Baskin Robbins Marketing Research Case Study

Baskin Robbins Case Study This case summarizes the marketing research to be performed for the logo redesign project of Baskin Robbins. Case Analysis Baskin-Robbins Brand Officer Ken Kimmel felt it was important to conduct this study because the frozen-food retailing industry had become more hostile to Baskin-Robbins in recent years. A few entrants such as Cold Stone Creamery and others had popularized the in-store experience. Cold Stone Creamery's sales were now almost 75 percent of Baskin-Robbins' sales. The contest has changed since the mid-1980s'. Customers are more demanding about the hospitality experience.They earn more money and they can buy comparable ice creams to Baskin-Robbins in grocery stores now. While BR’s competitors are pushing this mix-in experience – a higher price theater experience. The main purpose of the Baskin-Robbins corporate study was to decide whether or not they should change their logo to gain a competitive advantage. They are also using th is study to find out the implications of a change of logo, and a change in the way the stores are designed. The key questions the Baskin-Robbins brand team is addressing are: should the brand logo be changed to signal something new is happening at Baskin-Robbins?If the logo is changed would there be synergy between the logo changed and the redesign interiors? Also, changing the interior of stores will offer a lot of complications with the franchisees. A main concern is whether or not these franchisees would be willing to buy into the new ideas, considering that they have invested a lot into the franchise. The management of Baskin Robbins wants to change logo based on the customer reaction towards old logo and new logo after showing the drawings of the new logo and new redesign of the stores.The research design to be adopted should be exploratory research that can be based on the focus groups and direct interviews with the customer. Also observational research can be used to perform the research on how the customer reacts to the visits to the store and their reaction during the direct interview with the interviewer on the store and logo redesign. Approach for the research should be developed. Approach can consist of multiple research options such as direct interviews, focus groups and observational research. Research design can include the form of the research for each of the approach.A questionnaire can be designed to have direct interviews with the customers visiting the store. An observational form can be designed to capture the observations during the direct interviews. Secondary data have been collected for purposes other than the problem at hand. These data can be quickly located and are not expensive. Syndicated data are the compiled data available from the external agencies that can be used for the marketing research problem. These data are available in bulk. The secondary and syndicated data can be used for the research.Customer can be interviewed base d on their location by an internet survey or a telephonic call to gather details about their perspective on Baskin Robbins old logo and their experience with the store. Conclusion Marketing research plays an important role in decision making. Professionally done marketing research are practical provides a value to management. References California Intercontinental University – Quality Research in Consumer Behavior Study Guide Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation, Sixth EditionHelp by Naresh K Malhotra Related post: Advantages and Disadvantages of Administrative Management

Explanation of Human Behavior Essay

The history of evolutionary psychology began with Charles Darwin, who proposed that humans have social instincts that evolved by natural selection. Darwin’s work inspired later psychologists such as William James and Sigmund Freud but for most of the 20th century psychologists focused more on behaviorism and proximate explanations for human behavior. As school psychology transitions into an outcome-oriented profession, we continue to evolve new ways to bring science into applied practice in schools. This evolution is critical to the continued importance and viability of school psychology in U.S. schools. In the years since the inception of school psychology, many applications of science in practice have occurred, each with increased effectiveness. We stand at the threshold of the next iteration in that direction. ( Best Practices in School Psychology V) Psychological each perspective has its strengths and weaknesses, and brings something different to our understanding of human behavior. For this reasons, it is important that psychology does have different perspectives to the understanding and study of human and animal behavior. Genetic potential theoretical optimum performance capability an individual could achieve in a specific activity after an ideal upbringing, nutrition and training. In real terms it may be assumed that the finalists in a world championship are among the human beings whose performance comes closest to their genetic potential. Environmental influences sometimes it depends on the environment we grow up in are known to affect traits like our height and weight and out IQ, and our chances of developing a behavioral problems. The roots of all behavior and cognitive are to found in both our biology, due to genetic inheritance, and in experience, due to are environment.  So it involves nature and nurture. Personal choice is on the other side, nurture. The idea that people are products of their environments, and environment/socialization is a big factor in making people who they are, the messages they absorb, the behaviors they are compelled to imitate, which presumes all manner of social constructs that don’t exist in real life yet are assumed to exist in the same way/same forms because of the general outcome (for instance, the myth of â€Å"shared girlhood† and the idea that all small humans absorb socialization  of one form or another in the same way as everyone else as these passive receivers of external things that most of them may not even understand.) The ability to choose is what makes humans human. We can even alter the evolution of our own species, consciously, via free will and choice. Humans can make themselves whatever they choose to, because they chose to. References: http://www.nasponline.org/publications/booksproducts/ Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods

Social Media Addiction Amongst University Students Research Paper

Social Media Addiction Amongst University Students - Research Paper Example Hence, the research question for this study is, â€Å"Which gender and age group is more addicted to social media and why?† Review of Literature Dryer (2010) reported that by March of 2010, there were 200 million blogs worldwide, 450 million Facebook accounts, 27 million tweets every 24 hours from Twitter and 1.2 billion views on You Tube every day. As of 2012, it was reported that almost 75% of teens and young adults are members of at least one social networking site (Thompson & Lougheed, 2012), and with Facebook users, 250 million log into the site daily (Facebook, 2011). Such astounding statistics show explosive social media has grown over a short period of time and is expected to relentlessly grow more in the future. Dryer (2010) notes: Social media, i.e., blogs, wikis, social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, multimedia sharing sites like YouTube and Flickr, and social tagging sites like Digg and Yelp, represents a revolutionary shift in the way we communicate. Social media has democratized information and empowered ordinary citizens with the ability to organize, share information, and be heard like never before in our history. Social media is word of mouth on steroids and is beginning to morph from a fun and easy way to stay socially connected with friends into a dynamic and interactive way of doing business (p. 16). Berinstein (2011) contends that the obsession with social media is linked to people’s desperate need to feel good. She concludes that â€Å"social media has offered us a new way to anesthetize a deep-rooted feeling of lack: the more likes we get, the better we feel† (Bernstein, 2011, para. 1). What is addictive is actually the... This essay stresses that going back to the research question, â€Å"Which gender and age group is more addicted to social media and why?†, this research echoes results of past studies that women and younger university students in the age group of 17-21 years are more prone to social media addiction due to the more prolonged time they spend online. Young ladies derive much satisfaction and a boost in their self-esteem when friends like or comment on their posts, especially their photos. They also invest more emotions on their responses to friends’ posts, and are more emotionally distraught when they get disconnected from social media. The roller coaster of emotions they get from such social media sites make it more addictive to them as they continuously search for â€Å"highs† beyond the â€Å"lows† in emotions. In terms of age, younger people have a stronger need to establish human connections with their peers, so they use social media as an avenue to esta blish and nurture these relationships. This paper makes a conclusion that addiction to social media is more common than people think, and surprisingly, more acceptable by society. Living in the age of information and technology is bound to develop such addiction since being socially and intellectually stimulated is a natural preference of people. What needs to be developed to a greater degree is the awareness and self-control necessary in balancing time and effort to enjoy social media as well as live more fulfilled lives in the â€Å"real world† with one’s family and friends.

Social Service Worker Program to Deal with Oppression Research Paper

Social Service Worker Program to Deal with Oppression - Research Paper Example This research paper investigates the oppression of women domestic workers in Canada, the consequences of this oppression and how social services can be improved upon by analyzing a number of articles on the relevant topic. Stasiulis and Baken in an article titled "Negotiating citizenship: the case of foreign domestic workers in Canada", discuss the concept of citizenship as a negotiated entity and have used the example of foreign domestic workers in Canada as a means to demonstrate that citizenship is negotiated on global and national levels. They stated that because these domestic workers in Canada are often not citizens of Canada; they are colored workers originating from different countries but they work for predominantly white and affluent Canadian women. So they are often subjected to abusive conditions at work. The authors have pointed out that in the new era of globalization, the principles of Keynesianism which were in favor of expanding the social services network, have given way to a need for a higher level of competitiveness in order to succeed in the marketplace. Therefore, many Governments are re-formulating the concept of citizenship. Stasiulis and Baken have dealt specifically with the issue of oppression of domestic workers in Canada and how their non-citizenship status has contributed to their oppression and suffering. They point out that the notion of citizenship itself may need to be renegotiated, away from its earlier view of the relationship between a single individual and the nation state.

The Influence of Information Literacy on Scholarship, Practice and Essay

The Influence of Information Literacy on Scholarship, Practice and Leadership - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that biased and false information are some of the components considered in determining the relevance of the information. Information literacy influences a number of fields especially the professional field for different reasons. Some of the uses of information literacy include research, determination of consumer choices, academic reasons. In addition to that, it helps in understanding the political arena. The effect of information literacy is such that over the decades, countries have introduced programs that ensure students are equipped with skills to not only operate in an information-rich society but also acquire and rightly apply that information. Different models have been designed to understand the ever-growing body of literature. A closer look at information literacy shows that it has an influence on scholarship, practice, and leadership. Scholarship refers to lifelong learning. This means that a person is constantly learning to improv e his or her skills in their area of specialty. On the other hand, practice refers to one’s behavioral patterns within their workplace. In other words, the practice not only looks at one’s technical skills but social skills in a work environment. Leadership explores one’s ability to have a positive influence in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Thus, information literacy analyzes one’s ability to recognize the need for information. This is critical for any leader as they are called upon to locate, evaluate, and apply the knowledge they have for the benefit of the society. Leadership greatly determines the success or failure of an institution. Time has proven that poor leadership only leads to an institution’s downfall.

Western Heritage I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Western Heritage I - Essay Example The Binzantine civilization was predominantly Christian in religion, the culture and language was Greek and the administrative authority was the Roman Empire. This civilization was fortressed such that it was protected from attacks from both sea and land. The Islamic civilization started among the Arabs of Arabia. This civilization was founded by Mohammed, a prophet who lived from 570-632 AD. In terms of religious and political order, Muslims used the Koran, a Holy book. According to the Muslims, their faith was the fulfillment of both Judaism and Christianity. Mohammed played a powerful role in bringing together Arabian tribes who constantly warred and diverted their energy to spreading of the Muslim faith. Mohammed was succeeded by Abu-Bakr, a caliph, who ruled according to Koran. The political system was basically theocratical; the government and religion were one and same thing. The Islamic civilization was characterized by common language, common culture and common faith. The Arab dominance eventually began to wane from the 11th Century. Latin Christendom existed in central and Western Europe. Though Islamic and Byzantine civilizations had immense predominance during their time, neither had as much influence in science, technology, philosophy, economics and politics as did Latin Christendom. During the middle age, Latin Christendom was culturally less advanced than the Eastern Civilizations. However, this changed in the twelfth century as Latin civilization began to advance. In medieval Europe, feudalism referred to a social system in which the lords provided military service for the vassals in exchange for land. This system resulted from the failing dominance of the central authority. The period preceding this was characterized by wars, no public revenues and reducing trade activities. Though it provided a replacement for the former system, it was not in itself organized with a basis of logic and foundational

Pollution and Lake Erie Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pollution and Lake Erie - Term Paper Example With increase in population a lot of things changed for this lake. This increase gave rise to pollution in the form of human waste, sawdust, agriculture chaff, oil etc. The forests around this lake were cut down in order to get wood for construction purposes. Around 1960s the whole outlook of the lake changed due to this pollution caused mainly by industrial waste and untreated sewage. Rivers that flowed into this lake were also much polluted. This problem became so serious that warnings were given to the residents against the contact with the water. All of this made life in this water impossible; hence, this lake was declared ‘dead’. Lake Erie is considered dead, as a consequence of eutrophication (Gilpin 1995). Lake Erie is one of the lakes in the world which has a very large dead zone. The area which lacks oxygen is called a dead zone. According to scientific researches done by scientists dead zone works in two distinct layers. There are two separate layers of water i n the lake; one is on the top and the other at the bottom. Temperatures in these two layers are mostly different except in the springtime where the temperature in both layers is the same. In summers, the water in the upper layer warms up and the bottom layer remains the same. This results in a significantly colder layer of water at the bottom of the lake. This difference in temperature between two layers is called thermocline. All the activities in the water takes place in the upper layer as all the sunlight and nutrients are present here. When the algae and animals present in the upper body die, they fall at the bottom and decomposition takes place. The process of decomposition uses up all the oxygen in these areas, hence, giving rise to dead zones. This problem is really bad in Lake Erie because the water here is not very deep and there is less oxygen in it so the oxygen is depleted very quickly. Scientists are making efforts to reduce this problem of oxygen depletion in Lake Erie . There are a lot of nutrients present in this lake and the sources of these nutrients are divided into two categories. These categories are called point sources and non point sources. Point sources are the sources through which the nutrients that are released into the water can be measured like wastewater treatment plants. On the other hand non point sources are the ones which cannot be measured for example agricultural runoff and the amount of fertilizers cannot be calculated accurately. It is still not possible to completely evaluate whether the dead zone is expanding or is recovering. It varies from year to year, according to the temperature. The great lakes national program office of USEPA is playing a vital role in repairing the Lake Erie. Surveys are conducted annually by these people to check the level, degree and occurrence of oxygen depletion in the lake basin. They also track the trend in which this occurs. These also check the phosphorus level in the water so that it doe s not exceed its level. Phosphorus changes water chemistry and can lead to changes in water oxygen levels that eventually impact aquatic plants and animals that feed off them (Davies & Mazurek 1998). The information gathered cannot be same for every year as weather is variable that changes every year so the level of oxygen and phosphorus varies each year. To do all this data is collected and EPA research is used. Side by side biological and geological surveys are also taken into consideration.

The Parior and The Cub Scout Pack Cause Studies Assignment

The Parior and The Cub Scout Pack Cause Studies - Assignment Example The theory seeks to establish a balance between the employee and the employer to this effect and aids in the development of a strong bond and working relation between the two parties that will sustain for a longer period and ensure that proper working relationship leads to satisfaction on both ends. The employer obtains the necessary service they need from the employees who also provide the employer with the service expecting a payment as a reward for their hard work. These results base majorly on the motivation aspect of the employees and leads to better decisions in managing employees. Relating to the theory by Adam, subtle factors and some that may vary over time affect an employee’s consideration of the relationship they share with the employer and could result into challenges in working together leading to failed relationships that will also lead to poor returns for the company. Employees become much de-motivated considering their inputs and the outputs. They become affec ted mentally if their inputs fail to reach their outputs that may lead to the development of resistance in the employees, disgruntled associations develop with less efforts used by employees in their work environment. These may also lead to industrial actions that may result from the de-motivation aspect that may cause more losses to the company. In the case of McCarthy, reducing costs in favor of his income was for the best of the organization making it more profitable with fewer costs as the agreement between him and Purvis. The agreement led to the development of a program that would terminally increase the earnings of the employee through cutting costs. The employee changed meet suppliers and worked towards the lowering of the general costs through reduction of the size of nearly every item on the menu. McCarthy did this in favor of the reduced costs that resulted. The actions

Discussion on Quantitative Reasoning for Business Course Essay Example for Free

Discussion on Quantitative Reasoning for Business Course Essay Discussion on Quantitative Reasoning for Business Course Self Reflection Paper 10/15/08 Discussion on Quantitative Reasoning for Business Course For many years, the quantitative or mathematical approach to business problem solving was the cornerstone of MBA programs worldwide. The traditional approach has been a rational analysis: information is collected, collated, analyzed and interpreted, alternatives are formulated, and a logical choice is consciously arrived at (Bagchi, 2005). In practice this means: â€Å"the more information, the better; ‘cool and calm’ strategic thinking should not be ‘debased’ by feelings; efficient thought and behavior must be called upon to subjugate emotion† (Sadler-Smith, 2004). The Quantitative Reasoning for Business course would provide me with the prerequisites necessary to master the rational analysis. In recent years, however, the usefulness of the quantitative analysis training for future managers has been put into doubt. The requirement for fast decisions and the limits of human beings’ rational information-processing capacities may combine to impose severe demands upon executives’ cognitive capabilities to handle masses of information at the necessary speed (Sadler-Smith, 2004). That is when intuition comes into play. Intuition is difficult to describe but easy to recognize. Many of us will be intimately familiar with our own intuitions and will probably be able to identify, and may even envy or admire, those individuals who confidently display a ‘gut feel’ for complex situations and who appear to have an ‘instinct’ for grasping key issues quickly. This quality can be nurtured through life experience. The optimal solution thus, might be a combination of two approaches depending on circumstances. The relationship between intuition and rationality can work in two ways. For example, proceeding from intuition to rational analysis represents a ‘validation’ sequence in which gut feeling may be checked out by rational analysis by posing questions such as ‘Do the data support my hunch? Proceeding from rational analysis to intuition represents an ‘incubation’ sequence in which intuition provides an expertise-based or feelings-based validation for judgments arrived at through rational analysis (Sadler-Smith, 2004). In summary, quantitative training will probably benefit me by preparing me for the future courses in economics, finance, accounting, operations, and research (Quantitative Reasoning for Business Overview, nd). More importantly though, it will prepare me for the future ‘real world’ w ork, even when its direct usefulness is not as extensive as often believed its proponents.

The texts, Othello by William Shakespeare, Big World by Tim Winton Essay Example for Free

The texts, Othello by William Shakespeare, Big World by Tim Winton Essay The texts, Othello by William Shakespeare, Big World by Tim Winton and my visual appropriation, have enriched my understanding of the outsider through a variety of language and visual techniques. Through the portrayal of Othello and Roderigo in Othello, the author in Big World and the outsider in my visual appropriation, the authors have conveyed the notion that outsiders will forever and always be outsiders. No matter how hard the outsider tries to fit in or deny their otherness, at times seemingly part of the group, they will, in the end, still be considered an outsider. In Othello, Othello denies his otherness in order to conform to society however he is never truly accepted by society or himself. At the start of the play, Othello strongly disputes Brabantio’s claims of him using some sort of magic to seduce Desdemona, declaring he won her love like anyone else would. â€Å"Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms,/ What conjuration and what mighty magic –† the repetition of the word ‘what’ illustrates Othello’s intense dissent regarding him possessing any sort of other worldly attributes which would make him an outsider. However by the end of the play, even Othello himself, stated that he used magic. â€Å"there’s magic in the web of it† the use of metaphor when referring to the handkerchief, that Othello gave Desdemona as a token of their love, portrays Othello’s inability to even accept himself. Used with other words such as â€Å"charmer†, â€Å"fancies†, â€Å"perdition† and â€Å"sibyl† which have negative magical connotations, Othello himself reiterates his otherness which at the start he was denying. This shows that despite Othello trying to fit in to society, he is always considered an outsider by both society and himself. Similarly, Roderigo believes he has a close relationship with Iago but he is actually being manipulated and not accepted at all by Iago. Roderigo listens to Iago and gives him all his money in the hopes of being able to have Desdemona. The repetition of Roderigo’s questioning tone, â€Å"what will I do†, â€Å"what should I do? †, â€Å"what say you? † , portrays Roderigo’s trust in Iago and the idea that he is seemingly lost without Iago’s guidance. It gives the impression that Roderigo thinks he has a close connection with Iago through his confiding of his thoughts and request for advice. Towards the end of the play though, Roderigo appears out of nowhere, apparently awoken from his ‘trance’, and accuses Iago of using him for his money. â€Å"Very well, go to! I cannot go to, man, nor ‘tis not very well. † the angry tone of Roderigo shows he now knows that he has been manipulated and that his relationship with Iago was a false one. This emphasises the idea of Roderigo believing he was accepted by Iago when in actual fact, he was always the outsider. In Big World by Tim Winton, the author gives the feeling that he is part of society and accepted but he continually refers to the fact that he is an outsider. The author has a best friend named Biggie, who saves the author from bullying and thus how they became best friends. In â€Å"unlike him I’m not really from here. † and â€Å"†¦the city, I’m from there originally. † the tone conveys that the author is not from Biggie’s community and although having lived there for some time, he still considers himself as an outsider, as someone who doesn’t belong. Yet in â€Å"for once I’m not faking it. † The use of personal pronoun shows that the author finally feels accepted and that he is part of Biggie’s society for real while all the other times he was only pretending to fit in. Nonetheless, in the end the author is still deemed an outsider. â€Å"†¦Biggie†¦ will blow me off.. † the colloquial language illustrates that even though the author felt like he had finally fit in, it still resulted in Biggie leaving him because he is an outsider. This demonstrates that regardless of outsiders trying to fit in, and at times they do, in the end they are still viewed as different. My visual appropriation also captures the idea that an outsider will remain on the outside no matter how much they try to integrate with society. The use of colour symbolism shows the man’s desire to fit in with the group and feel acknowledged despite being different and an outsider. The vectors of the shutters convey the notion of inviting the man to join the group and give the impression of the group welcoming him. However the leafy gate, which separates the man in the foreground from the group in the background, creates an atmosphere of separation conveying the sense of the man still being an outsider. Furthermore the square, in which the group is seen, can be considered a window and when the appropriation is viewed as a whole, it looks like the group of people is enclosed in a room while the man is left on the outside where he can only observe. This gives the feeling that regardless of the closeness the man and group seem to be in, the man is still an outsider. As a result it shows that in spite of the man trying to fit in, to deny his otherness, he incessantly remains an outsider. Through the variety of literary and visual devices encountered in the texts, Othello, Big World and my visual appropriation, it has enriched my understanding of the outsider. The outsider will continually be perceived as the other even with them attempting to join the group or society. At times they may appear to fit in and feel accepted but ultimately the outsiders will be regarded as just that, outsiders.

Hepatitis B infection: An overview

Hepatitis B infection: An overview HEPATITIS B What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term infection of the liver that can sometimes develop after a bout of acute or short term, hepatitis B. How does a person get hepatitis B? The virus that causes hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected blood or other body fluids of people who have hepatitis B. For example, you can get hepatitis B by having unprotected sex with an infected person. People who use intravenous drugs can get hepatitis B when they share needles with someone who has the virus. Health care workers, such as nurses, lab technicians and doctors, can get these infections if they are accidentally stuck with a needle that was used on an infected patient. Pregnant women who are infected with hepatitis B can also pass the virus on to their babies. Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted through casual contact. For example, you cannot get hepatitis B by hugging or shaking hands with someone who is infected. How long does it take chronic hepatitis to develop after acute hepatitis B? The time between the acute illness and signs of chronic hepatitis B varies. It may take a short time, or it may be years after the acute infection before chronic hepatitis B develops. How is hepatitis B diagnosed? Blood tests are used to diagnose hepatitis B. Blood tests can tell your doctor whether your liver is working properly, and they can also be used to follow your condition during treatment. Your doctor may want to look at your liver with an ultrasound exam or x-rays. A liver biopsy may also be needed. With a liver biopsy, a small piece of the liver is removed through a needle and looked at under a microscope. A liver biopsy can help your doctor diagnose your illness and see the condition of your liver directly. What are the symptoms of hepatitis B? The symptoms of hepatitis B are: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice (the skin turns yellow), weakness, fatigue, or brown urine (may look like tea), Symptoms of hepatitis B can range from mild to severe. If you have a mild case of hepatitis, you may not even realize that you have it. It may not cause symptoms or may only cause symptoms similar to the stomach flu. What are the complications of chronic hepatitis B? People with chronic hepatitis B may not have any symptoms at all. In some people, chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat. The damaged areas of the liver stop working and cant cleanse the body of wastes. The early stages of cirrhosis may not have symptoms, but the following symptoms may arise as cirrhosis gets worse and more of the liver is damaged: weight loss, fatigue, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and even liver cancer. If you have hepatitis B, you are also susceptible to hepatitis D (also called Delta agent). Hepatitis D can only develop in people who already have hepatitis B. It can make your symptoms of hepatitis B or liver disease worse. It is spread through contact with infected blood or other body fluids of people who have hepatitis D. How is chronic hepatitis B treated? If you have chronic hepatitis B, your family physician will probably refer you to a gastroenterologist or other subspecialist that treats people with chronic liver problems. There are a number of medical treatments available that are often successful. These include Interferon alfa-2b and other antiviral medicines. Treatment may take a year or more, depending on the severity of the infection and the response to treatment. Can hepatitis B be prevented? The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to have protected sex (use a condom) and to avoid sharing needles. A vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B. It is now routinely given in the first year of life to all newborn infants. It is safe and requires 3 shots over a 6-month period. This vaccine should be given to people who are at high risk for this illness, such as health care workers, all children, drug users, people who get tattoos or body piercing, and those with multiple sex partners. (Hepatitis B, 2007a) (Hepatitis B, 2007b) (Viral hepatitis B, 2007) References Hepatitis B. (2007). Retrieved December 30, 2007, from eMedicine Health website: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hepatitis_b/article_em.htm Hepatitis B. (2007). Retrieved December 30, 2007, from World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/ Viral hepatitis B. (2007). Retrieved December 30, 2007, from CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/

Free Essays - Amazing Grace :: Amazing Grace Essays

Within the next few pages here I intend to address two issues. First I will try to give a personal review of what I saw this book to hold, and second I will try explain the revelence which this book has to the field of Public Administration.   First try to picture children in a slum where the squalor in their homes is just as bad as that which is in the streets. Where prostitution is rampant, thievery a common place and murder and death a daily occurrence. Crack-cocaine and heroin are sold in corner markets, and the dead eyes of men and women wandering about aimlessly in the streets of Mott Haven are all to common., Their bodies riddled with disease, disease which seems to control the neighborhood. This is Mott Haven, in New York City's South Bronx, the outback of this American nation's poorest congressional district, also the setting of Jonathan Kozol's disturbing representation of poverty in this country.   The stories, which are captured Amazing Grace, are told in the simplest terms. They are told by children who have seen their parents die of AIDS and other disease, by mothers who complain about teenagers bagging dope and loading guns on fire escapes, by clergy who teach the poor to fight injustice and by police who are afraid to answer 911 calls.   Kozol seems to be disparage about the situation of the poor in American today, especially when more and more the poor are blamed for being poor. Kozol’s portrait of life   in Mott Haven is gentle and passionate.   Even though rats may chew through apartment walls in the homes of Mott Haven, the children still say their prayers at night. What seems to bother Kozol is that many people do not even want to look at this picture of America, but in Amazing Grace he dares us to recognize it does exist. Kozol spent a year wandering through Mott Haven and its neighboring communities; visiting churches, schools, hospitals, parks, and homes. Talking with parents and kids, social   workers, religious leaders, and principals and teachers; struggling to try to understand how these children and parents cope with poverty and violence. Kozol trys to determine how their fellow citizens can tolerate, even demand policies that guarantee misery and death for those living a few subway stops north of glitzy midtown Manhattan. Perhaps nothing can halt the tides of social policy where citizens of this nation are allowed to live in such conditions. If on the other hand anything can, it may be Kozol's forecasting visions and the openness and humanity of the remarkable people whose

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey :: essays research papers

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Hero A hero is considered to be any man noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose; especially, one who has risked or sacrificed his life. This describes one of the main characters in the highly acclaimed novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey. Randle McMurphy is the hero of this novel because he stood firmly against oppressive powers, showing courage and ultimately paying with his life. There were no heroes on the psychiatric ward before McMurphy's arrival. Nurse Ratched wielded supreme power. No single patient had the ability to stand against the injustices to which they were subjected. McMurphy united these patients. He gave them collective courage and a sense that they could resist their persecutor. For example, Harding states, "No one's ever dared to come out and say it before, but there's not a man among us that doesn't think it. That doesn't feel just as you do about her and the whole business-feel it somewhere down deep in his scared little soul." Not only did McMurphy unite his friends, the patients; but he understood the enemy, the staff. He recognized the ultimate authority and oppressive power of those in charge of the psychiatric ward. He also knew that to resist them would put himself at great personnel risk. McMurphy, however, took the risk and defended his fellow patients. For example, McMurphy says to the black boy who is harassing George, "I said that's enough buddy." McMurphy knew this confrontation would have harsh consequences, but he took the chance. In fact McMurphy took one too many chances. This hero's end comes when he lashes out at nurse Ratched, blaming her for the death of Billy Bibbit. McMurphy demonstrated his feeling for Billy by his emotional reaction to his death, "First Charles Cheswick and now William Bibbit! I hope you're

Communicative Games In Teaching Speaking Education Essay

English instruction has drawn much public attending as English has become one of the most effectual international linguistic communications. In such inclination of society for developing hearing and talking accomplishments instead than reading and composing accomplishments, surveies on how to better scholars ‘ speech production accomplishments have been carried out, but there are still many facets left undiscovered. In some non-English speech production states like Viet Nam, many high school pupils frequently find it hard to talk English and experience world-weary and nervous in talking lessons. The grounds are because they spend much clip on the topics that they will impact their consequences of university entryway test than the others, because English trials in high schools and in entryway tests are in composing and reading signifiers but non in talking signifier, and because the figure of periods of topics of natural scientific discipline is more than topics of societal scientific discipline or frailty versa. Therefore assorted methods have been used to accomplish the effectivity in learning English speech production, and one of them is utilizing communicative games. It is said that communicative games is one of the most effectual methods to better learning English speech production in high schools due to their positive effects. In add-on, the survey into using communicative games in learning English speech production in high schools is helpful to my procedure of learning pattern in high schools. For the above grounds, the research subject â€Å" Application of communicative games in learning speech production in English 10 † is hoped to lend to the effectivity in learning English speech production.2. Purposes and aimsThe survey is to show the effectivity in application of communicative games in learning speech production in English 10. The research has some undermentioned purposes: – To happen out jobs that pupils encounter in speech production categories. To analyze the effectivity of communicative games in speech production categories. To propose some pedagogical deductions to accomplish the effectivity in learning speech production.3. Scope of the surveyThe research is examined in 10th grade pupils of three categories at Quoc Hoc high school. For the clip bound and the length bound, the survey trades with four units which are unit 12, 13, 14 and 15 in English 10.4. Research inquiries– What are the troubles that pupils encounter in speech production categories? – How effectual are communicative games in speech production categories?5. Methods of the surveyThe survey is a qualitative and quantitative research. The collected informations by making a study on 10th grade pupils of three categories at Quoc Hoc high school will be quantitatively analyzed. A qualitative analysis on informations collected on pupils will be carried out to demo the effectivity of application of communicative games in learning English speech production.6. Design of the surveyThe thesis is organized into five chief parts as follows: Chapter 1: Introduction presents the grounds for taking the subject, the purposes and aims of the survey, the range of the survey and the organisation of the survey. Chapter 2: Literature Review and Theoretical Background includes two parts. The first portion reviews old related surveies. The 2nd 1 is to show an overview of English 10 text edition, state of affairs of learning and larning English speech production in high schools, scholars ‘ communicative competency, communicative activities and communicative games. Chapter 3: Methods and Procedures shows the research design and research methods, the description of the process of informations aggregation and information analysis, the description of participants and instruments in the research. Chapter 4: Findingss and Discussion is to show the findings of the probe and analysis and to discourse the consequences of the study. Chapter 5: Decision and Implications summarizes the survey, shows deductions and restrictions of the survey and suggests for farther research.Table OF CONTENTSChapter 1: Introduction1.1 Rationale 1.2 Purposes and Aims 1.3 Scope of the Study 1.4 Research Questions 1.5 Organization of the StudyChapter 2: Literature Review and Theoretical Background2.1 Previous research plants 2.2 Theoretical Background 2.2.1 Overview of English 10 Textbook 2.2.2 Communicative Language Teaching 2.2.3 Communicative Competence 2.2.4 Communicative Activities 2.2.5 Communicative Games 2.2.5.1 Definition of Communicative Games 2.2.5.2 Functions of Communicative Games in Teaching EnglishChapter 3: Methods and Procedures3.1 Research Design and Methodology 3.. Study ProceduresChapter 4: Findingss and Discussion4.1 Troubles of Students in Speaking Classs 4.2 Effectiveness of Communicative Games in Speaking Classs 4.3 Discussion 4.4 DrumheadChapter 5: Decision and Deductions5.1 Decision 5.2 Deductions 5.2.1 Design Principles of Communicative Games 5.2.2 Principles of Application of Communicative Games in Teaching Talking 5.2.3 Some Suggested Communicative Games in Teaching Talking 5.2.3.1 Some Communicative Games for Unit 12 5.2.3.2 Some Communicative Games for Unit 13 5.2.3.3 Some Communicative Games for Unit 14 5.2.3.4 Some Communicative Games for Unit 15 5.3 Restriction 5.4 Suggestions for Further ResearchEXPECTED OUTCOMESThe consequences of this survey are expected as follows: First, games are activities that make people experience relaxed and aroused and utilizing communicative games in learning English speech production draws attending of non lone instructors but besides scholars. Second, instructors can cognize more about the effectivity of communicative games in learning speech production, and cognize how to take or plan communicative games suited for scholars and learning points. Third, learning English speech production is more exciting and effectual because communicative games motivate scholars and assist them comprehend learning points in a natural manner.Plan OF THE PROJECTOccupation Detailss of occupation Time 1 Choosing a subject and planing the program of the undertaking – Determination job countries that require probe – Choosing a suited subject – Consulting relevant surveies and paperss – Planing the program of the undertaking By 24th December 2 Roll uping informations and analysing the information – Design questionnaires – Making study on 10th grade pupils by utilizing questionnaires – Analyzing the information By the terminal of February 3 Writing the thesis – Writing the first bill of exchange – Completing the thesis and composing the concluding bill of exchange By the terminal of March i? ¶ I thirstily underscore my committedness to carry throughing this research paper as scheduled under the direction of my supervisor. i? ¶ The first bill of exchange needs more work ; nevertheless, I agree to assist the pupil on status that the pupil can transport out the undertakings as planned.SUPERVISOR STUDENTVo Tha »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹ Thanh Dia »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡p Nguya »Ã¢â‚¬ ¦n Thia »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n Ma »?

Emotions in Interpersonal Communications Paper Essay

Abstract In the Human Service field, interpersonal communication is between a client and human service professionals. Interpersonal communication is communication that between two people in a relationship and that, as it evolves, helps them to negotiate and define their relationship (Evans, Hearn, Uhlemann & Ivey, 2011). Human service workers use communication to build working relationships with clients. Emotions is an important factor when discussing interpersonal communication within a relationship. Human services must connect to client’s emotions to get a better understanding of how to assist them. â€Å"Emotional connection is thinking with the person rather for about them† (Listening Essentials 2010). Introduction Emotions in interpersonal communication are important role in building working relationship with clients. It is important for human service professional to maintaining eye contact, nonverbal behavior and listening to the clients. Human service workers understand the importance of maintaining working relationships with clients and avoids emotions that are not appropriate in conversations with them. My paper will explain the impact emotions in interpersonal communication, discuss obstacles an interviewer’s faces in dealing with clients and emotions and assess client’s cultural and impact it has on the interviewer. The impact emotions in interpersonal communications In the Human service field, emotions can impact the way human service workers ask questions and responses to clients. The human service worker can gain advantages of client’s emotions by using empathy. Empathy is listening to the client, sharing and understanding their concerns or feelings. Emotions  are the way feel or react to something someone has shared with using nonverbal communications. Client’s emotions reactions can have a negative or positive result if a human service worker can maintain appropriate body language and eye contact. An example of eye contact is looking at the client with your eyes will encourage he or she to keep talking (Evans, Hearn, Uhlemann & Ivey, 2011). Obstacles an interviewer’s faces in dealing with clients and emotions Cultures, gender and religious, are three obstacles interviewer has to prevail when conducting interviews with clients. The important obstacles that cause more problems for an interviewer are controlling clientâ⠂¬â„¢s emotions. The negative aspect of emotions it can cause clients to close the lines of communication with an interviewer. It can impact the listening skills of the client. If this happen then, the interview must gain control of the situation by changing the way the clients is feeling. It is important that an interviewer continue to learn new techniques or skills to overcome obstacles when dealing with clients emotions. â€Å"One strategy for persuading an individual, therefore, is to appeal to your level of knowledge and expertise with respect to the topic† (Interpersonal communication, 2012). Assess client’s cultural and impact it has on the interviewer Communication plays an important role in assisted client in finding solutions to their problems. There are different cultures, languages, religious and lifestyle, but communication can assist human service with meets the needs of all clients. There are many different cultures in the world, so human service workers have made sure they do research on clients before engaging in conversations with them. â€Å"Culturally competent service providers must take into the assessment the full range of factors that influence how any one individual service recipient behaves and communicates† (Cultural Competency and Diversity 2005). It is important for human services workers to learn more about the different cultures so you can help assist client that are from other cultures in understanding their needs. If human service workers continue to educate themselves, they will be able to assess clients from other cultures. Conclusion Emotions in interpersonal communication is another form communication that involve a client and human services worker in the human service field. Client’s emotions can be negative or positive result depending on if the  interviewer is maintained eye contact, body language and nonverbal communications. In the human service field, the interviewer must know how to gain control of client’s emotions by continuing to learn new skills and techniques. Finally, we live in the world where all cultures, genders or religious are different. People with different cultural backgrounds don’t just communicate differently; in many cases they also think differently (Floyd, 2012). We have to learn to give all cultures, religious and genders respect and continue to asking questions and avoid assumptions. Reference Cultural Competency and Diversity 2005., Beach, M.C., Price, E.G., Gary, T.L., Robinson, K.A., Gozu, A., Palacia, A., Smarth, C., Jenckes, M.W., Feuerstein, C., Bass, E.B., Powe. N, R, & Cooper, L, A. (2005). Cultural competence: A systematic review of health care provider educational interventions. http://www.getceusnow.com/portal/file/culturalcompetencyanddiversity.htm Evans, D., Hearn, M., Uhlemann, M., Ivey, A. (2012). Essential Interviewing: A Programmed Approach to Effective Communication. (8th Edition). Floyd, K. (2012). Interpersonal Communication. (2nd Edition). McGraw-Hill Company â€Å"Listening Essentials,† 2010, Films on Demand. Copyright 2012 by Films Media Group. Adapted with permission. https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/Materials/IP/curriculum/social-sciences/BSHS385/Understanding_Feelings/story.html

Blanche and Stanley in a Streetcar Named Desire Essay

Blanche and Stanley, two characters of Tenessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire, represent two very conflicting personalities. Stanley, Blanche’s sister Stella’s aggressive husband, portrays strong tones of anger, rage, and frustration. However, although his behavior is without a doubt over-bearing and rough, in a way he displays realism and truth as well. On the other hand, the play’s true protagonist Blanche exerts enthusiasm, spunk, and elaborate nostalgia. These characteristics don’t really come out in a positive or attractive way, but instead verify her insanity near the play’s end. Together, Blanche and Stanley represent true inner conflict, each in their own way, and the tension among the two is an exciting and driving force to be reckoned with. Stanley exudes the stereotypical â€Å"wife beater† husband of the 1930s. Dressed almost always in the era’s staple guiney-tee, his rash actions and aggressive episodes towards his wife are frightening to say the least. On the surface, he seems to despise the fact that Blanche is always around, intruding on his and Stella’s life together. Multiple times throughout the play he throws a fit, destructing the kitchen table, bedroom, or whatever he can get his hands on. His crudeness towards Stella is arguably a portrayal of his self-deemed superiority over women. However, despite his awful rage and somewhat abusive actions, Stanley amazingly represents a good trait as well. His morals are all about honesty, truthfulness, and realism. He really clashes with Blanche so much because she is so fixated on the past, and it drives him towards ultimate frustration because he’s such a realist. Each time Blanche brings up a thing of her past, he fills with rage and goes off on one of his trademarked episodes. Therefore, on the surface Stanley’s rough personality definitely is a tough wall to see past, but his actions really come from his â€Å"honesty policy†, and his realism. With that said, Blanche’s personality is uniquely opposite than the hard, rough, â€Å"real life† Stanley. Blanche is a beautiful woman of her mid-thirties who basically is experiencing a mid-life crisis a bit too early. Her â€Å"perfect life† comes crashing down after losing her young husband, estate, and money. With this, she can’t seem to really accept much in her current life, but instead lives through the past. By living with her sister, Stella, she imposes intrusion without really realizing it on her and Stanley’s lives, and even though she could start over and create a life of her own, she can’t really let go and move on. She is even proposed by Stanley’s sensitive poker friend Mitch, but she refuses him. Mitch represented to me Blanche’s last glimmer of hope, and when she denies him in marriage, the rest is a downward spiral. As the play progresses from there on out, Blanche’s sanity slowly deteriorates more and more. It becomes evident that she has a drinking problem, and liquor becomes her go-to aid for all mental problems she begins to have. One scene I found interesting was when she asked a young suitor who comes to her house to deliver something for a kiss. I felt in kissing this younger man she was testing her charm and lust skills, which she obviously believes to be useless and rusty, for lack of a better word. When the young man leaves and she quickly becomes embarrassed, it is established that she just isn’t the young girl she used to be, and that she must move on to make the most of what she is left with in life.

Advocacy Role paper

Advanced practice nurse's are reimbursed at a lower rate for the same services than physicians by Medicare, Medicaid and other private insurance companies. American medical association sets our scope of practice and regulations and legislation is often influenced by these recommendations. Advanced practice nurses should be consider as equal members of the healthcare provider community and receive equal reimbursement. To make these changes one must develop a plan and advocate for the profession.Advanced practice nurses are reimbursed at a lower rate, for the same services, than physicians. Medicare reimburses nurse practitioners at 85%, certified nurse midwives at 65 %, and physician assistants at 85% or less of the physician fee. The exception to the reimbursement rate is called the â€Å"incident to†. Medicare will reimburse at 100% if billed under a physician provider number. Medicaid pays 75-100% of the physician fee with the exception of some rural areas. Private insurance companies reimbursement to advanced practice nurses policies vary state to state.In an attempt to find ways to decrease cost, private insurance companies are beginning to follow Medicare's reimbursement policies. For advanced practice nurses the reimbursement policies vary according to state, company, and licensure, and are not equitable to physician reimbursement. This issue is being buried by the American Medical Association. The Affordable care Act addressed the reimbursement of physicians but APN were not mentioned. 1997 budget act is the last legislation passed that addressed reimbursement for advanced practice nurses.This act decided that advanced practice nurses are entitled to reimbursement. The legislators in Tennessee at that time voted for or against the act. This issue has not been addressed since then which could say that this is not a priority for the state. It could be the increae cost related to increased reombursement that keeps them from pushing the issue. The aff ordable Care Act addressed Medicare reimbursement but did not adress APN's specifically. The govener of Tennessee opted out of taking the money for the state. The federal govt. as to except the cost and reimburse at 100% this could have impacted advanced practice nurses in a positive way. As it stands This issue needs to be addressed with more impact especially after the affordable care and patient protection act. Nurse practitioners will be a solution of the problem and will want to be reimbursed according to care not license. Reimbursement of care provided by advanced practice nurses should equal physicians because they are providing the same service with equal or better outcomes.In a study done by Laurent, Herman, Reeves, Braspenning, ; Spinbald, â€Å"The findings suggest that appropriately trained nurses can produce as high quality care as primary care doctors and achieve as good health outcomes for patients. † Naylor and Kurtzman found that Nurse Practitioners â€Å"ou t performed physicians in easures of consultation time, patient follow-up and patient satisfaction. â€Å"(Naylor ; Kurtzman, 2010). A 2002 report to Congress by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, however, was unable to tind reliable data to discern clear ditterences in the two groups' outcomes and expenses.

An Analysis Of Global Alliances

An Analysis Of Global Alliances As a matter of survival, airlines within the current environment are constantly reviewing and altering their strategies. An important component of any airlines’ strategy to remain viable and maintain competitive advantage in today’s setting is to pool resources and share risk, known as an alliance. A broad definition of an alliance that occurs in the aviation industry is the â€Å"collaboration between two or more firms that retain their autonomy during the course of their relationship† (Kleymann & Seristà ¶, 2004). To that end, there are certain variations of airline alliance in vogue today, in particular the Global Airline Alliance. Starting with a synopsis and identification of these alliance groups, the discussion will move to a selection and analysis of benefits and shortcomings that can be associated with global alliances from a business and consumer perspective. From here, an appreciation will be gained of the major airline alliances and typical rational e of alliance strategies. Currently, the most popular forms of coalition in the airline business are the non-equity marketing alliances known as Airline Alliance Groups (Kleymann & Seristà ¶, 2004) or Global Multicarrier Alliances (Cools & Roos, 2005). At the present time, the main global multicarrier alliance networks are Star Alliance, One World, and Skyteam (UBM, 2010). These alliances are predominantly a massive global network of multilateral codesharing and joint resource Air Service Agreements (ASA’s) between carriers. This allows a central point of contact for the passenger to â€Å"ensure a convenient, smooth and efficient worldwide travel experience† (Star Alliance, 1997). Although individual airlines are aligned under the umbrella of a single corporate entity, distinct airline brand identities and cultures are retained. These alliances have set out to revolutionise seamless air travel for the international passenger from hub to hub and beyond. Additionally, the synergies created were only possible due to astute governance of previously implausible collaboration. To that end, airline conglomerates now understand â€Å"The best way to generate real business growth and expansion is by forging the appropriate strategic partnerships† (Borovich & Yeheskel, 2001). From an airline business perspective, membership in a global alliance has one distinct, instantaneous and strategic advantage. Almost overnight, all member airlines’ geographic route structures will have expanded without costly capital investment in infrastructure and assets. This allows airlines to service routes that were previously deemed non-profitable or inaccessible, albeit on other alliance members’ aircraft. This â€Å"complementary alliance† (Oum & Park, 1997, as cited in Chen & Ross, 2000, p. 328) has the flow on effect of generating untapped markets within the domestic environment and yielding higher load factors for all alliance members aircra ft operations. Henceforth, this produces larger revenues which in turn diminishes overhead costs and maintains more efficient airlines by lowering unit cost base (Doganis 2001, p. 76). While this contributes to diversification and larger profit margins for collaborating airlines, the traveller can be confident airfare cost will remain relatively reasonable assuming competition remains viable on any given route. This is a beneficial outcome for all involved, both airline businesses and the consumer. A comparable example where alliances between two airlines operating on the same route is however, considered anti-competitive (Chen & Ross, 2000, p 328). Here the competing airlines could strike a codeshare accord, typically after a tenuously long and protracted battle attempting to gain market share. This is routinely known as a â€Å"parallel alliance† (Oum & Park 1996, p. 190), however this is unfortunately likely to result in cartel type price fixing. This form of alliance gene rally benefits the airlines as it narrows competition and has a propensity to create a higher demand for a particular service, hence higher airfares (Chen & Ross, 2000, p 328). Conversely, the pre-alliance scenario utilising â€Å"capacity dumping† (NZ Parliament, 2006), where supply exceeds demand, only profits the consumer with ridiculously low and unsustainable airfares. This invariably serves to strengthen the dominant market leader’s position by financially eliminating the competition in the long term. These types of alliance are inherent of predatory behaviour with very little consumer benefit and require antitrust immunity (Bilotkach, 2005, p. 168). An example of this type of arrangement within the global alliance networks does exist, although on the exceedingly competitive North Atlantic route between Lufthansa and United Airlines (Kleymann & Seristà ¶, 2004, p. 23).

Genetics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Genetics - Essay Example In step 2, the aerobic endosymbiont evolves into a mitochondrion. This step is followed by step 3 in which a portion of the plasma membrane invaginate in the process of evolving into a nuclear envelope as well as associated endoplasmic reticulum. Step 3 results to a primitive eukaryote in step 4 that give rise to two main groups of eukaryotes. The primitive eukaryote shown in step 4 evolves into nonphotosynthetic protest, animal cells as well as fungal (Karp, 2009). The other group of â€Å"the primitive eukaryote takes in a photosynthetic prokaryote†, which later becomes endosymbiont that evolves into a chloroplast. In relation to this assertion, it is evident that endosymbiosis resulted to life. It is the one that led to the existence of both plants and animals. I more like my dad than my mom because I think the genes from my dad are more dominant those I inherited from my mom. In relation to this, it is evident that all mammals use majority of the genetic material passed down by males even though the offspring resembles and acts like the mom. Thus, my more resemblance to my dad is dictated by the paternal

Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida - Essay Example Government, fueled by the fears of terrorism, violated immigrant rights and even trampled on citizenship rights of Japanese-American citizens, confirming a long history of racial bias and discriminatory policies. The very title of the novel, Picture Bride, makes reference to the existent racism due to America’s anti-miscegenation laws and the recourse of Japanese bachelors to picture brides from their mother country. U.S anti-miscegenation laws effective since the mid-1800s barred interracial marriages of immigrants and slaves with Caucasian American women (Anti-Miscegenation Laws). As a consequence, Japanese immigrants choose to convey a wife from Japan to the U.S. Also, strong cultural traditions which obligated many Japanese to marry within their own ethnic group influenced marital decisions. These anti-interracial laws applied to all American minorities including Blacks, Indians, and Asians (Asian Americans and Anti-Miscegenation Statutes). Tacit segregation of Japanese an d white Americans is a sign of underlying discrimination in American society. In the novel, Kiku notes that â€Å"the fine white American ladies and gentlemen have their own stores† (Uchida 25). ... From early in the book, in 1917, racism already begins to rear its ugly head. Taro, a Japanese immigrant in America laments to his wife, Hana that â€Å"when the white men felt that we Asians were threatening their jobs, then words like ‘yellow peril’ began to appear in the newspapers and legislators began to discriminate against us† (Uchida 63). Feeling growing anxiety and insecurity about the American economy and stability of American jobs, Caucasian Americans complain about the influx of Japanese immigrants and the culture of picture brides. Although innocent of Japan’s actions during WWII, people of Japanese ancestry had to face further prejudice and violent racism because of the embattled times. Japanese in America were called the derogatory, ‘Japs.’ One white American called a Japanese, Henry Toda, just before he shot him, a â€Å"filthy, stinking Jap!† (Uchida 165). It is at this climactic point that things go even more awry among the Japanese resident in America. Clearly see that a differentiation was put between the Japanese identity and the American identity, for to be Japanese meant not being American. Patriotism descends to showing prejudice toward perceived common offenders. Not too long after, Japanese are forced to leave their homes because of suspicion of divided allegiance and anti-Americanism among them and consequently, the U.S government introduces the Presidential Executive Order 9066 in 1942 after the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941. The Presidential Executive Order 9066 (1941) reflects the anti-Japanese sentiment prevalent in the early 20th century. Even the law of the land reinforces segregation, thus legalizing discrimination and racism. The irony of the

HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 10

HRM - Essay Example Steve Jobs once said about the importance of human resource that, â€Å"There is no strong link between innovation and spending on R&D. When IBM was spending at least a 100 times more on R&D, the same time when Apple came up with Big Mac and outclassed its competitors. It is not about the money and it is not about the how many R&D dollars you are spending but is about the people you have, how they are led and how much you are able to get out of them† (Cardy & Leonard, 2011, p. 22-23). Due to the increasing competitive pressures in the business world, businesses now understand the value and importance of their human assets or resources because when other resources that appear on the balance sheet of the company, make things â€Å"possible†, human resource of any organisation make things â€Å"happen† (Torrington, et al., 2007, pp. 96-98). Therefore, the fact is that today, when information technology and globalisation has made it possible for companies to imitate, product, pricing, promotion, distribution, manufacturing, supply chain, sales and other strategies employed by any organisation, a talented, skilled and motivated human resource appears to be providing a much need sustainable competitive advantage (Foot & Hook, 2008, p. 96). Recruitment and Selection First things first, the HR director of the medical institution needs to play close attention on the recruitment and selection process of the nurses because one cannot expect much from the employees if the organisation has failed to put the right people on the right jobs.

Future trends in electronic commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Future trends in electronic commerce - Essay Example The Internet revolution causes with the latest growth figure among the some 160 million users, while others, remind marketers that this constitutes only a tiny minority of a few per cents of the world population. Expanding from this point, impact will be sought in the evolution of the applications used. Thus a sector where the number of firms which use a combination of Internet, intranet, extranet and telework is 'important' will thus display a higher impact of the Internet (Wagner 2007). Moving further ahead, one will consider which functions or activities the Internet is used for and thus see a greater impact of the Internet when home, social and productive functions are carried out through the Internet (Regan, 2007). In a year, there will be changes in the resources, behavior, organization, achievements and skills in different sectors. More and more companies will use e-commerce as the main tool of marketing communication and interaction. On the other hand, and more importantly, it appears that the use of e-commerce tools and techniques, or of information in general, is not likely to have any effect unless the appropriate combination of attributes and external factors exist. In a year, companies will use e-mobile service and mobile retailing more often. ... The further back in this chain companies and customers can go, the earlier they will be able to have an impact on sales. "Catalogs and stores can greatly buoy the online company to weather the storms that are inherent in technology and technology-based marketing, as a simple change in the technology environment can decimate the business model of an online company based solely on online marketing" ("Why one web merchant", 2006). In five years, there will be a great shift in customer service and information delivery systems. Critics state that "Online commerce market to grow to $300 billion over the next four years. But NOW is when consumers are forming their online shopping habits and developing buying loyalties" ("Understanding the Consumers", 2007). This is true of any new product or service, but, so far as the Internet is concerned, such fears are compounded because consumers will be purchasing goods via a system that they do not fully understand. In fact, consumers are already worried about the security aspects of the Internet. The first and most important lesson that has to be learnt when considering trading on the Internet is that sales that depend on geography will no longer work. Supermarkets, for example, with their departments that examine in great detail the demographics of an area before a new store site is developed, have no advantage in cyberspace. Any site can be accessed from anywhere in the world (Regan, 2007). Equally, any site can also be ignored from anywhere in the world. There is, however, an even bigger issue with marketing on the Internet. Not only is it difficult to select and purchase a prime site, in a good demographic area away from your competitors, that virtually guarantees you sales, but it is also increasingly difficult to

Personal Development as a Manager Journal Essay

Personal Development as a Manager Journal - Essay Example It will take into account the significance of my own beliefs, attitudes and values which are implied by me into the task that I am assigned to perform. Reflective Manager The application of reflective practices is an essential fundamental for those individual who are heading an education or specially a healthcare institution. Similarly, I, the manager of a nursing home, think that reflective ability plays a vital role in my management processes. The reflective practices are defined as a set of basic skills and abilities which require the undertaking of a critical step an orientation to the state of mid or solving problems (Weick, 2001, p. 91). In the real instance, all the managers and leaders are busy reflecting upon their own work and create it an intentional event requiring both the commitment and time. I, as a reflective leader, think that this type of management is one of the basic keys towards creating and organization which is relationship-based. According to the basis of refl ective leadership, I have characterized myself by three major skills: careful observation, self-awareness, and flexible response.   Through these abilities, I am able to study my own decision-making processes and am critical regarding the relationships with workers and colleagues in a constructive manner. I am successfully able to analyze the gaps between knowledge and skills. Besides this, a reflective manager faces the painful and problematic episodes through the identification of learning needs. The process of reflective leader pertains to the assistance of leader teams, communities and committees in leading and managing them with an open heart. The process of this type of leadership tends to assume the leading abilities with joy, fulfilment, peace and creativity disregarding of the various consequences and hassles that might come up during the day. According to my experiences and opinions, such individual or leader, who is able to understand him/herself and is capable of shari ng the joy, fear, weaknesses, strengths and achievements with the followers, is on the way to becoming a reflective leader and manager. Similarly, my nursing home exists with a mission towards improving the lives of all those people who are living in the nursing home (Limerick, Cunninton & Crowther, 1998, p. 280). As the manager, fulfilling my purposes and goals require me to understand and value the human dimension of leadership. I think, translating the relations into actions is an inner journey, and is the practical concept of the struggle for living. Though, it is next to impossible to attain this need fully, however, we constantly strive towards the achievement of a personal vision of enhanced service and self-awareness to others. Thus, theoretically and practically, the practices of reflective leadership, concentrate the attention on such a level where the leaders are most leveraged and the stage impacts and influences their actions the most. It refers to giving the managers t he space of feeling and thinking the stories that exist about the unwritten rules of culture and how the world operates. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory Amongst all other management theories, in my perspective, the theory which concerns most with the management aspect is the Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory. The following pyramid reflects the elements that the managerial theory given by

Computer Questions Final Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Computer Questions Final - Assignment Example In use since the late 1960's, it is a popular choice for airline tickets, photo developing envelopes and internal warehouse systems. Bar code scanners are manufactured to read the imprinted bar code where as mark sensors are designed to read mechanically or manually read items passed by their scanners. They can be fixed at any location. It makes the most sense to think of bandwidth in terms of a rive Bluetooth wireless technology uses adaptive frequency hopping as its form of the maximum possible rate of data transfer under optimal conditions access point to transfer information to one another, as well as receive internet signal. A polynomial code can detect any error burst of length less than or equal to. Usually the actual serial binary data to be transmitted over the cable are not channel is the theoretical maximum information transfer rate of the channel. Transmission errors increase and S/N ratio decreases. As the 'true' signal power decreases the receiver has greater difficulty separating it from 'false' signal elements (i.e., noise and distortion) and thus makes more interpretation errors. An amplifier increases the power of whatever is present at its input. A repeater listens to its input, interprets its data content, and generates a new outgoing signal of equivalent data content. Amplifiers are simpler but amplify noise and distortion in their input signal. Repeaters are more complex, but generate a 'clean' output signal. 12. What are the advantages of wireless transmission using RF waves as compared to infrared waves Wireless transmission allows the information to transfer without any cable or wire. It boost up the speed of information to be transferred. 13. Describe the relationship between Type I and Type II errors Type I (): reject the null-hypothesis when the null-hypothesis is true, and Type II (): fail to reject the null-h

Are the GMO foods good or harmful to our health Research Paper - 1

Are the GMO foods good or harmful to our health - Research Paper Example Farmers are mainly focusing on cash crops modification such as corn, soybean, cottonseed oil, and canola. Genetic modification is done to help in resistance to herbicides and pathogens. Additionally, genetically modified foods are said to have a high nutrients profile. There are critics of the GMO who focus on environmental impacts and safety. GMOs are reported to damage the environment as well as violation of consumer’s and farmers right as some seeds are subject to intellectual property. Genetically engineered plants are produced in a laboratory. There is alteration of their DNA and assessments done to check whether the desired qualities are achieved. One of the most frequent modifications made is the addition to one or more genes to the plant’s genome. After the production of the desired plants, the producers register for approval so that they can test out in the fields (Skinner & Liang, 2004). GMOs have changing relationships to foods. Some GMO foods are consumed processed to remove its protein and DNA while others are consumed unprocessed. Other are used to generate unmodified foods. Animal and plant relationship differ in all aspects. GMO foods are associated with some advantages in either the consumption or production. They are created with the aim of providing products at lower prices and with significant benefits in terms of durability or nutritional value. The developers of GMO seeds desire that their products will remain acceptable to producers and the developers are concentrating on innovations that will directly benefit farmers. One primary reason for producing GMO is to improve crop protection. The GMO are aimed at raising crop protection through the introduction of diseases resistant crops caused by viruses and insects or plants that tolerate the herbicides (Duvauchelle, 2014). One of the reasons why people like GMO foods is because of their pest resistance. Crop losses from insects have

University Students Do Not Spend Their Free

University Students Do Not Spend Their Free Time Wisely Essay University students do not spend their free time wisely. Students role are known as the next generations who will lead the country later. Everything related to them are important for us to put a highlight on. One of the issues that could be a problem is university students do not use their free time wisely. In my opinion, this statement could be best described as true based on a few reasons such as no vision, lack of maturity and discipline and also entertainments influence available. One of the most definite reason is that the students himself does not used to determine their specific vision. In this situation, they do not have a clear target due to the lack of career information exposed to them. Regardless to this, they may take programs of study that does not suit them well instead of not being accepted in any opportunities of studies. Thus for most people who further in wrong major, their minds set to not to struggle for the fullest in grabbing superb future undertakings. For every precious second left, they never regret and even appreciate the moment in having quality time for studying. And yet when the results in the hand, they are trying to be in the past to fix back firstly the vision. Another reason why university students do no spend their free time wisely is they lack of maturity and discipline. Although they aware that time management are based on the level of maturity, yet they often fall under the pressure of peers. Supposedly, with their level of maturity, they should know what the best is for them. But in contrast, they used to follow the others when they really should be attending to their studies. Going to university is a major life change and many students fail to adapt to their studying environment successfully due to lack of maturity and discipline. This, in turn has negative effects in their studies. University years are the most exciting in lots of people’s lives but there are new challenges to face. Furthermore in the technological era nowadays, university students tend to be influenced by the entertainments available. They used to sit in front of computers to online for hours rather than studying. Jump to the worst state, lots of free entertainment exist these days and just needed to sign up with self-identification to access into. Absolutely the students will snatch the opportunities and involved themselves in distraction of obsession. This problem cannot be vanished completely as this behavior is nature to men in handling the pressure. However, entertainments should not be addicted by the students and distract studies. To sum up, as a student we should realize a very deep meaning of a students’ role which we have to follow in order to gain success in future. We should bear in mind that we are suppose to generate a great future position to make our country more sophisticated. To do so we have to determine our own vision and mission in life. For the beginning, do manage the time precisely because time is gold.

Sexual Sadism And Sex Offenders Psychology Essay

Sexual Sadism And Sex Offenders Psychology Essay Sexual Sadism is a type of paraphilia that may involve making a person suffer in some way that may or may not lead to death. It varies from extreme forms of torture to mild. It can be with a consensual partner who is a masochist and also the injuring of a non consensual person. Sexual sadists usually have mental disorders such as psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder which can explain their level of violence and their lack of empathy for their victims. Many sex offenders are diagnosed with Paraphilias and sexual disorders. Paraphilias are recurrent intense sexual arousing fantasies or urges involving nonhuman objects, suffering, humiliation of oneself or ones partner, children or non consenting persons (APA, 1994). For some people these fantasies are necessary to achieve erotic arousal whereas for others they are episodic and the individual can be stimulated otherwise. This type of behavior, urges and fantasies can cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning. It has to last over a period of at least six months (APA, 1994) .One of the most dangerous paraphilias is sexual sadism, which involves violence that may lead to death in which the offender gets sexual pleasure by inflicting pain on the victim. According to the DSM IV, sexual sadism is the act of humiliating, binding, beating, or making another person suffer in some way were sexual excitement is the result of control over the victim. It typically develops in adolescence with interests coming from masochistic masturbatory practices. Autoerotic asphyxia is a practice that constricts the oxygen during masturbation, accomplished with the use of a strangulation device. The purpose is to create a higher level of sexual excitement through the restriction of oxygen in the brain (Terry, 2006). The restriction of oxygen itself its not whats sexual exciting but its the combination of the behavior, lack of oxygen, danger and the fantasy. Sexual sadists are aroused by the torture and pain of the victim which can lead to death, but there offenders do not derive satisfaction from the murder itself. They are likely to mutilate and torture their victims becoming more aroused as there is an increase in the level of agony. Sexual sadism is usually not consensual and involves injury or death to the victim. The element of fear in the victim and complete control of the victim is the major stimuli in sexual sadism. Such as severe beating, torture, burning, cutting, rape and murder. Sexual offenders who are potentially most likely to meet the criteria of sexual sadism are typically those who sexually assault or who molest children. Some of the characteristics for sexual offenders are usually, schizoid, psychopath, antisocial, narcissist, lack or social skills and relationships. Sadists have been found to exhibit a large number of other paraphilias including transvestic fetishism, masochism, voyeurism, and exhibitionism. Some have alcohol and drug abuse, obsession traits, collects pornography, a history of impaired social relationships, physical and sexual abuse in childhood and extensive fantasy lives incorporating detailed sadistic fantasies (Kirch). Sex offenders who are sadistic usually lack empathy and emotion which might be a reason why they commit the most violence to their victims because they detach themselves. Deficits in empathy facilitate offending behavior, suggesting that offenders lack of awareness or sensitivity to other peoples feelings may impair their ability to appreciate the effects of their behavior on others (Kirsch). Emotions such as anger and shame are believed to fuel aggressive and retributive fantasies, and these fantasies are maintained and enhanced through the process of positive and negative emotional reinforcement. Feelings of inferiority are believed to be reduced during fantasy, while feelings of control, power, and dominance are enhanced. Sexual sadism may begin with fantasies and in some cases these may never be acted upon or be acted out in the more mild forms of consensual relationships. Sadistic fantasies and behaviors can include dominance, humiliation, bondage, biting, burning, whipping, penetration with foreign objects, strangulation, and mutilation of the body (Kirsch) Sadistic sexual fantasies are noted in certain adolescents. In some of these the fantasies serves rehearsal for future sadistic sexual acts, especially in adolescents with callous-unemotional personality who often emerge in adult life as psychopaths(Stone, 2010) . There is a difference in practicing sadism with a consenting partner and non consenting partner. In non-consensual cases, the behavior usually continues and often escalates over time as the perpetrator experiences a need for increased violence in order to stimulate the sexual response. The level of sadism varies from being in control, dominant and submissive in which the offender does this to a masochist person to injuring a non consensual partner. Sexual sadism is found predominately in males and usually onsets with puberty although sadistic behavior may be evident earlier in children. In all male cases, it becomes evident by early adulthood. In cases of female sexual sadism, onset is often later and often triggered by relationships with men who want to be d ominated. Kraft-Ebbing suggested that mastering and possessing an absolutely defenceless human object is part of sadism. He sub- classified sexual sadism into several categories including lust murder where there was a connection between sexual arousal and killing which may extend to cannibalism. These men are thought to rarely derive sexual satisfaction from the assault or murder and this distinguishes them from lust murderers for whom aggression and sexuality become fused into a single psychological experience sadism in which aggression is eroticized (Myers, W.C., Burgess, A.W., Burgess, A.G. and Douglas, J.E., 1999. Serial murder and sexual homicide. In: Van Hasselt, V. and Hersen, M., Editors, 1999. Handbook of psychological approaches with violent offenders, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 153-172.Marshall,2003)Then theres the offender who mutilates the corpses, those who like to injure females, defilement of women, symbolic sadism, ideal sadism or sadistic fantasies alone without acts, sadism with other objects and sadistic acts with animals. MaccCulloch argues that the wish to control that is the primary motivating force in sadism, and because there is a range of degrees and kinds of control which can be applied by one person to another, sadism may manifest itself in a variety of ways. Normal sexual relationships include elements of dominance and submission, and hence control: indeed, modern manuals of sexual behavior often include bondage games as part of a suggested repertoire of sexual activity He defines sadism as the repeated practice of behavior and fantasy which is characterized by a wish to control another person by domination, denigration or inflicting pain, for the purpose of producing mental pleasure and sexual arousal whether or not accompanied by orgasm in the sadist. The range of controlling behavior under consideration forms a continuum from subtle verbal control through various types of psychological control to actual physical intervention such as bondage, imprisonment, hypnosis, anesthesia and even blows to render the victim unconscious or dead. As sadistic behavior gives pleasure to the sadist, and self-pleasuring behavior almost always has to be contrived, it would be expected that sadists devise situations which enable them to practice their sadism. If a central feature of sadism is control, then sadists would be expected to seek out actively and create situations where they have control. The concept that assailants stage-manage their control over others in order to give themselves pleasure provides a new frame of reference (Kuhne, 1962) Among sexual sadists ritualistic behaviors are one of the defining features. Not all the men violate the letter of the law, however much they may violate the spirit of the law. Some seek, and manage to achieve, attachment to willing partners (Stone, 2010). Researchers Janet Warren and Roy Hazelwood interviewed female partners of sexual sadists. Seven of the 20 sexual sadists with whom these women had affiliated had also murdered some of their victims .The relationships with these women were consensual, at least in the early phases; women had histories of having gone through physical abuse from a parent, or nine of the women were victims of incest by a father, brother, or even a female relative. These experiences these women experienced at an early age from their care takers allowed them to somehow expect, tolerate, and in some instances, even desire sadistic treatment at the hands of their sexual partners. The sexual sadists themselves initiated their partners into sadistic practices through a series of stages. In the candy and flowers stage, the man would win a woman with gifts, be a gentle man and be tender towards her, but then progress to a stage in which he expanded her sexual repertoire well beyond, and alien to, her prior experience. This might take such forms as forced anal sex, bondage, urinating on the woman, measured choking with release before unconsciousness occurred, etc. The mans quest for domination and total control might proceed to cutting the woman off from relatives and friends, such that she were now his sexual slave. If she were lucky, the pattern would progress no further. But in some cases, the drama would end in her death. Those sexual sadists who maintained ongoing relationships with a wife or girlfriend might lead a kind of double life, in which they exacted pain and suffering of a controlled sort with their partners, but also had a secret life in which they trolled for other women whom they tortured and murdered. In a number of examp les, the female partners were forced into becoming the inadvertent accomplices of sexually sadistic torture murder of other women. Some of these women, having been compliant in the beginning, desperately wanted out of the relationship toward the end but they were routinely threatened with torture and death themselves if they dared to exercise that option. Robert Anderson is an example of a sexual sadist who abducted Piper Streyle and ended up killing her. Her husband Vance Streyle remembered him coming to their trailer days before his wifes abduction to inquire about enrolling his kids into bible camp for the children. Several witnesses had seen Robert parked around the Streyles trailer in his black truck. When interviewed by the investigators he denied knowing anything about Pipers abduction or her whereabouts. It wasnt until the investigators got a search warrant to search his car and home. When investigators searched his car they found a wooden platform that had holes drilled into it. It was believed that it was made as a restraining device in which a persons ankles and hands could be tied to metal hoops that were strategically inserted into the board. The investigative team also found hairs attached to the wooden platform, which genetically matched pipers. More gruesome physical evidence was discovered around the river, which included several lengths of rope and chains, eyebolts, a vibrator and a half burned candle. It was believed that these items were used to torture Piper. According to investigators Hazelwood and Michaud, there was sufficient proof that Anderson was a sexual sadist who was excited by the physical and psychological suffering and helplessness of his victim. Their opinion was based on four factors one of them being that Anderson displayed an obvious interest in sexual bondage, a hallmark of the sexual sadist, which was represented by the restraints, d ildo, partially burnt candle, eyebolts, handcuff , keys, duct tape and plywood platform. The evidence found by investigators clearly indicated physical torture. It was surmised that after Piper was abducted, Anderson drove her to a wooded area near Baltic. While there he may have bound her to the platform, gagged her with duct tape, sheared her shirt off and then methodically tortured her with the dildo and candle before raping her. It is believed that he then murdered Piper and disposed of her body. Anderson admitted to police and friends that he liked anal sex, a preference his wife did not share. Research conducted by Hazelwood and Michaud found that sexual sadists prefer this form of sex. They believed that the dildo was used by Anderson to act out his fantasy. Conclusion Reference Page Stone ,M.H.(2010). Sexual Sadism: A portrait of Evil. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis Dynamic Psychiatry, Vol 38, 133-157 Kirsch,L.G, Becker,J.V .(2007). Emotional Deficits in psychopathy and sexual sadism: Implications for violent and sadistic behavior. Clinical psychology review. Vol 27, 904-922 Marshall,W.L, Kennedy,P.(2003).Sexual sadism in sexual offenders: An illusive diagnosis. Agression and violent behavior, Vol 8, 1-22 MacCulloch,M.J et al (1983). Sadistic Fantasy, Sadistic Behavior and Offending. Brit . J. Psychiat, 143, 20-29 Rachel,B .(2003) Robert Anderson: Awakening The Devil.Retrieved May 2,2010 from trutv website: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/robert_anderson/8.html Terry, K.J. (2006) Sexual Offenses and Offenders: Theory, Practice, and Policy. Pgs 84-91

Brief History Of HBL Commerce Essay

Brief History Of HBL Commerce Essay Stragtegic Human Resource Management helps an organization achieve productivity and effectiveness, by sharing the overall vision of the organization, sharing goals and objectives, and making sure that Human Resource is not just a department, but the whole organization speaks of HR as the core division, which means that organization is employee centered. Strategic HR changed a number of things in HBL. It updated the way plans were made, shifting to strategic plans, from a one-man show to bringing everybody on board, encouraging idea generation and sharing proposals, different departments sharing their plans of what to look for in the coming year and democratic decision making by appointing a Strategic Planning Division and appointing member from the Board of Directors that goes through each plan and then the CEO communicating the approved plan to the departmental heads. By this, the plan became not just an objective, but more of a bible. At HBL, after the privatization, a number of initiatives were taken, from right sizing and getting rid of lethargic employees, to introducing golden handshake schemes, from moving to performance management system to inducting young blood that brings in creative ideas. Concepts like employee engagement and job rotation became part of the policy, organization-wide rewards programs were introduced. An inevitable change in culture was also accomplished, it from the seniority based to performance based culture. Overall structure of the organization was also made flatter, removing additional levels and bureaucracy. INTRODUCTION TO HBL It is the prime Bank in country established in 1941 having a registered head office in Karachi. It was nationalized in 1974, but recently on 26th February 2004 it has been privatized by Government of Pakistan and is taken over by Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). They acquired 51 percent of shares of HBL. It is one of the largest Banks of Pakistan with 1439 branches, having total assets of Rs. 1,139,554,000, 5 million total number of customers helping in generating Rs 13 million profit currently. Brief History of HBL HBL established operations in Pakistan in 1947 and moved its head office to Karachi. Our first international branch was established in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1951 and Habib Bank Plaza was built in 1972 to commemorate the banks 25th Anniversary. With a domestic market share of over 40%, HBL was nationalized in 1974 and it continued to dominate the commercial banking sector with a major market share in inward foreign remittances (55%) and loans to small industries, traders and farmers. International operations were expanded to include the USA, Singapore, Oman, Belgium, Seychelles and Maldives and the Netherlands. On December 29, 2003 Pakistans Privatization Commission announced that the Government of Pakistan had formally granted the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) rights to 51% of the shareholding in HBL, against an investment of PKR 22.409 billion (USD 389 million). On February 26, 2004, management control was handed over to AKFED. The Board of Directors was reconstituted to have four AKFED nominees, including the Chairman and the President/CEO and three Government of Pakistan nominees. BUSINESS DIVISIONS AT HBL HBL has a wide array of customers, belonging to a wide range of business divisions, from individuals to corporate, from Islamic banking to commercial banking. They are divided into three main categories, as follows: Individual Customers Car, Home Loans Credit, Debit Cards Deposit Accounts BancAssurance Phone Banking FastTransfer Mutual Funds Salary Plus Business Customers Corporate Banking Commerical Banking SME Banking Global Treasury Investment Banking Cash Management Zarai Banking Asset Management Islamic Banking Deposit Accounts Financing Products Murabaha Diminishing Musharaka jarah Trade and Value added Services MISSION To make our customers prosper, our staff excel and create value for shareholders VISION Enabling people to advance with confidence and success VALUES Our values are the fundamental principles that define our culture and are brought to life in our attitudes and behavior. It is our values that make us unique and unmistakable. Our values are defined below: Excellence This is at the core of everything we do. The markets in which we operate are becoming increasingly competitive, giving our customers an abundance of choice. Only through being the very best in terms of the service we offer, our products and premises can we hope to be successful and grow. Integrity We are the leading bank in Pakistan and our success depends upon trust. Our customers and society in general expect us to possess and steadfastly adhere to high moral principles and professional standards. Customer Focus We understand fully the needs of our customers and adapt our products and services to meet these. We always strive to put the satisfaction of our customers first. Meritocracy We believe in giving opportunities and advantages to our employees on the basis of their ability. We believe in rewarding achievement and in providing first-class career opportunities for all. Progressiveness We believe in the advancement of society through the adoption of enlightened working practices, innovative new products and processes, and a spirit of enterprise. HUMAN RESOURCE AS A SOURCE OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Brief Introduction Human resource, being the pulse of any organization, is its most precious asset. And training plays a vital role in tapping and developing its potential to the utmost. With this key factor in mind, HBL pioneered its first training program in 1946, in which Muslim youth were recruited after an extensive tour of leading academic institutions. There are 78 employees in the HR department. According to Adnan-ur-Rehman Khan, Senior Manager, Human Resources at HBL Worldwide, the practice is of having 100 to 1 ratio, i.e. to have one employee of HR department per 100 employees of other departments. In Pakistan, however due to low importance of HR as a strategic function, it is okay to have 1000 to 1 ratio instead. Importance Bank is a service industry, automation cannot be done. Every activity has to be managed by human beings, a particular department is therefore unavoidable. Trust and loyalty can only be ensured by human beings. Banking involves money, which is why ensuring trust is extremely important. Housing 13,000 people is not an easy job. HR department at HBL deals with the factors associated with human beings like counseling, behavior management, motivation and job satisfaction. Since the organization is heterogeneous, complex and large a proper HR department exists to manage the diverse needs of large internal customers. Catering to administrative and long term strategic needs of employees. Support functions are required in order to help employees work towards organizational goals. RECRUITMENT PROCESS Internal job posting: This is the most traditional method which most of the companies are following in which CVs are being collected from companys website and other sources and then after the filtration process desired individuals are called for the interview. HBL actually grooms and trained their employees in different departments and whenever there is a vacancy they always prefer their trained employees. This adds a lot to the current employees confidence and morale, which they have a better chance to be promoted and thus strive to achieve higher than expectations. Entry level hiring: fresh graduates for MTOS and non MTOS: MTO admission program is being conducted in 6-7 certified universities, students who have a GPA above certain level can apply. They are being passed through screening and interview processes and then HR team hire them. Non MTOs are selected from B grade universities are passed from a testing process which is being outsourced, then they are also passed through an interview process and are shortlisted. Mid career: CV is being selected from the database of bank which points out the basic skills required for the job. After this HR team selects candidates who can perform these required tasks very effectively. These candidates are preferred to already have a career of at least 8-10 years so that they can understand the job demands properly. Cross function hiring: Hiring from different departments is also preferred as one of the recruitment method at HBL. For example while hiring for retail banking they also look into corporate bankings department. Similarly hiring for HR department can be done from compliance and audit divisions. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT The banks Training Division has gained renown for its excellence and efficiency and was called upon to assist in training personnel for other upcoming baking institutions. With the passage of time this assistance became a testimonial of the banks valuable contribution towards establishing and developing of other commercial banks within the country where several trained Habibians went to work with senior, middle and junior levels. Word of its skills spread far wide which led to many international banks sending their personnel to HBL for training. Presently HBL manages full-fledged teaching facilities and support staff at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. The training programs are conducted with the latest aids and equipment and involve extensive training to new recruits, and existing staff with specialized courses that cater to the different cadre of personnel on topics of Management, Marketing, Selling, Accounting and Finance, Banking Law and Practice and Internal Procedure. Speakers from other prestigious institutes are also invited to deliver lectures. Methods used: On the Job training Coaching/Mentoring Group Discussions Outdoor training Rewards and Recognition For them remuneration is the key element of employee engagement. Two elements of remuneration: Annual salary Performance-related benefit Performance is more than just achieving financial objectives. As a bank they pride themselves at their unique culture and values Every employee receive a values rating that reflect how employee live at their values and culture, which influence their performance related awards. . Those with the lowest value ratings would receive no annual performance related bonus, even if they achieve all their financial targets. The rating criterion is as follows A is a role model. B is an exemplary. C lived value with more time. D needs to learn values. These ratings denote your bonuses as well as pay increments. These ratings are purely awarded on the basis of performance and as mention earlier for that key performance indicators (KPI) plays a significant role. Along with these ratings they also give rewards for some particular achievement as recently they have arranged a 3 day holiday trip to Malaysia for their remote banking employees for performing significantly well. Outsourcing HBL manages its workforce by not hiring everybody. S. Ali Raza Zaidi, VP, Personnel Division said Now a days, there are companies that deal help in delivering services, which helps in keeping our workforce under control. Take credit card sales for example. These companies go for aggressive sales and telemarketing. There are not our employees, but bring us business and charge a fee for the service. In this way, HBL is also outsourcing some of the services, for which we dont need to actually employee people. However, if supervisor is needed, that must be a companys person. INNOVATION AND RISK TAKING AMONG EMPLOYEES: They motivate their employees to be courageous and bold enough to raise their voice against the system and for the system. There is a leadership board on internet to which every person is accessible and writes whatever he thinks should be done to improve the organizational effectiveness and then he is called to explain his idea in front of Board of Directors. This further elaborates the openness that is quite visible in the culture at HBL, where every employee is given confidence to speak what they feel is right and raise voice against anything that is bad, anonymity is of prime importance and HBL makes sure the whistle blowers remain behind the curtains. MOTIVATION AMONG EMPLOYEES: Motivating the employees is of primary importance to any organization. HBL follows below criteria: Compensate The salary and employee benefits your bank provides serve a major role in recruiting, retaining, and motivating staff. While salary and benefits are not the most important aspect of your jobs, they definitely contribute to recruiting, retaining, and motivating superior employees. The quest to compensate employees fairly is an ongoing challenge. If your bank pays employees too little, you may risk alienating and losing valuable employees. If you pay too much, you may be unwisely spending company resources. How much your bank can afford for employee salaries can determine the caliber of talent you attract to your organization. Performance Performance plays a significant role in motivating the employees. Performance of the employee can be judge by the employee himself. As in the beginning of the year targets are being set for the employees performance so by the end of the year employees themselves can see that what they have achieved and what more they can earn with their performance. Transition to Strategic HRM WHY SHRM? Strategic Human Resource Management practices enhance employee productivity and the ability of agencies to achieve their mission. Integrating the use of personnel practices into the strategic planning process enables an organization to better achieve its goals and objectives. With the advent of todays economy where services contribute to a major share of the GDP and the fact that the service sector is essentially people centric, it is vital that the people first approach be accepted by the organizations for sustainable business strategy. The practice of SHRM demands a proactive and hands on approach by the management as well as the HR department with regards to the entire scope of activities ranging from staffing and training and development to mentoring and pay and performance management. Adnan-ur-Rehman Khan, Senior Manager, Human Resources Were not a small firm, were in fact one of the biggest banks of Pakistan, having experience that ranges to decades. With so much experience, the one thing which we learnt is that people are your most important, and irreplaceable asset. You want monetary gains, you cannot ignore the human resource of your firm. This is infeasible today, as it is in future. If youre to go ahead, and really fulfill the vision, you have to trust your people. Invite them on the same platform, listen to their problems, and encourage them to speak their heart out. This essentially means that you welcome them on the big table, show them the big picture, share your mission, and treat your people like your stakeholders. Only in this way, by treating people as your strategic element, you can get the competitive edge against competitors. STRATEGIC PLANNING AT HBL Planning process Strategic Planning Division is made up of Board of Directors which evaluates previous performances, current market trends and forecasts future potential on a yearly basis. BoD evaluates several proposals and modified goals. All the core departments of HBL are involved in the strategy formulation, the formation of following years strategy is a combination of inputs and proposals from departments like Marketing, Operations, IT, Finance and Human Resource. According to Adnan-ur-Rehman Khan, Senior Manager, Human Resources at HBL The strategy is not just what the next year would be like, it is more like fulfilling the vision, which cannot be done without coordination of each department, responsibility and commitment of every employee of each division. The strategy is made when each department is on same page, one platform. This is what strategic planning means. The process, though extensive, only goes through with considerable consensus. The Strategic Planning Division votes on the proposals, and suggests recommendations if needed. After going through the extensive process of planning and strategizing, the plan takes the shape of a bible. Policy making is done by feedback process i.e. input, process, output and feedback. Input is provided by the BoD and top management, and then they are circulated in the organization. Employees work according to these policies and then their pros and cons are observed for the future policy making. Significance of strategic planning: Planning out the future of any business is the best way to guarantee success. It seems difficult in beginning, but as the time goes by, a strategy is what helps a business move in the right (planned) direction. At HBL, once approved strategic plans become bible for the whole organization, every department is given particular goals to meet; every department comes up with its own strategy on how to achieve those goals. SBUs are also encouraged to come up with their own business strategy, since each business division has better understanding on deciding the action plan to meet targets. According to Adnan-ur-Rehman Khan, Senior Manager, Human Resources at HBL every division is allowed to come up with its own strategy to meet the set targets, top management is flexible in this regard. Types of Strategic Goals Strategic goals are monetary and non monetary. Monetary goals are highly centralized and cascaded down to businesses and interpret these goals to SBUs and non monetary goals are transferred to support functions and support functions interpret them. Performance management system reviews the performance of SBUs and support functions, if any discrepancy is found, departmental heads are taken to task. Monitoring Performance Management System Progress of implementation of strategic goals is continuously monitored, if any discrepancy is found between performance level and set goals, it affects performance appraisal process. If everything goes as planned, performance management eventually helps in the performance appraisal of employees. Performance Managements core objective is manage talent, motivation, commitment of the employees towards the organization and its vision. They have very strong evaluation process in which the evaluation is started right away from the 1st day of joining to the bank. Right from the first day the immediate supervisor of an employee has a meeting with him and they both discusses about the goals, objectives and what is being expected from him. They have key performance indicators through which the performance of each and every employee is being analyse. With the help of this key performance indicators and the discussion with the supervisor the employee had a clear idea and road map that what he has to do and what is expected from him. The goals are being set by the mutual understanding between the employee and his supervisor. This evaluation is being done on the semi annually basis. On the basis of this evaluation employees get their pay raise and ratings. The more rating points you earned the more pay increments you will get. Communication of Goals CEO communicates these goals to direct reporters i.e. departmental heads which are further communicated to functional heads who set their respective targets. For example: the functional head of retail banking sets their target to collect the deposits of Rs 25 million and now it is to be increased to 35 million by 2013. Retail banking allocates goals to its further 20 regions after a meeting with their respective heads. Regional heads might require more resources so HR department arranges for that as well (Example quoted by S. Ali Raza Zaidi, VP, Personnel Division, HBL). Policy Making and Risk Management Board Human Resource Committee (BHRC) includes chairman, president and one independent board member. These three members issue recommendations on HR Initiatives and policies. Similarly there are committees of compliance and risk which deals with the matters like compliance with government policies on employment, ethical issues, matters like sexual harassment and the like. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Transformation from Public to Private In 2003, under the government of General Musharraf a commission called Pakistan Privatization Commission was formed, under the leadership of Shaukat Aziz HBL, along with many other companies, was privatized and 51% of its shares were sold to Aga Khan Fund for Economic and Development (AKFED). Right Sizing of Workforce: Earlier when HBL was a public organization its culture was lethargic, many people under burdened, all responsibilities were shared vaguely. When it went private one of the strategic decisions taken was of right sizing. From 31000 employees all over Pakistan, in 1997, the number was shrunk to around 10000 and it stands at 13000 as of 2012. The right sizing did not create an ethical issue because the nature of the organizational holding was changed. Workforce cut down to 13000, which increased the productivity level and motivation because the less-productive employees were laid off which increase individual work load but not so much as to over burden employees and helped organization cut down cost of additional employees that were not contributing enough. From Annual Confidential Report to Performance Management system. Initially HBL used to do the performance appraisal on annual basis and this process was called annual confidential report which was as the name suggests kept confidential to the top management only. After privatization bank moved towards performance management system which was by nature more transparent, open to input from various departments and was reviewed on a continuous basis to make sure that the performance of employees is in line with the strategies made at the top. Paradigm Shift to Growth-Oriented According to Adnan-ur-Rehman Khan, Senior Manager, Human Resources While some organizations are strictly business oriented where the only thing that matters is money, on the other extreme there are people centric organizations which are primarily concerned with its workforce, HBL took a midway approach. The organization believes in welfare of its employees by channeling their efforts towards achieving monetary goals. Banks culture is such that its the people who bring in profits so it should be people who are benefits the most from the profit which cannot be done without organizational growth in the terms of greater market coverage. Organizational Transformation by introducing Golden Handshake Scheme When the organization realized that the current workforce could not come with many creative ideas and lacked physical efficiency and could not cope with changing market trends due to resistance to change, HBL introduced golden handshake scheme. Under this scheme 25/55 rule was established i.e. the employees with 25 years of experience within the bank and 55 years of age were offered 5 months cumulative salary and their services were recognized as an honor to HBL. Inducting Young Blood Previously discussed golden handshake scheme helped HBL to induct young blood. Since youth is more inclined towards updating themselves with latest techniques, open to change, have superior physical strength and more creative mind, this strategy helped increase efficiency in the organization. This young blood equipped with the creative mind and greater insights of recent market trends helped te bank to grow in the face of fierce competition. Tracking Employee Demand and Supply Management at HBL is alert on upcoming vacancies, and how to fill them up. Whenever an employee is about to leave, he must serve the one month notice period, the company first looks at the internal pool of candidates, those who are most eligible to be promoted. If there is no replacement available in the current employees, the bank goes the through the external recruitment process (mentioned above in recruitment process). Employee Engagement Job rotation and transfer is done every 3 years according to the policy. The assignment should be changed for this purpose. Nobody is allowed to work more than three years on the same position, he is either promoted or his job is changed, job rotation is a key policy at HBL. Job rotation program is also there for Management Trainee employees who are being rotated to different departments after every 6 months. HBL derives following benefits from their job rotation policy: Explore the Hidden Talent Job Rotation is designed to expose employees to a wider range of operations in order to assist managers in exploring their hidden talent. In the process, they are moved through a variety of assignments so that they can gain awareness about the actual working style of the organization and understand the problems that crop up at every stage. Individuals Explore Their Interests: Sometimes, employees are not aware of what would like to do until they have their hands on some specific job. If their job is rotated or they are exposed to different operations, they can identify what they are good at and what they enjoy doing. Identifies Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Job Rotation helps managers as well as individuals identify their KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes). It can be used in determining who needs to improve or upgrade his or skills in order to perform better. This helps in analyzing training and development needs of employees so that they can produce more output. Motivates Employees to Deal with New Challenges: When employees are exposed to different jobs or assigned new tasks, they try to give their best while effectively dealing with the challenges coming their way. Satisfaction and Decreases Attrition Rate: Exposing employees to different tasks and functions increase their satisfaction level. Job variation reduces the boredom of doing same task every day. Moreover, it decreases attrition rate of the organization. Align Competencies with Requirements: Alignment of competencies with requirements means directing the resources when and where they are required. It assesses the employees and places them at a place where their skills, competencies and caliber are used to the highest possible extent. Career counseling when needed Employees who are not able to perform or want to leave the organization voluntarily they were given incentives which were added in their benefits. In other cases where employees with good performance are planning to leave the organization then they are provided with proper career counseling by the HR manager himself and his reservations are also sorted out to maximum extent. Employee as family To motivate the employees non monetary benefits are also there which includes gatherings, trips to foreign countries, picnics, visits, lunches and formal dinners. This helps the employees feel like part of the family, rather than just workers. This is essential in terms of relationship building, and increasing communication between the top management and other employees. CORPORATE STRATEGY According to Adnan-ur-Rehman Khan, Senior Manager, Human Resources HBL follows the strategy of diversification, since it deals with different customers, in different markets. We have a different group of customers for Islamic Banking, different for Corporate Banking. We aggressively look for new divisions that have a high potential of growth. For example, we were the pioneers of Zarai Banking, which made our portfolio diverse. HBL is suppose to be a heterogeneous, complex and large organization therefore there are multiple strategies used. Centralized approach is used for financial dealings is used. Top management is flexible in this regard that every function can devise its own business strategy. Core Divisions at HBL HBLs pioneer division is Agri financing. They are market leaders and other banks are following HBL. The division deals in providing farmers with necessary financing. Second core division at HBL is Retail Banking. CULTURE AT HBL Seniority based culture to performance based culture When the bank was Public limited, the culture was more inclined towards promotion comes with age and loyalty. The transition to Private limited company ensured that the culture be changed performance based. The seniority now holds less weight as compared to actual performance, when it comes to performance appraisal. Employee Work hours and Overtime issue HBL has a very strict policy against overtime. Overtime is not appreciated much. Timings are followed strictly. Every employee is supposed to leave the office at 5.30 PM, the usual off time of the organization. If an employee is sitting late and working, he is obliged to answer as to what took him to register overtime. The culture is such that when more than 95% employees leave on time, including the top management, employees are generally demotivated to stay late as well. Responsiveness Customer responsiveness delivers an excellent customer experience. As a global research reported, 81 percent of banks with strong capabilities and competencies for delivering customer experience excellence are outperforming their competition. An effective customer response strategy enables a bank to deliver the highest standards of customer care at a time when the customer most needs it. That level of care makes an important contribution to customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty. Head of resourcing instead of head of recruitment. Outsourcing worker services, ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE The purpose of an organizational structure is to help in creating an environment for human performance. It is then, a management tool and not an end in its own. Although the structure must define the task to be done, the rules so established must also be designed in the light of abilities and motivation of the human recourse available. By analyzing the organizational structure of HBL presence of the following elements can be found in its structure. Transition towards flatter organization Another change in the private limited company was the removal of additional levels in the organizational hierarchy, this helped in reducing the communication gap between employees and management, and among