Hermeneutics and Philosophers

The word â€Å"hermeneutics† is derived from the Greek hermeneuo, which means, to interpret, to put into words, expressed in a language. Many times, it is synonymous with exegesis, explanation, and interpretation. In connection with the explanation of Scripture, these two words are equivalent to the eighteenth century, when the word â€Å"hermeneutics† assumes various shades of meaning according to the various schools and philosophical theories. Today we prefer to call â€Å"exegesis† to that of the biblical text analysis intended to discover what the author meant to his contemporaries, and â€Å"hermeneutics† to which the same text tells us today in a different context and in a comprehensible modern man. For Ricoeur, the â€Å"reflective philosophy† is part of â€Å"reflection† on itself, to establish the â€Å"I† of thought as first truth: â€Å"I think, therefore I am†. But Ricoeur thinks that â€Å"reflection is not intuition† of me because the â€Å"I think† is just an abstract truth and empty. The self can only be found in their objectification. Therefore, say that the reflection can only be understood as â€Å"the effort to apprehend the Self of Ego cogito in the mirror of its objects, their works and finally for their actions. † The lives lost and forgotten â€Å"I† himself to his works, which manifests his desire and effort to exist. The debate should not then go straight to the â€Å"I† but to their deeds and actions, which given its ambiguous nature, should be interpreted. Thus, philosophy becomes reflexive â€Å"hermeneutic philosophy† or interpretive. Lonergan and Aquinas were two philosophers that were in a same point. For example, both were students of theology. â€Å"Aquinas believes that humans are directed toward the transcendent God as the ultimate goal of their lives, and this transcendent goal is a beyond the power of human reason to grasp† (p. 47). Lonergan â€Å"understands the relationship between critical reason and faith as central to the practice of theology in the modern world â€Å" (p. 64). St. Thomas Aquinas see that theology does not seek an essence, but a living being who constantly challenges the man, instead of being presented as an object, is the â€Å"Unknown† is revealed in the vision-oriented faith. To address the issue thus appeals to the view that is taken into eternal bliss, in eschatology, which keeps the vital tension between theological discourse and praxis logos. The method according to Lonergan, not a set of rules to be followed strictly, but rather a framework to foster creativity and collaboration, by which all the operations that are necessary for the development of theology are susceptible to be printed, and giving mutually intertwined cumulative and progressive results.

My Favorite Class

All semester my students have been writing paragraphs for me. They have learned how to write topic sentences and supporting sentences and also concluding sentences. They have worked very hard. Now it is my turn to write a paragraph. Hopefully I’ll be able to write an interesting topic sentence that will catch the attention of my students. So, what should my paragraph be about? MRS. D’S FAVORITE CLASS. My reading/writing class for the fall semester at the community college in 2008 was an excellent class. How were they excellent? Well, first they always did their homework. Most of them had jobs to do during the day but they still found time to do their homework. They wrote in their journals and wrote a lot of paragraphs and then they rewrote the paragraphs. They were also excellent in another way. They really got along well with one another as a class. Some of them were very outgoing and some of them were quite shy but they respected each other and learned a lot about each other’s countries as a result. Finally, they were an excellent class because they always made the teacher laugh. Even though they had worked hard all day, they came to class in a happy mood. If they were tired, they never acted grumpy about it or if they didn’t feel well, they just kept right on working. So, you can see that this really was an excellent class and I hope that they will all do well in the future. So, did Mrs. D. write a good paragraph? What was the topic sentence? Did all the sentences support the topic or were there some irrelevant sentences? And how about the concluding sentence? Did she repeat some words from the topic sentence? Was it a good conclusion? Notice that she didn’t indent the first word in the paragraph. The reason is that this is a typed paragraph and the paragraphs are separated by a space instead of making an indentation. Well, I don’t think that it’s the greatest paragraph in the world but it expresses how I feel about this class. I hope you all have a nice vacation and best wishes for your continued success in the coming year – 2009!! Sincerely, Mrs D.

Discussion 10- economics-pricing techniques Assignment

Discussion 10- economics-pricing techniques - Assignment Example The iPhone is one of Apple’s products that have value-added features such as smart iPhone, wireless internet communication devices, IPod, PDA, Computer and Camera. The success of Apple products is because the company focuses on adding value to the lives of its customers. The company ensures that it develops valuable commodities for its customers. Apple also creates the perception of scarcity of its products among consumers. Perception of scarcity attaches a value to these products hence making many people want to own Apple products. Apple products also target a particular market segment. This creates a perception of value and quality on every product Apple releases. People want to associate themselves with Apple products because they believe these Products will add value to their lives. Value addition is part of Apple’s business strategy. The best pricing techniques for Apple products is to use decoy prices and high reference prices for its new products. Decoys will ensure that the company wins stocking demands for its products and sells all its decoy commodities at higher prices. High reference prices for new products can ensure success in meeting the sales targets for that particular product. When introducing a new product into the market, Apple should set high references prices for that particular product. However, as the products remain in the market, their prices may gradually reduce. Apple uses pricing techniques such as references prices, branding, obscurity and bundling to remain top of the market (McGuigan, Moyer, & Harris,

Islamophobia. How is it an issue in the workplace What are the Research Paper

Islamophobia. How is it an issue in the workplace What are the implications for HR - Research Paper Example Hence Islamophobia creates polarisation in the wide society and provokes discrimination and injustice toward Muslims in all walks of life including the workplace. According to Ramberg (6), Islamophobia is the apprehension of or prejudice view of Islam, Muslims and affairs concerning them. Islamophobia is not a fresh trend; however, many Muslim communities experience increased hostility characterized by mistrust, deep-rooted intolerance and ignorance. Regardless of whether Islamophobia takes the form of discrimination and intolerance, this phenomenon remains an infringement of human rights and threatens social cohesion (Semati 262). There is real discrimination against Muslim women in America within the workplace accompanied by different public treatment and mistreatment of veiled women. Many Muslim women suffer real and tragic oppression like gender oppression that manifests in persistently low pay and promotion rates within the workplace (Gottschalk and Gabriel 106; Ernst 107). ... The expansion of news networks and the internet offer channels of representing Islam as hostile to Americans and constantly increased and later on compounded by the events of 9/11 (Ali 1032). The problem with Islamophobia is that it considers Islam to be unacceptable in the modern circumstances and Muslims as unable of being proper citizens. Hence, in this murky situation, the national identity ends up being a negotiation between the law and the custom, which influences HR. One main problem to Muslims is that they do not benefit from unity building exercises because existing stereotypes condemn Muslims to retrograde positions in politics, religion and gender. Though Islamophobia is relatively new in North America where the numbers of Muslims are increasing steadily, Muslims suffer open discrimination and prejudice in public domains (Lalami 20-21). In case the US society was serious in combating Islamophobia, US Muslims, government and U.S. intelligent agencies would take immediate pr oactive steps in promoting balanced and accurate view of Islam. Moreover, Muslims would have to learn to work with the system for them to survive in the West while at the same time non-Muslims have to show great respect for the religion; however, this remains a huge challenge to HR. Through such cooperation, it is possible to envision a thriving multicultural US community in the future within the country. Moreover, the notion of good Muslim citizen suggests that Islamophobia can be dealt with through religious Multiculturalism and tolerance; however, it is hard to eradicate it by simple religious tolerance because Islamophobia is linked to US foreign policy (Jung 122). There are various recommendations for combating Islamophobia like education

CIPD - M1-B DEP Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CIPD - M1-B DEP - Coursework Example The executives in this department assist the officials in allocating the resources, allotting people for a particular project and to help them in other problems. In this case, professional development is certainly required as the human resource executives must be updated with the latest advancements. Professional development is certainly important in today’s competitive world. An employee must equip and update himself with the technological developments and advancements to help him survive in an industry. Professional development is a concept of learning new skills, updating and improving their skills. This will enable them to improve their career and this directly and indirectly improves the organization as well. This improvement must be informative to help them to tackle domain related issues. The human resource profession map exhibits the professional areas, behavioral aspects one must possess in order to be an efficient human resource executive. The CIPD human resource map emphasizes on the professional and behavioral aspects of a human resource executive. This is described with the help of human resource map and this map is divided in to three distinct parts. The primary part of the map indicates the behavioral aspects which describe the character of a person employed in an organization. (CIPD, 2010). Since the behavior of a person determines his professional character, this area is considered to be the primary classification of the human resource map. The secondary part of the map is built with the professional areas which define the operations and happenings in the organization. This also describes how an employee is professionally capable of handling the situations in an organization. The professional areas are in turn classified under two different categories, stra tegy insights and solutions and leading and managing the human resource function. The professional areas in the human resource map

Criminal Justice Organizations- Assignment 2 Essay - 1

Criminal Justice Organizations- Assignment 2 - Essay Example Second, there could be little assurance that this leader himself did not employ enthusiasm and generally the passion for his tasks. I found him enthusiastic, passionate and all of these were combined generally to a higher energy level. He is indeed a transformational leader. I am a firm believer of the thought that every organization requires effective leadership style. In the case of my organization with that leader I mentioned above, his usage of transformational leadership was effective at some point. I believe that the nature of our jobs or daily activities require much higher energy, and so motivational considerations. For this reason, the leader together with his leadership style was simply on the right tract. I therefore argue that the type of leadership to be employed in an organization should also depend on its nature of jobs or activities and even particularly culture. Thus, at a closer evaluation, I can attest that a motivational leadership, generally the transformational leadership fitted into the requirements and the vital needs of our firm. If someone would ask me if there are other leadership styles that could fit in, my response would be that there are a lot of them. However, I should find them complementary approaches only, because I believe transformational leadership should be the primary requirement of the organization, as far as its needs and the nature of tasks in it are concerned. As to whether there are other leadership styles that could work effectively in o ur organization, the response on this would be that there are simply variety of them in the corner. However, this does not simply contest the fact that the use of transformational leadership was not remarkably necessary, at some point. The nature of the work in the criminal justice organization is highly under both a combination of physiological and psychological undertakings. These require more zeal and passion in the long

Religion in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Religion in the Workplace - Essay Example Utilitarianism is a teleological moral theory, which states that a sign of the correctness of our actions is a manifestation of the greatest good for the greatest number of people. So the person making the moral choice should look not only for own welfare but also for the welfare of the others.He believed that the anonymous social forces are the decisive factors of how people live. He explained people’s lifestyle not only by an appeal of the atomized individuals and government regulation but also by the functioning of society as an additional factor. However, he considered public opinion to be ambiguous. On the one hand, it can inhibit and limit the weaker groups’ viewpoint expressing, as it was described in Vickers’ â€Å"Religious discrimination in the workplace† (2010). At the same time, Mill believes that public opinion can be formed and improved during the ongoing free discussion, which involves intelligent individuals. On the other hand, as public de bates are open and free, they lead to prejudice and error correction, though it does not lead us in the direction of a single truth. Free discussion at least allows expressing different perspectives and points of view to their supporters and opponents more clearly.Utilitarianism considers personal freedom, dignity, honesty, and social well-being among the central and most important values. It protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press because considers them to be socially desirable qualities.

Music and Meaning - Tupac Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Music and Meaning - Tupac - Essay Example Then, I will explain why and how the following four songs had a strong impact on my personal life: â€Å"Life Goes On†, â€Å"Keep Ya head Up†, â€Å"California Love† and â€Å"Changes†. A good friend of mine introduced me to the works of Tupac Shakur many years ago and although Tupac has been dead for 15 years, his music is still very important to me. From the beginning I could feel that his songs were authentic. Tupac seemed to turn his personal thoughts and experiences into music, which is the very reason why his songs do not only sound authentic, but truly are authentic as well.Moreover, I was and still am impressed by the variety of topics that are addressed in his various songs. This is another reason why Tupac was and still is very important to me; depending on my mood or my situation there are certain songs that fit my situation. I listen to different songs when I am happy compared to when I am sad or angry and Tupac seems to have the right song for me in every situation. Moreover, Tupac touched on a variety of topics, including racism, tolerance, social and racial equality, violence, conflicts with the law, life in the ghettos, criticism of the â€Å"Americ an Dream† and the love for his Mom, which is another reason why his versatile lyrics are captivating. â€Å"Life Goes On† is one of Tupac’s songs that hit my emotional nerve, more than that, it helped me through a sad period of my life. It is a song about losing loved ones, but while remembering them, life goes on and one has to continue with life, even though it might be hard to do so.

Effective and Non-Effective Communication Research Paper

Effective and Non-Effective Communication - Research Paper Example At the very core of human resource success is the issue of communication. As with any practice, communication can either be effectively practiced or ineffectively evidenced. As a function of seeking to understand this dichotomy in a more full and complete manner, the following analysis will be contingent upon discussing the importance of effective communication strategies; alongside referencing key examples of communication failures that threaten the entire firm/organization/group in question. Communication is essential in every interaction because it is through this process that an individual makes clear his/her thoughts and ideas. The human resource specialist must understand the conversation cycle and look for other means for communication. Therefore, a best practice would be for the human resources specialist to be able to interpret and understand non-verbal communication as well as verbal communication. In addition, the caregiver should also understand cultural differences in order to understand what is being communicated. Asking questions is another skill that professional must be proficient in because they are able to bring out more necessary information about their clients through questioning. Lastly, they should also have listening skills; understanding what is said between the lines and not just grasping meanings from spoken words. There are indeed many facets of communication and these should be mastered for effective communication. An obvious opposite to the scenario that has been reflected and represented above would be a situation in which the human resource specialist was not cognizant of the deeper meaning that could be reflected within a conversation or particular interaction. Without a level of appreciation and knowledge for non-verbal cues, the degree and extent to which the human resources specialist can

An account discussing the fit between published theory in regard to Essay

An account discussing the fit between published theory in regard to project management and personal practice as a result of my participation in the Foods Organic project - Essay Example nting a change in the structure, style or staffing of an organization, developing a new system of information or implementation of a new business process (Anthony and Govindarajan, 2007). Owing to the fact that projects appear in numerous forms, significance of managing these projects effectively has increased to a great extent. Project management can be defined as application of skills, knowledge, tools and techniques so as to comply with the requirements of the project. In general, there are five major phases of project management, which are initiation, planning, execution, controlling and closure (Andon, Baxter and Chua, 2007). In this report, a discussion will be carried out about ways in which theories of project management fit into real life practices. In order to do so, I will reflect upon my experience in the foods organic project, which I have completed in the recent past. The project was about developing a new store that will be located at the heart of Uxbridge. The aim of that project was to establish a store that reflects ‘organic’ and ‘healthy living’ culture. In this section of the study, I will reflect upon experiences that I have gathered while conducting the aforementioned project and will try to draw comparison with the theories of project management. However, before proceeding further into the analysis, I would like to elaborate about my position and the activities carried out by me during the program. I was the project manager as well as the team leader. I was responsible for accomplishing various tasks as well as for overseeing tasks carried out by the subordinates. Hence, the pressure on me was immense. Majority of the tasks of this project were performed by me as it was mandatory on my part. Scholars such as, Armstrong (2002), enumerate that a project manager is responsible for carrying out most of the planning and monitoring activities; but at times, he is also required to perform the operational activities. Contradicting this

Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit” Essay Example for Free

Bilbo Baggins in â€Å"The Hobbit† Essay Firstly, it is necessary to outline that Bilbo Baggins is the protagonist and title character of â€Å"The Hobbit†. He is the most important figure in the novel, because his emotions, feelings and actions shape the plot of the story. Bilbo’s appearance is rather original and even funny as he is only half the size of a man. In the beginning of the novel Bilbo appears to be comfortable and complacent like most hobbits. For example, he likes drink, food and security as well as he has his snug little hole at Bag End, Underhill. However, starting from the chapter 5, when Gandalf â€Å"enlists Bilbo’s help in Thorin’s quest for the treasure under the mountain†, Bilbo gradually changes, develops and transforms from a cautious homebody to a confident and brave hero. With novel progression, Baggins displays inner cunning, strength and, certainly, he becomes the dominant force which holds the group of hapless dwarves together. Bilbo gains their respect, because he saves them from the goblins by shouting for Gandalf and then he helps them to defeat the spider and wood elves in Mirkwood. He is respected for finding the way into the mountain and leading dwarfs to the desired treasure. Furthermore, Bilbo discovers the weak spot of Smaug and tries to thwart Thorin’s greed. Simply saying, Bilbo wants to bring peace to the feuding dwarves, elves, and humans. Chapter 8 is the turning point in hero’s development, because Bilbo kills the spider and feels like â€Å"a different person†. Further, despite dwarfs’ stubbornness and inability to make proper decisions, Bilbo develops his newfound qualities of initiative, courage, and heroism. It is necessary to underline that when other participants of the journey become corrupted with greediness, Baggins tries to maintain common sense and courage. Throughout the novel, Bilbo discovers new capabilities unknown to him earlier. Moreover, he doesn’t become arrogant and follows his principles and values. Bilbo learns how to thrive and how to draw strength from the simple source trying to stay true to himself all along. References Tolkien, J. , Gardner, P. (ed. ) Phllips, B. (ed. ). (2002). The Hobbit. New York, NY: Spark Pub.

Dealing with Attendance Issues

Dealing with Attendance Issues People take days off and are sometimes late for work. That is a given. The most common problem is when people take days off when they are not sick, such as wanting to stretch the weekend into 3 days, but when they really are sick, they come into work because they have run out of sick days. This is not good for the employee or other employees as they can become sick. The real problem, however, happens when they call out sick after they have exceeded the sick days allowed for the year. You cant turn a blind eye to this behavior and it is unfair to those who make it a point to come to work everyday and are on time. It is usually just a couple of employees who are the culprits. It is especially hard to deal with attendance problems with a person who is otherwise a great employee. Nonetheless, you have to deal with it, and with equality to all. Here are eight points to keep in mind on how to control and possibly reduce attendance issues: Make sure your employees understand your view towards attendance. Make it a point to share your passion towards having a low absentee and tardiness department. Your supervisors also really need to fully understand the attendance expectations as they are on the front line and will see the infractions much more easily than you. If HR has not created one, have an attendance policy that clearly lays out the guidelines. Also lead by example by getting to work a bit early, leaving a bit late, and rarely, if ever, call out sick. Have your employees call you direct instead of their immediate supervisor. They might think twice knowing you, the manager, will answer the phone or hear the voice mail. Maintain accurate records. There are easy to use software programs to track attendance. You can even use something like your Outlook calendar to make a note of each infraction. Create easy to use codes to not take up too much space. For example, instead of John Doe called out sick or John Doe was 15 minutes late, use something like JD-S or JD-15m. Look for trends. If you see an employee call out on a Friday or Monday, chances are they are taken advantage of sick days for pleasure. If you see an employee call out at the end of the month when your department is at its busiest, you most likely have someone who is not a team player. If an employee is always around 5 to 10 minutes late, its not just a one off traffic jam but someone who just is not making the effort getting ready and to work on time. You might even see repetitive signs of sickness or tardiness with the employee looking like they have been partying all night. You want to address these trends as soon as possible. Individual problem have a one on one meeting. Multiple people hold a team meeting. When you have an individual or two who are repeat offenders, you want to deal with them separately. Dont punish all for a few problem employees. However, when you are seeing a trend with multiple members of the team with attendance issues, you need to hold a team meeting and show the statistics. Stress how it can damage the achievement of goals. Reducing absenteeism might even turn into a goal in itself. This will show all that you are serious about attendance, and how their attendance is important to the overall success of the team. Stress that you should not have to hire more people to achieve the goals due to poor attendance. This will put on certain peer pressure that can work to your benefit, especially if you offer a reward to the team if they achieve an attendance record you have set. Allow for personal business. It is better for your employees to be up front and tell you the truth. There might be a few occasions when someone needs to take some time off in the day to handle something that can only be dealt with during business hours. Just make sure they do not take advantage of this gesture. Create an award program for those who do not call out or are tardy for a certain period of time. It can be a paid day off or other ideas that were given in lesson 3. It shows that even though you are a stickler regarding attendance, you want to show your appreciation to those who make it a point to show up to work and being on time. Have them make up time missed to make up for time lost. Depending on state laws and company policy, this may be an option. If not, can they use some of their vacation time, or get no time if they have already used up all of their sick time? The no time means they would not get paid for the time missed. It would affect hourly/non-exempt employees much more. Steps to take when dealing with attendance problems: 1. Counsel and verbal warning: E-mail, or get their attention privately as to not embarrass the individual, to meet in your office. Start off by stating you are concerned over the absences or tardiness. Establish the reasons and determine what needs to be done to improve the attendance issues. If the problem does not appear to be a major health issue of any sort, you should advise the employee that an improvement in attendance is expected, or the next step in the procedure will be taken. There should be no more attendance problems for the following 6 months. Monitor the attendance monthly and proceed to step 2 if the problem continues. Document this meeting and consider it a verbal warning, not a written warning. You should notify HR if there are any medical issues that can possibly keep the employee out of work for any length of time. If the doctor confirms fitness for work, the employee needs to be warned about the consequences of continued absence. 2. First written warning: If the employees absences continue, set up a second meeting. State the purpose and be prepared to discuss the reasons for the absences. Talk about the implications and how it affects the team and department, not to mention the company, and warn that if the problem continues, employment may be suspended and/or terminated. This all depends on how HR has set up the attendance policy. Document this meeting and consider it a written warning. Monitor for improvement, if there are still problems, go to step 3. 3. Second written warning or suspension: If there is still no improvement, consult with HR on what should be done next. If you can, and would like, set up another meeting with the same criteria as described in steps 1 and 2. Listen to what the employee has to say, and let them know you will get back to them to determine the next step. You can either give another written warning stating the next infraction is automatic suspension and/or termination, or go straight to the suspension stage. Again, this is determined on the existing HR policy. 4. Suspension and/or termination: If no improvement in attendance occurs, you should proceed with a temporary suspension without pay. The intention to suspend should be confirmed in writing with details of start and end dates. HR will be involved and your presence may or may not be required. It is imperative that you have documented every meeting with exact detail. This might be needed if it ever goes to court. If it is determined that the employee should be terminated, the employee should be advised that as a result of excessive attendance issues, they will be dismissed. At this point, HR policies regarding pay and benefits will be discussed. Before you take drastic measures with all that has been discussed so far in this lesson, make sure the problem is not morale related or some other underlying issue. The fault might be yours due to departmental cracks, which you will need to find out what is wrong and fix as soon as possible. There might also be a problem with the time clock, parking situation, or scheduling that you should do your best to fix, or come up with an alternative solution.

The Potential Users Of Financial Accounting Information Accounting Essay

The Potential Users Of Financial Accounting Information Accounting Essay The users are an important component in accounting systems, and play a key role in usefulness of financial accounting information. Financial accounting is a term usually applied to external reporting by providing information about the financial position of a business to a wide range of users in making economic decisions (Weetman, 2011). The purpose of this paper is to review the relationships between the potential users and actual users of financial accounting information and the relevancy evidence to current practice. A variety of different arguments have been put forward about this issue. The paper has been divided into five parts. It first gives a brief overview of who the potential users of financial accounting information are. Secondly, it deals with the actual users of the information. It then goes on to how useful of financial accounting information is and looks at how strong is the evidence that they use information in the ways predicted. Finally, the reason why the potential users may not be actual users of financial accounting information is carried out. The potential users of financial accounting information Financial accounting aims to allow users to understand the economic activity of the company (Stolowy, et al., 2010). For a limited liability company financial statements would contain balance sheet, profit and loss account, statement of recognized gains and losses and cash flow statement (Weetman, 2011). Without users, financial accounting information will lost its role. According to FASB (2010), the objective of financial reporting is to provide useful financial information for existing and potential users to make economic decisions. There are several users who are interested in financial accounting information. Atrill and Mclaney (2008) stated that the purpose of financial information to be used and the person financial information to be given must be clear. By definition and different needs from each other, it could define as internal users such as managers and external users which include owners, lenders, government, employees, competitors, customers, community, and suppliers (IA SC, 1989). General purpose financial statements expected accounting information which would be of interest to a wide range of user groups (FASB, 2010), see appendix 1. Therefore, everyone could be the potential users of financial accounting information as long as there is a need for the information. Actual users of the financial accounting information From the internal management view, it has been argued that the main users of accounting information about an organization could be those who manage the company every day, such as managers (Weetman, 2011). A Statement of Basic Accounting Theory (ASOBAT) did not declare any particular user group such as investors to be primary users. Instead, it has been asserted that useful information was required for both internal and external purpose. Classified users of accounting information into two broad groups: external users which include present and potential investors, creditors, employees, stock exchanges, governmental units and customers on contrast with internal management. However, According to FASB (2010), the primary users of financial accounting information refer to existing and potential investors, lenders, and other creditors. They need entities reporting information provided indirectly. As actual users are contained in the potential users, see appendix 2, if they have same interes ts in the financial accounting information, the actual users might include managers, lenders, suppliers, customers, competitors, employees, government and community (Britton and Waterston, 2006). Similar conclusion has been argued by Atrill and McLaney (2008), Perks (2007) and Weetman (2011). The usefulness of financial accounting information Most of users treat the financial statements as the main source of financial information. According to IASB (1989), it assumes that if financial statements meet the needs of investors, it will also meet the needs of most other users (Weetman, 2011). The usefulness of accounting information is under premise of its high qualitative characteristics. There are four main qualitative characteristics which are described as relevance, reliability, comparability and understandability. However, only if the information actually makes a change in users decisions could define it as relevance Framework (1989). Also accounting information should be material and the benefits of providing the information should outweigh the costs (Atrill and Mclaney, 2008). The purpose of financial statements is not meant to meet all the users needs (FASB, 2010). It is possible to prepare the financial statements for general purpose which will have some interests for all users. For instance, as investors provide risk capital to the company, the provision of financial statements meets both investors and other users who are interested in estimating risks (Stolowy, et al., 2010). These financial reports are valuable for users who have no bargaining power and no significant economic influence in organizations (Elliott and Elliott, 2009). It has been asserted that general purpose financial statements tend to focus on the primary users which included the owners, long-term lenders and creditors. The interests of primary users might overlap with the interests of other user groups. Therefore, this could satisfy most users needs for financial accounting information (Weetman, 2011). The financial statements, which treat owners, lenders and creditors as primary use rs, could provide useful financial accounting information for the existence of users. use information in the ways predicted The financial accounting information could help users to make decisions and reduce uncertainty over the financial position and performance of the business. For example, to help availability of funds to pay owners a return, to repay loans, to reward employees (Atrill and Mclaney, 2008). It has been claimed that accounting information cannot meets all of the needs of each of the various user groups (FASB, 2010). Atrill and Mclaney (2008) stated that Different groups of users have different value and needs. However, user groups desire to know more accounting information as possible. Conflict between user groups is likely happen during business processing. For instance, managers they have close involvement with the business, they have access to a wide range of information and most might be confidential in company (Weetman, 2011). They know more internal information about the current and future situation of the company than outside investors. This could be defined as information asymmetry (Scott, 2009). Investor might make wrong decision based on inaccurate information provided by managers, so they want to know more information besides the financial statements. It is further contended that there are several user groups they want to meet specific needs directly from the business, such as governments, HM Revenue and Customs, and managers and directors. Lenders are usually given much more information than is included in published financial statements, including forecast information, monthly breakdowns and cash budgets (Perks, 2007). To have everything to be included in a companys financial statements is unrealistic (Perks, 2007). Financial accounting information is presented as the form of highly summarized financial statements. The main problem with the financial information needs of the user groups are that most want to know predict the future. Shareholders, creditors, lenders and employees all want to know what the companys future prospects are. But most of information in financial statements has already happened (Stice and Stice, 2006). Many users concerned how valuable the past information was and the reliability of business future forecast. Therefore, it is not possible for a company to publish exactly the information that everyone wants. The information is designed on the behalf of focus on shareholders and creditors (Perks, 2007) There is no similar substitute for the information provided by the financial statements. Thus, if users cannot gather the required information form the financial statements. It is often unavailable to them. Other sources of information concerning the financial health of a business are normally much less useful. As a result, the evidence is not strong enough for the user groups to use information in the way predicated and it is normally very difficult to assess the impact of accounting on decision-making (Atrill and Mclaney, 2008) potential users may not be actual users of financial information As Young (2006) claimed some of the actual users were multiple, conflicting, inconsistent, and uneducated. These users are unreliable and limited knowledge about financial accounting information and its process. FASB (2010) have conducted a new concept of the financial statement user-a rational economic decision-maker. It means that the decisions of interest are rational, if statements can be connected to the forecast of future cash flows, it could be said rational decision makers need it. Users can be seen more as hypothetical readers of financial statements than as actual users, because they need particular types of information (Young, 2006). Moreover, the conflicting needs of users and limited information provided in reports might cause potential users cannot find information useful to them (Atrill and McLaney, 2008). Therefore, the potential users might not be the actual users of financial accounting information, a portion of potential users could be. Conclusion In conclusion, the current paper has reviewed the users of financial accounting information. The question posed at the outset of this paper was to examine the reasons why the potential users may not be actual users of financial accounting information and relevancy evidence to practice. It has been seen that different users have different needs, even financial statements focus on primary users to provide useful information. However, it could not achieve the expected level and cannot meet all users needs. It may therefore be concluded from the above discussion that the actual users are a portion of potential users. Potential users might not be actual users of financial accounting information. Appendix 1 The relationship between potential users and actual users: Potential users Actual users Primary users Appendix 2 Users and their information needs (FASB,2010) Investors. The providers of risk capital and their advisers are concerned with the risk inherent in, and return provided by, their investments. They need information to help them determine whether they should buy, hold or sell. Shareholders are also interested in information which enables them to assess the ability of the entity to pay dividends. Employees. Employees and their representative groups are interested in information about the stability and profitability of their employers. They are also interested in information which enables them to assess the ability of the entity to provide remuneration, retirement benefits and employment opportunities. Lenders. Lenders are interested in information that enables them to determine whether their loans, and the interest attaching to them, will be paid when due. Suppliers and other trade creditors. Suppliers and other creditors are interested in information that enables them to determine whether amounts owing to them will be paid when due. Trade creditors are likely to be interested in an entity over a shorter period than lenders unless they are dependent upon the continuation of the entity as a major customer. Customers. Customers have an interest in information about the continuance of an entity, especially when they have a long-term involvement with, or are dependent on, the entity. Governments and their agencies. Governments and their agencies are interested in the allocation of resources and, therefore, the activities of entities. They also require information in order to regulate the activities of entities, determine taxation policies and as the basis for national income and similar statistics. Public. Entities affect members of the public in a variety of ways. For example, entities may make a substantial contribution to the local economy in many ways including the number of people they employ and their patronage of local suppliers. Financial statements may assist the public by providing information about the trends and recent developments in the prosperity of the entity and the range of its activities.

killer whales :: essays research papers

KEIKO THE KILLER WHALE UNHAPPY IN ICELAND WATERS Reykjavik, Sept 13 AFP - A project to repatriate Keiko the killer whale, the lovable star of the Hollywood Free Willy movies, to his native Iceland waters one year ago has been a failure, a project spokesman admitted today. Keiko, who was flown home to Iceland from Oregon almost exactly a year ago amid a huge media frenzy that garnered worldwide attention, has still not begun to swim in deep waters on his own and is incapable of hunting fish to feed himself. He has remained in his special floating basin for the past year in the Klettsvik fjord, southeast of Reykjavik. A year ago, hopes were high that Keiko, who is 22 years old, would be reunited with his mother. Male killer whales can live up to around 30 years, while females can live to be up to 90 years old. "His re-adaptation to natural, or wild sea life is a total failure," said Hallur Hallson, a spokesman for the Free Willy support group which has financed Keiko's care since his retirement from Hollywood in 1996. In his new-found freedom, Keiko has never tried to eat live fish -- he requires 100kg a day -- or play with other whales. "And when his underwater cage was damaged in a bad storm Saturday, he didn't make a move to escape," Hallson added. Killer whales can only survive in groups, and Keiko, who has failed to adapt to his natural environment, would therefore not be able to survive on his own, according to experts. Jack Foster, an American responsible for Keiko's care, claims not to be disappointed despite the project's failure. "It's all only a question of money", countered Jon Gunnarson, the man who originally captured Keiko and was paid one third the sum now spent to keep Keiko alive each month. "And I think it's repugnant to think that American children are breaking open their piggy-banks to finance the captivity of this warted and ailing animal, who is incapable of attacking a baby herring, and who will never ever make it to the deep sea again." CAMPAIGN HOPES TO `FREE WILLY' IN MID-2000 Stockholm, Sept 22 Reuters - Celebrity killer whale Keiko could be freed into the wild in mid-2000, according to the organisers of an campaign which returned him to his native Iceland exactly one year ago. The five-tonne star of the first Free Willy movie was flown home from the United States and released into a floating pen in the remote Westman Islands as the first step to freedom.

Everyday Use: A Mothers Choice Essay examples -- American Literature

A Mother's Choice In her short story "Everyday Use", author Alice Walker introduces us to a Mother awaiting the visit of her daughter, Dee, who has left her rural upbringing to go away to college. Although we are not told an exact location, the descriptions provided by Miss Walker lead us to believe that the story is set in the very poorest section of the south. Momma narrates this story, and describes to us in her own simple way the dynamics of the family and the conflicts that arise with Dee's homecoming. Momma tells us she is uneducated; "I never had an education. After second grade, the school was closed." She further describes her rough, rural lifestyle. "I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing...One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledge hammer and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall." Although seemingly simple and backward, Momma clearly describes the differences between her two daughters, the conflict that comes about with Dee's homecoming and the choices she is forced to make between her two girls. Maggie and Dee are two sisters that are as different as night and day. When Momma talks of Maggie, it is with a sad and gentle reflection of this daughter's lot in life. "Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich enough to be kind to him? That is the way my Maggie walks." Momma tells us, however that Dee, "She would always look anyone in the eye. Hesitation was no part of her nature. " Where Dee is pretty and bright, Maggie is scarred and slow. Momma seems more content being in Maggie's presence, having more in common with her than with her daughter Dee. She and Maggie tend the house together, ... ...py and shout." The daughter who has the deeper family values, who understands the true nature of heritage will be getting the quilts. Although Dee tells momma "You just don't understand ... your heritage." it is she who does not understand the significance of what she holds in her hand. By making Momma the narrator, Alice Walker has given us a simple but clear viewpoint. Listening to Momma's voice, we can better understand the background that makes two daughters so opposite. Momma helps us comprehend the confusion and conflict that Dee's arrival back home brings, and how everyone reacts. Through momma's narration, we can follow her thought process as she wrestles with the decision of who should get the quilts. Without Momma, the reader would not feel as intricately involved in the story or identify with the emotions Alice Walker incorporates in "Everyday Use."

Different social, professional and cultural contexts Essay

When communicating with others we need to consider the context within which we are working. We would need to adapt the way we communicate for different situations, most people do this automatically. Your school should have a range of planned communication for dealing with other professionals; there would be informal communications, meetings and discussions. Talking is not the only way we communicate. The way we respond to others, how quickly we respond either in person, by telephone, email, etc, respecting other cultures, for example in some cultures it is polite to maintain eye contact but not in other cultures. Always make sure you can be understood whether talking to someone or in a letter or email. Social One good way to learn about your school’s culture and much more is to begin investing in relationships with other adults in the school. Value their insights, value them and the relationships you have with them. Read more:  Different reasons people communicate  essay Lunchtime in the staff room can be a good time to have a little chat/conversation or catch up with them. You are likely to find out about children with behavioural problems and how they tackle these issues, what’s coming up next in the school and you are less likely to have the feeling of being left out. If every time you go into the staffroom for lunch, you are seen and heard to be talking loudly on your mobile phone, texting or just doing something else which is alienating you from everyone else, some people may find it rude and disregarding of others and so less likely to include you in conversations. Professional Once you become employed to work in a professional setting like a school, you are representing the school and should conduct yourself in a professional  manner. This professional manner should include the way that you communicate with the pupils and other adults. You obviously cannot use words like ‘lol’,’defo’, and ‘rofl’, when you are sending an email or writing a comment on a child’s work or communicating in a professional way in school. You should always use appropriate language and gestures for children, young people and adults an ensure that they understand what you mean. Cultural Culture is the way that we identify groups of people who share common characteristics including language, values, social practices and attitudes. We are not usually aware of our culture until we meet someone from a different culture. The language, gestures, dressing, mannerisms, etc become obviously different. The same gestures may mean different things in different cultures. For example, in some countries it is generally disrespectful to look at someone directly and boldly in the eyes, especially if they are your senior (older than you, your boss, or of a higher social class/status), whereas in the United Kingdom, not making eye contact can be seen as a sign of dishonesty. If someone avoids making eye contact with you when speaking, perhaps that is the impact of culture – not that they are rude, shy, uninterested or even dishonest. Where ever possible I would learn and adjust to the other person’s culture to ensure that we communicate effectively and if I was unsure I would ask questions (not personal) and try to find out more. Bibliography Book: Heinemann work based Learning – Supporting teaching and learning in schools (primary) by Louise Burnham and Brenda Baker. Websites: www.tafocus.co.uk/qcf-levels-and-units- QCF levels and units/Teaching Assistant Focus.

Hr Policies of Ibm by Bal Essay

About ibm IBM is a global technology and innovation company that stands for progress. With operations in over 170 countries, IBMers around the world invent and integrate hardware, software and services to help forward-thinking enterprises, institutions and people everywhere succeed in building a smarter planet. IBM has been present in India since 1992. The diversity and breadth of the entire IBM portfolio of research, consulting, solutions, services, systems and software, uniquely distinguishes IBM India from other companies in the industry. IBM India’s solutions and services span all major industries including financial services, healthcare, government, automotive, telecommunications and education, among others. As a trusted partner with wide-ranging service capabilities, IBM helps clients transform and succeed in challenging circumstances. IBM has been expanding its footprint in India – and has a presence in over 200 cities and towns across the country – either directly or through its strong business partner network. IBM India has clearly established itself as one of the leaders in the Indian Information Technology (IT) Industry – and continues to transform itself to align with global markets and geographies to grow this leadership position. Widely recognised as an employer of choice, IBM holds numerous awards for its industry-leading employment practices and policies. IBM has one of the largest professional workforces in the world today. And what we bring to market is the expertise of our people, a workforce which is responsive to market requirements, with the skills and expertise to deliver value to clients, is resilient to market forces and delivers strong leadership. IBM has retained its position as one of the World’s Top Employers of Choice over these years because of its three-fold initiatives for the employees: * Capability: Rigorous and ongoing career/skills development programs * Climate: A challenging, empowering work environment, with world-class infrastructure * Culture: Sensitive to a global workforce The attributes that qualify these 3Cs are the Top Reasons that people come to work at IBM. IBM HR Policies 1. Global employment standards At IBM, we have always set high standards for the way we conduct business – in areas from corporate and social responsibility to sound business ethics, including compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. These Conduct Principles apply to all IBM employees. However, they are not meant to describe the full scope of IBM human resource policies or practices. More detailed statements of policies, procedures and practices are contained in documents such as the IBM Business Conduct Guidelines. Employees are required to comply with all IBM policies, procedures and practices at all times and are responsible for consulting their management if they have any questions. Our goal is to ensure full compliance with these principles by IBM managers and employees. A companion to this document, the IBM Supplier Conduct Principles, governs our relationships with and standards for IBM suppliers. . Forced or involuntary labor IBM will not use forced or involuntary labor of any type (e. g. , forced, bonded, indentured or involuntary prison labor); employment is voluntary. 3. Child labor IBM will not use child labor. The term â€Å"child† refers to any employed person under the age of 16, or under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country, whichever is greatest. We support the use of legitimate workplace apprenticeship, internship and other similar programs that comply with all laws and regulations applicable to such programs. 4. Wages and benefits IBM will, at a minimum, comply with all applicable wage and hour laws and regulations, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours, piece rates, nonexempt or exemption classification and other elements of compensation, and provide legally mandated benefits. 5. Working hours IBM will not exceed maximum hours of work prescribed by law and will appropriately compensate overtime. Employees will not be required to work more than 60 hours per week, including overtime, except in extraordinary business circumstances with their consent or where the nature of the position requires such work, as for exempt employees and employees in executive, managerial or professional positions. In countries where the maximum work week is shorter, that standard shall apply. Employees should be allowed at least one day off per seven-day week. 6. Nondiscrimination and harassment IBM will not discriminate in hiring, promotion, compensation of employees and employment practices on grounds of race, color, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, disability or veteran status. IBM will create a work environment free of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or veteran status. . Respect and dignity IBM will treat all employees with respect and dignity and will not use corporal punishment, threats of violence or other forms of physical coercion or harassment. 8. Freedom of association IBM will respect the legal rights of its employees to join or to refrain from joining worker organizations, including labor organizations or trade unions. IBM complies with legal requirements worldwide regarding employee and third-party involvement. IBM respects the rights of employees to organize, and makes managers at all levels aware of those rights. The company’s long-standing belief is that the interests of IBM and its employees are best served through a favorable, collaborative work environment with direct communication between employees and management. IBM endeavors to establish such favorable employment conditions, to promote positive relationships between employees and managers, to facilitate employee communications, and to support employee development. 9. Health and safety IBM will provide its employees with a safe and healthy workplace in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Consistent with these obligations, IBM will have and will implement effective programs that encompass things such as life safety, incident investigation, chemical safety, ergonomics, and will provide safe standards of health and safety in any housing and transportation provided for our employees by the company. 10. Protection of the environment IBM is committed to worldwide leadership in environmental protection.

Misconceptions Among Muslim Essay

This is the biggest misconception about Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words ‘Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist, etc.’ linked with violence. Many people use the name of religions for their own purposes. One should consult the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means ‘submission to Allah’ and is derived from a root word meaning ‘peace’. Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn’t dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a ‘way of life’ for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defence, in defence of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat, which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. Nowhere does Islam enjoin the killing of innocents. The Quran says: {Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. Allah does not love transgressors} (Quran 2:190), {If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in Allah for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things} (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term ‘jihad’ literally means ‘struggle’. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other ‘jihad’ is the inner struggle of the soul, which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.

A study of Neanderthal ‘homo neanderthalensis’ morphology in terms of Bergman’s rule and Allen’s rule

Carl Bergman, a 19th century German biologist, stated that in a warm-blooded, polytypic, wide-ranging animal species, the body size of the members of each geographic group varies with the average environmental temperature.According to this principle, warm-blooded animals living in cold climates would tend to gradually become larger than animals of the same species living in warmer climates.J.A.Allen however said that animals adapted to cold have shorter limbs and protruding body parts.Taking these two rules together we could expect those living in cold, Northern climates to have short limbs, protruding body parts and be larger than those living in warmer places.It is believed that homo neanderthalis came North out of Africa 600,000 years ago. After that period there was an increase in their cranial capacity. They populated Europe from about 130,000 until 28,000 years ago when they either became extinct, or were so absorbed by homo sapiens as to become invisible. Fossils finds, associ ated with various cold adapted creatures such as reindeer.They had brow and jaw ridges and protruding faces. Palmer tuberosities   and tools found show that they probably had twice the strength of modern man. According to muscle attachment points and bone thicknesses it seems that they were more robust than modern man, but also that they were more sedentary. Homo sapiens ranged far and wide, whereas Neanderthals tended to stay in northern climes. Body mass increased in time, until they were about 30% larger than the worldwide average according to John Kappelman.McDonald makes the point that they lacked the culture to protect themselves from the elements and so adapted genetically with short, massively strong limbs, thick torso, prominent central face etc. Limb proportions are close to those of modern day extreme northern peoples such as the Inuit or Lapps. This fits in with the rules quoted earlier.References  Allen, J.A. The influence of Physical conditions in the genesis of sp ecies. Radical Review, 1877, 1: 108-140.Bergman,C. quoted inhttp://www.bartleby.com/61/98/B0199800.html retrieved 17th October 2007Kappelman, J., â€Å"They Might be Giants,† Nature, vol. 387 (May 8, 1997), pp. 126-127.Neanderthals found at   http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm retrieved 17th October 2007McDonald, D.S., 1996, Neanderthal morphology found at http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3917/morph.html retrieved 17th October 2007   A study of Neanderthal ‘homo neanderthalensis’ morphology in terms of Bergman’s rule and Allen’s rule Carl Bergman, a 19th century German biologist, stated that in a warm-blooded, polytypic, wide-ranging animal species, the body size of the members of each geographic group varies with the average environmental temperature.According to this principle, warm-blooded animals living in cold climates would tend to gradually become larger than animals of the same species living in warmer climates.J.A.Allen however said that animals adapted to cold have shorter limbs and protruding body parts.Taking these two rules together we could expect those living in cold, Northern climates to have short limbs, protruding body parts and be larger than those living in warmer places.It is believed that homo neanderthalis came North out of Africa 600,000 years ago. After that period there was an increase in their cranial capacity. They populated Europe from about 130,000 until 28,000 years ago when they either became extinct, or were so absorbed by homo sapiens as to become invisible.Fossils finds, associa ted with various cold adapted creatures such as reindeer. They had brow and jaw ridges and protruding faces. Palmer tuberosities   and tools found show that they probably had twice the strength of modern man. According to muscle attachment points and bone thicknesses it seems that they were more robust than modern man, but also that they were more sedentary.Homo sapiens ranged far and wide, whereas Neanderthals tended to stay in northern climes. Body mass increased in time, until they were about 30% larger than the worldwide average according to John Kappelman.McDonald makes the point that they lacked the culture to protect themselves from the elements and so adapted genetically with short, massively strong limbs, thick torso, prominent central face etc. Limb proportions are close to those of modern day extreme northern peoples such as the Inuit or Lapps. This fits in with the rules quoted earlier.References  Allen, J.A. The influence of Physical conditions in the genesis of spe cies. Radical Review, 1877, 1: 108-140.Bergman,C. quoted in http://www.bartleby.com/61/98/B0199800.html retrieved 17th October 2007Kappelman, J., â€Å"They Might be Giants,† Nature, vol. 387 (May 8, 1997), pp. 126-127.Neanderthals found at   http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm retrieved 17th October 2007McDonald, D.S., 1996, Neanderthal morphology found at http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3917/morph.html retrieved 17th October 2007  

Children and adults alike enjoy fairy Essay

Children and adults alike enjoy fairy tales because, to a certain extent, there are universal themes which make the stories predictable. Three of these themes are parental abandonment, victimization, and the all-important happy ending. Fairy tales provide an escape for the reader and a way to vicariously experience a different kind of life in which anything is possible. The idea of parental abandonment seems an anathema in a children’s story. Nevertheless, Little Red Riding Hood ventures alone into the forest to walk to her grandmother’s house, in spite of the danger presented by the wolf. Snow White and Cinderella’s parents die and leave them with cruel stepmothers. In â€Å"Beauty and the Beast†, Belle is without a mother and her father is a bit of a kook who can’t look after her properly. All of the characters are placed in situations in which they become victims. The three little pigs must protect their homes from a wolf; Little Red Riding Hood must outsmart a wolf who has eaten her grandmother and disguised himself. Cinderella and Snow White, on the other hand, must outsmart their cruel stepmothers in order to find true love. The most common theme in fairy tales (except, of course, for the Grimm versions) is that they have a happy ending. Cinderella and Snow White defeat their stepmothers and marry the prince, Little Red Riding Hood and the three little pigs outsmart the wolves and save themselves from certain death. A fairy tale just isn’t a fairy tale without a happy ending; after all, the story of Cinderella would be less compelling if she had missed the ball and one of her ugly stepsisters had married the prince. â€Å"Beauty and the Beast† would have been less of a fairy tale if Belle’s love hadn’t transformed the Beast.

Knowledge Worker Paper-Terence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Knowledge Worker Paper-Terence - Essay Example The comparison includes their responsibilities, function, and their role. Increasingly, the paper defines my experience at Syndicate Marketing Company and how the company reflected the function of knowledge workers (Jemielniak, 2012). Knowledge workers are also referred to as free agents, human capital, or even the knowledge entrepreneurs. They constitute one of the fastest rising sectors of the workforce in the globe. The concept was first introduced by Peter Drucker in 1959, who defined knowledge workers as high-level workers who make use of their analytical knowledge and theoretical knowledge from their formal education to innovate services and products. According to Peter Drucker, knowledge is contagious and grows like an organism. The knowledge itself needs to be served and assimilated but not merely stored. The knowledge innovation created the knowledge management, which underwent revolution in 1990 to support the workers to come up processes and standard tools. Focusing on knowledge is declared as one of the values for human social and economic development. Initially, wealth was measured in terms of land. During the second wave, wealth was measured in terms of capital ownership like factories. Increasingly , the ability to own wealth was measured at the rate in which a person owns knowledge and how he employs the knowledge in creating new goods and services. The innovation was reflected on the security and cost on the product. In the knowledge era, 2 per cent of working population works on land, 10 per cent of them work on industries, while the 78 per cent are knowledge workers. The knowledge worker acquires, manipulates, interprets, and applies information to carry out complex, unpredictable, and multidisciplinary work (Davenport, 2005). The core of a firm is characterized by the knowledge workers. The firms use the knowledge, judgment,

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella - Research Paper Example Its vaccine was made and licensed in 1968 (Barone, Crocetti and Oski, 321). (d). Pathogenesis and pathology of Rubella involves measles virus entering the body system, then to the epithelial cells, and finally to the blood where it multiplies (MPS). In blood the virus advances to general toxic level. The general toxic level of the disease is associated with the presentation of rashes, pigmentation as well as koplik’s spots (Shmaefsky, p.83). (e). Clinical manifestations of Rubella appears after an incubation period 6-18 days. The clinical signs include fever, catarrhal inflammation, koplik’s spots, and appearance prodromal rashes on the skin surface (Shmaefsky, p.85). (d). The pathogenesis and pathology of Ruboela involves measles virus entering the body, then virus moves to the epithelial cells, then to blood where it multiplies (MPS), blood and later generates to general toxic level. When it is at the general level, Ruboela is presents rashes, pigmentation and koplik’s spots (Black, p.90). (e). Clinical manifestation of Ruboela are portrayed after the incubation period of between 6-18 days. The clinical manifestations include fever, catarrhal inflammation, koplik’s spots on the skin as well as prodromal rashes (Black,

The role and function of the Front office in hotel Essay

The role and function of the Front office in hotel - Essay Example Hence, it is the duty of the front desk to inform the housekeeping department whenever new guests arrive (Rajput, 2013). In addition, the front desk also is the one that manages meetings, answer phones, make appointments, maintain record, and also make data entry as well as management of other communications (Rajput, 2013). In connection to this, to run a successful hotel business the front desk has to be run well because as stated they are the face the hotel. This is because they are the ones that receive the visitors hence they are the ones who determines the direction the business will take in the future (Rajput, 2013). The reserve section acts as a nerve center for the department. It is the section where all room reservation requests are received and then processed. Reservation is the act of booking rooms in advance, and most hotels rely on effective bedroom letting for profits. These reservations may be in the form of telex, letters, telegram, telephones, fax and emails (Kumar, 2013). Rajput, T. (2013, January 13). How important is Front Desk Management in a hotel business. Retrieved from

Review of Cedar Lake Dance Company Research Paper

Review of Cedar Lake Dance Company - Research Paper Example The Artistic Director is Benoit-Swan Pouffer and the website gives a good impression of his somewhat radical approach to the medium of ballet. A short clip entitled â€Å"Street† by Erez Sabag is a masterful example of how dance is integrated with modern video technology. The music is a series of low chords, somewhat edgy and jarring in nature, and this is set against a dark and forbidding street scene. The first movement is just the slow passing of automobiles, and then the dancer walks on in a slouching posture with face hidden in a â€Å"hoodie† jacket. This chimes very well with contemporary music video culture, and at first it is not obvious that what follows will   be an episode of dance. When the dancer suddenly switches into an explosion of jerky dance movements, at lightning speed and with high energy, a feeling of excitement and released tension is conveyed, only to resolve back into the sullen walking down the darkened street.   Viewers will not forget th is image, and it is no doubt intentional that it represents the surprising contribution and memorable contribution that ballet can make to modern culture. A potentially useful feature of the website is the blog, complete with hyperlinks and buttons for facebook and twitter. This blog offers photographs but very little commentary, and there is very little evidence that it is being used interactively by the public. This is something that the company should perhaps work more on, because artistic marketing in the internet age is increasingly. being done with full involvement of fans and supporters, who create viral

Sport mgmt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sport mgmt - Essay Example This paper then aims to create a career plan focusing on sports based on learning and insights on the career path of Cristiano Ronaldo in football. He has been chosen due to his recognition and performance in this sports field. A section of the paper will allocate a discussion of his career as the basis for creating the personal five year career plan. The plan will include specific goals and methods on how this can be achieved. Football in the World and Qatar Football was recognized to come from Britain, which is widely played during the 1700s in from courts to narrow streets of the urban communities (Murray B. and Murray W. 2). However, historical accounts suggest that the game was played in Asian countries and the United States. This means that football is already a global sport long before the founding of the world cup tournaments. It can be associated that this is a primary reason for the world’s increasing interest in the sport. In UAE, the football association exerted en ormous effort in promoting the sport (Al Abed et al. 302). Despite the current ranking in FIFA World Cup, Qatar invested its wealth on football as evident in the UAE’s success, completed tournaments, and sponsorship deals. In implication, Qatar and UAE encourage the increase of interest in the sport, and inculcate it to be part of their culture and education. Hence, it is not unexpected that many enthusiasts would aspire to pursue a career in football. In relation to the career plan, it is important to be aware of the facts and the roots of the game to understand the impact and significance of the sport to a person and to the world. Moreover, this will provide a view of opportunities for becoming a player. Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo has been selected to be an icon for this career plan due to his successful career in football. He has been identified as one of the top best football player of his time. This star is currently playing for Real Madrid, who is considered to be the best winger who has played in the world cup (Greaves and Giller). His skills are a combination of his own and that of other of acclaimed players. This Portugal-born player commenced his football career when he joined the Sporting Clube de Portugal (Coutinho 32). This player already shined in the Portugal team with 69 international games and 22 goals scored. However, Ronaldo has been a frequenter in the national games as he played for Under-17 and Under-20 to 22. These exhibit that even at an early age Ronaldo’s skills and abilities as a player has brought him to the international stage and a glorious high point. It was not until 2003 that he was transferred to Manchester United and Real Madrid in 2009. This paper deemed that his exposure to different teams further developed his skills and performance as it introduced various playing techniques. Ronaldo is equipped with speed and excellent ball control that shaped him as the world’s most fatal winger (Coutinho 3 2). His dexterity paved way for his nomination as FIFA World Soccer Player in the year 2008, and runner-up in 2009. Aside from his skills, he is also highly professional. His former coach (Jose Mourinho) admired Ronaldo for being the most professional player he has met (Richards, Coaching Ronaldo). This may be one of the factors that pushed Ronaldo’s growing career. Apparently, abilities should be coupled with right attitude to attain and retain success. Ronaldo also received a fair

Art as a way to creatively call attention to social issues Essay

Art as a way to creatively call attention to social issues - Essay Example Evolution of technology has had positive impact on artistic values in society and in aesthetics. In his essay â€Å"The Art of Collecting Light bulbs,† Kimmelman (2005) exposes characteristics and qualities contained in art making such as being ubiquitous and converting uselessness into an asset. However, as Restak (2004) explains in his essay â€Å"Attention Deficit: Brain Syndrome of our Era,† technology serves not only as an ally but also as a distraction to our daily activities. For instance in the summer of 2003, e-mails from themobproject@yahoo.com began to circulate inviting people to convene in a public place so as to take part in a random act with the sole purpose of confusing others (Bill 2003). The first successful mob took place in New York Macy where hundreds of people entered the store in search of a â€Å"love rug.† After that about two hundred people flooded the lobby and mezzanine of the Hyatt hotel in synchronized applause for about fifteen seconds, and the next shoe boutique in SoHo was invaded by participants pretending to be tourists on a bus trip (Bill 2003). These activities provide the viewers with a sense of wonderment which heightens people’s curiosity and help them become aware of their surroundings. Moreover Restak states that ADD and ADHD is not actually a state of mental condition but merely a new state of cognition. Boredom arises when the brain attempts to account for incredible amounts of information available to us through technology and is simply overwhelmed. This causes the brain to develop differently in order to successfully understand everything that modern human expose themselves to, hence a way of thinking that certainly is an unprecedented change in cognition. This partially stems from multitasking which is a mechanism that humans have developed in response to suddenly having a much higher amount of distractions in comparison to just a few decades ago. Technology and modern art have

Corrections trend Evaluation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corrections trend Evaluation - Research Paper Example The changes in the correction programs have occurred due to the rising count of the number of prisoners. Moreover, growing concern with regard to the rules as well as the regulations for the safety of public and reducing incarceration cost have resulted in the modification of the correction programs. These changes are majorly made with the intention of reducing inmate population and minimizing cost (Adams, n.d.). The paper intends to discuss the trends of correction programs for the development as well as the improvement of the correction institutions. Moreover, an analysis will be executed with the objective of identifying the issues in relation to prisons and their administrators both in the present and future prospects. Discussion Research Prisoners or offenders are offered with correction programs and are convicted to correction institutions with the aim of minimizing crime rates and changing their criminal behavior and attitude. In the past, prisoners or offenders were observed to be treated in an inhuman manner and they were punished in physical forms which include being tortured and hanged among others. The prisoners were treated as slaves mainly due to inadequate funding or resources availability and development (Hartnett, n.d.). In this respect, with growing number of offenders and inadequate funds, prisons as well as jails were privatized in order to improve the operations and to render enhanced development of correction institutions. The privatization of prisons as well as jails will facilitate in minimizing cost. By the year 2001, in the US, there were around 158 correction facilities owned by private sectors operating in almost 30 states. Privatization of prisons as well as jails was the major trend in the past in order to cope up with the increased demand and operational costs. In this respect, the government has contacted the private sector with the motive of acquiring adequate financial assistance as well as to construct correction facilities at a cheaper rate as compared to public prisons (Austin & Coventry, 2001). Number of Prisoners from 1925 to 2010 Source: (The Sentencing Project, 2012) In the US, offenders or prisoners are observed to be offered with two different sorts of sentences which include treatment and punishment. Treatment implies that society is protected by implementing correction programs with the objective of changing the criminal behavior of offenders through rehabilitation. On the other hand, punishment signifies that society is protected by incarceration of offenders. It has been realized that there are various phases on the basis of which changes are acquired in the correction programs or facilities. The correction programs started with the development of reform movement for the disposition of prisoners to jails in order to minimize and control crime. In 1920, more prisons were developed and various educational and corrective programs were implemented in order to improve the behaviors as well as atti tudes of offenders. In the period between 1930 and 1940, importance was placed to medical model for better treatment of inmates. Moreover, during these periods various therapies including psychodrama and transitional analysis among others had been adopted with the objective of improving the treatment procedures. In 1970s, it was observed that treatment or rehabilitation of prisoners was a failure due to increased crime rate.

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

ServerVault - Case Study Example The contribution margin shall be the total revenue minus the overhead costs per unit. The overhead costs are $50,000. The break even point is thus the total overhead costs divided by the contribution margin. This equals $(50,000/1.300=38). The break even point is thus 38 servers. This number is important given that it determines the number of units that should be sold to earn a profit. In this case, it is 39 units or more. The key drivers behind cash generation on consumption for ServerVault are the security features it offers and it reliability. While the security feature is seven-layered and has thus met the U.S. Department of Defense security standards, the reliability feature results from its use of multiple internet access points. The revenue from the facility is $1,300 as a result of the two drivers. The cash consumption from the premises and the facilities installed is due to the fact that ServerVault has not reached its breakeven point. Beyond this point, the business would be profitable. With the total number of the servers (Dec-02) at 14,137,000 from a mere 3 in January of 2000, the business is promising. The cash position keeps improving too. From a difference of less than $20,000 in January 2000, the cash position improved to a difference of more than $1.5m in May of the same year. To this end, ServerVault should concentrate on reducing debt while increasing its returns to hit the breakeven point soon enough. This will win the confidence of investors and thus allow for injection of more capital for its

Archetype Research Project Essay Example for Free

Archetype Research Project Essay Archetypes are â€Å"An inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual† (archetype). Archetypes are central in all cultures across the world and can provide important lessons and outlooks on the common aspects of human life. The journey, is an archetype in which the main character is in search of some sort of truth and typically faces many difficult trials along the way, this can be both physical and mental. While going through these trials a kind of hell is reached and the character must attempt to make their way back to society. Though the journey is not always well liked due to its dark and serious nature, it provides self-confidence and shows society how to react to difficulties they may face in life. This archetype can be found in slightly different forms in the three novels: â€Å"Jane Eyre† by Charlotte Brontà «, â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, and â€Å"The Plague† by Albert Camus. Each author uses the archetype, the journey, to express their own thoughts; they create an overall theme or message to influence their readers. â€Å"Jane Eyre† was written in 1847 by Charlotte Brontà «. The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood as the family scapegoat, through her schooling at a poorly managed charity school, and later when she becomes a governess and falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester. Jane’s journey is in search of the love and acceptance of others, she goes through many trials before reaching her goal. The theme that Brontà « creates using the archetype of the journey is: In times of hardship you must persevere and not lose sight of yourself and your morals while striving to find happiness. This is one of the most important messages that she is sending to her readers through Jane Eyre. She does this by giving multiple examples of Jane’s strength. One example of Jane’s strength is when she struggles to regain her since of dignity and self-worth after discovering, on her wedding day, that Mr. Rochester was already married. This is the most devastating part of Jane’s journey but her reaction to the situation is what builds the theme. â€Å"Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be† (Brontà « 369). Jane is very tempted to just give in to her weaknesses but she regains her composure and continues her struggle. Jane’s strength is also shown when she leaves Thornfield the night after the wedding. â€Å"But I was soon up; crawling forwards on my hands and knees, and then again raised to my feet — ­ as eager and as determined as ever to reach the road† (Brontà « 374). At this point Jane’s emotional turmoil has gone as far as to cause physical weakness. Which, she also finds courage to overcome. Brontà « uses Jane’s strength of morals and self-respect in times of trial to get her theme across to her readers. The importance of her perseverance throughout the novel is solidified in the fact that her suffering pays off in the end with a happy conclusion after Mr. Rochester’s wife is dead. â€Å"I hold myself supremely blestblest beyond what language can express; because I am my husbands life as fully is he is mine† (Brontà « 522). Jane would have been very unhappy if she had given in to her weaknesses before she felt morally sound in doing so. This shows how significant her waiting was in securing her happiness in the end. Charlotte Brontà « used the archetype of the journey in Jane Eyre to impact the reader by illustrating the importance of maintaining your moral standards and since of self-worth through times of trial and hardship when you are most prone to weakness. She has exemplified this through the strength and persistence of her main character, Jane. â€Å"The Odyssey† was written by Homer around 700 B.C. It is an epic that tells the story of Odysseus, a man who must make his way back home from war to his wife and son. His journey home however is delayed by a series of trials and while he is away suitors take over his household. Odysseus has been a role model not only in Greek culture but all around the world. Homer uses the characters reactions to the trials that are typical to the archetype of the journey to show the need for determination, hope and strength in the face of hardship. As Odysseus goes through the many challenges of his journey his perseverance is put to the test. One of these occasions is when Odysseus and his crew are within sight of Ithaca, but the curiosity of his crew causes them to be thrown severely off course and pushed back many days in their journey. â€Å"And I woke up with a start, my spirit churning— should I leap over the side and drown at once or grit my teeth and bear it, stay among the living? I bore it all, held firm, hiding my face, clinging tight to the decks† (Homer 10. 55-58). True strength is shown by Odysseus here due to the fact that it is laden with the dramatic irony of almost reaching your goal then being set back to the beginning. Homer uses Odysseus’s will to continue on and not give up to show the determination needed to overcome a trial such as this. Odysseus is not the only character in â€Å"The Odyssey† that the archetype of the journey applies to. Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, also goes through a journey and discovers darker truths as he searches for news of his father and watches the suitors tear apart his house. â€Å"But for me the gods have spun out no such joy, for my father or myself. I must bear up, that’s all† (Homer 3.236-238). Homer presents Telemachus much like his father, always determined to keep moving forward even when it seems all is against him. The archetype of the journey is constantly full of challenges and often disappointment. Odysseus comments on what he has learned of the nature of life and hardship. â€Å"But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times, bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart. Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth, turn as the days turn† (Homer 18. 154-157). Odysseus has learned this lesson from experience and his calm warnings and advice on the subject contribute to the theme of the necessity of strength when it comes to the archetype of the journey. In relation to the archetype the journey Homer uses â€Å"The Odyssey† to create a theme of resilience and determination when encountering struggles and trials. This is created through the way that the characters handle hardship with their lives. Odysseus is a major role model whose success and failures can easily be learned from. â€Å"The Plague† was written by Albert Camus in 1947; the novel relates the story of a city falling into and later recovering from an epidemic of plague. Each character has his own personal interests but as the plague progresses and the gates of the city are closed, fighting the plague becomes everyone’s main interest. The entire town goes through an archetypal journey with each characters experiences differing in their own ways. When a group of people is suffering, each person has a duty to think more of the group and less of individual desires; everyone has to try to help others. It is the few people who fulfill that duty who make the difference for the whole of the community in the end. As the first few cases began to arise, nobody wanted to admit the high level of danger that came with them. Due to the town’s lack of experience with the plague things move slowly at first and no one really knows what to do. Despite this confusion and lack of knowledge it is important that there are a few people who are always fighting to make progress. â€Å"No, we should go forward, groping our way through the darkness, stumbling perhaps at times, and try to do what good lay in our power† (Camus 205). Camus shows the absolute need for action even when nobody is quite sure what to do. The town is urged to forget personal matters to devote themselves to following blind determination. After months of plague it becomes obvious to the townsfolk that they are all in the situation together and that they are in the same amount of risk even though nobody wanted to acknowledge it out loud. â€Å"No longer were there individual destinies; only a collective destiny, made of plague and emotions shared by all† (Camus 151). The atmosphere of the survival situation has made personal interests unimportant and the survival and health of the community the main point of the people’s lives. As the city of Oran attempts to regain its stability its citizens sacrifice their personal feelings such as love to go into a survival mode. â€Å"Evening after evening gave its truest, mournfulest expression to the blind endurance that had outlasted love from all our hearts† (Camus 168). People have become so engrossed in the plague and its effect on their lives that emotions like love are pushed to the back of the mind. Camus stresses the fact that in order for a community to endure, personal sacrifice is necessary. â€Å"The Plagues† main theme in relation to the archetype of the journey is that personal sacrifice may be needed in order for a community to go through a journey and still prevail in the end. It can also be seen that hope is necessary when you are faced with hardship even if you are completely lost and in the dark. All three novels, â€Å"Jane Eyre† by Charlotte Brontà «, â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, and â€Å"The Plague† by Albert Camus have strong examples of the journey archetype. Each tells a story of trials, hardship, and suffering. â€Å"Jane Eyre† focuses largely on Jane’s personal development and the challenges that she faces in her everyday life. Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s main theme is to not lose sight of who you are when things get tough in contrast to the ideas behind â€Å"The Plague† which call for almost an exact opposite due to the community setting in which the journey takes place. â€Å"The Odyssey† is more about a since of strength and endurance, though Odysseus’s emotions are evident and are very important in maintaining his will to continue trying to reach home, they do not dominate the scene like in â€Å"Jane Eyre† and â€Å"The plague†. The journey archetype is very important in giving people insight to possible life situations. By reading about a characters development while going through a journey it is easy to realize their achievements and failures. This makes these types of situations easier to handle when they come up in real life later on because the reader has already been warned of what to do and what not to do. The main characters of a story focused on an archetypal journey are also inspirational and can provide the same hope and determination by giving people a â€Å"they did this so I can too† type of attitude toward life’s challenges.

Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness

Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness BROWN THOMAS GROUP Brief background and how competitive the market place is: Brown Thomas is a luxury lifestyle store which has stores located in Dublin, Cork, Galway Limerick. It is home to an unparalled range of Irish International Designer Brands for women, men, children homewares, accessories beauty products all sourced worldwide. Established in 1849 by haberdashers drapers Hugh Brown and James Thomas. In 1919 it was bought over by Harry Gordon, Selfridges who operated it as part of the Selfridge chain. It was in the 1960s when the company went public on the Irish Stock Exchange and it was then that Galen Weston bought shares in the company. In 1983 Weston bought the remaining shares and it was then Brown Thomas was born and became a private entity. Whilst the industry they are involved in is a very volatile one, Brown Thomas have positioned themselves at the top of the market place, with an ever increasing sales port-folio whilst offering a five-star customer service to their customers worldwide. A store that is listed among the best in the world, yet remains quintessentially Irish and unique.   Ã‚   Target Market Brown Thomas pride themselves on being customer focused offering a wonderful shopping experience displaying their beautiful items sourced from all over the world, they are unrivalled with customer service. From the minute a customer steps into one of their stores they will be treated with a superb customer experience as this forms part of their Mission Statement delivering on a five-star service to their much valued customer. There is an on-line shopping experience called Click Collect which delivers on their flawless services for their customers who cannot access their stores. They also have rolled out a Loyalty Card (See Appendix A attch) service to their customers, giving something back to them with every euro spent within a store, points will be stored on their cards which are redeemable against any item within their stores. There are two types of cards, Black and Platinum with their Platinum cardholders spending over à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5,000 a year. On your Birthday you earn triple points for that week. You will be the first to hear about in-store promotions, receive invitations to events, previews and fashion shows. Along with the Loyalty Card Brown Thomas have introduced their own MasterCard (See Appendix B attch) which has an encore rewards system where you will receive certain rewards and if you have both cards its doubly rewarding! How the organisation presents itself to customers versus the customers experience Advertising As the group have to be constantly ahead of their competitors, the power of advertising is very advantageous. They would constantly keep their customers abreast of any in-house promotions, new stock arriving by sending out circulars and also reaching out to their customer base by texts and emails. Also they hold a numerous amount of fashion shows for new season stock inviting their customers to come along and visually enjoy what the shop is offering. They are involved with many charities and run fashion shows in conjunction with these in order to raise much needed funds. Also when they go into their end of season sales they advertise both in the national newspapers, TV and radio alerting their customers of their sale Premises Their premises located in Dublin, Cork, Galway Limerick have all been refurbished to a very high standard offering luxury surroundings to their customer. They have restaurants, coffee shops and toilet baby-changing facilities. There are also disabled bathrooms which which are all located on their ground floors. Also each store has a professional shopper who has their own rooms where a customer can be brought to in private and will be assisted in their shopping requirements whilst being relaxed in a beautiful environment. All stores are fitted with high technical security systems along with a state of the art fire emergency system installed, thus ensuring their staff and customers of a safe environment. Products or services They offer a wide range of Irish International designer luxury goods sourced worldwide including womenswear, menswear, childrens wear, accessories, beauty products and homewares, delivering on quality, range and price. An online shopping service has also been rolled out to their customers with convenient collection point. Competitive discount rates are also offered. Complimentary luxury gift-wrapping in stores or delivered to your door. Personal Shoppers have been employed in each store in order to assist customers in selecting the right product whilst taking the stress out of shopping for the customer. How employees interact with the customer, each other and management Employees are trained to deliver a fist class customer service to their customer from the minute they enter their store until they complete their shopping and leave. As there is ongoing customer service, team building in-house days that all employees have to complete, interact very positively which creates a very friendly and uplifting working environment. Management also participate in these courses thereby ensuring the ethos of the organisation permeates through from Management to floor staff. Personal Dress/Uniform/Hygiene/Care Because of the business they are involved in, staff care and hygiene is of the uttermost importance. It is vital that they are well dressed and groomed with particular attention to hair and nails as they are the front people who meet the customers. Staff there would wear black for their uniform and this is the general dress code throughout their stores. Staff also wear a name badge to identify themselves as part of their uniform. The Potential positive and the potential negative impact Potential Positive impact on consumers Potential Negative impact on consumers Uplifting Shopping Experience Price point too high Receiving a five star customer service Poor car parking facilities Kept abreast of fashion trends Some Departments   not clearly marked Disability and Diversity Brown Thomas caters for all age groups from the elderly to young babies and also people with disabilities. They cater for wheelchair accessibility with double doors that can be opened if needs be and Disabled bathrooms are situated on all ground floors in all stores along with spacious lifts to allow disabled shoppers to move freely throughout their stores in order to shop. Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness ARDLEA MEDICAL CENTRE ENNIS Brief Background and how competitive the market place is: This practice was established in 1999. It is located at 79 OConnell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare. The practice is owner occupied by Dr. John MacCarthy, MB Bch NUI MICGP and his wife who is the practising nurse Eleanor Quill. There are two administration/reception staff, Marie and Mona. This is a paperless office where all your details are registered on a computer and all consultations are registered on your computer file. This surgery is located at the end of OConnell Street in Ennis where there is little competition as most of the other GP practices in Ennis at the other side of the town. Target Market Ardlea Medical Centre has its panel of GMS (medical card holders) patients along with private patients. How the organisation presents itself to customers versus the customers experience: Advertising Due to the nature of this business there is little need to advertise for new patients. In fact, it seems to be the direct opposite in that their list is full. Premises These premises which have been newly refurbished and it is very cutting edge. It consists of an entrance hall which houses the reception area which is cordoned off by glass. There are two toilets, one located on the ground floor and the other is on the first floor. On the ground floor is a beautiful waiting room which hosts a full wall photo image of the woods in Dromoland Castle. The nurses treatment room is also located on the ground floor. Dr MacCarthy also has a treatment room on the ground floor with two more on the first floor. Services available At Ardlea Medical Centre, they offer a wide range of services to patients in addition to consultations for general medical queries, routine follow-up and ongoing medical problems. The following are services that are offered to patients under the GMS scheme including the Under Age 6 scheme and Over Age 70 scheme. The following are the services that the centre offers: Blood Pressure Monitoring Cryotherapy Cervical Smear testing (See Appendix A attch) Travel Health advise and screening Ante-Natal Care (See Appendix B attch) Child Immunisation Dietary Advice Smoking Cessation Diabetes Clinic How the employees interact with the customer, each other and management The Ardlea Medical Centre whilst a very busy practice is also a very inviting atmosphere with the most welcoming reception staff who go above the call of duty in order to facilitate with appointments or for an urgent appointment if needs be. Both the Doctor and the Nurse act with equal professionalism, discression and their medical knowledge would make any patient feel very confident to be under their care. Personal Dress/Uniform/Care/Hygiene This is a bright and uplifting practice to visit with great attention paid to cleanliness and hygiene. There doesnt seem to be any uniform for staff who are always neatly dressed presented well. The potential positive and the potential negative impact Potential positive Potential negative The comfort of knowing that you are being medically well cared for by the Team Sometimes long waiting times to visit Doctor due to volume of patients Beautiful Uplifting Surgery to visit Poor parking facilities Disability and Diversity The Ardlea Medical centre cater for all ages from babies to over 70s all who are receiving the best knowledgeable and professional care. Wheelchairs can access the surgery through the widened front door and there is a disabled bathroom on the ground floor along with both Doctors Room and the Nurses Treatment Room located alongside. Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Treacys West County Hotel 1. The West County Hotel was originally built in Ennis by the Lynch family in the late 1960s. It was taken over by Waterford based Treacys Hotel Group in 2013. It remains one of the most popular, well established iconic hotels in Ennis.   It fights off all competition from a number of hotels in the town by offering an excellent experience for families and business alike. Unlike other hotels which are within walking distance of the town, it has beautiful leisure centre which includes a fully equipped gym and a large swimming pool. www.clare-tour.com/accommodation/Lynch_West_County_Hotel/ 2. The hotel has one large conference centre and four large board rooms targeting business and a variety of groups. The Family friendly hotel has 152 rooms with en-suite bathrooms and access to all amenities in the hotel and therefore attracts families from Ireland and abroad. There are excellent restaurants, a cafà © and bar with bar food. The hotel, therefore, receives a large amount of business from local people who can have their needs met and enjoy the facilities of the hotel. https://treacyswestcounty.com/ 3. Advertising The hotel has an excellent website which is very easy to navigate and has its own Facebook page. It advertises in a number of magazines such as bridal and holiday magazines. Upcoming events are advertised weekly in the local papers (Clare Champion and Clare People) and local radio. https://www.facebook.com/TreacysWestCounty/ (see App. A) Premises The building had a complete refurbishment in 2013. All fixtures and fittings are maintained to a very high standard. Products and Services The hotel offers a range of different services which include a beautiful cafà © and 2 restaurants. There is a leisure centre which includes a state of the art gym, aerobic centre and large swimming pool. The cost of a full membership is â‚ ¬350 per year which is quite expensive compared with other leisure centres. Employees interaction Customer service standards are high from the receptionist through to the leisure centre staff although some waitresses are not as friendly as others. The bar and waiting staff in Borus Bar seem to be run off their feet during busy times. This, in turn, does not reflect well on management. Management presentation The management and staff present themselves well with a stylish uniform for managers and staff alike. The housekeeping staff also wear a stylish uniform and are friendly towards the customers they meet. 4. Positive and Negative impact of question 3 All events, from afternoon tea dances to specialized concerts, yoga classes and workshops are advertised so as to reach all customers. The Clare Champion and Clare people newspapers, along with their current up to date website and Facebook page make for a positive impact on customers. There is a positive vibe in the hotel and this is mainly due to the friendliness and competency of the staff along with the wonderful facilities and proximity to the town centre. There is a negative impact on the customer when they see that the bar staff are overworked during busy periods and are unable to give the customer their full attention. Management will need to look into this and in turn take on extra staff at these times. The management should also compare the price of leisure centre memberships in the area and either offer extras to the customer or reduce their price of membership. 5. Disability and Diversity There are only 2 disabled bays close to the main entrance of the hotel. This is a very low number in relation to the size of the hotel and carpark in comparison to other hotels in the town. On the positive side there are very good facilities within the hotel to accommodate wheelchairs e.g. lifts, wide doors, ramps and disabled toilets. All nationalities are welcome although the hotel has been known to turn away a Traveller weddings. Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Parnell Medical Centre 1. Parnell Medical Centre was set up in Ennis in 2011 to cater for the needs of the growing town. Dr Conor Hanrahan, who was already established in the town, remained the only doctor operating from the building until 2014. He was then joined by Dr John Boyle, an English man, who had worked in the Elm Medical Centre on the Gort road in Ennis for a number of years. There is no competition between the surgeries as there is a shortage of doctors and the demand exceeds supply. 2. The surgery, and both doctors, cater to the needs of all patients registered with them. It provides the services of a nurse, who is on hand to deal with minor complaints, take blood, smear tests etc. There are 3 very caring and friendly receptionists. 3. Advertising There is no official website for the Parnell Medical Centre although both doctors can be reviewed online. Advertising is not necessary as the demand for doctors services exceeds supply. (see App B) Premises The premises are located on the first floor with a lift which can be accessed through the pharmacy below. Each doctor has its own separate waiting room. There is a childs play area in one waiting room and a beautiful fish tank in the other. Both waiting rooms have easy access to the bathroom. The surgery looks clean and tidy and is painted on a regular basis. Services Both doctors provide routine and urgent medical care, prescriptions and medical certificates. Medical card holders are welcome at the surgery. The Receptionists answer the phones, take appointments and write up all the paperwork for the doctors. There is a conveniently located pharmacy on the ground floor. Employees Interaction All staff at the surgery seem to interact very well with the customers and also with each other. The receptionists greet all patients with a smile and are helpful and understanding. Management presentation Dr Hanrahan always dresses in a suit whereas Dr Boyle is more casually dressed. Both are very clean and tidy and always use gloves when an examination is necessary. Hand sanitizers are constantly being used throughout the surgery by all staff members especially the doctors and the nurse. 4. Positive and Negative impact of question 3. There is no official website for the Parnell Medical Centre so anyone looking for information on their services will be required to call in or phone the practice. The surgery does not take calls from 1pm 2pm and this can be frustrating as it may be the only time some patients are able to phone. There are two separate waiting rooms so overcrowding is never a problem. The premises are kept neat and tidy and children are entertained while waiting, due to the large fish-tank and play area. The pharmacy on the ground floor is a major advantage. The staff in the surgery are polite, empathetic and friendly. The receptionists interact very well with each other and work efficiently in conjunction with the doctors. 5. Disability and Diversity There are sufficient disabled bays in close proximity to the surgery as it is adjacent to the Parnell street car park. There is a lift which can fit a wheelchair. One of the waiting rooms is wheelchair friendly along with the bathroom. The surgery caters for all ethnic groups, including travellers, with no discrimination against anyone.   Ã‚   www.whatclinic.ie/doctors/ireland/county-clare/ennis/dr-dermot-boyle www.whatclinic.ie/doctors/ireland//ennis/dr-conor-e-hanrahan Enc: