Business Plan Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Plan - Outline Example †¢ Research market for online health guidance services in terms of industry size and competitors (Thomas, 2003). †¢ Development of online platform where the users can register and retrieve information. †¢ Building functioning network with partners such as gym trainers, health care consultants and physicians. †¢ Small scale operation and pilot study for assessing the response of customers. †¢ Basic report on online business market. †¢ Online platform and registration tracking system created. †¢ Pilot study in place and result evaluated. †¢ Revenue and costs/cash flow model finalised. †¢ Marketing activities finalized. †¢ Completion of entire business plan. †¢ Resources available to conduct the research †¢ Identification of Gaps is possible. †¢ Stakeholders identifies the value of an online health platform †¢ Team members works together to make effectual use of resources and develops realistic costs †¢ Marketi ng skills can be developed through proper research. †¢ No external constraints.

Principles of Providing Administrative Services Essay Example for Free

Principles of Providing Administrative Services Essay Understand how to make and receive calls When working in a business environment, anyone who deals with administration is most likely going to have to use office equipment, systems and procedures. These will range from telephones to photocopiers, computers to coffee making facilities for guests. Knowing how to operate these and understand what they are for is an essential skill in the business administration department. Presenting the right image therefore is important and understanding how to make and receive telephone calls appropriately is a part of this image as you will have to speak to colleagues, managers, customers and other people each day. Telephone systems have many different features other than the handset and dials/buttons which are used to handle calls professionally. Call holding features are those which are used to place a caller on hold whilst you complete another task. This could be to locate paperwork, look up the caller’s details and information before speaking to them or contact another colleague whom the caller wishes to speak to Call waiting features let you know when there is a caller on the line who wishes to speak to you when you are already using the telephone. These are usually lights which flash or tones which beep to let you know there is a caller waiting Re-directing calls are available on telephone systems where you may be required to forward a call to another colleague. Usually they are features on the telephone which state ‘redirect’ or ‘transfer’ Answer phone features record messages from callers when you or other colleagues are unavailable Teleconferencing features enable others (more than two people) to hold a ‘conference’ style conversation over the telephone. These are now often enhanced with video imaging equipment via a computer TEXT MESSAGE features enable you to send and receive text style messages (as on a mobile phone). ON HOLD 0 This allows you to put the caller on hold while you locate the person who the call is for or perhaps you need to ask a colleague for help/advice without the calling hearing what you are saying. CALL FORWARDING This function allows you redirect a call to another telephone. This can also be used if you will be away from your desk and wish to divert your extension to a colleague. CALL BACK When you are calling a number that is engaged this function will let you know when the line is free, this will save you time by attempting to call back manually. INTERRUPT When your phone is in use it will ‘bleep’ as a signal that another caller is trying to get through. LAST NUMBER REDIAL This function is normally one button that you press to redial the last used number. DO NOT DISTURB This allows you to stop calls coming through to your phone while you are unavailable, for example when a meeting is taking place. HUNT GROUP This is when an office has a group of telephones all linked to one telephone number; so that calls can be passed around the team until someone answers it. Your organisation will have procedures that need to be followed when using the telephone. Some larger organisations will have written guidelines that they expect to be followed, whereas smaller companies may ask you to observe a more experienced member of staff to learn how to receiving/making calls. It is important to remember that when using the telephone you are representing your workplace; your caller cannot see you so the way you communicate will give the caller an immediate impression, hopefully a good one. Rules to follow when answering calls: * Answer promptly and identify yourself to the caller following your organisations guidelines, â€Å"Good morning/good afternoon, name of company, your name if applies, how may I help you?† * Even if you are busy when you have answered the phone does not let the caller know this, as this will give a bad impression of you and the company. * Do not ignore your colleagues’ phone if it is ringing, answer it and offer to take a message. * Speak with a smile in your voice; this actually helps people to sound more helpful and pleasant. * It is good practice to have a pen and paper ready to take messages. * Do not answer the phone while you are drinking or eating, even if the call is internal. * Answer the caller’s questions with accurate and up to date information, if you cannot answer their questions find someone who can or offer to call them back. * Remember how important confidentiality is when providing information to callers, never give out customer or staff personal details, for example information such as home address, date or birth etc. * If the caller wants to speak to a specific person/department, take these details and transfer the call, remember to introduce the caller to the next person. * Rules to follow when making calls: * Prepare first, you need to know why you are calling in the first place so that you can explain to the person who will answer the phone. * If information is lengthy write yourself a bullet point list of the main notes. * Keep your notepad nearby in case you need to take notes. * Always tell the person who answers the phone who you are and why you are calling. * Make sure you can hear and understand the information you are being told, do not be embarrassed to ask someone to repeat themselves if it is not clear. * If the person answering your call has been helpful, thank them for their time. Taking Messages * When answering a call if the person the caller wishes to speak to is not available, offer to take a message. Rules to follow when taking messages: * Make sure you include all the key facts; this includes the caller’s name, company name, telephone number, any other relevant information the caller wishes you to pass on. * Check all the details with the caller before ending the call. * Write the message clearly to make sure the other person will understand what you are communicating. * Write the time, date of the call on your written message and your own name so the other person can speak to you if they have any questions. Understand how to handle mail Some large organisations have a post room that deals with all incoming and outgoing mail, some have responsible person/persons, and in small organisations everyone is responsible for the post. It is important to follow the correct procedures for receiving, checking and sorting incoming and outgoing mail or packages. If a mistake is made then someone may be waiting on the arrival of an important document and it may go to the wrong person, or even go missing completely. Within most office environments there will be a system and set of procedures for handling incoming and outgoing mail. Staff responsible for receiving and posting mail will have to ensure that: incoming mail has been checked that it has been addressed to the correct organisation and sorted by department or person incoming mail is correctly received and given to the correct recipient outgoing mail is sorted and is correctly labelled with the right postage charge out-going mail is appropriate and relevant to the business (not personal mail). Mail will be in the forms of parcels, letters, recorded deliveries, packages and other mail (including promotional materials/junk mail etc.). Within an organisation there will be different internal and external mail systems. Internal mail systems will involve: Inter-departmental collection points such as pigeon holes or boxes where staff can collect mail relevant to those working within their department. There may also be outgoing postal trays for mail which comes from a department which then needs to be sent from a central office or location site transfer systems – collection and redistribution systems when mail is received into one location but needs to be taken to another (for example, this system would be used when offices are spread out over an industrial park or office block) internal envelopes used for mail which is not being externally posted but sent to staff within an organisation. External mail systems will involve: External mail post boxes (centrally located or collected by administrative staff from departments before being posted externally) recorded delivery postage special delivery postage courier services. Understand how to use different types of office equipment When working within an office environment you will use various types of equipment in order to carry out your role. It is important you know how to use this equipment in order to remain safe and keep risk to a minimum. You may be provided with training at your workplace or you may be asked to refer to the manufacturer’s guide for the equipment you use. Either way it is your responsibility to use all equipment in the correct way and to report any faulty equipment to the relevant person immediately. Manufactures’ guidelines are there for a reason. If you follow the basic guidance then you will not do anything that may harm you or others and the equipment will last longer. The main equipment you will come across in an office is as follows: FAX MACHINES Need to be placed in an area where everyone has access to it and you are able to clearly see when a fax has arrived. Faults could include paper jams, being offline, engaged tone, out of paper, wiring faults, some of these may require expert help so should be reported. PHOTOCOPIERS Should be placed in an open area so there is sufficient air around them, sometimes in a separate room. Faults include paper jams, out of toner etc. Only trained staff should remove paper jams and replace toner. SHREDDERS Used to destroy confidential documents, paper can be recycled, must be over 18 years old to use. Faults include: overloading can cause paper jams, this should be resolved by trained person to avoid harm. GUILLOTINES Used to cut paper, must be over 18 years old to use. BINDING MACHINES Used to bind documents together, do not overload as these can cause the machine to break and ruin documents resulting in wasted resources. FILING CABINETS Used to store documents, drawers must be closed after use to avoid tripping hazards, also must not be overloaded. Never attempt to move a cabinet. COMPUTERS VDU must be at correct height for eye level, also adjust your chair to accommodate posture requirements. Any computer faults should be reported to a Computer Technician. PRINTERS/ SCANNERS It is good practice to proofread all documents before printing to keep waste to a minimum. To be kept where all users can access. Any faults should be reported to a trained Technician. AUDIO MACHINES Used to listen and play back tapes that need to be typed up into the relevant format e.g. letter, memo, report. Each user normally has their own set of earphones for hygiene reasons. Once you have completed a document you can erase the tape and use it again. When using equipment in the workplace it is important to keep it clean and well maintained, especially if you are sharing equipment or desks. You can do this by working in an organised tidy manner, storing equipment safely and cleaning it with the appropriate products. For example using screen wipes for your computer monitor (VDU). You can minimise the number of germs on your keyboard by not eating or drinking at your desk. If you are sharing workspace with others it is good practice to leave the area in a clean and organised manner for the next person in order to give a good impression of the type of person you are. In some organisations you may be required to have a clear desk policy, which means you must leave your desk clear and tidy at the end of the day or when you are away from your desk. Understand how to keep waste to a minimum in a business environment Waste has a huge impact on our carbon footprint and to the cost of running a business. There are many causes of waste in a business environment and many things you can do to prevent it: Paper Proof read before printing, ask yourself do you need to print, email instead of printing, double side when printing or photocopying and use any scrap paper to make note pads. Envelopes, plastic wallets folders – Re use them if you can. Electricity – Turn off computers, monitors and other electrical equipment, do not leave equipment charging over night or for longer periods than necessary and turn lights and heating off when not needed. Many businesses have recycling policies and have put into place measures to make it easy to recycle. You may have an external company that takes away the shredding, toner cartridges or even batteries. There are sometimes allocated bins for paper, cardboard, tins, plastic and glass. Know how to make arrangements for meetings As an administrator you may be called upon to organise and support business meetings. Meetings form a major part of communications within the modern business world. The clear advantage of calling a meeting is that they enable face-to face contact with a number of people at one time, whereas if the communication were done by written communication, it would be difficult to gain a full overview of decisions, involvement etc. It is an opportunity for gaining a wide cross section of opinion where two-way dialogue is encouraged via the asking/answering of questions. What is important for an effective meeting to take place is that the right people are invited and that they are sufficiently briefed in advance so that they can make a worthwhile contribution.   The disadvantage of a meeting is that they can become too numerous, resulting in a great deal of frustration and boredom, owing to a lot of lengthy and often irrelevant discussion, and achieving little or nothing. Also it can be difficult to arrange dates and times convenient for all those who ought to attend, especially when sufficient notice is not given and the people attending have prior commitments. Most people do not like attending meetings – especially if they are not sure what the purpose of the meeting is, or if it goes on too long and achieves too little. Meetings must not be too frequent or held just for the sake of it. There must be a need for a meeting. There should be decisions about the different types of meetings needed. For example, some meetings could be to discuss policy and others to discuss organisation (practical work). Wherever possible the members must know what type of meeting they are going to and what the meeting is for – in other words, the PURPOSE of the meeting. Sometimes an organisation might call a special or extraordinary meeting. There are different types of meetings and planning and it should take account of this. Different types of meetings Most organisations will hold the following types of meetings: The general members meeting This is the most common meeting, which usually happens once a month or once every two weeks. The general members meeting should be the place where members are informed of developments, involved in decisions and given education and information that will help them to become more active in the organisation. General meetings are usually the places where decisions are made and where the executive reports on work they and other sub-committees have done. Special meetings These can be called to discuss specific issues, for example preparing for a national conference or work on planning activities for the year. Any members who are interested should be invited to attend special meetings. They should not be run like general members meetings (with minutes, reports etc) but should only focus on the issues they’ve been called to discuss. Executive meetings The executive should meet more regularly than the general members, and executive meetings should have a more business-like focus. The executive has to plan implementation for the organisation, monitor the work that has been done, deal with problems, and often (if you’re part of a larger organisation) relate to other levels of the organisation. They should discuss correspondence in detail and address problems as they come up. The executive should also keep an eye on the finances of the organisation and monitor income and expenditure. Every executive meeting should have an item on the agenda that plans for the next general members meeting. They should provide both leadership and administration to the organisation. Annual General Meeting Most organisations have an Annual General Meeting laid down in their constitution. The AGM is the place where the executive accounts to all members about the activities of the year as well as the finances of the organisation. The AGM is also the place where new leaders are elected and are given a mandate to run the organisation for another year. Most AGM’s need at least the following two detailed reports to the members: The secretary’s report that lists plans of the organisation, the actual activities that took place that year, the achievements of the year, and the problems experienced. The treasurer’s report: a detailed financial report that lists all income from subscriptions, grants, donations, fundraising; and all expenditure. This report should also clearly state what the balance is and where that balance is held. It is important to have a written financial report at your AGM but very often members find financial reports difficult to understand and you should try and make it simpler by putting the main headings on news-prints and explaining it to people in less financial language. Planning a meeting Planning should improve participation by ensuring that discussion is on a single topic and that the members are well prepared for the meeting. This is the responsibility of the Chairperson, Secretary and Executive, depending on the type of organisation. Planning does not mean controlling and directing the meeting in such a way that it restricts participation Planning should include the following: Notification- It is the executive’s responsibility to ensure that everyone has been notified of the date, time and venue of the meeting, as well as the main issues to be discussed. For many organisations it is a useful practice to always have their meetings on the same day at the same time in the same place – for example on the first Saturday of every month at the local church hall. If you do not money to always inform your members of meetings then over time this will help you to cut costs, and to make sure that everyone knows where they can find the meeting. Preparing the agenda The agenda is a list of the most important issues for the members to discuss, it is drawn from the Matters Arising from the previous meeting and from the discussions of the Executive or Secretariat. The agenda is the responsibility of the Chairperson and the Secretary. The chairperson should read the minutes of the previous meeting to familiarise him/herself with the issues. This will form the basis of a list of matter arising from these minutes. Matters arising include: Tasks a report back must be given Matters for which further information was required for discussion Matters that were deferred to this meeting There are standard items for any agenda. These items should be arranged in order of priority and time should be allocated for each discussion. Where possible, try to familiarise yourself with each area of discussion. An agenda should include a last item known as General or Any Other Business to allow individuals to raise short items not included on the agenda. Understand procedures for organising travel and accommodation arrangements. If you are involved in arranging events for your company then this may involve many different aspects of planning. Before doing any of the planning you will need to establish what your budget is, it would not be sensible to book guests into a five star hotel at  £100 per night when only  £40 has been budgeted for, or booking first class flights when you should have booked economy. Consideration needs to be taken whether the event is local, national or international, as this will have an effect on the type of transport used to get to the venue. Will you need to book flights, car hire, taxis, trains or perhaps a coach? If people are travelling by car then is there parking close by, does the accommodation have parking? There are different types of overnight accommodation available from bed and breakfasts to hotels. How many nights will people need to stay? Will an evening meal be required? You must check that there are no disabilities that need special preparation for. Someone may need access to a wheelchair, lift, ramp or hearing loop. An interpreter may be needed if English is a second language. You must know you own limits of authority, when to seek guidance and the budget you have to work within. Resources may be needed, for example: †¢ Stationery – Pens, paper   Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Equipment – Flip charts, laptops (possible Internet access), overhead projectors, chairs †¢ Refreshments – Tea, coffee, water, main meals – taking into consideration any dietary needs that people may have If arranging this type of event it is usual practice for your company then you may already have regular suppliers, if not then you may need to shop around to find a suitable supplier within your given budget. There are many different sources of information available to help you to make your arrangements. You can look on the Internet, use regular suppliers, use internal information from colleagues, or paper based information from previous events, or you could use an agent but be aware that an agent will charge a fee for doing a job that you can do. When you have finalised all the details your end the next thing to do is to give this information to all persons attending the event. Information such as: Time and date of event, travel and accommodation details, map of area, places to park and prices, who to contact for further details or if they have any special needs, agenda and list of anything that needs to be brought Understand diary management procedures. Diaries are an essential planning aid that all organisations will use at some point; some use them more than others depending on the nature of the business. It is important to use a diary to help teams and individuals to plan tasks/activities, some of which will involve very strict deadlines. You can log information such as date, timings and locations of the people who are involved. Diaries can also help staff to know the whereabouts of their colleagues and when they are available to speak to. For example if you answer a call for a colleague but are not sure where they are, you could refer to the staff diary to locate this information (as long as this is accurate and up to date). There are various types of manual diaries that are available; these vary from a large, page-a day type to a smaller version with up to a week on view on each two pages. You need the size that will enable you to write clear information on the tasks you need to do and/or the appointments under each date. Manual diaries are often used for personal appointments and are individual to each person. Other people that may use these are secretaries or PAs. Nowadays electronic or computerised diaries are used much more in companies, especially those that book a large amount of appointments, e.g. hospitals, dentists, garages, electrical and gas companies etc. One of the most frequently used electronic diary programs in business is Microsoft Outlook, because it is compatible with other Microsoft Office software, such as Word. Outlook can be used to maintain your diary, organise and manage lists of tasks you have to do, and keep an address book of your contacts. You can use it as an e-mail software program and also use it to check the schedules of other people in your team; this is useful to book team meetings. Some companies also purchase PDAs for their staff, these offer many usable features including functions such as a â€Å"to do† list, address book, a calculator, a reminder option and a memo pad. They are compatible with the PC so that information can be downloaded easily. Understand the purpose of delivering effective customer service and how to do so. Customers expect good customer service. They expect the service provider to have: * A thorough knowledge of what the organisation has to offer in regards to services and products. * The ability to project a positive image to all customers and meet their needs within the organisations’ limitations. * Good communications skills regardless of form or mode. * Staff that can help customers with any questions or queries they may have promptly. * An excellent understanding of the organisation’s procedures that specify how customers can be dealt with. * The product/service that is being advertised readily available and to be sold at the stated price. It is important to be efficient as you may be first point of contact for the whole organisation and this can create a lasting impression. You do not want to seem unprofessional, as this will not give customers any confidence in their dealings with your organisation. It is essential that you gain your customers’ trust. It is also important to meet or exceed your customers’ expectations to lead to repeat and new business.   We all hear, but how many of us actually listen? Actively listening to your customers will enable you to identify exactly what it is they want and give you the opportunity to recognise if there are any additional products or services that may be of interest to them. There are many different types of customers and it is important to identify them so that you evaluate the type of requirement they may have and what you have to do to meet them.   You may have to deal with a regular customer who you are familiar with, don’t forget to treat everyone with the same respect, just because you know this person it does not mean you can stop portraying a professional image. You may also have to deal with service suppliers or maintenance persons who need directing to different parts of the building, or need you to stay with them whilst they are in parts of the building where they should not have access unless accompanied. You may have to deal with internal or external customers, just remember whoever they are to be polite, as you are portraying the professional image of your company. Understand the purpose of reception services and how to follow reception producer. Many administrators undertake receptionist duties. Some companies may have a specialist reception desk and some smaller firms are likely to expect a receptionist to undertake a variety of administration or telephone duties at the same time. There are many skills required to work on a reception: †¢ A thorough knowledge of your organisation, its structure and the names and job roles of people who work there †¢ The ability to project a positive image to all visitors and help them with their needs and problems †¢ An excellent understanding of your company’s procedures that specify how visitors must be dealt with All visitors should be greeted with a smile and a welcome, no matter whether they are expected or not, or important or not. Don’t assume that the best-dressed visitors are the most important many receptionists have made this mistake and, in some cases, annoyed very key people. Treat everyone with the same courtesy, and make them feel that you have time for them. It is important to be efficient as in some cases the receptionist is the first point of contact with the whole organisation and this can create a lasting impression. You do not want to seem unprofessional, as this will not give visitors any confidence in their dealings with your organisation. The receptionist has many roles to perform. As they are seen as the first point of contact then they are often required to give directions or escort visitors to different parts of the building, they are often asked for general information or to solve problems. Communication is a major role and the receptionist should know how to use their communication skills to get the most out of the way they communicate with visitors. An appropriate tone and level of voice are required. Some organisations have a signing in procedure for visitors, in which case it is the role of the receptionist to ensure that this is done and that any identification badges are given out. In large organisations when a visitor goes into the building they are issued with basic health and safety details, for example, what to do in the event of a fire. Security procedures must be complied with; therefore it is essential that the receptionist is familiar with what these are. If these procedures are not complied with then there will be a breach of the security regulations. If you see someone who you think should not be in particular part of the building then err on the side of caution and report them to your line manager. Security in an organisation may: †¢ Allow for unrestricted visitor access †¢ Restrict visitor access to certain areas †¢ Allow restricted access to certain areas only if accompanied, and then only after visitors have complied with certain screening procedures Dealing with hostile visitors can be difficult, stay calm, listen, look sympathetic, apologise if necessary, and if any of this does not work then make sure you know what to do. You may have a security guard you can call or an alarm you can press for assistance.

Brazilian Sweet Fifteenth Birthday Party Essay -- Personal Narrative D

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quinceanera, which is Spanish for Sweet 15, is a very popular celebration in the Spanish community. This is a very special day to both the mother and the daughter. This day signifies the transformation from a little girl to a young lady. It is a way of introducing a new woman to society. Turning 15 is the most important birthday for Spanish communities. Quinceaneras tend to be a big and elegant celebration in which every family member and friends collaborate to give the birthday girl the best party she has ever had. To my understanding every Sweet 15 was celebrated the same in every Spanish country. But after attending my friend’s Brazilian Sweet 15 my opinion has changed for the better.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My friend Stephane Rene and I were invited to a Sweet 15 a couple weeks ago. The birthday girl was related to one of our friend, Kim. At first, I did not even think of using this event to write my paper because I thought that I knew what a Sweet 15 was all about. I was primarily going to focus on the Brazilian culture because even though my friend is Brazilian I had never had the opportunity to share an event with Brazilians being the dominant group. But soon after the ceremony got started I found myself surprised and amused of what was in front of me. First, there is ceremony before the reception which is held at a church. The family is catholic therefore the ceremony was held at the catholic church of the town. After everybody was sitting down, Jennily walked down the aisle toward the front of the church. Here, the priest was waiting to give her the appropriated blessings. She was wearing a long gorgeous pink silky dress which represented her new status as a you ng woman. Jennily was also wearing soft pink slippers which she would change later into a more elaborate one. I was familiar with the ceremony at the church before the party because it is a way of blessing her and to appreciate her day of celebration which simultaneously represents her rebirth as a woman. But I did not hesitate to ask one of the family members, what did it signify to them to be blessed by the priest the day of her birthday? To my surprise, thru their blessings they also pray for her future and her new start. Once the priest was done, her aunt and uncle stood up and recall her first fifteen years of life in a very sentimental and biographical speech. Throughout the speech they kept referr... ...ized by they own people than an outsider because it would make no difference for me to see someone of their group acting a particular way. In actuality, it would be hard for me to notice that there is something a little odd.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Regardless of the difference of culture, language and customs, I learned so much about the Brazilian culture in the United States. For example, they have huge families like Dominicans and they stay together as a community one hundred percent. In addition, I myself might incorporate some of their traditions onto mine, maybe not for myself but for my cousins and even for my future daughter. I like they way in which everything was very detailed and organized. Also, I liked how everything had a meaning and a reason for being there. This party has motivated me to go out there and explore all the different cultures that exist in the society that I live in. This event has also taught me a lesson about life, in order for us to find ourselves we need to identify with our ancestors and continue our traditions. There is nothing more pretty than being able to bring our beliefs and customs with us. This is what identifies who we are, and who are children would be.

Multicultural competency Essay

Multicultural competency is indeed an essential tool required in dealing with clients who have different races, perceptions and cultures. Having this skill will be of a great advantage in the progress of counselling sessions. Moreover, according to Pedersen, multiculturalism is â€Å"a wide range of multiple groups without grading, comparing, or ranking them as better or worse than one another and without denying the very distinct and complementary or even contradictory perspectives that each group brings with it† (1991, p. 4). To effectively handle multiculturalism situations in counselling, counselors must develop different levels of awareness which are the following: â€Å"self-awareness, awareness of one’s own culture, awareness of racism, sexism and poverty, awareness of individual differences, awareness of other cultures and awareness of diversity. † More so, to be successful in obtaining multicultural competency, counselors must also be aware of different theories and specific counselling practices. But the most important point to remember is that counselors must first build on a â€Å"sense of worth† for their respective cultural backgrounds before they can start understanding other cultures (Locke, 1986, pp. 119-137). Response to Post No. 2 Jennifer Weeks Among the three weaknesses mentioned by the counselor, I think that the problem on terminating an interview with a client is the counselor’s main problem. In any session, I think time is of the essence. Clients pay the counselors per hour so they should get their money’s worth for very second that they spend with their counselors. In line with this, counselors should develop a systematic way of establishing client-counselor relationship and at the same time effectively and quickly resolving the issues of the clients in order to maximize the time allotted for the sesssion. Also, counselors should learn how to end the interview without being rude or impolite. This can be done by setting up a timeline for the session and preparing fillers which will be used to divert the flow of the conversation if it gets beyond the timeline or the focus for that specific session. References Locke, D. C. (1990). A not so provincial view of multicultural counseling. Counselor Education and Supervision, 30, 18-25. Pedersen, P. B. (1991). Introduction to the special issue on multiculturalism as a fourth force in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 4.

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding Lacey Payson BCOM/275 March 18, 2013 Allen Sutton Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding In today’s society, many mothers face making the decision to breastfeed or to formula feed. After 36 – 42 weeks of carrying a child, some mothers want their body back. Other mothers want to save money and give their child a nutritious diet. Breast milk is known to be healthier, in conjunction with an amazing way to bond with her child. There are two mottos that have been heard. One saying is â€Å"breast is best† and the second is â€Å"formula or breast, mother knows best. Kathryn Blundell, deputy editor for Mother and Baby magazine states â€Å"I formula fed. So What? I wanted my body back. (And some wine)†¦I also wanted to give my boobs at least a chance to stay on my chest rather than dangling around my stomach† (Rock, 2010). Society would understand where she is coming from by wanting her body back but her body will never be the same after carrying a child and going through labor. Many mothers feel they have to fully give up drinking. It has been determined that a mother can have one 4 ounce glass of wine, except that she will need to wait a minimum of 2 hours after to nurse her baby.A mother can pump before she has a glass of wine and give the baby that milk. Breastfeeding has been known to help mothers lose weight. Kathryn Blundell also states, â€Å"†¦You’ll hear tales of agonizing three-hour feeding sessions and – the drama! – bloody nipples† (Rock, 2010). Breastfeeding can be rough because the sore nipples, late night feedings and needing to pump if she is a working mom. Jobs may let her take a break to go pump to help keep the production of milk going. Regardless of the choice between breastfeeding and formula feeding, there will be late night feedings. â€Å"They’re part of my sexuality, too – not just breast, but fun bags.And when you have that attitud e (and I admit I made no attempt to change it), seeing your teeny, tiny, innocent baby latching on where only a lover has been before feels, well a little creepy† (Rock, 2010). Breasts are for feeding babies. When pregnant woman’s body adjusts to bearing a child, it knows to produce milk. Some women will lactate as early as 23 weeks. Before the 1800s, women had no choice but to breast feed. Saying that the breasts are only for a sexual purpose is like saying a woman would rather have a cesarean delivery, so the baby will not touch her vagina. Breasts are only sexual because people make them out to be.An example of this is Victoria's secret models advertising lingerie. Women’s bodies are made to carry and nurture babies. Mother and baby deputy editor states â€Å"there are studies that show [breastfeeding] reduces the risk of breast cancer for you, and your stomach upsets and allergies for your baby. But even the convenience and supposed health benefits of breast milk couldn’t induce me to stick my nipple into a bawling baby’s mouth† (Rock, 2010). She is correct about breast milk being healthy for both mommy and baby however, a mother that feels the way she does may be interpreted as being selfish.Breast milk is the perfect food for an infant with many advantages over formula. Research has shown that it may help prevent SIDS, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Breast milk contains the ideal proportion of nutrients including the following; protein, carbohydrates, fat, and calcium. Breast milk is easily digested compared to formula, free and available when needed. Breast milk includes active infection-fighting white blood cells that helps protect against impurities during the first few months.It may contain fatty acids, which may assist with brain development. The best reason to breastfeed is the bond a woman will have with her child. In summary, breastfeeding can be hard because of late night feedings. However in the end it is better for the baby and less expensive. A mother does not have to surrender drinking completely. She should do what she feels, breastfeeding can be a hassle, but it is healthier. â€Å"Formula or breast, mother knows best. † Bibliography Rock, L. (2010, June 2010). Breastfeeding is ‘creepy', says parenting magazine. The Observer.

Free Essays on Picasso

Picasso was arguably the most influential artist of the twentieth century. He had some degree of influence in all styles of painting which were used during his time, and was known and respected by almost every art enthusiast on the face of the planet. Pablo Picasso, born Pablo Ruiz y Blasco, came into the world on the 25th of October 1881 in the southern Spanish town of Malaga. Pablo was an artist from early in his life – he was a child prodigy. He began his career as a classical painter. He painted things such as portraits and landscapes. But this style didn’t satisfy Picasso, he was a free man and wanted to express himself and ultimately leave a lasting mark on art as we know it. Picasso turned his attention to cubes. He invented Cubism – a radical art form which used harsh lines and corners to display a picture instead of the usual soft curves (see enclosed picture no. 1). Picasso won a lot of fame for his Cubist paintings, but was criticized for it also. He designed and painted the drop curtain and some giant cubist figures for a ballet in 1917. When the audience saw the huge distorted images on stage, they were angry, they thought the ballet was a joke at their expense. Cubism lived on despite this. Other artists mimicked Picasso’s Cubism, and it took hold. Picasso had only just begun his one-man art revolution. In the late 1920s, Picasso fixed himself upon an even more revolutionary art form – Surrealism. Surrealism emphasized the role of the unconscious mind in creative activity. Surrealists aimed at creating art from dream, visions, and irrational impulses. Their paintings shocked the world – particularly Picasso’s – it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. Picasso saw his newly found art form as a kind of â€Å"painted literature† or sign language. He took advantage of this fact and also the fact that he was extremely famous, to make a few political statements, statements that would go down in hist... Free Essays on Picasso Free Essays on Picasso Picasso was arguably the most influential artist of the twentieth century. He had some degree of influence in all styles of painting which were used during his time, and was known and respected by almost every art enthusiast on the face of the planet. Pablo Picasso, born Pablo Ruiz y Blasco, came into the world on the 25th of October 1881 in the southern Spanish town of Malaga. Pablo was an artist from early in his life – he was a child prodigy. He began his career as a classical painter. He painted things such as portraits and landscapes. But this style didn’t satisfy Picasso, he was a free man and wanted to express himself and ultimately leave a lasting mark on art as we know it. Picasso turned his attention to cubes. He invented Cubism – a radical art form which used harsh lines and corners to display a picture instead of the usual soft curves (see enclosed picture no. 1). Picasso won a lot of fame for his Cubist paintings, but was criticized for it also. He designed and painted the drop curtain and some giant cubist figures for a ballet in 1917. When the audience saw the huge distorted images on stage, they were angry, they thought the ballet was a joke at their expense. Cubism lived on despite this. Other artists mimicked Picasso’s Cubism, and it took hold. Picasso had only just begun his one-man art revolution. In the late 1920s, Picasso fixed himself upon an even more revolutionary art form – Surrealism. Surrealism emphasized the role of the unconscious mind in creative activity. Surrealists aimed at creating art from dream, visions, and irrational impulses. Their paintings shocked the world – particularly Picasso’s – it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. Picasso saw his newly found art form as a kind of â€Å"painted literature† or sign language. He took advantage of this fact and also the fact that he was extremely famous, to make a few political statements, statements that would go down in hist... Free Essays on Picasso Picasso Pablo Picasso was one of the most interesting artists of his times, and by far was one of the most influential people in art history. Picasso was a man of many different abilities and attributes, which he contributed to the art community in numerous ways. First, Picasso was an extraordinary man for his sheer ability and length of his career as an artist. Also, early in Picasso’s life he was deemed a prodigy with the potential to be one of the greatest ever (Richardson 28). Pablo was born October twenty-fifth, 1881, and lived to be ninety-one years of age. Pablo was born in the small town of Malaga, Spain, where he only spent a fraction of his life and much smaller amount of time painting. The fact that he was able to live such a long life is an accomplishment in it self. Life expectancy in today’s society is only seventy some years of age, and he was born in a day and age where men were not expected to live for nearly half of that. Picasso was able to contribute to the art community all the up until his death in 1973. Along with that, Picasso also lived through two world wars, an American depression, and the rise and fall of two nazi regimes, which consequently lead to one of his greatest works (Stien 30). Not only did he have to survive life in general; he had to survive the struggles and hardships of war and famine. Picasso’s ability to survive makes him a special person, without even seeing a piece of his art. In correlation with Picas so’s li! fe span, his origin is also just as extraordinary. When born in 1881, he did not take his father’s name as every normal person does. Instead of taking the name of Ruiz, his father, he chose to take his mother’s maiden name, Picasso (Martin) Pablo’s reasoning behind this was that his father’s name was too common, and for a boy of his ability he needed a more exotic name, like Picasso. He believed that to be a painter you could not have a common name, you m... Free Essays on Picasso Perhaps the most radical painting of the twentieth-century, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, hangs unobtrusively at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. This large canvas, measuring 96" x 92", was to revolutionize modern painting by charting a new way of depicting reality. In 1907 its painter, Pablo Picasso, broke all of the rules that the "artistically correct" learned at the art academies: he disposed of three-dimensional perspective, abandoned harmonious proportion, used distortion, and borrowed from the art of primitive cultures. In fact, the painting was such a revolutionary statement that when the painting was first viewed by some French critics, the painter Derain even suggested to Picasso that he would one day commit suicide for the shame that he had brought on the art establishment. Originally Les Demoiselles was going to be an allegory of venereal disease, entitled "The Wages of Sin." In the study for the painting, Picasso sketched a sailor carousing in a brothel amongst prostitutes and a young medical student holding a skull, a symbol for mortality. But the subsequent painting is quite different from the original sketch: only the women appear. And these women are not the traditional nudes that viewers had become so accustomed to in the 1880's when Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec had begun to capture them in the moment of the "parade," whereby prostitutes announced their wares and services to their clients. Nor are these women feminine and beautiful as Ingres’ Venus Anadyomene. Then who are these women in this brothel in Barcelona's Avignon Street and why do they appear the way they do? Perhaps the answers to this question lies in Picasso's fear of women in general. Their flesh is not depicted as being soft and inviting but sharp and knifelike. In fact, their flesh suggests castration and fear of women. As Robert Hughes implies, "No painter put his anxiety about impotence and castration more plainly than Picasso did in Les Demoi... Free Essays on Picasso Perhaps the most radical painting of the twentieth-century, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, hangs unobtrusively at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. This large canvas, measuring 96" x 92", was to revolutionize modern painting by charting a new way of depicting reality. In 1907 its painter, Pablo Picasso, broke all of the rules that the "artistically correct" learned at the art academies: he disposed of three-dimensional perspective, abandoned harmonious proportion, used distortion, and borrowed from the art of primitive cultures. In fact, the painting was such a revolutionary statement that when the painting was first viewed by some French critics, the painter Derain even suggested to Picasso that he would one day commit suicide for the shame that he had brought on the art establishment. Originally Les Demoiselles was going to be an allegory of venereal disease, entitled "The Wages of Sin." In the study for the painting, Picasso sketched a sailor carousing in a brothel amongst prostitutes and a young medical student holding a skull, a symbol for mortality. But the subsequent painting is quite different from the original sketch: only the women appear. And these women are not the traditional nudes that viewers had become so accustomed to in the 1880's when Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec had begun to capture them in the moment of the "parade," whereby prostitutes announced their wares and services to their clients. Nor are these women feminine and beautiful as Ingres’ Venus Anadyomene. Then who are these women in this brothel in Barcelona's Avignon Street and why do they appear the way they do? Perhaps the answers to this question lies in Picasso's fear of women in general. Their flesh is not depicted as being soft and inviting but sharp and knifelike. In fact, their flesh suggests castration and fear of women. As Robert Hughes implies, "No painter put his anxiety about impotence and castration more plainly than Picasso did in Les Demoi...

The Person I Admire the Most Essays

The Person I Admire the Most Essays The Person I Admire the Most Paper The Person I Admire the Most Paper The person that I admire the most Why my sister is my role model? She is not a world famous or a multimillionaire, but she is very important character in my life. I save my admiration for her because she is a special woman. I admire my sister because of her personality and for all she has done for me in my life. I grew up with my sister and she has always been my best friend. My sisters name is Ana. She is 25 years old and lives her in Miami. Ana is studying at FIU University and is working too. Looking at her, it is not difficult to see why she relates so successful. She has beautiful black hair and large round brown eyes. She also has charming smile that makes her face is radiant. She is quite tall and slim. She wears fashionable and elegant clothes that highlight her perfect figure. All the features of her appearance show how beautiful she is. She has many positive character traits. Firstly, my sister has a lot of friends, because she has a reputation as a friendly and sociable person. She is extrovert and communicative. Secondly, she is very helpful and loving. Therefore, you can always rely on her. If I am having a bad day she is always there to help make it better. That is why Ana has never failed me. At the same time, she is very determined and knows what she wants to achieve in her life. She is very ambitious and always reaches her goal. She is also a great leader, a natural born leader. Thanks to this ability she can work in a group and distribute the work among others. She enjoys when she is working with people. The above description of her personality only confirms that Ana is a wonderful person.

Understanding Ancient Maya Storage Systems

Understanding Ancient Maya Storage Systems A chultun (plural chultuns or  chultunes, chultunob in Mayan) is a bottle-shaped cavity, excavated by the ancient Maya into the soft limestone bedrock typical of the Maya area in the Yucatan peninsula. Archaeologists and historians report that chultuns were used for storage purposes, for rainwater or other things, and after abandonment for trash and sometimes even burials. Chultuns were early noted by westerners like Bishop  Diego de Landa, who in his â€Å"Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan† (On the Things of Yucatan) describes how the Yucatec Maya dug deep wells near their houses and used them to store rainwater. Later explorers  John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood  speculated during their trip in Yucatan about the purpose of such cavities and were told by local people that these were used to collect rainwater during the rainy season. The word chultun probably comes from the combination of two Yucatec Mayan words which mean rainwater and stone (chulub and tun). Another possibility, suggested by archaeologist Dennis E. Puleston, is that the term comes from the word for clean (tsul) and stone (tun). In modern Yucatecan Maya language, the term refers to a hole in the ground that is wet or holds water. Bottle-Shaped Chultuns Most of the chultuns in the northern Yucatn peninsula were large and bottle-shaped, a narrow neck and a wider, cylindrical body extending as much as 6 meters (20 feet) into the ground. These chultuns are usually located near residences, and their internal walls often have a thick layer of plaster to make them waterproof. A smaller plastered hole provided access to the interior subterranean chamber. Bottle-shaped chultuns were almost certainly used for water storage: in this part of the Yucatan, natural water sources called cenotes are absent. Ethnographic records (Matheny) illustrate that some modern bottle-shaped chultuns were built for just that purpose. Some ancient chultuns have huge capacities, ranging from 7 to 50 cubic meters (250-1765 cubic feet) of volume, capable of holding between 70,000-500,000 liters (16,000-110,000 gallons) of water. Shoe-Shaped Chultuns Shoe-shaped chultuns are found in the Maya lowlands of southern and eastern Yucatan, most dating to late Preclassic or Classic periods. Shoe-shaped chultuns have a cylindrical main shaft but also with a lateral chamber that extends out like the foot part of a boot. These are smaller than the bottle-shaped ones, only about 2 m (6 ft) deep, and they are typically unlined. They are dug into slightly elevated limestone bedrock and some have low stone walls built around the opening. Some of these have been found with tight-fitting lids. The construction seems to be intended not to keep water in but rather to keep water out; some of the lateral niches are large enough to hold large ceramic vessels. Purpose of the Shoe-Shaped Chultun The function of the shoe-shaped chultuns has been debated among archaeologists for some decades. Puleston suggested they were for food storage. Experiments on this use were carried out in the late 1970s, around the site of Tikal, where many shoe-shaped chultuns had been noted. Archaeologists dug chultuns using Maya technology and then used them to store crops such as maize, beans, and roots. Their experiment showed that although the subterranean chamber offered protection against plant parasites, local humidity levels made the crops such as maize decay very quickly, after only a few weeks. Experiments with seeds from the ramon or breadnut tree had better results: the seeds remained edible for several weeks without much damage. However, recent research has led scholars to believe that the breadnut tree did not play an important role in the Maya diet. It is possible that chultuns were used to store other types of food, ones that have a higher resistance to humidity, or only for a very short period of time. Dahlin and Litzinger proposed that chultuns could have been used for the preparation of fermented drinks such as maize-based chicha beer  since the chultuns internal microclimate seems particularly favorable for this kind of process. The fact that many chultuns have been found in the close proximity of public ceremonial areas in several sites of the Maya lowlands, could be an indication of their importance during communal gatherings when fermented beverages were most often served. The Importance of Chultuns Water was a scarce resource among the Maya in several regions, and chultuns were only part of their sophisticated water control systems. The Maya also built canals and dams, wells, and reservoirs, and terraces and raised fields to control and conserve water. The chultuns were very important resources to the Maya and may well have had a religious significance. Schlegel described the eroded remains of six figures carved into the plaster lining of a bottle-shaped chultun at the Maya site of Xkipeche. The largest one is a 57 cm (22 in) tall monkey; others include toads and frogs and a few have explicitly modeled genitalia. She postulates that the sculptures represent religious beliefs associated with water as a life-giving element. Source:AA.VV. 2011, Los Chultunes, in Arqueologia Maya Chase AF, Lucero LJ, Scarborough VL, Chase DZ, Cobos R, Dunning NP, Fedick SL, Fialko V, Gunn JD, Hegmon M et al. 2014. 2 Tropical Landscapes and the Ancient Maya: Diversity in Time and Space. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association 24(1):11-29. Dahlin BH, and Litzinger WJ. 1986. Old Bottle, New Wine: The Function of Chultuns in the Maya Lowlands. American Antiquity 51(4):721-736. Matheny RT. 1971. Modern Chultun Construction in Western Campeche, Mexico. American Antiquity 36(4):473-475. Puleston DE. 1971. An Experimental Approach to the Function of Classic Maya Chultuns. American Antiquity 36(3):322-335. Schlegel S. 1997. Figuras de estuco en un chultun en Xkipche. Mexicon 19(6):117-119. Weiss-Krejci E, and Sabbas T. 2002. The Potential Role of Small Depressions as Water Storage Features in the Central Maya Lowlands. Latin American Antiquity 13(3):343-357.

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

Business Decision Making - Research Paper Example they make their decision and do not wait for more options or alternatives. Thus they generally look for answers which are good enough and may not be the best. Although leadership and management functions vary widely from organization to organization, the function of decision making is common to all. Managers are always taking a decision , small or big and all these are important in the sense that they affect the individual, team or overall performance of an organization. All people have their own style of decision making and they also differ in the amount of information they use in decision making. Some reach conclusions from just a few facts while some take their own time by gathering and studying and analyzing large amounts of information. The Figure below shows the difference between the low and high information users. It shows that early in the process, the knowledge is going from zero to something greater and this information is most likely to be important. Thus Satisficers, make the decision at point B, when they have learned enough while Maximizers, keep evaluating information until they simply are learning nothing new about the pr oblem. Simon (1955, 1956, 1957) introduced an important distinction between maximizing and satisficing as choice-making strategies. In maximizing decision making - the idea is to find the best possible solution and requires an exhaustive search of all possibilities. To satisfice is to look for good enough possibility and stopping when this good enough solution is found. In decision-making, satisficing explains the tendency to select the first option that meets a given need or select the option that seems to address most needs rather than the "optimal" solution. Generally managers go for Satisficing decisions when the decisions are of small significance. Moreover, in daya to day functioning, many situations arise where they have take a decision quickly. In such acses also. A satificing decision making is made. A manager cannot wait for all alternatives or study each and every report to when he is facing time constraints. It is extremely cost - ineffective to take lots of information into co nsideration for day - to-day decisions. It is not that Satisficers have low expectations, rather they accept that there is more than one option that will satisfy them. And Once they are able to find an option that meets their initial criteria they are content to conclude their search. On the other hand, senior mangers who need to take into account the objectives and the goals of the company, need lots of information and analysis before they can take decisions. At senior levels, it is required and essential to act as a maximizer and try to review each and every alternative before arriving at a decision. This is because a decision at this level has far reaching consequences on the company's policies and direction. They are the ones taking the high stakes decision and thus keep on looking for the best of all the options, establishing new criteria as they go. Maximizers may do better objectively, but they do worse subjectively. They feel worse about their decisions and are less happy with the results than the satisficers. Therefore , in the long run, that is for maximizing profits and building strategies foe overall business performance, managers generally act cautious and

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia - Term Paper Example pag,). In humans, the gene coding for 21-hydroxylase is located at the major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 6p21.3. Partial deletions, as well as point missense and nonsense mutations, have been found to cause such chromosomal aberrations (Riepe, et al. 2563). Clinical Presentation Early diagnosis is more difficult in cases of CAH because no physical symptoms are present at birth. Thus, the presence of the condition is missed until the age of puberty is reached, when the expected physical changes are not met. As an individual with CAH ages, ambiguous genitalia, accelerated growth, and premature skeletal maturation are seen, due to excessive adrenal androgen production. In males, enlarged penises are noticed even during pre-puberty. On the other hand, such genital enlargement is seen in females as clitoromegaly. In addition, females with CAH present with oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, absence of secondary sexual characteristics, and/or fertility. Because of these features, femal es with undiagnosed CAH are nurtured as males. Among males, severe cases cause severe symptoms such as failure to thrive, recurrent vomiting, dehydration, hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and shock. However, 11-hydroxylase and 17-alpha-hydroxylase-deficient patients may be hypokalemic, and Electrolyte imbalance is caused by adrenal insufficiency, while hypoglycemia and hypotension results from cortisol deficiency (Haldeman-Englert n. pag.; Wilson n. pag.). Treatment In managing patients with CAH, a comprehensive approach on treatment is needed, since the condition does not only affect the physical, but the emotional and psychological aspects of the patient as well. It should, thus, involve medical therapy, surgical intervention and lifestyle modifications. Medical intervention Primarily, the role of medical intervention is to replace glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, as well as to decrease the serum levels of virilizing precursor hormones. However, certain medications are necessary to avoid fatal consequences resulting from the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (Wilson n. pag.). 1.) Corticoids Physiologically, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids released by adrenal glands in response to increased levels of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) are important in regulating normal glucose and electrolyte levels, respectively. In CAH therapy, glucocorticoids are given to suppress the perpetually elevated ACTH levels and adrenal androgen production, while mineralocorticoid therapy reduces angiotensin II levels that regulate blood pressure. All healthcare providers or caretakers of CAH patients should always have an injectable glucocorticoid at hand in case of rapid decline. These medications are safe, since they are normal products of the body, they do not have contraindications, and they only have minimal drug-drug interactions (Wilson n. pag.). Normally, increased levels of cortisol are apparent among individuals who experience stress or illness. Ho wever, as mentioned above, such response is absent among CAH patients due to lack of enzymes needed to produce cortisol. Thus, among CAH individuals, in cases of stress or illnesses, stress dosages of hydrocortisone (50-100 mg/m2 or 1-2

Colorado Plateau Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Colorado Plateau - Essay Example pictographs, anthropomorphs and Petroglyphs by artists of those times depicted the lifestyle and customs through their drawings of animals, pottery and of the people who lived in the Colorado region during that time. This type of art has evolved over the centuries as peoples lifestyles changed and today we have traditional art as well as Modern art that show us the differences not only in the works of art but also of people’s lifestyles and the changes that evolved over time. Serena Supplee, yet another artist of the Colorado Plateau gained her inspiration from here because she lived in the Colorado region for over 25 years. In her art works she depicts moonlight magic and the transformative forces of river currents. Her watercolor and oil paintings show the intimacy and solace she found in landscape painting. Lynn Jackson, resource advisor, in her literature report of the Colorado Plateau, explains about the changes in Salinity, soils, dust, disturbances, restoration and vegetation that has taken place over time in the Colorado Plateau region. Her literature review was based primarily on the previous information that had been gathered about the Mancos Shale in the Colorado Plateau region. The information gathered about the salinity, sedimentation, erosion, vegetation and disturbances and changes in the region was especially useful to the land managers and other specialists who were involved in the planning with regard to the Mancos landscapes. The current information that was gathered about the Colorado Plateau region showed how the plateau had changed and evolved with regard to the points discussed above and helped them to understand the natural dynamics that contributed towards bringing about this

Sustainability in global business-Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Essay

Sustainability in global business-Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Business - Essay Example The human interactions that are pre-industrial with the natural system and the social system usually cause changes to the short-term and local scale. The present socio-ecological interactions are generating a wide spread in the global changes with changes that are temporary and far into the future. The harmful consequences that we face because of human forcing on the ecological and social systems may never find the solution required through single issues like solving the global poverty or resource efficiency (Blowfield, 2012, p. 18). The current processes and the societal structures are structured in a manner that they contribute systematically to the current directions that are unsustainable and causing the people to face the difficulty to inspire global unity around safeguarding the probabilities of the future options. The development of sustainability signifies the increase of the people’s room for maneuver. This requires an approach that is systematic in solving of problems and the strategic planning by identifying control for restoration in both ecological and human (Stoner and Wankel, 2010, p. 32). Many organizations are adopting policies and practices that are sustainable and they integrate them with the strategies in their organizations for the purpose of organization development (Schmidheiny, 1992, p. 214). Research has indicated that that most of the changes in the organizations efforts plateau after the initial period Research has of passion and was not able to become an integrated and sustained approach to the planning strategies and development. It is determined that changes that are unstained can be related to the current disclosure on the developments that are sustainable and focuses on the establishment of the evolving technology and instrumental policies such as what to do (Blowfield, 2012, p. 58). A complementary research

Managerial account decision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managerial account decision making - Essay Example st 2008 financial crisis, the company began focusing on lean practices reducing time and cost in several of its processes and its outcome, subsequently, reflected in its annual reports right from 2009 through 2013. Starbucks is facing stiff competition from McDonalds Corp and Dunkin’ Brands Inc. The paper aims at exploring how Starbucks has been able to carve a niche through lean approach in the market place. As such, lean production is a new buzz word among companies vying for a place in a highly competitive arena. Toyota, a popular Japanese auto manufacturer, is known to have pioneered the lean approach in their operations successfully. Taking clue from it, Starbuckss management focused on lean approach aiming at not only on waste reduction but also on how to reduce time on several processes. (Yunos, 2013). Carter(2014) argues that lean thinking firm focuses on customer value enhancement through carefully choosing work processes. That means lean thinking takes a diversion from the traditional approach eliminating non-value added activities such as procedures, policies in their work flow. In a lean company, the most important parameter to consider is time. That means the lean organization focuses on time reduction methodologies. Work must flow continuously and uninterruptedly so that the cycle time of the entire value stream is reduced and throughput enhanced. Traditional firms focus only on crucial operations – all hidden or less important operations are neglected. However, in this process, less important operations interrupt the flow of work increasing customer lead time. Not only more time is consumed but cost also increases. Lean organizations create and share information among employees and assess performance by measuring the cycle times and lead times of all activities. Jargon, (2009) argues that Starbucks Corporation began its business as the anti-fast food outlet. Scott Heydon, the Vice President of the company, is a major force behind lean thinking

Sustainability in global business-Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Essay

Sustainability in global business-Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Business - Essay Example The human interactions that are pre-industrial with the natural system and the social system usually cause changes to the short-term and local scale. The present socio-ecological interactions are generating a wide spread in the global changes with changes that are temporary and far into the future. The harmful consequences that we face because of human forcing on the ecological and social systems may never find the solution required through single issues like solving the global poverty or resource efficiency (Blowfield, 2012, p. 18). The current processes and the societal structures are structured in a manner that they contribute systematically to the current directions that are unsustainable and causing the people to face the difficulty to inspire global unity around safeguarding the probabilities of the future options. The development of sustainability signifies the increase of the people’s room for maneuver. This requires an approach that is systematic in solving of problems and the strategic planning by identifying control for restoration in both ecological and human (Stoner and Wankel, 2010, p. 32). Many organizations are adopting policies and practices that are sustainable and they integrate them with the strategies in their organizations for the purpose of organization development (Schmidheiny, 1992, p. 214). Research has indicated that that most of the changes in the organizations efforts plateau after the initial period Research has of passion and was not able to become an integrated and sustained approach to the planning strategies and development. It is determined that changes that are unstained can be related to the current disclosure on the developments that are sustainable and focuses on the establishment of the evolving technology and instrumental policies such as what to do (Blowfield, 2012, p. 58). A complementary research

Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills - Assignment Example Here the student only focused on the Christian perspective on the vaccination of their daughters. He does not compare this perspective to other perspectives. On the third critical thinking skill, I would grade the student as weak (0). He did not gather any additional evidence apart from the article. It appears that the student did not do further research on the subject or use his knowledge from other sources. On the fourth critical thinking skill, I would grade the student as partially developed (1). He only states the conclusion. The student does not offer any suggestions on how to improve the society’s current situation. On the first critical thinking skill, I would grade the student’s article as excellent (3). The student identifies both the problem at hand and the secondary problems that relate to it. The students also provide relevant solutions to the problem. Additionally, the student is well organized in how he discusses the issues raised. On the second critical thinking skill, I would grade the student as substantially developed (2). The student clearly identifies and compares different perspectives on the issue. He compares perspectives of different organizations, his gynecologist and from his own childhood experience. On the third critical thinking skill, I would grade the student as substantially developed (2). He analyzes the evidence from the article and compares it with evidences from other sources. He is not limited by the evidence provide in the article alone. He focusses on his childhood experience as well as his gynecologist’s medical perspective. On the fourth critical thinking skill, I would grade the student as excellent (3). The student puts his findings in the context of his community’s cultural understanding of the subject. He also provides relevant solutions on how to reduce HPV infections. This is through educating them about its vaccination. All the four critical thinking skills will be very

Applications of 3g Technology in the Education Essay Example for Free

Applications of 3g Technology in the Education Essay Applications of 3G technology in the Education sector: Perspective Bangladesh ABSTRACT: Bangladesh recently touched a new milestone in Information and Communication Technology with the inauguration of commercial testing of Third Generation (3G) services through the state-run mobile service provider Teletalk. Teletalk will distribute 400,000 (4lacs) 3G-enabled SIMs’ for the capital Dhaka primarily. 3G is supposed to open new windows for mobile phone users. It’s a giant leap for Bangladesh. The advantages of 3G services include faster data connectivity which means one can download faster and web surfing will be a lot more fun. It will give uninterrupted video streaming on phones, enable video calls and big MMSs, hence facilitating optimum usage of data intensive applications which will create a mutual bridge between the education system of international ground and Bangladesh. This paper evaluates how 3G can be effectively used in education in Bangladesh. Understanding the impact of 3G, especially in education, could be seen as strategically crucial for Bangladesh moving forward as the country can enter a new epoch through wider use of 3G.Pedagogues will have central roles to play in taking education forward through the use of 3G and the way ICT is integrated in education. Two key areas will be addressed in this paper: 1. An analysis of 3G and its impact on teachers; and 2. An evaluation of the students’ abilities to think critically, especially when 3G is concerned. The hypothesis of this research work will find the maximum applications of 3G in the education sector of Bangladesh as the key tools for being the Digital Bangladesh. It will represent our modern education system which will be recognized international arena. To establish the hypothesis I facilitate qualitative and survey method. This paper is set in the context of Bangladeshi colleges and universities especially in Dhaka. The colleges and universities will be identified through Purposive sampling. The key focus and emphasis of this paper is on the changes of teaching and learning that will result from the applications of 3G. The findings may be used to enhance the applications of 3G in other sectors in Bangladesh. Keywords Applications, 3rd generation technology, education sector, e-learning Introduction: Third generation (3G) has dominated this modern world in just a decade. But in Bangladesh it is the inception of 3G. The state-run mobile service Teletalk is providing this facility. Teletalk is distributing 400,000 (4-lacs) 3G-enabled SIMs’ for the capital Dhaka primarily (www.bdnews24.com, 2012). 3G is supposed to open new windows for multimedia phone users. Using the 3G functions there are already so many devices taking advantages. People can perform all the functions in a 3G phone. However, the speed, efficiency and connectivity will be better than before. 3G technology offers us faster connectivity, music entertainment with the best quality and faster internet access. We can easily get other benefits like quick and easy video calling, clearer communication experiences and faster speeds when the two parties are using 3G technology. Generally the First Generation (1G) of wireless technologies is used for the needs of voice services. The Second Generation (2 G) started with digital content transportation but at low speeds. General Packet Radio Switching (G.P.R.S) and Enhanced Data Rates Evolution (E.D.G.E) made it possible to run any educational application at speeds of 128 Kbps (Kilo Bits Per Second) and 384 Kbps. It is the third generation (3 G) that made it possible to run the applications at incredible high bit rates at an affordable cost (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mobile_phones). According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the total number of cell phone users has reached 97.475 million at the end of November 2012. And the total number of internet subscribers has reached 29415.693 thousand at the end of July 2012 (http://www.btrc.gov.bd). Now-a-days students all over the world are â€Å"digital natives†. They are growing up in a decidedly digital world. Digital learning educates students using the same technology they use for communication and entertainment outside of school. Also the teachers are very much engage with technology. They provide their class materials through internet. Many studies (Attewell, 2005; Murat et al, 2008) have already shown that mobile technologies have considerable potential to enhance teaching and learning across all education sectors. Their impact on student behavior, enthusiasm, motivation and progress is well documented, especially in some conventional schools in the UK (Cook et al. 2007). The National Training and Simulation Association and the U.S. Department of Education studied that, technology based instruction can reduce the time and students take to reach a learning objective by 30 to 80 percent. According to a meta- analysis and review of online learning studies by the U.S. Department of Education, on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction. (Means et al., 2009) The new technology 3G can bring a profound impact on economic landscape of Bangladesh. It can create scopes for e-learning and telemedicine i n rural areas. Though the high speed 3G network students at rural schools and colleges can gather knowledge on different topics which in practice will sharpen their knowledge and will also increase interest on regular education. (Singha, 2012) In this paper I examine how 3G can be effectively used in education in Bangladesh. Also understanding the impact of 3G, especially in education, could be seen as strategically crucial for Bangladesh moving forward as the country can enter a new epoch through wider use of 3G. Teachers will have central roles to play in taking education forward through the use of 3G and the way ICT is integrated in education. Two key areas address in this paper: 1. An analysis of 3G and its impact on teachers; and 2. An evaluation of the students’ abilities to think critically, especially when 3G is concerned. The results will be presented within a comparative framework and an analysis of the applications of 3G among public and private colleges and universities teachers, students in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The hypothesis of this research work will find the maximum applications of 3G in the education sector of Bangladesh as the key tools for being the Digital Bangladesh. Literature Review: The growth of 3G technology adoption in worldwide is steady now. A wide range of 3G diffusion levels across the world. But in Bangladesh it is a new dimension. In this regard, I couldn’t find any research in this particular field in Bangladesh. But I found some 3G related researches in the outside world. The region of Asia trumped all others in 3G adoption with close to 52 percent of the world 3G market share as early as in 2006 (ITU, 2006). More recently, Asia-Pacific was home to an estimated 158 million 3G subscribers in 2008 and is expected to reach 564 million subscribers by 2013 (Suppiah, 2009). Historically, Korea, Italy, Japan, Portugal and Hong Kong were the top five 3G mobile economies in terms of 3G mobile penetration rate (ITU, 2006). According to the official ITU report, while the number one 3G nation, Korea, had a penetration rate as high as 25.95 percent, the number five country, Hong Kong, reached only about one third of Korea’s rate (8.19 percent). It is evident that there are significant regional differences in the number of 3G subscribers. While close to half of the 3G subscribers are located in the region of Asia, less than thirteen percent of them are in Europe. Pew Research Center’s Internet American Life Project finds that almost a third of American adults have used mobile devices to access the internet, and 19% of survey respondents had used a smartphone or other cell phone to access the internet the day before the survey (Horrigan, 2009). Pew Research found that for people ages 18-29, access to information on-the-go is a more important aspect of mobile technology (60%) than staying in touch with others (57%). Teenagers are slightly less likely to go online than using mobile devices than adults or undergraduate students, with only 27% reporting that they access the internet from their phones. Older teens, who have more disposable income to pay for mobile internet connectivity, are more likely to access the internet from mobile devices than younger teens (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell, Purcell, Kristen, 2010). Sakulsri Srisaracam, a lecturer at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Dhurakij Pundit University, said that with the 3G network, we will see an education everywhere at any time scenario. Lecturers and students will be always connected. They can download content, textbooks, and learning applications easily onto their mobile devices. They also can interact and keep in touch with the teachers. (The Nation, 2012) He also added if lecturers can develop innovative learning, which encourages and engages students to stay connected with learning via mobile devices, the 3G network will prove very beneficial. Mana Treelayapewat, deputy dean of Mass Communication Faculty at University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, said that 3G network availability will be good for education as it would help improve online learning with greater speed, especially if 3G network can reach the whole country. It will help bridge the gap in education of urban and rural students. (The Nation, 2012) EDUCAUSE surveyed undergraduate students regarding their use of internet using mobile devices. They found that half of the student respondents own a mobile device that can access the internet, but only a third of the students actually access the internet from this device (Smith et al., 2009) Cellular connections use the user’s cellular network to access the internet. Cellular connections can be used wherever the user has a phone signal, though often at slower speeds than WiFi networks. Most cellular connections currently use 3G technology, though carriers (and devices) are beginning to transition to 4G networks. Sprint’s HTC Evo released in March 2010 is the first 4G capable phone in the United States, though a good percentage of the country does not have 4G network access yet (Barrett, 2010). 4G networks are expected to be twice as fast as 3G (German, 2010), which opens up possibilities for faster mobile internet use and more reliable video streaming without relying on WiFi connections. People spend time on the mobile internet accessing web portals and social n etworks or blogs. Using portals has decreased by double digits, but social networking has increased significantly (Nielsen Wire, 2010). Naveed Siraj Country Manager Intel Pakistan said education needs could be facilitated to masses through 3G-technology as if its expected benefits to different sectors in the future. The education transformation is inevitable with the availability of relevant content for studies and on the other hand smartphones and tablets are in the reach of masses to connect with the world of information. (The Lahore Times, 2012) The attitudes, skills, and behaviors of the faculty members related to their IT use at a large Canadian research university. (Anderson et al., 1998) Based on Roger’s two major adopter categories, they defined the faculty members as â€Å"earlier adopters† and â€Å"mainstream faculty† and provided strategies for reducing the gap between these two groups. (Roger, 1995) Rogers also added that mainstream faculty used information technologies for research and professional communication applications. But their adoption of these applications in teaching was very low. For this reason, Rogers recommended that to increase mainstream faculty’s adoption of computer technologies for instructional purposes, the incentives, training programs, and barriers should be taken into account in comprehensive adoption strategies. Carter conducted a computer survey and in-depth interviews to determine computer-based technologies that were being used by the faculty members and the factors that affect their use of these technologies. Faculty attitudes toward using computer-based technology, support, resources, and training were the selected factors needed to use these technologies effectively. (Carter, 1998) The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been considered the most useful for predicting the acceptance of information technology in consumer context. The theoretical constructs of TAM consist of two basic determinants for attitudes to use a specific system: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. (Davis et al., 1989) Susan et al. examined students perceptions and their acceptance of implementing a laptop program by adopting Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework. (Susan et al., 2006) Cheong and Park adopted an extend TAM model to explore consumer’s determinant of acceptance behaviors in using the mobile internet. (Cheong and Park, 2005) The factors affecting students’ behavioral intention to use mobile learning based mainly on the TAM. (Park et al., 2011 and Fadare et al., 2011) Different types of studies were conducted to understand the factors affecting 3G adoption so far. In the study of Phuangthong and Malisawan, primarily aims to examine the factors affecting the user adoption in mobile learning of 3G mobile Internet technology in Thailand by using TAM. (Phuangthong and Malisawan, 2005) According to this study, user acceptance is examined by attitude towards use and intention to use, rather than actual use due to the fact that 3G technology. Research Methods: To find the applications of 3G technology in education sector, I conduct systematic comparative analysis through survey and qualitative method. Basically survey method focuses to improve quality and reducing cost. It seeks to ensure principles about the design, collection, processing and analysis of survey in connection to the cost and quality of survey estimates. As Groves and others said that, â€Å"survey methodology is both a scientific field and a profession. Part of the task of a survey methodologist is making a large set of decisions about thousands of individual features of a survey in order to improve it.† (Groves et al., 2009) The researchers frequently use qualitative method as their research purpose. Through the method data come in a variety of forms, such as notes made while observing in the field, interview transcripts, documents, diaries, and journals. According to Wimmer and Dominick, â€Å"qualitative researchers use an inductive method: Data are collected relevant to some topic and are grouped into appropriate and meaningful categories; explanations emerge from the data.† (Wimmer Dominick, 2011) To conduct this study I took 100 respondents. At first I selected the sample through stratified sampling on the basis of teachers and students, colleges and universities. In this regard I picked two colleges and two uni versities in Dhaka. Two colleges are Birsrestho Nur Muhammad Public College and Dhaka City College. And two universities are Dhaka University and Daffodil International University. In every institution I took five respondents from teachers and 20 from students. So the numbers of the teachers are 20 and the numbers of students are 80. â€Å"A stratified sample is the approach used to get adequate representation of a subsample. The characteristics of the subsample (strata or segment) may include almost any variable: age, gender, religion, income level, or even individuals who listen to specific radio stations or read certain magazines. †¦ Stratified sampling ensures that a sample is drawn from a homogeneous subset of the population—that is, from a population that has similar characteristics.† (Wimmer Dominick, 2011, p-98) When I collect my data I took my respondents through random sampling. Randomly I picked 10 teachers from two colleges and 10 from the universities. And I took 80 students, 40 students from two colleges and another 40 from two universities. â€Å"The most basic type of probability sampling is the simple random sample, where each subject, element, event, or unit in the population has an equal chance of being selected.† (Wimmer Dominick, 2011) He added that the most widely used random sampling method is a subject or unit is drawn from the population and removed from subsequent selections without replacement. In this study when I gathered data from 100 respondents of those colleges and universities, each teacher and student in the population has an equal chance of being selected. Critical Framework: In this study I followed the â€Å"Diffusion of Innovation Model† provided by communication scholar and sociologist Everett M. Rogers. Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 2003). He added that, the study of the diffusion of innovations began during World War II, prior to the establishment of communication study in university schools and departments. To an individual or other unit of adoption an innovation is an idea, practice, or object perceived as new. The diffusion process typically involves both mass media and interpersonal communication channels. And, in today’s world, information technologies such as the Internet and cell phones – which combine aspects of mass media and interpersonal channels, represent formidable tools of diffusion (Morris Ogan, 1996). Most of the observers agree that the diffusion of innovations is fundamentally a communication process; communication scholars constitute only one of the dozen research traditions presently advancing the diffusion field (along with geography, education, marketing, public health, rural sociology, agricultural economics, general economics, political science, and others). Other communication research areas such as persuasion and attitude change and mass communication effects also began prior to the institutionalization of communication study in university units (Rogers, 1962, 1983, 1995; 2003; Singhal Dearing, 2006). For convenience in understanding diffusion research results, the continuous variable of innovativeness is often divided into adopter categories, such as innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards (Rogers, 1983). Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory is the most appropriate for investigating the adoption of technology in higher educatio n and educational environments (Medlin, 2001; Parisot, 1995). In fact, much diffusion research involves technological innovations so Rogers usually used the word â€Å"technology† and â€Å"innovation† as synonyms. For Rogers, â€Å"a technology is a design for instrumental action that reduces the uncertainty in the cause-effect relationships involved in achieving a desired outcome† (Rogers, 2003, p-13). In this study purpose I took the first one ‘innovators’. According to Rogers, innovators were willing to experience new ideas. Thus, they should be prepared to cope with unprofitable and unsuccessful innovations, and a certain level of uncertainty about the innovation. (Rogers, 2003) Also, Rogers added that innovators are the gatekeepers bringing the innovation in from outside of the system. Technology adoption process inaugurates with a tiny number of visionary, imaginative innovators. They often lavish great time, energy and creativity on developing new ideas and gadgets. And they love to talk about them. Diffusion of innovations research promises to enhance our understanding of how social change occurs, a fundamental issue for all scholars of society. What is the role of technology in bringing about social change? One way to find out is through diffusion research, a micro level type of study of the macro level issue of social change. Scholarly interest in new communication technologies by communication students has given a special boost to interest in diffusion research in recent years. There is no reason to expect that the scholarly popularity of diffusion research by communication (and other) scholars will decrease in the foreseeable future. Innovations continue to be generated and studied. Meyer, G. (2004).Mobile phone

Story Of The Dead Poets Society English Literature Essay

Story Of The Dead Poets Society English Literature Essay Charlie reveals the ideas of carpe diem in various ways. He feels that he can speak for other people, and he doesnt care if they like him or not. First, he invites girls to come to the Dead Poets Society club meeting. Then he tells them they can go in because its his cave. He also publishes an article in the school paper about how they should have girls at Welton in the name of the Dead Poet Society without the approval of any other members. He also pulls the phone call from God to gain attention, pretending to himself as a god when he says that the phone call is from God. In the end, he is expelled for punching Cameron. Charlie punches him because Cameron had just come from telling the administrators about the Dead Poets Society club and blamed Keating for everything. Charlie feels it doesnt matter if hes expelled or not. In addition, Neil seizes the day. Neil loves to do new stuffs, and come up with unique ideas. He is the one to call Keating O Captain! My Captain! and is the first able to ask him what the Dead Poets Society was. He is also the one to organize the first meeting of the club in the cave and hes also a leader. Neil also tells Todd that he must participate in the Dead Poets Society club no matter what. Each of the choices is Neils attempts to gain control over his own life. Neil lives by his fathers rules. Carpe diem motivating Neil to go after his dream of acting, but his father wouldnt let him. Going against his father, he decides to follow his heart by audition for A Midsummer Nights Dream Neil receives the part as Puck. He claims that this is the first time in his life that he knows what he wants. However, after the show his father takes him home and yells at him. He ends up committing suicide, by using his fathers gun. Knox also embraces living for the moment. Knox visits his parents friends, and soon falls in love with their daughter Chris. He broke his own rules to see her, and competed for her attention with her boyfriend Chet. At that party and after a few drinks, he makes a move on Chris and Chet was there, who then punches Knox. After that meeting, Knox does everything in his power to win her love over. Using his love of poetry, he presents one of his love poems in his English class, and is applauded by Keating. Then Knox travels to Chriss school and read his poem to her in class, later convincing her to go to a show with him. Chris does like the attention Knox gives her, and in the end, holds his hand at the play. Also, Todd finally can stand up by himself. Todd is a very quiet boy. He is the youngest of his family member and has many expectations laid upon him due to the success of his brother. Todds worst fear is that his life has no meaning. After the first day of class, Todd writes Carpe Diem on his paper, dreaming of what it would be like. But, he throws out the paper believing he has nothing to do with it Later, in class, after being asked to write a poem, Todd tells Keating he never completed the assignment after he spent many hours writing and revising his poem only to have thrown it away before class. Keating sees through Todds fear and later makes him say whatever comes to mind. This is the beginning of the change in Todd. He proves his loyalty to Keating by stand up to Camerons accusations of Keating. Todd is able to express his opinion that Cameron and the school are wrong. Students at Welton could not have any other choice for what they want to do or what type of person they want to be. But Mr. Keating teaching the boys learns to think on their own, and they all do their own stuffs with their own ideas. By doing that there were some good things happen such as Todds is a very quiet boy and shy who does not enjoy speaking himself in front of a lot of people but Mr. Keating helps him get over this fear, Todd finally finds a voice for himself that he never knew he had before, and Knox found his true love shows free thinking is an important thing in life because it lets everyone think and behave in different ways and situations. But there were some bad things such as Neils commits suicide and Charlies got expelled from his behavior shows we should learn to think before we do something.