Process Essay for Conducting Market Research

Introduction A process essay is a presentation that aims at describing, to an audience, how a subject is achieved. It outlines the procedure of doing a subject matter. This paper seeks to present a process essay for conducting market research. The paper is based on personal research through interviewing an executive of one of the locally successful companies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Process Essay for Conducting Market Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marketing research process Marketing research is a defined process of investigating and collecting information about consumers and other factors in a market such as competitors and barriers into a market. A successful market research is done in a defined and outlined process. It also involves qualified personnel to induce sufficient expertise. This is because market research deals with social factors such as consumers’ needs, preferences, and attitudes that must be factored by a marketing research team. The process normally begins with sufficient planning followed by fieldwork and a final analytical review that may involve professional statistical applications. The first step in market research is problem definition. This stage involves expression of understanding of the objectives of the market research. It defines the problem to be solved such as; ‘how can we best expand our geographical market?’ or ‘why do our competitors seem to have an advantage over our enterprise?’ The stage also defines the people to be involved in the market research. Once the problem is defined, a suitable approach is developed for the entire process. At this stage, the aims of the research are outline and the scope established. Possible factors that might influence the research process are identified and remedies outlined. The stage calls for sufficient experience in market research. Research questions and hypothesi s statements are also outlined at this step. After developing the approach for a research, the necessary procedures for achieving the set objectives are established. Formulating research procedure outlines the exact measures that should be undertaken in order to answer the research questions and achieve the research objectives. The methods to be adopted for collecting information are also outlined at this step. Further, this step describes the data that is to be collected, how it is to be collected, and the number of participants to be used and how the information should be analyzed. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Once the research procedure is outlined, fieldwork for data collection is adopted. A suitable data collection method that could involve use of questionnaires, interviews, or observation is then adopted. Data can also be collected from secondary sources such as g overnmental information centers and specialized research bodies. After collecting the necessary and relevant data for a particular market research, a professional stage that involves data analysis is undertaken. This stage involves specialized academic background that applies statistical tools. The outlined hypothesis for the research is tested and relationships investigated. Based on the assumptions made in the research, this stage answers the research questions and takes a position on the research hypothesis. The final stage in market research is the communication of the findings. This stage is based on the analysis conducted and involves graphical and tabular presentations for clarity. Conclusion Market research is a very important step towards strategic management in businesses. It involves problem definition, establishment of an approach, design for the research and a subsequent data collection. These are then followed by data analysis and a final presentation of the findings. Process essay outlines a procedure for a particular process. It is therefore important in familiarizing people with knowledge of processes. This essay on Process Essay for Conducting Market Research was written and submitted by user Aimee Clark to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Changing America essays

A Changing America essays The 1920s, one of the most important eras in American history. It carried high prestige because of the fact that the 1920s changed everything, from the way people thought about themselves to the way people had fun and kept themselves entertained. It was an era that had drastic changes in political attitude, economic attitude, and cultural values. The topics addressed in chapter 12 reflect a changing America in that American values and attitudes all changed due to the new wave thinking brought on by the 1920s. The first major change in American society was the change that occurred in Americas political attitude. The most major change in political attitude was due to Americans newfound hatred of immigrants. Because the 1920s instilled a sense of national pride and nationalism many Americans were against immigrants. People did not like immigrants because of the fact that they felt they were un-American and gave America a bad name. Since the 1920s made people feel important because of new found income and entertainment, it made people believe that any time there was a problem in America it was not because of an American. Therefore a lot of the blame was placed on immigrants. So in order to keep America American the government put heavy restrictions on immigrants. One of these restrictions was the Act of 1921, which limited the amount of immigrants entering the United States from Europe. Then in 1924 the American government decided to lower the amount of European immigrants and exclude all Asian immigrants. Another occurrence in the 1920s that explains the changing political attitude was Prohibition. Prohibition was a law that was passed through a new Amendment that outlawed the consumption and sale of alcohol. This was yet another attempt by the American government to eliminate all things that they felt brought America down. Even though Prohibition decrea ...

The Archival Turn to Carry Out Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Archival Turn to Carry Out Research - Essay Example Rather than basing his argument on the fact that there is only one model of science that is best carried out in a reflexive, he prefers an interdependence and coexistence of two models of science that is positive and reflective. Positive strives to separate the subject from the object while reflective mainly concentrates on dialogue as a defining principle, as well as inter-subjectivity between the participant and an observer in the field. In a nutshell, we can say that reflective science enjoins what positive separates; the participant and the observer. Reflective science employs a number of contexts, key among them intervention that acts as a catalyst to reveal the true state of the interviewee by subjecting him to space and time. The other context effect is that of the process. The interviewer cannot dictate the meaning for the interviewee because it relies on the respondent’s interpretation of the question. It is of paramount importance to note that reflective science dict ates that the observer should help the participants recall those situational experiences by moving them through space and time. This, in turn, brings about the situational knowledge which is the knowledge that is located in a specific time and space. The third context is the structuration that refers to the external filed within which the interview occurs. Reflective science thus insists on studying the world from the standpoint of its structuration by shaping the forces that surround it. The last context is reconstruction that advocates for social organizations as compared to individualism. Though it may seem difficult to carry out sampling in such a case whereby there are social institutions it is always prudent to look for ways to generalize it.

Analysis of the book hunger of memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of the book hunger of memory - Essay Example And in the case of Mexican-American author Richard Rodriguez this concepts appears apt because his autobiography titled, Hunger of Memory highlights the problems he faced from his childhood to adulthood. So, this paper will discuss how the book’s style, language, tone and the way it was written was influenced by the separation Rodriguez faced in his childhood and youth. Rodriguez, son of Mexican immigrants, was born in San Francisco but spoke only Spanish as his language of communication in his childhood. So, when he joined the Catholic school in Sacramento, California, at the age of 6, he had speaking vocabulary of just 50 English words. Because of this limited knowledge of English, he became a confused and reticent boy with low confidence level. So, his autobiography, Hunger of Memory details those tough times in his school and the resultant separation, in a pathetic as well as sympathetic style, language and tone. Throughout the book and specifically in the chapters, Aria, Achievement of Desire, Credo and Complexion, Rodriguez’s insecurities in English, the resultant isolation or separation and the role played by his family and Catholic Church, have lead to a self-absorbed style with a lot of strain flowing. This style brings up a lot of feelings and emotions that got built up in Rodriguez’s mind, in that phase of his life. Due to the separation he firstly suffered in his class, his emotion bordered on the feeling of loss and that got incorporated into the work. Also, this being the bad phase of his life, he distances from it and so uses the style of aloofness in these chapters. Since, Richard is also a victim of cultural clashes; he brings these elements in these parts of the work. That is, while describing how Hispanic background created the obstacles for him and prevented him from socializing with the fellow students, he uses

Contract law and neoclassical contract law Essay

Contract law and neoclassical contract law - Essay Example Contract law is made up of certain rules that are set to govern the connection, substance and legitimacy of a formal agreement between two or more parties- which may include individuals or organizations- for the purpose of selling of goods or services, or exchange of business interests12. Contract law is applicable to these and many other business activities between multiple parties who want to enter into a valid agreement or contract for the accomplishment of their business objectives. This agreement contains such rules that are also recognized by the law which means that if one party is offended when the other party breaks the rule, then the former party has all rights to submit petition in the court of law against the later party and can sue it. Before signing the agreement, the two parties may want to hold pre-emptive discussions or negotiations. These discussions are not part of the contract but only a preliminary exchange of views. For example, if a bookstore is displaying book s with price tags on its shelves, then before the contract between the seller and the buyer is formalized, the seller may go into bargain and bring the seller down to a lower price. Once the price is confirmed, the buyer then pas the price and enters into a contract. The contract law, on one hand, tends to protect the law from breaking and on the other, defines terms and conditions when a dispute occurs. According to Larson3, a contract must involve mutual consent of the two parties, offer and acceptance, mutual exchange of something of value, delivery, good faith, and no violation of the public policy. The present status of contract law is referred to as neoclassical contract law and it addresses the downsides of the classical contract law. Macneil4 defines neoclassical contracting as the one that offers â€Å"a different contracting relation that preserves trading but provides for additional governance structure†. So, there is a third party involved that solves the disputes and brings about settlement between the two parties involved in the agreement. According to Williamson5, â€Å"perceptive parties reject classical contract law and move into a neoclassical contracting regime because this better facilitates continuity and promotes efficient adaptation†. The two parties remain autonomous but the contract is interceded by a third party regulatory agency6. Examples from Relevant Areas of Contract Law Internet Sales Contract Regulations One good example of the application of contract law is the online market. The Internet Sales Contract Regulations have specifically been designed for the consumers who are either the residents of Alberta or engage in e-commerce with companies located inside Alberta. This contract deals with only those goods and services which are worth more than $50 bought or sold for personal use. The regulation deals with formal business transactions within companies and not with a single individual. There are certain disclosure statements stated in the regulations that instruct the online vendor or seller to provide certain information to the consumer before making the transaction. This information is very vital for the consumer’s satisfaction so that he knows that he is entering into a safe and protected contract with the company and that there is no chance of any fraudulent activity. This information is to be printed on the website. The company is liable to provide the consumer with a copy of the contract made either in the electronic form or in paper, according to the consumer’s requirement. Consumer Protection Legislation The EU’s contract law, referred to as consumer protection legislation, consists of several Acts that ensure the protection of consumer guaranteed from the seller’s side. These Acts include Fair Trading Act 1973 (ensures fair e-commerce), Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 (deals with hire-purchase contracts), Sale of Goods Act 1979 (describes the rig hts of the seller), Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (describes the

Law of Supply and Demand | Entry Barriers

Law of Supply and Demand | Entry Barriers The Economic Environment and Anatomy of Business Law of Supply and Demand Headline: Nexus 6 sold out: Google Play Store will have more in stock every Wednesday URL: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/19568/20141105/nexus-6-in-stock-every-wednesday-and-within-minutes-google-phablet-completely-sold-out-again.htm The first economic phenomenon that we are going to look at is the law of supply and demand. In its raw form it states that if the demand for certain product is higher than its availability (supply) then the price for that product goes up and if the vice versa is present then it decreases (Baye, 2010). A current example of this is the lightning fast selling of Google’s latest flagship smartphone Nexus 6. Upon its release in the Google Play Online store, the first shipment was sold out within minutes. After that, when the second shipment arrived, the same situation repeated. This is a clear indicator that the demand of Nexus 6 was way higher than the actual supply. The reasons for such a high demand can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Google’s Nexus 6 came with the new Android operating system version 5.0 (Code name Lollipop), being the only phone on the market that supports it. Secondly, the price of Nexus 6 was (and currently is) relatively lower than its competitor‘s – it is cheaper than Apple’s IPhone 6, 6Plus and Sony’s Xperia Z3 (Luke Johnson, 7 November, 2014), and approximately same priced as Samsung’s Galaxy S5. This gives an extra layer of appeal to buyers and combined with its high quality, the reason behind the extremely high demand of the Google’s smart phone is justified. The graph below illustrates an example of the current supply and demand of Google’s Nexus 6: We mark the current price level of Nexus 6 with P1, the current quantity that Google can supply with Qs and the current quantity that is demanded with Qd. P* and Q* are our equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity respectively. Setting a lower price for the smartphone compared to the competitor’s and offering the exclusivity of the new Android operating system, has made the demand for the product extremely high. On one hand, this is good indicator, however, in this case Google could not provide an adequate amount of supply to the market. Those two factors led the company to an excess of demand. Assuming, the basic principles of the law of supply and demand are functioning, the rivalry between customers, who want to buy the modern smartphone, will push the price up to the equilibrium point. That point represents the place, where the demand from customers and the supply from Google, meet and form an equilibrium (supplied quantity is equal to the demanded one or our equilibrium price and quantity, conforms). Naturally, another scenario may occur – the demand for Nexus 6 might eventually drop as a result of oversaturation of the market with smartphones from the same class, adoption of the Android 5.0 OS by rival firms (it is predicted that this will happen by the end of 2014 (James Rogerson, Matthew Hanson, October 2014) due to the fact that the Android OS is open-source) or a drop in prices of competitor’s phone offers. In case this happens, the equilibrium point will be achieved at a significantly lower price compared to the first scenario. To summarize, in the base of every modern economy stands the law of supply and demand and it dictates its basic behavior. Companies such as Google and its Nexus 6 smartphone, visualize the stated law perfectly with its clear excess of demand. Entry Barriers Headline: Latest OS share data shows Windows still dominating in PCs URL: http://www.zdnet.com/latest-os-share-data-shows-windows-still-dominating-in-pcs-7000013351/ The second economic mechanism that we are going to focus on is that of entry briers. Entry barriers or barriers of entry by definition are blockades set on a specific market that make it difficult for new firms to enter. The reason of their formation can be due to government laws and regulations (this creates governmental monopolies), to a large company that is taking advantage of economies of scale, to brand loyalty, geographical barriers (the mining industry), high switching costs, sunk costs, high cost for research and development or to patents (Sullivan, A; Steven, M. S., 2003, p.153).. An excellent example for entry barriers is the market of desktop operating systems, which currently is occupied by Microsoft. Since its founding in 1975 the company has walked a long way from a simple garage firm to a global computer giant that, at the present moment, has a monopolistic position on the desktop OS market with more the 90% of it belonging to the Windows operating system (OS) (â€Å"Desktop Operating System Market Share†, 2014). With the recent announcement of the newest member of the Windows family – Windows 10, Microsoft aims to strengthen even more its position and along with that to keep the status quo. Hence, any other company, which wants to enter the market and successfully compete with Microsoft, needs to make a huge investment. Several reasons lie behind that: there is a significant market loyalty to the Windows OS, the know-how for making an OS with such proportions is concentrated within the company and the brand itself is highly recognizable. A ll those factors are barriers for the other companies to enter the market and in order to compete efficiently, they have to apply a lot of effort to popularize their new brand. Moreover, Microsoft has many patents in the software sector, which restrict major part of the information accesses for the rival firms. Furthermore, the switching costs (the cost for switching from one product to another) for a company, which uses the Windows OS, are significantly high. They consist of expenses for buying the new OS, integrating it and teaching its employees to use it and generally such migration will not be undertaken/ launched lightly or even at all. Entry barriers do not always have a positive effect on the market due to the fact they stimulates the creation of a monopolies in a specific sector, which may lead to unreasonably high prices and low quality. This stems from the lack of competitors able to challenge both price and quality of the products offered to the public. With Microsoft, this is not the case, but the probability is always there. To summarize, the barriers of entry are an efficient way for a firm to restrict access to a market segment and generate maximum profit.Microsoft’s monopolistic position in the sector of desktop operating systems is largely attributed to the various imposed entry barriers, which have assured their future dominant position on the market. Economies of Scale and Economics of a Scope Headline: Facebook Has Spent $22 Billion on Acquisitions. URL: http://mashable.com/2014/05/30/facebook-acquisitions/ Thirdly, we are going to look at the following economic concepts economies of a scale and economics of a scope. Economies of a scale is a way for a company to reduce the average cost of its products by distributing the fixed costs onto a larger amount of production (Baye, 2010, p. 185 186). Normally, this is done by increasing the size of the company (growing horizontally – expanding in the current market segment). Economies of a scope, on the other hand, is achieved by expanding the company in other market sectors, where its current know-how can help to produce goods at a relatively lower prices then it normally would do (Baye, 2010, p. 187). Facebook is a company that applies simultaneously both economies of a scale and scope. Since its founding in 2004, the company has spent roughly 22 billion dollars for the goal of acquiring other businesses that range from small companies focused on web or mobile development, through startups that have an astonishing growth rate (WhatsApp), to innovators that are promising to bring a whole new experience to their users (Oculus Rift). Buying small and medium sized companies that can be directly integrated into the development process of Facebook, is clear example of economies of a scale. By doing that, the company is reducing its fixed costs by spreading them onto a larger amount of users. Another benefit from this is the company’s employees specialization into a specific field (social media) and along with that they become more efficient, which increases the general productivity and reduce costs. Another aspect of Facebook’s policy is that of acquiring companies in sectors related to social media. A good example of that is the Oculus Rift deal that happened in the beginning of 2014. Through buying the company, Facebook can combine the virtual reality technology provided form Oculus Rift with its know-how of brining real life social experience, online and the result will be a totally new way that we experience the web. This implies that the Social Media giant will be able to reduce its total cost in the view that it already has experience in the field of software development and social media. Developing applications for the new virtual reality platform or developing the platform itself will be less expensive than for other companies that do not have such experience. Avoidlessly, economies of scale and scope come at a price. Larger firms often experience problems such as miscommunication between its separate parts, difficulties in coordination and their owners loose part of the control over the company due to the necessity to delegate part of their responsibilities to managers, hence they may not always make the most adequate decisions for the best of the company. In conclusion, by using economies of a scale and scope companies such as Facebook can significantly reduce their total costs, optimize productivity and increase production power. Price discrimination Headline: GitHub announces free developer tools for students URL: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/10/07/github-announces-free-developer-tools-students/ The last economic concept that we are going to look at is price discrimination. In its core, price discrimination is a type of pricing strategy, in which the same or largely similar products are sold at different prices depending on various factors. There are several degrees of price differentiation first, second and third, in addition to that, diverse combinations among them can be formed. Typical for the first degree is that a monopolistic company charges the absolute maximum price (reservation price) for its goods or services (perfect price discrimination). The second degree is closely related to quantity demand the larger it is, the lower the prices are (it does not depend on customer’s personality). Conversely, third degree price discrimination can be based on a specific market group (students, teachers, workers etc.), on geographical location or even more in some cases on a specific customer, but not on quantity (Cabral, 2014). A good example of price discrimination, is the recent release of free developer packages from GitHub for people belonging to educational sector students, teachers, administrative staff and researchers, which include waiving of subscription taxes for a private GitHub account and free educational software (third degree discrimination). By taking this step, GitHub attracts more people form the target sector. For instance, students overall have more restricted incomes, making them more price sensitive to changes and the demand they form, relatively elastic (from the graphic bellow: changes in price from P1 to P2 are met with significantly greater change in demanded quantity – Q1 to Q2). In other words, small price changes can have a great impact on the total demand of a certain item. Similarly, GitHub offers the same packages for teachers – which allows them to better educate their students and hence produce a better qualified future workers for the market, benefiting the economy as a whole. Despite the fact that those packages are now free, in long term they can bring more clients and create customer loyalty, which will result positively on the company’s revenue. Moreover, this price discrimination tactic has a beneficial influence on the whole software development sector due to the fact it provides free access to private accounts and free development tools. This contributes to students to develop their ideas, which can eventually grow in startups a effect on the economy. However, attempts for reselling the software provided within the free packages can occur and in order to prevent this the company has taken measures. For students to request such an account, they need to provide their unique university email or school ID as a proof. Teachers and researchers on the other hand need to present a â€Å"proof of affiliation†* in order to install the software on their computers. Providing proof of affiliation is a way of verifying the involvement the academic status. Such packages are allowed per person/ an email account and in addition to that most of the software is licensed under conditions that permit its usage only for academic purposes and any other attempts are punishable by international law. Undoubtedly, ways around such rules exist but generally speaking the company is relatively safe against reselling of their products. To conclude, price discrimination is an efficient way for companies to specifically tailor their products for a particular group of customers. Being one of those companies, GitHub combines the benefits from that, with the opportunity to stimulate the academic process around the world. References: BAYE, M. R. (2009) Managerial economics and business strategy – 7th edition, New York, McGraw-Hill/Irwin CABRAL, L. M. B. (March 10, 2014) Introduction to Industrial Organization – 2th edition, Price Discrimination Sullivan, A; Steven, M. S. (2003). Economics: Principles in action, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-063085-3. Desktop Operating System Market Share (October 2014) (online). Available from:  http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10qpcustomd=0 (Last Accessed 14/11/2014) James Rogerson, Matthew Hanson (13 November, 2014) (online). Android Lollipop 5.0 update: when can I get it? Available from:  http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-l-5-0-release-date-when-can-i-get-it1257804 (Last Accessed 15/11/2014) Luke Johnson (7 November, 2014) (online). Nexus 6 release date, rumors, news, specs and price round-up. Available from:  http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/nexus-6-release-date-rumours-news-specs-and-price (Last Accessed 15/11/2014) Social Work: Assessment, Plan, Implementation and Evaluation Social Work: Assessment, Plan, Implementation and Evaluation What is a social work assessment, plan and evaluation? The aim of social work is to protect individuals from harm, and to empower them and improve their lives. Social workers form a human link between the many programs employed to serve the public good and those who are in need. They form the ‘eyes and ears’ of public efforts to combat social ills, so to speak, and they are the practical human element of common sense in their application. It is in this role where new ideas are created and innovative solutions are identified, where existing practices are judged for effectiveness, and, most importantly, where the faceless bureaucracy of government takes human form. In order to accomplish this a critical process of assessment, planning, and evaluation has evolved in the field of social work which allows social workers to effectively achieve their goals. Moreover, it is has found a wide range of applications, from the student-supervisor relationship to practitioners in the field. The process of assessment is aimed first at identifying problems or ‘taking stock’ of a particular situation. Identifying the problems in a situation provides the fundamental raison d’à ªtre for the development and employment of a solution. Past identifying whether there is actually a problem (which is often suspected or reasonably understood before an assessment is undertaken), social work assessment has more to do with determining the particular nature of the problem and its degree. Understanding what kind of problem is being faced, and just how bad it really is, is key to forming a coherent plan to affect a real solution. This requires strong observation and critical analysis skills on the part of the social worker, but it also requires an intimate and experiential knowledge of the field in which the assessment is being undertaken. Once the nature and degree of a problem is understood, different options may emerge each as a possible solution. Each possible solution will have its own strengths and weaknesses, its own advantages and drawbacks. And while the process of assessment may be viewed as excessively tedious at times, it is critical to never underestimate its importance. A study on the need for an assessment model in primary medical care facilities for the elderly noted that: â€Å"When psychosocial needs go unmet through misdiagnosis, lack of detection, lack of treatment and follow up, elderly patients are at risk of further health problems that can lead to physical deterioration, reduced independence, and eventually to the need for more intensive and expensive services. â€Å" (Berkman et al., 1999) The failure of proper assessment not only prevents positive solutions, but also results in negative impacts. Assessment forms a critical foundation for the effectiveness of all other social work efforts. As such, the identification of different solutions requires policy knowhow and creativity on the part of the social worker. Meeting the demands of this important aspect of assessment, in conjunction with the skills of problem identification and critical analysis, will ensure sound and proper assessments which enable the identification of proper solutions. Assessment is a critical component at the basis of all kinds of social work, from medical care and patient treatment to domestic violence and child poverty. All outcomes depend upon an assessment model built upon sound observation and critical analysis combined with creative and informed policy thought. Solid assessment will provide the social worker with a range of options for addressing a particular problem. The selection of an appropriate solution involves properly understanding the nature of the problem, as well as the various impacts of each option at different levels. The skills required to identify the right solution to a problem involve more than simple program literacy or policy analysis. They involve the fundamental ability to not only understand policies, but to weigh them concurrently against previously identified goals. Because many factors involved in determining the impacts of a possible solution are subjective (i.e. individuals, public and private groups, changing laws etc), achieving this is not a matter of simple analysis but of an intuitive understanding of these subjective factors. Too often, someone unfamiliar with, or removed from, these subjective variables enacts a calculated decision based upon what is understood to be sound analysis. The history of social work is filled with this kind of serial miscalculation. Take, for example, a 2005 study on battered women. It found that: â€Å"Safety planning will be most effective if it occurs within a contextualized assessmentprocess that illuminates the deeper struggles and multiple harms that women balance when making decisions about continuing or ending relationships.† (Lindhorst et al., 2005) While a â€Å"contextualized assessment process† is the main focus of the essay, it is the effectiveness of the plan or policy that is identified as the major issue affected by its absence. Assuming the burdens of sound assessment are properly met elsewhere, the ‘contextualization of the process’, or the root of its understanding in the subjective variables which specifically define it, will determine its success. Real planning and policy implementation in response to sound assessment must always be rooted in the day to day reality of the issue it is dealing with. Too much abstraction or beaurocratization of this process distances it from reality, and only serves the employment of solutions which leave critical needs and major goals unmet. Ensuring that this understanding is present, along with the required critical analysis skills and policy knowledge on the part of the social worker, will ensure the right person is making these decisions. A bad decision based upon the best assessment is still an unacceptable outcome. It is never evident, however, that the right plan or policy was chosen or the right assessment undertaken without some kind of evaluation. Success and failure is seldom absolute. More often it exists in degrees. And while success may be met in a number of respects, it may be absent in a number of others. The process of evaluation is designed to measure these degrees. The changes that have taken place since a particular plan or policy was implemented are a major indicator of their effectiveness. Too often, however, not enough attention is paid to whether or not these changes are actually the result of the plans or policies in question. It is the process of evaluation’s primary task to determine the facts of policy impacts and exactly what policies are responsible for certain changes. Furthermore, the process of evaluation is usually synonymous with some kind of accountability. When looking at programs from a financial point of view, this accountability is welcome. Indeed, it is rightly viewed as necessary to their responsible administration. This evaluation is, to a large degree, black and white. Either the numbers add up or they don’t. Either an idea has fundamentally succeeded or it has failed, or else it needs some tweaking. From a personnel perspective, however, â€Å"the words ‘accountability,’ ‘supervision’ and ‘evaluation’ are frightening. They imply having ones feet held to the fire for failure. These processes exist in a paradigm of fear and dread. Educators blame others and blame the circumstances for their lack of effectiveness rather than taking personal responsibility. This phenomenon in human dynamics should not be seen as unique to teachers and administrators in education. It exists everywhere. We all have a tough time taking and giving criticism. We all have that very common fear of failure.† (Mcgrath, 2000) The human dynamic is here identified as a force resistant to the very kind of accountability the process of evaluation is meant to bring about. The study, â€Å"The Human Dynamics of Personnel Evaluation† (Mcgrath, 2000) talks about the judgmental nature and pressure of accountability which needs to be taken into account in the evaluation process. The evaluation process is often viewed as a simple matter of calculation, or arithmetic. We had the goals the reasoning goes, we had the assessment and the plan, and we had what happened – just add it all up. But it’s just not that simple. The human dynamic is woven between virtually every fibre in the assessment and policy process. Viewing accountability through a fiscal lens, or a purely factual lens of objective causes and effects, miscalculates one of the largest and most influential factors in determining the usefulness of social work evaluation: people. Making the evaluation process effective must involve, as with the two other processes discussed in this essay, more than just analysis. It must involve a psychology of responsibility that individuals are confronted with in the process at all levels. It must involve a confrontation of the fear of failure present in the heart of every sincere effort. Perhaps the great compassion which drives the field of social work forward, demanding the investment of nothing less than life itself from thousands of people, is also its greatest weakness. I believe, however, that it is the unawareness of this vulnerability which makes it a liability – nothing the fullness of character and a mature temperament cannot address. Bibliography Berkman et al. (1999) â€Å"Standardized Screening of Elderly Patients’ Needs for Social Work Assessment in Primary Care: Use of the SF-36† Health and Social Work. Vol. 24 Boutin-Foster et al. (2005) â€Å"Social Work Admission Assessment Tool for Identifying Patients in Need of Comprehensive Social Work Evaluation† Health and Social Work. Vol. 30 Burgess, H., Taylor, O., (2004) Effective Learning and Teaching in Social Policy and Social Work. London: RoutledgeFalmer Garcia, J., Floyd, C., (2002) â€Å"Addressing Evaluative Standards Related to Program Assessment: How Do We Respond?† Journal of Social Work Education. Vol. 38 Ginsburg, E., (1990) Effective Interventions: Applying Learning Theory to School Social Work. New York: Greenwood Press Gitterman, A., (2001) Handbook of Social Work Practice with Vulnerable and Resilient Populations. New York: Columbia University Press Lindhorst et al. (2005) â€Å"Contextualized Assessmennt of Battered Women: Strategic Safety Planning to Cope with Multiple Harms† Journal of Social Work Education. Vol. 41 Mcgrath, M., (2000) â€Å"The Human Dynamics of Personnel Evaluation† School Administrator. Vol. 57 Pardeck, J., (2002) Family Health Social Work Practice. London: Auburn House Siebert, D., Siebert, C., Spaulding-Givens, J., (2006) â€Å"Teaching Social Work Skills Primarily Online: An Evaluation† Journal of Social Work Education. Vol. 42

Roger Williams and his Attack on Puritanism Essay -- American America

Roger Williams and his Attack on Puritanism During the seventeenth century a group of Christians split off from the Anglican Church of England and formed their own theology know as Puritanism. The Puritans were made up of the middle-class teachers, lawyers, merchants, clergy, and parliament members. Joshua Miller explains how the Puritans, "equated the church with the body of Christ;" and further states that, "to admit everyone, even open and unrepentant sinners, to the church was to pollute Christ's body" (Miller 59). The Church of England corruption of this body was the main reason for the great "Puritan Migration" during the seventeenth centry, along with the fact that the King refused to convene parliament at the time causing an uprising against the Throne of England. [1] The Puritans were cast out by King Charles of England and sent to the Americas to start a new colony of their own. The Puritans came to the Americas with a set idea of union between church and state. In the patent given to the Puritans by the King a selct few men were given the power to make laws without consent of the commonwealth and allowed to confiscate lands from the natives. Roger Williams a man who openly opposed these kinds of injustices committed by Puritan leaders like John Cotton and John Winthrop. A Puritan that had turned Separatist, Roger Williams wanted no part of the tainted Church of England. Separatists completely severed ties with the Anglican Church and formed their own denomination with their own theology and system of beliefs. Williams' separatist views did not sit well with the Puritans and as a result he paid the price for his open rebellion against the Puritan acts in New England. The Puritan church and government banis... ... his radical religious beliefs and his liberal political views which now live on in present day society. Works Cited 1.Covey, Cyclone. The Gentle Radical A Biography of Roger Williams. New York: MacMillan Company, 1966. 2. Greene, Theodore P. Roger Williams and the Massachusetts Magistrates. Boston: 1876. -Dexter, Henry M. As to Roger Williams and His 'Banishment' from the Massachusetts Plantation. Boston: 1976. - Knowles, James D. Memoir of Roger Williams. - Williams, Roger. "Mr. Cotton's letter Lately Printed, Examined and Answered." Narragansett Club. Providence: 1866. - Winthrop, John. "Winthrop's Journal." Original Narratives of Early American History. New York: 1908 Vol. 1 3. Miller, Joshua. "Direct Democracy and the Puritan Theory of Membership." Journal of Politics. Vol. 53 Issue1 Feb. 1991 pp. 59. Jstor June 3, 2000.

Gilbert & Sullivan- the Mikado

Alex Ewanyk American Musical Theater History Writing Assignment 1 Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado 2/7/13 Most would agree to say that two is better than one. William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan are by any means no exception to this. Gilbert, a playwright, and Sullivan, a composer, combined their talents to make the dream team of musical theatre. Together they have made some of the greatest and sophisticated musicals the world will ever see. The best of their shows are still being performed today, one of which is their famous musical, The Mikado.The Mikado is a comical musical which poked fun at a few aspects of England’s culture at the time. It quickly became popular among both the British and Americans. It eventually became popular in many other countries, which was an extraordinary feat at the time. Gilbert and Sullivan have an interesting history before coming together to make their great works such as The Mikado. Before William Gilbert started writing, he was an attorney. O n the side he would write poems which led to a series of his illustrated comical poems getting published by a few popular British magazines.This eventually opened the door to his career as a playwright. During the time Gilbert was starting his writing career, Arthur Sullivan was already making waves as a serious composer. He knew this was what he wanted to do with his life and for good reason. He was a great composer who could make a song to fit any mood. Sullivan was already making a great deal of money with his works and felt very comfortable, but both he and Gilbert could never have foreseen what was next to come. In the 1860’s John Hillingshead, the owner of the Gaiety Theatre hired Gilbert to write and Sullivan to compose their first work together titled Thepsis.In the crowd at the showing of Thepsis was aspiring producer Richard D'Oyly Carte and saw something in the work of Gilbert and Sullivan. He eventually contacts them to write a curtain raiser which turned out to b e very profitable. After the money started coming in, G;S were hooked. From then on, their career together officially started. The rest is history. One of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous work was a comedy called The Migato. The synopsis of this amusing musical is as follows. Before the story begins, Nanki-Poo, the Mikado’s son, fled from his father’s palace to escape being forced to marry Katisha, an elderly lady of the court.Nanki-Poo has become a traveling performer who falls in love with Yum-Yum, however he can’t marry her because Ko-Ko, her guardian, has decided to marry her himself. Nanki-Poo learns that Ko-Ko has been sentenced to death for violating the Mikado’s law against flirting. Nanki-Poo arrives in Titipu to determine if Ko-Ko has been executed, and therefore, if Yum-Yum is free to marry him. He encounters Pooh-Bah, a corrupt public official, and Pish-Tush, a noble, who informs him that Ko-Ko was saved at the last moment by a set of events, and then raised to the high rank of Lord High Executioner.Nanki-Poo loses hope when he learns that Ko-Ko plans to marry Yum-Yum immediately. There have been no executions in Titipu since Ko-Ko became Lord High Executioner. Ko-Ko receives a letter from The Mikado ordering him to execute someone or else lose his position as Lord High Executioner. As Ko-Ko ponders his dilemma of trying to find someone to execute, Nanki-Poo appears, saying that he’s going to commit suicide because he can’t marry Yum-Yum, the women he loves. Ko-Ko offers to allow Nanki-Poo to marry Yum-Yum for one month, after which, he will become his execution victim.Suddenly, Katisha appears and discovers Nanki-Poo, her lost love. After she is driven away, she rushes to inform the Mikado that his son has been found. As it goes into Act II, Yum-Yum is preparing for her one-month marriage to Nanki-Poo. Ko-Ko arrives with the shocking revelation that he has discovered a law decreeing that when a ma rried man is executed, his widow must be buried alive. Because of this the marriage between Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo is canceled. Nevertheless, Ko-Ko must find a â€Å"substitute† for execution or he will be decapitated by The Mikado. Nanki-Poo contrives a solution to save Ko-Ko’s life.A false contract confirming his own execution, but in exchange, he must be allowed to marry Yum-Yum and leave the country forever. Ko-Ko agrees. The Mikado finally arrives in Titipu. Ko-Ko believes that the purpose of his visit is to confirm that an execution has taken place so he produces the contract and proceeds to describe the execution with gusto. However, The Mikado has actually come to Titipu in search of his lost son and learns from the contract that Ko-Ko and his ministers executed his son. He declares them guilty of â€Å"composing the death of the Heir Apparent†.Their only hope to avoid execution is to show Nanki-Poo’s alive. Nanki-Poo hesitates to reveal himself, f earing that if Katisha learns that he has married Yum-Yum she will have him executed. The dilemma is resolved by Ko-Ko, who, at Nanki-Poo’s suggestion, woos, wins, and weds Katisha. In the end, all conflicts are put to an end as they celebrate Nanki-Poo’s marriage to Yum-Yum and Ko-Ko’s marriage to Katisha. This show quickly became extremely popular in England due to how it related to them but was also popular in the U. S. because of how funny, amusing, and ingenious it was.During the time The Mikado was created, the British were going through an â€Å"all things Japanese† craze. They were in a sense obsessed with the Japanese culture and customs for some reason. So in a sense, Gilbert was poking fun at this obsession while writing this play which centers on Japan in a humorous fashion. Let it be understood that he wasn’t making fun of Japan, but playing with the fact that people were trying to mimic the Japanese ways. As The Mikado got introduced to the U. S. , Americans actually started to adopt this trend of all things Japanese. â€Å"Mikado-Mania† was the name given to the American craze.A funny fact about The Mikado is that it’s one of the few musicals that every caused a diplomatic argument. When the prince of Japan visited England in 1907, the work was temporarily banned from being performed. This ban in turn backfired because the prince actually was hoping to see the play during his visit. This fact alone shows how widespread talk of The Mikado was. Gilbert and Sullivan will go down in history as one of the greatest stage musical teams of all time, if not the greatest. With works like The Mikado, how could they not be one of the greatest?Their plays have even been performed in other languages such as French, German, and Yiddish. After 120 years The Mikado is still one of the most frequently produced musicals of all time and fully deserves to be. Bibliography Ainger, Michael. Gilbert and Sullivan: A Dual Biography. N. p. : Oxford UP, 2002. Print. Kenrick, John. â€Å"Gilbert & Sullivan 101. † Musicals101. com. N. p. , 2000. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. ;http://www. musicals101. com/g;s101. htm;. â€Å"Plot Summary. † Gilbert and Sullivan Archive. N. p. , n. d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. ;http://math. boisestate. edu/gas/mikado/html/summary. html;.

Capital punishment misc15 essays

Capital punishment misc15 essays Crime is inevitably one of the biggest problems that faces the modern world today. It can be found all over the world, whether in large cities or small villages. Over time, society has tried to find ways to deal with crime. Such methods include community service, paying a fine serving some time in prison, and in the case of more serious crimes, the death penalty. This is the case in some states in the U.S. where persons have been executed for aggravated assault, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, sabotage and espionage. Advocates for capital punishment feel that it deters criminals from committing crime and that if the criminal is not executed, the risk later extends to the community as such persons may escape or be pardoned or paroled. Although believers in the death penalty feel that it deters people from committing violent crime and is a variable solution for protecting society , capital punishment is immoral, it cannot be proved to be a deterrent, it violates the principle of doubl e effect, it is often applied with inequities, is condemned by the Church as heresy, and should be eradicated. Before an actual argument in favour of the eradication of the death penalty it is important to define what capital punishment actually is. Capital punishment is the execution of a criminal under death sentence imposed by competent public authority. It is derived from the Roman word, "caput", meaning the head, the life or the civil rights of an individual. Unlike the revenge of a single person, this penalty is a manifestation of the communities will to vindicate its laws and systems of justice. The death penalty was used in ancient times as well. The earliest historical records contain evidence of capital punishment. It was mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi, a collection of laws and edicts by Babylonian king Hammurabi that date from the first half of the 18th century BC. The Bible prescribed death as the penalty for more than 30 different crimes...

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan essays

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan essays Although there are a lot more main characters than just two in the book I Know What You Did Last Summer, the two that stood out the most to me are Helen Rivers and Raymond Bronson. Helen Rivers was beautiful. She was the Golden Girl (or in other words, Weather Girl). Helen had brown hair with honey colored highlights, violet eyes with long, blue-black lashes, a nice body, and a good sized bust. Helen figured since her family was poor, and she wasnt the greatest in school either, that she would use her looks to get by. Raymond or Ray on the other hand was also very attractive. He was short; five-foot-eight. He was lean, and light-boned, and not very muscular. He had brown hair which hung over bright green eyes. Ray was also a very smart man. In I Know What You Did Last Summer, Julie James is accepted to Smith College, but when she gets her mail, she receives an anonymous note that has no return address marked. Julie nearly faints when she reads the seven words printed in black ink: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. All of a sudden, strange things started happening to Julie and her friends. Helen Rivers, her best friend, had her house broken into. Luckily, no one was attacked. Helens boyfriend, Barry Cox, was shot in the stomach. All of these things happened because of the one thing they know they did last summer; they killed a kid riding on a bicycle after a picnic in the mountains. They had all been drinking a little and smoking a little weed. They couldnt see him riding his bike in the dark, because the bike had no reflectors. They panicked, and left the boy lying there, dying. They called the police and left. The memory would haunt them forever. The climax of this book is when you find out who the killer is. It explai ns a lot of things that the book told you in the beginning. The book I Know What You Did Last Summer shows the universal theme Man vs. Man, because Julie, Ray, Barry, and ...

Apple versus PC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Apple versus PC - Essay Example With such distinctions being many questions have arisen in regards to which machine is truly superior. Through a consideration of a variety of components of each machine, this essay demonstrates why the Mac truly has higher quality than the PC. When consider computer technology one of the primary considerations that individuals make is in regards to cost. Oftentimes the Mac is derided in relation to the PC because of the significant cost differential between the two machines, with the Apple Macintosh generally costing a few hundred dollars more than the traditional PC. While these are valid complaints, ultimately they prove erroneous when one notes that the Macintoshes’ hardware warrants the cost differential. A recent study was conducted that compared the top of the line Dell Computer to the Apple Macbook Pro in terms of cost and efficiency. The study indicated that, Dell's Inspiron line doesn't currently offer processing power equaling that of the MacBook Pro. To get a 2.33- GHz Core 2 Duo processor (a 2.4-GHz version isn't available yet), you have to move up to Dell's more expensive XPS M1710 with Vista Home Premium. Once I did that, though, and tricked out the M1710 with only those extras it had to have to compete with the MacBook Pro, I was surprised to see the Dell come in at a whopping $3,459, some $650 more than the Apple product (Finnie). In these regards, the study indicates that when adding the same hardware technology to the PC that the Mac already has included, the Mac demonstrates significantly more value. This demonstrates that while ostensibly the PC is cheaper, in reality the Mac comes with significantly more value and quality. Another major consideration that one makes when considering the effectiveness of computer technology is the computer’s overall efficiency. Many PC users remain unfamiliar with the intricacies of computer technology and contend that the PC actually is a more efficient machine than the Mac. Still, when examini ng this question more thoroughly one discovers that in reality the Mac is a significantly more quality machine. Consider the parts that are used within the Mac as compared to the PC. A general qualitative investigation demonstrates that the Mac has a sleeker design that doesn’t bend and creek like PC plastic compartments. Another prominent element in terms of efficiency is the operating system. The PC only allows users the option of implementing Windows, while the Mac is equipped to run both Windows and OS X. This difference allows Mac users to tailor the operating system for the specific task, greatly improving computer quality and efficiency. It’s clear then that the Mac is better than the PC in terms of overall efficiency. A final consideration that is made regarding Mac and PC’s is within the realm of general useability. Oftentimes PC users claim that the Macintosh is an inferior product because it is purposely made more difficult to use as a means of differ entiating itself. In reality, this is an erroneous assumption and that Macintosh is an overall more useable machine. Consider a number of specific different between the computers. One of the major differences between the machines is the fast and effective boot time in the Apple. While having to wait an extra-minute or for a computer to load may seem like an insignificant problem, when this element is

Egan's Justification for Recommending Health and Safety Improvements Research Paper

Egan's Justification for Recommending Health and Safety Improvements in Construction Industry - Research Paper Example This clearly shows that the service provided in this sector is poor. Improvements in the health and safety construction sector, guarantee clients the best services, and it is obvious that the profit made will be up the scale. Egan argued that for the health, and safety construction sector to achieve its full potential, there was need for only people who are qualified to be employed. If the new employees are not qualified, they should be trained. Egan came up with the idea of hiring more employees; there was the need for 370,000 new employees to be hired by the health and safety sector and each of the new employees was to be trained (Chinyio & Olomolaiye, 2010: 155). He also proposed for institutions to have a guide to assist employees and a code of ethical working practice for contractors, trade unions and clients. The employees need to be aware of whom they are dealing with; this helps them follow the right channel in case of an emergency. Main elements of Egan’s proposals to achieve this improvement Pioneering projects are the ventures laid down by an establishment to improve the performance of the establishment. This can be internal contests laid down to motivate the performance of every employee. The establishment could come up with remuneration on the employee of the year award. This will guarantee quality services from the employees, because the employees will be contending for the coveted price. On the subject of profit gained in the sector, by improving the working environment of the employees, they certainly perk up how they offer services to clients. This boosts the amount of profit earned, because when clients get the best in terms of service they will definitely spread the word to the people around them; this also applies in poor service. The real concern that needs to be taken into deliberation is the issue of health and safety sector for the employees (Booth, 2012: 64). When the employees’ health and safety is taken into account, eve rything else falls in place. When an establishment leases more employees, each employee feels the significance of his or her input in the company. Due to getting only qualified staff the best service is guaranteed for clients. This also applies in the argument of coming up with trade unions, these unions brace the relationship between the establishments and the clients. The employees need to know their input in an industry, and the clients should also be aware of the output of an industry they have an alliance with, trade unions help in achieving this goal. When all these issues are taken into consideration, the intended profit will be able to assist the industry develop other sectors. The health section should also focus on making the employees feel the urge to work. This can be done by introducing leisure activities, that will help them relax. The main principles of BREEAM system, and how the system operates in practice BREEAM system was formed to ensure environmental quality cons truction through accessible, un-hostile and unprejudiced measure of ecological impacts. The BREEAM system creates the possibility of covering all construction areas (Senaratne and Sexton, 2011: 209). This is because the system does not focus on the specified areas only, it weigh’s its focus on all the areas that need to be developed, and works to achieve this target. BREEAM aims to use qualified measures to determine environmental qu