Reaction Paper on Personality Thoery - 1037 Words

If you were in this situation, how would you explain this mistake? Many of us might blame the slip on distraction or describe it as a simple accident. However, a psychoanalytic theorist might tell you that this is much more than a random accident. The psychoanalytic view holds that there are inner forces outside of your awareness that are directing your behavior. For example, a psychoanalyst might say that James misspoke due to unresolved feelings for his ex or perhaps because of misgivings about his new relationship. The founder of psychoanalytic theory was Sigmund Freud. While his theories were considered shocking at the time and continue to create debate and controversy, his work had a profound influence on a number of disciplines,†¦show more content†¦In many cases, the id s impulses can be satisfied through a process of delayed gratification--the ego will eventually allow the behavior, but only in the appropriate time and place. The ego also discharges tension created by unmet impulses through the secondary process, in which the ego tries to find an object in the real world that matches the mental image created by the id s primary process. The Superego The last component of personality to develop is the superego. The superego is the aspect of personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society--our sense of right and wrong. The superego provides guidelines for making judgments. According to Freud, the superego begins to emerge at around age five. There are two parts of the superego: 1. The ego ideal includes the rules and standards for good behaviors. These behaviors include those which are approved of by parental and other authority figures. Obeying these rules leads to feelings of pride, value and accomplishment. 2. The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad consequences, punishments or feelings of guilt and remorse. The superego acts to perfect and civilize our behavior. It works to suppress all unacceptable urges of the idShow MoreRelatedMANAGEMENTOF PERCEIVED STRESSORS AMONG RADTECH INTERNS OF ST. JUDE COLLEGE YEAR 2009-2010 IN TWO HOSPITALS NAMELY PHILIPPINE ORTHOPEDIC CENTER AND ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER7382 Words   |  30 PagesRRT __________________________ Prof. JENERLITO CASAJE, RRT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Doing this research is not easy. We experienced difficulties doing the research paper, but despite the hard times, we finally did it. We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the following that helped in the completion of this paper. To Dra. Mary Ann Pasicatan-Aggrao, our professor, for her willingness and kindness in guiding us all throughout, and for teaching us all the steps and guidelines in

The Hunger Games Directed By Gary Ross - 1191 Words

The Hunger Games film made its first appearance March of 2012, a very popular PG-13 Film. The director of the film is Gary Ross who was also involved in the writing of The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games includes several genres of movies including: Adventure, Drama, and Sci-Fi. The film about a young girl named Katniss Everdeen who takes her sister’s place in the yearly Hunger Games. The Hunger Games takes two people from each district for the annual games where competitors fight for their lives and their district. Film Form is one of the main aspects that goes into making a film. Film Form includes everything that goes into a movie. It is broken into parts that include: Sound, Narrative, Mise-en-scene, and Editing. Content and Film Form go hand-in-hand in film making. Content is described as what is being worked towards in the film or single scenes. Form is described by how something is being expressed or experienced throughout the scenes or film. Acting is an important aspect of every film that has ever been made. Acting can simply make or break a film. The Hunger Games has superior acting. Katniss is a strong, independent actress throughout the film. It is very evident throughout the movie how much power she holds, even before the games start. At the beginning of the film the scene and actors make it easy to make the connection that District 12, where Katniss lives, is very poor. Actors are wearing ragging clothes and homeless people on the street look very strung outShow MoreRelatedThe Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins And Directed By Gary Ross And Then Francis Lawrence1060 Words   |  5 Pageshas become common practice over the last few years. Popular books to do this with are Young Adult novels as they appeal to a large age group. One story line that was popular in both book and movie form was The Hunger Games series which was written by Suzanne Collins and directed by Gary Ross and then Francis Lawrence. It followed a young girl named Katniss Everd een (Jennifer Lawrence) as she fights a battle to the death in the post-apocalyptic world of Panem. Through the use of setting, costumesRead MoreThe Hunger Games : Movie Review Essay984 Words   |  4 PagesThe Hunger Games 2012 movie Review The 2012 American science fiction film directed by Gary Ross is noted to be one of the most exciting motion pictures of its time. It became the first of a series of other films under the same name based on the fictional novels by Suzanne Collins, similarly using the same title. The film story is seen to take place in community where ferocity and atrocious behaviors are the only means by which members know. The hunger games movie is a thrilling, moving, intensely-feltRead MoreHunger Games, Film Essay787 Words   |  4 PagesMikyla Pene-Bavastro The movie ‘The Hunger Games’ directed by Gary Ross is an extraordinary fictional tale. A tale set in a futuristic dystopia society called ‘Panem’. This nation is divided into 12 districts and a capitol. Every year each district must offer two tributes a male and a female that must fight to the death until there is one remaining tribute out of twenty-four, who later becomes a victor. An interesting character in the film is Katniss Everdene, the films heroine. A District 12Read MoreSimilarities Between Hunger Games And Maze Runner2017 Words   |  9 PagesThe Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross, and Maze Runner, directed by Wes Ball, are films with similar themes such as heroism, dystopian world and sacrifice. Both films involve killing of innocent lives by authorities in charge as a mean to find peace. The Maze Runner is about finding a cure of civilisation whilst the The Hunger Games uses the competitions in order to control the population and prevent an up rising. Katniss in the film is a 16 year old girl who volunteers as a tribute in the competitionRead MoreLooking For Alibrandi By Melina Marchetta Essay1301 Words   |  6 Pagesnovels and short stories that are to do with being controlled. This includes the novel ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ written by Melina Marchetta, a short story ‘On the sidewalk bleeding’ by Evan Hunter and the films ‘The Hunger games’ directed by Gary Ross and ‘The boy in the striped pyjamas’ directed by Mark Herman. In the novel ‘Looking For Alibrandi’, Josie who is an Italian girl deals with her traumas of everyday life. Since her family is Italian she has a traditional event called Tomato Day which is whereRead MoreThe Hunger Games, Directed By Neil Burger1181 Words   |  5 Pagesconduct. Ethical decisions made have causes and effects, consequences, framed in context of how a movie with different scripts can achieve its highest-priority themes and guarantee positive ratings. A 2012 film, The Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross and 2014 film, Divergent, directed by Neil Burger presents two ideal films focusing on the ethical decisions made by the main characters. This essay aims at identifying the causes and effects of ethical decisions made by the main characters, the impactsRead MoreSummary Of Materialism In The Hunger Games874 Words   |  4 Pageshe Hunger Games(2013) directed by Gary Ross is a dystopian film, set in the fictional world of Panem which follows protagonist Kat niss Everdeen as she fights to survive in a violent tournament run by the totalitarian government. The authority figures of the film- those with wealth, power and influence reside in the capitol where superficiality and materialism are welcomed as a way of life. Our presentation, Catching up with the Cottingworths focuses on these elements through a parodic portrayal ofRead MoreHunger Games Book Vs Movie Essay1997 Words   |  8 PagesThe Hunger Games: Book vs Film Introduction: The Hunger Games is a 2008 dystopian novel by the American writer Suzanne Collins. It is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the future, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, exercises political control over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games is an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol areRead MoreThemes of Hope in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut1095 Words   |  4 Pagesemotion into the air and believe that without it our life is directionless. The two dystopian works, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† by Kurt Vonnegut demonstrates a similar theme where there is hope for change in society; however, The Hunger Games conveys hope for change by rebellion against an oppressive government control through the motivation of winning the ga me with the desire to survive whereas â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† mentions hope for change for freedom of individualityRead MoreFilm Review-Hunger Games3033 Words   |  13 PagesThe Hunger Games Review and Critique The Hunger Games is a fantasy adventure love story about a young girl from a poor district who volunteers to take her sister place to fight to the death in the 74th Annual Hunger Games in the country’s capitol city. â€Å"Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games.   A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an

Pharmacology in Nursing Chronic Pulmonary Disorder

Question: Write about thePharmacology in Nursing for Chronic Pulmonary Disorder. Answer: Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disorder that causes the bronchi to be inflamed, reacting excessively to certain factors.Asthma manifests itself in seizures (respiratory discomfort, shortness of breath, dry cough, whistling). Atrial fibrillation is a heart disease that accelerates the heart rhythm and causes it to beat irregularly. It is caused by certain pre-existing cardiac disorders, hormonal or renal diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Osteoarthritis is a chronic attack of the joints leading to the destruction of the cartilage. Rheumatism is a disease that affects the locomotor apparatus, bones, joints, muscles and tendons. Indications and Actions of Prescribed Medication Metronidazole 500mg TDS The Metronidazole is an antibiotic and anti-parasitic belonging to the nitroimidazoles. It disrupts the synthesis of nucleic acids and is used for the treatment of infections related to anaerobic bacteria as well as protozoa. It is effective against protozoan Giardia intestinal, Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis, bacteria of the genus Clostridium, Helicobacter pylori, and Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli such as Bacteroides, Prevotella and in the treatment of Pseudomonas colitis (Katzung, 2014). Paracetamol 1000mg qid The paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is a chemical compound used as an analgesic and antipyretic. It is indicated for the treatment of symptoms of low to moderate intensity, alone or in combination with other analgesics, especially opioids, and is very popular because it has fewer contraindications than other analgesics. Its mechanism is still little known; Indeed, it reduces fever, but not by the same mechanism as the aspirin or ibuprofen that act on inflammation. Salbutamol 2 puffs prn The salbutamol is an agonist of 2 -adrenergic therefore bronchodilator short duration of action used in the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The salbutamol sulfate is usually given as inhaled to get a direct effect on the smooth muscle of the bronchi. For this, it can be administered in the form of a solution using a nebulizer, or a metered dose inhaler and also in powder form via various inhalation devices. Amiodarone 200mg daily The amiodarone is a medicament antiarrhythmic class III according to Vaughan-Williams classification. It is used in the treatment of many cardiac rhythm disorders, in particular, supraventricular disorders and with an antianginal objective. It is often the most effective antiarrhythmic, but its use is limited by its long-term side effects (Goodman et al., 2011). Aspirin 300mg daily The acetylsalicylic acid, better known under the trade name of aspirin is the active ingredient in many medicines properties analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. It is also used as an anti-platelet aggregating agent. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is a weak acid whose conjugate base is the acetylsalicylate anion. Ibuprofen 200mg The ibuprofen is the international nonproprietary name of alpha-methyl- [4- (2-methylpropyl) phenyl] propanoic acid. It is the active ingredient of a medicament NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) used to relieve symptoms of arthritis, of dysmenorrhea primary, the pyrexia; and as an analgesic, especially in the case of inflammation. Drug Interactions Metronidazole Drug Interactions Metronidazole may cause an anti-abuse effect: association with alcohol should be avoided as it may cause disulfiram-like reaction. Metronidazole potentiates the action of anti- vitamins K and therefore increases the hemorrhagic risk. May increase lithium levels. Its drug to food and herbal interaction are unknown. Paracetamol Drug interactions Oral Anticoagulant: Paracetamol, used at doses greater than 3 g per day for more than four consecutive days, may potentiate the anticoagulant activity of Anti-Vitamin K (AVK) 65. Sections: a competition exists between paracetamol and ondansetron, in particular, decreasing the analgesic efficacy of paracetamol. There is no reported dietary interaction for paracetamol. Salbutamol Drug interactions Has no established drug interactions but in high doses may cause hypokalemia especially in renal impaired patients and patients on xanthine derivative and some diuretics. Drug to food and herbal interactions are unknown. Amiodarone Drug interactions It increases the blood concentration in digoxin and potentiates the action of Coumadin, requiring the adaptation of doses 4. The association with other molecules extending the interval QT on the electrocardiogram increases the risk of occurrence of torsades peak, the rhythmic disorder that can result in discomfort or syncope. Because of its interaction with cytochrome P450, it alters the metabolism of several other drugs (Rang et al., 2016). In particular, it increases the risk of muscle damage in concomitant use with simvastatin 1. Its food and herbal interactions are not well established. Aspirin Drug Interactions Aspirin has drug-drug interactions with warfarin, corticosteroids, acetazolamide, valproic acid, methotrexate and herbal drugs e.g. Ginkgo biloba. Aspirin reduces the action of warfarin by inhibiting platelet aggregation. Drug to food interaction has not been fully established. Ibuprofen Drug Interactions Photosensitivity- upon exposure to UV type A, ibuprofen can cause photosensitivity by photochemical reactions leading to sunburn. Drug to food and herbal interactions are unknown. Patient Medication Management Angela should be advised to take all the drugs as prescribed to enhance the success of treatment plan. Most patients tend to stop taking medicines when they feel better an act that may result in disease exacerbations. She should ensure her drugs are safely kept away from children or any factor that may destroy the medicines. Keeping the medicine away from contamination will ensure that she take the high-quality drugs and which are safe. She should be advised to see a healthcare provider immediately should she develop adverse drug reactions to the prescribed drugs. Different patients are hypersensitive to various drugs, and this can only be ascertained only after using the particular drug for some time. Examples of hypersensitive drug reactions include irritation, itching pruritus among others (Adams et al, 2011). Angela should be educated on how to accurately use the drug delivery devices she may require e.g. the metered dose inhaler. This is done by clearly demonstrating to the patient how to coordinate inhalation and actuation. This will be of great help if the symptoms appear so she may do self-medication especially with salbutamol. Some devices are not automated and therefore patient input to coordinate actuation and inhalation is needed to ensure the inhalational drugs e.g. salbutamol reach their site of action. References Katzung, B. G. (2014). Basic clinical pharmacology. New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw Hill. Neely, Sherry, Lehne, Richard A. (2007) Study guide, Pharmacology for nursing care, sixth edition [by] Richard A. Lehne /St. Louis, Mo. Saunders Elsevier. Rang, H. P., Flower, R. J. 1, Henderson, G., Ritter, J. (2016). Rang Dale's pharmacology (Eighth edition.). [Edinburgh?]: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. Goodman, L. S., Brunton, L. L., Chabner, B., Knollmann, B. C. (2011). Goodman Gilman's pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York: McGraw-Hill. Karch, A. M. (2007). Focus on nursing pharmacology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Barber, P., Robertson, D. (2012). Essentials of pharmacology for nurses. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education. Adams, M., Holland, L. N., Urban, C. Q. (2011). Pharmacology for Nurses: A pathophysiologic approach. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Education. Melnyk, B. M., Fineout-Overholt, E. (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice (Third edition.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health. McKenry, L. M., Salerno, E. (2013). Mosby's pharmacology in nursing. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby. Lehne, R. A. (2014). Pharmacology for nursing care. St. Louis, Mo: Saunders.

The Mall Experience Essays - Justin Bieber, Usher, Nicole Schmitz

The Mall Experience Everyone remembers their first mall experience from a little boy or girl or to now as a teen or adult. You were nervous, excited, scared but you get all these feelings when going into a different environment for the first time. Human instinct is to feel different of fear of something that is not natural to the normal routine. Cultural perspective pervades every aspect of human life, from the mundane to the exotic or foreign. It affects how people relate to one another and their ability to communicate. Individuals with dramatically different cultural perspectives may find that they have an especially hard time understanding why the other behaves a certain way. In this story about Mary going to the Patrick Henry Mall for the first time, she will be describing what she felt and saw at her first mall experience such as screaming, different groups of people, and stores, and fear of helping. The loud scream pierced through the Patrick Henry Mall air. It was cold and eerie night, but I as in the best place that I could see fit the mall. When I'm inside those four walls I feel that there is nothing that could harm me, except for maybe a credit card reaching its limit or the store not having any more mediums in the cutest cashmere sweater I've ever seen in my life. Anyway like I was saying, yeah so I heard this really loud scream that totally disturbed the whole shopping atmosphere. I was like hey, I really don't have to go back to work until one since I'm on my lunch break, and I've hit all the sales already, I might as well se where the hell that scream came from. So I cautiously angled it around the mall hiding behind manikins and ducking behind the plants, until, I heard it again. It sounded like it was coming from the pet shop, but what could it be; maybe somebody got bitten or a cat scared somebody on accident. Wait a minute, now it was like continuing nonstop and seemed never ending I kind of felt like something was wrong for real so I sprinted to where the noise was coming from and looked all around but I couldn't see anything until I looked down. There was a red-faced lady laying on the floor scream and yelling "Get it off me, get it off me". A huge tarantula that had wrecked havoc on the whole shop attacking the lady. It had thrown over tables and broken glass cages, and now it was about to kill this poor middle-aged lady. What was I supposed to do? Who am I supposed to call? I brilliantly said, "Hold on I'll help you, what do you want me to do?" The lady responded, "What do you think I want you to do, get this thing off of me now". Hey lady there's no reason to get upset or anything" I replied shocked by her rude response, " I'm trying to help you out, and its just a spider its not like you could die or something, oh wait you could die" The lady replied sarcastically, " Yeah I could die, so you think you could just shut the hell up for like 2 seconds and just call for help." Thinking to myself how much it burns my bacon when people are disrespectful, I replied No I don't think I'll be able to do that, but you have a very nice day." I walked off quickly since it was already 12:42 and I had to walk all the way to the other side of the mall where I parked. I thought to myself, Mary, that was really mean of you and you shouldn't have done that, but on the other hand she shouldn't have been so mean. As I got to my car and put the key in the ignition, I saw at least 5 ambulances and fire trucks pull up to the entrance beside the pet shop and I knew they were for the lady. I felt a little bad about not helping her but hey, maybe next time she'll be a little nicer to people that try to help

EGYPTIAN ENVIRONM essays

MESOPOTAMIAN/EGYPTIAN ENVIRONM essays This paper is about the comparison of two separate ways of looking at nature and mans relationship with nature, the Mesopotamian and Egyptian version alongside the Hebrew and Christian version. We will first examine the backgrounds of these three cultures, then we will try to judge the whys and wherefores of the differences between cultures. Egyptian culture and religion were dominated by the Nile. The river was the springboard of life for the civilization, but unlike certain other rivers (as we will see in the next section) the Nile was quite predictable, flooding at regular times. This allowed the mighty river to be used by rulers as an example of their power, overreaching its banks only at their explicit command. Civilization in the West declares, As divine incarnation, the king was obliged above all to care for his people. It was he who ensured the annual flooding of the Nile, which brought water to the parched land. This bit of trickery allowed transmutation of the rivers power into one all powerful person, yet despite all his incantations the Nile (or basically nature itself to these people) was still ruler over all. The Egyptians had many gods of the river, which they regularly appeased with offerings of agricultural produce. Egyptians attitude toward nature and the river may be seen in this fol lowing passage from The Book of the Dead (circa 16th century B.C.) I have not mistreated cattle... I have not cut down on the food in the temples... I have not damaged the bread of the gods... I have not snared the birds of the gods. These excerpts from this prayer emphasizes the Egyptians belief that agriculture was basically the gods property, and that they were merely the caretakers of this property. Mesopotamian beliefs are even more interesting than Egyptian. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers which they were located between are very much unlike the ped...

I Chose the Light Essays - Over, Free Essays, Term Papers

I Chose the Light Essays - Over, Free Essays, Term Papers I Chose the Light I promise Ill be there. I wouldnt miss my best friends graduation for anything, I solemnly swore to my best friend on that Friday morning, just twenty minutes before I was to walk into a routine MRI that would forever change my life. Who could ever guess that inside such a seemingly perfectly healthy teenagers brain was a ticking time bomb waiting for an unknown cue to explode and ignite a year-long war of recovery? The grim MRI technician locked the cage around my head, and it began. From that moment, I was sealed into a fate I never imagined, a full-speed rollercoaster, complete with gravity-defying drops, inversions, and multiple corkscrews. I heard a voice from above ask, Are you ready? as my arms were being crossed as if I were being laid to rest. His question made me open my eyes, and I was surprised at what I was staring at. The way he was gliding around me, preparing my immobilized body, gave me two options as to how I could view him. He would either be the angel of dark or light; my perspective of the situation could change everything. I chose the light. As I was slowly slid into the tight testing space, my sides sliding against the inside of the tube sent me in reverse to a place that until that day, I was so accustomed to. I could nearly feel the dirt grinding under my cleats, the rough leather ball rotating off of my fingers for what I knew would be the perfect pitch; a feeling I would never feel again after that day. Every additional minute I was kept enclosed in the rumbling machine, I could feel the sides enclosing around me, the war song of the machine seeming to sing an encrypted code holding my fate. After three dreadful hours had passed, I cracked the code. Right there, my life was changed forever. The rest of the afternoon was a blur. When I was finally relieved of my position in the large machine, the imminent events had me lying in a hospital bed in the intensive care unit of the states best medical center. To say I felt like I was on my death bed would be no stretch of the truth, as the patient situated next to me was in a comatose state. This sparked the reaction in me that truly changed my life. I glanced at the clock, realizing it was shortly after seven oclock. My best friend was probably walking across the stage receiving his diploma. At that moment, I decided that though I was missing his graduation, I would not miss my own in two years. I would be the survivor. On the road to recovery, I would come to realize that perseverance is the bravest quality a person can choose to have. I have learned to not blame circumstances for who I am. I have learned to survive. I have chosen the light.

Unionization and the Nursing Profession Term Paper

Unionization and the Nursing Profession - Term Paper Example In my opinion, unionization does not conflict with a professional nursing orientation. In other words, unionization aligns with nursing orientation. According to Gordon (2009), "Nurses in most industrialized countries also belong to unions which bargain with management about workplace issues like wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions" (p. 280). It is worth noting that unions also attend to performance and action plan matters. As newly registered nurses therefore are assimilated into the nursing profession, there is need for solid institutions particularly unions that champion their rights. Otani et-al (2009) elucidates the fact that unionization gives nursing managers a greater voice in terms of making pronouncements. This is important for both nurse and patients. Through improving the decision making capacity of nurse leaders, a manager is able to improve working conditions and hence improved job performance and job satisfaction among nurses. In essence the role of nursing managers is to deal with all emerging nursing issues, espouse inventive initiatives, and ensure all nursing practices align with organization objectives. To achieve this managers require power and control. Unionization unites or merges all nurses from all corners of the world and hence managers are able to mobilize enough support when change is needed (Benson, 2010). To transition from one circumstance to another in a unionized setting, it is imperative for a manager to understand certain issues. As a manager, it would be required of me to examine or evaluate policy guidelines for both nurses represented by unions and for those not represented by unions. Actions plans aimed at transitioning ought to be analogous for both groups in order to avoid conflicts (Benson, 2010). Weber (2011) notes that examining and comprehending guidelines for various unions would also be important as it would ensure effective and timely conflict resolution as per

EEO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

EEO - Essay Example The development of the EEO guiding principles can be traced back to the enactment of Civil Rights Act in 1883, which prohibited political favoritism in filling federal posts. Executive orders 0948 and 10955 issued in 1940 and 1961 respectively marked the first, concrete steps in the elimination of workplace discriminatory policies touching on race, creed or color. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 added the gender concept in the fight to equality (Pole, 1993). Civil Rights Act of 1964, however, was the most comprehensive law that laid the foundation for later executive orders as well as legislative reviews. It not only prohibited outright discrimination on the classes named above in addition to religion and national origin, but also established a commission to fast implementation. The subsequent executive orders such as 11246 (1965), 11375 (1967) and 11478 (1969) were mere affirmations of clauses in Civil Rights Act of 1964 with very little effect to what was already a public policy (Pole, 1 993). Nonetheless, Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 mandating equality of persons aged between 40 and 70, the 1990 enactment on disability and the more recent legislations incorporating pregnancy and sexual harassment have explicitly contributed in designing an inclusive equality principle within the workplace. Arguably, women have been a major beneficiary block that has gained considerably with the progressive institutionalization of the equality principle nationally since the enactment of Civil Rights Act. Hillary Clinton’s shot at the presidency in the run up to the 2008 presidential elections not only demonstrated the extent of the break through to the executive ranks long dominated by white males, but also signified a general acceptance of woman leadership from a society that has come full cycle in confronting a rather conservative past full of untenable

Tea with the birds Essay Example for Free

Tea with the birds Essay The human being is a social creature with an essential need to socialize, but in our modern society many people feel that they are isolated and lonely in a world surrounded by people. The people of modern society are prejudice and judgmental towards the ‘unknown’ person, and we will rather observe and assume things about each other than getting to know one another. This is also the case for the main character and her neighbors in Joanne Harris novel ‘Tea with the birds’ from 2001. The narrator lives in a flat in Mortimer Street. The narrator describes Mortimer Street as being â€Å"busy without being comfortable; crowded without being friendly†.Mortimer street has a sense of coldness around it, and no-one really knows their neighbors even though they â€Å"live like birds in cages†. The coldness suits the narrator, because she enjoys the solitude, privacy and silence of her own flat. This has aroused her neighbors’ curiosity and suspicious towards her, because as she describes â€Å"I’m a completely different race from my neighbors†. Both the narrator and her neighbors consider her as an outsider, but this does not bother the narrator. Her neighbors consider her as being snobby cause of her reluctance to speak with them. Therefore her neighbors observe her and presume, she is a student nurse and she doesn’t bother to correct them. Mortimer Street is a reflection on the narrators own personality. She is very introverted and doesn’t have an interest in getting to know her neighbors. The narrator lives her lonely life, until the day when Mr. Juzo Tamaoki moves in the apartment opposite to hers. â€Å"Another foreigner said the Mortimer Street grapevine, with barely concealed disapproval†. This once again shows Mortimer Streets residents’ insecurity towards anyone different from them self. When the narrator and Mr. Tamaoki meet, his expression reminds her of a bird, she once saw in a zoo and still sees every morning, when she looks in the mirror. The bird resembles the narrator in the way that it has been bred in captivity, and the narrator has been kept in captivity in the two years she spent in a psychological hospital. The two years of solitude and silence and being hidden away from others has affected the narrator’s psychology, as she is now overwhelmed by the free and loud world and she has become introverted. The narrators` only wishes towards Mr. Tamaoki is that he will be quiet and leave her alone, and to her surprise he is the most silent neighbor, she ever had and he keeps to himself. Mr. Tamaoki begins to awaken her curiosity and interest, as she realizes that he is as much a foreigner in Mortimer Street as herself. He always nods and smiles, when he meets the narrator. This is the only kind of social contact, they have with each other. Mr. Tamaoki seems as the perfect neighbor, until he starts receiving a delivery of groceries at five-thirty in morning, which wakes the narrator because she suffers from insomnia. The narrator tries to complain to Mr. Tamaoki by pinning notes to his door, and she starts to resent Mr. Tamaoki for his lack of responds. The narrator’s irritation over Mr. Tamaoki lack of responds shows that she has an interest in social human contact. The narrator doesn’t want to admit her interest in social human contact, so she disguises her interest as irritation and resentment. The narrator starts observing Mr. Tamaoki and becomes like the neighbors’ without noticing it herself. Mr. Tamaoki is both a reflection of the narrator’s current person and the person, she wishes to become even though the narrator is ignorant of this fact. Mr. Tamaoki is a foreigner in a new country, where he does not speak the native language. This isolates him from the rest of Mortimer Streets residents. The narrator thinks that Mr. Tamaoki resembles herself ,because she believes that he has chosen to isolate himself from the other residents’ of Mortimer Street. This however is not the case. The narrator overhears Mr. Tamaoki practicing English phrases and this shows that Mr. Tamaoki has a desire to interact with people. This desire is shown again, when Mr. Tamaoki invites the narrator in for a cup of tea. This interaction translates to the title of the novel. The narrator has previously compared Mr. Tamaoki and herself to the bird from the zoo. Now the two birds are sitting in Mr. Tamaoki apartment drinking tea. Even though the narrator and Mr. Tamaoki sit in silence, she feels comfortable around another person. Mr. Tamaoki stands op after a while and get the narrator to look in the refrigerator. There she sees a colorful display of vegetable birds. She is amazed, and she notices how beautiful and detailed every bird is. The narrator`s anger towards the vegetable delivery disappears. When the narrator was unaware of the use of the vegetables’ ,they were an irritation to her but after she discovered the use of them, she sees the beauty in them. The narrator describes how people would perhaps wonder the birds briefly but they where most likely to ignore them altogether and therefore ever discover their beauty. These birds are a symbol of how the people of modern society observe and do not make an effort to discover the beauty and details of others. Mr. Tamaoki leaves Mortimer Street soon after the visit. Mortimer Street was Mr. Tamaokis nest. It was isolated and safe from the rest of world, but Mr. Tamaoki has left the nest by moving and is now facing the world. The narrator starts missing the sounds and movements coming from Mr. Tamaoki apartment after his departure. The coldness of Mortimer Street is no longer a comfort to her, and the narrator starts noticing her other neighbors. One day she finds the door to Mr. Tamaoki apartment open, and she goes inside where she finds a packet of Japanese green tea with her name on it. The narrator decides to invite her new neighbor in for a cup of tea. The departure of Mr. Tamaoki has made the narrator realize that people are not supposed to live like birds in cages. People should interact with each other like birds are meant to be flying among other birds and not be watched though the bars of a cage. The novel also ends with â€Å"†¦ In the semi-darkness of my room, with the fire casting stilted red shadows on the wall, the rising steam looked like a bird’s wings fluttering, ready to fly away.† The narrator is now ready to fly freely among other people.

Dreams and Their Interpretation Essay -- Understanding Dreams

â€Å"Dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.† ― Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams "My dream was grey and foggy. It started off at the beach with my 2 year old son and boyfriend. The beach was in a glass box. My son then had an identical twin and they were getting washed away by the water. I yelled for my boyfriend to help me but he refused to help. I finally was able to save my son and the twin from the waves. I Then take my son and walk out of the glass box. I no longer have my son and there is a black spiral staircase. I was walking down it with blackness around me. Then a little doll in a white nightgown was below me on the steps. I felt so afraid that I jumped over the railing and into The darkness." If it happened while you were awake, you may have some serious problems, but, most likely this scenario, or one like it, would arise in a dream. So what do dreams mean? Well, that depends on who you ask. A Freudian analyst would tell you that the dream represents a subconscious wish. A Jungian analyst would most likely tell you that the characters in your dream represents archetypes. However, psychology is not the only field that studies dreams. You might talk to a proponent of the Activiation-synthesis model of dreaming, a recent biological approach, who would assure you that the dream was nothing more than random firings of neurons in the brain stem, and that it carries no significance at all. Of course, if you are religious you might want to speak to your spiritual leader. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist or Jewish, to name a few, your faith may lead you to look deep into your dream for signs of communication from higher sources. For the more New Age thinker, there are many book... ... slowly being accepted by even the last holdouts of the religious community.) This has not happened yet with dreams, though. Until it does (if it does at all) the public jury has the right to decide what it will believe. The diverse and stalwart nature of public opinion is a tremendous factor in pushing scientists to take their research further. So go, take a nap, and see what you think. Bibliography    1. Lewis, James R. The Dream Encyclopedia. Detroit, MI, Second Edition, Print. 2009 2. Hartman, Earnest Sleep And Dreaming. Boston, Ma: Little Brown and Company, INC. 1970 3. Lewis, Naphtali The Interpretation of Dreams and Portents. Toronto, Ont: Samuel Stevens Hakkert and Company. 1976 4. Ferguson, Harvie The Lure Of Dreams. NY, NY Routledge Press. 1996 5. Welsh, Alexander Freud's Wishful Dream Book. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. 1994

Native Americans in the United States and European Colonists Essay

Early encounters between American Indians and European colonists led to a variety of relationships among the different cultures. Analyze how the actions taken by BOTH American Indians and European colonists shaped those relationships in TWO of the following regions. Confine your answer to the 1600’s. Early relationships between American Indians and European colonists differed among the dissimilar cultures. The encounters between the American Indians and the New England Colonists ended in betrayal and bitterness while the relationships between the Indians and the Spanish Southwest was violent and hateful. In New England during November of 1620, the first European colonists arrived to establish Plymouth Colony. During the harsh winter, half of the colonists had perished. When the surviving colonists arrived, a couple of Indians came to help them. The Indians taught the colonists how to grow and fertilize corn crops. Soon, the Europeans became successful farmers and began trading with Indians for fur. As the Europeans became more self-sufficient, they turned their firearms at the Wampanoag Indians and forced them to declare English Sovereignty. For generations, the aggression toward the Wampanoag Indians from Europeans continued. After years of hostility toward the Indians, the governor or Plymouth received information that the Wampanoag chief, Metacom was planning a war against the English. The Indian who provided the information to the English was named Sassamon and was known as a â€Å"faithful Indian† to the English. He was murdered by the Indians for betraying them. Soon after in 1675, the English hung three Wampanoag Indians thus beginning King Philip’s war. This war resulted in stopping the Indian’s resistance to colonial expansion and wiped out approximately forty percent of the Native American population in New England.

Entity Selection Essay

Facts: After 20+ years of working for other firms, Penelope (enrolled agent, age 41), Mark (CPA, age 43), and John (CVA, age 65) want to leave the firms they are currently employed by and become their own bosses. Penelope specializes in taxes, Mark is the auditor, and John is a business valuation expert. There are so many options available as to how they can structure the new business. The appropriate business entity for any individual(s) will depend on their particular facts and circumstances. You are a valued colleague and friend of this threesome, and they have come to you seeking advice as to how to structure their new business. They have the knowledge to figure it out themselves but are looking for the advice of an unbiased third party. Please consider the following tax and nontax considerations as you recommend an entity choice to Penelope, Mark, and John. Part I: Discuss the various forms of organization that are available to Penelope, Mark, and John. In general terms, the entity that you will be choosing will be some form of partnership. In broad definition, a partnership is defined as a single business where two or more people share ownership, with each partner bringing specific contributions to the business. Since each member of the partnership will be taking on specific functions and liability with the partnership, it is extremely important that all agree on the specific structure that the partnership will take. The purpose of this memo is to provide an educated and unbiased opinion on what structure that partnership should take. Partnerships are commonly organized as General Partnerships, Joint Ventures, or Limited Partnerships (limited liability). For the purposes of this memo, we will stick to forms of Limited Partnerships as the current economic climate necessitates a business structure that limits the liability of its owners. Common forms of Limited Partnerships are Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP), Limited Liability Company (LLC), S Corporations (S Corp), and C Corporations (C Corp). Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) are similar to general  partnerships with the exception that they allow two classes of partners: those with full management control and those with no personal interest or liability beyond their investment (1). On the other hand, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a flexible form of business arrangement that melds characteristics of both partnerships and corporate structures. It is technically not a corporation, but a legal form of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. Each owner in an LLC is considered a â€Å"member†, with profits and losses being â€Å"passed throu gh to their personal tax returns (2). An S Corporation (S Corp) is a type of corporation that is created through a special tax election. This election is beneficial when it comes to avoiding double-taxation. If a business is able to meet the S Corporation criteria, it will be able to reap the primary advantage of an S Corp which is tax savings. This is due to the fact that an S Corporation allows its employees to take a â€Å"reasonable† salary, limiting the income subject to income taxes and saving the rest of the corporation’s profits to be taxed at a lower rate as a â€Å"distribution† (3). Finally, a C Corporation (C Corp) is a separate legal structure formed for a business, protecting ownership and their personal assets from judgments against the company. It is a much more time consuming process to form a C Corporation, as the structure must include shareholders, officers, and directors. Often times, the drawbacks of double – taxation and administrative issues cause small business owners to seek other alternatives (4). Part II: Make your recommendation as to what form of organization you believe will be best, and be sure to explain the reasoning for your choice. After careful consideration, it is my opinion that the best business structure for your new venture would be to form and Limited Liability Company (LLC). This structure will provide the company with adequate protection while also establishing safeguards for each member and his or her personal assets. In this arrangement, each member will be removed from the consequences that could result from another member’s misconduct or negligence. I place particular emphasis on this fact because I know that all three of you are personal friends outside of the work environment, and I do not want there to be hesitation on anyone’s part regarded the business for fear of damaging  the friendship. In addition to the advantages named above, the LLC will allow each member to have clearly defined roles and management duties, as well as clearly defined ownership stakes and shares of profits and losses. As we will discuss in the coming sections, the formation of the Operating Agreement for the LLC will help to clearly establish these roles, allowing each of you to focus solely on your aspect of the business and allowing it to run as smoothly as possible (5). Part III: Discuss the tax consequences of contributing cash, property, and/or services to the new entity. Ordinarily, there are no tax consequences on contributions of property or services to a Limited Liability Company. Typically, members can utilize the tax treatment provided by IRC Section 721(a) when it comes to the contribution of property to an LLC. This section states that no loss or gain shall be to the partnership or any of its members in the case of contribution of property to the partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership (6). However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly when the contribution is an attempt to disguise the sale of property to avoid taxation. In these circumstances, the contributing member would have a taxable gain when the sale is completed (7). Cash contributions have similar treatment. They are given in exchange for ownership interest, and as a result, they are not taxable. Part IV: Discuss, in detail, how this entity is taxed (if at all) and what filing requirements it has with the IRS. Assuming you will not be making an election to be treated as a corporation (this would require becoming an S Corp or C Corp) the Limited Liability Company will be treated as a partnership. In other words, the LLC is treated by default as a â€Å"pass through† entity, meaning each member will be responsible for his or her portion of the profits on their personal income taxes. All partnerships are required to file Form 1065 with the IRS. This form is the U.S. Return of Partnership Income and it demonstrates the income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits from the operation of the partnership (in this case, the LLC). Each member’s share of profits will be outlined by the Operating Agreement, which we will discuss further in the next section. Should your LLC decide to split profits and losses in a manner that does not match up  with each member’s percentage interest, then you will need to request a special allocation from the IRS (8). Part V: Discuss how income and distributions may or will be allocated to Penelope, Mark, and John. Income and distributions will be allocated to each member through the Operating Agreement. In an LLC, the Operating Agreement allows its members to structure the financial and working arrangements in a way that suits the business and each member. In this agreement, the members establish each owner’s percentage ownership of the LLC, his or her share of profits and losses, the rights and responsibilities of each member, and what will happen to the business if one member decides to leave (9). It also helps to establish the framework for providing each member with a capital account for their portion of ownership. For example, Penelope’s percentage ownership in the LLC may be defined by the percentage of capital she contributes (be it cash, property, etc.) to the business. In turn, this established ownership percentage can be used to determine what proportion of the LLC’s profits she is entitled to receive. Part VI: Discuss, in detail, how the individuals are taxed (if at all) with respect to the net profits from this entity and what filing requirements they will each have with the IRS. As mentioned previously, a Limited Liability Company is considered a â€Å"pass through† entity unless it makes a special corporate election to be treated otherwise. By utilizing a Limited Liability Company, you are required to report your individual share of profit or loss from the business on your personal tax return. The Limited Liability Company will provide each member with a Schedule K-1, which demonstrates each member’s share of income, credits, and deductions for the partnership. Each member is then required to report these amounts for both federal and state taxation on their individual Form 1040 and Schedule E (8). Another important note to consider when it comes to individual taxation of Limited Liability Company members is the fact that each member is considered self-employed. As a result, each member must remember to make estimated tax payments for income and self-employment taxes on a quarterly basis. Failure to do so may result in penalties on your personal income tax return (8). Part VII: Discuss how Penelope, Mark, and John will calculate their basis in the new entity. Be sure to include the impact that debt has on basis, if any. As previously mentioned, the Operating Agreement will help to determine each member’s basis in the new Limited Liability Company. In general, the tax basis of a member with an interest in an LLC will be equal to the value of any cash or property the member contributed to the LLC. The value of these contributions is shown on the LLC’s balance sheet in the form of capital accounts for each member. IRC Section 752 describes the regulations involved in treating liabilities (debt) with regards to basis or stake in the partnership. Using this rule, any increase in a partner’s share of the liabilities of a partnership shall be considered a contribution of money by said partner to the partnership (10). With regards to loans made by a member to the partnership, there are special circumstances to consider. While the loan itself will be treated as a contribution and effectively increase the member’s proportional share of ownership, the member will also be given the treatment of a creditor if the business were to ever be liquidated. Creditors stand a much better chance of being able to recover a portion of their investment into the LLC than the other members. Part VIII (Limited Liability): Discuss the exposure that Penelope, Mark, and John’s personal assets will have to the debts and lawsuits of the entity you have recommended. As we have discussed throughout this memo, the formation of a Limited Liability Company limits the exposure of its members to their percentage of ownership or equity interest in the company. This protects the member’s assets in the event of a business related lawsuit or other form of legal action against the company. In other words, each member’s exposure will be limited to a fixed sum, akin to the value of the individual’s investment into the company. In addition, this means that each member will not be personally liable for the debts of the company. This is a key difference between the Limited Liability Company and other forms of General Partnerships, as members who organize their business in the structure of the latter have unlimited liability (11). References 1. http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/limited-liability-partnership# 2. http://www.sba.gov/content/limited-liability-company-llc 3. http://www.sba.gov/content/s-corporation 4. https://www.incorporate.com/c_corporation.html 5. http://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/why-start-an-llc-limited-liability-company-advantages-and-disadvantages.rl 6. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/721 7. http://www.alberty.com/newsletter_summer01.html 8. http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/6-things-you-need-know-about-your-tax-responsibilities-llc 9. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/llc-operating-agreement-30232.html 10. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/752 11. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/limitedliability.asp

Free sample - Discussion Board 2 Homosexuality. translation missing

Discussion Board 2 Homosexuality. Discussion Board 2 HomosexualityIntroduction Homosexuality has become a very controversial issue in the past few months. Homosexuality has been defined as sexual behavior, attraction and intimacy among people of the same sex more so people of the male gender. It has to do with experience on sexual, romantic and affection attraction. The society has two views on homosexuality. There are people who look at homosexuality as aberration. That it is a disorder which is a pathological behavior. There is another opposing group of people that see homosexuality as a normal deviation in the human condition.   They say that it is determined before birth and that it is natural and normal for those that are thus oriented. This two opposing sides has had a major fight as to whether the condition should be allowed by the society or not. This paper explains why it should not be encouraged in the society. Discussion The question then is: How is homosexual harmful to the society and to individuals? Is homosexual beneficial to the society in any way? Homosexuality has had both advantages and disadvantages. However the advantages are only for those practicing it whiles the disadvantages have impacted both those who practice it and the rest of the people in the society. Most negative effects of homosexuality has been blamed on the society`s unwillingness to support gay relationships. However even if the society had agreed to support them the negative effects would have been worse because many would commit themselves openly to homosexuality aggravating the situation (Clinard and Meier, 2007). Statistics from a research carried out by Kinsey study indicated that homosexual men are likely to commit suicide six times more than heterosexual men. The rate of promiscuity displayed by heterosexual men are very high for instance 75 percent of the respondents admitted that half of those they had sex with were complete strangers. This exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases. Anal sex is a common practice among the gay people. This causes serious physical injuries because it destroys internal tissues and weakens the anal sphincter resulting to serious medical issues. People in homosexual relationships cannot have children except only if they look for partners who are not of their sex. Thus these relationships do not contribute in any way in providing for the society`s next generations and more so they are short lived. They do not have a complementary aspect that is healthy for individuals, children and the society at large. These individuals put the society at pains treating the illnesses they get especially their family members. Heir family members are disturbed both psychologically and financially. Most people in the society who argue for homosexuality and participate in it are positive about it more on the sexual attachment and satisfaction that they obtain from it. They actually know that the practice cannot bear them children nor fulfill their emotional need. In fact this is why those who practice homosexuality do not have long term relationships. This is because they move from one relationship to another because they are interested in the physical gain and satisfaction they get from it as opposed to emotional satisfaction. They know that the practice is more likely to get them infected with sexually transmitted diseases (Stewart, 2003). The question most homosexuals want addressed is why the society will not accept them the same way it accepts the heterosexual people. The question the heterosexual group asks is why the gays cannot stop that practice yet it is harmful not only for them but for the entire society and how homosexuality can be an in born condition yet it was unheard of in the early years. Conclusion These questions can be addressed by consulting the medical and psychological practitioners. It will be important if people understand that the negative aspects of homosexuality outweigh the positive aspects and that the male and female genders are in this world to complement each other. Therefore people should avoid homosexuality as much as possible and embrace heterosexuality which is advantageous. References Stewart, C. (2003). Gay and Lesbian Issues .Oxford: ABC-CLIO. Clinard, B.M. Meier, F.R. (2007). Sociology of Deviant Behavior. 13th ed. London: Cengage Learning.

Need for Speed Reading 10 Hacks to Help You

Need for Speed Reading 10 Hacks to Help You No matter what your major, it’s likely you have between 50-200 pages of reading to get through every night of the week. Especially, when the end of semester is coming, with final exams and projects ahead. For those of us who are slow readers, that can be pretty daunting, especially considering that there are lots of other things that have to be done (think â€Å"laundry† and â€Å"cooking macaroni.†) Did you know there are actually ways that you can improve your reading and retention speed without buying some weird As-Seen-On-TV program? Here are the best speed-reading hacks that actually work. Scan for keywords Look for keywords and new vocabulary, which are usually in bold or italics. Then, read the sentence before and after. You’ll have a better idea of the overall gist of what is happening and be a leg up for the quiz. 10-Second Rule Skim through each page for a maximum of 10 seconds, looking only for the main ideas of the page. When you get to an idea that is new or that seems important, stop and spend another 10 seconds re-reading that section. Summarizing For each page of your book, take a minute and write one or two sentences that help you organize the main ideas of the page. You can even write them at the bottom of the page. This is a great help for when you are trying to find information to study at the end of the semester. First and Last Sentences A great way to get the gist of a paragraph quickly is to only focus on the first and last sentences. That’s where you are going to get 90% of the meat of the content. The rest is mostly filler. Look for Visual Markers Some text is more important than others, and it will show up on your test. Any text that is bold, highlighted, in a box, or a different color is text that is trying to get your attention. Also look for bullets, numbered lists, or any text that â€Å"pops† out from the rest of the page. Numbers Unless you’re reading a math textbook, numbers and statistics are a good thing to stop and look at. Not only are they often included in tests (think years in your History classes), but they will make you look smarter in discussions. How many other people will remember the exact percentage of women holding Congress positions? Color Mark Although highlighting is not a very effective solution generally, it can be helpful if you use it effectively. Instead of using highlighters, though, invest in a pack of colorful mini-sticky notes. Then, as you scan through your textbook, mark your pages with the color that matches. Here’s a good system: Green – Got it! You understand the ideas on the page. Yellow – Some ideas that need to be reviewed. Red – Come back to this page in more depth. Blue – This item WILL BE ON THE TEST. Sentence Snapshot Some of the best research on speed-reading has to do with how you look at the page. Instead of being trapped by word-by-word reading from left to right, try to take a mental snapshot of the whole sentence. Although you might not think you’re getting information, your brain captures and processes even while you’ve moved on to a new sentence. Study Early Speed-reading takes focus and concentration, and that’s the found most often in the early morning. Instead of trying to skim and remember late at night, wake up early. Your brain is primed to comprehend better when it’s not quite so exhausted. Stop Talking To Yourself Subvocalization is the act of internally saying words to yourself, and it has been shown to slow down reading speed. It is also connected with comprehension. While you are skimming your textbooks, eliminate most of your subvocalization – except when you come to something that is vital to be understood. Then, you can subvocalize or vocalize as much as is needed to understand the new concept. As you practice using these speed-reading hacks, you will be able to get through your texts faster without sacrificing your ability to comprehend the material. Just keep looking for what’s important. Keep fluff out of your head and in the dryer where it belongs. Have any speed reading tips to share? Want to leave your feedback? Welcome to the comments below!

Labour market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Labour market - Essay Example mployees as well as maximizing their profits, have resorted to transferring a lot of risks to their employees which makes then to feel more insecure about their positions in employment. Owing to the fact that employees are the most essential requirement of an organization, human resources are becoming de-motivated as well as disturbed. As a result of such disturbance, their rate of performance and devotion towards the assigned duties are reducing thereby declining the total productivity of the organization. Therefore, in order to mitigate such negative impacts of jobs flexibilities, maximum extent of the organizations are now trying to implement the strategy of restructuring and reorganization at the workplace. The statement thus portrays a true picture of what is taking place in the current set up in the labor market. A strategy aimed at reducing rate of employee turnover which is as a result of increased flexibility is thus necessary to be introduced and implemented in organizations. Otherwise, it might result in bankruptcy as well as enhancement of termination or attrition of the workers from the organization thereby declining its brand image and portfolio in the market among many other rival contenders. However, due to attrition, the rate of living standard and life style of the employee. As a result of which, the rate of unemployment and poverty is increasing that make hinder the economic prosperity of a nation or country as compared to others (Kalleberg, 2001, pp. 479-504). Organizations thus need to adopt an approach that is geared towards addressing the various forms of flexibilities that is being witnessed in current times. This essay mainly tries to highlight, the fact that due t o various labour market flexibilities, the rate of job insecurity is increasing and may lead into serious consequences in the labor market. Flexibility in the labor market can be described as the ability of an organization to make amendment to its labor force in regard to the

Economic versus Non-Economic Issues in Union Environments (Employee Research Paper

Economic versus Non-Economic Issues in Union Environments (Employee Labor and Relations class) Human Resource Management - Research Paper Example 54] between employment and employer – in other words, the aim is to further the negotiation process as opposed to forcing another route for a resolution (e.g. binding arbitration). NON-ECONOMIC ARTICLE: The article in question (see: APPENDIX-A) is non-economic insofar as it is a morals clause. The article in question is established to protect the artists of the production as far as what they are willing and not-willing to perform. For instance, if there was a particular actor who was uncomfortable with performing a scene in the nude, or an actor who felt that there was content in the script that went against their basic value system or perhaps religious belief, this article protects the security of employment for the actor where they uncomfortable with a part or portion of the production or script. Having the right to refuse to perform a part or portion of a staged production, ensures that the employee will not be subjected to any further reprisals for taking a stand on a part icular issue.

Why College is important to Me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Why College is important to Me - Essay Example College is important to me as it will tell me who I really am and what I can do towards changing the world dynamics. I will study the different subjects and thus choose a career pathway for my own self, in light of the subject areas that I will study at college. I will thus gain hands on experience of what I will be doing in the future – which will eventually be my profession at the end of the day. The college will be significant to me as it will tell me how to exchange ideas and viewpoints with people, how to interact with them and will also tell me the exact way under which I need to conduct my own self at the best of times. It will give me the much needed exposure that I need in order to move about freely in this world. Thus college is important to me as it will give me the insight and knowledge that I desire for and the truth which is hidden from me, when it comes to knowing all about the world in

The Street And Being One Of The Essay Example for Free

The Street And Being One Of The Essay Robert Swindells shows us that the life of being a dosser and being one of the invisible people is a grim one. Throughout the book he reminds us that living on the street is dangerous, tiring and uncomfortable. This is illustrated by the main character, Link, being homeless and having to doss in doorways. Link is the main character of the novel, Stone Cold. He is sick of his Mothers new boyfriend, Vince, Hes changed her. Thats one of the things I hate him for. He is then pushed over the edge and decides to become homeless. At first Link decides to remain in his home town of Bradford, in Yorkshire. For a while life is not too bad. He went to his sisters house, Carole, to get a weekly bath and cut his hair. After a while Caroles boyfriend Chris no longer wanted him around. He got resentful of my visits. He didnt actually say anything to me, but I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his tone of voice. It was because of this that Link decided to leave for London. During Christmas Link is invited back to stay with Carole and Chris. This may seem kind but as Link says it It was the worst Christmas Id ever had. This was because of his Christmas present. It was a sleeping bag. This told him that Carole and his mum thought of him as a dosser and a person that will always be a dosser, even if they were just trying to make his life on the streets as comfortable as possible. Later, when Link goes back to London he rents a room from Rat face, a unpleasant character who takes from Link of what little money he has. Fridays rent day, sunshine. But I moved in on a Monday I protested. And paid two weeks. That makes the room mine till Sunday night. Rat Face kicks him out. This is Links biggest mistake, spending money on a room instead of on food and also arguing with someone who is bigger than him.

Comparing Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Invisible Man

Comparing Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Invisible Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Black Revolution has occurred for quite some time and in many different ways, the most prominent being in literature. Two primary examples of the struggle and yearn for change among African Americans include Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, the autobiography of Frederick Douglass and Invisible Man, a novel written by Ralph Ellison. Although both have the same foundation, the difficult task of being black and trying to make something of one's life, many important differences exist between these works. First, the language used by the authors is strikingly dissimilar. Next, the time periods in which these pieces of literature were written have a difference of over one hundred years. Finally, the main characters are faced with different circumstances and injustices. First, the language and literary devices used by the two authors are very different. In his autobiography, Frederick Douglass uses a very educated language and makes his story able to be un...

Challenges Facing Fashion Industry in Ghana

CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY The environment in which the fashion industry operates the world over has become turbulent, unpredictable and therefore, difficult to exert managerial control. Cultures around the world are constantly influencing each other; hence, the world’s cultures are changing fashion constantly. Also, social, economic, political and legal factors keep changing than before. Competition in the fashion industry is so rife such that the survival of fashion organizations cannot be guaranteed (Stuart, 1995). During the last decade, the developments of new technologies all over the world and growing globalization of countries economies have produced the fastest changes ever. The fashion industry in Ghana, especially, the clothing sub sector (which is the focus of this study) has not been without the effect of economic, political, social, cultural and legal pressures brought to bear on all organizations. In recent years, protectionism has given way to globalization. With that change, Ghanaian clothing sector of the fashion industry has had to compete with imports from low wage countries. Retailers, unencumbered by protectionism, have also seized on the opportunity, often choosing to go directly to offshore manufacturers. As retailers become larger and more globally connected, they continue to build global brands marketed around the world. In doing so, they eliminate many Ghanaian clothing companies from their supply chain. The result has been major market share declines and job losses in the industry. Aug The Ghanaian clothing sector of the fashion industry faces many challenges. he rise of low-cost goods from Asia, a slowdown in consumer spending, difficulty in accessing capital, lack of innovation from entrepreneurs, relatively high prices of products due to high unit cost, poor distribution channels and inability to promote local brands. It is without doubt that low-cost Chinese imports have increasingly dominated the local fashion scene. As a result some local manufacturers, in an attempt to remain competitive, have subcontracted their production processes offsho re. The issue of access to capital for the industry is not new. For years, industry players have indicated that they feel there is a lack of support for their industry from the banking community. Under these circumstances, it is not a surprise that many companies cannot secure financing. as a result of banking formula-based lending practices, financing remains a challenge to many well-run clothing companies and small businesses in general. Brand DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A MJOR ISSUE IN THE clothing sub sector in the fashion industry in Ghana. Many Designers have not been able to design unique Ghanaian designs that would bear their own brand name in order to project their business. However, a few creative ones have had their product design copied wrongly and produced cheaply from China, thereby destroying the brands they have developed. These and other factors have created serious marketing challenges for the clothing sub sector of the fashion industry in Ghana. This study would go into detail to look at the nature of the marketing challenges facing the industry in Ghana. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM There are growing signs Ghanaian garment and fashion industry is approaching a serious crossroad. Increasing numbers of mainland Chinese manufacturers are taking Ghana’s role of mass-producing quality fashion items at reasonable cost. Industry players, also have difficulty securing financing from other lenders. For example, asset based lenders often require substantial premium interest rates. Other larger non-traditional lending institutions and professionals that can assist prefer working with larger companies where greater fees and returns can be earned. The traditional financing problems will likely become further exacerbated as companies implement new models that do not generate assets that can be collateralized. The problems enumerated above, as well as western cultures, globalization have created internal marketing challenges for the clothing industry in the area of promotion, pricing and distribution of products. The study seeks to unravel the challenges and make recommendations to solve the problems. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of the study were: 1. To investigate how foreign cultures have influenced the Ghanaian brands in the clothing industry. 2. To assess the challenges associated with clothing design ( product development) 3. To investigate the challenges industry players face in their pricing of products . To assess how they promote their products. RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY It is hoped that the study would benefit clothing sub sector of the fashion industry in Ghana. Also, it will serve as a pedestal upon which future researches in the area would be based. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW Eusebio (2007) carried out a research on the topic â€Å"Internal key factors in export pe rformance: A comparative analysis in the Italian and Spanish textile-clothing sector† The purpose of this paper is to analyze the key factors in the international performance of textile manufacturing companies. The study provided a comparative study of the main factors that have affected the export performance of the Spanish and Italian clothing sub sector of the fashion businesses. A wide range of factors has been studied, such as size, dispersion of sales and export experience. In order to compare Spanish and Italian cases, the empirical study used a standardized questionnaire for collecting data. The cases analyzed were respective geographical zones with a great tradition in textile-clothing industry in their country, Catalonian (in the Spanish case) and Lombardian business (in the Italian case). It was found that international experience was the main factor in the export performance for both cases but the investment in R&D and the export experience have been the keys for explaining the major export performance of the Italian businesses. The paper explained why the Lambardian textile-clothing companies exported more, in relation to total sales, than the Catalan companies in the same sector. . Research limitations – The sample was formed basically for small textile-clothing businesses (with less than five employees). Eusebio (2007) STUDIED Top of Form Management perception and marketing strategy in export performance: A comparative analysis in Italian and Spanish textile-clothing sector The purpose of the study was to focus on the key factors in the international performance of textile manufacturing companies. In order to compare Spanish and Italian cases, the empirical study used a standardized questionnaire for collecting data. The cases analysed were respectively geographical zones with a great tradition in textile-clothing industry in their country, Catalonian (in the Spanish case) and Lombardian business (in the Italian case). Research limitations/implications – The sample was basically from small textile-clothing business (with less than 500 employees). It was found that international experience was the main factor in the export performance for both cases but investments in R&D and export experience have been the keys for explaining the major export performance of the Italian businesses. The study was of value in that it provides a comparative study of the main factors that have affected the export performance of the Spanish and Italian businesses. A wide range of factors has been studied, including characteristics of the business, such as size, dispersion of sales and export experience. Freeman (2007) carried out a survey on the topic â€Å"Fashion marketing to women in Kazakhstan†The purpose study was to explore consumer behavior regarding women's decisions concerning fashion in the emerging marketing of Kazakhstan. Literature review formed the basis of the questions asked to several focus groups and in-depth interviews of 48 Kazakhs representing the average age of Kazakhstan. The approach of the paper was exploratory as there was not a lot of research concerning the Kazakhstani marketplace. The work revealed that Kazakhstani women were becoming aware of their rights to choose clothing and location of purchase. They expected to be treated with respect. The women were value conscious, thinking brand names enhanced the value of clothing and will shop sales regardless of the actual discount. Kazakhstani women we extremely fashion conscious and looked to the media current fashions. They were wary ything coming out of China. There were five market segments into which these women can be divided. Practical implications – Kazakhstan is opening as a marketplace. In order to understand how to market in Kazakhstan, firms must understand what is wanted and this paper begins this exploration. This market is unexplored both academically and by many clothing manufacturers. This market is opening and thus information concerning the marketplace is necessary. Chong (2007) carried out a survey on the topic â€Å"Central and Eastern European countries and North Africa: The emerging clothing supplying countries to the EU†. The purpose of this study was to examine the delocalization trend of the EU's clothing production to Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) and North Africa, focusing on the geographical shift of outsourced clothing production pattern within the two developing regions. In total, 14 CEECs and North African countries were selected and classified into 1st-tier and 2nd-tier regions according to their GDP/capita values. Clothing trade statistics were obtained from the Eurostat database, and the clothing trade pattern was examined during 1995 to 2004. Trade Specialization Coefficient (TSC) was employed to measure the international competitiveness of clothing exports of the selected CEECs and North African countries. Results concluded that the EU's clothing production had significantly delocalized to the proximate CEECs and North African regions, with further geographical shift to less-developing 2nd-tier clothing supplying countries in recent years. The TSC analysis reflected that the competitiveness of clothing industry in 2nd-tiers had outperformed the 1st-tier economies, indicating Western European firms had shifted their sourcing practices to those lower-waged countries. Koksal (2007) studied on the topic† references regarding children's clothing in Turkey† The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the consumer preferences and behavior in the children's clothing market in Turkey, a country where the majority of the population is under 18 years old. Whilst the study investigated the purchasing preferences and behaviour of parents, such as shopping frequency and period, type of retailer and the effect of reference groups in the children's clothing market, it also explored some children's purchasing characteristics, like shopping decision age. This study offered some academic results on consumer behaviour and preferences in the children's clothing market: There is no set shopping period; consumers prefer shopping from independent shops; in the selection of retailers, consumers consider payment conditions, pricing, and range of merchandise; in the family the parents mostly make the buying decisions for their children's clothes; the age of children making their own clothing decisions varies between six and ten; the most important factors affecting consumers' decisions towards shopping for children's clothing are the price, quality, convenience, payment conditions, and size of the clothing. Kilduff (2007) carried out a research on the topic â€Å"Analysis of comparative advantage in the textile complex: A study of Eastern European and former Soviet Union nations† This research aimed to present an exploratory investigation into ten-year (1995-2004) patterns of trade specialization among Eastern European and former Sovie t Union Nations, assessing patterns of comparative advantage across the textile machinery, man-made fiber, textile, and apparel sectors of the textile complex to determine whether these conform with both trade specialization and industry evolution theories. A revealed symmetric comparative advantage index was employed to evaluate international competitiveness for 27 Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations over a ten-year period. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to determine the significance of the observed patterns across four income-defined groups of nations. Overall, the pattern of export development and RSCA generally reflected expectations regarding factor proportions theory and industry evolution models. The RMANOVA partially confirmed the observations. The analysis indicated that income group did not independently affect comparative advantage; however, the nature of products was the significant factor influencing national comparative advantage. According to the researchers, the established models may be better at understanding those nations which have established relatively stable political and economic environment, and been experiencing earlier stages of industry development, but appear less useful in predicting development patterns for those nations experiencing dramatic transitions from regulated to de-regulated markets. The patterns of national comparative advantage in a vertical textile complex are identified for Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations. The dynamics of change over a ten-year period following economic reforms are revealed. Karpova et al (2007) looked at the topic â€Å"Making sense of the market: An exploration of apparel consumption practices of the Russian consumer†. The purpose of this study was to examine and interpret post-socialist consumer xperiences in relation to clothing consumption practices when consumers shop, acquire, and wear clothing and other fashion-related products. Th e in-depth interview was the primary data collection tool. Data collection was conducted during summer 2004 in St Petersburg, Russia. College students formed the sample for the study. In total, 17 students (four males and 13 females) were interviewed. The hermeneutic approach was used to interpret the meanings of the participant life experiences. In comparison to consumers in an established market-based economy, consumers in this post-socialist market have unique perceptions of clothing attributes (quality, brand name, country of origin, retail channel) critical for buying decisions. Overall, appearance and clothing play a special role in the emerging Russian market as they help construct and communicate new identities more than any other product category. Identified challenges of the Russian apparel market indicate opportunities for domestic and foreign apparel businesses. The meanings Russian consumers attach to clothing attributes can be used to develop product positioning and promotional strategies. Discussed implications of the research findings can be extended to other post-socialist emerging markets. This study explored how Russian consumers have adjusted to the new economic reality after almost fifteen years of transition from a socialist to a capitalist society from the perspective of the consumer. Whereas previous research findings were confirmed, the present study provides rationale for perceived importance of quality and unimportance of brand name in the Russian apparel market. Curran (2007) studied the topic â€Å"clothing's big bang: the impact of the end of the ATC on developing country clothing suppliers†. Prior to the liberalization of the clothing and textiles sector under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) fears had been expressed about the potential impact on developing country suppliers. This study sought to establish the actual impact of the liberalization of the EU and US clothing markets. Comparison of trade figures pre and post liberalization. Was the basis for the research design The research revealed that, as forecast, significant changes occurred in sourcing patterns in the EU almost overnight. The big winners were India and China. Almost all other developing countries lost market share, although often not as much as had been feared. The impact of the liberalization was mitigated somewhat by the new quantitative restrictions negotiated with China half way through the year, which resulted in a redistribution of market share to other developing countries. Comparisons with the USA indicated that trends are rather similar, although on that market more developing countries saw increases in their exports, partly canceling out losses in the EU. Johnson (2007) carried out a survey on â€Å"The role of focal suppliers in strategic networks for internationalization: Perspectives from small and medium-sized Italian and Thai silk suppliers† The purpose of this research was to examine the role of focal suppliers in strategic networks for internationalization from the perspectives of small and medium-sized Italian and Thai silk suppliers. Multiple case studies of small and medium-sized suppliers within the silk industries of Italy and Thailand were undertaken. In total, seventeen interviews and three observations were conducted with directors or managers of silk suppliers and a range of government agencies, associations and institutes involved with the silk industry, to identify significant current issues within the sector. Conceptually clustered and role ordered matrices were used as coding frameworks to reduce, structure and analyze the data. The research showed that Silk suppliers' networks may be co-ordinated by a focal supplier that assumes the role of strategic leader. The involvement of a focal and strategically-focused supplier may strengthen and integrate the resources and capabilities of silk suppliers in their networks and enable them to improve their international network development and position. Further investigation is needed on the details of specific roles of focal suppliers in strategic networks. In the view of the researchers, Silk suppliers, their customers and government agencies involved with silk suppliers should: advocate and actively support the development of focal suppliers in their networks to enhance the effectiveness of their internationalization process and strategy. The researchers also indicated that there tends to be a consensus in the literature about the influence of focal customers and larger organizations in strategic networks. This study highlighted how small and medium-sized silk suppliers adopt the roles attributed to focal firms and gain positioning advantages for themselves and other suppliers in their network. Karmenidou (2007) carried out an exploratory study on the reasons for purchasing imported high fashion apparels: The case of Greece. The purpose of the study was to examine the reasons that Greek consumers purchase imported high fashion apparel over Greek designers high fashion apparel. The specific objective of the research was to detect the underlying factors that affect their purchasing behaviour. Qualitative research was conducted through discussions with consumer focus groups, all purchasers of imported high fashion apparel. Quantitative research was undertaken by means of a questionnaire with 28 items referring to the reasons for purchasing imported high fashion apparel. The sample consisted of 200 high fashion consumers from the city of Larissa, Greece. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, reliability, as well as factor analysis by principal component analysis with Varimax rotation. This research was exploratory in nature and employed a non-probability sampling method. Results indicated that the consumers perceive that the imported high fashion apparel have better aesthetics, a better line and are produced from quality textiles, compared to the domestic high fashion apparel. Four factors derived underpinned the purchasing reasons of imported high fashion apparel: â€Å"status and image†, â€Å"quality of the product†, â€Å"marketing reasons† and â€Å"in fashion†. This study provided a useful source of information, which can be used by Greek high fashion apparel designers regarding the reasons why Greek customers of high fashion apparel purchase imported over domestic ones. The study suggests which elements Greek designers of high fashion apparel should focus upon in order to gain a larger market share. This study was important in terms that it was the first one to explore the reasons for purchasing imported high fashion apparel over domestic ones in Greece. It highlighted 28 reasons (items) derived from qualitative research. In addition it suggested appropriate quality and marketing actions to be undertaken by Greek high fashion apparel designers. Baker (2006) looked at the topic â€Å"Fashion industry facing challenges†. According to him, the Australia’s fashion industry faces many challenges including the rise of low-cost goods from Asia, a slowdown in consumer spending and the need to respond quickly to changes in trends. crippling household debt and low-cost Chinese imports increasingly will dominate the local fashion scene. â€Å"With house prices stagnant and the ongoing threat of an interest rate rise, people are readjusting their spending habits. Having spent beyond their means for many years, the debt to income gaps need to diminish, which means shrinking the value of goods bought on credit. According to him, the clothing industry is set to bear the brunt of a consumer slowdown in spending which would spell disaster for some local manufacturers. The ability of local production to respond quickly to changes in fashion trends is also crucial for survival. In his view, manufacturers will need to build closer relationships with retailers to help them respond more appropriately to consumer demand. Another challenge came from rapidly rising imports, particularly from China which accounts for 59 per cent of industry imports. Smaller, independent operators should always be on the lookout to increase efficiencies, develop effective branding and market strategies and attack key niche segments to make financial gains. One growth area for smaller players was on line selling, or e-tail, with its low set-up costs. Online sales currently account for just two to five per cent of retail sales in Australia but predicted that figure will increase with rising levels of broadband penetration. Revenue is leaking from our fashion industry as retailers who have been slow to catch on to building an online presence are losing out to overseas labels that are selling direct to the Australian public online. A survey undertaken by logistics group DHL found that the trend for local designers to go offshore could have a negative effect on the Australian fashion industry. The Business of Fashion survey showed that 90 per cent of respondents, which included designers and manufacturers, believe more garment manufacturing is headed offshore. The survey found that the industry needs better business training and more help to export if it is to remain competitive. Kalman (1999) wrote an article on how globalization has affected the fashion industry in the West Coast. While the West Coast sewn products industry is not exempt from downward domestic production trends faced by the rest of the United States, the region continues to stay one step ahead of the game thanks to its strengths in quick-turn fashion and flexible production. Suppliers to the market are focusing on these strengths as well as the challenges facing West Coast producers – namely the lure of low-cost sourcing south of the border – as they prepare to participate in the 1999 Sewn Products Expo – Los Angeles, which takes place April 22-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Looking at the factors that have driven the West Coast industry's growth, Lectra Systems Inc. vice president of marketing Rick Ludolph observes, â€Å"As West Coast firms have always been more fashion-driven, they have adapted better than more traditional manufacturing regions of the country to the need for fast, flexible production. †¦ Southern California, in particular, maintains a favorable value proposition with good labor availability at relatively low labor costs when compared to other U. S. regions. † Likewise, Mike Grogan, vice president of Apparel Machinery & Supply Co. notes that despite the migration of production offshore, the We st Coast apparel industry â€Å"still [has] a good core of smaller manufacturers, particularly in the Asian community, which can offer quick response to sudden fashion trends and short production runs. † The source of most West Coast production is California, which continues to lead U. S. apparel industry employment with a 1998 work force of approximately 168,700. The state is home to some 7,400 fashion-related companies that account for $47. 7 billion in annual wholesale sales, the California Fashion Association reports. Yet the growth of manufacturing activity in Mexico has had deleterious effects on apparel jobs, even in California. â€Å"This is particularly true in the most basic product line. People on the lower-priced budget end are almost completely forced out of the U. S. It's very difficult for them to make the high-volume, low-cost products here anymore. Moreover, From anywhere in Mexico you can be anywhere in the United States on the ground in four days, so transportation issues aren't really a problem anymore either. † Tight retail margins also are driving more production to Mexico. As Byte Systems director of sales and marketing Brad Mikes asserts: Retail price points are still the defining issue. Sewn products will continue to move to Mexico because of its proximity to the U. S. , the industry growth in Mexico, and because of the labor cost reduction [associated with] manufacturing there. Still, California has assets, such as its highly skilled work force and quick-turn manufacturing capacity that Mexico has yet to match. With regard to the state's growing apparel work force, Ludolph emphasizes: â€Å"This is a result of the strong demand for skilled labor, which is required to produce much of the women's wear and sportswear that is dominant in the region. †¦ [Subsequently] the availability of skilled, efficient labor is key to maintaining the apparel industry on the West Coast. † As the region's labor pool is fueled by an influx of Latin American immigrants, it promises to have a positive impact on maintaining jobs that might have otherwise moved to Mexico. With regard to flexible manufacturing, Robison-Anton Textile Co. president Bruce Anton notes that streamlined logistics and just-in-time production are playing an increasingly important role in the success of California's apparel industry, whereas â€Å"Mexican manufacturers have not adjusted to this yet. † Isenberg adds that with fashion-oriented orders, California contractors can maintain an edge over those of Mexico, which has very few â€Å"fashion factories,† as well as Asia, which requires long lead times. While â€Å"the days of having big runs come into domestic factories are all but over,† he says, California firms can still win if they are willing to run many different styles and small cuts. Indeed, without the security of big runs, many West Coast companies have had to become more acutely attuned to the caprices of the marketplace. As Joe Hollander, president of AC/Automated Components observes: â€Å"We have noticed that some factories are downsizing their operations and gearing themselves toward smaller production runs with an emphasis on quality and quick turnaround. We also see an emphasis on the ability to make subtle changes in the product to customize it for specific stores, chains, etc. † From a financial perspective, JBA International's Joe Facenda, senior consultant for apparel and footwear, concludes: â€Å"Our region is more influenced [than others] by the constant flow of new companies. Our designers and supplier network make us the Silicon Valley of the apparel industry,† he emphasizes, and this status breeds â€Å"a great need for more capitalization† so that start-ups and established companies alike don't â€Å"stay behind the capit al curve. † AHRC (2007) IN THE STUD OF Key Challenges in Adapting to New Models in the fashion industry ASSERTED THAT While companies are managing to adapt to offshore sourcing, they are slow to become world class in other parts of the value chain. Challenges are both company specific and general to the industry. The Study indicated that most participants had â€Å"operating basics† right, including being able to produce a value for money product that meets the end consumer needs at the right quality level, delivered on-time, with the proper service that retailers demand. However, the same study noted several weaknesses. A startling 58 percent of companies did not have the financial acumen, information or general expertise to identify the true profit drivers in their company. Without this information, these companies have been unable to distinguish profitable versus unprofitable segments of their business, and thus often unable to identify the most profitable niches to grow;58 percent of companies did not have a strong management team, implying that their own internal management competencies may be preventing them from reinventing themselves;While 67 percent of apparel companies operate within a niche, 62 percent do not offer the customer anything that differentiates them from the competition. Contractors were specifically noted to have even greater internal challenges, including:Extremely weak sales and marketing capabilities: Many companies tend to be dependent on relatively few longterm customers; These companies do not have an owner or key employees with significant sales capabilities;Weak financial and costing which impede their abilities to determine profitable contracts from unprofitable ones;Poor workforce cross-training capabilities / flexibility. A World-Class Focus of Excellence Key challenges per company will also vary based on the model being pursued. In general, the following table illustrates the key challenges depending on whether a company intends to maintain an element of the value chain in-house and make it a core focus or whether it intends to outsource it: Beyond specific business model challenges as noted above, certain general challenges will impact industry players as well:Decreasing Domestic Supply Chain As manufacturing continues to move offshore, domestic apparel manufacturer suppliers (textile companies, label producers, thread companies, etc. ) will face greater challenges; In all likelihood, these suppliers will continue to face consolidation and closures; As the supply chain erodes, it will become increasingly difficult for those apparel companies wishing to manufacture domestically to do so. The 2003 AHRC LMU noted that while most industry executives were aware of the coming industry restructuring, 87 percent did not have a strategic plan to deal with the issues. The 2007 AHRC Study confirmed this still to be the cases at the onset of the program, some three years later. While the 2007 AHRC Study provided assistance to 130 apparel companies, presumably there continues to be many apparel companies without well-rounded management teams. Beyond specific value chain shortcomings, key weaknesses tend to be in the areas of strategic and financial management. Of all participants in the 2007 AHRC Study, 27 percent will face a succession issue within the next 5 years; 42 percent within the next 10 years:Most of these companies do not have succession plans;There is a strong correlation between companies that have succession plans and strategic plans; i. e. , if a company does not have a winning strategy in place, it likely does not have a succession plan;Without succession plans, many of these companies will face business continuity issues in the short to mid-term. The issue of access to capital for the apparel industry is not new. For years, apparel companies have indicated that they feel there is a lack of support for their industry from the banking community. While there may be some truth to this, it may be for good reason. As previously noted, consider that of the 2007 AHRC Study participants: 56 percent did not have a strong management team in place; 58 percent were not able to determine the true profit drivers of their business; 87 percent did not have a strategic plan that could be acted upon; 61 percent were not willing to reinvest in their businesses. Under these circumstances, it is not a surprise that many companies could not / cannot secure financing. Nevertheless as a result of banking formula-based lending practices, we believe that financing remains a challenge to many well-run apparel companies and small businesses in general. SMEs at times, also have difficulty securing financing from other lenders. For example, asset based lenders often require substantial premium interest rates. Other larger non-traditional lending institutions and professionals that can assist prefer working with larger companies where greater fees and returns can be earned. The traditional financing problems will likely become further exacerbated as companies implement new models that do not generate assets that can be collateralized. Consider: Soft cost expenditures are often required to implement new models (i. e. esigners, marketers, sales and service personnel, increased travel, training and marketing costs, These expenditures offer no collateral security to lending institutions and as a result, are difficult to finance; Inventory financing costs are increasing, often as a result of shifts to imports; Requirements to fund export receivables are increasing. To further exacerbate the issues, many executives appear to often strip equity from their companies as opposed to maintaining this capital for future reinvestment. Employment will shift from predominantly production jobs to balanced or predominantly white collar positions. New models will require companies to hire world-class talents in areas such as design, marketing and logistics. According to the 2007 AHRC Study, positions to be most in demand include: Sales professionals (sales managers, brand managers, sales representatives); Marketing professionals (marketing managers, marketing analysts, merchandising technicians); Designers (product developers and design technicians); Import / export specialists; This talent appears to be in short supply and in demand by other industries as well. Apparel companies will be challenged to recruit, train and retain these key personnel. Financing such salaries will also be a challenge to companies. According to the 2003 AHRC LMU, 87 percent of Canadian apparel companies had less than 50 employees. Less than 7 percent of companies employed more than 100 personnel. This SME industry structure partly explains the lack of management sophistication in the industry. In order to reinvent themselves, many companies will need to increase their size in order to support greater white collar needs. We believe that this will lead to: Further industry consolidation; Continued merger and acquisition activity (for companies that have established a niche but need greater volume to expand and operate on a larger scale); Partnering / allying / creating joint ventures with world class specialists in order to remain competitive. Such partnerships are likely across the entire value chain in the areas of design, marketing, manufacturing, sales, logistics and distribution. As in the banking sector, much of the professional expertise in this area (business brokers for example) may be out of reach to many SMEs. Professionals in these areas prefer to work with large organizations whereby they can generate substantial fees as opposed to the SME marketplace. There are relatively few barriers to entry in launching an apparel company. As a result, the industry is constantly regenerating. Consider that nearly one third of all participating companies in the 2007 AHRC Study were established within the last ten years. Many of these companies are being founded by new designers graduating from colleges or individuals who have identified an underserved niche. Unhindered with the baggage of yesteryear, many of these companies have viable new business models. In these cases, the challenge is often to secure adequate industry specific managerial talent and financial resources to grow the company. CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY 3. 1 RESEARCH DESIGN The research used the survey design. Independent variables which were assessed cultural, globalization, pricing, product design and promotion challenges in the clothing sub sector of the fashion industry. Assessment was made to see their effect on the industry. Both qualitative and quantitative tools were used for the research. The design factored in large scale fashion designers, medium scale designers and tailors/seamstresses. The stratified and simple random sampling methods were used. 3. 2 POPULATION AND SAMPLING 3. 21 Population and Sample The research targeted large scale cloth designers, medium scale designers and tailors/seamstresses in Accra. The large scale designers are those who produce on large scale for the Ghanaian market and still export some. The medium scale are those who produce for the Accra market and a few for other regions. The tailors selected were those imitate and create designs based on the specifications of others. A sample of 120 was chosen. It was made of 10 large scale, 50 medium scale and 60 tailors/seamstresses. 3. 22 Sampling Strategy The research stratified the population into 3: large scale designers, medium scale designers and tailors/seamstresses. Simple random sampling was then used to select the sample in each stratum. A List was obtained from the Association of Fashion Designer and the Association of Tailors and Seamstresses. They then given codes and put in a basket. The sample was then selected randomly through the lottery approach. 3. 3 RESEARCH PROCEDURE A letter of introduction was taken from the Methodist University College. Copies were made and addressed to the leaders of Associations to seek approval for preliminary interview to have insight into the challenges of the industry. The leaders of the associations gave out the list of members, location and telephone numbers. With the help of the leaders, 120 respondents were selected. The researcher upon meeting the respondents explained the topic under study, stated the purposes, relevance and benefits of the research. Upon the approval of the Heads, the respondents were given the questionnaires. The researcher and his research assistants used a period of four (4) weeks to collect the questionnaires from the respondents. Out of the 120 individuals identified and given the questionnaires, 108 responded to the questionnaires, representing a response rate of 90%. 3. 4 RESEARCH INSRUMENT The primary data was collected through the administration of questionnaires based on our aims and research questions The questions were in †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The questions used in this research were two types: open-ended and closed-ended questions. The reason for the open-ended questions was to allow respondents to express their views in the way they desired. The closed-ended ones were used to ascertain specific answers. 3. 5 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this research. These two methods complement each other. Qualitative research can be used in all disciplines and subject matters and its main aim is to gather an in-depth understanding of reasons and human behaviour. It investigates the why, what, how, where and when of decisions making and human behaviour. The research used bar graphs and frequency tables to analyse the data. The researchers also used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for the analysis. REFERENCES APPENDIX 1 METHODIST UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING QUESTIONNAIRE INTRODUCTION I am a student of the Methodist University College, Department of Marketing, pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration. I am carrying out a research on the topic â€Å"Marketing challenges of fashion industry in Ghana: perspectives of clothing sector. in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree. It is the aim of this research to find out the challenges of the fashion industry in relation to globalization, cultural influence, product development, pricing, distribution and promotion. The information you provide would be treated with the confidentiality and anonymity it deserves. You are assured that the information would be used for purely academic purposes and nothing else. I would be grateful if you respond to this questionnaire as objectively and honestly as possible. SECTION A : Demographic Data 1. Age†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Gender: Male†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Female†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3. Educational background: Basic Education†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Secondary education†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Tertiary education†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4. How long have you been in the fashion industry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5. Industry classification: Seamstresses/Tailors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Medium scale†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Large scale†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ SECTION B: Cultural Challenges 1. Clients like European designs Yes†¦.. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 2. American designs have adulterated indigenous Ghanaian designs Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3. Women mostly like western clothes that expose their bodies Yes†¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4. Cheap foreign clothes are collapsing the Ghanian fashion industry. Yes†¦ No†¦.. SECTION C: Challenges of Globalization 5 Unfair global trade affects the fashion industry in Ghana. Yes†¦ No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6. The fasion inudtry in Ghana uses very little IT in its operation. Yes†¦.. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 7. Designs on the net has a lot of influence in the choice of clothes. Yes†¦.. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8. Globalisation has changed the taste and preferences of consumers in the fshion industry in Ghana. Yes†¦.. No SECTION D: Product development Challenges 9. the industry has innovative designers with a sense of originality. Yes†¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 10. The clothes designed are of high quality. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11. Clothing brands do not have trademarks. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 12. Designs and clothes are durable. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. SECTION E: Pricing Challenges 13. Consumers compain about the prices of clothes. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 14. Prices of Ghanaian clothing designs are higher than that from the west. Yes†¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 15. Chinese clothes of the same quality are less expensive than Ghanaian clothes. Yes†¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 16. Designs do not have standard prices. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ SECTION F: Promotion Challenges 17. Industry players cannot afford to advertise clothes on TV. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 18. Medium scale clothing producers do not take part in trade exhibition. Yes†¦.. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 19. Most clothing designers are not known. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20. Stakeholders do radio advert to advertise new designs. Yes†¦.. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. SECTION G: Distribution Challenges 21. Cloth designer do not have many sales outlet. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 22. There are not many retailers who deal in made Ghana clothes. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ No†¦. 23. Made in Ghana clothing designs are not easily accessible on the local market. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.