India Under the British Raj Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

India Under the British Raj - Research Paper Example The paper makes an oversight concerning various attempts of Indians to liberate themselves from the tyrannical rule of British. Introduction Many colonialists appeared in the colonies as trade partners who wanted to foster trade relationship with a foreign country. Majority of the world colonialists originated from various European countries and spread to conquer other countries outside the continent of Europe. The ordeal of these perceived colonialists was to explore certain resources in the countries of their colonies. They were mostly interested in items like gold, ivories, skins, and some other precious items. They also targeted certain ideal reproductive lands where they could practice their commercial farming activities (Szczepanski, 2011). What was initially trade turned out to be tyrannical rule directed to the native dwellers by the foreigners. Indian British Raj is one of the vast examples of initial trade incidences turning to brutal rule and forcible transformation of cul tures and societies’ ways of life. In the views of McNamara (2011), Raj is an Indian term for king and which was used to refer to British rule in India. As used to be the common case with colonization, Indians underwent brutal treatment due from their colonizer, but also they gained in terms of civilization. Duiker (2009) mentions that British approached India subcontinent as traders who later acted to subdue every trade in and out of India. As they continued to operate and trade in India, the British started engaging in the internal politics of the country. In 1800, British deployed its armies to attack the Mughal Empire and reduce its greatness in the land (Duiker & Spielvogel). British attacked certain territories some of which were captured by the East India Company. In the view of Duiker and Spielvogel (2006) the initial territories under the East India Company were recovered by the British crows as other ware set under indirect rule of local rajas and maharajas. Duiker and Spielvogel confirm that most of the British rule in India was more with decency considering that upon their arrival they managed to quell civil wars that were among the Indians. British initiated a relative government that worked to favor and respect the rights and wishes of the local populace. British rule in India was termed by historians as honest and efficient that targeted enlightenment and education of the barbaric Indians. British administrators in India built learning centers that allowed the Indians to attain education up to some set levels. According to Duiker and Spielvogel (2006), Thomas Macaulay the head of British administration in India initiated and perfected plans of building schools, which trained Indian children. Thomas in conjunction with British civil service initiated examinations for the learners. British schools also illuminated particular concerns on training Indian girls on how they would become good wives under the wedlock of learned men of Indian. In 1875, British rule in India opened official madras for training females who became medical practitioners. Duiker and Spielvogel (2006) ascertain that British rulers brought sense of humanity in India when they disregarded certain Indian traditions that did not work to respect freedom of citizens. Furthermore, British brought into India fantastic development that included railways and telegraph for communication. The British administra

Promoting Change Essay Example for Free

Promoting Change Essay As a way of improving the level of users’ involvement and making the process an effective one, it becomes necessary that consultative mechanisms that tend to produce feedbacks to users, and the ability to integrate them in every stage of service delivery is put in place. Through their interaction with nurses and the nursing body, users would get to be informed on ways to participate in other to help nurses to deliver effective services. â€Å"Users need to get feedbacks on their participation, but this does not always happen. This can have a bad effect on how people feel about being involved in participation and the difference they can make† (Carr, 2004). Social policy- making have characteristically tended to employ consultative mechanisms to seek greater citizen involvement in generating information for policy formulation. According to Gaventa (1993), the renewed focus on agency in the politics of policy- making offers the scope for recasting the role of citizens in the policy process. Rather than simply the passive recipients of decision made by those who are presumed to know better, participatory approaches redefine ‘expertise’ in terms that both reveal the realities of power involved and assert the legitimacy of knowledge claims by those on the receiving end of policies. The imbalances of power position between the professionals and administrators of service and the users have been observed to be a basis for the relegation of users’ interest to the background. Thus, for an effective mechanism, it then requires that the gap between users and the provider of service be closed down. This can be done when some of these users, who are fit enough, can be trained to become occupiers of the administrative positions for service delivery. Also proper dissemination of information and enlightenment would go a long way in positioning the users and making them know their rights and thus, preventing intimidation and any form of coercion. The importance of proper consultation and feedbacks in users’ involvement would make the users having a sense of satisfaction and the belief that they are actually being involved in the service delivery process. This will create a sense of belonging and even encourage more participation and reduce the level of relegation and disregards of users voice in the policy outcome and decision-making during service policy formulation and implementation. In Wales, the Joint Review Team argues that new mechanisms are now in place to champion the cause of the users. The emphasis is on a culture of involvement through adequate feedbacks to users enhancing users involvement in service delivery. According to Cornwall Gaventa (1999), one form of greater accountability is through increased dialogue and consultation of core users and their involvement. This raises questions about the extent to which marginalized groups are able to articulate their concerns and about the form that dialogue takes Proper conflict resolution that manages conflicts during users’ involvement is necessary in bringing about the effective service delivery and users involvement at the long run. Some articulate service users are branded as unrepresentative therefore be in risk of being ignored. â€Å"Service users who articulate the need for changes that agencies may not be willing or able to implement have sometimes being labelled as ‘unrepresentative†¦implementing changes that require reallocation of resources becoming more difficult especially if these conflict with nationally defined service priorities†. Discrepancy between what management want of user involvement and what users want may be a major source of dissatisfaction for service users, since managers definitions tend to prevail. Some reviews note that dissatisfaction and even conflict may be an inevitable part of the user participation process (ibid). Thus, it requires as a proper resolution of areas of differences that they are adequately taken cared of. Those who usually contact the users should be trained and coached on how to interact and listen to their views and opinions in order to ward off any form of conflict breeding. As Carr (2004), puts it, â€Å"the research suggests that front- line practitioners who have most contact with service users could be usefully engaged in user participation strategies and benefit from user- led training focusing on the practice and principles of user participation†. The front liner practitioners should be equipped with the knowledge of how to handle complaints when service users forward it to them. CONCLUSION Users’ involvement in service in the nursing profession has given them the confidence and pride of having a say in the determination and outcome of what is provided to them. However, report has it that some users feel consulted rather than involved and others have a sense of powerlessness as regarding the complex and confused system in which the participation is structured on. While a sense of stereotyping is being carried out in some quarters, where discrimination and marginalization based on race, minority ethnic has hampered the proper participation of some users. Some professionals relegates users’ interest, this is mostly done due to the huge lacuna of power positioning between the managers and professionals of service provision and the users. It then requires that a proper mechanism for users involvement be put in place through their understanding of the roles of nursing in the healthcare facility and those ethics governing their profession. Hence, it is advocated that a proper feedback mechanism is available; proper conflict resolution be provided for interest clash’ the users of service should be integrated into the service provision activities, where they are perceived as getting services as rights and not privileges. REFRENCES Barnes, C. Mercer G. (2003), â€Å"Research review on User Involvement in Promoting Change and Enhancing the Quality of Social care Services for Disabled People† Center for Disability Studies University of Leeds. 30 June. http://www. leeds. ac. uk/†¦/archiveuk/Barnes/SCIEuserinvolvement2. pdf (19/01/06) Carr, Sarah (2004), â€Å"Position Paper 3: Has service user participation made a difference to social care services? † Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). March. http://www.participateinhealth.org.au

Miramax Films To Hit Web :: essays research papers

Disney’s Miramax films decided to make twelve movies which people will be able to see on pay-per-view downloads through SightSound.com. Miramax is the first major studio to show full-length movies on-line. They have decided to show twelve movies but they feel this could catch on and have potential to expand. Miramax feels the time is right, they are trying to get ahead of other film companies. Miramax feels that showing movies on the Internet will bring in new audiences. The big concern with web movies is piracy Hower Antipiracy technology is becoming much more reliable. SighSound.com will use Microsoft’s digital rights-management system with encryption technology. Users will be able to download the Miramax titles; the user can view them for 24 hours before they disappear from the hard drive. Miramax has not yet come up with a price for the movies. The movies have not yet been decided either but most likely there will be movies out on home video.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think it’s a great idea to put full-length movies on the web. Miramax is a huge industry so if the movies don’t work they aren’t greatly effected. However, being one of the first major studies to start showing full-length movies on the Web will definitely draw users just out of sheer curiosity. Movies on the Web will make it easier for people to view them, they can stay at home, and they don’t have to worry about renting or late fees. Web movies will definitely put Miramax above the rest of the major studios. Lauren Runk May 4, 2000 Extra Abstracts Seat #66 A Family Affair   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With WB becoming so popular especially in the last year, advertisers gave the network money to come up with more family-oriented series like 7th Heaven. The network was given 1 million dollars, which will be used for developing scripts. Many people considered this movie dangerous but the Hollywood community felt it was a good idea, so executives started looking for new scripts. The WB executives came up with three pilots out of eight and they believe all three may actually end up on the networks fall schedule. The three series first is called Finally Home, which stars Melissa Gilbert who plays a mother who lost her twin daughters and now councils children who lost siblings or relatives. The second is Gilmore Girls, which is a mother/daughter drama set in a small town in Connecticut. The last one is called DIG, which goes behind the scenes of a Los Angeles School Department.

Chalk Dust, Cinnamon Spice and Coffee Ground as Insect Repellants Essay

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: There are several household problems we and our helpers encounter at home. These may be issues regarding food supply and storage, cleanliness and sanitation. One of the most common problems is the presence of household ants, especially the red ones, causing a disturbance in our own system of food storage. Red household ants do not only infest stored food in the kitchen but also bite our skin and destroy well- landscaped gardens by building ant hills. Because of this observation, we decided on conducting a study that would eliminate ants with the use of alternative substances that can also be found at home. With this study, we will not only discover other uses and benefits of household waste products but also provide new ways of promoting clean and sanitized homes by eliminating insects. Once proven effective, chalk dust which is one waste product in the classroom, will also be of good use at home. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to find more possible uses of household waste products aside from remaining as garbage such as coffee grounds, and discover further and effective use of chalk dust. Also, we aim to eliminate household insect especially ants that would cause a nuisance in our kitchen. DEFINITION OF TERMS: Talcum Powder- an ingredient in both chalk and baby powder, and is a natural ant repellant. Brewed Coffee- coffee produced from a process with the use of coffee maker wherein hot water drips onto coffee grounds held in a coffee filter made of paper, plastic, or perforated metal, allowing the water to seep through the ground coffee while extracting its oils and essences. The liquid drips through the coffee and the filter into a carafe or pot, and the spent grounds are retained in the filter. Coffee ground- is the used bitter powdered coffee that remains in a pot or coffee-maker after brewing your  coffee. HYPOTHESIS: All three substances tested will give significant results in repelling ants. VARIABLES: INDEPENDENT| CONTROLLED| * 50 grams of coffee ground * 50 grams of cinnamon spice * 50 grams of chalk dust| * Similar area where the three experiments will be conducted, same length * The same ant pathway where the substances will be placed * 1-3 tbsp. of sugar | Resulting Variable: Time it takes for the ants to move away from the repellants CHAPTER II RELATED LITERATURE Ant and Its Symbolism â€Å"Chinese consider and identified ant as the â€Å"righteous insect† and attribute orderliness, virtue and patriotism. On the other hand, Muslims consider the ant as the earthly teacher of Solomon and an embodiment of wisdom.† (Retrieved from http://sherryandrea.com/ant-symbolism-and-meaning/) http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1570-ant-in-jewish-literature-the: â€Å"In the Old Testament, the Ant is referred to as some harvesting species which are to this day found in Syria and all around the Mediterranean basin. These species wherever they are found, as the latest investigations of naturalists have proved, lay up stores for the winter. In the Tamuldic Literature, The ant was mentioned being experimented by Simon ben Halafta to ascertain whether they inhabit without a ruler. Also, it was mentioned that ants procure food. There were also statements in the Book of Proverbs where it is pointed out that the wisdom of the Creator is manifested in the fitness of the body and wonderful life of the Ant.† â€Å"From a purely scientific point of view, the Ant is treated by Gershon ben  Solomon, in his work, â€Å"Sha’ar ha-Shamayim.† The Ant, he says, gathers its wheat in the harvest, biting off the germs of the grains in order to prevent them from sprouting and thus preserving them from rotting- a fact verified by recent observation. The Ant, he says further, is proportionately the strongest of all creatures, being able to carry from two to four times its own weight. Moreover, it can move both ways, forward and backward.† History of Brewing Coffee In the early history of coffee, the coffee beans were dried and eaten. By the 16th century, coffee was roasted before being ground and boiled in water. The entire resulting mixture of liquid and grounds would be consumed. The invention of the Ibrik (A small pot used in brewing and serving Turkish coffee that was invented in the late 16th century.) allowed for a more skillful technique of brewing. In the 18th century, the French developed the drip brewing technique wherein coffee is produced by using a cloth bag as a filter to separate grounds from the liquid coffee. This technique allowed for steeping the coffee at a lower temperature as it was not brewed while constantly adding heat. (Retrieved from http://coffee.wikia.com/wiki/Brewing) Chalk in Prehistoric Times As found in nature, chalk has been used for drawing since prehistoric times, when, according to archaeologists, it helped to create some of the earliest cave drawings. Later, artists of different countries and styles used chalk mainly for sketches, and some such drawings, protected with shellac or a similar substance, have survived. Chalk was first formed into sticks for the convenience of artists. The method was to grind natural chalk to a fine powder, then add water, clay as a binder, and various dry colors. The resultant putty was then rolled into cylinders and dried. Although impurities produce natural chalk in many colors, when artists made their own chalk they usually added pigments to render these colors more vivid. Carbon, for example, was used to enhance black, and ferric oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) created a more vivid red. CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 1. Gather the variables needed. You can find cinnamon spice in your kitchen. If not, you may use any spice available (e.g. pepper, black pepper, garlic). Collect coffee grounds after brewing coffee with the use of a coffee maker. Collect chalk dust from other classrooms. Measure the quantity and make sure that each one reaches the same amount- 50 grams. 2. Choose an area at home where you can find an ants’ pathway and measure its length. This will also be one of the controlled variables in the experiment. 3. Make sure that there are ants present. If none, place a few pinches of sugar or food crumbs to attract the ants. 4. Once the ants are present, choose among the three substances to be placed first along the path and put it evenly making a thin line. 5. Record the time it takes for the ants to leave the place. 6. Repeat steps three to five with the use of the other two substances and record the results on the Table of Data and Observation below. You may also take pictures du ring the experiment.

Explanation of Human Behavior Essay

Psychology is a vast field that studies the behavior of a person. Because of psychology there is a better understanding of the disorders people may be affected by, the choices people make, and even the sexuality of the human race is understood by psychology. How psychology came to be, is a question that I had asked myself in the past. When researchers chose to directly observe psychological events, such as timed reactions, 130 years ago, psychology emerged into a scientific field of its own. The first psychological lab was created in 1879 by Wilhelm Wandr. Since the field of psychology was originally developed by Caucasian males, many beliefs were biased. As the field of psychology has grown, so has the diversity involved in psychological study; leaving us with more accurate understanding. As I happened to mention earlier, psychology is a vast field. This leaves room for many different perspectives. There are three primary perspectives with several sub-fields of psychology. First there is the biological perspective which includes biopsychology and evolutionary psychology. Second, is the psychological perspective that includes behaviorism, cognitive psychology, the psycho-dynamic approach, and humanism. The third perspective of psychology is the sociocultural perspective. Together, these three perspectives and their sub-fields have helped in advancing knowledge in the field. A long standing debate in the field of psychology is the effect of nature and nurture on a person’s behavioral development. I feel that both are equally important factors in how a person behaves. Some people are born with psychological disorders, but their upbringing helps them live a comfortable life without being controlled by their disorder. Others grow up in a bad environment that brings out the worst of their disorders. There are some people who aren’t born with psychological disorders, but develop some over time due to their upbringing. For example, I was born without any  abnormalities and was completely healthy. Unfortunately I was born into a family of addiction and violence. As a child I was sexually, physically, and emotionally abused. As a result of this abuse I suffered from depression and even now as an adult, many of my choices are influenced by the environment I grew in. I do feel that a lot of personal choices are in our own control, though. Another example, though I was raised in the type of family I was raised in, I chose to be better. I chose to break the pattern of addiction and abuse and become a better person. I know other people who grew up in the same situation as me, and they choose to follow the path and they choose to carry a grudge that the world owes them something. I feel there are too many factors involved in behavior for it to be caused by only one perspective. Reference Mitterer, & Coon. Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior with Concept Maps and Reviews (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Cengage Learning.

Child Marriages in Modern India

Child Marriages in Modern India Case study: Rajasthan community; the Shaikh The aspect of child marriages is common among the Muslim communities especially among those living in South Asia and sub- Saharan Africa. Early marriage entails the marriage of children and young people who are below the age of 18 years. It is, however, predominant among those living traditional lifestyles especially in the rural areas.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Child Marriages in Modern India specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are various reasons why parents may opt to marry their children while they are still very young, for instance, poverty where parents view marriage as an opportunity for the young girl and her family at large as a source of protection against sexual assault and unwanted pregnancies among others. This paper discusses early marriages through a case study of an ethnic group in India, the Shaikh of the Rajasthan community. Extent of the Practice of Child Marriage The Shaikh of Rajasthan is a constituent of the larger Shaikh community present in South Asia. It is the largest Muslim community in Rajasthan. The Shaikh community faces adverse effects of child marriages in addition to parallel cousin and cross-cousin marriages as it is being practiced to great extent. There have been many incidents of child marriages among this community for instance a marriage occurred between a five-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy in the community. Other child marriages have also been witnessed. These two victims are far below the adult age as they should be at least eighteen years for the girl and twenty one years of age for the boy. The laws enacted in regard to marriages especially on child marriages seem ineffective due to the contradicting customs among the Muslim communities for example the prevention of Child Marriages Act. There have been instances where people come to homesteads and demand for girls who are underage stating that they want to marry them. Most of the people get married when they are too young without the knowledge of what marriage really entails. Most communities other than the Shaikh also practice child marriages especially days that are deemed to be of religious importance for example the Dev Uthni Ekadashi. The practice of child marriage continue to take place among the communities due absence of political will as some politicians view their actions of restricting the practice as a threat to their political prosperity. They fear their stand could make them lose votes and support from the people who value and appreciate the practice and would do anything to safeguard its existence.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The practice of child marriages among the Shaikh and the Rajasthan community at large has been exacerbated by the government’s reluctance in preventing it a nd to make the matter worst, it seems to be very supportive of the same. This can be seen from its attempt to register all marriages including the child marriages. This action raises heated debate among citizens of India and also outside the country as many people who are against early or child marriages can not comprehend the reason behind its registration. The government fights back by saying that the registration of such marriages does not mean their legalization but instead it is a positive step towards keeping a record of the number of the existing marriages of such kind for easy detection. The Child marriage Prevention Act also seem to be ineffective as it does not provide for punishment of individuals and parents who plan and advocate for child marriages. This makes it more comfortable to execute this practice as those involved do not fear the legal consequences that may befall them as a result of their actions (Mahan 1). Effects of Child Marriage in the Community The concept of child marriage in the Indian communities has been promoted by the Indian culture which places women in very low status and their roles in the family institution stipulate they should be submissive and be good wives to their husbands. They do not have many rights like men. Early marriages are a major cause of increased population in the community as the young people add to the number of people through child bearing (India planning commission 51). Child marriages also deny the victims their childhood and adolescence as they experience sexual relationships very early in life hence lacking freedom. This leads to poor performances in marriage and in general life of the victims as their social development is interfered with.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Child Marriages in Modern India specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The girls that get married during their early age also do not pursue their education and hence they become incompetent in various aspects of life like critical decision making. There is also some health issues associated with child marriages, for instance, sexually transmitted diseases and premature pregnancies that lead to high rates of maternal and infant mortality. Fight against Child Marriages Despite increased practices among the various communities in Rajasthan like the Shaikh, there are many people who are against the practice and are ready to fight it. A good example is the establishment of a group, the Mali community, which is set to completely do away with the practice of child marriages through taking necessary actions against those who are involved in promoting it, for instance, parents who let their underage children to engage in marriage and also those who coordinate them. Some people have also pledged not to take part in any action tends to support child marriages. A social boycott seem to be the only option left of ending this impunity as others like the use of th reats and educating the society of the bad effects of child marriages has previously failed. To fight this problem, there should be educational campaigns to increase the legal age of marriage and educate people of the adverse effects of child marriages and also establishment of an effective marriage registration system. Conclusion It is evident the practice of child marriages has been in existence in many parts of India and other Muslim communities. The policy makers have also been keen to the details associated with child marriages but it has proved difficult and almost impossible to enforce laws that govern the issue. Various studies show that the Indian government is usually not good when handling personal laws that affect particular communities and do not hail from grassroots movements. There is, however, efforts to solve the problem for instance, bills passed like the Marriage Bill which advocated for enactment of a uniform law in regard to marriages and compulsory registration of marriages introduced in 1994 to prevent practices of polygamy and child marriages. Unfortunately, the law did not pass. Other laws as mentioned above are also present but they are not effective since they have been implemented to end child marriages. India Planning Commission. Rajasthan Development Report. New Delhi: Academic Foundation, 2006.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Mahan, Rajan. â€Å"Rajasthan endorsing child marriage?† NDTV News. Jan 22, 2010. 05 Feb. 2011. https://www.ndtv.com/india

Case Film and Netflix Essay

Case Film and Netflix Essay Case: Film and Netflix Essay Justin Engle 2. Netflix is an innovative way of providing convenient ways for consumers to watch both movies and tv shows on their own time. At first Netflix created a way for movie watchers to make a list of movies that they wanted to rent and they would have them mailed to their house. Once the movie was mailed back and returned was when the next one would be sent out. The dvd would arrive with an addressed envelope to return the movie for convenience. Netflix also had a website that viewers were able to access from a computer that allowed them to stream certain movies and shows but not all of them. This helped both aspects of their services to be used and desired by the consumer. With technology advancing so rapidly as it has in the past decades, other companies began providing similar services. This lead to direct competition for Netflix by providers such as Apple’s iTunes store, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu.com, VUDU.com, Best Buy Cinema Now, Sony Playstation Network, and Google’ s YouTube. In order to stay competitive, Netflix needed to increase their convenience of their service and that’s what they have been doing. Netflix can keep modifying their already successful business model by continuously adding convenience to their service. They have been doing so by focusing heavily on streaming movies and shows via different platforms such as their website and mobile app. Another method they have been using and should continue to use is implementing their service built into smart TV’s. By doing this they are opening up to a much larger market. Almost all homes have TV sets in almost every bedroom. Not all age demographics are skilled and knowledgeable in the app world which I think is the most effective and convenient way of providing this type of service. Parents who may not have Netflix downloaded on their phone will find it very beneficial to have access to a library of movies and shows built into their TV sets that are easily accessible. 3. Netflix should continue to push their service in the app world and stress that streaming videos is now their main method of service. Smart phones are now more readily available then they ever were and it takes just a few seconds to download apps. Netflix is an established brand name in the movie rental industry, especially for my generation and on. The app should provide notifications or alerts on the consumer smart phone. Perhaps suggestions of movies or shows they would like as well as alerts on new movies or tv show series that are now available. One of the flaws about Netflix is how up to date their selection is. It normally takes quite a bit of time for new releases to be available through Netflix. Therefore, consumers tend to use Netflix to watch older movies that have been out of theaters for a while. If viewers knew that Netflix was one of the first services outside of the movie theater to have new releases available to watch, they would most likely be â€Å"hungrier† to seek out and stay up to date with Netflix. 4. Netflix should develop a strong team to develop and promote their app for smart phones and tablets. It is an app that requires the internet to be online to run. If there was a way to save a movie for a certain amount of time to watch during a period where the viewer does not have cell service. This would allow people who are traveling by plane or perhaps riding the subway to view movies or shows. Another step could be to link users Netflix accounts to their facebooks’. By doing this, after a viewer watches a movie it could be posted on their social media

Battle of Stoke Field in the War of the Roses

Battle of Stoke Field in the War of the Roses Battle of Stoke Field: Conflict Date: The Battle of Stoke Field was fought on June 16, 1487, and was the last engagement of the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485). Armies Commanders House of Lancaster King Henry VIIEarl of Oxford12,000 men House of York/Tudor John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln8,000 men Battle of Stoke Field - Background: Though Henry VII was crowned King of England in 1485, his and the Lancastrian hold on power remained somewhat tenuous as several Yorkist factions continued plot ways to regain the throne. The strongest male claimant from the Yorkist dynasty was the twelve-year old Edward, Earl of Warwick. Captured by Henry, Edward was kept confined at the Tower of London. Around this time, a priest named Richard Simmons (or Roger Simons) discovered a young boy named Lambert Simnel who bore a strong resemblance to Richard, Duke of York, son of King Edward IV, and the younger of the vanished Princes in the Tower. Battle of Stoke Field - Training an Impostor: Educating the boy in courtly manners, Simmons intended to present Simnel as Richard with the goal of having him crowned king. Moving forward, he soon changed his plans after hearing rumors that Edward had died during his imprisonment in the Tower. Spreading rumors that young Warwick had actually escaped from London, he planned to present Simnel as Edward. In doing so, he garnered support from several Yorkists including John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln. Though Lincoln had reconciled with Henry, he had a claim to the throne and had been designated the royal heir by Richard III before his death. Battle of Stoke Field - The Plan Evolves: Lincoln most likely knew that Simnel was an imposter, but the boy provided an opportunity to unseat Henry and exact revenge. Leaving the English court on March 19, 1487, Lincoln traveled to Mechelen where he met with his aunt, Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy. Supporting Lincolns plan, Margaret provided financial backing as well as around 1,500 German mercenaries led by the veteran commander Martin Schwartz. Joined by a number of Richard IIIs former supporters, including Lord Lovell, Lincoln sailed for Ireland with his troops. There he met Simmons who had earlier traveled to Ireland with Simnel. Presenting the boy to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Earl of Kildare, they were able to secure his backing as Yorkist sentiment in Ireland was strong. To bolster support, Simnel was crowned King Edward VI at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin on May 24, 1487. Working with Sir Thomas Fitzgerald, Lincoln was able to recruit around 4,500 lightly armed Irish mercenaries for his army. Aware of Lincolns activities and that Simnel was being advanced as Edward, Henry had the young boy taken from the Tower and publicly shown around London. Battle of Stoke Field -Â  The Yorkist Army Forms: Crossing to England, Lincolns forces landed at Furness, Lancashire on June 4. Met by several nobles led by Sir Thomas Broughton, the Yorkist army swelled to around 8,000 men. Marching hard, Lincoln covered 200 miles in fives days, with Lovell defeating a small royal force at Branham Moor on June 10. After largely evading Henrys northern army led by the Earl of Northumberland, Lincoln reached Doncaster. Here Lancastrian cavalry under Lord Scales fought a three-day delaying action through Sherwood Forest. Assembling his army at Kenilworth, Henry began moving against the rebels. Battle of Stoke Field - Battle is Joined: Learning that Lincoln had crossed the Trent, Henry began moving east towards Newark on June 15. Crossing the river, Lincoln encamped for the night on high ground near Stoke in a position that had the river on three sides. Early on June 16, the vanguard of Henrys army, led by the Earl of Oxford, arrived on the battlefield to find Lincolns army forming on the heights. In position by 9:00 AM, Oxford elected to open fire with his archers rather than wait for Henry to arrive with the rest of the army. Showering the Yorkists with arrows, Oxfords archers began to inflict heavy casualties on Lincolns lightly armored men. Faced with the choice of abandoning the high ground or continuing to lose men to the archers, Lincoln ordered his troops to charge forward with the goal of crushing Oxford before Henry reached the field. Striking Oxfords lines, the Yorkists had some early success but the tide began to turn as the better armor and weapons of the Lancastrians began to tell. Fighting for three hours, the battle was decided by a counterattack launched by Oxford. Shattering the Yorkist lines, many of Lincolns men fled with only Schwartzs mercenaries fighting until the end. In the fighting, Lincoln, Fitzgerald, Broughton, and Schwartz were killed while Lovell fled across the river and was never seen again. Battle of Stoke Field - Aftermath: The Battle of Stoke Field cost Henry around 3,000 killed and wounded while the Yorkists lost around 4,000. In addition, many surviving English and Irish Yorkist troops were captured and hung. Other captured Yorkists were given clemency and escaped with fines and attainders against their property. Among those captured after the battle was Simnel. Recognizing that the boy was a pawn in the Yorkist scheme, Henry pardoned Simnel and gave him a job in the royal kitchens. The Battle of Stoke Field effectively ended the Wars of the Roses securing Henrys throne and the new Tudor dynasty. Selected Sources UK Battlefield Resources Centre: Battle of Stoke FieldTudor Place: Battle of StokeWars of the Roses: Battle of Stoke

Identify the UK legislation that attempts to protect employees against Essay

Identify the UK legislation that attempts to protect employees against discrimination and promotes equal opportunities in the UK - Essay Example Diversity management on the level of the organization would need readjustment of company policies according to the new law. The latest legislation that aims to promote equality and anti-discrimination is the Equality Act of 2010 (Equality Act 2010). This Act is a comprehensive legislation that brings together and harmonises the different laws on equality and discrimination. It supercedes in whole or in part other laws such as the Race Relations Act 1976, Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Equality Act, ACAS n.d.), Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003, Religion or Belief Regulations 2003 (Introduction to Discrimination n.d.), Equality Act 2006, and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Equality Act, Home Office n.d.). The Act also enhanced protection in specific situations (Equality Act, Home Office n.d.). The law specifically identified the characteristics that should be protected such as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, r eligion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation (Equality Act 2010). This categorisation simplifies the law and designed to ensure a fair environment.

Individual Leadership Growth Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 15

Individual Leadership Growth Reflection - Essay Example I have found that I calm and patient when I differ with other people’s opinions, drawing them to my personality. I have high regard for innovation and creativity. It is important to me as an individual that in all areas of life, people be allowed to explore their ability to come up with new ideas. I have found that it is innovation that people find better alternative solutions to the problems they have. Through creativity and innovation, people are able to enjoy the process of work much more. People that have not been allowed this explorative ability are usually much more likely to give little input. This is because they are working out of obligation and not motivation; the end result cannot be successful. In a world where more and more issues are controversial, people have learned to define their opinions as â€Å"grey.† For me, however, I have found that my opinions can only be classified as either â€Å"black† or â€Å"white.† This is to say that my sta nd on any issue whatsoever is very clear. I also ensure that my stand, though not enforced, is known. This would allow my followers to be in a position, in my absence, to make a decision that would concur with my line of thought. It is important that followers be able to understand their leader so that incidence of conflict is not a likely occurrence. In my interactions with people, I have found that I only encourage people to do as I would. This is because I would wish that a situation does not bring about negativity into their lives. If I feel that is an act would bear negative results, I tell them to carry on with it. However, I am uncomfortable with telling people to carry on and act on something in a manner that I myself would not. I would prefer that this approach is reciprocated to me. From my experiences, I have come to the conclusion that people reciprocate what you to do them – if you are honest; they are likely to give you the same.

Aristotle's argument that women are subsidiary to men Essay

Aristotle's argument that women are subsidiary to men - Essay Example Aristotle, despite his appreciation of some attributes of women, including their intelligence, he was of the opinion that that they were subsidiary to men and because of this they had to submit themselves to men in their lives since women are â€Å"more mischievous, less simple, more impulsive... more compassionate† (Aristotle 28). Aristotle justified his opinion by actively supporting those laws that denied women the right to own property, and if they got married, with the said property it should be transferred to their husbands on such an occasion. Considering that he also believed that women had to stay only in female quarters of the household, except during extreme need, shows his belief that women had to be contained, which in essence was similar to enslaving them. Aristotle was an extremely prominent scholar of the ancient world and he had a lot to say concerning women and their subservience to men. While his writings seem to indicate that he was exceedingly liberal abou t the roles of the various sexes in many aspects of life, it is a fact that he was a believer in the inferiority of women to men (Francis 144). Despite the fact that he may have seemed to be a liberal in some matters concerning the sexes, Aristotle, being true to his era, had some positive things to say concerning women, but while he did so, he also showed that he still believed them to be subservient. It is possible that perhaps Aristotle’s teachings, which might be considered liberal, would have had a deeper meaning, displaying that while women were a gifted lot, they were supposed to remain in the background, since that was their designated place in society. This scholar was known, from time to time, to deviate from the norm concerning the role of the sexes in his society. Aristotle’s writings, while being conservative in nature, display a characteristic that was particularly common among the writers of that age; they were liberal to a certain extent and their opini ons were openly stated. However, when it came to undertaking something to change their societies so that they would conform to their liberal views, they took no action. Therefore, it can be said that although Aristotle in his writings displayed several instances of being liberal concerning the roles of the sexes in the society, most of his comments concerning this issue remained conservative â€Å"†¦.the courage of a man is shown in commanding, of a woman in obeying.† He continued to advocate for a male dominated society, supporting the role of a subservient woman, who had to submit to the will of man (Klosko 163). In a majority of his works, Aristotle displays respect for the competence of women, which is truly surprising for a man of the ancient world, where women were considered nothing more that bearers of children. Most of his works about women are based on the influence of his societal, physical and mental opinion of them. In some of his work, he states that women are much more emotional because of the belief in the ancient world that women are particularly closely tied to the earth than men. Aristotle in general shows a strong admiration for women, and he states that they are more gifted than their male counterparts. Alongside this admiration is also his belief that women are

How to successfully execute business negotiations in Iran Essay

How to successfully execute business negotiations in Iran - Essay Example As a means of communication, shaking hands is the first gesture of recognition when meeting someone. As far as the opposite gender is concerned, a male has to wait to see if the female is extending her hands. If she does not, then a simple nod with a smile is considered as a polite gesture. Doing business in Iran requires the individual to be mindful of the culture and communication that prevails in the country. They are expected to dress conservatively yet smartly. Female alongside wearing a conservative dress, will have to cover their hair with a scarf (Circles of excellence, 2010). 2. Cultural Dimensions 2.1. High Context vs. Low Context Apparently, Iran can be associated with following a ‘high context’ culture of communication. The aspect that puts them into this category is their usage of flowery language and linguistic ability. According to Bar (2004, p. 27), â€Å"Iranians accord great import to the context of communication.† This holds true not only in cas e of communication with each other, but also in case of communicating with foreigners. However, the foreigners arguably may not be sensitive to majority of the contextual implications that are being shared via the communication. In certain aspects, the culture in Iran can be associated with low contextual dimension. They are pragmatic and considerate of force ratios. However, it does not surpass rational considerations. The considerations regarding confidence building, hardly ever bend over to the practical goal. 2.2 Cultural Gender Roles There are different expectations and roles for men and women in Iran. The society as well as the culture requires men and women to portray or rather demonstrate their characteristic in a way that is expected from them. Women have to portray preservation, modesty and dedication towards their home and family, whereas men demonstrate the reputation of their family through work. This kind of behavior is associated with the kind of upbringing that they have had. It is a norm in the Iranian society to maximize gender role differences and discrimination. It has been witnessed that there is no strong desire among the authorities to change this perception. This has been the tradition of the country for a long time (Dastmalchian, Javidan and Alam, 2001). 2.3 Religion and Business Majority of Iranians describe themselves as religious, thereby stating that their beliefs play a crucial role in their way of living as well as conducting business. Religion has some sorts of influence in the way business is done in the country. Religion does not only involve worship and ritual, but they also outline moral principles stating how true believers should be living their lives. The impact of religion on business induces honesty, loyalty as well as justice. This highlights how religion and business is associated to each other in a country like, Iran (Miller and Ewest, 2013). 2.4. Taboo Mannerisms: What Not To Do To make appointments a month before t he actual date of meeting and confirming the same a week before. Thus, avoiding any confusion. To not be late in attending those meetings. To have all business cards and materials translated into Persian (Farsi). To not be impatient as business negotiations often take quite a long time (Vayama, 2013). 3. Business Structures 3.1 Developing Relationships

Romanesque, Regency, Revival, Early Christian, Baroque, Rococo, Essay - 1

Romanesque, Regency, Revival, Early Christian, Baroque, Rococo, 18thCentury Neoclassicism - Essay Example As with all forms of art and architecture, a desire to see and elaborate upon previous artistic expressions oftentimes encourages architects to engage in movements of revivalism. Within Western civilization, revivalism has been noted within almost each and every single architectural movement in recorded history. For instance, there has been revivalism of postclassical architecture, medieval architecture, Baroque architecture, and a litany of many other more modern forms of architecture. Due to the broad range of revival architecture that exists, this particular analysis will focus specifically on Renaissance revival; sometimes referred to as â€Å"neo-Renaissance†. This developed in and around the 19th century. However, the movement itself is somewhat hard to explain and/or understand due to fact that it oftentimes confuse Renaissance architecture with prior to how he and architecture. Although it many cases these two are one in the same, the fact of the matter is that a blend ing of true Renaissance architecture with prior exhibitions of time and architecture was evidenced throughout the period time. Similarly, with respect to the current exhibition of the neo-Renaissance revival, this author definitively points to the faà §ade of Vladimir. Early Christian architecture is something that is somewhat unique as compared to the other forms of architecture that have been discussed thus far. This is not due to the fact that early Christian architecture exhibits new more interesting interpretations of arts were architecture.

How to successfully execute business negotiations in Iran Essay

How to successfully execute business negotiations in Iran - Essay Example As a means of communication, shaking hands is the first gesture of recognition when meeting someone. As far as the opposite gender is concerned, a male has to wait to see if the female is extending her hands. If she does not, then a simple nod with a smile is considered as a polite gesture. Doing business in Iran requires the individual to be mindful of the culture and communication that prevails in the country. They are expected to dress conservatively yet smartly. Female alongside wearing a conservative dress, will have to cover their hair with a scarf (Circles of excellence, 2010). 2. Cultural Dimensions 2.1. High Context vs. Low Context Apparently, Iran can be associated with following a ‘high context’ culture of communication. The aspect that puts them into this category is their usage of flowery language and linguistic ability. According to Bar (2004, p. 27), â€Å"Iranians accord great import to the context of communication.† This holds true not only in cas e of communication with each other, but also in case of communicating with foreigners. However, the foreigners arguably may not be sensitive to majority of the contextual implications that are being shared via the communication. In certain aspects, the culture in Iran can be associated with low contextual dimension. They are pragmatic and considerate of force ratios. However, it does not surpass rational considerations. The considerations regarding confidence building, hardly ever bend over to the practical goal. 2.2 Cultural Gender Roles There are different expectations and roles for men and women in Iran. The society as well as the culture requires men and women to portray or rather demonstrate their characteristic in a way that is expected from them. Women have to portray preservation, modesty and dedication towards their home and family, whereas men demonstrate the reputation of their family through work. This kind of behavior is associated with the kind of upbringing that they have had. It is a norm in the Iranian society to maximize gender role differences and discrimination. It has been witnessed that there is no strong desire among the authorities to change this perception. This has been the tradition of the country for a long time (Dastmalchian, Javidan and Alam, 2001). 2.3 Religion and Business Majority of Iranians describe themselves as religious, thereby stating that their beliefs play a crucial role in their way of living as well as conducting business. Religion has some sorts of influence in the way business is done in the country. Religion does not only involve worship and ritual, but they also outline moral principles stating how true believers should be living their lives. The impact of religion on business induces honesty, loyalty as well as justice. This highlights how religion and business is associated to each other in a country like, Iran (Miller and Ewest, 2013). 2.4. Taboo Mannerisms: What Not To Do To make appointments a month before t he actual date of meeting and confirming the same a week before. Thus, avoiding any confusion. To not be late in attending those meetings. To have all business cards and materials translated into Persian (Farsi). To not be impatient as business negotiations often take quite a long time (Vayama, 2013). 3. Business Structures 3.1 Developing Relationships

The Influencing Factors To The Current UK Housing Market Assignment

The Influencing Factors To The Current UK Housing Market - Assignment Example The national population size and its composition, urbanization, the level of economic prosperity, investor speculative activities, interventionist policies by the government, monetary policy systems, just to mention but a few, are among a host of dynamic influences that play significant roles in shaping housing markets both in developing and developed economies (Leamer, 2007). Given the fact that these factors affect housing markets in every country differently in terms of intensity and persistence, it is rather difficult to capture all of them in a macro modeling system applicable to all states (Meen, 2001). In fact, what holds in an industrialized nation’s context may or may not hold true for an emerging economy. As witnessed in the recent financial crisis whose causal determinant stemmed from speculations in the housing market, the intensity of speculative activities in this particular market differ across economies (Levin and Wright, 1997). The factors that influence the U K housing market are broadly categorized into two prospects; micro and macro-economic influences. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as Gross National Product (GNP), the level of unemployment, rates of inflation, and rates of securing mortgages among other factors operating at the local level are classified as micro-economic influences. ... However, the period after 2008 has been of tough decision making for investors in the housing market. The era of good times ended with a bust following the global credit crunch and has been worsened by the recent occurrences of the euro debt crisis and the double deep recession that has persisted to date with devastating losses for investors across markets, both locally and internationally. Initiated by the U.S. subprime mortgage credit crush late in 2007, the intensity of crisis spread fast and wide to the extent that by early 2008, almost very sector in the UK had felt the pinch. Indeed, the drifts that started at the beginning of the first half of 2008 had reached both the residential and other business investment markets by the end of the second quarter (Shiller, 2008). The initial government stimulus package was being whitewashed under the watch of every investor. As the fallout from the crisis gathered drive, the strengths of the labor market weakened almost dramatically, leadi ng to significant increases in unemployment levels in every sector. Businesses had to survive whatever the costs and so sacrifices had to be made and the UK housing market was no exception. By 2009, news from the Office of National Statistics was not a surprise given the global economic performance; United Kingdom was officially in recession, having shed off 1.5 percent of its robustness in the fourth quarter of the previous year. A further drop of 2.5 percent at the close of the year further weakened the economy, causing a string of nightmares to investors (Office of National Statistics, 2009). At this point in time, unemployment levels had hit a new level high; 1.92 million,

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients -- Article Analysis Essay Example for Free

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Article Analysis Essay Jonathon Walters author of â€Å"Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested?† published an article on March 13, 2012 for Governing: The State and Localities that provided readers with several points of interest when discussing drug testing welfare recipients. Walters states in his article â€Å"According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, almost two dozen states are considering bills that require drug testing those either applying for or receiving public benefits, a policy that has been cut down in the courts before because the Fourth Amendment grants that every individual be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. (Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested? para 1.) This paragraph explains that states are having difficulty passing this bill because the government feels that it violates American’s 4th amendment. Walters brings up arguments from both a favoring side and an opposing side. Favoring sides would not want to give someone government benefits if they are using the benefits to support a drug habit and could save the government money by denying applicants. The opposing side feels that drug testing would come to a great expense to the government and rather than drug testing an individual who needs help because of their drug addiction other programs such as rehab would save money to local, state and federal governments. The author feels that both are good arguments. To further continue on the opposing side of drug testing welfare recipients; Walters explains that â€Å"Drug testing is expensive. Tests cost anywhere from $35 to $75 to administer, according to the liberal-leaning Center for Law and Public Policy. By their math, it would cost anywhere from $20,000 to $77,000 to catch one drug abuser.† (Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested? para. 4). On the favoring side legislators have a different calculation and use evidence that biometric screenings such as finger printing lower numbers of participation among welfare recipients. States that do not participate in finger printing have more people applying for welfare. Walters feels that this would be a â€Å"cynical† way of lowering costs. Opposing sides also feel by isolating those who are at risk, for example ex-felons may lead them down a wrong path again because applying for welfare is much harder, therefore, costing the government more money by putting them back in jail and providing them with treatment. Walters asks how will the government determine who receives welfare and how do we make sure that the wrong person doesn’t receive it? Technology will help determine that mistakes won’t be made. â€Å"The public, in general, supports providing help to those who really need it. In that regard, states and localities are developing much more precise tools mostly thanks to improved information technology to ensure that only those who qualify for benefits receive them (and, not incidentally, to ensure that those providing services arent gaming the system).† (Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested? para. 8). Overall, Jonathon Walters remains neutral throughout the article and provides detailed rebuttals for both opposing and favoring sides. He agreed that both sides had good arguments and in the end it would be up to America in the long run to decide what is best for its people. References Walterss, J. (2012, March 13) Should Welfare Recipients Be Drug Tested? Governing: The States and Localities. Retrieved from: http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/testing-welfare-recipients-drugs.html

Citizens National Bank Searches For System Solution

Citizens National Bank Searches For System Solution In the information system world, before a problem can be solved, it first must be properly defined. Members of the organization must agree that a problem actually exists and that it is serious. The problem must be investigated so that it can be better understood. Next comes a period of devising alternative solutions, then one of evaluating each alternative and selecting the best solution. The final stage is one of implementing the solution, in which a detailed design for the solution is specified, translated into a physical system, tested, introduced to the organization, and further refined as it is used over time. Unfortunately, the same mistakes happen again and again when organizations decide to embrace a new information system either as a solution to a problem or set of problems the organization perceives it is facing, or a management realization that the organization should take advantage of new opportunities to perform more effectively. These mistakes occur repeatedly due to the lack of a thorough system analysis which includes a feasibility study to determine whether each proposed solution is feasible, or achievable, from a financial, technical, and organizational standpoint. The importance of system analysis, information requirements, and feasibility study come of their advantages in determining whether each alternative solution is a good investment, whether the technology needed for the system is available and can be handled by the firms information systems staff, and whether the organization is capable of accommodating the changes introduced by the system. Customer relationship management systems are very popular information systems nowadays and have been hailed as a way for companies to find, influence, and retain customers, even though industry experts cite failure rates for CRM rollouts of up to 70 percent. Thats a disastrously high figure for initiatives that typically cost hundreds of thousandsor even millionsof dollars. Most often the complexity of CRM systems can turn deployments into expensive, time-consuming mistakes when companies embrace a complete CRM package from well known vendors like SAP, or Seibel while they need only low-cost, easy-to-implement CRM software with some common CRM features like lead generation and management, deal tracking, and customer support management. Citizens National Bank searches for a system solution will be my main discussion in this case study which I think depicts a simple example of organizations that underestimate the importance of a thorough assessment to business processes and a deep analysis to the projected information system to define the requirements of the new system, available alternatives, and comparing multiple selection criteria in order to choose the best available solution which capable of performing the required tasks, satisfy users needs, and compatible with the organizations legacy systems. Singleton Needs a CRM Package The initial problem that Mark Singleton was trying to resolve is the implementation of a CRM system to increase sales by raising the number of contacts relationship bankers were making and improving the tracking of these activities so that the bank could learn more from them. Also Singleton wanted a CRM system that places a great value on the person-to-person interactions between his relationship bankers and their customers and doesnt interfere with those interactions and diminishes the relationship bankers rapport with customers. (Lauden, 2010) In the problem-solving process which is especially valuable when we need to build new systems as a solution to a problem or set of problems the organization perceives it is facing. The problem in this case came from the management realization that the organization should take advantage of new opportunities to perform more effectively, but they didnt apply the four steps of problem solving. In the problem-solving process to system building, we would need to take the following four steps: (Lauden, 2010) (1) Define and understand the problem. (2) Develop alternative solutions. (3) Choose the best solution. (4) Implement the solution. Citizens National Bank CEO Mark Singleton achieved the first step with an outstanding performance in defining and understanding the problem for which they need to build a new system but he failed dramatically in applying the rest of the steps required by the problem-solving process to build a new system. Mr. Singleton did not devise, develop or try several alternative solutions before opting for a new CRM system to solve the problem of paper and manual work and replace it with a new information system to automate some of the bankers tasks. Because he did not develop alternative solutions, he couldnt choose the best solution which led to a failed implementation at the first time. Figure : Problem Solving Process Source: Lauden, Management Information Systems New System Implementation! Its Tangible and Intangible Benefits Organizationally, Citizens National Bank of Texas is a private, full-service bank with headquarters in Waxahachie, Texas, and 200 employees that has operated independently since 1868. Citizens National Bank relies on personal, retail, and commercial customers and serves businesses and consumers in Ellis County and other nearby counties, primarily in communities with populations of 25,000 or less. (Lauden, 2010) Citizen National bank operates heavily manual and count on paper system in which sometimes a salesperson that left Citizens National could take records of customer interaction with him or her, leaving the bank with no information to maintain the relationship. The paper system also created too much information for Singleton and his branch managers to process effectively. So that the old paper system cannot support the large number of new customers and the annual grow at a rate of 12 percent. (Lauden, 2010) A major part of Citizen Nationals strategy for continuing growth was to implement customer relationship management (CRM) software. The CRM strategy targeted the banks two main contact points with customers: the banks call center and its sales force. The objectives of a solution for Citizens National Bank would be to reduce the amount of time, effort, and errors in the tracking of activities made by relationship bankers and to increase sales by raising the number of contacts relationship bankers were making and improving the tracking of these activities so that the bank could learn more from them. (Lauden, 2010) Tangible Benefits Increased productivity: Using a CRM system will enable relationship bankers to improve their tracking activities with customers, which in turn increase their productivity and give them ability to serve more customers. Lower operational costs: using electronic records will substantially reduce papers used and results in cost saving. Reduced workforce: this is will be the result of increasing bankers productivity to serve more customers, which in turn will considerably reduce the workforce required to handle the projected increase in sales. Reduced rate of growth in expenses Reduced facility costs: due to paper reduction, and workforce reduction. Intangible Benefits Improved organizational planning and flexibility: because the paper system created too much information for Singleton and his branch managers to process effectively. The CRM system will give them efficient information to make effective decisions. Improved decision making: having accurate information under executives and managers control will dramatically enhance the decision making. Improved operations: The CRM system will enable the bank to approve credit and loan applications more quickly. Improved asset utilization and improved resource control. More information available in a timely manner. Enhanced employee goodwill: because under the old paper system, a salesperson that left Citizens National could take records of customer interaction with him or her, leaving the bank with no information to maintain the relationship. Increased job satisfaction among employees. Higher client satisfaction: nothing will satisfy the customers more than getting a quick approvals and smooth transactions. Better corporate image: this is will result automatically from an increase in job satisfaction among employees and a higher client satisfaction. Why didnt the implementation of the Siebel CRM solution work out I believe that the implementation of the Siebel CRM solution didnt work out for Citizens National because it was not the best solution that applies or fits into the defined problem; it didnt work out because it was not a result of a thorough selection process that went through precise evaluation for multiple alternatives or solutions. The implementation failed for many factors, I will classify these factors in terms of organization, technology, and people issues Organization: the approach of Citizens National toward nearly all business functions, from tracking customer leads to generating reports about them, was very basic. The Siebel software was simply too rich in features. (Lauden, 2010) From the start, Citizens National had trouble getting the software to fit its rather straightforward, basic customer-lead tracking and reporting needs.With Siebel, we were spending way too much time turning off capabilities that we didnt need, Singleton explains. An example of functionality that didnt fit Citizens Nationals business model was Siebels capability for setting up customer support cases. While some large corporations may want to set up a support case with detailed complaint-tracking and resolution functions, the small bank had no use for it. Service complaints that come in to Citizens National are handled on the spot by its call center. For service inquiries that require a follow-up, such as a customer asking about the reordering of checks, the call-center representative schedules an activity by sending an e-mail to the employee who handles check orders. (Bartholomew, 2007) People: Employees found the software to be too complicated. They were surprised to learn, for example, that the system did not automatically generate potential business opportunities for customers on their records. Furthermore, bankers were not able to view multiple relationships between a customer and the bank on the same screen. The extra navigation was confusing and inefficient. (Lauden, 2010) The relationship bankers were the key employees; the system was intended to be of value to them, and, in turn, provide value to the bank. However, they found no incentive in the Siebel environment because their compensation was based on sales, and sales had become harder to make. Citizens Nationals bankers found the system difficult to navigate. For instance, the banking representatives couldnt understand why an opportunity to make a loan to a particular customer wasnt listed under the customers record. You have to assign that opportunity to that person, explains Doug Furney, president and CEO of The Small Business Solution. If you dont make those relationships when entering the data, the opportunity wont appear under that customers record. Not everyone easily grasped this concept. (Bartholomew, 2007) Furney says the way the screens were laid out in Siebel, Citizens bankers had to flip back and forth between the various screens to identify different relationships that customers had with the bank. Understanding these relationships in the system was very confusing to their bankers, he says. As a result, the banks top sales representatives, who werent eager to change the way they did their work to fit the needs of the software, found Siebels learning curve too steep to negotiate. Citizens Nationals 16 relationship bankers never got over the ease-of-use problems that Siebel presented, Furney says. (Bartholomew, 2007) Technology: Citizens National experienced compatibility issues between the database formats in Siebel and those used by the banks core banking application, developed by Kirchman. As a result, the two systems had difficulty exchanging information properly. The bank was forced to spend a significant amount of time fixing such compatibility issues, which negatively impacted its ability to serve customers. (Lauden, 2010) Citizens National also had to deal with a raft of customization issues, often stemming from the differences between databases. Furney worked to integrate Siebel with Citizens Nationals core banking application. The bank uses banking software from Kirchman, whose vertical systems are used by numerous small and medium-size banks to process and track customers deposits, loans and trust accounts. Trying to get these two systems to talk was a challenge, he says. (Bartholomew, 2007) One basic difference was the way the core banking application set up its customer data fields. The Kirchman system did not have individual fields for both the customers first and last names, choosing instead to include the full name in a single field. By contrast, in Siebel, the customers first and last name each had a data field. Thats the kind of thing we ran into when we tried to marry data from these two different systems, Furney says. This kind of integration takes time, and customers dont realize how much time is required. (Bartholomew, 2007) Was QuickBase a better solution for Citizens National In my perspective, QuickBase was the best alternative solution that meets the requirements of Citizens National Bank for a new IT system that is an easy to use, capable of doing some tracking activities, and store the interactions between relationship bankers and their customers and doesnt interfere with those interactions and diminish the relationship bankers rapport with customers. QuickBase was designed for organizing, tracking, and sharing information among team members in the workplace while encouraging progress by notifying workers via automated e-mails of updated files, new task assignments, and approaching deadlines. Because QuickBase was not programmed as a specific business application, businesses could modify its database structure to meet specific business functions. (Lauden, 2010) One reason some small and medium-size companies, as well as groups within larger ones, are adopting QuickBase is its flexibility. Intended not just for customer management, QuickBase-which is actually more of an easily modified database than a full-fledged business application-can be harnessed for other business tasks. For example, Procter Gamble uses the system to track technology projects. Because its easy to use, runs online via any browser and doesnt require an I.T. professional to set up, the hosted application is finding its way into all kinds of businesses. (Bartholomew, 2007) There are many factors suggest that the bank ended up with the right approach and the right choice of product, some of these factors are: The Citizens National staffs were able to make changes to QuickBase themselves, so the costs of ownership and maintenance fees were much lower. QuickBase offered Citizens National flexibility that it did not have previously. Because the system was Web-based, the relationship bankers were able to use it anywhere that they had access to a browser. Relationship bankers and management received daily updated access to all interactions and transactions, enabling them to track business in a way that was never possible previously. For the first time, Citizens National was able to completely track sales opportunities and, as Singleton said, where we lost business, so we know where we need to make those extra 10 or 15 sales calls. Also central to the success of QuickBase at Citizens National was Furneys ability to integrate the system with the Kirchman core banking application. Furney configured QuickBase to upload new account information to the core system every night via an XML interface. For example, a banking representative can click on a commercial customers file and immediate see all the contacts that have been made with that customer by bank staff, any actions that were taken on the customers behalf, and the end result. Citizens National bank representatives use it to check on customers to see if there has been a follow-up call to a contact, whether a voice-mail message was left with the customer, who the salesperson was and the status of the contact. Its been an invaluable tool for us to keep track of our customers, Singleton adds. (Bartholomew, 2007) A Complete CRM package is Not for Everyone Industry experts cite failure rates for CRM rollouts of up to 70 percent. Thats a disastrously high figure for initiatives that typically cost hundreds of thousandsor even millionsof dollars. For smaller businesses or for departments within large companies, even successful implementation at that cost is out of the question. Anecdotally theres a fairly high failure rate attributed to CRM implementations, says Jocelyn Young, program manager for CRM services for IDC. (Desmond, 2010) Customer relationship management systems have been hailed as a way for companies to find, influence, and retain customers. Packages from companies like Onyx, Pivotal, and Siebel go far beyond simple contact and sales managementthey link sales, marketing, and customer support operations into a single, cohesive chain. But the complexity of CRM systems can turn deployments into expensive, time-consuming mistakes. Many companies need low-cost, easy-to-implement CRM software. Fortunately, affordable packages have finally matured. (Desmond, 2010) Figure CRM Systems All for one, one for all: CRM deployments can be expensive because they touch nearly every part of a business. By driving everything from marketing campaigns to call center operations to inventory management through a single knowledge base, companies are able to fine-tune customer interactions at every point of contact. Source: http://pcworld.about.com Jerry Norman, president of Market Answers, a CRM consultancy in Austin, Texas, says the broad definition of CRM is part of the problem. If you ask 100 people on the street what CRM is, you are going to get 100 answers. The executives know that they need CRM, but they dont know what they are getting. (Desmond, 2010) One way to sidestep the issue, says Norman, is to narrow the focus of the CRM effort. Lower-cost CRM products such as Microsoft BCentral Customer Manager, SalesForce.com, and SalesLogix provide common CRM features like lead generation and management, deal tracking, and customer support management. These packages can be installed on a companys servers or hosted by an application service provider. But while a Siebel deployment can cost several hundred thousand dollars, a package like SalesLogix can be had for less than $50,000 for 20 usersa relative pittance by CRM standards. (Desmond, 2010) So I believe that, organizations that would benefit from using Siebel CRM package are the large corporations which use it to connect multiple departments inside the firm like sales, marketing, and customer support operations which will link them into a single, cohesive chain. Example for such organizations is Verizon Wireless, we will examine in the next section of this case study how Siebel CRM helped Verizon to achieve its business objectives and gets a competitive advantage. This case study is taken from www.Oracle.com Verizon Business Delivers New Sales and Support Tools and Improves System Performance by 35% Verizon Business Basking Ridge, NJ www.verizonbusiness.com Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications, is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. With one of the worlds most connected internet protocol networks, Verizon Business delivers communications, IT, security, and network solutions to many of the largest businesses and governments. Industry: Annual Revenue: Communications US$93.5 billion Employees: 32,000 Our work with Accenture to upgrade our Oracle systems has improved system performance significantly. In a recent survey, 84% of users said performance was faster or much faster. Plus, our sales and support staff have new tools to improve productivity and customer service, which ultimately drives customer retention and revenue. Rob Moore, Director Verizon Business Challenges Empower sales and support staff with new tools to provide end users with a better experience, supporting customer retention, which is vital in todays competitive communications industry React to market demands and growing competition from new and traditional players in the market with more flexible pricing Improve system performance and lower maintenance costs Strengthen reporting and enable what if scenario testing Solution Worked with Accenture to upgrade to Oracles Siebel CRM 8.0 and Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition, taking advantage of evolving technology to support a range of customer-facing communications industry business processes Gained new sales and support tools-for tasks ranging from quoting to contact management-to help 15,000 users better serve 250,000 large and midsize business customers Improved pricing flexibility with new, dynamic pricing features that allow the company to introduce new pricing or customer retention offers on demand, instead of requiring code changes and a separate release, which previously took several months Provided sales and support staff with a new, easy-to-use interface that supports best practices and improves productivity Expanded reporting functionality to drive greater visibility Upgraded hardware and middleware and enabled a service-oriented architecture (SOA) to extend integration across the enterprise and further consolidate systems Lowered support costs and positioned the company for long-term cost savings by reducing customizations Improved system performance by 35% and accelerated processes by up to 12 hours-vital for a system that processes about 120 quotes, 104 contracts, and 340 opportunities daily Improved user satisfaction, with 84% noting faster performance Completed the upgrade within a short, eight-month timeline Could Citizens National have made a better choice? I think everyone would agree with me that Citizens National Bank could have made a better choice from the beginning if its management followed the required rules and procedures of building a new information system. Citizens National Bank could have made a better choice if its CEO Singleton analyzed the size and scope of the needed system and tried to find answers for the following questions: What system will provide us with a genuine business benefits? How can the firm adjust to the changes introduced by the new system solution? What alternative approaches are available for the needed system solution? In the information system world, building a new information system in order to alleviate an existing problem in the business operations requires a deep system analysis. Before a problem can be solved, it first must be properly defined. Members of the organization must agree that a problem actually exists and that it is serious. The problem must be investigated so that it can be better understood. Next comes a period of devising alternative solutions, then one of evaluating each alternative and selecting the best solution. The final stage is one of implementing the solution, in which a detailed design for the solution is specified, translated into a physical system, tested, introduced to the organization, and further refined as it is used over time. (Lauden, 2010) Conclusion Transforming business processes into an automated information system and taking advantage of new opportunities available through the rapid development of information systems and technologies is never an easy task and should not be taken for granted. In order to achieve high results and gain the expected returns from the investment in new information system, organizations should follow the recommended procedures in building a new system from defining the system requirements, determining its scope, to choosing the best available solution that is capable of performing the required tasks without going through a series of complicated screens that lead to the frustration of end-users. The systems analysis lays out the most likely paths to follow given the nature of the problem. Some possible solutions do not require an information system solution but instead call for an adjustment in management, additional training, or refinement of existing organizational procedures. Some, however, do require modifications to the firms existing information systems or an entirely new information system. Sometimes the lack of a thorough system analysis and feasibility study make you get lost in the forest of a complete business application that fits only large corporations and that is exactly what happened to Citizen National Bank in its search for CRM system. While the approach of Citizens National toward nearly all business functions, from tracking customer leads to generating reports about them, was very basic, they chose Siebel CRM system that was simply too rich in features which employees found it to be too complicated. Citizen National Bank could have prevented the demise of five hundred thousand dollars in a learning lesson if they conducted a thorough system evaluation and selection process from the outset in which they would find that the required system was an easy to use system that doesnt exceed a thousand dollar in its implementation cost.

New Urbanism Essay -- Suburban Developement Planning Essays

New Urbanism New Urbanism, a burgeoning genre of architecture and city planning, is a movement that has come about only in the past decade. This movement is a response to the proliferation of conventional suburban development (CSD), the most popular form of suburban expansion that has taken place since World War II. Wrote Robert Steuteville, "Lacking a town center or pedestrian scale, CSD spreads out to consume large areas of countryside even as population grows relatively slowly. Automobile use per capita has soared, because a motor vehicle is required for nearly all human transportation"1. New Urbanism, therefore, represents the converse of this planning ideology. It stresses traditional planning, including multi-purpose zoning, accessible public space, narrow street grids for easy pedestrian usage and better placement of community buildings. Only a few hundred American communities are utilizing this method of planning, but the impact is quickly growing in an infant field dominated by a few inf luential architects and engineers. Perhaps the most well known pioneers of New Urbanism are Andrà ©s Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ), a wildly successful architectural firm boasting three offices across the eastern seaboard.2 Although the company was founded in 1980, it gained national recognition for its design of Seaside, Florida in 19892. Seaside, a beautiful coordination of simple Floridian cottage design along the white beaches of northwest Florida became a model for building pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and integrating communities by enforcing a strict uniform building code, utilizing sensible and aesthetic planning methods (for instance, every street extends to the... ...sterplan." http://www.dpz.com/projects 8 Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. "St. Louis." http://www.dpz.com/projects 9 Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. "Hillsborough." http://www.dpz.com/projects  · Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. "San Juan Bautista. (Architecture)" http://www.dpz.com/projects 10 Rohn, David. "Chesterton, Ind., Development Project Incorporates Environmental Concerns." Indianapolis Star. July 30, 2001. 11 Coffee Creek Center. "Ecology." http://www.coffeecreekcenter.com/pages/design/ecology.htm  · Coffee Creek Center. "Design Code Book." http://www.coffeecreekcenter.com/media/mediaattn/CCC-Codebook_web.pdf 12 Miller, Jason. "New Towns - Issaquah Highlands, Washington." The Town Paper. http://www.tndtownpaper.com/Volume 5/issaquah_highlands.htm 13 Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. "Oakhurst. (Suburban Retrofits)" http://www.dpz.com/projects

Patient Interview Essay

There are many components to consider a patient interview to be effective. During the workshop week in Toronto, I have learned those basic yet very essential components through the enactment presented. Firstly, it is really important to establish a good rapport when dealing with patients. A good rapport can create a relationship that is built on trust and commitment. Through this, patient can share private medical information without hesitations. An example of this was when the pharmacist greeted the patient and asked how can she be of help. She also showed empathy when she found out that the patient was in pain and told the patient she’d prepare the prescription right away. Listening is also an essential component. As a health care provider, listening gives the opportunity to know their needs and concerns. Acknowledging what the patient is really saying, maintaining eye contact, and recognizing and using body language are some of the things that I need to consider. If these are all effectively met, I think that this would help patients in becoming more involved with their medications/treatments, thus producing a positive patient outcomes. The probing or the way I ask question to patients also plays a vital role. It is important that I ask questions in a sincere way to obtain needed information or to just simply clarify something. Asking open-ended questions will help elicit relevant answers from the patient and not just â€Å"yes/no† answers. An example would be when she asked for allergies and asked for the specific kind of reaction that she had. Lastly, feedback is a must. Before ending the interview, asking for a feedback will allow me to check if the patient really understands what was taught. . An example of this was when she asked the patient how she would be taking the medication. This will help to reinforce adherence and make the patient to be involved in the treatment, reducing or eliminating chances of non-compliance. Patient interview is very important for a positive treatment outcome. It is not a simple process but I do hope that as I go along, I would be able to utilize all these components and achieve an effective patient interview.

Mass Communications Essay

Communication has developed and still continues to develop. Over the centuries, many forms of communication have developed that have made the transmission of messages among people faster and more efficient. These include the radio, television, the print media as well as telephones. With technology and globalization improving at a fast rate, certain factors have influenced the way these different channels of communication operate in ensuring their audiences are satisfied with the services they offer and also the media houses make profits. Some of the trends affecting the delivery of content are: convergence, increasing audience control, and media mobility. The focus of this essay is to analyze the impact and relevance of convergence, increasing audience control and media convergence on Radio. Radio is a means of communicating by using electromagnetic waves or frequencies to detect signals and transform them to sound and its history of radio can be dated back in the late 19th century. Back then, the radio was a simple device whose usefulness was seen during the wars and battles as it was used to send telegraphic messages to people fighting in far places. Since then, radio has developed and is used for other purposes such as educating, advertising, relying information and entertaining people. In addition, it has created a livelihood for many people who depend on it. ? Convergence Convergence refers to the way in which various communication systems are linked so as to foster faster and better ways or relaying information. Basically, it is the merging of technologies. In media, convergence is the linking of technology with media content as well as the communication networks. As technological improvements continue to advance as each day passes, people in the radio business have embraced the changes and have become better. Radios initially used to be big equipments; but they have been modified and transformed such that they can be small as the size if a pen. Convergence nowadays is seen by how the internet has linked up with radio such that people from any corner of the world can listen to different radio stations in other countries. Before the internet came to use in 1969, people could only listen to radio stations within their regions. â€Å"The arrival of new digital communication technologies have facilitated the delivery of digital signals through various platforms and improved audio visual quality (Chan-Olmsted, 2006). † With the advancements in digital technology and the internet, people can now choose on what they would like to listen and from anywhere. Internet has enabled people to listen to music online, download and upload whatever they like. Moreover, it has generated new experiences both socially and business wise such that people from different regions meet and interact and businesses can advertise their products to more people thus expanding their markets. Convergence is also being enhanced in radio in through pod casting such that individuals can download their favorite programs on MP3 players. The disadvantages that come with convergence is that mobiles such as the iphone and the internet are taking over the functions of the radio networks are slowly being eroded away. For radio stations to be able to tap on the convergence advantages , they need to have experts working for them that is the employees, employers as well as the private consultants who advice them. This will be good because they will always be keen and updated on what is happening so that they know whish areas need to be improved on or the ways in which technology will be incorporated into the system. Moreover, professional consultants will advice them on what competitors are doing so that the can also try similar strategies. ? Increasing audience control Nowadays, the audience especially the younger generation that is technologically more advanced and conversant with how things work influences the activities of radio stations. This is because what they listen to, read or watch determines there preferences. â€Å"Although they have a variety of things to choose from, they are influencing time, prices and the portability of media use (Chan-Olmsted, 2006). † These preferences make them request or demand for programs they like and even suggest for what things they would like to see. Since the audience is means everything to the radio owners, they are forced to give in to their customers requests. This has enabled radio stations to benefit from the customers ideas as they always work on improving their services and retain their audiences. The shortcomings of audience control is that media houses need to change the way they operate so as to meet the demands of customers and at the same time offer quality services. In doing so, they will have to invest on the latest machinery and technologies and sometimes they have to overstretch their budgets to do away with the pressure or sometimes they do not have the funds hence they risk losing their audience. ’ Media houses have to contemplate on how to internalize new technology and be responsive to the new media audience. Another disadvantage is that the audience once they do not get what they want, they will opt to down load things on the internet or shift to their competitors. ? Media Mobility Media mobility refers to the ease with which the technologies in communication can be accommodated and enhanced so as to diversify the uses of the radio. The radio while being serving as a communication channel also links technologies with customers, markets and technology. â€Å"The globalization of mobility directly involves the way in which service integration and network integration relate to one another (Hardy, Malleus & Mereur, 2002). †Mobility can be seen in the way the radio is incorporated with various devices making it more portable and more flexible thus increasing the rate of acceptance. Most mobile phones nowadays have evolved and have radios. This was mainly a marketing strategy used by the mobile companies to attract the younger generation and we can say that it has helped in expanding the usage of telephone. Furthermore, some DVDs especially home theaters and televisions have been modified to perform many functions and the radio is one of them. The usage of radio has expanded to accommodate many things and people are always eager to know what will come next. All these coupled by various enhancements such as the ear pieces have made radio more attractive. The disadvantages that come with incorporating all these new things is that the focus shifts from the radio to the other devices as it is being used to complement the other functions of the device. In addition, the costs of certain software and hardware is high therefore this limits research at times especially now when the global economy and markets are not doing well. To tap on the advantages, radio companies will need to be regularly updated on new technologies as well as invest in training and educating their staff so that they become better at what they do as well as find better marketing strategies. In addition, radio companies need to budget properly so that they have enough funds to run their businesses as well as accommodate new strategies that are beneficial to the business. Conclusion These factors have greatly impacted the things we purchase and what we listen to. Moreover, they influenced and enabled businesses to develop and grow as they do their advertisements, promotions and marketing strategies using it. I as well as other Americans have been exposed to a variety of products thus making it easier to purchase commodities especially those manufactured in far off areas. We therefore need to support the work done by researchers as well as radio stations so as to benefit through things like media mobility which link the old and new systems. References Chan-Olmsted, S. M. (2006), Competitive Strategy for Media Firms: Strategic and Brand Management in Changing Media Markets. Routledge, p. 204 Hardy, D. , Malleus, G. & Mereur. J. N. (2002). Networks: Internet, Telephony, Multimedia: Convergences and Complementarities. Translated by Michael Byrne,De Boeck Universite