El salvador

This case was written by Susan Bartholomew based on personal interviews. Names, dates, and details of situations have been modified for illustrative purposes. The various economic, political, and cultural conditions described are presented as perceptions of the individuals in the case; they do not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the region. The events described are presented as a basis for classroom discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of a cross- cultural situation.December 10, 1998: The Job Offer John and Joanna Lafferty had Just opened a bottle of wine to share with friends who had come to see their new apartment in Toronto when the telephone rang. John, a lanky, easygoing development economist, excused himself to answer the phone in the kitchen. Recently married, John and Joanna were excited to be building a life together in the same city at last. As a development economist specializing in Latin America, John Laffertys work had taken him to Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala on a series of three- to four-month assignments over the previous three years.While he loved the challenge and adventure of this fieldwork and had come to love the people and culture, he also wanted a home base and steady presence in Toronto, where Joanna worked as a human resource management consultant. Just before their wedding six months earlier, John accepted a position with a Toronto-based NGO (non-government organization) focused on research, fund-raising, and government lobbying on issues related to Central American political refugees.Throughout the 1980s, tens of thousands of refugees had fled political persecution and human rights abuse in war- orn Central America to seek political asylum in Canada; John's field experience in Guatemala and his natural diplomacy were invaluable to the Canadian organization. He was passionate about his work and quickly gained a reputation for being a sa'. n. y and politically astute advocate of refugees' c ases. As Joanna went to get some wineglasses from the kitchen, she could overhear her husband speaking in Spanish on the phone.Joanna had studied Spanish in college but had difficulty following the rapid, one-sided conversation. However, one phrase, â€Å"Me allegre mucho,† and John's broad grin as he said it, was impossible to isinterpret. Joanna returned to her guests in the living room: â€Å"It sounds like good news. † John's work with refugees in the Canadian NGO had caught the attention of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, headquartered in Geneva, and he had recently returned from a one-week visit and series of interviews. While John had not been searching for a new Job opportunity, the Geneva invitation had been too exciting to resist.John walked back into the living room with a huge smile: â€Å"Forget the wine, I think we should open some champagne. The U. N. has Just offered me the most incredible Job. † â€Å"In Geneva? Joanna asked ex citedly. Decision The El Salvador assignment would be for two years, as a Program Officer responsible for organizing the repatriation of Salvadoran refugees from various refugee camps back to El Salvador and developing programs to ensure the protection and well-being of such refugees in their return to Salvadoran communities. The position would report to the Charge de Mission of the El Salvador office.While this office was based in the capital city, San Salvador, the Job would also require frequent travel to various field offices and refugee camps throughout El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The challenge of the assignment excited John tremendously; he also believed that this was an exceptional opportunity for him to make a real difference in the lives of the refugees of Central America. He certainly wanted to accept the Job; however, he would only go if Joanna would be willing and happy to go with him.Two questions would weigh heavily on Joanna's mind: 1 . â€Å"Wha t about the political instability of the area? † The politics of El Salvador were complicated and difficult to understand, and the story seemed to vary depending on the source. As Joanna gathered, the civil war in El Salvador had come to an end in 1992 with a U. N. -brokered peace treaty between the conservative government of the Republican Nationalist Alliance (Arena) and the Marxist-led Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). Throughout the war, the U. S. ad apparently spent more than $4 billion to support the government and military, while the Soviet Bloc supported the FMLN. Human-rights groups alleged that right-wing death squads had murdered 40,000 of the 70,000 people killed during the 12-year war. However, the peace agreement had significantly reduced the size of the rmy, disbanded corrupt police forces, purged the country of the most notorious human-rights abusers, and disarmed the FMLN, allowing it to become a legal political party. The country appeared to h ave made substantial progress toward peace and democracy.The information and briefings they received from Salvadorans and other expatriates who had recently returned from the country suggested that life in the capital, San Salvador, was quite safe. Economically, the country was becoming more internationally open, with establishment of large export factories, increasing rivatization, and reforms aimed at stimulating foreign investment. While certain precautions were required, and the area was still heavily patrolled by armed forces, Joanna was told she could expect a relatively normal lifestyle. They would live in a highly secure part of the city, in the area populated by all the foreign embassies.They would also be living and traveling on a U. N. diplomatic passport (â€Å"Laissez- passer†), which would afford them excellent protection. 2. â€Å"What about my career? † Moving to El Salvador was the last thing Joanna had imagined when she married John Lafferty six month s earlier. Joanna had worked in Toronto for three years as a human resource consultant after graduating with an MBA. She was bright and ambitious, and her career was advancing well. While she was very happy to be married, she also enjoyed her professional and financial independence.Besides, Toronto was not only professionally rewarding, it was also home, friends, and family. However, Joanna was also ready for a change; secretly, she had always envied John the sense of adventure that accompanied his work. Maybe this was an opportunity for her to develop her After much discussion, they decided that John would accept the assignment. January-March 1999: Predeparture Arrangements When John confirmed with the Geneva office that he would take the assignment, it was arranged for him to move to San Salvador at the end of March and for Joanna to follow one month later.It was often recommended in assignments of this kind to send married staff ahead of time to get settled into the Job before th eir spouse and/ or family arrived. This option made sense to the Laffertys and had several advantages. First, it would give Joanna more time to finish off her current consulting rojects in Toronto and make a graceful exist from her present firm. She had a strong professional reputation and wanted to ensure she was remembered favorably by her corporate clients when she returned to Toronto two years later. Second, John would be able to get the housing arrangements settled before Joanna's arrival.John's employer would provide ample financial and logistical supports to staff in finding housing; however, John also knew from past experience that dealing with local real estate agents and utility companies in Central America could be highly frustrating. Tasks that were quite simple in Toronto, such as having a lease drawn up and getting a telephone installed, Just didn't seem to follow any system or set of procedures. â€Å"Tomorrow' could mean next week or even next month. Patience, flexi bility, and a good deal of charm were usually required; getting angry rarely helped.While John was used to the inconvenience and unpredictability of local services in Central America, he was uncertain how Joanna would react initially. John held a deep affection for the Central American people and felt hopeful that Joanna would develop an affinity for the culture as well. However, he hoped to at least have the majority of the living arrangements worked out before she arrived to make her transition to El Salvador as smooth as possible. Finally, the extra time gave Joanna more opportunity to prepare herself for the transition.Joanna had taken a course on international human resource management as an MBA and was familiar with the phenomenon of culture shock in international assignments. She recalled from her course that predeparture preparation and cultural orientation made a significant difference in helping employees and their families adapt to the foreign environment. Joanna was dete rmined to read and learn as much about Salvadoran history and politics as she could. She was also keen to improve her Spanish before she arrived and as soon as the decision was made that they would be going to El Salvador, she enrolled in night courses for six hours a week.As Joanna walked home from her Spanish class one evening, pleased with her results on her comprehension test, she recalled with amusement a conversation she had had with Joan Taylor. Joan was the wife of a senior executive with Altron, a Canadian firm with offices throughout Latin America. The Taylors had Just returned rom a two-year assignment in Guatemala City, and Joanna had contacted Joan to get some insight on the practicalities of living in the region. â€Å"My dear Joanna,† Joan began, â€Å"you will have a very fine life in Central America, or in most developing countries your husband will be sent to, for that matter.You will â€Å"Just watch out for the ‘gilded cage syndrome. †  "The what? † Joanna had asked. â€Å"As corporate executives or diplomats in third-world postings, we live a pretty high life, certainly a standard of living far beyond what we could have in our own countries. Everything is there for you and everything is done for you. It's like living in a gilded cage. Some people love it, and get pretty spoiled; after a while you cant imagine even making a sandwich for yourself†¦ .† Humph, Joanna thought to herself at the time. That would certainly never happen to me.I am a professional. This is an incredible learning opportunity and I am going to make the most of it! May 1999: Joanna's Arrival Joanna arrived on a balmy afternoon, grateful for the warm breeze after a cold Toronto winter. She was excited to see John and only slightly disappointed that their first drive into San Salvador would not be alone, but accompanied by a young Salvadoran named Julio Cesar, who had been assigned as their driver. On the drive from the airport, Joanna tried hard to follow his rapid banter as he pointed out the sights to her.She had felt confident in her Spanish in the classroom in Toronto, but now she could barely understand a word Julio Cesar said. John, sensing her frustration, began to translate, and by the time they reached the house, Joanna was exhausted and discouraged. John was proud of the house he had found, next door to the Mexican embassy and only a block from a tennis club where most of the members were expatriates. He hought this might provide a good social base for Joanna if she got homesick for North American lifestyle. The large 12-room house was certainly impressive, with its shining terrazzo floors and two large gardens.Joanna wondered what to do with all the space. It was also quite secure, with metal bars on all the windows, and surrounded by 12-foot walls. â€Å"This isn't a house, John, it's a fortress,† Joanna said in amazement. mieah . I know it's a bit much,† said John. â€Å"But thi s is the one area of the city we are strongly advised to live in, for security reasons. Smaller homes or apartments Just on't exist. Most of the families living here are either expats or very wealthy Salvadorans. Most have live-in help and need the space. † â€Å"But I don't want anyone else living with us †¦ † . I want you to meet Maria. † Joanna followed John out to the back of the â€Å"Come .. house, and was introduced to a small, brown woman, vigorously scrubbing clothes. â€Å"Maria worked for the family who lived here before; it only seemed right that she should stay. She only lives a few blocks away, though, so she will go home each evening. † After a week, Joanna soon learned Maria's work patterns. Maria would hand wash all their clothes in the cement tub and hang them to dry outside, a chore that would take all day long, as Maria would often wash things three times.The following day she would return to do the ironing, which would take anothe r full day. As Joanna sat in her study upstairs, reading her books and newspapers, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt thinking of Maria, hand washing every last item of their clothing in the own clothes in a washing machine. Then, when Joanna found out that John paid Maria $6. 00 per day, she was furious. John explained to Joanna that this was the ustomary wage for the women from the â€Å"barrios marginales† who worked as domestic help for wealthy Salvadorans and expatriates.These â€Å"marginal communities† were small groupings of tin shacks located in the ravines that surrounded the city. A few had electricity, but many of the communities, including Maria's, still cooked their meals over fires and lit their homes with candles. Joanna began to slip more money into Maria's pay envelope. Joanna hoped to make a friend of Maria and looked forward to having lunch each day with her and learning more of the local way of speaking. Joanna realized now hat the formal Span ish she had learned in school was vastly different from the language she heard each day on the streets of San Salvador.However, Maria refused to eat at the same table as Joanna and insisted on serving Joanna first in the dining room, and then eating her own lunch on the stone steps in the back room. Joanna was deeply uncomfortable with this and began to eat lunch at the restaurant in her nearby tennis club instead. Other things began to irritate Joanna as well. For example, one day, she started to wash the car in the driveway. Suddenly, Maria's son appeared and insisted that he do he Job for her, horrified that â€Å"la Senora† would undertake such a task herself.Another time, Joanna began to dig up some of the plants in the garden for replanting; the following morning, a gardener appeared at the door, saying that he was a cousin of Maria's and would be pleased to take on additional gardening work. Joanna resented this intrusion into her daily life. If she was going to be spe nding so much time at home, she wanted privacy to read and study. It was going to be a while, she realized, before she found a Job. Joanna was disappointed with the Job prospects among local and even international companies. Most available positions were clerical, for which she was vastly overqualified. l didn't get an MBA to work as a file clerk! † she would think to herself angrily. Then, she would think sadly, â€Å"My Spanish probably isn't even good enough to get a Job as a file clerk. † One day, in frustration, Joanna called her two closest friends in Toronto, colleagues from her old firm. â€Å"l can't win! † Joanna complained. â€Å"l feel guilty all the time. I feel guilty because I don't do anything myself. And I feel guilty if I don't hire local people to the housework. They need the money so much. Then I feel guilty that we pay them six dollars a day. We can afford so much more.I feel guilty that I have a maid and she lives in a tin shack in a ravine two blocks from my house. But John says we can't pay her more than the going rate because it would upset the whole balance of her community. He says they have their own economic structure and norms and we have to respect that. My Salvadoran neighbors tell me that if I pay Maria or the gardener more they won't respect me. But I do anyway, and then I feel guilty because I don't tell John. And then our driver, Julio Cesar . The sarcastic response was the same from both. Gee, Joanna, sounds tough.Beautiful house, a maid, gardener, and driver, afternoons at the tennis club †¦ n wonder you're so miserable. † been a big mistake? She knew how much this Job meant to John, and it was a great step forward for his career. But what about her career and her own happiness? This had been a mutual decision. Something was going to have to change or they would be on a plane back to Toronto very soon. The question was †¦ what? Questions For discussion 1 . Is Joanna suffering from cultu re shock? What elements of the Salvadoran culture seem most difficult for her to adapt to? 2.Should Joanna have done anything differently in terms of her preparation for moving to El Salvador? What do you think she should do now? 3. How could Joanna further her career as a human resource consultant while living in El Salvador? What skills could she develop? Would these skills be transferable if she moved back to Toronto? To another country? 4. If you were John, would you have taken the Job in El Salvador? If you were Joanna, would you have agreed to go? 5. Do you think international careers are feasible for dual-career couples? What issues are important to consider for the individuals involved? What can companies do to make foreign assignments more successful for couples and families? Is the happiness of the employee's spouse the responsibility of the company? 7. What recommendations would you make to international organizations and companies sending employees to politically unstabl e regions? Do companies have a responsibility for the physical safety of expatriate employees? Does this responsibility extend to locally hired staff as well? 8. Do you think Joanna should pay her cleaning lady and gardener more than the standard $6. 00 per day? Why or why not?

Is Inequality Necessary?

Miller, inequality is necessary because it is a great thing. These two believe that with inequality, private property will emerge and when it does people will be creating assets for themselves. When the people are able to create assets, they have a motive to work harder to earn what they deserve. Being more efficient on a daily basis can help a person become more active and helps them accomplishes more. A person can save the resources that they have and convert It Into assets of their own, thus creating their own wealth.Ferguson and Millard says that because of personal incentives, a person will not stop working after they have completed their Job and received the needed amount. Instead, they will continue on to work even more to gain more In order move up the ladder In society. As social progress, It aids In the development of collocation which Is the ultimate goal. I believe that Inequality Is necessary, because of how unfair things are, If a person Is willing to work harder than a nother, they should have more assets for themselves.Adam Ferguson and John Miller see inequality as something that is necessary for the development of civilization. One must work hard to achieve goals and build up more assets for themselves. Free-rider program on the other hand is similar to a free-lancer. A person, who refuses to participate in the work need to push forward, is in a way opposite to what Ferguson and Miller said about inequality. There are lazy people out there who would rather have someone else do the work for them.A group working on a project can only hope that the other members on their team will be able o do their own part. With inequality in the air, a person can only predict that the free rider program will follow. A person's asset will only grow as big as they are pushing it to be, but without hard work and by doing mediocre Job, an individual might not get too far. Mankind is always moving forward and the free rider program will only fall behind. Each person is expected to carry their own share of work during a group activity and they should have the responsibility to build themselves up.

Annotated Bibliography-Sheila-W6 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Annotated Bibliography-Sheila-W6 - Coursework Example Knowledge of information regarding the study was limited, and the researchers do not provide for future studies. The literature review is well explained that the readers had no difficulties absorbing the topic. The methodology was done by cross-sectional surveys of the samples of old adults that were similar to an earlier study by Wood. The technology users had improved health care compared to nonusers. The author is a public commentary with the information week health care leading to online publication. The researcher observes a difficulty in sharing health related information by patients. As a result, mobile manufacturers find it hard to provide apps that reveal their details. The author proposes further studies into the issue especially on possible solutions to the menace. Finding earlier information concerning the topic was almost inevitable making the study to rely on its data for analysis. The review was less in depth that resulted to rely much on the author conclusions. The methodology was by questionnaires presented to the health providers who revealed patients reluctant to share their data. Data is the solution to research as they form the basis of policy making. Skrvseth, S. O., Augestad, K. M., & Ebadollahi, S. (2015). Data-driven approach for assessing utility of medical tests using electronic medical records. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 53, 270-276. doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2014.11.011 It is a comprehensive scholarly journal of biomedical informatics published by the Elsevier. The author asserts that data from patients taken through electronic medical records can be used to provide utilities to the medical tests. Due to increased data observations, the researcher believes that methodologies can be generated that provide content idea to the satisfaction of the medical tests. The study is very silent on information regarding previous studies and neither does it suggests for further research concerning the topic. The

Capitalism vs. Socialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Capitalism vs. Socialism - Essay Example As the essay discusses capitalism increases competition whereas socialism discourages competition. Every country needs domestic food production for its own national security and independence. Domestic food production can be increased only with the help of competition. In nom-competing economies or in socialist countries, the absence of competition makes people lazy. The resources in this world are fixed whereas the population size is increasing. It is difficult for the increasing population to find better living standards if they adhere to a particular level of productivity. Socialism on the other hand does not believe much in competition. It works on certain impractical principles which may appear good at a glance. This discussion stresses that none of the socialistic world or communist countries succeeded in achieving the objectives of socialism which is the major reason why communism wiped off from Europe and on the verge of destruction in other parts of the world as well. Not only China, even Cuba has recently announced lot of economic reformation policies which were earlier black listed by these countries as the bi-products of capitalist economy. Capitalism utilizes the willpower of individuals, especially entrepreneurs, to foment economic activity. Capitalism is based on the assumption that individuals operate based on self interest; however, by doing so they not only help themselves, but also propel others towards economic success. (Socialism vs Capitalism). One of the major criticisms against capitalism is that it makes two types of citizen in a country; rich and poor. However, it should be noted that even after years of implementation of socialistic principles, countries like China, Cub a and Soviet Union failed to reduce the gap between the rich and poor in their territory. On the other hand, it should be noted that capitalist countries like America and Britain not only remain wealthy, but also succeeded in reducing the gap between t

Inclusion of Disabled Children in Primary Education Essay

Inclusion of Disabled Children in Primary Education - Essay Example This education consists of six or seven years. The children enrolled in primary education are of the age of five or six years. According to UNESCO (UNESCO, 1994) almost 70 % of the children enroll for primary education. This report also suggests that most governments in all parts of the world are ready to archive a full universal enrollment of all children in primary schools by the year 2015. Disability is defined as an impairment, which can be either physical or mental that limits a human being from performing activities performed by an ordinary person. The Disability Discrimination Act(DDA) defines disability as a mental or physical limitation that has substantial long term negative effect on the person and limits his/her ability to perform day to day duties. With respect to this definition; substantial indicates that the disability can be minor or major. Long term means that its effects can last for one year minimum, the activities that the disabled person is unable to perform include but not limited to speech, hearing, sight, manual work, movement and reasoning power. According to research conducted by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the areas affected by disability include; performance of general task, communication impairment, limited or no mobility, lack of self care, limited learning ability, inability to carry out domestic function, inability for relationship with other people and the community as a whole. some of the most common disability among human being include; deafness, which is the inability to hear, blindness which is the inability to see, lameness which is the inability to walk or perform other physical tasks and mental retardation or cognitive disability which is the inability to reason or solve problems normally. According to a report by UNESCO (UNESCO, 1994) the implementation of inclusive education would be more advantageous to the disabled children in the long run. The report highlights that the inclusion of the disabled children will lead to the enhancement of a cooperative spirit between the disabled children and the other students. This will help the other students to accept the disabled children as part of the society. The other children will also help them in adapting to the ordinarily system of learning. Implementation of inclusive education is considered to be beneficial to all the children in the long run, initially the disabled children may feel a little different from other kids, but with time the children accept their differences. The children with disability will also run how to tolerate and accept each other differences. Special schools These are schools, specially designed and staffed with specially trained and experienced tutors in order to cater for education needs of disabled children. In these schools the student are given high attention and the teacher. The student- teacher ratio is less than 6:1. In addition, these students have special facilities e.g. sensory rooms, special swimming pools and other facilities that aid these children develop, learn, play and interact with each other. Some of these special schools include; school for the blind, school

Physics of Sound Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Physics of Sound - Essay Example The nature of sound could, therefore, be defined through standard wave characteristics. Loudness would be a direct component of the amplitude with sound intensity being the rightful physical description to use in this context. This intensity would directly depend on the quantity of wave energy which meets the area which is perpendicular to the direction of the wave at a specified time period. The intensity of sound would thus be expressed in Jm2s. Since dividing a joule by second yields the unit of power, Watt, Myers (134) defines sound intensity as the quantity of power that is transmitted through an area, expressed in watts per square meter (Wm-2). According to the inverse square rule – the intensity of sound is inversely proportional to the square distance from the source (Parker 8), – as the sound spreads, the intensity decreases explaining the relation of intensity and distance from the source. Pitch is another characteristic but one that relates to frequency. Musi cal instruments’ strings that vibrate rapidly result in high pitched sounds. Temperature, density, and humidity affect yet another factor, the speed of sound (Myers 136). The equation (331 + 0.6T) m/s gives the speed of sound with T being the temperature in 0C, approximated at 343, 1,480 and 6,000 m/s in the air, water, and steel respectively at room temperature. The speed of sound has been found to be higher in liquids and solids than in air.Myers (135) notes that the threshold of human hearing is about 10-12Wm-2 above which most humans would experience pain. Human ear detects s

Cyber Healths business operation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cyber Healths business operation - Essay Example It should be noted that the institution's students directly interact with the programmed med teach agents in the website. Thus, making some features in the website customizable by each student is a key where Cyber Health can enhance the experience of the customer as well as enable them to create a learning environment which is more enjoyable and can better serve them well. Some of the interactive marketing benchmarks that Cyber Health can incorporate in are customizable website designs, online instant messaging, and a personalized webpage for the student. Every student of Cyber Health should be able to personalize the website design of the learning environment. It is irrefutable that every individual has his or own favourite colour and prefers a font from another. Furthermore, permitting an individual to customize the layout and template of the website of Cyber Health can further the institutions goal of providing more comfort and convenience to the students. It is recommended that when a student log on, he or she will be redirected to the website with his or her preferred website layout, colour, design, and font. In Cyber Health's quest to provide quality education to its customers, the company should provide an instant messaging system which allows the student to ask questions which

Innovation and competition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Innovation and competition - Essay Example For instance, the insurance industry is highly competitive thereby necessitating the need to have great marketing techniques among other skills in order to gain competitive advantage over the competitors. Focusing on two of the main insurance companies in the United States, Geico and State Farm Insurance, using VRIO analysis gives a clearer picture of how to gain competitive advantage in highly competitive sectors such as insurance. Several approaches can be used to attain an efficient marketing strategy. Some of the commonly used approaches include blue ocean strategy, porter’s five forces model, and advertising. The blue ocean strategy is deeply dependent on innovation and discovery of new consumer demands that are not yet explored. The blue ocean strategy focusses on improving the current market, for instance, by combining two or more closely related demands. In addition, it is highly dependent on the quality while still maintaining low costs of the products and services offered. The less valued products and services are replaced by the highly valued and demanded ones thereby raising the standards of the market and making it stronger. For example, the State Farm has many subsidiaries that offer great insurance services that range from fire, casualty, and mutual insurance among others. However, despite the increasingly many subsidiaries, State Farm has been able to fully satisfy it clients thereby creating unlimited loyalty. Additionally, Geico offers full time response service hence satisfying the customers fully. Moreover, Geico offers low rates to military personnel and government worker s which is arguably different from what some of the other insurance companies do. As a result, Geico has greatly grown over the recent surpassing some of the great insurance companies such as Allstate. According to a report by SNL, GEICO made $4.89 billion through direct premiums based on the third quarter of 2013 whereas Allstate

Accreditation of Educational Institutions Essay

Accreditation of Educational Institutions - Essay Example The agencies are expected to monitor the affairs of the educational institute and allow them membership by accreditation and evaluate the process of educational plans being executed by the member institute over a given period of its membership validity (Mora, 2004, p.437,). Accreditation agencies are of the view that human abilities are to be enhanced with independent learning strategy along with theoretical knowledge invested into their brains. They set standards of recognition and identity criteria for each member college with a view to cater the needs of students, who are mostly of creditable brilliance and partly employed. Banks and educational authorities at higher levels take feedback from the accreditation agencies for promoting the initiatives of each member college and forward proceedings for fund allotment and scholarship support to students as needed. Once the evaluation is on the onset, the educational institutions are accountable for their operative activities to the agency as it is the negotiator between the institution and the ultimate higher authorities. A search for the best-known accreditation agency in the world ends at Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) of America. Accreditation of colleges and other educational organizations can be easier with the application of some basic principles as set approved by CHEA. The CHEA principles are aimed at regulating the standards of all member colleges with the norms of CHEA. Principle.1 deals with considerations and actions for accreditation of non-US institutions and programs in other countries. Principle.2 considers the expectation for the conduct of US accreditation reviews of non-US institutions and their programs in another country.  

Managerial Economics Week 12 Individual Work Assignment

Managerial Economics Week 12 Individual Work - Assignment Example Incorporating secondary and intangible benefits and costs is an important analytical tool that can help project managers to account for the value added that arises from outside the project. The employment assumption in Detroit area regarding the benefits of the project is that the project will create more job opportunities for people. There is a positive relationship between employment rates in the region and the redevelopment project. There will increased income for resident of the area due to the project Without incorporating benefits in calculating the Benefit-cost ratio, the BCR equals discounted incremental costs. The project would be very costly to implement hence would not be desirable to conduct. The assumption is that the facility will lead to increased revenues from hotels and other conventional facilities. The assumption is realistic since the hotels would accommodate customers. Good customer services and accommodation are some of the core areas of the hotel facility that will generate revenues in addition to creating employment opportunities for people. Hotels generate Revenue from room rentals, food and beverage sales. Improving customer services, adding new revenue source and branding the hotel are some of the strategies that allow hotels to generate high levels of revenues (Rosehill, 2014). The desirability of the project slightly decreases even though the BCR value is less than 1. Reducing benefits from hotel facilities and excluding employment benefits makes the project less desirable for

Aspects Of Contract Essay Example for Free

Aspects Of Contract Essay Task: 1.1: Explain the importance of the essential elements required for the information of a valid contract? Offer A valid offer identifies the bargained-for exchange between the parties and creates a power of acceptance in the party to whom the offer is made. The communication by one party known as the offeror to the another party called the offeree b) Acceptance To constitute a contract, there must be an acceptance of the offer as noted above. Until the offer is accepted, both parties have not assented to the terms and, therefore, there is no mutual assent. Offeree in a manner invited or required by the offer. Whether an offer has been accepted is a question of fact. The effect of acceptance is to convert the offer into a binding contract. To form a contract it is necessary that there is a party capable of contracting and a party capable of being contracted with on the other side. In other words, to enter into a valid, legal agreement, the parties must have the capacity to do so. Consideration No contract will exist without sufficient consideration due to agreement with the other two party has agree with the term and condition as well. Mutual Assent There must be mutual assent or a meeting of the minds on all negotiated terms between the parties and on all the essential elements in terms of the contract to form a binding contract. Intention to create legal relation In some jurisdictions, the parties must also have a present intent to be bound by their agreements. It is not necessary that the assent of both parties be given at the same time. Also, it is not necessary that communication of the assent be simultaneous. Task 1.2: Discuss the impact of different types of contract? A bilateral contract is an agreement between at least two people or groups. A bilateral contract is enforceable from the get-go; both parties are bound the promise. For example, one person agrees to wash the other’s car in return for having his/her lawn mowed. Acceptance of the offer must be communicated for an agreement to be established. A unilateral contract is one where a party promises to perform some action in return for a specific act by another party, although that other party is not promising to take any action. Acceptance may take effect through conduct and need not be communicated Task 1.3: Analyse terms in contracts with reference to their meaning and effect? Terms of contract set out duties of each party under that agreement. Generally, the terms of a contract may be either: Wholly oral, wholly written and partly oral and partly written. Terms are to be distinguished from statements made prior to the contract being made. Express terms When a contract is put down in writing, any statement appearing in that written agreement will usually be regarded as a term, and any prior oral statement that is not repeated in the written agreement will usually be regarded as a representation, due to the assumption Implied term These are terms that courts assume both parties would have intended to include in the contract had they thought about the issue. They are implied on a â€Å"one-off† basis. Two overlapping tests have been trade used to ascertain parties’ intention. Business efficacy test: terms must be implied to make contract work. There are terms which the law will require to be present in certain types of contracts (i.e. not just on â€Å"one-off† basis and sometimes irrespective of the wishes of the parties). Task 2.1: Apply the elements of contract in given business scenarios? Offer can be seen from the case when Tam’s college offers admission to it student who under take s the vocational qualification. Acceptance can also be seen from the student when they agree to bound by the school regulations. Consideration is when the student promise to act in certain way. This is particularly important where the agreement involves a promise to act in a particular way in the future. Task 2.2: Apply the on terms in different contracts? Conditions These are the most important terms of contract. Serious consequences if breeched. Innocent party can treat contract as repudiated (and thus is freed from rendering further performance of contract) and can sue for damages. Description in contract of term as â€Å"condition† is not necessarily determinative of question whether term is condition. Courts tend to search for evidence that parties really intended term to be such. Task 2.3: Evaluate the effect of different terms in given contract? Conditions are so important that without them one or other of the parties would not enter into the contract. Consequently, to make a condition  falsely, or to breach a condition, is viewed so seriously that the wronged party will be entitled to treat the contract as void, voidable or at least rescinded. Where the term is a warranty, the wronged party will only be able to seek monetary damages for any loss suffered. Task 3.1: Contract liability in tort with contractual liability? The non-breaching party has a duty to mitigate damages. If it does not do so, its damages will be reduced by the amount that might have been avoided by mitigation. In employment contracts, the employee is under a duty to use reasonable diligence to find a like position. Liquidated Damages A liquidated damages provision will be valid if (i) damages (ii) the amount agreed upon was a reasonable forecast of compensatory damages. If these requirements are met, the plaintiff will receive the liquidated damages amount even though no actual money damages have been suffered. If the liquidated damages amount is unreasonable, the courts will construe this as a penalty and will not enforce the provision. Task 3.2: Explain the nature of liability in negligence? The primary function of the Law of Torts is to provide remedies to claimants who have suffered harm, loss, or an infringement of rights. The harm includes physical injury to persons or property, damage to persons’ reputations or financial interests, and interference with persons’ use and enjoyment of their land. However, just suffering such a loss does not necessarily mean the law will provide a remedy; a claimant must show that the person committing the tort owed them a duty of care and that the tort caused the loss. Task 3.3: Explain how a business can be vicariously liable? The company is liable when the manager is under the control of the employer that the employer tell the employee how to the work and when to the work. the work that the employee does forms part of the general business of the organisation. There is a contract of service between the organisation and the employee. Daniels v Whetstone Entertainments Ltd [1962] A nightclub bouncer forcibly ejected Mr Daniels from the premises following a disturbance. Once outside, the bouncer assaulted him. Task 4.1: Apply the element of the tort of negligence and defences in different business situations? Negligence is an important tort that covers a wide range of situations where persons negligently cause harm to others. In order to succeed in an action for negligence, it is necessary for a claimant to establish the following three elements: 1. The defendant owed the claimant a duty of care. 2. The defendant breached that duty of care. 3. Reasonably foreseeable damage was caused by the breach of duty. Task 4.2: Apply the elements of vicarious liability in given business situations? Employers are vicariously liable for Employee acts authorized by the employer Unauthorized acts so connected with authorized acts that they may be regarded as modes (albeit improper modes) of doing an authorized act. There is normally rarely an issue as to whether a given act falls within the first category The difficult cases involve assessing the connection between the act and the employee’s employment. Bazley established that the connection between the employment and the tort contemplated in the second branch of the Salmond test had itself to be addressed in two steps: The Court must first examine â€Å"whether there are precedents which unambiguously determine on which side of the line between vicarious liability and no liability the case falls.† If the prior case law does not clearly suggest a solution, then the Court is to resolve the question of vicarious liability based on a policy analysis directed at ascertaining whether the employer’s conduct created or enhanced the risk that the tort would occur. Task 4.3: Discuss three methods you can use to apply elements of tort properly in a work a place? CONTROL One of the traditional explanations of vicarious liability is that the employer should be vicariously liable since the employer controls the activities of her employees. The relationship between the parties As duties in tort are fixed by law, the parties may well have had no contact before the tort is committed. Unliquidated damages The aim of tort damages is to restore the claimant, in so far as money can do so, to his or her pre-incident position, and this purpose underlies the assessment of damages. Tort compensates both for tangible losses and for factors which are enormously difficult to quantify, such as loss of amenity and pain and suffering, nervous shock, and other intangible losses.. LIST REFERENCE Atiyah P S — Introduction to the Law of Contract (Clarendon Press, June 1995) ISBN: Beale/Bishop and Furmston — Contract — Cases and Materials (Butterworth, October 2001) Cheshire/Fifoot and Furmston — Law of Contract (Butterworth, October 2001) ISBN: Cooke J — Law of Tort (Prentice Hall, May 1997) ISBN: 0273627104

Speech on the Underworld in Greek Mythology Essay Example for Free

Speech on the Underworld in Greek Mythology Essay The Underworld, better known as Hades after the god who ruled it, was a dark and dreary place where the shades, or souls, of those who died lived. In the next few minutes, I will tell you about how one came to die, the topography of the Underworld, and the beings whom dwelled there. br brYour whole life was planned and plotted by the Fates. The Fates were the three goddesses who controlled the destiny of everyone from the time they were born to the time they died. They were: Clotho, the spinner, who spun the thread of a persons life, Lachesis, the apporitioner, who decided how much times was to be allowed each person, and Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the thread when you were supposed to die. When Atropos cut your thread you were dead and then you made your journey to Hades. Upon death, the shade is lead by Hermes to the entrance of the Underworld and to the banks of the Acheron. br brThere were five rivers that made up the Underworld. They were the Acheron (the river of woe), Cocytus (the river of lamentation), Phlegethon (river of fire), Lethe (river of forgetfulness), and the Styx (river of hate). This poem, written by an anonymous writer, was written about the rivers in the Underworld. br brAbhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate, brSad Acheron of sorrow black and deep; brCocytus named of lamentation loud brHeard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon brWhose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. brFar off from these a slow and silent stream, brLethe, the river of oblivion, rolls  br Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks brForthwith his former state and being forgets, brForgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. br brWhen one would die, the family would place one obol, or a coin, under the deceaseds tongue. This coin would pay as fare to Charon who would ferry the dead over the Acheron River. Charon is the ferryman who is often depicted as an old sulky man, or as a winged demon carrying a double hammer. Those who cannot afford to pay Charon were doomed to wonder the banks of the Acheron River for one hundred years. Guarding the Underworld was the three-headed dog Cerberus. He permitted new spirits to enter, but never one to leave. br brWhen you arrived at the Underworld, three judges determined your sentence. They were Rhadamanthus, Minos the first, and Aeacus. Rhadamanthus, the son of Zeus and Europa, was rewarded to be judge because of the justice he showed on Earth. Minos the First, the son of Zeus and Europa, was another judge who, before he died, was the ruler of Crete, and most know him from the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. The third judge is Aeacus, the son of Zeus and the nymph Aegina, assisted Poseidon and Apollo build the walls of the city Troy. After his death Zeus rewarded him the position of judge. br brYou could go to three different places in the Underworld, depending on your life on Earth and what you had done. Most shades went to the Asphodel Fields, but before you entered you drank from the Lethe River, causing you to forget everything that had happened in your past life. Asphodel was an ugly , gray, ghostly weed that covered the Fields. This place was for the normal, everyday person, who did nothing special in his or her life. The second place they could go was the Elysian Fields or Elysium. Elysium was reserved for the heroes, or people the gods favored. Regular feasts, banquets, and hunts were held there. The third and final place you could go to was the lowest region of the world, called Tartarus. It was surrounded by a wall of bronze and beyond that three-fold layer of night. Tartarus, presided over by Kronos, was where the souls went who had defied the gods in some way. The Hundred-headed Giants guarded it. Around Tartarus is Phlegethon, with its flames and clashing rocks. One of the Furies, Tisiphone, sits upon the iron tower, with her bloody robe, and sleepless day and night, guards the entrance. br brFew people dwell in the Underworld, because of its gloominess and darkness. Hades, the King of the Dead, rules over the entire Underworld. The god was a dread figure to the living, who were quite careful how they swore oaths to his name. To many people, to utter his name was frightening, so they used another word in its place. Since all precious minerals came from under the earth, the people thought of Hades as very wealthy. He was was sometimes referred to as Ploutos, meaning wealth. This accounts for the name given him by the Romans, who called him Pluto. Hades sits on a throne of ebony and carries a scepter. He also has a helmet that makes him invisible, given to him by the Cyclopes. Persephone, Hadess wife, also lives with him in his palace. Along with Charon, the ferryman, the Furies live down there also. The furies are the three daughters of Mother Earth, conceived from the blood of Uranus. They were powerful goddesses that personified conscience and punish people for their crimes. They were Megaera (jealousy), Tisiphone (blood avenger), and Alecto (unceasing in pursuit). They were usually depicted as winged women with serpent hair. When called upon they would hound their victims till they died in a rage of madness or suicide. br brThe Underworld is what the Greeks and Romans believed you went after you died. It was where everything horrible, evil, and sad lived. If you werent a hero or a favorite of the gods you were sent to that horrible place. What a dreadful thing to look forward to after your life was completed on Earth. I hope you enjoyed learning about the Underworld and the beliefs of the Greek and Roman peoples afterlife. Thank You.

The Pharmaceutical Industry: UK Market

The Pharmaceutical Industry: UK Market The pharmaceutical industry is characterised as highly complex. The discoveries and the continued developments of medicines are result of human knowledge and advanced technologies. The industry consists of enormous size companies with complex processes and technologies. Typically, this kind of companies have many organisational and management structures. Also, the discovery, development and management distribution systems are extremely costly procedures. The industry directly employs approximately 73,000 in the UK and generates an additional 250,000 jobs in related industries (Department of Business Innovation, 2010). The industry has had a consistent trade surplus for the past twenty years, exporting more pharmaceutical products than it imports (ABPI, 2010). The Great Britain is the third major exporter of pharmaceuticals in the world. This high export volume insulates the industry from economic fluctuations in the UK market. According to statistics, the publicly funded National Health System in the UK is likely to considerably reduce the funding in subsequent years since the countrys finances appear to be significantly affected by recession. The financial year 2008/2009, the budget of the NHS increased by 5,5%. Yet, experts indicated that the budget of the NHS is like to rise by only 1% in 2009/2010. This increase, combined with inflation is probably equivalent to freezing or decreasing of funding (Q Finance, 2010). The main implication is that the pharmaceutical industry can be affected by macroeconomic problems. GlaxoSmithKline is a British pharmaceutical, biological and healthcare company and the second largest research-based in the world with an estimated 5,5% of the market worldwide and 8,3% of the UK market. Its sales for 2009 were  £28,3 billion and its operating profit  £8,4 billion. It specialises in both medicines and vaccines and covers all the therapeutic areas. But, it is the leader in four main areas: anti-infectives, gastro-intestinal, respiratory and central nervous system. Also, the firm is known for developing vaccines and treatments for cancer (GSKs Annual Report, 2009). Moreover, it employs 99,000 people in over 100 countries with more than 17,000 only in the UK. (Website- GSK in the UK, 2010) On the other hand, AstraZeneca has four main tactics that form the basis of its competitive strategy. The first one is the strength the pipeline of new products. This could be achieved through the continuous improvement of RD. The second is the growth of the business via continued focus on driving commercial excellence. For example, the initiatives of this priority refer to build on leadership positions in existing markets or expand their presence in emerging markets. The third is the reshape of the business. The idea here is the necessity of creating a new and flexible organisation with financial strength in order to be adapted by a changing business environment. The last is the promotion of a responsible and accountable culture. It is important for an organisation to be recognised by integrity with which it conducts its business. (AstraZenecas Annual Report, 2009) This company is one of the worlds leading pharmaceuticals with various innovative medicines. Its sales were USD$ 32,8 billion and its operating profit USD$ 13,6 billion in 2009 (AstraZenecas Annual Report, 2009). The firm focuses its operations in six healthcare areas which are: cardiovascular, cancer, infections, gastrointestinal, neurology, respiratory, and inflammation. Also, it employs around 11,600 people at 17 principal RD centres in 8 different countries and it has generally, 20 manufacturing sites in 16 countries. (Website: Key facts, 2010) Recently, AstraZeneca announced a supply partnership with Indias Torrent Pharmaceuticals in an attempt to enhance its presence in emerging markets and confront patent losses in blockbuster medicines. It is the first connection with a generic medicine-maker. According to the agreement, Torrent will supply AstraZeneca with 18 generic drugs which it will brand and market them in nine different countries (Business News; Drug Discovery Development, 2010). In contrast, Novartis has five strategic initiatives that form its long term sustainable development. The business strengthens its portfolio by evaluating internal and external opportunities in order to remain competitive and improve its position in the market. Also, it intensifies its innovation by developing new products according to peoples needs. The expansion in high-growth markets is another priority of Novartis as well as the improvement of organisational effectiveness. Productivity is a perpetual process and purpose of the firm is to deliver the best possible quality even faster. The final priority refers to performance-oriented culture. Novartis is a company that wants to create value for both patients and customers. (Novartis Annual Report, 2009) This firm is a global leader in innovative and generics medicines as well as in vaccines and consumer health goods. Its net sales were USD$ 44,3 billion and its operating profit USD$ 1,1 billion in 2009 (Annual Report, 2009). Also, Novartis in the UK is one of the largest subsidiaries in the world and employs over 3,500 people on nine sites. The main activities of British Novartis are the manufacturing, the packaging, the customer service and the marketing of products used locally and globally. (Novartis website, 2010) In January 2010, Novartis announced its immediate plan to gain full ownership of the Alcon Inc., a company that specialises in eye care, via completion deal with Nestle S.A. to attain its 77% majority stake of Alcon. After that, a proposal of direct merger of Alcon into Novartis is made by stakeholders (Novartis Annual Report, 2009) 4.1.2. Threat of New Entrants The entry barriers into the pharmaceutical sector are particularly high. Pharmaceutical industry faces many challenges that prevent newcomers to enter in this market. The production costs associated with years of RD are very high and government regulations are strict. According to the report of House of Commons Health Committee (2005), RD investments in the UK are worth 3,3 billion of pounds annually. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies need on average twelve years and more than  £500 million investment to bring a new medicine in the market. The threat of new entrants is particularly low because of the large economies of scale and the high capital requirements that the industry demands. Also, entrants face many risks associated with capabilities that established companies have developed many years ago. Those capabilities related to their experience, their good relationship with the third parties and the invention of new patents. Moreover, other barriers to entry could be the differentiation of products and the difficulty in access to distribution channels. Once a company differentiates its products, it becomes immediately unique and creates brand name. The brand identity of major pharmaceutical firms is strongly associated with customers loyalty and preferences in brand name medicines. However, new entrants can not easily create a brand name from one moment to another. Furthermore, the established companies face strict regulations concerning the developing and delivering of their pharmaceutical products. The process of manufacturing a new drug, as we mentioned before, is lengthy and costly and firms invest a great deal of money in RD. New medicines need approval by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Another regulation refers to drugs patents that are protected by the firms and generally last about 10 to 15 years. All of the above factors are very discouraging for new entrants. 4.1.3. Threat of Substitutes Generally, the basic substitutes that pharmaceutical industry faces are the generic medicines. Generics are copies of previously patented medicines and do not differ from brand names. Many consumers prefer them because they are cheaper than the originals. But, unfortunately, generics are not always available as substitutes due to the protection of companies patents. Pharmaceutical companies face substitutes for their products when their patents have expired. In this case, the threat for substitutes is medium because of the lower price that generic drugs provide. This happens due to the fact that the companies that produce generics did not have to pay the initial cost of RD. In contrast, companies have the monopoly of their medicines when their patents are still active. This means that the threat of substitutes is weak and the large pharmaceutical firms have the absolute control in the market and are powerful. Additionally, other substitutes that pharmaceutical industry in the UK faces are the natural remedies such as herbs and other traditional products as a part of healthiness programmes of private firms (Thinking made easy, 2010). Reports from NHS encourage the people to use these kinds of products which are alternative products in place of branded and generic drugs. Also, there are specific policies that protect the public from those alternative drugs which established by The House of Lords (Department of Health, 2001). Overall, the threat of substitutes is fairly weak. 4.1.4. Bargaining Power of Buyers The pharmaceutical industry consists of many buyers such as patients, doctors, hospitals, drug stores and pharmacists. It is known that buyers can affect businesses by seeking lower prices, high quality and better service. Actually, the main buyers in the UK are the government and the people who obtain prescriptions from medical professionals. Most of the consumers in Britain purchase pharmaceutical products more frequently in small quantities. Most of the established pharmaceutical firms have branded medicines in the market, so buyers can choose among a variety of products according to their personal needs and preferences. Additionally, the bargaining power of buyers is not powerful because the switching costs from one product to another are high. Also, buyers in the UK can choose between branded or generic medicines. However, most consumers prefer to buy generic drugs because are cheaper. Pricing plays important role to customers and hospitals along with pharmacies are pressing firms to reduce their prices. The bargaining power of hospitals and drug stores is very high as they purchase large quantities. Many companies do not lower their drug prices and hospitals try to find other firms which are in position to do it. The main reason that pharmaceutical companies pose medicines patents is because they want to set the prices and monopolise the market. For many years the medicines were and still be a great necessity to people. Great Britain and most of European countries work with drug prescriptions in hospitals. Consumers prefer to supply their medicines from hospitals because the cost is lower if they have health insurance. Furthermore, nowadays consumers are fully-informed about the launches of new medicines from the Internet. This gives some kind of power to buyers although not very significant since they do not have full access to important information. Overall the bargaining power of buyers is quite low because they agree and buy pharmaceutical products, even when firms set high prices. Therefore, the companies have the advantage. 4.1.5. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Pharmaceutical companies have a wide range of suppliers who are essential. They usually provide raw materials, components, intermediates products and other supplies. One category of suppliers is those who provide raw materials that are necessary for firms production process. For instance, the process of drugs packaging includes materials such as foils that cover the tablets of capsules, the bottles that enclose the syrups (Typepad, 2008). In this case the bargaining power of suppliers is very low, although corporations are the major buyers of these inputs. This happens because they are exclusively dependent on the industry to continue to exist. Another category of suppliers are those who provide other important substances such as colours that used into syrups, sweeteners as well as fruit flavours, inputs that are especially used in childrens medicines. Those manufacturers can provide some kind of threat but in the pharmaceutical industry their bargaining power is weak. Their negotiation power is low and they do not charge unreasonable high prices in their products because most of the companies in the UK have their own manufacturing plants. Also, the switching costs of suppliers and the firms are relatively high, since it is not so simple for companies to change providers even when they warned to keep back further supply. In this aspect, the bargaining power of suppliers is high. Generally, suppliers power is weak and therefore the pharmaceutical companies have the strength to ask for lower prices and arrange better deals. 4.2 HOW THE FIVE FORCES AFFECT THE INDUSTRYS PROFITABILITY The Five Forces model of Porter has generally, a significant influence on the profitability of the industry. In this industry, all the factors except rivalry do not affect considerably the efficiency of the British pharmaceutical companies. In every industry, the suppliers are a significant ingredient and can seriously affect the firms marketplace. However, their power is weak since they affect everyone and cannot be thought as a significant force. Therefore, the profitability of pharmaceutical companies does not affected by suppliers. On the other hand, buyers are powerful when they push firms to lower prices, but their power is really weak when pharmaceutical companies are protected by drug patents. This is the point where firms monopolise the market. Threat of substitutes is related to buyers power since consumers can choose between branded and generic medicines. In this point the profitability of pharmaceutical companies might be affected because of the lower prices of generic pharmaceutical products. But, firms with patents on their new inputs cannot be affected by generics medicines. Also, complementary remedies cannot considerably affect firms profits since patients prefer the products of big pharmaceuticals. The threat of alternatives inputs is quite low and obviously cannot affect businesses profits. The barriers to newcomers are very high and it is difficult for them to enter to such competitive market. Therefore, they cannot negatively influence the profitability of firms. To conclude, the intensity of rivalry of British pharmaceutical industry is very dynamic and can strongly influence the profitability of its companies. It is important for all businesses to be aware of those five forces in order to gain competitive advantage and be profitable. 5. HOW THE REMOTE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMPETITIVE ARENA HAS AN EFFECT ON THE PLAYERS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY In this paper, PEST analysis considered the macro-environment of British pharmaceutical industry and showed all those external factors that limit the operations of an industry. The main limitations that should be highlighted are the pricing regulation, advertising code of practice, EU directives concerning approval of new pharmaceutical products, labelling requirements and clinical trials. Also, investments in RD and technological innovation are necessary in this industry but very costly. Patents expire and new medicines should come into the market. Lastly, the demographic changes force the industry to produce more pharmaceutical products. All the above factors obligate the pharmaceutical companies in the industry to formulate specific strategy. On the other hand, Porters Five Forces analysis considered the microenvironment of the industry and relies on the internal environment factors that governing the function of a company. These features may change depending on the organisational structure and business strategy. This model takes into account the relationships that are formulated between the company and other third parties such as consumers, suppliers and competitors and in which way it manages those relationships. The competition among pharmaceutical companies is fierce and has strongly impact on the profitability of the industry. Concerning the other features of Porters model, they do not influence the competitors since their effect is considerably low. Therefore, there is not any consequence on the profitability of the industry. 5. CONCLUSION To conclude, the pharmaceutical industry in Great Britain is large, profitable and highly competitive. The continued production and development of new pharmaceutical products is a source of funding of medical research. The industrys products include many salutary medicines that contribute substantially to the national health as well as to the economy of the country. Additionally, the commercial success of the industry is huge with businesses achieving every year even higher sales. Most of the companies that operate in the UK have long history and great expertise as well as experience in production of pharmaceuticals. All of them have a strong sense of responsibility and their main purpose remains the continuous improvement of human life. In recent times companies face serious challenges such as patents expiries, legal regulations and increased demands from healthcare providers are likely to persist in the future and may be more pronounced. This is the main reasons that lead firms to create an environment that could distribute more development with less danger and an improved financial performance (GSKs Annual report, 2009). GSK, Novartis and AstraZeneca have established long term strategies to maintain their corporate sustainability. Nowadays, firms face extremely high costs of RD while the product life cycle is greatly reducing. Moreover, important issues such as product approval, pricing and promotion are always a cornerstone for further arrangements and regulations. These usually are factors that adversely affect companies and consequently, limit their operations. One of the industrys future plans involves further regulations. Additional plans and thoughts include greater analysis of costs and benefits of medicines used by the NHS. However, this venture is difficult to be achieved because the demand for pharmaceutical products is large and growing. Also, the ageing population in Britain leads to even greater increase in the number of prescription drugs, a trend that will continue to exist in the future. Therefore, it is expected that the most important therapeutic areas will be those associated with age such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers. According to Royal College of Physicians (2009), the prevalence of Alzheimers disease will affect 1 million people in the UK by 2025 compared to 700000 today. This is the reason that the demand for more effective therapies may increase in those areas. The same pattern is followed by diabetes disease which is expected to increase from 3 million today to 4-5 million in next years. Moreover, expert expects that the economic demand for cancer care in the UK will increase by 200% which is an extremely high percentage (Sikora K, 2008). Furthermore, reports from Prescribing Analysis and Cost (PACT) in the UK reveal significant future changes in general practice prescribing. According to their data, the volume of prescriptions rose by 6% in 2007 compared to the previous years growth of 4,5% (NHS, 2008). Also, costs of prescription rose by 2,1% in 2007 compared to the previous year, which accounts for  £8 bn. Generally, the pharmaceutical industry has still untapped potentialities and of course, exciting challenges and opportunities will continue to exist. The market in the UK will continue to be driven by demand for better treatments for devastating diseases affecting its population. This will be beneficial for British pharmaceutical firms. Also, their primary objective now is to expand and develop their operations into promising emerging markets such as China and India. It should be noted that the emerging markets demand higher standards of healthcare because the life and health expectations are very low compared to the developed countries. Therefore, by expanding their activities in these markets, the corporations will be able to offer their products increasing their production and sales. 7. APPENDICES CRITICAL EVALUATION OF METHODS PEST analysis is a good strategic technique to analyse the external environment of an industry. However, it does not consider at all the internal factors that might affect the environment of an industry. In my opinion it could be more effective tool in accordance with other relative tools such as SWOT analysis and McKinseys 7S model (strategy, structure, systems, style, staff and stakeholders). Both of those techniques take into account internal and external factors. Therefore, the combination of those could provide a more complete and analytical picture of the industrys strategic environment. Kotler (1998) supports that PEST analysis is a useful strategic technique for understanding market growth or decline, industrys position as well as potential and direction for operations. Also, the use of PEST analysis can be efficient for business plans, product developments and research reports. Also, PEST ensures that the performance of a firm is positively related to strong changing forces that are influencing the business environment (Porter, 1985) The Five Forces analysis is a necessary ingredient of a successful strategy and it is usually used as a complementary help of other techniques such as PEST or SWOT. Additionally, in my point of view, this technique is strong and useful but it is difficult to concentrate all those factors around a main implication and predict properly the industrys profitability. Particularly, Porters Five Forces model combines the structure of an industry to the competitive intensity within it and to the profitability that it realises. While every industry is unique, competition and profitability are the main components that can influence the structure of that industry. (Grant, 2008).The most important point that firms should consider within an industry is the dynamics of their industries in order to compete efficiently in the market. According to Porter (1980) the competitive environment of an industry is created by the interaction of five different forces that act within it.

Saint Joan of Arc :: Essays Papers

Saint Joan of Arc The Lindau Gospel Book Cover is a signatory representative of the early and mid 9th century due to its quality to compel and garner admiration from the common masses. The cover exemplifies the attributes of many other works from its period. It is a safe assumption that the majority of the citizens that lived during the time these works were created couldn’t read, and that works of art such as the book cover could function as a metaphor for the story contained within. Stories like the Passion could be depicted on a slab of stone or pressed into a sheet of gold to show levels of importance on particular moments. One example of a multi-level drawing is that of the Utrecht Psalter. The Psalter, created around 820 in Reims, is a preliminary source for the style of metaphor overlaid in visual representation1. The Psalter provided an interpretation to all of the Biblical allusions, sometimes very cleverly. Though the type of visual representation found in the Psalter are thought to be modeled after earlier forms2 there is a certain simplicity in style that seems to compel not the courtesans, but the common citizen3 . The images are highly stylized, a far cry from the art of the aristocracy; even more telling, it was rendered in the very local artistic style of the workshops of Reims4. The drawings are impressionistic5 and worked as a puzzle for the viewer6. There was a definite link reaching out from the work to the viewer, the Psalter served as a prototypical way of engaging the audience in a visual tale while communicating the literal story behind it7. The viewer was able to take a mental pictu re of a liturgical event8. This style progressed and found its way to other visual forms9. The ivory book covers illustrating Psalms 50 and 51 had drawn influence and may have been in fact directly modeled after the Utrecht Psalter10. The ivories depict the same scenes from the Psalms drawn into the Utrecht Psalter, however, the ivory panels are more of an abridged version11. The progression from drawing to book covers represents a certain leap in audience and visual structure even if just momentarily or inadvertently, since ivory was a luxury few could afford, and the meticulous undercutting even fewer12. The scenes did however grow in leaps and bounds in the method of figural representation, realistic drapery, and depth that is monumentally achieved in such a minimal space13.

Abortion Essay -- essays research papers

ABORTION Abortion, in my opinion, has been one of the largest debataable issues in American Society. There are so many aspects and views to examine before one can even begin to form their own opinion. In order to discuss an important issue such as abortion, we must first understand what it means. Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy before the fetus has developed and grown enough to live outside the mother. When abortion happens naturally before the 20th week it is called a spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage. If it happens naturally after the 20th week it is termed a late fetal death or a still birth. An abortion caused by a medical procedure is called an induced abortion. Most induced abortion are performed in the first trimester or first 12 weeks after conception.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The abortion debate seems like an unresolable conflict of rights. The right of women to control their own bodies, and the right of children to be born. In the United States abortion became legal in 1973. Recently, courts have upheld the right of a woman to have an abortion, and as a result, has caused many heated debates. The opposing abortion groups are refered to as â€Å"pro-life† and â€Å"pro-choise.† The people who refer to themselves as pro-choise belive the woman has the right to choose for herself whether to have an abortion. It has nothing to do with the humanity of the fetus but is entirely about the womans freedom. They say every persoon has the right to live and move in freedom. A pregnant woman and her unborn child are one and the law should protect the woman’s right. They most often refer to the embryo as nothing â€Å"a blob.† Saying that the fetus is not alive because it can not live outside the womans womb. Furthermore they gone as far as saying the world is already over-populated. They claim abortion is a personal choice. Therefore an abortion is justified if the mother wants an abortion. Whereas pro-life people belive that destroying a human life is morally wrong and should be restricted. Their belive that the loss of one’s life is one of the greatest losses one can suffer. The loss of one’s life deprives one of all the experiences, activ ities, and enjoyments that would otherwise have constituted one’s future. In their eyes abortion is a sin. They claim that human lives are being taken at a rate of 1.5 million a year for convenience. Is abortion right or... ...he already has all the children she wants. Also she could be very young and her parents do not want her to have the baby. Abortions under these circumstances are similar because it’s the deliberate taking of a life just for convenience.. I belive a pregnant woman should seek counseling and advice before making a decision to have an abortion. Counseling early in the pregnancy is important for a positive outcome regardless of whether the pregnancy will continue or an abortion is chosen There is other options for instance the baby could be given up for adoption. Besides if you know you have had unpotected sex there is emergency contraception methods available to prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after the unprotected sex accoured. There are so many birth control methods currently available for there to be any unwanted pregancies. With one exception for pregnancies tresulting from rape or incest. I feel in my heart that a human life should not be sacrificed because it is a gift from God. This is only my opinion. There are alot of arguments regarding abortion. They all provide food for thought. If you want to hear other arguments just bring up the subject at your next family gathering.

Is Chocolate Physiologically or Psychologically Addictive? Essay

Is Chocolate Physiologically or Psychologically Addictive? Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical tree, Theobroma cacao. Theobroma is the Greek term for 'food of the gods.' In Aztec society chocolate was a food of the gods, reserved for priests, warriors and nobility. The Aztecs used cacao beans to make a hot, frothy and bitter beverage called chocolatl. Chocolatl was a sacred concoction that was associated with fertility and wisdom. It was also thought to have stimulating and restorative properties. The bitter drink was first introduced to Europe in 1528. However, it was not until 1876 that milk, cocoa powder and cocoa butter were combined to form what we now know as chocolate (1). Today, production and consumption of chocolate is a global affair. People crave chocolate more than any other food. In the United States, the typical person eats 11.5 pounds of chocolate annually (2). What makes chocolate the food that is craved more often than any other food? Yes, chocolate tastes good, has a beautiful texture and melts in your mouth, but there must be more to chocolate than what meets the lips. In fact, chocolate is made up of chemicals associated with mood, emotion and addiction. Many people eat chocolate as a comfort food when they are depressed or stressed. The question is, do people crave chocolate because their bodies and brains are addicted to the chemicals in it or do people crave chocolate because they have a psychological attachment to it? Substances found in chocolate, such as phenylethylamine, theobromine, anandamide and tryptophan trigger mood enhancing chemicals and neurotransmitters to be released in the brain. Phenylethylamine is a chemical found in the body that is similar to amphetamine. It he... ...es 1)CHOCOLATE, on the Chocolate web site http://www.chocolate.org/ 2)Prescription-strength chocolate, on the Science News Online-Food for Thought web site http://www.science.org/sn_arch/10_12_96/food.htm 3)Chocolate and Anxiety, on the About the Human Internet web site http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/shfitness/a/chocolate.htm 4)Theobromine: Chocolate's Caffeine Cousin, on the About the Human Internet web site http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/?once=true& 5)Chocolate "addiction" A Fiction?, on the Personal MC web site http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1998121611.shtml 6)Health and Happiness-does chocolate have it all wrapped up?, on the IFIS Hot Topic web site http://www.ifis.co.uk/index.html 7)Chocolate: A heart-healthy confection?, on the CNN web site http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/diet.fitness/02/02/chocolate.wmd/

Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Essay

1.Be able to promote equality and diversity in work with young people. 1.1Identify the current legislation and code of practice relevant to the promotion of equality and valuing of diversity. SEN code of practice 2001 This act was created to strengthen the rights of SEN children and their parents to a mainstream education. The act was designed to make a difference to the education of SEN children by allowing them to have access to the educational facilities available all children. This is done by offering support tailored to the needs of the individual and their families whilst taking the opinion and wishes of the child into account with regards to any decisions made. It focuses on the need for a partnership between the child, their parents, teachers, agencies involved in their care; with the need for regular reviews and progress reports. Educational act 2002- 2006 The educational act is designed to set out the responsibilities of the heads of all school environments, local educational authorities and governors and to ensure that all children are provided a safe environment. The act is continuously update and in 2002 revisions were made with regards to the responsibilities placed on governors and staff. In 2006 further amendments were made to emphasise the duty of schools to promote community cohesion by working with other community organisations. A good example of this is â€Å"pop in†, set up by the school and the chapel in Marshchapel, where students and elderly members of the community meet up on a weekly basis to have lunch and share stories. Data protection act 1998 This at was written with regards to the keeping and storing of records and data and it regulates the sharing of information. The act concerns both paper and electronic data. Any organisation which collects or stores information must be registered with the data protection commission and the information they collect must only be used for the purpose which it was intended. To protect the information given by individuals data must remain on site in a locked cabinet or a password protected computer and must only  be share with the consent of the individual. Freedom of information act 2000 This act of the UK parliament defines the ways in which members of the public may gain access to government held information. The act creates a right of access when requested by an individual to information held by public authorities, promoting openness and transparency whilst minimising the risk of harm to any individual entity. Equality act 2010 The act is a consolidation of the numerous arrays of complicated anti-discrimination acts and regulations already present in the UK. The main bodies of legislation incorporated into the act include the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. It focuses on strengthening the rights of all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender (with special protections put in place for pregnant women), relationship status, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief. With additional specifications put in place for disability that state employers and service providers are responsible for making modifications to their workplaces to overcome barriers experienced by disabled people. Children Act 1989 and 2004 The Children Act 1989 was designed to help keep children safe and well. It intends to help children to live with their family by providing services appropriate to the child’s needs. The act was updated in 2004 following the death of eight year old Victoria Climbie; its purpose was to make England a safer place for children and emphasised the importance of communication between agencies responsible for the welfare of children. It also included guidance specifically aimed towards the aid and welfare of disabled children. Every child matters 2003 Following the death of Victoria Climbie the government produced a paper titled Every Child Matters with the aim that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances should have access to the support they need. Below is the mission statement from that report. Every Child Matters, 2003 Be healthyEnjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle Stay safeBeing protected from harm and neglect Enjoy and achieveGetting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood Make a positive contributionBeing involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour Achieve economic  well-beingNot being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential Race relations act 1976 and 2000 This act makes it illegal for school to discriminate, directly or indirectly. They are expected to provide the same opportunities to all children and to improve academic developments across the board. Schools are required to have their own race equality policy which is linked into an action plan and must promote equal opportunities and improved relationships between racial groups 1.2Explain the importance of promoting the rights of all children and young people to participation and equality of access. It is essential that all children have full access to all areas of education to allow them to fully develop in every way possible. There is much legislation in practice to aid this including every child matters, the SEN code of practice and the disability discrimination act. Schools are required to allow every child to follow an individual learning plan catered specifically to their personal needs. In addition to this all children have the right to an equal education in a mainstream school with the opportunities to play and learn together. There must be no discrimination for any reason towards any members of staff, parents or pupils. This attitude towards inclusivity not only promotes better development both academically and socially but is also a more efficient use of resources. Each school must have a code of practice in place containing information relating to equal opportunities and a policy concerning the schools practices surrounding special educational needs to protect and benefit all students and staff. Schools should focus on the individual needs of all students and allow opportunities for them to become integrated with not only their peers but the local community. There are  certain groups that may be more vulnerable to exclusion or segregation. These groups include families who hold English as a second language, students who are gifted and talented or are new to the school. In addition to these, families who are of a cultural or ethnic minority, parents whose views and values differ from that of the school or looked after children may also be susceptible to various forms of exclusion. It is important that we are mindful to treat all individuals the same regardless of their beliefs, capabilities or background. Children, staff and parents with special educational needs can often be exposed to exclusion and unintentional segregation. It is vital that resources are put in place to enable all individuals to be fully included in every aspect of life and that all opportunities are available to them. 1.3Explain the importance and benefits of valuing and promoting cultural diversity in work with children and young people. Promoting cultural diversity at an early age and exposing children to a vast array of beliefs will benefit them greatly as this knowledge will prevent them from becoming single minded. Educating children about cultural differences will enable them develop a mutual respect for all beliefs and will show them that all cultures including their own are valued. Knowing this will allow children to feel settled and secure within their environment. Schools are encouraged to implement a number of strategies to ensure that families from all cultural backgrounds feel welcome, regardless of their beliefs or background. These include: Without these methods of exploring and celebrating a diverse range of cultures and beliefs children may become closed off to the views of others. Children and families who are in the minority may feel segregated or excluded. Children who feel this way may then develop feelings of anxiousness and unease, which in turn will have an adverse effect on their ability to socialise and their academic development. 1.4Interact with children and young people in a way that values diversity and respects cultural, religious and ethnic differences. Observed in Setting 1.5Demonstrate ways of applying the principles of equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in your own work with children and young people. In my working environment I come into contact with children from a variety of different social and cultural backgrounds. There are many families with differing and varied beliefs, which are celebrated and respected by staff, children and their families alike. All children have the right to attend school and must be given the opportunity to be included in every aspect of school life. In cases where children have additional needs lessons and activities must be modified to give them the same opportunities as their peers. This may include the use of additional resources or equipment specific to the learners needs. Sometimes it may be necessary to seek addition training to aid and enrich the learning opportunities of a child, for example learning makaton, how to use braille or PECS (picture exchange communication system) which can be useful to communicate with children who have a wide range of communication differences including autism. Sometimes additional support may be all a child requires, or simply the time to learn and complete tasks at their own pace. A child using PECS to request a desired item Simply put, anti-discriminatory practice is creating an environment where nobody experiences discrimination regardless of factors such as their race, gander, ability, culture or ethnicity. It is the ability to give fair treatment and equal learning opportunities to all individuals. To practice this in my school and classroom I must ensure I treat those around me with trust and respect. Children who witness this positive attitude and the relationships it creates will mimic my behaviour and in turn will be able to create their own open and positive relationships. It is vital that I celebrate the differences and similarities between all people in our diverse society and actively practice this in my daily life and the way I treat others. If I become aware of discriminatory comments or actions made by others I must challenge this and where necessary report it to the appropriate person.

Ethics Position Paper

morals Position musical theme Q575 Dr. Elliot June 7, 2010 University of Phoenix Introduction Today, mint piece of tail make decisions that provoke spend a penny a profoundly positive or negatively charged effect on their family, their employer, coworkers, a nation, and take down on the entire world. The life we idle words whether passe-partout or own(prenominal)isedizedized reflects the military force of a single trait our individualized character. ethical motive be dissimilar for from individually one mortal both on a professional and personal level.For the most part, mass want to be known as a good person, someone who kitty be trusted, and that he or she is relate astir(predicate) his or her relationships and personal reputations. I therefore conclude that professional moral philosophy argon indeed ininfluenzaenced by personal morals and determine. Although professional ethical motive guidelines are provided by our government (federal and local), e mployer and education, personal invest and ethical motive are as well considered at the said(prenominal) time. What are Ethics? permits begin with the explanation of ethics.Ethics can be defined with to a greater extent than one meaning based upon the circumstance and subject it is macrocosm used. In philosophy, ethics is the study and evaluation of human take in in the light of moral principles. incorrupt principles whitethorn be viewed either as the standard of conduct that individuals take in constructed for themselves or as the body of obligations and duties that a peculiar(prenominal) confederacy requires of its members. A second definition or meaning of ethics is motivation-based on ideas of right and wrong.Portman defines ethics as standards of conduct, standards that predict how one should behave based on moral duties and virtues, which themselves are derived from principles of right and wrong. In order to apply this definition to practical(a) decision making i t is necessary to countersink the nature of the moral obligations considered intrinsic to good behavior (http//sun. menloschool. org/sportman/ethics/definition. html). I check into with this definition in fact I intend that ethics are different for every(prenominal) person due to personal values and experiences.There are normal ethics that most throng vex to because of the societal mores and morals we all have been exposed to and patronage by. There are to a fault opposite morals and mores that are picked up along the way that alter between deal because of cultures, communities, families, heredity and so forth I feel that I whitethorn non look at the corresponding situation or case the equivalent(p) as an new(prenominal) person and we may never agree upon the identical methods to go about resolving an issue. This occurs because we all have differences of faiths and value systems.For example, I have goose egg against people who are gay I just do not sanction nor d iscourage the behavior I cater others to live their lives according to what is best for them. The analogous goes with ethics. Although my job may say I must intervene in a situation but my own personal ethics prevent me from acting professionally because I feel people should be allowed to live and learn. Overall, ethics and ethical positions bequeath vary from researcher to researcher because they do not have all of the same goals nor do they see things in the same light.Ethics in educational query Although I think that ethics vary between individuals I believe that professional ethics are authorised in protecting those participants of research. I do not think that research should be based on the personal refers of the researcher but I think every person has a level of preference that should be used especially when other lives are touch on. General ethics touch a huge role in education because first education is where ethics are taught.After learning about ethics students can then dismember the ethics they can identify and it concisely becomes apparent that ethics are involved in most life situations. As future t all(prenominal)er candor would be my biggest ethical commitment. I choose honesty because with todays technology and change magnitude use of online educational institutions, people can copy and paste whatever they requisite in order to be successful. bookmans academic honesty exit help me to give them the accurate stray they deserve and not have to visit students who are caught cheating/plagiarizing data.Ethics also keep researchers from publishing false information and also prevent them from existence unemployed about the research. Mainly it protects the participants of research and also protects the researcher from being accused of wrong practice if they indeed follow those practices. Ethics and Today I recently comprehend a report on the news that the World Health Organization is being accused of over exaggerating the Swine flu pandemic. When I first heard about Swine flu I believed that is was a scare tactic in order to give out people to get those shots.WHO performed unethically in my opinion however they believe that many people died from this disease and the swine flu should not be minimized. Ethics today are tranquil very important especially when other peoples lives are involved. duration some people find it voiced to break ethical standards others follow the guidelines and keep neutral. The swine flu pandemic created worried people and families going in masses to get the vaccine. Today we still need ethics because not every has the best interest of others when conducting research. Federal standards require research to abide by ethical standards.It is up to each individual to utilize those standards and incorporate them into personal values that may influence society later. Conclusion Ethics vary from person to person due to the differences in values and cultural backgrounds and even educat ion. We do not all interpret information the same way and therefore pull up stakes not be able to apply the same amount or ethics in any given situation. Furthermore professional and personal ethics affect each other depending upon the specific situation being researched. Also every subject will yield a different set of ethics and values.Therefore ethics are not only subjective in content but objective in nature. References McMillan, J. , & Schmacher, S. (2006). Ch. 6 Ethical and Legal Considerations. Research in Education Evidence-Based Inquiry, Sixth Edition, Pearson Education, Inc. McMillan, J. , & Schmacher, S. (2006). Ch. 12 Research Ethics Roles and Reciprocity. Research in Education Evidence-Based Inquiry, Sixth Edition, Pearson Education, Inc. Portman, S. (unknown). What are ethics? Retrieved from http//sun. menloschool. org/sportman/ethics/definition. html