The Effects of Racism During World War II

Book Report On Positioning The Battle For Your Mind

Book Report on Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind Introduction In a world of extensive market dynamism, uncertainties, and stiff competition, managers in marketing departments are constantly grappling with ways of increasing and maintaining market dominance. An organization’s vibrancy in the present markets nearly depends entirely on the efficiency of marketing strategies and principles. Responsively, there are thousands of books and researches addressing the theory-practice gap in marketing. The book titled POSITIONING: The Battle for Your Mind authored by Al Ries and Jack Trout is one of the books providing the most timely and long-awaited solutions to marketing managers. The current paper is a book report providing detailed information about its content. Reasons for Selecting this Book Given the thousands of books in marketing literature, it suffices to provide a number of the driving factors towards selecting POSITIONING: The Battle for Your Mind. First and foremost is the title. The title of the book is not only catchy but also addressing one of the central topics in marketing. Market positioning pervades the language of every profit-making organization yet some perform thousands of times better than others yet a notably huge number of marketing scholars term positioning as the bedrock of marketing success. Given the number of businesses closing shop every year and others invading the markets, it becomes almost unavoidable to wonder how positioning is effective inShow MoreRelatedAdvertising Objectives1479 Words   |  6 Pageswill sale. Positioning According to the book written by Al Ries and Jack Trout â€Å"Positioning: The battle for your Mind† positioning is described as a communication tool used to reach target customers in a crowded marketplace. Getting into the mind of the consumer is all about positioning the product. So, with that being said, the new product being launched will create a unique position in the mind of the consumer because they are always bombarded with a lot of advertising, naturally the mind will rememberRead MoreIntegrated Marketing Communications Plan For Showtime Energy Drink Company1405 Words   |  6 Pageswill consist of any business personnel who may finishing monthly reports or a trucker doing a long ride, thus anyone can use Showtime energy drinks. These males and females come from all walks of life and financial status. They live in suburban and rural areas and have different levels of education. They all share physical/mental exertion in common and getting their adrenaline pumping. Positioning The brand positioning comes from out of the product benefits. Showtime Energy will alsoRead MoreA Study On Brand Positioning At Ashirvad Pipes Private Limited Essay2018 Words   |  9 Pages â€Å"A STUDY ON BRAND POSITIONING † AT â€Å"ASHIRVAD PIPES PRIVATE LIMITED† By NAGENDRA.K USN: 1NH13MBA59 SUBMITTED To VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF DEGREE TO â€Å"MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION† Under the guidance of INTERNAL GUIDEEXTERNAL GUIDE NIVIYA FESTON Mr. SNAJAY Assistant Professor Manager Department of Management NEW HORIZON COLLEGE OF ENGINEERINGRead MoreCritical Review of Positionality Theory4253 Words   |  18 Pages‘Research Reports’... ‘Research Data’... ‘As per the research observations’ ... ‘As per the research findings’... how often do we come across such terms while moving around in the corporate organizations...? How simplified our life gets when we have a strong backing of a ‘Research’ to whatever we discuss...? Read MoreMacbook Pro Market Positioning2560 Words   |  11 PagesAPPLE MACBOOK MARKET POSITIONING Zainabid Munir Akber INTRODUCTION This report will identify the positioning of Apple’s notebook product line ‘MacBook’ to its relative competition by the use of marketing concepts such as; segmentation marketing, target marketing, buyer behaviour, product strategy and how the company has enhanced the product over the years. 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Positioning Positioning also called unique selling proposition is defined by Kotler (1999) as the act of designing the company s offering and image to occupy a distinctive place in the target market’s mind. Furthermore, in the book Positioning: The Battle for your mind, Ries and Trout (1981) emphasize on the fact that while positioning begins with a product, the concept is more about positioning that product in the mind of the consumer. These two definitionsRead More12 New Rules of B2B Product Launch3915 Words   |  16 PagesProduct Launch by Dan Adams You may post this e-book to your blog or forward to others. 12 New Rules of B2B Product Launch www.b2bproductlaunch.com of  © Marketing  © Advanced Industrial 2009 Advanced Industrial Marketing, Inc. Why new rules? Why now? First, the internet is changing everything. Most B2B transactions now occur when the customer finds the supplier—not the other way around. If someone deep inside a prospect company can’t find you, your new product just lost to a competitor’s. SecondRead MoreThe Australian Beer Industry Essay4221 Words   |  17 PagesBrisbane QLD 4000 25 August 2012 Mr R. Murray Level 7, 68 York St SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Mr R. Murray As per your request I am submitting to you the attached report analysing XXXX Gold Beer in the Australian beer industry titled ‘XXXX Gold in the Australian Beer Industry’, due on the 3 October 2012. The purpose of this report is to inform you of the company background, product attributes, promotional strategies including target market and marketing mix along withRead MoreMarket Segmentation9161 Words   |  37 PagesMARKET SEGMENTATION, TARGETING AND POSITIONING MARKET SEGMENTATION INTRODUCTION: - The market for any product is normally made up of several segments. A ‘market’ after all is the aggregate of consumers of a given product. And, consumer (the end user), who makes a market, are of varying characteristics user and buying behavior. There are different factors contributing for varying mind set of consumers. It is thus natural that many differing segments occur within a market. In order to capture this

Vaccinations The benefits outweigh the risk free essay sample

The world human population is consistently under threat from potentially fatal infections and disease outbreaks that cause death, intense suffering and fear. Since time began, the world has experienced large-scale epidemics, such as the 1918 flu pandemic that caused heavy loss of human lives. Currently, flu pandemics continue recurring in different parts of the world, while HIV/AIDS remains one of the most serious infections with no cure. Discovery of vaccines has played a critical role in alleviating human suffering and reducing mortality rates associated with various deadly viral pandemics, such as polio, small pox, flu and measles among others. However, skepticism about vaccines’ safety still exists, preventing some people from being vaccinated. Failure to get vaccinated increases the risk of being infected and infecting other people in society. Since the advent of vaccination, especially child immunization programs, several infections have been eradicated in various parts of the world and many lives saved in the process (CDC). For long periods, childhood infections such as whooping cough, measles, diphtheria, polio, mumps and tetanus caused high infant mortality rates and suffering. However, vaccines have drastically reduced these infections, protecting many children from early deaths and serious medical complications that sometimes result to lengthy hospitalization. In United States alone, measles infections reduced by 99.9% from 20th century to 2006. During the same period, diphtheria and polio infections have been completely eradicated by vaccinating young children (immunizeforgood.com). The prevalence of tetanus, whooping cough, mumps and rubella in United States also declined by 96.9%, 89.4%, 95.7% and 99.9% respectively during the period (immunizeforgood.com). This clearly demonstrates that vaccines are not only effective in preventing diseases but also in eradicating them as well. Vaccine preventable infections are currently at record lows in many parts of the world. However, incidents of people failing to get vaccinated and being under-immunized are still common, which increases the risks of the disease outbreaks (CDC). The safety of vaccines is the foremost issue that critics advance in their opposition against the life saving medical intervention. Medically, vaccines are administered to healthy individuals, including infants to boost their immunity against various infections (Roberta 436). For this reason, they undergo more  rigorous safety standard tests than most of other medical drugs (Roberta 436). However, in spite of these tests, few side effects are reported rarely because serious medical condition compared to the effects of infection that the individual is being protected from. For instance, chicken pox vaccine sometimes causes soreness and itchy sensation in children (CDC). However, children who are not vaccinated against the condition develop serious medical complications when they contract the infection (immunizeforgood.com; CDC). Before the invention of chicken pox vaccine 10,600 people were admitted in hospital, where 100 to 150 died annually in the United States alone (immunizeforgood.com). In this case, the side effects of the vaccine are mild compared with the effects of contracting chicken pox. The side effects of vaccines on health of an individual depend on several factors, but research has not established conclusive findings on some of the risk factors. However, people with weakened immune system have high risk of developing serious health complications especially from live virus vaccines (Roberta 438). Conditions that could weaken immunity include diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, individuals with transplants, and those undergoing medical processes such as chemotherapy (Gayle, et al.2366). In addition, taking immunosuppressive drugs and a history of using steroids weaken immune system (CDC). Advanced age (over 65 years) has been established as a possible risk factor for developing serious medical complications after taking yellow fever vaccine (Alena, et al.3257). In such situations, medical practitioners advise high-risk individuals against taking such vaccines until their immunity improves. In spite of the aforementioned risk factors, serious side effects emanating from vaccinations are very few. About 30,000 reports on adverse effects of vaccines are received annually in the world, and only 13% of them are serious (VAERS). From 1991 to 2001, 128, 717 reports of vaccine adverse effects were reported in the United States. Out of the total numbers of reported cases, the percentage of deaths ranged from 1.4% to 2.3% (Zhou, et al). By comparing this number with the millions of lives saved annually by vaccines, it is apparent that benefits outweigh the risks. Studies on effects of several vaccines on pregnant and lactating women have established that immunization confers immunity to both the woman and the child without undermining their health (WHO 286). Constant monitoring and review of vaccines’ safety concerns is done to  ensure that the public is confident of embracing and accepting immunization as an important preventive procedure fear of adverse effects on their health. To ensure vaccines’ safety, world recognized organizations have established reliable mechanisms and programs of monitoring and reporting effects associated with vaccination. Some of the programs include Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Network (CDC). The increased surveillance of vaccines has resulted to some vaccines being withdrawn or suspended from use, such as Rotavirus vaccine in1999 due to some undesirable effects (Roberta 437).

Opposing Views Of The Savior In Gnossisism And In Orthodoxy Essays

Opposing Views Of The Savior In Gnossisism And In Orthodoxy I am attempting to write one coherent essay discussing questions three and two. I propose to first characterize the opposing views of the savior in Gnosticism and in Orthodoxy. Secondly, I will compare the Valentinian and classic Gnostics in how they differ and how the Gospel of Truth exemplifies the features of Valentinian Gnosticism. The Orthodox view the church as a necessary medium between the laity and god; they argued that without the church and the hierarchy of clergy, the congregation would not be able to attain god on their own. They saw the coming of god's kingdom as a literal event. They also saw it preposterous thought to separate the body from human life. That is, they saw Jesus as both flesh and spirit that were inseparable. The Orthodox considered the crucifixion of Jesus as a historical account. They viewed Jesus as a martyr that sacrificed his life so that we may live. It was believed that the martyrdom of Jesus allows for the forgiveness of sins and ensures resurrection and our life everlasting; this sacrifice allowed us to release our guilt and receive forgiveness for our sins. On the matter of what Jesus was, the Gnostics vehemently disagreed with the Orthodox Church. Gnostics believed that Jesus was more than a human martyr; Gnostics believed that the Holy Spirit (Christ) and Jesus of Nazareth were two separate entities. They felt that Jesus was a man of flesh who, at baptism, received the Holy Spirit and became Christ. They looked at it as though the spirit of Christ was occupying the body of Jesus until the crucifixion, where the spirit was transfigured and released so that we may attain salvation. Gnostics and the Orthodox Church also argued over the point of the suffering, or the passion of Jesus. Gnostics felt that Christ only appeared to suffer and die, it was the body that suffered and when Jesus passed, the spirit was transfigured and released. Gnostics and the Orthodox also disagreed on the point of the existence of God. The Gnostics rationalized that the god of the old testament-a god of creation and punishment was clearly a separate entity from the god of Jesus, who was a loving and forgiving god. How could such a loving god reach out to us with salvation and forgiveness be the same god who created pain, punishment and suffering. The Orthodox believed in one god, the father almighty creator of heaven and earth. In fact this was the major claim of the creed that the orthodox Christians proclaimed as part of their faith. Another point of argument was how to attain salvation. Orthodox Christians felt it was necessary to proclaim, out loud, their belief in one god. This was the discerning factor that allowed them to separate themselves from the Gnostics-who were now considered heretics and a threat to the church. Gnostics believed that as long as one lived in faith and held good conduct throughout their entire life they would achieve salvation. Gnostics felt their approach was superior to that of the Orthodox Christians because even hypocrites could proclaim the creed, not believe in it and still reach life eternal and salvation. After Jesus died, both Orthodox Christians and Gnostics claimed to witness the resurrection of Christ. The orthodox claimed that they saw the physical reappearance of Jesus Christ and expressed the importance of this type of sighting as the truth. Gnostics had the belief that the relationship between salvation and themselves was on a more personal level. Gnostics insisted that it was merely an encounter between the witness and the spirit of Christ that had been transformed. This follows the Gnostics belief that religious enlightenment came from introspect and self-knowledge. Once one had achieved this gnosis they were considered to be of mature knowledge and a member of an elite group ready to receive the secret knowledge of the spirit. Gnostics believed that they belonged to the true church of an elect few who were worthy; the orthodox Christians would not be saved because they were blind to the truth. Ignatus took the idea of the father, son and the Holy Spirit to an extreme. He

What is up in the mind of a man

What is up in the mind of a man Thesis Statement A man is not as complicated as he actually appears, all he needs is to feel secure and to have the feeling that he can believe in his woman totally.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on What is up in the mind of a man? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What does a man want? A man loves looking out for his women, to the point that he can pamper his manliness, just the same way he looks up to women who appear confident and strong, emotionally. When a woman runs to her man when encountered with problems every now and then, the man might show sympathy and even offer a shoulder to cry on, but this does not last for long. It is good when the woman shares her problems with the man and together they work on solving it, however, it is important for the woman to know when it is too much, as it is due to this reason that many relationships fail. Thus, when a woman learns to solve problems by herself it makes her man proud of her (Lewis 59). In addition, just like women, a man loves to be looked after. A wife or a girlfriend should know that her man’s mother, looks at him like her baby. The man can deny it as much as he can, however, he loves it when his mother is around, and when he looks for a girlfriend or a wife, he looks for one that has the same, or almost the same qualities like those of her mother. That is the reason some men are referred to as, ‘mamma’s boy’ (Barker 85). A man also enjoys it when his woman balances pampering him with competition and excitement. Furthermore, it is hard for a man to guess what his woman wants. This is because the levels of intuition in him are not the same as those of the woman (Geraldo 27). It is then advisable for a woman to tell her man what she is thinking as opposed to letting him discover all by himself. It might never come to that, and so the woman should do it to avoid feeling miserable. Regardless of his intuit ion being poor, a man knows it when his woman is manipulating or controlling him (Geraldo 27). When a woman resorts to manipulative and controlling games, her man usually starts blocking his feelings or sometimes hides them. This most of the time causes violent explosions or emotional breakdowns. In order to be happy and maintain happiness in a man when in a relationship, the woman should be considerate and honest. When respected, a majority of men are capable of being amazing individuals. Moreover, a man always needs his space. It is good to respect that. A woman should give his man enough space to breathe as well as do the things that guys do. It is good to let him indulge with his boys during his night outs. Ultimately, if he is in a relationship that is secure, he will all the time long for his woman’s comfort and snuggle, and will desire to go back home to her.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first pape r with 15% OFF Learn More Men and women are from different planets, and this may be the reason why many relationships work. A man and a woman can be compared to two lines, that despite being straight, intersect somewhere at the end. One cannot do with the other, and one cannot do without the other. Indeed, this can be considered one of creations lovely piece (Batthyany et al 180). What is in the mind of a man regarding Love and Respect Women want to be loved. A woman wants to feel that she is loved every time and if she is not regularly reminded, (not just by words, but also emotionally) she tends to feel like she is unwanted. This is in contrast to how a man feels. When it is true that he wants to be loved, respect is more important to him. A woman should never question her mans position in the house (Geraldo 39). That shows disrespect and it becomes equal when the man fails to show love. A woman should never disrupt when the man is correcting the children because t o the man it signifies extreme disrespect. What a man thinks about Sex A man desires to be desired truly, by means of sex. When a woman makes a man feel like she is making love to him just because it is an obligation, it really turns the man off. This is because most men are satisfied when they know their women are satisfied. That way they feel more confident. When a man is rejected, it becomes very hard for him. He thinks that when he is told no to sex, it is just the same as being told he is not wanted all together (Lewis 72). The image in a man’s mind A woman can see a good-looking man and forget it within a very short time. Men, alternatively, tend to store images in their ‘pictorial’ memory. When they notice a pretty woman, the image can be kept in their mind’s hard drive, for several months. This is not their fault as it is how they are created. It is the basic reason as to why women are advised to dress modestly. What men want when they look at porn ography is not necessarily the body of the woman, but the woman’s face. This is because the eyes of the woman have the look that says ‘I want you’, which is what they desire, to be wanted and needed (Gurian 129). What is in a man’s mind about a woman’s outfit? Many men will deny it when asked of what they find admirable amongst a woman’s outfit. However, a man is best identified as the ‘sex visual’ (Hasan 129). According to Imam, to a man, what a woman is putting on can be used to know what kind of woman she is. During a man’s adolescence, a man undergoes a moment whereby he starts to develop a liking for a particular type of dressing in a female.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on What is up in the mind of a man? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some men prefer women in underwear with no-frills because they consider such women confident as they let their bodies speak for themselves. Others like it when a woman is in lingerie, mini-dresses, and heels. Overall, men’s preferences are due to their uniqueness (Gurian 130). While a woman is inclined to hide what she perceives as an imperfect body, a man does not see that as important. Imam identifies that a woman might see another woman’s body as imperfect, while a man fails to notice that, but notices a woman in whom he has fallen for. Unsurprisingly, all men tend to be the same in one thing, they admire a woman’s clothing that does not only bring out the woman’s shape, but also the curves that come with it, which bring out the femininity in her, thereby pleasing what they see (Leman 178). What a man admires seeing a woman putting on Imam identifies that, a man likes to see a woman in tight jeans, pencil skirts, and tight dresses. This is because a man likes to perceive that under those clothes is a body, no matter how imperfect it is (Barker 92). Jumps uits and belted dresses are also their popular choices. To Imam, most men like it when a woman is putting on a classic fitting black dress. If its casual wear, then it has to be fitting such that the body shape is noticeable. If she opts for jeans, then they have to be the skinny ones, but have to be worn together with shoes that are high, as opposed to flat. A simple vest is also considered nice on a woman. If she opts for a top, men like it when she leaves a bit of her cleavage out. Some men consider seductive underwear to please in parties. Most men like heels because they think that they enhance height, and most of all, flatter the body, when a woman is walking. The most admired shoe to men is the ‘almond’ toe. Some men find jewelry on a woman attractive, however most men do not like it when a woman wears so many of them. Many will find it attractive when a woman puts on simple earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. However, women with so many piercings are disliked as they are considered, prostitutes. What a man dislikes seeing on a woman Men hate women in gladiator sandals. This is because they consider them as outdated. Tunics and smocks are considered as a big ‘no’. Generally, any long garment that camouflages, hides, or shrouds according to many men, makes a woman appear pregnant. Capri pants are considered to make a woman look stupid. Oversized shades are considered as â€Å"ridiculous.† Wearing plenty of makeup is considered an enormous mistake. No man prefers a woman who has a lot of make-up. In fact, many of the men consider women being most attractive to look at when they are somewhat undone. What a man thinks According to Imam, the following is what the outfit of a woman says to men. Imam identifies that to a man, a woman who proclaims of wearing designer clothes is insecure or just shallow minded. Some men consider women who find labels as a priority, to be lost. Consistent to Imam, some flee when they notice a woman with designer tags, as they get worried about their balance on their credit cards, in case they start dating. Most men consider women with high heels as â€Å"high-maintenance† (Leman 182).  To a woman, stilettos are a source of power and encouragement. However, in a man’s mind he wonders how much fun she can be having standing while balancing on a six-inch bar. Some men are even worried when walking on the streets with their women on the six-inch shoes as they walk supporting them, so as not to twist their ankle. In the man’s mind at that moment is the worry of having to spend all the night inside the emergency room. Though some men find it appealing when a woman puts on sexy clothes the environment and circumstance where she puts them on is important to them. Some are worried about their prospective dates wearing minis on an outing with their colleagues because they are worried of how their colleagues will judge them. To a man, according to Imam, red lips are a symbol of a powerful, contented, and competent woman. A man is so much attracted to a woman with red lipstick such that when he looks at them he just waits for her to say anything, and he obliges. A man knows best, the way a woman is required to dress since he fantasizes about a woman every time. The clothes that a woman puts on, to a man, define the kind of lifestyle she leads, how confident she is with her body, and therefore how much she can expose. In addition, the classiness and fashion of a woman, to a man, can be defined by her hairdo and makeup. Moreover, the taste and kind of personality that she has can be defined by the choice she makes when it comes to cologne and heels. A woman who is aware of the way to carry a ‘powerful dressing’ in a womanly way is found to be extremely hot, by a man (Hasan 133). A woman in male dress tops to a man is beautiful and powerful. In addition, she is found seductive and feminine. Imam identifies that the women in t hese kinds of clothes, to men, are clever and have great elegance. They are aware of how to command a situation no matter how hard (Geraldo 52) Men like seeing women in a 4-inch maximum heel. They consider anything longer than that weird. However, despite being in fashion nowadays, women in jumpsuits are disliked. In addition, women with lighter shades of makeup and a slight contour are found fascinating. In accordance to Imam, men do not like a woman who puts on so much foundation on their face, and puts on very funny hairstyles (Geraldo 54). Overall, when a man likes a woman, he likes every bit of her. He also wants her to appreciate herself. Therefore, to a man, if a woman puts on garments that do not reveal her shape, the man worries that she might not be comfortable in it, and thereby loose her natural beauty due to embarrassment.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most beautiful thing to a man regarding a female is the body, its lines, and silhouette (Gurian 157).So, men do not like when women cover themselves so much. However, a woman should wear what she feels comfortable in, and her man will appreciate it. In the end, a woman should appear her best. If one is comfortable in her skin and her body, she is on a captivating streak. Any messages a man might read on a woman’s clothing can be outmoded by her inner glow, a smile, coolness, as well as poise. What a man thinks about a relationship In case a man fails to give a name to repeated intimate and social interactions, it is a simple sign that he is unprepared for a long-term relationship. For a majority of males, a title comes with a lot of pressure, accountability and responsibility. When couples fail to live according to the expectations arguments are bound to occur, and eventually, the relationship, for one or both partners, can lack fun. In such a situation, it becomes import ant for the woman to evaluate how she sees herself in the man’s future. This is because in relationships (mostly those that have been there for sometime) dramatic, intense, and life altering circumstances, can occur anytime. This is the reason a majority of the men prefer the ‘friends with benefit’ situation (Hasan 176). Consequently, as most men get bored with such kind of a relationship, the outcome depends on the woman’s decision as to what kind of relationship she wants. If she wants the ‘friends with benefit’, or a concrete relationship then it is her choice to make. Either way, the woman cannot force the man to do something, which he has not made up his mind to do. Barker, Geoff. What is on a Mans Mind: What Every Woman Needs to Know. Sydney: New Holland, 2006. Print. Batthyany, Alexander, and Avshalom C. Elitzur. Mind and Its Place in the World: Non-reductionist Approaches to the Ontology of Consciousness. Frankfurt: Ontos, 2006. Print . Geraldo, Sam. A Womans Guide to the Male Mind: Mens Real Views on Dating, Mating and Sex. Bloomington, Ind: AuthorHouse, 2011. Print. Gurian, Michael. What Could He Be Thinking?: How a Mans Mind Really Works. New York: St. Martins Press, 2003. Print. Hasan, Servet. How to Read Any Mans Mind. Bloomington, Ind: AuthorHouse, 2004. Print. Imam, Zurain. What men want women to wear? August 22, 2012. Web. https://tribune.com.pk/story/423410/whats-on-a-mans-mind/. Leman, Kevin. Making Sense of the Men in Your Life: What Makes Them Tick, What Ticks You Off, and How to Live in Harmony. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000. Print. Lewis, Lonnie J. Mans Mind: Wouldnt You Want to Know? Sal.: Trafford On Demand Pub, 2011. Print.

The Runs Test for Random Sequences

The Runs Test for Random Sequences Given a sequence of data, one question that we may wonder is if the sequence occurred by chance phenomena, or if the data is not random. Randomness is hard to identify, as it is very difficult to simply look at data and determine whether or not it was produced by chance alone. One method that can be used to help determine if a sequence truly occurred by chance is called the runs test. The runs test is a test of significance or hypothesis test. The procedure for this test is based upon a run, or a sequence, of data that have a particular trait. To understand how the runs test works, we must first examine the concept of a run. Sequences of Data We will begin by looking at an example of runs. Consider the following sequence of random digits: 6 2 7 0 0 1 7 3 0 5 0 8 4 6 8 7 0 6 5 5 One way to classify these digits is to split them into two categories, either even (including the digits 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) or odd (including the digits 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9). We will look at the sequence of random digits and denote the even numbers as E and odd numbers as O: E E O E E O O E O E E E E E O E E O O The runs are easier to see if we rewrite this so that all of the Os are together and all of the Es are together: EE O EE OO E O EEEEE O EE OO We count the number of blocks of even or odd numbers and see that there are a total of ten runs for the data. Four runs have length one, five have length two and one has length five Conditions With any test of significance, it is important to know what conditions are necessary to conduct the test. For the runs test, we will be able to classify each data value from the sample into one of two categories. We will count the total number of runs relative to the number of the number of data values that fall into each category. The test will be a two-sided test. The reason for this is that too few runs mean that there is likely not enough variation and the number of runs that would occur from a random process. Too many runs will result when a process alternates between the categories too frequently to be described by chance. Hypotheses and P-Values Every test of significance has a null and an alternative hypothesis. For the runs test, the null hypothesis is that the sequence is a random sequence. The alternative hypothesis is that the sequence of sample data is not random. Statistical software can calculate the p-value that corresponds to a particular test statistic. There are also tables that give critical numbers at a certain level of significance for the total number of runs. Runs Test Example We will work through the following example to see how the runs test works. Suppose that for an assignment a student is asked to flip a coin 16 times and note the order of heads and tails that showed up. If we end up with this data set: H T H H H T T H T T H T H T H H We may ask if the student actually did his homework, or did he cheat and write down a series of H and T that look random? The runs test can help us. The assumptions are met for the runs test as the data can be classified into two groups, as either a head or a tail. We keep going by counting the number of runs. Regrouping, we see the following: H T HHH TT H TT H T H T HH There are ten runs for our data with seven tails are nine heads. The null hypothesis is that the data is random. The alternative is that it is not random. For a level of significance of alpha equal to 0.05, we see by consulting the proper table that we reject the null hypothesis when the number of runs is either less than 4 or greater than 16. Since there are ten runs in our data, we fail to reject the null hypothesis H0. Normal Approximation The runs test is a useful tool to determine if a sequence is likely to be random or not. For a large data set, it is sometimes possible to use a normal approximation. This normal approximation requires us to use the number of elements in each category and then calculating the mean and standard deviation of the appropriate normal distribution.

Sustainable design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sustainable design - Essay Example Sustainability involves all spheres of life and none of the spheres could be ignored as these spheres are interrelated. Sustainability involves development of an ecologically aware, socially just and economically responsible society (Web: "What is Sustainability & Why Is It so Important"). Sustainability as defined by World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) is, "forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" (Web: "Definition For Sustainability"). Sustainability is imperative in order to assure that a constant supply of water, material and resources will be available to prevent health and well being of the living beings and on the other hand to protect the environment from hazards (Web: "Sustainability"). E.g. A continuous water wastage may lead to water scarcity for future generations. However, it is destined to desalinate saltwater, with sustainable use of water one can postpone the fat ed time. 2. How is sustainability a new way of thinking? How is it related to ecology and systems thinking? Sustainability enables one to think in a novel way. It enables one to understand the balance between society and natural resources as natural resources play vital role for the existence of life on the planet. However, the natural capital stock and services of ecological systems contribute for the welfare of human beings (directly or indirectly) and represent the economy of earth. Estimations reveal that economic value for the whole biosphere approximates to US$ 16-54 trillion per annum. It is essential to understand the estimates to make the services of ecosystems apparent, to highlight the magnitude of global ecosystem services, to understand the areas seeking urgent attention, motivate research and debate. It could be concluded that problems and uncertainties are attributed to the representation of minimum values. Ecosystem involves habitat and biological systems. Living bei ngs derive food (goods) from the ecosystem while services in the form of waste assimilation, together they are referred as ecosystem services. E.g. natural resources provide job prospects to many while living forms fulfill some part of the nature's requirement (Costanza et al., 1997). 3. How can designers integrate principles of sustainability into their designs and promote the sustainability movement? Why are the social and cultural aspects of sustainability so important? A growing concern is observed regarding appreciation of nature among the policy makers and decision maker in private companies to transform an unsustainable system to a sustainable system by involving the fundamental that economic growth is not solely a social event but it is also an environmental episode. Thereby, igniting a feeling to focus on green economy to make certain a sustainable as well as desirable future. Therefore social and cultural aspects of sustainability is imperative in order to promote social e quality, eradication of poverty and to secure future of the coming generations in terms of natural resources. Such focus is further harmonized by means of biodiversity as well as ecosystem services, since resilient ecosystem is essential for long-term socio-economic development (Web: "Nature And Its Role In The Transition To A Green Economy"). Principles of Sustainable Design and Pollution Prevention (Kim, 1998) Economy of Resources- Strategies include conservation of energy, water and

Latin America And The World Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Latin America And The World - Term Paper Example Brazil Latin Americans give a lot of importance to their families and relationships. Traditionally the families use to have male head and astringent patriarchal structure where men use to have all the â€Å"say† and last word in the decisions. However, after the independence when many male family heads were either killed or imprisoned, females took the charge of the families. Montilla, a Brazilian author said that: "The traditional idea where the wife stays home and the husband works are not common anymore, the two of them are working. It's not negative in most cases. Many enjoy the space. When they come together they reconnect in a powerful way.† Mexico In the movie; Camila, directed by Maria Luisa Bemberg, the character of Camila narrated the situation of 1984 in Latin America. It was the time when Catholic beliefs in the hands of male authorities were suppressing the existence of females. It was a step taken to break the concrete ceilings that use to exist in the minds of Latin Americans. Camila became the voice of women of that time to rescue their rights and privileges. It was a bold question posted on priests and fathers of the churches that whether Christianity is against women? Is it against female freedom? Does it not allow a female to take her own decisions and most importantly what if males take wrong decisions, are they bound to be obeyed and can a woman raise no voice against it? The magnificent piece of magical realism where supernatural is so carefully blended with ordinary, Like Water for Chocolate, is written by Laura Esquivel.

Organisational Change Essay Example for Free

Organisational Change Essay Organizational change is also known as organizational transformation and it may involves organisational change in mission, introducing new technology, restructuring operations, introducing new programmes, mergers, re-engineering and having new major collaborations. (Bridges 1991) Organizational changes are aimed at achieving some set organizational goals and objectives which need to be a attained within a given period of time. In many cases changes in the organizational are provoked by some outside forces which includes taking care of new markets, substantial cut in finding, need for increase in services and productivity among others. There are many approaches that managers uses to introduce change in the organization, some are planned, explicit and structured while others are more unfolding, implicit and organic. Managers goes for the approaches that will be supported by all the employees and those that will enable the organization to maximize the profit margin as they achieve the set goals and objectives within the set time frame. Some approaches works from the future to the present where by the managers uses the organizations vision to plan all the organizational activities aiming at achieving the vision while other approaches works from the present to the future which may include pointing out the currents needs of the target clients and then making the necessary changes towards achieving those needs. This is the best approach since the clients and other stakeholders are the backbone of any organization and they determine the success of the any business (Easterby 1999). Identifying their needs should be a continuous exercise which should be followed by implementing the necessary changes which will facilitate in satisfying their needs hence building a good and strong customer relationship which will lead to increased sales hence increasing the Organizational profitability (Dent 1999).  Aegon UK  is a member of the AEGON Group which is among the worlds largest life insurance and pension company. The company is the owner of different life insurance, pensions, adviser and management businesses in the UK (Folger 1999). The company has 27,000 employees and a total of over 25 million customers worldwide with its main markets being in Netherlands and the United States. Factors That Lead To Change One of the major hindrance for decision making is a clear understanding of the working environment where the decisions made will be operated. (Brewster 2004) Proper understanding of the working environment improves the decision making and it minimizes uncertainty. In the UK where life expectancy has risen in the past few years, people are expected to retire for a longer period of time hence the need to think ahead and save for retirement, an idea that many people find difficult to comprehend. (Kotter 1979) Many people do not properly plan about their retirement hence they suffer during the old age since they do not be have enough money for survival and on the other hand the government is also emphasizing on reduced dependency on the state in old age. This resulted to many insurance companies coming up with new cheap pension schemes who also emphasized on employee pension (Hultman 1995). The Industry Aegon operates in the life insurance and pension industry which for the past few years had a poor reputation. Some organisations in the industry has been blamed of mis-selling where by they do not give the customers quality products that satisfy their needs. (Johnston e 2004) The Financial Services Authority (FSA) introduced some regulations in the industry which were aimed at avoiding such situations from happening again in the future. The industry has been faced with intense competition where by AEGON is competing with other organisations that are well known in the UK and they specialise in selling directly to the customers (Kirkman 2000). The company normally distributes its services and products to customers through financial advisers. For AEGON to remain competitive it had to take care of all the problems that the industry was facing. Reasons For Change Historically AEGON had been very successful and profitable but some times back the government introduced some regulations that reduced the organisations profitability. Comparing the company with its competitors, AEGON was not well known though it had very good services and products and it also had good relationship with the distributors. (Strebel 1996) For consumers to have the confidence of investing in a long term product, they have to know more about the organisation they are planning to invest with by learning more about the brands that are being offered by the organisation and by understanding the value of each brand. As AEGON offered different brands it was hard for the financial advisers and the consumers to identify and understand the different depth and breadth of the brands. Facilitators of Change AEGON company appointed a new (CEO) Chief Executive Officer who entered into the office with new strategies for the company and the first thing that he implemented was to bring AEGON into a discovery phase which would help him in achieving the goals he had for AEGON. The CEOs goal was to develop the best long term savings and protection business in the UK while the discovery phase was aimed at finding ways of achieving those goals. (Kegan 2001) Another aspect that needed consideration was the companys brands and how they could be audited. The company was examined both internally and externally to find its position in the market. The process of auditing was aimed at giving more information about the company which assisted AEGON in making more informed decisions which were needed to start the process of change. Creating a New Culture Culture refers to the attitude and the personality of an organization and it is also involves the shared values, behavior and beliefs of the employees and other stakeholders (Morgan 1997). It acts as a key part in the change process since it dictates the way in which the organisation and the stakeholders solve problems and makes decision. By developing a new culture, AEGON was able to provide services and products that were required in the market hence they were able to remain competitive. A Behavior Framework In order to support the new culture, AEGON came up with a behavior framework which was aimed at strengthening the brand values. It was designed in such a way that it could influence how all the employees in the organisation could work and make decisions where by the behavior emphasized the values of AEGON. (Coetsee 1999) The company also introduced a Management Development Programme which emphasised on eight main behaviors which are, think customer, embrace change, encourage excellence, act with integrity, decisive actions, work together, learn and grow and finally relate and communicate (Piderit 2000). Implementing The Change The organisation has emphasised on the customers needs which determines the decisions, behaviour and it also informs actions. The senior mangers keeps the customers needs at the heart of all the operations in AEGON while the other managers and professionals innovates with the needs of the customers in mind so that they come up with products and services that can satisfy the needs of the customers. AEGON brand have been extensively promoted alongside Scottish Equitable or other brands are traded under it. Association with AEGON is stronger where by the Scottish Equitable is currently AEGON Scottish Equitable which reflects the local knowledge and the global power. Currently all the brands has a new look that is common, different and refreshing. Impacts Of The Changes Implementing change in AEGON affected it both externally and internally. Internally the changes influenced how the people behaved and communicated while the organisational operations has been focused on satisfying the needs of the customers. Great emphasis has been on making information clearer so that the customers can be in a position to understand the company well so that they can do business with them. The company has intensively done external promotional campaigns and it has managed to launch new innovative products aimed at satisfying the customers needs. This changes has worked very well for AEGON since the company has been able to maximise its profit. Currently AGEON brand is in a position that it influences the financial services in the industry. Challenges The main challenge that AEGON is facing is that the competition is growing at a very fast rate in an increasingly difficult market. This has forced the government to implement some regulations to govern the industry. To fight competition, AEGON should maintain two way communication channel which should be open and they should emphasis on getting feedback from all the stakeholders. This feedback is very important since the stakeholders can inform the organisation where they might be going wrong and can even give some recommendations which can work very well for the company hence being ahead of the competitors which leads to maximising the profit margins of the company. The stakeholders can also help the company in identifying the needs of the customers hence enabling the company to provide what is needed in the market . Also when there is open communication between the management and the employees it is normally very easy to prevent conflicts since the employees will be free to air their grivances hence cultivating a culture of good working relationships in AEGON which will even motivate the workers to work even harder thus enabling the company to realize the set goals and objectives within the set time frame. Conclusion Organisational change is continuous and the process of change is like a journey which will be faced by external factors that can affect the operations of the organisation. AEGON respond to the external factors was by clarifying, simplifying and strengthening its brand in the UK. As the organisation changes, its culture and pattern of behavior develops which is a cycle which requires the business to use the knowledge it has to learn from the experiences. This has enabled AEGON to move towards achieving its goals through realizing its full potential while they remain competitive in the market. Taking care of the needs of the customers increases the sales of the company since many customers will be interested in the products or services that are being provided by the company hence increasing sales which in turn increases the profit margin of the company.

Robert Hughes Culture of Complaint: the Fraying of American :: Hughes Robert Essays

Robert Hughes' Culture of Complaint: the Fraying of American Robert Hughes, a native Australian, spent twenty years in the United States and assumed many traits that are typical of Americans before publishing Culture of Complaint: the Fraying of America. His evaluation finds that America is a country more focused on appearance than reality. Americans would rather complain than change. Instead of analyzing the problem of American culture, Hughes attempts to present himself as an ideal critic, scholar, and journalist. He seems more concerned with reputation that academics. Like the work of Alexis de Tocqueville, which has remained the benchmark for the study of American culture since the 1830s, Hughes wants his theories to become widely read and universally accepted. Some of Culture of Complaint is interesting and insightful, however, Hughes comes off as the ‘typical’ American that he chastises in his writing: arrogant, inconsiderate of others, and above all, full of complaints. Hughes overemphasizes America’s infatuation with political correctness, but fails to understand the real issue. It is undeniably true that â€Å"no sifting of words is going to reduce the amount of bigotry in this or any other society† (21). However, racist labels are prevalent in American society which remind minority groups of their inferior status. The professional football team in our nation’s capital is called the ‘Redskins.’ This moniker is the result of a politically incorrect past that has not been rectified. Political correctness intends to change the way we label things so that minority groups are not excluded or demeaned. Certainly Hughes would object to calling a rugby team in Australia the ‘Sydney Blackies.’ Hughes was right in understanding that political correctness will not cause dramatic changes, but racism in any form, no matter how small, is bad for society. Regardless, he spends too much time discussing this issue . Political correctness warranted more attention for Hughes than it does in the national media today. It is quite telling that only five years after its publication this material is already outdated. Throughout Hughes’ text the reader is bombarded with the tedious, albeit extensive, litany of his readings. He has â€Å"read a lot of books in the last forty-five years, since (he) became a conscious and addicted reader at the age of about nine† (107). However, instead of writing about works he is familiar with, he should write about what he has learned from undertaking this honorable hobby. Robert Hughes' Culture of Complaint: the Fraying of American :: Hughes Robert Essays Robert Hughes' Culture of Complaint: the Fraying of American Robert Hughes, a native Australian, spent twenty years in the United States and assumed many traits that are typical of Americans before publishing Culture of Complaint: the Fraying of America. His evaluation finds that America is a country more focused on appearance than reality. Americans would rather complain than change. Instead of analyzing the problem of American culture, Hughes attempts to present himself as an ideal critic, scholar, and journalist. He seems more concerned with reputation that academics. Like the work of Alexis de Tocqueville, which has remained the benchmark for the study of American culture since the 1830s, Hughes wants his theories to become widely read and universally accepted. Some of Culture of Complaint is interesting and insightful, however, Hughes comes off as the ‘typical’ American that he chastises in his writing: arrogant, inconsiderate of others, and above all, full of complaints. Hughes overemphasizes America’s infatuation with political correctness, but fails to understand the real issue. It is undeniably true that â€Å"no sifting of words is going to reduce the amount of bigotry in this or any other society† (21). However, racist labels are prevalent in American society which remind minority groups of their inferior status. The professional football team in our nation’s capital is called the ‘Redskins.’ This moniker is the result of a politically incorrect past that has not been rectified. Political correctness intends to change the way we label things so that minority groups are not excluded or demeaned. Certainly Hughes would object to calling a rugby team in Australia the ‘Sydney Blackies.’ Hughes was right in understanding that political correctness will not cause dramatic changes, but racism in any form, no matter how small, is bad for society. Regardless, he spends too much time discussing this issue . Political correctness warranted more attention for Hughes than it does in the national media today. It is quite telling that only five years after its publication this material is already outdated. Throughout Hughes’ text the reader is bombarded with the tedious, albeit extensive, litany of his readings. He has â€Å"read a lot of books in the last forty-five years, since (he) became a conscious and addicted reader at the age of about nine† (107). However, instead of writing about works he is familiar with, he should write about what he has learned from undertaking this honorable hobby.

Proposing an Hris System Essay

Planning the future of the organization will require training, and mentoring from key employees. The current Human Resource Information System does not support the information that is required to complete the project. Management is proposing to implement a new Human Resource Information System. Human Resource Information System is a computerized system designed to bring together information for strategic planning, operational, and, administrative. The most time spent in Human Resource is administrative management. Human Resource Information System is designed to improve efficiency and assist with streamlining paperwork. There are five major categories in a business that the Human Resource Information System supports. Labor relations in the HRIS will support Union negotiation, employee information, and auditing records. Human Resource Planning and Analysis supports organizational charts, attendance analysis, job description tracking, staffing, recruiting, and turnover analysis. Compensation and benefits, wages, benefits, vacation, and pay structures. Compliance regulations are also supported by HRIS; Equal Opportunity Employment, workforce utilization, and applicant tracking. Safety and training development are also supported by the HRIS software. HRIS software is available by many different software companies; the following are just a few HRIS software that are available. Bamboo Human Resource Software, Employee Connect Software, Human Resources Microsystems, J. D. Edwards Enterprise One, and Employee Connect. The software must be compatible with the organizations current job-costing system and will require the reports to coincide. This will need to be a customized feature and will require a tailored software. The software listed above is available to as is and will not support our job cost software. Management would like to implement a new Human Resource Information System before the new fiscal year. The new fiscal year begins in April 2013. The first process will be posting a Request for pricing from multiple pre-qualified Human Resource Information System Software companies. The schedule will only allow a maximum of one month to select a final vendor to begin the process of tailoring the software. The concerns that management have are some of the organizational factors, such as labor force, company budgets, bad planning, and competition. Labor force is down due to budget cuts and the transition to new software will require overtime and possibly hiring temporary help for data entry. The current company budget does not have the profit to support a substantial increase in additional labor. The planning schedule for a new Human Resource Information System will need to be monitored closely. Management is concerned about the possibility of going over schedule and increasing the labor cost more than more than what is in the budget. Management has come up with a budget of forty-five thousand dollars. This budget includes the cost of software, labor force, and new equipment to support the new Human Resource Information System. The return on investment for the new software and equipment that management hopes for will be worth more than the cost. The benefits of having a Human Resource Information System that produces reports for compensation, time off, and labor needs. The new Human Resource Information System will also give our organization the ability to be competitive in capturing labor trends and needs. Planning for the future of the organization will also be a huge benefit factor. The time and cost that will be saved over time will pay for the upgrade in less than two years. When the system is up and running management foresees that four full-time positions will need to be eliminated due to the efficiency and lack of work for the four workers. References Chauhan, A. , Sharma, S. , & Tyagi, T. (2011). Role of HRIS in Improving Modern HR Operations. Review Of Management, 1(2), 58-70.

Dinner Table Conversations

Dinner table conversations had been considered as contributor to the learning of the child particularly to the language skills and reading skills. A number of randomly-selected parents were asked to participate in the study by allowing their dinner table conversations to be audio-taped. Their conversations were analyzed and it was found that the dinner table conversations the child has with his parents can be a basis for the learning output of the child. It has improved vocabulary and reading skills of the child. It can also be an avenue for the development of the social-well being of the child.DISCUSSIONIt is most probably that the family is complete in gathering during dinner. Because of that, of the three important meals of the day, dinner was viewed to be of importance not in terms of nutritional benefits but of learning. Dinner table conversations have been viewed as an important factor that affects a child’s learning positively. There could be a lot of ways that it could improve language and cognitive learning of the child. First thing that a dinner conversation can do would be to improve the faculty of language of the child. Learning and broadening the knowledge about the language starts early.It has been said that children speak the language even before they could understand it (Snow and Beals). During dinner, the parents of the child can help the child improve his vocabulary with the parent’s guidance. At dinner, many stories both by the children and the parents are told. In that case, explanatory and narrative talk is what being utilized. Results show that the degree of their explanation and narration depends on the level of vocabulary of the child. It was also found that narrative talks during a young age allow for an easy definition of terms when they get six years older.Results also showed that narrative talks at a very young age of two can help improve reading skills when the child gets into grade 2. It also showed that explanatory t alks are related to the scores the child can get in school. These findings only show that dinner table conversations with both the children and the parents participating on it can improve the language skills of the child by improving his vocabulary and the reading skills. And why wouldn’t it? The parent’s assistance helps them to recognize what they could have said wrong are what exactly are the words they are using.The parents also guide them to use the appropriate words. The child may use words that he has only heard of from other people of from watching the television and may not understand what it really means. The child would use those words and when the parents could hear of it, the parents could correct improper use of the words and if it is inappropriate to use. The parents also have the option to â€Å"filter† the words that the child may use by commanding the child not to use such words or by not introducing such words. Introducing new words is also a good way of improving vocabulary.Reading skills are improved because the child had already learned of the words and clearly understand what a certain statement conveys. When a child doesn’t understand what the word means, it is more likely that the child wouldn’t understand what he read or heard. These findings also tells that it is good that both the parents and the child are present during the meal especially while the child is very young since the child’s learning at that very young age is critical for the learning output a few years from now.If the child could start early with his improved language skills, he can do a lot better when he gets older. In some cases though, the contribution of the mother to the child is greater than that of the father probably because the mother is at the primary level of care giving to the child (Ely et. al,). But dinner table conversations not only affect cognitive learning of the child. It could also contribute to the social- well being of the child. The child can see many things from his parents and may look at it as examples.Parents may consciously shape up to be the best example for the child (Pontecorvo, et al. , 2001). The parents mold their kids through teaching appropriate use of the language. The parent may teach the child how to use words to convey a message that sounds polite and not being rude. Also, by having conversations, the child gets to have a wider perspective of a lot of things and can use those to analyze and critically think over certain things. During conversations, the child is also encouraged to participate by telling what goes through his mind and is encouraged to clarify his thoughts.That is a very important behavior especially in class. If the social-well being of the child can be molded while they are still young, then, they should be molded while still young. And if this can happen during conversations during dinner, then let it be. This only tells that parents have the respo nsibility to look forward to the future of their children and prepare them for what they could be. The study was conducted based on random sampling of the family. The study is more focused on the descriptive analysis of the data.It would be difficult, though, to quantify the results because words or language is involved. The method used to correlate the trend with practical implications was statistical analysis. Their correlation determined what it could contribute towards the conclusion, but, dinner table conversation can really be a basis for the learning output of the child. It is difficult to say, though, that there is an absolute relation between dinner table conversations with both the parents and the child participating on it and the child’s future learning output.One problem may have risen during the data gathering. It is possible that the parents were being conscious with the way they held their conversations with their children and was aware that they are being tape d. In that way, they may have deviated from their natural way of having a conversation within the family. The way they have behaved during the data gathering may be a bit different from how they behave when they are in that unsuspecting mood. They may have tried to be more polite and avoided making rude comments because they want to make an impression.The age of the children participating in this study was from two to five and a half. The learning output was taken into account several years after the dinner table conversations. The learning output cannot be attributed solely to the dinner table conversations the child had during his earlier years. There are a few questions that are yet to be answered by conducting further researches, like, how long a conversation should be to make it effective?Does the improvement in language skills due to dinner table conversations encompasses all types of people and all races? ; and would it matter if the parents are not the one present during the dinner and having conversation with the child? This study is very good basis for child development. Because of the findings, perhaps, even the government may promote complete gathering of the family during dinner time. Parents with very young children would surely be interested to start conversations with their child.

Free Essays on Diversity In The Workplace

Organizational Behavior STAYING AFLOAT IN THE STORMY SEAS OF DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION While the benefits of diversity in the workplace have long been trumpeted, businesses would do well to consider the problems surrounding diversity and diversity training. Research into the subject reveals startling and costly problems that can arise if the subject is handled wrong. A focused approach is necessary to avoid any one of the problems that can lead to disaster for a business. The first of these problems is that managers face an automatic uphill battle: most employees, minority and majority groups alike, are largely distrustful of diversity training. This effect is multiplied by the tightrope walk of neither over- or under-emphasizing diversity, with either extreme leading to resentment and ineffectiveness. This is possibly the biggest danger in diversity training and helps explain the controversy of whether or not diversity is really good for business. Many companies using ineffective programs have either seen no advantage or worse, the programs have caused the opposite effect of resentment and a fractured corporate culture. While sustaining this balancing act, managers must also face pressure from above. During the economic downturn of the last few years businesses have cut spending across the board. In this environment expensive diversity programs have been among the first areas that businesses look to scale back in order to conserve. The final challenge facing diversity programs is a new dimension in diversity programs. Learning the etiquette and customs of other cultures becomes necessary as companies look to expand into the global market. The sheer complexity and breadth of knowledge needed to operate on an international scale promises to bring the subject to the forefront of diversity programs in the next decade. RESEARCH Employee cynicism is the first hurdle that diversity managers must ov... Free Essays on Diversity In The Workplace Free Essays on Diversity In The Workplace Diversity in the Workforce Diversity is the things about people that make them different, not just culturally but human differences. Having a multitude of differences in the workforce gives an organization the ability to utilize many ideas to reach one common goal. One could say that a diverse group of people together in one room can accomplish greater achievements than a room filled with the same types of individuals. In the workforce diversity can be gender differences, age, education levels, and marital status. Diversity in the workplace can also create diversity in the other areas of life. When companies value diversity it gives the organization the ability to utilize the opinions and viewpoints of all it employees to create a better working environment as well as allowing the employees to know that the company they represent cares about its workers. Manager?s understand this concept of diversity and how important diversity is to the success of a companies ability to implement programs that continues to de velop a harmonious and diverse workplace. According to Daft (2003) such programs that ?builds a corporate culture that values diversity; changing structures, policies, and systems to support diversity, and providing diversity awareness training? (p.450). Cultural change starts with the CEO?s, the presidents, as well as top managers. They are the leaders of organizations. Managers should first educate themselves of different cultures and the behaviors of people, how they interact with one another. Managers can utilize this information to understand the behaviors of their employees. They can also get to know different cultures so that there are no bias opinions about a particular group of people. Employees want to know that the organization they are with will be concerned with their personal needs as well as continuing to provide a comfortable work environment no matter what their cultural background is. Centuries ago, workin... Free Essays on Diversity In The Workplace Organizational Behavior STAYING AFLOAT IN THE STORMY SEAS OF DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION While the benefits of diversity in the workplace have long been trumpeted, businesses would do well to consider the problems surrounding diversity and diversity training. Research into the subject reveals startling and costly problems that can arise if the subject is handled wrong. A focused approach is necessary to avoid any one of the problems that can lead to disaster for a business. The first of these problems is that managers face an automatic uphill battle: most employees, minority and majority groups alike, are largely distrustful of diversity training. This effect is multiplied by the tightrope walk of neither over- or under-emphasizing diversity, with either extreme leading to resentment and ineffectiveness. This is possibly the biggest danger in diversity training and helps explain the controversy of whether or not diversity is really good for business. Many companies using ineffective programs have either seen no advantage or worse, the programs have caused the opposite effect of resentment and a fractured corporate culture. While sustaining this balancing act, managers must also face pressure from above. During the economic downturn of the last few years businesses have cut spending across the board. In this environment expensive diversity programs have been among the first areas that businesses look to scale back in order to conserve. The final challenge facing diversity programs is a new dimension in diversity programs. Learning the etiquette and customs of other cultures becomes necessary as companies look to expand into the global market. The sheer complexity and breadth of knowledge needed to operate on an international scale promises to bring the subject to the forefront of diversity programs in the next decade. RESEARCH Employee cynicism is the first hurdle that diversity managers must ov...

5 top customer service jobs for 2018

5  top customer service jobs for 2018 Are you looking for your next great job opportunity? If so, then you may want to consider a position in customer service. It’s a growing field with lots of opportunities in a variety of industries and settings, and the great news is that as a customer service professional you’ll build key transferable skills that you can use across the industry and even in other professions if you ever decide to make a major career change in the future. Need more reasons to consider pursuing a customer service job? According to the most recent Occupational Outlook Handbook  published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for customer service representatives span nearly every industry imaginable and are projected to grow approximately 5% over the next decade. There are positions available in a variety of settings, including telephone call centers, offices, and retail stores, and both full-time and flexible part-time positions are possible. In addition, on-the-job training is often provided for individuals interested in pursuing employment in the field.The following are five of the most promising customer service jobs, based on available opportunities and forecasts for projected growth over the next several years.1. Computer support specialistAre you a whiz with computers and enjoy helping people? If so, then consider a position as a computer support specialist. These customer service professionals provide guidance and assistance to individual computer users, companies, and organizations. They help troubleshoot problems, support computer networks, and provide technical assistance as needed.Although the majority of computer support specialists work in full-time positions, there are a variety of different opportunities and arrangements available, including part-time work, contract work, and overnight work. Most professionals in the field have extensive computer experience and a college degree. The typical salary range for computer support specialists is be tween $49,000 and $63,000, depending on your location, industry, and experience level. Good news- the field is expected to grow approximately 10% over the next decade, and since individuals and companies routinely upgrade their computer equipment and software, you can count on there always being a need for qualified individuals.2. Financial clerkDo you have an interest in working in finance? Although financial clerks typically hold support roles in the industry, if you have a capacity for numbers and an interest in the world of finance, then perhaps a position as a financial clerk is a good idea for you. Financial clerks are typically responsible for handling the administrative responsibilities of the organizations that employ them, including recordkeeping, customer assistance, and basic financial transactions.Most financial clerks are employed in full-time, 9-to-5 positions and are found in bank branches, government agencies, and medical offices, as well as a variety of other indus tries. Educational levels for financial clerks can vary depending on the field and responsibilities of the role. The average salary for a financial clerk is approximately $38,000 and can vary depending on location, industry, and experience level. Over the next decade, the employment outlook for financial clerks looks promising, with growth around 9% expected over the next decade.  3.  Information clerkIn many ways information clerks serve as the backbones of the companies that they work for, providing vital services such as record-keeping and maintenance, data collection, customer assistance, and more. Nearly every industry employs information clerks to help them operate efficiently, so if you choose to pursue a job in this field you’ll likely encounter a wealth of opportunities.Most information clerks are employed in full-time positions; education levels required to enter the field can vary depending on the responsibilities of any given role. The average salary range for an information clerk is approximately $32,000 and can vary depending on location, industry, and experience level. Over the next decade, the employment outlook for financial clerks is expected to grow around 3% over the next decade.  4. Insurance sales agentDo you have an interest in working in the insurance industry? If so, then pursuing a position as an insurance sales agent might be a good goal for you. Agents often work on the front lines and serve as the crucial primary point of contact with customers who are interested in obtaining various types of insurance products. In addition to explaining the options available to them, agents answer questions and provide guidance during the entire process- which hopefully ends in customers obtaining the right insurance plans to meet their needs.Insurance agents typically work full-time positions in office settings and travel as needed to meet with clients. Typically, a high school diploma or some level of college is required to enter th e field. The average annual salary for an insurance agent is right around $50,000, and the long-term outlook for the field is promising- employment is expected to grow around 10% over the next decade.5. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representativeA great option for those looking to establish roots in the customer service industry is to go after a position as a wholesale and manufacturing sales representative. Individuals employed in this role typically sell products for wholesalers or manufacturers to other businesses or organizations. They’re expected to handle a wide array of customer service responsibilities, from serving as the primary point of contact to answering questions, to enticing potential customers, to negotiating prices.Individuals in this field often work on a commission basis; although they constantly feel the pressure of meeting a sales quota, salaries for successful sales representatives can make the effort worthwhile. The typical salary range for wholes ale and manufacturing sales representatives is between $57,000 and $79,000, depending on the type of products sold, location, industry, and experience level. Typically, a high school diploma or some level of college is required to enter the field for non-technical product sales; for more technical or scientific product sales, a college degree is typically needed. Long-term outlook for the field is promising- employment is expected to grow around 6% over the next decade.If you think a job in the customer service field might make sense for you, consider pursuing a position in one of these five top customer service jobs- each has an excellent outlook for 2018 and the foreseeable future. Good luck!

Factor influencing the consumers' intention to purchase online the Essay - 2

Factor influencing the consumers' intention to purchase online the retail industry in Thailand perspective - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the methodology may refer to the approach and measures used to gather statistical data, and the calculations used to arrive at the specific results.   Walker in supporting this statement stated that methodologies allow researchers to retain the questions under investigation and may involve numerous methods of collecting data in targeting information from participants towards investigating how different elements relate in understanding the research question.   To meet this goal and accomplish the objective and aims of a research the methodology becomes the backbone of the entire investigation.   All calculations and investigations in a research have to apply the best methodology, such as having the correct data collection method in arriving at the appropriate result of the intention to carry out this research. The conceptual framework in this research can be derived from the literate review and other theories on consumer decision making, the attitude of individuals towards online shopping and the behavior of most consumers in online shops, e-marking configuration and the quality of the website. Consequently, the framework, in this case, aims at establishing the objectives of the research. The research will use a survey, which is a method of systematically collecting data using questionnaires. In this research, it would be easier to use online questionnaires on social sites such as Facebook, in personal emails or even in university emails. Burns noted that a descriptive survey in such a research may be more appropriate where a huge number of respondents will be identified and their frequencies in online shops counted. Such an approach will make it possible to determine the characteristics of consumer beliefs, behaviors and attitudes in such online shops. In this approach, theories used in the literature review will be tested and quantitative methods used to verify such theories. The survey design will also ma ke it possible to have responses from a huge number of consumer respondents at much shorter periods and at much lower costs. Such a method will be effective in determining factors that influence consumers in making a purchase decision.

Influence of human surroundings on buildings Essay

Influence of human surroundings on buildings - Essay Example In older styles, such as Gothic, Romanesque or Renaissance, these are more evident of times gone by, periods of architecture which are no longer built. Yet some of these influences are reflected in the current-day buildings and consequently, are considered vernacular. Therefore, it is easy to claim that vernacular is a combination of styles, without the influence of any one particular architect or stylist (Arboleda 2006). Vernacular architecture is considered to be crafted by the builder, according to the desires of the owner who may also be the builder too. Over time, buildings such as these, when created through trial and error in first processes, become perfected and then reflect the style of the society or environment within which it resides. Rather than pursuing the aesthetic quality or some egotistical vision of a particular artist/architect, vernacular building is more about accomplishing the factors of function and ecological assimilation and also providing comfort of living at the same time (Ladd 2003). Local materials are used as well as local workers and this also provides a sense of the place having grown from the ‘roots’ of the local social environment. Vernacular building can also be representative of local observances such as a church and its flock of worshipers and provide remembrance of the religion through how it is built, according to the belief structure of those who will use it. The local populace in older times, were craftsmen who utilized functional skills in preparing materials and in the creation of infrastructure which was to provide a functional, well-built building, created to withstand much of nature’s harsh storms and other events, commiserate with that local population and environment (Ladd 2003). In America, log cabins are considered to be the early American style, consistent with the early settlers who built their homes using the trees around them. Today’s pre-packaged version in whatever wood choice y ou want, represents that stereo-typed tradition of the early days without the hassle of having to cut it down yourself. Of course, you could do it that way if you own the land you plan to build on and have the physical energy to do so. While vernacular building was representative of times gone by, including historical references, today’s version is more about sustainability, technological advances in building processes, and referencing the social and natural environment around the location (Arboleda 2006). The vernacular building is created to provide the necessities of life such as shelter, warmth and a place to cook and eat food. It is created to suit the owner and to also meld within the local social infrastructure. Apartment buildings are a type of vernacular building in that they are built, not necessarily with a particular style, but to suit the basic needs of anyone renting an apartment there. The basics include a main room, bedroom(s), bathroom(s) and the kitchen. In some cases, specifically-intentioned dining rooms are also included in those costing a little more. This is

Sexual predators of young children in the Internet Essay

Sexual predators of young children in the Internet - Essay Example The online security risk of children from pedophiles has been made all the more higher because of easy access through the Internet. As the government tries to secure children however, where parents could be rest assured of some security, pedophiles have become wiser in securing information as in library files or through other means.Parental advice have been made available.As technology advances, information conveyance also advances. Thus the risk of various crimes such as human trafficking, including pedophilia, and illegal material trade caused by online incidents is all the more high. This paper looks into pedophilia particularly its risk on children as aided by the Internet.According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2000), pedophilia is under the case of paraphilia. It is described as a psychosexual disorder in which a person fantasizes or is committing an act of sexual activity with pre-pubertal children (APA 2000). For online pedophiles, there are two categories: the dabbler and the preferential offender (Bennett and Hess 2001).The dabbler is essentially a typical adolescent searching for pornography, a curious adult with a newly found access to pornography; or a profit-motivated criminal. The other category named preferential offender is usually a sexually indiscriminate individual with a wide variety of deviant sexual interests or a pedophile with a definite preference for children (Bennett & Hess 2001).Historical antecedents... As reported in Christian Science Monitor (Ford 2004), there is even an open child-sex market identified as being in the German-Czech border district that began in 1996 with child prostitutes, the youngest being 6 years old. The pedophile case in the U.S. ranks second in the crimes being reported in the news (Killias 2000). Current importance. The Internet has become a primary medium by which pedophiles exchange images and experiences with one another. Many of these pedophiles belong to international organizations and web rings that are known to distribute pornographic images of children as well as other related material (Lesce 1999). Through Internet chat rooms, podcasts and streaming radio, pedophiles from diverse backgrounds are able to share information, swap stories, politically organize and even give tips on how to distribute to children a printable booklet that extols the benefits of sex with adults. Despite the illegality and societal outrage having sex with minors, the Internet support groups help them justify their behavior (Dawson, 2006). Many online pedophiles that target youngsters are aware of the needs and desires of the young and use their knowledge to exploit the youth through seduction or manipulation (U.S. Department of Justice 2007.). The trouble is that as stated by California's Megan's Law Online, not all sex offenders are caught and convicted (Office of the Attorney General 2007). Controversy. Some pedophiles regard themselves as pushing for legalization of child pornography and the loosening of age-of-consent laws. They view themselves as fighting for children's rights to engage in sex with adults. A Dutch group, in fact, formed a pedophile political party, and celebrated when a Dutch court

History Of Social Services In England Social Work Essay

History Of Social Services In England Social Work Essay In 1992 the Department of Health (DH) and the then, Social Services Inspectorate, in England, published the findings of a survey of two social services Departments in relation to abuse. This publication found there to be a lack of assessments in large numbers of elder abuse cases and little evidence of inter-agency cooperation. The report recommended guidelines to assist social services in their work with older people (DH/SSI 1992). During the 1990s concerns had been raised throughout the UK regarding the abuse of vulnerable adults. The social services inspectorate published Confronting elder abuse (SSI 1992) and following this, practice guidelines No longer afraid (SSI 1993). No longer afraid provided practice guidelines for responding to, what was acknowledged at that time, as elder abuse. It was aimed at professionals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and emphasised clear expectations that policies should be multi-agency and also include ownership and operational responsibilities (Bennett et al 1997). This guidance was issued under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and gives local authority Social Service departments a co-ordinating role in the development and implementation of local vulnerable adult policies and procedures. In 2000, the department of Health published the guidance No Secrets. The purpose of No Secrets was aimed primarily at local authority social services departments, but also gave the local authority the lead in co-ordinating other agencies i.e. police, NHS, housing providers (DOH 2000). The guidance does not have the full force of statute, but should be complied with unless local circumstances indicate exceptional reasons which justify a variation (No Secrets, 2000) The aim of No Secrets was to provide a coherent framework for all responsible organisations to devise a clear policy for the protection of vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and to provide appropriate responses to concerns, anxieties and complaints of abuse /neglect (DOH 2000). Scotland Historical In December 2001, the Scottish Executive published Vulnerable Adults: Consultation Paper (2001 consultation) (Scottish Executive, 2001). This sought views on the extension of the vulnerable adults provisions to groups other than persons with mental disorder and the possible introduction of provisions to exclude persons living with a vulnerable adult, where the adults health is at risk. A joint inquiry was conducted by the Social Work Services Inspectorate and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland. Both of these agencies were linked with the central government of Scotland who had responsibility for the oversight of social work services and care and treatment for persons with mental health problems. In the report by the Scottish Executive (2004), a case of a woman who was admitted to a general hospital with multiple injuries from physical and sexual assault and who had a learning disability became the focus for change for Scotland in terms of adults who have been abused. The police investigation identified a catalogue of abuse and assaults ranging back weeks and possibly longer. In June 2003 the Minister for Education and Young People, Peter Peacock MSP, asked the Social Work Services Inspectorate (SWSI) to carry out an inspection of the social work services provided to people with learning disabilities by Scottish Borders Council. At the same time, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWC) also undertook an inquiry into the involvement of health services, though worked closely with SWSI during its inquiry. The two bodies produced separate reports, but also published a joint statement (MWC and SWSI, 2004), which summarised their findings and stated their recommendations. The findings included: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ a failure to investigate appropriately very serious allegations of abuse à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ a lack of information-sharing and co-ordination within and between key agencies (social work, health, education, housing, police) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ a lack of risk assessment and failure to consider allegations of sexual abuse a lack of understanding of the legislative framework for intervention and its capacity to provide protection à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ a failure to consider statutory intervention at appropriate stages The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (ASPA) is a result of the events that were known as the Scottish Borders Enquiry. Following the various police investigations, it was identified that there were historical links between the client and the offenders who were later prosecuted in terms of statements held by social services department detailing the offenders behaviour towards the woman and that this information was held on file. The Scottish Executive (2004) described the case as extremely disturbing but even more shocking to many that so many concerns about this woman had been made known and not acted on. As a consequence, 42 recommendations from the inquiry were made and there was a specific recommendation which was taken to the Scottish Executive and involved the provision of comprehensive adult protection legislation as a matter of urgency as there had been concerns raised from political groups and high profile enquiries to provide statute for the protection of adults at risk of abuse in Scotland (Mackay 2008). The Scottish framework links with three pieces of legislation. In 2000, the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act [AWISA 2000] was passed and focused on protecting those without capacity with financial and welfare interventions for those unable to make a decisions. Second, the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act (2003) [MHSA (2003)] modernised the way in which care and treatment could be delivered both in hospital and the community and improved patients rights. Finally, the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act (2007) [ASPSA (2007)] widened the range of community care service user groups who could be subject to assessment, and mainly short-term intervention, if they were deemed to be adults at risk of harm. Mackay (2008) argues that the Scottish arrangements both mirror and differ from those of England and Wales. She maps out the intervention powers for adults at risk of harm into a type of hierarchical structure known as a pyramid of intervention which aims to reflect the framework of the various pieces of Scottish legislation and goes onto say that the principle underlying all of the legislation is minimum intervention to achieve the desired outcome. Critique of definitions. In England, the No Secrets (2000) guidance defines a vulnerable adult as a person aged 18 or over and who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation (DOH 2000 Section 2.3) The groups of adults targeted by No Secrets were those who is or may be eligible for community care services. And within that group, those who were unable to protect themselves from significant harm were referred to as vulnerable adults. Whilst the phrase vulnerable adults names the high prevalence of abuse experienced by the group, there is a recognition that this definition is contentious. ADSS (2005). The definition of a vulnerable adult referred to in the 1997 consultation paper Who Decides issued by the Lord Chancellors Department is a person: who is, or may be in need of Community Care Services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness: and who Is, or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation (Law Commission Report 231, 1995) There are however broader definitions of vulnerability which are used in different guidance and in the more recent Crime and Disorder Act (1998) it refers to vulnerable sections of the community and embraces ethnic minority communities and people rendered vulnerable by social exclusion and poverty rather than service led definitions. There is concern, however, that the current England framework is more restricted than it should be, and that the problem is one of definition. The House of Commons Health Committee, says that No secrets should not be confined to people requiring community care services, and that it should also apply to old people living in their own homes without professional support and anyone who can take care of themselves (House of Commons Health Committee, 2007). Even within the ADASS National Framework (2005) it has been argued that vulnerability seems to locate the cause of abuse with the victim, rather than placing responsibility with the acts or omissions of others (ADASS, 2005) The Law Commission speaks favourably of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which, it says, understands vulnerability purely through the situation an adult is placed [in] (Law Commission, 2008). It is now becoming questionable whether the term vulnerable be replaced with the term at risk. If we were to look at the current legislation in England surrounding the investigations of abuse to adults, there are none, however there are underpinning pieces of legislation which whilst not in its entirety focus specifically on the adult abuse remit, but can be drawn upon to protect those most vulnerable. There are many duties underpinning investigations of adult abuse, but no specific legislation. The NHS and Community Care Act 1990, section 47 assessments can be implemented in order to consider an adults need for services and can therefore consider any risk factors present at the time of the assessment. From this, assessment and commissioned services can support people who have been abused or can prevent abuse from occurring. The National Assistance Act (1948) deals with the welfare of people with disabilities and states that the: local authority shall make arrangements for promoting the welfare of person whosuffers from a mental disorderwho are substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or other disabilities and gives power to provide services arising out of an investigation out of the NHS Community care Act 1990. (Mantell 2009). The Fair Access to Care Services 2003 (FACS) recognises that community care services will be a vital aspect of adult protection work (Spencer- Lane, 2010). Interestingly the eligibility criteria that superseded Fair Access to Care from April 2010 (Prioritising Need in the context of Putting People First: A whole systems approach to eligibility for Social Care), continues to place adults who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, in Critical and substantial needs criteria banding, as FACS did. Another definition of a vulnerable adult is cited within The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006), (SVG Act 2006), and defines a vulnerable adult as: A person is a vulnerable adult if he has attained the age of 18 and: (a)he is in residential accommodation, (b)he is in sheltered housing, (c)he receives domiciliary care, (d)he receives any form of health care, (e)he is detained in lawful custody, (f)he is by virtue of an order of a court under supervision by a person exercising functions for the purposes of Part 1 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43), (g)he receives a welfare service of a prescribed description, (h)he receives any service or participates in any activity provided specifically for persons who fall within subsection (9), (i)payments are made to him (or to another on his behalf) in pursuance of arrangements under section 57 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (c. 15), or (j)he requires assistance in the conduct of his own affairs. This particular act appears to take an alternative approach to the term vulnerability. It refers to places where a person is placed and is situational. (Law Commission, 2008). Following the consultation of No Secrets, one of the key findings of the consultation was the role that the National Health Service played in relation to Safeguarding Vulnerable adults and their systems. The Department of Health produced a document titled Clinical Governance and Adult Safeguarding- An Integrated Process (DOH 2010). The aim of the guidance is to encourage organisations to develop processes and systems which focused on complaints, healthcare incidents and how these aspects fall within the remit of Safeguarding processes and to empower reporting of such as it identified that clinical governance systems did not formally recognise the need to work in collaboration with Local Authorities when concerns arise during healthcare delivery. The definition of who is vulnerable in this NHS guidance, refers to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) and states that any adult receiving any form of healthcare is vulnerable and that there is no formal definition of vulnerability within health care but those receiving healthcare may be at greater risk from harm than others (DOH 2010). In the Care Standards Act 2000 it describes a Vulnerable adult as: (a) an adult to whom accommodation and nursing or personal care are provided in a care home; (b) an adult to whom personal care is provided in their own home under arrangements made by a domiciliary care agency; or (c) an adult to whom prescribed services are provided by an independent hospital, independent clinic, independent medical agency or National Health Service body. Similar to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, the Care Standards Act 2000 classifies the term vulnerable adult as situational and circumstantial rather than specific and relevant to a persons individual circumstance. Spencer-Lane (2010) says that these definitions of vulnerability in England have been the subject of increasing criticism. He states that the location of the cause of the abuse rests with the victim rather than the acts of others; that vulnerability is an inherent characteristic of the person and that no recognition is given that it might be contextual, by setting or place that makes the person vulnerable. Interestingly Spencer -Lane (2010) prefers the concept of adults at risk. He goes on to suggest a new definition that adults at risk are based on two approaches as the Law Commission feel that the term vulnerable adults should be replaced by adults at risk to reflect these two concerns: To reflect the persons social care needs rather than the receipt of services or a particular diagnosis What the person is at risk from whether or not the term significant harm should be used but would include ill treatment or the impairment of health or development or unlawful conduct which would include financial abuse Spencer-Lane (2010) also argues that with the two approaches above, concerns remain regarding the term significant harm as he feels the threshold for this type of risk is too high and whether the term in its entirety at risk of harm be used whilst encompassing the following examples: ill treatment; impairment of health or development; unlawful conduct. Unlike in Scotland, there are no specific statutory provisions for adult protection; the legal framework is provided through a combination of the common law, local authority guidance and general statute law (Spencer-Lane 2010). Whereby in England the term vulnerable adult is used, in Scotland the term in the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 uses the term adults at risk. This term was derived by the Scottish Executive following their 2005 consultation were respondents criticised the word vulnerable as they believed it focussed on a person disability rather than their abilities, hence the Scottish executive adopted the term at risk (Payne, 2006). Martin (2007) questions the definition of vulnerability and highlights how the vulnerability focus in England leaves the deficit with the adult, as opposed to their environment. She uses the parallel argument to that idea of disabling environments, rather than the disabled person, within the social model of disability. She goes on to comment that processes within society can create vulnerability. People, referred to as vulnerable adults, may well be in need of community care services to enjoy independence, but what makes people vulnerable is that way in which they are treated by society and those who support them. It could be argues that vulnerability and defining a person as vulnerable could be construed as being oppressive. This act states that an adult at risk is unable to safeguard their own well-being, property, rights or other interests; at risk of harm and more vulnerable because they have a disability, mental disorder, illness or physical or mental infirmity. It also details that the act applies to those over 16 years of age, where in England the term vulnerable adult is defined for those over the age of 18 and for the requirement under the statute is that all of the three elements are met for a person to be deemed at risk. ADASS too supports the use of risk as the basis of adult protection, although its definition differs from the one used in Scotland. It states that an adult at risk is one who is or may be eligible for community care services and whose independence and wellbeing are at risk due to abuse or neglect (ADASS, 2005) The ASPSA (2007) act The Scottish Code of Practice states that no category of harm is excluded simply because it is not explicitly listed. In general terms, behaviours that constitute harm to others can be physical (including neglect), emotional, financial, sexual or a combination of these. Also, what constitutes serious harm will be different for different persons. (Scottish Government, 2008a p13). In defining what constitutes significant harm, No Secrets (2000) uses the definition of significant harm in who decides? No Secrets defines significant harm as:- harm should be taken to include not only ill treatment (including sexual abuse and forms of ill treatment which are not physical), but also the impairment of, or an unavoidable deterioration in, physical or mental health; and the impairment of physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural developments (No Secrets, 2000. The ASPA (2007) act also goes onto detail that any intervention in an individuals affairs should provide benefit to the individual, and should be the least restrictive option of those that are available thus providing a safety net on the principles of the act (ASPA, 2007). The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 says: harm includes all harmful conduct and, in particular, includes: conduct which causes physical harm; conduct which causes psychological harm (e.g. by causing fear, alarm or distress) unlawful conduct which appropriates or adversely affects property, rights or interests (e.g. theft, fraud, embezzlement or extortion) conduct which causes self-harm N.B conduct includes neglect and other failures to act, which includes actions which are not planned or deliberate, but have harmful consequences Interestingly the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (section 44) introduced a new criminal offence of ill treatment and wilful neglect of a person who lacks capacity to make a relevant decision. It does not matter whether the behaviour toward the person was likely to cause or actually caused harm or damage to the victims health. Although the Mental Capacity Act mainly relates to adults 16 and over, Section 44 can apply to all age groups including children (Code of Practice Mental Capacity Act 2005). The Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) published a National Framework of Standards to attempt to reduce variation across the country (ADSS 2005). In this document the ADSS 2005 updated this definition above to :- every adult who is or may be eligible for community care services, facing a risk to their independence (ADSS 2005 para 1.14). England and Scotland differences with policy/legislation Definition of vulnerability Three part definition to definition of at risk of harm Harm might be caused by another person or the person may be causing the harm themselves no category of harm is excluded simply because it is not explicitly listed. In general terms, behaviours that constitute harm to others can be physical (including neglect), emotional, financial, sexual, or a combination of these. Also, what constitutes serious harm will be different for different persons. Code of Practice, Scottish Government (2008) Defining vulnerable: adult safeguarding in England and Wales Greater level of contestation in defining VA in adults than children. Doucuments in wales and England are very similar. In safe hands document is greater but both are issued under the provision of section 7. Whilst they are guidance, there is a statutory footing behind them. No Secrets (DH2000) defines vulnerable in a particular way: Is a person who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. No Secrets paragraph 2.3 Lord Chancellors Department, Who Decides (1995) The ASP Act introduces new adult protection duties and powers, including: Councils duty to inquire and investigate Duty to co-operate Duty to consider support services such as independent advocacy Other duties and powers visits, interviews, examinations Protection Orders: assessment, removal, banning and temporary banning Warrants for Entry, Powers of Arrest and Offences Duty to establish Adult Protection Committees across Scotland Harm includes all harmful conduct and, in particular, includes: a) conduct which causes physical harm; b) conduct which causes psychological harm (for example: by causing fear, alarm or distress); c) unlawful conduct which appropriates or adversely affects property, rights or interests (for example: theft, fraud; embezzlement or extortion); and d) conduct which causes self-harm. An adult is at risk of harm if: another persons conduct is causing (or is likely to cause) the adult to be harmed, or the adult is engaging (or is likely to engage) in conduct which causes (or is likely to cause) self-harm N.B conduct includes neglect and other failures to act (Section 53)