Critically Analyse the Evolving Role of Ports as Logistics Hubs in Essay

Critically Analyse the Evolving Role of Ports as Logistics Hubs in International Supply Chains - Essay Example Case Example - Role of Rotterdam Port as a Logistic Hub in International Supply Chain 10 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction Ports are often viewed as the geographical mediums which contribute to the business in any country. Ports facilitate to entice numerous trading activities within different nations. Ports not only act as a transport system, but also act as a medium of financial activity. Ports are logistic hubs which play a vital part in international business network (Lugt & Nijdam, 2005). Due to the continuous changes in global market context, the international business has changed significantly. Globalisation has eliminated numerous trade restrictions formerly imposed by the government of different countries which in turn has amplified the seaborne trade. The unprecedented growth of seaborne trade has generated huge impact on the logistics and global supply chain. The international supply chain has become quite multifaceted and this trend is stimulated by the demand of people all over the world. In line with the increasing change of demand, the logistics chains are changing continually with the imp rovement of ports. The paper is concerned with analysing the importance of port in global supply chain. The objective of the paper is to assess the various activities of port and how it has evolved to become one of the significant parts of logistics. Literature Research ... America, Africa and Middle East have demonstrated significant growths in import. The trade growth is higher than the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. The progresses in global GDP and merchandise business have essentially impacted on the seaborne business and the demand for transportation services. In the year 2007, the cargos transported through ports were forecasted to be around 8.02 billion tonnes which is similar to the yearly growth rate of 4.8%. In transportation, tanker represented almost one third of international cargo transportation. In seaborne trade, Asia was in the leading position with 40% share subsequently America which accounted for 23% share in seaborne trade in 2007. The shares of Europe, Africa and Oceania were 18%, 10% and 9% respectively. These three regions represented almost 80% of total freights (Buck Consultants International, 2009). According to an estimation of UNCTAD, the global seaborne trade will grow by 44% by 2020 and 88% by 2030 encomp assing almost 11.5 billion tonnes and 16.04 billion tonnes correspondingly (Buck Consultants International, 2009). Dynamics of International Logistics Logistics is an activity which is liable for flow of materials. Usually, international logistics has been viewed as an integral part of commercial strategic planning. Logistics is considered as an unavoidable expense and appears within the boundaries of business. Organisations search for raw materials internationally in order to maintain low expenses. The expenses of logistics represent higher portion of sales. In present days, for several large multinational organisations, logistics expenses encompass more than 10% of sales revenue. These expenses are determined by internal as well as external aspects. Internally,

Structure And Properties Of Ibuprofen

Structure And Properties Of Ibuprofen Ibuprofen, which is a member of the propionic acid group of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen is a racemic mixture of [+]S- and [-]R-enantiomers. Ibuprofen contains contains a stereocenter in the ÃŽ ±-position of the  propionate  moiety. Studies shown that [+]S -ibuprofen was the active form and it showed activity in both in-vivo and in-vitro. Ibuprofen is white to off-white in colour and occurs as a crystalline powder, with a melting point of 74 ° to 77 °C. It is practically insoluble in water, but readily soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and acetone. Ibuprofen has a pKa value of 4.43 ±0.03 and an n-octanol/water partition coefficient of 11.7 at pH 7.4. The chemical name for ibuprofen is ( ±)-2-(p-iso-butylphenyl) propionic acid. The molecular weight of ibuprofen is 206.28. Its molecular formula is C13H1802. Mechanism of action The major action of Ibuprofen and all other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and is the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzyme or the COX enzymes and hence inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins. These cyclooxygenase enzymes catalyse the reaction of synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes from arachidonic acid, which in turn is synthesized from phospholipids by the action of the phospholipase enzyme. The prostaglandins and thromboxanes are then responsible for the synthesis of various inflammatory mediators. There are two types of cyclooxygenase enzymes namely, cyclooxygenase enzyme-I (COX-I) and cyclooxygenase enzyme-II (COX-II). COX-I is a constitutive enzyme which is released in most of the body tissues including the blood platelets. COX-I performs a house-keeping role in the body and is involved in the tissue homeostasis. Whereas, COX-II is present in the inflammatory cells and is responsible for the production of prostanoid mediators, which are responsible for inf lammation, pain and fever. Therefore, inhibition of the COX-II leads to the anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and analgesic activity of ibuprofen and whereas on the other hand, inhibition of COX-II is responsible for the unwanted effects of ibuprofen in the gastric mucosa and on platelet aggregation. In 2002, a study reported that, ibuprofen selectively inhibits a new variant  of the  COX enzyme that was totally different  from the  then known two variants of cyclooxygenase enzymes, the COX-I and  COX-II. This iso-enzyme is now referred as the COX-III enzyme. Study also showed that this COX-III enzyme was only expressed in the  brain and  in the  spinal cord. Its exact  mechanism  and actions is still poorly understood, but future research  may provide  further insight into how it works. A study on rats has shown that administration of ibuprofen increases the  bioavailability of serotonin (5-HT) in rats and evidence for a similar mechanism  in humans was also found. Chronic ibuprofen doses in rat showed down-regulation of central 5-HT2A receptors and  an increase  in the  number of serotonin transporter proteins. In 2006, a study showed that ibuprofen is converted to N-arachidonoyl phenolamine, or AM404, a compound known as an endogenous cannabinoid reuptake inhibitor and it indirectly activates the  CB-I cannabinoid receptor, resulting  in analgesia. This activity was proven through the  induction of a CB-I receptor antagonist  which  resulted in the  reversal of the  analgesic action  of ibuprofen. Pharmacokinetics Absorption Ibuprofen is well absorbed from the gastro intestinal tract. The peak plasma level of ibuprofen is reached within 1 to 2 hours. It was shown in a study that absorption of ibuprofen is faster in fasting conditions. Food affects the rate of absorption of ibuprofen but the extent of absorption remains unchanged. The study also showed that, ibuprofen when administered with food delays the time taken for peak plasma concentration by approximately 30-60 minutes. Distribution Ibuprofen like the other agents of its class is highly protein bound. It was found in a study that about 90-99% of ibuprofen was protein bound at a concentration of 20 µg/ml and this binding was non-linear. The volume of distribution ibuprofen changes with age and fever conditions. Studies reveal that febrile childrens less than 11 years old have volume of distribution approximately 0.2 L/kg, while adults have volume of distribution approximately 0.12 L/kg. Metabolism Ibuprofen is extensively metabolised in the liver to form inactive metabolic compounds. Ibuprofen is mainly metabolised by glucoronidation reaction. A study showed that majority of the ibuprofen dose was recovered in the urine as hydroxy phenyl propionic acid (25%) and carboxy propyl phenyl propionic acid (37%) metabolites. Elimination Ibuprofen and its inactive metabolites are rapidly and completely excreted by the kidney. About 95% of the administered dose of ibuprofen is eliminated in the urine. The elimination half-life of ibuprofen is in the range of 1.9 hours to 2 hours. Pharmacological activity Ibuprofen has the following pharmacological actions on the biological system Antipyretic effect Analgesic effect Anti-inflammatory effect Antipyretic effect A normal body temperature is regulated by a centre in the hypothalamus that ensures a balance between heat loss and heat production in the body. Therefore, the hypothalamus maintains a normal temperature of the body and thus it acts as a thermostat. When there is a disturbance in this hypothalamic thermostat, temperature of the body set by the hypothalamus is raised, fever occurs. Ibuprofen and other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reset this rise in the temperature. It regulates various temperature regulatory mechanisms such as dilation of superficial blood vessels, sweating etc. to reduce the temperature. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs do not affect the normal temperature. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are thought to act as antipyretic agents by inhibiting the prostaglandin production in the hypothalamus. During an inflammatory reaction, the bacterial endotoxins cause a release of a pyrogen-IL-1 from macrophages. This release of pyrogen stimulates the generation of E-type prostaglandins in the hypothalamus, this in turn causes the elevation of temperature. There are evidences that prostaglandins are not the only mediators of fever, hence ibuprofen and other NSAIDs may have some alternate mechanisms for their antipyretic activity which is not yet known. Analgesic effect Ibuprofen is mainly effective against pain associated with inflammation or tissue damage. This is due to the inhibition of prostaglandins that sensitise nociceptors to inflammatory mediators such as bradykinin. Therefore ibuprofen is effective against pains that are associated with increased prostaglandin synthesis. Their ability to relieve headache may be related to the inhibition of the vasodilator effect of prostaglandins on the cerebral vasculature. There are some evidences that ibuprofen have a central effect by an action mainly in the spinal cord where it inhibits the COX-III enzyme. This action of ibuprofen is not yet clearly known. Anti-inflammatory activity Many chemical mediators are released when there is a stimulus of an inflammatory and allergic response. This response leads to vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, cell accumulation, etc., which are produced by several mechanisms. Furthermore, different mediators may be of particular importance in different inflammatory and allergic conditions. Ibuprofen reduces mainly those components of the inflammatory and immune response in which mediators produced by COX-II enzyme action plays a significant part. The components inhibited by ibuprofen are vasodilation, oedema and pain. Ibuprofen has no effect on those processes which contribute to tissue damage as in chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis and nephritis. Uses of ibuprofen Ibuprofen is used to treat a wide range of illnesses such as headaches, backache, menstrual cramps, dental pain, neuralgia, rheumatic pain, muscular pain, migraine, arthritis and athletic injuries. Ibuprofen is also used to reduce fever and to relieve minor aches and pain caused due to common cold or flu.   In a recent study, it was found that ibuprofen was effective in the treatment of Alzheimers disease when given in low doses over a long period of time. A study also showed that ibuprofen is associated with a lower risk of Parkinsons disease, and ibuprofen may help in delaying and prevent it. . Adverse effects of Ibuprofen Ibuprofen appears to have  the  lowest  incidence of adverse  drug  reactions  (ADRs)  when compared to all other  non-selective  NSAIDs. However, this only holds  true  at lower doses of ibuprofen. Common adverse  effects of ibuprofen with the gastrointestinal tract include nausea, dyspepsia, heartburn, gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, stomach pain. Effects on central nervous system include headache, dizziness, fatigue and nervousness. Hypersensitivity reactions include skin rashes, itching. In very rare cases ex-foliative dermatitis and epidermal necrolysis has been observed. Infrequent  adverse  effect includes- oesophageal ulceration, heart failure, hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, confusion,  bronchospasm, and  salt and  fluid retention [11] Photosensitivity Like the other agents of the NSAIDs,  ibuprofen has also been reported to be  a photosensitising  agent.[12][13]  However, this only rarely occurs with ibuprofen and  it is considered to be  a very weak photosensitising  agent  when compared with other members of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This is because the  ibuprofen molecule contains  only a single phenyl moiety and  no  bond  conjugation,  resulting  in a very weak chromophore system and  a very weak absorption spectrum  which  does not reach  into the  solar spectrum. Cardiovascular risk Ibuprofen has been reported to elevate the  risk  of myocardial infarction,  particularly among  those taking chronically  high  doses of ibuprofen [14] Risk in pregnancy Studies have  found an increased risk  of miscarriage  with the  use of ibuprofen in early pregnancy; however, there are no thorough findings in  this association.  There are also  concerns  that drugs such  as ibuprofen may interfere with implantation of the  early foetus, although a clear risk has not been established. When ibuprofen is used as directed in the  first  and  second trimester of pregnancy,  it is not associated with an increased risk  for birth defects. However, ibuprofen is generally not used  during  pregnancy because there are concerns  with their  use during  the  third trimester. Ibuprofen Overdose Ibuprofen is the most commonly and widely used Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent all over the world. Since, ibuprofen was licensed as an over the counter drug, ibuprofen overdose became a common phenomenon. The most common symptoms of ibuprofen overdose are unsteadiness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, gastrointestinal, nausea plus vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, probable loss of blood in intestinal areas or stomach or both, headache, agitation, drowsiness, incoherence and confusion etc. Sometimes more serious symptoms are also noticed in some victims, such as seizure, gastrointestinal bleeding, metabolic acidosis, respiratory depression, hyperkalaemia, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, coma, hepatic dysfunction, renal failure, cyanosis, and cardiac arrest etc., however these symptoms are very rare. The  severity of symptoms varies with the ingested dose  and  the  time elapsed. However, individual sensitivity also plays  an important  role. Generally,  the  symptoms observed with an overdose  of ibuprofen are similar to the  symptoms caused by  an overdose of other NSAIDs. Doses of ibuprofen below 100 mg/kg are less likely to produce any toxic effects. But doses of ibuprofen above 400 mg/kg are considered an overdose and can result into any of the above consequences.

The Difficulty with Defining Feminism Essay -- Definition Feminism Fem

The Difficulty with Defining Feminism In Feminist Theory: from margin to center, bell hook states on the first page what she believes to be the problem with feminism. In her opinion the biggest problem with feminism is that there is no real definition of what feminism is. The definition many people have formulated for feminism is having the goal of making woman socially equal to men. hook’s problem with this is the fact that all men are not socially equal. If women are to be the social equals to men then another question would be which men women will be socially equal to. While many white middle and upper class women accept this definition, the lower socioeconomic classes can not because it does not take race and its disadvantages into account. One concern of hooks is the fact that many women do not wish to be associated with feminism. With the amount of women that do not wish to be associated with the term it will be hard to make any sort of real transformation socially. She points out that the root of this is that there is no real definition for feminism. While she views it as the struggle to end sexist oppression, many women view it as a lifestyle or associate feminism with lesbianism. In addition, many women view feminism as a white women’s rights group. This excludes oppressed ethnic groups of women. She makes a good point with this issue because before any further goals can be reached, feminism must become something that women want to be a part of. If the very women that would be benefiting from the goals that the group has do not want to be associated with the term, then it makes mainstream society dismiss the group even more than it already does. It is hard to understand how hook intends to take action as a fem... ... solution for the oppression of women in society, hook feels like it would not make any progress in the real goal of eliminating sexist oppression. After reading the essay I find myself siding more with hook on this issue. Rich’s solution for oppression of women seems to be to create more valuable relationships between women. While this may be a good idea for part of a solution it seems as though nothing would be accomplished by this in the long run due to the fact that men are not changing behavior in this solution. Nothing seems to be done about the real problem in Rich’s ideas. After reading a few different readings on feminism and what needs to be done about oppression I have found that I most agree with the direction hook is going. She seems to be very aware of what needs to be done in what order to make feminism strong enough to approach the issues at hand.

Being A Female In a Leadership Position Within The Military

The life of a woman in active Army service is not made up of cherries and cotton candy. Active military life requires me to constantly overcome various obstacles that are placed within my path on a daily basis. But unlike the other women who quit instead of trying to overcome the difficulties so that they can advance to the senior level positions, I chose to stay on and prove that I am somebody who will always muster the courage to become a worthy counterpart of the male soldier.I cannot blame the women who leave the service before they reach the senior grade levels though. Sometimes, the obstacles seem insurmountable and endless so that it seems like it is no longer worth the effort to keep on fighting. The reality is that the Army was developed by males and having females come into their ranks as soldiers and officers simply does not sit well with a vast majority of these people. Male soldiers want to believe that women will forever be weak and feeble creatures.Which is why it will take a immensely strong and influential female role model, a female in active service who will accomplish something so admirable that it will be impossible for the men to ignore the accomplishment to change the male perception. Such an embodiment of female leadership will also finally give the female soldiers a leader whom they can emulate, idolize, and hope to be in the future. The question female soldiers are now left with is â€Å"Where do we find such a woman to lead us? †I have seen some females who could be the role model we seek but because they are opinionated and sometimes seem more masculine than the males in an effort to make themselves heard, these women get administratively charged and then fired or worse, they voluntarily leave because of the frustration they feel I will admit that building a career as a female Army leader carries tremendous stress and frustration because we have to constantly prove ourselves, sometimes while facing overwhelming odds.We know ve ry well that the men want to see us fail and the higher leaders already talk down to us and undermine our confidence and ability to think as strong minded females, we still voice our opinions — but at a cost to our femininity. When I was serving at Camp Taji in Iraq, there was a woman who came to the brigade and it seemed like the entire female population of the camp was discussing who she was and where she came from. Before she arrived on camp, we had a male leader who pretty much did not understand, or did not care that the female soldiers where not complying with the regulations.Maybe he was afraid of being reported for sexual harassment if he called a female on a violation. All of that changed when our female leader arrived. We began to take pride in our appearance and grooming because this leader was not afraid to call us on any infractions we may have. Here was a woman who had the grace of a ballerina, the posture of a military professional, and the attitude of a leader who knew how to get the job done. She spoke in the manner of a highly educated person who was neither condescending nor rude. Not once did I ever catch her in a uniform that was not sharply pressed.Her hair was always tucked behind her head and her hat was always so crisp that it would stand on its own. She knew all about the Army Standard and insured that she would always uphold it to the best of her abilities. She did not care that she faced becoming an outcast because she was vocal about her beliefs regarding what was right for the army. She did not hesitate to use discipline when necessary and she let us know that if the Army cannot entrust you with small tasks, how could we be expected to complete real missions on the battlefront? Discipline was key.Sure she was called a bitch by most, but she was a bitch who got the job done. She knew that there were no acceptable excuses and compliance with the rules is all that mattered. For those are the traits of a real leader. She has be en my role model ever since. Males believe that women who succeed in military life can only be either of 2 things. A bitch or a lesbian. Neither of which are true. I am severely hurt when I hear comments like this. More so when I hear it from fellow females. This is why when I was given the duty of a company leader, I told myself that I was going to prove them wrong.I can be an effective leader without being a bitch and still keep my femininity to use whenever I want to. Since I currently serve as a company leader, I find myself constantly having to push myself to perform my duties even more effectively than a man. With 6 platoons and a corresponding 6 male platoon Sergeants under my direct supervision, 3 of whom have been in active military service far longer than me, I can honestly say that it took a lot of heartache for me to be able to lead them because they never expected a female to come out of nowhere and be given the duty of running a line unit.My first few months as company leader were very difficult. I had to overcome the fact that my platoon sergeants chose to ignore my orders and would rather do things their own way. The problem with this situation is that when all hell broke lose, it was my command responsibility and it was my bottom on the line. The men viewed me as a figurehead but, as they quickly learned, I knew how to get their attention and crack the whip upon them. It took some time but my corrective training eventually paid off and they now regard me with the same respect as they would a male company leader.I approached the situation the way a male company leader would. I knew exactly what they could do on a PT challenge so I stepped up the requirements a bit for them. After 55 pushups, 100 sit ups and a 13:00 run that left them winded, they certainly had a clear message regarding who was in charge of the company. From then on, I never hesitated to reintroduce them to Army Standards as the need arose. Each time I run my company, I recall m y experiences with that female leader in Iraq and remind myself that she was leadership in action.She was at the top of her game and although probably lonely at the top, she was prepared for all the challenges that came her way. I was able to properly do my job and was good at it because I chose to be an engaging leader. My job was to make sure that my soldier’s received 100% quality training and I did not let the challenges posed before me because of my gender stop me from delivering what was necessary. It is unfortunate that these challenges to the female gender will always be present. Men will always develop a sense of anger and bitterness when a woman gets ahead of them.I have experienced being conspired against by my male subordinates because I threatened their male supremacy within the ranks. Which is why I try to seek a balance between the two genders. I ask both the male and females for advice in order to prove to the males that I only want to work with them, not agai nst them. Gender discrimination is not a right. It not a privilege either. It is an unacceptable situation that exists within the military because of gender bias and issues. There was a serious point in time when all the intrigue was hitting me so hard that I contemplated leaving the military.I was frustrated and discouraged by what I believe to be the direction the military was headed in. Thankfully, I was talked out of it by the other females in the army who were with me in similar positions of authority. Through their mentorship, I came to the realization that I had to stay where I was regardless of the obstacles before me because the future of women in the military depended upon it. If every female who ever entered active military service were to quit, the males will have won and proven that females just do not have what it takes to survive in a world that they wish to solely dominate.Men in the military are already an established dominant population. But that does not mean that the military can never be female ready. It is up to existing female military leaders such as myself to cultivate the new military world. Where women will be able to serve alongside men with a little restrictions as possible while taking care of ourselves on the field. After all, men take care of themselves on the battlefront. If women want to be treated equally in the military, they we should learn to become just as self sufficient and independent on all the fronts. 2 years ago, females were finally allowed to see active combat duty in Iraq.I consider this to be a success for the females in military service. This is the military’s acknowledgement that men and women actually have the same skill level once trained properly and can both serve on the battlefront without being a hindrance to one another. Work Cited Bender, Bryan. (2005). U. S. women get closer to combat. The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://www. boston. com/news/nation/washington/articles/200 5/01/26/us_women_get_closer_to/ RAND. (1997). Military readiness: women are not a problem. RAND Research Brief . Retrieved December 5, 2007,

Nvq Plevel 3 Playwork

PW3. 12 Assignment 4 5. 1 Explain why it is important to have positive relationships with adults in the play environment It could be argued that playworkers are often naturally skilled and adept at making good relationships with the children in the informal setting of a play environment. Whilst adult relationships may take more time and effort, and thus more difficult to achieve it is essential that they maintain positive relationships with other adults within the play environment.As professional’s playworkers are likely to come in to contact with a range of adults be it parents, carers, elder siblings, other playworkers, or the general network of care and as a result need to be proficient in forming positive relations with such adults. There are a number of reasons why this is important. First and foremost, children always benefit when adults around them are able to collaborate, co-operate and work in tandem. In relation to parents and carers, it is important that playworkers and parents are amiable, and can work together to form a strong support foundation for the child.Not only will the play setting benefit from amicable relations but children will feel that they are supported as a result of the good rapport between parents and playworkers. In addition to this, parents are naturally interested in the happiness and well-being of their child. Through strong and positive relations between parents and playworkers, parents will feel that they are informed about their child’s experiences at the club and involved in this aspect of their life.Another aspect of this mutual relationship is that the parent can inform the play setting if things are difficult at home, that the child worries about certain aspects of the play environment or any difficulties that they are having. Not only will this provide an explanation for potential changes in behaviour, but it allows the playworkers to accommodate the child to make them feel more comfortable or at ease, and generally support them within the play setting.It is through this positive relationship that parents are able to support playworkers and their decisions, and in turn provide a strong team foundation to support the child and their general welfare. In terms of positive relationships with those directly associated to the play environment it is essential that a positive, friendly and supportive relationship occurs between co-workers. One must remember that children are sensitive to the way in which one works with colleagues, and indirectly the relations they see modelled by their elders are those which they in turn will portray.In effect, the attitude and relations of the playworkers act as a blue print upon which they form their own relationships. Essentially, through positive relationships with other adults within the setting, it not only creates a pleasant and fruitful atmosphere but it provides a strong foundation of support – both between playworkers themselves and with par ents and carers. Through good communication and positive relations children are able to feel settled and supported in all aspects of their development. . 2 Explain the importance of clear communications with adults in the play environment In order to develop and maintain positive relationships with adults in the play environment, an element of respect is vital. The key to this is a clear communications style. It is through such a style that both playworkers themselves, and parents feel respected, valued and a part of the play setting. Good communication is a central aspect to playwork, as well as everyday life.It is a skill which not only underpins almost every other social skill but it is particularly important when working with children and young people, and in turn the adults associated with the play environment. Through communicating effectively as playworkers, it encourages positive relationships with the adults and thus results in a proactive and efficient team between both pl ayworker and parent. The importance of this cannot be understated, by having a solid team foundation between playworkers and parents, children will not only feel supported and comfortable, but are aided in their development.The key to attain this solid foundation is through communicating effectively and clearly with the adults associated with the play setting. For example, it is important that parents and carers are aware of any issues that may have arisen during the session, any difficulties their child is encountering, or if their child has behaved or responded particularly well to a certain situation. Essentially, this involves being ‘updated’ on their child’s general behaviour and well-being. The importance of clear communication can be evidenced here.Being vague in ones communications can lead to problems such as misunderstanding, the child being reprimanded for something they didn’t do by parents, or by parents not grasping the full extent of the pro blem. Not only would this affect the support the child would receive, but many could argue that such misinterpretations or misunderstandings could result in conflict between play setting and parent. When considering this from another perspective, effective communication with other team members and playworkers is equally essential.Playworkers need to feel that when asked to do something by another member of the team, or someone of higher position that they are doing as required and desired. In addition to this, they need to maintain and portray a team approach in everything conducted. By communicating roles, responsibilities and issues effectively the team is able to work as a unit and thus provide the best care for the children in the play setting. By supporting the team, communicating effectively and efficiently it ensures that problems are dealt with promptly so as not to impact on the running of the team and the setting.From this it can be noted that clear and effective communica tion not only benefits the playwork team as a whole, but in addition it means that an effective team approach between playworkers and parents can be attained. In doing so, this provides children with the best support possible. 5. 3 Summarise different strategies the playworker can use to communicate with adults who have communication difficulties The way in which one communicates with people should not be static. It is important that the style used is adjusted to meet the needs of both the situation and the person with whom one needs to communicate.In many cases communicating with a range of adults can be challenging, however this becomes more difficult when trying to communicate with those who have communication difficulties. Here, a more precise and patient method is required. There are a number of strategies that can be employed when dealing with those who have communication difficulties. Firstly it is essential that one remains patient, speaks clearly and allows the other person a chance not only to understand what is being said, but then to construct a response.The phrase â€Å"connect before you direct† also comes in to play here; by making eye contact and engaging the other person in conversation not only allows you to form a relationship, but it may be essential for those with communication difficulties. For instance, and adult who has hearing difficulties will need to see mouth movements to understand and will rely heaving on visual signs such as facial expressions. In addition to this, it is important, especially with adults, that one respects their difficulties, not pressuring them or treating them like a child.Achieving this takes practice but in doing so it ensures the other person feels respected, valued and understood. In some cases a more active style of communication may be necessary, such as physically demonstrating what is required by drawing or miming. Another strategy is to employ physical cues such as pictures, objects or photos wh ich the adult can point to or respond with. In doing this, verbal speech is simply an aid, and for those who have difficulties in such an area it provides an external method of communication, and perhaps a better means of understanding.Alternatively, a translator may be required to assist the communication of confusing, difficult or complex issues and conversations. Written word is another strategy which can be employed when dealing with adults who have communication difficulties. For some, written word is easier to process and understand than verbal conversations, and so this provides another means of communicating with those who have communication difficulties. One downside of this method is that those who are not native to the language may struggle to comprehend written style. Utilising the telephone is another option and strategy.Those who suffer communication difficulties may be more aware of themselves in busy, noisy and unknown environments which may impede their ability to u nderstand as well as to respond. By speaking on the phone it allows them to take in the information and construct their sentences in peace, in their own time and in the security that no one external is judging them. From this, it is evident that when communicating with adults who have communication difficulties there are a number of strategies that could be employed. Essentially it involves being understanding, precise and clear.Talking slowly but not in an exaggerated manner and simplifying our extended language abilities allowing them to not only understand what is being asked but at the same time feel respected and valued as an individual and not undermined due to their difficulties. 5. 4 Evaluate types of situations that might lead to conflict between playworkers and other adults Sometimes things go wrong. In any work place there are bound to be situations that arise which will result in conflict of some sort. People react differently to such situations depending on circumstance s, but it is mportant to remember that differences of opinion are not necessarily a bad thing. There are numerous situations that may result in conflict between playworkers and other adults, as with anyone in society. It could be argued that one of the largest contributors to conflict is merely the result of miscommunication. Someone may take a comment the wrong way, not understand the context or may not have had the message properly passed on. As a result of this sour feelings such as resent, confusion or misunderstanding can lead to conflict between adults.In the case of the playwork setting, this could be between two playworkers with one person commenting on what is normally done in a helpful manner, with the other taking it as condescending, patronising or dictatorial. Another example of such a situation would be a playworker telling a parent about the way their child has behaved during the session. If this was not explained properly, or details were left out (such as it being à ¢â‚¬Ëœstarted’ by another child) this could result in conflict between parent, child and playworker.Another effect of miscommunication is conflict due to lack of role explanation. If roles and responsibilities are not clearly and effectively outlined (miscommunicated), this could lead to false expectations from supervisors and thus result in conflict. For example if a supervisor expects a certain playworker to be doing the headcount and this is not achieved, conflict could occur as a result. Typical playwork situations which may cause conflict are about the decisions made or the actions taken by playworkers.If parents do not agree with or support such decisions it can often lead to a conflict over what is expected by the parent, versus what is required and expected from the playworker. Situations such as where a child has been hurt (falling from a swing, or injury from another child), damage to the child’s equipment or clothes, or relations with other children are ofte n the causes of conflict between playworkers and parents or carers. Here the playworker will follow policies and procedures, but the parent may not agree with the action or decision subsequently forming the foundations for conflict.As is often the case, conflict can occur because a person is coping with unrelated pressures. Life stressors, home issues etc may cause either parent or playworker to snap without reason. This can initiate feelings of resent, confusion, or misunderstanding, thus producing a conflict scenario. As evidenced, it can be noted that there are a number of types of situations which may result in conflict between adults in the play setting. Miscommunication, stressors, expectations and even own confidence in handling a situation can result in conflict between the adults within the setting. . 5 Explain different strategies the playworker can use to deal with conflict situations involving other adults. There are a number of strategies that can be employed when deali ng with conflict situations. In many situations simply listening to the other person, attaining all the facts and showing an understanding is enough to dilute the problem. However if this is not the case, then there are other strategies which can be utilised. In many respects dealing with conflict situations with adults requires a similar approach to that of children.If emotions are tense the best way to manage conflict is to listen to the other person, acknowledge their feelings and show empathy and understanding of the issue. In acknowledging another person’s feelings or point of view it can take the heat out of the conflict and thus allow a solution to be found, even if this involves stating â€Å"I can see what you mean, but I can’t agree with you there†. By accepting and acknowledging another person’s feelings, one can then ask them how they wish the issue to be resolved.In asking for their opinion it shows respect and highlights that their opinion i s valued. Much like dealing with children in conflict, those adults in conflict can then work together in order to come to a viable solution for them both. In addition to this when dealing with parents or other playworkers it is important to thank them for bringing the matter to one’s attention and check that the problem is understood fully. Furthermore if you believe there to be a misunderstanding, say so as this may be enough to resolve the conflict.It is important to talk in a private area, listen carefully, make eye contact, ensure that one remains polite and calm and that any apologies are made if necessary. Another important aspect to consider is to avoid personalising the issue (through comments made, or actions taken, or gossiping) as this can lead to it becoming more heated, intense and appear like a personal vendetta. It is best to talk to the person directly before any more misunderstanding or misinterpretation can occur. In order to deal with miscommunications wit hin the work place, one strategy that could be used it to write things down, a record of events.This is particularly relevant for when children are hurt in the play setting. By recording what happened, when and how it ensures that relevant people are provided with correct information that is the same across the board. Dealing with conflict due to confidence is hard. Essentially it is important that the supervisors acknowledge their team’s skills, expertise and value within the playwork team. Conflict due to external pressure is also difficult. By observing other people as they talk to you can sometimes provide an indication of whether other factors are at work.If this is the case, simply being sympathetic and a good listener can often take the heat out of a conflict potentially brewing. Essentially, when dealing with conflict in adults it is similar to the approach taken when dealing with children. It is important that one listens, shows understanding, respects the other pers ons differentiating view points, and that they work together to find a solution suiting to them both. In doing this, not only will it aid the conflict itself, but it almost acts as pre conflict management.

Underline the main features of The Good Friday Agreement essays

Underline the main features of The Good Friday Agreement essays A remarkable feature of Westminster's approach to the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' since 1969 has been the extent to which governments and oppositions down the years set party conflicts aside in searching for remedies and solutions. When Labour came to power in 1997, the outgoing Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, was at pains to do all he could to help the incoming minister, Dr Mo Mowlam. Discussions continued month after month between party representatives. Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern involved themselves in the details to a remarkable degree. Finally, on Good Friday 1998, all the main parties - with the exception of the Democratic Unionist Party - announced agreement. Essentially the SDLP MP who described the accord as 'Sunningdale for slow learners' was not wrong. A power-sharing devolved government would be formed with ministerial posts distributed according to party strength. The involvement of parties representing paramilitaries (primarily the Ulster Democratic Party, the Progressive Unionist Party and Sinn Fein) depended on the maintenance of cease-fires and 'decommissioning' of paramilitary weapons. A copy of the agreement was delivered to every household in Northern Ireland, and in May 1998 the accord was approved by referendum north and south; by a narrow margin, even unionist voters gave their approval. Two architects of the agreement, David Trimble and John Hume were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A Northern Ireland Assembly was elected, with its representation also indicating majority support for the agreement. The issue of decommissioning, however, constantly delayed the formal creation of an executive, as the IRA had a policy of 'not an ounce, not a bullet' being given up from their armoury, while the Unionists refused to become ministers until some arms had been handed in. Northern Ireland remained a deeply divided society and this was most evident in opposing views on policin...

Open Doors With An Online IT Degree Essays

Open Doors With An Online IT Degree Essays Open Doors With An Online IT Degree Essay Open Doors With An Online IT Degree Essay There is no denying that finding a job in today’s economy can be difficult. With more workers laid off from positions every day, the competition out there can be incredibly stiff. If you’re among those who have discovered your current field just won’t cut it any longer, pursuing a different track has never been easier. Even if you are lucky enough to hang on to your present job, you can still obtain an online IT degree to prepare for what the future may bring. An online IT degree or other similar pursuit can open doors for you that you may have long thought closed. The reality is earning a degree online is more convenient, more affordable and even easier than you may have thought. While you will still have to earn the grade, an online business degree, computer sciences degree and so on can deliver these benefits to you as the economy spurts and sputters: Flexible class hours – While the actual structure of online degree programs can vary, in most cases you will have the freedom to work around a present job or family needs. You can work on your future at your own convenience while making sure things are taken care of in the present. Diversified options – An online IT degree might not appeal to you, but there are plenty of other options out there. Thanks to more colleges and universities taking their programs online, you can pursue an online MBA, nonprofit management credentials, a Masters in Education and more. The options are diversified and they are ones that involve fields that are more than holding their own. Earning a sense of pride – For workers who have been laid off or suspect it’s coming, doing something positive to change the future can be a tremendous sense of pride. When you work to obtain an online business degree, for example, you will know you are doing what you can to get back on your feet. An online IT degree and other similar programs can help anyone gain the independence and security they need in today’s economy. Adding to existing skills or completely retraining has never been easier.

How to Build Meaningful Experiences With Content [PODCAST]

How to Build Meaningful Experiences With Content [PODCAST] People learn from and remember their experiences. When they’re good experiences, they’ll want to come back for more. If you want your audience to keep coming back to you, you’ll need to create valuable experiences for them. Today we’re talking to Carla Johnson, the brains behind Type A Communications and the author of Experiences: The 7th Era of Marketing. She will talk to us about how to create value with our content, how to manage change within your organization, and how to break the status quo. Information about Type A Communications and what Carla does there. She also talks about what it was like to co-write Experiences and some of the takeaways of the book. Carla’s best advice for marketers who want to create value for their audience. The differences between relationship-building and experience-creating, as well as why now is the right time to start focusing on creating experiences. Examples of brands that have gotten the experience-building down to a science, including Nike and Vail Resorts. Tips for making this new era of marketing something your company implements and succeeds with. Carla’s basic steps behind content creation management and her best advice for marketers who want to break through the status quo. Links: Type A Communications Experiences: The 7th Era of MarketingIf you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Carla: â€Å"With the sophistication of consumers and the social world in which we live, just having a relationship isn’t enough.† â€Å"People need to feel a little uncomfortable and understand that what has historically been safe is now perhaps the risky option.† â€Å"We have to start being able to look at brands and ideas and experiences that have nothing to do with our industry or with marketing. Dig deep and understand what has inspired you as a person.†

How Feminist Scholar Looks the Women of Color Essay

How Feminist Scholar Looks the Women of Color - Essay Example How Feminist Scholar Looks the Women of Color The feminist theory relies heavily on principles and understanding of feminism. These principles are based on the following beliefs that; Women should be handled in the same way as men in the society, that they are not inferior to men and that the main goal of feminism is bring out the issue of gender inequality being practiced on daily bases in the society. Discrimination based on one’s race had existed in the US for a long time. Therefore, women were and are still viewed as facing discrimination from two angles; race and gender. Due to the many challenges that the women of color continue to face, Women of Color in US Society has been established to among other things try to come up with a alternative understanding of the social world (Zinn and Dill, 3). According to Combahee River Collective, Black feminism is founded on the fact of African American women continuous powered effort for survival and liberation. The strongly negative relationship between the African American women and the American political system as they put it, has been effected by their membership in two exploited and oppressed racial and sexual castes. This essay is going to look at how different feminist scholars look at the women of color from their own different approaches.Kimberle in her article, â€Å"Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color† looks mostly in the violence against the women and especially the minority.

Public law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Public law - Essay Example His past record has shown his tendencies towards committing suicide due to the above mentioned mental state. Community Support & attitude: Mr. Imran has received no support from his community and was in constant danger within Iran (his native country) and within the UK (where he is currently residing). Recently Mr. Imran has been asked to leave his accommodation. Background of Mr. Imran: Mr. Imran had been accused of promoting gay rights in Iran, which has led to his departure from Iran to the UK. Capital punishment for the offence in Iran is the death sentence. Mr. Imran’s house was subject to a raid by the Iranian Authorities in the year 2009, which became the reason for his fleeing to the UK. Statements of Facts: Mr. Imran had to flee from Iran as he was in fear of his life. Promoting gay rights within the UK is not considered offense. Mr. Imran does not have any past criminal record. The client has been mentally disturbed due to the nature of events. He has in 2010, attemp ted to commit suicide when his partner was caught in Iraq. He is currently seeking help from Government of the UK, in the form of Asylum. Constant threat looms around Mr. Imran’s life within Iran, not only from Iranian Authorities, but also the Iranian society. As Islamic law prohibits promoting gay rights, and any individual found guilty would be given death sentence. People also consider such person as outcasts and have aggressive attitude towards such person. Issues to be Addressed – For Consideration of His Asylum Application in the UK: 1. Is the applicant any threat to the Government or to the people of the UK? 2. Could the applicant live a tolerable life, if he is made to return to Iran? 3. Had the applicant openly disclosed his sexuality, what would have transpired? 4. Presence of evidence suggesting that the applicant is sexually gay? 5. Was the applicant concealing his sexuality because of the social pressure or was he concealing it to avoid prosecution? Brief Summary of Replies for the Above Questions- Clients Perspective: Since the applicant is himself a victim and does not hold any criminal record, he does not pose any threat to the UK Government and its people. He can provide facts about his relation with his partner and can also take assistance from previous affiliations, if he had any with the gay community or social working groups. He can easily provide evidence of ill treatment from the Authorities and communities towards gays in Iran, by providing cases of people who had been already acquitted with such charges. It is almost impossible for him to return to Iran and keep his sexuality discreet and live a normal life. Summary of Relevant Statuary Provisions According to the law’s of United Kingdom, a person will only be granted asylum if he is in the UK. He is a person who is either a refugee or an individual who required International protection. The individual in any ground is a threat to security, or he has not been conv icted for any serious crime, or does not present any threats or dangers to the society of the United Kingdom. Any individual’s application in such matter, if denied and the individual due to denial has to leave to a country where that individual is threatened for his life falls within breach of Geneva Convention. In the United Kingdom, grave harm comprises of the capital punishments like execution, torturing, unlawful killing, harsh treatment, which disgraces or, degrades an individual. Any threats which can

International studiesGrowth Development of Nations Essay

International studiesGrowth Development of Nations - Essay Example It has also helped in transfer of technical know how, transfer of knowledge, export and import of goods and services, etc. But, as rightly stated by Rosenberg, globalization, which was meant to signify unity and integrity has no way proved to be successful instead resulted in cold war between countries for their share in the global market. Further, it is mentioned by Ellwood that gaps between rich and poor are widening and decision making power is concentrated in the hands of few developed and powerful nations (11). Rightly so, Rosenberg mentions in the article "Free Trade Fix" wherein the right to make decisions lie in the hands of IMF which is controlled by the United States and other European countries. The scenario of Puebla State in Mexico where the farmers cultivating corn have become the victims of globalization due to cheap corn being imported from US as part of free trade agreement between the two nations. The globalization has resulted in great opportunities like transfer of skills, employment, transfer of goods and services, etc. but it has all happened in pursuit of cheap labor in poor countries.

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

Interpersonal Theory - Essay Example During this stage, Freud believed, the Oedipus complex occurs in which the child desires the parent of the other sex and feels rivalry with the same-sex parent. When the Oedipus complex is resolved, the child identifies with the same-sex parent, but females retain a lingering sense of inferiority and "penis envy"—a notion contested by female psychoanalysts like Clara Thompson and Karen Horney (Wade & Travis, 1993). Carl Jung believed that people share a collective unconscious that contains universal memories and images, or archetypes. Personality, in this view, includes many archetypes, such as the shadow (evil) and the anima and animus. The object-relations school emphasizes the importance of the first two years of life, rather than the Oedipal phase; the infant’s relationships to important figures, especially the mother, rather than sexual needs and drives; and the problem in male development of breaking away from the mother (Guntrip, 1961). Thus individuals who are at various stages of development can experiences problems in having a well adjusted personality as well as having positive relationships with other people who are around them. Most of us have come in contact with people who seem to successfully irritate or frighten people away with their clinginess, significant lack of self esteem, and even anger and threatening behavior. Psychodynamic theories suggest that these individuals adapted this personality style by going through a childhood which was filled with anxiety (Guntrip, 1961). While this manner of dealing with others may have been beneficial in their youth, as adults it serves to almost guarantee their needs will not be met. There are three identified ways of dealing with the world that are formed by an upbringing in a neurotic family: Moving Toward People, Moving Against People, and Moving Away From People (Guntrip, 1961). Psychodynamic approaches have been criticized for

Gharar in Islamic Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Gharar in Islamic Law - Assignment Example Another major contribution of the Islamic banks is that being under supervision of their Shariah Boards they presented a wide range of questions concerning modern business to Shariah Scholars, hence, providing them an opportunity to understand the contemporary business practice and trade but also to evaluate it in the light of Shariah and to find out other alternatives which may be acceptable according to the Islamic principles (Vogel and Samuel, 1998). Islamic Laws Islam is a complete code of life and encompasses everything in life. It influences families as much as international relations and certainly includes all financial matters. It sources are the Quran and the Sunnah and the consensus of the opinion of the great jurists and interpreters of Islamic Law. If none of cited provide guidance on a particular matter then there is qiyas or analogy by which jurists and scholars compare an issue of today with a similar one described in the Quran or Sunnah and draw conclusions from the p rinciples involved (Usmani, 2001). In all mattes of finance, the essence of Islamic law is perhaps based on a verse from the Quran that says â€Å"Do not usurp one another’ possessions†. The object of Islamic finance is to eliminate injustice and exploitation in financial dealings and to create an equitable distribution of wealth by encouraging effort and mutual co operation. It is believed that this, in turn, will increase productivity and goodwill, alleviate economic hostility and inspire all the members of a society with a feeling of having common economic goals (Al-Qardawi, 2001). However, because the law is derived from writings that predate modern life, the interpretations can be difficult. In the finance sector, banks appoint Shariah boards to consider transactions that the bank wishes to engage in and decide whether they meet the Shariah requirements. However, boards in different banks may often come to different conclusions (Obaidullah, 2005). Almost all trans actions entered into by banks are based on legal contracts that conform to local law (or in many cases, English Law) and often add Shariah compliance as an additional requirement. This has not proven to be an easy legal basis for business, although only a few cases have come to the courts, the courts have ruled that only one law can be applied (Ghafoor, 1995). London Rulings Two cases are worth studying a) Islamic Investment Company of Gulf Ltd v Symphony Gems & others (London High Court 13.02.02) b) Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd & others v Shamil Bank of Bahrain EC (Royal Courts of Justice, London 11 & 12 December, 2003) In the later case, the banking expert on Islamic Law and former director, Center of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law on the invitation of the court gave following observations (Usmani, 2001): The precise scope and content of Islamic Law in general, and Islamic banking in particular are marked by a degree of controversy within Islamic world, best exemplified by the fact that the actual practice of Islamic banking differs widely within the Islamic world (Usmani, 2001). In the absence of any agreement on the boundaries of Islamic Banking or indeed on what ought to be the precise ingredients of a Morabaha agreement, it is in practice up to the individual banks to determine the issue. In the absence of any legal prescription as to what does and what does not constitute Islamic banking or finance, most Islamic banks, including those in Bahrain, seek the advice of Islamic Scholars who examine and approve

The Magna Carta and it's influence on shaping the United States Essay

The Magna Carta and it's influence on shaping the United States Government - Essay Example The English Charter, originally issued in 1215 by the King John had made the supremacy of law over capricious decision of the imperial powers. It had stressed the freedom of the people. Even though the law was projected for the favor of a few barons in England, it was a stepping stone for the development of democracy, later, in many parts of the world. The English settlers in America had taken the basic aspects of the Charter in shaping the Constitution of United States. It was Magna Carta that acted as an inspirational force for the independence of American colonies from the clutches of the British government and further for the shaping of a democratic prophet. The Magna Carta and American Democracy Magna Carta played a great role in shaping the democracy in United States. It is the written law that had diminished the powers of king. When the English colonies came into existence in the United States, it played a crucial role for the democracy on the land. As quoting by Thomas Garden Barnes and Allen D. Boyer, â€Å"For those who were starting a new, it offered even more: they were beginning to build policies from the ground up and they were concerned to preserve the laws and liberties of Englishmen† (Barnes & Boyer, 2008, p.30). The American democracy rests much upon the attributes of the Magna Carta. It acted as a strong force for their battle against the British imperialism. The writers still move on to say that the Magna Carta had been more accepted in America than in England. It paved for the growth of the democracy in America. The Magna Carta’s contribution to the creation of United States The Magna Carta was an inspiring cause for the creation of the United States of America. When the colonies were struggling too much under the British rule, they tried their best to over throw off the arbitrary rule of the imperial government. The attempts of the barons in making King John signing the charter acted as a great strength for the colonists to f ight against the British. This has made some unity among the colonies in America. Both Magna Carta and Bill of Rights demanded for the various liberties. America’s strength lies in its Bill of Rights. The book, Magna Carta by James Clarke Holt describes the comparison between the Bill of Rights and Magna Carta. The Bill of Rights of Virginia of 1776 stresses on the inherent rights of men. It says that men have the rights of enjoyment of life and liberty, with the rights of acquiring of property, pursuing happiness and liberty. In the same manner Magna Carta cha.8 says, â€Å"†¦to lie down that no man was to be deprived of his liberty, ‘except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers’ (Holt, 1992, p.18). So it can be undoubtedly say that Magna Carta was acting a powerful source for the creation of the United States. The War of Independence was a clear replica of the situations that led to the signing of Magna Carta on June 15, 1215. Magna Cartaâ⠂¬â„¢s Contribution to the new American Government The new American government is resting on the principles of democracy and freedom of its subjects. The Magna Carta was the beginning of its constitutional changes on the land. Many law reforms take its attributes to the first ‘Bills of Rights’ of the land. The ‘Bill of Rights ‘in America mainly stresses on the principles of the Magna Carta. The Americans were all suffocating under heavy taxes of the British government. They were not at all ready to give due representation for the colonists in America. These situations in America gave birth for the unification of the 13 colonies and all turned against the British. The imperial rule came to an end in 1775 with the declaration of independence. The Magna Carta w

Gharar in Islamic Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Gharar in Islamic Law - Assignment Example Another major contribution of the Islamic banks is that being under supervision of their Shariah Boards they presented a wide range of questions concerning modern business to Shariah Scholars, hence, providing them an opportunity to understand the contemporary business practice and trade but also to evaluate it in the light of Shariah and to find out other alternatives which may be acceptable according to the Islamic principles (Vogel and Samuel, 1998). Islamic Laws Islam is a complete code of life and encompasses everything in life. It influences families as much as international relations and certainly includes all financial matters. It sources are the Quran and the Sunnah and the consensus of the opinion of the great jurists and interpreters of Islamic Law. If none of cited provide guidance on a particular matter then there is qiyas or analogy by which jurists and scholars compare an issue of today with a similar one described in the Quran or Sunnah and draw conclusions from the p rinciples involved (Usmani, 2001). In all mattes of finance, the essence of Islamic law is perhaps based on a verse from the Quran that says â€Å"Do not usurp one another’ possessions†. The object of Islamic finance is to eliminate injustice and exploitation in financial dealings and to create an equitable distribution of wealth by encouraging effort and mutual co operation. It is believed that this, in turn, will increase productivity and goodwill, alleviate economic hostility and inspire all the members of a society with a feeling of having common economic goals (Al-Qardawi, 2001). However, because the law is derived from writings that predate modern life, the interpretations can be difficult. In the finance sector, banks appoint Shariah boards to consider transactions that the bank wishes to engage in and decide whether they meet the Shariah requirements. However, boards in different banks may often come to different conclusions (Obaidullah, 2005). Almost all trans actions entered into by banks are based on legal contracts that conform to local law (or in many cases, English Law) and often add Shariah compliance as an additional requirement. This has not proven to be an easy legal basis for business, although only a few cases have come to the courts, the courts have ruled that only one law can be applied (Ghafoor, 1995). London Rulings Two cases are worth studying a) Islamic Investment Company of Gulf Ltd v Symphony Gems & others (London High Court 13.02.02) b) Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd & others v Shamil Bank of Bahrain EC (Royal Courts of Justice, London 11 & 12 December, 2003) In the later case, the banking expert on Islamic Law and former director, Center of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law on the invitation of the court gave following observations (Usmani, 2001): The precise scope and content of Islamic Law in general, and Islamic banking in particular are marked by a degree of controversy within Islamic world, best exemplified by the fact that the actual practice of Islamic banking differs widely within the Islamic world (Usmani, 2001). In the absence of any agreement on the boundaries of Islamic Banking or indeed on what ought to be the precise ingredients of a Morabaha agreement, it is in practice up to the individual banks to determine the issue. In the absence of any legal prescription as to what does and what does not constitute Islamic banking or finance, most Islamic banks, including those in Bahrain, seek the advice of Islamic Scholars who examine and approve

Program Planning, Research, and Evaluation Essay

Program Planning, Research, and Evaluation - Essay Example Since the children cannot access most of the health check-ups and treatments due to lack of resources. This health promotion program will be developed in conjunction with Everett Community Health Partnership (ECHP). The mission of ECHP is to enhance health and the standard of life of the community of Everett. This is done by generating chances for the organizations, individuals, and families to work together and strategically in solving essential difficulties in the community (Cambridge Health Alliance, 2014). 3 The basic community health care assessment provides an evaluation of the general health status by the community members. However, this assessment has been difficult to be determined in the Everett, MA Public School System due to community violence. This research is important in establishing the effect of the persistent community violence on their (community members, that is, children) academic ability, substance use, as well as behavioral and emotional factors. This is because the African American girls are from an ethnic minority group that is prone to persistent community violence (Cooley-Strickland et al., 2009). 3 The city of Everett is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, close to Boston. At the time of the United States Census in 2011, the total population estimate of the city was 41,079. The Everett, MA Public School is located at 100 Elm St, Everett, MA 02149 (Everett Public Schools, 2014). 4 However, MA Everett public school has a drop-out rate of 3.3%, which exceeds the state’s rate of 2.2%, but performs better than the state in regard to in-school suspensions with 1.4% as compared to 2.2% (Cambridge Health Alliance, 2014). The Everett High School graduation rate is 86.5%, which is in accordance with 85% state graduation rate (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2014). Hospitalization as a result of mental disorder is high in Everett in all age groups (Cambridge Health Alliance, 2014). 5 The

John Locke And 18th Century Materialists Philosophy Essay

John Locke And 18th Century Materialists Philosophy Essay John Locke, the British philosopher and physician, is considered to be one of the most prominent figures of the Age of Enlightenment; he is also sometimes referred to as the Father of Liberalism. Drawing on the philosophical principles of Francis Bacon, his predecessor, and the progress of contemporary natural science with what it could offer philosophy in terms of contributing to its progress John Locke developed the theory of empiricism that had a profound influence on French materialists of the Enlightenment Age. In his first book Essay Concerning Human Understanding John Locke laid down his major principles of the human mind being what can be described as tabula rasa, a blank on which people write what they acquire from their experience. He contrasted his major principle of cognition to Descartes ideas of innatism claiming people would not be able not to recognize the existence of such ideas if only they possessed them. Lockes also referred to the way different people learn throughout their lives, and how basic principles they are guided with vary for different people and at different periods of time. As human experience is the only source of knowledge, people depend on their senses in acquiring knowledge. Thus Lockes theory is also known as sensualism. According to Locke, the experience should be seen as either external or internal. The former, also called sensation, provides us with what we know about the objects of the external world (or what we suppose to be such, as there is no evidence, according to Locke, of their actual physical existence). These can be, for example, sounds, motion, color, size, etc. The internal experience, or reflection, is expressed in such human processes as knowing, believing, doubting etc., all of which are related to our internal operations of the spirit caused by the influence of objects. Also, Locke discriminates between simple and complex sensations and reflections, depending on whether they can be reduced to more simple elements (e.g. rotundity) or they are such that cannot be reduced to more simple components. Complex ideas that we have about complex elements can be also distinguished into three groups: ideas of substance, ideas of mode and ideas of relationship. The first group includes certain simple ideas of a given object that has its core characteristics; the ideas of mode are a combination of ideas presented by human mind, which are the reflection of the mode or features of existing things. The ideas of relationship derive from human comparison of ideas and may include certain relationship and cause or other types of relations. Besides, Locke stipulated the existence of general ideas that come as a result of isolating the universal, abstract idea from the actual object due to its being common to several sensations. Thus the humans collect abstract ideas, which are regarded as the cognitive process of nominalization. Having given a detailed theory of human cognition process, John Locke emphasized the value of education by claiming that he thought that it may be said that of all the men we meet with, nine parts of ten were what they were, good or evil, useful or not, were made by their education. (Locke, 1979). It is important to see what implications Lockes ideas had for ethics and political theory both of his contemporaries and further periods of human history. In his ethical principles Locke approaches Rationalism. As there are no innate moral ideas human well-being becomes the key the criterion of moral actions. Human experience demonstrates that all people try to find more pleasure and avoid pain. Yet if people are rational in their pursuit of pleasure they will come to principles of cooperation that will result in the general happiness and welfare coinciding with individual emotions. Therefore it is in the best interests of people to think of others, to be focused on general good, both in terms of their daily routine and what may come after their lives in this world. Locke supported religious freedom (being himself born into a Puritan family) and was against dogmatic approach to religious principles emphasizing on the ethical principles of Christianity. Specifically focusing on tolera nce, Locke rejected atheism and Roman Catholicism. Those ideas and principles expressed by an outstanding philosopher that were probably most valued by different people and prominent political leaders in different countries are those associated with political theories. Locke postulated that all people were created equal (the principle referred to by the US Constitution and its founders expressing their admiration of Locke). No person had the right over other persons life, health, liberty, or possessions. The state had to be result of peoples concession and had to be guided by natural laws. Rights of property had to be valued, and each person had to exercise his or her right over the products of their labor. Therefore Locke is justly looked upon as the founder of liberalism in politics, with his influence extending far to other thinkers and their theories. Similarly to Locke, La Mettrie was a man with broad academic background typical for great thinkers of his time. He, like Locke, also found his main opponent in the personality of Rene Descartes contrasting his principles to the latters principles of rationalism, or truth through knowledge. For La Mettrie truth came through experience, and this principle of empiricism makes him what can be described as Lockes disciple. Another point of debate was that Descartes claimed animals were machines. La Mettrie argues with Descartes about what he termed as an absurd system. In his best-known work Man a Machine, though, La Mettrie comes closer to principles of Descartes who considered the soul as a separate entity from the body and denied the soul in men, thus recognizing only the mind, which, according to him, was merely a function of the brain. Further in his book, La Mettrie surveyed the philosophy of materialism and atheism. In contrast to John Lockes principles, La Mettrie denied that the natural world could serve as the evidence of God. According to him, all the evidences of a creator, repeated thousands and thousands of times, were the evidences that placed far above the comprehension of men. The natural consequence is his next idea that life might be completely without purpose. La Mettrie considered the essence and attributes of matter. He claimed that its main property was the ability to move. This feature is universal for describing any objects in the world and therefore can be hardly argued with. For La Mettrie the human soul was not more than the physical functions of the body not proved by any evidence of physiology. Being consistent in applying his theories to humans La Mettrie brought to the maximum the principles of the philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment. Having the medical academic background, La Mettrie cited examples from anatomy, physiology, and psychology showing the functions of the body as the basis of what philosophers considered to be a soul. His claim was that people were so closely related to animals that there hardly was a difference between them. La Mettries man was organic, self-moving (as part of any matter), active; the philosopher made no distinction between conscious, or voluntary movement and unconscious, or instinctive move ment. Other important implications of La Mettries theory were those connected to moral issues. He viewed the moral problems as something that needed to be associated with physiological nature of human beings. For him the good and the evil were merely arbitrarily notions constructed social structures out of their own interests and with the aim of serving their own needs, which not only could not be corroborate by natural science but also contradicted it and the nature of an individual. La Mettrie went as far as stating that by recognizing the arbitrary nature of moral principles developed by mankind and its institutions people would get better chances of getting happiness for them and accept wider frameworks of behavior patterns. According to him, the society could not dispose of its members that their behavior aimed at personal happiness was contrary to its principles. The objects of La Mettrie acute criticism was in particular Christianity as a moral systems, because he believed that it was based on an adequate and distorted principles of addressing the human nature. La Mettrie philosophy can be seen as starting from John Lockes basic principles of empiricism, sensualim and liberalism but then departing from them far enough to get to atheism and the kind of materialism that exaggerated the physiological nature of human beings, underestimating the principles of their social behavior and thus reducing them to creatures not bound by moral principles or social laws.

Life in a Childs Eye :: Literature Movies Teenagers Adolescence Essays

Life in a Child's Eye In the movie, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Callie Khouri directs something of a powerful story between a mother and her daughter. The movie Life as a House (Wrinkler, 2002) tells something of the same; of a father and the fight for the love of his son. The two movies both portray the fight between parents and their children. The commonality between father and son and mother and daughter is portrayed through the troublesome children and the problems that they face together. The â€Å"abuse â€Å" that these children have received has formed them into the people they are today. What these characters had become is something that they do not want to be. As we age, we begin to discover the importance of family as depicted through Life as a House and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. In southern Louisiana, Sidda is a tempestuous play writer who has blamed her mother, Vivi, for the faults within herself that she has come to know. As a young child Vivi did not have the best of mother. Her father had spoiled her with many gifts and parties. Vivi made a few friends throughout her childhood. Through all of the adventures the four of them had gone through, they had made a club for the four of them. This club was called the Ya-Ya sisterhood. Through this they would tell all their secrets to each other and stay behind one another as they grew to adults. As older women, they had kept their promise to each other and are still called the Ya-Ya’s. Throughout the movie, Sidda takes glimpses back to her past and remember incidences and happy occurrences that had developed between her mother and her. The story develops; Vivi and the Ya-Ya’s take glimpse of their own lives together and individually. One of the things that the Ya-Ya’s would do socially was drink alcohol. Some people can take it and some can become very addicted to this sensitizing depressant. Vivi was one of those who would fall into the addiction. She would drink to kill the pain of a lost loved one. She then started to become into drugs; drugs that became very addicting and fed into her behavior in a negative way. As a child, Sidda bore the brunt of the pain that her mother had inflicted upon her and her siblings.

atlas shrugged :: essays research papers

Book Review: ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Taggart Transcontinental is not to be excluded on the effects of declining economic situations experienced by the whole country. Dagny Taggart, the vice president in-charge of operations, upon her visit to the Rio Norte Line to inspect the damages it maintains, goes straight to her brother’s office and reports that the line needs immediate attention and for that she has already ordered Rearden Metal to be used for that line. Jim denounced her decisions and actions not just because she does not have authority to make those orders but also Rearden Metal is not yet tried before by others. Dagny’s plan to rebuild this important line is held back when most of the corporation’s business contacts and suppliers as well as own personnels are suddenly leaving and mysteriously vanishing. Meanwhile, Dagny’s brother Jim uses his political influence to save his railroad and thus the Anti Dog-Eat-Dog Rule was approved to rid of competitions in railroa d, specifically Taggart’s competitors. Dagny’s plans of rebuilding were further hampered when the State Science Institute publicly deprecates Rearden Metal although this is the best type of metal ever formulated and invented. Focused to rebuild her line, Dagny decides to start her own company where she would take all the risks and responsibilities of using Rearden Metal, and once the line was built, she would then have to return the line to Taggart Transcontinental. Her decision was not a disappointment and proved to be a surprising success. Then, a new set of law called Directive 10-289 was passed and includes a decree that all patents or inventions are to be taken over by the government for public use. Dagny quits and retreats to an old family house in the mountains. She was followed there by Francisco where he now tells her everything he has been up to. However, upon hearing news about a new railroad accident, she rushes back to her office and takes over again. Then in pursuit of the scientist she has assigned to rebuild a motor that can transform static energy to kinetic energy that she and Hank have discovered, she crashes into an unknown location where all the missing great minds are living. They are on strike describing it a strike of the mind. There she came to know the real John Galt and was able to live with him for a month.

Ib Biology Hl

Is the neural pathway significantly longer for a visual stimulus or a sound stimulus (or a pressure stimulus) Data collection and processing Table 1a: Data collected by John Rha and Arthur Hamilton by dropping ruler for calculation of length of the neural pathways (Visual, Auditory and Sensual) Trial#| Visual| Auditory(Sound)| Sensual(Pressure)| | (cm ±0. 1cm)| (cm ±0. 1cm)| (cm ±0. 1cm)| | John| Arthur| John| Arthur| John| Arthur| 1| 43. 9| 24. 1| 33. 1| 34. 6| 50. 1| 50. 5| 2| 73. 7| 45. 6| 66. 1| 49. 2| 29. 2| 75. 2| 3| 47. 4| 31| 80. 2| 25. 3| 54. 4| 41| 4| 32| 24. 7| 23. 1| 39. 6| 25. 6| 47. 4| 5| 23. 5| 29. | 32. 9| 35. 1| 26. 2| 30. 8| 6| 38. 6| 27. 6| 47. 6| 34. 7| 40. 6| 49. 5| 7| 37. 9| 20. 9| 56| 21. 7| 41. 5| 40. 2| 8| 28. 2| 22. 7| 24| 57| 29. 1| 62| 9| 39. 9| 62| 43. 6| 87. 2| 30. 6| 35. 4| 10| 23. 6| 30. 5| 49. 3| 44. 4| 44. 2| 78. 2| 11| 58. 4| 26. 2| 66. 8| 24. 2| 41. 9| 84. 3| 12| 40| 32. 7| 21. 1| 36. 1| 14. 2| 21| 13| 55. 5| 20. 2| 61. 7| 15. 1| 61| 41. 3| 1 4| 39. 6| 32. 2| 46. 9| 28. 58| 65| 24. 8| 15| 46. 1| 18. 1| 61. 7| 55| 45. 9| 22. 3| Table 1b: Calculations of the reaction times the meter stick fell Trial#| Visual| Auditory(Sound)| Sensual(Pressure)| | John| Arthur| John| Arthur| John| Arthur| | 0. 299319| 0. 221774| 0. 259906| 0. 26573| 0. 319758| 0. 321032| 2| 0. 387825| 0. 305059| 0. 367285| 0. 316872| 0. 244114| 0. 391752| 3| 0. 311022| 0. 251526| 0. 404566| 0. 227228| 0. 333197| 0. 289264| 4| 0. 255551| 0. 224518| 0. 217124| 0. 284282| 0. 228571| 0. 311022| 5| 0. 218996| 0. 243696| 0. 259119| 0. 267643| 0. 231234| 0. 250713| 6| 0. 28067| 0. 237332| 0. 311677| 0. 266113| 0. 287849| 0. 317837| 7| 0. 278113| 0. 206526| 0. 338062| 0. 210442| 0. 291022| 0. 286428| 8| 0. 239898| 0. 215236| 0. 221313| 0. 341067| 0. 243696| 0. 355711| 9| 0. 285357| 0. 355711| 0. 298294| 0. 421852| 0. 249898| 0. 68784| 10| 0. 219461| 0. 249489| 0. 317194| 0. 301019| 0. 30034| 0. 399489| 11| 0. 34523| 0. 231234| 0. 369224| 0. 222234| 0. 292421| 0. 41 4778| 12| 0. 285714| 0. 258331| 0. 207512| 0. 271429| 0. 170234| 0. 20702| 13| 0. 336549| 0. 203038| 0. 35485| 0. 175546| 0. 352831| 0. 29032| 14| 0. 284282| 0. 256348| 0. 309377| 0. 241509| 0. 364216| 0. 224972| 15| 0. 306727| 0. 192195| 0. 35485| 0. 33503| 0. 306061| 0. 213331| Table 1c: Calculations of the length (distance) of neural pathway Trial#| Visual| Auditory(Sound)| Sensual(Pressure)| | John| Arthur| John| Arthur| John| Arthur| 1| 2993. 19| 2217. 739| 2599. 58| 2657. 296| 3197. 576| 3210. 315| 2| 3878. 249| 3050. 594| 3672. 846| 3168. 725| 2441. 144| 3917. 517| 3| 3110. 22| 2515. 26| 4045. 658| 2272. 282| 3331. 973| 2892. 637| 4| 2555. 506| 2245. 176| 2171. 241| 2842. 821| 2285. 714| 3110. 22| 5| 2189. 959| 2436. 96| 2591. 194| 2676. 428| 2312. 345| 2507. 133| 6| 2806. 698| 2373. 321| 3116. 775| 2661. 134| 2878. 492| 3178. 371| 7| 2781. 132| 2065. 262| 3380. 617| 2104. 417| 2910. 221| 2864. 277| 8| 2398. 979| 2152. 36| 2213. 133| 3410. 668| 2436. 96| 3557. 114| 9| 2853. 5 69| 3557. 114| 2982. 945| 4218. 521| 2498. 979| 2687. 841| 10| 2194. 613| 2494. 93| 3171. 943| 3010. 187| 3003. 399| 3994. 895| 11| 3452. 299| 2312. 345| 3692. 242| 2222. 336| 2924. 213| 4147. 78| 12| 2857. 143| 2583. 306| 2075. 12| 2714. 286| 1702. 339| 2070. 197| 13| 3365. 491| 2030. 381| 3548. 498| 1755. 458| 3528. 311| 2903. 2| 14| 2842. 821| 2563. 48| 3093. 773| 2415. 089| 3642. 157| 2249. 717| 15| 3067. 273| 1921. 946| 3548. 498| 3350. 297| 3060. 612| 2133. 312| Table 2a: Average distance of neural pathway Trial#| Visual| Auditory(Sound)| Sensual(Pressure)| | John| Arthur| John| Arthur| John| Arthur| | 2889. 8| 2434. 7| 3060. 2| 2765. 3| 2810. 3| 3028. 3| Conclusion and evaluationThe objective of this experiment was to determine the distances of neural pathways and to discover if there are any significant differences between Visual, Auditory and Sensual neural pathway distances. The distance of each neural pathway includes and displays the following procedures. Ex) Visual stim ulus: First, your eye sees the ruler. Then, your eye sends a message to the visual, stimulus cortex, which sends a message to the motor cortex. The motor cortex sends a message to the spinal cord. The spinal cord sends a message to the muscles in your hand and fingers. Finally, your muscles contract to allow you to catch the ruler.John’s data shows that there were no significant differences. However, Arthur’s data shows that the neural pathway for pressure stimulus is significantly longer than the pathway for visual stimulus. This is shown by the calculated pathway length and the t-test performed. Calculation: The algorithm to calculate the reaction speed is  d = vt + ? at? where d = distance in meters v = initial velocity = 0 a = acceleration due to gravity = 9. 81m/s? t = time in seconds We need to manipulate  d = vt + ? at? to give us an algorithm for  t As  v  = 0 then  vt  = 0 therefore the algorithm is  t = sqrt(2d/a) Example d = 43. 9cm = sqrt((2 ? 43. 9 ? 9. 8)) t = 0. 299 seconds (sigfig) 0. 299319*10000(m to cm)=2993. 2cm or 29. 932m The calculated distance for Arthur’s Visual stimulus was 2434. 7cm, which was much shorter than the pressure stimulus length of 3028. 3cm or the auditory stimulus length of 2765. 3cm. The t-tests performed showed that there were no significant differences for John’s data, but Arthur’s data showed that the three sets of data were all significantly different. One huge weakness of this lab was that John and Arthur’s hands were not the same distance away from the ruler for every trial. This could have led to incorrect data ollection. There was another weakness when we were collecting the pressure stimulus, because the ruler fell more slowly due to the friction between the palm and the ruler, giving the appearance of a faster reaction time. Also, the auditory reaction time was higher than the visual reaction time because the voice of the other person was not perfectly in time. Another reason for this is that it had lots of variability when the person commanded the other person to â€Å"Go! † Our group could have attached another ruler on the sidewall to ensure a constant distance between the hand and the dropping point.Therefore, to improve this lab, we have to keep the distance between the hand and ruler constant for all trials. Also, when the person says â€Å"Go! † it also takes reaction time from his brain to his fingers to drop the ruler and from his brain to his oral muscles to speak â€Å"Go! † Therefore, to improve this lab, we need to use an electronic device that can automatically drop the ruler with a short â€Å"beep† sound. To decrease friction, we need to use a simple grabbing tool like tweezers instead of just grabbing with our hand, which creates sliding or friction depending on the hand’s condition (wet or dry).

Importance of Branding Essay

Introduction Successfully building an appropriate brand for a company does more than merely provide an appealing design, picture and slogan for a consumer to view. It provides a value that which is necessary to obtain in order to stay competitive in most industries in modern day society. This is both valid in Business to Consumer (B2C) marketing and Business to Business (B2B) marketing. The approach and importance of successfully branding ones service or product both tangible and intangible through B2C and B2B are similar, but also do have key differences. In this report, we will discuss the advantages of building a strong brand name and image, risks, and some techniques. Relative Literature Brand pundits refer to our modern day society, (that which strategic branding is necessary otherwise one will be faced with a competitive disadvantage) also as a branding world (Sarin). This is due to there being more than 2.5 million registered trademarks in the United States alone (Sarin). With such heavy competition, it is vital that ones company does everything possible to differentiate themselves. Building a strong brand is a great method of doing so. Obtaining a recognizable brand backed with a positive brand image make purchaser’s decisions much easier. It allows an abundant amount of information to be provided to the customer or business representative before any form of research (Robert Vitale). As much as bundling information for purchaser’s to make easier decisions assists businesses increase their sales, it also prevents the consumer or business representative from purchasing the wrong good. Active marketers aim to succeed at two different points of a sale: 1- properly market their product/service to be initially bought, 2- have the person or company be satisfied with the value purchased (Robert Vitale). After the second point, it is likely that the company has just gained a repeat, loyal customer. If an individual/company finds a good/service that meets their criteria, why risk purchasing something else that may not deliver? With a recognizable brand, one can ensure that every time this purchaser seeks the same product/service, they will come right back. Value has been created from the product/service, recognized by the brand, therefore creating a positive brand image. Brand image further establishes a reputation and as long as that is positive then one can expect to notice sales to exponentially increase. Due to extra value added onto companies with an established brand name, there is extra cost. The value added for the purchaser generally encompasses the predictability of getting the same product or service (less risk) and familiarity, in other words, â€Å"the value of trust earned between the brand promise and the brand experience† (Maruca). One CEO of an electrical business producing copper wire reported that he preferred brand products because of consistency (Sari n). Consistency is important for him because the materials purchased are then used by his company to create iron rods that they strive to have quality behind. If they cannot trust the quality of their supplies then they cannot confidently produce their own good. It is too much of a hassle for companies to constantly search for new suppliers, once one is found, it saves an enormous amount of effort to become a repeat customer. A massive steal producer in India explained that he would rather pay the increased premium price for a brand product because the initial cost might be high, but operation costs and maintenance is lower since the brand products purchased come with customer care and instill a workflow stability (Sarin). Companies aiming to establish a positive brand image must provide great customer care. It is hard to build a good reputation, but it is easy to destroy it (Philip Kotler). Strategizing how to properly build a good image for ones company must be consistent. Throughout all avenues of the media a clear message of ones company must be illustrated. A proper division within a company should assemble to do so. Brand management â€Å"establishes a framework systematically managing the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of brand strategy† (Robert Vitale). Evaluation are key tools needed to ensure that the implemented strategy is actually going as planned. There are two ways of evaluating brand strategies. The first is a research-based evaluation. The aim of this approach is to put a financial value on the brand measured by customer’s behaviours and attitudes towards the brand itself. Components of the measurement are: awareness, knowledge, familiarity, relevance, satisfaction, and recommendation (Robert Vitale). Second approach is financially driven. This time brand valuation is used to approximate the value of the brand and it is based on subjective judgments of people within the organization in question. The earnings stream is estimated then divided by those attributable to the brand, to the fixed assets, and to other intangible assets. Next there’s an estimation of value for the brand in the market (Robert Vitale). These tools are so important because without checking up on ones brand image, it could possible take a turn down a path in the minds of the market in a direction the company does not want to go. It takes a long time to successfully establish a brand because it takes a long time to establish trust and confidence in the customer (Robert Vitale). Here B2C and B2B marketing differ. Because B2B business is simply so much larger then B2C, gaining a trustworthy relationship proves to be much more challenging (Robert Vitale). Customers in B2C interactions have less to risk while representatives of companies have to ensure that what they are purchasing is the standard of quality acceptable for their organization. If they fail it is not just a waste of money, they could face much more drastic consequences such as loosing contracts, dropping stocks, investors, or even the purchasing representatives job security. Of course the way that purchase decisions are handled vary around the world. For instance, in South American cultures, any kind of major purchasing decision takes extended periods of time to make (John Daniels). Before people even begin to discuss business the first establish a relationship. To them this builds trust that which is necessary for their way of life otherwise they cannot comfortably move onto negotiations. In B2C interactions however, one can notice that many purchases seem to occur more spontaneously (John Daniels). What this shows us is that is imperative to take into consideration cultural differences when marketing into different countries, constantly evaluate how the market perceives ones brand, but never have contradict the brand image, consistency is necessary or it will have no effect at all. Discussion I believe in terms of importance of brand names, there is a massive factor that which was barely discussed in any of my sources. Income is one the largest, if not the largest factor influencing buying behaviour. This would affect B2C business more, but it would still affect small to medium sized businesses. If they cannot afford the brand name products/services then they would get a lesser-known product/service. This is because value and quality are not synonyms for each other. Yes a brand adds value to a company, but that does not mean it adds quality to the product/service. Furthermore, I would even go as far as to disagree with large companies insisting to buy brand names. If anything they should have a well-experienced purchasing division whom can find suppliers whom can deliver the quality products/services needed and avoid the premium cost that which branded companies incur. Lastly, I also noticed throughout all the academic sources I read through for this thought paper, I couldn’t help but realize that there did not seem to be a large enough focus on the difference between B2C and B2B marketing. Minus the degree of speed it takes to win over a customers trust in B2C marketing, it appeared to myself that marketing in both avenues almost seemed to be the same. I need to disagree with this to some degree. Lastly I would have to disagree with the mentality I observed in all of the academic sources I went through in regards that branding is good for everyone. Based on different people I have met throughout my life, I am confident that there are people whom go out of their way NOT to purchase brand names (or at least big brand names). They believe that local business needs the money and that they should be supported since they are the businesses that bring true culture to the region. On these people, brand names have the inverse affect Suggestions for further Research I suggest that more research be carried out on the contrast of satisfaction levels of companies purchasing brand name products/services and ones who find other less known suppliers. Earlier in this paper we discussed was of evaluating the brand name, there must be another way of evaluating satisfaction of purchases in general and discovering this difference should bring light to how much brands actually matter for B2B marketing. In regards to B2C marketing, I completely agree that having a brand brings value to the company and helps attract and retain customers, but I do not believe that it is the same for B2B. Further research on the differences of B2B and B2C brand awareness would be great as well. While research the differences of B2B and B2C, plunging further into techniques of appealing to the portions of the market who actively seek alternate companies to purchase from who do not have a big brand name. Through this research companies would be able to more accurately direct marketing efforts towards the audience where it matters most, and the best result demonstrated in a favourable Return on Investment (ROI). Conclusion Corporate branding is necessary for any most companies to compete in their industry. In the B2C avenues (minus those who actively look for lesser known names to purchase from) branding is very successful. In regards to B2B avenues of business, many professionals believe that purchasing brand name products/services is still the best option though I am not convinced. Until further research is done comparing general satisfaction levels between brand name purchases and lesser-known product/service purchases on a mass scale of small to large sized companies, I will remain under the impression that B2B branding is not ALWAYS the best way. Of course there are frequent times that brand name companies deliver great value (that is how they usually form their great brand image), but I cannot believe that the â€Å"brand name world† that which we live in is the way of the future just yet. Bibliography John Daniels, L. R. International Business Environments and Operations. Pearson. Maruca, R. F. The Way We Work An Encyclopedia of Business Culture. Philip Kotler, W. P. B2B Brand Management. Springer. Robert Vitale, J. G. Business to Busines Marketing Analysis and Practice. Pearson. Sarin, S. Strategic Brand Management for B2B Markets A Road Map for Organizational Transformation. Response Business Books from SAGE.