Chasing The Hottest It Effects Of Information Technology...

A Critical Review of â€Å"Chasing the hottest IT: Effects of Information Technology Fashion on Organizations† Introduction In his article â€Å"Chasing the hottest IT: Effects of Information Technology Fashion on Organizations†, Paul Wang seeks to examine the effects that IT fashion has on organizations. He collected data from 109 Fortune 500 companies, and this helped him to establish that the firms that were reputable for implementation of IT fashions in the media did not particularly experience higher performance, especially in the short term. Paul Wang’s article used easily comprehensible language and presented the results in an impressive manner. However, the methodology used in obtaining the data and subsequently the results was heavily dependent on independent commercial firm and this thus raises credibility questions. Summary There has been consistent evolution of new technologies and managers are faced with the tough choice of deciding whether new techn ologies are merely passing fads or important â€Å"next big things†. There is a big difference between these two types of technologies. A passing fad will often attract high amounts of interest and attention and trigger embellished expectations concerning its benefits during its short lived stint. However, the next big things in IT, are usually important innovations that potentially transform organizational practices and performances hence are widely adopted and institutionalized. Nevertheless, both types of technologies have toShow MoreRelatedCase Study-James Hardie2116 Words   |  9 Pagesincreasingly a thing of past. Pursued profit leads to unethical management, propagate false or misleading information, bad corporation reputation, unstable employment, reducing long run profit etc. More and more concern is displayed with managerial ethics and social responsibility. Some may regard them as cost which will eliminate their competitive power, however, in my opinion; organization could not survive without them in long run. As a developing country, corporation social responsibility inRead MoreCase Study-James Hardie2105 Words   |  9 Pagesincreasingly a thing of past. Pursued profit leads to unethical management, propagate false or misleading information, bad corporation reputation, unstable employment, reducing long run profit etc. More and more concern is displayed with managerial ethics and social responsibility. Some may regard them as cost which will eliminate their competitive power, however, in my opinion; organization could not survive without them in long run. As a developing country, corporation social responsibility inRead MoreKfc Marketing Strategies20155 Words   |  81 Pagesamounts do not include the initial investment required to construct the restaurant building, training expenses, grand opening expenses or opening inventory. Please refer to the KFC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), Item 7, for more in-depth information on the total investment. How long will it take to get approved as a franchisee? Initial qualification involves a series of background checks and interviews and generally takes 10-12 weeks. After that, site registration and approval can takeRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesCONTENTS: CASE STUDIES CASE STUDY 1 Midsouth Chamber of Commerce (A): The Role of the Operating Manager in Information Systems CASE STUDY I-1 IMT Custom Machine Company, Inc.: Selection of an Information Technology Platform CASE STUDY I-2 VoIP2.biz, Inc.: Deciding on the Next Steps for a VoIP Supplier CASE STUDY I-3 The VoIP Adoption at Butler University CASE STUDY I-4 Supporting Mobile Health Clinics: The Children’s Health Fund of New York City CASE STUDY I-5 Read MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 PagesTottenham Court Road, London, England W1T 4LP. Applications for the copyright holder’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone: ( 44) 1865 843830, fax: ( 44) 1865 853333, e-mail: permissions@elsevier.co.uk. You may also complete your request on-line via the Elsevier homepage (www.elsevier.com), by selecting ‘Customer Support’ and thenRead MoreLanguage of Advertising20371 Words   |  82 Pagesis considered features of the using linguistic devices in advertising texts with functional expressive features, stylistic devices, syntactic and stylistic features. The eighth chapter introduces the role of parentheses insertion as additional information. Very important advertising text in sociolinguistic coverage and phonetic expr essive means and stylistic devices in the ninth chapter (Galperin`s stylistic devices, the definitions of stylistic devices with examples). In the chapter of tenth weRead MoreInnovators Dna84615 Words   |  339 PagesStrategy at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University. He is widely published in strategy and business journals and was the fourth most cited management scholar from 1996–2006. is a professor of leadership at INSEAD. He consults to organizations around the world on innovation, globalization, and transformation and has published extensively in leading academic and business journals. is the Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School andRead MoreCrossing the Chasm76808 Words   |  308 Pageshave been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of PerfectBoundâ„ ¢. PerfectBound â„ ¢ and the PerfectBoundâ„ ¢ logo are trademarksRead MoreBusiness Journalism in India26104 Words   |  105 Pagesemergency boom Success of ‘India Today’. How can magazines (5) compete with the challenge posed by TV which now covers sports, celebrities, life style, news and business. How to find out if there is a niche for new magazines. Comment on Travel, Health, Technology and career-guidance magazines 9 Western craze among glossy women’s magazines, Better fare offered by regional (5) women’s magazines 10 Writing and editing for magazines, special skills needed. Importance of the rewrite desk (4) 11 RoleRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 PagesAdventures up to the front of the book. We have continued Marketing Wars, which many of you recommended, and reinstated Comebacks of firms iii iv †¢ Preface rising from adversity. I have also brought back Ethical Mistakes, because I believe that organizations more than ever need to be responsive to society’s best interests. Altogether, this 11th edition brings seven new cases to replace seven that were deleted from the previous edition. Some of the cases are so current we continued updating until

The Theory Of Nature Vs. Nurture - 1680 Words

The theory of nature vs. nurture, or inherited vs. acquired, is a complex psychological theory that questions how people develop, as a person, in life and how they act. Their impact determines your personality traits, values, morals, and behavior in life. The idea of nature is the belief that people develop into who they are based on genetic traits given to them at birth. For example, some children inherit a musical talent from their parents along with eye color, hair color, and race. These traits can affect the decisions that a person may make in life to suit their skills and ability. Another popular opinion is the theory that nurture, the experiences and people that one encounters in life, has a heavier influence on the development and growth of people. According to the article, the theory of nature claims that, â€Å"Characteristics and differences that are not observable at birth, but which emerge later in life, are regarded as the product of maturation† and nurture views these as a product of learning (McLeod). For an example of nurture, a person born into a family that loves sports may grow up valuing athleticism and fitness, while engaging in sports as they grow. A life-changing event or external influence could have greatly impacted a person’s perspective and approach in life, ultimately changing that person as a whole. All decisions will influence one’s life in some way, whether it is miniscule or monumental. Each view of nature and nurture have valid arguments and manyShow MoreRelatedThe Theories Of Nature Vs Nurture1752 Words   |  8 Pages Through history, the idea of nature vs nurture has been a hotly debated issue. Nature, or genetics is often believed to be the most important aspect of a persons’ upbringing, as nature is something very intrinsic to any one person. However, many debate that nurture, or the care and encouragement of any human life, trumps nature. The earliest (proofs?) and rebuttals of these theories have been honed and developed over time by specific psychologists and educational theorists – all who hoped to proveRead MoreThe Theories Of Nature Vs. Nurture2037 Words   |  9 Pages Through history, the idea of nature vs. nurture has been a hotly debated issue. Nature, or genetics is often believed to be the most important aspect of a persons’ upbringing, as nature is something intrinsic to any one person. However, many debate that nurture, or the care and encouragement of any human life, trumps nature. The earliest evidence and rebuttals of these theories have been honed and developed over time by specific psychologists and educational theorists – all who hoped to prove theirRead MoreThe Theory Of Nature Vs. Nurture1523 Words   |  7 Pagesstated, the â€Å"nature versus nurture† concept is very prevalent within developmental theory. Many theorists have strong opinions on the subject and how it relates to biological development, behavioral development and learning. The nature concept refers to development being driven by heredity, maturation, genes, and inborn intrinsic actions (Lerner, 2002). A theorist who had a strong view that nature was the driving force behind development was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In contrast, the nurture concept refersRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Personality Theories1855 Words   |  8 PagesPersonality theories include a wide range of thoughts and it is hard to narrow them down to a choice of how and why individuals are their identity. These complex thoughts must be examined and gone over certainly before one can decide whether an individual meets the characterized significance of the hypothesis. An example would need to be set up with the person before they could be said to have a specific identity quality. To what extent should an individual take after an example of conduct beforeRead More Nature vs. Nurture: Leaning Towards the Nurture Theory Essay2121 Words   |  9 PagesIs nature responsible for the way children think and behave, or is it due to the way a child is nurtured? Scientists and psychologists have been debating the subject of nature versus nurture for decades. The term â€Å"nature† refers to heredity, or the genetic traits passed down from parent to child (Powell, 2010). Researchers all over the world attempt to prove that genetics is the sole explanation of a child’s intelligence and personality. Human DNA determines traits such as eye color, nose shapeRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Theory Essay828 Words   |  4 PagesQ) What was the basis of doctors reasoning to raise David (named Bruce at birth) as a girl? Explain the doctors reasoning in relation to nature versus nurture theories. The phycologist recommended to David’s parents that they can raise David as a girl just by developing his identity as a feminine. The physiologist also recommended that the surgical process of constructing penis would be more difficult and risky for David than the surgical construction of a vagina. The psychologist explained to David’sRead MoreMy Personal Developmental Theory, Nature Vs. Nurture812 Words   |  4 Pagesshape and influence development. My personal developmental theory consists of several tenets from theories such as, nature vs. nurture, systems and cognitive developmental theory. While there are many theories in lifespan development, and they are all relevant in the development of an individual I found these particular theories the most influential in my development. Nature vs. Nurture From a biological perspective, nature vs. nurture plays a critical role in the development of an individual. MeaneyRead MoreThe Theories Of Schizophreni Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, And Nature Vs. Nurture813 Words   |  4 PagesThe four theories that are behind the cause of schizophrenia as referenced in the PowerPoint are Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, and Nature vs. Nurture / More than one cause. 1. Dopamine Definition Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is one of the chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals between the neurons of the brain. However, very few of those neurons actually produce dopamine. (psychologytoday.com) Theory The main theory concerning dopamine is that too much it canRead More Nature vs Nurture: Genes vs Environment Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction A debate between psychologist, scientists and philosopher thinkers on the spectrum of ‘nature vs. nurture’ arose concerning human development. In the nature versus nurture debate, the term nature refers to the genes we inherit while the term nurture refers to our outside environment (Nature vs. Nurture: Twin and Adoption Studies). This debate of ‘nature vs. nurture’ has existed for centuries and up to now it is still a topic of major discussion although at present time. Human developmentRead MoreSerial Killers1314 Words   |  6 Pagestoday is the debate over nature versus nurture. With that debate going on there are many topics that are being researched under it, like serial killers, and what drives them to do what they do. Many scientists are still researching whether or not if serial killers are driven by the way they were raised or if it is a part of their genes. This literature review will analyze what people think about the nature versus nurture debate. It will talk about the nature side and the nurture side of the debate.

Ethical Principles/Theories Free Essays

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES/THEORIES ?Situation Ethics oSituation ethics views Pornography as moral if and only if it is used in moderation and with the right mind set of the individual to use it to benefit oneself or others in a good way. ?A married couple who are unable to show their love to each other can use a type of pornography called â€Å"cybersex† to help them cope up with the loneliness of being away from their loved one. oBut if an individual indulges his/herself into pornography to harm the people around him/her, and lets pornography destroy ones morality, Situation ethics views it as something immoral. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Principles/Theories or any similar topic only for you Order Now A couple decided to film their sexual intercourse but they promised to keep it private. Suddenly the woman found out that his partner has uploaded their video on the web. ?Pragmatic Moral Principle oIn Pragmatic Moral Principle, the bottom line is the most realistic, beneficial, and useful. If we apply it in Pornography, we can indeed agree that looking at pornography as a form of education for adults can save more time and money, rather than going to a sexologist and other doctors of the same field. A married couple who are both inexperienced in sexual intercourse can be helped by pornography to educate them on how to deal with this field they are unaware of. ?Divine Command Theory/The Will of God oâ€Å"An act is good because God willed it to be so and bad because God forbids it. † -Samuel Von Pufendorf oThe will of God is the basis of what is moral and immoral. ?A 14 y/o boy is curious what pornography is like, and then decided to look it up on the internet. He reached a pornography site but the site requires the one should be at least 18+ y/o to enter the site. The boy then lied about his age and entered the site. ?Utilitarianism oIt may be justified if the act benefits or brings happiness to an individual and overweighs the negative effect. ?A married couple who were first unfamiliar with coitus later tried reading porn magazines to help improve their sex life and to help prolong their relationship. How to cite Ethical Principles/Theories, Essay examples

Stakeholder Management in Infrastructure †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Stakeholder Management in Infrastructure. Answer: Introduction Hikma Pharmaceuticals is the multinational company from London that manufactures the non branded as well as branded in-licensed and generic pharmaceuticals products. The company was established in Amman, Jordan during 1978 bt Mr. Smith Darwazah. The company is listed under the London Stock Exchange and the constituent of FTSE 250 Index. Building the ethical heritage for the last 30 years, their values are mainly based upon the way they conduct their business. The company is committed towards improving the life of the people through the existing products and differentiated as well as extensive pipeline. Their main objective is to deliver their patients with affordable, better quality medicines in the major therapeutic segments. Their vision is to construct Hikma into the leading companies for speciality pharmaceuticals with the global presence. Through the strategic acquisitions and organic growth they expected to continue for developing and maintaining the high level of responsibilit y and ethics that are the main factors of their operation (Hikma.com 2017). The company acts with honour and honesty without compromising with the truth and hold the people accountable for maintaining highest performance standards. Showing the consideration for each other, recognizing each others expectation, needs and difference among themselves are the main motto of the company. Further, they maintain accountability, openness and transparent communication at the operation level, which in turn, allow them to carry on their operation openly and clearly that makes it easier for others to observe the performance of the company. Balance scorecard of Hikma Pharmaceuticals The balance scorecard is the performance metric that is used under the strategic management for improving and identifying different internal factors of the business and the resulting outcomes from the external sources. It is utilized for measuring and providing feedback to the organizations (Frst et al. 2014). The collection of data is important for providing the quantitative results as information collected are analysed and interpreted by the executives and managers and are used to make organizational decisions. The balanced score card is prepared for reinforcing the good behaviours in the organization through isolating 4 different segments that are to be evaluated. Four segments are also called as the legs and include business processes, finance, customers and learning and growth. Further, it is prepared to achieve the goals, initiatives, measurements and objectives that are the outcomes from these four major activities of the business (Boscia and McAfee 2014). The organizations easily can recognize the factors with regard to the performance of the company, and the strategic changes that are identified by the future scorecards. With the help of the balanced scorecard, the company as a whole is analysed while looking at the objectives of the company. The organization can use balanced scorecard for implementing the strategy mapping for identifying the areas where value is added in the organization. The organization may also utilize the balanced scorecard for developing the strategic initiativ es and the strategic objectives (Sainaghi, Phillips and Corti 2013). Data is gathered and broke down from four parts of a business. To begin with, learning and growth are dissected through the examination of preparing and information assets. This first leg handles how well data is captured and how viably workers use the data to change over it to an upper hand over the business. Second, business processes are assessed by examining how well items are processes. Operational management is examined to track any delays, gaps, wastes or bottlenecks. Third, customer perspectives are gathered to gage consumer loyalty with quality, cost and accessibility of items or administrations. Clients give input in regards to if their requirements are being met with current items (Heginbotham et al. 2015). Finally, the financial related information, for example, deals, consumptions and wage are utilized to comprehend budgetary execution. These financial measurements may incorporate dollar sums, spending fluctuations, budgetary proportions or wage targets. These four legs incorporate the vision and technique of an association and require dynamic administration to investigate the information gathered. In this manner, the balanced scorecard is frequently alluded to as an administration apparatus, not an estimation device (Keyes 2016). Mendelows Matrix: One of the methods used in performing the stakeholder mapping is the Mendelows Matrix. Unless suitable knowledge is available about the stakeholders, corporate strategies cannot be formulated. It is possible to determine the key stakeholders of any organisation by the procedure of stakeholder mapping (Mohan and Anil Rao Paila 2013). The company of interest is the Hikma Pharmaceuticals. The company is listed in the London Stock Exchange. Being a pharmaceutical company, the key aim of the company is to provide their patients with the best quality of treatments possible. Stakeholders of any company are many in number. In case of this pharmaceutical company, the customers, that is the patients are the main stakeholders. Ot6her stakeholders include the suppliers of the medical products and equipment, the employees of the company who work for Hikma, as well as the wider community (Elsaid, Salem and Abdul-kader 2015). The existing policies of the company include the strategy to deliver the best possible quality as well as affordable generic medicines. The possibility of providing branded generic medicines to the patients is also not left out. The priorities of the company include the following facts: Strengthening their position by establishing themselves as a leading US non-injectable generic company. Expansion of the company in the existing generic markets Maintaining their position among the top three generic injectable companies in the US Maintaining their rank as the leading regional player in MENA as well expanding in new and emerging markets. Organisational objectives: The major objective of the company is to prepare in such a way for the future that they can allow the growth of their business and lead to the strengthening of their ties as well operate keeping in mind the shareholders best interests. This is done to create shareholder value off the company. If a companys shareholder value is not created, the shareholders are bound to look for better options, thus damaging the overall value of the company. The other organisational objectives of the company include: Maintenance of sustainable development Driving the sustainable development Meeting all the requirements of healthcare Promotion of good business ethics Supporting the communities of the company Minimising negative impacts on the environment Enabling and encouraging the development of the people Minutely following the key strategic goals Thus it can be said that there is a direct link between the organisational objectives and the priority structure of the Hikma Pharmaceutical Company. This is because the priority structure is built according to the organisational objectives of the company, keeping the most important goals and objectives in mind. Persons involved in the value creation process Value creation is the most important aim of any organisation, specifically in terms of business. Creation of value for the main people that is the customers, assists in the selling of products and services, along with creating the value for the shareholders in general. This creation of value ensures that shareholders invest in the company and there always remains adequate capital for the funding of the company to assist in its operations (Grnroos and Voima 2013). In other words it can be said that the performance or the actions which help in increasing the overall worth of the company goods, services or even in case of a business. The employees are the most important people involved in the value creation of a company (Acharya et al. 2012). Recipient of the value created by the organisation Recipients of the value created by any organisation are primarily the customers. In case of the Hikma pharmaceutical company, the main people are the customers. Unless good quality of service is meted out to the customers of the company, their branding and trust will suffer (Achtenhagen, Melin and Naldi 2013). Also it can be said that the generic medicines and the injections if not provided accurately to the customers will lead to issues of low trust as well as will lead to their negative feedback about the company. Negative feedback about the company will ultimately lead to its low value. The value creation will occur in a negative sense. Thus with the help of the Company information as well as the obtained knowledge regarding the strategies, priority structure as also the organisational objectives it can be clearly understood that the Company needs to understand the amalgamation of the level of power and the level of interest of the stakeholders and act accordingly all the time maintaining a perfect balance so as to not harm the goals or the value creation of the company. Minimal effort needs to be given to the company stakeholders who have the lowest amount of shares as well as the least interest as their feedback or their opinions carry the least value. Much importance should not be provided to such individuals. In case of those stakeholders who have low power but high interest, the company needs to keep them informed. This is because if not informed the word of mouth publicity may be lost and these individuals might negatively influence the others who wish to become future stakeholders of the company (Ferretti 2016). In case of shareholders having high power but low interest, it is the companys duty to keep them satisfied at all times otherwise the value and the stakes will be negatively impacted. It might be argued that this category does not have much interest, but the factor of key importance is their power. Finally those stakeholders who have high power as well as high performance are the major players of the companys shares and stakes. The fate of the company is entirely dependent on their happiness and ultimately their decisions. Financial analysis Looking at the financial statement of the company, it is found that the company out of the total capital, $ 1,337 million were raised through equity, $115 million were raised through short-term borrowings that are bank loans and overdrafts and $ 590 million were raised through long-term debt. Therefore, the company raised only 35% of its capital through external sources that is short-term and long-term borrowing and raised 65% approximately through internal sources that is through equity. Ratio Formula 2016 2015 Efficiency ratio Inventory turnover ratio COGS / Average inventory 2.37 2.72 Account receivable ratio Net credit sales / Average accounts receivables 3.53 3.45 Current ratio Current assets / Current liabilities 2.30 1.58 Gearing ratio Debt / Shareholders Equity 0.53 0.35 It can be identified from the above figures that inventory turnover ratio of the company was better for 2015 as compared to 2016 and it fell to 2.37 in 2016 from 2.72 in 2015. However, the companys inventory turnover ratio is quite impressive as it is able to sell the 100% of its inventory during one year. In other words, the company will need less than one year to sell its total inventory. Looking at the account receivable ratio of the company it is identified that the company is able to collect its dues for 3.53 times during 2016 as compared to 3.45 times in 2015. Therefore, it can be said that the receivable position of the company is improving. Further, the company has very high current ratio, which is 2.30 in 2016 as compared to 1.58 for 2015. It indicates that though the company is in a good position to pay-off its short-term obligations, the higher ratio may indicate that the company is not utilising its current asset properly. Finally looking at the gearing ratio, it is identified that the companys financing through borrowing was only 35% for 2015. However, its long term borrowing went up to $ 721 million in 2016 from $ 590 million in 2015. It indicates that the company raised further amount through new borrowings during 2016. Debt finance as an option of finance Debt finance takes place when the company raise capital through borrowing from external sources like from bank, financial institution. It can also raise the capital through selling the bills, bonds or notes to institutional investors or individuals. An ideal ratio for debt finance is that the company can raise through debt to maximum 60%. Looking into the current scenario it is identified that the debt ratio f the company jumped from 35% to 53% which is quite a big amount. Therefore, it is suggested not to borrow through debt anymore immediately. However, as the amount of borrowing further needed is not mentioned, the company can consider further borrowing through debt only if the amount is small; otherwise too much debt will have adverse impact on the capital structure of the company. References: Acharya, V.V., Gottschalg, O.F., Hahn, M. and Kehoe, C., 2012. Corporate governance and value creation: Evidence from private equity.The Review of Financial Studies,26(2), pp.368-402. Achtenhagen, L., Melin, L. and Naldi, L., 2013. Dynamics of business modelsstrategizing, critical capabilities and activities for sustained value creation.Long range planning,46(6), pp.427-442. Boscia, M.W. and McAfee, R.B., 2014. Using the balance scorecard approach: A group exercise.Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning,35. Elsaid, A.H., Salem, R.K. and Abdul-kader, H.M., 2015, December. Automatic framework for requirement analysis phase. InComputer Engineering Systems (ICCES), 2015 Tenth International Conference on(pp. 197-203). IEEE. Ferretti, V., 2016. From stakeholders analysis to cognitive mapping and Multi-Attribute Value Theory: An integrated approach for policy support.European Journal of Operational Research,253(2), pp.524-541. Frst, C., Opdam, P., Inostroza, L. and Luque, S., 2014. A balance score card tool for assessing how successful the ecosystem services concept is applied in participatory land use planning.Landsc. Ecol,29(8), pp.1435-1446. Grnroos, C. and Voima, P., 2013. Critical service logic: making sense of value creation and co-creation.Journal of the academy of marketing science,41(2), pp.133-150. Heginbotham, E., Nixon, M., Morgan, F.E., Hagen, J., Heim, J.L., Engstrom, J., Li, S., DeLuca, P., Libicki, M.C., Shlapak, D.A. and Frelinger, D.R., 2015.The US-China military scorecard: Forces, geography, and the evolving balance of power, 19962017. Rand Corporation. Hikma.com. 2017. Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC. [online] Available at: https://www.hikma.com/en/index.html [Accessed 18 Aug. 2017]. Keyes, J., 2016.Implementing the IT balanced scorecard: Aligning IT with corporate strategy. CRC Press. Mohan, V. R., and Anil Rao Paila. "Stakeholder Management in Infrastructure/Construction Projects: The Role Of Stakeholder Mapping And Social Network Analysis (SNA)."Aweshkar Research Journal15, no. 1 (2013). Perkins, M., Grey, A. and Remmers, H., 2014. What do we really mean by Balanced Scorecard?.International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management,63(2), pp.148-169. Sainaghi, R., Phillips, P. and Corti, V., 2013. Measuring hotel performance: Using a balanced scorecard perspectives approach.International Journal of Hospitality Management,34, pp.150-159.

Unfair Competition free essay sample

Unfair Competition Unfair competition  in a sense means that the competitors compete on unequal terms, because favourable or disadvantageous conditions are applied to some competitors but not to others; or that the actions of some competitors actively harm the position of others with respect to their ability to compete on equal and fair terms. It contrasts with  fair competition, in which the same rules and conditions are applied to all participants, and the competitive action of some does not harm the ability of others to compete. Often, unfair competition means that the gains of some participants are conditional on the losses of others, when the gains are made in ways which are illegitimate or unjust. Principles of fair competition To an important extent, the principles of fair competition in the business world are defined by law, and therefore unfair competition may well be unlawful or criminal. But because the forms of competition can change continually and new forms of competition may arise, competition may be unfair, but not illegal, at least not until a legal rule is explicitly made to prohibit it. We will write a custom essay sample on Unfair Competition or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The exact meaning of unfair advantage or harm caused in business competition may be vague or in dispute, in particular if different competitors promote different interpretations which suit their own interests. It may be difficult to define what it would mean to compete on equal terms, and the operative terms of competition that exist in reality may be challenged only when a participant is seriously disadvantaged by them. Often equal terms is defined as an equal opportunity or equal chance to compete. †¢ Sport Unfair competition may occur in games if a participant in some way deviates from the rules of the game, or has privileged access to important information or resources that should in principle be available to all participants in the game, or none of them. Participation in the game normally assumes that participants have an equal ability to compete in relevant respects, or are able to acquire it during the game. In sports, for example, a heavyweight boxer is not usually played against a lightweight boxer, and the secret use of drugs to enhance sports performance is usually prohibited in competitions. Cooperation Sometimes unfair competition is also interpreted to mean that the existence of competition as such is unfair or unjust. [citation needed] The argument is then that there should not be any competition. In this case, the alternative to unfair competition is not fair competition, but no competition or cooperation. †¢ Commercial law Unfair competition in commercial law refers to a number of areas of law involving acts by one competitor or group of competitors which harm another in the field, and which may give rise to criminal offenses and civil causes of action. The most common actions falling under the banner of unfair competition include: †¢ Matters pertaining to antitrust law, known in the European Union as competition law. Antitrust violations constituting unfair competition occur when one competitor attempts to force others out of the market (or prevent others from entering the market) through tactics such as predatory pricing or obtaining exclusive purchase rights to raw materials needed to make a competing product. Trademark infringement and passing off, which occur when the maker of a product uses a name, logo, or other identifying characteristics to deceive consumers into thinking that they are buying the product of a competitor. In the United States, this form of unfair competition is prohibited under the common law and by state statutes, and governed at the federal level by the Lanham Act. †¢ Misappropriation of trade secrets, which occurs when one competitor uses espionage, bribery, or outright theft to obtain economica lly advantageous information in the possession of another. In the United States, this type of activity is forbidden by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. †¢ Trade libel, the spreading of false information about the quality or characteristics of a competitors products, is prohibited at common law. †¢ Tortious interference, which occurs when one competitor convinces a party having a relationship with another competitor to breach a contract with, or duty to, the other competitor, is also prohibited at common law. Various unfair business practices such as fraud, misrepresentation, and unconscionable contracts may be considered unfair competition, if they give one competitor an advantage over others. In the European Union, each member state must regulate unfair business practices in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, subject to transitional periods. Unfair Competition A branch of intellectual property law, unfair competition is a term applied to all dishonest or fraudulent rivalry in trade and commerce. This term is particularly applied to the practice of endeavoring to substitute one’s own goods or products in the market for those of another for the purpose of deceiving the public. This deception is commonly accomplished by imitating or counterfeiting the name title, size, color scheme, patterns, shape or distinctive peculiarities of the article, or by imitating the shape color, label, wrapper or general appearance of the package in such as way as to mislead the general public or deceive an unwary purchaser. Acts of unfair competition are generally characterized by deception, bad faith, fraud or oppression, or as against public policy because of their tendency to unduly hinder competition. Unfair competition laws have been established to protect consumers and businesses and help prevent illegal merchandizing. Source:  Black’s Law Dictionary Also Known As: Unfair Trade Practices Examples: Examples of unfair competition include: †¢ Trademark infringement   such as using the Coca-Cola ® trademark on a soda container manufactured by a competing beverage maker. False advertising   such as making false claims about a drugs abilities to promote weight loss. †¢ Unauthorized substitution of one brand of goods for another  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ such as substituting a low-cost handbag for a designer handbag. †¢ Misappropriation of trade secrets   such as stealing a competitor’s soft drink formula. †¢ False representation of products or services   such as exaggerat ing a software program’s spellcheck capabilities.

9 Ways To Avoid Being The Office Jerk

9 Ways To Avoid Being The Office Jerk We all have crazy coworkers- and that’s not even counting the guys going AWOL on the printer in an abandoned field. But you don’t have to be the office psycho to make an enemy of yourself at work. Here are nine things not to do on the job- or really ever.1. Don’t lieEven if it’s a little white lie with good intentions, it can easily get out of hand. Getting caught up in a lie, however, will only make it harder for your coworkers to trust you†¦ and for you to respect yourself.2. Don’t gossipBut†¦ work is dull, and that secret is just so juicy Still,  hold on to your schadenfreude and keep quiet about your coworkers’ misery. You won’t hurt anybody’s feelings, and no one will think you’re a spiteful grump.3. Don’t  be a downerEverybody hates their job a little- at least once in a while. But don’t be the one who’s constantly complaining. It’s a bummer and will bring the whole group do wn, plus it will make you look like a total downer. Remember how replaceable you are!4. Don’t ExplodeNo, seriously. We all want to go AWOL on the printer. Or occasionally even our boss. Before you pick up that stapler to hurl it at your coworker, remember: it might make you feel better, but it’s really just an easy way to get fired. Once you become the office crazy person, there’s no coming back.5. Don’t  hog all the creditEven if you feel you did the lion’s share, taking credit for someone else’s work or ideas is just a jerk move, plain and simple. Keep it classy, and focus on what you can accomplish.6. Don’t bragPlaying it cool is the strongest possible move when you’ve done something excellent. Give the impression that you’re that good all the time, rather than crowing about every small success.7. Don’t  backstabBe sensitive to the climate you work in, and the hierarchy. Don’t go over anybody’ s head or talk about anyone behind their back. (And just hope your coworkers do you the same courtesy.)8. Don’t  eat gross stuffNo, really. That leftover flounder your boyfriend made you is just going to stink up the microwave, the kitchenette, your cubicle, and the entire office. Don’t be the one who brings in smelly leftovers and makes everybody nauseous. If you wouldn’t eat it on an airplane, don’t bring it into work.9. Don’t burn bridgesEven if you do have to peace out, resist the urge to do it in dramatic fashion. You’re invariably hurting your coworkers more than your boss, and you never know when you might need the connections you have made.These sound like outrageous behaviors, but it’s quite easy to be driven to them gradually. So check your ego, stay calm, and make sure to keep your head above the fray.

Understanding Vietnamese Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Understanding Vietnamese Culture - Essay Example A number of Vietnamese in America come from the southern regions of Vietnam and talk the same dialect as the interpreters, difficulties can arise (Pham 2005, p.10). Different pronunciations can convey different nuances (Karnow 2000, p.20). Also, even though their words can be spelled similarly, their true meaning depends on the spoken accent. The family gets valued highly in the Vietnamese family, and it plays a central part in the culture. This family becomes extended consisting of married sons, daughters in law; young unmarried adult daughters, and the grandchildren (Shapiro 2002, p.13). The family structure is patriarchal. The eldest male is the family decision maker and spokesman. In the traditional families of Vietnamese, the husbands make crucial decisions on matters outside the home, while the wives take care of homes and have the responsibility of making decisions concerning healthcare (Pham 2005, p.10). The elders in the community become highly honored and respected (Karnow 2000, p.20). The kids are at all times required to obey them. Decisions regarding the community get made on the basis of common good, mostly under the direction of one of the elderly males(Pham 2005, p.10). Individualism becomes discouraged totally in the line of the family responsibilities that enhance interdependence, sense of belonging and support. The Vietnamese people have wide religious beliefs that play a significant part in their normal way of life. This also includes the decisions regarding end of life matters and health care. A number of Vietnamese people practice Buddhism (Karnow 2000, p.20). These religions posit that people should live a virtuous life by ignoring personal desire. Other beliefs include; animism, ancestor worship, the philosophical principles of Confucianism and also Taoism that symbolizes the importance of family life, harmony and social virtues (Karnow 2000, p.20). People of Southern Vietnam practice Christianity, mostly Catholicism.  

Electromagnetic Energy Storage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Electromagnetic Energy Storage - Research Paper Example Electromagnetic field influences the behavior of objects in the vicinity of an electromagnetic field. The Electromagnetic waves that carry electromagnetic energy is a family of waves based on the frequency and wavelength (Tom and Heather 34). Arranged in order of increasing frequency then we have Gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, Visible light, Microwaves Infrared, and Radio waves. Gamma rays have the highest frequency hence a high energy while the Radio waves have the lowest frequency and therefore have less energy. Electromagnetic energy can be stored in electrical devices such as the capacitors and Inductors. For an electric field, the total energy density which is given by energy stored per unit volume can be determined to be . Where the symbols assume their scientific meaning, this relation is useful in the evaluation of the total energy stored in a capacitor. An inductor is a coil of electrical wire with parameters that enable it to store energy in the form of the magnetic field (David, 1989). The magnetic field energy density is given by. This energy density is useful in the determination of energy stored in the Inductor. Both the electric and magnetic fields play important roles in energy transport as described by the pointing vector (Mats and Jonsson 23). It is however important to notice that the energy associated with magnetic and electric fields is equal and therefore the use of one the equation above can be used to represent the other. It is also important to realize that for an ele ctromagnetic wave with particular energy, the electric field is directly proportional to the energy of â€Å"the magnetic field with a constant of proportionality equal to the speed of light† (Mats and Jonsson 30) â€Å"According to Faradays law, a changing magnetic field† (Chegg 31) such as a magnet moving inside a conducting

Effects of Advertising on Children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Effects of Advertising on Children - Essay Example And the results have been studied by various researchers with Harris, Bargh and Brownell (2009) concluding that advertisements that directly target children leads to increased preference and purchase of the case products. Thus, advertisements targeted on children do more harm than good to the children. In as much as firms achieve their objectives through advertising to children, a lot of concerns have been raised on the ethical implications based on what Mason (2012) argues as the lack of understanding the basis of advertisement among the children. Such children would be unaware of the meanings attached to the advertisements. The ability of a child to understand an advertisement would be described on the ability of such a child to distinguish between advertisements and non-advertisements and secondly, in understanding that advertisements aim at persuading the target audience. It has been noted that at age 6, children have the capacity to differentiate TV programmes from advertisement s. Nonetheless, such children still do not understand the persuasive intent of the advertisements. ... In the United States, Mason (2012) indicates that children under 12 years old would spend over $13 billion annually on direct food purchases as a result of the popular advertisements which in turn influences a greater $250 billion on family spending. In the UK, an average child has been found to view an estimated 18,000 television advertisements annually compared to 40,000 and 16,000 in the US and China. Similarly, the growth in print media advertisements targeting children has been tremendous with Jones, Gregory and Kervin (2012) giving the example of Disney which now markets Disney Adventures and Disney Girl respectively targeting children over 6 and girls between 6 and 13 known to spend their money on toys, lip glosses, clothing and accessories. The Internet has been widely used as an emergent mode of advertisement among children riding on the findings that children spent a lot of their time on the Internet (Asadollahi & Tanha, 2011). Through online marketing, the frequently visit ed sites would have pop-up advertisements or sponsored advertisements which open up the children to a myriad of advertised products and services. Positive impact There are scholars who have argued on the positive aspect of advertising on children. Social advertising has been cited by Asadollahi and Tanha (2011) as a form of positive advertising where the objective would be to change the behaviour and attitude of the public and stimulate positive change. For example, the November 2002 to February 2003 advertisement on polio immunization in the US saw over six million children immunised. A research that was commissioned by UNICEF found out that over 94% of the respondents

Extracting DNA From Living Samples

Extracting DNA From Living Samples Karen Stevenson Introduction Collecting DNA samples from animals is often difficult and stressful for the animal, so non-invasive methods of collection are needed. Extracting DNA from animals usually involves one of three methods: Destructive sampling involves the organism having to be killed to get the tissues needed for genetic analysis.  Non-destructive or invasive methods require a tissue biopsy or blood sample. These are the most ethically acceptable and humane ways to extract DNA from living organisms as they do not destroy the animal or its habitat and often any DNA from feathers, hair, skin, droppings, etc. can be used, although DNA samples do degrade over time which will subsequently decrease the accuracy of test results. Freeland (2005) discusses a number of processes for DNA preservation including the method we used in the class experiment which is described in this report. High quality DNA shows up in bright contrasting bands on the electrophoresis gel but poor quality DNA displays a blurred or smudged look. Gender will show up as either one or two separate bands. Unlike in mammals where the heterogametic male (XY) will show up as two bands and the homogametic female (XX) will show up on the gel as one band, with birds, this is the opposite and the male is the homogametic and his ZZ genotype shows up as one distinct band while the heterogametic female ZW genotype shows up as two distinct bands on the gel. It is very difficult to determine the gender of very young chicks because there are no visible dimorphisms yet and poultry producers need to determine the sexes well before the animals begin to mature. Modern molecular genetic methods mean we can profile for individual genomes from very small amounts of DNA, whereas historically much larger samples were needed to get accurate results. In this experiment we followed procedures outlined by Hogan, Loke Sherman (2012) in our Prac manual to extract DNA from three tissue types of a domestic chicken to determine the sex of the sample and also to compare the quality and amount of DNA from the three samples. Materials and Methods Tissue Samples. Feathers, muscle tissue and blood samples were supplied by the technicians in the lab. The tissues were taken from a domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus. DNA Extraction from Blood, Feather and Muscle Samples We extracted our Our DNA with the Quiagen DNA purification kit DNeasy Blood Tissue Kit (2012). PCR is a faster and more sensitive method of amplifying DNA than cloning, and it produces similar results. We used bird sexing primers to build up the gender-specific loci CHD1W and CHD1Z, which allowed us to determine the gender of the chicken from a method developed by Fridolfsson and Ellegren (1999) using universal avian sexing primers 2250F and 2718R. The class results were collected and graphed so that our individual results could be compared. Negative control, male and female controls were used to conclude whether our hypothesis that Blood and tissue samples would yield a better quality of DNA than feather even though these methods are more invasive than extracting DNA from the blood spot in a feather shaft. In this experiment we extracted DNA from a blood clot in the feather as in the Horvath, Martinez-Cruz, Negro and Goday (2005) procedure, which showed that this was more successful than using material from the tip and this blood clot sample took longer to deteriorate than the tip sample. We did not know how old the feathers were, nor the age of the bird. DNA extraction procedures work by lysing cells, which causes the cell membrane to break free from the cell. Proteinase K can be added to detach the proteins and RNA can be removed with the RNAse. The DNA is then precipitated out using ethanol and further improved using PCR methods and visualized using the electrophoresis procedure. The Section containing the blood spot was cut out using a sharp pair of scissors and cut into tiny pieces and added to 180 µL of Buffer ATL before digestion with Proteinase K (180 µL pipetted into a sterile 1.5 mL microfuge tube) was then incubated at 56ËÅ ¡C for 30 minutes (briefly mixed in the vortex every 10 minutes), after which the cells had been lysed. To precipitate the DNA we added 200 µL of 95% ethanol (AR grade) and mixed in the vortex for a further 15 seconds. The lysed DNA was then pipetted into the DNeasy Mini spin column and centrifuged at 8000 rpm (6000 x g) for 1 minute, binding the DNA to the membrane in the spin column, ready for washing. The spin column was placed in a new microfuge collection tube in which 500 µL Buffer AW1 was pipetted, centrifuged for 1 minute at 6000 x g (8000rpm) and the flow-through was discarded. Again the DNeasy spin column was placed into a new collection tube, 500 µL of Buffer AW2 added and centrifuged for 3 minutes at maxi mum speed (13 – 14,000 rpm), removed from the flow-through (which was discarded in hazardous waste receptacle), placed back into the collection tube and centrifuged again at maximum speed for a further minute to remove any ethanol. The spin column was then removed from the tube (which was discarded). After placing the spin column into a clean 1.5mL collection tube it was labelled appropriately and 100 µL of Buffer AE was pipetted straight onto the centre of the DNeasy membrane and incubated at room temperature for 1 minute, centrifuged for 1 minute at 6000 x g (8000 rpm) to elute it. The DNA was now pelleted in the bottom of the tube, so the spin column was discarded and the pellet stored in its tube in a cold box at -20ËÅ ¡C. Electrophoresis Method During electrophoresis, the negatively charged DNA fragments travelled towards the positive cathode causing the smaller protein fragments to move quicker than larger particles. The DNA was visualized as bright bands on the gel, which had been stained with GelRed which is a chemical used to increase mutation rates, multiplies the product and is assumed to be carcinogenic. The agar gel and TAE buffer had been prepared earlier in the microwave and allowing the gel to cool to 50 °C. GelRed was carefully added to 150mL of gel for a final concentration of 0.5 µL mL-1.The casting tray was carefully put into the gel tank with the black moulding gates at both ends. The comb was inserted after the gel had been poured into the tray inserted, then left for 30 minutes at room temperature to set. 10 µL of the DNA chicken feather sample we extracted previously was mixed with the 6x loading dye into a fresh microfuge tube. Wearing rubber gloves, we removed the black casting plates and the comb and then added the TAE buffer until the entire gel was submerged by 5mm. The first and last wells had molecular weight markers ÃŽ »HindIIIand 2-log ladder added and our DNA samples were pipetted into an empty well, noting the position. We applied the cover and connected to the power unit and ran it for 60 minutes at 120V. The DNA proceeded to float from the negative cathode (black cable) to the positive anode (red cable). When finished, we removed the gel tray and transferred it on a plastic container to the Gel Doc System for visualizing the images. PCR method We used the Polymerase Chain Reaction method to expand the DNA so that it could be viewed using electrophoresis. The PCR procedure involved cycles of heating then cooling the DNA which enabled the helix to unwind and bind. We prepared the Mastermix negative and positive controls using 40 µL of the PCR Mastermix and 10 µL of the DNA sample mixed into a 0.2mL PCR tube. Each group had individually calculated amounts using the chart in the Prac manual. We prepared tubes for male control, female control and one negative control (these were provided by the lab). We then placed the tubes into a thermo-cycler and initiated the program which had been perfected to augment the CHD1W and CHD1Z genes using the primers. When this was done, the DNA was then put on a 1% agar gel comb (that had been microwaved and cooled to 50ËÅ ¡C) in a 1 x SB buffer solution for 20 minutes. Wearing gloves, we added 15 µL of 3 x GelRed solution to 150mL of agar gel. We prepared the DNA samples by mixing 10 µL of PCR with 2 µL of 6x loading dye, pipetted it into the gel combined with 5 µL of a 100bp molecular weight marker. The sample was pipetted into an empty well in the gel, location documented and after closing and securing the lid, the electrophoresis unit was run at 300V for 20 minutes. When the gel had finished running the power was turned off, gel removed carefully and put into a plastic container and transported to the Gel Doc unit. The bands were then visualised using the Gel Doc System. Results The class groups successfully extracted DNA from all three types of tissue. Due to incorrect or absent labelling of DNA samples, we were unable to use some of the gel images in our report. Figure 1 shows the Gel electrophoresis from a co-operative class Muscle and Blood DNA extraction using Qiagen 2012, DNeasy Blood Tissue Kit, with blood showing up in more distinctive bands, muscle failing to show clear bands and feather samples extracted (on a separate gel image) displayed poorly using electrophoresis. Hogan, Loke Sherman (2012) explain how the DNA concentrations are measured by comparing the brightness of the sample to the 2log Molecular Weight Marker over the amount of DNA pipetted into the well. Figure 1: Blood muscle DNA extraction using (Qiagen 2012, DNeasy Blood Tissue Kit) Figure 2: Feather DNA extraction using (Qiagen 2012, DNeasy Blood Tissue Kit) After extraction and visualization using electrophoresis, our samples were diluted give comparable concentrations. If the band was too faint or not even visible we left it undiluted but most of muscle and blood samples were dilute. Figure 2 shows the Gel electrophoresis from our feather DNA extraction sample with no discernible results. This was expected. Table 1: Mean nucleic acid concentrations muscle, blood and feather DNA extraction using nanodrop technique From table 1, results show us the average DNA concentration of the three tissue types and reveals that compared to feather, muscle samples provided the best quality of extracted DNA, followed closely by the blood samples. Our test yielded 5 muscle samples, 6 feather samples and 8 blood samples as well as the 2 unspecified class samples. Because 1 feather sample and 1 blood sample failed to clearly show any visible DNA (see figures 1 2), they influence the averages. In the face of this, however, the resulting average sample DNA concentrations reveal that muscle still produced the highest class of extracted DNA in comparison to the blood samples. The feather sample still showed the poorest DNA quality, which related with our expected outcomes. Ladder Male control Female control Negative control Jack’s sample DNA Sample DNA Karen Feather DNA Sample Negative control Female control Male control Ladder Figure 3 shows the Gel electrophoresis from our feather DNA extraction sample with the male, female and negative controls. DNA had been amplified from the extraction and visualized using electrophoresis to determine the sex of the bird that our sample was taken from. Results successfully indicate that sexes were able to be determined. Our PCR result matched the expected result and we determined our sample to be ZW female and Jack’s sample to be ZZ male. This experiment matched the Fridolfsson and Ellegren (1999) procedure except that we used a 1% agar gel to visualize the DNA fragments via electrophoresis and Fridolfsson and Ellegren used a 3% gel as well as our use of a commercial kit (Quiagen 2012). Discussion The quality of DNA extracted varied between our different tissue samples although all we were able to amplify all of them using the non-invasive technique PCR. Extracting DNA from a blood clot of a feather is an option when alternative methods (blood or muscle) are not suitable. The destructive muscle samples provided a better class and measure of DNA in comparison to the feather samples, however destructive methods of DNA extraction necessitate the slaughter of the organism and is not typically ethically acceptable particularly when endangered species are involved. Invasive blood sampling provided a high quality of DNA in terms of results and should be used in preference to destructive methods if non-invasive methods are not possible. The disadvantage of blood sampling is that if the procedure is done in the field, it necessitates the capture of the organism to extract the blood sample as well as the storage while out in the field as DNA deteriorates over time. Although DNA from fea ther samples gives a lower quality than the other two methods discussed, they are usually easier to obtain in the field because capture, plucking and release are far less invasive that taking blood or killing the animal for muscle tissue (Mundy et al. 1997) and usually can be collected from nests or off the ground without having to involve capturing the animal at all. This experiment was conducted over a number of weeks. DNA deteriorates over time and storage is therefore very important. Freeland (2005) discusses the importance of preserving DNA to circumvent DNA molecules from re-arranging and so affect the results when amplified by the PCR technique. We froze the DNA at -20 °C to preserve the samples in between both practical sessions. While performing the practical sessions, our DNA was generally kept at room temperature which could possibly have caused some deterioration but this is not very likely to cause large variations of DNA quality as all our samples were exposed to the same conditions. Cold-boxes were used to store the DNA samples but all products including the DNA were kept at room temperature for the duration of both practical’s and this could easily have been avoided by asking the students to me mindful of the importance of preserving the DNA in order to get better quality DNA for extraction. References Freeland, J (2005).  Molecular Ecology. Wiley. Chichester. Fridolfsson, A and Ellegren, H. (1999). A simple and universal method for molecular sexing of non-ratite birds. Journal of Avian Biology. 30, 116 – 121. Hogan, F., Loke, S., and Sherman, C. (2012)  SLE254 Genetics: Practical Manual 2012~ Sex Determination of the Domestic Chicken (Gallus Gallus).Deakin University. Burwood. 1-46. Horvath, M. Martinez-Cruz, B. Negro, J. Kalmar, L and Goday, J. (2005). An overlooked DNA source for non-invasive genetic analysis in birds. Journal of Avian Biology. 36, 84-88. Mundy, N. Unitt, P., and Woodruff, D. (1997). Skin from feet of museum specimens as a non-destructive source of DNA for avian genotyping. Auk 114, 126-129. Qiagen. (2012).  Sample Assay Technologies: DNeasy Blood Tissue Kit.Retrieved September, 11th2012 Taberlet, P. Waits, L. and Luikart, G. (1999). Noninvasive genetic sampling: look before you leap. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 14, 323 – 327.

AIDS/HIV Research :: essays research papers

AIDS Research All A.I.D.S research should be funded by the government. Today A.I.D.S has become a large concern within society. Sexually active youth are constantly threatened with the chance of getting A.I.D.S.. A.I.D.S is everyone's problem and a cure has to be found. With funding from the government, it will provide the capital necessary for the research to find a cure, to stop the spread of A.I.D.S; eventually bringing down the number of people contracting and spreading the disease. Presently, many people have contracted the A.I.D.S virus, and it has become close to an epidemic. People who are sexually active have this constant threat of the disease looming over their heads. The people that contract the disease are normal people just like you and I. This disease does not favor any race or sexual preference. Many more people than you might believe have this disease, and the thing is many of these people, don't even know that they have the virus. Although many people may consider A.I.D.S research as costly and ineffective it is extremely important as a cure is found. Research requires a lot of funding whether it be private or government funding. This money is exceptionally important, as it provides the equipment, and the peoples salary who are doing the research. The amount of money needed for the research may seem like it is a lot, but it is worth it. It is worth it because if you consider the amount of money that we give to foreign countries to aid their economy we could be using this money to save peoples lives all around the world. People are dieing everyday, and many more are in hospitals; so if we find the cure we will save lives, and get these people who have contracted the disease out of hospitals, and living on their own again. Furthermore, research to stop the spread of A.I.D.S must be done. Meanwhile, in the search for a cure, research has to be done to find better methods of stopping the spread of the disease.

Life or Death

The death penalty is the center of a highly publicized controversy. The sentencing of the 18-year-old American Michael Fay to a caning in Singapore and Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun's unequivocal public renunciation of capital punishment have intensified current debate over punishment in general and capital punishment in particular—the topic of this essay. The Fay controversy and the Blackmun declaration raise deep questions about how to get â€Å"the punishment to fit the crime† (Bedau 67). This is a difficult issue. Why do, or should, we seek the death of some criminals? How might we define death punishment, the justification of which is being debated here? The argument of this paper is that punishment must involve unpleasant consequences for the one being punished of capital crimes – death. The myth persists that by sanctioning â€Å"an eye for an eye† the Bible is calling for the death sentence. Take a careful look. The same Mosaic laws (to be found principally in Exodus XXI and Deuteronomy XIX) that are all too commonly assumed to condone capital punishment also call for death. The Hebrew text, â€Å"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,† was meant to prohibit mass killings (Bedau 240). Is it justifiable for an authorized representative of society to inflict death on those found guilty of committing capital crimes? On the issue of capital punishment, there is as clear a clash of moral intuitions. Justice requires payment in kind and thus that murderers should die. Surely, the most convincing argument for the death penalty is that it protects innocent people by stopping convicted murderers from committing murder again. The death penalty is marginally necessary to deter crimes better than less severe penalties. More significant results come from the capital punishment’s restraining effect on the much larger population where can be future killers—what criminologists name as general deterrence. Testimony for death penalty’s general deterrent effect is found in three sources: logic, firsthand reports, and social science research. Logic presents the conclusion that the capital punishment is the most effective deterrent for some kinds of killers. As Professor James Q. Wilson has said: â€Å"People are governed in their daily lives by rewards and penalties of every sort. We shop for bargain prices, praise our children for good behavior and scold them for bad, expect lower interest rates to stimulate home building and fear that higher ones will depress it, and conduct ourselves in public in ways that lead our friends and neighbors to form good opinions of us. To assert that ‘deterrence doesn't work’ is tantamount to either denying the plainest facts of everyday life or claiming that would-be criminals are utterly different from the rest of us† (Bedau 189). Many murderers on death row declare that they did not think of the death penalty when they killed people. This is surely true. That is exactly the point. If they had thought of future death penalty, they would not have committed their horrible murders. The death penalty for the murderers makes a number of assumptions about the relationship between death punishment and the well being of those who suffered loss as a result of the crime. It is assumed that there is a â€Å"zerosum† relationship between the welfare of the victim's relative and that of the offender: the greater the suffering to be inflicted on the offender, the better the victim's loved ones should feel (Bedau 231). Perhaps a linkage of the selected penalty to the feelings of satisfaction of the victim's relatives becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, with the relatives feeling rewarded by the jury's choice of death penalty. The death penalty serves to release tensions in people, that it makes them feel that justice is being done. However, the imposition of the death penalty must be constitutional which imposes a dual procedure for the death penalty: first, conviction beyond a reasonable doubt for the act(s); and second, a separate sentencing hearing in which evidence relevant to personal culpability is admissible. The court, prior to imposition of the death penalty, have to find the existence of certain aggravating factors and the absence of relevant mitigating factors (for example, age, psychiatric history, family background, and the like); the death penalty judgment, in turn, is subject to appellate review as its fairness and the absence of invidious factors. Works Cited Bedau, Hugo Adam. Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Best Case. Oxford University Press: New York. Publication Year: 2004.   

new declaration oof independece essays

new declaration oof independece essays Each year, deluging masses of populace from foreign nations flock to America. Here, they believe they will receive the chance to embrace, savor, and exercise true "Freedom". Surely, this land of wondrous opportunities would encompass them in her fruitful prosperity! But is it really a land liberated from the fetters of suppression? Are Americans as tolerant and pleasantly liberal as perceived to be? If not, then a formidable and hefty query arises: What is an American? A liberated America's building blocks are the elixirs of Equality, Freedom, and democracy. What, then, would undermine the basic structures of America more than racism? Yet, try as we might, we cannot utterly annihilate the lurking plague of racism. It persistently resurfaces and hoists up its sordid visage. It is enough to make one contemplate upon the apparently indubitable democratic core of the Americans comprising of this "enlightened" democratic nation. Some Americans, however, do at least occasionally try to conceal biases through thinly gilded veneers of false enthusiasm. This, of course, is not to say that all Americans exhibit partialities- merely that those who do demonstrate a high capacity for concealment. On a more comical note, Americans are stereotypically depicted as obnoxiously crass and stentorian by the "cultured" European countries such as the wine- drinking French. Americans may appear to seem "loud" when advocating causes and obligations thought to be ethically seemly. We become active and operative when championing for a motive. But often, Americans are vocal in general, and quite argumentative in nature. Americans, raised with society's supposedly intense notions of Freedom, Liberty, and Justice abstractly as fundamental standards for sustenance, will not stand for a silencing of their sentiments and expressions. Americans are renowned for their outspoken, articulate, and often "too- liberal" mannerism. It is also stated that we are "bras ...

Current Research on Medications used in the Treatment of Schizophrenia Essay Example

Current Research on Medications used in the Treatment of Schizophrenia Essay Example Current Research on Medications used in the Treatment of Schizophrenia Paper Current Research on Medications used in the Treatment of Schizophrenia Paper 1996), and the proportion had increased to 64. 4% by 2000 (Wong et al. , 2005). However, little is known about the process by which these medications are adopted, i. e. , whether there is a simple switch to a new medication or a more complex process of trial and error. Literature Review The history of antipsychotic drug development is closely linked to the dopamine (DA) hypothesis of schizophrenia. This hypothesis postulates that schizophrenia is associated with a disorder in DA neurotransmission based on several observations: 1. Dopamine agonists, such as d-amphetamine, bromocriptine, and l-DOPA can exacerbate symptoms in schizophrenic patients and can produce psychotic symptoms in non-schizophrenic persons. 2. All currently used antipsychotic drugs share the common property of D2 dopamine receptor blockade both in vivo and in vitro. 3. A correlation exists between D2 dopamine blocking potential and clinical antipsychotic efficacy (Creese et al. , 2006). An increase in D2 dopamine receptors in the drug-naive schizophrenic brain has been reported but this finding has not been replicated (Wong et al. , 2005). In contrast, it has been shown that the D2 dopamine receptor and its gene are reported to be normal in schizophrenia and the antipsychotic drugs can only control symptoms and cannot cure the disease. While this hypothesis provided a rationale for the development of new drugs, there are still many unresolved problems. Not all schizophrenic symptoms can be explained by excess of dopamine. The positive symptoms of schizophrenia are related to a hyperdopaminergic state in the mesolimbic and mesocortical areas (Crow, 2005), and the negative symptoms to a hypodopaminergic state in the medial prefrontal cortical area (Merriam et al. , 2000). Therefore, a dopamine blocking agent cannot logically be the most suitable drug to improve both the positive and negative dimensions of schizophrenia. Current Pharmacological Treatment of Schizophrenic Patients Clinical Goals of Treatment Antipsychotic therapy focuses on four primary symptom domains in schizophrenia – positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive impairments, and disturbance of mood and affect (Tandon et al. , 2005). Positive symptoms are prominent during acute exacerbations of illness, and often precipitate hospital admission. Negative symptoms include both primary and secondary components, due to either the illness itself or due to other factors such as depression, environmental deprivation, or parkinsonian side effects of antipsychotic medications (Miller et al. , 2000). Although they rarely precipitate hospitalization, they frequently worsen during acute psychotic episodes, and typically do not fully resolve after the episode. Negative symptoms are moderately associated with functional impairments between acute episodes of illness. Cognitive symptoms include deficits in all four major areas of neuropsychological function – memory, attention, language, and executive function. Although cognitive functions often show significant premorbid impairment, there is evidence that they continue to decline after the onset of illness, especially during acute episodes of illness. These symptoms are largely due to the underlying pathology of schizophrenia, but are also worsened by secondary factors, such as depression or pharmacologic treatment. Cognitive symptoms are highly correlated with lifetime functional impairment in schizophrenic patients (Bilder, 2007). Mood and affective symptoms common in schizophrenia include depression, anxiety, agitation, and behavioral dyscontrol. These symptoms contribute to subjective distress, functional impairment, and hospitalization, and are appropriate targets for pharmacologic intervention. The remarkable heterogeneity of schizophrenia is attributable in part to the relative contributions of each of these domains of pathology to individual cases of the disorder. Furthermore, the quality and severity of each type of symptom varies over the course of illness in the individual patient, creating a unique mosaic of symptoms over time. Antipsychotic treatment has usually been focused on positive symptoms, which respond most dramatically to pharmacologic interventions. Modest symptom improvement in other domains typically follows reduction in psychosis. There are two major reasons to focus more intently on negative, cognitive, and mood symptoms. First, they are highly correlated with patients’ functional status and quality of life. Second, because they are difficult to treat once they occur, it is critical to avoid the progression of these symptoms, which is usually associated with acute episodes of illness. Thus, prevention of acute episodes benefits the patient not only by avoidance of hospital admission, but also by minimization of the functional deterioration associated with progression of negative and cognitive symptoms. General Principles Antipsychotic medications have been the mainstay of the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia. AAP drugs show levels of antipsychotic efficacy comparable with the conventional agents, but are somewhat more effective in the treatment of negative, cognitive, and mood symptoms, and they carry a greatly reduced risk of EPS and TD (Meltzer, 1993). Clozapine is unique in its antipsychotic efficacy, effective treating 30% to 50% of patients who do not respond to other medications (Kane et al. , 1998). Because of its associated risk for agranulocytosis, seizures, hypotension diabetes and weight gain, clozapine is not considered a first-line agent, and is reserved for treatment-refractory cases. In treating a schizophrenic patient, two factors – the temporal and dimensional – need to be considered. Temporal factors include emergency, acute, chronic and rehabilitation treatments and dimensional factors include the positive, negative, cognitive and mood target symptoms. Acute Treatment Acute patients generally enter treatment through the emergency room and, if needed, may get admitted into the psychiatric ward of a hospital. The removal of the patient from the stressful environment, if any, is itself positive. In an acute setting, antipsychotic monotherapy is the most useful line of treatment, and AAP drugs are preferred because of the lack of acute EPS. Antipsychotic drugs are used in therapeutic doses and in most instances, use of high doses is not needed. There is no evidence that schizophrenic patients respond to any one specific medication and the response depends on the individual. Intramuscular preparations are sometimes required to treat acute patients; both haloperidol and ziprasidone are available in intramuscular formulation. Occasionally, lorazepam intramuscularly either alone or with haloperidol is administered to decrease agitation (Salzman, 1988). The goal in acute treatment is to prevent harm to self or others by decreasing excitatory symptoms. When to Expect improvement Positive symptoms improve first. Of the positive symptoms, psychomotor excitement improves in a day or two and sometimes in a few hours. Akathisia and dystonia also occurs most often with in the first 48 hours to a week, and patients need to watched carefully during this period. Hallucinations and delusions take about 3 months to improve and, in some instances, may continue unabated. Thought disorders improve gradually. There is variability in how an individual patient responds. Adjunct medications, increase in antipsychotic medication dose, addition of another antipsychotic drug, or changing the antipsychotic agent within a month is unwise. Maintenance Treatment Continuing antipsychotic medication treatment after acute symptoms are controlled reduces the likelihood of a relapse (Davis, 1995). The antipsychotic medication should be continued indefinitely. Depot injections decrease relapse rates better than oral medications and are indicated in certain circumstances. Tardive dyskinesia is a major risk with CAP drugs, occurring in about 5% of the haloperidol treated patients per year. In older patients, in one year 27 % of patients develop tardive dyskinesia (Jeste Caligiuri, 1993). It is the risk of tardive dyskinesia which is partly responsible for the popularity of AAP drugs as the first choice for treatment. Dose of the medication is an unsettled issue. With regard to antidepressant therapy, the dose that helped a person to improve is the same dose used as maintenance dose. With antipsychotic drugs, there is a need to use the minimum amount necessary to prevent relapses. What the minimum dose is, is a clinical decision. The maintenance antipsychotic treatment has to be flexible to suit the individual needs with a positive risk-benefit ratio. Discussion The introduction of chlorpromazine a half century ago clearly revolutionized the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Unfortunately, neither this drug nor other typical antipsychotic medications are uniformly or optimally effective in the treatment of individuals with schizophrenia. These agents do not reduce psychotic symptoms in all patients and have limited efficacy against other clinical features of the illness (e. g. , negative symptoms and cognitive deficits). In addition, the different side effects associated with these medications have both contributed to problems with compliance and introduced additional sources of morbidity. The availability of atypical agents, such as clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone, promised advantages in both efficacy and tolerance but raised very important questions, such as, 1) Which antipsychotic medication used is best for a given profile of symptoms of schizophrenia? and 2) just how much advantage in treatment efficacy, especially for negative symptoms, do the current atypical medications actually provide? Clear answers to these questions have been difficult to obtain from the existing literature because the available studies evaluated only a subset of the medications of interest, used different experimental designs and outcome measures that hinder comparisons across studies, and examined primarily acutely ill subjects, making it difficult to determine whether clinical improvement reflected reductions in not only secondary but also primary negative symptoms. In addition, a number of the comparative studies that have been published were developed and sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies whose medications were being evaluated, raising concerns about potential sources of bias in experimental design or interpretation of outcomes. The study by Papanikolaou and colleagues provides compelling new data that address these important issues. These investigators recruited 157 inpatients who had a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and a history of suboptimal treatment response to adequate duration and doses of one or more typical antipsychotics. The patients were randomly assigned to receive clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, or haloperidol in a 14-week, double blind trial. Total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores were significantly improved for all three patient groups treated with atypical agents but were unchanged for the haloperidol treated group. This finding would be expected for individuals who were selected for study because 1) they had not responded adequately to previous treatment with typical antipsychotics and 2) they had not failed previously to respond to treatment with atypical agents. When compared with haloperidol treatment (with conservative corrections for the performance of multiple statistical tests), only clozapine and olanzapine demonstrated statistically significant improvement in negative symptoms. In addition, none of the three atypical antipsychotics produced a statistically significant improvement in positive symptoms or general psychopathology compared with haloperidol. In considering the significance of these findings, several aspects of this study are worthy of note. First, the importance of such double-blind direct comparisons of therapeutic agents is rivaled by the difficulties involved in conducting such studies. For example, achieving the optimal dose for each agent can be a major challenge; as noted by the authors, the dose of risperidone was probably too high, presenting one limitation to the study. In addition to the complexity involved and time required to conduct these types of studies, the staged introduction of new medications produces problems in making direct comparisons across medications. In the study by Papanikolaou et al. , the comparison of haloperidol, clozapine, and risperidone was designed and implemented when olanzapine became available commercially. To enhance the relevance of their study to clinical practice, the investigators subsequently added an olanzapine treatment arm. However, the later addition of olanzapine-treated subjects meant that assignment to treatment with olanzapine was not completely random with the other three medications, creating the possibility of a cohort effect. This raises the question of whether subjects who entered the study later, and received olanzapine, were somehow different from the subjects who entered the study earlier, and received the other drugs, in a way that would account for any differential response (or lack thereof) to a given treatment. The authors have thoughtfully addressed this question and provide reasonable arguments for the absence of such a cohort effect, but they acknowledge that the possibility cannot be completely excluded. Second, the study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), contributions of medications from four pharmaceutical corporations, and supplemental funding for the olanzapine arm (equal to about 18% of the total cost of the project) from Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of olanzapine. This arrangement, a realistic compromise that made possible the direct comparison of four drugs, nonetheless raises concerns about potential bias, given that olanzapine proved to be more effective than other drugs on some measures. However, in contrast to investigations that are initiated and controlled by industry, the authors had complete independence in the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of the study. In some ways, this study may represent a model approach for the support of clinical trials; that is, the study was designed and conducted by independent investigators, principally funded by the federal government, and supplemented by contributions from, but without undue influence by, the pharmaceutical industry. Indeed, such government/private collaborations for investigator-initiated research have been encouraged by NIMH. Third, despite achieving statistical significance, the differences in efficacy across the medications examined in this study were, as noted by the authors, modest and their clinical significance limited. Thus, the disappointingly small added value of atypical antipsychotics in this patient population clearly underscores the need for the identification of more effective treatments. In this regard, the study by Leucht et al. (1999) in this months Journal provides an informative lesson. These authors conducted a meta-analysis of amisulpride, an atypical atypical antipsychotic that has been used clinically in France for the past decade. Leucht et al. found that amisulpride was superior to typical antipsychotics in improving global symptoms and negative symptoms in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia and more effective than placebo (but not than typical antipsychotics) in patients with predominantly negative symptoms. However, as in the study by Papanikolaou et al. , the additional improvement provided by amisulpride was relatively small. For example, the mean effect size was 0. 11 in acutely ill patients, indicating 11 percentage points more improvement in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score with amisulpride than with typical antipsychotic medications. In addition to clarifying the clinical efficacy of amisulpride, the findings of Leucht and colleagues are informative regarding the pharmacological basis for the atypicality of antipsychotic medications. Although it shares the clinical properties (e. g. , reduced extrapyramidal symptoms at therapeutic doses) that characterize other atypical agents, amisulpride is unusual in that it lacks the combination of activity at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors that has been proposed to account for the efficacy and side effect profile of atypical antipsychotics (1). In contrast, amisulpride is a highly selective antagonist of dopamine D2/D3 receptors. Thus, the superiority of amisulpride in terms of clinical response and reduced extrapyramidal symptoms suggests that activity at the serotonin 5-HT2 receptor is not required for atypicality. As a consequence, these findings may indirectly support the hypothesis of Seeman and Kapur (1996) that fast dissociation from the dopamine D2 receptor accounts for the distinctive features of atypical antipsychotic medications. Conclusion The findings of both studies may further enhance the ability of clinicians to make informed, evidence-based decisions regarding the antipsychotic medication that is most likely to be effective in individual patients. However, the modest differences in clinical efficacy of a given atypical medication relative to typical antipsychotics, and especially in comparison with other atypical antipsychotics, both warrant caution in the face of marketing claims of superiority for a given drug and underscore the continued need for the types of basic research that can contribute to the development of novel and more effective medications for the treatment of schizophrenia. REFERENCES Bilder RM. (2007). Neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia and how it affects treatment options. Can J Psychiatry; 42: 255-264. Creese I, Burt DR, Snyder SH. (2006). Dopamine receptor binding predicts clinical and pharmacological potencies of antischizophrenic drugs. Science; 192: 481- 83. Crow T. (2005). The two syndrome concept: Origins and current status. Schizophrenia Bull; 11: 471-86. Davis JM (1995). Overview: maintenance therapy in psychiatry: I. Schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry; 132(12): 1237-45. Denckner S (2001). The need for long-term neuroleptic treatment in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatric Scand Suppl; 291:29-43 Jeste DV, Caligiuri MP (1993). Tardive dyskinesia. Schizophrenia Bull 1993; 19(2): 303- 315. Kane J, Honigfeld G, Singer J, Meltzer H. (1988). Clozapine for the treatment-resistant Schizophrenic: a double blind comparison with chlorpromazine. Arch Gen Psychiatry; 45: 789-796. Leucht S, Pitschel-Walz G, Abraham D, Kissling W. (1999). Efficacy and extrapyramidal side effects of the new anti psychotics olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and sertindole compared to conventional anti psychotics and placebo: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Schizophrenia Res; 35:51- 68. Meltzer HY (1993). New drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia. Psychiatry Clinical North Am; 16: 365-385. Merriam AE, Kay SR, Opler LA, Kushner SF, van Praag HM (2000). Neurological signs and the positive-negative dimension in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 28: 181-92. Miller DD, Tandon R. (2000). The Biology and Pathophysiology of Negative Symptoms. In: Keefe R, McEvoy J. Eds, Negative Symptom of Schizophrenia. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press; 163-186. Nasrallah HA Eds. (2005). Contemporary Issues in the Treatment of Schizophrenia. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press; 109-124. Papanikolaou, Wiesel FA, Stone-Elander S, Halldin C, Nordstrom AL, Hall H, et al. (1990). D2 dopamine receptor in neuroleptic naive schizophrenic patients. Arch Gen Psychiatry; 47: 213-19. Remington, G. , and Chong, S. A. (1999). Conventional versus novel antipsychotics: Changing concepts and clinical implications. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 24:431-441. Rosenheck R, Cramer J, Xu W, Thomas J, Henderson W, Frisman L, Fye C, Charney D. (1997). (Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Clozapine in Refractory Schizophrenia): A comparison of clozapine and haloperidol in hospitalized patients with refractory schizophrenia. N Engl J Med ; 337:809-815 Salzman C. (1988). Use of benzodiazepines to control disruptive behavior in inpatients. J Clinical Psychiatry; 49(suppl): 13-15. Seeman P, Lee T, Chau-Wong M, Wong K. (1996). Antipsychotic drug doses and neuroleptic/dopamine receptors. Nature; 262: 717- 19. Tandon R, Jibson M, Taylor SF, DeQuardo JR. (2005). Conceptual models of the relationship between positive and negative symptoms: Implications for pathophysiology and treatment. Wong DF, Wagner HN Jr, Tune LE, Dannals RF, Pearlson GD, Links JM, et al. (2005). Positron emission tomography reveals elevated D2 dopamine receptors in drug naive schizophrenics. Science; 244: 1558-63 Worrel, J. A. ; Marken, P. A. ; Beckman, S. E. ; and Ruehter, V. L. (2000). Atypical antipsychotic agents: A critical review. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 57:238-255.

Indigenous Religions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Indigenous Religions - Essay Example The Apache dwelled in a desert environment and led a nomadic life. This environment and way of living is difficult and consumes most of the individual’s time in the search for food and water and moving (Hunt). The tribe could not picture an afterlife in an environment similar to their current one; hence they may have chosen to ignore the thought that there could be an afterlife altogether. Living in such an environment, it is easier for a victim to have the view that their survival solely depends on their hard work rather than by the grace of some god or supernatural being. The tough situations that this tribe went through may have driven their lack of acknowledgment of the existence of both a god and an afterlife.Olorun is a higher being, with more powers who assigns tasks or duties to other beings, the Orishas to accomplish. Olorun is thus like the leader whose role is to manage, direct and oversee the progress of any desired work.The messenger tool along a calabash, a chick en and his helper, Oduduwa. All came to the world by descending on a rope. However, Obatala got drunk when they stopped over at a party, and Oduduwa had to carry on with the task at hand. Oduduwa created the earth by sprinkling soil from the calabash over the water. He then released the chicken which ran spreading the earth over until the whole place was filled with land. When Obatala recovered from this drunk state, he was assigned the task of creating the people who would live on the land. That was how the world and the people therein came to be.

Ethics for toy industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics for toy industry - Essay Example wever, attractive and large though the business is, there are certain concerns associated with the safety standards used in the manufacture of toys and the health implications for their children. There is added concern for this as today the toys’ manufacturing units are located in far off offshore places with varying manufacturing standards (Becker, 2008). These concerns are based on several researches that have found toxic and harmful substances in popular toys. More recently, an environmental research group has found that in a sample of 15,000 toys taken from various toy stores across the US, 1 in 3 contained large amounts of lead, flame retardants and arsenic (Clifford, 2008). These toys were manufactured in the US, China and other parts of the world and freely available in the US, a fact that indicates that either there is lack of adequate legislation or that there is inadequate monitoring of the standards. There may be a lack of legislation that targets specific harmful s ubstances due to inadequate research or due to low public awareness about the harmful impacts of certain substances. For example, it is only recently that research and public opinion against the use of phthalates in toys has led to the development of laws covering this chemical. However, even in the case that there are not adequate legislation or enough public awareness, the continued use of substances like phthalates and lead cannot be justified by the toy manufacturers on an ethical ground.

Organizational Analysis Groups and Leadership Case Study

Organizational Analysis Groups and Leadership - Case Study Example The teams are small from 3 to 16 members and are formed on a temporary basis as needed. The role of team leader rotates through the team members (Clawson 2005 p.7). FMC Green River is a task-oriented environment where employees are restricted by their job description. The manager of FMC Green River would like to begin utilizing the team concept to see if it can improve production and employee satisfaction. The leadership at FMC Aberdeen has seen a succession of delegated authority and empowered employees. The management style is relationship oriented and involves a great amount of trust. The FMC Green River plant has a larger employee base. Though the manager, Kenneth Dailey, feels he has an interactive style he would like to improve management's relationship with the employees. The scope of the operation is such that it limits relationship building. FMC Aberdeen has a solid communication network that can disseminate information very rapidly to the necessary people. FMC Green River would like to improve their company communications but face several challenges. The team concept used at FMC Aberdeen may not be able to be implemented at FMC Green River. Green River is a highly industrialized environment that works around heavy machinery that is spread out over a large area. They currently work in a group structure. Machine operation may be too specialized to be spread out over a team responsibility. Forming large teams simply for the sake of a 'team in name only' would not have any beneficial effect (Robbins 2003 p.263). However, administrative workers may be able to form teams and share responsibilities. Dailey has a small management team at the FMC Green River plant. This limits the time and amount of employee involvement they can have. FMC Aberdeen is a close knit organization that has an opportunity to see and talk to one another on a daily basis. FMC Green River does not enjoy this and has thus limited Kenneth Dailey's ability to empower the employees or delegate authority based on trust. He may have an unrealistic view of his interactive style. The close geographical environment at FMC Aberdeen makes it easy for quick communications between team members. Communications networks are well established. FMC Green River is more challenged in this area as the employees are spread out and separated from one another both geographically and technically. FMC Green River is also hindered by their computer system (Clawson 2005 p.22). Most employees do not have access to e-mail or the company Intranet. They have also never created or fostered an environment of open communications. Recommendations FMC Green River should begin to form teams in the administrative area as a way to introduce the concept to the facility. Training will need to be conducted to assure that the workers are skilled at team leadership as well as educated in regards to what is expected of the members. Rules will need to be implemented to prevent 'social loafing' and norms for the team will need to be enforced (Robbins 2003 p.269). As systems are replaced in the manufacturing area, they need to be designed with the team concept in mind. It will not be possible for Kenneth Dailey to undertake the management style at FMC Aberdeen. The employee base is too large and installing more middle managers that