Business Experts, And A New System - 2731 Words

â€Å"Some co-workers are really good and you can count on them at all times. Some are bad, which means they just don’t know what they are doing and they make mistakes. Others are ugly, meaning they are out to get you.† So, should Mark be fearful of Nicole, and her possible attempts to sabotage him at work? There are mixed opinions amongst business experts, and mixed opinions from myself. Mark has had success in the past, but can he continue it in this new job role, with new co-workers, and a new system? Mark Landstad was due to present in front of the CliffBank’s senior management team for the first time. He had recently moved from the research division, in to the investment banking division. Wanting to impress the senior management team, he had been working on a presentation for their meeting, and was keen to make a good impression. He was seeking some more up-to-date information, and was unsure on where to look for it. As part of the Millhouse project, he thought that perhaps Nicole, his new co-worker, and teammate could help. Unfortunately, she was in the middle of a flight over China, but she did however recommended that Mark should look through the files or a previous employee at the company, Patrick, as he was a member who was very good with the numbers and a â€Å"master of M A,† as well as knowing the retail sector inside-out. However, Patrick was somewhat disorganized, so finding the files that Mark required for the presentation was going to be an uphill batt le. He thenShow MoreRelatedInformation system has become as universal in our daily business activities as human resource800 Words   |  4 PagesInformation system has become as universal in our daily business activities as human resource management, marketing, finance or any other major business functions. Information system play vital role to provide management with control over their data and to operate successful businesses. They make up a significant field of study in business administration and management, and this is the most business imperatives that include in a course in information system. If we want to understand informationRead MoreChapter 11 Review Questions1 What Is1233 Words   |  5 Pages1. What is the role of knowledge management and knowledge management programs in business? Define knowledge management and explain its value to businesses. Knowledge management is the set of processes developed in an organization to create, gather, store, maintain, transfer, apply, and disseminate the firm’s knowledge. Knowledge management promotes organizational learning and incorporates knowledge into its business processes and decision making. Describe the important dimensions of knowledge.Read MoreProposal : A Proposal For Proposal1064 Words   |  5 PagesIn business, a request for proposal is a contract between two partners, or companies that one side offers the proposal while the other side will help to take care and mange that proposal to make it more successfully. This agreement is considered as a type of document which investors announce that funding is available for a particular project. Companies or investors have money, however the project is over their control because it requires a long and complex process. Therefore, a request for proposalRead More1. Analysis of the Knowledge Management at Tcs Using the Knowledge Management Value Chain Model.1352 Words   |  6 Pagescommunities of practices (CoPs) with an animator expert in an area of knowledge to gather best practice on different area of expertise using business case documenting problem and solution. -Then TCS tried to capture technology, processes and case studies called Process Asset Libraries. So their intent was more on capturing structure data in the first wave. -In the implementation of Ultimatix, TCS tried to use captures of intelligent technics or knowledge work system meaning knowledge tools like wizard, templatesRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Third Party Logistics1671 Words   |  7 Pages Sometimes it can be difficult for a company to juggle its core business responsibilities, along with trying to manage its assets and connections within the supply chain. This is where Third Party Logistics firms come into play. Third Party Logistics firms help many businesses to oversee and manage their supply chains. This paper will discuss and help answer the following questions; what is are Third Party Logistics; the advantages and disadvantages of using a 3PL; and how are they able toRead More1. Analysis of the Knowledge Management at Tcs Using the Knowledge Management Value Chain Model.1341 Words   |  6 Pagescommunities of practices (CoPs) with an animator expert in an area of knowledge to gather best practice on different a rea of expertise using business case documenting problem and solution. -Then TCS tried to capture technology, processes and case studies called Process Asset Libraries. So their intent was more on capturing structure data in the first wave. -In the implementation of Ultimatix, TCS tried to use captures of intelligent technics or knowledge work system meaning knowledge tools like wizard, templatesRead MoreEvaluation Of The Headquarters Facility Essay729 Words   |  3 PagesDescription The headquarters facility covers all company s functions except development. This facility will serve two purposes - as working place and as presentation place. Here will be conducted all important meetings, presentations and receptions of business associates, so the facility need to be adequately equipped for all those purposes. Specification of needed equipment is listed in Appendix B under the subtitle Location: Headquarters together with configuration layout. Development facility mainlyRead MoreCase Study1535 Words   |  7 Pagesresolve the problems. The three alternatives included implementing document management, cultivating communities of practice and creation of an expert directory. After much time spent determining which option, or combination of options, would be most beneficial as well as the best implementation plan. I recommend EDU to implement a document management system. Issues Identification The Ontario Ministry of Education (EDU) has a couple of issues but one of the fore running issues is electronicRead MoreBest Roofing Contractors Buffalo Roofing Essay1145 Words   |  5 Pages Awesome Copywriting on Roofing Buffalo Roofing Experts are the best roofing contractors buffalo NY. We offer the best roofing services for both homeowners and commercial builders. We do not only strive to achieve customer satisfaction, but also committed in protecting your investment. Having been in the construction industries for many years, we have many homeowners and business and gained a flawless record and countless satisfied customers. We are the number one Buffalo roofing company offeringRead MoreDepartments Strategic Objectives, And Key Services1131 Words   |  5 PagesPurpose The purpose of this memo is inform staff of the new IT department’s structure. This document outlines the department’s strategic objectives, and key services they it provides. Leadership Philosophy As the new CIO of RR the leadership philosophy that I have adopted revolves around getting the tools needed to the people that need them. For instance, providing the financial team with a system that allows quickly report information up the chain. The management style that I find most effective

Workplace Culture - 8726 Words

HR articles: Workplace culture Workplace culture is often hard to describe, because it means something different in every organisation and many times employees feel it’s ‘just the way things are’. But so often it can define a company and when it’s not working well, everyone knows about it. Below are some blog posts on what culture in the workplace is and how to positively cultivate it throughout your business. The happier an employee is at work, the more productive they are. It’s never too late to make improvements. Culture: Your Environment for People at Work Susan M. Heathfield Human Resources Guide What Is Organizational Culture? People in every workplace talk about organizational culture, that mysterious word that characterizes a work†¦show more content†¦* Sub-cultures Form Through Rewards.. Employees have many different wants and needs. Sometimes employees value rewards that are not associated with the behaviors desired by managers for the overall company. This is often how subcultures are formed, as people get social rewards from coworkers or have their most important needs met in their departments or project teams. * ï‚ · People Shape the Culture. Personalities and experiences of employees create the culture of an organization. For example, if most of the people in an organization are very outgoing, the culture is likely to be open and sociable. If many artifacts depicting the company’s history and values are in evidence throughout the company, people value their history and culture. If doors are open, and few closed door meetings are held, the culture is unguarded. If negativity abou t supervision and the company is widespread and complained about by employees, a culture of negativity, that is difficult to overcome, will take hold. * ï‚ · Culture is Negotiated. One person cannot create a culture alone. Employees must try to change the direction, the work environment, the way work is performed, or the manner in which decisions are made within the general norms of the workplace. Culture change is a process of give and take by all members of an organization. Formalizing strategic direction, systems development, and establishing measurements must be owned by the group responsibleShow MoreRelatedOrganizational Culture At The Workplace1749 Words   |  7 PagesOrganizations as culture are able to create a vision for leaders to use in order to guide organizational objectives. It can also provide a perspective so followers can measure their leader’s performance in achieving the vision. Organizational culture can determine the way employees interact at the w orkplace and helps guide and give them a sense of direction at the workplace. Through observing Foundation, the following provide examples to demonstrate how Foundation is operating within the culture metaphor:Read MoreCorporate Culture And Its Impact On The Workplace881 Words   |  4 PagesCorporate culture is refers to as the beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company employees and management interact and handle outside business transactions. It s the attitudes, standards, and beliefs that characterize members of an organization and which defines its nature. Corporate culture by definition affects a firm s operations as information is passed from management downward and outward, through the organization. it is also stated that, a healthy company culture may increase employeesRead MoreDifference Between Culture And The Workplace1842 Words   |  8 Pagesthe communities share a common background they most likely have a different perspective about certain situations than their peers. Culture is defined in countless ways and can be viewed differently in the workplace, in a family, or at a restaurant. Different generations may inherit the same culture from their organizations and an organization may have a certain culture that they practice. Sometimes this can lead to conflict and many disagreements being that everyone has their own opinion and beliefsRead MoreOrganizational Culture : A Diverse And Inclusive Workplace926 Words   |  4 Pagesachievements. Entergy is a very large company who has its own unique culture that strives to be diverse and inclusive. This paper will talk about Entergy’s culture, how change effects that culture, how members are brought in and socialized, and how the spirit of our Lord is integrated. Entergy’s culture â€Å"Organizational culture is the pervasive system of values, beliefs, and norms that exist in any organizations. The organizational culture can encourage or discourage effectiveness depending on the natureRead MoreAnalysis Of Aetna s Workplace Culture930 Words   |  4 PagesCulture Aetna’s workplace culture stands as a model to other organizations, regardless if they are an insurance company or not. The CEO’s mantra on having a successful workplace simply states â€Å"let’s invest in our people† (Aetna CEO: Let’s, 2015). Bertolini himself was no stranger to struggle in his personal life, having his son beat an incurable cancer as well as he himself getting into a skiing accident where he was given his last rites (O’Donnell, 2015). Having gone through these life alteringRead MoreCorporate Culture And Diversity At The Global Workplace1145 Words   |  5 PagesCorporate Culture Diversity in the Global Workplace Corporate culture is an intricate component of an organizations identity. Fortune 500 corporations have used corporate culture as a trademark. Apple Computers, a leading technology corporation, leverages its brand by promoting connectivity between all Apple devices. Walmart Corporation requires all associates to dress in dark blue shirts and beige slacks. This document will discuss cultural assessment tools used in assessing organizational cultureRead MoreThe Organizational Culture On Workplace Productivity And The Overall Impact On The Organization1500 Words   |  6 Pagesleadership team, with the purpose of developing culturally appropriate groups to carry out the expansion goals in these markets. In order to develop a successful global team, I must scrutinize the organizational culture, the necessary leadership style, the impact of the group’s culture on workplace productivity, and the overall impact on the organization itself. Cultural Assessment Since the expansion effort includes several different cultural norms, the leadership team must both recognize these uniqueRead MoreHow Culture Influenced The Values Rooted Within The Workplace1872 Words   |  8 PagesOxford Dictionary, culture is defined as â€Å"the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people or other social group (Oxford, 2016).† With the rise of multiculturalism and diversity across many nations, understanding and practicing cultural etiquette within the business arena has never been of greater importance. Geert Hofstede, a well known leader in intercultural research and studies, conducted a comprehensive study in which he analyzed how culture influenced theRead MoreWhat Impact Does A Negative Personality Have On Workplace Culture?847 Words   |  4 PagesMy research question focuses on workplace culture. â€Å"What impact does a negative personality have on workplace culture, and how does it affect the other peop le working in the effected environment?† My hypothesis is that negative personalities destroy workplaces and leave employers with a high turnover rate as well as many unhappy workers. However, my follow up question is, â€Å"is there a way to fix negative personalities in the workplace?† My paper answers these questions using strong research evidenceRead MorePositive Workplace Culture974 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the most important things that can be done to create a more positive workplace culture in the work environment is to build trust. Building trust requires you to do what you say you are going to do. Being yourself, ‘walking the talk’. To be reliable, responsible and accountable all assist in creating a trusting environment. Staff members need to understand that you are a person of your word. Building trust takes a long time, if your words dont match your behaviours trust will be easily lost

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008 Free Essays

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership Although the corporate strategies implemented by Netflix and Blockbuster have allowed them to become leaders of competitive advantage in the movie rental industry, they sometimes encounter strategic issues that slow down their product and services process. My research of Netflix and Blockbuster will enable me to present a SWOT analysis and recommendations for each company. Netflix, founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings, has achieved its goal of becoming the largest online movie rental service in the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008 or any similar topic only for you Order Now By the end of 2007, Netflix recorded revenues of $1. 2 billion. With a library of 100,000 movie titles and a subscriber base of over seven million, they had become the leaders of the movie rental industry (Gamble Thompson, 2011). Netflix’s business model of internet subscription enabled them to compete in the movie industry. Consumers love going to the movies, but with increasing theatre prices found it too expensive to attend public viewings. Netflix provided an inexpensive way to view movies which could be done from the comforts of home. According to the text, (Essentials of Strategic Management, 2010), â€Å"Netflix’s success is due to its six-pronged strategy of providing comprehensive selection of DVDs, easy way to choose movies, fast delivery, no return due dates, and convenient drop in mail movie returns† (Gamble Thompson, 2010). In an online survey by Nielsen Online, Netflix was rated number one for three years and for nine consecutive periods by Forsee/FGI Research (Netflix, 2009). Netflix Strategic Issues Blockbuster, Netflix’s fiercest competitor, experience many rental issues until 2007 when they regained market shares forcing Netflix to reduce subscription prices. Not only did Blockbuster gain presence, other competitors like Redbox also gained presence in the market due to new technologies (VOD DVR) that are influencing the business environment. The business model used by Netflix caused a stir in the market industry. However, the damage control strategies of competitors and competitor recapture of market shares is threatening Netflix’s competitive advantage. Netflix has to change with the times. Competitive Forces Netflix and Blockbuster are affected by the five forces of competition which are potential new entrants, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of substitutes, and rivalry among existing competitors (Gamble Thompson, 2010). The companies must understand how these forces work and affect their operation. Threats of New Entrants -In the home video/game industries, new entrants must own large amounts of movies/games for rental or sale to fulfill customers’ demands. Meanwhile they have to build up various distribution channels for products to reach customers in a very quick way (Xie Lin, 2008). Bargaining Power of Suppliers -The inputs of suppliers in the home video/game industries are very important and since there are only a few qualified suppliers in the industry, their bargaining power is high. Netflix acquires its movies from movie studios and distributors, buying DVDs on a fee-per-DVD basis, paying license content fees, and signing revenue sharing agreements. Blockbuster also has revenue sharing agreements with its suppliers. To some extent, these agreements reduce the bargaining power of suppliers. In terms of the computer system, Blockbuster is using Provia’s Viaware warehouse management system (packaging, sorting, and distributing rental products) in its supply chain management to keep costs down (Xie Lin, 2008). Threats of substitutes -Substitutes include movie theaters, satellite TV, and cable TV. Customers can go to movie theaters and enjoy the vivid atmosphere. Alternatively, they can order â€Å"pay-per-view† or subscribe â€Å"on-demand† from satellite TV and/or cable TV providers to watch movies at home. Users can watch anytime they want. Satellite and cable TV offer sufficient selections of new releases and are is easy to watch with just click on remote. Netflix and Blockbuster compete for customers by offering various kinds of movies and internet access (Xie Lin, 2008). Rivalry among industry competitors – Netflix and Blockbuster are in a highly competitive industry. Competitors include merchant retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target; video and game store like Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, and Game Stop; supermarkets, convenient stores such as Publix, and McDonald’s. The significant rival is Hollywood Video which offers movie and game rentals (Xie Lin, 2008). Bargaining power of buyers -Buyers are not in concentrated groups and do not buy in large amounts. However, within the entertainment industry, customers have a lot of alternatives and have no switching cost. However the introduction of DVDs, influenced customers to purchase DVDs since the cost is almost the same cost of rentals. This makes buyer power moderate (Xie Lin, 2008). The five forces of competition of the movie rental industry presents little force against a competitor’s market position based on buyer power, supplier power, and new entrant threats. However, threat of substitutes and rivalry among competitors can affect the amount of profits a company will gain and retain. Netflix SWOT Analysis The presence of Netflix and Blockbuster in the movie rental industry has assisted me in developing this analysis of each corporation’s strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as followed: Netflix’s strengths are: Good reputation, unlimited movie rental subscription, no due dates or late fees, easy website access, and large movie selection. Netflix’s weaknesses are: Limited to internet rental access, and long waiting period for new releases. Netflix’s opportunities are: To provide Video on Demand media access, music and movie download, and acquire partnership with gaming industry. Netflix’s threats are: Low DVD rentals, government regulation of rental distribution, high level of competition, and new movie media technology. Blockbuster SWOT Analysis Blockbuster’s strengths are: national and international recognition provides movie and game rentals, various vices for rental access (i. e. stores, kiosk, and internet), offers snacks and beverages for purchase in stores, and accommodates all customer types. Blockbuster’s weaknesses are: Poor distribution process, increased operating expense, decreased reputation, limited new released video games, unable to compete with game distributors (i. e. GameStop), and constant rental policy changes. Blockbuster opportunities are: Unlimited access to downloadable media libraries, increased production of brand movie rentals, and partnership with gaming system industry. Blockbuster’s threats are: New video formats, decreased DVD movie rentals, increased competition, and government regulation of movie rentals. The SWOT analysis shows that Netflix and Blockbuster have strong strengths and opportunities, however in order to Netflix to maintain its competitive advantage there needs to be an upgrade in innovation and technology that will strengthen their reputation and reliability. Blockbuster’s loss in reputation will continually plague their ability to remain competitive and maintain the customer base that they have. Blockbuster will continually face challenges until they upgrade their innovation and technology to level where they will enter into recovery mode. As I studied the financial information presented in the text, it appears that Netflix has been able to offer customers the benefit of low rental fees because they have been able to maintain a low level of expenses. The benefits offered to customers have increased the amounts of net income and movie rentals. Netflix prides itself on promoting customer satisfaction and meeting demands of its internet base. According to the numbers presented by Internet World Stats, the percentage of internet penetration by the North American population was 74. 2 percent in 2009, which was a 134 percent increase from 2000. At this rate, Netflix could secure an internet rental customer base of 74. 2 percent which would strengthen its success (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2009) Blockbuster’s biggest challenge is development of a viable strategic approach to price setting. When Netflix entered the game, Blockbuster began to lose profits. In an attempt to recoup some of its losses, Blockbuster presented campaign where the rental policy constantly changed leaving customers confused and unsure of the rental process. Although Blockbuster has a large selection of movie titles and global presence, its reputation of dissatisfied customers and inefficient distribution has caused its overall cost to rise significantly. Blockbuster’s competitive advantage is that it offers various channels by which customers can access entertainment media. According to Blockbuster, â€Å"The same customer can choose different ways to access media entertainment on different nights† (Blockbuster, 2010). Recommendations In order for Netflix to maintain its competitive advantage there must be an adjustment of their strategy. Customer satisfaction should be a key factor of its strategy. I recommend that they base their marketing promotions on increasing customer awareness of the variety of accessible content offered. They should also implement the availability of music content and digital media to their library. The development of an award program for customers with lengthy memberships would influence word of mouth recommendations. Most of all, Netflix must continue to offer their customers the benefit of more titles at modest cost subscription memberships. In order for Blockbuster to regain its competitive advantage and reputation there must be the development of a strategy that will increase their profit. They have to become more innovation in internet and in-store rental process. There should be monitoring devices placed on scanner registers and mailed movie rentals to better track returns in order to keep their cost at a minimum. Staff should be trained and monitored on a constant basis to ensure that customer satisfaction is the key priority. Blockbuster must implement policies that will be enforced and understood by customers. They should also team up with gaming system producers to ensure that they will be supplied with current games and possibly offer gaming system rentals. Most of all they should find their own niche market which will provide them with a specialized competitive advantage. The information researched on Netflix and Blockbuster has enabled me to conclude that competition in the movie rental industry is highly competitive. There are new companies entering the market that have a competitive advantage whether it consist of internet rental, vending machine rental access, or in-store rental access. Netflix and Blockbuster have taken the lead in providing thousands of movie title to be viewed in the comfort of our own homes without the expense of movie theatres. Although both companies have a competitive advantage, they each have a following of dedicated customers who will stay with them because of familiarity. Through my research I have learned that consumers are the controllers in the movie rental industry. If consumers dislike the way they are serviced or the cost of movie rentals they will most certainly move on to a company which will cater to their movie wants and needs. However, the movie rental industry must stay up on new innovations and technologies in order to remain competitive, profitable, and maintain modest levels of overall costs. How to cite Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008, Essay examples

Literary Analysis of Rip Van Winkle free essay sample

â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† is a magical fiction written by Washington Irving in the early nineteenth century, and, of which the main character is Rip Van Winkle exactly. What made me be interested in the mystical story, was not only the developing plot that went on compactly, but also the various description of all the setting in the story which made the plot of the entire story seemed to contain much more emotional coloring. One day, after a long time stroll to the peak of the Kaatskill Mountains, Rip Van Winkle was exhausted because of keeping haunting as his favorite pastime even when the nightfall came. â€Å"Panting and fatigued he threw himself, late in the afternoon, on a green knoll, covered with mountain herbage, that crowned the brow of a precipice. From an opening between the trees he could overlook all the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland. † Here Washington Irving described the surrounding setting of Rip Van Winkle right after he was panting for breath as feeling tired at the time. We will write a custom essay sample on Literary Analysis of Rip Van Winkle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This description is just appropriate for both the atmosphere and plot that were going along in the story. A person was so tired that he even has a heavy breathe and when he sees the graceful natural scene presenting in his sight at that time, he must be comfortable as a feeling and wants to have a nice rest at once. So Rip Van Winkle lay musing on the scene and the mood of this part of story is presented as leisurely and comfortable for Rip Van Winkle enjoying the beautiful scenery. Not a long while from Rip Van Winkle appreciating the natural setting, the plot of story goes to a wide transition when Rip Van Winkle heard a voice from a distance hallooing his name but there was nothing but just the evening closing in. And what made the atmosphere became so fearful and suspenseful was the description in the story that â€Å"At the same time Wolf bristled up his back and giving a low growl, skulked to his master’s side, looking fearfully down into the glen. Rip now felt a vague apprehension stealing over him; he looked anxiously in the same direction and perceived a strange figure slowly toiling up the rocks and bending under the weight of something he carried on his back. He was surprised to see any human being in this lonely and unfrequented place, but supposing it to be someone of the neighborhood in need of his assistance he hastened down to yield it. † This quote of the description that fully expresses a certain feeling of terror and eerie which has the same effect on the mood of story. The narration of the reaction of Rip Van Winkle’s dog which â€Å"bristled up his back† and howled could be considered as a really lively depiction to show the unusual actions of animal, which is a population that also has vital signs as human. As a result of using the side description effectively by Washington Irving, the major mood of each part of the story was clearly revealed such as the quote above. As Rip Van Winkle followed the old stranger and saw a group of weird people playing a novel game, there is still a description that â€Å"Nothing interrupted the stillness of the scene, but the noise of the balls, which, whenever they were rolled, echoed along the mountains like rumbling peals of thunder. † and â€Å"that his heart turned within him, and his knees smote together. His companion now emptied the contents of the keg into large flagons and made signs to him to wait upon the company. He obeyed with fear and trembling†. This two quotes indicates a strong expressive force by portraying a silent and depressive surrounding environment so that to make the noise of rolling balls prominent for the figure and simultaneously, for the reader that from their heart when reading the description. Therefore, what the readers’ feeling was like is the same as what the mood of this part of story displaying. That is, the depressive depiction has an affection of making the environment of story seemed dreadful and frightens both the character and readers. In conclusion, the description that went through the entire story is, as I said in the beginning of essay, diversiform and remarkably true to life for not only expressing the primary plot of story, but also builds up the most changeful mood for each different scene. Among all of the Romantic authors, Washington Irving is one of the most outstanding one who has done well in describing a scene of story that reveals the mood distinctly to indicate the main idea of story.

Everything You Wanted To Know About Wikipedia Stuff You Never Thought To Ask - The Writers For Hire

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WIKIPEDIA, PART 1 Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Wikipedia (and probably some stuff you never thought to ask), Part 1 Wikipedia has become a standard, go-to resource for all kinds of facts: Want to know everything there is to know about the giant squid? Need a list of every Nobel Prize winner, organized by country? Interested in the history of Microsoft? Ever wondered about the difference between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop? Wikipedia is a great example of the awesome things that can happen when people get together and pool their knowledge and expertise. Anyone with a laptop and an Internet connection can contribute to Wikipedia. But this doesn’t mean Wikipedia is a free-for-all. Yes, anyone can contribute a new article or edit an existing one but if you want your contribution to â€Å"stick,† you’ve got to follow a ton of rules regarding content, sources, neutrality, and notability. So, what makes a â€Å"good† Wikipedia article? Does your product, service, or company belong on Wikipedia? What happens if your article gets flagged? And what does â€Å"flagged† mean, anyway? Wiki can be complicated (and even a little intimidating) to the uninitiated. That’s why we’ve decided to do a series of blog posts exploring the ins and outs and rules of Wikipedia. This week, we’re kicking off the series with a few of the basics. First things First: What is Wikipedia? Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia – but what does that mean? Here’s a good definition, from Wikipedia itself: Basically, everything you need to know about Wikipedia is in the above sentence: Wikipedia is â€Å"neutral.† In other words, it doesn’t represent one single viewpoint on any subject. Wikipedia contains â€Å"verifiable, established facts.† As in, facts that have been published by an uninterested and reliable third party. Facts that you can verify by checking a couple of sources, such as (reputable) newspaper or magazine articles. We’ll take a more in-depth look at both neutrality and sources in future posts. But right now, let’s just focus on the big picture. So, now that we know what Wikipedia is, let’s take a second to discuss what Wikipedia isn’t. And there are a whole lot of things that Wikipedia isn’t. In fact there’s a whole page on Wikipedia dedicated to this topic, and it’s pretty long. Essentially, though, it boils down to this: Wikipedia is not a blog/fansite/personal website. So you can’t write in first-person, and you can’t write whatever you want. It’s not a place for ranting about politics or enthusing about your favorite movie or TV show. That’s not to say that your favorite TV show doesn’t deserve a Wikipedia page. It probably does. But it still has to conform to Wikipedia’s standards. In other words, like this: Not this: Wikipedia is not a place to publish your original research/inventions/discoveries. Let’s say you just discovered a new planet or invented a super-cool new iPhone app. This is fantastic – but it’s not Wiki-appropriate. Because Wikipedia is a place for â€Å"established† facts, it’s not a place for your original work or research . . . yet. (We say â€Å"yet† because if an established, third-party publication like Newsweek or the Wall Street Journal writes an article about you and your new planet/iPhone app, you might actually be Wiki-eligible. But more on that later.) Wikipedia is not a place for advertisements/self-promotion. Again, we’ll get much more in-depth with this later, but when writing about a company, product, or service you have to be extra-careful not to sound biased. Wiki pages that sound like they were written by a company’s PR department quickly get flagged for neutrality/conflict-of-interest issues, which looks like this: That doesn’t mean that your product, service, or company doesn’t belong on Wikipedia. It just means that, if you want your Wiki page to â€Å"stick,† you have to follow the rules. Wikipedia, The Writers For Hire, and You (or Your Company/Product/Service) We’ve created dozens of Wikipedia articles for clients on a wide range of topics. And we’ve got an excellent track record. And that’s because we turn down more Wiki projects than we accept. It’s not that we don’t want your business. We do. But we don’t want to take your money if we know that your page won’t stick. Before we accept any Wikipedia project, we make sure your topic is eligible for a Wiki page. To be eligible, a topic must meet two major criteria: It needs to be notable, and it needs to have received significant coverage by neutral, reputable third-party sources. We’ll get more into both of these as we continue our Wikipedia series. Stay tuned! Coming up next: Notability.

Maurice De Vlaminck - Artist Profile

Maurice De Vlaminck - Artist Profile Movement, Style, School or Type of Art: Fauvism is the movement with which Vlaminck will always be most closely associated. However, Fauvism was a very short movement and the artist had a very long career. His work briefly leaned towards Cubism (which he professed to loathe) prior to World War I; afterwards it settled into an Expressionistic style that Vlaminck maintained for the rest of his life. The important thing to remember is that, regardless of which labels we now assign to his work, he (a self-taught artist) operated instinctively. He didnt and wouldnt care what we call his approachhe was simply being true to his gut. Date and Place of Birth: April 4, 1876, Paris Maurice was born to two musicians: Edmond Julien de Vlaminck, his father, was a pianist, violinist and tenor. His mother, Josephine Grillet, who was from Lorraine, was also a pianist. Because the artist grew up in this household, music came as naturally to him as breathing. In the early years of his adult life, he was able to help support his young family by taking on violin students and getting the occasional paying gig. But, even though it was second-nature, music never lit the fires of passion in Vlaminck that visual art did. Early Life: Young Maurice didnt have the benefit of a top-drawer education, but he was intellectually curious, emotionally fearless and physically imposing. Vlaminck grew to be a tall, strong, red-haired man prone to wearing loud colors and a gaudy wooden necktie. He married for the first time in his teens and worked (in addition to giving music lessons) to support his wife and daughters as a wrestler, billiards shooter, mechanic, laborer and professional cyclist before a bout with typhus weakened him. He also discovered that he could write, and penned several risquà © novelsanything to pay the bills. How He Came to Art: Vlaminck had taken a smattering of drawing classes and tried his hand at painting, but it was a chance incident that reportedly led him to make art his career. While serving his mandatory 3-year military obligation, he met the painter Andrà © Derain in 1900, when the train on which both men were riding derailed. A lifelong friendship was struck, as well as a deal to share a studio in Chatou. It was in this picturesque Seine valley villagepreviously popular with the Impressioniststhat Vlaminck began painting in earnest. (Never a thought towards selling, mind you. He quite simply was overcome by the urge to paint.) When Art Noticed Him: Vlaminck attended a Parisian van Gogh exhibition in 1901 and was blown away by Vincents color choices. At this same show, Derain introduced his studio mate to Henri Matisseperhaps the most bold colorist to ever hold a brush. Vlaminck absorbed these options, and spent the next few years pouring riotously-hued landscapes back out onto canvas. Convinced by Derain and Matisse to show, Vlaminck began exhibiting with them in 1904. The 1905 Salon dAutomne exhibition was where the trio and a few other like minded artists received the (snarky) moniker fauves (wild beasts) from the art critic Louis Vauxcelle. Ironically, the indifferent-to-sales Vlaminck began to sell any- and everything he painted, so in demand were the canvases of this wild beast. After meeting Paul Cà ©zanne, Vlamincks work took a turn towards balancing color with more structured compositions. He is best known today for his Fauvism perioda span of no more than seven years. Vlamincks later work (the bulk of his career) continued to concentrate on color, sell well and be seen in exhibitions that he did not attend. In addition to painting, he produced some fine lithographs, etchings and woodcuts, and authored and illustrated a number of books. Important Works: Man Smoking a Pipe, 1900Portrait of Derain, 1905Potato Pickers, 1905-07Self Portrait, 1912The Red Tractor, 1956 Date and Place of Death: October 11, 1958, Rueil-la-Gadelià ¨re, Eure-et-Loir, France Vlaminck apparently expended most of the drama in his life on his paintings. He died peacefully of old age at La Tourillià ¨re, the farmhouse he bought in 1925. How To Pronounce Vlaminck: vlah ·mink This is the French pronunciation of the Belgian spelling of Vlaming, more commonly known as Fleming (person from Flanders) in the English-speaking world. Quotes From Maurice de Vlaminck: Good painting is like good cooking; it can be tasted, but not explained.I heightened all my tone values and transposed into an orchestration of pure color with every single thing I felt. I was a tender-hearted savage filled with violence. I translated what I saw instinctively, without any method, and conveyed truth, not so much artistically but humanely.I seem initially to have followed Fauvism, and then to have followed in Cà ©zannes footsteps. WhateverI do not mind ... as long as first of all I remained Vlaminck. Sources and Further Reading Derain, Andrà ©. Lettres Vlaminck.Paris : Flammarion, 1955. Rewald, John. Vlaminck (1876-1958) His Fauve Period (1903-1907).New York : Perls Galleries, 1968.Buy Direct Selz, Jean. Vlaminck.New York : Crown Publishers, 1963.Buy Direct Selz, Jean. Vlaminck, Maurice deGrove Art Online. Oxford University Press, 7 November 2008.Read a review of Grove Art Online. Vlaminck, Maurice de. Vlaminck, Master of Graphic Art: A RetrospectiveExhibition of Graphic Works, 1905-1926 (exh. cat.).Chicago : R. S. Johnson-International Gallery, 1975. Walterskirchen, Katalin De. Maurice De VlaminckCatalogue Raisonne De Loeuvre Grave.Paris : Flammarion, 1974.Buy Direct Go to Artist Profiles: Names beginning with V or Artist Profiles: Main Index

IBM Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 36

IBM Management - Case Study Example As the paper highlights, employees in an organization do not want to do away with their culture and values. This paper discusses the human resource challenges that the wandering tribe poses to IBM and the possible reactions of employees to the system. One of the major human resource challenges is for the IBM is to accommodate the varied labor force by meeting their varying needs and cultures. Some of the challenges IBM faces include different countries’ legislations, the firm’s global culture, and obsolescing skills due to swift changes in technology. IBM operates in different countries globally (IBM). As such, it has to abide to the unique laws and regulations of each of the countries as well as ensure that employees in all the countries comply to set regulations. IBM has to train its workforce to ensure that they swiftly adapt to any technological advances. This would ensure employees’ skills do not become obsolete. Additionally, IBM faces internal challenge within the organization. The Organization does not have a physical space where it can control workers since it uses telecommuting concepts in its operations. Even though IBM saves $ 12 million annually in physical space cost (IBM), sustaining the organi zation’s values and culture is a major challenge due to the diverse labor force that is dispersed all over the world. Since employees can work from their homes, direct control is a major issue due to the difficulties of monitoring the activities of the workers. Additionally, motivation of employees can also become problematic. Employees will always react to an organization’s structure and policy as any changes within the working environment directly affects them. IBM employees may feel that the organization’s wandering tribe is suitable and beneficial for them while others may find the wandering tribe unsuitable.

Close examination using market segmentation vo 1 Essay

Close examination using market segmentation vo 1 - Essay Example It thus allows ease of obtaining accurate information regarding library collections. Futterman (2008) notes that market segmentation is used to identify the library’s customers with regard to their characteristics. In this case, market segmentation refers to the grouping of potential customers into different segments based on common characteristics such as gender, age, income, geography or other attributes that relate to buying or consumption behavior. Futterman (2008) notes that the libraries mostly serve market segment of customers who are underserved. Most of these customers exhibit the following characteristics: firstly, they stay closer to the library, earn modest income, composed of diverse range of household types, life stages and age (Futterman, 2008). These include Green Acres (blue-collar baby boomers who earn middle income), Hometown (those within the house), Rustbelt Traditions, Exurbanites (with median home value of $235,000 and household income of over $80,000), Comfortable (settled married couples without children or adult children), Midlife Ju nction and Cozy. This segment is mainly composed of high patron penetration as was discovered by TSCPL library. The other market of the library is that composed of young people and those detained in juvenile. With the current advancement in technology and globalization, a number of potential competitive forces affect viability of libraries. For instance, consumerization of online information retrieval technology is seen as a major competitive force for libraries. This is because nowadays people can afford internet services at their doorsteps. This can be accessed via mobile phones, laptops, ipads, ipods and the like (Futterman, 2008). In cultural context, Futterman (2008) argue that the library should be able to provide services to diverse cultures in the

Human resource presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human resource presentation - Essay Example Advocates of the theory like Peter Denholtz believe that the e-cigarette could be a start to a new era of productivity. In modern busy working environment, people do not find time to leave their office seats and go out to the stairs to have a smoke. This is where e-cigarettes are helpful. It is not injurious to the health of other people, and normally co-workers would not mind someone smoking this type of a cigarette. So with an e-cigarette, an employee would not lose his focus from work as he would not have to look for a smoking area every time he wants to smoke (Pyrillis 6). Celia Joseph, an employee of Fisher and Phillips in Philadelphia, is of the opinion that it all comes down to the needs and corporate culture of an organization. Employers would have to figure out their HR policies. They would have to figure what type of a ban to place. For example, a ban on using e-cigarettes could be placed because of the tobacco it contains or because of the vaporized smoke it emits. If the ban is placed because of tobacco and not the vaporized smoke then, an employer would have no objection in people smoking in the workplace (Pyrillis 8). Pyrillis, Rita. â€Å"Electronic Cigarettes Strike Up Controversy Among Employers.† October 25, 2013. Workforce. Web. October 15, 2014

Prevalence Of Diabetes Mellitus Health And Social Care Essay

Prevalence Of Diabetes Mellitus Health And Social Care Essay INTRODUCTION DIABETES MELLITUS Diabetes is a syndrome that is caused by a relative or an absolute lack of insulin. It is characterized by symptomatic glucose intolerance as well as alterations in lipid and protein metabolism. Over the long term, these metabolic abnormalities, particularly hyperglycemia, contribute to the development of complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. Approximately 5% to 10% of the diagnosed diabetic population has type 1 diabetes mellitus (Koda-Kimble et al., 2005). Most of the diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes mellitus, a heterogeneous disorder that is characterized by obesity, ÃŽ ²-cell dysfunction, resistance to insulin action, and increased hepatic glucose production. 1.2 PREVALENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease and is no longer an epidemic that can be ignored. It is confirmed that diabetes is increasing rapidly in every parts of the world (IDF, 2009). The prevalence of diabetes for all age-groups worldwide was estimated to be 2.8% in 2000 and 4.4% in 2030. The total number of people with diabetes is projected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030 (Wild et al., 2004). In South-East Asia region, the number of people with diabetes will reach 101.0 million by year 2030 which show an increase of 72.1% compared to 58.7 million in year 2010 (IDF, 2009). While in Western Pacific region, the number of people with diabetes will reach 112.8 million people by year 2030 compared to 76.7 million people in year 2010, which show an increase of 47.0%. WHO predicts that in Asia and Australia region the prevalence of diabetic will reach 190.5 million in year 2030 (WHO, 2004). Similarly in Malaysia, the diabetes epidemic shows an increase trend over the years. The number of people with diabetes will increase to 2.74 million by year 2025 compared to 1.53 million in year 2007. The national prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be 12.3% in year 2025 (IDF, 2009). Approximately 1.2 million people in Malaysia have diabetes and more than half of them are not aware of it. The third National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS III) shows that there was an increasing trend in prevalence with age; from 2 percent in the 18-19 years old to an alarming prevalence ranging between 20.8 to 26.2 percent among those 50-64 years old. Those with primary education or less have a higher prevalence. The national prevalence of known and newly diagnosed diabetes above 30 years old rose from 8.3 percent in NHMS II to 14.9 percent in NHMS III. This shows that the prevalence of diabetes has increased by 80 percent over a decade with an average of 8 percent per year. The diabetes in Malaysia has almost doubled in magnitude over the last decade (NHMSIII, 2006). The main factors that contribute towards the increase in the risk of diabetes are socioeconomic influences, BMI, effects of urbanization, and familial aggregation. In socioeconomic influences, it shows that lower educational status and the lack of health care facilities in the rural areas delay the diagnosis of diabetes. More than 70% of diabetes subjects in India remain undiagnosed in rural area (Deo et al., 2006). Moreover, this study also observed that people of the lower socioeconomic status had lower BMI. Furthermore, urbanization leads to unhealthy lifestyle changes which affect the metabolic changes. The high prevalence of diabetes also found associated with increasing family history of diabetes. High prevalence of diabetes in the first degree relatives which is commonly seen in Asian Indians (Deo et al., 2006). A comparative epidemiology study was conducted among Japanese immigrants in United States living around Hawaii and Los Angeles and among Japanese living in Hiroshima. Results showed that the Japanese who lives in United States are in higher prevalence of getting diabetes compared to the Japanese in Hiroshima due to the westernized lifestyle (Hara et al., 2004). 1.3 COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES MELLITUS Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus will leads to multiple complications. In Malaysia, only 6.1% among the 30 49 year age groups of diabetes mellitus patients were under control. This reflects the lack of concern for risks and complications among the young patients. A total of 1 in 4 diabetics in the 30-39 age group already show complications of the disease (Chua, 2006). Moreover, patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, regardless of the type of diabetes, exhibit significantly increased odds of surgical and systemic complications, higher mortality and increased length of stay during hospitalization (Marchant et al., 2009). Individuals with pre-diabetes, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, and long-lasting type 2 diabetes are at high risk of all complications of macrovascular disease, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (Laakso, 2010). Moreover, M Lgaakso also indicates that more than 70% of type 2 diabetes patients die of cardiovascular causes. Hence, the epidemic of type 2 diabetes followed by an epidemic of diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Diabetes patients present a two to four time greater risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) than non-diabetes individuals (Protopsaltis et al., 2004). The data obtained from UKPDS 23 indicated that for each 1% increment of HbA1c there was a 1.11-fold increased risk of CAD, whereas for each 1-mmol/l increment in LDL concentration, there was a 1.57-fold increased risk. A study carried out among African American with diabetes showed that the major risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking are important determinants of CVD in African Americans with diabetes. Moreover, other blood markers of hemostasis or inflammatory response and elevated serum creatinine proved to be CVD risk factors in African Americans with diabetes (Adeniyi et al., 2002). Retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes, which results in blindness for over 10,000 people with diabetes per year (Fong et al., 2004). A study done among Australian population showed that the prevalence of retinopathy was 21.9% among known type 2 diabetes and 6.2% in those newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Generally, 15.3% of diabetes patients have retinopathy (Tapp et al., 2003). A prospective cohort study showed that the presence of diabetic retinopathy was associated with a two-fold higher risk of incident CHD events and a three-fold higher risk of fatal CHD (Cheung et al., 2007). Hence, the microvascular diseases do play a role in the pathogenesis of CHD in diabetes. Amputation is one of the major complications that should be taken into consideration among diabetes patients. Diabetes is the cause of 50 % of all the non-traumatic amputations in the United States. Among all the diabetic amputations, 24 % amputations are the toe, 5.8 % are mid foot, 38 % are below the knee, and 21.4 % are above the knee, and the remaining 10 % include the hip, pelvis, knee and other sites (Levin, 2002). One study reported an 8 % increase in amputations from 61 of 10,000 patients with diabetes in 1990 to 66 of 10,000 patients with diabetes in 1995. After diabetic patients undergo amputation, their risk of developing a foot ulcer or of requiring a second amputation increases dramatically. A total of 50 % of patients with diabetes die within 5 years after amputation (Peters et al., 2001). In Malaysia, among 203 patients that underwent amputation, 66 % of the patients were diabetics and amputations performed were related to diabetic foot conditions. Among them, 17.2 % patients underwent above knee amputation, 32.8 % underwent below knee amputation and 50 % underwent local foot amputation. About 59 % patients underwent amputation due to diabetic complication were less than 60 years old (Yusof et al., 2007). A study done involving Korean type 2 diabetic patients showed that the HbA1c is significantly associated with carotid plaque and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (Choi et al., 2010). A cross sectional study was conducted, and it shows that the glycemic control was poor with 53.6% of the patients having HbA1c above 8% and 24% of them had microalbuminuria (Chan et al., 2005). 1.4 MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS 1.4.1 Controlling Glycemic Level Tight control of blood glucose levels offers primary and secondary prevention for the development of diabetic kidney disease (Stanton, 2008). By lowering glycated hemoglobin value to 6.5% or less, a 10% relative reduction was observed in the combined outcome of major macrovascular and microvascular events. Moreover, there was also a 21% relative reduction in nephropathy (Patel et al., 2008). A study carried out in the United Kingdom showed that intensive blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes patients significantly increased the cost of treatment, but the cost of complication was reduced and increased the time free of complication (Gray et al., 2000). Although good controlling on blood glucose will benefit the diabetes patients, the potential benefits of glycemic control must be balanced against factors that either preempt benefits (limited life expectancy, comorbid disease) or increase risk (severe hypoglycemia, weight gain) (Woolf et al., 2000). 1.4.2 Pharmacological Treatment According to the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 4th Edition (2009), the first line therapy for oral agent is Metformin, while other oral agents are acceptable as alternatives. However, usage of Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) has been found to have greater durability in glycemic control compared to Metformin and Sulphonylurea (SU). Currently there are five classes of oral hypoglycemic agents, which include ÃŽ ±-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs), Biguanides, Dipeptidyl petptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, Insulin Secretagogues (Sulphonylurea and Non-Sulphonylurea / Meglitnides) and Thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Factors that are taken into consideration when selecting the treatment include the patients clinical characteristics, such as degree of hyperglycemia, weight and renal function (Walker and Whittlesea, 2007). Scheen and Lefebvre (1998) suggested that the selection of oral antihyperglycemic agents as first-line drugs or combination therapy should be based on both pharmacological properties of the compound (efficacy and safety) and the clinical characteristics of the patient (stage of disease, body weight). Furthermore, each antihyperglycemic agent may also be combined with insulin therapy to improve glycemic control after secondary failure to oral treatment. A systemic review on the effectiveness and safety of oral antihyperglycemic agents showed that most oral agents improved glycemic control to the same degree as sulfonylureas, though nateglinide and ÃŽ ±-glucosidase inhibitors may have slightly weaker effect (Bolen et al., 2007). Other than that, this review also showed that most agents other than metformin increased body weight by 1 to 5 kg. In terms of safety, sulphonylureas and repaglinides were associated with greater risk for hypoglycemia, thiazolidinediones with greater risk for heart failure and metformin with greater risk for gastrointestinal problems. Another systemic review and meta analysis on the effect of oral hypoglycemic agents on HbA1c levels showed that most OHAs lowered HbA1c levels by 0.5 to 1.25 % whereas thiazolidinediones and sulfonylureas lowered HbA1c levels by 1.0 to 1.25 % (Sherifali et al., 2010). This review also concluded that the benefit of initiating an OHA is most apparent within the first 4 to 6 months . A meta analysis on comparison of different drugs as add-on treatment to metformin in type 2 diabetes showed that sulphonylureas, ÃŽ ±-glucosidase inhibitors and thiazolidinediones induced reduction of HbA1c of 0.85, 0.61 and 0.42 respectively (Monami et al., 2007). In direct comparisons, sulphonylureas induced a greater reduction of HbA1c than thiazolidinediones. For the treatment with ÃŽ ±-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) acarbose, a meta-analysis showed favourable trends towards risk reduction for myocardial infarction and any cardiovascular event (Hanefeld et al., 2004). The meta-analysis also revealed that acarbose treatment also significantly improved glycemic control, triglyceride levels, body weight and systolic blood pressure. 1.4.3 Non Pharmacological Treatment Exercise Exercise plays an important therapeutic role in the management of type 2 diabetes and usually is prescribed along with dietary therapy and pharmacologic therapy. The benefits of exercise are observed through the lowering of blood glucose concentration during and after exercise (Najim, 2008). Physical activities are able to reduce the risk of progression from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to type 2 diabetes mellitus by 58% (Sigal et al., 2006). There is evidence that showed the relation between the exercise and the HbA1c level, where exercise training reduced HbA1c by an amount that should decrease the risk of diabetic complications (Boule et al., 2001). b. Dietary Control Obesity and weight gain contributes to the development of diabetes. The impact of obesity will put the diabetic patients on risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) (Anderson et al., 2003). Hence, decreasing the weight will decrease the risk for developing diabetes. Despite that, glycemic control also will be well controlled. A meta-analysis on restricted-carbohydrate diets in type 2 diabetic patients showed that there is an improvement in HbA1c, fasting glucose, and some lipid fractions (triglycerides) with lower carbohydrate-content diets (Kirk et al., 2008). A study conducted to assess the effects of high dietary fiber intake in type 2 diabetic patient shows that high intake of dietary fiber, particularly the soluble type, improves glycemic control, decreases hyperinsulinemia and also lowers plasma lipid concentrations (Chandalia et al., 2000). The Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 4th Edition (2009) suggests that a balanced diet consist ing of 50-60% (Carbohydrate), 15-20% (Protein) and 25-30% (Fats) are encouraged. However, these recommendations must be individualized based on glucose and lipid goals. 1.5 MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE In United States, there is an estimated of 99 million Americans living with a chronic illness. This becomes one of the major challenges faced by the U.S. health care system today and in the future. However, the defining features of primary care which includes continuity, coordination and comprehensiveness, are well suited to the care of chronic illness (Rothman and Wagner, 2003). In the WHOs World Health Report 2008: Primary Health Care Now More Than Ever shows that the primary-care team becomes the mediator between the community and the other levels of the health system, helping people navigating through the maze of health services and mobilizing the support of other facilities by referring patients or calling on the support of specialized services (WHO, 2008). Evidence has shown that with a better primary care, especially coordination of care could reduce avoidable hospitalization rates, especially for individuals with multiple chronic conditions (Wolff et al., 2002). In Thailand, the patient satisfaction toward primary care units has improved when compared to public hospitals out-patients-department. An evolutionary change, as the patients in Thailand started to have confidence in local facilities such as primary care units for monitoring of chronic diseases (Pongsupap et al., 2005). 1.5.1 The Management of Chronic Diseases in Primary Health Care Centers in Malaysia Chronic diseases are the major cause of death and disability in Malaysia, accounted for 71% of all deaths and 69% of the total burden of disease. Preliminary data from Malaysian Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Surveillance 2005/06 estimated that approximately 11.6 million Malaysian adults aged 25-64 years were having at least one risk factor for chronic diseases and only about 3% did not have any risk factor. (Ramli and Taher, 2008). A study carried in an urban primary health care setting in Sarawak shows that the poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7.5%) is about 38%. Wong and Rahimah (2004) suggested that reasonable glycemic control can be achieved in the primary health care setting in Sarawak. A study was carried out to evaluate the status of diabetes care and prevalence of diabetic complications among the diabetic patients in primary private health care Malaysia. Majority of diabetic patients treated at the primary care level were not satisfactorily controlled and were associated with a high prevalence of complications (Mafauzy, 2005). Hence, there is a need on putting on more efforts in order to achieve clinical targets. 1.6 MEDICATION ADHERENCE A literature review showed that the adherence rates for patients with type 2 diabetes have ranged from 65 % to 85% for OHA and 60 % to 80 % for insulin (Kenreigh and Wagner, 2005). A survey was done in the United States to assess medication adherence, knowledge of therapeutic goals and goal attainment for adult patient with diabetic. The result showed that 48 % of patients were medication non-adherent and most frequently reported reasons for non-adherence were forgetfulness (34 %) and too expensive (14 %). This study also shows that the patients at HbA1c goal were more adherent than patients not at goal (Whitley et al., 2006). A study was carried out by Tan and Judy, on self-care practices of Malaysian adults with diabetes and sub-optimal glycaemic control. The result showed that only 53 % subjects scored below 50 % in their diabetes-related knowledge, subjects with medication non-adherence, 46 % tended to have higher fasting blood glucose levels and only 15 % of the subjects practiced SMBG (Tan and Judy, 2008). Patients which non adherent to the drug regimen was found to be at higher risk of hospitalization. The study on this showed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who did not obtained at least 80% of their antihyperglycemic medications across a year were at a higher risk of hospitalization in the following year (Lau and Nau, 2004). 1.6.1 Factor Affecting Non-Adherence in Diabetes Mellitus Drug non-adherence is a major concern in patient management, especially in individuals with diabetes, which makes the glycemic control difficult to attain. Adisa et al. (2009) stated that the commonly cited intentional nonadherence practice included dose omission, 70.2%. Almost 50 % respondents were fed up with daily ingestion of drugs and 19.8% of the respondents stated that it was inconvenient to take the medications outside. Furthermore, forgetfulness (49.6%) and high cost of medication (35.5%) were also reasons for non adherence. Another factor that influenced the non adherence were patient-related factors (96%) and health care system-related factors (79%) (Ratsep et al., 2007). Ratsep et al. stated that the patient-related factors include patients awareness regarding diabetes and its complications, patients motivation to change their lifestyle, non-compliance with medical regimen, patients financial problems and their non-attendance. Health care system-related factors include th e lack of special diabetes education for nurses, underfunding and an inadequate number of patients educational materials. 1.7 PHARMACISTS INTERVENTION Health coaching which relies on frequent contact and ongoing intervention has emerged in recent years as part of disease management initiatives (Melko et al., 2010). This has been promoted as an effective method for improving health outcomes and patient compliance with medication. A pilot study done by Melko et al. (2010) has shown that health coaching combined with tools do increased medication adherence. In United States, the adherence to OHA therapy ranged from 36 to 93 % in patients remaining on treatment for 6 to 24 months. Electronic monitoring identified poor compliers for interventions that improved adherence,61 to 79 % (Cramer, 2004). A study has shown that, HbA1c levels decreased significantly in the intervention group after the 4th month and remained lower than in the control group until the 12th month (Scain et al., 2009). Moreover, a decreased of HbA1c by 0.16% was observed with each 10% increased in drug adherence (Schectman et al., 2001). With every 1 % reduction in updated mean HbA1c was associated with reductions in risk of 21 % for any end point related to diabetes, 21 % for deaths related to diabetes, 14 % for myocardial infarction and 37 % for microvascular complications (Stratton et al., 2000). A review of the literature on the role of pharmacists indicates that there is a potential benefit of pharmacist interventions to improve medication adherence in diabetes, especially focusing in providing patient education (Lindenmeyer et al., 2006). A study on Latino patients with uncontrolled diabetes (Hemogloblin A1c ≠¥ 8.0%) showed that intervention from the pharmacist and health promoter team management of uncontrolled diabetes appears to be a feasible approach in order to improve the medication management (Gerber et al., 2009). Marcio Machado and his team found that there is a significant reduction in HbA1c levels in the pharmacists intervention group but not in the control group which is without pharmacists intervention (Machado et al., 2007). In the journal which discussed the role of pharmaceutical care in diabetes management, there were evidences suggesting that the pharmacists efforts in optimizing the pharmacotherapy can prove a valuable component in community-based multi disciplinary diabetes care (Davis et al., 2005). A meta analysis carried out by Conn et al. (2009) which investigated the effectiveness of interventions to improve medication adherence in older adults suggests that interventions increase medication adherence in older adults. The types of interventions include pill count, electronic medication -event monitoring device (MEMS), diabetes education, medication counseling, monitoring and insulin initiation and/or adjustments. In comparison of MEMS and pill count, MEMS data resulted in different numbers and types of recommendations than pill counts (Matsuyama et al., 1993). Hence, the pharmacists then could make specific recommendation regarding patient educations. A Cochrane review stated that almost all of the interventions that were effective for long term care were complex, which include combinations of more convenient care, information, reminders, self-monitoring, reinforcement, counseling, family therapy, psychological therapy, crisis intervention, manual telephone follow-up and supportive care (Haynes et al., 2008). However, there is no conclusion about the effectiveness of the interventions that could lead to large improvement in adherence and treatment outcomes. An earlier meta analysis of studies conducted reported that chronic disease patients including those with diabetes and hypertension, as well as cancer patients and those with mental health problems benefited from interventions such as prescription refills, pill counts and electronic monitoring (Roter et al., 1998). 1.8 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The primary health care settings play an important role in primary steps in order to prevent the development of chronic diseases. In Malaysia, there were a number of people who have chronic diseases that received treatment in the primary health care settings. Hence, research should be carried out in order to assess the medication adherence among diabetic patients in the primary care settings in order to achieve better therapeutic outcome. 1.8.1 General Objective To assess the impact of pharmacist counseling on medication adherence among the diabetic patients in primary care centre 1.8.2 Specific Objectives To assess patients blood glucose level and knowledge, before and after counseling. To evaluate patients medication adherence, before and after intervention. To correlate the medication adherence with counseling.

Human Responsibilities in Domestic Breeding Essay -- Animals, Domesti

Human Responsibilities in Domestic Breeding Introduction For centuries humans have taken on the role of selectively breeding various animals in the pursuit of specific traits or behaviors. A question that is often ignored, and which I want to address, is what responsibility do the breeders have in selecting dam and sires for a mating, in regard to the offspring from that cross. In the past, animals were regarded with varying levels of respect and moral status. In early hunter-gather societies, animals were perceived as being fully rational, sentient and intelligent beings and thus be treated with due respect and consideration (1). With the advent of animal husbandry came changes in the way animals were viewed. Initially, it was common to elevate them to the status of â€Å"zoomorphic gods† and incorporated strict respect and kindness toward animals (1)(2). The respect towards animals changed over time and the different views became very disparate. Some groups saw animals merely as tools and others advocated vegetarianism and virtual ly equal moral status with humans. The beginnings of modern science, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries drastically diminished the moral status of animals, due in part to the ideas of Rene Descartes. [reference] Animals were widely seen as organic but soulless matter, similar to a machine. These views supported vivisections and other degradations towards animals as acceptable. Today, a whole spectrum exists on the moral status of animals, however, I believe the most convincing is the Equal Consideration and Unequal Moral Status proposed by David Degrazia (3). Basically, Degrazia proposes that the lives of humans and animals are relevantly different and an animal could be harmed if â€Å"needful†. .. ...ay not have any interests in common with humans, through selective mating. This last point adds a layer of complexity to the decision-making process but does not change the ethics in this case based on Wasserman’s argument. For example if, for whatever reason, a dog wanted long hair but the breeder thought that short hair would be more comfortable due to the climate, the breeder does not wrong the offspring because his motivation was, in his perspective, best for the offspring. Conclusion Therefore, based on the argument by Rollins we have an obligation to all domestic animals because we have fashioned a world where they are no longer capable of living on their own. Furthermore, having taken the responsibility to selectively breed them we have the duty to provide the proper balance of genetic diversity because that is in the best interests of the offspring.

Print Shop

It provides homeless and at risk youth the opportunity to learn fundamental work and life skills. The Print Shop is located at Eve's Phoenix- see Exhibit 1 for a description of Eva Smith and her vision. The youth are paid entry-level wages and are accountable for duties and responsibilities that mirror those of most printing operations. Even before the youth are hired, they Job shadow to get an appreciation of working in the graphic communication industry. The Print Shop is based on a blended value proposition which entails social, economic and environmental dimensions.It is dedicated to â€Å"continuing asset building† so that the youth can come self-sufficient in the long term. Success is achieved if both the youth and the Print Shop develop self-sufficiency. Operations The Print Shop specializes in â€Å"trainee- friendly' print work, typically small format Job printing (1 1†³ x 17† and under) in one color and 2-3 spot color reproduction. It can work with most g raphic design software programs. In-house graphic design work is also available. Commercial projects Include business cards, letterhead, business cards, forms and brochures.Finishing services Include trimming, folding, scoring, perforating and shrink- wrapping. The Print Shop occupies 800 square feet In Eve's Phoenix. It has four presses: an A. B. DiCk 360, an A. B. DiCk 9810, a Heidelberg CM. 46 and a Multiple 1 250, all with color heads, and other donated equipment. Michael Ralph joined the Print Shop as its business manager after a long career in advertising. His role is to manage the systems, the people and the business opportunities of the Print Shop. His challenge is â€Å"to make sure that the fine line between training needs and business demands is relatively constant. The Print Shop is supported by an advisory board which includes senior members of the graphic communications industry. The board revised advice on curriculum, employment opportunities and technology. See Exhi bit 2 for the members of the advisory board as well as the Print Shop's organizational context. The Print Shop participates actively In the graphic communications Industry; for example, It has had booths at trade shows. Curriculum training and counseling for three weeks; 2. They get on-the-Job print shop training for 20 weeks; and -2- 3. They make Job connections and career development in the last four weeks.They learn fundamental employability work habits (e. G. , team work, attendance, punctuality and safety) as well as a customer service orientation. Youth learn about the graphic communications industry and go on tours of organizations so that they can see where they might work after graduation. The Print Shop brings in peer mentors to assist both the trainees and the instructors with training and production. The peer mentors are themselves Print Shop graduates. Once the youth graduate, they stay connected to the Print Shop through a two year follow-up program.They receive traini ng in Job planning and organization, prepares using various software programs on both PC and Macintosh platforms, small offset press operation and binding and finishing. The program is delivered by two well experienced faculty, Patrick Fisher and Bill Kid, who work part-time. They have a deep appreciation of the challenges that their students have faced in the past and are patient and flexible in how they deliver the curriculum. Outcomes The Print Shop started production in 2002. It trained ten youth in print shop and small business skills – six graduated and four were employed.In 2003, all 1 1 graduates have gone on to graphic communications programs or to commercial print shops. While four lost their opportunities, two have been re-employed. Graduates eave become press helpers and operators and production assistants, earning between $8. 00 and $14. 00 an hour. Every year, a graduate is awarded the Toronto Club Printing House Craftsman's Student Award. In 2003, the Print Sho p had revenues of $50,000, achieving 30 per cent business cost classificatory. It got 80 per cent of its work from other community organizations and 20 per cent from ‘caring corporations'.

Carbon Budgeting

Carbon Budgeting Carbon Budgeting Carbon budgeting is a project currently carried out by nearly all the countries in the world today. It is closely linked to the carbon trade concept which simply refers to the contributions of all the major industrial powers to the provision of a green economy. In other words, carbon trading is a situation in which all the developed nations contribute a share of their budget to clean the environments. Since it these countries which greatly contributes to the environmental pollution, it is incumbent upon them to allocate resources to ensure that they clean the environment. Typically, the emission of green gasses is mainly done by the developed countries. However, they do not suffer from their effects since the most affected victims are the vulnerable people from the Less Developed Nations (Helm, D., 2005). According to the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, all the 38 industrialized countries are supposed to provide funds to be used in the cleanliness of the environment. However, this does not imply that they should spend the money in their home countries. Instead, these funds should be sent to these developing nations to be used in the process of cleaning their environment. In other words, the money is used in the planting of more trees. It is only through this exercise that more forests can emerge to be used as cleaning agents of these places. Despite the fact that each country has its own internal policies regarding this matter, it is important to note that they are all obliged to adhere to the terms of Kyoto Protocol which are quite categorical and precise in this matter. Since humanity has failed to observe environmental ethics, it is undoubtedly accepted to assert that the biodiversity has suffered a lot because of these perceived anthropogenic destructions done to the ecosystem. Carbon budgeting is necessary because it is the only way through which people can be salvaged from the harmful effects of such irresponsible use of the natural resources. As already highlighted, it is only the poor people who suffer from the effects of green gas emissions done by the rich North. Failure to avert this problem has led to global warming which has resulted into unpredictable weather patterns normally characterized by increased temperatures, droughts and floods. These have, in one way or another, caused a perpetual hunger and diseases such as cancer which have of course led to the loss of many lives. As was explained in the Kyoto conference, it is the third world countries which greatly feel the pains of green gas emissions because of their vulnerability. A part from being extremely poor, they are more vulnerable since they can not adequately protect themselves from the effects of such degradations (Smith, S., 2008). In other terms, it is only those who do not contribute to the pollution who suffer most from the effects of the destructions. This is what compels the major contributors to channel a large portion of their budget to sponsor this exercise. A lot of money should therefore be sent to the developing countries to help the in planting a lot of trees. If this is properly done, there will be a large area under forest coverage. Hence, the environment will be cleaned from the green gas emissions. If this is done, life will be better because these people will be saved from their problems such as wars which are always attributed to pollution. It is generally accepted that these people often fight for the few resources such as food which have become scarce because of climate change (Nordhaus, W., 2007). On the other hand, carbon budgeting may entail carrying out of cleanliness activities within the polluting countries. This means that the governments which are responsible for green gas emissions should launch environmental protection programs aimed at reducing such emissions within their territorial borders. They can carry out initiatives such as stopping certain projects which are believed to be the chief source of pollutions. At the same time, stringent regulations can be enforced to advocate for Environmental Impact Assessments before establishing any project which may be a recipe to environmental pollution. If funds are channeled to the Third World Countries as a carbon trading initiative, deliberate efforts must be taken to ensure that they are used in a right manner. Nobody should be any opportunity to misappropriate them (James R.F., 2010). They should not be spent in a selfish manner. Instead, it should be known that this is a kind of project done for the benefit of the entire world to cater both for the current and future generations. Similarly, carbon budgets can be used for providing environmental education to the people. Even if man is the chief source of pollution in the world today, it must be accepted that most of their activities are conducted because of ignorance. Many people are not aware of the environmental ethics which demand that the environment should be used sparingly in a sustainable manner in order to provide a sustainable economic growth. Life is a cyclic continuous process which involved successive generations. However, none of them should suffer because of the irresponsible consumption of others (Glasson, J. et al., 2007). In this regard, I would like conclude by agreeing with the fact environmental consciousness is the most important tool which everyone should be armed with. No one should be selfish in the use of natural resources since they are essential for the life of the entire biodiversity. Deliberate efforts must be taken to ensure that pollution is eliminated. Otherwise, adequate funds should be provided through the carbon budget initiative to ensure that all the emissions generated so far; are eliminated.

Archaism - Definition and Examples

Archaism s An archaism is a word or phrase (or a particular meaning of a word or phrase) that is no longer in common use and is considered extremely old-fashioned. Etymology:  From the Greek, ancient, beginning Pronunciation:  ARE-kay-i-zem Also Known  As:  lexical zombie A  grammatical archaism  is a sentence structure or word order thats no longer in common use in most dialects.   Linguist Tom McArthur notes that literary archaism occurs when a style is modeled on older works, so as to revive earlier practices or achieve the desired effect. (Source: Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language, 2005) Examples The old man raised the axe and split the head of John Joel Glanton to the thrapple.(Source: Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian, 1985)[Nick Faldo] speaks in a jaunty, clipped, wised-up vernacular, mixing street-smart patter with solid analysis. His vocabulary is rich in curious archaisms- jeepers, crumbs, gee- and eccentric asides.(Source: Jason Cowley, Nicks Second Coming. The Guardian, Oct. 1, 2006) 19th-Century Archaisms We do not have to go back as far as Elizabethan English or the Middle Ages to encounter archaisms. Here are some from the Victorian and Edwardian eras: beastly (as in so beastly critical) blest, deuced (if I know) capital! (as an exclamation of delight) very civil (of you) confound you! damnable cheek guvnor luncheon pray (come in) (you) rotter spiffing And might we not say that daddy-o is an archaism, even though it was alive and well in the 1960s? (Source: David Crystal, Words, Words, Words. Oxford University Press, 2006) 20th-Century Archaisms Among the technological archaisms Ive had to explain to the Tuned In children- what a record is, why they call it dialing a phone, the fact that, once, you couldnt rewind TV shows- is the fact that, a long time ago, musicians used to make little movies of their songs, and people would watch them on TV. (James Poniewozik, Wake Up and Smell the Cat Food in Your Bank Account. Time magazine, May 2, 2007) Stuff It is rather odd to see that the OED [Oxford English Dictionary] defines the word care as some kind of stuff. This seems at first glance to be a rather nonspecific definition to find in what is arguably the greatest dictionary ever created. But it is actually very specific- just a bit archaic. The word stuff has had a variety of meanings through the ages, and at the time that this definition was written, in 1888, it referred to (among other things) a woollen fabric or material for the gown worn by a junior counsel.(Source: Ammon Shea, Dated Definitions. The New York Times, Aug. 12, 2009) Archaisms and Register It should be added . . . that there is a problem with the identification of archaism, since archaisms are  sometimes not archaic in the register in which they are used. For example, thee and thou are not archaic forms in a certain type of poetic register; they are archaic only in relation to our contemporary day-to-day speech. Thus the use of an archaism can be interpreted as either conforming to a register or looking back to the past (or both). . . . Only by using a dictionary such as the OED, which is a historical dictionary, giving the meanings of words over time, will you be able to find out whether certain words were current or archaic at the time of writing.​  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹(Source: Martin Montgomery et al.,  Ways of Reading: Advanced Reading Skills for Students of English Literature, 3rd ed. Routledge, 2007) The Lighter Side of Archaisms Frank Rossitano: Yo Tray, we got a problem. Tracy Jordan as President Thomas Jefferson: Pray, who be this Tracy Jordan thou speakest of? Frank: Eh, President Jefferson, we got a problem. Tracy: Speaketh. Frank Rossitano: That horse ate your wig. Tracy: Well, stand guard by his rump and await it in his droppings.(Source: Judah Friedlander and Tracy Morgan in Corporate Crush. 30 Rock, 2007)

The Print Media Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Print Media - Research Proposal Example However, a recent detailed version of the story public on the New York Times reveals the account from the lens of the bloggers which is indicated by the mere headline of the piece, i.e. ‘NYC Mayor De Blasio: Police Were Disrespectful to Turn Backs’. In other words, the gist of the story which clearly speaks of the account of how the Mayor castigates the police officers is revealed by the headline. Any reader referring to the news story or even an opinion leader mentioning this news story can`t help but readily demonstrate an inherent bias towards the issue. Further reading into the story, the story reveals the account of how the Mayor castigated the NYPD and directly targeted those who created a scene at the funeral earlier saying that these officers were disrespectful towards the families of the deceased. Furthermore, the piece is worded in such a way that it would appear to the reader as if the Mayor exceeded his limits and was too harsh on the innocent officers. Moreo ver, another report says that Mayor avoided the reporters for weeks, which has again been presented in such a way that the readers would perceive as if the Mayor was merely engaged in face-saving. Therefore, clearly, the piece lacks balanced approach. However, the same paper reported the issue in a contrasting context earlier where the bias was placed more in the favor. The opinion editorial published in New York Times labeled ‘Respect for NYPD Squandered in Attacks on Bill de Blasio’ presents yet another picture where the paper takes a contrasting direction.

Writer's choice Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Writer's choice - Coursework Example Then the next minute he says that Biff is not lazy, and this may be taken to mean that he still has hopes that his son would become rich and be successful (Hurrel, 1961). Another moment of confusion is when he calls the family car that he just finished paying for a piece of junk then later defines it as the best car that has ever been built. Clearly, he does not have a clear view of reality and what he wishes is very different from what is on the ground. He represents everyman in the sense that he wants success as other people have done before him. His view of success is distorted and has very high expectations for his sons. His sons have failed to meet his expectation making him a disillusioned man. Biff and Happy have very different characters and opinions of their father. Biff is disappointed in his fathers action. He appeared to be angry with him and disappointed in him. He once found out that his father was cheating on his mother and wanted to confront him. He feels that his father has very unrealistic expectations of him leading him to tell him that he is just an ordinary man living an ordinary life (Hurrel, 1961). He is very angry at his father for constantly talking about his disappointment in him while at the same time tries to please him. He feels that he has failed in getting the success that his father had instilled in him when he was young. ‘I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been.’ Biff, act II. He had hoped that he would pass his education and head off to college. However, this did not come to pass as he failed and ended up dong manual farm work that his father is very ashamed about. Happy has a stable job unlike Biff and his attitude towards his father and the entire family is to try to maintain happiness in all of them even if it means lying to them. He first tries to convince Biff to lie that he had gotten a business deal to their father. He treats his father better in that

Financial Risk ManagementOption Trading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Risk ManagementOption Trading - Essay Example Commodity risk arises from the potential movement in the underlying commodity and as such includes energy products as commodity. (Jorion, 2007). The speculative trading in options by CAO indicate that the company was betting too much on speculations about the movement in the prices of the oil in international market which however, did not happened positively all the time and company plunged into troubles. Historically, it has been observed that the energy products are relatively more volatile as compared to other commodities and as such unorganized speculative activity in such products definitely result into losses for the firms. Credit Risk is another important aspect of overall risk management and firms have to relatively take care of the fact that credit worthiness of the parties with whom they are trading is good. Credit rating therefore plays a critical role in defining the future relationship of the counter parties to any transaction. The major role of credit ratings and credit rating agencies is therefore of providing an independent opinion based on certain specific criteria.(Servigny & Renault, 2004). The analysis of the given facts will indicate that the firm attempted to involve itself in trade with companies whose credit worthiness was not good in the market. By trading on their behalf, CAO actually attempted to acquire the credit of risk of those companies whose overall credit risk was relatively higher as compared to other companies. CAO entered on behalf of the airlines by offering identical contract terms to counter parties and in return of premium waiver of those air lines, CAO basically assumed the credit risk of all such airlines. The involvement of back to back transactions itself indicated that the CAO was more than willing to assume the credit risk of these airlines however, with more volatile increase in the oil prices, the overall net exposure of CAO

Better Pay and Working Conditions in Multinational Essay Example for Free

Better Pay and Working Conditions in Multinational Essay Reaction Paper Part I: Identification Alexander Hijzen and Paul Swaim, â€Å"Do multinationals promote better pay and working conditions? † OECD (Organization for Economic Development) Observer, October 2008; Issue 269, pp 15 – 17. Part II: Abstract Summary The article examines the behavior of international business enterprises, also known as multinational enterprises (MNEs), wages and working conditions, from the perception of the Organization for Economic Development (OECD). It gives a basic definition of a MNE as a corporation with headquarters in one country and affiliates, subsidiaries or merged operations in one or several other countries. Example MNE’s mentioned in the article include: Coca-Cola, Nike, Microsoft, EDF (French energy company), Rio Tinto (British-Australian mining firm), and Toyota. The article notes that there are thousands of MNEs and that they all are not a symbol of Western economic dominance. Some of the top firms listed now in FT one of the UK’s top international business magazines includes China, Russia, India, and Brazil. First, the article addresses the pro and con opinions that supporters and opponents of globalization bring to the working table of MNE’s. It stresses the fact that no matter what one’s opinion may be, the role of the MNEs in the world economy will continue to grow. Next, the article discusses the nature of MNEs as well as notes their advantages on employment (wages and working conditions). Concerning the wages, the article mentions that MNEs’ technical expertise and modern management styles would provide a basis for higher pay wages. However, the pessimists doubt the higher pay since the MNEs are typically in a strong bargaining position with local workers. The article explains that the best way to answer the question do multinational promote better pay and working conditions was to present a comparison of local and foreign companies in terms of their labor practices. So a study was completed to report on this question. The study showed that MNEs do tend to pay more than local firms that compete in the same markets. In general the pay is 40% higher. The study also noted that the pay may be higher to minimize worker turnover and reduce monitoring cost. These results were based upon the report focusing on three OECD countries (Germany, Portugal, and the UK) and two emerging economies (Brazil and Indonesia). Then the author presented the results from the study of those newly hired workers pay vs. those workers who moved from a domestic to a foreign-owned firm, as well as their adjustments to labor practices/working conditions. The study showed higher wages for newly hired workers and small losses or no effect for those moving to foreign firms. Several previous studies were mentioned which noted that multinational tend to adapt to local practices rather than impose their own. Finally, the author expresses the effect that experienced managers have on MNE’s. It has been proven that local firms that recruit managers with experience in multinationals enjoy higher productivity. They can more easily recognize and enforce internationally accepted labor standards. In the end, it is noted that not only experienced managers but also government support is what will help the MNEs be productive and help development.

Edith Whartons The Age of Innocence Essay -- Edith Wharton Age Innoce

Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence â€Å"As he entered the box his eyes met Miss Welland’s, and he saw that she had instantly understood his motive, though the family dignity which both considered so high a virtue would not permit her to tell him so. The persons of their world lived in an atmosphere of faint implications and pale delicacies, and the fact that he and she understood each other without a word seemed to the young man to bring them nearer than any explanation would have done.† (Wharton 16) This statement vividly illustrates the power of the unsaid within New York society during the 1870’s, the time in which The Age of Innocence was set. At that time, there existed a powerful set of rules, regulations, and codes pertaining to one’s conduct that were most often unspoken and, therefore, were never â€Å"formally† outlined. However, this did not in any way lessen the degree to which these standards were adhered to, and, thereby, upheld as if they were carved in the same ston e as the Ten Commandments. Because New York Society did not have much need for religion, other than for rites of passage, the rules of society were to them like rules of their religion. As a woman who was raised in this society, Edith Wharton was able to illustrate with great clarity the influence that the unsaid had when it came to knowing how one should behave if society is to look on them favourably. She further goes on to express the perils of a life lived within these particular codes. In the initial example used in the introduction, which took place in Chapter II of the novel, the reader is not only able to see the reason for Newland Archer’s behaviour, but the example also acts as a method of foreshadowing which alludes to the significant role ... ...nocence, one must only see the power that things left unsaid had in holding together a society such as the one that existed in New York during the time of the novel. Things that went unspoken, but were left to be solved by duty and appropriateness had the ability to act like the glue that held the Newland/Archer family together for a lifetime of children, and a lifetime of existence within a society that would not have accepted it any other way. Until the day before she died, May Welland/Archer acted in accordance with the unspoken rules of society in order to protect herself, her family, her marriage, and even the social structure itself, the very structure which forced her into accepting what life had given her long ago, and had taught her to learn to accept it. Works Cited Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York: 1920.