Samedaymay30 Peer Response DQ1AB and DQ2 NA8 Essay

Samedaymay30 Peer Response DQ1AB and DQ2 NA8 - Essay Example It is my opinion that decentralized companies are more effective and productive. The effectiveness of a centralized company is highly dependent on the skills and capabilities of the upper management team. Companies that use a centralized system typically coordinate the efforts of the company from its corporate headquarters (Lexisnexis, 2012). Your example about Ford Company was very informative and aligned with the course discussion. I agree with you that companies that want to consolidate power at the top utilize the centralized organization structure. A few years ago I worked at a company that used a centralized structure. This organization was very effective because the CEO was a charismatic leader. A charismatic leader is a person that is able to have a profound and extraordinary effect on followers due to his personal abilities (Schermerhorn, Hunt, Osborn, 2003). This CEO had great ideas and he utilized a tremendous strategic approach. The employees did not have power or responsibilities beyond their work duties, but most the employee were happy with the firm because the workers were respected and appreciated. An example of respect in the workplace is using people’s ideas to change or improve work (Heathfield, 2012). I have never worked in a U-form organization, but based on your description of this structure I believe that U-form organizations can be very effective in the business world. Lexisnexis.com (2012). Forms of organization: centralized vs. decentralized Retrieved May 25, 2012 from

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Essay Example for Free

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Essay Through the years, America has made an overall improvement in eliminating discrimination, inequality and slavery and focusing more on inclusion, equal rights, and equal opportunity. Despite a considerable improvement, there are corporations and individuals that often revert to archaic means of treating employees, creating hostile environments. Consequently, different advocacy groups and laws still remain in effect and continue to evolve to protect the citizens and non-citizens of the USA. Overview of the EEOC’s Function  One particular group that exists to protect the employee is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC â€Å"is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the persons race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. (Overview, para. 1)† The EEOC is committed to holding employers accountable for benefiting from the modern day enslavement of workers from other countries. Their job is to ensure that all workers foreign and those of the U. S. , are protected under the law and have the right to complain of such employment abuses which damage the foundation of our society. Compliance Issue and Lawsuit Background The article I chose involves a US company that trafficked over 200 Thai males to work for Global Horizons, Inc. , a Beverly Hills based farm labor contractor working alongside eight farms between 2003 and 2007. The individuals were falsely informed that they would have access to high paying jobs with temporary visas allowing them to live and work in the US. Once here, the individuals realized this was a lie and quickly experienced harassment, abuse, intimidation, and unequal pay. The employers threatened to deport them if they complained of the mistreatment. In addition, the employees were forced to live in housing infested with rats and insects (Carter, 2011). They were forced to sleep in tight quarters and some didn’t even have a bed. The Thai workers had all of their identification removed from their possession; the employees were left defenseless. Eventually, the Thai Community Development Center of Los Angeles brought victims to the EEOC to file charges of discrimination. The EEOC argued that Global Horizons engaged in a pattern or practice of national origin and race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (EEOC, 2011). The EEOC sought back pay, compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the victims, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent further abuses at the companies and farms. This would uncover the cruel actions by Global Horizons and the farms for which they were employing these individuals. These farms, such as Del Monte Fresh Produce and Green Acre Farms, suffered reputation scrutiny and possible loss of profit after such discoveries. The EEOC’s Role The EEOC’s role in this lawsuit was to hold the employer accountable for benefiting from modern day enslavement so that companies could be aware of the ramifications of conducting such business. The EEOC first attempted to reach a pre-litigation settlement, and then filed the lawsuit in the U. S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. After no success, the EEOC quickly filed lawsuits in the U. S. District Court for the District of Hawaii and the U. S. District Court of the Eastern District of Washington. Social Impact This type of lawsuit promotes social change by making companies aware of the repercussions expected if such behavior is conducted in the United States towards citizens or non-citizens. Human trafficking is a modern day form of slavery and while it still continues to exist in modern business America, it is imperative that companies are made aware of the consequences they may subjected to should they choose to engage in such tactics. These types of lawsuits also promote healthy laws and advocate groups pushing for tougher laws so that employers cannot get away with such atrocities. It also makes employees aware of similar environments where they can quickly recognize if they find themselves in similar situations and who to go to for help. Businesses will do whatever it takes to make higher profits and quite often, they turn to illegal conduct thinking they may get away without consequence. Article Comparison In reviewing my article, I also compared it to an article from the internet published by CNN. Both articles seemed to have similarities by providing the same details and information as discussed in the EEOC article. After searching through several other articles, most included the same information as that provided by the EEOC. Management Perspective If I were a senior manager of Global Horizons, Inc. I would place tighter requirements upon hiring individual to conduct the contracting work. I would consider placing those individuals in the contracting positions in training classes to make them aware of what to do in the event they are faced with this type of situation. Because of the nature of the business involving labor work, I would enforce tighter regulations, initiate reviews, monitoring and would become more involved to avoid mistreatment of individuals. Managers and supervisors would be required to attend courses that stress inclusion, diversity, and harassment. All other employees would be required to attend the same courses, but these courses would also include information on how to report violations. Conclusion I believe that members of management from Global Horizons chose to keep quiet to reap the benefits of cheap labor. There is no excuse to have such behavior in today’s society after all the issues we have all faced as a country. Some improvement has been achieved but it is evident that there is more to be accomplished. Thanks to groups such as the EEOC, citizens and non-citizens can rest assured that there is protection available in the event of mistreatment.

The Importance of Confidence Essay example -- Personal Narrative Essay

The Importance of Confidence Most of life's situations are learning experiences. People can learn what activities are right or wrong for them by experiences these emotions in different situations. These learning experiences can take place at home, school, the workplace, or anywhere else. The three major experiences that have given me confidence in my ability to learn have all taken place at Penn State University. One experience that, in the end, gave me confidence was my first semester of lessons with the Penn State School of Music clarinet professor. The Professor was not a personable man. He was very quick to criticize every mistake I was making and was very blunt with his comments. I felt like a failure. I was very sensitive, and began to cry many times. Being that sensitive didn't help at all. When I finally did so something well, he made me feel great. I learned that no matter how badly I am playing, I must stay confident, for crying doesn't help anything. I know now that his criticisms were made so I could work on my weakness in my playing and get better. He was not ...

The Role Of Intellectuals In The Rise Of Marxism History Essay

Marxism refers to the socio-political and economic universe position which proposes socialism as a political political orientation to transform society into a better entity. The conceivers of Marxism were Karl Marx together with Friedrich Engels who lived in Britain but had originally migrated from Germany. Basically Marxism interprets society materialistically adopting the thought that societal alteration is driven by category battles where different categories compete to acquire better conditions. Karl Marx and Engels argued that capitalist economy has resulted in subjugation of the lower category that form the bulk in society and does non have belongings by the middle class or the rich. This paper discuses how intellectuals helped in the rise of Marxism and concludes that they were the driving force in its rise. Marxism idea has had a profound influence on intellectuals while intellectuals have contributed a batch to this idea. Many academicians in a broad scope of subjects have adopted the historical apprehension of society espoused by Marxism including political scientists, economic expert, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, historiographers and a host of many other intellectuals. The period that saw the most important application of Marx idea in societies around the universe was the twentieth century where intellectuals of note advanced the Marxist thought to pervade through political, economic and societal domains of life ( Curtis, 1997 ) . Marxist idea developed into a powerful political and societal motion with Marxist authoritiess taking over power in many states in the universe.Intellectuals and the Rise of MarxismAn rational can be referred to as anybody who employs intelligence-which is fundamentally thought and reason-in a critical and analytical mode at the professional o r personal capacity. Intellectuals advancing the Marxist construct have chiefly dealt with theories and learned thoughts based on the original Marxist theory to develop their ain version of societal alteration effort that has had a large consequence on the rise of Marxism ( Bottomore, 1991 ) . Intellectuals have over clip been interested in Marxism although sometimes with really different positions. Notably, intellectuals have influenced Marxism by virtuousness of the facts that they come from categories within society, they aid in construing constructs and suiting them to specific state of affairss and besides, they are potentially leaders by virtuousness of their apprehension of society and its challenges and chances. Largely, intellectuals have been linked with political orientations and those concerned with Marxism have had a profound impact on the political and societal developments of assorted states in the twentieth century. The Russian revolution in 1917 led to the constitution of the individual most powerful state tally based on Marxist political orientation. The Soviet Union was founded in the twelvemonth 1922 with several leaders of note like Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky being important Marxist theoreticians. Theoretical tendencies like Stalinism, Trotskyism and Marxism-Leninism were branchs of Marxism. In add-on to that, the civil war of China resulted in the people & A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s democracy of China in 1949 with Mao Zedong, the first leader developing the theoretical Maoism. A figure of states including, Cuba, Nepal, North Korea and Venezuela have besides followed in these lines with leaders who adopted Marxist doctrine set uping Marxist leadings. All these leaders brought around socialist reforms in their states. To get down with, possibly the most of import intellectuals who promoted Marxism were the conceivers, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It is worthy observing that Marxism has taken many dimensions in the class of clip with different theoreticians coming up with their ain versions. This wider position of Marxism can be contrasted to classical Marxism which is what the original minds Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels put frontward as their idea ( Curtis, 1997 ) . Karl Marx was a philosopher and political economic expert who besides became a noteworthy socialist revolutionist. His most noteworthy plants were turn toing issues of development and disaffection of the working category in capitalist economy and besides in developing the Theory of Historical Materialism. Marx analyzed history of worlds history based on category battles and produced the Communist Manifesto together with Friedrich Engels, the most of import of their work. His original thoughts proved really influential at the clip and subsequently particularly after the industrial revolution increased the wealth of states which was acquired by a few persons who oppressed the remainder of society. Marx thesis was ; the history of society has ever been the history of category battles. Following this statements, Marx called for societal alteration where he urged the exploited working category to lift up against the opinion category and the wealthy so as to accomplish a just distribution of resources ( Krygier, 1994 ) . As already stated, Friedrich Engels was an confederate of Marx and the carbon monoxide writer of the Communist pronunciamento and the Communist theory. Engels was a political philosopher who alongside Marx was deported from several states in Europe due to his political and societal positions. For case, after the publication of the Communist pronunciamento in 1848, both Marx and Engels had to travel to Cologne after Belgium threw them out. The two wrote several other plants and published politically extremist newspapers advancing the Communist ideals that they held. Notably, although the two came up with a new and independent idea, they were greatly influenced by former minds and philosophers. Karl Marx drew his influences from classical Germany doctrine, early Gallic socialism and besides from classical British economic sciences ( Pejovich, 1990 ) . Gallic socialists saw capitalist economy as advancing a bad societal organisation, that of private belongings rights and hence capitalist economy. They blamed it for working category poorness, income inequality, kid labour, unemployment and many of the societal jobs. These thoughts were held by Marx as true ( Pejovich, 1990 ) . Philosophers from Germany like Hegel, Immanuel Kant and Ludwig Feuerbach besides influenced Marx thought a batch. Hegel for illustration tried to explicate a Social Change Theory stating that human history has been shaped by alterations in the societal construction coming from within the societal system. Marx besides developed his Theory of Historical Materialism based on this basic thought ( Pejovich, 1990 ) . Furthermore, Marx borrowed from the British economic expert David Ricardo the Labor Theory of Value. The theory fundamentally espoused that any trade good & A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s value can be equated to the figure of hours needed to bring forth it. To Karl Marx excessively, the working category were being exploited when the capitalist took the far greater excess and paid workers meagre rewards.Significant Modern TheoristsAssorted other intellectuals built upon the Marxist theory and came up with discrepancies that drove political and societal alteration in societies across the universe. One of these discrepancies and possibly the most noteworthy in footings of followings and impact is Marxism-Leninism. Besides known as Collectivism or as many like to mention to it, communism, it had its ideological beginnings from Vladimir Lenin and other Russian intellectuals parts to Marx idea. As a immature adult male, Lenin was involved in practising jurisprudence before acquiring into political relations where he did radical propaganda. He was arrested and jailed for some months before being sent to expatriate in Siberia where he published many theoretical plants ( Read, 2005 ) . Lenin subsequently became the leader of a split Social Democratic Labor Party which sought to subvert the Tsarist government. The split was occasioned by the differing ideological positions about the most suited manner of conveying societal alteration to Russia with Lenin staying with the Bolshevik cabal that finally took power ( Read, 2005. Basically, what Lenin and fellow intellectuals did was usage assorted agencies to distribute Marxist political orientations to the in-between category in Russia so as to make possible for a revolution by beat uping the working category and other lower categories against the opinion category. This work is what eventually led to the revolution of 1917 in Russia that introduced Marxist political orientation into the political and societal landscape of Russia widely referred to as communism ( Read, 2005 ) . Lenin introduced a socialist system of administration in Russia that replaced the absolute regulation of the Tsars. As a organic structure of idea, Marxism-Leninism was later closely identified with Joseph Stalin as its figure caput when Lenin died. Over clip nevertheless, there were ideological developments within the same political orientation of Marxism-Leninism that creped up within Russia itself. These schools of idea continued to act upon the pattern of socialism in Russia and its orbiters for a long clip therefore keeping Marxism together. Some of the major goings from the original Marxist-Leninism were the denouncing of the cult of personality that had developed around Stalin by Nikita Khrushchev and the dogma that category struggles go on even under socialism. Marxism political orientations continued playing a large portion of Russia & A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s personal businesss up to the decennary of 1990s. The long being of the Marxist pattern was enabled by the being of communist party members who continued advancing Marxist political orientations even exporting it to other states apa rt from the USSR during the cold war epoch. Intellectuals back uping Marxism would acquire educated in communist states and travel back place to form revolutions. Chinese pupils were exposed to western socialism largely in Japan which was comparatively developed at the clip. The degree of rational involvement in Marxism amongst the Chinese was reasonably low in early twentieth century but changed when Russia managed the Bolshevik revolution and besides when the May Fourth Movement occurred in China. Harmonizing to Daniels ( 1987 ) , the East particularly China was non attracted to communism by Marxian analysis of history as subjugation of the lower category by the rich and powerful. Communism appealed to intellectuals of the East as a new subject and manner of life that would set their state in a better place to industrialise and derive national power to be able to vie with other states of the West which were good in front in footings of development. It really presented them with a manner of occidentalizing without really copying the West. Bing chiefly an agricultural economic system, Chinese Marxist intellectuals used the peasantry to advance their aspirations for a revolution by mentioning to it as the radical category. The sheer Numberss of the peasantry made it possible for the Chinese Marxists to prevail. The communist motion in China was really much divorced from workers in the old ages prior to the Communists presuming power. It was fundamentally used as an look of intellectuals who were extremist minded. Mao Tse-tung was the one intellectual who pushed for a engagement of the provincials to assist convey about a revolution ( Daniels, 1987 ) . The communist motion in China was therefore headed by intellectuals who followed the Marxian political orientation that the working and lower category must unify and lift up against the opinion category so as to convey societal alteration. Intellectuals saw this as an chance to utilize the people non merely to convey the much needed societal alteration but besides come up with political alterations with them at the helm. In China, there existed many approaching intellectuals who holding been schooled in western instruction started to dispute traditional Chinese doctrine and faulting it for the jobs in China at the clip. Knight ( 2005 ) says the most noteworthy intellectuals who promoted Marxist political orientations included Mao Zedong, Qu Quibai, Ai Siqi and Li Dazhao. The four and others were basically revolutionists who used doctrine to acquire a better apprehension of the universe and a manner of rushing up alteration in the state. Marxism and the political orientations expressed in it were new to Chinas cultural agreements because the positions developed outside China. However, Marxism as already noted, was found to be appealing by the Chinese intellectuals because of the possible benefits of altering the Chinese society and delivery development in the state. Mao Zedong was peculiarly influential in advancing communism in China and initiated many efforts at cultural alterations in the state which involved a batch of grassroots mobilisations that built on Marxist ideological entreaty. The cult of Mao created by Mao Zedong and his close associates was besides of import in fostering the dogmas of Marxism and therefore steadfastly set uping communist leading.An Analysis of Marxism entreaty to IntellectualsNovack ( 1935 ) argues that the clerisy of any society do non do up a category and make non by any agencies stand above the categories. Intellectuals are a group which is made up of members who are consciously or unconsciously pressed into functioning all categories. This group is really heterogenous due to the fact that it is drawn from different categories. They have different commitments, societal beginnings and aspirations. Thus the map of intellectuals is to joint issues and political orientations for the benefit of all members and cate gories of society. Although the intellectuals have ever held a better place in society ( most come from the in-between category ) than the lower category which is down trodden, Marxism held a great entreaty to both of these groups. Again, holding no other theory to explicate the history of human dealingss, Marxism seemed logical plenty and still does to intellects ( Perry et al, 2009 ) . As Karl Marx himself observed, the rational are in a better place to rule others in the societal agreement by virtuousness of their cognition and ability ( Rockmore, 2002 ) . The intellectuals hence saw an chance in socialism where they could take the bulk of people to arise against the opinion category and therefore set up better conditions for all. This entreaty was so great and is what led intellectuals to mobilise the working categories and the hapless to lift against the swayers. By distributing these thoughts, the intellectuals played the greatest portion in the rise of Marxism and its outcrops in many states around the universe. Intelligibly, Marxism is an ideological motion with really extremist propositions but one that had non been tried before. To intellectuals, the statement in this political orientation was logical and straightforward and given the many jobs afflicting many societies in the universe, intellectuals saw Marxism as the greatest hope for humanity.DecisionMarxism has held a great ideological entreaty to non lone intellectuals but besides the disadvantaged in society. Although its application proved a failure in the twentieth century with the diminution of communist governments, the political orientation continues to hold great entreaty to intellectuals across the universe. The work of intellectuals being the critical and originative analysis of ideological concepts, it has been instrumental in act uponing societies to follow Marxism and convey societal alteration. Intellectuals have promoted Marxism by coming up with thoughts about socialist society and suiting them to the peculiar contexts from which they come from. Besides, intellectuals have been instrumental in existent mobilisation of the hapless and working category to convey about revolutions across the universe. Notably, it is intellectuals who rose to the helm of political leading of the Communist regimes that came up during the twentieth century. In this manner, they were able to advance the rise of Marxism around the universe.

Impression Management as a Goal Directed Activity

Impression ManagementAssignment question: â€Å"Impression Management as a goal directed activity not only sets the boundaries of what is considered appropriate behaviour but also aids in defining what behaviour will be met with disapproval. †(Goffman 1989) Discuss this statement in the context of a practical professional setting. According to Andersen, M. L. , & Taylor, H. L. (2006)impression management is defined as â€Å"good oriented conscious or unconsciousprocess in which people attempt to influence the perceptions of other people about a person, object or event, they do so by regulating and controlling information in social interaction. According to Sinha (2009), â€Å"Impression management is an active self-presentation of a person aiming to enhance his image in the eyes of others† (p. 104). A symbolic interaction noting that impression management is â€Å"the process of authentic self-presentation used when an individual wants to present himself to other peop le the same way he perceives himself†¦a tactical brand used by individuals. † A variation of this view by Brym and Lie, (2006, p. 44) depicts impression management as a situation whereby â€Å"people deliberately change or modify their behaviour to fit a given situation†¦the process whereby people seek to control the image that others have of them. † The above scholarly views seek to consolidate Goffman’s (1989) view that â€Å"Impression Management as a goal directed activity not only sets the boundaries of what is considered appropriate behaviour but also aids in defining what behaviour will be met with disapproval. † In assessing the concept of impression management it is pivotal to isolate the impetus behindthisconcept.All the above definitions provide a direct inference that this concept involves creating an impressionable illusion which is highly fragile and requires constant attention in order to ensure its sustainability. Keeping in mind that it is a goal oriented model, impression management is a fundamental and universal process that involves a number of influential factors. These factors are social, cultural and spiritual. Considering that this model is set in a professionalenvironment, it is essential to administer an appropriate outlook into impression management in professional localities.Newman, (2009, p. 173) states that â€Å"Impression management allows the production of manufactured personas, which aid in the socialization process. The use of impression management provides people with the necessary skills to create a custom and often falsified perception. †, this may be well suited to the professional environment and its various facets such as job interviews, officerelations between employees and management, firms and both clients and potential clients, firms and other firms as well with the ultimate goal being to create a virtuous professional atmosphere.It is paramount to note that the microcosm represents the macrocosm, in relation to impression management it is hence necessary to carry out a thorough analysis of individualistic measures of impression management before relating this to an entire professional setting. According to Andersen and Taylor (2006), â€Å"Impression management can be seen as a type of con game† (p. 04), relating to the basic scenario of a job interview when a person engages in impression management, they are attempting to manipulate the impression they project onto others, with the goal being to ultimately acquire a job and will do so through the following means of impression management: †¢Good eye contact in order to establish an aura of confidence and honesty critical to the business sector †¢An appropriate physical appearance, aclean, professional persona †¢Chronematic management, being prompt is tantamount to a gesture of a focused individual †¢Kinesis should be reflective of confidence and a potentially aggressive st ature appropriately suited to the aggressive nature of the business world In essence, the above seeks to highlight the paramount idea that the person being perceived manages the perception of the perceiver hoping to have a positive impact which in this case is delivering a sublime job interview with prospects of acquiring a particular job position. This approach helps a person carefully craft relationships and by extension they have the ability to alter their position in the socialization process through impression management, especially if now expanding the concept impression management into the actual working environment in an analysis of relationships between an individual whether as a subordinate or a manager.When in the position of relative power such as management, active impression management is supreme, an individual is under the constant debilitating gaze of oftentimes opportunistic employees or subordinates on the prowl for error. Hence individuals in management should lea ve no room for error in their impression management â€Å"A person’s relative position in society can also influence impression management† (Newman, 2009, p. 172). A person’s posit ion in society and the prestige of impression management are congruent. Managers should exercise extreme decorum, bepunctual, have astute command of a professional ethic of honesty and transparency and above all a professional outlook on their physical presentation. Illustration of how people attempt to control how others perceive them is portrayed through the clothing they wear.A person who is in a leadership position strives to be respected and in order to control and maintain the impression; the person wears a nice suit, carries a briefcase, and acts in a professional manner. The professional clothing and the dignified manner in which the person carries him or herself, plays a large role in the impression management process. The goal behind such a constrictive and extremely rule bo und outlook of impression management is so as to create an impression to the subordinates, however not one of fear but of a respectable individual employees are willing to be loyal and ultimately submissive to without any urge of dissent hence having a positive influence on a firm’s productivity and profits due to Herzberg’s motivational factors being fulfilled by management.Another relationship worth analysis is that of impression management between work colleagues, an individual should establish a solid impression amongst colleagues and management, Newman (2009) expands on this notion, â€Å"Impression management is a tool most of us use to present ourselves as likable people† (p. 183). with the impetus being that of creating a virtuous working environment free of tension which makes work more enjoyable for an individual. Ultimately the central lynchpin being that of managing an approachable, responsible, amicable, ‘gossip- free’ impression of one self. This is advantageous in climbing the corporate ladder for situations whereby an individual is considered for a job promotion from being a lower grade employee to a higher grade, on basis of a character evaluation and impressions regarding that particular individual.If a general view is that of a rude, irresponsible, tension enabling individual, then this view would be to the detriment of an individual as such a negative inclination is almost impossible to remove. Most vital towards maintaining the survival of a business is a solid relationship established between the client and the business through its management and entire workforce, this also affects the resultant impression cast upon potential clients who may be considering working with a particular business, Ferrante (2008) expands on this concept in her book, Sociology: a Global Perspective, â€Å"Even if people are aware that they are manipulating reality, impression management can be a constructive feature of social in teraction† (p. 131). People across the globe implement this concept in order to obtain a favourable social outcome.Standardising this opinion in relation to a professional setting, a business needs to portray an impression heavy consolidated with a strong sense of reliability, transparency and good customer relations. A prime example would be that of Econet Wireless Company, already with a well-established impression as the leading, most reliable telecommunications service provider, it is vital to be consistent with such an impression. This is most evident in their customer relations which are friendly and extremely efficient; a dedication to fulfilling a corporate social responsibility through their Econet Scholarship Programme is reflective of an approachable and selfless impression which they constantly subscribe to.Hence an analysis of Econet’s impression management leaves us to conclude that although not completely a perfect impression due to unavoidable disruption s in network, Econet has a dominantly impeccable impression which invokes consumer loyalty and an exponential growth in terms on both customers and sales revenue and hence makes it easier to compare against other firms regarded as having a somewhat weaker, deficient impression such as Net One. There are a variety of social implications within impression management, but not all of the social implications are positive. Some of the repercussions are negative and can even be damaging to the person responsible for the implementation of impression management tactics. According to Newman (2009), â€Å"Impression management can lead to the creation of damaged identities, which must be repaired in order to sustain social interactions† (p. 183). Damaged identities and suffering social interactions can take a toll on a person, which enviably forces that person to retreat to impression management once again.Forexample, if a Muslim woman, who is dictated by religion to wear the traditiona l full body gear exposing only the eyes(termed the ‘Burka’) is placed in a banking professional environment such as that of Standard Chartered Bank,due to severe stereotyping it would serve uncomfortable for not only the individual, but the colleagues as well the customers and potential customers to conduct banking or business related transactions without invoking a degree of suspicion towards such a woman or a feeling of pity towards an inferred and assumed segregation of Muslim women. It may seem increasingly ironic that the tactic that aided in the damaging and exiling of a person can be the very approach that puts that person back in the social standings. Impression management is a concept to be taken very seriously. It has the power and influence to create a favourable public opinion of a particular person, it can break a person in regards to social standings, and it can repair a damaged persona.Additionally, impression management has the ability to dictate a perso n’s position in society, as commonly prescribed that a good impression management becomes tantamount to solid business relationships which serve to the advantage of an individual or a firm alike. Conclusion Impression management is a self-presentation technique that focuses on improving a person’s image in the eyes of others. Ever since Erving Goffman implemented the term impression management in 1959, sociologists and theorists have been studying additional aspects of the concept. Impression management presents constructive and favourable images to the public, encouraging a positive outcome. Impression management is a common underlying process that involves social and cultural implications.In regard to the social implications, impression management allows people to carefully craft and construct their public perception. In some cases, in order to obtain a favourable public or social appearance, a person must alter and falsify their persona. The social implications of i mpression management are not always negative, but there is a fine line between the positive and negative aspects. Impression management in relation to culture has a far more positive outcome. The cultural implications of impression management define the significance of cultural traditions, norms, and ways of life. The clothing people choose to wear, the words they choose to utilise are all apart of the impression management process.It would be highly advantageous to implement means by which to improve on or further establish impression management through following the appropriate rules of etiquette in relation to the professional environment such as desisting from the use of cell phones during board meetings as it is disrespectful and conceited and above all a consistentupgrade and maintenance of one’s impression or otherwise social facade. References Andersen, M. L. , & Taylor, H. L. (2006). Sociology: The essentials. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Brym, R. S. , & Lie, J. (2006). Sociology: Your compass for a new world. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. Ferrante, J. (2008). Sociology: A global perspective. Belmont, CA: Thomas Higher Education. Giddens, A. (2005). Sociology. Cambridge, UR, UK: Polity Press. Newman, D. M. (2009). Sociology: Exploring the architecture of everyday life. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. Sinha, J. B. (2009). Culture and organization national behaviour. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

How to Get Hired in Your 50s and 60s

How to Get Hired in Your 50s and 60s Job hunting is hard enough without the additional challenges of age discrimination. While unemployment rates may be low for older workers, the outlook is significantly more grim for those looking for gainful employment: a report from the AARP indicates that the average duration of unemployment was a whopping 54.3 weeks for people over the age of 55 - compared with 28.2 weeks for their younger counterparts. So what’s a savvy 50-plus job-seeker to do? Let’s take a closer look at the best job hunting strategies for today’s older workers. Don’t WaitBecause the road to a new job may be longer, it pays to start searching right away as opposed to waiting until your unemployment runs out. While you may feel like you have a lot of time, you have a greater chance of finding a job that’s the right fit if you give yourself longer to look. Plus, it can help you avoid falling victim to a dangerous cycle: the longer the gap is on your resume, the more difficult i t may be to be hired again.Refining Your ResumeOne of the tricks of undertaking a job search as an older worker is in highlighting your strengths in a resume without laying it on too thick or looking overqualified.The days of the one-size-fits-all resume are gone. Take time to craft a targeted resume which highlights your most recent accomplishments, along with any new talents you’ve developed as they pertain to the job for which you’re applying.Many older job seekers have success with functional resumes, as opposed to chronological resumes.Networking, Two WaysSocial media has opened up a whole new world of networking opportunities. The benefits of age gives you a head start: you likely have plenty of professional connections to call on from throughout your career. Today’s employers are increasingly looking for a good â€Å"fit† for the company culture, and nothing speaks to this better than word-of-mouth from a current employee. But this only works if yo u let people know you are looking so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.Face-to-face time is also important, and this is an area where you are likely to shine thanks to a lifetime of experience interacting with a diversity of people and relationship building.Be Tech-SavvyThe 21st century workplace demands workers with 21st century skills. Technological abilities are at the top of the list. If your comfort level with computers is low, consider taking a class. This will not only build your skill set and confidence, but also demonstrates appealing initiative to potential employers.One simple way to make a positive impression? Create a LinkedIn profile and include a link to it on your resume. In an era where collaboration counts, this shows you’re able to communicate in the digital age.Show Your InterestThe last thing you want an employer to think is that you’re applying for a job because you have no other options. Make sure you are enthusiastic about why you are the right candidate for the job. Just be careful not to come off as too qualified: a younger manager may feel like you’re out for his/her job.Also, avoid making reference to your age during the interview, or to the age of the person interviewing you to avoid creating an uncomfortable or awkward situation.While you will face some obstacles as an older job seeker, they are not insurmountable, particularly if you apply these helpful tips and techniques. Perhaps the most important piece of advice for 50 and over job seekers? While age might not be an advantage on the job hunt, it certainly has its benefits. Use your experience to demonstrate a successful history of on-the-job problem-solving, critical thinking, and quantifiable results - many of which can only be achieved over time.Joanna Hughes writes on all things finance, business and human resources.

Summary of Chapters on Music

Summary of Chapters on Music 1. Roberts. The importance of music in the life of a parish is hard to overestimate. The outcome of integrating a good music program into religious ceremony is obvious to those who have taken part in such ceremony or at least observed a congregation involved in music practice. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of Chapters on Music specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even for those who do not have immediate first-hand experience of participating in a music-involving service, it is instructive and inspiring to observe one. For this purpose, contacts could be established with the clergy and church musicians who work nearby. The experience of observing the work of other church musicians is useful not only to novices but also to experienced professionals. Exchanging ideas, working out new solutions, learning new methods, and exploring the process of church music making is important at any stage of professional develo pment (Roberts: 2009, 119). One should only find place and time for engaging into new experience, and this may substantively change one’s own attitude to and involvement in ministry. Great music ministry in church does not appear at once: rather, it is gradually built up by efforts of many. One of the examples illustrating the process of gradual development and expansion of a music church society can be seen in a parish which at present can boast many choirs and ensembles. But at the very beginning the situation was very different. An enthusiastic clergyperson was appointed part-time musical director of the parish which had a professional choir of only eight people. His suggestion to hire more singers was refused, and he was dismissed. A new person was hired for the positions of organist and choirmaster, and he also worked as a part-time music teacher at a local school. Gradually, the church music repertoire expanded, and the position of music director became full-time. The eight professional singers performed together with sixty-five people of amateur choir, and child choirs appeared as well. The performance of those choirs had such a powerful impact on the whole parish that eventually more than two hundred people, young and old alike, participated in various musical activities (Roberts: 2009, 220). In contrast to the large parish discussed, stories of musical success are also found in small parishes. An example of how music became a vital part in the parish life can be seen in a humble parish that once hired a part-time graduate student as organist and choirmaster. Working much more enthusiastically than it had been initially required, the young musician attracted more and more parishioners to involve in music activities. The congregation enjoyed their new music program so much that as the moment of the student’s graduation drew closer, they were desperate to leave him at their parish at any cost. Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It was unbearable to put up with the sense of approaching loss, and the church priest and parishioners united to convince the student accept a full-time job offer at their church. The situation was complicated not only by overall lack of money in the parish but also by absence of a good organ for professional music making. However, once the young man agreed to take the job - although with his talents he could have opted for much more attractive offers - the parish members raised money enough to afford a new organ. Their spiritual rewards were numerous, since music ministry is the central part of this congregation’s activities (Roberts: 2009, 221). In this story of struggle for having music in their parish, the role of the church leader cannot be overestimated. The clergyperson’s wise approach to choosing priorities and her strong vision helped the parish preserve t he unique blessing of music they had in their beautiful and powerful worship of God (Roberts: 2009, 222). 2. Wilson-Dickson. In the era of Romanticism, the attention to historical past of church music was by large a merit of scholars. Dedicated to exploration of Lutheran music heritage, the works of the nineteenth-century musical theorist J.A.  Philipp Spitta inspired such German composers as Johannes Brahms and Max Reger to turn to the 16th-17th century genre of unaccompanied motet (Wilson-Dickson: 1992, 228). In addition to motets, Brahms also created Requiem based on self-chosen Biblical texts and meant for a wide religious application beyond the Catholic liturgy only. Reger’s works are characterized by a peculiar combination of old structures and unprecedented emotionality, which makes this music quite inapplicable for liturgical services. The beginning of 20th century witnessed a growing interest to restoring traditions of Lutheran music. Schools were established for training professional church musicians, and first-class organs were provided for their needs. In such favorable circumstances many composers engaged in writing for the church: Ernst Pepping, Hugo Distler, Siegfried Reda are only some of them (Wilson-Dickson: 1992, 231). Working in traditional genres of 17th and 18th centuries, they employed the technique of setting words to music so that it would emphasize their significance. In Britain, 20th century started with setting new standards in congregational hymnody by creating English Hymnal that included music of the highest standards (Wilson-Dickson: 1992, 234). At the same time, Charles Villiers Stanford wrote communion services and anthems of unprecedented beauty. The peculiarity of the situation was that Stanford did not belong to the religious community and neither did his pupils, Vaughan Williams, John Ireland, and Herbert Howells. But this did not prevent them from composing liturgical music that found response among the congre gations. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of Chapters on Music specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In general, the musical practice of Anglican liturgy included a vast variety of genres, and with the increasing amount of compositions the pieces for liturgy were selected according to their compliance with the norms accepted within a certain community. One of the centers promoting Anglican music since 1927 is the Royal School of Church Music that not only publishes music but also conducts specialized courses and festivals (Wilson-Dickson: 1992, 236). Experimental music for worship is presented in the festival of Contemporary Church Music and by Winchester Cathedral. Exploring a wide specter of Christianity and of performing arts requires certain open-mindedness from the performers of experimental music. Modern Christianity as â€Å"defense against the unknown† favors music that is predictable and represen ts familiar grounds (Wilson-Dickson: 1992, 240). In 1950s, the Twentieth Century Light Music Group emphasized the significance of the transient popular contemporary music for church liturgy. Two decades later, music of the charismatic movement demonstrated a tendency to reflect the popular art rather than to copy it blindly. In 1980s, instrumental bands and orchestras made their way back to worship, and hymns of Graham Kendrick adapted a light rock and ballad style. With the introduction of musicals into Christian music, the presentation of faith is carried out in a rather exciting way that engages vast fellowships. The diversity of 20th century Christian music raises the issue of musical standards, and it becomes vital to define which music is suitable or unsuitable for worship. On the one hand, professional music may be too complicated for average parishioners and turn the service into a concert. On the other hand, standards of church music should not be lowered to null. In such heterogeneity, the main criteria for defining the quality of music becomes the role of music in worship and the intention behind musical performance. The enthusiasm of the congregation involved in music performance and the positive spiritual commitment characterizing this performance are the key indicators of church music successfulness. Roberts, William B. (2009). Music and Vital Congregations: A Practical Guide for Clergy. New York: Church Publishing.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wilson-Dickson, Andrew. (1992). The Story of Christian Music. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

Facts About Whitehorse, Capital City of Yukon, Canada

Facts About Whitehorse, Capital City of Yukon, Canada Dateline: 12/30/2014 About the City of Whitehorse Whitehorse, the capital city of the Yukon Territory of Canada, is a major northern hub. It is the largest community in Yukon, with more than 70 percent of Yukons population living there. Whitehorse is within the shared traditional territory of the Taan Kwachan Council (TKC) and the Kwanlin Dun First Nation (KDFN) and has a thriving arts and cultural community. Its diversity includes French immersion programs and French schools and it has a strong Filipino community, amongst others. Whitehorse has a young and active population, and the city has many amenities you might be surprised to find in the North. Theres a Canada Games Centre, which 3000 people attend every day. There are 700 kilometres of trails extending through and out of Whitehorse, for biking, hiking, and cross-country and downhill skiing. There are also 65 parks and many rinks. Schools are well-equipped with sporting facilities and offer a variety of skilled trades programs which support a thriving small business community. Whitehorse is also set up to handle tourism, and three airlines fly in and out of the city. Around 250,000 travellers also drive through the city every year. Location of Whitehorse, Yukon Whitehorse is located just off the Alaska Highway, on the Yukon River about 105 kilometres (65 miles) north of the British Columbia border. Whitehorse is situated in the wide valley of the Yukon River, and the Yukon River flows right through town. There are broad valleys and big lakes around the city. Three mountains also surround Whitehorse: Grey Mountain on the east, Haeckel Hill on the northwest and Golden Horn Mountain on the south. Land Area of City of Whitehorse 8,488.91 sq. km (3,277.59 sq. miles) (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Population of City of Whitehorse 26,028 (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Date Whitehorse Was Incorporated as a City 1950 Date Whitehorse Became the Capital of Yukon In 1953 the capital of the Yukon Territory was transferred from Dawson City to Whitehorse after the construction of the Klondike Highway bypassed Dawson City by 480 km (300 miles), making Whitehorse the highways hub. Whitehorses name was also changed from White Horse to Whitehorse. Government of the City of Whitehorse, Yukon Whitehorse municipal elections are held every three years. The current Whitehorse City Council was elected on October 18, 2012. The Whitehorse City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Councillors. Whitehorse Mayor Dan CurtisWhitehorse City Council Whitehorse Attractions Yukon Legislative AssemblyYukon Beringia Interpretive CentreMacBride Museum of Yukon HistoryWatch the Northern LightsTake the Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley Main Whitehorse Employers Mining services, tourism, transportation services and government Weather in Whitehorse Whitehorse has a dry subarctic climate. Because of its location in the valley of the Yukon River, it is relatively mild compared to communities like Yellowknife. Summers in Whitehorse are sunny and warm, and winters in Whitehorse are snowy and cold. In the summer the temperature can be as high as 30Â °C (86Â °F). In winter it will often drop to -20Â °C (-4Â °F) at night. In summer daylight can last as long as 20 hours. In the winter daylight can be as brief as 6.5 hours. Whitehorse Weather Forecast City of Whitehorse Official Site City of Whitehorse Capital Cities of Canada For information on the other capital cities in Canada, see Capital Cities of Canada.

Tesco Competitive Strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tesco Competitive Strategy - Case Study Example echoes that, today the challenges for companies is not just providing high quality product but the ability to provide these products at a lower cost and price (Prahalad & Hamel 1990). These must be incorporated in the company's strategies. Against this background companies are in dear search for different ways and measures to remain competitive and consequently create values for their shareholders. (Hamel & Prahalad, 1994). Having said this, the paper focuses on TESCO. In section two I will provide an overview of the company, its products, people and resources, part two of the paper looks at its competitive position in line with the five forces model, while part three discusses its competitive advantage, and the last section provides the conclusion and recommendations. TESCO Plc is an international retailer founded by Jack Cohen in 1919 that has established itself as the largest super store in Europe (Report 2008). According to the company 2008 corporate report and the website, being an international retailer, its principal activities include food retailing, simple travel insurance, personal finance, TELECOM and recycling having over 2,000 stores in the United Kingdom (Company's Review 2008). The company also has stores and retail outlet in other countries like the Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan and China (Tesco 2006 Review). In addition, it operates 165 International Express stores. In addition it operates 39 stores in China, 111 in Japan, 13 in Malaysia, 62 in South Korea, 6 in Taiwan, 219 in Thailand, 35 in Czech Republic, 87 in Hungary, 105 in Poland, 91 in Republic of Ireland, 37 in Slovakia and 8 in Turkey. (Tesco Annual Review, 2008). It therefore operates round the clock which demonstrates its commitment to create customer value which in turn generates superior value for its shareholders. The success of this international giant in the retail sector can be attributed to its aggressive global strategy of geographical diversification, product differentiation, cost focus and it use of umbrella branding. In its attempt to renew the brand and keep it in sync with changing customer tastes, Tesco follows an umbrella strategy including international diversification, providing value to customers, product diversification, innovation, acquisition and umbrella branding. (Tesco Annual Review, 2008). 2.0 Tesco and Porter's Five Forces Framework Through the below stated framework developed by Michael Porter we will identify the sources of competition in an industry. Here, according to Porter (1990), the sources of competition in an industry such as the grocery sector in the case of Tesco can be easily depicted. Figure 1: Porters Five Forces Framework adapted from Johnson et al (2007) Figure 1 above depicts the forces of competition in an industry. According to Porter (1990) enables market analyst and investors to asses the attractiveness and profit potentials likely to be in an industry. Using this framework an analyst gets to identify the sources of competition in an industry or sector (Johnson & Scholes 2005). The basis upon which this framework is built will serve to

Employee motivation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Employee motivation - Case Study Example The subject context analyzes various environmental circumstances with close scrutiny on company performance. A discussion on the matter also tackles employee expectations and eventual outcomes in an organization. The authors use statistical data as indicators to the study presented. As such the article compares notes from various organizational settings. The context presented has several credible viewpoints to concerning employee motivation factors. The authors argue employee motivation factors from a logical perspective. The authors say â€Å"An organization as a whole clearly has to attend to the four fundamental emotional drives, but so must individual managers† (Nohria, Groysberg & Lee, 2008). According to this view managers have a responsibility to identify driving forces in the scope of employee motivation. However, the article has limitations to working environments that have complex structures. The authors have failed to provide alternatives to extended institutions. In my opinion, Employee Motivation by Nohria, Groysberg and Lee (2008) addresses significant issues that affect organizational performance. The approach used by the author is effective evidenced by the supported company analysis. Additional review of other related journals on the same topic would enrich the article

Analyse the nature of risks in healthcare and critically discuss the Essay

Analyse the nature of risks in healthcare and critically discuss the role of managers in minimizing and managing risks - Essay Example These risks can be mitigated in a number of different ways. Every health organization needs a system of risk management – they need to be able to identify the risks, quantify the risks, prioritise the risks, then mitigate and manage these risks. Management needs to be able to delegate risk management to experts, because management tends to try to do too much. They need analysts who can help them with this, and these analysts need to be within the management flow. At the individual level, management needs to be able to coach, mentor and motivate; at the group level, the management needs to be able to build teams and resolve conflicts; and at the organizational level, the management must be able to build culture. Building culture is important, because if an organization has a culture of risk management, then this organization will be ahead of the curve on risk management – this means that risk management permeates every aspect of the organization. Because organizations th emselves can have risks, as opposed to personal risks, and this is where the very organization encourages risky processes either inadvertently or on purpose. The role of the manager might be to encourage the culture of the organization to adopt risk management, provide support for risk management practices which identify weaknesses and resolve them, or to mentor the individuals to lessen the individual risks regarding risk management. This paper will explore these aspects of risk management. What Is Risk Management? The first part of the risk management process, according to Carter et al. (1994) is the identification of the risks. The identification process of risks may be approached by a combination of methods, including intuitive management; using department experts; using standard questionnaires and checklists; using expert computer-based systems; using structured interviews; through brainstorming sessions; or using outside specialists/consultants. The second process is risk quan tification, and this means that the impact and probability of a each risk is estimated for each risk. After that, the estimate is quantified by using a spreadsheet which estimates timescales and costs. The next process is risk prioritising and filtering,which means that the important risks are recognized and controlled, and risks are prioritized according to whether they care a Category 1 risk (cost effect only); Category 2 risk (contingency plans and costs affected); or Category 3 risk (programme contingency and cost affected). The Category three risks are the higher priority, and the risks are prioritized from there. The fourth part of risk management is the processing and presentation of risk data, and this means the risk data is put through the spreadsheet with different variables. After the risks are identified, quantified, prioritized, and presented, the next four steps identified by Carter et al. (1994) are focused upon mitigating and managing these risks. Mitigating strategi es include avoiding the risk altogether by removing the cause of the risk; transferring the risk, which means that the risk is passed to somebody capable of handling that particular risk; reduction of the risk, which would consist of investing in insurance or some other up-front investment; management of the risk, which means that the risk is managed continuously until it is managed out; and contingency, in which funds are produced for the risks which are

Cover letter and Resume letter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cover letter and Resume letter - Assignment Example an Assistant Industrial Engineer and the experience provided me with a valuable insight into the real world of engineering where my knowledge was used in a real world work setting. I am also a member of Engineering Club in University which supplemented our expertise from knowledge from various aspect of engineering such as electrics engineering, avionics engineering making our perspective about engineering more complete. I have been a President of the club manifesting my leadership skills and ability to work with others. Writing a cover letter and a resume serves as a purview of my qualification to a certain job I am applying for. It is important to highlight my qualifications that includes academic preparation, experiences (if any) and internship related to the job. It would also help if to mention extracurricular activities that manifests leadership and ability to work with others. Personal information such as religious affiliation, weight, height and ethnicity are not important and can be omitted in the

Financial Budgeting and Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Budgeting and Planning - Essay Example From penny’s example we took her total income of  £ 21,200, we deducted UK dividends, UK treasury stock, building society interest and shoes as well as clothes since this should not be taxed but should be given wear and tear allowances. We later took her taxable income and multiplied it by 20 percent to get her tax for the year. From the table above, she pays  £ 3,008, which we should also add the pay as you earn of  £ 1,400, which she pays yearly. The resultant figure is the tax payable and should be deducted from her taxable income to get her net pay (Debar, G., 2012, Pp. 10-16). I should advise penny to cut on the budget and the money she is spending on shoes and the mortgage and the credit cards since this is increasing her burden and the amount she should pay back. From the information about penny’s credit cards, we see that she is owing to many financial lending institutions huge amounts, which have accrued interest, and she is not able to pay back. I would also advise her to take credit cards and loans from banks and other financial institutions that have lower interest rates. For example, there is a credit card she took with an interest rate of 1509 percent, which is absurd and she should try as much as possible to stop taking credit cards and loans with high-interest rates. I would also advise her to try as much as possible to try and saving in Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies as their interest rates are lower and sometimes one is not required to pay any interest rates.

Cover letter and Resume letter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cover letter and Resume letter - Assignment Example an Assistant Industrial Engineer and the experience provided me with a valuable insight into the real world of engineering where my knowledge was used in a real world work setting. I am also a member of Engineering Club in University which supplemented our expertise from knowledge from various aspect of engineering such as electrics engineering, avionics engineering making our perspective about engineering more complete. I have been a President of the club manifesting my leadership skills and ability to work with others. Writing a cover letter and a resume serves as a purview of my qualification to a certain job I am applying for. It is important to highlight my qualifications that includes academic preparation, experiences (if any) and internship related to the job. It would also help if to mention extracurricular activities that manifests leadership and ability to work with others. Personal information such as religious affiliation, weight, height and ethnicity are not important and can be omitted in the

The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann - Essay Example The point of argument in this short story is that: can a child’s imagination be so strong that he may be able to carry his imagination throughout his life, especially if it has affected him in his childhood profoundly? This point is important to the design of the story because it relates to child psychology, since the story talks about a child’s weird imaginations and perception of bizarre ideas that continue to affect him throughout his life. Parents and caregivers should be very careful when they tell terrifying stories to their children, as young brains are very receptive of imaginations, pictures, and concepts. We mention some quotes of the story here, and elaborate them so as to determine how they relate to our main point of argument. The reader of the story reads: But if, like a bold painter, you had first sketched in a few audacious strokes the outline of the picture you had in your own soul, you would then easily have been able to deepen and intensify the colors one after the other, until the varied throng of living figures carried your friends away and they, like you, saw themselves in the midst of the scene that had proceeded out of your own soul (Hoffmann, para.54). This quote means how a human being is able to draw a picture out of his imagination, and is able to give life and meaning to it, so much so that the conception continues to hover over his mind for the rest of his life, continuing to affect him and his friends and family around him. All human beings are like painters of their imaginary conceptions. A child is a special painter, because he strongly conceives every idea told to him in his vulnerable years. It is only his luck and maturity that comes with age that pulls him out his frantic imaginations. Nathaniel has not been that lucky. He was not able to come out of his horror which was induced into him when he was a child. He continued to be terrified of eyes and the sandman coming to take them, so much so that he lost his li fe. This quote shows its real meaning when we see Nathaniel relating the concept of the sandman to his father’s friend, Coppola, and thinking it is him when his father dies during an experiment. Later on as an adult, his life again gets disturbed when he meets Coppelius, who comes in to sell spectacles, making Nathaniel relate him to the dead Coppola, making him think that Coppola has come back in the shape of Coppelius, to take his eyes. Hence, we see that a child is able to relate horrifying imaginations to real people and events, and this disturbance of mind continues till adulthood, proving our point of argument. The strength of a child’s imagination gets further confirmed when we read (Hoffmann, para. 56) that, â€Å"Perhaps, like a good portrait-painter, I may succeed in catching the outline in this way, so that you will realize it is a likeness even without knowing the original, and feel as if you had often seen the person with your own corporeal eyes.† T his shows how a child is able to paint a picture out of his imagination, and how he can make it real with his thoughts and conceptions. Why Nathaniel’s horror about eyes relives when he sees Olimpia’s eyes falling out of her head as Coppelius and Spalanzani fight over her, and why he becomes frantic, is because his frenzied imagination that he carried through childhood makes him all the more hysterical about his imagination of eyes and the sandman coming back to take them. This again confirms that a child’s imaginations are very strong and sturdy, not letting go of the

Environmental Issues In Real Estate Essay Example for Free

Environmental Issues In Real Estate Essay Real estate transactions involve the purchase of land properties and generally, environmental issues are frequently considered before a sale is completed. Environmental issues are usually taken into account, be it a residential real estate property, or a huge industrial piece of land. Should environmental risks be associated in a particular real estate property, these are frequently manageable, but the more critical issue regarding environmental issues is the efficient identification and reaction to these environmental issues (Goeters, 1996). Most problems arise after a real estate property sale because the environmental issues were not detected as early as possible. The most common environmental issue that is associated with real estate is land contamination. Such environmental issues generally come from the activities of the present or past owners, or better categorized as on-site contamination. Another source of land contamination could be off-site, which involves the physical location of the real property to outside sources of contamination. It is important that the source of the contamination of the land be identified so that the amount of risk may be determined. In addition, knowledge of the contamination source allows sanctions for property responsibility. Issues are considered severe when the water reservoir and its connecting waterways for drinking water are already affected or positioned near the real estate property. Another environmental issue that is considered as a major concern in real estate is mold contamination. The spread of pathogenic fungi and its spores frequently originate from buildings that are erected using low-quality standards and currently have poor ventilation. Such fungi often generate spores that are usually air-borne and may be transmitted through wind and any air circulating system. These spores may also stick to the walls of an existing building that is situated on the real estate property. Not only do fungal spores cause future deterioration to a building, these spores may even cause upper respiratory tract infections, allergies and immune reactions in the individuals that frequent the area involved. Several lawsuits have accumulated in connection to personal injuries or diseases causes by exposure to these pathogenic fungi. In addition, the insurance industry has lately been involved in cases that involve exposure to building-related real estate properties. Furthermore, fungal contamination involves all types of real estate properties, including residential, commercial and industrial buildings, and the effect of such contamination is doubly felt because the building’s structure itself will continuously deteriorate unless treated, and the residents of the home or the employees of a commercial or industrial company make succumb to fungi-caused illnesses. It has been strongly suggested that owners of real estate properties be cautious of the insurance coverage they procure for their employees should such untoward incident occurs in their company or industry. Asbestos is also an environmental issue that should be carefully considered in real estate. Asbestos is generally a component of pipes and boiler rooms, as well as in flooring materials and in roofs. Asbestos exposure cases are often higher in number in commercial and industrial companies, yet these cases may also occur in residential real estate properties. The amount of money require to solve any presence of asbestos in a building is usually huge, hence it should always be kept in mind that any possible cause for asbestos exposure be pointed out as early as possible, before any exposure is determined to be chronic, which is turn results in more severe health problems among individuals associated with the real estate property. Individuals practicing in the real estate business should be sincere enough to advise the client about any information that may be associated with asbestos presence or exposure within a real estate property he is showing and selling. Another element that has been identified as an environmental issue in real estate is radon. Radon gas shows no color or odor, and is very diffusible through water and air. This gas has been frequently reported in residential real estate properties, hence it is important that the water and air of a real estate property be tested for radon gas before any further step is taken towards the purchase or sale of a real estate property. Unfortunately, the safe or tolerable level of radon gas has not been established to date, hence any tests for the presence of radon gas in the water or in the air is just to satisfy the need to know where radon gas is indeed present in a real estate property. Real estate properties such as buildings and houses are often presented to potential buyers as painted structures that are ready for occupancy. Hence, the environmental concern for lead in the paint used to coat the walls of the rooms of the real estate property is also an issue. Individuals most affected by the presence of lead in the paint used to coat the walls are the young children who often play on the floor of the rooms of a residential establishment. Young toddlers often crawl around the house and unfortunately, ingest any little thing they find interesting in front of them. These little things may be lead paint chips that fall off from the wall and ceiling and land on the carpet, floor, or even the soil in the backyard. Other families enjoy gardening and planting their own vegetables, hence the presence of lead in the soil may pose a bioaccumulation of lead in the people living in this contaminated real estate property. It is therefore important that pre-erected real estate structures be evaluated for the presence of lead before any further step in done towards the purchase of the real estate property. Should lead be detected in a real estate property, an abatement procedure may be performed before any family or individuals move into the real estate property. Currently, there are several assays that may be employed in the identification and management of environmental issues associated with real estate properties (Spada, 1997). Hence, it is imperative that these environmental factors be tested before any purchase is done on a real estate property, because it these factors go undetected, the consequences on the personal health of the individuals that will live or frequently spend time within the real estate property will be affected. Such undisclosed environmental issues often end up in lawsuits, as well as tarnished reputations in the real estate business. Hence, for those in the real estate business, it is of prime importance that reliable and specific information be obtained about the real estate property they are advertising and selling. Such caution regarding the collection of information will serve as a good method is preserving the real estate business of a company. Certain real estate companies have established their own customized procedure in reviewing properties before they release these properties to the public and announce that this property is for sale. These customized procedures should be foolproof, robust and efficient in identifying environmental issues in a real estate property. Should this be kept in mind, there would probably be lesser cases of lawsuits and health illnesses in the future.

Context Clues

Context Clues Schatz, Elinore K., Baldwin, R. Scott (1986). Context Clues are Unreliable Predictors of Word These experiments were done to help the researchers and educators decide whether context clues help students with defining words. The two researchers were Elinore Kress Schatz and R. Scott Baldwin. Schatz is from the Greater Miami Hebrew Academy and R. Scott Baldwin was a former English teacher who became a professor of Teaching and Learning at the University of Miami. He is currently the Dean of Edinboro Universitys school of Graduate studies and research (http://www.edinboro.edu/departments/university_comm/President/pec-members/baldwin.dot). There were three different experiments done during this particular study. In the first experiment, there were 53 tenth graders and 48 eleventh graders from a private school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who were tested. The demographics of the school consisted of students from a middle class background who were mainly Caucasian. Before the testing began, researchers tested a group of college bound tenth graders to see if they knew the meanings of the words that were going to be used on the test. If 65% or more of those students knew the meaning a word, then the word was thrown out because the researchers saw this as the students prior knowledge. The students were given two tests with one test having the words-in-context and the other with the words used in isolation. The researchers did the two tests to determine which method helps the students more. The words- in-context came from twenty-five paragraphs from novels used at this school for the tenth and the eleventh grade students. Some examples of those books include The Scarlet Letter and The Pearl. Paragraphs were chosen by their location in the book and by determining which words were low frequency words. Some examples of those words include imperious and inexorable. The words- in -context test was set up like a multiple choice test with a paragraph using the word and the students would have to identify which option shows how the word was used. The words in isolation test were a multiple choice vocabulary test. The students were then randomly assigned tests. The words in isolation testing took around ten to fifteen minutes to complete and the words-in-context testing to ok around thirty to forty minutes to complete. The results showed that â€Å"there was no statistically significant difference between the means of the no-context group (M= 9.14, SD=2.08) and the context group (M=8.76, SD= 3.72)† (Schatz Baldwin 443). These results were then tested in the second experiment to see if the results were accurate or based on the type of literary work. In the second experiment, there were 39 eleventh graders from a private school in Miami, Florida who were tested. The demographics of the school was the same as the previous school with most students being middle class. There were two tests once again but this time the words in the passages were from the four content areas. The mediums used included science textbooks (biology and physics), novel passages (same novels as other test), history textbooks, and magazines (Schatz Baldwin 444). Both tests had the same words on them but one used the words- in-context and the other test had them in isolation. All students took the words in isolation test first. The students finished the first test in 45 minutes and the words-in-context testing took two days to complete. The results of this test indicate that there was no real significant change whether the words w ere in isolation or in-context. In the third experiment, the researchers used 84 tenth and eleventh graders from a private Hebrew school in Florida. The materials were the same as the first experiment except that the tests were not multiple choice anymore. The students had to write out the meaning of the words. The two researchers then graded the papers not knowing whether the one they were grading was the test with the words- in-context or the words in isolation. They determined that multiple choice testing did not hurt the testing. The overall conclusion they came up with it that teachers need to look at a better way to help students understand the meanings of words.

Relaxation :: essays research papers

We all human beings have our good and bad days in our every day life. We like the good days but we don’t like the bad days. Every one of us has some place where like to get away and forget about the problems. I have my place, which is my favorite gym where I spent a lot of time. Workout is the best medicine for me to relax and regain my power. I am a very healthy person who eats very clean and works out on regular bases. Staying in shape makes me feel good about keeps and myself me disciplined and motivated. Workout is a very important part of my life, which helps me to regain perspective of life and the balance that I lost through out the day. I just love to jump on the stair master on a bike, do my workout and just fly away with my thought. After ninety minutes of workout I am tired and sweaty. The tiredness feels very good and it feels like I am recharged aging. In the essay â€Å"A Visit with the Folks† by Russell Baker the author also has his place where he likes to go to and relax. Baker enjoys coming to the old cemetery in the countryside to visit his relatives. He goes there to gain his perspective and the guidance he has lost to the difficult outside world. When he goes back to the cemetery to see his dead family members â€Å"it slows the juices down something marvelous† he says. From time to time, Baker goes back to a churchyard cemetery situated in a beautiful countryside surrounded by the view of blue mountains, blossoming roses on fieldstone fences and fields of white daisies. He goes there to visit his family members who passed away. As he moves from tombstones to tombstones, he remembers his folks and individually recalls memories and situations about them from the pass. He bear in mind his folks and guidance they gave him. For example, he remembers his uncle Lewis who was a barber who always wanted to give him a haircut. Such encounter with his memories changes his state of mind and conquers his busy life in the city. At the end Baker â€Å"leaves rather more content with the worldâ€Å" because he learns how the peace of countryside and memories of relatives help him to recover his consciousness.

The purpose for the establishment of the ALSTOM

The ALSTOM Power Service was established in 1999 after the merger of the company with ABB. It was started as an independent unit which was expected to run the service business of the ALSTOM group, which is base in Paris.The purpose for the establishment of the ALSTOM power service was to develop and market the company's service activities for the already installed power generation capacity. The ALSTOM power service was meant to provide a solution for the market demand to service the business within the industry.The main aim for the segment was to provide service to the existing plants in order to prolong their service other than installing new plants in the process of   optimizing maintenance and enhancing plant efficiency, and this accounted for about 35% of the demand of the power industry.The ALSTOM started as a segment of the ALSTOM group which was intended to provide service to the industry and it did this by combining the existing company distributed service departments and d edicated distinct resources and its management towards developing   as a service business, however it was not autonomous until 2003 when it was guaranteed its autonomy. The segment started with a labour force of more than 10000 employees worldwide in various local units of which all were inherited from the ALSTOM group.  Question one: Critical analysis of the industryALSTOM power service operate in the power industry where its provide service to the power industry. The business of ALSTOM power service heavily depend on the operations of the manufacturing company in the industry and in this case they are expected to orient themselves of how the plants which have been installed by the manufacturers perform their functions in order to provide the service of supplying parts and also doing the repair in prolonging the service of the plants. It should get updated on a day to day technological changes that happens in the mother plant manufactures so as to stay relevant in the marketQue stion Two: The leadership, organisational structure and cultural issues in ALSTOM power service i) Leadership issues.The leadership of the company was based on promotions where an individual was to work at a lower post, and later promoted to higher ranks after the mastery of the company's operations and the requirement of the industry.Walter Granicher was given the responsibility to lead the company based on the ground that he had worked within the industry since 1976 till 1999 when he was given the leadership of the ALSTOM power service. This is a good strategy for ensuring efficiency because decisions making will be made by persons with a more understanding of the industry requirements and also with the understanding of the organisation's culture (Hatch, 2006).This kind of leadership can however be perceived as the most   appropriate in maintaining the company's culture but it is limited to the reason that the company's culture might not be the best, thus it will be locking the company to new cultures which could have otherwise been introduced   into the company if the company could have taken a leader from outside the company in the process of encouraging diversity of culture.The decision making of the segment was not done solely done by one person, that is Walter but rather in conjunction with other managers working in specialized divisions within the segment.This scenario enabled effective decision making because each and every manager had a role to play in the making of a joint decision where Walter can be perceived as the coordinator of all the decision that were made within the   segment (Mullins 2005).This is no like in the situation where decision making is done one leader in the organisation with inadequate information about the operation of each division in the segment. The single minded decision making exposes an organisation to the risk of making a wrong decision which might cripple the organisation's performance than when the decision is m ade jointly by involving a wide range of participants with varied experiences.

The Snake and the Pharaoh

Demius had become Pharaoh when he was only twelve years old. His father Manelik and mother Consuela were the first ever rulers over Egypt. For years the nation had gone without a leader, each person was self-reliant and had no one to watch over them. When the people realized it was time to change they searched far and wide among the people of the Nile valley to find someone who was worthy to rule over them. It took them many months to find the perfect man, Manelik, who already had a wife. He was the most respected, honest and caring man in all the region and the people felt he was a prime ruler for them. Manelik and Consuela could not have children but they wanted one so badly. When the people saw what an excellent Pharaoh Manelik was, they entreated Min, the god of fertility who gave them only one child and by that time they were already over sixty years old. When Manelik’s parents died the people immediately declared that he would be heir to the throne at only twelve years old. A wise man in Egypt always used to say â€Å"love, just like wine, can blind the eyes and numb the mind.† And this is exactly what happened to Demius. As Demius got old he became more and more lonely and really desired a wife. Every week he would hold a gala and invite all the citizens of the Nile valley to enjoy the festivities. But what they did not know was that he was using this as an opportunity to seek out the perfect bride. And then he saw her. One night, dressed elegantly in lace as blue as the sky, with a face as lovely as a lily, a smile as bright as the sunshine and a beauty he had never before imagined.   He enquired about her and found out that she had a magnificent singing voice and if there was anything she loved more than singing it was dancing. Oh she was his dream come true. Unfortunately, she was engaged to be married to Anaki, said to be the best dancer throughout all the Nile Valley. Determined that he could win her over he ceaselessly tried to pursue her until she relented, under one condition. At his next party Anaki and Demius could compete for her hand in a dance. They each had to dance with her and the best dancer would be her husband. Knowing full well he could never beat Anaki at dancing, because he had seen him dance and he was, indeed, the best, Demius thought of a way he could win the competition. Demius was very good friends with the gods, and he remembered the story of how when his parents wanted a child the gods had come to their rescue. So he summoned Artemis, the goddess of nature, explained his situation to her and asked her to come to make Demius unable to dance. Artemis told him to go to the gala and she would take care of everything. On the night of the dance Demius dressed in his finest apparel and entered the dancing room. When the time came for the dance and he could not find Anaki he was very pleased, knowing that Artemis had helped him. That night he danced with Gattin and, since Demius did not show up, he was declared to be the winner and she kept her vow and promised to marry him. In the night when Demius went to bed he was elated because he had finally found his bride. But as he went to lie in bed he saw this creature with no hands, and no legs, curled up in his bed. It was Anaki, Artemis had taken away his hands and legs so that he could no longer dance. But Artemis had also made a deal with Anaki. You see she was secretly in love with Demius, but he was not interested in her, and paid her no mind. She did not want him to marry another. Though she could not go back on her word to Demius she bottled up all of Anaki’s anger and turned it into poison and placed it in his tongue. That night Demius was bitten by Anaki, who became known as Snake, because he could not speak properly with the poison on his tongue. Demius may have won the dance, but he died without getting his bride. The people of the Nile, when they learnt of Demius’ evil tricks, hated him so much that they did not bury his body but built a tomb around his palace instead so that he would stand out as a reminder forever, of the wicked effects of envy.

Evidence Based Practice in Mental Health Nursing Essay

One of the most common and disabling psychological disorders encountered within mental health and general medical settings is that of an anxiety disorder (Dattilio & Kendall 2000). Research has indicated that people with learning disabilities are more prevalent to psychological disorders than the general population (Hassiotis et al 2000) consequently it could be hypothesised that prevalence rates of anxiety disorders are similar if not greater within the learning disabled population. Professional literature suggests that cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) has been an effective treatment against anxiety disorder (Beck 1995) however; this literature has predominately concentrated its focus to within the confines of mental health and general medical settings (Dattilio & Kendall 2000). The ability of people with learning disabilities to identify, evaluate and respond to their dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs, fundamentals of CBT (Beck 1995) have put into question the very use of this treatment programme for this particular client group (Kroese et al 1997). From a professional and personal perspective and through the utilisation of the Seedhouse (1998) ‘Ethical Grid’ responding to an anxiety disorder by way of CBT could be considered an ethically acceptable clinical intervention. Nationally and locally through government directives, ‘Valuing People’ (Department of Health 2001) and initiatives such as Health Action Plans (Department of Health 2002) services have recognised that they need to be more responsive to the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities. As a learning disability nurse wishing to ascertain the effectiveness of CBT as a practical intervention when presented with the dual-diagnosis of anxiety disorder and l earning disability, is through the use of ‘evidence-based practice’. When deciding on the best possible clinical intervention for an identified practice problem it seams logical to convert the issue into a single answerable question (Colyer & Kamath 1999). Several authors have identified that the use of frameworks to inform the development of the clinical question provide the practitioner with a systematic process of formulating an answerable question (Sackett et al 1997 Ridsdale1998). One such framework as described by Sackett et al (1997) is a four- stage process, known by the acronym PICO: Patient or Population Intervention or Indicator Comparison or Control Outcome The construction of an answerable question is the basis of evidence-based practice and should guide the practitioner to how to find an answer (Ridsdale 1998). It is important that each variable under the PICO framework is clearly defined, being as detailed and explicit as possible in order to extend clarification to the question. Working through PICO methodically the practitioner would instigate the process by defining the ‘Patient or Population’. Characteristics such age, gender and diagnosis would need to be deliberated and whilst the aforementioned were easily recognised in the practice area as adult male, identifying appropriate terminology for diagnosis can prove problematic. The term ‘Learning Disability’ is often used interchangeably in literature with terms such as, Mental Retardation and Intellectual Disabilities. ‘Learning Disability’ is a term with contemporary usage within the United Kingdom to describe a client group with significant development delays (Gates 1996). Whilst the idiom ‘Learning Disability’ is the preferred terminology for the question due to its contemporary usage it must be accepted that it’s a term not internationally recognised nor is it a term used for long in the United Kingdom (Gates 1996). Anxiety disorder comes in many facets and can be described as severe psychological disorders in which abnormal or chronic anxiety interferes with daily living (Adams & Bromley 1998). The client in the practice area had described psychological and physiological symptoms that were diagnosed as a social anxiety disorder through rating scales and self-report measures. It is crucial that the practitioner is aware that the term identified for the question as ‘social anxiety’ is often recognised by the synonyms, social phobia or panic disorder (Dattilio & Kendall 2000). The recognition of this inconsistent terminology will enable an evaluation to  take place between the relationships of the chosen term to symptoms displayed by the client. The identification of existing clinical interventions is a valuable part of the process of developing evidenced-based interventions (Meijel 2003). Literature suggests that CBT is an effective treatment for a number of psychological disorders (Embling 2002 Hatton 2002). Central to the model of CBT is that distorted or dysfunctional thinking is prevalent in all psychological disorders (Beck 1995). Analysis of accumulated experience of existing interventions and the aforementioned evidence of its validity led to the application of CBT as the ‘question intervention’. It is not imperative for the question to have a comparison intervention and this was the situation in the clinical problem described, therefore the conclusive element utilising the PICO framework was ‘outcome’. The outcome should be measurable (Sackett et al 1997) and after initially trivialising with the term ‘used’ it became evident that this would not develop into something that could be measured. Discussing whether or not an intervention is ‘effective’ however would provide the question with a measurable outcome. Revision of the terminology identified through the PICO framework would consequently translate the question as – Is cognitive-behaviour therapy an effective intervention for adult males with learning disabilities diagnosed as suffering from social anxiety? A well-formulated search strategy is an essential component in gathering appropriate evidence (Hewitt-Taylor 2002). Ridsdale (1998) discusses a four-stage search strategy that helps to translate the question into a meaningful search – a) Identify the subject elements of the question b) Define the relationship between the subject elements c) Convert the subject elements into search themes d) Decide on the scope of the search Assistance to define the subject elements can be found within the PICO framework – Patient – Learning Disability, Social Anxiety Intervention – CBT Outcome – Effectiveness Once identified an effective means of linking the subject elements of a question for the search process is through the use of ‘operators’. Operators such as: And – Or – Not, form a logical link between the elements of the question and can be used collectively or individually in any electronic database search (Ridsdale 1998). All of the subject elements of the question were required in order provide a conclusive answer therefore the operator required for the search strategy could be identified as ‘And’. The subject elements then require conversion into terms by which references can be retrieved (Ridsdale 1998). A keyword search would apply the terms identified as the subject elements, however making a list of the known synonyms of the subject elements such as Intellectual Disability and Mental Retardation, for inclusion, would substantially develop the search process. Finally the scope of the search decides what is wanted from the search. In order to identify the most appropriate type of evidence that is required for the practice problem the type of question asked must be identified (Sackett et al 1997). The question developed through the PICO framework can be readily identified as questioning, ‘the effectiveness of a therapy’. Sackett et al (1997) proposes that the best available evidence to answer this type of question is comparative / prospective studies and ideally random controlled trials (RCTs) which in turn determine the choice of database (Ridsdale 1998). Sackett et al (1997) provides a comprehensive catalogue of information resources such as databases, journals and web sites along with descriptions  of the type of evidence that can be found within these resources. It was established previously that the best type of evidence for the question would be RCTs and comparative / prospective studies. From the descriptions supplied by Sackett et al (1997) it could be identified that the Cochrane Library supplies the user with full text systematic reviews of effects of health-care interventions along with bibliographies of controlled trials. Further electronic databases identified through Salford University library information services were PsycINFO that contains citations and summaries of journal articles and books in the field of psychology chosen for its congruity with the clinical intervention. ‘Swetswise’ an electronic journal aggregator that provides access to full text publications from several major health care related academic publishers and ‘IngentaConnect’ which offers full text availability for all core Blackwell science and medical journals were chosen due to familiarity of use and extensive subject matter. Other databases considered were CINAHL, EMBASE and AMED however all were discounted due to their general nursing bias. Despite the recognition of Ridsdale’s (1998) four-stage search strategy and its systematic approach the initial search were completed exploiting familiar strategies through the IngentaConnect database. Preconceptions from previous endeavours searching for relevant evidence furnished the belief that a similar strategy would provide sufficient evidence to answer the question. A number of the subject elements were used through keyword searches whilst the operator ‘And’ was used to link each in turn (See Appendix). This easy to use search strategy produced a number of hits however none matched the criteria identified as being the most appropriate type of evidence to answer the question. The search revealed that almost all of the evidence found belonged in either mental health (Heimberg 2002) or general medical settings (Scholing & Emmelkamp 1999). Whenever the term learning disability or mental retardation was utilised they invariable appeared indiscriminately amidst the title or abstract of the article providing no specific relevance to the question. The frustration born out of this strategy led to further searches of electronic databases firstly through another familiar database, Swetswise. Ridsdale (1998) identifies that too many hits will be recovered if the subject element is to general  and this was evident in the first keyword search. The term learning disabilities produced 548 hits (See Appendix) far too many to feasibly scan. The subsequent four searches failed to produce a single hit a possibility also recognised by Ridsdale (1998) who suggests alternative synonyms are utilised in this circumstance. Due to the inability to find any relevant material of value towards answering the question Ridsdale’s (1998) four-stage strategy was then conscientiously adopted in conjunction with the knowledge acquired through lectures received at Salford University. A further search of Swetswise database was completed (See Appendix) which revealed significantly less hits than previously achieved but produced a literature review (Hatton 2002) specifically aimed at the use of CBT and people with learning disabilities. Whilst this evidence did not fulfil previous identified criteria it established that pursuing Ridsdale’s (1998) strategy could provide some success. A similar approach was undertaken while searching the Cochrane Library database which allows the user to restrict the search to the acquisition of systematic reviews and controlled trials whilst using a simple keyword option. Again the subject elements were utilised along with the recognised operator and despite new found co nfidence and knowledge the search strategy revealed no evidence of systematic reviews or RCTs with regards to the question (See Appendix). All systematic reviews or RCTs retrieved belonged within general and mental health settings. The final electronic database to be utilised was PsycINFO (via Ovid) where again Ridsdale’s (1998) four-stage strategy was conscientiously adopted. PsycINFO requires the user to have some prior knowledge of how to use electronic databases and their search strategies, which initially can prove bewildering to the novice. Once familiar with the database and its ability to combine search strategies either through keyword, journal or author the user should find it a practical resource (See Appendix). No systematic reviews or RCTs were found within the results however a further literature review (Feldman & Rivas-Vazquez 2003) aimed at psychosocial interventions and people with intellectual disabilities was unearthed along with evidence from child and adolescence services (Dadds & Spence 1997) and psychiatric services (Carmin & Albano 2003). Hatton (2002) suggests that research evidence on the effects of psychosocial interventions  for people with learning disabilities is sparse, whilst Kroese (1998) adds that therapists are reluctant to engage into therapy with this client group due to their dislike of having to relate to them. In an attempt to discover any type of evidence relating to people with learning disabilities and CBT the Salford University library catalogue was searched (See Appendix). A simple keyword search revealed one book (Kroese et al 1997) attaining the subject elements however again it did not produce the type of evidence recognised as the most appropriate to answer the question. Sackett et al (1997 p.2) defines evidence based practice as: â€Å"†¦the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients†. With this definition in mind it should be established as to what constitutes ‘current best evidence’ and its implications for the practitioner wishing to implement ‘evidence based practice’. Belsey & Snell (2001 p.2) states that, â€Å"†¦evidence is presented in many forms†¦ and the value of evidence can be ranked according to the following classification in descending order of credibility†: I. Strong evidence from at least one systematic review of multiple well-designed randomised controlled trials II. Strong evidence from at least one properly designed randomised controlled trial of appropriate size III. Evidence from well-designed trials such as non-randomised trials, cohort studies, time series or matched case-controlled studies IV. Evidence from well-designed non-experimental studies from more than one centre or research group V. Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical evidence, descriptive studies or reports of expert committees In accepting this hierarchy of evidence practitioners should concede that the systematic review of multiple well-designed RCTs constitutes ‘best available evidence’ (Colyer & Kamath 1999). Sullivan (1998) adds weight to this argument when he states that RCTs constitute the strongest source of evidence and that the scientific community prefer the quantitative research technique that makes use of empirical data following a systematic process. Whilst a number of RCTs were found (Dadds & Spence 1997 Scholing & Emmelkamp 1999) whilst undertaking the search strategy none belonged within learning disability settings. The only evidence found specific to the original question were literature reviews and a specialist book (Kroese et al 1997) aimed at CBT and learning disabilities. The literature reviews (Hatton 2002 Kroese 1998) revealed that a number of case studies and a case series had demonstrated the potential feasibility of CBT reducing anxiety amongst people with learning disabilities. Whilst the specialist book (Kroese et al 1997) discussed conceptual and contextual issues of CBT and people with learning disabilities suffering anxiety disorders. This type of evidence appears in the lower reaches of the hierarchy of evidence and as such its subjectivity, reliability and validity can be disputed (Sullivan 1998). Whilst acknowledging the hierarchy of evidence and the proposal that comparative / prospective studies and ideally RCTs were the best forms of evidence to answer this type of question (Sackett et al 1997) it appears that in their absence the evidence revealed is the ‘best available’. RCTs are widely acknowledged as the gold standard of evidence-based practice (Rowland & Goss 2000) however it is suggested that they bear little resemblance to day-to-day reality (McInnes et al 2001). RCTs can be pragmatic or explanatory the former is concerned with the overall effectiveness of an intervention whilst the latter examines the impact of specific treatment elements on outcome (Parry 2000) however neither considers the perspectives and uniqueness of the respondents. The evidence recovered for the question (Hatton 2002 Kroese 1998) albeit in the lower reaches of the hierarchy acknowledges the feelings of the respondents due to its qualitative nature (patient centred, holistic and humanistic) therefore making it extremely suitable for the study of nursing phenomena (Parahoo  1997) along with its relevance as regards answering a therapy question (Parry 2000). Kroese (1997) offers a number of reasons why there is this lack of quantitative research evidence surrounding the subject elements in the question. He suggests that people with a learning disability are a devalued population, it is impossible to ensure that changes are due to clinical manipulations if individuals (learning disabled) do not have stable cognitions. Finally there is a conjecture that anxiety in people with learning disabilities is the same as in the general population consequently there is no need for specifically focused research. It emerges that learning disability services continue to adapt research evidence from general and mental health settings (Finlay & Lyons 2001) a similar approach with the RCTs recovered from the search strategy could make them a valued resource however it would take a skilled clinician to make this a feasible option. Reflection is a necessary component of Continuing Professional Development and is a legitimate method for questioning personal effectiveness and responsibility in all aspects of health care (Driscoll & Teh 2001). Through the process of reflection the practitioner recognised his own limitations in identifying appropriate evidence for his clinical problems, along with the often inconclusive, time consuming and frustrating strategies undertaken in the search of evidence in support of his clinical practice. The structured frameworks utilised throughout the process described earlier gave the practitioner a systematic approach to formulating a question, developing a search strategy and identifying appropriate evidence to answer his practice problem. The ability to systematically approach future clinical problems will enable the practitioner to offer his clients a holistic, client centred practice from the best external evidence available. Adams, B. Bromley, B. (1998) Psychology for Health Care Key Terms and Concepts, London, Macmillan Press Beck, J.S. (1995) Cognitive Therapy Basics and Beyond, London, Guildford Press. Belsey, J. Snell, T. (2001) What is Evidence-Based Medicine? [Internet] Available from www.jr2.ox.uk/bandolier (Accessed 7th December 2004) Carmin, C.N. Albano, A.M. (2003) Clinical Management of Anxiety Disorder in Psychiatric Settings: Psychology’s Impact on Evidence-Based Treatment of Children and Adults, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol. 34, No. 2 pp 170-176. Colyer, H. Kamath, P. (1999) Evidence-based practice A philosophical and political analysis: some matters for consideration by professional practitioners, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp 188-193 Dadds, M.R. Spence, S.H. (1997) Prevention and Early Intervention for Anxiety Disorders: A Controlled Trial, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Vol. 65, No. 4, pp 627-635. Dattilio, F.M. Kendall, P.C. (2000) Panic Disorder In: Dattilio, F.M. Freeman, A. Cognitive Behavioural Strategies in Crisis Interventions 2nd Edition, London, The Guildford Press. Driscoll, J. Teh, B. (2001) The potential of reflective practice to develop individual orthopaedic nurse practitioners and their practice, Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing, Vol. 5, pp 95-103 Embling, S. (2002) The effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy in depression, Nursing Standard, Vol. 17, Nos. 14-15, pp 33-41 Feldman, L.B. Rivas-Vazquez, R.A. (2003) Assessment and Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice Vol. 34, No. 4, pp 396-405. Gates, B. (1996) Learning Disability In: Kenworthy, N. Snowley, G. Gilling, C. (Eds) Common Foundations Studies in Nursing Second Edition, London, Churchill Livingston. Hassiotis, A. Barron, P. O’Hara, J. (2000) Mental Health Services for People with Learning Disabilities, British Medical Journal, Vol. 321, Issue 7261, pp 583-584 Hatton, C. (2002) Psychosocial interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems: A review, Journal of Mental Health, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp 357-373. Hewitt-Taylor, J. (2002) Evidence-based practice, Nursing Standard, Vol. 17, Nos. 14-15, pp 47-52. Department of Health (2001) Valuing People A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century, A White Paper, London, HMSO. Department of Health (2002) Health Action Plans and Health Facilitation Good Practice Guidance for Learning Disability Partnership Boards, London, Department of Health. Heimberg, R.G. (2002) Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: Current Status and Future Directions, Society of Biomedical Psychiatry, Vol. 51, pp 101-108. Kroese, B.S. Dagnan, D. Loumidis, K. (1997) (Eds) Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy for People with Learning Disabilities, London, Brunner-Routledge. Kroese, B.S. (1998) Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for People with Learning Disabilities, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, Vol. 26, pp 315-322. McInnes, E. Harvey, G. Fennessy, G. Clark, E. (2001) Implementing evidence-based practice in clinical situations, Nursing Standard, Vol. 15, No. 41, pp 40-44. Meijel, van B. Game, C. Swieten-Duijfjes, van B. Grypdonck, M.H.F. (2003) The development of evidence-based nursing interventions: methodological considerations, Journal of Advance Nursing, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp 84-92. Parry, G. (2000) Evidence-based psychotherapy In: Rowland N. Goss S. (Eds) Evidence-Based Counselling and Psychological Therapies Research and Applications, London, Routledge. Ridsdale, L (1998) (Ed) Evidence-based Practice in Primary Care, London, Churchill Livingston. Rowland, N. Goss, S. (2000) (Eds) Evidence-Based Counselling and Psychological Therapies Research and Applications, London, Routledge. Sackett, D.L. Richardson, W.S. Rosenberg, W. Hayes, R.B. (1997) Evidence-based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM, London, Churchill Livingston. Scholing, A. Emmelkamp, P.M.G. (1999) Prediction of treatment outcomes in social phobia: a cross-validation, Behaviour Research and Therapy, Vol. 37, pp 659-670 Seedhouse, D. (1998) Ethics The Heart of Health Care 2nd Edition, Chichester, Wiley. Sullivan, P. (1998) Developing evidence-based care in mental health nursing, Nursing Standard, Vol. 12, No. 31, pp 35-38