Definitions of Hrd - 2375 Words

KAYODE OLANIYAN Analysis of Nadler (1970) definition of HRD. 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‚¬ ¦3 Human Resource Development According to Nadler (1970)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 Series of Organised Activities†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 Done Within a Specific Time Frame†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...4 Behavioural Change†¦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 Analysing Nadler (1970) Definition’s with other Authors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 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‚¬ ¦.8 References†¦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‚¬ ¦..9 Bibliography†¦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‚¬ ¦..11 Learning Log for the Past Twelve Months†¦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‚¬ ¦12 Developmental Plans for the Next twelve Months†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 INTRODUCTION The concept of human resource development is seen to have been in existence as far back as 1940s in the early†¦show more content†¦Although this statement might be valid as at when the definition was given in 1970, however, since 1970, there has been a lot of improvement in almost all human resource development definitions and Models. Human resource development now lays more emphasis on making an improved future, and putting things in a better state (Swanson amp; Holton, 2001). Limiting the human resource development activities (learning, training and development) to a particular time frame is not obtainable in profitable and effective organisations. A lot has been written and said about what lies in the future of human resource development, and the current trends of human resource development lays much emphasis on the importance of keeping the field relevant, by embracing technological revolution, adopting a more strategic focus, and measuring the contribution of human resource development to organisation’s success (McGuire amp; Cseh, 2006). This further shows that the trends have changed, human resource development is not static, its focused on the now, and the future. This totally contradicts Nadler’s definition as he fails to look into the future of human resource development. Grieves and Redman (1999) took a critical look on the characteristics of human resource development, and its purpose. They stated that human resource development facilitates competitive advantage, because itShow MoreRelatedImportance Of Article To Students. Measurement And Evaluation1739 Words   |  7 PagesImportance of Article to Students Measurement and evaluation is applicable in the field of HRD where it should be utilized in training and development. More and more, executives desire proof that funds devoted to learning programs are successful and ME makes that possible. Students need to be cognizant of barriers to the utilization of evaluation within the organization. According to Wang and Wang (2005), â€Å"the analytical barrier, the business barrier, and the technical barrier† are a reality andRead MoreWhy The Artifact Was Selected988 Words   |  4 Pagesseminar paper written as a literature review to address topics, theories, issues, and trends in HRD in the course Seminar in Human Resource Development. This artifact considers strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices in terms of what human resource (HR) practitioners are doing and how it affects the organizations they are doing it in and the field of human resource development (HRD). Definitions of SHRM are represented as; a human resourc e system designed for the mandates of business strategyRead MoreHuman Resource Development Essay1671 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Resource Development (HRD) is often seen to be a central feature of SHRM. Discuss the role and importance of HRD in achieving SHRM organizational outcomes. Introduction Learning and development in the context of organizational development is having an essential role in achieving strategic human resourcing outcome. From attraction and retention, to development and utilisation of human capital, Human Resource Development (HRD) is the centre of strategic focus in HRM. This essay aims to presentRead MoreEssay on Human Resource Development1689 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Resource Development (HRD) is often seen to be a central feature of SHRM. Discuss the role and importance of HRD in achieving SHRM organizational outcomes. Introduction Learning and development in the context of organizational development is having an essential role in achieving strategic human resourcing outcome. From attraction and retention, to development and utilisation of human capital, Human Resource Development (HRD) is the centre of strategic focus in HRM. This essay aims to presentRead MoreState Owned Enterprise2217 Words   |  9 Pagescentral, provincial, county or municipal government. This broad definition of SOEs reflects privatization reform since the 1990s. China has stunningly triumphant for its transition from a command economy to a market-oriented economy and for its transition from a rural agricultural society to an urban industrial one (Zhao, Ning and Yu, 2010). However, China’s economic transition has been negatively influenced by its underdeveloped National HRD and HR capabilities within enterprises. Therefore, reformingRead MoreOrganizational Socialization and Job Satisfaction1519 Words   |  7 Pagestraditional hu man resources development (HRD) views tend to underestimate the dynamic social processes of members within the workgroup. The data of the study indicates that high-quality relationships have a positive effect on learning and incorporation into the workgroup and thereby the organization although the strategy is not uniformly applied across the workgroups of this company. These observations indicate a more strategic view for HRD that goes beyond socialization. HRD should serve the collective needsRead MoreAre Western Management Concepts (Like Hrd) Applicable Worldwide?2500 Words   |  10 PagesAre western management concepts (like HRD) applicable worldwide? â€Å"Every aspect of a firms activities is determined by the competence, motivation and general effectiveness of its human organization. Of all the tasks of management, managing the human component is the most important task because all else depends upon how well it is done.†(Likert 1967). Although this quote has already over 40 years of age, the core statement has not changed in any way. Still, managers have to focus on the people workingRead MoreFormal Education And Human Resource Development1888 Words   |  8 Pagesone such as Human Resource Development (HRD). Much of the formal education for HRD is taught in theory; there is no book to look into to find a solution for some problems in this field. This is where the expertise of others in your field comes into play. This job relies not only on the knowledge learned during your formal education but on the research and experiences of others in similar situations. There is no one solution that can be applied to every HRD iss ue to get the same results, rather aRead MoreHuman Resource Development963 Words   |  4 Pages6. Few HRD professionals would disagree that practice plays an important role in learning and retention. Using your knowledge of the conditions of practice, what sort of practice do you think would be most effective for training mechanics in a new installation procedure for automobile air-conditioners? How about for training new managers to comply with a new Employee Assistant Programme Act. Jon M. Werner and Randy L. DeSimone in their book Human Resource Management defined Human Resource DevelopmentRead MoreCsr Practices Of Indian Corporate Houses : Hrd Intervention3184 Words   |  13 PagesPRACTICES OF INDIAN CORPORATE HOUSES: HRD INTERVENTION 1. Chitra Raje Basera, Research Scholar, Faculty of Management Studies, Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan. E-mail: chitra.basera@gmail.com 2. Dr BS Rathore, Associate Professor, Faculty of Management Studies, Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan. Email: bsrathore555@gmail.com CSR PRACTICES OF INDIAN CORPORATE HOUSES: HRD INTERVENTION Abstract In the recent

Awareness of action discrepancy and action authorship in schizophrenia Free Essays

Introduction This study builds on previous research which has investigated the awareness of agency in schizophrenia patients with and without delusions of control. Individuals suffering from schizophrenia can show delusions which cause them to believe that their thoughts and actions are in control of external forces. In such individuals, previous research has shown that there is increased and abnormal activity in certain brain areas when compared to healthy subjects. We will write a custom essay sample on Awareness of action discrepancy and action authorship in schizophrenia or any similar topic only for you Order Now This fMRI study therefore investigates how these brain areas respond in two different tasks: 1) awareness of action discrepancy, and 2) awareness of action authorship. An experimental paradigm used by Farrer et al (2007) will be replicated, using a manual peg removal task. It is expected that in healthy individuals and schizophrenics without delusions of control will show normal activity in the specified brain areas in both of the studies. However, schizophrenics with delusions of control will show abnormally high activity in both studies, demonstrating an abnormality in brain function. Scientific Summary (max 200 words): Currently, there is a wealth of research investigating action authorship in healthy individuals and schizophrenics. These have shown that the rIPL, specifically the Ag, and the TPJ in healthy subjects and schizophrenics without delusions of control show increased BOLD signals to the experience of agency (self or other). However, it has been found that schizophrenics with delusions of control exhibit hyperactivity in these areas, and are more likely to misattribute an action to themselves or an external force. An experimental paradigm used by Farrer et al (2007) will be replicated, using a manual peg removal task – as research is somewhat ambiguous when it comes to brain activity relating to awareness of action discrepancy and awareness of action authorship, the two will be separated into two studies. It is expected that in both studies healthy subjects and schizophrenics without delusions of control will show normal brain function – rIPL activity to detecting a delay in the first study, and TPJ activity to the experience of agency uncertainty. However, the schizophrenics with delusions of control in study 1, will show hyperactivity of the rIPL and TPJ BOLD signals due to their perceived ambiguity of action agency, and study 2, will show similar results as they misattribute the action to external forces more so than the other subjects. 1. Background of the Project: Distinguishing oneself from others is something we all take for granted and give the self-other distinction and the source of our perceptions very little explicit thought in everyday life. It seems that the self-other distinction is automatic and operates via non-conscious cognitive processes and aids us in daily social interactions and situations (van den Bos Jeannerod, 2002). However, this ability is not clear-cut and definite in all individuals as it can be impaired to varying extents in a range of pathological and psychiatric disorders, i.e. schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is characterised by irregular beliefs, behaviours and experiences. Additionally, patients can typically exhibit symptoms which indicate abnormalities in self-attributing their own actions and thoughts: symptoms such as acoustic or verbal hallucinations and delusions of alien control can all relate to a sense of losing authorship/agency and giving the feeling of being controlled by external forces (Mellor, 1970; Spence et al, 1997). Schneider (1995) classed these as the first-rank symptoms and these were explained by the individuals losing their normal capability to monitor their self-generated intentions and actions (Feinberg, 1978; Frith, 1992). Before considering where these deficits lie in schizophrenia individuals, it is important to establish how the brain areas of healthy subjects function in response to agency tasks. Functional neuroimaging has allowed the neural correlates of motor control to be examined in great detail. In healthy subjects, awareness of action has been associated with the right inferior parietal lobule (rIPL) (Frith et al, 2000; Sirgu et al, 2004). Additionally, increased activity has been reported in specifically the right angular gyrus (Ag) of the rIPL when healthy subjects show an awareness that they are not in control of a certain motor action (Farrer Frith, 2002; Farrer et al, 2007). Further evidence has found that the Ag activity is correlated with the degree of discrepancy between the intended consequence of the action and the actual consequence of the action (Farrer et al, 2003). Other neuroimaging research has demonstrated that when healthy subjects do not feel authorship of an action or when they sensed a discrepancy between predicted and actual movements, activity in the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) was increased (Leube et al, 2003; David et al, 2007; Farrer et a l, 2008; Spengler et al, 2009). This suggests that the TPJ has a very important role in whether we feel a sense of authorship of an action or if there is a discrepancy present. The first model which accounts for the mechanisms underlying the sense of agency is the Predictive Forward Model of motor control (Wolpert et al, 1995; Frith et al, 2000; Haggard, 2005). This model states that when an action is performed, predictions are made about the sensory movement consequences; this is based on the motor efference copy (von Holst Mittelstaedt, 1950). Next, such predictions are compared with real sensory feedback signals which arise as a consequence of the movement and these contribute to a sense of agency if no error signals are arise. If the comparison fails, and error signals occur, then the action is experienced as other-generated, or as action failure which can be corrected without conscious awareness (Slachesky et al, 2001). Now, considering schizophrenia individuals, delusions of control can comprise the belief that one’s actions are being influenced by an external force/agent (e.g. an alien, spirit or machine) (Mellor, 1970). When patients with such delusions are compared to schizophrenics without delusions of control they show impaired motor performance (Mlakar et al,, 1994; Spence et al, 1997). Recently, neuroimaging studies have allowed motor control and any dysfunctions in the neural correlates to be investigated. Firstly, research has shown that like healthy subjects, schizophrenic patients show increased activity in the rIPL when looking at action authorship; however, a different pattern is seen. The spontaneous resting activity of the rIPL is significantly higher than that of healthy subjects (Spence et al, 1997; Whalley et al, 2004; Jeannerod, 2009; Jardri et al, 2011) and additionally, this activity is poorly modulated by a discrepancy between predicted movement and actual movement cons equences (Farrer et al, 2004). This would suggest that there is a deficit in the parietal mechanism which could be responsible for the impaired sense of agency found in schizophrenia. In relation to the TPJ, there have been anatomo-functional changes which have been reported in schizophrenia (Torrey, 2007; Wible et al, 2009), and sulcal displacements and volume reductions in this region were evidenced in patients who reported delusions of control (Maruff et al, 2005; Plaze et al, 2011). Previous studies have not been able to disambiguate between brain activity related to awareness of action discrepancy and awareness of action authorship in schizophrenic patients. Therefore, the present study is going to use a slight modification of Farrer et al (2007) experimental paradigm in order to clarify which brain areas are functioning or functioning abnormally in response to the task. It is unclear specifically which process recruits which aforementioned brain regions and this can be achieved by using an experimental design which breaks down the processes into two separate methods. Two fMRI studies will be undertaken and manipulations will include: 1) the awareness of one’s own action being consistent with the predicted action and 2) the experience of being the agent or not being the agent of an action (i.e. authorship/agency). Study 1 will include delays in visual feedback of actions to manipulate the relationship between predicted and actual sensory consequences of the action. Therefore, brain activity can be monitored to see when subjects are aware vs. unaware of these discrepancies with no bearing on authorship. Uncertainty of authorship will be introduced in study 2 to allow the observation of brain activity in response to manipulations of action authorship. 2. Questions to be answered: Will a difference be found in rIPL and TPJ activity of healthy subjects, schizophrenics with delusions of control and schizophrenics without delusions of control in study 1? Will a difference be found in rIPL and TPJ activity of healthy subjects, schizophrenics with delusions of control and schizophrenics without delusions of control in study 2? Will there a difference in brain activity between studies 1 and 2? 3. Plan of Investigation: 3.1. Subjects In accordance with medical research guidelines, after complete description of the study, written informed consent will be obtained from each participant. 12 schizophrenics with delusions of control (6 male, 6 female), and 12 schizophrenics without delusions of control (6 male, 6 female) will be recruited from London teaching hospitals, satisfying the DSM IV-R criteria for schizophrenia. Additionally, 12 healthy subjects (6 male, 6 female) will be used as controls, matched on age, sex and IQ. Each participant will be identified as right hand dominant. A quantitative assessment of the schizophrenia symptoms will be performed using the PANSS (Kay et al, 1987). Criteria for the schizophrenic patients with delusions of control are that they score 4 or 5 on the â€Å"delusions of control† item in the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (Andreasen, 1984). The criteria for the schizophrenics without delusions of control will be that they have never experienced such delusions. Exclusion criteria will include any history of substance abuse or dependency, as well as any history of serious head injury or any other neurological or psychiatric disorders. 3.2. Stimuli Procedure As stated before, the experimental paradigm is very similar to Farrer et al (2007). Study 1: A manual peg task will be performed with visual feedback delayed by 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 or 300 ms. A board with 33 holes and 25 pegs will be used. For each experimental block the placement of the pegs will be different to avoid any recall of peg positioning. An infrared camera will film the grid and this image will be sent to a delay unit and be delayed for the required time. The feedback image will then be linked to the LCD projector so that the subjects are able to see the delayed action feedback on the rear projection screen at the head of the bore. Therefore there are 7 conditions: 1 with no delay, and 6 with varying delays. A block design will be used with 8 blocks (20s each); the subjects will have to remove the pegs from the board for the 20s duration – this will then be followed by a rest condition with no action required or stimuli present. Each run involved the 7 conditions in a counterbalanced order. After each block finishes, each subject will be asked to state whether they perceived delays in the visual feedback of their movements: the right hand thumb down for â€Å"no† and thumb up for â€Å"yes†. Study 2: The procedure and stimuli will be the same as study 1. However, the subjects will be required to perform index and middle finger alternating actions without pause whilst watching the feedback screen. The delays used will be 800 and 1000ms. Each run will consist of 120s of alternating finger movement, and 30s rest and will be repeated 5 times. The subjects will be told that they can either see their own or another’s movements after the delay, and this would occur randomly. However, in fact subjects will only be able to see their own movements delayed, causing them to switch from self to other. They also will be required to assert whether they think they see themselves or another individual carrying out the action. They will be required to press one of two buttons to show this. To prevent any other source of recognisable information that could give away the authorship of the movement, subjects will be required to wear a snug fitting glove to prevent any recognition cues . 3.3. Image Acquisition and Analysis Studies 1 and 2 used the same functional imaging acquisition procedure. A 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner with a SENSE head coil will be used. For each run an ultrafast echo planar gradient echo imaging (EPI) sequence sensitive to blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast will be used to obtain 25 slices per time repetition, (4.5mm thickness, 1mm gap, in plane resolution, 3.125 x 3.125mm). TR = 2500ms, TE = 35ms. A co-planar, T1-weighted, axial fast spin echo sequence will be used to acquire 25 slices (4.5mm slice thickness with 1mm gap), TE = Min full, TR = 650ms, ET = 2, field of view = 24cm. A whole brain T1-weighted structural image will also be acquired (0.94?0.94?1.2mm) (Farrer et al, 2007). A head restraint will also be used to reduce any head movement during the scan in order to reduce any motion artefact. 4. Details of Data Analysis: Both studies 1 and 2 will perform image analyses and statistical analyses using the SPM99 (http://fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/software/spm99). Functional scans will be realigned, spatially normalised and smoothed using a Gaussian kernel to remove any movement artefacts and to place the data from each subject into a common anatomical frame. The statistical analysis is similar to the analysis carried out by (Farrer et al, 2007). Study 1: Two statistical analyses of the fMRI data will be performed. Firstly, movement-related activity, a simple contrast between the experimental blocks and the rest blocks. Secondly, delay-detection activity, the subjects’ responses in the detection of the delay will allow the assessment of between trials where subjects did or did not perceived the delay (Farrer et al, 2007). Study 2: Two statistical comparisons will be performed. Firstly, movement-related activity, the experimental blocks across all conditions for each subject will be grouped and the main effect of task will be created. Secondly, perturbed agency, the subjects’ response to the visual feedback will allow differentiation between trials where the subject experienced self or other action authorship. (Farrer et al, 2007). For both studies, one-tailed t-tests will be used for each of the contrast images. The set of t-values obtained will constitute a statistical parametric map which will show significant areas of BOLD signals. 5. Expected Outcomes: The Expected fMRI Results: Study 1: Consistent with prior research, it is expected that the healthy subjects will show significant activation in the in the rIPL, specifically the Ag, when detecting a discrepancy (detection of delay) (Frith et al, 2000; Sirgu et al, 2004; Farrer Frith, 2002; Farrer et al, 2007). No TPJ activity is expected in the healthy subjects as study 1 is not meant to bring about the experience of agency uncertainty; this will be supported by previous research which shows the TPJ to have a role in determining if an action is not ours (Leube et al, 2003; David et al, 2007; Farrer et al, 2008; Spengler et al, 2009). Schizophrenics without delusions of control are predicted to show very similar brain activation to the healthy subjects; this can be justified because they have had no prior experience of delusions of control and shouldn’t have any problems with determining action authorship (Spence et al, 1997) – however, this is not entirely certain, and only a prediction. As for the schizophrenics with delusions of control, it is expected that brain activity will be abnormal; the delay detected by the patient could elicit hyperactivation in the rIPL, specifically the Ag, and the TPJ and give rise to misattribution of agency (Spence et al, 1997; Whalley et al, 2004; Jeannerod, 2009; Jardri et al, 2011). Unlike the healthy controls and schizophrenics without delusions of controls, it is predicted that they will be unable to attribute the movement to themselves after the delay. Study 2: It is expected that because of the ambiguity of the movement in terms of agency, healthy subjects and schizophrenics without delusions of control will show increased activity in the rIPL, but also in the TPJ due to the uncertainty of agency (Frith et al, 2000; Sirgu et al, 2004; Farrer Frith, 2002; Farrer et al, 2007; Leube et al, 2003; David et al, 2007; Farrer et al, 2008; Spengler et al, 2009). After being told that the action is ambiguous (i.e. self or other) it is predicted that the schizophrenics with delusions of control – similar to study 1 – will be more likely to misattribute the movement to another agent with a greater perturbation of their sense of agency compared to the other subjects. Additionally, the activity in the rIPL and TPJ is expected to show hyperactivation in comparison to the other subjects. (Spence et al, 1997; Whalley et al, 2004; Jeannerod, 2009; Jardri et al, 2011). Finally, it is expected that there will be a greater overlap between brain areas active in both studies for the schizophrenics with delusions of control compared to the other subjects. 6. Details of any difficulties that can be foreseen: Although the subjects will be paid for their participation in the study, locating both schizophrenics with and without delusions of control may prove to difficult as they must be situated near the fMRI site as it is very unlikely that they will wish to travel long distances due to time and other issues. The criteria provided will narrow down the potential sample further. When using fMRI, it is important to acknowledge that the BOLD signals are considered to be an indirect measure of brain activity, therefore potentially, all brain responses may not be recorded for each of the stimuli. However, fMRI is viewed as one of the most effective ways to investigate brain activity without invasive procedure in this paradigm. It will be made certain that all precautions are met, and imaging acquisition and analysis are meticulously carried out. Due to the nature of schizophrenia and the wide variety of symptoms shown, it is possible that during the scanning process, certain subjects might experience symptoms that are debilitating to the scanning process which are out of the control of the experimenter. Medical staff will be on standby in case any violent/aggressive symptoms occur. There is a small chance of such an incident happening, but careful preparation can minimise the risk. 7. Future purpose and Theoretical Implications: If the results are as expected, this will have significant implications for several research areas. Firstly, it will add to the abundance of literature on the involvement of the rIPL and TPJ in response to action discrepancy and authorship in healthy individuals (e.g. (Frith et al, 2000; Sirgu et al, 2004; Farrer Frith, 2002; Farrer et al, 2007; Leube et al, 2003; David et al, 2007; Farrer et al, 2008; Spengler et al, 2009). Furthermore, it will demonstrate that symptoms vary massively across schizophrenia patients – there are deficits in the functioning of neural correlates (i.e. the rIPL and TPJ) between those with and without delusions of control, and will add to the relevant literature (e.g. (Spence et al, 1997; Whalley et al, 2004; Jeannerod, 2009; Jardri et al, 2011). Future research could delve into the severity of the symptoms of both the schizophrenics with and without delusions of control, and investigate whether it has an effect on subsequent brain activity. If a significant correlation is found it could be used as a â€Å"state-marker† of schizophrenia. As Jardri et al (2011) suggested such an increase in activity of the rIPL and TPJ in those with delusions could demonstrate a neuro-physiological signature in those suffering from the disease. Additionally, it gives further evidence that the deficient parietal mechanism is responsible for the impaired sense of agency demonstrated in schizophrenics with delusions of control. Therefore, as they have problems linking their intentions to their actions, it suggests that for future research the disconnection should not be looked for at the sensorimotor level, but rather, like this experiment, it should be looked for within the cortical network which is known to be responsible for the representations of motor function. References: David, N., Cohen, M., Newen, A., Bewernick, B., Shah, N., Fink, G., Vogeley, K. (2007). The extrastriate coretex distinguishes between the consequences of one’s own and others’ behaviour. Neuroimage, 26, 1004-1014. Farrer, C., Frith, C. (2002). Experiencing oneself vs another person as being the cause of an action: the neural correlates of the experience of agency.Neuroimage, 15, 596-603. Farrer, C., Franck, N., Georgieff, N., Frith,C., Decety, J., Jeannerod, M. (2003). Modulating the sense of agency: a PET study. Neuroimage, 18, 324-333. Farrer, C., Franck, N., Georgieff, N., Frith, C., Decety., d’Amato, T., Jeannerod, M. (2004). Neural correlates of action attribution in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res, 131, 31-44. Farrer, C., Frey, S., van Horn, J., Tunik, E., Turk, D., Inati, S., Grafton, S. (2007). The angular gyrus computes action awareness representations. Cereb Cortex, 18, 254-261. Feinberg, I. (1978). Efference copy and corollary discharge. Implications for thinking and its disorders. Schizophr Bull, 4, 636-640. Frith, C. (1992). The cognitive neuropsychology of schizophrenia. Lawrence Erlbaum Assocaites, Hove. Frith, C., Blakemore, S., Wolpert, D. (2000). Abnormalities in the awareness and control of action. The Royal Society, 355, 1771-1788. Haggard, P. (2005). Conscious intention and motor cognition. Trends Cogn Sci. 9, 290-295. Jardri, R., Pins, D., Lafarge, G., Very, E., Ameller, A., Delmaire, C., Thomas, P. (2011). Increased overlap between the brain areas involved in self-other distinction in schizophrenia. Plos One, 6, 3. Jeannerod, M. (2009). The sense of agency and its disturbances in schizophrenia: a reappraisal. Exp Brain Res, 192, 527-532. Kay, S., Fiszbein, A., Opler, L. (1987). The positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull, 13, 261-276. Leube, D., Knoblich, G., Erb, M., Grodd, W., Bartels, M., Kircher, T. (2003). The neural correlates of perceiving one’s own movements. Neuroimage, 20, 2084-2090. Maruff, P., Wood, S., Velakoulis, D., Smith, D., Soulsby, B., et al. (2005). Reduced volume of parietal and frontal association areas in patients with schizophrenia characterised by passivity delusions. Psychol Med, 35, 783-789. Mellor, C. (1970). First rank symptoms of schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry, 117, 15-23. Mlakar, J., Jensterle, J., Frith, C. (1994). Central monitoring deficiency and schizophrenic symptoms. Psychol Med, 24, 557-564. Plaze, M., Paillere-Martinot, M., Penttila, J., Januel, D., de Beaurepaire, R. Et al. (2011). Where do auditory hallucinations comes fromA brain morphometry study of schizophrenia patients with inner or outer space hallucinations. Schizophr Bull, 37, 212-221. Sirgui, A., Daprati, E., Ciancia, S., Giraux, P., Nighohhossian, N., Posada, A., Haggard, P. (2004). Altered awareness of voluntary action after damange to the parietal cortex. Nat Neurosci, 7, 80-84. Slachevsky, A., Pillon, B., Fourneret, P., Pradat-Diehl, P., Jeannerod, M., Dubois, B. (2001). Preserved adjustment but impaired awareness in sensory-motor conflict following prefrontal lesions. J Cogn Neurosci, 13, 332-340. Spence, S., Brooks, D., Hirsch, S., Liddle, P., Meehan, J., Grasby, P. (1997). A PET study of voluntary movement in schizophrenic patients experiencing passivity phenomena (delusions of alien control). Brain, 120, 1997-2011. Spengler, S., Yves von Cramon, D., Brass, M. (2009). Was it me or was it youHow the sense of agency originates from ideomotor learning revealed by fMRI. Neuroimage, 46, 290-298. Torrey, E. (2007). Schizophrenia and the inferior parietal lobule. Schizophr Res, 97, 215-225. Van den Bos, E., Jeannerod, M. (2002). Sense of body and sense of action both contribute to self-recognition. Cognition, 85, 177-187. Von Holst, E., Mittelstaedt, G. (1950). Das reafferenzprinzip. Naturwissenschaften, 37, 464-476. Whalley, H., Simonotto, E., Flett, S., Marshall, I., Ebmeier, K., Owens, D., Goddard, N., Johnstone, E., Lawrie, S. (2004). fMRI correlates of state and trait effect in subjects at genetically enhances risk of schizophrenia. Brain, 127, 478-490. Wible, C., Preus, A., Hashimoto, R. (2009). A cognitive neuroscience view of schizophrenic symptoms: abnormal activation of a system for scoail perception and communication. Brain Imaging Behav, 3, 85-110. Wolpert, D., Ghahramani, Z., Jordan, M. (1995). An internal model for sensorimotor integration. Science, 269, 1880-1882. How to cite Awareness of action discrepancy and action authorship in schizophrenia, Essay examples

The Role of Midwife in Health Advancement †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Role of Midwife in Health Advancement. Answer: The Role of Midwife in Health Advancement According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is the complete state of physical, social wellbeing, and mental of an individual and not the absence of infirmity or disease. The definition of health by WHO integrates the key model of health, this means that wellbeing and health are the result of the integration of emotional, physical, and intellectual factors. Health promotion has emerged due to the increasing realization by the society that health is one of the most valuable assets one can have. Therefore, a midwife has the key responsibility to ensure health promotion. In this case, the essay seeks to discuss the role of midwives in health promotion. Breastfeeding is one of the paramount forms of nutrition for babies, which is an imperative topic when it comes to health promotion. However, it is equally important to understand that, health promotion is not just a role of the midwife but rather a core competence. According to Sharma (2016), the Midwifery and Nursing Council outlines the duties and responsibilities of the midwife, which include, helping people improve their health. Thus, midwives have the role of promoting and protecting the wellbeing and health of the people under their care. Health promotion can be described as a mechanism to achieve the desired state of health. Fadl, Blair, and Hassounah (2016) suggest that heath promotion is characterized by a number of approached which include, behavioral, medical, educational, empowerment, and the societal. Therefore, it is imperative for midwives to consider this approached in order to promote the health and wellbeing of those who are under their care. Midwives influence women and their families on a daily basis. This means that midwives can influence the way this group of people handles their health issues during childbirth and beyond. Mukhtar (2016) points out that, in every interaction, a midwife has with a woman, it creates another opportunity to promote and improve the long- term health, and this is because midwives are the most trusted figures in health promotion. For instance, midwives can advise women to breastfeed their babies to improve their health and that of the baby. Such information is positive as it will instill the feeling of accountability on the mother, this is vital as it will influence the mother to take up the responsibility of breastfeeding the baby so that it can have a good health. Therefore, it is important for midwives to pass positive information not only to women but also to the entire population in order to safeguard their health (Bowden Manning, 2016). In conclusion, midwives have the duty to implement positive strategies in order to promote the health and wellbeing of the people under their care. In this case, it is imperative for midwives to equip themselves with knowledge and skills necessary in health promotion like breastfeeding and women empowerment so that they can properly breastfeed their babies. Therefore, midwives should develop effective strategies that aim at improving the health of women and their children. By doing so, midwives will have succeeded in the core role of health promotion. References Bowden, J., Manning, V. (Eds.). (2016).Health promotion in midwifery: principles and practice. CRC Press. 10(06). 34-78 El Fadl, R. A., Blair, M., Hassounah, S. (2016). Integrating Maternal and Children's Oral Health Promotion into Nursing and Midwifery Practice-A Systematic Review.PloS one,11(11), e0166760. Mukhtar, M. (2016). Role of Nurses and other Health Care Providers in Promotion of Health In Pakistan. 10(14) 123- 180 Sharma, M. (2016).Theoretical foundations of health education and health promotion. Jones Bartlett Publishers.3(7) 15-28

Television Essays - Television Technology, Television,

Television TELEVISION We have at least a television in our home. television allows us to hear and see events as soon as they happen. If our grandma's mother or father see TV, they'll suprised and say 'This is diablo's machine!'. We watch TV at least two hour in a day. HOW WORKS TV? When a TV program is broadcast the sound and picture are sent out simultaneously by two different radio systems. The TV camera takes the picture. Camera is the most important part of the camera. The light from the object is allowed to fall on a light sensivite plate located inside the camera tube by the lens. This plate consists of thousands of light sensivite particles which act as photoelectric cells. Each photoelectric cell gives off electrons in the same proportion as the light falling on it. This forms an image on the plate. The bright and dark spots form an electric current which leaves the transmitter as carrier waves. These waves are picked up by the receiver. The TV receiver picks up both the sound and the picture. The antenna of the TV set picks up the weak current and passes it to a cathode ray tube which is called the picture tube. The electron beam scans the screen of the picture tube in exactly the same way that it scanned the target of the camera tube and a picture is formed on TV screen. The image on the screen changes 25 times a second and, since we can't detect individual pictures moving at this speed, we see a continuously moving image. WHO INVENTED THE TV? Television wasn't invented by a man. Many people helped for inventing TV. (For example German Nipkow (1884) , Russian Rosing (1911) , American Zworikin...) DEVELOPERS 1884?Nipkow**German** 1911?Rosing**Russian**-Zworikin**American** 1923-1928?Baird**English** 1923-1928?Barthelemy-Halweck**French** TV's STEPS in WORLD ? N?PKOW He made a TV and he invented scanning disk with holes. ? ROS?NG & ZWORYK?N They invented first vision on screen. ? BAIRD & HALWECK-BARTHELEMY Baird in England , Halweck and Barthelemy in France transmit blur visions with radioelectiric waves. ? 1947 The visions became clear visions ? 1951 Colored TV was invented. ? 1953 & 1962 Eurovision in 1953 , Mondovision in 1962 were broadcasted and TV became a important thing in world. TV's STEPS in TURKEY ? 1963 A education center for TV was builded. ? 1966 A small broadcaster was bought for Ankara and started closed broadcasting. ? 1984 We started colored broadcasting.

Saint Brigid essays

Saint Brigid essays Saint Brigid was born in 543, and raised in Count Louth, Ireland. Her feast day is February the first. She dedicated her life to God. When Brigid was born her mother was sold to a slave owner. When Brigid was old enough she left her mother to go live with her father. Brigid was a beautiful young woman who wanted to become a nun. Many men wanted to marry her so she asked God to make her ugly. Once she became a nun God made her beautiful again. She built convent schools and started hospitals. Brigid liked working with dairy animals. She took care of the cattle that were at her convent. She is best known for her concern for the poor, caring for the hungry, and always giving to those who are in need. Brigid started the first monastery for women. It soon became a monastery for both men and women. Brigid died on February 1, 525. My saint is considered a patron saint. She is the patron saint of sailors, Ireland, and babies. She died at Kildare from natural causes. She is buried next to Saint Patrick and Saint Columbia in Downpatrick, Ireland. Brigid is known as Mary of the Geal, and the other Irish Saint. I think Brigid has many gifts from the Holy Spirit such as wisdom, courage, and knowledge. I chose Brigid because I liked the fact that she dedicated her life to God and helped the poor as much as she could. She also travled all around the world to help the hungry. ...

Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History

Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History Visiting the fourth floor of the American Museum of Natural History in New York is a bit like dying and going to dinosaur heaven: there are over 600 complete or near-complete fossils of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and primitive mammals on display here (these are just the tip of the prehistoric iceberg, since the museum also maintains a collection of over one million bones, accessible only to qualified scientists). The large exhibits are arranged cladistically, evoking the evolutionary relationships of these extinct reptiles as you go from room to room; for example, there are separate halls devoted to ornithischian and saurischian dinosaurs, as well as a Hall of Vertebrate Origins devoted largely to fish, sharks, and the reptiles that preceded the dinosaurs. Why Does AMNH Have so Many Fossils? This institution was at the forefront of early paleontology research, represented by such famous paleontologists as Barnum Brown and Henry F. Osborn- who ranged as far afield as Mongolia to collect dinosaur bones, and, naturally enough, brought the best samples back for permanent exhibition in New York. For this reason, a whopping 85 percent of the display skeletons at the American Museum of Natural History are composed of real fossil material, rather than plaster casts. Some of the most impressive specimens are Lambeosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Barosaurus, among a cast of hundreds. Planning to Go? If youre planning a trip to AMNH, keep in mind that theres much, much more to see than dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. This museum has one of the worlds best collections of gems and minerals (including a full-sized meteorite), as well as vast halls devoted to extant mammals, birds, reptiles and other creatures from around the globe. The anthropology collection- much of which is devoted to Native Americans- is also a source of wonder. And if youre feeling really ambitious, try attending a show at the nearby Rose Center for Earth and Space (previously the Hayden Planetarium), which will set you back a bit of cash but is well worth the effort.

Team Building Course Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Team Building Course - Research Paper Example It must be noted here that the company is striving hard to achieve HSE standards. The staff of the planning division of Abu Dhabi Oil Company underwent a team building course to develop its work force into a team with a focused aim. The course was conducted at Abu Dhabi on 30th and 31st of November 2012. Scientifically designed managerial approach was followed to develop the work force as a good team. In order to achieve this larger objective, the course initially explored the key strengths and potential of the team. The areas where the team has to focus in terms of further development of the company were highlighted in the course. However, it is very important to identify the obstacles that current team faces in terms of having focused objectives and working towards achieving them. It is very important to overcome these blocks so that the company and the team could grow further. It becomes the responsibility of the planning division to develop strategies in order to tackle these cha llenges. These four key areas were thoroughly assessed as a blueprint of the current status of the team was created. This motivated the team to a large extent and also provided clear insight on areas of intervention and also on the organizational weaknesses. A brainstorming on each team member’s understanding of the team was conducted. This process revealed the attitude that the team members had towards the department. The team members came up with the feeling that the planning division is the Heart and Brain of ADNOC. Several strengths and characteristics of the department were highlighted. The team was found to be well connected, multi disciplined, balanced in gender, well experienced, and diverse. The inevitable role of the planning division in supporting the management with strategic inputs, training support, decision making support and technical and commercial monitoring was confirmed and highlighted. The brainstorming also brought out the strength of the database that t he division provides to support the company. It was identified that the team dynamics of the team lied somewhere between storming and norming phase. The strengths of the team were clearly defined. This motivated the team members to a large extend. Some of the important strengths of the team which were identified were its cooperative and coordinative nature, its foreseeing and analytical capacity. The communicative precision of the division along with its hardworking nature and self motivation were specially highlighted during the course. The team’s capacity to serve as the data source for all the other divisions of the company was identified as one of its very distinguishable strengths. The planning division acts as the focal point for every other activity of the company. This, however, prevails as the strength of the division. A major step in developing the performance of the team and improving its efficiency is formulating strategies in overcoming those blocks which hinder the perusal of organizational objectives. One of the major lacunas in the operational effectiveness of the team was pointed out to be the increased delivery time on information. It was identified that this increased the time required for the completion of a particular activity, which resultantly altered the whole action plan. A contrary opinion on the motivation level in relation with the team being referred as a well motivated

E-Commerce and Edmunds.com Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

E-Commerce and Edmunds.com - Essay Example "All too often, many of us go to the dealer with the idea that we'll get the best deal for our money, only to be tricked and manipulated into paying more or buying a model that we don't want. In tact, African Americans consistently overpay--an average of $315 more than other car purchasers--according to a study done of 750,000 actual purchases in 1999 and early 2000 by the National Bureau of Economic Research" (Jackson, Car Buying 101: Buying a New Car in a Few Simple Steps, 2004: 195). The above mentioned statement automatically shows the importance of a website that provides a service through which a customer would buy a car that he/she wants and that with the terms decided, and there when the importance of Edmunds.com is identified, Edmunds.com includes all the data on the new and used cars, from features to the prices of cars, from test drive videos to the tips to maintain such cars, almost every thing appears on the website, including the ways through which "you" can become car's owner, it includes ownership plans, the leasing and all useful material. Few good features of the company include the information through the wireless edmunds.com, the site know as Edmunds2Go!, which is accesible through the PDAs and internet enabled cell phones, another benefit the visitors get is that the company circulates free email newsletters to its voluntary subscribers, another most thrilling feature that is used by the edmunds.com in the most impressive way is its true market value pricing tools, actually launched in the year 2000, "The Edmunds.com True Market Value New Vehicle Calculator provides the estimated average price consumers are currently paying when buying new vehicles. The Edmunds.com True Market Value Used Vehicle Appraiser estimates the actual transaction prices for used vehicles bought and sold by dealers and private parties" ( from Wikipedia, free encyclopedia). So it is the best what company can provide with in its limit to the visitors, the best outcome of launching such tool is that, people from all around the world now log in to find the actual prices of cars all around the world, it is perhaps the best service an automotive website can provide, it is considered to be the most innovative idea by the web operators to bring such a change in the website, the other such online services and tools include TMV new vehicle calculator which estimates the price that the buyers are paying to the dealer for the ownership of new vehicles, TMV finance rate estimator which gives the idea of how much of loan can be obtained and what is in relation to it and the ownership of car, Edmunds.com has another feature added recently which shows how much it would cost if the buyer would buy a car in full terms ownership, it is known as True Cost to Own SM data. The company has offered services not only

A study of citizenship and its relation to surveillance and privacy Essay Example for Free

A study of citizenship and its relation to surveillance and privacy Essay Citizenship as Surveillance   Ã¢â‚¬Å"When you single out any particular group of people for secondary citizenship status, thats a violation of basic human rights†- Jimmy Carter. Often taken for granted, citizenship is something that we know superficially what it is, but never think too deeply about. But every single day, for millions of people, citizenship is something to be worried about, something that others use to rise above the rest. Based on personal experiences as well as extensive research, this essay will discuss not only what citizenship at its core is, but also its uses as surveillance and how it impacts everyday life. I will be drawing primarily from concepts detailed by three scholars in the area of surveillance- David Lyon, Steven Nock, and Michel Foucault, with some material from John Torpey. From Lyon, I will be referencing the ideas of social sorting and data flow; from Nock, I will be referencing the idea of credentials; from Foucault, I will be referencing the idea of disciplinary power. Furthermore, I will be looking at the impact of these concepts from each scholar onto the issues of social exclusion and discrimination. Through such an analysis, I will detail the net benefits and harms of citizenship as it pertains to surveillance and the everyday person. What is citizenship? Webster’s Dictionary simply defines it as â€Å"being an inhabitant of a city or town; especially one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman†. But of course, this is an incredibly superficial definition. At it’s core, according to John Torpey, citizenship is a way for states â€Å"to deprive people of the freedom to move across certain spaces and to render them dependent on states and the state system for the authorization to do so an authority widely held in private hands theretofore†. While citizenship, at first glance, simply seems to be just another way to distinguish between nationals of one state opposed to nationals of another, its use for governments goes far greater than that. The creation of passports and other such devices has led citizenship to not only be simply documentation, but also a method of control and surveillance. As Torpey furthers, â€Å"A critical aspect of this process has been that people have a lso become dependent on states for the possession of an identity from which they can escape only with difficulty and which may significantly shape their access to various spaces†. While originally just a way for states to determine borders and other logistics, citizenship over the years has evolved greatly. From passports and Social Security numbers to crime databases and border patrol checks, the methods by which governments restrict and control our movements are growing. However, the question remains: How do states use citizenship to surveil its citizens? The primary way governments surveil its citizens through citizenship is the creation of passports. Passports allow for entry into the issuing country and are accepted as valid identification for international border crossings. Because passports are used as identification, they contain information such as name, date of birth, and biometrics. However, past simple identification, passports also serve as a means of surveillance is by providing identification/classification as well as tracking/restricting movement. As Torpey states, â€Å"states have sought to monopolize the capacity to authorize the movements of persons and unambiguously to establish their identities in order to enforce this authority†. As detailed before, the ultimate goal of citizenship is to restrict and control the movements of persons. The role passports play in this is by establishing the identity of such persons in order to better restrict them. Passports act as a credential, which, as Steven Nock writes, is â€Å"a way to create reputation among strangers, or â€Å"A minimum basis for trust in the absence of personal knowledge†. He further, saying that credentials are necessary to the extent that we must trust people we don’t know. In this case, passports act as a simple way for law enforcement to ensure criminals are not moving about freely. As such, checking passports at border crossing or flights not only establish identity, but also trust. The way passports do this is through data flow. As defined by David Lyon, data flow is the transferring of information collected by one surveillance technology to another. In the case of passports, most, if not all, have an embedded chip that allows police, border patrol agents, and the like to simply swipe a passport to pull up all of a citizen’s history. Most notably, this chip contains data from the TECS (Treasury Enforcement Communications Systems) which allows different law agencies to exchange criminal information with each other. That means that your entire criminal record, whether it be with the Border Patrol, the FBI, or even the local police, can be found with just a swipe of your passport. But even more so, this data is then used for social sorting. Social sorting, as defined by David Lyon, is â€Å"the social practice of surveillance and control to sort out, filter and serialize who needs to be controlled and who is free of that control†. At face value, this seems to be a good thing. After all, ensuring criminals are walking around free sounds like a good deal for a small invasion of privacy. However, the issue comes with the use of social sorting today. As Lyon states, â€Å"the new penology is concerned with techniques for identifying, managing and classifying groups sorted by levels of dangerousness. Rather than using evidence of criminal behaviour, newer approaches intervene on the basis of risk assessment†. Instead of allowing or denying movement based on tangible criminal behavior, the use of such data has moved towards prediction of criminal behavior. As such, social sorting in the case of citizenship has progressed past simply who is a criminal versus who is not a criminal and instead sorts people based on who is likely to become a criminal. The impact of this to everyday life is great. One specific way is through the idea of disciplinary power, which is, as Foucault defines it, the idea that â€Å"Discipline is a mechanism of power which regulates the behaviour of individuals in the social body.† This simply means that the use of surveillance allows institutions to use discipline to enforce specific behaviors within people. In the case of citizenship, this disciplinary power exists in two ways. Firstly, it exists from the government. A historical example of such is the case of the Soviet Union and Soviet passports. In this case, the Soviet Union issued passports based on who supported the Soviet ideology. Those who were completely indoctrinated were allowed to travel freely; however, those who did not support the Soviet ideology were effectively restricted to poor areas. As such, the Soviet Union used disciplinary power (restricting movement based on ideology) in order to promote a specific behavior (supporting t he Soviet ideology). In this case, it’s directly from the government itself. However, the second way disciplinary power exists in citizenship is through the deinstitutionalization of disciplinary power, as offered by William Staples. Instead of the government itself directly enforcing specific behavior, this type of disciplinary power relies on other citizens to promote citizenship. And indeed, this concept is prevalent even today, with prejudices against the â€Å"foreigners† and the â€Å"illegals†. This kind of social exclusion and discrimination promote the idea of citizenship if only to escape the attacks of others. Talking to my parents, who immigrated to the United States from China, I found it interesting and slightly disheartening to hear their experiences. They way people treat citizens and noncitizens if very different. Because my parents didn’t speak very much English, communication was an issue and it was difficult getting jobs. There was a certain amount of prejudice against immigrants and not being a citizen incurs a certai n amount of suspicion. After all, citizenship is seen as a â€Å"patriotic duty†, and not engaging in such a process can be perceived as not embracing the American culture. While the difference in attitude wasn’t immediate and polarizing, there was a lot more acceptance when my parents became citizens. The attitude of those around them became more akin to that of a community rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. As such, from this experience, I found it clear the impact that disciplinary power had upon citizenship and social exclusion and discrimination. There’s a certain â€Å"us versus them† mentality, and the stigma associated with not being a citizen is great. As such, it’s clear the impact citizenship has on everyday life. Although it may seem innocuous, the role citizenship plays in surveillance is great. With the use of credentials and data flow, citizenship ultimately results in issues such as social sorting and disciplinary power. What then results is a great amount of social exclusion and discrimination based solely on the characteristics of citizenship. From immigration to criminal activity, everyone is subject to judgement and the increasing pervasion of privacy only exacerbates these impacts. While there does need to be a certain amount of credibility associated with each person, the overreach of states through surveillance will only result in increased tension and stratification.

Its All Downhill :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

It's All Downhill From Here 8:02 a.m. Saturday. It's still dark, as usual, on these cold, winter days. Everybody else is still sleeping and enjoying the comfprting heat of their beds. I crack open the locked window by my bed, an act some deemed downright idiotic. I strip off my pj's, throw on my robe, and head for the shower. Drying off, I think about where I am abou to go. I dress piece by layered piece. I can't wait to hit the slopes! I round up my tools: body, boards, boots, bindings. Everything is in working order and ready for take-off. As I open the front door, I am shocked by the cold and fight my way through the wind to my car. I turn the key and put the heater on full blast. I am almost there. I step out of my car and survey the parking lot. Not too many cars. That's the way I like it. I take a deep breath and savor the frsh air. Already, I can feel the pressure of deadlines lifted off my chest. I strap my skis on, and prepare not just to tackle a run but other situations in my life as well. I skate over to the first pitch of the double diamond slope, and map out where I will take the first couple turns. It is almost like I am assessing my goals in life: getting accepted into Syracuse, owning a house in Colorado, raising a healthy family. I appreciate the sound of carving the first turn as if it was my very last. The crunching of the snow under my feet empowers me to crush the antagonists in my everyday life. The second and third turns secure my self-confidence. Only with the fourth turn do I start to realize that things are not always that easy. I heard it said often, "It's easier said than done." I never believed it until now. I only skid slightly over a patch of ice, but it is enough to start my heart thumping. I am suddenly aware that to finish this run or to reach my goals, I have to be ready for the tricky spots. I know that at any moment I could fall and be forced to start over. My lifetime goals can be affected by any number of things - grades slipping, drugs and alcohol - and I have to be ready to handle anything.

A Fine Balance: Characters

4 Characters: Dina, Ishvar, Om, Maneck. Ishvar is Om's nephew. Dina is widowed. Maneck college student. Dina Shroff, who was raised by her strict brother after her father died she meets Rustom Dalal. The couple fall in love and marry, but on their third wedding anniversary Rustom is killed in a bicycle accident, leaving Dina alone. Rustom’s aunt teaches Dina to sew her eyesight begins to fail, so she is forced to find another way to make money Her friend Zenobia introduces her to Mrs Gupta, who offers her some tailoring piece work She hires Ishvar Darji and his nephew Omprakash, originally from a small village, to do the work. Ishvar’s father wanted a better life for his sons and so sent them to a neighbouring town to learn to be tailors They became the apprentices of Muslim tailor Ashraf Ishvar was seventeen, racial hatred of Muslims reached boiling point and any homes or shops belonging to Muslims were burnt to the ground Ishvar and his brother Narayan saved Ashraf’s shop by claiming it belonged to them, leaving Ashraf forever in their debt. Narayan returned to the village and set up a successful tailor business for lower caste people He married and had a son. His business was very successful and it gave him enough money to build a proper house All was going well until Narayan discovered that the elections were being fixed by Thakur Dharamsi, a powerful land owner Narayan confronted Thakur, who had him tortured Not satisfied with just killing Narayan, Thakur decided to punish his whole family. Narayan’s wife, daughters and parents were tied up and burnt alive in their home. Omprakesh and Ishvar were the only ones to escape they continued working in their tailor shop, but were forced out of business when a ready-made clothing shop opened in the town. Maneck. He grew up in a mountain village, where his father was the proud owner of the local village store and inventor of a popular drink, Kohlah Cola Maneck was sent to college and became good friends with the student president, Avinash Avinash led an uprising against the conditions and became involved in politics When the Emergency was declared, Avinash had to go into hiding, leaving Maneck alone His mother then arranged for him to move in with Dina Dalal The four are quite happy for almost a year, but then the Emergency starts to impact their lives. The tailor’s shack is demolished in a government beautification program, forcing them to live on the streets After two months they bribe their way out and persuade Dina to let them move in with her. Ishvar decides it is time for Om to find a wife, so they return to Ashraf's town There they bump into Thakur, who recognises the pair Ashraf is beaten to death and Ishvar and Om are given compulsory vasectomies Thakur visits them as they are recovering from the operation and arranges on a medical pretext to have Om's testicles removed. Ishvar’s legs become infected and have to be amputated. Maneck finishes his college course and returns home His father’s business is failing due to cheap imports of commercial soda, and Maneck decides to leave, taking a job in the Middle East. Dina finds herself all alone. A Beggarmaster who had been protecting her from her landlord's bailiffs is murdered, leaving her vulnerable; she reluctantly returns to live with her brother. Eight years later, Maneck returns home for his father’s funeral. Maneck reads some old newspapers and discovers that Avinash was found dead by the side of a railway track and Avinash’s three teenage sisters hanged themselves because their parents could not afford their wedding dowries. Maneck decides to visit Dina She explains that Ishvar lost his legs and that the tailors are now beggars Maneck leaves Dina’s house, pretending not to recognize the tailors in the street, and heads for the railway station where he steps in front of a train.

New Product Launch Marketing Plan Essay

This paper will discuss the details market profiles, key buying behaviors, and decision motivators for the consumers and organization target markets. It will explain how to manage each stage of the PLC and tactical plans for the Four P’s at each stage. It will also provide the product mix for the new offering of features and benefits, branding, and any other products in line; it will show the differentiating characteristics from competitive or substitute products, packaging and labeling, and warranties and guarantees. In addition, this paper will discuss how the company will create a new positioning statement for the product, and provide justification for the new positioning strategy. Product Mix It is believed that many users will eventually start to look for alternate products created by Q-saver. For this reason after the first year of successful operation Q-saver will provide a mix of products for consumers. Q-saver will develop handheld scanners called Q-saver light to be attached to key-chains that will serve the same purpose of the smartphone app, but available for those who were not interested in using their smart phones. Another product to be offered is a digital website subscription called Q-saver virtual that will be available for consumers to see the breakdown process of discounts for products offered amongst retailer to retailer. The benefits of the two new product offerings are convenience, variety, and knowledge to support the mission to provide consumers with the greatest set of discounts by using Q-saver for their shopping needs. The Q-saver branding label will be adhered to the new products Q-saver light and Q-saver virtual. The addition of the new products w ill provide a convenient unique approach to saving. Differentiating the characteristics of the Q-saver  features the company will make surveys of recent buyers to analyze the consumer value set against the company cost for the different features. Q-saver will consider how many people want the feature, and how long it would take to introduce it and whether the competitor could certainly copy it. The company will also consider in terms of bundles or packages, as well as consider feature customization at a higher price or a many standard packages at a lower price (Kotler, & Keller (2012). Q-saver will differentiate products by customizing them. As Q-saver continue to increase it will gather information of each individual consumer and the business partner (retailers, suppliers, and distributors) the factories are designed for more flexibility. Q-saver will meet each customer requirement as individuality designed service, products, and communication (Kotler, & Keller, (2012). Q-saver packing the design for the consumer of the product. It will be attractive the consumer will want to displayed it at their home. Q-saver is a unique packaging and has a resealed spout that will bring big benefits to the consumer and profit Q-saver. Q-saver package will: Recognize the brand Q-saver Transport expressive and influential data Enable Q-saver shipping and security Storage Benefit Q-saver consumption Q-saver will choose color of packaging that carries meanings and the culture and market segments. Q-saver labeling will identify it brand and promote the product through it attractive graphics. Q-saver responsible for having a warranty statement for returned to the manufacturer or designed repair place for all repairs, replacement, or returns. Q-saver guarantees reducible risk. Q-saver has the highest quality and it service performance are dependable. The guarantee will assure the buyer of the quality and stability of Q-saver product (Kotler & Keller, (2012). Positioning For the diversified shopper, short on time, Q-saver provides the knowledge of savings and variety with the convenience of different stores and products. Q-saver is not affiliated with just one or two stores. The smartphone and  tablet app provides access to a wide variety of stores and products, providing access to current sales promotions, brand coupons, availability and so on. The objective is to position the app in the coupon app industry to best serve the market segments concerned with time management, savings and variety. Q-saver differentiates itself from competitors by providing access to a wide array of different stores’ information as well as sales promotions, providing guidance to what promotions can align with what manufacturer coupons to get the best savings, providing services such as scan and compare, the comparison of savings with consideration of other stores and so on. The application will constantly be evolving to better serve the well-informed shopper; requesting feedback and most importantly, acting on the feedback to provide the best product possible. In conclusion, the product will give details of target market profiles, behaviors and motivators’ for the organizational target market. It will explain the tactical plans of four P’s at each stage, and explain the features benefits and all differentiating characteristics for the competitive or substitute products, packaging and labeling, and warranties and guarantees. Also, create a positioning statement, which will provide justification for new positioning strategy. Reference Choosing a Product or Service to Sell. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/78778 Kotler, P., & Keller, K.L., (2012). Marketing management(14th.ed) Upper Saddle River. NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall What is competition in marketing?- definition, types & quiz (2003-2014). Retrieved June 22, 2014, from http://education-portal.com/academ/lesson/what-is-competition-in-marketing- defintion-types-quiz.html#lesson What is an offering in marketing. (2014). Retrieved from: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/offering-marketing-24088.html Reference Kotler, P., & Keller, K. (2011). Marketing management: analysis, planning, and control(14th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.

Give Children More Free Time Essays

Give Children More Free Time Essays Give Children More Free Time Essay Give Children More Free Time Essay For years, as access to the best education and jobs is becoming increasingly competitive, it is not uncommon for some people insist that children should spend more time on schoolwork rather than other activities, which may district their attention. However, to a large extent, I believe that giving these young students a moderate amount of free time is a necessity. There seems to be an agreement that children need to develop many life skills other than intellectual ones. Where are life skills? Apparently, students cannot acquire those skills from textbooks while some extra-curricular activities can. Students can engage in all kinds of socially productive activities they like after school where they can communicate with their peers, share their experience and make new friends, which plays an essential role in expanding their vision and enriching their social experience and fulfilling their potential. Still, I truly believe spending time on sports and music is a sensitive option. Could sports and music not only relieve young students’ overload academic pressure, but they would develop them physically and mentally as well. More importantly, allowing students sufficient free time can gives them more chances to seek assistance and acquire suggestions from parents, which avoids causing the generation gap at the same time. Overall, I tend to agree that students can profit from their free time. On the other hand, giving students an excessive amount of spare time may cause some problems such as falling in love, lingering on streets, and even juvenile crimes. : For instance, some students may become addicted to computer games which may be very intense and rather violent and eventually lose interest in their studies or even have to quit school. Despite all these consideration, those problems still could be avoided as long as schools, teachers, and parents supply them with proper guidance and appropriate supervision. So my conclusion is that despite children should spend more time on schoolwork in the formative period, I would suggest that moderate free time is not unnecessary.

How to Become a Nanny

How to Become a Nanny Are you an A+ multitasker, who can manage a small army of tiny, belligerent soldiers, get from point A to point B on time, and deal with small-scale crises on a daily basis? If so, becoming a nanny might be the right career path (or the right-now career path) for you. However, being a nanny is more than just singing songs and teaching useful vocabulary like â€Å"supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.† It’s a path that requires a serious set of skills, nerves, and commitment. What Does a Nanny Do?Probably a better question here would be, â€Å"what doesn’t a nanny do?† On the most basic level, nannies are hired by families to care for children. They might be full-time or part-time, depending on the families needs. Some nannies live with their families, while others commute to work just like you would with any job. But don’t be fooled- a nanny isn’t just a babysitter. Often, they’re a stand-in parent for the kids in their care, acting as h elper, feeder, nurturer, and rule-enforcer during work hours. Part teacher, part parent, nannies are often responsible for a range of domestic and childcare duties in the course of an average day.For nannies in charge of younger children, the care might include feeding, pottytraining, and highly supervised play. For older kids, the nanny might be more of a schedule-maintainer, making sure everyone gets home from school and off to soccer/tuba lessons/birthday party #45 this week on time and in one piece. Children’s safety and comfort are usually the biggest priorities for the on-duty nanny. Depending on the family’s needs and their contract with the nanny, the nanny’s duties might also include some household chores (like cooking, laundry, or cleaning), usually related to the kids’ needs.A full-time nanny’s workday is typically 8-10 hours, but this could include early mornings (pre-school), nights, weekends, or holidays. Schedule may vary by family, especially depending on whether the nanny is a live-in caretaker, or lives elsewhere.What Skills Do Nannies Have?Becoming a nanny is not for the weak of heart (or stomach, if you’re familiar with how kids operate). They aren’t your casual teenage babysitter, holding the fort (and the TV) down while Mom and Dad go out for date night. Being a nanny is a job that requires the ability to stay engaged and productive to make sure that kids’ needs and parents’ requests are being met as much as possible.Some of the most important skills nannies should have include the following:They Like KidsThis seems like a no-brainer, but it’s definitely a skill set you should be sure of before you think about taking a job as a nanny. Liking kids in theory is much different than spending all day with them. If you can roll with watching the same 10 videos on an infinite loop, and like coming up with fun projects to stave off the inevitable â€Å"I’m bored† periods, then you’re probably in good shape. If your idea of a perfect workday involves everyone sitting quietly and listening to NPR for hours at a time, then maybe this isn’t the right fit.They’re OrganizedThe nanny is often tasked with maintaining household routines and rules while the parents are out of the house. Being able to stay on task and organized, even when things get chaotic, is essential.They’re Honest and TrustworthyParents are entrusting a beloved natural resource- their children- to a nanny. It’s important to make sure they know they can trust you. This means making sure the family knows that when you’re at work, you’re at work- no personal calls, no abandoning the kids to the TV set while you play around with Facebook, no dragging the kids to a midafternoon coffee date with your buddies. It also means global on-duty no-nos like smoking, drinking, or swearing or behaving inappropriately. Nanny-ing may not be the typic al 9-to-5 job, but all the same rules of professionalism apply. The nanny should also be very punctual and ready to work on time, because the family’s schedule might depend on it.They Know First AidLife with kids can be unpredictable (everyone has a young relative who swallowed some weird object at some point, right?), and a nanny needs to be prepared for anything that happens- including medical issues and emergencies. Basic first aid and CPR are a must, and if the family has any special medical needs, like allergies or chronic medical conditions, the nanny should always have a solid medical plan in place, just in case.They’re Good CommunicatorsAs the caretaker, a nanny needs to be able to speak two languages: Grownup and Kid. Grownup communication includes giving updates and daily reports to the parents, dealing with teachers, or passing along information from school, the kids themselves, etc. Speaking Kid means being able to communicate and enforce rules, and make su re that kids’ immediate needs are being heard and addressed.They Go With the FlowAn engaged nanny is able to deal with whatever comes along. Whether that’s playing educational games to fill unexpected downtime, or dealing with curve balls like illness or delays, the nanny is a problem solver, and has to be quick on the feet to make sure his or her charges are safe and cared for.They Go Above and BeyondParents are paying for someone to get things done without being directly supervised or asked. Whether it’s tossing in that load of laundry after softball practice, or making sure to ask what homework needs to be done, being able to fill the day with tasks (without ignoring the kids) is a very important skill set.What Do You Need to Become a Nanny?There are no hard-and-fast rules or certifications for all nannies, but there are some things you can do to prepare for your job as a nanny. Experience with childcare is almost always a must, whether that was in a babysitt ing capacity, caring for your own family, or in a daycare setting. Good references are key, because again, parents need to know they can trust the person they’re letting into their home to care for their children. You might also opt to join a nanny placement agency, which vets candidates before sending them out to households. Certifications like first aid and CPR are fairly essential for anyone looking to become a nanny, and background classes in areas like nutrition or early childhood development are resume boosters as well.Otherwise, the necessary qualifications depend on the family seeking a nanny. Some families might require that the nanny is a certified childcare provider, or has a certain level of experience. A valid driver’s license might also be required, if the job includes ferrying kids to or from school, appointments, activities, etc. Each family has its own expectations about what the nanny’s role will be, so a bit of flexibility (and willingness to educate yourself in areas related to childcare) will be one of your best assets as you look for a nanny job.How Much Do Nannies Get Paid?According to PayScale, the median salary for nannies is $24,751 (compared to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’s estimate of $20,320 for childcare providers overall). The pay can also vary depending on whether the nanny is a live-in (in which case room and board might be included as well), and how much experience the nanny brings to the table. If you’re seeking a career with strong benefits, though, this might not be it- only about 10% of nannies receive medical or dental insurance through their employers. However, the field has some major pluses as well: nannies give high job satisfaction ratings on various employment surveys. Also, this is a field that continues to grow, as busy families of all kinds look for childcare solutions outside of the traditional daycare system.Nanny salaries also vary depending on geographic location. In large cities, for example, demand is often greater for qualified nannies, and nannies tend to earn more. [via Care.com]If you love kids- and more importantly, are committed to spending many hours with them and helping them grow and develop- then nannying might be the right choice for you, either as a long-term career or as a job while you figure out what your next big career move should be. Good luck, and when all else fails, ask yourself, â€Å"What would Mary Poppins do?†

Chapter 9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chapter 9 - Essay Example The environment itself as the public sees it is what is around us. We see that we have a responsibility not to destroy it. It is where we live and what supports our life and all of the life around us. We also have a social responsibility but it is different in many ways. 2. Everywhere there is an abundance of the leftovers of business and our town is no exception. This includes wood, cans, paper, and plastic to name a few. There is smoke from smokestacks and pollution from vehicles getting there and transporting. There are many recycling efforts in play especially for cans, paper and plastic. Most of the companies that bring things in on pallets allow people to use the wood for projects and for burning if they wish so that helps. The air pollutions does not seem to be dealt with a lot though the water is being recycled as much as possible. 3. The issue of global warming is tremendously large. There are many things affecting it. Those countries that were not industrialized before are and the carbon products they are putting in the air are quite large. The rain forests that have filtered the air for generations are being removed for people to live there. There are more cars on the road in more countries than ever before. The ice sheets are melting, the permafrost is melting. It is a giant problem.

Weapons, Personal Protection and Use of Force Essay

Weapons, Personal Protection and Use of Force - Essay Example Heller, in the year 2008, the Supreme Court of US held that the second amendment empowers a person to have a gun for personal use. It allows individuals to keep loaded gun for personal safety and security. In the case of McDonald v Chicago in the year 2010, the Supreme Court admitted the rights of states and the federal government (Gutmacher, 2006). Weaponry Laws of the US In the United States of America the sale, purchase and possession of firearms and their use come under the purview Weapons laws. State laws of each state differ from each other and are not dependent on federal firearms laws. However, sometimes they are wide and sometimes they are narrow in terms of its scope. Take the example of some of the states which have put ban on assault weapon which are similar in nature of federal assault weapons bans. There are 44 States wherein state constitutions are identical to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The names of those states are California, Iowa, Maryland, Minn esota, New Jersey, and New York. The statutory civil rights of the New York are similar to the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. In the McDonald v Chicago it was held by the Supreme Court that the protections of the Second Amendment are applicable against state governments (Lott, 2010). The owners of the fire arms are to abide by the laws of state where they live in. It has nothing to do with their place of temporary or permanent residence. The weaponry laws vary from state to state. The State of Florida allows an individual to carry concealed weapons and firearms. In many states, an individual is not allowed to carry out firearms therefore, it is necessary to check the state laws of weapons where one intends to visit (Lott, 2010). In so many states of US, firearms laws are restrictive and have no comparison with federal firearms laws. However, the state and local police are not legally bound to comply with federal weaponry laws (Lott, 2010). Personal Protection Eligibility C riteria In order to possess firearms for personal safety and security, the US citizen has to meet the following requirement (Eligibility Requirements for a License to Carry Firearms): legal resident 21 years of age No outstanding warrant No current restraining order / suspension / surrender order No confinement for drug addiction or for use of alcoholism. In case of cured for addiction / alcoholism, submit registered physician certificate No confinement to hospital for mental illness. On rehabilitation, an individual has to submit a certificate from registered physician that now he or she is fit for use of firearms in his or her self defense Permanent disqualifiers are those offenses who are punishable for more than 2 years of imprisonment. Personal protection as per US law is a complex right. On the one hand, it gives honors to the inherent rights of a citizen to keep and use firearms for personal safety and security. The provision of firearms to each and every citizen has shaken t he faith and confidence of the citizens in the rule of law. The issuance of firearms license means that the states or federal government absolved from its first and foremost responsibility to maintain law and order in their administrative jurisdiction. By virtue of given right, one can take his or her revenge from any other person or to intimidate someone with the use of firearms to settle his or her score (Mauser, 1996). However, use of firearms for personal protection can be differentiated from all other reasons of using firearms. Personal protect

PEST Analysis for Bank Muscat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PEST Analysis for Bank Muscat - Essay Example 1. History and growth of Bank Muscat The Bank Muscat is a commercial bank of Oman, founded on 30th April 1982. It has strong operational presence in sectors including corporate banking, investment banking, retail banking, and private banking. Currently, the Bank Muscat is the largest banking network in Oman with over 130 branches and assets worth more than US$18 billion (Bank Muscat). It has presence in overseas countries including Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait with a branch each and possesses a representative office in Dubai and UAE. The Bank Muscat is being continuously rated as the ‘best bank in Oman’ over the last several years and it has been awarded the Hewitt recognition as ‘the Middle East’s Best Employer 2009’ (Hewitt 2009). 2. PEST analysis of the company The PEST analysis is a potential tool to analyze the macro-economic environment of a business industry. This tool can be used to assess the market for the Bank Muscat. Political factors The political framework of Oman is in the form of an absolute monarchy where the Sultan of Oman acts as the head of government as well as head of state (Al-Azri 2012, p.1). The court system in Oman has three levels including Elementary Court (lowest level), the Court of Appeal (middle level), and the Supreme Court (highest level). Since Oman is an absolute monarchy, it has clear long term policies regarding the banking development in the country. The recent global recession has persuaded the Sultanate of Oman to focus more on sustainable banking development. Therefore, the Oman government greatly supports Bank Muscat’s efforts to strengthen its market position and to expand its banking business. The strong government assistance benefited the Bank Muscat to become the first company from Oman to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. In addition, Oman maintains better diplomatic relations with US and India; and this strength is likely to contribute to the Bank Muscat’s future growth. Economical factors Oman is a Middle East country which has been achieving significant GDP per capita growth rates for the past half a century (Gonzalez 2008, p.154). The country has significant oil and natural gas reserves and they appear to be the main source of revenues for the country. As studies indicate, the intense modernization efforts taken by Oman to improve its people’s living standards and to attain a significant position in the global marketplace are also promoting the operations of the Bank Muscat. Since Oman is one of the Middle East countries with no national debt, investors view Oman as a stable economy and they are willing to invest in the country (Doing business in Oman). This favorable economic situation greatly assists the Bank Muscat to attain the trust of investors and hence to promote their banking operations easily. As of the quarter ended on 31st March 2009, the net profits of the Bank Muscat nearly doubled to â€Å"OMR 48.42 million f rom OMR 26.54 million in 1Q08 (GCC First reaction paper 2009). Finally, competitive interest rate set by the Bank Muscat would safeguard the interests of its clients and the situation in turn may assist the bank to raise huge operating funds. In total, the country’s economic spectrum offers a prosperous future for the organisation. Social factors With the failure of a number of banks across the globe, Oman’

Digi Telecommunication Sdn Bhd

Digi Telecommunication Sdn Bhd DiGi Telecommunication Sdn. Bhd. is a company which contribute mobile communication. DiGi accomodate a absolute range of effortful, adaptable and easy to use wireless services to facilitate and enhance the lives of its customers. DiGi made value for their customer by choosing the most applicable cutting edge high tech so that customers gain the advantage from the products and services that provide them alternatives, advancement and authority. DiGi have a creation companionship as a lead in voice and data prepaid services that have determined industry benchmarks for inspiration and innovation. DiGi Postpaid bring out top quality call together with value-added mobile and data service to all customers. There are some competitors that DiGi faced with. One of the main competitor is Maxis Berhad. Maxis Berhad is the leading mobile communications service contributer in Malaysia over 11.4 million mobile subscribers. Maxis Berhad offered some services. Such as, prepaid, postpaid, 3G service and Maxis Broadband. While another competitor is Celcom Axiata Berhad, also known as Celcom, is the oldest telecommunication company in Malaysia. Celcom is now generally a world figure for mobile communication. They had extended the original frequency band for GSM from 900 MHz to 1800 MHz. Celcom provide Virtual Mobile Operator services(VMO) and rural communications services by using CDMA Technology and Satelite Phone. IT and IS used by DiGi Telecommunications 3G coverage 3G is the current wireless technology. DiGi Telecommunications has used 3G network that named as Turbo 3G which launched on December 2009. Besides, it also promoted 4G DiGià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Turbo 3G with a speed approximately 14.4Mbps HSPA. Several areas in Malaysia had coverage with Turbo 3G. Turbo 3G is available for the users of DiGi for the broadband, postpaid and prepaid use. It provide users to get the data and information by the wireless access from anytime and many place. Users can suft the internet with the higher speed and they are able to make the video call, listen to music or viewing movies with higher quality than before. E-payment E-payment is a e-commerce transaction which the buyers and sellers will deal by electronic payment for buying and selling purposes via internet. Digi Telecommunications has integrated with iPay88 and PayPal for e-payment options. MySimplified, DiGi classified portal were forced with iPay88 so that the online payment services are available for the mySimplifieds members to do the transaction through the internet. Debit and credit instruments were provided to the them via the local bank. Meanwhile, the Storefront launched to let the sellers to accept the payments from payers via online channel. CRM CRM data is the most crucial information in any company. In order to control the performance of the company, DiGi Telecommunications decided to associate with iZeno and SugarCRM to conduct Sugar Professional On-Site. SugarCRM is a provider of commercial open source customer relationship management, so-called CRM software. It increase ability in achieving deeper analysis of CRM data and combine it with other companies data. SugarCRM applications have been choose by more than 5000 customers under lock-in based and proprietary alternatives. This software help DiGi Telecommunications Company in leads identification and tracking, proposal generation, account validation, approval matrix, contract generation, order fulfillment tracking, billing system integration and reporting. Recommendation Digi Telecommunication Malaysia provides a variety of mobile communication services, but we suggest that the company can launch 4G WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) in the future. WiMAX is developed to provide a common framework for wireless connectivity in fixed, portable, and mobile environments. It is also act as a scalable wireless access technology designed to provide high throughput over long distances. As we know, there are many types of internet connectivity today like broadband wireline, WiFi, and even dial-up. But all these types of connectivity have some disadvantages, for broadband the service can be expensive which is depended on the provider, and it is sometimes unavailable in many rural areas. For WiFi, it has limited range against coverage, and for dial-up, it is simply slow. WiMAX is designed to overcome all these problems. It provides the high-speed connection of broadband even with higher data transfer rates. Besides that, it also offers wireless access which has the range far exceeds WiFi. This is because WiMAX consist of two hardware components that is a WiMAX tower and WiMAX receiver. This WiMAX tower provides coverage to an estimate 30 mile radius by connecting to internet using a high-bandwidth wire line connection. In addition, we also recommend that the Digi Company to produce Digi-m-Trak mobile asset. This asset will provide reliable, cost- effective monitoring and management. The Digi-m-Trak system ensures constant to access information at any time and from any place. Digi-m-Trak transceiver will collect data such as location, speed, fuel levels, temperature and vehicle security system status for vehicle GPS. The information will saved in the secure database sent from the transceiver over a GSM and GPRS wireless network. From here, we know that Digi-m-Trak will give a lot of visibility to safety and security of divers, vehicles, and goods. From here, we know about the benefit of Digi-m-Trak mobile asset, so it is strongly recommended that Digi Company can launch this new mobile asset in order to gain competitive advantage in this global environment.

Performance Enhancing Supplements Essay -- Steroids Illegal Drugs Heal

Performance Enhancing Supplements Northeastern junior Colin Magee is like other athletic students around campus. He played sports in high school and now lifts weights at the Marino Center, Northeastern’s multi-million dollar workout center, several times a week. Also like many other weight-lifting students, Magee takes performance-enhancing supplements. Performance-enhancing supplements are nutrients that, unlike anabolic steroids, are available over the counter at countless supermarkets and nutrition stores nationwide. Supplements such as androstenedione (andro), creatine, tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), and NO2 are the most popular in today’s market, and are used to improve muscle gain. They are taken to coincide with a weight-lifting program. The supplements, though all similar, differ in the way each works once inside the body. "Creatine is the most moderate of the supplements out there," says Magee, an amateur expert on supplement and steroid use. Magee's sister is a professional bodybuilder. "Creatine creates water retention in muscles, basically bloating the muscles to increase strength...NO2, nitric oxide, is what they call a hemo-dialator, which is a blood widener. NO2 creates more blood flow in the body, makes the blood pump harder, which creates increased strength... Andro tricks the body into thinking it is not producing enough testosterone, so it causes the body to overproduce the testosterone hormone." While supplements are sold over the counter, anabolic steroids, which are illegal in the United States, are not. Despite this, anabolic steroid use has been rising in recent years. A 1989 study by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) showed that roughly one in every 20 collegiate student-athlet... ...ds, and more and more teenagers are seeing their idols admit to taking supplements and steroids and think it’s okay if they did too. In today’s world, where skinny girls are prettier and bulky guys are more handsome, teenagers and college students are under more pressure to conform to these social norms, and if someone is under pressure, they are more apt to turn to other unnatural methods to better their results and appearance. The answer to this problem is an increase of awareness. If people were aware of the real risks of these supplements or the long term effects of taking steroids, then maybe, just maybe, today’s youth will turn away from these supplements and steroids. Maybe, just maybe, today’s youth will realize that maybe taking those supplements isn’t really worth it after all. Maybe, just maybe, they will choose their health over their appearance.