Marketing Plan First Draft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Plan First Draft - Essay Example It is also helpful to have a clear idea of who the potential competitors might be and what types of products they might be offering currently or be introducing in the near future. The discovery of these elements is the purpose of this marketing report for a new mud-pie making machine called the Monster Mud Machine. The Monster Mud Machine is the latest technology in backyard warfare for young and old alike. Forget about spending hours in preparation attempting to get just the right combination of dirt and water to make the ultimate in mud bombs. This machine will do all the work from the safety of the home bunker or backyard. Just add the type of dirt immediately available, set the dial, add water and wait for the mud bombs to emerge. The mud machine will work with loose sand, standard dirt and even ready-made mud in case the ground has already been saturated due to earlier mud or water wars. Should things become bogged down, the machine can be helped along with the aid of a fancy crank which provides a more integrated appeal to the process. The machine itself is not designed to be carried about as a form of hand to hand combat material, but is instead intended to be available for the creation of ‘weaponry’ from the individual home base of the backyard warrior. From the outside, the unit looks very much like an elaborate unevenly divided box. On the smaller side is an enclosed container with a spout on the top to be used as a water reservoir. The larger side has a funnel-shaped opening leading to the interior intended to assist with the loading of dirt, sand, or mud into the container. Gravity is the primary driver of the machine as the mud and water are naturally pulled to the bottom of the tanks where it is funneled into a constricted tube the roundness of the finished mud bombs. A hand-crank at one side of the dirt container can be used to stir the materials and keep them moving and provides the user with a sense of involvement – ‘like the

The Rain Man Essay Example for Free

The Rain Man Essay Of course I dont have my underwear. Im definitely not wearing my underwear. These are not boxer shorts. Mine are boxer shorts. These are Hanes 32 My boxer shorts have my name and it says RaymondI get my boxer shorts at K-Mart in Cincinnati. (Rain Man, 1988) This quote from the popular movie Rain Man perfectly captures the disorder that plagues Raymond Bobbitt, one of the main characters. He is a very particular man who must always do everything on a schedule; any disruption in this schedule completely turns his world upside down. He shows very little emotion, unless something happens to upset him, in which case he completely melts down. His behavior is almost that of a young child. However, he also has a very unique gift. He has an absolutely astounding memory and can recall the smallest details from events that occurred when he was just a young child. At one point in the movie, a lady drops a box of toothpicks and Raymond is able to immediately determine how many of the toothpicks spilled out of the box. The behaviors of Raymond Bobbitt, while very interesting, are nowhere near normal and they prevent him from functioning in any kind of normal society. It is because of this that I have determined he has a mental disorder and could benefit greatly from treatment. In order to diagnose Raymond, it is important to look at all of the factors that may contribute to his behavior. The DSM-IV multiaxial system is a great way to break everything down and do this. It has 5 sections that take a deeper look in to all of the factors that contribute to the possible mental disorder of a patient and provides a standard for classifying mental disorders. Because of this, it is heavily relied on when making an accurate diagnosis and will be used to diagnose Raymond. AXIS I: Axis one of the DSM-IV system is reserved for the clinical symptoms of the disorder. Raymond showed many of the typical clinical symptoms of a person with autism. The first symptom that they generally display is developmental regression. Most sufferers of autism do not show any signs of developmental problems until around 15-30 months. Since Raymond was a young child and not an infant when he was sent away to live at the care home, it can be assumed that he did not start to show problems until he was a young toddler, which is consistent with the autism diagnosis. Another clinical symptom of autism is abnormal reactions for environmental stimuli. This is clearly seen by Raymond when we see him completely melt down when the fire alarm goes off. The loud noise, which is not something that would bother normal people, is too much for him to handle. Abnormal social interactions are another thing that Raymond displays that is also characterized by autism. He cannot hold a normal conversation and has big problems understanding the social intentions of his brother as he takes him on their trip. It is also clear when you listen to the way that Raymond talks that he might suffer from autism; he refers to himself as â€Å"Raymond† instead of â€Å"I† and he often rambles on to no one in particular about his schedule or whatever else he is thinking at the time. The final characteristic of autism that is seen in Raymond is the stress that he feels whenever his routine is broken. (Brasic, 2013) When his brother takes him away from the care home and changes everything, Raymond displays significant anxiety. He insists that they watch Jeopardy at 5:00 and is constantly talking about what he should be doing at any given time. He starts to melt down when he is not doing what he normally does and continues on until his brother finally lets him get his way. AXIS II: Under axis II, the personality disorders and intellectual disabilities are assessed. There are several of these that are associated with both Raymond and Autism, specifically and autistic Savant. The biggest personality disorder that is shown by Raymond and that is also exhibited by autistics is that he has extreme anxiety. (Mayo Clinic, 2013) It is clear by the way that he will not get on an airplane because there are no available airlines that have never experienced a plane crash. A normal person would not think that much in to getting on a plane, and they definitely would not know the statistics of every airline that there is. Even after they start driving, Raymond starts rambling off statistics about driving and car accidents, making it clear that he is not even comfortable riding in a car. You can also look back at some of the other examples that we have already looked at to show his elevated anxiety levels. When the fire alarm goes off, and he starts breaking down, he is reacti ng abnormally (the symptom from axis I); it is because of his extreme anxiety that he starts to display this behavior. The same goes for why he is constantly rambling and is so distressed about missing his shows, not having dinner at the right time and everything else that has changed in his schedule; he does all of this because he is suffering from constant anxiety due to his autism and his change in routine. Another thing to look at under axis II is his intellectual abilities. While he is not able to function as a normal person intellectually (another symptom of autism), he shows extraordinary abilities intellectually in other areas. He remembers specific events from his childhood starting at a very young age, and he remembers them with extreme accuracy and detail. He is also able to store things in his memory that no normal person would be able to, such as when he knew the one and only airline that had never had a plane crash (it was a very small and unknown airline at that) or w hen he knew all of the highway statistics concerning car accidents. It is also made clear that he is brilliant at math, counting and patterns when he is in Vegas and is counting the cards with ease. All of these amazing intellectual abilities that he shows are characteristics of a savant as well. (Hiles, 2002) AXIS III: Axis III is reserved for and physical problems that may be relevant in diagnosing or treating the mental disorder. For example, if a person is suffering from a mood disorder and they also have a disease which causes them pain or discomfort, then that might be something that contributed to their depression. (Edelson, 2013) Raymond does not display any of these however, so there would be no diagnosis for him under this axis. Axis IV: Axis IV is used to assess any environmental stressors that may affect the diagnosis or treatment or the mental disorder. This was a big factor in Raymond’s diagnosis and his display of symptoms. He was doing fairly well at the care home and, even though he was still displaying some symptoms of an autistic savant, he was able to live happily and relatively stress free. However, when his brother took him from his place of comfort, his symptoms got significantly worse. His anxiety levels went through the roof and it was clear that he was not handling the change well. He had lost his primary support group, which included all of the nurses at the hospital and he was left only with his brother who he had not seen since they were young children. This caused him anxiety because he was not familiar with him and his brother was not prepared to deal with all of the behaviors that Raymond displays. He was also showing elevated levels of anxiety due to his environment. When they left the care home, it was clear that Raymond did not want to go because he said it and started acting out. But his brother made him, and his actions just got worse from there. Every night Raymond would insist that they at least follow his schedule and he would start throwing a tantrum if they didn’t. Also, when they were in the casino, he could not handle all of the flashing li ghts and the ringing of the bells. This eventually led to another melt down. After being with his brother for almost their whole trip, it seemed like Raymond started to warm up to him a bit. Since his brother was the only constant during their trip, this again shows how much Raymond needs something consistent and some sort of routine, a need that is very common in autistic. (Bellini, 2013) AXIS V: Axis V is used for the Global Assessment of Funtioning (GAF). It is an evaluation of the patient’s ability to function in daily life and is based off of a 100 point scale (100 being the most functioning and 0 being the least). When looking at Raymond, I would assign him two separate GAF scores. When he is in an comfortable environment, such as when he is living in the care home, I would give him a GAF of 40 because he still displays symptoms and would not be able to keep a job and function in society, but he is not extreme. However, when taken out of his environment and put out in the world, I would give him a GAF of 20 because he starts to display extreme behavior and even becomes a threat to himself or others. (PsyWeb, 2013) There was a point when one of his melt downs became so bad that he started banging his head and hurting himself. He is in need of constant supervision when he is not in a comfortable familiar place. After taking a look at the symptoms that Raymond displayed (which include things like not making eye contact and constantly fidgeting, not seeming to hear when people talk to him and not being able to hold a conversation, and resting touch and changes in routine) and breaking them down with regard to the DSM-IV multiaxial system, I have determined that he suffers from Autism, and more specifically, he is an Autistic Savant. He would be classified as a Savant because he, while lacking in many areas, does have extraordinary skills in other areas. There was a time in the movie when his brother takes him to Vegas and tells him to count cards in blackjack and Raymond (having to prior training) is able to do it with ease. His symptoms under the DSM-IV model are extremely consistent with those of an autistic savant. He displays all of the clinical symptoms (axis I) that an autistic would display, including abnormal social behavior, the inability to hold a normal conversation and the constan t fidgeting. These behaviors are also consistent with the autistic and savant personality disorders and mental abilities (axis II), including the extreme anxiety and the extraordinary abilities in specific areas. There are not necessarily any physical problems (axis III) that contribute to being an autistic savant, and Raymond did not show any of these either. His environment (axis IV) however, did play a significant role his behavior and that is very common with autistics as well. (First Signs, 2012) After diagnosing Raymond as an autistic savant, the most important treatment that I would recommend for him would be to return to the care home and live the rest of his life there. When treating autism, there is no one set treatment because every person with autism is unique. (Autism Speaks, 2013) Since we were able to see how Raymond responded to living in the care home and sticking to a strict routine, we were able to see that it worked for him. This plan, and the routine that was tailored for him, worked to minimize his symptoms and reduce his behavioral problems. As far as him being a savant as well, there really is no treatment needed for that because it does not pose a problem in his life. It is a talent that he lives with and not something that needs to be fixed. If Raymond is returned to the care home and his familiar schedule, there is no reason that he cannot live out the rest of his life as happily and comfortably as possible. References Autism Speaks. (2013). How is Autism Treated? Retrieved from: http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment Bellini, Scott. (2013). The Development of Social Anxiety in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved from: http://foa.sagepub.com/content/21/3/138.short Brasic, James. (2013). Autism Clinical Presentation. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/912781-clinical Edelson, Steven. (2013). Research: Autistic Savants. Retrieved from: http://www.autism.com/index.php/understanding_savants First Signs. (2012). DSM-IV Criteria Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Retrieved from: http://www.firstsigns.org/screening/DSM4.htm Hiles, David. (2002). Savant Syndrome. Retrieved from: http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm Mayo Clinic. (2013). Autism. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/DSECTION=symptoms PsyWeb. (2013). Axis V- Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Retrieved from: http://www.psyweb.com/DSM_IV/jsp/Axis_V .jsp

Defiance of Gender-Based Work Ethics in Bartleby and The Yellow Wallpap

Defiance of Gender-Based Work Ethics in Bartleby and The Yellow Wallpaper  Ã‚     Ã‚   The issue of gender was an influential factor for writers in the 19th century, as Herman Melville and Charlotte Perkins Gilman explore in their pieces. In "Bartleby," for instance, Herman Melville presents Bartleby as an employed scrivener-his service to the narrator is in the form of copying documents. This form of labor is appropriate for Bartleby according to 19th century society, which supported and approved of the male professional writer. However, he refuses this duty, and through his "I-would-prefer-not-to" statements, he challenges the standards held to him by society, reinforcing his individualism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other hand, in "The Yellow Wallpaper," the female narrator is expected and ordered not to work-not to write-by her family and, in turn, by her society. But just as Bartleby refuses the expectations set upon him, so does "Wallpaper's" narrator. This reverses "Bartleby's" situation-culture does not want her to write, but she does so anyway. According to this presentation by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the 19th century female writer is suppressed and discouraged by the males of the era-an idea further supported by Richard Polwhele's poem "The Unsex'd Females." In his piece, Polwhele denounces the female writer and criticizes her advancement in the literary world. Therefore, although both Bartleby and "Wallpaper's" narrator have labor standards to live with, through their defiance of these 19th century ethics, they present themselves as individuals through the work of writing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  In the case of "Bartleby," many examples imply the acceptance of writing as a male profession. Firstly, all of the people in the office are men. "At the... ...accepted and encouraged work. On the other hand, the female writer in "The Yellow Wallpaper" individualizes herself by working when she is not supposed to be, and by being the alleged unnatural woman that Polwhele describes. She defies what is socially acceptable and chooses to express herself through writing. The end result is the same-both characters grow as individuals through their social dissent.    Works Cited Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories." New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1997. Melville, Herman. "Bartleby and Benito Cereno." New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1990. Polwhele, Richard. â€Å"The Unsex’d Females.† Women of the Romantic Period. 27 April 2001 <http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~worp/worp.html>. "Hysteric." Webster's New World Dictionary. 3rd College ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 1994   

Changes & Continuities of Silk Road Essay

The Silk Road which started in 200 BCE and ended it in 1450 CE has its own changes and continuities. Trade flourished between the Asian and Europe at the time and as time went on its sole purpose of trading expanded to many other purposes and affect not only the area it contacted. Although there were many continuities during the time but it has more significant changes that occurred and also impact the world. One significant changes of the Silk Road is when it was first started it mainly started as a way for trade to flourish between Europe and Asia. But the purpose of this Silk Road has also expanded to transcend different culture and technologies from different places and caused cultural diffusion along the Silk Road. This happened because the Silk Road has more than one route, some ends in the middle east , west Asia, and Europe. There were merchants of different races and religion like Muslim,. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and more. This caused cultural diffusion between places like Buddhism were introduced to China and the Chinese paper making technology were spread toward the west to Europe. Another significant change that occurred is when the merchants travel on the Silk Road they are very likely to get attacked by bandits or get their goods stolen. But during the Mongolian reign this route was safer and merchants are not afraid of bandits along the way. This occurred because during the time of the Mongolian Empire they formed the ortoghs which means merchant association. Merchants traveled in pack instead of one which provide more security because this way merchants are less likely to get attack, and made trade safer. Like everything when there is change there is also continuities and one of them is the silk trade. Silk Road is called this name is because the main product traded on this route is silk. Even though many other items were traded in the silk road but the Europeans were very interested in these kind of fabric and they are luxurious because the European did not know how to make them. This is consider a continuity because for many decades the Chinese holds the secret for making these luxurious silk and because the Europeans and India wanted these silk so the Chinese could make a profit from it and they are consider a luxury. The reason the Chinese won’t let the outsiders know how to make these silk is because the process of it is hard and they depends mostly on trading these silk for the stuff they needed. Another continuities is the geography of the silk road. The silk road is consist of many route, some is shorter but dangerous while other is longer but safer. Even though some of the routes have changed and there is more variety of stuff that’s being traded than when it was started (e.g. Gunpowder) and the purpose of the road also expanded like people use it to spread religion and unfortunately is also been a route where disease easily spread (e.g. Black plagues) The continuity is the geography of the silk road never changed because both the European and Asia gained much profit from it that it doesn’t need to be change and the Silk Road remained the major trade route between Far Eastern Chinese and European cultures and sparked numerous conflicts in its existence. The Silk Road which have been known as a major trade route in the ‘old world’ and sparked numerous conflicts in its existence. It brought the goods and the bads like the plagues, cultural diffusion, introduction of new technologies and brought new religions to different part of that world. The Silk Road shape the world we have today and when it ended in 1450 CE it had impacted most of Europe and Asia.

Benefit of Smoking

BENEFIT OF SMOKING 1. Smoking lowers risk of knee-replacement surgery While smokers might go broke buying a pack of cigarettes, they can at least save money by avoiding knee-replacement surgery. Surprising results from a new study have revealed that men who smoke had less risk of undergoing total joint replacement surgery than those who never smoked. The study, from the University of Adelaide in Australia, appears in the July issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. What could be the connection? Knee-replacement surgery was more common among joggers and the obese smokers rarely jog and they are less likely to be morbidly obese.After controlling for age, weight and exercise, the researchers were at a loss to explain the apparent, albeit slight protective effects of smoking for osteoporosis. It could be that the nicotine in tobacco helps prevent cartilage and joint deterioration. 2. Smoking lowers risk of Parkinson's disease Numerous studies have identified the uncanny inverse rela tionship between smoking and Parkinson's disease. Long-term smokers are somehow protected against Parkinson's and its not because smokers die of other things earlier. The most recent, well-conducted study was published in a March 2010 issue of the journal Neurology.Far from determining a cause for the protective effect, these researchers found that the number of years spent smoking, more so than the number of cigarettes smoked daily, mattered more for a stronger protective effect. Harvard researchers were among the first to provide convincing evidence that smokers were less likely to develop Parkinson's. In a study published in Neurology in March 2007, these researchers found the protective effect wanes after smokers quit. And they concluded in their special scientific way that they didn't have a clue as to why. 3.Smoking lowers risk of obesity Smoking — and, in particular, the nicotine in tobacco smoke — is an appetite suppressant. This has been known for centuries, d ating back to indigenous cultures in America in the pre-Columbus era. Tobacco companies caught on by the 1920s and began targeting women with the lure that smoking would make them thinner. A study published in the July 2011 issue of the journal Physiology ; Behavior, in fact is one of many stating that the inevitable weight gain upon quitting smoking is a major barrier in getting people to stop, second only to addiction.The relationship between smoking and weight control is complex: Nicotine itself acts as both a stimulant and appetite suppressant; and the act of smoking triggers behavior modification that prompts smokers to snack less. Smoking also might make food less tasty for some smokers, further curbing appetite. As an appetite suppressant, nicotine appears to act on a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, at least in mice, as revealed in a study by Yale researchers published in the June 10, 2011 issue of the journal Science. No respectable doctor would recommend smoking for weight control, given the toxic baggage accompanying cigarettes.This recent Yale study, however, does offer an inkling of hope for a safe diet drug to help obese people control their appetites. 4. Smoking lowers risk of death after some heart attacks Compared with non-smokers, smokers who have had heart attacks seem to have lower mortality rates and more favorable responses to two kinds of therapy to remove plaque from their arteries: fibrinolytic therapy, which is basically medication; and angioplasty, which removes the plaque by inserting balloons or stents into the arteries. There's a catch, though.The reason why smokers have heart attacks is that smoke scars the arteries, allowing fat and plaque to build up in the first place. So, one theory as to why smokers do better than non-smokers after such therapies is that they are younger, experiencing their first heart attack approximately 10 years before the non-smoker. A study published in an August 2005 issue of the American Hea rt Journal, however, states that age alone is not enough to fully explain the survival differences and that â€Å"the smoker's paradox is alive and well. † No alternative theories have been put forth since. 5. Smoking helps the heart drug clopidogrel work betterClopidogrel is a drug used to inhibit blood clots for those patients suffering from coronary artery disease and other circulatory diseases leading to strokes and heart attacks. Smoking seems to help clopidogrel do its job better. A study by Korean researchers in the October 2010 issue of the journal Thrombosis Research builds upon work by Harvard researchers published in 2009 that demonstrates the benefit of smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day. It seems that something in cigarette smoke activates certain proteins called cytochromes, which convert clopidogrel into a more active state.Again, no respectable doctor is encouraging patients to start smoking to get the most out of clopidogrel. But this and the other four â⠂¬Å"benefits† of smoking reveal how tobacco — perhaps not unlike other potentially toxic plants — might contain certain chemicals of real therapeutic value. 6. Smoking Relieves Stress This is the most common thing you hear from smokers about the benefits of smoking. This is because cigarettes create a myriad of conditions that help the body deal with anxiety, stress, and depression. 7. Smoking Relaxes Your BreathingThe way you breathe when you smoke helps your body relax and calm down. For people who have panic attacks or stress problems, Doctors recommend patients practice a sort of breathing called relaxation breathing. Among other things, it involves taking a deep breath into the lungs and holding it in for a second or two before exhaling. This is exactly like the act of smoking. This kind of breathing slows your heart rate and relieves tension in your muscles, especially your neck and upper back, which tense up in stressful situations. 8. Outside Smoke Breaks Calm You DownIf you go outside for smoke breaks, this simple act can really help you deal with your stress. Say if you’re in a fight with your spouse or close to the deadline on a major project for work, leaving the house or office to step outside for a smoke break helps you deal with the stress. * You get a break from your stressor * You get into the open and fresh air * You leave the stressful environment * You have time to think about your problems from an objective point of view   * The nature and sky outside helps your mind calm down and relax 9.Nicotine is an Anxiety and Depression Medication The nicotine in cigarettes is also a major factor of stress relief. Nicotine is a chemical which mildly and temporarily stops the feelings of anxiety and depression. After an inhale of cigarette smoke, the nicotine reacts in your brain chemistry within seven seconds. Nicotine makes the brain feel better, and stops the chain reaction anxiety and depression can have within the bra in. It is no surprise that 1/3 of nicotine addicts claim to have depression or anxiety problems. Cigarettes are a great form of self medication.

Hookes Law Essays

Hookes Law Essays Hookes Law Paper Hookes Law Paper The aim of this experiment is to investigate Hookes law for simple springs of rubber. The relationship between a load force and a light spring (F=k. x) was first determined by Robert Hooke in the 17th century. Where F is the force applied to the spring, k is the spring constant, and x is the extension of the spring. Hookes law states that when an elastic material is subjected to a force, its extension (x) is proportional to the applied force. The value of k is constant for a particular spring. The relationship should be directly linear. Furthermore, the spring used in the experiment should also be varied as to prove Hookes law which states that each spring has its own spring constant. The method in conducting the experiment is as follows. First weigh and record the masses of each mass hanger and the masses. Attach the lighter spring to the clamp on the retort stand and suspend the mass hanger from the spring. This should extend the spring a little. If there is no extension at all, add a couple of masses to create a slight extension. This places the spring under tension to begin the activity. Record the initial mass. Then, measure and record the distance, so, between the clamp and the bottom of the mass hanger. After that, add one of the 50 gr masses to the spring. Then, record the actual mass of the 50 gr mass selected. Measure the new distance, s, from the clamp to the bottom of the hanger. The loads should be measured by a digital mass balance. The extension of the spring should be measured and recorded by using a meter rule. The weight of the load attached is added consecutively 10 times to investigate the relationship between the force applied and the extension of the spring, as well as the spring constant. Four other springs are also used afterwards to prove Hookes law which states that each spring has its own spring constant. The result of the experiment shows that the experiment is quite successful. Using several different springs in the experiment proves that the spring constant can be calculated using the Hookes law and using Microsoft excel with drawing the graph and find the gradient. The results showed that the difference value in spring constant means that the stiffness of the springs is also different. If the number of spring constant larger, so more stiff the springs are. So that, in 5th spring that is very stiff (18. 679) and on the other hand in 3rd spring that is the least stiff (3. 584). The difficulties encountered in conducting this experiment is when measuring the extension of the spring, as the spring tend to swings when the mass is attached and this can affect the result of the experiment. In addition, the extension of the spring occasionally hits the floor when the number of mass is increased and this affected the results. This difficulty has been solved by using a retort stand and clamp, which give an increase the stretch of the spring but still easily adjusted. In conclusion, it could be said that the experiment is successful in verifying value of the spring constant. Both the Hookes law and the graph give similar result, thus proving the hypothesis. My suggestion to improve the experiment is to carefully measure the extension of the spring despite the variation of the spring. This is best dealt with by carefully observed the spring until it places perfectly so that there will be no further movements that may lead to the mistake in calculating the exact extension of the spring.

The Challenge of Abortion essays

The Challenge of Abortion essays Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Mifepristone, Roe vs. Wade and abortion are all terms that provoke a controversy no matter where they are used. Abortion has long been an issue face by health care administrators because of its ethical impact on our society and the arguments provided by both sides (pro and con). This paper will provide information on what the two parties (Pro-Life and Pro-Choice) are really fighting for and detail what actions are being taken by administrators when dealing with free choice and the right for every women to have an abortion. There are essentially two types of abortions: medical and surgical abortions. A medical abortion is preformed on the fetus up until the 49th day of pregnancy (49th day after conception). This type uses drugs to induce the abortion in the mother shortly after they are taken orally. The most popular drugs used are Mifepristone and Misoprostol. These two drugs are used in combination to abort the unborn fetus. Statistics show that 95% of women using these drugs have a complete abortion. The remaining 5% have complications due to constant bleeding or because the abortion was not complete. Parts of the fetus remain in the cervix of the women and require suctioning to complete the process. The second type of abortion is commonly called surgical abortion. This is used when the pregnancy has lasted from 8-20 weeks. A surgical abortion is performed by dilating the womens cervix and inserting surgical tools to scrape the fetus off the wall of the cervix, thereby cleaning the cervix of the fetal tissue and ending the pregnancy. Abortions can be performed but are rare after the 20th week due to complications that arise with the increased development of the growing fetus. For example, an increase of blood supply to the baby and placenta make it more difficult to do surgical abortions. Dr. Frank Beckwith, a pro-life advocate, stated that, those who defend abortion rig...

A Great College Recommendation Letter Template

A Great College Recommendation Letter Template SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips While the best recommendation letters are unique to each student, they all share certain key features that make them effective. This guide provides you with a structure to help you produce an outstanding letter of recommendation. Not only will this recommendation letter template guide you through the writing process, it'll also assist you in determining whether you’re able to truly recommend a student for admission to college. Before outlining the steps, let’s consider what goes into a good letter of recommendation. What Makes for a Good Letter of Recommendation? The best recommendation letters are enthusiastic and highly positive about a student. They’re not just filled with compliments, though. They dive deeply to illuminate a student’s key intellectual and personal qualities. Additionally, these letters give specific examples to back up what they have to say. Rather than tell admissions committees everything they could ever want to know about a student, strong rec letters are focused on a specific narrative. You don't have to covera broad range of qualities, but rather you can focus in on the most significant ones, especially as they relate to your relationship with the student. You should start every recommendation letter by brainstorming the qualities you wish to highlight and examples you want to give. If you find you haven’t come up with much that’s positive or personal, then you might ultimately decide that you’re not the best person to write that student a recommendation letter for college. Let’s look more closely at this first stage in the rec letter writing process: brainstorming. The Brainstorming Stage There are a few main considerations in the brainstorming stage. First, how do you feel about recommending the student and why? Second, what key qualities do you intend to communicate in your letter? And third, what stories can you share to illustrate your points? Read on to consider each of these thoughts individually. How Do You Feel About the Student? Before delving into specifics, you should pause here and ask yourself how you feel about recommending the student. Are you able to genuinely provide a positive endorsement? If you feel relatively neutral, do you need more information from the student? In the case that you feel negatively towards a student, you may suggest that she ask another teacher to provide her with a letter. A lukewarm or negative letter would not be useful, or could even hurt, the student’s application. Admissions officers have a discerning eye when it comes to reading letters. They’ll be able to tell if you wrote your letter with reservations. If this is how you feel, then you may have to do the difficult thing and inform the student that you’re unable to provide a recommendation letter. If the student still wants you to fulfill the requirement, she should know that your letter may not do much to boost her chances of admission. In all three cases, you should root out the reasons behind your evaluation of the student. What qualities of the student have stood out to you? What Qualities Do You Plan to Highlight? Considering the features mentioned above, what intellectual and personal qualities of the student have you noticed or been impressed by? Intellectual qualities you could highlight include problem-solving skills, analysis, curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration, and foreign language skills. Some personal qualities you could emphasize might be strength of character, honesty, integrity, courage, humor, thoughtfulness, maturity, cultural awareness, and compassion for others. Once you’ve narrowed down the key qualities you want to present, you can think about stories and examples. What Anecdotes Can You Share? After considering what qualities you plan to highlight, you should think about whatspecific anecdotes you can shareto illustrate your assessment and help the student come alive in the eyes of the reader. These stories can be based on your interactions with and observations of the student. They may also be informed by the student herself, through discussions and her â€Å"brag sheet.† The student should provide you with her thoughts on her goals and significant experiences that have shaped who she is today. These reflections can be helpful reminders, but ideally you also know the student well enough to write an insightful letter based on your familiarity with her academic work and personal character. Some potential anecdotes include times when the student you're writing the letter for showed exceptional intelligence, compassion, motivation, tenacity, leadership skills, and/or teamwork abilities. Once you’ve come up with a list of what you want to focus on and how to back up your evaluation, you can begin to draft. Want to build the best possible college application, with the strongest recommendations? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. The Drafting Stage After brainstorming, you can start to shape your thoughts into the typical structure for a recommendation letter. It's usually a full page consisting of four paragraphs: the introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, and conclusion. Let's look at what should be included in each paragraph, and how a teacher and counselor might write their first body paragraphs with different ideas in mind. You can choose to start your letter as creatively as you wish, but all introductions should include certain key information, as you'll see in the next section. Introduction What does the reader want to know when she starts reading your letter? One, she wants to know who the letter is about. Just as importantly, she wants to know who you are, along with what makes you qualified to assess this student. Logistically, you should answer the latter question by providing your name, school, and contact information in official letterhead at the top. In your introduction, furthermore, you should explicitly state who you are and how you know the student. If you’ve taught the student in more than one class or gotten to know her in other contexts, like as the advisor of a club, then you should include that as well. The better you know the student, the more weight your recommendation carries. Here are a coupleexamples for starting out your recommendation. Example 1 To Whom It May Concern, It is my pleasure to recommend Judy, whom I taught in my th grade honors English program. Example 2 Dear Admissions Committee, I am delighted to recommend the multi-talented Eduardo for admission to your undergraduate program. As Eduardo’s th grade music teacher, as well as his chorus leader throughout all four years of high school, I've watched him grow into an outstanding and dedicated musician. Your entire introduction should be three to five sentences. After stating who the recommendation is for, who you are, and how you know the student, you may add about two sentences describing the student and introducing what’s to come. If you’re customizing your letter to a specific program or college, then you’ll mention that here too. Once you’ve introduced the student and yourself, you’ll move onto the first body paragraph. If you’re a teacher, you may focus on the student’s intellectual qualities and academic work. If you’re a counselor, you may speak more to a student’s growth throughout high school and role in the school community. Let’s start out by considering the first body paragraphthat a teacher might draft. Body Paragraph 1 (Teacher) Your first body paragraph should consist of four to six sentences. As a teacher, you may use this paragraph to hone in on the student’s key academic strengths and interests. In your brainstorming, you should have come up with the main qualities you want to describe, along with a meaningful anecdote to back up what you’re saying. Make sure to use enthusiastic and vivid language that will make the letter interesting and memorable to an admissions officer, who might be reading through hundreds of teacher rec letters. If the student especially impressed you, you might use a statement of high ranking, calling her, for example,one of the best students you’ve taught. This example uses a statement of high ranking and will go on to focus on Bella’s writing talent. Bella is one of the most talented writers I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in my ten years at Forks High School. She demonstrates a nuanced understanding of literature and is comfortable within spaces of ambiguity and interpretation. She produced a particularly thought-provoking thesis paper on spirituality in Native American literature... This second example focuses more on Dave’s strong interest in the subject of computer science. Dave has developed an avid interest in computer science. Not only was he an excellent student throughout the year, but he also worked on developing an app that would use a school-wide crowdsourcing strategy to clean up the school grounds†¦ As mentioned above, a teacher will draw on her experience with the student from class. A counselor, on the other hand, may speak more clearly on a student’s development over the years and/or participation in the greater community. Body Paragraph 1 (Counselor) While a teacher interacts with a student every day in the classroom, a counselor has a different relationship with the student. Rather than speaking to their work as a student, the counselor may talk about the student’s maturity, development, community service, and interactions with other students and faculty. As with a teacher recommendation, a counselor recommendation should hone in on a few specific qualities and give an insightful example. In the following examples, the counselor touches on one student’s school leadership and on the other'sgrowth throughout high school. Example 1 Rory brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to her fellow students and teachers. As Class President, she organized fundraisers and events that both raised money for class projects and were enjoyed by all. Last spring, she set up McKinley High’s version of The Sing Off, complete with spinning chairs for the judges to scoop up contestants for their teams. The entire performance was recorded and is available on our new YouTube channel, which Rory and her fellow student council members set up and have added to throughout the year. Example 2 Michael has impressed all of us at Washington High School with the incredible progress he’s made over his four years. While he arrived in 9th grade with limited English, he’s grown his language abilities in leaps and bounds. Now he actively participates in his classes and contributes to the school newspaper. His latest article on college planning for ELL students, in which he shares his personal story and family background, has been shared among faculty and counselors here at the school. While the teacher and counselor may start out their recommendations by focusing on different aspects of the student, their second body paragraph may share more similarities. Here you might discuss the student’s impressive personal qualities. Body Paragraph 2 In the second bodyparagraph, you might focus on revealing the student’s personal strengths and personality. You could talk about traits like integrity, honesty, compassion, courage, and resilience, to name a few. Admissions officers want to know if the student has overcome any particular challenges in life, or if there are any special family circumstances that have affected the student. Apart from shedding light on the student’s personal journey, you also want to consider how you can add to her application. What has she already shared, and how can you both complement and add to her story? Whatever you choose to share, it should be something that you can speak in some depth about. In the following example, the recommender speaks about Jamie’s strong value of integrity. Not only is Jamie an outstanding history student, but he also displays exceptional strength of character. When you speak toany of his teachers aboutJamie, the first word that comes up is "integrity." He’s an honest and caring young person committed to upholding these values in our school community. When administrators revised the school handbook last year, Jamie volunteered to review and give input into the section on academic integrity and plagiarism. He helped promote the ideas throughout the school and stayed after for discussion groups on what leads students to turn to cheating. Once you have two strong body paragraphs, you’ll finish yourletter with a succinct and memorable conclusion. Conclusion In the conclusion of your letter, you should reiterate your support for the student’s application to the college or program. You can add a concluding statement of her strengths and assets, making sure to reinforce the points you made above while still adding fresh language. On top of this, your conclusion may offer a vision of how the student will perform in the future, both in terms of personal achievement and contributions to her college community. Finally, finish up by inviting admissions officers to contact you for any further information. Most letters end with the salutation of â€Å"Sincerely,† followed by your name, position, and school. Outside of this overall four-paragraph structure, there are a few formatting points to keep in mind. Want to build the best possible college application, with the strongest recommendations? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Format of Your Recommendation Letter Your recommendation should be a full page in length. Any less may look that you didn’t have much to say about the student. Any more is unusual and not necessary apart fromexceptional circumstances. Use official school letterhead and include all the necessary contact information described above. Ultimately, you’ll upload your letter to the Common Application or a college’s individual application portal. In closing, let’s review the structure to follow when brainstorming, drafting, and revising your recommendation letter. Following the Recommendation Letter Template As you brainstorm exactly what you want to communicate in your letter, keep in mind how you can structure your thoughts according to therecommendation letter template described above. To review, let's go over the key elements you should include: Introduction:Here, you'll state your support for the student, describe how you know the student, and touch on her key strengths and achievements. Body Paragraph 1: In your first body paragraph, you may speak about a student's academic strengths and interests, along with an anecdote to back up your assessment. If you're a counselor, you may focus more on the student's community involvement in this first body paragraph. Body Paragraph 2: In the second body paragraph, you can reveal the student's impressive personal qualities, ones that admissions officers may not know about from the rest of her application. Make sure to include a meaningful example to back up your assessment. Conclusion:Restate your support of the student, andprovide a vision of her future success. Invite admissions officers to contact you with any questions. While letters will vary in terms of writing style and emphasis, the best ones will include these key elements. To write an effective letter, as well as to make sure that you can genuinely recommend a student, you should take the time to plan and map out your letter according to this template. You can include meaningful anecdotes based on your interactions with the students and discussions with her about her college plans and application strategy. By gathering thoughts from the student herself and informing yourself about how to structure your rec letter, you'll be poised to write a memorable letter that will both impressadmissions officers and help them get to know the studentbetter.Your letter canreveal meaningful insight into the student's academic and personal strengths and thereby make a significant impact in improving her chances of admission to college. What's Next? Now that you've learned about a template you can use to structure your recommendation letter, check out these sample recommendation letters. Here you can read 4 great teacher recommendation letters, plus 3 examples of bad teacher recs. Beyond this structure, what else do you need to know about writing a letter of recommendation? This complete guide discusses how to write a strong letter of recommendation, from how to choose powerful language to the common traps to avoid. Are you a counselor writing a letter of recommendation?Check out our guide that includes three excellent examples of counselor letters of recto give you some ideas. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Special characteristic of BU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Special characteristic of BU - Essay Example As a student, I feel that I learn best when I test the theories that I have studied through textbooks. Boston University attracts teachers who are at the forefront of their respective fields and are passionate about fostering a learning environment. They are there for the love of the students and the learning that is going on at the school, not for the money as typical in other schools. In addition, the diverse backgrounds of the students encourage the sharing of varied cultural perspectives with each other. Such communication is invaluable because it is a unique opportunity that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Also, the learning is not just limited to the classroom. At Boston University, students are encouraged to explore rather than to memorize the textbook. These are the reasons why it must be Boston University. – BU attracts students from more countries than are represented in the United Nations. Our global presence and reputation are important and are reflected in the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of our students. Why is this type of environment important to you? (500 words, 5000 characters) My status as an international student is a testament to the importance of a global perspective of the world in today’s global economy. If I did not understand its value, I would not have chosen to pursue the challenging path of trying to benefit from an American educational system while overcoming cultural and language barriers. Part of what has shaped my outlook.

Child Language Disability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words - 1

Child Language Disability - Essay Example These questions are then valued on the basis of the frequency with which the child demonstrates a certain behavior (Niparko, 2009). This test revealed that the child able to appropriately use the auditory input in quiet listening situations, however, the background noise seemed to disturb her making it more difficult for her to interpret auditory input. Â  Such difficulties are commonly faced by individuals with hearing impairments. According to Marschark (2007) deafness leads to serious consequences on literacy, educational achievement as well as the socio-emotional development of children. This child was enrolled in a school for children with hearing impairment. She has undergone two cochlear implants, twice. Children with a cochlear implant may face minor difficulties in developing abilities to listen or speak properly. However, they are more apt in learning through visual aids. The learning style of every child varies. Hence even after the implants if the child displays greater competence in learning through visual aids rather than auditory aids, and prefers to learn and speak through sign language rather than learn to speak in English, then they should be encouraged to do so (Christiansen, Leigh, 2002). Â  Since this child has difficulty in language development and social skills, she may need special attention from the teachers, which includes individual speech and language assistance beyond the general classroom sessions. Auditory training can also be given separately where the focus is mostly on language reception and speech production of the child. Such activities will help in improving the child's listening skills (Clark, 2003).

My passion for education. Why become an educator Essay

My passion for education. Why become an educator - Essay Example A society is a place where human beings work together to form a livable environment. It’s a place where everyone has a role to play. But what shapes a society? Well the people obviously! But who shapes these people? The answer is teachers. From the point of our birth to the end of our lives we keep learning new things, big or small, it does not matter. In our childhood our energies are high and we perceive this world as a place of abundant knowledge but what knowledge is important? This is something that is pointed out by our teachers. What to learn what not to learn. Our teachers shape our minds, open our imaginations and give us the belief and the tools to learn. A teacher quite literally shapes the future. I want to be a teacher because of all these things. Today our world is falling into chaos. Nations are at their wits ends, wars are being waged, hunger, famine and much more. This is all because we fail to look forward to the future. The children of today are the future of this world, so I feel like it is my responsibility to step up and take charge. I feel responsible to mold these young minds for a better and stronger future- a future filled with happiness! Becoming an educator has a lot to do with passion and skill. There is no doubt that anyone can have any sort of passion but being an educator requires a lot of skill. It’s about passing on your own knowledge in an effective way. In a way that the receiver of that education not only absorbs the meaning of it but also develops the urge to further study it. I have that passion in me and I definitely have the skill as well. There is also a concept of morality behind the desire to be an educator. Whenever we go out in the search of truth and somehow find it we share it with the world because if we did not we would have still been in the dark ages. If Heisenberg had not shared his uncertainty principle or if Schrodinger had not shared the knowledge of his

Interest Rate Changes in Construction Activity Essay

Interest Rate Changes in Construction Activity - Essay Example Generally the construction activity is sensitive to changes in the interest rates and business cycles in the short term and to population growth and economic advancement in the long-term. This paper intends to present a short report on the short term effects interest rate changes on the construction industry. The behaviour of any economy can be greatly influenced by the monetary policy. It is observed that decisions about official interest rates by the central banks affect economic activity and inflation through several channels which are collectively known as the Transmission Mechanism of the Monetary Policy. According to the Bank of England Paper on the Transmission mechanisms of monetary policy; Changes in exchange rates have a direct impact on the prices of imported goods and services and an indirect impact on the prices and the competitive ability of the products which compete with the imported products/services. The change in exchange rate is likely to affect the prices of those products in the domestic market which uses imported inputs. Thus through the transmission mechanism of the monetary policy, any changes in the official interest rates affect the savings and investment behaviour of the individuals and firms and also thereby affect domestic demand and supply of production and other manufacturing sectors of the economy. Normally following a monetary contraction in the economy, as a result of the changes in the interest rates, the construction sector reaches the trough of the cycle first, while the manufacturing sector reacts little slowly. However the manufacturing sector reacts very strongly than the construction sector. 3.0 Money Supply and Construction Activity: In general construction activity is very sensitive to credit conditions. According to Goh (1998) the amount of mortgage loans has an influence on the demand for residential construction, since house purchases are financed mainly by mortgage loans from banks. The monetary theorists are of the view that changes in money supply cause fluctuations in national outputs and because of the interdependency the disturbances in one sector will be transmitted to other sectors and markets. A review of the different channels of mechanisms reveals that credit is the primary source of money supply to the construction activity. "A restrictive credit supply leads to decreases in demand for real estate, bonds, stocks, and other assets. Since real-estate prices are sticky, ultimately the supply of credit will affect the construction industry." (Raymond Y.C. TSE and John Rafetry 1999) Similarly a contraction in money supply reduces bank lending to all sectors in the economy including property developers and thereby causes a decline in the industry. Any change in money supply will have its impact on the demand for

Information and Communications Technologies Essay

Information and Communications Technologies - Essay Example The job also requires knowledge of financial and accounting software applications, government financial regulations, the ability to analyse financial data, and prepare financial reports, statements and projections (HR Village 2007). Information and communications technologies, ICT, play a vital role in supporting the activities of organisations. ICT encompasses hardware and software products; information system operations and management processes; human resources and skills required to use ICT for the production of information; and information system development, management and control. Accountants are expected to have the required level of competence to perform the work required. ICT is one of the core competences required of accountants, even as provided in the GAAP. ICT is affecting the way in which organisations are structured, managed and operated. It is changing the nature and economics of accounting activity (Skidmore 2002). This paper takes a look at the author's personal professional experiences with ICT in the role of a management accountant, how the author's ICT skills have improved personal performance, and how these improved personal performance through the use of ICT has improved the wider organisation's performance from the perspective of management accounting. Using information technology in my profession My role as management accountant involves applying the principles of accounting to analyse financial information and prepare financial reports by compiling information, preparing profit and loss statements, and utilising appropriate accounting control procedures (HR Village 2007). To accomplish my tasks, I use several ICT applications. Standard office applications for word processing, spreadsheets and presentation graphics such as those provided by Microsoft Office are some of the ICT software that I regularly use. MS Word allows me to create professional looking reports and other communication which I can format myself or use templates available within the software. I can highlight important text with different font and typestyle options. MS Excel is also an indispensable tool because it allows me to create spreadsheets with ease. The built-in functions also provide capabilities for calculations with a formula, summarising numeric data, as well as creating graphical charts for easier visual appreciation of trends and distributions. MS PowerPoint is another software I use, especially for easy to understand presentations to management or other non-accountant groups. I can incorporate text, numbers and even graphic images to drive home the points I am trying to make. I also use MS PowerPoint when I orient accounting staff on accounting policies and procedures. I use SAP accounting software for to help me deliver accurate financial reports fast, accelerate cash flows through shorter reporting cycles and receivables, and turn information into effective execution of business strategy so that as management accountant I can be a strategic partner to the business (SAP 2008). I also use Hyperion Essbase, an online analytical processing server, OLAP, to developing custom analytic and enterprise performance management applications useful to my functions as management

The new economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The new economy - Essay Example ftware have the capability of doing more word as compared to humans, it is also true that technology has helped many people monetize their homes and even employ others. A perfect example of how technology creates jobs is the Agriculture sector. The percentage of persons working on farms declined from 41%-2% in the last century. Over the same period agricultural production rose and farmers got employed in factories and cubicles. Economists have linked the shrinking American middle class to technological displacement of human labor. More jobs coming up are for Ph.D.s and casual labourers such as home cleaners. Drivers and self-driven cars threaten the jobs of chauffeurs & drivers. Software threatens the jobs of their very developers. However as these jobs go, others are created; according to Airbnb CEO Brian Cheskey, the firm may employ only 16000 but has 30 million users. It creates more jobs of the 21st century through creation of income for hosts monetizing their homes, as well local business & service providers (Foroohar, 2015). The new economy will therefore be more about individuals. Persons with good education, who are smart and have entrepreneurial minds, will thrive well in the new economy. The government should thus respond to the threat of displacement by reforming education, increasing training for the workforce as well as the social services net to accommodate the slack. Global supply chains will be affected by increased integration hanks to technology. This means that survival in the new economy and the evolving supply chains & logistics will require high calibre skills. I content that technology will increase output and therefore prosperity and thus going forward this knowledge will really influence my approach to

Information and Communications Technologies Essay

Information and Communications Technologies - Essay Example The job also requires knowledge of financial and accounting software applications, government financial regulations, the ability to analyse financial data, and prepare financial reports, statements and projections (HR Village 2007). Information and communications technologies, ICT, play a vital role in supporting the activities of organisations. ICT encompasses hardware and software products; information system operations and management processes; human resources and skills required to use ICT for the production of information; and information system development, management and control. Accountants are expected to have the required level of competence to perform the work required. ICT is one of the core competences required of accountants, even as provided in the GAAP. ICT is affecting the way in which organisations are structured, managed and operated. It is changing the nature and economics of accounting activity (Skidmore 2002). This paper takes a look at the author's personal professional experiences with ICT in the role of a management accountant, how the author's ICT skills have improved personal performance, and how these improved personal performance through the use of ICT has improved the wider organisation's performance from the perspective of management accounting. Using information technology in my profession My role as management accountant involves applying the principles of accounting to analyse financial information and prepare financial reports by compiling information, preparing profit and loss statements, and utilising appropriate accounting control procedures (HR Village 2007). To accomplish my tasks, I use several ICT applications. Standard office applications for word processing, spreadsheets and presentation graphics such as those provided by Microsoft Office are some of the ICT software that I regularly use. MS Word allows me to create professional looking reports and other communication which I can format myself or use templates available within the software. I can highlight important text with different font and typestyle options. MS Excel is also an indispensable tool because it allows me to create spreadsheets with ease. The built-in functions also provide capabilities for calculations with a formula, summarising numeric data, as well as creating graphical charts for easier visual appreciation of trends and distributions. MS PowerPoint is another software I use, especially for easy to understand presentations to management or other non-accountant groups. I can incorporate text, numbers and even graphic images to drive home the points I am trying to make. I also use MS PowerPoint when I orient accounting staff on accounting policies and procedures. I use SAP accounting software for to help me deliver accurate financial reports fast, accelerate cash flows through shorter reporting cycles and receivables, and turn information into effective execution of business strategy so that as management accountant I can be a strategic partner to the business (SAP 2008). I also use Hyperion Essbase, an online analytical processing server, OLAP, to developing custom analytic and enterprise performance management applications useful to my functions as management

Earnest Hemingway&apos;s &quot;The Indian camp&quot; Essay

Earnest Hemingway's "The Indian camp" - Essay Example Nick becomes his assistant in the operation. Not long after, the expectant womans husband is discovered dead having slit his throat during the operation. The Indian Camp story reveals the upcoming of Hemingways use of counterpoint and the understated style. He addresses several thematic concerns that affected the people at the time. These are the theme of racism, sexism, masculinity and life and death. The ‘Indian Camp’ remains an important story in the canon of Hemingway to date. Being an initiation camp, the Indian Camp is used in the story to explain the theme life and death. Dr Adams, Nick’s father, exposes his son at a young age to childbirth. In the process, he unintentionally exposes the boy to violent death. Having witnessed the birth and death at the same time, Nick equates birth to death (Dudley 17). Although Nick may not have wanted to watch his father perform the caesarean, his father insists that he should do. Symbolically, he wants to make his son tough and prepare him for initiation into the adult world that was not always smooth. The theme of life and death is a symbolic depiction of the conditions of the Native American camp. There are struggles for life in the camp in which death romped life from people. The coming to birth of a child signifies the continuity of life in the camp (Dudley 18). However, life is lost at the same time when the childs father kills himself by slitting his throat with a sharp blade during the operation. In his story, Hemingway explains the desperate state of a struggle for life and at the same time the irony in a persons depriving his life. It is ironical that an effort is made to make the baby live signifying the value attached to life at the camp while at the same time the father takes his life. Fear of death is implicated in Nick’s fear for the death when thoughts of death in the forest a night before the operation overwhelm him. The themes of racism and sexism in the story are depicted in the

How Egypt became a Secular Nationalist type state Essay Example for Free

How Egypt became a Secular Nationalist type state Essay Egypt and Iran are the two Middle Eastern states with different Ideologies. The two states have a long history in the past. Despite the fact that both are Muslim dominated states, both have a totally different international stature in terms of their ideologies. Egypt has a secular nationalist stature where as Iran has a radical Islamist stature. The major reasons behind this divergent stature are the social setups, various movements, the historical developments and the impact of important national leaders. Egypt Egypt is located in the northeastern corner of Africa. Egypt used to be the home of one of the principal civilizations of the ancient Middle East and one of the worlds earliest urban and literate societies. Pharaonic Egypt remained under rule of various dynasties for a period of about 3000 years which were interspersed with brief periods of foreign rule. It was conquered by Arab Muslim armies in AD 639–642. Since then, Egypt has been part of Islamic world. Though it was ruled by foreigners but the countrys culture remained Arab in its very nature. The most notable of Egypts rulers under the Muslim caliphate was Saladin (Salah ad-Din, 1138–93), sultan of Egypt and Syria and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. In 1517 the Ottoman Empire defeated the Mamluks and established control over Egypt up to 1798, when Napoleon occupied the country. Due to its strategic location, Egypt always remained a hub for trade routes between Africa, Europe, and Asia, especially due to opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The concern of the European powers over the canal for strategic and commercial reasons became ruling factor in subsequent history of Egypt. The U. K occupied Egypt in 1882 and continued to exert a strong influence on the country until after World War II (1939–45). One of major elements in political history was Hasan al-Banna, the founder of (Ikhwan), The Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 which established more than fifty branches in Egypt by 1934. This organization opposed the secular policies and believed that Muslim nations should govern according to the principles of the Quran. The organization had a major impact on the people of Egypt. At the end of World War Two, the Ikhwan had over 5 Lac active workers and around twice as many supporters. The organization sent thousands of fighters in the war against Israel but it was banned by the government of Noqrashi Pasha. In 1952 a military coup installed a revolutionary regime under the leadership of Gamal Abdel Nasser that promoted a combination of socialism and Pan-Arab nationalism and hence converted the Egypt from Islamic to Secular nationalist state. His successor as president, Anwar al-Sadat continued Nassers policies with some modifications, especially in relation to Israel and was a key player in the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of 1979. Upon Sadats assassination in 1981, Muhammad Hosni Mubarak became president of Egypt who was elected for his fifth term in 2005. Mubarak is following a secular nationalist agenda. Iran The ancient Persian Empire consisted of Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the eastern part of Turkey, Iraq and the parts of Pakistan. The Muslims invaded Iran in the time of Caliph Umar (637) and conquered it after several great battles. The majority of Iranians gradually converted to Islam. This conversion to Islam was a long process which took almost two centuries. The Muslim population rose from approximately 40% in the mid 9th century to close to 100% by the end of 11th century. Iran was dominated by Sunni Muslims initially however, Ismail I initiated a religious policy to recognize Shia Islam as the official religion of the Safavid Empire, which still is recognized as Shiite state. During World War II, Iran was an important supplier of oil to the Soviet Union. After World War II, Iran kept following western policies and introduced some economical reforms, which did not greatly improve economic conditions and the liberal pro-Western policies alienated some Islamic religious and political groups. In mid-1960s the political situation became increasingly unstable. The Premier Hassan Ali Mansur was assassinated in 1965 and security service, SAVAK, became more active. The Islamic clergy, headed by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (who had been exiled in 1964), were becoming increasingly violent. By late 1974 an alarming increase in inflation occurred resulted into a big gap between the rich and poor. This situation gave birth to Islamic Revolution which transformed Iran from a monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic in December 1979. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left the country for exile in January 1979 and on 1 February, 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Tehran and declared an Islamic republic with a new Constitution reflecting his ideals of Islamic government. Ayatollah Khomeini became supreme spiritual leader of Iran. Same year , Iraq massively invaded Iran, feeling that Iran is too weak to fight back but Iran achieved surprising defensive success resulting a cease fire on 20 August 1988. Since then Iran in following radical Islamic beliefs and has denied to bow before any international pressure against its ideology. Conclusion Iran and Egypt despite being Muslim dominated countries underwent a different course of events which resulted into different ideologies of the countries. Due to policies of government, different neighborhood, different political interactions and active involvement of key leaders, Egypt became a secular nationalist state whereas Iran became a radical Islamic state. Works Cited Works have not been cited as per req of the client.

Consumer Expectations Essay -- Businesses Papers

Consumer Expectations The summer following my junior year in high school I learned the harsh realities of business in the world of used cars. When I purchased my 1995 Honda Civic I was told the air conditioner needed a recharge after I asked about the malfunctioning unit; however, a mechanic soon informed me of the real problem-the absence of a full A/C unit. The dealership in fact replaced the A/C unit, but not until I signed a contract stating I could not file suit or request any other repairs for the car-that, of course, was to their benefit. Three months later, I found out that the engine had been improperly mounted and that the transmission needed $3,000 in work-all things they failed to tell me at the time of purchasing the car. After only four months of use, the car sat unusable for nine months. At first, I thought I had gotten a deal when they fixed my A/C; however, that deal-in the end-cost me about $5,000 in additional work. It bothered me that a company could manipulate people, especially me, into signing a contract-knowing of several other problems with the car. From this experience, my idea of business morphed into one of deception-a result of the untruthfulness of business practices I encountered. Behind deception rest secrecy and openness-two important but yet difficult to define ideas-where large conflicts arise. Sissela Bok's essay, "Secrecy and Moral Choices," seeks to explain these complexities of secrecy-how secrecy is both helpful and harmful to human existence. Bok scrutinizes not simply the idea of secrecy, but considers as well our ability to control secrecy. In discussing secrecy's inherent benefits to society, Bok presents its ability to grant "elements of human autonomy: identity, plan... ...s. Ed. Denice Martone and Pat C. Hoy II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 14-16. "Secrecy and Moral Choice." The Advanced College Essay: Business and Its Publics. Ed. Denice Martone and Pat C. Hoy II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 3-10. "The Perspective of the Liar." The Advanced College Essay: Business and Its Publics. Ed. Denice Martone and Pat C. Hoy II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 11-14. Carr, Albert Z.. "Is Business Bluffing Ethical?" The Advanced College Essay: Business and Its Publics. Ed. Denice Martone and Pat C. Hoy II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 17-21. Kim, Christopher Jr.. Personal interview. 6 Feb. 2002. Oppel, Richard A. Jr.. "Despite Warning, Enron Chief Urged Buying of Shares." The New York Times. 19 Jan. 2002. 26 Jan. 2002. Polonetsky, Jules. "Privacy in the Internet Age." Schimmel Auditorium, New York U. 4 Feb. 2002.

Strategic Management Essay -- Business essays research papers

Strategic Management Introduction To deal effectively with the wide array of factors affecting the ability of a business to grow and prosper, managers need advanced processes they feel will facilitate the optimal positioning of the business in its competitive environment. Such positioning is possible with strategic management because this process improves preparedness for unexpected internal or competitive demands. Therefore, strategic management is an all-encompassing approach for formulating, implementing and evaluating managerial decisions in a way that permits the business to reach its objectives. For a strategic management plan to be successful, however, every manager should: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clearly see the need for change †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Be firmly committed to the idea of changing the business planning process †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Assure that the strategic management process has credibility with everyone involved †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Make sure that final plans are realistic and reflect actual resources and capabilities †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Train all participants in the procedures essential to the strategic management process †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Develop concise and well-organized plans One of the world’s best performing natural resources companies created a unique organizational structure that combines the advantages of small business units with â€Å"virtual structures† - groupings of these business units - that can address different strategic issues and competitive environments. Overview The formality of the strategic management process varies widely. Formality refers to the degree to which membership, responsibilities, authority and discretion in decision making are specified. It is an important consideration in the study and application of strategic management because the degree of formality is usually positively correlated with the cost, comprehensiveness, accuracy and success of planning. The requirements for small business indicate the need for a moderate degree of formality. This is consistent with the ability to communicate face-to-face (size) and the need for flexibility (changing demands). The important issue is involvement with the process, not generating reams of paperwork (Camerer, 195-219). Resistance to change should be reduced. Businesses vary in the processes they use to formulate and direct their strategic management activities. Many using sophisticated planning techniques have developed more detai... ...heir management of their organizations, due to their important role in the culture formation and preservation process. They need to be continually aware of the cultural values espoused through their behavior and actions. References Astley, W.G., and C.J. Fombrun, 1983, Collective Strategy:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social Ecology of Organizational Environments. Academy of  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Management Review 8: pp. 576-587 Burgelman, R.A. 1996, A Process Model of Strategic Business  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Exit: Implications for an Evolutionary Perspective on  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strategy. Strategic Management Journal 17: pp. 193-214 Camerer, Colin F. 1994, Does Strategy Research Need Game  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Theory? In Fundamental Issues in Strategy: A Research  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Agenda. Richard P. Rumelt, Dan E. Schendel, and David J.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teece (eds.). Pp. 195-219. Boston: Harvard Business  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  School Press Galbraith, Jay R. 1995, Designing Organizations: An Executive  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Briefing on Strategy, Structure and Process, San  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers pp. 12-15 Harrison, Jeffrey S., and Caron H. St. John, 1998, Strategic  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Management of Organizations and Stakeholders: Concepts.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2nd Edition. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western College  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishing, pp. 44-59

Barker, Social Contract(Rousseau)

In Social Contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau draws some interesting conclusions and makes some very interesting points about the dynamic that human beings have to go through when dealing with each other. His main points in the book have to do with the fact that men are not meant to be held down, nor or they meant to be restrained in any way. Instead, men were meant to run free and be able to make their own decisions as much as they possibly can.I think that this book takes the completely complicated question of human nature and breaks it down in a way that is a little bit easier to understand. The first and most prevalent point in the book is about how people are not meant to be held down or restrained. According to the thoughts of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, freedom and liberty are things that help both people and societies thrive and survive. More than anything else, people desire this type of freedom because it makes them feel like they can do what they were meant to do.In my opinion, thi s is a driving force for societies. Because of human nature and how we are wired, people are not meant at all to be held down and they are not meant to have to conform to what society tells them to conform to. When a society feels like they are being held down or enslaved by another group of people, it is just a natural thing to want to break free of that oppression and spread their wings. This book also takes an interesting look at the role of government and how it impacts the way people treat each other.Like many of the prevalent thinkers of his time, Rousseau holds onto the opinion that big government is a limiting factor instead of being something that has a positive impact on the people it purports to help. With that in mind, government should be limited as much as possible, especially when there is a chance that some sort of corruption exists underneath the surface. I think this is a cynical way to look at life, but given the circumstances that were around for Rousseau and man y of his fellow thinkers, it is easy to see where one might be compelled to think this way.I don’t think that it is necessarily healthy to hold onto this opinion in terms of today’s government, but there are some very interesting lessons that can be gleaned. This book takes the opportunity to touch on a number of political topics and how they affect people and it does not miss. The author obviously has a healthy fear of big government, which was extremely important during his time. I think that the consideration of force among peoples is an extremely important consideration, as well.Individuals can either conform to force as it confronts them or they can take the forces in their way and direct them. I think that it is difficult for most people to grasp having unnecessary force being put on them. As the author wrote in the first part of the book, men were not made to be enslaved, so that is not a natural thing for them to have to put up with. This understanding is essen tial to getting to know human beings and further, understanding society at large.

Heal hospital Essay

The healing hospital paradigm emphasizes the eradication of stress and other health risks in the healthcare environment for patients and visitors. The factors that influence these health risks are inherent to the setting of the hospital, not the illnesses being treated. For instance, patients become stressed because of painful therapeutic procedures, lack of social life, deterioration of financial status because of healthcare expenditures, etc. In order to guarantee that the patient’s well being is maintained, the amount of stress must be curtailed. Additionally, the all-inclusive care and attention components of the paradigm guarantees that the patient’s recovery process are utilized to the zenith without infringing upon their dignity and privacy. Instead of just simply curing the disease, the healing hospital paradigm incorporates the healing of the whole patient (Young & Koopsen, 2006). This is served from the paradigm’s focus on healing beyond the physical bo dy. It intends to improve the overall welfare of the individual by not only addressing the patient’s cognitive, emotional, and spiritual concerns, but also those of the family’s (Milstein, 2005). In order to develop a healing environment, certain barrier must be overcome within the context of the hospital setting. This paper will analyze the healing hospital paradigm, recognize its significance in care giving method, portray its aspects, and depict its connections to spirituality. Healing Hospital Aspects A healing hospital goes beyond windows, walls, and mortar. Its strong culture of love and caring is what sets it apart from traditional hospitals (Chapman, 2010). The healing hospital is composed of three essential aspects. Healing Environment Hospitals should be a healing physical environment. This denotes that hospitals should be free of any physical disturbances that could potentially cause stress. These outside factors consist of excessive noise, a morbid or  dull environment, and panic-inducing disorganization. In order to diminish these external environmental factors, employees must meticulously construct an organized hospital setting that complies with the aspects of a physical healing environment. Employees are given the proper training to become successful caregivers who are cognizant in patient and family interaction. This method of interaction will help patients and families cope with their grief and deal with their concerns. By engaging all five senses, the environment is designed to establish a spiritual relationship. Stefanidakis states that by choosing the appropriate colors, human behavior will be influenced to the desired effects and psychological systems will be established (2001). For example, the color green denotes a healing and nurturing environment–one symbolizing unconditional love and growth. This is due to the fact that color has the incredible ability to trigger emotional responses such as peacefulness, irritability, or cheerfulness. Furthermore, designing the hospital interior in a manner that resembles a church or temple promotes spirituality. This can be done by including religious artifacts such as rosary beads. However, the patient must feel in control of the environment in order for stress relief to occur. This control can be achieved with lighting, temperature, etc. Integrating Technology and Work Design Technology plays a large role in the healing hospital paradigm. Its interweaving into the healing hospital structure permits staff members to work with systematic efficiency, routing work in a way that amplified the patient’s and family’s comfort. In this more tranquil environment, patients receive much more sleep and, thus allow their bodies sufficient time to heal. Equipped with technological advancements such as cleaning machines with internal silencers and wireless phones for direct communication with the healthcare team, employees are competent in the effective use of this technology. Thus, they advocate a quiet and healing ambience. Developing a low stress environment, the staff is prone to fewer distractions. The lack of distraction leads to a decrease in common medical errors. The Culture of Loving Care Former executive of the Baptist Healing Hospital Trust Erie Chapman believes that the most important aspect of the healing hospital intertwined treatment with a significant component consisting of love, care, and empathy (Chapman, 2010). Constructing an intriguing culture in which the staff members are cognizant of their duties and are adept at unreservedly executing them through is a fundamental aspect of the healing hospital. All caregivers must advocate unconditional love for patients as well as visitors by incorporating it into their daily actions. Compassionate care through relationships in which the patient is the center is the basis on which the development of the healing hospital rests. Staff members inspire hope by exhibiting unconditional love through the utilization of compassionate care and the minimization of grief and stress levels of the patients and their families. Additionally, prayer strengthens hope and grounds the healing hospital in a spiritual relationship. Challenges of the Healing Hospital Environment As stated by Chapman (2010), there are five challenges that healing hospitals must conquer constantly. First, the growing amount of medical technology such as wires, tubes, and pharmaceuticals has monopolized healthcare to the point that healthcare professionals have forgotten the healing essentials such as the loving care method and the belief in the unification of body, mind, and spirit. Identifying the demand for, and providing balance between loving care and technology results in a raise in patient satisfaction. Next, the progression of technology has resulted in a tremendous focus on profits and market share rather than care. Although much ignored and neglected, the â€Å"Servants’ Heart† are faithful to their duty to provide Radical Loving Care; this is where leaders play an important role in â€Å"taking care of the people who take care of people† (Chapman, 2010). Thirdly, intimacy between patients and employees are often stripped as traditional hospitals and prisons partake in a type of institutionalism that destroys identity. By substituting patients’ clothes with hospital garments, names with identification numbers, and privacy with sharing rooms with strangers, a common institutionalism is set. Moreover, visiting hours restrictions have  the tendency to make a patient feel as though he or she is a hostage. In contrast, caregivers are often required to perform repetitive tasks with unparalleled precision. This is referred to as a â€Å"bureaucracy† or an organization that resembles a difficult-to-work-with machine (Chapman, 2010). In addition, cynicism is deleterious when it comes to caring for the patient. Believer or not, love should not be seen as a â€Å"nice thing† but as a â€Å"vital part† of patient’s recovery (Chapman, 2010). Healing is multi-faceted and and embodies the physical, emotional, and spiritual concerns of the patients. Lastly, leadership is a dig munificent component in patient healing. Given the opportunity and responsibility to prioritize loving care, leaders are encouraged to make sure their caregivers provide it. Biblical Passage Supporting the Concept of a Healing Hospital James 5:14-15 illustrates Jesus’ healing of the ill. In particular, Jesus asks if there are any ill people in the crowd. If there are, they should call for the elders of the church for an anointing with the sacred oil. This type if anointment will heal the sick because of their faith through the power of prayer (King James Version). This advocates the healing hospital paradigm since it recognizes a clear relationship between healing and prayer. This passage enforces the same belief, whereby the importance of the spiritual aspect of the healing process is brought to light. Since it is rooted in spirituality, prayer can effectively instill hope in patients and families. Though a relatively new turn in the medical profession, the healing hospital is increasingly gaining in popularity. Not only affecting the body but also the patient’s and family’s overall well being, the patient-centric attention and care facilities provided by the hospital adds to the healing hospital paradigm in a member that highlights radical love and compassionate care. Through spirituality, the healing hospital paradigm draws on hope and coping strategies, and thus forged support for its practices from both secular and religious communities. As in scriptures, a body frees itself of sin through piety and community, and with that community comes hope and solace. References Chapman, E. (2010). Radical loving care: building the healing hospital in America. Nashville, TN: Vaughn Printing. Milstein, J. (2005). A paradigm of integrative care: healing with curing throughout life, â€Å"being with† and â€Å"doing to†. Journal of Perinatology, 25, 563-568. doi: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211358 Stefanidakis, S. (2001). Healing with color and the human aura. Retrieved February 11, 2011 from www.fst.org/aura2.htm Young, C., & Koopsen, C. (2006). Spirituality, health, and healing (1 ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Qualitative Research

Introduction/Background In this section of the study, the researcher should explain the rationale for undertaking the work reported on, including what he/she has chosen to do, the reasons for doing it and the background to the study. It should be written in an explanatory style. Thus, the researcher should state what the report is about, the relevant themes and issues, a brief outline of the method of enquiry and also the limits of the research and reasons for them. For instance, in the article titled â€Å"Making Corporate Social Responsibility Work: Do Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) in Ghana Care at All?† by Dr. Henry Kofi Mensah, Dr. Ahmed Agyapong and Dr. Eric Fosu Oteng-Abayie, the background information was perfectly done. The researchers made their intentions clear and known and by this, their concentration was on Rural and Community Banks in Ghana. Also, what other researchers have debated on concerning this topic was made clear by the researchers.Literature ReviewThis part of the research report should focus on a survey of publications (e.g. books, journals, authoritative websites, conference papers, etc.), reporting work that has already been done on the topic of the report. It should only include studies that have direct relevance to the research. A literature review should be written like an essay in a discursive style, with an introduction, main discussion grouped in themes and a conclusion. Then, the researcher should conclude with how the review has informed his/her research, thus things the researcher will be building on and also the gaps he/ she will be filling. For instance, in the article titled â€Å"Making Corporate Social Responsibility Work: Do Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) in Ghana Care at All?† by Dr. Henry Kofi Mensah, Dr. Ahmed Agyapong and Dr. Eric Fosu Oteng-Abayie, the literature review was perfectly done. The researchers of this article grouped their literature review in thematic areas, which include; CSR and Business Operations, The CSR Agenda and the Operations of RCBs and also concluded with the aim to provide justification or otherwise for the investment in CSR and contribute to the growing discourse of CSR and its strategic value for SMEs in emerging economies. Qualitative research Qualitative research refers to â€Å"investigating the features of a market through in-depth research that explores the background and context for decision making†[1].   In another words, this type of research prefers other methods rather than the statistical analysis of data to obtain certain conclusion about the market and aims to research on the behaviour of the customers. There are two types of qualitative research methods.   The first one is depth interviewing.   Depth interviewing refers to one – on – one interviewing as the main tool of finding the customer’s preferences and opinions about a product, a service or a marketing campaign, for example. The second method is group discussions, in which the focus moves from the individual consumer to the group of potential customers[2].   The customers are brought together and discuss a certain product or service, analyzing the strength and weaknesses of that product and proposing ways by which its sales can be increased. In general, qualitative research is used â€Å"when more in depth or perceptual data is required†[3].   This means that, as a marketing tool, qualitative research will be used when attempting to obtain very focused information on consumer behavior an consumer reaction to a certain product or service. The first important advantage of such a marketing tool is the fact that it is very applied and that it is most likely to provide very accurate information in the area it is used.   If you conduct an individual, one-on-one interview with a potential or active client, you will be posing questions so that you will obtain feedback as to the customer’s preference in terms of that product’s characteristics. In this way, the product that will be launched on the market will be more fit for the potential clients, it will bear many of characteristics they need or require.   If the product has already been launched, then this will most likely be corrected following the new evaluations.   Because it will reflect more of the requirements the clients want, the product’s sales are likely to grow as well. Among the disadvantages, we can mention, first of all, the fact that the market is formed of an almost incalculable number of clients and customers, while these methodologies target only a very small number of them.   We may assume that the targeted individuals are not necessarily representative for the entire population and that they will be only be referring to their own preferences rather than those of the entire potential group of consumers. Additionally, we can point towards the very large costs qualitative research implies.   Indeed, being able to perform individual interviews is definitely a task that will mean additional costs for each of the interviews.   The group interview methodology is also costly, as all the participants will need to be paid, while this type of session is likely to take up some time. Quantitative research refers to â€Å"measuring a market and quantifying that measurement with data†[4].   Obviously, compared to qualitative research, this is a much larger perspective, a perspective where the entire market needs to be analyzed.   Additionally, quantitative research will aim to discover and statistically analyze information and data on the market size, market growth rates etc. On the other hand, quantitative research can also be used to evaluate customer preference and decide on customer attitudes and awareness for certain products. The quantitative analysis is based on two essential vectors: data collection and data analysis.   In terms of data collection, this activity will be aimed at gathering data that will help the marketing – related decisions of the company.   Data can be collected in any circumstances, on the street in interviews, through the Internet, on the phone or over the mail etc. On the other hand, this data needs to be interpreted and analyzed so as to provide the necessary reaction from the decision makers.   By interpretation, we will mean that the data will be statistically analyzed, trends and current tendencies will be estimated, all this with the use of different statistical measure and calculations. Obviously, the main advantage of quantitative research is that it give such an ample perspective over the whole market rather than isolated opinions of certain individuals.   On the other hand, the problem is that it often does not incorporate personal opinions, things like customer preference and specific customer behaviour, which would be covered by the qualitative research. In general, it is often recommended that the two different types of analyses are combined so as to reflect best both the market in general and the individual preferences. This way we can ensure that the marketing decision is entirely sustained and supported by relevant data. Bibliography 1. Market research – qualitative research. On the Internet at http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/research_qualitative.asp. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006. 2. Qualitative Market Research. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006 3. Market research – quantitative research. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006.       [1] Market research – qualitative research. On the Internet at http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/research_qualitative.asp. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006. [2] Ibid. [3] Qualitative Market Research. On the Internet at http://www.apmforum.com/emerald/qualitative-market-research.htm. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006 [4] Market research – quantitative research. On the Internet at http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/research_quantiative.asp. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006. Qualitative research Qualitative research refers to â€Å"investigating the features of a market through in-depth research that explores the background and context for decision making†[1].   In another words, this type of research prefers other methods rather than the statistical analysis of data to obtain certain conclusion about the market and aims to research on the behaviour of the customers. There are two types of qualitative research methods.   The first one is depth interviewing.   Depth interviewing refers to one – on – one interviewing as the main tool of finding the customer’s preferences and opinions about a product, a service or a marketing campaign, for example. The second method is group discussions, in which the focus moves from the individual consumer to the group of potential customers[2].   The customers are brought together and discuss a certain product or service, analyzing the strength and weaknesses of that product and proposing ways by which its sales can be increased. In general, qualitative research is used â€Å"when more in depth or perceptual data is required†[3].   This means that, as a marketing tool, qualitative research will be used when attempting to obtain very focused information on consumer behavior an consumer reaction to a certain product or service. The first important advantage of such a marketing tool is the fact that it is very applied and that it is most likely to provide very accurate information in the area it is used.   If you conduct an individual, one-on-one interview with a potential or active client, you will be posing questions so that you will obtain feedback as to the customer’s preference in terms of that product’s characteristics. In this way, the product that will be launched on the market will be more fit for the potential clients, it will bear many of characteristics they need or require.   If the product has already been launched, then this will most likely be corrected following the new evaluations.   Because it will reflect more of the requirements the clients want, the product’s sales are likely to grow as well. Among the disadvantages, we can mention, first of all, the fact that the market is formed of an almost incalculable number of clients and customers, while these methodologies target only a very small number of them.   We may assume that the targeted individuals are not necessarily representative for the entire population and that they will be only be referring to their own preferences rather than those of the entire potential group of consumers. Additionally, we can point towards the very large costs qualitative research implies.   Indeed, being able to perform individual interviews is definitely a task that will mean additional costs for each of the interviews.   The group interview methodology is also costly, as all the participants will need to be paid, while this type of session is likely to take up some time. Quantitative research refers to â€Å"measuring a market and quantifying that measurement with data†[4].   Obviously, compared to qualitative research, this is a much larger perspective, a perspective where the entire market needs to be analyzed.   Additionally, quantitative research will aim to discover and statistically analyze information and data on the market size, market growth rates etc. On the other hand, quantitative research can also be used to evaluate customer preference and decide on customer attitudes and awareness for certain products. The quantitative analysis is based on two essential vectors: data collection and data analysis.   In terms of data collection, this activity will be aimed at gathering data that will help the marketing – related decisions of the company.   Data can be collected in any circumstances, on the street in interviews, through the Internet, on the phone or over the mail etc. On the other hand, this data needs to be interpreted and analyzed so as to provide the necessary reaction from the decision makers.   By interpretation, we will mean that the data will be statistically analyzed, trends and current tendencies will be estimated, all this with the use of different statistical measure and calculations. Obviously, the main advantage of quantitative research is that it give such an ample perspective over the whole market rather than isolated opinions of certain individuals.   On the other hand, the problem is that it often does not incorporate personal opinions, things like customer preference and specific customer behaviour, which would be covered by the qualitative research. In general, it is often recommended that the two different types of analyses are combined so as to reflect best both the market in general and the individual preferences. This way we can ensure that the marketing decision is entirely sustained and supported by relevant data. Bibliography 1. Market research – qualitative research. On the Internet at http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/research_qualitative.asp. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006. 2. Qualitative Market Research. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006 3. Market research – quantitative research. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006.       [1] Market research – qualitative research. On the Internet at http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/research_qualitative.asp. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006. [2] Ibid. [3] Qualitative Market Research. On the Internet at http://www.apmforum.com/emerald/qualitative-market-research.htm. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006 [4] Market research – quantitative research. On the Internet at http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/research_quantiative.asp. Last retrieved on November 15, 2006.