US Military Scandal

Weber Miscarried University In today's world a topic that is becoming more popular by numerous infamous scandals is that of business ethics. With companies and businesses alike now realizing that their consumers care about how the operations work in the company can affect their sales they are becoming more aware of how to run operations ethically.Although it is every groups goal to run plans ethically there are still many instances in which they fall short of this bar, whether it be because of greedy influences or being unaware of the laws it is a dilemma that must be approached wisely and handle with care. While most scandals involve a corporation or business while scanning the Internet I came across one that really caught my attention, a scandal within the US Military about cheating on tests, drug use, and the mishandling of missiles.First news broke about this scandal in early January when the Air Force reported its open investigation of unknown exam cheating and scandals involvi ng multiple officers in charge of our country nuclear forces. This recent scandal is one that was roughs to attention after the Air Force was investigating a non-related drug scandal at 6 other bases. This should come as a great concern to all people living in the US, for these are the generals and officers who are responsible for controlling the 450 nuclear missiles and fate of our country.When further looked into it was found that 34 officers, all high class lieutenants or captains, were somehow involved in this scandal, some who were either caught cheating on the monthly proficiency tests or those that were aware of what was going on and did not report the actions. Along tit these accusations it was made clear by Air Force officials that two of the suspected officers also had relations regarding illegal drug use with an officer from an air base in Wyoming.Being one of the most structured and toughest parts of the defense forces to get into the Air Force is not taking this situati on lightly as nuclear launch officers have no room for error handling such dangerous and destructive weapons. ‘The root of all this madness is still unknown but there has been one major discharge of a commander from the Base at Minot because it was seen that there as a â€Å"loss of confidence† in his leadership skills as well as the firing of a commander in charge of training missile crews after a large number of launch officers did poorly on tests.This is not the first scandal that the Air Force has faced after an incident in 2008 where the past secretary of defense Robert M. Gates fired a top general and civilian leader after a crew made a cross-country Journey unaware that 6 missiles on board were armed with nuclear warheads. The major dilemma in all this is these people are supposed to be the ones we as citizens look up to and protect our country et when we read news like this it really hinders our idea of what safety really is.With such difficult guidelines, laws, and requirements it is amazing that such a scandal would be present in an area as important as the protection and well being of the United States as a country, but also goes to show that scandals and dilemmas are present in every aspect of this world no matter what the subject at hand. US Defense Secretary Chuck Haggle has not taken lightly to this situation as he explained that he is â€Å"deeply troubled† by the slue of military scandals in recent months (Talisman, 2014).In January when becoming fully aware of all the problems inside the Air Force and military as a whole Haggle forced a review of operations which also included the Navy. In shear numbers 30 senior instructors have been accused of sharing answer sheets to nuclear qualification tests and 1,200 Navy soldiers, 200 of which were officers, took part in a long-term scheme involving fraudulent recruiting in order to collect roughly $100 million in promised recruiting payments (Talisman, 2014). Hazel's biggest worry is that none of this is by accident and is all a result of unethical behavior by people in uniform†.He along with many others believe that this is an issue that should be put on the top of the list and needs close attention and although it only involves a small number of those in service it is a matter of integrity that he wishes the forces can maintain regardless of those few who disobeyed the law. I felt that this issue was handled greatly and will continue to be throughout the rest of the investigation. Haggle understands the importance of the well being of the country and is not going to let this be something that could be the season for our downfall.Although investigations may take more than a year to complete I trust the decision of the Secretary of Defense as he made if the first problem to be addressed when regarding the military. If this were the situation for a company or business I think that they would have handled it the exact same way, firstly be removing those that were involved or believed to be involved in the problem. Second course of action would be getting down to the bottom of the problem and finding the source, which were ultimately the loosely supervised exams restored by senior leaders and lieutenants.After finding who was to blame for these faults it became evident that those people were to be interviewed immensely for why they took the course of actions they did. A document regarding this even went as far as saying that the â€Å"group testing† was viewed as â€Å"taking care of each other† and easing the pressure as the officers felt they needed a perfect score on the exams (Burns, 2014). So in the end I think this is being handled effectively and that it should have been done in no other manner.Although it is evident that this can instill a lot of fear in the eyes of those who live in this great country the military wanted to make it apparent that there was no evidence that the recent problems lead to mishandlin g of nuclear weapons or Jeopardized any citizens safety. Following this event it will be interesting to see how it progresses as the investigation continues with the interviewing of many officers and those involved in the scandal. Being that the scandal involves nuclear weapons I am curious to see if there will be any new laws or regulations that will be put in place during such vents such as exams and testing.

Hudson Bay Company

The Bay – You are the Buyer†¦ Assignment Erica Hobb Sarah Walkington As a Buyer for the Bay, I would ensure that these new brands that I was bringing in to my department would be productive by researching every brand and making sure there on the same trend line that we are trying to follow. Knowing your target market is also a key element when introducing new brands.The selection factors that I would look at when choosing what brands to bring into my store would be dependent on the season, fit, colour or pattern, durability of garment or product, price, versatility/multi-use, designer label/prestige factor and quality of construction. When deciding what brands to get rid of and which ones to keep, this would be solved by knowing which products are successful and which ones are not. Also which brands are going to match the new reconstruction of our company the Bay and which brands fits in with the new theme and which ones are outdated.In my opinion, the different factors o f the two retailers are: The Bay is very Canadian based, not just because it started in Canada but because even their window displays are reflective to a Canadian theme, where as Holt Renfrew is known for being a high end retailer selling brands and products that are available and sold in other retail stores. The Bay has added over 250 new brands and 90% of which are exclusive to the Bay in Canada. Another factor that is different between the two retailers is their pricing.Holt Renfrew is designed for people with lavish lifestyles and an eye for expensive designer clothing where as The Bay ranges from all price points. The Bay has style and affordable merchandise. Also the customer service you find at both retailers are very different. When going into Holt Renfrew, your getting the whole shopping experience. Employees almost tend to smother you making sure everything you need is at there service where the Bay is more low key.

A Rant on Forced Marriage Essay

A relationship of marriage is decided by the elders, and then forced on their child. Is this right? Parents think they know better than the child, but are they always right? How can they choose ones groom or their bride, the one with whom they are going to spend their whole life? This practice of evil is unfortunately still alive in many communities in developing countries, and even some industrialized. I oppose, to this cruel idea of destroying ones life. In this view of mine, I don’t stand-alone but at my behind I have United Nations and their Human rights. Forced marriage is a violation of ones personal rights, it’s destruction their of life. How can parents force their children to marry one they don’t like? If you are being forced into this life, take a breath and stand for your rights. Which are there in the constitution, written boldly for your sake if you come under this situation. It’s better to oppose, than live a traumatic life. Illiteracy, poverty, culture and lack of awareness are the seed of this consequence. This issue is taken very seriously though in most of the countries, where governments and non-governmental organizations are constantly helping people getting out from this mess that their parent’s create. But the people who succeed in overcoming this condition often lose the contact with their parents. The ones, who don’t, live their life in misery and are depressed. Some people adapt and accept the piece of cake they get. It also results in somebody being responsible for his or her own death.

Multiple flavors of the general linear model Essay

Multiple flavors of the general linear model - Essay Example There is an importance that has been associated with the statistical linear models as has been realized in case of the researchers as well as the students. In this case it has been realized that the deep understanding is required in case of the linear regression models as it has been used in the wide variety of research but still a greater and a wide perspective of research is needed. As the paper is to analyze the associated importance of the linear models of analysis in statistics, the research on the topic of organization justice is to be observed. The main topic that shall be observed in this case is the effect of organization justice on personnel hiring in these organizations. The main statistical analysis that is being conducted in all the included studies is the regression analysis. Recently it has been seen that the organization commitment has been the topic of research since many years as its importance has been realized in the organization. All of the researches that have been referred to in the paper deal with an importance that has been associated with the hiring of employees and personnel by kee... For an organizational researcher the main topic of interest has been the way in which the human resources within the firm are being utilized to gain the competitive edge in the market. In addition to this it has been seen that the level of the organization justice that is being implemented in the organization within the management has a direct effect on the social relationships that exist between the employee and the organization as a whole. It has been analyzed that this is the topic that has been researched by the researchers by implementing the statistical techniques as it has been seen that the employees tend to work for the organization in such a way that, maximizes the returns for the organizations. There have been many studies that have tried to link the organization outcomes with the justice within the organizations. The need for the research arises by realizing the fact that the justice perceptions within the organization are linked to various organization outcomes and these are inclusive of the job satisfaction, the commitment for the organization well as the greatest amount of the trust from the employees. Main aspect in this case that has been analyzed is the commitment that is achieved from the employees. the commitment that is being shown by the employees can be of various forms and this can range from the effectiveness being reflected by an organization as well as the faithfulness and the well being of the employees. Commitment can define the psychological state of the employee as has been seen by the researchers that the employees who are involved in the organizational commitment are seen to be more engaged in the behaviors as the high performance as well as the citizenship for the organization. In the included researches the measures

Documentation of learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Documentation of learning - Essay Example It will lead teams to work together and achieve a high level of performance. During the semester I have learned very valuable lessons from teamwork and diversity in global environments. I learned how team diversity can have a positive impact to the team if team members are able to manage it well. Additionally I am in a position to better understand and deal with issues that may occur in a team. Also I learned how to lead people to accomplish high performance teams. When team members are able to accept differences and respect other backgrounds, they can focus on their ultimate goals and overcome their obstacles in pursuing their finish line with effective ways. I have learned many important things from this class, but in my perspective there are three most important aspects from this course. The most important aspects from the course are my daily activities in this semester that may lead the team to perform, setting up common purpose, motivating the team, and giving feedbacks. Setting s up common purposes or goals are the first most important element before the groups goes further. â€Å"Real teams are not just a collection of individuals reporting to the same manager. They are people who must depend on each other to get the job done† (Johnson, pg.13, 2013). ... For example I have learned theoretically frameworks from professor’s Milter class by giving presentations in class and practically in my Indonesian organization (PERMIAS). I am the president of this organization and I had first task from Indonesian ambassador to host Indonesian cultural events to promote Indonesian to the USA citizens at October 19, 2013 in Washington D.C. The Indonesian ambassador wanted me to arrange Balinese cultural dance because he wanted to introduce this Indonesian dance to USA’s society. My first obstacle was to convince my group members to work together arranging a Balinese show dance. I have 17 members in my team who come from different areas in Indonesia. Each of my group members had different ideas. Some of them didn’t agree to arrange this event because they wanted to show traditional dances from their own regions. Some thought that Javanese dance would be more interesting and there were people who wanted to organize Kalimantan dance s. After several meetings I couldn’t find a solution to make them focus on one goal, thus I approached them one by one by arranging non-formal meetings such as dinner and lunch. I discussed with them by telling them that the most important thing in this event is to arrange Indonesian culture. Balinese dance is one of the Indonesian traditional dances and it can represent Indonesian. We can perform other traditional dances after this event. I told them that focus on one goal is very important. In the end all of them accepted it. Even though they are not from Bali my teammates still want to arrange this event. My Indonesian cultural night was a huge success. The initial conflict while trying to focus on one goal is very crucial. As a group leader I should

Project Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Project Report - Essay Example The petroleum cars contribute to alto of pollution whereby they may leave poisonous exhaust fumes or oil leaking from their engines. To conserve the various natural plants and animals, it is important to take into consideration conservation measures that will help preserve the forests. Using electric cars and bicycles will reduce exhaust fumes and the spillage of oil in North Pennines and, as a result, reduce pollution mainly. The paper will, therefore, focus on the use of alternative transport like bicycles and electric cars to reduce stress to reduce pollution to the natural environment of North Pennines. North Pennines is a natural reserve that people visit especially in their leisure or past times. It is a natural habitat far away from the city and the many activities that affect the cities and towns. There are people who stay there and as a result help to maintain and take care of the various plants and animals. The area has human settlements and the forests and natural areas where people do not inhabit. The people thus visit North Pennines to enjoy the tranquility associated with it and to venture into natural adventures especially when sampling the various animals and organisms in North Pennines. The environment is mostly natural and an excellent habitat for the different plants found in North Pennines. Many people come with their private cars into North Pennines. Most people use their cars to move around and, as a result, a venture with the cars to North Pennines. They travel through the vast lands and the moorland using their cars. The cars, therefore, cover a lot of mileage w hen moving around North Pennines, and, as a result, bring with them a lot of pollution to an area that does not have much pollution near it. It is in a remote place, so the use of a car is essential for accessing it. People can use bicycles in accessing the area. Since cars come with pollution, it is

Forensic Engineering Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Forensic Engineering - Coursework Example However, little information has been offered on the engineering side and it is thus imperative to go through several of the speculations regarding the collapse of the building looking at the structural side of the matter. Engineers have stated that the major cause of the collapse for the building was due to the failure of certain components critical to the structure of the building. The engineers state that after the initial attack, there was the beginning of huge fires in the inside of the building. These fires were so hot that they made the joists of the building weak and consequently they failed to support the weight of the building leading to the immediate collapse (Bjorkman, 2013). The engineers of the building had carried out an appropriate job by making sure that they backed up the joists with concrete slabs. These slabs were important in that they assisted to ensure in case of tragedy such as the one that happened, the joists would have received assistance from the concrete. However, in this particular case, there was failure of the concrete to assist because they had already been demolished by the high impact caused by the crash of the airplanes that hit the building when the attack began (Eagar, 2013). The System of building used by the engineers that constructed the World Trade Centre used a method of building commonly referred to as tubular framing. The perimeter frames that were used to consteruct the building were embedded internally so as to prevent forces that may be caused by issues or rather natural calamities such as earthquakes. Earthquakes unlike the attack that took place are rather subtle on the top part of the building as opposed to the force that hit the building directly. Every floor of the building was made of tubular pipes that were meant to support it in the case of forces. However, they did not succeed in the case of the September attack that saw the building losing foundation from every floor and falling drastically. It

Hong kong disney land Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hong kong disney land - Essay Example One of the most essential entry approaches for Disney is to work with foreign governments where they want to open theme parks because the latter can provide various kinds of incentives. France, Japan, and Hong Kong all provided different incentives to attract Disney into opening its theme parks in its countries. France offered $1 billion worth of various incentives (â€Å"Case Study,† n.d.), while Hong Kong paid for more than 80% of the $2.9 billion initial expenditures of the Hong Kong Disney project (Einhorn & Balfour, 2009). Furthermore, it helps Disney that the foreign country is a partner in the venture because the risks are distributed and the country can provide cultural knowledge and skills that Disney may lack. For instance, in Hong Kong, the government holds 57% share in the joint venture (Einhorn & Balfour, 2009). As a business partner, the government reduces risks on the part of Disney, wherein losses were distributed between it and the government (Einhorn & Balfou r, 2009). The government also offers expertise in local market knowledge to Disney, thereby providing real-time, relevant knowledge to Disney, so that it can properly adapt its marketing mix to local markets (â€Å"Case Study,† n.d.). In addition, the government can provide the infrastructures needed for expanding the theme park. Hong Kong Disney wants to expand its park, and right now, it is waiting for the government to finance part of the expansion (Einhorn & Balfour, 2009). Hence, Disney reaps diverse economic, social, and cultural advantages in working with governments as partners. As for Hong Kong Disney, the Chinese apparently had problems understanding and applying international norms of behavior. China is a large market with different dialects and cultural norms. Disneyland imposes universal cultural rules and guidelines, which the Mainland Chinese, for instance, cannot easily follow, such as not spitting and urinating in its areas and not smoking in prohibited locat ions (Ren, 2013, p.42). Some of the Chinese cannot understand these international norms of behavior because they clash with their local cultural norms. In other words, what may seem international might be tremendously conflicting with local habits and practices (i.e. Many Mainland Chinese do not think that spitting anywhere and urinating in public areas are supposed to be unethical or unlawful). In addition, it is critical for Hong Kong Disney to help the Chinese understand international norms of behavior because Disney aims for universal brand equity. Disney seeks to have a strong global brand, where entertainment is attained through an appeal to magic and the international connection of people across cultures (Tuleja, 2009, p.142). Disney wants tourists, whatever Disney theme park they might be in, to feel that Disney is in each location, which means that expectations across theme parks in terms of norms and practices must be standardized to reduce negative surprises and negative brand associations. Disney has a large stake, thus, in standardizing international norms of behavior for the benefit of its brand and its notion of international markets. After discussing international norms, the next points to be discussed are two issues in Hong Kong Disney’s current operation, primarily falling revenues and expansion funding issues. At present, Hong Kong Disney’s revenues are not stellar. Hong Kong Disneyland's numbers have been disappointing. It sold 4.27 million tickets in 2007, which dropped from 5

EXAM 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

EXAM 2 - Essay Example The process comprises of three, which include procedural due process, substantive due process and equation protection of law (Hunter 34). Due process aids in protecting the accused from denied his or her primary rights without undergoing impartial and adequate informed legal process. These rights encompass those related to liberty, life and property (Hunter 35). Hence, prevent influential people from using state’s powers given by constitution as a platform to the disadvantage of fellow citizens. In addition, it plays an indispensable role in granting the accused to defend oneself according to the law and for the court to hear his or her plea as well as argument concerning presented charges. Consequently, leading to a fair judgment without the court favoring any of the sides especially the accused because prosecution cites the convicted has done an intolerable wrongdoing. The essence of due process also prompts masses to have confidence and trust with the judicial system as well as other regime institutions because one is sure he or she will receive fair

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

Human Resource Management - Essay Example In case a trade union is weak in membership strength as well as bargaining power, the organization is capable of benefiting from bargaining coverage through well-organised employer-organizations or even from state support through legal extensions for collective agreements to non-organised workers and non-unionised firms. In recent past, many union leaders have been willing to adapt to the labour market as well as the social policies to conquer the prevailing domestic challenges. In this paper, as consultants of UNITE we will conduct analysis of various factors that influence human motivation within a business and how the motivation affects performance. In addition, the paper also performs an analysis of the causes of conflict and alienation at work as well as the various methods used in resolving conflict the trade union. Membership is essential in trade unions and although trade unions differ in their traditions in the way they link their representation to the membership base, membe rship numbers remain a crucial component in trade unions’ organizational strength and a crucial element for legitimacy and recognition. Membership in trade unions determines people engagement in trade union activities, funds used to finance such activities, formal recognition as a representative organization as well as strategic effectiveness. Nevertheless, worker affiliation cannot be down played even when employees benefit individually from or even when the employees appreciate the outcomes of trade union activities in terms of high wages and improved job security. Benefits obtained by trade unions are offered to all people within a bargain unit even when they are not members of trade unions and regardless of whether the people favoured the demands of the union. Therefore, trade unions can be influenced by â€Å"free rider† problem where self-interested people are unwilling to bear individual costs of trade union representation if they can take advantage of trade uni on results of representation free. In addition, employer attitudes regarding trade union representation have the ability to influence perception concerning membership cost because union-avoidance practices can considerably decrease the tendency to join unions (Pedersini, 2010). For UNITE to overcome the problem of free rider, the organization can establish special arrangements like â€Å"closed-shop† rules that specify union membership within workplaces enclosed within collective agreements. As well, the trade union can increase benefits that accumulate to members by providing reserved services. Because of the social role of trade unions and their contribution, public authorities can also grant trade unions rights such as the ability to establish trade union structures within companies, establishment to workplace employee representation bodies and obligation of companies to provide information and consultation procedures with trade unions in specific circumstances. These meas ures can promote trade union membership because they warrant availability of trade unions within workplaces and maintain continuous relations in employees and strengthens their combined identity. An acknowledged institutional setting that offers support to trade union membership makes trade unions effective is the stipulation of unemployment remuneration (Pedersini, 2010). In recent past, the problems trade unions face in sustaining their

Profit Maximization An Actual or Theoretical Objective Term Paper

Profit Maximization An Actual or Theoretical Objective - Term Paper Example If the results are observed to have positive impacts on profits, only then that decision is taken into consideration for further implementation. There are number of reasons due to which the model of profit maximization receives attention.it is encouraged because of undeniable and sustainable advantages which it offers to the business. Some of them include: Measurement Standard For identifying the performance of a firm, the first question is asked whether the firm is yielding profits or incurring losses. The higher the profits are earned, the better the performance of the firm. This phenomenon is not merely theoretical but its implications can be seen in the real world also. For instance, before investing into any specific firm, the first thing that investors examine is whether the firm is earning profits or not. Investors never invest in any loss making firm and always make a portfolio of firms that are generating higher profits (Kaneda and Matsui, 2003). Survival of Firm Profits are directly linked with firm’s survival. A company that is incurring losses is more likely to get bankrupt irrespective of its history or past performance (Dwivedi, 2012). The example of Kodak can be quoted here. Despite of its experience of 131 years, the company filed for bankruptcy in January 2012. The company could not hold its position and began to incur losses due to which it could not survive and ultimately, collapsed. Economic and Social Welfare Indirectly, the objective of profit maximization caters to economic and social welfare. In businesses, profits account for allocation of resources and efficient utilization. Making payments and allocating resources such as land, labor, capital, assist in taking care of economic and social welfare (Dwivedi, 2012). A lot of thought has been given to the question of profit maximization by economists. Some large and complex institutions where people of different background work together, the purpose is to maximize profits. In actual situation, profit maximization is so common that in some cases, it leads to severe ethical concerns. In the lust of earning higher profits, companies tend to shun ethical boundaries and violate ethics for earning greater returns. Some popular brand such as GAP, Nike, Levi’s, Converse, have proved to be guilty for ethical violation. Their customer base and headquarters are located in United States whereas their production processes are carried out in Asia; therefore they have been criticized for exploitation of workers. They fail to amend the malpractices at production sites of which they are aware but do not take action to correct them. Profit maximization is the fundamental assumption of economic theory. Although it is undeniably of greatest important however, by itself, it is not an ample criterion for effective business management. In practice, there are number of motivations and considerations that influence the desire for maximum economic efficiency and greatest profit as well as the accompanying assumptions that trigger the firm’s economic theory. Criticism to Profit Maximization Despite of such importance in theoretical and actual context, profit maximization is still criticized due to number of reasons. It is considered as undesirable on account of the reasons mentioned below. It overlooks the means involved to earn

The Impact of Postmodernism on Science Essay Example for Free

The Impact of Postmodernism on Science Essay Postmodernism has completely changed our vision of science. Against traditional beliefs, science is no longer based on rationality, but turns out to be a complex structure of subjective hypotheses, assumptions, and theses. Postmodernism has separated scientific beliefs from reason, and has significantly narrowed the scope of scientific ideas, which can only be used within limited cultural paradigms. The Impact of Postmodernism on Science Introduction With the rise of postmodern thought, science has ceased to be the source of rationality and reason in their traditional sense. Against our beliefs into the rationality and objectivity of science, postmodernism has changed this image, making science irrational, subjective, and almost mystic (Schick, 1999). The modern speed of technological advancement has created a completely new area of scientific discoveries, where ideas replace each other with the speed of light. However, while scientists are occupied with the need to cure humanity of cancer and AIDS, we are gradually losing the sense of rationality that was so characteristic of science in previous decades. Science has ceased to be rational, and this is the direct result of postmodernism’s impact on our scientific beliefs. From the viewpoint of postmodernism, we no longer believe in science as the source of universal and objective truths; rather, â€Å"science arrives at its truths in response to social forces both within and without the scientific community. Their periodic shifts in outlook come as a result of irrational conversions on the part of influential scientific leaders† (Grenz, 1996). Moreover, we no longer view science as rational: to be more exact, science is rational to the extent that is applicable within a given cultural paradigm (Appignanesi, 2002). Ultimately, postmodernism implies that scientific ideas and hypotheses cannot be objective, and vary from culture to culture; as a result, different cultural groups hold to different beliefs in regard to similar events and phenomena (e. g. we still lack unanimous agreement as for the origin of species and are torn between Christian beliefs and Darwin’s assumptions about the logic of evolution). Conclusion Postmodernism has completely changed our vision of science. Against traditional beliefs, science is no longer based on rationality, but turns out to be a complex structure of subjective hypotheses, assumptions, and theses. Postmodernism has separated scientific beliefs from reason, and has significantly narrowed the scope of scientific ideas, which can only be used within limited cultural paradigms. References Appignanesi, R. (2002). Postmodernism and big science. Totem Books. Grenz, S. J. (1996). A Primer on Postmodernism. Eerdman Publishing Company Schick, T. (1999). Readings in the philosophy of science: from positivism to postmodernism. McGraw-Hill Humanities.

Final Group Project Outline

Final Group Project Outline Final Group Project Outline Overview Working in groups of no more than four (4) students initially, your task is to research any industry and describe the top 3-5 competitors in that field. You should compare their marketing strategies and how they relate to each other. Your team will prepare a report and a class presentation that describes the key aspects of the companies and the industry in which they operate. You are required to work in teams of four (4); however a group may fire a team member if all are in agreement that the firing is warranted. That team member must then join another team. Students who work individually will receive a lowered grade for the project unless individual work is approved by Professor in advance. Format of Paper 1. 10-12 typed pages, double-spaced in Times New Roman 12 point font. 1† margins on all sides 2. Visual materials do not count as a part of the 10-12 pages 3. Use the most current information available 4. Late or handwritten papers will not be accepted. Papers will be accepted before the deadline. 5. Use the MLA Style of documentation throughout. 6. An electronic copy (MS Word) of your paper must be submitted in addition to hard copy. Writing Advice Plagiarism will result in a grade of zero for the project and possible disciplinary action. There is no need to restate the questions above just answer them 3. Dont describe each of their products mention product lines major categories. 4. Dont editorialize. Back up everything with facts. Your opinion, while very important to me, is not appropriate in this type of writing assignment. 5. Dont assume that â€Å"most people know† or â€Å"as everyone knows† Be explicit and cite your sources. 6. Avoid a conversational tone. Write as if you are submitting the paper for review in a magazine or journal. 7. Avoid the use of the first person. (I, me, we, us, etc.) 8. Do not hand in photocopied content. Your words are most important. 9. Cite appropriately or you will be penalized. 10. Use page numbers 11. Pay attention to formatting in all drafts font size, typeface, bold, etc. Make it uniform. 12. Use bullets where necessary use tables when presenting numerical or comparative data 13. Use section headings as shown in the outline above. 14. Be mindful of words like dominate, win, conquer, etc. 15. Do not get too granular; talk about the company and its strategy, not the warrantees on dishwashers, etc. This is an analysis of a company, not a product or product line. The structure of your paper should explicitly follow the outline below Outline I. Executive summary (1 page) To be written last it should include parts of each of the sections below. II. The Industry (1-2 pages) Briefly describe the industry in which the company operates. Who are the main competitors? What is the current state of the industry? Is this company a top player in the marketplace? If so, how do they differentiate themselves? III. The Companies (4-6 pages) Company 1 Address each of the four Ps (Price, Product, Place, and Promotion) Briefly describe their major product/service lines but do not describe individual products unless they only have one or two of them. What is their competitive marketing strategy? What is the overall image of the company in your opinion? How does this fir with the image they are trying to project? Global/international marketing issues -are there any? What do they do overseas? Other are there any other important facts that should be mentioned? Company 2 Address each of the four Ps (Price, Product, Place, and Promotion) Briefly describe their major product/service lines but do not describe individual products unless they only have one or two of them. What is their competitive marketing strategy? What is the overall image of the company in your opinion? How does this fir with the image they are trying to project? Global/international marketing issues -are there any? What do they do overseas? Other are there any other important facts that should be mentioned? IV. Social Responsibility (1-2 pages) Describe the companys social responsibility program or policy if they have one. Are there any significant current or past ethical issues as it relates to marketing? Is this firm both socially responsible and ethical in your opinion? Why or why not? V. Conclusion  © Richard Hyland 2009 Final Group Project 1-5-10

Wa Municipal Profile

Wa Municipal Profile CHAPTER THREE COMMUNITY PROFILE OF THE WA MUNICIPALITY Location and Size The Upper West Region is located in the north-western part of Ghana and shares borders with the La Cote D’Ivoire to the north,-west, Burkina Faso to the north, Upper East to the East and the Northern Region to the south. The Wa Municipal Assembly was created out of the then Wa District in 2004 with legislative instrument (L1) 1800 in pursuant of the policy of decentralization started in 1988. The Assembly is empowered as the highest political and administrative body in the Municipality charged with the responsibility of facilitating the implementation of national policies. Under section 10 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 426), the Assembly exercises deliberative, legislative and executive functions in the District. By this act, the Assembly is responsible for the overall development of the Municipality. The Wa Municipality is therefore tone of the eleven administrative areas (District Assemblies) that make up the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana. The Municipality shares administrative boundaries with Nadowli District to the north, the Wa East District to the east and the Wa west district to the west. The Municipality lies between latitudes 9 º50!N to 10 º20!N and between longitudes 9 º40! W and 10 º15!W. It has an area of approximately 234.74 km2, about 6.4% of the area of Upper West Region. The implication of the location of the municipality for development is, enhancing bilateral trade and commerce with Franco phone countries. The Wa town has the potential to grow and be upgraded into both an industrial and commercial hub for the north-western corridor of Ghana. The Figure 1 (map) below shows the location of the Wa Municipality with some of the peri-urban communities that fall victim of the rapidly urbanizing process in the municipality. Demography The Upper West region is the youngest region in Ghana. In 2010, the population of the region stood at 702,110 with a growth rate of 1.9% per annum. According to the 2010 population and Housing census, the Wa Municipality has a total population of 107,214. Currently, the total population of the municipality stands at 127,284 (male: 61,826/female: 65,458) with an urbanized population of 71,051 (GSS, 2012) representing 66.3% compared to the national urbanized share of 50.9% and the regional urbanized share of 16.3%. This also implies the Wa Municipality alone accounts for a 62% share of the region’s urbanized population in the year 2010. The Municipality is also reported as having an urban population growth rate of 4% as compared to the national urban growth rate of 3.4% (Wa Municipal, 2012; GSS, 2005; GSS, 2012). The population structure of the Wa municipality revealed a preponderance of the youth over the aged and females (51%) over males (49%). The youth form 49% of the total population with a potential working population of 47% and 4% aged. This means a high dependency ratio since the economically active population is 47% compared to dependent population of 53%. The population density is 542 persons per square kilometers with its associated development implication in the areas of housing, education and health facilities, environmental sanitation, water supply, pressure on land and socio-economic infrastructure due to the rapidly urbanising township. This raises the issue of population management, specifically, housing, land use planning, streetism, conflict management, to secure the future of the municipality. The gender implication of the above includes programming for women, mother and children to provide for peculiar health, educational and economic needs and strengthening institutions for effective governance and protection of the vulnerable and excluded and also ensure human rights especially for women. A second implication is that the youthfulness of the population requires the provision of social infrastructure especially schools, crà ¨ches, day nursery, primary and junior secondary schools, healthcare services especially family planning, adolescent and reproductive health services. Thirdly, there is the need for skills development programmes that will provide the youth with employable skills to address current and future unemployment problems. These implications are linked to population management issues such as enhancing effective resource mobilization, human, financial and material resources for the provision of basic socio economic infrastructure and services in the educational and health sectors. There is also the need for capacity building and institutional strengthening for the staff of the municipal assembly and other sector departments and the need to embark upon vigorous population management programmes and employment creation for the youth. The existence of educational facilities universities, Polytechnics, long distance learning centers, vocational and technical institutions, availability of electricity, water, banking, telecommunication and transportation facilities employment opportunities and availability of agricultural fertile lands in the Wa town are responsible for the current rural exodus of populations into the city centre leading to the expansion of the urban centre towards the peri-urban communities in response to the influx of populations and developments. Relief, Drainage and Topography The Municipality lies in the Savannah high plains, which generally, is gently undulating with an average height between 160m and 300m above sea level. The gentle rolling nature of the landscape implies that the topography is no barrier to agriculture and other physical development. The low lying areas are found in the following localities; Charia, Zingu, Kperisi to the North and Piisi, Dapouha, Boli, Sing, Biihe and Busa to the South. These manifest in the form of valleys that collect and retain water during the rainy season and are therefore suitable for rice cultivation and livestock rearing. These low lying areas have further given rise to two main drainage systems, the Sing-Bakpong and its tributaries to the South and Billi and its tributaries to the North. The streams are seasonal and thus dry up during the long dry season thereby reducing available of water for agriculture, domestic, industrial and constructional uses. This implies the provision of dams, dugouts and rainwater h arvesting in order to provide adequate water to meet the domestic and agricultural needs of the increasing population in the area. Weather The climate of the Wa Municipality is characterized by long, windy and hot dry season followed by the short and stormy wet season. The dry season occurs between November and April. The north eastern trade winds from the Sahara desert precipitates the cold harmattan winds between November and February which brings with it coughs, cold and other respiratory diseases and also skin diseases. The hot season records high temperatures with a peak of between 400C and 450C in March and April causing dehydration and incidence of cerebral meningitis. The effect of climate change is becoming more manifest of late due to human activities in terms of bush burning, felling of trees, poor farming practices and infrastructural activities. The wet season lasts between April and October. The annual mean rainfall volume of between 840 mm and 1400 mm is sparsely and poorly distributed over the months. The rainfall pattern is erratic and punctuated by spells of long droughts and heavy downpours and floods . This affects humidity levels, soil moisture levels, crop growth and general agricultural productivity. Land use Notwithstanding the fact that the municipality is the commercial hub of the upper west region, agriculture remains main the economic activity. It remains the largest single contributor to the local economy and employs about 70% of the active population. The main staple crops grown are millet, sorghum, maize, rice, cowpea and groundnuts cultivated on subsistence basis. However, soybeans, groundnuts, Bambara beans are produced as cash crops. Economic trees within the municipality are sheanuts, dawadawa, mango, baobab and teak. The vegetation cover of the area is guinea savanna woodland, which is made up of grasses and tree species such as Butylosternum Paradoxum (Shea tree), Parkia biglolosa (Dawadawa), Adansonia Digitata (baobab), Anarcadium occidentale (cashew), Acacia, Ebony, Neem and Mango among others. There is a marked change in the plant life of this vegetation zone during different seasons of the year. The vegetation in this area is thus open and dominated by short grasses. In the wet season, the area looks green and in the dry season, the grass dries and most of the trees shed their leaves and prone to bush fires. Human activities such as firewood harvesting, charcoal burning, farming, quarrying, construction etc. are all combined to modify the natural environment. The Municipality lies in the Savanna high plains, which generally, is undulating with an average height between 160 and 300 m above sea level and has two main drainage systems, Sing-Bakpong and its tributaries to the South and Billi and its tributaries to the North. The streams dry up during the long dry season thereby reducing available water for agriculture, domestic, industrial and construction users. Apart from the Wa central-the capital of the municipality, there are eight peri-urban towns within the municipality. However, the study would focus on the four fast urbanizing communities (Busa, Kpongo, Charia/Loho and Kperisi) located almost equidistance from the municipality. Economy of the Wa Municipality The structure of the economy of the municipality has not changed since 2009. It is still dominated by agriculture (about 70%), followed by commerce (about 9%) and industry (about 3%). Other key sectors of the economy are transport, tourism, communication and energy. Peoples’ sources of income for livelihood depend on the economic activities they undertake, the level of diversity and the technology or know-how used. Comparatively, the diversity of the economy of the municipality is very limited and dominated by agriculture, which is equally not diversified. Wa municipal falls within the Savannah Zone where poverty has been above the national average. Currently, nine (9) out of every ten is said to be poor. Average households incomes are very low and bread winners few. An analysis of household’s expenditure shows that about 80% of their income is spent on food and 20% on rent, education, health, utility charges and funerals. The high level of poverty is attributed to unde rdeveloped social overhead capital. Social overhead capital, which supplies services (power, transport, storage, communication, education) that are indispensable to modern industry are under developed. The under development of this capital base is a constraint or bottleneck to economic growth and development in the Municipality. Agriculture The agriculture sector provides more than 60% of the municipal population sources of jobs, livelihood and business. It is a sector crucial to the local economy, because it is currently the major provider of jobs. Despite its strategic role in fighting poverty, it is under modernized. Traditional technologies still dominates agriculture production, processing, storage and marketing. Programs are therefore required to enhance development of sustainable agriculture production systems e.g. irrigation systems, enhanced farmer education and training, enhanced technology transfer in agriculture production, storage and enhance corporate development for marketing. Agro-Industry is an immense potential waiting development. The investment potentials are many and varied. Cereals flour: processing from Staple food crops like maize, millet and sorghum. About 5,581, 7,113and 5,180 MT of maize, millet and sorghum respectively are produced annually. About 70-80% of the production is processed at grinding mills where the possibility of food contamination is very high. Pito Brewing: A local beverage (Pito) produced from sorghum (Guinea Corn) which enjoys a lot patronage in the municipality and the region faces the challenges of maintaining the quality/standards beyond a day, meeting preferred taste and alcohol level of consumers, packaging and traditional brewing process. Yet it is one of the major sources of livelihoods and income for women. Modernizing pito brewing has a potential of not only augmenting sorghum production but improving women income level. Processing/Packaging: of dairy and meat products (cheese, yoghurt, sausages) for households, catering and hospitality industries: Cattle herds are about 6,696 while small ruminants’ population is about 8,457. Livestock production is still basically open range, while a growing hospitality and catering industry lack the necessary meat product. Edible oil extraction: Shea butter, Groundnut and Cotton seed oil are extracted using traditional methods. About 6,696, 5,154, and 5,303 MT of sheanuts, groundnuts and cotton seed respectively are produced annually in the Municipality. Fruit juice/jam extraction: Yet another emerging business area with great growth potential is fruit juice extraction. Fruits of significant economic importance in the municipality include mango, cashew, shea, â€Å"zumbringa†. Tourism Tourism is one of the fast growing sectors in the Municipality of Wa and awaits a lot of investment. Apart from unique attractions (ranging from natural resources, culture and entertainment), a relative good basic infrastructure, transport and hospitality base promise the municipality a unique tourist destination. These potentials notwithstanding, lodging, food and beverages facilities, and support services are inadequate and substandard. Some of the notable tourists’ attractions include; the Wa-Naa Palace (a symbol of authority of one of the three epical authorities of traditional Wa), a flat roofed magnificent traditional building with rumble stripped walls; the Dzendzen Pool, George E. Ferguson Tomb (the first agent of the Governor of the Gold Coast Colony to reach Wa, May 4th 1894), Western Sudanese style built mosques e.g. the Centenarian Mosque at Nakori, Chegli crocodile pond, indigenous traditions, buildings and culture, dance and music. Transport The transport system in the Municipality is made up of road and very limited air transport. The road network is about 385km comprising 256km latitude roads and 129km, surfaced roads (trunk tarred roads). The Municipality has four (4) trunk road links to Kumasi and Tamale, Dorimon/Burkina Faso, Lawra-Hamile and Tumu/Leo. This is a strong advantage for enhanced trade and tourism. However, the conditions of these are bad and inhibit transport services between Wa and these locations. The absence of a by-pass road for traffic on direct route to neighbouring Burkina Faso, undeveloped arterial roads, poor drainage network, inadequate/substandard travelers and cargo lorry parks, limited pedestrian cross walks, absence of bus stop pavements do retard the progress of the transport sector. Wa Municipality has over 300 commercial/ private vehicles population and experience over 200 Vehicles passage day the services providers are dominantly private operators: GPRTU, Metro Mass transport, STC, OA, DKM, Diamond Winners, EMEKPA and Private alliance transport. Another most predominate means of transport is the use of motorcycle. This lessens traffic situations but however causes accidents in the town. It is incumbent that for the Municipality to tap the full benefits of all sectors, transportation requires a serious development intervention. Housing /Real Estate development As a regional capital the municipality performs political, administrative and commercial services which demand appropriate housing for households, offices/institutions and business. However, compound housing which usual accommodate six to12 households with poor municipal services still dominates the housing sector in the municipality. The housing challenge is aggravated by a floating students’ population which lack accommodation on campuses. Commercial Hub of the Region The Wa Municipality is currently the regional commercial/service centre with average trading/office facilities (infrastructure). It has over 800 SME in tourism, agro business/ processing, Commerce, metal fabrication, construction, banking Finance. The presence of some market facilities (shops), do attract people from all corners of the region to trade in the municipality. A few Modern shopping facilities are also present to ease the congested shopping situation in the municipality. The relatively large number of SMEs opens up opportunities for Partnerships/Joint Ventures The industries in the Municipality are small scale and are categorized into Agro processing, wood, Textile, metal glass, leather hide, clay/sand/stone, art craft. There is a high level of agro-based industries in the Municipality. To finance these industries there are about 15 financial institutions (Banking and Non-banking) in the Municipality. This place the municipality in a better position to assist small and medium scale businesses to grow. Light Industrial Area The Local Authority, Wa Municipal Assembly, has acquired 20 acres of land for light industries. Utilities like electricity and water have been provided. This creates an impetus for a total transformation of the economy. The Municipal Assembly is seeking potential investors to do business with. Beside the Municipal Assembly is ready to front/assist any potential investor to access land for any investment in the municipality. Banking and Financial Institutions The municipality can boost of over 15 banking/non-banking institutions; ADB, SGSSB, Barclays, Stanbic, APEX Bank, GCB, NIB , 1st National bank, Lawra Area Rural Bank and Sonzelle Rural Bank. There also exist Five (5) non-banking financial institutions. There are Two Credit Unions Ghana Financial Services, Comforter, DKM, Line Paradise and Sinapi Aba. They provide the necessary financial services. Infrastructure Infrastructure comprises water systems, communication networks, electricity (power), health care facilities, roads, streets security system among others. The available infrastructure in the Municipality is averagely adequate to promote the growth of other sectors in the region. There is the availability of water systems, communication networks, electricity (power), health care facilities, roads, streets security system that will facilitate development in the municipality. Key Interest Areas to do Business in the Wa Municipality Expanding production and value addition in agriculture, industry, tourism and transport Enhancing institutional competitiveness Effective and efficient and communication system Engaging diversified forms of partnerships Developing and retaining the necessary human capital for hiring and self-employment Facilitating access to financial and non-financial support service

Free Color Purple Essays: Celie and Albert :: Color Purple Essays

Celie and Albert in The Color Purple  Ã‚      The relationship between Celie and Albert went through many changes throughout this novel. Albert, or Mr._________, was a man who seem to be a person who was very angry, powerful and hateful. His father was a man who believed that love was not the point while trying to find a good wife, obedience was. The woman didn't have to be attractive, rich or one who was in love, all she had to do was cook, clean and tend to the children. Albert was taught that this was the way to an successful life. Albert feel in love with Shug, they did not marry. Mr.____ was controlled by his father even as an adult. His father wouldn't allow his son to marry Shug. His father didn't want him to actually love, because he never loved himself. Albert married a woman his father approved of, and he treated her how his father taught him to. Margret cooked, cleaned and tended to the children. After his father took shug away from him, he hated his father, but was so controlled by him that he could never stand up to his father. She later died and left behind a house to be cleaned, cooking to be done and children who needed to be tended to. He fell in love again with Nettie, but she was not allowed to marry him. Albert was forced to find a quick replacement for Margret. So instead he married Celie. He beat her not only because of the angry towards his father, but also because she was neither Shug nor Nettie. In the marriage of Celie and Albert there was no love or devotion. They were just stuck with the other. Celie married Albert because her step father told her too and Albert married because he wanted a full time maid. They just went one day to the next with Albert giving the orders and Celie carrying out these orders. It was like boss and employ, except Celie was anything but rewarded for carrying out the orders. The women in those days were thought as something that a man owned. Once the women was his he was to do what he pleased with it. Celie was thought of as a item that Albert purchased, like cattle, and once he had purchased her she was his and no one else's.

Essay --

â€Å"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.† This is a quote by Pele that demonstrates soccer in so many ways. Today I will tell you that there are many aspects in the game of soccer, some of which are the history, the rules and how to become a good soccer player. Soccer is the most popular sport evolved from as far back as the Han dynasty in 200-300 B.C. According to the Complete Book of Soccer, the Chinese played with a wet piece of balled up cloth, trying to kick the cloth through the two bamboo poles. This was the start of the great game of soccer. According to the Complete Book of Soccer, in Europe, soccer did not start till the later 14th century. It is said to be a game of kicking rubber balls in the streets of the British Isles for bragging rights. This then lead to teams building up against each other for bragging rights in England. Unfortunately for the United States, the game did not appear till the 1900th century. â€Å"The American Soccer Association was organized in New...

Raymond Carver Essay

Raymond Carver was a short story writer who was born in the Pacific Northwest. He was a textbook editor, lecturer and teacher while writing. His stories featured some of his trademarks of, alcohol, poverty, and people in real life situations. Carver was influenced to write about these trademarks through experiences he had lived and influences that were brought upon him, like alcoholism and divorce. Raymond Carver and his father were alcoholics and had both been divorced and remarried through out their lives which is why alcohol, divorce, and fading love are some of the biggest themes he incorporates in his stories. Raymond Carver also expresses puzzlement about the odd and battered condition of love in his profound themes. Specifically in his two short stories, â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† and â€Å"Popular Mechanics.† As a writer Carver always tried to add some aspect of intensity or menace in his work. He was known as a literary minimalist because he likes to shorten sentences by removing words or phrases. This writing technique he uses creates a sense of uncertainty in the sentences and leaves the reader guessing. Minimalist writers like Carver, won’t tell you exactly what to think through their diction, instead, they leave their work open ended so the reader can participate in the interpretation of the story and fill in the blank themselves. Carver even says in one of his books called â€Å"Fires†: â€Å"I like it when there is some sense of menace in short stories†¦. there has to be a tension, a sense that something is imminent†¦.† ( Fires 17). Carver creates that state of uncertainty in â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† when the four characters are conversing amongst each other about love. Terri and Mel tell stories about their past marriages. Mel had a very demanding wife while Terri was involved with a guy that abused her. The conversation in the room gradually becomes quieter and quieter as they continue to talk about love and drink gin. Mel says to Terri: â€Å"Just shut up for once in your life, Mel said very quietly. Will you do me a favor and do that for a minute?† (What We Talk About 146) Sentences like these seem out of place in a conversation about love, and because of those lines Mel and Terri’s relationship seems unclear and uncertain. The entire story revolves around a certain speech or passage by Mel. As Mel drinks more and more the title of the story, â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love†, has more meaning and makes the reader and the characters think, just what do we talk about when we talk about love. Even though Mel is drunk when he says his speech, there is truth in his words: â€Å"What do any of us really know about love? Mel Said. ‘It seems to me we’re just beginners at love†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Am I wrong? Am I way off base? Because I want you to set me straight if you think I’m wrong. I want to know. I mean, I don’t know anything, and I’m the first one to admit it.† (What We Talk About 144-145) Fred Moramarco, a professor at San Diego State University, wrote an article called â€Å"Carver’s Couples Talk About Love† and said: â€Å"When I read this passage in my class, my Southern California students, nearly all of them from families that have experienced divorce, both understand it and are bewildered by it simultaneously. Which is to say they recognize it as the contemporary world they live in, a world of serial relationships where one year’s love is the next year’s courtroom adversary.† (Carver’s Couples Talk About Love-Moramarco) This article is beneficial in explaining and showing how relationships can be deceiving and not always straight forward. This is an other example of how Carver’s condition of love puzzled Moramarco’s students even when they understood it. Raymond Carver underlines the confusion about love with two motifs. He uses his structural element or symbolic structure in his story through things like alcohol and light. Carver uses a symbolic structure in his work that he excepts the reader to make sense of. He uses symbolic images like metaphors to help add to the interpreting the story. In the first paragraph of â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† Carver says: â€Å"Sunlight filled the kitchen from the big window behind the sink.†(What We Talk About 137) Which is a symbolic comment because as the characters talk about their experiences with love the light that once filled the room is gone and the story ends with: â€Å"Not one of us moving, not even when the room went dark. (What We Talk About154) These lines show that as the characters keep drinking they start to think, and realize the complexity of love until they figure out that love is not as straight forward as they think. Carver again links alcohol and light when Nick says: â€Å"Maybe we were a little drunk by then. I know it was hard keeping things in focus. The light was draining out of the room, going back through the window where it had come from. Yet nobody made a move to get up from the table to turn on the overhead light.†(What We Talk About 152) The transient love that the characters experience is short and it makes them feel that they have arrived somewhere, but really they have not accomplished much. As the story progresses and the characters keep drinking, they talk more and more about love. Also as they talk about their experiences with love it becomes clear to them that they do not know as much about love as they thought they did. The stories conclusion hits the characters with a sense of reality. All the gin is finished and Nick and the readers hear the sound of four human hearts beating in the darkness: â€Å"I could hear my heart beating. I could hear everyone’s heart. I could hear the human noise we sat there making, not one of us moving, not even when the room went dark.† (What We Talk About 154) Raymond Carver uses the same symbolic structure in his short story, â€Å"Popular Mechanics.† In â€Å"Popular Mechanics† Carver uses great detail and many symbols to carry his theme that not all relationships end happily. He uses these things to bring out the theme of this depressing, but truthful story that many couples these days experience. Carver starts off the story with: â€Å"Early that day the weather turned and cars slushed by on the street outside, where it was getting dark. But it was getting dark on the inside too.† (Popular Mechanics 288) This line represents the relationship between the man and the woman. The line: â€Å"it was getting dark on the inside too† (Popular Mechanics 288), is representative of the feelings of the couple, which are changing from happiness to hatred and anger. He uses the same symbolic structure again when the weather outside is dark and he says: â€Å"But it was getting dark on the inside too.† Sentences like these make the reader believe that there is something wrong in the relationship. The details Carver uses helps the reader interpret so many images and help the reader piece together the big picture. Also it is very obvious to see that the man and women are unhappy just by their attitudes towards each other. The couple argues about who will take the baby to the point where they are both pulling on it. By showing the couple arguing immaturely, Carver tries to show that they are far from happy. He lets us know this through his extreme detail in his symbolic structure. It is essential to look for these symbolic elements to understand the meanings of Raymond Carver’s work. Carver is known for his minimal writing style, simplified language, and irregular plots. His writing style helps capture the experiences and emotions his characters face, which often include guilt, grief, hopelessness, and the effects of fading love. Also his common themes are a response to his history involving the influence of alcoholism and divorce with himself and his parents. In â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† Carver hints puzzlement and confusion about love through his symbolic lines about alcohol and light, along with expressing the confusion more clearly through certain passages his characters say like Mel’s speech. However in â€Å"Popular Mechanics† Carver shows it by using great detail, symbols, and through the actions of his characters.

Case Study Diverticular Disease Health And Social Care Essay

The big bowel is about 1.5m in length and is made up of 4 chief parts the cecum, go uping colon, transverse colon, falling colon, sigmoid colon and the rectum. Its chief map is to transport waste out of the organic structure and to absorb H2O from the waste before it leaves. It is made up of three beds, the outermost bed muscularis, in-between bed the mucous membrane and innermost layer the mucous membrane. The mucous membrane is where all the re-absorption takes topographic point whilst the muscularis is responsible for peristaltic motions. Diverticular disease is most common in the sigmoid colon part. A diverticulum ( diverticulosis ) is a pouch like pouch which is formed from the mucous membrane and undertakings through the colon wall. This happens as a consequence of there being a failing in the wall and at many diverticula can show at any one clip. They are besides vascular and have a rich blood supply. A failing in the wall can so be accompanied by an addition in force per unit area of the intestine due to the patient going constipated. If there is a deficiency of fiber and H2O in the diet the stools become dry and little, and the enteric musculuss must contract with greater force to go through the stools along, bring forthing a higher force per unit area in the big bowels. The extra force per unit area leads to weak musca volitanss in the colon walls that finally pouch out and organize pouches called diverticula. Most frequently, the pouches signifier in the sigmoid colon, which is the lower left portion of the colon that connects to the rectum. This country of the colon is capable to the highest sum of force per unit area because it is the narrowest part of the big bowel ( E Health MD ) . Diverticula vary in size but tend to be between 5 -10mm and in extremes instances can make up to 20mm ( WGO ) . Diverticulitis is a status in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture consequences in infection in the tissues that surround the colon ( Medicinenet.com ) . Diverticular disease is many symptomless as mentioned earlier and many people who have it are non ever aware that they have the status. Many patients experience symptoms similar to cranky intestine syndrome and complain of bloating and hurting in the lower left abdominal part. One of the most common causes of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage is due to diverticular disease shed blooding which can happen because of the cutting of the bowel wall. The hemorrhage is by and large painless but does affect big volumes of blood ( Gastrointestinalatlas ) .Case surveyI have chosen my instance survey to be on a 45 twelvemonth old male who I will mention to as Mr X. I will be discoursing the patients chief symptoms, associated medical history, household history, trials and intervention of jobs found. Mr X visited his G.P in January 2010 complaining of a crampy hurting over the left iliac pit. He besides complained of bloating and had non opened his bowels decently for a hebdomad. Mr X told the G.P that he had noticed a alteration in his intestine wont over the last 2 months and was sing episodes of irregularity which would be followed by short episodes of diarrhoea. He had besides noticed a alteration in the visual aspect of his stool explicating that they appeared to be smaller and had a pellet like visual aspect. Coloring material of his stool was described as being normal but he would detect a little darkish visual aspect every now and once more. No history of emesis and he was eating and imbibing usually with the exclusion of sing a bloating esthesis after a repast. He besides complained of experiencing unenrgetic and did n't experience rather every bit active as he was earlier. Mr X ‘s critical marks were recorded BP 145/86, PR 88 and temperature 37.5. Apart for being somewhat pyrexic vital organs marks were normal for this patient. On scrutiny Mr X was found to be rather stamp in the lower left of his venters and on percussion there were obvious marks of difficult stool. Initial diagnosing made by the G.P was cranky intestine syndrome and irregularity caused by a hapless diet. The G.P expressed concern about Mr X complaining of his stool looking dark on a few occasions. The G.P advised the patient to imbibe plentifulness of H2O, addition fiber in his diet and to get down exerting on a regular basis to seek and convey his weight down. Mr X was given lactulose solution for his irregularity to be taken twice daily. The G.P asked the patient for a blood sample to govern out the possibility of anemia. Mr X was told a dark visual aspect of the stool may bespeak an upper G.I bleed due to an ulcer but could besides be due to nutrient he had eaten. The fact that Mr X had a history of suspension hernia meant that it should be investigated. Mr X was asked to come back and see the G.P in a hebdomad ‘s clip. Mr X has a history of high blood pressure and lower back hurting. He smokes 20 coffin nails a twenty-four hours and consumes 20 units of intoxicant a hebdomad. He is considered to be over weight at 18 rock and does non exert on a regular basis. His diet consists chiefly of saturated nutrient ; he enjoys microwave repasts and chows fast nutrient on a regular basis. Mr X works a security guard in the retail industry and works long displacements. He is married and has four kids. He is on Altace and lipid-lowering medicines for his high blood pressure and 20mg ezomeprazole for his suspension hernia. His male parent passed off from prostatic malignant neoplastic disease at the age of 78 and his female parent has history of lung malignant neoplastic disease. Mr X has taken over the counter medicines to seek and alleviate his irregularity with small consequence. He suffers with a moderate sum of emphasis and anxiousness due to his fiscal state of affairs but has no jobs go throughing piss. He has no loss of appetency and says he normally gets a good dark slumber. Apart from the job he is kicking of there is no other associated ailments. Mr X returned to his G.P a hebdomad after his first audience and was still kicking of the same job. The lactulose had small consequence but he still felt hurting and was stamp over his left iliac pit. An internal scrutiny concluded his stool still felt difficult. His observations were still reasonably much the same and his blood trial for anemia came back as normal. The G.P decided to mention Mr X for farther trials to set up the exact cause of Mr X ‘s symptoms.Diagnostic ModalitiesOnce the G.P had refereed patients with symptoms similar to Mr X is common for them to hold a big intestine scrutiny called Barium clyster. The patient is asked non to eat any solids 24 hours prior to the process and is given strong laxatives called picolax to take ( London xray.com ) . With the usage of X raies the doctor runs Ba into the patient ‘s intestine through a catheter surfacing the liner of the intestine. The intestine is distended utilizing an inflating balloon and the patient is so moved about in different places whilst a series of images are taken. The Ba is radiopaque which shows up the features of the intestine rather nicely. This type of scrutiny is besides peculiarly utile in governing out other possible causes of the symptoms the patient has such as Crohn ‘s disease or even a carcinoma. Barium enemas attractively demonstrate diverticula and the mucous membrane of the big intestine. Below is an image taken from a Ba survey showing diverticular disease? A chiseled diverticulum can be seen in the Centre of the image. Figure 1 Library image Other modes can be used to name diverticular disease such as colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy but Ba enemas seem to be the preferable pick of doctors. In an article called Barium clyster versus colonoscopy the usage of these Scopess is compared to barium clyster and the advantage and disadvantages are mentioned. A colonoscopy and sigmoidoscppy is clip devouring and is really seldom completed under an hr. It can turn out rather painful for patients and sedation is required for the process. It is a desirable method for patients who complain of chronic hemorrhage which is overseen by Ba clyster. Barium clyster are normally painless ; no sedation is required and is completed normally within 10-15 proceedingss. A gastroscopy is a trial where the physician looks into the upper portion of the GI piece of land by infixing a thin flexible telescope called an endoscope down the gorge. The upper intestine consists of the gorge, tummy and duodenum. Gastroscopy is normally done as a twenty-four hours instance. The doctor may blunt the dorsum of your pharynx by spraying on some local anesthetic. The patient can besides be given a ataractic if preferred. The tip of the endoscope contains a visible radiation and a bantam camera which allows the doctor to see inside the G.I piece of land. The endoscope besides has a side channel which enables the doctor to go through assorted instruments which can be manipulated by the doctor for illustration to take biopsies. ( patient.co.uk ) . this process is a coveted manner of diagnosing Oesophagitis, Duodenal or tummy ulcers and gastritis. Figure 2 below shows a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Figure 2 ( image hkmas.org ) If the patient complains of dark stool so there is a high possibility of there being a duodenal bleed or a bleed from the upper G.I piece of land. ( medlineplus )DiscussionAs mentioned before most of the instances of diverticular disease be given to be symptomless unless patients start to see alteration in there bowel wont. Normal stools which are big and soft theodolite rather easy and on a regular basis. A survey published in the Lancet volume 313 studies the prevalence of symptom less diverticular disease of the colon is related to the ingestion of dietetic fiber in vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Vegetarians had a significantly higher average fibers intake ( 41AÂ ·5 g/day ) than non-vegetarians ( 21AÂ ·4 g/day ) . Diverticular disease was commoner in non-vegetarians ( 33 % ) than in vegetarians ( 12 % ) . Comparison of topics with and without diverticular disease in the vegetarian and non-vegetarian groups provided some farther grounds that a low consumption of cereal fiber is associated with the presence of diverticular disease. These figures clearly show that a fibre deficient diet is linked to diverticular disease. Surveies show low fiber in the diet makes the stool harder and smaller doing irregularity, nevertheless a survey published in the British medical diary suggests every bit good as alleviating the symptoms of diverticular disease a high-fibre diet may besides forestall the status from developing. Forty patients with diverticular disease treated with wheat bran 24g/day for at least six months. Thirty-three patients showed a really satisfactory clinical response. Sixty per cent of all symptoms were abolished, and a farther 28 % were relieved. After intervention the theodolite times accelerated in patients whose initial times were slower than 60 hours and slowed down in those whose initial theodolite times were faster than 36 hours. Stool weight increased significantly. The figure of intracolonic high force per unit area moving ridges decreased, particularly during and after eating. Once once more overpowering grounds proposing a high consumption of fiber is indispensable to avoid develop ing the disease. The Journal of clinical gastroenterology hypothesises that fibre lack non merely leads to diverticula formation but besides causes a alteration in the micro ecology which consequences in reduced colon immune response and permits a low-grade chronic inflammatory procedure that precedes a matured ague diverticulitis. However the hypothesis goes on to state that complications do non happen until there is micro-perforation through the wall of the diverticulum into the pericolic tissue which would take to abscesses and fistulous witherss being formed. In some instances, perforation of diverticulum becomes an acute medical exigency and requires immediate intercession. The mortality rate can be every bit high as 35 % ( Porrett & A ; Daniel 1999 ) . Treatment for diverticular disease does non be as such. Educating the patients about the possible hazards of a hapless diet is overriding. Physicians should promote patients to eat a diet high in fruit and veggies, with at least 2 liters of H2O a twenty-four hours. Patients should be encouraged exercising on a regular basis and to describe any reoccurrence of symptoms or rectal hemorrhage. Reoccurring symptoms or rectal hemorrhage will necessitate a referral for trials. Some people live with chronic diverticular disease or IBS, which is closely related to diverticular disease. These people are advised to avoid cut down fatty nutrients and to avoid drinks incorporating caffeine and intoxicant ( WebMD ) . Treatment for acute diverticulitis requires an exigency colcetomy. In the yesteryear this type of surgery for diverticulitis was ever done as an unfastened process in which a big scratch was made in the venters. But as laparoscopic surgery has become more popular, more sawboness are now utilizing this method for acute exigencies ( WebMD2 ) .ResultMr X was referred to the infirmary for a Ba clyster and gastroendoscopy due to him holding a history of a suspension hernia. The Ba clyster showed that Mr X had diverticulosis in his sigmoid colon. The adviser advised anti-spasmodic drugs for abdominal hurting in his study but suggested there was n't any demand for surgery. No other pathology was observed on the images. The images taken from the Gastroendoscopy showed no important pathology. There were some indicants of redness at the lower terminal of the oesophagus proposing mild esophagitis. It was advised to increase the dosage of esomperzole from 20mg to 40mg if the patient presented with farther symptoms of indigestion. No marks of shed blooding or ulcers were observed. Since holding these trials Mr X has been sing the pattern dietician one time every two hebdomads. He has been given a diet to follow and his aim is to lose weight and eat a balanced diet. After talking to Mr X he tells me that he is eating plentifulness of fruit and veggies and wheaten staff of life. He had increased his fibre consumption and is besides imbibing plentifulness of H2O. He has noticed that he is non acquiring constipated every bit much as he used to be and opens his bowels more often. He has taken out a gym rank and has lost half a rock. Mr X will likely hold diverticular disease for the remainder of his life but every bit long as he lives by his new life style he will be able to command his symptoms and live a normal healthy life.A

Aggression In Children

Aggression is any behavior that is hostile, destructive or violent. Its intended is to harm, injure or damage a person or a target object. Aggression in human beings can be blamed on very many things that affect the growth and development of the mind. Such triggers include fear, family difficulties, emotional trauma and the media.This research helps show that television does not significantly cause aggression but there are other factors help in the development of aggressive behaviors although the television cannot be ruled out to contribute slightly.Children learn behaviors through watching and imitating others peoples’ behavior as they try to equate with them. Watching the violence on the television is suggested to slightly increase violent behaviors in children, although those already in violent behavior are greatly influenced by the media as they try learning defensive ways to protect themselves from any aggression.Aggression is manifested in children through swearing, shou ting, throwing and kicking whatever is around them and it thus needs to be measured to determine its levels for the proper control measures to be taken so as to avoid further injury.The measurement can be done using a checklist, observation for any noticeable changes in the previously known behavior; a subtype scale may as well be used to determine the aggression levels (Berkowitz, 1993, pp1-25).Aggression in children is learned through enactive learning of behavior as well as observation learning by watching others. In cases where parents resolve differences through fights the children learn to use aggression as a way of dominating over others from their early days and carry on with this behavior to their later lives.Aggression portrayed in the television is jus but fantasized by children but in actual sense has minimal contribution to aggression and other related violent behaviors evident in children.Causes of AggressionAggression in children results from very many factors that af fect them as they grow up. Some of these include:Unfulfilled human needs and other personal desires are the one of the leading causes of aggression in children. The desire for children own what their parents cannot afford like being in a fancy home, getting education from expensive schools in relation to their peers and other desires result to aggression towards those children whose parents are able to afford such luxuries.Children should thus be taught to be realistic with live and get content with whatever is available within them. Failure to control such desires results to aggression ranging from petty theft to even massacres. Aggression is not part of human life, but it is a reaction to circumstances that frustration on the acquisition of basic needs that have not been fulfilled.Pain and discomforts caused to children by their parents and other elder people in an attempt to discipline them may cause aggressive behaviors to be manifested since the child cannot fight back but will direct their anger and frustration to other children of their age or young than them who cannot fight them back.It is thus important to administer pain is a light manner. Hot environmental conditions trigger discomforts that make children aggressive.Frustration is a major cause of aggression in children; children whose achievements do not much with those of their peers are usually frustrated and end up into aggressive behaviors so as to cover up for their failures. This may either in school or other social activities where children are competing.Birth complications increase aggressive behavior latter in childhood though there is direct link. Aggressive behavior develops when birth complications combine with other factors such as disadvantaged families that cannot fully provide for their children and poor parenting. Birth complications are believed to result to damage in the nervous system that affects the brain function.This is referred to as brain dysfunction. Impaired brain funct ion predisposes the child to aggressive behaviors later in their lives because their brain is poorly functioning (Berkowitz, 1993, pp 45-169).Brain dysfunction results to aggression when the prefrontal region of the brain which controls and regulates emotional reactions is functioning poorly and cannot keep aggressive impulses in check. This results to increased likelihood of aggressive acts.Some situational factors such as exposure to alcohol impair ones judgment on making decisions. Alcohol disrupts the information making processes and this is even serious in children who get drunk they view an event as a purposeful one, and act more aggressively.Children who are desperate in live tend to be more aggressive. Desperation can be a result of massive poverty, crime or even violence situations within the community where the child is being raised in.If the rich and powerful individuals in the society are drug dealers and gangers and those who live straight are poor then the children wat ching them may conclude that to succeed in life one has to become a drug dealer or a gangster which triggers aggressive behaviors in children.Consequences of Aggression.Aggression has both positive and negative consequences to both the individual and those around them. One of the positive elements of aggression is that it preserves and protects an individual from other aggressive individuals; it also helps the child to increase their dominance in the social environment through suppressing their peers and subjecting them to their way of thinking.The negative consequences of aggression are worse to both the perpetrator and the victim. Children who are aggressive in school are more likely to be rejected by their peers because they cannot accept to be dominated by them. In worst cases aggression can result fines, loss of freedom due imprisonment. Such cases make the affected person even more aggressive and can engage in criminal acts.Aggression makes the victim lack confidence and trust with themselves because others are belittling them. This makes them develop aggressive behaviors as they try to cope with the aggressor .The child within a school setup lacks trust with every around them since they view all the other people as untrustworthy and out to oppress them. This makes them feel unsafe and insecure (Berkowitz, 1993, pp 200-290 ).Aggression results to the development of an aggressive personality on the aggressor. This type of personality develops to worse aggressive behavior as the child develops to adulthood. Aggressors have a lower intellectual achievement in their academic live because their mind cannot concentrate on one specific activity rather their minds are spread across a number of activities.Control of AggressionAggression can be controlled by giving children positive attention for desired behaviors so as to reinforce it. Parents and children caretakers should always realize that anger is a common emotion in children and the way to deal with it dete rmines the levels of aggression in children.Parents should be good role models when their children display aggressive behaviors. By becoming upset and angry when dealing with an aggressive child makes them more aggressive.By providing many physical activities such as exercise and outside play helps aggressive children to direct their energies to better and more constructive activities and avoid releasing unwanted emotions.Violent television programs and toys that encourage aggressive behavior such as the guns, sticks should be eliminated. Children usually imitate what they see rather than what they are told so through avoiding some activities that may escalate and promote aggression and redirect these children to appropriate activities.To cut defiant behavior and replace it with positive experience parents should be able to play with their children, learn how to recognize and respond to their needs and develop and mend the relationship.This will help them identify any unwanted aggre ssive behaviors that may develop due to the feeling of being neglected, some parents do not play with their children and need to learn how to connect with them, recognize and respond to their needs in the most appropriate way.Rules and commands should be explicit, constant, firm and brief. Children learn their mistakes through comparing the past to the present mistakes and how they where dealt with/It is thus important to approach a similar way of administering punishments for similar mistakes without disparities.Aggression needs a firm and consistent response for any misbehavior. Shouting out or uttering a string of dire threats to an aggressive only makes the child more resistant to any change of behavior that you wish to suppress and helps develop aggression.Planning and avoiding places which trigger aggression in children such as supermarket where a child grabs whatever is around them helps in minimizing aggression behaviors incase the child does not get what they wish to have ( Berkowitz, 1993, pp 350-465)..ConclusionHuman beings are not born violent but rather bent towards brutality and self-destruction due to their aggressive behaviors. Aggression is usually a result of unfair environments that frustrate and degrade the human dignity. It’s difficult to eliminate aggression entirely but can be reduced through the creation of free societies that encourage prosperity by providing moral education to the young people and clearly explaining to them that aggression has no importance in the long-term.Aggression like all unwanted behaviors involves biological forces and social environment that regulate behavior. Aggression is thus an outcome of the regulations between the external and internal stimuli.The television should not be fully ignored as a cause towards aggressiveness in children but the society must play a communal role in providing a good environment that does not promote frustration in the lives of the young children.Parents should ensure that they provide their children with almost all the basic needs within their reach and spare enough time to relate with their children so as to learn them as well as discover any aggressive behaviors that may be developing and stop them before they get to distractive levels.Reference:Berkowitz, L (1993).Aggression: Its causes, consequences, and control. New York; McGraw-Hill

Nonverbal Communication: a Serious Business Advantage

Business Advantage 2 Nonverbal Communication: A Serious Business Advantage Whether it is called intuition or just good judgment, the ability to perceive and to use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage gives the business person the power and the skill to be more successful. T. S. Eliot wrote in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, â€Å"There will be time, there will be time / To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet. † Perhaps he meant that those in business must be prepared in such a way as to make their face agree with the message that the consumer expects to receive.The communication experts agree that when two people have a face-to-face conversation only a small fraction of the total message they share is actually contained in the words they use. A portion of the message is contained in the tone of voice, accent, speed, volume, and inflection. However, approximately 93 percent of it is understood through nonverbal communication behaviors (Source needed). The c ombination of gestures, postures, facial expressions, and even clothing can support or interfere with the verbal messages that a person delivers.The importance of nonverbal cues in the business world has not been studied extensively, but it only makes sense that it can have a strong impact on any communication within or outside the business realm. For instance, selling is an area where the nonverbal actions can make or break a deal. People are unlikely to want to buy from a sales person who refuses to make eye contact, who has poor posture, who lacks energy, and who seems unconvinced about the products and services represented. The importance of nonverbal communication in conjunction with appropriate verbal skills can make a difference to the success of a business transaction.Therefore, this paper will Business Advantage 3 examine nonverbal communication as an important and integral component for business organizations and will determine nonverbal cues that are beneficial for succes sful business interactions. The ability to perceive and use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage gives the business person the power to be successful. Nonverbal communication includes any part of the body used by a person to send a message to another person. A person’s dress, attitude and movements are all contributions to personal business transactions.Sentence and Verbal CommunicationThese cues can help a business owner get the message across or be able to correctly interpret a message received from a customer. Often the nonverbal messages express true feelings more accurately than the actual words. A study by Fatt (1998), notes that any communication in interpersonal relationships is insufficient with just mere words (p. 1). Consequently, he states, â€Å"Nonverbal communication thus becomes the yardstick against which words and intentions are measured† (p. 1). The most common use of nonverbal communication in business has been in marketing research.It is used t o determine consumers’ attitudes towards new products. For example, executives watching a focus test group pay more attention to the nonverbal cues of the group. They are able to more closely identify the test group’s true feelings by observing their body language, facial expressions and eye contact. Facial expressions especially are particularly helpful as they can show hidden emotions that contradict their verbal statements (Remland, 1981, p. 18). Additionally, in business settings, the way one is viewed affects his transactions. Martin Remland (1981) writes that as much as 90 percent of a manager’s time is spentBusiness Advantage 4 communicating with others face-to-face (p. 2). Therefore, business people especially managers have to present themselves as a complete package that includes knowledge of their products, appropriate dress, and adequate use of nonverbal behaviors that depicts sincerity and trustworthiness. Nonverbal behavior is a major component of p ower perception in a business setting. Within a business, the main function of nonverbal communication is to facilitate relationships. Organizations have two major sectors—management and staff—who are usually at odds with each other.According to Aguinis and Henle (2001), â€Å"The effective use of power and the perceptions of one’s power by subordinates, peers and superiors are critical determinants of managerial and organizational success† (p. 537). In this study on perception of power bases, Aquinis and Henle used three specific nonverbal behaviors—eye contact, facial expression, and body posture (p. 538). They defined power as the â€Å"potential of an agent to alter a target’s behavior, intentions, attitude, beliefs, emotion, or values† (p. 538). They also used French and Raven’s power taxonomy that includes five types (p. 538).The first is reward power that means the target believes he can get â€Å"something† from the agent. Second is the coercive power where the target thinks the agent can and will punish him. The third power is legitimate power where the target must obey what the agent requests. Referent power is the need for the target to be associated with the agent. Lastly, the expert power is the target’s belief that the agent is very knowledgeable. Using these definitions of power in vignettes, Aguinis and Henle manipulated one employee’s nonverbal behavior while asking a second employee to rate the power base.Business Advantage 5 They found that direct eye contact and a relaxed facial expression increased perception of power except for coercive power. Body posture had no effect at all. There are other less sophisticated indicators that also signify status. These include behaviors and appearance cues such as clothing, age, gender, and race. In a study by Mast and Hall (2004), the accuracy of judging other people’s status based on behavioral and appearance cues was investigated. They found that only one cue was used to determine if a woman was in higher status.That was a downward head tilt. In males, the observers used both formal dress and a forward lean (p. 161). Mast and Hall also indicated that erect posture was not indicative of status in their research (p. 161). Communication experts agree that in face-to-face communication 93 percent of the message is nonverbal and only seven percent is in the actual words which is absolutely necessary to understand in a business setting. Garside and Kleiner (1991) state, â€Å"This implies that what we say is not as important as how we say it† (p. 26).Today’s businesses need employees who are not only knowledgeable in their field but who also have exceptional interpersonal skills. It is understood that most successful executives prefer verbal communication because it allows them to read body language and to hear tone of voice. Fatt (1998) believes that knowledge of nonverbal processes of communication can improve business success. According to Fatt, â€Å"†¦face-to-face communication, which is heavily weighted with nonverbal information stimulates the greatest number of senses, and provides more complete information than any other mode† (p. ). Business Advantage 6 Since knowledge of nonverbal processes can enhance business success, it is important to recognize and use appropriate nonverbal cues. The first of these is face-to-face communication which provides immediate feedback that allows the business person to modify one’s approach to meet the needs of each encounter. In a research study by Graham, Unruh, and Jennings (1991), they gathered information on the importance of nonverbal feedback to accurate assessments in business transactions.Their findings indicated that nonverbal communication was important to all surveyed and showed that most relied on facial expressions for accurate information. Their recommendations for businesses included, â₠¬Å"†¦paying more attention to nonverbal cues, engaging in more eye contact, and probing for more information when verbal and nonverbal cues are discrepant† (p. 60). One way to do so is through reinforcement behavior that demonstrates approval or disapproval. Also, response-matching is a way in which the business person uses a similar style of speech, posture, or gestures.Thirdly, accommodation is a way of adjusting to personal styles of those involved. It involves â€Å"issues of territoriality, dominance and/or submissiveness, and intimacy† (Fatt, 1998, p. 5). Professionals must use this feedback to note the body language to modify and adjust to the receiver’s behaviors. Another factor to consider is that face-to-face also allows a portion of the message to be contained in vocal elements. These include tone of voice, speed, volume and inflection (Graham et al. , p. 58). Establishing rapport is also a valuable result of face-to-face communication.Rapport is essential in building good business relations with customers and co-workers. It helps Business Advantage 7 to communicate understanding and acceptance of the other person. There are behaviors that greatly contribute to establishing a personal relationship. These include: a sincere smile, a relaxed open stance, a slight lean towards the other person, and maintained eye contact. Mirroring is a very useful technique that can send as well as receive subtle nonverbal messages. In order to mirror another person, it is necessary to match their rate of breathing, speak at the same rate of speech and in their tone of voice.It is also necessary to assume a similar posture and body language to confirm rapport and a comfortable environment. According to Fatt, â€Å"A salesperson who mirror customer’s behavior well and out of a sincere desire to communicate or to be of service usually established a strong rapport with a customer† (p. 6). A business person also utilizes information from nonverbal sources to overcome any barriers to communication with clients. Effective communication is an important aspect of management and sales positions.By decoding nonverbal behaviors, business people can increase their knowledge and understanding of what the client desires. In the first initial contact first impressions can affect both sides of the business transaction. Therefore, a a person who displays confidence has a great advantage in developing rapport and trust with business associates. One’s ability to signal trustworthiness is a significant result of knowledge of nonverbal communication. In a research study conducted by Wood (2006), the findings were that â€Å"nonverbal signals are a particularly important mode of communication between the sender and receiver† (p. 02). Wood also stated that there is an â€Å"importance of the immediate encounter between salespeople and Business Advantage 8 customers. During the first encounter, these nonverbal signa ls are sought out, perceived, and used by customers in their assessment of the trustworthiness of salespeople† (p. 202). Therefore, by using and focusing on nonverbal techniques, the business person can give signals of trustworthiness. Additionally, Wood found that for salespeople all nonverbal signals have a significant impact on the customers (p. 202).Along with confidence, the business person must have an adequate knowledge of reading nonverbal signals. For those with confidence, this type of communication is very natural and they give little thought to it. They greet customers and associates with a firm handshake that send a statement about their confidence. In addition, unflinching eye contact is a sign of frankness and interest which are both essential to sway and sell. David Morand (2001) presented research that suggested management also needed to be able to appraise emotional expressions of customers.He stated, â€Å"Sensing others’ emotional states is obviousl y a skill central to the whole notion of interpersonal communicative competency† (p. 23). He found that it was essential for â€Å"managers to have the ability to decode messages sent by others, specifically focusing on messages existing at a nonverbal emotional level† (p. 23). There are also nontraditional uses of nonverbal communication in the business setting. For instance, the business facility makes a visible statement that reflects its own perceptions. It makes a visible statement about its culture and the way business is done at that facility.One example of this is the head-quarters of Bank of America. It is a very dark, large structure that looms over all the other buildings near it. This sends a powerful message of the perceptions of their company image (Fatt, 1998, p. 2). Larson and Kleiner Business Advantage 9 (2004) claim, â€Å"A company with a strong culture and a lot of pride in itself will typically reflect that pride through its physical environmentâ⠂¬  (p. 2). Additionally, the office furnishings give more information to customers. The furniture of employees gives clues as to the status of that person in the company.If one is on the bottom of the work hierarchy, there probably would be a small, cheaply-made desk with a small chair. The next class would add arms to the chair and some other piece of furniture. Management would have larger desks, a bookshelf and a table. Finally, the top executives would have plush carpeting and a sofa in addition to what those below had (p. 2). Included in the physical aspects of a business is the office environment. Businesses that are more open with very few walls rely on constant communication. They send the message that there are few barriers to communication.They physical aspects of a business help customers to gain insight into the organization and to the people who work within it (Larson & Kleiner, p. 3). Another nontraditional use of nonverbal communication in the business setting is th rough the use of computers with growing online businesses. Online businesses are at a disadvantage without the assistance of nonverbal interactions. However, according to Timothy Bickmore (2004), there is a huge need for programs that recognize and receive nonverbal signals in order to increase sales volume (p. 9). In addition, many companies are utilizing text messaging and instant messaging for customer assistance. Qiu and Benbasat (2005) investigated advancement for programming to develop a trust relationship since this medium is void of any nonverbal signals (p. 75). They state, â€Å"With the help of emerging multimedia technologies, companies can now use computer- Business Advantage 10 generated voice and humanoid avatars to embody customer service representatives, thus enriching the interactive experiences of their customers† (p. 75).Bickmore adds, â€Å"Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are animated humanoid computer characters that emulate face-to-face conversat ions through the use of hand gestures, facial display, head motion, gaze behavior, body posture, and speech intonation† (p. 39). However, Bickmore also states, â€Å"There is no cookbook defining all of the rules for human face-to-face interaction that human-computer interface practitioners can simply implement† (p. 44). Until ECAs are fully functioning, companies should continue with the proven face-to-face interactions to improve sales volume.Because businesses try to eliminate unnecessary travel and expenses, they are utilizing such mediums as videoconferencing. Even though videoconferencing can replace business meetings, there are disadvantages. The immediate feedback that comes with face-to-face contains cues from the facial expression, voice inflection, and gestures is often not as effective with videoconferencing. For instance, Bekkering and Shim (2006) state, â€Å"With a slow signal, it may appear to the viewer that the speaker hesitates, and hesitation in ans wering is generally considered to be a sign of dishonesty† (p. 105).Another concern is that the camera used can be manipulated to improve one’s advantage such as making one appear taller and giving more influence over the meeting. A third concern involves turn-taking cues. â€Å"In face-to-face conversations, participants alternate speaking and listening by using an intricate mechanism of verbal and nonverbal cues† (p. 105). These researchers go on to say that in videoconferencing one gives up eye contact because it is distorted by separation of screen and camera (p. 105). This infers Business Advantage 11 that perhaps the speaker is being deceptive, and, thus, there is a lack of trust.Therefore, business people will find face-to-face communication a better source of feedback as well as a better rapport builder. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, â€Å"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say† (Inspirational Quotes). This has never been truer than in today’s business world. There is a vital link between nonverbal communication and business success. Because of this, body language and other nonverbal cues are communication tools that are too powerful to be ignored. Nonverbal communication can enhance a business person’s powers to persuade while removing any communication barriers with clients.It can improve relationships between the work hierarchies, thus changing the work atmosphere to be more productive. Additionally, it can serve in a nontraditional manner where the business facility itself makes a statement about the company image. The uses of understanding nonverbal communication in a work environment are endless. Therefore, there is still a definite need for training in this area for all employees of a business. This training would complete the business person’s package that includes required knowledge of the business represented, charisma, and employability skills.In conclusion, since effective comm unication is based on skills, and skills can be learned, then communication abilities can be improved in the business environment. It is an integral part of hearing what is said in a business transaction. Business Advantage 12 References Aguinis, H. , & Henle, C. (2001). Effects of nonverbal behavior on perceptions of a female employee’s power base. Journal of Social Psychology, 141(4), 537-549. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from EBSCOhost database (6002448). Bekkering, E. , & Shim, J. P. (2006). i2i Trust in videoconferencing. 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