New Product Launch Marketing Plan Essay

Audi LED headlights Audi is a top of the line luxury car manufacturing company who plans to achieve goals and provide consumers with one of kind products. Audi has decided to create a new LED head light with spot detection capabilities to assist with consumer safety while driving in the city, as well as down country roads. Audi has assessed the need for their new product and has found that the new LED headlights with spot detection would be great for the consumer as well as the company sales. Through past research by Audis team we have found that several accidents within the United stated States occurred due to poor head lights or blinding head lights. Though Audis current venture is geared towards consumer’s with families who travel at least 100 miles a week, their game plan is to incorporate this light into all vehicles. We will address the areas of target population, product position against the competitions, as well as each stage of the product life cycle and our expansion of product offerings. Audi focuses on people (Idea Connection, 2014). This new innovation of LED head lights will do just that; focus on people. Audi will utilize the family and let them be the guide behind the quality and performance of this new offering (Idea Connection, 2014). Target market profile At Audi, we came up with this new headlight technology that is designed to make night driving safer. The target market for our product is composed of couples with children under the age of 15. Among these families, the focus will be on those who drive SUVs’, Minivans and Sedans. The target audience will be based around those parents who drive their kids to extracurricular activities like piano lessons or soccer, and who live either deep in the  country or outside of the city. One submarket will be those who live within the city and like to travel outside the city. These headlights are best suited for people who drive over 100 miles a day. In terms of income, we will target individuals with a college degree who make more than one hundred thousand dollars per year. Our product will also aim at corporations who offer company vehicle for their senior executives. Key buying behaviors Three factors influence consumers buying behaviors, those factors are cultural, social and personal (Kotler & Keller, 2012). In terms of culture, individuals during the course of their life will be influenced by family, friends, neighbors, and others. Our consumers are individuals whose family members are accustomed to luxury cars, preferably Audis’. Cultural factors influencing buying behavior in terms of culture are also social classes. Our consumers will be individuals belonging to the upper class of society. For these individuals owning a luxury car with the latest technology is a statement. On the social level of consumers buying behaviors, our target market will be influenced by factors such as reference groups, family, and social roles and statuses (Kotler & Keller, 2012). Our consumers will be influenced by family members, for instance a mother will most likely want her children to ride safely in a minivan, or SUV. A businessman will buy an Audi sedan because it is a luxury car and it tell others what social class he belongs to. Our target consumers are influenced by membership groups. One example is an individual who buys a luxury car to blend in with others in hos social circle who also own luxury cars. â€Å"Personal characteristics that influence a buyer’s decision include age and stage in the life cycle, occupation and economic circumstances, personality and self- concept, and lifestyle and values.† (Kotler &Keller, 2012, p.155). Our consumers will be men and women, 30 years old or older. The target customers are also educated and very thoughtful as they carefully weigh the benefits of purchasing such a product (Rao, 2014). We believe that as mothers and wives, our consumers will be focused on safety. There have been a lot of plane crashes lately, because of that more and more people decide to drive instead of fly. Corporations will be concerned with profit. Corporations will see great benefit in Audi as it relates to the new LED head lights. The thought of safety will both save the company money, attract eager and loyal employees,  as well as give a strong impression on both competitors and new clients. Decision motivators for consumer/organizational target markets The primary decision motivators for buying the new headlights on the Audi car are the enhanced safety features of the product. Since the primary feature of the new headlights leads to secure driving, it will appeal to almost all consumers. On the other hand, the organizational target markets will entail the demographics of the urban areas. Geographic target markets will target the individuals who live in the urban areas that have developed infrastructures (Novak, De Leeuw & MacEvoy, 2011). Product life-cycle (PLC) LED headlights continue to develop short and long-term strategies in the product life-cycle. The first of four stages is the introduction into the market; customer-value hierarchy is vital during the introduction stage, which identifies the core benefit of the product and creates a detailed description of the basic product. The augmented product value stage must surpass the customer yearning for safety and technology. In addition, marketers will incorporate future potential product growth. The product design can be incorporated into any Audi vehicle during the manufacturing process. The LED headlight will be an upgrade option, and pricing will be slightly higher than Audis without the LED headlight. A strong customer-value hierarchy strategy will enhance product promotion, and the place to launch the LED headlight will be a joint effort with Audi Automotive. During the initial growth phase, pricing will remain slightly higher than Audis without the LED headlight. Based on the lesson learned during the introduction of the LED headlight, the customer-value hierarchy strategy will adjust to meet customer expectations. Product promotion will continue to expand into new markets. The maturity phase begins when the LED headlight implementation reaches market equilibrium; pricing will remain the same during this phase. If the product continues to exceed customer-value hierarchy strategy, the product promotion will continue with the addition of customer and law enforcement reviews. Research and development continues to improve the LED headlight technology. The decline phase begins when market followers enter the market; pricing will then be slightly reduced in an attempt to slow the rate of decline. Product promotion will then be redirected to the new and improved LED headlight. Promotions and places to  launch the new product will be nationwide rather than regional launches during the introduction phase. Product mix A Product Mix is referred to as â€Å"the complete range of products produced by a company.† (http://businesscasestudies.co.u). That being said, Audi plans to unleash its new LED headlights in all of its product lines, which will appeal to the varying types of drivers who have a plethora of different needs and wants in a luxury vehicle. Audi produces a multitude of options for consumers to choose from. These products include 13 sedan options that range from $29,900 to $137,900, six SUV/Crossover/Wagon options that span from $32,500-$51,900, six Coupe options ranging from $40,000-$115,900, and seven Convertible options that span from $35,600-$129,400. (http://www.audiusa.com). With 32 available products that can be altered to match the driver’s particular style, the LED headlight is poised to grant the ultimate driving experience. â€Å"Audi revolutionized vehicle lighting with the first full-LED headlamps in 2008.† (http://www.audileds.com). Audi responded to the automobile industry’s need to change how vehicle headlights affect road conditions for all drivers. Audi continues to enhance its LED design, which is sure to darken its competitors’ vision of the future of automobile driving experience and further differentiating itself by not only enhancing driving conditions, but will be made available in a variety of options. â€Å"Only one square millimeter in size and offered on every vehicle in the lineup, LEDs have opened up an array of styling opportunities for Audi designers.† (http://www.audileds.com). Audi adds that â€Å"these little marvels can be combined to create infinite shapes and arrangements, giving each vehicle a look that’s distinct yet unmistakably Audi.† (http://www.audileds.com). Positioning statement â€Å"For you that spend hours behind the wheel, Audi is one in its luxury class that provides not just the looks of a high end vehicle but the safest lighting for safe traveling. Unlike traditional vehicles Audi provides a combination of class, luxury, and the safest selection to keep you and loved ones safe†. Audi is not only committed to provide its consumers with top  notch service but it has also taken measures to separate itself from the competition. Audi is improving all of its vehicles by providing â€Å"LED lighting† on all its vehicles as part of its standard package. Audi’s positioning statement carries words such as â€Å"luxury, safe, traveling, family† which will always come to mind for those searching for a vehicle to purchase. Audi’s statement is targeting families, those that travel a lot, those that enjoy the luxury of a vehicle but at the same time want to keep themselves and loved ones safe. The consumers spoke and Audi listened. Their position statement is meaningful, important, and convincing to its customers, not just to the company. The Audi brand will deliver on this promise and continue to earn the trust and respect from consumers. References Anonymous. Staying ahead by meeting changing consumer needs. Business Case Studies: A Heinz case study. Retrieved August 2, 2014 from http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/heinz /staying-ahead-by-meeting-changing-consumer-needs/the-product-mix.html#axzz39FCRkOTR Defeat Darkness. LED technology:The vision of LED;View the LED experience. Retrieved August 2, 2014 from http://www.audileds.com/ Idea connection (2014). Audi looks to the future of car production. http://www.ideaconnection.com/open-innovation-success/Audi-Looks-to-the-Future-of-Car-Production-00392.html Retrieved August 1, 2014 Kotler, P., & Keller, K. (2012). Marketing Management (14th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Models. Retrieved August 2, 2014 from http://www.audiusa.com/models# Novak, T. P., DeLeeuw, J., & MacEvoy, B. (2011). Richness curves for evaluating market segmentation. Department of Statistics, UCLA.

Profesions of Women

Dreams Moving Forward If one thinks hard minded off goal, the goal will become difficult, but if one thinks easy minded of a goal, that goal can become a reality. In Virginia Wolf's passage, â€Å"Professions for Women,† Wolf targets women to Inform them how limited they are In a population full of males. Her mall Idea Is to not let your conscious or others hold you from doing what you want to do. Wolf uses metaphors and imagery to support her concern during her controlled era.Wolf begins by metaphorically describing a fisherman as if he was a girl alone next to a lake. She quotes, â€Å"l think of this girl is the image of a fisherman lying sunk in dreams on the verge of a deep lake with a rod held out over the water (276). She patiently waits at the edge of the lake with a rod lined into the lake. Her goals are in the water and her rod is being used to catch her goals if she waits patiently. The fisherman is able to explore her â€Å"imagination† (276) without even t hinking about it or letting anything get In her way.Then her rod â€Å"dashed Itself against something hard† (276) and the girl was In a â€Å"dream† (276) and she was awoken. By describing owe the fisherman was a girl, Wolf Illustrates how a women could think of dreams and Inspirations, Just Like men, but then the dreams are ruined by knowing they wouldn't come true due to the overpopulation of males during the time. She Is convinced that she would never meet her aspirations just because of the opposite sex. Women felt controlled due to the fact that men restricted women to stay and take care of the home.At the time Wolf was too frightened to take the extra step to make her â€Å"imagination† come true. Throughout the passage, Wolf uses imagery to convey that there is an â€Å"angel† (274) in her own home. She describes the angel as â€Å"sympathetic† (274) and â€Å"pure† (274), the characteristics that women had during the Victorian time. Wolf then kills the angel, If she didn't, the angel would have â€Å"plucked the heart out of her writing† (275). The angel symbolizes the women of this time period's oppressive state brought on upon the strong male role In society.The angel compelled Wolf to overcome the Limitations of being a Victorian woman. Victorian women had to put food on the table, clean, take care of their children, and stay at home while their husbands went out and worked and expected to be taken care of. Wolf wanted to reek the stereotype placed upon her; she was not an ordinary housewife. She wanted to be what others would not have expected her to be. It was part of the â€Å"occupation of a woman writer (275) to kill the angel.If Wolf did not kill that angel, it would have come back and wouldn't have let Wolf pursue her dreams. At the end of the passage, Wolf metaphorically conveys the â€Å"empty rooms† (277) that women can claim. Wolf quotes â€Å"though not without great labor and ef fort, to pay the rent† (277) she wants to challenge women to â€Å"decorate† their own room by putting things that they feel what's right or what they have accomplished and to share† (277) their accomplishments with other but must share the room with caution and not show It to the wrong people, for Instance, a male.Wolf wants to show that other women, like herself, can achieve so much by themselves, they should not let the use of metaphors and imagery. Wolf's message can satisfy anyone who is going through trouble, she reveals that women during that time did not try to fight nor question what was expected from them. She has become a role model for people that need to know that they can do anything imaginable, as long as they find a way to work around their obstacles.

Pennfoster essay Essay

Answer Questions 1–4 in one or two sentences. Question 1 is based on the following paragraph. A trip to the ocean can be a relaxing escape from the everyday pressures of life. A sailboat glistening on the horizon provides a mental escape to faraway places. The rhythm of the ocean beating against the sand is sedating music to a troubled mind. A slow, gentle breeze can relax your tensions. You should always be careful to avoid overexposure to the sun at the beach. 1. Type the sentences that answer the following questions: a. What sentence is the topic sentence of the paragraph? A trip to the ocean can be relaxing escape from everyday pressures of life is the topic sentence of the paragraph. b. What sentence is unrelated to the topic and can be eliminated? You should always be careful to avoid overexposure to the sun at the beach can be eliminated. The topic is about relaxing from everyday pressures of life. 2. List four things to look for when you’re proofreading When proofreading the four things you should look for are Misspelled words, improper punctuation, wrong usage of sentence structure and tense agreement 3. Complete the following two steps: a. Define the term clichà ©. Clichà © is an expression or idea that has lost its originality. b. Write one sentence that contains a clichà ©. Even while the phrase was degenerating to clichà © in ordinary public use . . . scholars were giving it increasing attention 4. Name and explain two types of prewriting. Brainstorming is jotting down thoughts and ideas about a topic before writing. Idea web is creating lists or webs of related words and ideas in order to organize your thoughts before writing 5. Choose one of the topics listed below and write a five-sentence paragraph using chronological order b. Writing a paper takes patience and time. Writing a paper takes patience and time because you must first plan the paper by using form of prewriting. The forms of prewriting are brainstorming,  webbing, free writing, and clustering. Before you start your first draft you need to use a method of planning whatever method you’re most comfortable with to organize your idea. When you complete your rough draft, you must check your work, this is called proofreading. When proofreading you check for punctuation, spelling errors, and sentence structure and adding new sentences where they’re needed. The final step in presenting a good piece of writing is to revise your rough draft, and move onto a final draft, which is the draft you present to your audience. 6. Choose one of the following topics. Write an eight-sentence paragraph that fully develops the topic. A high school diploma is important to my future because college admissions counselors and potential employers usually won’t consider you unless you have one. Having a high school diploma well increase my image. Having a high school diploma will increase my knowledge in daily living skills and increase my knowledge in academics. Having a high school diploma will set a great example for younger children. Having a high school diploma will help me be successful and build good character. My future depends upon my ability to earn a good income. That means that I will need my high school diploma to get me into a good college so I can get a career and earn a good income.

Tourism websites analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Tourism websites analysis - Research Paper Example The report also reflects the structure of marketing objectives, is prepared under the accrual, and outputs framework. Yours sincerely, Name: Executive summary The introductory part of this study shows the need for having marketing research. This is through analysis of tourism websites showing that taking a marketing research is necessary in order to formulate decisions and strategies for business success. In carrying out a marketing research, there is need to develop skills needed in seeking information about the market and marketing issues. This helps in assessing quality of information linking it with the business goal to make it stronger. It is also necessary to understand the competitive environment as it helps in seizing market opportunities in places where they exist making the market productive. The analysis shows that every business is analysed by the factors that affect its functions and these factors attribute for the success or failure of the business. In conclusion, hotel s are valued as a strategic community partner due to its mission of enabling people to save money to better their lives. Table of contents Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5 Background to the problem †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ... †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 15 Limitation & Future research †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18   Recommendations †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 21 Introduction Marketing in every industry involves change, as change is inevitable in every business practices, as business people believe that change is able to maintain a competitive position. Hiatt (2010) describes that change is an essential factor to consider for surviving in today’s market. Organisational change involves adding new people or modifying programs it also include change in mission and restructuring operations such as restructuring self managed teams or layoffs, improved new technologies and mergers. Change occurs not for any reason but to accomplish an overall goal and it is usually provoked by outside driving force such as addressing new markets or need for dramatic increases in productivity. The above study shows the impact of marketing in the tourism industry. The study will also show how organizations and among employees undertake the role of human resource in managing change. A review of tourism websites shows that taking a marketing research is necessary in order to formulate decisions and strategies for business success. In carrying out a marketing research, there is need to develop skills needed in seeking information about the market and marketing issues. This helps in assessing quality of information linking it with the business goal to make it stronger. It is also necessary to understand the competitive environment as it helps in seizing market opportunities in places where they exist making the market productive. Companies having the

Individual report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Individual report - Essay Example In respect to this, the organization has not established a website and has not engaged in online marketing and advertising to a very limited extent (NHS 2010). The company has not set itself apart from other players in the pharmaceutical industry in any way. The company does not feature among the top pharmacies in the neighborhood Even though the company serves customers six days a week (NHS 2010), it only operates during the day thus missing out on potential night sales that more established pharmacies enjoy. The layout of the pharmacy does not emphasize its commitment to continuous growth and convenience. Many customers find themselves confused as they go though the pharmacy looking for the products of their choice which means that customers face a lot of inconveniences in their shopping experience. The store appears crowded with goods, which goes against the company’s desire to appear clean, organized, and novel. Furthermore, the pharmacy does not have an enviable design an d no clear signs are used to direct visitors within the store. Opportunities Kadri Pharmacy is owned by a sole proprietor who may sell some shares to other investors to boost its capital base and accelerate its growth The pharmacy is not part of any group but may join forces with other organizations so as to strengthen its brand. Public and patient activism against obesity in the country is growing. Also, the population of people who are aging is steadily growing. This is a sign that the market for pharmaceutical products is bound to increase in view of the health issues and concerns (Alan 2011, p1). New tools and methods of communication and information technology such as the social media present new opportunities in the digital era. The pharmacy can apply e-commerce tools and strategies to reach people who live beyond Preston and therefore increase sales. Enhanced communication tools such as telehealth/telecare have seen the development of new processes of delivering services in t he health care industry. Such tools may be applied by the company to increase efficiency in service delivery. The harmonization of the healthcare system across Europe is a major strength for the pharmaceutical industry. There is increasing pressure on the healthcare UK healthcare system (Alan 2011, p1). This means that generally there is a growing demand for healthcare services including pharmacy. Threats Consumer’s expectations are being changed by patient awareness and this is putting a considerable amount of pressure on consumer service (Alan 2011, p1). This may effectively lower the profits of the business The global economic crisis has made customers reluctant to use their money on healthcare. This means that the business may not make as much profit as it otherwise would if the crisis never occurred. There are several pharmacies in Preston, many of them bigger and better established than Kadri Pharmacy Limited. Generally, customers may prefer bigger

Health promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Health promotion - Essay Example The Nature of Health Information 11 2civ. The Nature of Health 13 2cv. Ethical and Cultural Considerations 13 3. Future Recommendation With Regards to Obesity 14 Part B 15 Individual Reflection 15 References 18 Bibliography 22 Overview The lifestyle of the people often tends to determine the occurrence of illness and at times lead people towards future illness. However, large part of the populace fails to adhere to the healthy lifestyle. For instance, obesity can be considered as the major risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, cancer, premature mortality, type two diabetes mellitus and several other medical conditions (University of Maryland, 2011). Part A 1. Health Issue Related To Lifestyle Behaviour That Is Obesity Lifestyle can be described as a way through which the people generally invest in health. There are varieties of health related habits such as material factors along with psychological factors that can have an impact upon a person’s health. The health promotion encompasses variety of mechanism and implementation strategies that include fostering self-care, risk factor detection, health enhancement and health maintenance. It is to be noted that the major tasks of the health promotion involve both to understand the health behaviour and the transformation of the knowledge about the behaviour into a few important strategies for the enhancement of health. There are various lifestyle factors that affect the health of the individuals. It has been noted that the behavioural and the social issues that have an impact upon the health include smoking, diet, nutrition and alcohol. Obesity can contribute to the variety of health related problems such as heart diseases, high blood pressure, indigestion, diabetes and also cancer (Clemen-Stone & Et. Al., 2002). It has been evident that few basic behavioural approaches to health can help to dramatically change the risk and reduce the impact of such issue on the health of the individual. There are certain factors that are responsible for the health issues. Each and every individual endure a certain kind of lifestyle. A few may be living a healthy lifestyle while others may be living an unhealthy lifestyle. The health benefits of the physically active lifestyle are well documented and there are huge evidences which suggest that the regular activity is related to reduce incidence of various chronic conditions. However, it has been noted that quite a few number of people live a healthy lifestyle. The physical activity may provide health benefits to the individuals and the regular physical activity may contribute to improvement of the health outcomes irrespective of the fact whether the individual has lost weight (Jakicic & Otto, 2005). It has been found from the information centre that the rate of obesity in England is increasing every year (The information Center, 2011). It was in the year 2008, when almost a quarter of the adults in England were categorised as obese . The age group of such victims have been 16 or more. It was further observed that about thirty nine percent of the adults had a ‘raised waist circumference’ in the year 2008. The most surprising fact was that the percentage of ‘raised waist circumference’ was evident more in women in comparison to men. It was further observed that boys were more likely to participate in the suggested level of physical activities in the year 2008 when compared to girls. The study of percentages makes it quite apparent that the number of boys

Existential themes in the movie V for Vendetta Essay

Existential themes in the movie V for Vendetta - Essay Example Specifically, we will explore the existential concept of the Individual versus the Herd from the perspective of Hermann Hesse. From this facet of philosophy, we will relate examine and relate the existential concept of the Individual versus the Herd and the stand of V against Norsefire. Existential Concept of the Herd A story would never be complete without the plot, setting, and the characters or subjects. In the same way, a literary work would not be sufficient if it does not include the different parts of a plot. Normally, a plot would have the following parts: the exposition, which is the beginning of the story. Second would be the rising action wherein the acts leading to the climax is developed. Within this part, the conflict of the story and dilemmas that result to the climax are introduced. The climax, which is normally the highest point of the story since the effect of the conflict, would now reach the tipping point. After which, the events happening after the climax shall b e the content of the falling action. Lastly, a conflict resolution would end the plot, and the story altogether. It is to be noted though that each part of the plot does not need to happen in a chronological and sequential manner. What is necessary is that all the parts are essentially present. One can never do away with the conflict. Without a conflict, there seems to be no reason to tell a story. The conflict then is the reason why there is a story in the first place. As with every literary work, there exists a conflict, and around that struggle is where the story would basically revolve. There are various kinds of existential theories in literature; however, this paper calls for the discussion of only one kind. The author of this paper chose to extensively provide an analysis of the film V for Vendetta, in relation to the existential literary theme Individual vs. The Herd. This literary theme is also more commonly known as man versus society. The famous existentialist philosopher Jean Jacques-Rosseau wrote in his masterpiece The Social Contract, â€Å"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.† The herd or the society, in this case, is the persona that keeps man in chains. For the society, the ideology, beliefs and practices of the majority are considered as the common good, hence, it must be followed. In this kind of environment, the voice of the individual should stand in conformity to the community. The stand of the individual who dares to be different does not stand a chance against the influence of the commanding majority. In the film V for Vendetta, the government aims to attain a perfect Fascist Unity. In this kind of society, if you do not conform, then you shall be considered as an outcast, unwelcome, and even tortured for being different. To be or not to be part of the herd would be the ultimate decision that could spell a remarkable difference in an individual’s life. The Concept of Fascist Unity in V for Vendetta â€Å"Stre ngth through unity, unity through faith!† Perhaps the strongest message, what would make it the

Music History Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Music History Report - Essay Example The Romantic era was a period of vast change and emancipation. While the Classical era was restricted by laws of balance and restraint, the Romantic era moved away from that by allowing artistic freedom, creativity, and experimentation in their compositions. The music of this time was very expressive, and melody became the dominant feature. Composers even used this means of expression to display nationalism. This became the driving force in the late Romantic period, as composers used elements of folk music to express their cultural identity (â€Å"The Romantic Era†). As in any time of change, new musical techniques came about to fit in with the current trends. It was in this era when the nocturnes were developed. Nocturnes, defined as music inspired by the evening or night, is one of the most renowned style of music in present times. The nocturnes were first developed by Field in the 1800’s, and were popularized by Chopin in the later years. Chopin, being a child prodig y pianist, composed and played music leaving behind Field. These serene, calm, and tranquil by nature night pieces stir emotions in individuals making it one of the most remarkable developments in music. As one listens to the nocturnes, the listener stirs a feeling of reflection, realization, as well as nostalgia – creating drama into the life of the night.

Discuss how they establish ethos in their writing Essay

Discuss how they establish ethos in their writing - Essay Example Robert Kennedy came from a long line of Kennedys who were well thought of and established in the world. Robert had a background in politics stemming from an appointment as a United States Attorney General to a nominee for the president of the United States. Most people will recognize him as a Senator who was assassinated before he was able to make his bid for president. He grew up in what was called a "competitive" family that was very close. (Robert F. Kennedy "Biography"). He was known for battling injustice and organizing people to do move forward on a variety if issues including the Vietnam War, organized crime, and he worked closely to help black Americans find a peaceful place in the world. He was also known for his ability to talk to people without barriers. When Martin Luther King died it was Kennedy that was able to hold people together. Both John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy were proponents of civil rights and they worked well within many communities, particularly with blacks and other disenfranchised persons (Robert F. Kennedy "Biography"). This is the information that creates ethos for Robert Kennedy and what lead to his speech in front of a mostly black crowd in Indianapolis. He was well respected by most people in the black community and this was one of the reasons that he was one of the only white men who could have addressed the crowd that day. He was also qualified to speak about Martin Luther King because he believed in what Martin stood for and had been actively helping with civil rights. Kennedy was a strong orator and he understood what to say to people to get them to do what he was asking. On that night, he also used his compassion and his emotions to give people what they needed in order to move them forward. Another reason this worked for him was because his speech was very much like a speech that Dr. King would have made: Kennedy had already established himself as a writer, orator and statesman so he was already established as an

LinkedIn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LinkedIn - Essay Example It is expected that by the year of 2015, that the majority of the individuals within the workforce of United States will represent those who are younger than 35 years old and in other nations such as Asian nations, the workforce population will represent even a younger generation. LinkedIn needs to change its strategy and needs to target the younger portion of thee workforce and implement ideas that will help promote younger generations in the corporate world. Another weakness in LinkedIn is that there is a major percentage of the population that are recognized as temporary workers, or blue collar employees who have low level of skills and do not have a college level or university level degree attached to their names. LinkedIn needs to focus on these individuals and provide them with assistance that can help them promote themselves promotionally. They can help them by keeping the current system of information sharing and adding the features of profile and picture sharing to enhance c hances of employment for this side of the workforce. Sundberg, Jorgen. "Global LinkedIn Demographics and Statistics January 2012 [Slides]." The Undercover Recruiter. N.p., 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.

Consumer Behaviour Case Study on Hellman's Essay

Consumer Behaviour Case Study on Hellman's - Essay Example In the highly competitive environment of global business, it becomes hugely important for businesses to study the various factors that influence consumer buying decisions. Kotler and Armstrong (2009) state that marketing broadly meets the needs and requirements of the people. The marketing therefore, provides the necessary linkages to facilitate the awareness, needs and access to the products by the consumers. In the current times, the globalization and technology have contributed to a paradigm shift in the consumer behaviour. The consumer has not only become more informed but is also provided with plethora of choices. Thus, consumer psychology has emerged as one of the most pertinent issues within strategic marketing that impacts purchase behaviour and influences business outcome (Foxall et al., 2005).The paper would be discussing the marketing stimuli used by Hellmann’s to influence consumer’s cognitive, affective and behavioural responses.The paper would also highlig ht Hellmann’s market strategy to influence consumers purchase psychology. Hellmann’s has made a niche market position in the area of food and food ancillary products. Mayonnaise with huge range is its key product along with salad dressing, ketchup, salad cream etc. The last hundred years have seen Hellmann’s evolve as iconic brand with food ingredients that constantly redefine cooking.Indeed, the marketing strategies of Hellmann’s rely fundamentally on the belief that food can be creatively cooked to tempt the palate of the connoisseurs. It use of various consumer psychology marketing stimuli, like bold design, jingles and short, crisp messages, become highly effective elements to connect with its consumers. The theoretical underpinning of marketing tools helps explain the success of its advertisements which are designed to address the needs and requirements of food lovers and housewives. 2. Marketing mix and consumer response Marketing mix strategy uses different platforms of communication and media to influence customers’ perception and subsequently their buying decisions. Internet, television, radio, print media, hoarding etc. are major marketing tools that are exploited to gain market leverage. The 4Ps: product, price, place and promotion are important parts of market mix which determine the level of commitment of the customers and influence their behaviour. Indeed, customer’s purchase decision is motivated by multiple factors and delivers satisfaction from myriad front to earn customer’s long term loyalty. The inter-dependency of resources within the defined system is critical imperative which has huge potential to create not only a sustainable market but also one which is mutually satisfying. Thus, factors that impact consumer behaviour have increasingly become vital inputs for marketers to identify, address and exploit in order to gain competitive advantage in the industry (Solomon et al., 2006). Most imp ortantly, success of the product relies heavily on the impact that it makes

Psychology Project Racism Essay Example for Free

Psychology Project Racism Essay Racism People see it every day across the world. A group of whites burn down a black , someone gets hurt or murdered from a racial insult, or fights break out at school or in public. These are the extremes of racism. Racism is definitely not a good thing; it’s a power that has taken over through the present daytime. What will the future bring for Racism? What are the main problems of racism? Can we get a hold on racism throughout the world or will we self-destruct in our own hate? Racism is everywhere, as much as today tries to hide it or say that we resolved it years ago. Racism is still all over the place. Definition of Racism: Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. Racial separatism is the belief, most of the time based on racism, that different races should remain apart from one another. Racism has existed throughout human history: It may be defined as the hatred of one person by another or the belief that another person is less than human because of skin color, language, customs, and place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. Prejudice: If someone is a racist they are of course, prejudiced. Prejudice is when someone doesn’t like someone else for the way they look.. It flies right over their heads schools, the workplace, our community, our friend’s  house, even our homes. Racist or prejudice jokes are not harmless and it is a reality today. Racist jokes are just the start of it. Many people think the jokes are funny. Maybe they are, but they still hurt the people the jokes are about. Superiority: Superiority is a big part of racism. Every race thinks that they are superior to other ,that they are the best . The power issue may make the difference, that’s one of the main reasons. Each race thinks they are a better race.. Therefore, they fight and create violence to justify who is the greater race. But the reality is, that it doesn’t matter who you are or what color you are. Forms of Racism: †¢Individual Racism takes the form of individual attitudes, beliefs, values and be haviors. Some examples of racist attitudes are racial prejudice, belittling, jealousy and bigotry. †¢Institutional or Systemic Racism takes the form of the practices, customs, rules and standards of organizations that unnecessarily disadvantage people because of their race, color or ethnicity. †¢Cultural Racism is the cultural values and standards that disadvantage people because of their race, color or ethnicity. . Bio-psycho-social-spiritual phenomenon of racism: Racism is the outward manifestation of an inward system. This system justifies power of position by placing a negative meaning and value on perceived or actual biological/cultural differences. This system gives biological differences, such as skin color, texture of the hair, physical features; or cultural differences, such as language, religion, ethnicity, or accent, a negative value and meaning. In real they are merely biological or cultural necessities. Thus, there is nothing wrong with the color black, brown or yellow. It is not skin color that forms the basis for discrimination, but the negative meaning and value given to the color of skin. Color is neutral; it is the mind that gives it meaning. Neither are women discriminated against because of their gender. If gender were the problem then the solution would also be to have a sex-change operation. But the problem is not gender but value systems.. Women are discriminated against because of the negative meaning and value given to their gender. How one defines a situation depends on how one perceives it. That’s the psycho pattern. The meaning that  people therefore give to their reality, whether or not true, causes people to behave in a manner that makes the original meaning actually come true. The interpretive meaning called perception.. The same goes with the spiritual dimension, the fourth factor. In order to justify such evil use of power, people will appeal to those moral systems which give them a sense of meaning, rightness, and ultimate value in life, their ideological belief systems, which serve as the highest authority in their lives, the moral basis of their existence. Like this the bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework works -and how it shapes our world. Common factors of Racism: †¢Color: Prejudice or discrimination in which human beings are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin color †¢Religion: Religious discrimination involves treating a person (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs. Religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, but also others who have sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs. †¢Gender: Granting or denying rights or privileges to a person based on their gender. No Boundaries: Victims and perpetrators of racial prejudice are not confined to any period in history, place, skin color, income group or other boundary. No one is immune! But the images we associate with the term racism depend largely on the part of the world in which we live. For instance, in different countries most commonly think of tension between whites and blacks, or increasingly, Hispanics and blacks or whites. Further back, though, other forms existed. Racism –different countries: Racism world-wide is manifested in every continent. In Europe, extreme racist groups have gained more and more acceptability in countries like France, Germany, and Austria. In Australia, the Aborigines have lost much of their land and have been the victim of extreme prejudice. Not only has Apartheid legalized separation been practiced in Australia, it has been a well-publicized condition in South Africa. Many African countries have endured long-term civil wars, some beginning shortly after that nation’s freedom from former colonial  countries. In Asia, Cambodians harbor extreme prejudices against the Vietnamese, and Chinese students have been forbidden access to higher education in Malaysia. In the Middle East, antagonism between the Israelis and the Palestinians continues to exist. Racism in Pakistan: In Pakistan people do face problem regarding racism and its done on the following bases. †¢Socio economic status †¢Gender †¢Color †¢Religion †¢Cast †¢Provincial Causes of racism: Major causes of racism common in all societies are: †¢Lack of self love †¢feeling of unworthiness †¢desire to feel superior †¢Fear of loss and displacement †¢lack of understanding †¢false perceptions †¢Ignorance, †¢Xenophobia †¢Brainwashing †¢ upbringing, †¢negative experiences with individuals of a given race, †¢negative images portrayed in media and societal stereotypes, †¢hate †¢ lack of education, †¢distorted thinking †¢ fear †¢Selfishness †¢Environmental Factors Effects of racism: It is said that â€Å" Racism always breaks a country and spoils a society.† The effects that are commonly observed are: †¢Self hate †¢ Suicide †¢Self harm issues †¢Eating disorders †¢Fear of going to school/public places (agoraphobia) †¢Bullying †¢Knife and gun crime †¢Panic attacks †¢Violence †¢hate crimes †¢inequality †¢inhumanity †¢intolerance †¢trade imbalance †¢depression †¢self loathing Racism and future: Today we are living in a load of social issues that we have to deal with and racism is one of them. People blame their faults and disappointments against society and the whole race in which they live in. but anyone can do good or excel if they put their mind to it. The future, when you hear the word – Racism you start to think about advancing our technology and furthering science. You think of exploring new boundaries and seeing new places. A better world, but a worse world is what we see. The technology may improve as we go deeper into the next century, but what about the children of today that are responsible for the future? Right now, we are only hurting ourselves with racism and hate. We have taken many steps in controlling this disease, but like most diseases, they spread. Does God do favoritism? God is the  Creator of all the races—yellow, black and white (with brown and red). Each has strengths and gifts as well as weaknesses. For our better future it is important to finish this discrimination. If He has created everyone equally then who are we to judge? Who are we to complain? Who are we to discriminate? We being a Muslim, how can we do such a thing? Our religion has a clear concept about equality. It’s clearly written in the Holy book that no one is superior to another. Our God has created everyone equally. Its His choice how and what He do†¦ What Can We Do? â€Å"Racism isnt born, its taugh† Where there is a problem, there is a solution. The only solution that seems to be found is to stop the hate. Dr. Martin Luther King said: â€Å"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.† He had a dream.Its up to us that how and what we make a world without racism†¦. Changes: self-awareness†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Reengineering our attitudes about race means that we must examine ourselves. †¢Closely examine your values and beliefs; why do you think, believe, and behave toward others as you do. †¢Remember, one of the bases of prejudice is ignorance. Try not to ignore but to know other. †¢Measure your words carefully before you speak to others. †¢Try to be a human first . Society is formed by us †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.society changes can be . †¢Do not tolerate prejudiced people, prejudiced talk, or racist action. †¢Give good literature, recommend films, lectures, meetings to your friends and family. †¢Write letters to newspapers, magazines, and TV sponsors giving your opinion on statements and actions that demean people. †¢Organize a cleanup or rebuilding campaign †¢Make an effort to support minority cultural events †¢ Make an effort to teach the value of equality and tolerance For Institutions-Effecting Change: †¢For institutions to change, their culture, vision, values, and ideology must change. All policies must be based around a single ideology. †¢Examine an institutions deep belief and value systems †¢Hold training seminars in intercultural competence: †¢self-acceptance. †¢Put people to work and interact in interracial learning teams so as to develop positive attitudes and cross-ethnic friendships. †¢Make a commitment and act on it! Things You Can Do in the Schools: This can be done in a school or university setting. †¢sponsor panel discussions †¢awareness activities †¢cultural †¢projects that will promote cultural understanding and inclusiveness. †¢anti-racism education in your schools curriculum †¢events relating to a variety of cultures.. †¢Example: The Book of Dreams To sum it up: Figuring out what to do about the ugly reality of racism in our communities presents a difficult challenge. There is no single or easy set of instructions that will eliminate racism once and for all. Instead, it is something we must continually work against choosing the strategies and actions that will be most effective in our own individual communities. In this resource, weve suggested such strategies and actions, and shown examples of how many of them have been put into practice in real communities. When you start deciding how to reduce racism in your own community, feel free to use any of these ideas, but also feel free to be creative and come up with your own solutions as well. Remember: â€Å"Rainbows arent just one color. Theyre every single color. Be a rainbow. Enjoy all of the colors in the world.†

Social Work Law and Organisational Context

Social Work Law and Organisational Context Introduction The law and organization context of social work is extremely important when looking at specific cases and scenarios. The aim of this essay is to examine two specific cases, one involving children and families and the other involving community care issues. In these cases the relevant issues regarding social work and law will be identified, and recommendations will be made regarding the assessment criteria that need to be met and what the likely outcome of the cases might be. This will be done by looking at relevant government legislation and case examples, as well as general social work and law practice. The first section will look at a case of Children and families, and examine the issues of significant harm and children in need in relation to the scenario. There will be a definition of these two concepts as they are laid out in the Children Act and Every Child Matters document, as well as recommendations on how best to assess and determine the outcome of this case. The second case will look at community care issues involving a disabled parent and elderly carer. The assessments regarding the welfare of the child and parent as well as any potential care issues will be looked at. This will involve consultation with the Children Act, the Human Rights Act, the Community Care Act and the Carer’s Act. Recommendations will be given regarding how to properly assess this situation and what benefits may be offered to the parties involved. Scenario 1 Children and Families Scenario: Working in Children’s social services, you receive a referral from a church worker about the Jones family. She says that the parents (18 and 19) are often under the influence of drink or drugs, that the children (2 and 4) are dirty and smelly and not being fed properly. You are asked to carry out an initial assessment. What is the role of the local authority when children are in need and if they are facing significant harm? What options does the law offer to ensure that these children are safe? In this situation, the first thing that needs to be referred to is the Children’s Acts of 1989, and of 2004 (OPSI, 1989 and 2004). These acts are the basis by which social workers determine how at risk children are in particular environments, and what the assessment criteria should be used when looking at such a case. In this case, the main issues are the definitions of ‘significant harm’ and ‘children in need’. Looking at the 1989 Children Act, we will start with the concept of significant harm. The concept of significant harm and its definition is referred to in section 47 of the 1989 Children Act. This says that the local authority is under a duty to investigate or create inquiries into the suffering of a child where there is cause to suspect that significant harm is being done to the child or significant harm is likely to befall the child (OPSI, 1989, s. 47). From this, a court can only make a supervision order or care order if the child is suffering or likely suffer significant harm, and this harm is caused by the lack of adequate parental care or control (OPSI, 1989, s. 31). In this case, ‘harm’ refers to ill-treatment such as physical and sexual abuse, as well as mental abuse, poor physical or mental health cause by the parent’s lack of care and impairment of health or development. These factors are compared to what a ‘normal’ child would be expected to have at a particular age (OPSI, 1989, S. 31(9-10)). However, there are no precise guidelines on what would constitute significant harm in each case. Despite this, it is fairly clear in this scenario that where alcohol and drugs are involved and the children are dirty, smelly and potentially malnourished, a duty to investigate is there. The children are being physically impaired at the very least with regards to their health, and the involvement of alcohol and drugs means that this is potentially being caused by the lack of parental care. In such a case, the family context would need to be looked at, as would the child’s development, any special needs the child has, and the exact nature of the harm and the adequacy of parental care. In this case the parents are both very young, but this alone is of course of no particular issue as discrimination laws prevent such discrimination of parental rights based on age. The most important things in this case would be to investigate and prove or disprove the claims about the parent’s alcohol and drug abuse, and also look at the exact state of health of the children. However, there is another concept to look at as well, regarding the nature of children in need. This definition is located in section 17 of the 1989 Children Act. This part of the Children Act shows where legal work and social work combine to form the assessment criteria for families (Tunstill, in Parton, 1997, pp. 40-43). The legal definition ‘Children in Need’ is that the child is unlikely to achieve or maintain or have the opportunity for a reasonable standard of health or development without provision of services from the local authority, and that the child’s health is likely to be impaired or further impaired without such services (Surrey County Council., 2008). In this case, it is not yet determined whether the children are suffering because of the parents, or whether there is some medical reason why the children are in a poor condition. However, if it is proven that the parents are abusing alcohol and drugs; this would most likely constitute a case of child ren in need or children with the likelihood of suffering significant harm. However, in such a case it is unlikely that a permanent care order would be given, and more likely that a temporary care order or supervision order would be put in place, giving the parents the chance to deal with their problems and raise their children properly. If the parents failed in this, then a permanent care order may be issued. There may also be police investigations in light of the allegations regarding illegal drug abuse. If when the children are initially assessed they appear to be in poor physical health, then it is likely that an emergency protection order will be put in place in order to protect the children from further harm in the short-term, whilst the parental and family situation is better assessed and looked at. This way the children will not be placed in further danger, and a more measured approach can take place with regards to the ability of the parents to look after the children (RPsych, 2008). If the children are taken away, then the first option for many Councils currently is to place the children with suitable relatives or friends. It is often found that children are happier and less distressed in such situations, particularly in the short-term. However, this is not always possible and if not a foster home will be assigned for the children should an emergency care order be put in place. The use of drugs and alcohol by the parents, if proven, is a strong indicating factor of danger to the child. In a study in the London area of 290 cases it has been found that nearly 1 third of cases involved substance misuse, and that these children were even more vulnerable than many of the others because of this. The children were generally very young, as in this case, and the parents had a variety of problems in addition to the substance misuse, either directly or indirectly linked to this problem. Therefore, this case must be looked at extremely carefully and all efforts made to safeguard the children (Department for Education and Skills (DfES), 2002, s. 2.16). This is particularly crucial because many studies have also shown that in many cases, the children were not fully safeguarded and not enough was done to protect the children from harm. Although this must not mean looking at the parents immediately as if they were guilty, it is important to fully and thoroughly assess the situation so that the children remain safe, as this is the number one priority (DfES, 2002, s. 2.11). It is clear in this case that investigation is warranted; as one such allegations are made there is a duty on the part of the local authority to investigate. However, in order for any action to be taken, the threshold for significant harm needs to be met. As mentioned before in this case it seems likely that significant harm might be occurring or likely to occur, but the threshold needs to be met, and this can only be determined by a detailed investigation of the family. This can prove difficult, as a study of 105 cases found that there were varying interpretations of significant harm, even with the guidelines set out in the Children Act. This can make it very difficult to determine what exactly constitutes significant harm, and whether or not action should be taken. However, it seems that being more cautious and putting the rights of the children first, without immediately determining the parents as guilty, is the most appropriate way to act in light of the guidelines (Brandon, Lewi s, and Thoburn, 2007, pp. 15-19). Giving parents ‘the benefit of the doubt’ or not looking deeply into the situation can prove extremely harmful, as was shown in the Victoria Climbie case. In light of this, the government has made sure that organizations are now much more integrated, and that the principle responsibility in such cases is the welfare of the children and making sure the children are safe. This means that staff can now more accurately and easily determine cases of abuse or ill-treatment, and they have the necessary support to follow through such investigations. This is certainly important in this case, as the abuse may be hard to determine, especially if the children are merely dirty or have hygiene issues rather than noticeable wounds or damage (Department of Health., 2003) One of the most difficult factors to decide is if the child is suffering significant harm from seeing violence committed by their parents, perhaps on each other rather than the child. Whilst this cannot yet be determined in this case, if the children themselves are unharmed then the harm caused by witnessing violence cannot be underestimated. In another study by Brandon and Lewis (2007), it was discovered that 49 of the 105 cases reviewed included children who witnessed violence, and in many cases the harm caused to the child was often overlooked or downgraded by the social work professional. Although in this case the circumstances may be different, because the children are already being reported as in poor physical health. However, this issue of witnessing violence must be considered an issue in light of the claims regarding alcohol and drug misuse. In this case, the allegations would require a full investigation of the family, to see whether the thresholds for significant harm and children in need have been reached. If this is the case, then the children will be fully examined, and should be put on a program of health improvement. This may involve removing the children from the parents for a period of time if their health is a real issue or the parents have alcohol and drug misuse problems. However, if this is not the case then a supervision order may be enough to improve the health of the children. If this does not look like improving matters, then more drastic care measures may be taken so as to make sure the children are safe. Whilst this is occurring, it needs to be made sure that all issues of discrimination are dealt with, particularly in the form of racial or age discrimination as these issues are often a problem in child safety assessments such as this. It must also be remembered that whilst the parents may be having problems at this time, if the parents can get support as well then any care placement or supervision order may be short-term, as the aim wherever possible is to keep children with their parents if they can remain safe and healthy in that environment (Bretherton, Huzzard, and Little, 2006). It must also be remembered that whilst the care and safety of the child is important, the parents have needs and rights too and traumatizing them unduly when a more appropriate measure might be an initial talk rather than a full investigation. The children should always come first, but if their parents are accused wrongly then the child’s needs are not being met (Spratt, 2000, pp. 611-615) Scenario 2 Community Care Scenario: Julia, 45 contacted her local disability action group to find out what support might be available to her. Her husband left the family home six months ago, shortly after Julie had given birth to a baby girl and received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Julia’s sight has recently deteriorated and her mother, Anna who is 75, has been commuting thirty miles per day to provide general help around the home and support with the care of the baby. As the social worker/advocate taking Julia’s call how would you advise her? What is she entitled to from social services? What support might be available to the family? In this case, there is a delicate balancing act to be had between giving the disabled parent the right amount of support, making sure the child is adequately cared for, and providing support for the elderly carer. This involves looking at the legislation and guidelines laid out in the Community Care Act, and the Carer’s Act. Firstly, it must be decided whether or not the disability or health issue of the parent is separate from them being a parent, and does not impact on the quality of the life of the child. If this is the case, then the assessment for support is based on an adult assessment framework. However, if it is judged that the child is in need and the disability or health issue of the parent impacts on the well-being of the child, then an assessment must be made under the Children Act with regards to the child’s welfare. Firstly, the parent would be advised that they can be assessed by the NHS and Community Care Act framework to determine the level of support they require. This assessment will not only look at the needs of the disabled parent, but also the ability of the parent to take care of the child. This is included in section 47 of the Community Care Act, which states that a person will be assessed who has a disability, and their needs will be determined with regards to welfare and accommodation. This may involve an inspection of the home to see how it could be improved to meet the needs of the disabled parent, and also in this case the child (North Somerset Council., 2003). This assessment would also determine how much support the parent needs, and therefore how capable they are of looking after the child (OPSI, 1990, S. 47). In this case, it must be pointed out that the parent already requires care in order to look after the child, which at the moment is provided from her elderly mother. However, needing support in order to take better care of the child does not mean that the parent is incapable of looking after the child. However, because of the nature of the disability as something which is only like to get worse from a degenerative illness, an ongoing monitoring of the child’s well-being may well take place. This is so that the child can remain with the parent, but also remains safe should the condition of the parent deteriorate to a point where they can no longer provide adequate care for the child. The parent should be advised that as well as having their own situation looked at with regards to support, an assessment of the child’s care will also be done. It should be pointed out to the parent that this is in no way indicative that their child will be removed into care, but it helps the local authority to make sure the needs of the disabled parent and the child are looked after. The process will eventually lead to a care strategy being created that should allow for services that will help the parent to look after their child and also meet the needs of the adult. It is crucial that the adult is not discriminated against because they are disabled, and that it is not immediately assumed that they are incapable of looking after the child. Whilst the potential for degenerative blindness in the parent is worrying, with adequate support they should still be able to look after their child effectively. This is important because a number of studies have shown that disabled parents are often treated poorly, with their rights as parents looked down upon and their needs not met. A disabled person has the right to have a family and get support for this family, within reasonable limits, and as long as the child can be taken care of so that they are not in need. This is covered by the Human Rights Act of 1998, and means that discrimination against disabled parents is prohibited. In these cases, the children protection agencies and adult care agencies should work together to provide support for the adult so that they can best look after themselves and their child (DirectGov, 2008). The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2003) found that disabled parents often face the assumption that their disability is placing the child at risk. It should be made clear to parents that they are entitled to assistance with parenting tasks from adult community care services. It is important that the rights and needs of the parents are looked after, because by doing this they will be able to look after their child. One other problem is that much of the emphasis is put on ‘Young Carer’s whereby children who are capable will help to care for their parents when they can. They of course receive support, but the overemphasis on this side means that the needs of the parents are overlooked and perhaps too much responsibility is placed on the children. In this case such a young carer is not possible as the child is still only a baby (Wates, 2007). Another issue here is the care being given by the elderly mother of the disabled parent. At 75 years old it is certainly not ideal that she be in charge of caring for the baby and the parent, not because she is incapable but because it is a lot of strain for someone elderly to have to go through. However, if this is only to be a short-term measure or partial relief along with other support services, then the elderly mother can claim support and benefits as a carer under the Carers and Disabled Children Act (OPSI, 2000) and the Carers Act (OPSI, 1995). The carer will be assessed to see if they are qualified or capable of being a care giver, and support will be given to them in order to help carry out this duty. Although in this case it is more likely that this would only be as a short-term or emergency measure, given the age of the potential carer and the fact a young baby and a disabled parent need care. The most important factor here is to make sure that both the adult assessment and child assessment are carried out with the desire to make sure the adult gets the support they need to look after themselves and their child adequately (Solihull NHS., 2006). In this case, one of the best ways to gain support might be through the use of direct payments to the disabled parent, thereby allowing them the chance to arrange support that suits them and their child. The assessment will give the parent a chance to understand the ways in which support can help them, and the direct payment scheme can help them to remain independent (Bytheway et al, 2002, pp. 341-343). Conclusion In both cases, the most important factors are to make sure that the assessment criteria are fulfilled, and that adequate support is given so that both parents and children can remain together in a safe and stable environment. In the first case, the welfare of the child must be of paramount importance, and any risk to the child should be put first. However, it must also be made sure that every effort is made for the parents and children to remain together if the parents can receive support to improve their care giving abilities (Whitney, 2004, pp. 52-55). In the second case, the most important factor is to make sure that the disabled parent gets the support they need and, if possible, continue to look after their child effectively with this support. If these procedures are implemented then both parents and children will be able to remain safe and receive the support they need. Bibliography General: Butler, I., Butler, I.G., and Roberts, G., 2003. Social Work with Children and Families: Getting Into Practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Millam, R., 2002. Anti-Discriminatory Practice: a guide for workers in childcare and education. Continuum International Publishing Group. Parton, N., 1997. Child Protection and Family Support: Tensions, Contradictions and Possibilities. Routledge. Whitney, B., 2004. Protecting Children: A Handbook for Teachers and School Managers. London: RoutledgeFalmer. Scenario 1: Brandon, M.B., and Lewis, A., 2007. Significant harm and childrens experiences of domestic violence. Child and Family Social Work, 1(1), pp. 33-42. Brandon, M.B., Lewis, A., and Thoburn, J., 2007. The Children Act definition of significant harm—interpretations in practice. Health and Social Care in the Community, 4(1), pp. 11-20. Bretherton, H., Huzzard, S., and Little, P., 2006. Family Justice Research Digest, Issue 1. Available at: http://www.family-justice-council.org.uk/docs/rd_06_issue1.pdf Department for Education and Skills (DfES)., 2002. Children Act Report 2002. Available at: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/childrenactreport/docs/DfES-Childrens%20Act.pdf Department of Health., 2003. Keeping Children Safe: The Government’s Response to the Victoria Climbià © Inquiry Report and Joint Chief Inspectors’ Report Safeguarding Children. Available at: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/_files/684162953674A15196BB5221973959E3.pdf Department of Health., 2008. Department of Health Website. (Online). Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm (Accessed 17th August 2008). Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)., 1989. Children Act 1989. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/ukpga_19890041_en_1 Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)., 2004. Children Act 2004. Available at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2004/ukpga_20040031_en_1.htm RPsych., 2008. Overview of the Children Act 1989. (Online). http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/files/samplechapter/102_0.pdf (Accessed 18th August 2008). Spratt, T., 2000. Decision making by senior social workers at point of first referral. British Journal of Social Work, 30, pp. 597-618. Surrey County Council., 2008. What does the term children in need mean? (Online). Available at: http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/What+does+the+term+Children+in+Need+meanQ?opendocument. (Accessed 16th August 2008). Scenario 2: Bytheway, B., et al. 2002. Understanding Care, Welfare and Community: A Reader. London: Routledge. DirectGov., 2008. Rights, legislation and disabled parents. (Online). Available at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Disabledparents/DG_10037905 (Accessed 17th August 2008). Joseph Rowntree Foundation., 2003. Disabled parents are undermined by poor support and negative attitudes, says task force. Available at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/pressroom/releases/240903.asp North Somerset Council., 2003. Parents with Care Needs. Available at: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/611F9138-4C4F-4762-9ECB-5AC16C94622D/0/document_20030701_Protocol19ParentsWithCareNeeds.pdf Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)., 1990. National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19). Available at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1990/ukpga_19900019_en_1   Available at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2000/ukpga_20000016_en_1 Solihull NHS., 2006. Supporting disabled parents – Solihull MBC inter-directorate protocol and staff guidance. Available at: http://www.solihull.nhs.uk/foi/policies/social_care/D%20-%20Disabled%20Parents%20Protocol.pdf

Factors Affecting The Successful Implementation Of Balanced Scorecard Accounting Essay

Factors Affecting The Successful Implementation Of Balanced Scorecard Accounting Essay Aim- The objective of this paper is to exhibit the factors affecting the sucessful implementation of a Balance scorecard. Introduction- A brief idea about balanced scorecard,definition operation. Literature Review and and Analytical framework- Detailed Analytical review of the researchers , on the factors affecting sucessful implementation of BSC. Conclusion A summary of the above topic and recommendations . BSC INTRODUCTION Balance scorecard is a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business and industry, government, and non profit organization worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organization, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organization performance against strategic goals. The first balance scorecard was invented by Art Schneiderman(an independent consultant on the management of processes) in 1987 at analog devices, a mid sized semi conductor company Later on it was restructured by Robert Kaplan and David P. Norton in the use of balance scorecard in their 1992 article on balanaced scorecard.(The balance scorcard) The balance scorecard was made for the improvement in organizational performance and competitiveness. (Arthur M schneiderman) Traditional performance measures are inadequate to measure performance and guide organizations in rapidly changing, complex economic environment. Organizations need to link performance measurement to strategy, and must measure performance in ways that both encourage positive future results and replicate past performance. Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton, among the proponents of these strategic concepts, give a better definition: Balanced scorecard provides managers with the instrumentation they need to navigate to future competitive success. Today, organizations are competing in complex environments so that an accurate understanding of their goals and the methods for attaining those goals is vital. Balance scorecard translates an organizations mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provides the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. It retains an emphasis on achieving financial objective but also includes the performance drivers of these financial objectives, (The Balanced Score Card: Translating Strategy into Action, pp. 1-3) The introduction undertaken discusses first of all how the BSC evaluated with the course of time the need for the same. Then in the literature review a thorough discussion and viewpoint of the authors of articles are taken into consideration followed by a criticism. In the conclusion a proper summary and what the research has produced will be discussed highlighting the importance, need and factors affecting the successful implementation of BSC would be discussed. In the last eleven years, balance scorecard has play an vital role for implementing strategy and monitoring performance. Creating a strategy focused organization (the phrase coined by the founders of the Balanced Scorecard methodology) is a significant, challenging culture change for many organizations. Success in achieving this change requires: Regular executive support and involvement. Education, communication, and visibility of the strategy and measurements of its effectiveness throughout the organization. To review the stragy so that constant feedback is obtained. Tools to enable non-technical users to understand the key drivers of the measures. Translation of the strategy to operational terms so that alignment to strategy and implementation of it occur at all levels of an organization. Process of BSC We have to view the organization from four perspectives in order to relate strategy to achieve organizational goals : Financial perspective Organisations objective will be to earn higher profits by applying all the resources . Kaplan and Norton regards traditional need for financial data. Customer perspective In any business, importance on customer focus is relevant for organizational growth if the customers are not satisfied the revenues will be lowered and as a result return on investment will decrese. Internal business perspective The internal process refers to quality production , timely delivery wich will retain the existing customers and also will improve to find new customers Learning and growth perspective Here employee is trained and motivated ,and improved learning skills are provided To improve the work process, which will improve the quality of the product and alsoTimely delivery. The four perspectives is shown below in form of chart : Literature Review: Factors affecting successful implementation of Balanced Scorecard: Strategy Implementation and control: Here author has stressed the importance about formulation and implementation . Once the strategy has been devised, major problem Is to implement the BSC Scorecard. The most frequent problem include underestimating the time needed for implementation and uncontrollable factors in the external environment.( Helen Atkinson pp.1443,1444) Another author (Ulf johanson et. Al) also argued about idea of BSC implementation.The concept does not allow for an open invitation to participate in learning and development process.Trying to force the objectives on another is risky. Senior management style, is another factor author has bought to the notice . Here he argues that without proper senior management support and delegation it is difficult to properly implement balanced scorecard. Strategic control systems : Strategic control system provides the short term targets that deliver long term goals. Strategic control are required to provide a balance between long term organizational goals and short term operational demands. (Helen Atkinson pp.1446). Thus he sees that there is a need to establish co-ordinated strategic and management control objectives. Furthere more, he points that issues relating to employee and suppliers are not co-related to performance management. Translating vision into strategy,is difficult process as its time consuming focuses on much wider change in the organization.(Helen Atkinson pp.1449) Organizations that have successfully implemented the Balanced Scorecard have achieved remarkable transformations in their financial performance, in many cases vaulting to the top ranks in their industry groups. Many aspects of Balanced Scorecard development and deployment depend on effective use of technology to be successful. Numerous software packages have been developed to help automate the Balanced Scorecard, but it is very difficult to deliver the needed capabilities in a single software package. Therefore, the Microsoft Balanced Scorecard Framework has been developed to allow organizations to: Develop and deploy a scorecard economically using an existing infrastructure. Manage and display the data and knowledge pertinent to Balanced Scorecards. Facilitate analysis of measures so that prompt corrective action can take place. The framework provides a comprehensive, flexible, cost-effective way to deploy the Balanced Scorecard and deliver superior returns on people, processes, customers, and technologies. Management involvement and endorsement- Without the full personal support and endorsement of the executive team the transformation would be impossible. Communication of Balanced scorecard needs to be focused as ,it delivers top management ideas, views on strategy to lower level( Anthony A. Atkinson et al.) Floor level employees are the ones who will achieve the targets, so they should be aware of the objectives and targets provided to them.(Meena Chavan) Scorecard is prepared as one time event .In most cases, Top executive team spends much more time in designing and launching the BSC, as a result there lacks some missing measures at the time of start of project and launch time. Here BSC implementation fails which lacks in considering the review of BSC. (Anthony A. Atkinson et al.) Critical Analysis of the Literature: Referring to Helen Atkinson on strategy implementation and control it is backed up in the sense that without proper implementation of the project, objectives will not drive further. Once the vision is set clear , proper strategy should be chalked out so that Objectives will be achieved without any hindrance. As Atkinson said full involvement of top management is essential in order to achieve organizational goals with the help of balanced scorecard by adopting four perspectives. Morever, internal process plays a vital role in increasing return on investments if, it is properly backed up by employee training and growth. Employees should be provided adequate training to do the job. Many, consultants criticizes that it does not provide a final score or view with proper recommendations or suggestions. It is a simply list of metrics. For Example employees cannot view their score with respective to their objectives. Most of the organisations follows the four perspectives and doesnt allow scope for external perspectives. They should take into consideration external factors according to the needs of the situation and change. Various researchers and authors have critically bought most important issues that will affect the implementation of BSC. We should take their consideration as a review so that BSC will run smoothly in achieving organisational objective In balance between Goals and accountability- I agree with meena chavan, in the sense that all the people should take responsibility of the goals they are given. Unless they take accountability and responsibility goals will not be achieved There are certainly all elements which forms the basis for a good scorecard , however it is important to add some extra detail to the perceptions. The quick consideration of the scorecard should lead to a very specific understanding of the strategy of the organisation . Furthermore, it should not be over financial. Financials are usually,though not always,the measure of success or failure. The balanced scorecard is treated as a consultancy project. It is implemented as a consultancy project rather than management project. By treating it as a consultancy project , time is spent and also cost is increased. In addition, the senior management team will be overpassed , to whom their will be no idea about strategies, objectives of the organization. BSC viewed as short term project No organisation likes to deviate from the objectives and run the same for short period. They insists that whatever strategy they developed should work for long term. This is baseless factors. BSC should be developed as an instrument for change.To grasp the importance of intangible resources in the value creation process and mobilize the attention and action of middle management , BSC should be developed with its emphasis on management control and non-financial indicators. Conclusion: Balanced scorecard was designed to measure organizations performance against strategic goals. It use has been made by most of the fortune 500 companies. For designing of BSC four perspectives are important . Various researches have indicated that BSC should also include others factors in the perspectives such as environment, Job security. Focusing on one measurement of business success can lead to hazardous. In the Literature and books that I have reviewed, while designing the major factors that are responsible for implementation are , formulating strategy,setting up of proper perspectives, formulation of team, communication of the Strategy and objectives and poor score card designs. Furtheremore, balanced scorecard approach requires some major changes in culture within the organization. The balanced scorecard requires understanding commitment and support from the top executive level. Different organizations have different needs, markets, products and services For which balanced scorecard will differ. It has also to consider the various perspectives. Properly designed Balanced scorecard, will address the key problems with strategy implementation, the performance of the organization ,the communication, the role of middle management and existing control systems. Balanced scorecards have been implemented in corporations, government organizations ,non profit organizations and schools. In conclusion , balanced scorecard is a management system , which has overcome the traditional measurement system enables the organization to illuminate their vision and strategy and interpret into action..It provides feedback internal business external business process in order to continuously improve strategic performance and results.

Argumentative Essay: Teachers Should Earn More Than Athletes :: Persuasive Essay

Why do teachers get paid so much less than sports players? A teacher mentors a child or teenager and gives them knowledge. A sports player plays a game in which they are good at and love to do. So why does a sports player live a dream life earning millions of dollars a year while a teacher is stuck living the middle class life. A teacher gives a student the gift of knowledge, teaching them day by day helping the student almost all the time. Giving the student the choice to do something great with their life. Whether or not the student decides to do something with this chance is up to them. On the other hand more sports player have little or no interaction with their fans. The most interaction some sports players have with their younger fans is through charity events, or by being paid to sign autographs. So why are sports players so much more glorified than teachers. The majority of teachers get paid a middle class salary, live a middle class life and harldy ever get looked at as major influences to kids; however, just because a sports player plays a game like no other they could be famous, a millionaire, and looked at as a hero to people across the country or even worldwide. Even when off the field that phenomenal sports player might never do a thing for their fans they are hardly ever looked at negatively for not paying attention to their fans. A teachers job is to pay attention to each and everyone of their students they deal with students day by day and year by year compared to the sports player of having a ten year at most length career. Is it fair that two people born with a gift, one has the gift to play a game like no one else and the other has a gift of teaching. Granted that some aports players can be good role models for their fans and making an adloesence believe in themselves that they can do something great in their life that they never thought possible. But a teacher can show a student that they can also do things they never thought possible. A teacher has the ability to change lives of many students. They should be given more gratitude for doing what they do and for dealing with the stereotypes and disapproval of the students lives they’re trying to change.

Essay --

Three Different Views Of Women In Greek Society The role of women in ancient Greek life was considered to be insignificant compared to that of Greek men. However, in tragedies, women were frequently written as main characters, revealing insights on how women were treated and thought of in society. Many famous Greek plays contain numerous well-written, multifaceted, female characters. Each female character takes upon herself, the role of villain, the role of victim, and the role of heroine. Euripides (485-406 BC) is considered to be the most socially critical of all the ancient Greek tragedians. The Trojan Women (415 BC) has long been considered a fresh artistic depiction of the Trojan War and a penetrating portrayal of the barbaric deeds of Euripides' own countrymen, the Athenians, towards the women and children of the people they conquered in war. Due to the fact of similarities between authors Aeschylus and Euripides, writing in the same place and time, one often make the mistake o f presuming their stance are the same on the particular subject. It would be a mistake to expect Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Euripides’ Medea to express identical views on the subject; each author had a distinctive way. The opinions of these two writers on this subject are in fact different. Aeschylus’ plays revolved around ethics, and usually he presented as impartially as possible, by asking the audience to judge the ethical questions for themselves. Agamemnon is not actually about Agamemnon as much as is about Clytemnestra, his wife. Aeschylus has created a woman, with whom his audience could sympathize, and whose pain felt real to them. This was no small attempt, bearing in mind the fact that in ancient Greece women were looked same as slaves. Euripid... ...?_lang=EN&lah=48193ae191c5dd06a6a177c47e15b633&lat=1052392158&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2echuckiii%2ecom%2fReports%2fEnglish%2fWomens_Roles_in_Aeschylus_and_Euripides%2eshtml) Reference http://64.4.22.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=b755bb350329eac38d5b9297bafdc29b&lat=1052392857&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ericheast%2eorg%2fhtwm%2fGreeks%2fothers%2ehtml http://64.4.22.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=73c7bc41a2e9d127b33cd8a919e534a9&lat=1052393201&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2estoa%2eorg%2fdiotima%2f http://64.4.22.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=b740ba77c9dd0c6ed422cffbb095b5d3&lat=1052393201&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fusers%2eox%2eac%2euk%2f%7eoucds%2fperl%2fview%2epl%2fdefault%2ehtml http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/showcase.html http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmAntigone10.asp http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/eagle/congress/congress.html

Reflections for Creativity Essay

1. What reflections will you need to make before you can start brainstorming ideas? We will need to reflect on each team members personal skills. Evaluate the team’s needs and what the team wants to acheive. 2. Why is it important to acknowledge and learn about the backgrounds and skills of the team members within your group? Its important to know the skills of the people in the group to know what their strong points are and to delegate them to task to efficiently work together. 3. as team leader, give 5 examples of ground rules you would establish, after consulting with the other members of your team. 1) All team members should respect each other’s ideas. 2) Hold each person accountable and responsible. 3) Communication and information sharing procedures 4) Encourage creativity and the development of effective relationships between members of the team. 5) Accept that each member comes from diverse backgrounds, must treat each other with fairness and honesty. 4. Name 5 characteristics you believe you need to possess in order to be an effective team leader? 1) Must be fair and honest 2) Knowledge of how to encourage team members to produce effective results. 3) Provide resources, time and support for the team to form and develop. 4) Teach winning strategies and tactics for the team 5) run interference and remove barriers in order to let employees do their jobs. 5) It is important to utilize external stimuli, to effectively generate new ideas and solutions. Name 5 sources of external stimuli that you could access? 1) Legislation 2) Research data 3) Customer, supplier, shareholder and other stakeholder feedback 4) Best practice information  5) Political and socio-economic information that will impact on operations 6) Describe 3 methods of encouraging your team members to share their knowledge and experience. 1) Celebration of successful innovation 2) Employee recognition, such as employee of the month program 3) Rewards, could be monetary incentive 7) Why is debriefing an integral activity that should be exercised regularly? It is necessary to debrief regularly to ensure that team members are confident of their own abilities and those of other team members. This allows them to reflect individually and as a team on what they have achieved and what is needed to be improved. 8) Your team is generating ideas that you believe have been over used by other fundraising volunteers. List three constructive ways that you can push your team to generate more innovative ideas? 1) We can hold a drawing, and the person with the most innovative idea wins a large prize. 2) Suggest to the team to use external stimuli or other resources to come up with more innovative ideas. 3) Suggest to the team to network and attend seminars to build on more innovative ideas.

Essay on Language Diversity Essay

Language diversity is an important topic for all South Africans to consider since we have 11 official languages. This means that we are challenged when it comes to being able to communicate with one another. This challenge presents itself in various forms, from the workplace to people’s daily lives and personal outlooks surrounding different cultures. Language diversity also influences important issues such as education, Government and adoption. Adoption in South African families is a good example of the language challenges South Africans face. If a family decides to adopt a child from another language, they are essentially uprooting the child from its heritage. If the child is only a baby when it’s adopted, it should be able to integrate into its new family with relative ease, because culture is learned and not inherited. However, if the child is a bit older and has lived some of his/her formative years in his/her original language and culture, the adoptive parents run the risk of not being able to fully understand their child, its unique cultural/ethnic needs/beliefs and/or methods of communication. Families who adopt toddlers, children and/or teenagers from different cultural and language backgrounds will only be able to cope with the unique parental challenges they will face through undertaking to learn about the community their child is from. Although it is important for such parents to integrate their adoptive children into their own cultural practices, so that the child feels truly part of the new family, it is also important that the child’s traditional beliefs and practices are understood by the parents, and where required, integrated into the family. One of the ways in which the adoptive parents may need to integrate the child’s heritage into their family is through learning and using more than one language in the home. If the child’s adoptive parents do not speak the child’s mother tongue, this may leave the child feeling alienated, and could lead to communication issues that could break down family bonds. Conversely, if the child is not taught the language of its adoptive parents, the parents  may feel a separation from the child, and that the child is not truly ‘one of them’, which would be very damaging for both the parents and the child. It is therefore important that the mother tongue of all family members is accepted in the home, and that a multilingual family culture is embraced and cultivated. If families with adopted members learn to understand, accept and embrace one another’s differences, they will be brought together and they will be able to bond on the basis of their shared humanity, rather than feel divided on the basis of their differing cultural practices. An aspect of such an embrace could manifest in the form of learning one another’s languages to break down any communication barriers that may otherwise exist. This process is a very positive one for South Africans because we live in such a culturally and linguistically diverse country. Aside from adoption, language diversity is also an important consideration in relation to Government, education, and interpersonal relationships in South Africa. When individuals communicate in general, it is important that they bear in mind the ‘cooperative principles’ of language usage. This means that both the speaker and the listener needs to be aware of possible ambiguity in sentences, and the speaker needs to be succinct and able to express himself or herself clearly. In the case of education, students who are learning in a language that is not their mother tongue may struggle to be perspicuous and this may obstruct their ability to be understood by their tutors. These students may also struggle to understand what their tutors are communicating to them, and may therefore be unable to interpret complex tasks correctly. Awareness of language diversity – and the barriers it can create – is therefore highly important in education as language, aside from intelligence, could be a deciding factor in a student’s ability to pass a course. Similar concerns also apply to the Government – who hold the burden to communicate with the entire, linguistically diverse nation competently and effectively. Government officials, and the President, must therefore be  certain that their speeches are translated accurately in all languages, as well as all legislation and legal proceedings. If certain laws passed are misunderstood, it could result in civil unrest. During legal proceedings, misunderstanding could even result unfair prosecution. On an interpersonal level, and in the work place, language diversity can be threatening and can create divides among individuals. Although people in the workplace are regularly exposed to other cultures and therefore don’t feel as threatened by them, language barriers could still prevent people from working cohesively. People who are not upper-income earners, and therefore not often exposed to other culture, may perceive the differences among cultures threating, which could in turn hinder their ability to work together in future. In conclusion I think that language diversity is an inextricable part of South African life, and it should be understood and respected by everyone. Citizens of the country should put active effort into learning how to communicate across language and cultural divides. Language diversity should not be seen as a force pushing the different cultures apart, but rather as a challenge that can be mastered in order to foster educational outcomes, political peace and work projects as well as a tool that will bring together families and friendships of all backgrounds.