A Rough Patch for School Music Programs Essay - 590 Words

It came to my attention that there was clearly a problem when all that the band directors addressed at band concerts, from the local school concert to the district performance, was that the music programs were currently going through a rough patch. Budget cuts, an increased focus on â€Å"test† subjects, and loss in popularity of music activities have caused the quantity and quality of high school musicians to decline. With all of the impressive benefits of being a musician, it is crazy that student instrumentalists are an endangered species. Especially in this time of recovery from the recession, budget cuts have forced music programs to decrease exponentially, or shut down altogether. There are countless cases from all different types of†¦show more content†¦Research findings show that 21% of seniors in the class of 2004 have participated in school music ensembles, a decline of about 10% from 1982. Teenagers today enjoy listening to rap and pop songs rather than compositions by old men Tchaikovsky or Beethoven. Even if high school bands do not play classical music, there is a distinct difference between current music and band music. Also, teenagers today are exceedingly preoccupied with their studies, extracurricular activities, and jobs. Therefore, one usually has to decide which activity to focus on more or completely – sports or music, both activities that are equally time consuming. High school athlete participation has increased for the 24th consecutive year so far. Sadly, music does not prevail; th ere are not nearly as many student participants in high school music programs. The population of high school musicians in the US is shrinking. This is due to both schools putting music programs on the chopping block to save money and focus on core subjects, and students who today seem to have lost more interest in musical activities. Now more than ever, kids are less exposed to music activities in school, thus there is a smaller chance of one becoming involved in the music program. Even so, purchasing new instruments for the student and school is now difficult. Furthermore, the reduction of music educators leads to an overall poorer teaching of musicality. School musicShow MoreRelatedWellness, My Physical And Emotional Well Being1232 Words   |  5 Pagesstrengths and weakness are. Growing up my aunt used to tell me â€Å"life will put you in situations that will target your weaknesses, it’s then when you’ll experience growth†. Till this day I keep my aunt s advice in mind when I’m going through a rough patch. As a college student I often struggle with finances because, I have no financial support from anyone. My finances have the lowest score of all my areas of development because, the only time I’m financially stable is on pay day. With my financesRead More Summary of A Separate Peace by John Knowles Essay4280 Words   |  18 PagesSummary of A Separate Peace by John Knowles As the novel opens, Gene Forrester returns to Devon, the New Hampshire boarding school he attended during World War II. Gene has not seen Devon for 15 years, and so he notices the ways in which the school has changed since he was a student there. Strangely, the school seems newer, but perhaps, he thinks, the buildings are just better taken care of now that the war is over. Gene walks through the campus on a bleak, rainy November afternoon, revisitingRead Morepreschool Essay46149 Words   |  185 Pagespublication is the second of a three-volume series designed to im ­ rove early learning and p develop ­ ent for California’s preschool m children. Young children are naturally eager to learn. However, not all of them enter kindergarten ready for school. All too often, children are already lagging behind their classmates, and this circumstance can impede their continued learning and development long past kindergarten. High-quality preschool teaching contributes to children’s longrange socialRead MoreRetail Store Design and Layout15254 Words   |  62 Pagesconsciously being aware of it. Most modern stores layout revolves around forms like grid layout, racetracks and free forms. Using 3-D software to design the stores. On entering the basic information about the store site onto the computer, the program starts generating the two-dimensional drawings of various segments of the store then assembles them into 3-D shapes. These 3-D images help in better understanding of the spatial ideas, thus giving a more realistic picture of how a store would lookRead MoreUAE Consumer Lifestyle Analysis42818 Words   |  172 PagesRetirement 33 Unemployment 34 Table 36 Employed Population: 2005-2009 34 Table 37 Employed Population: 2010-2020 34 Table 38 Unemployed Population: 2005-2009 34 Table 39 Unemployed Population: 2010-2020 35 Learning 35 School Life 35 University Life 36 Adult Learning 37 Table 40 School Students: 2005-2009 37 Table 41 Higher Education Students: 2005-2009 38 Eating (including Soft Drinks) 38 Shopping for Food and Drinks 38 Dining in 40 Dining Out 40 Cafà © Culture 40 Table 42 Consumer ExpenditureRead MoreInvestment and Economic Moats46074 Words   |  185 Pagesit easier for students to transfer credits to public universities—is not at all easy to get. Having accreditation is a huge competitive advantage by itself, because a degree from a nonaccredited school is worth far less to students than one from an accredited school. Moreover, only accredited schools can accept federally subsidized student loans, and because these are a huge source of revenue for most nonelite educational institutions, potential competitors are put at a further disadvantageRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pageslogical—to reason logically. It demonstrates the usefulness of logical reasoning as a means to making more effective decisions about your own life—decisions about what to believe and decisions about what to do. The chapter begins a systematic program of study of all the major topics regarding logical reasoning. Along the way, the book focuses on developing the following five skills: (1) writing logically, (2) detecting inconsistency and lack of clarity in a group of sentences, (3) spotting issuesRead MoreVarian Solution153645 Words   |  615 PagesCentral High School has $60,000 to spend on computers and other stuï ¬â‚¬, so its budget equation is C + X = 60, 000, where C is expenditure on computers and X is expenditures on other things. C.H.S. currently plans to spend $20,000 on computers. The State Education Commission wants to encourage â€Å"computer literacy† in the high schools under its jurisdiction. The following plans have been proposed. Plan A: This plan would give a grant of $10,000 to each high school in the state that the school could spendRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 PagesIntroduction to Statistics and Data Analysis This page intentionally left blank Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis Third Edition Roxy Peck California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Chris Olsen George Washington High School, Cedar Rapids, IA Jay Devore California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Australia †¢ Brazil †¢ Canada †¢ Mexico †¢ Singapore †¢ Spain †¢ United Kingdom †¢ United States Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis, Third EditionRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesworld by humans vastly exceeded that of any previous era in history. In a century where human communities globally and individuals locally had the potential to be much more intensely connected by new communications technologies, state-sponsored programs to achieve autarky, a global epidemic of ethnic strife, uncontrolled urban growth, and the dissolution of extended family ties in many societies divided nations and communities and isolated individuals to an extent unparalleled in recorded human

Patterns of Social and Ethnic Residential Segregation...

PATTERNS OF SOCIAL AND ETHNIC RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION AMONG SOCIAL GROUPS ETHNIC MINORITIES Residential segregation can be explained as special appearance of social inequality, unequal distribution of social, ethnic, etc. groups. The spatial objective reflection of the complicated system of social relation can interpret the socio-economic structure of the city, and the allocation of different social groups. Appears in space in segregation curve where higher and lower social classes are much different at social hierarchy. The segregation indicates of the social groups at the very bottom of the social hierarchy were significantly lower than those of the top social group, and the segregation curve has the #61640;-shape. Due to the fact†¦show more content†¦The lack of housing choices for minorities have meant that the quality of suburbanization that they have achieved is distinctly different than that achieved by more advantage groups. For ethnical minorities the freedom to choose where they wish to live is simply not a reality. For example, in the USA black suburbanization is characterized by expansion of the urban ghetto population to areas just outside city limits African Americans are the most residentially segregated racial or ethnic group in America Regardless of their socioeconomic status, they are forced to persevere without the same equal housing opportunities as white Americans. Residential ethnical segregation was developed through discriminatory policies and local acts of racism. Federal and local government housing discrimination, private discrimination, and exclusionary zoning practices have resulted in the continuation of intentional discrimination against minorities, many of whom still remain disenfranchised members of society. The devastating effects of residential ethnical discrimination on the quality of life for minority families and for culture at large represent the importance of initiating policies to integrate residential neighborhoods. Without the efforts of integration, the negative effects of decades of bigoted housing policies will be exacerbated, therefore perpetuating the existence of segregation and racial division. TheShow MoreRelatedStructure Of The Paper : The Article Is Presented Using The Journal Style Scientific Paper Format989 Words   |  4 PagesIV. Structure of the Paper: The article is presented using the ‘Journal-Style Scientific Paper’ format. The authors introduce the topic of ‘ethnic segregation in post-Soviet cities’ within the context of Soviet immigration policies. The purpose of the study â€Å"explores how inherited segregation patterns have evolved in the city of Tartu, Estonia† (Leetmaa ,162) in the post-Soviet period marked by Estonian statehood and a free-market economy. The historical material is divided into four sections: 1)Read MoreUrban Segregation And Its Effects On Residential Preferences Shaped By Liberal Market Forces And National Identity890 Words   |  4 PagesThe authors introduce the topic of â€Å"inherited residential segregation patterns† (Leetmaa) among ethnic groups in post-communist Tartu, Estonia within the context of immigration policies implemented during the Soviet communist era. Using two dimensions – â€Å"preferences and segregation –ethnicity and neighbor affluence† (Leetmaa ,163), the study explores the possible causes of residential segregation in post-Soviet Tartu and its effects on residential preferences shaped by liberal market forces andRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Disorganization Theory908 Words   |  4 Pagesaccounts for the unequal pattern of crime by race and ethnicity, in which the violent crime rate in minority neighbourhoods is often higher than in white neighbourhoods. 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This body of research connects school districting, and the affordability of residential housing to the creation of segregated White and segregated Minority public schools districts. Second, research focused on the impact of segregation on student academic performance (Card, D. Rothstein, J., 2005). This researchRead MoreThe Unequal Separation Of African Americans1453 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans as a whole agree that racial segregation has affected their chances of employment, residency, education and access to proper health facilities. Many have stories and experiences of being qualified for a job but being turned down for being African American. Several experiments have been conducted where an African American would attempt to view homes in diverse neighborhoods and be turned down and white co-workers or friends would call immediately after and be invited to come in.Read MoreRacial Profiling : An Issue Longstanding And Troubling Among Minority Groups913 Words   |  4 PagesNixon 1 Jada Nixon Dr. Hunte ENC 101 30 September 2015 Racial Profiling Introduction Since the birth of our nation, racial profiling has been an issue longstanding and troubling among minority groups and still continues to exhibit severe consequences in communities. Racial profiling can be defined, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, as the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials [or security personnel] of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individualRead MoreRacism Towards Negros : The And Worst Parts Of American Society1832 Words   |  8 Pageshad to undergo many trials concerning equality. In 1865 all Negros were finally released from their enslavement, but the racism towards them didn’t disappear overnight. Racial discrimination is evident in many elements that affect health, including social status and employment because racism is one of the main barriers in our society to the attainment of health care. Employers, co-workers, and peers may favor one or more people over African Americans because of their skin color. In To Kill a MockingbirdRead MoreEssay about vulnerable population1581 Words   |  7 Pagesvulnerable population Vulnerable populations are groups who are not well integrated into the healthcare system because of ethnic, cultural, economic, and geographic or health characteristics (WHO). This isolation puts members of these groups at risk for not obtaining necessary medical care, and thus constitutes a potential threat to their health. Commonly cited examples of vulnerable populations include racial and ethnic minorities, the rural and urban poor undocumented immigrants, and people

Boosting of Efficiency by Aravind Eye Hospital

Question: Discuss about the Boosting of Efficiency by Aravind Eye Hospital. Answer: Introduction McDonaldization is reconceptualised concept generated by a sociologist, George Ritzer in the year 1993. The concept has been generated based on the attributes that is manifested by the society of a fast food centre. The concept is based on the reconceptualization of scientific management and rationalization (Verhoeven 2015). The concept helps in generating the idea of homogenization of cultures globally that would persist cultural version. The concept of McDonaldization is gaining much attention in various aspects and cultures as it helps in adapting the concept of gloabalization (Ahuvia and Izberk-Bilgin 2014). The aim of his report is to analyse the concept of McDonaldization by adhering it to the case of Aravind Eye Care Centre. This paper would help in assessing the business model that is followed by the organization with respect to the concept. It would have helpful to state the scalability of such models that is followed within the organization, thereby stating the positive and negative impacts associated with it. Some recommendations have been stated in order to mend the negative aspects and would help in overcoming certain persisting issues. Background of the company Aravind eye hospital aims at promoting eye health all over the world. It has been started by Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy along with his sister and brother in law n the year 1976. The eye hospital has started within a rented house with ten n=beds and three supervisors associated with it. Since then the hospital has been quite successful in analysing the growth in services provided, which has increased the number of beds associated t the firm to 1900. The hospital has been successful in providing its desired services to 1.9 million blind people. Along with its healing services to the blind, the hospital has collaborated with international institute for community ophthalmology that helps in providing a training program to the eye workers from the low-income countries around the world. Aravind is known as one of the largest eye hospitals that have been successful in handling 900 corneas per year. The hospital has been successful in generating certain eye camps programs that helps in crea ting eye care awareness in India. At Aravind, the average number of surgeries per doctor is 2000 per year. Aravind looks to multiply its benefits by hiring and training local doctors and surgeons. Even though Aravind pays slightly more than the government hospitals, seven to ten doctors leave each year. The reason is, since Aravind is non-profit organization, it is unable to compete pay wise with private practice institutions. Business model of Aravind The business model under which arriving d operates its sources is quite different from any other business in the health sector. It has a striking similarity to the fast food industry, thereby applying the concept of McDonaldization into its functions. The hospital aims at running under the same principle on which the organization has been initiated, thereby expanding their services throughout the world, yet providing the same services among the large amount of people without compromising with their quality. Aravinds business model has been quite efficient for the firm to generate one of the worlds most famous eye care services globally thereby imparting low-cost procedures that helps in offsetting the cost of delivering such high costs services. Aravind advertises its services quite elaborately that helps in generating an increased in the demand of the patients all over the world, who could get high class service at a low cost of transaction (Haripriya et al. 2016). Implementation of technological up gradation in the organization has been termed as one of the most important achievements of the hospital that has been quite beneficial in generating the improvements that could be witnessed in their services being provided. The doctors, surgeons and nurses of the hospitals are connected to each other with the help of video conferences, instant messaging, online patient questionnaires, and with the use of web cams. The hospital has collaborated itself with the University Of Berkeley Information Technology Centre with the low cost Wi-Fi connection. This has helped the organization in enabling the access to the patients at a remarkable low cost service (Do et al. 2014). Application of McDonaldization in the business By enabling the concept of McDonaldization to be adhered to the working of the Aravind eye hospital, it could be stated that the organization has been successful in implementing certain facts that would be quite logical in enabling a successful business associated to the firm. The business model of the organization has been formatted in such a manner, that it is quite efficient in providing a level of self-sustainability allowing them to use all incorne towards the expansion if the processes being generated by the hospital (Waring and Bishop 2015). It allows the patients free of costs or low costs healing procedures and plans that would help the patients in giving the money to the hospital when they are able to. Aravind's business model originally focused on just eye surgery and care, but after time it expanded into manufacturing in order to create low cost lenses. This change in the model was necessary because importing the lenses from the west was too expensive, and in order to com ply with their vision of providing eye care to the disadvantaged, they needed to come up with a way to lower costs. Another way they have put into their system to help them reach more clients is by using a two-tiered pricing structure. Scalability of the business model The structure generated by Aravind hospital is quite efficient in approaching the obstacles that are found in the cataract surgery industry. The vital attributes of the Aravind model is that the hospital has been sustained in providing quality care and services at low and affordable costs. They are quite effecting in providing the services to both the poor and the rich section of the society, in spite of being self-sustaining in nature. The model followed by the organization could be easily replicated by the other firms of the world, where there s a large population in the need of a social cause. The procedures that are followed by Aravind hospital is quite efficient as they follow high standard protocols of clinical activities and procedures along with administrative movements undertaken. The hospital has been successful in expanding 200 centres all over the world in accordance to their consultancy services being provided and aims at expanding more in the rear future (Zebardast et a l. 2016). The model that is followed by the hospital is quite scalable in the developing nations of the world in association to the fee system followed, quality of care, high aspirations and management techniques. Negative aspects A business model is expected to bear certain flaws in it., in spite of being too appropriate n nature. There would be the persistence of certain negative aspects that acts as friction to the processes of business. The business model that is followed by Aravind eye hospital is based upon the reliance of maintaining a strong client base. It needs a strong client base that would be efficient in undertaking the costs of maintaining the services of the firm (Thiel et al. 2016). The locational features of the firm also act as a factor of success for the model to work. If the quality of workers is diminished in the area attempted, then the Aravind system will not run as efficiently or effectively as intended. Another flaw that has been associated with the firm is that it has a high turnover rate as they are unable to pay their staffs as much as they might expect. Recommendations In order to aim at improving the quality of the services of the hospital and generating capitals and investments to sustain the services, it is quite vital for the firm to collaborate and align themselves with several institutions . These collaboration with certain companies would help them in expanding their services and providing high class service to the patients without facing any complications in future. Conclusion McDonaldization is considered as one of the most beneficial an effective concept of instigating a successful business prices within the framework of the organization. Aravind eye hospital has been quite important in generating extreme high-class services by operating in the field. They have been critical in their decision making thus far, and we feel confident that they will only become stronger as time goes by. Overall, though, it really is an excellent business model, and is doing a great deal of good for the people of india and all over the world. Reference Ahuvia, A. and Izberk-Bilgin, E., 2014. 13 Limits of the McDonaldization thesis.Brands: Interdisciplinary Perspectives,19, p.268. Do, A.T., Ilango, K., Ramasamy, D., Kalidasan, S., Balakrishnan, V. and Chang, R.T., 2014. Effectiveness of low vision services in improving patient quality of life at Aravind Eye Hospital.Indian journal of ophthalmology,62(12), p.1125. Haripriya, A., Chang, D.F., Namburar, S., Smita, A. and Ravindran, R.D., 2016. Efficacy of intracameral moxifloxacin endophthalmitis prophylaxis at Aravind Eye Hospital.Ophthalmology,123(2), pp.302-308. Thiel, C.L., Schehlein, E., Saeedi, O., Schuman, J.S., Robin, A.L., Venkatesh, R., Ravindran, R.D. and Thulasiraj, R.D., 2016. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment and Costs of Phacoemulsification at Aravind Eye Hospital in Pondicherry, India.Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science,57(12), pp.5575-5575. Verhoeven, P., 2015. Corporate communication or McCommunication? Considering a McDonaldization of corporate communication hypothesis.Journal of Promotion Management,21(2), pp.288-298. Waring, J. and Bishop, S., 2015. George Ritzer: Rationalisation, Consumerism and the McDonaldisation of Surgery. InThe Palgrave Handbook of Social Theory in Health, Illness and Medicine(pp. 488-503). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Zebardast, N., Kavitha, S., Palaniswamy, K., Sengupta, S., Kader, M.A., Raman, G., Reddy, S., Ramulu, P.Y. and Venkatesh, R., 2016. Angle Closure Phenotypes in Siblings of Patients at Different Stages of Angle Closure.Ophthalmology,123(7), pp.1622-1624.

Challenges of Six Sigma in Healthcare free essay sample

So why in this tough economic climate, would a company willingly spend â‚ ¬12,500 on a training programme and how, as many Third Party Auditors ask, â€Å"can you measure the effectiveness of that training? † In this article we look at how two companies took the decision to pursue Six Sigma Black Belt Training with SQT Training Ltd and how their initial expense, turned into a wise investment. The Black Belt programme involves 20 days training carried out over a 4 month period (1 week per month) with the delivery of a strategic company project, the key outcome.Our first company, an electronics manufacturer in Ireland, sent two delegates on the programme, each armed with a key problem to be investigated. The first problem or project concentrated on increasing the reliability of a non-core but nonetheless necessary, screen manufacturing process. At the start of the first project the screen reject rate from the screen manufacturing process was in excess of 50% ; high quality sc reens could be purchased from a trusted Japanese source but at a high cost and with a 9 to 12 week lead time. We will write a custom essay sample on Challenges of Six Sigma in Healthcare or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The strategy taken was to use the Japanese screens as a Benchmark and compare their characteristics with those from the local process. To be comparable, the variation in the local screens would have to be reduced from a standard deviation of 5. 8 to 3. 1 (roughly 46%). By forming a team of process experts and utilising a number of analytical tools, the input variables were narrowed down from an initial total of 132, to a short list of just 11. A Design of Experiment (DOE) was completed using the four most likely variables at various settings or levels.From this experiment a linear model was derived which showed the relative impact of each of the variables on the standard deviation. Using the new model the trainee Black Belt was able to determine the optimum process settings, which confirmed that the process standard deviation could be reduced by 40% resulting in a 20% unit cost reduction and an 80% lead time reduction. The resultant savings were in excess of â‚ ¬125,000. Fig 1. Printed patterns from the screen manufacturing process show the before and after surface area variation. | |Before: Wavy surface area (SD = 5. 8)| After: 40% improvement (SD = 3. 5)| The second project successfully reduced the defect level of specific components being shipped to one of their European customers from 611 ppm to approximately 45 ppm. This project proved more difficult as most of the defects were due to ‘special cause’ variation but using tools such as process mapping, failure mode and effects analysis and mistake proofing, ppm reduction was achieved and more importantly sustained, generating annual savings in excess of â‚ ¬114,000. . The absence or difficulty to obtain the baseline data on process performance is another major challenge while applying Six Sigma in health care sector. Hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and the like are characterized by thousands of processes, sub-routines and communications. In the typical environment, it is not unlikely that two to three or variations will exist in routine processes from shift to shift.While lots of data is captured, it is often not the right information, nor in a form that lends itself to the statistical quality analysis of Six Sigma. 3. There will be lots of data available in the health care sector, however, most of the time these data are not readily available for its analysis. 4. For health care industry, it is often a struggle to identify processes which can be measured in terms of defects or errors per million opportunities. 5. Another barrier to Six Sigma deployment in health care industry is the psychology of the workforce.Not to be forgotten among the barriers to Six Sigma Deployment in healthcare organizations is the psychology of the workforce. While the corporate business community struggles with deterioration of employee loyalty and commitment in the wake of accounting scandals and relentless downsizing, healthcare providers still attract employees who are passionate about their work. 6. Last but not the least, it is important to present recommendations using the business language rather than the statistical language.

Martin Brian Mulroney Essays - Brian Mulroney,

Martin Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney became the 18th prime minister of Canada on September 17, 1984, after his party, the Progressive Conservatives won the greatest parliamentary victory ever in Canadian history. Mulroney was born in 1939, the son of an electrician, in the paper mill town of Baie Comeau, Quebec. Mulroney attended a very strict military type all boys' school until the age of 16 when he entered Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. There he earned an honor degree in political science. While at St. FX he was active in on campus politics. During his first year he became a member of the youth wing of the P.C. Party of Nova Scotia. Before he graduated he was to become the Prime Minister of St. FX's famous mock Parliament, a position that had been held for years by Liberal students. After graduation he studied law at Dalhousie in Halifax and later at Laval University in Quebec, from which he graduated in 1962. It was during these years in Quebec that Mulroney became known as the life of the party. He frequented most Montreal nightclubs and was quite a lady's man. Mulroney also became a slightly more than social drinker. After becoming a lawyer in 1965 he joined a prestigious law firm known as Cate Ogilvy, later becoming a partner in that firm. In May 1973 at the age of 34 he married a beautiful 20 year old Mila Pivnicki, daughter of Yugoslav immigrants. The Mulroneys would go on to have three children. Mulroney worked energetically for the Progressive Conservative Party as a young lawyer, serving on the party's finance and policy committees and on its 1968 and 1972 campaign committees. He first came into the public eye in 1974 as a member of the Cliche Royal Commission, which investigated corruption and violence in the Quebec construction industry. Also involved in this commission was Mulroney's friend and future Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard. Although Mulroney had not yet held public office, he ran for election as Conservative leader at the party's 1976 national convention. He waged a vigorous and expensive campaign but lost to Joe Clark after being critisized as the Cadillac Cantidate for spending so much money. Following this failure, Mulroney became very depressed and bitter. This was a very bleak time in his life. His drinking and his tongue often got him in trouble. During this period he would often attend social events, get very drunk, and make an ass of himself. He took the Leadership loss very personally and it almost ruined him. A few years after taking the job of President of the Iron Ore Company of Canada in 1977 he decided that he would clean himself up. He went to special Alcoholics Anonomous meetings for famous people who didn't want the world to know they had a problem. After this time in his life he almost never had a drink and never repeated his drunken outbursts at any social functions. During his years as a corporate executive, Mulroney remained active in politics, taking every occasion to increase his visibility among the public and to gain support from within the party for his upcoming leadership bid. In 1982, because of an economic depression, the Iron Ore Company of Canada was forced to close one of its mining and milling towns in Quebec. At first this appeared to be a disastrous political setback for Mulroney. However, he turned it into a public relations triumph by making the people of the town in question believe that there were other alternatives when there were none and by negotiating generous settlements for the workers who had lost their jobs. This earned him respect and won him general support and his reputation as an expert labor lawyer and industrial relations specialist was enhanced. After the election most of his promises were shown to be false hopes but by that time the people had already decided. In mid-1983 Clark's leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party was being questioned, forcing him to call a national party convention and leadership review. Brian Mulroney was again a candidate, and he campaigned more shrewdly than he had done seven years before. He actually had been paying people to ruin Clarks chances

movies and disability essays

movies and disability essays Some will argue that a film, being essentially a means of entertainment, can do little to change a national consciousness. Others, citing the power of the medium, will claim that motion pictures possess this rare and extraordinary ability. These two opposing viewpoints are about to be put to the test with a pair of films that, while different in so many ways, have a number of fundamental similarities. The Miracle Worker" seems to have been ahead of its time in its accurate portrayal of disability. The film shows us that the young Helen Keller (Duke), blind and deaf from infancy, was treated as little more than a family pet before the arrival of her teacher, Ann Sullivan (Bancroft). One of the central themes is how family attitudes tended to emotionally handicap young Helen. The movie effectively depicts the family's low expectations of their disabled daughter and gives us a look into how physical disabilities were equated with mental disabilities in an earlier era. The portrayal of Helen and the other characters is accurate and forthright. The filmmakers don't hold back to protect our sensibilities, and instead provide a no-holds-barred view of the tragedy and the triumph of growing up and overcoming severe disability. By the time Annie Sullivan came along in 1887 nearly blind herself, haunted by her upbringing in an asylum and convinced that people looked down on her because her parents had been Irish immigrants 6-year-old Helen was nobody's darling. Frustrated by her inability to communicate, willful and carelessly spoiled by people who no longer wanted to be bothered with her, she threw hurricane-level tantrums that terrorized the household. Annie taught her to finger-spell; demolished the barrier for Helen between the movements in her hand and the words, objects and ideas they represented; and opened up the world to her. Or did she? Controversy simmered throughout Helen's life over who was doing the thinking that...

Company analysis - Bancolombia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Company analysis - Bancolombia - Essay Example The different culture and characteristics of the three banks participated in the merger were not easy to be managed. The recent retirement of the firm’s CEO would set the future of Bancolombia in risk, if the new CEO would not be able to understand the firm’s culture but also the employees’ needs. Table of contents Executive Summary 2 Problem Statement 4 Supporting Evidence 4 Key decision criteria 7 Recommendations 8 References 11 Appendices 12 Problem Statement The development of the problem statement in regard to this study requires the reference to a series of events that led to the formation of Bancolombia, as in its current form. Bancolombia is an organization resulted from two mergers. In its initial form, Bancolombia resulted by the merge between the Banco Industrial Colombiano (BIC) and the Banco de Colombia. The above merger took place in 1998 and led to the establishment of Colombia’s most powerful firm in the banking industry (case study, p.3). Bancolombia, the firm resulted by the above merger, reached a market share of 11.5% (case study, p.3). ... The identification of effective HR management practices was of critical importance in Bancolombia, as a business entity established in 1998. In the context of the second merger, a similar issue has appeared. The second merger took place between three firms of the Colombian banking industry: Bancolombia, Conavi and Corfinsura. These firms used different approaches in regard to the management of their HR: a) in Bancolombia, emphasis was given on cooperation for ensuring that organizational targets in regard to profitability are met; the ‘Added Value System, (ADV), a customer profiting strategy’ (case study p.4) was used in Bancolombia to achieve this target. In addition, managers in Bancolombia have promoted a scheme called ‘Cultural Transformation Workshops’ (case study p.3) for ensuring that employees in Bancolombia are fully aware of the culture of the firm; b) in Conavi, employees’ needs were highly valued; in fact, ‘high job stability and con tinuous interaction between employees and managers’ (case study p.5) have been the key characteristics of the firm’s HR strategy; c) in Corfinsura employees had to deal mostly with ‘large corporate clients’ (case study p.5); therefore, most of the firm’s employees were experts in investment banking services (case study p.5); Bancolombia, in its final form, had to deal not only with investment banking services but also to retail services. This problem has been highlighted by managers in Bancolombia, after the firm’s merger with Corfinsura. According to the above, this study’s research problem could be described as follows: would Bancolombia be able to secure high employee performance taking into consideration the important differences in the HR strategies of the three firms participated in the

Data Analysis report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Data Analysis report - Assignment Example According to Kimiecik (1992) and Beck and Ajzen (1991), what others expect is very key and determines the level of influence they have on another person’s decisions. Subjective norms, perceived behaviour changes and hindrances combine to give rise to intentions. To Beck and Ajzen (1991), a favourable attitude accompanied by the other factors gives a stronger position in making decisions. However, this does not mean that believes alone have any sufficient evidence that intentions change. The study was on theory of planned behaviour and aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the roles of various factors including subjective norms, behaviours and others that affect/influence the attitude of consumers in making decisions. The researcher sampled in order to draw inferences about the whole population. In the research study, the researcher used a sample of 150 participants. All the participants were sampled from Europe; 73 (35 males and 38 females) of the participants were sample d from UK and the other 77 (46 males and 31 females) were sampled from Germany. The researcher employed the use of a questionnaire to collect the information. Questionnaires are used since they give more information from many participants within a very short time. Further, the closed questions are easier and faster to analyze (Freed, M. et al. (1991). The research tool was developed according to Ajzen (1987; 1991; 2002) laid down procedures. The questions were guided by the objectives of the study. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Various analysis methods were used. Descriptive statistics were used to show data representation while multiple regressions were used to show the significance of the contribution of each independent variable; the amount of change in the dependent variable holding all the other independent variables constant. Before actual regressions. The error terms were tested if they meet all the assumptions employed in regression analysis. Homoskedasticity was tested using the White test (Gore and Altman 1992). Further, correlations were used to show the strength of the relationships between the independent variables. Before all the other analyses were conducted, reliability analysis was conducted to establish the reliability and validity of the variables for inclusion in the study. The results are presented below; Findings Table 1: Profiles Frequency Percent Country United Kingdom 73 48.7 Germany 77 51.3 Total 150 100.0 Gender Female 69 46 Male 81 54 Total 150 100.0 Relationship Status Single 58 38.7 Married or in a relationship 92 61.3 Total 150 100.0 ?/â‚ ¬ spend per week 0-39 ?/â‚ ¬/week 50 33.3 40-79 ?/â‚ ¬/week 68 45.3 80-119 ?/â‚ ¬/week 28 18.7 120+ ?/â‚ ¬/week 4 2.7 Total 150 100.0 All the participants were sampled from Europe; 73 (35 males and 38 females) of the participants were sampled from UK and the other 77 (46 males and 31 females) were sampled from Germany. 69 were females while 81 were males. 58 of the participan ts were found to be single while 92 were found to be married/or were in a relationship. The level of weekly spending was found to be varying much as the findings indicated that 45.3% spend ?/â‚ ¬ 40-79 per week with a meager 2.73% spending ?/â‚ ¬120+ per week. 29.3% of the participants placed their annual earning ranging between ?/â‚ ¬15-24,000 compared to 18.8% who said their earnings ranging from ?/â‚ ¬ 40, 0000 + per year. Table 2: Descriptive Statistics N Mean Std. Deviation Int_Avg 150

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 10

Assignment Example In essence, meditation plays a crucial role in this religion and with this; many people have embraced different methods of meditation. Meditation The purpose of meditation is to still the brain, relax the body, and boost concentration. Many of the skills learnt in meditation produces an understanding that this practice focuses on the notion of the mind. Meditation develops the mental ability of developing love and kindness for the self and others. In other words, meditation sweetens the mind. There major types of meditation include the following. Tranquillity Meditation (Samatha) The main purpose of Tranquillity or Samatha meditation is to still the brain and improve its concentration. This meditation helps an individual to develop through four stages. These include detachment from sorrow and suffering and embracing the consciousness of joy and happiness, having logic reasoning in life, pure thoughts, and embracing virtues that promote the well-being of people. Insight Meditation/Vip assana Insight meditation helps an individual to realize important truths of life. A person who practices this meditation hopes to embrace the truths of suffering, impermanence, and no-self. The practice of this meditation concentrates on improving the mind. The most methods prescribed to develop a sober mindfulness are walking, sitting, and mindfulness of daily activities. Walking mindfulness is often practiced in retreats and monasteries, especially in regions such as Theravada. Gaining this mindfulness requires one to find a quiet place, takes some time to relax, and attempts to concentrate on the sensations and movements of walking. This practice brings an individual closer to the insight of understanding the fundamental truths of impermanence and no-self. Sitting Meditation is very similar to walking meditation. However, the focus of this meditation is on the breadth instead of walking. A person practising this meditation focuses the breath and its observation. The ultimate goa l of this practice is to enhance truth on no-self, impermanence, and suffering. Mindfulness of Everyday Activities emphasizes more on the skills learned in sitting and walking. This mindfulness helps an individual to participate fully in everything he or she does (Religion Facts, 2013). Loving-Kindness Meditation/ Metta Bhavana Loving and kindness are important virtues of Buddhism and this meditation is a way of obtaining and developing these virtues. The purpose of this meditation is to develop the mental component of having love for the self and others. The practitioner evokes the feelings of love and kindness to those around him. Still, he or she radiates feelings of unconditional love and acceptance. This meditation helps people to live in harmony with one another. As people learn to love one another, it brings forth unity, joy, happiness, and peace in the society. This meditation also helps people to be kind with one another regardless of the cultural, ethnicity, or race differ ences. Discursive Meditations A successful participation of this meditation helps one to elevate the mind and cultivate awesome and wholesome feelings. A poem, a hymn, or a passage from Dhamma or any inspiring literature can create these feelings. Most Buddhists set aside a few minutes to study and reflect upon an inspiring teaching. This allows one to reflect upon human values, dignity, and integrity. Countries where Meditation Rites are Practiced According to Religion Facts (2013), Japan and China largely

Takeover Mergers Acquisitions Case Study Of British Petroleum Commerce Essay

Takeover Mergers Acquisitions Case Study Of British Petroleum Commerce Essay BP is one of the largest vertically integrated oil and gas companies in the world. The companys operations primarily include the exploration and production of gas and crude oil, as well as the marketing and trading of natural gas, power, and natural gas liquids. BP has its headquarters in London, United Kingdom and employs about 80,300 people. British Petroleum, which transformed from a local oil company named Anglo Persian formed back in 1908 to a global energy group, is one of the worlds largest energy companies today, providing its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemicals products for everyday items. BP excelled exponentially in the past century and today it employs over 80,000 people and operates in over 100 countries worldwide. On 20th April, 2010, BP came across a deep water rig explosion in the gulf of Mexico which was caused by what has been described as the worst US ecological disaster ever, wiping more than $58 billion from the companys value and causing its share price to drop down more then half compared to the value before the explosion. Many analysts are saying that this could trigger a takeover of the business by one of its big competitors such as Exxon Mobil, Shell or even Petrochina. In this report, we will discuss the factors and reasons which can result in a takeover of any company along with the very real disadvantages which a company may face if they do an acquisition, including those special to an acquisition of BP at this time. What is Merger and Acquisition stands for? The term Merger Acquisition or Takeover refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling and combining of different companies that can aid, finance, or help a growing company in a given industry grow rapidly without having to create another business entity. Takeovers and mergers are also the reason why todays corporate landscape is a maze of conglomerations. Insurance companies own breakfast cereal makers, shopping mall outlets are part of military manufacturing groups, and movie studios own airlines, all because of mergers and acquisitions. Although often used synonymously, the terms merger and acquisition mean slightly different things. Merger A merger happens when two firms agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. It can be described as the mutually agreed decision for joint ownership between organizations. When two companies merge, the boards of directors (or the owners, if it is a privately held company) come to an agreement. The original companies cease to exist, and a new company forms, combining the personnel and assets of the merging companies. Like any business deal, this can be straightforward, or incredibly complex. The key is that both companies have agreed to the merge. Acquisition When one company takes over another and clearly establishes itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist, the buyer swallows the business and the buyers stock continues to be traded. Hostile Takeover: A hostile takeover is an acquisition in which the company being purchased doesnt want to be purchased, or doesnt want to be purchased by the particular buyer that is making a bid. The buyer has to gain control of the target company and force them to agree to the sale. Both acquisitions and mergers typically involve the managers of one organization exerting strategic influence over the other. Reasons for a Takeover There are different reasons for developing through a takeover activity. The primary reason being that acquiring firms seek improved financial performance. Another major reason is the need to keep up with the changing environment and to gain opportunities of market growth more quickly than through internal means. Following gives a brief account for the conventional reasons of a takeover. Speed of Entry Speed of entry is one of the reasons for a takeover because products and markets nowadays are changing so rapidly that acquisition becomes the only way to successfully enter a market, since the process of internal development is too slow and when speed is important, acquisition is more likely to be used. Most acquisitions are consummated relatively quickly, whereas internal development of new products or services normally takes many months or years. Acquisition may allow the acquiring firm to realize revenue earlier, achieve economies faster, and capture a greater market share. When entry occurs through internal development, a decade or more is often required to fine-tune the business to achieve the profitability of established competitors Economies of Scale Economies of scale is an economic term describing a business model where the long-run average cost curve declines as production increases, or in a simple example explaining the principal, where a manufacturing company saves money as it produces higher quantities of its product, as in all business areas, the more you buy, the more you save. Economies of scale is a long run concept and refers to reductions in unit cost as the size of a facility and the usage levels of other inputs increase. This refers to the fact that the company after takeover can often reduce its fixed costs by removing duplicate departments or operations, lowering the costs of the company relative to the same revenue stream, thus increasing profit margins. An example is that of a private soft drinks manufacturer. The more orders that the manufacturer receives, the more savings it makes, as it will in turn get cheaper prices for the materials it needs to produce its drinks (e.g. plastic, aluminium, sugar) as it will be buying them in larger quantities and receiving discounts, the manufacturing company in turn would give its customers cheaper prices for the more orders for drinks they make for this very reason, as they will gain the discounts, they can pass a saving onto their customers, making themselves stronger, a more respected company from its suppliers as it is buying in higher volumes and its turnover becomes higher. All these factors contribute to the benefits of economies of scale.. Why Economies of Scale Happen: An In Depth Look Corporations incur fixed costs when buying heavy machinery, buildings, or other large purchases. A fixed cost is called fixed because when production increases in the short run, new buildings and machines are not immediately needed. Because fixed costs are not tied to production, firms have an incentive to produce as much as possible (assuming they can sell their product). Intuitively, a large factory should produce a large number of units to minimize its fixed cost per unit. Say that an automobile factory costs 1 million dollars. If it only produces 1000 cars, then its Fixed Cost Per Unit is 1 million dollars divided by 1000 cars, or $1000/Car. If the factory produces 8000 cars, however, its Fixed Cost Per Unit is 1 million dollars divided by 8000 cars, or $125 per car. By producing 7000 more cars, the firm gets an 88% fixed cost reduction per car. This graph illustrates that increased production reduces fixed costs per unit. Figure 1 With fewer fixed costs per unit, firms can afford to lower per unit prices. If fixed costs are very significant to a particular firms industry, then firms who mass produce efficiently can cut costs, extract revenues, lower prices, and therefore capture market share. Higher market share and higher revenues mean more money to spend on machinery, and expand the firm. This in turn allows further cost cutting, higher production, and the development of better products. In the long run, firms which effectively mass produce take over industries dominated by high fixed costs. Figure 2 Financial markets Financial markets may provide conditions that motivate acquisitions. If the share value or price/earnings (P/E) ratio of a company is high, it may see the opportunity to acquire a firm with a low share value or P/E ratio. Indeed, this is a major stimulus for the more opportunistic acquisitive companies. An extreme example is asset stripping, where the main motive is short-term gain by buying up undervalued assets and disposing of them piecemeal. Eliminating Competition A buyer company, when absorbs a major competitor, eliminates the major competition and thus increases it revenue or market share. This motive of takeover comes into play when companies want to increase their market power which results in an increased share value and overall monopoly. Synergy Synergy is the potential additional value from combining two firms. It is probably the most widely used and misused rationale for takeovers. Operating Synergy Operating synergies are those synergies that allow firms to increase their operating income, increase growth or both. Operational synergy is deemed to be the main motive of the takeover when the bidder takes over a target in the same industry. We would categorize operating synergies into four types. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Economies of scale that may arise from the takeover, allowing the combined firm to become more cost-efficient and profitable. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Greater pricing power from reduced competition and higher market share, which should result in higher margins and operating income. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Combination of different functional strengths, as would be the case when a firm with strong marketing skills acquires a firm with a good product line. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Higher growth in new or existing markets, arising from the combination of the two firms. This would be case when a UK consumer products firm acquires an emerging market firm, with an established distribution network and brand name recognition, and uses these strengths to increase sales of its products. Operating synergies can affect margins and growth, and through these the value of the firms involved in the takeover. Financial Synergy With financial synergies, the payoff can take the form of either higher cash flows or a lower cost of capital (discount rate). Included are the following. 1. A combination of a firm with excess cash, (and limited project opportunities) and a firm with high-return projects (and limited cash) can yield a payoff in terms of higher value for the combined firm. The increase in value comes from the projects that were taken with the excess cash that otherwise would not have been taken. This synergy is likely to show up most often when large firms acquire smaller firms, or when publicly traded firms acquire private businesses. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Debt capacity can increase, because when two firms combine, their earnings and cash flows may become more stable and predictable. This, in turn, allows them to borrow more than they could have as individual entities, which creates a tax benefit for the combined firm. This tax benefit can take the form of either higher cash flows or a lower cost of capital for the combined firm. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tax benefits can arise either from the acquisition taking advantage of tax laws or from the use of net operating losses to shelter income. Thus, a profitable firm that acquires a money-losing firm may be able to use the net operating losses of the latter to reduce its tax burden. Alternatively, a firm that is able to increase its depreciation charges after an acquisition will save in taxes and increase its value. Diversification Companies takeover different product line companies to diversify their product or service range and to protect themselves against downturns in the core markets. This calls for a very well thought and specific policy keeping in mind the future steps and goals of a company. Moreover, can really help if there is a downfall in the core market and company shares of a particular product. Disadvantages of a Takeover The reasons for takeover are kept under account while targeting a company, but calculating the disadvantages associated with it are analysed with more precision and taking all situations under consideration. Companies mostly come up with the following disadvantages while acquiring other companies Costs of mergers and acquisitions Mergers and acquisitions can be costly due to the high legal expenses, and the cost of acquiring a new company that may not be profitable in the short run. This is why a merger or acquisition may be more of strategic corporate decision than a tactical maneuver. Moreover, if a poison pill unknowingly emerges after a sudden acquisition of another companys shares, this could render the acquisition approach very expensive and/or redundant. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Legal expenses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Short-term opportunity cost à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cost of takeover à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Potential devaluation of equity à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Intangible costs MA activity can also be exacerbated by the short-term cost of opportunity or opportunity cost. This is the cost incurred when the same amount of investment could be placed elsewhere for a higher financial return. Sometimes this cost does not prevent or deter the acquisition because projected long-term financial benefits outweigh that of the short-term cost. Consumer and shareholder drawbacks In some cases, acquisitions may not only disadvantage the shareholders but consumers as well. In both cases, this may happen when the newly formed company becomes a large oligopoly or monopoly. Moreover, when higher pricing power emerges from reduced competition, consumers may be financially disadvantaged. Some of the potential disadvantages facing consumers in regard to mergers are the following. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Increase in cost to consumers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Decreased corporate performance and/or services à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Potentially lowered industry innovation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Suppression of competing businesses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Decline in equity pricing and investment value Shareholders may also be disadvantaged by corporate leadership if it becomes too content or complacent with its market positioning. In other words, when takeover activity reduces industry competition and produces a powerful and influential corporate entity, that company may suffer from non-competitive stimulus and lowered share prices. Lower share prices and equity valuations may also arise from the merger itself being a short-term disadvantage to the company. Effects on management A study published in the July/August 2008 issue of the Journal of Business Strategy suggests that mergers and acquisitions destroy leadership continuity in target companies top management teams for at least a decade following a deal. The study found that target companies lose 21 percent of their executives each year for at least 10 years following an acquisition more than double the turnover experienced in non-merged firms. If the businesses of the acquired and acquiring companies overlap, then such turnover is to be expected; in other words, there can only be one CEO, CFO, etc at a time. Wages Settlement This could also be a problem if the acquiring company gives less wages to its employees then the acquired company. This may result in overpaying the new employees of acquired company or increasing the wages of its previous employees. This can really unsettle the budget and administration of the company. REASONS AND DISADVANTAGES OF TAKING OVER BRITISH PETROLEUM The idea of BP being taken over by anyone would have sounded crazy before the gulf of Mexico disaster, but it is now becoming commonplace to suggest that the UK oil major might even fall into the hands of rivals like Exxon Mobil, Shell or even Petrochina. The about turn has been extraordinary. Before its money and reputation began bleeding away in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil giant was considered the safest of blue chip companies, because its debts were so low and its income so high. BPs failure to stop an oil leak from spewing millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico may leave the biggest oil and gas producer in the U.S. in a fight to stay independent. BP Facts Clean-up: Cost to date: $3.1bn approx Escrow account promise: $20bn Shares: Share price on 20 April (before leak began): 656p Share price lowest point (on 25 June): 296p (55% fall) 2009 profits:  £10bn 2010 dividend:  £1.8bn in Q1; Q2-4 cancelled, saving  £5.4bn Debt: Total debts:  £17bn, of which  £4.9 due by end-2011 2009 cashflow:  £21bn Credit ratings: A2/A (Moodys/SP) Credit default swap spread (5 years): 4.1% per annum Strategic investors: Market capitalisation:  £65bn (at 345p current share price) Kuwait shareholding: 1.75% China shareholding: 1.1% (Data: Bloomberg as of 6 July 2010) Reasons for Takeover In addition to being the largest oil and gas producer in the U.S, BP is the biggest operator in the Gulf of Mexico, where it holds more than 500 leases and pumps 450,000 barrels of oil a day. The company plans 10 projects in the Gulf during the next five years, more than other regions of the world, according to a BP presentation. A takeover of BP will result in the acquisition of all these projects ultimately increasing the growth of the acquiring company. A takeover by Anglo-Dutch shell looks likely because synergies of $9bn had been estimated by former BP chief Lord Browne and it is revealed that merger of these companies were tried before in 1995 and 2004. These synergies will give the combined company the power to take advantage from economies of scale and great pricing power. If Exxon Mobil acquires BP that would be a combination of the first and second biggest gas producers in the US which will result in the monopoly of the whole oil market in the hands of the acquirer. If this happens, the joined company can dictate the stock market and gain other advantages as well. Chinese oil giant Petrochina which is not a major oil producer but an avid consumer of oil can divert scarce oil supplies of BP towards china to satisfy its needs rather than those of the west. This will not only give Petrochina access to BPs international oil and gas reserves, but also the expertise and latest technology which will result in higher value and growth of the combined company. The takeover will eliminate a fierce competition between the oil giants of the world as the acquiring company will absorb a major competitor in the form of BP. Thus increasing overall market power and share value. Disadvantages The huge and indeterminate cost of the oil spill cleanup, as well as damages, fines and compensation analysts forecast of the cash cost to BP have ranged up to about $40 bn, could spiral into tens of billions. Political Effects Technically any of Exxon Mobil, Shell or Petrochina can afford to buy BP, but in an industry which is already fraught with regulatory and political risk, it is a difficult to cope up with all the arising situations. There is already a statutory limit under US law for oil spill costs of a mere $75m, but BP long ago waived this limit, as hiding behind it would have been politically untenable. The oil firm could take more active steps to limit its liability, for instance through a selective bankruptcy of its US business. But this would almost certainly be unpalatable to the companys board, as it would enrage US politicians, including President Barack Obama, and probably cut off the entire US market to BP. So the political reality is that BPs liability in the Gulf of Mexico remains unlimited, and this continues to weigh down the companys share price. A takeover of BP in such a scenario will result in an unlimited liability for the acquiring company. Moreover, it may probably cutoff from the U.S market where BP is the biggest oil and gas provider. Environmental Effects The environmental threats after Mexico oil spills are still in account and acquiring companies will feel the effects of it for a long time. The cost of oil cleanup is indeterminate and in case of an acquisition, those cleanups and its effects will become the liability of the acquiring company and if they fail to clear them in a particular set of time, then the acquired company can feel the heat as well. Legal Effects The damages, fines and compensation forecasts of the spill are very unclear and there is no exact account of the litigations which BP will face. BP has crossed the $368 million mark till now in paying companies and individuals as a result of after-effects of the oil spill. Still there is a long way to go and no one wants to pay an unquantifiable liability. Other Disadvantages If Shell makes a move, then it will ace serious competition issues that would force divestments in Europe and the US. A combined company will be very difficult to manage and to sustain growth. Petrochina will be in a risk of overpaying the employees of BP as labour is cheap in Chinese companies and this could really effect the management and workforce from top to bottom. In case of Exxon Mobil, Most combinations of assets would have to be downsized for competition reasons. The overlapping management will lose their jobs and the old management will have to fit in the shoes of the BP management and become familiar with their systems and ways which will take time and incur cost. The costs of oil projects are set to soar as governments insist on tougher environmental safety standards in the wake of the spill. Already the Kazakhstan energy ministry has forced Shell to tighten up plans at its Kashagan development, meaning that the current $136bn budget dedicated for the project is likely to be busted. The result could be that smaller companies, that dont have market values in excess of $100bn might pull out of deep-water activities. Only the big boys of the industry would remain in the waters. Conclusion There are many likely motives to takeover BP but it carries a lot of dips and drops. If a buyer does try to overcome all these enormous hurdles, it would still need to agree a deal. At the moment, there is no sign of BP to surrender. Takeover talks are likely to keep swirling, but the chances are that BP will emerge with its independence intact.

Asian American Literature :: essays papers

Asian American Literature Asian Americans seem to be fighting an unwinnable battle when it comes to the content of their writing. Writers are criticized by whites for speaking out against discrimination, and by their fellow Asian Americans for contributing to the stereotypes through their silence. I believe that Asian Americans should include politics in their writing as they so choose, but should not feel obligated to do so, as Frank Chin suggests. For those Asian Americans who make known their discontent with the injustice and discrimination that they feel, in the white culture, this translates to attacking American superiority and initiating insecurities. For Mura, a writer who dared to question why an Asian American was not allowed to audition for an Asian American role, his punishment was â€Å"the ostracism and demonization that ensued. In essence, he was shunned† (Hongo 4) by the white people who could not believe that he would attack their superior American ways. According to writers such as Frank Chin and the rest of the â€Å"Aiiieeeee!† group, the Americans have dictated Asian culture and created a perception as â€Å"nice and quiet† (Chin 1972, 18), â€Å"mama’s boys and crybabies† without â€Å"a man in all [the] males.† (Chin 1972, 24). This has become the belief of the proceeding generations of Asian Americans and therefore manifested these stereotypes. Those authors who contest these â€Å"American made† stereotypes are said to betray the American culture and white power around them, and to be â€Å"rocking the boat† in a seemingly decent living situation. It is as though Asian Americans are succombing to the thought that America is the only place to be and that they should be grateful to live here. On the other hand, keeping silent due to pressures from the white population means being shunned by the members of the Asian American population. I disagree with Chin’s ascertation that â€Å"years of apparent silence have made us accomplices† to the makers of stereotypes (Chin 1991, xxxix). I agree with Hongo’s argument that Chin viewpoint â€Å"limits artistic freedom† (Hongo 4). Declaring that those writers who do not argue stereotypes of the good, loyal, and feminine Chinese man or the submissive female, are in any way contributing to or disagreeing with them is ridiculous. Chin’s opinion that politics should be included in some aspect of every Asian American piece eliminates choice from writing topics for other writers. Authors are the voices of the people (whichever people they choose to represent) and should not be criticized for choosing to discuss issues other than those that Chin deems necessary.

Geological Hazard

Geological Hazards are naturally occurring or man-made geologic conditions capable of causing injuries or other health impacts, loss of property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. It had been divided into many types. The two main types of man-made geological hazards are collapsing of buildings and forest fire which happening recently. Now, I’m going to talk about the collapsing of buildings first. The structure of a building actually is fundamental to ensuring the safety of people in or around the existing buildings. However, human’s ignorance, negligence and greed lead to building collapse. Human ignorance has to do with when incompetent personnel are in charge of design, construction or inspection. One of the major areas of negligence is in specification writing where that of a past project is adopted without crosschecking those areas that need improvement, addition or omission. Greed on the part of building contractors like diversion of building materials, cement in particular, the use of sub- standard materials so as to achieve high profit. Moreover, foundation problems, quality management, material and testing variability and unprofessional conduct will also leads to building collapse. The effect of building collapse are the innocent citizens lost their life, many other people has been rendered permanent disable in one form or the other as a result of increasing rate of building collapse in the country. Economic problem of this incidence is immeasurable in that many have been rendered homeless with loss of countless properties. Here is the true incident which happens in Bangladesh when 24 April 2013. At least 76 garment workers have been confirmed dead in Bangladesh after an eight-story building containing clothing manufacturing units collapsed. Moreover, this is another true incident collapse of a 20-metre lighting arrester pole from the UMNO building in Jalan Macalister during a storm and caused casualties is the best example of fallen misfortune which happen on 15 June, 2013 at Penang. It is a man-made disaster, instead of a natural disaster or accident. And a person had been killed in this incident. The other man-made geographical hazard is forest fire. Forests are important to us and our environment, their benefits cannot be measured. Without forests humans cannot survive. Fires can have a positive or negative effect on forests; and its impact on forest health and dynamic change greatly in different ecosystems. Fires are sometimes essential for forest regeneration but also harmful if it is repeated systematically in the same area. Forest fires have terrible environmental, social and economic consequences. The causes of forest fire are including drought, human carelessness, lightning, heat waves, slash and burn farming. The most common cause nowadays is probably due to drought. Tropical forests are quite sensitive to temperature change, thus long dry seasons and higher temperatures can severely damage a healthy forest and leads to forest fire. The next common cause is probably lightning and the last major cause of forest fires is to open oil palm plantation for own benefits. The main consequence of forest fire will be releasing of carbon dioxide which will affect our health and it increases the atmospheric pollution. Furthermore, an increase in carbon dioxide means an increase in global warming. When global warming rise the â€Å"Greenhouse† phenomenon will being increases also. Other than that, shelter for animals is not provided anymore. Animals are immediately affected when they are killed at the duration of fire and indirectly when no more food is available. Lastly, the forest products will be destroyed, such as wood, food and medicines. Recently, smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has choked neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, prompting Singaporean officials to press Jakarta for urgent action against the haze that has pushed the city-state’s air pollution to the worst level in 16 years. Its main air pollution index hit a measurement of 401 at midday Friday, exceeding previous highs of 371 on Thursday and 321 on Wednesday. Those measurements were classified as â€Å"hazardous† and can aggravate respiratory ailments. The reason why the firm burn the forest is to open oil palm plantation for own benefits but they didn’t consider for other.

7 Resume Mistakes Almost Every New Grad Makes

7 Resume Mistakes Almost Every New Grad Makes You’re fresh out of college and want the world to know just how much potential you have. Creating a resume is step 1 as you begin to put yourself out there to let the world know what you can offer. Without much of a job history, this one document has to tell your story–it’s a small document but it’s all companies have to gain a first impression. The resume writing and career coaching team at ResumeSpice has put together a list of 7 of the most common resume mistakes new grads make–and what you can do to avoid them.They submit the same resume for each job.We know that job searching can be cumbersome, but trust us, it’s worth the extra time to customize your resume for each job. When a recruiter scans your resume, they’re trying to assess whether you’re a fit for the role–in the shortest time possible. If you don’t tie your skills to the specific job for which you’re applying, they’re going to pass you over.Review each job description carefully before you apply. Take note of any skills and keywords that seem to stick out or anything with which you have direct experience, and write bullet points that directly speak to those qualifications.Their resumes have typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors.Although this doesn’t only apply to new graduates, most new grads don’t realize just how sensitive hiring managers can be to seemingly innocent resume mistakes. These types of errors can make you appear careless or lazy. Sure, recruiters and hiring managers can overlook an extra space or even a missing punctuation, but there’s a limit to how much they can forgive. Remember, their credibility is hinging on the candidates they submit for consideration, so they’re selective about who they recommend. Ask a friend or trusted colleague to proof your resume. And we always advise reading your resume aloud–sometimes errors are easier to hear than they are to s ee.They have overly stylized or formatted resumes.Sometimes new grads will attempt to distract from their lack of experience by installing some formatting pizzazz. While we understand the logic, an overly-stylized resume can be difficult to follow. Recruiters need to be able to locate information quickly. If they have to decode information, they’re going to skip it entirely. We always advise to keep your format simple and easy to read. White space is your friend.They include an objective.There’s no real upside to including an objective, but there are plenty of potential downsides. An objective typically focuses on your goals and what you want out of a position. But employers want to know what you can do for them. Additionally, your resume might get tossed if your objective doesn’t align exactly with what the position calls for.Just nix this section from your resume altogether, as it usually does more harm than good. To paraphrase JFK: when it comes to resumes, i t’s not about what the employer can do for you, it’s about what you can do for them.They don’t use all their college work experience.Whether you collected internships, worked your way through college, or volunteered in the ombudsman’s office, almost any college activity can be utilized on your resume. You’re likely applying for entry-level positions.  Hiring managers understand that most new grads are not going to bring extensive full-time work experience to the table. Use the experience you have and try as best you can to translate what you’ve been doing into what you want to do.If you’re going for an entry-level accounting role, you can position your experience at a retail store by highlighting that you were accountable for processing payments, ensuring payments and cash on hand matched total sales for the day, and  depositing payments into the company’s bank account.Don’t leave something off your resume because yo u think it doesn’t apply to what you’re trying to do. Even if you can’t relate your experience to the role to which you’re applying, for new grads, almost any experience will be looked at favorably.They don’t include a cover letter with their resume.We know that cover letters aren’t always required with a resume, but we recommend that recent graduates submit one whenever possible. It can sometimes be tricky to write an attention-grabbing cover letter, but remember to always focus on the employer’s needs and specifically address how you’d be a great fit for the role. You can always hire a professional cover letter writer to help.They leave off their most important information.We chalk it up to nerves and being so focused on getting all your career information on the page that you forget about including information about how an interested recruiter or hiring manager can contact you.   That’s right–believe it or no t, many candidates (not just new grads) forget to include their contact info. Always include the following at the top of your resume: name, city, state, zip, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile link.Writing a great resume can seem daunting when you haven’t done it before, but follow the above tips and you’ll be ahead of most entry-level candidates. We welcome you to visit ResumeSpice for more help.Savannah Ober is a resume writer and career consultant at ResumeSpice. In addition to being a resume expert, Savannah is also an experienced corporate communications professional, working with one of the world’s largest global companies. Savannah has written recruiting advertisements for trade publications, created marketing collateral, written press releases and blogs, and developed social media content. Savannah holds a BA in English, creative writing.

Clyde Barrows Letter to Henry Ford

Clyde Barrow's Letter to Henry Ford Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker are infamous for their two-year crime spree from 1932 until their deaths in a hail of bullets in 1934. More amazing than his novice murders and robberies was Clydes uncanny ability to evade the police even when he was surrounded. Part of Clydes ability to evade capture was in his skill as a driver, while the other part was most definitely in the choices of cars that he stole. Quite often, Clyde would be in a car that could out maneuver and out run any of the police cars that attempted to follow him. Additionally, living a life on the run meant that Clyde and Bonnie spent days and even weeks at a time in their car while traveling long distances and sleeping in their car at night. Clyde Barrow and the Ford V-8 The car that Clyde preferred, one that offered both speed and comfort, was the Ford V-8. Clyde was so thankful for these cars that he wrote Henry Ford a letter on April 10, 1934. The letter read: Tulsa, Okla10th AprilMr. Henry FordDetroit Mich.Dear Sir: While I still have got breath in my lungs I will tell you what a dandy car you make. I have drove Fords exclusively when I could get away with one. For sustained speed and freedom from trouble the Ford has got ever other car skinned and even if my business hasent been strickly legal it dont hurt anything to tell you what a fine car you got in the V8 Yours trulyClyde Champion Barrow Over the years, many have questioned the authenticity of Clydes letter to Henry Ford, based on a discrepancy over handwriting. The letter is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Innovation, knowledge and learning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Innovation, knowledge and learning - Assignment Example Knowledge management is undertaken with great zeal and initiative in today’s organizations and accounts for a key success factor for them too. It primarily addresses the ways in which organizations might manage the knowledge existing within its systems and its employees. It also provides the basis on which information technology may be used for leveraging the existing knowledge and creating or generating new knowledge too. A more effective solution is reached at when this knowledge is transferred or integrated into sets of policies for capturing and generating more knowledge. The firms are considered to be a network of relationships existing between individuals, groups and sub units who are further embedded into a broader network of relationships with competitors, customers, suppliers, and other organizations. However, the superficial aspects of contexts and problems would have to be eliminated for the transfer of knowledge to be successful. This is also true that in cases where knowledge is applied inappropriately or in such contexts where is does not fit rightly, it is likely to result in fall in performance. That is why the topic of knowledge transfer has attained great importance and the field of research. (Baum, 2002, p.198). The project seeks to make a critical evaluation of an article on knowledge management through making a comprehensive review of the case study of ‘InTouch’ within Schlumberger. It evaluates the ways in which knowledge is created, mobilized and diffused within the organization. The analysis of the paper in conducted w ith the use of adequate academic references. The project is conducted using qualitative research techniques in which the literature review provides critical analysis of the researches conducted before providing statements for or against the topic; and the data analysis is done using secondary research techniques. The data are integrated and compiled to arrive at the research findings and analysis. Critical Literature Globalization and the innovation are very closely related in the modern era. Globalization is one of the most important events of the civilization (Ervin, Smith, 2008, p. 7). The concept has brought immense changes in the thinking process of the human beings and development of new ideas and innovations in the world. Innovation is used in every field of the social behaviour of human beings and new things are generating every day for the enhancement of the lifestyle and business processes. Innovation in the field are also used in the industries and for the enhancement of the business functions knowledge management system is the latest technology used to build a knowledge base for the employees in the organization for the learning and innovation process. According to the author Robert Thierauf, in a knowledge management system the most important aspect for the firm is the storing of data which acts as the real knowledge of the firm. The collective knowledge of the different employees and the experiences from the different sources of the organization are organized at a single database for discovering at later stages (Thierauf, 1999, p. 72). But on the contrary by the author Stuart Barnes, knowledge reflects a phenomenon which is very difficult to quantify as it is the most difficult activity to segregate knowledge from other activities. Each and every aspects of the daily life can be a dynamic source of knowledge for everyone. Rather than its theoretical aspect it is more about practical implementation of the daily understanding of business processes (Barnes, 2002, p. 99). According to the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), organizations need to evaluate their activities and implement strategies for building an efficient

Dqweek7 r 9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dqweek7 r 9 - Essay Example John Elkington (1995) coined the phrase, "people, planet, profit". This was while he was at SustainAbility. This is an organization which was created in order to deliver guidelines which are socially responsible. This were supplied to large corporations who considered profits to be more important than any possible benefits for wider society. An enterprise which is described as having a triple bottom line is one which aims to benefit a variety of constituencies, without exploiting or endangering any one group. In 2004 Elkington described wha the named as the "upstreaming" of a percentage of any profit created by selling finished goods to those who originally produced the raw materials used.( This triple bottom line consists of several factors including concerns which are to do with the environment , society and the economy. The phrase "People, planet and profit" describes the ways in which an organization has an impact in these areas. All three should be considered if an organization is to succeed and to do good. The other side of this is sustainability. Lots of companies finds themselves forced sacrifice possible benefits to wider society simply in order to keep going at a profit. Ultimately profit motives are seen far as being more important than any possible social benefits, unless the organization finds that it can do this using the society’s resources (Aupperle, Carroll, and Hatfield, 1985). A quick scan of the media backs up this negative view of what is actually going on. Too many organizations seem devoid of any degree of social responsibility. Considering the readings to date, what are the future projections for the idea of the triple bottom line? If a cost versus benefit analysis were carried out on this subject what conclusions would be reached? What reasons are there for this? Brown, Dillard and Marshall, (2006) came up with a working paper about the Triple Bottom Line. Idea. They described it

Promised land Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Promised land - Movie Review Example The atmosphere of realism is created by the environmental issues addressed in the film. The town people are introduced to the idea of mining of natural gas, without being given the precise details by a salesperson. The role of the soft spoken but self-driven sales-person Steve Butler is played by Matt Damon. Steve is employed by the oil company in a bid to convince the country folk to sell the drilling rights they hold in their own lands (Vant). The town is rich in oil but highly polluted making it a hazardous place to live in. A retired town scientist tries to educate the town folk on the dangers arising from natural gas mining. In his argument the scientist compels individuals to research on the oil mining method called fracking. Fracking poses a serious problem for everyone in the town, since chemicals and harmful gases get releases during the mining process. In the movie signs of dead cows are shown in protest of natural gas mining (Lemire). The cows are a representation of loss of life due to poisoning from chemicals released by the mining plant. The film is highly centered on an activist theme, since the issue of fracking is felt in America especially in Pennsylvania (Lemire). All in all , the film tries to educate Americans on the dangers of natural gas mining on both plant and animal life. The film is a clear statement against environmental pollution and corporate greed

Implications of Day Care in Young Children Essay Example for Free

Implications of Day Care in Young Children Essay Within this assignment I will be discussing the implications of day care for young children and giving both the positive and the negative aspects of this. A study was done in the united states by Kagen (1978), the study was done on children whose mothers worked, in which case the children were put into day care centres compared to home –reared children. Kagen found little difference between the children placed in day care centres and those raised at home either in the amount of protest or seeking closeness to their mothers when upset. From the findings it appears that it doesn’t matter if a child is in day-care or raised at home or the amount of hours spent with its mothers, there is a special bond between mother and child. Bee (1974) Concluded that there are no negative effects when a child is cared for in a day care centre, provided these are run by trained professionals and only a small number of children. However, Bee (1997) also suggests â€Å"The crucial issue is the discrepancy between the level of stimulation that the child would receive at home and the quality of day care. When the day care setting for the child provides more enrichment than the child would normally receive at home, we see some beneficial cognitive effects. When day care is less stimulating than the child’s home care would have been, it has negative effects.† Psychologists disagree about the developmental effects of day care on young children. Some agree with Bowlby’s prediction that long to medium term separation from the mother could have far-reaching consequences. Others claim that, provided day care is high quality day care has no adverse effects on intellectual development and does not disrupt the child’s attachments. Some psychologists believe that it might even make a positive contribution to the child’s development. The type and quality of care can influence many aspects of development—including memory, language development, school readiness, math and reading achievement, the nature of relationships with parents and teachers, social skills, work habits, and behavioural adjustments Below I have tried to outline the positive and negative aspects of day care: Positives * When children attend nursery or playschool it’s clear that peer relationships take on increasing importance but peer relationship importance  is important before this . Early as 6 months old babies smile and are more vocal to other infants. * Intellectual stimulation * Helps develop some social skills- building relationship with peers and other trusted adults other than those within the family. * Psychologists have shown there is no affect on the mother-child attachment * Children receive Adequate and nutritious meals Negatives * Putting a child into day care can cause the child stress ( i.e upset from being away from its mother)as can any situation in which the mother isn’t with the child. * If a day care doesn’t have the correct form of attachment for adults and the children as mentioned above ( conclusion raised by Barbara Tizard) this will not have as greater benefits as a quality day care that has this attachment and familiarity etc. * Some research in the US argue that day care can cause the child to grow up to be aggressive and disruptive once they reach school age (research taken from -NICHD national child care study)

Windows versus Linux Essay examples -- Computer Technology Operating S

Windows vs. LINUX Both Windows and Linux come in many different forms. All the different forms of Windows come from Microsoft, the various distributions of Linux come from different companies (ex. Red Hat, SuSE, Linspire, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Knoppix, etc). Windows has two main lines: â€Å"Win9x†, which is consists of Windows 95, 98, 98SecondEdition and ME, and â€Å"NT class† which consists of Windows NT, 200 and XP. On a side note, Windows first had version 3.x which was made before Windows 95 by a couple of years. The various types of Linux are called distributions. All the Linux distributions released around the same time frame will use the same kernel, which are the guts of the OS. They will differ with the add-on software provided, install process, GUI, documentation, technical support, and price. Linux is a whole lot more customizable in a way that Windows cannot and is not. There are a lot of special purpose versions of Linux as well. If you were going for desktop use, Linux is free or very cheap, and Windows is expensive. For servers, again, Linux is very cheap compared to Windows. Microsoft only allows one computer per copy of Windows. On the other hand, once you purchase Linux you can run it on any number computers at no extra charge. As of January 2005, Windows XP Professional sold for about $200, and the â€Å"full† version of XP sold for around $300, and Windows Server 2003 with 10 client licenses was about $1,100. You can download Linux for free from each of the Linux vendors. In order to run Windows it has to be installed onto the hard disk first. Linux can run just from a CD. Normally Linux also runs off of the hard disk, but there a quite a few versions of Linux which run entirely from a CD without bei... ...d due to the security and cost concerns. There are virtually no viruses for Linux, while there are millions for Windows. In the end, Microsoft will fight the spread of Linux. When Thailand wanted to use Linux based computers available throughout the country, Microsoft then stepped in and made a deal with the Thai Information, Communication and Technology Ministry. You can buy Windows products along with Windows XP and Office XP already on the computer, ready to run and activated for the very low price of the equivalent to $37. When there is a company who is willing to go through these lengths to keep their competitors down in the gutter, there is no way that a non main-stream product can become successful when they are competing with a company such as Microsoft. In the end I think that you should choose which ever operating system fits your personal needs the best.

The Idea of the Hypersexual Black Male in the Invisible Man Essay

In the Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the narrator’s view of women is generally pessimistic. His negative view of women is also reflected by women, specifically of Caucasian ethnicity. Their societal depiction of black men considers them to be hypersexual objects and incapable of anything else. Emma, Brother Hubert’s wife, and Sybil, are three women in particular who possess negative character flaws that allow the narrator to deem them unworthy. Emma’s tremendous dominance give the impression of being unapproachable while Brother Hubert’s wife’s infidelity and ability to control confuses him and finally, Sybil’s decadence makes her appear sloppy. All of these flaws are used to reduce the narrator to a sexual tool at the expense of his intellect. The first woman seen is Emma, a Brotherhood employee, who is perceived to be very powerful and demeaning toward the narrator although physically attracted to him. She engages in limited dialog which, I believe is intended to paint her as diminutive; however she is described as â€Å"smartly dressed† with a â€Å"hard, handsome face† (300). Her...

Coping with Anxiety

Kathrina is a 20-something professional with dilemmas that disrupt her from being productive in her career. It also gives her inconsistent sleeping habits, which results from an uneasy feeling from the anxiety that she feels. Furthermore, she feels that her way of coping with such is not improving at all. Such predicaments hamper her career as a real estate agent, which she finds a big deterrent in producing sales. Kathrina’s biggest dilemma is that her parents expect a lot from her.She doesn’t want to leave home yet she already feels uneasy about her situation at home. With this in mind, she resorts to me, a behavioral psychiatrist. Kathrina opts to undergo a series of sessions that will give her the opportunity to deal with anxiety and stress. 1) As a behavioral therapist how would you proceed in therapy in the case of Kathrina? First, I would like the patient to describe her environment while she was growing up. This would help me ascertain what is it like to live in her environment during her childhood.It will allow me to determine how she generates feedbacks and how she behaves in this type of environment. As a behavioral therapist, I have to make her understand that her environment is responsible for her apparent behavior. The environment she thrives in conditions her to be behaving in such way. The environment includes all the people around her and the behavior of this people. She has to understand that her behavior does not deliberately stems from her. In behavioral psychology, it is suggested that behaviors are attained through the environment’s conditioning (Wagner, 2008).As the individual interacts with her environment more, the more she is conditioned to act accordingly to her environment’s standards. As the individual accommodates this conditioning into her system, the more she is influenced by her environment’s conditioning. As I proceed with the subject’s current situation, I learn that she really accommo dates and tolerates the behavioral standards of her situation. She does not have a hand in her apparent behavior at all. The stress from her work is not responsible as well.The environment which is her home is the primary stimulus that affects her behavior, and causes her numerous dilemmas. In a branch of behaviorism, classic conditioning is used to condition a subject to respond to a certain stimulus. Classic conditioning is a type of conditioning in behaviorism, which conditions a subject by instigating a stimulus in order to generate a favorable response (Van Wagner, 2008). In Kathrina’s case, her parents conditioned her in the most effective manner. This leads us to the speculation that Kathrina might not have received classical conditioning at all.Another type of conditioning, Operant conditioning can be suggested as the possible culprit for the apparent behavior of Kathrina. Operant conditioning takes place whenever the subject is conditioned through punishment and rewa rd reinforcements. In Kathrina’s case, she might have received more reward reinforcements than punishment reinforcements. Yet this brings to us the notion that she might have been conditioned by reward reinforcements even if her parents are wrong in giving her reward reinforcements.With this in mind, Kathrina’s case will remain unsolved, and I will suggest further therapy sessions for her to be able to cope up with stress and chronic anxiety. 2) How does behavioral therapy fit, or not fit, with your own personal style? The behavioral approach to therapy is not proper at all. It is very subjective and not objective at all. It is one-dimensional because it simply analyzes the environmental factors that contribute to the individual’s behavior. Both operant and classical conditioning are subjective in approach, and analyzes a subject’s behavior in a bias manner.In Kathrina’s case, her behavior is not really caused by her environment alone. She has also a hand in contributing to her mental tortures. With this in mind, she must shrug her dilemmas aside. Apt therapy can also aid her in this situation she faces. References Van Wagner,K. (2008). Behaviorism. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://psychology. about. com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism. htm Watson,J. Behaviorism Explained. General Psychology. Published Diestro Ltd. 2000.