Thursday, November 28, 2019

What Is Angina And What Is The Cure Essays - RTT,

What is Angina? And What is the Cure? QUESTION: What is Angina? And what is the cure? RESPONSE: Angina refers to the pain arising from lack of adequate blood supply to the heart muscle. Typically, it is a crushing pain behind the breastbone in the center of the chest, brought on by exertion and relieved by rest. It may at times radiate to or arise in the left arm, neck, jaw, left chest, or back. It is frequently accompanied by sweating, palpitations of the heart, and generally lasts a matter of minutes. Similar pain syndromes may be caused by other diseases, including esophagitis, gall bladder disease, ulcers, and others. Diagnosis of angina begins with the recognition of the consistent symptoms. Often an exercise test with radioactive thallium is performed if the diagnosis is in question, and sometimes even a cardiac catheterization is done if the outcome is felt necessary to make management decisions. This is a complex area which requires careful judgment by physician and patient. Angina is a manifestation of coronary artery disease, the same disease leading to heart attacks. Coronary artery diseas refers to those syndromes caused by blockage to the flow of blood in those arteries supplying the heart muscle itself, i.e., the coronary arteries. Like any other organ, the heart requires a steady flow of oxygen and nutrients to provide energy for rmovement, and to maintain the delicate balance of chemicals which allow for the careful electrical rhythm control of the heart beat. Unlike some other organs, the heart can survive only a matter of minutes without these nutrients, and the rest of the body can survive only minutes without the heart--thus the critical nature of these syndromes. Causes of blockage range from congenital tissue strands within or over the arteries to spasms of the muscular coat of the arteries themselves. By far the most common cause, however, is the deposition of plaques of cholesterol, platelets and other substances within the arterial walls. Sometimes the buildup is very gradual, but in other cases the buildup is suddenly increased as a chunk of matter breaks off and suddenly blocks the already narrowed opening. Certain factors seem to favor the buildup of these plaques. A strong family history of heart attacks is a definite risk factor, reflecting some metabolic derangement in either cholesterol handling or some other factor. Being male, for reasons probably related to the protective effects of some female hormones, is also a relative risk. Cigarette smoking and high blood pressure are definite risks, both reversible in most cases. Risk also increases with age. Elevated blood cholesterol levels (both total and low density types) are risks, whereas the high density cholesterol level is a risk only if it is reduced. Possible, but less well-defined factors include certain intense and hostile or time-pressured personality types (so-called type A), inactive lifestyle, and high cholesterol diets. Medications are increasingly effective for symptom control, as well as prevention of complications. The oldest and most common agents are the nitrates, derivatives of nitroglycerine. They include nitroglycerine, isosorbide, and similar agents. Newer forms include long acting oral agents, plus skin patches which release a small amount through the skin into the bloodstream over a full day. They act by reducing the burden of blood returning to the heart from the veins and also by dilating the coronary arteries themselves. Nitrates are highly effective for relief and prevention of angina, and sometimes for limiting the size of a heart attack. Used both for treatment of symptoms as well as prevention of anticipated symptoms, nitrates are considered by many to be the mainstay of medical therapy for angina. The second group of drugs are called "beta blockers" for their ability to block the activity of the beta receptors of the nervous system. These receptors cause actions such as blood pressure elevation, rapid heart rate, and forceful heart contractions. When these actions are reduced, the heart needs less blood, and thus angina may be reduced. The newest group of drugs for angina is called the calcium channel blockers. Calcium channels refer to the areas of the membranes of heart and other cells where calcium flows in and out, reacting with other chemicals to modulate the force and rate of contractions. In the heart, they can reduce the force and rate of contractions and electrical excitability, thereby having a calming effect on the heart. Although their final place in heart disease remains to be seen, they promise to play an increasingly important role. When medications are unsuccessful, or if there is concern about an impending or potential heart attack,

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The News Entries Should Each Refer To Something Important That Is

The News Entries Should Each Refer To Something Important That Is The News Entries Should Each Refer To Something Important That Is Currently Happening In The World – Coursework Example News Entries Obama hits 50% approval rating in Poll The news article is about a recently released poll results in relation to the rating of the United States of America president Barrack Obama. The polls were conducted by new Washington Post-ABC News poll in December. The current survey ratings are considered as the highest since a similar poll was conducted in 2013. Thus, the polls indicated that president Obama’s rating had hit 50%. This was considered as a relief to the Americans who are keen in how the president will address the key issues that affects them as a state. The polls were conducted as a result of voters granting Republicans authority over the senate and an increased GOP majority in the U.S. House. According to the polls the ratings of president Obama improved considerably as a result of perceived good economic improvements. In addition, the poll reflected a further sharp divide among the Americans along Democratic and Republican lines. However the article gave more hope of the two sides of the political divide to overcome their political differences and pave way for political stability and tolerance in the United States. It was therefore evident that President Obama’s ratings had greatly improved since November 2014 as a result of the president’s zeal in resolving such issues as immigration and climate change within the context of United States. According to the polls the ratings of president Obama could further improve in future if he successfully addresses various issues that affect the Americans. In addition, the unity and political stability among the Republicans and Democrats is crucial in the American politics (David, 2015). David, Jackson, Obama hits 50% approval rating in poll. USA today, 19th January, 2015. Retrieved on 19/01/2015 from: usatoday.com/story/theoval/2015/01/19/obama-approval-rating- washington-post-abc-news-50-percent/21987691/

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Define empathy.Include what the text says Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Define empathy.Include what the text says - Essay Example The beginning of empathy is being aware of feelings of another person. It is easier to know about other people’s feelings by asking them how they feel, guessing, making personal judgments and interpreting of non-verbal clues. After figuring out about another person’s feelings, the next step is showing empathy through acknowledgement of the emotion (Adler, 2011). I have used empathy severally in my communication; however, I remember this particular instance that I did not use empathy. I was addressing a friend of mine who seemed to have difficulties adjusting to his new school because one of his new teachers was extremely hard on him. It was affecting him to the extent of not concentrating in his studies well. I remember passing through the same ordeal some time back, early in my education, but, with time I managed to adjust because I had a strong character. I did not refer this to my friend, and, hence, I did not seem to be of help to him. If I had mentioned that I had been in the same ordeal, my friend would have felt much better, and it would have helped him with his adjustment process. I once told my teacher that I did not finish his assignment in time because there was a power shortage in our area. The teacher came from my neighborhood, and I expected him to understand me since he was in the same situation. However, he rubbished my excuses and still punished me by asserting that he does not care whether there was power or not. I did not feel good about the experience since I expected him to empathize with my situation. Empathy is necessary in life as it enables others to feel well even when faced with difficult situations. When empathy is applied in people’s professional and personal lives, it ensures that there are noteworthy relations between people and that people faced with difficult situations are able to adjust

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Legislative Power of the US Congress Case Study

The Legislative Power of the US Congress - Case Study Example On the other hand, the Missouri statute regarding the transport of radioactive materials is also not valid because the transport of radioactive materials concerns US security issues which the federal government (and therefore Congress) has jurisdiction over with. As a matter of fact, it is the Department of Transportation which is delegated with the power to establish the guidelines for the packaging, limits of radioactivity and exposure limits of radioactive materials (Saha 293). Finally, the Missouri statute which imposes a pre-requisite of two-week counseling for marriage licenses issuance is valid because it is not in conflict with congressional legislative powers, current federal laws or is prohibited under s 10 of the US Constitution. Since the said statutes are assailed for their unconstitutionality, the federal courts should have proper jurisdiction over the first case because of it federal enactment, while the second case should be brought before the Missouri Supreme Court s ubject to review by the federal courts (Article 3, US Constitution). However, cases are not yet ripe for court determination because there is no actual legal dispute yet which concerns them (The Jurisdiction of Federal Courts). Ralph may file his case either in a Colorado federal district court or in a Colorado state court since both have concurrent jurisdiction over diversity cases or cases in which the litigants are citizens of different states.

Monday, November 18, 2019

WHAT ARE THE RECENT TRENDS IN EUROBOND MARKET CONCENTRATE ON ISSUES OF Essay

WHAT ARE THE RECENT TRENDS IN EUROBOND MARKET CONCENTRATE ON ISSUES OF SIZE, VOLUME, BORROWERS AND INNOVATIONS - Essay Example Therefore, the market is highly dependent on the reputation of the issuer. The following discussion will see how the Eurobond market has grown since its inception to its current size. The essay will also discuss the current volume of the market and the diversity of the borrowers participating in the market. Finally, the essay will look at the innovations in the Eurobond market with major types of products offered in the market. The bond market is the primary provider of medium or long-term financing for corporations and the market is dominated by the Eurobonds in the international environment. Prior to the appearance of Eurobonds, long-term capital from international source was raised by floating a bond issue in some other country denominated in the currency and meeting the requirements of the country it was issued in. These are called foreign bonds and the total annual volume was an average of $2.6 billion from the period 1964 to 1974 (Smith, 2003). The number of foreign bonds increased substantially after 1974 because of the removal of US capital market controls. However, the number of foreign bonds traded is very small compared to the total international bond market. Smith (2003) points to the various reasons which hampered the growth of foreign bonds. These include the fact that issuers had to meet local requirements which caused delays while issuers prepared the necessary documents or permissions. Expenses were also high because of the underwriting fees and other expenses incurred by the issuer. The 1960s saw the emergence of Eurobonds which rapidly went on to dominate the international bond market. Originally, Eurobonds were unsecured promissory notes denominated in US dollars. They were not registered with US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and therefore could not be sold in US or to US citizens. They were sold to non-US residents, primarily wealthy individuals and foreign institutional investors. Madura (2006) mentions that the emergence of Eurobond market has been highly influenced by the introduction of Interest Equilisation Tax (IET) by the US government in 1963. This IET of 15% on interest received from foreign borrowers was originally designed to restrict foreign debt sold in US market and discourage investors in US from investing in foreign securities. However, the tax actually stimulated the development of Euromarkets and dollar driven financial activity in London. IET was removed in 1974. Eurobonds found further boost in 1984 when the US government repealed the 30% withholding tax on interest income paid to foreign persons or corporations. This allowed US corporations to issue bonds directly to non-US investors. Previously, many foreign investors showed reluctance in purchasing US corporate securities as US issuers were required to withhold part of the required interest payments in order to ensure any tax due would be paid. They were also required to disclose their names and addresses to the issuer. To attract such investors, American companies had to issue bonds in the bearer form through subsidiaries in various tax-haven jurisdictions, such as the Netherlands Antilles (Smith, 2003). Thus removing the withholding tax ensured that foreign investors could

Friday, November 15, 2019

Link Between Islamophobia And Racism Cultural Studies Essay

Link Between Islamophobia And Racism Cultural Studies Essay Indeed, much literature is dedicated to question the (mis)appropriateness of Islamophobia as a labeller of phobia generated, presumably, from an increasingly visible presence of Islam / Muslims in the U.K. in recent years. 1,2,3 The case for / against Islamophobia, depending on which party holds argument, is, in fact, made blurry given the ambiguity of what constitutes a Muslim identity in the first place. 4 Considering potentially multiple identities of U.K. Muslims 5,6, contestation between and within concerned parties holds a fluid ground more so based on or as a result of fluidity of what makes up Islamophobia. This paper examines multilayered manipulations of Islamophobia as contested within a U.K context. The argument, first, discusses literature on race relations and immigration policies, more emphasis being laid on policies pertaining to Commonwealth subjects in Indian Subcontinent. An examination follows of how race-based (addressing ethnicity, assimilation and multicultural ism issues) as opposed to faith-based (addressing religious practices, rights, and interfaith relations) protections have much influenced and/or mixed up contestations over Islam, Muslims and, most importantly, Islamophobia, if any, within a U.K. context. Finally, Islamophobia is placed in a wider European context in which contestation over Islamophobia as such is connected to Continental debates on modern nation-states and multiculturalisms. Race, race relations and immigration policies Historically, Britain has received waves of immigrants of diverse descent for a multitude of reasons. Yet, post-World War II period, particularly during mid-1940s, 1950s and 1960s, witnessed unprecedented influx into major industrial cities for reconstruction efforts. 7,8 Up until late 1960s, no specific laws addressed inter-ethnic violence and conflict. Ironically, ex-colonies subjects were regarded, after all, as second class citizens. 9 Only when families of Asian (primarily Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi) works started to flood English cities and ports in what is referred to as chain immigration (i.e. residents invite close family members and friends and, once settled, relatives and friends invite their own families and friends) did local acts of ethnic violence give prominence to and raise public awareness on a national level of alien citizen status as part of British reality. 10 Still, post-World War II period is one characterised more by inflammatory statements made about nationals of non-British blood and descent 11 rather than about citizens whose allegiance to British values and way of life is questionable because of a different creed such as in case of South-Asians. Indicative of an increasingly racialised public discourse pertaining to immigrants and naturalised subjects is: When individuals like the Marquis of Salisbury spoke of maintaining the English way of life, they were not simply referring to economic or regional folk patterns, but explicitly to the preservation of the racial character of the English people. We have developing here a process of subjectification grounded in a racialised construction of the British Subject which excludes and includes people on the basis of race/skin colour. 12 Indeed, race remains a fundamental subtext of British hegemonic discourse during colonial era, in post-World War II period and beyond. For one, one staple justification for subjugation of nations, groups and individuals is race. 13 Further, in case of a South Asian minority, presumably British Subjects, race is invoked as a justification for inequalities at workplace, housing, education, let alone political rights. 14 In essence, race and racism essentialise subjects of racist acts. Similar to all hegemonic practices which maintain specific power relations within an overarching power structure, racism emphasises superior vs. Inferior duality in order not only to maintain existing power relations but also to morally justify excesses of inequalities. 15 In British context, South Asian workers predominantly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh particularly during first mass immigration waves of 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were, like a gear fit into a larger wheel, brought in as props, imported, used, and returned. Initially, South Asians workers performed and acted as underdogs much to masters delight. Later, however, as familiarity of British System and Administration developed amongst workers of non-British blood, riots and protests became noise (racist) masters needed to work on. Thus, successive legislations regulating immigrants status within U.K. borders were, apparently, meant to control influx of immigrants and to align British Subjects along well-defined ethnic boundaries.16 As U.K.s ethnic makeup diversified over time and across localities, states insistence on ethnic markers between and within ethnic groups grew by leaps and bounds. The racism formula, endorsed by laws and working brilliantly in a colonial era and slightly so within borders during early days of mass immigration, turned out problematic if not unstabilising given growing pressures of growing minorities in pocket cities, minorities now capable of tipping vote balance. Ultimately, a multi-ethnic / multicultural society is not based on a goodwill, all-accommodating multiculturalism discourse one meant to acknowledge ethnic / racial / cultural differences per se by way of minority rights but, rather, one emphasizing ethnic markers for further state control. 17 In fact, state control, in so far as British Muslims are concerned, represents a clear instance not only of an ethnicity manipulated (at multiple layers of discourse in government, media, and education) but, further still, of an identity (i.e. BrMislim / BrAsian) manipulated (at just same layers) and hence fluidity of what constitutes Islam / Muslim and, probably in turn, Islamophobia. Understanding an emerging Islamophobia requires, however, an examination of evolution of race relations politics from one based on race to one based on faith. Race, faith, Islamophobia, and multiculturalism By definition, political discourse is one characterised by manipulation and is, largely, subject to voters sway in democracies. 18 Political Correctness (PC) is just one example of political machination. In essence, a politically correct expression is a euphemism meant (and, for that matter, meaning) less to fulfil felicity conditions required for an actionable statement and more as instrumental. Thus, British policies on race and ethnicity has marked a shift since installation of race relations acts of 1965 and 1968 19 from an emphasis on racial discrimination to an emphasis on religious extremism and bigotry as a basis for incrimination only selectively, excluding BrMuslims. Indeed, incitement to hatred based on affiliation to Islam is one major legal anomaly scholars continue to point out to. 19, 20 Interestedly, given papers purposes, racial discrimination against BrAsians has not, in fact, been eliminated by virtue of progress in legislation on racial relations but only diverted to another (unprotected by law) dimension, significant as is, of a BrAsian subjects identity. That is, being Muslim. That multilayered public discourse has, moreover, shifted from race to faith is indicative not of actionable (as opposed to pronounced) change but of power structure(s) embedded in race relations discourses in the U.K. Thus, in place of a racialised discourse based on BrAsian intrusion into Britishness, same racial group, now British Muslims, comes out as anti-British. Typical of a manipulative political discourse a game of labelling and re-labelling underprivileged, underrepresented groups (except in prisons) is enacted such that power relations as engineered, largely but not always by, state are maintained within and between different ethnicities in a multicultural community which is, Britain. Unsurprisingly, a set of composite metrics has been developed in order to measure Britishness. 21 That such metrics combine gauges of loyalties at intra-national (i.e. Britain), national (i.e. England, Scotland, etc), or local (e.g. Bradford) levels is, indeed, indicative of an ethnic identit y crisis, particularly so in case of BrAsians / BrMuslims. As a consequence, a group diverse as BrAsians / BrMuslims and framed as inassimilable 22 into wider and mainstream community is bundled up altogether, labelled and made alien. Islamophobia is, one argues, an expression of an anxiety over ethnicity identity. Indeed, Islamophobic sentiments are, upon close examination, aimed not at Islam per se but at Muslims. 23 In fact, literature repeatedly points out that people, rather than faith, is phobes trajectory. 23, 24,25 A broad overview of British media is indicative of who is meant and labelled: If you doubt whether Islamophobia exists in Britain, I [Gordon Conway, Head of Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia] suggest you spend a week reading, as I have done, a range of national and local papers. If you look for articles which refer to Muslims or to Islam you will find prejudiced and antagonistic comments, mostly subtle but sometimes blatant and crude. Where the media lead, many will follow. British Muslims suffer discrimination in their education and in the workplace. Acts of harassment and violence against Muslims are common. 26 Thus, Islamophobia, a label gaining currency in media and academia thanks to Runnymede Trusts much publicised report Islamophobia, a challenge for us all 27 has acquired such a canonical status as to render alternative neologisms unrepresentative of responses to Islam / Muslims. According to Halliday, Islamophobia indulges conformism and authority within Muslim communities. One cannot avoid the sense, in regard to work such as the Runnymede Report that the race relations world has yielded, for reasons of political [emphasis added] convenience, on this term. 28 Moreover, The use of Islamophobia also challenges the possibility of dialogue based on universal principles. It suggeststhat the solution lies in greater dialogue, bridge-building and respect for the other community, but this inevitably runs the risk of denying the right, or possibility, of criticisms of the practices of those with whom one is having the dialogue. Not only those who, on universal human rights grounds, object to elements in Islamic traditions and current rhetoric, but also those who challenge conservative readings from within, can more easily be classed as Islamophobes. 29 Thus, Islamophobia is employed in such a politically correct fashion such as to silence criticisms, on one hand, and to maintain good neighbourhood relations, on another. The former stance is framed, in right-leaning perspective, as militant, jihadist, terrorist, uncivil, anti-modern and anti-Western. 30 The latter is framed, in Islamist perspective, as accommodating, assimilative and hegemonic. In between is media, an arena for meaning-making and shifting perceptions. Alternatively, Islamophobia can be employed not as a politically correct euphemism in order to silence internal criticisms or to maintain law and order but, rather, to militate against an other. This could take a shape of dismantling politeness courtesies essential not for a politically correct dialogue but for one based on critical questioning. Still, Islamophobia could be further employed such as a cover up for supposedly hidden hegemonic agendas. 31 One peculiar shift for Islamophobia as contested within a U.K. context is how instead of imported aliens made citizens being instigators of hate, violence, unrest, and, ultimately terror an enemy within image is constructed and maintained such as to, apparently, pass Islamophobic sentiments, if any, from one generation onto another. 32 For some now increasingly most, credit to media rivers of actual blood running London streets following London 7/7 (Ã   la 9/11 codification) attacks are reminiscent of symbolic blood as invoked by Enoch Powell in his Birmingham speech in 1968: As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding. Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood. The tragic and intractable phenomenon [i.e. immigration] which we [emphasis added] watch with horror on the other side of the Atlantic, but which there is interwoven with the history and existence of the States itself, is coming upon us here by our own volition and our own neglect. 33 Unsurprisingly, Powells xenophobic pronouncements just as all xenophobic pronouncements -gain further inertia as an apparently self-fulfilling prophecy comes true. Admittedly, most, if not all, far-right politics tap into a well-rehearsed repertoire of phobias not least Islamophobia. Moreover, whole political careers are created and enhanced based on precautions from an other: now of colour, now of race, and now of different faith. Across Europe, ballot boxes speak volumes of Islamophobia tapped into as a final recourse against an imminent green menace within. 34,35 Islamophobia: European context Placed in a wider context, Islamophobia is not exclusive to U.K. As a matter of fact, for Europe in which U.K. is situated and to which it is historically affiliated Islamophobia is a common currency. Indeed, each European country has a distinctive narrative to tell of Islam / Muslims. Yet, for all differences, European nations especially former colonial powers share common narratives of home-grown terrorists and phobias. 36 Interestingly still is how European nation states follow a similar pattern of state controls over flow of (now particularly Muslim) immigrants as well as controls of modes of conducts of minorities within. 37 In fact, U.K.s, and for that matter Europes, current immigration laws and policies cannot be fully understood in isolation of European conception of nation-states. Historically, European nation-states evolved into democratic polities in which upholding order and rule of law required consistent policies. 38 As European countries grew increasingly into political, economic and scientific powerhouses, an increasing influx of immigrants required subtler means of control. Typically, in major European countries such as U.K. enacting multiculturalism policies meant, at least apparently in so far as actual practices are concerned, less room for truly diverse communities and more for accommodation, assimilation, and full integration of an increasing alien presence posing, allegedly, menaces to established European Enlightenment canonical values of reason and secularism. 39 Probably understandably, far-right currents in European politics manipulated political machinery inciting violence and hatred at times creating, only in voters minds, all sorts of phobias. The case for Islamophobia is one, consequently, which can be understood primarily based on power relations established and maintained in a wider power structure of Europe. This is particularly significant if one is to grasp global (i.e. Western) war on Islam, which is not. For all long-established and nourished power structures need a signifier, a marker, which, presumably , contains, defines, and tags an assumed other only to maintain law and order in an endless historical power struggle over hearts and minds. In conclusion, Islamophobia is, ultimately, a (mis)label slapped onto bottled up power relations within a marked power structure. In U.K. context, Islamophobia is used, as has been demonstrated, not to mark a shift in discursive practices towards a truly multicultural community but to maintain embedded power relations in which specific groups are assigned definite space within ethnic markers. Initially, race is used to maintain power structures but upon introduction of race acts and laws, subtler formers of control and manipulation are employed by which focus is shift from race per se to faith not as a creed but as another boundary of control.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Affirmative Action Essay -- Affirmative Action Essays

Affirmative action is meant to be an attempt at equality throughout society. It supposedly proposes that each person receives equal opportunities in the classroom as well as the work force. Not only would this apply to minorities but to women as well. Every sector in America would be equal and unprejudiced - or so proponents say. On the other hand, adopting affirmative action would force many employers to replace hard-working employees with those of less qualification simply due to their gender or ethnic background. Many people feel that affirmative action would be very beneficial to our society. They have many thought-inspiring arguments. Some claim that we owe blacks for what we took from them in the past. We gave them a setback in our economic system, and affirmative action would be our way of reimbursing them for time and opportunities they lost out on (Norman 50). But where should the line be drawn; how much do we do to repay people - in this case blacks - for past wrongs? Is it enough to give them equal rights, or will we give them extra opportunities to make up for those we took away? It has been argued that the black sector in America, in general, is lower in class due to their environment prior to the Civil War, but the black people of today are not those who lived then. Each person today - no matter their gender,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2 origin, race, belief, or whatever difference has the same opportunities as everyone else. In my opinion no one needs any special favors to get ahead. In this paper I will discuss some of the problems with affirmative action. These include disgruntled employees, reverse discrimination, and the negative effect on our economic status. People who are for affirmative action have many possible positive outcomes as a result of this law passing, some of which have already been implicated. The first subject I will discuss is diversity in the work place, including women and minorities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Proponents of affirmative action attempt to show that diversity in the work force has brought w... ...urface affirmative action sounds and looks good. How could giving people an opportunity to work and learn to get along be a bad   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   6 idea? But after looking deeper into this concept, it seems that the scale of benefits are still not evenly spread amongst the community. After looking at all the negative outcomes, the choice should be clear. This is obviously not the right plan to help our social and economic system and we should stop using it until we can find a better choice. Works Cited Abner, Lacy. Discrimination behind a mask. Lighthouse publishing co. Boston, 1996 Carlton, Melinda. Affirmative Action and Affirming Diversity. Public Management. Florida, 1997. Norman, Jim. Politics of the nineties: Americas Verdict on Affirmative Action is Decidedly Mixed. USA Today. June/July 1997: 49-52. Internet website. www.washingtonpost.com

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Records Managment

National Archives and Records Administration PC-GSM: President Office Public Service Management Records and Management Departments President Office Public Service Management Economic Social Records foundation Department for International Development Service Civil Technical College -RPC: Tanzania Public Service College. Firstly I extend my sincere thanks to father Jesus Christ who has proved to me that is not by might or by power but by the spirit in him nothing is impossible.If it was not God grace I would not have produced this great field report in his wisdom he has always led me to greater heights. This is to acknowledge that the work of this report could not be completed without the support of other people during my field attachment training at Inference Limited. In that regard I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Mr.. Edwin Kananga who is Managing Director, for his support and for putting the necessary required working environment which enabled me to complete my field attachment.I also thank my Employer Mr.. Frank Ole Enjoin, for giving me permission of four weeks to complete my field training at Inference. I thank also all staff of Inference Ltd for working with me during my four weeks stay at the firm. This reports present in four chapters' lesson learned from Inference Limited during my field attachment training. Chapter one briefly presents the introduction and historical background of Inference Limited and its Vision, Mission Statement, objectives and current organization chart.Chapter two present field attachment training gained in terms of description of Inference Limited; duties assigned during my field attachment; Achievements made; problems experienced and Skills acquired. Chapter three discusses major problems and challenges encountered by Inference Record Office. I also propose possible solutions. Chapter four presents field attachment training conclusions and Recommendation Reference and Appendices

Friday, November 8, 2019

Internal Analysis of Google The WritePass Journal

Internal Analysis of Googleï » ¿ Introduction Internal Analysis of Googleï » ¿ . Business Week. (2009). Googles Management Style Grows Up. Available at businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2009/ca20090623_918721.htm. Accessed 17 June 2012. Curtis, L. (2006). ‘Will Google become a victim of its own success?’ Admap,   41(473): 55-8. Farrel, S. (1994). ‘Choosing how to compete:  Strategies  and tactics in standardization’, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8(2): 117-131. Financial Times (2010). Apple Unveils Fourth-Generation iPhone. Available at ft.com. Accessed 18 June 2012. Hardy, Q. (2006). ‘The Google industrial complex’,  Forbes, 16: 109-12. Lashinsky, A. (2006). ‘Chaos at Google’,  Fortune, 154(6): 34-42. Menick, J. (2008). Basic Adventure and Strategy Game Design for the Apple. Facts on the File. Schermerhorn, J. (2010). Management. Wiley and Sons. Zack, M. (2008). Developing a Knowledge Strategy. Prentice Hall.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Porters generic strategies

Porters generic strategies Introduction Porter’s generic strategies were designed to explain how firms achieve competitive advantage. Numerous industries have applied the three generic approaches, and thus illustrated that Porter’s model was accurate in explaining how firms become successful in their industries. Nonetheless, a few exceptions do exist.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Porter’s generic strategies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Explanation of the model Firms may adopt one of three generic strategies: cost leadership, differentiation or focus. Cost leaders are organisations that sell their goods or services at the lowest price in their industries. Companies can become cost leaders by acquiring and continually investing in capital so as to create or sustain a large market share. High capital investments also create large economies of scale that allow firms to minimise unit costs of production. As a result, the se businesses can pass on production savings to their consumers through low prices. They need to keep up with the latest developments in technology in order to control process-related expenses. Many cost leaders also have closely monitored overhead. They tend to reduce labour costs through commission-based pay. Others can negotiate low prices for raw materials with their suppliers. Organisations may choose cost leadership because it can protect them against powerful buyers and suppliers. Furthermore, it hampers potential entrants from entering the market because they cannot match their economies of scale. The differentiation strategy refers to provision of unique services or products to one’s clients. Some organisations may achieve differentiation through addition of certain qualities in their products. Others may simply work on brand perception while some may dwell on product design. Even the use of technology can become a source of differentiation. Companies may choose such a strategy because it allows them to enjoy high profit margins. Customers tend to be loyal to differentiated firms, so they hardly pay attention to price adjustments among competitors. Differentiation also reduces buyers’ choices hence their power over the concerned firm. In order to achieve this feat, companies need to invest heavily in research and development. They should also market their services or products effectively. In other words, they need to communicate to consumers the exceptional qualities of their products. Differentiated firms ought to have a fixed pay structure that enhances employee loyalty. Innovation and creativity are central features of this strategy. However, businesses in this category do not enjoy a large market share because the strategy focuses on exclusivity.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The last approach is called the focus strategy. Here, a company tailors its products or services to one market group. It can select a particular market segment on the basis of its geographical location, product preference or demographic factors. In this category, organisations can either be cost-focus strategists or differentiation-focus strategists. When they select one of the latter, then they can create competitive advantage in their industry. Porter (1980) explained that firms cannot select a hybrid of the three strategies and still be successful. The generic strategies are contradictory in nature, so trying to implement more than one of them would cause firms to be stuck in the middle. For instance a company that wants to pursue both cost leadership and differentiation would need to cut down on overhead, but still invest in research and development. Achieving these two objectives simultaneously would be close to impossible. Such firms have to contend with low profits because they lack the features needed to compete with low cost competitors or differentiated organisations. They also confuse customers who cannot identify one distinct feature about them. Unless a company employs different generic strategies across very separate and distinct business units, then it would not succeed in using a hybrid model. Application of Porter’s generic strategies in various industries Companies in the hotel industry have applied Porter’s generic strategies successfully and those who have not have ended up recording immense losses (Bordean et al. 2010). In the hospitality industry, companies achieve cost leadership by offering only basic services. They focus on attracting a large market segment by keeping their rooms inexpensive. Perhaps one of the most popular strategies pursued in the hotel industry is differentiation. Companies may provide unique services such as wifi access, transportation from the airport, superior room furnishing and many more to create value. They eventually let travellers and visitors know that their services are superior, which leads to business success. In the hospitality industry, most firms choose to pursue a differentiation focus strategy rather than a cost focus strategy because it is difficult to meet the needs of a certain market segment without some form of differentiation. Some hotels have achieved this through focus on elite clientele, married couples or Islamic clients. Bordean et al (2010) carried out an analysis of the Romanian hotel industry by administering questionnaires to 69 hotels in the country. They had 26 strategic practices that participants needed to select. These findings would then be classified as cost leadership, differentiation or focus strategies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Porter’s generic strategies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The researchers found that several hotels utilised the differentiation strategy through brand identification , superior staff experiences as well as provision of certain technological advantages. They also found that others used the focus strategy by offering speciality services and establishing a strong reputation of excellence in the industry. Cost leadership was not found to be a strong strategy among most hotels because clients frowned upon cost-cutting measures. In essence, these findings support Porter’s assertions concerning the unfeasibility of hybrid approaches. Various industries have different manifestations of the three generic strategies because of the inherent characteristics within them. As described earlier, the hospitability industry rarely has firms that pursue cost leadership because of the nature of demand in that sector. However, other industries may be more inclined to cost leadership than others. Alternatively, they may depict differentiation strategies in different ways from other service industries. One such case is the health service industry. Lamont et al. (1993) found that differentiation in hospitals occurs through use of technologically sophisticated services, expansion of the nature of services offered and provision of rare services. For instance, hospitals with cardiac catheterisation laboratories and lithotripters are differentiated through the use of technological sophistication. Hospitals with rare services include those one that provide alcoholism services, birthing rooms or burn care. Conversely, hospitals may also pursue cost leadership by cutting down on their expenses. If the total operational costs per bed and the salary adjusted for each patient is low, then one ought to classify that hospital as a low cost facility. When Lamont et al. (1993) measured the financial performance of all hospitals (total margin and net operational revenue); they found that muddling organisations were the least profitable. These were companies who neither had low cost strategies or differentiation. Experts suggest that differentiated hospit als are better suited to discontinuous environment because differentiators give customers unique service. They use new technologies or foresee customer reactions and tailor services to meet those new needs. In a dynamic environment where factors alter frequently, hospitals pursing a differentiation strategy will be better able to cope with unpredictable occurrences. Cost leaders, on the other hand, thrive in predictable environments.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A dynamic environment creates diseconomies of scale and undermines attempts at cost control or efficiency. Furthermore, if the institution’s environment changes then the institution should consider changing its generic strategy. In the healthcare industry, firms’ strategic options are not curved in stone. They can be oriented to fit their environment. However, if a hospital already has a proper organisation-environment fit, then there is not need to alter its Porter generic strategy. Torgovicky et al. (2005) also carried out a study in the healthcare industry. They collected performance data from the Israeli ambulatory health care system, and compared this with the generic strategies pursued by the different businesses. It was found that organisations that did not fall neatly into any of the three categories were not financially viable. These findings further supported the assertions made by Porter. In the airline industry, one can also find instances of the Porter gen eric strategic models across the board. Cost leaders work by offering no frills; they only provide standard services. A good example of such an airline is Britain’s Easy Jet. The company merely provides clients with a seat and leg room, and thus cuts down on costs. It then eliminates the need to charge customers for any extra features. The strategy has built a large market share for the company and this has also increased its high income streams. Differentiators in the airline industry aim at providing additional features such as a diverse and satisfying menus, strong customer service and personal television viewing. Focus strategies in the airline industry are manifested through various ways. Some may dwell on offering differentiated flights in small airports. Alternatively, others may choose to fly to local destinations and may offer their services as low costs (Peters 2008). Several consumers in the airline industry will not pay high prices for short-distance flights. Cons equently, cost leaders have taken advantage of this situation and dominated short-distance flights. Some airlines have suffered tremendously owing to poor application of the Porter generic strategies. British Airways recorded losses of approximately 300 million pounds owing to its insistence on offering frills in short distance flights. One may liken frills to differentiation generic strategies because consumers must pay more for certain in-flight perks. Conversely, short distance flights may be likened to the cost leadership strategy. Therefore, British Airways was trying to pursue two simultaneous strategies in this business unit, and failed dramatically. The company has since learnt that the two approaches should be separated in order to foster financial sustainability. Perhaps one of the most obvious depictions of Porter’s generic strategies is the basic industrial goods sector, such as steel making (Bennet Cooper 1979). It is preferable to employ cost leadership strateg ies in this sector owing to a number of reasons. First, the steel industry has minimal opportunities for differentiation. The goods being prepared are quite basic and will eventually be used to make other commodities. Therefore, organisations are only left with process manipulation as the only way of maintaining a competitive advantage. The steel making industry often relies on the use of technology in order to boost production processes; this is a symptom of cost leadership. One of the ways in which these companies have reduced production costs is through computer inventory systems, which ensure that no company resource goes to waste during manufacture. Steel makers also work hard to ensure that their purchasing, and sales management techniques are in order. This would ensure that they produce their goods at very low prices. The companies also struggle to improve economies of scale through joint ventures because the overall outcome is plain steel. Sometimes joint ventures may occur between firms within the same supply chain. In other words, vertical integration of suppliers and manufacturers often takes place in the steel industry. Companies that engage in these joint ventures aim at minimising the cost of acquiring raw materials like iron ore or steel shreds. The high capital investments in basic industries also explain why price wars are common in the industry. Since organisations invest so much in opening up their businesses, then they try as much as possible to cut down on costs. The same strategies in the steel industry are also applied in other industries such as aluminium, plastic or paper. Such organisations do not diversify their goods, so the only option available to them is the price alternative. Weaknesses of Porter’s generic model While Porter’s strategic model may have garnered wide application in a number of industries, reports also shows that some industries or organisations do not follow Porter’s recommendations to the le tter. It is possible for firms to become cost leaders through the use of differentiation. A case in point is the automobile industry. General Motors was recognised as a cost leader even during the same decade that Porter created the generic strategy model. However, consumer reports also indicate that the company’s large luxury vehicles were the preferred consumer brand between 1976 and 1982. Similarly, the organisation’s midsize compact category was also at the top of their list between 1977 and 1982 (Datta 1996). The compact and large luxury automobile was one of the most profitable car segments at the time. These findings illustrate that General Motors differentiated its product offerings despite being a cost leader. Its profitability came from its perfection of the two models and its pursuance of low prices. Some firms may pursue more than one generic strategy, albeit at a milder level with one of them. The latter assertions are supported by numerous studies; one su ch example was a research done by Chan and Wong (1999). The two authors sought to examine the relationship between the competitive strategies adopted by organisations in the banking sector and their performance. They found that companies with multi-strategy approaches were more financially successful than the ones who only chose on of Porter’s three generic strategies. Chan and Wong (1999) explained that these strategies were possible because those banks had ample resources to synergise seemingly incompatible generic strategies. The organisations achieved this feat because they had strong organisational capabilities. Most of their managers were committed to their companies and carefully analysed the relationship between business activities and the organisational system. Porter argued that firms may choose to pursue differentiation or cost leadership in order to garner success. He treats these two approaches in an equal manner and believes that they can both provide tangible r esults for companies that select them. However, some analysts have found that differentiation is a superior strategy to cost leadership. Customers and their perception of quality within a certain company make a company more competitively placed than a cost leader. This explains why many US-based firms in the electronics industry became bankrupt. They failed to innovate and paid minimal attention to the quality of their commodities. Differentiation is superior to cost leadership because it is more focused towards customer needs. These firms listen to their buyers and are keen on using technology or any other means needed to meet consumer needs. According to Porter, differentiation is not well suited to low cost. However, this statement may not always be true. Differentiation is often associated with high quality and value creation. Nonetheless, in an attempt to meet consumer demands through quality improvement, some companies may end up minimising costs, which may be passed on to con sumers through lower prices. For instance, in 1997, Toyota wanted to improve its Camry model by increasing its speed impact. However, after achieving that objective, the company found that the product had fewer parts and thus better performance (Krebs 1996). In the mobile phone industry, companies instated quality assurance procedures in order to boost mobile device performance. However, these quality processes, which were differentiation strategies, ended up reducing costs of the products. Therefore, differentiation and low costs may work hand in hand, contrary to Porter’s claims. Conclusion Porter’s generic strategies have an impact in numerous industries across the board. Most of these organisations tend to have low levels of differentiation and are relatively secure industries. However, other firms may challenge the assumptions in Porter’s model when they exist in dynamic industries such as international banking. References Bennet, R Cooper, R 1979, ‘ Beyond the marketing concept’. Business Horizons, June, p. 76-83. Bordean, O, Borza, A, Razvan, N, Catalina, M. 2010, ‘The use of Michael Porter’s generic strategies in the Romanian hotel industry’, International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, vol. 1 no. 2, pp. 173-177, Chan, R Wong, Y 1999, ‘Bank generic strategies: does Porter’s theory apply in an international banking centre?’, International Business Review, vol. 8 no 5, pp. 561-590. Datta, Y 1996, ‘Market segmentation: An integrated framework’, Long Range Planning, vol. 29 no. 6, pp. 797-811. Krebs, M 1996, ‘1997 Toyota Camry: Indeed, less is more’ New York Times, 26 October, p.15. Lamont, B, Marlin, D, Hoffman, J 1993, ‘Porter’s generic strategies, discontinuous environments and performance: A longitudinal study of changing strategies in the hospital industry’, Health Services Research, vol. 25 no. 5, pp.623-64. Peters, K 2 008, ‘Generis strategies: A substitute for thinking?’ The Ashridge Journal, Spring, p. 1-5 Porter, M, 1980, Competitive strategy: Techniques for analysing industries and competitors, Free Press, New York. Torgovicky, R, Goldberg, A, Shvarts, S, Bar, D, Onn, E, Levi, Y, Bardayan, Y. 2005, ‘Application of Porter’s generic strategies in ambulatory healthcare: a comparison of managerial perceptions in two Israeli sick funds’, Healthcare Management Review, vol. 30 no. 1, pp 17-23.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Positive and negative effects of Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation Research Paper

Positive and negative effects of Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation used by organizations and if the benefits outweigh the negat - Research Paper Example Employee motivation is a good mix of direction of behavior, level of effort, and level of persistence (Mosley Jr., Pietri, & Mosley Sr., 2011, p. 197). As Ellis-Christensen (n.d.) states, â€Å"when employee motivation is low, businesses can have a difficult time† (p. 1). This statement shows that without employee motivation, companies come across a number of problems, such as, poor employee performance, decreased income and profits, decreased level of employee commitment, decreased employee productivity, poor customer service, and increased employee absenteeism. On the other hand, when employees feel valued and their level of motivation is high, they show more commitment and dedication to their job related goals and responsibilities, which results in increasing the overall organizational performance. In this paper, we will discuss two main types of motivation that organizations use to build employee motivation. The paper will also include a discussion on whether the benefits of both types of motivation outweigh the negative consequences or not. Types of Motivation There are two main types of motivation, which include intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation s the type of motivation that comes from the inner self of a person and makes a person put some special efforts to achieve personal or professional goals. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation comes from the outside of a person. External sources play their role in building this type of motivation in a person. "Extrinsic motivation comes from external sources, motivating you with incentives to push your performance" (Ingram, n.d., p. 1). Both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations have certain advantages and disadvantages. Let us discuss how organizations use both of these types of motivation to raise the level of employee performance at the workplace. Intrinsic Motivation As described by various psychologists, intrinsic motivation has no external source that may drive a pers on to achieve his/her goals. Rather it builds in the person inside and is directly related to the desires, perceptions, and ambitions of a person. "Intrinsically motivated people are not influenced by external rewards or punishments for their work, such as earning money for doing a job or getting a poor grade on a school assignment" (Jeffress, n.d.). Individuals who are intrinsically motivated do things to get pleasure or to achieve a sense of accomplishment. There is no external element pushing employees to work hard for their ambitions (Thomas, 2009). They do not work for rewards, money, or other things like that. A very important point that distinguishes intrinsic motivation from extrinsic motivation is that people who are motivated intrinsically usually show long-term consistency and dedication to their tasks as compared to extrinsically motivated people. Intrinsically motivated people want to satisfy their inner-self and to do this, they put up big efforts. Another very importa nt point is that intrinsically motivated individuals feel more enjoyment and fun in doing things because of which their performance level are on the higher ends most of the times. The desire of personal satisfaction is the key to achieve goals and objectives. Intrinsically mo

Friday, November 1, 2019

Sources of Funds case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sources of Funds case - Essay Example Equity can be generated internally as retained earnings or generated externally generated as common share capital. A company may choose to use its retained earnings to expand its operations. This is because the cost of retained earnings is relatively lower compared to the cost of common share capital. The major drawbacks of this source of finance are that it is usually inadequate, and its use can easily expose a company to liquidity problems. Consequently, a firm can source equity through issuing of common shares. This source of funds confers several advantages. The first advantage is that this form of financing is a permanent source of capital because common shares have no maturity date. The company does not have any liability for cash outflows linked with the redemption of the common shares. This facilitates financing of long term projects. Secondly use of equity lowers the gearing level hence a company has a broader borrowing capacity. Thirdly, the shareholders may provide valuabl e ideas to the company’s operations. However, this method faces various drawbacks. First the floatation costs are higher than those of debt (Pratt, 2010). Secondly, equity is only accessible to companies that have fulfilled the capital markets authority requirements. Thirdly, it can lead to dilution of ownership of control of the firm by the shareholders. The second method of raising capital is debt capital. This form of capital can be in the form of debentures and corporate bonds. This source of funds confers several advantages. Firstly, the floatation costs are lower than those of common share capital. Secondly, since the interest on debt is tax allowable then the company enjoys a tax saving. This method of raising capital also faces various drawbacks. Default in payment of principal and interest can force a company into liquidation. Secondly, Providers of debt capital impose conditions, and many restrictive covenants hence it