Education †Morality Essay

Education is not only cognitive and intellectual learning, and learning of skills and work-related competences. It is much broader to include moral and ethical issues, values, attitudes, religion, spiritualism, art and more. It is, indeed, important to focus on this when education in schools and universities has become a large â€Å"industry† and when the world, instead of becoming more peaceful, seems to be more confrontational than before. The main reason behind this scenario, that I see, is that students are being taught and not trained and also the fact that teachers do not have any target for teaching instead they teach for the pay they get and sincerity with the profession is waning very fast. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM The educational system that I see should be one that suits all the citizens of the country. It should consider the cultural, ethical, moral, religious and economical norms of the society and should produce respectable and responsible citizens for the society as a whole and a dignified and confident person. |This point arises due to the fact that every country consists of multi-cultural and multi ethical societies with different religious and economic backgrounds. Thus the system should have contents that may not hurt the morals and values of any person and also produce effective results that can be calculated as per the prosperity of that particular society or country as a whole. PURPOSE OF EDUCATION The foundation of our work as educators is moral and ethical education. We must teach the right values and the right ways of analyzing issues. We must seek what is true and act accordingly. Part of that is to learn that we are all responsible for our own attitudes, decisions and actions. We must use education to foster equality between sexes, classes, people of different geographic areas, creeds, colors, cultures and religions. We must learn to understand the importance of solidarity among groups at home and across the borders in order to create peace, development and prosperity. Besides this we are also imparted with the responsibility of teaching science, commerce and arts subjects to the students using latest techniques, information and research to enable our students to prepare themselves to be a productive part of the society and compete with the world in the respective fields of their study. Major areas that a teacher may address are as follows: 1. To help students gain literacy: This is supposed to be the top most priority as if a student is literate he or she may mold in any society and get adapted to its culture and norms without losing its own. 2. To enable students to use and enjoy their learning experiences: Here a student gets in hand expertise to use what it learned during the schooling period to better their social and personal life in a given environment. 3. To teach students to believe and respect others, to contribute to the well-being of their community: A learned person better knows whom to respect and whom not too, who deserves to be valued and who does not, and gets bold enough to express its feelings in a dignified and respectful way in the society. He is able to distinguish between duties bestowed upon him by the community and tries to serve the community within available resources. 4. To give students the opportunity to learn how to inquire and discover new information: When a student learns through experimentation and reasoning he tries to use the same technique throughout his life and does not accepts all and sundry information without analyzing it. 5. To help students develop broader understandings of new information: This enables a student understand and characterize given information and then apply it in his daily life. 6. To help students develop the skills and values they will need to function in a free and just society: Last but not the least it makes sure that a student is made aware of the morals and values of religion and society and to act accordingly not hurting any ones feelings and making progress accordingly in the society individually and as a community as a whole. In the process of enabling the students to get all the above qualities they are supposed to be taught different subjects but should be encompassed under the umbrella of a just religion and that is Islam not because we live in the Islamic Republic Of Pakistan but due to the fact that Islam is the only religion that addresses to all the matters discussed with command and covers all the topics amicably, may it be the moral, cultural, and or ethical values or upbringing, or the contemporary studies of science, commerce and arts. Reference: 1. http://www. intime. uni. edu 2. www. nation. com. pk †º Columns.

Cover Letter for Front Desk Position

Dear XXX, I would like to express my interest in the summer front desk internship offered by (Company Name) This internship would allow me to gain knowledge and experience in the hospitality industry and apply what I have learned throughout my collegiate education. Hopefully the internship would lead to a career opportunity as well.I will be graduating May 2006 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Management with a Minor in Entrepreneurship. This position is a one that I believe I would excel at. Not only am I self motivated and eager to succeed, but I also work well in groups and have effective communication skills. This was noted in my Organizational Structures and Behavior Management course when I was awarded for outstanding group presentation.This enthusiasm for success and team player attitude will allow me to constantly strive to work with others to better serve customers and complete daily tasks during the front desk internship. Past exp erience in the retail industry as a sales associate at Academy Sports and Outdoors has also equipped me with quality customer service skills that can also be applied to the front desk internship. I am an excellent listener and problem solver, which enables me to adapt to changing and challenging situations.My organizational skills also allow me to multitask and manage my time effectively when performing daily tasks and meeting deadlines. I hope that you will consider me for the summer front desk internship. My skills and capabilities acquired in previous work experiences and education would benefit both you and me if I gained this internship. Enclosed is a copy of my resume for you review. I would appreciate the opportunity and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, (Your Name) Enclosure

Racism and xenophobia Essay

â€Å"Behind any conflict, whether it is in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sudan, genocide in Rwanda, apartheid in South Africa, problems in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, you are sure to find racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia or a related intolerance. Without dealing with this frankly and honestly we cannot ever hope to achieve total respect for human rights† (Vorster, 2002). For centuries, countries have to deal with racial conflict. The growing problem of racial discrimination caught the public attention during the German Nazi campaign to eliminate the Jews during the Second World War. There is more to the idea of cultural preservation that is contained in the element of racism. The Germans find a scapegoat in the Jews as its solution to the country’s internal woes. Self-protection is the primary method being employed in establishing the answers to the questions of the greater population. In an economic crisis, people want solutions to the difficult plight that they are in. The government is just too willing to hand over to them the twisted truth of the matter on hand. The historical accounts that spark the Second World War continue to linger on today. Situations that happen in the Balkans and the Middle East are results of an enduring hatred fueled from Germany’s Nazism. Ethnic conflicts still exist in many parts of the world. But the enduring difficulties in Africa have kept the entire globe glued on the ongoing tussles of violence and instability. Respect for human rights is a thing of the past in the poor continent. People are slaughtered. There is neglect on the value of life. Cultural differences have led the world to useless wars. Individuals have this mindset of protecting their own traditions, beliefs and interests. They view other people outside their clan as serious threats in the continuity of their way of life. â€Å"A somewhat vague psychological concept describing a person’s disposition to fear (or abhor) other persons or groups perceived as outsiders. Xenophobia may have a rational basis to it, such as when it refers to a worker whose job is threatened by the intrusion of migrants whom he labels as outsiders and therefore fears† (Vorster, 2002). To them, anything unfamiliar to their group or tribe appears to eliminate the very existence that they are protecting over the years. Usually people involve in racial encounters are those clusters of transitory migrants. It cannot be denied that seeking greener pastures is always being pursued. Families leave a difficult situation for a brighter future. These people end up in other countries where tolerance for new residents is unacceptable. One good example of racial conflict can be seen in the land of milk and honey. The United States as a melting pot has to undergo the pains of giving birth to a new nation. Different nationalities have shaped America into what it has become today. Still the danger of racial disturbance is due to erupt anytime. American citizens bring with them the legacy of their mother countries. Equip with the culture and traditions which are entirely new to other people can be distressing or disturbing. The British have contrasting beliefs from the Asians and the Arabs. What is acceptable to one can be a threat to the other. The resurgence of foreign population into developing countries has the governments worrying. Organizations and committees protecting the interest of a nation are tasked to protect its citizens from intruders. In discouraging the continued presence of unwanted migrants, people are resorting to violence to end or to dash cold water on the hopes and dreams of visiting nationalities. The only way that resident citizens see as the effective weapon in stopping immigrants is unleashing the threat of bloodshed. Killings are warranted as warning signs for new aliens and incoming foreigners. The continued entry of thousands of immigrants annually will remain a threat to many people. For instance, the wall being constructed to limit the entry of Mexicans into the American borders can be racially motivated. â€Å"The common denominator in racism and ethnicism (or ethnocentrism) is the consciousness of the distinction and tension between us (as the â€Å"in group†) and them (as the â€Å"out group†). With the â€Å"we feeling†, and subsequent solidarity, in one’s group as the standard, a group (whether ethnic, racial or religious) can judge other groups by the standards and values of their own, producing according to Marger a view of one’s own group as superior to others† (Vorster, 2002). Almost always, bloodshed brings a glaring and immediate message of destruction which is so typical of xenophobia. Settlements among conflicts are abrupt and direct to the point. The only problem is lives are being sacrificed. There is no regard for human value if personal interests are at stake. People limit their alternatives to annihilation due to the permanent effect of the action taken. Cultural miscommunication often leads to chaos. Violence is an option rampant in many situations since it is the easiest way to settle conflicts. It puts an end to disagreements permanently at the expense of human lives.

I have decided to conduct my research on comparing and contrasting the Essay

I have decided to conduct my research on comparing and contrasting the romanticism and enlightenment period. I plan on focusing - Essay Example As â€Å"the government has re imposed the Anglican Book of Common prayers and has debarred the Non Conformists from holding religious meetings outside the established Church .A series of religion-fuelled crises forced Charles to dissolve Parliament, and led to the division of the country between two new political parties: Tories, who supported the king, and the Whigs, the king’s opponents.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Norton Anthology Of English Literature).Everything including Science went through development ,Time and Space were explored, development of Microscope and telescope opened new sense of vision, the authority of Aristotle and Ptolemy was broken and a new concepts were explored .The writers of this reign called this period Augustan as they believed that the English life has reached to the culminating period of civilization which existed in Rome under the rule of King Augustus. The art was formalized and there was little appreciation of Nature or beauty. The men of this age exalt ed the reason and regularity. They carried dislike for the emotions, enthusiasm and strong individuality as exhibited in the previous generation literature they sought for a conventional uniformity in manners, speech, and in everything else, and were uneasy if they deviated far from the approved, respectable standards of the body of their fellows. Great poetic imagination hardly exists among them. The poetry was full of abstract expressions and was intended to secure the elegance it often found substitute in superficiality instead of significant meanings. In the pursuit of highest possible perfection in the literature, as the ancients have achieved, their work resulted in shallow formal smoothness. Their strong tendency of moralising was also not free from conventionality and superficiality. In contrast to this was a period of Romanticism that saw the end of dominance of the Renaissance tradition. It observed the â€Å"fragmentation of consciousness away from the cultural authority of Rome† (Claire Lamont, 274); there was rediscovery of local cultures and vernacular literature. Romantic Literature is strong in many vernaculars of Rome as suggested by Claire Lamont in The Oxford Illustrated history Of English literature. The Romantic period saw the change in philosophy, politics and religion. It observed change in the art such as painting, music and literature. The Romanticism was a direct reaction to the rationalism of the Eighteenth century; it was a reaction to the physical world dominated by the science and the mental world dominated by the theories of Locke. The romantic poets rebelled against the ‘emphases’ on the commonsense and material as dominated by the preceding age. As the Romantic period coincided with the French Revolution there is much enactment of revolutionary ideas in the work of some of the poets. There are two generation of poets that represent the Romantic period, William Blake, Wordswoth and Coleridge are the elder gen eration of poets, and they were fired with revolutionary ideas. William Blake, one of the elder generation of poets was an engraver by profession and he was a great painter, he supplemented his training as painter and engraver by wide reading of the works of Dante, Shakespeare and Milton. The first collection of

Hairstyles of the Damned Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hairstyles of the Damned Discussion - Assignment Example However, his father started sleeping in the basement which worried him about the deteriorating relationship between his parents. It is the concern of Brian about what might happen to their family if things get worse (Meno 24). Question No. 3 – Gretchen is fat by her own admission and also by that of Brian. It is symptomatic of adolescent girls who are still growing up like Gretchen and trying to define their own identities to have low self-esteem. She thinks of herself as gross to look at and she tries to shy away from meeting other people, like eating at the Haunted Trails mall and video arcade. She is supposed to be on a diet and eat only â€Å"white† foods to reduce her weight. Her excess weight poses a problem to her possible romantic relationship with Brian Oswald. The world views Gretchens weight problem as hindrance to wider social acceptance. The rest of the world considered her as fat although she might just be plump or chubby but it is also her big size that contributed to this perception. People usually see fat people as lazy or if it is a girl, possibly as a slut too. Being seen as fat had made Gretchen a target of cruel jokes from her classmates; there is also a subtle discrimination against her (Meno

Why is an education important in today's work force Essay

Why is an education important in today's work force - Essay Example to spend money on training and development, competition between employees have increased, 21st century arrangements require college education and this level of education is essential for a better living standard. The economy is still in recession and organizations are trying to survive the recession by cutting its expensive. Employers are trying to save the cost of training and development and at the same time they desire a workforce that is already trained. College education equips an individual with both hard and soft skills which are required in today’s organization. Due to this college level education allows individuals to gain employment under current economic conditions. Now a day’s even those who have huge amount of experience are competing for entry level positions in order to gain employment. Due to this young individuals who do not have a college education on their resumes are finding it difficult to gain employment. College education provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and abilities that are required for fresh members of the workforce to compete with those who have years and years of experience. Organizations in the 21st century are competing globally; they are no longer producing and selling their goods and services within limited boundaries (Stephens 1). Due to this, organizations need to be able to develop goods and services according to the cultures and customs of people belonging to different regions. They need employees who have the ability to communicate people from different regions to identify their needs and wants. College education equips an individual with interpersonal and communication skills which help these employees in communicating with people from different parts of the world. This then helps organization in developing goods and services in compliance with the needs and desires of customers throughout the world. Individuals who have a college level education are already equipped with soft and hard skills which an

The topic of this paper should explain your ethical stand on Research

The topic of this should explain your ethical stand on environmental issues, in keeping with the focus of this course - Research Paper Example Environmental conservation dictates that the gas must be subjected to treatment before being released into the atmosphere in order to reduce the pollution of the environmental through hazardous gaseous compounds contained in the gas. Despite, getting rid of the waste materials, incineration process generates a lot of heat, which is often used for production of electricity, which on the other side is very useful in a variety of ways. The processes involved in the incineration of waste materials have undergone through evolutionary stages with better and more improved mechanisms being adopted to address the issues of shortcomings of the process at large. Among other issues that have faced great attention in improving the processes involved in incineration are the cleaning and treatment of the gasses emitted as well as safe combustion control methods to ensure the safety of the human beings that are involved in the process. This has therefore led to adoption of favorable precautionary me asures being designed and adopted both for the sake of operations at the incineration plant as well as for the sake of environmental concerns. Environmental ethics as used and applied within the sphere of human interactions regards with esteem the sovereignty of all life. Ethics refer to such activities that expose human beings and other living organisms such as animals and plants to hazardous conditions as unfavorable and this necessitates the design and adoption of other mechanisms of managing waste products, which would ensure the safety of all living organisms including the human beings (Brennan and Lo, 2008). Among notable improvements in the modern day incineration processes is the inclusion of separation stage, which had not been included in the traditional processes. The failure to remove the hazardous materials in the traditional practices exposed the workers to health risks as well as exposing the public to environmental risks. Moreover, the traditional practices failed to utilize the resultant heat for such uses as in generation of electricity. The methods were thus criticized of neglecting ethical concerns, which has great implication to entire life at large. Burning the trash has been advocated for in the methods used in waste-to-energy procedures of waste management practices. It has been used as one of the most effective method of producing renewable energy. It is a method that has been used in converting the residential, hazardous and commercial wastes into more friendly forms, which would be effective in conserving the environment as well as improving human life by reducing the hazards created by the waste materials. Waste food scraps, papers and plastics are among other wastes that are treated through incineration. The combustion of these products produces a lot of heat, which is used within many countries to produce electricity. However, it is worth noting that not all incineration plants adopted worldwide are used for electricity production . Among other benefits cited by the supporters of incineration as a method off addressing wastes are creation of employment, reducing the health risks that are associated with the organic waste materials, environmental conservation and the production of the electricity that can be used for other uses (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, 2012). Incineration process involves a relatively higher number of people who

International Trade Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Trade Theory - Essay Example 235). This novel trade theory has two significant implications. First, on account of the impact of trade on economies, it can enhance the choice of goods available to consumers, while reducing their cost. Second, if the production required for achieving economies of scale is of the order of the global demand, then only a few enterprises will obtain support (Hill & Jain, 2008, p. 235). Consequently, global trade in some commodities could possibly the preserve of the firms who had initially taken the initiative. There are a number of models that relate to international trade, and these models are dealt with in International Trade Theory. The principal objective of these theories is to explain the various ideas that pertain to the transfer of goods and services, across the world. Although, these theories have changed over time, the fundamental principle underlying international trade is more or less similar to the principle, on which domestic trade is founded (International Trade Theory and Policy). In essence, the chief purpose of trade is to maximize profits for the entities involved in the exchange of goods and services. A number of forms are assumed by the economic integration of countries. Some of these are preferential tariffs, customs unions, free – trade associations, common markets, economic unions and complete economic integration. Nations belonging to a specific system of preferential tariffs, levy a higher rate of duty on imports on countries that do not belong to their group. This was evident among the Commonwealth countries, which had established a system of common tariff preferences, subsequent to the year 1919 (Allais, Balassa, Bertrand, Robinson, & Wonnacott, 2011). Unique solutions to economic problems are not possible, as long as competition and trade occur in an environment that is imperfect from the economic perspective. The result of economic endeavors becomes dependent on the behavior of the

The Margin Call Movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Margin Call Movie - Essay Example This move is one of the ethically questionable issues evident in the movie. The decision by Tuld to sell off their assets (the toxic ones) before the opening of the market and before the traders and customers’ suspect of the downfall and worthlessness of company and their assets is one of the biggest and most pronounced unethical and questionable decisions by the company. The moral philosophy in this case is egoism where the egoistic person only selects choices and solutions which are favoring his or her self-interest or that satisfy their egos. The decisions being suggested by some of the senior executives and also being supported by the others is that of sacrificing their own traders who are their loyal customers and deceiving them in order to save the company from losses that it is facing and will eventually face once word gets out about the reduction of mortgage-backed securities by over 25%. The reasoning behind their egoistic philosophical decision is that the market fac es ups and downs but it still remains and therefore this is a normal situation for an investment bank and once the crisis passes, then they will be on their way to making profits and no one will find out about what happened unless someone leaks word out. If this happens, then they are prepared to offer Robertson as a sacrificial lamb through her resigning. Select two alternative moral philosophies that might have led the parties to a different result and, for each one, include a definition of that alternative philosophy

Article review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Review - Article Example It is important to note that this business is not restricted to a particular group of individual since any person can engage in it. For instance, a person operating a small candy shop who has not been licensed is participating in an undercover economy because he or she is not willing to pay taxes on income received from business sales. Additionally, it is very difficult to approximate what percentage of a country’s economy is undercover but it has been argued that capitalistic countries like United States of America have a smaller undercover economy compared to socialistic countries like Russia (Pascale 2010). When people evade paying their taxes, it is dangerous to the economy. If people do not engage in a cash transaction activity, their money in the bank does not get work as disbursed due to the undercover economy, then that capital does not account for anything thus having zero impact to the individual and to the larger economy. The underlying assumptions are that a person engages in undercover economy in order to tame the increasing costs of living due to inflation and stagnant salaries. Most of this people live in rural areas and some are not aware that they participating in undercover economy. In most cases, big firms are the ones that escape stringent policies set by the government because they tend to pay high taxes than any other business. There is no distinction between transparency and undercover economy in the government and business sector. Government and big businesses usually play games with taxpayers’ funds. The secondary claims in this article is that undercover economy is beneficial to the individual since he or she is in a position to use more money to fund his or her activities. However, the undercover economy greatly affects the nations GDP because there is no enough capital to fund government projects and

Human Resource Specialist and the Human Resource Generalist Research Paper

Human Resource Specialist and the Human Resource Generalist - Research Paper Example Furthermore, two articles will be leveraged as a means of analyzing both career past and determining whether or not one particular career path might be viewed as superior to another. It is the further hope of this particular author that such a level of discussion will provide the reader with a more informed and actionable understanding concerning the differentials between these two career paths and means by which human resources professionals seek to leverage change can promote organizational integrity within whatever firm/business/organization they are employed future. The first article that was analyzed, entitled, â€Å"The Activity Of Human Resources Specialists† denotes that the HR specialist is the individual that is generally employed in medium to large enterprises and focuses upon specific details of the employee-employer relationship. As such, the article points to the fact that the specialist is not as involved in the â€Å"big picture† as compared to the generalist; a concern that they authors note as sufficient to encourage many individuals that might be easily bored by the tedium of a daily focus upon small details should avoid (Magdoiu et al. 129). However, for those that appreciate the benefits of working at a larger enterprise and specifically addressing the details of the employer-employee relationship on a daily basis, the career path offers a litany of benefits. Additionally, those the article notes that those individuals that focus their career as an HR specialist tend to have job opportunities over time; as HR spec ialists tend to be in higher demand as compared to HR generalists.   

Ethics in Economics and Finance Essay Example for Free

Ethics in Economics and Finance Essay Ethics is defined as a standard of human behavior that offers how to act in many situations with friends, family members, employees, business people, professionals, etc. It is necessary to mention that to make really ethical decision means to use trained sensitivity to ethical issues. In other words, ethics is associated with acceptable human behavior in this or that everyday or scientific field. Ethics incorporates norms of conventional morality to distinguish ‘wrong’ behavior from ‘right’ behavior. Generally, ethical norms suggest honesty, truthfulness, fairness, integrity, justice and respect for others. Ethics is applied to all aspects of life as, for example, medicine, psychology, business, finance and economics. Financial and economic ethics is considered subset of general ethics. (Frowen, 1995, p. 46) Ethics and Ethical Norms Researches argue that ethical norms and values play important role in maintaining harmony and stability in social life as ethics suggests proper ways of human-human interactions. Ethics recognizes human needs and aspirations, as well as cooperative efforts, fairness and truthfulness. Ethics contributes social stability and ensures balance in all spheres of life and business. Social evolution has developed instinct care in humans to take care of ourselves and of others. Ethical norms are necessary for guiding human behavior and it is refereed to when it is necessary to resolve conflicts between selfishness and selfishness, between conscience and material needs. In finance and economics ethical violations are associated with inconsistency in modern financial-economic theory. Violations are also attributed to inconsistencies in use if principal-agent model of relations in economic and financial transactions. It is noted that the financial-economic theory is based on the rational-maximizer paradigm which promotes capitalist system stressing that individuals are egoistic and they tend to behave rationally when looking for ways of maximizing their own interest. The problem is that modern financial-economic theory contradicts ethical norms of loyalty, fidelity, trustworthiness and stewardship. Moral values are the core of traditional concept of agency, but if humans are claimed to be rational maximizers, then traditional sense is impossible. (Frowen, 19995, p. 47-49) For example, Duska argues that â€Å"to do something for another in a system geared to maximize self-interest is foolish. Such an answer, though, points out an inconsistency at the heart of the system, for a system that has rules requiring agents to look out for others while encouraging individuals to look out only for themselves, destroys the practice of looking out for others†. (Duska, 1992, p. 61) Ethics in Finance Ethics in finance plays important role as it aims at ensuring fair deals and transactions. Moreover, ethics in finance addresses corporate governance, and agency relationships which should be purely contractual. In financial sphere, ethical behaviour should be based on carrot-and-stick approach. In corporate governance the conflict between stockholder and management is described as agency problem. To deal with this problem an agency theory was developed. It stresses that the principal and agent are both self-interested aiming at generating their gain. (Dobson, 1993, p. 7) Researchers say that we tend to entail our needs as, for example, management of retirement savings or stock and bond investing, to financial services as we may fail to carry them effectively. We are not as organized as financial managers, but we are not aware of agency problem. Lack of necessary information limits our ability to monitor managers’ behaviour. Therefore, modern world is characterized by selfish behaviour as people are willing to get their things done by others. Such paradoxical situation explains ethical problems in financial sphere stressing that declining in morality is observed. (Dobson, 1993, p. 8) Ethical violations in finance are rather frequent nowadays and that mainly associated with stakeholder interest, insider trading, investment management and camping financing. Loyalty and trust in public and private dealings are often violated. The most common occurrences are fraudulent financial dealings, corruption in government and public institutions, influence peddling, cheating customers about their trading profits, insider trading, unauthorized transactions, misuse of customer funds in order to obtain personal gain, larceny and corruption in banks, improper pricing of customer trades, etc. Most frequently, unethical behaviour is associated with insider trading which is defined as trading in securities of particular company or organization with an effort to take advantage of information about material side of the company. In such a way, trade is provided with unfair advantage over other competitors in the same security. (Dobson, 1993, p. 59) Therefore, ethical codes are very important in financial filed as they set standards of acceptable behaviour, fair dealing and honest relations with customers. Ethical codes in finance tends to replace egoistic paradigm and to create such system which would promote, honesty, altruism and virtuous traits. It is rather common to fid ethical codes in modern financial markets and financial corporation. In financial markets such ethical codes are established by official regulatory agencies which are trying to ensure ethical and responsible behaviour as important part of all operations and transactions. Furthermore, re-examining of the core principle of capitalist society helps to address ethical problems in both financial and economic fields. Financial ethics suggests that individual should be presented as honest and altruistic promoting honesty and fairness in public and private dealings. The primary purpose of ethic in financial sphere is to set standards of internal good. (Dobson, 1993, p. 60-61) Ethics in Economics Ethics is related with economic sphere in three ways: economists should follow ethical values trying to shape the way they are doing economics; economic actors have ethical values which shape their own behavioural standards; finally, ethical values are important for economic policies and institutions as they affect people differentially. However, from economic perspective ethics is defined as a matter of choice for everyone. Many economists argue that ethical values contribute positively economic welfare. However, there are ideas that economics is ethically neutral. Economists are interested in implication of Adam Smith’s idea that all human are driven by self-interest and egoism. Smith argued that self-interest led to the common good of nation. (Wilber, 1996, p. 135) However, he agreed that human should act in terms of internationalized moral law and police power of the state. Therefore, it is recognized that in economic sphere all figures should act on the basis of acknowledged ethical norms as economy of every country needs efficient ethical behaviour to improve country’s reputation at the world scene. In economics ethics suggests avoiding corruption in government and promoting fair decision-making. It is a matter of fact that ethics is not an easy task for economic system and business as there will be always interest groups which will challenge ethical standards and values. Therefore, economics should pay more attention to ethics and social responsibility, as well as to set ethical codes of behavior. For example, businesses are defined as important institutions in any economic structure. Therefore, they are expected to follow ethical norms when deciding how to organize the work and to produce necessary goods and service. Businesses reflect the overall economic system and unethical behavior may create unfavorable reputation. (Wilber, 1996, p. 139) Conclusion Ethics plays crucial role in all aspects of life, especially in financial and economic sphere. In financial field ethics is associated with fair transactions and dealings, honest buyer-customer relations and avoidance of corruption. In economic field ethics is associated with social responsibility, ethical decision-making as the whole nation depends on them, and, of course, with no corruption on national level. Ethics is necessary not only for maintaining balance and harmony, but also for improving reputation of company, organization, and even country. (Frowen, 1995, p. 68)

Nursing Practices of Alternative Medicine

Nursing Practices of Alternative Medicine Mental Health: Integrative Care Lauren Lane Katie Palmer Integrative care encompasses the nursing practices of alternative medicine. This includes acupuncture, aromatherapy, guided imagery, and many more types of therapies. These therapies are usually centered on the individual patient, and holistically address their variety of needs, including physical, mental, and spiritual foci (Halter, 2014, p 637). We will address nonconventional treatments and explore the different approaches, safety, and nursing care associated with integrative care practices. It is only recently that the United State’s western views of medicine have expanded to include complementary medicine. Western medicine is based on a more scientific approach with highly controlled experiments and research. Complementary medicine comes from mostly non-western sources and is based on nature and its interplay with energy (Halter, 2014, p 638). There was two billion dollars awarded to complementary research in 2011 and the studies results showed that we could neither prove nor disprove complementary medicines worth as a healing tool. There are many who do believe that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) helps them. According to halter, 38% of adults and 12% of children use some type of CAM therapy (Halter, 2014, p 639). It is more widely used among women and mostly used for musculoskeletal problems. We have yet to discover the full effects and responses to CAM, which is still a complicated and controversial matter for the healthcare field. Some of the reasons patients are so attracted to CAM is that it allows them to take action in their own care. CAM also has lower risks than many therapeutic approaches and drug regimens. It is less expensive and provides an alternative to conventional medicine when they are out of options or may have previously had negative experiences with western medicine. As nurses, we can be informed about CAM and help consumers to make smart decisions to complement or give alternatives to routine therapeutic approaches. Our biggest concerns are safety. CAM is still unregulated and not guaranteed to work. Many consumers believe what they read on the Internet even though it may not be accurate information. Just because a supplement is natural or organic doesn’t mean that it is harmless. These natural supplements need to assessed and monitored just like a medication. We also face patients that put off treatment and self treat with alternative therapies that may or may not help their conditions, especially in cases of mental health issues (Halter, 2014, p 640). As costs rise for conventional medicine in the United States, more and more consumers are moving toward alternative therapies. Only some of the alternative therapies are covered by insurance, and this is going to depend on what type of insurance the patient has, or if they have insurance at all. There is a large claim that CAM’s proposed effects are only due to the placebo effect (Halter, 2014, p 640). This is when a type of therapy works for an individual to some degree when the therapy is actually nothing; a placebo. Many believe this is due to the optimism and positive approach to CAM that can often occur. The American Nurses Association (ANA) recognizes integrative care in the profession of holistic nursing. This is an approach that involves the person as a whole, and their biocultural influences. It allows the nurse to view the patient as more than a sum of their parts and all the dimensions that can affect that individuals well being (Halter, 2014, p 642). Nutrition is a very big part of a person’s well being, and has been widely researched. Many people with illnesses can benefit from diet and nutrition changes; research shows that a diabetic patient benefits from a diabetic diet and lower glycemic index foods. Alternative therapies involving nutrition take this same approach to aid in treatment for a variety of disorders. For example, many people believe gluten free diets help children diagnosed with autism, but there has been no concrete evidence to support that claim. There are a lot of diet therapies associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Vitamins, supplements, and herbs are some examples of potential alternative therapies one might chose. Many of these can interact with medications and should be initially assessed in every patient. The patient may not recognize that they need to tell the healthcare provider or nurse that they are taking these alternative supplements and need to be asked specifically. There are many common types of integrative therapy that are common to society today. Herbal therapy includes the uses of herbs like St. Johns wort, which is used for pain and mood stabilization. Ginkgo biloba is another common herb that is used for memory. Many of these have side effects and interactions just like any other medication and should be treated as such. Meditation is a mind and body therapy that involves focusing and deep breathing, which is used to help calm the person. Acupuncture uses needles at pressure points to relieve pain and many other disorders (Halter, 2014, p 644). Aromatherapy is a popular therapy using essential oils on the skin or with a diffuser to target senses that results in a variety of effects such as calming, sleep, energizing and so on. Energy therapies such a Reiki are an expanding alternative therapy that nurses can take classes in. This requires energy manipulation and therapeutic touch as a means to heal and bring wellness to a person depending on their chief complaints. There are many different patients that can benefit from these therapies. Dominantly, psychiatric patients seem to use alternative therapies more than those of any other disorder or illness (Halter, 2014, p 644-645). Depression and anxiety are the main focus. When caring for these patients we would want to make sure we assess the patient for use of alternative therapies, this includes supplements, herbs, and other preferred methods of therapy. This may include doing a cultural assessment of our patient, who may prefer or already be performing alternative therapies based on their beliefs of medicine and health. Diagnosis for this patient might consist of cultural implications like the balance and harmony of nature with the body. In planning and implementing our patient’s care we will want to be sensitive to their preferences of therapy and their cultural values. This could entail a patient with different religious values, like a Jehovah witness who does not accept blood products. When western interventions are not accepted due to religious values, alternative therapies could ne used when planning their care. Alternative therapy may also not be the only therapy being implemented. It can complement medication regimens or other types of western-based therapies, such as the patient undergoing cancer treatment and also taking part in meditation and yoga. Nurses need to assess patients for interactions and different side effects when a patient is using integrative therapies. Not only do nurses need to assess the medication effects but they also need to evaluate for patient outcomes. Is the alternative therapy helping the patient? How does the patient perceive the therapy? Is this therapy safe? These are important aspects to think about when undergoing the nursing process with alternative therapy practices. Overall, alternative therapies are becoming more widely popular due to rising costs and limits of western medicine. Alternative therapy has become a common aspect of the nursing assessment and may coincide with cultural or religious views. Psychiatric patients tend to most use alternative therapies and should be considered along with their care (Halter, 2014, p 647). By being aware, informed, and knowledgeable of integrative care nurses can best serve patients holistically and maximize their safety and wellness. References Halter, M. J. (2014) Varcarolis, Foundations of psychiatric mental health nursing: A clinical approach, 7th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Type 2 Diabetes Individuals

Knowledge and Perceptions of Type 2 Diabetes Individuals Miller, and Achterberg (2000) constructed a multiple choice questionnaire to asses the nutrition and food label knowledge among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus who aged from 40 to 60 years. The questions were placed from the easier to the hard so as to foster confidence among the participants. The questions that measure the factual knowledge were placed in the beginning followed by the more difficult questions (procedural knowledge). The test was designed to be completed within 30 to 40 minutes by most respondents. The reliability of the test was found to be 0.80 based on Kuder-Richardson formula 20(K-R 20). After this the item analysis of the original knowledge test was done. Three questions were deleted from the test because of high index of difficulty (two questions) and item discrimination of only 0.20.The item analysis for the revised version of the test was done and the reliability of the test was found to be 0.81 using the Kuder-Richardson formula 20 (K-R 20) formula. The revised test was administered to 43 women Al Shafaee et al (2008) developed a questionnaire to understand the Knowledge and perceptions of diabetes in a semi-urban Omani population. 563 adult residents of Omani village were interviewed using the questionnaire. The final survey instrument contained 24 items which were subdivided into 5 sections. The first two sections covered the demographics and medical history of the participants. The third section was for the diabetic participants. It covered their diabetic history and glycemic control status. The fourth section included knowledge regarding the diabetes definition, signs and symptoms, risk factors and complications. The final section focused on the community awareness, the participants perception regarding diabetes prevalence, perceived risk of developing diabetes and prevention. Likert-type response scale was used in the questionnaire. To collect data that were otherwise unobtainable with a typical Likert scale, open-ended questions were included which followed a closed e nded question. The questionnaire was pre-tested and piloted within a convenience sample of students and staff at the College. Substantial inter-coding agreement for the scale items was observed (r = 0.86, p Heikes, Eddy, Arondekar, Schlessinger, (2008) developed a Diabetes risk calculator for the U.S. population to calculate the probability that an individual has either undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes. The diabetes risk calculator included questions on age, waist circumference, gestational diabetes, height, race/ethnicity, hypertension, family history and exercise. The tool was validated using the v-fold cross-validation and by performing an independent validation against National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004 data. The data was taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Two tools were built using different methods. The two methods were logistic regression and classification tree analysis. The tool that served the objective of the study was then compared and selected. Classification tree model was chosen on the basis of its equivalent accuracy but greater ease Parmenter, K., Wardle, J. (2000)of use. Dickson-Spillmann, Siegrist, Keller, (2011) developed and validated a nutrition knowledge questionnaire which was administered on participants above the age of 18. The questionnaire initially consisted of sixty-four nutrition knowledge items. Two approaches were used for item generation. The first source of items was through the interviews with the consumers where they were asked about food and health. The second source of items of items was recommendations by Swiss nutrition experts. Content validity was tested by two food scientists who reviewed the questions after which some items regarded as inappropriate by the experts was removed and a few others were re-formulated for enhanced precision and clarity. Twenty items were retained to build the final nutrition knowledge scale that included declarative nutrition knowledge questions on calorie and nutrient contents. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Teede, Harrison, Teh, Paul, Allan, (2011) developed a risk prediction tool to identify gestational diabetes among high-risk women in early pregnancy. The participants for the study were 4276 pregnant women who delivered at Monash Medical Centre, Australia. Previously identified maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus risk factors from large epidemiological studies were considered, including increasing age, increasing Body Mass Index, ethnicity, first-degree family history of diabetes, past history of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus GDM and history of poor obstetric outcome. Logistical regression was used to analyse the data. It was observed that the women’s clinical characteristics were significantly associated (p Koontz et al., in the year 2010 developed and validated a Questionnaire to Assess Carbohydrate and Insulin-Dosing Knowledge in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes. They developed a PedCarbQuiz (PCQ) questionnaire by content analysis using a panel of 14 experts. The panel identified seven domains which was necessary for successful implementation of flexible basal-bolus regimens. Each item of the domain was reviewed and revised by the expert panel. Cronbach alpha and split-half testing was used to check the reliability. Further the scores were correlated with expert assessments, A1C, parent educational level and complexity of insulin regimen to assess the validity of the questionnaire. The final PCQ questionnaire was a 20-30 minute, multiple choice, paper based, self-administered questionnaire that had 78 items. Lai, Chua, Tan, Chan (2012) developed the Diabetes, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia (DHL) knowledge instrument. Twelve experienced pharmacists and researchers formulated the DHL knowledge instrument by using the face and content validity. The researchers when through three drafts before they approved the final draft having 28 questions with 5 domains which was in the true or false form. After this the final draft was piloted on 20 practising community and hospital pharmacists. It also included five diabetic patients in a tertiary hospital. This was done to obtain their feedback concerning the clarity and relevance of the instrument. A nutrition knowledge questionnaire for obese adults was developed by Feren, Torheim, Lillegaard (2010). The process of developing the questionnaire had four main steps. The first step was to evolve a structure that involved collecting literature review about the knowledge of nutrition. This was done to describe the scope of the questionnaire. After the information was collected from the literature review, four main sections to assess the knowledge level were formulated. The second step was to generate the items based on the literature review. 273 items were generated based on six existing nutrition knowledge questionnaires and checked for content validity and face validity by an expert panel. Finally this resulted in 98 items. The third step was to pilot study the questionnaire for internal consistency and item difficulty. This procedure reduced the items to 94 after consultation from the expert panel. The fourth step was to test and re-test it for construct validity and reproducib ility. The final questionnaire had 91 items after the entire process. A descriptive research design was used by Okolie, Ijeoma, Peace, Ngozi (2009) to understand the Knowledge of diabetes management and control by diabetic patients at Federal Medical Center Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria. The sample included 96 diabetic patients who went to Federal Medical Centre Umuahia during the time of study. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire that was constructed after going through the recent literature on diabetes knowledge and self-management. The face validity was assessed by five Nigerian registered nurses after which a pilot test was conducted at another hospital. The questionnaire was also tested for the reliability by re-testing it before the study. Paddock, Veloski, Chatterton, Gevirtz, Nash (2000) developed and validated a questionnaire to evaluate patient satisfaction with diabetes disease management. To develop the diabetes Management Evaluation Tool (DMET) the items measuring diabetes disease management were identified by an expert panel of health care professionals who recognised the 14 major domains. Content validity was confirmed by diabetes care professionals. To establish face validity a patient focus group was conducted. The final questionnaire consisted three sections having 87 items. The questionnaire measured the satisfaction on 711 diabetes patient using the Likert scale. Further the reliability and validity of the questionnaire was assessed by calculating product-moment correlations and Cronbach’s alpha. Kaur, Saini, Walia (2009) developed a tool to assess mothers preparedness for delivery, postnatal and new born care. The literature was reviewed to prepare an interview schedule. Content validity (content revision, item order revision and item wording) was done with the help of twelve experts in the field of nursing and public health department. The modified interview schedule was pre tested for feasibility in a village on 10 antenatal mothers of trimester. Cronbachs alpha was used to check the internal consistency and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity. After factor analysis 20 out of the 30 items tool was retained with five factors. A cross-sectional observational study was done by Hamoudi, Al Ayoubi, Vanama, Yahaya, Usman (2012) aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness among diabetic and non-diabetic Nigerian population in Kaduna state towards diabetes mellitus (DM). Non randomized sampling strategy was used to select three hundred forty (340) people (33.7% diabetic and 66.2% non-diabetic participants). A self-administered questionnaire was evolved using the previous review of literature and it was validated by two specialists (a community medicine expert and a clinical pharmacist). Appropriate statistics were then used to derive the results. Diabetes Nutrition Knowledge Survey was developed and validated by Rovner, Nansel, Mehta, Higgins, Haynie, Laffel (2012). The Nutrition Knowledge Survey (NKS) was developd by a multidisciplinary team. It consisted of 39 multiple choice questions four response options. This was then administered on 282 youth with type 1 diabetes and their parents. To check for validity associations were made between the NKS scores with A1C and dietary quality. Reliability was assessed using the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) and correlations of domain scores to total score. Roopa, Devi (2014) developed and validated a study pertaining to studying the effect of an educational module as an intervention programme in the management of Diabetes Mellitus among the elderly with regard to the improvement in their knowledge, attitude and practices. The sample was determined through purposive random sampling. The sample constituted 80 people between the ages of 65-76. The sex ratio of the sample population was 1:1. The method of study preferred by the investigators was the Structured Interview Schedule (SIS) on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) with regard to diabetes was used for assessment.The study involved co-operative action research with an initial exploration of knowledge, attitude and practices in the management of diabetes mellitus among the elderly people as well as a post intervention study. The data obtained during pre and post assessment was analysed. Huizinga et al., (2008) conducted a study in regards to the development and validation of the Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT).The first phase of development included item generationby a group of experts in diabetes, literacy and numeracy. 70 items were developed and administered to 40 individuals without diabetesto assess understandability. The next phase involved the recruitment of a convenience sample of 398 participantsat clinic visits. The sample was determined based onthediagnosis of type 1 or 2 diabetes, age of the individual (between 18-80) and language spoken by the individual (English speaking) .To eliminate redundancy,the expert panel reduced the measure to 45 itemsthat represented the five self-management areas. The presence of the 45 items was accepted as an adequate indicator to address the range of numeracy skills required in the management of diabetes. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency testing with the Kuder-Richardson 20 formula. Hearnshaw, Wright, Dale, Sturt, Vermeire, Van Royen, (2007) developed and validated the Diabetes Obstacles Questionnaire (DOQ) to assess obstacles in living with Type 2 diabetes. The questionnaire was developed with the help of previous research and literature review. The sample for the study included 180 people with Type 2 diabetes who were recruited from 22 general practices in the UK. The questionnaire initially comprised of 113 items having five themes which was reduced to 77 items after analysis. The Face and content validity were established by 21 members of the Warwick Diabetes Care Research User Group. These people gave extensive feedback to the research team on the questionnaire design and content. The Diabetes Obstacles Questionnaire was combined with two other questionnaires for the study to establish criterion validity of the questionnaire. Smith, Lang, Sullivan, Warren (2004) made use of two new tools for assessing patients knowledge and beliefs about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and continuous positive airway pressure therapy. The sample for the study consisted of81 consecutive adult patients, diagnosed via polysomnography with OSA in the clinical group and 35 members in thenon-clinical group recruitedfrom a local community group in response to an advertisement calling for healthy volunteers without a sleep disorderdiagnosis. The investigators in the initial version of the Apnea Knowledge Test (AKT) based it on a similar measure as developed by Murphy et al., (2000). They initially formulated a set of20 AKT items; however an expert review process resulted in the exclusion offive items and modification of two items. Post this review, it is seen that the version of the AKT that the investigators finally chose to administer included 15 items multiple choice questionnaire, six items from the original Murphy et al., (200 0). The test was then subjected to patient review. The test was administered to the first 10 study participants withinstructions to comment on any difficulties experienced with the items. Further, Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to evaluate the internalconsistency of the AKT.The second tool used by the investigators was the Apnea Beliefs Scale (ABS). These items were evolved based onan exhaustiveliterature review and consultation with the staff members. Content thought to be fundamental to compliance was targeted inconstructing this questionnaire. The final version included 24 statements to assesspatients’ attitudes and beliefs about sleep Apnea andContinuous Positive Airway Pressure. Wright, Wallston, Elasy, Ikizler, Cavanaugh, (2011) investigated the development and results of a kidney disease. The investigation was carried out through the administration of a knowledge survey given to patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).The survey questions had been developed by experts. The sample consisted of 401 adult patients with CKD (stages 1-5) attending a nephrology clinic from April-October 2009.Approximately 100 questions were generated first to maximize content relevant to kidney knowledge. This was done through an exhaustive study of pre-existing literature. Using an iterative process, items were reviewed for face and content validity and redundancy and ultimately decreased to 34 kidney knowledge questions. These questions were initially tested on a small group of clinical and nonclinical personnel for clarity. The first20 study participants were asked to comment on clarity and content and it was seen that there were no additional suggestions. In order to cal culate survey reliability, the Kuder-Richardson-20 coefficient was used. They established construct validity by testing a priori hypotheses of associations between survey results and patient characteristics. The descriptive statistics that was assimilated was analysed. Warden, Hurley, Volicer (2003) developed and evaluated the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD). The PAINAD scale was developed after extensive study of existing literature and available pain assessment tools. The projects were carried out in a Dementia Special Care Unit where 96 in-patients received care for dementia. The sample was determined based on the following criteria, (1) diagnosis of dementia written on the medical record, (2) no planned discharge, (3) inability to report pain or discomfort to caregivers, and (4) a proxy decision maker identified in the medical record. The construct validity was determined using the contrasted groups and hypothesis testing methods. Further, Cronbach’s alpha was selected as the measure for verifying internal consistency. Zeolla, Brodeur, Dominelli, Haines, Allie (2006) development and validated an instrument to determine patient knowledge about oral anticoagulation. The oral anticoagulation knowledge test consisted of20 multiple choice questions. To develop this, Four nationally recognized anticoagulation experts contributed in the making to ensure content validity. The test was administered to subjects on warfarin and a group of age-matched subjects not on warfarin. This was done to assess construct validity and to check test–retest reliability a subgroup of warfarin subjects were retested after 2-3 months of the initial testing. Kuder–Richardson 20 value was calculated to assess internal consistency reliability. Also, to assess performance of each individual the item analysis was done. Peyrot, Peeples, Tomky, Charron-Prochownik, Weaver (2007) developed the Diabetes Self-management Assessment Report Tool (D-SMART). Thefirst resource that the investigators used was a set of existing DSMEmeasurement tools .The second resource they availed of was a set of publications regardingthe evaluation of diabetes education programs,including a description of a comprehensive DSME evaluation system,reviews of studies of DSME,and anumber of studies of specific programs that illustratedkey components of an evaluation system. After multiple drafts of the D-SMART, it was administeredto several individuals with diabetes and diabeteseducators to obtain feedback regarding readability andfeasibility. Post this plot test, several changes were made. D-SMART has completed three rounds of pilot testing and is currently undergoing a fourth round. Eachround is resulting in revisions to the original instrument.

To Pursue Dreams :: Graduate Admissions Essays

To Pursue Dreams I was born and raised in a rural community in the Appalachian Mountains. Most of the local people work at farms, factories, or mills. Education is not deemed terribly important, since even a high school education is of little practical value. My mom dropped out of high school because she was pregnant, and has been a factory seamstress for fifty years. My father dropped out after 8th grade because his own father ran out on his family, leaving him to have to work. He has been a welder in a steel mill my whole life. They expected that my scholastic career would be roughly similar to theirs. My own goals, however, were much higher: I wanted to go to college -- and not just any college. I wanted to go to a really good one. I thought that a higher education was my ticket to a better life than my parents had, and so I focused on college with a driven passion. My "dream" schools included the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, Dartmouth, and Brown. I made lists and charts, and papered the walls of my room with pictures and statistics of these four institutions. The evening I received my SAT score (1300), my parents came home from work and I ran out to tell them that I might be able to get into one of my top choices for college. Though my head was in the clouds, my parents had their feet very firmly planted on the ground. They asked me if I knew what kind of kids went to "those" schools. Hesitating, I said, "...not really." My mother explained how the kids who went to "those" schools were wealthy and well-educated, with lots of "connections" that would help them get into college. She told me that I was neither rich nor terribly smart, and thus should consider schools that were "more my speed". I got applications for UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and UNC-Asheville the next day. My father looked only at the UNC-Asheville booklet and said that it looked nice. My mother agreed, saying that I had finally chosen one school that I possibly could attend "in reality." My mother wouldn't even read the application booklet for Penn. My father snorted angrily if I so much as mentioned Northwestern. I was crushed. I began to wonder if my dream schools were just that: a fanciful dream.

Special Education in Rural Communities Essays -- Learning Disabilities

Special Education in Rural Communities Christmas in January, I hurried quickly to the party, stereo in hand. Checking the time, I rushed across Pollock road to attend my first function as a member of Best Buddies, a community based program sponsored by universities throughout the world to enrich the lives of college students and adults with intellectual disabilities. I entered the room; a low buzz nagged at the edge of my hearing. As I placed my stereo upon the piano and plugged the chord into the socket, I kept my face adverted from the room. I struggled, as flashes of memory coalesced into bright beads, markers, and hours of speech therapy. If you are among the 2.9 million Americans with a Learning Disability (LD), you realize that LD has no cure; instead, you manage it in a series of patterns and behaviors (LDA 1). I was fortunate; my last moments in a Special Needs classroom were as a fifth grader leaving State College. However, I remember clearly Mrs. Weiss and Ms. White and their impact upon me. Years later upon my return from the Army, I found among my old things the posters, alphabet book, and little stories that had made me so proud and received such encouragement from my teachers and parents. Returning to the present, I turned back towards the room and walked to the table, pinning on my Santa Hat name tag as I went. Milling around me was a throng of adults, buddies and students. I meandered to the air-hockey table and saw an unaccompanied buddy. Hitting the puck to him, he casually returned the stroke and a conversation ensued that ranged from his prowess as a bowler, to difficulties with his dad, to the small escapades at his work, a local Sheetz. Talking in often excited tones, the intensity of the air... ...d, expressed in alphabet books, stories, and posters. Works Cited Bureau, U.S. Census. Meeting the Challenge: Americans with Disabilities, 1997. Washington D.C: U.S. Census Bureau, 1997. Jimerson, Lorna. Special Challenges of the "No Child Left Behind" Act for Rural Schools and Districts. Washington, DC: The Rural School and Community Trust, 2003. LDA. Postion Paper of the Learning Disabilities Association of America. 2000. webpage. LDA. 12 February 2004. McIntyre, Alexander Ph.D. Special Education and Rural America. Washington D.C: Department of Education, 2002. MST. Multisystem Therapy: Treatment Model. 2000. Webpage. MST. Available: http://wwww.mstservices.com/text/treatment.html. 25 March 2004. Sitlington, Patricia L., Gary M. Clark, and Oliver P. Kolstoe. Transition Education & Services for Adolescents. 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2000.

Gll Wonton

Gll Wonton Gll wonton Background Gll Wonton has nearly 1000 restaurants including 40 cities in China, all open 24 hours, the total turnover is about 5 billion yuan. Convenience is the key word there. The wontons are stored frozen, so this isn’t fine cuisine. The surroundings are moderately dirty, the ambience dull, and the staff inconsistent. Without much style, no English menu, and no real buzz the reason we're writing about Gll Wonton is simply about the Wonton. (Elliott, 2007) Descriptive type of Gll wonton Gll Wonton is a Chinese fast food brand, it is using chain stores to operation the restaurants, the owners buy the franchise from the Shi hao Company, and operation by themselves. What feature does Gll wonton has? †¢ Less investment Person who want open a Gll wonton chain store just need to invest 60000-70000 RMB. †¢ Quick return 6-7 months to recover the cost. †¢ Low-risk A wealth of industry experience and experience of the successful operation of nearly one thousand single-store. Can help minimize the risk of new store. †¢ Easier management Product unified production; uniform distribution; simple operational skills can help the manager easy to manage the restaurant. What target market Gll wonton dosen’t have? People who doesn’t like to eat wonton is not the target market of Gll Wonton. Some people doesn’t the style of Gll Wonton, so they didn’t want to go to Gll Wonton. What are the advantages of buying a franchise? †¢ Small investment, less risk. Received management training and guidance system †¢ Standardized management, standardization supply †¢ Reliable brand and product services †¢ Receive technical support (Wang, 2009) Would you consider buying a franchise in this chain in another location? I will buy a franchise in another location for this brand. Because 2 point: 1. Less location rent In another location, the rent of location is lower than in Shanghai, so that the investment is samller than shanghai . And it will get more income. 2. Less labor cost In another location, the labor cost is cheaper than in Shanghai location, so the operation cost is lower, so there is more income with the powerful management. Reference List Elliott , Mark. (2007, October 3). Gll wonton(spelt g l l). Retrieved from http://shanghaiist. com/2007/10/03/gll_wontonspelt. php Wang. (2009, October 11). The advantage of franchise. Retrieved from http://zhidao. baidu. com/question/111221669. html? fr=ala0

Emancipation of the slaves Essay

uestion: Examine the methods employed by planters to induce â€Å"labourers† to work on sugar estates after emancipation. Full emancipation of the slaves was achieved in 1838 in the British West Indies and 1848 in the French colonies. The post-emancipation period was viewed with fear by planters who believed that mass of ex-slaves would exodus the plantations, robbing them of their labour supply. In many cases this was so. However, one can argue that the British West Indies experienced a greater labour problem than the French colonies of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Therefore, the coercive measures put in place in the French colonies were unjust, an example of over-exaggerated panic on the part of the planters, and a form of maintaining control over their declining power over labour. The term â€Å"freed people† refers to persons who were not enslaved to anyone, who had open to them various opportunities previously closed, who maintained complete control over their movements and in general their lives. According to the historian Rawle Farley, many ex-slaves saw the estates as an oppression of this particular meaning of freedom and hence left as a form of resisting it. To desert the plantations the ex-slave had to take into consideration land availability, population density and the flexibility to move from one profession to another or even to one with similar characteristics, such as small scale farming. Within low density colonies like British Guiana where land was plentiful, ex-slaves left to settle on small plots. Many ex-slaves also left to their original plantations to work on others where pay was high, some even ventured into other professions such as hucksters, butchers, skilled workers and managers. In some low density colonies like St. Lucia, conciliatory measures like the metayage system was employed so as to make plantation work more appealing. In these cases planters provided the tools, and the ex-slaves, the labour. Both parties shared in the produce at crop time making the ex-slave more eager to not only be present at crop time, but to do the premiere labour efficiently. However, in many other islands planters created a problematic situation for ex-slaves. In high density colonies like Antigua, coercive measures were put in place as a demonstration of power by planters. Even in the low density colony of Jamaica coercive measures dominated and undermined the entire concept of freedom. According to the historian, William A. Green, Jamaica suffered from not a labour shortage but a labour problem, that is, there was a labour force but they did not want to work on the plantations. Douglas Hall furthers this argument with the statement that, â€Å"[Planters] were likely to exaggerate the withdrawal of ex-slaves from the estates†. This leads one to blame the planters for being the creators of their own problems. In a panic, they attempted to force the ex-slaves to remain on the estates by applying the coercive measure of lowering wage rates while raising rents. This was intended to diminish net earnings from sales of provisions in local markets and so make the ex-slave dependent wages for his livelihood. It was this â€Å"rent question† that really was burning issue between employer and employee. In some cases rent was levied on each occupant of a cottage, while in other cases no rent was collected at all so that the labourers could be ejected at a moment’s notice. All requests by ex-slaves for annual tenacy was denied. Many labourers were faced with the situation whereby rents were paid form their wages. In addition this the tenant and his family household must still work for the landlord. According to Swithin Wilmot, â€Å"rent was manipulated in such a fashion that it was a penalty rather than a charge for the use of estate property†¦ [and]†¦refus[al] to pay [resulted in] increased rental†. This coercive measure applied to keep freed persons on the estates had the opposite effect. Ex-slaves abandoned plantations to squat on crown land or purchased land and engaged in various agricultural endeavours for subsistence and market. If these â€Å"escapees† required additional income, they engaged in providing casual labour for the nearby plantations. Many ex-slaves bought land and formed â€Å"freed villages†. These â€Å"freed villages† were a danger to the sugar economy since peasant farmers provided competition with their crops. Within the French colonies labour laws were passed with the intention of controlling the peasantry. In Martinique in particular, where land availability was scarce, ex-slaves were forced to comply with many of the insufferable regulations, for example paying the personal tax, tolerating the pass system and maintaining a domestic passport. The personal tax was created before 1848 with the aim of restricting the movement of Blacks to the towns and served to restrict movement from the countryside. The law imposed a sum payable annually by inhabitants, the boroughs receiving higher taxes than those living in the countryside. In 1848 the personal tax jumped from 10 francs 50 centimes per year in Pointe-a-Pitre, to 15 francs. Even in the country areas, the personal tax rose from 4 francs 50 centimes to 5 francs. The creation of this tax was intended to both restrict the Blacks movement to that of the plantations while forcing them to work to pay for it. The need for the Blacks to pay taxes is extremely interesting, especially since, according to historian Dale Tomich, most planters could not afford to pay freed men wages. On February 15, 1852 the pass system was introduced to attempt to force the ex-slaves to adopt contractual labour. Rosamunde Renard notes that under this system, â€Å"every individual working for a salary or a daily wage, or every holder of a work contract of less than one year should possess a pass†. If they did not own a pass then they were sentenced to working in the workhouses. The authorities tended to play a greater role in supporting planters in the French colonies than in the British West Indies. Ex-slaves however responded at first with violence, attacking anyone trying to remove them from their homes or take away their freedom, and later engaging in passive resistance. When they had to register, they gave a different name for everything, the governor de Gueydon declared they â€Å"†¦baptized under one name, married under another, taxed under a third and unknown under all these names†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The Blacks also loitered and refused to accept contractual work when ever they could. Though the planters mainly used coercive measures, they also attempted to apply conciliatory measures. In Martinique a system of medals for model workers was devised so as to encourage work on the plantations. Gold and bronze medals were distributed among the pupils of religious institutions who had done fairly well in agriculture. Schools were created with the purpose of training plantation workshop leaders and good workers. The freedmen were not fooled. They responded with increasing hostility towards these new attempts to make them stay on the plantations. In conclusion, the term â€Å"induce† tends to mean, according the dictionary to persuade. However, planters were seen applying more often force, that is, coercive measures rather than conciliatory measures to attempt to keep ex-slaves on the plantations. Within the high density colonies the coercive measures were not really necessary but rather a demonstration of planter control and power. Within the French colonies, if one is believe Perrison, there was absolutely no reason to apply the coercive measures the historian Rosamunde Renard described. For Martinique, one can question the sensibility of a slave revolt resulting in emancipation just before it was officially declared. Not surprisingly, an increasing distrust of the slaves exploded directly after emancipation was declared together with fear of economic ruin for the society. Planters and the Authorities joined forces against the â€Å"savage, uncivilized† Blacks whose nature inclined them away from the â€Å"delights of working in the blistering sun on the plantations† and more towards their â€Å"crude and uninformed version of what freedom was about, like liberty of movement†. These hostile attitudes of planters and authorities alike are responsible for the exodus of ex-slaves in both the British West Indies and the French colonies.

Macro and Micro Environmental Forces Essay

External factors are usually divided into micro and macro environment. Macro environment is about external higher order forces which do not affect an organization dealing as yet or directly but may do so in the future. External factors may include; economic, technological, competition, political/legal, and social-cultural factors. Political factors; these are factors that relates to political system and political instability of countries where Nokia Company wish to market its products i. e. Nokia 5800XpressMusic and its music features. This will involve scrutinizing the system of government that such target countries have adopted. Nokia will therefore need to decide whether to invest in communist or capitalist countries after careful consideration of each political system in terms of carrying out business in the chosen country of interest. It is recommended that Nokia Company should invest in those countries with flexible capitalist political systems because it allows labour, capital and resources to flow freely in and out of their countries thus making those destinations the best target markets for Nokia to market its models as well as the advance features of music that it offers. External factors analysis can be best explained as follows: (Nokia for Business, 2008). Economic Factors; this will involve Nokia Company analyzing the economic factors that may hinder or augment its operations in the target countries. Such trade barriers like restriction of imports and exports as well as foreign exchange rate systems should be carefully evaluated by the management of Nokia in order to carry out its operations without economic constraints. Other economic factors of importance to be analyzed by the company will include, inflation particularly anticipated inflation, balance of payments, counter trade, fiscal and monetary policies among other significant factors. Although Nokia may not be subjected to many of the above factors it will be prudent to critically analyze deeply the factors particularly inflation and foreign exchange systems by utilizing forecasting techniques that can give the company a clear picture of the future (Lionel Laurent, 2008). Social Factors; this will involve the management of Nokia Company analyzing income level, social structures, educational backgrounds, and religion and family units before selling its new Nokia phones such as Nokia 5800XpressMusic models that comes with advance features to the community. History reveals that social factors play a major in role in utilization of services in the society for example some religious beliefs may not allow different kinds of music to be played. Therefore, it will be prudent for Nokia to clearly identify the right kind of music for the right consumers as well as for the right markets. Social factors may influence beliefs, interests and attitudes of the consumers and therefore the management of Nokia Company has to consider in details such factors in order to avoid losses associated with these social factors. Technological Factors; technology and innovations have taken centre stage in trying to achieve a considerable market share by firms in many industries. Technology provides an opportunity to the firm of expanding through utilization of advanced technologies but at the same time it may contribute negatively to market participation for example where businesses use technologies to compete unfairly. Nokia will have to utilize advance technologies for example the use of internet marketing while trying to explore new markets in the target market. Such technologies will be useful in that it will save time and financial resources that could have been spent and therefore the management can therefore use the surplus resources in further expansion or pay back its shareholders returns thus getting shareholder confidence in the process (Nokia for Business, 2008). Legal Factors; All businesses including Nokia must operate in a business environment deemed to be legal by the target market. The company will therefore have to ensure that the sale of Nokia 5800XpressMusic series with its all contents that include advance music features are allowed by the host country in order to avoid unnecessary legal battles. Nokia also should observe the existing laws regarding to business transactions in the target market particularly avoiding unfair competition. Also it should observe other legal aspects such as the areas of corporate social responsibility whereby Nokia will be expected to manufacture and sell its products at the same time protecting the environment and benefiting the surrounding community by employing them and also participating in community projects (Lionel Laurent, 2008). On the other hand micro environment is about actual and political transactions used in a firm and its environment in day to day activities of a company that include; customers, suppliers, intermediaries among others. One of such micro factors is the intensity of rivalry among Established Companies; it is true that Nokia faces a very competitive environment that has a big concentration of rival competitors making it a very competitive venture in its business operations. Take for instance; they compete with its rivals across al levels i. e. production of high quality mobile phones with quality features like that of music and hence there is need for Nokia to try all strategies to ensure that it beats its rivals as well attracting more customers every day. Nokia is more organized and have better strategies than the new ones that come up and therefore have a competitive edge over the others. An established company will mean having a well developed network that has a good client base and that is supported by customer loyalty and therefore locking out the new firms that try to make an impact by trying the existing markets. The well established pharmaceutical firms give a big challenge to the new companies in the market that try to make their products known. Even though substitute products like iphones are received in telecommunication industry, it becomes easy for the Nokia to push customers to start using its new mobile series in the market since it has a name in the market and customers are loyal to them (Nokia Inc. 2007). The other factor is that of the bargaining power of suppliers. Suppliers take advantage of their unique supplies to ask and bargain for what they want and enjoy the monopoly and charge expensively for the products or services that they offer. Customers are very sensitive to any changes that may affect them that are caused by the bargaining power of the suppliers. Suppliers are a competitive threat in telecommunication industry because they can raise the prices of new and the old supplies and therefore making the customers to try substitute products such as phones and iphones that can satisfy the same needs. Suppliers may cost Nokia a lot of financial constrain if they switch and fail to supply parts that are used for manufacturing such phones like Nokia 5800XoressMusic series (Botan, 1993). Individuals may prefer to try the substitutes e. g. iphones according to their financial therefore Nokia must try as much as possible to bargain well with its suppliers so that it may get quality products at the right price so that it may also sell and price its products like Nokia 5800XoressMusic series at a an affordable price when compared to its competitors. Recommendations for Strategic Marketing Planning Nokia can enter into joint venture with any firm in the telecommunication industry in order to reach to more customers. The joint ventures are forms of market entry that allows for technology sharing and joint product development which fits the promotion of Nokia 5800XoressMusic series as well as its salient features f music that it offers. The main advantage of joint ventures is to get proper political connections that will allow for favours to be achieved. It is usually suitable when; the market power, resources and size of the partner is small compared to the industry leaders. If Nokia enters a joint venture with any company for instance with Apple Company which is still then it will boosts its market power, and thus it will be able to meet the demands in that particular region. The main issues that are usually sorted out during the discussions for joint venture are; agreement periods, pricing methods, ownership and control, local firm capabilities and technology transfer. Nokia should also employ porter generic strategies in order to enhance its market share; such strategies rely on the dimensions of the strategic scope meaning the market penetration and strategic strength referring to the firms or sustainable competitive advantage such as cost leadership, product differentiation and market segmentation which are required to meet the challenges of the competition. Therefore Nokia can utilize; growth strategies, innovative strategies, among others. However, it should be noted that although they are believed to be the best in the market so far, they are yet to be applied by most companies. Nokia should also apply functional strategies in its marketing operations; these strategies are developed within every department of the company to increase its international sales margins and production. The marketing department can for example prepare an individual strategy that will meet the overall Nokia’s objectives. Other strategies under this include; new product development strategies, legal strategies, financial strategies etc which can also be set up as autonomous strategic business units that are responsible for all of its operations but answerable to the Nokia top management (Murray, 1989). Encirclement Strategies should also be adopted by Nokia while marketing its Nokia 5800XpressMusic touch screens phones. This strategy is also called the envelopment strategy and is a more subtle, gentle, broader and a bit non-offensive but harmful way of attacking the competitor. Normally, this kind of attack is undertaken in two ways. One, introduction of a broader range of products that are similar to the competitor’s products and each of these products will get a share of the same market the competitor is; in this case Nokia will introduce the 5800X series phones which will overtake other competitor’s gadgets such as iphones. In the long run, the competitor will be demoralized, weakened and discouraged leading to a state of siege of the competitor. This first method will ensure that full scale confrontation is avoided between the attacker and the target competitor. Secondly, the encirclement can also be based on market niches rather than the products themselves. In this case, the market share is liberated from the target competitor via the expansion of market niches that surround it; thus Nokia will have to diversify in order to reach to large market share (Lionel Laurent, 2008). Nokia should also draft out clear marketing mix strategies that will enhance a larger market share. A marketing mix is usually used especially on branding and advertising as argued by Jerome McCarthy. The populous four Ps of marketing mix strategies are utilized, these are; Product: Product marketing and management aspects deal with the specifications of the actual good or services and how it relates to customer needs; in this case the new Nokia 5800xpressMusic touch screen phone marketed by Nokia. Such phones should be diverse in its features for instance music enabled and thus meets the expectations of the customers. The characteristics of such 5800Xpress touch screens phones should further be well defined to meet the needs of the consumers (Kottler, 1996). Pricing; pricing is the process of setting a price for a product to be sold in the market and in this case touch screen Nokia 5800XpressMusic to launch by Nokia. It will not be necessarily fixing a monetary value but simply what to be exchanged for the touch screen phone at stake e. g. attention, time etc. Nokia can therefore adopt any of the following pricing strategies to enable Nokia 5800XpressMusic reach its marketing standards. Premium pricing is where the uniqueness of the touch screen phone is defined such as a fixed online fee; Penetration pricing whereby, once Nokia achieves the market share, it increases the price of its product i. e. Nokia 5800XpressMusic phone. Other strategies may include regional pricing strategy which defines the price according to the regions where the phones will be sold. Promotion; promotion strategy comes in various forms; personal selling, publicity, sales promotion or advertising and it refer to the various marketing strategies of convincing the customers to buy the brand, product and in this case Nokia 5800XpressMusic touch screen phone. Nokia should come up with various and best suitable channels of distribution to enable such phones to reach the targeted market. Place; place is also the distribution modes which refer to how the touch screen phones gets to the intended customer. Nokia should ensure that the 5800Xpress series touch screen phones are available to customers in time and in convenient places in order to satisfy their needs. The utilization of computer technology for instance can aid a firm to get access to a wider market thus boosting its business performance (Winer, 2007). Conclusion Research reveals that trade has become progressively more global in some scope these days and there are several grounds for this. One of such reasons is the ever advancement in modern technology that is now increasing communication efficiency and modernization; therefore firms like Nokia are now facing stiff competition from its rivals in the fight for achievement of larger market share. Increasingly, rapid technology lifecycles has increased competition among multinational firms such as Nokia as to who can produce the best services in the mobile telephony market hence the need to employ competitive marketing and business strategies Reference Botan, C. (1993): A Human Approach to Image and Ethics in International Public Relations Journal of Public Relations Research vol 5 No. 2 Carter, S. and Lee, K. (2005): Global Marketing- Changes, New Challenges and Strategies. 1st Edition, Oxford Press, London Kottler, P. (1996): Principles of Marketing: – Stages of customer relationships. 4th European Edition, Prentice Hall, Harlow Lionel Laurent, (2008): Nokia’s Trickle-Up Success: Retrieved from; http://www. forbes. com/2008/06/18/european-innovation-wireless-tech-innovationeu08-cx_ll_0618wireless. html, accessed on March 23rd 2009 Murray, A. (1989): Top management group heterogeneity and firm performance. Strategic Management Journal: Vol. 10 Nokia Inc. (2007): The Route to True Competitive Advantage: Today’s Evolution of Workforce Mobility, Retrieved http://www. nokia. com/NOKIA_COM_1/About_Nokia/Press/White_Papers/pdf_files/nokia_es_phasesofmobility. pdf, accessed on March 23rd 2009 Nokia for Business, (2008): Mobile Technology: A unique Competitive Advantage. Retrieved from,http://www. nokiaforbusiness.com/nfb/DetailPage. html? guid=cb29500194aeb110VgnVCM100000708ef393RCRD, accessed on March 23rd 2009 Press releases, (2004): Nokia defines goals and actions for leadership in dynamic mobile communications market. Retrieved from, http://press. nokia. com/PR/200411/967543_5. html, accessed on 23rd March, 2009 Schon, B. and Allan, B. (1995): Links between Business Strategy and Human Resource Management Strategy in U. S. -Based Japanese Subsidiaries; an Empirical Investigation-Journal of International Business Studies, Vol 26

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis done on Harley Davidson Essay

Harley Davidson remains as a dominant force in the heavy weight motorcycle industry; upholding 50% share in the heavy weight motorcycles. This year they celebrate their 110th Anniversary proudly as the only major motorcycle manufacturer to completely focus on motorcycles. (Melief, Bundgaard & Hathaway, 2006) Other major players in the Motorcycle Industry are, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki that also have their other major product lines inclusive of cars, watercraft, musical equipment and etc. Assessment of Strengths and Weaknesses of Current and Potential Competitors Porters Five Forces Analysis Source: Vector (2012) Internal Rivalry The heavyweight motorcycle market is justly concentrated with four major companies manufacturing these vehicles. Harley Davidson being one of the most experienced within the industry, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha are the competitors that are all from Japan. Over the past few years many market for heavyweight motorcycles has increased annually, but experts are predicting even though the market is growing it will slow down in the years to come. (Melief, Bundgaard & Hathaway, 2006) The Competitive challenge is high in motorcycle industry. Most of the time motorbikes are counted as a luxury product and pricing the products can be complex. (Oxbridge Writers, 2012) Harley Davidson offers spare parts, extended warranties, and innovative and environmental friendly motorbikes for their customers, this singularizes them from their competitors. Japan’s companies have marked their success by establishing a strong competitive place in the market using cheap prices as their strategy. This affects customers perception on Harley Davidson’s place in the market and their prices. However, those having a predominant place in this sport do have conflicting interests, i. e. Yamaha and Honda have diversified into musical instrument and other motor vehicles. . (Oxbridge Writers, 2012) This results Harley-Davidson in differentiating themselves as a loyal, specialized Motorbike Company and getting more customers. Harley Davidson has traditionally been the prevailing competitor in this market with taking over 50% of the market share. With time it has fallen to below 50 % due to other companies expanding their heavyweight motorcycle production and growing in the market, focusing on American Consumers. (Melief, Bundgaard & Hathaway, 2006) This is because other products from competitors are becoming less distinguished and is similar to Harley Davidson Products. Recalling, back to the past it was easier to acknowledge Harley Davidson motorbikes for their unique style, but currently Japanese Manufacturers are merging popular designs to their products. As a result motorbikes from manufacturers are becoming more similar over time. This forces Harley-Davidson to focus more on their branding to maintain the customers. This can be an advantage to them, since Harley is known internationally for their brand, many people would prefer a Harley over a Honda or Suzuki. But can also be a downfall since Japanese companies has been improving their products with time. Threat of New Entrants This industry has a very high entry barrier, as it requires high capital to enter to the market. Similar to most manufacturing industries there are significant economies involved in building motorbikes. (NCCU, 2012) The manufacturing price of a similar product is extremely high in this industry even for a small scale. This is basically one of the main reasons there are only four major players in the industry. There are some small-scale motorcycle creators whose business s fully focused on reputation and appeal to motorcycle devotees, to build utterly customized bikes. They do not produce enough motorbikes to threaten the major players in the industry. They do not affect the position of Harley Davidson in the market but can be an added advantage since it increases interest of motorbikes in the public. Threat of Substitutes and Complements Heavyweight motorcycles are a luxury item for the majority of consumers, so there are very less similar substitutes for heavyweight motorbikes that could seriously affect the market and consumers. (Melief, Bundgaard & Hathaway, 2006) The Japanese manufacturers focus their designs more on smaller, quicker motorbikes that is the closest substitute followed by cars and scooters. Heavyweight bikes portray a certain persona, which is a part of the buyer’s influences on choosing a motorbike. Smaller bikes are for different riding styles and purposes. They are designed for a different seating position unlike the heavyweight motorbikes. Passenger cars can be a substitute for heavyweight motorbikes but it is a weak substitute. (NCCU, 2012) Motorbike consumers rarely purchase Harley’s to fulfill transportation wants. Harley Davidson bikes are more of a luxury item than a necessity to travel. Motorbikes maybe easy to travel in heavy traffic and consume less gasoline compared to a car. If a consumer choses a motorbike for the above mentioned reasons, it would be more reasonable to buy a lighter motorbike, which would be easier to handle and fuel efficient than a heavyweight motorcycle. The most profound complement for a heavyweight motorbike is gasoline/petrol. If fuel prices were higher consumers would not consider purchasing a heavyweight bike, because most journeys taken by the bike on such a bike is highly discretionary and will be used for pleasure rather than for transport necessities. Nevertheless, most of the heavyweight bike consumers are willing to pay between $8000 and $30,000 for this luxury vehicle, they would not mind paying just a little extra for fuel. Bargaining Power of Suppliers According to Melief, Bundgaard & Hathaway (2006), â€Å"Harley Davidson operates nearly every stage of the production of a motorcycle, taking raw materials such as steel and basic electrical components and shipping completed motorcycles to its extensive independent dealership network. Because there are many suppliers of all inputs that Harley Davidson requires for its manufacturing operations there is very little that any single supplier can do the exact rents from Harley. † This phrase proves that even if one supplier tries to escalate its profits/prices it would not be much of a deal for Harley to switch suppliers without interruption in production. â€Å"Preferred suppliers† approach reduced the number of suppliers Harley Davidson worked with and improved the quality of the suppliers as well; these long-term contracts and relationship protected Harley Davidson from supplier price increase. (NCCU, 2012) This also grew trust between the suppliers and Harley and their suppliers gained more profit as Harley improved their business. Bargaining Power of Consumers Similar to the Suppliers, Harley Davidson’s customers are of large population of individual consumers, making it difficult to badly affect Harley Davidson’s financial situation by refusing to corporate. (Melief, Bundgaard & Hathaway 2006) Even though Harley’s dealerships are individually owned and operated the companies’ customers are officially their licensed dealers. But the sheer number of dealers that Harley has all over the world makes situation for dealers not much better than individual riders. Harley needs their customers to buy the product in order to gain profit; since Harley is aging they also need to gain more new loyal riders. Each Harley Davidson purchase is by an individual; even though one person would not drastically affect the financial earnings of the company it is essential to sell the individual experience to each customer to reach more Markets and combine these sales to improve financial strength. (NCCU, 2012).