Functional Areas in Business

Task 1: Research different functional areas, provide definitions of each of these functions: * Customer Servise Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation. Its importance varies by products, industry and customer; defective or broken merchandise can be exchanged, often only with a receipt and within a specified time frame.Retail stores often have a desk or counter devoted to dealing with returns, exchanges and complaints, or will perform related functions at the point of sale; the perceived success of such interactions being dependent on employees â€Å"who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer servi ce should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement.A customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer has of the organization. * ICT Stands for â€Å"Information and Communication Technologies. † ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications. It is similar to Information Technology (IT), but focuses primarily on communication technologies. This includes the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums. In the past few decades, information and communication technologies have provided society with a vast array of new communication capabilities.For example, people can communicate in real-time with others in different countries using technologies such as instant messaging, voice over IP (VoIP), and video-conferencing. Social networking websites like Facebook allow users from all over the world to remain in contact and communicate on a regular basis. Modern in formation and communication technologies have created a â€Å"global village,† in which people can communicate with others across the world as if they were living next door. For this reason, ICT is often studied in the context of how modern communication technologies affect ociety. * Distribution Distribution means ensuring that goods are delivered to the right place on time and in the right condition. Commerce: The movement of goods and services from the source through a distribution channel, right up to the final customer, consumer, or user, and the movement of payment in the opposite direction, right up to the original producer or supplier. Securities: Payment of principal, interest, or dividend by the issuer of a security to the security holders, on a regular (typically monthly or quarterly) basis.Statistics: An order or pattern formed by the tendency of a sufficiently large number of observations to group themselves around a central value. The familiar bell-shaped curve is an example of normal distribution in which the largest numbers of observations are distributed in the center, with progressively fewer observations falling evenly on the either side of the center (average) line. See also frequency distribution, normal distribution, and standard distribution. * Marketing The management process through which goods and services move from concept to the customer.As a practice, it consists in coordination of four elements called 4P's: (1) identification, selection, and development of a product, (2) determination of its price, (3) selection of a distribution channel to reach the customer's place, and (4) development and implementation of a promotional strategy. As a philosophy, marketing is based on thinking about the business in terms of customer needs and their satisfaction. Marketing differs from selling because (in the words of Harvard Business School's emeritus professor of marketing Theodore C.Levitt) â€Å"Selling concerns itself with the trick s and techniques of getting people to exchange their cash for your product. It is not concerned with the values that the exchange is all about. And it does not, as marketing invariably does, view the entire business process as consisting of a tightly integrated effort to discover, create, arouse, and satisfy customer needs. † * Human resources The division of a company that is focused on activities relating to employees. These activities normally include recruiting and hiring of new employees, orientation and training of current employees, employee benefits, and retention.Formerly called personnel. * Sales The activity or business of selling products or services. Contract involving transfer of the possession and ownership (title) of a good or property, or the entitlement to a service, in exchange for money or value. Essential elements that must be present in a valid sale are (1) competence of both the buyer and seller to enter into a contract, (2) mutual agreement on the terms of exchange, (3) a thing capable of being transferred, and (4) a consideration in money (or its equivalent) paid or promised. Finance Finance is the study of how investors allocate their assets over time under conditions of certainty and uncertainty. A key point in finance, which affects decisions, is the time value of money, which states that a unit of currency today is worth more than the same unit of currency tomorrow. Finance aims to price assets based on their risk level, and expected rate of return. Finance can be broken into three different sub categories: public finance, corporate finance and personal finance. * ProductionThe processes and methods employed to transform tangible inputs (raw materials, semifinished goods, or subassemblies) and intangible inputs (ideas, information, knowledge) into goods or services. * Research and development Systematic activity combining both basic and applied research, and aimed at discovering solutions to problems or creating new goods and knowledge. R&D may result in ownership of intellectual property such as patents. In accounting for R&D costs, the development costs may be carried forward but the basic and applied research costs are often written-off as incurred. Administration Management: The interpretation and implementation of the policy set by an organization's board of directors. The administration of a business is synonymous with the performance or management of business operations, maybe including important decision making. Thus it is likely to include the efficient organization of people and other resources so as to direct activities toward common goals and objectives. Task 2: Using Newcastle College website find out about entry requirements to a Level 3 Business related course: 5 GCSEs A – C or equivalent at Pass level, ideally inc English ; Maths.If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 5. Task 3: Using the college library research using a book the area of business you are most interested in: Business administration is the process of managing a business or non-profit organization so that it remains stable and continues to grow. This consists of a number of areas, ranging from operations to management. There are many different roles related to business administration, including business support, office manager, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), among others. Most companies have a dedicated group of administrators.Main Areas The main areas incorporated into business administration are operations, logistics, marketing, economics, Human Resources (HR), and management. An administrator oversees these parts of an organization to make sure that they're all functioning properly and efficiently individually, and that they're all working together to make the business profitable. He or she may also come up with ways to make the department more profitable, and often delegates tasks to employees in the department. Large companies usually have at least one ad ministrator assigned to each area. RolesMost companies have a range of administrative roles in different parts of their corporate hierarchy. At the office level, there are business support officers, who might develop and maintain an office database, oversee other employees for projects, and help the manager with analyzing performance trends. At the next level there are office managers, who oversee an entire office, make budgets and analyses of staff performance, design procedures, and assign projects, among other things. If an organization is large, it may have several assistant managers to help the overall office manager.After office-level managers, there are division administrators, who oversee large portions of an organization. They generally specialize in one area of business administration. For instance, a company might have a person with a specialization in HR administration oversee that department and make sure it's working efficiently to meet the business' overall goals. Thi s includes things like measuring the performance of HR staff members, hiring new staff for the department if needed or getting rid of non-performing staff, and making sure that the process for hiring is workable.The head of overall operations in business administration is usually referred to as the chief executive officer (CEO) or president. The CEO and president may be the same office, but this varies between companies. The CEO, depending on the size of the company, may have several vice presidents, each responsible for one area of company operations. For example, there could be a vice president for marketing, one for research and design, and one for sales or customer relations. Each of these operate independently. Work EnvironmentThe work environment for someone in business administration depends largely on the type of job he or she is doing. Those on the lower end of the hierarchy often work in structured environments and make frequent reports to their superiors, while those high er up may have more freedom with their schedules. Depending on the type of organization, work hours may be 9 to 5 or they may be more flexible. Overtime is often required when big projects are nearing completion, or when annual analyses and presentations need to be made.Generally speaking, anyone in this type of position needs to have excellent communication skills, as he or she will be working with a lot of different people, sending out memos, and making reports. They also need to be comfortable with making presentations, and they need to be able to lead people. Another important skill is being able to understand how many different parts of a system or organization work together, so that they can make workable systems and figure out what's wrong with those that don't work.Most are also very good at math and have an understanding of economics, since they usually make budgets and analyze their office, department, or company's performance. Education Many universities offer business ad ministration programs for both online and offline study. A typical curriculum covers the critical aspects of operating a business such as customer service, business finance, marketing, and human resources. Aspiring administrators can improve their marketability by minoring in a related field such as an applied science for engineering or psychology for marketing and sales.Most large companies want applicants that have at least a master's degree in a business-related field. This involves getting hands-on experience, typically by interning at a corporation to get a feel for how the different aspects fit together. Depending on a student's chosen area, he or she may need to write and enact a business plan to prove your competency; for example, he or she might need to come up with a marketing or sales plan for a hypothetical product, targeting it at a given demographic.

Native Americans Dbq Essay

Due: Social Studies; Native Americans Essay Thousands of years ago the Native Americans crossed the land-bridge. Then the Native Americans spit-up and settled and created the culture areas. Depending on the environments the Native Americans had different basic needs to survive such as clothing, food, and shelter. The Iroquois used their natural resources to get food. The men hunted animals such as deer, bears, ducks, turtles, turkey, and frogs. The women did the hunting and the gathering; they grew crops such as corn, beans, squash, and pumpkins and they gathered wild berries, bird eggs, nuts, and sunflowers (information shown in document #3). The type of food depends on the environments. The way the Native Americans dressed depended on the climate and their resources. The eastern woodlands made their clothing was made out of deerskin, the southwest made out of woven cotton, and the artic made their clothing out of seal and caribou skin (as shown in document 3). Animal provided food and clothing for Native American people. Different environments provide different materials for building and shelter. For example from documents 2 & 3 the southwest has very little rain and is hot so they make their shelter out of sun-dried bricks of mud. Other culture areas make their shelter out of materials depending on the climate and their surroundings. All people from each culture area adapted to their environments to survive. Native Americans grew crops corn, beans, and squash. Made their clothing out of skins and cloths, and made their shelter out of bark and blocks of ice and sun-dried mud. That’s how the Native Americans survived thousands of years ago.

Medusa by Carol an Duffy, Loads of Mistakes. Essay

‘The Worlds Wife’ in which Duffy gives a voice to female characters that may have been ignored throughout history. The poems are presented through the point of view of these women and in many cases it is the first time that we, as an audience hear their side of the story, rather than a story that has been told for them. Medusa matches the other poems in this anthology as Duffy presents Medusa as she sees herself but she is still shed in a negative light, which she willing presents to the reader as she is perversely pleased by it. Duffy uses clever diction and sentence structure to add to the representation of the persona as well as punctuation and techniques, most significantly rule of threes, to effectively display the persona and the themes of growing rage, stone, revenge and self absorption. Duffy wastes no time in jumping into Medusa’s perspective as the first line proves. The poem starts on a bitter note with â€Å"a suspicion, a doubt, a jealously† which is significant for numerous reasons. Firstly, the diction of jealousy alone is important because it suggests the breeding of ill feelings at the start of the poem which reflects how Medusas life as a monster began in much the same way. Also, the rule of three contains nouns that build on each other are progressive as Medusa graduates from a suspicion to as doubt and then becomes jealous, an idea which is also suggested by the caesura of commas rather than full stops, indicating that the nouns flow together and are linked rather than being separate or distinct. The first line is organized in a way that makes the growth of negative feelings evident which foreshadows the growth of rage and hate expressed later in the text while the progressive rule of three effectively foreshadows the continued use of the same technique throughout the poem. The growth of negativity is supported again in the following lines which imply that Medusa’s feelings were so strong as to be represented physically through the turning of the hairs on her head to filthy snakes. The snakes are obviously a tangible representation of the growth which Duffy emphasizes all the more the length of the line. Being longer than ever y of line of the poem is it a clear, visible reflect of the actual growth of the snakes that represent Medusas anger. The first reference to the theme of stone is made in the second stanza, in which the persona describes her lungs as â€Å"grey†, which indicates that Medusa’s lungs that support her life, are hardened, colourless and decayed, replicating her emotions and reflected the effect that she has on living being which is to turn them to stone. While the imagery of the grey lungs suggests lifelessness, it is immediately contrasted by the image of â€Å"yellow fanged† which is a link back to the snakes that are alive and thriving on her head. The combination of the two images suggests that Medusa herself is dead but possesses life because she is fully embodied by the snakes, and everything that they represent, an idea that is backed up by her having yellow fangs as if she is now a snake, not human. Stone is suggested again in the second stanza through the metaphor of â€Å"bullet tears† which relate to the hardness of stone and imply that Medusa’s emotions murder or kill as bullets do, which is evident later on in the poem. The first sense of Medusa’s feeling of self importance are apparent at the end of this stanza with the rhetorical question of â€Å"are you terrified†, suggesting her pride in the monstrosity that she is viewed as and also the fact that it is immediately followed by an answer in the form of a command implies that the actual answer of the man that she is talking to is unimportant and she is indifferent to it which emphasizes her own self importance. However, the man, the â€Å"Greek God† is displayed with some importance, though meager compared to hers, as he manages to catch her eye. It is him that she loves and since he has been special enough to attract the attention of one as high as medusa he should be scared because her attention is one him rather than ignoring him and also that fact that he catches her eye is fitting because it is exactly that that will turn him to stone. The third stanza has a link back to the first in â€Å"I know you’ll go, betray me†. Both suggest Medusa’s lack of trust and bitterness by how easily she passes negative judgment on the man before he has a chance to act as such. This negative outlook may be a partial cause to Medusa’s selfishness, leading her to believe that nothing is worth her time. Her selfishness and lack of caring about even those that she supposedly loves is displayed through the final line in this stanza: â€Å"so better by for me if you were stone. † It is only what is better for her that matters which again puts her, the only moral of the Gorgons, on a pedestal above a Greek God. In the next three stanzas the tone changes from a passive and indifferent statement of facts to an active narration of her deeds that emphasize her rage, especially as she draws particular attention  to her actions. I will look at the following three stanzas collectively as there are techniques spread through them. Medusa’s hate and spite become obvious now and grow rapidly, which links back to the first line with the progressive rule of three. The same technique is used again in these three stanzas though more disjointed than before. The intensity of medusa’s gaze increases in the first line of each stanza form glanced to looked to stared, with is another progressive rule of three as one thing builds on another and it replicates the expansion of her rage through time. The growth of medusas hate is also suggested through the size of the stone that she creates. Starting with a tiny pebble from a bee and progressing to a boulder metaphorically implies that as her hate increases, so too do her destructive powers as the two are directly linked. To support this notion, another progressive rule of three flows through the three stanzas. The way in which the stone drops from the air increases with Medusa’s rage as well with verbs of increasing severity: â€Å"fell, spattered, shattered† which is another clever technique that Duffy uses to emphasize and enforce the previous two points. Now focusing on only the sixth stanza, the verb â€Å"stared’ holds significance aside from the rule of three that it forms; â€Å"stared† again emphasizes medusas opinion of self importance as she spare the animals a mere glace or look both devotes far more time and intensity to herself because she is of more significant. Also, while everything else that she looks at turns to stone, she does not when she stares at herself which implies that she cannot be converted because she is already hard and cold as stone at heart. Following on in the sixth stanza, medusas anger seems to reach its epitome and its colossal size is represented by the imagery of the dragon, fire and the mountain. The three final lines of this stanza can be interpreted in two ways. There is the obvious link to the metamorphosis that takes place between animals and stone in the previous two stanzas which implies that medusa looked at the dragon and made it a mountain. However, unlike the other examples of medusa turning animals to stone, the dragon is separate from the mountain by a full stop where previously it has been a comma. The deliberate change in the punctuation pattern separates the dragon from the mountain while, suggesting that when Medusas stares into the mirror she see that dragon that is herself. If medusa is metaphorically a dragon then the growth of her anger is again insinuated because previously in the poem she was presented as a snake but now towards the end she has grown into a larger and fiercer reptile. While the dragon may be medusa the mountain represents her rage as it is an indication of its massive size while the fire goes to support the implication of raw anger. In stanza 7, the tone again changes back to how it was at the start of the poem with medusa addressing the greek god again. Medusa appears to be justifying her hate towards the man in this stanza by stating that he has a shield for a heart and a sword for a tongue. The metaphors suggest that the man never really loved medusa as she loved him and that he played her, finally hurting her with is words and his betrayal which is why she seeks revenge. Though medusa may blame the man for what she has become, she appears to like herself better the way she is now which is indicated through the last three lines of the poem. A content, menacing and proud tone accompanies look at me now as if medusa likes who she is. Also, since what she is now is contrasted to how she was when she was young, the is a suggestion that while she was young and naive she was ignorant to how she should be, where as now the she is older she knows that she is as she should and thinks highly of herself for it. The importance of what she is now is emphasized by the fact that the line forms a stanza on its own. Through most of the poem, beautiful things are being turned to rigid, lifeless stone which is summed up entirely in the last three lines in which state that medusa made that transformation herself, from beautiful life to death stone, emotionally at least and then she brings the same to others. Finally, the diction of â€Å"look† in the last line is both fitting and ironic because it is that very look that will literally turn you to stone just as she has been metaphorically turned to stone herself. Throughout the poem duffy displays medusa in a way the she has not been seen before. In many instances the man appears to be blamed for what she has become as though it I know fault of her own, though she seem perversely pleased with herself, which, from her perspective, sheds her in a positive light. Although the reader cannot shake the negative connotations that have been developed with medusa it is evident that she thinks very highly of herself, and what do the opinions of other, insignificant, people matter to one who is as self important as medusa?

Should a Suicidal Patient be allowed to refuse a Feeding Tube Essay

Should a Suicidal Patient be allowed to refuse a Feeding Tube - Essay Example Effective December 1991, the Patient Self-determination Act (PDSA) enacted by the Federal Government of U.S has empowered all the patients giving them right and autonomy whether to accept or reject the treatment provided by any healthcare establishment regardless of their physical status. The act clearly spells out about patient’s prerogative. There is no need to make any judgment by anybody whether patient’s intentions are suicidal or not. The act ensures in clear terms that no outside party has that right to decide on behalf of the patient and enforce their decisions on the patient. Further, advance directives set by the patient and surrogates nominated by them will take charge to make any decision in the event the patient is not in a position to take their own decision. (Galambos 1998) The act was enacted to preserve end-of-life autonomy of the patient. As per PSDA, the patient must be provided with right-to-die information and possible treatment alternatives on their admission to the healthcare units. It clearly spells out that all information pertaining to the patient's legal rights with respect to medical care, right to refuse treatment, and advance directives that can be provided by the patient. The act ensures that nursing homes, hospitals, healthcare organizations including home health care agencies must provide this information to the patients when they are admitted to any of these establishments. The following is considered a part of duties of all healthcare establishments. 1. They should ensure that patient have given advance directives. 2. They have necessary policies for the implementation of these advance directives. 3. They have educated their staff about advance directives and policies. The PSDA has also promulgated that all healthcare providers shoul d provide information to the patients about their rights to accept or refuse any medical interventions and further the patients can also create advance directives to guide surrogate and others. The directives given by the patient will help surrogates to take decision on his or her behalf in case if the patient goes into comatose state. (Galambos 1998) Legal Standing in the Court of Law Before the enactment of (PDSA) act in U.S, there were many judgments that were given by the U.S courts in the matter related to the withdrawal of life-sustaining devices. It will be worthwhile to see their opinions on this crucial aspect. New Jersey Supreme Court held in the Quinlan case that the patient or surrogates had right to refuse ventilation device. In this case she was living in a vegetative state hence her parents exercised this right on her behalf (Quinlan 1976). Similar kind of ruling was given by the California Court in the Barber case when court ruled that physicians

Parents vs. Peers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parents vs. Peers - Essay Example They cast it off like the dorky sweater their mother made them wear. The behavior of a child is both dependent on the internal genetic influence that he gained from his parents and the external influence that he has from his association with peers. Modern developmentalists admit that children are born with distinctive characteristics that make certain developmental outcomes more likely. In fact, the word heredity is rarely used nowadays; it has been replaced by words like nature and genetic, which acknowledge childrens genes without acknowledging their source. Children share 50% of their genes with each of their biological parents. Also not proved is the proposition that children learn things from one relationship or in one context that they automatically carry with them to new ones. If parenting behaviors do have lasting effects, the effects are specific to the context in which the behaviors were experienced. Because children are destined to play out their adult lives in other contexts, what they learn in these other contexts will be more important in the long run (Harris, 2000). Judith Rich Harris, in her book "The Nurture Assumption," is challenging the conventional wisdom of both Academic psychologists and parents alike: that parent have a large influence on how their children turn out.   Harris challenges this wisdom. If one can combine her points with some knowledge about temperament, it is most likely this synthesis will help in explaining the role of parents in raising their children.  Ã‚   She points out that trying to separate the effects of inheritance (genes) and the parents environmental effects is extremely difficult to do with any large degree of scientific validity.   In reality, the effect of childhood environment on the development of the individual to mature adulthood is still mysterious and is not understood. Peer groups can have a large influence in behavior while the child is in

To what extent can improvements in productive flow and product quality Essay - 3

To what extent can improvements in productive flow and product quality lead to an increase in sales and profit - Essay Example A company overlooking these factors of success can never achieve its desired goals and objectives in a competitive market because these processes play the role of two of the most indispensable ingredients of success. In this paper, we will discuss the importance of improved productive flow and product quality in achieving the goal of increased sales and profits. 2. Productive Flow The process of productive flow mainly refers to the continuity of the process that starts from bringing in raw material for product development and ends when the product becomes ready for distribution in the market. Companies focus on improving this process in order to avoid delays in product manufacturing. Productive flow involves a continuous and flawless movement of items through the process of product development. The process is said to be in an efficient working state if the next stage of product development starts straight away upon completion of the current stage of development. It is one of the main responsibilities of the employees working in the production department to ensure continuity of the process of product development because a minor flaw or delay in the transition of stages can affect the on-time completion of the production process, as well as the quality of the product. One of the main points regarding productive flow is that it is capital intensive, which means that it makes more use of machines and technologies as compared to workers.  Therefore, it needs continuous and effective technical assistance to ensure flawless continuity. The advantage of capital intensiveness of the production flow is that a large number of items can roll off the assembly lines simultaneously, cutting down the cost of production to a large extent. Using this approach, companies can benefit from economies of scale, which consequently results in lowering the cost per unit of production (Riley 2012). Improvement in the productive flow can have a direct impact on the levels of sales and p rofit. In a competitive environment, timely placement of products in the market is imperative for the success of a company. When a company has its products reach completion stages in the scheduled time without any flaw, it will place the products in the market at the correct time and people will be able to buy those products, which will consequently result in improving the market share of the company. However, when there are delays in the process of production flow, the company will not be able to dispense its products in the market at the right time, which will affect the company’s levels of sales and profits. Therefore, it is very important for a firm to improve its process of production flow by eliminating the occurrence of flaws and reducing the risks to the continuity of the process to ensure higher levels of productivity and profitability. 3. Product Quality Along with productive flow, improvement in product quality is also essential for a company to increase its levels of sales and profit. Quality means excellence and in terms of product development, it refers to the development of such products that should be able to satisfy the consumers. A company can satisfy its customers only if it provides them with durable and high quality products. Quality is considered a key to the success of a

Business Logistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Logistics - Essay Example The launching of an extensive range of logistics inventiveness, intended to develop working efficiencies, increase service level and enhance profitability. The upcoming trends like the B2B integration, e-business, electronic procuring, and e-logistics are initiated in collaboration with trading partners, to increase efficiencies and eradicate the desecrate, out of supply chains. â€Å"The supply chain is corporate America’s last frontier. Conquering it is the key to reducing costs and maximizing profits. Damon Schechter and Gordon Sander have done a remarkable job in demonstrating the importance of supply chain management—to today’s business† (Delivering the Goods 2000). The Apple Inc, has implemented e-commerce to develop deep relationships on good rapport with their customers. Nearly 50% of Apple’s $32 billion in annual revenues are carried out over the network, and other manufacturer distributors and suppliers report quick rise in on-line sale. A part from the U.S, the country Japan, too is emerging in e-commerce and is expected to achieve a growth of 40% in comparison to previous years. Process Flows Operation of Apple: Apple Inc, previously Apple Computer Inc, is one of the multinational companies in America that plans and sells customer electronics, software of computer, and personal computers. Logistic process of Apple Inc involve a large set of activities devoted to the transformation and allocation of commodities , from raw material sourcing to marketplace distribution, in addition to the associated flow of information. The application of process logistics facilitates a greater effectiveness of movements, with a suitable choice of methods, terminals, ways and scheduling. The implied intention of logistics is to create available merchandise, raw materials and possessions; satisfying four major requirements connected to order, release, quality and cost accomplishment. Logistics is therefore a multidimensional value added action, consisting of production, place, time and control of ingredients of the supply chain. Business nowadays is in a global atmosphere. This atmosphere forces companies, irrespective of place or primary marketplace base, to consider the other parts of the earth too, in their competitive policy analysis. Firms cannot separate themselves from or disregard external factors; for instance, fiscal trends, competitive circumstances or technology modernization in other nations. Some of their participants could be in competition or are positioned in those nations. â€Å"The supply chain of the new Apple iPhone and, at some point, the supply chains of the Apple TV, hope that this might help to demonstrate the complexity involved in manufacturing the Apple iPhone — a feature-rich product, I wish I could have, if I could afford it† (Supply Chain Management of Apple Inc 2010). Objectives of Apple Inc: 1. To maximize revenue. 2. To be the global leader among the high-tech brands . 3. To invent merchandises that will be useful, practical and sleek, and that which can appeal to customers all over the world, growing special attention to developed nations like Europe, United State and Canada, and the populous Asian states like Japan, China, India and South Korea. 4. To turn out to be the world's

Peer Reviewing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Peer Reviewing - Essay Example The main objective of peer reviewing is to undertake some sort of analysis about certain kinds of mistakes or making appropriate changes the work. Technically speaking, it means providing feedback on the work done by one another. Moreover, the concept of peer reviewing gives emphasis on improvement of the work. The first part begins with a clear, accurate and self explanatory definition to Technical Analysis. After deploying a relevant quotation from Pring that explains some additional facts about technical analysis, the paper focuses on the basic principles used by technical analysts. The first theory, i.e. the current share price fully reflects all available information, is directly stated, but needs some explanation. It may be considered that technical analysts, based on this premise, believe that it is redundant to do fundamental analysis that all relevant information is already reflected by prices. They also say that news and news events do not significantly influence price. The motif behind the quotation added here is not clear. But, the statement and explanation of the second principle is clear and precise, and the words of David E Bowden enhances the merit of the work. The example given to clarify the different kinds of trends really works out; however, for providing for more speci fic information the trends need to be mentioned. There are recognized patterns with charts repeat themselves on a consistent basis. Technical analysts believe that prices trend. The third and the final principle is stated and explained in full. The author could have stated some examples of the psychological mindset of the investors who, according to the analysts, repeat the history. The detailed analysis of the first part, thus, makes clear that the work is directed towards the requirement of the questions. This is the first impression that comes to mind while analyzing the work. A close review of the second question before such an attempt in the answer is helpful in making a right analysis of the second part. Here it is clear that one needs to discuss three different types of charts used in technical analysis. It is equally important to note that the discussion is expected to differentiate between the charts selected, on the basis of specific points like different inputs used, types of decision making that arises from analysis etc. Now, to review the answer provided, it may be remarked that the introduction to the different charts tells about the range and variety of the charts used. The section discusses about the three main types of the charts as required. But it seems that it has completely ignored the second part of the question as it fails to identify the differences between the charts. No comparative analysis is also undertaken. The paper needs to include such an analysis that distinguishes between the three types of charts. The candlestick chart is in troduced and explained well. However, the another doesn't elaborate the characteristic features of the chart that separates it from other types of charts. Such a comparative analysis would not only explain the chart better, but also meet the requirements of the question as well. This particular observation is applicable to the rest of the charts too. The charts are discussed in isolation and no

Achieving Cultural Change Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Achieving Cultural Change - Research Paper Example In a workplace it is necessary to work in harmony and in tandem with the co-workers. The success of any organization depends on the performance of the team. OB helps to provide guidelines for effective team management. The motivation among team actually results in delivery of better work in organization and OB helps to focus on the issue (Mcshane & VonVonGlinow, 2010, p.1) The problems of Bull information can be solved by the help of OB. In the case of Bull information, the new director arriving in the company had to deal with critical problems of the organization. The organization was facing problem in proper human resource management. The most important thing the new director noticed that there was no effective communication among the employees. Most of them were hardly had any commercial awareness regarding the working of the business (Allen and Thatcher, 1995). The top managers were only involved in the decision making process and many crucial decisions were unnecessarily delayed and fudged. The management was extremely task oriented and isolationist and there was the need for development both in the middle and upper level of management. The managers did not deploy any proper risk taking skills and absence of flexibility was evident in the overall working of the business. Proper knowledge of Organizational Behavior is helpful in managing such situations confronted by the company. The field of OB stresses on coordination, collaboration and proper communication between employees for attainment of the objectives specified by the company. The problem with the management team can be dealt by inculcating the ideas and values of leadership. Collective sense of purpose needs to be built among the team leaders, managers and executives to achieve the organizational goals. B. Systematic Research. The importance of systematic research is noteworthy in the process of decision making. The process of systematic research involves framing of research questions and collectio n of data and analyzing the data to reach a conclusive decision. The process of research instigates a confidence in the decision making and provides meaningful results (Mcshane & VonVon Glinow, 2010, p.24). During the change management of Bull information the, stress was provided on building up of an effective team. In order to find out the deficiency of the present working team in the organization and to prescribe the necessary remedial measures, an overall feedback from the rest of the organization was collected in the form of a questionnaire and was followed by a detail probing of the answers through personal interview (Allen and Thatcher, 1995). The general questions which were asked in the feedback included the understanding of the role play of the management team. The transparency in the responsibilities and authorities of the management team were questioned. General idea regarding the functioning of the group as a team was also considered and views of employees relating to th e strength and weakness were also derived from the questionnaire. General recommendation for enhancing the performance of the team was also taken from the employees in the interview process. The result derived from the survey reflected on the fact that there was no presence of unity among the groups and the group members carried on with conflicts against each other. From the result derived it became evident that plans and strategies need to be developed regarding building up relationship within the team and event was organized to inculcate values and setting up basic rules for the team to work in future. C Knowledge management Practice of efficient knowledge management

Marketing of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company - Essay Example When you go to a hotel, the hotel tries to emulate this feeling by trying to make your stay convenient and comfortable. In more common occasions, the hotel falls short of this and the guest would need to frequently or occasionally call for room service just to be able to make the hotel more comfortable. Therefore, with their personalize system, you don't really need to call room service anymore because it is already automatically provided for and it gives the hotel the opportunity to call and inform the guest for point of interest that they might enjoy. Rewarding loyal customers. - Through constant visits in the hotel, more data would eventually be gathered for the guest. Therefore, making it possible to give even more precise and better service to its guests. Food preference - knowing the food preference not only makes it convenient for customers to give the company decisions for their own food, especially convenient for people who would stay for a considerable amount of time and make a routine service for food. It is like having a personal cook which knows what you want to eat without telling them. Also, it helps the company prepare the food before hand, thus cutting preparation time. No need to call for room service - Since the hotel would know what each client would like, there would virtually be less need for clients to call room service.

Type A Influenza Virus And Why The Biology Of This Virus Is A Threat Essay

Type A Influenza Virus And Why The Biology Of This Virus Is A Threat To Human - Essay Example This is of great importance in the epidemiology of the disease. Antigenic variability is highest in influenza virus type A and less in type B, while it has not been demonstrated in type C. The internal RNP antigen and M protein antigen are stable but both the surface antigens, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, undergo independent antigenic variations, which may be of two types - antigenic shift and antigenic drift. Here, the new antigens, though different from the previous antigens, are related to them, so that they react with the antisera to the predecessor virus strains, to varying degrees. Antigenic drift is due to the mutation and selection, the process being influenced by the presence of antibodies to the predecessor strains in the host population. Antigenic drift accounts for the periodical epidemics of influenza. Antigenic shift, on the other hand, is an abrupt, drastic, discontinuous variation in the antigenic structure, resulting in a novel virus strain unrelated antigenically to predecessor strains. Such changes may involve hemagglutinin, neuraminidase or both. Antibodies to predecessor viruses do not neutralize the new variants and can, therefore, spread widely in the population causing major epidemics or pandemics.

Industrial Revolution Essay Example for Free

Industrial Revolution Essay Industrial Revolution is regarded as a very important period in human development which occurred in the period towards the end of the 18th century stretching to the 19th century. Industrial revolution is said to have begun in the United Kingdom and later spread to other parts of the world including the rest of Europe, North America amongst other parts of the world. During this period there were major transformations in the agricultural sector, transportation, and manufacturing among other spheres of life. These changes were to have profound impacts on the social, economic, and cultural life of the people in Britain which was the cradle of the revolution. This paper shall examine the central ways in which the Industrial Revolution changed the western societies. Impacts of the Industrial Revolution The inception of the Revolution is regarded as a crucial turning point in the history of mankind as it led to alterations in virtually every aspect of life. The Revolution started towards the end of the 18th century when there was mechanization of the textile industry, emergence of new iron making skills, and an increase in the utilization of polished coal. There were improvements in the transport network which facilitated exchange of goods and services. Generally, a growth in various industries was witnessed and manual labor was replaced by mechanization which led to increased production . The textile industry was among the first to feel the impacts of the industrial revolution. The invention of the cotton gin in 1794 brought efficiency in separating of cotton seeds from fiber. The discovery of the sewing machine in 1846 further revolutionized the textile industry as the making of clothes moved from homes to industries. Apart from the impacts of the industrialization on the domestic industries, the revolution led to increased productivity in the farms due to mechanization of agriculture. With increased productivity in the farms, industries cropped up and individuals clustered in particular regions working in the industries or engaged in trade. This eventually led to the development of towns and cities . Advancement in technology during this period led to the growth of capitalism as the owners of the means of production grew richer. There was an increase in the economic growth which was due to the new technologies of the industrial revolution as seen in the doubling of the UK’s purchasing power and a rise in the total national income during the 19th to 20th century . The revolution also brought about changes in the country’s political structures in Britain as capitalists begun replacing the land owners of the agrarian period to become influential in the country’s economic and power structure. There were also alterations in the working conditions as factories provided the workers with poor working conditions. These included poor ventilations, overcrowding, child labor was on the rise, and individuals were poorly paid and worked under dangerous and unsafe environments . The laborers were paid less wages that led to development of slums since they could hardly afford decent housing. The workers were generally working under extreme conditions which forced the government of the day to pass legislations that would govern the interests of the workers. The workers also initiated efforts that resulted in the creation of trade unions which agitated for their interests . The Industrial Revolution also led to developments in the transport and communication sector. Several inventions led to the efficiency in this sector as road networks were improved, water transport boosted through the invention of steam engines, and communication made easier especially with the discovery of telegraphic machines. Railway transport was also developed and this eased the transport of bulk goods, products, and raw materials to the industries . Conclusion There is no doubt that industrial revolution was a defining moment in human history. There were great advancements and innovations that were aimed at making life more efficient at the same time increasing production. Though the revolution came up with its challenges, it remains to be a crucial part of human history as it totally revolutionized the world into a new order.

Understanding the various World Climate Types

Understanding the various World Climate Types Scientists used the word â€Å"Climate† to describe the precipitation and temperature of an area for a long period of time. They have defined the factors that have a great effect on temperature. These factors include latitude, wind, elevation, as well as the effect of the nearby ocean currents. The scientists pointed out that the factors which contribute primarily to precipitation are the prevailing winds and mountain ranges. As for the earths major climate zone, the scientists have divided the earth into three main regions: polar, temperature and tropical zone. In this study, we will discuss all that matters in details in addition to other matters which are related to the climate. (Ruddiman, et.al; (2005) 1- Factors affecting climate 1.1 Elevation: it is clear that the higher you go, the colder it gets. When oxygen becomes less in the air, it affects vegetation. The oxygen exists in the rain shadow of mountains leads to relief rain ( in the matter of fact the monsoons occurred when air goes up to passes over the Himalayas, carrying a lot of water. When it goes up, it cools and so cant carry the water, therefore it rains). 1.2 Latitude, location: the further you are from the equator, the colder it is. This because the sun rays coming on the earth are less and, therefore, they have less warming effect because the angle of the planet becomes near water resulting in altering the high specific heat capacity comparing to land. This means that water has the ability to absorb a lot of energy without showing a very big change in the temperature. The reverse is also true. Therefore the islands and areas which are surrounded by water have fewer variations in the temperature degree over the course of the year (including day and night, than continental places. (William F. Ruddiman (2005) 1.3 Wind: in the matter of fact, wind leads to reducing the ability of a place to support life. This because it removes away all the soil as well as what is needed to start life. At the coast, for example ,life only begins on the strand line because that keeps providing a little shelter against the wind , therefore the plants become capable to grow and they, in turn, lead to trapping the debris to become a bigger wind shelter etc. however, without the wind shelter, it would have just blown away. 1.4 Oceans: the oceans have a great effect on the climate. The Indian Ocean, for example, represents a signature of climate change over the past years. It has showed the temperatures the climate near Australia. By measuring and analyzing the climate, it is clear that there are changes in features of the ocean that cannot be explained by natural variability. These changes on the ocean climate are almost related to changes in the heat structure of the atmosphere and this affected the temperature of water by raising it in the Indian Ocean of around two degrees Celsius. There are many other factors such as atmosphere (thickness, composition), shape of land, ozone, and natural disaster such volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, etc. 2.0 Earths major climate zone 1. Polar o It is a known fact that the polar climate zone goes from North and South Poles to 60 degrees latitude. The annually average temperatures stand below freezing, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There are some famous polar zones which include Alaskas and Canadas northern coasts as well as the southernmost tip of South America, in which the snow melts during the warmest periods of the year. Many areas have layers of ice or glaciers. They get up to 10 inches of precipitation yearly, this, in turn; result in making the area very dry. 2.2 Temperate o It is a known fact that the temperate zone is situated between the arctic or Polar Regions and the tropics, ranging from nearly 23.5 degrees to 66.5 degrees latitude, north and south of the equator. The areas which are very far from the equator may have snow during the winter season. The rains fall throughout the year closer to the equator. Yearly, the average temperatures range from 41 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Inland deserts are also included in temperate zone includes, such as the Gobi Desert in Central Asia and the Great Sandy Desert in Australia. (Edwards, et.al; (2001) 2.3 Tropical Zones o Tropical zones, in the matter of fact, tend to cover the area ranging from the Tropic of Capricorn, situated at 23.5 degrees south latitude, up to the Tropic of Cancer, situated at 23.5 degrees north latitude. The Tropical zones include high temperatures as well as humidity levels. Throughout the year, the temperature degree remains above 64 Fahrenheit. Throughout the day, temperature degree sometimes exceeds 95 Fahrenheit. It is known that the tropical climates have sub-tropical zones including rainforests, semi-arid zones and savannas. These climates have high levels of humidity as a result of the air convection and vertical uplift. Climate Changes In the matter of fact, the climate changes all over the world. Actually, we have new changes in the climate throughout the world. No one, all over the world, can deny this fact. Those changes may have a great effect on life throughout the world in general and on the Arabic area in particular. In fact, the problem of climate change has a relationship with the problems of the water or rivers resources and human health; therefore, these changes may have a negative effect on the economy of various countries throughout the world. Rising of temperature may lead to the destruction of many beaches; the matter may result in causing harm to the animals in the oceans. World Climate Type The Kà ¶ppen Climate Classification System is the system which is used throughout the world to classify the various types of climates in the world. The categories of this system are based on the annual and monthly averages of temperature as well as precipitation. The Kà ¶ppen system has identintified five major types of climate , each one of these types is distinguished by a capital letter. A Tropical Moist Climates: it a known fact that this type of climate has average temperatures exceeding 18 ° Celsius all months. B Dry Climates: it is well known that this type of climate has deficient precipitation nearly throughout the year. C Moist Mid-latitude Climates: this type of has Mild Winters. D Moist Mid-Latitude Climates: this type of climate has Cold Winters. E Polar Climates: this kind of climate has extremely cold winters and summers (Ruddiman, et.al; (2005) There are also 8 biomes. It is known that they represent the tropical forest, dessert, temperate grassland, savannah, temperate forest, coniferous (pine) forest, chaparral and tundra. There are some people who may count High Mountain and arctic as two extra biomes, however they theyre not really biomes because they dont have almost n plant life, How the oceans influence the climate It is a well known fact that the oceans have a great influence on the climate over long as well as short time-scales. On the longest time-scale of geologic time, the location and shape of the continents leads to specify the oceans circulation patterns. As continental plates drift at nearly 5 cm per year and mountain ranges rise by nearly 1 mm, it takes usually many years for new land formations in order to change the oceans. In the matter of fact, the patterns of ocean circulation can also change rapidly, leading to climate fluctuations and variations on a human time-scale. Records of regional, in particular, and global, in general, climate indicates periods continuing from years to centuries during which the climate was systematically different from earlier and later periods. Most of the scientists believe that this behavior has a relationship with the changes in the way that the oceans store and transport heat, though the precise causes of these changes are not always clear. (D. Q in, et.al; 2007) The scientists assured that there is a strong link between the oceans and the atmosphere indicating that they together form the most dynamic component of the climate system. The temperature and circulation patterns of the atmosphere-ocean system can be altered as a result of changes in external factors such the distribution of various plant species, the suns energy or the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Atmosphere and oceans can also generate internal fluctuations because they are turbulent. The currents and temperature of the underlying ocean can also be directly influenced by the short-term changes and fluctuations in wind or temperature (namely, weather), meanwhile oceanic fluctuations can diminish, magnify, or modify the atmospheric fluctuations. The scientists assured that the oceans play an important role in storing carbon and heat. The change in temperature becomes greater and faster over the land than the over the oceans especially when the earths surface cools or is heated by the sun. The ocean spread the effects of the temperature change for great distances through vertical mixing and convective movements because it is a fluid. On the contrary, the solid land cannot, therefore the suns heat penetrates only the thin, upper crust. The oceans ability to absorb more heat resulted in that when an area of ocean becomes cooler or warmer than usual, it takes much longer for that area to revert to normal than it would for a land area. This clarifies the reason that makes maritime climates tend to be less extreme than continental ones, with smaller day-night and winter-summer differences. The powerful currents lead to moving the oceans waters constantly. The currents of the surface are largely wind-driven, though the presence of continents, the rotation of the earth, as well as the oceans internal dynamics have a great influence. The density differences produced by cooling and heating as well as by and evaporation and precipitation lead to driving the deep-ocean flow. The behavior of the atmosphere actually has great effects on these density differences. Clouds, for example, can lead to cooling the sea by preventing the warming rays coming from the sun or reducing the surface salinity by bringing rain. The wind can also have a great influence on the evaporation rates by blowing more weakly or more strongly. By transporting heat, these currents have a great influence on the climate. The horizontal currents, especially the currents moving north or south, can carry cooled or warmed or water as far as many thousand kilometers. After that, the displaced water can cool or warm the air as well as the land over which this air passes. Water from the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, for example, moves north through the Atlantic in a current with is well known as the Gulf Stream. There it passes the shores of Western Europe, resulting in producing the climate which is mild for that latitude. Scientists asserted that the currents which are involved in deep-water formation are very important for climate. Surface cooling, in winter, makes water become denser. (As the fresh-water which is cooled begins to expand at temperatures less than 4 C, salt-water continues to compress all the way down to its freezing point of -2 C.) .In the areas where the evaporation becomes more than precipitation, the resulting rise in salinity leads increasing density. Convective overturning occurs as well as the dense surface water mixes downwards especially when the surface water becomes denser than the underlying water. In some places this downward mixing can extend all the way to the bottom, even in deep oceans. Therefore, the dense, deep water which is formed spreads throughout the ocean. When the downward mixing occurs at high latitudes, as a result, it leads to creating a circulation pattern where the warm water from tropical and subtropical regions moves pole ward, surrenders heat to the a tmosphere, sinks, cools and flows back towards the equator. This in turn resulted in transporting the heat pole ward. Now it becomes clear that a small change in just one aspect of the oceans behavior can result in producing major climate variations over very bi areas of the earth. The cold-water formation areas represent good example of this possibly wide-spread phenomenon. Although the scientists asserted that there is an urgent need for conducting more researches, the oceanographers agreed that, as for the whole area north of 30 N latitude, the oceans pole ward transport of heat is equivalent to nearly 15 watts per square meter of the earths surface (W/m2). This actually can be compared with about 200 W/m2 from direct sunshine, and nearly 6 W/m2 for what climate change models predict will happen if the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide doubles. Ocean core records, recent observations, and many results denoted that North Atlantic deep-water formation as well as its ocean heat flow changes and fluctuate substantially over time-scales ranging from years up to millennia. Effect of climate change on oceans In the matter of fact, the climate change and variation may have a great effect on the oceans throughout the world. Actually, from the south Arctic with its diminishing sea ice to the new low-lying beach areas in England to the Great Barrier Reef, the temperature of the planet raised more than the last century. The sea level is continuously rising. The CO2 gas levels are constantly increasing. The planets and animals are appearing in some areas and disappearing from others. As for the climate variation and change, the oceans represent a wonderful source of indicators. The climate change, in general, has a great effect on these oceans are affected. The Climate change has also a great effect on the ocean animals such as the sea turtles, polar bears, penguins, right whales, lobsters, seals, and cod. The beach sea fish are also involved; therefore it is too important to work on ways that may lead to reducing the negative impacts that the climate has by supporting the research, creating pristine marine protected sanctuaries and promoting sustainable seafood. (Hansen, et.al: (2000). Conclusion Finally, we can safely say that climate play an important role in our world. In this study, we have tried to cover some of the main sides of the climate in the world. First, we touched upon one of the main sides of the climate in the world, namely, the factors that have a great effect on the climate explaining how these factors affect the climate greatly. Then we moved to another important point, that is, the earths major climate zone explaining how the scientists have divided the earth into three major regions: polar, temperature and tropical zone. We didnt stop at this point, but we continue to shed the light on the world climate type, the oceans influence on the climate and the effect of climate change on oceans to end our study with the effect of the climate change on the Indian Ocean.

Relationship Between Gender and Health

Relationship Between Gender and Health Sex, Gender and Health Introduction One of the main objectives of the National Health Service set out in the 1940’s was â€Å"To ensure that everybody in the country-irrespective of means, age, sex, or occupation-shall have equal opportunity to benefit from the best and most up to date medical and allied services available (Ministry of Health, 1944). Although the words equity and equality do not feature in documents from the early days of the NHS, there are many reasons to conclude that the service was intended to provide equal access or actual treatment for those in equal need (Delamothe, 2008). This concept had been refined since then, and an equitable health service is understood to mean â€Å"one where individuals’ access to and utilisation of the service depends on their health status alone.† (Dixon et al., 2003). There are many explanations for factors attributable to differences in the equity of care, such as income, income inequality, social connectedness, and social capital, which have al l shown some association with health and illness (Berkman Syme, 1979; Fiscella Franks, 1997; Kawachi et al., 1997; Lomas, 1998; Naidoo Wills, 2000). This paper shall examine the meaning of gender as another of these determinants of health. The differences between the terms sex and gender shall first be discussed. Secondly pathways through which gender effects health shall be examined, paying particular attention to risk behaviours, gender roles, and gender discrimination. Finally, the differential exposure and differential vulnerability hypotheses shall be discussed. Sex and Gender Raymond Williams argued that vocabulary involves not only ‘the available and developing meaning of known words’ but also ‘particular formations of meaning-ways not only of discussing but at another level seeing many of our central experiences’ (Williams, 1983 p15). Language in this sense embodies ‘important social and historical processes’ in which new terms are introduced or old terms take on a new meaning. Often ‘earlier and later senses coexist, or become actual alternatives in which problems of contemporary belief and affiliation are contested’ (Williams, 1983 p22). The introduction of ‘gender’ in English in the 1970s as an alternative to ‘sex’ was to counter the implicit and explicit biological determinism pervading scientific lay language (Krieger, 2003). Sociologists describe sex as the relatively unchanging biology of being male or female, while gender refers to the roles and expectations attributed to men and women in a given society, roles which change over time, place and life stage (Phillips, 2005). Genetic profile and hormone profile are both examples of sex, a constant set of biological characteristics that remain the same across societies, whereas expectations about the imperative to bear children, the nature of parenting, or the status of being a mother are more to do with gender roles and expectations. Gender has an impact on health in a variety of ways. Gender inequalities in health While women generally experience poorer health than men, the pattern of gender differences in health is varied (Arber Cooper, 1999). Women have lower rates of mortality but, paradoxically, report higher levels of depression, psychiatric disorders, distress and a variety of other chronic illnesses than men ( McDonough Walters, 2001). The direction and magnitude of gender differences in health vary according to the symptom/condition and phase of life cycle (Denton et al., 2004). Female excess is found consistently across the lifespan for distress, but is far less apparent, even reversed, for a number of other physical conditions and symptoms (Matthews et al., 1999). Gender inequalities in income and wealth make women especially vulnerable to poverty. In some parts of the world this makes it difficult for them to acquire the necessities for health, especially during the reproductive years when family needs are greatest (Doyal, 2001). Social norms about the diversions of responsibility mean that many women have very heavy burdens of work, especially those who combine employment with domestic duties, pregnancy and child rearing (Naidoo Wills, 2001). Often, women in the house receive very little support and many are abused by their family members. It has been estimated that 19% of the total disease burden carried by women aged 15-44 in developed countries is the result of domestic violence and rape (World Bank, 1993). Further to this, anxiety and depression are reported more in women than in men in most parts of the world, yet there is no evidence that women are constitutionally more susceptible to such illness (Doyal, 2001). In Africa, powerlessne ss and lack of control underlie much of the exposure to HIV/AIDS amongst the female population. Disproportionate barriers (relative to men) in access to resources such as food, education and medical care disadvantage women in much of the developing world. In males risk taking behaviour is the norm amongst males in the developing world. Risk taking behaviour and its effects on male health There are now many links on the interaction between masculinity and health emerging (Schoefield et al, 2000). The development and maintenance of a heterosexual male identity usually requires the taking of risks that are seriously hazardous to health (Doyal, 2001). One of the most obvious examples of this regards the working environment. In many societies it is traditional for the man to assume the role of the provider, thus putting males at risk of dying prematurely from occupational accidents (Waldron, 1995), and although there are more women in the labour force, men from the poorest communities still do the most dangerous jobs. Further to the risks of the workplace, men often feel compelled to engage in risky behaviour to â€Å"prove their masculinity†, thus they are more likely than women to die in a car crash or dangerous sporting activities (Canaan, 1996). Men are also more likely than women to drink to excess and smoke, which increases ones physiological predisposition to early heart disease and other related problems (Doyal, 2001). They are also more likely than women to desire unsafe sex. A study in Ontario, Canada examined the causes of male deaths between birth and age 45. There reported 1,812 male deaths, of which 1,372 (76%) are due to motor vehicle accidents, suicide, and AIDS, leaving 440 deaths unrelated to behaviour. Although the male excess of deaths from car accidents may, in part be attributable to greater distances driven and not behaviour while driving, the male relationship with the automobile is almost certainly another aspect of gender roles. Only 308 (33%) of the 936 female dea ths are explained by such behaviour. When non-risk taking causes of death are isolated from the data, women under age 45 have a mortality which is 1.43 times that of mens. Over age 45 the leading causes of death for both men and women are chronic diseases. Men die of heart disease in equal numbers but at a younger age than do women. With increasing age the number of deaths for women creeps upward to equal that of men (Phillips, 2005). Differential exposure and differential vulnerability hypotheses Since gender is a measure of both biological and social differences, it is likely that the health inequalities between men and women reflect both sex-related biological and social factors, and the interactions between them (Denton et al., 2004). There are two general hypotheses that account for these gender based inequalities in health. The differential exposure hypothesis suggests that women report higher levels of health problems because of their reduced access to the material and social conditions of life that foster health (Arber Cooper, 1999), and from greater stress associated with their gender and marital roles. Many studies have shown that women occupy different structural locations than men: they are less likely to be employed, work in different occupations, and are more likely to be on lower incomes, and to do domestic labour and to be a single parent than men (Denton Walters, 1999). There are also gender differences in exposure to lifestyle behaviours, such as those prev iously mentioned (that men are more likely to smoke, consume alcohol) as well as having an unbalanced diet and being overweight, while women are more likely than men to be physically inactive (Denton Walters, 1999). De Vries and Watt (1996) also suggest that women report higher levels of health problems because they are exposed to a higher level of demands and obligations in their social roles, as well as experiencing more stressful life events. Women also have lower levels of both perceived control and self esteem than men (Turner Roszell, 1994), though women report higher levels of social support (Umberson et al., 1996). The differential vulnerability hypothesis on the other hand suggests that women report higher levels of health problems because they react differently than men to the material, behavioural and psychosocial conditions that moderate health (Denton et al., 2004). Multivariate analyses have shown that men and women differ in vulnerability to some, but not all, of the social determinants of health (Denton et al., 2004). That is, the moderating effect of gender is determinant specific. Having a high income, working full time, caring for a family, and having good social support have been shown to be more importance predictors for predicating health in women than men (Prus Gee, 2003). Smoking and alcohol consumption are more important as discussed previously, are more important determinants of health for men than women, while body weight and being physically inactive are more important for women (Denton Walters, 1999). Furthermore, the effects of stress may be experienced and personified b y men and women in a variety of different ways. The literature appears to show that women react more to ongoing strains than men do, and are more likely to report and react to stressors experienced by others (Turner Avison, 1987), while men are more likely to mention and react to economic stressors (Wheaton, 1990). Zuzenak Mannell (1998) argues that women have a greater vulnerability to the effects of chronic stressors on health due to the greater stress associated with their family and marital roles. Denton et al., (2004) used multiple indicators of health and its social structural, behavioural, and psychological determinants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role that social factors play in determining health. They report that women’s poorer health is partly due to the reduced access, on average, to the material and social conditions of life that foster health, to their differential exposure to stressful life events and to everyday stressors associated with a women’s social roles. Men’s health also seems to be reduced by their greater likelihood to partake in risk taking behaviours such as smoking and excessive drinking. These, as well as physical activity are more important to men’s health. Conclusion Gender is a social construct, and sex is a biological construct. They are each distinct, and are not interchangeable terms. The use of the term gender facilitates discussion of the effects of social norms and expectations on the health of both males and females. It is clear that gender has many effects upon health and well being, and that this is a complex issue, with behavioural and psychosocial determinants of health growing out of the social context of peoples lives. This paper has discussed the social and structural context of peoples lives for health benefits – clearly a strong and well studies theme in the literature (Denton Walters, 1999; Denton et al., 2004). It seems that behavioural determinants play less of a role in predicting health, yet there effects also tend to be mediated by social structure (e.g. those with a low income are more likely to smoke, drink excessively, and be overweight and inactive. These factors can then, collectively, lead to chronic health pr oblems later on in life. It also seems reasonable to conclude that men and women suffer from different types of stressor. They also both cope in different ways. For example, the exposure hypothesis proposes that gender-based health inequalities are the result of the differing social location between men and women. There different life style behaviour’s and the differing number of chronic stressors and life experienced by men and women. The vulnerability hypothesis proposes that women’s health differs from men’s because they also react in different ways to factors that determine health. It seems then, that although there are many other sociological factors that can have an impact on health, there are many gender differences to account for also, making this a very complex issue. References Arber, S., Cooper, H. (1999). Gender differences in health in later life: the new paradox? Social Science and Medicine , 66 (6), 61-76. Bank, W. (1993). World development report 1993: investing in health. New York: Oxford University Press. Berkman, L., Syme, S. (1979). Social networks, host resitance and mortality: a nine year follow up study of Alameda County residents. American Journal of Epidermology , 109, 186-203. Delamothe, T. (2008). Universality, equity and quality of care. British Medical Journal , 336, 1278-1282. Denton, M., Walters, V. (1999). Gender differences in structural and behavioural determinants of health: an analysis of the social production of health. Social Science Medicine , 48, 1221-1225. Denton, M., Prus, S., Walters, V. (2004). Gender differences in health: a Canadian study of the psychosocial, structrual, and behavioural determinants of health. Social Science and Medicine , 58, 2585-2600. De-Vries, B., Watt, D. (1996). A lifetime of events: Age and gender variations in the life story. International Journal of Aging and Human Development , 42 (2), 81-102. Dixon, A., Le Grand, J., Henderson, J., Murray, R., Poteliankoff, E. (2003). Is the NHS equitable? A review of the evidence . Londone: London School of Economics. Doyal, L. (2001). Sex. gender, and health: the need for a new approach. British Medical Journal , 323, 1061-1065. Fiscella, K., Franks, P. (1997). Poverty or income inequality as a predictor of mortality: Longtitudinal cohort study. British Medical Journal , 314, 1724-1728. Kawachi, I., Kennedy, B., Lochner, K., Prothrow-Smith, D. (1997). Social capital and health: Implications for public health and epidemiology. Social Science and Medicine , 87, 1491-1498. Lomas, J. (1998). Social capital and health: implications for public health and epidermology. Social Science and Medicine , 47, 1181-1188. Naidoo, J., Wills, J. (2000). Health Promotion-Foundations for Practice. London: BailliereTindall. Phillips, S. (2005). Defining and measuring gender: A social determinant of health whose time has come. International Journal for Equity in Health , 4 (11), 1-4. Prus, S., Gee, E. (2003). Gender differences in the influence of economic, lifestyle and psyhco-social factors on later life health. Canadian Journal of Public Health , 94 (3), 94-102. Schoefield, T., Connell, R., Walker, I., Wood, J., Butland, D. (2000). Understanding mens health and illness: a gender relations approach to policy, reseacrh and practise. Journal of the Amercian Colege of Health , 48, 247-258. Scotland, M. o. (1944). A national health service. London: HMSO. Turner, J., Avison, W. (1987). gender and depression: Assessing exposure to life events in a chronically strained population. Journal of Neurons and Mental Disease , 77 (8), 443-455. Turner, J., Roszell, P. (1994). Psychosocial resources and the stree process. In W. Avison, I. Gotlib, Stress and mental health: Contemporary issues and prospects for the future. New York: Platinum Press. Umberson, D., Chen, M., House, J., Hopkins, K., Slaten, E. (1996). The effect of social relationships on psychological well-being. Are men and women really no different? Sociological Review , 61, 837-857. Waldron, I. (1995). Contributions of changing gender differentials in behaviour to changing gender differentials in mortalitly. In D. Sabo, G. Gordon, Mens health and illness: gender, power, and the body. London: Sage Publications. Wheaton, B. (1990). Life transitions, role histories, and mental health. American Sociological Review , 55, 209-223. Williams, R. (1983). A vocabulary of culture and society. Revised edition. New York: Oxford University Press. Zuzanek, J., Mannell, R. (1998). Life-cycle squeeze, time, pressure, daily stress, and leisure participation: A Canadian perspective. Society and Leisure , 21 (2), 513-544. 1

Narwhals :: science

Narwhals Introduction Narwhals, the unicorns of the sea, are very mysterious creatures that are not widely known. They are whales with many fascinating features and historical value. This research paper is answering the question, â€Å"What are Narwhals?†. General Description Monodon Monoceros, Latin for â€Å"one tooth, one horn†#; or Narhval, Norwegian for â€Å"corpse whale† , because of it mottled coloration suggests a bloated corpse#.Narwhals are in the white whale family, along with the beluga, but are actually covered with spots of black, white, gray-green, and cream. Newborns are dappled gray-brown, white spots come with age#. At birth the calves are about 5 feet long and 180 pounds. Male Narwhals can reach 16 feet long, not including the horn which is 8 to 9 feet long, and weigh around 3000 pounds. Females are around 13 ft. long, do not have tusks, and weight around 2000 pounds. Adult males and females are usually dark in the area of the head, especially top of the head and upper and lower jaws#. Unlike most other whales, Narwhals have no dorsal fin, instead they have a low bumpy ridge that begins at about the midpoint of the back and continues to the fluke#. Tusks The tusks, giving Narwhals the name â€Å" Sea Unicorn†, is actually a tooth that can reach up to nine feet long and can weigh up to 20 pounds. Males and females are born with two teeth pointing forward in the upper jaw#. The left tooth of the male grows long and spirals counter clockwise toward the tip. On rare occasions there have been Narwhals with twin tusks. Research on Narwhals supports the idea that the tusk is both a weapon and a symbol of dominance in ritual displays#. Some other ideas about what the tusk is used for include the following: ice breaker or and instrument to poke breathing holes in ice#; rake to stir up the sea bottom for food#; skewer to impale prey species#. One hundred out of three hundred and four males tusks are broken, this might be a result of fighting#. Narwhal tusk can heal itself. Newman, a whale expert, suggests,â€Å"If the tusk breaks, it is possible that infection is avoided because of dentine deposits which fill the broken end. This repar ative function could explain descriptions by old whalers of Narwhals with broken tusks exhibiting a ‘plug’ in the broken end†# .Tusks sold for $1.25 a pound in 1962, in 1974 it went up to $25 a pound, and in 1976 it was $35#.

Wake Up Girls Essay -- Media Fashion Papers

Wake Up Girls Sometimes we lose sight of what is important in life and that is when it is necessary to take a step back to reconsider the direction in which we are going. Teenage girls today are becoming less and less original and more generic. Generic symbolizing how alike teenage girls look. It is disturbing for me as a teenage girl to hear and see what teenage girls believe to be imperative in order to be happy and successful. The media in America has everything to do with what is going wrong with the lifestyles of young women. This is when we, as the target group for media, need to reassess our values and the meaning we wish to fulfill in our lives. I believe the media recognizes the influence that they possess over teenage girls but because such good profits are coming in off of movies, clothing, magazines, and other materialistic products, they find no need to stop or redirect their motives. A petite young girl strutting out of Abercrombie & Fitch wearing a black sequenced mini-skirt with a matching black top that is skin-tight against her undeveloped chest walks by at our local mall and unfortunately this is not so rare. Young girls in elementary school wearing skinny strap tank tops and make-up is unnecessary and frightening. It is sad to think that young girls are already caring at that age how they look and what other people might think of them. When I was in elementary school, which was not too long ago, I did not have a care in the world of what I was wearing and most of the girls around me seemed to be oblivious to each-other’s clothing. I actually think my mother still dressed me. So I believe it is valid to say that the influence of the media is becoming greater and it has stimulated children si... ...d hear we need to be able to block it out. The media has influenced us enough in the wrong direction and I believe it is time we influence them in the other direction. Seventeen; â€Å"Young Woman Today Take a Stand and Leave Behind the Generic Route That the Media was Guiding Them Toward.† Now that would be an issue worth the five dollars.N Works Cited Cooper, Peter J, ed., and Allen Stein, ed. Monographs in Clinical Pediatrics: Feeding Problems and Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents.Vol 5. Philadelphia: Harwood Academic Publishers,1992. Russell, Gerald F.M. â€Å"Impact on Puberty of Anorexia.† Cooper 90. NationalEatingDisorders.org.22 Sep. 2003. Statistics; Eating Disorders and Their Precursers. 23 Sep. 2003

Care Support

Assisting skills The role of the heath care assistant in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for client. Comprehensive description of clients needs. My client is 77 year old man with diabetes. He lives with his wife. My client is weak and depressed. He smokes cigarretes knowing that he is not allowed, he dont go out and the man is always grumpy. I dont know to much about him cause he never really talks but watch TV. He doesn't have a children but his wife looks after him.My task is to assist him with the shower, get ready all his toiletries beforehand, help him to leave his walker outside the door, make sure his feet is looked after well, make sure he wears a fresh, clean clothes every time after his shower. Accurate identification of assistance required. As my client has reduced vision and weakness I help him with his morning shower. My task is to make sure he is safely washed, I observe everything corectly and report everything in the book for the nurse.My client use elderl y walker with seat so everywhere he walks he is safe to sit down and rest for while even if it's only short distance in the house. In the bathroom he sits on the chair and there is non slip bathroom mat as well. He has a very tick glasses because of his reduced vision. Gentleman has to take injections every day which gives him his wife. When I visit my client I make sure my hands are washed and I wear disposable apron and glows. I take my client to the bathroom which is nice and warm.He walks with his walker till there. I make sure all things out of his way so he don't bump into something hard cause he might not feel the pain that can worn him to a serious injury. In the bathroom my client first brush his teeth. For man hygiene I check if his toothbrush is changed every three months and he has a soft one cause hard one toothbrush can tear gum tissue which might bring to infection. For the man safety I make sure that shower is warm not hot cause that could dry out his skin which is n ot safe for diabetic. I use mild hower gel If there is any scratches on my client's skin I use soft soap and water to wash it off not alcohol or antiseptic hygiene creams. After his shower I put moisturising cream on my client's skin. â€Å"People with diabetes are more susceptible to foot problem but spending some time carying of their feet on regular basis can help keep them healthy (G. Gardner, Dolores 2011)†. I keep my client's feet clean every day. I wash it daily with soft flannel and mild soap. I dont leave the man in shower too long cause too long soaking in the water only causes skin dry out more.I use soft towel to completely dry his feet remembering to dry between each and everyone of his toes. I never use moisturiser between his toes. I put lotion only on the tops and bottoms of his feet. For my clients hygiene he wears every day clean socks, mostly 80% catton or wool which helps to absorb sweat and feet can breath. I always talk true everything I do so my client is in understanding about everything. The client has been complaining about asthma so I have forwarded this to the nurse and she has arranged doctor appointment for my client.Clear recommendations on effective course of action to better meet client's needs. My client is very grumpy man and he always say he dont want to do anything and he dont need anything. In the mean time he tries to do as much as he can himself. In the shower I wash his back and I look after his feet cause he cant lean down. All I can respect his with to do everything as quick as I can and get him out from shower as soon as I can. I always listen the gentleman cough as he is smoker and its unaccepted for a diabetic. I remind him that he should stop smoking.When he brush his teeth I have a look in the sink in case he has been spitting out blood to make sure his mouth hygiene is right. I observe his skin while shower is there any red spots, swolling, scratches. I pay big attention on my clients feet, I look for bli sters, cuts, scratches, calluses, corns, ingrowing toe nails or signs of infection. Also I look for white, moist, wrinkly skin especially between toes. If there is any hot spots it could be underlying infection or inflamation. I would report this to the nurse strait away. I always cover my client with clothes as soon as he is out his shower respecting his ignity. I'm glad when my client tries to do as much as he can himself and always courage him to stay that way cause that keeps his self esteem. I always repect his privacy closing all blinds before shower. As my client is shy in front to me I respect his privacy and wash him quick but properly in the mean time. I always ask him does he has noticed any changes in his body since we last met. Evidence as reflection as a result on work experience. After my research I discovered that very important is to look after my clients feet if he is diabetic.Cant miss out one bit. I learned that diabetics has much more than only low sugar levels and there is few types of diabetes. After my discovery about this illness I care about client with much more attention on smaller details which I would not know before. Trying to be a better healthcare assistant I have to develop my ability to let my client to make decisions and choice because its too easy to take care too much and take control not noticing that I take away my clients independence and self-woth. I have to promote independence as much as I can.Other quality is smile. It's so important to dont get sad face just looking at the client. If client is grumpy carer need strenght to dont get the same. Sometimes its difficult cause I know I go to my client with best intention but seems client doesn't appriciate. That's where is need to learn to be strong and still smile and hope that my smile will make my client positive. References. Shoback edited by David G. Gardner, Dolores 2011, Greensparks basics ; clinical endocrinology (9th ed). New York McGrawhill Medical ppChapter 17 .

Greek Mask

The origin of masked theater dates back to Ancient Greece, between 550 BC and 220 BC. Initially masks were part of an annual festival dedicated to honoring Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and fertility. The festival, named City Dionysia, was held in Athens and the most significant rituals involved masked performances. Inspired by City Dionysia, the Greek acting fraternity soon decided to incorporate the use of masks into theater. Thespis, a Greek actor and writer was the first recorded actor to wear a mask in a play.It is from him that we have derived the word, â€Å"Thespian†, a synonym for actor. Greek masks were made from light weight, organic materials such as stiffened linen, leather, wood or cork. The masks had exaggerated, distorted facial features which allowed the audience to clearly see what character was being portrayed, whether it was a male, a female, a priest or a peasant. The wideness of the mouths also served as megaphone to amplify the actors’ voices in a massive theater. The costumes and props used in Greek theatre differed according to the play and character being presented.A peasant would wear shoes with a thin sole and a simple toga while a wealthy merchant would wear elevated platform shoes with colorful, embellished robe. If an actor had to play a female, then he would wear a mask with long hair and a chest device called a prosterniad to give the illusion of breasts. Since Greek plays were only performed by a maximum of three men and a chorus of fifteen, they needed versatility to be able to switch seamlessly from act-to-act and character-to-character. Actors needed to be able perform in front of a large audience and have good memorization skills, effective body positioning and spacial awareness.A loud, clear voice and singing capabilities was also important. The job of the chorus was to narrate and reflect on the action of the play as well as being extras if needed. Two of the most influential types of plays invented by the Greeks were tragedies and comedies. Tragedies were serious plays based on mythology and most often depicted the downfall of a hero or heroine. Tragic masks had mournful or pained expressions. The actors wore boots that elevated them above the actors to show status since the plays often involved depicting social hierarchy. Religious themes were more focused in tragedies while omedies were lighter in message and involved jokes, parodies and slapstick humor. Comedic masks had hugely distorted smiling or leering faces to convey mischievousness and hilarity. Today the tragedy and comedy masks are renowned symbols of dramatic arts. Unfortunately, any physical evidence of a Greek mask has not survived and the only source of evidence is from artworks and written accounts. There were several reasons why masks were incorporated in Greek drama. Masks allowed actors to easily play more than one character, especially since Greek drama had very few actors (no more than three men, excluding the c horus) in a play.The masks also allowed actors to portray animals and deities, and even female characters, since women were forbidden to act. Additionally, because the division between the stage and the audience of the theater was so vast, the exaggeration and noise amplification function of the masks allowed even the least-educated audience members to easily identify and hear the characters. The performance space itself was a large, open-air structure constructed on a specially chosen slope of a hill. The Greeks always performed in circular outdoor theaters to successfully project the voice of the actors to the immense number of spectators.Greek theatre is still considered to have one of the best stage acoustics, even compared to today’s theaters. Theaters, such as the Theatre of Dionysus, were built to entertain an audience of up to twenty thousand. They consisted of three principal elements: the skene, the orchestra and the theatron. The skene was a large rectangular build ing that served as an ancient equivalent of a backstage area. It was a place for the actors to change their costumes and masks and perform the killing scenes since it was considered to be inappropriate to depict a murder in front of an audience.The skene was also decorated to serve as a backdrop for the play, resulting in the English word â€Å"scenery. † Typically, there were at least two doors to allow the actors to exit and enter the skene and onto the orchestra. The orchestra was a flat semi-circular area where the performance or religious rites tool place. This was the stage where the actors performed on and were on average 25 meters wide in diameter. Some orchestras had an alter specially built for sacrifices dedicated to Dionysus. The theatron were the rows of tiered stones where the spectators sat.It was curved around the orchestra to allow the audience members to see and hear the play, even if they were at the very top. As Greek architecture continued to improve, the theaters became more elaborate and introduced the parodoi, paraskenion, proskenion, hyposkenion and the episkenion to the skene. Today, all that is left of the original skene of many Greek theaters is an arch surrounding the proskenion, which inspired the proscenium arch. Although Greek theater is quite different to what we have done in drama, we can certainly relate the practice of Greek mask theater to what we have learned throughout our mask unit.Like the Greeks, we had to learn to exaggerate our movement (through body language, articulation, clocking and tension states) to ensure the audience understood our storyline. We also incorporated the use of costumes and status like the Greeks to make our plays easier to understand. Because the mask concealed facial expressions, everything depended on the body yet we had to learn how to prevent from â€Å"talking with our hands†. Very much like the Greek actors who unaccustomed to the mask, suffered disorientation and restriction when masked, learning to perform fluidly with the mask was one of the biggest challenges we faced.We definitely learned that mask work was not easy. It required skill, patience and practice to create a short play that would capture our audience’s attention. In conclusion, Greek theater has certainly made a substantial impact on modern theater and drama. It is to the Greeks that we owe not only the first great plays of tragedy and comedy, but paved the pathway of mask theater, its acceptance in performing arts and of dramatic construction and theory. Thanks to the Greeks, today we know mask work is a dramatic art form that has centuries of history and should be respected and preserved.

Medical Tourism Promotional Action Plan

Promotional Action Plan Medical Tourism Marvin Wilcox Saint Leo University Our marketing plan for 2013 will focus on several mediums that are aimed at providing detailed information on the company and services provided, reaching new targets and offering incentives to previous clients and maximizing exposure. Five venues were chosen to take full advantage of our budget of $100,000 . The following is a synopsis of each venue: 1. Building a website 2. YouTube videos 3. Social Media 4. Mass Mailing 5. Local Business Networking with AmbassadorAction Plan #1 * Action Item:A fully functioning professional website based in the U. S with search engine optimizing (SEO) at a cost of $25,000 to be implemented March 1, 2013. * Objective:With 87% of travelers using the internet for a bulk of their travel planning, medical tourism needs to take advantage of this opportunity to capture consumer attention. Increasing our search engine optimization (SEO) makes it more likely that someone will find you r business online. This will be our broadest advertising measure targeting that 87%. Description:Our website will be equipped with a language translator with languages relevant to the geographic chosen. The website will present a strong brand by stating who we are, why we are better and the quickest means of contact. It will also present testimonials to provide credibility and build familiarity and trust based relationships. * Target Market:250 million underinsured Americans and the 20% of 250 million Americans that have pre-existing conditions. in addition to the 750,000 Americans that already travel abroad for medical and dental services.Also the 38% of Americans that is open to health care abroad. * Metric:For the first 90 days of the website, we expect further inquiries of 35% of all site visitors, 50% registration to a free monthly newsletter and 68% of those visiting partnered tourism sites to be redirected. Action Plan #2 * Action Item:Monthly uploads to YouTube beginning Mar ch 1, 2013 in support of the official website. The service is currently free of charge. * Objective:To convey credibility through video testimonials consisting of 3-5 min in length.To present information about tourism, the forgotten half of medical tourism and to create familiarity and confidence through a personal connection. * Description:The videos will show satisfied and happy clients reporting the variance in cost between domestic and international medical procedures and how the money saved can be used towards vacationing in the same locale. Also, the videos will contain information about destinations, things to do, restaurants and attraction to enjoy the full experience of being abroad. Target Market: The 92% of consumers around the world that say they trust recommendations from family and friends above all other forms of advertising. The 85% of 30- to 50-year-olds and 51% of 65- 75-year-olds that are active social media users. * Metric:The method will be proven successful if we receive booking from 20% of the viewers. Another measure is for 65% of the viewing public follow the link to the official website and 50% of that number result in hard inquires, bookings or subscribers to the newsletter. Action Plan #3 Action Item:We will engagement potential clients on a personal level via Skype. The service will cost $168 for one year of unlimited international use. * Objective:To make potential customers feel they are receiving individualized and attentive care by a brand they can trust before they even step a foot in a hospital. Also, it is important to us to strengthen relationships and trust. This will provide a light consultation with professional to provide answers and resources for some the most frequently asked questions. Description:This medium provides presence or the availability and willingness of our professional to communicate. We will use it for high quality of voice and especially for its free PC to PC service. Other supporting features include video conferencing, SMS, voicemail, long distance conferencing and inexpensive calls during travel. * Target Market: There are 500 million Skype users worldwide with 40 million users logged on during peak hours. Our target market are generally individuals between 45-65 who have a medical need for surgery and are looking to save money by travelling abroad.The secondary target is those that request a face to face question and answer session via Skype and have been redirected by our website. * Metric:Optimization will be recognized when 25% of site visitors and 5% of peak users request a professional consult session and of that number a minimum of 25% booking. Action Plan #4 * Action Item:Our firm will engage in local business networking with ambassadors. This service requires hiring two individuals specializing in international tourism and medical administration at a total of $75,000 per year. Objective:To facilitate procurement of visas, booking travel and airport pick up and drop of f. We also wish to broker consultations with professionals, accommodate for post-operative recuperation and arrange travel insurance. * Description:Our ambassadors will be responsible for networking with travel agencies, medical and dental professionals and insurance companies. They will act as liaisons on behalf of the firm to foster relationships with supporting organizations. Their main goal is to streamline the process of informing and preparing a client for participation in our program.They will also develop a working relationship with local medical professionals for redirection of the underinsured. * Target Market: There are 2466 travel agencies in Virginia available for a mutually beneficial cooperation of professionals. Also, healthcare providers seeking to lower costs by 80%-90% in India or 50%-70% in the middle-east. * Metric:Realization of our efforts acceptable when sales from networking opportunities for the period of one year reach 6 times the cost of the action item. Action Plan #5 Action Item:We will run a direct mailing campaign with promotional rewards for referrals and a budget of $1500 to begin March 15, 2013. * Objective:We will attract customers by introducing our company, informing the public of our products and services, generate customer loyalty and make sales. Offer invitations to visit a local office, official website or webinar of our firm. Finally, we will offer discounts on first time bookings and referrals. * Description:Our firm will conduct our direct mailing through USPS.The main visual content will be of a popular Asian or Middle-Eastern vacation resort and a medical professional in uniform. We will offer a message of physical recovery in peaceful fun surroundings. The emphasis of the material will focus more on the vacation aspect than the medical procedures therefore inscriptions referencing entertainment and amenities will be larger than those concerning medical practices. Also, the material will include a picture of a gro up of Westerners (Americans and Europeans) in ordinary middle class attire to symbolize the affordability of our products and services. Target Market: Primary for this venue will be ordinary working Americans with a median income of $60,000 yearly, adequately to slightly under-insured between the ages of 45-65. Secondary for this venue are those with ongoing medical issues that travel abroad at least once every 5 years with incomes upward of $100,000. * Metric:Progressive indicators will be an increase in call volume, website visits and return request forms for more information. The expected result is a 10% verifiable response volume that results in either referrals or bookings.