Parents Involvement in Their Children Education Research Paper

Parents Involvement in Their Children Education - Research Paper Example As children attend school, parents should participate in the education process using several approaches. These include buying uniforms, paying schools fees, assisting with homework, taking them to school and picking them. Sciarra (2004) indicates that parents should create an appropriate environment for their children by removing distractions such as excessive TV or films, too much movement or regular friends. DEEWR (2011) indicates that the home and learning environment should be favorable for children in order to boost their learning process. Parents’ contribution in their children erudition whose objective was to explain enhances their performance in school. Parents should teach their children songs, drawings as well as paintings or allow them to visit the library. As a result, parents know their children’s talents and preferred co-curricular activities. Additionally, parents get to know their children’s friends and keep a record of their progress in school. A ccording to a recent research whose objective was to explain the relationship between parents’ involvement in their children education and results, it was discovered that help with schoolwork is directly proportional to a child’s enhanced reading, understanding of numbers and improved scores. Another importance is that parents get to know their children capabilities and weakness. Additionally, parents get to know their children’s friends and keep a record of their progress in school.... of Education, claimed that parents’ participation in their children education is critical than socio-economic status of the family. This simply means that a child’s economic background does not influence their academic capabilities rather than their parents’ involvement (Sciarra, 2004). According to Sciarra (2004) parents are involved in their children’s education and social life in order to manage issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, peer influence and bullying. Financial constrain is a challenge that parents face, limiting them from taking their children to best schools, provide them with good books and educational trips (Sciarra, 2004). Sciarra claims that children who come from families whose parents suffer from sickness, mental disorders or abuse drugs are likely to perform poorly in school. These parents do not take a centre role in order to ensure children meet their academic objectives. Furthermore, children from such families do not engage in sp orts, go out on academic trips or buy books so that they do not burden their families. Additionally, such children avoid good careers such as medicine, law and engineering because parents cannot pay the required fees (Sciarra, 2004). In as much there is a broad agreement that parents influence their children education, researchers are still investigating an appropriate form of parenting that would lead to academic success of children. Theories on how parents can pass reading culture, skills and good attitudes to their children are being debated on. A significant proportion of scholars argue that some children are inherently intelligent while others are not academically talented. These scholars further claim that environmental influence or parental guiding cannot change academic capabilities. There

Coffee and Starbucks Essay Example for Free

Coffee and Starbucks Essay In 1971, Starbucks was founded on a love for coffee and 42 years later you can still go in and expect the same delicious cup of steaming hot coffee from your local store, served to you from a friendly face. Starbucks mission is â€Å"to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. Today, with more than 18,000 stores in 62 countries, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. And with every cup, we strive to bring both our heritage and an exceptional experience to life. † (http://www. starbucks. com/about-us/our-heritage). They offer the best roasted coffee, handcrafted beverages; coffee experience products, excellence service and innovation, plus they are dedicated to produce a great coffee experience to customers. (Starbucks, 2011) The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze Starbucks’ organizational structure and the best form of organizational structure that best fits Starbucks with an emphasis on Job description and Job Specification for a Starbucks employee. I will also try to determine the form of departmentalization that should be used, as well as whether centralization or decentralization of power should be used in light of the recent financial struggles they’ve had. Lastly, I will attempt to determine which organizational configuration best fits Starbucks. Job description is defined as â€Å"a formal lists of tasks and duties† and Job specification is defined as â€Å"a list of eligibility requirements or qualifications needed to perform a job† (Reilly, Minnick Baack. 2011). These definitions will be used in creating a position for a new employee. Job Description: If you love coffee and helping people than you just might be perfect for this job! At Starbucks, we strive to provide a much needed service in today’s busy world. At Starbucks you can learn all about different coffee beans from all over the world and help in developing a great working team. You will be trained in what it means to thoroughly enjoy your job, the people you work with in a clean and safe environment and to enjoy working with the best coffee you can imagine. Job Specification: Develop a working knowledge of all products we offer. Maintain a clean and friendly store. Maintain a professional attitude and your composure should the store become busier than usual. Anticipates customer and store needs. Be Flexible with shifts and days that you can work. Starbucks should be using is departmentalization by geographic region. Starbuck locations are all over the United States. Starbucks uses a matrix configuration by combining divisional and functional structures. Divisional structure is used in multi-product or multi-market operations. Starbucks fall into this structure by having so many different beverages and items on the menu. When putting out so many different items one has to specialize in those items. Starbucks trains their employees to know every item inside and out. You cannot have one person who can make one drink and nit another. They use functional structure to stay organized activities such as coordination, supervision and task allocation. With 18,000 stores it takes many teams to stay updated of everything that is going on in the market. Starbucks hires people who specialize in marketing strategy to keep them on top of the market. The form should be changed in the stores that serve lunch because the structure of the work changes. It becomes more of a machine bureaucracy in that it is highly routine in making drinks as well as sandwiches and salads. When you have to repeat something many times you are working like a machine. Starbucks has decentralized authority because they created decision-making for each manager. There are also lots of stores around the world and each store has different from the authority, managers, and customers. This also allows for employees to be able to give their thoughts, opinions, and ideas. If the company uses their ideas they are rewarded. It also allows for the lines of communication to stay open between employees and managers which allows for a friendly working environment. Starbucks is making sure that it is here to stay. By surrounding itself and its team members with the best training and communication they stand out against all competitors. Yes, other will try to stand up against the designer coffee label but when it comes down to it Starbucks is finding new ways to stay at the top. With being in different regions they have created an evening atmosphere where you can drop in after work, with friends, after yoga, by yourself, after a long day or after a great day. The food is amazing. The wine selection is simple and smart (www. starbucks. com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings). Starbucks will change the structure of the business as many times as it takes to make it work for them. You never know they may create things that work for them that do not work for other coffee shops. REFERENCES Reilly, M. , Minnick, C. , Baack, D. (2011). The five functions of effective management. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. https://starbucks. com https://starbucks. com/about-us/out-heritage.

The Yellow Wallpaper -- Literary Analysis, Gilman, Crane, Perkins

When looking at two nineteenth century works of change for two females in an American society, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Stephen Crane come to mind. A feminist socialist and a realist novelist capture moments that make their readers rethink life and the world surrounding. Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† was first published in 1892, about a white middle-class woman who was confined to an upstairs room by her husband and doctor, the room’s wallpaper imprisons her and as well as liberates herself when she tears the wallpaper off at the end of the story. On the other hand, Crane’s 1893 Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is the realist account of a New York girl and her trials of growing up with an alcoholic mother and slum life world. The imagery in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and Stephen Crane’s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets uses color in unconventional ways by embedding color in their narratives to symbolize the opposite of their common meanings, allowing these colors to represent unique associations; to support their thematic concerns of emotional, mental and societal challenges throughout their stories; offering their reader's the opportunity to question the conventionality of both gender and social systems. The use of color in Stephan Crane’s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is crucial when looking at the setting of the story; the repeated use of red is significant when describing Maggie’s mother Mary and the importance of color in describing the social system through the story. It is seen prominently when Maggie and Pete go to the theater, parts of the play paralleled the lives of the common people: "The latter spent most of his time out at soak in pale-green snow storms, busy with a nickel-plated revolver, re... ...nd fear of the domesticity that she is imprisoned in. These ideas only reiterate the gilded cage idea of the nineteenth century and the association of all that is bad in a society represented by the trappings of domestic life. The color symbolism in both Crane’s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† share the associations of gender, society and the realism of a woman’s sphere within a changing and evolving commercial society. As the societal changes of the nineteenth century move closer to the industrialism, naturalism, and the rise of a new class taboos such as mental illness and poverty; it moves further from an ideal domestic Victorian society. The industrialization of manufacturing and the production of goods and thoughts are most representative through the writings of Crane and Gilman as well as other nineteenth century writers.

Franz Kafka Essay

Franz Kafka was born in Prague on July 3rd 1883, a German-speaking Jew. His father was a large, dominating man named Hermann. A lot of his work reflected his hatred for his father, in the play Metamorphosis and also in Letter to His Father, which reflects his feelings of inferiority and paternal rejection. His work was not of one specific genre. His work was of fantasies, dreams and human suffering. It was eclectic. Dying of Tuberculosis after the First World War, he wanted his work to be burnt upon his death, but his friend, Max Brod realised their potential and published them contrary to his wishes. His three most renowned pieces of work were The Trial, The Castle and Amerika. Kafka’s three sisters all perished in German concentration camps. The themes of Kafka’s work are the loneliness, frustration, and oppressive guilt of an individual threatened by anonymous forces beyond his comprehension or control. In literary technique, his work has the qualities both of expressionism and of surrealism. Kafka’s lucid style, blending reality with fantasy and tinged with ironic humour, contributes to the nightmarish, claustrophobic effect of his work. Like in his famous long short story â€Å"Metamorphosis† where Gregor Samsa, a hardworking insurance agent, awakens to find that he has turned into an enormous insect. Rejected by his family, he is left to die alone. Simulating the situation in his own home, it seems that Kafka based Gregor around himself. Mr. Samsa also seems to be represented as Hermann Kafka, Franz’s own dominating father. Kafka was heavily influenced by religion. As a Jew in his time, there were huge effects of anti-Semitism on their race, although Hitler’s rule over Germany and his terror-regime over the Jewish at the time was later on in the 1930’s, Kafka probably would have faced racist remarks and cruelty towards him and his work. As the son of an assimilated Jew who held only perfunctorily to the religious practices and social formalities of the Jewish community, Kafka was German both in language and culture. The absurdity of this social and cultural position created an ambiguous reality for Kafka, often more hallucinatory than realistic. Steven Berkoff was born into a family of Russian Jewish immigrants, and was born in the East End of London on the 3rd August 1937. During World War 2, in 1942 he was evacuated to Luton to avoid bombing. When he was 14 years old his family moved to the USA. This gave him the vision to see where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do in life. Moving back to Britain, he finished school, saved up enough money and went to France at the age of 19 to study the art of mime. Upon returning to London in 1968 he formed the London Theatre Group. It was in 1969 that Berkoff remade Kafka’s Metamorphosis. In 1976 he married his second (and present) wife, Shelley Lee. With the London Theatre Group, Berkoff attempted to create something unique. The London Theatre Group prided itself with trying to cover all forms of theatre. They wanted to be everything. They called their work a â€Å"fusion of elements†. Their main aim was to shock the audience. There were no set rules to Berkoff’s theatre. It was a mixture of many kinds of theatre, influenced by many people. The London Theatre Group wanted people of all social backgrounds to come and see their plays. Another thing they tried to do was to move away from conventional theatre, and use different ways of using the stage and positioning the audience. In The Penal Colony, The Trial and Metamorphosis were three plays of Kafka’s that Berkoff remade. Other plays the London Theatre Group has performed include Macbeth, Miss Julie versus Expressionism, Agamemnon, The Fall of the House of Usher, East, Greek, Hamlet, Decadence, West, Lunch, Actor, Harry’s Christmas, Kvetch, Sink the Belgrano!, Salome, Acapulco, Brighton Beach Scumbags, Dog, Storm und Drang, Dahling you were Marvellous, Massage, Shakespeare’s Villains, The Messiah. The Bow of Ulysses, Ritual in Blood and The Secret Love Life of Ophelia amongst many others. He also starred in many movies such as A Clockwork Orange and Rambo. He usually played the villain, but the main reason for his film roles was to fund his theatre productions. Berkoff was an atheist, explaining his wish to attract people of all social masses to see his plays. He never uses religious effects in his plays to avoid any conflict of cultures. Brecht was an influence of Berkoff. Brecht didn’t want to get involved with an audience. Another influence was Peter Brook, an expert of slapstick. Stanislavski believed in naturalism, the opposite of Brecht, and yet Berkoff used elements from both Brecht and Stanislavski in his work. This is shown in Metamorphosis, as without the audience’s sympathies for Gregor, the play would not work. Antonin Artauds was another influence. He was involved in theatre of the absurd. Again, Berkoff uses these ideas, mainly to shock the audience in his productions.

China Export Strategy

China's Export Strategy: What Can We Learn From It? Arvind Panagariya As much as by luck as by design, China stumbled onto an export and foreign investment strategy that has proved remarkably successful, helping the economy move quickly to a market-based system. experience serve as a model for other countries? But can the Chinese After three decades of inward-oriented trade and foreign investment policies, in 1979, China switched course and launched an â€Å"open-door† policy. During the 15 years that have elapsed since then, the country has ersistently, albeit gradually, liberalized its trade and foreign investment regime. This has been accompanied by a spectacular growth in GDP and During 1980-90, GDP grew annually at an impressive rate of Over the same period, exports grew at an annual rate of 11 foreign trade. 9. 5 percent. percent–more than twice as fast as world trade–and imports 9. 8 percent. More recently, in 1992 and 1993, GDP has shown annual growth rat es exceeding 13 percent. The annual growth in exports and imports during these two years has been 13 percent and 27 percent, respectively. What are the key trade and foreign investment policies that have led to this dramatic growth in China's foreign trade and GDP? And what lessons can we derive from China's experience for other economies in transition? (see box)? In the following, we examine the nature of reforms and why they worked well or poorly in particular cases. Though this study focuses on external economic policies, it is important to remember that the promotion of non-state enterprises has closely complemented China's outward-oriented – 2 strategy. These enterprises, owned collectively by local authorities in urban areas, townships or villages, enjoy a high degree of autonomy in their operations. Consequently, they have been most successful in taking advantage of the outward-oriented strategy. Promoting an â€Å"export culture† On the external front, three factors combined to give rise to China's success: adoption of an aggressive pro-export strategy by central authorities, active participation of local authorities and the presence of Hong Kong and Taiwanese investors looking for a source of cheap labor. With he beginning of the open-door policy, the central authorities began sending clear signals in favor of an export-oriented trade regime. A variety of instruments were employed to promote what may be called an â€Å"export culture†: geographical targeting, sectoral targeting, a liberal foreign investment regime, and liberal provision of export financing. Geographical targeting. China set up the so-called Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Open Cities within which economic activities– manufacturing, banking, exporting and importing, and foreign investment-took place in a more liberal environment than is available in the rest of the economy. These zones helped to serve as focal points for investment from both domestic and foreign sources and to allow China to develop links with the world market, brought in part, by Hong Kong and Taiwanese entrepreneurs. Originally there were only a handful of such zones, all in Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Over time, many features of SEZs were extended to other cities. Two features of SEZs distinguish them from the rest of the country. First, the SEZs enjoy considerable administrative autonomy in the – 3 areas of investment, pricing, taxation, housing, and labor and land management policies. require virtually no Most foreign investments can be approved locally and central clearance. Second, the SEZs offer many The economic incentives to investors not available in the inland provinces. corporate income tax, normally 33 percent for foreign funded enterprises and 55 percent for state owned enterprises, is 15 percent for all enterprises in the SEZs. All imported inputs used in exports or sold within the Zones are In addition, tax holidays free of import duty and other indirect taxes. available to foreign funded enterprises are more generous in the SEZs than those available under the national tax legislation. Depending on the amount of investment, nature of the technology, and duration of the project, tax holidays of up to five years are available. The SEZs and open cities exhibited spectacular economic performance. In 1979, the three SEZs in Guangdong were small fishing villages with virtually no industrial activity. transformed into modern cities. By the end of 1980s, they had been In 1990, the SEZs and open cities accounted for 52% of total realized investment and more than half of total exports. During 1985-90, industrial output in Guangdong and Fujian grew at annual rates of 16% and 14. % compared with 6. 9% in the rest of the economy. Sectoral targeting. Side by side with geographical targeting, China has also engaged in sectoral targeting for exports. Targeted sectors, chosen at a broad level, have included light industrial products, textiles, and machinery and electronic goods. The most important instruments of targeting were production networks for exports (PNEs) and higher excha nge retention rights to targeted sectors. – 4 The Seventh Five Year Plan (1986-90) provided for the creation of PNEs. The idea was to bring the leading factories within the targeted ector into a network and support them through subsidies for technological upgrading, guaranteed supplies of raw materials and power, preferential access to transportation, attractive purchase prices for their goods, and higher exchange-retention rights than other enterprises in the same industry. The aim of the networks was to expand both the quailty and quantity of exports of the participating factories. The first industry group to benefit from this scheme was machinery and electronic goods. PNEs have also been created in light industrial products and textiles, and farm and sideline products. Rights to foreign exchange generated by exports are shared between the central and provincial governments. For targeted sectors, the allocation of retention rights was more favorable to the province and the foreign trade corporations (FTCs), which procure and export more than 80 percent of China's exports. In the case of light industries, arts & craft, and knitwear, foreign exchange was divided in the ratio of 20:80 between the center and province. Similarly, in machinery and electronic goods, for within-quota exports, the split between the center and provinces was 35:65. Though the retention rights have been revised recently, the bias in favor of FTCs has been retained. From the available data, it is difficult to judge the impact of sectoral targeting primarily because it was broad based. textiles and light industrial products in total exports The share of did expand significantly after 1985. But the effect on machinery sector is less clear. – 5 Overall, one thing which is clear, however, is that the export share of labor intensive sector has gone up in the latter half of 1980s. export shares of heavy and light industries were 47. % In 1982, 37. 6%, and respectively, in 1982. 52. 9%. By 1989, these shares had changed to 31. 9% and Liberal foreign investment regime. China's striking export performance is related to the size of foreign direct investment flows into the country (see table). Foreign investors have been lured to the Chinese market for three reasons. First, both policies and procedures have been designed to facilitate foreign investm ent. A 25 percent foreign investment gives an enterprise the At status of a joint venture and qualifies it for various tax incentives. he same time, foreign equity investment can rise all the way up to 100 percent. Restrictions on the choice of sectors are minimal; any preferences, sectoral or otherwise, take the form of extra incentives. As a result, joint ventures have been established in sectors ranging from hightechnology to consumer goods, services, and raw materials. lower or upper limit on the amount of foreign investment. There is no In large open cities such as Shanghai, foreign investment projects up to $30 million can be approved by local authorities. The limit in smaller open cities is $10 This autonomy has illion while that in unopened cities is $3 million. greatly simplified the approval procedures. Second, employment, wage and pricing policies for joint ventures are flexible. contractual Joint ventures are free to employ any required personnel on a basis. Employees ar e subject to warnings, wage cuts and – 6 dismissal. Except for a few product categories for which prices are set by the state, joint ventures are free to set their prices both domestically and abroad. Products or services for which prices are fixed are of two types. In the first category, prices are completely fixed (e. . , products such as grain, oil, and fuel; and services such as electricity and rent). In the second category, prices are allowed to fluctuate within prespecified bands usually ranging from 10 to 30 percent (e. g. , steel, cement, timber, coal and other major capital goods). Finally, China has given extra incentives to joint ventures. As already discussed, these incentives are particularly generous in the SEZs and open cities. Since 1986, additional preferential treatment has been The available to export-oriented or technologically advanced projects. ncentives include: o Exemption from state subsidies paid to employees to cover the benefits provided by the gov ernment of China; o Priority in obtaining Bank of China loans; o Tax exemption on profits remitted abroad; o Longer tax holidays from corporate income tax; o Extra tax benefits on profits reinvested in export-oriented or technologically advanced projects; and o Further reduced land-use fees, priority in obtaining utilities, transport, and communication facilities. Duty exemptions. China has also instituted an elaborate system of Under these schemes, uty exemptions on imported inputs used in exports. the concessional share of imports was 35 percent in 1988 and rose to 50 – 7 percent in 1991. played an The schemes, introduced in 1984 or later, seem to have role in expanding China's exports. Total exports important associated with concessional import arrangements account for 64 percent of China's manufactured exports. These exports doubled between 1988 and 1991. The domestic value added of these exports is, of course, lower than of other exports. Export financing. Ready access t o export credits is believed to ontribute favorably to export performance. The Bank of China, which is the primary bank dealing in foreign exchange, provides trade credits. Credit, offered in domestic currency, is available for working capital as well as fixed investment for the production of exports and import substitutes. main beneficiaries of these credits are FTCs. of total trade credits in 1991. The They accounted for 85 percent The Bank of China also offers loans in terms of foreign exchange, primarily to enterprises in which foreigners have invested, for working capital and fixed investment. Though contributing favorably to exports, the liberal credit policy has led to a rapid expansion of outstanding loans. The total volume of outstanding trade loans at the end of 1991 was more than three time that at the end of 1985. In part, this expansion was due to the growth of exports. But perhaps it also reflects a rising ratio of export credit to total exports. According to one calculation, this ratio was 150 percent in 1988. The Hong Kong connection A key element in China's success in the world markets so-called â€Å"Hong Kong connection†. as been the In the mid-1980s, Hong Kong entrepreneurs began shifting manufacturing facilities to China, attracted by lower labor – 8 costs as wages rose rapidly at home. This link with Hong Kong has not only brought much needed capital to China but also supplied new technology, modern management practices and critical links to the world market. Today more than half of China's exports to the rest of the world are handled by Hong Kong. Of the $45 billion in cumulative foreign investment commitments to China through 1992, 70 percent came from Hong Kong. This investment went mainly to export-oriented joint ventures. A large proportion of Guangdong's export production is supervised under contract by firms in Hong Kong. Processing activity for exports in Guangdong is also carried out largely in collaboration with partners in Hong Kong who supply materials. Many items, particularly in the toy and clothing sectors, which were previously exported by Hong Kong are now exported by Guangdong. Local policies China's economic system is highly decentralized now and the implementation of policy is largely under the control of provinces. Hence, in the fast-growing provinces, provincial and local officials have been deeply involved in the development process in general and export promotion in particular. The role of local authorities in facilitating foreign investment has been described earlier. In addition, there are a number of ways in which local authorities promote exports. First, the center gives mandatory targets or export quotas for only a limited number of items or in limited volumes. But in some provinces, for Moreover, example Jiangsu, the export-quota-system is far more elaborate. aking advantage of their monopsony power, FTCs are able to buy goods from enterprises at prices well below the corresponding domestic prices. Though – 9 the economic desirability of â€Å"exports at any cost† has been questioned, the FTCs have certainly been able to operate profitably on account of the monopsony power. Second, operating within the center's guidelines, provincial authorities have been expanding Direct Export Rights (DERs) to enterprises. Because the criteria for obtaining such rights are stringent, the DERs have not expanded as rapidly as would have been desirable, however. ith DERs account for only 5% of China's exports. Third, within the State's guidelines, provincial and city governments decide the allocation of raw materials imported by using locally retained foreign exchange earnings among enterprises, collectives and TVEs and across different sectors. Provinces and cities also provide indirect export Enterprises subsidies through the provision of critical inputs such as electric power to export oriented enterprises. higher bonuses for Further incentives are provided in the form of and employees on the basis of export managers erformance. Within the guidelines laid down by the State, provinces can confer rights to trade directly upon enterprises and enterprise groups. Finally, local authorities establish joint ventures between FTCs and enterprises to promote exports. establ ished 160 of these ventures. establish another 200 such ventures. The central lesson Perhaps the most important lesson, also consistent with the experience of other East Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan Province of China, During the Seventh Plan, Wuxi City alone In the Eighth Plan, the city intended to 10 Singapore and now Thailand, is that the key to high GDP growth rates is export orientation and eventual success in the world market. The success in export expansion, in turn, depends on the policy package, which conveys a message in no uncertain terms that, rather than shelter import competing industries, the country will give priority to export oriented activities. China benefitted greatly from the clarity of signals sent by its policy reforms. Once the reform process began, there was rarely any doubt Despite occasional policy reversals, provincial and about its direction. ity governments, which implemented policies and enterprises, both state and nonstate, were convinced tha t the country was headed towards an export oriented regime. geographical In terms of static efficiency, virtually all policies-preferential treatment of foreign investment in targeting, general and in export sectors in particular, and discriminatory exchange retention rights–were highly distortionary. Yet, they combined to give a loud and clear signal that the government was determined to change the economy's orientation away from import substitution to export promotion. – 11 – Box Can India benefit from China's experience? Operationally, the Chinese model is not very applicable to the economies of Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union. These countries have largely rejected the planning model, which has remained an integral part of the Chinese development strategy. The countries in Eastern Europe The have already evolved far closer to the market model than China. countries emerging out of the former Soviet Union, on the other hand, are still struggling with the problem of macroeconomic stabilization. The country for which the Chinese experience is most relevant is India. Both are highly populous and, by developing-country standards, large economies. They began their development process approximately at the same time and stressed self-reliance. Both relied increasingly heavily on import substitution policies and ended up with a highly capital intensive production structure. China changed course in 1979 while India continued (with modest liberalization) on the old course. In 1991, in many ways, India stood where China stood in 1979. China's in 1979. Import and The trade-to-GDP ratio was the same as controls were rampant and the investment domestic currency was overvalued. Despite these similarities, even in India's case, lessons from China are limited. In addition to the obvious differences in political systems which lead to very different political-economy processes in the two countries, there are three reasons for this. has been highly interventionist. been in China and elsewhere in First, the Chinese approach This approach can be successful–as it has East Asia–provided the government can – 12 implement â€Å"right† interventions judiciously. India's experience during the Second, India's last four decades in this respect has not been encouraging. conomy has already evolved far closer to a market economy than that of China. have For instance, export targets and foreign exchange contracts, which helped create a pro-exports ethos in China are neither arguably desirable nor feasible in India. greater role in India than in China. Similarly, private sector plays a far Finally, India has already carried out For example, in the a rea of many reforms that China is still contemplating. exchange rate, China has a multiple exchange rate system and its exchange market is not organized along the lines of market economies. India has chieved virtual current account convertibility and its foreign exchange market is organized along modern lines. Of the lessons that have general relevance to India, the following points would seem to be the most pertinent. o First, creating a liberal and flexible economic environment along the lines of SEZs in China would stimulate greater foreign investment. The country can begin with a small number of cities–e. g. , Bombay, Bangalore, Cochin, and Madras–and, as in China, local governments may be given full authority to approve foreign investment up to a certain limit. Most important, rules of entry and exit in the zones can be made more flexible. Because these zones will be introduced in limited areas with a high growth potential, political consensus may be easier, even if this requires new legislation. Eventual success in the open zones may open the way for Currently, India does have export political consensus on a wider scale. processing zones. But the geographical area over which such zones operate – 13 is far too limited to allow for the full play of liberal policies and make them focal points of investment activity. Second, provision of infrastructure facilities through active In participation of local authorities in the reform process is critical. the fast growing provinces in China, local authorities–especially mayors of the cities–have been deeply involved in the process of development. They try to ensure that investors get speedy clearance with respect to land use, supply of electricity, water and other facilities. In India, so far, it seems that the enthusiasm for reforms has not filtered to state governments and the center may well have to take a lead in this regard, offering both carrot and stick. All incentives and reforms at the central level can be rendered ineffective if the state and local authorities, which must provide land, power, communications facilities, and environmental clearance, do not cooperate. There is an urgent need to study caefully how such bottlenecks can be removed. o Third, there is a need for a shift in the production structure towards more labor intensive industries. The share of capital goods imports in total imports is rather small in India when compared with China and other fast-growing countries in East Asia. This, combined with the fact that India's import-to-GDP ratio is small, suggests that India is far more deeply into the production of capital goods than China and other comparator countries. In late 1970s and early 1980s, China also suffered from this problem and adopted policies to change the structure of production in favor of labor intensive goods. An important part of this strategy was targeting of a few – 14 sectors, especially for exports. this route. For India, it is perhaps unwise to follow Given the country's generally neutral and rules-based approach to reforms, it is perhaps best to rely on the standard trade policy tools, particularly the structure of tariffs. Recent reduction in tariffs on capital goods should help move the economy towards more labor intensive goods. What is needed is resistance to policies that reverse the impact of this policy change. In particular, there is need for labor-market reforms. The country will not be able to take advantage of low wages of skilled and unskilled labor unless potential investors are sure that they can operate factories around the year without fears of recurrent labor disputes. This fear has been behind the highly capital intensive technologies chosen by investors in recent years. Fourth, duty exemptions for assembly type operations combined with rapid processing of imported inputs and materials by customs authorities made a significant contribution to China's export growth. In India, duty exemptions for exporters exist but an improvement in their administration and simplification of procedures leading to speedy processing by customs will help boost exports. Also, for small exporters who rely on duty drawbacks, delay in getting the drawback as well as in obtaining inputs from abroad are common. An improvement in this direction is also desirable. Fifth, it is important to note that China was welcoming of foreign investment for both domestic and foreign markets. Most of the incentives– tax holidays, lower fees on land use, flexibility in the employment of labor etc. ,–were available to all foreign investors. ventures, some extra incentives were provided. For export-oriented joint The lesson here is that – 15 fears of tariff-jumping type of foreign investment should not lead to erection of barriers. Instead, if the regime is to be tilted in favor of export-oriented foreign investments, it should be done through positive incentives. Imposition of barriers to foreign investment will only add noise to signals of openness that India has been sending. A final point concerns the importance of a â€Å"Hong Kong† connection. In India's case, there are no geographic neighbors that are as economically dynamic as Hong Kong or Taiwan, Province of China. But through cultural ties, the most India can do is to attract investments from Indians in Hong Kong and Non Resident Indians (NRIs) elsewhere in the world. While this is obviously worth doing, India has to rely on a more diversified base of foreign investors. It may be argued that to meet the East Asian challenge, investors in the United States and Europe will be increasingly looking for sources of cheap labor. With its vast pool of cheap unskilled to middleMoreover, level skilled labor, India clearly fulfills this requirement. India's economic and political institutions are also familiar to western investors. What is needed is more open policies, transparency, and infrastructure. If this can be accomplished, India may well become the primary export base for the United States and European Community in the 21st century. Arvind Panagariya an Indian national, was a Principal Economist in the Bank's Trade Policy Division and is a Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland. He earned his PhD from Princeton. – 16 Direct foreign investment into China (billion dollars) Commitment 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 (first half) Cumulative, end 1991 5. 3 5. 6 6. 6 12. 0 14. 5 48. 9 Actual n. a. 3. 4 3. 5 4. 4 3. 4 20. 3 ——————————————————————- Sources: China Statistics Yearbook 1990, 1991, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, China.

Planned Parenthood - Profile

Planned Parenthood - Profile About Planned Parenthood: The term planned parenthood originally applied to practices to control the number of children born to a family. Nurse Margaret Sanger promoted information about birth control methods as a way of dealing with the poverty of families where parents could not provide financially for their growing families and were ignorant of sexual and medical knowledge that could limit the number of their children. About Planned Parenthood Organizations: Today, Planned Parenthood refers to the organizations at local, state, federal and international levels. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the umbrella group at the national level in the United States, with umbrella affiliates, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) which is based in London unites groups around the world. The focus of Planned Parenthood Federation today is providing reproductive health care, sex education, counseling and information; abortion services, while the most controversial of their programs, is only a small part of the services provided in more than 800 health centers throughout the United States. Origin of Planned Parenthood Federation of America: In 1916, Margaret Sanger founded the first birth control clinic in the United States. In 1921, realizing that the needs for information and services were greater than her clinic could provide, she founded the American Birth Control League, and in 1923, the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau. Realizing that birth control was a means and not the goal family planning was the goal the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau was renamed Planned Parenthood Federation. Key Issues in Planned Parenthood History: Planned Parenthood has evolved to face different issues in womens reproductive services as the political and legal environment has changed. Margaret Sanger was jailed in her time for violation of the Comstock Law. Before the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on abortion, clinics were limited to providing contraceptives and information and even those services were limited depending on the states. The Hyde Amendment made it difficult for poor women to obtain abortion by excluding such services from federal health services, and Planned Parenthood looked for alternatives to help poor women the initial target audience of Sangers birth control work to get needed health services and to manage their family size. Reagan and Bush Years: During the Reagan years, increasing attacks on womens reproductive choices affected Planned Parenthood. The Gag Rule, preventing family planning professionals from giving medical information about abortion, made it more difficult to provide services to women internationally. The attacks both through violence by individuals, promoted by anti-abortion organizations, and through legislative limits on abortion and other reproductive services challenged clinics and the legislative and lobbying associated organizations. The Bush years (both presidents Bush) included pushes for abstinence-only sex education (despite evidence that such sex education does not significantly cut the rate of teenage or premarital pregnancy) and more limits on reproductive choice including abortion. President Clinton lifted the Gag Rule but President George W. Bush reinstated it. 2004 March on Washington: In 2004, Planned Parenthood played a key role in organizing a pro-choice march on Washington, the March for Womens Lives, held on April 25 of that year. More than one million gathered on the National Mall for that demonstration, with women being a large majority of those demonstrating. Associated Organizations: Planned Parenthood Federation is associated with: Alan Guttmacher Institute, focusing on research and developmentPlanned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF), a separate organization focusing on legal action and lobbyingInternational Planned Parenthood Federation Planned Parenthood Direction: Planned Parenthood clinics continue to be challenged with threats and actual incidents of terror as well as by attempts to intimidate or physically block women from entering those clinics for any services. Planned Parenthood also works for comprehensive sex education, to help prevent pregnancy through information, opposing abstinence-only programs which do not effectively prevent pregnancy. Planned Parenthood advocates for availability of legal contraceptive drugs or devices, access to abortion services, and ending censorship requirements on medical professionals preventing them from giving medical information to their patients. Those who oppose the availability of abortion or contraceptive services continue to identify Planned Parenthood for defunding efforts, attempts to close clinics through zoning and through protests, and other means. Those who advocate violence as a means of opposing reproductive choice also continue to target Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood and Related Elsewhere on the Web Planned Parenthood HistoryPlanned Parenthood Action CenterJohn Salvi, Abortion Clinic Violence, and Catholic Right ConspiracismPlanned Parenthood Plays the Violence CardNARAL Pro-Choice AmericaReligious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Jesuss Works

Jesuss Works Jesus's Miracles Jesus, throughout the course of his life, performed many miracles. His miracles included raising the dead, changing water to wine, feeding thousands of people with very little food, demon exorcisms, and healing the sick and deformed. The most important miracle, by far, was his own resurrection (Saliba). Jesus's miracles were not for entertainment or self gain. They served the purpose of backing up his claim as the Son of God. They were also used to respond to real need (Jesus'). In Luke 23:8, 9 , during Jesus's trials, Herod was glad to see Jesus. "When Herod saw Jesus he was greatly pleased...he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions but Jesus gave him now answer."‚  (Holy Bible). Herod does not need anything, being that he is the King. Jesus's miracles were to back his claim as Son of God. A good place to start would be to define what a miracle is.Jesus is waiting for you.Microsoft Encart defines a miracle as "an even, appare ntly transcending human powers and the laws of nature, that is attributed to a special divine intervention or to supernatural forces."‚  Jesus's miracles were witnessed by to many people not to have happened. Science has attempted to explain almost all of Jesus's miracles. They have been able to explain parts of some of the miracles, but have never been able to totally explain the entire event. In Mark 8:22-25 Jesus heals a blind man. He touches the man's eyes the first time and the man states that he cannot tell a man from a tree.Jesus again touches the man's eyes and his sight is full restored. If the man had lost his sight due to a traumatic shock as a child, and supposing Jesus was a "therapy"‚  healer, his...

How to Format and Write a Simple Business Letter

How to Format and Write a Simple Business Letter People write business letters and emails for a variety of reasons such as requesting information, to conduct transactions, to secure employment, and so on. Effective business correspondence should be clear and concise, respectful in tone, and formatted properly. By breaking down a business letter into its basic components, you can learn how to communicate effectively and improve your skills as a writer. The Basics A typical business letter contains three sections, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.   The Introduction:  The introduction indicates who the writer is addressing. If youre writing to someone you dont know or have met only briefly, the introduction may also a brief reason of why youre writing. Typically, the introduction is only a sentence or two in length.The Body: The letters body is where you state your business. This section may be as short as a few sentences or several paragraphs in length. It all depends on the degree of detail necessary to describe the subject at hand.The Conclusion: The conclusion is the final section where youll  call for future action. This can be a chance to talk in person, to request additional information, or to conduct a transaction. Like the introduction, this section should be no more than a sentence or two and must make clear what you would like from the person reading your letter. The Introduction The tone of the introduction depends on your relationship to the letter recipient. If youre addressing a close friend or a business colleague, using their first name is acceptable. But if youre writing to someone you do not know, its best to address them formally in the greeting. If you do not know the name of the person youre writing to, use their title or a general form of address. Some examples: Dear personnel directorDear sir or madamDear Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms. (Last name)Dear Frank (use this if the person is a close business contact or friend) Writing to a specific person is always preferred. Generally speaking, use Mr. when addressing men and Ms. for women in the greeting. Only use the title of Doctor for those in the medical profession. While you should always begin a business letter with the word Dear, doing so is an option for business emails, which are less formal. If youre writing to someone you dont know or have met only in passing, you may want to follow the greeting by providing some context for why youre contacting that person. Some examples: With reference to your advertisement in the Times...Im am following up on our phone call yesterday.Thank you for your letter of March 5. The Body The majority of a business letter is contained in the body. This is where the writer states his or her reason for corresponding. For example:   I am writing to inquire about the position posted in The Daily Mail.I am writing to confirm the shipment details on order # 2346.I am writing to apologize for the difficulties you experienced last week at our branch. Once you have stated the general reason for writing your business letter, use the body to provide additional details. For example, you may be sending a client important documents to sign, apologizing to a customer for poor service, requesting information from a source, or some other reason. Whatever the reason, remember to use language that is courteous and polite. For instance: I would be grateful to meet with you next week.Would you possibly have time for a meeting next week?I would be delighted to give you a tour of our facility this coming month.Unfortunately, we will have to postpone the meeting until June 1.Enclosed you will find a copy of the contract. Please sign where indicated. It is customary to include some closing remarks after youve stated your business in the body of the letter. This is your opportunity to reinforce your relationship with the recipient, and it should just be a sentence. Please contact us again if we can help in any way.If you have any questions, feel free to call me.You can also use the closing to request or offer future contact with the reader.I look forward to hearing from you soon.Please contact my assistant to schedule an appointment. The Finish The final thing all business letters need is a salutation, where you say your goodbyes to the reader. As with the introduction, how you write the salutation will depend on your relationship to the recipient. For clients that youre not on a first-name basis with, use: Yours faithfully (if you dont know the name of the person youre writing to)Yours sincerely, (if you do know the name of the person youre writing to. If you are on a first-name basis, use: Best wishes, (if youre acquaintances)Best regards or Regards (if the person is a close friend or contact) Sample Business Letter Kens Cheese House34 Chatley AvenueSeattle, WA 98765October 23, 2017Fred FlintstoneSales ManagerCheese Specialists Inc.456 Rubble RoadRockville, IL 78777Dear Mr. Flintstone,With reference to our telephone conversation today, I am writing to confirm your order for: 120 x Cheddar Deluxe Ref. No. 856.The order will be shipped within three days via UPS and should arrive at your store in about 10 days.Please contact us again if we can help in any way.Yours sincerely,Kenneth BeareDirector of Kens Cheese House

A Lifestyle by Fernando Sorrentino Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Lifestyle by Fernando Sorrentino - Essay Example This change in his outlook and lifestyle did not happen voluntarily but was forced upon him by circumstances. While the story may sound far-fetched, the character underlines human capacity to adjust to circumstances and more importantly, to remain â€Å"relatively happy† in the end without the usual trappings. Conflict Both internal and external conflicts exist in this story (Garp, online). The inner conflict is the narrator’s physical, social and psychological struggle with the circumstances that he faced. This internal conflict makes him wonder how to cope with a difficult situation and survive. His external conflict is with the society, of which he was a part not so long ago and leading a normal life, unaware of the ridiculous extent to which urban life and social relations have descended to. (your last name) 2 Theme and central idea Thematically it is a humorous story. Humor is noted throughout the story’s incidents like the pompous declaration of a locksmith about his association’s Magna Carta and the ethics of and restrictions on its members, the vicarious pleasure of the janitor/girl-friend/colleagues at the bank at his discomfiture, and his gradual adjustment from dependence to independence.

The cultural effect of automobile on Americans in the 1920 Essay

The cultural effect of automobile on Americans in the 1920 - Essay Example The automobile had come a long way by then from the era of the Model T Fords that looked like square boxes mounted on wheels. The assembly line manufacturing method of Henry Ford had become the norm in car manufacturing and allowed the people to afford the automobile at lesser than the usual price. Now, no place was too far for the public to reach. Everything was only a car ride away. However, the road infrastructure still needed to keep up with the rapid growth of the automobile economy. The affordable cost of the new range of factory line produced automobiles helped to give rise to the era of American consumerism. Americans no longer purchased goods simply for consumption. Due to the effective advertising campaigns of automobiles, first as print ads and then as commercials on radio and television, the American psyche was awakened to a new and powerful type of happiness. A happiness that lay in their ability to buy things such as automobiles which, according to the sales pitches, was guaranteed to bring them hours, days, months, or even years of happiness with their family members and friends. Now, Americans purchased a lifestyle instead of an item. They now spent their hard earned cash with the knowledge that the purchase would bring them a sense of happiness. The automobile was the greatest expression of the happiness a person could find in his rising social status. From the era of 1910 to 1950, Americans began to develop a special relationship with their cars in part due to the influence of the automobile advertisements and the cars ability to provide a freedom of movement to a person. Customizing the car also became the ultimate in personal expression for young people. The automobile had a tendency to reflect the character of the owner. There was a sense of dependence on the automobile that could often be misconstrued as an

Capitalism Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Capitalism Structure - Essay Example When a company is going to liquidation due to bankruptcy, it has to repay the debt capital first. The equity shareholders will be paid back their investment only after setting off the secured creditors, debenture holders, preference shareholdersetc. So the companies should deeply analyze financial implications before taking capital structure decisions. In United Kingdom, a secured creditor can even proceed with liquidating the company and claim the amount due to him by the company. Even though the cost of capital plays an important role while taking decision regarding the capital structure, the bankruptcy code also plays a prominent role in the decisions. Therefore, care must be taken while deciding capital structure. The companies cannot make changes in the bankruptcy code, but they can make adjustments in the debt-equity combination (capital structure) of their financial structures in order to accommodate bankruptcy code considerations. This assumes importance since the interests o f equity holders would be compromised or endangered if debt capital is allowed to mount beyond reasonable proportions or as needed by the organisation. Increase in equity capital does not endanger the company's existence or survival, however creditors and loan syndicates could call back their loans, or bring action for claim settlements, thus, putting the company at the doorsteps of bankruptcy. The UK bankruptcy code is a creditor-supportive and a debt-friendly code. That means the debt holders will be having right in deciding the liquidation of the companies. "If the cash flows generated by the project are insufficient to meet debt payments, the firm is in default. Continuation decisions in default are regulated by the bankruptcy code in place." (Acharya, Sundaram and John, p.2). If a company is taking effective and efficient decision regarding the capital structure, it can easily overcome the problems which may arise due to unfavourable bankruptcy code. So while deciding on the ca pital structure, an optimum combination should be selected. While discussing the effect of bankruptcy code in the capital structure decision, the asset-specificity should also be considered. Asset-specificity can be defined as "aspect or feature of an asset (such as a specialized machine) that makes it useful for one or few specific purposes and which, therefore, cannot easily be sold off quickly in a fire-sale." (Asset Specificity: Definition. 2009). If a company has low asset-specificity, it can use more debt capital in the capital structure. If the company is in a situation of liquidation or bankruptcy, it can easily sell off its assets and meet the debts like repayment of creditors, preference shareholdersetc. In other words, if the companies whose assets are fit for providing as security for funds borrowed, can use more debt capital in the capital structure. Because at the time of bankruptcy it will not face any difficulty in repaying the loan or borrowed money as it can sell o ff such assets. Whatever combination is used in the capital structure, the objective of the company should be to increase the wealth of the equity shareholders. If the bankruptcy code of a country is debt capital friendly, it is not better for the companies to follow 'trading on equity' (trading on equity refers to using more debt capital

Simulation and Its Use in Nursing Education Term Paper

Simulation and Its Use in Nursing Education - Term Paper Example All these are types of simulations which are put in one form or the other. Bottom-line, what they all have in common is that they are all done in a mock situation. This is appropriate because the stake holders perform steadfastly in the clinical setting (Keeping, 2008). Discussion Using simulation, it is simple to bridge the gap between the real condition and the ideal condition. A nursing educator would like to put his or her students into the ideal condition of dealing with real patients. This in reality is not possible because the students are not yet fully qualified to handle real patients in the ideal situation (Brown, Crawford & Hicks, 2003). They might just compromise their health. In order to curb this identified need as required by need assessment, simulation is used. Need assessment is a well choreographed process whereby the gaps or discrepancies between the conditions that are faced now and the ideal conditions are established and addressed appropriately. The students are placed in the ideal situation using simulation. ... Associate degree students who are preparing to handle patients in critical conditions are best taught using simulation. This puts them in an almost real scenario without real danger to the patients. Patients suffering from conditions such as Myocardial infarction and Congestive heart failure are in very critical conditions. In congestive heart failure the heart is not able to pump enough blood that meets all the needs of the body. Myocardial infarction on the other hand is a condition where an interruption occurs to the flow of blood to some part of the heart and as a result the cells of the heart give in and die. These students under simulation feel the real urgency and quagmire in a race to save the patients’ lives. They are compelled to have a rush of adrenalin and adopt enhanced critical thinking. Simulation therefore greatly benefits the medical teaching fraternity by alleviating the risk of harming critically ill patients from the inexperience of student professionals (O rme, 2007). Simulation in these critical conditions is however facing significant challenges. It is such a great huddle to cross in trying to create a precise simulated condition of the real situation that goes down in the operation theatres that handle these critically ill patients (Gomm & Davies, 2000). It might be quite a challenge to implement the practicum. Simulations are only the imitations of the real life scenarios. They are not quite the real thing. Going into a simulation environment with the full knowledge that the environment is only an imitation is such a challenge. It compromises the creativity and ability to learn or teach. In order to mitigate this challenge, it is important to try and forget the fact that a simulation is not the real life scenario. It is possible

Scaffolding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Scaffolding - Essay Example Scaffolding instructions describe specialized training strategies geared toward supporting learning when the trainees are first introduced to a new aspect. Scaffolding gives trainees a situation, motivation and foundation from which to appreciate the new lessons introduced to them (Coackley, 1994). Tasks that are too difficult will be outside the trainees’ level of developmental scope and might have detrimental effects. Bridging the gap between their actual development and the potential, desired results might not be possible because frustration sets in. A core task of the fundamental steps in scaffolding entails keeping the trainees from getting frustrated. Enabling them to bridge the space between the real and the potentially possible skills depends on the resources or support the coach provides (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). On the other hand, setting the standards too low may drive them into boredom and loss of motivation. In the case of coaching teenagers’ soccer, th e coach’s first step was to build their interest and engage their active participation. The trainees see the coach as knowledgeable about the content of soccer as well as a facilitator with the skills, strategies and processes required for coaching. The coach not only helps motivate trainees by providing basic support to enable them to achieve the objective, but also offers support in the form of modeling and highlighting the critical features of soccer, and providing hints and questions that might help them to reflect (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). Towards this end, the coach requires some personal attributes like pleasantness, a sense of humor, even temper, courtesy, sympathy and enthusiasm (Coackley, 1994). Once the coach achieves participation, he breaks down the training programme into smaller and simpler units. There are specialized drills for strikers, defenders, midfielders and goalkeepers. It begins with each group identifying what and how they ought to achieve. True player growth takes place when each player’s routine training and playing surroundings are of the best standard (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). Having a consistent environment and a clear visualization of what is ahead for them maximized the trainees’ development. The coach used video clips and specially arranged soccer fields as teaching aids. The coach consistently uses video analysis of both group and individual performance. He develops the analysis in the region of problem solving thoughts. A trade of questions, suggestions and answers between the coach and players and then again between the players themselves is always productive. The coach stressed the significance of video analysis immediately following the activity. That is when the trainee had a feel for the action. Video feedback had its greatest impact in training sessions where evaluation followed by immediate recurrence of the action took place in a coach controlled situation (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). In areas w here the trainees are succeeding, the coach’s and teaching aid’s assistance are reduced. In the same way, he provided more assistance where he observed struggling (Coackley, 1994). Brief viewing periods plus the coach’s analysis were followed by attempts to correct as well as improve on performance. Correction had to be positive, not negative. The coach stopped talking and listened. The idea was to avoid filling the trainees’ minds with details, but allow them to think and analyze for themselves. He was only to

Walmart's retail link system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walmart's retail link system - Essay Example Organizations will use various tools including technological tools to make this process effective, and one among them, which is being commonly used now, is RFID. Understanding their benefits, many well known organizations Harley Davidson, Walmart, etc., are incorporating RFID as part of their SCM, and are getting good results. When one particularly focuses on the RFID usage in Walmart, it is clear that it has been improving its operations, although some privacy concerns are raised against it. System of RFID RFID (short for Radio Frequency Identification) is electronics and Information technology (IT) based tool, which helps organizations to trace their finished products as well as the raw materials needed for making those products in the supply chain. Basic RFID system is made up of three components, a transponder (RF tag) electronically programmed with unique information, an antenna or Reader and a computer or a transceiver (with decoder). RFID works on the concept of invisible radi o waves, emitted by the microchip, which are attached to the consignment of raw materials and products, or even individual products of a particular company including retail company, which are being transported. Then, by using the reader or the antenna, which will detect the invisible radio waves, the position of the consignment or the product can be tracked. Also, the reader decodes the data encoded in the tag's integrated circuit (silicon chip) and then the data is passed to the host computer for processing and retrieval or transfer of the information. (â€Å"Technologies†). This can be used by the retail companies to track both the products and the raw materials being received from the suppliers, as well as the finished products, which are being transported to the supplier or distributor and the eventual customer. In addition RFID can also be used by retail companies as part of their operational processes. Inside manufacturing or assembly units or even storing unit, RFID re ader can identify individual materials, fitted with the RFID tag, and then route them to the relevant sections of those units. RFID in Walmart Walmart, one of the largest retailers, incorporated RFID tags as part of its operations in 2005, when it asked its suppliers to adopt this tool. The main reason for this decision is, it wanted its suppliers to know when the finished goods have arrived at the backdoor of the stores, thereby allowing them to make the plans. Plans in the sense, where to put or route those products, ranging from distribution centers, shop floor to the intended customers. â€Å"The roll-out started in 2005 with a couple of hundred suppliers tagging cases being sent to 2 or 3 WalMart distribution centers in Texas† (â€Å"RFID News†). Schwartz pointed out another application of RFID in Wal-Mart, â€Å"In addition, another RFID tag placed at the entrance to the sales floor will tell the supplier, what is on the sales floor and what is left in the backr oom.† This was expected to aid the suppliers by giving them a good read of their inventory figures, along with sales velocity. However, suppliers opposed this initiative due to issues like installation and maintenance costs (which were put on them by Walmart), ROI (Return of Investment), etc. Such opposition led to problematic implementation of RFID, but Walmart does not want to let go RFID. They wanted to optimally use it and so in 2010, they decided to incorporate it in its 3,000 stores in men's apparel area. â€Å"These are little radio frequency ID RFID tags that are attached to the apparel that allow us to—

Scaffolding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Scaffolding - Essay Example Scaffolding instructions describe specialized training strategies geared toward supporting learning when the trainees are first introduced to a new aspect. Scaffolding gives trainees a situation, motivation and foundation from which to appreciate the new lessons introduced to them (Coackley, 1994). Tasks that are too difficult will be outside the trainees’ level of developmental scope and might have detrimental effects. Bridging the gap between their actual development and the potential, desired results might not be possible because frustration sets in. A core task of the fundamental steps in scaffolding entails keeping the trainees from getting frustrated. Enabling them to bridge the space between the real and the potentially possible skills depends on the resources or support the coach provides (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). On the other hand, setting the standards too low may drive them into boredom and loss of motivation. In the case of coaching teenagers’ soccer, th e coach’s first step was to build their interest and engage their active participation. The trainees see the coach as knowledgeable about the content of soccer as well as a facilitator with the skills, strategies and processes required for coaching. The coach not only helps motivate trainees by providing basic support to enable them to achieve the objective, but also offers support in the form of modeling and highlighting the critical features of soccer, and providing hints and questions that might help them to reflect (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976). Towards this end, the coach requires some personal attributes like pleasantness, a sense of humor, even temper, courtesy, sympathy and enthusiasm (Coackley, 1994). Once the coach achieves participation, he breaks down the training programme into smaller and simpler units. There are specialized drills for strikers, defenders, midfielders and goalkeepers. It begins with each group identifying what and how they ought to achieve. True player growth takes place when each player’s routine training and playing surroundings are of the best standard (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). Having a consistent environment and a clear visualization of what is ahead for them maximized the trainees’ development. The coach used video clips and specially arranged soccer fields as teaching aids. The coach consistently uses video analysis of both group and individual performance. He develops the analysis in the region of problem solving thoughts. A trade of questions, suggestions and answers between the coach and players and then again between the players themselves is always productive. The coach stressed the significance of video analysis immediately following the activity. That is when the trainee had a feel for the action. Video feedback had its greatest impact in training sessions where evaluation followed by immediate recurrence of the action took place in a coach controlled situation (Ewing & Seefeldt, 1990). In areas w here the trainees are succeeding, the coach’s and teaching aid’s assistance are reduced. In the same way, he provided more assistance where he observed struggling (Coackley, 1994). Brief viewing periods plus the coach’s analysis were followed by attempts to correct as well as improve on performance. Correction had to be positive, not negative. The coach stopped talking and listened. The idea was to avoid filling the trainees’ minds with details, but allow them to think and analyze for themselves. He was only to

Can Amanda Turn Her New Business Around Before It Is Too Late Case Study - 1

Can Amanda Turn Her New Business Around Before It Is Too Late - Case Study Example The four major management functions, planning, organizing, influencing, and controlling, play a significant role in performing the daily activities of an organization. The concept of planning sets specific goals for organizations, managers, and other employees. In the opinion of Pride, Hughes, and Kapoor (2010), planning assists the management team to understand where the organization is, how to make the organization move along the specified path, and when to take appropriate measures to achieve the targeted organizational goals etc (pp.169-170). Elimination of uncertainties, minimization of impulsive and arbitrary decisions, quick resource allocation, effective use of resources, adaptive responses, anticipative action, and integration of various decisions and activities are other benefits usually obtained from planning. According to Hurd, Barcelona, and Meldrum (2008, pp.42-43), ‘organizing’ is an effective functional element of management that assists the firm to achieve the targets set in the planning phase. Organizing aids a firm to distribute the works effectively among its employees. Organizing is essential to clarify the powers of every manager and the way he has to exercise those powers. This practice will also prevent managers from taking unfair advantages of their position. Similarly, work coordination, effective administration, growth and diversification, sense of security, and scope for new changes are some other fruitful outcomes of organizing. A manager’s level of success or failure is determined on the basis of his/her ability to influence people within the particular department. When managerial individuals effectively deploy their influencing skills, they exude a positive energy that would highly motivate their subordinates. This motivation will directly enhance organizational productivity and thereby profitability. In the view of Marquis and Huston (2009, p. 434).

Recreation, Leisure and Play Essay Example for Free

Recreation, Leisure and Play Essay The idea of leisure has been in existence for many centuries and has come to have many different meanings depending on the period in history or the civilization that it originated from. From as early as Ancient Greece, Rome or Babylonia, the term we now know as leisure has existed in some form or another. As has been widely noted in introductory recreation texts, schole was both the ancient Greek word for leisure meaning, â€Å"serious activity without the pressure of necessity† and is the root of the English word for school (Godbey, 2003). To the ancient Greeks, leisure, education, and culture were intertwined. In other words, learning was available only for the rich, people with the wealth to afford free time. Leisure, as we know it today, has changed from the original meaning of the word. From what I have read and found in various books and articles, Leisure can be defined in 3 different ways: leisure defined as a state of being or a state of mind, leisure defined as an activity, and leisure defined as time. I will discuss the various definitions of leisure today and then discuss my issues with each definition. Leisure Defined as a State of Mind Leisure defined as a state of mind is, in my mind, the least often used definition of the word. The way to understand this concept would be use it in the context such as â€Å"someone who is at leisure†; meaning freedom from anxiety, obligation, or constraint or having an internal locus of control. Locus of Control refers to an individuals perception of main causes of events in life. More simply, having an internal locus of control means that you believe that you are the master of your own destiny. John Neulinger (1974) states: Leisure has one and only one essential criterion, and that is the condition of perceived freedom. Any activity carried out freely, without constraint or compulsion, may be considered to be leisure. â€Å"To leisure† implies being engaged in any activity as a free agent and of one’s own choice. (p. 12) Now I want you to keep in mind this idea of leisure as any activity of one’s own free willed decision because I am going to touch on it again during the leisure defined as time. Leisure Defined as an Activity Leisure defined as an activity is used widely as well. Most people would agree that leisure activity is something that is fun and enjoyable during a non-working time. This idea makes it difficult to pinpoint a leisure activity though. Understanding if the activity is performed for intrinsic or extrinsic purposes may be the deciding factor whether the activity is leisure or not. The distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic properties plays an essential role in stating several interesting philosophical problems. Why am I performing this action? If you are doing the activity because you enjoy it, then you are performing it for its intrinsic value. If you do not want to participate in an activity, but you know that you will benefit from the activity, you are performing it for its extrinsic value. An example would be a person who practices on the piano because they like to play, versus a person who practices piano because they want to win a music contest. Who of the two is experiencing leisure as an activity? Most people would agree that the first person is definitely experiencing leisure as an activity. The second person is where the debate lays. It is the same exact activity as the first person, but the motivation for performing the activity is different. I feel that as long as you, as a free willed individual, choose to perform any activity then you are experiencing leisure as an activity because you are fulfilling your desires. I feel that the only time when you are may not experience leisure is when you are dying. If you have lived a long life and eventually die from old age, I do not believe that you made the decision out of free will to pass away. Although, if a person commits suicide, does that persons free willed decision make the act of dying a leisure activity? Some good questions to ask: If your career is your passion, are you always at leisure? Conversely, is a person without a job always at leisure? Musicians, professional athletes, and the homeless are all specific examples of situations that may help answer these questions. Leisure Defined as Time Leisure defined as time may be the most commonly understood meaning of the word today because of its positive connotations (Martin, 1975). People often use the word leisure and the term free time interchangeably. On the surface this definition seems fine, but as you delve deeper and ask difficult questions, it starts to become less clear. What is free time? Free time is defined as time free of obligations or responsibilities, or time to do with what you please. As Neulinger stated his definition of leisure, performing the activity out of free will is the deciding factor for whether it is leisure or not. This idea brings this thought to mind. All human beings have been blessed with the gift of free will; a consciousness of who we are and of the decisions we make. Without consciousness we would still be aware of what is going on around us, but we would react to it in a reflexive, instinctive way. With consciousness, we can deliberately weigh what the senses tell us, and respond accordingly. If this definition holds true, shouldn’t all of life be considered leisure? Every decision, every action, comes from our decisions of our own free will. If we continue with this thought, some questions arise: †¢ Are there any instances in life that would prevent you from experiencing free will? †¢ Do we always make decisions based on our desires? †¢ Do having priorities that are not in sync with our desires negate our free will? These questions came after having a conversation with my friend. She told me that when you are a parent, you have obligations to your children that may interfere with your free time. This is where the damn breaks open and it is up to the individual to decide. Her question was, â€Å"What if my needs as a parent cannot be fulfilled because I have work to make sure my kids are fed and clothed? † I feel that even though you have the responsibility as a parent to provide for your children, you made the decision to have a child knowing full well the obligations and responsibilities that would ultimately come with that decision. Free time, who would have thought two little words, would bring up so many questions? My Definition of Leisure After contemplating on the various definitions of the term leisure I propose the following: Leisure is the phenomenon experienced by all self aware beings whose decisions are based out of free will, whether those decisions are made in the conscious or subconscious mind of the individual. Recreation Recreation is any activity which is relaxing to humans or provides diversions from their normal routine, and in many ways is also a therapeutic refreshment of ones body or mind. Any activity can potentially be a recreational one. Vacations to exotic islands, sporting events, meditation, watching television, or playing monopoly are all forms of recreation. A key factor to the activity being considered a recreational activity is whether or not it is pleasurable. If the activity is not pleasurable then the activity cannot be considered recreational because it is not rejuvenating to the body or mind. For example, a couple travels to the Caribbean for a second honeymoon. They have planned the vacation far in advance and the tickets and reservations are non-refundable. Upon arriving, the weather is awful and the couple is unable to participate in any of the activities they had planned for the trip. Even though the fact they were engaging in a commercial recreational activity, the weather prevented them from having an enjoyable time and therefore the vacation was not recreating to oneself or another. With the information provided, this vacation would not be classified as recreation. Fairchild defined recreation as â€Å"any activity pursued during leisure, either individual or collective, that is free and pleasurable, having its own immediate appeal, not impelled by a delayed reward beyond itself† (Fairchild, 1944). Another aspect of recreation was presented by Gray and Greben (1974) as: an emotional condition within an individual human being that flows from a feeling of well-being and self-satisfaction. It is characterized by feeling of mastery, achievement, exhilaration, acceptance, success, personal worth, and pleasure. It reinforces positive self-image. Recreation is a response to aesthetic experience, achievement of personal goals, or positive feedback from others. It is independent of activity, leisure, or personal acceptance. (p. 23) This definition is not focused on the activity itself, but on the individual’s reaction to the activity; the individuals state of mind. I would agree that this definition touches the heart of the subject much better. I stated earlier that any activity has the potential of being a recreational activity. This is true because it depends on how the individual feels about the activity. Most people experience pleasure during activities like exercise, sports, relaxing, and vacationing. If you think along these lines then it is easy to understand why some activities are generalized as recreational and why some are not. Although some people consider work pleasurable, most people do not love their job. This is why I believe that work is not universally accepted as recreational. My Definition of Recreation After contemplating on the various definitions of the term recreation I propose the following: Recreation is a positive state of mind achieved during any physical or non-physical activities characterized by feelings which are rejuvenating and recreating to the body and spirit. Play Leisure and recreation as I discussed them are states of mind experienced by an individual. Play, although related to these concepts, is different in the fact that it is a means to achieve this positive state of mind which all living beings desire. Play has existed since the beginning of time. Johan Huizinga (1950) described the characteristics of play as: †¢ Voluntary behavior †¢ Stepping outside of â€Å"ordinary life† †¢ Secluded and limited in time and space †¢ Not serious but absorbs the player intensely †¢ Bounded by rules †¢ Promoting formation of social groups that surround themselves with secrecy As you read the characteristics, you realize that they appear in all forms of play. Although play is a common occurrence within all ages of life, it is a concept that it liked to immaturity in today’s society. The Instinctual Aspect of Play. Play is a puzzle to scientists. Why do animals spend so much time and energy doing such silly things that seem to have no purpose? The struggle for survival in nature is deadly serious. What place is there for activities that dont help animals eat, grow, and reproduce? Play is also very risky. Animals can break bones, pull muscles, or get bitten too hard. In a study of 14 Siberian ibexes (wild goats), more than one-third were hurt badly enough during play to cause limps-a serious concern in the race for survival. And animals can become so wrapped up in play that they are unaware of danger. One study showed that 80 percent of the deaths among young fur seals occurred because the playing pups didnt see predators coming! (Braaf 2003,  ¶ 4) Why is play worth the risk? Many scientists believe its essential for survival-as important as food or sleep. Why Play? Most scientists believe that when animals play, they are practicing skills theyll need later in life. This is why different kinds of animals play in different ways. Young predators, such as wolves, lions, and bears, play by stalking, pouncing, biting, and shaking their heads from side to side. Theyre honing their skills for when they will run down, catch, and kill prey. When a wolf pup chases its own tail, bites it, and yanks it back and forth, the pup is rehearsing skills itll need one day as a hunter. Research shows that smarter animals spend more time playing. Elephants play more than horses. Chimps play more than macaques. Wolves play more than rabbits. And parrots play more than either ducks or sparrows. Smarter animals also play in more creative and complex ways. Not surprisingly, humans and chimpanzees are among the most playful species. (Braaf 2003,  ¶ 9) Here are three questions to start with: Why do humans play? Is play something that is learned, or is it instinctual? And what purpose does it serve in humans? To answer the first question, Godbey (2003) presents the following: If you put a person in a dark tank of water heated to same temperature as their body in a dark room devoid of sound, their need for stimulation will be so great that they will usually start to hallucinate. If you are walking down the street with nothing much absorbing your attention, you may start to notice cracks in the sidewalk and make up a game in which you have to avoid stepping on them. (p. 46) In conclusion, humans need stimulation. If the mind is idle then the person will seek out the stimulation in his or her surroundings. Whether or play is instinctual or learned, I believe that it is both. Most games that we play are learned, such as baseball, hide and seek, or even make believe games such as house. Obviously, not all forms of play are taught though. As in the example from Godbey, a person will make up a form of play if there are no other options for stimulation. Finally to understand the purpose of play in humans we must first discuss the four forms of play developed by Caillois (1958). †¢ The pursuit of vertigo in which one tries to momentarily destroy the stability of perception, escaping reality for the moment. †¢ Games of chance †¢ Make Believe †¢ Contests which require appropriate training, the application of skill, and the desire to win As in animals in the wild, play is used to hone a person’s skill for later in life. Some examples of this are interacting with other children on the playground, which will increase social skills, hitting rocks with a stick, which will increase hand-eye coordination, and cloud watching, which will develop a persons imagination. My Definition of Play After contemplating on the various definitions of the term play I propose the following: Play is voluntary behavior, bounded by rules, experienced by both human and non-human beings, which stimulates the mind and body, prepares an individual for similar future situations, and allows for personal growth within the individual. How Leisure, Recreation, and Play Relate Now that I have discussed my definitions of leisure, recreation, and play, I will explain how my definitions are related to one another. As I stated earlier, Leisure is the phenomenon experienced by all self aware beings whose decisions are based out of free will, whether those decisions are made in the conscious or subconscious mind of the individual. Life, to me, is leisure because of our ability to act out of free will. The question should not be, â€Å"Is this activity a leisure activity? †, but rather, â€Å"Is this activity considered good or bad leisure? † Recreation, I feel, is a subset of leisure. All of recreation can be considered leisure, but not the converse. Recreation is a positive state of mind achieved during any physical or non-physical activities characterized by feelings which are rejuvenating and recreating to the body and spirit. The reason that not all of leisure can be considered recreation is because not all of life is recreating to the mind and spirit. Play is a subset of recreation. Similar to leisure and Recreation, all of play is recreation, but not the converse. Play is voluntary behavior, bounded by rules, experienced by both human and non-human beings, which stimulates the mind and body, prepares an individual for similar future situations, and allows for personal growth within the individual. The main difference is that play is bounded by rules where recreation is not. Some examples of recreation that are not considered play would be meditation, reading, or watching TV. If you look at the following diagram, I think it makes it easier to understand the relationship between all three of the concepts. [pic] Leisure is all encompassing. Within it lays recreation and play. Although they are both within leisure there are still some aspects of leisure that are not considered recreation. This blue arrow points to this area. The red arrow points to the area that is recreational but does not classify as play. Quality of Life The well-being or quality of life of a person is an important concern when trying to understand leisure, recreation, and play in an individual’s life. Understanding quality of life is today particularly important in health care, where monetary measures do not readily apply. Decisions on what research or treatments to invest the most in are closely related to their effect of a patients quality of life. There are many components to well-being. A large part is standard of living, the amount of money and access to goods and services that a person has; these numbers are fairly easily measured. Others components like freedom, happiness, art, environmental health, and innovation are far harder to measure and are generally considered to be more important. There are two main strategies we can adopt to improve the quality of life in our everyday lives. The first is to try making external conditions match our goals. The second is to change how we experience external conditions to make them fit our goals better. Neither of the strategies is effective when used alone. Changing external conditions might seem to work at first, but if a person is not in control of his or her consciousness, the old fears or desires will soon return, reviving previous anxieties. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990, p. 89) For instance, feeling secure is an important component of happiness. The sense of security can be improved by purchasing a gun for home protection, placing security locks on the front door, having an alarm unit installed, or moving to a safer neighborhood. All of these actions would fall under making our external conditions fit our goals better. One also has to understand that perfect safety is, in all reality, not possible and risks are inevitable. Once a person understands this then the threat of insecurity will not have as great of a chance of having a person live in fear; ultimately ruining ones quality of life. In society today, wealth, status and power have become symbols of happiness. People often assume that the rich and famous have very rewarding lives just because of their status. We often assume that life would be better if we were in other peoples shoes. The reality of the situation is that quality of life does not depend directly on what others think about us or what we own, but rather how we feel about ourselves and what happens to us in our everyday lives. Some people today suffer from affluenza, the bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. It is an epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. In layman’s terms, affluenza is experienced when people have the mentality that their possessions is what defines them as an individual. This is not to say that having nice things, being famous, or being is peak physical condition are irrelevant to happiness. These things can be genuine blessings but only if they make us feel better without having to sacrifice other important aspects of our life. Research on happiness suggests that in general, there is a mild correlation between wealth and well-being. Given these observations, instead of worrying about how to make a million dollars or how to win friends and influence people, it seems more beneficial to find out how everyday life can be made more harmonious and more satisfying, and thus achieve by a direct route what cannot be reached through the pursuit of symbolic goals (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990, p. 91). How Leisure, Recreation and Play Affect Quality of Life Everyone is familiar with stress. We experience it in varying forms and degrees every day. In small doses, stress can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem. The stress response of the body is meant to protect and support us. To maintain stability or homeostasis, the body is constantly adjusting to its surroundings. When a physical or mental event threatens this equilibrium, we react to it. This process is often referred to as the fight or flight response. We prepare for physical action in order to confront or flee a threat. When it is part of a natural reaction to challenge or danger, the body’s response is called positive stress. However, when you feel out of control or under intense pressure, you may experience the physical, emotional, or relational symptoms brought on by negative stress. Stress can cause both physical and emotional in an individual’s life. Stress adversely affects reproduction, sexual behavior, and growth. Stress inhibits the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds, flu, fatigue and infections. Leisure, recreation and play are natural ways to reduce negative stress that builds up in the body therefore improving ones quality of life. The human body is like any other system in nature. If we don’t have ways to vent our stress from everyday life through activities that are pleasurable, we will start to experience the negative side effects of stress. Final Thoughts My thoughts on the subject of leisure, recreation, and play before this paper could not be further from where my thoughts are now. I feel that too much emphasis is placed on unimportant things today. Society, more so than ever, has gotten into the habit of treating the symptoms of people, instead of treating the individual. I feel that having a better understanding of the concepts of recreation, leisure, and play and the role they play in your life will ultimately lead to a happier and hopefully longer life. Refrences Braaf, E. (2003). Why animals love to play. Retrieved September 20, 2006, from Find Articles Website: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_qa4128/ is_200311/ai_n9307508/pg_1 Caillois, R. (1958). Man, play and games. Glencoe, IL: The Free press. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York, NY. Harper and Row. Fairchild, H. (1944). Dictionary of sociology (pp. 251-252). New York, NY: Philosophical Library. Godbey, G. (2003). Leisure in your life: An exploration. State College, PA: Venture Publishing. Gray, D. and Greben, S. (1974, July). Future Perspectives. Parks and recreation, 61, 49 Hiuzinga, J. (1950). Homo ludens: A study of the play element in culture. Boston, MA: Beacon Press Martin, A. (1975, March). Leisure and our inner resources. Parks and Recreation, 69. 1-16 Neulinger, J. (1974). The psychology of leisure: Research approaches to the study of leisure. Springfield, IL: Charles Thomas Publishers.