Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Midshires College of Midwifery and Nursing Essay

Midshires College of Midwifery and Nursing - Essay Example The Steering Group had a total of 24 members derived from ten local Health Authorities, the NHS Hospital Trust and the Regional Health Authority. The members had various capacities such as General Managers, Chief Nursing Officers and some were representatives. The inclusion of General Managers from the ten Health Authorities was important since the five colleges provided services to hospitals in the ten Health Authorities. Their views, therefore, were needed to ensure that the creation of Midshires College of Midwifery and nursing becomes a success. The Steering Group had one main objective, which was amalgamating the five different colleges of midwifery and nursing. Although the Steering Group had a clear objective and the members needed to achieve its objective, it faced various problems in the process of creating Midshires College. The first problem encountered during the process of amalgamating the five colleges was the uncertain future regarding the demand for nurse education. T he number of nurses needed, and their functions in the health sector in the coming future were not clear. In this case, it was certain that nurses’ jobs faced a threat. If formed, Midshires College would face the problem of not admitting enough students to purse the midwifery and nursing course. The future of nursing jobs was measured in terms of population growth and establishment of new hospitals. It was only natural that when creating a new college, it had to accommodate more students than the other five colleges accommodated in total. However, there was a low demand for more nurses in the future market (Hughes et al, 2009). The second problem experienced when creating Midshires College was a conflict of interest between members in the Steering Group and the new college to be formed. In the five colleges, the General Managers were charged with the task of providing nursing education. It was apparent that, the new college, Midshires, if created could not rely on direct nurs e education services from the General Managers. The General Managers had the option of putting up a tender, which could see to it that they secure the contract of training nurses in the college. The objective and goal, which Midhires College was based on, contradicted both the intentions and interests of General Managers who formed the Steering Group. The creation of Midshires College faced a challenged, which came from the same people who were supposed to oversee its creation. A definite competition was on the rise, as it was seen when an organization to compete with the new college in terms of availing post-experience nurse education was formed by two Health Authorities. The Steering Group had the intention of frustrating efforts that the new college was making in order to provide post-experience courses. It is worth noting that the Steering Group was all along protecting its interests, through lamenting that if the new college provided post-experience courses then 30% of the five colleges’ staff would lose their jobs. Creating the new college became a challenge since members in the Steering Group were opposing change, which would affect jobs and provision of nursing education (Hughes et al, 2009). The third problem came as a result of the expectation that a higher educational institution would validate qualifications achieved from Midshires College, which was on the verge of formation. It was also expected that, in the end, Midshires College

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Poverty In Africa Economics Essay

The Poverty In Africa Economics Essay In recent years the international community has shown increasing concern with poverty in the developing world. At the Social Summit in Copenhagen, the issue was placed at the top of the agenda and more recently the Millennium Summit set a target to halve poverty by the year 2015. While the United Nations, including UNCTAD, had for many years drawn the attention of the international community to the need to address the plight of the poorest and the least developed countries. Despite resource rich African countries, its hardly possible to accept that Africa is poor. But the question remains, if they are not, why the vast majority of African countries are clustered at or near the bottom of the United Nations Human Development Index.While economic growth is considered essential for poverty reduction, it is also recognized that growth may not automatically trickle down to the poor. Thus, the current approach emphasizes policies that facilitate the access of the poor to human, physical and financial assets to improve their earning capacity While macroeconomic stability and structural reforms continue to be considered to hold the key to sustained and rapid growth, it is also recognized that stabilization and structural adjustment policies may exert a temporary adverse impact on the poor. Thus, it is advocated that such policies should be accompanied by safety nets and targeted spending programmes to mitigate their possible adverse consequences for poverty. Africa is not poor; it is poorly managed  [1]  This statement was made by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia. She stated it in August 2009 during her interview with the BBC radio documentary series, to answer question in similar circumstances. It was aimed against corruption and she meant to assert that if corrupt officials mismanaged public funds or property, then countries are poor. But with good quality of government under the rule of law is already a fine predictive for wealth. Other key factor is the lack of technology, Africa is very rich with natural resources such as fertile soil, enough rain and sunshine for cultivation, raw materials, oil, gold and many other major resources but lacking ways of exploiting them. No advance technology or industrial infrastructure to channel these resources through real incentive to accelerate the development. Insufficient education is another significant factor contributing to poverty high level. It can never be overemphasized be cause education can make changes about everything. Today African children do not have access to education which is required to let them gain knowledge and skills, to equip them to have better ideas and opportunities for employment. Other correlated problems as well, for example, lack of skills and strong policies, and that is low economic performance with high inflation, let alone unproductive attitudes towards globalization. The trade situation is quite unfair in addition to tariffs and subsidies, which drive prices down and make it harder for African countries to sell agricultural goods at global markets. Still there should be a movement in the industrialized world to recognize this unfairness and get the system changed, though it is somewhat complex, economically to explain how it is going to happen. African politics are usually based on violence, instead of building and fix the future they destroy everything, and use natural resources for the short term gain of those in power. A nother problem is that African countries still trade with their colonial masters at a loss instead of trading with each other. poverty reduction strategies cannot succeed if they are not accompanied by policies to sustain rapid growth and improve income distribution, Why almost all fifty three African countries are considered as poor? Poverty has many dimensions and causes, and it is clear that different kinds of action are needed at different levels (international, regional, national and sub-national) if it is to be significantly reduced. Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. Africa is the worlds poorest inhabited continent. Though parts of the continent have made significant gains over the last few years, of the 175 countries reviewed in the United Nations Human Development Report 2003, 25 African nations ranked lowest amongst the nations of the world. This is partly due to its turbulent history. The geo-historical situations of African people should be examined while addressing poverty. Same like inhabitants in others continents, the African people were and up to today are mostly dependent on agriculture, therefore they were needed to live in the regions where they were located nearby the river in Nile Valley, in the coasts of North and West Africa, along the Niger, in the eastern highlands and in South Africa. They were living in traditional rustic lifestyle and could manage their requirement by hunting and farming in the green areas during the history, but gradually due to tropical climate situation and high temperature in their living environment, decreasing the water recourses, increasing the number of people in living areas and reduction of their agricultural resources, because of weather fluctuations within the recent centuries, the problem of African people started. The impacts of climate change are likely to be considerable in tropical regions. Developing countries are generally considered more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than more developed countries, largely attributed to a low capacity to adapt in the developing world. Of the developing countries, many in Africa are seen as being the most vulnerable to climate variability and change. High levels of vulnerability and low adaptive capacity in the developing world have been linked to factors such as a high reliance on natural resources, limited ability to adapt financially and institutionally, low per capita GDP and high poverty, and a lack of safety nets. The challenges for development are considerable, not least because the impacts are complex and highly uncertain. Fighting for water and food made them busy with themselves so that they neglected to communicate with people who were living in other parts of the world. They didnt know how to sail and could not travel overseas and therefore they could not prepare their requirement by trading with other nations and therefore, they were isolated from the rest of the world in the recent centuries. Such isolation as well as the ignorance and illiteracy of African people, their fast growing population, their sectarian conflicts from one side and arrival of non African adventurers to this rich continent and starting the slavery were all imposed to the people who were not deserved and lead them to a new era of poverty. Africa is still grappling to undo a legacy dominated by trade with their former colonial rulers. For instance, Senegals biggest trading partner is France, while Gambia trades extensively with the United Kingdom.  [2]  Although Senegal surrounds Gambia, trade between the two neighbors is minimal. Worse enough the continents railways and roads often lead to ports rather than link countries across regions. Much dependency on aid and reluctant of solving problems doesnt help Africa to emerge out from being considered as poor continent. Lack of sufficient infrastructure More than two-thirds of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are currently experiencing a debilitating power crisis. The crisis is the result of many factors: strong economic growth, which has in turn led to the rapid increase in electricity consumption and urbanization; and poor planning for boosting generation and distribution capacity and maintaining infrastructure. The human and economic consequences are significant. There is an urgent need to address the problems plaguing the power sector, but a large gap exists between infrastructure needs and the availability of resources. An estimated USD 40.8 billion a year in investments are needed for Africas power sector, but ODA and funding from the public sector are not sufficient to meet this need. Consequently, the private sector will need to play a significant role in closing the demand-resources gap by providing funds and expertise. The need for at least a basic level of infrastructure in Africa is quite critical in all sectors and because of its missing in %75 of African residential area, millions of lives are threatened every day for lack of clean water or safe sanitation. In recent years the continents development objectives are badly affected by poor infrastructure. There is very little investment made by developing countries in improving the infrastructure conditions in Africa and even most of this small quantity of investment (roughly two-thirds) have been focused in the telecommunications sector which has no relativity with other major sectors i.e. health care and education. Due to personal experience of my father in Nigeria as one of the richest African country, majority of people even in some big cities like Port Harcourt in river state which is considered as one of the richest oil production centers in Delta Niger, are suffering from lack of access to basic infrastructures like electricity, hygienic fr esh water piping network, sanitary and drainage systems, suitable domestic transportation and well constructed roads railway at their home. Political instability Although the leadership issue is considered as one of the major problems in the world but its horrible condition in many African states made their political situation quite instable. Most of the African governors are busy with their own business and hand in hand of foreigners are draining the public resources out in favor of their overseas partners. Majority of African leaders are dictating those policies which are just match with their own private and not the public interests. The consequence of such kind of leadership leads the African people to sectarian conflicts and creates Political instability for the country. In most cases the African leaders try to run the country by copying the modern western state systems at domestic level and neglect the tradition and culture of their own people. With such negligence, the political atmosphere in most African states is not well enough for safe investment and its level has been restricted to the sectors for washing out their resources in fa vor of western countries. As a result of political leadership of the current governors, the economic condition of African people has gone under dominant of prescribed economical policies of western companies which play a significant role in the deprivation of African populations of the essential key services in development. Some of political economists are in this belief that the foreign investors are not responsible for improvement of the living standards of the people in the regions where they make profits. Although this concept is commented by some others but even if there was no argue in this belief, no one may disagree with the role of African political leaders in organizing the consequence of their leadership and management on economic conditions in Africa which has obviously had serious affections in provision of essential services such as health, education and infrastructure and there is no doubt that in absence of these fundamental services, the productive potentiality of people in their own societies will be decreased and they go through deprivation and poverty more and more. Main effects of poverty in Africa and its consequences: Poverty can have a devastating effect, such as lack of food, improper healthcare; homelessness and lack of jobs all play a role in the effects of poverty.  [3]  A recorded number of people die each day in Africa due to extreme poverty. 14% of children in Sub Saharan African countries alone are estimated to be underweight, out of 28% of children who are underweight in all poorer nations of the world. And it will increase because of low progress in the development and miss the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children.  [4]  Food and water is in low supply because of nonexistent infrastructure. As a result, poverty effects can easily cause inability to develop, afford modern technology, provides basic services and access, mistrust of governments- leading to revolutions which will paralyze the governmental system and more rivalry over few resources. However, the significant consequences of poverty in Africa are more closely connected with uneven economic growth. More than a half of population lives in extreme poverty, which is defined as subsisting on less than $1 a day by the World Bank. The huge waste of human resources, others are mainly on human suffering and death, high mortality rate, epidemic diseases, high illiteracy, ignorance of problems and poor hygiene, water and sanitation. If the current trend of poverty continue, then no hope to alleviate the poverty Lack of sufficient health care and education In 2008 around 1.4 million people died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.9 million people became infected with HIV. Due to lack of standard levels of educations in little academic training, lack of medical centers and facilities in training of physicians, few number of hospitals, insufficient medicines and medical equipment, lack of a suitable nursing care and many other interrelated medical issues, result to a bad health condition in African countries. Although some activities have been done by International Health Organization under U.N. supervision but they can temporarily figure out the health problems of about %25 of Africans who are living in urban areas and the major remaining population of the continent who are living in rural areas and villages are almost deprived from this small medical services provided by international society. To sort out the Africans health and medical care, the three principle health system inputs should be seriously noted and provided by the global society. Training of human resources as the clinical and non-clinical staff who are responsible for delivering health services, is considered as one these three which requires a comprehensive programming and establishment of colleges and universities, forwarding the motivated skillful educated missions as well as the required tools and equipment. The budget elements of physical capital are considered as the third dependent direct principle in improvement of health care in Africa. In the absence of massively expanded prevention, treatment and care efforts, it is expected that the AIDS death toll in sub-Saharan Africa will continue to rise. This means the impact of the AIDS epidemic on these societies will be felt most strongly in the course of the next ten years and beyond. Its social and economic consequences are already widely felt, not only in the health sector but also in education, industry, agriculture, transport, human resources and the economy in general. The AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa threatens to devastate whole communities, rolling back decades of development progress. Political instability and Corruption Good governance alone will not end poverty, but we cannot significantly reduce poverty, especially within a human rights approach, without good governance. Good governance is necessary at all levels, from the global to the local, but it is also necessary to identify those levels of governance requiring special attention, and this may vary from country to country: it is not always the case that governance at the national level is the central problem as far as poverty alleviation is concerned. There are problems in Africa for several decades even after many countries in the continent went through transitions from colonialism to independence, is not a deniable fact. In terms of political instability in Africa, it is also undeniable that the continent has had some difficult moments during the last fifty years or so. But what is still unexplained in the many analyses that have been looking at events in Africa is the fact that in almost all the cases of political instability in Africa, it is evident that the major problem is leadership. In this context, Africa has seen its freedom heroes turn into dictators, while plunder of natural resources, politics of exclusion and deprivation to tilt the balance of power continues to dominate the public sphere. Moreover, these problems have been pointed out and fought gallantly by ordinary Africans who have over the years, expressed their discontent with regimes imposed upon them, through the complicity of the international community. Its strongly believed that most of the major problems in Africa are rooted in corruption of the leaders and governors who have sat on the throne of dictatorship and oppress their people and make them more miserable. Its quite obvious they never let the people have an acceptable standard of social rights for election of their nominated candidates as their leaders. Although its a long way and bumpy road to achieve their goal for making a democratic society but they have no chance and must go straight forward. They should pay its worth and pave the path toward democracy peacefully. In an actual democratic system, all decision of the governors will be checked, debated, revised and ultimately approved by the peoples representatives. The national recourses and assets will be managed to be spent for provision of vital and ordinary requirement of people like health care, training and infrastructural welfare. If you go through the governing systems in African countries, you will find an apparent frame of democratic system but in most cases, you will come to know that majority of the people have no chance to vote for the key policies in management of their country. The corrupted high officials have a direct control on all centers of political and economical power and never let them to be supervised by the peoples actual representatives. They have even enough influence in selection of the parliament members. We should never forget the significant role of western companies and investors in mastery of such dictators who have been elected and supported by them in a so called democratic way. How African countries can build solutions to solve those problems? The deepest challenge for countries in the poorest parts of the world, especially Africa, is governance. The African continent has been ravaged both by civil war and conflict and by rapacious leaders who have plundered the natural wealth of their nations. Corrupt rulers and their weak regimes have arguably been the single most important drag on African development. The steps are to focus on good governance, social responsibility and elimination of corruption. Developed their educational systems, their infrastructure, and their labor markets which will able them to exploit their resources in the global markets. Increase economic input on national income through the important exports of major resources such as oil, gold, raw materials, timbers, fishers etc. In many instances capitalism can generate adequate resources to eradicate extreme poverty, but it is continually undermined by corruption and self interests. It is an unfortunate truth that the poorer the country, the more difficult it is to put aside these unwanted programs by products of economic and social growth.  [5]  Encourage agriculture sectors, proper management of resources and foreign investment. This can be met through the demand of trade reform that will help small scale farmers and enriching their agriculture and other sectors like services and labor. In other words governmen ts should target the extremely poor people and enabled them to contribute to development by improving their health, education, provide agriculture subsidies instead of wasting expenditures all will lead to economic growth. There is need to educate the population and motivated them to maintain it. Donations can help as well to build basic infrastructure. The African nations need political and economic policies that will aid their growth and lessen their dependence on outside charity. In order to eliminate poverty is to be stabilized in peace and may be reduce the population to have access to more food instead of more people with the less food. Even few African countries that have experienced sustained high growth over the last few decades are now reported to have reduced their absolute poverty levels, but the important aspect is that the gains of economic growth should be distributed fairly to reach the poor people in the country  [6]   Democratization Making money and profitable business is the major task of international investors and companies. Its quite understandable that they are not responsible for social welfare and improvements in the host country but we should never forget that in most cases, many of them and even their investing policies are controlled and supported by western countries in Europe and America. Democratization of African countries is not only beneficial for the people but also it may secure the investment and business of foreign companies and even increase their profit. In this view, I believe the western countries and the U.S.A can play a considerable role in settlement of democracy in this rich continent through European Union and United Nation organization. As long as the African governors are just sticking to power and do not care about their national interests, this is the international responsibility to warn them in political congregations for their misbehaviors and isolate their administrations through intelligent sanctions from one side and practically protect the people by promotion of their life standards through dictating policies to their citizen companies and investors for win-win business in favor of African people as well as themselves. Will Money Solve Africas problems? Some of the economical experts are in believe that investment in Africa may promote the level of knowledge and create prosperity and stability and will improve capabilities of the people to integrate their continent into global networks of trade. In this way the existence of three failures of corruption and abuse of power by African governments, the exploiting policies of extractive industries and the waste of resources by an ineffective aid system will be likely impossible. Some of the proponents of this belief are saying that the key solution in Africas development problems is to support the African local entrepreneurs by invested capitals. As an opponent of above ideas its believed as long as the prolonged violent conflicts, bad governance, excessive external interference, and lack of an independent policy, money cannot sort out the Africas development problems. The matter in Africa has not been ever lack of money because this continent is quite rich and full of resources with fer tile soil for agricultural productions and potentially has the key elements for progress and as initial steps; investment may facilitate the process of economical improvement. Massive food production will solve Africas poverty problem Hunger is a horrible phenomenon which is considered as a critical issue in Africa. Among five continents, Africa is the only one which cannot to feed itself. Because of the fast growing of population, the shortages in agricultural productions is leading the continent to new potential conflicts and the peace situation in many African nations is fragile. Around 300 million people will not have enough to eat today. Despite millions of hectares of unused cultivated land, more than $19 billion is spent in Africa for buying food each year. Donation or import of agricultural products is like a sedative for the illness and for actual treatment of hunger and poverty; African countries should focus their efforts on investment policies in agricultural sectors and training programs for more efficient water management, new techniques of cultivation, irrigation and harvesting. In addition of these issues and to rapidly increase productivity, the fertilizers as well as sufficient suitable machinery and equipment for conservation of agricultural products should be provided for the African farmers. The EU strategy for supporting Africa Witnessing the case of Mexico, it has the advantage of sharing a 2,000-mile border with the worlds greatest economic power. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 1994, the United States has given Mexican goods duty-free access to its markets, has made huge investments in the Mexican economy, and has continued to absorb millions of Mexican laborers. During the 1994-95 peso crisis, the U.S. Treasury even underwrote Mexicos financial stability. Outside economic help does not get much better. But since 1992, Mexicos economy has grown at an annual average rate of barely more than one percent per capita. This figure is far less than the rates of the Asian growth superstars. It is also a fraction of Mexicos own growth of 3.6 percent per year in the two decades that preceded its 1982 debt crisis. Access to external markets and resources has not been able to make up for Mexicos internal problems. A notable exception to the limitations of outside assistance is European Union membership. By offering its poorer eastern and southern neighbors not just aid transfers and market access but the prospect of joining the union, the EU has stimulated deep policy and instit utional changes and impressive growth in about 20 countries. But the exception proves the rule: the EU is not just an economic arrangement; it is also a political system in which member states transfer extensive legal powers to the central authority. In return, the center shoulders significant responsibilities for the economic well-being of each member. Unfortunately, accession to the EU or to any other major power is not an option for most of the poorest parts of the world-and increasing the financial resources and trading opportunities for the poorest countries is not a sufficient substitute. Although there is a long way towards a sustainable development in Africa but within the frame of the African Union, the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) and international organizations, the EU members have tried to equip the African states with political and economic roadmaps and provide them with a vision for better future. Regardless of existing different historical attitudes, cultures, religions, and traditions as well as different geographical and economical conditions with various political regimes in Africa, there are some African countries who are experiencing sustained periods of peace, security, economic and political stability and democratic methods of peaceful life but at the same time many of African people are suffering from long-term conflicts in their lands. One of the major roles of the European Union in assistance of African people is to support them in human development and economic growth programs. A highly unequal distribution of income has an excessive impact on poverty levels among the people and such programs will be very helpful in democratization of Africa. To reduce the rate of poverty, Job creation and social development as major challenges shall be considered as other solutions which should be included in the EU strategy for supporting of Africa. To achieve these and due to cl ose relation of employment to education and training, working on eradication of illiteracy is quite important especially for women and ethnic minorities. Improving the health care and hygiene conditions in African states, in particular controlling and treatment of the HIV/AIDS as a very serious pandemic disease inside the whole Africa shall be considered as another supporting program which should be included in the European Unions strategy in Africa. Climate change is something which may badly affect the life situation of African people and increase the level poverty among them. When the air temperature is going up, it affects more to the climate in Africa because the continent is environmentally very diverse. The shortages in water resources, increasing desertification, flooding and drought are all the common consequences of climate change and as a result of them, the food security and health of all human beings in the world and particularly in Africa will be worsen. The process of Increasing the desert lands in almost half of the Africa specially in areas being located along desert margins and lack of compensation of water resources because of little raining fall below the world average are the two threatening factors of the humans lives and due to these concerns, many conflicts can be potentially created. About 17% of the worlds forests are located in Africa, and deforestation and because of shortages in earning and food resou rces, they are changing to dessert by the poor people.Therefore climate change adaptation program is another urgent necessity for Africas development and should be noted and attended well by the European Union. European Union help Africa through preventing or settling on going conflicts towards peace and security aims to establish necessary framework for development base on their partnership.  [7]  Sustainable development in Africa requires a safe and secure environment. Peace is therefore an essential way of progress. The Partnership is a better key component than without for Africas future inside and outside its borders. Democracy and the respect for human rights are shared values between Europe and Africa. They are also critical issues to the development of any society. With the Joint Africa-EU Strategy the two sides have committed to conduct an in depth dialogue on human rights and democratic governance, to promote these values on a global level and to strengthen their cooperation in this field. From this dialogue and cooperation comes understanding, cooperation, and programs that bond leaders, civil society, and citizens in the pursuit of governance and human rights. EU has also en hanced trade and deeper regional integration as essential contributions to development, economic growth and employment, and ultimately the eradication of poverty in Africa.  [8]  As it believed that European Union has undergone a successful process of integration, it can share its experiences with Africa in a good faith. EU conditionality for donations and economic reforms to Africa should not ignore the poverty alleviation programs and should focus on helping the poor in Africa by getting the benefits of the globalization through the national level economic reforms. At domestic level, Africa/EU should have stronger safety nets in macroeconomic management which could benefit the poor people and more investment in proper healthcare, education, technology, basic infrastructure and many other things. Recommendation and conclusion For the solutions to overcome or to reduce extreme poverty in Africa, the key points are good policies and prope

Friday, October 25, 2019

Muhammad Ali Is NOT a Hero Essay -- Sports Argumentative

Muhammad Ali Is NOT a Hero To be a hero, someone could save others, respect their country, and care. The firefighters from the Fire Department of New York have all of these characteristics, even thought they aren't perfect. Everyday, they risk their lives to save others. They show their patriotism even on the trucks they drive through the cities. Most of all they don't just do it because it's their job; they do it because they care. Unlike the people at FDNY, Muhammad Ali is violent, separatist, and rude. The first reason Muhammad Ali isn't a hero is because he is violent. For almost all of his life he fought in boxing matches that all started when he was a boy because he wanted to beat up the kid who stole his bike. For 14 years, on-and-off, he was heavyweight champion and before that a lightweight champion. To do this, you had to have the rage to hurt your opponent. Muhammad Ali even said, â€Å"I believe in the eye-for- an-eye business, I got no respect for a man who won’t hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat† (Myers 36). Now, in his 60’s,...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Organic Food: Is It Really Better? Essay

Americans usually do not think about what they eat. We do not acknowledge whether it is locally grown, sustainably raised, grass-fed, and free-range or pesticide free. Americans fail to realize the negative effects from the harmful pesticides, hormones, dyes and preservatives that are in our food. Conventional foods are produce that is grown with the use of many harsh chemicals before it is put into a supermarket. (The food we eat conventionally was meant to help us lead healthier lives, but it actually harms us.) Many people believe that there is little nutritional difference between organic and conventional food but it is not about the nutritional value. It is a matter of what the conventional foods contain. Even though organic food is hard to find and more expensive than conventional food, it is also much safer and healthier. If everyone transitions and commits to eating organically, we can override and overcome conventional farming and its negative effects. Nearly forty percent of the world’s agricultural land has degraded. The amount of arable land is decreasing nationally and worldwide because toxic pesticides and herbicides are polluting our air, soil and groundwater. Soil productivity has decreased because of wind and water erosion of the topsoil. This causes loss of organic matter in the soil, a decrease in water holding capacity and biological activity. Fossil fuels play a huge role in producing food as well. Industrial farming has farming machinery and petroleum-based chemicals that require huge amounts of fossil fuels, which deplete the soil of its nutrients. The ratio for fossil fuel energy needed for beef production is 35 to 1 as well as 3 to 1 for all other agricultural products. Modern agricultural methods cause aquifers to dry out, pollinators such as bees are dying and the climate is getting hotter and drier (Schiffman, In Defense of Organic Farming). According to the EPA, the water runoff from conventional farms exceeds the legal limit for nitrate concentrations in drinking water compared with organic farms that do not use chemical pesticides. The excess nitrate exposure can cause respiratory conditions, thyroid disorders and cancer (Greenfield, The Organic Advantage). Princeton University states that only one percent of the pesticides actually targets the pests and that in fact, 99 percent affect the environment and contaminate our fresh groundwater that is used for drinking. The harmful chemicals in pesticides that enter our water system take many years for it to be eliminated from our drinking water. Organic farming practices use less energy and are designed to benefit the environment by reducing pollution and conserving water and soil quality and use methods to grow food that support sustainability. Pesticides and fertilizers are more harmful than helpful for the crops. The pesticides that conventional farms use also contribute to the resistance that insects and pests develop. They are constantly developing new tactics to invade the produce, which then leads to the conventional farmers’ use of stronger chemicals. Animal manure, compost and green manure are used as natural fertilizers. It nourishes the soil allowing crops to survive during drought periods. It also helps preserve our planet and farmland especially for the future generations to come. Farming organically generously promotes biodiversity. Biodiversity in organic food means that there is a greater quantity and variety. Generally, the more biodiversity there is on a farm encourages stability (Organic Agriculture). Research at the Rodale Institute has shown that organic methods can remove up to 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air yearly. As follows, Rodale estimates that if all 434 million acres of U. S. cropland were converted to organic practices, it would be the same as removing 217 million cars, which is nearly 88 percent of all cars in the country and more than one-third of all the automobiles in the world (LaSalle and Hepperly, Regenerative Organic Farming). Removing this great amount of carbon dioxide from our oxygen will increasingly benefit our environment. There are many significant differences between organic and conventional food products. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, fruits and vegetables are labeled organic if it has no pesticides, genetic modifications, growth hormones, artificial fertilizers or irradiation. Most conventional food products include a variety of these methods. Conventional food products are the exact opposite. All types of organic foods only represent three percent of the total American market and imply that we should support the production of organic foods (Kluger, What’s So Great About Organic Food). The prices of organic food products seem to be the main issue of why people prefer not to buy it. Organic fruits and vegetables cost from 13 to 34 cents more than ordinary conventional produce (Kluger, What’s So Great About Organic Food). Milk labeled hormone-free costs as well as antibiotic free is six dollars a gallon, whereas grocery store milk is 3. 50 dollars a gallon. The main reasons that organic foods are costly are because it requires abstaining from the use of chemicals; the demand overrides the supply, the producing methods and the necessity to obtain organic certification (Organic Agriculture). No chemicals means more labor. Without chemicals and the use of synthetic pesticides farmers have to hire more laborers to complete jobs such as hand weeding, cleaning polluted water and recovering from pesticide contaminations from former land owners. The USDA claims that Americans prefer organic over nonorganic, but there is only little farmland to fulfill these requests. Organic farmers use crop rotation as an alternative to chemical weed killers to keep the soil healthy and the prevention of weed growth. This method does not allow crops to be produced in larger quantities. Acquiring Organic certification can be very expensive. Organic farms are required to pay a mandatory inspection fee annually to be organically certified. Inspection costs usually range from 400 dollars to 2000 dollars every year (Organic Agriculture). The indicated costs would be easy to pay for if more people supported organic farming. One of the many reasons for our health issues is because of the way in which meat producers treat our animals. Organically farmed animals are raised without harmful chemicals, growth hormones or antibiotics. Cows, chicken and pigs are retaining most of the pesticides that they ingest. These animals eat produce that contains pesticides causing it to be stored in their tissues and fat. When we eat these animals, the pesticides are being transferred into our bodies. Inorganic meat, fish, dairy and eggs are the main source of environmental pollution. It contributes to almost 95 percent of toxic residues into our everyday diet. Battery caged hens live in small cages that only allow minimum movement. Few birds survive this because it compromises its immune systems, which also increases the uses of antibiotics and vaccines. Organic Farmers protect and provide homes for wildlife. Animals on organic farms are raised and treated in a much more humane environment than inorganic farmers. Most of these conventional animals are caged, grain-fed and are treated with cruelty. Grass-fed and free-range animals have less fat than grain-fed animals and have high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids as well as omega-6, which is believed to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and arthritis and increases cognitive function (Kluger, What’s So Great About Organic Food). These vitamins are essential in our daily American diet. Our diet is considered to be â€Å"killing† the planet and us Americans. In 2010, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released that nearly 27 percent of Americans are considered obese and the obesity rate tops 30 percent in nine states. Every American eats 220 pounds of meat a year and only 14 percent consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Most processed foods are saturated with salt and high fructose corn syrup, which are the two flavors that we know and love (Kluger, What’s So Great About Organic Food). The population should be very concern with the long-term health effects that conventional produce has on us. There are 450 percent more chemicals in conventional produce than organic produce. Many studies have shown that pesticides link to health issues including cancer, birth defects and nervous system damage which depend on factors such as pesticide toxicity, the level of exposure and the person’s age and genetic susceptibility (Kramer). A study from Dr. Langrin, a food observer, shows that people who ate conventional food, then switched to organic food showed an 85 to 90 percent decrease in pesticide levels in their bodies. When they began eating conventional food again, their pesticide levels increased greatly (Zerbe, Organic Foods). This study showed that there was a significant difference in the amount of pesticides in inorganic food than organic food. Children and infants benefit tremendously from organic food. It aids in their development and their overall health. By the time most children reach the age of two, they obtain the lethal limit for toxins in their bodies. Feeding children organic food will decrease this amount and they will only have one-sixth of the amount of carcinogens in their blood causing the risk of illnesses to decrease significantly. Children and fetuses with high levels of pesticide intake are more vulnerable to this chemical than adults because of their less-developed immune systems and their bodies and brains are still in the process of development (Paul, Kemp, Segal, Organic Foods). They are not able to metabolize and break down the chemicals from the pesticides, therefore causing their body to absorb the chemical and making them less able to filter it out of their bodies. They are twice as likely to have developmental delays behavioral disorders such as ADHD and motor dysfunction. Also, Women who do not consume organic food while they are pregnant, give birth to children that will subsequently have low IQ scores (Greenfield, The Organic Advantage). Adults are not the only people who suffer, but unborn children and infants as well. Choosing the organic lifestyle will increase your lifespan, allow you to live healthier and will benefit the environment and our planet overall. Organic food can be purchased at some local supermarkets and many farmers’ markets or private organic stores. By supporting organic farming, we will eliminate chemicals caused from conventional farming out of our air, soil, water, food and our bodies. We can take precautionary measures to protect and preserve the future generations to come by doing so. As most Americans eat conventionally, changing to an organic lifestyle can give you a sense of comfort knowing that your food is strictly nutritious and cannot harm you. If we Americans start eating organically now, we can be sure that in the future there will only be a few conventional farms left on our planet. Works Cited Greenfield, Paige. â€Å"The Organic Advantage. â€Å"(2013). Web. 14 Nov. 2013. Kluger, Jeffrey. â€Å"What’s So Great About Organic Food?. † (2010). Web. 14 Nov. 2013. Kramer, Leslie. â€Å"Worth Going Organic. † Positive Thinking (2008) Web. 14 Nov. 2013. LaSalle, Tim J., and Paul Hepperly. â€Å"Regenerative Organic Farming: A Solution to Global Warming. † 2008. Web. 15 Nov. 2013. â€Å"Organic Foods: Are They Safer? More Nutritious? † Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 07 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. Organic Agriculture: What Are the Environmental Benefits of Organic Agriculture? N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. Paul, Maya W. , Gina Kemp, and Robert Segal. â€Å"Organic Foods. † Understanding Organic Food Labels, Benefits, and Claims. May 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. Schiffman, Richard. â€Å"In Defense Of Organic Farming. † Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Reading Summary of Privacy

Monica. Liu March 1, 2013 Reading Summary: â€Å"Privacy† by Deborah G. Johnson This article is written by Deborah G. Johnson, on page 204-214, the author mainly talks about the following points: First, in the first part, the author thinks that once people begin to have interest in using the information of individual, privacy will exist. It points out that those who want information about individuals want it because they believe that it will help them to make better decisions and serve their customers better.Such views heavily distort in gathering and exchange of information, so people should make a more powerful case for protecting and ensuring privacy in the lives of individuals so that people will not feel uncomfortable about the amount of information that is gathered about them. Secondly, the author states privacy as an individual good in Personal Privacy part, which distinct privacy as an instrumental good and privacy as an intrinsic good. In Reframing the Computers and P rivacy Issue-Privacy as a Social Good part, it states privacy as a social good.In this part, it mentions two terms of autonomy and democracy. Once people lose the control of information about themselves, their autonomy will be reduced. And democracy is a kind of idea that citizens have the freedom to exercise autonomy. When privacy is as a social good, it is more important than efficiency and better consumer services. Thirdly, this article presents the importance of individual controlling and relationship establishing.The author considers individual controlling will effect on establishing a relationship with that individual and determining the character of the relationship, at the same time, it will influence the diversity of relationship. Once people lose control of information, it will reduce their ability to establish and influence the relationships they have and the character of those relationships. Finally, it points out several possible counterarguments: privacy only protects people who have something to hide; individuals in our society do have some power to control their relationships with private and public organizations.This article examines the issue from the perspective of business ethics on privacy in an effort to understand the unique privacy context of computer-based survey research. I agree with the author that reframing privacy as a social good is very important. As an important social good, privacy would be on part with other social goods such as law enforcement or government efficiency. Instead of a social good outweighing an individual good, it would be clear that we have two social goods at stake.In reframing the issue in this way, privacy would be more likely to be treated as equally important, if not more important, than other social goods. In such way, people can live in a democratic society with autonomy. Meanwhile, we should have a standard to control our privacy to others, because privacy is the fundamental pre-condition to establish relationship with others. If you keep your privacy seriously, you will be isolated by the society. On the contrary, if you lose the control of your private information, you won’t set up relationships with others either.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Relationship between Media Coverage and Social and Environmental Issues

Relationship between Media Coverage and Social and Environmental Issues Free Online Research Papers Media denotes a section or form of communication channels that is intended to get in touch with a very large audience such as the population of nation or state. Examples include newspapers, magazines, books, televisions radios and the internet. It serves various constructive purposes such as advocating both for business and social concerns, entertainment, and public service announcements. Media also has negative characteristics some of which include the inability to transmit tacit knowledge, manipulation of large groups of people through its outlets, biasness and its inability to act as peoples’ watchdog to wrongs happening in the society. The population covered by media consists of people with diversified characters, opinions, educational backgrounds, and religion. The influence of media to people in a given population- their social, political, environmental, economic and religious issues- is therefore quite variable. Social issues are matters directly or indirectly affecting many or all members of the society and may be considered as societal problems, moral degraders or both. Some examples include poverty, violence, abortion, rape and social injustice. Environmental issues on the other hand are those changes in the environmental conditions which directly or indirectly affect the society such as global warming, climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, etcetera. The media has a social and moral obligation to highlight these issues and help in mitigating them if not totally curbing them. This paper describes both negative and positive nature of the relationship between media coverage and social and environmental issues within the perceptual and contextual role of media in contemporary society. The writer assumes that media has continued to maintain a positive relationship with both social and environmental issues facing the society despite its false starts. Man is a social being and cannot exist on his own. He has to depend on others for co-existence. This mutual relationship with others brings forth the aspect of society. Due to the fact that people are of different characters, co-existence portends social problems whose magnitudes depend on how the society copes with them. This is the point where the media comes in. Media are business entities out to make profits (Kiousis McCombs 142). This drive leads them into selecting topics suitable in improving their business through strategies like maintaining their audience by appealing to them. This fact has been stressed further by the agenda setting theory of media which claims that media does not direct people into what to think, but what to think about (Kiousis McCombs 142). This role conflicts with media as a watchdog to and an instrument of fighting social norms. Some social issues which may have a more significant impact on the society are not reported extensively whereas others whic h may not be as important or even negative to societal existence are reported accurately with extensive coverage or sensation resulting in moral panic. Mass media, especially television, has also contributed to some social evils like violence through broadcast of programs which are violent in nature like wrestling or episodes of unnecessary wars. The effect of this has been found to affect severely the children and the youth as depicted in the media’s effect cultivation theory. This theory, developed by George Gerbner, has in its fundamental claim that persistent long-term exposure to television content has little but measurable effects on the perceptual worlds of audience members (Entman 121-122). Gerbner further claims that heavy television viewing creates an exaggerated belief in a â€Å"mean and scary world† and that television has surpassed religion as the key storyteller of our culture (Carrie Bonds 56). The theory is most famous for its applications to the correlations between media violence and violent behavior and according to Gerbner, the children, elderly, African-Americans, Latinos, women and the less educ ated are often the victims of television violence (Bryant Zillman 46-7). Television is not a reflection of the world but a world in itself and a kind of modern day religion that affects every aspect of social life of its audience. People cultivate perceptions of reality by television, meaning that they make assumptions about others, places and things from fictional sitcoms, soap operas, dramas and television news all of which have direct impact on social decisions and actions (Gerbner et al, 17-40). From fictional sitcoms, people tend to take the fiction in them seriously and even go to an extent of reflecting them on their life. From soap operas, they take the stage acting as a real life situation; many envying to live the ‘movie superstar’s life’ forgetting that it is only stage managed. Dramas have similar effects too while the effect of the news is variable depending on its content and area of coverage. For instance, news showing people striking or demonst rating for their rights ends up spreading the message that striking and demonstrating are the solutions to oppression and decaying societal morals. If such news receives countrywide coverage, mass revolts may be opted for instead of conventional democratic processes and political dialogues. The repetitive nature of mass-produced messages and images forms the conventional symbolic environment that people base their perceptions on. For example, most of television programs are commercially designed to be watched by nearly everyone in a moderately nonselective fashion. This design is aimed at widening the target audience. Newsprints and radio programs may also have the same strategy. These strategies cultivate the very predispositions and preferences that used to be acquired from other primary sources like parental counseling and are largely contributed by the continuous absence of parents to preoccupy their children with other activities and to monitor their habits of utilizing the mass media. Children who watch violent television programs like wrestling end up being violent and aggressive in schools (UCLA Center for Communication Policy par 2-14). Later in life, they become more prone to being on the wrong side of law. They grow seeing incidences of violence in these prog rams whose effects are gradual. At first, they may not be influenced much but as time elapses, they unconsciously start engaging in violence when faced with some situations since their minds are already preformed to think that violence can solve problems better. In fact, in 1993, at a conference of the National Council for Families and Television, it was estimated that 10% of the violence in the United States result from television viewing (UCLA Center for Communication Policy par 2-14). Television violence incidences forms a necessary part of plot and character development accurately portraying real life and it is responsible for actual violence in society, a diehard social issue in many societies. Social moral decadence has also been compromised to some extent by the media. When the society gets exposed to some other cultures through the mass media, their moral values become affected. This effect is more rampant in developing countries in the East and in Sub-Saharan Africa where western culture has been of great influence to the youth propagated by the mass media whose coverage extends that far. Western hip-hop music which seems to glorify social evils like adultery, demeaning the feminine as sexual pet, fornication and use of vulgar language is of great impact to the youths who tend to give a try to whatever they hear or see. Evidently, the youths’ modes of dressing have changed from decent wear to scanty clothes whereas cases of premarital pregnancies have been on the rise ostensibly perpetuated by glorification of sex. To this effect the media which is supposed to be the societal guider in maintaining morals and preventing social evils, acts contrarily by promoting t hem. The role of media in propagating environmental issues is an area of concern to many who view it as a champion of societal good. Media coverage has in many instances failed in sensitizing environmental issues facing the society such as global warming, climatic change and resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, pollution, land degradation and global dimming. Instead of having enlightening coverage of the issues, they make them a liberal versus conservative or science vs. scientific hype issues (Boykoff Boykoff par 1-10). Instead of doing analysis, they drive the issues into political discussions, because they draw better media ratings from making politics out of virtually everything that is contentious. Environmental issues are real and usually find their way into the media, but only in ways that are not so important. They are relegated to the periphery of importance compared to all other topics of media coverage (Kester, 2008). Most media channels do not comprehend the consequences of environmental relapse until the society is faced with them in such a way there is a radical change in the lifestyles of the people. This reflects the fact that many modern journalists find environmental issues unrealistic and not worthy of descriptions that endear journalists to their clients. The old aspirations of journalists to report societal ills and imbalances are equated with words like fairness, accuracy, balance, comprehensiveness and truth only if these describe the more important aspects of news coverage of which environment is not as appealing until its issues are grave. In terms of arising issues, journalists are taught to abide by the norm of balance; identifying the most prevailing, widespread positions and then telling both sides of the story. Balance aims at attaining neutrality. It requires that reporters present the views of legitimate spokespersons of the conflicting sides in any significant dispute, and provide both sides with roughly equal attention. Balanced coverage does not, however, always mean accurate coverage. In terms of environmental issues, balance may allow skepticism. Many skeptics most of whom have vested interests in environmental issues or are not able to appreciate environmental responsibility opting for other forms detrimental to it, use every coverage opportunity to take control of the media (Boykoff Boykoff par 1-10). This is exemplified in the case where carbon based industries fund environmental skeptics to come up with theories contradicting the known causes of global warming in a desperate move to keep themselves in business. On the positive, media coverage can be praised for its efforts in counteracting some social and environmental issues. Mass media coverage promotes civic education to the society; teaching people about their civic rights and enabling them to understand their leaders and the government better (Anderson Meyer 67). Through such coverage, social issues such as injustice, suppression of human rights, social or gender discrimination and affirmative action have been well and clearly highlighted in the society promoting democracy and a unified community whereby all people are equal as per the provisions of their country constitutions. Without civic education, people fail to know their constitutional rights and are likely to be oppressed. Media comes first as the most trusted institution by many people even before judiciary or the government in contemporary society. Due to this, mass media has for a long time been the people’s watchdog; monitoring the government and its agents, other agencies and peer journalistic establishments in their activities. As a result, social issues like corruption have been reduced in places where effective media exist. Nowadays, people have become busy in their jobs and businesses thereby giving little regard to social development of their children on issues like sex education and drug control. This can also be attributed to the fact that some parents fear their children reaction when they initiate these topics. Mass media has been left as the only tool for teaching these topics on a neutral ground evidential in many counseling programs in media broadcasts. Counseling programs do not only benefit the children. Parents also have their share on late night programs which target societal issues like marriages, sex education, societal relationships and politics. In so doing, media coverage helps in providing the necessary information to them on these topics and thus mitigating the long term effects of such societal issues. Media also has played its role as a gatekeeper; mediating the flow of messages by incorporating a diverse and unbiased range of political perspectives and social actors. Through this role, the media facilitates conflict managements which are serious social issues facing many countries. For example, the resigned acceptance in Russia, ethnic violence in Kenya and protests in Turkey and Mexico, the political turmoil and cholera crisis in Zimbabwe, the middle east crisis and many more. Mass media as people’s watchdog has been monitoring government concern toward environment by covering its environmental crusades and since the government needs to appeal to its citizens, it has continually intervened in instances where environmental degradation threatens the very comfort of its citizens. This has somewhat minimized most environmental crises around the world. Media coverage on environmental issues like draughts, pollution and environmental degradation has helped to highlight areas of the environment that are seriously affected. This coverage attract the attention of ‘would be problems solvers’ like the non governmental organizations (NGOs) or community based organizations (CBOs) and other advocates of environmental sanity and sustainability who could not have known the magnitude of the problems had the media not highlighted them. The extensive coverage of the mass media in almost all regions is due to the fact that most media houses have reporters based at grass root levels and who are primary witnesses of devastating societal disregard for environmental responsibility, circumstances that they sometimes report with a passion. During crises like droughts, famine or any other serious environmental or social issue, media coverage plays a significant role in organizing well wishers who are ready to help in such situations. As an example, following the recent draughts and escalating prices of consumer goods early this year, Kenyan media houses hit international news headlines by organizing one of the most successful campaign of its kind in history dubbed Kenya in twenty four hours, whereby well able citizens dropped off food donations at strategic points during the stipulated twenty four hours. These donations were later forwarded to specific NGOs for distribution. In such a case, media coverage played an important role in highlighting the plight of the less fortunate and organizing the citizens towards their rescue. Conclusion The role of media coverage on social and environmental issues remains central to its measure of strength in serving the society. The population covered by media consists of people with diversified characters, opinions, educational backgrounds, and religion and thus the influence of media on them varies as a function of how effective the coverage is the kind of media in use and what the journalists consider profitable and appropriate for its client audience. Media has negative as well as positive characteristics. Its negative characteristics are exemplified in its inability to transmit tacit knowledge, manipulation of large groups of people through its outlets, biasness and its inability to act as peoples’ watchdog to wrongs happening in the society while on the positive, media acts as the watchdog on social and environmental enlightener and as a gatekeeper to societal virtues. Evidences adduced herein suggests that, in reality, the show of media systems frequently fall far s hort of lofty desires, with important costs for the workings of the civic sphere and the general society. Whereas the media has faltered in many instances in its core coverage roles, it is also important to note that it has continue to maintain a positive relationship with both social and environmental issues facing the society. Boykoff, J. Boykoff, M. ‘Journalistic Balance as Global Warming Bias: Creating controversy where science finds consensus’. In FAIR. (2004). Retrieved 01 April 2009 from fair.org/index.php?page=21extra_issue_id=138 Bryant, J. Zillman, D. Perspectives on media effects. Hilldale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1986. Carrie, P Bonds, J. Cultivations of Reality through Television. University of South Carolina Press, 1999. Entman, R. M. ‘Framing public life: Perspectives on media and our understanding of the social world’. Political Communication, 23.1(2006):121-122. Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Morgan, M., Signorielli, N. Living with television: The dynamics of the cultivation process. In J. Bryant D. Zillman (Eds), Perspectives on media effects, (1986). (17-40). Hilldale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Kester, Will. ‘Assessing the US media coverage of global warming’. Helium. 2008. Retrieved 01 April 2009 from Kiousis, S., McCombs, M. ‘Agenda Setting Study: Agenda Setting effects and strength’. MT Journal Nr (2003, March): p. 142. UCLA Center for Communication Policy. The UCLA Television Violence Report 1997. Retrieved 01 April 2009 from Wober, Mallory. The use and abuse of television: A social psychological analysis of the changing screen. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, 1988. Research Papers on Relationship between Media Coverage and Social and Environmental IssuesEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XThree Concepts of Psychodynamic

Monday, October 21, 2019

Use of Predator and Prey essays

Use of Predator and Prey essays The use of predator and prey: symbolism in cat and bird While reading the book, Bleak House by Charles Dickens, I noticed the connection between law and the mention of cats and birds. The cats and birds are used metaphorically drawing a picture of predator and prey for the reader to pick up on. The predator and prey relationship is in relation to the Court of Chancery and the ordinary citizens. The court is the predator or the unsuspecting and docile citizens. Specifically of interest are Krooks cat and Mrs. Flites birds; they really draw out the citizen and lawyer relationship. With the realization of the symbolism, Dickens is leading us to question the nature of equity and the justice of law by exposing the underneath of the story. With specific view of the cat, the reader can see that it is painted in a mischievous light. When thinking of the cat as a symbol for the law and all associated with it, the light in which it is seen skews the readers thoughts on what it is symbolizing. Lady Jane is a superb example. Her relation to Krook (the name also leading the reader to think negatively of this character) brings about her relation to other criminal tendencies subconsciously to the reader. Krook who received her because of her very fine skin saves her skin. This leads to a relation to the domestic side of Krook. However the reader senses the fact that Lady Janes ferociousness also saved her skin because it appealed to Krook as well. Mrs. Flite picks up on the cats ferociousness and it can be seen as her picking up on the ruthlessness of the owner as well. Mrs. Flite sees the cat as a ravenous wolf waiting at the door to come and carry out the sentence. This reflects on the situation that Mrs. Flite is in herself. She is waiting for judgment and her punishment is merely waitng for the door to be opened. The birds that Mrs. Flite keeps reflect the domest ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Life of the Roman Poet Ovid

The Life of the Roman Poet Ovid Publius Ovidius Naso, known as Ovid, was a prolific Roman poet whose writing influenced Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Milton. As those men knew, to understand the corpus of Greco-Roman mythology requires familiarity with Ovids Metamorphoses. Ovids Upbringing Publius Ovidius Naso or Ovid was born on March 20, 43 BCE*, in Sulmo (modern Sulmona, Italy), to an equestrian (moneyed class) family**. His father took him and his one-year-older brother to Rome to study so that they might become public speakers and politicians. Instead of following the career path chosen by his father, Ovid made good use of what hed learned, but he put his rhetorical education to work in his poetic writing. Ovids Metamorphoses Ovid wrote his Metamorphoses in the epic meter of dactyllic hexameters. It tells stories about the transformations of mostly humans and nymphs into animals, plants, etc. This is very different from the contemporary Roman poet Vergil (Virgil), who used the grand epic meter to showcase the noble history of Rome. Metamorphoses is a storehouse for Greek and Roman mythology. Ovid as a Source for Roman Social Life The topics of Ovids love-based poetry, especially the Amores Loves and Ars Amatoria Art of Love, and his work on the days of the Roman calendar, known as Fasti, give us a look at the social and private lives of ancient Rome in the time of Emperor Augustus. From the perspective of Roman history, Ovid is, therefore, one of the most important of the Roman poets, even though there is debate as to whether he belongs to the Golden or merely the Silver Age of Latin literature. Ovid as Fluff John Porter says of Ovid: Ovids poetry is often dismissed as frivolous fluff, and to a large degree it is. But it is very sophisticated fluff and, if read carefully, presents interesting insights into the less serious side of the Augustan Age. Carmen et Error and the Resulting Exile Ovids plaintive appeals in his writing from exile at Tomi [see  § He on the map], on the Black Sea, are less entertaining than his mythological and amatory writing and are also frustrating because, while we know Augustus exiled a 50-year-old Ovid for carmen et error, we dont know exactly what his grave mistake was, so we get an unsolvable puzzle and a writer consumed with self-pity who once was the height of wit, a perfect dinner party guest. Ovid says he saw something he should not have seen. It is assumed that the carmen et error had something to do with Augustus moral reforms and/or the princeps promiscuous daughter Julia. [Ovid had acquired the patronage of M. Valerius Messalla Corvinus (64 BCE - CE 8), and become part of the lively social circle around Augustus daughter Julia.] Augustus banished his granddaughter Julia and Ovid in the same year, CE 8. Ovids Ars amatoria, a didactic poem purporting to instruct first men and then women on the arts of seduction, is thought to hav e been the offensive song (Latin: carmen). Technically, since Ovid had not lost his possessions, his relegation to Tomi should not be called exile, but relegatio. Augustus died while Ovid was in relegation or exile, in CE 14. Unfortunately for the Roman poet, the successor of Augustus, Emperor Tiberius, did not recall Ovid. For Ovid, Rome was the glittering pulse of the world. Being stuck, for whatever reasons, in what is modern Romania led to despair. Ovid died three years after Augustus, at Tomi, and was buried in the area. Ovids Writing Chronology Amores (c. 20 BCE)HeroidesMedicamina faciei femineaeArs Amatoria (1 BCE)MedeaRemedia AmorisFastiMetamorphoses (finished by CE 8)Tristia (starting CE 9)Epistulae ex Ponto (starting CE 9) Notes *Ovid was born a year after the assassination of Julius Caesar and in the same year that Mark Antony was defeated by consuls C. Vibius Pansa and A. Hirtius at Mutina. Ovid lived through the entire reign of Augustus, dying 3 years into Tiberius reign. Timeline of the End of the Roman RepublicRoman Empire Timeline **Ovids equestrian family had made it to the senatorial ranks since Ovid writes in Tristia iv. 10.29 that he put on the broad stripe of the senatorial class when he donned the manly toga. See: S.G. Owens Tristia: Book I (1902). References Porter, John, Ovid Notes.Sean Redmond, Ovid FAQ, Jiffy Comp.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

E-commerce - Essay Example They display photos of a wide variety of products on their homepage which helps in making purchases decisions. Moreover, eBay makes me as their customer feel valued through their feedback platforms. This supports the argument by Botha, Bothma and Geldenhuys (2008) that effective e-commerce organizations should learn from their websites. The corporation advertises itself on the web, particularly through social media, thus constantly leads me to checking out their day’s offers. Finally, eBay offers a unique feature not found in most of their rivals, daily deals. These deals on items make me visit eBay almost daily to make sure I do not lose out on any opportunities. Nonetheless, the overcrowding of the homepage with products could be confusing hence interfering with purchases decisions. Furthermore, eBay serves best those customers who run accounts with them. Non-members access limited information which could deter them from making purchases. Therefore, I would recommend that eBay keeps all necessary information on their stock public to both its members and non-members. One does not have to operate an account with them for such a person to access full details on products. This way, the pool of customers would be expanded and subsequently increase the purchases from this e-commerce

Friday, October 18, 2019

Academic Report and Financial Calculations 04033 Essay

Academic Report and Financial Calculations 04033 - Essay Example Its appropriateness is examined and the benefit is extracted so as to decipher whether it is acceptable by the company in the present situation (Schlingemann, Stulz and Walkling, 2009; Valipour, Moradi and Farsi, 2012). This is essential for developing a strong business relation between the suppliers and companies. The suppliers should abide the policies that are followed by the company. Similar case is seen in the case study of LJC Ltd. LJC Ltd is fruit and vegetable supplier, who aims at delivering value and good quality handpicked fruits and vegetables to the small retailers. Though it is a family run business, but it has seen success in the past 80 years through their business operation as a constant effort to connect to big companies. LJC Ltd is trying to negotiate with the small supermarket chain known as Co-share for the past twelve months. The deal is to manage the fruit and vegetable packing and distribution of Co-share. Co-share has 160 stores that are operating in South East and Midlands. The company is very strict regarding the business ethics and the fair trade policies. For LJC Ltd, the contract will increase the volume of products, which are managed by the business. In order to assist Co-share in their business, LJC Ltd has to use fair trade products and develop best HR practices such as equality policies and staff development. Project A and B is evaluated for identifying the best project for LJC Ltd. Payback period is the span of time, which is required for recovering cost of investment that is made by a company (Valerie, Cook and Ali, 2010; Marić, Kamberović and Radlovacki, 2011; Amihud and Mendelson, 2010; Arshad, 2012; Easley and O’Hara, 2009). As per Appendix 1a, it is observed that the project A will incur positive cumulative cash flow in the third year. Therefore, payback is calculated on the basis of the positive cash flow that is incurred from the project. The cumulative cash flow at the end of 4th year is  £ 60500. Therefore, by

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

Resouces - Essay Example This article provides a study case of Korean high-school students and how their level of stress can affect their food diet. The study case includes a comparison between two groups of student, the first group has low academic stress level and the second group has high academic stress level. The study found that students with high stress level tend to eat food that contains high amounts of sugar such as chocolate, flavored milk, breads and candies. The article will provide a clear example of how a person’s mental health or mood affects their food diet and how stress is related to nutrition. The article indicates that the Omega-3 fatty acids are highly used Acids in treating people with depression and mental disorder. In fact, the article shows a negative relationship between seafood and stress. In other words, in places where people consume seafood a lot, the level of stress is less than places where people consume less seafood. Indeed, the article includes different studies and hypothesis that discusses the role and the effect of Omega-3 fatty acids on mental health and how is it used as treatment to some diseases. This article helps to explain how minerals can improve people’s

Patriot's Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Patriot's Act - Essay Example The Patriot’s Act has given more powers to security agents in the United States to conduct searches, gather intelligence without need of warrants. The Act also allowed the government to freeze monies meant for terror groups and online security has also been bolstered. All these provisions in the Patriot’ Act have increased security and thwarted terror attacks against the United States. However, some provisions of the Act have been ineffective in fighting terrorism and most of these acts are stem from foreign based provisions. Introduction The September 11, 2001 terror attack on the United States shocked the country and the world at large. Following the attacks, several security measures from different fronts were initiated to guard against more terror attacks on the Unites States. One of the measures that were initiated was the enactment of the Patriot’s Act, a law enacted a few weeks after the September 11, 2011 attacks. The Patriot’s act contains several provisions that were to safeguard the United States from terrorism. For instance, the act gives power to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies to conduct random searches on an individual’s household. The Patriot act is still in operation till today and President Obama extended some of the provisions of the act that were to expire this year. ... Security agencies in the United States have been given more freedom to investigate or interrogate terrorists from all regions globally. The Patriot act has also led to increased security at border points and entry points into the United States including ports and airports. The Patriot Act had a profound effect on the definition of terrorism especially on the front of domestic terrorism where acts of terrors were taken seriously (Wong, 2007). The act reduced restrictions on security agencies and it gave them power to investigate any American citizen while at the same time, the act allowed American security forces to investigate any foreigner suspected of being a terrorist. The act also allowed American security forces to protect critical infrastructure and demand information concerning any individual in the United States (Smith, 2009). The Patriot Act also gave powers to the secretary of Finance to regulate funds of suspected foreign individuals or corporations involved in corruption. The act has however tightened the noose on money laundering and this has reduced terror activities in the United States. The Act contains provisions that gave power to authorities to detain or deport immigrants involved in terrorism. These provisions have been successful in reducing acts of terror in the United States (Citizen 68, 2010). Increased surveillance of the internet and online activity has enhanced security since it has been effective in curbing theft of sensitive information. In terms of general safety, the Patriot Act has been effective in ensuring that acts of terror against the United States are greatly reduced (Stefoff, 2010). The Patriot’s Act has

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Preliminary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Preliminary Analysis - Essay Example n which recorded sounds could be listened to by this time before the invention of other modern and finally digital technologies that are currently used. Even though this device was used in the late 1970s as well as in the early 1980s, it traces its invention to the early years. The idea of the phonograph was first seen in the year 1857 when the scholar (Noll, 12). Edouard-Leon Scott who invented the phonoautographs. However, it is important to note that this technology was very limited during this time and hence was not exploited appropriately. It is important to note that this product could only create the visual images of sound (Noll, 12). It is therefore important to note that the idea of phonographs originated as early as a century but was not exploited due to limitations in the technology until the year 1877. The principle of recording and reproducing sound using this technology was however first demonstrated in the year 1877 by Edison Thomas (Bellies). It is this time that the scholar demonstrated first phonograph in the world. The first invention that was developed by Edison was done while he was experimenting while working with a telegraph transmitter. During the time Edison was looking at the telegraphs with an intention of improving its efficiency, he realized that there was. He was interested in the noise that the tape produced since the tape produced some noise that resembles that of a spoken word. He therefore argued that in case he played it at a little bit high speed it may produce even higher and better sounds (Bellies). Through the several experiments that he conducted, he realized that it was possible to read as well as record sounds using the telephone diaphragm ad hence he unleashed what had been difficult for many scientist to understand for over very long time. Since this was the first instrument that could capture and record the sounds during this time, Edison actually became an international figure. Phonograph was identified s the

Economic Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Economic Report - Essay Example Percent Change in real GDP: As is evident from the description of the GDP figures, the percentage changes in real GDP during the period happened to be in proportion. In 1982 the negative growth of GDP indicates towards some serious issues in the domestic economic environment. But thereafter, the growth percentage has been consistent and positive. Year 1984 saw the maximum increase in percentage terms. Civilian Unemployment Rate: The year 1982 is once again seen as the problematic year for the country with the overall unemployment rate rising to 9.7 percent, the highest during the tenure. The gradual decline of the unemployment rate in later years during the tenure points towards the people friendly policies taken up by the government of Ronald Reagan. Civilian Unemployment Rate by Demographic Characteristics: Dividing the unemployment rate demographically, we find that that the Black population seems to be the worst affected. The situation is particularly severe in the age groups of young black community (16-19 yrs). Though it improves somewhat after that, but still things remain worrying for community. Consumer Price Index: The CPI did not see major shakeup during the tenure of President Ronald Reagan. The index saw a consistent rise from 1981 to 1989. The index seems to have spread well over different items, with goods and services forming the major component flaring up the consumer price index. Starting with the overall consumer price index of 90.6 in 1981, the country saw the index rising to 124 by the year 1989. Changes in Consumer Price Indexes for commodities and services: During the entire tenure of President Reagan, except the year 1986, the CPI rates of growth were very high. During this year the energy consumption seems to be one of the lowest actually, with negative growth of 19.7. George H.W. Bush (1989-1993): The tenure of Bush senior too remained quite eventful in the sense that the world saw major

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Preliminary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Preliminary Analysis - Essay Example n which recorded sounds could be listened to by this time before the invention of other modern and finally digital technologies that are currently used. Even though this device was used in the late 1970s as well as in the early 1980s, it traces its invention to the early years. The idea of the phonograph was first seen in the year 1857 when the scholar (Noll, 12). Edouard-Leon Scott who invented the phonoautographs. However, it is important to note that this technology was very limited during this time and hence was not exploited appropriately. It is important to note that this product could only create the visual images of sound (Noll, 12). It is therefore important to note that the idea of phonographs originated as early as a century but was not exploited due to limitations in the technology until the year 1877. The principle of recording and reproducing sound using this technology was however first demonstrated in the year 1877 by Edison Thomas (Bellies). It is this time that the scholar demonstrated first phonograph in the world. The first invention that was developed by Edison was done while he was experimenting while working with a telegraph transmitter. During the time Edison was looking at the telegraphs with an intention of improving its efficiency, he realized that there was. He was interested in the noise that the tape produced since the tape produced some noise that resembles that of a spoken word. He therefore argued that in case he played it at a little bit high speed it may produce even higher and better sounds (Bellies). Through the several experiments that he conducted, he realized that it was possible to read as well as record sounds using the telephone diaphragm ad hence he unleashed what had been difficult for many scientist to understand for over very long time. Since this was the first instrument that could capture and record the sounds during this time, Edison actually became an international figure. Phonograph was identified s the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Economics Race and Gender in the Economics of Women, Men, and Work Assignment

Economics Race and Gender in the Economics of Women, Men, and Work - Assignment Example The book gives out the various challenges they face. The book also analyzes different rationales that assist the workers through the Government and Employer Policies. The book further gives the various policies that are applied to the rationalization of the workers. The families leave and childcare is well analyzed in the chapter. The family leave is termed to be paid and it is being discussed as per the locations. The program is well discussed by giving out the various requirements a worker needs to acquire the paid leave. The book also explains how the leave assists the workers giving them enough time to take care of their loved ones. Childcare is also discussed in details giving examples. The book states the various regulations and backgrounds required in the child care programs. The importance of the childcare is also given stating the program to be responsible for administering the licenses required for the child care in different states in the United States and other countries. The book gives an analysis of various differences in gender all over the world giving out various examples. The gap across the cultures is also discussed opening gender stereotypes. The book further explains giving different indicators that predict the economic status of women. The book analyzes the various indicators in countries like United Status and how they empower women in other developing countries. The book further compiles all the social indicators in the situation of women. The labor force participation is also discussed in the book along with the occupation. The book also briefly gives the Bureau of labor statistics with the Labor Force Participation Rate. The women in the labor force are also discussed including the databook statistics of 2013. Women are further grouped in terms of hours worked, unemployment classes. The earning is also discussed over the CBO projects along with the working age.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Strategies for Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Strategies for Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Abstract This research aims at to provide the strategies which can be employed by company in order to establish customer satisfaction and customer loyalty by looking at the case of Thai square which is the famous Thai restaurant in London regarding to its reputation. Since customer relationship management is gaining more important to businesses. Many companies try to solve their problem by applying customer relationship management such as the motivation of staff , staff training , method of increasing customer satisfaction, how to gain customer loyalty. These factors can lead to building customer loyalty in the future. In the part of literature review will emphasize on the basis theories which are relevant to the customer relationship management. This research contains the motivation theory , staff training , customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. By achieving this research purpose , this research employs secondary and primary data. The primary data was acquired by a questionnaire survey which is the methodology of this research. Regarding to the questionnaire for staffs , there are 20 respondents who participated in this research as well as there are 100 respondents who walk into and eat at Thai square restaurant who responded to the questionnaire for customers. The sample size of this research is Thai square restaurant (Minories). To conduct this research researcher used both primary and secondary data achieved by self à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" administered questionnaire. By analysing primary data from the questionnaire , the SPSS and Microsoft Office excel was used to achieve it. The statistical method was applied to analyse the result of this research. The results illustrate what factors could gain customer satisfaction , how successful the staff performance after being trained , how well staff can achieve companiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ objectives. This research also provides recommendations for company and the further research so that company can improve the customer relationship management as well as can gain more customer loyalty in the future. Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Overview Nowadays, the consumer behaviour has been changed from the product centred stage to the customer cantered stage . Moreover, the customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s behaviour has been changing. Mudie Pirrie (2006 p.7 ). When they purchase product , they expect not only good product , quality and design but they also expect on service. Therefore, the service has been the significant reason in decision à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" making process. Since many business have been trying to improve and develop their strategy in order to meet the customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s need rather than the products. All organisationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s achievement has to give an important to the customers. Companies need to recognize all details of their customers such as the details about what customer need , who they are , what they buy, when and where they buy , how often and how much they spend. Moreover, companies have to evaluate approximately the customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ behaviour in order to predict what customers will do in the future. In addition, companies should establish the database of their customer and profile so that they can keep contact and advertise new promotion. These has been the knowledge of company which have been assumed as the asset of company. The managing customer relationships strategies is the essential process. By emphasizing on customer relationship management , companies may increase their abilities in knowing what customers need. Moreover, customer relationship management can help companies to target potential customers and to cut unnecessary cost and gain higher return on investment. As the staff motivation and training is a part of the Human Resource Management. There is a connection between customer relationship management and Human Resource Management because customer relationship management relies on staffà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s effectiveness and moral. Customer relationship management focuses on customers. To satisfy them , companies need to develop their staffà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ effectiveness and moral using motivation and training method. By doing so , companies may gain customer satisfaction and customer loyalty which are companiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ objectives. Customer relationships management strategy has generally been companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s strategy in managing customer relationship so that companies can retain their customers and increase customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ satisfaction and loyalty (Blazey 2006 p.136)(Kumar 2006 p. 156-157) Companies are focusing on customer retention , customer loyalty and customer satisfaction as a key management objectives. The one objective of customer relationship management is the advertising of customer loyalty .(Peppers Rogers 2004 p.12). The greatest benefit of customer service is customer loyalty (Tschohl Franzmeier 1996 p.20).Loyal customers are forcing organization changes.(Montano 2005 p.332)and can improve employee morale and productivity because customers respond positively to company. (Tschohl and Franzmeier 1996 p.20). The motivation for loyal customer based on better products, better service and better market value.(Montano 2005 p.332) . The manager is more likely to achieve improved levels of motivation(Nieto 2006 p.108) Companies have to motivate staff to participate in training process for improving staff performance so that they can achieve customer relationships management strategy. Organization tend to concentrate on performance management and rewards to elicit employee cooperation ,supporting the value management and employee relations in workforce. (Nieto 2006 p.108) 1.2 Aims and Objectives The objective of this research is to provide the strategies which can be employed by company in order to establish customer satisfaction and customer loyalty and to improve employeeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s performance to achieve objective in the future. The objectives are that : 1. To evaluate the customer satisfaction which may lead to customer loyalty 2. To explain the relationship between motivation of staff and staff training as well as their effectiveness to improve customer service in order to satisfy customer 3. To establish the appropriate strategies for restaurants in terms of customer relationship management. 4. To give an advice for restaurant , staffs on how to improve their potential in providing so as to satisfy customer. 1.3 Organization background The Thai Square Restaurant Group was founded in 1996 when the first Thai Square opened in The Strand in central London. Thai square restaurant aims to maintain the leader status in the London market and sustainable growth of Thai restaurant market. The currently competition is intensive and the customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s behaviour have been changing very rapidly. Many competitors can soon gain the competitive advantage and also gain more market share eventually. The company creates challenges with authentic Thai food, fresh ingredients , excellent service as well as restaurantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design and decoration to be unique and different from the competitors. To address these challenges, the company need to provide a great service in order to gain customer satisfaction and loyalty. Thai square has planned to add value to the customers by capturing customer feedback received by telephone, e-mail, and establishing a knowledge base of problems and solutions. (Interview with resta urant manager of Thai square (Minories) According to the restaurant review, the customers choose Thai square restaurant because its decoration , quality of food and service however the price of food and drink in Thai square restaurant when compare to the competitors is quite high especially todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s economics is critic and the customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ behaviour have been changing. They may choose to spent on food and drink which is not too expensive and value for money. Therefore, they will choose somewhere else which is cheaper even if it is not good as Thai square. The increasing competitors and changing consumer behaviour are forcing company to apply the managing customer relationships strategies such as customer loyalty , customer loyalty and customer service so as to meet customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ need. Thai square uses the concept of managing customer relationships strategies to be the optimal solution for this case. (Interview with manager of Thai square (Minories)) In the case of Thai square restaurant, the company grew at a lower rate than last year (2008). Net profit declined by 23% from last year due to economic crisis. In addition, it is affected from changing consumer behaviour.The company applied the idea of customer relationship strategies to meet the customer satisfaction and consequently increase customer loyalty. 1.4 Research Structure The structure of research consists of 6 chapters is as follows; Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter contains aims and objectives of research , organization background which is a case study of this research as well as the structure of this research. Chapter 2: Literature review This chapter focus on all theory and strategies that relate to this research such as motivation theory , staff training , customer service , customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Chapter 3: Methodology This chapter describe what methodology can be employed in research and what methodology which is applied by this research. This chapter also contains the objectives and goal of this research, research design , sampling method , data collection and data analysis technique as well as the validity of this research. Chapter 4: Data analysis This stage is using Microsoft office excel (Excel) and SPSS program to analyses questionnaireà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s data. As well as this process will be evaluated data into percentage and mean score in order to show result by bar chart and pie chart in next step. Bar chart and pie chart will help to easily understand the research topic in each questionnaire Chapter 5: Conclusion This chapter provide the conclusion of the questionnaire result is provided to answer the research aims and objectives. Chapter 6 : Recommendations This chapter provide some recommendations for company and its employee as well as further research. Chapter 2 Literature Review As a result of competitive business situation , many businesses need to pay attention to the new method in retaining and creating new customers. Customer loyalty lead to profitability. Companies should develop positive relationship with customers by increasing customer satisfaction. Since customer satisfaction has been an important to establish long à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" term relationships which may result in customer loyalty and long à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" run businesses. It is widely known that the cost of retaining an existing customer is much cheaper than attaining a new customer. In addition, increasing a customer loyalty may be achieved by the level of service which is delivered by company. Companies need to develop the quality of service by increasing responsiveness , fulfilling customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s needs as well as providing consistent service. In many business industries, customer satisfaction has been used as the guiding principle for developing customer relationship management strategies as well as organizing business activities. 2.1 Theories of Motivation 2.1.1 Introduction The motivation in work is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The processes by which people are enabled to and induced to choose to behave in particular ways (Stevens 2005 p.90). As a result, The motivation could be maintained and improved if it was related with a seek for the methods by the job performance and productivity of members 2.1.2 Need Based Theories The previous idea of human motivation was based on the concept of self-satisfaction which human tries to meet with the happiness and relieve and tries to avoid sadness and distress. However ,this statement, whilst being apparently rational, cannot clarify many ways of human behavior. For example, why do the volunteer charity workers offer their time and attempt for nothing? Why do amateur athletes exert such high levels of effort, whereas a hedonist would prefer to relax? Researchers started to understand that human has other needs and desires which cannot be given an explanation under such a restricted observation of human behavior as hedonism. Therefore, there is the basic principle of needs theories which human motivation is resulted from the absence of an important needs.(Argenti 2002 p.89) Figure 2.1: The Motivation Framework Source: Griffin, R.W. (2003), Fundamentals of Management- Core Concepts and Applications (3rd edn), Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston 2.1.3 Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Yeatts and Hyten (1998 p.62) regarded motivation as a continually changing desire to fulfill changing needs. Maslow supposed that human needs arose in a hierarchy of importance, that was called à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"prepotencyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Only the motivators will play a role on the next stage of needs in the hierarchy. Therefore, the act as motivators would be ended when the stage of needs has been fulfilled and the person will pay directly the attention to the next stage of needs in the hierarchy. Maslowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hierarchy of needs is shown in Figure Physiological needs (Food, water, shelter) Safety needs (security, protection) Social needs (sense of belonging, Love) Esteem needs (status, self-esteem) Actualisation Needs (Self-development) Self- Figure 2.2: Maslowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Hierarchy of Needs 2.1.4 Motivation-Hygiene Theory The research observed the link between job satisfaction and productivity with 200 engineers and accountants. The research outcome was the motivation hygiene theory of Herzberg, which proposes that certain factors (intrinsic factors)can result in job satisfaction, while others (hygiene factors) can prevent from dissatisfaction but cannot stimulate satisfaction. Herzberg at el (1959 p.102). Intrinsic factors are factors which are inherent to the job, for instance , the satisfaction of the job itself as well as the recognition and development for success , the availability of chances for the responsibility. On the other hand , hygiene factors are relevant to the environment in which the job performance is achieved. The hygiene factors consist of working conditions , supervision and interpersonal relations , salary as well as the policy and administration of organization. Besides, the importance prerequisite factor , which is needed to influence humanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s motivation, is regarded as the hygiene factors. The motivation factor would be able to proceed on the staff and establish job satisfaction and productivity if there were à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"goodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ hygiene factors which lead the staff to be in a form of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"no dissatisfactionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Consequently, to encourage staffs towards higher productivity, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“while it is important to ensure that the hygiene factors are correct, the manager must manipulate the motivation by attending to job-content issues (e.g. job-enrichment)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (Carson at el 1997 p.136). Job- enrichment entails redesigning jobs to make them more interesting and challenging by allowing provisions to be made for increased responsibility, creativity and autonomy. The Herzbergà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ research has been criticized because of the research itself and the biased collection of sample (see Holloway 1991). Holloway (1991 p.1) stated that the clerical and production workers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"did not produce the accounts he was seeking, he didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sample themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Goldthorpe et al (1968 p.11) suggests that other types of employee (such as assembly-line workers) may indeed view work in the way expressed by scientific management and be primarily motivated by financial incentives. A case of workers being primarily motivated by what Herzberg regards as a hygiene factor. The important point to be made from the criticism of Herzberg and from the work of Goldthorpe et al. is that no one theory, be it human relations or scientific management, is likely to apply universally. Different socio-economic groups appear to attach different meanings or have different orientations towards and work (Parker 1972 p.200). While different group s of people may have different attitudes towards work, they are also likely to react differently towards management policies. A model of worker motivation should therefore be able to differentiate between different types of worker and treat the wants, expectations and attitudes towards work as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"culturally determined variables, not psychological constantsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ (Goldthorpe 1968 p.178). As a result of the differences of each staff , company should apply a motivation policy so as to encourage an individual behavior and characteristic of its staff. To motivate people with different need and different characteristics is difficult but it would be rewarding and challenging. It can be said that hope is the magic component of motivation. The motivation factors help staffs to do a better job and to increase productivity(Steinberg 1976 p.123) ( Kamin 2002 p.87). The theorists propose that there are four strongest motivation factors which are the achievement : feeing personnel accomplishment for having done a job well , the recognition : being recognized for doing your job well ; for example , being complimented by your boss and receiving an award , the participation : being involved in your work ; having some responsibility for making decisions and the growth : having the opportunity for challenge in the job, such as the chance to learn skills and knowledge. (Kamin 2002 p.87). Manager not only should translate attitude and knowledge into action but also recognize that people have diverse motivations for asking to join a team (Nieto 2006 p.56).Therefore , manager should to be understand in how theories and models can be translated into useful practices (Currie and Procter 2003 p.14) in next step on training and practica l skill Motivation Factors Achievement The work itself Recognition Responsibility Growth Advancement Satisfaction No Satisfaction Hygiene Factors Supervision Company policy Relationship with supervisor Working conditions Salary Relationship with peers Status Security Dissatisfaction No dissatisfaction Figure 2.3: Motivation-Hygiene theory 2.2 Training 2.2.1 Definition of training Training has been defined as the planned activities on the part of an organization to increase job knowledge ,skills or to modify the attitudes and social behavior of the members in ways consistent with the goals of the organization and the requirements of the job (Robin 2003 p.1219)(Anderson and Neil 2001 p.280) Development has been defined as any attempt to improve managerial effectiveness through a planned and deliberate learning process . Methods of training needs / analysis needs. (Wilson 2005 p.149) Job analysis. Job description. Interview with the job holder. Interview with the manager / supervisor. Performance objective. Analysis of competencies. Reasons for training Poor performance and /or productivity. A change in working methods. Introduction of a new technology or equipment requiring new /different skills. Changed or new product range ,after sales etc; Replacement of employees who have been promoted or transferred, and training the employees who are all promoted and replaced. To improve workplace safety.(Ferris, et al 1995 p.154) 2.2.2 Training Methods 2.2.2.1 Attitude training An attitude training is an individualà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s characteristic way of doing or responding to a object or a situation. It is based on the experience and leads to certain behavior or the expression of certain opinions. 2.2.2.2 Methods of attitude training On the job experience placing the trainee within a group whose attitudes are thought to be appropriate .This socialization process tends to produce the desired attitude in the trainee. On the job training :This may involve à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Shadowingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? or being attached to a senior employee who has the desired attitudes and personal qualities to influence the employee .(Bohlander 2001 p.235) On the job counseling à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"s senior member of the organization with the desired qualities and attitudes is appointed as the mentor to the employee. Off the job training :A group of employees engage on case study activity intended to emphasize relevant and desirable attitudes. Off the job exercises : Role-playing exercises. 2.3 Customer service The small companies should emphasize on creating positive relationships with their customers. Customers with positive dealings with companies are likely to be loyal. There are three fundamental idea which lead to the focus on delivering an outstanding customer service. Firstly, the high level of customer service increases customer satisfaction. Secondly, customer satisfaction leads to customer loyalty. Thirdly, small companies have a possibility in delivering greater customer service than large companies. From those three fundamental idea , it can be concluded that by not concentrating on customer service may endanger the achievement of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. (Longenecker 2005 p.289) In general , good customer service is to meet customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ expectations by giving the importance and value to them. Their experience in companiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ service will decide that not only they want to continue doing the business with companies but also what will they give a word of mouth about companiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ service. The good customer service is decided by customers who is given the service. As each customer has different needs and expectations. Therefore, companies need to designed service for individual customers. 2.3.1 Why customer service is important There are a research shows that when employees have a poor view of customer service , this will result in high turnover in companies. Therefore, to increase the quality of service could lead to increase employee retention and customer loyalty. Some people would like to do good work. They may lack skills and so they appear unmotivated, or they may be job-hopping because they have not found work environment that support their talents. By giving the support and training as well as service environment which focus on customer staffs could have tools they need to give customers what they want and deserve. (Kamin 2006 p.1) In addition ,training is important part to improve quality. Good staffs understand that training is crucial for being successful on the job and for future career opportunity. 2.3.2. The value of good service Service is important to customers as well as it is important for business development. The aim of companies by creating more value for customers is to retain customer to their companies. Everyone in companies should help to build value as well as their jobs aim at serving customers. When everyone understand their role in serving customers, there will be the results which are creating goodwill and increasing companiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ reputation , decreasing in the case of poor quality , improving the chances of cross à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"selling and up à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" selling , gaining in the number of customer retention , reducing employee turnover , making more profit , establishing the goal and performance measure , having competitive advantages and being differences from competitors.(Zemke and Wood 1999 p.12) 2.3.3 How to provide good customer service Most customers have common expectations. They need companies to deliver an outstanding service , solve and realize their problems as well as make an apology if anything went wrong. To determine customer satisfaction companies need to meet their customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s needs. Moreover, there are some methods which could help to build customer satisfaction. Firstly , companies should give the attention to customers all the time. Secondly, companies have to listen to customers in the way of understanding what they really need.( Aguilar and Stokes 1995 p.3-7) 2.4. Customer Loyalty As the purpose of increasing profit by continually satisfying customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s need becomes more prevalent, the significance of meeting customers satisfaction and increasing their loyalty becomes more important in the competitive business (Disney 1999 p.491). As a result, business owner who want to be successful in the long term should encourage customers visits and make more sales. Good business owner have known and understood this situation well and devoted much of their consideration to ongoing and increasing sales through a variety of marketing activities. Business owner of subtle products should do the same for supporting competitive advantages( Disney 1999 p.491)(GrÃÆ' ¶nroos 1990 p.3). Moreover , since the need of focusing marketing attempt on maintaining existing customers grow to be the principle of marketers (GrÃÆ' ¶nroos 1990 p.3), the topic of customer loyalty, which aim to increase the regularity of a customers behavior and the possibility of cross-selling, has been received more consideration recently (Buttle and Burton 2002 p.217; Dick and Basu 1994 p.99). In this part, the customer loyalty, the different types of loyalty, characteristic of service and service loyalty and the benefits which companies may gain by increasing customer loyalty, plus the related factors which may affect customer loyalty, will be discussed. 2.4.1 The Origin and Meaning of Customer Loyalty The first approach is that loyalty is a surrogate of retention; in other words, a customer who keep on buying one product or service is a loyal customer. However, the second approach regards customer loyalty as a mental conception with an affective or attitudinal component, which could in fact reflect the essence of retention ( Buttle and Burton 2002 p.217;Ennew and Binks 1996 p.219). Loyalty is unlike repeat buying behavior; loyalty includes an attitudinal component which should firstly come to mind before repurchasing products or services (Buttle and Burton 2002 p.217; Dick and Basu 1994 p.99). Therefore , loyalty is a state of being faithful and honest to a particular product or service, and proving such faithfulness and honesty. On the other hand ,repeating purchase only represents frequent occurrence of the purchasing behavior which persists in a given period of time. The meaning of loyalty and repurchase have common characteristics because of the frequency of use increasing when there is a high level of loyalty (Liddy 2000 p.351). Consequently, frequent customer should not be regarded as loyal customer because frequent customer possibly purchases product or service from several different companies. Moreover, customers purchasing behavior could be changed by different situational factors. Buttle and Burton (2002 p.217) stated a characterization of loyalty from a companys head of customer relationship division: Its about having had experiences of things that you feel are important. Putting it in personal terms, you build loyalty to your friends through personal experiences youve shared. Customer loyalty really is like friendship (p. 218). This argument implied that although many customers may carry on to purchase with particular sellers, they could be unfaithful to the product or service sellers. Hence, by explaining the knowledge of customer loyalty, many attempts has been dedicated to classify the different types of customer loyalty. Moreover, to understand the differences between customer loyalty to goods and services as well as the typologies and the origins of customer loyalty, the benefits that businesses could obtain from increasing customer loyalty have been suggested by many authors. With the knowledge of both the characteristics of service loyalty and the promising benefits received from increasing customer loyalty as well as the importance of retaining existing customers could be obtained. 2.5 Customer Satisfaction Generally , most customers do not criticize about their dissatisfying experiences of product or service. However , they could change to another sellers ( Boshoff 1999 p.236). If the seller cannot offer what customer want, there are many other different sellers which provide similar products or services in the market. To sum up, sellers who want to attract or retain customers have to meet customers needs and satisfaction (Oliver 1998 p.14 ). Customer satisfaction has become increasingly to sellerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s attention during the past decades. Nevertheless, customer satisfaction has been one of the most unquestionable theory of the modern management field (Oliver 1996 p.11-12 ). The idea of customers satisfaction have a clear, reasonable concept. Moreover, it is commonly understood that customer satisfaction could lead to customer loyalty as well as result in higher future profit(Oliver 1996 p.11-12). In many business industries, customer satisfaction has been used as the guiding principle for developing CRM strategies as well as organizing business activities. However, customer satisfaction should not be an objective by itself. Customer satisfaction should be employed as a method for developing the companys performance (Martensen et al. 2000 p.544-53). A number of empirical researches have revealed a relation between customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and the economic performance of a company while customer satisfaction has been evaluated in different ways, for example, stock market value, added market value and return on investment (Anderson et al. 1994 p.53-66 ; Eklof et al. 1999 p.514-22). On the other hand, the topic about the background of customer satisfaction, the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty as well as customers post-purchase behavior are presently arguable. To understand the idea of satisfaction undoubtedly and realize the benefits of customer satisfaction, relation between customer satisfaction and related matter are the main significance in this study. 2.5.1 Definition of Satisfaction Customer satisfaction has developed into one of the main purposes for business since the 1990s. Johnson and Fornell (1991 p.267-86) termed satisfaction as a general assessment of customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s purchasing and consuming experience. In a few years later, Oliver (1996 p.11-12) provided the recognized definition of satisfaction, which he stated to be linkage with the theoretical and empirical evidence to date: Satisfaction is the consumers fulfillment response. It is a judgment that a product or service feature, or the product or service itself, provides (or is providing) a pleasurable level of consumption-relate fulfillment, including levels of under or over-fulfillment( p. 13). As a result of the importance of satisfaction, many businesses initiate to assign their job to evaluate how satisfied their customers are and to observe how satisfaction ratings affect customer retention and their profit (Bolton 1998 p.45-65). 2.5.2 Importance of Customer Satisfaction In 1990s, there was a prevalent knowledge that satisfaction ratings has been in fact a process to reach strategic purposes, for example, customer retention which is understood to have an effect on companies profits directly (Jones and Sasser 1995 p.88-101). To concentrate on increasing satisfaction is necessary since satisfied customers have more potential to come back the same shop or repurchase the same product or service (Reichheld 1996). Furthermore, customer satisfaction is regarded as condition for customer retention and loyalty, and apparently it is important to understand economic target such as market share, return on investment and profitability(Hackl and Westlund 2000 p.820-25).