Monday, November 25, 2019

Campaign for Women essays

Campaign for Women essays From this year onwards, women have gradually achieved success both politically and socially. However these achievements came by only after a period of women's protests, struggles and sufferings. After the 1870 Education Act, an increasing number of young women began to receive formal education and this at the same time produced an increasing number of ambitious women. Women began to feel that it was unjust to discriminate sex and it was unfair to give all the priviledge to men and allow women themselves to be suppressed only because they are females. Women had the courage to feel this way mainly because they realized that women were not radical creatures as men have said. Through their process of learning and working, women have explored their own identity as an independent individual who possess the capacity to understand and think by themselves. With this in mind, many women believed just as how some supporters of women's suffrage have said, " women are, like men, rational and autonomous individuals, and they are therefore entitled to full and equal political rights." By the 1890s, what was called the "new woman" appeared in the press as a free-thinking and independent woman who is able to support her own living after higher education. However, she was usually portrayed pathetically in order to compete with men in society, but for those women who sought a role in society beyond the capture of a husband appreciated this image. So the image of a "new woman" was seen as a heroine and became the role model of the new generation of young women. The development of the economic of the society also brought more opportunities of employment for women and many new jobs such as the expansion of office work at that time became available for them. Likewise, with the increase in the rate of employment, new forms of exploitation was also created. Particularly those women working in the factories such as the textiles industry had their work...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Bank Practice and Management inclusive of ratios and graphs Essay

Bank Practice and Management inclusive of ratios and graphs - Essay Example The main objective of the bank during its incorporation was to support the growth of Malaya that had just gained independence by financing economic development and offering modern financial services to the people (Maybank 8). Over the decades, Maybank has continued with expansion and embraced innovation by offering diverse products to its customers and supporting Malaysian citizens who invested or were trading abroad. Presently, Maybank has emerged as the largest company based on market capitalization in the Bursa Malaysia and is also identified as a leading bank in the region. The bank is currently guided by its mission of offering â€Å"humanising financial services across† and its well articulated vision of becoming a leader in offering financial services in the region (Maybank 10). Overview of the Bank Activities Maybank offers a range of financial products including commercial banking, stock broking, investment banking, Islamic banking, trustee services, asset management and insurance. The banking group has several subsidiaries. The Malayan Banking Berhad is the listed entity and holding company of Maybank Group. Mayan Banking Berhad has branches in Malaysia, London, Singapore, New York, Bahrain and Hong Kong. Some of the international unit subsidiaries of Maybank include PT Bank Internasional Indonesia TBK (BII), Maybank Philippines Inc., and Maybank International L (Ltd) (Maybank 34). Furthermore, the major subsidiaries of the banking group are Maybank Islamic Berhad, Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and Etiqa Insurance Berhad. Maybank Investment Bank Berhad is fully owned subsidiary of the group and is the main investment branch of Maybank. Kim Eng Holdings Ltd is also wholly owned subsidiary of Maybank and is the â€Å"regional securities powerhouse†. Maybank Islamic Berhad is the biggest provider of Islamic financial services throughout the Asian Pacific region. The 100 percent owned subsidiary owned by Maybank is the 17th Islamic banking institution in term of compliance to Shariah assets (Maybank 55). Tbk is 97 percent owned by Maybank and offers financial services such as Consumer and Corporate Banking and SME/Commercial services. The associate companies of Maybank Group are the MCB Bank in Pakistan and An Binh Bank in Vietnam both of which the group has 20 percent stake. The group corporate structure of Maybank is subdivided into four main areas, that is, commercial banking insurance and investment banking. The commercial banking includes various subsidiaries of the bank either owned wholly or partly. Additionally the investment banking section consist subsidiaries such as Maybank Investment Bank, Maybank IB Holdings SDN among other ventures. The insurance section includes all the subsidiaries that offer insurance services to customers. When it comes to the organizational structure, Maybank is headed by a board of directors which is then supported in its activities by the Chief Audit Executive, Head of Compliance and the General Counsel and Company Secretary (Maybank 85). The next in the hierarchy is the president assisted by several deputies. The deputies are in charge of Community financial services, global wholesale banking and group financial services. Maybank Group has developed several strategic objectives to be achieved by 2015. These goals include becoming the number one retail financial

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Gender differences in Business Leadership Style Thesis

Gender differences in Business Leadership Style - Thesis Example This makes them better communicators, more sensitive to other peoples feelings, while their verbal fluency makes them better able to communicate speak well and influence others. Differences in leadership styles: Leadership has traditionally been associated with management, but this may not necessarily represent an accurate view because managers think incrementally while leaders think radically. Moreover, leadership involves a transformation in individuals, according to Spencer, â€Å"â€Å"transformational leadership is a process that changes and transforms individuals†. (Spencer 1). According to Warren Benis, leaders are â€Å"able to express themselves fully. They also know what they want', why they want it, and how to communicate what they want to others, in order to gain their co-operation and support. Lastly, ‘they know how to achieve their goals†. (Bennis 1998: 3). As detailed further below, the brain structure in women which provides them more communicativ e ability may be more conducive to transformational leadership. Three different leadership and decision making styles have been identified, namely (a) authoritarian (b) democratic and (c) bureaucratic, based upon decision making patterns of the leader(Burns, 1977). When the leadership style is authoritarian or autocratic, then the leader seeks to retain as much of the decision making power as possible, exercises authority and control and retains the responsibility for decisions (Burns, 1997). The advantages of this leadership style are faster decision making and a work group that functions in a structured manner. The disadvantages however, are that team members may not respond well to being ordered around or may become too dependent on the... Leadership has traditionally been associated with management, but this may not necessarily represent an accurate view because managers think incrementally while leaders think radically. Moreover, leadership involves a transformation in individuals, according to Spencer, â€Å"â€Å"transformational leadership is a process that changes and transforms individuals†. (Spencer 1). According to Warren Benis, leaders are â€Å"able to express themselves fully. They also know what they want', why they want it, and how to communicate what they want to others, in order to gain their co-operation and support. Lastly, ‘they know how to achieve their goals†. (Bennis 1998: 3). As detailed further below, the brain structure in women which provides them more communicative ability may be more conducive to transformational leadership. Three different leadership and decision making styles have been identified, namely (a) authoritarian (b) democratic and (c) bureaucratic, based upon decision making patterns of the leader(Burns, 1977). When the leadership style is authoritarian or autocratic, then the leader seeks to retain as much of the decision making power as possible, exercises authority and control and retains the responsibility for decisions (Burns, 1997). The advantages of this leadership style are faster decision making and a work group that functions in a structured manner. The disadvantages however, are that team members may not respond well to being ordered around or may become too dependent on the leader and helpless to function in an emergency.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Case Analysis on Human Resources at Hewlett Packard Essay

Case Analysis on Human Resources at Hewlett Packard - Essay Example HP Way in conducting its business is based on a set of ethical principles. Honesty and integrity form the very core of this approach. Its customers must be sure of the deals that they make with the company. For this it’s necessary to inculcate ethical principles in HR personnel. Teamwork at HP is emphasized since stakeholders, particularly the shareholders, depend on company’s policy in generating value for all concerned. Thus a sharing responsibility for organizational outcomes among HR personnel would be desirable. The company encourages flexibility and innovation among its employees. Their primary goal should be the development of innovative and flexible ways to carry out daily tasks so that functional processes become smooth. Teamwork enables horizontal communication function to be carried out with a singular focus on organizational goals. While communication structures have been overhauled to support a more democratic and less centralized vertical functional network within the organization there is also a well planned strategy to achieve results. There are both advantages and disadvantages associated with working for a company like HP. In the first place advantages include such benefits like good future prospects, career development, performance related pay, a positive and independent work environment and opportunities for innovation and meaningful contribution. Future prospects lie with the diversity and expansion of the organization (Becker, Andrew & Dave, 2001). A fast growing organization with ever rising net revenues must be any employee’s dream because the future of the company and its employees is basically determined by the current pace of positive progress that the company is making. Career development at HP is possible depending on the scope of the job. High tech companies like HP with a fair degree of diversification into other fields through merger and acquisition (M&A) are more likely to produce positive synergies that would

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Tui The Worlds Leading Travel Group Tourism Essay

Tui The Worlds Leading Travel Group Tourism Essay TUI is one of the leading tourism industry across the Europe started since 1997. TUI is the worlds leading travel group which operates in approximately 180 countries worldwide and provide more than 30 million consumers in over 27 base markets. The employees in the TUI travel group are approximately 65,000 and operate a pan-European airline consisting of 146 aircraft.   The company mainly serves the leisure travel customer and is organised and managed through four business sectors which are Mainstream, Specialist Emerging Markets, Activity and Accommodation Destinations.   In the financial year ended 30 September 2009 TUI Travel had revenues of  £13.9bn and an underlying profit before tax of  £366m. They are providing their services of travel and entertainment to millions of customers in different regions and as well as in different well reputed hotels worldwide. It owns travel agencies, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, retail stores, and container ships. TUI is offering their services in different and easy way through range of high street outlets and online services and as well as different travel agencies for the convenience of their customers. Therefore TUI has become one of the European well known and reputed tourism industries. Environmental analysis: TUI environmental analysis can be possible by using different analytical tools such as PESTEL, SWOT and Porters five forces. TUI environmental changes can be analysed in both external and internal to investigate how TUI achieved and maintained their leadership in the European tourism industry. However ANSOFF matrix can be useful for the TUI future implication. Furthermore, to talk about the limitations of the analytical tools is part of the report as well. P.E.S.T.E.L analysis: TUI external environmental analysis is done by the PEST one of the analytical tools. The PEST is used to analyse Political, Environmental, Social and technological factors of the TUI industry. Political Analysis: It includes range of political issues in which terrorist attacks are the major issues which enables government to put restriction on in some regions and also some insurance denied to cover their insurance if travel to these regions. These attacks also results in tight security and immigrations laws which also highly affect the tourism industry. In addition political instability not only affect the tourism industry of particular country but also many other countries nearby. Economical Analysis: It analyzes different and wide range of economical issues such as exchange rate, globalisation, oil prices and recession which highly affect the tourism industries. According to Galleggo et al 2007 that exchange rate plays a key role in international business and this highly impact on tourism industries for instance the difference between Pound sterling and Euro exchange rates can affect the tourism from UK into different other European Union countries. The globalisation gives many chances and very useful for international business and particularly for tourism industries to enhance them through many travel agencies and hotels worldwide. (Munoz 2005). As discussed by Wahab and Cooper 2001 that companies have low barrier for entry to market and take over other companies so then the threat to tourism from globalisation is the tough competition and maintain the quality of the services which they provide to the customers. Porter 1980 stated that when the barrier to entry is low the competition will tough for the company in new market. Aviation and oil prices also impact on the tourism industries. The recent economic disaster is one of the causes of falling down the tourism industry but on the other hand it is a chance for other well stabled companies in market to attract customers. Although, the last economic crises report could be expected and take into account that tourism contributes 10.6% of world GDP (refer case study). Social analysis: This factor totally belongs to the life style and behaviour of the customers towards buying a product. Therefore tourism agencies offer a modified holiday packages and online booking services for the convenience of the customers. In additions, consumers are very responsive to environment and are more attracted to those companies who are offering better environmental policies. Another social factor is the brand awareness among the customers and majority of the customer trust in the companys brand name hence brand loyalty can be the result of past services provided by the company to consumers. Technological analysis: Technology and tourism are two of the most dynamic motivators of the emerging global economy. It quite clear from the Office for National statistics 2009 that majority of even household people relying on the internet and have got the access to it. That is the reason that online sales are growing day by day. As described by Porter 2001 that internet has a low barrier of entry and online sales make it easier for customers and companies to cut down their costs by reducing staff and other intermediaries but on other hand it has a threat for the companies because newcomer can easily come into the competition. Another major threat for the tourism industry is televisions which enable people to watch different tourist places live and avoid them from travelling. Environmental analysis: An increased emission of carbon CO2 is a big threat and aviations and tourism industries are one of the major contributors of these emissions. The UK government is using new methods to reduce the emission to help the environment. It is a corporate social responsibility of the tourism and aviations industries to maintain their environmental responsibilities. However UK government is arguing for greener holiday locations around because these emissions can cause of many health problems for which tourism industries should be concerned. Legal: Companies should be responsible of the legal issues and rules and regulations of other countries if they are going to join them because international trade laws play a vital role in the todays business world. However, government suggested aviation safety and regulations which cover up different legal issues such as environmental, health, aviations permits and customers issues. Local Resources: Tourism industry also affects the local resources like food, water minerals and energy which can be already in shortage. Water resources: Tourism industry overuses the water resources which could cause water shortage and degradation of water supplies. Pollution: The pollution which can take place because of tourism industry are air emission, noise, solid waste and littering. Porters five forces analysis: Porters five forces industry analysis helps to measure and manage the long-term survival. Michael Porter (1979) provided a framework that shapes the industry as being prejudiced by five forces. The aims of Porters Five Forces framework are To understand the drivers of competitive behavior in the sector and To evaluate the long-run profit potential of the sector To highlight strategies to alter industry structure (Lynch 2000) Potential entrants: According to Porter (1987) there is a low threat of entrant to newcomers into market. However, companies already having high shares of the market make high barrier of entrant for the newcomers because more than 70 % of the market shares are taken by the existing leaders in the market. But still the chance for the newcomers is the brand recognition which can help them as a barrier of entrant into the market. Substitutes: The substitutes for the tourism industry are the television program and some sort of games which can affect the business of tourism industries but on the other hand the low differentiation of products reduces the risk of substitutes because there is still lack of entertainment as compared with travelling physically. Competitive rivalry: Due to the tough competition in the tourism industry the companies with the fixed cost are beneficial in the current circumstances because there is a clear difference in market shares between different companies for example the TUI with 21% and Thomas Cook with 13 % of shares in the market in present which alternatively reduces competition in the tourism industry. Bargaining power of suppliers: Companies with low shares have low power against suppliers. But where the companies have more than 50 % of the market shares have high power of negotiation with suppliers which will be power balance in a reasonable bargaining power for the suppliers. Bargaining power of buyers: The low differentiation of products and less number of substitutes in the market also reduce the bargaining power of buyer it is because of the changes in online cost sales and the use of internet. Leadership maintenance in the European tourism industry: Porter (2006) argued that an Organisation can only sustain their leadership if they set up some differences and keep its business attractive is the way to maintain their leadership. TUI is one of the tourism industry leading companies with the current 21 % shares of the market and offers their services almost 180 regions internationally. The internal analysis is carried out through SWOT analysis. It is used for review the general position of the business. Strength and Weakness are the internal factors, Opportunities and Threats are external factors. The strength of TUI helped them to maintain their leadership in the tourism industry. The value chain of TUI helped them to offer cheap prices to the consumer as compared to their competitors. The direct distribution channel plays a major role to boost up the revenue and helped them to cut down expenses of TUI travel group. TUI friendly shareholders and proper management and effective customer service helped them to retain their customers and attract new customers from the market. TUI travel group believed in their differentiated product and brand name attained the competitive advantage for the organisations. TUI always considered their shareholders and employees as the assets of the organisation. According to Grant 1991 resources and capabilities are fundamentals of strategy direction and profitability. They maintained their capacity management resources to response to the changes happening in the business environment accordingly which helped them to achieve the competitive advantage over the competitors and boosted up the economical level. This high economical scale helped them to beat the rivals in the market. The acquisitions of companies, product differentiation and cost leadership strategies helped to gain a competitive edge. In the market TUI is the one to implement these strategies all together and gained the competitive edge from their rivals in the market. Future implications of TUI: The usage of analytical tools such as PESTEL, Porters five force, SWOT analysis, Ansoff matrix the macro and micro environmental analysis has been discussed in the previous sections of the report for the TUI travel organization. TUI implemented Ansoff matrix to lead the organisation on the progressive path although TUI is one of the leading tourism industry world wide and already counted in the top leader of the European market. As explained in the previous parts of the report depending on the key finding the future implications of TUI are as published in the Mintel report (2009) that the air flight was increased by short journeys just before the economic crises which benefited the low cost airlines but not for long because the recession has changed the whole scenario. Recessions has turned the consumers to low cost and cheaper alternative such as busses and rails even though these alternatives were more time consuming but because of the recession consumers preferred to have differen t experience of travelling however, these preference of consumers could be a chance for TUI to enhance their differentiation of products in the form of land transportations for short journeys rather than air flight to cope with the circumstances. Internet gives an opportunity of low barrier entrant to the newcomers. Hence, potential entry barrier requires a high investment to enter into the tourism industry. In this situations TUI need to focus on the online services to attract the low spending consumers. International trade can be highly affected by the fuel price instability and particularly the tourism industry therefore TUI need to deal with the oil companies to overcome this issue for specific period of time but have to take into account that this could be threat until the oil companies stabilize the fuel price fluctuation. In addition TUI needs to focus on the environmental such as the carbon emission factors which could highly impact upon the tourism industry. However, it is clear from previous part of the report that consumers prefer the companies who are aware to the environmental changes therefore TUI need to focus on the environmental changes to overcome this issue. In the planning for the future implication, TUI should focus on enhancement of their market in the Asia but need to maintain their European market as they already one of the leading tourism industry across European market. Limitations of the analytical tools used: The analytical tools I have used in my report to carry out analysis of TUI and its limitations are discussed below: PESTEL analytical tool is used to analysis both macro and micro environmental changes of the industry and recognize the main issues which can affect the strategy and analyse the threats to the tourism industry, on the other hand there are few limitations of tools used to identify the weakness of tourism industry and shape them for a solution as a result. The aims of the Porters five forces are to measure and manage the long-term survival and to understand the key drivers of competitive behavior in the sector and to evaluate the long run profit potential of the sector to highlight strategies to alter industry structure (Lynch 2000). Hence the limitations are that it does not think about the other products and also ignore most important aspects such as human resource, culture and management skills. The use of Ansoff matrix is to analyze the corporate strategic growth of the organization and assesses the best position for the organizations but on contrary it only focus on the market shares and growth and does not consider the other significant factors. The last analytical tool used in my report is the SWOT analysis which reviews the general position of the business. Strength and Weakness are the internal factors, Opportunities and Threats are external factors. It tells about the factor to be focused and helps in the better decision making circumstances. Although, it tells about the strengths of the organisations but no effective suggestions about how to use and be benefited the organisations from them. Conclusion: The report examines both macro and micro environment of TUI tourism industry by the help of some useful analytical tools to find out the key factors and as well as explore that how TUI gained the competitive advantage and maintained their leadership in the European tourism industry by identifying their strength and as well as illustrate the future direction to TUI for its growth and success. However, the recession effect the TUI in both ways when we go for disposable income, it is very true that it had affected all the industry, but the other way round although the group profit of TUI for the financial year ending 2005 has decreased compare to 2004 but in comparison of over all tourism industry TUI did well as of its competitive prices and direct selling channel i.e. internet selling which obviously reduce the operating cost by less staff working. As disposable income have badly effected the TUI but still they need to reshape their marketing structure to attract the new customers. The management of TUI need to take decision to move the company as a profit making with customers satisfaction. Refrences: Annual Report. (2008).  TUI Annual Report.   http://www.dft.gov.uk/. eTourism: information technology for strategic tourism management by Dimitrios Buhalis Pearson Education, 2003 Business Economics 376 pages Gallego et al. (2007). On the impact of exchange rate regimes on tourism.As ociacià ³n Espaà ±ola de Economà ­a y Finanzas Internacionales  , 1-16 Grant, R. (1991). The Resource-Based Theory of Competitive Advantage: Implications for Strategy Formation.  California Management Review, 114-135 http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/one.html Johnson et al. (2005).  Exploring Corporate Strategy  (7th Ed.). Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Mintel Reports. (2009, July). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from MINTEL OXYGEN: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic//display/id=39545 Munoz, J. (2005). Executive Insights on Globalization.  International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management , 17  (4), 365-371 Porter, M. (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Free Press , 33-61 Porter, M. E. (1980). How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy. The McKinsey Quarterly , 34-50. Porter, M. E. (2001). Strategy and the Internet. Harvard Business Review , 63-79. Porter, M. (1987). From Competitive Advantage to Corporate Strategy. Harvard Business Review , 43-59 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nscl.asp?ID http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget TUI case study http://www.tui-group.com/en/company http://www.tuitravelplc.com/tui/pages/aboutus/corporateprofile Wahab, S., Cooper, C. (2001). Tourism in the Age of Globalisation. London: Routledge

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Abraham Lincoln :: essays research papers

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States. He served from 1861- 1865. People referred to him as " Honest Abe." During the Civil War Lincoln helped with the North, in doing this the North selected him for a second time in 1864. In all of his time he never wavered from his primary goal- to save the Union and also he saw the nation through it's most dreadful experience, war between Americans. In the beginning- Abraham was born on February 12, 1809. Him ad his family moved a couple of times from place to place. With helping on the farm and managing to get in some schooling at a local school. He learned how to read and write. His full size grew to be 6'4. The middle years- In 1832, as a captain of the Militia Company, he went off to the Black Hawk War. Soon after the War he ran for the Illinois legislature and lost. Afterward with a partner, he opened his own general store but went broke. In 1834, as a Whig, he was elected to the legislature and served four terms. But in the meantime, he read enough law to finally become a lawyer and in 1837 he moved to Springfield. Here he attended legislative sessions, practiced law, and met his future wife. Family life- Abraham's wife was Mary Todd; she was a Kentucky born girl. They were soon married on November 4, 1842. They had together four kids, Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas. But Edward died shortly before his fourth birthday, William died in the White House of typhoid at only age eleven, and also son Thomas died in 1871 at age eighteen right before adulthood. Being the President- In 1846, Lincoln won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served up until 1849, then returned to Springfield. In the 1850's he returned to politics. He spoke out against slavery extension. In 1856 he became a Republican. Two years later he ran for U.S. Senate, but lost however. He won the President nomination on the third ballot and won. He was elected President on November 6, 1861. In November 1863, Lincoln dedicated the Gettysburg battlefield, in a short speech known as the Gettysburg Address. It summed up the Civil War and it's meaning to the Americans.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Introduction of the bachelor and master system Essay

Globalization and liberalization are two factors that greatly impact on the potential that nations have for generating value. Of the numerous dynamics that affect the society in the current operational environment, globalization comes up as the most influential due to the effect that it has on nearly all sectors of the modern economies (Neal 129). With increase in interaction between different communities a need for standardization has developed due to difference in standards and approaches that are employed across different societies (Lee 43). Electronic standard, wireless protocols, international courts and trading blocks have all come up as a result of the need to standardize approaches that the current societies use. The European which is the largest trading block globally has also come to terms with the fact that there is need for standardization especially in the area of higher education thus the Bologna accord (Loosvelt and Gysen 163). However, the effect of standardization of higher education is viewed differently with some claiming that it impacts positively on the education standards in Europe while some positing to the fact that it could reduce flexibility and therefore relevance of the education system to individual societies (Alesi and RosznyaI, 396). This study employs the aid of existing researches and theories to explore the effects of the Bologna process including its advantage on both employers and employees with the aim of seeking to develop a clear picture of its implication and areas that may need further address to ensure that Europe optimizes gains in its educational and social systems. The Bologna Process The main motivation to the Bologna accord was to ensure increased compatibility of higher education standards across Europe (Van Biesen and Rahier 222). The naming of the Bologna process follows directly from the Italian city in which it was signed (Dobren’kova 46). Though 29 nations were the initial signatories to the process, the number has increased with time. The signing of the Bologna process is considered the end process of numerous processes notably in Germany and Western Europe universities that were aimed at harmonization of the architecture or systems that is used in higher education (Lindblom-Ylanne and Hamalainen 161). Nearly all members of the council of Europe are signatories to the accord through there are nations that despite applying were denied a position to be in the process. The basic approach that is employed by the Bologna process employs three stages or cycles of higher education qualification. The main defining factors of the Bologna process are the qualification and ECTS credits. Bachelor’s degree, masters and doctoral degrees are some of the key variables that are considered under qualification. Most nations in Europe employ the 3-2-3 year cycle to ensure completions of the three levels in higher education as per the Bologna accord (Malan 295). Though the actual naming of the degree course may vary from one nation to the other, an academic year is standardized to 60 ECTS credits (Pusztai and Szabo 102). There is a clear correlation between this new system and the approaches that are employed in North America and even in Japan with many researchers and educators stating that this may be the way forward with respect to global education (Becker 265). A noticeable change that is a result of the Bologna process is more emphasis being awarded to practical training and even research projects. This is in line with developments in education that have generally been geared towards adoption of approaches that are more practice oriented. The credits being a measure of the input that students have in their education is reflective of not just the overall cognitive abilities but also presentation skills (Patricio and Engelsen 601) innovation, hours spent studying and even general skills (Tauch 277). Many education experts are of the view that this development brings educations closer to the society and requirements in practice where theoretical and practical skills are all important in ensuring efficiency and improvement of the nature of practice. The main issues that the Bologna process sought to address arise from responsibility in higher education, governance, research, values, changes in the nature of society and increase in complexity that institutions and organizations face which has led to high qualification needs. With the implementations of the Bologna process educations is provided with higher flexibility that makes it easier for students to move from one institution to the other within Europe (Berner and Richter 251). Other benefits that have come up as result of the Bologna process include increased attractiveness of higher education in Europe, a broader higher education framework that places emphasis on quality and advancement of knowledge base and an increase in the levels of convergence between US and Europe with respect to higher education standards which increases the scope of education and its absorption of European students into mainstream job markets. Like all change processes the Bologna process was criticized from some quarters with some being of the view that the framework adopted favored the UK especially England and Ireland while presenting numerous difficulties to continental Europe nations (Vogel 133). Economic and Academic Background Higher education like all other systems in the current society is affected by increase in cost of operations. Many educators are of the view that the basic factor that underpins a number of plans developed by the EU is economic consideration and this is reflected in the Bologna process. Researchers and education theorists are of the view that the Bologna process is aimed at enlarging the higher education system in Europe with the aim of cutting down on cost and therefore ensuring a Europe wide standardization (Beertsen 107). The changes are cited as being in line strategies that have been proposed by the WTO and GATS in education that have generally been aimed at minimizing and even eliminating the control that political systems have over higher education. The academic aspect is considered central to the numerous differential viewpoints that have been developed of the role of the Bologna process in ensuring that educational goals are met (Moshkin 10). In fact nearly all controversies that surround the Bologna process have their basis on the academic and social impact of the Bologna process rather than the impact that it could have on economies. Continental Europe nations mainly employ a model that was inspired by the German educational system where a clear difference existed between vocational and academic training (Ash 264). This system from the upgrades that it has received was viewed as counter-productive thus the adoption of a system that is in line with the English. The main areas that were of concern under such an educational system which was employed by a majority of continental Europe nations is the fact that vocational training was not developed with the aim of further studies. Masters level education was a minimum level requirement in some fields for instance engineering which limited the applicability of Bachelors level education in some fields (Chuchalin 200). Moreover, the continental approach to Bachelors degree did not prepare the students for employment rather it was aimed at preparing them for master’s level education. This reduced the skills that such students had and the level of efficiency that they display in the workforce. Despite the disparity in level of skills that Bachelors level student displayed with respect to their ability to manage workforce issues, they were awarded the same title as engineers. One of the key implications of the Bologna process is therefore an urgent need for steps that are aimed at harmonization of professional bodies which requires revaluation and in some cases change in qualification (Hibbert 34). Moreover a number of key assumptions that have been made by the Bologna process have been under spotlight for instance 60 ECTS per year requirement is based on the assumption that 1500-1800 hours will be available in a year which presents a complexity in its implementation if it is considered that it does not standardize semesters. Other critics claim that some courses were just redefined with no change in course content or requirement which due to ECTS requirements effectively implies additional demand with little gain (Sanz and van der 34). These are some of the key issues that have been highlighted as being central to controversies surrounding the objectivity in implementation of the Bologna process. However, the fact that it is being employed and nations seek being signatories implies that an understanding of the benefits is critical in determining the areas that it could be lacking in and therefore the development that can be incorporated to ensure that the society gains for it is the future of European education. Implication on Selected Educational Systems A review of selected educational systems shows that the implications of the Bologna accord have had differential effects across Europe. The Finish system of higher education was least affected by the implementation of the Bologna accord. The major changes are the inclusion of engineering and military programs into masters and bachelors systems and increase in adoption of English as the main language. A course that has basically remained the same as it was before the adoption of the Bologna accord is medicine which still runs on a five years program (Cooper 259). The Italian system was based on award of a degree after the first three years of undergraduate level education that had no value in the market unless one went ahead and finished graduate level course has changed considerably. A three plus two year system has been adopted though there are some exceptions to the structure of â€Å"Nuovo ordinamento† (Kilic 319). Medicine and some areas of science have not changed and place a requirement of up to six years of undergraduate level education before one can proceed to master’s level. In UK the implication of the Bologna accord differs with the nations. The educational systems in England, Scotland and Wales display some significant differences due to the nature of their formulation. The England system though relaying some similarities to the Italian system is fundamentally different from others in Europe (Georgantopoulou 13). In Wales it was possible for a student straight from high school to undertake a program that would lead to attainment of a master’s degree without having to undergo undergraduate level education. The Scottish system which is one of a kind due to the flexibility that it offers lower level educational stakeholders like school heads to formulate curricula was also affected considerably. Under the Bologna accord all this systems can actively seek educational goals and students can easily transfer from one institution to the other without having to worry about the grade that he has attained and even difficulty in integrating into the new system. There is no doubt that the Bologna accord has played an important role in convergence of standards that are used in higher level education which is an important factor in ensuring that the role of the EU in ensuring labor mobility is attained. Employers Advantages Pro Bologna Reform activists are generally of the view that it is the best development that has happened in Europe’s educational systems for a long time (Stallmann 24). This is the same view that is held by computing enthusiasts on the level of development that computing has attained due to the standardization of protocols. Standardization is generally perceived as an avenue through which development within any industry can be molded in a manner that increases the level of interrelationship between existing systems. A melange of degree titles defined the higher education systems in Europe before the implementation of the Bologna accord. The effects of the confused state on European employees were high due to the effect of EU policies that were seeking economic integration (Rauhvargers 341). Employers found it hard to develop an objective measure that could be used in determining the potential of job seekers by objectively assessing their academic credentials. Under such an environment the benefits that European nations sought through economic integration and ensuring workforce mobility was reduced. Business and management education is one of the areas that have been affected by the Bologna accord. Globally employers and HR executives were becoming more confused with the bachelor, Lauren and Diplomkaufmann titles that were held by jobseekers (Verhesschen and Verburgh 134). Complexity in assessing the potential of a job applicant is further brought out if the array of master’s degree programs that were offered is considered. The effects of the Bologna accord are numerous and impact on not just the educational systems or employers but also governments (Sanz 141). Countries that have employed the Bologna accord are more likely to partake in the benefits that it offers especially with respect to reducing the recurring costs of higher education. Moreover, the quality and competitive degree programs that are offered under the Bologna accord present such nations with an edge with respect to attracting students into their institutions. Such students may play a role in ensuring overall development in host nations. The benefits that the Bologna accord present with respect to predictable educational budget, fixed course durations, predictable enrolment and graduation rates which aid in budgeting and educational planning and shorter graduate study will play a role in ensuring that the span of productivity is increased (Giuliano 103). The introduction of shorter masters degree level courses that is pushed for by the Bologna Accord will play an important role in ensuring that education in Europe is compatible to standards that are being employed in other nations. In a global environment where commercialization of education is widespread the international students that pay considerably higher than their domestic counterparts will pave a way for the education systems to gain more revenues. However, a number of issues arise relating the specific details in implementing the strategies. Language is a key issue that has been central in discussions relating to success that can be attained in ensuring integration. Generally English being the most developed and popular language in global circles has been adopted by a number of masters programs. Relaxation of immigration and permit requirements has come up as one of the areas that governments must be wary of to ensure gains from the Bologna process (Griffin 98). Such a process must be carried out in tandem with simplifications of visa conversion from study to employment if Europe to gain the most out of the benefits presented by the Bologna accord. The nature of strategies and even systems that are employed by the education systems is affected by workforce requirements. Employer requirements are cited as critical factors in determining the curricular and even activities that are embedded into school systems especially at higher level of learning. Higher education strategies are highly dependent on the nature of requirements that they are placed on social systems (Sakari 179). Employees are cited as playing a key role in determining the level of success that can be attained in implementing the Bologna accord. Unless employers can actively seek and employ Bachelors level graduates then the value of this level of education will be lost across Europe. Researchers are of the view that though standardization has been achieved with the adoption of the Bologna accord by various stakeholders’ success in its implementations is highly dependent on collaboration between employers, instructors and evens students. Unless higher education seeks to develop critical lifelong learners the benefits that employers stand to gain from the Bologna accord are minimal. This is in line with the fact that employers having realized the role played by critical reflective skills spend consummate funds on development of interpersonal, leadership and communication skills (Widerberg 137). The key challenge that European educational institutions face in ensuring success with the aid of the Bologna accord is to provide students with high transformational potential that will ensure they are easily employed. As the Bologna accord takes root, many will seek graduate level education and therefore employers will be provided with a far much wider pool of experienced job seekers to choose from. This is one of the key goals that were sought in formulating the EU. Moreover, a clear description of the course presents a common approach to assessment that encompasses all areas that employers seek and aid in accurately determining the exact qualifications required for a given job title (Jaschke and Neidhardt 306). Employees have to take steps in ensuring that their requirements and overall HR departments are aware of the differing qualifications that are offered by institutions. Despite initiatives that have sought employment of Bachelors degree holders, it is generally believed that master’s level education will continue being a key prerequisite for entry into mainstream employment (Zgaga 253). However, most researchers are of the view that this condition can be reversed with the input of the public sector which is in fact the largest employer in all European nations. If the public sector seeks bachelor’s level education then there is a high likelihood that other employers with follow suit which will aid in ensuring Bologna accord goals are attained. With time and maturity of the job market, both bachelors and graduate job seekers will be effectively absorbed into the job market thus increased workforce availability. Another benefit that employers stand to gain from business oriented degrees is their ability to offer a platform upon which bachelors degree holders from other fields can seek further studies in business related subjects (Labi A36). Such a process leads to graduates who have diversified skills that are relevant to global operational environment. It is important to note that experience has been highlighted as one of the factors that greatly determines the pay and even suitability of an employee irrespective of the level of education that one has attained. Employees The Bologna accord is considered a platform upon which students are presented with new opportunities that they can effectively use in sidelining the long cycle to seeking graduate level education into stages with increase in platform upon which they can seek further education. Increased student mobility associated with the accord is likely to present the platform upon which employees can seek further their careers. The choice though complicated offers students with the opportunity to either continues with their education or seek employment after undergraduate level which presents a wider platform for decision making. This is further complicated by the multitude of courses that students have in choosing the course or areas of specialization at graduate level. This is likely to lead to an increase in the levels of diversity that is displayed by employees which may directly translate to increase in the level of competition in the job market or reduced competition depending on the qualification that a employees display (Konjic and Sarajlic 219). The Bologna accord is also cited as being a catalyst to increased academic activities across Europe. Employees are under increased pressure to ensure that they update their skills and acquire multiple skills to develop in their areas of professionalism. Another area that employees are likely to benefit from is applicability of their skills. A factor that has for a long time been central to the difficulties that students and even employees face in making the most out of the freedom that they are presented by the EU is language barrier and the differential systems that were used across Europe (Sandstrom 61). The Bologna accord presents a standardized education system that predominantly uses English as the main mode of transmission thus increased availability of jobs in even areas that were least accessed due to language barriers. Another area that the Bologna accord has impacted on is decision making. Most employers often consider their jobs as their source of livelihood. Decision making as one of the most important variable that determine the direction that one’s life will take is complicated by the number of options that one has (Augusti 258). The Bologna accord presented employees and students with multiple options on which to base their professional development each of which impact directly in the quality of education that they can attain. Having such a large basis presents complexity in decision making which may even lead to the development of firms that seeks to guide professionals into their career paths. This is an example of a development and even complexity that is presented with standardization of education across Europe. Employers awareness There is a large potential that has been presented to European employees with respect to seeking suitable candidates by the Bologna accord (Adelman 11). However, surveys across Europe show that the level of awareness that employers have of the potential that is presented by the Bologna accord is low (Jung-Eun 36). Generally the low level of awareness that employers have of the accord is a worrying situation considering the role that employers have to play in ensuring that its goals are attained. Numerous independent studies have shown that up to 64% of employers are unaware of the existence of Bologna process in the UK (Shearman 177). The same trends are observed in Finland with a far much grim picture painted in Italy where up to 80% of the employers are not aware of the existence of the Bologna process (Guth 331). These statistics paint a grim situation and a clear need for politicians and policy makers to work round the clock to ensure that the state is corrected failure to which the potential benefits that could be attained with the implementation of the accord may never be experienced. A far worse picture is created if research findings on employers that are informed on the internal details of the accord are considered. Basically less than 5% of all employers in Europe are aware of the details relating to the implementation of the accord and the implications that it could have on the nature of the job market (Salzer 656). Awareness is first developing on this poor state in implementation of the accord and has led to a number of taskforces and even researches that have sought to determine corrective measures that can be put in place to ensure that the initial goals of the accord are driven at (Wex 76). The measures not only seek to raise the levels of awareness that employers have of the Bologna accord but are also aimed at devising systems and means through which employers can reduce their transaction costs when seeking new employees (Burnett 287). A systematic exchange of information between parties that are involved in the Bologna accord is one of the recommendations that have been developed to aid address the worrying situation. Sharing experiences between students has also been cited as a possible avenue to ensuring that future employers are aware of the benefits presented by the Bologna accord in the higher education framework in Europe (Witte and van der Wende 217). Increased involvement of employers and career advisers by developing information packages that are targeted at this audience is one of the directions that can be sought in ensuring that career goals are accurately sought. Analysis A deeper analysis of the Bologna accord shows that it has implications that may be further than the current economic effect that it is assessed under. The EU as an economic system is an important factor in determining the level of efficiency that can be attained with the application of the accord and is a critical reference point with respect to its effect on the political, social and organizational systems (Veiga and Amaral 61). From the discussions it is apparent that though the freedom that is presented by the EU in terms of movement serves as an effective platform for the Bologna accord, there are several policy issues that are yet to be addressed that would ensure ease of movement and even transformation of students into active workforce. The effects of globalization and an improved information system together present an effective platform upon which students from different cultural backgrounds can easily interact to ensure gain from the education system (Karran 7). Though there have been some resistance to the implementation of the accord the levels of adoption that it has received is reflective of the growing appreciation of its relevance in consideration of the nature of the modern society. Multiculturalism is fast developing within Europe which presents a suitable avenue to ensuring ease in accessing employees of different background. This diversity that is presented to employers is cited as being a critical ingredient to generating value in competitive business segments (Sall and Ndjaye 47). However, an understanding of the complexity that is associated with management of diversity has to be developed for any value to be generated. Though diversity is associated with generation of value, an understanding of how it can effectively be managed is important in ensuring that this benefit is gained. In general there are a number of strengths and benefits that are associated with the Bologna accord. One of the notable threats is the erosion of the level of awareness that curricula have to issues that are of interest to a particular society (Gaston 17). The implementation of the Bologna accord is based on the assumption that the effects of globalization in Europe is high to the extent that Europe can be considered a single society that is faced with similar educational challenges. The reality is that Europe is diverse and made up of both developed and developing nations that have different needs and are of different perception on what can be considered an effective higher educational system. Recommendations Though the goals and even theory beneath the implementation of the Bologna accord are noble, practical implementation issues pose a threat to the achievement of its objectives. Creating awareness among employees and developing further avenues for employment are some of the issues that have to be addressed in seeking its goals. Incorporation of other nations in the EU is also important in ensuring that overall development of the EU as a region is attained (Petit and Foriers 16). More research ought to be conducted on avenues that can be used in ensuring that challenges that are unique to communities are accurately addressed failure to which the role of higher education in ensuring address of social and even communal issues may be lost. Works Cited Adelman, Clifford. â€Å"Accountability â€Å"Light†: Our Version Is Going the Way of the Dollar vs. the Euro†. Liberal Education, 94. 4(2008): 6-13. Alesi, Bettina and RosznyaI, Christina. â€Å"The Implementation of Bachelor and Master Programmes in Hungary†. European Journal of Education, 42. 3(2007): 395-409. Ash, Mitchell. â€Å"Bachelor of What, Master of Whom? The Humboldt Myth and Historical Transformations of Higher Education in German-Speaking Europe and the US†. European Journal of Education, 41. 2(2006): 245-267. Augusti, Giuliano. â€Å"Transnational recognition and accreditation of engineering educational programmes in Europe: perspectives in a global framework†. European Journal of Engineering Education, 31. 3(2006): 249-260. Becker, Frank. â€Å"Globalization, curricula reform and the consequences for engineers working in an international company†. European Journal of Engineering Education, 31. 3(2006): 261-272. Beertsen, Wendy. â€Å"PhD Programmes†. European Journal of Dental Education, 10. 2(2006): 107 Berner, Heike and Richter, Roland. â€Å"Accreditation of Degree Programmes in Germany†. Quality in Higher Education, 7. 3(2001): 247-257. Burnett, John. â€Å"Tilling the soil of the European higher education area†. Educational Action Research, 15. 2(2007): 283-293 Chuchalin, Boev. â€Å"The Russian system of higher education in view of the Bologna process†. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 44. 2(2007): 109-225. Cooper, David. â€Å"International restructuring of higher education: comments on implications of global trends, for restructuring of Sociology in South Africa†. South African Review of Sociology, 37. 2(2006): 260-292. Dobren’kova, Erick. â€Å"Problems of Russia’s Entry into the Bologna Process†. Russian Education & Society, 50. 4(2008): 42-51. Gaston, Paul. â€Å"Bologna: A Challenge for Liberal Education and an Exceptional Opportunity†. Liberal Education, 94. 4(2008): 14-19 Georgantopoulou, Catherine. â€Å"Medical education in Greece†. Medical Teacher, 31. 1(2009): 13-17 Giuliano, Augusti. â€Å"Accreditation of engineering programmes at European level†. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 44. 2(2007): 101-208 Griffin, Gabriele. â€Å"Women’s/Gender Studies,1 Professionalization and the Bologna Process—Cross European Reflections†. NORA: Nordic Journal of Women’s Studies, 14. 2(2006): 87-102 Guth, Jessica. â€Å"The Bologna Process: The Impact of Higher Education Reform on the Structure and Organisation of Doctoral Programmes in Germany†. Higher Education in Europe, 31. 3 (2006): 327-338 Hibbert, Lee. â€Å"Time serving†. Professional Engineering, 20. 7(2007): 33-34. Jaschke, Hans-Gerd and Neidhardt, Klaus. â€Å"A Modern Police Science as an Integrated Academic Discipline: A Contribution to the Debate on its Fundamentals†. Policing & Society, 17. 4(2007): 303-320. Jung-Eun Oh. â€Å"Equity of the Bologna System†. European Education, 40. 1(2008): 35-50. Karran, Terence. â€Å"Pan-European Grading Scales: Lessons from National Systems and the ECTS†. Higher Education in Europe, 30. 1(2005): 5-22. Kilic, Puljak. â€Å"Studying electrical engineering and information technology at the University of Split, Croatia†. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 44. 2(2007): 175-357. Konjic, Tatjana and Sarajlic, Nermin. â€Å"Higher education structure at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Tuzla: Influence of the Bologna agreement†. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 44. 2(2007): 166-339. Labi, Aisha. â€Å"Bologna Conference Highlights Progress and Limits of Europe’s New Degree Cycles†. Chronicle of Higher Education, 53. 39(2007): A36 Lee, Hibbert. â€Å"Degrees of separation†. Professional Engineering, 21. 6(2008): p43-44. Lindblom-Ylanne, Sari and Hamalainen, Kauko. â€Å"The Bologna Declaration as a Tool to Enhance Learning and Instruction at the University of Helsinki†. International Journal for Academic Development, 9. 2(2004): 153-165. Loosvelt, Hugo and Gysen, Marleen. â€Å"Engineering education at the Association K. U. Leuven: A changing higher education landscape†. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 44. 2(2007): 146-300. Malan, Thierry. â€Å" Implementing the Bologna Process in France. † European Journal of Education, 39. 3(2004): 289-297. Moshkin, Mikhail. â€Å" EMOTIONS RUN HIGH OVER BOLOGNA†. Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press, 59. 43(2007): 9-10. Neal, Sturgess. â€Å"Clive Bologna and the MEng: ‘Sleepwalking into unknown and unpredictable territory’†. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 44. 2(2007): 129-266. Patricio, Madalena and Engelsen, Corine. â€Å"Implementation of the Bologna two-cycle system in medical education: Where do we stand in 2007? -Results of an AMEE-MEDINE survey†. Medical Teacher, 30. 6(2008): 597-605. Petit, Pascale and Foriers, Andre. â€Å"The introduction of new teaching methods in pharmacy education—I. Lessons learned from history†. Pharmacy Education, 8. 1(2008): 13-18. Pusztai, Gabriella and Szabo, Peter. â€Å"The Bologna Process as a Trojan Horse. † European Education, 40. 2(2008): 85-103. Rauhvargers, Andrejs. â€Å"Improving the Recognition of Qualifications in the Framework of the Bologna Process†. European Journal of Education, 39. 3(2004): 331-347. Sakari, Ahola. â€Å"From ‘Different but Equal’ to ‘Equal but Different’: Fi

Friday, November 8, 2019

Andromeda Strain

Andromeda Strain Free Online Research Papers In the opening incident of the movie â€Å"Andromeda Strain,† a space probe sent into the upper atmosphere of earth crashes unexpectedly in a remote area of Arizona. The probe was sent up to determine if there were any organisms capable of survival in space. When the probe landed, two men from the Military were sent down to survey the area and obtain the probe. They found the town that it had landed in was in chaos. There were bodies everywhere. Upon driving into the town, they immediately died. It was immediately clear that the deaths of the population of this town and the space probe’s crash were not coincidental. A committee had been formed 5 years prior to the incident to determine what would be done in a situation such as this one. If the organism could not be identified and neutralized, a nuclear bomb would be detonated on the site. Clearly, the probe had brought something back from space. A team was assembled to determine exactly what that was. The team consisted of 5 people from various fields of science. Most had forgotten The Wildfire Project. They were gathered from their homes throughout the country and flown to Arizona. The team consisted of 5 people. It was thought that these people, when working together, could quickly discover the nature of the organism and make a decision as to what would be done in destroying it. The use of the nuclear device which the team was considering involved a very serious decision. In order to give civilians the power to detonate such a device, the odd man hypothesis was created. It stated that one of the members of the team be single, and that it would be his responsibility to make the nuclear decision. He was to be given a key that would only work for him. If a leak was detected in the examination facility, it would be up to him to stop the detonation. The odd man of the team was Mark Hall. This played a key factor in the climax. The team was taken to the site of the landing. Upon examining the bodies they discovered that this organism was actually a virus, and it acted by clotting the blood and causing immediate death. They began to leave when they discovered that there were 2 survivors, an old man and a baby. This added a new, useful factor to the equation. It showed that this virus could be beaten. After going through an elaborate sterilization process, they began work on the virus. They performed many tests on the virus. They ran it through the microscope, it was determined how large it was, and it was even determined how it worked. They did tests on the old man and the baby that had managed to survive, trying to find a link. The next day the scientist was trying to find out a solution to the problem. On the third day, the scientists try to meet a self- imposed deadline. The sooner the solution is found, the fewer people will die. It turns out that the organism can only live within a very narrow pH, the pH human blood. The survivors found at the beginning of the movie that both had abnormal blood pH- the baby’s pH was too high due to crying much of the time and the old man’s pH was too low because he drank sterno. That is when the unthinkable happened. When Burton was working on the virus, he cut the gloves of his suit that sealed out the virus. Immediately the four men rushed to see Burton. He was panicked, and screaming. It had been found that the virus did not survive well in pure oxygen, so that was pumped into the room he was in. Burton appeared to be fine, and when a sample of the virus in Burton’s area was analyzed, it was discovered to be mutated into a harmless form. Apparently, the baby and the old man had been lucky enough to avoid the virus until it mutated into a benign form. The situation seemed to be under control. But it was worse than they knew. The virus had contaminated the facility, and the automatic nuclear detonation process had begun. If a nuclear device was set off, the virus would mutate over and over into deadly variations, each killing in a different way. One of the scientists was exposed to contamination, and he saves himself by increasing his breathing pace until he creates a respiratory alkalosis in his blood chemistry. The Andromeda Strain has now been caused by degeneration in the lab’s gasket seals, and the atomic self- destruct device is triggered. The scientist is aware that if the bomb goes off the blast could cause a chain reaction in Andromeda mutations that would be impossible to stop. He fights off toxic fumes, dodges lethal darts from a radar- controlled laser gun, climbs a ladder to the top level of the lab complex, and with a few seconds to left to spare, he inserts the red key in a disconnect lock. Later he learns that the Andromeda Strain has mutated into benign form, and that mission control is using cloud- seeding procedures to carry the organism out to sea, where it will be destroyed by the alkaline reaction. In the movie pH scale was included in the experiment trying to see what happens to blood when someone hyperventilates and proteins. On the first day the experts were trying to solve the problem as to why the satellite retrieved from outer space was killing people and animals. Then the scientist had to design some experiments to find out more about the deadly organism. Second was to see how the organism was structured and how it works. Third was how to contain the organism and destroy it. Research Papers on Andromeda StrainResearch Process Part OneTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Project Managment Office SystemGenetic EngineeringThe Hockey GameWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Marketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Attraction and repulsion in The Yellow Wallpaper and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Example

Attraction and repulsion in The Yellow Wallpaper and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Example Attraction and repulsion in The Yellow Wallpaper and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Paper Attraction and repulsion in The Yellow Wallpaper and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Paper Essay Topic: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Literature The Yellow Wallpaper In Jeff Greens work on Plutos philosophies, Green states that The potential for tension and conflict in [the] dual desires of the Soul can be equated with the basic psychological phenomenon of attraction and repulsion (Green 5-6). The dynamic of attraction and repulsion in representations of the abnormal can be explored in both Robert Louis Stevensons The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper. In both of these texts, the principal characters experience clashing feelings of attraction and repulsion to what the reader would view as being abnormal. For instance, in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Jekyll cannot help but feel intrigued by the exciting, dangerous life and character of Mr Hyde and in The Yellow Wallpaper the unnamed narrator1 similarly becomes fascinated by the figure she can see behind the wallpaper. It can be argued that both Jekyll and the Narrator feel attracted to the abnormal whilst the people around them feel repulsed by it. The Jekyll-Hyde dynamic in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde may represent the dual desires of the human soul. Freud believed that the human mind is strongly influenced by thoughts and desires which we are not able to control and these impulses are often conveyed in our dreams. It is therefore possible to interpret the character of Hyde as Jekylls subconscious desire to be freed from his societys restraints. This subconscious desire of Jekylls is viewed by the characters around him as deviant and revolting. Although Jekyll also feels repulsed by Hydes grotesque and animalistic nature, he finds it impossible to curb his need to experience the life of a savage, uncivilised monster. Similarly, the Narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper experiences a conflict of emotions towards the wallpaper. It is clear to see that the Narrator takes an instant disliking to the wallpaper when she says, The colour is repellent, almost revolting; a smouldering unclean yellow (Perkins Gilman 4). However, she soon becomes fixated with searching for hidden meanings in the wallpaper. She believes that she can see a woman in the wallpaper who is struggling to break free and this seems to reflect the Narrators desire for freedom from the constraints placed on her by her husband and doctor. In The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde it is clear that Jekylls friends are repulsed by Mr Hyde from the outset. We can see this clearly in Enfields description of Hyde to Mr Utterson: He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something down-right detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldnt specify the point. (Stevenson 12) Enfield states that although he detests the appearance and very being of Mr Hyde, he cannot articulate his reasons for feeling this way. It seems to be an instinctive reaction to this creature which symbolises everything that the prototype of a man living in Victorian society would not approve of. Although Jekyll is at first strongly attracted to the concept of a dual personality and having the freedom to rebel against society with anonymity, he too is soon repulsed by Mr Hyde when he realises the extent of his alter-egos corrupt nature: The powers of Hyde seem to have grown with the sickliness of Jekyll. And certainly the hate that now divided them was equal on each side. With Jekyll, it was a thing of vital instinct. He had now seen the full deformity of that creature that shared with him the phenomena of consciousness, and was co-heir with him to death [ ] he thought of Hyde, for all his energy of life, as of something not only hellish but inorganic. (Stevenson 74) Similarly to Hydes powers growing with the sickliness of Jekyll (Stevenson 74), as the Narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper continues to lose her sense of reality she too becomes more aware of her alter-ego, the woman she can see behind the wallpaper. However, she does not grow to hate this woman, but instead sees parallels between her own life of confinement and the female figures. As the Narrators madness deepens and progresses, she begins to see more women behind the paper. All of them appear to be lost in the torturing (Perkins Gilman 15) yellow pattern. With the appearance of more women, it seems that the Narrator now sees not only herself as being a victim of patriarchal standards of Victorian society, but in fact all women. Through her madness, the Narrator becomes repulsed by the restraints put upon women by society and instead becomes attracted to the abnormal idea of social rebellion. This echoes Jekylls initial rejection of ordinary Victorian life in favour of the adventures of Mr Hyde. As Jekylls friends are repulsed by the appearance of Mr Hyde, the Narrators husband is repulsed by the concept of sexual equality. Instead, he is a firm believer of men having complete control over their wives lives. He treats the Narrator like a child, referring to her as a little girl (Perkins Gilman 14) and choosing to place her in the nursery at the top of the house (Perkins Gilman 4). John undermines the seriousness of his wifes condition when he assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with [her] but temporary nervous depression a slight hysterical tendency (Perkins Gilman 1-2). We can see that John ignores his wifes suggestions for activities when the Narrator tells us that she has a scheduled prescription for each hour in the day and that John takes all care from [her] (Perkins Gilman 4). It is worth noting that the Narrator does not say that her husband takes care of her, but instead implies that he takes all control out of her hands. This proves that John thinks it natural for men to have power over women and it would therefore be possible to argue that men like John would have found the idea of the New Woman utterly abhorrent. In The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, we can see Jekylls initial attraction to unleashing his subconscious needs in a letter he writes to Mr Utterson which explains the repression of his egotistical desires which society would frown upon: The worst of my faults was a certain impatient gaiety of disposition, such as has made the happiness of many, but such as I found it hard to reconcile with my imperious desire to carry my head high, and wear a more than commonly grave countenance before the public. Hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures [ I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life. (Stevenson 60) When reading the text closely, it is possible to state that Stevenson suggests that within everyones personality there lies a Mr Hyde, a character full of cravings which are not influenced by social beliefs and standards but are instead primitive and innate. When Jekyll admits to having repressed and unsatisfied desires, his confession leads the reader to realise that everyone is forced to hide certain cravings in order to remain socially acceptable: Many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame (Stevenson 60). Jekylls feelings towards suppressed desires and attractions are resonated by Lanyon when he admits he has since had reason to believe the cause [of his hatred of Mr Hyde] to lie much deeper in the nature of man (Stevenson 56). Both Utterson and Enfield can be classed as exemplary Victorian male figures, yet Stevensons insinuation that there is a secret Hyde-like character within these two men can be detected from the opening of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The reader is told that Utterson had an approved tolerance of others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds (Stevenson 7). Despite disapproving of anti-social behaviour, at times Utterson feels jealous of those with an ability to rebel against convention. The reader can identify the Hyde-like aspect of Enfields personality when Hyde has trampled (Stevenson 9) over a young girl. Enfield wonders how best to punish Mr Hyde for this offence when he says, Killing being out of the question, we did the next best (Stevenson 10). It is possible to argue in that these men find Hyde repulsive because their subconscious mind is able to identify him instantly as the savage within. We could apply this theory of recognition in the subconscious to the character of John in The Yellow Wallpaper. Perhaps his disdain at the Narrators behaviour is due to a similar part of his personality which he hides from others by using his position of power over his wife. It is also possible to argue that the Narrators initial hatred of the wallpaper is due to a subconscious recognition of the woman she sees behind it as sharing her suppressed wishes. The Narrators attraction to the wallpaper quickly turns into an obsession and as she descends into madness she becomes more conscious of her subconscious desire for freedom. On the surface the Narrator accepts her husbands power over her. However, at the end of the novel she appears to be taking her frustration caused by her husband out on the wallpaper. She claims that the pattern slaps you in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you (Perkins Gilman 16), suggesting that she is forced to study the wallpaper and, like Jekyll, cannot control her attraction. By the end of the novel, the Narrators fixation with the woman she can see behind the wallpaper has grown to the extent that she believes herself to have also been trapped behind it. We can see this when she exclaims, Ive got out at last [ And Ive pulled off most of the paper, so you cant put me back! (Perkins Gilman 26) For the Narrator, her abnormal behaviour has given her a sense of freedom. Despite this, the frequent use of the word creeping (Perkins Gilman 24) throughout The Yellow Wallpaper suggests a fear of being caught and also gives the impression of submission. This shows that even though her subconscious desires are becoming apparent to her, the pressures of society are still controlling the way she views them and she realises that her feminist ideals are taboo. When John realises that his wife has undergone a stereotypically masculine task of destroying the wallpaper, he is instantly feminised by his overtly feminine reaction of fainting: Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time! (Perkins Gilman 26) When John faints, the Narrator has at last gained power over her oppressive husband and the fact that she repetitively creeps over his body emphasises her new found authority. It also highlights Johns inability to control his wife who, though mad, is now mentally liberated. Over all, it is possible to state that in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and The Yellow Wallpaper, the abnormal was seen by Victorian society as a desire to rebel against traditional values. One could also argue that the dynamic of attraction and repulsion with regards to the abnormal is a complex and contradictory matter as the conscious mind which is influenced by external sources often suppresses subconscious wishes. Jeff Green explains in his work entitled Pluto that people often feel repelled by what they feel attracted to, because the attraction may directly threaten the existing nature of their reality (Green 45). At the end of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Jekyll explains in his final letter to Utterson his beliefs in the division of the human personality: man is not truly one, but truly two. I say two, because the state of my own knowledge does not pass beyond that point [ ] It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both [ It was the curse of mankind that these incongruent faggots were thus bound together. (Stevenson 61) Jekyll realises that through his experiments he has created a monster and has lost control of his life as Henry Jekyll as we find out that the potion he has been using only worked due to an impurity in the original salt. As he writes to Utterson, he accepts his fate to become Hyde permanently and he wonders, Will Hyde die upon the scaffold? Or will he find the courage to release himself at the last moment? (Stevenson 76). The tone of this concluding chapter of Stevensons novel is ominous with references to death and evil. The conclusion of The Yellow Wallpaper contrasts greatly with Stevensons ending as it is playful and almost comic. As the Narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper loses her sanity, her writing becomes more coherent and she seems to have found a form of self expression in her journal. The Narrator has found freedom after her battle with the conflicting forces of repulsion and attraction with regards to the wallpaper whereas Jekyll is doomed to remain forever as the evil half of his character, a punishment for his tampering with nature.

Monday, November 4, 2019

EFQM self-assessment using RADAR methodology Essay

EFQM self-assessment using RADAR methodology - Essay Example During that time, it has evolved from an institution that was primarily concerned with the training of new surgeons into a world class educational and training institution at all levels. It is not only considered one of the premier institutions of its kind in the United Kingdom, but is now highly regarded on a global scale as a premier biomedical research facility as well. All of these factors combine to create the need for excellence in all the RCSI does and stands for. To determine how they are presently doing as an organization, in terms of not only being an enabler, but also becoming a result oriented facility as well; the EFQM model proves to be most useful. This report was generated with the goal of providing the organization with a snapshot of their current operation, providing them with an overview of areas in which they are currently excelling, in addition to highlighting areas of deficiency. 1. Introduction The primary reason to implement the EFQM model into an organization is to conduct a self-assessment of business practices in an effort to determine which areas, if any, could be improved upon (Cost & Gomez, 2011). While the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has evolved into one the premier medical institutions in the region, if not the world, it is still poised to do much more in the future. As such, the EFQM model is useful in giving leaders in the organization a more holistic view of the entire medical facility in order to ascertain exactly how they are doing in any of the key areas covered under the scope of the model (Cost & Gomez, 2011). The EFQM Excellence model will provide RCSI with the basic framework to assess its current level of excellence, and what needs to be to further improve upon its service options. It does this by enabling the organization to understand how to more effectively implement their strategy and vision for growth, while also identifying the cause and effect relationships between items they are doing now, versu s the results that are achieved (Pearce, 2013). These areas, in addition to others covered in this report, will provide a thorough self-assessment of the organization as a whole that will be useful data at RCSI continues to chart a path for the next 200 years of existence. 2. Company Overview Founded in 1784, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a medical institution based in Dublin. This prestigious academic and research institution is one of five recognized colleges within the National University of Ireland system. The college has expanded over the years, and today contains schools focused in the areas of medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and nursing. Students are served at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is now the largest medical school in Ireland with over 3,000 students, comprised of as many as 60+ different nationalities. While the original purpose of the college, upon receiving its charter in 1784, was primarily to train surgeons, the college has expanded its reach today and it is looked to as a leader in the overall training regime of healthcare providers throughout the region. The College today is also focused on research, having formed its own RCI Research Institute. The goal is to, â€Å"Support and carry out world-class biomedical translational research and to integrate basic and clinical research, so that

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Dementia Patient Care Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Dementia Patient Care Plan - Assignment Example Different diseases that directly affect the brain can lead to the development of dementia, with the major cause being Alzheimer disease. As much as scientists have not identified the exact reasons behind and process that individuals develop Alzheimer disease, it is evident that it results from the death of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain (Lu & Bludau, 2011). It is evident that a type of protein referred to as beta-amyloid and protein fiber masses form deposits within the brain of individuals with the disease. Peter* is an 86-year-old Navajo of American-Indian background. He lives with Maria*, his 80-year-old wife, in a ranch on the outskirts of Alaska. The couple solely depends on Peter’s retirement benefits that are not enough to cater for their needs. The government’s health insurance is limited; hence, the family’s expenses majorly lies in Peter’s healthcare. The couple never had children and has to be independent at old age. However, Peter cut-off his drinking habits after attending rehabilitation. In his heydays, he was a professional footballer right before he retired from football and joined the media as a sports reporter. During his football career, Peter was admitted to hospital for a concussion and a brain contusion after continuous complaints of losing balance and having blurred vision. Peter has faced ten driving under the influence (DUI) charges that led to him losing his driving license and attending a rehabilitation center. Peter’s wife has osteoporosis and is weak, an aspect that has made it difficult for her to take care of her husband. Peter has reported cases of increased confusion and forgetfulness. For example, he stated that he often looks for something when he is holding it in the hand, and forgets names of close people and places. Such occurrences have increased concerns for Peter that he could be developing Alzheimer’s disease.Â