Saturday, December 28, 2019

Definition Of Behavior Modification Obsessive Compulsive...

ïÆ'Ëœ Definition of Behavior modification : Behavior modification is the field of psychology concerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior, analyzing means identifying the functional relationship between environmental events and a particular behavior for understanding the reasons of behavior or to determine why a person behaved as he or she did, modifying means developing and implementing procedures to help people change their own behavior, It involves altering environmental events so as to impacts behavior, behavior modification procedures are developed by professionals and used for change socially significant behaviors, with the goal of improving some aspect of a person’s life following are some characteristics that define believer modification ïÆ'Ëœ Indication: 1. Obsessissive-compulsive behavior (OCD) : Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts and behaviors that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over 2. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): It is a brain disorder, marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. †¢ Inattention means a person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus and disorganized and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension. †¢ Hyperactivity means a person seems to move about constantly, including inShow MoreRelatedObsessive Compulsive Disorder ( Ocd )1726 Words   |  7 PagesObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was once considered a rare disease, but today, it is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders present among society. OCD is described as â€Å"intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions), which increase anxiety, and by repetitive or ritualistic actions (compulsions), which decrease anxiety† (Stein, 2002). In the DSM-IV, Obsessive compulsive disorder can be diagnosed through observable behaviours or repetitive mental habits. Symptoms include; the constant washingRead MoreOcd - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment131367 Words   |  526 Pages COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR OCD This page intentionally left blank COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR OCD DAVID A. CLARK THE GUILFORD PRESS New York London  © 2004 The Guilford Press A Division of Guilford Publications, Inc. 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012 www.guilford.com All rights reserved Paperback edition 2007 Except as noted, no part of this book may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanicalRead MoreDefinition Of Behavior Modification : The Field Of Psychologyconcerned With Analyzing And Modifying Human Behavior Essay1405 Words   |  6 PagesïÆ'Ëœ Definition of Behavior modification : Behavior modificationis the field of psychologyconcerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior. Analyzing means identifying the functional relationship between environmental events and a particular behavior to understand the reasons for behavior or to determine why a personbehaved as he or she did. Modifying means developing and implementing procedures to help people change their Belvoir. It involves altering environmental events so as to influence behaviorRead MoreAutism Is A Mental Condition Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe definition of Autism is a mental condition, resent from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. Autism is not classified as a disease, it is a mental condition. Some symptoms might be poor eye contact, compulsive and repetitive behaviors, repetitive movements, unaware of others emotions, depression, anxiety, change in voice, and obsessive inter ests. Autism makes it hard for a personRead MoreGender Equality Is A Key Tool For Proceeding Development And Dropping Down The Level Of Poverty3131 Words   |  13 Pagesgender-neutral social should be the goal of equality. Additionally, the differential conduct notion of likeness is the entitlement that biological differences do, in detail, exist as palpable and actual, and that organizing treatment about these modifications is not unsatisfactory, so extended as these organic differences are precisely defined. Another side is that equivalence is fair action, is an intellect a response to both of the preceding two claims. Fairness as indistinguishable treatment undertakesRead MoreThe Marketing Research of Brainquiry33782 Words   |  136 Pagescontacts are needed they can be found by using the means stated in the sources part of the research. The excel file gives furthermore general information about private insurance companies and an overview of how many people do have which mental disorder in Germany. In the report the promotional part gives an overview of means to use regarding the target groups being looked at by Brainquiry. The final report of the Netherlands consist of following parts: excel files, explanation according to

Friday, December 20, 2019

Cyber Threat Intelligence Based On Cyber Threats - 1612 Words

Introduction Security Officers must obtain a consensus for which mitigating controls are key, which can be a trying negotiation between the CISO, Chief Technology Officer, Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), Infrastructure Engineering, Audit and Assurance teams, and the Investment and Audit committees. How do you harness your entire organization to focus on a common agreed-upon list of key security controls? By defining key controls based on cyber threats (translated into business risks), an organization can more easily right-size the its control set and adapt it to their needs. Risk assessment processes that are near real-time, gated by the change control process, provide continuous feedback on the sufficiency of controls within an†¦show more content†¦Think of your organizational assets from the eyes of an attacker motivated by crime, espionage, hacktivism and even warfare. In other words, what are our Top Threats and how do we know? Interview the Chief Risk Officer and Business Unit leadership and ask them â€Å"what keeps you up at night?†. Then tie these answers to Corporate objectives and strategies in a Risk Register. Get agreement on key controls and downstream decision impacts. A systematic risk-based approach to information security, as ISO31000 describes, driven by periodic threat-based risk assessments, ensures that security efforts address risks in an effective and timely manner where and when needed. Risk Management processes, measures and taxonomy: ISO 31000 Risk Management Standard SO 31000 describes a framework for implementing risk management. As ISO 31000 depicts, it’s essential to manage your cybersecurity program within a continually improving management oversight wrapper. Make risk management an integral part of your organization’s management approach. Emphasize the need to communicate and consult with both external and internal stakeholders, Continuously monitor and review your organization’s risk management process (including SOC playbooks and CSIRT response scenarios). ISO 31000:2009 - Framework for Managing Risk The Art of Cyber Risk Prioritization Compliance and broad checklists createShow MoreRelatedPrevention / Containment Measures For Cyber Threats1406 Words   |  6 Pages1. Prevention/Containment Measures for Cyber Threats. Protecting classified documents or valuable information is very hard against any kind of cyber-terrorism, there are no universal safeguards. There is no existence of any agreement or policy to define cyber-terrorism. Threats can come from hackers, criminal group or terrorist group; governments use computers and internet to attack without knowing the victims. It is not easy to stop such attacks but not impossible to stop if following basic preventionRead MoreCyber Security Role For Homeland Security Intelligence1153 Words   |  5 PagesThe intelligence community itself has made a major shift of how it operates, what are its priorities and its ability to protect the nation in the entry of the 21st century. The attacks on 9/11 greatly changed the way we see the world now and has shown major flaws within the intelligence community. Those events led the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and with it pooled federal agencies into in umbrella for it to be centralized in order to be effective. There are three categories inRead MoreHow Online Business And Communication Is An Indispensable Part Of Today s Merging Era Essay1650 Words   |  7 Pagesborders but huge emphasis is laid to secure the countries from computer networking. The impact of online business and communication is an indispensable part of today’s merging era. Unlike traditional wars of using military, weapons and air campaigns; cyber war is more fearful to civilians as it threatens their peace without even been seen. It is quite challenging to identify the ghost in wires, it can be a person, a group of people or it can be a nation behind this intrusion. Former director of theRead MoreHow Information Security Has Become A Critical Function Within All Organizations Across The World1719 Words   |  7 Pagesachieve the exploitation of these vulnerabilities. As a result, many organizations have implemented controls to detect and identify threats before hackers successfully hack into an organization and cause irreparable damage. There are several threat indicators which allow security analysts to determine when a system is hacked. This paper will explain the current state of threat indicators as well as their formatting. In addition, it will discuss the various standards that are in place and will review theRead MoreGermanys Current Cyber Strategy1564 Words   |  7 Pagesseparate countries, Belgium, and Russia, and examine what their cyber strategies are pertaining to warfare and defense or security, and current capabilities of these countries regarding cyber-attacks or warfare. We will also be looking at the potential risks these cou ntries present to the United States and the best was the United States can defend against these potential or emerging threats. First, let us examine Belgium’s current cyber strategy. Belgium is primarily focused on defensive with almostRead MoreCyber Security And Cyber Attacks Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Cyber security is a major concern for every department, business, and citizen of the United States because technology impacts every aspect of our daily lives. The more we use technology the more complacent, we get with the information that is stored within our cyber networks. The more complacent, we get, the more vulnerable we become to cyber-attacks because we fail to update the mechanisms that safeguard our information. Breaches to security networks are detrimental to personal,Read MoreCyber Surveillance And Cyber Security Monitoring1021 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Cyber analytics is a branch of analytics that systematically provides the analysis of the data pertaining to the domain of computers and network. It basically, tells the story behind cyber data. Cyber analytics is used to support computer security, computer or network administration, auditing, and several other application areas.† Implementation Cyber Security Monitoring To perform adaptive cyber-security analytics using a computer implemented method that includes receiving a report on a networkRead MorePolicing Cybercrime : Police And Armed Forces1174 Words   |  5 PagesPolicing Cybercrime Strategy 3.1 Police and Armed Forces. In this chapter, the policing cyber strategy is discussed and will show that the unique organisational structure of the UK police force means that policing cyber strategy varies from county to county in the UK; although each regional force operated with the same objective. Within the UK strategy is the criminalisation of certain cyber activity . with Cyber Security Strategies containing elements of cybercrime control, therefore a Criminal JusticeRead MoreThe Fbi Agents And The Criminal Law Of The United States1615 Words   |  7 Pagesdangers that we cannot deal with. The FBI agents have an impact on our nation because they defend us against counterfeiting, terrorist attacks and cyber-based attacks. The FBI is a treat-based and intelligence driven national security organization. There mission is to protect and defend the United States against terrorists and foreign intelligence threats, to help enforce the criminal law of the United States. FBI Agents also have the opportunity to investigate specific crimes assigned to them andRead MoreU.s. National Security : The World s Largest Country Essay1129 Words   |  5 PagesWith the focus on terror-based groups and the Middle East over the last fifteen years, many in the United States (US) are unfamiliar with the threat more conventional nation-states pose to the country’s national security. China, Iran, and Russia are seen as the three biggest threats to U.S. national security. Although Russia does not dominate the intelligence disciplines of HUMINT, OSINT, and cyber, its strengths in SIGINT, IMINT, and MASINT make it the biggest threat to the US. HUMINT Russia’s

Thursday, December 12, 2019

RED- by Taylor Swift free essay sample

Taylor Swift- One of the few artists we can truly say affect our generation in a positive way. Stunning, mature and aware that she has an influence. Her 4th studio album, RED was released on 22nd October 2012 and I was one of the first people to grab a copy on that Monday morning. It is a 16-track beauty with the songstress touching upon every possible genre of music to face this earth. The album starts off with ‘State of Grace’ a rock-influenced introduction to the record. It acts as a warning as to what the album will contain- an insight to Swift’s chaotic love live from her perspective. With the heavy guitars and breathy background vocals, State of Grace not only introduces listeners to Taylor Swift’s new sound, but to the more tragic songs on the album. Next is ‘Red’ where Swift goes back to her roots with the up-beat country-pop song with a total of 13 heart-wrenching similes. The auto-tuned stutter of ‘red-ed-ed-ed’ in the chorus is like marmite: you either love it or you hate it, but it definitely adds something more mainstream to the otherwise typically ‘Taylor Swift’ tune. ‘Treacherous’ is a beautiful acoustic track with a ground-breaking echo-filled bridge. It’s filled with the simple strung of guitars with a taste of Taylor Swift’s insight into adult relationships and temptation. Dan Wilson did an excellent job of producing the track and brings exactly the right amount to sensitivity into the track. After the sweet country ballad, comes ‘I Knew Young Trouble’ a dubstep-influenced track bursting full of thrilling bass lines and rocky beats. This is definitely Taylor’s biggest step out of country music, but she has done it effectively with her play on lyrics and clear emotions remaining center-stage. The highlight of Taylor Swift’s album is ‘All Too Well’ the next track on the record. In my opinion, it is a perfect representation of what the lyricist is about: not just the blonde girl with the guitar, but a woman who can tell a story so beautifully that a song can make you cry or laugh from a few simple words. It’s a story of a relationship that went tragically wrong and Taylor Swift’s dramatic vocals and the electric guitars bring out the pure emotion of the song. ‘22’ is a poppy, up-beat tune that will have teenage girls jumping with joy in their bedrooms. It’s the story of living in your 20’s and letting go to just have fun. I can see it as an ultimate girl power anthem to rival the Spice Girls or Katy Perry. ‘I Almost Do’ is the probably the song on the album that is most influenced by country music and is reminiscent of Swift’s older music, back when she was 16 years old and singing with her guitar and cowboy boots in front of tiny audiences. The distinct twang of guitars compliments Taylor’s sultry tone. Obviously, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ is one of the most talked about songs of 2012. The poppy anthem clearly displays Swift’s ability to not only write and sing well, but create humor within a song. Max Martin and Shellback did well producing the song, labelling it a pop single but not separating her so far away from her roots that she is unrecognizable. ‘Stay Stay Stay’ is a cheerful country song not unlike 2010’s ‘Ours’ and the joyous ukulele lightens the album’s mood a considerable amount. The first collaboration on the record is ‘The Last Time’ and features Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol. You might think this an odd alliance, but his deep vocal compliment Swift’s more girlish tones. The duet is a piano-based track with heavy piano chords and operatic strings which creates a hypnotic effect throughout the song. ‘Holy Ground’ is one of the stand-out tracks on the album. Jeff Basker produces the track beautifully with the echoing guitars and over-lapping background vocals. This song demonstrates Swift’s lyrical talent with her describing the ups and downs of a relationship. â€Å"Spinning like a girl in a brand new dress, we had this big wide city all to ourselves; we blocked the noise with the sound of ‘I need you’ and for the first time I had something to lose.† ‘Sad, Beautiful, Tragic’ is a calm, country song with the chorus consisting of simple lyrics and compelling guitar tunes. It reminds me of the story of Romeo and Juliet with the enthralling yet devastating plot. ‘The Lucky One’ describes Swift’s fears of losing herself through fame and regretting her actions. The rhythmic drum beats and mesmerizing vocals make the song as catchy as it is meaningful. The second of Taylor Swift’s duets is with UK folk sensation, Ed Sheeran. ‘E verything Has Changed’ is a delightfully sweet track with the two songwriter’s voices harmonizing exquisitely. Sheeran has a stunning tone to his voice and stands out, but doesn’t over-shadow his partner. ‘Starlight’ is another catchy tune with a pretty piano tune hidden amongst the pounding beat and bubblegum guitar solos. This song probably doesn’t broadcast Swift’s best lyrical talent or eye for ground-breaking Top 40 singles, but it’s a refreshing track to have on the otherwise forlorn record. The last track on the album is Taylor Swift’s 2nd single from RED, the country song ‘Begin Again.’ It’s a charming song with a clean harmonica tune in the background. It’s perfect for ending the album stating that throughout all that she’s been through, Swift is ready to move on. Overall, this album is diverse and uplifting compared to the more troubled or solemn albums of 2012. Taylor Swift st ill sings her pure country songs (Begin Again, I Almost Do) but has reached out to a more poppy and mainstream style (WANEGBT, 22, I Knew You Were Trouble ect.) For me, the best songs on the album demonstrate how talented and varied Swift can be with any genre such as All Too Well, Treacherous and Holy Ground. It is simply one of the best records of 2012 and because of that, I urge people who appreciate all genres to listen. Just think about this. Taylor Swift has at least 31 million fans. Each concert she does has around 80,000 people. She has more fans than Australia has people. Her fans make up 0.0045318278289028% of the world’s population. Is she was a country, she would be the 39th largest country in the world. Taylor Swift is a phenomenon. And RED definitely broadcast her fearlessness and undeniable talent.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Vascular Dementia Is A Health Disorderâ€Free Samples For Students

Question: Discuss About The Vascular Dementia Is A Health Disorder? Answer: Introducation Vascular dementia is a health disorder in which there is inadequate supply of blood to the brain. It occurs in individuals who have a high blood pressure and cholesterol level, diabetes and smoking habit. But around 50% cases of vascular dementia in individuals occur due hypertension. It has been reported in the year 2017that there are more than413,106Australian people living with dementia. It leads to impairment in planning, judgment and reasoning in patients. It mostly occurs along with Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers disease mainly leads to forgetfulness in patients. Mrs. Janet in the case study, experiences some of those symptoms. The diagnosis of vascular dementia Mrs. Janet McKay who is a 86 year old widow has drastically affected her average daily living. She lives in the Sunset Residential aged Care Facility.She has recently returned from an acute care hospital after undergoing a hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation. Mrs. Janet is suffering from an early stage of Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia which is in a progressing condition .She argues with her staff when they wish to take her for shower. Once she pushed her carer away from herself when he tried to take her for shower. Mrs. Janet is on a few medications currently such as Paracetamol OSTEO TDS, 100mg daily aspirin and 0.2 mg nocte despmopressin. However, in this essay three nursing issues that have been prioritized. Risk of falls due to decreased mobility as well as emotional distress and anxiety will be explained further following the eight stages of clinical reasoning cycle of Levett-Jones. Vascular dementia management Management of Vascular dementia is crucial for the patients to improve their quality of life. It involves the administration of anti platelet drugs and control of vascular risk factors that occur on a major basis. It is reported that Aspirin plays a significant role in slowing the progression of vascular dementia. Antidepressants are also considered safe and effective treatment in treating symptoms of dementia. There are several nursing interventions to manage the disease. Relatedly, Mrs. Janet is also experiencing similar symptoms. She not able to reach washroom on time. She also has a large skin tear on her lower leg as she bumped her leg against the wheelie walker. She takes the support of a wheelie walker but forgets to use it in a regular manner. Janet always had strong opinions and she has always been living independently. Thirdly, establishing goal for Mrs. Janet is vital so that she could maintain her disease and continue to improve her quality of life. The main goal in her case is that she is able to walk freely (Daly, Speedy Jackson, 2017 explain that she should be advised a few exercises and to lower down the pain. Nurses should follow proper strategies so that the health of Mrs. Janet is improved and she is able to walk freely. There are several tools for the assessment of pain that can be used if she is feeling uncomfortable (Wall et al., 2014).The nurses should treat her empathy and be courteous and respectful towards her. She should be given proper counseling so that she can explain the severity of the pain she is suffering from. The clinicians should be supportive and should provide guidelines on the various precautions to be taken. Lastly, various tools for the assessment of pain should be used if she is feeling discomfort. They should also make sure they solve their problems and issues. Mrs. Janet should be treated empathetically and with courteousness and should be counseled properly so that she can explain the severity of her pain. Improving the mobility of the patient Vascular dementia may lead to a large number of symptoms such as changes in thinking and perception, confusion, disorientation issues in speaking or understanding speech and the loss of vision. Similar case is with Mrs. Janet because a gradual increase in her symptoms will affect her mobility and limit her daily activities. Falls risk assessment would be another process to acquire the information about her risk of falls. Community nurses, moreover, require taking appropriate actions along with Diana to achieve the goal of minimizing falls and improve her average daily living. The nursing staff and the clinicians should help Mrs. Janet in exercising regularly and provide physiotherapy sessions which would play a significant role in improving her mobility. They should investigate and keep in track if she is suffering from severe pain. It would help her in gaining mobility take control by herself which would make her independent gain (Huber, 2013).Since, Mrs. Janet is suffering from an early stage of Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia she should be provided palliative care which is a special type of care given to patients. It should be given to her in an efficient way which would help her to get rid from physical pain and stress. It involves the collaborative efforts of several clinicians, nursing staff to help the patient in getting well soon and improve their health. There are several nursing care goals for providing priority nursing care in relation to the nursing issues that have been identified. Mrs. Janet should be empowered and provided care by understanding her needs and demands. She should also be provided psychosocial care that will help her to get rid of depressive symptoms, pain and anxiety developed due to surgery. She should be advised to follow a few precautions to manage emotional issues like taking regular exercise and a well balanced diet. She should also discuss her issues with other patients who had undergone the hip replacement surgery. Lastly, the evaluation in Mrs. Janets mobility and risk of falls could be acquired through the assessment of falls risk and postural inability and gait disability scale. Nutrition and hydration It is very important to have a well balanced diet and plenty of fluids in patients suffering from vascular dementia and who have undergone hip replacement surgery. Hence .Mrs. Janet should be advised to have a nutritional diet along with plenty of fluids which would help in the regeneration of tissue and healing. She should be advised protective measures to avoid various kinds of infection, injuries after the patient has under gone surgery. They should wash hands in a regular manner as it is significant in preventing infection. The nursing staff should use clean and aseptic techniques in order to prevent contamination (Ball et al., 2013). The main goal in the case of Mrs. Janet is that she recovers soon after the surgery. She should be given proper antibiotics, that is Paracetamol OSTEO TDS as prescribed by the doctor. Nursing care for Mrs. Janet are that she should be encouraged to take appropriate amount of rest which would help in conserving her energy and avoid fatigue. She should be advised several exercises such lifting weight swimming and cycling to increase the strength of her muscles which would prevent the risk of fall while walking. There are various risks involved with hip replacement surgery such as cramps and pain in muscles, sleep issues and depression. Mrs. Janet can also be provided counseling with a health counselor to share her feelings that will help her in feeling positive( Epstein Turner,2015). The doctors and the nursing staff should provide proper care and post- operative follow ups to Mrs. Janet. Mrs. Janet should be counseled and guided properly to take appropriate rest and several precautions to improve the condition of her health. She should be advised to follow the principles of self- actualization which is known to lead to a healthy mental state and will foster to improve her positive attributes and do not focus on their negative attributes. She would be self-determined and have a high self esteem (Niemela Kim, 2014). Lastly, the evaluation of the nutritional and fluid content can be done by performing several blood tests to check for the level of water, iron, vitamins and proteins in her body. She should also be asked about her mental and emotional issues or problems to assess her psychological status such as if he is still suffering from depression, anxiety, sadness, anger or frustration (Ehde et. al.2014). The nursing staff should process the information gathered by them by analyzing the data by proper understanding of important signs and symptoms in the patient They should discriminate correct from incorrect information to avoid any errors in the treatment procedure. Hence, it can be concluded that if Mrs. Janet is provided proper nursing care by the nursing staff and other health care professionals she will recover soon and improve her life. A proper communication to patients plays an important role in improving the hospital journey and reduces the anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms. Regular follow-ups should also be conducted for Mrs. Janet to keep a check on her health. It may lead to mental issues such as depression and may have an adverse effect on the psychological condition of the patient. The nurses and other healthcare professionals should help her and provide psychosocial care along with palliative care so that she gets well soon. The nurses and the healthcare professionals should relate the information of Mrs. Janet in order to develop a relationship between them. They should also consider if there are nay alternatives and perform a logical interpretation of the opinions that are being made. They should compare the present and the past condition of the patient by performing an expert process and finally predict an outcome. The facts obtained and the inferences should be synthesized to lead to a proper diagnosis of the problem. They should establish a proper goal and take proper action on the same. The staff should evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies used and finally reflect what they have learnt from that particular situation. References Ball, J. E., Murrells, T., Rafferty, A. M., Morrow, E., Griffiths, P. (2013). Care left undoneduring nursing shifts: associations with workload and perceived quality of care.Quality and Safety in Health Care, bmjqs-2012. Daly, J., Speedy, S., Jackson, D. (2017).Contexts of nursing: An introduction. Elsevier Health Sciences. Ehde, D. M., Dillworth, T. M., Turner, J. A. (2014). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with chronic pain: Efficacy, innovations, and directions for research.American Psychologist,69(2), 153. Epstein, B., Turner, M. (2015). The nursing code of ethics: Its value, its history.OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing,20(2). Huber, D. (2013).Leadership and nursing care management. Elsevier Health Sciences. Wall, P., Andrus, P., Morrison, P. (2014). Bridging the theory practice gap through clinical simulations in a nursing under-graduate degree program in Australia.International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research,8(1). Lehne, R. A., Rosenthal, L. (2014).Pharmacology for Nursing Care-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. Niemela, P., Kim, S. (2014). Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. InEncyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research(pp. 3843-3846). Springer Netherlands. Maslow, A. H. (2013).Toward a psychology of being. Simon and Schuster. Mischel, T. (Ed.). (2013).Cognitive development and epistemology. Academic Press.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Transformational vs Transactional Leadership Essay Example

Transformational vs Transactional Leadership Paper Leadership Styles, High-Quality Leader-Follower (LMX) Relationships and Job Performance The current globalized economic environment is becoming increasingly dynamic and competitive forcing organizations to improve their business practices to overcome greater challenges with more flexibility, efficiency and innovation in products and internal processes (Walumbwa et al. 2005, p. 235). Certainly, there is fundamental evidence of the positive association of leadership style and the influence on follower’s behaviour as a consistent way to improve job performance and organizational outcomes (Vaccaro et al. 2010). The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of transformational and transactional leadership styles on leader member exchange relationships, job performance and job satisfaction. By using theories such Weber’s conceptualization of charismatic leadership, Burns’ transactional leadership and Bass’ Four I’s of transformational leadership, this paper acknowledge the superiority of transformational over transactional leadership style in developing high-quality leader-follower (LMX) relationships, increasing followers’ job performance and Job satisfaction. Recalling previous studies which asserted the dependence of leadership effectiveness on culture and organizational size (Paul et al. 001), it seems clear that transformational leadership is a more suitable leadership style for small, large and complex companies across cultures facing the challenges of globalization of markets. The superiority of transformational leadership style in building high-quality leader-follower (LMX) relationships is given to the practice of one or more of the Four I’s leadership behaviour. Firstly, Idealized influence through a charismatic behavi our will illustrate the positive influence on followers and their performance. We will write a custom essay sample on Transformational vs Transactional Leadership specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Transformational vs Transactional Leadership specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Transformational vs Transactional Leadership specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is followed by the ability to motivate team work and the achievement of general goals that produce personal satisfaction and commitment with the company (inspirational motivation). Furthermore, intellectual stimulation will certainly demonstrate how innovation and creativeness is promoted and their impact on organizational results. Finally, individualized consideration in hand with LMX theory will provide an example of the undoubted benefits of dyadic relationships in ‘in-group’ such greater loyalty and commitment. Leadership styles, high-quality leader-follower (LMX) relationships and Job performance. Focusing in the work of Burns (1978) and Bass (1985) on leadership behaviours, transformational and transactional leadership have been the objective of various research in order to capture the extent to which leaders influence subordinates by involving them in the organization’s goals, or by specifying the rewards that will follow the accomplishment of those goals (Rubin et al. 2005; Yammarino et al. 1997) According to Podsakoff et al. 1990) a fundamental characteristic of transformational leadership behaviour is the ability to create a compelling vision for the organization, providing an appropriate model consistent with that vision, stimulating the acceptance of group goals, expecting high performance, providing individualized support and intellectual stimulation. In contrast, transactional leadership is primarily concern with gaining compliance from subordinates by using a contingent re ward dimension or a passive form of managing by exception. The leader specifies what is expected from organizational members and the subsequent reward for its accomplishment (Bass and Avolio 1990). According to LMX theory, a high-quality leader-follower (LMX) relationship, usually associated with dyads in the ‘in-groups’ of the organization, emphasizes in fundamental levels of loyalty, commitment, respect, affection, mutual trust and the possibility of mutual linking between leaders and followers (House et al. 1993). Transformational rather than transactional leadership is more likely to achieve this superior level in the follower-leader relationship by developing one or more of the Four I’s; Idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration (Bass, BM and Avolio, BJ (eds. ) 1994). Idealized influence A transformational leader acts in a way that becomes a role model or inspirational image for his/her followers (Zhang, X, Cao, Q and Tjosvold, D 2010) usually attributed to his/her charismatic approach. Certainly, charisma in meant to be a requirement for transformational leadership. According to Weber (1947) a charismatic leadership can inspire and motivate people to do more than originally intended. What is more, they can influence followers by arousing strong emotions in support of the organizational vision, creating a leader-follower relationship based on a common value system between leader, follower and organization (Paul et al. 2001). Towler (2003) demonstrated that workers who received a charismatic-training performed better on their knowledge test and were more satisfied with the task. Unlike, transactional leadership emphasizes in the transaction that takes place with followers based on explicit discussion of the rewards they will receive if they fulfil the requirements. As a consequence, the relationship with is limited to the leader’s ability to control the outcomes desired by followers. However, as Dorfman et al. (1999) argued, charismatic behaviour can have a negative implication on societies with a history of autocratic and despotic leaders. Inspirational motivation Undoubtedly, the contingent transactional reinforcement system motivates followers to perform in such adequate way in order to obtain the reward. However, through this system, followers’ job performance, as well as commitment, is strongly limited to fulfil the requirements of the contract in a self-satisfying attitude (Avolio,BJ, Bass, BM and Jung, DI 1999) rather than a commitment with the leader and organizational vision he/she has established. Contrary, transformational leaders promote an organizational citizenship behaviour in which team-supporting behaviours augment followers’ identification with group values. The leader motivates them to transcend from a self-concept to be committed with cooperative team goals. Followers find themself intrinsically motivated to fulfil a collective vision without expecting immediate personal and tangible gains (Wang et al. 2005). Intellectual stimulation Transformational leaders stimulate employees’ effort to be innovative and creative by questioning assumption, reframing problems and approaching situations in different ways (Vaccaro et al. 2010, p. 2). On the other hand, as Podsakoff et al, (1990) exposed, transactional leadership consist in two dimensions; Contingent reward systems, which emphasizes the institution of clear and precise agreements, and management by exception that promotes highly leadership involvement and intervention in order to monitor and ectify any divergence form standards. Amibile (1998) claims that both dimensions inhibit creativity and discourage the initiative to address new ways to facing the work. Although, currently research fail to demonstrate a universal leadership phenomena (Walumbwa et al. 2005, p. 235), transformational leadership, by using intellectual stimulation behaviours, exhibit a cross-cultural benefit on commitment, innovation and job performance, all of them being characteristics of high-quality leader-follower (LMX) relationship. Avolio, Zhu, Koh, and Puja (2004), by gathering data from staff nurses in a large public hospital in Singapore, found a positive association between transformational leadership and organizational commitment. Likewise, Geyer and Steyrer (1998), as a result of a research in Australian banks, reported that transformational leadership had positive effects on employees’ level of effort and task performance. Individual consideration A transactional leader properly identifies employees’ needs in order to make the accurate motivational transactions; as a result, both parts expectations are met and job satisfactions is improved. However the exchange is usually limited to economic or tangible benefits and does not promote leader-follower relationships. In contrast, a transformational leader pays special attention to follower’s individual needs in a widely range, such achievement and growth, by acting as a coach or mentor. The leader demonstrate acceptance for individual differences, promote two-way exchange communication and sees the individual as a person rather than as just an employee (Bass, BM and Avolio, BJ (eds. 1994). In this extent, transformational leader promotes the creation of dyadic relationships with ‘in-group’ members which usually have a high-quality relationship with the leader and are expected to be more loyal to the leader, and perform in a greater extent as an exchange for intangible benefits like career development, participation in decision making, and access to information, between others (Vaccaro et al. 2010, p. 2). According to Deluga (1992), individualized consideration and charisma were two transformational leadership factors that predicted LMX and are the cause for subordinates to behave in ways (such as making extra efforts) that strengthen relational ties with the leader. Conclusion It seems clear that transformational and transactional leadership have positive relationship with organization outcomes; however this paper clearly stated the superiority of transformational leadership on building high-quality leader-follower (LMX) relationships based on the development of the Four I’s. First, by using a charismatic approach, transformational leaders create an idealize influence that augment follower’s emotions and commitment with the leader and organizational vision. Second, this paper claimed that by using inspirational motivating behaviour, leaders motivates followers to transcend from self-interest to commitment cooperative goals which led them to perform without expecting immediate personal benefits. In contrast, the transactional exchange-relationship with followers was meant to be limited to the interest on the reward promised as exchange for their task accomplishment in a very self-satisfying attitude. Given the importance of innovation in today’s organizations, intellectual stimulation was consider to be fundamentally related to followers’ commitment and organization increase on job performance and competitiveness. Unlike, by delimiting the outcome expected from followers and the reward system, transactional leadership was appeared to harm innovation in organization. Not different is the outcome of using managing by exception dimension. Finally, by having an individual consideration, transformational leadership are more likely to developed high-quality relationship members that are expected to be more loyal and perform in greater extent without expecting immediate tangible benefits. In contrast, commitment and higher achievement with a transactional leadership was limited to the exchange of direct economic and tangible benefits. Overall, due to the development of followers and their potential, transformational leadership is assumed to be more appropriate for many different types of companies and situations at any level across cultures. Reference list Amabile, TM 1998. ‘How to kill creativity’. Harvard Business Review, vol. 76, pp. 76–87. Avolio, BJ, Bass, BM, Jung, DI 1999, ‘Re-examining the components of transformational and transactional leadership using the multifactor leadership questionnaire’. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, vol. 72, no 4, pp. 441–462. Avolio, B J, Zhu, W, Koh, W, Puja, B 2004, ‘Transformational leadership and organizational commitment: Mediating role of psychological empowerment and moderating role of structural distance’. Journal of Organizational Behaviour, vol. 4, pp. 1–18. Bass, BM, Avolio, BJ 1990, ‘The Implications of transactional and transformational Leadership for individual, team and organizational development’. Research in Organizational Change and Development, vol. 4, pp. 231–72. Bass, B. M. Avolio, B. J. (eds. ) 1994, Improving organizational effectiveness through transformatio nal leadership, Sage Publications, London. Deluga, R J 1992, ‘The relationship of leader-member exchanges with laissez-faire, transactional, and transformational leadership’. Impact of leadership. pp. 237–247. Dorfman, PW, Howell, JP, Hibino, S, Lee, JK, Tate, U, Bautista, A 1997, ‘Leadership in Western and Asian countries: Communalities and differences in effective leadership processes across cultures’. Leadership Quarterly, vol. 8, no 3, pp. 233–274. Felfe, J, Tartler, K and Liepmann, D 2004, ‘Advanced Research in the Field of Transformational Leadership. Zeitschrift fur Personalforschung – German Journal of Human Resource Research. Special Research Forum, vol. 18, pp. 262–88. Geyer, A, Steyrer, J 1998, ‘Transformational leadership and objective performance in banks’. Applied Psychology: An International Review, vol. 7, no 3, pp. 397–420. House and Aditya; RC, Liden and Maslyn JM 1993, ‘Scale development for a multidimensional mesur of Leader-Member exchange’, Paper presented at annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Atlanta, Georgia. Paul, J, Costley, DL, Howell, JP, Dorfma, PW 2001, ‘The effects of cha rismatic leadership on followers’ self-concept accessibility’, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, vol. 31, no. 9, pp. 1821-1 844. Podsakoff, PM, MacKenzie, SB, Moorman, RH, Fetter, R 1990, ‘Transformational leader behaviours and their effects on followers’ trust in leader, satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviour. Leadership Quarterly, vol. 1, pp. 107–142. Rubin, RS, Munz, DC, Bommer, WH 2005, ‘Leading from within: the effects of emotion recognition and personality on transformational leadership behavior’. Academy of Management Journal, vol. 48, pp. 845–58. Towler, AJ 2003, ‘Effects of charismatic in? uence training on attitudes, behaviour, and performance’. Personnel Psychology, vol. 56, no 2, pp. 363–381. Vaccaro, IG, Jansen, JJ, Van Den Bosch, FA, Volberda, HW 2010, ‘Management innovation and leadership: The moderating role of organizational size’, Journal of Management Studies, pp. -23. Walumbwa, FO, Orwa, B, Wang, P, Lawler, JJ 2005, ‘Transformational Leadership, Organizational Commitment, and job satisfaction: A comparative study of Kenyan and U. S. financial firms’, Human resource development quarterly, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 235-265. Wang, H, Law, K, Hackett, R, Wang, D, Chen ZX 2005, ‘Leader-member exchange as a mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and followers’ performance and organizational citizenship behaviour’, Academy of Management Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 420-432. Weber, M 1947, ‘The theory of social and economic organizations’, translated by T. Parson, New York. Yammarino, FJ, Dubinsky, A J, Comer, LB, Jolson, MA 1997, ‘Women and transformational and contingent reward leadership: a multiple-levels-of-analysis perspective’. Academy of Management Journal, vol. 40, pp. 205–22. Zhang, X, Cao, Q, Tjosvold, D 2010, ‘Linking transformational leadership and team Performance: A con? ict management approach’, Journal of Management Studies, pp. 1-26.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How to Say ___ in French - French Translation Help

How to Say ___ in French - French Translation Help If youre wondering how to say something in French, youve come to the right place. I get a lot of questions about how to say this or that in French; Ive provided links to answers to the most common of these at the end of this article. But of course I cant anticipate every question, so here are some tips and resources to help you find out how to say anything in French.1) If you speak some French, your best bet is to use a French dictionary - but the right way. French word order and syntax are very different than English, and if you just look up a bunch of different words and string them together, youll probably end up with nonsense.2) You can also try searching this site - with over 6,000 pages, its a good bet that Ive written a lesson including the word or phrase youre looking for. Just type your search in the box in the upper right corner, and click search.3) If you dont speak any French, you might be tempted to use an online translator, but this, too, is a tool that must be used w ith caution. 4) The best way to find out how to say something in French is to ask a native speaker. If you dont know any, youre in luck: our forum is filled with French speakers who are ready to answer your questions - within reason. While we wont translate paragraphs or write letters for you, we are happy to answer your questions, translate short passages, and offer corrections. Common Questions How do you say Happy birthday in French?How do you say Hello in French?How do you say How are you? in French?How do you say I love you in French?How do you say please and thank you in French?How do you say Merry Christmas in French?How do you say no in French?How do you say to be in French?How do you say what in French?How do you say yes in French?How do you say the colors in French?How do you say the months in French?How do you say the numbers in French? And if youre wondering how to say how do you say ___ in French? in French, its comment dit-on ___ en franà §ais  ? You can hear a sound file of this and other useful phrases in my essential French lesson.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Personality of Abraham Lincoln Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Personality of Abraham Lincoln - Essay Example In the last part, the paper will discuss the different methods of assessing personality and the related results. Personality of Abraham Lincoln Introduction Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and led the country to victory during the American Civil War (Sandburg, 2002). He contributed immensely towards ending slavery in America. He was a lawyer by profession before he was elected as President. He had previously served as Illinois State legislator and a member of the House of Representatives (Sandburg, 2002). His Presidency was marked with abolition of slavery, neutralization of the war in United Kingdom and defeat of secessionists. He is regarded as one of the most remembered Presidents in US history (Sandburg, 2002). Abraham Lincoln was born on 12 February 1809 in Southeast Hardin County. His father was Thomas Lincoln and his mother was Nancy Hanks. Though his parents were not educated, they were respected and affluent citizens of Kentucky back country. The family was forced to move to Indiana in 1816 (Sandburg, 2002). His mother later died from milk sickness when he was nine years. His father remarried Sarah Bush who Lincoln embraced as his mother. Surprisingly, Lincoln did not relate well with his father. Lincoln had only 18 months of formal education but he was a keen reader and writer. He married in 1842 and later had four sons whereby only one survived to adulthood. (Sandburg, 2002). Lincoln started his political career by vying for Illinois General Assembly position in 1832 which he lost and joined the military during the Black Hawk war. In 1834, he was elected a State legislature and was influenced by the England law hence he joined law school. He was admitted to the bar in 1837 and moved to establish start practicing law in Springfield (Sandburg, 2002). He once labeled slavery as inhumanity which was based on bad policies when he was the leader of the Illinois Whig Party. He joined Republican Party in 1860 and was endorsed to r un for the presidency which he won with landslide victory later in the same year. After his win, secessionist’s movements sprung (Sandburg, 2002). His major goal was abolishment of slavery which he accomplished in 1862 by signing â€Å"emancipation proclamation† law. After the war, he initiated reconstruction of America by signing â€Å"homestead Act in 1862† where government land was sold to the poor citizens at low prices (Sandburg, 2002). Legal tender act of 1862 also created the first currency of US while the National banking Act of 1863 and 1865 formed the sound financial system which ensured economic growth and stability. He was assassinated by Confederate spy on 14th April 1965 and was pronounced dead the following day (Sandburg, 2002). Abraham Lincoln was friendly to other people since he trusted them. Lincoln has strong appreciation for the motivation of others. Lincoln was also honest hence this trait my have been influenced by his previous service to the country during the Black Hawk war. He maintained that integrity and truth was the basis of good character. Lincoln was also charitable since he occasionally purchased books for Phi Alpha Society hence this trait may have been influenced by his understanding of the sufferings of Americans during slavery time (Sandburg, 2002). Lincoln was a good listener hence this trait may have been influenced by his love for writing and reading. Each visitor to the White House was welcomed with appreciation and

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Uncanny architecture---signifier of Victorian architecture Annotated Bibliography

Uncanny architecture---signifier of Victorian architecture - Annotated Bibliography Example Crinson also builds on his argument by offering an explanation on what the buildings represent in terms of architectural styles. He further explains that the architects made the styles absurdly incongruous. The architecture was a representation of what was happing during the time of construction. This kind of architecture is vividly applied on almost all the buildings that are dated the Victorian age. The buildings have a variety of readable meaning attributed to the architectural style, monuments, and convictions. They depict the cultural and religious aspect of the Victorian age (Crinson 5). He also notes that the architectural style, monuments and convictions, have over the years been transformed due to the continued interaction with different culture and modern architectural style from different parts of the world. Crinson does a review if the significant aspects that define the Victorian architecture noting that windows, door frames and roofing were significant aspects of the ar chitecture. He noted arched windows panels; double doors and brick roofing tiles were very significant in the Victorian architecture. Crinson provides validity to his arguments by providing evidence to support his claims. Citing an example, he gives sufficient evidence to support his claim by showing the cultural exchanges that influenced the Victorian architecture. He provides evidence through an objective overview rather than a narration of personal sentiments. The book is relevant to my study in that it addresses the qualities of the Victorian age architecture in specific the key elements that distinguish the Victorian architecture style from other architectural styles. In addition, the book provides targeted agendas on the thematic issues such as political agendas, religious, and racial aspects. The book’s targeted audience is any individual who is interested in learning about how the Western architecture has changed over time and

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Management and Operation of Food Services Essay

The Management and Operation of Food Services - Essay Example As tourists become more mobile, so does the food they eat. Food, culinary styles and the increasing differentiation of dishes and cuisines in tourism destinations have developed. Global drinks and foods are emerging, such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's, and local and regional food is thriving, and new 'fusion foods' are also being created to feed the 'global soul' (Iyer 2000). Tourists themselves are contributing to gastronomic mobility, by creating a demand in their own countries for foods they have encountered abroad. Gastronomy has developed considerably through the years. Gastronomy is not only extremely difficult to define, but the term, just like 'culture', has become more heavily laden over time. As Scarpato shows, the original definition of gastronomy has broadened in recent years. The Encyclopdia Britannica (2000) defines gastronomy as: 'the art of selecting, preparing, serving, and enjoying fine food'. Gastronomy was for the nobility, but over time the concept included the 'peasant food' typical of regional and local cuisine. The serving and consumption of food has become a global industry, of which tourism is an important part. Mass tourist resorts can often be divided spatially on the basis of cuisine. One can spot English tourists in English pubs, German tourists in the Bierkeller. Some tourists still engage in the habit of taking their own food with them on holiday.Food is a means of forging and supporting identities, principally because what we eat and the way we eat are such basic a spects of our culture. Given the strong relationship between food and identity, it is not surprising that food becomes an important place marker in tourism promotion. One of the basic reasons for this is the strong relationship between certain localities and certain types of food. As Hughes (1995:114) points out there is a 'notion of a natural relationship between a region's land, its climatic conditions and the character of food it produces. It is this geographical diversity which provides for the regional distinctiveness in culinary traditions and the evolution of a characteristic heritage.' This link between location and gastronomy has been used in a number of ways in tourism, including promotional efforts based on distinctive or 'typical' regional or national foods.In a gastronomic landscape, the forces of globalization and localization are both exerting pressures on our eating habits. The rise of fast food has come to characterize the globalization of culture and economy encaps ulated in the term 'McDonaldization' (Ritzer 1993). McDonald's franchises more than 25,000 outlets in 120 countries worldwide. The Big Mac has become a culinary product that it is used to measure the purchasing power parity of national currencies (Ong 1997). The cultural capital that we develop on holiday regarding foreign food is utilized in our leisure time to develop our identity. The fact that many people seek the comfort of the familiar on holiday is one factor that helps to support the spread of global foods. At the same time, however, there is a countervailing force towards more localization in what Castells call the 'space of places' - the local environments in which the bulk of the world's population live their everyday lives. A resurgence of the local is also being stimulated by growing

Friday, November 15, 2019

Literature review of reducing barriers and reoffending in juvenile offenders

Literature review of reducing barriers and reoffending in juvenile offenders This assignment will be a literature review of reducing barriers and re-offending in juvenile offenders at Wetherby secure college of learning through education and training, and to draw out any key themes that have been highlighted from published research. It has for a long time been accepted that there is a long standing connection of both public and professional opinions, the link between those juvenile offenders who commit crime to barriers and education, training and skills. This literature review will draw on books, published research, home office and government journals and agencies such as the YJB, OLASS- offender learning and skills service. This bibliographic information was selected using home office, government and agency resources and also using databases such as Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC). The government has a duty to punish those as a deterrent who commit crime, but also has a duty to address the reason why these young juvenile offenders fall into a vicious circle of committing crime. The review will look at how the government intend to raise offender skills and get more offenders into work and stop repeat offending. Research has Identified a key falling of the criminal justice system that over half off all offences are committed by ex- offenders, Barbary (2007) and out of all offenders that were released from custody in 2004 over sixty five per cent went on to re-offend, Home Office (2007). This being a massive cost to the government and to the tax payer by ex-offenders estimated to be around  £11 billion per year Social Exclusion Unit (2002). The interest I have in this area is that I have been working with young offenders on and off for the last twenty two years and for the last ten years in a teaching capacity. Over this period of time I have dealt with these young people with a whole range of learning and educational difficulties, and we need to look at, and to stop the huge number of them re-offending and coming back into custody. And that is to equip them with the right skills so at least they have a better chance of progressing through life. For my research I would like to take a sample of offenders who have improved their education whilst in custody and to follow them on release to see if it has had an impact on stopping them re-offending. The back ground to this review starts with the youth justice board, the YJB were introduced to oversee the provision of all 15-18 year olds in custody serving detention training orders. This agency brought a renewed focus as their role spans both custody and the community to monitor key services to prevent re-offending under the crime and disorder act 1998. Review of Literature Evaluation of Literature suggests custodial institutions are attempting to meet the needs of the young juvenile offenders who are beset with multiple disadvantages. In terms of education and training, the young peoples immediate antecedents are mainly characterised by lack of access and/or nonparticipation and long-standing deficits in literacy and numeracy. The YJB commissioned Ecotec consulting to undertake an audit of the provisions of education and training within the juvenile estate. The YJB could then use this as a base to measure any success that arose. The outcome of this audit gave an eye opening evidence based snapshot of a system failing to provide juvenile offenders with their entitlement to a good education. The audits evidence revealed a picture of a disconnected, inadequate and an impoverished service ECOTEC (2001). There were three main areas where education appears to be significant in creating a likelihood of offending: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The impact of custodial interventions; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Educational under-achievement, particularly with respect to literacy and numeracy; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Permanent exclusion and non-attendance at school. A re-occurring thread of research done on young people in custody is that a majority have low levels of educational or training qualifications, with significant literacy and numeracy deficits in particular. The Social Exclusion Unit Bridging the Gap report noted that 80 per cent of young offenders in custody had no qualifications, and that over two-thirds of young offenders sent to custody were at NVQ Level 1 or below for reading, writing and numeracy YJB (2006). A survey carried out by INCLUDE for the YJBs Basic Skills Initiative (2000) of the basic skills needs of young people with whom Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) are working revealed reading ages averaging six years behind chronological ages. Evidence from other researchers were in agreement with ECOTEC consulting, findings revealed similar key factors that are closely associated with offending by young people: * detachment from education * low attainment (especially in literacy and numeracy skills) * influence of the school (including lack of a clear school ethos, poor discipline) * experience of custody and local authority care, which are associated with detachment from education and low attainment, Blythe, Haywood, Stevenson (2004). Research over the last decade has suggested that young people who do not succeed at GCSE level are less likely to move onto further education between the ages of 16 and 18, this evidence in itself, is the most important indicator of unemployment at age 21 (Social Exclusion Unit, 1999). Work carried out by Croll and Moses (2003) supports the view that early exits from the education system are typically associated with limited career prospects and other restricted life chances. This is also viewed by the researchers mentioned earlier, that the earlier young people remove themselves or are removed by exclusion or suspension from education in their early teens are likely to go on to become young offenders. Evidence from the literature suggests that, to curb the dis-engagement of the young offenders from learning before they get into the criminal justice system was: For schools to respond quickly to non- attendance/ involve the parents with support/ and to arrange full time programmes for students who have become detached from education To have individualised learning plans for students with difficulties And to promote a good school ethos and staff- student relationships. All the literature review so far is in agreement with what is happening and what needs to be done to help young people overcome these barriers and promote education to the dis-effected youth I see on a day to day basis in my work environment. The four main risk factors for the onset and continuation of offending occur within the remit of education, training and employment, these are, detachment from education, low attainment in literacy and numeracy, influence of the schools and receiving a custodial sentence or placed into care. Research evidence also suggests that engagement in education and training is most probably the single most important protective factor in reducing offending and reoffending (YJB, 2002; Berridge et al, 2001; Lipsey, 1995; Farrington, 1996). What is less clear from all of this evidence is the direction of the relationship between cause and effect with these particular risk factors. Does low attainment make the young person more likely to absent him or herself, or are those who absent themselves more likely to be low attainers? Does being excluded from school lead people into offending, or are actual or potential offenders more likely to be excluded? (YJB 2006). Some literature argues that, it is unclear whether these young people being out of school for long periods of time and associating with an older delinquent cohort fall into crime (Berridge et al, 2001; Farrington,2001) or the increase exposure to drug taking, or is it when the young people drop out from education, its the delay in re-attachment back to mainstream education that is driving them into engaging in offending behaviour (Parsons, 2000). But the literature does suggest that being exposed to one or all the risk factors mentioned increases the risk of offending behaviour (YJB, 2006). If we look more closely at the high risk factors of causes of offending in young people and possible resolutions. Detachment The YJB funded education programmes has shown direct correlation in numeracy and literacy attainment and in low rates of offending (YJB,2003). Post sixteen education, training and skills interventions were a big predictor in getting employment. An Audit Commission Report (1999), reported that on any one day that there are four hundred thousand children, five per cent of the eight million children that should be in school that or not. The Audit Commission Report (Audit Commission, 2004) recognised that the extent of out of school population was unknown and recommended that LEAs should undertake a census of young people not in school, including authorised and unauthorised absences and those not on a school roll. The Tomlinson Report (DfES, 2004) observed that: Disengagement peaks during Key Stage 4 and is manifest in absenteeism, exclusion and bad behaviour. Some of the causes of disengagement are cultural, social and economic and not easily addressed through changes to curriculum and qualifications. While recognising that the causes of disengagement may be complex, the Tomlinson Report proposals had the stated aim of raising participation and tackling the educational causes of disengagement through: * offering a choice of relevant programmes and activities that allow young people to pursue their interests and aspirations * sign posting progression routes within a diploma framework and making it easier for learners to follow a route of their choice * ensuring that all young people developed the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to access the curriculum * enabling young people to build confidence by gaining credit for small steps of achievement. There are four additional messages from the current literature. * It is much clearer about what to do than the detail on how to do it Reattaching young people to education and training is far harder than preventing detachment in the first place * There is limited evidence available of the transfer of learning between different environments such as custody to the community * Delays and poor communication between the education and youth justice systems are a major constraint (YJB 2006). Conclusions The literature review supports the importance placed by the YJB on education and training to reduce recidivism among young people who offend. The emerging research evidence provides broad guidance for principles of effective educational interventions. Several types of intervention have been evaluated as demonstrating a high degree of effectiveness in reducing important risk factors. The evidence also indicates that early and sustained intervention on the crucial matters of attainment and attachment have a higher chance of success than trying to equip older teenagers who have become completely detached from mainstream learning with literacy and numeracy skills.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

other :: essays research papers

Public/ Private Parents these days try to find the best school for their child’s needs. Some parents can’t choose between public and public schools, because of their differences. Public and private schools have a lot of difference like cost, admissions, teachers, students, and special needs. Public schools don’t have tuition as all people know. State, Federal, and local taxes fund public schools. So when you pay taxes, you are paying for child’s education. Also you are paying for the other kids in your community. Unlike public schools, private schools have tuition. The National Association of Independent Schools says that the median tuition in the United States is $12,000 for first to third, $13,000 for grades sixth to eighth, and $15,000 for grades nine to twelve. For boarding schools it’s like another $8,000 for each group (Education World). Another difference is the admission. Public schools admit all children. This includes students with special needs. You can enroll your child in public schools by just filling out the necessary paperwork. Some private schools on the other hand are selective. Private schools are not forced to accept every child. In many schools admission is very cutthroat. The teachers are another difference in public and private schools. The teachers in public schools are usually state certified. That just means that the teacher has gone through training required by the state. In private schools teachers may not be required to have to train. Instead they have subject area expertise and an undergraduate or graduate degree in the subject they teach. Also teachers in private schools often report better working condctions. The students in public schools are usually the kids from the neighboring community. Also public schools usually have more racially and ethnically diverse populations. On the other hand a process determines students that go to private schools. All students must apply and be accepted in order to attend. Some people may say that this can create a fairly homogenous student body. Another difference is the special needs. Public schools by law must educate all children. They also have to provide the necessary programs to meet the child’s special needs. Public schools have teachers who are trained to work with students who have specific needs, because of this law. However, private schools don’t have to accept kids with specific needs. As a result most private schools do not have special education programs. Also in private schools extra resources to help children with special needs may come at an additional cost (Greatschools).

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Paragon Information Systems

Individual Case Analysis Memorandum Paragon Information Systems BU481 – E Tabatha Dominguez Tuesday, November 29, 2011 PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDATION Paragon Information Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newtel Enterprises Limited, that operates in Atlantic Canada’s information systems industry. They meet their customers’ needs for information systems hardware and provide them with excellent customer service as well. There was recently a crisis as the founders of Paragon left the company, with the entire sales force, to start a new company in direct competition. Paragon was rebuilt and has become a stronger company since the founders left (EX1). Information systems hardware is a largely undifferentiated product so Paragon needs to deliver something unique and of value to customers. This can be done by adopting a focus differentiation strategy based on offering superior customer service (EX 8-9). Also, they will provide services that complement their hardware. This will allow Paragon to capitalize on their relationship with NewTel Information Systems (NIS) and become more profitable. ANALYSIS Focusing on the customer will create switching costs that will help to better protect Paragon’s position in the market (EX3,5). This will enable them to differentiate their company from competitors with a more sustainable method than simply competing on price. The new strategy will allow Paragon to fully realize the potential of their relationship with NIS (EX6-7). NIS has experience with selling services for information systems that Paragon can use to help their focus on services succeed. Working with an established organization like NIS will give them an opportunity to identify where there are gaps in their strategy and how they can best deal with those deficiencies. The services that accompany the hardware have much better margins than the hardware itself. Including services in the product market focus of Paragon will increase the profitability of the company and increase switching costs for clients (EX10). This change in focus will provide the management with the sustainable growth they wanted (EX2). Finally this alternative will properly align Paragon’s goals, product market focus and core activities with their now formalized value proposition (EX4). This will guide the actions of employees as it gives them direction for how they can provide value to the organization. IMPLEMENTATION The First thing Paragon needs to do is to meet with their employees and inform them that excellent customer service is how the company plans to differentiate themselves. Employees that will be trained to become capable of providing the services Paragon will now offer. The sales department will need to learn the specifics of the new services and will also receive customer service training. As the employees are being trained Collins will meet with NIS management and establish a formal relationship between the two subsidiaries. Paragon has moved from the crisis/reactive stage of the crisis curve to the anticipatory stage. With this in mind they should continue to use the participative leadership style they have been using so that they can gain acceptance for the changes that are planned more quickly. A more detailed outline of actions can be found in Exhibit 11. Exhibit 1 – Assessing Performance Customer Financial Innovation and Learning Internal Business processes Balanced Scorecard -Market share is increasing -Revenue has increased since the crisis -Investment in training tripled -Improved productivity -Had highest net income in company’s history Implications: Currently Paragon Information Systems is performing quite well. The changes they made have enabled them to change their position on the crisis curve from the reactive/crisis stage to the anticipatory stage. Exhibit 2 – Direction NEL Mission Statement – To provide sustained and consistent growth in shareholder value, through primary focus on telecommunications and related businesses in Atlantic Canada. Essential to our success will be exploitation of emerging competitive opportunities, responsive customer service and an effective, action-oriented management team. Implications: NewTel Enterprises Limited, which wholly owns Paragon, is committed to growing shareholder value and they believe providing excellent customer service is crucial to their success. Exhibit 3 – Atlantic Canada Information Technology Industry Analysis Threat of Substitute Products Threat of New Entrants Bargaining Power of Buyers Bargaining Power of Suppliers Intensity of Competitive Rivalry Porter’s Five Forces -Relatively low threat of substitute products -Computer hardware is necessary for an information system. -Barriers to entry are low, because of little government regulation and the lack of high upfront or fixed costs. Bargaining power of buyers is increasing -There are few competitors in the market place but more are entering -Buyers are happy to see more competition -Bargaining power of suppliers is unknown -level of intensity is unknown -Hardware is largely undifferentiated Implications: The information technology industry in Atlantic Canada is somewhat attractive. Hardware products are largely undifferentiated but excellent customer service can serve to establish switching costs. With the threat of new entrants and increasing bargaining p ower of buyers firms needs to offer more value than their competitors. Exhibit 4 – Business Strategy Business Strategy Triangle -The underlying strategy is to become more client-focused, and provide responsive customer service -They do not have a formal strategy in place Goals -Provide sustained and consistent growth in shareholder value -Create a more participative culture -Develop capabilities of employees Product Market -Systems integration, application development and computer networking Focus products and services in Atlantic Canada Core Activities -Selling hardware -Providing after sales support Implications: The goals, product market focus, and core activities are all aligned with providing the customer with quality service. However, Paragon has made no attempt to develop a formal strategy built around customer service. Value Proposition Exhibit 5 – Environment Analysis PEST Political Economics Unable to be determined. The strength of the economy can have a significant impact on the demand for computer hardware. Information systems do not directly generate revenue so if the economy is hurting a company’s ability to generate profits they may be hesitant to purchase an information system. If economic conditions are good then a company may be more likely to take this opportunity to develop an information system that can further improve their efficiency. Unable to be determined. Use of the internet is gaining momentum and will change the way that businesses operate. The way that customers communicate with businesses is moving from over the telephone to email. Companies need to be prepared for this change and be able to interact with customers through the medium they desire. Also, the technology that is sold in the industry is changing. The hardware is constantly improving, removing any advantage gained from superior technology quite rapidly. Social Technological Implications: With the threat of new competitors and lack of differentiation between products firms need to find another way to set themselves apart. They need to create value for their customers through means other than the technology they are selling. Exhibit 6 – Resource Analysis VRIO analysis – Relationship with NewTel Information Solutions (NIS) Value This relationship will allow Paragon knowledge on they can grow their service offering. NIS has experience providing services in the IS industry and can give advice to Paragon. Rarity No one else in the industry has a relationship with an established service provider like NIS. Inimitability Very difficult to establish a relationship with a company that may ultimately be a competitor. Organization There is no formal relationship between NIS and paragon. Implications: Paragon’s relationship with NIS can provide them with a competitive advantage. They just need to address the fact that there is no organization to capitalize on this resource. They need to have meetings with NIS or an intermediary that will allow them to communicate formally so they can share information and make sure they do not interfere with each other’s interests . Exhibit 7 – Strategy Analysis Strategy – Environment Linkage Strategy – Resources Linkage Strategy – Management Preferences Linkage Strategy – Organization Linkage Diamond-E Due to increased competition and a lack of differentiation in the hardware the industry sells Paragon needs to find a sustainable way to differentiate themselves. Paragon is not set up to capitalize on the possible benefits of sharing skills with another NEL subsidiary, NIS. NIS already has experience offering services for information systems in the Atlantic Canada market. Management at NEL is committed to revitalizing paragon. They are willing to give Collins whatever he determines is necessary to sustain growth of the company. They believe that excellent customer service is valuable enough to their customers, to provide a basis for which to set themselves apart from their competition. Paragon has identified training as a priority. They increased spending allocated to training to a level three times larger than before. Paragon needs their employees to have the technical knowledge and the proper communication skills to provide customer service that will differentiate the company. Implications: Paragon’s strategy, to differentiate themselves in Atlantic Canada with excellent customer service, is aligned with the needs of their environment and what management wants to do. However, there is a gap in the strategy-resources linkage as Paragon is not properly organized to exploit their relationship with NIS. They need a linkage or liaison with NIS so that they can fully utilize their knowledge of the service aspect of the information systems industry Exhibit 8 – Strategic Alternatives Alternative 1: Paragon will expand so as to offer services around their applications, differentiate themselves with superior customer service, capitalize on their relationship with NewTel Information Systems. Alternative 2: Paragon will expand its offering to include services with their applications, enter the New Brunswick and Quebec markets, differentiate themselves with superior customer service and restructure to a geographic organization. Exhibit 9 – Strategic Alternative Selection Alternative 1 -The market is large enough to sustain Paragon and is growing -Demand is steady -Low barriers to entry which can lead to more competitors -Low cost to serve customers -Low fixed costs Sustainability of -Utilizes customer service to create Competitive value for the customer Advantage? -Uses distinctive capabilities and processes to build strong customer and channel relationships Prospects for successful -Training has been increased to give implementation employees the customer service and technical skills required for this alternative -Consistent with managements goal of sustainable growth and responsive customer service (EX2) Are risks acceptable -A robust alternative -Assumes that Paragon is capable of providing services around their information systems hardware. Tests How attractive is the market? Alternative 2 -Larger market than alt 1 -Demand is steady -Low barriers to entry which can lead to more competitors -Low cost to serve customers -Low fixed costs -Utilizes customer service to create value for the customer -Uses distinctive capabilities and processes to build strong customer and channel relationships -Employees are capable of providing the customer service required -Organization has no experience in the Quebec and New Brunswick markets Will the forecast financial results be achieved and increase shareholder value? -Profitability of Paragon is expected to increase so even if revenues don’t meet expectations alternative will remain profitable. -A fragile alternative -assumes that Paragon can differentiate themselves in new markets -Assumes Paragon can withstand retaliation from competitors in new markets. Alternative is more dependent on reaching expected revenues -If targets are not met alternative will be less profitable Implications: Alternative 1 is a superio r alternative. They both have attractive markets and perceived sustainable competitive advantages. Alternative 2 offers a larger payoff but is much riskier. It assumes that paragon will be able to enter a new market and compete without any experience in those markets. Alternative one is more conservative but still offers growth and profitable returns with minimal risk. Exhibit 10 – Financial Projections Paragon Information Systems Projected Income Statement Years ended 1998, 1999, 2000 (in thousands) 1998 1999 $16,299 $17,927 15,729 17,255 $570 $672 Revenue Total Expenses Net Income 2000 $19,720 18,931 $789 Implications: This projection is based on revenues increasing 10% annually and net income as a percentage of revenue increasing from 3. 5% in 1998, to 3. 75% in 1999, and 4% in 2000. The increase in profitability occurs because the services that Paragon offers have a much higher margin. As services become a larger part of Paragons revenues, they will become more profitable. The increase in profitability from 1997 to 1998 is less than other periods to account for the loss of productivity when employees are being trained. Exhibit 11 – Strategy Implementation Immediate 3 Months 6 Months Long Term Hold a meeting with employees to inform them of the changes to the strategy and product offering -establish a formal relationship with NIS -train employees to properly provide services that will be offered. -Sales Department: learn about the services so they can -Sales Department: start pushing the service offerings -Meet with cl ients to discuss how Paragon can provide better service and offer more value -Meet with employees to discuss the progress of the new strategy and determine if any changes need to be made -Develop new customer service objectives with the information that was obtained from clients -Meet with employees to discuss the progress of the new strategy and determine if any changes need to be made -Evaluate the success of the strategy and make changes as necessary

Friday, November 8, 2019

19 Terms to Know from Homeric Epic

19 Terms to Know from Homeric Epic The following terms or concepts help characterize epic poetry. Try to find them when you read the Iliad, Odyssey, or Aeneid. Aidos: shame, can range from a sense of respect to disgrace Aition: cause, origin Anthropomorphism: Literally, turning into a human being. Gods and goddesses are anthropomorphized when they take on human qualities Arete: virtue, excellence Aristeia: a warriors prowess or excellence; a scene in battle where the warrior finds his (or her) finest moment Ate: blindness, madness, or folly that the gods may impose with or without the fault of the human. Dactylic Hexameter: the meter of epic has 6 dactylic feet in a line. A dactyl is a long syllable followed by two short. In English, this meter winds up sounding sing-songy. Daktylos is a word for a finger, which, with its 3 phalanges, is like a finger. Dolos: trickery Geras: a gift of honor In medias res into the middle of things, the epic story begins in the middle of things and reveals the past with narratives and flashbacks Invocation: at the start of epic, the poet calls upon the Goddess or Muse. The poet either believes or adopts the stance that the poem couldnt be composed without divine inspiration. Kleos: fame, especially immortal, for a deed. From a word for that which is heard, kleos is renown. Kleos can also refer to praise poetry.See Reading Epic: an Introduction to the Ancient Narratives, by Peter Toohey Moira: portion, share, lot in life, destiny Nemesis: righteous indignation Nostoi: (singular: nostos) return voyages Penthos: grief, suffering Timē: honor, should be proportionate to arete Xenia (Xeinia): bond of guest-friendship (xenos/xeinos: host/guest) Personification: treating an abstract or inanimate object as if it were living

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Terms for the Seasons of the Year

Terms for the Seasons of the Year Terms for the Seasons of the Year Terms for the Seasons of the Year By Mark Nichol Words for the seasons and related terms often have both literal and figurative connotations. Here are the words and their various senses. Spring (from the Old English word springan, akin to the same word in Old High German, which means â€Å"to jump†) has a sense of freshness and growth. The word is sometimes used to refer to a sociopolitical movement for greater freedom and tolerance, as in phrases like â€Å"Prague Spring† and, more recently, â€Å"Arab Spring.† Spring itself, in these senses, has no direct adjectival form besides springlike; springy refers to the word’s sense of movement. However, vernal (from the Latin word ver, meaning â€Å"spring†) is suitable for references to anything pertaining to the spring, or anything fresh, new, or youthful. In a practical sense, it often refers to phenomena unique to springtime, such as a vernal pool, a body of water that dries up as summer encroaches on spring. Summer (from the Old English word somer) has associations with thriving and mature growth, and it is also a poetic synonym for years in references to one’s age (for example, â€Å"in my tenth summer,† â€Å"a boy of fifteen summers†). Summery is a prosaic descriptor term describing qualities associated with summer. Estival (from Latin aestivus, meaning â€Å"of summer†) also means â€Å"pertaining to summer†; estivation is the summertime equivalent of hibernation, or sojourning at one location all summer. Autumn (ultimately from the Latin word autumnus), interchangeable in literal meaning with fall, has a figurative sense pertaining to full maturity or the onset of decline, as does the adjective autumnal. Winter has associations with decay and inactivity, and wintry, besides its literal sense, refers to being weathered as a result of winter weather or as if by such conditions, or to being aged; it also suggests a cold attitude or response. Solstice (ultimately from the Latin word solstitium, meaning, literally â€Å"sun standing†) and equinox (from the Latin term aequinoctium, a combination of the terms for â€Å"equal† and â€Å"night†) refer to the times of the year when, respectively, daylight is shortest and day and night are of equal length. The adjective equinoctial (or equinoctal) refers literally to the first day of spring and fall and has no established figurative meaning. (The first variant is also used as a noun synonymous with equator or referring to a storm during the equinoctial period.) There is no adjectival form of solstice, which corresponds to the onset of summer and winter. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Greek Words You Should KnowUsing the Active Voice to Strengthen Your Writing10 Humorous, Derisive, or Slang Synonyms for â€Å"Leader† or â€Å"Official†

Monday, November 4, 2019

Analysis of Creating Blue Oceans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analysis of Creating Blue Oceans - Essay Example The title of the reading, Creating Blue Oceans is effective and relevant since it relates to the reference company. Indeed, authors reckon that blue seas emanate from red seas through the expansion of existing industries as seen in Cirque du Soleil’s marketing strategy (Kim and Mauborge 5). The authors are informative, rational, and unbiased since they address all aspects of the topic. In fact, they introduce the merits, demerits, challenges, and risks of creating blue seas. Moreover, they complete the discussion on a positive note by informing the audience on how to formulate and implement a blue ocean strategy by presenting the principles and analytical frameworks that will guarantee success in creating blue seas (Kim and Mauborge 19-21). The authors derive more understanding on the topic by describing the motivators that drive the need to create blue seas (Kim and Mauborge 8). The reading also explains how companies like Cirque du Soleil moved from red seas by making strategic moves that define the benefits of blue sea strategic moves (Kim and Mauborge 10). Just like in other businesses strategies, the reading recognizes value innovation as the foundation of a blue ocean strategy (Kim and Mauborge 12-14). In fact, the reading offers a clear description of how Cirque du Soleil created a blue ocean based on innovation to gain a competitive advantage in the market. The reading compares Red Ocean and blue ocean strategies to justify why Cirque du Soleil created a blue ocean.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 45

Assignment Example nserved proteins responsible for the maintenance of the conformational homeostasis of cellular proteins and RNAs† and are believed to be usually induced by environmental stress (Soti & Csermely, â€Å"Molecular Chaperones† 227). In short, as molecular chaperones are often associated with aging tissues and aging in general, these proteins are especially found in such situations. There is, however, a debate whether their presence in the aging tissue is merely induced or it is this presence that induces aging. Hsp60 is involved in protein folding and hsp70 has a role in the regulating the heat shock response as well as membrane translocation. While hsp60 are found in the mitochondria, hsp70 is found in the eukaryotic cytosol, ER and mitochondria. Both families of proteins actually function for protein translocation and transport as well as folding and assembly (â€Å"Molecular Chaperones†). In aging and diseased tissues, high amounts of hsp60 are found in people with atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndromes and angina, while hsp70 is found in those with peripheral as well as renal vascular diseases (Frostegard & Pockley 201-202). A number of experts and experiments in the field of molecular biology are pointing out that chaperones are the ones that bring about the aging process at the molecular level. Soti and Csermely, in their study entitled â€Å"Chaperones and aging: role in neurodegeneration and in other civilizational diseases, underlined the possibility that HSPs â€Å"might contribute to the onset of†¦atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes and several neurodegenerative diseases† (384). In an actual experimental study in Korea, it was confirmed that the HSPs â€Å"might be involved in tumorigenesis† as it did in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas (Lim et al. 2077). This is so because, as proven by rodent experiments, â€Å"HSPs are known to be essential for the survival of cancer cells in different cancers† (Lim et al. 2077). Moreover, one particular HSP, hsp90,

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The dimensions of the Decision-Making Processes Research Paper

The dimensions of the Decision-Making Processes - Research Paper Example One of the widely suggested approaches to effective organisation management is proficient leadership. Proficient leadership is particularly needed to deal with the decision-making process. This is in consideration to the fact that success relies on how smart the decisions are made. However, the decision-making process appears to be a complicated subject, considering the common blunders that are committed by the managers, the underlying factors and the imperatives of the process of making decisions. This paper aims at exploring the imperatives decision-making process in organization, including the factors that affect the decision-making processes. Literature perspectives about the decision-making process and organization Literature information regarding the decision-making process, it challenges, imperatives and dimensions is well documented. According to Schwartz (2013), what makes a manager worth is if he can make decisions that are sound. Schwartz (2013) argues that all the other r oles of managers or organization leaders are dependent on how the decision-making processes are executed. The roles of leaders are effectively elucidated based on principles of proficient management, as documented by Madura (2007). Here, proficient leaders are expected to execute a range of functions. These can be enlisted as controlling, organizing, leading, staffing and planning. Planning can be described as the process where mapping is done to achieve certain goals. In the case where the goals of the organizations are seeking sale improvement, the leaders are needed in devising decisive steps that would enable the organization realize these. Such decisive steps could include conducting recruitment or offering training to the teams responsible for sales and even increase advertisements. Such steps are what would be considered to add up to a plan that enables companies achieve success. After the plans have been executed, the leaders should go further in mobilizing the resources and necessary materials in accordance with the plans. Such a process is known as organizing. Essential to organizing is giving the authority for the activities to be carried out, and this includes making assignation of the tasks. In all these processes, it will always become necessary for them to conduct recruitment of additional employs or offer training to the existent employees, and this could be labelled as staffing. More often than not, this is often done by the departments of human resource. This also requires that proficient leadership is to be exercised. Leading is also pivotal in the sense that it is a process that involves making communications, offering encouragement, motivation and guidance to the team members so that the goals can be achieved. This role does not only require one to assist, but also coach and help with solving problems. Lastly, controlling is also another pivotal role. Leaders are required to monitor the results in a continuous fashion. They are also requir ed to implement various forms of correction that ensure the intended outcomes are achieved. There is further suggestion that every member on the management teams is to perform such functions, only that the time that is set aside for the execution of this may vary (Trompenaars 1993). While this point may serve to consider the managers and leaders as synonymous to perform

Monday, October 28, 2019

Internationanl Business Essay Example for Free

Internationanl Business Essay The organization that I have chosen is Sony Corporation. Sony Corporation is one of the most successful multinational Corporations in the world; it is also one of the best-known names in consumer electronics industry. Since it was established shortly after World War 2, Sony has introduced a stream of revolutionary products, including the transistor radio, the Trinitron television, the Betamax VCR, and the Walkman portable cassette player (FundingUniverse, 2000). Over the years Sony has successfully developed into one of the biggest player in the consumer electronics industry, producing a wide range of products including Audio system, Video cameras, Television, gaming system, Semiconductors and also electronic Components. Valued at $17.12 Billion in the market (Forbes, 2011), Sony Corporation is a great example of successful Multinational Corporation that has competitive advantage in the global market place. Daniel Spulber’s Star Analysis is an analytical framework that helps strategy makers in gathering and processing data about global market (D.F.Spulbur, 2007). By identifying the culture, feature and structure of the business environment in different country, Spulber’s Star Analysis can assist the manager in developing a global strategy that provide their organization with the competitive advantage to succeed in the international market. Star Analysis is based around five major components, which is the features of the company’s home country, supplier countries, customers countries, partner countries and competitor countries. In this case, Star analysis will be used to evaluate the competitive strategy of Sony Corporation and how Sony Corporation improved their global competitiveness. Home Country A company’s home country refers to the country where the business has its headquarters (D.F.Spulber, 2007). In this case, the home country for Sony Corporation is Japan. D.F.Spulber (2007) stated the features of home country are often a good guide to the company’s business practices, corporate culture, and core competencies. D.F.Spulber (2007) also stated that a company can benefit from home-country strengths by using the home country as a launching pad for international expansion, and this is the case for Sony Corporation. Benefiting from the culture and features of Japan, Sony Corporation has developed a strong foundation for their international expansion. This can be justified using the Porter’s diamond theory. M. Porter states that basic factors of endowment, such as natural resources, climate, location and demographics, can provide an initial advantage that is subsequently reinforced and extended by investment in advanced factors, examples of advanced factor s are communication infrastructure, sophisticated and skilled labor, research facilities and technological know-how. Conversely, disadvantages in basic factors can create pressure to invest in advanced factors (Charles.W.L.Hills, 2010). That is the case in Japan, where they lack arable land and mineral deposit, and yet through investment from government and organizations has built a substantial endowment of advanced factors. Japan government’s subsidies and investment in education system, has created large pool of engineers, which is vital to Japan’s success in many manufacturing industries (Charles.W.L.Hills, 2010). This environment provides Sony Corporation with sufficient workforce and skilled labor. Japanese’s constant investment on Research Development has developed the technological know-how of the country. This practice can also be seen in Sony Corporation’s strategy, which spent approximately 6.99% of their revenue, which is $5.5 billion on RD annually and the percentage of employees engaged in RD is 32.49% (TechnologyReview, 2012). This gives Sony Corporation the competitive advantage in the global technological market. Another attribute in Porter’s Diamond is demand condition; In this case, the pressure from Japan’s sophisticated and knowledgeable buyers of cameras has helped stimulate the Japanese camera industry, including Sony Corporation, to improve product quality and to introduce innovative models (Charles.W.L.Hills, 2010). This constant demand for innovative and high quality product has forced Sony Corporation to invest in RD and hence, improved the performance of the company and therefore, gained competitive advantage in the global market. The next attribute is the presence of suppliers or related industries that are internationally competitive. In this case, most of the suppliers of Sony Corporation, for example, Dai Nippon Printing Co, Ltd are one of the top smart card vendors in Asia (Sony.Net, 2011) .Successful electronic IT manufacturers including Hitachi Ltd., Fujitsu Ltd. and NEC Corp has contributed to the semiconductor industry in Japan, which provided the basis for Sony Corporation’s success in cameras and other technically advanced electronic products (DailyYomiuriOnline, 2012) The last attribute of Portal’s Diamond is the strategy, structure and rivalry of firms within a nation (Charles.W.L.Hills, 2010). ). In this case, there are many successful Multinational Corporation in Japan’s technological manufacturing field, such as Toyota, has come out with management philosophies like Total Quality Management, Just-in Time Philosophy and so on ( James et al, 2009). By practicing the same Sony Corporation has benefited from these practices and be more cost effective(Richard A.Gershon, 2007). Major domestic competitors such as Panasonic Corporation also induce Sony Corporation to look for ways to improve efficiency and produce more innovative products. All t hese factors have improved Sony Corporation’s overall global competitiveness. Supplier Country Supplier countries refer to those countries in which the international business transacts with its input suppliers and countries in which the international business manufactures its products (Daniel.F.Spulber, 2007). In this case, Sony Corporation previously had more than 2,500 suppliers around the globe; however after incurring heavy lost in year 2009, Sony Corporation has decided to cut down the number of suppliers (CRN, 2009). To achieve global competitiveness advantage, Sony Corporation’s strategy is to outsource, or externalize part of their value chain activities to different supplier countries, and internalize their core competence, which in this case is their innovative design and technology of their product. Their current major suppliers are companies from China and USA, for example Shenzhen LVSUN Electronics Co., Ltd, which supplied laptop batteries and Nvidia Corporation, which supplied Laptop’s graphic cards (Sony.Net, 2010). China are well-known for their l ow wage labor force so the cost of production for Sony will be much lower compare to their global competitors. USA is a technology-advanced country and by buying new technologies from firms in USA, Sony Corporation’s products are much more advance and better in quality, which in turn increased their global competitiveness. The company is vertically integrated in their supplier’s countries. Sony Corporation established production facilities such as manufacturing plants in Japan, China, USA, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (Sony Supply Chain Solution. Inc, 2011). Country like USA and Singapore has low trade-barriers and their government policies encouraged Foreign Direct investment, which smoothen Sony’s plan to establish manufacturing plant in their land. Conversely, China and Malaysia has higher trade barriers and strict government policies that might increase the risk of recovering the cost of investment. This strategy has both positive and negative effects on Sony Corporation. By establishing their own manufacturing plants in suppliers countries, Sony are able to protect their proprietary product technology from their competitors, this view is supported by Charles.W.L.Hills (pg 558, 2010). Besides that, majority of Sony’s manufacturing plant are located in technologically advanced countries such as Japan and USA. Therefore with the advanced infrastructure and skilled labor, Sony’s production are more cost-savings and efficient. However, on the other hand, managing and operating plants and firms in different countries has increased Sony’s organization scope, which in turn will increase the organizational complexity and hence raise the firm’s cost structure, this cost is known as cost of hierarchical governance. This view is support by Charles W.L.Hills (pg 559, 2010). In fact, the high cost of governance in different country has been such a burden to Sony that the top management has decided to shutter some of the factories and manufacturing plants, in order to reduce overall cost (CRN, 2009). Furthermore, to overcome this issue, Sony has decided to outsource part of their production to companies in China and USA. Examples are Foxconn Technology Group for the manufacturing of Sony LCD TV and Blackboard Inc for the manufacturing of Sony’s FeliCa Card readers (Sony.Net, 2011). By outsourcing part of the manufacturing,, Sony was able to take advantage of less costly workforce in China and more efficient production facilities in USA. As a result, Sony has been able to avoid bureaucratic inefficiencies and reduce their cost of operation that arise from vertically integrate, and the resulting increased in global competitiveness. This view is supported by Charles.W.L.Hills (pg 559, 2010). Customer Countries In this case, Sony Corporation’s major customers, or target market are the home country itself, Japan, USA and Europe countries. The Japan market is accounted for 24.2% of Sony Corporation’s revenue while USA market is accounted for 23.6%, Europe market for 25.7% and others minor customer countries for 26.5% (Sony.Net,2010). Evaluating the Entry mode of Sony Corporation, the company has initially chosen wholly owned subsidiaries as their strategy to enter the U.S market. More specifically, Sony Corporation practices Greenfield ventures, by establishing manufacturing plants and retails stores in U.S. Sony Corporation first move was the establishment of a small television assembly plant in San Diego, California back in 1972. Sony then expanded and diversified its U.S operation by adding more production facilities in different region of U.S (Sony.com, 2011). In 1960, Sony Corporation of America (SONAM) was established in the United States to manage operation in U.S (Sony.com, 2011).Sony Corporation’s initial entry to U.S. market was facilitated by the unfavorable exchange rate between yen and dollars at that particular period of time, and also the U.S government policies that encouraged foreign investment (SonyNet-history, 2011). Similar scenario happened in Europe, where Sony Corporation initially enter the Europe market by Greenfield ventures, establishing operating firms such as Sony (U.K.) Ltd in United Kingdom, Sony G.m.b.H.in Germany and so on. This strategy proved to be beneficial because this entry mode allowed Sony to protect their technological competence and gives Sony the ability to engage in global strategic coordination. However, the drawback is that this method of entry can be very costly. This view is supported by Charles.W.L.Hills (pg 482, 2010) After establishing firms and production facilities in foreign market, Sony Corporation further strengthen their position by joint ventures with Tektronic Inc from U.S and Ericsson in Sweden, which later on has been wholly acquired by Sony (Sony.com, 2011). Besides that, Sony Corporation has also established strong distribution network, by having retail stores and distributors throughout the U.S and Europe region. Through the establishment of operating firms in foreign market and joint ventures with local companies, Sony Corporation has managed to get closer and understand the demand and preference of consumers in the U.S and Europe market. Consumers in the USA and EU are generally technologically savvy and have always been demanding innovative technological products; The income per capita for US is 47199 US dollars and research shows that the highest technology expenditure for households in US is at around $94 per month ( Huffingpost.com, 2011). They are certainly willing to spend more on technologically products (Accenture, 2010). By understanding these preferences and demand of consumers in USA and Europe, Sony Corporation is able to design and produce innovative products that satisfied consumers, hence achieving the global competitive advantage. Partner Countries According to Daniel.F.Spulber (2007), the features of partner countries are highly useful in determining the potential contribution that the business and its partner will bring to the joint activities. One of Sony Corporation’s most beneficial and strategic alliances is their partnership with Korea’s Samsung. Sony and Samsung shared complementary technology that would benefit each other. Sony was able to utilize Samsung’s knowledge and technology to make LCD, which is critical for the large flat –panel TVs that were in high demand. Samsung’s skills were complementary to Sony’s since they were tuned to computer displays while Sony brought TV display knowledge (Daniel F.Spulber, 2007). According to Charles W.L.Hill (2010), one of the benefits of strategic alliance is the share of cost and risk. This is certainly the case for the Sony-Samsung joint venture. The Sony-Samsung Joint venture set up a manufacturing facility in Tangjung, South Korea ( Daniel F.Spulber, 2007). The joint venture helped Sony and Samsung save significant cost in RD and manufacturing and helped the companies gain substantial economies of scale in manufacturing (Daniel F.Spulber, 2007). By sharing ideas between both companies, product innovation is enhanced, allowing Sony to boost its global sales of flat-panel TVs (Daniel F.Spulber, 2007). In order to keep up with advances in digital technologies that was driving innovations in the global market, Sony and Samsung agreed to share patents for a variety of technologies-13,000 patents from Sony and 11,000 patents from Samsung (Daniel F.Spulber, 2007). Another successful alliance for Sony Corporation is the research joint venture between IBM and Toshiba. This particular joint venture had developed the Cell chip that powered the Sony PlayStation 3 (SonyNet, 2011). The companies split the high development costs and employed engineers around the world. Besides that, Sony Corporation’s joint venture with Ericsson from Sweden allowed Sony to enter the mobile communication industry in Europe, which later expanded to Asia with the name of Sony Ericsson. Sony’s successful alliance with global companies like Samsung, IBM and Ericsson has allowed Sony to produce and design innovative products with high quality. Besides that, joint venture with Ericsson allowed Sony to understand Europe’s market condition better which smoothen their entry to Europe market and all these have helped Sony to achieve global competitive advantage. Competitor Countries One of Sony Corporation’s major competitors is LG Electronics. LG Electronics is a Korean-based company that sells electronic products such as televisions, mobile phone, Air conditioners, Home appliances and a lot more. The features of LG Electronics’s Home Country, South Korea, has played an important role in the company’s business culture and global strategy. South Korea’s government has set their goal to open new opportunities for the electronics industry and this has given LG Electronics an extra boost for expanding their market internationally (Frost-Sullivan, 2007), which is a treat to Sony Corporation in the global market. However, Korean’s culture of high uncertainty avoidance might be the reason they are less innovative, since LG Electronic employed their staffs from Korea, their products might not be as innovative as Japanese companies like Sony. As for LG Electronics supplier countries, their major suppliers are Hong Kong HuiChun Co.Ltd a nd Veise Electronic Co.Ltd from China mainland. Utilizing the labor of lower wages in China, the cost of production for LG electronics might be lower than other companies in the industry, which is a treat to Sony as well (GlobalSources, 2012). As for LG Electronics partner countries, LG Electronics has established strong alliance with multinational companies like Intel, Microsoft and Mozilla has given them the technological advantage to compete in the global market. These alliances have helped LG Electronics to overcome their lack of technological innovation in their home country. In order to compete with LG Electronics in the global market, Sony Corporation has initially practices the international strategy. According to Charles W.L.Hill, an enterprise pursuing an international strategy is confronted with low cost pressures and low pressures for local responsiveness. These type of enterprise tend to centralize product development at home but tend to establish manufacturing and marketing function in each major country or geographi c region in which they do business (Charles W.L.Hill, 2010). This is initially the case for Sony Corporation, who started their entry to foreign market in such pattern. By centralizing RD in Japan, Sony entered foreign market by establishing manufacturing plant and operating firms in USA, Europe and other Asia countries. However, as the cost pressure and pressure for local responsiveness increases, Sony Corporation has change to transnational strategy. According to Charles W.L.Hill (2010), a firm that pursue a transnational strategy is trying to simultaneously achieve low costs through location economies, economies of scale, and learning effects; differentiate their product offering across geographic markets to account for local differences; and foster a multidirectional flow of skills between different subsidiaries in the firm’s global network of operations. By partnering with strong suppliers in China and USA, economics of scale can be achieved. Besides that, multidirectional flow of technological skills and knowledge from different subsidiaries, such as Sony Ericsson in Sweden, and the Samsung-Sony joint venture in South Korea and so on is also happening constantly. However, such strategy is so difficult to implement that Sony Corporation has faced some negative impact, having too high cost due to differentiation of product in different market. Conclusion As a conclusion, by applying the Spulber’s Star Analysis, Sony Corporation was able to achieve global competitive advantage in the global market. By using their strong foundation in Japan, where they receive not only support from government but also the culture, knowledge and infrastructure, Sony successfully expanded their business worldwide. Economics of scale has been achieved with the help of strong suppliers from mainland China and USA. Sony was able to enter their customer’s countries easily with joint ventures with local firms and Greenfield ventures. Using the information gathered they managed to understand the demand and consumer preferences of each market. Sony further strengthens their positions in the global market with help from their strong alliances such as IBM, Ericsson, and Samsung and so on. Evaluating the function of Star Analysis, such analysis is fairly useful for international managers to plan their strategy. By studying the features of the home, suppliers, customers, partners and competitors countries, the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of a organization can be found and this information can be use to help the organization achieve global competitive advantage. For example, the SWOT of Sony has been identified after applying the Star Analysis. Therefore, international managers should practice Star Analysis before implementing their global strategy. Reference Charles W.L.Hill (2010). International Business, Competing in the global marketplace. 8th ed. 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