Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Practicing financial planning (easy) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Practicing financial planning (easy) - Essay Example Regarding the matter of income, their projections is to stay in their current salaried employment until the age of retirement. They expect their savings to have risen significantly at the point in time of their retirement. At the moment, they do not seem to have any plans of starting any form of business. Their current levels of income are sufficient to meet their needs and make plans for the future. However, the unpredictable nature of inflation often causes challenges in retirement planning (Carlson 41). The clients do not have any pending matters regarding taxation. They do not foresee any challenges that arise from unresolved financial matters. They seem to be comfortable in servicing the school loan and car loan, which they quote at 100,000 dollars and 30,000 dollars respectively. On this note, it might be argued that some of the issues that connect to the matter of expenses might require both long-term and short-term approaches. The clients did not provide any information regarding their status of health. They did not disclose any information on whether they have any history of lifestyle diseases. Some of the issues that continue to engage the attention of the client is the manner in which they shall pull their resources together towards strengthening their financial base. On this note, they require the kind of planning that would harness their current strengths while exploring opportunities for improved financial

Monday, October 28, 2019

Dick Spencer Case Essay Example for Free

Dick Spencer Case Essay Spencer was a plant manager of Modrow Company, a Canadian Branch of the Tri-American Corporation. Tri-American was a major producer of primary aluminum with integrated operations ranging from mining of bauxite through the processing to fabrication of aluminum into variety of products. The company had also made and sold refractories and industrial chemicals. The parent company had wholly owned subsidiaries in five separate United States locations and had foreign affiliates in fifteen different countries. Tri-American employed approximately 22,000 employees in the total organization. The company was governed by a board of directors. The board set general policy, which was then interpreted and applied by the various plant managers. This decentralization in organizational structure increased the freedom and authority of the plant managers, but increase the pressure for profitability. Spencer started his career in Tri-American Corporation as salesman and he succeeded. After two years of successful work as salesman, he became the symbol of what salesman have to be. In his career in Tri-American, he had worked as salesman, troubleshooter, assistant plant manager in English branch in London UK, plant manager in Birmingham in UK and his last position was plant manager of Modrow company in Canada. It was another challenging position in his career and he had faced few problems regarding to management, organization culture, organization conflict and organization innovation. †¢ Spencer was a plant manager of Modrow Company, a Canadian Branch of the Tri-American Corporation. †¢ Tri-American was a major producer of primary aluminum with integrated operations ranging from the mining of bauxite through the processing to fabrication of aluminum into a variety of products. The company had also made and sold refractories and industrial chemicals. The parent company had wholly owned subsidiaries in five separated US locations and had foreign affiliates in 15 different countries. Tri-American employed approximately 22,000 employees in the total organization. The company was governed by a board of directors, which included chairman, vice chairman, president and 12 vice presidents. Subsidiaries and branches are organized as independent companies and decisions are decentralized. †¢ The Modrow Branch was located in a border town in Canada. The total work force in Modrow was 1,000. This Canadian subsidiary was primarily a fabricating unit. Its main products were foil and building products such as roofing and siding. Problem: 1. Resistance to change by employees, this problem shows when Dick as the plant manager asked the worker why he was using the saw when the material could easily be bent fifted into the barrels, resulting in saving time and equipment. And then the worker said â€Å"We’ve never done it that way, sir. We’ve always cut it†. After all the power saw are removed from the scalp area in order to adjust new method of bending rather than cutting. A few day later Dick find out that workmen using hand shears to cut each strip to cut. 2. Process of Production Problems. In his new position as Plant Manager at Modrow, he found that construction was slower in completion than originally planned; equipment arrived before the building was finished, employees were upset about the extent of change expected in their work routines with the installation of additional machinery, and in general morale was at low ebb. 3. Culture Change Problem; there is the difference between American and British philosophy and performance within the plant. Here, he also found that his power and authority were less than those of his superiors, so he constantly found himself in the position of having to soft pedal or withhold suggestions that he would have liked to make, or innovations that he would have liked to introduce. After a frustrating year and a half, Dick was suddenly made plant manager of an old British company which had just been purchased by Tri-American. He left his first English assignments with mixed and moved from London to Birmingham. In Birmingham, he become a plant manager and operated much as he had in his troubleshooting job for the first couple of years of his change from sales to administration. He did some changes in Birmingham. Training and reduction programs were instituted for all supervisors and managers who survive the initial purge. He tried to focus/ control on relationship between production and the needs from sales by simplifying and redesign in order to increase profit. Later the company showed a small profit for the first time in many years. For this successfulness, then he requested transferred back to United States. 4. Cost Reduction Problem, by the end of his first year at Modrow, the building program had been completed, although behind schedule, the new equipment had been installed, and some revamping of cost procedures had been incorporated. But, the financial picture at this time showed as a loss. Later, all managers of the various divisions had worked closely with their supervisors and accountants in planning the budget for the following year. 5. Human Relations/ Interaction Problems When he worked through his first year as plant manager, Dick developed the habit of strolling around the organization. He was apt to leave his office and appear anywhere on the plant floor, in the design office and at the plant cafeteria rather than in the executive dining room, or wherever there was activity concerned with Modrow. At first his presence disturbed those who noted him coming and going, but later, the workers came to accept his presence and continue their usual activities. Supervisors, managers, and foreman, however, did not feel as comfortable when they saw him in the area. 6. Different corporate culture in Canada, even though Canada is located in same geopolitical areas, geographically and nationally Canada is different country and corporate culture is bit different from USA. And Dick Spencer is American manager who started his career in USA. As we can see from the case, Dick Spencer is basically very stunning to adapt different corporate culture in different countries such as UK and Canada plant career. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ In recalling his first year at Modrow, Dick had felt constantly pressured and badgered. He always sensed that the Canadians he worked with resented his presence since he has brought in over the heads of the operating staff’. At the same time he felt this subtle resistance from his Canadian work force†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. 7. Organization conflict in Modrow plant, there was an obvious conflict between workers and Dick Spencer. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ In recalling his first year at Modrow, Dick had felt constantly pressured and badgered. He always sensed that the Canadians he worked with resented his presence since he has brought in over the heads of the operating staff †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. In the other words, other workers couldn’t live up with Dick’s arrival in the company. 8. Corporate innovation management, at the time of Dick Spencer’s arrival in the Modrow Branch, there was a lack of good corporate innovation management. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ Prior to Dick’s appointment as plant manager at Modrow, extensive plans for plant expansion and improvement had been approved and started. Altough he had not been in on the original discussions and plans, he inherited all the problems that accompany large-scale changes in any organization. Construction was slower in completion than originally planned, equipment arrived before the building was finished, employees were upset about the extent of change expected in their work routines with installation of additional machinery, and, in general, morale was a low ebb†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 9. Decentralization, basically this is American organization type and American one is more formalistic than European. Decentralization is basically increase the pressure from parent company management. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ This decentralization in organizational structure increased the freedom and authority of the plant managers, but increased the pressure for profitability†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 10. Lack of leadership for Dick Spencer, in terms of organization leader Dick Spencer shouldn’t include the all the works in the organization. He tried to do it by himself every single things and he aimed to attend every action. In terms of HRM, this is not good character for the good Leader. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ As he worked through his first year as plant manager, Dick developed the habit of strolling around the organization†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. This created the conflict between him and workers. Also this creates dis-approvement from workers. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦Supervisors, managers and foreman, however didn’t feel as comfortable when they saw him in the area†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 11. Lack of knowledge in Human resource and accounting knowledge, these two courses were disadvantage for Dick Spencer in this study in MBA and these two are very important for any organization. In the other way, he can find and hire someone who can do his unknowledgeable fields such as accounting and HR. 12. Too high expectation from management made pressure, we can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦he believed that the president and his friends in the home office were constantly on the alert, waiting for Dick to prove himself or fail flat on his face†¦

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Problem with Immgration to the United States Essay -- Immigration

The Problem with Immgration to the United States The first move stopping immigration decided by Congress was a law in 1862 restricting American vessels to transport Chinese immigrants to the U.S. The Alien Contract Labor Laws of 1885, 1887, 1888, and 1891 restricted the immigration to the U.S. of people entering the country to work under contracts made before their arrival. Alien skilled laborers, under these laws, were allowed to enter the U.S. to work in new industries. By this time anti-immigrant felling rose with the flood of immigrants and in this period the anti-Catholic, anti-foreign political party the Know-Nothings, was already born. The problems and issues are still much the same today, as they were 150 years ago, but as the numbers and facts show the immigration problem is growing worse and worse. After World War I a marked increase in racism and the growth of isolationist sentiment in the U.S. led to demands for further tightened legislation. In 1921 a congressional act provided for a quota system for immigrants, which the number of aliens of any nationality admitted to the U.S. in a year could not exceed 3 percent of the number of foreign-born residents of that nationality living in the U.S. in 1910. (Potter, Gerald., Congressional Quarterly 1921) This law applied to nations of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Asian Russia, and certain islands in the Atlantic and Pacific. In the 1980s concern about the surge of illegal aliens into the U.S. has led Congress to pass legislation aimed at cutting illegal immigration. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allows most illegal aliens who have resided in the U.S. regularly since January 1, 1982, to apply for legal status. Also, the law prohibits employers from hiring illegal aliens and mandates penalties for violations. Debate over immigration and immigration policy is not new to the nation's history. From time to time, Congress brought legislation to control the flow of immigration. As immigration rises and hatred grows more laws will be implemented trying to release some of the pressure. Illegal immigration has some pros and cons. Here are some of the so-called â€Å"pros† if they’re really that is debatable. It offers cheaper labor to businesses. By not paying minimum wages to the workers who are willing to work for a lower price, this gives the busi... ...ional handouts they could start to develop something they’ve yet to have the initiative to start. Industry & Hard work! Immigration has taken a great toll on the United States the immigrant population is growing faster then the native born population and it’s about time we do something about it and take back our country not theirs. Sure it’s true that we were all immigrants at one time but just as the constitution changes America has changed as well. We’re no longer the â€Å"Great Melting Pot† we’re our own separate culture and that culture has no more room for illegal immigrants and very minimal room for new immigrants. The idea of closing the borders up is not a â€Å"racial† issue or a â€Å"cultural† issue; it’s a simple matter of self-preservation. It’s the way to keeping our country great and keeping those undesirable for our country out. It’s way past time to find a cure for the Immigration Cancer. Works Cited Conover, Ted. A Journey Through the Secret World of America's Illegal Aliens. Vintage, 1987. Opinion, â€Å"The Immigration Crisis.†, SF Chronicle, July 4th 1998 Dan Carney, " Social Policy " Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, 9/7/96, Vol. 54 Issue 36, p250 The Problem with Immgration to the United States Essay -- Immigration The Problem with Immgration to the United States The first move stopping immigration decided by Congress was a law in 1862 restricting American vessels to transport Chinese immigrants to the U.S. The Alien Contract Labor Laws of 1885, 1887, 1888, and 1891 restricted the immigration to the U.S. of people entering the country to work under contracts made before their arrival. Alien skilled laborers, under these laws, were allowed to enter the U.S. to work in new industries. By this time anti-immigrant felling rose with the flood of immigrants and in this period the anti-Catholic, anti-foreign political party the Know-Nothings, was already born. The problems and issues are still much the same today, as they were 150 years ago, but as the numbers and facts show the immigration problem is growing worse and worse. After World War I a marked increase in racism and the growth of isolationist sentiment in the U.S. led to demands for further tightened legislation. In 1921 a congressional act provided for a quota system for immigrants, which the number of aliens of any nationality admitted to the U.S. in a year could not exceed 3 percent of the number of foreign-born residents of that nationality living in the U.S. in 1910. (Potter, Gerald., Congressional Quarterly 1921) This law applied to nations of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Asian Russia, and certain islands in the Atlantic and Pacific. In the 1980s concern about the surge of illegal aliens into the U.S. has led Congress to pass legislation aimed at cutting illegal immigration. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allows most illegal aliens who have resided in the U.S. regularly since January 1, 1982, to apply for legal status. Also, the law prohibits employers from hiring illegal aliens and mandates penalties for violations. Debate over immigration and immigration policy is not new to the nation's history. From time to time, Congress brought legislation to control the flow of immigration. As immigration rises and hatred grows more laws will be implemented trying to release some of the pressure. Illegal immigration has some pros and cons. Here are some of the so-called â€Å"pros† if they’re really that is debatable. It offers cheaper labor to businesses. By not paying minimum wages to the workers who are willing to work for a lower price, this gives the busi... ...ional handouts they could start to develop something they’ve yet to have the initiative to start. Industry & Hard work! Immigration has taken a great toll on the United States the immigrant population is growing faster then the native born population and it’s about time we do something about it and take back our country not theirs. Sure it’s true that we were all immigrants at one time but just as the constitution changes America has changed as well. We’re no longer the â€Å"Great Melting Pot† we’re our own separate culture and that culture has no more room for illegal immigrants and very minimal room for new immigrants. The idea of closing the borders up is not a â€Å"racial† issue or a â€Å"cultural† issue; it’s a simple matter of self-preservation. It’s the way to keeping our country great and keeping those undesirable for our country out. It’s way past time to find a cure for the Immigration Cancer. Works Cited Conover, Ted. A Journey Through the Secret World of America's Illegal Aliens. Vintage, 1987. Opinion, â€Å"The Immigration Crisis.†, SF Chronicle, July 4th 1998 Dan Carney, " Social Policy " Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, 9/7/96, Vol. 54 Issue 36, p250

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Conceptions of Curriculum

When looking at the curriculum, there are several conceptions that are used in defining which type of a curriculum will be used in schools the curriculum conception basically affects the material and teaching techniques that will be used in school. Depending on how a school or a country wants to educate its students, a school will have to base its curriculum top specific curriculum conception. One or more concepts can be incorporate when formulating the curriculum. Basically the school curriculum plays an important role in determining and shaping the student’s understanding of education and other important issues.The curriculum Print (1993), in his book discusses the way in which curriculum is understood in terms conceptions. To Print (1993) there are five main curriculum conceptions, these includes †¢ Academic rationalist conception †¢ Humanistic conception †¢ Cognitive progression conception †¢ Social Reconstructionist conception Different school and unde rtake to use one or more than one of the above outlined concepts in developing their curriculum. The choosing of the concepts will depend on the outcome that the school and the teaching professional want to get from students.Let us briefly examine each one of these conception is some details; (Print 1993) The academic rationalist concept The concept puts a lot of emphasis on knowledge, values and skills that are found in different academic fields. Academic rationalism conception curriculum has a distinctive discipline which is different from other concepts. Many curriculum developers today, use this conception. The concept originates from seven liberal arts that are in the classical curriculum. (Eisner, 1979)According to Eisner & Vallance, (1974) academic rationalism, is among the oldest conceptions, the conception puts a lot of emphasis on the responsibility of the school to enable the students to share the academic benefits of those who passed on before. The sharing is not limited to the concepts only, but it also includes any work that has resisted the test of time. for those individuals that embrace the academic rationalism conception, being educated to them means being initiated to methods thought that are represent by the different disciplines in the conception.There fore, the significant aim of understanding the academic rationalism is to pass the knowledge and aesthetics from one generation to another generation. This is attained through education that is organized within academic disciplines that are recognized. (Eisner & Vallance, 1974) Humanistic conceptions This curriculum conception offers opportunities in which to improve an â€Å"individual’s self- concept† and to attain self- actualization, this is according to Print 1993. This is the most common in main of the supporting material that is contained in the curriculum documents.Humanism curriculum conception is a perspective which is founded on the assumption that individuals have a n inclination of developing all their abilities that maintaining them. In general humanism conception, tries to facilitate releasing of present capacity and potential in a student. In humanism the understanding is that if some beliefs and specific conditions are already present in an individual, this individual or students will gradually let their self actualizing ability to override barriers that they have created international.Roger 1961 points out that the tree main aspects in humanism are; Genuineness, unconditional positive aspect; and emphatic understanding. Cognitive processes conception This conception provides students with opportunity and skill or methods to assist them â€Å"learn how to learn† and also to give students a chance to employ and improve the different faculties that they have (Print, 1993) Social theory This curriculum conception takes a critical look on the social aspect of education.One of the main values of the conception is the obligation in penetr ating the world of objective knowledge so that one can expose the social relationships which are underlying that are in many cases hidden . social conception believes that knowledge need to applied for emancipatory political objectives. The main objective of the social conception is to nullify the impacts of ideology in that individual perceptions are free from emancipation, the individual are able to visualize beyond and know the reality. (Kemmis, et al 1994) My personal Conception; Technology conceptionPersonally I will take technology concept, DeVore (1968) defines technology conception as an organization of knowledge and the use of resources in producing outcomes that respond to the human requirements and wants. Thus, this definition characterizes technology as a â€Å"body of knowledge† in the past this body f knowledge was being viewed as knowledge of practice. The conception goes on to explain that, the knowledge is used to gives methods of doing activities and show wh at is really valued through action. Technology is being viewed as a discipline in it self.The view that technology is discipline is justified by DeVore (1968) monograph that outlines technology as a discipline. DeVore (1968) articulates the points that points out that technology as an intellectual discipline; which is organized body of knowledge that has got structure that unites the different parts of the technology structure. Technology have also stood the test of time thus evidence that it is durable. Technology is cumulative naturally, and also technology relates to the future and provides inspiration and stimulation for other ideas and goalsBruner (1960) describes technology curriculum conception as a curriculum which is determined by underlying principles of understanding education purposes. To Bruner (1960) the basic learning purpose is economy. The conception views such learning process as permitting generalization thus making knowledge to be used in other contexts apart fro m the one that the knowledge was gotten from. It also builds the memory in allowing the student to relate what he/she would have forgotten. Thus, this education conception is important and has to be implemented in schools curricula.(Bruner, 1960) Shaping of education; Curriculum development Curriculum development is formulated for all schools and for various classes in manner that it can be taught and develop the students learning procedures. Depending on the curriculum conception/s that is being used it will shape the way the curriculum is developed. Curriculum development goes a long way to defining the way the education system of a school or a country will be. Curriculum development incorporates all the subjects to be taught and how they will be taught in the education program. Designing of a curriculumCurriculum conception plays important role in shaping and defining the education system of a country. Much of the reforms in the education sector occur due to embracing various cur riculum concepts. For instance, recommendations by the Holmes Group for teach reforms on preparations which are discipline based were based on curriculum conceptions. (Kemmis, et al1994) some of the recommendation by the groups was also to having education program for technology teachers, as technology was endorsed as a discipline in the education curriculum. That it was easy to redesign the curriculum in relations to the proposal by the Holmes group.In the same line, where school took technology has a discipline and incorporated technology in its curriculum, the discipline has gained respect and in the academic program. (Kemmis, et al 1994) A good example of how technology has shaped education system in schools is in the Maryland State Department of Education, where high school graduation requirement have been changed. Previously, the education standards in the state required that a one semester course be offered for the â€Å"practical arts† that could be achieved by a cour se in technology education or any other course in vocational education, home economic or computer education.The new standards that have been proposed eliminate the practical arts subjects’ requirements, but, the state department of education has put a new requisite in technology education. The requirements require that a student should take one year in learning technology education in the school before he/she graduates. Therefore technology education has to be elevated top be a main subject. This highly changes the policies and perceptions in the education system and helps to shape education system to be producing a system which embraces technology. (Maryland State Department of Education 1991)Education system is also shaped by new disciplines that are being brought forward by the curriculum conceptions. Education is dynamic and in order to remain relevant to the requirements of the masses and to solve the daily challenges in the education system it has to keep on evolving to cope up with the new challenges. In the same context newer disciplines in education curriculum have become much more appropriate than the old ones. For example, psychology has become more relevant to the education sector as it gives a good understanding of human nature.Thus, these conceptions have a direct impact in education systems as they are used in formulating the curriculum being taught in schools which determine the system of education that will be used. (Kemmis, et al 1994) Assessment In order to monitor the progress of students it is important that proper assessments methods has to be formulated and put in place, for the teachers to know the progress of their students in various discipline. Depending on the type of the curriculum conception that is being used in a particular curriculum in school it will determine the kind of assessment methods that will be used in the schools.Assessment methods are in important in ensuring that the learners are getting what is taught. (Kem mis, et al 1994) Global versus local issues that may impact developing curriculum Globalization plays important role in shaping the education system in the current education institutions. Today, global issues impact students strongly than never before. With the advent of television and internet opportunities to get information from other parts of the world has increased. The significant of education in assisting students in knowing their roles and responsibilities in the global society has increased.Thus, in formulating the school curriculum it is important that the curriculum should incorporate global issues. Some of the important global aspects that affects curriculum are; human rights, interdependence, conflict resolution, values and perceptions, diversity; sustainable development and social justice. Local issues like, culture, politics and education system will also affect the curriculum developed. (Eisner, & Vallance, 1974) Outlined below is a discussion on how teaching of diff erent subjects can incorporate global dimension in a manner that can ensure that progression by the significant stages of education;Developing English curriculum In developing the English curriculum, both fiction and non-fiction books from different countries in the world has to taught in schools so that students can learn different cultures in the world and get an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the world issues and them selves. (Eisner, & Vallance, 1974) Developing Technology education curriculum The curriculum will have to incorporate the current global technology trend and give students opportunities to design different products and analyze how these products work.This will give them also a chance to learn the various needs of people in various cultures and countries. At the same time the students will get an opportunity of knowing how technology can be applied in order to improve and at the same time develop the global society. (Eisner, & Vallance, 1974) Developin g History curriculum In formulating history curriculum in relation to global issues, the students can be given an opportunity to learn about the cultural, religious, ethnic and social diversities in the global societies. And related the information they have leant to the different societies and their own.In doing so, they can then link occurrences in different countries and make a comparison with the lives of those people currently and in the pas. This will highly developed their understanding of those countries and give them an insight on global issues. (Eisner, & Vallance, 1974) Strategic and operations After developing the curriculum it is important to have a clear strategy of how it is going to be implemented and in schools and how it is going to be affected in the learning process. The curriculum developers have to have clear administrative strategy that will be used in administering the new curriculum in schools.A proper structure should be provided that reflects how schools w ill practice and carry out the curriculum. The strategy or planning is important for educators and the practitioners in the education system. Strategies sets will ensure that the objectives of the curriculum are achieved. (DeVore, 1968) Proper analysis offers the educators with tools for planning and carrying out operations of the curriculum. Where necessary they can redirect the curriculum operation. In addition, operations will involve the way the curriculum will be implemented.This involves the teachers of schools and administrators who have to carry out the operations of teaching. The curriculum will only be effectively in operation if the teaching staffs are well prepared and informed about the curriculum. Other wise they may be a hitch in operation of the curriculum. (DeVore, 1968) Conclusion Curriculum remains an important tool in the education system of a country. A curriculum of a school defines the teaching material of a school. In developing the curriculum different curri culum conceptions are used in determining the type of a curriculum that will be used in schools.Curriculum conception affects curriculum development, assessments methods and curriculum alignments among other issues of the curriculum. Currently global issues also play important role in determining the kind of education curriculum that will be developed in school. In order to give students a more global approach it has become necessary that global issues have to be incorporated in the education system. However, strategic planning and operations have to be well formulated to effectively implement curriculum in schools. Reference: Bruner, J. S. (1960): The process of education.Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Commission on Technology Education for the State of New Jersey (1987): Technology Education: Learning how to live in a technical world. Aberdeen, NJ: Vocational Education Resource Centre. DeVore, P. D. (1968): Structure and content foundations for curriculum development. Wa shington, DC: American Industrial Arts Association. DeVore, P. D. (1964): Technology: An intellectual discipline; Bulletin Number 5. Washington, DC: American Industrial Arts Association. Eisner, E W. (1979): The three curricular that all schools teach; The Educational imagination.New York; Macmillan, Eisner, E. W. & Vallance, E. (1974): Conflicting conceptions of curriculum. Berkeley, CA: McCutch Publishing. Eriksson, T. L. (1988): The teacher education reform movement: Tenets of the Holmes group. Journal of Epsilon Pi Tao, 24 Maryland State Department of Education (1991): Requirements for graduation from high school in Maryland. Baltimore, MD. Kemmis, S. , C et al (1994): Understanding Teaching: Curriculum and the social context of schooling. Print, M (1993): Curriculum development and design; Chapter 2. St Lenards, Australia. Unwin & Allen

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Child Observation Essay

I observed the teacher and what instructional theory she used and the five students in her classroom. Her students consisted of three four girls and one boy from what was shown in the video. Instructional Theory used: The instructional theory that was used by the teacher was that of Vygotsky’s Cognitive Development Theory. Description of the lesson observed: The teacher started out with clear instructions informing the students that they would be doing about learning new words. She started out asking the students ‘Where is Squawker? † she followed up her answer by guiding the answer. Once the students were aware of the question, they answered by saying that Squawker was under the umbrella. The teacher cheered them on and gave positive feedback at that fact that the children answered correctly. She then reiterated the question and the answer and had the students repeat after her. She then asked one student in particular to go and get squawker, who would be her handheld helper for the lesson, from under the umbrella. Her name was Page. The teacher then told the children that they would be learning some new words that were in the word box. She again asked Page to be her word helper for that lesson. She gave the students clear expectations of the lesson. She told them that she would say the word, which she did by spelling it out completely first then saying in in a clear, crisp tone. She asked Page to select the first word and hold it up for everyone to see. The children then repeated the spelling of the first word, lungs, and then they also said the word clearly. *I had to note, that Page did not spell out the word lungs with the other students. She kind of just mumbled the word. * She, the teacher, made sure to also say to the children to â€Å"Look† closely at the word card. The next word Page pulled out of the word box was the word chest. The teacher again modeled how to pronounce each letter of the word and to say the word. She had the students model after her the same exact way. Again I noticed how Page did not pronounce the word like the other students. The teacher then proceeded to ask Page to place the word chest on her chest so that everyone could see the word. Page did as she was told, signifying she knew what the word was. The teacher also at that time emphasized the action â€Å"Do†. The teacher then had page pull out the picture of the lungs from the word box and place it on her chest. The teacher then engage the students and ask them how do we use our lungs, and elicit responses to see if the children had any knowledge of the content they were engaging in. The children showed readiness and ability to move forward with the questioning. She asked what is in the lungs and one child answered air. The teacher made connections to the environment by asking the children what else is full of air, and one child responded by answering â€Å"a balloon†. The teacher applauded and gave each child praise when answering the questions. The teacher also emphasized during this portion of the lesson â€Å"Say† as she wanted to know that the children knew what they were saying as well. She had Squawker, her hand helper, to ask follow up questions to see if the students comprehended the meanings or the usage of the word lungs, and chest all of which each of the five children responded with clear meaning of the text. The teaching technique the teacher used was in line with Lev Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development. Vygotsky’s theory actively involves children in his or her own learning process. His theory also implies that learning occurs before development. It was clear that the children had a base knowledge of the content that the teacher taught them, she just deepened their understanding of the material and the vocabulary. Vygotsky’s theory also implies that development is driven by the children’s enjoyment from learning and interaction with their peers. This interaction with peers and adults play a critical role in their cognitive development. The teacher actively engaged the children. She assisted in their learning by modeling the content, and she also used role play by allowing a hand puppet to be a part of the class as a helper.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The changes the railway had on Britain †History Essay (100 Level Course)

The changes the railway had on Britain – History Essay (100 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers The changes the railway had on Britain History Essay (100 Level Course) The railways had a great effect on Britain. Before the expansion of the railway nobody had the opportunity to leave their own village and didn’t dare to think about who or what was happening in the rest of Britain. Between then and know the country has changed a great deal, a lot of it thanks to the railway industry. It brought an increase of jobs and a numerous other things that I am going to illustrate in the rest of this essay. Firstly I would like to point out that the railways made the cost of transporting goods a lot cheaper because they moved more things faster and further which saved a lot of money and made it possible to purchase more stock, then sell it to a wider range of industrial towns and thus a wider range of people would receive a larger income and be able to afford more things. The expansion of the railway network led to a significant increase in both the number and type of jobs. Obviously the railways needed to be maintained once built, the trains driven and the stations staffed. The trains also shortened the amount of time spent on each journey, for example; before the trains I would of taken 43hrs and afterwards only took 12hs 45mins. So businesses benefited greatly. The ordinary working class people were also affected greatly. Before the train industry took off nobody had an opportunity to leave there village, to go on holiday or do much else they were pretty much isolated but by having the trains it encouraged a lot of people to go to the coast, visit family or just explore what was happening around the rest of Britain. There was also a change in times because every main train station had its own time which resulted in collisions and trains being early/late for arrival at their destinations. So all this had to change to suit everyone so by 1880 people started using London’s GMT time, which stands for Greenwich Mean Time and this solved all of the problems. Trains also made a great difference in what people read, more books and newspaper were purchased too pass the time on longer train journeys. The ‘local’ newspapers became national newspapers that everyone read, they were sent around the country to all different places and even delivered the very next day, this resulted in people reading more about Parliament and the Social reform that was taking place and then even more people were becoming interested in Politics which led to growth of political parties. Food was also changed as the train became more popular, fresh fish, eggs and milk could be delivered on the very same day it was sent and could be carried to other industrial town. Fish and chips replaced pigs’ trotters as it became more popular as a cheap working class supper and the reason it was so cheap is because fish was now delivered fresh everyday, thanks to the railways. The railway also affected local dialects people mixed from different areas and accents didn’t seem so noticeable. Research Papers on The changes the railway had on Britain - History Essay (100 Level Course)Lifes What IfsThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 219 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeTwilight of the UAWBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfWhere Wild and West MeetAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaPETSTEL analysis of India

Monday, October 21, 2019

Essay Sample on the King He Who Loves not His Country, Can Love Nothing

Essay Sample on the King He Who Loves not His Country, Can Love Nothing He who loves not his country loves nothing. It is withdom, it is pure truth. I am Sauti, daughter of the King Tarkil, son of Jankir. Many ages my family rulled in Northern Kingdom; in period of prosperity our lands extended from the Sea to the Mountains, and our people lived in peace and wealth. But Darkness came from the East, and together with it came the war people from the Southern Kingdom attacked us. It was year 529 of the Fourth Era according to the Chronology of the Northern Kingdom. We fought. Father did not want to spill the blood, but we had no choice soldiers attacked our towns and villages and killed the citizens. Everybody, everybody went up with sword in his hand, men and women, children and old men; I had seen it all; I was  there, in the  fields, where people fought to death, and the steel blades shone in the sun We defended our shrine our land, that fed us, and gladdened us with harvests. I am Sauti, daughter of the King; but I worked as much as others, I cured the woonded and burried the dead. And I saw everything. I have seen the warriors fed the ground with their blood, while the air was ringing with the battle cry. And those who had fallen, gave their lives to this land; all who had survived gave their hearts The man and his land are equal, from the Beginning of Times; we are connected with ancient ties, because people are the part of their country, of its nature. And those who do not respect their Motherland, deny the largest shrine in the wolrd their ancient, pagan, mistical land, that even breathes with their own breathe Leonardo daVinchi once said, that people could not love the thing they did not know People do not know their land. They do not know the fresh winds of steppelands, do not know the songs of waterfalls, do not know the music of the mountains when you press your ear to the earth and it speaks to you and sings to you with thousands of voices; when you feel the hollow rumble of its large heart, and the tune of your own heart just the same as if they were connected with invisible thread He who loves not his country an love nobody. Indeed. How can you feed  anybody, if your own plate is empty? How can you feel love, if you cant feel the huge ancient heart of  your native land just under your feet, under the grass that you trample so ruthless? And how can you speak about  love, if you are not able to hear the voice of Love adressed to you? I am Sauti, daughter of the King Tarkil, son of Jankir. I had struggled for freedom of the Northern Kingdom for many years, and my heart was broken with sorrow, when I saw the war and understood that love was the only our strength

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Definition of a Boson Particle

Definition of a Boson Particle In particle physics, a boson is a type of particle that obeys the rules of Bose-Einstein statistics. These bosons also have a quantum spin with contains an integer value, such as 0, 1, -1, -2, 2, etc. (By comparison, there are other types of particles, called fermions, that have a half-integer spin, such as 1/2, -1/2, -3/2, and so on.) Whats So Special About a Boson? Bosons are sometimes called force particles, because it is the bosons that control the interaction of physical forces, such as electromagnetism and possibly even gravity itself. The name boson comes from the surname of Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, a brilliant physicist from the early twentieth century who worked with Albert Einstein to develop a method of analysis called Bose-Einstein statistics. In an effort to fully understand Plancks law (the thermodynamics equilibrium equation that came out of Max Plancks work on the blackbody radiation problem), Bose first proposed the method in a 1924 paper trying to analyze the behavior of photons. He sent the paper to Einstein, who was able to get it published ... and then went on to extend Boses reasoning beyond mere photons, but also to apply to matter particles. One of the most dramatic effects of Bose-Einstein statistics is the prediction that bosons can overlap and coexist with other bosons. Fermions, on the other hand, cannot do this, because they follow the Pauli Exclusion Principle  (chemists focus primarily on the way the Pauli Exclusion Principle impacts the behavior of electrons in orbit around an atomic nucleus.) Because of this, it is possible for photons to become a laser and some matter is able to form the exotic state of a Bose-Einstein condensate. Fundamental Bosons According to the Standard Model of quantum physics, there are a number of fundamental bosons, which are not made up of smaller particles. This includes the basic gauge bosons, the particles that mediate the fundamental forces of physics (except for gravity, which well get to in a moment). These four gauge bosons have spin 1 and have all been experimentally observed: Photon - Known as the particle of light, photons carry all electromagnetic energy and act as the gauge boson that mediates the force of electromagnetic interactions.Gluon - Gluons mediate the interactions of the strong nuclear force, which binds together quarks to form protons and neutrons and also holds the protons and neutrons together within an atoms nucleus.W Boson - One of the two gauge bosons involved in mediating the weak nuclear force.Z Boson - One of the two gauge bosons involved in mediating the weak nuclear force. In addition to the above, there are other fundamental bosons predicted, but without clear experimental confirmation (yet): Higgs Boson - According to the Standard Model, the Higgs Boson is the particle that gives rise to all mass. On July 4, 2012, scientists at the Large Hadron Collider announced that they had good reason to believe theyd found evidence of the Higgs Boson. Further research is ongoing in an attempt to get better information about the particles exact properties. The particle is predicted to have a quantum spin value of 0, which is why it is classified as a boson.Graviton - The graviton is a theoretical particle which has not yet been experimentally detected. Since the other fundamental forces - electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force - are all explained in terms of a gauge boson that mediates the force, it was only natural to attempt to use the same mechanism to explain gravity. The resulting theoretical particle is the graviton, which is predicted to have a quantum spin value of 2.Bosonic Superpartners - Under the theory of supersymmetry, every fermion would have a so-far-undetected bosonic counterpart. Since there are 12 fundamental fermions, this would suggest that - if supersymmetry is true - there are another 12 fundamental bosons that have not yet been detected, presumably because they are highly unstable and have decayed into other forms. Composite Bosons Some bosons are formed when two or more particles join together to create an integer-spin particle, such as: Mesons - Mesons are formed when two quarks bond together. Since quarks are fermions and have half-integer spins, if two of them are bonded together, then the spin of the resulting particle (which is the sum of the individual spins) would be an integer, making it a boson.Helium-4 atom - A helium-4 atom contains 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and 2 electrons ... and if you add up all of those spins, youll end up with an integer every time. Helium-4 is particularly noteworthy because it becomes a superfluid when cooled to ultra-low temperatures, making it a brilliant example of Bose-Einstein statistics in action. If youre following the math, any composite particle that contains an even number of fermions is going to be a boson, because an even number of half-integers is always going to add up to an integer.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

BU6602 ENT Assignment 1 April 2014 Task 1 Essay

BU6602 ENT Assignment 1 April 2014 Task 1 - Essay Example The small businesses have gained popularity in this modern day context due to their effective utilisation of operational modes that often acted as saviours of economies at the time of economic turmoil. However, it can be affirmed that entrepreneurs are linked with a small business, as they are involved in the tasks of promoting innovation and preparing themselves for addressing along with mitigating underlying risks that might occur while performing varied operational functions (Pearson Education, Inc., 2014). Considering the fact that the small business enterprises often possess limited resources, the entrepreneurs have to be much more efficient in organising and developing the available resources so that the maximum amount of benefits can be reaped. Moreover, the entrepreneurs must possess the characteristics of making effective decisions, having high energy level, identifying the risks and adopting measures to mitigate such risks among others in order to fulfil the aforesaid objective (Pearson Education, Inc., 2014). It has been apparently observed that the entrepreneurs or the owners who possess effective leadership qualities and displays innovative skills are successful in developing their respective small businesses (Stokes & Wilson, 2010). With this concern, the essay tends to critically discuss the provided statement â€Å"sometimes the manager of the small business does not have the capacity to operate it successfully. The owner lacks the leadership ability and knowledge necessary to make the business work† (Scarborough, 2012). Various significant aspects like an entrepreneurs’ role in developing a small business and the necessary skills that require by the managers or the owners would also be taken into concern while discussing the aforesaid statement. As discussed by Mazzarol (2004), strategic management is a term, which is broadly connected with large, medium as well as small-sized businesses that are normally

What steps have governments taken to solve the problem of employment Essay

What steps have governments taken to solve the problem of employment since 1980 and how effective were they - Essay Example loyers are willing to offer and what workers are willing to accept explains why United Kingdom unemployment is so much higher than in the United States, where taxes and benefits are considerably lower. The interaction between the welfare state and a changed economic environment, Krugman argued, can also explain why unemployment has increased so much in United Kingdom. The change he emphasized was declining demand for low, skilled workers in industrial nations. Such a change would tend to increase income inequality by depressing the wages of low-skilled workers. But large disparities in incomes are what the United Kingdom welfare state was designed to prevent. The collision of market forces pushing toward greater income inequality with government policies that prevented such inequality has resulted in growing unemployment in United Kingdom, especially among low-skilled workers. In analyzing the reasons for declining demand for these workers, Krugman expressed skepticism about the importance of increased competition from newly industrializing nations. Although intuitively plausible, this explanation has been found to have little empirical support according to Krugman. Instead, he at tributed the declining demand for low-skilled workers to technological change that devalues the market value of manual labor. The same forces raising unemployment in United Kingdom, Krugman claimed, have caused rising poverty and income inequality in the United States. With less generous social service benefits, low-skilled workers in the United States have seen their real incomes decline. Krugman did not see any painless way out of the tradeoff between more poverty and more joblessness. Transforming low-skilled workers into high-skilled workers through improved education and training might seem the obvious solution. But raising education levels can be done only gradually, and government training programs are not particularly effective. Some modest improvement in United Kingdom might

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Utilization of Incretin Mimetics and DPPIV Inhibitors in the Essay

The Utilization of Incretin Mimetics and DPPIV Inhibitors in the Management of Type II Diabetes Mellitus - Essay Example The initial results obtained from clinical trials with these new agents indicate a very high promise of achieving better blood glucose control by adding them to the therapeutic arsenal for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Incretin mimetics are a new class of antidiabetic agents with multiple blood sugar lowering actions that mimic the actions of incretin hormones. Incretins are peptide hormones that originate in the gastrointestinal tract. The two major incretins in humans are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). These hormones are released during nutrient absorption, when they serve to potentiate the secretion of insulin(Nielsen) Although both GLP-1 and GIP act as incretin hormones in normal subjects, only GLP-1 can be used to treat DM2 because diabetes is often associated with a blunted or absent response to GIP. It has been shown that whereas GLP-1 levels are significantly decreased in DM2, GIP values are normal, suggesting that DM2 patients are resistant to the biological effects of GIP, rendering it relatively ineffective (2A)In mammals, GLP-1 is derived from the proglucagon peptide in mucosal L-cells of the small intestine(Drucker "Glucagon-Like Peptides") D Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV) extends the bioavailability of many peptides by suppressing their break-down. Several incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors are undergoing late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and results so far have shown some promises. Their mechanisms of action include enhancement of glucose-dependent insulin secretion; suppression of inappropriately elevated glucagon secretion; slowing of gastric emptying; and appetite suppression(Nielsen). Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the emergence of postprandial (post meal) and, subsequently, fasting hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose >125 mg/dl) (Nielsen; Drucker "Glucagon-Like Peptides"). Hyperglycemia results from pancreatic -cells secreting inadequate insulin to compensate for insulin-resistance in peripheral tissues(Porte and Sherwin; Weyer). Only about 33 percent of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the United States are able to achieve the 7% HbA1c recommended by the American Diabetes Association. However, after the administration of incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors on some of these patients, there is a significant improvement in their glycemic profile. Their after-meal blood glucose level, and subsequently their HbA1c were better(Freeman). Despite exercise, diet control and some pharmacological intervention in patients with DM 2, control of blood sugar has become increasingly difficult, especially in patients who had been on long term therapy. The progressive deterioration of the beta-cells of the pancreas, which in turn causes deficient insulin (as well as increased glucagon production) is responsible for this failure of treatment. The incretin mimetics and DPP IV inhibitors are thought to offer hope in improving the glycemic profile of patients because they act primarily to both increase

Booty Call Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Booty Call - Essay Example At such a phase of life, we want to enjoy not only sex but by the passage of time we also realize the need for someone very special for us, someone, whom we can call our better half, someone who is more caring to you than anybody else in the life. That 'someone' is the person whom you wish to love you so much that you love him and you expect that 'someone' to not only be with you in bed, but with you through every thicks and thins of your life, to whom, you are far more than a booty call. Moreover, you not only want to have this feeling for him, but you also want him to have the same feeling for you. So we can say that at youth age, initially making sex is the main concern, however, when you keep on doing this with same person, one of you ultimately end up asking for something more than a 'booty call'. At this point of time, the desire for sex is then converted into the desire for the relationship, a committed one. (Mc Graw) I would like to provide the advice on your issue. This lett er will reveal you that the relationships between the man and women exist in varying degree. However, this is common in all degrees, especially the closer ones, that when one set of desires are being fulfilled, you start to desire for more things into that relationship. This very psychology has made you demanding for a committed relationship, rather than a booty call. Thus after clarifying in your mind the dynamics of such psyche, my honest advice to you would be that you must be clear to yourself that what do you want, you can use some strategies like recalling past memories etc. to arouse the same desire of committed in relationship in him too. Even if it fails, you then need to prioritize between your feelings and your partner, that what is more important to you. When we talk of the interaction between a girl and guy in the western world, it exists with a varying degree of intensity. It may range from acquaintance to sexual relationship. There are very thin lines between various consecutive levels of relationships. When it comes to your case the two consecutive levels of interaction are 'booty call' and 'sexual relationship'. You need to realize the different between the two, especially what is really absent in the booty calls We must be clear about what I mean by booty call and the committed relationship. Booty call, in your context, is simple making sex with each other, without any committed relationship. It is simply a response to the mutual sexual urges. So, it is the commitment that differentiates the relationship. Moreover, booty call is restricted to the bed only. It does not include any typical dates, social gatherings etc. In your case, it seems that initially, you had a relationship with him, as you mentioned that you people used to hang out together. However, after meeting again it had been converted into the booty call type thing or we can say a relationship purely intended for sex and not having any other feeling or commitment. See, many studies show that when two people start having sex with same partners repeatedly, it is bound to happen that one of them will ultimately feel urge for something more. (Lecture, 7/19/07) He or she will start to get possessive about his or her partner. So it is a common phenomenon. It is also said that when you consistently sleep with one guy, this practice ultimately compels you enter into a committed relat

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Biographical Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biographical Narrative - Essay Example What I learned is that their physical pain is not as deep as emotional pain and that moved me. I resolved to become a nurse because it is a step to further help people heal, at least physically. My crusade continued after I graduated from high school since I worked hard to get CNA, Phlebotomy certification and LPN. It dawned on me that a nurse has a very big responsibility in delivering quality health care to patients. In fact, Donna Wilk Cardillo is right by saying that â€Å"nurses are the heart of healthcare†. Without nurses, doctors would have a hard-time managing the patients because the nurses attend to the patients more than doctors do. Today, I am still continuing my quest to become a professional nurse by getting into this program. My experience here has taught me not only knowledge and skills but the values of perseverance, commitment and hard-work. I couldn’t be more thankful for being taught by MSN, Nurse practitioners and PhD Nurses. Their experience and kn owledge has greatly sharpened my skills and kindled my desire to help sick people. I am not just a learner; I am a person who acts and thinks like a nurse who is willing to render the best service possible.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 29

Summary - Essay Example But the company’s strength lies in its belief that the virtual market has limitless scope and needs to be exploited in innovative ways, using latest technology that is popular amongst the masses. Thus, the company has been increasing its merchandise through acquisitions and partnerships while looking at more creative ways to sell goods. Today, iPhone has become the main platform of ecommerce activities for Sears and its group. The company has introduced unique market strategy of providing the iPhone users to look for the goods which they can buy and collect it from a nearby located driveway store. The customer can even send the photo of the goods that he/she wants to buy and the company traces the product and makes it available to the customers. Use of technology has significantly improved its market position and sales performance in the recent times. The company has also forged alliances with other companies and sells their goods at good commission. The innovative strategy has paid off with 22% and 42% growth in the visitors of Sears and K-Mart in 2009! Indeed, the company has successfully exploited technology to gain competitive

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Biographical Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biographical Narrative - Essay Example What I learned is that their physical pain is not as deep as emotional pain and that moved me. I resolved to become a nurse because it is a step to further help people heal, at least physically. My crusade continued after I graduated from high school since I worked hard to get CNA, Phlebotomy certification and LPN. It dawned on me that a nurse has a very big responsibility in delivering quality health care to patients. In fact, Donna Wilk Cardillo is right by saying that â€Å"nurses are the heart of healthcare†. Without nurses, doctors would have a hard-time managing the patients because the nurses attend to the patients more than doctors do. Today, I am still continuing my quest to become a professional nurse by getting into this program. My experience here has taught me not only knowledge and skills but the values of perseverance, commitment and hard-work. I couldn’t be more thankful for being taught by MSN, Nurse practitioners and PhD Nurses. Their experience and kn owledge has greatly sharpened my skills and kindled my desire to help sick people. I am not just a learner; I am a person who acts and thinks like a nurse who is willing to render the best service possible.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Reasearch proprosal Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reasearch proprosal - Coursework Example The experimenter will read journals and check databases for previous research in this area. Case studies specific to Montserratian immigrants will be looked at. There will be looking in depth, at the areas these immigrants dominated and changes that has occurred overtime in these regions. Statistical evidence will be explored to determine the number of Montserratians residing in England in comparison to 1995 as a result of the volcanic eruption. A survey and semi-formal interviews will also be carried out with immigrants in order to test this hypothesis. On completion there should be an understanding if there is a profound change in the areas immigrants occupied. These changes could be political, social or economical. Census and crime statistics data will provide an adequate rationale to support the hypothesis. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Name, Class, School - 5/07/2011 Title: Caribbean Immigration to England following the 1995 Montserrat Volcano Eruption I. Introduction Considerable researc h has been conducted referencing environmental disasters and migration of people from danger zones to safer locations internationally. In 1995, the island of Montserrat experienced a devastating volcanic eruption. As T. H. Druitt and B. P. ... The methodology for this research will include quantitative approaches based in statistics from the UK Migration database as well as qualitative research drawn from interviews with Montserrat islanders. This case study should be of value for reference within the larger body of research related to migration patterns following natural disasters. II. The Statement of the Problem Research on the migration patterns that follow natural disasters is important for social planning, immigration management, humanitarian aid assessments, and to other aspects of governance internationally. The Montserrat volcano eruption resulted in a widespread displacement of people who were resettled both locally and internationally. In focusing on the statistical patterns related to this migration to the United Kingdom following the natural disaster, conclusions can be drawn as to how the lives of Montserrat Islanders have changed after losing their homes, the number who settled permanently in the UK, and the effect of these immigrants in the local economy. This can further be evaluated in the context of migration research following natural disasters. III. The Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to investigate immigration patterns from the island of Montserrat to the UK as a result of the 1995 volcanic eruption. The focus of this research is to explore spatial migration patterns specifically. The research question asks how mass migration affects the domestic economy in England positively and negatively, through economic production statistics, taxation, use of social resources, etc. The report references the wider research background of environmental

Monday, October 14, 2019

Food safety Essay Example for Free

Food safety Essay Food safety is a very essential aspect of maintaining healthy and productive relationships between human beings and the entire environment. It is because it plays a basic role in enhancing good health which is vital in influencing sustainable human activities. Fundamentally, human activities influence their relationships and interactions with the environment. It can be acknowledged that maintaining food safety at all levels ensures good health which in turn guarantees healthy relationships between man and his environment. Human activities have various implications on the entire environment. In deed, they affect the economic, social, environmental and political aspects of the environment. Food safety that is fundamental for good health enables man to relate well with all these aspects of his environment. Food safety: Health To begin with good health enables human beings to work hard and be able to provide for their economic needs. According to Last (1998), when both mentally and physically healthy, individuals tend to be more productive. Increased productivity leads to healthy societies as individuals can be able to cater for their needs and wants. This is made possible by individuals earning enough to attain financial stability. Thus they can be able to pay their bills, spare some for recreation and also be able to save for the future. This is made possible if their health is assured through ensuring food safety. Bronfenbrenner (1979) indicates that excellent health also determines good interpersonal relationships and hence enables populations to acquire social cohesion. In this respect, he argues that healthy individuals are unlikely to be social misfits because they are able to think straight and are also conscious of the societal values which they uphold. Also, health enables one to work and earn an honest living as well as provide enough for his or her family. As such, people become more responsible and dedicated to their lives and this enhances one’s self esteem and personal satisfaction. Generally, Last (1998) asserts that healthy people are able to maintain healthy relationships than their counterparts. Again, this healthy status can only be achieved if the they food they consume is handled in a hygienic manner. With regard to the environment, Ebi, et al. (2005) argues that good health enables individuals to cater for their environment. According to him, healthy individuals are usually able to take timely measures to avoid environmental deterioration in their own simple ways. For instance, they can be able to plant trees, dispose of their wastes in a proper way and perform other functions that enhance environmental conservation. These actions may seem simple yet their contribution to environmental conservation is very significant. In addition, since these individuals have financial stability, they can contribute to environmental conservation missions by donating money (Ebi et al. , 2005). Furthermore, healthy individuals are in position to take sound decisions with regard to environmental conservation. The political stability of a country is also dependent on the health of the individuals. To this end, Bronfenbrenner (1979) argues that healthy and active individuals are less likely to engage in politically unsound behavior. It is worth noting that good health throughout a person’s life also implies that the person’s education and thinking process is rational. Therefore, such individuals are able to make informed, autonomous and democratic decisions with regard to politics. This enables a country to have visionary leaders that are politically mature and therefore enforce policies that are beneficial to the locals. This status can be achieved if food safety is maintained all through a person’s life. Indeed, food safety is a very vital component of our day to day living because of the role it plays in maintaining our health. Without this good health, life can be difficult for most individuals because diseases will be prevalent. Despite this realization, food handling in the US continues to be a major problem and the frequency of food poisoning and food borne illness continues to rise significantly (Last, 1998). This implies that the Food and Drug administration has failed in its duty to protect the health of the citizens. This can also be attributed to the money oriented attitude that our society has assumed. For instance, Andrew (2006) indicates that some butchery workers would rather keep their jobs than identify a slip up in the meat processing process. Further, he asserts that the urge to get food on the markets in a timely manner in order to make huge profits has made business persons overlook the minor but most important aspects of food safety. Therefore, there is need for consumers to take up the responsibility of maintaining good health by practicing the following critical steps that are very important in enhancing food safety and improved health. At a personal level, consumers should be extremely wary of sale offers. If the deal seems too good, it is always recommended to think twice. In most instances, business owners place on sale products that are defective (Andrew, 2006). Therefore, instead of making purchases blindly, consumers should spare time to check the packages properly and even identify the odor of the food. If the odor is bad, Loken (1995) ascertains that such food is not suitable for human consumption. In addition, consumers should put in to consideration the packaging of the food. Usually, food can look very appealing yet if not packed well, the probability that it is infected is so high. According to Watson (2001), well packaged food has a higher probability of being germ free. When purchasing fruits and vegetables, consumers should only buy those that are fresh looking (Loken, 1995). They should avoid fruits or vegetables that have spots or look unhealthy as this is a clear indication of infection. Andrew (2006) notes that hepatitis A is spread through poor handling of fruits and vegetables, specifically by washing the same with contaminated water before they reach the market. He suggests that it is important that consumers keep themselves well informed about any outbreaks and take precaution in a timely manner by adjusting their menu accordingly. According to him, it could be safer to avoid any fruits or vegetables involved in the outbreak than endanger one’s health by consuming contaminated food. At home, fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly and under running water in order to remove all dirt. In cases where fruit and vegetable washers are used, it is essential to adhere to the directions of the manufacturer in order to avoid any possible contamination. When shopping for dry foods, Watson (2001) argues that consumers should check the packaging material to ensure that it is in order. In particular, he explains that the nylon papers used for packaging as well as boxes should be well inspected to ensure that they do not have holes or openings. This is an indication that food is not contaminated as holes or other openings could serve as entrances of insects and generally germs. In addition, consumers should avoid buying dry foods that are infested by insects like weevils. These transmit diseases that are dangerous to human health. In the case of canned foods, Loken (1995) explains that care should be taken to avoid buying any cans that are defective in any way. Specifically, those with punctures or dents should be avoided at all costs as this is an indication that the food is contaminated. Consuming infected canned food can be very fatal as it may contain botulin toxin (Watson, 2001). This has a severe and fatal impact on human health as it causes paralysis. It is also important to check the cans properly on arrival at home as dents can occur during transportation. In such incidents, Andrew (2006) explains that it is better to discard them as this could be an indication of punctures which imply infection. In the home environment, Andrew (2006) points out that it is advisable to clean all surfaces used in food preparation and the kitchen as a whole after the activity. This should be done with an antibacterial cleaner in order to kill all disease causing micro organisms. In addition, the surfaces should be kept dry as wet surfaces, coupled with a warm kitchen environment provides the best conditions for micro organism breeding (Andrew, 2006). When handling meats, Loken (1995) indicates that it is advisable to freeze any that would not be consumed in a few days time. According to him, this goes a long way in avoiding chances of poisoning. In addition, he explains that before cooking any meats, it is important to inspect them fully after thawing in order to identify any signs of spoiling. Further, when cooking meats, the right temperatures should be used in order to kill any existing infectious micro organisms. Failure to do this could lead to fatal poisoning caused by the existing micro organisms (Loken, 1995). After meals, any remaining food should be frozen rather than left open even if it is meant to be used in the next meal. In many cases, persons prefer to leave the left over food from the previous meals intended to be used in the next meal in an open place. It is assumed that the period between meals is short and therefore possibility of contamination is low. However, Watson (2001) indicates that contamination can still occur within any period. The surfaces used when preparing food before cooking should also be easy to clean appropriately. It is notable that most people prefer wooden boards for chopping food and vegetables. However, these are not hygienic enough as they keep germs between the chips. It can be very difficult to clean them appropriately. Therefore, other options found on the market should be used. In cases where a dish washer is available, it should be utilized for washing utensils. Dishwashers have proved to be very effective in killing germs due to their ability to withstand very hot water. Andrew (2006) affirms that in deed, hot water is the cheapest way of killing germs and consequently, dishes washed in very hot water are likely to be germ free. In instances where one opts to dine in the restaurants, the first thing to do should be to choose a decent place. Then, when inside the restaurant, one should take note of the conduct of the staff when serving food as this often gives an insight on the general hygiene of the restaurant. If this is not satisfactory, Last (1998) explains that it is better to avoid eating in the place than risk infection. Particularly, care should be taken before consuming vegetable and fruit salads as they are the most susceptible to contamination. Restaurants on their part should ensure that any food bought is well tested before it is cooked. This is important as it helps avoid chances of cooking infected food. In addition, hospitals should also take the same precautions. Above all, Watson (2001) argues that Agricultural production in itself should be sustainable to avoid contamination at the farm level. According to him, this can be achieved if the chemicals used are suitable for Agricultural production. Harsh chemicals that are risky for human consumption should be avoided at all costs. This will help avoid the incidences of heavy metals in the vegetables and fruits. Traces of heavy metals in food have been known to cause terminal illnesses like cancer (Watson, 2001). This can be avoided if more healthy Agricultural practices are adopted. Conclusion In conclusion, all these safety measures if put in to consideration can have a positive effect on the healthcare of individuals and the society a large. Specifically, these measures are fundamental in avoiding infection as a result of consuming contaminated food. If infection is completely eliminated from food preparation and processing, then the food eaten will be safe and this has a positive impact on the health of individuals. Eating safe foods significantly reduces the incidences of disease and deaths. Since diseases cause a major setback on people’s health, elimination of the same in the society will aid in creating holistic and productive societies.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Role of Tourism in Economic Development

Role of Tourism in Economic Development All sectors of the economy play an important role in making a stable and long running development. Tourism is one of the sectors which plays an important role in development and also generates foreign revenues. This sector is peaceful and reflects the nature and beauty of the country. It helps people of far flung areas to promote their culture and norms, it also provide opportunity to country to make a better image around the world. There are many issues this sector is facing nowadays and the popularity of this sector is sliding down day by day means that people is not ready to make tours because of many problems and threats to security and life. Several studies and researches have been conducted on this tourism and its relation to development of economy and also that how can we promote this sector? How can we create better image to world and also what measures we can use to maximize the development? Michael Hitchcock (2004) had explained that tourism and culture have a deep relation. Culture is based on originality, authority, authenticity and many more. Tourists are attracted by such types of factors, he says that invest and reinvest is not modernization and its the human culture that remain there for a long time. Tradition is invested and process goes on its known as constructivist. Cultural transmission is not an authentic option, reproduction is not renew it have its own originality. We should make a clear difference in between the reproduction and originality. In order to save the cultural heritage and to attract tourists he says that culture should bi neat and original. Mohamed Tangi (1977) had conducted a research that Mediterranean handles one-third of world tourism that has damaged the environment of that region due to many factors. He says that Greece, Spain, Cyprus these countries are visited more and the environment is quite hurt for dense tourism to these areas. The natural sites are reduced due to excessive construction for tourists and visitors. Tourism and environment are two parallels that move together, tourism mainly depends on environment along other factors, world is facing huge and fast rising in pollution as more tourism is rising in world. Environment can be man-made, natural or cultural in nature, all have effects on tourism and vice versa, cultural environment includes art, religion and human relations, which can be effected or disturbed by tourism. The countries which are rich in these factors can attract more tourists to their region; tourists may introduce new ways or styles to the places, which can be waste or injurious to th e visited destination. He explained few alternative strategies or development policies to promote tourism to the region. It includes the land use planning, expand and construct islands, holidays and pricing policy, facilities to tourists, anti-pollution and policies, training and information to locals, rules and codes of conduct. Using these and promoting these strategies country can raise its tourism level and also promote development in the region. Tourism will be based on co-operation and planning in the future world, united nation environmental program and world tourism organization both are working and have to play an active role in tourism promotion and protection. Barry Liddle (1989) had explained that tourism is helpful for local government to have a better economy and development. Presently it is the leading sector of the world and it will be stronger in future. Tourism can be of many types i.e. for leisure, work and business or for any purpose. Here industrial tourism is important type of tourism that can generate much information and knowledge. It further has an option that modern industrial tourism means that companies choose a day and at that day they arrange a proper tour to their company or exhibition. They also provide the full tourists facilities to visitors, so to make them feel comfortable. The industrial tours can be updated to local and national level to boost the economy, audit, local, central government and different councils should step in to make this type of tourism better and popular. Erik Cohen (1984) had made a research that there are not much empirical studies in tourism economy, so this is required as we are moving into new and fast world. There are four main principles in tourism i.e. tourist that based upon his motivations, attitudes, role and reaction in response to others actions, the ideas, thinking and relationship of the locals and tourist matters in this sector, the structure and infrastructure of tourism system is an important part that can help it to flourish, the better the system the better will be the outcomes and economic and social impact from tourism to visited destinations. Tourism is based on culture that helps this industry to develop and become a helping hand to economy. More empirical study is needed to merge it with theory and provide world more information about this sector in a systematic way. Amanda Stonza (2001) has explained in the article that tourism is mainly divided into two parts i.e. origins of tourism and impacts of tourism and the main problem is that tourism origins is only concerned with tourists and foreigners, while the impacts are only related to local public. The two halves provide different meaning and together they also only provide partial meanings not full, so origins of tourism should include the local public that how they can attract tourists? How they can promote the tourism in their region? Same is the case with the impacts of tourism; it should include the tourists who are willing to visit the particular places in world. What are the changes that have occurred in tourist after the trip? Origins and impacts both should be positive then the countrys social, cultural and economical conditions will be develop and their tourism sector will grow in a positive manner. Janette Deacon (2006) explains tourism as an important sector of economy and also throws light on not so important type of tourism i.e. rock art conversation. This type of tourism is known as cultural or heritage tourism, cultural or heritage sites are main reasons behind the tourism in most Asian nations like China, India, Pakistan and SriLanka. Rock art conversation is famous in African nations, this tourism is in Africa but its not on large scale. Many ways are discussed to promote rock art conversation tourism so we can save it for vanishing from world. Factors that promote all types of tourism including this rock art conversation is training, skills, education guidelines, security, interests, attractions and many more. These factors will help tourism economy to expand that can create a better image of countrys tourism sector around the globe. International council on monuments and sites and international cultural tourism charter are two major sources to save and promote rock art conversation in tourism sector. Agha Iqrar Haroon (2002) had explained that sustainable tourism can be achieved by working together with the local public sites that can be visited. Ecotourism in Pakistan is not working in a proper manner and Pakistan is not even near to sustainable tourism. In the northern areas 70% of economy is in hands of big businessmen that belong to other provinces and only 30% are in hands of local public. This local public has to survive on daily basis wages and all this is due to big businessmen have share of 70% from revenues and they also have support of tourism companies and government either local or federal. Local public is ignored in framing the policies and sharing the generated revenues, the big businessmen can provide imported facilities to foreigners that the locals are failed to do so. These acts have a negative impact on the employment and on living and earnings of local public of those northerner areas, so government should take few daring steps to save the public from exploit ation from these wealthy investors. Government can invest in these areas, can ensure participation , secure future of local public, share more revenues to locals, heavy tax should be imposed on wealthy businessmen, irrelevant construction should be discouraged, local goods should be used that will generate profits and employment in region, training and guidance to public of concerned area. By doing all these actions our northern areas can be a top place to visit and Pakistan can achieve a sustainable and healthy development in tourism sector. Dean Maccannell (2002) says that tourism is faster growing sector and it has relations to the non-economic factors. Ego factor counts a lot in tourism that personal behavior about tourism and travel, tourism is dependent on the classical and touristy experimental commodity. Ownership and attraction are non-economic factors in tourism or travel, tourism can promote opportunity, preservation and care of cultural heritage will promote tourism and theses are the main factors along the other factors that help to make a stable growth in this fast expanding sector. In short the human ego and the attractions to tourist sites are important factor for development of tourism economy of any country. Yoel Mansfeld (1994) conducted a survey on the tourism in Middle East and what are the major factors that have reduced the tourism to the region of world? In 1980s average growth rate of world for tourism is 6.2% and for Middle East it is 5.9% approx. Turkey and Greece also suffers from the conflict in Middle East between Israel and Palestine. Author also explains that international tourism is main source for developing countries to generate revenues, boost economy, creates jobs and much more. All these things will help them develop and achieve stability. Security situation has a huge impact on tourism around the globe and especially in Middle East that how much Israel suffered? How much other Arab and non-Arab nations have to face decline in their tourism? War or conflict between the Arabs and Israel is major threat to tourism in Middle East. Spill over effects are major in world tourism that if one country suffers from security threats her neighbor will also have to face the conseq uences being a neighbor. Spill over effects will determine their market strategies it means that how well you handle the pressure which is upon you due to disturbance in your neighbor country to save tourism industry of your country? Nowadays terrorism is main threat to world and especially in Middle East as the war is on in that region. So world have to sit together to find a safe and easy solution to this security threats and terrorism to save the tourism industry. Peter Murphy et al. (1989) along with his partner conducted a research that tourism is indirectly related to natural disasters, but this combination is rarely seen in world. Recently the two such cases are occurred one at Mount St. Helen eruptions in 1980 and the second is East Kootenay forest fires in 1985. These two areas are hit by natural calamity and that also effects the tourism ratio in these regions. In first case 30% decline is showed and in second case millions of dollars loss is shown. Along the natural calamity the man-made disasters also are common in world i.e. terrorism and other security threats to world tourism, the event of hijacking of Achille Lauro in 1985 have effected the tourism in Mediterranean region. Disaster planning have for main stages i.e. assessment, warning, impact and recovery, impact and recovery are two main stages that have more effects on tourism. Media coverage plays an important role that how media will post image to world? If the coverage is po sitive then recovery will be faster and if the coverage is negative then problem grows double and tourism will be badly disturbed. So nation should always be prepare for disasters and disaster management authorities should be at standby to handle the problem and also can save tourism industry. Eric Neumayer (2004) used the fix effects panel estimators and dynamic generalized method in this research on small sample size of countries to find the effects of tourism. His main focus is on political violence and other acts that can effect the tourism economy. Tourists always look and prefer the safe sites for tour and they are not ready to take risk for enjoyment. Democratic regimes are more successful in handling the violence pressure and autocratic regimes are not able to cope with the violence that can harm tourism sector. Hall (2004) says that political stability and safety are prerequisites for a healthy tourism in country, the world faced a downstream in tourism economy since 2000-01 and developing countries are more effected, whereas Europe and U.S.A is still the most visited place in world. Terrorism in Greece, Turkey and conflict in between Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and others have a negative impact on tourism. Other nations of the region is also effected by the disturbanc e in region, they are facing a decline in tourism sector. As told above that developing nations are more hurt from this political violence and security threats to tourism sector, it took them years to correct their image in front of world. Huge loss in foreign revenues and decline in their gross domestic product is hurting them badly. So few steps are requires to save this peaceful sector from violence and disturbance. Dinah Payne et al. (1996) creates an ethical model for tourism industry that it is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world; it contributes much to GDP of country. Local community and environment is mostly kept outside from planning and management around the world. Local public should be included in the decision making and then it will helpful to all other factors in the tourism industry i.e. justice, integrity, competence and utility are the four main pillars that can help to create codes of ethics. Ethics is required in tourism sector to make it move at smooth pace and this is basic factor that is helpful in tourism. Research shows the absence of ethics from the tourism industry, environment, community tourists and employees are the main factors that are required to enhance them more in tourism sector. The more will be the ethics the more will be the public and tourists interaction. Few suggestions are that local public should not be ignored, they should be more hospit able to tourists, they must save environment from destruction and list goes on. Codes should be followed in nice manner and that will be beneficial for the public and to tourism sector of country. So this ethics is much needed factor today in tourism industry to make it more attractive and peaceful.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Ford Motor Company Essay -- Ford Transportation Vehicles Automobiles E

Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a large United States automotive corporation, strives for success each and every year. The success of Ford Motor Company, as well as other corporations, can be measured by analyzing the two most important goals of management, maintaining adequate liquidity and achieving satisfactory profitability. Liquidity can be defined as having enough money on hand to pay bills when they are due and to take care of unexpected needs for cash, while profitability refers to the ability of business to earn a satisfactory income. To enable investors and creditors to analyze these goals, Ford Motor Company distributes annual financial statements. With these financial statements, liquidity of Ford Motor Company is measured by analyzing factors such as working capitol, current ratio, quick ratio, receivable turnover, average days' sales uncollected, inventory turnover and average days' inventory on hand; whereas profitability analyzes the profit margin, asset turnover, return on assets, debt to equity, and return on equity factors. LIQUIDITY Working Capital Ford Motor Company's working capital fluctuated significantly in the years 1991-1995. This phenomenon is directly attributable to the fact that Financial Services current assets and current liabilities are not included in the total company current asset and current liability accounts. For example, the fluctuation from 1994 ($1.4 billion) to 1995 (-$1.5 billion) of $2.5 billion would suggest that Ford would be unable to pay liabilities during the current period. However, examination of the Financial Services side of the business reveals that surpluses of $13.6 billion existed in both 1994 and 1995, convincingly mitigating the figures indicating negative working capital. Current Ratio & Quick Ratio The current ratio in the years 1991-1995 has remained stable, fluctuating between 0.9 and 1.1. The quick ratio has also remained stable, fluctuating between 0.5 and 0.6. The larger fluctuation in the current ratio versus the quick ratio is caused by inventories being included in the asset side of the equation. Although inventories were significantly higher in both 1994 and 1995, current liabilities were also higher. In addition, marketable securities decreased substantially in 1994 and 1995. These factors resulted in the stability of both the curren... ...company APPENDIX DESCRIPTION PAGE Consolidated Income Statements...................................Appendix 1-2 Spreadsheets..................................................Appendix 1 Graphical Representation......................................Appendix 2 Consolidated Balance Sheets......................................Appendix 3-5 Spreadsheets.................................................Appendix 3-4 Graphical Representation.....................................Appendix 5 Consolidated Retained Earnings Statement.........................Appendix 6-7 Spreadsheets.................................................Appendix 6 Graphical Representation.....................................Appendix 7 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.............................Appendix 8-9 Spreadsheets.................................................Appendix 8 Graphical Representation.....................................Appendix 9 Evaluation of Liquidity..........................................Appendix 10-11 Evaluation of Profitability......................................Appendix 12-13 Liquidity & Profitability Formulas...............................Appendix 14

Friday, October 11, 2019

What Makes an Effective Executive

Karrie Sebring BU531: Session 2 Harvard Article Review â€Å"What Makes an Effective Executive? † by Peter F. Drucker What is this article about as a whole? There is no science on how to improve effectiveness; effectiveness is a disciple and therefore can be learned by anyone. Drunker concludes that you don’t have to be a leader or possess specific personalities, strengths, values or beliefs to be an effective executive. Utilizing the following eight simple practices allows executives to be effective: Asking, â€Å"What needs to be done? † Asking, â€Å"What is right for the enterprise? † Developing action plans Taking responsibility for decisions Taking responsibility for communicating Focusing on opportunities rather than problems Running productive meetings Speaking as â€Å"We† rather than â€Å"I† The first two practices give executives the knowledge they need. The next four help them convert this knowledge into effective action. The last two ensure that the whole organization feels responsible and accountable. What are the essential points in this article? Executives need to ask what is right for the enterprise, rather than what is right for the owners, stock price, the employees or the executives. Asking this question does not guarantee the correct decision will be made; however failure to ask this question will nearly guarantee the wrong decision. Knowledge is useless until it has been translated into actions but actions need to first be planned to identify possible restraints and implications. The action plan should be a statement of intention rather than commitment and should be revised often because every success and failure creates new opportunities. The action plan needs to have a system for checking results against expectations. Lastly, the action plan has to become the basis for the executive’s time management, which is an executive’s most scarce and valuable resource. Executives need to take responsibility for communicating; executives need to share their plans, ask for feedback and indicate specifics on what information they need from their subordinates to get the job done. Good executives focus on opportunities rather than problems; they treat change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Effective executives ensure problems do not overwhelm opportunities and put their best people onopportunity tasks. Executives must make meetings productive and ensure that meetings are work sessions rather than bull sessions. A few key notes are to decide in advance what kind of meeting each session will be, end each session when the purpose has been accomplished and lastly, follow-up on each meeting. Effective executives have authority because they have the trust of the organization and therefore think of the organizations needs and opportunities before their own. Lastly, one rule stands; listen before you speak. How can you apply what you learned to business? What Makes an Effective Executive Karrie Sebring BU531: Session 2 Harvard Article Review â€Å"What Makes an Effective Executive? † by Peter F. Drucker What is this article about as a whole? There is no science on how to improve effectiveness; effectiveness is a disciple and therefore can be learned by anyone. Drunker concludes that you don’t have to be a leader or possess specific personalities, strengths, values or beliefs to be an effective executive. Utilizing the following eight simple practices allows executives to be effective: Asking, â€Å"What needs to be done? † Asking, â€Å"What is right for the enterprise? † Developing action plans Taking responsibility for decisions Taking responsibility for communicating Focusing on opportunities rather than problems Running productive meetings Speaking as â€Å"We† rather than â€Å"I† The first two practices give executives the knowledge they need. The next four help them convert this knowledge into effective action. The last two ensure that the whole organization feels responsible and accountable. What are the essential points in this article? Executives need to ask what is right for the enterprise, rather than what is right for the owners, stock price, the employees or the executives. Asking this question does not guarantee the correct decision will be made; however failure to ask this question will nearly guarantee the wrong decision. Knowledge is useless until it has been translated into actions but actions need to first be planned to identify possible restraints and implications. The action plan should be a statement of intention rather than commitment and should be revised often because every success and failure creates new opportunities. The action plan needs to have a system for checking results against expectations. Lastly, the action plan has to become the basis for the executive’s time management, which is an executive’s most scarce and valuable resource. Executives need to take responsibility for communicating; executives need to share their plans, ask for feedback and indicate specifics on what information they need from their subordinates to get the job done. Good executives focus on opportunities rather than problems; they treat change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Effective executives ensure problems do not overwhelm opportunities and put their best people onopportunity tasks. Executives must make meetings productive and ensure that meetings are work sessions rather than bull sessions. A few key notes are to decide in advance what kind of meeting each session will be, end each session when the purpose has been accomplished and lastly, follow-up on each meeting. Effective executives have authority because they have the trust of the organization and therefore think of the organizations needs and opportunities before their own. Lastly, one rule stands; listen before you speak. How can you apply what you learned to business?