Differentiation Strategies of Gm

Differentiation strategies are not about pursuing uniqueness for the sake of being different. Differentiation is about understanding customers and how GM ‘s product can meet their needs. To this extent, the quest for differentiation advantage takes us to the heart of business strategy. The fundamental issues of differentiation are also the fundamental issues of business strategy: Who are GM ‘s customers? How does GM create value for them? And how does GM do it more effectively and efficiently than anyone else? Because differentiation is about uniqueness, establishing differentiation advantage requires creativity – it cannot be achieved simply through applying standardized frameworks and techniques. This is not to say that differentiation advantage is not amenable to systematic analysis. As have observed, there are two requirements for creating profitable differentiation. On the supply side, GM must be aware of the resources and capabilities through which it can create uniqueness (and do it better than competitors). On the demand side, the key is insight into customers and their needs and preferences. These two sides form the major components of our analysis of differentiation. In analyzing differentiation opportunities, GM can distinguish tangible and intangible dimensions of differentiation. Tangible differentiation is concerned with the observable characteristics of a product or service that are relevant to customers’ preferences and choice processes. These include size, shape, color, weight, design, material, and technology. Tangible differentiation also includes the performance of the product or service in terms of reliability, consistency, taste, speed, durability, and safety. Image differentiation are especially important for those products and services whose qualities and performance are difficult to ascertain at the time of purchase (â€Å"experience goods†). These include cosmetics, medical services, and education. By offering uniqueness in its offerings, GM may inevitably target certain market niches. By selecting performance, engineering, and style as the basis on which BMW competes in the automobile industry, it inevitably appeals to different market segments than does VW. To the extent that differentiation is imitated by other companies, the result can be the creation of new market segments. During the 1990s, General Motors’ segmented marketing strategy that targeted each brand on a specific price bracket and particular socioeconomic category ran into increasing problems as US customers showed less and less identification with the segments GM had defined for them. Demand analysis identifies customers’ demands for differentiation and their willingness to pay for it, but creating differentiation advantage also depends on a firm’s ability to offer differentiation. To identify the firm’s potential to supply differentiation, we need to examine the activities the firm performs and the resources it has access to. Pros and cons A strategy use by GM to seek competitive advantage through uniqueness (develop goods and services that are clearly different from those made available by the competitors)This strategy requires organizational strengths in marketing, research and development, technological leadership and creativity . They provide good services to the customer which services are different from other organization . G. M. is a multinational corporation engaged in socially responsible operations, worldwide. It is dedicated to provide products and services of such quality that our customers will receive superior value while our employees and business partners will share in our success and our stock-holders will receive a sustained superior return on their investment These days, GM realize how important it is to have employees trained in good customer service skills working in their contact center if they want to enhance their reputation. For example training staff in problem solving and the ability to multi task in areas such as navigating complex databases and switching between different computers to find information for the caller is now becoming a routine function in a modern contact center. It is therefore an advantage for call center employees in today’s workplace to have the ability to think quickly on their feet so they can deal quickly with involved information while working under pressure. GM also providing Transportation Services: Here GM aim at providing top nick transportation services to the customers and satisfy them to maximum extent. GM know that a delay in shipping the freights can cause considerable loss to the clients and the business, therefore on-time delivery is extremely important to us. The network of truck agents which are located at all over the booking points ensure that your consignments reach to its final destination in full secured mode, GM also gratify to all your transportation needs by providing you door-to-door Pick Up & Delivery Transportation services.

Heart of Darkness and “The Hollow Men” Essay

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness reveals the theme of self-reflection, however that reflection leads to a caliginous finish filled with vacantness. A poem written in 1925, â€Å"The Hollow Men† by T.S. Eliot, portrays a nearly equivalent feeling of emptiness. Both of which form a vacuous, hollow existence of man. Conrad and Eliot’s work mirrors each other’s directly with their internal reflection and overall emptiness. In fact, Eliot even begins his poem with â€Å"Mistah Kurtz- He dead.† a citation from Heart of Darkness. Poems often intend to express more than what they literally say within their lines. In T.S. Eliot’s â€Å"Hollow Men,† Eliot depicts the insignificant lives of these â€Å"hollow men,† â€Å"stuffed† with worthlessness. He then goes on to explain how the men go about their daily lives and â€Å"whisper together† meaningless things. Eliot also speaks of the eyes that are â€Å"more distant and more solemn than a fading star.† The hollow men’s eyes are in a sort of hellish state, with stares of nothingness as they gaze out among the world. God’s eyes seem out of reach to these hopeless men, God’s eyes â€Å"do not appear,† they are too distant for them to reach. â€Å"This dead land this cactus land here the stone images are raised,† men in this barren and empty land are seen worshipping false gods, worthless stone. The only way for the hollow men to find hope is for God to be brought pack in and praised in â€Å"death’s twilight kingdom,† which in itself seems hopeless. Almost spontaneously Eliot brings in a nursery rhyme, creating a whimsical and simplistic way about the hollow men. Shortly after he starts the Lord’s Prayer, â€Å"For thine is the Kingdom,† and repeats it several times seeming to loose his train of thought, adding to the meaningless stuffing of these hollow men. â€Å"This is the way the world ends not with a bang but a whimper,† ends Eliot’s poem and also the lives of the hollow men, without meaning or significance. Like the theme of hollowness throughout â€Å"The Hollow Men,† â€Å"Heart of Darkness† generates the similar theme of self-reflection and the eventual feeling of emptiness. The protagonist, Marlow, sees that England is filled with superfluous actions and material things. â€Å"The inner truth is hidden.† The character of Marlow consists of a wandering sailor with little knowledge of who he really is. When traveling throughout the world, Marlow’s eyes open as he realizes the darkness of the world. Marlow leaves behind Eliot’s â€Å"deliberate disguises† and journeys to the void land of Africa. Soon He soon ascertains that Africa is very similar to England, in that it is centered around the worthless materials and money, â€Å"the word ‘ivory’ rang in the air†¦ you would think they were praying to it.† Marlow’s main reason of going into this strange land was to check on the inner station and unintentionally on Kurtz. Through all of the things Marlow witnesses on his voyage, he discovers the true emptiness and hollowness within himself. The jungles of Africa assume the same roles as the deserts of â€Å"The Hollow Men,† the area is barren and forsaken reflecting the mind of Marlow. In the â€Å"inner station† Marlow meets a character who seems to be â€Å"stuffed† like the men of Eliot’s poem, â€Å"I could poke my forefinger through him, and would find nothing but a little loose dirt.† When Kurtz is finally introduced in Heart of Darkness he is repeatedly labeled as a â€Å"universal genius,† and this so-called genius is from his own inner reflections. Something â€Å"had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conceptions till he took counsel with this great solitude – and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core.† The whispers in â€Å"The Hollow Men† are also found throughout Heart of Darkness. Kurtz knows deep inside that he is empty and attempts to fill the void with these whispers. His remorse for these actions are revealed through his last words, â€Å"The horror! The horror!† His genius was eventually seen for what it truly was; he knew was he had, a â€Å"hollow† existence. The poem and novella both represent the masked, hollow, and meaningless existence of men, through a sense of reflection of oneself. Heart of Darkness is a tale of searching of meaningless ends and â€Å"The Hollow Men† reveals the tragedy of the hollowness in men, both show that these material obsessions of the world are worth nothing in the overall outlook of life.

How native american were treated Personal Statement

How native american were treated - Personal Statement Example Native America contracted epidemics diseases brought by the European, got displaced, enslavement and high rates of intermarriages (Stannard, 1993). An Indian Holocaust is a term used by the American Indians to describe the mass destruction of the Indian population following the European colonization. On other hand, genocide means the killing of a particular people or tribe. It is also described as an intentional and systematic termination of national or ethnic group. Genocide is not a new phenomenon as the American Indians experienced it when colonialists burnt down their villages and shot all people including women and children. There were many aspects of genocide that was implemented by the Native Americans. The list of genocidal guidelines includes biological welfare, mass-execution, Incarceration, prevention of religious practices and incarceration among others. Mass-execution started when Columbus arrived as the forty-eight neighboring states of America were in excess by twelve million. Columbus came to implement mass execution and slavery. Three years later, approximately five million people were dead as a result of the m ass execution and slavery. Spanish colonizers were harsh to children who attempted to run as they could cut off their legs (Stannard, 1993). They could also pour boiling soap on people who tried to resist their commands. This torture was an awful thing to do to a fellow human being. Despite the departure of Christopher Columbus, many countries celebrated the day that he arrived in America. However, this holiday has been widely opposed. This holiday is not common as people argue that he was cruel to the natives when he arrived in America. The day should not be eminent as it brings back memories of tears. The Spanish government conducted a census, and they found out that only 200 indigenous people were

Impact of Changing Demographics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Impact of Changing Demographics - Research Paper Example The major themes that include economical, technological and societal or cultural impact have come under study later in the report, with the declaration about the marketing role in such changes. However, the conclusion elucidates the information that has come under presentation in the thesis. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 The Major Trends of Changing Demographics 6 Aging Population 6 Rise of Working Women 7 Increased Ethnic Diversity 8 The Economic Impact of Changing Demographics 9 The Technological Impact on Changing Demographics 10 The Societal and Cultural Impact on Changing Demographics 11 Conclusion 12 References 14 Introduction As the world and its inhabitants have entered into the twenty first century, it is coming across numerous changes and revolutions with the advancement and innovations in various sectors. Globalization is one of the leading changes that have brought the world on one global platform. This has changed the working ways and thinking of t he organizations throughout the world. Demographics are one of the variables that enlighten the organizations’ marketing department about who are the current and potential customers present in the market; where they are and what is the ratio of the customers that are probable to buy the product the marketer is selling. In other words, the marketers study the statistics of the populace with reference to size, density, location, age, gender, race, occupation, and several other socio-economic factors when they want to identify the demographic feature for a particular product or service (Griffin, 2010). However, according to the dictionary.com, demographics can come under reference as â€Å"The characteristics of human populations and population segments, especially when used to identify consumer markets† (Griffin, pp. 132, 2010). To put it briefly, demographics play a substantial role for the advertisers in order to identify the target market for their products and servic es. Marketing strategies on the other hand is the development of actions where the marketers select their target markets on their statistical variables, and create and maintain appropriate marketing mix accordingly (Hooley &  Graham, 2008). Marketing strategy of any organization comes under formulation after the organization has defined the mission statement, goals and objectives and conducted the SWOT analysis of the product. The environmental analysis is also one of the imperative steps for development of marketing strategies. However, translating the product information, advertising message and most prominently the marketing strategies that the consumers can understand and respond provide the enterprise with a clear-cut benefit over the competitors (Hooley &  Graham, 2008). Rapid, dramatic, and turbulent changes are some of the characteristics that govern the new epoch in which the organizations are standing. Additionally, this elevated rate of change has twisted and metamorp hosed the ways of working in the diverse enterprises. In fact, transformation has become an integral part of the organizational culture and life beyond doubt. Several emerging and changing trends are creating a deep impact on to the working of the organizations. Out of these rising and shifting trends, demographics are one of the facets that have leaded the corporations to reconsider and mull over their marketing strategies another time. These changes not only present opportunities and

Labour Law in Canada Final EXAM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Labour Law in Canada Final EXAM - Assignment Example Closed shops: The position or status of closed shops varies in the provinces of Canada. A closed shop can be a type of union safety contract where the employer confirms to hire union associates simply, and employees ought to stay associates of the union continually. Union security measures, as well as specially the closed along with union shop, allow unions higher bargaining strength than they'd have experienced under an openshop set up. Statutory Freeze: Labour statutes within every single province as well as in the federal legal system offer a freeze in a couple of specific circumstances: in negotiating for any renewed collective settlement and in bargaining to get a very first collective contract. From the very first agreement scenario, many statutes give 2 distinct freezes, the one that starts once the union applies pertaining to certification, then one that takes place as soon as the union is licensed. In negotiating for a restoration contract, usually the older collective agree ment may expire prior to the latest agreement is agreed upon. Positive Obligation of the state: Positive obligations grant states not to avoid particular steps, but to take action. Similarly with the individuals experiencing human rights requirements, states ought to stop third parties from messing up the standard of living. The labor law will be important in implementing the action plans from government that brings prosperity in society. Part B short Answers: Answer 1. Explain the Legal status of Unions†¦ The status of Unions has been changing during the period of 1920 and 1960s. Both countries almost had similar workplaces for the workers. During that period there was a rise in the popularity of memberships for labor unions. However, after 1965 in USA there was a marginal decline in the popularity of labor unions but in Canada this concept was on a steady way. The reason behind this fluctuation was the impact of globalization. In Canada there has been a tough competition rega rding the manufacturing industry. It was made very easy to join unions simply by signing a special card. This process is also called card check. There are four points under this: the legal status of unions in Canada has encouraged the democratic culture practices, they have made the employment and social objectives wide spread for their members. While reviewing the Canadian labor law Federal Force stated that the trade union of Canada has a high level of internal democracy and they truly have feeling and show keen interest for their members. Then the next point is that, unlike American and British unions Canadian unions do not have any stain like corruption and uncontrollable militancy. However, there were quite a few incidents of corruption but, they were not the main part of labor union, many of them were expelled to make sure that the true leadership is widespread. Thirdly, the political continuation has never been there; in other words, the demand for prolonged union affairs int ernally had positive aspects for the effectiveness of organizations. Those who wanted â€Å"union democracy† never acquired that influence they had in America and Britain. Then the last thing, self-government has a deep influence on Canadian legislator and courts, the way the British common law concept of union was. The membership concept was taken completely personal and contractual, and this is why they do not view it internally the union matters. Membership had been there without a political or group pressure.

The Microsoft Dominance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Microsoft Dominance - Essay Example The paper tries to analyse the economic position of Microsoft and understand why they have been able to retain themselves as a monopoly in the market. Let us start with the definition of monopoly and then analyse the same definition with respect to the share controlled by Microsoft in the market. â€Å"A situation in which a single company or group owns all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service. By definition, monopoly is characterized by an absence of competition, which often results in high prices and inferior products.† Monopoly Definition." Investopedia.com - Your Source For Investing Education Inferring from the above definition, a monopoly is a state of market where one company controls the market with a tight management in place and holding a dominant share where it can dictate the prices and the supply of the product to the market and therefore would exercise a position of power in the respective market. Microsoft enjoyed such dominance in the OS market for computers for two decades and still holds that position due to the free availability of its products in the market. â€Å"Microsoft accounts for 90-95% of microcomputer operating systems, and it is the de facto standard for computer applications. It is obvious that it is dominating the market. However, one could argue that its market power is gained from the consumer choices†¦its legitimacy rests upon consumers who willingly, and in a market with alternative resources and options, chose to buy Microsoft products.† InfoTech & Public Policy  » Blog Archive  » Is Microsoft a â€Å"monopoly† Based on Standard Economic Theory?" The economic theory behind the dominance of Microsoft has been monopolizing the market and creating products which the competitors failed to innovate in. Microsoft was able to take the Windows to a level where there was no competition at all from the rest of the players in the market. Let is have a look at the OS market to understand why Microsoft was so successful in monopolizing the market for such a long time. At the time when Windows was launched, there were only two players in the market for OS. One was the Macintosh designed by Apple, and the other was windows designed by Microsoft. The precarious thing about Apple was that they only created their OS for their own machines and did not outsource the product to other manufacturers waiting in line to produce the Macintosh. Since Apple did not sell their Macintosh OS to third parties, the manufacturers were left with only one option, and that was to buy the OS from Microsoft, the Windows based application. Since Macintosh was more expensive than Windows and did not give an opportunity to oither manufacturers in the market to use their OS, the Windows grew in popularity. The OS was much more cheaper to use and to apply on machines, and since was an open software there were more applications designed for it than they were for the Macintosh. â€Å"eco nomists maintain that a monopoly does not exist simply because there is only one provider of a good or service. For example, in the Microsoft case, the Windows operating system is enormously popular, but the potential for a competing firm to provide a similar product exists. In fact, Macintosh is a small but important competitor in the computer and operating system market. Linux has also emerged in recent months as a viable alternative to Microsoft Windows† South-Western: Is Microsoft A Monopoly?" Web. 27 Nov. 2011. Whether the Monopoly is in the Public Interest: There are two sides to the argument whether the monopoly has been in the public interest or not. The paper address both the points of contention and then understand why one arguments

Human and Animal Interrelationships Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human and Animal Interrelationships - Term Paper Example This essay has its primary concern being to investigate the interrelationship between people and animals (both domestic and wild animals) since the olden days up to date. Here in lies the importance of human and animal interrelationships. In addition, it involves an outline of the factors that bring about the changes. Further, it includes suggestions of how to improve the interrelationship of human and animals. Finally, it ends by the summary and a conclusion of the essay. Interrelationship of human and animals In the olden days, human beings neglected animals and considered them (animals) harmful to human health. The interrelationship varies in different societies. For instance, in some societies, there was the use of domestic animals specifically cattle, for the purpose of transportation. In other societies, the use of cattle was principally to give support to farm work. Due to this (farming activities), human beings reared bulls with the purpose of using them to plough big farms. On the other hand, animals depended on human beings for resources such as food. This brought about dependability in that they (animals and particular individuals) relied on each other for various needs (Jonge 154). The interaction between man and wild animals is different from the relationship of man and domestic animals. This is due to activities such as hunting, whereby man continue to humiliate the lives of wild animals. This leads to wild animals hiding away from hunters. This denotes a poor interaction between human and wild animals. Today, there is prohibition of hunting activities since such an act is termed to be illegal and leads to decrease in animals within the ecosystem. Continuity in relations of human beings and animals changed due to diverse reasons. For instance, change in technology contributed to a decrease in dependability level. This is because technology leads to establishment of better farming methods. It leads to adoption of modern farming machinery, which in turn resulted to rearing animals for domestic purpose (beef and milk). Importance of human and animal interrelationships Several positive effects result from the relations of human and animals. For instance, there is reduced fatigue on the side of human kind. This is due to less energy used when undertaking tasks like farming, and it is because human kinds use animal energy to perform specific farming activities. The interrelationship helps to improve performance capability of animals as well as their welfare. This is evident in that Jensen states that, â€Å"poor relationship interactions elicit negative emotions such as fear† (114). This necessitates human beings to be keen when handling animals. Factors influencing human and animal interrelations Better relations exist only when both human and animal are in good health. Health amongst other factors determines the ability of both humans and animals to have a better co-relationship. Health is the source of morale required by all living beings to undertake designed tasks with less impeding characters. Unhealthy human beings will tend to have less concern on the welfare of animals. Due to an unhealthy status, animals lack potential to perform tasks (for example farming) requiring application of much efforts. The use of sign language is vital especially when directing animals on the farm (Jensen 113). This helps improve the level of understanding on animals. How to improve human and animal relations Improving the relations between human beings and animals is vital for the well-being of the society. It signifies the degree of understanding between human and animals. This leads to less economic defects resulting from poor interrelations. Some of the strategies to improve the relationship

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Essay Example A proper integration of functional and cross functional activities on the basis of product flow is also required to further the supply chain efficiency. The answers to the following questions elaborate on these aspects of supply chain management. In the present day business environment firms can enhance their competitive strength by efficiently managing their supply chain. The typical supply chain in any manufacturing firm consists of various firms and agencies taking part in the purchasing, production and distribution functions of the firm. The objective of an effective supply chain management is to ensure that the costs involved in procuring the materials and components, cost of carrying the inventory of various materials and the cost of distributing the products to the end customers are reduced to the maximum extent possible so that the profitability of the company can be improved. In the process of improving the efficiency of the production process techniques like 'just-in-time' manufacturing system helps the firms to achieve the objective of cost reduction and minimization of production time. It is also important that there is an effective information flow between various supply chain partners. With the advanced informa tion and communication technology existing today it becomes easier for the firm to communicate with each other efficiently. This paper discusses some of the relevant aspects of an efficient supply chain management. 1. Critical Evaluation of the Contribution of Just-in-time (JIT) The JIT philosophy advocates the elimination of waste through the process of simplifying the production processes and elimination of piling up of inventories. Also known as 'lean production' JIT is a 'demand-pull' manufacturing system. Under this system each component in a production line is produced immediately as needed by the next step in the production line. In a typical JIT production line manufacturing activity at any particular workstation is prompted by the need for that station's output at the following workstation. In the JIT system demand triggers each step of the production process starting with the customer demand for the finished product at the end of the process and working all the way back to the demand for direct materials at the beginning of the process. In this way the demand pulls an order through the production line. The demand-pull feature of JIT production system achieves close coordination among workstations. The objectives of JIT are to (i) meet customer dema nd in a timely way, (ii) with high-quality products and (iii) at the lowest possible total cost. Contribution

Dai Sijies book Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Essay Example for Free

Dai Sijies book Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Essay In Dai Sijies book, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, the two main characters are brought together to experience the hardships of re-education but even then they manage to stay hopeful. Dai Sijie focuses on the survival and the power of human spirit and imagination to endure of Luo and the narrator, Ma. The boys stay hopeful by finding solutions to their problems during the re-education. Luo feels physically tired and so turns back the hands of the clock to get some extra sleep so he can get through the day. The Little Chinese Seamstress tries and cures Luo of his disease even though she doesnt have the proper medical equipment. Four-Eyes on the other hand continues to try and impress the peasants by risking the chance of getting caught with all the banned books by leaving his door open just to display his trust in the peasants and by hiding away meat and pretending that he doesnt eat meat to please them. The boys can be viewed as hopeful in the ways in which they adapt to and find solutions to the hardships of re-education such as manipulating the start of the working day with the alarm clock. The boys confess a few days after getting to the mountain and carrying the buckets of shit up and down the mountain, in the end we had changed the position of the hands so many times we had no idea what the time really was. The boys take advantage of the peasants ignorance of technology to cheat the village of their labor. But they are only doing this because of the harshness of re-education that led them to be this physically drained out. They were being forced to turn into cheaters but for them this wasnt deceiving, it was merely how they believed they could bring their bodies back to normal and start adapting to the change. By saying losing track of what the time really was, Dai Sijie also symbolizes their fear of never returning to their families and leading their old lives. Besides Luo finding a solution to the hard working conditions during the re-education, the Little Chinese Seamstress found a solution to curing Luos malaria and stayed hopeful. Although during the time of the re-education, there were no proper medical care and due to that Luo may have suffered from malaria for a long time. On the way to the Little Chinese Seamstresss house for the oral cinema in her town, another attack struck Luo and when they arrived at, Luo looked really sick so the Little Chinese Seamstress used a natural medicine on him and hoped that it worked. She didnt panic and act irrationally. The remedy that used was a natural paste made of the leaves of a plant called Broken-bowl-shards. This shows that the Seamstress believes in nature and tries her luck wherever she can. She says In my opinion you cant believe in them totally, but you cant deny them either. This just proves that whether or not the results are going to be as desired, it is definitely worth a shot. Four-Eyes is a representation of a character who would do anything to escape re-education and his continuous tries are what make him seem hopeful that one day he will succeed. Ever since he has been living on the mountain, he doesnt lock the doors of his house. When the readers first hear from him about this he claims that he is so anxious to demonstrate his trust in the revolutionary peasants that he never used to lock his doors. This just proves how desperate he is for their trust. He leaves his door unlocked even though he has a hidden suitcase of books that if found, can get him into serious troubles but he is willing to take that risk. He is also abstaining from meat. He would spring to his feet, quickly hide the pan in a corner as if it were contraband, and put out a dish of marinated vegetables. This not only portrays his fear, but the use of the word contraband by Dai Sijie is interesting as it brings up other suggestions. Contrabands are illegally smuggled goods and the comparison between the meat and the contraband shows how scared Four-Eyes is. To Four-Eyes, eating meat struck him a crime typical of the bourgeois class to which his family belonged so he decided to sacrifice eating meat. Four-Eyes stops at nothing to gain his pleasures. This single-mindedness in the face of adversity (when he breaks his glasses and the boys find him trying to carry the rice sacks alone) could be viewed as a form of hopefulness. To conclude, I have to say that the boys need to be credited for having dealt with their situations so optimistically. They only had a three in a thousand chance of returning home but even then they have stayed hopeful through the novel and took things as they came their way. I believe that the characters main way of staying hopeful is by finding solutions to the problems and hardships of their life currently during the re-education at the Phoenix Mountain. What the two boys have taken from this experience definitely has been the ability to be independent and solve situations they are faced with and most importantly learnt that success can be achieved by staying hopeful. Also the books and their passion for literature has indeed played a part in this as the books is what has kept them going for this long and they work so hard all day only knowing that later at night they have the book to go back to and relax. Their hope to keep them going through the day is the thought of knowing that this means they can go home to reading. Four-Eyes on the other hand has this obsessive pursuit of freedom and his hope is what is keeping that driving force in him going but in this battle, he has lost his temper and feels agitated as his results are not coming out positive.

History of the Fornication Pants Essay Example for Free

History of the Fornication Pants Essay Jeans today are much more than a simple item of clothing; they are a staple, a comfort and an identity. They are not a piece of clothing that is unique to one culture or society; jeans are jeans no matter where you are. Jeans have transcended nationality, race and even war, and yet they are still one of the most ordinary parts of our lives. What many people take for granted is that Jeans have become such a part of their everyday lives that they never stop to think about where they come from, and what they have done for people. Jeans had a humble beginning, a colourful and influential life and have a bright future. They are a part of North American history and culture and have defined many people’s lives. Cotton denim started being produced in North America in the eighteenth century and with the American cotton industry came slave labour. Plantation owners relied on slaves to keep prices down, and in 1860 there were almost four million slaves in the southern United States. (Kyi p.10) Denim got its name from a French fabric woven of silk and wool. The fabric was made in Nimes, France, and as a result it was dubbed â€Å"serge de Nimes†, but when the fabric began being stocked in English stores, it was shortened to â€Å"deNimes† or â€Å"denim†. (Sullivan p.12) At the time, denim was the strongest fabric and was even thought to have been the fabric of choice for the sails of the ships that Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World. (Sullivan p.14) Jean manufacturers buying denim from mills requested dark blue cloth rather than the pale beige offered as it was a colour that would show less dirt and wear. So denim cloth began to be dyed using indigo, but because of the time needed to make the dye it was one of the most expensive dyes in the world. That changed in the 1880’s, when a German scientist by the name of Johann von Baeyer discovered a way to create the same colour in a lab. The colour blue was now much more accessible and cheaper to achieve using the new synthetic indigo dye. (Kyi p.10) There are two Jean companies that played a major part in the production and distribution of the pants at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Levi Strauss Co. and Lee Company. Levi Strauss was born Loeb Strauss in 1829 in Bavaria. After immigrating to the San Francisco, he opened up a whole sale business selling high quality fabrics. He struck it rich during the California gold rush in the 1860’s, but not by finding gold, but by selling his heavy duty work pants. (Kyi p.15) Around the same time in Nevada, a tailor named Jacob Davis, an immigrant from Latvia, was trying to figure out how to make his work pants stronger. Miners were constantly ripping the seams of their denim work pants. Finally while in his barn Davis realised that the copper rivets that were used to reinforce the seams of horse blankets could be used to reinforce pants as well. (Kyi p.18) His pants were a hit, so he contacted his denim supplier, Levi Strauss, to see if he would consider going into business with him and help him purchase a patent. Strauss was convinced and the two applied for a patent in 1873. This was the birth of blue jeans, although they were not called jeans yet. They were still being called high waist overalls or waist overalls. (Kyi p.21) The first cloth called â€Å"jean† was made in Genoa, Italy, and was worn by sailors. In Italian, Genoa is pronounced â€Å"Genes†, but Strauss did not use the Italian fabric and his pants were not worn by sailors so he never used the term â€Å"jeans†. It was not until years after his death that Levi Strauss Co. Began using the word. (Contini p.158) It did not take long for the riveted jeans to catch on, and production began to soar and Strauss invited Davis to move to San Francisco, where the two hired dozens of seamstresses to work in their new factories. To distinguish which pants were his and to demonstrate how strong they were, Strauss had a leather label designed for the back waistband, that showed a pair of jeans tied between two draft horses going in opposite directions. The horses were trying to rip the jeans apart, but the fabric was too strong. The label worked so well that for decades the jeans were known as the Two-Horse brand. (Kyi p.23) In the 1890’s a pair of Levi Strauss’ jeans cost about one dollar US, about the equivalent of twenty dollars US today, which was enough to make Strauss rich. (Sullivan p.18) When he died in 1902, his company was left in the care of his three nephews, who were eager continue the company’s success, but they were facing competition. The patent on riveted pants expired in 1891, and in the early 20th century, a new clothing manufacturer appeared, Henry David Lee. Lee opened H.D. Lee Mercantile Company in Kansas City in 1899, selling fabric and furniture. Soon he opened up his own factory and began producing what would today be recognized as overalls. (Kyi p.25) He then came up with the idea to sew a denim shirt onto a pair of jeans to form a denim coverall. The Lee Union-All was first marketed to men who loved cars as it could be worn over other clothes to keep them clean. In 1913 it was popular with farmers, engineers, and factory workers, and soon became available for women and children. When the American Army was preparing to join WWI, thousands of Lee Union-Alls were ordered for the soldiers as they were found to be more durable than any other clothing. (Kyi p.26) In 1926, the Lee Company revolutionized jeans, by putting a zipper in place of the buttons in the fly to â€Å"ease access†. During the depression Lee Company managed to convince people that Lee jeans would last twice as long as other pants, making them a good investment. The Company even opened up a new factory in 1936. (Kyi p.31) During WWII, wartime rationing led to shortages of blue jeans, and owning them became a status symbol. At that time jeans were only available in North America, but when soldiers set sail for Europe and Asia, jeans were introduced to the rest of the world. (Kyi p.35) For women working in factories during the war, jeans or coveralls with a bandanna became their dress code, partly because of the famous portrait of Rosie the Riveter proclaiming â€Å"We Can Do It† while wearing a denim shirt. (Sullivan p.70) After the war, the young soldiers who came home became the first teen rebels. They no longer wanted coveralls but pants that fitted snugly around the waist more suited to motorcycle riding than farming. (Kyi p.39) This developed a style that was popularized by Hollywood and stars such as James Dean in Rebel without a Cause. (Sullivan p.92) Marilyn Monroe began wearing hip-hugging jeans that became popular for women in the 1950’s, making jeans sexy for women as well as men. (Sullivan p.96) Jeans were now something that you could wear while hanging out with your friends; they were no longer just for working on the farm or in a factory. Parents began to worry that their children were running wild, and jeans were banned in US schools and in churches in England. (Kyi p.41) It seemed as though Brigham Young could see into the future when in the 1830’s he called jeans the â€Å"fornication pant†, appalled at the button fly. (Sullivan p.9) Denim had left behind its army reputation and had become the newest style trend. Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Bridget Bardot began wearing them for press appearances and parties, and that’s when the worldwide love affair with denim began. (Sullivan p. 98) Jeans are now a staple of pretty much everyone’s wardrobe in the 21st century. No matter what ethnicity or social class, everyone wears jeans. You see them on movie stars, your teachers, Presidents and Princes, and when you see news footage of a peace rally in Israel; the protestors are wearing jeans. They now come in over 200 sizes and countless styles and washes, with some made for wear on the farm and others perfect for a date on a Friday night. In the 19th century a pair of Levi’s would set a buyer back about $1.50 US, but today the sky is the limit. Jeans vary in price (for adults) from around $20 US at Wal-Mart to a pair of diamond and gold studded jeans that were sold in 2001 in Italy for $500,000 US. (Kyi p.13) Light wash or dark wash, boot cut or flare, diamond studded or embroidered, jeans are jeans, and are a North American icon. Jeans are one of the only pieces of clothing that have survived over ten decade’s worth of styles, and have always looked pretty much the same, and will be around for many more years to come. Works Cited 1.Kyi, Tanya Lloyd. The Blue Jean Book: The Story behind the Seams. New York, New York: Annick Press, 2007. 2.Sullivan, James. Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon. New York, New York: Gotham Books, 2006. 3.Contini, Mila. 5000 Years of Fashion. Secaucus, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1977.

Starbucks Leadership Development

Starbucks Leadership Development Starbucks Coffee Company has an issue in leadership development. Leadership development is a very important issue in all the organization. Starbucks is an American global coffee company. On 30 March 1971, three partners that are Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker are the first Starbucks opened in Seattle, Washington. (Garza, n.d) In 1982, Howard Schultz was joins the Starbucks. He was visits Milans famous espresso bars when he on a business trip in Italy. Their popularity and culture were impressed by Howard Schultz and he sees their potential in Seattle. Starbucks expand beyond Seattle in 1990s. Starbucks Coffee Company now is the largest coffeehouse in the world. They are began selling fresh roasting, high-quality coffee bean and roasting accessories. Starbucks is having their store in 61 countries including the Western country and Asian country. (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2009) Starbucks apply the drive in the early leadership theory. Leaders of Starbucks are set out a high effort level in their organization. Their leaders have self-confidence so that many followers look to them for an absence of self-doubt. Howard Schultz is a intelligence leader in Starbucks. He was intelligence to gather, synthesize, and a lot of information to solve problem and make a correct decision. Starbucks also apply a Path-Goal Theory. Starbucks mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit. They always provide a good quality of their coffee. For their partner, they always respect and dignity together to hold each other to that standard. They also always full of humanity in their stores even just for a moment so that their customers are enjoy. They are takes their responsibility to be a good neighbors and enjoy the success that rewards their shareholders. (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2009) Build a Starbucks as the most recognized and respected brand in the world is the companys objective. Starbucks Coffee Company is plans to continue rapidly spread their retail operations and its managers executive teams will hire exceptional people who willing to work for excellent results, meanwhile reward and promote those individuals who are commit to move our company forward. Starbucks Corporation will always increase their specialty sales and other operations, introduce of new products for Starbucks brand and development of new distribution channels to achieve their goals. Leadership principle apply in Starbucks Company Howard Mark Schultz (born July 19, 1953) is an American businessman and writer. He is best known as the chairman and CEO of Starbucks who creates the Starbucks concept .The Starbucks name is now synonymous with coffee. It had been developed in various ways where the name itself stands out by its own. Brands and trademarks are gained by the quality of services and contribution given by the committees to build a great company. Transform a small coffee shop to what it is today would not have been possible without its strong operations management and innovations. Howard is an entrepreneur who believes in strong operations management and having a central focus for everyone in the company to follow. Howard is well aware that develop a business successfully involves not only make use of impactful marketing strategy but also emphasis on manage an efficient operation management system as well. This is Howard long-term vision and he aims to lead a small coffee shop to walk toward around the world. It shows Howard possesses the drive traits, is a leader who has a relatively high desire for achievement attitude in leading his business. Based on the efficiency business plan and useful organization functional plan, it help Starbucks create a nearly monopoly in the coffee industry. First, set objective and charting the organization path is an extremely essential primary step to achieve organization objective. Starbucks mission statement state Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. This mission statement create a complete and obvious organization objective that helps executive management and Starbucks partners to maintain the highest service quality and well-known name of the company with respect to the operation process. It also allows Starbucks to adapt in todays new market trends and new regulation. The large market share is clearly evidence of an overall operating system that is performing by Starbucks at its highly efficient rate. Implement those objectives by Starbucks means the organization should focus on sustaining the energy level need to maintain the business strategy as well as its everyday operations. These everyday operations can range from top executives creating financial reports for decision-making purposes to the frontline employee who is preparing one of Starbucks many drinks. Howard and his top executives provide a clear picture on Starbucks organization objective, it is easy understand and manipulate by employees, then all the employees can getting tasks done effectively and efficiently through out the daily operation process. Howard and his partner apply path-goal theory in manage employees which means the effective leader clarify the path to help their followers get from where they are to the achievement of their work goals and make the journey along the path easier by reduce roadblock and pitfalls. (Robbins. Decenzo, Coulter, M.2012) Starbucks executive management is to make sure most routin e operation activities such as taking orders and doing monetary transactions are running competently and guide those employees step by step to make sure organization daily operation is going smoothly. This highly efficiency service performance tend to retain highly satisfy and trusting customer to Starbucks. A content workforce maintain by Starbucks lead to fewer partners leave the corporation. Howard is a leader has a democratic style which involves their employees in decision making, always encourages employees participation in deciding work methods and goals. It means, employees at different department are allows to have a say in what is improper for their business practice and tend to suggest other effective method to improve current situation. This leading concept tend to increase manager stability which enables the store to do a much better job of recognize the managerial problem, meanwhile uses those unexpected situation as an opportunity to coach employees. Since, Starbuck Company has coffee shops in every state of America and in 36 countries around the globe. Therefore, Starbucks leader need to have specific job-relevant knowledge in manage the global corporate. As a effective leader, Howard and his top executives needs to have a high degree of knowledge about the company culture, industry, employees characteristics and technical matters because those in depth knowledge allows leaders to make well-inform decisions and to understand the implication of those decision. (Robbins. Decenzo, Coulter, M.2012) It is a crucial step for Howard and his partners in manage a firm by understands organizational culture in different retail outlets and listening to their employees who may have different background and different perspective toward their job. Starbucks stores which can retain the same managerial employee and non-managerial employees have the ability to offer a more personalize service to regular customers and will be more familiar with th e appropriate procedures to create the drinks request. Besides that, Howard is not only emphasis in train employees with the hard skills of make the various coffee drinks, but also highlight the soft skills involve in how to interact with customers. It could be a simple action as creating eye contact or smile. This is how Howard led Starbucks by use minimum amount of organization input to gain a maximum amount of organization output. In order to maximize profit and maintain Starbucks market place in coffee industry, Howard and his partners need to understand how to make something as fast as possible while minimizing errors in management process. This has permit Starbucks to stay ahead of other competitors and let Starbucks endure a large market share in the coffee industry for the longest time. FINDINGS Existing and current problem faced by Starbucks Company Starbucks named itself as a worlds best coffee. Starbucks have more than 17000 stores in 61 countries. With so many stores all around the world, the leadership concept uses by Howard and his partner in the management process is extremely important to the future of the company. One of the problem encounter by Starbucks is they set their stores around the world at a rapid pace. This will cause the supply chain organization to have the problem in maintaining the fundamental. Because of the big amount of stores throughout the world, it required more expenses to generate this supply chain organization. Due to the unstable supply chain organization, it is hard to ensure that the deliveries can arrive on time. Coffee and other merchandise must be source carefully around the globe to ensure it deliver the best quality to every customer. For leader who guide in this organization, they need to always make sure that it have sufficient supply to the entire store. Delay service must try to exclude as it will lead to waste of money and resources. In addition, with this big amount of stores in so many countries, Starbucks will also face the difficulty to maintain the quality of each employee. For Starbucks, their barista is very important to help them in maintaining the quality of each cup of the beverage they made. Although Starbucks do give training to their barista before they qualify, but when come to real situation it is very hard to ensure that every barista doing the correct sequences as what they did in the training. Especially the taste of the same type of beverage might be different in two different outlets. May be this beverage is too sweet in this outlet but it become normal when come to the other outlet. Thus, leader in each store are not focus enough on how good at delivering service to store. Some of the store might have inefficient barista who prepare the beverages slowly plus without clearly know what their customer request. This may occur when cashier do not take the order seriously and lead to confuse and mi stake. Besides, some employees are takes quite long times respond to the existing problem face by customers. Therefore, customer will feel unsatisfied with the late reply and ignoring. Thus, they may consider the Starbucks as a company with poor service performance and hence influence Starbucks prestige and image. Next, Starbucks faced the problem of continuously recruiting new non-managerial employees. This is due to their big amount number of store and also some of the existing employees are only work for temporary period. Since the employee in Starbucks especially baristas are basically working under a team. When they do their job, they like creating a round circle, cashier is taking the order, after customer finish ordering he or she needs to inform the other barista to make the request beverage. After finish prepares the beverage, barista will send it to the customer with a polite greeting. Throughout this entire process, it required a strong bonding and good communication skill between each and every barista so that mistake can be excluded. However, most of the barista do not work for a long period and it will replaced by someone new. Therefore to create the bonding in each other it takes time to generate again. Moreover work under a team required a leader to guide them toward a better d irection. The position of this leader is important due to the leader is someone who can influence others and who has managerial authority. Currently, with the introducing of Starbucks card, it helps to offer a greatest convenience when making any purchase from beverages to latest merchandise, just with the ease of one quick swipe. It is also one of the way Starbucks giving rewards to their customer. However it does creates some problems when handling this Starbucks card for redemption and reloading the amount. Basically when tracker reaches 10, the system issues a complimentary beverage which is displayed in the Rewards column. But sometimes when come to redemption, it will have the difficulty to redeem it due to technical problem or computer down in the store. It might also have the problem of unable to reload the amount of the card. It takes time to solve. If without any technician in the store, it will be just let the customer leave with unhappy and disappointment. Although Starbucks Company exist as a well-known globe corporation with uphold well management practice. But, the initiating structure in the management process seems still not strong enough in handle customers response and problems face. Any changes or improvement should be emphasis by Howard and Starbucks top-executive, and then Starbucks will be more well position to move forward and improve the livelihoods of those in the supply chain. RECOMMENDATIONS Starbucks evolved into a multinational chain from a small-scale. In this development process, which inevitably there will be many superiors communication with staff problems occur. It has thousands of retail stores, which serve some 50 million customers in 61 countries each week and having different types of employees all over the world. Starbuckss leaders need to be able to work across a range of businesses, regions, cultures and be able to cope with different sets of circumstances they will be facing. Apply Fiedler Contingency Model In order to maintain the different leadership qualities among those employees, Howard can apply Fiedler contingency model to solve this problem. The Fiedler contingency model proposed that effective group performance depended upon properly matching the leaders style and the amount of control and influence in the situation. Starbucks top executive should measure an individuals basic leadership style, either task oriented or relationship oriented before decide employees job scope. Howard can use least-preferred co-worker (LPC) questionnaire to measure employees basic leadership style. Starbucks employees were asked to think of all the colleagues they are working with and to describe that one person they least enjoyed working with by rating the candidate on a scale of 1 to 8 for each of the sets of adjective, for example, pleasant-unpleasant, cold-warm, boring-interesting, or friendly-unfriendly. If the employee described the least preferred colleagues in relatively positive terms (a hi gh LPC score- a score of 64 or above), then the employee regard as primarily interested in good personal relations with colleagues and the employee possess a relationship oriented. Inversely, if the employees saw the least preferred colleagues in relatively unfavourable term (a low LPC score- a score of 57 or below), the employee would be regard as task oriented and was primarily interested in productivity and getting the job done. For those employees who are fall in between these two extremes, he or she may not have a cut-and-dried leadership style. After done assess an employees leadership style through the LPC, Howard and his managerial partners will need to evaluate the situation in order to be able to match the employee with the situation. Leader-member relations (the confidence, trust, and respect employees level had for their leader), task structure (degree of job assignments were formalized and structured), and position power (the degree of influence a leader had over daily management activities) serve as the key situational factors in leader effectiveness. Each leadership situation was clearly shown in Fiedlers Contingency Model of Leader-Situation Matches. (Refer to appendix).Once Howard had identify employees basic leadership style and the different types of situation, and then he can identify the appropriate combinations of style and situation for each current employees and new recruiting employees. Conclusion After we complete Starbucks Coffee Company research, we have learns a lot of theories about the leadership. That is the early leadership theories, democratic style, Fiedler contingency model, situational leadership theory and path-goal theory. From those theories, we are learns how to become an effective leader in the organization. Besides that, we also learn about the ways to lead all the employees and manage the whole organization well by using all the theories we are study. Starbucks Coffee Company now is already predominating the leadership theory very well in their organization. Starbucks apply many types of theories of leadership in their organization. The leaders of Starbucks are leads their employees in a good environment and respect to each others. The employees are doing their work probably and always follow the instruction by the leaders. Thus, the organizations operation system will become more completely and smoothly. Today, there are a lot of pressures that the leaders of Starbucks will face when they are responsible to managing a companys organization. The leaders are facing many kinds of problems when leading the employees and manage the organization. The leaders need to build a good relationship with their employees and trust between each other so that the employees can cooperation with them pleasantly. In a nutshell, the leadership is very important for every organization. Whether it is a small or large organization, it must have an effective leader. The leaders must always do improvement so that they can lead all the employees become very well in the organization and can achieve its goals.

Child Care: Needs Assessment Essay -- trauma-informed care, trauma, b

In this paper I will be discussing the choices I should have made with my past client, John, and how I have grown as a child care professional through my successes and failures therein. I will also discuss how I would go about treating him now, focusing more on cognitive developmental therapy as well as dealing further with his anger and violent actions. My goal in this aspect is to show how I would find the roots of his anger caused by his past to better help him conquer these issues in the future. Further more, I will discuss the benefits of Trauma-informed care and how following the ideals therein could have greatly benefited John's sense of emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. Self Reflection Dealing with a case such as John's, a well rounded view of his situation is entirely vital. A deep understanding of his history should be held with high regard and guide the therapeutic choices taken. Not only do we as child care professionals need to access and treat our patients outward affects of trauma, but we must also find and ease the emotional and biological affects of the trauma experienced, as outlined by Dr. Perry (Perry & Szalavitz, 2006). Dr. Perry's Neurosequential Design Therapy would have been very beneficial for John had it been around then. The importance of starting from the beginning of trauma and treating each step of cognitive development missed through out childhood has proven to be a thorough and powerful tool for successful treatment. With a client like John now, I would spend more time focusing on his relationship with his mother and her boyfriend. The neglect and trauma faced therein would be detrimental to his self-image and social understanding and would be, I imagine, buried very deepl... ...ing that he himself can be proud of, which can only further his self concept and guide him ever forward. Works Cited Perry, D. B., & Szalavitz, M. (2006). The boy who was raised as a dog. (1st ed., p. 18). New York: Basic Books. American Psychological Association (n.d.). What is exposure therapy?. Retrieved from http://www.div12.org/sites/default/files/WhatIsExposureTherapy.pdf Boyd, D., Johnson, P., & Bee, H. (2012). Lifespan development. (4th ed., p. 386). Toronto, ON: Pearson Publishing. Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2003). Effective treatments for youth trauma . Retrieved from http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/effective_treatments_youth_trauma.pdf Klinic Community Health Center. (2013). Trauma informed - the trauma toolkit. Retrieved from http://trauma-informed.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Trauma-informed_Toolkit.pdf

American History Essays Boston Tea Party -- American America History

Boston Tea Party: A Fight for Freedom Imagine you are a merchant in Boston selling imported goods from England with a high tax on them, when three ships come in with 342 chests of tea without planning to pay the middleman tax. That's how it was for many merchants in Boston. The East India Tea Company went bankrupt due to the dropping rate of tea sales in America because of the increasing rate of smuggling. The government's lack of support, and the newly passed Tea Act, only kindled more resentment towards the British from the colonists. This finally resulted in approximately three groups of fifty men going aboard the three British ships and dumping the tea into the Boston Harbor. The Boston Tea Party was more an act towards self-government and displaying their rights rather a way to gain revenge at England. The West India Tea Company found themselves bankrupt due to the amount of smuggled tea America was buying. People were buying smuggled tea because it was so much cheaper than the tea England was forcing them to buy. The company's plan was to select three major cities in America to get rid of their competition. They would hire other handlers in Philadelphia, Charleston, and New York. By having the tea sold in America, they could avoid the high taxes of England. After they had eliminated their other competitors, they would charge much more for the tea that they were selling (Francis 1). When the colonists heard that the East India Company was selling tea to these cities, almost all of them were furious and wanted England to be aware of it. The patriots worried that they would start liking England because of the better tea prices (Maier 516). Soon tea was shipped to America for distribution to agents of the company, who ... ...me of need, and the passing of the Tea Act only created more resentment and created more resentment towards England. The citizens were feeling that they had no more rights left, and that England was completely taking over their new country so they acted in what has been called the Boston Tea Party. The colonists were outraged by the disrespect they were shown from England. It was only an act towards freedom, not revenge and should be treated as such. Works Cited Tyler, John. "The Boston Tea Party." (Online) Available http://aol/bostonteaparty.html "Boston Tea Party." Microsoft Encarta 96 Encyclopedia. Funk & Wagnall's Corporation, 1996. Maire, Pauline. "Boston Massacre." World Book Encyclopedia. 1982. Francis, Thomas. Liberty. New York: North American Printing Company, 1993. Fleming, Wyatt. "The Revolution." (Online) Avaialble http://usa.revolution/

A Systematic Review on the Comparison of Avandia and Actos in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition that is characterized by a chronic rise in the glucose levels of the blood.   It can lead to changes of the blood vessels of the retina, nephron, heart, nerves, etc, causing a lot of complications.Individuals, who suffer from type 2 diabetes, may or may not require insulin (as the condition primarily occurs due to insulin resistance or improper utilization of insulin by the blood cells).   In many cases, people who suffer from type 2 diabetes, are ultimately given insulin, even though the drug is not very effective in control the high blood sugar levels (Ligaray, 2008).Studies conducted in the UK effectively demonstrate that 25 % of the patients who suffer from type II diabetes require insulin within 6 years of initiating therapy with oral hypoglycaemic agents (Edelman, 2005).In clinical practice, type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the commonest diseases that are seen.   The insulin levels may be low, defective in nature or the very utili sation of insulin by the fat, liver and the muscle cells may be hampered.   The individual may not depend on insulin for bringing back the blood glucose levels back to normal.   Ketosis seldom develops, but is common under stressful conditions (Inzucchi, 2007).Today, in the US, the screening for diabetes is usually performed in elders or high-risk individuals, and as such there may be several members of the general population who may be silently suffering from the disorder.The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the US is about 7 %, but in individuals above the age of 50 years, the incidence may be about 15 %.   Certain minority groups including the Hispanics, African-Americans, Native Americans, etc, are at a higher risk of developing the disorder.   The mean age of incidence of the disorder in high-risk populations usually occur at a younger age compared to the White American populations.   If we look at the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 throughout the world, the incidence is high in Indians, Polynesians, Micronesians, Latin Americans, etc.In Australians, Africans, Aborigines, Asians, etc, the incidence is relative lower when they live in the native countries.   However, when they migrate to the US, the prevalence of the disorder is relatively higher, owing to the change in lifestyle, poor control over risk factors, etc.A great proportion of diabetic patients die from cardiac diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, etc.   Studies have effectively demonstrated that the risk for cardiac disease raises two-folds in men, and up to four folds in women (Ligaray, 2008).The main pathophysiology of diabetes is the rise in the blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) due to the low insulin levels in the blood, improper utilisation of insulin by the cells, defective functioning of the insulin or resistance to insulin.   The pancreatic beta islet cells may not produce sufficient amounts of insulin required by the body or several groups of cells pres ent in the body such as the fat, muscle, liver, etc, may be resistant to the action of insulin.Studies conducted during autopsy have effectively demonstrated that the beta cell mass in type 2 diabetics are reduced to about half the normal size.   The body cells find it seemingly difficult to utilize glucose resulting in lower amount of glucose transportation to the muscles, greater production of glucose by the liver and greater breakdown of fat (Ligaray, 2008).Other causes of diabetes type 2 include production of substance by the body that hamper the action of insulin, glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity.   When the individual consumes carbohydrates, there are chances that the blood glucose level would raise further, as insulin is not available to control (Inzucchi, 2007).The ability of the body to use insulin immediately to control carbohydrate and sugar level following ingestion is difficult (Ligaray, 2008).   Studies may have shown that although the insulin deficiency may be mil d, the ability of the insulin to stop an immediate rise in the blood glucose level would be absent.   When the individual suffers from mild type 2 diabetes during the initial stages, there are chances that the insulin secretion would respond to other secretogogues such as amino acids.However, in severe type 2 diabetes, the condition does not respond to other secretogogues resulting in a severe deficiency of insulin.   In individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes, there may be deposition of an amyeloid-like substance in the beta-cells of the pancreatic islets.   The beta-cells begin to malfunction following the deposition of amyloid (Inzucchi, 2007).In some of the type 2 diabetics the insulin secretion may be defective in nature.   The ability of the cells to respond to insulin is reduced and the normal response is less.The cells may not be able to use the insulin effectively to ensure utilization of glucose by the cells.   In an environment of hyperglycaemia, the cells fi nd it very difficult to utilize the insulin and the glucose.   The body finds it difficult to produce glycogen from glucose in the liver and breakdown of fats, as a result of the decreased sensitivity of the insulin.The exact reason for the poor response of the cells to insulin is not understood clearly, but scientists suggest that it has to do with the defective mitochondrial functioning and the accumulation of free fatty acids in the cells that are usually supposed to respond to insulin.   The insulin receptors in such cells may be normal, but the insulin pathways that are related to the insulin receptors may go haywire.The functioning of the glucose transporting agent GLUT may become abnormal.   Scientists also feel that the defects in insulin use and glucose transportation may be due to a genetic defect.   Obesity also increases the risk of the individual developing resistance to insulin.   The presence of free fatty acids in the body would suggest greater amount of li pid deposition in the liver and the muscles thus playing a major role in developing insulin resistance (Inzucchi, 2007).When the blood glucose levels are high, the sensitivity of the cell to insulin and the ability of the cell to utilize glucose are seriously affected.   Besides, a rise in the lipids in the blood can affect glucose metabolism, causing a raise in hepatic gluconeogenesis, and raising the free fatty acid levels.   The pancreas functions abnormally and the muscles are unable to utilize glucose effectively (Inzucchi, 2007).It may be difficult to assert whether the primary defect in type 2 diabetics is due to insulin insufficiency or insulin resistance.   Studies have demonstrated that in high-risk populations, the initial defect is primarily due to insulin resistance and a decrease in the insulin sensitivity.However, diabetes would not occur only with insulin resistance alone.   Studies have shown that frequently due to the secretory defects, the beta cells seem to get exhausted.   It may also be that chronic stimulation of the beta-cells along with the genetic defects would result in insulin insufficiency (Inzucchi, 2007).Evidence strongly supports that genetics and environmental factors both play a major role in the development of diabetes mellitus type 2 (some even suggest complex genetic factors).   Most of the forms of type 2 diabetes mellitus have been polygenic in nature, whereas maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) has been monogenic in nature.   There is a clear familial linkage seen in diabetes mellitus type 2, but there seems to be no classical Mendelian inheritance (Inzucchi, 2007).Diabetes mellitus patients are at the risk of high mortality in case their condition worsens and complications develop.   Hence, one the keys to ensure a longer lifespan in diabetes patients is effective management using drugs and medications.Studies have clearly demonstrated that diabetes patients require an aggressive, intensive and e arly intervention that would be able to identify a rise in the blood sugar level and ensure that it is brought within normal range.   One of the most difficult complications of diabetes patients would be developing is heart disease.The mortality from heart disease is quite high (70 %) in diabetics.   Besides, the costs of managing a patient suffering from diabetes and heart disease are about three times higher (Unger, 2008).Diabetes mellitus is mainly diagnosed on the basis of the plasma glucose levels.   The fasting blood glucose level should be more than 126 mg per dl of blood.   The post prandial blood glucose level should be greater than 200 mg per dl of blood (typically taken 2 hours after a meal).   The impaired glucose tolerance levels include 140 to 199 post-prandially.In diabetes, a random blood glucose test should demonstrate reading above 200 mg per dl along with the presence of symptoms of diabetes.   For the individual to be classified as diabetic, the blood glucose tests should demonstrate consistent results.   Haemoglobin A-1c is also useful in demonstrating the retrospective glucose levels, but cannot be taken as standard as there are several potential errors that may be associated with this test (Buse, 2008).

Preschool Age

During preschool age, physical growth begins to slow down. It is much slower than it was during infancy. Children at the early childhood stage, children start to become taller and leaner as they mature. They will look more like adults than like infants by the end of early childhood. â€Å"During the ages two to six, children make great strides in the development of gross motor skills, which involves the large muscles used in movement â€Å"(Rathus, 2017). At four years old, she has a more complex physical development using both gross and fine motor skills. She has greater control over large muscles, such as her arms and legs. She is also able to coordinate multiple tasks at the same time, such as singing and building blocks as opposed to when she was a toddler. She is much more coordinated in her play than the younger children around her. In early childhood, children appear to acquire motor skills by teaching them selves in observing the behavior of other children and adults† (Rathus, 2017, p. 255). Thus, fine motor skills develop more gradually. Fine motor skills are all the small muscles used in manipulation and coordination. Control over the wrist and fingers enable children to, write, dress themselves and in her case the ability to stack blocks. While observing the child's use of language, her comprehension and use of words is more sophisticated, she can make sentences and can understand what others are saying. She can talk in clear speech. She is quite self-assured and can understand the concept of conversation. Her language is more mature, her memory and imagination has developed and she is able to think more symbolically. Children's language skills develop radically during the preschool years. Between the ages of three and five, egocentric speech starts to disappear. The child's conversational language starts to show sensitivity to the listener, for example, the subject was taking turns talking and listening to her fellow classmates. By that age of four years old, some milestones children develop are the ability to ask adults and each other questions, taking turns talking, and partaking in longer conversations. â€Å"They have vocabulary of 1500-1600 words. They're speech is fluent and their articulation is also good. Children can use five or six words in sentences and can now coordinate two sentences together† (Rathus, 2017 p. 301).

Long Island Authors and Writers Essay

Hempstead, NY, USA (September 8, 2014) — Three members of LIAWS (Long Island Authors and WritersSociety) will take to the stage at Hoftsra University’s Guthart Cultural Center Theater and deliver their story about what led them to write their respective books. It takes place on Wednesday September 17, 2014, 7:00 PM and is part of the organization’s ongoing workshops on the craft of writing that take place throughout Long Island. There will be a question and answer session following the presentation. Authors Mary Beth Czubay, Yvonne Capitelli , and Tom Gahan are the presenters for Long  Island Authors and Writers Society’s inaugural Story Behind the Story presentation. Mary Beth Czubay shares the story of what inspired her to write her book, Easy Out On Third-Raising A Child With Special Needs. She will take the audience on an uplifting and inspirational journey of what it is like to try to live an ordinary life while facing extraordinary circumstances on a daily basis and overcoming obstacles. Yvonne Capitelli envisioned writing children’s books while growing up on Long Island, NY. She achieved her dream, wrote Daria Rose and the Day  She Chose, and became a ten-time award winning children’s author. She was inspired by her daughter to start writing positive character building books that motivate children to make good choices, be determined, and take control of their own happiness. Capitelli is also a children’s motivational speaker. Notable eastern Long Island resident Tom Gahan is the author of Harmony Bay, a well-received novel that became required reading at several high-schools. His premiere novel earned him a place on an international list of authors — â€Å"Writers You Should Get to Know. † He has worked as a journalist and freelance writer. Gahan will talk about the many influences and characters from around Long Island that inspired him to write Harmony Bay. â€Å"Hofstra University’s Department of English (hofstra. edu/English) offers undergraduate concentrations in English and American literature, creative writing, and publishing. It also offers an MFAin Creative Writing and an MA in English Literature, as well as a Summer Writers Program that just completed its 40th year, says Ginny Greenberg, Public Relations Director at Hofstra. â€Å"Hofstra’s Great Writers, Great Readings series (hofstra. edu/gwgr), started in 2004, brings award-winning writers across the genres to campus to engage students in intimate writing workshops and readings. † Hofstra students and the general public are welcome to come and hear The Story Behind the Story. It is an interesting and entertaining evening that offers the stories of three local authors and what motivated them to write their books. Admission is free. It all takes place on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 7:00 PM at Hoftsra University’s Guthart Cultural. Center Theater, Axinn Library, 1st floor on the south side of the campus. Driving directions can be found at http://www. hofstra. edu/theaterdirections. For more about Long Island and Writers Society, please visit http://www. LIAWS. org. LIAWS is a 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization. What: The Story Behind the Story When: Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 7 PM Where: Hoftsra University’s Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Axinn Library Who: Long Island Authors Mary Beth Czubay, Yvonne Capitelli, Tom Gahan Why: Learn the stories of three Long Island authors and what motivated them to write their books Admission: Free About LIAWS: The Long Island Authors and Writers Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to support and promote the craft of writing through supporting one another, mentoring its members, educational programs, in-school programs, book events and events related to writing, and community outreach to residents of Long Island interested in writing. LIAWS nurtures writers and authors at all levels of development in a mutually beneficial  environment. LIAWS: provides a trusting atmosphere where authors and writers can come together to meet their individual needs and share information for the good of the whole, supplies strong motivational programs of interest to all writers, offers the opportunity for members to network on different levels according to their needs, provides an environment that promotes authors, and encourages writers to strive to publish their work. All members pledge to support one another and to be involved in supporting the activities of the organization.

Chik-Fil-a Case Analysis

{draw:frame} CASE ANALYSIS Principals of Management December 11, 2008 Abstract Chick-fil-a restaurant is a family owned chain. Truett Cathy has been in the restaurant business for 62 years and now has 1,400 restaurants in 37 states including Washington D. C. {text:bibliography-mark} . As of 2007, Chick-fil-A’s reached sales of $2. 64 billion which showed an improvement of 16. 09% increase in sales from 2006 {text:bibliography-mark} . Table of Contents I. Introduction and Background Abstract †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 II. Literature Review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4-7 A. Major research area one: History of Chick-fil-A†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 B. Major research area two: Mission Statement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 4 C. Major research area three: SWOT Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5-7 D. Major research area four: Industry Environment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 7 E. Major research area five: Financial Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 E. Conclusion:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦. 7 III. References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 Literature Review History of Chick-fil-A: In the small Atlanta suburb of Hapeville in 1946, Truett Cathy opened the Dwarf Grill and later named it Dwarf House. In 1961, Good Brothers Poultry offered Cathy to come up with a chicken sandwich that met up to airline size requirements. He then invented the original Chicken Sandwich in 1964 when his regular customers finally told him â€Å"We like it. Don’t change it again. † {text:bibliography-mark} When he was deciding on the name to trade mark, he thought about the chicken filet he used. He then shortened it with a capital â€Å"A† at the end to stand for top quality. In 1967 he opened up his first mall restaurant in the Greenbrair Mall in Atlanta. In 1973, he offered $1000 team member scholarships for his employees to further their education. In 1982 it was the 1st fast food chain nationally to sell chicken nuggets. In 1992, Georgia Tech and Clemons University were the first Universities to have a Chick-fil-a restaurant on campus. According to Truett Cathy’s biography that I looked up on his website, he has been in the restaurant business for 62 years and now has 1,400 restaurants in 37 states including Washington D. C. text:bibliography-mark} . Mission Statement: â€Å"Be America’s Best Quick-Service Restaurant† {text:bibliography-mark} . *S. W. O. T. ANALYSIS*: Strengths: Name Brand Recognition: Chick-fil-A officially opened in an Atlanta mall in 1967. In 1995, Chick-fil-A introduced the infamous renegade cows known for the â€Å"Eat Mor Chickin† campaigns. {text:bibliography-mark} . Customer Service:Chic-fil-A, prid es itself on pleasing the customer, and it shows. Anytime I have ever visited any Chic-fil-A restaurant, I have been served with the greeting ending in â€Å"my pleasure†. They have won 30 customer service awards in the past 12 years, and among those the Business Week/J. D. Power has awarded them top 25 â€Å"Customer Service Champs† {text:bibliography-mark} . Employee Retention: Regarding the Closed on Sunday Policy, Chick-fil-A mentioned in a press release online â€Å"there must be something special about how Chick-fil-A feels about its people. † I do believe that being closed on Sunday’s gives their employees the opportunity to spend quality time with their families and/or go to church. Community Involvement: Chic-fil-A does not stop with the employee or the customer, they also help charities such as the â€Å"Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America† which raises money for various children hospitals. Nutritio_n: _With chicken being the main thing on the menu, Chick-fil-A uses trans-fat and cholesterol free peanut oil to deep fry their chicken and French fries. They also have 10 menu items that have 10 or fewer grams of fat {text:bibliography-mark} . Weaknesses _Closed on Sunday Policy_: Although Mr. Cathy prides himself and does not regret the â€Å"Closed on Sunday Policy†, this is still a potential day to make revenues. In 2007, sales reached $2. 64 billion {text:bibliography-mark} , and I can only imagine how much sales would be if they were open on Sunday. Religion at work: Since Mr. Cathy has such strong Christian beliefs, some people who are not religious may find that intimidating or awkward to work for. For example, in October of 2002, Chick-fil-a was slapped with a lawsuit for violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 {text:bibliography-mark} . The lawsuit came after Aziz Latif was fired one day after training in which his attorney claims that the following events took place: â€Å"’_Everyone said a prayer, one at a time, to Jesus Christ’he said’When it came to our client, who is Muslim, he didn’t say anything. There was an awkward silence. Then eventually the next person started praying to Jesus Christ. The next day he was fired. ’† {text:bibliography-mark} _ I could not find the verdict of this trial, but this is one way that religion at work can be a weakness to the company. Only selling chicken: Chick-fil-A sells only chicken which is another weakness. By not offering beef, pork, or fish Chick-fil-A is not expanding their target market to the people who choose not to eat chicken. The people who choose to eat these other meats are lost customers that could have been potential customers had they offered them these other products. Opportunity Growth: In 2007, Chick-fil-A had more than 1,380 restaurants in 37 states, and with a unique $5000 sub-lease franchise opportunity, I do not see this number getting any smaller any time soon. Innovation: Chick-fil-A has definitely grown since their one mall restaurant. They now have approximately 375 major mall restaurants, 728 stand-alone locations, 29 drive-thru-only restaurants, 11 Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Restaurants, and 2 ‘50s diner-themed Truett’s Grill Restaurants {text:bibliography-mark} . Education: Chick-fil-A also has several employee scholarship programs available that date all the way back to 1973. They have offered more than $23. 5 million to over 23,300 employees. The scholarships are the Team Member Scholarship program, S. Truett Cathy Scholar Awards, and also the WinShape Foundation. This to me says that they want valuable team members who can bring new ideas to the table, and not have to outsource for more educated personnel to fill the shoes of the high command positions. Threats: Lower Priced Fast Food Restaurants Meat Variety Restaurants C. Industry Environment: Chick-fil-A is a fast food chain constantly striving to be the top of its game. Although it only serves chicken on the menu and is closed on Sunday’s, it has no problems keeping up with its competitors in revenue. *D. Financial Analysis*: As of 2007, Chick-fil-A’s reached sales of $2. 64 billion which showed an improvement of 16. 09% increase in sales from 2006 {text:bibliography-mark} . E. Conclusion: In conclusion, I think Chick-fil-A is a successful family owned restaurant chain. I believe that an egger entrepreneur could make a big profit from its initial franchise startup cost of $5,000. I believe that Truett Cathy is a generous owner who gives back to the community. I have learned a lot from this case study and would probably start my own Chick-fil-A restaurant if I had the money at this time. References:

Advantages of visual object and space perception battery

Advantages of visual object and space perception battery Ans. Neuropsychological assessment is incomplete without the visual and space perception (Warrington shape detection, incomplete letters, silhouettes, object decision, dot counting, progressive silhouettes, position discrimination, number allocation and cube analysis (Warrington & James, 1991 as cited in Gorayska & Mey, 2004). Advantages of VOSP Brenda Rapp (2001) has stated that, â€Å"highly sophisticated methods of cognitive assessment can be developed if one uses as a starting point a detailed theory of relevant cognitive system† (Rapp, 2001, p.4). Good examples for theory based assessments methods for visual perception are Birmingham Object Recognition theory (BORB) (as given by Humphreys & Riddoch, 1993) and VOSP (Warrington & James, 1991). VOSP is made on Warrington’s model (Warrington & McCarthy, 1990 as cited in Lara et al., 2004). The model puts forward three subtypes of impaired object recognition. They are, â€Å"disorders of visual sensory discrimination † (Lara et al., 2004, p.386), apperceptive agnosia and associative agnosia. â€Å"Disorders of visual sensory discrimination reflect selective deficits affecting sensory processing including acuity, shape, discrimination and colour discrimination† (Lara et al., 2004, p.386), apperceptive agnosia is impaired object perception (Lara et al., 2004) and associative agnosia is when an individual is unable to derive meaning of the object presented despite having normal perceptual and sensory abilities(Lara et al., 2004). Thus, it can be inferred that object perception is not possible without object recognition in Warrington’s model (Lara et al., 2004) and it points out that object perception is an, â€Å"adequate integration of sensory, perceptual and representation information (Rapport, Millis & Bonello, 1998) in a complex analytical task that integrates perceived details into an organized structure (McCarthy &Warrington, 1990)† (Lara et al., 2004, p. 386). Cogn itive state of visual perception can be better understood with VOSP in normal and pathological population (Lara et al., 2004). For example, when VOSP was administered to patients of Alzheimer’s disease, impairment was found only in the silhouette subtest of VOSP (Binetti et al., 196 as cited in Lara et al., 2004). This suggests that early perceptual processes are still intact in patients who are in the initial stage of Alzheimer’s disease (Binetti et al., 196 as cited in Lara et al., 2004). VOSP is clearly a test of object recognition and space perception and nothing else. The is due to the reason , VOSP is made of different tests which includes tasks which are so designed that they assess specific dissociable aspects of object and space perception (Lawrence et al., 2000 , p.1350). Every task of the test focuses on a particular aspect of visual perception being completely independent of other cognitive and motor processes (Lawrence et al., 2000). Hence, VOSP can be reg arded as a sensitive test battery. The authors of VOSP have stated, â€Å"Any number of the eight individual tests may be administered and there is no prescribed order (Warrington & James, 1991, p.7)† (Merten, 2006, p.460). This is a very useful thing to do. It is very practically next to impossible to administer the complete set of tests of VOSP as part of neuropsychological assessment because it will be quite a time consuming process (Merten, 2006). Moreover, as advised by Lasogga & Michel (1994 in Merten,2006), easy to use screening measure can be used to test initial visual perception on the suspected group and only those showing visible deficits will be asked to go through the complete assessment (Merten, 2006).

American Hospital Assciation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Hospital Assciation - Research Paper Example lth of individuals and the community as a whole and hence lends support to hospitals and health care systems that work for the betterment of community health. The organization which initially began as an association for hospital superintendents and addressed the concerns of hospital administrators later on provided membership access to executive officers, associates and institutions. These inclusions resulted in a change of the organization’s goal from simple interchange of ideas related to hospital management and economics to promoting efficient economic and hospital management. With the inclusion of institutional membership the objective was later extended to promote the health and welfare of the community at large, along with appropriate management of hospitals and dispensaries and to obtain the support and cooperation of hospitals and health care systems which had similar goals as the AHA. With these new objectives in place, the institution called for the development of outpatient services with emphasis on education and research. The revised mission in 1987 stressed on efficient leadership in public policies, advocacy and other services. Through its advocacy in courts and halls of the Congress the AHA has become the voice of hospitals and health care systems across the country. AHA is strongly advocating for the legal issues associated with healthcare and is laying emphasis on quality and accreditation of health care units keeping in mind the final goal of providing good quality health care to people. The achievements of the organization reflect its dual role in improving both hospital organization and public health. The AHA helped the establishment of the Blue cross and funding for the Commission on Hospital Care which in turn lead to the formation of the Hill-Burton programme. It also laid the foundation for the Medicare legislation which resulted in better access to healthcare facilities for the elderly. The AHA also established the House of Delegates

Recommended strategy for Delta Airline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Recommended strategy for Delta Airline - Essay Example The current and revised objectives of the organization is to provide ‘safe and reliable’ transport by air, provide ‘distinctive customer service’ as well as embrace higher standards of ‘hospitality’ in trading operations (Pratt institute, 2014). The achievement/realization of the objectives as they are is wholly dependent on the adoption of appropriate strategies by the organization. In fact, the effectiveness of imposing the strategies as they are determine the realization of the objectives and thus it is sure that proper implementation of the strategies is the only most feasible way of ensuring realization of the objectives as they are. The cooperation has certain major alternative strategies as the driving force for the realization of the set objectives. The strategies as they are meant to facilitate the realization of ‘improved customer experiences’, good and strong ‘balance sheet’ as well as increased ‘revenue generation’ for the cooperation. The major strategies that have been pointed out have been reduction in fuel costs, reduced product and employee costs, improve customer experience through modernization, targeting numbers and improving on competition (Moskowitz, 2013). The company designs and imposes business strategies through cooperate agreements which is effective in aiding in building corporate interest and trust. In reducing fuel costs, the strategy has been imposed through the purchase of an oil refinery (trainer oil refinery) which has the capacity of helping the cooperation cut on the costs up to about $300 million in an year. This strategy holds a lot in benef its to be reaped basic of which is on reduction in operation costs and increase in profit margins for the cooperation. However, it has the shortcoming that initial investment into the buying of the refinery is very high and hence may destabilize the operating balance sheet to the company. In reducing costs of operation and employee costs, the cooperation looks