The Business Perspective of the Apple Company Term Paper

The Business Perspective of the Apple Company - Term Paper Example The brand value of the company is incomplete in today’s world. Effective use of technology provides the company with brand recognition, enabling it to stand out among its competitors. The collaborative work of its employees has paved the way for the success of the company, which follows a collaborative work culture. Apple Inc. is recognized as the biggest start-up in the world, formed by the efficient hands of Steve Jobs. There are frequent team meetings in each department in order to discuss the current business scenario, and the company values and encourages the participation of its team members in the decision-making processes. Apple has a reputation of valuing individuality and excellence that help in the company’s decision making (Apple Inc, 2012). Products/services and geographic scope Formerly named Apple Computer Inc., the company is an American multinational corporation which specializes in the design and sale of electronic goods and high-technology personal co mputers, along with computer software. The best-known products of the company are the Macintosh series of computers and the iPhone. In 2007, the company shifted from offering only computers towards making and selling consumer electronics. In terms of market capitalization, it is the largest public limited company. The company manages its business on a geographic basis, with five operating segments, in America, Japan, Europe, and some other regions. The operating segment offers similar hardware as well as software products (Datamonitor, 2009:3). Competitors Apple Inc operates its business in multiple industries, the main one of which is personal computers. Apart from this, the company produces software and consumer electronics. In the personal computer industry, Apple’s main competitors are IBM, Hewlett Packard, Dell Inc. etc. In the consumer electronics industry, the main market competitor is Samsung, which has a similar type of product on the market; Apple has also been faci ng competition in developing countries. Apple’s direct competitors are Google, Microsoft, and RIMM (Research in Motion Limited).

Public Administration and Apply Behaviorist Theory to a Work Issue Essay

Public Administration and Apply Behaviorist Theory to a Work Issue - Essay Example Each of these concepts describes the change in a person’s behavior and the reason for such changes. The conditioned response relates to an activity that results due to a different incident. The next concept of behaviorist theory is aversive behavior. (Plaud, 1998). A person might exhibit a certain kind of behavior in response to a particular situation. This might be due to the disinterest towards the situation. Reinforcement aims at controlling the negative consequences of a behavior which helps in improving a person’s behavior. Consequences are one among the most important concepts of the behaviorist theory. A consequence generally arises from a particular decision or an action. Consequences generally turn out to be positive or negative depending on the behavior of the person. (Dewey, 1999). The situation too plays a major role in deciding the consequence of an action. These key concepts are generally applied to almost all the problems in varied areas. But these concep ts would perfectly suit an organization that deals with more number of problems and issues related to every single department of its. When comparing the other problems, the issue relating to the company’s production. The most common issue is the decline in the quality of the product a company manufactures.

Marketing Objectives In Tourism And Hospitality

Marketing Objectives In Tourism And Hospitality This report represents a detailed analysis of current business and marketing strategy of Hilton Hotels Resorts a global hotels and resorts company with more than 540 locations in 78 countries (A Room for You, 2012, online). The parent company, Hilton International comprises a range of famous brands such as Waldorf Astoria Hotels Resorts, Conrad Hotels Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, and Hilton Grand Vacations (Our Brands, 2012, online) The reasons for the choice of Hilton Hotels Resorts amongst many other brands in particular include a high level of brand awareness, and availability of vast amount of information about the brand. The report starts with a situational analysis of Hilton Hotels Resorts, including its current position within travel and tourism industry in the UK, analysis of companys main stakeholders and their interests, PESTLE analysis conducted for Hilton Hotels Resorts and description of marketing issues faced by the company. This is followed by a marketing report that comprises description of Hilton Hotels Resorts services, and analysis of the companys pricing, promotion and distribution strategy. Moreover, this report comprises a market research plan for Hilton Hotels Resorts that explains actions involved in each stage in the research process in order to achieve the research objective. The report is completed by discussions about importance of sustainability and corporate social responsibility for Hilton Hotels Resorts and an assessment of the companys policies in these two important areas of business practice. 1. Situational analysis 1.1 Position of Hilton Hotels Resorts within Travel and Tourism Industry in the UK Travel and tourism industry in the UK represents one of the key sectors in the national economy and according the research conducted by Oxford Economics travel and tourisms total contribution to GDP in the UK was GBP 101 billion in 2011 or 6.7% of total GDP (The World Travel Tourism Council, 2012, online) Figure 1 represents the structure of the UK tourism industry, and within this structure Hilton belongs to accommodation category. Moreover, the UK is the second biggest market for Hilton Hotels Resorts after the US (Barnett, 2011), and thus the UK market represents a point of focus for Hilton strategic level management. Figure structure of the UK tourism industry (field work) 1.2 Hilton Hotels Main Stakeholders and Their Interests Stakeholders of companys including Hilton Hotels Resorts can be divided into two categories: internal and external. Internal stakeholders represent parties that belong to Hilton such as shareholders and employees. The primary interests of shareholders are profit maximisation, whereas employee interests include gaining a wide range of tangible and intangible compensation from their employment. External stakeholders, on the other hand, are parties that do not belong to Hilton; nevertheless they have interest in the business from various perspectives. The following figure illustrates a range of Hilton external stakeholders and their interests: External stakeholder Interests Communities The nature of impact of business activity to the community Customers Purchasing products and services in lower prices Government Business employment relations, corporate taxation, compliance with laws, rules and regulations etc. Suppliers Long-term partnership in mutually beneficial terms Media Corporate performance, corporate conflicts, employee relations etc. Table External stakeholders and their interests 1.3 Hilton Hotels PESTLE Analysis PESTLE abbreviation is interpreted as political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors impacting businesses, and PESTLE is an important framework for assessing external factor impacting business practices. 1.3.1 Political Factors Political stability is the key to the success of any industries and it is applicable to hotel industry as well and it needs to cope with political situations everywhere in the world. The political approaches can influence the number visitors, both, tourists and business travellers visits to a nation (Jones, 2002). It may a concern for many people those who are visiting Northern Ireland because of the ongoing very delicate political situation. Moreover, Hiltons performance is directly affected by consumer protection and employment laws in UK, as well as, the nature of competitive regulation, and risks of military invasion in the country. 1.3.2 Economic Factors National macroeconomic situation and factors and events impacting the situation are major factors affecting Hilton Hotels Resorts business in the UK. For example, during the Olympic times in the UK most of the hotels were occupied and booked fully for the whole period. However, the situation was completely different once the Olympic Games were over. Additional economic factors that affect Hilton may include the extent of expected and real economic growth in the UK, national taxation policies, and seasonality and weather problems. 1.3.3 Social Factors The Hilton brand is very well known amongst international visitors and the UK is one of the popular destinations for the tourists and shopping lovers. A wide range of social factors impacting Hilton Hotels Resorts include emerging trends in consumer lifestyle, consumer demographic variables, the impact of role models in consumer decision making, and growth rate of population. For example, increasing numbers of young consumers from emerging economies like China and India visiting the UK for various purposes can be specified as an important social factor that impacts the UK hotel industry. 1.3.4 Technological Factors An overall development of technological infrastructure related to catering industry might have great impact on Hilton performance. Matters associated with the use of energy and their costs and the potential for innovation within the industry can be classified as important technological factors (Sandhusen, 2008). Furthermore, hotel bookings have become very sophisticated than ever before. Anyone can book a hotel room in a simple step with the help of internet. Increasing number of social media such as Facebook, tweeter and websites like trip advisor help both the customers and the hotels. 1.3.5 Legal Factors Legal factors are also important source of external impact on Hilton performance and they include any changes in the UK jurisdiction that affect the catering industry in direct and indirect ways. Additionally, there are many visa restriction rules are there in many countries such as the USA, the EU countries, Australia etc. for the international visitors and these countries are plays important role in the travel and tourism industry. 1.3.6 Environmental Factors The hospitality and catering industry often becomes a point of criticism for polluting the environment particularly in most of tourist attractions such as historical places, beaches, forest areas, hills etc (Foskett and Paskins, 2011). A range of activities related to tourism not only creates pollution, but also disturbs animals and related environment. Moreover, hotels and related businesses are contributing a considerable amount of carbon emissions with negative implications to the issues of global warming. Accordingly, businesses like Hilton are facing tight regulations to operate their business in the UK. These regulations are inevitably increasing the levels of operational costs for the company. Additionally, the UK being a part of the European Union (EU), Hilton performance is also impacted by relevant jurisdictions introduced by the EU. 1.4 Marketing Issues Faced by Hilton Hotels Currently, Hilton is faced with a range of substantial marketing issues in the UK threatening its long-term growth prospects. Increasing level of multiculturalism in the UK can be specified as a major marketing challenge Hilton has to deal with. Specifically, due to the increasing level of competition in the marketplace the level of cultural diversity in the UK is rapidly increasing. Accordingly, Hilton is left with a complex task of formulating and implementing a marketing strategy that needs to address cultural diversity amongst its customers. Additional marketing challenges faced by Hilton Hotels can be specified as increasing level of guest sophistication, and difficulties associated with market segmentation due to overlaps in Hilton International brands. In other words, Hilton International consists of Waldorf Astoria Hotels Resorts, Hilton Hotels Resorts, Conrad Hotels Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, and Hilton Grand Vacations (Our Brands, 2012, online), and there is a little difference amongst these brands in terms of their market positioning. This fact creates marketing challenges for Hilton Hotels Resorts in terms of differentiating this particular brand from other brands within Hilton International portfolio. 2. Marketing Report 2.1 Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning Strategies used by Hilton Hotels The process of market segmentation involves dividing the market into segments or groups based on the characteristics from the specific market. In this way the most attractive or suitable segment based on the services and products can be targeted very effectively and efficiently. Generally the market can be divided into four different groups, and they are geographic, demographic, psychographic and benefit oriented (OGuinn, et al., 2011). 2.1.1 Geographic Segmentation. Geographic segmentation involves targeting specific consumer groups according to their geographic locations in national and international levels. Hiltons geographic segmentation strategy mainly focuses on the local preferences and the location. For instance, Hilton open hotels in London for attracting mainly business people and the services mainly focus on business travellers. 2.1.2 Demographic segmentation A set of variables used in demographic market segmentation include gender, life-cycle stage, age, income, social class, and lifestyle. From this perspective, Hilton target customer segment represent middle and senior aged professionals with high level of income belonging to upper social class. Moreover, Hilton Hotels Resorts mainly target individuals that pursue luxury lifestyle, and accordingly, the company charges premium prices for its products and services perceived to be of a relevant quality. 2.1.3 Psychographic Segmentation Psychographic segmentation goes beyond demographics as it examines how a person thinks, feels and behaves, using personality, lifestyle and values as segmenting variables (Cant et al., 2009, p.118). The nature of psychographic segmentation used by Hilton involves targeting ambitious individuals who would like to express their perceived high status and achievement by staying in five star rooms offered by the hotel at premium prices. 2.1.4 Benefits Segmentation Benefits segmentation involves implementing market segmentation on the basis of benefits customers aim to obtain using products and/or services offered by the company. Accordingly, perceived or real benefits offered by Hilton to potential and existing customers include sense of achievement, a high status in society, and luxury. 2.2 Description of Hilton Hotels Products and Services In order to capture every opportunity in the market, Hilton operates hotels and other related services in accommodation, gambling and entertainment areas. Few areas are entirely new for Hilton Group, including a gambling business. Hilton Hotels Resorts offers mainly accommodation services through its hotels, resorts, apartment hotels etc. Most of the revenue is generated through selling hotel rooms to customers. There are also a range of other services and products that contribute to the level of revenue stream such as restaurants, bars, smaller shops, spa, laundry services, travel desk, business centre, banquet halls etc. Among these products and services the core one is rooms divisions which brings most of the revenues. Generally, products are divided into three levels: core, facilitating and supporting products. Core products can be explained as a basic form of a product. To put it simply core products are the main reasons for customers purchasing from a business. For Hilton Hotels Resorts core product is hotel rooms that customers stay in for a specific period of time. Peripheral services can be explained as additional products and services above the core product that businesses offer to get competitive edge in the marketplace. Facilitating products involve services that assist consumers in consumption of core products. Hilton offers a set of popular facilitating products such as customer services, bars and restaurants, and online reservation facilities. Supporting products include additional products and services that are offered in order to obtain competitive advantage for the business by increasing the value of core products and services. A range of supporting products offered by Hilton Hotels include 24/7 room service, free newspapers and magazines for business travellers, concierge services etc. (Reid and Bojanic, 2010). Augmented product is benefit offer made by businesses that consist of core product and peripheral services. Augmented products offered by Hilton Hotels Resorts include membership discounts, luxurious room and exterior designs, high class restaurants and relaxed hotel atmosphere. 2.3 Hilton Hotels Pricing Strategies Pricing strategies used by businesses are divided into four broad categories within the framework of Pricing Strategy Matrix: economy, penetration, skimming and premium pricing strategies. Economy pricing strategy involves selling products of basic features and characteristics to consumers with low budgets. Penetration pricing strategy, on the other hand, involves offering high quality products and services in low prices than the competition in order to increase market share. Skimming, as a pricing strategy is opposite to penetration in a way that products and services are offered in a higher price levels than the competition. The main rationale for the choice of skimming pricing strategy may include the desire to associate products or services with exclusiveness and a high quality. Figure Pricing strategy matrix Source: www.marketingteacher.com Premium pricing strategy involves charging high level prices for products and services that are perceived to have excellent quality and additional characteristics and features. From the classifications provided above the type of pricing strategy adopted by Hilton Hotels Resorts can be specified as premium. Hilton only offers five star and four star rooms and the company is able to charge its customers at premium levels because beyond the core product, Hilton also sells a set of intangible benefits such as sense of achievement, high status and luxury. 2.4 Hilton Hotels Promotion Strategy Hilton Hotels Resorts employ promotion strategy that utilises various components of promotion mix. Generally, major elements of promotion mix include advertising, public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion. 2.4.1 Advertising Advertising is a paid, mediated form of communication from an identifiable source, designed to persuade the receiver to take some action now or in the future (Klever, 2009, p.25). New advertisement slogan of Hilton Hotels Resorts Stay Hilton. Go Everywhere is aimed to communicate the marketing message of the hotel being a large global brand and maintaining a high level of quality in all of its hotels. This marketing message is communicated through a set of specific elements of advertising promotional strategy such as advertisements in newspapers and magazines popular with senior level management professionals such as Forbes, Fortune, The Economist, and Financial Times. Moreover, the communication of Hilton Hotels Resorts marketing message is also facilitated through broadcast advertisements in selected television channels. 2.4.2 Public Relations Officially, The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPD) defines public relations as planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organisation and its publics (CIPD, 2012, online). In simple terms, public relations can be explained as a one way communication between the company and the public. Hilton Hotels Resorts public relations are maintained through communication with a range of parties such as customers, employees, and other private and public organisations. Specific methods of public relations used by Hilton Hotels Resorts include issuing online and offline press releases in a regular manner, and communicating through newsletters with organisational stakeholders. Moreover, the company website serves as an effective platform for Hilton Hotels Resorts for engaging in public relations. 2.4.3 Personal Selling Personal selling involves company sales representatives contacting potential customers through various channels with the aims of making a sale. The advantages of personal selling include the possibility to attract customer attention, application of interpersonal skills in order to mage the sale, and the potentials for forming and maintaining long-term customer relationships. At the same time, personal selling promotion mix has some disadvantages such as being overly expensive to conduct and reaching fewer numbers of perspective customers in a given period of time compared to other elements of marketing promotion mix. Promotion strategy used by Hilton Hotels Resorts does not involve personal selling due to the nature of the business. 2.4.4 Sales Promotion Sales promotion relates to attempts by a business to persuade potential customers to purchase products or services through introducing various incentives (Evans et al., 2004). Sales promotion is popular in hotel industry, and accordingly this specific element of promotion mix is used by Hilton Hotels Resorts in an intensive manner. Hilton Hotels Resorts engage in sales promotion through HHonors points based rewards program and discount vouchers available on official company website. Moreover, Hilton Hotels Resorts offer a wide range of deals on their website in order to increase the level of their revenues. Hilton Hotels Resorts gains practical advantages from using sales promotion in the forms of increasing the level of revenues and achieving utilisation of their rooms at a greater extend. However, it is important to note that by introducing aggressive sales promotions Hilton Hotels Resorts may be risking compromising brand value in a way that sales promotion and the possibility to use the brand services in cheaper prices might be compromising the level of exclusiveness of the brand. Furthermore, sales promotions only offer short-term advantages and thus this element of marketing promotion mix is best used only in an occasional manner. 2.5 Hilton Hotels Resorts Distribution Strategy The ultimate aim of the distribution strategy for a hotel firm can be specified as making available the products and services to consumers where, when and how they prefer them (Reid Bojanic, 2010). Hilton Hotels Resorts distribution strategy heavily relies on information technology and internet in various formats. Firstly, the official website of the company serves as an effective platform for service distribution as it is supplied with a wide range of features and capabilities providing practical assistance to customers such as booking a room, planning events and weddings, scheduling meetings and booking airport pick-ups. Moreover, the distribution of Hilton Hotels Resorts products and services is also facilitated through mobile convenient applications made available for IPhone and Android platforms. Social media is adopted as another effective instrument by Hilton Hotels Resorts in distribution of its products and services. For example, the official page of the company in leading social networking website, Facebook has been liked by more than 405,300 people who receive latest news about the company and special offer announcements through the website. The main reason behind the selection of internet platform as the base of Hilton Hotels Resorts distribution strategy relates to a wide range of conveniences associated with internet. Specifically, internet presents Hilton Hotels Resorts customers with the possibilities of purchasing products and services in advance on the go and within a timeframe of a few seconds. 2.6 Usage of Three Ps of Extended Marketing Mix by Hilton Hotels Resorts Traditional four Ps of marketing mix discussed above have been specified as product, price, promotion, and place, and additional three Ps of extended marketing mix have been adopted as process, physical evidence and people. 2.6.1 Process The process element of marketing mix is approached by Hilton Hotels Resorts according to its selected business strategy. Specifically, the company aims to maintain the process of service provision in a premium levels in a luxurious manner. Generally most of the hotels are running 24/7 their businesses unlike banks or schools. It is because the accommodation services need to be provided around the year and 24 hours in a day. In order to remain competitive the marketing process used by the hotel is very important. According to Rutherford (2007) the marketing process of a hotel should begin from deciding what to be and what to offer to whom. Creating awareness and stimulating the demand among the consumers are the key marketing process can help to achieve the competitive advantage. 2.6.2 Physical evidence Physical evidence can be explained as tangibility of Hilton Hotels Resorts services and physical outcome that is generated from consumption of the service. Specifically, physical evidence for Hilton Hotels Resorts includes luxurious interior and exterior design, attitude of hotel workforce towards customers and service provision, and inclusion of tangible goods within the service. 2.6.3 People There are various people groups that play a vital role for the success of Hilton Hotels Resorts. Broadly, people that have direct implications on Hilton Hotels Resorts performance can be divided into three categories: customers, employees and suppliers. Customers represent an important group of people for Hilton Hotels Resorts for obvious reasons. Generally hotel firms target a wide range of customers from leisure to business travellers, people those are want to eat outside etc. One of the big challenges to the hospitality marketing is satisfying the different mind-set customers. Over a period these customers needs and wants will also be changed (Bowie Buttle, 2011). Employees are classified as another group of people that can have tremendous impact on service outcome, and consequently on the level of profitability of Hilton Hotels Resorts through their performances. Moreover, Hilton Hotels Resorts rely on a wide range of suppliers and the performance of people employed by suppliers also might have indirect implications on the performance of the company. 3. Market Research It is critically important for Hilton to be conducting researches in a regular basis in order to identify the level of customer satisfaction and identify specific aspects of the service customers are particularly happy or unhappy with. The market research plan proposed for Hilton Hotels Resorts consists of the following stages: defining the problem, selecting appropriate methodology, data collection, data analysis, data presentation. 3.1 Defining the Problem Marketing research starts with a problem definition. Alternatively, this stage can be marked with formulation of research objectives. Failure to define the problem in an appropriate manner or formulate market research objective can result in the waste of time and financial resources invested in the project. The main objective of the market research plan proposed for Hilton Hotels Resorts can be specified as follows: Identifying the level of Hilton Hotels Resorts customer satisfaction and detecting specific aspects of the service customers are particularly happy or unhappy with Achievement of this marketing research objective can contribute to long-term growth of Hilton Hotels Resorts in a way that according to the findings of the marketing plan specific aspects of the service contributing to the level of customer satisfaction can be further strengthened, and equally, aspects of the service causing customer dissatisfaction can be eliminated. 3.2 Selecting Appropriate Methodology Once the problem has been clearly identified, appropriate methods need to be selected for the purposes of data collection. The methods of data collection can be divided into two categories: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative methods use non-numerical elements such as sounds, emotions, feelings, words and others, whereas quantitative methods involve the use of numbers and calculations in various formats. Comparison dimension Qualitative research Quantitative research Types of questions Probing Non-probing Sample size Small Large Information per respondent Much Varies Administration Interviewers with special skills are required Fewer special skills required for interviewers Type of analysis Subjective, interpretive Statistical, summarisation Hardware required Tape recorders, projection devices, video, pictures, discussion guides Questionnaires, computers, printouts Ease of replication Difficult Easy Table A Comparison of a qualitative and quantitative research Source: Wiid and Diggens (2009) The most popular data collection techniques that can be used in market research include questionnaires, interviews, observation and focus groups. Table 2 illustrates a brief description of popular data collection methods Technique Description Observation Monitoring behaviours of sample group members or observing event by humans or non-humans Focus groups Organising group discussions with sample group members with the participation of a moderator addressing research questions in direct and indirect ways Projective techniques Collecting data through appealing to motives, urges, emotions or feelings of sample group members in indirect ways Survey methods Questionnaire Formulating a set of questions to be answered by sample group members in an individual manner Interviews Verbal questioning of sample group members in one-to-one basis in order to extract needed information Table Description of popular data collection methods Source: Knight and Ruddock (2009) 3.3 Data Collection The process of data collection through questionnaires is not a simple task as it may seem and there are important aspects of data collection process that need to be addressed. Firstly, ethical considerations of market research need to be addressed in this stage in a way that participation in the survey should not be made compulsory amongst Hilton customers and their personal and contact details should not be collected. Moreover, data collection and analysis needs to comply with Data Protection Act (1998). Sampling represents another important aspect of data collection from members of population. Popular sampling techniques that can be used in market research include cluster, systematic, theoretical, convenience, quota, purposive and snowball sampling methods. A critical assessment of advantages and disadvantages of sampling techniques listed above finds quota sampling as the most suitable to be utilised in the proposed market research. Utilisation of quota sampling method in an appropriate manner necessitates introduction of certain requirements for individual population members to be included in the survey (Serakan and Bougie, 2009). Accordingly, taking into account the nature of marketing plan objective the requirement introduced to individual population members can be specified as an experience of using Hilton Hotels Resorts products and services. In other words, only individuals that have used products and services of Hilton Hotels Resorts need to be asked to complete the questionnaire. This task can be appropriately implemented by offering Hilton visitors in selected hotels from various parts of the UK to participate in the survey. In order to generate adequate amount of responses questionnaire questions, answers need to be obtained from at least 1000 respondents. Moreover, Hilton Hotels Resorts market research questionnaire needs to include both, close-ended and open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions are needed to generate data about consumer demographic variables and assessment of specific aspects of service, whereas open-ended questions need to be included in order to reflect customer suggestions about potentials for improvement and to capture additional relevant issues not included in questionnaire. 3.4 Data Analysis Data analysis, as an important stage in market research involves critical analysis and interpretation of questionnaire findings. Data analysis for Hilton Hotels Resorts market research involves the application of quantitative and qualitative methods. The application of quantitative methods is needed for answers given to closed-ended questions. Specifically, percentages associated with the selection of each alternative answers to questions need to be calculated and critically analysed. The application of qualitative methods, on the other hand, is needed to analyse answers provided for open-ended questions. Qualitative data analysis in market research involves detecting common patterns within information given by questionnaire respondents and analysing these patterns from a critical viewpoint. An important point to be addressed during data collection and data analysis stages of Hotels Resorts market research relates to validity and reliability issues. In order to address these issues correctly researchers need to remain objective at all stages of research process in general, and during data analysis stage in particular. 3.5 Data Presentation The main purpose in this last stage of the marketing research is to present findings of data analysis in such a format that it can be understood by

The Medieval Church, The Book of Margery Kempe and Everyman :: Book of Margery Kempe Essays

The Medieval Church, The Book of Margery Kempe and Everyman While the Reformation is generally regarded to have begun with Martin Luther’s famous treatise of 1517, the seeds of dissent sown in the 14th century had already taken full root in England by the middle of the 15th century. War, disease, and oppressive government led to a general anger toward the Catholic Church, believed to be â€Å"among the greatest of the oppressive landowners† (Norton 10). John Wycliffe, whose sermons preached against abuses in the church and attempted to shift the focus of religious faith away from church rituals and onto scriptural interpretation, was persecuted. Renaissance Humanism’s notion of individual agency was filtering across the Channel. The medieval texts The Book of Margery Kempe (probably written in the late 1430s) and Everyman (after 1485) are therefore products of turbulent religious times. Everyman, in that it highlights the importance of the sacraments and the clergy, can be seen as a response on the part of the Catholic Church to the challenges it faced. The Book of Margery Kempe gives hints into the nature of these challenges. Both texts reveal a medieval concern about the role of the clergy in England. The Book of Margery Kempe, while presented as spiritual autobiography, was also a story as transcribed by a priest. Although the manuscript was not â€Å"discovered† until 1934, it shows evidence of having been read and studied much before this time. Annotations by four additional hands, probably â€Å"monks associated with the important Carthusian priory of Mount Grace in Yorkshire† fill the margins of the British Library MS (Staley 2). Believed to retain â€Å"much of the characteristic form and expression of its author†, it nonetheless must be remembered that Kempe’s story was interpreted and presented through a very specific (clerical) lens (Norton 367). Lynn Staley, who studied the early annotations made to the original manuscript, notes that the marginal comments and underlining â€Å"are directed toward elucidating the â€Å"affective† emphasis of the text† (5). â€Å"The challenge to authority implicit in Margery’s experiences,† Staley continues, â€Å"is downplayed by highlighting those characteristics that link Margery to the conventions of spiritual ecstasy† (6). Staley suggests that Kempe’s narration is shaped â€Å"to guide subsequent readers towards a carefully controlled response, one that obviates the radical social gospel submerged in Kempe’s Narrative† (6). Given that this â€Å"radical social gospel† is nonetheless present in Kempe’s story and that it contains an ambiguous picture

Human Resource Development Simulation Essay

Being a training director is not an easy job because, aside from dealing with different personalities who will under you for training, a training director has to make sure that such trainings will also benefit the company as a whole. In a situation wherein the CEO of the company is looking for tangible evidences that construe the organization’s training programs effectiveness, it is only but right to show him/her profound evidences of your efforts as the training officer. Before presenting to the CEO proofs of the effective implementation of the training programs and that such spending has not really gone to waste, I would like to utilize survey forms and evaluation of the performance appraisal of the employees who have gone to the training. The question now lies – why use survey and performance rating of employees who have gone training as gauge for a measurable return on investment (ROI)? SURVEYS – I find surveys as an effective tool for measuring the ROI because this will determine the familiarity of the products and services of the company among the populace. Even though people have not yet bought the company’s products nor avail its services, it is a nice thing already that the consumers know the existence of the company. Surveys will be implemented through scientific sampling of respondents in the community who will answer questionnaires that bear questions about the services and products of the company. If the results turn-out will reflect that majority of the respondents know the products and services of the company, then it means that the training programs, in a way, has contributed the company’s run. PERFORMANCE RATING OF THE TRAINEESAFTER THE TRAINING – A good performance training is the best evidence that the training is, indeed, very effective. A well-trained employee will contribute in the company’s ROI because aside that he/she will be a utility in the company, his/her knowledge can expand more; hence, he/she might project new ideas that can further enhance the functionality of the company.

Cost of College Essay

When dropping my sister off at college many thoughts ran through my head. Thinking that she was no longer going to be at home, and that she was beginning a new chapter in her life struck me as odd. In the many thoughts I had, I did not think about how much her new chapter in life was going to cost my family. It did not hit me until we finished moving her into her dorm room and we went to the university book store to pick up her books. This was my first realization of how expensive college is. The costs of all her books for the coming semester came to a total around $500. I could not believe that this was just the beginning. In addition to the cost of books, students are required to pay for room and board, a meal plan, and the tuition. The increasing cost of college is causing many student to stop their education after receiving their high school diploma. According to College Board, â€Å"The average cost of a four year college is $7, 605 per semester. † Once the costs of books, food, room and board have been added into the cost of tuition, the total can be anywhere between nine to eleven thousand dollars. A four-year state college, which is often one’s last resort, cost about nine thousand dollars or more to attend. Unless a student earns an athletic or academic scholarship, college is a very costly investment. Often, students are required to take out multiple loans to help pay for their tuition which can sometimes take up to five years to pay back. As of today, the most expensive college in the United States is Sarah Lawrence College. This private college comes with the hefty price tag of $57,556 per year. Sarah Lawrence is followed by the well known Ivy League school, Columbia University, which costs around â€Å"$43,815 for tuition and fees and another $10,572 for room and board† (Wingfield). With costs like these for an education, college will soon be a privilege for only the elite and wealthy. The amount of money expected to be paid for a college education is outrageous and something needs to be changed. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, â€Å"In 1990 the cost of a four-year public school costs about $8,000 for a year† (Trends in the Cost of College). Now, in 2011, this is the average amount one would pay for a semester. Through the years there has been an obvious rise in the cost of a college education, almost a one hundred percent increase. It seems unreal that in just a little over twenty years the cost of college could grow by such a large margin. In 2012, the University of Missouri-Columbia, also known as Mizzou, is going to escalate the cost of tuition by five percent. This is a four hundred dollar increase per semester from the previous year. If looking at the big picture, Mizzou is receiving eight hundred dollars more per year from each student; multiply that number by the amount of students, and one will see the massive growth in money that Mizzou will be receiving. Now the question arises, was the raise in the tuition really necessary or simply greed? This rise in tuition will cause more people to loose their opportunity to gain a college education because it only becomes harder to afford. If the cost of college were to stay the same or maybe even decrease, more people may try to earn a college degree because they could afford it. Often because of the cost, many do not pursue a college degree and they end up with a lower quality job than those who have completed college. The high and rising cost of a college education is resulting in fewer students enrolling in colleges nationwide, leaving many campuses with fewer students than the years past. If the cost would decrease, more students would apply and in some cases, leave the colleges receiving more money. Because of the high and almost unaffordable cost of college, less working class people are able to afford a college education. Many academically average high school students struggle to afford college because without astounding test scores or a high GPA, they do not receive any academic scholarship. If the cost of college tuition was reduced, many more average students could afford a college education making the United States population a little smarter, and maybe it would have a lower unemployment rate. Works Cited: â€Å"Trends in the Cost of College. † National Center for Education Statistics. U. S. Department of Education,, 2010. Web. 24 Feb 2011. . â€Å"What It Cost to Go to College. † The College Board. The College Board, 2010. Web. 23 Feb 2011. . Wingfield, Brian. â€Å"America’s Most Expensive Colleges and Universities. † Yahoo Finance. Yahoo, 05 Oct 2010. Web. 23 Feb 2011. .

Persuation essays

Persuation essays Have you ever driven down the road in some town somewhere and saw a person wearing different clothes than you or selling their cultural arts and crafts, that are unusual to you, but not to them? Have you wondered where they got that idea from, or who taught them that? Im talking about a persons general ignorance about someone elses culture and beliefs. About how concentrating more time in school as a kid learning about your American History. More than just Columbus came here and discovered America, and that the Indians were discovered by the Europeans. What about who was here before Columbus landed? How long had they been here for? These sort of things will lead the minds of our young into real stories of tribes and kings, and wars, and the realization that there was more beyond 1776 when our founding fathers founded our country. You know, I think also that it would open our eyes to each other more and less towards turning away. So lets take a look at Americas History, not the United States of America, but the island of America. According to The Smithsonian Encyclopedia, traditional theory held that the first Americans crossed the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska around 11,500 years ago (par 1). These folks were the Clovis people, named after a town in New Mexico, where their fluted spear points used for hunting mammoth were in 1932. Then there were indications that boats were actually in use as far back as 25,000 to 40,000 years ago and now there is evidence suggesting that people with boats moved along the coast of Canada, California, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile date between 10,000 and 12,000 ago and others are buried under the coast line(par 3). Now looking beyond the remains, there are people who are trying to uncover the truth about the New World. These people are scientists who are researching theses remains and others like them to determine the biological as...

Transmutation Definition and Examples

Transmutation Definition and Examples The word transmutation means something different to a scientist, particularly a physicist or chemist, compared to the ordinary usage of the term. Transmutation Definition (trÄÆ'ns†²myoÍžo-tÄ Ã¢â‚¬ ²shÉ™n) (n) Latin transmutare to change from one form into another.  To transmute is to change from one form or substance into another; to transform or convert. Transmutation is the act or process of transmuting. There are multiple specific definitions of transmutation, depending on the discipline. In the general sense, transmutation is any transformation from one form or species into another on.(Alchemy) Transmutation is the conversion of base elements into precious metals, such as gold or silver. The artificial production of gold, chrysopoeia, was a goal of alchemists, who sough to develop a Philosophers Stone that would be capable of the transmutation. The alchemists attempted to use chemical reactions to achieve transmutation. They were unsuccessful because nuclear reactions are required.(Chemistry) Transmutation is the conversion of one chemical element into another. Element transmutation may occur either naturally or via a synthetic route. Radioactive decay, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion are natural processes by which one element may become another. Scientists most commonly transmute elements by bombarding the nucleus of a target atom with particles, forcing the target to change its atomic number, and thus its elemental identity. Related Terms: Transmute (v), Transmutational (adj), Transmutative (adj), Transmutationist (n)Transmutation Examples The classic goal of alchemy was to turn the base metal  lead into the more valuable metal  gold. While alchemy did not achieve this goal, physicists and chemists learned how to transmute elements. For example, Glenn Seaborg made gold from bismuth in 1980. There are reports that Seaborg also  transmuted a minute quantity of lead into gold, possibly en route via bismuth. However, its much easier to transmute gold into lead:  Ã‚   197Au  Ã‚  n  Ã¢â€ â€™Ã‚  198Au (half life  2.7 days) →  198Hg   n →  199Hg n →  200Hg n →  201Hg n →  202Hg n →  203Hg (half life 47 days) →  203Tl   n →  204Tl (half life 3.8 years) →  204Pb  (half life 1.4x1017  years) The Spallation Neutron Source has transmuted liquid mercury into gold, platinum, and iridium, using particle acceleration. Gold may be made using a nuclear reactor by irradiating mercury or platinum (producing radioactive isotopes). If mercury-196 is used as the starting isotope, slow neutron capture followed by electron capture can produce the single stable isotope, gold-197. Transmutation History The term transmutation may be traced back to the early days of alchemy. By the Middle Ages, attempts at alchemical transmutation were outlawed and alchemists Heinrich Khunrath and Michael Maier exposed fraudulent claims of chrysopoeia. In the 18th century, alchemy was largely supplanted by the science of chemistry, after Antoine Lavoisier and John Dalton proposed atomic theory. The first true observation of transmutation came in 1901, when Frederick Soddy and Ernest Rutherford observed thorium changing into radium via radioactive decay. According to Soddy, he exclaimed, Rutherford, this is transmutation! To which Rutherford replied, For Christs sake, Soddy, dont call it  transmutation. Theyll have our heads off as alchemists!

Betrayal In The Kite Runner English Literature Essay

Betrayal In The Kite Runner English Literature Essay In this essay I pretend to demonstrate what is betray, in both books it presents a long variety of examples of betrayal, as we know betray is something that had exist in all over the world also is considered as a sin, most of the people had been betrayed more than one time in their lives, but anyone can tell or express their feelings when they feel betrayed, the only way that people can express that feeling is writing, Khaled Hosseini and Ian McEwan show us in their books how betray is presented in the characters. I had read both books and I love them because present us a lot of themes that I feel related with them, but the most important theme that interest me is betray because most of people had suffered one single act of betray. I can compare these two books because both have similarities and can compare to in real life, in a real context. Also these two books showed us how people betray their closest friends or families. The most important think that I am going to present is the cultural differences between Amir and Bryony and why is the main purpose of acting like that and the Redemption of their acts. The first time when Amir Commit betrays is when he saw Assef raping Hassan when Amir won the Kites contest because Hassan denied giving up the kite blue of Amir to Assef; when Assef was ripping Hassan he said â€Å"A loyal Hazara, loyal as a dog†. (The kite runner pages 71-78)1. With this quote I try to explain how betray is clearly present because he betray his confidence, Amir should try to do something to help Hassan and stop that act of insanity. Also Amir felt that he deserved because Amir comes from and high social class because their cultural differences are so strong, because Amir’s and Hassan’s father is the same but he made love with the servant but Amir is a Pashtu and Hassan is a Hazara. The Kite Runner pages 71-78)1 In Atonement Briony betrays her sister, because Briony saw her sister having sex in the library with Robbie à ¢â‚¬Å"When she took another few steps she saw then, dark shapes in the furthest corner. Though they were immobile, her immediately understanding was that she had interrupted an attack, a hand-to-hand fight. The scene was so entirely a realization of her worst fears that she sensed that her overanxious imagination had projected the figures onto the packed spines of books. This illusion, or hope of one, was dispelled as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. No one moved. Briony stared past Robbie’s shoulder into terrified eyes of her sister.† (Atonement page 116)2 , but when the twin’s carrot head escaped to their home, Briony was looking for them and suddenly saw that Lola was being raped by an unknown person, Briony think that Robbie did it because she thought that he was a sexual maniac because she had read the letter that Robbie sent to her sister. Briony betrays her sister because she told to the police that Robbie tried to rape Lola, suddenly Briony showed them the letter that Robbie wrote to Cecilia. Briony never realized that she destroyed two lives (Cecilia and Robbie Lives). Here I tried to explain in both books how families can betray their relatives and destroy a life, also these two books have are related in the same way of betrayal why I said this well, because Briony and Amir had betrayed in one purpose; to feel secure of themselves and demonstrate who is in charge or demonstrate that they are not weak.

Personal development planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Personal development planning - Essay Example In order to enter the field, they would require a set of skills and hands-on experience that would enable them perform assigned tasks effectively besides enhancing their chances of advancing their careers (OPITO, 2015, p.1). This paper will define the skills and knowledge needed for a HR manager in the oil gas industry and discusses ways of developing these competences. Students aiming at positions of human resource managers in oil and gas industries require set of skills and knowledge for managing the human resources in a firm as well as relating with the other executives. In addition, they require skills and knowledge on the operations of a gas and oil firm that would influence the performances of human resources and other dynamics (Oil and Gas Job Search, 2015 p.1). This would be necessary since the work setting in oil and gas industry would differ with work environments in other industries. The HR manager in oil and gas firm has the responsibility of managing all issues of employees that would require wide experience and skills. These include: Students undertaking oil and gas management courses would need to develop ways of acquiring the skills and knowledge listed above to promote their employability in the firms upon completion of their studies. Some knowledge and skills are not adequately covered in lecture rooms and students would acquire them by engaging in out of class activities. Students in the oil and gas management would use the following plan to acquire above listed skills and knowledge: They should ensure they are enrolled for degree courses in Human resource management or an equivalent. This would ensure they qualify with degrees that are acceptable in for a position in HR department in oil and gas firms. Ensuring they master the responsibilities of HR in managing human resources including procedure for recruitment, systems used in compensating workers, systems used of keeping information of persons, and the development of

The Acceptance of a Multinational Philosophy of Business Research Paper

The Acceptance of a Multinational Philosophy of Business - Research Paper Example Disney should use advertising research and brand equity research, demand estimation and buyer decision research. As a basis of gaining intelligence, marketing research can be wasteful as well as useful. Besides limiting risk, marketing research is itself a genuine business risk, but one that must be undertaken. To have the best chance of success, it must be conducted by people who have a solid understanding of company needs as well as the needs of customers. It requires effective communication between top management and the research staff, and a management willing to overcome biases and predispositions in order to institute programs based on research findings (Hollensen, 2007). The utilization of computer technology, coupled with better research techniques, has greatly increased the facts available. But large masses of data can also prove to be disruptive. Managers can be inundated with facts. Marketing management is thus challenged to develop an integrated marketing information syst em to provide the intelligence and knowledge required for both short-term marketing goals and longer-range company needs, in order to eliminate unnecessary data. In addition to marketing research in any company, related manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, marketing research agencies, advertising agencies, trade associations, governmental agencies, universities, financial institutions (including banks), and chambers of commerce all provide useful research data and information for solving marketing problems. For instance, research agencies buy the data from supermarket chains and in turn sell data on the movement of food items through chain stores and their warehouses.

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 44

Case Study Example The takes a lot of time and many customers end up being dissatisfied. The company is also thinking of ways it can to make sure that the products reach the customers much faster. Easy shopping is also a problem that the company is facing. The company is planning to enroll a new program where each inventory has 8 images taken on all angles before being posted on their website. The company is also making a lot of loses on shipping redeliveries. Training and development can help the firm reduce on return deliveries. Competent and knowledgeable staff can help customers choose merchandise that fits them. Training on innovation may also help the employees come up with programs that will help counter some of the challenges the company is facing. Training will also help reduce the amount of time taken before the goods finally reach the customers. In the year 2009, the company was ranked as one of the best companies to work for in the United States of America by fortune (Zappos.com, 2015). In order to increase employee engagement the company offers perks. The company believes that having happy employees is critical to ensure that the organization is successful. The company provides free lunch and even has a game and nap room (Zappos.com, 2015). The company also believes by offering their employees perks, they will not feel that like they are being forced to work. This makes the employees work harder, be committed to their work and are not likely to leave the company. Zappos has core 10 core values. Some of the core values can be influenced through training and development. One of the company’s values is to deliver WOW service (Zappos.com, 2015). This simply means delivering exemplary and unique service to the company’s customers. The company can train its employees on how to offer WOW service to their customers. The other core value that can be influenced through training and development is,

Topical References Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Topical References - Assignment Example The purpose of this research is to understand the various types of disorders that are covered within the context of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry while the research is based to answer this question which type of interventions may be utilized to enhance productivity of children and adolescents suffering from mental health issues and also how these disorders impact the productivity. References Angold, A. and Costello, E. J. (2000). The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA). Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 39 (1): 39–48. Abstract: To describe the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA). The base interview covers the age range from 9 to 17 years. The interview glossary that provides detailed operational definitions of symptoms and severity ratings is described, and psychometric data and further developments of the interview are presented. Across 5,962 parent-child interviews, the core sections of the CAPA (psychiatric sym ptoms, functional impairment, demographics, family structure and functioning) took on average 59 minutes for children and 66 minutes for parents. Test-retest reliability for diagnoses ranged from ? = 0.55 for conduct disorder (CD) to ? = 1.0 for substance abuse/dependence. Validity as judged by 10 different criteria was good. Developments of the CAPA include a shorter â€Å"gateway† version using core symptoms as screen items, a Spanish version, and versions for twin studies, use with young adults (YAPA), and preschool-age children (PAPA). There is a place in both research and clinical settings for a rigorously operationalized interview (such as the CAPA) that focuses on ensuring that respondents understand what is being asked and on clearly defining levels of symptom severity and functional impairment. [Abstract from author] Classi, P. M., Le, T. K., Ward, S., and Johnston, J. (2011). Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and medication use

What made me choose to become a mental health couselor Essay

What made me choose to become a mental health couselor - Essay Example such a wide variety of factors which can negatively impact the emotional stability of today’s global citizens, there must be effective and thoughtful counselors available through which to discuss social and self-related issues and assist people in need to ensure they receive help and/or a rational voice to offer suggestions on how best to make life more satisfying. It is quite common to witness that many people have a very difficult time adjusting to the many complications and expectations which are placed upon them, both by peers or colleagues as well as social acquaintances. There are many social protocols which demand that people act differently than who they really are when in public situations, therefore they never seem to get the opportunity to really reflect who the person is on the inside. When dealing with basic lifestyle complications, coupled with social rules and in-crowd regulations associated with what is considered acceptable behavior, it is not unrealistic that a person will begin to lose the necessary internal balance to lead a healthy, emotionally-sound adult life. These basic stresses, it would seem, also strongly impact the male psyche leading to a considerable amount of domestic abuse and violence against women. When men are being forced to simply comply with inferior business leadership (such as a poor manager or inferior colleague), these frustrations can build up over time. Add to the professional stress a home life which is riddled with bill payment issues or other frustrations caused from an inability to stretch one’s imagination and creativity, it is likely they will lash out at the nearest thing which sometimes involves asserting this aggression against women because they are weaker. In many respects, violence stemming from men is likely this group attempting to assert their dominance over the weaker since they do not have the opportunity to accomplish this at work or socially otherwise. To lash out in the employment environment

Da Vinci and Freud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Da Vinci and Freud - Essay Example The notebooks that Da Vinci left behind disclose an exceptionally alert and incisive mind swimming with so many fantastical initiatives that it would have taken several lifetimes to bring just the realistic to fruition. As a result of what he did accomplish and the truly breathtaking scope of what he intended to accomplish, for most of his legacy Leonard Da Vinci has been relegated to that airy sphere of the genius, removed from the rabble of consistent mediocrity. For this reason, Da Vinci's image has tended to withstand contemporary assaults and interpretations through the ages. Safely removed to a period considered among the heights of human achievement, it has always been easier to simply dismiss any realistic examination into the psyche of his mind by explaining him inadequately away as a genius. The past century, however, has witness a revitalization of the image of Da Vinci that has gotten particularly vital in the past few decades. No longer content to explain away artistic prodigy with the lame excuse of genius, the critical investigation into what has made Da Vinci a titanic figure in history has come down to earth through careful examination of all extant material. Da Vinci's exertions on an assortment of subject matter have made its way across the world, found in museums on nearly every continent. It has even come to light that not everything that is found in the scribbles of those notebooks originated in the mind of Da Vinci himself; he possessed not just a creative mind, but an interpretive mind as well, adapting pre-existing ideas. This new information and the analysis of what had already been known have supplied an enhanced considerate for the process by which Leonardo benefited from the ideas presented by both his peers and predecessors. In this way, Leonardo has been lowered a little closer to earth, while still striding over most of us like an Olympus. Without doing anything to reduce his accomplishments, this new portrait of Da Vinci serves to reveal a figure that is somehow more human and even vulnerable. Yet, despite an artistic canon that is renowned for a massive fresco depicting the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, as well as countless portraits of the Madonna and baby Jesus, Leonardo Da Vinci's contemporary idealization is based upon the conception of the artist as a secular figure. Da Vinci, despite his clear talents as a traditional artist of Biblical images, is foremost grounded in the modern consciousness as a scientist who used his art as a device for peering into the clandestine world that lies hidden just behind the veil of knowledge. The great irony of Da Vinci's life may be that his fame rests greatly upon two of paintings that considered the ultimate Renaissance accomplishment of bringing to life the mysteries of the human soul while he was as a person actually rather disinterested in the affairs of men such as religion and politics. Clearly, Leonardo Da Vinci ranks as one of history's greatest intellectuals, despite his self-exile from much of the realm of society. Just as obvious from the sheer breadth of his accomplishments and the truly astounding range of his interests, Da Vinci suffered-or perhaps thrive would be apt-from conditions related to obsession. Intellectualization is a psychological term used to describe the endeavor of obsessive to sublimate uncomfortable emotional disorders through the

What made me choose to become a mental health couselor Essay

What made me choose to become a mental health couselor - Essay Example such a wide variety of factors which can negatively impact the emotional stability of today’s global citizens, there must be effective and thoughtful counselors available through which to discuss social and self-related issues and assist people in need to ensure they receive help and/or a rational voice to offer suggestions on how best to make life more satisfying. It is quite common to witness that many people have a very difficult time adjusting to the many complications and expectations which are placed upon them, both by peers or colleagues as well as social acquaintances. There are many social protocols which demand that people act differently than who they really are when in public situations, therefore they never seem to get the opportunity to really reflect who the person is on the inside. When dealing with basic lifestyle complications, coupled with social rules and in-crowd regulations associated with what is considered acceptable behavior, it is not unrealistic that a person will begin to lose the necessary internal balance to lead a healthy, emotionally-sound adult life. These basic stresses, it would seem, also strongly impact the male psyche leading to a considerable amount of domestic abuse and violence against women. When men are being forced to simply comply with inferior business leadership (such as a poor manager or inferior colleague), these frustrations can build up over time. Add to the professional stress a home life which is riddled with bill payment issues or other frustrations caused from an inability to stretch one’s imagination and creativity, it is likely they will lash out at the nearest thing which sometimes involves asserting this aggression against women because they are weaker. In many respects, violence stemming from men is likely this group attempting to assert their dominance over the weaker since they do not have the opportunity to accomplish this at work or socially otherwise. To lash out in the employment environment

A study on the link between abortion and crime Essay Example for Free

A study on the link between abortion and crime Essay Imagine being raised in a home where education wasn’t encouraged. Imagine being truant from elementary school because your parents regularly abused drugs and weren’t there to take you to school. Would you be where you are today? Where do you think you would be? Here’s another question that may seem unrelated. Why did crime drop drastically in the early 1990’s? According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from its peak in 1991, violent crime fell roughly 34 percent by 2001. The rate of homicide – one of the most studied and arguably the most serious crime there is – fell massively. Over a slightly longer period, homicide rates per capita fell 44%, almost being halved. So we are left with the question, why? Such a massive decrease in crime affects all of us, even if it happened in the 1990’s. If a crime had continued to rise at the same rate, we’d live in a dramatically different world today. Understanding why this happened provides us with a crucial understanding of how the world works. Perhaps the answer lies in one of the biggest and oldest moral dilemmas of modern times.   A paper written by Steven Levitt of the University of Chicago and John Donohue of Yale University titled â€Å"The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime† in 2001 revived the idea that legalized abortion has an effect on reduced crime. The main argument behind it is that after the legalization of abortion took place in 1973, crime fell sharply 18 to 22 years later in the 1992-1995 period. Think about it. Males in the 18-24 age range are those most likely to commit crimes, and 18 to 24 years after abortion was legalized, crime fell drastically. See a connection? While this is a glaring indicator that there is a connection, it is not the only one. States that legalized abortion before Roe v. Wade experienced declines in crime before other states. On top of that, states that had higher abortion rates in the mid-1970’s had steeper declines in crime. These aren’t the only factors that contribute to the Donohue-Levitt hypothesis. Unwanted children, such as those that were born to people denied abortions, are more likely to suffer from neglect and abuse or to be abandoned. These children are more likely to eventually drop out of school, join gangs, and commit crimes or be incarcerated. Bringing a child into a family that is unable or unready to provide for it increases the child’s likelihood to exhibit delinquent behavior. The purpose of studying the link between abortion and crime isn’t to advocate abortion, or to hail it as a crime-fighting tool, but to instead understand trends in crime, and, ultimately, how the world works. In studying this, we can discover why people commit crimes, what affects crime rates, and the effects of abortion on society. The abortion debate is, and always should be, one of the moral values.

Why did the Reformation Matter to Ecclesiology?

Why did the Reformation Matter to Ecclesiology? By Carmel Gittens This presentation is to be delivered to our weekly Youth Group in our village hall. This is a group of young people aged 16-18. They have poor attention and love film especially Star Wars! So; the opening slide is to grab their attention, but there is no attempt to equate Star Wars with the Christian faith. The purpose of the presentation is to help them understand the significance of the Reformation and the impact it had on the Anglican church to which they belong. Also, to help them understand why the reformation is not a relic of the past but that the faith we share is dynamic, constantly reforming, and is as important today as it was then. There is often a misconception, especially amongst young people who have just studied Tudor history in school, that the reformation was all about Henry VIII wanting to divorce and remarry. They erroneously believe that he was responsible for the split of the Protestant movement from the Catholic church in Rome. As far back as the 5th century Augustine in his book The City Of God had declared that Mans commitment wasnt to Rome but to Jesus Christ. However the British monk Pelagius, while reading Augustines autobiography, was struck by this prayer: Grant what Thou commandest, and then command what Thou wilt. In other words, fallen man is utterly dependent upon Gods grace for salvation. No one, for example, can practice the self-control God commands unless God gives him grace to do so. These words made Pelagius uncomfortable. He believed human beings could be saved by their own efforts. This great theological controversy engulfed the church. To refute Pelagianism, Augustine turned to the great Pauline doctrines of grace, such as original sin, fallen mans total depravity and inability to save himself, the efficacy of the atoning death of Christ, and the necessity of faith in Him for salvation. The enormous biblical learning and perseverance of Augustine won the day against Pelagiuss teaching in the church. In the hundreds of years that followed, the Christian faith took many twists and turns, with Rome rising and falling in its domination, and Papal power being established. However the influence of the seventh century figure Pope Gregory who endeavoured to bring the whole world into the Christian faith and succeeded in bringing Kings and Rulers to the church, was weakened by the fact that the type of Christian faith that was produced was very superficial. A kind of faith that the church still struggles with today. The Synod of Whitby 648 was a gathering of bishops preoccupied with the significant issues of the day such as the shape and style of vestments worn by clergy and the date of Easter. This historical example showed how sometimes the church can completely forget its mission. Disagreements over the use of icons during the next century began to split east and west, coming to a great climax in 787 when the Iconoclastic controversy hit the second council of Nicaea. Although the church eventually allowed the use of icons, it was only under the insistence that they were not worshipped but used for instruction only. However, over the years this line again became blurred and images were given an even more important place in public worship. Whilst empires began to crumble, power was shifting towards the church, and this power was often achieved by corrupt means. Educational standards were falling; often the clergy were more ignorant of Gods word than those they were preaching to and standards of spiritual direction fell. The influence of Eastern traditions and beliefs isolated the Western church, and the popes of Rome were now able to take more power, unchallenged as they were by any degree of accountability to a higher power on earth. They began to acquire land and used the revenues from them to dominate the wider church with their corruptions. Many began to recognize the corruption between state and church and this led to disagreement over who should be able to elect clergy, the state or the church? More and more of the higher offices of clergy seeing the need to gain power began to raise funds with which to grow their dynasty and spiritual wellbeing gave way to fundraising and the selling of indulgences. It was in this climate that many began to voice their concerns, and the reformation movement really began to gather momentum. Whilst this is very important to the deeper understanding of the roots of the reformation, for the needs of the target group of my presentation, I have begun in the 14th century with the introduction of Wycliffe and his translation of the bible into English. Whilst a brief introduction that sets the scene is necessary, the amount of preceding information would be too much for the group to take in at one go, and may require a separate session. However, such in-depth detail may only be needed by those wishing to continue studying reformation history, rather than just a basic understanding of where this fits in to the development of the faith of the Anglican church. I decided by way of brief introduction to discuss the discontent with Rome and the political power wielded by the papacy, the use of Latin in both the Catholic Mass and the Bible as a way of controlling the information the populations were given, and the selling of indulgences by the clergy as a supposed way of gaining forgiveness and a sure way to enter heaven. To help the students understand just how early this discontent began, two slides about Wycliffe and Hus have been included, with the link to Luther coming from the slide about Hus prophecy regarding another man 100 years on, who would be proclaiming the same discontent and proposed reforms. Whilst I have maintained a little of the Star Wars theme, I did not wish this to become confused with the focus of the presentation and so after using a little picture to retain their interest I then left this until the last slide to finish the theme. Luther is introduced, with a brief history of his life and how he came to disagree with the traditional Catholic biblical teachings and the corruption of Rome. Then follows an explanation of his 95 theses and the controversy its publication caused. I believe that the importance of the printing press on the spread of the ideals of the reformers should not be underestimated. It is often debated that without it perhaps Luthers influence would not have been so far reaching. The students need to understand this and so the slide regarding this was introduced. The following information regarding the main concerns of Luther has been simplified as much as possible to aid students understanding of a very complex topic which contains a lot of historical information. It is important though that the main facts and chronology are established. Luthers theses that expressed his concerns about certain Church practices largely the sale of indulgences, and his deeper concerns with Church doctrine are explained. And how Luther could not reconcile this practice with his beliefs. When Pope Leo X began allowing indulgences to be sold it was to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Peters Basilica in Rome. Johann Tetzel, a monk began selling them not far from Wittenberg, where Luther was Professor of Theology. Luther could not find any scriptural evidence that this practice was of God. The students are now shown how Martin Luthers personal faith journey evolved from being a devout Catholic to hating the vengeful God he found in the bible. He concluded that no matter how good he tried to be, he could never earn his way to heaven. Luther re-read St. Paul, who wrote The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Luther had a eureka moment and began to understand that those who go to heaven will get there by faith alone not by doing good works. In other words, Gods grace is something freely given to human beings, not something we can earn. This belief was not shared by the Catholic Church. Luther and other reformers also disagreed regarding the transubstantiation of the Eucharist. Luther thereby challenged one of the central sacraments of the Catholic Church, one of its central miracles, and thereby one of the ways that human beings can achieve grace with God, or salvation. Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X when he refused to recant his theses and other works at the diet of Worms. There needs to be balance in any teaching session and it is important to look at the churchs response; which was called the Counter-Reformation. The slides include information about the 1545 Council of Trent and its discussions to deal with the issues raised by Luther. This is important as it shows that the Catholic church attempted reconciliation and although many of its former practices and traditions were upheld, there was some attempt to stamp out the corruption that had in many ways led to the reformation. This and the later values of the Oxford movement are discussed. It is only then that the involvement of Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth are brought into the session. The influence of religion upon the political world and the wars and persecution that happened then; and is still happening today, are addressed. The Reformation was a very violent period in Europe. Each side, both Catholics and Protestants, were certain that they were in the right. Bibliography Ferguson, Sinclair B.; Beeke, Joel R.; Haykin, Michael A. G.. Church History 101: The Highlights of Twenty Centuries. Reformation Heritage Books. Spencer, Stephen Anglicanism:SCM Studyguide. 1 Jun 2010 Reeves, M and Chester, T: Why the Reformation Still Matters, Inter-Varsity press 2016.

Culture :: essays papers

Culture Israeli culture reflects the diverse background of its people. The country's most successful writers draw their inspiration from Jewish tradition. Such writers have included the novelist Shmuel Yosef Agnon, co-winner of the 1966 Nobel Prize in literature, and the philosopher Martin Buber. The foremost orchestra of the nation, the Israel Philharmonic, attracts a number of world-famous conductors and soloists each year. A vigorous tradition of folk song, in which the influence of Oriental Jewish music is strongly felt, thrives in Israel, as does folk dance. The Israel National Theater, in Tel Aviv, is notable. Israel has more than 130 museums, two of the most prominent being the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Israel Museum, in Jerusalem, which houses a large collection of Jewish folk art, a collection of modern sculpture, and biblical and archaeological artifacts. The Shrine of the Book, a part of the Israel Museum, houses a notable collection of Dead Sea Scrolls. Of the more than 500 public libraries in the country, the most important is the Jewish National and University Library on the campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which contains approximately 4 million volumes.1 Religion The affairs of the three major religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, are overseen by the ministry of religious affairs through councils established by the various religions. Jewish holy days and the weekly Sabbath are, by law, observed throughout the country, and only kosher food is served in the army, hospitals, and other official institutions. About 82 percent of Israel's Arabs are Muslim, and most of the rest are Christian. Languages Hebrew and Arabic are the country's official languages. The most widely spoken language is Hebrew, but Arabic is used frequently in schools, legal affairs, and the legislature. Many Israeli residents speak English, Yiddish, Russian, or any of a number of other European languages. Education Israel's educational tradition reaches back to biblical times, although the country did not become a modern independent state until 1948. During the ancient period, schools of all levels were in existence, and through the centuries elementary and secondary education and, to a large extent, higher learning continued under various ruling factions. The Compulsory Education Law of 1949, as amended, provides for free and compulsory elementary education for all children between 5 and 16 years of age. Reform continued with the State Education Law of 1953, which established a national system of public secondary schools. Higher education is governed by a law enacted in 1958, which set up a council to control universities and other higher educational institutions, such as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1918); the Technion^Ãâ€"Israel Institute of Technology (1912),

The Role of Background Knowledge in Reading Essay -- Education

1. Introduction With the passage of time and the spread of technology wider than ever, there is a vast amount of knowledge and information which require from individuals faster response to these developments around the globe. One of the most effective ways for individuals to be up-to-date with the world around is to read. Reading is a skill which any learner needs along with other skills. Reading, as defined by Macmillan Dictionary, is the process of recognizing written or printed words and understanding their meaning. For reading to be most effective, readers need to read in their area of interest and have prior knowledge of what is going to be read. For more clarification, prior knowledge is background knowledge about certain topics. In other words, what a reader already knows about the topic he is about to read. This prior knowledge has great impact on the reading and the reader. 2. Description 2. A. Terms Used for Background Knowledge Moreover, background knowledge is fundamental in reading comprehension. It is defined by The Free Online Dictionary as â€Å"Information that is essential to understanding a situation or a problem.† The terms background knowledge and prior knowledge are generally used interchangeably (Strangman and Hall, 2010). Background knowledge and prior knowledge are parent terms for many more terms such as: conceptual knowledge, metacognitive knowledge, subject matter knowledge, strategy knowledge, personal knowledge, and self-knowledge (Strangman et al., 2010). Though scholars’ definitions and names of prior knowledge are different, they typically describe the same concept. 2. B. Factors Shape Background Knowledge Furthermore, there are many factors that background knowledge could b... ...NHUAvgCy4-HuRIoUF7y2b07jddLKA&cad=rja Spires, H.A. & Donley, J. (1998). Prior knowledge activation: Inducing engagement with informational texts. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(2), 249-260. Strangman, N. & Hall, T. (2010). Background Knowledge. Curriculum Enhancement Report. U.S. Special Office of Education Program. National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum. Retrieved October 28, 2011 from : http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=the%20role%20of%20background%20knowledge%20in%20reading&source=web&cd=7&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoar.wichita.edu%2Fdspace%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10057%2F256%2Ft06002.pdf&ei=O0WmTsvILdK2hAeU-pSeDg&usg=AFQjCNHearmwQCdk6JpPpDZEtGg7jiCG8Q The Free Online Dictionary. (2011). The entery â€Å" background knowledge†. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/background+knowledge

Film History

Have you ever wondered how the movies or videos that you watch first started? Well, you won’t stay with the doubt for long because I am about to tell you how it all began. One of the first inventions was called the zoetrope is a cylinder looking gadget which contains drawings in a strip of paper inside that appears to move according to The Museum of Childhood. This invention came out in 1834 by a great inventor called W. G. Horner. His invention is something that lots of people can enjoy by looking at the sequence.In 1867, the first device that showed movies and animated pictures was called a â€Å"zoopraxiscope† or the â€Å"wheel of life†. This starting invention was patented by a man called William Lincoln. The zoopraxiscope started by the motion of photographs and drawings. Later in 1895, a portable motion picture camera was invented by Louis Lumiere, a Frenchman. His invention became known as Cinematographe. It was a film processing unit and projector. This invention gave motion pictures the popularity. (According to the History of the Motion Picture http://inventors. about. om/library/inventors/ blmotionpictures . htm). After those two great inventions came even a better one. Thomas Edison and William Dickson, his British assistant, constructed a device for recording movement on film and another to view it in the late 1880s. (http://www. filmsite. org/pre20sintro. html). But new inventions didn’t stop here; in 1890 a new invention called Kinetograph was constructed by William Dickenson. This device gave directors a reason for motion pictures. The kinetograph was a â€Å"motor-powered camara that could photograph motion pictures† according to Film History Before 1920.It was designed so you were able to move the film through the camara by an electric motor. I think that the way that the inventions were coming was great because every time a new invention came it had better technology and it was a little bit more practical a nd easier to use than the ones from before. Film creation became greater later on, when one of the five big studios started: Warner Bros. Pictures. This is one of the world’s largest producers of film and entertainment. Warner Bros. Pictures was founded by Polish-Canadian immigrants in 1918. (According to Wikipedia)

Learning teams

A key feature of learning is to work within a team environment. The student may find themselves working in a team environment comprised of students of different gender, political and religious beliefs, ages and life experiences etc. It is well recognized within the literature that the interdependence of the knowledge, skills and competencies across group members can lead to innovative problem-solving and active learning. Groups are a part of social life.Each of us is a member of many different groups (Bennis & Shepherd, 1956). Before my social work course I had not really thought about all the different types of groups that exist as having a similar structure, and as going through similar processes, whether it be a group of professionals conferencing on a topic, a study group, a committee determining policy changes, or sporting group discussing next weeks strategy of play (Forsythe, 1990, 1998). Many of the groups that a person is a member of can impact greatly on their lives  œ either positively or negatively.On reflection I can see how being placed into a group, instead of choosing one myself to be in one, would represent many group formations in the professional world. In the workforce people are often put into teams without having a choice. So it seems that becoming a member of a group without actively participating in the formation has some real world practicalities. Learning in small groups is very powerful. The development of trust and communication within a group is what leads to the creation of a â€Å"team† mentality. Collaborative learning has helped me to break down problems such as understanding a theory, and to look at it from different angles. I believe this has given me a much more comprehensive understanding of class materials.Learning in a team was productive given the problem-based learning approach that we took in class. Active learning methods such as challenging ourselves by asking open-ended questions (i.e., those that cannot be answered just with a Yes/No); having a small group (less than 7) that allowed for deliberations that could be voted upon within a timely manner; and our teacher took on a ‘facilitator† role to encourage us to discover our own solutions, as opposed to a â€Å"mug-and-jug† approach which would have set the teacher up as the â€Å"expert† there to â€Å"fill us with knowledge†.I found that I had to take much more responsibility for my learning experiences, and that I was accountable to the group to achieve the goals and tasks that were delegated to me. I can understand how the use of problem-based learning can enhance content knowledge and cultivate the creation of communication skills as well as those of solving dilemmas and problems and developing a sense of self-directed learning skill (c.f., Hendry, Lyon, Prosser, & Sze, 2006). I like the real world application of the process to solve problems encountered on a day-to-day basis.Effectively changi ng roles with my teacher meant I had to take on much more responsibility in order to meet my education goals, and ironically I found this empowering and found myself more motivated to complete assignments. My sense of accomplishment was phenomenal as I achieved outcomes that at first seem like great mountains of problems. I expect this experience to enable me to continue a successful life of life-long learning.Having problems that our team set ourselves drive our learning was a unique experience. Inquiry-based learning has greatly improved my learning experience as compared to the didactic system. I agree with Schmidt that, â€Å"PBL provides an environment in which students can draw upon prior knowledge, learn within the real-world context, and reinforce the knowledge through independent and small group work† (www.samdford.edu., 2006). I feel I have â€Å"learnt to learn† and look forward to using these cognitive problem-solving tools more in my life and education.Ref erencesBennis, W.G. & Shepherd, H.A. (1956) A theory of group development. HumanRelations, 9, 415-437.Forsyth, D.R. (1990, 1998) Group dynamics. Brooks/Cole Publishing: Pacific Grove.Hendry, G.D., Lyon, PM, Prosser, M, & Sze, D. (2006) Conceptions of problem-based learning:The perspectives of students entering a problem-based medical program. Medical Teacher,28(6), 573 – 575.www.samford.edu (2006). Background of Problem-Based Learning. Retrieved January 8, 2008,from http://www.samford.edu/ctls/pbl_background.html

Enders Game Essay

I selected this book because I was thinking that it would keep me entertained and make it so that I will not fall asleep. This was one of those books that it did not matter about what happened before it you can just start reading it from the start, so before the book began I have now idea what happened I just started to read the book and I liked it. When the book begins it starts out with ender and his brother and sister and his brother is mean and is always threatening his younger brother ender and his younger sister. In this story it is the narrator that is telling it. The setting was important because it was at Enders house at first and his older brother, bulling hem, which made ender stronger and made it so that he would look out for himself. In the beginning the author held my interest because the government shipped ender off to military school at age three. Journal Entry #2 Ender go’s to military school and he gets bullied from the start and makes a name for himself right at the beginning by braking some kids arm, so after that every one starts to put together gangs and start having gang wars in the battle rooms and in the cafeteria. There where lots of twist in this story like ender would always when the war games and he was the commander of army’s and he was just smarter than the older boys. It was pretty easy to fallow the plot if I didn’t zone out but if I did zone out than it was pretty easy to know what was happening because the story would repeat its self. The language in the book was really easy to understand there was a lot of a made up words but it was all right. The mane thing emerges in the book when it comes to the battle games and ender is better then everyone else. Journal entry #3 The climax of the story was when ender meet bean, ender was hard on bean just like how the government was hard on ender and that made bean a lot stronger. But ender and bean come together and they start to when all of these battles together. There are lots of lessons I learned about this book, I learned that life isn’t always easy and the hard things in life make you stronger. If someone talked to me about this book I would tell him or her it was a good book and I would recommend it to them because there was a lot of action in it. But the book did not meet my expectations because I do not like it when three year olds are talking like they are 25 years old I think that was a little over bored and when the three year olds are going to military school that was dome I think that he should have made them 18 because that is more realistic.

Domestic Violence Cycles Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Domestic Violence Cycles - Term Paper Example The victims are usually women, children, elderly people, physically or mentally challenged persons and partners in gay or lesbian relationship (Steiner, 1996). Domestic violence is a far-reaching and social problem which has raised many serious debates. While many sociologists argue that domestic violence is mainly a male- perpetrated issue, many others believe that women are as violent as men in intimate relationships. The issue of domestic violence, especially against women, is not new and in fact, the domestic violence movement is at least 3 decades old. The movement has caught a lot of public awareness and has got many protective laws enacted. Many extensive networks of services have been started to help the victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence can be either physical - where there is danger of harm to any part of the victims body; psychological and emotional - where the offender abuses the victim verbally or criticizes her in front of others or causes embarrassment, despair, sadness or terror; sexual- wherein the victim suffers rape or any other derogatory treatment; economical- the offender tortures the victim by causing financial tensions, not allowing her to spend or asking her penny-to-penny accounts of what is being spent; or social- where the victim is not given freedom to meet her friends and relatives or attend social gatherings. Other methods of harassment include blackmailing, following, unwanted emails, and phone calls, etc. Children, elderly and the disabled may also suffer by sheer negligence like not giving food, shelter, and clothes properly or not giving medical aid in time. Also, children may suffer by just looking at their mother being beaten up (Davies, Smith and deBenedictis, 2008). According to the 1998 Commonwealth fund survey, nearly 31% of American women report being abused by their partners at some point in their lives (Commonwealth Fund, 1999).

Otis-Lennon School Ability Test Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 33

Otis-Lennon School Ability Test - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Roger has always managed to achieve an above average grade in Physical Education and Shop and even achieved a C grade in both subjects when he failed all other subjects in the first year of the 8th grade. In his second year of 8th grade, Roger achieved a B in both subjects which are quite an achievement considering he only barely passed all other subjects. Roger has demonstrated a progressive improvement in his Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) going from below average to average by the 9th grade. The OSLAT is very important for teachers because it informs of each student’s potential. On the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), a test used to measure academic achievement and to predict the student’s performance in college, Roger scored an 8.3 in his last two sittings which demonstrates an improvement over the previous year where he scored a 7.5. What can be discerned from these achievements is that Roger has an innate ability to improve as he was able to successfully repeat the 8th grade and was able to improve on his SAT scores with each retake in successive years. His interests in sports and mechanical aptitude are reflected in his consistency in better than average achievement in physical education and shop in school and the fact that he achieved his highest score in Mechanical on the Differential Aptitude Test. In planning his sophomore program Roger is advised to focus on those subjects that he has a greater chance of succeeding in and using in the future. For example, Roger has always done well in physical education and shop. He might want to focus on those areas in his sophomore year as he appears to do well in those subjects. He is interested in sport and appears to have a natural ability in the shop. Since he demonstrates a greater ability in Mechanical and has an opportunity to pursue a career in mechanics having inherited his grandfather’s tools, Roger might want to take every opportunity available t o him to pursue this subject in his sophomore year as well.