Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Social Work; Blaming the victim(critical thinking) Essay

Social Work; Blaming the victim(critical thinking) - Essay Example This implies that she is responsible for the abuse, or at least could have prevented it, if she had taken more of an effort to avoid them. It places the responsibility on the victim to avoid the perpetrator. By telling her parents they had intervened it attempts to deflect the attention from the original crime or situation to hold the victim, Danielle, responsible. Victim blaming in this instance was subtle, but still existent. By holding Danielle responsible, implying she â€Å"deserved† or instigated the bullying by sending emails as well, the school blamed her for what happened. Because they believe the bullying wouldn’t happen without a â€Å"reason†, they believe the victim must have somehow provoked the actions. By blaming Danielle, it also allows the school to escape the blame from their own lack of action. They are able to side step the fact that they didn’t take strong, appropriate, immediate action against the bullies. It deflects the attention from the school, and the actual bullies, to Danielle, the victim. The memo was an indirect way of blaming the victim. Although at no point does it directly say Danielle was responsible, it insinuates it by implying she could have taken action by blocking the emails or following their other suggestions. It also diverts from the intensity of the bullying by avoiding, through exclusion, that there were other forms of bullying than just emails. The emails were only a small part of the actual bullying that occurred. The school didn’t address ways to counter slanderous actions like keeping her from making the team, bullying her in person, and spreading rumors. The memo they sent out only addressed a small portion of the bullying. Even if the emails were the main concern, the memo still holds the victim accountable by saying they shouldn’t’ respond to bullying—that by countering a bully’s actions, the victim is responsible. By not taking stronger action and by blaming the victim, the school

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Stages of intervention in social work

Stages of intervention in social work CASE WORK ASSIGNMENT: CASE STUDY INTRODUCTION: â€Å"Social casework is a method of helping people individually through a one-to-one relationship. It is used by professionally-trained social workers in social work agencies or organizations to help people with their problems of social functioning. Problems of social functioning refer to situations concerned with social roles and their performance. (Mathew 1991)†. INTRODUCTION OF AGENCY: Vinimay trust is situated in Koperkharaine, navi-mumbai (Maharastra State). Established in 1981 and registered in 1989. It is a social work organization [NGO] working for under-privileged children and youth staying in, and emerging out of, child welfare institutions. It is an organisation which run and managed by volunteers. Today it has more than 250 volunteers. It is working for children and youth welfare. It has a 3 storey building in Koperkharaine name Tarun Sadan, where the boys stays It is primarily working for child welfare and youth welfare.in child welfare it arranged the many activity, like birthday celebration, organising games games and picnic and various event in different child welfare homes that comes under the child welfare department in Mumbai, beside this it does youth welfare activity as rehabilitation of the boys through a facility of lodging, saving and various programme, which helps them to fit themselves in the larger society. The boys here come from various ch ild welfare institution with various background they need various support through the government, through the society and Vinimay trust is just an experiment of that. It is fair to say that the flaws in the child welfare institution, leads to the creation of these type of institution. There are not so many after care institution in Mumbai and in these type of scenario, Vinimay trust took a step forward toward a just society. There are capacity for 52 boys in the Vinimay Trust who stay there for three years from the date of admission and this process is going on since its establishment Though these boys have no identity and address proof or other documents which are very critical for living today and in the lack of these basic documents, they have to face several hurdle in the life So the boys who come here must have to open their bank account, Aadhar card, pan card, voter card within six month from the date of admission here. Though Vinimay trust do these work and for that the local government body play a pivotal role in the process. CASE STUDY: I have selected the case of Gajanand for the assignment. Though he was new to Tarun Sadan. Usually boys there played cricket, watching TV in group. Prima facia he was also in the group but never talk much to anyone. Within three month he ran away four times four times from the Tarun Sadan. Though his background, that were written in the file of Tarun Sadan and that information itself come from previous institution says that he has experience of running away from home and from some institution. He is employed but he didn’t go to job regularly and he left the job thrice. GENERAL INFORMATION: NAME- Gajanand ( name has been changed for the purpose of confidentiality ) SEX- Male AGE- 18 EDUCATION QUALIFICATION- 6th RELIGION- Hindu Name of the child welfare institution David Sussane Industrial School Family information- no family information Date of admission in Tarun Sadan- 5/04/2013 Mother’s name- no information Father’s name- no information Skill 6 month fitter course from Maharastra State Board of Vocational Examination in June with First class. Harmful habit- Tobacco Job detail Current employment- Tayyar Ho. K, Juinagar Position- housekeeper Monthly salary-8500 Earlier Employment Detail- Anand Hotel, Koperkharaine Life history He was living with his family but he didn’t know about them. He ran from his home with his friend but he missed his friend somewhere in the train. His native place is Islapur, Nanaded. He think his family is living in his native place. He went to Pune once to meet his uncle but he took him at Sarva Seva Sangh 0rg. He also ran away from this organization. WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL- STAGE INVOLVED: There are seven stage are involved while doing casework with individual. These stage are as follows:- Engagement Assessment Planning Implementation Evaluation Termination and Follow-up TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES: Listening Observation Interview Home visits Relationship TECHNIQUES: Acceptance Assurance Facilitating Expression of feelings Encouragement and Reassurance Being with the client Emotional support In my field work there are very large scope of doing the casework study because its work for institutionalised people. First stage is Engagement in which there is a systematic study of client, his/her situation related to his or her problem. In this process, I collect information like what is the problem with the client and what can be the associated problem can be arise with the problem. Though the first step is the most difficult step for any individual. How to interact, how to build rapport with them, how to make him free to speak up. When I first met with my client, it was confusing moment for me. As I tried to talk to him, when I says hey bhai, idhar aao, he looked at me and ran away from there and all the boys who were playing cricket there, laugh at me. After that whenever I tried to talk with him, he didn’t respond me appropriately as if he was fearing from me. He never looked at me properly but when I went to nearby park with some other boys of Tarun Sadan, I took him also and that trip was the ice-breaking between us. During the process of engagement I used several tools and techniq ue on various occasion. The basic tenant for any social worker is acceptance and listen to them, what they are saying. In this stage I used listening, interview and observation by using almost all the technique. Earlier the client was not talking to me but through these techniques, it create an environment there where he feel comfortable and then my interview take place. Though it was not a onetime interview, it was an ongoing process. There I observe some behaviour in the client and that is Being introvert Shy Not speaking to most of the boys Not doing the job properly Some little Memory of his family Strong determination to go to his family Individually tried to trace his family Bad memory of child welfare institution Not good perception on women But he was very humble when he became familiar with me He didn’t complain too much about anybody No girlfriend and not focused on that Says he will marry as their parents wish In second stage, it includes assessment, which aimed at finding answers to three major questions: what is the problem? How it has arisen? What can be done to solve it? The need of social assessment is that of making a conceptual picture of the problem, which will help in deciding the action plan. It is the need to understand the structure of the personality and factors influencing and obstructing personality development. In this stage I figured out various incidents impacted his believe system and a strong attachment to his memory of his family. He ran away from his home, from Pune and from Tarun Sadan. The factor leading to leave his home was just a flow with his friend but after that he realised that what he is missing and that familiar care and support, that attachment to his family. Though the time he left his home he was 8 years of the age and he has little memory of his home. Only he know is his village and some memory of the station where he catches the train from his home. B ut one thing is clear is that due to his inner urge to go to his family leads to various other situation where he is not loving his job, running away from Tarun Sadan and being shy is a product of that. Though he stays with three room mate who has family in his village and other has sister, so this repeated expression of the attachment to the family of his roommates also forced him to think about his family. Through during almost every process I used all the techniques that written above and regarding tools except home visit I used all. So the major problem I found in his situation is that Familiar memory Psychological support Lack of confidence Not believing on others Fear of unknown Hesitating to talk with other Third stage is planning in which worker should make the plan for proceeding the case that how they proceed and how they start. So, my planning was Counselling support Tracing his family Create an environment where he feels comfortable and doesn’t hesitate to talking with others More engage in jobs and recreation activity Try to search a better livelihood option for him Though in my case assessment, planning and implementation overlap many a times. In some cases what I understood about my clients some aspect of his behaviour earlier was changed after some incidence. I am just giving an example of him is that when I first though that it’s his laziness that why he is not wanting to go to job but with rigorous engagement and analysis of the situation it came that it was his obsession for his family that captured his mind so much that he doesn’t think beyond it. So earlier what I planned changed as I came up through new aspects. Fourth stage is Implementation or intervention in which there are the helping activities for the client known as intervention. This step has to blend with the plan of action following social assessment. There are many ways through client can be helped like assistance in terms of emotional and concrete support, material things like money, articles, medicines etc. non-material resources like information and knowledge, by bringing change in human and physical environment and through counselling to facilitate change in the feeling, thinking, knowing, speaking and doing behaviour of the client. In this stage I implements all the plan that I took, as tracing the family, counselling supports, better livelihood options etc. though in the Tarun Sadan there is facility of Counselling by a NGOs Disha Kendra. But he didn’t go to that session regularly and also he speak not too much there. In nutshell according to him â€Å"ye sab chutiappahai†. I took several session with group and individual on self-assessment and motivation. Whenever I interacted with him I tried to give some input of thinking in him and make him aware of many reality. I tried to trace his family, I discussed with my field work superintendent on this issue, how to trace his home though he has experience of tracing many boy’s family there. Still I didn’t able to trace his family, though several fact which are needed to correlate and understand the real fact is really a hard and time consuming job. Once again I blame the time but I know blame is not outside its inside me. Regarding the livelihood option I went through several processes of finding the jobs and contacting many agencies that provide job. Still I am in the process of implementation. Fifth stage is Evaluation in which we look at the result that we can achieve our goal or not? Till this stage I couldn’t reach. The implementation part was so long and the time that I spend on the case work was not too much for me to finish this case work. Though I used to evaluate myself on the fact that either I achieved the task that I took. Though in my case I evaluate my own approach and where I am going every day whenever I interacted with my clients. Though final evaluation didn’t taken place. DILEMMAS: As a social work student who has to discuss things about my client to supervisor had dilemma regarding the how can I ensure the confidentiality. RESISTENCE: There were lots of resistance which was actually improved through communication, rapport-building home-visits. Transference and counter transference was not observed.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Essay --

f your upper arms resemble bat wings flapping in the air, and if excess fat around your middle is accumulating, maybe it's time for a lifestyle makeover. Excess body fat, especially belly fat, can impact your health since it's associated to serious conditions, such as stroke and heart disease. (See References 1) Losing weight can better your health, and with some clever tips, you don't have to feel deprived or live in the gym. Lose Weight Gradually To lose weight from your arms and belly, you must lose it from your entire body. Rapid weight loss might be tempting, but isn't recommended, because of the extreme measures this requires that are hard to maintain. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, fast weight loss can trigger heart problems, gallstones and nutritional deficiencies. (See References 1) They recommend gradual, healthy weight loss at a rate of a 1/2 pound to 2 pounds a week. To accomplish this, a weekly caloric deficit of 1,750 to 7,000 calories is needed. You can reach this deficit through diet and exercise. Perform Quick Intense Workouts To lose weight, ...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Formative Writing †Slumdog Millionaire Essay

The film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ by British born director Danny Boyle, gives a particular insight into life in India, and more specifically the city of Mumbai through the use of setting. It is this cultural backdrop presented through the perspective of foreigner that not only makes the film special, but also sparked a lot of debate whether the image revealed is an accurate portrayal of India. The film attempts to show the shocking and disturbing realities that occur in India, including poverty, injustice, slums, gang culture and prostitution. An example of one of these realities being depicted is in the scene where Jamal and Salim have been captured by the gangster Maman who plans to blind Jamal in order to make him a profitable beggar as he will evoke more sympathy if blind. The setting of the scene is outside a remote building where the gangsters keep the children at night. These children are placed away from the rest of civilisation showing how they are unwanted and are outsiders. The lighting is minimal making it dark, eerie and scary which is also coupled with fast pace camera shots which are predominantly close-ups on things such as the acid, Maman’s face and one of his accomplices cracking his knuckles. All of these features work together in order to create an intimidating impression on the viewer as we don’t get the full perspective echoing how the children are being tricked and deceived. Salim watches one of the boys eyes being burned yet the viewer doesn’t get to see this, instead the horror is echoed through Salim’s physical reaction as he vomits. It appears that the director wants to shock the audience and present the horrors present in Indian culture, yet he doesn’t show it physically being done, creating a barrier which shields the western audience at all times. Maman asks Salim whether he wants ‘the life of a Slumdog or a man?’ This gives the impression that all Indian men should want to be and are like Maman who is evil and corrupt, giving a negative representation of men in India.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Observations of Child Development

This paper will discuss a child that was observed on a number of occasions in their family setting at home. It will explore the student social worker's understanding of child development linking theory and reality.. A critical account based on six observations sessions of the child development on†¦.. Drawing on what has been seen and student knowledge on appropriate milestones, literature research and social work theory.The student will reflect on their role as an observer and what has been learnt during the process of observation and it's relevance to social work Different areas of development are inter-related. The ideas, language, communication, feelings, relationships and other cultural elements among which each child is brought up influence his or her development profoundly. (Carolyn Megabit and Gerald Cumberland) (2000) Child Development : An illustrated guide. Henchman.The skills of observation are important and the importance of tone of voice and body language, particula rly when the words spoken might be saying something completely different. Sometimes observing teaches you things that you can't be told and sometimes we are tuned to listen instead of look. A part of the process of becoming a social worker is observation. Observation is the power to see what isn't obvious. Observation is seeing and hearing, and also seeing what's missing, picking up on what is omitted, analytically processing whilst doing the observation.It's important we understand observation is a powerful tool in our assessment and intervention. Observing is an essential skill for everyone working with children. ( Carolyn Megabit and Gerald Cumberland) (2000). Observation helps social workers and students to reflect upon situations before intervening (Pat El Richer and Karee Tanner) Using observational methods are helpful in describing individual's behavior as they interact in real time; and allow the reader to create a verbal picture of the behaviors as they unfold.This is impor tant when social workers are working with children and families in their home (Pipelining, 1996:1), and there is a growing recognition in social work literature around observation in practice (Richer & Tanner, 1998:17). On my first observation I was not nervous but did feel intrusive about entering the Morris's home, I had meet them a few days before and they were very welcoming which eased some of the anxieties I had. I know that as a qualified social worker on some occasions (e. G. Hill protection) I will be meeting the family for the first time when conducting a home visit and they might not be welcoming.Taking the role of observer is what I was most apprehensive about, I was unsure of what to expect on†¦ Cognitive and language development Cognitive or intellectual development is development of the mind- the part of the brain that that is used for recognizing, reasoning, knowing and understanding. Language development is development of communication skills : Receptive speech : what a person understands Expressive speech- the words the persons produces Articulation- the person's actual pronunciations of wordsETC can build towers, can copy a building pattern of three or more cubes 3 years ; Remember and repeat songs and nursery rhymes ; Use personal pronouns and plurals correctly and give their own name and sex and sometimes age ; Carry on simple conversations, often missing link words such as the and is ; Learn to speak more than one language if they hear more than one language spoken around them as they grow ; Enjoys listening to and making music ; Can control their attention, choosing to stop an activity and return to it without much difficulty ; Counts by rote up to ten or more Enjoys playing on the floor with bricks, boxes, toy trains and dolls ;Joins in active make-believe play ; y with other children A Child Observation Assignment By Marie Tree Date Posted: December 1 5th This article was written by Marie Tree in 2010 as a record of her child obser vation assignment for her post-qualifying Specialist Social Work Award course at Portsmouth University. When submitting it article Marie wrote remarked that when completing this assignment she was taken â€Å"back to my early days in the sass's when I did have what now seems the luxury of reflecting on my practice. † [pick] Marie Tree In childhood, everything was more vivid – the sun brighter, the smell of fields sharper, the thunder louder, the rain more abundant and the grass taller†.Constantine Passports The context for my observation was a local authority Children's Centre which provides Offset registered care for babies and children between O months and 5 years. The Children's Centre has been classed as ‘Outstanding' by Offset since June 2006 and has been working with children with additional needs since the sass's. The setting was a group of 12 children of mixed sexes, all of mixed abilities such as physical and learning difficulties. The group was we ll staffed (by women) with some children having one to one support. The setting is headed by a teacher and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum guides the work, and the children learn through play.The observations were based upon the Atavistic model (Pick 1964) and my remit was to observe a child for lax hours and record my observations after the sessions. I also included my reflections, dilemmas and prejudices with my seminar group. The staff at the Children's Centre were aware of my role, and the purpose of my observations. A oh year old little girl was selected and I shall call her Anna (pseudonym). I had no contact with Anna's parents, although the Children's Centre informed them of my remit and they gave their written consent. The first session took place after lunch and I placed myself at the back of the room, discreetly tucked into a corner hoping that my presence would not be noticed. How wrong I was!The room was filled with an array of spontaneous discoveries, books, toys, computers, sand, paint and dressing up clothes and the clutter of noise and emotions reminded me of my own home where I have three young children, where exploring the world extends their nascent theories as to how the world works. Initially, I found it very difficult to sit and focus on Anna solely, as I was used to talking and making eye contact with children, and not being able to engage or speak was difficult. For the first session, I watched Anna intently and I had to clear my head of any Judgments of her which were purely based on bits of information I had picked up from staff.I had based assumptions of Anna's background and life, which were purely speculative and ill informed. It was this reflection that helped me focus between fact and feeling and challenging myself on how the information I had been given about Anna had given considerable weight in owe I thought she might play and socialize with other children. I needed to separate these two contradictory parts (Goldst ein, 1990). I watched Anna carefully glide from one activity to the next, first playing with the sand letting it quickly sift through her fingers and making shapes and marks with the palms of her hands. She slowly toddled off when a young boy, eager to play more adventurously nudged her out of the way.Watching Anna play, I did think of her goals and what she was trying to create through her thought and actions, and I did think of Piglet's (1973) theory on children's cognitive development. Again, I had to challenge my assumptions on stages of Piglet's theory as they are not fixed and concrete in any child. On several occasions, children came up to me bringing toys, books and requests to go to the toilet, and at one point, a young child stood in front of me for what seemed like a very long time. I replied only briefly to the children and avoided eye contact when possible. My desire to become involved with the children was very strong, and it was difficult to refuse a simple request fr om a small child.However, remaining in a passive role allowed me to stand back and slow down and examine in detail the allegations with the child. (Bridge et al, 1996, p. 1 13). The method of sitting observing Anna was at times alien to me and having no prescriptive focus other than observe made me feel vulnerable. It felt like the anxieties that Seal (2003) identified in his work as ‘professionals giving up control and being open to what is emerging'. (Seal, 2003, p. 16). How I managed my feelings around observing Anna also reminded me of the work by Isabel Minimizes Lath (1989) who wrote about anxiety and how its experience, expression and sublimations are a major factor in determining personal ND institutional behavior.I often refer to the work of Isabel Minimizes Lath when I am faced with uncertainties, and it is my acknowledgment and containment of these feelings that will impact on the overall work that I do with children and their families. In the room with Anna, I had to contain my feelings around the observation. Anna continued throughout my observation to drift from one activity to the next. At one point, I observed her clasp the hand of a worker and pull her gently towards the book corner. The worker gently tapped the hand of Anna, letting her know she was aware of the request. At that moment, I thought of how unique and complex children are as they do not have the language to explain how they think and explore the world that surrounds them. By slowing down and observing them, we have the advantage and a willingness to speculate.Ending the hour observation was less problematic than I thought and I quietly put my coat on and said goodbye with a few children holding gaze with me as I left the room. In the next session with Anna, I felt more relaxed and in tune with what I was trying to do. It was much more comfortable not having to put any kind of theory into practice. I had the added luxury of not having paper and pens or an assessment to compl ete. It was a time to observe Anna and explore my own feelings. Anna made eye contact with me on a few occasions and I would not be convinced that she knew that I was watching her; however, that is purely my interpretation. In this session, Anna lay dozing on and off on a bean bag, and although she already had had a nap earlier, she seemed somewhat tired and lethargic that day.Beside Anna, on a separate beanbag, lay a child with cerebral palsy, and at that moment, I felt a gush of emotion run through me, and I was minded of my own child with learning and mobility problems. Two children, side by side, one able bodied and the other, confined to a soft cushion. Rusting (2004) identifies this problem well and suggests that recognizing feelings and working with this is very important in the work that we do. I am aware as a practitioner, that we risk professional dangerousness if our roles and boundaries are not clearly defined. Our relationships with clients need to be based on objectivi ty and self awareness. This allows us to step outside our emotional needs and to be sensitive to the needs of others. (HOMOS, 1988: Protecting Children).I believe for any effective intervention, the worker must remain quite distinct and separate, whole and intact. It was good to be able to discuss my feelings with my seminar group and it is Erikson (1950) who talks about basic trust as the first stage of the eight stages of man. I believe that talking about observations was now similar to that described by Wainscot (1965) as holding and Boon (1962) as containing, and what emerged from the seminar group was a secure base where thoughts and feelings could be openly discussed amongst ourselves, and it was the first time that as a seminar group, that we spoke freely and openly about experiences during observations.The remaining sessions observing Anna became enjoyable and watching her play was fascinating as her tiny hands grasped and touched the toys and objects around her. By observin g her, I was to enter her world of self wonderment and capture moments by focusing solely on her. I am aware of the importance of endings and although I had clearly given my remit to the staff, I said goodbye to the children and thanked them for allowing me to sit in their class. I think that they were more interested in circle time and the nursery rhymes to notice my quiet departure from the room. Conclusion Observing Anna had brought back the sense of refocusing on the child and their world. Being able to discuss feelings within the seminar group helped to contain hidden ideologies and prejudices within myself.Humphreys (1988) puts this very well by describing ‘perspective transformation' in which we can reflect and challenge our belief system, and through this, transformation occurs. Having no social work task to do was a luxury. To sit and observe was a chance to explore the children's lack of power, vulnerability and dependence on adults. So much of social work time is sp ent n the speed of completing assessments, ticking boxes, and only the neediest of children receive a service. In my view, much is lost to the benefits of observing children. Too often, only a snapshot of a child is all that a social worker can grasp when working with children and much is lost by not having a space for reflective and analytical practice which gives the worker a platform to critically evaluate and challenge their work.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Swot Walt Disney Essays

Swot Walt Disney Essays Swot Walt Disney Essay Swot Walt Disney Essay Essay Topic: Treasure Island The Walt Disney Company was founded in as a cartoon studio in 1923. Walter Elias Disney, founder of the Walt Disney Company, was a pioneer in the development of animation as an industry. Disney is one of the most famous names in the animation industry, known for providing entertainment directed to adults and children alike; with international theme parks and a world-class animation studio and business franchise, the company nearly dominates the industry. Famous names such as Mickey Mouse began with Disney, and were the foundation of a company that has now branched out into several entertainment studios, theme parks, products, and other media productions. The Walt Disney company has a prestigous history in the entertainment industry, stretching over 75 years. It started on October 16, 1923 as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, a joint venture of Walt Disney and his brother, Roy. Three years later the company had produced two movies and purchased a studio in Hollywood, Calfiornia. Pitfalls in distribution rights nearly sank Walt and his company, but the creation of Mickey Mouse saved a sinking ship. By 1932, the Disney Company won its first Academy Award for Best Cartoon, for the Silly Symphony. 1934 marked the production of Disneys first full-length feature film,  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which released in 1937 and became the highest grossing film of its time. But afterwards, the expenses of production caused difficulties with the next few animated films; then the advent of World War II halted the production of films as the Walt Disney company contributed its skills to the war effort. After the war it was difficult for the company to pick up where it had left off, but 1950 proved a turning point with the production of its first live-action film,  Treasure Island  and another animated film,  Cinderella. In that time period, Disney also began several television series; in 1955, The Mickey Mouse Club also made its debut. 1955 also provided another landmark moment: the opening of the first California Disney theme park, Disneyland. Disney continued its rise in popularity, and survived even the death of its founder in 1966. His brother Roy took over supervision at that time, and then was succeeded by an executive team in 1971. Several more projects, from merchandising to the continuing production of animated and live-action films to the construction of more theme parks filled the years; in 1983, Disney went international with the opening of Tokyo Disneyland. In the past few decades, Disney has moved into a wider market, beginning The Disney Channel on cable and establishing subdivisions such as Touchstone Pictures to produce films other than the usual family-oriented fare, gaining a firmer footing on a broader range. In the 1970s and 1980s, the company suffered from takeover attempts, but eventually recovered; the recruiting of the current chairman, Michael D. Eisner, was crucial to that. Eisner and executive parnter Frank Wells have been a successful team, leading Disney to continue its tradition of excellence into a new century. Strenghts: The Walt Disney Companys main strength is in its resources, its experience in the business, and its low-cost strategy. Besides, the company has developed clearly a very strong and well known brand-name through many years. The company has also been able to diversify its operations and products to hedge against decreasing sales in product lines. In recent years, it has categorized into Home Video, Film, merchandise, Radio broadcasting, Net-work television and in theme parks. It has also effectively diversified globally its operations from USA to Japan and Europe. The main strengths in internal resources relate to human resources and financial stability. Employees in the Walt Disney Company studies appear to be extremely creative and they have produced several box-office productions in these recent years. A company without new ideas is bounded in todays competitive business environment. However, the low-cost-corporate-strategy is a benefit for the company. The company can control costs, and still produce quality goods and services. Financial risks have been minimized by sharing initial investment costs with a maximum number of outside participants. 1. It is the largest media and entertainment company in the world. 2. It has become one of the biggest Hollywood studios. 3. Disney Company owns 11 theme parks and several channels. 4. Disney employees 150,000 people. 5. Innovative ideas 6. Global standardization . It is among the popular brand names in the world. 8. It has well established divisions Walt Disney Studio Entertainment, Disney-ABC Television Group, Disney Interactive Media Group, Disney Consumer Products, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Interactive Studios. 9. Increasing trends in overall revenues and profits. 10. Disney holds US$ 62. 497 billion of assets. 11. Popular c haracters 12. High brand awareness among the people. 13. Differentiation 14. The Walt Disney logo is famous. 15. Walt Disney was ranked 8th in the Top 100 Global Brands. Weaknesses Corporations always have internal weaknesses. The Walt Disney Companys main weaknesses are the following: A very large work load, often changes in top-management, and high overhead expenditures. The company has 58,000 employees in 1991. This fact represents possible communications problems, and a high bureaucracy level through the corporation. The companys work load will increase even larger, and the organizational structure has to be able to support an extension of the work load by varying into more businesses and niches. The company has a very frequently changes and its corporate officers makes the corporate structure even more difficult. There are many positive things that often changes, but the changes are also associated with resistance, and high expenses. 1. High operating cost 2. Frequent change in top management 3. The $1. 8 Billion park have only 16 attractions. 4. Religious welfare group protest against the release of material which was found offensive by many people. 5. Poor working conditions in factories that produce their merchandise. 6. Disney was also criticized by animal welfare group for their caring procedure for animals at Disney Animal Kingdom theme Park. 7. Poor management. 8. Disney has been blamed of having sexual implication or references concealed in some of their animated movies,  including The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Disney original releases of The   Rescuers. 9. High investment with high risk involved. 10. Continuous innovative ideas are required to retain the attention of customers. 11. Limited range of target audience mainly Children. Opportunities External opportunities should be recognized, analyzed, and responded to in a very early stage. The Walt Disney Company is facing several external opportunities. However, the external threats facing the company are out-numbering the opportunities. Opportunities include the following; positive government attitudes towards its operations, barriers of entry are significant, and include the entertainment industry itself. Legal and legislative forces are usually identified as negative external factors to the company. Furthermore, the French government contributed greatly in the Euro Disneyworld project in the Walt Disney Company’s case. The French government invested in the project to built communication facilities, and gave the Walt Disney Company tax reliefs on cost of goods sold accounts. In addition, since the barriers of entry into the highly specialized industry in which the Walt Disney Company is still operating, competition will find it difficult to penetrate the companys highly diversified product or service mix. Therefore, large initial capital investments are required to enter the industry accordingly. 1. Move into different segments 2. Proper inventory management 3. Market development in untapped countries. 4. Reduction in operating costs. 5. Disney music channel 6. Benchmarking to improve management practices. 7. Disney school of management and training 8. Online Websites 9. Develop more attractions for theme park. Threats Major threats to the Walt Disney Company include the following; Over saturated markets, politics and economic aspects from a global perspective, and foreign competition. As the supply of products and services in the entertainment industry is starting to saturate the markets, competition will be more exciting, and only the most powerful companies will be able to survive finally. The Walt Disney Company has leveraged this risk to a certain level as it has diversified and globalized its operations, but still, the company is in the service/entertainment business. The Cable-giants such as Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) may not be able to manage the stress on its operation such as the Network-television division. 1. Security Threats due to terrorism 2. Employee retention 3. High competition in Media Industry. 4. Facing fierce competition from Paramount Parks, News Corporation, CBS, Time-Warner, Universal Studios and Six Flags Theme Parks. . Social and ethnic groups. 6. Government policies 7. High demanding market in terms of innovation. 8. Increasing salaries and labor cost. 9. Recession 10. Maintain product differentiation. 11. Tight competition in national and international markets. 12. Searching, paying and retaining innovative people. 13. Piracy Strategies The Walt Disney Companys corporate level strategy is based on a horizontal and scattered informal man agement approach. Ideas are born within the departments and are processed throughout the low hierarchy relatively from the final decisions. The management is placed on group creativity and in teamwork. For example, the most creative employees usually met the target in the purpose of generate with new ideas and new business strategies. As seen in this example, a large emphasis is focused on employee participation, especially on the most talented employees. Furthermore, the company is always refreshing its top management with new executives. Top-flight managers from the entertainment corporation and the financial business think new ideas and concepts which can be applied in the Walt Disney Company. There is however a significant increase in expense attached to attracting the very best to join the company. This increase in expense is related to special perk-packages directly, higher bonuses and escalated salaries that are offered to the top-executives. Another interesting strategy is the focal point that is focused on enhancement of the business. The corporate policy is to grow slowly instead of impress others. It is important for the company to meet demand with a sufficient supply of goods and/or services. It can be accomplished by effective distribution channels and marketing department. This leads us to another corporate policy, efficiency and suppression. Recently, movie industry trend towards increase in costs rapidly, it have a direct effect on the profitability of the company. By reducing the costs involved in making and marketing Disney films, it is cheaper and more profitable movies can be produced. Efficiency enforced by tight budgets and expected high returns, Disney must be able to produce more efficiency and cheaper than its competition. In addition, the corporate strategy is clearly focusing on diversifying its products and services. The expansion overseas rapidly and an increase in the product and service mix have created an umbrella effect. Thus, risks have been reduced and minimized. If one product line fails, other product lines have to cover for its losses. The Walt Disney Company is able to produce more and more products to the others countries which do not have Disneyland. Instead of going toward the countries that have Disneyland, the customers also can buy the Disney products in their own countries.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Human Resources Research Paper Writing Guide That Comes in Handy

Human Resources Research Paper Writing Guide That Comes in Handy A human resources research paper is an essay dedicated to human resource management in the format of a scientific investigation. Before providing the actual tips, the main components of human resources research should be defined in advance as well to write a decent paper. A research paper is not a review and not a compilation of the academic sources dedicated to a particular question. Definitely, research paper writing contains the actual research and writing process based on an argument or a research question in the field of human resources that requires a clear vision of how it works. If its your first time when you’re asked to write a research paper, it may seem to be a daunting task. With the adequate preparation and focus of mind on better results in research paper writing, you can make the writing process easier. Let’s break down the whole process of research paper research paper writing into the simple and productive steps. 2 Aspects of Human Resources Research Human resource management is a special system designed for the inner company’s resources control. An HR manager is a person who is responsible for employee education, support, and guiding. The purpose of human resource management is to maximize the productivity of an organization by optimizing the effectiveness of its employees. Human resource management is not a simple rearrangement of people. The core principle of the system is to build a comfortable sphere for the company’s workers and the creation of possibilities for their development. Human resource management has several directions which can be divided into: The individual-level implies finding and nourishing the individual talents and skills of the employee. The organizational field of human resource management is responsible for the immediate organization of the work-flow process. Moreover, it should be pointed out that human resource management evolves with technological advancement. Nowadays not only the processes are in the scope of the research, but methods of the management are a subject of the interest as well. At the moment, all possible ways of communication go further traditional conferences: telecommunication, mass email delivery, and communication from the distance. As a rule, new possibilities create new challenges. In such a variety of topics, choose one to research may be challenging as well. Get Informed Before the Final Choice of Topics There are a wide variety of topics that can be researched in your human resources paper. In such a diversity, it is important to remember that every piece of research has a certain goal: Answer a question that is little-investigated, Prove the available theory, Develop theoretical and practical knowledge. Before the actual structuring and defining a topic for research, a deductive method should be applied. The first point that should be defined is a subfield of human resources management. Secondly, an author should decide: will he or she develop a something new or explore existing issues and challenges. Finally, the author should define a particular topic. For example, proper topics for your essay will be: The Human Resource Management Evolution over the Last Decade Human Resource Managers and Their Responsibility in the Business World Strategic Human Resource Management: What to Apply and What to Avoid? Changing Roles in the Human Resource Management System Human Resource Management Practices in Big World’s Companies; Human Resources Training: What Does It Involve? Do the Risky Human Resources Depend on the Human Factor Only? Top Human Resource Paradigms That Contribute to the Business Development You as an author of good essays should avoid topics that do not refer to the human resource management system. It is not about the law-making process in the business field and not about ethical dilemmas in the field. Besides, human resource management does not cover topics related to any scientific areas. For example, a topic which sounds like â€Å"The Influence of Stress in a Workplace† does not relate to HR management. The variety of topics allows choosing anything that an author may find interesting. For example, an author may explore a theme of minimizing workplace negativity. Any kind of work often causes stress which brings negativity to a working group. A skillful HR manager knows how to minimize negativity and change its vector. Determining a strategic framework, company’s values, and vision may become another important topic for the research. A company that clearly defines its goal has half of success. People, who understand this goal is the second half. An HR manager is responsible for the development of this goal and sharing it with the employee. Employee encouraging, however, may not be enough. A manager should not only encourage but retain the employees as well. This aspect may be studied through the ways of appreciating or demonstrating the issue. Pre-Writing Tips That Really Work Before writing, in-depth research should be conducted to gather all the necessary information. Peer-reviewed journals dedicated to the HR sphere can be a starting point for your research. However, some trustworthy Internet resources on the particular topic should not be ignored as well. Such resources as Inc.com and Investopedia may provide the necessary and the most recent information concerning existing HR management, business terms, and phenomenon. New York Times and BBC News may provide information concerning the latest changes in the given area, its key tendencies, and prognoses. The well-chosen sources for your own research is a guarantee of the accurate topic lighting on paper. The examples of real companies serve as additional resources for exploring an HR topic to the fullest extent. Among the vast number of journals, there are 10 ones that can be used as the most useful for your HR research paper: Academy of Management Journal available on the Academy of Management. The journal covers the practical application of managerial practice and provides respectful data. Academy of Management Review available on the Academy of Management. This journal covers the theoretical aspects of the management field and provides recent conceptions and theories related to the field. Journal of International Business Studies available on Springer. The journal covers the management-related topics focused on multinational enterprises communication. Journal of Management available on Sage. The journal covers a wide list of topics: starting from business strategies and ending with organizational behavior. Besides, these topics are supported by both empirical and theoretical data. Journal of Business Ethics available on Springer. The journal covers the ethical aspect of the business providing. The journal is not advised as a primary source, but it may be used as support material. Review of Accounting Studies available on Springer. The journal of accounting studies which may provide the necessary statistics. Accounting, Organizations, and Society available on Elsevier. The journal overviews the subject of accounting and behavior relations. May serve as a helpful link between the statistics and actual HR management techniques. Administrative Science Quarterly available on Sage. The journal shows a complex approach toward the organizational process and ways of researches related to it. The journal may be used as a background for interdisciplinary data providing. Journal of Business Economic Statistics available on the American Statistical Association. The journal publishes materials related to business statistics. It may be used as a source of precise numerical data. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice available on the Wiley Online Library. The journal covers both theoretical and practical aspects of management and publishes respective researches. The usage of business cases of successful and unsuccessful management strategies and decisions emphasizes the practical part of researching writing. You should take notes from available pieces of researches and point out some relevant facts to use them in your research paper only with the correct citations. These notes will provide a support to your paper writing in various ways: Outlining points, topics, and subtopics that will be discovered in details, Referencing phrases that support your arguments, Guiding points that help to develop your own thoughts. Outline Briefly What Your Research Paper Should Have During the proper preparation for human resources research paper writing, the outline may be useful to organize every point in a logical manner. Traditionally, an outline consists of the main points according to the basic structure an introduction, body (literature review, methodology, results, and discussion), and conclusion. First of all, the outline should be divided into bullet points, and these bullet points should be numbered. The bullet points reflect topics which relate to the research question and its disclosure. If a research question is complex enough, then there should be subpoints which should be reflected in the outline as well. The outline creation is an important step in the writing preparation: it helps to create a solid framework for the future essay and define its structure. The outline of research papers usually has a similar structure. Look at it: It should be pointed out that the process of writing is iterative. A writer should not concentrate too much on the accuracy and grammar in the first draft. The main aim of the first draft is to convey a thought and give it a decent form. At the second circle, the writer should pay more attention to the paper sections, title, and the thesis statement. Title The title is the first point that a reader sees holding the research paper in hands or in front of eyes on a computer. That is why it is important to make it eye-catching and interesting to read to the end. However, a writer should not forget to keep the title believable. The title should reflect the research question in a brief manner. Besides, the active voice is the must. Sticking to these features will make the title acceptable and intriguing for readers. At the top of that, the title should be accurate. Readers should know what they are going to read or on what topic an essay is written. Thesis Statement A deliberate thesis statement is a core framework of an essay. If the title defines the topic of a paper and gives the first glimpse of it, then a thesis statement shows the author’s position concerning the stated research question. Besides, the thesis statement should not be about the pros and cons that oversimplify the complex research question. Besides, don’t simply report well-known facts. Go further than the simple repetition of what is known about a topic. Body Paragraphs Body parts are the essence of research paper writing where the thesis statement is discovered and explained according to the review of the related literature, research methods used for answering the question under analysis. Each body paragraph should be started from a topic sentence that is detailed by supportive sentences. At this stage, some notes from the outline may serve as an appropriate point for topic sentence creation. A paragraph should end with a closing sentence that sums up the main paragraph’s idea. Traditionally, an essay consists of an introductory paragraph, three body parts, and a conclusion. However, the number of parts depends on the paper requirements. Conclusion After the body sections are written, it is time to conclude logically in the form of an analytical summary of the paper’s main points. Focusing on a minor point in the paper may lead you to write new information. However, it is inappropriate to end a research paper in such a way. As an alternative, you can give some recommendation for further research in the given field. 3 Post-Writing Tips from Our Experts: Improve Your Research Paper in an Instance At the final stage of research paper writing, the primary concern is its overall look. Are all the necessary parts provided as required? Does the flow of thoughts move from the general to the particular? Is a paper free of structural, grammatical, spelling mistakes? and so on. Start with editing after you’re sure you have nothing to write on a topic. It is no wonder to delete some extra words during the editing process. But stick to the word/page count of a paper. Even if you remove something unsubstantial from your paper, add something relevant for a part. Besides, pay double attention to the essential essay components. During the proofreading process, you should remain concentrated and put aside any source of distraction. It will be useful to watch closely for homonyms in which there are a lot of typical spelling mistakes. Just remember homonyms are words which share the same pronunciation or spelling but have different meanings. Besides, no contraction is used in academic writing. Punctuation is the next important step in proofreading. Put some missing or delete extra commas and periods. Read your research paper backward to find the final mistakes. The last but not least element is referencing. All the research papers are grounded on the previous pieces of research and scientific publications that should be used for strong support of your main arguments. all the sources are used for the actual research fit perfectly for referencing. The format of referencing should be minded as well. Depending on the required referencing format, all the guidelines are met. After you see an accurately-formatted paper, that is it your research paper is ready for the submission. Hope you manage to submit a research paper on human resources on time or even earlier the deadline, and have no questions how to write a good human resources research paper.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

12 Interesting Ethical Topics for Essay Papers

12 Interesting Ethical Topics for Essay Papers Writing a persuasive essay requires identifying interesting ethical topics, and these options might inspire you to create a powerful and engaging essay, position paper, or speech for your next assignment. Should Teens Have Plastic Surgery? Good looks are highly prized in our society. You can see advertisements everywhere urging you to buy products that will supposedly enhance your appearance. While many products are topical, plastic surgery is probably the ultimate game-changer. Going under the knife to enhance your looks can be a quick fix and help you achieve the look you desire. It also carries risks and can have lifelong consequences. Consider whether you think teens- who are still developing into mature individuals- should have the right to make such a big decision at such a young age, or if their parents should be able to decide for them. Would you tell if you saw a popular kid bullying? Bullying is a big problem in schools and even in society in general. But it can be difficult to show courage, step up- and step in- if you see a popular kid bullying someone at school. Would you report it if you saw this happening? Why or why not? Would You Speak Up If Your Friend Abused an Animal? Animal abuse by youngsters can foreshadow more violent acts as these individuals grow up. Speaking up might save the animal pain and suffering today and it might steer that person away from more violent acts in the future. But would you have the courage to do so? Why or why not? Would You Tell If You Saw a Friend Cheating on a Test? Courage can come in subtle forms, and that can include reporting seeing someone cheat on a test. Cheating on a test might not seem like such a big deal; perhaps youve cheated on a test yourself. But it is against the policies of schools and universities worldwide. If you saw someone cheating, would you speak up and tell the teacher? What if it was your buddy cheating and telling might cost you a friendship? Explain your stance. Should News Stories Slant Toward What People Want to Hear? There is much debate over whether the news should be unbiased or allow commentary. Newspapers, radios, and news television stations are businesses, just as much as a grocery store or online retailers. They need customers to survive, and that means appealing to what their customers want to hear or see. Slanting reports toward popular opinions could increase ratings and readership, in turn saving newspapers and news shows, as well as jobs. But is this practice ethical? What do you think? Would You Tell If Your Best Friend Had a Drink at the Prom? Most schools have strict rules about drinking at the prom, but many students still engage in the practice. After all, theyll be graduating soon. If you saw a friend imbibing, would you tell or look the other way? Why? Should Football Coaches Be Paid More Than Professors? Football often brings in more money than any other single activity or program a school offers, including academic classes. In the corporate world, if a business is profitable, the CEO and those who contributed to the success are often rewarded handsomely. With that in mind, shouldnt it be the same in academia? Should the top football coaches get paid more than the top professors? Why or why not? Should Politics and Church Be Separate? Candidates often invoke religion when theyre out campaigning. Its generally a good way to attract votes. But should the practice be discouraged? The U.S. Constitution, after all, dictates that there should be a separation of church and state in this country. What do you think and why? Would You Speak Up If You Heard an Ugly Ethnic Statement at a Party Filled With Popular Kids? As in the previous examples, it can be hard to speak up, especially when an incident involves popular kids. Would you have the courage to say something and risk the ire of the popular crowd? Who would you tell? Should Assisted Suicides Be Allowed for Terminally Ill Patients? Some countries, like the Netherlands, allow assisted suicides, as do some U.S. states. Should mercy killing be legal for terminally ill patients who are suffering from great physical pain? What about patients whose diseases will negatively impact their families? Why or why not? Should a Students Ethnicity Be a Consideration for College Acceptance? There has been a long-standing debate about the role ethnicity should play in college acceptance. Proponents of affirmative action argue that underrepresented groups should be given a leg up. Opponents say that all college candidates should be judged on their merits alone. What do you think and why? Should Companies Gather Information About Their Customers? Information privacy is a big and growing issue. Every time you log onto the internet and visit an online retailer, news company, or social media site, companies gather information about you. Should they have the right to do so, or should the practice be banned? Why do you think so? Explain your answer.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Additional Reading #1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Additional Reading #1 - Assignment Example This may follow the general objective of the party or parties involved in such matters regarding ethics. It is of crucial importance to note that there are several expectations with regards to ethics that human beings are supposed to observe at different circumstances, situations, places and environments. Such may involve the necessary ethics regarding business operations and practices, values and ethics within work places, educational institutions as well as ethics within the society. In this perspective, it is of crucial significance to acknowledge the fact that ethics are part of human behavior. Thus, it is impossible to engage in any action without any consideration to ethics. This may be evident in either things done, consciously or unconsciously. For instance, we may at times praise some forms of good deeds as well as see the sense of failing to accomplish certain necessary issues (Clarke, 3). On the same note, business ethics borrow a lot from the general ethics expected in any form of environmental setup. Business, being one of the environments where ethics is most required must follow certain levels, values as well as virtues of practices considered morally welcoming to all the stakeholders. These may include the business managers, employees, customers as well as other parties either directly or indirectly involved in the business operations. These ethics should touch on the practices involving the employee relations, customer relations as well as the entire stakeholders, including the business executives. It is of critical significance that the main aim of any business operation is always to make the maximum profits as possible. However, good moral values as well as good business ethics maintain that any business should realize gains, profits or losses from ethical practices across all stakeholders. In most cases, customer relations is always the pivotal indicator as to the nature of the business relations.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Tate Modern Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tate Modern - Essay Example With the advent of technology it has entered the virtual world of internet and is working as a successful organization for the benefit of art and artists who are able to met their most potential buyers Rockefeller to Mittal who, consequently were the noted patron of the establishment. In general sense it could be stated that this establishment values customers who are educated and connoisseur of art. (Lamb, 2004) Louis Lozowick, Duchamp, Jackson Pollock, Myron Krueger, Anja Kroencke and ceramic artists like Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner, Robert Arneson, Viola Frey and Bennet Bean are the most popular artists at Tate Moder. Among these noted artists Anja Kroencke holds a favorite position as this magnificent illustrator renowned for her outstanding fashion illustrations or more better said lifestyle illustrations. Her contribution in her field is commendable and her work includes the most identifiable masterpieces of illustrations. Anja Kroencke is well known for her distinct haughty women characters. The body proportion, body movement, faces, hands and feet, poses of the characters and the backgrounds in her drawings reflect high class, high profile modern society. Her characters (mostly women) are elegant, stylish and fashion trendy as seen from her drawings. The sophistication and the elegance of her lines and the zing in her works of art have given Anja Kroencke a distinct and remarkable po sition in the field of illustration. Her drawings are incredibly pure, playing with measured degree of black & white and color producing visible contrasts between wide stretches of pure white and vast regions of velvety shadows. (King, 2006) It should be stated that Jackson Pollock's Convergence is one noted favorite in this context. The most important point to be noted in this respect is the amount of energy that is reflected within the parameter of this 95" x 155" inch canvas. (Samuel, 1999) To ascertain a piece of canvas to be judged as a work of art it is necessary to evoke a certain feeling within the viewers. There is no grammar involved in this part; no mathematics is needed; only the artistic sense is operational in this context from the part of the viewer. The interpretation may vary but the theme that evoked the interpretation of the viewer is all that is important to certify a painting as Art. In this context too Jackson Pollock's Convergence comes out with flying colors. (Mitra, 1985) American ceramic artist Bennett Bean lives and works in Blairstown, NJ. Bean is primarily a studio potter but is also an equally good sculptor and painter. His trademark creations include pale pit-fired pots and vessels such as bowls and teapots. Bean has confessed to having been influenced by a range of ceramic art including Japanese pottery, English pottery (such as those by Bernard Leach) Native and Modern American pottery (such as those by George Ohr). Bean is also in the habit of using other beautifying techniques such as gilding and glazing on his pots, only instead of serving as decorative measures these methods help Bean in creating the kind of space and surface he is known for. The patterns he uses comes from a collection he has built up over 20 years, many of them are influenced by the

Trend of Food Truck in University city of Philadelphia Research Paper

Trend of Food Truck in University city of Philadelphia - Research Paper Example result, communities across the country from Philadelphia to Los Angeles have become a crucial part of the ongoing movement of finding out better ways of managing and regulating mobile vending (Spelman, 2010). Lifestyle and policies are found to be the key elements that have led to the tremendous increase in the number of food trucks in the city. Most of the people in the city prefer fast foods especially considering the fact that the city has a consistently growing population of students because of the two major universities (Stadd, 2011). This can be supported by the fact that most of the food trucks in the city have been on campus stalwarts for many years though their numbers has dramatically increased in the recent past. This means that majority of the people eating in food trucks are youths and a persons who are below 40s who are usually casually dressed. Lack of clear policies regulating the business is also believed to be another key attribute of the immense boom of this business (Edge, 2012). Food trucks in the University City are more popular than the ordinary restaurants because of the variety of foods they offer at relatively lower prices. Most of them use large vehicles that are installed with high-tech cooking gadgets as well as sanitation devices that provide sophisticated and safe cuisine commonly prepared to order rather than being precooked. This gives food truck an upper hand in the food and service industry compared to ordinary restaurants. Therefore, local governments should introduce favorable policies that would regulate food trucks and that will incorporate food trucks into the fabric of the city (Ercolani,  2013). The proposed research study will be conducted using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, meaning that the researcher will use qualitative and quantitative research concepts. The targeted respondents in this case include 50 customers of the food trucks and 10 food truck companies. Using a hybrid of these two

Understanding Business and Management Research Methods Assignment

Understanding Business and Management Research Methods - Assignment Example Understanding Business and Management Research Methods Research methodologies generally are of two types viz. quantitative and qualitative research methodology (Cameron and Molina-Azorin 2011). When both of them are combined then it is known as mixed methodology. Although authors held the view that mixed methodology is increasingly used in the business and management circles, the use of pure form of qualitative or quantitative research methodology is more visible. Further, it is stated in the article that strong theoretical and conceptual framework, legitimating, publication, academic recognition and seminal mixed method theorists make mixed methodology legitimate in research arena. Along with this, the duo claimed that this methodology is gaining popularity in fields, like medicine, nursing, health, education, behavioural and social sciences which are very exact comment of them. Though, this method is now used by a number of researchers, an established definition has not yet been written. For example, according to Thurston, Cove & Meado ws (2008, p. 3) ‘Mixed methods studies can either combine methods from different paradigms or use multiple methods within the same paradigm, or multiple strategies within methods’. However, The Journal of Mixed Methods Research (2006) defined mixed methods as ‘research in which the investigator collects, analyses, mixes, and draws inferences from both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study or a program of inquiry’.... (1950s - 1980s), Paradigm debate period (1970s - late 1990s), Procedural development period (late 1980s – 2000), and the Advocacy as a separate design period (2000+). In addition to this, the duo authors have also discussed the growing interest of the academic journals and scholars in this third method of research which increases the academic weight of academic paper (Bergman 2008). Creswell and Plano Clark’s (2007) discipline acceptance levels for mixed methods is used by the authors to show the acceptance level of this third methodological movement. There are three level of acceptance developed by Creswell and Plano Clark’s (2007) .i.e. Minimal, Moderate and Major. For every level of acceptance there are certain benchmarks being listed below (Cameron 2008). There are five benchmarks for minimal acceptance and they are awareness within the discipline of qualitative research, publication of actual mixed method studies in discipline studies, graduate students usin g mixed methods in dissertation research, discussions in journals about the need for mixed methods, and mixed methods research discussed at professional conference. There are four benchmarks for moderate acceptance i.e. leaders in the discipline advocating use of mixed methods, workshop on mixed methods research forums dedicated to the discipline, Funding companies supporting mixed methods research, methodological discussions of mixed methods in journals devoted to the discipline. There are three benchmarks for major acceptance i.e. special issues of a journal focusing on the use of mixed methods in the discipline, publication of mixed methods studies in top discipline-based journals, course on mixed methods research as part of graduate research training programs. The authors have used above discipline

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Ethical perspective of a global issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical perspective of a global issue - Essay Example The possibility of human cloning was raised when Scottish scientists at Roslin Institute created the much-celebrated sheep "Dolly" (Lauritzen 57-64). Dolly aroused worldwide interest and concern because of the scientific and ethical implications in creating her. The feat, cited by Science magazine as the breakthrough of 1997, also generated uncertainty over the meaning of "cloning" --an umbrella term traditionally used by scientists to describe different processes for duplicating biological material. (Murray, 41) When the media report on cloning in the news, they are usually talking about only one type called reproductive cloning. There are different types of cloning however, and cloning technologies can be used for other purposes besides producing the genetic twin of another organism. A basic understanding of the different types of cloning is key to taking an informed stance on current public policy issues and making the best possible personal decisions. (Murray, 41) The following three types of cloning technologies are the most progressive: (1) recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, (2) reproductive cloning, and (3) therapeutic cloning. ... Scientists studying a particular gene often use bacterial plasmids to generate multiple copies of the same gene. Plasmids are self-replicating extra-chromosomal circular DNA molecules, distinct from the normal bacterial genome (see image to the right). Plasmids and other types of cloning vectors are used by Human Genome Project researchers to copy genes and other pieces of chromosomes to generate enough identical material for further study. (Walters, 69) Reproductive cloning is expensive and highly inefficient. More than 90% of cloning attempts fail to produce viable offspring. More than 100 nuclear transfer procedures could be required to produce one viable clone. In addition to low success rates, cloned animals tend to have more compromised immune function and higher rates of infection, tumor growth, and other disorders. Japanese studies have shown that cloned mice live in poor health and die early. (Lauritzen 57-64) About a third of the cloned calves born alive have died young, and many of them were abnormally large. Many cloned animals have not lived long enough to generate good data about how clones age. Appearing healthy at a young age unfortunately is not a good indicator of long term survival. Clones have been known to die mysteriously. For example, Australia's first cloned sheep appeared healthy and energetic on the day she died, and the results from her autopsy failed to determine a cause of death. (Walters 69) In 2002, researchers at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, reported that the genomes of cloned mice are compromised. In analyzing more than 10,000 liver and placenta cells of cloned mice, they discovered

Identify the specific and unique culture of social networking Annotated Bibliography

Identify the specific and unique culture of social networking - Annotated Bibliography Example The article concludes that there exist distinct differences among those individuals that use various forms of social sites. It was found most of the Facebook users came from a privileged background as compared to MySpace users. Moreover, the academic achievement determined individual preference to any particular social site. The difference was most common among teenagers. The insight on this culture has been through the usage of social sites. By using the sites, I have come to realize that certain social sites are a reflection of groups such as professionals, academics, and celebrities. For example, joining some site that does not fit your group makes it difficult to interact and communicate with those that are well suited in that site. Bode, Leticia, Vraga, Emily, Borah, Porismita and Shah, Dhavan. â€Å"A New Space for Political Behavior: Political Social Networking and its Democratic Consequences.† Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Wiley.com. Web 17 February 2013. . The article notes on increased political participation due to social networking sites. Moreover, the authors note that the majority of these sites have received a high concentration of young people. The authors further notes that there is growing political realm on the sites. The authors seek to note what has encouraged people participating in the sites to engage in political discourse. Moreover, they seek to establish what the effects of increased political participation. On the other hand, the author notes that there has been increased use of the sites among the politicians. Further, they note that the sites have been significantly used as a political tool in various parts of the world. The authors conclude that the use of social sites by young people has led to increased relevance in the political arena. Moreover, they note that these sites have increased the level of

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Ethical perspective of a global issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical perspective of a global issue - Essay Example The possibility of human cloning was raised when Scottish scientists at Roslin Institute created the much-celebrated sheep "Dolly" (Lauritzen 57-64). Dolly aroused worldwide interest and concern because of the scientific and ethical implications in creating her. The feat, cited by Science magazine as the breakthrough of 1997, also generated uncertainty over the meaning of "cloning" --an umbrella term traditionally used by scientists to describe different processes for duplicating biological material. (Murray, 41) When the media report on cloning in the news, they are usually talking about only one type called reproductive cloning. There are different types of cloning however, and cloning technologies can be used for other purposes besides producing the genetic twin of another organism. A basic understanding of the different types of cloning is key to taking an informed stance on current public policy issues and making the best possible personal decisions. (Murray, 41) The following three types of cloning technologies are the most progressive: (1) recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, (2) reproductive cloning, and (3) therapeutic cloning. ... Scientists studying a particular gene often use bacterial plasmids to generate multiple copies of the same gene. Plasmids are self-replicating extra-chromosomal circular DNA molecules, distinct from the normal bacterial genome (see image to the right). Plasmids and other types of cloning vectors are used by Human Genome Project researchers to copy genes and other pieces of chromosomes to generate enough identical material for further study. (Walters, 69) Reproductive cloning is expensive and highly inefficient. More than 90% of cloning attempts fail to produce viable offspring. More than 100 nuclear transfer procedures could be required to produce one viable clone. In addition to low success rates, cloned animals tend to have more compromised immune function and higher rates of infection, tumor growth, and other disorders. Japanese studies have shown that cloned mice live in poor health and die early. (Lauritzen 57-64) About a third of the cloned calves born alive have died young, and many of them were abnormally large. Many cloned animals have not lived long enough to generate good data about how clones age. Appearing healthy at a young age unfortunately is not a good indicator of long term survival. Clones have been known to die mysteriously. For example, Australia's first cloned sheep appeared healthy and energetic on the day she died, and the results from her autopsy failed to determine a cause of death. (Walters 69) In 2002, researchers at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, reported that the genomes of cloned mice are compromised. In analyzing more than 10,000 liver and placenta cells of cloned mice, they discovered

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

A Colorful Day at the Football Stadium Case Study

A Colorful Day at the Football Stadium - Case Study Example A college football game can be the most colorful event in anyone's memory. The colors filled the parking lot. There were cars of every imaginable color. Some were the typical red and gray. There were cars that were the colors of the teams, which were green and blue. Near the entrance there were two very important looking black cars. The parking lot was also filled with banners. There was a huge green banner that proclaimed its support for the visiting team. There were several blue banners that had the name of the home team printed on them. There was even a banner on the truck from the local television station that was red, white, and blue. Along one side of the parking lot was a row of very colorful vendors. There was an orange sign that said 'French Fries' on a yellow background. There was a huge red sign that advertised 'Coca-Cola'. A purple sign was used to attract buyers to a van selling sports memorabilia. Everywhere you looked in the parking lot you would see a different color.Inside the stadium, the fans were as colorful as the parking lot. In one se ction there were over 200 people that wore green sweatshirts, the color of the visiting team. They wore hats that were gold with the team insignia. Their pants, mostly jeans, were a rainbow of various colors. A diehard fan had painted himself the color of the home team. The only clothing he wore that wasn't blue and white were his red sneakers. Many fans had banners, which announced their favorite team.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Importance of Exercise for the Elderly: Literature Review

Importance of Exercise for the Elderly: Literature Review Sports studies with business Chapter 1 Introduction The importance of physical activity and physical fitness in terms of â€Å"†¦ health and longevity †¦Ã¢â‚¬  have been linked since the â€Å"†¦ earliest records of organized exercise used in health promotion †¦ (which were) †¦ found in China around 2500 B.C†¦.† (Hardman et al, 2003, p. 3). Hippocrates, who is â€Å"†¦ often called the Father of Modern Medicine, wrote †¦Ã¢â‚¬ : â€Å"†¦ all parts of the body which have a function, if used in moderation and exercised in labours in which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy, well-developed and age more slowly, but if unused and left idle they become liable to disease, defective in growth and age quickly† (Hardman et al, 2003, p. 3). The link between exercise and health has been a long established fact in medicine that also traces back to â€Å"Cicero in 44 BC (who was himself echoing Aristotle) †¦Ã¢â‚¬  who believed that health as one ages is improved by having a good diet along with exercise and mental stimulation (Harlow, 2006). In fact, Cicero â€Å"†¦ saw old age as something yet to happen to him †¦Ã¢â‚¬  when he was in his sixties and writing his treatise in an period when less than â€Å"†¦ seven percent of the population reached sixty† (Harlow, 2006). The preceding three factors of diet, exercise and mental stimulation as mentioned by Cicero are ingredients that are present in when one participates in sports. The subject of elderly participation in sporting activities in the United Kingdom represents one of considerable importance as the percentage of older adults increases in proportion to the UK’s total population. This examination shall seek to equate the participation rates for sports in the United Kingdom, delving into how, and if social class represents a contributing factor concerning the potential of this group participating in sporting activities in later life. The prospect of sport participation in later life shall also be undertaken along with whether social class enters into this facet as well concerning participation rates. The importance of age is impacting the population in the United Kingdom whereby the number of people over the age of 65 has increased to 16 percent, with the age group 85 and older comprising 12 percent of the total population (National Statistics, 2007). The significance of the foregoing is that people are living longer as a result of better nutrition, health care, and living conditions as well as life styles (Quanten, 2004). Interestingly, Quanten (2004) makes the observation that medical science has determined that our basis for calculating the longevity of ancient civilizations is faulty in that the technique utilized in estimating age was based upon bone density. The bone samples generally belonged to middle aged men and women, thus the formula utilized to determine age was based upon the weakening of said density which was slower then than it is now (Quanten, 2004). Thus it was found that the estimation of age has been seriously under represented, putting the average life span of early man in the range of somewhere between 80 and 100 years, meaning that in modern terms civilization has lost ground in aging as opposed to gaining, as was the consensus of thought (Quanten, 2004). Evidence supporting the preceding in today’s world can be found in the fact that there are many examples of individuals living to 120 to 130 years, with the vast majority of them living in extreme conditions where a high degree of physical labour is required for survival, as represented by jungles untouched by modern society, and harsh climates as found in Northern Russia (Quanten, 2004). The common fact linking the ancient study and present day examples of individuals living 120 to 130 years is that their environments were and are more physical in their demands, with the lifestyles requiring more exercise. Kligman and Pepin (1992, pp. 33-34, 37-44. 47), the American College of Sports Medicine (1998, pp. 992-1008), Dishman (1994, pp. 1087-1094) and Nelson et al (1991, pp. 1304-1311) along with numerous other sources all attest to the benefits of exercise in early life as well as throughout life as beneficial in staving off disease as well as prolonging life. Studies as undertaking by Shepard (1993, pp. 61-64) and, Paffenbarger et al (1989, pp. 605-613) for example, cite incidences in Finland as well as Harvard University in the United States where those who consistently exercised lived on average 2 to 3 years longer that their more sedentary counterparts. The foregoing brief examples and analysis of age and exercise has been conducted to provide an initial foundation for understanding the framework of this examination which shall delve into elderly sports participation rates in the United Kingdom. The topic of this study is to attempt to determine, if possible, how social class affects the likelihood of doing sporting activities in later life, with its aim to see if social class does have an influence on people taking/carrying on sporting activity in this context. In conducting this examination, the foregoing also seek to compare individuals in the age group representing 55 years of age and above who participate in sporting activities against those who do not through a comparison of their social class backgrounds as represented by working middle class and upper middle class classifications to determine if any correlation exists. Chapter 2 – Literature Review Resnick et al (2006, p. 174), in â€Å"Screening for and Prescribing Exercise for Older Adults† advise that there is substantial scientific evidence that supports the benefits of exercise in maintaining â€Å"†¦ function, health, and overall quality of life for older adults. The article advises that physical activity represents â€Å"†¦ one of the greatest opportunities to extend †¦Ã¢â‚¬  an individual’s active as well as independent life and reduce the incidence of disability, and that regular physical activity by older adults are more likely to have better health (Resnick et al, 2006, pp. 174-182). In spite of the clear evidence of the preceding, most adults do not participate or engage in either sport or physical activity, and unfortunately the prescription of a regular physical regime is not yet a routine clinical practice (Resnick et al, 2006, pp. 174-182). The article went on to state that the best methodology via which to engage in a sport or ph ysical exercise is to first seek the aid of a physician to reach a determination of one’s present medical and physical state in order for a person to understand the types of activities they should / can engage in, as well as seeking help with a program to ease them into a proper regime. The Council of Europe (1993) defines sport as encompassing â€Å"†¦ all forms of physical activity †¦Ã¢â‚¬  which includes casual participation for which the aim of the activity is to improve â€Å"†¦ physical fitness and mental well-being †¦Ã¢â‚¬  along with the formation of social relationships and or obtaining competitive results. As such, the foregoing expands what one traditionally understands as the defintion of sport into a broader context that includes individual sport as well as fitness activities that include certain dance activities, and aerobics along with walking and cycling (Rowe et al, 2004). The Council of Europe’s (1993) definition includes informal and casual participation, along with the more serious club and professional pursuits (Rowe et al, 2004). The study conducted by Rowe et al (2004) defined participation as at least once a week in the activity, and found that the evidence collected indicated that the United Kingdom had moved t owards stagnation with regard to participation levels. The following chart reflects these findings: Table 1 – Sport, Game and Phyisical Activity Participation in the United Kingdom (Rowe et al, 2004) The preceding indicates the fluctuating levels of particpation occuring at the rate of at least one time a week over a four week period for the indicated periods. The following Table shows the foregoing, but excludes walking. Table 2 – Participation in Sports, Games and Physical Activity (Excludes walking) (Rowe et al, 2004) Social class differences explored in the study by Rowe et al (2004) showed a marked difference in sport participation between the highest and lowest social classifications, as one would expect owing to differences in the ability to spend time on pursuits as a result of disposable income and time, in addition to living closer to facilities and or having the transportation and or a circle of friends who also participate, thus making sport an increased part of their lifestyle. Table 3 – Differences in Social Class, Sport Participation 1987 – 1996 (Rowe et al, 2004) Table 4 – Projected Chanages in Number of Sport Participants between 1996 – 2026, Based on Trends Established 1990 – 1996 (Rowe et al, 2004) The total number of estimated particpants in varied sports activity is shown projected into the year 2026 in the above Table. The increased number is due to the rise of the number of people in these age groups as opposed to actual increased participation (Rowe et al, 2004). Older aged individuals, as shown by Tables 1 and 2 have significantly lower sport activity participation rates which to a large degree, as expressed in the study conducted by Rowe et al (2004), is due to reduced participation in their social group, aliments, lack of income, non-inclusion in their lifestyle as well as being uninformed that sport and exercise represent a healthful benefit that should be continued throughout an individual’s life. Thurston and Green (2004, pp. 379-387) support the previous contention of the development of more active lifestyles for older individuals, as does the Department of Health (1995) in their document â€Å"More People, More Active, More Often. Physical Activity in England†, and Department of Health douments in the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 that all make references to the overwhelming evidence that indicates that frequent and regular physical activity is beneficial to health. The foregoing includes an increased life expectancy, diabetes, control over obesity, reduction in coronary heart disease, positive health outcomes, increased mobility and coordination as well as other benefits (Thurston and Green, 2004, pp. 379-387). Studies have shown that even if an adult begins sport and exercise programs as late as 60 years of age they can improve their life expectancy by 1 to 2 years, however 40% of adults in the above 60 year age group do not partake in such a regime even if they were aware of the benefits (Thurston and Green, 2004, pp. 379-387). The understanding of the importance of the older generation as a part of the overall national profile as well as economic, health, medical and social system, the House of Lords published is document titled â€Å"Aging: Scientific Aspects†, in 2005 (House of Lords, 2005). The Report stated that the â€Å"†¦ economic implications of changing life expectancy are †¦ of great importance †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , with the â€Å"†¦ urgency of these matters †¦ â€Å"made plain from statistics that point out â€Å"†¦ for the first time the number of people in England and Wales aged 60 and over was greater than the number aged under 16† (House of Lords, 2005). When the figures for what is termed the ‘oldest old’, meaning individuals above the age of 85 are included, the implications are even more striking: Table 5 – Oldest Old Comparisons, UK and the World (House of Lords, 2005) The growth rate of the aging population in the United Kingdom is outstripping the global rate to the point whereby the UK is projected to reach a figure of 20% of its total population in 2020, fully thirty years before the global population will reach that figure, thus making the prospect of old age health an important one for the country. Table 6 – Life Expectancy, United Kingdom (House of Lords, 2005) The above Table indicates that the life expectancy in England is higher when counted alone. In examining the elderly sports participation rate for the older population in the United Kingdom utilizing social class distinctions, it is important equate the defining aspects of these groups. The following defines the preceding as found in the House of Lords document â€Å"Aging: Scientific Aspects†: Table 7 – Social Class Segments (House of Lords, 2005) Table 8 – Life Expectancy by Social Class (House of Lords, 2005) The preceding Table represented an aid in the later determination of social class and if this factor has any bearing, and or influence upon participation in carrying on sporting activities in later life. The House of Lord’s report on â€Å"Aging: Scientific Aspects† did indicate through the study of varied reports as well as consultations that it came to the conclusion, which is a consensus view, â€Å"†¦ that aging is caused by lifelong accumulation of molecular and cellular damage †¦Ã¢â‚¬  as opposed to the theory of a â€Å"†¦ rigid inner clock †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (House of Lords, 2005). Importantly, the ‘Report’ indicated that the process of aging â€Å"†¦ is more malleable than has been generally appreciated †¦Ã¢â‚¬  and that the â€Å"†¦ mechanisms governing health in old age †¦Ã¢â‚¬  are processes that are ongoing throughout the lives of individuals (House of Lords, 2005). In reference to the implications of this examination, the ‘Report’ â€Å"†¦ summarized what appears to be a consensus view †¦Ã¢â‚¬  regarding the key factors promoting good health as well as slowing down the ageing process as (House of Lords, 2005): physical activity; having a social role and function; good nutrition; absence of risk factors such as smoking and drinking to excess; and good mental health and well-being The ‘Report’ stressed that physical activity represents a ‘key’ facet of good health and â€Å"†¦ is the major modifiable influence on health in old age† (House of Lords, 2005). In making such a statement the ‘Report’ referred to ‘The Royal Society of Edinburgh’ which stated that exercise has been shown as being a critical factor in maintaining as well as modestly increasing bone density of adults, and more importantly can aid in the minimization of bone loss in older individuals (House of Lords, 2005). The overall ‘Report’ on â€Å"Aging: Scientific Aspects† provided key background information that proved helpful, with regard to general information, and indispensable with regard to demographic groups, exercise, and the government’s recognition of the importance of the issue as well as the specific and key identification of key points. With regard to sport, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2007a) aims to encourage wider sports participation, and in regard to the focus of this examination, to promote sport at the grassroots level, which has implications concerning facilities that the older generation either has available, and or needs (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b). In its Report â€Å"Where are we Now: The State of Sport Today†, it clarifies that the government does not run sport, but recognizes it as an important factor in the health, and well being of children, adults, and the older generation (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b). Overall, across all age and demographic groups, the United Kingdom ranks in the middle of the European Union in sports participation by the general public, as shown by the following: Table 9 – European Union General Population Sport Participation (In Percent) (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b) In terms of intensity, individuals in the United Kingdom participate in sports on a less regular basis, and with less intensity (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b). The last aspect does not have applicability with regard to older adults, however the former is a telling statistics concerning its bearing on older sports participation. Table 10 – UK Sport Participation (In percent) (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b) Rate of Intensity The following table indicates the rates of participation of residents in the UK. Table 11 – Competitive and Organized Sport Participation in the UK (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b) The ‘Report’ indicates participation rates among social economic groups varies, however it does not break out these statistics into age groups. Table 12 – UK General Population Sports Participation by Social Economic Group (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b) Table 13 – UK Sport Participation by Ethnic Minority (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2007b) Sport England (2005) undertook a study that systematically reviewed published and unpublished research studies regarding children, and adult reasons concerning participation as well as non-participation in sport, which this examination utilized to add to the other research and literature sources. An important facet that was identified in the study was one representing an individual’s personal appearance and proficiency levels. The preceding two aspects are generally overlooked factors that are a part of a person’s sport participation consideration. The very real concern of having an unfit body, being out of shape, not able to conduct certain aspects of sport participation performance on a level that could potentially lead to personal embarrassment, are very real concerns that could and do enter into dissuading individuals from participating in a sporting activity (Sport England, 2005). Facilities and availability are also factors that enter into the participation equation, along with costs. For example, the incidence of parks, walkways, golf, tennis, cricket, bicycle paths, gym facilities and the like are more likely to be located near to upper income neighbourhoods than lower income