To What Extent Would It Be Fair to Say That Mass Media Had No Choice but to Report What the Government Wanted It to Report During the Falklands War?

Page 103 To what extent would it be fair to say that mass media had no choice but to report what the government wanted it to report during the Falklands war? Using evidence from sources 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, it can be seen that there is indication which shows that the government did in fact control what was reported in the Falklands war. It can be seen that the government did make it difficult to report events from the war, which is presented in the fact that there was no photos in the first 55 days.com/government-regulation-on-media-in-america/">Government Regulation on Media in AmericaThis long delay in media involvement was controlled by the government, clearly expressing the influence they had. This idea is further backed up in source 3c, which compared the Falklands war (1982) to the ‘Crimean War’ (1853) while concerning the topic of media involvement. However, even though it is clear to say the government controlled the media involving the Falklands war, did it result in the mass media only reporting what the government wanted it to, or not?There is clear evidence which suggests that mass media had no choice but to report what the government wanted it to, but to what extent was this? As can be seen in source 3d, the government clearly, and to a heavy extent wanted to control what was reported in the media involving the Falklands war, this can be seen in ‘the remoteness of this war†¦ facilitated media management’. This suggests that the location enabled the government to easily control what was being portrayed in the media.This idea in source 3d is backed up through my own knowledge which proposes that the location made it difficult to report events of the war, as the geographical location and technological collimations disadvantaged reporters. It strongly suggests that the media had no choice but to report what the government wanted it to in the concluding sentence, which states ‘the British government†¦ practised de ception and media manipulation’. Also, it must be accounted that source 3d contains strong credibility. Written in 2009, it allows the writers to have a clear overview of the whole war.Also, being established historians, the writer would possess objectiveness, which results in a more reliable judgement. Using source 3c in conjunction with source 3d brings a strong extent to the idea mass media was controlled by the government. This is because source 3c, written by Julian Barnes explicitly suggests that the government hid the truth from the public, meaning they controlled what was seen in the media, this idea is seen frequently in source 3c. The live reporting of ITV, of the deportation of the British navy was ‘the last sunny, honest, unspun images’ seen in the public eye.Also, as seen in source 3c, information was frequently leaked from the government- whether good or bad. This can be supported by my own knowledge, which showed that the information of the reposit ion of south Georgia wasn’t received by the British audience suggests that both good and bad news was hidden from the public, or leaked via the government, still showing their involvement. However, it must be remembered, that the source was written in 2002, the 20th anniversary of the Falklands war, in The Guardian.The guardian is a left wing newspaper, meaning they will support the labour government. Seeing as Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister in office during the Falklands War was conservative, it would seem that he would be subjective towards the labour government, and be critical of the conservative role. Using source 3b along with 3d and 3c brings significant strength to the idea, that the government controlled the media. This can be seen in the idea only 16 reporters were taken on the Taskforce vessel to make it easier for the government to manipulate their reporting.However, the reporters are also described as ‘gung ho’ in source 3b, this would suggest they were involved in the spirit of war, and were reporting the war through a patriotic view, which wasn’t inflicted by the government, suggesting maybe the media wasn’t wholly controlled by the government. There is evidence which does in fact suggest that the Media could report what it wanted to during the Falklands war presented in the sources. In source 3a there is a slight disagreement to the fact that media could report what it wanted to.It can be seen that even though the original headlines of, ‘gotcha’ seem to show chauvinistic views, towards Argentine death, the headlines were then quickly changed to ‘Did 1200 Argies drown’? From my own knowledge I can add that the use of tabloid language, such as ‘Argies’ would have dehumanised the War, which would have been welcomed by the government, but not inflicted by them. This suggests that the Media did have a choice in what to report, but may have reported certain things to plea se the government.The idea that the Sun soon changed the original cover implies that the media was able to self-censor its own exuberance, contrasting the suggested governmental influence regarding the report of the War. Source 3b also suggests that the media could report what it wanted. This is shown in the way Patrick Bishop, a newspaper reporter from the Falklands War suggests how they weren’t influenced by any ‘stimulus from the military’. This implies that the reporters could infact report what they want.However, it does suggest in the source, that if a reporter wasn’t feeling ‘patriotic or positive’, the military would have to ‘lean on them’. I can add with my own knowledge that all media representatives were controlled by the armed forces that censored reports, and were keen for no negative broadcasting. This idea suggests that maybe there were some pressures faced by the reporters to report patriotic and celebrative views from the war. It must be remembered that the source has high credibility, as it was published in 1982 it has the positive of hindsight and can weight up information from the whole of the war.Also, being from the journalist Patrick Bishop, who was there at the time, he is more likely to be representative of the whole truth. In conclusion, to question how extensive the government was in regulating the reporting of the Falklwands war, it can be seen, by using the sources that the government had a high controllability involving the mass media coverage. This idea is commonly presented in the sources. However, it must be remembered, that in some circumstances the government had a limited control on what the mass media published about the Falklands War and what was reported from there.

Zoonotic Diseases

Introduction Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases which can be transmitted from animals to man. Due to frequent contact and domestication of wildlife animals, zoonotic diseases are increasingly becoming more prevalent. Public parks and gardens are home to abundant populations of birds. One of the most frequent species known to thrive in such areas are feral pigeon (Columba livia). Although there are few reports of disease transmission between pigeons and humans, their close interaction with humans and ability to carry zoonotic pathogens make them a public health risk.In fact, these birds are present at very high densities (2,000 individuals per km2) and can cover a maximum distance of 5. 29 km (Dickx et al. , 2010). This may result in the increase risk of pathogen transmission among other birds and potentially to humans. Studies have shown that most infected pigeons do not show signs of clinical disease. These birds may therefore pose a public health risk to the human population . Pigeons, like many other bird species, can harbor diseases that can be zoonotic in nature. One of the pathogens most frequently carried by pigeons is Chlamydophila psittaci. C. sittaci is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes a disease in birds known as Psittacosis or Avian Chlamydiosis. Psittacosis is highly contagious and often causes influenza-like symptoms, severe pneumonia and non-respiratory health problems. Birds can shed this bacterium in the environment when they are either overtly ill or without any symptoms. C. psittaci occurs most frequently in psittacine birds such as parrots, macaws, parakeets. However, non-psittacine birds including pigeons, doves and mynah birds can also harbour the infectious agent (Greco, Corrente, & Martella, 2005).Therefore, pigeons are thought to be an underestimated source of human chlamydiosis. Studies have shown that pigeons pose a substantial zoonotic risk as are often shown to be naturally infected with a number of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa that are pathogenic to humans. The potential for zoonotic infection is increased as these birds live in close contact with human beings. The aim of this overview is to present the zoonotic potential of C. psittaci in infected feral pigeon populations, in the context of its history, epidemiology and current approaches in treatment and prevention.Pigeon population in urban areas Commonly known as ‘urban’, ‘street’ or ‘city’ pigeons, the feral rock dove (C. livia) is an abundant bird species that often thrive in streets, squares and parks where they come into close contact with humans. Pigeon populations in most large cities increased worldwide after World War II. They have made contributions of considerable importance to humanity, especially in times of war. Feral pigeons have been domesticated and were put to use by making them messengers due to their homing abilities (Dickx et al. , 2010).Pigeons are one of the few animal species able to survive in our noisy and hectic cities. They are extremely adaptable, which also enables them to accept breeding places that are unnatural to them, e. g. on trees or over running ventilation systems (Magnino et al, 2009). They are also a valuable enrichment to the urban environment as they have a cleaning up function by eating discarded food. In addition, they may represent as a tourist attraction as feeding and care of feral pigeons may be rewarding spare-time activities for many people who enjoy the company of animals (Magnino et al, 2009).The extensive food supply and minimal predator population has indeed provided the ecological basis for the large populations that occur in most cities of the world. Chlamydophila psittaci in pigeons The increase of feral pigeon populations in many cities is a major cause of concern as they are a source of a large number of zoonotic agents. The most important pathogenic organism transmissible from feral pigeons to humans is Chlamydophila psittaci. In fact, studies in Europe have shown as high as 95. 6% seropositivity values for C. psittaci in feral pigeon populations (Magnino et al. 2009). C. psittaci an obligate intracellular bacterium causes avian chlamydiosis in birds and psittacosis in humans.The bacterium is commonly recognised in psittacine birds such as parrots, macaws, cockatoos and parakeets. It is also indentified in non-psittacine birds such as pigeons, doves and mynah birds (Greco, Corrente, & Martella, 2005). There are at least six distinct serovars (A to F) of C. psittaci considered endemic in birds (Seth-Smith et al. , 2011). Each serovar appears to be associated, though not exclusively, with a different group or order of irds, from which it is most commonly isolated. Genotype B is the most prevalent in pigeons, but the more virulent genotypes A and D have also been discovered (Seth-Smith et al. , 2011). All serovars should be considered to be readily transmissible to humans. The av ian strains can infect humans and other mammals, and may cause severe disease and even death. In contrast to the devastating explosive outbreaks in the first half of the 20th century, the present outbreaks are characterized by respiratory signs and low mortality (Harkinezhad, Geens & Vanrompay, 2009).Chlamydophila psittaci has been demonstrated in about 465 bird species comprising 30 different bird orders (Greco, Corrente, & Martella, 2005). The highest infection rates are found in psittacine birds and pigeons. The first case of C. psittaci zoonotic transmission from pigeons was described in 1941. A mother and her daughter had picked up a sick feral pigeon in the street in New York City. The pigeon died after four days and, two weeks later, both mother and daughter developed psittacosis with fever and pneumonia (Dickx et al. , 2010).Since then, 47 zoonotic cases linked to pigeons have been reported (Dickx et al. , 2010). As a consequence, feral pigeon populations have been r epeatedly blamed as vectors for the transmission of C. psittaci infections to humans. Caution is needed, as zoonotic transmission from feral pigeons is known to be an underestimated source of infection. Psittacosis in birds Transmission of C. psittaci primarily occurs from one infected bird to another susceptible bird in close proximity. The agent is usually excreted in faeces and nasal discharges.From time to time, faecal shedding occurs and can be activated through stress caused by nutritional deficiencies, prolonged transport, overcrowding, chilling, breeding, egg laying, treatment or handling (Vanrompay et al. , 2007). Bacterial excretion periods during natural infection can vary depending on virulence of the strain, infection dose and host immune status. The most common routes of transmission of C. psittaci in nature are the inhalation and ingestion of contaminated material and, sometimes, ingestion (Vanrompay et al. , 2007). The bacterium can be also transmitted in the nest.In many species, such as columbiformes, transmission from parent to young may occur through feeding, by regurgitation, while the contamination of the nesting site with infective faeces are also important sources of infection (Vazquez et al. , 2010). Also the transmission of C. psittaci may also be facilitated by arthropod vectors in the nest environment, but its occurrence has not been assessed in the wild. Vertical transmission has been demonstrated in other types of avian species. However, occurrence appears to be fairly low. Chlamydiosis is a common chronic infection of pigeons.C. psittaci infection may result in lethargy, anorexia, ruffled feathers, ocular and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, diarrhea and excretion of green to yellow urates (West, 2011). Most infected feral pigeons are asymptomatic and latent carriers of C. psittaci, which makes it difficult to assess the risk of transmission of the bacterium to other animals, including humans. As mentioned earlier, increased shed ding of the infectious agents may be triggered by stress factors such as other concurrent infections or infestations, lack of food, breeding and overcrowding.It is important to note that as the density of nesting and roosting pigeons increases, the quality of life in the feral pigeon population deteriorates (Dickx et al. , 2010). In fact, excessive population density activates and stimulates regulation mechanisms that decimate nestlings and juvenile pigeons with infectious and parasitic diseases (Hedemma et al. , 2006). Crowded breeding places make pigeons behave more aggressively, which again mostly affects nestlings and juveniles that are the weakest members of the population, leading to a progressive spoiling of their physical condition.Thus, it is important for feral pigeon populations to be managed carefully in the urban environment to obtain an appropriate- sized and healthy population. Psittacosis in humans Although psittacine birds are the major source of human infection, ou tbreaks due to exposure to non-psittacine birds may also occur. The more common of these are due to exposure to pigeons, both wild and domestic. Humans most often become infected by inhaling the organism when urine, respiratory secretions or dried faeces of infected birds are dispersed in the air as very fine droplets or dust particles (Smith et al. , 2011).Other sources of exposure include mouth-to-beak contact, a bite from an infected bird or handling the plumage and tissues of infected birds (Smith et al. , 2011). A study by Smith et al. (2011) suggests that more than half of the human cases were due to exposure to C. psittaci through contaminated dust, direct contact with pigeons through feeding and handling pigeons. In addition, about 40 of the cases resulted from transient contacts with feral pigeons such as eating lunch in a park frequented by pigeons, walking through a pigeon flock, and living in a neighbourhood frequented by pigeons (Vazquez et al. 2010). The disease in hum ans varies from a flu-like syndrome to a severe systemic disease with pneumonia and possibly encephalitis. The disease is rarely fatal in patients treated promptly and correctly. The incubation period is usually 5–14 days, but longer incubation periods are known (Smith et al. , 2011). Common symptoms of infection in humans include headache, chills, malaise and myalgia, with or without signs of respiratory involvement (Smith et al. , 2011). Therefore, awareness of the danger and early diagnosis are important. Transmission of psittacosis from human to human is rare but can occur.Transmission from humans to birds has not been documented. Diagnoses The diagnosis of C. psittaci infections in birds can be a problem because of the occurrence of persistent infections in non-shedding clinically healthy birds. Isolation of C. psittaci is currently regarded as the standard method for the determination of active infections of birds. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques have been al so used to detect C. psittaci in samples of tissues, feces and respiratory specimens, and were found to be quite sensitive and rapid. Diagnoses can also be established by clinical presentation and positive antibodies against C. sittaci using microimmunoflourescence (MIF) methods (Seth-Smith et al. , 2011). Conventional ELISA tests have been developed for detecting antibodies to C. psittaci in birds, however, it tends to sensitivity and specificity. Treatment No commercial vaccine is available for avian chlamydiosis. Antibiotic treatment of birds is the usual response to known infections. Tetracyclines are usually considered the drugs of choice although quinolones or macrolides have also been used (Tully, 2001). Chlortetracycline (CTC) is given on food depending on the bird species to be treated and type of food (Tully, 2001).Another drug that has also proved to be effective is doxycycline, which has been used for injecting and to treat bird food/ drinking water. Tetracycline antibio tics are the drug of choice for C. psittaci infection in humans. Mild to moderate cases can be treated with oral doxycycline or tetracycline hydrochloride (West, 2011). Severely ill patients should be treated with intravenous (IV) doxycycline hyclate. Treatment with antimicrobial drugs in humans usually lasts for 3 weeks while birds are treated for 45 days. Most C. psittaci infections are responsive to antibiotics within 1 to 2 days, however relapses can occur (Seth-Smith et al. 2011). Therefore sensible use of these drugs is very important, to prevent the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains Prevention Management of feral pigeon populations in the urban environment is a complex issue that requires careful planning. Education initiatives to communicate the health risks and recommendations for minimizing these risks should primarily be directed at susceptible groups such as the elderly, young children, immunosupressed individuals, homeless, and occupationally exposed group s (Harkinezhad, Geens & Vanrompay, 2009).Children should be warned not to handle sick or dead pigeons and immunocompromised individuals should be educated to carefully limit their contact with feral pigeons. Strict hygienic procedures should also be enforced when dealing with birds. Pigeon feeders should be encouraged to stop or limit their activity by implementing a feeding ban in defined urban areas (Harkinezhad, Geens & Vanrompay, 2009). Furthermore, preservation of urban hygiene is very important and should be included in the aims of administrators and health officials, as it will lead to a reduced and healthier feral pigeon population (Vazquez et al. , 2010).The relationship between feeding, overcrowding, and the deterioration of living conditions of pigeons, should be the main focus when educating the general public. Monitoring for C. psittaci infections over time, by direct detection of the organism and/or by specific antibody testing, should also be considered in tho se who are in frequent close contact with bird puplations (ie. occupationally exposed workers) (Smith et al. , 2011). In addition, preventive measures such as wearing protective clothes with hoods, boots, gloves and air filter face masks should be worn when removing pigeon faeces from roofs, attics and/or buildings.Finally, for the sake of animal protection, visibly sick birds should be captured and taken into veterinary care where they should be appropriately treated with effective drugs such as tetracyclines, quinolones or macrolides (Seth-Smith et al. , 2011). . Conclusion Feral pigeons, more commonly known as ‘urban’ or ‘city’ pigeons, are present in both urban and rural areas all over the world. Due to frequent and close contact with people, pigeons are a public health concern as they are a source of many zoonotic agents.In particular Chlamydophila psittaci, a bacterium known to cause psittacosis in both birds and humans (Harkinezhad, Geens & Vanro mpay, 2009). Due to the growing population of pigeons, contact with infected pigeons or pathogen transmission is greatly increased. The infectious agent can be easily transmitted to humans through inhalation of contaminated dust and aerosols from infected pigeons or their feces. Once infected, people suffer from various conditions including mild influenza-like symptoms or severe pneumonia.In addition, the huge increase of feral pigeon populations in many cities is a major cause of concern due to the detrimental effect of pigeon droppings on environmental hygiene. Therefore it is important to monitor the health of both city bird populations and humans who come in close contact with possibly infected birds. As well, awareness and preventative measures must be taken into consideration when handling infected birds or their feces. Furthermore, management of feral population and preservation of urban hygiene is very important in controlling psittacosis. Work Cited Aundria West.A brief rev iew of Chlamydophila psittaci in birds and humans. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 2011. 20:18–2. Dickx V, Beeckman D, Dossche L, Tavernier P, Vanrompay D. Chlamydophila psittaci in homing and feral pigeons and zoonotic transmission. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2010. 59: 1348–1353. Greco G, Corrente M, Martella V. Detection of Chlamydophila psittaci in Asymptomatic Animals. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2005. 43: 5410-5411. Harkinezhad T, Geens T, Vanrompay D. Chlamydophila psittaci infections in birds: A review with emphasis on zoonotic consequences.Veterinary Microbiology. 2009. 135: 68–77. Heddema E, Sluis S, Buys J, Vandenbroucke-Grauls C, Van Wijnen J, Visser C. Prevalence of Chlamydophila psittaci in fecal droppings from feral pigeons in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2006. 34: 4423–4425. Magnino S, Haag-Wackernagel D, Geigenfeind I, Helmecke S, Dovc A, Prukner-Radovc E, Residbegovic E, Ilieski V, Larouc au K, Donati M, Martinov S, Kaleta E. Chlamydial infections in feral pigeons in Europe: Review of data and focus on public health implications. Veterinary Microbiology. 009. 135: 54–67. Seth-Smith H, Harris S, Rance R, West A, Severin J, Ossewaarde J, Cutcliffe L, Skilton R, Marsh P, Parkhill J, Clarke I, Thomson N. Genome sequence of the zoonotic pathogen Chlamydophila psittaci. Journal of Bacteriology. 2011. 28: 1282–1283. Smith K, Campbell C, Murphy J, Stobierski M, Tengelsen L. Compendium of measures to control Chlamydophila psittaci infection among humans (Psittacosis) and pet birds (Avian Chlamydiosis), 2010 National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV). Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 011. 20: 32–45. Tully T. Update on Chlamydophila psittaci. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 2001. 10: 20-24. Vanrompay D, Harkinezhad T, Van de Walle M, Beeckman D, Droogenbroeck C, Verminnen K, An Martel R, Cauwerts K. Chlamydophila psittaci t ransmission from pet birds to humans. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2007. 13: 1108-1110. Vazquez B, Esperon F, Neves E, Lopez J, Ballesteros C, Munoz M. Screening for several potential pathogens in feral pigeons (Columba livia) in Madrid. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2010, 52:45-51.

Abstract Art

Abstract Art Essay Abstract Expressionism is the form of art that has developed after the most difficult periods in human history. This period began during the great depression in the 1930s and ended with the end of World War II in 1945. All of this brought about a worldwide examination of basic human values and ethics and a period of dramatic change in art. Abstract Expressionism is the name given to a group of American artists who would gain international attention during the 1950s. As a result from the Second World War, many of the great European artists in which they found themselves expelled to New York. The result of this advancement to the American art was the post-war international authority that had to the Abstract Expressionists, and the movement that would be the centre for the art world that progressed from Europe to New York. Even though the Great Depression and World War II were great disasters, these events were important in forcing a number of the European artists to flee Europe for the safety of the United States, where they influenced many younger American artists. It was difficult to know exactly how much of this migration would affect American art, but in part of its impact, would be for the first time in which American artists would become internationally recognized for their new vision and a new artistic vocabulary, in which would be known as Abstract Expressionism. Even though abstract expressionism is the movement in painting that has emerged in New York City in the mid-1940s and has reached fame in American art for the following decade. With the given impulsion from the work of Arshile Gorky, abstract expressionism would be marked by the attention that would surface qualities, like brushstroke and texture. Some of the major artists that were included in this movement would include: Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Hans Hofmann, Robert Motherwell, Franz Kline, and Mark Rothko. Abstract Expressionism was primarily concerned with the spontaneous declaration of the individual through the act of painting. The movement would contain lots of variety for styles in which they would be characterized more by the concepts that would be behind the art than by a specific look. Generally, abstract art would be without recognizable images and wouldnt adhere to the limits of predictable form. The roots of abstract expressionism would be in the nonfigurative work from the Russian-born painter Wassily Kandinsky and surrealists, who would deliberately use the subconscious and spontaneity in creative activity. The American painters that would be influenced by the subjective abstractions from the Armenian-born painter Arshile Gorky, who had immigrated to the United States in 1920, who in which he stressed the dynamic interaction of colored planes. The abstract expressionism movement would be centered in New York City. Even though the styles would have embraced within the abstract expressionism that was as diverse as the styles from the painters themselves; there were two major tendencies that were noted in the movement. Abstract painters were concerned with the paint texture and consistency that was worked with the gestures from the artist and while the painters would be giving their impact on their work by using unified color and shape. Abstract art would also be flourished in Europe especially because it is where it was influenced by French painters such as: Nicolas de Sta? Â «l, Pierre Soulages, and Jean Dubuffet. The European abstract expressionists were emphasized by the patches of color, and the art informal, in which it was a rejected formal structure, that had especially close resemblance with New York painting. Abstract Expressionism would be classified by two basic categories: the gestural Abstract Expressionists, who are interested in brushstrokes and drips of paint; and the colour field Abstract Expressionists, in which they create large canvases of color, in the mark of the brush that is not important. READ: Art Appreciation Ch. 4.3Basically, the individual artists that got to be involved with Abstract Expressionism would be that they all shared ideas about the nature of art, seeing it as an expression of the artists self, or of the basic creative urge that all humans share. Since one of the important developments that would be associated with the colour field of Abstract Expressionists would be the creation of a 20th century sublime. Traditionally, the sublime would be a piece from the 19th century art, in which it was the power of nature would be revealed by the character of God. Artists began to express their feelings and thoughts in abstract form. However, the difference here would be that they are expressing these abstract ideas and feelings within their energy that had never been seen before as they tried to find a way of putting their excitement, inner feelings and even torment into a concrete form. The Abstract Expressionists were thought as a group that shared a common experience, however, as individuals they did not think of themselves as a group with common ideals. The similarities that were between the artists was that they all wanted to use their personal intuition in order to make something new and distinctively American, yet commonly valid and unprovincial. Within The Abstract Expressionist Movement, there were different groups of artists that had a particular style. The emergence of the Abstract Expressionist in America had a profound effect on the rest of the art world, because it was relocated to the center of the art. Many factors caused America to be the new center of Creativity. Political and economical causes such as the Great Depression and world war II, as well as former artistic genres such as Surrealism, Social Realism, and primitive American art influenced the Abstract Expressionist new style.

Human nutrition and biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human nutrition and biology - Essay Example The process of epidemiological studies of the bacteria helps to identify the relationships between the occurrence of disease and the factors that influence it. Moreover, it also provides an insight into the transmission and prevention of the disease. The role of epidemiology is crucial in increasing the knowledge available regarding the pathological manifestations of the disease-causing organism and in recognizing which groups of people are at a risk of acquiring that disease. The intent of this paper is to develop a pathway that identifies the causative agent involved in epidemiological study using the outbreak of E. coli O157 as an example. The O157:H7 variety has been identified as one such strain that causes severe food poisoning. In order to analyze the various factors that cause the clinical manifestation of the infectious diseases caused by E. coli, one needs to appreciate that the health of the person is impacted by not only internal factors but also by external influences. The external influences encompass the risk factors such as environmental factors including climate, topography of the area, sanitary and hygienic conditions as well as the age and gender of the person (Rangel et al. 2005). There are also particular factors that can affect the health of the person. These include the substances that are produced by the pathogen itself. Infection by E. coli results due to the interaction between the causative bacteria, the environmental conditions and the host factors (Straw & Taylor 2006). Rangel, JM, Sparling, PH, Crowe, C, Griffin, PM, Swerdlow, DL 2005, Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks, United States, 1982–2002, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, viewed on 1 January, 2010, Slutsker, L, Ries, AA, Greene KD, Wells, JG, Hutwagner, L & Griffin, PM 1992, ‘Escheichia coli O157:H7 Diarrhea in the United States: Clinical and Epidemiologic Features’, Annals of Internal

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Impact of Technology on society - Research Paper Example Lastly, health smart homes are utilized instead of separate medical facilities, resulting in significant cost savings. All these technologies are equipped with wireless communication devices that will deliver value, convenience, quality health care and a better life for the patients. Hence mobile computing devices enable and facilitate caregivers and health care cooperative roles instant access to patient information on a common platform or knowledge base regardless of geographical location. Studies revealed that for improving the quality of health care, monitoring mechanisms must be efficient and effective. The effective monitoring mechanism will transfer information related to vital signs accurately and robustly, resulting in an instant transfer of medical information and response time from a caregiver or doctor. However, to make the monitoring mechanism effective, there is no solution so far except the integration of social networking sites empowered with mobile computing called as Mobile Health Monitoring (MHM) (Brahnam & Jain, ). After the integration, these systems have proven to be efficient and reliable, as they facilitate continuous connectivity of patient’s vital signs to the caregiver or doctors (Brahnam & Jain,). (Brahnam & Jain,) Magrabi along with other researchers has constructed a web based system that will be utilized for monitoring patients located at home and suffering from a disease called as cystic fibrosis. The system is fully equipped and w orks in a standard browser that becomes active whenever new data of a patient is transmitted. Moreover, the system also reviews patient medical history and sends reminders and suggestions via email to both the caregiver and the patient as well (Brahnam & Jain,). However, one problem is not addressed yet, i.e. absence of instant monitoring mechanism of the patient’s body, as it will be achievable by incorporating sensors attached to the body. In contrast, the mobile health

Evolution of English Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evolution of English Language - Essay Example This paper will address evolution of English over time. Languages don’t just happen-they evolve naturally and are a constant work in progress in addition to being a result of thousands of years of development. English, as we know it, is under constant state of change and is also relatively new as vocabulary is always being enriched with new words from all fields, which are coming up on daily basis. Every day, new words are introduced to the English language while others are losing their significance thereby becoming obsolete leading to their being dropped. The rise of this language is worth mentioning especially due to the fact that when Caesar first entered Britain, English language did not exist. Even after five hundred years, it was only spoken by as few people as those who currently speak some other Native American or Australian languages. Nearly about a thousand years later, when  Shakespeare  was at his peak, English was only known to approximately five to seven million people. Today, more than 750 million people speak E nglish, and half of these are native speakers whose first language is not English. English is a global language now and it has become one of the most powerful and influential languages on the planet. In America, Dude is a word that lies between bloke, a slang term for a man or a guy, and the official British English term for mate. Similar to the usage of the word mate, Dude can be used in a vaguely affectionate manner while referring to another person: â€Å"Do not worry about it, dude.†Ã‚   In context of Bloke, Dude can be used to describe a third person: ‘That dude is stressed out.† Nowadays the usage of this word can be found almost in any section of the World. There is no restriction to its use as anybody can use it in general conversations to refer both to the second person and third person for example; what’s wrong with that dude? Or what’s wrong with you, dude? YouTube is an internet site, which facilitates uploading of

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides - Essay Example The parents were afraid of the girls’ independence, and showed signs that they wished for Victorian moralities for their daughters, for the parents were also afraid that the girls would capitalize on their budding sexuality. As these fears drove the parents to the drastic measures of virtually imprisoning the girls, and the girls’ suicide was probably a result of this decision, it can be said that the parents fears of letting the girls be independent and to experiment with boys were the key decisions that led to the girls’s suicides. Discussion One of the themes of the novel is the lack of independence of the girls, and the parents’ desperate attempt to subvert any sense of independence that the girls might have had. This is a theme that is found in the book and in life, for much has been written about how women should be weak, and docile, not strong and independent, and this apparently is what motivated the Lisbon parents. According to Simone De Beauvoir (1949) the appearance of femininity is one of docility, futility and weakness, and that â€Å"to please they must abdicate† (De Beauvoir, 1949, p. 353). This is shown by an examination of great novels, such as Little Women, The Last of the Mohicans and The Mill on the Floss. In each of these novels, the tomboyish, independent woman is pushed aside, romantically, by the protagonist boy. According to De Beauvoir, this is proof that passive, servile women are preferred to their independent sisters (De Beauvoir, 1949, p. 352). Alex de Tocqueville felt that women entered confining marriage, and that these women gave up their sense of independence â€Å"It may be said that she has learned by the use of her independence to surrender it without a struggle† (Faludi, 1991, p. 48). Another theme in the book is the tamping down of nascent sexuality. De Beauvoir contends that adolescent girls cope with the changes that are bestowed upon them by becoming the coquette, as they were i n childhood. They accomplish this by doing their makeup and hair, massaging her breasts to make them grow, and studying her smile in the mirror. This awakens an eroticism in the young girl and the young adolescent boy. However, for the adolescent boy, this awakening eroticism is a badge of honor – of â€Å"transcendence and power† (De Beauvoir, 1949, p. 349). For the adolescent girl, this awakening causes the girl to â€Å"retain a cast of shame† (De Beauvoir, 1949, p. 349). In other words, it is perfectly normal for a girl to want to become feminine and use her feminine wiles as she reaches puberty, and this was something that was denied by Mr. and Mrs. Lisbon, especially Mrs. Lisbon. At the same time, acting upon the newfound eroticism is a cause for censure. This is in line with the Lisbon’s parents’ beliefs about their daughters, for any hint of sexuality was extinguished before it could even come into fruition. The Lisbon parents made sure of this by not allowing the girls to go out with boys. There is every indication that the parents in The Virgin Suicides had these antiquated beliefs, that the girls should not have independence and should not realize their sexuality, despite the fact that the novel takes place during the early to mid 1970s. This was an era that was marked by change in the female situation – women were helping to forge anti-discrimination policies and policies regarding equal

International Trade and International Finance Essay

International Trade and International Finance - Essay Example From this essay ir is clear that  when a nation is mounting on capital resources abruptly and very rapidly, then the additional progress of such satisfied nation’s state of affairs is accountable to be intermittent. In present international trade conditions, the phenomenon of laissez-faire may be noticed that leads to lack of the incentive to attract new investments.  On the basis of political and social environment, the general characteristic of a nation which determines its propensity to consume (in regards to the betterment of a progressive state) fundamentally depends on the adequacy of such incentives.  As the paper highlights  in conditions where the magnitude of aggregate investment is ascertained by the underlying principle of profit maximisation alone, the prospective for domestic investment will mainly be governed by factors like the domestic rate of interest in the in the long run as well as short run. In contrast, the volume of overseas investment is essent ially ascertained primarily with the size of balance of trade in favour of investing nation. Hence, in a culture where there is limited enquiry of direct foreign investment under the guidance of government or public authority, the economic substances with which it is rational for the government are to be thoughtful about the fluctuations in the balance of foreign trade in contemporary environment and prevailing domestic rate of interest.

Management and leadership Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Management and leadership Development - Essay Example 17). Current cultural diversity in global business entities have as well played very essential role in enhancing the experienced impediments in the application of conventional leadership and management theories in contemporary profit making organisations(Hernandez, 2008, p.121). By referring to modern increasing competition and changes in global and local market, global institutions has the role of coming up with efficient means of training and educating their leaders on the most effective means of complying with international management and leadership standards(Hersey and Blanchard, 1993, p.41). Hawksmoor Restaurants is one the other hand rated as one of the most successful multinational corporation in United Kingdom. Despite having huge number of sales and profitability, Hawksmoor Restaurants is among the commonly preferred restaurants company in United Kingdom (Hawksmoor Restaurants, 2012, p. 5). A part from having its headquarters and numerous branches in United Kingdom, Hawksmoo r Restaurants has instituted various outlets in other parts of the world (Gutierrez and Tania, 2007, p. 67). Compared to other proficient local and international restaurants, Hawksmoor Restaurants is among the finest United Kingdom companies in offering fair deals to its staffs. In spite of getting free meals, the company’s employees, are also given competitive wages depending on their performances and skills. The aim of treating its employees fairly is to motivate them as well as enhance their professionals, individual leaders, and management development (Hannum, Jennifer and Claire 2012, p. 79). Compared to its competitors, Hawksmoor Restaurants is also known for paying its employees fairly and in accordance to their skills and competence. Regardless of employing skilled and competent employees, the company is as well known for employing youthful managers (Martineau, 2007, p. 309). Effective employment of both modern and conventional leadership and management theories has a s well been very helpful in facilitating the success of Hawksmoor Restaurants in local and global market (Pulley and Wakefield, 2001, p. 439). To understand the importance and relevant of effective application of leadership and management theories in business entities, the subsequent essay will expound on how Hawksmoor Restaurants has been employing these theories in developing the efficiency of its managers and leaders (Hannum and Claire, 2012, p. 1719). The success of Hawksmoor Restaurants in local and international market can largely be linked to effective and consistent application of Great Man Leadership and Development Theory. Great Man Theory is based on the perception that, leaders are unique and special people in the society. As described in this theory, leaders are born with innate leadership traits. The use of the term man was intentional as it aims at describing the manner in which a leader is supposed to be firm and composed (Reed, 2005, p. 176). As explained in this th eory, although a leader is born with inmate skills and competence, training is very essential in facilitating the development of the identified leadership traits. By referring to the contents in Great Man Theory, Hawksmoor Restaurants have adopted mechanisms that are aimed at identifying and developing leadership traits among its leaders.

Recalling the Holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Recalling the Holocaust - Essay Example The Nazis committed mass murder of the Jews in gas chambers. The use of gas chambers was one of the Nazi’s plans to eliminate all Jews from the German society. The killing of infants occurred before their birth. The gas chambers used carbon monoxide as the killer gas during the Holocaust. The use of carbon monoxide was an inhumane act. It allowed for the mass murder of the Jews by the Nazis. The first mass killing using gas chambers was in 1939. The killing that occurred at Owinksi hospital led to the death of over one thousand Jews including children. That the concentration camps, the use free standing chimneys to kill Jews presented one of the most atrocious acts. A high number of prisoners suffered their fatal fate because of the brutal killing using the freestanding chimneys in the camps. It remains one of the extreme violations of the rights of humanity. Phil Donahue’s interview is a revelation of the truth behind the inhumane acts that surrounded the Holocaust. It exposes the high number of Jews who suffered the atrocities experienced in the important event, that it, the Holocaust. The attempts by supporters of the Holocaust to deny the use of gas chambers to kill the Jews are unbelievable and tantamount to the denial of committing a crime. Dr. Franciszek is one of the most informed people on the holocaust incidence. Dr. Francisze's claims that the number of victims was less than that originally estimated seems ill-intentioned and driven by impunity.... The use of gas chambers was one of the Nazi’s plans to eliminate all Jews from the German society. The killing of infants occurred before their birth. The gas chambers used carbon monoxide as the killer gas during the holocaust. The use of carbon monoxide was an inhumane act. It allowed for mass murder of the Jews by the Nazis. The first mass killing using gas chambers was in 1939. The killing that occurred at Owinksi hospital led to the death of over one thousand Jews including children. That the concentration camps, the use free standing chimneys to kill Jews presented one of the most atrocious acts. A high number of prisoners suffered their fatal fate because of the brutal killing using the freestanding chimneys in the camps. It remains one of the extreme violations of the rights of humanity. The burning of children in the chimneys alive was another great desecration of human rights to life. Phil Donahue’s interview is a revelation of the truth behind the inhumane ac ts that surrounded the holocaust. It exposes the high number of Jews who suffered the atrocities experienced in the important event, that it, the holocaust. The attempts by supporters of the holocaust to deny the use of gas chambers to kill the Jews are unbelievable and tantamount to denial of committing a crime. Dr. Franciszek is one of the most informed people on the holocaust incidence. Dr. Francisze's claims that the number of victims were less than that originally estimated seems ill intentioned and driven by impunity. The interview articulates the true occurrences during the time when Jews underwent inhumane at the Aushwitz concentration chamber. The perception created by denial of the use of the gas chambers to kill in the camps contradicts

Japanese Culture and Society Essay Example for Free

Japanese Culture and Society Essay Japan is country having a strong economic power, and good income levels and the citizen’s standard of living are one of the highest in the world. Japan’s fruitful economy is a result of fine consumer goods exports which were developed with the latest technologies that Japan has to offer. Another factor which made Japan rise would be its well-rounded culture. One of the noticeable factors of Japan’s culture would be its education. Education is a stabilizing factor in a person’s life and a country. Education is one important factor in creating a strong country. The adult literacy rate in Japan is exceeding 99 percent which makes Japan to be one of the top nations in the whole world in terms of educational achievement. School education in Japan begins before grade one in preschool. It is free and a compulsory need for elementary and junior high school education. In Japan, more than 99 percent of elementary school-aged children are going to their respective school which is an astonishing statistic for a nation. Their high school are composed of two divisions which are junior and senior high school which is composed of three years each. An estimate of one third of the senior high school students continues their education to college. Their admission to different high schools and university are based on difficult entrance exams. There is much competition in getting a high position in the entrance exams because most of Japan’s well paying jobs admit employees of the graduates of high quality universities. Approximately, 1 percent of elementary schools and 5 percent of junior high schools are private establishments or are not owned by the government. An estimated of 25 percent of high schools are privately owned. There are no biases between public and private schools in Japan, entrances to elite universities are not based on the status of a student’s school. In the year 1998, it was evident that there were 604 four-year college universities and 588 two-year junior colleges were in Japan. Some of the elite and prominent universities in Japan include the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and Keio University in Tokyo. The early beginnings of education in Japan were sourced in the ideas and teachings from ancient China. In the 16th and 17th centuries, European travellers also affected the Japanese school education. From the years1640 to 1868, during Japan’s era of separation under the Tokugawa shoguns, Buddhist temple called terakoya served as the schools of the country. The temples took accountability for the country’s education and made astounding developments in raising the literacy levels among the population of the country. In the year 1867, it was assumed that there were more than 14,000 temple schools all over Japan. In the year 1872, the new Meiji regime created a ministry of education and a thorough educational code that integrated widespread primary education. During this period, Japan looked at other nations such as Europe and North America for effective educational models. As the Japanese regime expanded during the late 1930s and early 1940s, education of the country became a factor for nationalistic and militaristic needs. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the educational system of the country was refurbished because of some concerns. Changes incorporated the current grade structure that states that the elementary school is six years and junior and senior high school are composed of 3 years each; there was also the implementation of a guarantee of equal access to free, public education. The changes included a finish to the teaching of nationalistic ideology. Reforms also sought to encourage students’ self-expression and increase flexibility in curriculum and classroom procedures. Nonetheless some critics still deem that education in Japan is extensively rigorous, preferring memorization of facts at the outlay of imaginative expression, and geared to encouraging social conventionality. Education in Japan is taken seriously and is a big attribute to the development of the country. Education is shown as factor in a youth’s life, it a vital block to a Japanese citizen’s structure and identity. Japan, as of any country, has its own social problems, this includes youth deviance. In Japan, there are also youth problems such as young people smoking, drinking alcohol, reading pornographic magazines and staying out late. These activities in some other countries are now accepted as ordinary youth culture. But one of the data radically shows that youths that participate in these appalling youth culture are mostly participated by lower high school students. (Yoder) The higher high school students do not involve themselves in these said youth culture unlike the lower high school students. (Yoder) Higher high school students spend most of their time in schooling. There are more occupied with academic and non academic matters such as aiming for high grades to get to an elite university and honing their skills in different sports and talents. It is a fact that when a Japanese student gets older, he becomes more mature and focuses his priorities more in his education than in awful youth activities. Education in Japan offers a complete picture of young people and a reasonable understanding of their lives. Most of the labelled delinquents in the youth of Japan are those who do not participate much in school or are not guided by their parents and guardians. (Yoder) Japan has made schooling as guidance for its youth. The country has successfully installed the importance of education to their youth and the youth responds accordingly to it. If it weren’t for their proper education, Japan’s youth wouldn’t have anything to guide it. The effect of education to the youth in Japan is great because the country focused a great deal on education and allocated much funds for it. Even though most of Japan is comprised of public schools, the public schools still have the same quality of education as of other private schools in other countries. (Yoder) This wonderful trait makes Japan’s education a wonderful asset to a Japanese person. Another evidence on how much education affects Japan would be the effect of deaf education. Until the mid-1970s, deaf citizens of Japan receive few legal privileges and little social acknowledgment. (Nakamura) By the law, they were categorized as minors or as mentally deficient, not capable of acquiring a drivers licenses or even sign contracts and wills. Many deaf people in the country worked at establishments that offer basic tasks or were frequently unemployed, and schools for the deaf initiate a complicated regimen of speech reading and oral speech approaches rather than signing. (Nakamura) After several decades, activism became the ears of deaf men and women which are now essentially acknowledged within mainstream of Japanese society.

Exploring Geneses and Linkages Essay Example for Free

Exploring Geneses and Linkages Essay The contours of international relations changed dramatically during the 20th century, which saw three great conflicts on the world stage. While the First and the Second World Wars were largely located in Europe but found the participation of every major power across the globe, the Cold War split the international system into two ideologically distinct parts, and escalated the scale and scope of contestation beyond Europe. The aim of this essay is to reflect upon the causes behind each of the great wars of the previous century, and also to explore the linkages (and resulting continuity) between one to the next. By looking at the origins of the First World War, we shall find the genesis of the Second, and by analyzing the circumstances of the latter’s conclusion, we shall seek to explicate the onset of the Cold War. The origins of the First World War, which stretched from 1914 to 1918, lay primarily in two distinct geopolitical developments of the late 19th and early 20th century. The first of these was the unification of the German state following the relative period of peace in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars. In 1871, the German unification found the dominance of a singular territory at the center of Europe. Even though thee were initial reservations against German expansionism, the country’s imperial aspirations soon became apparent. A growing population, vast territories, military and industrial growth in an emergent Germany upset the European balance of power at the beginning of the 20th century. As a response, Great Britain, France, and Tsarist Russia formed an alliance, which sought to curtail Germany’s increasing search for territory and markets, with North Africa and the Middle East emerging as primary spheres of contention. While the former alliance maintained that they were safeguarding national interests against German imperialism, the latter claimed it was the victim of the imperial system that restricted access to new opportunities. Matters came to a head in 1914 and war ensued between the imperial alliance and revisionist Germany. A great degree of debate surrounds the causation of the First World War’s outbreak, with some historians squarely placing the blame on Germany, while others arguing that the War resulted out of a series of chain reactions in part due to the manner in which German military plans were conceived. The War ended with a victory for the Anglo-French alliance, but the Tsar of Russia was overthrown by the (communist) Red Army in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The post-War settlement came at Versailles in 1919, with Britain and France held Germany completely responsible for the conflict. Therefore, the settlement – though there were disagreements among the victors over its terms – was harsh on Germany, and included a series of reparations that critically undermined Germany’s status in Europe. Germany was forced to demilitarize, while France occupied the strategic and resource-rich territories of the Rhineland. Perhaps the most humiliating of all clauses in the Treaty of Versailles, however, was the â€Å"War Guilt† clause, which demanded heavy economic extractions from Germany. These were presumably done because it was a popular move domestically for the Allies and also because it provided the opportunity to permanently curb German efforts to fight major wars. These strategies, however, proved imprudent in the end. One of the distinguishing features of the post-First World War world order was the formation of the League of Nations, an international organization based on the premise of common objectives and collective security. Though the League served as the precursor to the United Nations, its implementation left its leading voice – American president Woodrow Wilson – dissatisfied. The League adopted a policy of appeasement, without bearing down on Italian, German, or Japanese aggression in the 1930s, and precipitated the onset of the Second World War in 1939. However, World War II (which lasted from 1939 to 1945) had much deeper origins in the Treaty of Versailles than in the failings of collective security. We must remember that the harshness of the Treaty had embittered the German population, and the same set the scene for Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist Party to come to power in 1933. Soon after, democratic institutions in Germany were obliterated and replaced by the Nazi propagandist machinery; Hitler began rearming the country and massively investing in industry and technological innovation, while adopting a policy of anti-Semitism socially. In Europe, a series of crises spiraled out of control and led to the outbreak of war. Italian annexation of Abyssinia, German remilitarization of the Rhineland, and expansion into Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, and sustained civil war in Spain were all contributing factors. Soviet Russia, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, entered into a non-aggression pact with Germany in 1939, so as to secure its western borders; this provided Hitler with the opportunity to concentrate on the rest of Europe, as he gradually unfurled his plans of continental domination. There remains a considerably vigorous debate with respect to the origins of the War in Europe, as many historians see it as an extension of the First World War, with the structural imbalances resulting out of the rise of and alliance between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Others claim that it was a war effort carefully constructed and implemented by Hitler, who had prepared meticulously for the War throughout the 1930s, turning the German state into an efficient war machine. It must be noted, however, that the formal declaration of war in 1939 came from Great Britain and France. A significant difference between the First and Second World Wars was the proliferation of war in the Eastern front, as Japan joined hands with Germany and Italy to form the Axis powers. The Meiji Restoration in Japan, Japanese expansionism in China and the Manchurian Crisis of 1931 opened the casket of war in East Asia, and Japanese aggression on the United States (US) – the (in)famous Pearl Harbor bombings – in 1941 meant that the latter had to terminate its isolationist policy and enter the War. In Europe, the German invasion of Soviet Russia in 1941 facilitated the alliance of Stalin’s regime with the Allied Powers. The last two incidents are noteworthy because these tilted the strategic and military balance in favor of the Allies, leading to an eventual victory in 1945. The Second World War remains the bloodiest military conflict in the history of humanity, and left most of Europe devastated. However, even before the dust could settle on the scourge of war, a new form of conflict emerged, as the US and the Soviet Union (USSR) found themselves vying for supremacy at the world stage; the end of the War had seen the traditional great powers depleted in resources and influence, and this power vacuum attracted both the Americans and the Soviets. The ensuing Cold War between these two superpowers would define the topography of international politics for the next four and a half decades. There, however, were other lessons to be drawn from the end of the Second World War, which inform us about the onset of the Cold War. The Wartime alliance amongst the US and the USSR had grown fragile by 1945, and serious disagreements ensued over post-War settlements. On the eastern front, World War II in effect ended with America’s explosion of the atomic bomb in Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in 1945. This also confirmed the US’ position as the sole nuclear power, while the USSR retained a conventional superiority in Europe. Even before the latter could attain nuclear parity (which happened in 1949), the two superpowers were at loggerheads as both attempted to assert their influence over Europe, culminating in the Berlin Blockade of 1948, which concretized the Iron Curtain that divided Western and Eastern Europe. The Cold War was characterized by a struggle for power between the US and the USSR, in order to achieve global dominance, both in terms of ideology and military might. The East-West conflict was organized by way of two monumental alliances: the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the USSR-led Warsaw Pact. Further, a nuclear arms race was another defining feature of the Cold War, with massive arsenals stockpiled by either side. Though the world came close to Armageddon more than once (especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962), nuclear deterrence preserved the bipolar peace of the Cold War. We find that there are three distinct interpretations of the Cold War. The first understand the conflict as a contest between rival ideologies – liberalism and communism – that tore the world asunder from 1945 to 1991. This ideological divide not only resulted from the unique histories and political cultures of the United States and Russia, the ideologies in turn determined policies, further reinforcing the divide. A second explanation of the Cold War casts the conflict as a geopolitical struggle where adversaries of relatively equal strength endeavored to gather more power and influence over other states in the international system. In this view, the Cold War was nothing but a clash of national interests. Another view sees the Cold War as the result of technological developments, most importantly nuclear weapons, culminating in a deadly arms race between the two superpowers. A major characteristic of the Cold War remained that there was never any direct confrontation, except in diplomatic circles, between the two rivals; instead a series of proxy wars were fought across the globe, designed to advance superpower interests. The end of the Cold War, again, is an event surrounded by debate. Many suggest that it was the aggressive stance of the Reagan administration that brought an end to the conflict, while others claim that it was a result of changes in Soviet policies under Mikhail Gorbachev. Thus, we find in our exploration of the three major conflicts of the 20th century that there remain several linkages that establish continuity from one to the other. All of these bear historical significance in our understanding of war and, in effect, lead the paths to the present when contemplating about international conflicts.

Zone fitness market research

Zone fitness market research According to Kotler, P. (1988) marketing is a social and managerial process by which individuals and groups can obtain what they need and what they want. This can be achieved by creating, offering and exchanging products of value with others. The figure below illustrates the core concepts of marketing like needs, wants and demands, Product, value, cost, satisfaction and other concepts. Needs, wants demands Product Value, cost satisfaction Exchange transactions relationships Markets Marketing marketers Fig: 1.0. Core Concepts of Marketing Zone fitness is the new health and fitness company based in Huddersfield. Due to the continued growth of the health and fitness market in the UK, the company was formed. The company offers a range of health and fitness services on a membership only basis. Zone fitness operates 1 mile away from town centre in a place which was previously furniture warehouse. Few of the companys facilities are, rowing machines, exercise bikes, weights etc. One of the important parts of the services to the members is that there is an initial joining fee and the range changes according to the period of membership taken out for. The company was formed by three friends with now previous managerial or marketing experience or knowledge. The company is three years old and now has employs a total of 15 staff. The company is looking to grow in future both in terms of members and also in terms of health and fitness facilities offered but feel it now need to become more effective at marketing in order to face the competition. As a marketing consultant a report has been produced, to increase and improve the companys marketing activities. The overall review of the report covers areas such as, industry analysis, market segmentation, targeting, position, pricing strategy, etc. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS According to Brassington and Pettitt (2006), the industry analysis aim is to determine and understand the evolving opportunities and threats of the markets as they relate to the strengths and weakness of the health and fitness firm. The analysis covers areas such as size, growth, profits, cost structure, competitors, etc. MACRO ENVIRONMENT Economic environment is the general changes the economic conditions and the changes in pattern of the income distribution of the customers as well as the operation of the economic system are responsible for a variety of economic phenomena. These involve factors such as fluctuations, trade, economic growth rate, inflation and recession. (Peter, 2008) Socio-cultural environment is the attitudes towards the physical fitness and general wellness and individual ways of life of the customers and standards formed by the cultures and changing social values. (Johnson, et al., 2008) Political environment is the government with its political involvement and the legislation as the main components which can change the political as well as influence of the key issues in the companies such as policies, regulations etc. (Peter, 2008) Technological environment is responsible for the innovation and changes of the equipments such as tread mills, bikes, weights machines and also supplements. The development and new equipments can have an effect on the future of the Zone Fitness. The technology can change the emergence of the many substitute products. (Armstrong, et al., 2009) MICRO ENVIRONMENT SUPPLIER: Suppliers form an important link to the companys overall value delivery system. It provides the resources needed by the company to produce its goods and services. The Zone Fitness management must watch supply availability such as supply shortages, delays and other events which can cost sales in the short term and damage customer satisfaction. (Gilligan, et al., 2009) CUSTOMER: The Company needs to study the types of customer markets. Consumer markets consist of individuals or households that need services and health care activities for personal consumption. Business markets where the company can sell the services to the employees and for further processing. Reseller markets where the company can buy the facilities for certain profits. (Gilligan, et al., 2009) COMPETITOR: The marketing concept states that to be successful a company must provide greater customer value and satisfaction than its competitors. The Zone Fitness Management must do more than simply adapting to the needs of the customers. They must gain strategic advantage by positing their offerings strongly against competitors offerings. (Armstrong, et al., 2009) MARKET SUMMARY The UK health fitness clubs can be divided into two sectors: health clubs which are privately owned and leisure centres which are owned by the local authorities. Leisure centres which are defined as public facilities are changing to cope up with shifting consumer priorities and financial measures. UK has over 5,750 indoor facilities for keeping fit. The health club is still fairly fragmented, but there are now 10 large chains including David Lloyd leisure, Fitness First, Virgin Active and LA Fitness. (The Leisure Database, 2007) MARKET DEMOGRAPHICS Population of UK: 62,348,447 as of July 2010. Age Structure: 0-14 years: 16.7% (male 5,233,756/female 4,986,131) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,774,192/female 20,246,519) 65 and over: 16.2% (male 4,259,654/female 5,612,953) Median Age: Total: 39.8 years Male: 38.6 years Female: 40.9 years (Mouseprice, 2010) MARKET SIZE GROWTH The UK health fitness industry has a revenue estimated almost  £3.6 billion and 11.9% of the UK population are registered as members in the health and fitness or publicly-owned fitness facilities. The membership has been growing up by 3% since 2006 and now there are over 230 new public and private facilities that have been added to the health and fitness industry portfolio. Almost 90% of the UK population lives within 2 miles of a private health or publicly-owned fitness facilities. UK market for health and fitness club has increased by a moderate of 1% in nominal terms, by 2010. (Research and Markets, 2010) On contrary to this, annual growth rates have been declined from 7% in 2006 to just 1% by 2010. Both of which, exerted a downward pressure on disposable income and consumer confidence, reducing demand for health and fitness centres as the money is spent on necessities rather than luxuries. Moreover, annual growth is also believed to have slowed due to increased saturation and competition in the market, which has led to a reduction in membership fees in the private sector. (The Leisure Database, 2007) The membership penetration is 33% higher in London than the UK average and also obesity risk rates are 65% lower in London. The Southwest region is another area in UK to have lower risk in obesity by 34%, but the membership penetration level is higher by 3% the UK average. The regions of North East and South West have largest membership growth in private club memberships whilst the East Midlands topped the impressive growth rates in the public sector. (Corporate Fitness, 2010) 3.0. PORTERS FIVE FORCES A Porters five forces analyses explore five different principal factors, which determine the attractiveness of a health fitness market. Bargaining power of buyers Zone Fitness Threat of new entrants Bargaining power of suppliers Competitive rivalry within an industry Threat of substitute products Fig.2.0. Porters five forces for Zone Fitness Threat of new entrants: The barriers to the new entrants are very high. The main development of private gymnasium and leisure centres on the country which take years and capital required have put smaller companies out of the picture. Some of the health clubs are combined and franchised, but all existing major big companies have sufficient back up support to make themselves unattractive for acquisitions. The domination of some of the big health and fitness companies insure that they can manage a threshold level of profitability. (Euromonitor International, 2010) Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers have low bargaining poor over health and fitness centres due to strong brand power and distribution capabilities of the companies and due to fragmented supplying industry. The need for facilities and equipments is to explore and re-conceive their business models, like by playing on the customers experience issue and to try to arrive at a more profitable but risky mode. These kinds of initiatives might also help moderate the stance of health and fitness companies. (Market and Business Development, 2010) Bargaining power of buyers: Buyers have a strong bargaining power over health and fitness companies because of the range of choices the buyers have. All major companies sell same facilities and at nearly same price so buyer can switch to another company without any doubt. Nearly 94% of customers today have choice of three or more health and fitness companies which can be available to them within 5 minutes of range and many other leisure centres as well. Numerous companies are competing for their business with facilities of varying size and formats. Power of buyers is high and companies that raise prices are likely to lose customers. (Research and Markets, 2010) Threat of substitute products: Health and fitness centres in the available sector are an available alternative for customers, but there has been some convergence between these two sectors as the companies extend their formats. (Euromonitor International, 2010) Competitive rivalry within an industry: The rivalry is intense even though the market is concentrated, especially among the top companies. At a micro level the industry rivalry is centred and a limitation strategy that the major companies resort to if one initiative is successful. The rivalry among major companies is intense and this has led to a price war between companies. This is because the companies sustain the declining profitability without exiting the market and there is no incentive for major companies to rush into extreme and profit eroding price war. (Aaker and McLaughlin 2010) 3.1. COMPETITION Zone Fitness has a highly competitive market in Huddersfield, but the following four will be direct competitors due to their establishment in and around Huddersfield. Bodyzone Fitness Centre Unit 11f/Nortonthorpe Mills/Nortonthorpe Industrial Estate Wakefield R Scissett Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD8 9LA Website: www.bodyzonefitnesscentre.co.uk Services offered: gymnasium, beauty centre, health club, aerobics, swimming, and sauna and cardio theatre. (The Fitmap, 2008) Fitness First Lockwood Park Brewery Drive Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD4 6EN 01484 429000 Website: http://www.fitnessfirst.com Services offered: gym, cardio theatre, spinning room, x-press workout, crà ¨che, squash, studio, lounge, juice bar, personal trainers, sauna, and steam room, aroma and sun bed. (The Fitmap, 2008) University of Huddersfield Gym Sports Hall Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH 01484 472093 Website: http://www.hud.ac.uk/uni/about/campus_facilities/06_sports_hall/1_html/the_gym Services offered: cardiovascular training, step n tones, boxercise, groove n move, hula hoops, kettlebell, boot camp, pilates, abdominal blast, sports team camp, yoga, kung fu, spinning, tae kwon do and swimming. (Bizplan Cover, 2009) MARKET SEGMENTATION, TARGETING AND POSITIONING Market segmentation can be defined as the process of dividing the total market into segments or target market of consumers with common needs or characteristics and selecting one or more segments to target with a marketing mix. Zone Fitness company needs to know the needs and wants of their customers to better enable them to provide facilities and services that will satisfy the customer needs and wants. This may be problematic as there are numerous health and fitness facilities in the consumer market which the company can satisfy. Therefore, Zone Fitness must divide its market into various needs and wants. This is the process of the segmentation. (Cant, et al., 2009) The company must next decide which market segments needs it can best satisfy. The company should develop its marketing offers such as facilities and membership discounts and the process of deciding which segment to pursue is referred to as targeting market. Therefore, targeting deals with the process whereby a marketing mix is tailored to fit some specific customers. (Aaker and McLaughlin 2010) Positioning refers to the creation of a specific image or perception of the facilities and services by consumers in a selected target market. It is therefore the way in which consumers view competitive brands or types of products. For new products it means how the company wants to compare the new item in terms of its predecessors. The company will need attempt to establish a favourable position for its product by means of marketing communication such as advertising, however as it is believed that the product positioning is limited to advertising is no longer appropriate. (Ouwersloot and Duncan 2008) 4. SWOT ANALYSIS Many companies evaluate opportunities utilizing an analysis framework referred to as SWOT. It is an acronym for strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats that can be investigated and can be used in early stages like market planning and decision making for zone fitness. On one hand it operates the matching of vital strengths with major environment opportunities and on the other hand it provides for improvising weaknesses and possibilities of risk in the zone fitness marketing. (Cant, et al., 2009) STRENGHTS: Zone Fitness is more committed towards a result orientated approach to maintain its customers in a highly competitive market. Facilities and health programmes are well taught according to the need of Zone Fitness. Reduction in fees and discount in membership service in entire market of UK. Also Zone Fitness has well trained and qualified staff. Personal services, individual programmes and advice are seen as being a key part of competitive success. (About Health Clubs, 2009) WEAKNESS: Personal training and individual programmes can be expensive. There are no swimming facilities which can be a problem in providing services to a large pool of members. Marketing budget is very short to attract business clients. (NetMBA, 2009) OOPURTUNITIES: Health and fitness clubs are rapidly growing in UK. Increasing health conditions and diseases such a obesity are causing people to join and pay more importance to exercise and health care activities. Health clubs and gym have become a routine of life in the peoples daily schedule. A low income area can be of special focus for zone fitness which is mostly ignored by rival competitors. (NetMBA, 2009) THREATS: One of the main threats could be because of recession and economic downturn, which can slowdown the growth of health and fitness industry. Low cost equipments are also available in the markets for home exercise. Although market is rapidly growing a small level threat can be of low cost offers from well established competitors. (About Health Clubs, 2009) MARKETING MIX Zone Fitness companys marketing mix is based on the factors of product, cost, distribution and advertising. PRODUCT: Health and fitness services: Rowing machines Exercise bikes Weights Aerobics Yoga Steam room Sauna, tanning rooms Massage services and Jacuzzis PRICE: Zone Fitness will be facing a challenge with highly competitive markets such as David Lloyd, Fitness First, etc. Therefore company is offering services at cost less than existing market standards with reduced fees for the under 18s and over 55s and discounts for the family memberships, etc. A new member for yearly membership would pay an initial joining fee of  £100 and a yearly membership of  £500. This would give members an unlimited access of the services and facilities of the company. PLACE: Zone Fitness company is located within the 1 mile radius of the town centre of Huddersfield. The company has a direct supply of their facilities and will not be involving in any kind of franchise or network. PROMOTION: Zone Fitness can use newspapers, magazines, internet, television and radio as the medium of advertising. In addition they could also print brochures for creating awareness in the market about their health and fitness services. (Cant, et al., 2009) INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS (IMC) STRATEGY Integrated Marketing Communications is a cross-functional process of creating and nourishing profitable relationships with customers and other stake holders strategically controlling or influencing all messages sent to these groups and encouraging them. The marketing mix of an organisation for tangible products compress of four elements, these are; marketing communications, price, promotions and distribution. The marketing communication element influences the other three elements; therefore it is important for Zone Fitness to be aware of their relationship between these four elements, while designing and planning the marketing strategy. (Ouwersloot and Duncan 2008) The responsibility of Zone Fitness management is to compile a programme that establishes a framework for the development, implementation, coordination and control of companys marketing communications. The aim of such a programme is to develop an effectiveness IMC programme that targets the customers in an attempt to influence their attitudes and behaviour. STRATEGIES OBJECTIVES Setting the IMC objectives and compiling it with the budget are crucial activities in the marketing communications department. IMC objectives and the budget constitute two basic guidelines and constraint in the formulation of an IMC strategy and for the various elements. The period within which the IMC objectives and strategies must be achieved covers the same period which all activities of the various marketing communication elements are implemented. (Hutt and Speh 2009) IMC objectives and strategies the Zone Fitness can follow are: The objectives must be formulated and once they have been, a provisional marketing communication budget must be prepared on the basis of the formulated goal. Marketing communications development and different strategies for each element are usually the most comprehensive of all phases. Each marketing communications element plays a unique role in achieving the integrated marketing communications objectives. The IMC decisions must be co-ordinated to prevent element being singled out. The decision taken must be synchronised by the company so that the ultimate objective can be reached without any form of duplication and resultant additional cost. After that there should be the development of an action plan for each IMC strategy. This is the operational programme, which is very detailed and contains activities, responsibilities and time frames. The penultimate is the measurement of the IMC effectiveness. It is important to ascertain whether the IMC programme has achieved its objective. The continual feedback on the effectiveness of the IMC strategy and programme so that deviations from the formulated objectives can be evaluated with a view to taking corrective measures. In the overall summary the IMC objectives and strategies must be derives from the marketing strategies and elements such as advertising, personal selling, promotions, publicity, public relations and e-communications must be derived from the marketing communications strategies for Zone Fitness company. (Ouwersloot and Duncan 2008)

Television and the Nuclear Family Essay -- Television Media TV

Television and the Nuclear Family Television families have been around since the 1950s, of which in the beginning, there were the nuclear families. Nuclear families usually consisted of the father, mother, two or three children and sometimes a pet. One the first families on television were the Nelsons. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet debuted in the early 1950s and ran through the middle of the 1960s (Brooks, 16). The family consisted of Ozzie (dad), Harriet (mom), David (older son), and Ricky (younger son). This show actually modeled the Nelson family in real life. Parts of their life were actually on television, making The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, in some way, the first reality show. The Nelsons were a real family that was not portrayed by actors, but by the... Television and the Nuclear Family Essay -- Television Media TV Television and the Nuclear Family Television families have been around since the 1950s, of which in the beginning, there were the nuclear families. Nuclear families usually consisted of the father, mother, two or three children and sometimes a pet. One the first families on television were the Nelsons. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet debuted in the early 1950s and ran through the middle of the 1960s (Brooks, 16). The family consisted of Ozzie (dad), Harriet (mom), David (older son), and Ricky (younger son). This show actually modeled the Nelson family in real life. Parts of their life were actually on television, making The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, in some way, the first reality show. The Nelsons were a real family that was not portrayed by actors, but by the...

The Pact Essay -- Pact Essays

The Pact Some of the things that Rameck, Sam, and George, the three boys in The Pact, were tempted with have occurred with my friend named Paul. Things such as temptations involving drugs, family issues, and the ways of life of the family. Paul's parents both dealt and did drugs, this made it hard for Paul to deviate from this kind of life. As time progressed he soon picked up the â€Å"family business† and started heading down the wrong path in life. These temptations to follow in the path of Paul's parents footsteps were very much the same as the temptation in which George, Rameck, and Sam had, which were the constant pressure from society and family. These temptations, many times, often lead to an increase in the chances of George, Rameck, and Sam's character cracking. For these reasons it made it hard for them to stay on the right track in life and to deviate away from what they were being raised in and to become better than that. Positive influences in their lives prevented them from succumbing to the calls of the streets and of the accepted norms. People such as the karate teacher who helped build self confidence and respect. Unfortunately for Paul he did not have these positive role models in his life to keep him focused and eventually got involved with drugs. He was a senior in high school with graduation just around the corner. Everything was going for him, he was on the Varsity football team, was heading off to college in a few months, and more importantly he wa...

The Godfather: An American Dream Story Essay -- Film Movies

The Godfather: An American Dream Story The Godfather is the â€Å"dark-side of the American dream story† (Turan, pp2). The film follows the practices of a fictional Italian mafia family, the Corleone’s. Though most Americans do not condone the practices of the Italian mafia, they cannot deny that Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece. This film gave insight to a mysterious way of life that the average person does not have knowledge of. As the audience is educated about the mafia they also are introduced to many stereotypes. Many of the film’s important scenes begin with one key character, Don Vito Corleone and the word â€Å"Godfather†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The setting is very dark as the film opens and a man is asking for the Godfather’s help. Though the Don is not happy about the request he grants it, letting the man know that when the time comes he will have to do him a service as well. As the movie continues the audience is shown that it is a very special day; it is Connie Corleone, the Godfather’s daughter’s wedding day. This is an important factor in understanding why Corleone has granted this request, because of the tradition that â€Å"no Sicilian can refuse anyone’s request on his daughter’s wedding day.† With this line comes the insight that the family and the culture find old world tradition very important. Throughout the movie several people come to Vito Corleone asking for favors and services to be rendered. As the Godfather is commissioning work his daughter’s wedding continues on outside the house. This scene is extremely important to the movie, explaining the family’s background and also the group’s cultural background. Throughout this scene they introduce the audience to all of the characters ... ... educated the average person. The Mafia, as depicted by the Corleone family, is very close knit; those that are not even actual family members are still considered part of the â€Å"family.† This movie can be watched repeatedly and each time is as enjoyable as the first. It is a cultural eye opener and lead to two sequels and several other media items, such as today’s television drama The Soprano’s. Though the world does not condone what this lifestyle is about it will always be interested, and somewhat glorify the traditions and lifestyle of something so secretive and just plain bad. Works Cited Turan, Kenneth. â€Å"Tale of The Godfather is Epic in Itself.† Los Angeles Times 21 Mar. 1997. http://www.filmsite.org/godf.html http://www.mobposters.com/godfather.shtml

Background check of hiring employee Essay

In nowadays, background check of hiring employee is practicing by almost all agencies. Point is that, the skills of the applicant can be, somehow, figured out. It is much more difficult to assess the level of trust, honesty, mental toughness, and loyalty. Reading through chapter 9, and conducting a slight research, my answers to the questions of the given scenario are as follows: 1.Do temporary agencies have a â€Å"duty† to run background checks? If so, did Robert half â€Å"breach that duty?† Why or Why not? According to the law of negligence, temporary agencies should follow the duty policy on background check on pre-employment, in order not to satisfy an element of negligence. In case of Robert Half International Inc., and Fox Associates, Inc., I don’t think, that duty was breached, the company trusted to provided information by Ms. Ross about herself, and she got good recommendations from her former employers. At some extend, it is a background check. 2.The court ruled against Fox Associates. Was the court correct? Do you think Fox should have done its own background check? Why or Why not? I agree with the court decision, that it was determined that duty is not breached, because it happened unknowingly. Even though the company recommended the employee, Fox could do its own background check as well. 3.The fact pattern mentions that Sunbeam suffered similar damages when it failed to do its own background check on Mr. Dunlap, its former CEO. Who was more at fault, Sunbeam or the Executive search agency? In this case, the fault has an Executive search agency more, than Sunbeam, as it its straight duty to check background before approve for hiring. However, Sunbeam is liable for its losses also, because it should request and check the information about hiring employer. 4.Strategically and legally speaking, why do you think the former employers said nothing about Ms. Ross’ history and gave her good recommendations? There could be some reasons: 1). the former employers might feel sympathetic towards Ms. Ross, and they don’t believe that she has stolen any funds; 2) Ms. Ross, indeed a good specialist in her field; and the last 3) The former employers just didn’t tell the truth. 5.Develop one  unique background check policies for your company on employees hired through a search firm or temp agency. The main idea on background check which I’d like to develop, besides gathering information, confirmation of address, criminal records searches, is that pre-employee will answer some â€Å"simple† questions, which will ask him/her the same, but in different manner, and maybe I would add some psychological tests, which will let me know if that employee was capable to do something unethical in his past work experience.

Employee Training & Career Development Paper Essay

Every business today wants to hire, motivate and train the most qualified employees. Every company wants to utilize these employees and place them in departments that are best suited for them and the company’s needs. This seems like an impossible goal however, this is goal is what many Human Resources departments do on an everyday basis. Human Resources provide this connection to assist in employee development to utilize each employee’s talent. Human Resources put forth the effort to increase employee improvements by providing training and development opportunities for employees to look for promotions within the organization. Job shadowing involves an employee following another employee while performing their job to see what the job is all about.† Job shadowing gives personnel chances to see first-hand the genuine job duties involved and the skill that is needed to perform the job themselves. (Wise Geek, 2011). Job shadowing works well as an in-house strategy to h elp distribute knowledge more largely in a company which, in turn, helps avoid job silos from starting and helps employees increase their expertise and skills to make their work experience more profound and pleasant. Job satisfaction plays an extremely significant role in workforce retention. (Wise Geek, 2011). Job switching is comparable to job shadowing and just like shadowing it prepares the workforce of tomorrow. It allows employees learn about different job opportunities within an agency, and it is most beneficial for offering extra job skills for employees who want to increase their knowledge through added training opportunities. It also assists in generating job back-up sources for essential positions within the company. Employees who want to learn about other jobs within the company or a different department basically switch jobs for a certain amount of time to learn more about distinctive jobs and how those different jobs intermingle to achieve company goals. (Wise Geek, 2011). Monitoring employees is another way to assist in employee development. Managers observe how an employee is progressing in their day to day tasks. This gives the manager an idea about how well the employee is progressing. Monitoring can help managers decide on what trainings are most  useful. It assists the managers to gain a relationship with the employee while giving on going feedback. It shows an employee that the manager cares about the success of the employee. If a manager did not monitor and give feedback it will then show a lack of interest and the employee will inherit that type of attitude as well. (Wohner, 2011). Many companies face the task of employee development with developing greater confidence, creativity, solutions-finding, and problem solving abilities amongst their employees. Companies need employees at all levels to be more adequate, ingenious, imaginative and independent. This attitude allows employees to perform at higher tactical level, which makes their company more industrious and aggressive. Employee’s efforts will create bigger results. It’s what all companies make every effort to succ eed. (Levine, 2011). For many companies these methods above would assist in helping a company be competitive and successful. However, these methods will not assist an employee to gain courage, maintain a belief in the company and these methods will not help in the maturity of the employee. This is where a company needs to focus on the personality of the employee and not the skills that the job requires. Every employee has a different personality, if a company y can recognize that then they can build up the confidence in their employees. For myself, managers who tell me that they believe I can do it really does not motivate me, they sound more like my mother. If a manger praises my work after I finish a project, then I become more motived to do the best I can. It is all about identifying different personalities. (Levine, 2011). Companies need to deliver learning and experiences that their employees would like for their own individual interest, progress and satisfaction. Performance and proficiency are reliant on the employee’s attitude and emotional maturity. Companies can help their employees to accomplish what they want on a personal level, and this offers a stage for trust, ’emotional contracting’ with the organization, and following skills, processing, knowledge growth pertinent to managing higher responsibilities, and teams. (About.com, 2011). The company that I work for has a program they offer every January call the Fellows Program. This is a program that is offered to college student who are in the junior or senior year. This program allows the student to see opportunities that Olympus is offering. College students can apply for a job within the company, however there is a catch. A college  student must take a job for two years. Within those years they are assigned a department for 6 months. After those 6 months the college student is moved to another department and this is the process for two years. By performing this program, Olympus is grooming their future employees. Most of these college students start to gain relationships and they become comfortable after working with us for two years. Most of the Fellows will stay with the company. This program is successful for the student who did not have to look for a job after graduating, and the company gains an employee that they molded to become successful. In my own career development, I was told early on that if people want to help or give suggestions to me then take it. I tried to act like a sponge and soak up all the information that I possibly could, and I still do to this day. If I am struggling with a project and an employee wants to assist me I allow it. I watch how they perform and I ask questions. I find that this way of learning is where I become most successful. You can tell me how to perform a task all you want however, if you take the time to show me, I will then pick up the knowledge of the task in half the time. Whenever I am offered training I make sure I sign up for it. Sometimes it has been difficult to receive constructive feedback however through time I have learned to deal with it. In 5 years I would like to see myself out of the corporation I work for. I really like working for small companies, these bigger corporations tend to treat employees like numbers. When I worked for a smaller company I knew who had kids, who was still in school, who just got married, it was a personal experience. The corporation I work for looks at employees as numbers, not people. References About.com. (2011). ..Training, Development, and Education for Employees. Retrieved from http://humanresources.about.com/od/training/Training_Development_and_Education_for_Employees.htm Levine, L. (2011). Strengthen Your Business by Developing Your Employees. All Business. Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development/1240-1.html Wise Geek. (2011). What is Job Shadowing?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-job-shadowing.htm Wohner, N. (2011). How to Monitor Employee Performance. eHow. Retrieved from