Implication of Science and Technology Essay

Implication of Science and Technology to mans’ use is as old as 2500 B.C or much earlier when the people, of Indus Valley Civilization came to know first time about the fire and the wheel. Wheel is the mother of all technological innovations of today and discovery of fire is the man’s first experience about energy. Since then, man’s curiosity and meticulous efforts have helped him for new inventions and discoveries. But Science and Technology got its real recognition in India during the British period and were established to meet the needs and requirements of the then government. During 19th century, when the whole Europe passed through a phase of Industrial Revolution, the Britishers also put emphasis on development of Science and Technology in India. Establishment of railway system, building of canals and development of a network of meteorological stations began. The first scientific survey of this country was done during this time. Several academic institutions, such as Asiatic Society in Calcutta in 1784, the Indian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1876 and many others were created All these generated a greater awareness of science in the country and eventually led to the birth of modern science in India between 1890 and 1940. However, the end of the last century and the first 50 years of the present one was a period of renaissance of science for India. Renowned scientists like Sir J. C. Bose, C. V. Raman, S. N. Bose, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear power, Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. Har Govind Singh Khorana etc. became well-known for their notable scientific researches in various fields and brought name and fame for the country. During post independence period and through the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the then Prime Minister, Science and Technology were developed in a conscious way as a major force for accelerating social and economic change. Nehru clearly expressed his views in his ‘Discovery of India’: â€Å"It was science alone that could solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and doddering custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste, of a rich country inhabited by starving people,† Programme of ‘Green Revolution’ has made it true. Now, in the fields of space research, atomic energy, biotechnology and agriculture, India has achieved a lot. Continuous emergence of new areas and micro areas are gradually gaining the importance and specialized research areas like Superconductivity, Laser, Supercomputers, Robots and Robotics, Information Technology, Optic fibers etc. have resulted in a vast expansion in the areas/fields of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY activities. India is still lagging behind in the field of energy; specifically harnessing clean, safe and non-polluting energy through exaltation of non-conventional resources. Solar energy, the limitless source (the sun) provided by the nature, is still underutilized. Though much is achieved, but more is left unattended. Hence, with the consistent support of the government as well as private institutions today there are about 3000 public and private institutions engaged in basic/fundamental, applied researches and development works in various fields of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

Public Issues and Personal Problems

PUBLIC ISSUES AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS Most of the time, we don’t think of problems we go through as social issues, but when we compare ourselves to others we can see that many of the everyday problems of average people occur on a larger basis in our country. Some are easier to spot such as unemployment, even though it affects each person laid off once the rates get to a certain point it is obvious that the rates are due to economical factors not the characteristics of each individual (Mills 1). I have found that a problem that is becoming more evident in our daily life is a growing use of dangerous supplements in teenage athletes.When I was thirteen I started in my first school sport. I became a runner. I fell in love with the sport. As I grew older it was something that dominated my life on and off the mat. I often found myself in class wishing I were running. Naturally as I became older I also became more a competitive athlete, as did the rest of my friends that ran or played any high school sport for that matter. Talk of being a competitor at state championships or who was favored at the next match often filled the hallways. Generally this competition appeared a good thing to me. I was a better athlete because of that competition.Being a runner I often heard people talk about â€Å"why would you do that to your body? † referring to dropping weight. At first the idea seemed absurd. The conversations with others about what supplements I was taking or not taking took place almost every day. As I spent more time conversing with wrestlers from other school I found the phenomenon was far from isolated to my school or even my state. Pills such as Xenadrine, DHEA, and Androstat where almost a necessary thing. To keep up with the bell curve of students taking the same things everyone â€Å"had to do it. Instead of sticking with these already dangerous or at the very least unhealthy pills people often felt pushed to try even bigger and better things. Over time the use of very unhealthy supplements to drop or gain weight or to gain any kind of edge became almost common. Sadly many of these pills, drinks, and even injections where available to anyone at most â€Å"health food stores. † The long term use of these can have a devastating effect on teens. I have seen the best wrestlers walk off the mat and into the locker room to puke. Thankfully I have never known anyone personally to suffer any long-term effects but I ave often seen on the news and read in the paper about athletes that have. I recently saw on the news that a pitching prospect for the Oriels, Steve Belcher, died from taking Xenadrine RFA-1. It is true that this was not the only factor, but it was defiantly a major contributor. I am familiar with this particular drug as I probably went through two hundred dollars worth in high school. The major ingredient is Ephedrine. Ephedrine is the principal extract from Ma Huang. Ephedrine is a â€Å"beta-adrenergic agonist,à ¢â‚¬  which means it increases heart rate, blood pressure, and thermal energy by burning fat for energy.My experience with this is it is very effective but unless a person is already in good health (which is unlikely if they are taking a fat burning formula) this can be a very dangerous chemical. Such as in the case of Steve Belcher. The company that makes Xenadrine recently released a new formula of the supplement with out Ephedrine in my opinion because this is because Ephedrine is being evaluated by the USDA and may become illegal over the counter. As I made it though high school and I no longer take part in the rush for the hot new supplements to make me perform better I have found that I haven’t even thought about it in a long time.At the time I didn’t even give it a second thought but now I see that supplements that are meant for short term use by grown adults or that are just plain not healthy to use for anyone are finding their way to the hands of athletes mor e often. The need to gain an edge and be the best drives them to do whatever it takes for them to win. I find myself relegated to telling my little brother of the dangers and hoping that these supplements will be pulled from the shelf before more harm is done. Bibliography: Works Cited Mills, C. Wright â€Å"The Promise† Mapping the Social Landscape, Ed Susan J. Ferguson McGraw Hill, 2002. 1-6.

Examination of Traits Possessed by Effective Counselors Essay

Examination of Traits Possessed by Effective Counselors Catherine M. Kleinschmit Liberty University Abstract Because the counselor-client relationship is one built on trust, a counselor should seek to have as much knowledge as possible to facilitate this trust and bring about healing and wholeness for the client. This paper examines many of the traits possessed by counselors who are considered successful in their field. Much of the research came from peer reviewed material, and most of the traits listed in this paper- positive mental attitudes, possess self-awareness, are culturally diverse in their methodology, are good communicators and are versed in non-verbal communication, awareness of the laws in their state, awareness of the dangers of burnout, mindfulness, and empathy all come from the opinion of different sets of counselors who are themselves successful. Some of these traits are in born to the counselor, while others are learned. With the exception of burnout, strategies for effective learning are examined, while strategies for avoiding and coping with burnout are highlighted. The counseling relationship is unlike any other. It is a private and safe place where the client can feel free to express his or herself and receive help and understanding in a time when they may feel no one else can help them. It is imperative that counselors strive to be as effective in this relationship as they possibly can in order to fuel change in the client’s life. An effective counselor has many characteristics that facilitate that healing. Some are natural to them, some are taught in college or continuing education classes. Even further still, some are sought out by the counselor themselves. However they are acquired, the effective counselor will build up his or her portfolio of strategies in order to continue a high level of strength in the counselor-client relationship. Effective counselors have positive mental attitudes, are culturally diverse in their methodology, communicate well, are aware of the laws in their state, are aware of the  dangers of burnout, practice mindfulness, and are empathetic. Positive mental attitude is the basis of becoming an effective counselor. In a study published in 1971, Jackson and Thompson identified that effective counselors have positive attitudes toward â€Å"self, most people, most clients, and counseling.† This study was conducted with counselors who were already working in the field in order to find traits that were common among successful counselors. The purpose for this was for screening possible graduate students for admission into counseling programs. The school of thought among the participants in this study was that, while they had received training in various counseling techniques, that as a rule, once a counselor begins practice, they will revert back to the attitudes they once had at the begin ning of training. In their book, Competent Christian Counseling, Clinton and Ohlschlager assert that counselors should be comfortable in their understanding of counseling practices, professional skill, and their qualifications. (2002, p. 193) Clients do not want to enter therapy with a counselor who is unsure of themselves or nervous. An effective counselor will, to put it simply, â€Å"know what they know† and will have the natural positive attitudes to practice their trade successfully. Because of the intimate nature of the counseling relationship, a counselor has a responsibility to be self-aware. (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 44) They need to know where they have unmet needs in their life that may hinder a client’s progress. Areas of denial will greatly affect the counselor’s ability to help their client. Corey, Corey & Callanan suggest that all counselors enter into some sort of counseling themselves to help them stay aware of their own mental health and abilities.( p. 47) An effective counselor also has a multicultural view. The counselor should not hold the opinion that his or her culture is in any way superior to another person’s, and so must avoid becoming a culturally encapsulated counselor. (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, p. 117) He or she has made conscience steps to venture out of his or her own culture in an effort to experience and understand other cultures so that their personal issues, value system, or any sort of bias will not interfere with their counselor/client relationship with clients of a different culture. They should try to see the world through their client’s viewpoint. The culturally sensitive counselor should be aware of any type of prejudices or other negative feelings that may  interfere in the helping process. (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, p. 126) Being a culturally aware counselor should also include the ability to understand family dynamics within different cultures. With that, they should be able to understand roles of different family members in relation to each other. In some cultures, the male(s) of the household hold a dominant position over the female(s), despite birth order. Additionally, counselors should be able to respect and try to understand their clients’ religious beliefs. A counseling technique that may work for an American Christian may not work for a Hindu from India. A counselor must be sure to be versed in different counselling techniques for various religions. Of course, communication plays an important role in effective counseling. A good counselor will know when it is time to speak, to listen, or to allow silence t o remain to allow the client time to remember, or to think upon what was just said. Communication does not just involve words that are spoken; an attentive counselor will also be versed in high-context communication. High context communication, or non-verbal or inferred communication, is a valuable tool for the effective counselor. High context communication can be thought of as a cultural tool, in that some cultures are more adept at it. People from the Mediterranean area, Japan, Korea, China, parts of Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Latin America have high context communication ingrained in their culture. (Frederick, Leong, Altmaier, & Johnson, 2008) For instance, if a person said to someone else, â€Å"I really enjoy going to statistics class.† but rolled their eyes and crossed their arms, someone who is adept at high context communication will be able to take the comment as not particularly truthful, relying instead on the non-verbal cues exhibited. These cues are often used to suspect if a person is feeling something other than what was expressed verbally. Knowing the law of the state one is practicing in is essential to a counselor’s success. Not all states have the same laws in regards to duty to warn, duty to report, child custody cases, etc. (Feldman & Sommers, 2010) Being an effective counselor does not always mean only effective with one’s clients. It means effective with the community and society in general as well. Let us look at the famous Tarasoff case. In 1969, a student by the name of Prosenjit Poddar at the University of California, Berkeley confided in his therapist that he intended to kill a student for whom he had developed romantic feelings. Through his  descriptions, the therapist identified the student at Tatianna Tarasoff, and he alerted the campus police after conferring with his colleagues. The police detained Poddar, but found him to be rational, and released him. Poddar eventually killed Tarasoff. It was later ruled that the therapist should have warned Tarasoff. (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2011) Had the therapist followed through in regards to duty to warn, it is possible this tragedy could have been avoided. Burnout is a factor that effective counselors deal with successfully. Burnout can be defined as experienced stress manifesting itself in three ways. These are, according to Lent and Schwartz, â€Å"emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.† (2012) Because counselors spend their day dealing with clients’ deep emotional and psychological problems, they must deal with the fact that their self-efficacy will be affected. There are many indicators that one is experiencing burnout, the lead symptom being neuroticism. (Lent & Schwarz, 2012) Neuroticism is characterized by feelings of anxiousness, feeling angry, being overly self-conscious, and feeling vulnerable. (Lent & Schwartz, 2012) The research conducted by Lent and Schwartz suggests that a counselor’s own personality may help combat this. They show that a counselor who is by nature more agreeable will be more interested in other’s lives and behave in a more altruistic way, thus reaping more benefits from their work and not experiencing burnout as often. (2012) Lent and Schwartz suggest three strategies to create a positive workplace and minimize burnout. Firstly, they suggest that counselors work with employers/supervisors to encourage a more healthy â€Å"other-care/self-care balance.† (2012) Secondly, counselors should seek out support from cohorts or mentors that can help them through times of stress, and relieve anxiety. A counselor should be aware that times of burnout are part of the profession, and to be expected, and asking for help from colleagues is nothing of which to be ashamed. Lastly, Lent and Schwartz suggest that a counselor become a mentor. They advocate that mentoring helps the counselor with working through their problems, because they are not as focused on just what is going on in their life. (2012) A strategy known as mindfulness can improve a counselor’s efficacy. Mindfulness is defined as â€Å"bringing one’s whole self into the encounter with clients by being completely in the moment on multiple levels: physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually.† (Campbell &  Christopher, 2012) In a study reported by Campbell and Christopher, medical students who participated in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training raised their empathy for others and saw a reduction in their level of anxiety and depression. (2012) The research showed that after completing a course in mindfulness, participants reported becoming more â€Å"aware, patient, mentally focused, empathetic, compassionate, attentive, responsive, and able t o handle strong emotions.† They were also â€Å"less defensive, reactive and judgmental.† (Campbell & Christopher, 2012) In conclusion, in a study conducted by Pope and Kline, 22 counselors considered experts in their field ranked 10 different personality traits they feel are important for a counselor to possess in order to be successful. Interestingly, among the top three was empathy, and among the bottom three was sympathy. (1999) Sometimes, these two terms can be confused with one another. However, the website Dictionary.com states that sympathy and empathy both are connected to feelings one has for another person. While sympathy means to â€Å"feel with†, empathy means to â€Å"feel into.† (2013) The difference is that the counselor who has the ability to empathize will be able to actually feel their client’s hurt or frustration, and will ultimately be able to understand the client better. To put it in simple terms, one feels empathy when one has â€Å"been there† and one feels sympathy when one has not. (Dictionary.com, 2013) While effective counselors possess positive mental attitudes, are culturally diverse in their methodology, are good communicators, are aware of the laws in their state, and are aware of the dangers of burnout, one must also have empathy, and to gain empathy, or the ability to have â€Å"been there†; one must expand his or her own personal boundaries and borders to become, as Paul said in I Corinthians 9:22, â⠂¬Å"To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.† (KJV) References Campbell, J. C., & Christopher, J. C. (2012). Teaching mindfulness to create effective counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(3), 213-226. Retrieved from:http://search.proquest.com/docview/1027919921?accountid=12085 Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (2001). Competent Christian Counseling: Volume one. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press Corey, G., Corey, M., & Callanan, P. (2011). Issues and ethics in the helping professions: Eighth edition. Belmont, CA:Brooks/Cole. Dictionary.com. (2013). Word FAQs. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/d23.html Feldman, S. (Producer), & Sommers, G. (Director). (2010). Legal and Ethical Issues for Mental Health Professionals, Vol. 1: Confidentiality, Privilege, Reporting, and Duty to Warn [Motion picture]. (Available from Psychotherapy.net) Retrieved from: http://ctiv.alexanderstreet.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/view/1779007 Frederick, T., Leong, L., Altmaier, E.M., & Johnson, B.D. (2008). Encyclopedia of Counseling. Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=vic_liberty&tabID=T003&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm ¤tPosition=3&contentSet=GALE|CX3074200401&&docId=GALE|CX3074200401&docType=GALE Jackson, M., & Thompson, C.L. (1971). Effective counselor: Characteristics and attitudes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 18(3), 249-254. doi: 10.1037/h0030862. Retrieved from: http://psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/journals/cou/18/3/249 Lent, J., & Schwartz, R. C. (2012). The impact of work setting, demographic characteristics, and personality factors related to burnout among professional counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(4), 355-372. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1114670345?accountid=12085 Pope, V. & Kline, W. (1999). The personal characteristics of effective counselors: What 10 experts think. Psychological Reports, 84(3), 1339-44. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10477949

Write summary Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Write summary - Article Example Multi-level analysis can distinguish the impact of the teachers from the school environment and analyze the factors at each level. The study was conducted because of the significant role that technology plays in enhancing the learning experience. The study employed multi-level modeling to analyze data obtained from 3,652 teachers who specialize in handling students in grade 1-9. The study was conducted in 289 schools in Taiwan. According to the article, both school-level factors and teacher-level factors affected the integration of ICT in the process of teaching. The teacher-level factors identified by the study are the beliefs of a teacher and the amount of hours spent in training in the previous year positively influenced ICT Integration. The school level factors that affect ICT integration are hours of training and the way teachers perceive the support from the school. The other factors influencing ICT integration are internet access, quality of computers, number of projectors available and stability of the available computers. The results indicate the significant role that teachers and schools play in the integration of ICT to improve the quality of the learning experience. Teachers play a significant role in the process of ICT integration. Ayub, A. M., Bakar, K. A., & Ismail, R. (2012). Relationships between school support, school facilities, ICT culture and mathematics teachers attitudes towards ICT in teaching and learning.  AIP Conference Proceedings,  1450(1), 196-200. Doi:10.1063/1.4724139 The study examines the relationship between school support, facilities, ICT culture and attitudes of mathematics towards ICT integration in learning and teaching. ICT enables students to widen their sources of the information because of the web. Teachers have the opportunity to use the available technology to create a relatively more interactive and informative learning process. According to the study, the

Wal-Mart's Employees are Motivated to do Their Jobs Essay

Wal-Mart's Employees are Motivated to do Their Jobs - Essay Example If Wal-Mart treated its employees so poorly, they would not be motivated in their jobs and the corporation would not succeed. So, how does Wal-Mart motivate its employees? They are motivated because the working environment in the stores creates a team atmosphere, because they can move up in position and are provided good benefits by the company, and because they feel that they help customers. Wal-Mart retail employees work in departments that provide a positive environment by using teams that motivate the workers to perform their job well. Each worker in a department has a specific task, and all members of the department work together to achieve the department’s goal. Because all the workers have a task that leads to a goal, they all have to depend on each other. This interdependence makes the team strong and provides a sense of belonging for the employees. Just like a sports team, each Wal-Mart department needs employees that work together in order to be successful. If one pe rson does not work, the team will not achieve their departmental goal. So, the employees are motivated to do their jobs for each other. The feeling of belonging is one of the most motivating of all human needs, but employees need more than just a sense of belonging. Wal-Mart provides other needs of the employees by giving them great benefits. One of these benefits is the opportunity to move to higher positions. Wal-Mart promotes within the company, so an employee that works hard can become a store manager. Workers who have the chance to better themselves are more motivated to prove their worth at their current level. Wal-Mart also provides employees with health insurance and life insurance. One of the greatest of human needs is the protection of health and family. Since the company gives benefits that allow employees to provide for themselves and their families, the workers feel thankful and are motivated to achieve in their roles. While employees are working each day, they also ear n vacation and sick leave. This benefit allows employees to spend time with their families which helps provide for the social growth of the family. But, despite all these extrinsic motivations, the greatest motivation the corporation provides is intrinsic. The main reason that Wal-Mart employees are motivated to do their jobs well is because they are helping customers. Wal-Mart sells items that are necessities for many people. Without Wal-Mart, most Americans would not be able to purchase the goods needed for their families, especially since the current economy has closed many stores that once provided products now only available at Wal-Mart. Additionally, for many customers, Wal-Mart’s low prices allow them to purchase more food and other items than they normally would, which is also important in a economy in recession. Because of all these factors, Wal-Mart employees feel good about helping customers get the items they need. They understand that by doing their jobs well the y are helping customers’ lives, and these customers are people who are just like them. When employees feel positive about the work they are doing, they are motivated to work harder. Despite what many critics say, Wal-Mart retail workers are motivated to do their jobs. Wal-Mart provides an excellent team working situation that gives employees a sense of belonging. Also, Wal-Mart provides good benefits for its employees that allow them to provide for th

Mendietas Gender Examinations and Her Place as a Woman and as an Case Study

Mendietas Gender Examinations and Her Place as a Woman and as an Artist - Case Study Example Ana Mendieta, a Cuban American artist most famous for her performance art and earth-body sculptures, documents through photography her more memorable art such as the series of performances from 1972, the â€Å"Facial Hair Transplants.† In these performances, a male student, Morty Sklar, shaves his beard and moustache while Mendieta applies the pieces of hair to her face. Through these satirical transferals of hair to her own face, she in effect assumes the symbols of male power. In one of the portraits, â€Å"bearded,† she reveals herself as an earnest Amish farmer. In another photograph, she is outfitted with a curled moustache complete with gold hoop earrings, so she appears as a mischievous, devilish pirate. What these photographs show are Mendieta’s gender examinations as she strives to find her place as a woman and as an artist. As contemporary photographers continue their ongoing dialogue of the difference between photographs as documents and photographs as pictures, I believe that Mendieta’s photographs can be defined as a document and as a picture both. A document is defined as a bounded physical representation of the body of information designed with the capacity and usually the intent to communicate. A document may manifest symbolic, diagrammatic or sensory-representational information. Given that the original presentation of Mendieta’s piece was a performance and then captured via photograph, her â€Å"faces† can be considered as the physical representation of the information Mendieta’s is trying to capture, that she is able to assume the symbols of male power as she tries to understand her place in the art world.

Political Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Political Philosophy - Essay Example ers like others in their times thought deeply about the role of the rulers who were at that time Kings and Queens and whether hereditary rights alone are enough to govern. This reflected in their works on property and man’s right to own property as well as the kind of contract that man had with state in such matters. In this paper, I draw upon the works of these three thinkers to assess their contribution to the issue of private property and man’s right to own such property as well as the fact that we might not have such rights at all. These three thinkers represent different bands in the spectrum about the issue and hence their contributions are worth comparing and contrasting to arrive at an understanding of what their views about the issue were. Among all the three thinkers, Locke was the most vocal exponent of man’s right to own property and the role of the state in facilitating such rights. However, Locke’s views were nuanced as far as owning private property was concerned. For instance, Locke held the view that since we are free in our movements and are owners of our bodies, so, any efforts that we put in to â€Å"pour ourselves† into improving natural objects like land must necessarily belong to us as we have invested significant time and energy in making the land worthwhile for human use. The way in which Locke proposed this in The Second Treatise on Government is by alluding to the investment of labor that one does to improve the land for the use by all. To cite Locke, â€Å"The same principle of appropriation by the investment of labor can be extended to control over the surface of the earth as well, on Lockes view. Individuals who pour themselves into the land—improving its productivity by spending their own time and effort on its cultivation—acquire a property interest in the result. (2nd Treatise  §32) The plowed field is worth more than the virgin prairie precisely because I have invested my labor in plowing it; so even if the prairie was

Council of Trent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Council of Trent - Essay Example This paper looks at four themes of the Council of Trent. The themes are, Reformation, Interpretation of Scripture, Condemnation of Corruption in the Church, and Faith and Works. Reformation The reformations that were executed by the Council of Trent were meant to ensure order and efficiency in the Catholic Church and also to curb rampant corruption in the church. The following are the reforms that were made by the Council of Trent. First, the council decreed that bishops must live within their diocese. The bishops also were prohibited from buying or selling religious offices. This measure was meant to curb the common practice of appropriating church properties by the rogue bishops. It was also decreed that each bishop had to establish a seminary within his diocese. This was meant to ensure that there were training facilities, within each diocese, for the candidates for priesthood. The council also decreed that candidate for priesthood had to be firmly grounded in Theology, the candid ates also were required to lead a virtuous life (The Council of Trent (1545-1563): Roman Catholic Church, Web.). ... By this decree the council fathers in the Council of Trent meant that it is the Magisterium only, the official teaching office of the church, has the authority to interpret the Holy Scriptures. The members of the Catholic Church are supposed to abide by the church interpretations of the Scriptures, and not any other interpretation. This directive was meant to cushion the catholic believers from the erroneous and heretical interpretations of the Holy Scriptures. This decree on the interpretation of the scripture reinforced the position of the Magisterium as the official teaching office of the church. Condemnation of Corruption The fathers in the Council of Trent condemned the selling and buying of religious offices. This corrupt practice was known as Simony. And to curb this crime, the fathers put in place a clear declaration against buying and selling of religious offices (The Council of Trent: Bull of Indiction, Web). The council fathers also condemned the abuse of indulgences by th e clergy, and to curb this vice, the fathers reaffirmed the efficacy of the indulgences and put in place cautionary measures to ensure that indulgences are not misused for selfish gains by the clergy. Faith and Works The fathers of the Council of Trent taught that both faith and works/action were instrumental for justification. The fathers decreed that justification depended on the sacrament of baptism, co-operation with infused grace, and good works. The fathers of the council supported their view with St. James teaching that faith without good works is dead, Jms. 1: 26.This position of the fathers of the Council of Trent was diametrically opposed to

Chicago as global city_Census analysis_1980, 1990, 2000, 2010 Dissertation

Chicago as global city_Census analysis_1980, 1990, 2000, 2010 - Dissertation Example Methodological Framework. For the purposes of the present study, a problematique of urban restructuring serves as its principal object. With this in mind, two core aspects will be highlighted. The first one is connected with the occupational shift brought about by neoliberal globalization, which is inescapably followed by the emergence of the â€Å"dual city† (Mollenkopf and Castells) class structure, i.e. the development of the new professional-managerial class, on the one hand, and the growth of the ranks of service worker-composed underclass, on the other. The latter aspect is, in fact, adjacent to the former one, resulting from the need to cope with the problem of the formation of new consumption models that are directly tied to the newest changes in production/occupational patterns. For that reason, the research in post-modern urban geography, with a specific focus on its relationship with capitalism, is of utmost importance – as demonstrated, inter alia, by the pi votal works by David Harvey. That said, an examination of the intricacies of the neoliberal transformation of Chicago in the decades from the 1980 on is scarcely possible without taking into account the results of the censuses that document the demographical changes that transpired in the city for the duration of this period. That is why it is necessary to turn the attention of a researcher to these data. Chicago Census Data as a Source. The main purpose of a census is to provide information on socio-economic and demographic variables of a given population groups. That is why the use of U.S. Censuses and related datasets are of utmost importance within the context of the present study. The comparative analysis of the cumulative changes in Chicago’s demographics and particularly occupational structure will be duly reflected in this study’s analysis. Chicago’s Data for the Period of 1980 – 1990 Summary. Within this period, the city of Chicago still retained certain basic elements of a Fordist, industry-dominated, social structure. The following table may reflect some underlying trends that nevertheless brought about a gradual shift towards a more ‘post-modern’ situation. Missouri State Census Data Center: Basic Demographic Trend Report United States Cities AREA: Chicago city GEOCODE:17-1051 IL ------1980------ ------1990------ ----CHANGE---- CHG VARIABLE VALUE PCT VALUE PCT AMOUNT PCT IN % ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T1. TOTAL PERSONS....... 3,005,078 100.0% 2,783,726 100.0% -221352 -7.4 LIVING IN FAMILIES.... 2,519,648 83.8% 2,274,594 81.7% -245054 -9.7 -2.1 IN GROUP QUARTERS..... 46,066 1.5% 46,903 1.7% 837 1.8 0.2 IN RURAL AREAS........ 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0 T2. RACE / HISPANIC WHITE................. 1,512,411 50.3% 1,265,953 45.5% -246458 -16.3 -4.9 AFRICAN-AMERICAN...... 1,197,174 39.8% 1,086,389 39.0% -110785 -9.3 -0.8 ASIAN & PAC. ISLANDER. 73,745 2.5% 104,141 3.7% 30,396 41.2 1.3 AM. INDIAN, ESK. ALEUT 6,804 0.2% 6,761 0.2% -43 -0.6 0.0 HISPANIC (ANY RACE)... 423,357 14.1% 535,315 19.2% 111,958 26.4 5.1 T3. PERSONS BY AGE UNDER 5............... 231,181 7.7% 214,994 7.7% -16,187 -7.0 0.0

Intel Corporation PEST and Value Chain Analysis Essay

Intel Corporation PEST and Value Chain Analysis - Essay Example In the year 2001, the IT industry faced global decrease in demand for IT products which adversely affected the balance of trade of US and other countries (Buffet 2011). In this regard, the US government improved its tax laws, labor policy, tariffs and trade liberalization policies to attract the global consumption for IT products from US manufacturers. Robert (1990) undertook a study to examine the impact of Japanese trade liberalization policy and tariffs in semiconductor market on the US manufacturers. This positive political environment acts as an opportunity for Intel Corporation to capitalize upon its products and expand globally. 2) Economic Factors: The US mixed economy has a GDP growth rate of 2.5 percent in the third quarter of 2011 which is a decrease by 0.4 percent from previous year (Bureau of Economic Analysis). The International Monetary Fund reported that the Gross World Product of the US GDP is $15 trillion dollars that is 23 percent at the market exchange rates (Grey hill Advisors). Furthermore, it observed that this amount is equivalent to 20 percent of Purchasing Power Parity or PPP (DeNavas-halt, Proctor & Smith 2011). US ranks third largest exporter. Its public debt amounts to $15.03 trillion dollars and poverty is 15.1 percent according to 2010 estimates (Treasury). The CPI Inflation has been estimated as 3.5 percent between October 2010-2011 period (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics). According to 2009 estimates of World Bank, the US economy is largely based on its private sector enterprises accounting for 86.4 percent of its economy. The large contribution of private sector in US economy means an opportunity for Intel to expand and benefit from the overall affirmative macro-environment factors. However, PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted... Intel Corporation is the US leading semiconductor manufacturer that maintains a significant global market share of semiconductor industry. In the recent global recession has adversely affected the US economy. However, the recovery has created a tremendous increase in the exports for semiconductor based microprocessor chips throughout the world. The US economy’s growth is largely due to the major contributions of this sector. As a result, the US economy is growing and encouraging the future revolution in the semiconductor technology. The global trade liberalization movement in response to the global demand for newer and updated technological products has reduced trade tariffs that US government welcomes with open arms. As a result, the growth of microprocessors and other PC components picked tremendous volume to become the largest contributor of revenue for the US economy. Intel Corporation has a favorable macro-environmental analysis which only has one issue and that is the un precedented recession of the US economy. In terms of value chain analysis, Intel Corporation has a sound value chain that is helping it to maintain its competitive edge over other competitors like AMD.

HR Planning 3 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HR Planning 3 - Research Paper Example ce of support into a confined niche market.’ This forms the basis of this paper which seeks to answer the question of why rapid growing industries should hire from the outside rather than develop internally. Acquisition of knowledge and experience that does not exist in your organization about specific areas is undoubtedly a major reason for hiring from outside. Getting someone who has the expertise in what you intend to do is crucial as it will help your team rapidly speed up on time to success. This is so because an expert from outside will bring along a vast experience which will help in identifying challenges and communicating the potential outcomes which are important for rapidly changing industries. According to a new survey of 400 employers conducted by the non-profit COLLEGE FOR AMERICA (2014), study revealed that most employers preferred strongly developing existing employees as opposed to hiring from outside. However, the research also showed that the major challenge for these surveyed employers show that there is a hurdle in the lack of promotable skills to enable develop internally. According to Kristine Clerkin, the Executive Director of College for America, â€Å"American employers are almost universally in agreement about the importance of building talent and leadership within the organization. That being said, nearly nine out of ten employers report a gap where their current employees are missing key promotable skills† (COLLEGE FOR AMERICA, 2014). This study shows that there is a big problem in talent development internally owing to the gap of the missing promotable skills among employees in organizations. This has seen many employers outsource to fill this gap among its employees to enable countering the pull of the market. On the same vein, hiring enables an organization to access knowledge that could have been developed over a long time. According to research conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research from December 6 – 16 2013, â€Å"76% of

Embracing the World through Hospitality Course Essay Example for Free

Embracing the World through Hospitality Course Essay Traveling is one of the most exciting and adventurous experiences that an individual could ever have in his or her life. Almost everyone has a dream of traveling the world to see the things beyond their horizon. It has been said that an individual who travels a lot, learns and experiences a lot. This is one of the reasons why I chose to take a hospitality course. Aside from the fact that I do love traveling, I also wanted to learn and experience more. I want to discover all the wonders of the world and be able to share it with other people. Among the greatest experiences that contribute to my desire to be involved in hospitality service are my travel experiences in various countries like South Africa, Senegal, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Through these experiences, I came to realize how wonderful our civilization is. I also came to discover that there are other rich cultures outside my territory and knowing other culture has made me aware how important the concepts of understanding is. I grew up in a country where racism is prevalent. The differences among cultures are the reasons why some people tend to harm people who behave differently from them. My travel experiences taught me the value of going beyond our horizon and getting to know other people as well. Their knowledge and experiences might be helpful and significant in one way or another as we traverse the roads of our life. I want to discover the world. This is also one of the reasons why I want to take a hospitality course. The importance of discovering the world would make us more academically, emotionally, mentally and physically involved in promoting the good of what we have. Indeed, like plants and animals, we are inhabiting a place that is more mystical and complicated in many sense. But unlike these creatures, we have the power to think and act according to what would be good for this earth. I may sound like a Miss Universe candidate answering a question that is likely to influence my audience, yet my claim that we could do more things to make this world more comprehensible, best managed, and taken cared of is indeed possible. Through hospitality course, I know in my self that I could be one of those individuals working to promote the best of this world. Moreover, studying the different aspects of our society, specifically of the different countries, would make me aware of how these countries, despite their differences, were able to build and employ an international relationship that has unity and coherence. Knowledge in history, economy, politics and other important aspects or systems of different countries would enable me to devise an activity or program that would promote understanding and encourage unity from different people. Through this, people with racist attitude might be reduced, particularly in many racist countries. Indeed, my love of traveling in different places made me a more open person, with lots of dreams for my country and for the whole world as well. My travels and discovery of other cultures such as what people in South Africa, Senegal, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica also made me a more knowledgeable and improved individual such that embracing other peoples culture and studying the different systems of their country have enlightened me that it is not enough that I am living within my horizon because life and discovery beyond this is significant in many ways as we are living in a diverse world. I do hope to become a part of the hospitality industry for me to be able to share to other people how wonderful our complex world is, how important hospitality industry in supporting the countrys economy, and how understanding differences in culture and other systems make us a better person. In addition, I hope to become a part of the hospitality industry for me to be able to serve the diverse people of this world in the most applicable and appropriate way that would satisfy them and make them realize how wonderful it is to travel and discover the world.

Desert Industry

Desert Industry INVESTIGATING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGEIN THE SMALL SCALE DESSERT INDUSTRY IN SOUTH WALES. 1. INTRODUCTION: Financial Success often depends on marketing ability of a firm. Finance, operations, accounting and other business functions cannot help unless there is sufficient demand of products and services of a firm in the market. Hence, the focus of the firms today is totally on the customers (Kotler and Keller, 2006). In broader sense, the whole marketing process can be defined in the following diagram: In every stage of the marketing process, a firm not only has to keep its focus on the customers but also have to keep the efforts to be ahead of its competitors. Hence, in each stage of the marketing process, a firm tries to be ahead of its competitors by gaining a competitive advantage over them. In order to do this, certain competitive strategies are followed. These strategies involve taking offensive or defensive actions to create a defendable position in the industry. The best competitive strategy for a firm is unique and dependent on the challenges that the firm is facing. However, it is not possible for a firm to enjoy a competitive advantage in the market over a same strategy for long term basis. So, with the change in the external environment and competitors strategies, the competitive strategies of a firm, too, has to undergo certain changes. The project proposes to study competitive advantage for small firm in desserts industry, which has created a niche segment for itself in the competitive dessert and bakery market of South Wales. It also aims to study the importance that such small firms give to competitive advantage and the way they evolve with time. 2. FOCUS 2.1 Aim: By considering the above mentioned facts, the aim of the project has been narrowed down to: â€Å"To study Wales dessert market taking into consideration the prominent players in the industry, thereby, identifying the evolution of its competitive advantage and strategies over a period of time and the possible opportunities and threats in the coming time†. 2.2 Objectives: 1) To study Wales Dessert market and evolving competitive strategies of prominent players of industry with time. 2) To carry on a comparative study on the competitive strategies of the prominent players of wales dessert market. 3) To identify the upcoming threats and opportunities, hence, making recommendations in terms of how players can gain competitive advantage over its competitors. 3. CONTEXT: The concept of gaining competitive advantage forms the thrust of marketing activities in an organization. Working on a project using a study on competitive advantage would be a great value addition to me as a student of marketing specialization. This is because of the reason that Competitive advantage encompasses almost all major aspects/fields of marketing ranging right from the conception of product development through product promotion to product launch and strategies for its sustenance in the market. The reason for choosing not too developed dessert market was that information about the competitive advantage and strategies of large firms and MNCs is well talked of in books, articles, news, journals. Even while compounding theories and frame works related to competitive advantage and strategies, theorists have given major consideration to large corporations and MNCs. The Focus of project on such small segment industry is to understand the perspective and dimensions of the concept of competitive advantage and strategies at a small scale. 4. LITERATURE REVIEW: 4.1 About the Conceptual framework: Competitive advantage: The Concept The concept of Competitive Advantage was compounded by Michael E. Porter in 1985. In order to create a defendable position in the market or in order to survive successfully in the presence of various competitive forces so as to generate high returns on investments, it is important for a firm to take either offensive or defensive strategies (Porter, 1998). Resource Based Theory The major contribution of the resource-based view of the firm to date has been as a theory of competitive advantage. It argues that it is very important for a firm to develop a sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) within so as to successfully survive in highly competitive market. According to the theory, achieving a SCA allows the firm to earn economic returns over its investments. Also, it lays emphasis on how firms achieve and sustain competitive advantages. The theory puts forward the idea that in order to gain competitive advantage, possession of certain key resources that have unique features like value, barriers to duplications and appropriability, acts as an effective stimulus. The theory also stresses upon effective deployment of the resources in the market to maximize returns and on the appropriate strategic choice of the firm (Fahy and Smithee, 1999). A customer should see any competitive advantage as a customer advantage. For example, if a company sells fresh food than its competitors, this will not be a customer advantage if customers do not value fresh food. Companies must concentrate on building customer advantages because only by focusing on customer advantages, high customer satisfaction and vale can be assured which further leads to repetitive purchases that are i.e. A loyal customer base and ultimately higher market share (Kotler and Keller, 2006). Resource-Based Model of Sustainable Competitive Advantage : Source: (Adapted from Fahy and Smithee, 1999) Porters Generic Strategies: These are the Basic approaches to strategic planning that can be adopted by any firm in any market or industry to improve its competitive performance. For an organisation to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage Michael Porter suggested that they should follow either one of three generic strategies: 1) Cost Leadership 2) Differentiation 3) Focus These strategies are applied at the business unit level. They are called generic strategies because they are not firm or industry dependent. Each generic strategy implies different skills and requirements for success which commonly translates into differences in organisational structure and culture. Cost Leadership A firm is said to be following the strategy of cost leadership if it is able to deliver a product with same features and quality as its competitors but at a comparative lower cost to the customer. For a business to achieve such a strategy, it is important to achieve low cost of production and distribution. In short, the strategy emphasizes on charging lower price than competitors to gain more market share (Kotler and Keller, 2006) (Dibb et al, 2006) and (www.quickmba.com). Differentiation The differentiation strategy, unlike cost leadership, lays stress on delivering products with the benefits exceeding the same products produced by the competitors in the market. According to the strategy superior performance of the product is valued by a large part of the market (Kotler and Keller, 2006) (Dibb et al, 2006) and (www.quickmba.com). Focus The focus strategy is also known as a niche strategy. This strategy is adopted when a firm is neither in a position to implement cost leadership nor differentiation strategy. In this strategy the focus in terms of efforts and resources is confined to on a narrow and defined segment of a market. A niche strategy is often used by smaller firms. A company could use either a cost focus or a differentiation focus. A firm using a focus strategy often enjoys a high degree of customer loyalty, and this entrenched loyalty discourages other firms from competing directly (Dibb et al, 2006) (Kotler and Keller, 2006). PROS: 1) Porters generic strategies model achieves to reduce the strategic alignment of the organisations between cost and differentiation. The model successfully indicates that differentiation strategy is equally effective as cost leadership. 2) The selection of a generic strategy provides direction to management and staff that helps them acquire internal consistency between management style, reward system, recruiting policy, etc. so as to shape its internal structure as per the choice of strategy of the firm. CONS: 1) The concept of porter generic strategies is mostly focused on large multinational companies with multiple business units although the strategy can be implemented on small organisations too, but the tools employed in the strategies are too complex to add optimum value to them. 2) Porter stated that competitive strategic analysis needs to happen on an ongoing basis. But even when a quantitative/economic change in the industrys conditions is detected, the reaction is frequently too late to realign the company. Most change occurs bottom-up, intuitively and creatively, and can be detected early using soft data rather than hard data Porters Five Forces: Michael Porters Five Forces of Competitive Position model provides a simple perspective for assessing and analysing the competitive advantage or strength and position of a corporation or business organization. Industry structure and positioning within the industry are the basis for models of competitive strategy promoted by Michael Porter. The â€Å"Five Forces† diagram captures the main idea of Porters theory of competitive advantage. Source: (Adapted from Ankli , 2007) Bargain Strength of Supplier: Since a powerful customer always has the discretion of forcing supplier for discounts, delay payment or preferred services, later, sometimes have to partly finance the former, so the supplier has to partly finance them. As for examples, Enormous bargaining power is enjoyed by huge Supermarket chains that have huge, concentrated buying power (C Murphy, 2005) (Thompson and Strickland, 2004). Bargain Strength of Customers: The bargaining power of the customer depends on the range of choice of suppliers that it has with him/her. In a situation of monopsony, where one customer has the choice of many suppliers, the bargaining power of customer is high to an extent where he himself sets the price. Whereas for a situation where customers are poorly placed, their bargaining power is negligible and hence they have to accept the terms offered by the suppliers (Ankli, 2007) (Aaker and McLoughlin, 2007) (Thompson and Strickland, 2004). Potential Entrants: The firm has to be alert from not only the competitors but the new entrants in the market pose equal threat of market share being snatched. The possibility is even higher if there are minimal barriers to the entry and exit to business entities in the market. However, in reality, the industries have the policies that protect the financial interests of existing firms in the market and restrain additional rivals from entering the market (Thompson and Strickland, 2004) (Ankli, 2007). Substitutes: Another set of competitors that may pose threat to the market share of a firm are the firms that produce the products that can be substituted against the existing product of the firm. This threat is of high intensity if there is high willingness among the customers to switch from the use of current product to its substitute. Some major factors that may stimulate the willingness of customers to switch to the use of substitute can be use of breakthrough technology in substitute, Steep price difference between the existing product and the substitute (C Murphy, 2005) (Ankli, 2007). Industry Rivalry: The intensity of competition is directly proportional to the structure of the industry. What matters here is the number and capability of your rivals if you have many competitors and they offer equally valuable products and services, then in this situation you will have little power. If you are doing the same thing what others are doing i.e. suppliers and buyers are not happy with your deal, theyll go elsewhere. On the other hand, if you do that no-one else can do, then you can often have tremendous advantage and strength (Thompson and Strickland, 2004) (Ankli, 2007). According to Obasi Richard, with the use of the concept of Competitive advantage and strategies, it would be easier for the firms to have a better insight in business situations and the appropriate strategies pertaining to these situations. Also, the managers would be able to make tactical decisions rather than relying on their intuition, experience, or trial and error alone (Akan et al, 2006). 4.2 About the Chosen Sector: The desert industry of UK is although small industry however it is growing at a good pace. Since last few years many new players have entered in this segment and have been using competitive marketing strategies like Online Marketing, Customisation etc to sustain and do well. According to the website of British baker magazine there is an increase in the cake and cake bars market by 7% in the year 2008 as compared to 2007 to reach GBP 1.52 bn. According to research from Mintel out of the whole only two-third of the consumers only consume the cakes, frequency of use and penetration level is declining. Report also stated that the market is likely to grow between 2008 and 2013 by 26 % (www.bakeryinfo.co.uk). According to Reuters the UK biscuit and the cake market in the year 2007 was approximately to be worth GBP 2.96bn, a boost of 13.6% since 2003. It is likely to see a rise in the biscuit and the cake market between 2008 and 2012, even though this may be largely driven by rise in input cost. Biscuits and cakes are getting a tough competition from other alternatives such as fruits and savoury snacks but its value growth is maintained due to some added value activities (www.reuters.com). It can be seen that the dessert industry is growing and considerable research can further contribute to aspiring small desert industries which is my intention. 5. Research Methodology: 5.1 Research Paradigm: The research paradigm which will be used in the dissertation is Phenomenology. Phenomenological approach to research is so called because it is based on the way people experience social phenomena in the world in which they live. Phenomenologists are concerned with what things mean, rather than with identifying and measuring phenomena. They are particularly interested in the idea that human experience is a valuable source of data, as opposed to the idea that true research or discovery lies in simply measuring the existence of physical phenomena. 5.2 Research Approach: Since the project aims to find out competitive advantage and competitive strategy, so the findings of the project would be qualitative in nature. 5.3 Research Methods: Different research methods used for primary data are: * Surveys * In Depth Interviews Different research methods used for Secondary data are: * Self study from internet * Books * Research articles and journals 5.4 Sampling: For the analysis, two samples are considered, namely: a. Consumers b. Players in the Dessert Industry The consumers would be taken from all age groups, geographic locations and lifestyles. Similarly, players too would range from the biggest players in the market to the small organizations involved in the same business. 5.4.1 Sampling Criteria: For the analysis, two samples are considered, namely: a. Consumers b. Players in the Dessert Industry The consumers would be taken from all age groups, geographic locations and lifestyles. Similarly, players too would range from the biggest players in the market to the small organizations involved in the same business. 5.4.2 Number of Respondents/Participants: For Customers: 125 150 For Players: 10-15 5.4.3 Sampling Technique: The probability Technique will be used. The probability sampling is also known as random sampling. It gives each member of the target population an equal probability of selection. 5.5 Methods to analyse Primary Data: The study would use MS excel for the analyses of the primary data and text analysis as well. 6. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION AND ISSUES: Ethical considerations towards respondents: * Proper information about the study * Anonymity of the participants * Freedom to choice Ethical considerations for self: * Clear communication with respondents * Use of authenticated data * Proper interpretation of data 7. REFERENCES: MURPHY, C. 2005. Gathering, Analysing and putting it to work 1st edition. Aldershot, Hants: Gower Publishing Limited Doyle, P., Stern, P. 2006. Markeing Management and Strategy 4th edition. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited Dibb, S., Simkin, L., Pride, W., Ferrell, O. 2006. Marketing Concepts and Strategies 5th edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company Thompson, A., Strickland, A. 2004. Strategic Management Concepts and Cases 13th edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Aaker, D., McLoughlin, D. 2007. Strategic Market Management 7th edition. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley Sons, Ltd Kotler, P., Keller, K. 2006. Marketing Management 12th edition. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited Porter, M. 1998. Competitive Advantage Creating And Sustaining Superior Performance 11th edition, New York, NY: The Free Press QuickMBA. 2007. Competitive Advantage [WWW] http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/ (15th Nov, 2009) Bakeryinfo.co.uk. 2008. cake market on the up but trends are changing [WWW] http://www.bakeryinfo.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3879/Cake_market_on_the_up,_but_trends_are_changing.html (13th Nov,2009) Reuters. 2008. Fahy, J., Smithee, A. 1999. Strategic Marketing and the Resource Based View of the Firm. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 10, pp. 1-20 Ankli, R. 1992. Michael Porters Competitive Advantage and Business History. Business and Economic History, 21, pp. 229-232 Akan, O., Allen, R., Helms, M., Spralls, S. 2006. Critical tactics for implementing Porters generic strategies. Journal of Business Strategy, 27(1), pp. 43-53 8. TIME PLAN In 6 months of the dissertation 2 weeks will be dedicate to introduction 1 month will be dedicated to Literature Review. 2 months for data analysis. 1 month for research methodology. 1 month for conclusion

Al Capone Essay -- biography bio biographies crime criminals

Al Capone is one of the most recognized names in American history. Capone ran the City of Chicago with illegal activities. He appeared many times on newspapers all over the country. Every one of us has heard of Al Capone, but most of us don’t k now the story behind him. What made him to be the most feared gangster in the city of Chicago? How did this kid from a rough neighborhood and no money grow up to have $60,000,000? I’ve always been fascinated with organized crime but had never been taught anything in school about it. This report gave me the chance to explore something interesting and also educational. The more I researched Al Capone, the more I wanted to learn about him. He may look like an innocent Italian at a glance, but he has done a lot of crime in the city of Chicago. I knew going into this topic that there would be more than enough information. Going on the Internet I found many web sites that went in detail about certain aspects of Al Capone’s life. I found web pages on the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and even a haunting of his ghost. My Grandpa had books that helped me including The Encyclopedia of World Crime and The Mafia Encyclopedia. He also had a great deal of information to tell me. Most of Al Capone’s life seems unreal, but it is true. It all started when he was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York. He was baptized Alphonsus Capone. As the fourth oldest of nine children, he didn’t receive much attention. â€Å"At birth, Capone's parents never would have believed that their son Alphonse would grow up to be a murderous thug without remorse. (The Encyclopedia of World Crime 603)† Capone was very wise when it came to living on the streets of New York. He was a genius when it came to street smarts. As far as school goes, Capone was almost illiterate. He came from a poverty stricken neighborhood in Brooklyn, so education was not a top priority. Capone was forced to either deal with a low wage job with a hopeless future or make an improvement for himself by committing crime. â€Å"Al Capone's philosophy was to the effect that laws only applied to people who had enough money to abide by them. (The Mafia Encyclopedia 603)† Al Capone became a member of the Bim Booms Gang as a teenager. He learned to defend himself by way of a knife and revolver. By the time Capone reached the sixth grade he had already become a street brawler. Capone n... ...ntful life. He was responsible for the death of over 500 people. As a young boy, he had no opportunities to be rich and live in a big home. The only way out was through a life of crime. That’s where he turned and he succeeded with over $60,000,000. To do something well you have to have the drive to do it. This was how Al Capone was and he was a natural at what he did. He had the right personality and the right connections to be at the top. This was how he became the most feared gangster in the city of Chicago and got that $60,000,000. I noticed a connection to Al Capone and Adolf Hitler. They both seemed to have it all then have it suddenly swept under them. They lived lives of crime and hatred but in the end it took a turn. Hitler ended up putting a gun to his mouth while Capone went insane from his stay at Alcatraz. I learned a lot from doing this report. Besides the amount of typing, which has repeatedly cramped my fingers, it let me read some interesting articles that made me really know what Al Capone’s life was like. It may seem cool to talk about Al Capone, but behind his innocent face, was an evil gangster. Al Capone’s name will live on as the crime czar who ruled Chicago.

Genetic Engineering: The Tremendous Benefits Outweigh the Risks Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wouldn't it be great to improve health care, improve agriculture, and improve our quality of life? Genetic engineering is already accomplishing those things, and has the potential to accomplish much more.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Genetic engineering, also referred to as biotechnology, is a fairly new science where the genes of an organism are modified to change the features of an organism or group of organisms. Genes are found in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of an organism, and each gene controls a specific trait of an organism. Scientists have discovered what many of these genes control, both in plants and animals. Scientists then can modify these genes to benefit the organism. For example, if a person has a gene that codes for a certain disease, scientists can insert healthy copies of that gene to heal the patient. Genetic engineering is the hottest new field in medical research (Elmer-Dewitt). Although there have been some questions about whether genetic engineering is ethical or safe, there are too many benefits to ignore it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of the many uses of genetic engineering, agricultural use is one of the most beneficial. Scientists can modify plants to grow in adverse environments, places where there are often droughts and floods. Researchers are working on plants that can survive frost ("Advocates . . ."). Other plants are being genetically altered to fight certain diseases. A good example of this is the tomato. If a tomato is given a fungal-fighting microbe, it can resist the gray mold called botrytis (Dyson).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Biotechnology is also making plants more nutritious by increasing protein and vitamin content. Animals are even genetically engineered to produce meats that contain less fat. Scientists are even working to take t... ... and Leone, Bruno, series editors. San Diego: Greenhaven press, 1996. Elmer-Dewitt, Philip. "The Genetic Revolution" Time. January 17, 1994. pp. 46-53   "Food Biotechnology: Federal Regulations and Labeling." [On-Line]. Available: http://ificinfo.health.org/brochure/bioregs.htm "Genetic Engineering." The 1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Inc. 1997. "Genetic Engineering." The New Illustrated Science and Invention Encyclopedia. Volume 8. Connecticut: H.S. Stuttman, Inc. 1989. p. 1104. Loveard, Keith and Tet Sieu, Choong, "Magic Genes." [On-Line]. Available: http://www.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/97/0905/cs1.html The Economist, from the editors. "Genetic Research Will Improve the Quality of Health Care" in Genetic Engineering: Opposing Viewpoints, Bender, David and Leone, Bruno, series editors. San Diego: Greenhaven press, 1996.

Stereotypes and Stereotyping - Programmed and Labeled for Life Essay

Programmed and Labeled for Life Here it is, college, a new stroll down the pathway of life. This should be an opportunity to show more of which we are. College has been said to be a process of coming into our own. It's not like high school, there is less pressure of conformity, or is it too late? I believe that by high school graduation we've already conformed based on what others tell us; in high school we have our futures already laid out. Picture a student walking down the hallway carrying a full book-bag, a pencil case in one hand, and a trumpet case in the other. What do you think of this teenager, besides the fact that he's a band student that likes pencils? To answer your question, the opinion towards this student has already been established. Shout-outs are already being called to him: "Loser," "Geek", and "Dork", just to name a few. Now imagine another student walking down that same hallway, this person is wearing a football jersey, has no back-pack on, but rather a single book under his arm and a pencil behind his ear. Shout- out are being called to him as well: "you're the man," and "hey playa." After all these years of shout-outs and name-callings, over time we begin to believe those words. We carry these labels around with us, and by college we have already established what we're told to be. Popularity is the foundation for most name-calling. The decipher for whether you're known as a "loser" or "the man", depends on your popularity. Popularity is similar to the game of cards, the higher the card; the more it's worth. For a student with a low card, he or she might feel as if there is no way of winning. I interviewed a college student who spoke about her popularity in high school as a low card. "I had a... ...e people pleasers, believing that's their mission. Living in a college dorm, I see a lot of different people, and I guarantee that I can tell who was who in high school. After high school, the people called "Dorks", "Nerds", and "Geeks" all seem to be overachievers. Those labeled as being The "brain" in high school with "no friends", have filled that description later on.. The name-calling and shout-outs in the hallways have also lowered these "nerdy" students into believing they're unsuitable to make friends. Those college students, who were part of the popular crowd in high school, are now underachievers. Those who were previously known as socially cool, feel as if that's all they should be. Whether you were part of the popular crowd, or part of the nerd crowd, your future has already been established since your driven by these labels you heard in high school.

Nursing Care Plan of a Patient with Embolic CVA Essay

Summary of Admission History and Progress Notes: 67-year-old male has a history of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with ejection factor of 24%, chronic left ventricle thrombus on anticoagulant, hypertension, metastasis of prostate cancer, chronic kidney disease stage 3. Patient was admitted to UCSD emergency department on 08/20 after falling down stairs. Patient presented confused but conscious. Upon presentation in the ED he had left face, left arm, and left leg weakness. After MRI and cerebral angiogram, findings were conclusive to a right-sided embolic CVA. Echocardiogram revealed apical ventricular thrombus. Patient presented to ED on Coumadin therapy with INR at 3.1. Patient was not a candidate for thrombolytic therapy. He continued on Coumadin and aspirin 81 milligrams was added. Left-sided weakness resolved within one to two days. Cardiologist at UCSD recommends Cardiac Thrombectomy to prevent further strokes. Neurologist recommends endovascular intervention to prevent future embolic strokes though not during an acute episode. Patient was held at UCSD ED for permissive hypertension during acute stroke. Patient complained of cough with green phlegm over the past few days; chest x-ray findings of no local infiltrate. Pathophysiology: Embolic cerebral vascular accident (CVA); stroke   Etiology/Risk factors: Risk factors include a history of transient ischemic attack, hypertension, elevated serum cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, smoking, cardiac valve diseases, anticoagulant therapy, oral contraceptive use, methamphetamine use, aneurysm, or previous stroke (Swearinger, 2012). Pathophysiology: A stroke is caused by disruption of oxygen supply to the brain by either thrombotic occlusion, embolic occlusion or cerebral hemorrhage. Most thrombotic strokes are the result of atherosclerosis. Plaque formation builds to the point of blockage in the large blood vessels that deliver blood to the brain. Most embolic strokes are caused by a cardiac emboli resulting from cardiac valve disease or atrial fibrillation. The carotid artery feeds the main blood vessels of the brain, therefore cardiogenic emboli have a direct path to the brain (Swearinger, 2012). S&S: Signs and symptoms vary depending on severity and side of brain affected. Symptoms may improve within 2 to 3 days as cerebral edema decreases. Patient may appear apathetic, irritable, disoriented, drowsy or comatose; incontinence may occur; unilateral weakness or paralysis may occur; headache, neck stiffness or rigidity may be present. The patient may have difficulty chewing or swallowing and may present with unequal or fixated pupils (Swearinger, 2012). Diagnostics: Time is critical in diagnosing the type of stroke a patient has experienced. A patient is no longer eligible for rTPA if the critical window of 3 hours from last seen normal has expired. CBC, electrolytes, blood glucose and clotting factors should be drawn immediately in order to determine eligibility for rTPA. An MRI will reveal the site of infarction and other brain structure abnormalities related to cause and effect of the CVA. An MRI may take as long as an hour to complete. While a CT scan is generally a diagnostic tool of choice in many emergency situations due to the rapid process, ischemic areas will not show in the CT imaging until they start to necrose 24 – 48 hours after the CVA (Swearinger, 2012). Complications: Complications include recurrence of CVA, paralysis, aspiration, depression, falls, and coma. Chronic left ventricle thrombus on anticoagulant: Anticoagulant therapy is prescribed to prevent increased formation of existing thrombi. Outside of the hospital environment, the anticoagulant of choice is usually warfarin because it may be taken PO. When the therapeutic range of warfarin is achieved patient’s INR will be 2.5-3.5. Cardiogenic trombi are the result of the heart’s inability to effectively ejecting blood after managed daily living, therefore the blood becomes stagnant and begins to clot (Deglin , Sanoski , & Vallerand, 2013). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 is marked by a GFR 30-59 mL per minute (Bladh, et. al., 2013). CKD is a progressive and irreversible disorder. Aggressive management of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus, both of which are common contributing risk factors, may slow progression. Eventually CKD can progress to end-stage renal failure (ESRD). Before development of ESRD, a person with CKD can still manage normal daily living through diet and medication (Swearinger, 2012). Diagnostic Tests, Results and Rationales: Diagnostic Tests Results Rationales MRI Several areas of restricted diffusion within right MCA region; consistent with acute embolic infarcts MRI images differentiate between acute and chronic lesions. Ischemic strokes can be identified early. Site of infection, hematoma, and cerebral edema can be viewed through MRI (Swearinger, 2012) Cerebral angiogram Right MCA stroke, right internal artery non-flow limiting dissection with associated pseudo-aneurysm; right superior trunk M3 occlusion Identify presence of hematoma in stasis of blood vessels after a rupture (Swearinger, 2012) Chest x-ray Negative for infiltrate A presence of infiltrate could indicate pneumonia or heart failure (Swearinger, 2012) Echocardiogram Severely depressed left ventricular ejection factor; apical ventricular thrombus Assess ventricular and valvular function of the heart, ejection fraction, and hemodynamic measurements (Swearinger, 2012) Cerebrovascular carotid duplex Low flow right ICA; bilateral proximal ICA right 9.5 mm, left 5.5 mm; no significant stenosis; vertebral arteries patent with antegrade flow Evaluation of carotid arteries to detect occlusions three-dimensional visualization providing information on circumference, length, and thickness of plaque volume (Swearinger, 2012)

Disaster Management of Majuli Essay

INTRODUCTION Majuli is one of the largest river islands in the world (26 45N – 27 12N and 93 39 E – 94 35 altitude of 60 – 95m above msl). The original land mass of Majuli was 1250 Sq. km (1950) which has significantly reduced to 650 Sq. km (2001) due to erosion. The island is bounded by the river Brahmaputra on the South, the river Subansiri on the North-West and Kherkatia Suti in Northeast. Geomorphologically the island is alluvial. Large number of wetlands and rivulets constitute excellent breeding ground for numerous indigenous fishes. Every year whether there in flood in Assam or not, the Majuli Sub- Division is always affected by floods, forcing people to take shelter in roads and higher land. DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS As per the year 2011 Majuli consists of a total of 248 villages with a total population of 153400. Out of this Majuli Developmental Block consists of 91757 persons and Ujani Majuli Development Block consists of 61643 persons. The main occupation and source of livelihood of the people is agriculture and pisiculture. Apart from these tourism, horticulture, sericulture, boat making, cattle raising and dairy farm also constitute a part of their livelihood Majuli being a part of north east India enjoys a sub-tropical climate and the average rainfall is about 215cm. The summer is followed by monsoon and winter during which the area faces a variety of natural hazards. DISASTER RISK ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION OF VARIOUS DISASTERS FLOOD HAZARD ASSESSMENT Majuli being a part of Assam which is surrounded by hilly areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tibet and Bhutan is more prone to flood than any other disaster. Majuli suffers great loss to life and property as it is hit by flood every year. VULNERABILITY AND CAUSES OF FLOOD IN MAJULI The causes of flood in Majuli are due to excessive rainfall in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, melting of snow at Tibet etc. During flood the rivers get charged with enormous quantity of silt and in their movement the rivers alter the condition of flow and sometime change the river courses causing untold miseries to the people living in its low line basin, making the area vulnerable to annual flooding. After the great earthquake 1950 the river bed of Brahmaputra is rising continuously due to disposition of sand carried down from the upstream. This has also lead to the formation of saucer shaped low lying zone in the plain of the district. Unscientific human encroachment and settlement in different flood plain areas is a another cause of flooding in Majuli. Destruction of forest cover in upper catchment areas of all rivers mainly in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland is also a leading cause of flooding in Majuli. MITIGATION PLAN Pre-disaster planning consists of activities such as disaster mitigation and disaster preparedness. The best example of mitigation is the construction of embankments and construction of proper drainage system in flood prone areas to avoid floods. Flood mitigation refers to the measures aimed at prevention and preparedness. It reduces the actual or probable impact of floods on the people and their environment. The objective of flood mitigation is to control changes in the volume of run-off, peak stage of the flood, time of rise and duration of floodwaters, and location of flooding. Finally it guides reconstruction so as to ensure reduction in vulnerability. The best example of preparedness activities are the development of community awareness and sensitization system through community education and administrative preparedness by way of stockpiling of supplies, developing emergency plans for rescue and relief. EARTHQUAKE HAZARD ASSESSMENT: Majuli falls under earthquake zone-V and very near to the Alpine Himalayan belt. So it falls in an area which is prone to earthquake. The area experiences frequent earthquakes which results in significant loss but less as compared to flood. VULNERABILITY OF EARTHQUAKE IN MAJULI The area is quite vulnerable to earthquake but the vulnerability to the loss and damage of life and property is less as compared to other areas in the same zone. This is because the area does not comprise of very high rise buildings and infrastructure. The ancient monuments and heritage sites possess significant vulnerability as they were constructed many years back. MITIGATION PLAN: Majuli falls under earthquake zone-V so following mitigation measures should be taken to reduce the impact of earthquake: †¢Adoption of building codes for new construction in various areas. †¢Public utility buildings must be located in stable areas or stiff soil. †¢Retrofitting of weak structures. †¢Relocation of people settling in the steep slope areas and near the river bank. The other example includes retrofitting of weak buildings to make them earthquake resistant. CONCLUSION Majuli is prone to a number of hazards besides flood and earthquake like cyclonic storm fire accident etc. and the area being a river island faces a high vulnerability. So appropriate steps should be taken for disaster risk mitigation and save the world heritage site from different hazards it faces. There should be a continuous planning & execution of plans for providing sustainable livelihood for most vulnerable communities. The Cultural and National uniqueness of Majuli’s heritage is presently undergoing scrutiny and consideration for declaring it as World Heritage site as cultural landscape by UNESCO.

Inner-City Paint Corporation (Revised) Essay

Alternatives 1. Management Improvement – Mr. Walsh should take up management degree. He needs to learn employee empowerment and delegation. He needs to learn employee empowerment and delegation. The plant manager needs to be trained on leadership since he has no experience in management. He should also start hiring a public relations specialist and a marketing specialist to improve on these two aspects of the business. 2. Facility Improvement – Equipment at Inner-City Paint is three large mixer, two smaller mixers, machines in the lab and the trucks. Mr. Walsh should buy more equipment so that his consumers won’t have to worry about their order not being ready. He has enough transportation Equipment. But he should buy some new mixer and more lab equipment. In order to acquire all of this he should take the loan. Recommendation I would recommend the first alternative which is to improve management. Mr. Walsh wasn’t trained and didn’t understand management. He could handle the company when it was small. He got lost as the Inner-City paint grew. If Mr. Walsh did some training, then the company probably wouldn’t be in such a mess. He did understand how to expand the business and add employees were they are needed but he lacked giving trust to other people. With employee empowerment training he should be able to trust new employees. So with this alternative we can see that the company will grow favorably. METHODS OF ANALYSIS S.W.O.T Analysis Strengths – Competitive prices of its products. – Steady growth in its market. – The company’s reputation had been built on its fast service; it frequently supplied paint to contractors within 24 hours. Weaknesses – Customers view Inner City as a company that negotiates on price and payment out of desperation. – His plant manager’s only experience has been that of a painter. – Operating without management controls or financial controls. – Inability to pay suppliers on time – Poor condition of facilities – All records are processed manually – Inventory records are not kept. – Lack of proper delegation of authority. Employees take turns making paint and driving the delivery trucks. – Unskilled employees. Opportunities – Considering a purchase of a computer to organize the business and reduce needless paperwork. – Consultants who are able to quickly spot problems in business. – The production of color paints Threats – The slowdown in the housing market combined with the slowdown in the overall economy caused financial difficulty for the company. – Walsh manages the corporation today in much the same way that he did when the business began. – Walsh lacked on giving trust to other people. – Rumors abound that the company is in difficult financial straits, that it is unable to pay suppliers, and it owes a considerable sum for payment on back taxes. – Paint contractors are hesitant to give larger orders. Larger orders usually go to larger companies that have demonstrated their reliability and solvency. – No audit has been performed. This could lead to penalty by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Porter’s Five Forces Industry Analysis Threat of New entrants There are low entry barriers in the paint manufacturing industry. This is because it is based on the low costs to enter the market and product unanimity. This is due to an easy and cheap development stage. As for capital requirements, firms need to invest small financial resources before entering this market. Rivalry Between Competing Firms Inner-City Paint is confronted by aggressive competition in its business. There are small paint manufacturers in Chicago that supply the immediate area. The market for paint is highly competitive. It doesn’t compete with giants such as Glidden and DuPont. Competition among the giants isn’t that fierce, but they lose their large orders to them. Bargaining Power of Suppliers There is a high bargaining power of suppliers since the industry is highly dependent on component suppliers, a powerful supplier could exert pressure on the market, by supplying components at a higher price to increase his profits. their products are the primary raw material for the paint manufacturing companies. They could also erect high switching costs. Since Inner-City Paint is working only with few selected suppliers, the company is running at a higher risk than the average. Bargaining Power of Buyers There is a low bargaining power of buyers this is due to high number of other paint manufacturers in the area in the industry and the customer has the options to take the cheapest and the best. Threat of Substitutes There is a high threat of substitutes because there are larger companies that have demonstrated reliability and solvency that paint contractors can choose. There are also other small paint manufacturers in the area. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Inner-City Paint Corporation’s revenue for the year is $1,784,080. It experienced a Net Income of $ 17,610. Profitability Ratios Return on assets = $ 17,610 = 5.98% ;$ 294,565 This shows that Inner-City Paint is not providing an adequate return on the firm’s investment. Net Profit Margin = $ 17,610 = 0.987% $ 1,784,080 This ratio indicates how much money Inner-City Paint makes with each incremental dollar in sales that they experience, meaning that a higher ratio would result increased profit with each additional dollar in sales. Liquidity Ratio Current Ratio = 262,515 = 0.92 285,030 This ratio shows that Inner-City Paint is currently in trouble meeting its financial commitments because its current ratio is below 1. Leverage Ratios Debt Ratio = 300,030 = 1.02 294,565 This measures the portion of total assets provided by the company’s creditors. In conjunction with other ratios, this ratio indicates the degree to which operating losses may be â€Å"cushioned† from adverse actions by creditors. Common Size Financial Statement Analysis INCOME STATEMENT % to Sales Sales $ 1,784,080 100.00% Cost of Goods Sold 1,428,730 80.08% Gross Margin 355,350 19.92% Expenses Selling expenses 72,460 4.06% Administrative expenses 67,280 3.77% President’s salary 132,000 7.40% Office Manager’s salary 66,000 3.70% Total expenses 337,740 18.93% Net Income $ 17,610 0.99% BALANCE SHEET Amount % to Total Assets Assets Current Assets Cash $ 1,535 0.52% Accounts receivable (net of ADA of $63,400) 242,320 82.26% Inventory 18,660 6.33% Total current assets 262,515 89.12% Non-current Assets Machinery and transportation equipment 47,550 16.14% Less accumulated depreciation 15,500 5.26% Total non-current assets 32,050 10.88% Total Assets 294,565 100.00% Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts payable $ 217,820 73.95% Salaries payable 22,480 7.63% Notes payable 6,220 2.11% Taxes payable 38,510 13.07% Total current liabilities 285,030 96.76% Non-current Liabilities Long-term notes payable 15,000 5.09% Owners’ Equity Common equity 12,400 4.21% Deficit (17,865) (6.06%) Total liabilities and owners’ equity $ 294,565 100.00% With all of this information we can point out that most of the expenses is attributable to Walsh’s salary. His six-figure income is not the average salary of a president in such a small company. He might try taking a small pay cut to invest that money in the business. He should also make set selling prices. Next, he should check into finding cheaper suppliers to bring his direct materials cost down. Financially ICP needs a financial account manager to start investing money and watch finance closer.

Establishing the Academic Performance of Veterans in the Us Colleges Essay

The word veteran comes from Latin word, vetus which means old. It’s used to mean a person who has experience or has served for a long time in the armed forces. Though sometime it may be used to even include those still working in the armed forces (Howe 23). In some countries holidays dubbed Veterans Day have been celebrated to honor the veterans. After World War 2 veteran groups like the veterans of foreign wars and even the American legion pushed for the enactment of the GI bill which has ensured that veterans access free or subsidized education and health care (Howe 23). Objectives †¢ To determine the level of academic performance of veterans in the US colleges. †¢ To understand the reasons why veterans decide to go back to college. †¢ To comprehend the effect of being a veteran on academic performance. †¢ To classify the academic performance of the veterans i. e excellent, moderate e. t. c. Justification Frances claims that the Vietnam veterans, who were on duty between 1956 and 1975, were psychologically devastated and bitter (45) and addicted to drugs (46). They include the people who had an uphill task readjusting to the normal society life, in the US history context (47). Several movies e. g. Hi mom (1970), 1971’s hard ride and Marvel Comic’s movie The Punisher among others have constantly shown that the experience at the Vietnam war for example was so devastating (Jay 23). This warrants a study that probes to know if the government’s efforts to take the veterans back to college is the most appropriate measure. The results will boost the morale of the veterans. The researcher hypothesis will be a Null hypothesis-There is no relationship between high academic performance and being a veteran. It will be assumed that the respondents exam result will be a true reflection of their academic capability and that past exam marks achieved were not characterized by any irregularities. Literature review A number of recent studies keep pointing at the fact that those combat veterans who have PTSD have exhibited memory lapse. According to Nash (112) and Andrew (99), other psychological dimensions including intellectual capacity, veterans with PTSD have been ok just like other non-veterans. According to the newly signed GI bill by the USA president George W. Bush on 30th June 2008, all American young veterans are assured of a chance to obtain a college degree or university degree free of charge (Montreal Gazette). An example of the serious attention being given to this sector is Horatio Alger association’s commitment in 2005 to distribute 10 million dollars to those veterans who fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill was signed in recognition of the Jewish War Veterans. It was also signed in order to review the educational benefits attached to the military, navy or the air force from which a majority of the veterans emanate and which have been outpaced by the standards of living. The bill has been timely because it eliminates the stringent procedures and replaces them with a minimum of three years of active service to the nation in the military, navy, air force or any other troops like reservists or guardsmen. The veteran benefits are to those who have participated actively in long term state duties and have received an honorary discharge from duty e. g. the American Soldiers who went to fight the war in Iraq and made it back home (National Guard). The financial Aid office and the department of veteran affairs in the US which is based at Ivy Tech in Southern Indiana have been very instrumental in promoting education for the veterans. According to a recent survey by Minnesota state colleges and universities (2007), 80% of National Guard soldiers from Minnesota completing their overseas deployment, said they were keen on beginning or returning to complete their higher education (Karmaz 345). These veterans returning from military duty abroad face numerous challenges i. e. personal, relationship, employment matters and education as they struggle to return their lives to normal civilians (Nash 116). As the president of Las Positas College DeRionne Pollard puts it in her welcome note, the veterans have made an astonishing difference in the lives of their countrymen and women. The peace and freedom that is enjoyed by the US for example as she puts it, is as a result of the tiresome work and a strong sense of duty exhibited by the veterans in their various state assigned duties (Andrews 34). This study will therefore be seeking to establish the general academic performance of veterans and the factors responsible for the standards In veterans elementary public school in Chula Vista that caters for approximately 542 students from grade k-6 in 2007 had an adequate yearly progress of 845 surpassing the 800 mark set by the state of California. Sounds impressive but, how about other schools/colleges? (Neubauer & Diane 376) Methodology This study will utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods. In quantitative method, the academic records of the veteran students will be analyzed; their performance will then be compared to the other non-veteran students in the same setting. A test will also be set and administered to all respondents. The research will utilize several resources including stationery, analyzing computers where data is entered and comparison charts and graphs produced. Qualitative method will also be used be used to generate the opinions of the respondents. Unstructured questionnaires will be used to generate this information. All qualitative information of similar nature will be grouped together i. e. information coding. The coded information will then be organized in the form of matrix and then conclusions drawn from the data, E. g. Oral examinations on general topics can also be posed, the respondent’s answers will then be checked for content and their levels of understanding understood. Data analysis The quantitative data on the performance of the subjects will be compared with that of a control reference population of students with the same characteristic but who are not veterans. The qualitative information will also be translated into percentages of the subject who prefer to go back to college for several reasons. The qualitative information will then be used to explain the performance of the veterans quantitatively. For example, if a majority of veterans go back to college because they want to gain knowledge or because they want to develop new careers and assist their families, then we would rightly conclude that the high performance by the same people is purely because of self motivation and not because of the harsh conditions they faced in service for the nation. Results According to (Willenz 56), a case study done on 204 veterans in Michigan, it was found that 60% of the respondents performed well in college at the beginning but later their performance depreciated and they eventually underperformed, with approximately 20% of them dropping out. Of those who dropped out, 90% of them were not going for counseling sessions. The results clearly show that though many veterans want to go back to college, their past experiences plays a major role in what becomes of that decision. However there is a serious need for the veterans to be attached to counselors or psychologists whose therapies should make them fit to go back to college and stay on course to achieve desirable results. Veterans most of the time have suffered severe consequences of war and therefore as a show of appreciation for the sacrifices they made the government through a specifically set financial scheme offers to take them back to school or if they accidentally passed on in line of duty, their family members are given the benefits. These benefits have been characterized with a lot of procedural technicalities that have denied genuine candidates their dues. The most common scenario is that of veterans living in conditions of poverty and engaged in a lot of legal battles with the state in an attempt to prove that they are worth compensating. For the veterans to become normal civilians after participating in military wars there is need for a carefully structured educative system that re- integrates them into the society through counseling and other methods. Recommendations The veterans occupy an integral part of any society. Their contribution in safeguarding the interests of their nation calls for more than is currently being offered even by the US. Young veterans only should have the option of going back to college as compulsory especially if they had not gone to college. But aged ones should be given an opportunity to access the compensation in terms of finances and be able to do what they like with it. The Compensation for duties discharged should not only be education grants but should also include job placements. Because of their selfless actions it would be prudent for the concerned governments to increase the compensations given to those who have been disabled in the line of duty. The duration of service should be a determining factor for compensation.