Definition Of Deviation From Ideal Mental Health - 3734 Words

Psychologists have tried to define abnormality in several different ways by using the following definitions: †¢ Statistical infrequency †¢ Deviation from social norms †¢ Failure to function adequately †¢ Deviation from ideal mental health ************************************ Slide 4/5: Tom- Statistical Infruquency Slide 6/7: Tom- Deviation from social norm †¢ Failure to function adequately means that a person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life. They may be unable to perform the behaviours necessary for day to day living, for example self-care, being able to hold down a job, interact with others, and make themselves understood. Rosenhan Seligman (1989) suggest the following characteristics that define failure to function adequately: †¢ Suffering †¢ Maladaptiveness (danger to self) †¢ Vividness unconventionality (stands out) †¢ Unpredictably loss of control †¢ Irrationality/incomprehensibility †¢ Causes observer discomfort †¢ Violates moral/social standards Problems with defining abnormality using this definition includes the fact that some mental disorders do not cause distress and that sometimes it is normal to be distressed. One problem with this definition is abnormal behaviour may actually be helpful for the individual. For example, a person who has the obsessive-compulsive disorder of hand-washing may find that their behaviour makes them cheerful, happy and able to cope with their day (McLeod, 2008). †¢ There are many typesShow MoreRelatedAbnormality Essay Discuss Two or More Definitions of Abnormality920 Words   |  4 Pages10 â€Å"Abnormality is very difficult to define. It can be hard to decide where normal behaviour ends and abnormal behaviour begins† Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality AO1 = 6 marks Knowledge and understanding of definitions of abnormality. AO2 = 6 marks Commentary on definitions of abnormality. The term ‘abnormal’ means deviating from the average. Therefore, if we were to adopt a literal approach to defining abnormality, we would conclude that any rare behaviour or ability was abnormalRead MoreCultural Diversity and Defining Abnormality Essay602 Words   |  3 Pagespsychologists to be sure that their definition technique would be effective and accurate in diagnosing all cases of abnormality. The main issue for psychologists regarding cultural diversity is that what may be considered normal in one place may be abnormal in another and therefore psychologist must consider this fact before making a diagnosis. Although the deviation from statistical norm and deviation from ideal mental health definitions are affected by cultural differencesRead MoreAbnormality Definition Essay1013 Words   |  5 Pagesin several different aspects... According to the English Oxford living dictionary (2017) abnormality as ‘’ Deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying. However, there are several ways of defining abnormality including: failing to function adequately, deviation from social norms; statistical infrequency; deviation of ideal mental health. When somebody isn’t coping with the demands and activities of everyday life, they are deemed to be failing to functionRead MoreDefining Abnormality Essay736 Words   |  3 PagesDefining Abnormality All of the definitions of abnormality that we have studied, have been culturally specific, meaning that, what may possibly be classed as normal in one culture, could be classed as extremely abnormal to another. This problem of cultural relativism limits the definitions accuracy in being able to define abnormality as a whole. It is near impossible to make an absolute statement about what is normal, or abnormal in human behaviour, purely becauseRead MoreIs Psychoanalysis Unscientific? Essay1035 Words   |  5 Pagesare basically jargon (like the term atom or cell). Epistemic values are another anomaly which are features that lend credit to theories. So, for example, one could point to the feature comprehensiveness, which is the feature that treats all forms of mental illness for effectiveness. Another anomaly is an exemplar. During â€Å"normal science† the scientist solves puzzles, and when he does finally solve one, it is known as an exemplar. As researchers puzzle-solved within a paradigm, anomalies start toRead MoreExamine the Concepts of Normality and Abnormality1419 Words   |  6 Pagesfaults. Since there is no clear definition of normality or abnormality – and symptoms of the same psychological disorders may vary not only between individuals but also between social and cultural groups, it is clear that a psychiatric diagnosis may be biased or even wrong. Definitions of normality and abnormality can also change over time. Another way to define abnormality is to consider when behavior violates social norms or makes others anxious. This definition is also problematic. Cultural diversityRead MoreExamine the Concepts of Normality and Abnormality1419 Words   |  6 Pagesfaults. Since there is no clear definition of normality or abnormality – and symptoms of the same psychological disorders may vary not only between individuals but also between social and cultural groups, it is clear that a psychiatric diagnosis may be biased or even wrong. Definitions of normality and abnormality can also change over time. Another way to define abnormality is to consider when behavior violates social norms or makes others anxious. This definition is also problematic. Cultural diversityRead MoreFunctional Definitions Of Normal Behavior2381 Words   |  10 Pagescircumstances and or situations that might influence any individual’s behavior during his/her lifetime. Therefore, we will look at two generic definitions of normal behavior for the opposite will be abnormal. Conformity to what any given society considers to be the ‘norm’ is normal behavior and deviation from this is abnormal behavior. This is the first definition of abnormality. In here if a person behaves in any way that is socially deemed to be against what that given society considers to be normalRead MoreComplexities of Normal Behavior1913 Words   |  8 Pagesstarting point of normality, then any behaviour that deviates away from this is seen as abnormal. However, as many psychologist and theorists have found there is much more complexity behind each label, this is due to diversity of people, cultural relativism and mixed societies within the world all trying to define their own concept of what is â€Å"normal† and â€Å"abnormal† human behaviour. It is very difficult to draw a solid line from where normality begins and finishes becoming abnormal. Through-outRead More Defining Abnormality Essay2201 Words   |  9 Pagesdefining abnormality is in terms of characteristics or behaviours that are statistically infrequent (the deviation from statistical norms definition). However, this does not take into account the desirability of a characteristic or behaviour. The definition also fails to recognise that in all cultures large numbers of people may engage in behaviours that constitute mental disorders. A further problem is the failure to identify how far a person must deviate before being ‘abnormal’

Corporate Finance - Concept Questions - 12247 Words

CONCEPT QUESTIONS - CHAPTER 1 1.1 ( What are the three basic questions of corporate finance? a. Investment decision (capital budgeting): What long-term investment strategy should a firm adopt? b. Financing decision (capital structure): How much cash must be raised for the required investments? c. Short-term finance decision (working capital): How much short-term cash flow does company need to pay its bills. ( Describe capital structure. Capital structure is the mix of different securities used to finance a firms investments. ( How is value created? ( List three reasons why value creation is difficult. Value creation is difficult because it is not easy to observe cash flows†¦show more content†¦( What are noncash expenses? Noncash expenses are items included as expenses but which do not directly affect cash flow. The most important one is depreciation. 2.3 ( What is net working capital? It is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. ( What is the change in net working capital? To determine changes in net working capital you subtract uses of net working capital from sources of net working capital. 2.4 ( How is cash flow different from changes in net working capital? The difference between cash flow and changes in new working capital is that some transactions affect cash flow and not net working capital. The acquisition of inventories with cash is a good example of a change in working capital requirements. ( What is the difference between operating cash flow and total cash flow of the firm? The main difference between the two is capital spending and additions to working capital, that is, investment in fixed assets and investment in working capital. 2.5 ( How is the Statement of Cash Flows in Table 2.4 different from cash flow of the firm in Table 2.3? CONCEPT QUESTIONS - CHAPTER 3 3.1 ( What are the two levels of the financial planning process? The time frame and the level of aggregation. ( Why should firms draw up financial plans? It accomplishes various goals: 1. It improves interactions between investment proposals for theShow MoreRelatedBrief Introduction Overview of McGraw Hills 9th Edition of Fundamentals of Corporate Finance655 Words   |  3 PagesReview Fundamentals of Corporate Finance – Ross, Westerfield, Jordan McGraw Hill Education (India), 2012, 878 Pp 9th edition ISBN: 13:978-1-25-9027628 Kumar Ratnesh* About Authors Stephen A. Ross is the Franco Modigliant Professor of Finance Economics at the Sloan School of management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Randolph W. Westerfield is Dean Emeritus of the University of Southern California’s Marshall school of Business. Bradford D. Jordan is Professor of Finance Holder of the RichardRead Moreassig11515 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Assignment – 1 Introduction to Financial Management Question 1: Separate the following list of assets into real assets and financial assets. What are the distinguishing characteristics of each type of asset ? Delivery truck, factory building, corporate bond, inventory, corporate stock , land , note receivable, computer Answer: Real Assets: A real asset is an object or a thing which provide service of some kind, such as transportation, shelter or the ability to produce somethingRead MoreArticles Relating to Capital Structure-Essay1658 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction on Capital Structure†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 Summary and Evaluation of Articles†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..8 References/Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 â€Æ' Introduction On Capital Structure :- In the field of finance capital structure means a way an organization or firms finances their assets by the way of some mix and match of Equity, Debt or Hybrid Securities. The modern thinking on capital structure is based on the Modigliani-Miller theorem given by Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller. TheRead MoreFinancial Capital Structure Essays1549 Words   |  7 PagesContents : Introduction on Capital Structure Summary and Evaluation of Articles Conclusion References/Bibliography Introduction On Capital Structure :- In the field of finance capital structure means a way an organization or firms finances their assets by the way of some mix and match of Equity, Debt or Hybrid Securities. The modern thinking on capital structure is based on the Modigliani-Miller theorem given by Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller. The theorem suggests that in a perfectRead More corporate governance Essay947 Words   |  4 Pages Corporate governance is a very poorly defined concept; it covers so many different economic issues. It is difficult to give a first class definition in one sentence. Corporate governance has succeeded in attracting a great deal of interests of the public because of its obvious importance for the economic health of corporations and society in general. As a result, different people have come up with different definitions that basically mirror their special interest in the field. It is difficult toRead MoreA Research On Corporate Finance And The Proposed Ideas On How Make Them More Efficient For Professional836 Words   |  4 Pagesobservation and research, the topic of corporate finance and the proposed ideas on how make them more efficient for professional h as been established in each industry and explored further. In the research article, Whither Efficient Markets? Efficient Market Theory and Behavioral Finance (2010), expands on the research proposed that issues in the measurements of markets and theories surrounding behavioral finance can be addressed through policy and proper finance knowledge. The strategy or methodologyRead MoreYou Work in the Corporate Finance691 Words   |  3 PagesYou work in the corporate finance Click Link Below To Buy: http://hwaid.com/shop/corporate-finance/ You work in the corporate finance division of The Home Depot and your boss has asked you to review the firm’s capital structure. Specifically, your boss is considering changing the firm’s debt level.Your boss remembers something from his MBA program about capital structure being irrelevant, but isn’t quite sure what that means. You know that capital structure is irrelevant under the conditionsRead MoreIntroduction to the Finance Company Project979 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction to the Finance Company Project Your team is required to analyze the future business and economic prospects of a major, publicly traded corporation using financial concepts and techniques as well as the concepts and techniques from other business areas. Make sure any statements you make in your analysis are consistent with the knowledge base of finance. Also please include your calculations (including spreadsheets), data sources (be specific, including date and page number(s)), andRead MoreThe Investment Decision, the Financing Decision and the Dividend Decision Are Sides of the Financial Management Triangle with Visible Interface. Examine This Statement Critically1666 Words   |  7 PagesFULFILMENT OF COURSE REQUIREMENT FOR MANAGERIAL FINANCE BY EMUCHAY KENNETH AZUBUIKE M.SC / FINANCE MATRIC NO: LUC/PG/09/ LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, IBADAN LECTURER: PROF WOLE ADEWUMI INTRODUCTION: In illustrating the relationship between the investment, financing and dividend decision angles of financial management we would first need to have a clear understanding of the concept of financial management as it relates to economicRead MoreWeek 1 Knowledge Check1287 Words   |  6 PagesKnowledge Check Concepts The Stakeholder Approach to Social Responsibility. Mastery Score: 15/18 Questions 0% 1 2 100% 3 4 5 67% 6 7 8 Company Mission 100% 9 10 11 Company Goals and Objectives 100% 12 13 Three Levels of Strategy à ¢ Corporate, Business-Level, Functional 100% 14 15 Strategic Management Process 100% 17 18 Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Management Ethics 16 Concept: The Stakeholder

Effect of Patient Preferred Music on Pain in Postoperative Patients Free Essays

string(180) " given an easy to use MP3 player with FM radio capability and will also be able to request their preferred songs and music to be downloaded to the device by the nurse researchers\." The relief of acute pain in adult postoperative patients continues to be a common problem despite the use of pharmacologic therapies. Unrelieved pain can cause various effects including: increased heart rate and blood pressure; increased need for oxygen; tachypnea; increased susceptibility to infection; and anxiety/fear (Swift, 2018). Nurses strive to provide the best care for their patients and this includes finding alternative ways to help with unrelieved pain. We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Patient Preferred Music on Pain in Postoperative Patients or any similar topic only for you Order Now Providing music as an adjunct to the standard of care for pain has been shown to reduce acute pain in postoperative patients (Comeaux Steele-Moses, 2013; Nilsson, Rawal, Unosson, 2003; Zografakis-Sfakiankakis et al., 2017). The following research proposal intended for the institutional review board (IRB) will discuss the purpose of the study; background and significance; participants and methodology; recruitment; participant confidentiality; participant safety; consent process; risks and burdens; benefits; cost and payment; data and document security; and follow-up and dissemination of results. Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to determine whether allowing patients to listen to their preferred choice of music compared to providing them with pre-selected instrumental music is more effective, when used as an adjunct to the standard of care for pain, on reducing the perception of pain in the adult postoperative patient. Background and Significance The review of literature was conducted by utilizing the following databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Google, Nursing Times, and Research Gate. Search terms included: music therapy, music, acute pain and postoperative pain. The review of literature proved that music, when used as an adjunct to pharmacologic therapy, is effective in reducing postoperative pain. Pain is an expected outcome of a surgical procedure, however unrelieved postoperative pain can lead to complications, delayed healing and, if not dealt with effectively, can become chronic (Swift, 2018, p. 25). According to Nilsson, Rawal, and Unosson, (2003) the best practice for postoperative pain control management should include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods (p. 700). Comeaux and Steele-Moses (2013) reported â€Å"According to the Joanna Briggs Institute (2009), music therapy as a non-pharmacological adjuvant to opioid analgesia is best practice in the management of pain and anxiety† (p. 313). In their own study, Comeaux and Steele-Moses (2013) found that the use of music therapy improved patient satisfaction of pain management in the postoperative period (p. 314). Another study also found that using music as an intervention tool in the acute postoperative period could be useful in promoting patient’s comfort and improving perception of pain (Zografakis-Sfakiankakis et al., 2017). Nilsson et al. (2003) reported that â€Å"Music is a non-pharmacological technique, that is inexpensive, non-invasive and has no side-effects that have been shown to reduce postoperative pain† (p. 700). Music therapy has been beneficial in treating patients with a wide range of diagnoses and is effective in reducing patients’ perception of anxiety and pain as well as the need for analgesia (American Music Therapy Association, 2010). While it has been proven that music can reduce postoperative pain, the preceding studies used pre-selected instrumental or classical music, there is limited research available in the clinical setting on the effects music has on pain with regards to providing patients with preferred music choices compared to providing them with pre-selected music. inlay and Anil (2015) conducted a cold pressor test study to induce experimental pain to determine the impact of music type on pain and stated that â€Å"Simply listening to music may not be sufficiently effective for managing pain if the music is not enjoyable for the listener†¦the more likable the music is to the individual, the better the effects of music listening on the pain† (p. 56). Therefore, it is important for nurses to know which type of music to implement, preferred or pre-selected, as an adjunct to reduce unrelieved postoperative pain. Participants and Methodology This study will be conducted as an experimental prospective randomized clinical trial in a Level II Trauma Center that has a complete team of general, specialty and trauma surgeons who perform a broad range of multiple surgeries daily. The anticipated number of participants is between 150 and 200 in a 2 month period. The inclusion criteria includes all patients age 18 or over who will be having an elective surgical procedure done, have an anticipated stay of 3 days or more, are alert and oriented and able to read and write English (for questionnaire purposes). Exclusion criteria includes any patient with hearing loss or hearing deficit making it difficult to hear the music. Data will be collected by placing participants into two study groups, the study group (preferred music choice) and the control group (pre-selected music). Using Zografakis-Sfakiankakis’ (2017) random selection algorithm participants, if they meet the inclusion criteria, will be selected by the following: on a typical surgical day, half of the patients, the 1st and 3rd patient or every other, will be included in the study group and then the 2nd and the 4th and so on will be included in the control group. A questionnaire will be given to all participants, since both groups with be listening to some type of music, and will include questions about demographic data including: gender, age, race, type of surgical procedure. The remaining questions will ask the participant to rate their pain using the numeric rating scale (0-10) before the start of and after listening to at least 30 minutes of music; what type of analgesic what administered for their pain; If any other non-pharmacologic intervention took place (i.e. repositioning or application of ice); what was the patient doing before, during and after listening to music (i.e. lying in bed, up in chair, walking in room/hall, talking with visitor, reading etc.); and the date and total time listened to music between each pain medication administration (with at least 30 minutes per session). The study group will be given an easy to use MP3 player with FM radio capability and will also be able to request their preferred songs and music to be downloaded to the device by the nurse researchers. You read "Effect of Patient Preferred Music on Pain in Postoperative Patients" in category "Papers" The control group will also be given an easy to use MP3 player, without FM radio capability, that is loaded with pre-selected, by nurse researchers, instrumental/classical music. All groups will be provided with earphones to use in order to prevent disruption to other patients. Recruitment Upon check-in at the hospital for their elective surgery prospective participants, who meet the inclusion criteria, will be asked if they would like to be involved in a voluntary research study during their hospitalization. The researchers will introduce themselves, including their credentials, and will verbally inform the individual that the study is trying to determine the effects that music has, in addition to receiving the standard of care for pain, on reducing postoperative pain. They will be informed that MP3 players as wells as earphones will be provided to them and that they will be required to fill out questionnaires during the study. Participants will be informed on how their information will be kept confidential, the risks and benefits of this study and after which will be encouraged to ask questions. Participant Confidentiality To ensure participant confidentiality and anonymity participants will be assigned a number that will be included on their questionnaires. The number that they are assigned will be determined by the order in which they leave the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). When leaving the PACU the nurse will give the known participants a manila folder that will contain the numbered questionnaires, MP3 player and instructions on use. The first paper that the participant will see when opening the folder will include a statement to them ensuring that the information that is collected from this study from them will not be divulged to others without permission. The instructions will inform the participants to place all questionnaires and MP3 player back in the envelope upon discharge, seal it and then leave it in the designated locked box at the nurses’ station. Participant Safety Listening to music is beneficial, not harmful and non-invasive. Participants will still receive the standard of care for pain. Therefore, in this study there is no risk for harm or harmful deception as both groups will be provided with a music intervention, either preferred choice or pre-selected, along with the standard of care for pain. There is no anticipated adverse events seen in implementing the intervention of music listening. Consent Process As part of the recruitment process, which includes providing information about the study, its procedures and allowing for questions, participants who have met the inclusion criteria will be informed that their participation in this study is voluntary and that if they choose to participate that they can withdraw at any time without consequences. The other components of the informed consent will include: basis for selection; duration of participation; risks and benefits; confidentiality of records; names of investigators and contact person; statement of voluntary participation and then signature lines which will indicate consent. Even though signatures will be obtained at the time of recruitment for informed consent, the researcher will not know the identity of the participant once the study begins as they will be assigned numbers randomly as they leave the PACU. All participants will be alert and oriented consenting adults. The participants will also be informed that once this study is finished that it is the goal to have it published in a journal for medical professionals to use as evidence for best practice. Risks and Burdens As stated earlier, there is to harmful effects or risks in the intervention of listening to music. However, potential burdens of this study could possibly occur when filling out the questionnaire. The participants will have to take time and effort to fill out the questionnaire each time they use the music therapy along with taking prescribed medication. This can pose as a possible inconvenience for them as they will be in a perceived state of pain. Benefits There are many potential benefits to the participants who take part in this study. As stated earlier music therapy has been beneficial in treating patients with a wide range of diagnoses and is effective in reducing patients’ perception of anxiety and pain as well as the need for analgesia (American Music Therapy Association, 2010). According to the American Music Therapy Association (2010) in addition to the reduction of pain and anxiety participants may experience: improved respiration, lower blood pressure, improved cardiac output, reduced heart rate, and relaxed muscle tension (p. 4). Furthermore, the results of this study can be beneficial in providing nurses and other healthcare providers with knowledge about the best type of music to use, along with the standard of care, in reducing unrelieved pain for their patients. This information can be shared and may be beneficial as an alternative to reducing pain in various other types of patient populations as well. Cost and Payment There will be no cost to the participants of this study as the MP3 players and the earphones will be provided to them by the researchers. No incentives will be given in recruitment or for participation in this study. Data and Document Security Documents for this study will be kept by the patient in the provided manila folder. Once the participant is discharged the sealed manila folder will be turned in by placing it in the designated locked box at the nurses’ station. The folders will be picked up on a daily basis. Only the nurse researchers will have access to the locked box as well as the questionnaires. All questionnaire collected from the hospital will then be kept in a locked filing cabinet when not being used by the researchers. The data collected including informed consent will be kept for a period of 3 years. Follow-Up and Dissemination of Results Participants will be given the researchers contact information and will have the option to contact the researchers after 3 months to either get the results of the study or be given an approximate date of when the results will be available. Upon completion of this study the aim is to present the research results at various presentations, submit the research results for peer review and then ultimately spread the knowledge and the evidence-based intervention through publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusion In conclusion, we have discussed the purpose of the study; background and significance; participants and methodology; recruitment; participant confidentiality; participant safety; consent process; risks and burdens; benefits; cost and payment; data and document security; and follow-up and dissemination of results. Researchers involved in this study welcome the critical evaluation of the IRB in order to ensure that the study will be conducted in a strong, ethical and legal manor. How to cite Effect of Patient Preferred Music on Pain in Postoperative Patients, Papers

Pepsis Strategy in Entering India free essay sample

Ð ¡o had been trying to enter the Indian market for quite some time with no success. In 1988 Pepsi received a letter from George Fernandes, the General Secretary of one of the countrys leading political parties, Janata Dal. He wrote, I learned that you are coming here. I am the one that threw Coca-Cola out, and we are soon going to come back into the government. If you come into the country, you have to remember that the same fate awaits you as Coca-Cola. This scared PepsiCo a bit knowing that their rival was forced to leave the country in 1977 after the Janata Dal came to power. PepsiCo had to think of a way to get in without facing the same consequences Coca-Cola had to face. In May 1985, PepsiCo joined with one of Indias leading business houses, the R P Goenka (RPG) group, to begin operations in the India. The company, along with the RPG group company Agro Product Export Ltd. We will write a custom essay sample on Pepsis Strategy in Entering India or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page , planned to import the cola concentrate and sell soft drinks under the Pepsi label. PepsiCos decision linked its entry with the development and welfare of the state was aimed at winning the government over. The fact that Punjab boasted a healthy agricultural sector played a role in PepsiCos decision. PepsiCo claimed that it would play a central role in bringing about an agricultural revolution in the state and would create many employment opportunities. It promised to create 50,000 jobs in the nation. Pepsi began by setting up a fruit and vegetable processing plants at Zahura village in Punjabs Hoshiarpur district. The plant then was focused on processing tomatoes to make tomato paste. Pepsi had a tough time convincing farmers to work for the company. Its experts from the US had to interact extensively with the farmers to explain how they could benefit from working with the company.

Stalin And Mao Essays - Anti-Revisionists, Marxist Theorists

Stalin And Mao History has shown that strong individuals and revolutionary ideas can have a major impact on a country. Leaders are often driven by what they perceive as a desire to create a more perfect country. Frequently their egos and methods sway them from the realization of the ideals they set out to achieve. Every country has encountered a noteworthy leader at one point or another. Some countries realize this, and take advantage of the fact, while others let him or her pass slip away. A great leader has an impact on a country, an impact that lasts, one that can be looked upon as an example for future generations. Mao Zedong, of China, and Joseph Stalin, of the Soviet Union were great leaders of their time. Mao and Stalin had similar objectives, means, and influences on their country. Both Mao and Stalin had similar ideas at the base of their pyramid of goals. Both leaders believed that Communism was the best system for a their countries. Mao said "If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. . . . If you want to know the theory and methods of revolution, you must take part in revolution. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience." Mao believed that some ideas may work better in one country, and not at all in another. By taking a bite out of the pear, you are changing the pear itself. By changing how you achieve your goals, you change the final product. Mao had many different plans to help China recover. One of the most widely know plans was the "Great Leap Forward." Mao encouraged people to work longer hours and even do work at home. This new plan called for the formation of large units called communes which incorporated agriculture and industry and were supposed to be self sufficient. This concept changed Mao's original "play" on Marxist Communism. Mao believed that reforms, such as the "Agrarian Reform"; Campaigns such as the "Hundred Flowers Campaign"; and plans such as the "First Five Year Plan" would help Communism rise in China. In 1966 Mao proclaimed a Cultural Revolution with two goals. The first was to strengthen his leadership position, and the second was to strengthen the Communist doctrine and restore the revolutionary spirit. He formed the Red Guards, a group of people dedicated strictly to Mao. Each Red Guard carried a copy of The Quotation of Mao Zedong, known as the little red book. Both Stalin and Mao had the objective to create a communist society for the good of the people These goals were corrupted by using total control, or a Totalitarian government as a means to achieve Communism. Stalin also created plans and campaigns to achieve Communism. Stalin was quoted saying "Comrades! We must abolish the cult of the individual decisively, once and for all." Stalin believed that a person's individuality should be abolished. Similar to the way Mao grouped workers together in communes during the "Great Leap Forward," Stalin also implemented many five year plans. He did this in a successful attempt to industrialize the Soviet Union. After the industrialization of the Soviet Union, Stalin went more towards a Totalitarianism system of government. Under the Totalitarianism government Stalin could carry out his objectives through repression, force and absolute rule. It has been proven time after time, that a person can not reach their goals unless they have the proper means. In many instances both leaders have been quoted saying that pure communism can not be reached without the aid of violence and that once pure communism is reached it is not hard to dominate other countries and defeat the enemy. As an example Chinese leader Mao was quoted saying "Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy." Mao is saying that in addition to Communism working for the commonwealth of society, Communism is working to defeat the enemy and therefore give more power to the country. Mao came to believe that defeating the enemy has a higher importance than the well being of the citizens. In China, after the KMT split with the CCP, many battles took place, some in which Mao led a small peasant army against the KMT. Similarly Stalin was quoted as saying "To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plan minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed . .. there is nothing sweeter in the world." Stalin is saying that one of the greatest

Popular Music of the Chinese Culture Essays

Popular Music of the Chinese Culture Essays Popular Music of the Chinese Culture Essay Popular Music of the Chinese Culture Essay Essay Topic: Popular The Joy Luck Club Screaming and crying androids: voice and presence in Chinese popular music is an article from the journal Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Volume 11, and published by Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group. They are a global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources in the humanities and social sciences, publishes it. One can find more information on the publishing company at www. routledge. com. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies provides a forum for scholars to critique on the cultural studies of Asia. It includes discussions, reports, and analysis aiming to enhance the communication and information exchange between inter-Asia and other cultural regions of the world (Taylor). The journal carries out a wide range of subjects on cultural studies, such as music, politics, economy, movements, and history. Jereon Groenewegen, author of Screaming and crying android: voice and presence in Chinese popular music, is Dutch, however he is a researcher of popular music in Chinese languages and an interpreter at Chinese cultural events in the Netherlands. His main interests are in pop, rock, and folk music. Groenewegen is also one of many authors in the Asia Pacific Arts Magazine and author of many other articles and blogs that contribute to his PhD project, The Performance of Identity in Chinese Popular Music, at Leiden University. Groenewegen has a unique style of writing that I like. He has subtitles for every different section, and the titles gives one a hint on what he is about to talk about. I can tell that he has a great grasp on Chinese culture based on his writing. How I can tell? I can tell because Groenewegen uses a lot of symbolism. If you have ever picked up a Chinese book or watched a Chinese drama, there are at least fifty objects in each piece that is used as a symbol for something part of life. In addition, each song or voice described in the article, the author finds a second meaning and interpretation for it. Screaming and crying androids seeks to understand the voice and teach one that it is much more complex than what meets the eye. It is not just for talking, singing, or yelling. In this article, one will see how the voice is part of the body and how it defines an individual. Groenewegen gave me the feeling that he was actually present at the artists concert listening and observing every beat and lyrics of every song. Antoine Hennion wrote that a persons voice is conceived as physiological and psychological (Groenewegen). In the article, it states, Songwriters and producers have a stronger presence in the artwork than the singer, I strongly agree. It was originally the songwriters or producers masterwork that led the singers to have a top hit single or cover. The writer had their own vision and their own voice put into it. It is difficult for an individual to tell someone how he or she feels. However, they can write down their true feelings on paper and then have it project through beats and lyrics of a song. The lyrics that are projected belong to the songwriter, unless of the course the songwriter and singer is the same person. However, in this case, let one just say they are not the same person. One can say that it is the artists heart and soul being poured out, but is it really? Was it really the artists own heart and soul? Or are they just singing what was on the paper? I do give them credit for making it sound good and their own. Songs evolve and get pass down orally, so eventually replications of the same song will become something new and unlike the original, which could be a great thing. Nevertheless, it was not initially their feelings and voice delivered. I believe that songwriters and producers do not get as much credit as they should. Just keep in mind that the voice an individual hears is actually the man or women not in front of that microphone. If one picks up a Chinese based book like The Joy Luck Club, watch a Chinese drama, or pay attention to Chinese lyrics, one can see that they hold many traditions. Perhaps the best place to find traditional music is at a funeral The music is heavy with percussion and carried by the mournful melodies of the suona, a double-reed instrument. However, nowadays, C-pop is the abbreviation for Chinese popular music. Not only does it cover Chinese pop, but also ballads, R;B, Chinese rock, Chinese hip hop, and Chinese ambient music (C-pop). As one can see that the world of music has evolved. One no longer has to go to such a depressing location like a funeral to enjoy popular music. Music ranges from a wide variety of pitches, tones, and emotions. One just has to find the right one. Groenewegen uses many song references to support each of his ideas of why singers do the things they do. He states, Lyrics often present romances as nostalgic past events, even while they are budding. Groenewegen researches deep into the different simple sounds of music. To him, different genres use a different voice like screaming for rock and punk, crying for romance and love, sneezing for musicals, and gurgling for diversity. Teng Geer and Cui Jian have introduced something called shout singing to the Chinese. Shout singing is a vocal technique used to instead of shouting at the top of their voices, it is restrained in the back of the throat, creating a rasp. This technique is a form of folk traditions and uncivilized individualism (Groenewegen). Although this method is uncouth it quite popular and has evolved since the 1990s and early 2000s. The article states, Popular music is dominated by the pathos of romantic ballads. When one watches a romantic movie, there are bombardments of melancholy scenes that provide them with melancholy background music. However, crying is not shown through the music because it is not entertaining (Groenewegen). According to Groenewegen, in the song Achoo-Cha-Cha sneezes represent boyfriends. Every day when we hear someone sneeze, we tell him or her that someone is thinking of him or her. Has one ever thought where that saying came from? I just recently learned that it came from the Chinese. According to Grace Changs lyrics, the sneezes are induced by absent lovers thinking of her, and she herself sneezes. Every sound and voice made is a movement of the body and it could define a person. Screaming and crying androids, is an article I want to suggest to everyone that enjoys learning about new cultures. It is not a very hard piece to read, and actually quite simple to understand after the first or second read through. I learned that popular music is not only in America but also everywhere around the world and the genres are quite similar to our nation. I really enjoy the way the author interprets and uses lyrics as symbolization that relates to everyday life and desires. As Groenewegen said, just like traditional Chinese landscape paintings cannot be reduced to a single perspective. This just purely means that there are other points of views out there about the Chinese popular music. Citation Asia Pacific Arts :: Jeroen Groenewegen. Asia Pacific Arts Online Magazine. Web. 11 Sept. 2011. ; asiaarts. ucla. edu/author. asp? author_ID=401;. C-pop. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Sept. 2011. ;http://en. wikipe dia. org/wiki/C-pop;. Groenewegen, Jeroen. Screaming and crying androids: voice and presence in Chinese popular music. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 11. 1 (2010): 108-114. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 29 Aug. 2011. Taylor Francis Journals: Welcome. Web. 12 Sept. 2011. ; tand f. co. uk/ journals/RIAC;.

Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics Essay - 1

Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics - Essay Example In a study reported by CNN, several researchers undertook a study on the social networks of teenagers. The study found that dating teenagers is likely to be exposed to mixed-gender peer groups. Borrowing from this study, the article by MacMillan then claims that the drinking patterns of the 2nd degree friends was the strongest influence on the drinking behavior. According to the article, these 2nd degree friends came along with the peer group. It is through these assumptions that the article asserts that: Dating spreads drinking in teens! The assumption made by this article is a clear representation of a misguided assumption of causality. Instead of concluding that dating spread drinking in teens, the writer of the article should have argued that the strongest association of teenager drinking behavior occurred with that of the 2nd degree friends. This is because the measurements of the variables were taken based on friend and self-reports. It is therefore scientifically inappropriate to conclude that the 2nd degree friends increased the drinking habits in teens. Some other factors can also play roles in increasing the drinking habits. To test a possible causality between drinking habits in teens and 2nd degree friends; Convergent cross mapping as a statistical tool should be

Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Microeconomics - Essay Example Obviously, from the economic point of view, the higher the quantity and then the higher the price associated with each, the higher the revenue. This makes sense, because increasing the pricing for the linked quantity can remarkably improve revenue growth. On the other hand, this is not the usual case in the real world. There is also a case by which the revenue will fall, after increasing the price. If on the other hand, the students are not willing to pay for an increase tuition fee at NSU, they may also consider the possibility of going to an alternative University with at least lower or affordable tuition fees. This means that increasing the tuition at NSU will definitely decrease the number of enrolees in the semester. This leads to the possibility of lower revenue even if the tuition is set a bit higher this time. If the number of enrolees significantly dropped down until to the point that the revenue is highly affected, then increasing the tuition is not going to be a good idea. The revenue will remain the same, provided that there are students who still enrol at the NSU, and others considering the other universities. If at some point, the number of students who enrolled at NSU will be at least lower from the previous, but when the amount of tuition increase will still compensate the amount of revenue at the past, then this is the case that the NSU will most likely to have the same revenue, but then the number of students must have been significantly reduced at some point. If students are still enrolling at NSU despite higher tuition, the university must have significant assets that the students cannot just simply eliminate. The university might have sound and standard quality of education or excellent service performance that the students will now be hesitant to change their university. In other words, they cannot find substitute that might be as excellent as

Knowledge & the Flow of Information Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Knowledge & the Flow of Information - Case Study Example The very first given alternative is the most effective. This is because it will present visibility of the processes within the center. It is clear that with the use of this method key activities and sub ­-processes that can consume a lot of time, and generate many inefficiencies, will be revealed, thus enabling problem-solving and improvement of the supply chain (Drucker, 2005). Following the steps are given above, the approach should be implemented. Application of solutions should be done vigorously, going for easy ones that deliver early results. This is in order to give everyone confidence that what is being done is right. Even after implementing this method, there is also need to check on the level of technology. Grounding on the information given after the case study, the center needs to use a more effective and efficient mode of communication. Internet should be applied. Use of fax is much far slower compared to use of the internet (Mehra, 2006). A review of changes should be done to see if the changes have made you more responsive. It is optimistic that with the use of the first method, the changes will give a solution to the problem. If successful then another goal should be built for more success (Lai & Cheng, 2009).  

Strategic Planning For British Airways Management Essay

Strategic Planning For British Airways Management Essay The purpose of this paper is to evaluate an effective and efficient strategic planning for airline industry providing British Airways strategic plan. British Airways leading UK market as a leader of the airline industries. This paper evaluate the British Airways strategic planning including the strategic model, Enternal and external environmental enalysis,management risk and strategic v operational risk. This paper is done by secondary data collection process which is totally qualitative data base paper. Most of the information I got from British Airways own website (www.britishairways.com) and some are from some Book, Journals and Articles. Mainly for their (British Airways) business strategy planning they are following some strategic models like Porters five forces model, PESTEL analysis, and SWOT analysis etc. By those analysis organization can understand like British airways can understand that what is their external and internal condition and what is the strength for them ,what is opportunity and weakness and based on those factors they are trying to compete with their competitors and getting good market share in the tourism and hospitality industry. Contents 3 1.1 Objectives 5 1.2 Company Overview 6 1.2.1 Company Structure 6 1.2.2 Corporate Level Structure 7 1.2.3 Business Level Structure 7 1.2.4 Functional Level Structure 7 1.3 Current Strategies 8 2.0 Environmental Analysis(External Analysis) 9 2.1 PESTEL Analysis 9 2.2 SWOT analyses 11 3.0 Strategic Planning Model 11 S 11 Internal Strengths 11 Brand Image 11   Partnerships HYPERLINK #__RefHeading__29263_575820157HYPERLINK #__RefHeading__29263_575820157 Alliances 11   Financial size and stability 11   Terminal 5 11 W 11 Internal Weaknesses 11 Poor employee relations history 11   Reliability and trust 11   Innovation HYPERLINK #__RefHeading__29277_575820157HYPERLINK #__RefHeading__29277_575820157 change 11 0 11 External Opportunities 11 Quality System 11   Competitors forced exit 11   Competitors failing on delivering reliability 11   Emergence of new markets 11 T 11 External Threats 11 Open Skies Agreement 11   Environmental awareness 11   Global economic crisis 11   Lower cost competition 11 3.1 Porters Five Forces 12 4.0 Customer Analysis 13 5.0 Competitor Analysis 15 5.1 Strategic Groups 15 6.0 Internal Analysis 17 6.1 Value Chain Analysis (VCA) 17 17 6.2 Key Strategic Issues 20 7.0 Implementation 22 8.0 Managing Risk 24 9.0 Ethics 24 10.0 Strategic V Operational Conflict 25 11.0 Recommendation 26 11.1 Financial 26 11.2 People 26 11.3 Legal 26 11.0 Conclusion 27 1.1 Objectives The main objective of this paper is to develop the internal external environmental analysis and strategic planning with risk management and business ethics. Specific objectives are following, Evaluate the current strategic position of British Airways. Analyse the strategic Planning Models for British Airways. Analyse British Airways internal and external environment. 1.2 Company Overview British Airways is the UKs largest international scheduled airline. At the side of scheduled services, BA is engaged in the operation of international and domestic carriage of freight and mail, and the ancillary services (Datamonitor, 2008). In association with codeshare and franchise partners, BA fly to more than 300 destinations, and carried more than 33 million passengers, earning over  £8.7 billion in revenue in 2007/08 (British Airways, 2008). Employee headcount in March 2008 stood at 42,377 people (Datamonitor, 2008). Since privatisation in 1987, BA has continued to grow as competition in the market has risen worldwide. In recent times, BA has successfully been labelled the worlds first airline to take part in a scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (2002) and to allow passengers to print online boarding passes (2004) (British Airways, 2008). In 2005, the company saw Willie Walsh become Chief Executive of BA (Flight Global, 2008), who to date has driven the company through the completion of Terminal 5 at Heathrow, amongst other new initiatives. Despite reported and imminent industry hits due to the global economic downturn, BAs future looks promising. As BA announces its aim of becoming the worlds most responsible airline in the latest annual report (British Airways, 2008), great importance lies in developing guiding principles and careful strategic direction to allow the achievement of this goal. 1.2.1 Company Structure When implementing strategy, people are crucial to the success (Johnson et al., 2008), therefore the structure within BA will now be analysed to ensure successful implementation. 1.2.2 Corporate Level Structure (Adapted from British Airways, 2008). At a corporate level, BA has a good structure already in place. There is a new Acting Customer Director on an interim basis, Silla Maizey (British Airways, 2008). She has introduced a new customer service team working with Heathrow Customer Services, designed to put customers first. Using the current structure to implement our strategy, it is recommended that a permanent and not acting director to be recruited. In terms of the technological strategy, no amendments to the current structure are necessary as BA already have systems in place to implement new technology. 1.2.3 Business Level Structure At a business level each department will need to ensure all staff implements the strategies that have come top-down from a corporate level and work within the organisations brand values. Each department must also tailor the corporate level objectives specifically to its own targets. This will help to build the brand, improve its customer relationship focus and achieve the stated objectives. 1.2.4 Functional Level Structure Every function must coordinate with each other to ensure objectives are met and an updated operations manual must be developed. Specifically for the relations strategy, detailed targets must be stated for both the marketing and HR functions with constant data capture and analysis to see whether the targets are being met. Sufficient training on the new onboard technology will be necessary on an ongoing basis to ensure that employees are fully familiar with the service. 1.3 Current Strategies The paper will be designed in consideration of BAs current strategies: Upgrade customer experience via the introduction of text and mobile services for business class customers. Modernise aircraft fleet and offer new services. Manage cost base. Increase corporate responsibility through environmental performance and partnerships. 2.0 Environmental Analysis(External Analysis) For success within the airline industry, an awareness of the external environment is essential. This section aims to highlight the position of the industry, in particular looking at competitors and assessing BAs capability to meet current and future challenges. 2.1 PESTEL Analysis (Source: Johnson et al., 2008, p56) Figure 1-Pastel Analysis Factors BA Implication Political 1. Heavy regulation (AEA, 2009). BA: Compliance is essential if BA wants to continue operations 2.Increased security due to past terrorist threats (DFT, 2008). BA: Sufficient security measures should be in place to ensure consumer confidence and competitive advantage is maintained. Economic 1.Global economic crisis:World growth is projected to just over 2  percent in 2009 (IMF, 2008). Pound weakens especially against the Euro. BA: Possible reduction in the amount of business travel as companies are cutting costs and using alternative means of communication such as teleconferencing. BA is vulnerable as a UK operating airline to a poor exchange rate. 2. Oil prices: declined by >50 % since their peak retreating to 2007 levels. Decline in fuel price = strengthening of the dollar (IMF, 2008) BA: Fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rates will directly affect BAs cost base. 3. UK consumer spending saw its sharpest decline for 13 years between July and September 2008 (Channel 4, 2008). BA: More intense competition Social 1.The UK has an aging population (see appendix 3) (National Statistics Online, 2008). BA:Potential opportunities for growth as older generations havemore time to spend on leisure activities such as international travel. 2. Increasing unemployment (Kollewe and Sager, 2008). BA: Increased bargaining power as an employer. Technological 1.A recent survey revealed that 34% of online consumers plan to use price-comparison sites more in 2009 (NMA, 2009). BA: Increased consumer awareness and therefore bargaining power. 2. Online booking services and check-in is becoming increasingly used by the airline industry. BA: BA must ensure that they remain up to date with these technological advances whilst avoiding becoming overly reliant, as this may isolate certain consumer markets (i.e the elderly) who dont feel comfortable using such technology. Environmental/Ethical 1.Noise pollution controls,and energy consumption controls (DFT, 2008). BA:New legislation (e.g. Climate Change Bill) enforcing tighter environmental regulation may increase operational costs each year. 2.Limited land and for growing airports Expansion is difficult at Heathrow as it would result in a loss in the Londons Green belt area. (BBC News 2006) BA:Limited capacity=>utilisation of capacity. 3.Consumers are becoming increasingly green and more aware of the environmental impact of their actions. BA:Failure to adopt an integrated environmental strategy could lead to a detrimental effect on the BAs reputation and income. 4.Cancellations of flights and loss of baggage (Channel 4, 2008). BA: Such ethical issues could have a detrimental effect on reputation if left unresolved. Legal 1.Collusion and price fixing. BA:Restriction on mergers will have an impact on BAs proposed alliance with American Airlines. 2. Recognition of trade unions and industrial action e.g. Cabin Crew strikes. BA:Good employee relations are essential if BA wants to avoid industrial action and interrupted operations. 3.Open Skies Agreement (AEA, 2009) BA:Opportunity for BA and its competitors to freely transport aircraft between the EU and US. 2.2 SWOT analyses Figure 2-SWOT analyses S Internal Strengths Brand Image   Partnerships Alliances   Financial size and stability   Terminal 5 W Internal Weaknesses Poor employee relations history   Reliability and trust   Innovation change 0 External Opportunities Quality System   Competitors forced exit   Competitors failing on delivering reliability   Emergence of new markets T External Threats Open Skies Agreement   Environmental awareness   Global economic crisis   Lower cost competition 3.0 Strategic Planning Model 3.1 Porters Five Forces (Source: Johnson et al., 2008, p60) It is important to analyse the competitive nature of the airline industry in order to assess the position of BA. The Five Forces tool will enable BA to make strategic decisions in order to increase profitability. Force Strength Competitive Rivalry BA caters for both long haul and short haul flights. Within long haul there is little differentiation between BA and their competitors, in terms of price and service offering. The short haul market is more fragmented with many small players. Direct competitive rivalry is fierce, e.g. Virgin has a website opposing the proposed strategic alliance between BA and AA No Way BA/AA (Virgin Atlantic, 2008). Consolidation of competitors has increased competition. HIGH Power of Suppliers Two aircraft manufacturers = High bargaining power. BA restricted by sole supplier of fuel to the airport. Priority of landing slots is given to historic rights of existing users (IATA, 2008). BA employees use collective bargaining through trade unions in order to increase their bargaining power HIGH Power of Buyers Low concentration of buyers to suppliers means they have little bargaining power. Increased internet usage has amplified awareness and interaction of customers (Keynote, 2008c). MEDIUM Threat of New Entrants Significant barriers to entry: such as the competitive environment, high regularity requirements and high capital cost requirements. Barriers to exit are in place which deters new entrants. The failure of recent airlines such as XL and Zoom is likely to deter new entrants (Times Online, 2008). LOW Threat of Substitutes There are few direct substitutes: Short haul flights: the Eurostar or a ferry. Long haul flights: no notable substitutes. LOW 4.0 Customer Analysis Over the past decade there has been increasing complexity in customer needs, as the customer has become more educated and demanding. Particularly, the following changes have occurred: A shift in demographics to older passengers (Keynote, 2008c). Increased global connectivity allowing the usage of internet and search mediums (e.g. comparison and review websites). Increased requirement for convenience (e.g. new destinations, quick check-in). Price has become more of a priority Segments have become more defined within their needs. Evidence that BA is failing to respond to the changing customer landscape includes: The amount of BA customers recommending their services reduced from 61% in 2006/07 to 59% in 2007/08 (British Airways, 2008). BA have been criticised for slow innovation (Doganis, 2006, Pg 165). Poor reliability and baggage handling (AQR) Failed attempts to target the price conscious consumer through low cost airline operation (Eirma, 2008). 5.0 Competitor Analysis 5.1 Strategic Groups Figure 3 Strategic Group Analysis (Source: Johnson et al., 2008, p73-77.) Figure 3 illustrates that BAs direct competitors are those who operate similar services and lie within the same strategic group. The competition is likely to be most intense within this group as they are seeking similar strategies. Lufthansa and KLM-Air France are the 2 leading European Airlines Member carriers in terms of passenger numbers, with 15.1% and 14.1% respectively of the total number of passengers carried. BA comes in third with 9.3% of the total (Keynote, 2008c). BA face competition from a small number of serious contenders in the UK, with the main contenders being Virgin Atlantic, and United Airlines in the Star Alliance soon controlling BMI (Euromonitor, 2008). Although they do not lie within the same strategic group as BA the advent of low-cost air travel has changed the face of the airline industry. Airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet have established themselves among the leading carriers in Europe, whilst the more established long-haul carriers such as BA have struggled to keep up with their counterparts growth rates. Moreover the economic downturn and sharp fall in oil prices has caused a price war between Emirates, BA and Virgin Atlantic on the London-Dubai route. Fares have dropped by 30% across the airlines. Thus competition still remains fierce. Based on the strategic group analysis it could be argued that there is a gap in the market for a low cost airline operating a high breadth of service however it is likely the reason no airlines have adopted this strategy is due to the fact that it would be destined to fail. This assumption could be supported by BAs failed attempt to enter this market in recent years (Telegraph, 2002). 6.0 Internal Analysis It is now essential to analyse the internal environment in order to formulate appropriate strategies. 6.1 Value Chain Analysis (VCA) BA have tried to control the system further by forward and backward mitigation. Through controlling many component supplies in-house, and through BA Holidays Plc, BA increases their reach in the value system to the supplier and channel value chains. Figure 6 Value Chain (Adapted from: Johnson et al., 2008, p110) SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FIRM INFRASTRUCTURE Structured hierarchy allows BA to make use of a multitude of specialist knowledge in order to gain competitive advantage over downsized firms. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Invested in the development of customer service training in 2007 attracting the best employees. Speak Up opinion survey encourages employees to provide feedback (British Airways, 2008). TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT BA has added value in this category over smaller companies due to slack resources that can be employed to innovate the service (e.g. individual LCD screens). PROCUREMENT Due to the size and historical business relationships and alliances, BA is able to leverage suppliers and through economies of scale make efficiencies where competitors may fail. PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INBOUND LOGISTICS Stock Control High quality training accredited by City Guilds (British Airways, 2008). Ongoing relationship with suppliers (e.g. Gate Gourmet. OPERATIONS Increased Baggage Security. Quick check-in services and secure online bookings with ability to pre-book additional services. OUTBOUND LOGISTICS Customer Service Large database of airport slots enable passengers to access the majority of destinations from preferred airport. MARKETING SALES Marketing communications to all stakeholders. Brand allowing for large budget to be spent in this field. POST SALE SERVICE Loyalty club card. Update communication on other services Whilst the Value Chain highlights the primary and support activities that add value to BA, there are a number of inefficiencies within these activities that arguably reduce the amount of value provided (see figure 7 and 8). Figure 7 Support Activities Value Loss SUPPORT ACTIVITIES Firm Infrastructure Large bureaucratic infrastructure decreases effective communication and increases inertia. HRM BAs employee opinion surveys attracted a mere 35% response rate in 2007 (British Airways, 2008). Due to high collective bargaining capabilities, BA has contended a number of highly publicised employee relations issues (e.g. Cabin Crew strike over pay, sickness absence, and staffing in 2007 (BBC News, 2007). Technology Development BA has failed to gain recognition for new innovation. Figure 8 Primary Activities Value Loss PRIMARY ACTIVITIES Inbound Logistics High solidarity between supplier employees and BA employees has created a history of negative industrial action. For example, in 2005, BA employees walked out for two days when Gate Gourmet employees were sacked (BBC News, 2005). Operations/Outbound Logistics TV documentary reported on Terminal Five operation difficulties, an emergency landing at LHR, poor baggage handling and flight cancellations (Channel Four, 2008). Marketing Sales A lack of innovation in their marketing communications (e.g. Virgin gaining value over BA). 6.2 Key Strategic Issues Analysis Tool Key Findings Strategic Implications PESTEL Global economic crisis. Higher regulatory requirements. Increasing environmental awareness. Decline in consumer spending. Increased use of the internet by customers. Focus on technological and environmental issues. Porters Five Forces High competitive rivalry and bargaining power of suppliers. Defensive strategies needed to protect market share. Customer Analysis Consumer trends in high convenience and high expectations of service. Ensure changing customer needs are understood and met Strategic Group Analysis Intense competition within strategic group and trend for consolidation. The biggest other threat comes from low cost airlines. Although low cost airlines are the biggest threat to BA, moving into low cost market is not deemed appropriate based on previous failed attempts. Airline Quality Review BA = poor baggage handling, poor on flight entertainment and low customer satisfaction. Service Quality needs to be improved to gain a competitive advantage GE Matrix Highest growth markets; Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe. BA has a strong opportunity for market development in Asia and Eastern Europe. The Value Chain BA adds value; financial size and stability, brand image, industry expertise, and partnerships and alliances. BA loses value to competition; employee relations and performance, marketing delivery, reliability, and slow innovation. BA needs to address the areas where value is being lost to avoid attacking competitor strategies. Resource Based View Strong resources including sole access to hub within largest UK Airport. Strong training competencies. Utilise BA core competences to gain competitive advantage. Financial Analysis Increased profits and lower operating costs. Lower gearing ratios and higher liquidity. Possibility of a loss in 2009 as a result of the economic downturn. Investment resources available. Increased scrutiny on strategic projects for risk assessment. 7.0 Implementation Based on the analysis of strategic options it is proposed that two strategies are implemented simultaneously. These strategies are a people processes focused strategy and technological advancement. Figure 12 details the objectives and performance measures of these two strategies. Figure 12 Strategy Overview Strategy Objectives Performance Measures People processes Aim: Improved stakeholder brand image profitability Utilise databases. Improve service delivery efficiency. Improve internal communication. Implement effective review monitoring. Profit margin increase of 2 3%. Increase repeat purchasing by 25%. Increase customer recommendation from 59% (2007/08) to 70%. Improve employee survey rate from 35% (2007/08) to 80% (Value Chain). Technological advancement Aim: Customer Loyalty Market Share Following succession with test internet implementation, roll out internet on-board internet access. An appropriate pricing strategy involving complimentary service for first class whilst targeting business class as the most profitable market. Continued market research to ensure that this is a valued service and seek opportunities for further development. Install equipment on remaining 244 aircraft. Increase business class market share by 10%. 80% of business class customers purchasing internet usage. Following RD implement 1 new technological service. In order for the chosen strategies to be successful effective implementation is essential to organise and enable success and to manage the changes that will impact BA. 8.0 Managing Risk Risk management helps the organization to identify and address the risks facing their business and trying to increase the probability of successfully achieving their businesses objectives. Types of risk business need to face: Strategic Compliance Financial Operational Three main risk factors affecting all airline are volatility in jet fuel price, foreign exchange and interest rate risks. Interest Rate Risk: BA utilizes swap agreements to manage its interest rate exposure. Foreign Exchange Risk: BA manages its Foreign Exchange exposure. Any surplus of foreign currency is sold at spot or forward for US dollars. 9.0 Ethics An ethics strategy should be concerned with ensuring that all corporate activities are ethical, legal, and within all regulatory guidelines.   An ethics program is more likely to be considered effective if it includes the following components: 1)  Statement of Values The creation and communication of a statement of organizational values is considered to be necessary guidance. 2)  Code of Conduct A code of conduct or an ethics policy that communicates a commitment to ethical behavior throughout the organization, and explains how these values are to be applied in representative situations. 3)  Executive Leadership and a System A plan and systems for the communication, monitoring, and enforcement of the Code of Conduct. Important consideration in this respect, include: Richard Bransons success in forcing British Airways into adopting a Code of Conduct is a warning to companies that do not have a code that they ought to consider adopting one and to those that do that they should make sure it works. Without an effective ethical policy, a company cannot be sure that ethical judgments made by employees are consistent with the strategy of the company and are made at an appropriate level within it. Ethics protects the reputation of the company. British Airways is a classic example, where large amounts of marketing investment in image were undermined by the publics perception of its actions. British Airways experience shows that management may be deluding themselves if they consider that all employees in a company will adopt their values and the strategic importance of ethicality by absorbing knowledge from superiors. 10.0 Strategic V Operational Conflict While strategic and operational planning both offer beneficial aspects, there are some key differences that should be understood. Strategic planning is the formal process of defining the requirements for delivering high payoff results, and for identifying what, and how, to get from current realities to future ones that add value to the organization. It is not rigid nor lockstep, but rather a self-correcting set of defining requirements and relationships for stating what is in terms of results, and moving ever closer to what should be the results and payoffs.   Strategic Planning is long term planning undertaken by senior management (i.e. the executives). It involves making decisions which will work toward reaching an organisations mission and vision statements. Operational planning is day to day planning undertaken by front line managers. They report to middle management and enact the leg work of the strategies developed by middle management to achieve strategic goals. 11.0 Recommendation Although strong and justified strategies have been created within the confines of the report there are a number of issues which BA should take into consideration when implementing the proposed strategies. These are considered briefly below. 11.1 Financial BA should not have much trouble in implementing these strategies. With an increasingly lower gearing ratio and better liquidity they should be able to secure some funding from financial institutions and obtain the rest from retained profits. However, with the current economic conditions, it will still be difficult to obtain funding and BA will not want to increase its gearing too much. 11.2 People The recommended strategy to improve relations will require full support from BAs workforce. As a highly unionised workforce, success in changing the employment relationship will be determined by BAs ability to work efficiently with each recognised union. In regards to implementing change, due to BAs history and size the company may experience organisational inertia or myopia. Again, improvements to customer relations may be hindered by an uncooperative workforce, highlighting the importance of ongoing training and support. Similarly, a technological stance will require BAs employees to develop service knowledge, and it is imperative for the organisation to support them in doing so on a continual basis. 11.3 Legal The use of Wi-Fi on planes is already allowed by the aviation regulators in the UK, Europe and Rest of the World. However, regulatory approval must be achieved before it can be implemented on planes flying to/from USA (Wlanbook, 2008; Row 44, 2008). The use of external legal consultants should be used when implementing both strategies to ensure that legal requirements are met, especially when performing internal and external surveys and the confidentiality of data. 11.0 Conclusion As a result of the external and internal analysis a number of strategic options were proposed. It was concluded that a combined strategy approach to improve service quality was deemed most suitable. Due to the current industry climate we have chosen a strategy to consolidate BAs position as market leader. Due to the scale and scope of BAs operations it was decided that the focus of this report would be on scheduled passenger flights. We would recommend further strategic analysis to implement SBU level strategies. Due to lack of primary research and restricted access to company information there may be limitations in our findings and recommended strategy, however we believe that if the general direction of our suggested strategic intent is followed it will lead to lead to success. Reference Johnson, G.and Scholes, K (2002) Exploring Corporate Strategy.6th Edition.London, UK Prentice Hall. Kathleen B Hass, Richard Vander Horst, Kimi Ziemski (2008).  From Analyst to Leader: Elevating the Role of the Business Analyst Management Concepts, 2008.  ISBN 1567262139. p94: As the discipline of business analysis becomes professionalized HYPERLINK http://www.theiiba.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Learning/Bodyo

Analysis Of The Ending Of death Of A Salesman :: essays research papers

Analysis of the Ending of "Death of a Salesman" The play "Death of a Salesman" shows the final demise of Willy Loman, a sixty- year-old salesman in the America of the 1940's, who has deluded himself all his life about being a big success in the business world. It also portrays his wife Linda, who "plays along" nicely with his lies and tells him what he wants to hear, out of compassion. The book describes the last day of his life, but there are frequent "flashbacks" in which Willy relives key events of the past, often confusing them with what is happening in the present. His two sons, Biff and Happy, who are in their 30's, have become failures like himself. Both of them have gone from idolizing their father in their youth to despising him in the present. On the last few pages of the play, Willy finally decides to take his own life ([1] and [2]). Not only out of desperation because he just lost his job, with which he was hardly earning enough to pay ordinary expenses at the end. He does it primarily because he thinks that the life insurance payout [3] will allow Biff to come to something [4], so that at least one of the Lomans will fulfill his unrealistic dream of great wealth and success. But even here in one of his last moments, while having a conversation with a ghost from the past, he continues to lie to himself by saying that his funeral will be a big event [2], and that there will be guests from all over his former working territory in attendance. Yet as was to be expected, this is not what happens, none of the people he sold to come. Although perhaps this wrong foretelling could be attributed to senility, rather than his typical self-deception [5]. Maybe he has forgotten that the "old buyers" have already died of old age. His imagined dialogue partner tells him that Biff will consider the impending act one of cowardice. This obviously indicates that he himself also thinks that it's very probable that Biff will hate him even more for doing it, as the presence of "Ben", a man whom he greatly admires for being a successful businessman, is a product of his own mind. But he ignores this knowledge which he carries in himself, and goes on with his plan. After this scene, Biff, who has decided to totally sever the ties with his parents, has an "abprupt conversation" (p.99) with Willy. Linda and Biff are in attendance. He doesn't want to leave with another fight, he wants to make peace

Integration Of Technology Into The Classroom Effects Education Essay

The integrating of engineering into the schoolroom means a batch more than learning basic computing machine accomplishments and programming as it is in the course of study right now. Computer literacy and the IC3 programmes were added to the course of study of signifier 1 to organize 3 pupils to do them familiar with the computing machine as a tool. And with the debut of National Exams at signifier 3 degree ICT has become one of the four nucleus topics that will be taken into history for rating intents together with English, French and Mathematics. Technology in instruction does non merely intend the usage of computing machines but besides the usage of a scope of other electronic devices every bit good as the cyberspace for the airing of cognition. Presents, pupils are coming to category with more accomplishments. Whether the instructor requires it or non, most pupils are utilizing engineering for communicating, acquisition, amusement etc, i.e. in about all domains of their life. They are the 1 who are maintaining path with the technological promotion. As for instructors, even if it is hard to maintain up and accommodate to the promotion in both their personal and professional lives, they have a really of import function to play in the technological promotion. Since engineering can be a learning tool for the pupil every bit good as a instruction tool for the teacher. As good, the integrating of engineering in the schoolroom is a great manner to increase the pupil ‘s involvement in larning. This attack is more student-centred ; as they tend to work more together while they use computing machines for their day-to-day lessons. The dynamic and synergistic environment created by the usage of computing machines motivates the pupils as good they have a greater sense of control over what they can entree, read, comprehend and create. The reading accomplishments besides are being enhanced with the usage of electronic books coupled with pronunciation hyperlinks. The viva voce of their work utilizing any presentation tool or any other multimedia tool helps the unwritten enunciation of their thoughts. The cyberspace is an limitless resource that can be use to motivate and animate higher order believing accomplishments in the pupils. The above seems to be a bright image of what can be achieved if engineering is taken to the schoolroom ; nevertheless it should be taken into history that today ‘s pupils ‘ can be considered as the ‘Digital Natives ‘ as they are turning and are being brewed and nurtured in a technological rich environment, which represent a high order challenge for the ‘Digital Immigrants ‘ who are the instructors of today as they are being forced to follow a new attitude and to populate in this environment. This digital clang of civilization is one of the most of import barriers that need to be pull down for the integrating of ICT tools takes an of import portion in the airing of the content of the course of study. Besides the paradigm displacement of the manner the instructors themselves were taught and the new technique that they are being asked to utilize is a major alteration of civilization to which the instructors must be prepared to face and take up as a ch allenge. There are many factors that might impede the engineering integrating. They can be civilization alteration, preparation, motive, the clime, the support, the substructure, etc. Thus a thorough probe is needed to hold a image where the job stands. It has to be considered besides that the jobs can change from topographic points and schools. For this survey the job is limited to a individual school, found in a rural country. The aims set are besides precise and the survey will give a image of the integrating of ICT tools in that context merely. The survey will concentrate on three chief issues, which are: The handiness of the resources and installations for the integrating to take topographic point. The grade of serviceability of those installations and the resources by the instructors And in conclusion the barriers that might impede the Integration of Technology in learning. These issues are considered as the footing on which programs for the integrating of engineering can be built up so as to maximize the on the installations and resources and to cut down the barriers to a lower limit.1.2 Research rubricComputers have become the most sought after, electronic devices in both places and schools. They have captured the involvement of everyone and many parents believe they will better their kids ‘s opportunities for success in school and in life. Computers connected to communication webs supply convenient entree to huge sums of informations from basically any field of survey. The thought of computing machine engineering dramatically changed the nature of schooling. It merely will non be possible for schools to defy the increasing influence of computing machine engineering in our society. The market place will turn progressively repetitive that schools prepare pupils to be the workers and consumers of a networked society. Technology is recognised presents in schools as an instructional tool instead than a topic of direction. Still many pedagogues are less familiar and less comfy with engineering than their pupil and are besides fighting to seamlessly incorporate a turning list of engineering tools in their regular course of study. And such to hold a bird's-eye image of the state of affairs, this survey focuses on a private secondary college in the southern portion of Mauritius and is titled asEducational Technology Integration:Accessibility, Use and Barriers in Teaching ;A instance survey, in a rural private college.1.3 Aims of ResearchThe research was conducted to with the purpose of positioning the pedagogues of the establishment as to the quality of their bringing of the content in category. It is without bias that it can be said that the quality of learning additions with the quality of bringing of the content every bit good as the manner the information is presented to be digested by the pupils. Educational engineerings are on top of the list of the instruction AIDSs that can be used to heighten the quality of learning. Thus to be able to project bird ‘s oculus position of where the pedagogues of the establishment base in the usage of educational engineerings in their category, it was imperative to direct the survey from the three countries so that the terminal consequence converge to the placement of educational engineerings in the establishment. The chief aims are: ( a ) Handiness: exposure to organic structure of Knowledge Are the instructors adequately exposed to installations and resources to incorporate ICT in their instruction? Do instructors have the right ICT accomplishments to incorporate ICT in their instruction? ( B ) Use: application of organic structure of cognition to subject What is the incursion quantum of ICT in learning? ( degree Celsius ) Barriers: Restriction to application of organic structure of cognition to subject What teachers perceive as barriers to the integrating of ICT into their instruction?1.4 Background of the SchoolKeats College, a private secondary school registered with the PSSA, named after the great English poet John Keats started its operation 1964 at Chemin-Grenier, a little small town in the South of the island. It started with population of 35 pupils and 5 instructors. The Driving doctrine of the establishment reflects its slogan: â€Å" Virtute et Industria † which means â€Å" bravery and difficult work † . The school has nowadays become the prima college, in footings of pupil capacity, and academic consequences of that portion of the island. It caters for some 2000 pupils and 170 members of learning and non-teaching staff housed in two separate blocks for the Boys ‘ and Girls ‘ sections. The college has a passing rate of 83.3 % at the Cambridge HSC exams in 2009. Based on the statistics of the last three old ages the college has positioned itself with non less than 13 pupils classified as Best campaigners at Cambridge SC tests and 6 pupils classified as Best campaigners at Cambridge HSC test. Keats College meets all the favorable conditions for the blooming of the pupils on the academic degree, human and citizenship values every bit good as in athleticss. Accomplishments are synonymous to difficult work done with bravery to achieve the set aims through a choice civilization. As any other educational establishment, Keats College is has a hierarchically organized construction split in to two Management Levels. The Top Management consists of the Manager, the Rector and two Deputy Rectors. The Middle Management squad consists of the Head of sections and the Section Leaderships who reports to the curate but is supervised by the Deputy Rectors. The Educators do describe to their several HoD ‘s as per the topic they are learning ; nevertheless some of them are assigned the duty of being Form Teacher as such they are responsible for their several categories and do describe for the same to the Section Leaders. As for the Non-Teaching Staff, they report to the Manager but are headed by the College Clerk. They are the support squad to the College and are divided into different groups which are the Office Clerks and Secretaries, the Attendants and the Auxiliary staff. The pupils ‘ council and the athleticss ‘ council of the school have elected members from each category. The category captains and their frailty organize the College Student Council ; every bit good each category has their athleticss captains who are grouped together for the athleticss council. Besides pupils can be portion of the different nines which are in operation in the college ; they are the National Award Achievement Teams, Civic Action Teams, The ‘we R one ‘ Quire, the First Aid Team, the KC Music Band etc. As for the substructure Keats College is dotted with many athleticss installations such as a Tennis tribunal, some 13 Volley Ball pitch, a Basket Ball pitch, 2 Badminton Courts, a Gymnasium, 10 Table Tennis, a mini Football Pitch etc. As good for the Academic Development there are some 4 Libraries, 2 Physics Labs, 2 Chemistry labs, 2 Biology Labs, 2 Computer labs, 2 CDT labs, 1 Agriculture Lab, 2 Junior labs, 4 Audio Visual Rooms, 2 Food and nutrition Labs, etcaˆÂ ¦ it can be noted that all these installations are graded as ‘Grade A ‘ comfortss by the PSSA.

Basic HTML essays

Basic HTML essays There are six basic steps you must follow in order to create a web page in HTML. For those who don ¡Ã‚ ¯t know what it HTML is, it is the coding language that is used to create, develop, and maintain these WebPages such as Yahoo, MSN, Altavista, etc. Although there are other complex languages such as XML and DHTML, they are derived from the basics of HTML. First thing to do before we get started on HTML is to open up a text-editing program such as Notepad.exe or Wordpad.exe. HTML is just text so this can be accomplished by utilizing one of these simple programs. There are other HTML editing/WebPages building programs out there such as Microsoft FrontPage, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and Macromedia Fireworks, but they have to be purchased in the computer software vendors. Now, if you have the text editor open, let ¡Ã‚ ¯s get started. Your first command is to initiate the creation of the WebPages. Since all HTML is written in  ¡Ã‚ °flags ¡, where annotates the beginning, and annotates the end, start by typing on the top of the page, noting that this will be the start of a webpage. Now, go down to the next line in the document. Make sure to give enough space between tags, so every tag won ¡Ã‚ ¯t be jammed together. It will make editing the document easier in the future. You ¡Ã‚ ¯re second HTML flag will be the Title of this web document. Initiate the title with a flag, type in  ¡Ã‚ °This is my first HTML page ¡. Then type annotating that this is the end of the title. (What you ¡Ã‚ ¯ve typed within the flags will show on the top frame bar of the browsers). Now hit enter to start on a new line and this is where your Body of your webpage will show. Your third HTML flag will be . Type in  ¡Ã‚ ° I am creating my first webpage ¡ and end with a : Break, which it stands for, allows you to start on a new line on the webpage. Now type in  ¡Ã‚ ° This is very excit...

Six Book Blogs You Need to Read

Six Book Blogs You Need to Read Apart from the book blogs role as a dynamic forum for discussion and the exchange of book titles and other reading material, book blogs have become the stage where you, the budding writer, can turn the spotlight on yourself and become a celebrity- not necessarily by winning the Nobel Prize for Literature like Bob Dylan, but by putting yourself, your views, and your literary skills out there to a potential audience of millions. In this post, I am presenting a list of my favorite book blogs. Whether youre a professor of literature, a bookworm, or an undiscovered writer yearning for recognition, you will find great books, open discussion forums, writers tips, and excellent reviews in these top book blogs.The Book Designer- This is my top choice of book blog because it offers excellent advice on how to establish yourself as a writer using a captivating, user-friendly design and great tips on how to crack the literary space. The author of this blog, Joel Friedlander, states: Writers chang e the world one reader at a time. But you cant change a book thats still on your hard drive or in a box under your bed. So, his message is this, Get your book out there! And he shows you how through a clearly enumerated list of suggestions that include Amazons Createspace, which shows how to get your book ready in print form for Amazons worldwide audience. If you want to produce your own e-Book, Amazon Kindle or Smashwords will lead the way.Alternatively, the blog shows you how to publicize your book through your own WordPress website. This blog also provides some excellent tips for monetizing your writing skills by using Google AdSense ads, private ads, and sponsorships. This is a go-to blog for writers and designers that covers just about anything you want to know about writing or designing a book. It shows you how to access self-training kits for writers, how to self-publish, how to market articles both on social media and in the real world, and how to use book design templates i n Microsoft Word. If you use the wealth of information this blog offers to put your lurking genius out there, you have every chance of becoming a cyber celebrity.The Millions- The New York Times has described The Millions as an indispensable literary site, and I include it as my number two choice. It serves not only as a blog on which people are free to comment and review books and articles, but also as an extraordinary and original source of contemporary books that will have you laughing or crying at the choice of titles, and there are thousands. Consider Jacob Lamberts Like a Fried Egg Sliding off a Fat Mans Naked Thigh: 18 Fair-use Similes, or the article, The Art of Compassion on Donald Trumps Hats. The interactive nature of this blog is implicit in a host of excellent articles relating to the arduous process of writing a book and articles that invite comments and suggestions. One article by Nick Ripatrazone deals with the quintessential nightmare all writers face at one time or another- immobility. The advice it offers to writers incapacitated by introversion and a lack of self-confidence is Dont Worry. Dont Wait. Write.There are thousands of interesting ideas, book titles, articles, and suggestions in The Millions as well as essays, columns, quizzes, poetry, and a section called Ask the Writing Teacher in which readers can ask virtually any writing-related question, from how to deal with Fifty Shades of Rejection to how to handle transitions. This is a wonderful site with a touch of individual genius that will bring you back for more.The Indie View- So, lets suppose youre into horror stories, and youre looking, for example, for Barbara Watkins book Six-Pack of Blood. You dont want only the Six-Pack; you want to find every e-book Watkins has written, and, for good measure, you also want to know which of her books has horrified the world the most. In other words, you want to read the detailed reviews. You wont find that information at your local bookstore, but you will find it at the Indie View, which offers authors of e-Books from around the world the opportunity to set up their own pages on the Indie View website. The only caveat is that the e-Book authors work must have been reviewed before submission.What I love about this site is the video trailers it offers as an incentive to read the authors works. The trailer to Watkins Six-Pack of Blood opens with an invitation to Turn on the Lights, Check the Locks, and Get Ready to Scream! Its not all horror, of course, and the list of authors from around the world covering a variety of genres is truly impressive. The great advantage of this site is that it offers to promote the works of its e-Book authors, giving them a free cyber shove into the real world where their names could eventually end up alongside the likes of Tolstoy, Irving Stone, James Joyce, and, who knows, even Alfred Hitchcock!Omnivoracious- I am including this Amazon blog in my list of top book blogs not only for its imag inative, user-friendly design and its very strong emphasis on interaction and open discussion, but also for its incomparable coverage of books and book-related topics. Clearly, Amazon is the worlds front-runner as a book provider: recently, Amazon accounted for 64% of the sales of printed books online. And the virtual bookstores blog, Omnivoracious (hungry for the next good book): The Amazon Book Review, does a great service to Amazons reputation. In fact, this blog has an outstanding ability to identify best-selling titles that are current and which will continue to sell. One look at Amazons Best Books of the Year will offer you an ample choice of reads throughout the next year, and if you prefer shorter reads, this blog offers some very informative book-related articles, such as The Best Childrens Books for 2016 or The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for November.Omnivoracious, which was launched in 2007, has evolved into a dynamic forum on which Amazon editors can discuss their craft, the strategies they employ to bring their books to the public stage, and the passion they have for subjects ranging from nursery rhymes and nail polish to rocket science and sex. In fact, theres something for everything on Omnivoracious, and dynamic interaction on the content of fiction and non-fiction titles that include cookbooks and kids books, romance and science fiction. A special attraction on the Omnivoracious blog is its presentation of current celebrity picks. These include Ransom Riggs Favourite Reads of 2016, and Mara Wilsons Favorite Reads of 2016. Omnivoracious also has a superb eye for particular genres that will attract the public eye: Graphic Novel Friday: Best Comic and Graphic Novels for 2016 is one. As the biggest online bookstore in the world, Amazon has the resources and experience to make this one of the most-read literary blogs in the world.Critical Mass- If you want to feel the real pulse of the worlds literary heartbeat, this blog should be on y our bucket-list of places to go before you die. Established by the National Book Critics Circle in New York City in 1974, it serves an online membership of 600 critics, authors, and literary writers offering incisive commentary and reviews on books and other literary works from around the world. Another great attraction is its encyclopedic list of websites where authors, reviewers, and commentators can access almost any information in the literary world. Critical Mass features the latest works of current members, reports on literary events from around the country, and discusses the content of literary websites, blogs, individual articles, books, and essays.The categories and archives featured in Critical Mass are a veritable treasure-chest of literary information, featuring such subjects as Adventures in e-Reading, 30 Books in 30 Days, and Conversations With Literary Websites. Particularly attractive is the bullet-like presentation of current news and reviews featuring writers and r eviewers around the world. For example, Jim Ruland reviews The Haunted Looking Glass, an anthology of Ghost stories selected by Edward Gorey for his column, The Floating Library, in San Diego City Beat. The icing on the cake is the blogs video and podcast offerings, which cover such diverse subjects as The VIDA Count and Gender Bias in Book Reviewing and The NBCC on Unlikeable Characters in Contemporary Fiction. The National Book Critics Circle is the driving force behind this impressive blog, and establishes an important literary standard in its annual literary awards, which frame which authors are the ones who count in cyber space and the real world.Helping Writers Become Authors- Youre sitting at your desk about to write a book. Your head is crammed with ideas so diffuse that you wonder whether your heads going to explode. What am I going to write for the intro? Should I put the intro at the end of the book? What is the plot? Who are the characters? How do I define them? Theres n o symmetry to the ideas, no order, no outline. Youre stuck, and the page stays blank. If this sounds familiar to you, this blog is exactly what you need. The blog is written by K.M. Weiland, and when she delivers her strategies for writing amazing prose, she knows what shes talking about. She is the award-winning, best-selling author of Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel, and her blog is a compass that will steer you through the rough waters of creative writing until you reach your destination.Perhaps the outstanding feature of Weilands blog is its user-friendly format and the way in which she invites you in to formulate a plot, investigate ways in which to write about characters, identify the central theme of your story, and form an outline for your book that will make you a celebrity author. Having experienced the trauma aspirant authors endure in addressing these issues, I would highly recommend this blog as an indispensable guide to creative and structured writing. Besides the wealth of instructional writing information K.M Weiland offers in her blog, she has the writers gift of bringing a smile to your face or a twinkle to your eyes on your dullest days. She describes herself as a person who lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. Perhaps theres a little bit of her in all of us.