Consumer Behaviour Essay

Art consumers in the modern world have increased their buying capacity of art as paradigms shifts to knowledge and information based concepts. Cultural diversity and technology are developing new forms of art and ways to market these art pieces to a wider range of art consumers. However, there is no room for complacency in art managers of art galleries. It is still best to incorporate sound motivational theories that guide marketing efforts towards being robust, effective and efficient. Three motivational theories had been highlighted forming a well-rounded strategy to approach art gallery marketing. Maslow’s heirarchy of needs gives a step-by-step escalation of man’s satisfaction levels. It was noted that although art cannot satisfy physiological needs, consumers can still be motivated to buy art as objects to satisfy their needs of self-esteem, belongingness and need to self-actualize. McGuire’s advice on motivating people offers looking into the cognitive and affective factors of man’s thinking process. The more art gallery marketing efforts cater to affective faculties of their consumers, the more selling will take place. And lastly, the theory of Freud has been chosen as another guidepost in defining what makes the consumer buy. Innate biological elements found in man such as sexual desires is the most commonly known Freudian motivation that is closely related to selling art. Construction of marketing strategies to sell art does not end in incorporating concepts from these motivation theories. These motivations must further zoom in on the consumer eventually. The way to fine tune the marketing strategy is to incorporate concepts found in the five-step decision making process that all consumers go through.   As the art buyer goes from recognizing his need to gathering information that will lead him to a possible purchase, to evaluating criteria affecting his possible purchase, to his actual purchase and to coming up with insights that happens during his post purchase, the marketing strategy of the art gallery is put into a test. INTRODUCTION The art market is slowly evolving. Art has evolved into many forms and galleries have transformed to accommodate a wide range of consumers. With the entrance of innovative technology, cultural diversity and faster access to information, art galleries been challenged to study and understand consumer behavior of this widening niche. â€Å"For the last few years, the media have trumpeted contemporary art as the hottest new investment. At fairs, auction houses and galleries, an influx of new buyers–many of them from the world of finance–have entered the fray. Lifted by this tidal wave of new money, the number of thriving artists, galleries and consultants has rocketed upwards.† (Spiegler, 2006) But amidst all this buying frenzy, sellers have remained steadfast to the consumer behavior theories that guide the markets. Buying behavior theories have not changed and remained formidable in figuring out what buyers want, why they want, how they avail of these wants and the factors that affect these decisions. Consumers of art hold special focused studies. Consumers who buy art also buy gas, groceries, basic services and insurance. Though there is culture in gas, groceries, basic services and insurance, these commodities does not directly fall under art. Art products and services are born out of a cultural industry. These consumers have their own consumer behaviors. â€Å"Consumer behavior is the process involved when individual or groups select, purchase, use, and dispose of goods, services, ideas, or experiences to satisfy their needs and desires. It is important that marketers understand consumer behavior because wants and needs are satisfied best when marketers understand the behaviors of consumers.† (Hawkins, 1998) Therefore, appropriate buyer behavior theories must be employed to so that marketing strategies to sell products in art galleries will be most appropriate, effective, efficient and economical. THE PRODUCT AND SERVICE Marketing strategies start with knowing the product or service. Characteristics of these items for sale will be essential in finding the consumers who would want to buy them. Art encompass a wide variety of products and services. Art galleries themselves have evolved into stores that sell different art genres depending on how one beholds something as art, from the flea markets selling antiques to the fine art galleries bidding by the millions. Applied and decorative art are products found in advertising, architecture and urban design. Crafts, jewelry, fashion, industrial, product and interior design fall under this art category. Entertainment art provides enjoyment services such as film, recording and TV programs. â€Å"Fine art is motivated by ‘art-for-art’s-sake’. It is the primary research and development segment of the arts industry. It generates ‘enlightenment’, i.e. it sheds light on the nature of the human condition – on the individual and society. â€Å"It is primarily in the fine arts that new talent and technique are developed; new scripts and scores created; and, new images and styles set. Results of fine art ‘R&D’, like the results of scientific research, are sometimes adopted by for-profit enterprises in and out of the arts industry. And, as in pure science, fine art is not financially self-supporting. The right to fail is an essential artistic and scientific freedom – a freedom that requires patience and risk-taking on the part of patrons, investors and audiences.† (Chartrand, 2000) Heritage art subsumes all kind of art. It feeds contemporary art and is the one that sets standards of the following generations. This art inspires creators and enriches artists through its integration of scarcity and aesthetic value while employing a sense of social relevance and cohesion.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Between 1969 and 1989, heritage art yielded the highest return of all financial investment opportunities (The Economist July 1, 1989). Furthermore, theft of antiquities is the most lucrative international crime. Ounce for ounce, an antiquity can be more valuable than drugs. It can yield a higher return, at lower risk of being caught, and generally produces less jail time if one is convicted† (Chartrand 1992a). MOTIVATIONS OF THE ART CONSUMER A person who walks into an art gallery is differently motivated compared to a person who walks into a McDonald’s burger store. A company who buys a 10 million art work does so with objectives different from its putting up a building worth about the same cost. Consumers of art are motivated differently and theories defining these motivations can help marketing strategist clear marketing goals and activities. Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) has been one of the century’s great inspiration in personality theories. The Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as illustrated in Figure 1 has helped both researchers, scholars, scientists and most specially marketing executives on how to motivate clients and consumers. Maslow believes that man is motivated based on the level of satisfaction he can achieve at a particular time when the product or service is offered him. And the levels of satisfaction starts from getting his physiological needs, then his safety needs and subsequently his belonging needs, esteem needs until he arrives at his self-actualization. Figure 1. Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs (Boeree, 1998) â€Å"Maslow suggested the intuitively appealing notion that humans must satisfy the most basic objectives before they can move onto â€Å"higher level† ones. Thus, an individual must satisfy physiological needs (such as food and liquid) before he or she will be able to expend energy on less fundamental objectives such as safety. Only when basic objectives have been met will a person move on to seek such objectives as love and belonging, and only a small minority of people make it as far as seeking self-actualization.† (Boeree, 1998) Art consumers at the art galleries are motivated to satisfy a certain level of need as illustrated in Maslow’s diagram. Art definitely cannot be eaten and cannot quench physical thirst. Consumers who are still struggling to satisfy their physiological needs in the normal circumstances will not buy Art. Art buyers are usually motivated to consume art to satisfy safety, belongingness, need for self-esteem and to perform their self-actualization. A person will buy art to safeguard savings. Certain works of art appreciate in value as the artist becomes more popular or when he dies. More than once, the cultural scene has witnessed these value increases and rich people have coveted owning these masterpieces not for their artistic magnificence but more for their financial value.   A person will buy art to satisfy belongingness especially if he or she finds himself trying to get into company of art buyers. Belongingness would sometimes overpower physical hunger especially in these modern days when people have gone towards the limits of individualism isolating themselves from social groups that provide comfort in belongingness. In the early years of high art, kings and queens would have their portraits painted by in house artists such as Michael Angelo and Da Vinci. These portraits help a person increase his self-esteem. Coffee shops, banks and other commercial establishment hang works of art in their walls not so much for decorative purposes but these products increase the company’s self-esteem. Their clients are able to admire the company knowing that the company they chose is of the cultured type and can afford these works of art. Based on the Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs, the marketing strategy must realize that in order for art galleries to sell their products, it has to appeal to the motivations of the people walking into the gallery. These gallery visitors are basically interested in art and the curator must work on satisfying needs. Marketing campaigns must cater to satisfying client’s need to raise his self-esteem or need to satisfy his belongingness. Strategies such as knowing the client’s kind of groupie or the client’s thoughts of himself will be a few effective tactics towards forging a sale. FREUDIAN THEORY Though highly controversial and continuously debated upon by psychoanalysts, Sigmund Freud has been the most popular theorist of the century due to the sexual nature of his findings. Basically, he suggests that â€Å"(1) much behavior has a biological basis which is (2) often sexual in nature, and (3) that early experiences in childhood will have a profound, but unconscious effect on later life–e.g., people who are rejected in an early, â€Å"oral† phase of development may become â€Å"oral retentive† and end up as wine connoisseurs later in life.† (Hawkins, 1998) For Freud, people are motivated by their sex drives. Though some sectors of the scientific communities do not believe this, advertising, film and marketing have used the Freudian theories and have remained successful in the promotion and selling of their products. Cars, cigarette, alcohol and other vices have used sex at one point or another in their commercials, posters or corporate IDs. MTV’s have evolved into using pretty boys and sexy girls to get the maximum buying power of teenagers and young adults. Even new generation anime features voluptuous heroes, heroines and villains. Wonder Woman has never been as seductive and Superman has been redrawn to sport more muscles that spell musk. Though Freud never really thought sexuality in the new millennium context, evolutionists understands this kind of sexual motivation due to the inherent nature of human beings to help the species survive and sustain power over the natural kingdom. The only way to keep from extinction is to continue procreation. In Darwinian logic, motivation to procreation is as sensible as breathing. Sex has always helped sell art. Art from ancient Greece such as sculptures Adonis or Venus were sometimes seen as pornographic. Though these artworks of nudity became monuments of great cities and tourist destinations that earn millions of dollars, parent of little children still become uneasy explaining nudity in these kinds of art works. Marketing art with tactics from the Freudian theories that sex sells would make marketing of art forms planned in a way that it attracts sexual motivations from the buyers. Art galleries, when opening an exhibit usually employs wine, beautiful ladies in little black dresses and music that appeals to the possible clients. This type of marketing style that is guided by Freudian motivation theories supports art works that have sexual undertones already in them. Bar owner Schrager narrates the reason for buying an artwork. â€Å"According to Schrager, the decision to commission Clemente for the ceiling mural and lamps was an easy one. â€Å"I love Clemente’s work, and I thought a ceiling mural would be appropriate for the place and location. For me, a lot of Clemente’s work has sexual undertones, and I thought it would fit in perfectly in the bar.† (Silberman, 2001) MCGUIRE THEORY OF MOTIVATION McGuire’s psychology of motivation stems from his cognitive and affective experimentations. Thinkers are seen to carry out directed-thinking tasks. These thought systems in people illustrate their motivations.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Five dimensions that together provide an inclusive description of thought systems were identified. Two dimensions are cognitive: (1) size; and (2) cognitive-affirmational bias. Two others are affective: (3) affective desirability bias; and (4) people-favorability bias. The fifth dimension is (5) cognitive-affective congruence.† (McGuire, 2006) McGuire believes that affective stimulus influence the cognitive aspect of human motivations more. Men and women have different thought patterns since they react differently to stimulus. Knowing this, it is important for art galleries to note who has the buying power when couples walk into the gallery to purchase the artwork. At culturally diverse markets, art managers need to address what could stimulate affective motivations in their clients. Sometimes, talking to an art manager who understands the client’s affective stimulus like race or culture is effective. â€Å"More buying power translates into more art-buying ability. Art dealers and publishers are keenly aware of this. But what they also need to understand is that while African Americans are looking to buy more high-quality art, they’re also looking to buy from dealers and publishers who understand them and will cater to them.† (Hagan, 2004) 5 STAGES OF DECISION MAKING PROCESS Equipped with the three motivational theories above, the next important part of the marketing strategy is integrating the promotional or advertising activities to the five stages of the decision making process that each art buyers goes through whenever they are in making a decision whether to buy, to buy later, or not to buy. Source: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~renglish/370/notes/chapt05/ Problem recognition is the stage where the buyer becomes aware of his need. Awareness of needs does not happen like magic. Need is stimulated. The client must be aware of his need from its unconscious state to the conscious and articulate status. Commercials that stimulate problem recognition are effective because they can visually show what the client does not have and therefore, just by looking at advertisement, the client realizes his lack of that product thereby moving towards the process of coveting the product for himself. A blank wall will stimulate a need to buy art. An empty corner can stimulate a person to acquire a statue. Occasions and celebrations from birthdays to monthly anniversaries to grandmom or grandpop days and other more outlandish occasions can also create the rationale to make the consumers think of buying art. The second phase is where the client begins to look for information that will lead him into being able to find the product or the service that can quench his need. In the case of art galleries, a person must be able to find the art gallery. This ease of art gallery access will be attained with proper promotions and advertising. Art gallery accessibility geographically will also be essential in attracting buyers who are currently looking for information so satisfy their needs. The Internet is the latest virtual shop where buyers from around the world can be tuned in at the same time. With the Internet platform as marketing tool, selling is definitely without borders and without pressure of time. The buyer from spread of mouth information can also acquire details on how to locate the art gallery. Employers had always stressed good service because positive feedback is the gateway of businesses. With the information at hand, the consumer goes to the third stage of the decision making process which is the evaluation stage where alternatives are ranked. â€Å"This stage establishes the criteria for evaluation, features the buyer wants or does not want. Rank/weight alternatives or resume search. May decide that you want to eat something spicy, indian gets highest rank. If not satisfied with your choice then return to the search phase. Can you think of another restaurant? Look in the yellow pages etc. Information from different sources may be treated differently. Marketers try to influence by â€Å"framing† alternatives.† (classnotes, 2006) Art galleries’ marketing strategy must make sure that the criteria set by its consumers are achieved. After product characteristics, price is usually the next criteria that the client considers. For art, the prices depend on a flexible standard. Other pieces are â€Å"priceless† while other art products are set by how the community valuates the artist. This is where the talent of the art manager or the curator comes in. Framing the art product, literally and figuratively spells putting on more weight on the piece or turning the off the client’s needs which will surely fail selling the product when the fifth decision making process starts. The fourth stage is the purchase stage. The buying value is affected by three possibilities as the client decides from whom to buy, when to buy or if the client decides not to buy. Purchase from art galleries will be affected by the terms of sale, credibility of the establishment and return policies. Tax information on artwork is an important information that will tip the scales towards the sales. A news clipping shows reaction of buyers and galleries on impositions of added tax to art pieces. â€Å"Paying an 8.8 percent tax on art doesn’t discourage him or his wife, Virginia, from buying, but he said he could imagine â€Å"it would slow some people down.† That’s what worries the Seattle Art Museum.† (Hackett, 2005) The atmosphere of the art gallery, and happiness of the shopping experience influences the time of sale. Some galleries maintain calmness in the gallery depicting unstressful experience for the buyer. Especially with purchases of millions of dollars, the atmosphere must be as much stress free as possible. The last stage of the process is the post purchase stage where the client reflects on the purchase that he did. The buyer usually compares the purchase with his expectations based on the need he originally formed. In the post purchase stage, either the art consumer is satisfied or unsatisfied with the purchase. Customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction is affected by his value perceptions. Art buyers know there is inherent value in art works. Physically, art is just a piece of paper or canvass with pigment but the images and visualization that the artwork shares to the consumer is what is of value that have been purchased. For artwork, one piece may create more value to another person depending on the level of beauty value he gets from the work of art. His satisfaction therefore depends on the value that the art product or experience in buying the artwork communicates to the buyer. Art galleries are cultural venues where patrons are soon established. The repeat-purchase behavior found in the art galleries must be high and excellent because these repeat buyers are also automatic promotional agents of the art gallery. Appreciating an art piece in a hotel lobby, an interested consumer would normally ask where the piece was bought. And that is first lead of the art gallery that happens outside the gallery. Patrons of the art help in lessening the cognitive dissonance of art consumers. When there is a feeling of anxiety after purchase, the consumer looks for elements outside his decision that would help him be assured of his purchase and publicity of the art gallery’s success or social responsibility or how famous people patronize the gallery helps in relieving cognitive dissonance in post purchase stages of consumer decision making process. CONCLUSION Everyone buys art at one time or another. The time and cost of art that an individual buys depends on his motivations as incorporated in many studies in consumer behavior backed by psychological discourse and experimentations. With the need for the art industry to profit and keep the industry afloat, marketing strategies benefit from these motivational theories. It is safe to note that whenever a painting or a piece of art lands in a hotel lobby, or a financial establishment, a museum or simply in a living room wall, much human activity has been put into it that basically further increases it s social and cultural value. References Boeree, George. 1998. Abraham Maslow. Retrieved October 31, 2006 from http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/maslow.html Chartrand, Harry Hillman. 2000. The Public Life of the Arts in America†¨Joni Cherbo and M. Wyszomirski (eds),†¨Rutgers University Press, April 2000 Classnotes. 2006. Consumer Buying Behavior. Retrieved October 31, 2006 from http://www.udel.edu/alex/chapt6.html Silberman, Vanessa. 2000. Results of Consumer Survey Shed Light on Art Buying Behavior. Art Business News, Nov, 2000 Hagan, Debbie. 2004. Black buying power shows strength in art: growing incomes and more national exposure of African-American art translates into a widening base of art buyers – news. Art Business News, Jan, 2004 Hackett, Regina and Michelle Nicolosi. 2005. Art collectors fault state agency on tax issue. Seattle Post – Intelligencer Reporters. Friday May 27, 2005. Retrieved October 31, 2006 from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/226106_reactart26.html?source=rss Hawkins, Del I., Roger J. Best, and Kenneth A. Coney (1998), Consumer Behavior: Building Marketing Strategy, 7th ed., Boston: McGraw Hill. McGuire, William J. & Claire V. McGuire, Yale University. 2006. Cognitive versus affective aspects of phenomenal thought systems focused on persons. Retrieved October 31, 2006 from http://www.sydneysymposium.unsw.edu.au/1999/abstracts.htm Spiegler, Marc. 2006. Time to Reform the Art Market? The Art Newpaper. Retrieved October 31, 2006 from http://www.forbes.com/collecting/2005/05/30/cx_0530conn_ls.html

Market Entry Essay

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Hededge funds - Essay Example Summary of Data The data used for this exercise consists of monthly returns and Assets under Management (AUM) over a period of ten years (September 1999 – August 2009) for over 28 hedge funds. The information on these sample hedge funds was obtained from the EurekaHedge database which stores information on over 21,000 hedge funds. The sample hedge funds follow one of the following strategies typical of financial institutions operating in this domain: Long/Short Equities CTA/Managed Futures Multi-Strategy Arbitrage The table below details results of the results from the Monte Carlo and the Historical simulation methods using the sample data. Historical Monte Carlo             prob Not Losing prob Number of run > 50% Not losing Not Losing prob Number of run > 50% Drift SD Mean    98.90% 9814 13.05% 1,354 98.95% 9865 13.10% 1319 0.45% 1.59% 0.46% Arbitrage 86.56% 8600 53.01% 5,363 86.02% 8532 53.20% 5371 0.76% 5.63% 0.92% CTA/Managed Futures 87.53% 8729 58.98% 5,944 85. 10% 8434 56.77% 5779 0.86% 6.65% 1.08% Multi-Strategy 86.98% 8611 55.45% 5,595 87.10% 8661 52.53% 5331 0.74% 5.19% 0.88% Long/Short Equities The above results show that the mean monthly returns (lowest to highest) for each fund class are 0.46% (Arbitrage), 0.88% (Long-Short Equities), 0.92% (CTA-Managed Futures) and 1.08% (Multi-Strategy). The dispersion (Standard Deviation - SD) of returns among these fund classes follows the same order suggesting that Arbitrage funds have the lowest mean and the lowest SD while Multi-Strategy funds exhibit the highest mean and highest SD. Summary of Approaches used The analysis uses both the Monte Carlo and the Historical simulation methods for answering the key questions listed previously. The Monte Carlo Simulation method depends on the formulation of an appropriate model that can suitably explain and analyze the monthly returns used as input for this analysis. To model the behaviour of these monthly returns, the concept of geometric Brownian Mo tion (BM) was specified (Rubinstein, 2008). The BM used in this context is a Markov Process which simply means that the monthly returns follow a random walk and exhibit behaviour consistent with the weak form of the EMH (Efficient Market Hypothesis) (Robert, 2004). This implies that the Monte Carlo method in this case utilizes the fact that movements in monthly returns are conditionally independent from such movements during previous periods. Under the Monte Carlo Method, a number of iterations for each test case was conducted to analyze the deterministic model configured using a sequence of random numbers generated as inputs. This simulation technique is especially useful when modelling non-linear, uncertain and complex parameters (Hammersley, 2005). On an average, the current simulations utilize between 5500 and 9000 iterations under any given test case. The Historical Simulation method, also known as back simulation, is part of the Value at Risk (VaR) approach which also utilizes a large number of iterations like the Monte Carlo method. As the name suggests, the Historical method depends on past information on monthly returns (unlike the Monte Carlo method that depends on random input) and simulates useful results through the construction of a CDF (Cumulative Distribution Function) of these monthly returns over time) (Dowd, 2009). Key Findings Monte Carlo Method On the question of the chances of

The Future of Natural Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Future of Natural Medicine - Essay Example This led to its near extinction in United States and U.K., while in Germany, China and India it got sidelined. Today there is a renaissance going on in medical herbalism throughout the world. W.H.O. estimated that more than 80% of the world population depends primarily on herbal medicine for their healthcare needs. In U.K. a recent survey revealed 1/3 of the people do use herbs regularly. [Herb Harvest] In U.S.A. there is a 380% increase in herbal medicine between 1991 and 1997. [Eisenberg et al 1998] The resurgence of the interest in herbal remedies is largely consumer driven. [70% took herbal medicine by their own information- Eliason et al 1977] This comes by the increasing interest shown by the public and confidence in self medication [Blenkenstop and Bradley 1999] Increased media coverage of the beneficial effects of herbal medicine also played a role in this. Sales of Herbal Medicine increased in U.K.from 27.8 million pounds in 1991 to 38 million pounds in 1996.This is an under estimation since Mintel excluded Garlic and Ginkop from medical category. Actual figures will show this to be 7 times more. European Union registered 7000 million dollars retail sales of herbal medicine in 1996. In Germany sales of herbal medicine in 1997 was 1.8 billion dollars (I.M.S. 1998) which comes to 1/3 of the O.T.C. [over the counter] sales. In U.S.A. 1994 sale was 1.6 billion dollars while 1998 sales rose to 4 billion dollars.[Brevoort 1998] In France it was 1.1 billion dollars in 1997, 28% of the O.T.C. market [I.M.S. –Institute of Medical Statistics-1998] Reasons for this increased use- An Herb is (also called botanical) a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and / or therapeutic properties. They can be used singly or in combination. NCCAM [National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine] brought forth a Fact Sheet for creating

Practical Chemistry Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Practical Chemistry Report - Essay Example Molar absorptivity is fixed the moment the reactant is fixed, cell length is standardized and therefore, its effect is also fixed. Now only variable deciding intensity of the absorbed and therefore transmitted light is the concentration of the reactant. Therefore, concentration of the reactant at a particular time can be read directly from the detector reading of the transmitted light. Care should be taken to subtract the reading corresponding to the bare solution i.e. the solution having no reactant. Data from both the experiments has been plotted separately on semi log scale i.e. ln[A] was plotted against time t (s) using excel software. Data points were plotted as a X-Y scatter plot and a linear interpolation was used as nature of the plot for the first order reaction is linear from the theory. Slope of the line gives value of the rate constant ÃŽ » and the intercept gives value of the initial concentration i.e. [Ao] Figure 1 shows variation of ln[A] vs time for Experiment 1. The close proximity of the data points from the linear interpolation line confirms that all the data points are very accurate. The same is confirmed by very high value of R2 which is 0.9929. One should note that value of R2 being 1 means all the data points will fall on the interpolation line. That is the ideal condition which never happens in actual experiments. There is another useful parameter half life (t1/2) associated with a first order reaction kinetics. This is the tie period during which concentration of the reactant is reduced to half of its original value. Value of half life (t1/2) can be calculated by putting [A] = [Ao]/2 and setting t as t1/2 in the integrated form of the rate equation derived above. This comes out to be In experiment 1 value of the rate constant (ÃŽ ») is 0.0006. Therefore, value of half life comes to be 1155 second. One should check in the experimental data whether really [A] is halving in every 1155s. What we find is that

Strategic management developement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Strategic management developement - Essay Example All these resources may become useless unless the organization formulate suitable strategies to exploit it. For example, Apple Inc was on the verge of destruction in 80’s and 90’s because of the loop holes in the strategic management of its business. However, Steve Jobs changed the business strategies of Apple Inc during the latter part of 90’s and at the beginning of 2000. The transformation of Apple Company from a computer company to a consumer electronics company has brought huge success. At present, Apple Inc. is the second largest company in the world in terms of market capitalization and they are the most valuable technology company in the world. At the same time, Microsoft was the leader in IT industry until a couple of years before. Same thing cannot be said about them now. Samsung is another company which was successful in developing suitable business strategies to increase its competitive power in global market. In short, strategic management of busines s is the most important topic in the organizational world at present. This paper analyses various theories with respect to strategic management in general and Porters five Forces Model theory in specific. General Discussion: Strategic Management â€Å"Good strategy is about letting alone and about creating the conditions of innovative adaptations† (Robert and Holt, 2009, p.56). Innovation is the key for organizational success. In the absence of innovative strategies, organizations may struggle to survive in the heavily competitive business world. As mentioned earlier, Apple Inc. is one company which showed the importance of innovation to the business world recently. It should be noted that Nokia was the leader in the mobile phone industry until recent times. They thought that nobody can question their supremacy in the mobile phone industry. Apple proved Nokia wrong. When all the traditional mobile phone manufacturing companies thought about enhancing the features of mobile ph ones, Apple thought differently and developed the touchscreen phone. The entry of iPhone in the mobile phone market caused huge problems to mobile phone manufacturers including Nokia. At present Apple is one among the top two mobile phone manufacturers in the world. In fact Nokia and other mobile phone manufacturers forced to follow the path of Apple. According to De Wit and Meyer (2010), â€Å"the four components of strategy are market opportunity, corporate competence and resources, personal values and aspirations and acknowledged obligations to segments of society other than stakeholders (p.76). Sustainable business practice is gaining grounds at present. It is impossible for modern organizations to excel in the market without showing commitments to corporate social responsibility. Companies which follow unethical business behaviours are blacklisted by the modern consumers. The reputation and brand image of the company is important things for the modern consumers. In short, ethi cal business practices are part of strategic business management at present. â€Å"Since the world is changing rapidly, we can also expect the firm’s strategy to do so. This may involve developing new bases of competitive advantage or completely new lines of business†(Fitzroy and Hulbert, 2004, p.5). Diversification of business is one of the major elements in strategic management. It should be noted that competition is increasing day by day in global market after the introduction of globalization. Along with existing players, new players are also

Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the Accounting and Auditing Essay

Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the Accounting and Auditing Profession - Essay Example The unexpected corporate failures brought the integrity of the financial statement audit into question (Elson & Lynn, 2008). The apparent aim of the new law is to strengthen controls and strengthen compliance with disclosures, in order that the matter of corporate performance and financial condition be made more transparent to the investing public. The Act applies to all corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), otherwise known as public companies. The most important sections of the statute are those that require the establishment of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Auditor Independence, and Enhanced Financial Disclosures. The impact of the new requirements listed is to strengthen the role and accountability of the internal audit function, in order that management and the board of directors may be held responsible â€Å"to vouch for accounting controls over financial reporting and disclosure weaknesses to shareholders† (Elson & Lynn, 2008:60). Prior to the implementation of the SOX, internal control was observed to be weak because of the weak internal audit performance, lack of independent directors, and inconsistency and general failure to hold the board of directors and internal audit committee accountable. While prior to the SOX, similar recommendations for chang e were already made by the Blue Ribbon Committee, compliance with these earlier recommendations was not as effective than that subsequent to the implementation of the SOX, mainly because of the absence of legal mandatory power of the Blue Ribbon Committee, in contrast with the requirements of the SOX which were legally binding (Lin, Kang & Roline, 2009:10). At least three studies have empirically determined the effect of SOX on the enhancement of internal audit and control by the management and board of directors. In the implementation of SOX, the Chief Audit Executive played an active leadership role in the implementation of SOX (Section 404), emphasizing on risk identification and control as well as remediation. Most reported increasing their resources devoted to corporate governance activities, including the review of ethics, business conduct, legal and regulatory compliance; audit resources were reported to have been increased (Patterson & Smith, 2007) by as much as 66% (Elson & Lynn, 2008). Significant changes were also made to the composition of the audit committee and the board of directors, which included: (a) an increase in the number of independent directors assigned to the audit committee as well as the board of directors; (b) a significant increase in compliance with the requirement that there should be at least four direct ors on the audit committee, as well as having six to fifteen directors in the board of directors; and (c) an increase in the overall average number of audit committee hearings (Lin, Kang & Roline, 2009). These changes pointed to not only formal but also substantial compliance with SOX requirements. Not all effects expected of SOX had materialized. A study of external auditors’ performance was conducted on the expectation that they had begun to exercise a greater conservatism and a more vigorous audit process prior to issuing going-concern or other qualified opinions. The study showed, however, that there had been no significant difference in the changes in the performance of auditor firms when comparing the pre- and post-SOX contexts (Ryu, Uliss & Roh, 2009). Furthermore, there are what are called â€Å"ripple effects,† such as (1) the negative influence on corporate acquisitions and mergers; (2) increased records-management requirements; (3) decreased

Unemployment Discrimination Essay Example for Free

Unemployment Discrimination Essay The downturn in the economy has resulted in a high percentage of long-term unemployed people. To combat the issue, legislatures are attempting to make it illegal nationwide for employers to post job openings that bar unemployed applicants, and by making unemployment a protected classification. As these proposed laws will impact businesses and how they operate, it is crucial for businesses, human resource professionals, and labor and employment counsel to understand the changing laws and the implications on employers with operations in each affected state. Once a better understanding of the anti-unemployment discrimination issue is gained, employers will be better prepared to comply with the existing and potential laws so as to avoid penalties. Findings will show that there are better ways to deal with the issue as opposed to making unemployed discrimination a protected classification. Research into the issue was derived from the National Conference of State Legislatures, law journals, legal updates, news articles, and statutes. By using these resources, it was discovered that proposed anti-unemployment discrimination laws are failing, that unemployment becomes an issue during times of economic crisis, and that existing federal and state laws already protect people from discrimination with respect to employment-related decisions. Findings from research indicate that there is no one method that can help improve the unemployment rate. Instead of making it illegal for employers to make hiring decisions while considering a person’s unemployment status, the government should work in conjunction with employers by offering incentives and training programs to help reduce the unemployment figures. Shouldn’t employers be able to consider an applicant’s unemployment status without being fearful of accusations of unemployment discrimination? Unfortunately, employers in certain states today can be penalized for refusing to hire job applicants if the hiring decision is based on an applicant’s unemployment status or if a job vacancy advertisement includes language that bars unemployed persons from applying. Within the past two years, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington, D. C. have enacted legislation that makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against job applicants based upon their unemployment status. Most recently, the State of New York has made unemployment status a protected trait. New York’s law will come into effect on June 11, 2013 (Morea, 2013). The economy and difficulty obtaining gainful employment can be frustrating for a lot of people today, but despite the issue, employers should always be able to select the strongest candidate for a job opening without having to fear allegations of unemployment discrimination. In essence, an employer should be afforded the right to select a candidate with relevant, recent employment history over a candidate that has been out of the workplace for a considerable amount of time, especially where an applicant has an inadequate explanation for gaps in employment. Despite New York’s stringent, pending statute that will authorize an individual to bring a private action for occurrences of joblessness discrimination, similar proposed laws are failing federally and state-wide (NCLS 2013). The failed legislative bills, along with the new anti-unemployment discrimination laws, are discussed at length below. The compelling reason behind the failure of proposed anti-unemployment discrimination laws is that there is strong sentiment that such laws, if passed, may expose companies to lawsuits, which in turn will likely cause employers to become even more selective in inviting candidates for interviews so as to avoid unemployment discrimination suits (Pear, 2011). An employer should always be able to consider a candidate’s length of unemployment as part of its big picture hiring strategy. It just makes business sense. For example, say that Company 2Y, LLP has a job opening in a demographic area where the unemployment figures are staggering. In response to its job posting, thousands of applications are received; however, only one candidate is needed to fill the position. In order to streamline the hiring process, Company 2Y, LLP is going to weed out any applications or resumes where an applicant does not possess recent, relevant experience. In this manner, Company 2Y, LLP is able to cull the staggering numbers of resumes down to those resumes of candidates that are currently employed in the same line of work. By doing this, Company 2Y, LLP will be able to limit the amount of people it invites for an interview, and will be assured it is getting a top-notch employee that is up to par with the latest technological advances and business practices in the given field. In all states aside from Oregon, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D. C. , this hiring scenario would be a legitimate practice so long as the company does not have any protocols in place that set out to disqualify applicants based on a protected characteristic such as race, disability or those candidates that are over age 40. As it stands, people already have laws protecting them from discriminatory practices with respect to employment, so why is there a need to make unemployment a protected characteristic, especially considering that it is a state of being and not a permanent trait such as one’s color, gender, race, national origin, age, or disability. As stated, there are already sufficient laws and administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and local state agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the Department of Labor that are charged with combatting discriminatory animus in employment.

Children And Poverty Children And Young People Essay

Children And Poverty Children And Young People Essay Imagine every night when your children go to bed, sitting at the kitchen table crying, because of bills piling up. You have so many questions going through you head. How am I going to put food on the table? How will I be able to pay the bills this month? If I skip this bill what will happen? These are just a few questions that families who are faced with economic hardships ask themselves. Some families experience it for a brief period however a portion experience chronic poverty throughout their lifetime. In many cases the greatest challenge is the lack of financial resources, but whatever the case may be the stakes get higher when it come to the effects on children. How does poverty and poor healthcare affect children mentally, emotionally, and physically Poverty can be defined in various ways. Primarily poverty is broken down into four categories: Absolute and relative poverty, and, generational and situational poverty (NPC). The number of people living below a certain income level unable to afford basic goods and services are defined as absolute poverty while, relative poverty are people placed in poverty because they do not meet the standards. These people have the necessities of living a healthy lifestyle; however, they still nonetheless classified as living in poverty because they live below the federal poverty level. On the other hand, poverty can be generational or situational. Generational poverty is defined as being in poverty for two or more generations. Situational poverty is due to different circumstances such as death in family, loss of job and is usually for a shorter period. So what does it mean to experience poverty? According to the national center for children in poverty, 37 million children are living in poverty in the United States. Todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s necessities has changed significantly from the past, having access to electricity, indoor plumbing, telephone service, a car, heating and air, and etc are essential to live in the world today. More than 10 million children are deprived of one or more of their rights, which include the right of nutrition, water, sanitation, access to basic health care, shelter, education, and protection (Aratani). 6 million children under six years old are homeless, never has received medical care and suffer from malnutrition. Children who live in poverty are 48 percent more likely so suffer from depression, domestic violence and substance abuse (Payne). The causes of poverty are very broad. Generally, you cannot identify one problem as the cause of poverty for families. Some of the leading causes of poverty are imprisonment, divorce, natural disasters, substance abuse, overpopulation, lack of education, health, housing, geographic factors, economy, disease, and mental illness. There are many more causes of poverty and there will always be considering the constant changes in the world. Single parents are two to three times higher to be affected by poverty, about 40 percent of instanced parents contribute nothing to their children up keeping those who do are paying an average of 2,100 a year which everyone know that amount will not supply the child with everything they need(Payne). Economic stress can be a factor for breaking families up. The struggling economy has been the cause of the individuals who once had secure jobs, to now being among the poor. 2.6 million Jobs were lost alone this year. Job loss is at an all time high, losing more than 500,000 job a month (Caroline and Bernstwin). Death in the family along with job lose in these economic times are inevitable. The fact that many families cannot afford nor save enough money to be able to have life insurance. Which causes families to makes there life a waiting game, hoping that nothing happens since they canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t afford life insurance. So ultimately when a death in the family occurs, the expenses along with the instant change in income makes a household fall apart; following the depression and lack of will power, many are in a fog on how to recover and rise there families to the standards they were accustom to. Families dealing with poverty worry about so many things, they try to continue to pay all there bills on time, stretch their money tying to camouflage the issue so their children will not know how bad it is (Meltzer). Nevertheless, poverty brought on by d eath changes everything, situations that are already hard to deal with when you combine that with being put on a fast track to poverty makes things more unbearable. The government programs such as food stamps, free or reduced lunch, medicad, government checks are the safety net for children living in poverty. These programs help children cope with the changes by giving them a way where they can still maintain some normal see to their lives. School breakfasts and lunches are the only meals some children get and over a million children according to Joan Flores do not receive the adequate breakfast needed because the school does not offer the program (children advocate). Eighty percent of children in the United States qualify for either free or reduced lunch (Joliffe and Filiak), In Richmond County, NC seventy-five percent of the children in the county qualify for this program (Barbee, Personal interview). Government supplementary checks are a way for the parents to get the items needed for the child however supplementary payments usually only allow for eight to fourteen benefits payments leaving the family to fend for themselves when that time per iod runs out . Medicad and food stamps give children the opportunity to have the two vital things they need for their existence. Although food stamps help at need children, food stamps are not easy for some families to obtain. Obstacles such as language barriers, thirteen-page application, interview process, etc prevent eligible families from receiving the benefits (Meltzer). Along with these obstacles, countless others stand in the way of children benefiting from the system. In certain counties or certain states, if you are homeless or cannot provide an address you are automatically be denied for government assistance; not to mention if the government finds out you are homeless your children you are running a risk of them taking your children. In addition, some families that are receiving these benefits should not, where as some families cheat the system taking viable resources that could be life or death for a child in need. Even though these programs are intended to help these ch ildren and families at need, tying to obtain this help is not only stressful for the family but also the child or children involved (Burnett, Personal Interview). Children in poverty are affected mentally, emotionally, and physically not to mention these children are prone to a shorter life span. Poverty affects children before they are even born, parents already in poverty do not receive the adequate prenatal care need for the child to develop properly. In addition, the child is at risk of being born prematurely and often they will suffer from birth defects and developmental delays (Meltzer). The stressful situations these children encounter on a daily bases can led the child to have low self-esteem and difficulties forming relationships with other even before they enter school. Not only are the children education impacted by poverty their choice of schooling is also impacted. Many underprivileged children are forced to attend under funded schools; statistics show that these children will ultimately drop out of high school and give birth during the teenage years. These children will often fall behind when entering school. A child who attends a under funded school or fall behind could be the start of the child not learning to read and write proficiently, they are also likely to continue to struggle as a high school student. Having poor grades in high school, his/her future for attending college is seriously limited. Since most careers are often tied to higher education. The lack of a high school or even a college degree sets the poor child up for a lifetime of struggle never making it out of the struggle they already know (Payne). Emotionally these children are traumatized, even from birth the emotional problem are clear/ children that experience poverty are more likely to experience depression, posttraumatic stress disorders, they are also more likely to become a victim of the court system. Suicide rates are high among children living in poverty. Approximately, thirty thousand children living in poverty take there lives each year. Although traumatic for all children, the NPC conducted a research showing how children react to poverty. When some children grow up in it they learn to slowly over come the situation they are in and turn out better, while other are constantly in a downward spiral . If you look out into your community, you would see numerous cases of emotional behavior based on poverty (Joliffe and Filiak). Ruby Payne identified the behavior related to children in poverty which included: physically fighting, easily angered, unaffected when being disciplined, cheating, stealing, argue loudly (Payne). Emotionally attachment and a sense of security are hard to achieve thus making the child hierarchy of need for children incomplete, leaving one of more of the following out: esteem, belonging, physiological, safety, or self-actualization (Ettinger, R.H P.437.) . Countless children in poverty go on day in and day out hungry not having the proper nutrition to function nor keep a healthy body. Five million children are deprived of appropriate nutrition and housing conditions of those five million, One point five million children under the age of five suffer from health in food deprivations which stunt there bodies from growing properly (Nicely). Low birth weights and increased risks of infant mortality are high even before the child is born. Poverty affects every organ and every aspect of a child existence. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people living in extreme poverty tend to have more chronic illnesses, more frequent and severe diseases and more complications also. Obesity, heart disease and asthma are also big in children living in poverty; these illnesses can continue to affect them later in adulthood. Along with the items listed above there are countless other health issues these children suffer at the hands of pov erty. Think about your children would you want them to experience these things because of poverty. How can we end this epidemic that takes over numerous lives. Todays children that are in poverty are all too often tomorrows parent raising a child in poverty. Poverty is often generational passing from one generation to the next generation affecting the long-term health, wellbeing and productivity of families, which affects the society as a whole. Therefore, I challenge you, as well as myself, to extend a helping hand to help the ones who cannot help themselves and break the revolving door of poverty.

Changes to the National Curriculum

Changes to the National Curriculum Since the introduction of the National Curriculum in 1992, a number of changes have been made to its structure and implementation. Identify and explain these changes and assess the contribution of the National Curriculum in the effort to raise standards in Education. This essay will describe, identify and explain the changes that have occurred to the National Curriculum (NC) since its conception in 1992. It will also assess these changes and evaluate the benefits and difficulties that it has experienced since 1992. The Education Reform Act (ERA) came into effect in 1988, this enabled Kenneth Baker the Conservative Minister of Education to implement the roll-out of the National Curriculum in 1992 within primary / secondary education. However, prior to 1992 there had been no National Curriculum and previously teachers had worked out their own schemes of work that they deemed appropriate for their pupils. As a result of this the standard of education across the country varied considerably and the methods employed to teach were wide-ranging. With the implementation of the National Curriculum in 1992, responsibility was shifted away from teachers to centralised government over what was to be taught. The National Curriculum established a set-framework of learning to enable children to move freely between schools as they would be learning from the same framework. The National Curriculum ensured that schools taught a certain range of subjects, this consisted of ten subjects. The subjects were divided into two sub-categories (core and foundation). The three main core subjects were English, Maths and Science, and together with seven other foundation subjects (Art, Home Economics. Music, History, a Modern Foreign Language (only compulsory in secondary schools), Geography and Physical Education created the foundation of the National Curriculum. Compulsory National tests (SATS) were introduced at 7, 11 and 14 on core subjects. The results are published annually in league tables (along with GCSE/A levels and truancy statistics). Changes occurred to the National Curriculum from its inception. Rather than being embraced the National Curriculum was met with hostility from some teachers and most of the larger teachers unions. One of the main criticisms of the National Curriculum by teachers and teaching unions was that at first glance that it contained far too many subjects and was considered to be too rigid, compared to what was previously taught. This meant that it was difficult to teach the subject well as the students had to learn so many subjects, and they presumed that it would be very difficult for students. The National Curriculum was also criticized for being extremely Eurocentric, as it was primarily focused around European culture, giving those from ethnic backgrounds very little opportunity to learn about their roots. Certain sections of the public also argued that the government intentionally fashioned the National Curriculum to remove subjects which they as a political party are against for political reasons, such as sociology, politics, and environmental sciences (they were never contained in the National Curriculum). However, a benefit to the National Curriculum was that teachers now had to educate students in a range of subjects. This gave children / students a better start for the skills they would need for later in life. It was also disputed that the national Curriculum helped to reduce the division of girls and boys subjects, as both sexes were taught the same subjects. This helped to reduce the stereotyping of gender. In 1993, teachers decided to boycott the national curriculum testing arrangements (SATS) after complaining about the workload. The Secretary of State for Education, in a move in the right direction asked Sir Ron Dearing, who was the current Chairman of the School Curriculum and Assessment AuthorityHYPERLINK http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/school-curriculum-and-assessment-tf#p2000a9f68830215001 (SCAA), to review the national curriculum. Dearing made an Interim Report in 1993 and a Final Report in 1994 (The Dearing Report) after a period of consultation with teachers and the teachers unions. In his report his recommended on slimming down the curriculum, and improving its administration. He also recommended that the slimmed down national curriculum should not be altered for five years and that national tests should be simplified without sacrificing validity or reliability. The revised curriculum was implemented from August 1995. The 1992, Ofsted (The Office for Standards in Education) formed as part of the major overhaul and centralisation of the school system begun by the Education Reform Act 1988, which introduced the National Curriculum, extensive testing in schools and the publication of league tables. Ofsted inspections were carried out on school every 6 years. This change was introduced as it was believed standards needed to be raised in schools. Many people thought Ofsted inspections were a good idea, if schools were failing, it was noticed and measures were put in place in order to improve these schools. However, Ofsted were also often seen to be too strict on schools, making it difficult for schools to pass inspection highly. Also, it was felt that many teachers and schools would improve their teaching standards while they were being inspected. Some schools would also send some of their worst behaved students on school trips for the inspections. This defeated the object of Ofsted inspections as it wasnt the normal teaching standards that were being tested. Recent inspections by Ofsted have revealed that although a good proportion of schools had improved since they were last checked many were stilling failing. Figures released by Ofsted in 2009 show that 11% of schools checked since last September were rated outstanding, while 9% were not up to scratch. [Angela Harrison, BBC] In the year 2006-07, 14% of those checked were outstanding and 6% were inadequate. [Angela Harrison, BBC] In 1997, the incoming The New Labour Government came into power in the UK. They Introduced the National Literacy Strategy to all Primary Schools in England from September 1998 after setting targets for pupils at Key Stage 2 in English (80%), Mathematics (75), but not in Science. Previously a pilot project had been tested during 1996, which involved schools in 14 Local Education Authorities. The strategy was planned for teachers to teach a daily Literacy Hour, which followed a pattern of 30 minutes whole class teaching, then group work and concluding with a plenary session. A number of documents have been published by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) to help teachers raise standards in literacy at the time. The National Literacy Strategy framework endeavoured to improve standards for all primary aged pupils. The strategys purpose was to make sure that all pupils were receiving on a daily basis dedicated one hour of literacy. The end result would give pupils the opportunity to develop skills in reading, grammar, spelling, and oral work and help raise standards in teaching and learning. In the following year of September 1999 The National Numeracy Strategy framework was introduced and like the literacy strategy, aimed at raising standards for all primary pupils. Similar to the National Literacy Strategy it prescribed a one hour daily mathematics lesson for all pupils. The Five Year Review in 2000 set out the main aims and purposes of the National Curriculum for the first time. The four main purposes of the National Curriculum are: To establish an entitlement. To establish standards. To promote continuity and coherence. To promote public understanding. The National Curriculum has been put into place in the hope that children will achieve and will have an entitlement to learning irrespective of their background, be it race, gender, cultural or otherwise. It also makes expectations for childrens attainment explicit for all concerned and sets out national standards for performance. These standards can then be used for target setting, measuring progress and monitoring progression. The Foundation Stage was introduced by the Labour government in 2000, to provide guidance for settings which provide care and education to pre-school children (aged 3 to 5). It was named the Foundation Stage because it lays the foundations for childrens later learning. [Neaum and Tallack, 2002]. It evolved from the Rumbold Report of 1990, which investigated the educational provision for the under 5s, and found that there was a patchy, unplanned curriculum which was unsatisfactory. In 2004 a review was carried out of Key Stage 4, from this review the introduction of Entitlement subjects. The Curriculum Entitlement Framework provides pupils with access to a wider range of learning opportunities suited to their needs, aptitudes and interests, irrespective of where they live or the school they attend. In 2007 the government abolished formal written Key Stage 1 SATS and replaced them with teacher recorded assessments. The Key Stage 1 assessments are very low key and completed by the pupils teacher over a period of a few weeks so they will be hardly aware that an assessment is taking place. In 2008 a review of Secondary National Curriculum resulted in new Key Stage 3 and 4 Curriculum which was introduced in 2009. This updated part of the curriculum now offers Diplomas and other alternatives to current GCSE and A-level examinations. In 2009 the then current Labour government announces that Key Stage 3 Sats examinations are to be abolished and that Sir Jim Rose will be conducting a full review of the Primary National Curriculum. The findings of the report will be implemented from September 2011. In May 2010 a general election was held and New Conservative / Liberal Democrat government came to power under David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The future changes to the new primary national curriculum which were put forward by Sir Jim Rose to be implemented from September 2011 have been shelved, the government stating that it does not intend to proceed with the new primary curriculum. Instead they are committed to giving schools more freedom from unnecessary prescription and bureaucracy. They have always made clear their intention to make changes to the National Curriculum that will ensure a relentless focus on the basics and give teachers more flexibility than the proposed new primary curriculum offered. The National Curriculum has undergone considerable change and development over the past twenty years and is still being altered and adjusted at the present day. Controversy still exists as to the approach education should adopt for those over the age of 14 testing is thought to be heavily based on recall of knowledge encouraging a lack of skill development activities. Many of the original subjects that were mandatory no longer are, as it was felt the curriculum was too full. In my opinion, since the introduction of the National Curriculum, I believe that it was the keystone to greatly improving the standards of education that children receive in todays society. This is because before the standard of education students received was highly based on class status and was typically biased towards the middle / upper class families, another factor was your locality in the country. Teachers also taught a range of subjects that they wished to teach as there were no set subjects so what you could be taught varied across the country. This led to many students leaving school with limited knowledge. With the introduction of the Literacy and Numeracy hours Sats results have increased again of the subsequent years but again now have slowed to a halt. As seen in the table below. But on the flip side having felt that on the whole the National Curriculum is effective it is also somewhat flawed. Children are taught to the test at a detriment to other subjects, and so they are missing out on a broad and balanced curriculum. Schools and teaching staff will also admit that they are being forced to teach to the test; cutting out subjects such as history, geography and art to inflate their position on national league tables or else look as if they are failing. The national tests also distort childrens education as they are being offered a restricted timetable as teachers are forced to focus on the core subjects. In a number of schools an emphasis on tests in English, Mathematics and Science limits the range of work in these subjects in particular year groups, as well as more broadly across the curriculum in some primary schools. Having said this, the positive points outweighed the negative greatly as it was the start towards the National Curriculum that we currently have today.

Prevention of Obesity Essay -- Health, Diseases

This Neighbourhood Study aims to research the profile of Hillingdon Borough in relation to the prevention of obesity. An insight into the prevalence of obesity as well as the causes and its effects shall be evaluated. Public health strategies on the prevention of obesity and its effects in relation to Government strategies shall be addressed. A snapshot about the role of the nurse as an educator in relation to this public health issue as well as strategies formulated by Hillingdon PCT to prevent obesity and how it focuses on other diseases associated with obesity shall be discussed. The following section gives a definition of obesity, health, health education and health prevention. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2010) defines obesity and being overweight as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) as Arterburn et al (2008) put forward is a measure of body fat based on height and weight and further suggest that any individual with a BMI of more than 30 is considered as obese. WHO (1986) defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Tannahill et al (1999) propound that health education could be viewed as communication activity aimed at enhancing positive health and preventing ill health in individuals and groups by influencing their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour of persons with power and of the community. Butler et al (2008) defines health prevention as the measures for early detection of departure from good health. Whereas Heath (2002) concur that the role and function of the nurse emphasise on health promotion a nd illness prevention, the Department of Health (2003) emphasises on th... ...nitiatives relating to obesity, the exploration of Public health and government strategic concepts of valuing equality and diversity across population receiving health care have be examined. Child obesity is one of the greatest challenges facing Hillingdon PCT. This calls for a multi-agency collaboration between the NHS, local authorities, schools, workplaces, community and commercial enterprises in planning, delivering and maintaining a healthier borough and nation. Focus needs to be emphasised on prevention, as opposed to cure. Nurses need to play a more active role on educating the nation on the dangers of obesity and its associated illnesses. Whether the motivation is on improving health or increasing physical activity; health education directed towards the young can help build an obese free borough and country as the young are the future of tomorrow.

Avian Song Control :: Birds Bird Neorology Essays

Avian Song Control Bird songs continue to fascinate neurobiologists and neuroethologists because the development of song has been a popular model used to examine the role of environment on behavior. In most species, only male birds sing complex songs. Their vocalizations are the result of sexual dimorphism in the brain regions responsible for the production of song. However, this behavior is not genetically hardwired into the avian brain. Certain conditions must exist in order for male birds to successfully produce their species-specific song. Additionally, the neuronal circuitry and structure of the avian song system shows high levels of plasticity. If the brain and behavior are indistinguishable, then the structural differences in the avian brain are responsible for behavioral differences across the sexes. Nottebohm and colleagues identified six anatomically distinct regions of the forebrain involved in the production of song, which are arranged into two independent pathways, the posterior pathway, which controls song production, and the anterior pathway, which controls song learning. The collective unit is typically referred to as the vocal control region (VCR) (1) (2). Female birds sing rarely and this behavioral difference is reflective of the anatomy of the female avian brain. There are significant differences in the size of three neural areas involved in the production of song across the sexes, and a specific area, Area X, is present in the male and absent in the female. Additionally, the incorporation of radiolabeled testosterone in certain locations is different in males and females (3) (4). Scientists have been particularly interested in the origin of the structural differences in male and female songbirds. Research has suggested the importance of gonadal hormones, specifically testosterone in the production of song. It was observed that castration eliminated all song production (5). Additionally, when testosterone levels are low, there is not only a decrease in the production of song, but also a decrease in the size of some nuclei involved in song production (6). Further support for the necessity of testosterone for song production was demonstrated by Nottebohm (1980) when he injected female birds with testosterone, which lead to the production of song (7). This research has interesting implications regarding anatomical changes that may occur when an organism is chemically imbalanced. Disruptions in chemical equilibrium may alter brain structure and subsequently influence behavior. Nevertheless, not all research has supported the claim that testosterone is responsible for anatomical and behavioral differences between male and female songbirds. Avian Song Control :: Birds Bird Neorology Essays Avian Song Control Bird songs continue to fascinate neurobiologists and neuroethologists because the development of song has been a popular model used to examine the role of environment on behavior. In most species, only male birds sing complex songs. Their vocalizations are the result of sexual dimorphism in the brain regions responsible for the production of song. However, this behavior is not genetically hardwired into the avian brain. Certain conditions must exist in order for male birds to successfully produce their species-specific song. Additionally, the neuronal circuitry and structure of the avian song system shows high levels of plasticity. If the brain and behavior are indistinguishable, then the structural differences in the avian brain are responsible for behavioral differences across the sexes. Nottebohm and colleagues identified six anatomically distinct regions of the forebrain involved in the production of song, which are arranged into two independent pathways, the posterior pathway, which controls song production, and the anterior pathway, which controls song learning. The collective unit is typically referred to as the vocal control region (VCR) (1) (2). Female birds sing rarely and this behavioral difference is reflective of the anatomy of the female avian brain. There are significant differences in the size of three neural areas involved in the production of song across the sexes, and a specific area, Area X, is present in the male and absent in the female. Additionally, the incorporation of radiolabeled testosterone in certain locations is different in males and females (3) (4). Scientists have been particularly interested in the origin of the structural differences in male and female songbirds. Research has suggested the importance of gonadal hormones, specifically testosterone in the production of song. It was observed that castration eliminated all song production (5). Additionally, when testosterone levels are low, there is not only a decrease in the production of song, but also a decrease in the size of some nuclei involved in song production (6). Further support for the necessity of testosterone for song production was demonstrated by Nottebohm (1980) when he injected female birds with testosterone, which lead to the production of song (7). This research has interesting implications regarding anatomical changes that may occur when an organism is chemically imbalanced. Disruptions in chemical equilibrium may alter brain structure and subsequently influence behavior. Nevertheless, not all research has supported the claim that testosterone is responsible for anatomical and behavioral differences between male and female songbirds.

Prevention of Employee Theft Essay -- Expository Exemplification Essay

Prevention of Employee Theft Why do employees feel free to steal? Most employee theft occurs because it is too easy. What can a company do to prevent employee theft? What should a company do to employee thieves? The following paragraphs summarize a few ideas. Employee theft is a crime that is costing U.S. companies a great deal of money. Employee thefts are growing in number, partially because the perpetrators really do not see themselves as criminals and rationalize what they are doing in much the same way as taxpayers rationalize income tax fraud. Employee theft is one of many personnel problems that is easier to prevent than to solve. Prevention should begin before an applicant becomes an employee. Some theft prevention might include recruiting trustworthy employees which includes performing background checks to help screen applicants. However, a background check or criminal records check does have its limitations. For example, most people who steal from their employees are never caught. When Acme Company was having a problem with employee theft, the firm found that the prevailing attitude was that corporate losses were normal and even acceptable. Management took a variety of steps to remedy the situation. First, a clearly stated policy was communicated that theft would be prosecuted. A more humanistic approach was developed for employee supervision, and supervisors were trained to be more sensitive to the needs of subordinates. In addition, an anonymous theft reporting hot line was set up outside the company, and rewards were provided when an investigation resulted in a conviction. The program was successful, illustrating that both traditional and innovative steps must be taken to reduce the i... ...f escape with dismissal rather than criminal proceedings. Failure to prosecute employee theft only leads to its increase. Many companies probably think that prosecution will let other current and future employees think that stealing is easy in the company. Depending on the nature of the crime, I think companies need to prosecute employee thieves and/or dismiss the employee and make arrangements with the employee to pay back what was stolen. Works Cited Bassett, James W. "Nursing Homes: Taking A Hard Line Against Crime. " UMI (1996): 13-18 Janssen, Marvin J. "Security Management: The Case of the Missing Money." UMI 11161.00 (1995): 77-79 Price, William. "Security Management: Reeling In Dishonest Employees." UMI 11161.00 (1995): 48-52. Sipes, Leonard Adam, Jr. "Security Management: Tradition Takes A Twist. " UMI 1116 1. 00 (1987): 41-44.

The Inequalities Surrounding Indigenous Health

The Inequalities Surrounding Australian Indigenous Health Inequality in health is one of the most controversial topics within Australian Health Care. Inequality in relation to health is defined as being â€Å"differences in health status or in the distribution of health determinants between different population groups† (World Health Organization, 2012). Within Australia inequality affects a wide range of population groups; however Indigenous Australians are most widely affected therefore this paper will focus on how inequality has impacted their health.Research shows that Australia’s Indigenous people suffer from a multitude of social and economic inequalities such as inadequate access to nutritious food and health care, being socially and economically ostracized, cultural barriers, discrimination, inadequate shelter and sanitation, and insufficient education (Commonwealth Grants Commission 2001, p. 58-60; Australian Human Rights Commission 2007), which all contribute t o poor health physically, emotionally and spiritually. To gain a better understanding of the ill treatment of this population it is important to review Australian history and the affects on the individual and the community.Throughout history Indigenous Australians have suffered great inequality at the hands of white settlers. In 1788 the British colonialists arrived claiming the continent as their own without respect or consideration for its inhabitants. The inequality suffered by the Indigenous due to this lack of respect was brutal and executed with contempt, such as large scale massacres, assimilation of Indigenous children (known as the stolen generation), the banishment of entire communities, and a loss of land impacting on the hunter gatherer lifestyle etc. Australian Indigenous Health Info Net, 2011). Prior to the arrival of the British, â€Å"Indigenous Australians generally enjoyed better health †¦ than most people living in Europe† (Australian Indigenous Health Info Net, 2011), this could be directly due to the nomadic lifestyle and relatively small clans. According to the Australian Indigenous Health Info Net after the arrival of the British, Indigenous tribes were exposed to a number of diseases such as pertussis, small pox, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, measles, scarlet fever and Influenza.Having had no previous exposure to such afflictions Indigenous Australians endured a significant loss of life and their social structure was severely disrupted (2011). Throughout history inaccessibility of conventional health services and insufficient distribution of health frameworks in some Indigenous communities, has inevitably created a disadvantage to be as healthy as non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2007).Although society has advanced and is now bound by more equitable laws, large numbers of Indigenous Australians as individuals and as communities continue to suffer lower socioeconomic circumstances and health inequalities. This history of inequality, discrimination and overall mistreatment has not only had a prolific impact on the health and socioeconomic status of Indigenous individuals but it has contributed to an increase in detrimental social conditions and a lack of faith in their Non-Indigenous counterparts, the Government and the Australian Health Care System.Isaacs, Pyett, Oakley-Brown, Gruis, and Waples-Crowe (2010) found that â€Å"A general lack of trust in mainstream services by the Indigenous community and previous experiences of racism and discrimination can draw individuals away from these services† (p. 78). VicHealth determines that the disadvantages of financial hardship has a considerable residual influence on health inequalities (2005, p. 1). Low income and financial hardship has commonly been linked with poor housing and hygiene. Disadvantaged Indigenous individuals are more than often sharing their dwellings and overcrowding is not unlikely.Overcrowding genera lly means that there is an unavoidable spread of disease (Commonwealth Grants Commission, 2001, p. 58-60), placing significant strain on an individual’s financial position, due to higher expenditure outcomes, affecting their ability to seek health treatment. Such strain can increase the individuals stress levels. The Australian Human Rights Commission points out that stress â€Å"can impact on the body’s immune system, circulatory system, and metabolic functions through a variety of hormonal pathways and is associated with a range of health problems, particularly diseases of the circulatory system (2007).Indigenous individuals are strongly identify with their community and work together to heal rather than exclusively. Therefore socio-economic disadvantages, intolerance and health inequalities that affect Indigenous individuals also have an impact on their communities. The introduction to the western/European way of living, loss of ancestral land, intolerance and the economic disadvantages that Indigenous Australians suffer fuels socially related conditions within their communities such as substance abuse, violence, increased degrees of infectious diseases and chronic diseases etc. ulminating in higher mortality rates than non-Indigenous Australians (Duckett & Willcox, 2011, p. 34-35). Stephens, Porter, Nettleton and Willis (2006) state that â€Å"infectious disease burden persists for Indigenous communities with high rates of diseases such as tuberculosis, and inequality also exists in the prevalence of chronic disease, including diabetes and heart disease† (p. 2022). Statistics show mortality for most age groups of the Indigenous population is twice that of non-indigenous people.The highest rate of mortality of Indigenous people is six times that of non-Indigenous Australians, this mortality is encountered by both males and females aged between 35-44 years of age (Duckett & Willcox, 2011, p. 33). Consistency of low socioeconomic positio n in Indigenous communities is a causality of ill health which exacerbates Indigenous people’s disparity, contributing a continuum of disparity and ill health among generations (VicHealth, 2005, p. 3). These impacts of health inequality for Indigenous Australians on the Australian health system are varied.Hospitals and health services experience a higher influx of Indigenous patients compared to their counterparts (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2007). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare maintains that the ratio of Indigenous patients in health care settings compared to non-Indigenous is about three to one. Indigenous people present with a plethora of health problems including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, substance and violence related injuries, mental illness etc. (2011). All of these health issues have a deep correlation with inequality.The high rates of patient intakes and health issues surrounding Indigenous people suggests they are not accessing heal th services and health education that encourages and aids in prevention. As mentioned earlier Isaacs et al (2010) stated that this is a direct impact of fear and trust related to racial discrimination (p. 78). Insufficient education may play a role in the inability to understand what services are available to them. An abundance of health services are available to urban Indigenous communities; however access to services for more remote communities poses much financial difficulty and stress.Financial stress has also impacted the health care system as funding continually needs expansion to support the outcomes of poor health inequalities for this population. In 2006-2007 â€Å"Indigenous health care expenditure accounted for 3. 3% of national expenditure† (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states that this is only slightly higher than what is allocated to services accessed by Non-Indigenous Australians, even though Indigenous people suffer a higher burden of disease (2011).It is evidential that more services are required to create preventative outcomes and to relieve financial burden across the board. Considering Indigenous people generally work as a community rather than as individuals (being that they are clan affiliated) perhaps it would be more beneficial for the community as a whole to address what improvements need to be made to better suit their cultural beliefs. Freemantle, Officer, McAullay and Anderson (2007) acknowledge that Indigenous communities who oversee attainable and adaptable services have consistent, convincing health improvements (p. ). Community leaders should work cohesively with local and state governments to create more holistic approaches toward gaining effective health outcomes. This may mean making the choice to take a leap of faith in the health care system and the government that has primarily been responsible for the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples. In additio n the government at a national level is cohesively strategizing to improve life for Indigenous people. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed upon a strategy developed to ‘Close the Gap’. Closing the Gap is a commitment by all Australian governments to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, and in particular provide a better future for Indigenous children† (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2009). State health departments such as VicHealth are also aiming to create improved health equality by enhancing awareness across all sectors, engaging in promotion to decrease health inequalities, establishing schemes that address health inequalities etc. (2005, p. ). Compared to the global community, Australian life expectancy and morbidity rates for Indigenous people have been found to be greater than that of other developed communities such as New Zealand, Canada and the USA (Freemantle et al. 2007, p. 2). Th e Freemantle et al. research (2007) revealed that Australian Indigenous people had an inferior life expectancy with males living approximately 56 years and females 63 years. In comparison, Canada’s Indigenous males lived approximately 68. 9 years and females 76. 6 years.In addition, the discrepancy in life expectancy between Australia’s Indigenous population and their non-Indigenous counterparts is marginally greater than that of other developed nations, with non-Indigenous Australians life expectancy at 76. 6 years for males and 82 years for females. In relation to morbidity, compared to the USA Australian Indigenous people experience an increased rate of illness such as diabetes at 85. 4, while the American Indigenous people only experience a rate of diabetes at 36. 2 (p. 26-28).It is evidential that Australian Indigenous populations suffer higher rates of health inequalities compared to other developed countries; this may be proof that Australia is not doing enough to bridge the gap. However it must be acknowledged that underdeveloped nations experience much lower rates of life expectancy and greater rates of illness, than developed nations. In conclusion it is suffice to say that since white settlement, Indigenous Australians as individuals and communities have suffered great health inequalities, due to racial discrimination and low socio-economic disadvantages.Although the Australian government and the health care systems are working towards amending these health inequalities, working cohesively with Indigenous communities will increase positive outcomes. Evidence shows that more effective action needs to be committed to and enforced. References Australian Government. (2001). Commonwealth grants commission: Indigenous funding inquiry. Retrieved March 26th, 2012, from www. cgc. gov. au/publications2/other_inquiries2/indigenous_funding_inquiry2/reports_and_other_documents/indigenous_funding_inquiry_-_final_report Australian Human Rights Commis sion. (2007, April 29-30).Social determinants and the health of Indigenous peoples in Australia: A human rights based approach. Retrieved March 26th, 2012, from www. hreoc. gov. au/about/media/speeches/social_justice/2007/social_determinants_n_the_health_of_indig_peoples. html Australian Indigenous Health Info Net. (2011). The context of Indigenous health. Retrieved March 23rd, 2012, from http://www. healthinfonet. ecu. edu. au/health-facts/overviews/the-context-of-indigenous-health Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2011). The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.