Saturday, August 31, 2019

Communication and Young People

UNIT 1 PRINCIPLES OF DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS 1. 1. 1 EXPLAIN WHY EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT IN DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS Communicating effectively with children, young people and adults is very important to enable strong and positive relationships between these groups. Related article: Contribute to Evaluating the Effectiveness of Agreed Methods of CommunicationCommunicating positively with adults, this includes teachers and parents, is an important part in helping build a strong and trusting relationship with each other, therefore opening the lines of communication, both written and verbal, so I can put forward any ideas regarding lesson plans, activities or any concerns I have regarding the child. Developing positive relationships with children and young people will create a happy, calm and safe environment. Children and young people will then feel able to approach me and talk about any concerns they may be having that could affect their learning or social skills.It is important to listen and use positive language when communicating, this can include eye contact, nodding and showing interest. Knowing the child’s care goals and any IEP's will help identify the needs of the child. 1. 1. 2 EXPLAIN THE PRINCIPLE OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH C HILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS The principles of relationship building are built on mutual respect, willingness to listen to each other and trust. There needs to be clear and effective communication which includes positive body language and consideration between each other. Always remember everyone is different in their beliefs, values and religion.Use diversity positively. 1. 1. 3 EXPLAIN HOW DIFFERENT SOCIAL, PROFESSIONAL AND CULTERAL CONTEXTS MAY AFFECT RELATIONSHIPS AND THE WAY PEOPLE COMMUNICATE Different social, professional and cultural contexts may affect relationships and the way people communicate because of a lack of understanding of one anothers background and culture. When communicating with others we may need to adapt the way we communicate in different situations, for example formal and informal communication. Formal communication could be a meeting with the teacher, outside groups and following policies and procedures.Knowledge of events happening outside the schoo l ie at home may explain a persons behaviour, so talking to the teacher and getting as much information as possible may help communication within the relationship. Understanding the affect of language and non-verbal communication is important in maintaining a good relationship. Maintaining professional relationships with children at all times helps the children with boundaries and what is acceptable behaviour. The ethos of the school sets out how the children are expected to behave. UNIT 1UNDERSTAND HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS 1. 2. 1 EXPLAIN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO COMMUNICATE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE There are many skills needed to communicate with children and young adults. I should use eye contact and actively listen by using positive body language, facial expressions and by reacting and commenting on what is being said. I should always be approachable and find opportunities to speak to children. Giving children enough opportunities to talk and e xpress themselves may boost their confidence when speaking to adults.When speaking to children I would get down to their level so they don't feel intimidated. I would smile, nod and make appreciative sounds to show that I was interested and fully attentive in what they have to say. Always be polite, relaxed, confident and articulate. 1. 2. 2 EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD ADAPT COMMUNICATIO FOR: (a) THE AGE OF THE CHILD/YOUNG PERSON (b) THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION (c)COMMUNICATION DIFFERENCES I would always take into consideration the age of the child/young person I was communicating with and adapt my language appropriately.I would always ask questions to ensure they understand what is being communicated. I would always praise and encourage the child/young person. There can be differences in accents, languages or speech difficulties. We must respect communication differences by working to provide an environment which prompts diversity. This can be done by using welcome signs in differen t languages also learning essential greetings in these languages would be beneficial. Displaying pictures reflecting multicultural images could bridge communication differences.There are many group activities including preparing food from other cultures and celebrating multicultural festivals that can make people with cultural differences feel included. Makaton is also a great way of communicating with someone with speech difficulties. 1. 2. 3 EXPLAIN THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ADULTS AND COMMUNICATING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE When communicating with children I should be clear, concise and use appropriate language for their age, needs and abilities by using words and phrases they will understand.I should actively listen to children and respond positively. I would ask questions to prompt responses and check understanding. I would always concentrate on what the child is saying and keep eye contact, smile and nod. When communicating with children I would alwa ys give encouragement and praise. When communicating with adults I would always maintain professionalism and always respect their ideas. There are many types of communication that can be used including email, letters and texts. I would always comply with policies and procedures for confidentiality, sharing information and data protection.If there were any poor areas of communication I would always discuss and resolve these problems in a clear, concise and respectful manner. 1. 2. 4 EXPLAIN HOW TO ADAPT COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF ADULTS I should always communicate clearly with other adults and treat them with respect. I would always listen to their views and opinions. I would speak clearly, concisely and with confidence. 1. 2. 5 EXPLAIN HOW TO MANAGE DISAGREEMENTS WITH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS When managing disagreements I must listen to all sides of the conflict and assess the whole situation.Remain calm and maintain pupil safety. I would give the people involved time and space to calm down and then speak to the individuals to see what caused the disagreement. I would try to resolve the issues by negotiation and always reinforce good behaviour with encouragement and praise. UNIT 1 UNDERSTAND LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CONFIDENTIALITY AND SHARING INFORMATION, INCLUDING DATA PROTECTION 1. 3. 1 SUMMERISE THE MAIN POINTS OF LEGISLATION AND PROCEDURES COVERING CONFIDENTIALITY, DATA PROTECTION AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATIONConfidential information is information that should only be shared with people who have a right to have it. Confidential information can include SEN records, health and medical information and social services information. Consent is required if this information is passed onto others. This confidential information must only be used for the purpose for which it was gathered. Except where a pupil is potentially at risk, information should not be given to other agencies unless previously agreed. I would always follow the schools poli cies and procedures regarding confidentiality and the sharing of information.The Data Protection Act 1998 deals with the processing of personal data. It also safeguards the storage of data kept on computers, including hard drives and floppy discs. Certain information is exempt for disclosure if it is likely to cause harm to the physical or mental health of a child or someone else. I should never agree confidentiality to a child who is in harm, this is illegal. Under the Data Protection Act 1998 all settings processing personal information must comply with the eight principles of good practise.Personal data must be; fairly and lawfully processed processed for limited purposes adequate, relevant and not excessive accurate not kept longer than necessary processed in accordance with the data subjects rights secure not transferred outside the EU without adequate protection Individual rights are protected by the Data Protection Act 1998, Human Rights Act 2000 and Freedom of Information Ac t 2000. the Equality Act 2010 provides a single legal framework with clearer legislation to effectively tackle disadvantage and discrimination.Included in the Human Rights Act 1998 is article 8, the right to respect private and family life, home and correspondence – unless this impacts on public security, safety, prevention of crime, protection of health or rights of others. It may be a breach of article 8 when sharing confidential information unless justified. Reasonable action should be taken, including information sharing, to safeguard the rights of individuals. The Children Order (Northern Ireland) 1989, section 47, sates that we have a duty to enquire were we suspect a child is at risk of significant harm.The Children Order 2004, section 10, There is a duty on children services to promote co-operation between agencies, social services and the police, to promote the well-being of children. This includes information sharing. There is a duty on schools to safeguard the welf are of children, this includes information sharing. This legislation is found in the Education Act 2002. UNIT 1 1. 3. 2 EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF REASSURING CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF SHARED INFORMATION AND THE LIMITS OF THISI would never agree confidentiality to a child who is in harm. It is important to respect confidentiality to gain and keep the respect of others. I should make sure that I let others know my obligations and that parental consent would be needed before any information regarding their children could be shared with other professionals, however if there are any issues to indicate the child is at risk from harm or abuse or if there is a legal obligation placed on the school to disclose information, this can be done.I would explain to pupils who have medical conditions that their information needs to be accessible to all staff who are in contact with the pupils. 1. 3. 3 JUSTIFY THE KINDS OF SITUATION WHEN CONFIDENTIALITY MUST BE BREACH ED Confidentiality protocols must be breached in cases of suspected child abuse or when a child or young person is at risk. I would always inform the individual that this information cannot remain confidential and needs to be passed on to meet the needs of the child.

A Person in Public Life

A Person in Public Life that I want to become for a Brief Period in Time. If I were to become somebody else for a brief period of time, I would like to be the President of United States.I have known many people who have been asked this question and more often than not, they would answer Bill Gates or Oprah; but for me, I chose the President. Given this opportunity I would not think twice to choose the most powerful and influential man in United States.I want to be able to use that little time that I was given to do something worthwhile. The president has the capability to make change and impact the lives of millions of people. If an opportunity such as this would indeed present itself, I would make sure that every minute counts and that no time is wasted.As President, I would focus my attention to formulating strategies to solve the worsening economic problems such as increasing individuals access to capital, focusing on consumer’s awareness and financial literacy and minimizi ng predatory lending.I believe America should protect the family because as the most basic unit in the community, strong families provide a chain reaction which would reflect a strong community, a strong state and ultimately a strong society. I will put premium to the quality of work force because it would lead to stable jobs and ultimately a stable economy (Solutions for America, 2003).The dream of becoming a President and implementing change in the society sounds really idealistic but idealism is where everything started and in my opinion, it should not end there as well. Throughout history, we have witnesses different people turn these idealisms into visions and these visions into actions which our Country is reaping now. If it were not for the founding fathers’ bravery, the United States Constitution would still be a dream.After that brief period of time is over, I can still do something to effect change in my family and in the community that I live in. Like what Presiden t Obama said, we cannot expect the government to solve all our problems. If we want change, we must start somewhere and I think that the best place to start is with the people within our arms reach.ReferenceSolutions for America. (2003). The Guide for Civic Problem Solving. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from http://www.solutionsforamerica.org/index.html   

Friday, August 30, 2019

Black Female Executives in Corporate America Essay

Black female executives are a symbol of what determination and hope can achieve that despite the odds and perceptions, people can achieve anything they set themselves on regardless of their cultural backgrounds. Reaching the top for these women has been a journey which dates back way before slavery when women lived and followed the African traditional settings which governed every aspect of their lives. In this setting, the women were subordinate to their men and their duty was to look after their families. Evolution has since changed these perspectives after the civil war that liberated the black people such that they were able to own property and even work in state organizations. In addition, the African people had the power to be educated. Over the years, African women have continually struggled to be the best academically as well as professionally such that they have even outshone their fellow men. â€Å"By 1994, there were more black women as compared to the black men who were employed especially in white collar jobs in corporate America (Tucker, 1994). † Thanks to institutions like Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there has been significant growth of blacks taking up leadership roles in corporate America (Benjamin, 84). In the managerial positions, black men are slightly more than the black women but still the number of women in managerial positions between the years 1982-1992 had increased by 64% (Tucker, 1994). This positive figure has encouraged other black women to undertake leadership roles hence adding up to the increasing figure. Black women representation in the corporate organizations cannot be compared to the rise of white women in the top managerial positions whose numbers have increased over the last decade. This is illustrated by 32% of white women managers who were executive leaders as compared to 14% African American women in similar positions who earned less than them in the year 2000 (Ely, 2003). This shows that as much as the black women are making it ‘big’ there are several factors that hinder their rise to such positions. â€Å"By the year 2001, African American women remained in the shadows and remained invisible hence they were ranked in the corporate businesses either according to gender as well as race (Bell & Nkomo, 2003). † Reasons for lack of black females in executive positions Though there are a few known black women executives in the corporate world it does not necessarily mean that they are not learned enough or that the positions are limited. The major issues limiting the black woman from getting to the top of the corporate ladder are gender and race. Certain stereotypes which are mostly negative are likened to the black female. â€Å"They are considered to be aggressive and very direct (Caver, 2002). † Such characteristics make them unsuitable for leadership positions in big organizations hence limiting their chances of advancing their careers. Black women are not exposed to educational opportunities like their male counterparts as well as white people. This is because most of them come from poor backgrounds and therefore their education is limited up to a certain level when the funds they have can allow. That is why they usually get casual jobs and work as subordinate staff in organizations. Another issue that has contributed to the lack of black females in executive positions is the perception that such positions are the strongholds of men hence organizations mostly employ male colleagues. These factors make it harder for the black women to be promoted to executive positions as they are not only judged by the way their race but also according to gender. Challenges the black women executives face The rise of the women in the corporate world does not really mean that it is all rosy at the top. Though the experience is rewarding some of them are frustrated. The few African American women in executive positions are faced with several challenges in the course of their work. They have to continually convince people and prove to their colleagues that they have what it takes to run organizations. To begin with their salaries are low as compared to those of their fellow black men in similar leadership positions. Most of the African American women in the top managerial positions are considered as vulnerable employees. They are given those positions that can be easily scrapped off when the company restructures itself (Tucker, 1994). They do not therefore get the chance to play major roles in organizations especially in terms of decision making as sometimes they do not have jobs to do. This makes them feel inactive and feel as if they were just put in those positions to enhance the good image of the companies they head as being good an equal employer. â€Å"Some companies just put the women up there so that they can show their corporate allies that they are not biased against any race or gender (Lamont & Molnar, 2002). † †¢ Lack of strategic relationships Relationships define how people will relate with each other in the organization. When the black women are not supported by their employers, then it becomes hard for them to relate with them in proper ways and this affects their work relationship. The relationship between black and white women in the workplace is also strained. This is because white women do not interact often with black women on organizational matters hence they have little knowledge on some of the racial perspectives; the black women have to deal with. â€Å"They feel white women do not care about black women issues and concerns (Caver, 2002). † This has made the black women feel betrayed by them and no wonder they do not relate with them well (Bell & Nkomo, 2003). This scenario has strained communication between the two groups and they never engage in constructive activities. They have been reduced to clicks that support their own members and rarely will they support the promotion of the opposite colleagues to such leadership positions. If the black women cannot relate well internally with their colleagues, it is therefore hard for them to form corporate relationships with people from other organizations as well as their clients as they do not have people within the organization to link them to other business relations. †¢ Lack of mentoring and support African American women are never mentored; and if, on a limited scale. â€Å"This is because they are thought to have nothing in common with their white counterparts as well as black men (Caver, 2002). † Moreover, it is difficult for the black woman to fit in the white male-oriented ‘positions’ which is limited by the negative, historical, sexual racism between black women and the white men (Benjamin, 2005). For this reason, they do not get to improve on their leadership skills hence it is hard for them to be promoted to higher positions. In addition, when other people will start performing better than them, they are said to be incompetent and therefore they risk losing their jobs. The society is also not showing support for the black women corporate leaders who have managed to beat all odds and be the best. This is more so seen in the African American community where people think that they use their high positions to intimidate them. No wonder it is hard for them to find suitable husbands as the males feel threatened. †¢ Trust issues The few black women executives who are there are not trusted to make strategic and informed decisions by other colleagues in the workplace and that is why they have to struggle so much to build this trust which takes a long time. This is why some black women who can no longer cope with the pressure resign from their jobs. This has led to an increasing number of black women quitting their jobs. This is why the CEO as well as other colleagues in the workplace are left to wonder if race determines commonality or whether gender connects across racial lines and if the black women have their own leadership style that helps them navigate in the hierarchy (Bell & Nkomo, 2003). †¢ Lack of access to business development opportunities Leaders need to continually sharpen their skills so that they are able to tackle problems that arise in the business cycle. Black women are usually sidelined in major activities and this limits their chances of growth in terms of acquiring skills and building strategic alliances. For example, a project may be designed which may entail people going for training but surprisingly, countable black women; if any, will be short listed. This makes them feel like an extra burden to the organization. †¢ Balancing work and personal life Just like all women, African American women have to place their families before everything else. They therefore have to ensure that they balance their personal lives as well as their works lest they fail in all of them. Sometimes it is not easy as in every place they are faced with issues and sometimes they do not have colleagues whom they can turn to for help. Impact on the black female work population The statistics might show that black women positions in leadership positions have increased but the experiences of African American women in such positions reveal another thing. Some women have said that they have watched their subordinate colleagues some who are not qualified be promoted to higher ranks while they, who have served the companies for longer periods, are stagnant in the same positions. â€Å"In addition, when they give ideas on anything, they are not taken seriously and this is adding up to their frustrations (Hesselgrave, 2009). † Such scenarios have made them feel diminished, have low self esteem and not feel like part of the organization. This has made them emotionally as well as psychologically disturbed as they cannot come to terms as to why so much hatred and seclusion is still in the society. The lack of back women executives in corporate America is not doing much to encourage young black women professionals to take managerial careers. They see on a daily basis on how their fellow black women in the corporate world are treated and nothing much is done to solve the issues. Some black women have had to succumb to offering sexual favors and bribes if they really want the positions. Such negative factors make the young ladies not wanting to be in such vulnerable positions hence they will opt to choose careers that they find pleasure in. Another impact is that organizations have been divided along racial and gender lines when ‘their own’ are not promoted to executive positions. This has inhibited progress in the organizations as decisions can not be made effectively because employees are not communicating and they are not performing well at their work because their issues are not being addressed. â€Å"This has also brought in unhealthy competition in the workplace as the different groupings of people have to find fault in each other so that they can use the raised issues as an excuse to make them appear better so that they can be favored (Ivancevich & Gilbert, 2000). † In some instances, it has led to the formulation of policies which the minority group in this case, the African American women, use to give them an edge over other colleagues. Recommendations Women of all races play a major role in corporate organizations and that is why they should be encouraged to take the top most leadership positions if they are qualified. Some of the factors that need to be considered in promoting African American women in leadership positions include: ? Encouraging more black women to pursue leadership positions Educating and sensitizing the young black girls at a young age is important so that they take up leadership courses. This will make them more open minded at an early. The Federal State therefore should ensure that there is equitable distribution of resources such that black children can access proper schools like the rest of the children in major cities. African American women also need to be trained on political skills so that they are able to lead people in the proper manner thus become competent. ? Equal treatment Affirmative actions and the formation of women movements have played a vital role in rallying for equal treatment of women. More needs to be done so that the women can feel like they are part of the organizations they serve. The managers should therefore diversify employee groups and continually monitor to see how they are progressing and help then overcome the challenges they face. â€Å"The top managers should also be able to identify black women who are skilled and help them grow within the organizations they head (Lamont & Molnar, 2002). † The human resource heads should therefore ensure that they recruit they staff equitably and not based on any kind of biasness so that when it comes to making decisions or selecting the right candidate for a particular top office, all the people will be represented therefore the right candidate will be chosen regardless of their back grounds. ? Respect and trust Respect starts with an individual when they identify their needs and they treat others the way they would like to be treated in return. Respect is a very important virtue that should be in every code of conduct since it determines how people will be treated. â€Å"Sometimes when white male superiors and black female subordinates as they are trying to amend their relationships they are faced with difficulties because of the lack of basis for identification which is mainly attributed to the fact that the motives behind them are not sincere (Thomas & Gabarro298). † Without respect, then there is no trust as individuals will not trust people who treat them badly. People therefore need to learn to respect black women because it is the only way that will help them salvage their relationships, ease communication and enhance understanding each other so that productivity of the company can improve. It is also advisable to find trust agents if the matters in the organizations are too complex for the members to solve. Having an independent party helping employees and management to solve their problems will be good as they will not be biased. ? Educating the other employees on the negative effects of discrimination is also a positive step towards creating room for black female executives. Conclusion Operations in organizations are changing slowly by slowly to accommodate cultural diversity and people are beginning to embrace the work done by the black women as well as other minority groups. Black women executives nowadays can be found in almost all departments in the workplace and have even gone a step further to head multinational organizations. â€Å"Even in the wake of civil rights and women movements which have helped bring about gender equality, black women executives still face many challenges. African American women need to work harder to face out racism especially in this ever changing diverse world (Burk & NCWO). †These women need to be supported in the work they do rather then being put down as they are also human and they deserve respect just like other individuals in similar positions in the society. Corporations therefore need to change their cultures and philosophies so that they attract more black women and retain them. Black women also need to show that they deserve the executive positions by being passionate about the jobs and ensuring that they are qualified for the positions. References Bell, E. L. J. & Nkomo S. M. (2003). Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity. Harvard Business Press, 5, 239, 5 Benjamin L. (2005). The Black elite: still facing the color line in the twenty-first century 2nd Ed. Rowman & Littlefield, p. 70 Caver K. A. (2002). Leading in black and white: working across the racial divide in corporate America. John Wiley and Sons, 78, 80, 81 Ely R. J. et al. (2003). Reader in gender, work, and organization, Wiley-Blackwell, 2003 p. 343 Hesselgrave B. (2009). Business and economics. Under the Glass Ceiling? Throw Stones! Retrieved on April 2, 2009 http://www. miller-mccune. com/business_economics/under-the-glass-ceiling-throw-stones-1023 Ivancevich, J. M. & Gilbert, J. A. (2000). Diversity Management: Time for a New Approach Journal of Public Personnel Management, Vol. 29 Lamont, M. & Molnar, V. (2002). The Study of Boundaries in the Social Sciences Annual Review of Sociology journal, p. 12 National Council of Women’s Organizations & Burk M. (2005). 50 ways to improve women’s lives: the essential women’s guide for achieving equality, health, and success World Library, 2005 p. 124 Thomas, D. A. & Gabarro J. J. (1999). Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America, Harvard Business Press, Tucker S. H. (1994). Black women in corporate America: the inside story; executive women discuss real-life workplace issues that face black women today Retrieved on April 2, 2009 http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_n1_v25/ai_15643636/

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Improving High Schools Service Quality in America Essay

Improving High Schools Service Quality in America - Essay Example There are many pieces of evidence that prove that the students are not very happy with the education system and this has made the education system very fickle and ineffective. Hence, the argument lies on the fact that the whole system of education needs modification that caters to the students as well as to the teachers as both of them to need to work together to make an education system a success. The article, â€Å"Put Teachers to the Test† by Diane Ravitch (2008) provides implications to the problems as it provides reasons of increased dropout rate. There are many reasons for a poor education system and one of the examples can be quoted in this article. An investigation was carried out regarding teacher’s role and to everybody’s surprise; it was found that the teachers themselves were not proficient enough to educate the students. When teachers were asked to take a test of 11th grade, a very small percentage of teachers could answer it correctly. Moreover, Diane (2008) states that there is a very less number of High schools teachers who have related education and experience of what they teach. This gap is disastrous for students as the teaching style may not be appropriate, accurate, relevant and reliable. In this regard, it is argued that the education system should have a policy that every teacher should have the license to teach. It is essential that the teachers should have knowledge about pedagogical methods of teaching as well as have information relating to child psychology in order to teach students effectively. The number of low-grade students and dropouts is due to these issues and the evidence is given by Diane (2008)as she states that research was conducted relating to unqualified teachers.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Business Excellence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Excellence - Research Paper Example The business environment has grown quite competitive in the past few decades. In response to the increased competition, several management models have been advanced to aid in navigating the competitive business world. The advancement in technology and development of the education system across the world has contributed significantly to the increase in technology. Apparently, the development of different education systems across the world has diversified knowledge acquisition in the business field. Essentially, the diversification of the business knowledge has led to the establishment of effective management models such as the EFQM  excellence model. The EFQM  excellence model has gained widespread use in the UAE. Basically, the EFQM excellence model can be described as an organized framework adopted by organizations to achieve prosperity objectives. The model has been credited for aiding organization in the struggle towards excellence. In essence, the model keeps the organization on point in matters of goal achievement. Terterov & Ghurfat (2006) states that there are various  awards that have been  instituted  to motivate organizations within the UAE to continue with the struggle to excellent performance. The Dubai Quality Award is among the most effective motivation programs in the UAE that record a huge participation of various organizations and the government sector. The focus of this study is to evaluate the contribution of the Dubai Quality Award to the performance of Aptec Holdings Limited. Aptec Holdings Limited is among the largest distributors in Dubai and also one of the fastest growing companies in the past few years. A critical evaluation of the company’s performance reveals the Dubai Quality Award has played a significant role in its success. It can be observed that the Dubai Quality Award forces firms to produce products or services that are of high quality (Fisher, 2010). The journey to excellence or the Aptec Holdings Limited has had

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Review of Chapter 6 Ecclesiology TheChurch as Communion and Mission Essay

Review of Chapter 6 Ecclesiology TheChurch as Communion and Mission - Essay Example If one draws a connection between this particular chapter and the course, one will be able to see that it might serve as a valuable source for it. Thus, the reading contains a broad perspective on the role of the Church in the contemporary social environment and shows the audience ways in which the modern technological progress many be harmonized with the eternal ideas that are promoted by the Church of Christ. In addition to that, the chapter in question contains valuable insights into the ways modern Christians should behave themselves and the manner in which they should promote their faith in order to be understood as well as accepted by other people. Other than broad recommendations it contains several practical recommendations that can be easily implemented by a person in one’s daily life. It may be particularly important to recall some of the major points that are brought up by the author in the course of the chapter. To begin with, it is suggested that Christians should not view their faith is something secluded and reserved for religious life only. In other words, going to Church or praying at home is not the only suitable way to manifest oneself as a Christian. This means that faith might be expressed through various small activities which are performed by a person on a daily basis. The author puts emphasis that the ideas which were crucial in the times of foundation of the Church have not lost their significance at the present day as well. The author uses different parts of the New Testament in order to prove that one of the main goals of Christians is to spread the word of God and make sure that every person who suffers from difficult conditions of life is relieved. The author provides the reader with quotes from Luke and John in order to prove the validity of h is words. The next major point that is being discussed in the chapter

Monday, August 26, 2019

Goat Farm Making Chees and Yoghurt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Goat Farm Making Chees and Yoghurt - Essay Example It also involves taking into consideration the short-term and long-term goals. The visits to various goat dairy firms will also help one to learn various demands of the business and how to build goat milk houses, cheese plants, and yoghurt plants. These visits will also help to understand the challenges they are likely to encounter in the business (Hempler, 2002, p. 1). Individuals should consider location of their business. This will ensure that they are able to plan their marketing strategies and be able to determine the available market for the given products. Physical location of any business is an important aspect in marketing. It also determines the means of accessing markets for the products, which ensures business success. It is important to identify the target markets for the products which are being produced, as well as to assess the available markets. This can be achieved by carrying out a market viability survey. During the analysis, one is able to create good relationshi ps with the customers and gather responses from them regarding the products to be made. This ensures that the farmer is able to gauge and evaluate the returns they are likely to get from the business (Hempler, 2002, p. 1). ... An entrepreneur should identify equipment, materials and resources needed for the business and the potential supplier. This will ensure that the farm gets the necessary requirements at the right time. Ensure that the supplier of equipment and other materials is able to provide the farm with spare parts and repair services before having these equipment and materials installed in the farm. The equipment and items needed for the cheese and yoghurt plants should be approved by the department of agriculture and markets. The farmer should also seek help of an agricultural inspector. During these sessions it is important that one indicates what they intend to accomplish. This will help the inspector to give the farmer the best methods and means to apply in order to attain success (Roberts, 2001, p. 70). Consultations with the veterinary officer would also help the farmer select the suitable breeds for the business and provide more information on their health, vaccinations and feeding. Obtai ning insurance for the business is an important step in the process. Farmers should, therefore, ensure that they have adequate liability coverage and product liability (New Zealand Food Safety Authority, 2009, p. 18). Regulatory Framework The farmer should also consider various rules and restrictions regarding farmland. There are accepted agricultural practices which every farmer should ensure they are observed on their farms. According to Act 250 on the Land Use and Development, farmers should ensure that they obtain a permit allowing them to use the land. The farmer should also obtain a health permit from the ministry of health allowing them to produce cheese and yoghurt. They should obtain a manufacturing license and medical

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Social Entrepreneurs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Social Entrepreneurs - Research Paper Example This definition of social entrepreneurship is seen to model it along the lines of the functionalist perspective or theory. Social entrepreneurs are able to act as change makers in today’s society through their seizing of the opportunities that might have been missed by others, improving the existing systems in use, creating more sustainable solutions and inventing new approaches designed to encourage the society to change for the better (Roger and Osberg, 2007). The United States’ history is rife with numerous examples of social change movements. These movements included the Civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the students movement, the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender rights movement as well as the currently ongoing occupy Wall Street movement for social change. The civil rights movement has had a colorful history in the United States. Some of the highlights of this history include the 1775 publishing of African Slavery in America by Thomas Paine who was an abolitionist, the removal of Indians from their lands and their subsequent revolts, the fight for the rights of African Americans by Martin Luther and the recent fight for gay rights. And the women’s sufferance movement that sought to establish the right for women to be allowed to vote (Banmaszak, 2001). The functionalist perspective generally attempts to try and explain social institutions as being collective means which can be used in meeting both social and individual needs. In formulating the theory, Durkheim was primarily concerned with answering the question of just how societies are able to effectively maintain their internal stability and survive over time. The functionalist perspectives society as functioning in a similar manner to organisms and it is the responsibility of social institutions such as social entrepreneurship to work together so as to effective reproduce and maintain these organisms (Boundless, 2013). As a result of the various parts

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Emerging Market of Saudi Arabia Research Proposal

Emerging Market of Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example The initiates taken by both the government and the private sector players have promoted the investment opportunity in Saudi Arabia by creating effective partnerships with the Saudi Businessmen in effort to bring newer industries or modern technology to the country. Added emphasis is being given on attracting the infrastructure promotion and power generation but the investments made in these sectors are yet to exhibit the financial attractiveness in it. The existing capital investment from foreign institutions specifies three conditions (U.S. department of Commerce , n.d. ), The Saudi Arabia is a rapidly growing region among Arab countries and hence the empirical evidence gained from the choice each firms make on their capital structure (Leverage ratio) could be used to gauge their financial performance in the emerging scenario. This aspect as been considered on the reason that detailed and more exhaustive studies are needed to make valid conclusions on the best capital structure for any company (Rajan & Zingales, 1995, Harris and Raviv, 1991). Further, a few researchers have alos raised an opinion of the influence of organizational characteristics on the corporate leverage level, thus making this research more valid (Fan et al., 2004; Hall et al., 2004; De Jong et al., 2007). Thus, in order to understand the better performance of business organizations in the emerging market the criteria it is proposed to adopt the debt / equity ratio as the most appropriate parameter. Further, Saudi Arabia has a highly conservative financial market where the interest from debts is considered as illegal. Thus this creates a situation of very low leverage. Thus as companies have decided to undergo the process of financial planning the present approach would be turned from the debt to be linked more to equity approach. Thus this study could open newer vistas of academic research in the area of financial planning for the companies and proposing better investment options. 2: CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE & STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The topic of capital structure is very important considering the potential of investment that the Saudi Arabian companies claim to have. The leverage signifies the amount of the debt securities the is issued by an establishment in event of the capital requirement. Hence, the extend of leverage that the firm carries in its capital structure is very important to understand the exact picture of financial performance. Thus the uncertainty of future profitability would loom large as the company would have to make regular interest payments besides the principal repayment. While the increased use of debt would result in a higher value of debt to assets ratio which explains the proportionate amount of fund the firm have borrowed with respect the assets owned by it. Thus the leverage or debt/equity ratio highlights the profits for a firm with positive earning while exposing the loses for a firm with negative records in earning. Thus in the research would help to

Friday, August 23, 2019

Memo of intent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Memo of intent - Essay Example My thesis statement will be analysis of technology as a driver of innovation in the hotel industry explains the notable hotel success. The focus of my research will rest squarely on technology as a driver of innovation, investigating, technology for customer’s engagement, hospitality systems and customer’s check-ins and checkouts. My three broad headings will be innovation in customer engagement, quality hospitality systems and fast customer check in and check out. My research seeks to investigate contribution of technology in enabling a high level of service in the hotel industry, the new challenges presented in the industry. This undertaking also seeks to address whether technology is efficient and effective when used for real customer engagement, appreciating customers accustomed to online space conducting online transactions for instance advance bookings. According to Ray, soon new central reservations and PMS facilities will be cloud based, improving hospitality systems. Fast check-in and checkouts by customers is an essential function in the hotel industry. Hotel industry also embraces the socia l media sites as strategic communication points (Mattsson, 2009). Technological innovation reduces the time take for check process. I intend to use the article on technology driving innovation in the hotel industry, innovative hotel check-ins by Charles Gandee, 2010. Technology is the lifeblood of innovation in the hotel industry making check-ins experience more personalized more technology compliant and seamless (Mattsson, 2009). Advanced technology means high cost for most average hotels. I will be glad to discus with you following any direction you

Prisoner of War Camps in United States during World War 2 Essay

Prisoner of War Camps in United States during World War 2 - Essay Example Describing the typical disorientation and vulnerability of these German prisoners, historian Ron Robin writes, "Captivity destroyed all remnants of their predictable routine and hurled the surrendering troops into a maelstrom of disorder, uncertainty, and disgrace. . . . At every stage of the arduous journey from the temporary stockades in Europe and Africa to POW camps in the United States, the prisoners were systematically deprived of all remaining symbols of their past, pride, and identity." (Ron Robin, 1995) American and German prisoners experienced vastly different traveling conditions en route to their permanent camps. American captives were either marched on foot or jammed into "40-and-8" railroad box cars. Prisoners were sometimes locked in these cars for days, without food, water, or any kind of sanitary facilities. The result, according to ex-POW Kenneth Simmons, was "a trip that would turn men into swine." (Simmons, 1960). Compounding the danger was the "friendly" fire of Allied planes that had no way of knowing who was trapped inside their targets. It is no exaggeration to compare this harrowing experience to the notorious "Middle Passage" endured by captive Africans on their way to slavery in the New World. German prisoners initially suffered similar dangers, but once safely on board ship creature comforts greatly improved, although they did face the possibility of being sunk by their own U-boats. Once they had landed safely in the United States, German prisoners were amazed to discover the comfort of a Pullman car. The POW camps in U.S. were all over the country, while largely in Michigan, due to the warm, mild climate. Starting with Michigan, POWs were generally at Fort Custer. They had all these POWs and there must have been 400-500 camped in there. Although in the camps, the POWs' work was to make Gerber baby food. They sowed all the vegetables and after that grounded them into Gerber baby food. They were good workers. Two of such camps were Camp Owosso and Fort Custer in Michigan: Camp Owosso in Michigan: The U.S. Government, during WWII setup a Prisoner of War Camp at the corner of M-21 and Carland Rd. The area was used as a dirt race track, but since it was not used during the war, it served as Camp Owosso. The prisoners were captured on the battlefields of Europe and Africa and after being brought to Owosso, were allowed to work on area farms, the Roach Canning Factory at Owosso or the Aunt Janes Pickle Factory on Easton Rd. near New Lothrup. Under the Emergency Farm Administration Labor Program, most prisoners chose to work and get paid, over staying confined in camp. The prisoners preferred working at the farms, as they given extra food and there had to be one guard for every 3 prisoners. They earned about 80 cents a day. The first prisoners were typical Nazis, but the later ones of 1945 had a different attitude. They preferred farm work if they had a chance. At the Canning Factory, corn, peas and tomatoes were canned there and the prisoners were transferred by truck to and from the plant each day. As they rode through town, they would sing and holler and wave to anyone they saw. They apparently enjoyed being prisoners, far from

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Reynolds and Reynolds Essay Example for Free

Reynolds and Reynolds Essay Reynolds Reynolds Case Study The Reynolds and Reynolds case about team selling had very many positives and few negatives, and was a very well rounded and planned way for the American Ford Dealership to improve its customer service sector. First, I wanted to point out the effectiveness of team selling that the Reynolds team did well. They had three people comprise the team, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Wiltgen, and Mr. O’Neill. Sherman would pitch the plan to the dealership and discuss the reports with them, Wiltgen was the implementation guy, meaning that he would set everything into place if and when they agreed on what plans to use, and O’Neill was the manager overseeing everything and was there for backup if needed. The three positions and roles they played stayed the same throughout the plan and they followed through with how they wanted to present. Another thing I feel was very effective was how Sherman brought to the attention of the dealership the â€Å"lost opportunities† they had and how more much profit they could have made the previous year. O’Neill confirmed these numbers, thus making a good team decision and presentation of the facts. Also, another effective point they made was bringing up the way the dealership’s competitors were doing business and what systems they were using. The one and only disadvantage I found during this team selling presentation was that Sherman took on multiple roles as the team leader and the business consultant, and the other two were basically just there on an as-needed basis. The Reynolds team also showed great execution to the client access, client education, and fulfillment perspectives. To satisfy client access, they split the client base into three categories: Actives (customers who have been in for service in the previous 6 months), Inactives, and New Customers. Splitting customers into these categories made it easy for the dealership to see who is coming in for service, who should be notified they are due for service, and those new customers they still want to target. They executed client education/ persuasion by creating the â€Å"Preferred Customer Card† program. They also did this by implementing over 100 different types of coupons that can be easily customized to each individual customer by type of car, zip code, etc. and with the service reminder program where customers would be mailed letters, coupons, and notified via phone call that they are due for service or there was a deal going on for them. Fulfillment was achieved by the dealership choosing to implement the Direct Drive program and the service reminder program ideas that the Reynolds team had presented to them, and setting up future plans between the marketing firm and the car dealership.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Boots Marketing Strategy

Boots Marketing Strategy INTRODUCTION: Boots (UK) Ltd is also known as boots, It is the leading health and beauty retailer with around 1400 branches alongside in United Kingdom and Ireland. It has also more than 300 branches of Boots optician. Boots is previously known as The Boots Company, it has most its outlets in high streets throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. Boots is subsidiary company of Alliance Boots. After merger of Alliance Boots and Boots Group Plc., Boots launched. Boots are dealing with 8 million customer every week. Boots develops and sells own brand products, a number of which are leaders in their respective markets. The Boots brand is founded on the trust, expertise and heritage, which comes with its longevity in the market. Boots Group operates three principal businesses: Boots The Chemists; Boots Opticians; and Boots Retail International. Pharmacy is a fundamentally important part of the brand; representing one quarter of sales, it is the foundation of Boots authority and credibility. Boots stores are mostly located on high streets; but, in line with modern shopping trends, its presence in edge of town retail parks is rapidly increasing. Over the last three years 48 such stores have opened, as well as a flagship London store on Oxford Street. Overseas, Boots is working closely with other major retailers in their local markets, to open Boots branded within their stores. There are currently 758 implants in 13 countries. Boots also has 96 standalone stores in Thailand. Boots has had an illustrious history. From its beginnings in 1849 as an herbalist shop, Boots has continually developed new product ranges, many of which are now household names in their own right. By the 1930s, Boots had more than 1,000 st ores selling a wide range of products. Over the years Boots has successfully introduced brands such as 17 cosmetics, aimed at teenagers, which was introduced in 1968 and new business ventures such as Boots Opticians now a major division of the business. In 1985 the Research Department received the Queens Award for Technological Achievement for the discovery and development of ibuprofen. The analgesic ibuprofen was introduced in 1969 as a prescription drug, but launched as the over the counter brand, Nurofen, in 1983. Boots internet business has become increasingly important in the new millennium and a successful part of the brand. Improvements have been made to the online customer experience making navigation easier, resulting in boots.com sales becoming bigger than those of the largest Boots store. Boots is best known for selling a wide range of products under the Boots brand name across health and beauty. The merger between Alliance UniChem plc. and Boots Group plc. was completed on July 1 2006, creating an international pharmacy-led health and beauty group operating in more than 15 countries across the world. The Alliance Boots network will include two retail formats, both under the Boots brand, ranging from approximately 1,500 smaller dispensing pharmacies to approximately 800 larger destination high street and edge of town health and beauty stores. In addition, Alliance Boots will also operate approximately 300 additional retail outlets, including freestanding Boots Opticians practices. Boots is also developing in-store health zones in its bigger stores, which will include extended waiting areas for customers collecting prescriptions. Consultation rooms for pharmacists are also being introduced, as part of a government initiative to alleviate the pressure on GPs surgeries. Boots uses a wide range of media on an ongoing basis, including TV, press, and direct mailings to its Advantage Card members to highlight new products, offers and services. Jesse Boot, the son of John Boot, the brands eponymous founder, took control of the business in the 1870s. He had a business philosophy of buying in bulk and passing the benefit of reduced prices on to his customers. His policy of superior goods at competitive prices delivered with expert care meant that the Boots name became synonymous with quality, value and service. His earliest marketing was based around the concept of Largest, Best and Cheapest Branches Everywhere. This philosophy is still an important part of Boots today. It aims to treat its customers fairly and to act with integrity in everything it does, which results in the brand regularly being rated as the UKs most trusted brand. Boots also believes that it has an enormously valuable role to play in promoting the health of the nation. It achieves this by forming innovative, long term partnerships with charities, particularly focusing on womens cancer. Boots has worked with Breast Cancer Care for 11 years, and this year linked with the Eve Appeal to highlight ovarian cancer. Boots also supports the health of the UK everyday through its 15,000 healthcare advisers working in store. MARKETING STRATEGY: Marketing strategy  is a process that can allow an Boots to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable  competitive advantage. A marketing strategy should be centred around the key concept that customer  is the main goal. Developing a marketing strategy is vital for any business. Without one, your efforts to attract customers are likely to be haphazard and inefficient. The focus of your strategy should be  to make  sure that your products and services meet customer needs and  that you develop  long-term and profitable relationships with those customers. To achieve this, you will need to create a flexible strategy that can respond to changes in customer perceptions and demand. It may also help you identify whole new markets that you can successfully target. The purpose of your marketing strategy should be to identify and then communicate the benefits of what your business offers  to your target market. Once you have created and implemented your strategy, you should monitor its effectiveness and make any adjustments required to maintain its success. This guide helps you identify which customers to focus on and your key objectives in reaching them. It explains what to include in your marketing strategy and how it can be used as the basis for effective action. MARKETING MIX Boots has a marketing strategy that tries to increase turnover. Look carefully at this strategy (page 6) and suggest ways in which the strategy could be improved. How can Boots improve the image of its brand products? How can Boots boost the male market for beauty products? Think about the target group and the 4 Ps. Marketing is not just about selling, It involves:- Price: This is the term used to describe what a customer pays for a product and service. It includes the actual selling price, any credit terms and profitability. Boots has to decide price of product as per local market conditions and customers. Place: This part of the marketing mix is about many things. It is about Location where it is located, how easy it is to get there. Access when is it open, are their special access facilities for people with special needs. Distribution channels how can you buy the product or service provided or buy tickets for the attraction. Boots has to open their outlets at opportunities market at initial stages. Promotion: This is about how you let people know about what you have available. There are many different ways you can go about this: Advertising, Direct marketing, Public relations, Personal selling, Displays, Sponsorship, Demonstrations, Sales promotions. Boots have to promote their product locally by sponsoring local events and local advertisements. Product: This is what the Boots provides for its customers. It is what they buy or what they experience. What they buy are tangible goods or products. They are things that can be taken away such as tennis rackets from a sports shop. Mostly what the customer buys is intangible. You cannot take them away but you can experience them like a white-knuckle ride at a theme park. All of these are part of the product. When looking at the product, there are a number of things to think about to make sure it meets the needs of the customer: Product and service features, brand name, after sales service, product life cycle, Researching the market to find out what customers want. Developing and designing a product that customers desire/want. Producing the right amount of the right quality. Getting the price right so that the product is affordable and profitable. Making sure that the customer know about the product through promotion. Making sure the product is on sale in convenient places These combination of factors adds up to the marketing mix or the 4 ps. This Could improve strategy by aiming to increase turnover during other periods other than Xmas. And also Aim to increase their business with the male market. Boost brand products could be improved through advertising television, magazines etc. target specific consumer groups. In order to boost the male market Boots needs to distance the male products from the womens and target marketing and promotional campaigns at the male consumer group. The Marketing Strategy for boots going to international market should be as follows. The below are the analysis, how boots can achieve success by going it internationally. By exploring key market drivers they can make huge success. Brand Tracking data showed that Boots continued to be rated much higher than competitors on the quality and choice of healthcare products and on customer knowledge and advice. However, only 19 per cent of dispensing customers identified Boots as their first choice pharmacy. The reason Boots isnt first choice is because only 20 per cent of Boots stores are more conveniently located than their competitors and convenience is the primary driver of pharmacy choice. The audience are the key factors which can make differences. The dispensing audience is critical to Boots. More importantly when you analyse the audience it becomes apparent that the pare to principle applies to Boots pharmacy. 60 per cent customers are on repeat medication, this 60 per cent generat es 90 per cent of the Boots pharmacy revenue.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   In addition it is important to remember that our audience is heavily skewed towards those over the age of 60 (57per cent). This was important for us to keep in mind as we develop the strategy and Mother developed the creative work. We had to ensure that our positioning and messaging were relevant and motivating to a certain type of consumer.  Brand positioning is important for boots as they are going internationally.   Government legislation makes it illegal for any company to claim that their prescription Collection Service brand is better or different from competitors.  So in the absence of a distinct USP, PCS is effectively a parity service. As such, the positioning, creative and use of media became even more critical.  Operational: store visits revealed that the staff dont understand the PCS service and cant explain its benefit. Competitive: every competitor has an equal service to us. Some are using television advertising to raise awareness.  Communications: the previous agency had tried to use TV advertising to drive PCS sign-ups. While it may have driven awareness. Consumer: qualitative research revealed that customers didnt understand the benefits of the service either. They needed a few minutes of someone explaining it, and then they really understood how it saved them having to stand in a queue. Upon deeper interrogation of the brief, it was apparent that the required campaign was not an awareness one. This was not a mass message or proposition this was aimed specifically at people on repeat prescription. Therefore traditional ATL channels would prove to be an inefficient way of meeting our clients business objectives.  Theres only one place where youre really receptive about a message about not having to get tired of waiting in a queue. Its when youre standing in one. So we spent most of our media budget on huge signs hung above the queue. And then when customers got to the front of the queue, we got our staff to offer customers the chance to sign up to a service where you never have to queue again. So we were now communicating the right message at the right time. Remember the staff in-store didnt understand the service. And we were now using them as the primary communications channel. We couldnt just give them a T-shirt and a badge and expect them to sign customers up. So the final part of the strategy was to: train our staff on how to sell the service incentivise the staff by giving them longer coffee breaks if they reached their target number of sign-ups introduce a standard operating procedure so they knew how to enter. MARKETING ENVIRONMENT: The marketing environment surrounds and impacts upon the Boots. There are three key perspectives on the marketing environment, namely the macro-environment, the micro-environment and the internal environment. The micro-environment This environment influences the Boots directly. It includes suppliers that deal directly or indirectly, consumers and customers, and other local stakeholders. Micro tends to suggest small, but this can be misleading. In this context, micro describes the relationship between firms and the driving forces that control this relationship. It is a more local relationship, and the firm may exercise a degree of influence. The macro-environment This includes all factors that can influence and Boots, but that are out of their direct control. A company does not generally influence any laws (although it is accepted that they could lobby or be part of a trade Boots). It is continuously changing, and the company needs to be flexible to adapt. There may be aggressive competition and rivalry in a market. Globalization means that there is always the threat of substitute products and new entrants. The wider environment is also ever changing, and the marketer needs to compensate for changes in culture, politics, economics and technology. The internal environment. All factors that are internal to the Boots are known as the internal environment. They are generally audited by applying the Five Ms which are  Men,  Money,  Machinery,  Materials and  Markets. The internal environment is as important for managing change as the external. As marketers we call the process of managing internal change internal. Essentially we use marketing approaches to aid communication and change management. The external environment can be audited in more detail using other approaches such as  PESTLE Analysis, Michael Porters  Five Forces Analysis  or  SWOT Analysis. Pestle analysis: There are many factors in the macro-environment that will affect the decisions of the managers of any Boots. Tax changes, new laws, trade barriers, demographic change and government policy changes are all examples of macro change. To help analyse these factors managers can categorise them using the PESTEL model. This classification distinguishes between: Political Factors Political factor includes government policy, wars and conflicts, legal issues, some employment laws, revenue policy, environmental laws, trade policy, current legislation, future legislation, international legislation, governments stability, international trading policy, are the political factors that affect Boots. Economic Factors Economic factors includes economic crisis in country, employment problems, exchange rate, condition of stock market, change in international trade policy, fluctuation in tax, inflation rate, growth in economic are the economic factors that affect the Boots. Social Factors Social factors includes literacy rate, minimum wages, change in lifestyle, living condition and standards, demographic changes, population changes, occupation of people, earning capacity, consumers attitude, ethical problems, marketing and publicity pattern, religion issues are the social factors that affects the Boots. Generation gap between young employees and old age employees to fulfill both requirement and satisfied both according to their thinking strategy are work as a medicine. Dominant religion if they are religious, they will not work on the day they are worshipping like the Sabbath for Christians. Some religions favours certain animals such as in Hinduism, the cow is sacred; if cows were used in testing the chemicals or Boots sell anything that has beef in it, Hindus will probably not work there. Attitudes towards foreign products and services they dont like stuff for foreign companies; they are not likely to attract people who dont like foreign products. If people think foreign stuff are cheap and it compromises the quality of the product, their self-image may be an issue. Green issues If Boots were to do all sort of environmental harm, environmentalists will not work for them. Likewise, if environmentalists found out that Boots does recycling and is dedicated to planting a hectare of trees each month out of its own pockets, it will attract more environmentalists to work for them. Animal testing if Boots products were animal tested, protesters will not work for them, let alone any animal lover. Roles of men and women if there is any sexism in the company, women are likely to leave. If there are only a selected set of roles that each sex can apply for (e.g. facial cream sales rep, beauty treatment), then that would restrict the number of applicants and workers Boots will get. Health consciousness if people are health conscious, they can use their knowledge to promote products Boots has. On the other hand, if the applicant wasnt health conscious , he/she will not really guarantee a job as a sales assistant in any section to do with health products. If people have a choice of jobs with equal pay anywhere and they were not all that health conscious, then they are not likely to be applying for jobs at Boots. Technological Factors Technological factors includes arrival of new technology, quick acceptance of new technology, competing technology development, Information technology, intellectual technology issue, communication, replacement of technology, maintenance of machines, outsourcing of technology, Research and development activity, Customer relationship management are the technological factors that affects the Boots. Environmental Factors Boots has to take care of Staff, they have to increase morale of staff periodically by giving satisfying them. This could be satisfy by hierarchies needs. Boots has to concerns about staff engagement. Enjoyment between staff is necessary to increased productivity and quality of product. Boots has to conduct workshops for employees to increase product awareness, customers service lessons, and all other aspects which can help Boots. Boots culture is most importing aspects which can helps them to be a success in international market. Boots has also take care of pollution which may be created from Boots products or services or both. They has to more concern about recycling of products which can help to boost international image. They has to help government and consumers towards environment by giving service in environmental activities. Legal Factors Legal factors are important for a company who is going to internationally. Boots has to take in mind that what is happening in our sector that will impact what we do, they also have take care of minimum wages, working conditions as per local government rules. Governments is most important in legal factors. Boots have to take care of food items, Industrial training and take care of local child labour laws. The below legal factors affects boots and which will be Legislation in areas such as employment, competition and health safety, future legislation changes, changes in government law, trading policies and Regulatory bodies Pest analysis gives brief knowledge about key factors which is affect the Boots and Stakeholder to fulfil their needs .PEST analysis looks at the external  business environment  and is an appropriate strategic tool for understanding the big picture of the environment in which business operates, enabling the company to take advantage of the opportunities and minimize the threats faced by their business activities. When  strategic planning  is done correctly, it provides a solid plan for a  company  to grow into the future. With a PEST analysis, the company can see a longer horizon of time, and be able to clarify strategic opportunities and threats that the Boots faces. By looking to the outside environment to see the potential forces of change looming on the horizon, firms can take the  strategic planning  process out of the arena of today and into the horizon of tomorrow. PEST is not a set of rigid compartments into which ideas need to be sorted. It is better thought of as a set of hooks that can be used to fish for important facts. Once the factors have been fished out, it does not matter which hook they were attached to. When it comes to writing up the analysis, there is no need to mention the PEST labels at all. Porters Five Forces for Competitive Position Porters five forces is strategy for competitors, deals with issue regarding the suppliers, Rivalry, threat about their competitors, substitutes, and threats of new market entrants are the porters five forces. Power of Suppliers: It includes concentration of supplier on business, importance of volume to supplier, separation of inputs, and impact of inputs on cost, Threat of future assimilation, cost relative to total purchase in industry, switched cost of Boots. Power of Buyer: It includes bargaining leverages, volume of buyers, detail information of buyer, identity of buyer, and sensitivity of price, incentives of buyer, threat related to past integration, differentiation of products. Entry barriers: Both new and existing competitors feels threat. It includes absolute cost advantages, access of inputs, Economic scale, capital requirement, and identity of brands, governments binding policy, and access of distribution channel. Threat regarding substitutes: Buyers tendency to substitutes, price performance of substitutes, switching cost of buyers, buyers opinion regarding the product and its separation and amount of substitutes product available in market. Rivalry: It defines when some organization competes with each other in same business for same thing. It is important to make strategy to deals with competition in same business environment. It determines attractiveness of Boots. Swot Analysis: Environmental scanning includes internal analysis of the Boots and external macro environment and task environment. Internal analysis and external analysis of Boots is known as a SWOT analysis. This analysis gives brief knowledge about auditing of Boots and details of products. SWOT Analysis is the base of making strategy and to manage risks regarding to the products. It is very important to understand general techniques and functions of managements. .SWOT analysis makes suitable environment for identifying and analysing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat. It also gives clear vision regarding situation and making suitable strategies and business formulas. There are following stages of SWOT analysis. Strengths Appropriate Environment, strong brand name, Strong background, good reputation, strong distribution channels, good quality natural resources, exclusive rights of products are the strengths of business Boots. Boots turnover and current sales are marginal to enters global market. Boots have clear objectives which can help to understand the global market easily. Boots is successful manufacturer of health and safety products. There customers are loyal to the brand which can helps to enter global market. Weakness Boots failed to attempts to diversified in Halfords. Saturated global market is also important factor for boots in this segment. Boots is also failed to expand their business in European market. Weak background, inappropriate environment, inferiority raw material, lack of natural resources, lack of manpower, unreliable product and services ,lack of finance, weak brand name, poor reputation, lack of distribution network are the weaknesses of business Boots. At present situation of credit crunch, their operating profit is falling. Boots market strategy failed to target socio-economic groups . Opportunity Boots has opportunity by some success with implant in south east Asia. There is a possibility of  £100 million savings if they merger with Alliance Unichem. Women are the key customers of this kind business and at present that 11 million people have an advantage card, but only 9% being male. Now a days internet selling is important and Internet sales becoming popular. They have an opportunity to expand their business in ethical market. Male healthcare and beauty products are also opportunity for boots. Increasing production when low revenue cost, increasing production when inflation rate is low, quick acceptance of latest technologies, take benefits of international trade policy, investments which is favourable for Boots are the opportunities of Boots. Threat Tesco and other supermarkets are threats after deregulation of Boots. Competitors sales of product through the internet is remarkably high as compared to Boots. Competitors, less interest of customers in product, fluctuations of price between competitors, changes in government policy like tax, revenue and inflation rate, Demographic changes in target market, changes in population age are the threats of Boots. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Boots could expand their business overseas. Because it has had failures but can benefit from this experience. Boots could look for further mergers to give it access to more markets either in the UK or abroad. Unichem does have pharmacies and hospitals abroad. Boots could continue with the idea of implants. Boots could continue with its core activity of developing new products in healthcare. It has a great deal of expertise in research and development and an understanding of the market. The male market is under-developed and needs to be expanded. The Advantage Card is not used by male customers. I would recommend that Boots concentrate on its core business for a number of reasons which are Boots should not diversify because it has failed in markets, Boots has only recently merged with UniChem. If this proves to be successful it should merge with other companies as this increases market share and lowers cost, The UK market is saturated, Boots should expand its internet sales worldwide. Boots should re-design it marketing strategy toward young male customers. This would expand its core business. The Advantage Card needs to be launched to male customers to improve the core business.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The 400 Blows: An Expression of a Cinematic Revitalization

The 400 Blows: An Expression of a Cinematic Revitalization The 400 Blows directed by Francois Truffaut is an iconic film of the late 1950s that refined French cinema and helped spark a cinematic revolution known as the French New Wave. A touching story about a young adolescent growing up in Paris named Antoine Doinel, the film artfully captures the unfortunate circumstances of the troubled boys life and his tragic spiral into a life of transgression and crime as a result. Misunderstood by both his mother and stepfather at home as well as tormented at school by his ruthless teacher, Antoine finds himself seeking to escape such environments in search of a place where he feels he belongs. Initially conducting small acts of defiance like writing on the classroom wall, Antoine slowly progresses into more delinquent behavior as he begins skipping classes and later to stealing a typewriter. Outraged by his behavior, Antoines parents send him to a reform school. From there, Antoine finally makes a break for freedom and gets away from all that had tr oubled him as he makes his way to the shores of a beach. Altogether, the inspiring film illustrates a captivating cinematic theme of how an absence of understanding and loving parents and a lack of fair treatment at school can make young boys susceptible to acts of mischief and delinquency as a consequence. More important than this engaging element about the film, though, is the fact that the foundation of the films praise primarily stems from its representation of revolutionary French New Wave ideas. Such ideas included the development of films that portrayed artistic expression, captured real life spontaneity and authenticity, expressed genuine emotion, elicited critical thinking in the viewers, and much more (Csà ¶lleovà ¡ and Formà ¡nek). The 400 Blows exemplifies three key characteristics of the French New Wave through its inclusion of various innovative film techniques, through its illustration of a realistic and philosophical storyline, and through its utilization of an un conventional plot layout. One of the first qualities about the film demonstrating characteristics of the French New Wave is that it consists of an assortment of creative filming techniques such as the long take, jump cut, and on sight shooting. To begin, there is one notable instance throughout the film which uses the newfound technique of the long take; a shot that films a scene for a long period of time (Film Glossary). An account of this technique can be seen through the running in Paris scene with the gym teacher. As the teacher and the boys run through the streets of Paris, the camera pans from a higher, wider view, and captures the Paris cityscape of the time as the boys sneakily run away from the group into buildings and alleyways. As a whole, this shot spans for roughly one minute and thirty seconds and allows the film to direct the viewers attentions towards significant narrative elements. In this case, this technique really helps to capture the liveliness of Paris during the 1950s for the viewers th rough its detailed and elaborate visualization of Paris architecture, buildings, bustling streets, etc. The long take in this example helps to define the progressive cinematic uniqueness that French New Wave filmmakers were striving for, specifically, for enabling realism in filming in order to make audiences feel more involved and part of the film. In addition to the unfamiliar use of the long take, is the incorporation of the jump cut in the film. In short, the jump cut is a technique that involves a sudden transition from one scene to the next (Film Glossary). An occasion when some jump cuts are used in the film is during the scene in which a psychologist asks Antione a series of questions while he is at the academy. In this scene, Antoine simply answers the questions that the psychologist asks and provides details about his early life and the happenings that took place. Interestingly, the viewer does not get a glimpse of the psychologist at all but only sees Antoine answering th e questions. Throughout the interview, there are roughly four jump cuts that are integrated into it. After almost each question that the psychologist asks, there is a sudden change in the scene that occurs as it shifts into the next question as if the interview was broken up and edited in some parts. The use of the jump cuts in this instance enables the film to reel in the audiences attention with the scene and with the film collectively. In a sense, this technique helps to gather the viewers attention with Antoine and his character on a deeper and more personal level so that the audience gets a better glimpse into Antiones world and his situation. Overall, the use of the jump cut from the film helps signify French New Wave filmmakers cinematic push away from typical continuous and easy flowing films of the time to a refreshed and strange exhibition of discontinuity or jaggedness in films. Finally, the last significant filming technique in the film that represents French New Wave id eas is shown through the fact that the film is actually shot in multiple locations of Paris. There are multiple instances throughout the film in which on sight filming takes place. Such instances are expressed in scenes that show the city streets of Paris, that show Antoines small home, that show the school, and that show the shores of the beach towards the end of the film. The use of filming scenes in real locations is a major component of French New Wave ideas because French filmmakers wanted to attempt making films that were more natural and accurately depicted the real world as much as possible. The 400 Blows definitely showcases naturality and realness because of it being filmed in parts of Paris instead of using other non-realistic methods like backdrops, stages, etc. to indicate specific locations. Another instance of how the film exhibits aspects of the French New Wave is through its expression of an authentic and thought provoking story line which utilizes a realistic representation of characters as well as invokes relatability or self-reflectivity in the viewers. To begin, The 400 Blows presents realistic and ordinary characters throughout its storyline instead of using fictitious or mythical individuals. An example of this can be demonstrated through Antoines character. Antoine is a rebellious fourteen-year-old teenager who lives a simple life in a small apartment with his mother and stepfather and attends school, nothing for which is over fantasized, exaggerated, or unlikely for the life of an adolescent. Like many children his age, Antoine is not perfect and has his own flaws. He occasionally fools around in class and gets into trouble with his teacher by writing on the walls or not doing his homework, he disobeys his parents at times by lying or running away when he disa grees with their rules, he has a difficult time listening to authority and doing what he is told, he steals things multiple times, and much more. There is not much about Antoines life that one would find unbelievable or unrelatable to in some way. Due to the depiction of Antoines practical life and character, the storyline throughout the film becomes more credible, interesting, and thoughtful for viewers because of the sincere portrayal of human normalcy and complications throughout the film. The realistic character usage in the film, in turn, also helps to conjure up relatability or self-reflectivity in viewers which makes the storyline more philosophical and meaningful as a result. To expand, the film showcases the feelings, struggles, actions, difficulties, etc. of not just one character but of multiple characters. First, is a mother who struggles with her relationship with both her son and husband at home. Second, is a son who struggles with problems at home and at school. Next, is a teacher who struggles with disobedient and troubling students. In essence, the film forms realistic stories about the lives of many characters which can encourage the audience to draw similarities from their own life with the events and circumstances from either a specific characters life from the film or the story in general. Thus, these realistic and relatable qualities about the film allow for a meaningful and philosophical viewing experience for the audience. Lastly, a final example of the film featuring elements of the French New Wave is through its usage of an unorthodox plot setup which contains choppy or seemingly random scenes as well as an unresolved resolution. To clarify, most films have plots that connect specific events, actions, etc. for viewers. That is, the plot should give flow to a films story and make the viewer feel as if events are all connected and not just randomly thrown into the film. However, one might say that The 400 Blows presents a less systematic and clear-cut plot setup than what most films usually did during the time. For instance, throughout the film there are countless scenes that simply display Paris landscape and cityscape or what seems like just random bits of footage with characters that do not add to the plots purpose or connect anything specific about the film. Scenes like these include when Antoine catches his mother kissing a man who is not his father as he skips school, the running in Paris scene w ith the gym teacher and students, when Antoine and Rene run down the steps of the Sacrà ©-Coeur, when Antoine and Rene run around town just after stealing the typewriter, when Antoine makes a cigarette while in his prison cell, and more. These scenes do not necessarily explain certain events in the story or add to the plot for any particular reason or purpose, but rather, seem to be there for more artistic filming reasons or for no true reason at all. The inclusion of scenes that do not have a definitive purpose or add to the plot for any specific reason may make the film feel choppy at times. Nevertheless, the seemingly choppy and spontaneous plot feel that the film conveys is another aspect that French New Wave filmmakers were seeking because it went against the usual organized and directed plot of most films of the time. One last obvious example of the films illustration of a different plot layout, is through the fact that the film has an unresolved resolution. Unlike most films of the time, The 400 Blows does not have a plot layout that provides a sense of clarity for the viewer at the end of it. During the end of the film, the viewer watches a pivotal climatic moment as Antoine escapes the academy. As he runs as fast and as far as he can from the academy personal, Antoine makes his way to the shores of a beach. While there, Antoine runs up to the ocean and touches the water with his feet and then turns to the camera where the scene abruptly ends. Ultimately, the viewer is left with no definitive conclusion or resolve to Antoines story. The ambiguous ending left in the film is a striking presentation of French New Wave ideas because filmmakers from the time wanted viewers to think more critically about the films they watched and decide for themselves what they felt the ending might be. All in all, the film encompasses a wide array of French New Wave ideas that can be seen in multiple ways. First, is through the films usage of an atypical plot layout. Having artistic and non-specific scenes that dont necessarily relate back to the storys plot as well as having an open-ended conclusion, the audience is left to philosophically think about and consider the film more in depth during and even after the film. Next, is through the films depiction of a realistic and thoughtful storyline. With the use of a relatable and realistic storyline in addition to seemingly average characters, the film allows the audience to make introspective and personal connections between themselves and with the film and the characters that play in it. Lastly, is through the films incorporation of inventive filming techniques. Techniques such as location shooting, the jump cut, and the long take, all help the audience experience the film in a more natural and realistic way so as to make them feel more part of the film. Ultimately, The 400 Blows is a unique film because through all of these French New Wave characteristics found throughout it, the film serves as an expression of a cinematic revitalization in filming. Works Cited Csà ¶lleovà ¡, Eva, and Và ­tek Formà ¡nek. French New Wave Nouvelle Vague: Revolution in Film Industry. United Film, Ministry of Culture, 2016, www.unitedfilm.cz/unitedvision/index.php/en/articles/item/438-french-new-wave-nouvelle-vague-revolution-in-film-industry. Film Glossary. Provided by the Brooklyn College Film Department, Brooklyn College, 2017,  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/anthro/jbeatty/COURSES/glossary.htm#name48. The 400 Blows. Directed by Francois Truffaut. Les Filmes du Carosse. The Criterion Collection. 1959. 123 Movies. www. 123movies.gs/film/the-400-blows-4084/ Interprofessional Working in Social Work | Essay Interprofessional Working in Social Work | Essay Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of interprofessional working within social work Introduction During the last thirty years there has been a lot of debate over community care. Policy in the 1970s and 1980s brought significant changes to services for people with disabilities, people with learning disabilities, and older people (Kirk, 1998). Many institutions were closed due to financial constraints and care was increasingly focused on the community. In 1988 the Government commissioned the Griffiths Report (1988) which advised that local authorities should be enablers, organizing and directing community care. Local authorities would have budgets with which to purchase care from the private and voluntary sector. The 1990 NHS and Community Care Act established that provision of care was no longer the sole responsibility of the state. Care packages would be organised by local authorities with input from voluntary and charitable organisations. Care packages generally consist of one or more of the following; provision of services in a person’s home, residential care, respite care, day care and family placements, sheltered housing and group homes and hostels. The introduction of the 1990 Act increased the burden of care for the social work profession who had to make initial assessments and then refer clients to the appropriate services. This meant that social workers who had previously been quite autonomous in their practice (Challis, 1991). The introduction of new working practices and the necessity for a greater degree of inter-professional working has meant that this autonomy has been increasingly eroded. This paper will examine the strengths and weaknesses of inter-professional working for social workers in the health arena. Since the introduction of the 1990 Care in the Community Act legislative and policy requirements have focused on health and social care agencies working collaboratively with service users and in July 2005 the Government produced a white paper on the delivery of integrated health and social care.[1] The main thrust of this paper is to establish effective inter-professional working and the means of evaluating working practice. This is probably in response to the fact that much of the literature concerned with inter-professional working concentrates on the difficulties surrounding successful working relationships between people of different professions and how these problems might best be resolved (Molyneux, 2001). Molyneux’s (2001)[2] research into successful inter-professional working established three areas that contributed to the success of such partnerships. Staff needed to be fully committed to what they were doing and personal qualities of adaptability, flexibility and a willingness to share with others were high on the agenda. Regular and positive communication between professionals was seen as endemic to good working relationships and service delivery. This communication was enhanced (in the study) by the instigation of weekly case conferences which allowed professionals to share knowledge and experiences (2001, p.3). Creative working methods, where professionals responded to what was happening in non-traditional ways was also seen as a crucial element of good inter-professional relationships. In order to be able to work successfully across professional boundaries people need to be confident of their own professional role in order to be able to step outside their professional autonomy and work successfully with others. It helps in inter-professional working if all members of the team are particularly focused on the needs of the service user. In this way people reach ‘professional adulthood’ (Laidler, 1991). Hudson (2005) found in his Birmingham study that inter-professional working went well provided it was based on a parity of esteem, mutual respect and a re-orientation of professional affinity i.e. team members first loyalty was to the team rather than to their individual professional bodies. Hudson also identified communication between members and creativity in working patterns as vital to effective inter-professional working. While Hudson (2005) maintains that there are grounds for optimism as to the future of inter-professional working, he nevertheless po ints out that it is not always easy. In some areas such as acute services, mental health services or services for older people inter-professional working can be problematic because it is not always easy to decide where one set of professional responsibilities end and another begins. These areas, along with learning disabilities, reflect tensions in integrated working because it poses a threat to established practices. Peck and Norman (1999) found that mental health professionals working within teams were reluctant to obey decisions taken by others because it threatened their own professional judgement. It does not help matters when the Government stresses the need for inter-professional working and then sets separate performance targets, rather than integrated group ones. At the same time as it emphasises collaborative working the Government is now intent on prioritising choice and competition and this leaves professionals with an unstable infrastructure (Hudson, 2001). As Hudson ar gues: It would be a cruel irony if, having achieved the holy grail of local integrated working, the government, with Sedgefield’s local MP at its head, now puts in place measures that result in its dismantling (Hudson 2005 no page number).[3] Conclusion Clearly the issues surrounding inter-professional working are not clear cut for social workers. They have lost the professional autonomy that they had in the past and it would seem that some professionals in other areas of social care also find the issues problematic. Clearly professionals from all filed, including social work, do their best to comply with legislation and policy and to collaborate with other professionals. If the goalposts were not consistently shifting in Government discourse then the problems associated with inter-professional working may eventually be ironed out. References Griffiths Report (1988) Community Care; An Agenda for Action, London: HMSO Hudson, B. â€Å"Grounds for Optimism† Community Care December 1st 2005 Kirk, S. 1998 â€Å"Trends in community care and patient participation: Implications for the roles of informal carers and community nurses in the United Kingdom† Journal of Advanced Nursing Vol 28 August 1998 Issue 2 p.370 Laidler, P. 1991 â€Å"Adults and How to become one† Therapy Weekly 17 (35) p.4 Molyneux, J 2001 â€Å"Interprofessional team working: What makes teams work well?† Journal of Inter-professional Care 15 (1) 2001 p.1-7 Norman, I and Peck E. 1999 â€Å"Working together in adult community mental health services†: An inter-professional dialogue† Journal of Mental Health 8 (3) June 1999 pp. 217-230 http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ 1 [1] http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ [2] Molyneux is a social worker who was part of the inter-professional team on which the study was based. [3] http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2005/12/01/51988/Grounds+for+optimism+.html?key=BOB+HUDSON accessed 4/4/06