Mitigating Market Entry Barriers

Introduction Porter’s (1979) five forces theory highlights market entry barriers as one of constraints in establishing a new business. Investigating market entry barriers for McLaren enables us to assess the level of competition and the possible barriers hindering the progress of McLaren in the mass car industry. As McLaren began diversification in the 1960’s it helped them greatly in averting market entry barriers to through economies of scale. By branching out into different industries such as McLaren racing and McLaren automotive, McLaren was able to benefit greatly from economies of scale. This has aided McLaren with their high capital investment requirement for establishing a mass car producing company. As a high value vehicle, to purchase the parts and have the McLaren consumer car manufactured would be extremely expensive. However, Mclaren entered the mass car market as part of its diversification strategy which has allowed the company to utilized same value chain for its consumer car equipment. Therefore, the initial high investment capital barrier required for the market entry was successfully mitigated by McLaren. Apart from the huge capital investment requirement, product differentiation is also one of the market entry barriers in the mass car market. McLaren overcame this barrier quite easily because it already had established brand equity and a loyal clientele. McLaren is a known worldwide for its formula one racing team in high regards so establishing new businesses under its brand name wasn’t difficult. McLaren’s cars were easily differentiated from other high end car producers due to the company’s already established brand image. (Fahri, K & Michael, J. 1989) Another barrier to market entry within the car industry is the distribution channels. McLaren was not required to establish its distribution channel for consumer cars because it did not produce them in large numbers and most of its cars were purchased by car enthusiasts who keenly south after the brand. The strategic ‘pull’ strategy for marketing its small number of high end consumer cars averted its needs to establish a distribution and sales channel (Terpstra, 1994). Another entry barrier to the mass car market and an important one is the requirement of consumer cars to adhere to safety specification and environment epscification. . The automotive industry is subject to government rules and regulations that include the vehicle safety and environmental matters. Vehicle safety is to ensure that each car that is supplied is safe for the driver and its passengers at all times. Environmental matters include emission levels to reduce the damage each vehicle creates to destroy our environment. McLaren has its own research and development centres and state of art test facilities and production plant where it could develop, implement and monitor its car performance in accordance with the legal requirements. The Level of Diversification Achieved by McLaren According to Ansoff (1957), there are four basic corporate strategies for growth. These are market penetration; market development; product development and diversification (see fig1). Fig.1 The first three growth strategies require a firm to change its product and/or market structure. Unlike these three, the forth growth strategy i.e. diversification requires a change in the characteristics of a company’s product line and/or market. Diversification â€Å"calls for a simultaneous departure from the present product line and the present market structure† (Ansoff, 1957, p.114). Pertaining to this growth strategy classification, venturing of McLaren into several distinct businesses can be classified as its diversification strategy. Over the years, McLaren has ventured into several distinct businesses. These are: McLaren Racing involves formula one racing team that competes in formula one racing. This business focuses mainly on the racing team of the company. McLaren Racing sets out to be one of the best known formula one team in the world. McLaren Racing has established its brand by pocketing 181 Grand Prix victories (William, 2009). McLaren Automotive is a business that designs and builds super cars made for the mass consumers. McLaren road cars are designed to meet the high expectations in terms of speed, performance and endurance. As a worldwide brand, McLaren Automotive aims to not only produce the best automotive vehicles but to continuously ‘raise the benchmark in automotive design’ (McLaren, 2013). McLaren Electronic Systems (MES) creates electronic control systems for the McLaren Racing team. The company’s electronic systems are used in formula one vehicle for various telemetry and sensory systems. The company also creates electronic control units for other teams in the motorsport industry to use across Europe and North America. (McLaren, 2013) McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT) focuses on supplying the best technology to boost the technical support in world of sports and to enhance the performance of McLaren’s formula one vehicles. McLaren Applied Technologies has continued to boost McLaren’s reputation as the ‘forefront of British engineering and technology’ (McLaren, 2013). MAT has helped worldwide sports by providing technology to help improve the efficiency of the participant’s performance in the best way possible. This could be something as simple as providing mountain bikes that weigh less without hindering the efficiency of the bike. Absolute Taste is engaged in hospitality and event management business. It serves food to McLaren’s customers and fans at formula one race. Absolute Taste also provides a catering service and hospitality to upper class customers around the world. They also organise events and the serve various cuisines to cater its global customers (McLaren, 2013).McLaren’s Horizontal DiversificationThe aforementioned diversification strategies of McLaren can be categorized as either related or un-related diversification strategies. Related diversification strategies can be further divided into three categories as horizontal, vertical and cross-sector diversification (Charles et. al, 2010). These related diversification strategies differ due to their different combination of industry similarity and value chain similarity (see fig 2). Horizontal diversification pertains to a business’s venturing into a new field which uses the same value chain as its core business and falls withi n the same industry. Considering this definition, McLaren has not diversified horizontally as it has not acquired any other formula one racing teams. Fig.2 (Source: Charles et, al. 2010, p. 296)McLaren’s Vertical DiversificationVertical diversification refers to a diversification initiative within the same industry, but one which uses a different value chain than that of the company’s core business. (Charles et, al. 2010). McLaren diversified vertically through its automotive business as it operates within the same industry but has different customers and marketing channels. Likewise, McLaren’s electronic systems and applied technology business can be termed as vertical diversification as it operates within the same (formula one racing) industry, but it requires a distinct value chain i.e. production, distribution and customer network (McLaren, 2013).McLaren’s Cross Sector DiversificationCross sector diversification occurs refers to diversification within a different industry, but one which has a same value chain (Charles et, al. 2010). McLaren’s venturing into the catering, hospitality and event mana gement business (Absolute Taste) can be classified as cross-sector diversification. Absolute Taste share’s the same value chain as McLaren’s core business as it is an extension of the company’s own marketing activities and thus uses the same managerial and other resources. However, Absolute Taste also operates in a complete different hospitality industry; a field completely different from car racing business. Similalry, McLaren’s applied technologies can be termed as cross-sector diversification in that it also operates in other industries such as medical science apart and sports (other than car racing).McLaren’s Unrelated DiversificationUnrelated diversification is referred to a firm’s engagement in a completely un-related business (Charles et, al. 2010). McLaren, diversification strategies so far do not include any un-related diversification as the company achieves economies of scale and synergies through all of its diversification strateg ies. McLaren has developed this portfolio of companies to boost the Group’s reputation and to expand. The development of the production centre improved McLaren’s chances of increasing economies of scale. By having so many of the McLaren companies being managed under the same roof, it allows each company to make the most of tangible and intangible resources and materials that wouldn’t have been used otherwise (McLaren, 2013). The joint use of inputs means that different McLaren subsidiaries share the transaction cost of machinery and other possible production costs for the vehicles that are produced. Once the McLaren production centre was built, it meant that the internal process of vehicle production would change. Within the production centre research is continuously gathered on how to improve the general performance of McLaren’s Racing and Automotive vehicles. As the car is built they can then send it off to be spray painted by hand within the same facility which not only saves time but reduces errors that may have been made on the paint work by machines. Managerial ambition is the drive of many businesses. McLaren has a reputation to withhold as the ‘forefront of British engineering’ (McLaren, 2013). McLaren are always attempting to produce the best. By diversifying into so many subsidiaries it creates new targets for the groups as a whole. The diversification strategy allows the company to increase its business profile and spread risks accordingly. McLaren’s Diversification strategy as a Reflection of Historical Trends in Corporate Strategy Throughout the midst of 20th century till the early 1990s, there were several dominant logics of strategic management. During 1950s, there was an emphasis on general management skills, along with widespread un-related diversification moves by corporates. It was followed by the prevalence of requiring specific management skills for different industries in the 1970s and 1980s. This was coincided with the requirement of portfolio planning. It was not until 1990s, that the focus of management practitioners and academics was led to prevailing themes of core competencies and dominant management logic view to achieve synergies through growth and diversification strategies (Goold and Luchs, 1993). During this time (i.e. 1990s) McLaren embarked upon its diversification initiative as part of its growth strategy. McLaren’s growth strategy precisely coincided with the prevailing business view of achieving synergies through diversification. Once the new McLaren production centre was built it allowed McLaren Automotive to increase their daily production and enabled them to introduce new road cars such as the MP4-12C sports car. The production centre has not only boosted the production rates but has also got a production line which allows McLaren to test its vehicles (Fosters plus partners, 2013). The production centre is also connected to the McLaren technology centre which is ‘connected by a subterranean walkway, lined with interactive exhibition spaces’ (Fosters plus partners, 2013). This connection allows the technology centre to provide for the McLaren Automotive department by coming up with new McLaren electronic systems for their vehicles. With the producti on centre in place it allows the diversification of the McLaren industries to take advantage of the ability to share machinery. With the connection of the Production centre and the Technology centre it allows McLaren to develop new technology to be used by MES for McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing to use in their formula one vehicle. To either improve the vehicle performance in some way or to generally improve the safety of the racing car. Absolute taste provides food for the McLaren racing team and other clients such as Mercedes-Benz at all grand Prix races worldwide (McLaren, 2013). Igor Ansoff defined synergy as ‘Exploitation of similarities between different lines. Two plus two equals five’ (Ansoff, 1957). This analogy is saying that when similar industries combine such as McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive it increases the production levels beyond the predicted rate. This synergy was improved greatly once McLaren has built the new Production centre. It allow ed the McLaren group to all operate in the same vicinity roof which inevitably improves synergy amongst the different industries. All of each other’s resources are at the disposal of whoever wishes to use it. References Ansoff, I. (1957) Strategies for Diversification. Harvard Business Review. Vol. 35 Issue 5. Charles E., Bamford, G. and West, P (2010). Strategic Management. Cengage Learning. Fostering plus Partners, (2013) Projects:McLaren Technology Center Available from http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/mclaren-technology-centre/ (cited on 5th, March, 2013) Goold, M. and Luchs, K. (1993) Why Diversify: Four Decades of Management Thinking. Academic of Management Executive. Vol. 7 No. 3 McLaren (2013) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Available from http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/page/mclaren-group (cited on 5th, March, 2013) Nye, D. (1988) McLaren: The Grand Prix, Can-Am and Indy Cars. Guild Publishing. Porter, M.E. (1979) How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy, Harvard Business Review, March/April 1979. Terpstra, V. (1994). International Marketing, USA: The Dryden Press William, T. (2009). McLaren – The Cars 1964–2008. Coterie Press.

Generalist Practice in Social Work Essay

As generalist, social workers operate from a base of diverse skills which enable them to help individuals with personal problems, while simultaneously confronting the larger issues which are problematic for communities or organizations. Based upon the Generalist Intervention Model, today’s social worker must be equipped with a skill set that is able to address micro, mezzo and macro systems in order to effect change and address issues at each of these levels. Micro systems are defined as individuals, mezzo systems represent small groups and macro systems are large organizations and communities. This book outlines the bases of these three areas of practice in the form of a guide. We are shown the commonalities between the three systems. More importantly a practical model for initiating macro change in organizations and communities is provided in detail; along with analysis of the specific skill set required to enact these changes thru the macro intervention process. This book i s essential for helping the social worker to understand how to effectively advocate for client resources and services, by using agency skills within a community context. The ability to navigate from community to agency, in providing client services is the bases of achievement within the social worker profession. Knowledge of the macro system as it pertains to the role of the agency is germaine to establishing what a social worker can and cannot accomplish for their client. Similarly community issues must be understood for the impact that they present on the social workers ability to perform. The core of the book’s ideology on generalist practitioners is that they possess a wide diverse skill set along with comprehensive understanding of organizational functioning, to perform as a liaison helping their clients (micro system) to benefit from the macro system. Specifically, the book delineates the need for social workers to be thoroughly aware of how organizations function within the community and within towns, counties, states, the national and on the international level, to have a working framework that will enable them to help individual clien ts, groups, families and communities. This book seeks to address the means of accessing resources and contributing to effecting change within the organization to this end. In exploring the macro systems, diverse methods of intervention are presented, from the perspective of how they affect the social worker’s ability to provide services at the community and  organizational levels. The strategies offered in the exploration of the generalist intervention model have proven effective when utilized to present ideas involving changes at the macro level, which are based upon experiences encountered in providing micro services. This is an essential part of the social worker’s role, helping the agency to improve service to clients, from input gained from the social worker in actual practice. Generalist practice is an outgrowth from historical social worker practice, in its expansive approach which incorporates a wide knowledge of skills and professional values enabling the social worker to work across the board, i n providing specific client services. This model represents a change in the historical practice of having practicitioners specialize in one area of practice, such as with individuals or administration. In employing the generalist approach the overriding benefit is that problems are now dealt with from numerous perspectives that may involve all three systems. Presenting the foundation for generalist practice the authors define knowledge, skills and values as the basic three areas needed to be assessed when evaluating any problem. This paradigm is further broken down into the steps to be undertaken to put the model into usage. These fundamental critical thinking skills include engagement, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, termination and follow up, with room for reassessment or discontinuation of contact as the basis of the the generalist intervention model. Specific case histories are given as examples of how these steps can be effectively enacted to address the wide range of problems that social workers confront. To this end, the authors target the basic requirements for social workers necessary to enacting the generalist practice as: extreme flexibility, wide base of knowledge about many aspects of life and the mastery of a range of problem solving skills that may be utilized at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Therefore the ability to apply this knowledge, combined with professional values thru the use of recognized skills and practices, forms the basis of generalist practice. In possessing these skills, the social worker is able to work within any size system in a wide range of professional capacities. Some of these may include mediator, education, initiator, negotiator, advocate, and general manager, as examples. Presenting the varied roles, necessary for the social worker to perform, the author’s elucidate upon a variety of topics related to professional ethics, exploring the values and  mindset that the social worker needs to adapt to their professional role effectively. Special attention is given to the aspects of diversity, and how this relates particularly to populations who are at risk, where special attention needs to be given to insure that social justice is being enacted in the care for oppressed people who may have been marginalized. How these values are encoded in the NASW’s code of ethics is also touched upon. In addition to discussing the importance of utilizing critical thinking skills in social work, practitioners are prese nted with the hierarchy of steps necessary for effecting planned change at the micro level. From the micro level, a similar protocol is furnished for planned change at the macro level, which encompasses many of the same steps but utilized in an expanded version of the first model. This problem solving model is based upon The Prepare Process, which is given an in-depth treatment demonstrating how the practitioner may put this model into actual effect. Basically, the authors treat the three practices using the same fundamental process, as it is stressed that the skills acquired to work with each group, simply are expanded to incorporate the needs of the preceding groups. To this end, the book delves into the specific use of micro skills for addressing planned change at the macro level. Social worker practitioners are shown how to utilize professional communication skills such as an examination of nonverbal and verbal communication patterns, in an effort to show how to initiate and deal in relationships with professional colleagues, community members, political contacts and th ose in administrative positions. Practical subjects such as conflict resolution and effective supervisory skills are explored in depth. In offering an overview of basic communication skills needed to interact effectively at the micro level, the discussion addresses eye contact, listening attentively, nonverbal cues from facial expressions, body language and the conveyance of warmth and empathetic responses to convey feelings of genuine concern for the clients. The impact of these nonverbal signals is explored from the context that this type of communication may have in varying multicultural applications. Many practical examples are presented enabling the social worker to learn the appropriate verbal expressions to convey the desired sentiments. These are offered to the practitioner thru a series of vignettes, illustrating the key points discussed. Branching out into a discussion of communication as it relates  to the macro level, the authors present additional specific tools and techniques for enhancing the commun ication process such as clarification, encouragement, sensitivity to cultural norms, paraphrasing and reflective responding. Specific treatment of the topic of assertiveness, which encompasses aggressive communication as it is applicable to the macro context, is explored in depth. A good deal of detailed strategy and discussion of aspects of the role of and the resolving of conflicts are handled adroitly. Case studies are provided to help assimilate the factual information as it is most often to be encountered in the field. The complex role of the supervisor is addressed, from the perspective of the most efficient means of communicating as a worker being supervised or as the one administering the supervision. A detailed analysis of the way that workers evaluate supervisors, according to their level of expectation is presented as a highlight. This important basic information on the dynamics of the supervisory role is then broken down and addresses the entire gamut of factors that those in a supervisory position need to be cognizant of, to do their job effectively. This encompasses the educational and administrative functions that accompany the supervisor’s role, which include record keeping, agenda planning, and commitment to improvement of communication skills, showing enthusiasm for work activities, and engaging other employees by using a spirit of cooperation. Problems that confront those functioning in a supervisory capacity are explored in detail. An exploration of the challenges that the social worker practitioner may encounter from the supervisor, as the supervised is presented with an eye toward thwarting some of the routine occurrences that staff confront in the dispensing of their duties. Some of these areas discussed in this book include misunderstood communication, addressing the supervisor who assumes credit for the work that others have produced, incompetence on the part of the supervisor and the aspect of the lazy supervisor. A series of potential scenarios illustrating the above aspects of supervisor to supervised conflicts requiring use of the techniques previously described under this heading, provide actual applications for the models suggested. Networking and the importance of utilizing this tool in the mezzo and macro practice areas, is explored in-depth. This is elaborated upon to include concepts in teamwork including effective functioning as the team leader or team member. As these  applications are most o ften used in the larger macro and mezzo contexts, detailed discussion on parliamentary procedure, along with other strategies for meeting planning and implementation are provided. Regarding networking as it relates to being an important tool for social workers, the authors goes into detail as to how clients can gain benefits being engaged in informal networks designed to help with their needs. These frequently include the church, gangs, and groups based upon friendship. Additionally, this concept has strong implications within the cultural context, as these forms of networking for support may be strongly developed within some of the core groups that the social worker provides assistance to. The authors then move into a synopsis of the macro system as it relates to working in organizations, explaining in depth the nature of organization as they function. Even for the beginning practitioner of social work, it is important to understand how social services and social agencies are formulated and work. In this regard, a lengthy discussion of the major organizational theories are addressed, which include a look at classic science based theories of management, theori es of human relations, theories x,y and z, and the dynamics accounting for cultural perspectives, economic perspectives and contingency plans. A lengthy description of the PREPARE and IMAGINE models for the assessment of organization or community change is presented detailing the steps necessary to enact this model at all levels. A continuation of an examination of the IMAGINE model assesses how the implementation of projects and the development of programs at the macro level may best be achieved. The model stresses the importance of adopting a positive mental framework when seeking to undertake change in the macro system; avoiding feelings of hopelessness that may be associated with the perceived largeness of the task, due to the size of the infrastructure. Specific steps are outlined so that the social worker may strategize a plan to implement a project for planned change, and examples of macro projects are provided. Related to this is The a discussion of the use of PERT charts to strategically implement planning using 5 key elements is discussed in detail, illustrating examples of this model and the action steps required to put it into usage. Examples of these models as they are applied to current systems for change abound, with specific cases centering on sexual harassment issues, under the SHAPE model, which is presented as a program  designed to tackle sexual harassment in large organizations. Additional examples of steps necessary to enact such a program for change at the macro level, is delineated providing the example for the introduction of similar programs addressing other areas of planned change. In looking at organizational operations the authors discuss the subject from the perspective of systems. In this regard, they relate the basic nature of organizations which encompasses the agency setting, the organization’s goals, and culture and structure of the organization. Further elaboration on organizations includes a look at the larger picture or macro contact effecting the organization. The changing macro environment, effected by diminishing resources, legitimating, client sources and the need for resources and relationships with other organizations are all covered in detail. The idea of working for a bureaucracy, from the perspective of what the atmosphere is actually like, along with tips for surviving within this environment are delved into in detail. Varyi ng approaches to management style within a bureaucracy are contrasted and compared; and, problems frequently encountered by workers within the bureaucracy are explored. The role of social workers as it relates to communities and neighborhoods is presented in great depth by the authors. It is important for the social worker to comprehend the needs of their clients, within the specific context of the neighborhood in which they live. Paramount is the explanation of the various types of communities and neighborhoods and how they function from the ecological point of view and as that of a social system. To this end, social stratification and the actual economic and political systems that define the community are explored as essential points of evaluation when working as a generalist seeking to institute systemic change or to provide micro services. Elaborating, the authors maintain that it is necessary for the social worker to comprehend the dynamics and movers and shakers of a given community, understanding power as it relates to the context of community. The relationships of the community members as this translates into their role as helping networks i s examined; and, methods of working within these established groups are explored. Discussions defining the various types of communities, with elaboration on their function follows. Presenting the social systems model in enacting systems theory is explained, along with defining the client system, action system and target system  theories for addressing change at the macro level. This is followed with an elaboration on the community roles in functioning as both ecological and social systems. Various theories utilized in the generalist practice to access and make changes in the macro system are defined including the ecological theory, human behavior theory, and rational theories are explored from the perspective of their impact upon the community. This is in addition to a breakdown of the major concepts that the social worker needs for greater understanding of community dynamics including competition, centralization, concentration, gentrification, invasion and succession. Finally a summary of the models needed to provide community assessment, in order to expand soc ial services or improve the functioning of the community in the provision of resources is elaborated upon. Emphasis goes back to the generalist’s required skill set and tools needed to effect change at the macro level. This is handled in great detail utilizing the models previously presented in the PREPARE AND IMAGINE models, as they apply to macro practice for communities. Central to implementing these models is a grasp of the pragmatic steps that the social worker must be prepared to take in following the PREPARE model to approach change at the community level. In summary, these critical steps include identification of the problem; personal assessment of the worker’s macro reality; establishment of major goals; identification of influential community people; and performance an assessment of the financial costs. They add that a review of both the personal and professional risk; along with an evaluation of the potential for successful change within the macrocosm, is also essential. The elucidation of the implementation of macro system change by using the IMAGINE modelâ€℠¢s seven steps is broken down in detail. Illustrated with a case scenario, the authors shows how the various components of the model are effectively utilized in other contexts, with many highlighted examples illustrating how the model may best be put to work. When exploring the process of evaluation as it pertains to the macro practice, the authors demonstrate the necessity of evaluating with an eye toward demonstrating success, as this is instrumental to receiving continued resources. As such, the social worker learns how to develop the correct contextual overview and provide actual definitions needed for proper evaluation. This is combined with descriptions of the purpose for the evaluation, and singling out  problems that presented during the course of evaluation representing a barrier to the achievement of the desired results. Summarizing the dynamics of the evaluation process, the discussion includes an overview of monitoring, summative, and efficiency evaluation techniques. Methods for implementing successful evaluations include discussion of both quantitative and qualitative analysis, with a specific look at examples that include client satisfaction surveys, goal attainment setting and target problem scaling. Providing an expande d summary of the various evaluation designs to be utilized for macro intervention, the authors present a detailed look at sampling and measuring program effectiveness. Various forms of random sampling techniques and methods of data gathering are presented with focus on using six established evaluation designs focusing on various stages in experimental designs. Specifically, the authors go into great detail on sources for measurement instruments and tests, concluding with details of utilizing data analysis and the presentation of the acquired data. A targeted look at the generalist’s role in providing advocacy with an eye toward effecting change within the macro is analyzed from the perspective of how this can be best accomplished when dealing with populations-at-risk. Essentially, the concepts for social action, empowerment as it applies to Hispanic Americans, native Americans and Alaskan natives, women, Asian Americans, women, lesbian and gay persons and clients receiving public assistance are explained, as these groups define the at-risk population. The social worker’s role in working with these specific populations and the opportunity to provide advocacy to these groups within the macro level are explored from the perspective of a series of specific guidelines designed to help in the attainment of these goals. Of importance to the attainment of the above, is a look at the steps required to enact macro change through utilizing the legislative process, which is explored in great detail starting with the drafting of a bill as the initial step in legislative advocacy. This is form of macro intervention at the upper echelons of society and is offered as a blueprint over viewing how the process may be effectively by the generalist social worker. Other forms of political advocacy and social action are presented as alternative means of goal attainment that are more complicated than convention methods. The specific dynamics of Sal Slinky in his Social Action Approach are defined, with a  case history demonstrating the model in action as it relates to the homeless as an example. In presenting a discussion on the role of ethics and concepts of ethical dilemmas within the macro context, the authors present a look at the NASW Code of Ethics which elucidates six of the core values for professional social workers. At the top is service to clients, followed by social justice and individual dignity, human relationships, competence and integrity are also reviewed in detail as to how these concepts effect ethics within macro practice. They describe how working within the macro environment may expose the social worker to uncover laws and policies that may pose a conflict of interest to the ethics platform that has been enacted as a model for providing care, as professional values are part of the basic foundation. A detailed analysis of the application of the code of ethics within actual practice, is provided, and covers areas that include self determination, informed consent, competence, social diversity and cultural competence, conflict of interest and confidentiality and the issue of privacy. Additionally, other pragmatic issues under this heading discussed include access to records, sexual relationships, physical contact, sexual harassment, derogatory language, and payment for services. All of these categories have great impact upon the functioning of the social worker and their ability to interact effectively with clientele. Similarly, the ethical responsibilities governing social workers interaction with colleagues involves many of the same components and includes a review of sexual relationships and harassment, referral for client services, consultations, colleague disputes, respect, interdisciplinary collaborations and confidentiality issues such as impairment or colleague incompetence and reporting unethical behavior. The application of the tenets of the code as it relates to the social worker in practice is explained, from the perspectives of billing, client transfer and records, administration, evaluating performance, continuing education and development of staff, employee commitment and disputes between labor and management. Ethical considerations that the social worker must maintain, when considering their role as a professional are defined and include comp etence, discrimination, private conduct, deception, dishonesty and fraud, impairment, solicitations, misrepresentation and the acknowledgement of credit for work done. The discussion on ethic concludes with a look at the aspect of ethical conduct  affecting the social workers reponsibitly to the social work profession as well as to society at large. This subject is treated from the context of personal values, and we are given a look at the types of ethical issue that the social worker is likely to confront. This is presented along with a synthesis of the ethical absolutism approach comparing it to ethical relativism as a model. Specific examples on handling ethical dilemmas are provided as the principles involved in ranking ethical perspectives are reviewed, which includes a study of the specifics as it presented in Liebenberg and Logoff’s Ethical Principles Screen outlining the hierarch of ethical rights. As there are bound to be stumbling blocks involved with the application of ethics within the macro context, the dilemmas that the social worker may confront me this regard are handled in depth. The challenges for the social worker, engag ed in working with the courts, are detailed with special emphasis on the key terms used to explain courtroom processes. Differences in the application of social work and courtroom protocol are defined, in addition to presenting a plan outlining how the social worker can best prepare to testify in the courtroom. A basic explanation of the adjudication process is consolidated, but specific address to the various cross-examination strategies utilizing is presented in welfare protective services cases. The role of the social worker in court is explained and highlights include an actual court petition for removal of a child from the mother’s residence is the case example presented, in order to see how these concepts would apply to events likely to be encountered at some point in the professional social worker’s career. Special attention is given to juvenile court process as this is a specific area in which the social worker will ultimately gain much familiarity. The management of agency resources is explored from several different perspectives including working with the media and building eff ective media relations. General guidelines for achieving harmonious and beneficial relations with the media are presented in a 10 point program detailing the basics of effective media communications. Pragmatic applications of technology, asset relates to computer programs and software are explored, offering new concepts in the management of information systems and how these effect the services offered in generalist practice. Fund raising principles and the various applications of techniques designed to solicit resources are offered from the many  different perspectives that these tools may be employed to raise resources. Specific examples of fund raising that may be effectively enacted include direct solicitation, benefits and variations, individual donors, creating an organization with this purpose and seeking out group giving. The procurement of grants and contracts are treated separately as this source of funding for social work programs is a favored means of adding resources necessary to enact macro c hange. Business grants, foundation grants and government grants are defined as separate entities, and the basic principles needed to navigate through these areas are provided. The how top’s of grant application are succinctly covered, allowing the social worker to grasp the actual steps necessary to enact this form of funding thru traditional grant proposal writing. Several in-depth examples illustrating various components of the grant proposal process are offered, with specific case histories utilized to illustrate how these techniques have been successfully applied in the past. Addressing personal issues that the social worker needs to address in order to function effectively in their capacity, include a discussion of stress management from the perspective of the General Adaptation Syndrome. Looking at the inception of stressors within the agency context, the authors discuss the psychological, physiological and behavioral problems resulting from stress, with a look at numerous techniques that may be employed for effective stress management. Exploring variations in personal style that are utilized to combat stress, along with an analysis of the effects of time management as they play into the paradigm are offered. Practical suggestions for setting priority and realistic goals focusing on time management are offered along with specific techniques to be used in the management of time. Finally, the authors present concise information for the social worker as it pertains to the attainment of personal professional goals, focusing on the resume, interviewing skills and getting a job. The practical information is geared toward helping the social worker assess their capabilities and areas of interests, as it relates to the type of employment being sought. Presentation of the abilities, in the format of the resume are offered in detail with comprehensive tools and techniques for making a positive presentation being explored in detail. Resources for locating jobs that match the defined objectives and preferences for a career are offered and include a look at newspapers, NASW publications, networking  and state merit system lists.

Law - Criminal Profiling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law - Criminal Profiling - Research Paper Example Indeed, it has been increasingly common in light of the perceived threats to the population by Islamic terrorists. Thus, in airplanes, Islamic-looking individuals are subjected to inspections and interviews of an intensity that white people are not normally subjected to. The increasing numbers of crime, and the associations by people that these crimes emanate from race-based communities such as Hispanic communities, are also responsible for the growing trend towards racial profiling. While racial profiling is never really legislated as a policy in its explicit sense, the ever-widening range of methods that a law enforcement officer are allowed to employ allow the use of racial profiling as a legitimate strategy. We now proceed to discussing the costs against the benefits of racial profiling. Those who support racial profiling believe that a utilitarian approach must be taken. The argument is that because it is true that there are crimes which certain racial groups are more predispose d to committing than other racial groups, â€Å"special efforts at crime reduction directed at members of such groups are justified, if not required.† (Risse and Zeckhauser, 2004). ... In contrast, those who are opposed to racial profiling dispute the position that some races have a greater tendency to commit some crimes than others. Indeed, in a study conducted, the officers’ behaviour of racial profiling is not supported by any showing that the criminal acts in the predominantly white community were committed by African Americans (Meehan and Ponder, 2002). Of course, the deeper objection to racial profiling is that it does â€Å"curtail the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by millions of people who belong to racial and ethnic minorities.† (American Civil Liberties Union and Rights Working Group, 2009). The jurisprudence has also tended to support racial profiling. It has been held, for example, that when testing the constitutionality of a vehicle stop, the motivations of a police officer making the stop (e.g., if the motivations were driven by racial bias) are immaterial, the only question is whether or not the officer had cause to effect the s top. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996). The impact on this on racial profiling is very much evident – it basically gives police officers unfettered rights to make stops, even if it targets specific racial or ethnic minorities. In the end, instead of educating the police forces to be race-blind, it condones discrimination on the basis of racial and ethnic differences. The role of geography in profiling predatory criminals Geography plays a major role in the profiling of criminals. Some parts of the world have been stereotyped as providing concentrated numbers of individuals engaged in similar crimes. For example, Latin America is known as a drug cartel haven. Many Americans assume that illicit drugs in the United

Case Analysis of OD Letter Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analysis of OD Letter - Case Study Example Is that true? I could sure use someone to bounce some ideas off. I’d appreciate any insights. Sorry to have missed your call but I was in Oklahoma City doing some work with one of my new field teams. And now that I’m back, your secretary said you were out of the area on company business. So this is what we get paid the big bucks for! I thought I’d zap this e-mail off instead of waiting for you to get back at headquarters. Your e-mail triggered some old memories. Excuse my rambling in what I will share with you. I’ll add the details when I see you. Please keep this confidential. Yes, you were right about me working with the XRS project team. I looked in my records and it was three years ago that I worked with XRS. I have been indirectly keeping in touch with how things are going there through one of my old contacts. Their project manager, John Everet, had been under a lot of pressure from his department head, Kate Pringle, to get the project moving at a faster pace. It seems that the team was not turning out any results, and John had been the team manager for over two years. Kate talked to me about the team. She seemed to think there was some friction among members andmaybe that John was causing some problems.†¨Anyway, Kate contacted me to see if I would go along on the team’s annual retreat and maybe help them with severalissues—mainly personnel stuff—and, me being an outsider, bring in a new perspective. Because the company requires an out- sider from another division to go along and help with the training on team retreats, John didn’t have much choice about me being there. He sure didn’t go out of his way to make me feel welcome. I decided it would be wise to go easy at first until I got the lay of the land, and retreats generally have gone pretty well. Most teams have gone away from the retreat thinking they have worked out some team issues. Well, this retreat broke the mold. Anyway, the three-day retreat was weird. The retreat

Dentify the basic provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that Essay

Dentify the basic provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that specifically deal with ethics and Independence and research how this Act has affected auditors since it was established in 2002 - Essay Example An example is the collapse of Enron. Unethical conduct on the part of Corporate CEOs and Audit Firms was responsible (Rezzy, 2007). To avoid a repeat of the same, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed to instill ethics and instigate independence auditors. The essay covers specific provisions of the statute intended to promote ethics and independence to demonstrate how the act has affected auditors. Section 101 created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as an independent body with the onus to monitor and regulate the activities of auditors (Freeman, 2009). The board has since ensured that auditors comply with the provisions of the legislation as well as comply with the code of ethics for persons in the auditing business. Since the introduction of the Board, it is believed that audit malpractice has reduced due to the stiffer penalties that threaten implicated firms as a result of the Board’s investigations according to Romano (Romano, 2005). Title III from section 301 to 308 endeavors to promote ethics by obligating company executives to be personally responsible for the financial reports of the corporate, whether quarterly, semi-annually or annually. To avoid malpractice, CEOs and other chief management staff are required to inspect and pass as accurate the financial statements of the company before they are released. This in turn makes the officers personally liable if any misstatements are made that could be misleading as to the financial soundness of the company. Green states that any officer required to append signature on a financial report must only do so after doing due diligence using their knowledge to make sure that everything stated therein is true to avoid personal liability (Green, 2004). This has had the effect of reducing fraud as corporate executives struggle to ensure that financial reports are as accurate as

Design a bioreactor that can replicate the in vivo loading conditions Essay

Design a bioreactor that can replicate the in vivo loading conditions experienced by bone cells in the body - Essay Example It is followed by the dedifferentiation of the cells. This process produces only a minimal concentration of the cells. Hence the use of micro carrier cultures is done for the well-mixed bioreactor systems. The defects in the skeleton system are a big impediment to the normal functioning of the human system. The autogenous bone transplantation is practiced for the bone replacement so far. (Schieker, 2006).This method has increased risk of surgery and post operative morbidality to the patients. This method also has the disadvantage of limited quantity and the secondary operational procedure costs. The calcium phosphate ceramics is widely used for the production of the bone supplement. The hydroxyapatites of the calcium phosphate ceramics have considerable clinical use because of their chemical and relvant crystallographic structures to bone. The cell based therapy aims at developing the 3D biohybrid structure of a scaffold and cultured cells. The bioreactors that are established for th e microbes and mammalian cultures are not suitable for the 3D structure constructs. Hence the need for a tissue specific bioreactor design arose. To restore back the skeleton function, the bone tissue engineering is used. The production of tissue engineered piece of spongy bone is one of the challenging fields in bone tissue engineering. The three key elements of bone tissue engineering are osteogenic progenitor cells, osteoinductive growth factors and osteoconductive matrices. Osteoblasts are the differentiated cells that arise from the osteoprogenitor cells. These cells are very mobile and they change the shape and size according to the matrix of the bone. These cells appear with in the vascular tissue. These cells are responsible for the synthesis and the secretion of the organic matrix of the bone. Bone remodeling and the bone reformation are the two types of the tissue engineering processes that can are possible with the osteoblast cells.

Methodology Chapter in a dissertaion about Teaching English (TESOL) Research Paper

Methodology Chapter in a dissertaion about Teaching English (TESOL) for a British University - Research Paper Example Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Comparative Research. This is where a study is done through two or more situations that go hand in hand are compared either as they were in the past or as they are in the present so as to draw a conclusion regarding a given subject matter (Linder, 2004:14). In this respect, the use of ICT in education has been compared between different nations so as to come up with a suitable way of how to implement it in a given nation. This is effective in providing possible challenges and suitable modes of how to deal with them, but it fails in providing a custom made solution of dealing with specific challenges that are faced with the nation in question as no two nations are precisely the same. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Descriptive research. In this method of research, data regarding the subject matter of the study is collected through observations. This method has been suitable in provi ding tailor-made solutions for the specific area of study as observation is a mode of collecting first-hand information about the study area with no contamination from any intermediate receptors of the data (Oblinger & Oblinger, 2005:8). The method has however failed to detect possible challenges that might occur which historical information is suitable in revealing. The use of Correlation Research is another method that has been used in a similar study in the past. In this method of research, the study collects information regarding the subject matter and tries to establish the presence of any correlation or relationship between two phenomena in the subject and predicts the manner in which each of the phenomenon would change with a certain change in the other phenomenon (Ryan, 2000:9). This method of research has been effective in providing information regarding the various variables in the subject matter and the way in which they relate to each other. It is however not suitable in detailing how variables can stand independently to solve certain challenges. Another method that has been used in a similar study in the past is Experimental Research. In this method of research various elements of the subject of debate are put in controlled conditions and monitored with certain pre-determined degrees of changes to establish the manner in which they react. This method has been effective in given information regarding small controlled groups of the population under investigation which are taken as a sample group of the entire study group (Blurton, 1999:7). It is however subjected to experimental errors which might lead to the drawing of wrong conclusions regarding the entire target population. Evaluation Research is yet another method that has been used in a similar study in the past. In this method of research, the study investigates the manner in which population groups in say a social setting make good of the situations in which they find themselves in and hence live in harmony. It this subject matter the method of research has been used to investigate the manner in which various societies have made of ICT in their education systems (Becta, 2008:14). It hence comes up with a clear picture of the level of effectiveness or lack of it in the use of ICT in education in a given setting. This method however is not effective in coming up with

Office Art Memo. Memorandum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Office Art Memo. Memorandum - Essay Example Through the discussion in the memo, the CEO and the Vice President have been given the overview of why these pieces have been chosen and what they represent both to the history of art and to the corporate image. Acme Garden Supplies Memo To: Crispin Maverick, CEO From: (your name) CC: Blu Callahan Vice President Date: 5/31/15 Re: Office Art I want to begin by thanking you for this opportunity to curate the art that you want to use in your office space. After considering the possible choices, I have picked one piece of art to be the centerpiece of the works you will display in the outer office area that will serve as the focal point from which all the other pieces will be put into balance. The work I have chosen is that of George Seurat, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand-Jatte (1884-1886) (Figure 1). I believe that this post-impressionism work will have the elegance that the space needs to convey a message of both beauty and color. The piece has a dignity and an understated casual nature as there is the scene of the afternoon in which 19th century formalism is combined with the relaxed pose of the characters. The colors pick up the blue of the office decor, while introducing warm tones to complement and enhance the decor. As one looks at the Seurat, the pointillism with which it was created is subtle, and yet engaging. The painstaking detail of applying paint in small dots in order to create the impression of life creates a number of references to our business that can be further explored in the other pieces that are chosen. The pointillism, the gathering of the many people in the piece, and the natural environment of the setting all suggest a blanket of flowers, reflecting the nature of the company. The two pieces that will hang side by side behind the chairs to the left of the wall in which the Seurat will hang are Vincent van Gogh’s post-impressionism work Sunflowers (1888) (See Figure 2) and his work Flowers in Blue Vase (1887) (See Figure 3 ). The Seurat will be large scale, filling the space above the chairs, with the two Van Gogh’s scaled down to equal the same width with a generous space between them, but a reduction in the height so that they will be centered to compliment the Seurat. We will work with our supplier to get exact measurements in order to be cost efficient, but still meet the needs of the design of the space. In the offices of Crispin Maverick and Blu Callahan will be impressionist pieces that will complement the works in the outer office. The first piece that will be in Mr. Maverick’s office will be Gustave Caillebotte’s Jour de Pluie a Paris (1877) (See Figure 4). This piece will offer a sense of stateliness to the office, while also conveying a sense of protection as the umbrellas within the piece cover the people, keeping the rain from their clothes. As he is the CEO of the company, his position should be one that has the appearance of control and oversight. This piece will ha ve a large scale and hang to the left of his desk on a wall of deep burgundy over the black leather sofa that is already in the larger office space. In the office of Blu Callahan will hang two pieces of smaller scale, but that complement the scale of the Caillebotte that hangs in Mr. Maverick’

Email - New Travel Policy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Email - New Travel Policy - Assignment Example Moreover, it has been noted that, travel expenses outweigh the estimated per diem allowance by far. To implement the new policy, the company ill issues travel expense credit cards to each department. To avoid unofficial use of the card, the cards will be managed by department heads and will only be issued for an on-duty travel. The cards will be loaded with monthly intervals unless on special request by the department. Given that most travel agencies have incorporated e-payments the cards are expected to be very effective. Secondly, each transaction via the card automatically reflects both in the general accounting department as well as the respective departments finance office. Due to the urgency and seriousness of the problem, the new policy ought to kick off from next month. Therefore, each department is expected collect a loaded credit card from the accounting department by the end of this month. Remarkably, as from 1st November, the accounting department won’t accept any travel expenses for travel

Show how the use of the three school of education learning principles Essay

Show how the use of the three school of education learning principles enables a teacher to develop children as learners - Essay Example Various methods and helpful tools are available to make a young child understand through the process of exploration and discovery, which involves self-assessment as well. As all of us know, every child has a hidden talent and it The child starts communicating, understanding the surrounding world, immediately after the birth. Certainly, a month old baby responds to our communication by giving facial and other expressions. Such communication is very satisfying and is the indicative harbinger of the conversation to come in the following months, while the child grows. Studies indicate that the child at the time of birth itself starts to become aware of the fact that he or she is a member of the human society. Children start gradually understanding the art of social interaction from that stage onwards. We have evidence from studies that show that children one of us is thinking in a different manner. There have been experiments conducted with children of 3 to 4 years age, that revealed the sense of the child being aware of her intellectual functioning and about the same attribute, she may find in some other children. Every child who enters the school for the first time tries to pick up the three R’s as fast as possible. However, not all the children are having the similar capabilities to do so. In view of this and other factors, many educationists have found a way of schooling, which is called â€Å"The Constructive View of Schooling, or Discovery Learning†. All of the above basics are derived from the theories that have been described by John Dewey (1916/1997), Jean Piaget (1954) and Lev Vygotsky (Rice & Wilson 1998). In addition, the technological advancement of 21st. century has demanded the implementation of these theories more vigorously as the deep understanding of the major concepts is required from the early childhood levels, so that the child as an adult goes to face the competitive world in

Blake is the enemy of all authority(TM) Essay Example for Free

Blake is the enemy of all authority(TM) Essay Blakes poetry often serves to propagate his anti-authoritarian views and loathing of institutional power. Furthermore, his views often impress upon the reader his belief in the human right for both spiritual and social freedom, unconstrained by established convention. Blakes treatment of the institution of the church and religion is often contemptuous and shows his attitude to what he sees as the hypocrisy of an uncompromising establishment which in his eyes causes misery, rather than nurturing the human sole. In The Garden of Love Blake conveys his anti-clerical message in the stanza the gates of this chapel were shut and reflects his view of the church as exclusionary. Moreover, the shut gates imply that the path to heaven and God does not start at the foot of the alter, but in individual belief and spirituality. The idea is further reinforced in the poem by the image of priests binding with briars my joys and desires and thereby placing the priests in the position of Christs oppressors, making them seem malevolent in robbing people of their natural joyful impulse. The alliteration and assonance within the binding with briars further reinforces the idea of a cruel path to supposed salvation. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell challenges traditional Christian theology and makes the statement that Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion, this conveys his belief that whilst society may restrain immorality, religion can create it. The prisons built with stones of law also symbolise how traditional doctrinal teaching has imprisoned personal individuality. Furthermore Good is the passive which obeys reason. Evil is the active springing from energy epitomises the teaching of the Church of Blakes time and is contrary to the sentiments of most contemporary readers in an age prizing individuality and condemnatory of passive indolence. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell was composed after the 1789 French Revolution and in a period of radical ideological and political conflict, therefore Blakes condemnation of apathy is aimed to promulgate his vision of anarchic energy free from the restrain of authority. Reason is the bound or outward circumference of energy suggests that living purely through ones intellect is what constrains boundless energy, which to him is eternal delight. So in this respect it is evident that the traditional authority given to rationality is seen as preventative to living life to its full as the restrainer or reason governs the unwilling. This indicates Blakes view that the natural human instinct is to oppose reason and that to act according to reason is tantamount to acting under duress, in the mistaken belief that to oppose reason is to go against the Good [which] is the passive that obeys reason. In the poem The school Boy Blake condemns school- an institution which tries to teach reason as restricting the childs vivacity in his natural environment. How can the bird that is born for joy sit in a cage and sing? is a metaphor for human imprisonment to show that the environment of the classroom cannot cultivate the unrestrained and joyful energy which Blake reveres. This is in contrast to the sky-lark [which] sings with the boy when he rise[s] in a summer morn When the birds sing on every tree. This illustrates the bucolic setting, filled with aural imagery and how joy prevails in the boundless confines of nature. The repression of man-created institutions such as school can be contrasted to the freedom provided by nature, where arguably God is the only authority. The nurses song centres on the liberating environment of nature where the voices of children are heard on the green and laughing is heard on the hill. This evokes the abundance of delight created by Gods creation of the natural world and how in Blakes time the idyllic countryside of England was yet largely unspoiled by large, polluting manufacturers seeking profit maximisation. The laughing of the children in The Nurses Song almost becomes as natural as the song of the little birds and shows that in such pastoral surroundings the childrens freedom is boundless just as that of the birds. However, this freedom is circumscribed by the watchful nurse in The Nurses Song in Songs of Experience who reprimands the children saying your spring and your day are wasted in play and in contrast to the well intentioned protection of the children in the first Nurses Song, this poem presages the eventual loss of the childrens natural freedom. However, Blake does not oppose parental authority arising from love, that is in the best interests of the child. Whilst he may rightfully condemn the parents in The Chimney Sweeper (experience) who clothed [their child] in the clothes of death And taught [him] to sing the notes of woe, this is because they are uncaring and hostile to their childs happiness that is anathema to them. Consequently, their authority is destructive and oppressive. But, Blake does not condemn the guiding role of the mother in The Little Black Boy, who taught [him] underneath a tree, as her teaching is not institutionalised and rigidly doctrinal, but done outdoors in the natural environment that Blake so venerates. Moreover, at a time when slavery was still legal in England and the general perception of other races was of a racist sort, Blakes portrayal of the boy and his mother in an affectionate manner, devoid of savagery would have challenged the notions of his day. In another radical step away from the customs of his time the introduction to Songs of Innocence gives authority to the child, to which the piper assents. Pipe a song about a lamb. / So I piped with merry cheer paints the child was the origin of creativity and beautiful, with the piper as his instrument. The reference to the lamb suggests that the child has a moral and spiritual purpose and that his youthful innocence makes him more adept than the piper to whom he shoes how to convey the message through song. However the transience of the childs authority is conveyed in the words so he vanished from my sight which re-establishes the reality of Blakes time when children were powerless to resist the demands of their elders and could not dictate their own wishes or destinies. Blakes focus on authority is intended to make a social and political statement about the customs of his day. Arguably, he does not oppose all authority but merely the kind arising from self-interest and requiring the sacrifice of fellow human beings. His poetry advocates individuality and unrestrained vivacity for life rare for his time and fundamentally preaches unbridled equality.

Hunger game Essay Example for Free

Hunger game Essay In the novel the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the main character is Katniss Everdeen a female that represent district 12. Throughout her journey she has to fight against eleven other district and twenty-three other tributes in order to be the last tribute to survive. Although Katniss know that the Hunger Games is not an easy task to complete winning or staying alive is the only option, she still gain the power and confidences to compete. Throughout the Hunger Games all the power was given to the totalitarian government of the capitol. The government was able to control the people and the districts of Panem, because they hold most of the country of Panem wealth. In theHunger Games the citizens of Panem were consider to be servants in a brutal game of life and death. The games keep the people of the districts divided and fighting among themselves. â€Å"Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill on another while we watch† (1.  18). The main purpose is to remind the districts how weak they are, and cannot do nothing about it, their deaths is for televised entertainment. As the journey continues Katniss started to develop more power and confidences in herself. The control the capitol has over each districts is to maintain order. But when it came to Katniss and Peeta the capitol had little control over them. â€Å"Eventually I understood this would only lead us to more trouble† (1. 6). At this point in time Katniss’s fear that the capitol is controlling her. â€Å"I don’t want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I’m not† (10. 141). Peeta wants to die as himself, not as one of the capitol’s servants. The Hunger Games involved different stages of dystopia. In which they used propaganda to control the citizens of Panem. The only option they have is to fight for their survival to win or to be killed. However Katniss defeats the capitol and frees the districts from its wrath.

Oxygen Consumption in Cellular Respiration

Oxygen Consumption in Cellular Respiration Introduction   Dormant seeds are seeds that are living but have a seed coat around them. They have all the supplies they need to process and have a metabolism, and they would be able to germinate if they were under the right conditions.1 Germination occurs when dormant seeds are placed in the right conditions to start to enlarge and open so roots start to protrude. Oxygen, water, temperature, and amount of light are all important factors for germination. For peas to germinate, they need a dark, warm environment after soaking in water.   Cellular respiration is a metabolic process. Eventually, catabolic reactions are used to break down an organic molecule to release energy. Cellular respiration occurs through three stages: Glycolysis, the Krebs Cycle, and oxidation phosphoralation. Cellular respiration is aerobic, and glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) go into the reaction, and through the process, carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and up to 38 ATP are produced. This means that during the process, the glucose is broken down and the oxygen is consumed. As this happens, carbon dioxide and water come out and energy is released into the cell.   The general gas equation, otherwise known as the Ideal Gas Law, states: PV=nRT such that P is pressure, V is gas volume, n is the amount of gas molecules, R is the gas constant that remains the same and is measured in units of the other aspects, and T is temperature of the gas. The general gas equation is important because it shows that pressure and volume are inversely proportional in the molecules and temperature stays the same. Also, if the molecule number stays the same, but the temperature changes, the pressure and volume are directly proportional to temperature and one or both will change in the same direction. A respirometer measures how much oxygen is used during cellular respiration. The basic concept is, as oxygen from the air in the respirometer will be consumed in the reaction; the volume of the oxygen gas decreases, and the pressure decreases as well. When the pressure decreases, water from outside the respirometer will proportionally come into the pipette, and if the amount entering is measured, then the amount of oxygen consumed is the same. Potassium hydroxide solution reacts with carbon dioxide to form potassium carbonate. The carbon dioxide will be completely used in the reaction, so none will be left in the surroundings. In the experiment, the carbon dioxide that is produced will move towards the 15% KOH solution and will create the solid potassium carbonate. Therefore, any volume change is not related to the CO2.   The purpose of the experiment is to determine how much O2 is used in cellular respiration. In addition, the different rates of reactions of germinated peas compared to dry peas is tested to determine if one is more efficient, and different temperatures are tested to see which has the greatest effect. It was hypothesized that the germinated peas will have a higher rate of reaction and therefore consumes more oxygen than the dry peas. Also, the peas in the warmer water will have a higher rate of reaction as well. Materials and Methods 50mL tube H2O Tub with 10 ° C Water Extra ice Tub with room-temperature Water 50 germinating peas 50 dried peas Glass beads Paper towels Six vials Six stoppers with glass calibrated pipettes attached Absorbent cotton Nonabsorbent cotton Dropper 6mL 15% KOH solution 6 weights Tape Thermometer The room temperature water tub was placed out before the experiment took place to insure that the water reached equilibrium. Ice was added to the water of the second tub to keep a constant temperature of 10 ° C. This temperature was maintained by adding ice when needed throughout the experiment. A tube was filled with 25mL of H2O. 25 germinating peas were added, and the water displacement was recorded. This was the volume of the 25 germinating peas. The peas were then placed on a paper towel to dry off. The tube was refilled, and 25 dried peas were added. Glass beads were added until the same volume of germinating peas was reached. The peas and beads were placed on a paper towel to dry. The tube was refilled and only glass beads were added until the germinating peas volume was reached. The beads were placed on a paper towel to dry. The process of adding germinating peas, dried peas, and glass beads to 25mL of H2O was repeated so there were two sets of each. Next, the respirometers were created. Absorbent cotton was placed on the bottom of each of the six vials. One milliliter of 15% KOH was placed on the cotton, making sure that the sides of the vials remained dry. Nonabsorbent cotton was placed on top of the moistened cotton. For vial 1, the first set of germinating peas was placed on top of the cotton. Vial 2 had the first set of dried peas and beads, and vial three had the first set of only beads. Vial four had the second set of germinating peas, vial five had the second set of dried peas and beads, and vial six and the second set of beads. The stoppers with the pipettes were placed in each vial. A weight was attached to the bottom of each. Tape was placed across each tub to create a sling. The first 3 vials were placed in the tub of room-temperature water, and the last three were placed in the 10 ° C water tub. The pipettes of all were placed on the sling so that the vials were not completely in the water. After seven minutes, all the respirometers were submerged in the water so that the numbers on the pipette could still be read. After 3 minutes, the initial water amount was recorded for each vial. The temperature in both tubs was recorded. The water position was recorded for each vial in both tubs every 5 minutes for 20 minutes. Once done, the respirometers were taken apart, the cotton and peas were discarded, and the rest of the respirometers were washed and dried. The water in the tubs was discarded in the sink. Results It was hypothesized that the germinating peas would have a faster rate of reaction than the dried peas, and the ones in the room temperature water would have a better reaction rate than the ones in 10 ° water. The results support the hypothesis. As shown in Table 3, the difference column shows the initial reading minus the reading of the time for each vial, this represents how much water has entered into the pipette since the beginning of the experiment. If the water entered more, then the pressure inside the vial must have decreased, therefore the oxygen in the vial must have been consumed during the experiment. The germinating peas had much more of a difference than the dried peas. Therefore, oxygen was consumed must faster in the germinating peas than the dried ones. The hypothesis was correct. The glass beads were the control of the experiment, since there was no respiration taking place in those respirometers; therefore, if there were any outside forces affecting the experiment, they would be detected in this respirometer. In table 3, the difference in the initial and each time check was shown for beads. The pressure did change slightly in both the room temperature and 10 ° C water. This could be due to the temperature change of the air, resulting in the temperature change in the water and respirometer. According to the general gas law, if the temperature increases, the pressure or volume will also increase, and this would cause the water to leave the pipette. Therefore, the difference would be negative since there is less water in the tube than the initial amount. The corrected differences shown in Table 3 are found by subtracting the difference of the beads initial reading and reading at the moment from the difference between the initial amount and the reading of the moment of the peas. This is the amount of pressure just lost only due to cellular respiration. When the corrected difference is negative, that means that the pressure increased in the vial, as discussed above. The corrected differences in the 20 ° water are shown in Figure 1. The germinating peas increased a lot more than the dried peas, shown by the steep slope of the germinating peas in 20 ° C water. The dried peas actually had a negative corrected difference, which indicates either an increase in pressure or increase in temperature. Figure 2 shows the corrected differences in the 10 ° C water. The germinating peas still had a higher rate of reaction for cellular respiration in the colder water. The dried peas had a negative corrected difference, so like the ones in the r oom temperature water, this indicates either temperature of pressure increases around the respirometers. The hypothesis that cellular respiration would occur more in the room temperature respirometers than the 10 ° C water was correct. The germinating peas in the room temperature water consumed far more oxygen than the ones in the 10 ° water. As shown in Table 3, in the first five minutes, the germinating peas in the room water caused the pressure to drop .2 mL in the respirometer. The ones in the cold water only caused the pressure to drop .06mL, the big difference already shows that higher temperatures affect cellular respiration positively. Figure 3 shows the two germinating peas in the different water. The ones in room temperature water have a steep slope compared to the ones in the 10 ° C water. The curves indicate that the cellular respiration increased faster in the germinating peas in the room temperature water than the ones in the 10 ° C water. The difference between the two temperatures shows that the cellular respiration has an ideal temperature to achieve efficiency of the respiration, and that room temperature is better than 10 ° C water.

INFLUENZA Essay -- essays research papers

INFLUENZA   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A virus called an Orthomyxovirus causes influenza. Often called flu, sometimes-even grippe. It is a very contagious disease, and it infects many parts of our bodies. This also includes are lungs. A person can get influenza if someone coughs, sneezes, or even talks around you while they are infected. Influenza is sometimes considered serious in some cases but can be prevented and treated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When you get the â€Å"flu† in the lungs, the lining of the respiratory tract is damaged by becoming swollen and inflamed. But the damage is not always permanent, and tissue heals within a couple of weeks. It is a respiratory disease, even though it infects the whole body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The victims’ symptoms usually are fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite and body, head, back, arm, and leg ache. If you have the disease you may also suffer sore throat, a dry cough, nausea, and burning red eyes. Usually the victim will have nasal congestion and mucus discharge. The fever can reach to about 104*F but it only lasts about 2-3 days then it recedes. Occasionally in more severe cases there will also be gastrointestinal upset. In short, after all these horrible symptoms the patient still feels exhausted a series of days after the flu is gone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Healthy people have nothing to worry about really when it comes to influenza. It is a moderately severe illness and people are usually back on...

Sex, Masculine Pride, and War in Henry V Essay -- Henry IV Henry V Ess

Sex, Masculine Pride, and War in Henry V      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Henry V, though reputed to be a crude, early item from Shakespeare's canon, provides many interesting and mature discussions on morality and psychology. Far from being, as it were, pre-written by being an "historical" work, it is a testament to the bard's skill that he can work so many ideas into a frame that has to take account of popular facts.    Interpretation of the play tends to revolve around issues of kingship, duplicity in Harry's self-presentation, or the consequences of war, but there is a glaring line of discussion present which has generally been missed: the relationship of war to sex and masculine pride. One critic writes, "War is a version of male lust. Hal never grows up but works out ways to aggrandize himself by owning more and more property. Geography as ego. And... he's a rapist too" (Landis 201). There are at least three significant relationships of pride, lust, and war which are brought out in the play and will be pointed to in the following. One is war as a response to insult and perceived or suggested (sexual) inadequacy. One is war as the occasion of massive rapine. The other is war itself as a sort of metaphorical rape. These themes will be brought to light most clearly by attention to the most traditionally ignored passages of Henry V.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Critics have often dismissed the comic scenes of the play as crowd-pleasing devices or filler, "only casually related to the main action" (Becker 74). The filler theory can be dismissed outright given the length the play already enjoys. The scenes involving Pistol, Nym, and Bardolph, or Fluellen and Gower actually fit the play perfectly. As far as the play's themes go, these... ... of many of this play's lines.    Works Cited Becker, George J. Shakespeare's Histories. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1977. Brennan, Anthony. Henry V. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992. Landis, Hoan Hutton. "Another Penelope." Women's Re-Visions of Shakespeare. Ed. Marianne Novy. Chicago: Univeristy of Illinois Press, 1990. 196-211. Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Ed. F. Marshall and Stanley Wood. London: George Gill & Sons, (year unknown; between 1892 and 1936). Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Ed. John Dover Wilson. London: Cambridge University Press, 1985. Wilcox, Lance. "Katherine of France as Victim and Bride." Shakespeare Studies 27 (1985): 61-76.    1[1] i.e. the lily, the symbol of France, featured on its coat of arms. 2[2] "Flower of the bed," i.e. the maiden Katherine.

The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning Essay -- Argumen

The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning      Ã‚  Ã‚   In our modern day world, the technology of genetic engineering and human cloning for the use of asexual reproduction has reached a point to where we must ask ourselves if it is a good practice for medical purposes, or if it presents issues of ethical and moral concern.   Human cloning is a very cmplex process; it is very multilayered in the promises and threats that are suggested by scientists (Kolata 8).   In the basic definition, cloning is accomplished by removing the nucleus of a mature, unfertilized egg and replacing it with a specialized cell from an adult organism.   The nucleus taken contains most of the hereditary material from the original human source, and it develops from the human source it was taken from.   This process makes it possible for scientists, or geneticists, to reproduce unlimited amounts of duplicates, which are known as clones (Pence:   Flesh 18).   Human cloning has reached a point wher the ethical and moral values have not been co nsidered, and we have not fully learned and understood the negative consequences of such a new and overwhelming technology.   There are, however, individual benefits of using genetic engineering for medical purposes.   Such purposes include gene therapy and asexual reproduction.   The use of genetic engineering in our society is viewed differently in two very arguable ways.   Scientists, bioethicists, doctors, lawyers, professors, and authors join in the debate over human cloning and its medical benefits versus moral and ethnical concern.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Cloning and genetic engineering ahve been ideas that scientists have explored for a long time.   "Cloning first came to public attention roughly thirty years ago, following the s... ...raise tough questions. http://www.msnbc.com/news/229707.asp Mohler, Albert R. "The Brave New World of Cloning: A Christian Worldview Perspective."   Human Cloning: Religious Responses.   Ed. Ronald Cole-Turner. Louiseville, Ky.: Westminster John Know Press, c 1997. MSNBC Staff and Wire Reports.   Korea says human clone test succeeds: Scientists claim to cultivate human embryo in experiment.   http://www.msnbc.com/news/224234.asp Pence, Gregory E. Flesh of my Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans.   Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Pence, Gregory E. Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Roleff, Tamara L. ed. Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints.   San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1998. Wekesser, Carol. ed. Genetic Engineering: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1996. The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning Essay -- Argumen The Medical and Ethical Perspectives of Human Cloning      Ã‚  Ã‚   In our modern day world, the technology of genetic engineering and human cloning for the use of asexual reproduction has reached a point to where we must ask ourselves if it is a good practice for medical purposes, or if it presents issues of ethical and moral concern.   Human cloning is a very cmplex process; it is very multilayered in the promises and threats that are suggested by scientists (Kolata 8).   In the basic definition, cloning is accomplished by removing the nucleus of a mature, unfertilized egg and replacing it with a specialized cell from an adult organism.   The nucleus taken contains most of the hereditary material from the original human source, and it develops from the human source it was taken from.   This process makes it possible for scientists, or geneticists, to reproduce unlimited amounts of duplicates, which are known as clones (Pence:   Flesh 18).   Human cloning has reached a point wher the ethical and moral values have not been co nsidered, and we have not fully learned and understood the negative consequences of such a new and overwhelming technology.   There are, however, individual benefits of using genetic engineering for medical purposes.   Such purposes include gene therapy and asexual reproduction.   The use of genetic engineering in our society is viewed differently in two very arguable ways.   Scientists, bioethicists, doctors, lawyers, professors, and authors join in the debate over human cloning and its medical benefits versus moral and ethnical concern.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Cloning and genetic engineering ahve been ideas that scientists have explored for a long time.   "Cloning first came to public attention roughly thirty years ago, following the s... ...raise tough questions. http://www.msnbc.com/news/229707.asp Mohler, Albert R. "The Brave New World of Cloning: A Christian Worldview Perspective."   Human Cloning: Religious Responses.   Ed. Ronald Cole-Turner. Louiseville, Ky.: Westminster John Know Press, c 1997. MSNBC Staff and Wire Reports.   Korea says human clone test succeeds: Scientists claim to cultivate human embryo in experiment.   http://www.msnbc.com/news/224234.asp Pence, Gregory E. Flesh of my Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans.   Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Pence, Gregory E. Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? Lanham, Md. Rowman and Littlefield, c 1998. Roleff, Tamara L. ed. Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints.   San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1998. Wekesser, Carol. ed. Genetic Engineering: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc. c 1996.

Religion and Morality Essay

Morality as dependant on religion The idea of whether morality and religion are linked or not was first looked upon by Plato, where in his Euthyphro Dilemma he asks, ‘Is what is pious loved by the Gods because it is pious, or is something pious because it is loved?’ In other words he is questioning whether things are good because God commands them to be, or does God command them because they are good? I will first examine the view followed by theists today, that things are good because God loves them and that religion and morality are linked. There are a number of ways which you can establish a possible link between religion and morality, the first being heteronomously. Heteronomy is the view that morality depends on religious belief, or things derived from religion. The rules in heteronomous societies are from religious authority so will obviously be linked to religion, however a non-religious person is still capable of being heteronomous as they live and abide by the culture’s laws therefore adopting a morality based on religion. To a certain extent it is hard to deny aspects of heteronomy, since words like ‘good’ and ‘evil’ are shaped by religion. It would be hard to present an ethical theory free from these terms. A theonomous link can also be made, where morality and religion depend on one source (for example, in Western cultures God) who is the fundamental designer of what is moral. Unlike Heteronomy, Theonomy does not require a religious authority as it is to do with the individual’s personal belief in the aforementioned source. The Natural Law theory developed by Aquinas is considered theonomous, in which an uncaused cause is the creative source for all. We can access God directly in this theory by fulfilling our purposes in life set by Him at our creation. The view that things are good through God’s command is directly illustrated in The Divine Command Theory, the common theory adopted by believers in the God of Classical Theism. According to Emil Brunner (1947), ‘The Good consists in always doing what God wills at any particular moment’, as it essentially impossible for God to command an evil act. If nothing was commanded or forbidden by God then there would be no wrong or right and arguably, there would be chaos. The DCT can be seen to provide a strong foundation for a stable necessary morality to be built upon as well as personal reasons to abide by it. For example, taken from the views of Kant (although not directly aimed at the DCT) the belief in the existence of an afterlife gives us incentive to live a moral life, which we otherwise may not be able to force ourselves to do. The presence of such an afterlife, and the fear of punishment make it rational (According to William Craig) to go against your own self-interest for the benefit of others, as self-sacrificial acts are looked upon well by God. This provides more answers to the question ‘Why be Moral?’ The DCT can be accessed through the Decalogue in the Bible (Exodus 20, old Testament), which provides a set of ten absolute, deontological commands by God. Also through the New Testament in Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ where he makes laws much more situationalist with teachings such as ‘Love your neighbour’, which are flexible and apply to many situations. Finally, many theists argue that it does not make sense for morals to exist in a non-moral universe as there is nowhere they originate from, they don’t fit into a natural universe. They do however fit into a theistic universe where they were created by a moral creator (i.e God), it is then easy to see why they exist. This is supported by philosophers such as John Newman who states that feelings of responsibility and guilt point to God, and by D.I Trethowan, who suggests that an awareness of obligation is an awareness of God. Aii) Morality as independent from Religion A belief in morality as being totally independant from God is an autonomous belief, and there are many arguments in compliance with Autonomy, very much to do with the idea of free-will. If we really are to act with personal freedom of choice then we cannot act out of fear of God’s punishment, it totally voids the notion of free-will; and if God is omniscient and omnipotent he would know what decisions we are to make anyway and he would have the ability to stop us making the wrong ones. James Rachels concludes that no being like God can exist who requires us to abandon our moral autonomy is worth worshipping. There are theories in concurrence with Autonomy which allow still for a good, firm morality without dependency on religion such as Utilitarianism (greatest good for greatest number) so it can be said that religion is unnecessary There are many autonomous arguments against the DCT, beginning with the fact that God himself is not bound by any moral law. This would mean that God’s Ten Commandments could easily have been totally the opposite to what they are, encouraging acts like murder and we would still consider them to be good as God is the epitemy of good. This worrying problem was recognized by philosophers such as G.W Leibniz, who decreed, ‘Why praise him for what he has done, if he would be equally as praiseworthy if he had done the contrary?’ There is belief that if God had commanded acts such as murder, people still would not do them as we through our intuition feel they are intrinsically wrong. Another difficulty with the DCT lies in the many different interpretations which can be drawn from God. The existence of lots of different religions all with equal claim to God makes it very complicated as we cannot tell which one is right. Also, if morality depends on God then surely it would be impossible for an atheist to live a moral life, but this is obviously untrue as so many atheists do live morally. Further criticisms of the DCT stem from its assumption that God is omnibenevolent, a claim which is not easy to comprehend for the atheist because of the undeniable existence of evil. Lastly, many people argue that religion is itself immoral, as it is through religion that the most part of suicide bomb attacks, and other horrific acts are carried out. Examples could be drawn from the events in America involving the Twin Towers, or more recently the teacher in Sudan who is imprisoned for allowing a teddy to be named after the prophet Muhammad. If not for religion, these arguably ridiculous acts would never be justifiable. Hume said on the subject, ‘the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous. Richard Dawkins in ‘The God Delusion’, clearly advocates the theory that religion is immoral when he discusses the story of Lot. This ‘righteous’ man is to be saved from the destruction of Soddom and Gomorrah because he is the most worthy man, however he offers his daughters for gang rape. According to Dawkins this emphasizes the serious disrespect for women in an intensely religious culture. B) To what extent is one of these claims more convincing than the other Going back to the basics of the Divine Command Theory, there are 613 commands in the Bible which were originally in effect, but are not now because they are ‘outdated’, and theists argue that an omniscient God used them knowing they would be relevant for different times. These theists fail, however to a provide a logical explanation for why there is nothing in the Bible which can be related to biological advances such as cloning, an omniscient God should be capable of filling in these gaps in moral law. Furthermore, as Dawkins relevantly points out – how can someone decide that parts of the Bible are now irrelevant, this is just picking and choosing which parts are in your best interest to follow. This suggests that the Bible and therefore the DCT does not in fact provide a stable foundation for morality as there are numerous conclusions to be drawn from ‘relevant’ parts. It must also be taken into consideration that the Bible is not in its original form, through hundreds of years it has been composed and revised so (as put forward by Dawkins again) does it not seem strange that we base our whole morality on such a distorted teaching. Another feature of the DCT, is that everyone will be judged by God, punished for their sins, often in the form of natural disasters. People could say that the recent tsunami and Hurricane Katrina incidents were a form of punishment, but as Dawkins once again highlights, why did this have to happen? It is hard to believe that everyone who died in these disasters was evil, so why could our omnipotent God of Classical Theism not just strike down the individuals without causing so much collateral damage. Moreover, this persuasively further argues the immoral messages religion can be seen to give. Often, it is argued that the set in stone rules of the DCT inspire people to live a moral life out of the incentive of making it to heaven, and avoiding hell. This may be true, but does it not tarnish the goodness of an act when it is done out of selfish reason? Does it then make that act immoral? Yes it does, so it can then be said that the DCT again fails to provide a stable, reasonable basis for morality. These set in stone rules are also cause for discussion, as they are obviously inarguable to a Divine Command Theorist. To them, consequentialist views such as killing someone to save a greater number would undisputedly be wrong. Even if our intuition is what is telling us that defying a command is right, the believer in DCT would say it is our intuition at fault; They do, however fail to take into consideration that by their own decrees intuition is given to us by God to live morally, so why would we intuitively want to go against God? Dawkins’ arguments suggest that religion is responsible for the most part of evil in the world and his descriptions of people like terrorists as e.g. ‘Not psychotic; they are religious idealists who, by their own lights, are rational’ certainly make sense. However he makes it seem that no religious person has the capacity to do good, which can easily be refuted at the mere mention of the names Mother Theresa, or Martin Luther King. He also unsurprisingly doesn’t mention the likes of atheist like Stalin who birthed communism in Russia. Despite this, the majority of Dawkins views and the massive flaws in the DCT show the latter statement in the initial question (‘Is something good because God commands it, or does God command something because it is good?’) to be the most convincing of the two. Although the DCT offers a way for humanity to be good, religion itself harbors too many inconsistencies to base everything we stand for on.