€Å"flowing† movement to reflect upon Wordsw orth’s â€Å"rolling† movement; the use of both words depict a definitive unstoppable force, constant in motion, guided by unseen momentum and most importantly something that is being controlled by neither nature nor their minds; this use relates both poems to that of a divine being or guiding force.While the inclusion of their mind in the experience and the presence of a greater being are in agreement, it is regarding the importance and feeling of humanity and the power of nature, are where the ideas and views of Wordsworth and Shelley begin to differ. Shelley diverts from the original musings of Wordsworth and that of â€Å"Tintern Abbey† regarding the feelings of nature altering or taking over the soul, transforming it from that of human to that of nature.In â€Å"Tintern Abbey†, Wordsworth is one with nature; he feels disconnected from humanity and his mind, body and soul work together with nature. When he thinks back to a particular scene and moment, he is then transported there and becomes one with the nature around him. No longer being a human witness but instead becoming a part of nature itself. Wordsworth writes: Though changed, no doubt, from what I was when first I came among these hills; when like a roeI bounded o’er the mountains, by the sides Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams, Wherever nature led: more like a man Flying from something that he dreads, than one Who sought the thing he loved. For nature then†¦ †¦ To me was all in all†¦ (66 – 75) Wordsworth’s relationship with nature is honest and nurturing, he gives life to the scene through his mind and in return the moment gives him peace and comfort, he steps away from his humanity and becomes one with nature.However, Shelley’s view of nature differs from that of Wordsworth’s and is shown within his writings; his relationship with nature is one at odds with man; nature grows and lives to its immense godlike pow er and this display of power effects the ease and comfort of the human mind and humanity. The size, depth, danger, darkness and power of nature reminds him of his fragile humanity while also creating the question of how it can it be so powerful and all consuming when the human mind is its partial inventor.Wordsworth states that â€Å"Nature never did betray the heart that loved her† (TA 122), Shelley believes, nature revels in its power, fear inducing and awe inspiring capabilities, instability and ability to make small of the human observing in its wake. Shelley believes nature tricks the human to believe it is inconsequential in not only relation to but also in opposition to nature; he also proves nature dishonest in its created feelings of ease and safety. The fields, the lakes, the forests and the streams,Oceans, and all the living things that dwell With in the [intricately formed] earth: lightning and rain Earthquake, and fiery flood, and hurricane. (84 – 87) In t his passage, Shelley mentions the peaceful nature of Wordsworth, followed immediately by the nature he sees and feels; the nature of power, destruction, instability, and terror. Shelley speaks of deception and secrets regarding the mighty mountain and its being; from the â€Å"Dizzy Ravine! † (MB 34) to â€Å"some shade of thee, / Some phantom, some faint image†¦ (MB 46 – 47) and â€Å"The glaciers [that] creep / Like snakes that watch there prey, from their far fountains, (MB 100 – 101); his use of these descriptions and words creates a strong feeling of uncertainty regarding the comfort and safety that is empowered in Wordsworth’s writings. Shelley turns away from the tame â€Å"landscape with the quiet sky† (TA 8), â€Å"The banks of this delightful stream† (TA 150) and the clear, bright and exact view seen through Wordsworth’s mind and eye; instead he gives us the wild and untamed: Thus thou, Ravine of Arve – dark, d eep Ravine-Thou many-coloured, many-voiced vale, Over whose pines, and crags, and caverns sail Fast cloud shadows and sunbeams: awful scene†¦ Bursting through these dark mountains like the flame Of lightning through the tempest;†¦ (12 – 19) The use of â€Å"many-coloured† and â€Å"many-voiced†, emphasizing the wild, untamed unpredictability that Shelley believes to be true in nature. Shelley’s feeling of deception regarding nature and humanities place amongst it questions the answers Wordsworth has deposed upon Dorothy and the reader in â€Å"Tintern Abbey†.Wordsworth is purely content believing nature to be the nurturing mother to his human imaginative and spiritual mind, there is no question or doubt within his mind that nature will ease him in times of need, bring him life and peace when driven to thoughts of nature; he feels that his mind is along for the ride that nature beauty has unveiled and it will always result in a feeling of comfort, acceptance and oneness with the wilderness. However Shelley questions who is the nurturer, the creator and the holder of power.While we are minute in physical size to the depth of nature and its beauty, the mind is the inventor of the feelings and visualizations of such sublimity. In other words, how does the human mind pale in comparison to the mighty godlike force of nature if the human mind is what created such a formidable foe; â€Å"And what were thou, and earth, and stars, and sea, / If to the human mind’s imaginings / Silence and solitude were vacancy? † (MB 142 – 144).

Friday, November 8, 2019

Marketing Plan for Fly360

Marketing Plan for Fly360 Executive Summary The company has identified a growth opportunity in the aviation industry, specifically in the low cost sector in Europe. Opportunities in the low cost industry arise as a result of unfulfilled demand, especially in relatively smaller markets outside the major cities in Europe.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Marketing Plan for Fly360 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In response to the gap in the aviation industry, the company has chosen to establish fly360 airline, an airline that offers passengers a wider array of destinations, linking established cities and growing economies within Europe. The airline will adopt a low cost model, whereby cost savings from operations will be passed down to consumers, and thereby increase access to the airline. The proposed airline comes at a time when Europe, and the rest of the world, is emerging from the recent global recession. While some airlines have woun d down operations, fly360, with a sufficient capital base, aims on establishing itself in Europes regional airspace. Some of the strategies that will be adopted by the airline include high seating density in aircrafts, uniformity of planes and simple and consistent pricing mechanisms. The airline will also employ technology that will lead to cost and time savings, and in the derivation of customer satisfaction. Quality services will differentiate the company from its competitors. Fly360 targets to achieve sales of  £30 million within the first year of operations, and an operating margin of 15 per cent. Situational Analysis Customer Analysis Majority of customers are price conscious business travelers. Passengers may not be keen on paying higher prices for short haul trips, and many may rather go without the amenities such as food and drinks aboard the plane for a three hour flight. Business people form a significant proportion of airline passengers as their travelling needs last t hroughout the year, as compared to leisure and tourist passengers whose flight requirements are characterized by seasonal patterns. Business people would be attracted by an airline that offers a high frequency of flights in a day, or within a week. Customers would be attracted to cheap fare offers. The low cost structure of the business could not allow for distinction of classes within the plane. For a short haul flight, basic standard services could be preferred by air travel passengers.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the strengthening economic growth in Western Europe, and growing opportunities in Eastern Europe, demand is likely to increase between these two routes as passengers travel for business purposes. Passengers were initially forced to purchase return tickets so as to benefit from discounted tickets. A simple and flexible pricing structure may encourage passengers to book in advance so as to benefit from cheap fares. The business community travels frequently hence a pricing mechanism where all fares are one way may go well with the passengers. The appropriate segment for the airline would therefore be price conscious business community. Other passengers such as the middle class, students and leisure seekers may also access the services of Fly360. Marketing efforts will be directed to ascertain to these passengers that the company is not only comfortable to fly with, but has a clear and advantageous pricing policy. Given the travelling requirements of the business community, the passengers are likely to award the airline with volumes which can lead to the achievement of economies of scale. High frequency of flights will subsequently lead to increased revenues for the airline, and the company as a whole. Competitor Analysis There are two types of competitors that must be considered in the airline business. First, attention has to be drawn to other low cost â€Å"no-frill† airlines within Europe, and secondly high standard established airlines that operate within and beyond Europe. Big airlines such as British Airways, KLM, Air France and Lufthansa all provide valid competition for the proposed airline by offering the business and economy classes of travel packages. Low cost airlines such as EasyJet, Debonair, Ryanair and Virgin express offer direct competition for the proposed airline since they all offer similar services, and serve most of the projected routes. Getting a competitive advantage for both direct and indirect competitors is both vital and essential towards achieving the objectives of fly360.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Marketing Plan for Fly360 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company has established strategies that will lead to relative differentiation of the airline from its competitors and also lea d to cost savings that will be beneficial to the airline. The airline hopes to incur low operational costs while delivering value to passengers of fly360, an effective combination of strategies that will propel the growth of fly360. Factors to consider when developing competitive advantage include; the safety of the airline, whether as a result of actual results or through perception of fly360. The range of prices offered, number of destinations served and the convenience of flights will serve a major competitive ability for the proposed airline. Fly360 will seek to increase the frequency of flights and increase the number of connections so as to serve more passengers. Convenient arrival and departure times will make the airline reliable; while the ease of booking flights online in advance so as to take advantage of discounts will improve the image of the airline. Furthermost, a competent and friendly workforce may work to ensure that customers are comfortable, leading towards custo mer satisfaction and ultimately a good reputation of the airline. The main competitors in the low cost aviation industry include EasyJet and Ryanair, which have both implemented most of the strategies identified for success. Fly360 hopes to differentiate itself from its competitors by employing technology to serve this purpose, such as cargo tracking, electronic ticketing, and electronic check-in as well as safety technologies. The company will spend a considerable amount on its marketing portal that will make it easier for passengers to book flights, reserve tickets and acquire information about fly360 as well as its services. Customers will also be able to access promotional information from the marketing portal, while the company could view it as an effective and cheap means of advertizing to potential passengers. Company Analysis The company has identified the growth potential in the low cost aviation industry, and intends to start operations by the beginning of the year 2011. T he company, with its fly360 airline, may partner with other airlines and companies in Europe so as to foster growth of the airline and mutually benefit from the growing industry.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The low cost aviation industry is witnessed significant expansion since the low cost model was first introduced in Europe in the 1990s. The growth in industry has been furthered by the growing economy and social stability in both Western and Eastern Europe. Turkey in particular has emerged as a high potential market, and its integration in the euro zone may increase travel between Turkey and the rest of Europe. The company has realized that fly360 can best capitalize on the market by linking key destinations in Europe and beyond. Key success factors for the airline include provision of standardized services that will lead to lead to customer satisfaction and cost reduction for the company. The airline will serve under subscribed routes by major airlines as well as areas with unmet demand, especially regions in Eastern Europe. The company will set about priorities that increase the airline’s competitive strength. Such priorities will include pricing policies that will make the services of the fly360 more accessible while maintaining healthy margins attractive to management. Performance is another vital priority whereby marketing efforts will communicate the airline’s dedication to timely and safe travel. This will enable customer satisfaction, acceptance and goodwill of fly360 which will lead to the attainment of a healthy proportion of the market share (Piercy 2006). Performance can be measured by analyzing response from passenger feedback, public relations efforts and industry publications. Integrity in service delivery and management of fly360 will enhance customer loyalty, thus securing future earnings for the company. Community/Climate Analysis Oil price fluctuations are likely to impact future strategies used by the airline, which may lead to price adjustments or reduced profits. The economic situation in Western Europe is conducive for low cost airlines, whereby competition laws protect the industry from bigger players in the aviation indus try. The political environment in Eastern Europe is improving as governments wish to attract investors in those regions. Western Europe is also characterized by expatriates from Eastern Europe; therefore the growth of travel between Eastern and Western Europe appears positive, both in the short, medium and long term. Marketing Mix Product The planes will have to be uniform so as to save on costs of maintenance and training that would have otherwise been incurred had the airline had several fleet models. A few plane models will do in this instance so that the firm can easily transfer personnel and equipment from one plane to another without significant costs. The company can purchase several Boeing 737-300 or the 99 seat British aerospace Avro RJ100 for this purpose, thereby enabling the airline to transfer cost savings to customers. The airline will strive to ensure comfort for its passengers in a cost effective manner. The proposed business model does not support the utilization of luxuries; hence the airline will have to offer standard services while ensuring that all services are customer friendly. While the airline may not offer food and drinks aboard flights, customers may get the chance to purchase such items during the flight. Plane models will have to be modern, with spacious leg room for passengers as well as comfortable seats. Price The airline will set to establish itself as user friendly and predictable. The price levels are to remain clear and consistent, while tariffs will be understandable. This will discourage any ambiguity in pricing policies which will enable the airline to build on passenger trust, as passengers will not expect any unpleasant surprises. Appropriate discounts may be set to encourage passengers to book tickets in advance. Adults flying with their children can also pay less for the passage of their children while infants may not be charged at all (Piercy 2006). Majority of startups have gone under by engaging in price wars, bot h within and outside of the aviation industry. It is therefore the policy of the company to avoid strategies aimed to react to competitors, at least in the short run. A predictable pricing policy is likely to reduce uncertainty both from the company’s and customers’ perspective, and therefore result into fewer complaints from customers. Fly360 could operate from two sets of fares, based on weekday fares and weekend fares. Weekday fares would be slightly higher than those offered on weekends as they target business people who are willing to pay a slight premium for the convenience of weekday flights. During weekdays, passengers can expect to pay prices ranging from  £60 to  £110 for short flights and prices slightly in excess of  £150 for long flights. Weekend fares could be between10 and 20 per cent lower than weekday fares. Variations in prices may only arise from discounts on early booking, discounts on children and infants and stand-by fares. Discount ranges a re to be established on a scale whereby the amount of discount depends on the timing of the flight reservation. On early booking, customers may experience a 15 per cent discount if the reservation is made 30 days in advance. Should the 30 day window pass, passengers could get a 10 per cent discount if the ticket is purchased more than 20 days in advance while a 5 per cent discount could be set for passengers who reserve a flight 7 days in advance. The pricing mechanism is likely to draw a positive reaction from passengers as compared to competitors who only offer a flat discount regardless of the fare. Stand by fares are prices paid by passengers who are willing to accept any offer at the last moment before a flight. Place Fly360 airline will be located in optimal locations as per parameters such as financial implications of the chosen location. A critical factor to consider in this respect would be the price charged by airports that would be harboring the airline. Other factors inc lude traffic conditions, availability of sufficient and low cost facilities and ability to connect with other major carries within Europe. An appropriate location would encourage continuous flights to critical and secondary destinations within Europe. Possible locations include Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Berlin (Germany), London City Airport (UK), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Cologne (Germany) and Stanstead Airport (UK). Passengers can reserve tickets online, more conveniently at their homes or offices, rather than presenting themselves at the airports which will save them significant costs and time. Promotion The design and conception of fly360 will likely steer the airline during its launch in 2010 and in subsequent years. The management of the airline and the sales and marketing department will work hand in hand to ensure that positive and unique qualities are portrayed in the market, appealing directly to potential customers. A strong public relations initiative will create a stro ng foundation for campaign activities that set to create a strong foot hold for the company on entrance into the industry. The company could hire consultants who would advice on the placement of advertisements in online, telecommunication as well as print media. The company may also utilize consultants to conduct market research in the aviation industry. More emphasis will however be placed on the proposed online marketing portal which may prove to be a source of competitive advantage for the airline. The online portal will have to fast paced, informative and user friendly so as to provide timely information and encompass services such as online reservations and e-ticketing. While marketing efforts may steer people towards the website, the website will offer a pleasant experience for visitors and encourage them to use it for all their travelling needs. As a startup company, the use of promotional prices may strain the airlines cash flows. The airline will therefore have to limit pro motional fares so as to achieve the specified objectives in the given time periods. In one instance, a special promotion may be used simply so as to gain recognition on entry into the industry, and launch of flights. The airline may have to partner with travel agencies during the first year of operations, such as Travelocity, though marketing efforts will be targeted towards fly360’s website, therefore reducing costs on commissions paid to travel agencies over time. The main mission of the advertizing initiatives will be to guide people to fly360’s online marketing portal. Advertizing content will be placed strategically in online websites and print materials such as newspapers and magazines. The advertizing campaign will commence two months prior to the launch of operations, with visual aid displaying satisfied passengers, including a slogan such as â€Å"We’re Here For You, Now Lets Fly360.† The advertizing campaign is likely to cost  £70,000, inclusi ve of tax. Performance of the marketing campaign will be measured by the number of visitors on the fly360 website. Budget and Timeline With the  £1,000,000 marketing budget, the marketing department hopes to engage in activities that will increase the recognition of fly360, and increase the growth of the airline in accordance with the company objectives. The following table gives a timeline for marketing expenditures. Milestone Start Finish Budget Legal and consulting Jun 1 2010 Jun 30 2011  £200,000 Route and market study Apr 1 2010 May 15 2010  £100,000 Brochures and marketing materials Jan 1 2011 Jan 30 2011  £40,000 Design consultants Jul 15 2010 Aug 30 2010  £70,000 Website development Dec 1 2010 Dec 20 2010  £150,000 Public relations and advertizing Jan 1 2011 Feb 30 2011  £120,000 Training Sep 1 2010 Sep 30 2010  £60,000 Travel agents Oct 1 2010 Nov 30 2010  £260,000 TOTAL  £1,000,000 As a result of the marketing campaign, revenue s are estimated at  £6,500,000 in the first quarter of operations from flight passengers. The return on investment (ROI) would be: (total revenues of  £6,500,000/total investments of  £1,000,000) 650 per cent from the marketing campaign. References Piercy, N., 2006. Reinventing the Airline Business. Business cases. No. 0068. Retrieved from www.businesscases.org

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free sample - Why I want to be a Doctor. translation missing

Why I want to be a Doctor. Why I want to be a DoctorBecoming a successful doctor and touching on the lives of many people seems to be my main objective in life. The drive towards this course in life is derived from a number of factors that are worth mentioning at this point. First, my past experience as a child spells clearly on the reasons why I want to become a doctor with specialization in gynecology. The passion for helping other people started early in life when I was still a child. Playing as a doctor was my favorite during those early childhood pleasures and I always enjoyed handling my play patients who were friends, animals and dolls with a lot of love and tenderness. I was also good in handling pregnant women and babies because they seemed to be very delicate and deserving a lot of care. I always had a strong feeling that I could heel my patients because I understood what they were going through. Naturally I  Ã‚   have a liking for life on earth be it for animals or humans; and I would do anything to protect it. I believe that I can make important contributions towards improving the health and medical services of other people in the society. Secondly my personal experiences have also provided impetus in my desire to pursue a medical profession. My own blood brother suffered severe migraines that really affected his early life. He was forced to spend weeks in a darkened room and almost gave up with education. This particular experience really broke my heart as I just wished to bring him back to his normal life. Personal touch with babies in hospitals during medical tours and other events have really influenced my attitude towards sick babies. I have had a baby cousin who suffered from neuroblastoma cancer during infantry and it really broke my heart. The problem started as a lump in her spine that was later diagnosed as a cancer. The cancer culminated into a paralysis on the lower waist. The paralysis had a great impact on her   as evidenced by the walking difficulties she encountered later on. The picture of her on the hospital bed with artificial tubes touched my life and triggered my passion to assist such cases. At local and national hospitals I have participated in future Doctor programs. The tours in these facilities have provided hand-on experience with operations and equipments that have shaped my curiosity to learn more. Successful Doctors have also encouraged me to follow the medical path in the course of our interactions in the hospitals. A terrible first encounter as an ob/gyn has always motivated me into making a difference in the medical profession. This particularly concerns Doctors who had weak skills and showed no empathy to patients. In light of this unfortunate incidence, I have vowed to be different and make good connections with people in the course of helping to address their medical challenges. In my professional career I have a desire to bring significant changes in the provision of medicare for pregnant women and babies. As already indicated these people are delicate and deserve the best care. Reducing mortality rates of infants in my country would be part of my strategy in my medical profession. Cases of negligence and lack of empathy amongst some doctors have really disheartened me and I am really determined to be more caring compassionate in bringing great care to mothers and babies. I have a strong conviction that such an accomplishment would bring meaning not only to me but to other people in the society. By recognizing the innocence in babies and participating in welcoming them to the world I would make important contributions to our future generations. Skills and knowledge acquired in the course of studying medicine would eventually trickle down to the entire society with the practice of the profession in various health facilities. Given the opportunity I would put in all my efforts and leave a legacy that would remain in the minds of many for the rest of their lives. Finally it is important to re affirm that I have a strong calling to pursue this cause so as to help other people and bring change in the society in terms of infant and maternity care. This dream can only be actualized if I am granted the opportunity to study for the course in your institution.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

European Media Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

European Media Policy - Essay Example The media industry is booming day by day and is touching new horizons. Its importance is unparalleled in this society as it serves so many needs and without the presence of media, a certain loophole will be left which can not be filled by any other form of communication.1 When it comes to a media policy, this means that there should be regulation and governance in this industry too. The media, if let loose, can have damaging effects as well. Because it is the media of a country which represents the country worldwide and can have dangerous circumstances for the country if, at any point in time, the media broadcasts or prints something which hurts the social, political and emotional sentiments of some other race, culture or country. Therefore, media has to be regulated so that it is unbiased, so that proper rules are followed, so that coverage is done in a standardized form. The European Media Policy is the media policy which regulates the media channels found in the European Union. There is a forum known as the Information Society and Media, which has an European Commissioner and a Directorate General, presently they are Viviane Reding and Fabio Colasanti respectively. The Directorate General has included the "Media" in his responsibilities since January 2005 only. Before this date, he was only responsible for the Information Society. The European Commission also maintains a Commissioner of Communication, whose job description is to maintain links and contacts with the media and have a certain level of relationship with the media. 2 The aims of the European Media Policy is that it wants to see Europe as a landscape with a strong presence and foothold of media and it wants to have an expression based on the element of media pluralism. Another aim of the European Media Policy is to stand up to such a level where it can compete with other media industries on a global and international scale. Pros of European Media Policy One of the major pros of the European Media Policy is that it is seen as a national responsibility by all. Everyone who is concerned or related with the media takes full responsibility of bringing out the best they can in providing news and entertainment plus keeping in mind that every thing has its limitations. This can be generalized to a term self-governance. The stakeholders and the owners of media can self-regulate themselves so as to decrease the need for a strict overlook of the Government and Media Bodies in this matter. The second major pro of the European Media Policy is that when it comes to the media owners and the Government, neither of them have a stronger foothold than the other in the relationship that they share. If it had been such a case where the Government would have had an upper edge in this relationship that they share and would have been easily able to influence the media without the media having any say as to how the regulation should be done, then there would have been a problem. In the case of the European media policy, the media gets affected, directly or indirectly, with situations that take place on a Government level and likewise, the Government is affected by the way the media will

Friday, November 1, 2019

Planning Function of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Planning Function of Management - Essay Example The overall focus of planning process however based upon establishing a company which can be market leader in the long distance calls market niche. Apart from this, planning function was a top down approach wherein higher management was mostly responsible for all the management planning function at the organization. Plan came from the top and lower level management actually followed the plans without actually providing effective feedback to the higher management. This aspect of planning therefore made it relatively rigid to adapt itself to the different external scenarios wherein top management actually failed to realize overall market movements. It is also important to note that there was a lack of alternative plans for the organization to deal with any contingency. When the overall crisis hit the organization, there was generally lack of alternative plans available to deal with the contingency. Lack of effective plans to deal with the contingencies suggested that the firm was unable to defend itself against any bankruptcy proceedings and the only way out for the firm was to file for bankruptcy. Influence of Issues Considering the overall nature of the fraud committed by WorldCom, it is relatively obvious that the firm had not been influenced by the legal as well as ethical issues. It also failed to follow the corporate social responsibility codes and procedures also while reporting its overall financial state of the affairs.