Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Human rights law All Human rights are universal, indivisible and Essay

Human rights law All Human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated. the international community m - Essay Example The United Nations through its charter on human rights seeks to protect the laws that guards and binds the protection and freedom of every human with dignity and individual respect for all, being the hallmark of such laws. We are individuals who live and operate by certain national or international legal order, whether we are Americans, Nigerians, Chinese or British, we possess, to varying degrees which depends on the State within which we exist, rights. These rights, such as the right to existence, and the freedom of speech, right to marriage, freedom from arbitrary detention or the right to free expression oneself, are almost always incorporated into the national Constitutions and legislative Acts of nations. The to which these rights are respected and the preferences of certain these rights over others, largely depends on the nature of the national legal system within which we evolve and develop and operate, thus, regardless of the fact that we live in a democratic, a monarchical or on the other extreme; a repressive and authoritarian State, human rights should always be respected. But many events over the past decades of human existence, has proved that such rights that ought to be respected in most cases, are not. Certain individuals or group of individuals have had their freedom trampled upon by stronger forces within the nucleus of the same or an external society. Many laws meant to discriminate against certain people from certain regional or ethnic locations have being propounded and executed by ruthless states as a means of silencing oppositions. For instance the Grand Holocaust in Germany, carried out by the ruthless Nazi, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, the Iraqi Genocides against the Kurds, the genocide in Bosnia Herzegovina and the Cambodian Genocides, are all acts that openly violated human rights of individuals and peoples of a particular nationality/ethnicity. Other inhuman actions like the imprisonment of Nel son Mandela of South Africa, the Apartheid, Slavery in Africa, the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, the exploitation of sovereign states by the USA and its Western allied, the house arrest of ASSK of Burma etc. are all examples that portray how nations and peoples (stronger elements in society) can trample upon the human rights of weaker elements in society. Some of this atrocities and infringement on the rights of others were carried out internally within a state, while others were carried out by external states or individuals against the people of another society. The big question here is what can individuals do if their rights provided under their national laws are not respected, or if national laws do not safeguard their fundamental human rights at all. Is there an international forum where individuals can turn to and file a complaint against that State? Or against another state? Depending upon the situation at hand? Beginning from the year 1945, the United Nations became active in f ormulating and implementing policies that will ensure the protection of human rights of every human being all over the world. They have set up many instruments for protecting Human Rights after 1945. Article 1 of 1948 UN Charter states that2 â€Å"

Monday, October 28, 2019

A Rose for Emily Essay Example for Free

A Rose for Emily Essay Decay is found in numerous parts of â€Å"A Rose for Emily†. The image pattern works its way from Emily’s mind to the inside of her lover, Homer Barron’s, resting chamber. In â€Å"A Rose for Emily† you find five major elements of decay. The first element of decay that is found in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is the decaying of Emily’s mental state. Emily may have felt trapped because her father wouldn’t allow any male suitors to visit her, so when her father died she likely felt she should trap his body and not bury it as revenge because he wasted her youthful potential for love and an independent life. Emily’s denial of her father’s death expands the theme of death because she traps herself home unwilling to allow the change of death to affect her lifestyle. Another element of decay that is found in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is after the death of her father Emily allows the house to decay and become an eyesore, as the town’s people described it. Not only did the school look decrepit in a town that was embracing modernization but it also reeked of death and decay as well. Emily didn’t accept the theme of change because she seemed to live comfortably in the decay. She also wouldn’t accept the town’s people’s wants to modernize how the town looked by putting numbers above her door. Since Emily was living in a standstill in the period in which she grew up in, she never changed the interior of her house so she left all the furniture that was at one time very sophisticated go to waste and decay (Teen Ink). After her father and lover’s death, Emily let the decay continue to take its toll on her life by allowing her physical condition to decay. Emily at one time was one of the most sought after women with her slender body, angelic features, and her white attire. When she let the decay take over her personal hygiene and physical appearance she had traded in all those great looks for a heavy set figure, her dark eyes, and her grim black attire. When Emily let her physical appearance go she also enhanced the theme of decay and how time changes the body. Not only does the element of decay take over Emily’s mind, house, and body, it also deteriorates her social standing in the town. Town’s people once viewed her as a promising woman who would surely succeed in the future. Now she was thought of as a crazy suicidal woman (Teen Ink). In her reality Emily remains proud and doesn’t recognize the fact that she has fallen from the aristocratic social status that she once was in before the death of her father. This element of decay helps expand the theme into a fall from a notable social standing or rank of power. The last and major climatic element of decay was after Emily’s funeral the town’s people opened the abandoned room in the middle of the house and found the remnants of her lover in bed. She had clearly been lying beside Homer Barron’s corpse for thirty years due to the evidence of the long strand of iron gray hair found on the pillow beside his (Faulkner). The decay isn’t just upon poor Homer Barron but is also noted on everything in the room. The town’s people see the effects of decay in the rose colored room with dust blanketing everything and the tarnishing of the monograms on the silver toiletries placed in the room that appeared to be suited for a bridal suite as if it were an eerie dream. This element of decay enhanced the theme of Emily’s sad tragic life. There is also a surprising twist in this short story that would make any reader curious. The Negro servant, Tobe is the only one to escape the house of decay unscathed. As quoted by Faulkner, â€Å"He walked through the house and out the back and was not seen again†. After being trapped into servitude to Emily’s family for the majority of his life, he escapes the house of decay and goes on to live his life free of Emily and all her secrets. All the present elements of decay in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† show that the theme isn’t simply limited to that of change or death but it is very broad and can be interpreted and perceived in many ways according to the reader’s thoughts and views. Faulkner plays the element of sweet, sickening decay in every aspect of this short story to enhance each theme. Emily Grierson’s comfort in decay grew when her father passed and ultimately lead to the demise of her home, her mind, her body, as well as the demise of her lover Homer Barron.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Leslie Marmon Silkos Lullaby, Storyteller, and Yellow Woman Essay exam

Leslie Marmon Silko's Lullaby, Storyteller, and Yellow Woman Leslie Marmon Silko?s work is set apart due to her Native American Heritage. She writes through ?Indian eyes? which makes her stories very different from others. Silko is a Pueblo Indian and was educated in one of the governments? BIA schools. She knows the culture of the white man, which is not uncommon for modern American Indians. Her work is powerful and educating at the same time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this paper, I will discuss three different works by Silko (Lullaby, Storyteller, and Yellow Woman). Each of the stories will be discussed according to plot, style, and social significance. After that, I will relate Silko?s work to other literary genies and analyze her work as a whole. ?Lullaby';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main character in this story is a woman named Ayah. Ayah is a Native American who lives in a shack with her husband and two children. She is not very close to her husband, (Chato), but she is very loyal to him. This is the way of a Navajo Woman, being loyal to your husband and family. Chato was a well-spoken man who spoke both English and Spanish in addition to his native language. The worst thing that happened to Ayah was the loss of her two children to the welfare board. They were either sick or she wasn?t providing for them. She wasn?t taking care of them in a way that pleased the whites; however, she raised her children beautifully in the Native American tradition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ?Lullaby'; is full of Native Ame...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Promoting Molly’s health and wellbeing Essay

The purpose of this essay will to be to promote Molly’s health and wellbeing through evidence based theory and practice (Refer to appendix 1 for Molly scenario). Molly has various health needs that necessitate the need for health promotion such as the risk of postnatal depression. However, for the purpose of this essay, the focus will be her type 2 diabetes health need. There are several bio-psychosocial factors that contribute to Molly’s health and wellbeing such as genes, stress and low income. The interventions that are designed to promote Molly’s health and wellbeing will include education and empowerment . These will address Molly’s determinants of health by using appropriate models and approaches to provide realistic and practical suggestions to Molly. The rationale upon promoting Molly’s diabetic health need is due to the fact that, type 2 diabetes can cause severe complications such as retinopathy, kidney failure and cardiovascular disease. What is more, type 2 diabetes continues to increase in the United Kingdom and it is estimated to affect more than 5 million people by 2015 (NHS choices 2013) Historic overview of health promotion was first highlighted by Florence Nightingale (1860) who noted the biomedical care given to patients and suggested the need to provide holistic patient centred care to patients (Piper 2010). Notably, she recognized the importance of environmental factors such as cleanliness and nutrition to promote the health of patients (Piper 2009). Health promotion is a plethora of contested definitions. Therefore, over the years there have been considerable attempts to define this concept. For (WHO 1986) Ottawa Charter, health promotion is defined as a process of educating and empowering people to make healthier choices (Hubley et al 2013). This definition implies that, health promotion is a holistic concept that emphasizes on the physical, social and mental wellbeing (Piper 2010) The nurse is the health professional that will be involved in promoting Molly’s health and wellbeing through evidence based theory and practice in addition to using various models and approaches (Piper 2009). This strategy will enable Molly and the nurse to individually and holistically express themselves, develop innovative plans suited to Molly’s health needs and promote effective communication between Molly and  the nurse (Bowden and Manning 2006). Communication is an important principle in health promotion as not only does it underpin the basis of holistic care given to patients but it also builds therapeutic relationships between the nurse and the patient (Bowden 2006). Communication is a fundamental concept in nursing that is defined as a skill of information sharing between the patient and other health professionals (Yulli et al 2011). In these circumstances, the nurse will communicate with Molly through various modes of communication which will include verbal, non-verbal and written communication. She will discuss with Molly on shared values and beliefs that is relevant to Molly’s health needs. Most important, communication in Molly’s case will go beyond information sharing to involving Molly in her own care by supporting her to make positive healthier choices in her life (Hubley 2013). Significantly, the nurse will adhere to ethical principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice (Whitewood 2010). There are several bio bio-psychosocial factors that contribute to the health and wellbeing of Molly. These factors can be well understood by using the bio-psychosocial model. This is holistic model that combines major determinants of health such as social economic status, biological status and psychological status to give a holistic view of an individual mental, physical and social wellbeing (Baxter 2010). The biological factors that contribute to Molly diabetic health need are her genetic susceptibility due to her family history (NHS choices2013). Her unborn child is also at a risk of inheriting the illness from her mother. Type 2 diabetes tends to run in families largely due to similar unhealthy lifestyle (Bowden and Manning 2006). Whereas Molly might have inherited type 2 diabetes from her parents, the development of this illness is also influenced by lifestyle choices (NHS choices 2013). Psychologically, Molly is at the risk of suffering from postnatal depression and stress due t o physical demands of work and taking care of her family. This can consequently lead to mental illnesses (Hobart and Frankel 2009). Psychological illnesses can affect Molly’s ability to self-manage her blood glucose. Apart from this, psychological instability can cause Molly to lose control of her diabetes with fatal consequences (NHS choices 2013). Molly is on a low social economic status as she is only able to work part time. Green  and Tones (2010) contends that, low income limits access to nutritional food and housing which can consequently lead to poor physical health and social exclusion. Furthermore, Hill et al 2013 s proposes that, type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects people with limited resources. Perhaps this is because, low income earners are more likely to indulge in unhealthy damaging behaviours such as eating unhealthy food and lack of physical activity (Hubley 2013). If this were the case, Molly might not able buy healthy food or accesses those activities that address her health needs such as the gym and other social networks in her community. All these factors might hinder positive health outcomes. According to (WHO 1986), health is defined as not only an absence of diseases but also a complete state of physical and mental wellbeing. In order to promote Molly’s health, a holistic approach is needed to address the bio-psychosocial the factors that affect her health and wellbeing. Therefore, various activities need to be undertaken by using appropriate theoretical approaches and models. Initially, the nurse should ensure that, Molly’s basic needs are meet first before moving up to the higher needs. Maslow (1943) proposed that, humans have hierarchies of needs. He believed that, needs such as food and water are meet first before reaching the level of self-actualisation (Hubley2013). Having previously identified that Molly is on a low income which can affect her ability to access healthy food. The health promotion priority will be then to address this need before moving on to the other higher needs. The nurse should advice Molly on the help that is available for her to increase her earnings . For example, Molly would benefit from extended school that offer childcare and family support services (Larkin 2009). The importance of childcare would be that, Molly will be able to work more hours bringing in some extra income for her family. Consequently, she will be able to buy healthy food and engage in activities such as swimming or going to the gym. Significantly, this would reduce her risk of social exclusion and diabetes related complications (NHS choices 2013). However, it is important that Molly believes that, her positive health behaviours will prevent complications and help acquire good quality of life. This will influence  Molly’s willingness to take action (Yulli 2010). According to Health belief model by Rosenstock (1966), Molly will only take positive action if she believes that, she is susceptible to serious illnesses, believes that her type 2 diabetes is serious and believes that her positive actions will avoid the negative consequences of diabetes ( Yulli 2010). For instance, by doing physical activities it reduces her chance of her being obese and consequently reducing her risk the of cardiovascular diseases or even death (Coyle 2013). The Health belief model is useful in promoting Molly’s diabetic health need. This is because it organises the patients health status, views and points out the factors that that determines whether the patient will change their behaviour. Furthermore it provides a useful checklist that points out the issues that need to be addressed and the patient’s motivation to change their health ( Yuill et al 2010). Nevertheless, the Health belief model has not escaped criticism due to its individualistic way and ignores social influences (Hubley 2013). For example, Molly low income status may influence her decision of whether or not she eats healthy food. Furthermore, it does not address psychological factors such as fear and denial that greatly influences human ability to take positive action towards their health (Hubley 2013) . For instance, Molly’s ability to engage in physical activities may be affected her pregnancy, emotions and social influences such as family and friends. Another activity that to be undertaken to promote Molly’s health is encouraging Molly to learn from positive role models that will motivate her to positively regulate her behaviour and reflect on her actions (Green 2010). This can be learning from her family, friends or other people who have type 2diabetes but have successfully managed their diabetes through positive attitudes, behaviours and treatments. According Social learning theory by Bandura (1986), people actions are influenced by observing the behaviour of other people. He argued that, this promotes people self-esteem that in turn drives them to make positive changes (Green 2010). In these circumstances, the social learning theory is equally important in promoting Molly’s diabetic health need because it addresses the concept of self-esteem. This is a key part of resisting negative influences and promotes self-efficacy and locus of control to do what is right by her health (Amdam 2012). Social learning theory importance should not be  underestimated as it recognizes that, individuals do not exist in isolation (Amdam 2012). Despite this, it is criticised by biological theorists for its rejection of biological factors such as genes. Moreover, the biologist model challenges the social learning flawed assumption that, behaviours are learnt by contending that, behaviours are inherited but not learnt (Gyenscuico 2011). Education is another activity that needs to be undertaken in order to promote Molly’s diabetic health need. The aim of education will be to teach Molly on self-management skills and to improve Molly’s knowledge on diabetic care (Bowden and Manning 2006). The nurse will use health educational model to modify Molly’s behaviour and actions through providing value-laden facts and information about type 2 diabetes . This may be done by giving Molly leaflets about type 2 diabetes, teaching Molly on how to control and monitor her glucose levels (Bowden and Manning 2006). According to education approach, if Molly have the necessary knowledge on diabetes, she is more likely to make positive decisions (Lawrence et al 2009). For Instance, by teaching Molly how her blood glucose is affected by food and exercise, she is more likely to eat more healthier food and be active in order to keep her blood glucose stable (NHS 2012). One cannot ignore that education model is evidence based and not only does it educate the patient but it also gives skills to the patient. However, this model fails to consider environmental, psychological and economic constraints which affect individual’s ability to make choices (Lawrence et al 2009). Another limitation of this model is its simplistic view of cost-benefit analysis. It assumes that, if Molly is given the knowledge she will accept it unconditionally, weigh up the cost and then make a positive health choices for her best interest (Bowden and Manning 2006). What is more, its deterministic view point that, education is a must does and its top down approach does not give Molly much free will to make her own choices which the self-empowerment does (Bowden and Manning). The empowerment model gives the patient the free will through it advocacy of the individual concept of locus of control and self-efficacy to take control of their own health (Lawrence et al 2013). Thi s model links to the activity of empowerment which is another activity that needs to be undertaken in in order to promote Molly’s health and well being . This will be through Molly  participating and taking part in all areas of decision making (Piper 2009). This model shifts the balance of power from the health professionals to the patient (Piper 2010). The empowerment model bottom up approach is a vital factor in empowering the patient (Bowden and Manning 2006). The empowerment will mean that , Molly is acknowledged as being a part of her health promotion and she will work alongside the nurse and other multi-agency teams involved in her own care (Yulli et al 2010). Perhaps this might raise her confidence and influence her ability to make healthier choices by taking responsibilities on her type 2 diabetes management (Hanlon et al 2012). The advantage of using the self-empowerment model in Molly’s scenario will be that, Molly will gain more control of her life and confidence to move towards healthier existence (Hanlon 2012). However, it fails to consider influences of power that may prevent Molly from making healthier choices (Hanlon 2012). For example, Molly’s husband might influence her ability to make choices. Moreover, it does not address social economic factors such as low income that can mean that, Molly’s primacies may be at odd with the priorities of the health promoting professionals (Bowden and manning 2006). Finally, its acknowledgment of the self-determination means that, Molly might exercise her free will and choose unhealthy eating behaviours that might place her at risk or even death (Dean and Irvine 2010) One cannot ignore the benefits of health promotion in Molly’s scenario is a useful tool to educate, motivate and empower Molly to make positive changes towards her health. However, health promotion can be problematic at times. This is due to the dangerous assumptions of the health promoters focus on health issues ignoring that, people have various motives to change their behaviours and health might not be one of them (Scrive 2010). For instance, for Molly diabetic health need might not be her prime motivator to change her lifestyle. Another criticism of health promotion is the ever changing health advice for patients due to research that is always finding new evidence (Amdam 2011). In these circumstances, patients have barely enough time try one treatment or advice before th ey can adapt to another. This affects the efficacy of health promotion (Scriven 2010). Evidently, the media contradicts the health promotion advice which is based on facts due to its focus on controversy rather than facts which can be confusing for the patients (Amdam 2011). Furthermore, the health promotion in Molly’s scenario  raises this question. If Molly decides not to change, does it mean that the health promotion in her case has failed? The challenges of effective health promotion require actions at all levels starting at an individual, community and at a government level (Scriven 2011). Therefore, to successfully, promote the health of an individual, it is necessary to have an approach that combines all these levels together as they all influence the effectiveness of health promotion ( Amdam 2011). To conclude, health promotion is defined as a process of educating and empowering people to make healthier choices. Molly’s health is influenced by various determinants of health that are linked to her social, biological and environmental conditions. The health promotion emphasis is to tackle such determinants of health through evidence based practices that combines various theories and approaches. These theories and approaches are tied up with practical activities that are aimed at changing Molly’s lifestyle and behaviour to promote her health. The importance of health promotion should not be underestimated at it educates and empowers the patients to make positive actions towards their health. Nevertheless, health promotion is plagued with challenges such as contradicting health advice that affects the efficacy of health promotion. These challenges affect the most vulnerable people such as Molly. It is therefore important that the health promoters recognizes these difficulties and address them accordingly. Finally, it is recommended that, future health promotion professionals address the deficit of the lack of an approach that tackles health promotion at an individual, community, government level to ensure the effectiveness of health promotion. Referencing Amdam, R. (2011) Planning in health promotion work. Oxfordshire: Routledge. Baxter, M. Health (2010). 2nd ed. Cornwall: Polity press. Bowden, J. and Manning, V. (2006) Health promotion in Midwifery. 2nd ed. London: Edward Arnold Ltd. Ghensucico, B. (2011) Critic on Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. Dawsonera [Online]. Available at: http://dawsonera.com [Accessed: 25 January 2014] Green, J. and Tones, K. (2010) Health promotion planning and strategies. 2nd ed. London: Sage Publication Ltd. Hanlon, P. Carlisle, S. Hannah, M. and Lyon, A. ((2012) The future public health London: Open University Press. Hobart , C., Frankel. J. (2009) Safeguarding children . 3rd ed. Cheltenham: Thornes Ltd. Hubley, J. Copeman, J. and Woodall, J. (2013) Practical health promotion. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Polity Press. Larkin, M. (2009) Vulnerable groups in health and social care. Dawsonera [Online]. Available at: http://dawsonera.com [Accessed: 30 March 2014] Needle, JJ. Petchey, RP. Benson, J. Scriven, A. Lawrenson, J. and Hilari, K.(2011) The allied health professions and health promotion: [Systematic review] Cochrane

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

AP Essay: Maria W. Stewart Essay

The Great Missippi In the passage â€Å"Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927† the author John M. Barry describes elaborately the functions and complexity of the Mississippi River. The author wants to inform the reader about the fascinating characteristic the Mississippi River offers, through a descriptive and informative passage. The author’s fascination of the river is incredible due to the simple, solid facts that are stated. Throughout the passage the author uses many rhetorical devices to amplify his message such as diction, vivid imagery, and simile. The author uses a series of rhetorical devices in the passage such as asyndeton to help communicate his fascination of rivers to the reader. An example of this is â€Å"It generates its own internal forces through its size, its sediment load, its depth, variations in its bottom, its ability to cave in the riverbank and slide sideways for miles, and even tidal influences†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (20-23). This example is very useful to our understanding of rivers because it’s very detailed and rich in in facts. Another rhetorical device the author uses in the passage is the usage of similes. A clear example of this is â€Å"Rather, it moves south in layers and whorls, like an uncoiling rope made up of a multitude of discrete fibers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (36-38). This is a very interesting example of a simile, simply because it compares two things with very descriptive words and because it gives the reader a more concrete understanding of the rivers strength. It also makes the reader become more engaged and interested to the passage. The last rhetorical device in the passage is the use of vivid imagery. The author uses this powerful device in the passage to amplify and captivate the reader. An example of this is â€Å"Humphreys observed an eddy, running upstream at seven miles an hour and extending half across the river, whirling and foaming†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (47-49). This example helps the reader emphasize the rivers complexity and.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

There Ought to be a Law essays

There Ought to be a Law essays THERE was an interesting article in our Metro section last week. That was the one that said movie fans might no longer see Vilma Santos and Lito Lapid on the silver screen. Not unless they want to give up being mayor of Lipa City and governor of Pampanga province, respectively. Apparently, there's a provision in the Local Government Code that says mayors and governors "are prohibited from practicing their profession or engaging in any occupation other than the exercise of their functions as local chief executives." But for this to happen, the group that has raised this issue must first win its case in court. Happily, that group, the Social Justice Society, is composed mostly of lawyers. They have cited Joey Lina as respondent for allowing Santos and Lapid to appear in movies. I'm rooting for them. I've been arguing this for a long time now, and for all categories of public officials. The usual justification for senators in particular the Senate now having the dubious distinction of harboring the biggest number of fugitives from the silver screen, the hard court and television is that there is no law against it. Well, at the very least, there is no law against people defecating in public too. Or at least there is no law specifically citing it, though there's one reproaching, and penalizing, scandalous behavior. There is no (explicit) law against it because none is needed. It is common sense. You do not normally expect anyone to relieve himself gleefully, or disconsolately, against the wall. As it turns out, however, there is a law against public officials doing sidelines. If there's a prescription against local government officials reverting to their previous roles, in more ways than one, there should be one as well against national officials doing so. The principle applies equally, if not more so, to them. The principle applies as well to senators and congressmen who continue to host shows on television or do c ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

A Foolproof Way to Write a Press Release (with Samples)

A Foolproof Way to Write a Press Release (with Samples) Whether you are announcing a new product or novel, improving your brand or author image, or looking for search engine optimization, a press release is a great way to achieve these aims and more. What once was simply a way to communicate a message to journalists has become something with a far greater reach- a viral reach, in fact- and can be used to jumpstart your brand, business, or novel marketing. Using a simple inverted pyramid style of writing, the press release offers a way to advertise everything from an event to a new product to publication of a book, and theres a foolproof method to write it. If youre looking for that method, youve come to the right place.What is the point of a press release?If were going to discuss method- we should first discuss purpose. Before the growth of Internet marketing, press releases were sent to journalists to obtain media coverage. In keeping with the rules of journalism, the style was focused on sharing the news quickly and effectively via head line strength and a powerful lede, otherwise known as an opening paragraph and hook.Now, this purpose has evolved into a highly effective way to distribute information online- through company websites, email campaigns, social media, or press release publishing platforms- and achieve SEO (search engine optimization) goals for an organization, brand, or author. This results in a compact, power-packed punch of information dissemination that reaches audiences in the most succinct way possible.In essence, a press release now has viral possibilities. What once was limited to a shot-in-the-dark attempt to catch a journalists attention is now a medium offering great potential in landing a website in top spots for search engine results and building brand identity, whether for an author or a business.A press release offers viral marketing possibilities for your brand, business, or book. Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels.How do I make the most of a press release?In consideration of the mu ltiple aims that a press release can now achieve, its time to rethink what should go into one in the planning and writing stages. Ideas like readability, keywords and effective headlines- although always a part of writing an effective press release- are even more pertinent now.This means that if you have an hour to plan and write a press release, a large percentage of that time (20 minutes, at least) should go into determining a catchy headline and the right keywords to be included. While its impossible to cover this topic in depth for the scope of this article, you can learn more about creating a compelling headline by reading this piece about writing headlines that increase online traffic potential.You can also run several headline possibilities through this headline analyzer, although there are a few steps youll have to go through (entering your name, email address, and company information) to get a readout. The readout you receive, however, is a great breakdown of important aspe cts of your headline, such as the emotional appeal, power words, and generic word choice youve used. Youll also receive a score on the headline youve chosen and be offered instructions regarding how to tweak it to get a higher score.What are the components of a press release?Beyond a catchy headline with important keywords included, the other components of a press release are:Contact information for media to get in touch with youThe city and state where this news is happeningBody copy, ordered by level of importanceBoiler Plate with information about your organization or brand. If youre unsure of how to write the boilerplate for your business or author brand, this website offers several great examples to guide you through the process of writing it. Basically, your boilerplate should include the following details:The name of your organizationYour mission statementFounding dates (if applicable)Company size (if applicable)A brief statement on what your organization is doing today to fu lfill the ideas in your mission statementThe outline of a press release is simple. This graphic from CoSchedule is a great resource to use to make sure you are following the correct format and including all necessary elements when planning and writing your press release. As you can see from the graphic, the outline you should use is:HeadlineStatement of For Immediate Release and date of publicationPress contact information, including contact name, email and phone number (if applicable)Summary bullet pointsAn introductory paragraph (otherwise known as the lede), including a hook and the who, what, when, where, and why of your content.A second (and possibly third) paragraph offering additional information that supports your lede.The boilerplate of your organization or brand.So how do I write a great introductory paragraph/lede?As youll see from the graphic mentioned above, following the summary points of a press release, the introductory paragraph is the most important part of the con tent youll provide. If youve ever heard of the inverted pyramid strategy of writing, a press release follows it precisely, with the most important information at the beginning of the copy.Who, what, when, where, and whyThis means that the basic details of your press release- who, what, when, where, and why- should be all included in the first paragraph. You should write this paragraph assuming that your reader will read it alone, and none of the paragraphs that will follow. In journalists terms, this paragraph is called a lede, and is meant to entice the reader to read further. In other words- out of the three or more paragraphs you write in your press release, this one should get the most attention.In the lede, you should include the following aspects of your story:Who is the story about?What is happening?Where is it taking place?When will it take place?Why is it important?Follow these five Ws with a hook, which is a sentence informing the reader why they should be interested in th is event. All of these together will be the first paragraph of your press release.What about the other paragraphs?If youre following the inverted pyramid format mentioned earlier, the second and additional paragraphs of your press release are simply additional information to offer your reader about the five Ws. This is the part where youll want to include quotes from important people involved with the project, product, or campaign. If you are writing a press release for a book that youre publishing, youll want to include your own quotes in these paragraphs, while writing the rest of the release in third-person point of view.Its important to keep in mind that any quotes used in this part of the press release should be beneficial for the reader. In other words, any quotes that you use should offer more detail for anyone interested in learning more about the focus of the press release, including insider information about the product or service being offered. You should use these paragr aphs to tell your reader what they can gain from what youre advertising, rather than just random details about the speakers background or experience.How do I write a press release for a book?If youre writing a press release for a book, youll want to follow most of the same guidelines mentioned above. If youre using the press release for SEO purposes or simply as a viral marketing technique on social media, following the steps Ive mentioned above will get the job done. Just keep in mind that the 5 Ws- who, what, when, where, and why- might take on additional meaning in this context. Specifically, if youre writing the press release to announce a book signing, youll need to include the details related to that book signing in the introductory paragraph.A press release should include the details related to an event, specifically who, what, when, where, and why. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.However, in the case of a press release related to a novel, its important to also include details abo ut the book itself- thus, the second set of 5 Ws. In the second paragraph, immediately following the introductory one stating the details of the actual signing event, youll want to clue readers in on the summary of the book. This might include its genre, main characters, setting, and a brief one- to two-sentence summation of the plot of the book.Other things you might want to include within a press release for a book signing or publication date include:Interesting details about the author or the authors storyAny award or recognition that the book has wonAny endorsement that a celebrity or well-known person has given for the bookAny buzzwords that might attract a certain audience to your book, i.e., millennials, working mothers, or spirituality.This article goes into more detail about specific points to focus on when writing a press release for a book and/or book signing event.Sample press releasesAs promised, here are some sample press releases written across a variety of industries .GameStop Announces Limited Supply of Nintendo Switch SystemsApple Expands Global Recycling ProgramsVail Resorts Acquire Stowe Mountain ResortA sparkling romantic comedy about one womans decision to tinker with the horoscopes of the (Aquarian) man of her dreams- with far-reaching consequences*.*Notice that on the author press release, the bulleted summary quotes are reviewer quotes, while the who, what, when, where, and why are all information about the books plot. This is because the purpose of the press release is to announce the book itself, rather than a signing or event surrounding the book.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

If You Love The Headline Analyzer, Just Wait Until You See This... Think #Social Media

If You Love The Headline Analyzer, Just Wait Until You See This... Think #Social Media Repeat what you know works. ^^^ Thats p-r-e-t-t-t-t-y good advice. And we know you LOVE the Headline Analyzer to help you optimize your content titles to get more traffic, higher search engine rankings, and more social shares. So YOU are getting a brand new FREE tool to help you get BIGGER results from your social media marketing! Its the Social Message  Optimizer. And it will help you boost your social media engagement for every message you write (and its 100% backed by REAL- and never-before-seen, proprietary- data)! When you use the Social Message  Optimizer, youll Stop guessing!  Learning + remembering the mechanics/best practices to write amazing messages for every social network is overwhelming  (to say the least). With the Social Message  Optimizer,  you have a clear starting point! Write your message, review how it will perform in every social network, and optimize it for each network  based on real data. Get immediate feedback to improve fast. Sometimes you just need to bounce ideas off someone to improve your work.  The Social Message  Optimizer is your expert social media consultant that is always available to help you A/B test + enhance your shares before you post them. Boost your engagement!  Capture more eyeballs with your messages to get even more likes, comments, shares, and link clicks than you do today. Optimize your messages according to social network best practices backed by science to increase your reach. I am envisioning you look like this right now: ^^^ And that is pretty much what I look like as Im writing this post, too, btw (so you are in good company)! Who knows you may even get private access to an exclusive pre-launch  period with the Social Message  Optimizer before it launches to the public. Now that that is out of the way What Exactly Is The Social Message  Optimizer? Its a tool that will help you  get more engagement from your social media messages. Step 1: Type your social media message into the Social Message  Optimizer and hit Score My Message! Step 2: Review your messages performance on each social network. Step 3: Follow the prompts from the Social Message  Optimizer to  improve your messages score for each network. Step 4: Get more likes, comments, shares, and link clicks for every social media message you schedule.  Ã°Å¸â„¢Å' Why Should You Use (AKA Be Super Excited About) The Social Message  Optimizer? The Social Message  Optimizer is backed by data from  6,399,322 of the top social media messages sent through . Yep. ^^ Thats kinda crazy. The question we aimed to answer with the study: What are the mechanics behind the most engaging social media messages? Because Engagement is a huge word in social media marketing these days. Sharing engaging content helps you build a loyal social media following. So†¦ how can you do that? Use the free Social Message  Optimizer from your friends at . 😉 It’s like having a data-driven social media consultant at your fingertips to help you optimize your shares. The Social Message  Optimizer analyzes your Message type: Should you use link, image, video, or text?  You may be surprised  about the messages that tend to get the most engagement on the specific social networks. Characters: How long should your social media message be? There is an ideal length for maximum engagement on every  network. Hashtags: How many hashtags should you use? Some networks do best with zero whereas others require a few. Emojis: Should you use emojis in your message? And if so, how many? Sentiment: Is your message positive or negative? Pull on those emotional heartstrings to get even more engagement. and it gives you a score for every social network. Your goal is to get a score of 70 or higher. So now youll  forget the overwhelming process of trying to remember all the mechanics/best practices behind writing amazing social media messages. You’ll get immediate feedback from the Social Message  Optimizer to improve fast. And all of that will boost your engagement. Imagine way more likes, comments, shares, and link clicks.  Youll easily optimize your messages to increase your reach on every network. When Will  The Social Message  Optimizer Launch? The Social Message  Optimizer is scheduled to launch in May 2017. That is subject to change, so you should stay tuned. Again, you can subscribe to this special email list to get updates and be the first to know when the Social Message  Optimizer is  live

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Retail Market Analysis Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Retail Market Analysis - Coursework Example It has been observed that the retail industry of the United Kingdom is going to expand in size by around 15% in the coming 5 years. A value of around 312 billion pounds may be attained by the United Kingdom. Source: www.cbi.org.uk/.../10%2007%2026%20DTS%20NACE%20note%20final. pdf The retail sector of the United Kingdom has a value of 8% of the total gross domestic product of the country. The different retail industries in the United Kingdom have developed immensely in all areas such as home wear, health and beauty retail industry, electrical goods, garments industry, e-retail, furniture and floor coverings and other such types of retail sectors. Northern Ireland is one of the regions where tremendous amount of retail growth has been observed. Vancouver Trading Incorporated is planning to start its retail operations in the United Kingdom in the industry of white goods. This report is an overall analysis and advice of the level of retail of white goods in the United Kingdom. ... ng to invest their purchases on white goods, the consumer behavior aspects are also discussed and following this the advice is given to Vancouver Trading Incorporated for making their investments in the United Kingdom retail market of white goods. Retail trends over recent years In the white goods retail industry, the home appliances and the dishwashers are the main products that have a high share and high value of the total market of the white goods industry. The economical and social state of the United Kingdom is extremely important factors as they may directly impact the white goods retail industry in the market. The demand for white goods is directly related to the housing market of the United Kingdom. The more the consumers plan to shift in houses the more the market will increase for the white goods as many household appliances are needed for doing different chores of the house. The housing market and economical state affect the consumer purchasing power of white goods. If cus tomer’s purchasing power is low then they may opt for cheaper goods and also the white good products will be bought more if there are more people moving into the houses where there is a requirement for white goods. Moving in houses tend to trigger the need and requirement for different types of household products and appliances. The movement into houses can include the category of moving into a house the first time or by replacing the houses and therefore would require a replacement in the white goods products. If the value in growth becomes difficult to achieve then it may highly difficult to attain growth in volume of white goods products. The potential growth areas of the white goods retail industry is in the Central Europe and the Eastern Europe. The population in these areas is above

The Positive and Negative Effects of Confucianism in East Asian Essay - 1

The Positive and Negative Effects of Confucianism in East Asian Cultures - Essay Example This report stresses that the philosophy of Confucianism was practiced in many cultures and countries in East Asia like China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea Vietnam and various Chinese occupied territories like Singapore. China however, was the birthplace of Confucianism. It was came into being from the sixth century to the third century B.C., an age described as "The Age of Philosophers". Eventually during 141 to 87 BC, it was declared as a state philosophy by the Emperor Wu of Han. Confucianism in Japan began at a time when â€Å"Confucianism† was quite different from what it is today. During the long years from the fall of the Latter Han dynasty in 220 CE through the Tang (618–907), the classics esteemed by Confucius remained an important part for those who exercised authority over others. This paper declares that the nations of East Asia constitute a part of the fastest growing economy in the world. In the past 30 years, 3 smalls East Asian nations – South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have exhibited phenomenal economic growth which now rivals that of Japan’s. These countries are now ranked as having the world most successful economies. The explanation for this boom in the economic systems can be dedicated to the fact that Confucian values form an ethical thread across the East Asia nations. The philosophy of Confucianism is dictates a harmonious collective social order. This in turn ensures absolute loyalty and obedience to authority from the subordinates.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Intergrating Cases (BMW's dream factory and Culture) Essay

Intergrating Cases (BMW's dream factory and Culture) - Essay Example Schein (2004:20) states that an occupation involving intense period of education and training, shared learning of attitudes, norms and values will be assumed to be taken for granted for the members of the group. Organizational culture is essential for successful organizational change as well as maximizing the value of human capital and to create management competency. (Management Heaven, 2009) The cultural strength of BMW can be measures in term of its policies involving employees in decision making process an through profit sharing initiative much EU introduced and its leadership strategy to ask questions to get the best answer. BMW introduces several development programmes from manufacturing plants at Leipzig and providing flexibility and innovations in the design as per the customers' requirement and the employees have a sense of history, vision and mission once they set foot inside the company which immediately gives the employees a sense of meaning to their job which ultimately shows that BMW is empowered with good organizational culture. 2) Leadership Model and Its Impact on BMW Culture Davis, Inc (2003:7) supports Schein's statement that process of culture creation is the essence of leadership and that leadership and culture are two sides of same coin. It is further stated that leaders create and change the organizational culture whereas the managers and administrators apply themselves to that culture. Leaders need to act as role model, have realistic visions, personal performance, willingness to change, create a working environment stimulating enthusiasm and enjoyment which is prevalent in BMW as the employees and high level executives and other professionals work side by side applying their ideas and thoughts to carve out better design. (Pergamon Flexibile Learning, 2005) BMW gets much of its strength from unparalleled labors that are flexible enough to work extra hours to meet the financial targets. BMW followed an unusual strategy like once the employees were rewarded for the creative error of the month with a bottle of fine wine from the boss's cellar and the employee was recognized for an outstanding and bold idea, which was well planned but failed working on the idea for three years. The idea by the leaders was to remove the stigma of making mistakes at work while innovation. (EmeraldInsight, 2006) BMW leadership stressed more on encouraging their employees which motivates them to work harder, intelligently and effectively. Thus BMW leadership model is very effective in achieving optimum output without have significant effect on the culture. 3) Employee Satisfaction Hellriegel and Slocum (2008) states that an organization need to motivate its present and future employees by providing utmost job satisfaction. Some of the key job characteristics to motivate employees at workplace include basic human needs, designing jobs that motivate people,

Microbiology-Leishmaniasis Disease Control Plan Essay

Microbiology-Leishmaniasis Disease Control Plan - Essay Example icated as the most common form that causes a sore at the bite site and even leaves a permanent scar, Diffuse cutaneous Leishmaniasis which resembles leprosy and is difficult to treat which starts like cancer of the skin leading to damage of tissue especially on the nose and mouth (Elliott, 2011). Although the approach to controlling the causal agent of this disease depends on the behavior of the target vector, some of its transmissions which are associated with activities in the forests can be reduced by ensuring that no dwellings are close to the forests. The Governments of the United States and Spain have done a lot in the vector control particularly by spraying insecticides on tree trunks resting sites. This has highly achieved in providing short term protection to the residents around forested regions. In addition, clearing of forests around homesteads combined with insecticide application in the cleared regions, has led in reduction of sand flies and the yearly reported number of people who are infected with the disease. Likewise, repellents can be useful under certain circumstances such as when people are going into the forests for occupational or recreational purposes. In such cases the use of insecticide treated nets and spraying the forests is advised since it reduc es the rate of transmission. Another major measure towards controlling the disease done is clearing trees and bushes over a radius of at least one kilometer around houses (Elliott, 2011). One of the main methods that I propose in order to control sand flies with insecticides is indoor residual spraying which should be used in areas which have a very active rate of transmission. This requires good knowledge of the epidemiology of Leishmaniasis and the local vector behavioral characteristics and the ecology. The effectiveness of these largely depends on other factors such as the method of application and overall coverage, the quality of the insecticide used and the type of surface sprayed or

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Shopping Trends in Leeds UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Shopping Trends in Leeds UK - Essay Example It is an important marketing aspect for any firm since consumer behavior and response to certain products is fundamental to the firm’s success and survival in the market (Jackson, 2005). The decision process undertaken by a consumer to determine whether to purchase a product or not, involves several stages. Apparently, the actual purchasing is only one step among several others. These stages begin with the actual recognition of need or desire for a certain product. This desire can be stimulated by different factors ranging from hunger to an advertisement. The consumer then proceeds to do a search of the available options whilst doing comparisons and seeking referrals. Evaluation of the available alternatives then follows, with the buyer establishing a personalized criterion according to tastes and preferences. This is normally followed by the purchase decision and the actual purchase of the product. Post-purchase evaluation is also an important aspect of consumer behavior. It involves the outcome and post-consumption analysis of the buyer (Dobson, 2007). As noted earlier, consumer behavior can be influenced by word-of-mouth and referrals from friends and/or family. This is evident in cases where students are great determinants when it comes to triggering of new trends that are later adopted by the rest of the society. Students, and other youth, influence the choice of products amongst themselves and other peers. Most young people like to be involved in purchases of newest trends. This factor, therefore, makes this age group (18-25) the best to study on consumer behaviors. Task 1 This paper seeks to identify and analyze the internal influences that affect the consumer behavior of young people aged between 18 and 25. The importance of the investigation done by this paper has far reaching implications. First, there is the interest to inform consumers about environmentalism aspects when purchasing products. In the United Kingdom, the most prominent pressure groups fro consumer behavior have been friends, consumer groups and the government. Literature review This section aims at providing a review of literature that discusses the factors influencing buyer behavior, especially among the young people. Jackson (2005) provides a comprehensive literature review on the behavior of consumers and the corresponding behavior change. He recommends that policy makers in the consumer sector should encourage lifestyles that depict sustainability. Consumer behavior researchers attribute a lot of importance to the factors that influence consumer behaviors especially among peer groups. According to Dobson (2007), consumer behavior that is oriented towards sustainable development by observing environmentalism lasts longer than consumer behavior motivated by financial incentives. The environmental policy in the United Kingdom is strategized for sustainable development. Harrison et al (2005) discusses some ethical practices by the consumer that may influen ce the seller or product. On the other hand, De Pelsmacker et al (2005) argue that there are some factors contributing towards reduced consumption of green products. These factors include lack of information among consumers and their increasing disbelief in green product campaigns. Apparently, the information given to the consumers is complex and sometimes conflicting, and this overwhelms them

Childhood studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Childhood studies - Essay Example The approach postulated by Aries was later amplified and to some extent misinterpreted by intellectuals who noticed the appalling characteristics of the pre-modern childhood. For instance, the increased death rates, harsh discipline muted to the children, and the idea of child labour. Additionally, some patterns were observed to be surrounding the childhood concept. For example, societal naming system that derives names of the dead in naming newborn children. Indeed, the system was a cavalier approach to the death of the infants and individuality of the children (Stearns, 2005, p.4). Morrison (2012, p.28) argues that in the attempt to find answers to the overarching problems that face the children in the contemporary world, there is a need to focus on the academic works. The global history of children adds to the advancement of the conditions of numerous children in today’s world. Professors and scholars can greatly inspire their learners to focus care on the rights of children, provide critical thinking perspectives and problem-solving techniques as a necessity to turn care into actions. Essentially, global childhood historians can serve the purpose of consultancy for policy-makers and activists who seek the parallels of history regarding children issues. Further, historians can trace the root causes of the problems that faced children including child labour and violence. Therefore, the disadvantaged and destitute children must not receive blame for existing conditions. Scholars, for example, Shulamith Shahar critiqued and proved wrong Aries’ theory that childhood had no abode in the medieval world. In his book Childhood in the Middle Ages, Shahar claims that the theory postulated by Aries is erroneous since no community can physically survive in the absence of child nurturing traditions, channels of knowledge transmission, and rich avenues for the young to socialize. Further, Shahar maintains that just because the middle-aged children were involved in

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Shopping Trends in Leeds UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Shopping Trends in Leeds UK - Essay Example It is an important marketing aspect for any firm since consumer behavior and response to certain products is fundamental to the firm’s success and survival in the market (Jackson, 2005). The decision process undertaken by a consumer to determine whether to purchase a product or not, involves several stages. Apparently, the actual purchasing is only one step among several others. These stages begin with the actual recognition of need or desire for a certain product. This desire can be stimulated by different factors ranging from hunger to an advertisement. The consumer then proceeds to do a search of the available options whilst doing comparisons and seeking referrals. Evaluation of the available alternatives then follows, with the buyer establishing a personalized criterion according to tastes and preferences. This is normally followed by the purchase decision and the actual purchase of the product. Post-purchase evaluation is also an important aspect of consumer behavior. It involves the outcome and post-consumption analysis of the buyer (Dobson, 2007). As noted earlier, consumer behavior can be influenced by word-of-mouth and referrals from friends and/or family. This is evident in cases where students are great determinants when it comes to triggering of new trends that are later adopted by the rest of the society. Students, and other youth, influence the choice of products amongst themselves and other peers. Most young people like to be involved in purchases of newest trends. This factor, therefore, makes this age group (18-25) the best to study on consumer behaviors. Task 1 This paper seeks to identify and analyze the internal influences that affect the consumer behavior of young people aged between 18 and 25. The importance of the investigation done by this paper has far reaching implications. First, there is the interest to inform consumers about environmentalism aspects when purchasing products. In the United Kingdom, the most prominent pressure groups fro consumer behavior have been friends, consumer groups and the government. Literature review This section aims at providing a review of literature that discusses the factors influencing buyer behavior, especially among the young people. Jackson (2005) provides a comprehensive literature review on the behavior of consumers and the corresponding behavior change. He recommends that policy makers in the consumer sector should encourage lifestyles that depict sustainability. Consumer behavior researchers attribute a lot of importance to the factors that influence consumer behaviors especially among peer groups. According to Dobson (2007), consumer behavior that is oriented towards sustainable development by observing environmentalism lasts longer than consumer behavior motivated by financial incentives. The environmental policy in the United Kingdom is strategized for sustainable development. Harrison et al (2005) discusses some ethical practices by the consumer that may influen ce the seller or product. On the other hand, De Pelsmacker et al (2005) argue that there are some factors contributing towards reduced consumption of green products. These factors include lack of information among consumers and their increasing disbelief in green product campaigns. Apparently, the information given to the consumers is complex and sometimes conflicting, and this overwhelms them

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Have power and ideology been used to achieve consensus India Essay

Have power and ideology been used to achieve consensus India - Essay Example Yet, the U.S. could not claim the same degree of representation and plurality that India can. In this respect Indian democracy can be said to be more functional than the more publicized democracies of the western world. But this is not to say that real-politic does not exist in India, or that political campaigns and policy-making are fair and just. In independent India, there were numerous instances of misuse and abuse of power. Even the once-revered Congress Party (which was once led by the great Mahatma Gandhi) has now reduced to yet another power broker, having lost its aura and initial sanctity. (Cohen, 2000, p.32) The latest sign of its deviation from founding principles is its close alliance with the United States of America, whose imperialist agenda is well documented and blatantly expressed. And recent Indian governments have projected America-led neoliberal capitalist ideology as something benign and progressive in garnering electoral consensus. â€Å"Numerous American offi cials already used the term "irreversible" to describe the course of Indo-U.S. relations. No U.S. president visited India  between January 1978 and March 2000, when President Clinton made a historic trip to the Subcontinent. Cabinet-level exchanges have since become routine, and President Bush's planned visit in early spring 2006 will reflect an agenda that has come to encompass shared global interests and concerns ranging from Iran and China to nuclear cooperation and biotechnology. Some have begun to see Bush's visit to India  as similar, in both intent and consequence, to that of Richard Nixon to China in 1972--which transformed Sino-U.S. relations and the global balance of power  for the next three decades. (Khanna & Mohan, 2006, p.43) The Congress Party, which has a history going back 115 years, is not only the oldest but also the most successful political organization in the country. In the six decades of post-Independent democracy, the party has nearly monopolized power through consistent electoral victories. But the Congress Party of today (run under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the widow of Rajiv Gandhi) doesn’t follow the same ideology as that under Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru, having studied law at Harrods and much inspired by Bertrand Russell and other progressive thinkers of the time, belonged to a different era and espoused a different set of political values. Since his time, the condition of the party has undergone steady decline and it has now become power-hungry and devoid of content and ideals. In its early days, the party stood for such noble principles as secularism, egalitarianism and moderation. But today, this ethos is completely lacking. (Charlton, 1997, p.265) A reflection of the Congress Party’s lost stature is its electoral performance in the last two decades. Ever since the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru) in 1991, the party could not manage to win a majority of parliamentary seats. As a result, it is dependent on coalition partners in holding onto power. In the 2004 general elections, for example, the Leftist parties such as Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) gave outside support to the Congress-led coalition government. Interestingly, it was the pressure exerted by Leftist parties that led to constructive social measures and policies during this tenure. The NREGA

Monday, October 14, 2019

Minor Characters With Major Influence Essay Example for Free

Minor Characters With Major Influence Essay Addie Bundren was a strong but mysterious woman. She had many children that loved her dearly that would do bizarre things for her. She was a minor character in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying but she played a major role in that she affected the actions of the characters of the Bundren family. Jewel is Addie’s third child but not Anse’s child. Jewel is the product of an affair that Addie had with Whitfield, the town minister. Addie spoiled Jewel because he was a symbol of her happiness with Whitfield. Jewel constantly pushes his luck with Addie, getting into all the trouble he can possibly think of, but he loves his mother. Jewel just wants Addie to be able to die in peace and quiet without Cash sawing away at her coffin where she can see and Dewey constantly fanning the air away from Addie’s face (Faulkner 15). Jewel’s love for his mother is more openly expressed when he runs into the barn to save her coffin from the burning barn (Faulkner 222). Anse is so determined to carry out Addie’s final wish and bury her with her relatives in Jefferson. It takes the Bundren family nine days to deliver Addie’s dead body to her final resting place. During the journey Darl tries to destroy the coffin in a barn fire (Faulkner 219). Darl loves Addie just like Jewel and can not bear to see her memory desecrated by this long journey so he tries to burn the body. By this time Darl seems to have started to go insane. Really Darl is the only sane person on that whole trip. He tried to get rid of the putrid corpse and let his mother be remembered with her name still intact. Cash labors day and night over his mother’s coffin, cutting each board carefully and showing them to Addie basically saying ‘Look at the wonderful job I’m doing for you’. Cash even continues on the journey after he broke his leg while saving Addie’s coffin. Even after his leg begins to fester and swell, he never complains about it paining him. Cash’s selflessness is unwavering as he makes this journey for Addie and his family to lay Addie to rest. Cash even refused medical attention until there journey was complete because of his devotion to Addie and her wishes. All in all Addie Bundren is a very important in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying even though she is rarely heard throughout the novel. She is a major influence on her family. She had the most influence on Darl, Jewel, and Cash, her older sons. Her influence causes her family to do bizarre and dangerous things for her to honor her memory. Works Cited Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. New York: Random House Inc., 1990. Print.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Edgar Allen Poe :: essays research papers

EDGAR ALLEN POE BIOGRAPHY Edgar Allen Poe was born in 1809 in Boston. His stories were about love and sadness. He died when he was 40 years old in 1849. People said that they found him unconscious and believed him drunk. He was an excellent writer that kept people fascinated with stories. He died as he lived all his life was miserable and with out hope. It believed that he uses a drug named opium that helped him use his imagination and he uses alcohol. Those were his inspirations and his story's that were so fabulous come from there. These things were making him crazy and took him out of control. A thing that made him even more crazy is that everyone he had ever met or loved always semmed to have died from a disease called tuberculosis. This made him very depressive also. He was born to very poor family. His father was an actor that barley buy meat to eat. He was a little boy when his father abandoned him and their brothers. After that his mother got sick and few months later she died. He went to live with wealthy rich people but his father didn't want to adopt him. His father was a businessman and decided to move to England there he went to school to Manner House School. In 1820 he returned to Virginia but he couldn't afford it and decide left school. He fall in love with a neighbor her name was Elmira, but her father didn't want to accept their relationship. His stepfather criticized him about his story saying that they were workless and he decided to leave his house. He went to a military service but he realized that he like more poems than to be in the military service. He often wrote letters to Elmira unknowing that her father received the letters. She married a rich man and become a rich woman. He became heart broken and he began to write love poems. He was living with his real father, sister, muddy and her daughter. After that he married muddy's daughter at the age of 27 she was 13 years old. She became sick of tuberculosis and died at the age of 24. He didn't know how to support the family because the poems didn't give him enough money.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Watching the Game at Neyland Stadium Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive

Watching the Game at Neyland Stadium Neyland Stadium provides a gathering place where over one hundred thousand people come to cheer for the Tennessee Vols. The stadium, located in the middle of the UT campus, ranks as America’s third largest collegiate stadium with a capacity of 104,079; since people began recording attendance, more than 22.89 million fans have watched Tennessee football in the stadium, and the record attendance was reached when the Vols played the Gators in September 2000(UTsports.com). If you think all you can do is watch the games at home on the couch, think again. You can actually be part of these games and fulfill all your football fan needs. If you come watch a game, it will be well worth your time. For someone who has never been to a game, there may be some things you might want to know. To get to the stadium, you travel I 26, when leaving from Johnson City, for around two hours. The exit to go downtown will take you right to the campus. Arriving about two hours before the game can be helpful when finding a parking place. If you have a hard time being on your feet a lot or get tired easily, going later might be for you. Since the stadium is outdoors, it may be a smart thing to take along ponchos, coats, and anything needed to make you comfortable. The stadium brings out people of all ages. A lot of families come down together. The trip will definitely involve having fun, so carry along some things to help you go crazy for your team. The ushers at all the gates allow pom poms, signs, face painting, noise makers, and anything else you can think of. The first thing you do when you reach the stadium is search for a parking place. Although the price to park at the Hilton motel is fifteen dollars, yo... ... buy on a fun, lazy night. Amazingly, when I am at the stadium, I also see a lot of people I know even though I am two hours away from home. Everyone loves Neyland Stadium. I love the fact that everyone comes together to cheer for one team and act excited to attend. This makes the game intense because when the game takes a bad turn, everyone joins in a giant roar against the referees. After you become a true fan, you begin to take those bad calls personally. You can thing of your trip as an adventure into a land which normally can only be seen on TV. You leave the stadium with a warm tingle in the pit of your stomach, of course if they win. You can feel good about yourself knowing that you played a part in the team achieving their victory. Works Cited Tennessee. UT Athletics. 2003. http://utsports.ocsn.com/genrel/081001aaa.html. Consulted Oct. 1, 2003.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Nelson Mandela a Most Admired Hero Essay

Nelson Mandela is one of the best examples of heroes in contemporary times. He devoted his life to end the apartheid in South Africa. His struggle and devotion to this cause was so important that we could say that the international movement of solidarity with the struggle for freedom in South Africa was arguably the biggest social movement the world has seen. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on the 18th of July 1918 is a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. A Xhosa born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. Living in Johannesburg, he became involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the African National Congress and becoming a founding member of its Youth League. After the Afrikaner nationalists of the National Party came to power in 1948 and began implementing the policy of apartheid, he rose to prominence in the ANC’s 1952Defiance Campaign, was elected President of the Transvaal ANC Branch and oversaw the 1955 Congress of the People. Working as a lawyer, he was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and, with the ANC leadership, was prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961 but was found not guilty. Read more: The person I admire essay example Although initially committed to non-violent protest, in association with the South African Communist Party he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in 1961, leading a bombing campaign against government targets. In 1962 he was arrested, convicted of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial. On 11 February 1990, Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years spent in jail. Four years later, Mandela is elected the first black President of South Africa. His presidency faces enormous challenges in the post-Apartheid era, including rampantnpoverty and crime. Mandela is particularly concerned about racial divisions between black and white South Africans, which could lead to violence. The ill will which both groups hold towards each other is seen even in his own security detail where relations between the established white officers, who had guarded Mandela’s predecessors, and the black ANC additions to the security detail, are frosty and marked by mutual distrust. While attending a game of the Springboks, the country’s rugby union team, Mandela recognizes that the blacks in the stadium cheer against their â€Å"home† squad, as the mostly-white Springboks represent prejudice and apartheid in their minds. He remarks that he did the same while imprisoned on Robben Island. Knowing that South Africa is set to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup in one year’s time, Mandela persuades a meeting of the newly black-dominated South African Sports Committee to support the Springboks. He then meets with the captain of the Springboks rugby team, Franà §ois Pienaar, and implies that a Springboks victory in the World Cup will unite and inspire the nation. Mandela also shares with Franà §ois a British poem, â€Å"Invictus, which had inspired him during his time in prison. Franà §ois and his teammates train. Many South Africans, both black and white, doubt that rugby will unite a nation torn apart by some 50 years of racial tensions. For many blacks, especially the radicals, the Springboks symbolize white supremacy. Both Mandela and Pienaar, however, stand firmly behind their theory that the game can successfully unite the South African country. Things begin to change as the players interact with the fans and begin a friendship with them. During the opening games, support for the Springboks begins to grow among the black population. By the second game, the whole country comes together to support the Springboks and Mandela’s efforts. Mandela’s security team also grows closer as the various officers come to respect their comrades’ professionalism and dedication. The Springboks surpass all expectations and qualify for the final against The All Blacks—South Africa’s arch-rivals. New Zealand and South Africa were universally regarded as the two greatest rugby nations, with the Springboks being the only side to have a winning record against the All Blacks up to this point. The first test series between the two countries in 1921 was the beginning of an intense rivalry, with emotions running high whenever the two nations met on the rugby field. Before the game, the Springbok team visits Robben Island, where Mandela spent the first 18 of 27 years in jail. Franà §ois Pienaar mentions his amazement that Mandela â€Å"could spend thirty years in a tiny cell, and come out ready to forgive the people who put him there†. Supported by a large home crowd of both races, Pienaar motivates his team. Mandela’s security detail receives a scare when, just before the match, a South African Airways Boeing 747 jetliner flies in low over the stadium. It is not an assassination attempt though, but a demonstration of patriotism, with the message â€Å"Good Luck, Bokke† — the Springboks’ Afrikaans nickname — painted on the undersides of the plane’s wings. The Springboks win the match with a score of 15–12. Mandela and Pienaar meet on the field together to celebrate the improbable and unexpected victory. Mandela’s car then drives away in the traffic-jammed streets leaving the stadium. As Mandela watches the South Africans celebrating together from the car, his voice is heard reciting â€Å"Invictus†. Mandela has been a controversial figure for much of his life. Right-wing critics denounced him as a terrorist and communist sympathizer. He nevertheless gained international acclaim for his anti-colonial and anti-apartheid stance, having received more than 250 honors, including the 1993Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata (â€Å"Father†); he is often described as â€Å"the father of the nation†.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

America’s Vision Essay

Fame, wealth, freedom, and success. Every person desires a life where riches, glory, or freedom surround them. Numerous people consider this dream the American dream, however, is it truly possible to achieve? Even those various immigrants who travel a great distance to come to America to live their own American dream shortly become intemperate people. The idea of the American dream is not attainable because people in general are exceedingly paradoxical and are constantly left yearning for more in a variety of ways. In the heartfelt story â€Å"America and Americans, Is the American Dream Even Possible,† by John Steinbeck, he wrote, â€Å"One of the generalities often noted about the Americans is that we are restless, a dissatisfied, a searching people† (Steinbeck 1). I feel that Steinbeck conveys a great deal of truth about American’s and how we live our lives. We all aspire to have something and once we acquire it we become discontent and strive to have more. For instance, a man work’s his whole life to become someone or something he truly is not and once he gets there he realizes that he wants more and longs to become more. In truth we all do what we want to and are searching for the greatest, but nothing ever seems to be good enough in our dissatisfied lives. Immigrants from all over the world arrive in America to pursue their own American dream. Whether they come for religious freedom, education, or just to obtain better lives, they quickly strive for more and more even though they have accomplished their intended goals. After residing in America for year’s they overlook the ways of their homeland customs and become drawn to the lives of American’s even when it is in opposition to their original traditions. In numerous ways they somewhat become brainwashed by American’s who live their lives not in reality but in idealism, and they attempt to live their life like them as well. However, once they return to their homelands after believing they have obtained their goals, they cannot figure out why their families and friends no longer wish to speak to them. They have altered and become intemperate people resembling us Americans and have brought back terrible habits and ways to their homelands that their people have despis ed in their customs for several years. American’s are truly paradoxical people who say one thing and do another. We  are constantly contradicting ourselves and others and cannot comprehend why we are so unhappy. We make every effort to achieve happiness but nothing ever seems to be good enough. John Steinbeck expresses that our priorities are extremely wrong in this quote, â€Å"Americans are remarkably kind and hospitable and open with both guests and strangers; yet they will make a wide circle around the man dying on the pavement. Fortunes are spent getting cats out of trees and dogs out of sewer pipes; but a girl screaming for help in the street draws only slammed doors, closed widows, and silence† (Steinbeck 1). Steinbeck puts across a serious point and I boldly agree that we Americans have our priorities twisted around. Ultimately, Americans have a large number of adjustments they will have to carry out before they will ever be able to achieve their American dream and be content. We are so full of dissatisfaction and failure to stick with our goals. We tread on friends and family who get in the way of our so called American dream, and after we believe we have attained it we are not sure as to why we are so miserable. If Americans can take that further step to transform, the American dream may become possible. However, until then the American dream will merely be an idea, not a possibility. Works Cited: 1. Steinbeck, John. † America and Americans, Is the American dream even possible.†

Horace Miner – Nacirema Tribe Location

â€Å"Body Rituals among the Nacirema† is an article written by Horace Miner about a group of people, the Nacirema, and their everyday functions or rituals. Miner relates the culture, practices, values, and beliefs of a seemingly exotic and strange tribe. He vividly and descriptively describes behaviors and activities that are interpreted as unusual and strange. The tribe Miner depicts seems primal and uncivilized, and yet somewhat familiar. They are a â€Å"North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Creel the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles† (Miner).This area is the United States of America and upon recognizing the location, the reader starts to become cognizant of the presence of an ulterior message. Miner’s depiction draws us in but shortly, we realize he is referring to American society; read backwards, Nacirema spells ‘American. ’ Instead of describing a far-away and exotic tribe, a s the reader first expects, the article describes very ‘normal’ aspects of American life, such as dental hygiene and medicine. The use of language like â€Å"mouth-rite,† â€Å"holy-mouth-men,† and â€Å"medicine men† frames these aspects in a very abnormal way.Miner does an exceptional job of disguising the American culture as ‘Nacirema. ’ Once unveiling this disguise, many references can easily be seen and the article is interpreted in a whole new way; for example, the â€Å"cleansing shrine† as the washroom, â€Å"magical potions† as medicine, and â€Å"latipso† as hospital. This article is written as an observation on American society but could be generalized as ‘North American’ practices. The article demonstrates that attitudes about the body have a widespread influence on many social institutions.Many of the rituals that we have in North America involve manipulating our image and this value contra dicts the enlightened and rational creatures we sometimes imagine ourselves to be. Miner effectively convinces the reader of the somewhat ridiculous nature of (North) America’s obsession with health and visual appeal. This is accomplished by provoking readers to form an outside opinion of themselves before realizing they are their own subject. His analysis portrays himself and the reader as superior, civilized beings studying this tribe, which creates a distance and differentiation leading to comparison.By describing American culture from the perspective of an external observer, we can realize how a different perspective or standpoint can perceive our rituals as quite strange. As such, Miner’s article can be seen as speaking to how other cultures could view our own, and shows how ethnocentrism can affect how we see and interpret culture. Miner uses his style of writing to prove his apparent point that Americans are ethnocentric. Furthermore, the tone of the article dis plays how this ethnocentrism can lead to judgment of other, unknown cultures.A resonating point for me throughout this article is Miner’s success in translating Peter Berger’s concept of the sociological perspective, making the reader see the strange in the familiar. By thinking of these familiar rituals as strange, a new perspective is formed and our regular, ‘normal’ world can be seen in a fresh, unique way. Importantly, the sociological imagination begins to engage and develop as we recapture the ability to be astonished by what we normally take for granted.This broadening of perspective and how we look at ourselves can lead us to think beyond our standpoint and better understand someone of a different background. Upon first reading, the rituals/institutions described have a familiarity, but in everyday life we have become socialized so as we do not see the odd and sometimes illogical actions we perform. As Miner begins, â€Å"the anthropologist has be come so familiar with the diversity of ways in which different people behave in similar situations that he is not apt to be surprised by even the most exotic customs. I believe Horace Miner wrote this piece to touch on all of these points; to make us see the familiar as strange, to develop the sociological imagination, and to bring awareness to the ethnocentrism of our culture/society. The targeted audience may be fellow anthropologists, sociologists, scholars/ students, or even the general public. Miner challenges all North Americans to look at themselves in a new light, to look critically upon our own society. He is effective in conveying his messages through his unique approach to the idea, and ability to re-arrange our thought process.He seems to challenge the way cultures, and American culture in particular, may have been previously represented or misrepresented. Furthermore, the article breaks the barrier of viewing American culture as ‘normal’ and that which othe rs may be measured against; he breaks the barrier of ethnocentrism. Another reason to comment on these points may have been to try to stimulate better, less biased research and inspire colleagues, students etc. to consider the existence of perspective and potential for ethnocentrism in all that they do.I find the article relevant, personally, as a student studying sociology and business, and as a North American. Our society is continually becoming more culturally diverse, and international interaction (whether in business, academics or elsewhere) is becoming commonplace. Therefore, it is increasingly important to learn to step outside of our accustomed perspective and to be aware of others we interact with, as well as of our own biases, viewpoints, and barriers.The clever way Miner provokes looking at the familiar as strange lead me think of the many ways we view the ‘familiar,’ having become accustomed to our social norms and values. I have begun to see these in a new way, and will further keep in mind the sociological perspective and presence of potential ethnocentric views when evaluating situations. We naturally look at other cultures or societies through the lens of our own but if we are able to understand our own culture – our social context – the water in which we swim, we can develop our relationships and interactions with those from other waters.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

FSHD Essay's Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

FSHD Essay's - Assignment Example Like on most IQ tests, the question of â€Å"If some x’s are y’s and some y’s are z’s, then some x’s must be z’s. The first test was multiple choice questions, while the second was true/false questions. Both tests seemed to be focused on the logic process. Whether or not you recognize it, your vocabulary is your strongest suit—use it whenever you can. Since your command of words is so great, you are also a terrific communicator — able to articulate big ideas to just about anyone. Your wordsmithing prowess will also help in artistic and creative pursuits. The power of words translates to fresh ideas off paper too. Since you have so many words at your disposal, you are in a unique position to describe things in an original way, as well as see the future in your minds eye. In short, your strengths allow you to be a visionary — able to extrapolate and come up with a multitude of fresh ideas. And you are in good company — bask in the brilliance of Word Warriors who have walked before you. William Shakespeare let loose the power of his pen. His ability to articulate the most subtle nuances of human nature and to create colorful characters are why his stories still have a major impact — even 400 years after he first wrote them. Whether you put pen to paper or use your understanding of the words around you to come up with creative approaches to problems, your potential as a Word Warrior is terrific. (Career Quizzes) The second test reported, â€Å"A person whose IQ score falls in the range of 111-128 is considered to be ‘above average intelligence’†. If I bought the whole report, then they would breakdown my evaluation further. The score that I think is the most accurate would be the first test. I do better with words than mathematics. I do not think these tests are accurate in assessing how intelligent people are. This is due to the overdone math process in all IQ tests. Intelligence is more than math. Memory recall also matters

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Recognition (Human Resource Management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Recognition (Human Resource Management) - Essay Example The performance records bear numerical records that are used for ranking employees according to their productivity. Recognition usually comes in forms of financial rewards in addition to certificates and trophies bearing the winning employees’ names (Bradler 29). This form of recognition is beneficial because it rewards employees proportionate to their performance, which is the greatest motivator for encouraging determination and quality productivity among employees. I am one of the employees receiving recognition every year. I have received financial rewards and trophies for three consecutive years. I have also been named an employer of the year once since I joined the company. I believe that this kind of recognition is part of our normal performance appraisal. This is because my employer has been greatly interested in recognizing us. Additionally, the employer has enacted policies concerning employee recognition in terms of financial rewards, certificates and trophies. Therefore, the recognition I receive is included in the normal performance

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Reflection questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection questions - Essay Example Socrates does not seem to be afraid of death. Socrates persuades both the young and old not to care for their body or wealth. Socrates says that excellence is not brought about by wealth. However, excellence will make wealth and all that is good for the people. Socrates says that the fear of death is the pretence of wisdom. Socrates says that one cannot believe to be wise when he fears death. No one can know whether death could be the greatest blessing among the blessings for human beings. However, Socrates is surprised that people fear death as if they had known that it is the greatest of all evils. Socrates therefore says that believing one knows what one does not know is ignorance. Socrates says that when a man takes a position that he believes is the best option, he must face the danger without fearing death or having thoughts of anything else. Socrates does not fear death and he tells the jury that he will obey the gods rather than the jury. Socrates believes that every mind is offered a choice between truth and repose and he can never have both. He therefore chooses the truth rather than submitting to his enemies. Socrates says that those who believe that death is an evil are mistaken. Socrates believes that it would be better for him to die now because this will enable him to escape from trouble. Socrates believes that the life that is unexamined is not worth living for a man. Crito wanted to help Socrates to escape from the prison but due to the attitude that Socrates had he refused to escape from the prison. Socrates says that one should consider opinions of people of who are sensible and are able to see things as they turn out. Socrates suggests that what the public achieve is only determined by chance and it cannot make a man either foolish or wise. Socrates is unwilling to escape from the prison not because he is afraid of endangering or inconveniencing

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Working Hypothesis Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Working Hypothesis Report - Assignment Example Listed below is the interest rate charged on a a) Based on the dataset, we conclude that the Mean of the sample is 48.18. Accepting the given population Mean of 50 and the standard deviation of 3, this sample is within .01 or is included within the 99% range of probability. b) Using a z-statistic is applicable due to the range of data that fall evenly above and below a given mean on a normal distribution. The z-statistic tests to see if the sample follows the expectation of the population. In this case, the sample complies with the population parameters, as the mean falls within 1.918 standard deviations of the population mean. A z-test is appropriate, because the population variance is known. If we did not have this information, then a t-test would be more appropriate. Given the fact that the sample contained an outlier of 55.8, one would expect that the sample is skewed based on that data point. This is true, because if we were to remove the outlier, the new sample mean would be 47.33 and the corresponding z-stat would be -2.67, giving a p-value of 0.0076. This result would lead us to accept Ha, since p-value Variance: This is the average of the sum of squares of the variation from the mean. In English, this means that you take the difference between each data item and subtract the mean. You then square each number. Total them together and divide by the number of data points minus the number of variables. You will see this as ∑(x-u)2 / (n-1) Data point is the average for your sample data, while mean is the population mean and std deviation is the std deviation for the population. You will normally be given these numbers for the population, so you are comparing your

Friday, October 4, 2019

Activity-based costing (ABC) in service industry Essay

Activity-based costing (ABC) in service industry - Essay Example However, it has often been argued that implementing such pricing strategies might prove to be quite challenging in case of service oriented companies in comparison to the product rendering companies owing to the greater involvement of intangible assets and liabilities. In this regard, various models have been developed with the intention to assist in determining the accurate costs incurred in following the entire process of delivering services to the ultimate customers. For instance, Activity Based Costing (ABC) can be regarded as an effective cost determination system that involves breaking up of the activities or the processes into individual activities (Shevasuthisilp & Punasathitwong, 2012). With this concern, this essay intends to present a brief overview of the ABC concept with reference to the business process executed by a large-sized service marketing company, Amazon.com. The discussion will thus address the benefits of time-driven ABC system for the selected service company along with the corresponding competitive advantages to be attained by the organization. The potential impact of such costing system will further be evaluated in the context of e-commerce based service company compared with that of the traditional system. Company Overview Amazon.Com, Incorporation was established in Washington, USA in 1994. The company primarily renders its services to its versatile customer range through retail websites. The company is one of the earliest service based organizations involved in e-commerce or the sale of various merchandise through e-commerce. Contextually, the online retail operation of the company is considered to be the core business activity of Amazon.com. The vision of the company depicts that Amazon.com intends to provide high quality services to its customers. The customers’ services operations of the company comprise internally and externally managed contact centers. The company further provides programs that allow sellers from around the world to market their products through Amazon.com offering its customers to access ‘in-the-cloud infrastructure services’. Furthermore, it has been observed that the company generates its revenues from online advertisements and other promotional activities. Notably, the recent activities of the organization reveal that even in the circumstances where its rivals are struggling with their survival in the market place, the company is thriving, boasting increasing revenue (Morningstar, 2009). Implementation of Time Driven ABC Costs System and Related Benefits (Amazon.Com) ABC cost system includes grouping of indirect costs on the basis of processes and certain activities performed within the value chain system of the company. Furthermore, these indirect costs are allocated to services rendered to the customers, proportionately to the volume of activities that gave rise to these indirect costs rather on the entire departments. However, many problems have been found to b e associated with the implementation of ABC model such as complexity issues, time-consuming technique and other problems related with the modification of the model. Contextually, time driven ABC involves time as the primary cost driver. Under this system, costs are directly allocated to costs objectives (Roztocki, 2010). At the initial step of time driven ABC system implementation, Amazon.com should critically determine the major purposes for implementing the procedure. The most common objective for implementing the ABC system is to gain efficiency in controlling the overall costs taking into account the overhead costs in measuring the profitability of the company. Contextually, overhead costs related with Amazon.com include rent, office expenses,