Philosophy of Mind Essay

Since centuries, our philosophers have been trying to unravel mysteries of our memory, thought processes, different emotions, will power and imaginations culminating into what is known as different intellectual and conscious part of our personality.   Our mind, as our great literary figures have posited, is a stream of our consciousness and is a part of our brain’s inherent processes. Our mind is a place where our reasoning power gets the shape and takes the practical form. As also said in Indian Vedic philosophy, He who knows the receptacle (Ayatana) verily becomes the receptacle of his people. Mind is verily the receptacle (of all our knowledge).† – (Chhandogya Upanishad, V-i-5.) Different studies by our philosophers have been compounded into various theories each delving into the depth of various aspects of our mind processes. Its earliest studies have been found in the works of Zarathushtra, Mahatma Budha, Plato, Aristotle, Adi Shankara and many more ancient Greek and Indian Philosophers.   Many of the pre scientific philosophers based their theories on relationship between the mind and the soul, supernatural elements of faith, having a feeling of closeness with divinity or god, but on the other hand modern theorists based their theories on their research and scientific studies of the brain. These theories rely heavily on the fact that the mind is a phenomenon of the brain and is a tantamount of consciousness. The study of the relationship between the body and mind is the most central aspect to the philosophy of mind, despite of the fact that there are number of issues related to the nature of the mind which does not take into consideration its relationship to the physical body. The most crucial and complex differences of thoughts are arising among different theorists regarding the exact and most appropriate theory of mind. Though various theorists have developed their own different versions to make us understand our own functioning of mind yet as more and more theories are coming up, more and more it is getting difficult to come out with the best theory of all. As all theories are able to capture the intensity of readers to make us understand the core of our mind and thoughts, yet it is very challenging to understand â€Å"Which is the best?† Here I am trying to unravel the mystery to understand which theory-Dualism, mind-brain identity or functionalism is a correct theory to understand all about mind. Dualism is a most important school of thought that has tried to solve the most paradoxical and most important relationship of mind and body problems. It has tried to make several attempts to sure that mind and body in some way or the other detach from each other. Roots of Dualism dates far back to Plato, Aristotle and the Sankhya and Yoga schools of Hindu philosophy but in a most precise way it was understood by Rene Descartes only in the 17th century. His philosophical disposition is based on the fact that the mind is independent in itself and constitutes two different kinds of substances like â€Å"res extensa meaning extended things, physical things† and â€Å"res cogitans means thinking things†, (Descartes, Online Edition ). The thinking things are beyond the dimensions of time and space and are thus separate in itself whereas Property dualists thinks that there are several independent properties known to us. It is quite clear from his disposition that he is trying to explain the importance and concept of soul, giving religious discourse. But in this all, he has tried to explain that there is an interaction of mind in pineal gland, from where there is a control on bodily actions and receive sensory perceptions. But this approach of Dualism is not without criticism as its properties are more of dubious in nature. Their theory is based on religion and their ardent faith but no element of scientific fact is found in this. If we visualize and understands that if there is a soul in our physical body and the soul can have drastic effect then it is quite natural that it should be able to generate new energy to bring the bodies into moment.    It is argued that if the soul exists and it can affect the body then it must be able to create new energy to move the body, but this is sheer violation of the theory of the conservation principle.   Owen Flanagan, in his The Science of the Mind says,†If the mind according to Descartes is not a physical system therefore it also could not have any energy to prove herself but in-order to increase this physical energy, the need of the hour is to get it transferred from other physical system but it is not possibl†e. (Owen Flanagan, pp. 21, Mind creators.com). To overcome the limitations of the Dualism, several philosophers and psychologists began to ignore the very concept and existence of mind itself and by doing so their expectations to touch the cord of mind began to flow towards the realistic parts of our lives. Therefore in the beginning the new generation of philosophers came up with what is known as Type Identity Theory.  Ã‚   They posters the view that though the structure of every person’s brain is similar yet in the brain of every person there are certain differences therefore it is not possible to find oneself in a position of same neurological state. Therefore this theory soon took the shape of Token Taken theory implying that if there are two people having different neuropsychological states, then what is it that brings them into the same mental state? And to this they answered that it is due to the function of those two states only that had created them same. This leads to functionalism theory, which says that, â€Å"Two different brain-state tokens would be tokens of the same type of mental state if the two brain states had the same causal relations to the input stimulus that the organism receives, to its various other â€Å"mental† states, and to its output behavior†. (Functionalism, online edition). In simple words, he said that there were supposed to be two thoughts, which are same, and all of the inputs, internal and external, lead to the same output. With this statement, psychologists tried to bring all the conditions of the mind set in equilibrium. This leads to the functionalism theory. Though there are several problems to this approach too yet we can very say that if this theory of functionalism is adopted, it will take us into next major breakthrough, but all is not well with Functionalism too as it failed to explain in clear terms the fact that even if there are conditions of different physical states which gives different material phenomenon, then there is no possibility of different physical structures to regain equality.  Ã‚   . While there is a great controversy to come at the concrete conclusion about which one is correct â€Å"theory of mind,†, but it is a matter of fact that functionalism is the most popular theory among scientists as well as philosophers of today. According to this theory, all the aspects of mental state like beliefs, pains, hopes, fears, etc. depends and are divided on the bases of their activity and are characterized by the jobs they do, or in other words according to the functions that they perform. Just like computers understands the main idea behind our thoughts process in the same way our brains captures our thought processes from our mind and induces us to act accordingly. WORKS CITED Anderson, David. â€Å"Introduction to Functionalism† Consortium on Mind/Brain Science Instruction. Internet. (2006) Available: http://www.mind.ilstu.edu/curriculum/functionalism_intro/functionalism_intro.php?modGUI=44&compGUI=1403&itemGUI=2447, March 5, 2008   Cofer, David. â€Å"Dualism† MindCreators.Com Internet. (2002) Available:   http://www.mindcreators.com/Dualism.htm, March 5, 2008 Cofer, David. â€Å"Functionalism† MindCreators.Com Internet. (2002) Available: http://www.mindcreators.com/Functionalism.htm, March 5, 2008 McAdoo, Oliver. â€Å"Critically discuss the idea that mental states are identical to physical states† arrod.co.uk Internet. Available: http://www.arrod.co.uk/essays/mind-brain-identity.php, March 5, 2008 Chance, Tom. â€Å"Mind-brain identity theory† Internet. Available: http://tom.acrewoods.net/research/philosophy/mind/identitytheory, March 5, 2008 Swamy   Sivananda, â€Å"Mind – Its Mysteries & Control†, The Divine Life Trust Society, 1994, World Wide Web Edition, 1998, A Divine Life Society Publication, Internet Available, http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm Flanagan, Owen (1991). The Science of the Mind, 2nd edition. MIT Press. pp. 21.

Gonzales V. Raich

Pace University Michael Khoo LAW 101 Gonzales v. Raich(545 U. S. 1 (U. S. Sup. Ct. 2005)) I. FACTS Angel Raich and Diane Monson (plaintiffs) suffered from serious medical conditions and the only effective treatment was the use of Marijuana which was recommended by the doctors. In 1996, a California statue, under the name of The Compassionate Use Act, was established to legally allow marijuana to be used only for medicinal purposes. Monson cultivated her own Marijuana for her own usage as she relied on it heavily for daily functions.The Drug Enforcement Administration (defendant) came to Monson’s house, discovered the cannabis plants and destroyed all six of them. Raich and Monson sued the DEA to obtain an injunction that would inhibit the enforcement of the federal Control Substance Act (CSA) on Monson. The CSA classifies marijuana as a controlled substance. Raich and Monson claimed that enforcing the CSA would violate the Commerce Clause and the Due Process Clause of the Fift h Amendment. II. JUDGEMENT Angel Raich and Diane Monson (plaintiffs) won the case.The Drug Enforcement Administration (defendant) lost the case. III. LEGAL PRINCIPAL A. ISSUE Whether Congress’ power to regulate interstate markets for medical substances encompasses the portions of those markets that are supplied with drugs produced and consumed locally. B. HOLDING No. IV. REASONING A. GENERAL ANALYSIS In this Constitutional Case, the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) gives Congress and the Federal government the right to confiscate and/ or destroy any discovered controlled substances.Marijuana is considered a schedule 1 controlled substance due to hazards, high potential for abuse and lack of medicinal benefits. The Compassionate Use Act was created in 1996 in California as a statue that legally allows Marijuana to be used only for medicinal and medical purposes. The argument used against the DEA for enforcing the CSA on the plaintiffs is that it would be a violation of the Comme rce Clause which is a major component of the Fifth Amendment.The Commerce Clause establishes that the congress has the authority to oversee, regulate and intervene in interstate commercial activity. B. APPLIED ANALYSIS The Controlled Substance Act’s jurisdiction was used by the DEA to destroy Marijuana in Monson’s house because of the simple fact that Marijuana is categorized as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. However the plaintiffs argue that such action would take away the power of the Commerce Clause of the Fifth Amendment which states that the federal government body has the authority to overlook and regulate interstate activity.Nowhere in that clause does it give the federal body the power to regulate intrastate activity which is the case of the cultivation of marijuana in Monson’s house. In addition to that, the Compassionate Use Act supports the cultivation of marijuana in Monson’s house because Monson is a patient who was severely ill and whose life was dependent on the usage of Marijuana for recovery. According to the circumstances of this case in which the possession of marijuana was due to health, medical and medicinal reason, and for abuse purposes, the Supreme Court has overruled the DEA to execute the CSA on Monson.

Impact of motivation on employee performance

Entrepreneurship is the tendency of a person to organize his own business and run it profitably, exploiting the qualities of leadership, decision making, managerial caliber, etc. Risk Talking Risk-taking In Its true sense Indicates that risk Is Ignored In taking decisions and actions. We should rightfully use the word ‘risk averse' for the entrepreneurs. Risk averseness implies taking ‘calculated' risk and expecting premium for the risk taken. As the risk goes up the expected premium in return also goes up at a higher rate.Calculated risk means a few things, namely, Determining how much risk one should take. Risk taking ability of a rich person Is higher than that of a poor person. Still, two equally rich persons In equal situations may not equally perceive the risk in a given opportunity. 0 Risk assessment is equally important. 0 Risk mitigation is the final step that a risk-averse person would consider while taking calculated risk. Risk mitigation means taking steps to manage risk. For example, Insurance against non-business Is essential; Identify non-business risks and insure them. Sense of limits In every society people develop sense of limits from parents, friends and rounding's. These are the limits of what we can do and what we cannot, and what we can accomplish and what we cannot. Such sense of limit Is a result of social permissiveness at a given point of time In a society. On one side, developing such sense of limit is desirable because without adhering to social norms a society cannot function as a civilized society. On the other, the same sense of limit would impose more ‘don't' than ‘dos'. Entrepreneurs are different. Hem do not abide by the limits recognized by the society or they fight against these limits. CLC Locus of control There are two types of people in the world- (I) those who blame others and external situations for whatever happens with them, and those who believe that they could have done something better to avo id certain situations that happened with them. The first type of behavior of people is called ‘external locus of control' and the second ‘Internal locus of control'. It Is obvious from the definition that entrepreneurs have ‘Internal locus of control'.The sense of Internal locus of control gives tremendous to learn from failures rather than accepting fate. 0 Control of future Entrepreneurs are always in control of the situation. Their responses to the unfolding situations are more matured rather than like reactions. This gives them control over the current period as well as the future. Creators Entrepreneurs create ideas, businesses and organizations. Often they like businesses that are unique compared to the routine ones. They like challenges and deal with them in a unique or creative way.Entrepreneurs are good at startups. Need for achievement We would like to include one more characteristic over what Hofmann listed; and that is entrepreneur's need for achievemen t. Entrepreneurs do not start business for making money. Money and profits are not his primary goals. Their passion, thus, is to convert their dreams into reality. 0 Ethics This is yet another characteristic that Hofmann did not discuss. Can anything substitute ethics for a successful person? Can an entrepreneur be unethical and still make long-term success and attain his need for attainment?A true entrepreneur, since he is not driven by motives of profits but needs to achieve or do something different for getting sense of satisfaction, will demonstrate high degree of business ethics. Ethical game is necessary for a long-term player in the business of innovation. Q. 2†¦.. Business plan is a written description of the business. It is comprehensive in nature and comprises details like promoters, existing and proposed products and/or services, know-how and techniques intended to use, among others. A brief description of contents of business plan. Description of venture: For an exi sting business, the details like date of establishment, Journey over time with significant milestones, employee data, sales and profit data over time (if history is too long then selected period of say, five years' tat would be enough), organization structure, operating philosophy, vision and mission statements, and details of enabling factors are important. 0 Operations plan: Several operations have to be carried out with a view to succeed in providing products and services.The business activity must be clearly broken down into the discreet operations and details must be provided how those operations will be performed given the resources. If the operations plan fail then production plan would also automatically fail. 0 Production plan: In case of manufacturing activity, the details of technology and its ministrations, success factors, realistic assumptions regarding utilization of plant capacity supported with evidences from other businesses, processes, manpower of material and sev eral other details that can have an impact on production would become an essential part of production plan. Organizational plan: In the absence of strong organizational backing the most lucrative business can also fail measurably. Business operates in a very dynamic environment, whether internal or external. A business organization must develop capability of capturing information regarding the changing external variable that may effect the current business or future opportunities of the business. Marketing plan: A business needs to define a market in terms of geographical area or demographic details of potential customers or consumers.Market feasibility report would help in identifying the scope of business opportunity, and from that canvass, a businessman has to determine the right segment of market wherein he would like to do business. Promotion plan, distribution network and other marketing policies are useful in evaluating the potential market for the goods and services offered by the business. Financial plan: The contents of the business plan are now converted into the financial numbers to present the financial plan.The financial plan gives income statements and balance-sheets for the projected period, depreciation schedule, interest payment schedule, working capital schedule, disability schedule, cash flow statements, working capital financing schedule and schedule of funds to be raised and serviced. The financial plan also includes calculation of several ratios that are useful in the evaluation of funding options. 0 Assessment of risks: The production and marketing plans are usually prepared on he most realistic scenario.If actual scenario turns out to be better than anticipated (sales price is higher, sales quality is higher, expenses are lower, among others), then there is a positive surplus profit. But what if things do not turn out as good as estimates and cost of project goes up, cost of capital is higher, enough capital is not available, sales pri ce remain low, sales quantity is less, expenses are higher, skilled people are not available, among others. The assessment of down-side impact of risk must be assessed, if not upside reward of risk. Q. 3†¦ Answer†¦..Marketing is a function over which we can have only an influencing power but hardly any control over the outcome. Therefore, marketing function is very important especially for a new enterprise. The market analysis is done before a business plan is prepared and it is included in the business plan, I. E. , at the project phase of a proposed business. Market Assessment base, primarily aimed at checking whether there is gap between demand and supply if the product or service that will be offered by the entrepreneur is an existing product with or without modifications.In case of a new product, the market assessment at time is Just an informed evaluation of potential market. Market assessment aims at defining the market that would be most appropriate for the product and that would give strongest opportunity for the long-term growth. This involves matching the product with customer needs. This strategy of defining the market segment for you is derived from customer research and competitive analysis. 0 Impact of Market Dynamics An entrepreneur must understand the market dynamics. Conceptually, demand and supply determine the price.Demand and supply constantly change and, therefore, pricing mechanism becomes dynamic, which is called market dynamics. Several factors play a role in affecting supply and demand and thereby, the prices of products. Competitors' price, income level, employment level, inflation, production level, government policies and a host of other factors individually and collectively affect the pricing of a product. 0 Achieving Market Acceptance The proof of success is finally in attaining the sales level at profitable conditions. The essence of it is in achieving market acceptance of products and services.Start-ups eave a greater risk in achieving market acceptance than the firms already in business. However, for the existing business too market acceptance of a new product is risky. 0 Day-to-Day Operation There are several aspects of day-to-day operations. Procurement, storage, production, transportation, inventory holding, sales, collections, maintenance, man-management and several other functions together can make operations possible. In today's world, management of information technology is also a matter of daily operations. However, we will discuss only two important aspects of day to- day operations here.They are namely, (I) procurement of material-inventory and (it) use of information technology. Strategies for Growth The issue of growth is strategic in nature, therefore, it involve strategic thinking, and hence, application of SOOT analysis. A SOOT analysis model must suit the need for answering a particular question, which is related to either direction of growth or rate of growth or strategy for gr owth. Strategic models are described and their applications are explained in each of these fields of strategic decisions in the following sections of this unit.Growth Direction Decision Synergy is the measure of an effect on the net benefits of combining more than one activity. Synergy is said to exist when the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The presence of some strength and its best fit with available opportunities are essential for creating a positive synergy. For the growth direction issue the synergy is searched in the areas of product and market. A SOOT analysis on these two parameters can give a quick idea about the value creating growth alternatives.

TRAIT LEADERSHIP THEORY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

TRAIT LEADERSHIP THEORY - Assignment Example Taylor’s main goal was to attain economic efficiency. On the other hand, sociologist Max Weber’s contribution to the management theory was his concept that ideal bureaucracies comprise several characteristics such as efficiency, division of labour, promotion based on performance, written codes of conduct, impersonality, and hierarchy of authority. Therefore, his conclusion was that a leader obtained power through his position. In the 1920s, another management theorist Mary P. Follett proposed the notion of participatory management, i.e. the abandonment of ‘power over’ and adoption of ‘power with’ by managers. According to Simon, Smithburg, and Thompson (1991), Luther Gulick’s major administrative issue was to determine how to attain control and coordination that was necessary to achieve an organisation’s goals. He proposed the introduction of a powerful chief executive to counter the discordant features that were associated with i ncreasing levels of division of labour and specialisation. In his Notes on the Theory of Organization, he introduced the PODSCORB concept. His main argument was that the roles of the executive include planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting. Leadership R. Dernhardt and J. Denhardt (2006) pointed out that Chester Barnard, who was a business executive, defined leadership as ‘the ability of a superior to influence the behaviour of subordinates and persuade them to follow a particular course of action’. There are many definitions of leadership. However, a common thing amongst these definitions is the concept that a leader should yield power to influence people in an organisation. Fiore (2004) stated that in 1968, John French and Bertram Raven described five different types of power that leaders use in pursuit of their objectives. Although other classifications exist, this remains the most useful and includes: a) Legitimate power: Thi s is power that a leader holds virtually due to the position in the organisation. b) Reward power: This is power that a leader holds to the ability to promote, offer salary increases and allocate interesting challenges. c) Expert power: A leader possesses this power from having superior knowledge in a matter that is beneficial to the organisation. d) Referent power: This is power associated with charismatic personalities, which makes followers identify and respect their leader. e) Coercive power: This is power that establishes a leader’s capacity to punish non-compliant subordinates or exhibition of undesirable behaviour. Effective leaders form an important element that determines the existence and accomplishments of an organisation. This type of leadership will transform possibilities into realities through revealing the potential that lies in an organisation and its employees. Leaders should offer direction by proposing new paradigms when existing ones lose their effectiven ess. Therefore, leadership is a significant way through which persons transform other people’s minds to enable organisations to move forward and attain their objectives. Over the years, various management theorists have suggested different leadership theories, and this paper will focus on one of these theories – the trait leadership theory. Trait Theory of Leadership According to Marquis and Huston (2009), the trait theory was amongst the leadership theories that formed the basis for research up to the 1940s. Trait theory assumes that certain people yield some personality traits or characteristics that give them leadership abilities. Therefore, some people are better leaders than others. Researchers evaluated the lives of prominent individuals in history to help them identify the traits that

Increasing Of The Self-medication Level And Its Dangerous Essay - 1

Increasing Of The Self-medication Level And Its Dangerous - Essay Example The country has witnessed a situation in which people buy and consume drugs without a prescription from medical practitioners. The danger with this culture is that parents are adopting the culture oblivious of the future behavior that their children will adopt following the use of drugs over the counter. Gup highlights the dangerous approach that parents adopt and indicates that the system â€Å"devalues talking therapy† and consequently results into other approaches of treatment, which he calls self-medication and indicates that the society has made this approach â€Å"perfectly acceptable.† Based on Gup’s statement, the society engages in self-medication without assessing the dangers involved in their actions. In effect, children will adopt this practice as conventional or standard practice since their parents make it deeply rooted in a family setting. To highlight the dangers posed by this practice, drug dealing can be said to be a practice that originates fro m the self-medication that the American social practices. In this regard, the fact that drugs are sold without a prescription can make drug dealing become normal since self-medication is the order of the day. In effect, I agree with Gup when he indicates that his son’s behavior mirrored the society that the young people grow in whereby â€Å"Big Pharma itself prospers from the off-label uses of drugs, often not tested in children and not approved for the many uses to which they are put† (Gup). In this regard, it is evident that large pharmaceutical companies rake in billions of profits each year by selling drugs without proper regulatory measures in place. From this practice, youths who peddle drugs to society behave in a similar way to these pharmaceutical companies since they sell drugs that are illegal and are harmful to society. It is common knowledge that most behavior that humans adopt is learned from various settings.

Coffee And The Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coffee And The Environment - Essay Example Pros of Coffee To the farmers, large-scale production of coffee resulted to fear trade. In Brazil, investments in coffee production began in 1970.Coffee production dramatically changed the lives of the thousands of small-scale farmers in Brazil. Production of coffee leads to deregulation, privatization and liberalization of agricultural production process in growing of coffee. Therefore, it leads to high production of coffee in the country (Cleland, P. 11). Value of Pros According to Masood Sadiq, and Tauseef Sultan coffee is one of the greatest sources of antioxidant. The Authors have also stated that black coffee, without milk or cream, has a low-calorie count (364).The calorie count of black coffee is two calories. However, only two cups of black coffee would be beneficial and taking more than two would be introducing a high level of caffeine in the body. In addition, other health benefits that are associated with drinking coffee are it protects against type II diabetes, liver cancer, and Parkinson disease. Cons of Coffee Coffee farming has several cons to the environment. The first problem associated with coffee farming is soil erosion. According to the author, countries like in Brazil have faced a significant challenge in coffee farming because of soil erosion. Most of the farms in Brazil and the crops were grown along the slope. It maximizes soil erosion has the water quickly moves down the slope carrying way the top soil. The soiled water also pollutes the available water bodies.

Aspirin Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Aspirin - Assignment Example Two Italians, Brugnatelli and Fontana, had in fact already obtained salicin in 1826, but in a highly impure form. By 1829, [French chemist] Henri Leroux had improved the extraction procedure to obtain about 30g from 1.5kg of bark. In 1838, Raffaele Piria [an Italian chemist] then working at the Sorbonne in Paris, split salicin into a sugar and an aromatic component (salicylaldehyde) and converted the latter, by hydrolysis and oxidation, to an acid of crystallized colorless needles, which he named salicylic acid (Bellis, 2012) Acetyl salicylic acid is the chemical name of Aspirin. In other words, Salicylic acid is the major content of Aspirin. Aspirin plays a vital role in the metabolism of humans and animals. This paper analyses the various aspects of aspirin such as chemical formula, systemic names, physical and chemical properties, relevance of its physical and chemical properties and precautions while taking aspirin etc. As mentioned earlier, Acetyl salicylic acid is the chemical name of Aspirin. C9H8O4 is the chemical formula of aspirin. The elaborated chemical formula of aspirin can be represented as CH3COOC6H4COOH. In other words, each aspirin molecule consists of 9 carbon atoms, 8 hydrogen atoms and 4 oxygen atoms. Structural formula of aspirin can be represented as follows. Physically, Aspirin is a solid substance. It is colorless, odorless, white, crystalline, acidic substance. Its melting point is 137 °C and boiling point is 140 °C. Moreover, it is soluble in water. As evident from the chemical structure, Aspirin is an aromatic compound with a ring structure. It can be converted into several different useful compounds because of its ring or aromatic structure. â€Å"Molecular Weight of aspirin is 180.15 g/mole and its Specific Gravity: 1.35 (Water = 1)† (Material Safety Data Sheet Acetylsalicylic acid MSDS, n.d., p.3).

Langston Huges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Langston Huges - Essay Example Well, everyone knows, except us, that all Negroes have rhythm, so they elected me as class poet† (Johnson, p.138)." He also wrote newspapers for the school, wrote plays, short stories, and edited the year book. It was at this time in high school when he realized that he had a passion for books and wrote â€Å"when Sue Wears Red†, his first jazz poetry. In 1919, he briefly lived with his father in Mexico although the relationship between the two was poor. In 1920 Hughes went back to his father with hopes that he would help him enroll to Colombia University. Initially, before arriving to Mexico, Hughes states that he had been thinking about his father and the strange dislike of his own people. Hughes did not understand it because he was a Negro and liked Negros very much (Hughes and McLaren, p.65). His father had plans of taking him to a university overseas to make a career in engineering and not become a writer. At some point they came into a compromise whereby Hughes agr eed to study engineering only if his father would allow him to attend Colombia University. Hughes has struggled since childhood to fit in the United States as an African American. At a young age, he did not have an easy life and racism encounters was the order of the day though he decided to remain loyal to his own heritage. He had due respect for his background as an African American to an extent of using his racial pride as the base of his works. The struggles in his life shaped him into becoming both a poet and an inspiring leader to the African American people. Having struggled in making a living, he finally figured out what he really wanted to do by stating in his autobiography that he wanted to write seriously and as well as he knew how about the Negro people. This is what gave Hughes an establishment of his own style; a style that would give a reflection about his personal African American experiences whereby race had its own inequalities (Hughes and McLaren, 66). Hughes soug ht out a communism world, one with an ideology that offers to establish classless views, lack of social status and get rid of segregation in the society. The political views regarding racial discrimination were a major obstacle in Hughes’ life. This enabled him to express his opinions and perception about issue facing the colored people in America through his works. Hughes wrote in a respectable way to demonstrate to his fellow black writers the significance of writing educative works rather than criticize harshly. I n the year 1924, went to back to the United States did odd jobs like a busboy and an assistant cook at a restaurant in Washington where he met Vachel Lindsay, an American poet. Hughes decided to show some of his poet work to Lindsay who was fascinated enough to make connections and promote Hughes’ work for a larger audience (Baxter, p.45). That same year, his poem â€Å"Weary Blues† won a prize in the literary competition of the opportunity magazine . He was also lucky to receive a scholarship to enroll at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Again, Hughes poems caught the attention of novelist Carl Van Vetchten, who also made connections for Hughes and the following year his first poetry book weary blues was published. The first time that Hughes gained recognition as a recommendable literature figure was in 1920s, a time for â€Å"

Global Economic Outlook and Challenges Faced by Singapore Essay

Global Economic Outlook and Challenges Faced by Singapore - Essay Example This is endorsed by a survey by the McKinsey Group which finds that amid the uncertainty the prospects for investment banking in the emerging markets remain relatively bright (BÃ ¶hme, Chiarella & Lemerle (2008). Southeast Asia however, has been making solid economic progress since the financial crisis of 1977 but Singapore has been going through a lean pitch and much depends upon the economic activity that take place globally in the near future. The OECD countries accounted for 75% of the world GDP less than 5 decades ago which today accounts for less than 55 percent (Santiso, 2008). The US stock market that accounted for 50% of the world market capitalization now accounts for less than thirty five percent and continues to decline. Emerging markets like Brazil, Mexico, Turkey and South Korea have already become OECD members and Brazil is all set to become the global player. It is growing into a global trader reaching into markets like Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. The subprime crisis of the US can provide new oppurtunities for the Asia-pacific region. The Asia-Pacific investors are playing a key role in supporting the developed countries during the current financial turmoil. Berner (2008) of Morgan Stanley however fears that recession will go global and the industrial economies will be flat in 2009. Most emerging economies have been facing a combination of external shocks and tighter monetary policies. Since the exports to the US would be reduced, it would impact the other economies as they would face decline in employment, which would have pressure on the income, consumers and their lenders. Most predictions estimate that the US economy will take a V-turn and not U-turn. The airline industry too is facing the darkest future as multiple airline liquidations will further cripple the economy that depends on affordable and efficient transportation system.

Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Democracy - Essay Example With that being said, what makes democracy American to start with? First, democracy is â€Å"a political system or form of government† of the people living in a specified territorial ground which it also protects. Undoubtedly, â€Å"it runs with promulgated rules and laws† that are embedded in a constitution which people have to abide with. Second, sovereignty rests on the people therefore they are given the â€Å"right of suffrage or the right to vote†. (â€Å"What is democracy?†, 2004) This also means that major decisions and issues must be thrown to the electorate to decide. Within this context, the â€Å"majority rule† is followed. Thirdly, democracy is always directed to work for the â€Å"common good of the society† covering the fields of education, food, shelter, environment protection, safety and order. Fourthly, democracy always considers the respect for the dignity of man and his personal freedoms such as freedom of religion, freedo m of expression, among others. Learning from the above, what else does not work with democracy? According to the International IDEA : â€Å"The relationship between democracy and development is the key challenge.

Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation Essay Example for Free

Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation Essay Subject: Human trafficking is the illegal trade in persons used for reproductive slavery, sexual exploitation, forced labor, organ removal, and other forms of slavery. In Argentina, it is a crime punishable by law, however the country continues to be a source and hub for trafficking. Executive Summary: Human trafficking is an international crime, and a violation of human rights; however, it is a felony that is still committed frequently throughout the international community. The issue stems from a lack of communication between provincial and federal governments, as well as the lack of tri-border control. In order to combat this, government officials and law enforcement officers need to be educated on the red flags of human trafficking. There also needs to be more funding and support for legal systems and organizations advocating to end human trafficking. Additionally, there needs to be more border control on the three borders that surround Argentina. Discussion: According to the  ­Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking, trafficking is defined as â€Å"the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability† (UNODC). Trafficking is not  limited to sexual exploitation; practices include: forced labor or services, slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs. This is an ongoing issue because the United Nations as well as individual countries have laws against these crimes but no one to ensure that the laws are being followed. In Argentina, human trafficking is now part of the political agenda because of its link to organized crime. Official policy in Argentina has made progress in dealing with human trafficking, they have signed and ratified all UN conventions and protocols dealing with human trafficking as a crime. In 2000, Argentina signed the â€Å"Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children†, this supplemented the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNODC). The protocol was later ratified in 2002, however there is still progress to be made because the number of people being trafficked it still high. In 2010, more than 600 women were abducted in 18 months, â€Å"for each known case there are 6 others which remain invisible† (Pichà ©). Argentina is a central point for human trafficking trade; men, women, and children from northern and rural areas are forced into prostitution in urban centers or wealthier provinces in central and southern Argentina. Many of those trafficked through the triple frontier are destined for the illegal labour market in Argentina. However in Argentina, it is estimated that 90 percent of the trafficking victims are sexually exploited women. Additionally, women from Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic are subjected to trafficking in Argentina. According the United States Department of state, â€Å"in 2011 the number of labor trafficking victims identified was over three times the number of sex trafficking victims identified during the year† (Trafficking). Argentina has consistently attracted migrants from Latin American regions seeking better economic opportunities. There are about 2 million immigrants from Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. Illegal immigration fuels the trafficking business because they are smuggled into the country, and they are easy victims for trafficking rings (Project Protection). At the same time, Argentineans from the northern provinces are at high risk for  trafficking because of extreme poverty, lack of education, and access to health services. Police in the northwestern province of Jujuy have received more than 50 reports of missing young women since September 2005. Most of these women have gone to see about jobs and were never seen again (Project Protection). Most end up in major cities and tourist areas Corruption within the police force has also prevented Argentina from decreasing trafficking rates in the country. It has been reported that police officials have participated in criminal activities related to trafficking, which thwarts government efforts to prevent trafficking from happening. According to a report released by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, authorities are currently investigating over 75 federal officials who have been removed from their positions after turning a blind eye to trafficking related problems. However as of 2011, the government did not prosecute or convict any government officials involved in human trafficking. Officers have looked in the other direction when coming across sex and labor trafficking activity, or tipped off brothel owners about raids coming up. The Argentine government has made progress over the past few years collecting data and stopping human trafficking. Over the past year, the government has reported and recorded the number of trafficking victims found, and implemented protocols and guidelines to eliminate trafficking, the country has increased prosecutions and convictions of trafficking. Further, the Argentine government funded five shelters to set up throughout the country as safe-havens. Part of the progress made is due to one of the most well known cases in Argentina, the case involving Marita Veron. Maria de los Angeles Veron (Marita) went missing in 2002, when she was kidnapped. A few days later she was seen escaping from a house, but was taken on to a bus where she was never seen again. Her mother launched a campaign to find her daughter, and soon became a symbol of the fight against human trafficking in Argentina. The Ministry of Security reported identifying about 1,000 victims, most of these victims being brought into Argentina from other countries such as Paraguay and Bolivia. A majority of human trafficking cases reported are reported as forced labor cases however, recently their have been more sex trafficking cases than labor cases. The quality and legal treatment of the victims varies from region to region, and many provinces lacked resources to care for trafficking victims, especially those in forced labor trafficking situations. Once the initial testimony is recorded, it is up to the Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (SENAF) of the Ministry of Social Development to provide follow-up care and assistance alongside the provincial authorities. The government officials in each province, as well as SENAF officials should have greater access to resources needed to provide the best care possible to human trafficking victims. According to the NGO, the office’s effectiveness in providing sufficient care for human trafficking victims is consistently questioned based on flawed data reports and the inability to provide service to the victims. Poor coordination among officials in Argentina is preventing the human rights laws from being as effective as they could. The lack of communication between the federal and provincial governments continues to hinder the effectiveness of anti- trafficking efforts. In many provinces, there is limited or no funding for the provincial and local efforts working to combat human trafficking in their area which creates an issue in making sure victims receive the proper care. Authorities reported funding campaigns for public awareness and public service announcements about trafficking. These PSA’s are being shown on long distance buses and aired on television, but until the country receives the proper funding, support for legal systems, the human trafficking problem will continue. In December 2010, the new Ministry of Security attempted to coordinate the  efforts of different federal law entities, create a database system for human trafficking crimes, and establish protocols with other ministries to strength federal-level collaboration. NGO’s also targeted the Ministry of Security, government officials, and federal law officers in order to improve the enforcement of human trafficking laws in Argentina. Specialized services for trafficking victims remain uneven across the country; competing mandates and lack of coordination between federal and provincial authorities caused delays in some investigations, and significant allegations of trafficking-related complicity of government officials at the local and federal level prevented more comprehensive anti-trafficking efforts. With the corrupt police force, and lack of funding, Argentina will never be able to successfully implement the programs. NGOs and some officials asserted that poor coordination among the federal and provincial governments continued to hinder the effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts, as did limited or nonexistent funding for provincial and local efforts to combat trafficking. The Argentine Government, in collaboration with the International Organization of Migrations, has recently published a report on human trafficking. The report identified crucial gaps in the fight against human trafficking that need to be addressed: 1. The lack of qualification of judiciary personnel and the lack of knowledge concerning the dynamics of human trafficking networks and international and national laws and treaties. 2. The lack of security along the Tri-Border area. 3. The lack of human and material resources to carry out adequate investigations. 4. The absence of programs for the middle and long-term assistance to the victims and lack of protection for the witnesses. The biggest issue for Argentina comes from the Tri-Border area. Along the border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, young prostituted children and adolescents can be seen on the streets of towns such as Puerto Iguazu,  Argentina; Foz do Iguazu, Brazil; and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. After years of debate within the Senate in Argentina, a law was passed to â€Å"prevent trafficking in persons, protect victims of trafficking, and punish perpetrators of human trafficking† (Project Protection). Under the new law, prison sentences were established for those convicted of participating in the recruitment, transportation, or reception of people for the purpose of sexual or labor exploitation. The law provides protective measures for victims of trafficking, and gives victims the right to free psychological, medical, and legal assistance, in addition to the right to privacy. The Organization of American State has closely watched Argentina’s anti-trafficking efforts. the Argentine government has partnered with an institute in Buenos Airs to create incentives in urban areas for companies that obey the country’s labor laws. Based on the issues identified above, it is recommended that the Argentine government uses a multilateral approach to stop trafficking. Recommended action : In order for Argentina to successfully combat human trafficking at a national level, the government needs to continue to implement the anti-trafficking law with increased efforts to investigate, prosecute, convict, and punish trafficking offenders, including public and police officials who are involved in trafficking crimes. An increase in funding for victim assistance, particularly through shelters and specialized services, on a local and national level would also be beneficial to stopping internal trafficking. There should be continued education for law enforcement officials, public figures, a judiciary actors to know how to stop a trafficking ring. To prevent trafficking in individual provinces in Argentina, the government must develop and implement protocols for provincial officials to identify and assist trafficking victims. Continued investigations of labor  trafficking in urban and rural areas of Argentina, and holding companies whose supply chains benefit from labor trafficking accountable for their actions. The government needs to have better communication between the federal and provincial officials to develop and national anti-trafficking plan, and continue to raise awareness nationwide. The multilateral approach to educating and preventing trafficking in Argentina involves an agreement between the Defense Ministry, and the Buenos Aires provincial Education Ministry. This partnership would create protection by educating military and law enforcement officials, in addition to students to be aware of the human trafficking issue, and how to prevent and protect themselves. The final solution is better border control across the tri-frontier. The geography already creates an area that is hard to protect. It is hard to monitor traffic coming in and out of three countries, and some people just completely surpass border control and show no identification when passing between one country and the next. This area annually generates over $6 billion of illicit money and is nearly devoid of all governmental control. Most governments among the TBA deny the problem claiming they have not detected activity in the regions, but other countries disagree. It is vital that Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina start paying closer attention to the border in order to stop trafficking among other illicit activity. The Argentine government’s multilateral approach to stopping trafficking by educating, training, raising awareness, and implementing better border control will help to decrease trafficking rates in Argentina, and eventually put a stop to it. Thank you for your time, Melanie Rose Sources: http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Argentina.pdf http://www.avijorisch.com/9560/tri-border-region http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2012/192366.htm http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/Trafficking_in_Persons_2012_web.pdf

Psychology of nature and nurture debate Essay Example for Free

Psychology of nature and nurture debate Essay The nature and nurture debate investigates the importance of individual natural characteristics and personal experience in explaining the causes in difference in physical behavior. Then the question is; is nature more influential than nurture or vice versa. The debate explains that some behavioral traits are acquired naturally while others are acquired from experience. Physical characteristics are known to be hereditary while individual’s behavior and personality is genetic. The debate has never created boundaries yet on what within us is described by the DNA and what part is through life experience, though it’s obvious that both play great roles in molding us. The nature theory of human development states that the way people behave and think is due to genetic hereditary while the nurture theory according to scientist, the way people think and behave is as result of education; they were are trained to do. Both the theories are correct in explaining the development of human beings; â€Å"nature provides us with inborn traits and abilities and nurture takes the genetic tendencies and molds them as people learn and mature†(Fausto, 1992 p, 269). This is not the end of debate but scientists are ever trying to determine what percentage of we is molded by genes and how much by environment. Biological explanations associate human behavior with â€Å"brain structure hormones or genes†. Development of brain structure is influenced by hormones which are instructed by genes, hence our behavior are genetically molded. In some senses the exact opposite of biological essentialism is the notion that the individual is a vessel waiting for culture and environment to fill it† (Dyer, 1977 p, 330). Socialist believes that human conduct is social in origin, that is individuals learn everything from environment as they mature. Gender difference is due to training and social forces with only sex difference being inborn. Gender difference is the biological and physiological aspects of males and female that makes each group distinct from the other in all species. The gender difference in human beings could be as result of nature or environmental influence (nurture). Every time a baby is born, everybody would ask whether, a boy or a girl. This is to say that gender difference is evidenced from birth. The biological difference is associated with nature while the physiological difference in male and female is attributed to nurture. Psychologists believe that gender is influenced by environment; the way our parent, friends and relative treats us. â€Å"Our gender is consequences of the nurture we receive as children† (Deaux, 1993 p, 126). Some human attributes are nature created (physical body), others are due to nurture (naming people) while others are either natural or environmentally caused. Many theories explain differently on the causes of the difference between women and men. Evolutionary theory of sex suggests that the gender difference has long way ranging from generation inheritance and environmental variability. The gender theory advocates that boys and girls grown in different families and cultures thus they learn much on behaviors and attitude from their families and society, hence gender difference are outcome of socialization. Therefore we can conclude that gender difference is partially due to nature and to some extend environmentally instigated. From biblical readings, we learn that gender difference is God’s creation since he created a man and a woman in his likeness. Some feminist believe that gender difference is as result of discrimination of society against the female gender. Over time women have been oppressed, discriminated and harassed in many cultures. Men and women differ from each other in skills behavior and attitudes. Most cultures have molded men and women in different forms with some cultures viewing men being great than women although this views are changing with socialization. Gender difference, is evidenced as people mature and grow under various environments. Various studies show that there in greater difference between men and women in places of work, abilities and adaptations to situations. You will find that in schools boys are better than girls in certain subjects such mathematics. Researchers believe this is due to ability of student but not gender issues as it is thought to be. According to sociologist men are more aggressive, physically strong and are more likely to take risks than women. As result of men risk taking tendency you will find that their jobs are more risky than those of women. â€Å"Men are more aggression than women† (Secherpr Constantine, 1993) and men are likely to show their aggression physically than women. Some researches show that women are also aggressive but tend to show their aggression in less physical ways. In most case you find that more men are convicted in crimes especially crime with violence than women. In communication men tend to talk less in public than women. Men are shy when it comes to talking g while facing each other; that is, men to men and women to women perspective. It has been generalized that women are; emotionally expressive and responsive, more sensible to others feelings and pay a lot of attention on their bodies. Women also express more love, fear and sadness, laugh and smile more and â€Å"anticipate negative consequences for expressing hunger† (Kreeger, 2000 p, 25). On other hand men have been generalized to; express more anger, control their feelings and try to content with their feelings. Many studies have been carried out on gender difference when expressing emotions in different cultures. The difference according to many is attributed to different â€Å"social roles that women and men play in their society† (Maccoby Jacklin, 1974), status and power each group hold in their cultures. â€Å"Popular stereotype has it that women are more emotional than men† (Lippa, 2005 p, 24). Emotions people express is usually due to their relationship and interactions. Men and women tend to express varying degrees of emotions when under certain situation. Male players’ displays more masculine emotions while female players express feminine emotions† (Shields, 2000 p, 4). Women are more likely to identify others emotions fast than men. Researchers suggest that, this woman ability is more innate than caused by socialization. â€Å"Women are more accurate than men in judging emotions meaning from nonverbal cues than men† (Lippa, 2005). Nonverbal expressions include looking on eyes, lips and eyebrows. Some scientists believe this difference is due to biological explanations while others suggest it as result of organizations of roles in the society. In fact, many researches finds have found very small differences† (Deaux, 1993 p, 126). Our bodies display many biological differences in mind both in metabolism and genetic expressions. Again it’s true that there is great difference between men and women in modern society, therefore these differences should not be basis for isolation of certain group. Even though, there exist gender difference in our societies every woman is expected to behave like woman and men as men.

Strategic Planning And Analysis Of Primark Marketing Essay

Strategic Planning And Analysis Of Primark Marketing Essay Strategic Planning is a complete process about making strategies, or direction, and allocation of recourses to achieve targets. There are numbers of business analysis techniques which can be used in strategic planning and these are SWOT Analysis PEST Analysis STEER Analysis EPISTEL Analysis Strategic planning simply describes the main objectives and future targets of the organization and the efficient and effective process to achieve those targets. Strategic planning covers three main areas which are as follows Present Position Future Prospects and targets Means to achieve those targets PRIMARK Primark is a one of the leading clothing chain of UK. It was founded in June 1969 in Mary Street Dublin under the trading name of PENNEYS. The store added four more brances in local area within its first year of operation. The first store which was opened outside Dublin was opened in Cork in 1971. In that year there were 12 more stores opened 11 in irland and 1 in Northeren Irland. Move Into Great Britain In 1973, four out-of-town stores opened and like this Primark began its trading operations in Great Britain. In 1984, the first multiple acquisition took place when five Woolworth stores were purchased in Ireland. Further in 1984 to 1994 in ten year period Primark opened 25 stores together in UK and Ireland. In 1992 one of BHS stores was purchased and added in the chain. The year 1995 was the year in which primark made most of its expension when the acquisition of the BHS One-Up-Discount chain took place. With this major expension 16 sotres wew added in UK region and most of them in Greater London with a significant sizes. Another major aquisation was in 1999 when 11 Co-Op stores were added. In 2000, another 11 stores acquired from C A. In October 2001 massive store was opened in Manchester. Primark continued its expension in the following year. As a result, number of reached to 109 in the end of 2001 consisting 75 in Uk and 34 in Ireland. In 2005 six stores were acquired from Allders. In April 2007 two more stores were opened, one in London and the other one was in Livelpool. Entrance to Europe Primark entered in Europe by opening a store in Spain in May 2006 and later in the same year in Semtember a second store was opened in Murica. In 2007 two stores were opened in Spain and in Xanadu. In 2008 three more sotres were opened in Bilbao, Islazul and in Oviedo. In the same year more braches were open in Parque, Zaragoza, Asturias and Coruna. Primark entered in Netherlands market in 2008 by opening its first store in Rotterdam. In 2009 more stores were added in eorupe business by opening the branches in Portugal, Germany and Belgium. Currently, In total 196 stores are in business under the name of PRIMARK. The counts is as follows   Region Number of Branches UK   138 Ireland 38   Spain 14 Portugal 2 The Netherlands   1 Belgium 1 Germany 2 Total 196 STRATEGIC PLANNING HISTORY OF PRIMARK Primark is second largest clothing retailer and runs 13 department including Children wear, women wear, men wear, foot wear, assocries and house holds. New and fashion able clothing with cheap prices are very challenging task among the high intensity of competition among the competitors. Primark has a firmly defined target consumers which are under 35 age group. There are two main methods to earn profits more than normal rates, by establishing a product leader ship or can be through cost leader ship. Primark established a cost leadership because in cost leader ship the firm supplies same product at lower price rather then to provide strong differentiation as like in product leader shipe where coustomers are ready to pay high prices. Primark established a strong strategy of cost leader ship. This strategy is pursued by companies selling affordable products across all sectors. In united states, Southewest Airline has same strategy with success in aviation sector. To maintain this strategy Primark always focuses on buying, logistics and supply chain management. To get world wide fashion trends and discovering of cheap supplies a separate team has been set in UK that travels all over the world. The company sources the manufacturing of its clothes to developing countries like India which have cheap labor. With this strategy PRIMARK saves huge cost. Primark also keep a strong warehousing and distribution network because of its strategy to reduce the time-to-market to as less as possible. To keep that promise Primark uses computerized customs clearance. TNT who provide logestic service world wide, dedicates one of its huge ware house exclusively to Primark stock distribution. Primark established a customer confidence about its cheap price promises. To sustain this strategy Primark has to maintain high efficiency level and effective cost controls on on going basis. WOOLWORTHS Woolworths, the high street retail chain that collapsed in 2008, was founded in 1909. Since then it had grown into a chain of about 800 stores. But the recent history is one of trials and tribulations that ended in entering into administration in November 2008. The retailer faced intense competition from supermarket chains like Sainsbury, Tesco etc. Lately it had entered into entertainment and electronics retail after its acquisition of Entertainment UK. In September 2008, Woolworths announced a pre-tax loss of pound 99 million for the six months ending on August 2, 2008. The company then embarked on a turnaround plan. It decided to sell 120 stores, axe about one-fourth of its products from the stores , reduce web operations and cut jobs. In 2008 the financial crisis brought a severe credit squeeze. The companys banks, GMAC and Burdale decided to recall their loans. The company that was burdened with debts worth pound 385 million had to enter administration. By January 2009 all 807 Woolworths stores in UK were closed. But Woolworths was more a casualty of its flawed strategic planning than the economic recession. STRATEGIC PLANNING AT WOOLWORTH Woolworths strategy had no target segment or focus point. It lacked a single Unique Selling Proposition ( USP).Its product leadership was in the pic n mix sweets. In other product segments like music, books toys etc it was neither a product leader nor a cost leader. (Chandler 1990) Even in the childrens clothes and school uniform segment it soon lost its leadership to retailers like Asda and Tesco. Woolworths strategy had always been to achieve cost leadership. The original US chain founded by Frank Woolworth sold everything at 5 cents. When the chain opened its first store in UK in Liverpool, every item was priced below 6 pence. Woolworths pursued successfully this cost leadership strategy for many years after that. It reached its peak in the 60s and 70s. The company hardly spent anything on branding. Its stores were without frills. But lately the company lost its cost leadership to discounters like Wilkinsons, Tesco etc. Almost anything that it sold now, the competitors were able to sell at a lower or at least the same price. Woolworths was also using a lot of debt or leverage in its capital structure. It was also using debt to open new stores. While it was opening new stores, many of its existing stores were in mess. Another part of Woolworths strategy, right from the beginning, was to sell a variety of merchandise. In its early days the chain was able to undersell its competitors through mass production. This strategy worked so well that at one point of time Woolworth was opening one new store every seventeen days. The IPO of Woolworths in the London Stock Exchange was so successful that for just 15% offloading of its equity in Woolworths UK, the parent company was able to give its shareholders a dividend of 90 cents for every dollar worth of their shares. During the World War-2 the company suffered badly with many of its stores bombed and destroyed during the air raids. Prominent among them was the bombing of the New Cross High Street store in which 160 people were killed. The post-war inflation forced it to give up its under six pence strategy. (Cooper 2003) Woolworths then capitalized on the pop mania of Beatles. It made a fortune selling the Beatles merchandise like dolls and other mascots. It followed this by expanding its entertainment offerings. For opening new stores, Woolworth was taking the real estate on rent or lease. At the last count it had about 700 landlords. Its lease payments were rising at the rate of 2.5% per year. Its rent bill had soared from pound 70 million in 1998 to pound 160 million in 2008. So when the credit crunch and the recession started, Woolworths had no fixed assets to fall back on. After its demerger with Kingfisher in 1982, Woolworths aimed long term growth through operating the following: (Coulson 2004) Hypermarkets. The Big W stores. Woolworths general stores. Streets online. But the company soon reversed its strategy, discontinued the above three stores and started focusing once again on its traditional strength products like confectionery, toys and entertainment. But in spite of narrowing its focus in order to cut costs, Woolworths was not able to match competitors like Wilkinson and Poundland which ate into its market share. Even in the range of product offering, it proved to be no match to Tesco.Its price points were higher and it also lost out on the convenience quotient. When all its strategies failed to bring a turnaround it approached the restructuring specialist Hilco. Hilco agreed to buy Woolworth for a nominal sum of pound 1 and take pound 300 million debt of the retailer. But at the last minute the deal was thwarted by its lenders, Burdale and GMAC. This led the retailer into administration in November 2008, just before the peak Christmas season. (Fifield 1998) COMPARISON AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING OF PRIMARK AND WOOLWORTHS The strategic plan of Primark consisted of the strategy of growing inorganically as well as organically. For inorganic growth it made strategic acquisitions. For its organic growth the company successfully pursued cost leadership. It was also successful in churning out fashionable clothes that were up to the latest trends. And it churned these at very affordable prices. It did so through strategically using outsourcing and having an integrated supply chain that was extremely fast in delivering. It has a much focused target segment of consumers. (Fleming 2009) If we conduct the SWOT analysis of Primark, we get the following: Strengths- Its cost leadership and its supply chain and logistics processes. These have become a source of competitive advantage for the company. Weakness- It is not into branding. Lack of having brands with high brand equity may hurt its profitability in future. Excessive reliance on outsourcing for manufacturing and supply chain processes make it dependent on suppliers and vendors. Opportunities- There are huge opportunities for retailers of discount fashion clothing. The recession has reduced the disposable income and the consumers have become more value conscious. Threats- The company has recently come under the attack of anti-poverty campaigners for the sweat shops in Bangladesh and India. The company is fighting off its reputation of being an unethical company driven solely by the lust for more profits. On the competitive front it has tough competition in the form of Marks Spencer, Debenhams etc. FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS OF PRIMARK Threat of competitors or intensity of rivalry- The competitive rivalry is reasonably high in the discount fashion segment. Threat of substitutes- The threat of substitutes is high. Fashionable clothes have a large number of substitutes. Bargaining power of suppliers- Discount chains like Primark use a lot of outsourcing from developing countries like India, Bangladesh etc. The bargaining power of these suppliers is low as they are dependent for their revenues on large clients like Primark. Bargaining power of customers- The bargaining power of customers is high. Customers of discount chains like Primark are bargain hunters who look for the best bargain. (Oakland 2003) Threat of new entrants- To produce fashionable clothes at the lowest prices is quite a challenging task. This raises naturally a high barrier to entry. Thus the threat of new entrants is significantly lowered. CORE COMPETENCY OF PRIMARK Core competency is that capability which is central to the existence of a business or corporation. A capability or set of capabilities qualify as core competency if they have the following attributes: (Peter 1989) It is the source of value proposition to the customers. It is difficult for competitors to acquire similar capabilities. The capabilities can be leveraged across different products and markets. The core competency of Primark is to produce fashionable clothes for as low prices as possible. It has been able to do so through entering into strategic partnerships with companies like TNT logistics and outsourcing manufacturing to cheap offshore locations like Bangladesh. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF PRIMARK The value chain of any organization is divided into two types of activities: Primary activities. Secondary activities. The primary activities of the value chain comprise the following: Inbound logistics. Manufacturing. Outbound logistics. Marketing and Sales. Services. The secondary activities include: Human Resource Management. Technology support and research and development. Procurement. Primark has been able to gain and sustain competitive advantage by focusing on inbound logistics (supply chain), outbound logistics (distribution network), manufacturing (outsourcing to cheaper destinations), technology support (computerized supply chain and distribution connected to point of sales). (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor 2009) As far as its marketing strategy is concerned it has responded to the 4Ps of the marketing mix in the following ways: Product- It has been able to understand the latest trends in fashion. A team of experts travels across the globe and monitors new trends in fashion. Price- The company has been able to deliver the products at very low prices. Place- Primark has an effective distribution network. Its stores are located strategically. Promotion- Primark does not spend too much in branding or promotions. Woolworths, on the other hand, lacked a clear strategic plan. It seemed to be bungling with its strategy. It made many strategic experiments, all of which failed to sustain the 99 year old chain. The SWOT analysis of Woolworths, done retrospectively, reveals the following: Strengths- A ninety-nine years old brand name and a reasonable number of loyal customers. It has a very high brand recall and brand recognition. Weakness- It has no target segment. It lacks product leadership as well as cost leadership. It is trying to sell too many products and is competing across too many categories. Opportunities- The opportunities for discount retailers are always high, especially for high street retailers like Woolworths. Threats- The threats are many. It is using too much debt. It is into too many lease agreements. Most of its stores are on rent. It lacks fixed assets to fall back upon. FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS OF WOOLWORTHS The five forces analysis of Woolworths, if done just before its collapse, reveals the following: (Robert 2008) Threat of competitors- Formidable competitors in the likes of Wilkinson, Tesco etc. Wilkinson and Poundland are especially threatening as they are eating into the share of Woolworths. Threat of Substitutes- The threat of substitutes is high in the retail industry. Bargaining power of the customers- The intensity of competition, the business model to offer products at discounted rates; all serve to increase the bargaining power of customers of a chain like Woolworths. Bargaining power of suppliers- The bargaining power of suppliers is not that high. But since Woolworths was operating on rented real-estate, the bargaining power of landlords (suppliers of real estate) had increased tremendously. The annual rise in the rate of rents of Woolworths was 2.5%. Threat of new entrants- The capital intensive nature of the business raises barriers to entry. Thus the threat of new entrants is not that high. CORE COMPETENCY OF WOOLWORTHS The core competency of Woolworths had been once its capability to offer the lowest cost products in categories like children clothing. It also enjoyed product leadership in pic n mix sweets which it continued to enjoy till its very last days. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF WOOLWORTHS The key to maintaining cost leadership is managing the value chain activities well. Woolworths failed to manage these value chain activities as well as competitors like Tesco, Poundland etc.It was unable to get the lowest cost supplies. Its distribution (outbound logistics) was such that was unable to enhance its convenience quotient. During its hey-days the company was efficient in large scale manufacturing that enabled it to get lowest cost products through economies of scale. Later on it failed to manage this value chain activity as well. Because of the mismanagement of its value chain activities, Woolworths soon lost its competitive advantage. Primark was able to execute the how question of its strategic plan well. It was able to have such processes that enabled it to achieve its objectives. Woolworths failed on both what and how aspects of strategic planning. It lacked vision about where it wanted to reach in future. And since it did not know where to go (goals and objectives), it also did not know how to reach there. Its strategy was like groping in the dark. It was opening too many stores on debt; it had no target segment and finally it was dealing in too many products. As a result both diseconomies of scale and scope had set in. (Sheshinski, Strom, Baumol 2007) OUTCOME OF THE TWO COMPANIES The outcomes have been starkly opposite for both the companies. For the year to 12 September, 2009, Primarks sales jumped by 20%. Its profits were up by 8% to pound 252 million. The company has acquired the nicknames of Primarni or Pradamark because of its ability to sell catwalk fashion at rock bottom prices. In the recession hit economy of UK, which has entered its six consecutive quarter of GDP contraction, Primark has increased its retail space by 9%. It opened six new stores in UK since the recession started.The chain also contributed 40% to the profits of AB foods which is its holding company. Its stores in the continent are also performing well, especially those in Germany. To support its high rate of growth during recession, Primark opened a new distribution centre in Thrapston, Northampton shire. On the other hand, the recession proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Woolworths. Its debt of pound 340 million proved to be too much. All efforts to salvage it failed when its lenders, GMAC and Burdale, recalled their loans. In November 2008 it entered into administration. Neville Kahn, Dann Butters and Nick Dargan of Deloitte were appointed joint administrators. On 26th November 2008, trading in the Woolworth groups shares was suspended. The 807 stores of Woolworths were closed in phases. In the last days, the stores offered discounts as high as 90% in order to dispose of their merchandise. Some of the stores have been reported to have sold their fixtures and fittings also. 207 of these stores closed two days after Christmas on 27th December 2008. The remaining stores were also closed by 6th January 2009. Approximately 30000 jobs were lost as the 99 year old chain went under, in its centenary year. Now Woolworths has come in its new incarnation of a purely online store from its earlier version of a brick-and-mortar retail chain. After it entered administration and was closed down the Woolworths brand name was bought by Shop Direct Group. On 2nd February 2009, Shop Direct announced its intention to continue Woolworth as a purely online store.The online store uses the same URL as the earlier Woolworths groups retail website, Woolworths.co.uk. The outcomes of the strategic planning could not have been more different for both the companies. Primark capitalized on the need of lower cost fashionable clothes during the current recession. Woolworths through its faulty strategic planning, or more accurately, through its lack of strategic planning became its prey.

Lack of Morals and Ethics in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman :: Death Salesman essays

Lack of Morals and Ethics in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Much of a person's personality is derived from his or her parents or the people with whom they live.   One's behaviors are a reflection of his or her up bringing.   All actions of others in one's environment have an impact in one's behaviors.   That is especially true of parent's influence on a child.   Nearly all morals and ethics are learned from parents. Sociologists have indicated that as time progresses American ethics have decayed immensely.   Parents in America have become more lax with their children, and the strictly enforced code of ethics seems to have diminished.   Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, portrays the consequences of the laxity of parents with regards to ethics through the relationship of Willy Loman and his two sons, Biff and Happy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rather than having played a positive role model for his sons Willy Loman, established a poor standard of morality.   For example, when Biff was in high school he was the star of the football team.   One afternoon he stole a football from the locker room.   When Willy became cognizant of Biff's actions, Wily did not punish Biff.   Instead, he told Biff that the coach was likely to congratulate Biff for his show of initiative (29, 30). Similarly, at another point in the play Biff and Happy stole lumber from a nearby construction site.   Instead of teaching the boys a lesson in ethics Willy was proud of his sons.   In fact, he bragged about the amount of construction materials the two stole (50, 51).   Willy allowed the boys to steal, which could be considered an immoral act, worse yet, Willy's praise for their actions prohibited Biff and Happy from knowing stealing was an immoral act.   Studies have shown that at a very young age children were extremely impressionable.   Teaching the difference between right and wrong would give hope for a moral future.   In the play there was little hope for Biff and Happy because Willy continued to show poor standards of morality in a positive light.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to stealing, being dishonest also surfaces as an unethical behavior that was practiced and thus promoted by Willy Loman. Willy was a salesman who had a rocky past few months.

The Coldest Winter Ever :: essays research papers

Debut novel by hip-hop rap artist Sister Souljah, whose No Disrespect (1994), which mixes sexual history with political diatribe, is popular in schools country-wide. In its way, this is a tour de force of black English and underworld slang, as finely tuned to its heroine's voice as Alice Walker's The Color Purple. The subject matter, though, has a certain flashiness, like a black Godfather family saga, and the heroine's eventual fall develops only glancingly from her character. Born to a 14-year-old mother during one of New York's worst snowstorms, Winter Santiaga is the teenaged daughter of Ricky Santiaga, Brooklyn's top drug dealer, who lives like an Arab prince and treats his wife and four daughters like a queen and her princesses. Winter lost her virginity at 12 and now focuses unwaveringly on varieties of adolescent self-indulgence: sex and sugar-daddies, clothes, and getting her own way. She uses school only as a stepping-stone for getting out of the houseafter all, nobody's paying her to go there. But if there's no money in it, why go? Meanwhile, Daddy decides it's time to move out of Brooklyn to truly fancy digs on Long Island, though this places him in the discomfiting position of not being absolutely hands-on with his dealers; and sure enough the rise of some young Turks leads to his arrest. Then he does something really stupid: he murders his wife's two weak brothers in jail with him on Riker's Island and gets two consecutive life sentences. Winter's then on her own, especially with Bullet, who may have replaced her dad as top hood, though when she selfishly fails to help her pregnant buddy Simone, there's worsemuch worseto come. Thinness aside: riveting stuff, with language so frank it curls your hair. (Author tour) -- Copyright  ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Book Description Renowned hip-hop artist, writer, and activist Sister Souljah brings the streets of New York to life in a powerful and utterly

The Beatles Essay -- essays research papers

The Beatles There have been more books published about one 20th century icon than any other, this band that is said to have broken down barriers in all ways, is the Beatles. Their music was said to have driven that younger generation mad. Perhaps it was because they were one of the first bands ever play real rock and roll music; or maybe it was those cute little peacoats they wore. Or maybe it was just because they were foreigners in the world of music, yet seemed to fit right in with the young people. Whatever reason was, the Beatles were a band that shaped a generation and ones soon to come. The Beatles were more than just a rock and roll band , they were a group of young men who wanted to go a new direction in music. John Lennon, one of lead vocalists, basically started with the intention of moving away from the "Skiffle Boom Era" which was dominating the time. In his doing so, he began to lay the foundation for what would later be the most famous rock band ever. The original band members were as follows : John Lennon, vocals and guitar ; Paul McCartney, vocals ; George Harrison, guitar ; Pete Best, drums ; Stuart Sutcliffe, bass guitar. In March of 1961, the Beatles began to play at the club that would later be nicknamed "The Home of the Beatles". The Cavern Club, which's premises comprised a small group of cellars below a seven story warehouse which had originally been used as an air raid shelter during the war. Later, Alan Sytner, a jazz fan dec...

Of Mice and Men: Journey to their American Dream Essay

Achieving the American dream is possible, but the price to get there may be more than most can handle. In Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck shows threw different choices of settings the difficulties of achieving such a dream. George and Lenny, long time friends since childhood have the dream of owning and working there own land. They travel from town to town looking for labor trying to save up enough money. Yet everywhere they go it seems trouble either follows or finds them. The American dream is known by most but achieved by few. Gradually over the years the American dream has become the main staple for up and coming families. Both men and woman strive to have the white picket fence in a private town, near work, and with a good school district. Though many live from paycheck to paycheck portraying as if they have the american dream when in reality its all just an illusion. Young people are greatly influenced by family, friends, and the media. At a young age many are told to go to college, get a good job, and to become successful. It is drilled into the young that owning property and making life as comfortable as possible is the way to go. So this is what we work so hard for, never stopping on our quest to achieve the almost unachievable. Lennie and George’s vision of the American dream is simply owning their very own land. Threw out the book it is implied that you are a respected member of society if you own land and stay in one place. Yet Lennie and George go from town to town working hard trying to make enough money to buy land but never actually stay in one place for enough time to actually settle in one spot and buy it. If they were to have land ownership they would have the pride and respect they always wanted. In their eyes the dream means â€Å"independence and self-sufficiancy, the freedom that comes from owning land. which in turn means enjoying the fruits of one’s own labor.†-( Johnson[->0] 140) Society plays a big role in achieving the dream. Being on the outskirts of society is hard enough along with Lennie always sturring up accidental trouble, society brands them outsiders, unusual, and not safe. Usually they are run out of town by the towns people and not given a chance to save up enough money to be able to by land let alone find land to purchase. After a few times of this happening moral goes down and the dream seems farther and farther away. The migrant life and its effects can take a toll. They searched for casual work wherever they can find it. George and Lennie are known as † seasonal or casual workers, who went from job to job in africulture, industry, or construction.†- (Johnson[->1] 100). Usually they do hard labor that pays very little and don’t stay long enough to get comfortable. This leaves them feeling unwanted and mistreated. Many of the people they work with treat them like they are inconsequential. They are only wanted to do they hard labor no one else would do. Seen to be too weak to even come close to the American dream. Curly’s wife looks at them and rudely says † they left all the weak ones here.†- (Steinbeck). Curly’s wife has some dreams of her own as well. She wished to be a Hollywood actress but can’t beome one because Curly is so protective of her and doesn’t allow her to do anything. If she wants to make her dream come true she would have to leave Curly and all that she is familiar with behind. This would be a difficult and life changing decision not to be taken lightly (â€Å"Mice†). Discrimination is shown often throughout this book, against anyone who is different. Many times they are discriminated against because of their being drifters an not of a certain social standing. Lennie is mentally handicapped and most times his curious and playful side can become dangerous. He likes to touch pretty and soft things but in doing this without thinking others become frightened and disturbed by such a large burly man approaching them and not letting go. Because of this Lennie is constantly called stupid or a fool even by George at times. George is looked at as a fool for befriending someone like that. This deprives them of the hope they need to continue to work hard and reach their goals. George expresses this when he says, â€Å"I seen the guys that go around on the †¦ ranches alone. That ain’t no good. They don’t have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin’ to fight all the time.†(Steinbeck.17) A black man’s perspective can be much the same as a migrants. Even Curly, a black worker, wants to make it for himself but is constantly put down and disparaged because he is black and handicapped. With the mindset of being dumb, stupid and not good enough no one can move forward or accomplish anything. In the beginning and ending of the book Steinbeck uses symbolism in the largeness of the mountains compared to the smallness of George and Lennie showing the contrast between them and their dream (J.Hinds 152). Many ask the question can the American dream really be had? George is not very optimistic about starting up new in another town and in that mindset finds that the worst does happen. George is forced to kill Lennie, in this he possibly realizes this is the only way to achieve his dream of owning land even if it hurts him to do this. George had always felt a certain obligation to sticking with Lennie shown when he says, â€Å"I ain’t got no people†¦. ‘Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.† (Steinbeck 45). In this case George killing Lennie was the only way for either of them to obtain their American dream. â€Å"Of Mice and Men and The American Dream.† 123HelpMe.com. 16 May 2012 . [->0] – /Claudia-Durst-Johnson/e/B000APX61U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1/187-0392986-1780919 [->1] – /Claudia-Durst-Johnson/e/B000APX61U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1/187-0392986-1780919

Interpersonal Communications Assignment

Assignment 1 Task 1: Developing ICT skills – Discussion forum post and evaluation I submitted the following two posts to the BESC1011 discussion forum for Activity 2: (N. B. I have edited the post for typographical errors). Post 1. Activity 2 finding ACAP's online resources Monday, 24 September 2012, 03:56 PM Well, I've just had a pleasant afternoon finding my way around the maze that's called Myacap. Wow. I've found I've ended up with a myriad of browser pages open, and got lost thinking I was finding things. I did find it, I'm sure I found it†¦Now where was it Anyway, I'll get there, I’m sure, and so will you. The Grail? Not yet, but I'm sure it's in there somewhere. Incidentally, folks, if you're having trouble finding the link to the Counselling and Therapy in Video resource, and you only get a 404 error, there's a broken link on the site. Your browser will be trying to point to  http://elibrary. acap. edu. au/http%3A%2F%2Fctiv. alexanderstreet. com and the l ink is broken. Instead, just try removing everything after edu. au -so you have  http://elibrary. acap. edu. u and you'll get to the elibrary homepage where the link to the videos works. Good Luck! Post 2. Activity 3. 4 Managing Stress Wednesday, 10 October 2012, 05:00 PM I've played sport in the past as a stress management tool – I was planning and then running a major community festival, and they were long days – it was a full-on, and if I wasn't working on it I was thinking about it. Baseball season started right in the middle of the planning and I nearly didn't play, but I did and found the focus on the game a real relief – Nothing else mattered for those three hours except me and the ball.My sleep patterns returned and though tired from the games, I was thoroughly relaxed. But I like this one. You may have heard of Gangnam style – dancing like you're riding a horse – well sort of†¦ It's come out of South Korea and it's big around the wo rld right now. Anyway here's a bunch of Uni students who set up a flashmob in between classes. I reckon it did their stress levels no end of good! http://www. youtube. com/watch? NR=1;v=OAXiUmh-KBg;feature=fvwp Hey Lynda, maybe we could do this for one of our video teletutorials!Task 2: Study plan covering three weeks including strategies The study guide for Activity Three of BESC1011 referred me to RMIT. (2007). Learning styles:  Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic Learning Preferences. Retrieved from https://www. dlsweb. rmit. edu. au/lsu/content/1_StudySkills/study_tuts/learning%20styles/vak. html I undertook the VAK test. The results showed I am a visual learner with a kinaesthetic inclination. This concurs with my own understanding of my learning style. I have developed a study plan incorporating this style, and provide a three week example below.Three of the learning strategies I have incorporated in this plan and my study efforts are:   †¢ to create a wall planner high lighting critical assignment dates and also non-academic activities that might either clash or be a much needed relief. †¢ to use mind maps. †¢ to take frequent breaks. I have found it necessary for me to tackle each session in bites. I have allocated specific time to open up the week’s session, do the reading, then at a later time go through the session material. In thinking or planning out, I just love Mind Maps – they categorise wonderfully. I can get heavily focussed, so taking breaks stops me working till I drop.The five stress management strategies I have determined to remember to practice are: †¢ to create a comfortable pattern of studying that fits into my life. †¢ to set a regular schedule for study. †¢ to break tasks apart so they don’t daunt by being ‘too big’. †¢ resolve to do it now, when now is now. To not procrastinate. †¢ to make sure I have down-time when other activities come before studying. If I can ‘regularise’ my study I think I will be better able to both keep up a consistent level of work, and also not allow it to overcome me. I think these strategies will do that for me. Study Timetable 15-21 Oct [pic] |Monday |Tuesday |Wednesday |Thursday |Friday |Saturday |Sunday | |8-9am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site |Weekly Market |Relaxation time | | | | | | | |Shopping | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | |9-10am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |10-11am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |11am-12pm |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |12-1pm |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch [pic] | | |1-2pm |BESC Reading |SOSC reading |COUN reading |[pic] |[pic] |[pic] | | | | | | |Catchup | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | | | |7-8pm |BESC online activity |SOSC online activity |COUN online activity |[pic] |Prepare dinner |[pic] |COUN Reading | | |; Assignment |; Assignment |; Assignment | | | | | |8-9am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site |Weekly Market |[pic] | | | | | | | |Shopping |Relaxation time | | | | | | | |[pic] |[pic] | | | | | | | |[pic] |[pic] | | | | | | | |[pic] |[pic] | | | | | | | | |[pic] | |9-10am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |10-11am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |11am-12pm |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |12-1pm |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |[pic] | |1-2pm |BESC reading |SOSC reading |COUN reading |[pic] | |[pic] | | | | | | |Catchup | | | | |7-8pm |BESC Assignment |SOSC Essay Assignment|COUN Assignment |Catch-up |Prepare dinner |[pic] |SOSC Reading | |8-9am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site |Weekly Market |Relaxation time | | | | | | | |Shopping | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | |[pic] | | |9-10am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |10-11am |On site |On site |On site |On site |On site | | | |11am-12pm |On site |On s ite |On site |On site |On site | | | |12-1pm |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |Lunch |[pic] | | |1-2pm |BESC reading |SOSC reading |COUN reading |[pic] |[pic] |[pic] | | | | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | |Catchup | | | | -8pm |COUN online activity ; Assignment |BESC online activity ; Assignment |SOSC Teletutorial |Relaxation time |Prepare dinner |[pic] |COUN Essay | |8-9pm | |BESC Chat | | | |[pic] | | | Task 3: Academic resources – Literature search and evaluation of quality I chose to attempt the task focussing on the question: The importance of academic referencing I undertook a brainstorming session with the following results: Academic referencing: †¢ Gives academic credibility of presented/published work. †¢ Is a key part of the overall process of building a knowledge base in the field of study. †¢ Better enables justification of assertions/ hypotheses. †¢ Is recognition of others work. †¢ Shows the way through the knowledge-base to others. †¢ Demon strates competence in the field of study. †¢ Engenders confidence in your work’s credibility Means one’s chain of reasoning to the resultant postulations are verifiable or challengeable. The three key words or phrases I selected to use to undertake literature search are: †¢ Verification (confirmation of theoretical base) †¢ Recognition (acknowledgement) †¢ Knowledge-building (evolution of theoretical thinking) Keyword search 1. For my first search I used ACAP’s e-journal search engine focussing on The Psychinfo database and after several unsatisfactory attempts, tried the Boolean phrase ‘( academic verification) AND referencing’. Results offered ten articles, one of particular but contrarian relevance. In the journal article, Westwood, T. 2005) writes: â€Å"I’ve not yet heard a real and convincing argument about why referencing is necessary; and it can’t be right that we do it like a reflex, a compulsion, Academic ’s dynamics 171 because we’ve had it drummed into us from way back when we were taught to march our way through essays and exams can it? Left, right, left, right, left, right left. . . † And, â€Å"References shouldn’t be used to justify a position we’re taking – in the sense of using them as a precedent (the characters can’t justify the author) – only to loosely accompany our position in that we (as authors) are leading the way and not hiding behind anything or anyone that we’ve written into our text. †Summary: Westwood appears to be quite a disestablishmentarian, which of itself provides a relevant perspective on the subject matter. However, because of the position the author takes and asserts by his actions – or inactions – the journal article is consciously not referenced. It would be useful to an essay on the topic in providing an academically valid and contrarian position, but most probably woul d not be regarded as fully reliable under close academic scrutiny. Reference: Westwood, T. (2005). Academics’ dynamics: re-writing referencing, Psychodynamic Practice 11(2), 165-176. Keyword search 2. I then utilised Google scholar for the key word, Recognition. I again used a Boolean phrase, ‘recognition AND (academic referencing)’.This search received over 40,000 possible webpage hits, but the first page of the search results provided a link to a peer reviewed article by Gray, Thompson, Clerehan and Sheard (2008), addressing the topic of referencing the internet for academic integrity. It proffers a contemporary analysis of the challenges surrounding formal academic referencing in regard to internet based information and opinion sources such as blogs, facebook , wikis and audio and video podcasting. Summary: I feel this webpage would be a highly useful and relevant reference source for an academic essay on the chosen topic. Reference: Gray, K. , Thompson, C. , Clerehan, R. , Sheard, J. (2008) Web 2. 0 authorship: Issues of referencing and citation for academic integrity. The Internet and Higher Education,11(2), 112-118. doi. org/10. 1016/j. iheduc. 2008. 03. 01 Keyword search 3. For the third key word search I used www. google. com. au with the search-phrase ‘(academic knowledge building) AND references’ This provided two potentially useful sites. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Knowledge_building Summary: This website site fulfilled good purpose in that it contained numerous references of relevant academic works on the topic. However, despite its authorship obviously being of academic origin, it was offered anonymously and without chronology. While the site could be referenced and the quotes used, the source is not transparent, making it dubious for direct academic purposes. And http://www. csu. edu. u/division/studserv/my-studies/learning/guides/referencing Again the material on this web page provided useful information and even a highly relevant and appropriately referenced quotation (see below), but its usefulness for the purposes of academic quotation was curtailed by its anonymity and absence of chronology. The author writes: â€Å"The academic world is all about knowledge building and the primary reason for citation, therefore, is that it encourages and supports the collective construction of academic knowledge (Walker ; Taylor, 2006, pp. 29-30). The paragraph continued, â€Å"Referencing also forms an essential part in avoiding any tendency towards plagiarism. While the quotation in this paragraph from Walker and Taylor (2006) is highly pertinent to the literature search, it itself would have to be searched to establish its credibility, and as the second sentence could not be attributed, it is therefore of limited use in an academic essay, however true. Summary: This webpage provided relevant information for further literature search but itself is not a useful referencing tool for academic purp oses as it is undated and anonymous, and perhaps without objectivity. Task 4: Referencing using the APA style Reference List Campbell, T. , Campbell, D. , (1997) Faculty/student mentor program: effects on academic performance and retention. Research in Higher Education 38(6), 727-742. Hounsell, D. , Entwistle, N. , (2005) Enhancing teaching-learning environments in undergraduate courses. Final report to the Economic and Social Research Council on TLRP Project LI39251009. Retrieved from