Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Analysis - Essay Example China remains one of the economies with the greatest impact on other economies. This is attributed to the rapid growth rate growth rate of almost ten percent for the last ten years. The objective of this paper is to give a detailed analysis concerning the rise of china’s economy. In addition, the paper provides an in-depth analysis of the impacts of china’s economy on the United States. The economy of China grows because of a number of reasons. For instance, china’s substantial investment in infrastructure plays a key role in the growth of its economy. The many forms of transportation make trade easy hence improved local and international trade. For instance, the availability of railway transport system in China and other forms of transport help improve the economy of China. The rail network in China is now more than many countries in the world. The most important thing about this is that China keeps investing in infrastructure on a yearly basis. By the year 2006, China had overtaken India by eleven thousand kilometers that were the leading by then with sixty-four thousand kilometers. In addition, availability of water, power, drinking water, and irrigation in China surpasses many countries in the whole world. For instance, the development of China concerning these dimensions is three times that of India. Therefore, infrastructure development in China plays a significant role regarding its economy growth. China’s economy remains growing at a faster rate because of the increasing number of manufacturing industries. For this reason, therefore, China is the greatest exporter of goods in the entire world. In addition, China is also the second largest importer of goods. The growth in the export and import of goods in China shows its improved purchasing power. Furthermore, China being the least importer of services products gives a sneak preview of its

Cross Cultural Studies in Gender Essay Example for Free

Cross Cultural Studies in Gender Essay Most research into gender roles has occurred in Western societies, and generally shows a clear divide in gender roles, most encouraging masculine behaviour in boys, and feminine behaviour in girls. However, in order to further explore the idea of nature vs. nurture (biological vs. social approach); it is important to research gender roles in a variety of countries. If clear themes, it may indicate that gender role development is nature, as would show that men are similar to men across the whole world, and likewise for females, showing there must be something determining the way men work, whereas if there are clear culture differences, it would imply social factors determine gender. Cross cultural research has been explored for many years by anthropologists. Some of the earliest work came from Margret Mead in the 1930’s. Comparing three Papua New Guinean tribes, the Arapesh, the Mundugumor and the Tchambuli, she discovered different behaviours displayed by both men and women in each individual tribe. In the Arapesh, men and women were seen to be gentle, responsive- fitting the Western stereotype as feminine. In the Mundugumor tribe, she found males and females to violent and aggressive- the Western stereotype of masculinity and finally in the Tchambuli tribe, she found role reversal to Western stereotypes, as males were more emotionally dependant and flirtatious, whereas the females were dominant, impersonal and definite. Although at first, Mead concluded that her research showed that gender roles came through cultural determinism as big differences were found between males and females in different cultures, implying that gender roles were driven by social factors. However, after later analysis and extending her research to look at other tribes in Samoa, she changed her view (1949) to that her research actually showed cultural determinism, as despite differences in the roles males and females played in each society, in all the societies she looked at men were more aggressive than the women, contributing to the idea that gender role is determined by nature, as there are some behaviours which are innate and universal, e. g. ggression in men, but that degree to which they are expressed is relative to the particular culture. This fits under the biosocial approach, as her research suggests there are some behaviours which are universal, but the degrees to which these behaviours are expressed depends on social factors, such as culture. Mead’s study was a natural experiment, meaning the tribes were observed in their usual environment, suggesting she was noting their true behaviour. However, her method has been heavily criticised by other psychol ogists such as Freeman (1984). Her research was conducted through interviews and observations of the tribes, but Freeman who also worked with Samoan tribes was told that Mead provided the tribesmen with what she wanted them to say. Although this questions the validity of her research, in later years there has been lots of cross cultural research to show differences and similarities and divisions of labour and behaviour by gender in every society (Munroe and Munroe 1975). Further research to support the nature side of the argument is from Whiting and Edwards 1975. Through looking at 11 non-western societies, they found that gender roles were organised in similar ways across a range of traditional cultures. They found girls were encouraged to spend more time with their mothers and were more likely to be given domestic and childcare jobs, whereas the boys were likely to be assigned jobs outside the house such as herding animals. This lead to girls spending more time with younger infants and adults, whereas boys spent more time with their peers, and so It seemed younger girls were found to be more responsible and nurturing than boys who in early adolescence began to get more responsibility. Whiting and Edwards concluded that the behavioural differences observed came about because of the tasks they are given. Girls are taught how to be responsible at a young age as they are exposed to female role models, and develop skills of caring for younger siblings. In another, Whiting and Whiting (1988) observed children in their natural environment with parents, siblings and peers. There were universal differences that girls were more nurturing and boys showed more dominance. However, the fact there were key differences between boys and girls such as what they were socialised into, and what they were encouraged to achieve, implies that both upbringing and biology play a role in development; socialisation just magnifies the biological difference, hence differences across cultures such as between US and India. Bee (1995) supported the idea of socialisation being the most important factor in determining gender, as he stated children became the company they keep. However, researches such as Omar et al found similarities in varied countries such as Switzerland, Ethiopia and the US. Their research indicated that all boys show higher levels of competitiveness and aggression than females, indicating there are underling biological factors. Further support for the nurture argument comes from Berry et al (2002). They studied male superiority on spatial perceptual tasks in 17 societies. He found that this superiority is only found in relatively tight knit, sedentary societies but absent in nomadic societies. This shows that the magnitude of sex differences is linked to culture and ecology. In tight knit societies, the division of labour is greatest because women stay at home whilst men travel, whereas in nomadic societies, both men and women travel and hunt so there is less division of labour (Van Leeuwen 1978). Therefore, this implies that social factors dictate gender role, due to the cultural differences in division of labour found. Berry’s large study of a variety of societies indicates his results can be representative of the general population and we can generalise results. However, Kimura (1999) offered an alternative biological interpretation, that in hunting societies, those with poor spatial perception are likely to die, thus eliminating such genes from the gene pool. This explains why in nomadic societies, there would be less gender difference in spatial abilities. Further biological support comes from Buss et al (1989). Involving 10,000 participants from 37 cultures, he found universal themes in what males and females looked for in marriage partners. Women desired males who had good financial prospects, whereas men placed more important in physical attraction and youthfulness. Both sexes agreed intelligence, kindness and reliability are important. Due to the fact these finding were universal, and the scale of the study implies we can generalise, it suggests gender roles are biologically determined. However, an alternative argument may be that women look for providers, not because of biology, but because of the fact women tend to earn less in society, and in some countries, have fewer rights, which is a social issue determining differences in gender roles. But despite the fact that labour division are the same in most cultures- irls are brought up to be nurturing, responsible and obedient, likely to raise the children, whereas boys are raised to be more independent, self-reliant and high-achieving, and provide for their family, suggest that it is biology that determines sex roles. However, it is difficult to decipher whether division is the direct outcome of biological differences or whether it is a more indirect outcome of biological differences. Eagly and Wood argued that all cultures shape their socialisation processes along with the lines of inborn biological tendencies. However, there has been research to counter this. Sugihara and Katsurada (2002) found that Japanese men do no not seek to be macho like Americans, but instead value being well-rounded in the arts (usually associated as femininity), showing that labour divisions are not the same in all cultures. As well as looking at the divisions of labour between difference cultures, there has also been research into the differences between gender roles in collectivist and individualistic cultures. In 2002, Chang, Guo and Hau, compared 145 American and 173 Chinese students by giving the students a 10 item Egalitarian Gender Role Attitudes Scale, which measured their attitudes to gender equality at home and in the work place. Chang et al found that American students emphasised the important of equal gender roles at work, whereas the Chinese students emphasised the importance of equality at home and in the family. Although this does indicate differences, this may be due to the nature of their home country. In communist China, equality at work is taken for granted. Further exploring this, Leung and Moore (2003) compared Australians of English and Chinese decent using Bem’s SRI and fond differences in line with the Hofstede’s dimensions. Both male and female English Australians showed masculine traits which are valued in individualistic cultures, whereas Chinese Australian’s; male and female, showed feminine traits valued in a collectivist culture. Both research studies imply that cultural values and expectations have a strong on the development of gender roles and expectations (nurture). A big problem with much research is how you measure sex stereotypes. Williams and Best (1990) study highlighted some of the problems linked to this. 2,800 university students from 30 different nations were given a 300 item adjective checklist (ACL) and asked to decide for each adjective whether it was associated more with men or women. They found a broad consensus across countries- men were seen as more dominant, aggressive and autonomous, whereas women were more nurturing, deferent and interested in affiliation. This suggests there are universal gender stereotypes about gender roles, indicating, they are derived though our genes. However, this study proposed many problems in how they measured sex stereotypes. Firstly, the participants had to pick either male or female, there was no equal category (although there was a ‘cannot say’ category) which may have resulted in the division in gender roles being exaggerated. Furthermore, the task was related to stereotypes, not actual behaviours. Some argue that such stereotypes have a significant effect on socialisation within the culture, and this are related to behaviour, but the data does not demonstrate this. Finally, because all of the participants are students, it indicates there behaviours are similar e. g. intelligences, and exposed to similar influences which may explain the broad consensus. Another problem is a lot of the cross-cultural research has been collected by western researchers, therefore, even though they were collecting data in western and non-western societies, the method of research will be developed by western psychology. This may indicated imposed etic, and the data collected is meaningless and demonstrates cultural bias. To overcome this, Berry et al (2002) concluded that there should be a greater use of more genuine indigenous research, opposed to indigenous researchers carrying out the method of western psychologists. To conclude, despite methodological problems, due to the universal similarity in gender roles found in various investigations, it indicated that biology drives gender roles. However, difference found between cultures indicates social factors are also important, so there is a complex interaction between both factors, so the biosocial approach may be a more suitable approach, as it is less deterministic and acknowledges both aspects. As well, it is important to account for historical changes. Much research was done in the 1970/1980’s when the gender gap in many western countries was much larger than is it today, as it is now accepted that both males and females work, and parental equality. However, males still occupy more powerful positions than women, and women perform more domestic duties. But it is an important factor to consider when looking at data.

Global Warming - A Problem Blown Out of Proportion Essay -- Greenhouse

Global Warming - A Problem Blown Out of Proportion It is ironic that fifty two years before hosting the 1997 United Nations Conference on Climate Change, the city of Kyoto had barely missed being destroyed. It was one of four cities considered as primary targets by President Harry Truman’s secretary of war, Henry L. Stimson. The others were Kokura, Hiroshima, and Niigata. Gale E. Christianson describes Kyoto in her book Greenhouse as a magnificent city surpassed only by Tokyo in the number of its institutions of higher learning. Kyoto served as the seat of the emperor for more than 1000 years until the Imperial Household moved to Tokyo in 1868. All Japanese try to visit the city at least once in their lives. The city remains the heart of Japanese culture. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines dominate the landscape. Japanese theater was founded in Kyoto. It was in this setting that the Nations of the world gathered to discuss the issue of global warming in late November of 1997 (Christianson 254).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the beginning the United States was viewed as the villain. Undersecretary of State, Stuart Eizenstat, and head of the U.S. delegation, let it be known that no amount of pressure could force the administration to flinch. â€Å"We want an agreement, but we are not going to Kyoto at any cost† (qtd. in Christianson 255). Vice President Al Gore added: â€Å"We are perfectly prepared to walk away from an agreement that we don’t think will work† (qtd. in Christianson 255). It was quite obvious that the United States did not want to be there – and for good reason.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reason had everything to do with cost and benefit. The Protocols would require that the United States reduce its 2008 – 2012 overall greenhouse emissions by about a third of the current levels. The economic costs are quite significant and the benefits are not. Tom Wigley, a senior scientist at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, calculated â€Å"saved† warming under the assumption that every nation met its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol. According to his calculations, the earth’s temperature in 2050 would be 0.07 ËšC lower as a result (Wigley). According to Patrick J. Michaels, a professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia, a warming of such an infinitesimal amount cannot accurately be measure on a thermometer. â€Å"The benefits of Kyoto are so miniscule as to ... ...crosoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Robinson, Arthur B. and Jane M. Orient. â€Å"Science, Politics and Death.† The New American 20.12 (June 2004): 37 par. 24 November 2004 http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2004/06-14-2004/science.htm Taylor, Jerry. â€Å"Global Warming: The Anatomy of a Debate.† Diss. John Hopkins University, January 16, 1998 http://www.cato.org/speeches/sp-jt011698.html Boyachek, Karen. â€Å"Argument Against the Global Warming Theory† U of Saskatchewan Newsletter 26 Jan. 20 http://www.cs.usak.ca/undergrads/kmbl129/49/assignment Mendelsohn, Robert. Global Warming and the American Economy. Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2001. Moran, Edward, ed. The Global Ecology. New York: Wilson, 1999. Christianson, Gale E. Greenhouse. United States: Walker, 1999 James Hansen et al. , â€Å" A Common-Sense Climate Index: Is Climate Changing Noticeably?† Proceeding of the National Academy of Science 95 (1998): 4113-20 Thomas Wigley, â€Å"The Kyoto Protocol: CO2, CH4, and Climate Implication,† Geophysical Research Letter 25 (1998): 2285-88 Michaels, Patrick J. â€Å"Long Hot Year Latest Science Debunks Global Warming Hysteria.† Policy Analysis 329 (1998): 1-12

Mental Health issues in Adults Essay

Mental health is defined in Healthy People 2020 as encompassing the ability to engage in productive activities and fulfilling relationships with other people, to adapt to change and to cope with adversity (USDHHS, 2010). In the United States nearly 57.7 Million adults (18 years and above) suffer from a mental health disorder in a given year and 6% of the population suffers from a serious mental illness (NIMH, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to look into the perspective of how best one can advocate for mental health disorder as a population health issue through various strategies including policy change. Population Health Issue and Population Affected Mental health disorders have no boundaries and affect all people without regard to gender, race or age. They are the leading cause of disability in North America (WHO, 2008b). Despite the staggering number of people with mental health disorders, only 25% obtain help in any part of the health care system, while the majority receives no specialty mental health care. It is unrealistic to have a goal of â€Å"decreasing the prevalence of mental illness† because mental illness by its nature is a complex bio psychosocial disorder and any stressful event in life may be the cause of mental health problem and everyone is susceptible to it. According to Byers et al. the number of people age 55 and above suffering from mood or anxiety disorders has been increasing for the last two decades and it has a trend of doubling itself every five years. This alarming trend will soon become a public health crisis as a large number of â€Å"baby boomer† generation ages. The increasing number of returning veterans is also another dimension to this crisis. A study conducted by RAND Corporation found that nearly twenty percent of servicemen and women returning from recent wars have some form of mental health condition (RAND, 2008). The estimated societal costs for the veterans based on prevalence and two years of treatment is estimated between $4.0 to 6.2 million. Advocacy Programs Researched in This Area The impact of mental illness on overall health and productivity in the US is often under recognized. There are many reasons for this under recognition; mainly the misunderstanding of the illness itself, lack of resources, stigma, or lack of social support can be cited. The World Health Organization (WHO) in recognition of the need for adequate resources launched a mental health initiative called Mental Health Global Action Program (mhGAP) to raise awareness and address a variety unmet needs. Other than WHO, consumer advocacy groups such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) deserve the credit for the advances made in the treatment of mental illness. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Act otherwise known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was signed into law in 2008. The main goal of this Act is to eliminate unequal health treatment practice that has kept individuals from seeking mental health care for a long time. The way this law works it that it does not force group health plans to cover mental health benefits, however when plans cover mental health, it requires that they provide full and equal benefit in a way that is no more restrictive than all other medical and surgical procedures covered by the plan. Effective Attributes of the Programs MHPAEA has had quite an impact on the population since it went in effect in 2010. For starter, the statute does not require for employers to buy mental health benefits and employers with less than 50 employees are exempt of this statute. The second important point is that MHPAEA stipulates that any State law that provides greater protections than MHPAEA may continue to remain in effect. The last stipulation is great because it stops the Federal law (MHPAEA) from overriding a State law assuming that it protects its constituents better. Unfortunately some employers have taken MHPAEA as an excuse to drop mental health benefits in its entirety. The Screen Writers Guild was the first employer to announce its decision to drop mental health coverage for its 12000 employees. Some employers followed suit citing rising cost of insurance and burden on employers. NAMI argues cutting mental health benefits has higher cost to employers. According to NAMI most mental illnesses are highly treatable. For example, the most common mental illness in the United States is depression. The prevalence of depression is estimated to be 1 in 10 individuals of which 75% do not get the diagnosis nor the treatment. 72% are estimated to be in the workforce. NAMI estimates the indirect loss to employers amounts to 79 billion per year out of which 63 billion reflect loss of productivity due to mental illness. Mental illness causes more days of work loss and work impairement than chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, back pain and heart disease (NAMI, 2012). NAMI also claims that within two weeks of treatment 70 to 90% of individuals with depressions see a significant reduction of symptoms with and improved quality of life therefore it would be wise for employers to provide employees mental health coverage than incur costs for absenteeism. Health Advocacy Plan and Objectives for the Policy Implemented The very first step of making a health advocacy plan is to review and understand the existing health plans and be able to establish how they impact on the patients, health care providers and other stakeholders like insurers and the leaders (Jonas & Kovner, 2011). The next step is to establish the pros and cons of having such health plans (Jonas & Kovner, 2011). This would then influence a particular advocacy plan and the objectives of the policy. The objectives should take into account the prime position played by politicians in policy change (Alberta Heath Services, 2009). To effectively advocate for mental health, one needs to understand what is actually available. The facts are as follows: The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 47 Million of Americans are uninsured and out of this number 25% of them suffer from mental health or substance abuse disorder or a combination of the two. 1/3 of insured individuals have no coverage of both including outpatient therapy visits and inpatient crisis intervention. Then there is MHPAEA that exempts small groups therefore individuals insured under small group market may not have mental health coverage (unless the employer chose to provide one). The HHS estimates that about 95 percent of those with small group market coverage have substance abuse and mental health benefits (HHS, 2012). Communication to Various Stakeholders Communication in the public health sector can be done in several forms including through the mass media, seminars, schools, and churches and depending on the situation, place and target group, several methods can be used including posters, speeches, skits and literature among others. As a policy oriented approach, it divides the target audience into primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary target addresses the organizations, groups and people with the power to effect change. The secondary target is represented by those who can be mobilized to participate in the implementation. The tertiary target is the general public (Alberta Heath Services, 2009). In effect, therefore, mass media as means of advocacy help the organizations and the general public to make better health choices. The approach of communication NAMI took is to involve all three targets. The tertiary target i.e. the general public has also been the focus of NAMI especially because of the link between mental illness and substance abuse. Efforts to raise awareness are underway especially in the DC metro area where frequent walks organized by NAMI are happening. The aim of NAMI walks is to raise awareness of mental health and well-being in communities and to improve the general understanding of the illness, and reduce the misunderstandings and stigma associated with it. NAMI educates and trains practitioners and patients of the different pathways to recovery. Health practitioners, especially nurses get a larger opportunity to educate about the disease in their area of practice and also be the voices for the patients who do not have a voice. Data and Evidence to Substantiate Proposed Need The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is commonly referred to as the ObamaCare, has become regarded as a historical law ever since it was signed into the law in March 23rd, 2010 by President Obama (American Public Health Association, 2013). ACA built on the structures of MHPAEA to expand coverage of mental health and substance use disorder for more than 62 million Americans in the following three ways: 1.Essential Health Benefits Mental health and substance use disorders will be part of all individual and small group market â€Å"non-grandfathered† insurance plans (essential health benefits) effective January 1st 2014. â€Å"non-grandfathered† means plans that were not in existence before ACA was signed into law. This statute ensures that at least 5.1 million individuals (3.9 million currently covered in the individual market and 1.2 covered in small group plans) and will gain either mental health or substance use disorder coverage or both. 2.Parity in the Individual and Small Group Markets Under the ACA and the MHPAEA 7.1 million Americans currently covered in the individual market who currently have some mental health and substance use disorder benefits will have access to coverage of Essential Health Benefits comparable to their general and surgical medical coverage. 3.Increasing Access to Quality Health Care Finally, the ACA will expand essential health benefits insurance coverage to an estimated 27 million uninsured Americans through access to insurance market places and CMS. The essential Health Benefits packages includes mental health services In total, the Affordable Care Act will expand federal parity protection to at least 62 million Americans. Application of Attributes of Effective Advocacy Programs to Proposed Campaign Among many other health-care policies that have proved to be workable, Obamacare turned out to have adequate advantages that can be borrowed and applied in this campaign. Obamacare health policy emphasizes on quality health-care and not quantity. For instance, doctors and other health-care professionals are paid according to the quality of health service they provide (Obama Care Facts, 2013). Obamacare also highlights the importance of non-discrimination in the provision of health services across the entire population, thus ensuring uniformity in its application. One yet another vital attribute that is also of importance is the reduction of costs for preventive health-care options. This ensures that options explored by the general public are not exploitative and overburdening to them (Obama Care Facts, 2013). Obamacare has also been to a greater degree people-driven, as the citizenry have been effective in pushing their political leaders to support the health plan (Obama Care Facts, 2013). It does not take rocket science to know that mental health and substance abuse disorder patients would benefit tremendously from such a program. Impact of Existing Laws or Regulations The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act legislation contained several health reforms provisions that were already being rooted for by a number of health stakeholders including American Public Health Association (APHA) and other population health experts (APHA, 2013). Following the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, there has been a shift from the focus on treatment of the sick to the focus on promoting people’s health (APHA, 2013). The ACA and HP2020 have a common goal which is to create social and physical environments that promote health and wellness in all populations. The ACA will be effective in January 2014, so far the program looks very promising and the statute have been found to have very little impact on the employer-based insurance with a projected slight increase (2.7% only), especially with regard to the high end employers. However, there appears to be a decrease for the low end employers (Blumberg et al., 2012) contrary to what the critics of ACA are speculating. Analysis of Methods Used to Influence Policy Makers According to Milstead (2013), for nurses to succeed in advocating for the enactment of new and better policies, it is imperative that they strike a working relationship with the government agencies, officers as well as with the elected officials. This way the nurses have the chance to be recognized as having what it takes to effect policies concerning population health issues, and this will thus be included in making decisions concerning population health matters (Milstead, 2013). Establishing such a cordial relationship would be instrumental in helping both parties, namely the nurses and the policy makers to be able to review existing health policies and enact better campaigns (Milstead, 2013). Other than striking a rapport with the political leaders, the nurses should also strive to enhance their understanding of the policy-making process through the nursing internships that were already put in place by the nursing organizations (Milstead, 2013). Anticipated Obstacles and Strategies According to the online article by Alberta Health Services (2009), several challenges abound when it comes to advocating for population health. The leading and most obvious problem lies in the main aim of advocacy, which is to effect legislations that would then lead to changes in policies. This is the case since the policy change is highly a political issue whose process results in public tensions (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Almost all legislative changes and implementations are funded by the public resources, and, therefore, any suggested changes are often contested (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Further still, these changes often have economic consequences as well. As a result, more often than not population health advocates together with the like-minded politicians and members of the public of good will find themselves at the receiving end on the part of various interest groups who wish to maintain the status quo (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Obamacare, which seeks to provide preventive services also covered in insurance plans and to ascertain that people with insurance covers are not dropped while sick, has for instance, faced several obstacles mainly from the stakeholders in the insurance industry (Obama Care Facts, 2013). Anybody who wishes to conduct a successful advocacy for mental health and substance abuse disorders must be prepared to deal with all these obstacles, especially given that most insurance companies would be less willing to cover against mental health. View as multi-pages

John Hughes: Reaching New Levels of Achievement in Hollywood

John Hughes: Reaching New Levels of Achievement in Hollywood David Bordwell (2006) firmly believes that when faced with the challenge of creating, people ask themselves how they can raise the premises to new levels of achievement, or revive a disreputable genre. He argues that people challenge themselves with the question ‘How can I make casual connections more felicitous, twists more unexpected, character psychology more involving, excitement more intense, motifs more tightly woven? How can I display my own virtuosity? Following this quote and my own research, I’ve come to believe that John Hughes is a very significant example of a filmmaker to reach a whole new level of achievement in Hollywood. As the director and writer of several well-known teen movies such as Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), from the mid-1980s Hughes has been respected as one of the more influential figures of Hollywood for redefining an d leaving a long-lasting impression on movies with a teen demographic.Through deeply focusing on new themes and motifs such as social hierarchy, he undeniably changed the teen movie genre forever by creating sympathy and understanding for adolescent characters. In the 1980s, teenager’s attitudes were changing, and many theorists believe music television was to blame. Shary (2005) states that with celebrity appearances, commercials, and a brand-new, fast-paced style, MTV became â€Å"the court where youth culture was told what was cool†.He also believes that the political changes in America also heavily influenced teenagers perspectives, especially after the â€Å"carefree attitudes† of Carter’s presidency turned into the â€Å"peremptory dictates of Regan’s decade†. He states that: â€Å"The new Republican ethos may have won over voters, but at the same time its naive ‘just say no’ approach to serious adolescent choices gave yo uth a renewed sense of irritation for adult authority. † To express their views on America’s politics, the youth became eager to experiment with sex and drugs, and Hollywood felt the effect of the youth’s impact and took note.At this time period, Hollywood was experiencing a transition of sorts, between what was labelled as the Hollywood Renaissance (Schatz,1993), into a more contemporary style of cinema which theorist Geoff King (2002) labelled as ‘New Hollywood Version 2’. To understand the breakthrough of John Hughes’ movies, we must understand that before his directorial debut of Sixteen Candles, films of the 1980s were not sympathetic to teens, and the majority f said films came in the form of slasher movies, or sex-comedies, where audiences would watch teenagers be embarrassed and hurt in various different forms. In this period of transition, these movies would reap in profits, but did not focus on character psychology or emphasise perfo rmance the way earlier examples did. In this transition period, Hughes’ managed, in some form, to stay true to the earlier, character-based films, but still managed to produce a successful profit, without any high-scale production that would turn his films into the newer, blockbuster style pictures.He often worked on more than one movie at once, and released them very close together, in a way that provided more money for the studios, as his reputation as a director became more well-known and his movies became more successful. It’s important to note also, that his films were released at a time where VCR and home videos were becoming more and more popular, which meant that young adults could watch his films over and over at home, and create a personal relationship with the characters.As a director, Hughes knew exactly what he wanted; to show teenagers as important, intelligent, and not the sex-crazed and shallow adolescents that earlier movies portrayed them to be. Gora (2010) proposes that: â€Å"What would set Hughes apart, in an age when other filmmakers were quick to portray teens as vapid, horny, pimpled caricatures, was that he was wise enough to present the teenage experience with the pain, seriousness, and melodrama that so often imbues age. As proven by films such as Losin’ It (1983) and Little Darlings (1980), many movies in the early 1980s revolved simply around â€Å"the quest of teens to lose their virginity† (Shary, 2005). Although Hughes has focused on the theme of sex, it is just one of many different themes and motifs in his films, including the ever-popular idea of social hierarchy, or parental pressure. Sixteen Candles, centres around the story of sixteen-year old Sam (portrayed by Molly Ringwald), whose birthday is forgotten by her family in favour of her older sister’s wedding the next day.This film includes the only completely nude scene of any of Hughes’ movies, and was only included due to pressu re from the network, who insisted that it was needed in order to compete with the other teen films on the market. The scene itself is not remotely sexual however, and exists only to emphasise Sam’s self-consciousness, when she and her best friend spy on the girlfriend of her biggest crush whilst in the shower after gym. It does include many of the cliches, such as the virgin esperate to have sex, the rich teen driving an expensive car which will undoubtedly be wrecked somehow, or a house party where the house is destroyed, but unlike other teen films, it encourages us to laugh with the characters rather than at them. To portray the idea of social hierarchy, where some sort of clique is ‘better’ than another, Hughes’ often uses a form of what Roz Kaveney (2006) entitles the ‘anthropology shot’. Kaveney states that â€Å"such shots establish a number of social groups among high school students and pan between them to demonstrate social division s†.This shot can be effective because despite the fact that we will only really know a few select characters, it is able to establish the kind of environment they are living in. An example of said shot is used in Sixteen Candles, introducing the ‘geeks’ at the dance. Although Hughes’ did not invent the shot, many films have reproduced the way he used it, such as Mean Girls (2004), where the character Janice introduces Cady to the social cliques in the cafeteria.As well as the anthropology shot, Hughes’ also used many low-angle shots in his films to connote the sense of inadequacy teenagers feel when looking at the world. This is also used often when the characters talk to adults, and is especially prominent in The Breakfast Club when the characters talk to the principal. This shows the control Principal Vernon has over the kids, and enforces the belief that because they are young, they aren’t as powerful. Hughes,’ as a director, paid a great deal of attention to setting social background in his films.The opening of The Breakfast Club, the story of five teens of different cliques who must spend their Saturday in detention, uses single shots to give us a feel for each character. Claire, for example, the typical rich and popular ‘princess’ is introduced with the shot of a prom queen poster, although we haven’t officially met her character yet. Similarly, John Bender, the ‘criminal’ problem-child, is introduced using a shot of a vandalized locker with a noose attached.The film officially opens with a glass-shattering transition to an introductory shot of the high school, which could be read as foreshadowing; eventually, the character’s defences are broken down, and they open up to each other to become friends. The writing of Hughes’ films brought a great deal of attention to motifs that hadn’t been paid much attention before, such as the idea of the child acting li ke the parent. A prime example of this is Sixteen Candles, where Sam’s mother apologises to her for missing her birthday. In this scene, Sam, the teenager, is the one to comfort her emotional mother, and say â€Å"It’s okay, these things happen†.Themes also explored were the ideas parental pressure, such as The Breakfast Club, where geeky Brian contemplated suicide because he feared his parents would be disappointed in him for failing his first class, or the theme of money and social classes, which Hughes’ addressed by pairing Claire and Bender together; the rich girl with the poor boy. He also brings a new light to female sexuality, which the character of Alison addresses directly; â€Å"If you say you haven’t you’re a prude. And if you say you have, you’re a slut. It’s a trap. Seeing such touching scenes on screen empowers teens, and helps the audience sympathize with their experiences. Said themes have since been addressed in many teen movies to this date, such as Clueless (1995) or Easy A (2010). The impact that John Hughes has left on Hollywood is undoubtable and everlasting. Despite the fact that it has been over twenty-five years since The Breakfast Club was released, for example, countless references are still made to the film in today’s pop culture, including homages in NBC’s cult TV show ‘Community’ and a mention in CW’s ‘Gossip Girl’ (â€Å"we’re the non-judging Breakfast Club†).Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama, is also a huge fan of the film. Bart Simpson’s famous catchphrase ‘eat my shorts’ is a direct reference to John Bender’s line, which he says defiantly to Principal Vernon. Judd Nelson’s portrayal of the character was also the inspiration for the name of Futurama’s temperamental robot Bender. The movie has also been spoofed in many American advertisements, including t he 2008 commercial for chain clothing store JCPenney.The back-to-school line was heavily influenced by The Breakfast Club, and featured teenagers dancing in a library to the most popular song from the soundtrack, ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’. Not Another Teen Movie (2001) was a complete parody of the majority of Hughes’ material, and featured a cameo from Molly Ringwald as an adult who disapproved of teenagers. To this day, Hughes’ is continually paid homage to, and because of the way he changed the portrayal of teenagers, people will continue to do so for a long time. (Word count: 1,643) References & Bibliography Driscoll, C (2011).Teen Film: A Critical Introduction. UK: Berg. Easy A, 2010. [DVD] Will Gluck, United States: Sony Pictures. Clueless, 1995. [DVD] Amy Heckerling, United States: Universal Pictures. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986. [DVD] John Hughes, United States: Paramount Pictures Gora, S (2010). You Couldn’t Ignore Me If Y ou Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and their Impact on a Generation. New York: Crown Publishing Group Kaveney, R (2006). Teen Dreams: Reading Teen Film and Television from Heathers to Veronica Mars. London: I. B. Tauris King, G (2002). New Hollywood Cinema: An Introduction.London:  I. B. Tauris Little Darlings, 1980. [DVD] Ronald F. Maxwell, United States: Stephen Friedman/King’s Road Productions Losin’ It, 1983. [DVD] Curtis Hanson, United States: Tiberius Film Productions Mean Girls, 2004. [DVD] Mark Waters, United States: Paramount Pictures Pretty in Pink, 1986. [DVD] Howard Deutch, United States: Paramount Pictures Shary, T (2005). Teen Movies: American Youth on Screen. London: Wallflower Press Sixteen Candles, 1984. [DVD] John Hughes, United States: Universal Pictures The Breakfast Club, 1985. [DVD] John Hughes, United States: Universal Pictures

How to Make Distilled Water

How to Make Distilled Water Distilled water is purified water produced by condensing steam or water vapor from impure water, such as well water, seawater, tap water, snow, streams, or even plants or damp rock. You can distill water to further purify the water you have, to make drinking water for emergencies, or to obtain water while on camping trips. There are several methods for making distilled water, so you can save yourself some money and distill it yourself rather than buying it at the store. Which of several methods to use to distill water depends on the resources you have available and whether you are distilling impure water or have to get water from the air or plants. Distill Water on Your Stove, Grill or Campfire You can make distilled water over a stove, grill, or campfire quite easily. You need a large container of water, a smaller collection container that either floats in the first container or can be propped up above the water level, a rounded or pointed lid that fits the big container  (turned upside down so that when the steam condenses, the water drips into your smaller container), and some ice. Here is a recommended material list: 5-gallon stainless steel or aluminum potRounded lid for the potGlass or metal bowl that floats inside the potIce cubesHot pads Fill the large pot partly full of water.Set the collection bowl in the pot. The plan is to collect water dripping from the center of the inverted pan lid, so choose the size of the bowl to make sure the distilled water wont just drip back into the main pot.Set the pot lid upside down on the pot. When you heat the water, water vapor will rise up to the lid, condense into droplets, and fall into your bowl.Turn on the heat for the pan. The water needs to get very hot, but its OK if it doesnt boil.Put ice cubes on top of the lid of the pot. The cold will help to condense the steam in the pot into liquid water.When complete, turn off the heat and use care to remove the bowl of distilled water. Store distilled water in a clean, preferably sterile container (dishwasher clean or else immersed in boiling water). Use a container intended for long-term storage of water because other containers may have contaminants that would leach into your water over time, undoing all your work to get pure water. Collect Water in an Outside Container A similar method is to heat water in a pot but collect the distilled water in an outside container. You can be as creative as you like with your setup for this. Just be sure to collect the distilled water and not the pot water. One option is to use a funnel over the boiling water container that is connected to the collection bottle with aquarium tubing. For the funnel to drain into your collection bottle, you want to empty the tubing at a lower level than the funnel. Otherwise, the method is the same. The advantages include safety (you dont need to wait for the pot to cool to get your water) and reduced risk of contamination from the source water. Contamination is not a big concern when youre purifying rain or tap water but may be more of a consideration if youre trying to make nonpotable water safe enough to drink. Distill Water From Rain or Snow Rain and snow are two forms of naturally distilled water. Water evaporates from the ocean, lakes, rivers, and the land and condenses in the atmosphere to fall as precipitation. Unless you live in a highly polluted area, the water is pure and safe to drink. (Do not collect rainwater that comes off an asphalt shingle roof through the gutters for this procedure.) Collect rain or snow in a clean container. Allow a day or so for any sediment to fall to the bottom of the bowl. In most cases, you can pour off the clean water and drink it as-is; however, you can include additional filtration steps, such as running the water through a coffee filter or boiling it. Water keeps best if its refrigerated, but you can keep it indefinitely in a clean, sealed container at room temperature, too. Use Home Distillation Kits Unless youre collecting rain or snow, water distillation costs money because it uses fuel or electricity to heat the source water. Its cheaper to buy bottled distilled water than it is to make it on your stove. However, if you use a home distiller, you can make distilled water more cheaply than you can buy it. Home distillation kits range in price from about $100 to several hundred dollars. If youre making distilled water for drinking, the less expensive kits are fine. More expensive kits are used for lab work or for processing large volumes of water to supply water needs for an entire house. Distill Water From Plants or Mud While out camping or in serious emergency situations, you can distill water from virtually any source of water. If you understand the basic principle, you likely can imagine many potential setups. Heres an example of a method used to extract water from desert plants. Note that this is a time-consuming process. Green plantsPlastic wrapCoffee can or other clean containerSmall rocks Dig a hole in the ground in a sunny location.Place the coffee can in the center of the bottom of the hole to collect the water.Pile up damp plants in the hole around the coffee can.Cover the hole with a piece of plastic wrap. You can secure it using rocks or dirt. Ideally, you want to seal the plastic so no moisture escapes. The greenhouse effect  will trap heat inside the plastic, aiding in the evaporation of the water.Place a pebble in the center of the plastic wrap to create a small depression. As water evaporates, the vapor will condense on the plastic and fall where you created the depression, dripping into the can. You can add fresh plants to keep the process going. Avoid using poisonous plants containing volatile toxins because they will contaminate your water. Cacti and ferns are good choices, where they are available. Ferns are edible, too.

Fast Facts About Ancient Ephesus

Fast Facts About Ancient Ephesus Ephesus, now Selà §uk in modern Turkey,  was one of the most famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean. Founded in the Bronze Age and important from ancient Greek times, it contained the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and served as a crossroads between the East and West for centuries. Home of a Wonder The Temple of Artemis, constructed in the sixth century B.C., contained wondrous sculptures, including the multi-breasted cult statue of the goddess. Other statues there were constructed by the likes of the great sculptor Phidias. The temple was sadly destroyed for the last time by the fifth century A.D., after a man tried to burn it down centuries earlier. Library of Celsus There are visible ruins of a library dedicated to Proconsul Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemeanus, governor of the province of Asia, that housed between 12,000-15,000 scrolls. An earthquake in 262 A.D. dealt a devastating blow to the library, although it wasnt fully destroyed until later. Important Christian Site Ephesus wasnt just an important city for the pagans of antiquity. It also was the site of St. Pauls ministry for years. There, he baptized quite a few followers (Acts 19:1-7) and even survived a riot by silversmiths. Demetrius the silversmith made idols for Artemiss temple and hated that Paul was affecting his business, so he caused a ruckus. Centuries later, in 431 A.D., a Christian council was held at Ephesus. Cosmopolitan A great city for pagans and Christians alike, Ephesus contained the normal centers of Roman and Greek cities, including a theater that seated 17,000-25,000 people, an odeon, a state agora, public toilets, and monuments to the emperors. Great Thinkers Ephesus produced and fostered some of the brilliant minds of the ancient world. As Strabo writes in his  Geography, Notable men have been born in this city... Hermodorus is reputed to have written certain laws for the Romans. And Hipponax the poet was from Ephesus; and so were  Parrhasius  the painter and Apelles, and more recently Alexander the orator, surnamed Lychnus. Another alumnus of Ephesus, the philosopher Heraclitus discussed important thoughts on the nature of the universe and humanity. Restoration Ephesus was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 A.D. then rebuilt and enlarged by Tiberius.

Using SCAMPER to Generate Article Ideas

Using SCAMPER to Generate Article Ideas Using SCAMPER to Generate Article Ideas Using SCAMPER to Generate Article Ideas By Guest Author This is a guest post by Brad Painting. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. One of the great things about freelance writing is that you can invent your own projects and put your creative juices to the test. But what if your creative flow seems blocked, as writers so often lament? Writers block is actually just a matter of not asking yourself the right questions. Imagine that you have just written the article â€Å"5 Easy Steps to Greening Your Home† for a popular home magazine. You put forth your best information, and the editor was thrilled, but now you are wanting for ideas. How can you create a new piece without choosing an entirely new topic and doing heaps of research? The SCAMPER technique is just the solution to this dilemma. Editors note: SCAMPER is a problem solving technique created by Bob Earle and popularized by Michael Michalko in his book Thinkertoys. SCAMPER is an acronym for a set of actions that force you to ask yourself certain brainstorming questions. The letters of SCAMPER stand for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Magnify, Put to Other Uses, Eliminate, and Reverse. You can perform any of these actions on any component of any product or process. Our product is the theme of an article. We could technically split the title â€Å"5 Easy Steps to Greening Your Home† into 6 components for every noun, pronoun, and adjective, but it may help to use the two components, â€Å"5 Easy Steps† and â€Å"Greening Your Home†. Lets take a walk through the SCAMPER process. Substitute. Replace one component with another. Focus on professional services, like HVAC cleaning, rather than do-it yourself jobs. Or write about the unique challenges of an apartment as opposed to a house: 5 Professional Services for Greening Your Home 5 Easy Steps to Greening Your Apartment Combine. Merge two components into one. You can fuse a new component with an existing one, or combine two existing components. Can you add qualities to the act of â€Å"greening† or to the object, â€Å"your home†? 5 Easy Steps to Green Your Home and Your Lifestyle 5 Easy Steps to Green and Add Value to Your Home Adapt. What components exist that are similar to current ones? Maybe much of your information also applies to commercial buildings: 5 Easy Steps to Greening a Small Business Magnify. Try playing with the size of a component. Inflate â€Å"5 Ways† to â€Å"20 Ways† or â€Å"Home† to â€Å"Neighborhood†. Alternatively, zoom in on one aspect of the house, such as refrigerator-efficiency: 20 Ways You Can Green Your Home 5 Ways You Can Green Your Neighborhood 5 Ways to Improve Your Refrigerators Efficiency Put to Other Uses. Towards what other markets can you tailor the article? Do these steps lower energy consumption, shaving down utility bills? Try writing from a financial rather than environmental standpoint: 5 Surefire Investments in Your Home Eliminate. What happens when you throw away a component? Is the topic too specific to appeal to enough readers? See what happens when you eliminate some words and tie up loose ends: 5 Ways to Be Green 5 Must-Do Home Improvements Reverse. Imagine reversing the order of components. Linguistically, this can lead to some creative outcomes, such as an ironic spin on your article: 5 Ways to Throw Away Household Energy. SCAMPER will not always produce unique or viable topics, but the idea is to generate possiblities so that you can pick and choose. One thing to consider when fleshing out possibilities is whether you can make an article unique enough to warrant an exclusive-rights license. If you would consider a certain adaptation plagiarism when done by another writer, you should not sell it as a unique piece yourself. You can, however, make small changes to increase your sales of usage-rights. If nothing else, SCAMPER will give you the assurance that you have exhausted the possibilities for an idea. Brad Painting is the author of the vocabulary site Word a Day Wonder, a site that embeds vocabulary in amazing facts. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a UK Business Letter35 Genres and Other Varieties of Fiction20 Ways to Cry

Families of Patients with Asthma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Families of Patients with Asthma - Essay Example The limits are as follows: "published in the last 5 years", "Core clinical journals", "Nursing journals" and "All Adult: 19+ years." The search: ((asthma education)) AND ((improved asthma control)) AND ("last 5 years"[PDat] AND (jsubsetaim[text] OR jsubsetn[text]) AND (adult[MeSH]) ) produced eight articles for review. Further limit of "Nursing journals" without "Core clinical journals" yielded four articles only. One study completed at the University of Florida College of Nursing, entitled Promoting adherence: effects of theory-based asthma education, utilized audiotapes, booklets, both, or no additional educational materials. This study revealed that out of the 46 adults participating, a significant benefit of improved adherence for medication use verified by pharmacy records was found in the education intervention group. The group was followed at three and six month intervals (Schaffer & Tian, 2004). Another study which closely relates the clinical question was conducted by department of Internal Medicine,, Croatia. The study implicates that by promoting different educational plans a better asthma control and also asthma related quality of life (QoL) can be achieved.

School paragraph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

School paragraph - Essay Example During the same first year I associated with a group of rotten kids who never cared about anything leave alone even what brought them in high school, and as a result my social life suffered too. In my second year I continued to struggle with motivational issues in my core classes of biology and mathematics, but like in my first year I ended up in classes that I enjoyed such as chemistry. But that year never went to waste like my first year as I successfully managed to expand my social life by ditching out the group of bad kids and started hanging out with a group of more responsible students. As we approached third year, I was able to turn my high school education around due to the moral boost I got from my new group of friends. During the fourth year, I enjoyed staying in the hall for long time doing projects, and also interacting with some of my friends. This helped me both academically and socially too as I was able to get my up to date girlfriend whom though we had stayed together for only six months before I completed my studies she had completely changed my life for good. Through her I came to know that people really respect and enjoy the person that you really are inside, and if they don’t, they are not really your friend. All these experience from first year to fourth year changed me in a large way. Coming to high school I was shy, unmotivated young man who didn’t know what he wanted with life but through all those experiences that I went through, I left high school as a man who was mature, outgoing, and very sure of myself. Those experiences taught me to believe in myself and always to have hope and confidence in every activity I engage in to in

Safety management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Safety management - Essay Example Moreover, drums that have been made with non-combustible and absorbent materials such as vermiculite are recommended to avoid any cases of leakage. The drum should therefore undergo thorough sealing. It should then be labeled DANGER CHEMICAL PCB WASTE and should be written in English or the understood language. PCB containers are not supposed to be stacked and should be well secured from any form of insecurity. Firefighting materials should also be ready in case of any fire. Upon disposal, the PCB materials should undergo incineration of temperatures above 1,100Â °C. In addition, there should be a mean radiance of 2 seconds with minimum access to oxygen content of 3%. After decontamination, the excavator should be removed from the site by a fork lift that should be positioned away from the contaminated building. Using the fork lift, the excavator should be lifted and transported to the necessary site where further decontamination process should be carried on to ensure zero tolerance of contamination. Published under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap.354) Section 35. (2014). CODE OF PRACTICE ON THE HANDLING, TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL WASTE. Environmental Protection Department Hong Kong,

EDF and international energy markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EDF and international energy markets - Essay Example EDF is known for energy control in United Kingdom and a British energy supplier. EDF is also known for the supply of gas and electricity that are supplied to homes and businesses. The company has employed 13, 158 employees, due to the increased customer trust it handles 5.7 million accounts that the customers use to pay with. This paper seeks to discuss EDF which is an internal energy generator that is responsible of generating and supplying renewable resources, nuclear energy, transmission and supply. Through the chief executive Vincent De Rivas, the financial performance of EDF has been increasing since the production of energy is sustainable to their customers. The energy produced by EDF has low carbon that makes the customers to trust the EDF for long term contract in the extraction of energy. The nuclear power that EDF has been controlling has resulted to tremendously increase in profit for almost eight years. The existing nuclear that has been stored can be handed over to the next generation without considering additional of fossil fuel (Garvin, 2013). To ensure customer satisfaction, EDF ensures that the prices of energy do not rise and if the prices fluctuate, they are reduced to maintain good relationship between EDF and their customers. France derives its electricity from the nuclear energy which is estimated to be 75%. The country is known as the world largest exporter of electricity due to technology that is used to generate the energy. The low cost of generation makes France to attain revenue of EUR 3 billion annually. Due to the usage of nuclear technology the country is able to export reactors, fuel products and other services in most parts of Europe (James, 2002). Through collaborating with EDF, the government will ensure production of sufficient energy and other nuclear energy that will boost the economy of the country. As indicated from the tables above, EDF has continued to increase its profit. With the improved competition,

Materialistic and spoiled children Research Paper

Materialistic and spoiled children - Research Paper Example ts nowadays express their love towards their children by providing them some kind of materials like toys or favourite food items rather than keeping in company with them. This kind of attitude forces the children to live in a material world and hence most of their attitudes developed based on what they are receiving from their parents and the society. The influence of materialism spoils many children and they become antisocial elements while they grown up. Most of the parents complain about the state of their childrens generation, their ingratitude, laziness, materialism and lack of good sense, but simultaneously our culture, our children, and probably our friends and relatives tell us that overabundance is absolutely necessary for the happiness and stability of our children. Beyond that, many of the parents attempt to fill a void we leave in our children due to work and general busy-ness with toys and TV. (Delle) Though the intellectual levels of the modern children has developed immensely because of the better environment and living standards they have compared to older generation, current generation lag behind the older generation in many aspects. Most of the current children spend much of their leisure time in front of TV or computer and hence their reduced physical activities deny them the opportunity to strengthen their muscles or body. The reduced physical activities decrease the blood circulation and hence they may feel lazine ss and lack of self esteem. Obesity is another physical problem attached with lack of physical activities. Moreover, because of fewer interactions with peers, their socialization skills are comparatively less. Their attitude towards their parents not bonded strongly compared to the older generation. â€Å"In reality, childrens needs are very simple. They need love and care, first and foremost. They need our time and attention. They need basic food, shelter, and clothing† (Delle) Current parents are expressing their intimacy towards

EDF and international energy markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EDF and international energy markets - Essay Example EDF is known for energy control in United Kingdom and a British energy supplier. EDF is also known for the supply of gas and electricity that are supplied to homes and businesses. The company has employed 13, 158 employees, due to the increased customer trust it handles 5.7 million accounts that the customers use to pay with. This paper seeks to discuss EDF which is an internal energy generator that is responsible of generating and supplying renewable resources, nuclear energy, transmission and supply. Through the chief executive Vincent De Rivas, the financial performance of EDF has been increasing since the production of energy is sustainable to their customers. The energy produced by EDF has low carbon that makes the customers to trust the EDF for long term contract in the extraction of energy. The nuclear power that EDF has been controlling has resulted to tremendously increase in profit for almost eight years. The existing nuclear that has been stored can be handed over to the next generation without considering additional of fossil fuel (Garvin, 2013). To ensure customer satisfaction, EDF ensures that the prices of energy do not rise and if the prices fluctuate, they are reduced to maintain good relationship between EDF and their customers. France derives its electricity from the nuclear energy which is estimated to be 75%. The country is known as the world largest exporter of electricity due to technology that is used to generate the energy. The low cost of generation makes France to attain revenue of EUR 3 billion annually. Due to the usage of nuclear technology the country is able to export reactors, fuel products and other services in most parts of Europe (James, 2002). Through collaborating with EDF, the government will ensure production of sufficient energy and other nuclear energy that will boost the economy of the country. As indicated from the tables above, EDF has continued to increase its profit. With the improved competition,

Marketing Planning Process Assigment Assignment

Marketing Planning Process Assigment - Assignment Example The marketing plan of greetings card of the company facilitates to know the details of Phoenix Trading Ltd and the position of its cards in the market. The paper contains two parts i.e. Part A and Part B. In the first part, the situational analysis of the product is examined in order to understand the entire external and internal scenario of the greetings card segment of the company and of the market. The SWOT analysis process facilitates to understand the existing environmental scenario of the company and the product and its growth prospects in future. It has been identified that the company has several traders in various countries and about 100 million cards are sold. It provides extreme focus towards maintaining the quality of cards and artistic designs and has various product ranges. There are several weaknesses associated with the cards regarding their incapability to produce e-cards business. However, from the market survey it has been found that there are huge opportunities fo r this product if it is re-launched in a different way with special features. Through the segmentation of the market of the UK on the basis of definite criteria the company can target the specific consumers and markets and manufacture the products according to their preferences and can become successful. The audit of the market also found that there is still the need of such innovative designed cards in the market. ... Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Part A 6 1.0Situational Analysis 6 2.0Objectives 8 2.1Corporate Objectives 8 2.2 Marketing Objectives 8 3.0Strategy 9 3.1Chosen Growth Strategy 9 3.2Chosen Competitive Strategy 10 4.0Segmentation Targeting Position 11 5.0 Tactics 12 5.1 Product Features 12 5.2 Pricing Strategy 13 5.3 Place 14 5.4 Promotion 15 5.4.1 Communication Strategy 17 5.4.2 Gantt Chart 17 5.4.3 Budget 18 5.5 People 18 5.6 Process 18 5.7 Physical Evidence 19 Part B 20 6.0 Importance of Marketing Plan 20 7.0 Process of Marketing Audit 21 7.1 Theoretical Explanation of process Market Audit 21 7.2 Internal Environment 22 7.3 External Environment 23 8.0 Process to STP 24 8.1 Segmentation 24 8.2 Targeting 25 8.3 Positioning 26 9.0 Barriers for Implementation 27 10.0 References 30 Appendix 37 Part A 1.0 Situational Analysis Situational analysis is included in marketing planning step as it helps to analyse the present situation of an organisation. In this marketing plan, situationa l analysis is conducted to identify the external opportunities as well as threats faced by Phoenix Trading Ltd. This analysis also facilitates to recognise the interior strengths and weaknesses of the organisation (IFUW, n.d.). SWOT analysis is a model that facilitates to develop basis for the generation of marketing plan of the re-launching of a product i.e. greetings card of Phoenix Trading Ltd. The main function of SWOT analysis is to gather information after evaluation from the environment and categorise it into internal aspects such as strengths and weaknesses as well as external issues i.e. opportunities along with threats (Danca, n.d.). Strengths The Phoenix Trading Ltd’s greetings cards

Technology as a Facilitator in the English as a Foreign Language Essay Example for Free

Technology as a Facilitator in the English as a Foreign Language Essay Technology has taken over most areas of our lives including schools. Specifically, the arrival of the internet changed the way that language is taught thanks to the possibility of communicating throughout the world and because of the many sources online. This essay will deal with different aspects of computers and internet in the process of teaching and learning English as a foreign language (EFL). First, I will give examples of different technological tools that can be used to teach a language. Second, I will present the advantages of using technology for learning different aspects of a language. Then, I will present the disadvantages of technology. Finally, I will provide recommendations for teachers regarding the use of technology in the EFL classroom. I chose this subject since I have worked in the Hi-Tech industry for over a decade and I am interested in applying the Hi-Tech resources to help my students the best way I can. I believe that nowadays technology is the most essential element in our lives, and is a great tool to use in the EFL classroom. Technology includes computers, software programs, internet, video players, overhead projectors and data show projectors, as well as multimedia (texts, films, video, audio, animation, and graphics). Since students need to experience the language in every aspect possible, technology can be an effective tool to teach languages including EFL. This is important because in the early 80s, Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences. He stated that each student is unique and learns in a different ways. Today, various tools and applications of technology can be used in multiple ways in the EFL classroom regardless of the students’ level or the subject taught. It can provide opportunities that address individual student learning and meet the different learning styles. Language learning and teaching is enabled by the many sources of materials that students can use. First, the internet enables teachers to bring different cultures into the classroom, which is an important element in language learning and teaching. For some tasks, such as listening exercises, computers have advantages over traditional approaches because they provide sound as well as visual input that helps students with contextual clues. Second, a variety of  software programs allows students to practice vocabulary, reading, listening comprehension, grammar, and speaking skills. An environment rich with language: allows the students to interact with each other so that learning through communication can occur (Liaw, 1997, in Patel, 2013). The computer with its different learning strategies and games constitutes an attractive kind of teaching. Third, Case and Truscott (1999, in Green, 2003), report that the independence the students acquire while working on a computer pushes them to read from simple to complex texts since it addresses their personal needs. Most students find it easier to approach a writing task on the computer because it is more enjoyable. One reason is the use of graphics and dictionaries available online that help them write more confidently. Moreover, the use of e-mail is a way to encourage students to write in a new language. According to Trenchs (1996, in Green, 2003), students use e-mails, willingly because they dont feel forced to do so and because they know they are not being graded. The lack of pressure encourages students to share information while doing so in a foreign language. In addition, the use of e-mailing is an excellent tool to improve writing skills as well as vocabulary acquisition. The computer and internet have become the main means for communication on a worldwide level and since communication is considered an excellent tool for promoting language learning, technology is welcomed in the EFL classroom. The students have the opportunity to communicate freely without a time limit or social concerns. Even the weaker students are able to take an active part in class and communicate confidently with their teachers through e-mails. In spite of the importance and effectiveness of technology, when teaching and learning EFL in concerned, there are some disadvantages. First, the computer can be an overwhelming and imposing instrument for both students and teachers. The complexity of the computer possibilities may cause frustration, as students and teachers spend a lot of time struggling and trying to understand how to use it. The search for suitable materials is also time consuming and can be very exhausting. In addition Colaric and Jonassen (2003 in Morgan, 2008) warn teachers from the vast library. In  other words, the search for information and hyper-linking may be a distraction from the learning process. An additional disadvantage is the teachers lack of computer skills and technical knowledge. This usually leads to a complete waste of time in class and adds to both teachers and students confusion. Finally, the cost of maintenance is another disadvantage of using technology, especially in schools. So, unless the teacher is well trained in technology, and can solve problems that might occur, a technician will be needed. Schools usually find it difficult to support the purchased technology, and that makes them useless. Hence, in order to turn technology into a teaching strategy, teachers need to be encouraged to acquire the necessary skills in using technology to help improve their teaching. In addition teachers need to be aware of the importance of technology in enhancing learning in the EFL classroom. Once teachers and students learn how to make responsible use of computers, and master the skill of selecting and editing the large range of information for their purposes, language acquisition will become easier. To conclude, having given examples of different technological tools that can be used to teach a language. Then, presented the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in the EFL classroom and finally provided recommendations for teachers regarding the use of technology, it can be said that technology, specifically computers and the internet, has many benefits for language learning when it is used correctly. Teachers can use it to improve the learning environment and the students’ vocabulary as well as reading, listening, and speaking skills. Also, technology in the EFL classroom offers students a range of information, motivation to learn and an enhanced quality of class work. This essay has also shown the disadvantages of using technology when teachers and students do not know how to handle it moderately and wisely. It is extremely important to remember that technology is a great tool in the EFL classroom, but it cannot replace the teacher. References 1.Case, C. and Truscott, D. (1999). Using Technology to Help ESL/EFL Students Develop Language Skills. In: Green, (2003). 2.Green, T. (2003). Using Technology to Help ESL/EFL Students Develop Language Skills. http://iteslj.org/Articles/Ybarra-Technology.html/26.4.2013. 3.Liaw, M.L. (1997). Computer Network Technology-A Facilitator in English Language Teaching Learning. In: Patel, S.D. (2013). 4.Morgan, M. (2008). More Productive Use of Technology in the ESL/EFL Classroom. http://iteslj.org/Articles/Morgan-Technology.html./26.4.2013. 5.Patel, S.D. (2013). Computer Network Technology-A Facilitator in English Language Teaching Learning. https://sites.google.com/site/journaloftechnologyforelt/archive/3-2-april-2013/2-computer-network-technology-a-facilitator-in-english-language-teaching-learning./ 26.4.2013 6.Trenchs, M. (1996). Using Technology to Help ESL/EFL Students Develop Language Skills. In: Green, (2003).

The Different Between Favouritism Cronyism And Nepotism Philosophy Essay

The Different Between Favouritism Cronyism And Nepotism Philosophy Essay The effect of nepotism has been opinion based rather than facts and incidents therefore views on the subject vary from situation to situation. Nepotism at work refers to favouring relatives in employment or economic terms as opposed to them being judged on ability and/or merit in a specific organisation. This could include  a position over somebody else who may be more suitable for the position, whereby you would be paying a relative more money than somebody doing the same job or granting them special favours. However, nepotism can be viewed in terms of people giving somebody a boost up to allow them to get into an organisation but will be treated in the same manner as everybody else. Although nepotism is in the sense of the word, refers to relatives, it can also mean to allow friends to be incorporated into an organisation or to be granted simply favour in general. Smaller, family owned businesses are the organisations this more common occurs and that is perfectly understandable. In a small business in particular, limited options exist for career advancement. When employees see that the owners daughter or son has been promoted to a managerial post, the idea of favouritism and special treatment is impossible to overcome especially if the new manager shows signs of been less qualified than the other applicants that applied. The existence of a nepotism policy ensures that all employees are treated equally and that the owner of the organisation cannot influence the hiring, promotion or discipline of a close relative. The policy allows for reduction of favouritism by enquiring all employees to disclose relevant conflicts, such as a close personal or business relationship with all current employees, and more importantly it restrict the employees involvement with employment decisions relating to their relative. Family owned businesses have always had a tradition of the reins being passed down from generation to generation and their succession totally relies a lot on the emotional ties which bonds a family together. That being said, if the company also employs staff outside of the family as well, its important for the companies well-being to maintain a strict working relationship where the family member(s) is treated no more than equal to all of the rest of the staff who may hold a similar position to them in order that the workplace remains peaceful and there are no accusations of special treatment. In most cases, you will often find that family members have to work ten times harder than the average outsiders to prove themselves worthy of holding specific positions and to avoid such assumptions from arising. 1.2.1. The different between favouritism, cronyism, and nepotism? As favouritism is the broadest of these three terms, well start with its definition. Favouritism is just what it sounds like; its favouring a person not because he/she is doing the best job but rather because of some kind of personal relationship either with the manager or the owner of the company that you would be employed in. Favouritism is currently represented in three different ways hiring, honouring, or awarding contracts. The most common cases are giving public service jobs to those who may have helped you during an election for a person in power. Favouritism has always been a major problem in government services over the years. In 2010, a survey was done and it was found that only 46% of government workers thought that promotions received in their department were based on merit. They believed that it is who you are connected to or rather who u know and more importantly the partnerships you made while been in the government departments, and other factors played a major role. The second term is cronyism which is a more specific form of favouritism that refers partial towards friends and partial towards associates. As the old saying goes, Its not what you know but who you know, or, rather Its not what you dont know; its who your college roommate knows. Cronyism occurs within a network of insiders who provide favours to one another due to association. The last phrase is nepotism which is an even narrower form of favouritism. It originated from the Italian word which means nephew, it covers favouritism to members of the family. Both nepotism and cronyism often occur at offices where political parties recruit candidates for public officials. 1.2.2. The Most Common Reasons for Nepotism in the Workplace According to the service industries in government departments are subjected to nepotism at various work levels. The economic and political structures are given as the common reasons for such favouritism in such departments. What happens in bigger firms and organizations? Employees are affected by nepotism in one way or another in bigger organizations as well. This cronyism allows both short term and long term negativities amongst employees and in turn impact the organizational growth as well as the performance levels of that specific organisation. Let us take a closer look about how nepotism spoils employee morale and workplace culture. Here are examples of different case studies and decisions International Case Studies Nepotism Case Study #1:   FACTS: An employee was hired in May 2010 to work as an assistant sales manager for a waste management company that also supplied portable toilets and provided septic tank services. The employees job required him to develop and implement businesses amongst existing and new clients.   He could earn a bonus based on his sales input on a monthly basis. In February 2012, the employee became romantically involved with senior office manager.   They moved in together a month later.   Although their relationship was commonly known in the office, at no time did the employer advice either parties that their employment might be in jeopardy as a result of their relationship. In October, the first employee was fired due to his common-law relationship with the senior office manager. The employer concluded that because office manager was one of two financial control officers as well and was privy to confidential financial information, that placed her in a conflict of interest with the employee as one of her duties was to input data regarding all sales which were linked to employee bonuses. The employer was of the view that the common law relationship between the employee and the manager was not an acceptable business practice and created an unacceptable business and financial risk to the organisation. The employee immediately filed a complaint of discrimination on the basis of marital status. The Board of Inquiry resolved that there was definitely a  case of discrimination that was made out because: Although living in a common-law relationship for only a short period of time, the employees in question were living together and this was regarded as the marital status in the Human Rights Act; The employee was treated differently than other employees and terminated as a result of his relationship with the office manager and, as a result, was discriminated against on the basis of marital status To determine if this form of discrimination was justified, the Board of Inquiry determined that the employer was unable to meet the standard requirements because: The employers standard policy requirements stated that the office manager could not enter into a living relationship with an employee due to the confidential nature of her position.   This standard did not necessary connect to the performance of the employees jobs; There was no bad faith on the part of the employer in implementing its standard; The standard was not reasonable and could accomplish the work-related purpose because the employer overlooked relatively simple checks and balances that could have been put in place to protect the business.   For example, the employers General Manager could have been asked to review the input of data relating to bonuses that the employee might have been entitled to. The Board ordered the employer to compensate the employee an subsequently amount in general damages, also to write the employee a letter of apology and to participate in a well needed training course with the Human Rights Commission on the duty to accommodate. The employer appealed the decision to the Court as soon as the verdict was concluded. OUTCOME: The Court also found that the Board ruled correctly that the employee and office manager were living in a common-law relationship and protected from discrimination on the basis of marital status; The Court disagreed with the Boards analysis of the first step, ruling that the workplace standard at issues was to limit access to confidential information and to avoid creating a situation where the office manager could possibly be placed in a position of conflict between the interests of their employer and the interests of the employee, who they were in a relationship with.   The purpose of the policy was mainly to identify it as being unacceptable business and financial risks.   The policy was found to be rationally connected to the performance of the office managers job as their work involved inputting information that formed part of the basis on which the employees bonus was calculated; The Court agreed with the Boards overall conclusion that the employer could have accommodated the marital relationship here without incurring undue hardship.   As the General Manager already reviewed the office managers work, he could simply have reviewed any data that would have affected the employees bonuses. The Court upheld the damages award and the requirement of an apology letter but found that ordering the so needed training course was inappropriate. WHAT TO relevant FROM THEse CASES: The creation of an anti-nepotism policy should be considered by employers before they are implemented and given their application will always give rise to  cases of discrimination. The fact that two employees are related on any level will not be enough to justify an application of an anti-nepotism policy.   The family member or marital relationship in question must be relevant to the ability of one of the related individuals to perform his or her job duties. Anti-nepotism policies should be designed to limit the impact on the affected family member.   A policy that only takes into consideration the employers interests will not stand up to scrutiny. Employers must be prepared to show that when they applied the policy, they gave considered the circumstances of the affected employee and they accommodated the employee to the point of undue hardship.   Rigid application of an anti-nepotism policy will cause an otherwise justified policy to fail. Ive been in this situation to many times to mention and in prior cases as well, which didnt turn out well.   And more recently, I dont know what the outcome is just yet. Case Study #2   Very early in my career, a friend of mine was looking to get into the same industry I was currently employed in.   I had been employed for a couple years and due to a lot of hard work and some downright luck, I had become what I would consider a master mind and gained a better job title after some time. I was confined to sharing all my details of the company and had not yet got many contacts in other areas except for the one I was employed in. A friend asked if I could forward their curriculum vitae to the organisation which I was employed in to see if they could get their foot in the door. I knew the friend pretty well and thought theyd make a good addition to the organisation and figured what did I have to lose? Inside my head, it was another story, there were also some other thoughts going on in the background that I should have paid attention to. On the positive side, I had thoughts like he is a great person, he would be cool to work with, Id love to see him working here, and he would do it for me in a heartbeat? On the negative side, I was thinking, am I making the biggest mistake hiring him? Since I had no contacts in the area that I was employed in, I had to approach an old college contact that I hadnt kept in touch with and ask who the decision-makers of my firm were, I then made contact with a hiring manager, introduce myself and basically sold my friend curriculum vitae and line up an interview. I highlighted all positive interactions Id had achieved and some demonstrated leadership examples and past work experience that I was familiar with that seemed valid at the time. I dont know if my call had anything to do with it, but I understood that my friend got a call back for an interview later in that week. Well, a few weeks later, I asked how the interview went when we saw my friend and I was horrified to hear that my friend missed the interview. They claimed something happened with their calendar or cell phone or something and completely missed the interview. I felt like I had totally wasted the one opportunity I probably had at helping someone out with that group and now I looked like a fool for recommending someone so unprofessional. Straight after this event, my friend got an offer from another company. So, I started to wonder if this was really an honest mistake or they just blew off my company once they got other job proposals, but either way, it left me regretting my decision to help them out in the first place. I had spent considerable time, effort, and professional capital in trying to make something happen and it was all in vein. Case Study #3   A year or two later, I was approached by another friends relative who was looking to get into my field actually. They had obtained an engineering degree and wanted to get into a higher paying industry and seemed intelligent, mature and very responsible. I didnt know them very well, but because they were a relative of a good friend of mine and they genuinely seemed like a good candidate, I figured I would at least pass their curriculum vitae on. We had hung out a few times and I knew them at least well enough to pass on the curriculum vitae to the right people. This time though, due to the fact that I was burnt before, I decided to just pass on the curriculum vitae to the right person, but made no further attempts to ensure the person an interview. I researched a bit into their interests, ability to relocate, etc. and then put the curriculum vitae into the hands of some of the hiring managers. I was actually a part of the hiring process at the time, but didnt think it would be ethnical to hire that individual myself, nor did they seem like a perfect fit for my particular area that the position was available for. Strictly on merit the person made it into the next stage and without my knowledge attached my name as a reference.   When questioned I was honest and explained we didnt have any personal relationship. I had just replied that I met them a couple times and they seemed qualified, but given professionalism and personal history with them, I couldnt really make an endorsement one way or other. Well, when the friends relative called one day to check in, they pretty much alluded to the fact that the only reason they wanted to get in was so my company would pay for their further education, which is somewhat common in my field, but was not offered in their current role. They were basically looking for me to facilitate for them to take advantage of my company. Again, while I had played a very minor role in just passing an curriculum vitae along, I felt responsible for another bad situation involving nepotism or whatever you want to call it. I didnt play a major role and was curious how it panned out. Through whatever means during the interview process, I assume one of the interviewers picked up on the agenda and they opted to not extend an offer to this specific person. If they had extended an offer, what would I have been required to do, ignore the situation?   Or intervene?   I continued to question myself how and why I also got involved in these situations and was relieved when it ironed itself out through no fault of mine. After these two specific cases, Id pretty much had it with the hook me up thing. While hearing similar story from other friends of mine, I can only imagine that the outcome is always a negative one. For the one case that works out well, where 5 years later, someone looks back and says, Hey, that college buddy of mine is doing a great job and loves it here after I helped him land an interview, there are probably many more cases where someone got burned. Situation   This brings me to the most current situation. We have an acquaintance that was recently laid off and just now started looking for work again. The other day, they approached me and asked if Id forward their curriculum vitae around and speak with the hiring managers visible on the external job board. On one hand, again, with someone with a young child out of work, nice person, responsible, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how you can just say, No, Im not helping? I barely know them on a personal level and had been burned so many times before. So, Ive agreed to pass along the curriculum vitae to someone I actually do know in the particular field whom I asked to review and forward along if they felt appropriate and I also checked around on another upcoming job posting that will go external and I passed that along as well. But I decided not to contact any hiring managers, as I dont know them, and I barely know the person as well. If things pan out their way, great it will be by natural means through the established system, and if not, I was at least honest in my reply that I had passed it along to some individuals I did know who may be looking for someone with similar qualifications which I did. But due to my past experiences and my conflicted feelings over the ethical aspect, Im not going the extra mile in trying to give them a significant advantage over other candidates coming in with no such advantages. Here are some positive outcomes of nepotism   I think there are some clear pros and cons to having current employees recommending or hiring people they know for jobs. On the positive side, you already know the person on a personal level and that could be an advantage. You would like to think this person wont make you look bad and would appreciate the opportunity that you have been awarded them. Perhaps oneday, they will help you out in a similar situation?   Lets think about the networker themselves isnt a go-getter a sign of someone with initiative someone whos going to sell your product, advance your agenda, and more importantly get results?   Well, maybe, but thats the going viewpoint. Here are some negative outcomes of nepotism   Is it right?   Is it ethical?   If you have two candidates one is rather outgoing, has tons of friends and family and has all the people voting for them for a special role; do they deserve a boost up on this next guy? Candidate 2 is rather quiet and doesnt really go out of his way to play the popularity card along people. They just work hard and get their hands dirty and maintain by doing the right thing, they will be granted the right career opportunities which their solely deserve. All other things being equal, in the real world, the truth is Candidate 1 is more likely going to get the job. But is that right? Some organisations actually have policies against nepotism and there are nepotism law cases, but the reality that it is quite pervasive in society today, almost expected. Perhaps you have your job because of nepotism.   Perhaps you were passed over for a job because you didnt know the right people.  Ã‚  Perhaps you dont even know it. Disclosure:  I landed my first job in industry by chance I was qualified and made a good impression and didnt know a single person that worked at my company. I found flyer advertising for an organisation in one of my campus halls senior year and checked it out and it eventually led to a job. In hindsight, that was sheer luck that I happened to come across that specific flier which I needed a job the most. If I hadnt landed a job post-graduation, would I have required someone I knew to hook me up?   I dont know, probably.   Wouldnt you? Case Study #4 -Some years ago I was working with a pleasant, remarkable, young man who had just joined the newspaper from a local rag. He was inexperienced and finding it hard to adjust to the relentless deadlines, but we were happy to help out and answer his questions all day. Three months later, we were informed that he had been made our boss. It didnt make any sense at the time. He was still not able to handle the everyday pressure and was the least on the desk, but he had the job. I found out later that he was related to the editor, which goes a long way to explaining his effortless rise to the top. This was a simple lesson in life. It had nothing to do with my performance or merit and everything to do with the fact that they were related; I simply could not compete on such a level. Ten years later, he has made it and prospered, and had definitely proven his worth. The media industry is common known for such nepotism. Most times parents try to secure internships and even teen columns for their student offspring, while husband and wives seek the best joint ventures they can find. The same incidents can be seen in different circles, organisations, and political lives. On the other hand, I have been coaxing a board of members that is divided over the appointment of a new director who worked with the CEO before his appointment. Even though he is clearly the most talented and experienced member of the board, no one believes he got his job on merit. So is nepotism a good or a bad thing? I take a serious view, believing that we are hard-wired to look after our family and friends. He believes that nepotism has produced both positive and negative results in everything from ancient Chinese clans to Renaissance papal lineages and American families like the Gores, Kennedys, and Bushes. Practised badly, nepotism is embarrassing to everyone, including the individual, but done well it can benefit society as a whole. In business, no one seems sure how to talk about nepotism or discuss it openly as it is a very sensitive subject. But what do you do if you find yourself managing the bosss son? Do you treat them in the same way as everyone else and risk alienating them or annoying your boss? Or do you handle them with kid gloves just in case? Nepotism conflicts fundamentally with basic American values and merit that some companies have instituted formal anti-nepotism policies. But even in organisations that claim not to tolerate nepotism, there are often clear, if not many examples of nepotism. Take Paul Wolfowitz, whose attempts to secure a pay and promotional deal for his partner, Shaha Reza, meant he lost his job at the World Bank. Its interesting to see the cultural bias at work here, too. Nepotism is considered a good thing in Asian and African companies, which are more likely based on family network. In the companies in certain Cities they have traditionally recruited from families within Britains social elite. On a recent BBC radio programme on nepotism, Dr Gillian Evans of Manchester University explained that social and family networks provide a critical safety net for upper middle classes and children who might have failed their exams or fluffed their first job. A well-placed contact could smooth over their failure, find them a job, and restore them to their rightful place in society. This can be very frustrating for those of us who dont have the luxury of a security net, who have to struggle through with grit and hard work. But is there anything we can do besides becoming consumed with envy? Is there anything we could learn for this? I suppose the most positive thing is to start developing a personal network that would work for you. There are three main things to remember. First and more importantly, network yourself to those in power all the time tell them who you are and what you can do so that if the big job comes up, your name will be on their lips all the time. Secondly, build a strong connection with all the influential contacts that you acquired, making sure they like you and care for you on a personal level. Finally, make sure that, if you get the job, you have the skills to make a success of it. You will have far less margin for error than the bosss son. How do you feel about nepotism at work? Have you experienced it in a positive or negative way? Or are you experiencing difficulty because you were the one who got a job through someone you knew? Nepotism and the affects it has on Employee Morale? Why do people prefer having their relatives or friends at their workplace? What do they want to achieve, apart from allowing their relatives or friends to work with them? According to an HR consulting firm, employing relatives or friends saves costs on recruiting and training. It is also believed to help reduce employee turnover since the relatives are highly committed to organization growing. However, most of the time, having a relative in the organization spoils the  morale of employees. What are all the reasons? Read on. When you give a relative a important position or promotion, u naturally bypass an employee with strong merits, and this spoils employee morale as a whole. Employees feel used and overlooked merely because they not specifically related to you and therefore they start looking for other opportunities to join another organisation sooner than they intended to. Employees affected by favouritism see no career opportunities in the organization and in turn lose interest in the companys growth. The level of been committed is lowed and the loyalty and more importantly the sense of ownership are lower since the employees doesnt feel like they are achieving any personal growth. The employees who supervisors the relatives of the employer find it difficult to handle them and take corrective action if necessary. This greatly affects team morale which can lead to a high level of employee attrition. How would you feel if your spouse faced you during an important official meeting? Well, organizations have different opinions on a husband and wife working together. In order to avoid conflicts or workplace stress, some organizations have created policies against both spouses working together for them. A few companies, namely the IT organizations that work with an onshore-offshore model, prefer having both the husband and wife working for them. This allows the organisation send them together to onsite projects. It helps the employers to retain their services on long-term onsite project. Nepotism can cause ill feelings on inequality that employees may react to in one way or another. The first problem you could face is to undermine the favoured workers capabilities and attempt to sabotage her projects. These efforts could result in getting her fired, however, it could result in costly mistakes and loss of time which can then potentially impact customers relations in organisations. The second reaction is an attitude of defeat. If employees assume that promotions and perks will always go to friends of the boss, they will likely less incline to do their best work to show their potential. Resentment and indifferences can lead to the reduction of productivity as well as employee turnover if workers decide that nothing will ever get better. Nepotism Effects On The Organizational Culture? Some employers feel that the level of loyalty, morale, trust and commitment of friends or relatives they hire is higher compared to others in the workplace. Control:  Unfortunately, not all family members and relatives come with the right merit to be employed for a particular position or a role. When the manager is not allowed to control an employee just because she is a relative of an employer, imagine what will happen to the companys discipline. Nepotism allows rules to be broken and can lead to a hectic situation for business owners. Ethics:  When relatives are involved, the companys ethics can get spoiled and even go into ruins. Let us take an example of one of the India-based IT giant. Despite the raise by the board members, its founder went ahead and acquired infrastructure companies owned by his sons. This led the company to lose its share by more than half and the investors to experience a greater loss. Not only was the workplace culture affected, but employee morale was also highly affected. The attrition recorded was very high. Allowing nepotism at any level creates excess damage to the organizations culture. Nepotism at the higher management or leadership level will greatly spoil the company image and growth.   When you start losing the trust of your employees.  The biggest problem which you as an employer will be facing with hiring people from your family is the possibility of your employees losing trust in you. Nepotism becomes a major problem when your employees feel that the relative who was employed isnt qualified for the job, or that someone better was rejected due to the fact that they were not related to the owner of the organisation. If it comes to this than it will be very hard for you to try and earn back the trust of your employees. And if you are unable to get your employees to trust you than for me the only solution is to start over again because without trust any business is doomed. The problem with hiring unfit people for the job.  The second most specific problem with nepotism in the workplace is that you may end up with people that dont have any qualification to suit the job specifications. Dont let your feelings get in the way when it comes to business transactions. Dont hire someone just because you believe he or she is a part of your family. Any business is just about simple math. You need to make sure that the people you hire bring value to your team and they produce a good quality product which you can make a profit of. So feelings have nothing to do with it. If the person you hired is not bringing extra value fire him or her without any regrets. How to lower employee morale.  Nepotism in the workplace will hurt you in the first few weeks no matter how qualified the person you hired is. It is inevitable for employee morale to drop when you hire someone from your family. The employee will immediately make the connection that you are preparing the person you hired for the job you currently ho