Disappearing Frogs

Why are Frogs disappearing around the world? Around the world, frogs are declining at an alarming rate due to threats like pollution, disease and climate change, which makes them the first indicators of ecosystem changes. Many Frogs all around the world are vanishing because the rapid changes in the environment are killing them. Also frogs, and all amphibians, may be sensitive indicators of water quality because they absorb gases and chemicals directly through the skin. Vanishing frogs could be an early warning of serious water problems in the environment. Though fungi and habitat destruction have been implicated in the disappearances, the frogs’ problem comes down to one problem: Amphibians are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. Amphibians’ physiology and complex water-and-land life cycle expose them to more environmental changes than most animals, and though they have survived climate changes before, today's changes are accelerating too rapidly for frogs to keep pace. Also, frogs’ eggs have no shells, exposing embryos to increased UV-B radiation levels, which can cause harmful mutations. Pollution has contaminated the water frogs thrive in and global climate change is causing higher levels of infectious diseases. What can be done to protect threatened frogs? In some cases, nothing very effective. There are a number of species that now live only in carefully controlled zoo or laboratory environments, and it may or may not be possible to reintroduce them into the wild. In many cases, others thinks it's better to concentrate on saving habitats and letting their endangered amphibians survive or perish in the wild than to catch the remaining animals and keep them in a modern ark in hopes of a later opportunity to reintroduce them somewhere. Part of the reason is that climate change is altering habitats in ways that we can't predict very well, so that conditions that might be ideal in a particular spot might be ephemeral. In the United States, an unofficial Partnership for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation advises private land owners of things they can do to protect frogs and other living things, for example, fencing off just a part of a pond where cattle drink.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay

On September 24, 1896, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born to Edward Fitzgerald and Mollie McQuillan Fitzgerald, the product of two vastly different Celtic strains. Edward, who came from tired, old Maryland stock and claimed distant kinship with the composer of â€Å"The Star Spangled Banner,† (Spencer, 367-81) instilled in his son the old-fashioned virtues of honor and courage and taught by example the beauty of genteel manners. Fitzgerald was smitten by the sophisticated sixteen-year-old at a St. Paul Christmas dance in 1914 during his sophomore year at Princeton. For the next two years, he conducted a one-sided romance both in person and through ardent correspondence with a girl who embodied his ideal of wealth and social position. Ginevra, however, was more interested in adding to her collection of suitors than in restricting herself to one. Legend has it, moreover, that Fitzgerald overheard someone, perhaps Ginevra’s father, remark that poor boys should never think of marrying rich girls. (Moreland, 25-38) By 1916, the romance had ended, but its effect lingered long in Fitzgerald’s psyche. Fitzgerald’s greatness lies as much in the conception as in the achievement. In this way Fitzgerald and his fiction capture some essential quality of the American myth and dream that were the focus his lifetime of personal and literary effort. Without doubt, Fitzgerald’s art was a response to his life. He immersed himself in his age and became its chief chronicler, bringing to his fiction a realism that gives it the quality of a photograph or, perhaps more appropriately, a documentary film. With the clothing, the music, the slang, the automobiles, the dances, the fads — in the specificity of its social milieu-Fitzgerald’s fiction documents a moment in time in all its historical reality. Yet Fitzgerald captures more than just the physical evidence of that time. He conveys with equal clarity the psychology (the dreams and hopes, the anxieties and fears) reflected in that world because he lived the life he recorded. Autobiography thus forms the basis of the social realism that is a hallmark of Fitzgerald’s fiction, but it is autobiography transmuted through the critical lens of both a personal and a cultural romantic sensibility, a second defining characteristic of his art. These two strands help to place Fitzgerald within American literary history. (Hindus, 45-50) Fitzgerald came to prominence as a writer in the 1920s, a period dominated by the postwar novel, and thus his fiction reflects all the contradictions of his age. World War I was a defining event for Fitzgerald and the writers of his generation whether or not they saw action in the field. Postwar developments on the home front contributed as well to the sense of purposelessness, decay, political failure, and cultural emptiness that pervades the literature of the 1920s. A new conservatism dominated America. Fitzgerald’s fiction of the 1920s reveals the tensions inherent in this mixture of anxious longing for the old certainties and heady excitement at the prospect of the new, just as his fiction of the 1930s captures the human cost — the wasted potential and psychic dislocation — of the gay, gaudy spree and its subsequent crash. His critics argue that he is no more than a stylish chronicler of his age, a mere recorder of the fashions and amusements, the manners and mores of his postwar generation, and he is certainly that. Yet verisimilitude, the truthful rendering of experience, is a distinguishing feature of realistic fiction, and particularly of the novel of manners, a literary form that examines a people and their culture in a specific time and place and a category into which much of Fitzgerald’s fiction fits. Thus, Fitzgerald’s ability to convey accurately his own generation is not necessarily a weakness. Fitzgerald’s lyricism and symbolist mode of writing reveal an essentially romantic sensibility that not only gives shape to his worldview, linking it to some traditional attitudes about the individual and human existence, but also supports his thematic preoccupations. Critics who complain of Fitzgerald’s inability to evaluate the world that he so brilliantly records (and the life that he so intensely lived) need look no further than his third novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), for proof of his double consciousness. Increasingly aware of the complex social, psychic, and economic forces that were driving his generation to excess and emptiness, Fitzgerald found the literary forms to give them expression in a novel that is now considered a modern masterpiece. Through his indirect, often ironic first-person narrative, Fitzgerald was able to give the story of Jay Gatsby, a man who reinvents himself to capture a dream, sad nobility, and the novel’s complex symbolic landscape reinforces this view. Gatsby may initially be just another corrupt product of his material world, but through the eyes of Nick Carraway, readers gradually come to see him as a romantic idealist who has somehow managed, despite his shadowy past and equally shady present, to remain uncorrupted. Fitzgerald’s complex symbolic landscape also elevates Gatsby’s quest to the realm of myth, the myth of the American Dream, and thus the novel offers a critical perspective on a nation and a people as well as on a generation. When E Scott Fitzgerald died in December 1940, his reputation was that of a failed writer who had squandered his talent in drink and excess. He may have written the novel that defined a decade, This Side of Paradise ( 1920), and another that exposed the dreams and illusions of a nation, The Great Gatsby ( 1925), but his achievement had been overshadowed and largely blighted by his life. (Frohock, 220-28) Works Cited Frohock W. M. â€Å"Morals, Manners, and Scott Fitzgerald†. Southwest Review 40( 1955): 220-228. Hindus Milton. F. Scott Fitzgerald: An Introduction and Interpretation. New York: Holt, 1968. 45-50 Moreland Kim. â€Å"The Education of F. Scott Fitzgerald: Lessons in the Theory of History†. Southern Humanities Review 19(1985): 25-38. Spencer Benjamin T. â€Å"Fitzgerald and the American Ambivalence†. South Atlantic Quarterly 66( 1967): 367-381. Appendix LITERARY WORKS BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD This Side of Paradise. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1920; Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995. Flappers and Philosophers. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1920. The Beautiful and Damned. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1922; Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995. Tales of the Jazz Age. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1922. The Vegetable; Or, from President to Postman. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1923. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925; Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995. All the Sad Young Men. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1926. Tender is the Night. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1934; Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995. Taps at Reveille. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1935. POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATIONS The Last Tycoon. Ed. Edmund Wilson. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1941; The Love of the Last Tycoon. Ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1994. The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ed. Malcolm Cowley. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1951. Afternoon of an Author. Ed. Arthur Mizener. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1957. Babylon Revisited and Other Stories. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1960. Six Tales of the Jazz Age and Other Stories. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1960. Pat Hobby Stories. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1962. The Apprentice Fiction of F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1909-1917. Ed. John Kuehl. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1965. The Basil and Josephine Stories. Ed. Jackson R. Bryer and John Kuehl. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1973. Bits of Paradise: 21 Uncollected Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1973. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s St. Paul Plays, 1911-1914. Ed. Alan Margolies. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Library, 1978. The Price Was High: The Last Uncollected Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli . New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979. The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald. A New Collection. Ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1989.

Nike and Apple

This paper looks at two global brand names that have teamed up to make a new product for sports consumers. These are Nike and Apple. Nike is well known corporate brand associated with manufacture of Nike shoes while Apple is known for the manufacture of small and durable computer gadgets used in the music industry, the iTunes music store. Due to growing trend of consumers liking of their brand they have developed Nike+iPod Sport Kit that embraces two technologies that are divergent in nature but uniquely complementary to sports use. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is able to capture athlete’s data, store it and interact with other gadgets useful for sports training. The use of it and other older devices have contributed to the success and potential of the merger between Nike and Apple companies. NIKE AND APPLE Nike and Apple are brand names of companies dealing in two different market fields. Nike has established itself as the dominant figure in sport shoes while Apple is the dominant the filed of computer technology where they have build a solid base in the music play list. Nike brands are Nike shoes that are the darling and much sought after shoes from sports consumers. While Apple has the dominant iTunes music store in which athletes have been uploading music. Since music is synonymous with athletes during training, the CEOs of these two companies came with a partnership to deliver a product of its kind (Lab paper main source). The CEO of Nike first approached Apple’s CEO with the ‘smart running shoe’ idea it was processed and a new idea referred by Apple’s CEO as ‘great start’ was born. This is a combination of two technologies that would improve the performance of the runners. The partnership which was labeled ‘design difficulties’ embraces a phenomenon that has already been ventured by other companies however, great improvement have been made. Thus Nike and Apple came up with the product called Nike+iPod Sport Kit. This is where an electronic sensor is embedded on the shoe which relays signals to the receiver connected remotely to the Apple’s iPod of the nano music player (Lab paper main source). The data is loaded in it of which information like distance covered, speed of the runner, calories burned during the training and can be customized to give details with specificity such as setting of ‘power song’. The iPod stores information on duration, distance covered and calories utilized during running time. The data is then transferred to a Mac or computer to which it uses the Nike website, Nikeplus.com where the runner can view data on the screen, analyze his progress, customize goals and show results later. This kit allows the runner to get feedback through the iPod speaker, and listen to music as he or she trains (Lab paper main source; Lab paper supporting material 2). The accuracy of this gadget is quite precise at over 90 percent even when used outside the box. For instance Armstrong used it during his training and tested with car speed and found that the nano recorded 5.2 miles while the speedometer recorded 5.3 miles (Lab paper supporting material 2). As a matter of fact the two companies brought this synergy of ideas based on the ‘beautiful friendship’ level to which there association has brought similarities and differences in harmonious integration.   For instance, Nike and Apple are similar because they leading global brand names in their field of specialization that is the buzz of young and cool consumer market. Two they are all technologically driven whereby the apple is known for semiconductors and software proficiency while Nike is force behind anatomy, precision molding as well as thin film technology. This is illustrated by one of the CEOs who termed it ‘scratching the surface of technology’ where they can only be limited by the scope of imagination and business deal. It is a merger that is transcending to a field that has not been touched hence showcasing the huge potential opening for further development (Lab paper main source). Therefore,   Nike has   rolled out   an expansive development of seven other styles of   Nike branded shoes in the near future which include Nike air zoom moire, Nike shox, Air max lines, Plus ready   and Nike plus. Plus ready brand is already in market with at least 4 million shoes being sold in stores (Lab paper main source). The development of technology did not happen without the obstacles as admitted by the executives’ of the two companies. On is that it took them eighteen months to come to agreement on the best platform dubbed Zen state. The problems being the sensor in the Nike shoe was bigger which was not welcomed by Nike engineers but the Apple designers saw it as small. Secondly the duration of the battery was short at about 1000 hrs. This was because the wireless technology to be employed consumed a lot of power and none wanted wire connection. However, it brought out a gadget that could be beneficial to all at an affordable price of $29 for iPod, $ 149 for nano and $100 for the shoe. This brings the question of affordability of the product to the consumers compared to previous product from companies like Garmin handheld GPS which its cost range from $115 to $377 depending on its sophistication (Lab paper main source). The partnership of two companies carries great benefits to both as indicated by their market share experiences. For instance, Nike will be solidifying its presence on the MP3 payer market having unsuccessfully tried through collaboration with Philips electronics. Apple being the dominant player gives Nike the presence and avenue it needs most. While Apple is gaining ground on a new field hence making iPod become a platform in sport market rather than as a music player. Nike profile will be elevated due to its connection with Apple and their market share will expand similarly because of similar demographics. Although some criticize the apple deal arguing that it is nutty others opposed it vehemently. For the case of Philips electronics where they have had long brand-licensing agreement it will still hold (Lab paper supporting material). This is not the first time Nike is penetrating the MP3 player market because they have done so with Philips electronics and co-branded the PSA 610, 4 GB hard disk with GPS sensor. This market has had other products of similar nature such as use of wristwatches, heart rate monitors, pedometer and cycling computers. The polar’s line of heart rate enabled athletes and cyclist to set up, training regimens where data can be viewed on the computer and results analyzed. The Garmin forerunner which had a hand held GPS connected to the wrist or in edge lines provided real time tracking of location from the GPS.   Mac’s gadgets were used to interface computers and internet including the use of polar and Garmin models. Therefore as the new product are developed old gadgets such as Mac’s solidify their ground (Lab paper supporting material). CONCLUSION This paper has discussed the merger of two global brand names that are successful in their area of business. Their merger has created a new market and potential of technological collaboration as well as boost in market share consolidation. REFERENCE Lab paper main source article Lab paper supporting material Lab paper supporting material 2

Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi - Essay Example Significantly, as the greatest mystic poet of Islam, Rumi recaps the hopes, frustrations, paradoxes, contradictions, etc of the modern America and the world as whole. His teachings, lifestyle, and the poetic writings, along with his popularity, confirm that there is an insatiable thirst for spiritual answers in America for the troubling questions of the modern living. "He is a symbol of unity," observes Akbar Ahmed, "and his fame tells us about the greatness of American society." (Ahmed, 19) Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi is also greatly popular as the writer of the book Masnwi, prevalently known as the Persian Koran, and the founder of the Whirling Dervishes, the Mevlevi Sufi order. In this exploratory analysis, the focus has been laid on the life and teachings of Rumi, specifically his Sufi lifestyle and his Whirling Dervishes. Rumi is the most renowned Persian poet and mystic who has left an enduring imprint on the modern world through his life and teachings, and his Sufi life style contributed profoundly to his current reputation. It has been observed by several modern critics that there has never been another poet and Islam theologian who immensely influenced the spiritual and literary life of Islamic lands as Rumi, the poet and mystic. His influence on the modern thinkers and mystics, along with a great number of thinking population, is indubitable, and he left a significant way of living to the modern man. "Over the centuries he has inspired thinkers, poets, and mystics from the shores of the Bosphorus to the Bay of Bengal and beyond." (Yarshater, xi) Through his life and Sufi lifestyle, Mevlana inspired his followers, and the most significant characteristic of his philosophy and Islamic mysticism was that he was distinct from the ordinary Muslim teachers of the orthodox type. His life style and Sufi order was the result of his spiritual and mystic leadership which was enabled by his period which is known as one of the most spiritual periods of Islam. Rumi was born in a period which was blessed with a spiritual environment. It was a period where "in almost every corner of the Islamic world were found great saints, poets, and mystical leaders, who, in the darkness of political and economical catastrophes, guides the people towards a world which was unhurt by change, telling them the secret of suffering love, and taught that God's inscrutable will and His Love may reveal itself in affliction even better than in happiness." (Schimmel, 10) Rumi made his remarkable contribution to this spiritual environment through his teachings, Sufi lifestyle, and works, and people remember him for these contributions. Jalaleddin Rumi, one of the great spiritual masters and poetic geniuses of Islamic world as well as the entire mankind, had a great understanding of living and he founded the Mevlevi Sufi order for the followers who were attracted by his teachings. The secret of Tawhid or unity or God's Oneness, the illumination of the Koran, the conscience of faith, and the peace of Muhammad's ethics etc contributed to Rumi's infinite tolerance. The most essential characteristic of the maturity and distinct quality of Rumi's personality is that fact that he practiced all that he preached, illustrating his words through his actions. It is evident, as Hidayetoglu observes, that "Rumi cleverly exhibited with his own lifestyle, the sublime tolerance imbibed from the joy of

Geography of the Palestine-Israel Conflict and the USA Essay - 8

Geography of the Palestine-Israel Conflict and the USA - Essay Example This lobby and its activities should be blamed for urging America to get into a war with Iraq. There are many people in the US government who are assigned by the lobby to steer the US policies into serving Israeli interests. There are also many organizations working in the US which collect money from the US to send it to Israel. In contrast to Smith’s assertion that there are US officials working for Israel in reality, Mearsheimer and Walt argue that Israel is a close friend of the US and the US will always come to Israel’s aid when required. This does not mean in any way that every US official who supports Israel is also necessarily a part of the lobby or working for it. America is not concerned with the activities or interests of the lobby. Anyone who works to preserve America’s relationship with Israel should not be considered a member of the lobby. Frankel (2006) agrees with Smith’s viewpoint that the perceived power of the Israeli lobby in the US is just too much which is why more economic aid is received by Israel from the US than any other nation in the world. This is not only because Israeli power, rather it is the way the lobby’s power is perceived that the US gives Israel more foreign aid every year than it does to any other

Maritime piracy along the malacca straits in Southeast Asia Research Paper

Maritime piracy along the malacca straits in Southeast Asia - Research Paper Example Singapore th efeoe ecame a typeically diffent stllemntwioth both Euroeopand and Asian elemntsanndintersts, leading to develop,ntof the Irnum maradduing fgnag thth attcejd Englisgh shipps trading inthis region with a passon leadiong to heacy losses and marginally contgruibuted to declining trade in Singapore at this time ( Wong Lin Ken, 1960 82-83). Singapre as explained was creted as a redistruibutin center by western forces Mills (1966, 223) argue wtht Europen powers emp[loyed draconian approaches to reduce clocal comeotyoninteh area nd enjoy a complte monopoly destroyin the indegneous systems,w hich imprecverisehd he local sn and the merachants, who dweeloped sesdneof ravage and a sense f legitimiston attcks on ships along the strait.t he Maly and ghe Illunun were biter rivals and piracy continued thpoighh atck of ships and was at its peak between 1826 and 1836 (Freeman, 180). There the fact th SIngapiore was a destin f o the west heithned pirate attcks on ships tow the countery an d had almost chocked the port sof Singapore (Freeman, 182). The 1849 bid to elimintate pircacy aliong the striat led by te British though asuslton theassialnts (Freeman, 183) 0was reamrble in crating divides between Sinaopre and the restof the region as a choise fo the westen forces (Mitchel 1976, 178). Piracy thrives ina area where it is culteurally acceptable and in ASoutegh east asia, it has been aemvbraced as as an acceptable way oflivfe eaimed at profvding support for poor local villages (Murphy, 17). This explinsw hry teerrosimis more rampant along Indonesian coast whre poverty is much higher (Young, 61) and is not considered as a global problem (). M,oroever, closelnessof the sttes has been a factrt to heighten sensitvuity ion stte soverignity, which has hampred efforts for cordiotna nd intergraton in coabatig the piracy meannce

Identifying the Problem Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Identifying the Problem - Assignment Example Primary research is an original research that is performed by the company or an external consultant, while secondary research is information that is already available in the market such as journal articles, professional databases, websites, or magazines among other sources (DeVault). Based on the circumstances Ajax Foods faces the company should perform primary research. The firm has to determine whether its customers desire to purchase its chicken pies in the deli section of supermarkets. A way to determine the viability of the project is by selecting a few stores for a beta test of the product. The company should develop questionnaires to be given out to the customers that purchase the chicken pies at the deli section of the beta test. In the questionnaire the company will ask the customers a series of questions including whether they would be interested in purchasing other types of food products from Ajax Foods. Once the primary research is completed the firm has to analyze its results. Based on those results the company will make the decision of whether or not to expand its product

The growth of Indian casinos Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The growth of Indian casinos - Essay Example â€Å"In California, perhaps more than in any other state, Indians have endured uninterrupted exploitation, brutality, and sorrow†. Despite the general conquest all Native Americans had suffered in the past centuries, Californian Indians also were forced to experience whites’ cruelty and greed in times of Golden Rush. Than because of the gold (on which California Indians had never set much value, for example, in comparison with the nature) they were forced to give up native lands. With the time, tribes and smaller California Indians bands position did not take a turn for the better. â€Å"California basically ignored its Indians, right through the 1970s. [†¦] Tribal problems were never discussed†. – Lieutenant Governor McCarthy, a leading opponent of Indian gambling says. How then California Indians could be fully blamed for trying to survive in the only way they were left?Someone may say that an illegal way is not an answer under any circumstances, h owever hard our life can be. That’s true, but developing their gambling business California Indians were actually trying to run casinos in the legal way. For example, in 1990s, â€Å"the tribes said they wanted to sign a compact, but then – Governor Pete Wilson who had no great love of gambling or Indians – refused to negotiate†. Government itself had pushed them on illegal way. And now tribes are blamed for using their authority and financial resources for purpose of becoming a state governmental power.

Business Law and Social Responsibility Research Paper

Business Law and Social Responsibility - Research Paper Example This is unavoidable and will take place either willingly or in response to external obligations. While staying out of trouble is no longer enough, corporate entities ought to try to execute a globally valuable mission actively. In order to earn trust, they ought to ensure transparency to enhance accountability (Savitz & Weber, 2006, 41-64). They should also ensure facilitation of communication, values, and cooperation. The Responsibility Revolution describes the means by which the American consumer has transformed from the time of the Great Depression until the Great Recession period in 2009. The way in which social responsibility is developing amongst the American people is by considering their spending trends on organic items and green products, which the corporate sector in America is presently exploiting, as they were aware this would draw investment and customer allegiance (Friend, 2009, 81-84). This finding led to rivalry amongst corporate entities trying to get greener than ot hers did. The rivalry, though, is good for the environment as well as their revenue. During his campaigns, President Barrack Obama persistently solicited the notion of green products, social responsibility and the consequences of the evolving attitude of the consumers. The corporate sector, however, refused to embrace this revolution and instead acted defensively. The consumers, activist groups and government regulatory retaliated to this refusal by calling for commitment and responsibility and as a result, corporate entities responded in different ways including setting up of consortiums to run their projects, setting up of individual, ecological, and energy reduction schemes and contribution of at least one percent of their income towards the Global Fund (Desear, 2011). Creating a corporate entity that not only upholds but also exceeds is a move beyond the need to be ‘less bad’ and grips the culture of ‘all good.’ The Responsibility Revolution discloses t he most brilliant ways for corporate entities to fabricate an enhanced future and hold themselves responsible for the outcome. The Six Principles to Help Evolve Responsibility Many corporate entities think they can hide their faults and only depict their achievements in the media. Blog posts, cable news, and even traditional media are filled with examples of the breakdown of this system, with British Petroleum (BP) being merely the most recent and clear example. On the other hand, the Responsibility Revolution outlines corporate entities that dodge ahead of their own bad media, revealing their faults to the press and critics. The result drives corporate entities like Patagonia, Seventh Generation, Timberland and Novo Nordisk to act not only more conscientiously but also neutralizes external pressure against them. In a 2010 article, it was quoted that, â€Å"Most companies understand that pursuing a laudable mission can amount to a land of rich opportunity. But to successfully trave l the road to corporate responsibility, an enterprise must navigate around six daunting landmines†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Huffington Post, 2010).  Ã‚  

Business Environment Essay Example for Free

Business Environment Essay 1. Aim: The aim of this unit is to give learners an understanding of individual and group behaviour in organisations and to examine current theories and their application in managing behaviour in the workplace. 2. Unit abstract: This unit focuses on the behaviour of individuals and groups within organisations. It explores the links between the structure and culture of organisations and how these interact and influence the behaviour of the workforce. The structure of a large multi-national company with thousands of employees worldwide will be very different from a small local business with 20 employees. The way in which an organisation structures and organises its workforce will impact on the culture that develops within the organisation. This system of shared values and beliefs will determine and shape the accepted patterns of behaviour of an organisations workforce. The culture in organisations that differ in size, for example, or are from different sectors of the economy can be very different. The structure and culture of an organisation are key factors which contribute to motivating the workforce at all levels of the organisation. The Japanese were instrumental in developing a culture of ‘continuous improvement through teamwork’ in their manufacturing industry. This culture has now been exported around the world and encapsulates the way in which structure and culture contribute to patterns of behaviour in the workplace. This unit will develop learner understanding of the behaviour of people within organisations and of the significance that organisational design has on shaping that behaviour.

Human resource management strategies in hsbc

Human resource management strategies in hsbc 1.1 Background Human Resource Management emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a new philosophy of managing employment relations particularly in the USA. From the USA, it developed to the English speaking nations and then to the rest of Europe (Brewster, 1994). Thus, it is a western derived concept that evolved in response to political, economic, legal, and technological changes and one which is highly influenced by the cultural context. It aimed to make firms more competitive, adaptive and strategic in a turbulent environment by introducing innovative practices in employment relations and business operations. It aspires to be fundamentally Unitarian that has little acceptance for the several interest groups, and thus promotes the notion of compatibility of stakeholders interests. In essence, it involves treating employees as valued assets and a source of competitive advantage through their commitment, competency and high quality of performance. With globalisation and increased opening up of economies, the concept seems to attract the other side of the world especially developing countries. Nevertheless and like any other managerial theory, HRM concepts and practices face the dilemma regarding its applicability and transferability to other settings in general, and to non-western or developing countries in particular (Alder and Boyacigiller, 1995). Accordingly, importing the western package and applying it to the context of developing countries without modification or revision is debatable. Universalists argue that importing such a package is applicable with little or no modification, while particularists have a completely opposite viewpoint. This makes us think of the argument put forward by Blunt and Jones (1991) as to whether there would be a mismatch between the imported systems, structures and procedures and the indigenous settings; and whether these concepts could be modified to indigenous sensitivities and particularism? This becomes more complex when one conside rs the multinational firms that operate in a variety of contexts and have to tailor their HR policies accordingly. Linked to this debate, the empirical work argues that socio-cultural differences magnify other factors and contingencies especially in the HRM context because HRM itself is value laden; it deals with people, cultures, values and ideologies which are not identical in nature. However, its adaptation differs even within the western world, as various models evolved along different paths producing different views of HRM. In view of the above, it is evident that managing human diversity across the world has become a major challenge for this era and especially for international organisations whose markets are continuously spreading around the globe. These organisations exist in different cultural contexts which add to the complexity of managing its human resources and thus its operations. Furthermore, they are vulnerable to external factors imposed on them by the host countrys different political, economic and legal systems. In some countries, these multinationals will be highly affected by the attitudes of local individuals, and thus the practice of domestic organisations. This is mainly because of the critical role of culture, which has a great influence over peoples attitudes and behaviours. At the same time, powerful multinationals can influence the host nations economic and political policies and practices. Likewise, they will have an impact on management styles and peoples tastes and lifestyles. Evidently, HRM practices will be influenced by these external factors as these activities are not carried out in a vacuum. In order to be successful in such a complex environment and diverse cultural settings, multinationals must employ and manage their resources effectively and efficiently. Thus, people assigned for international assignments need to acquire various characteristics and traits that will enable them to function in dissimilar environments and cultures. Essentially, flexibility and adaptation are core peculiarities that determine the success of the foreign manager in his mission across the border. This requires them to understand and adhere to the local setting, and hence apply the appropriate HR practice and managerial attitudes that best fit this new complex situation. To this end, I shall explore and study these practices and their applicability in multinationals operating in the UK through a case study of HSBC Plc. a multinational financial institution that aspires to becomes the Worlds local Bank (HSBC, 2010). 1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Study The main aim of this study is to critically evaluate HRM practices applicability to multinationals operating in a specific country; the UK. This is an attempt to understand the extent to which the concept is applicable to this country, and thus the level of its efficiency. Moreover, it will examine the impact and role of the political, economic, legal, technological and cultural contingencies in limiting or facilitating the applicability of HRM. Furthermore, it aspires to evaluate the different management styles of expatriates and local managers, as well as work attitudes in multinationals operating in the country. 1.3 Research Questions The main aim of this study is to critically evaluate HRM practices applicability to multinationals operating in a specific country; the UK. This is an attempt to understand the extent to which the concept is applicable to this country, and thus the level of its efficiency. Moreover, it will examine the impact and role of the political, economic, legal, technological and cultural contingencies in limiting or facilitating the applicability of HRM. Furthermore, it aspires to evaluate the different management styles of expatriates and local managers, as well as work attitudes in multinationals operating in the country. How do HRM practices in the UK organisations influence HRM in multinationals? How do the cultural and other contextual factors influence the HRM practices in the UK? How do the British workers perceive their foreign managers and the role of HRM? How do foreign managers perceive British workers and what do they expect from them? Is there a real difference between the HRM Best Practices advocated in the literature and those practices in multinationals operating in the UK? From the term multinational/s I mean here specifically HSBC Bank which is used in this dissertation as a detailed case study that may provide us with insights into the practices of multinational organisations in the UK. 1.4 Research Methodology According to Kane and OReilly-De Brun (2001). methodology provides an overall framework and implementation strategy to conceptualise and conduct an inquiry and construct scientific knowledge (Page 2). To complete most medium to large scale research careful planning is needed. A clear and well thought research plan is therefore necessary for the success of this research project. This study can be categorised as explanatory as it attempts to understand the phenomenon rather than to create a theory (Kane and OReilly-De Brun, 2001). The logic of reasoning, followed in this thesis is Retroductive, which attempts to overcome the pitfalls of both inductive and deductive research processes. It uses a predictive theory but sees it as a conceptualisation rather than an ordering framework as considered in deduction (Yin, 1994). There are various research methods being used in social science research. The most commonly used ones are; experimental studies, cross sectional studies, surveys, longitudinal studies, ethnography, and case study (Yin, 1994). In this research however I shall use single case study method. The main advantage of case study is its applicability to real-life, contemporary human situations and its public accessibility through written reports. Other benefits include that the use of a single case provides greater opportunity for depth of evidence and data. It also allows studying several contexts within the same case. In limited time this approach is most productive approach (Voss et al, 2002). Yin (1994) identified six different data collection methods for case study research. These include , physical artefacts, interviews, participant observation, direct observations, documents and archival records. In this research however I shall be using documents and archival records; which are most relevant to any case study research (Yin, 1994). These include; administrative documents, organisational reports, progress and written reports of event, formal studies, books, news papers, journal articles, and mass media articles. Data used for this research is mainly qualitative and is collected from secondary resources only. Secondary data is the data which already exists in documented sources. This includes data from published articles, reports etc. This is a cost effective and quick method, which can help researcher to identify the gaps in literature, and to get back ground information. 1.5 Literature Review Any organisation, from small firms to giant corporations, from service companies to hi-tech organisations, engages in human resource management activities. It needs to utilise its resources effectively in order to achieve its objectives and targets. Most probably, human resources in the work place in an issue of vital concern to all managers, and is the most important resource which employs all other resources to produce the desired outcome of the organisation. Thus the effective deploying of employees is a key element which will add to the competitive advantage of the firm. This means that the Personnel Management is an industry that existed since people started organizing themselves to achieve tasks (Molander, 1999). However, as globalisation and growing economic interdependence among nations emerge, together with rapid socio-economic changes, strong competition among organisations takes place, where the management of people increasingly became a vital issues in organisations. Therefore Personnel Management has to ensure that personnel policies and practices are geared to the objectives and strategy of the organisation in order to cope with the turbulent environment and respond to the new business needs along with the external threats from increasing competition. Consequently, this entails perpetual development and change of personnel management. In this respect the language of Human Resource Management has emerged to translate a new term for the management of employees in this active and changing world. However, the literature demonstrates a debate about the ambiguity of differentiating personnel from human resource management. Hendry (2005:55) states that Human Resource Management has gained ra pid and widespread acceptance as a new term for managing employment. It remains, however; an ambiguous concept. People question whether it is any different from the traditional personnel management, nor it is clear what it consists in practice. Some scholars however argue that HRM is an evolution of the process of personnel management (PM) and not a new theory of management employees, for example according to Torrington and Hall (1998:3): personnel management is experiencing the biggest change in its history. Many commentators believed that the arrival of human resource management was to be the greatest change in emphasis, but that was no more than re-thinking the process inside the organisation... Similarly Guest (2007) also supports this notion by saying that label has changed whilst the content continues to be the same. On the other hand, other writers attempt to make a distinction between HRM and PM. Hendry and Pettigrew (2000:25) state that HRM is then a perspective on personnel management, not personnel management itself. Additionally, they argue that the strategic character of HRM is distinctive. Underpinning this distinction, Legge (1995) identifies three features differentiating HRM from PM where the former is concerned with managerial staff and promotes integrated line management activities, with more focus on senior management being involved in the management of culture. This discussion indicates that the empirical work has different perspectives on viewing similarities and differences between personnel and human resource management. 1.5.1 Definition of HRM IHRM Is a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an integrated array of cultural, structural and personnel techniques. This definition emphasizes the vital role of employment management to attain competitive advantage through strategic employment of proficient and committed employees, along with integrating HRM practices, culture and structure of an organisation. According to Schuler (1992:18) Strategic Human Resource Management is largely about integration and adaptation. Its concern is to ensure that: (1) human resources (HR) management is fully integrated with the strategy and strategic needs of the firm; (2) HR policies cohere both across policy areas and across hierarchies; and (3) HR practices are adjusted, accepted, and used by line managers and employees as part of their everyday work. This definition stresses the strategic approach to the management of human resources. It also implies integration of HRM with the organisational strategy, where HR policies cohere across all levels in the firm, and adaptation of HR practices by workers and line managers. Many other authors as well agree that HRM is a strategic function e.g. Mackay and Torrington (2006:178): Strategic HRM can be defined as the overall and coherent long-term planning and shorter ter management, control and monitoring of an organisations human resources so as to gain from them the maximum added value and to best position them to achieve the organisations corporate goals and mission. Evidently, the stress here is on long and short term HRM, and utilizing the workforce to produce value to the firm and attain organisational objectives. Further and more recent work of Storey (2002), Armstrong (2000) and Boxall and Purcell (2003) is also consistent with the notion that HRM is strategic in nature. In view of the above, it can be noted that definitions focus on the employees as core value to the organisation that will add to its competitive advantage. However, this makes us question to what extent this emphasis is applied in real practice, taking into consideration that HRM does not pay attention to the issue of sensitivity in the context in which it exists. Apparently, this issue of awareness and appreciation to the context is tackled more by IHRM as will be demonstrated below. Having identified HRM, it is important to highlight how IHRM us defined in the literature. IHRM refers to activities undertaken by international organisations to utilise its human resources effectively. Those activities include procurement; allocation and utilisation (Dowling et al, 1999). A similar understanding is echoed by Harris et al (2003:129) in saying that: International HRM examines the way in which international organisations manage their human resources in the different national contexts in which they operate. Accordingly, IHRM engages in more HR activities and is involved in further complexities for operating in different countries and dealing with a diversity of workforce from various nationalities. Moreover, multination organisations face the challenges of multiculturalism which means managing people from different cultural backgrounds. Additionally, international firms are involved in operating in diverse multiple markets. Therefore the need for a broader perspective is essential as it is crucial for the success of the international mission. 1.5.2 HR practices in the National and International Context In this section I shall focus on some of the major HRM practices and activities which both the HRM professionals and line managers are expected to get involved in. We will address these activities in the national and international context, as the basic HRM practices remain when functioning abroad but with added complexity. These core activities are recruitment and selection, training and development, process management and reward management. Recruitment and Selection in the National and International Context: achieving a competitive advantage can be attained through having highly effective and competent staff, and ensuring that recruitment is in line with corporate strategy. That is a firm does not gain a competitive advantage from HRM practices, per se, but from the human resources that the firm attracts and retains (Delery, 1998:1). Indeed the selected candidates are required to meet the organisations need and have the potential to be motivated to develop and add value to the firm. This core activity undergoes different stages to ensure the viability of the process. The empirical work of many authors such as Molander and Winterton, 2004 and Armstrong, 2001 etc. also promote similar procedures as presented in figure 1. Human Resource Planning Figure 1: Recruitment Procedure According to figure 1, the vacancies emerge from HR planning that stems from the corporate plan. This is followed by a detailed job analysis and then job description that describes the duties involved and what type of a person is needed for the job. Consequently, a person specification is developed including essential and desirable qualities in the potential candidate. At this point, an advertisement for the job is announced either internally of externally to attract appropriate recruits depending on the organisations need and policy. Initially screening and short listing for applications will precede the interview stage. An experienced interview panel is designed for this purpose where line managers and HR specialists are involved. Based on the results of the interview, the final selection is made where the candidate is asked to present his references before the final decision is taken. Notably, recruitment and selection plays a crucial role in the HR function, as any mismatch between jobs and people selected will reduce the efficiency of this function (Forkowski Schuler, 1994). Clearly, the emphasis is on the technical abilities of the candidate which will facilitate his path in the job market. However, it is worth saying that there is no universal model that can be adopted to ensure the efficiency of this process, as organisations in the same country may prefer different methodologies in the hiring practices, thus we cannot argue that there is a general consensus on identifying the hest practice. On the other hand, the practice of recruitment and selection applies to the international setting where the focus is on different essential factors. Training and development are also key tasks undertaken by IIR departments where investment in employee development is greatly emphasised. Accordingly, achieving business goals and individual growth is linked to enhancing the workforce performance through developing their capabilities and skills. Effective training is of paramount importance to the growth and success of the organisation, where the focus is on the quality and not the quantity of the training. Thus, it is directed towards the development of learning organisations and supporting customer care initiatives (Molander and Winterton, 2004). Performance Management in the National and International Context: Armstrong and Murlis (2001:205) define performance management as a process or set of processes for establishing shared understanding about what is to be achieved, and of managing and developing people in a way which increases the probability that it will be achieved in the short and longer term. Inevitably, performance management is a development activity that releases the potential of the employee. Walters (1995) perceives performance management as a process for work improvement and carrying out all activity in line with business goals and objectives. Therefore, employees performance is evaluated against defined jobs that are agreed upon between managers and employees, and where the objectives of the organisation are communicated. ?Furthermore, it is a continuous practice shared between managers and employees to increase job quality and improve individuals competencies (Armstrong and Murlis, 2001). Equally, it is a method for constructive feedback and a means for motivating employees and maximizing their effectiveness and commitment. Consequently, performance management for employees is reviewed continuously where feedback about their strengths and weaknesses is identified in a productive discussion. In this regard, positive findings are reinforced and praised, while performance problems are discussed in a constructive environment and corrective actions are given to employees. Plainly, effective performance management requires HR managers and line managers to be involved in this process which aims at creating a culture of continuous improvement and better performance and results. This activity continues to apply to IHRM and does not stop. Obviously, multinationals have specific expectations from their expatria tes in terms of appropriate outcomes and behaviour that contributes to attaining the organisational goals and objectives. Reward Management in the National and International Context: Armstrong and Murlis, 2001 proposed that reward management is directly linked to motivation and quality performance at the individual and corporate level, and is response to the business needs. However, reward management includes financial and non-financial rewards that provide intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Accordingly, organisations reward employees as they are expecting certain kinds of behaviors including loyalty and commitment, as well as high performance. In return, employees expect to be fairly rewarded for their high achievement in different forms like promotion, salary, benefits and recognition. Therefore, reward management is not only important to recruit new staff, but it is imperative to retain good employees and motivate them, thus encouraging loyalty to the company (Thorpe and Homan, 2001). In view of the above, reward systems are to reinforce Pay for performance or performance related pay that promotes f air and equitable pay based on the individuals performance and contribution towards attaining the organisations goals and objectives. Hence, it encourages employees to strive for higher performance and supports innovation, which in turn all serve to enhance the organisations competitive advantage. Clearly, firms are flexible in adopting different reward systems that fit and meet both the needs of the individual and the organisation, and to assure continuous improvement at all levels. These systems are to be reviewed regularly to ensure they are providing value for money and that pay levels are competitive. Indeed, an organisation, before moving towards any reward system, has to identify why it wants to move towards this approach. Likewise, it must consider what kind of people it wants to attract and retain, and what competencies and skills are required in these individuals. Simply put, what values does the organisation want to reinforce and what reward practices does it want t integ rate in order to encourage to the desire behaviour and performance (Perkins and Hendry, 1999). On the contrary, reward management is a vital issue when crossing the borders. It encompasses more knowledge about the employment and taxation laws, customs, and employment practices in various countries. Clearly, each country is unique in its systems and regulations, and international organisations need to adapt to the local environment. Having explained these practices as they appeared in the literature review will help us to understand if there is a real difference between them and those practiced by multinationals operating in the UK as will be discussed in chapter five by analysing the case of HSBC Plc. 1.4 Organisation of Study This dissertation is organised into six chapters. Chapter one starts by introducing this study with a general discourse of HRM and its origins that were found in a western context. In the overview, it discusses the factors influencing HRM practices and particularly when applied in an international context. After this overview, it describes the aims and objectives, the methodology and the limitations and organisation of the study. Chapter two deals with the literature review of human resource management. It commences with a general overview of HRM, similarities and differences between HRM and personnel management as approached and perceived by different authors. This chapter then provides a definition of HRM and international human resource management (IHRM). It discusses what the literature promotes as best practices related to recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, and reward management in the national and international contexts. In addition, the influence of culture and the other contextual factors on these practices are demonstrated, where the issues of sensitivity when implementing these practices globally are pointed out. Chapter three describes the methodology of this study and the data sources used. Furthermore, additional resources like accessing different websites on the World Wide Web, and getting information from organisational reports were utilised. Nevertheless, the author supplements this study with his own knowledge of the country as well. Chapter four introduces a historical background about the UK, together with the environmental factors including the political, economic, legal, technological, and cultural elements that have an impact on the business in this country. Each factor is analysed in the broader perspective and then is narrowed down to explore their implications for multinationals operating in the country. This is to examine their effect on the functionality of the HRM practices, and hence assess their impact on managerial attitudes and behaviours. Furthermore, the cultural dimensions affecting work practices in general and HRM activities in particular are addressed in order to serve the objectives of this research. Chapter Five examines the applicability of HRM practices in multinationals in the UK using the case of HSBC plc. It analyses these practices and highlights the case for and against such applicability. The chapter goes on to investigate the local workers attitudes to work, as well as their views of international managers and what they expect from them. Chapter six synthesizes and summarises the main concepts and various debates reviewed in the preceding chapters. It will reflect on some of the challenges which the author considers as main issues that need to be addressed by professionals working in the international arena and mainly at the HSBC Plc. 3.6 Limitations The biggest problem in this study is that the literature on the modern management in HSBC is limited. Especially from the academic, reputable and peer reviewed sources there are hardly any studies that can be used in this case. This made the research particularly difficult within short time and little budget. The analysis therefore, almost exclusively relies on the secondary data collected through sources listed above. The single case study method also has its inherent limitations, e.g. it is questionable to what extent the results obtained can be generalised and what inference can be made to the wider body of knowledge. References Adler, N.J. and Boyacigiller, N. (1995) Going Beyond Traditional human Resource Armstrong, M. (2000) Strategic Human Resource Management. A Guide To Action, Kogan Page. Armstrong, M. (2001) A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, 8t edn, Kogan Page. Armstrong, M. and Murlis, H. (2001) Reward Management: A Handbook Of Remuneration, Strategy Practice, (5ed), Kogan Page Limited. Blunt, P. and Jones, M.L. (1991) Editorial: Human Resource Management in Developing Countries, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol.2, Iss.1, pp.3-5. Boxall, P. and Purcell, J. (2003) Strategy and Human Resource Management, Palgrave Macmillan. ?Delery, J.E. (1998) Issues of Fit In Strategic Human Resource Management: Implications for Research, Human Resource Management Review, Fall, Vol.8, Iss.3, p.289 (21 pgs.). Dowling, P. J., Welch, D.F. and Schuler, R.S. (1999) International Human Resource. Greenwich, Connecticut: JAI Press. Florkowski, G.W. and Schuler, R.S. (1994) Auditing Human Resource Management in the Global Environment, International Journal ofHuman Resource Management, Vol.5, Iss.4, pp.827-851, (25 pgs.). Guest, D. (2007) Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Journal of International Human .Resource Management, Vol 1, No 2. Hendry, C. (2005) Human Resource Management: A Strategic Approach to Employment, Butterwork-Heinemann, Oxford. Hendry, C. and Pettigrew, A. (2000) Human Resource Management: an agenda for the 1990, International Journal of Human Resource, Vol. 1, Iss. 1. pp. 17-27. ?Kane,E., and OReilly-de Brun,M., (2001) Doing Your Own Research ,Marion Boyars Publishers, London. Legge, K. (1995) Iluman Resource Management: Rhetorics and Realities, Palgrave Mackay, L. and Torrington, D. (2006) The Changing Nature of Personnel Management, London: Institute of Personnel Management. Molander, C. and Winterton, J. (2004) Managing Human Resources, Routledge, London. Perkins, S. and I Iendry, C. (1999) IPD Guide on International Reward Recognition, London: IPI). Schuler, R.S. (1992) Strategic Human Resource Management: Linking the People with the Strategic Needs of the Business, Organizational Dynamics, Summer, Vol.21, Iss.1, p.18, (15pgs.). Storey, J. (2002) Human Resource Management: A Critical Text, (ed II) Routledge. Thorpe, R. and Homan, G. (2001) Strategic Reward Systems, Pearson Education, London. Voss, C. Tsikriktsis, N. and Frohlich, M. (2002) Case Research in Operations Management, International journal of Operations and Production Management, Vol. 22, Issue 2, Pages: 195-219. Walters, M. (1995) The Performance Management Handbook, (ed) London: IPD. Yin, R. (1994) Case study research: design and methods, Sage Publications.

Fredrick Douglas And Harriet Jacobs Essay example -- American History

During the 1800s, slaves received treatment comparable to that of livestock. They were mere possessions of white men stripped of almost every last bit of humanity in them. African-Americans were constricted to this state of mind by their owners vicious treatment, but also the practice of keeping them uneducated. Keeping the slaves illiterate hindered them from understanding the world around them. Slave owners knew this. The slaves who were able to read and write always rebelled more against their masters. Frederick Douglass, author of "A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," and Harriet Jacobs, author of "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," were prime examples. Both slaves had been taught how read and write at a young age, and both gained their freedom by escaping to the northern states. What they had learned also helped them stay free while in the northern states after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which left no slave truly free. The literate slaves thought wit h a more free mind and developed a sense of self-identity and denied the identity of a slave. Literate slaves caught on to the immorality and injustice of slavery on black people. Another problem slave owners had with literate slaves was the potential for them to educate other slaves and give them thoughts of escaping or helping other slaves escape. Frederick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs both wrote of this in their books. Douglass was separated from his mother at an early age in order to prevent any feelings of attachment to her. His father was a white man, he might have been the man responsible for separating him from his mother. As a young child on the plantation, Douglass was exposed to the abuse of slave women received from their masters. Thi... ...rson's writing meant nothing legally, it helped out when escaping to freedom. Jacobs was able to send letters to Dr. Flint from inside her grandmother's attic space. She kept him traveling the northern states looking for her by saying she was in that state in a letter and had the postmark from that state. This was a very clever strategy on her part that ultimately played a big role in her gaining her freedom. If these slaves were not literate, it might have been more difficult to gain their freedom. Literacy saved Harriet Jacobs' and Frederick Douglass' sense of humanity from the dehumanizing institution of slavery. With the knowledge they had acquired, they published their books, "A Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass" and "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." They also played a huge role in the abolitionist movement and in advocating human rights.

Resolution in A Midsummer Nights Dream :: A Midsummer Nights Dream, William Shakespeare

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the conflict is based upon pure confusion. The main characters are involved in a mix-up of epic proportions. The story begins with Demetrius pledged to marry Hermia, daughter of Egeus. Conflict arises immediately when Lysander is shown to have won Hermia's affection and also her undying love. This situation is clouded even further when Helena, a friend of Hermia is found to be in love with Demetrius. The crowning mix-up that throws the events of the play into action is the strange relationship between Oberon and Titania, the ruling fairies. Because of his untamed jealousy over Titania's new servant, Oberon orders Puck to sprinkle love juice in Titania's eye and, taking pity on Helena, the eyes of Demetrius as well. A solution is very close at hand until Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and causes Lysander to fall desperately in love with Helena. This is the main conflict. Characters that are desperately in love are torn apart by forces they c annot control. Helena is in great anguish because she cannot have Demetrius and now it seems that Lysander is mocking her over this very fact. Hermia is also in terrible pain due to the sudden change of heart seen in her lover. Demetrius is still seeking Hermia with no hope of success and Lysander is trapped in the daze of love for a woman that is not his true love. It is with this feeling of utter helplessness that Shakespeare ends act II.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although this is one of Shakespeare's comedies, an interesting way to resolve the story would be to take the traditional tragic approach: everyone dies. Hermia, caught between her father's wish that she marry Demetrius and her strong love for Lysander, surely will be driven to madness by the loss of Lysander's love. A loss so great will have no other effect than to drive Hermia to suicide when she confronts Lysander and is mysteriously and continuously turned away. With Lysander's own sword, she cuts herself down and bleeds to death at her lover's feet. Confused by the act and possibly shaken back to reality by it, Lysander awakens from his daze and sees his love dead, his own sword plunged through her body.

Business Challenges :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Becoming a CEO of a company whether it’s big or small, is a huge task to take on, but can be the most rewarding depending on how your company does. Either way when going into such a job, in which you are so powerful, you have to think of each and every challenge that you come across within your job. Challenges that your company will face can vary in many different ways, from environmental issues, to social issues, economic issues, as well as many more   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For my company, Staples, I have worked in the store since I was 15, going through quite a few managers. Luckily I got to meet people very high in the corporation, such as the president and vice president of the company, and I could see how stressful their jobs have been. As being the CEO of Staples there are many problems that can come into effect. First thing that comes to mind is competition. Our competitors Office Max, and Office Depot are our biggest threat in the office supply business. Our company holds about 1100 stores, while they have about 700 each, and each day they take away business from us. We have to fluctuate our prices with what’s popular for that time of season, such as pens, notebooks and computers for back-to-school, and make sure our prices are more convenient for the customer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second dilemma that comes to mind is geography. Considering we have over 1000 locations, we have to figure out where the appropriate places for a new store would be. For instance if we only have 2 stores in Maine, we can’t put them together, yet we need to put them in a somewhat populated place, that would be most convenient for the business customer. For us, globalization is not a very big problem considering that we only have one store in France, one in Germany, and two in Puerto Rico.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As for a third challenge is technology. Everything is becoming on-line, and on the Internet. Some people can’t go out to the store everyday do but something they need, and each store can’t carry every product. So as a CEO the best solution is to put them online so people can shop at home, and have the products shipped to their doorstep. Also by having staples.com available in store, if the store itself is out of a product, just order it.

How to Study for an Exam Process Essay Essay

A cumulative exam, or final is a test given to students at the end of a course of study. Studying for a final cumulative exam can be both a stressful and scary time. Most high schools, colleges, and universities have final exams at the end of a particular academic term, semester, or more traditionally at the end of a complete course. These tests can be worth high percentages of your grade and can determine how well you do in a class. There are many steps to being able to take these tests well but they begin long before the studying for the test actually begins. To be successful on a final exam but ultimately in a class the first thing you must do is attend class. It is important you attend class so that you don’t miss out on anything important. The class time you spend listening to your instructor is one of the most essential ways of retaining information on the subject you’re going over. I’m not saying you must attend every single class in a semester but try your hardest to. If for some reason you do miss class, the next step you would follow is to be sure to get anything you’ve missed from a classmate. I never have an issue when it comes to getting information off classmates because you’ll find that everyone needs a friend in a class one day. The next thing you must do is take good notes. I use a variety of methods when I’m taking notes. I color-code things and use different ways of pointing out information such as stars, bullets, and arrows. These different things are a useful way to indicate different types of information. It makes it easier to pick out key points when you’re studying for your final. The next thing you do is keep up with your homework. In high school you typically get your homework the day before it is due so it is a lot easier to make sure you keep everything up to date. As a college student you receive a syllabus at the beginning of the semester that lists all assignments, tests, and readings for the class. I list all of these things in a planner and keep that planner with me at all times. You must keep up with everything on time because if you get behind you will fall further and further behind until you can’t catch up anymore. This could lead to doing poorly in your classes. You must continue with these steps for months leading into the end of the semester. Then, once it gets close to the final exam there are many things you must do. There are things you have to specifically do the week before, the night before, and then the morning of. If you follow certain steps then you’re surely to do just fine. First, a week or so before your exam compile all your materials in one place. I use a small binder of folder just so it’s easily carried around for studying. I go back through old notebooks and folders and collect any article that contains information I will need for the exam, all homework, handouts, quizzes, and tests. Get your syllabus and make sure you have notes covering everything you’ve done in the semester. Final exams contain information from the entire class so it is very important you collect everything. The next thing you must do is re-read all the information you have collected. As you read gather important points, make flashcards, study guides, and other study materials that could be of use to you. While making study guides it is often helpful to use different means of labeling things like arrows, stars, and color-coding things. Afterward, you must spend a large amount of time studying your material using many different methods. Personally I use practice tests, highlight, and re-take notes. Using many ways allows you to make sure you know the material and are not just memorizing it in a certain order. Be sure to spend extra time on any material you feel will either be a large part of the test or anything you are still unsure about. There are many steps to follow the night of the exam as well. First, get rid of all your distractions. Turn your phone on silent, log out of everything and put yourself in a non-distracting environment. The next step is to not spend too much time studying material you already know. Review and spend the majority of your time on things you are still unsure of. Your last step the night before your exam is simply, get some sleep. Your brain will be completely useless if you are exhausted so the smartest thing to do is to study early on, avoid the all-nighters, and get some rest. Finally, you must take your exam. Do not rush. Take your time on every question. If you do not know the answer to a  question do not panic, simply breathe and give it your best effort. After you have answered everything go back over your exam and make sure you have at least attempted every question. Make sure to check your answers and if any seem wrong change them. Then, turn your exam in and continue on your way. It is important to know how to study for and act the day of a final because every type of student goes through it. Whether you are in high school, college, or graduate school all scholars must be able to do well on these tests. Finals can determine how well you do in your classes and can ultimately determine parts of your future. You must receive good grades to be able to continue on an education path and obtain a good career. If you follow the steps I have provided for you then you are surely to do just fine.

Article Critique: the Tyranny of Choic Essay

I will be writing a Article Critique on the article â€Å"The Tyranny of Choice† by Barry Schwartz. In this Critique I will addressing many psychological concepts, including what is a maximizer and satisficers. Also I will test myself to see which one fits me the most with the decision I made in my life and the ones I will make in the future. A maximizer is someone who tries to get the best out of ever situation or tries every options until they found the best one. (Schwartz,2004) A satisficers is someone who would settle for OK even if the best is out their for them. Maximizers spend the most time on everything because they spend most of the time comparing any and everything they find. Satisficers may browse and look around but when they find something that is right for them then they eliminate any further browsing. A scale was develop to distinguish the two and it is called â€Å"The Maximization Scale†. When you use the scale and and you are higher than 4 then you are considered a maximizer. If you score lower than 4 then you are considered a satisficers. Many say that a maximizer tends to become more depress than a satisficers mainly because they tend to think about the many choices they turned down to get the â€Å"best choice†. Sometimes the choice they chose isn’t that much better then the other choices they turn down. So they would dwell on the thought and it would get them upset and start to become depress. Whereas with satisficers they get depress but not as much, because they are upset about their other choices but since they lowered their standards they are pretty acceptable with their decision. (Schwartz, 2004) My score is 4.3 which means that I am more of a maximizer. When I make a decision I do all of my research before I try or do anything new. I weight out my pros and cons before I attempt to do anything, mainly because I do not want to make a mistake in the long run. At the end of the day though I am happy with the decision but some how I see better choices that I either overlooked or didn’t pay attention to. When I figure out those choices I tend to get upset or mad with my self, because some time I think the magic what if Some try to put their all in their getting what they assume is the best choice. â€Å"The more we invest in a decision the more satisfaction we expect to realize from our investment.†(Schwartz,2004,pg 74) What ever they invest in, they expect to be able to use it or learn from it for a long period of time not a short one. The reason I say that is because they wouldn’t want to spend all their hard work and time on something that will not last that long. If that do happen then the person will be upset and soon become depressed about their wrongful decision. In my opinion I thought this Article was very interesting to read. I saw myself reading and thinking that I do the exact same thing I am reading about. I am a online shopper never go to the store and shop, but I tend to start site hopping. Which is simply me going from site to site trying to find the best choice or the best value. At first I didn’t know they gave people who find the better item and people who settle a name. I also tend to try to put my all in something I expect to last quite a while Example, I wanted the new Ipod touch, but it cause 300 with everything, now I sacrificed going out, getting fast food, and limiting my spending. Now the only reason I did that is because I expect the iPod to last for a long time now, but if it was to last for a couple of weeks or months then I would not have done all of that. Overall this article was a well put together article in which I learned a lot of information from that I can use later in life, it also explained a lot of thi ngs in my life at this time. In conclusion, â€Å"As the number of choices we face increase, the psychological benefits we derive start to level of†(Schwartz,2004 ,pg75) It seems like the more choices you are faced day by day the more it will start to bother your emotions and feelings. You are faced with so many choices on a day to day basis, and you try our to make the â€Å"ideal choice†. At the same time your mind may drift off and say â€Å"What if I chose this or that† then the pressure increase. This article was to help you realize somethings about yourself. Also it was something that would help you better yourself in the years to come. References Schwartz, B. (2004, April). The tyranny of choice. Scientific American, 290(4), 70-75.

General Motors

Is primarily engaged In the production of vehicles. It designs, manufactures and markets car, trucks, and other automobile parts all over the world. GM has a strong brand portfolio gives It significant competitive advantage. However, sustained decline in light vehicle sales as a result of increasing durability of vehicles and weak economic conditional pressure on the overall performance of the company. strengths Global presence New vision and strategy Strong brand portfolio Strong presence in China weaknessHigh cost structure Brand dilution Bureaucratic culture Car recall Knowledge of home market 4 well performing brands Threats Opportunities Positive attitude toward â€Å"green† vehicles Fluctuating fuel prices Increasing fuel New emission standards prices Changing customer needs Growth through acquisition Rising raw material prices Intense competition Exchange rates Strengths: Global presence, GM was the leading auto manufacturer in terms of sales for 77 years until 2007. Th e business has grown its presence In the world and is now operating in 157 countries, while its Chevrolet brand reached world record sales (4. million units). New vision and strategy. after 2008 bailout. GM has experienced major changes and reorganized the way it does business. New members were appointed to the firm's management team with Daniel Akerson as the CEO. He shook GM†s bureaucratic organizational culture and introduced new strategy and visions to the business, GM became smaller but leaner and is becoming more. Strong brand portfolio, GM currently sells 18 automobile brand to satisfy as many customer needs as possible. The most popular brand are Cadillac, Buick GMC, and Chevrolet that sells very well In USA and china.Chevrolet reached global sales record and sold 4. 95 million units in 2012. Strong presence in China, China is the largest automotive market and Is an emerging economy that grows steadily. It is also the second largest market for GM in terms of vehicle un its sold. An early entrance into China, well performing partnerships and local Buick brand are the main reasons why GM has a strong position in China's automotive market. Knowledge of home market, GM is the largest car manufacturer In US and currently holds more than 18% market share. 1 OF3 I nls Is malnly Oue to extensive Knowledge 0T market ana Its consumer. well performing brands, GM's has one of the highest cost structures compared to all automobiles manufacturers. GM's Cadillac, GMC, Chevrolet, and Buick are among the best-selling brands in US and China and brings in more than 80% of all General Motors sales. Weakness: High cost structures, GM has one of the highest cost structures compared to all automobiles manufacturers. GM costs are driven by its generous employee compensation and pension plans. Although GM has reduced its cost after 2008 it still has a lot to do to become cost competitive.Brand dilution, GM controls 18 automobile brands that vary in quality and are sold in separate markets. With so many brands in sales, customers find it hard to identify which brand belongs to GM family, as only one of 18 brands carry GM letters. The result is lower GM brand awareness. Bureaucratic culture, before reorganization in 2008, GM was infamous for its rigid culture and structure. Since them, the company has made some cultural and structural changes but should continue improving as it isn't as quick as it competitors in reaching to constantly changing environment.Car recall, last year, General Motors ecalled 119,000 pickups due to missing hood latch. The same year it had to recall it Chevrolet volt and fix battery problems. Recalls are expensive and damages brand reputation, especially when the company announces them so often. Opportunities: Positive attitude toward â€Å"green† vehicle, today consumers are more aware of the negative effects (air pollution) caused by cars fueled by petrol and diesel. Large quantities of C02 emission intensity greenhou se effect, and negatively impact the life on earth, and thus, consumers are more likely to buy new hybrid and electrical cars hat emit less c02.Increasing fuel price, increasing fuel prices open up large markets for GM's hybrid and electric cars as consumers shift toward cheaper fuel types. Changing customer needs, by introducing new cars models, General Motors would be able to meet changing customer needs for smaller and more fuel-efficient cars. Growth through acquisitions, GM has successfully acquired many car companies in the past and should continue doing so to gain new skills assets and access to new market. Threats: Fluctuating fuel prices, due to increasing extraction of shale gas, future fuel prices hould drop and make electric and hybrid cars less attractive.GM would treat the project of hybrid and electric cars as losses, rather than perspective future cars. On the other hand, steeping fuel prices would make current GM models less attractive to cost conscious consumer low er amounts of fuel. New emission standards, a new wave for stricter regulation on vehicle emission standards may negatively affect GM's finances. The corporate would have to invest large amount of money to comply with these new standards. Rising raw material prices, rising prices for raw metals will lift he cost for auto manufactures and result in squeezed profits for the companies.Intense competition, for 77 years from 1931 to 2007, GM led global sales of vehicles, but lost its position in 2008 due to increased competition of cheaper and better quality cars, especially from Japan and South Korea. Exchange rates, China are GM's second largest market and the business earns huge profits there. Exchange rate fluctuations threaten GM's profits if the dollar would appreciate against Chinese renminbi.

Nursing Specialty Essay

The world of healthcare is one of frequent changes. Those who have dedicated themselves to the nursing profession understand that healthcare is continuously evolving, as it is our responsibility to provide only the highest standard of care to our patients. Each nurse that is certified within a nursing specialty strengthens the entire healthcare team. Those that obtain specialty certifications are seen as the leaders in the field and are strong resources for the team members lacking the specialized education. Among the multiple nursing specialty certifications obtainable, legal nursing is relatively new. For many years registered nurses aided legal teams by providing attorneys with needed medical knowledge without the option of obtaining specialized training, earning specialized certifications and/or having the known support of a specialized national association behind them. Only due to a clear vision and the undying determination of several registered nurses, the not for profit national organization tilted the â€Å"American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) was founded in July of 1989† (â€Å"American Association,† n. d, para. 1). According to Huff, Costantini, and Mihalich, the driving force behind the birth of this national association was a group of registered nurses that had already been acting as legal consultants and were determined to educate the legal profession about the effectiveness of the nurse consultant as liaison between the legal and medical communities, and to provide a network for members to share expertise. The early pioneers recognized for initiating what now is a powerful specialty within the nursing field are Rosanna Janes, RN, Karen Wetther, RN, Joanne Behymer, RN, Paula Schenck, RN and Kathleen Loeffler, RN. The legal nursing consultant specialty has evolved greatly since its birth and has made several major contributions during its relatively short existence. The first contribution noted within the information provided by the Legal Nurse Consulting Principles states the following: While AALNC has always offered national membership benefits to nurses licensed in any state of the U. S. , it was through the establishment of chartered chapters that AALNC fostered membership growth, networking, and education at the local level. Within 10 years, chapter activity went from the three original local groups to chapters in more than 45 cities in 31 states. The number of chapters continues to increase each year. (Huff, Costantini, & Mihalich, n. d. , p. 27) The association demands that those with accreditation be highly educated along with maintaining current certifications to practice, the AALNC offers multiple resources to achieve these expected standards. The educational opportunities have developed and include an annual educational conference along with numerous educational materials in written, audio, and video formats that are readily available for its members. These are designed to assist nurses at all levels of expertise in legal nurse consulting practice. (Huff, Costantini, & Mihalich, n. d. , p. 30) An additional major contribution the AALNC has provided the nursing profession is â€Å"recognizing the importance of nursing certification that incorporates experiential and educational requirements, AALNC established the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB) in 1997. ALNCCB developed the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) certification program and credential† (Huff et al. , n. d. , p. 42). As explained above, the specialty of legal nursing has impacted multiple aspects of the healthcare system with the most important aspect being our patients. Legal nursing allows a registered nurse with specialized education to advocate for the patient from the beginning of a legal case to the end. The protection and safety of our patients is the number one responsibility of all healthcare professionals, it is essential that legal nurse consultants continue to work side by side with attorneys to ensure the best outcomes possible for all parties involved. The legal nurse specialty has also impacted multiple other entities including insurance companies and healthcare facilities by providing the essential medical facts needed to prove false claims of malpractice. With the many strengths the legal nurse specialty has brought to the nursing profession, it is evident that this specialty is nothing short of a necessity.

Business Plan (Opening online shop) IN HEART Coursework

Business Plan (Opening online shop) IN HEART - Coursework Example An online shop can easily trade with these countries because there are limited international trade regulations and it can have a positive impact on the growth of an online business (Porter 1985). Inflation affects the online business because buying the product online includes various costs associated with the product, which includes shipment cost and possibility of theft in online payments. The decrease in the buying power will have a negative effect in purchasing the product online because people would be reluctant to pay online due to the increased prices (Aaker and McLoughlin 2010). The ageing population is increasing in the United Kingdom and due to which the organizations are producing the products that caters the market for old people. This indicates the social change from organization point of view (Aaker and McLoughlin 2010). Coming up with new products all the time gives a competitive edge and it leads in the innovation, which results in the growth of the company. Every product contributes an impact towards the environment. If the product of an online shop creates a good impact then it will be appreciated by the customers (Porter 1985). ‘In heart’ online shop should approach towards the license of a website in a legal manner. Forming an online shop in today’s world can be achieved for a few costs unlike the franchises that need million dollars for a startup investment (Porter 1985). In the future it is expected that many of the businesses would be transformed online because of the heavy investment associated with the opening of franchises. The concept of ‘In Heart’ online shop would target a market of millions of audience and attract the people toward its product in the span of five years if factors favor the online businesses (McLaughlin 2010). The ‘In heart’ online shop should me more focused towards differentiating its designer product from its competitors because the online shops will tend to increase in number and

The Credit Default Swap of Central East European Countries Essay - 4

The Credit Default Swap of Central East European Countries - Essay Example The risk in entailment of equity investment is high in Central European countries compared to Countries of Western Europe and this is mainly due to factors such as the weak rule of the governments, difficult and complicated financial accounts of organizations, currency risks, the transparent rule in government institutions etc. Economic performance of each country is unique and therefore equity risk premium is different for each country.The currency board is the controller of interest rates and provides financial stability to the country. The CDS premium is a powerful instrument in the credit derivatives market because it is a direct tool for measuring the credit default spreads. CDS spreads is in proportion to the pure valuation of defaulting risk of the primary body. Credit risk is tested by approximating the equity price and the volatility jumps in the financial market. CDS spread commonly referred is the premium payment for a CDS. Credit Default Swap spreads is a yardstick for pricing and hedging insecurities. â€Å"Risk premiums for Central Europe have increased substantially over the past two years and may well come down again when confidence returns to global financial markets. This may represent an excellent buying opportunity, as risk premiums tend to rise or even overshoot during turbulent financial markets.† (Nemethy 2009). The main objective of this dissertation is to examine the differences in the risk premium reflected in the CDS of CEE countries, especially Bulgaria. Bulgaria has a currency board restriction. Countries which have a currency board restrictions faceless degree of inflation and experience more GDP growth. The idea of this dissertation is to convince that risk premiums in CDS have an impact on the economy and has differences in the risk premium. Credit default swaps are an indicator of global financial crisis.

Argument essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Argument - Essay Example nting of nuclear bombs, religious discrimination, and gender discrimination is unscrupulous, its consequences and what is to be done to correct the same? The discrimination against African Americans in America is a burning issue. One cannot neglect the seriousness of discrimination based on racism against blacks in a multiracial, multilingual and multicultural society. The Civil War was an innovative movement which aimed to eradicate racism or discrimination in America. But still discrimination against blacks based on racial feeling prevails. The Colfax massacre in 1873 and Coushatta massacre in 1874, in which thousands of African Americans were brutally murdered prove that the American society still show discrimination against blacks. Assimilating a race into the society and showing discrimination is not fair for a developed society like America. When America is discriminating the blacks, their contribution/service provided at the time of World War I and World War II is ignored. The discrimination against backs is unethical and immoral. Discrimination based on caste, color or creed is a serious violation of human rights because it is against human dignity. But it can be corrected by reconsidering the age old prejudice against blacks. Besides, it will badly affect the reputation of the American society as a multiracial society which is capable to assimilate different types of races into the mainstream. The nuclear weapon policy of the United States attracts much criticism from other nations because it seems to hinder global peace and security. From one side, the United States is trying to sustain its nuclear bombs/weapons. On the other side, it is trying to blame other nations for keeping nuclear weapons. A nation, protecting a number of nuclear weapons and blaming other nations on keeping the same makes the whole world to reconsider their nuclear policies. Schwartz (1998), in the work -‘Atomic audit: the costs and consequences of U.S. nuclear weapons since

Plan for obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Plan for obesity - Essay Example Simple explanation to the effect is that during 1950s and 1960s towards 1970s through to 1980s, the world treated to less advanced technology and family systems that reiterated the importance of parental care during growth and development of children. Currently, almost every parent involves in income generating activities and has limited time to socialize and provide direction to children on issues related to diets and technological use. For clear understanding of the concept of obesity and its causes, it is important to consider the principles of Social psychology theory. Social psychologists have interest in studying factors within societies that make people behave, imagine, think, believe and act in the way they do in the presence of others and relative to social contexts. Social psychology help in exploring the change in the relationship between parents and their children and the impact of such as far as childhood obesity is concerned. In the past when economic situations were bearable, and parents did not have to work for more than twelve hours daily, obesity was term identical to any sphere of social structure including medical field. This probably was due to the closeness of parents to their children that enabled opportunity for parents to regulate activities of their children. In the years before 1980s, parents ensured that their children played and consumed healthy meals. Technological advancement that is c urrently responsible for high presence of processed ready food materials was also absent or minimal. Currently, economic difficulties have forced parents to work for longer hours and sparing little time to socialize with their children to provide guidance on healthy food consumption, physical practices and sustainable use of technological entertainment materials like televisions, computers, and play stations among others. That disconnection between parents and children has exposed the latter to unsorted advertisements about food materials,

Multiple questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multiple questions - Assignment Example Additionally, the teachers also point out that finding help from senior teachers may also be an important inclusion in these strategies. Based on your reading and on this video, do you agree with the master teachers in this video case who believe that standardized testing "offers the opportunity to reflect upon your teaching practice?"   Why or why not? Standardized testing provides a tutor with an opportunity to effectively analyze their teaching practice. Standardized testing enables a tutor to generally create assessment systems that equally reflect the performance of every student. Additionally, the tests are effective enough to generate reliable results that reflect the performance of a tutor in regards to performance by their students. Collaboration requires understanding among teachers in an institution. Collaboration refers to the generation of ideas collectively by all teachers. However, a tutor should be able to look for friendly tutors who maybe willing to help. Additionally, collaboration should be agenda based as tutor should seek collaboration to generate a solution to a particular problem. The master teachers in this video suggest that it is important to use student test data effectively.   How does one use test data effectively?   What are some challenges that might be encountered during this process? Test data can be used effectively if the collection of the data is accurate. Additionally, test data should be collected from reliable test that may reflect the exact potential of the students. Possible challenges may be generated from biasness from collecting the data. Data collection questions may also be limited to testing the actual student abilities. In the video, the teachers believe in teacher’s empowerment through collaboration. They also use collaboration as decision making tool (01_CollaborationColleagues.mov). The tutors come together was a work group. They