Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Free Essays on Alcholism in Pre Teens

Alcoholism has been a very important malady of the modern society and has attracted much attention from sociologists, academicians and medical practitioners since many years. Much progress has been made in either containing or mitigating the adverse effects of alcoholism in adults as well as adolescents in the past few years. However, as much as there have been successes in containing the problem of alcoholism in the society, newer problems also have been creeping up that throw new challenges to social workers. One of the more recent fallout of alcoholism in adults and youngsters is pre-teen alcoholism, which needs to be considered with extreme caution because the deleterious effects of alcohol on children in their pre-teen years is much more than the effects that are seen in adults or the youth. Analysis Michael Windle observes that 'the concept of alcoholism, in its most general sense, refers to a disease, or disorder, typically characterized by: (a) a prolonged period of frequent, heavy alcohol use; (b) a variety of social and/or legal problems associated with alcohol use (e.g., driving while intoxicated, impaired school/work performance); and (c) the expression of dependency symptoms (e.g., unpleasant withdrawal effects when unable to consume alcohol).' [Windle, 1998, p. 1]. In children these symptoms may manifest much easily than in adults because of their tender physical constituency. Deviance in relation to alcoholism is characterized by the adverse social consequences associated with drinking alcohol and includes problems in the home, at school or college, with peers, or with legal authorities. Problems in the home include such behaviors as fighting with parents about drinking and keeping away from home. Problems at school or college include attending to school in drunken state, or missing school because of drinking. Problems with peers include such actions including street-fights, conflicts with girlfriend or boyfriend a... Free Essays on Alcholism in Pre Teens Free Essays on Alcholism in Pre Teens Alcoholism has been a very important malady of the modern society and has attracted much attention from sociologists, academicians and medical practitioners since many years. Much progress has been made in either containing or mitigating the adverse effects of alcoholism in adults as well as adolescents in the past few years. However, as much as there have been successes in containing the problem of alcoholism in the society, newer problems also have been creeping up that throw new challenges to social workers. One of the more recent fallout of alcoholism in adults and youngsters is pre-teen alcoholism, which needs to be considered with extreme caution because the deleterious effects of alcohol on children in their pre-teen years is much more than the effects that are seen in adults or the youth. Analysis Michael Windle observes that 'the concept of alcoholism, in its most general sense, refers to a disease, or disorder, typically characterized by: (a) a prolonged period of frequent, heavy alcohol use; (b) a variety of social and/or legal problems associated with alcohol use (e.g., driving while intoxicated, impaired school/work performance); and (c) the expression of dependency symptoms (e.g., unpleasant withdrawal effects when unable to consume alcohol).' [Windle, 1998, p. 1]. In children these symptoms may manifest much easily than in adults because of their tender physical constituency. Deviance in relation to alcoholism is characterized by the adverse social consequences associated with drinking alcohol and includes problems in the home, at school or college, with peers, or with legal authorities. Problems in the home include such behaviors as fighting with parents about drinking and keeping away from home. Problems at school or college include attending to school in drunken state, or missing school because of drinking. Problems with peers include such actions including street-fights, conflicts with girlfriend or boyfriend a...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Play Chinese Liars Dice

How to Play Chinese Liars Dice Throughout China, Liar’s Dice (è ª ªÃ¨ ¬Å Ã¨â‚¬â€¦Ã§Å¡â€žÃ© ª °Ã¥ ­ , shuÃ… huÇŽng zhÄ› de shÇŽizi) is played during holidays, especially Chinese New Year. The fast-paced game can be played by two or more players and the number of rounds is limitless. Players usually agree to a predetermined number of rounds or set a time limit but none of that is set in stone; new players and additional rounds can be added as the game goes along. While the number of players and rounds may be casual, Liar’s Dice can also be quite intense as its traditionally a drinking game. In China, in addition to holiday celebrations, its also common to see it being played at bars, in clubs, and even outdoors at sidewalk restaurants. What Youll Need to Play Liars Dice One cup for each playerFive dice for each playerOne table How to Play the Game The first player, Player One, is determined by rolling the dice to see who has the highest number. Once play has started, the winner from the previous round goes first. If there are more than two players, decide in advance if the play will move clockwise or counterclockwise around the table. Each player has their own set of five dice. In some places, the dice you have is known as your stash. The total number of dice (five per player) is known as the pool. All of the players: Place the dice in the cup.All of the players: Cover the cup with your hand.All of the players: Shake the cup with the dice inside.All of the players: Place (or slam) your cup upside down on the table, keeping your stash hidden from view.All of the players: Lift the cup and look at the dice, being careful not to reveal what youve rolled to anyone else.Player One calls how many dice of a certain value are on the table. This number is based on the entire pool, including his or her own stash. For example, Player One could call out, â€Å"two fives.† At this point, the remaining players can either accept the call and move on to the next player, or they have the option of calling Player One a liar. (It doesnt matter whether Player One has a five or not. Bluffing is not only allowed- its actually encouraged. What matters is if the next player believes Player One is bluffing and calls him or her out on it.)If Player One is believed, the next person becomes Player T wo. Player Two must now call out a number that is of greater value than the previous call. For example, if Player One called out â€Å"two fives,† Player Two must call out a minimum of â€Å"three fives.† â€Å"Three fours† or four twos† would also be unacceptable. However, even if the numerical face value is higher, Player Two cannot call out anything less than three of something. (For example, two sixes is not a legitimate call.) Again, if the Player Two is believed, the play moves on to the next player. When a players call is not believed, he or she is called out as a liar. At this point, everyone must reveal their dice. If the player who made the call is correct, the player who called him or her out must pay the forfeit. If he or she is incorrect, the forfeit is theirs. Once the forfeit is paid, the round is over and the winner begins the next round. If its drinking game, the forfeit usually involves doing a shot of whatever the player is drinking. Of course, you dont have to drink to play Liars Dice. Forfeits can also be money or some form of token.Subsequent rounds simply repeat the actions of the first until the predetermined number of rounds or the time limit is reached- or the players simply decide to call it quits. Tips for Players of Liars Dice In some versions of the game, the one is considered a wild number, which means it can be played as any number between two and six.Beware of cheaters who use the edge of their cup to turn their dice as they return it to the table after seeing what theyve rolled.When the venue becomes too noisy, players often use hand signals to indicate their calls rather than shouting them out. The first number is the how many, the second number is the value of the dice. The hand signals are as follows: One: Hold up your hand and extend the pointer finger upward.Two: Hold up your hand and extend the pointer and middle fingers upward into a V-shape (like a peace sign).Three: Hold up your hand and extend the pointer, middle, and ring fingers upward.Four: Hold up your hand and extend the pointer, middle, ring and pinky fingers upward.Five: Hold up your hand with all five fingers extended upward (like a stop sign) or pinch all five fingers together.Six: Fold the pointer, middle, and ring fingers into a fist and extend the thumb and pinky fingers outward.Seven: Make a fist and extend the thumb outward and pointer finger downward.Eight: Make a first and extend the thumb upward and the pointer finger forward (like a gun).Nine: Make a fist, extend the pointer finger and curve it (like making a C).Ten: Make a fist or using two hands, extend the pointer finger of the right hand upward and with the left hand extend the pointer finger to the right and cross it with the right hand forming a sig n.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Research Paper

Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice - Research Paper Example This aspect of the constitution is not reflected in the justice system as various discriminations are observed in the justice system. Gender, age, size, social status, race or ethnicity, residence, and wealth status are some of the main factors that result in inequitable treatment of citizens. Adults are treated differently compared to juveniles, which is in line with the constitution since both parties have different needs. On the other hand, adults should be treated equally with other adults and juveniles treated equally with other juveniles. The age of the juvenile and the intention and gravity of the crime are some factors that should be put into consideration when arrests, arraignment in court and acquittal are done by officers. This paper reviews the role of race and ethnicity in discrimination of juveniles by the justice system. It also aims to draw a line that connects arrests and detention rates and suspects’ races. Juveniles are discussed as they are least represente d in government agencies. Race and ethnicity is seen to play a role in administration of justice in various states despite a fair constitution. Race and ethnicity Race comprises the physical appearance of a person due to inherited genetic make-up of their parents. If one's parents are Caucasian then the physical characteristics of a Caucasian are passed on to them. On the other hand, ethnicity is about the aspects of culture that one learns in the course of life because of living in a certain environment. This makes one acquire behavioral characteristics, beliefs and perceptions of the people around them. Consequently, one may be genetically and phenotypically a Caucasian but not have the cultural characteristics associated with Caucasians. The behavioral tendencies will, therefore, comprise one’s culture. In addition, race is permanent while one can, subject to change in environmental factors, change their ethnicity. It is, therefore, not advisable to conclude one’s e thnicity based on physical appearance alone, other factors must be considered. The concept of race is also becoming fuzzy as these days many children are born of parents from different races and thus their races become harder and harder to determine. For instance, in the US, there are many African Americans who have a white parent; these people are undoubtedly as white as they are black. In addition, these people are born and brought up in the American environment. This means that despite having a mixed parentage, they have the same ethnicity as White Americans and, therefore, skin color, eye color or hair appearance is no basis for treating them differently (DifferenceBetween.net, 2010). Juvenile population The juvenile population, like other components of the American population, is growing consistently and, therefore, it should be taken care of better than current trends reveal. Adequate protection of these young people from discrimination by the legal system should be enhanced. Racial characteristics of the American juvenile population are continually changing. In 2000, people classified as of mixed race accounted for 1.4 percent of the whole population and 2.5 percent of the juvenile population. More interaction between people from different races will result in an increase in the mixed race class. It is, therefore, quite essential that this new race be protected from discriminatio

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Analysis of Article about Binge Drinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Article about Binge Drinking - Essay Example The author explains that college students under the legal age of 21, are drinking large quantities of 'hard liquor', like vodka, in the privacy of dorms and apartments, as a prelude to going out for the evening. This is a new college tradition, dating from the 1990s, a dangerous activity which often results in hospitalization and sometimes, death. He claims that the government made a grave error in legislation which prevents people aged 18-20 from legally consuming alcohol, driving the practice underground, making it attractive as "forbidden fruit". He expresses the belief, founded on experience and research, that if the legal age were lowered to 18, young people would learn to use alcohol sensibly, in an open, mixed-age, social environment, this-this a "saner approach", one which he observed at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Like many young people, I have tried alcohol, mostly just a few beers at first, which I found gave me a pleasant 'buzz', made me laugh and feel more relaxed. But I always stopped at three bottles, it is so fizzy and can make me feel bloated. My friend's older brother usually bought the beer for us, when we first started drinking, and we only ever did it with friends, no adults were around. The boys usually drank a lot, often getting sick, aggressive, bothering us girls too much, and even passing out.   That spoiled the little parties for many of us and made me take care never to get so drunk as to lose control.   Until one weekend,   when my friend's parents were away and she had a party.   There were about 20 of us and it was fun at first, laughing and dancing, drinking beer and eating pizza.   Her brother said we should really try some 'real booze', we were missing out, and so I drank three big glasses of Southern Comfort and lemonade, after having had three beers.   I t tasted fine, I felt good for a while. Suddenly, the room was spinning, voices seemed louder, I kept bumping into people and furniture and finally, I went outside and lay down in the grass.   There was nobody else around me, I was scared and felt awful, the moon seemed huge and the sounds of everything were magnified.  

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Cultural and Teamwork Map and Self Reflection Essay Example for Free

Cultural and Teamwork Map and Self Reflection Essay 1. Introduction and Purpose Sharing of knowledge across the border is becoming very widespread phenomenon. Companies are well aware that hidden in their disperes, global operations is a treasure trove of ideas and capabilities for innovation(Wilson Doz, 2012). Therefore, working with multicultural groups is getting more and more common very rapidly since last decade. However, in global teams, team memebers have different feed back techniques, different uniqueness levels and different communication patterns. People belonging to different cultures have difference in values, geography, ethencity,belief system and lauguage. These difference can lead to cuture clash . In this paper I am writing about where I find myself in a cultural and team work map and my reflections about my placement thereon. I have judged myself with reference to my placement in high and low context  cultures, cultural paradigm , my preffered and performed roles in my team keeping in mind Belbin‘s team roles and my position in Johari window. Purpose of this assignmnet is to judge where I find myself right now in a cutural map in context of team work and to bring improvement in myself if I am away from the normal scale .The actual purpose of this assignment is to save me from cultural clash by giving a chance to get self-awareness and to make us conscious about behaving accordingly for future interactions. Just like these two rivers in the below mentioned picture are merging, people from different cultures should merge the same way. These two rivers have different native base but after merger nobody can find any clash between them. 2. Self-assessment Below mentioned is my self assessment and reflections thereon. 2.1 First impression My first impression on my team members was that I am trust worthy. When asked, they answered that they made this impression from my body laungauage and my tone of voice. I believe that my such impression was made because of my uniqueness levels i.e. personality culture and human natur. After practicaly working with them my group as well as me have assessed that I focused on working collectively as i believe collectivism is the key to group success. 2.2 Assessment with reference to Communication Patterns On the cultural map I find my self as the person who works better in the middle of high and low context. l worked more better after every next team meeting because in meetings we discussed our desired outcome by spoken words and I shared all my ideas and problems with my team. Secondly, I was not fully relying on what was shared among us through emails. But I cannot say that I am just a high conext person because, contrary to high context couumincation patterns, I wanted detailed information about the assignment and I used direct speech during the whole correspondance .It helped me to exchange ideas quickly . Looking further into communication pattern ,I find myself as a person who is more task oriented than people oreinted.I prefer to do work first.Relations are aligned after task completion. In gropu, I only talked about assignment till the work is finished. After submition of assignemnt I discussed my personal things and hobbies with them. My time orientation is ploy cronic. I was working on the assignment as well as I was seeing the others part also. More over, I was comparing my work with the wok done by other groups in the class. I kept on updating the absent team mebers about activities (relevent to assignment) conducted in class through a social network simultaneously. Hence I can say that my communication pattren is neither high context nor low context.Its somewhere in the middle of both. 2.3 Assessment regarding Placement in Belbin’s team roles My preferred team role is team worker. The reason of saying so is that I remain mild and gentle. I like to work in depth but I am not willing to work in pressure and tried to avoid working under stressful situations. I played the role of team worker in practical. We revised the work plans many times  initialy and I accepted that without much resistance which indicates that I am easy to be influenced. I remained mild and friendly. I worked on that part of assignment which required extensive out of the box research and long working hours. My second preference is the role of resource investigator. I always look to find smart opportunites or methods to get work done effectively, efficiently and economically. I performed the role of resource investigator in passive manner in the group. I was enthusiastic in suggesting my fellow colleagues which part of assignment should be done by whom. I also shared few articles with them.I guided one memeber about how he can do his part more accuratly. However I was little over optimistic because we spent alot more hours on assignment then i initially predicted. My third preference was to perform the role of Shaper because I am having tendencies to fit things into frame and strives to get the action start immediately. However I could not execute this role in my group as the assignment work was very dynamic and it was being revised too quickly. Secondly, one of my fellow colleagues was performing this role better than me. My third performed role was of finisher. I proof read the document many times, found the errors and gave ideas to team members to revise few workings. I was not willing to rely on other team members for final proof reading and I was worried for the acuracy of assignment. I focused to create a balance in three roles that I performed in group and tried to avoid overlapping. However team worker was the frequently performed role. 2.4 Johari Window The Johari Window, named after its inventors, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, is a model that provides a dynamic framework for understanding and improving self-awareness. Helping one to become more self-reflective, to learn about oneself, and to become more therapeutic is an exercise in self-awareness(South, 2007). In the context of Johari window, my arena (open area), has increased and I became aware of blind spots. Eventually my hidden areas are disclosed. During the group work, I experienced that my open arena has been gradually broadened and my blind spot has been subsequently decreased after every next working step. 3. Conclusion The combination of roles i.e. two from people oriented frame (resource investigator and team worker) and one from task oriented frame (shaper)  shows that I am not on any of extreme on cutural map. On the culture paradigm, I find myself on the middle, niether too weak nor too strong. I can infer that I am flexible, observant and non-judgmental. l Communicated respect and sake knowledge and understanding. I am in the last stage of confrontation and entring into adjustment phase. I am passing through W-model quickly because of level of education and support from family and network i.e. swede friends.In Johari’s window, my arena has broaden which indicates that I am more self aware after completion of group assignment. Bibliography Wilson, K. Doz, Y.L. (2012). 10 Rules for Managing Global Innovation. Harvard business review, 85 (10), 84-90. South, B. (2007). Combining mandala and the Johari Window: An exercise in self-awareness. Teaching Learning in Nursing,2 (1), 8.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

African American History in the Poems of Langston Hughes Essay

African American History in the Poems of Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was an African American poet who was one of the first black voices to be heard in America. He was distinct among his contemporaries with his writing about the blacks' experiences and history. His pride of his race and history was apparent in most of his works. In his poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" his pride of his history and civilization is apparent by the repetition of the pronoun "I" in most of the lines. He is proud that his roots go back to the ancient civilizations which where associated with the great Rivers of Asia and Africa namely the Euphrates, the Nile and the Congo. Hughes repeats, "I've known rivers" which indicates the connection of black people with the beginning of human history. He also repeats, "My soul has grown deep like the rivers" which suggests the wisdom that is related to rivers; it also suggests that his soul bears the imprint of the sufferings of slavery and racism. The poem implies the whole history of African Americans' slavery without mentioning the word itself. He narrates this history from the beginning of time, when he "bathed in the Euphrates" and "built [his] hut near the Congo" as he was living a normal life. Then he "looked upon the Nile and raised the Pyramids above it", as the building of the Pyramids was the act of slaves. Then "Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans", this precise line implies the blacks' history of slavery in America. It tells of existence of the slavery for a long period in America and of the efforts to abolish it, which ended by the Civil War in 1865 and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation for freeing the slaves. Therefore, it is the history of people who were fr... ... "Dreams". Since dreams are the first step in any act, then black people have to dream in order to gain their freedom which is symbolized here by the" bird". He also hints in the poem at the oppression of white people to blacks. He considers America a "barren field" that is devoid of warm feelings and mercy. This" barren field" is" frozen with snow"; this symbolizes the white people who practise all sorts of oppression on the black race. Thus, it is evident that Langston Hughes in his poetry aimed at sending a message to the audience who most of them were whites. He was telling them about the history and civilization of the African Americans. He was speaking of the blacks' sufferings from slavery, discrimination and racism. He was aiming at showing his pride of his black ancestry and the contributions of the black people to the American civilization. African American History in the Poems of Langston Hughes Essay African American History in the Poems of Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was an African American poet who was one of the first black voices to be heard in America. He was distinct among his contemporaries with his writing about the blacks' experiences and history. His pride of his race and history was apparent in most of his works. In his poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" his pride of his history and civilization is apparent by the repetition of the pronoun "I" in most of the lines. He is proud that his roots go back to the ancient civilizations which where associated with the great Rivers of Asia and Africa namely the Euphrates, the Nile and the Congo. Hughes repeats, "I've known rivers" which indicates the connection of black people with the beginning of human history. He also repeats, "My soul has grown deep like the rivers" which suggests the wisdom that is related to rivers; it also suggests that his soul bears the imprint of the sufferings of slavery and racism. The poem implies the whole history of African Americans' slavery without mentioning the word itself. He narrates this history from the beginning of time, when he "bathed in the Euphrates" and "built [his] hut near the Congo" as he was living a normal life. Then he "looked upon the Nile and raised the Pyramids above it", as the building of the Pyramids was the act of slaves. Then "Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans", this precise line implies the blacks' history of slavery in America. It tells of existence of the slavery for a long period in America and of the efforts to abolish it, which ended by the Civil War in 1865 and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation for freeing the slaves. Therefore, it is the history of people who were fr... ... "Dreams". Since dreams are the first step in any act, then black people have to dream in order to gain their freedom which is symbolized here by the" bird". He also hints in the poem at the oppression of white people to blacks. He considers America a "barren field" that is devoid of warm feelings and mercy. This" barren field" is" frozen with snow"; this symbolizes the white people who practise all sorts of oppression on the black race. Thus, it is evident that Langston Hughes in his poetry aimed at sending a message to the audience who most of them were whites. He was telling them about the history and civilization of the African Americans. He was speaking of the blacks' sufferings from slavery, discrimination and racism. He was aiming at showing his pride of his black ancestry and the contributions of the black people to the American civilization.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Kfar

1. Stimulus generalization transfer a response learned to one stimulus to a similar stimulus. The benefit of stimulus generalization outweighs the disadvantage in strategic marketing. In the market today buyers consider perceptions, needs, product loyalty, age and income when purchasing a product. Stimulus generalization allows the market to offer new products with new benefits into an existing brand name product. Thus consumers can have several options to choose from, but some consumers are confused because there are so many different products.Some consumers like to stick to the same brand, some like to try something new and some will experiment from time to time. The advantage is being able to make new products such as: mouthwash, different flavored toothpaste, whiting strip and many more. Some of the disadvantages it has are so many brands and choices to choose from which consumers are not sure what to buy. It is better that there are so many options, but consumer are not sure wha t products are the best and then they have to purchase the product to find out the results.Normally most people will stick to the products that they are used to buy because they know those are going to satisfy their primary needs. 2. The marketers of Pepsodent and Colgate can decrease consumer confusion regarding toothpastes and related oral hygiene products by distinguishing the difference between the products they offer. For this reason, the identity of a particular product in the line should be made to stand out from the rest. Being that when one brand brings out a new product the other brand brings out a new one that is similar, it is basically a matter of personal choice and what works for that consumer and their situation

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Interpersonal, Group and Collective Behavior Dynamics Essay

Enron is a company that is faced with financial instability but continues to run on dubious dealings including misrepresenting their true financial position (Cohan, 2002). This is done to save the public image of the company hence avoiding the risk of losing investors. American International Group (AIG) is also in a serious financial crisis following cases of mismanagement (FRB, 2009). We shall make a comparison of the group dynamics and internal politics within these two companies. The companies exhibited an element of information blockage. This is holding back adverse news from the public until the last possible moment. This is usually a deliberate act with the aim of maintaining a good public image. It is however followed by lawsuits, hate mails or even death threats from unhappy investors. In Enron’s case, the senior executives withheld any information about financial crisis from the public until it collapsed (Cohan, 2002). AIG maintained a ‘business as usual’ image in the public despite its liquidity issues (FRB, 2009). Motivation to lie or deliberately concealing the truth in an organization was evident in the two companies. The corporate officers do not disclose the truth especially when this truth may put the company into bankruptcy or cost them their jobs. In the case of Enron the lies were inform of hard data, lying about accounting results and a stream of earnings (Williamson, 1970). Questionable accounting practices were meant to hide huge losses that the company suffered. AIG had its share of deliberate lies when it valued its A-A and sub prime property at 1. 7; twice the value used by Lehman. The issue of the board’s oversight function and the business judgment rule is also fairly evident in the two companies he board of directors act as if they are entitled to rely on the honesty and integrity of their subordinates until something wrong happens (Crag & Rebecca, 1996) . The directors of Enron were totally unaware of the severity of the company’s financial crisis until its collapse. A directors were too ignorant of the liquidity problem to the extend of planning for a lavish retreat for themselves. The subordinate managers have persuasive interest in concealing the bad news. This is meant to avoid or delay personal embarrassment and other associated risks such as the likelihood of a price drop in its shares. In Enron, individual executives who decided to hide the dubious partnership feared erosion of status (Cohan, 2002). They felt that they needed to protect both their self and external image. The same case was evident in AIG, where the subordinate managers saw the need for over costing their assets to redeem their image. Overconfidence and optimism is displayed in the two companies by the senior executives especially in press releases. Overconfidence creates a strong image for any company in the eyes of the public. Executives who are overconfident and optimistic are considered to be successful managers. This is because they are able to persuade and influence people even in the face of a crisis. The executives in Enron and AIG were also in the bid of making a name for themselves. Senior executives assured employees would continuously rise even in the event of financial instability in Enron. The chief executive officer in AIG assured investors that they would still get their bonuses even as the company was being bailed out (FRB, 2009). Corporate ‘culture’ cannot be ruled out in the management of the two companies. This refers to the norms of the company which are well known to the management and the subordinate employees. They supersede other business or ethical laws in case of a conflict. Cynism as a corporate culture fosters the breaking of rules as a means to succeed. Ethical rules are under enforced with the focus being to maximize profits. The Enron and AIG were caught up in this culture when they faced a financial crisis. They misrepresented their debts and assets respectively in the company’s sheet so as to reflect high profits and attract investors (Cohan, 2002). All this is done in total disregard for accounting ethics. Myopic information within the organization is also prevalent in the two companies. This might be due to our limited cognitive capabilities but more so because the executives are too busy to deal with abundant data. They prefer sifting this data and extracting only what is relevant. They may also be lacking the skill to analyze and understand the data as was the case of Enron’s former chairman Mr. Kenneth Lay. The directors in AIG and Enron, focused on information that confirmed their prior attitudes of leading institutions in the market. They disregarded any disconfirming information of possible collapse or liquidity issues. This is normally referred to as cognitive dissonance. It is usually difficult to change these beliefs as one is seen as a threat to the company’s status quo. Ms. Watkins, an employee in Enron became such a threat by warning a senior manager of a possible collapse (Cohan, 2002). A chief executive officer’s proposal in AIG was ignored on the same basis (FRB, 2009). Intimidation of subordinate employees by the senior employees is prevalent in Enron but not in AIG. In Enron, investigations against Mr. Andrew a former chief financial officer and other senior officers who were involved in fraud cases did not happen since no one was confident enough to confront them (Cohan, 2002). In AIG the accounting scandal is thoroughly investigated and no one is spared including a former chairman of the board. REFERENCES: Federal Reserve Bank. (2009). History and development of AIG. Retrieved May 26,2009, from http://www. federalbank. orf/history/development. pdf Herbert, A. S. (1955). A behavioral model of rational choice. John, A. C. (2002). †I didn’t know† and â€Å"I was only doing my job†. Has corporate governance careened out of control? A case study of Enron’s information myopia. Journal of Business Ethics, 40 (3),275-299. Paul Z. & Janet A. (1997). The social influence of confidence in group decision making.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Differentiated marketing strategy Essays

Differentiated marketing strategy Essays Differentiated marketing strategy Paper Differentiated marketing strategy Paper Critical evaluation: You need to prove to Sally that your current targeting approach is effective or whether there is a better alternative. Consider what unsatisfied needs may exist in the market that could represent opportunities for your organisation. (3 pages)(10 marks) The BMW 7 series target market is basically a small market with a majority of the customers being senior executives, in the mid 30s to 50s, businessmen or wealthy men. This target market however is by no means small in the eyes of BMW, as they represent the class of customers whom BMW wants to target as they have the capacity to afford prestige automobiles and also have taste for superior class and style. By targeting this group of customers, BMW has to be highly creative and innovative as with higher cost, higher standards are also expected. Even though the size of the targeted market is small, its of high importance to BMW. BMW could easily have adopted a cheaper range of automobiles, but this would not fit well with their customers, whom have come to see BMWs name to be associated with that of prestige and luxury automobile that are substantially expensive but of very elevated quality. This targeted market however can be seen as a growing market, as more customers become keen on having technological enhanced automobiles together with enhanced features that are offered with this 7 series. The new BMW 7 series has been position in the mindset of customers as the being a pleasure to enjoy (appendix 2). Using differentiated marketing strategy we can clearly define the customers for the new 7 series (Kotler, 2001:307). By targeting the segments of senior executives, in the mid 30s to 50s, businessmen or wealthy men, we have defined what range of customers the 7 series would acquire. These would be our target market for the 7 series. We could have easily targeted a larger section of the market, but the 7 series would and might not have appealed to the entire market. Even though the 7 series represents prestige and massive advancements in technologic, it might not be appealing to a working class man, in his 20s. This is because the price of the 7 series might be too high for him and also he might like a sportier looking automobile, which is clearly what the new 7 series is not. BMW could have easily captured this section of the market too, but to make the new 7 series sportier and cheaper might have devastating effects on the original target market. As their original perception of the new 7 series would have been one of prestige and luxury and with a high price without the sporty body. If we were to lower our new 7 series prices, it might lead to a very perceptive view of the image of BMW. As BMW has been known to offer quality automobiles at premium prices. With the launch of the Mercedes-Benz new E-Class, priced at $119, 000, we would have to re-evaluate our 7 series target market to better cope with this new introduction to the automobile market (appendix 4). In terms of features, we are still significantly in the competitive edge, however to better sales and profits we might have to better position our new 7 series to the target market (perceptual map). With the Mercedes-Benz new E-Class automobile being significantly much more lowered priced then our new 7 series, we would need to wait and see if this price for the E-Class is a temporary introductory price or is it here to stay. If it is then we would need to significantly adjust our price range for our new 7 series to compete with the E-Class in terms of pricing. Benefits segmentation would be greatly influential and might draw more customers to the new 7 series (perceptual map). Benefit like the two year warranty and subsequent extension to the warranty with BMW Warranty Plus would add further benefits to our customers. This could and might lead to more loyal customers, which is ultimate better for us. Other benefits include the BMW Roadside Assistance, complimentary car hire and accommodation and the special BMW 1-800 number (www. bmw. com. au). These benefits can significantly facilitate to segment the market into groups according to the different benefits that consumers seek from the product (Kotler, 2001:298). However as I have stated above that the typical customers of the new BMW 7 series are basically senior executives, in the mid 30s to 50s, businessmen or wealthy men, we have disregarded a portion of this targeted market and they are the female executives who have also the same desires and passion shared by their male counterparts. We have to develop new marketing mixes to better position this BMW 7 series into the mindset of these female customers and by gaining them as customer we can have massive improvements to sales and profits. Proper marketing mixes should be done through promotions with famous female personalities that this female executives can related them to. However we have to pay special care and not transform the new 7 series to a femine modeled automobile, as this might lead our current male customers away from us. We got to strike a balance between both the male and female sections of these targeted market. Unsatisfied needs might arise as competitors might come up with better technological automobiles with better features to counter our new 7 series. We could implement strategies to counter this unsatisfied needs with surveys of customers and their perception and thoughts for further improvements on the 7 series. Many gaps can be significantly bridged, as seen in appendix 3, with the idea of personalizing the interior and exterior colours and designs of the new 7 series being one of them (appendix 3). With these surveys and customization we could get insights to the way our customers feel about our 7 series and go about making improvements for the future that would represent opportunities for BMW in terms of sales and profits.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Atomic Weight Definition (Relative Atomic Mass)

Atomic Weight Definition (Relative Atomic Mass) Atomic weight is the average mass of atoms of an element, calculated using the relative abundance of isotopes in a naturally-occurring element. It is the weighted average of the masses of naturally-occurring isotopes. What Is It Based On? Prior to 1961, a unit of atomic weight was based on 1/16th (0.0625) of the weight of an oxygen atom. After this point, the standard was changed to be 1/12th the weight of a carbon-12 atom in its ground state. A carbon-12 atom is assigned 12 atomic mass units. The unit is dimensionless. More Commonly Known as Relative Atomic Mass Atomic mass is used interchangeably with atomic weight, although the two terms dont mean precisely the same thing. Another issue is that weight implies a force exerted in a gravitational field, which would be measured in units of force, like newtons. The term atomic weight has been in use since 1808, so most people dont really care about the issues, but to reduce confusion, atomic weight is more commonly known now as relative atomic mass. Abbreviation The usual abbreviation for atomic weight in texts and references is at wt or at. wt. Examples The atomic mass of carbon is 12.011The atomic mass of hydrogen is 1.0079.The atomic weight of boron samples collected on Earth falls within a range of 10.806 to 10.821. Synthetic Elements For synthetic elements, there is no natural isotope abundance. So, for these elements, the total nucleon count (sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus) is usually cited in the place of the standard atomic weight. The value is given within brackets so that its understood its the nucleon count and not a natural value. Related Terms Atomic Mass - Atomic mass is the mass of an atom or other particle, expressed in unified atomic mass units (u). An atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom. Since the mass of electrons is much smaller than that of protons and neutrons, the atomic mass is nearly identical to the mass number. Atomic mass is denoted with the symbol ma. Relative Isotopic Mass - This is the ratio of the mass of a single atom to the mass of a unified atomic mass unit. This is synonymous with atomic mass. Standard Atomic Weight - This is the expected atomic weight or relative atomic mass of an element sample in the Earths crust and atmosphere. It is an average of relative isotope masses for an element from samples collected all over the Earth, so this value is subject to change as new element sources are discovered.  The standard atomic weight of an element is the value cited for atomic weight on the periodic table.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Strategic Management Analysis on B-777 Aircraft Term Paper

Strategic Management Analysis on B-777 Aircraft - Term Paper Example Boeing 777 business development under Philip Condit is a clear demonstration of a well thought strategic management analysis of the company that helped the Boeing 777 to be an industry leader through large market share. The company through its leadership identified key weaknesses that threatened to collapse the company that included production inefficiencies, high cost of production, delays in delivery among others. This discussion looks at the strategic management of the business in detail. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis involves strategic analysis of both internal and external business environment. Internal business environment is analyzed by looking at the strengths and weakness of a firm while external environment is analyzed through opportunities and threats brought about by forces without the organization. The strengths of the Boeing 777 Aircraft mentioned in the case study are discussed below as follows. One, the company’s decision to involve airline operators across the g lobe who operated earlier versions of Boeing airlines to generate ideas on the new design and customer preferences helped to develop an aircraft that met the needs of the target customers. Decision to outsource key services through subcontracting internationally and within US helped to spread risk reduce time taken to break even. This meant that the company would benefit from comparative advantage of each partner it was working with. In addition, working with various companies across the ground created an opportunity and easy market penetration (Hill and Jones 2009). Strong relationship developed between Philip Condit and the employees (engineers) helped to end the secretive management style. This allowed free flow of information and sharing of new ideas. Acquisition of McDonell Douglas Company in 1997 helped Boeing to become the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of military aircraft thus expanding this market segment as well as eliminating one of its competitors. In fact its main rival was now Airbus Industries which trailed it by sales. The acquisition helped the Boeing to ride on the skills and networks developed by the acquired company. Ability to develop flexible design from the Boeing 777 helped the company to meet orders for cargo, long, medium and short distance travel aircraft without necessarily incurring high design and development costs. Use of the Digital Designs helped to identify errors and overlaps thus improving on efficiency and reducing time taken to deliver an aircraft. In terms of weaknesses that characterized the company, huge development cost initially threatened the survival of the business. It made returns low and the company would take a long time to break even not to mention creation problem of cash flow. Rising costs, declining productivity and delays in delivers in the early 1990s when the Boeing 777 project was being developed was not a positive aspect towards the project. Highly structured management style just bef ore Philip Condit to the scenes would have easily affected idea generation, product development and production. Huge labor force and large capital outlay required to develop the aircraft almost exhausted the company’s income streams. Managing such a large workforce and imparting the necessary skills was going to be a big challenge especially with the then management structure. The fact that Boeing 777 projec

Friday, November 1, 2019

PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE - Essay Example However, the definition of stress from the proponents tends to face a lot of criticism (Passmore, 1967). The second definition of stress from the organism perspective is a set of challenges that human being face. The challenges cause discomfort, anxiety, speculation, and uneasiness among other emotions. When the challenges face people, they must devise ways to overcome them. The evaluation is done in order to determine whether one is capable of solving the issue at hand. When the means of solving the problem are exhausted, and no changes have been made, it results to stress. According to this perspective, stress is the set of forces that originate from the external environment that make life very unbearable for human beings. The forces make it difficult for human beings to cope with the conditions that exist. It causes mental torture and result to hormonal changes that may interfere with the biological functions of the body. The body then becomes exposed to diseases. This kind of stress originates from factors which are beyond the control of individual (Despues, 1999). The process organism perspective definition is the best because it acknowledges that the stress is largely outside the control and influence of a human being and has the potential to have an adverse impact on someone. Sometimes, stress requires anyone to be skilled in knowing how to overcome the stressful situations and position himself strategically in order to survive. Internal factors and external factors are the main causes of stress. Logical positivism definition of stress is only concerned with proving that stress must be determined using measurable parameters. It does not provide the tools that can be used to measure the existence of stress. The proponents of the definition had only the intention of watering down the concepts of believers of metaphysics philosophers. Philosophy branch deals with abstract concepts where theoretical work is being emphasized. The two schools of thoughts