Legacy of the Middle Ages in the West

Palm Beach Atlantic University Legacy of the Middle Ages in the west An Essay Submitted to Dr. Gary Poe Humanities II by Blake Nichol March 17, 2010 Legacy of the Middle Ages in the West Dear Friend, I read your argument recently about the Middle Ages and how you have the belief that it was a time of no cultural expression. Well, I’m writing to try to persuade you to think otherwise. After an extensive, semester long study on the Middle Ages and the events that took place, leaving a great mark in history, I would like to inform you of my studies.Through the research I have done I have found at least four major contributions to what is known as the legacy of the Middle Ages in the West. The first thing that I will point out to you is the technological advances during this time period, the second is the founding of the different major universities, the third is the great technique in various architectural structures, and the fourth and final contribution I will explain to you wi ll be the advancement of science and medicine.Hopefully, after reading this, if you’re not too bored, you will understand why the Middle Ages did not lack cultural expression, but instead, had a very great influence on the West. So, let’s get right down to business, shall we? The first thing I’d like to point out that was developed was the printing press. It was developed in the late middle ages by a German craftsman named Johannes Gutenberg. Now, where would we be without this invention? The printing press is a major invention and still in use today.Obviously, the ones we use today have been perfected to be more efficient and less expensive to produce maximum output but even so, it’s the same basic concept that started way back in the Middle Ages. Another set of technological advancements that came about during the Middle Ages were the different types of war methods that were developed. They developed the catapult, the metal crossbow, and most of all, gu npowder. The catapult is a great idea and I believe this is a concept that started to be perfected and continued being perfected until today and now it has turned into us launching missiles from an entire country away.Due to the invention of the catapult, we no longer even have to go with hand to hand combat anymore in modern warfare. Almost all of it can be done from a computer screen. Even the crossbow is still in use today. Not necessarily in warfare but I know hunters still use crossbows. The main thing developed to advance warfare was gunpowder. Can you imagine where we would be today without the development of gunpowder? I think that one is self explanatory. During this time period, we also have the development of about three major universities.These were three of the first Western schools for higher education since about the sixth century! The first is the University of Bologna, and no, it’s not a university for making sandwiches. It was actually the first place to stu dy law and the first place to teach anatomy. The second university is the University of Oxford. The University of Oxford, if I remember correctly, was founded in 1170 in England and taught philosophy and theology. The third, and probably most important of the three universities, is the University of Paris.The University of Paris offered a variety of degrees including civil and canon law, medicine, theology, and liberal arts, which was basically devoting to translating Aristotle. Other universities had a similar curriculum set up, but for some reason their professors lacked the renown internationally like the University of Paris professors had. A famous person that you might have heard of actually taught there. A guy by the name of Thomas Aquinas taught there off and on for about ten years.He was a Dominican friar. About six hundred years after his death, his thought was declared to be the basis of the Roman Catholic beliefs. So basically, through all of these universities developing and professors being heard, this is how we get the basis for one of the most wide spread, if not the most wide spread, religion in the world. I think that right there should be something enough to convince you, but if you still have doubts, let me give you a little more of what went on during the Middle Ages.The next thing that I’m going to tell you about is probably one of the most astounding things of all. It is the architectural developments during this time period. I mean, to be developed a thousand years ago, without the use of fancy machinery and computers, and still be standing today†¦that’s pretty impressive. Not only are they still standing, but they are also the most beautiful architectural structures in the world. People from all over the world still go to see them, so you can’t say that they don’t have an effect on modern day society.In these structures you will find that they use a lot of different techniques. They used huge stained gla ss windows, tall ceilings, and extremely fancy artistry. There were also different styles, such as Romanesque and Gothic styles. Inside these different styles of architectural structures were developments that are still heard of today. For example, in most churches today we still have a narthex. It is basically just the lobby area before you walk into the church. We also have a unique feature used in Gothic architecture that is still around today.Gargoyles were used in Gothic style architecture and even today you see a variety of different gargoyles. If they’re not on the top of a gated entrance to a fancy house or community, you might find a smaller version on your book shelf holding your books up. No matter what you find, the simple point that I’m trying to get across is that they are still in use today. The final thing I want to point out during this letter is the advancement of science and medicine during this time period.Thomas Acquinas, who was one of the greates t thinkers to ever live did a lot of studying of nature and the things of the earth. To him, everything was of God in nature, which is correct according to Biblical principles because God created everything and He is everything. As far as medicine goes, we see that people that were going to school to be doctors were now starting to dissect human bodies in order to identify certain disorders and diseases in order to effectively treat them.They were also beginning to build hospitals, which were the first places women could effectively work as nurses since they weren’t allowed into medical school. These are just some of the few things to do with the science and medicine industry to be done during the Middle Ages. I know I may not be the best writer and may not have gotten all my points across clearly, but I’m hoping that now you will be able to see that the Middle Ages was not just a time where no progress was made.In fact, the Middle Ages brought about so many different ways of looking at things from architecture to different diseases to advancements in warfare. All of these things have only furthered our progress in developing some of the most advanced technologies and inventions that the world has ever seen. Thank you for reading this and I hope I have changed your perspective of the Middle Ages. BIBLIOGRAPHY Matthews, Roy T. 2008. The Western Humanities. New York, NY. : McGraw-Hill. Pp. 261-291 BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCES

Math Internal Assessment Gold Medal Heights

Gold Medal Heights The heights achieved by gold medalists in the high jump have been recorded starting from the 1932 Olympics to the 1980 Olympics. The table below shows the Year in row 1 and the Height in centimeters in row 2 Year| 1932| 1936| 1948| 1952| 1956| 1960| 1964| 1968| 1972| 1976| 1980| Height (cm)| 197| 203| 198| 204| 212| 216| 218| 224| 223| 225| 236| They were recorded to show a pattern year after year and to reveal a trend. The data graph below plots the height on the y-axis and the year on the x-axis. Data Graph 1 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year YearIn Data Graph 1 the data shown represents the height in cm achieved by gold medalists in accordance to the year in which the Olympic games were held. The Graph shows a gradual increase in height as the years increase. The parameters shown in this are the heights, which can be measured during each year to show the rise. The constraints of this task are finding a function to fit the data point shown in Data Graph 1. Some other constraints would be that there aren’t any outliers in the graph and it has been a pretty steady linear rise. The type of function that models the behavior of the function is linear.This type of function models it because the points resemble a line rather than a curve. To represent the points plotted in Data Graph 1 a function is created. To start deciphering a function I started with the equation – Y = mx + b To show the slope of the line since the function is linear. For the first point the function would have to satisfy 197 = m (1932) + b In order for the line to be steep the b value or y intercept will have to be low to give it a more upward positive slope. Y = mx -1000 197 = m (1932) -1000 1197 = m (1932) m = 0. 619The final linear equation to satisfy some points would be y = 0. 62x – 1000 The graph below shoes the model linear function and the original data points to show their relationship. Graph 2 Year Year Height (cm) Height (cm) The graph above shows t he linear function y = 0. 62x – 1000 in relation to the data points plotted on Data Graph 1. The differences between the function and the points plotted is that the function does not full satisfy all the x and y values. The outliers in this case are from the years 1948, 1952, and 1980 which all of y values that do not meet the function closely.Using regression the following function and graph is found. The function and line found using regression matches the one found by me. The linear function does not cross all points but shows the gradual shape in which the points plotted make. Another function that is used is a quadratic function Quadratic functions are set up as: Y = px2 + tx +b To make this function resemble the points plotted on the Graph 1 the p value will have to be very small to widen the shape of the quadratic The b value also has to be small to resemble the y intercept and to give the graph a more upward slopeI used the function: Y = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x â €“ 1010 In order for this function to work it must satisfy the point of (1964, 218) Y = 0. 0000512 (1964)2 + 0. 5171 (1964) – 1010 Y = 0. 0000512 (3857296) + 1015. 58 – 1010 Y = 197. 49 + 1015. 58 – 1010 Y = 218 This graph of the function y = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 +0. 5171x – 1010 is shown in the following Graph 3 as it is against the points plotted in Data Graph 1 Graph 3 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year It is shown in Graph 3 that the quadratic function does resemble the shape of the line plotted by the points in Data Graph 1.In Graph 4 both functions are shown against the original data points plotted in Data Graph 1. Graph 4 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year Had the games been held in 1940 and 1944 the winning heights would be estimated as: Y = 0. 62(1940) – 1000 Y = 1202. 8 – 1000 Y = 202. 8 When the x value of 1940 is plugged into the linear equation y = 0. 62x – 1000 the y value, or winning height in the year 1940, would be 202. 8. Y = 0. 0000512(1940)2 + 0. 5171(1940) – 1010 Y = 0. 0000512(3763600) + 1003. 17 – 1010 Y = 192. 69 + 1003. 17 – 1010 Y = 185. 86 When the x value 1940 is plugged into the quadratic equation y = 0. 000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x – 1010 the y value, or winning height for 1940, is 185. 86. In order to make a more accurate estimate for the winning height in 1940 the average of both terms, 202. 8 and 185. 86, are taken. 202. 8 + 185. 86 / 2 = 194. 33 The estimated winning height in 1940 would be 194. 33 For the estimated winning height in 1944: Y = 0. 62(1944) – 1000 Y = 1205. 28 – 1000 Y = 205. 28 When the x value of 1944 is plugged into the linear equation 0. 62x – 1000 the y value, or winning height in 1944, is 205. 8. Y = 0. 0000512(1944)2 + 0. 5171(1944) – 1010Y = 0. 0000512(3779136) + 1005. 24 – 1010 Y = 193. 49 + 1005. 24 – 1010 Y = 188. 73 When the x value of 1944 is plugged into the quadratic equation of 0. 00005 12Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x + 1010 the y value, or winning height in 1944, is 188. 73. To have a more accurate estimate of the winning height the average of the two y values of two functions is taken. 188. 73 + 205. 28 / 2 = 197. 01 The winning height for the 1944 Olympics would be estimated at 197. 01 Graph 5 Year Year Height (cm) Height (cm) Graph 5 shows all the data from the 1896 Olympics to the 2008 Olympics.The red line is the quadratic function f(x) = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x – 1010 and the blue line represents the linear function f(x) = 0. 62x -1000. The function models that are represented in Graph 5 do not fully resemble the points plotted from the gold medal high jump heights but have an overall shape of the rise in height from year to year. Graph 6 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year The graph above shows all data point plotted on a graph. The overall trend or shape resemble that of a cubic. Graph 7 The shape of the cubic resembles more of the shape shown in the data poi nts plotted on Graph 6.The modifications that need to be made on my models are that the quadratic function needs to have a more curve to it than just a straight line. To do that I need to change the variables a, b, and c in the equation f(x) = ax2 + bx + c f(x) = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x -1010 Graph 8 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year In a zoomed out view the graph shows the overall shape of the quadratic shape of the red line and how it goes through the black data points and how the linear equation is completely straight. IB Mathematics SL Year 2 Internal Assessment Gold Medal Heights Date Due: February 11, 2013

Distinguishing Verbal And Non-Verbal Communication Essay

Communication is an essential part of every workplace, including a healthcare facility (Fry, 1994). This method of expressing an idea to another person influences the success of healthcare delivery and thus it is important for healthcare personnel to understand the different forms of communication (Hewitt, 1981a, 1981b). It is thus important to understand that there are two forms of communication. Verbal communication. This form of communication is what individuals generally rely on for conveying a message to another individual. This mode of expression uses words which may be spoken or written in order for another individual to receive. The message carried out through verbal communication is easy to understand and are actually straightforward. In the field of healthcare, it is a common occurrence that medical jargon is employed between healthcare personnel and thus this form of communication is still considered verbal. On the other hand, simpler words are often used when dealing with patients in the hospital (Krmidam, 1989). These simple words are chosen to be used with patients because these are quickly understood by the patients and thus caring for them will be easier if they understand what is being explained to them (Murphy, 1982; Gordon et al. , 2009; Haskard et al. , 2009). It is also important to know that verbal communication can also be quite complex when one individual speaks with abstract words, mostly because they chose to do so. The vocabularies may sound highly articulate yet these words can have the same meaning when used with simple words. The choice of words by an individual is also influenced by his age, educational attainment and maturity, wherein younger individuals tend to employ simple words while those more mature individuals use more difficult words when they communicate with other people. It should be understood that instead of being confused by the words of a speaker, it is more important to understand what he is trying to convey. Non-verbal communication. This form of communication does not involve the use of words but are actually conveyed through voluntary or involuntary signals that may come from one individual and is perceived or received by another person. The most common example of non-verbal communication is body language, which pertains to the actions and movements that an individual shows while speaking or not speaking at all. This is also considered as a form of one-way communication because certain messages are transmitted to another person through gestures, facial expressions and other physical attributes (Rask et al. , 2008). Examples of non-verbal communication include facial expressions such as smiling, smirking and glaring (Wujcik, 2004). These facial expressions can impart either a positive or negative message towards a patient and most of the time, the individual showing this non-verbal form of communication is not aware that he is doing this. The manner of dressing also imparts a message to another person. Thus, a person wearing a suit conveys a message of honor, while a person wearing simple overall imparts a message that he is a worker. Hair also symbolizes certain messages, including how the hair is arranged and the color. A well-kept hairdo will thus convey that an individual is in control of himself, while dishevel hair may mean that the individual is under stress and possibly leads a confusing and difficult life. There are also other non-verbal messages that are imparted by jewelry. A wedding ring extends the message that an individual is married, while a person wearing a watch may mean that he is aware that time is precious. Cosmetics can also convey a message, wherein its overt use is strongly associated with prostitutes, while simple women wear minimal cosmetics or none at all. Both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication influence an interaction between individuals (LeFebvre, 2008). It is thus important to be able to identify and to distinguish these forms, in order to fully understand an individual and ultimately result in a productive relationship. References Fry, A. (1994). Effective communication with people with visual disabilities. Nursing Times, 90, 42-43. Gordon, C. , Ellis-Hill, C. and Ashburn, A. (2009). The use of conversational analysis: Nurse-patient interaction in communication disability after stroke. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65, 544-553. Haskard, K. B. , DiMatteo, M. R. , Heritage, J. (2009). Affective and instrumental communication in primary care interactions: Predicting the satisfaction of nursing staff and patients. Health Communications, 24, 21-32. Hewitt, F. S. (1981a). The nurse and the patient: Communication skills. Introduction to communication. Nursing Times, 77, 1-4. Hewitt, F. S. (1981b). The nurse and the patient. Communication skills. Non-verbal communication. Nursing Times, 77, 9-12. Krmidam, M. O. (1989). Communication with patients. Kenya Nursing Journal, 17, 11. LeFebvre, K. B. (2008). Strengthen your verbal and nonverbal communication. ONS Connections, 23, 21. Murphy, D. C. (1982). Communication: The key to improved patient understanding. NITA, 5, 370-372. Rask, M. , Brunt, D. and Fridlund, B. (2008). Validation of the verbal and social interaction questionnaire: Nurses’ focus in the nurse-patient relationship in forensic nursing care. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15, 710-716. Wujcik, D. (2004). Do our nonverbal messages inhibit patient care? ONS News, 19, 2.

Compare and contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 25

Compare and contrast - Essay Example tly, Barbara Ehrenrich’s piece, â€Å"Serving in Florida† relates a very personal tale of the hardship that an individual seeking to earn a living on minimum wage faces. Taking this experience on as a project, Ehrenrich soon realizes that in order to afford the rent, utilities and fuel that will take her back and forth to her minimum wage job she will need to take on another minimum wage job to break even. Although it would have been possible for the writer to engage the reader on a purely economic level of understanding, Ehrenrich’s piece is instead deeply emotional as the reader comes to an appreciation of the fact that the current system creates a virtual trap by which people are forced to work themselves to an early death; just as a function of â€Å"breaking even† (Ehrenrich 9). As Ehrenrich notes, this is in stark contrast to the sacrifices that previous generations have made in order to save and slowly lift themselves out of poverty. Moving on to the second article, entitled â€Å"Culture of Success†, the reader can note that the personal tone that Ehrenrich engages is missing. Instead, the focus is placed on the fact that the labor market is flooded with college graduates; which in turn reduces the incentive for an individual to saddle themselves with mountains of debt that a college degree necessarily creates. The hardship, as the article implies, is the fact that the college degree no longer guarantees economic success for the future aspirations of the individuals that receive it. Instead, a saturated job market is proliferated by individuals with college debt and rather useless college degrees; creating a situation in which the incentive to gain higher education has all but evaporated (Brinck 4). Another differentiation that is impacting upon the job market has to do with the fact that fewer and fewer minorities are making the decision to invest the time and money that is required for a college degree . Reviewing this decision from the standpoint

Discussion Questions VI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion Questions VI - Essay Example Market segmentation is a division of the population of consumers into identifiable segments. So within each segment are people with shared characteristics. This makes it easier to identify their needs and wants and identify market opportunities, as the purpose of a segmentation system is to target consumers better. This can affect the product, price, promotion and place in the marketing strategy. One of the determinants of the effectiveness of such an approach is the homogeneity of the segment in terms of consumer behavior. â€Å"The process by which managers make decisions about segmentation in the international consumer market† (Craft, 2004) is therefore an important part of the strategy of segmentation. Segmentation can be made along geographic, demographic, economic, technological or cultural lines. Multinational and global market challenges in any segment must be faced with strategic planning considerations. We shall discuss these in relation to segmentation based on cultural differences and analyze product branding, advertising and promotion for different cultural segments with rationale and examples. A segmentation system based on culture divides consumers according to their customs and traditions, language, beliefs, values, religion, and so on. Subcultures can also be a consideration for further precise segmentation. These aims affect strategic planning considerations involving â€Å"market demographics, sales channels, operational implementation, and adaptable approaches to niche markets currently being served or targeted.† (Bauman, 2002) Planning enables the decision makers to see greater opportunities arising out of the non-traditional core markets. It also makes them evaluate their core competencies, skill sets, product development, competitive advantages, and so on. This then also has implications â€Å"for functional tasks such as the sales planning and advertising† (Dix, 2002) and product branding. Product branding in China presents a

The Biggest Challenges in Woman's Shoes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Biggest Challenges in Woman's Shoes - Essay Example   I think although there could be similarities in terms of viewing an unconventional physical feature, this woman’s plight is different from that of Frankenstein’s scenario in terms of the technological advancement that has been applied and duly possible in contemporary times. The public who could come across this woman and   who are not aware of her plight could initially have some reservations or anxieties in comfortably seeing her, the most important issue is that the life of this woman is ultimately saved from the partial facial transplant procedure. It was a medical necessity and it is instrumental to help the woman survive. All other things (public’s opinion or irresponsible comments) are just secondary and insubstantial given the paramount importance of saving her life. She should therefore focus on the benefits that this procedure has accorded her more than what other people would say.

Paper about self deception Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Paper about self deception - Essay Example For instance, there is a tendency to believe that African Americans are generally good basketball players. Although this is a positive stereotyping, this also indicates that people will also indulge in negative stereotypes (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 220). One important influence is the media as often news articles are biased towards certain communities like the blacks, Hispanics or the Jewish. In order to gain viewership from the majority groups, media often focuses on crime committed by the minorities as viewers would better respond to this. Thus, media perpetuates racial stereotyping by indicating blacks are more crime prone than the whites. It is not always true that people consider all the factors before making judgmental decisions in a rational way. Robert B. Cialdini suggests that people are often restricted by time or distance and so they tend to make their decisions based on cognitive shortcuts known as judgmental heuristics. According to Cialdini, â€Å"we must very often use our sterotypes, our rules of thumb, to classify things according to a few key features and then to respond without thinking when one or another of these trigger features is present† (Triche, 18). Racial stereotyping occurs not from judging one individual but by attributing certain characteristics to a group of people. It is based on irrational knowledge collected from various sources. Therefore, although stereotyping can lead to cognitive shortcuts they often lead to false results. Stereotyping hinders development of human thought and social progress. Stereotyping involves cognitive component, i.e. ideas that people connect with a certain group or community based on their culture and society. This process of stereotyping includes â€Å"encoding and storage of stereotype concepts, the selection and activation of these concepts into working memory and their

Reading Responses 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading Responses 2 - Essay Example Young boyfriends like young John and James are interested in her body. She is a toy to them. Men can play with Mary anyway they like without having to show slightest respect for her emotions. Old John, on the other hand, does love Mary but is not sincere enough to sacrifice his well-established married life for her sake. On the other hand, Mary is in continuous search of finding the right man to get married to and in her attempt to achieve this, she plays a toy to the men. Madge is the typical housewife who is immersed in the works for the wellbeing of her children and husband, though she is privileged in that she is recognized by John as his wife and is introduced in the society as such. She has the status of a respectable woman who fulfills all the roles expected of a careful and responsible woman. John, in his youth flirts with Mary and marries Madge. In old age, he again flirts, this time, with a different Mary but almost the same age as the first one. Nevertheless, there is a di fference between his sincerity towards the first Mary in his life and the second one. With the passage of time, John has become more emotionally involved in his extra-marital affairs despite having a satisfying married life. In any case, the author believes that the ending is happy.

Is the U.S. seeking to contain China Research Paper

Is the U.S. seeking to contain China - Research Paper Example It remains far behind on innovations and development of new technology for advanced weaponry but even then it succeeds in catching up fast with advancements. US maintain first rank as per military spending with 740 billion dollars as compared to China’s 106 billion dollars (â€Å"China Military Budget Tops $100bn† 2). This difference ensures US lead in innovation and advanced strategic weapons which in turn protects the national interest and maintains influence. China has a long way to go to take a lead in military hardware; it is even taking technology for its aerospace industry from Russia. But, with its growing capacity to catch up makes it a contender for a rising new military power. Military capability has conventionally been an indicator of a country’s influence in a region. Chinese military requirements have mainly been offshore defense and its military keeps up with this requirement easily, however, the development projects of fifth generation stealth fig hters and an aircraft carrier demonstrate its ambition for advanced weaponry and perhaps world influence. Containment strategy typically involves surrounding a target country with allies and placing strategic assets to keep physical presence directly or indirectly. If we analyze a decade of policies by the US we do find a pattern indicating containment strategies aimed at China. According to the Washington Post, â€Å"Chinas rise is a significant factor in the Obama administrations moves to strengthen ties with traditional allies, such as  South Korea and  Japan, as well as with Malaysia and Laos and even with Vietnam, a former foe† (Pomfret 1). Similarly, Bush administration started improving ties with India which even involved nuclear cooperation projects. India has long been an adversary to China with military inclination towards Russia. The pacts with these countries indicate a policy to contain China with a group of allies. The pattern is similar to formation of NATO in order to contain

Policy Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Policy Paper - Essay Example People can be born with deformities in their physical appearance or have some of their faculties diminished or missing. Features of such disabilities are deafness, blindness, missing and deformed limbs and diminished mental ability. Accidents also contribute immensely in disabling people especially work place accidents where accidents are caused in the use of machinery and equipment. Whatever the cause of disability, the different conditions that people find themselves in predispose them to discrimination in the workplace. This led to the need for a way to protect these people’s rights in society and in the workplace. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is seen as the first major legislation that addressed the needs and rights of people with disabilities in its Title VII article. The articles of Title VII address the plight of all people in the employment sector, and it emphasizes the need for equal treatment of persons with disabilities. This act led to the formulation of other laws and institutions that safeguard the rights of individuals in the employment sector. ... The law requires that employers provide appropriate and reasonable accommodation to a job applicant with disability as long as doing so does not cause significant expense or difficulty to the employer. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act forbids discrimination of job applicants in all aspects of employment that includes firing, hiring, job assignment and other conditions and terms of employment. The law makes it illegal to harass a job applicant because he/she has a disability or has relations with a disabled individual. Harassment does not entail physical abuse, but also offensive remarks that are severe leading to a hostile work environment. When verbal harassment results, in adverse employment decisions, it disposes the harasser to prosecution under the law (Rothstein and Liebman 56). The requirement by law that employers provide reasonable accommodation to disabled job applicants entails changing the work environment to enable the disabled individual competently carry out their dut ies. These accommodations include building access ramps for wheel chairs and providing interpreting equipment for those with sight and hearing disabilities. This provision in law also provides protection for employers in the sense that the employer is not forced to incur huge expenses while providing these accommodations.This falls under the undue hardship provision that states that an employer does not have to provide accommodation to a disabled job applicant if doing so would cause undue hardship to the employer (Rothstein and Liebman 34). Undue hardship occurs if providing these accommodations proves to be too expensive or difficult in light of the employer’s size, the needs of the business and their financial resources. The

Strategic Research Project Essay Example for Free

Strategic Research Project Essay This paper is about a strategic overview of Medtronic Inc. Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for people with chronic conditions around the world. Medtronic conducts business in more than 120 countries developing and manufacturing a variety of products and therapies with emphasis on providing a complete continuum of care to diagnose, prevent and monitor chronic conditions. Mission Statement The mission statement of Medtronic Inc. is to contribute to human welfare by application of biomedical engineering in the research, design, manufacture, and sale of instruments or appliances that alleviate pain, restore health and extend life. It is evident that Medtronic is meeting their mission statement. Medtronic is providing doctors with new therapy procedures through their research and development. Medtronic is able to design and modify medical devices that assist and meet the needs of physicians around the world. In addition, Medtronic is conducting business in more than 120 countries and focused on preserving the lives of individuals with medical needs and plagued with chronic health conditions. Medtronic’s mission statement is firmly preserved in all of its employees around the world that want to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life.† It is apparent that Medtronic has not lost focus as to their purpose by the assistance to nearly 6 million people benefiting from therapies each year. Porter’s analysis of competition for Medtronic Inc. Rivalry among competitors Medtronic Inc. participates in the development, manufacture and marketing of medical devices. There are very few competitors in this field that include Johnson Johnson, Guidant Corp., St Jude and Boston Scientific Group. Medical devices that are developed cost a considerable amount of money and if they have to be recalled these costs have to be absorbed. These recalls are viewed by competitors as an opportunity to move in a particular direction in medical device development. Because of the threats from competitors and their debatable actions dispute resolutions often transfer  to court rooms for litigation to determine rights to patents. This often leads to the delay in product development and an increase in costs associated court determinations. Potential entry of new competitors There are several obstacles that competitors will have to overcome in in the development, manufacture and marketing of medical devices. First, The Food and Drug Administration regulations are very specific and detailed. A competitor attempting FDA approval should expect a lengthy approval process. Once an approval is obtained they are not covered against product recalls that can cost a lot of money. Furthermore, recalls can tarnish the reputation of the company leading to a loss in consumer confidence. Secondly, the design and manufacture of medical products will require a solid understanding of the management of high end technologies. Next, competitors entering the market will spend a lot of money in the Research and Development in an economy where few companies willing to invest. Potential development of substitutes products Medical devices are considered a minimally invasive form of treatment and are considered a substitute for more invasive treatment procedures used in the past. Medtronic has several departments all working on product lines and are susceptible to other companies developing similar devices with the same purpose. This drives certain secureness when new procedures and equipment are developed preventing a competitor from knowledge and profit. Bargaining power of suppliers Just as the electronic industry, medical device makers send their work to a growing industry of contract manufacturers. These manufacturers do not have a lot of bargaining power due to the low customization of their work. The device makers do not rely on one manufacturer and can easily find another. This tactic enables device makers to deal with speed-to-market and the cost associated with closing plants and laying off employees. There is not an estimated increase to the bargaining power of the suppliers because new companies are not likely to develop products overseas due to the trouble in changing contracts to foreign manufactures. Bargaining power of consumers Some hospitals organize and group together to lower costs. These enables more bargaining power over the suppliers due to their collective size. This causes competitors have also to deal with the final payers that are sometimes the insurance company that try to minimize their costs and influence the type of patient care. Even if the buyers are not directly the doctors, the suppliers have to target them since they are advisers providing influence to the decision process. This gives tremendous bargaining power over the suppliers of medical devices enabling better competition and ability to absorb the pressures of the t healthcare system. Intensive Strategy of Medtronic Medtronic has seven main divisions and combines operations into a single operating segment. Market Penetration Medtronic’s market penetration in solidified in the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management division where it is the world’s leading supplier of pacemakers. In addition, Medtronic’s holds over 50% Implantable Cardiac Rhythm Devices (ICD) Market share which contributes to 25% of Medtronic’s overall sales. Market Development Medtronic is continually moving toward innovation through their pursuit to develop markets in areas of healthcare distribution and treatments. They are have collaborative partnerships, product development and are pilots of new business models in several developing countries. Eli Lilly Company have partnered together in the field of Drug Delivery systems. Together they are working to develop treatments for Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. They are engineering implantable pumps that allow the delivery of drugs directly to a targeted area of the brain bypassing the blood-brain barrier that restricts drug therapy for these diseases. Medtronic is also collaborating with Ford Motor Company to develop and integrate medical technology with the Sync in-car system. This mobile health monitoring system will monitor chronic heart conditions, diabetes and transmit alerts if a driver health puts them in danger. Medtronic is also leading numerous cities and hospitals in India increasing patient access to cardiac therapy and improve awareness through health promotions. Through these initiatives Medtronic has assisted in the developed a tiered service and financing  program provides affordable health care. Product Development Medtronic has always led the way with many technologies and product lines, as shown with the first pacemaker in 1957. Medtronic has adopted policy that phases out its own products to make way for newer developments. Medtronic has a solid process of innovation improving their own products. This is accomplished by utilizing computer aided design systems that allow for an 80% reduction in the time required model complex designs and a 90% reduction in required production time. Medtronic’s product development reaches into marketing approaches in the areas of technical support, customer education initiatives and product line expansion and bundling. Collectively, this provides the motivation of lowering costs for product and process improvement. SWOT Analysis of Medtronic Inc. Medtronic engaged in engineering a range of medical devices and therapies. They have a large portfolio that is used to enhance its influence and market share. However, current and future health care policy changes may have a negative effect on the company. STRENGTH| WEAKNESSES| Diverse portfolio protecting risks- Strong Focus on RD capabilities- Product Innovation- Global presence with stable revenues| Issues with manufactured products and recalls reduce credibility of company| OPPORTUNITIES| THREATS| Global acquisitions prospects- Growth in emerging markets- Future product lines increase revenue and market share- positive demographics’ toward healthcare spending| Intense industrial competition in medical devices that affect share of market- Non-compliance with rules relating to reimbursement and regulation of healthcare services- Changing healthcare policies have negative affect on company| Strengths As a result of having a diverse product portfolio, Medtronic has a diversified stream of revenues and not heavily dependent on one particular business. For instance, during FY2011, the cardiac rhythm disease  management contributed 31.4% of the total revenues of the company, spinal (21.4%), cardiovascular (19.5%), neuromodulator (10.0%), diabetes (8.5%), surgical technologies (6.5%). Weakness In July 2011, Medtronic recalled its SynchroMed II implantable infusion pump because it had reduced battery performance. This recall if not corrected could lead life threatening withdraw symptoms to patients with these pumps. Opportunities Medtronic has a good track record of acquisitions. In January 2011, the company acquired Ardian, a privately-held company engaged in developing catheter-based therapies to treat hypertension and related conditions. This acquisition augmented Medtronics existing interventional therapies. Emerging markets are set to become the chronic disease centers of the world. By 2015, China and India will be the largest cardiac markets, and by 2017, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in India will increase to more than 60 million cases from 28 million cases in 2007. To exploit the growth opportunities in these markets, Medtronic is expanding its presence by building distribution, training, education, and other healthcare infrastructure needed to ensure greater access to its products and therapies. Threats Medtronic is competitive in more than 120 countries around the world and encounters opposition from various product lines and markets that similar products are sold. Major competitors from Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical, Johnson Johnson, and Abbott Laboratories add pressure to areas of product reliability, performance, quality, and price. US Department of Health and Human Services along with foreign governments regulate the devices produced and health services provided by Medtronic to ensure the cost and quality. Recent US health care legislation and policy changes re aimed at controlling costs and limit the amount that Medtronic can charge for medical devices and therapies. This is evident when,  President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act imposing new taxes on medical device makers. Conclusion Medtronic is a world leader in medical technology- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for people with chronic conditions. Medtronic with its relentless pursuit to bring affordable healthcare through therapy and medical devices should continue with current strategies. Over the next five years, it is beneficial for Medtronic to further explore emerging markets bringing innovative ideas to healthcare officials. Continuance in research and development will continue to reform traditional healthcare with micro-sized implant devices. Continued mission focus to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life† will further propel Medtronic as a medical development leader.

Group Policy in a Mixed Client OS Environment Essay Example for Free

Group Policy in a Mixed Client OS Environment Essay Group policy is a tool used for customizing, controlling, and securing Windows operating systems. It was introduced in Windows 2000 as part of the IntelliMirror technologies. Group policy can be applied at the local computer level or to OU’s, domains, or sites in an Active Directory environment. Group policy was supported by Windows XP Professional, but not XP Home Editions. Group Policy in Vista adds many settings which gives administrators more control over users and computers. In this essay I will discuss five of the newer features that was not in the older versions of windows. The first policy that I will discuss is the Control Removable Media policy. Devices like thumb drives, flash memory card readers, and external USB hard disks made it easy for users to transfer data between two computers. Although convenient, the ease that removable media created brought about the rise in industry espionage. User could easily copy and share company secrets with competitors by copying the information on to a removable device and uploading it to another computer. Software was made available to block access to USB ports on sensitive terminals. The second policy that I will discuss is the Control power management settings. Power management on a single computer can save energy and money. Enforcing a power management strategy can save a company substantial money over a period of time. This policy is located in the administrative tools section of the MMC and contains several folders for apply policies to different aspects of power management. The power management setting is applied through group policy will override settings made by users in the control panels power applet. The third policy that will be discussed in this essay is the button settings policy. The button settings folder contains several policy options. Those policies are listed as follows: The power button, the sleep button, the start menu power button, the lid switch, power button for battery power,  the sleep button for battery power, the start menu button for battery power, and the lid switch for battery power. The actions you will take to assign each of the buttons is as follows: Take no actions, sleep, hibernate and shutdown. The fourth policy that will be discussed in this essay is the notification settings policy. This policy allows you to configure the following policies: Critical battery notification action Low battery notification action Critical battery notification level Turn off low battery user notification Low battery notification level With these policies you can set the levels at which notifications will be triggered. 5. The user account control settings is the last policy discussed in this essay. It was one of the most prominent security improvements in vista user account control. The settings must be changed under the computer configuration node in the left pane of the group policy object editor. Listed are some of the policies that are in the security options folder: The admin approval mode, the application detection policy, and the secure desktop policy.

Consumer Behaviour of Brazilians to detergents

Consumer Behaviour of Brazilians to detergents Consumer behaviour is a process where individuals or groups go through to select, purchase, use and dispose of goods, services, ideas or experiences to satisfy their needs and desires (Solomon, Marshall, Stuart, Barnes and Mitchell, 2009). The major question for any company: How do consumers respond to various marketing efforts the company might use? The following diagram shows that the marketing and stimuli enter the consumers Black Box (consumers mind) and produce certain responses. Fig 1: Stimulus response model of buyer behaviour Consumer behaviours are influenced strongly by cultural, social, personal and psychological characteristics as shown below: Fig 2: Factors influencing consumer behaviour (Source: Philip Kotler, Gary Armstrong, Veronica Wong John Saunders, Principles of Marketing, 1999) Culture: Culture is the most basic value of a persons wants and behaviour. In Unilever case at Brazil, the clothes are washed more frequently in NE than SE approx. 5 times a week against 3.9 times. Most of the women at NE are housewives and they took this activity of washing clothes as pleasurable activities. There is one more reason that the women at NE mostly do their washing in a public laundry, river or pond because it gives them an opportunity to become social, meet their friends where at SE mostly women do their washing at home alone. The people at NE also attach the cleanliness as a symbolic value to their status. Due to the cultural differences and washing methods, the laundry soap consumption at NE per buyer is 20.4 kg against only 6.8 kg of SE. On the contrast, there was very less difference between the consumption of detergent powders between NE and SE, only 1.5 kg per buyer. (refer to exhibit 3) Social Class: Social classes are societys relatively permanent and ordered divisions whose member share similar values, interests and behaviours. In Brazil there are 5 social classes based on the income as: A, B, C, D and E (E+ E-). As per exhibit 2, only 21% population of SE is E class compared to 53% of NE. So the most of the population at NE are low income consumers. Generally the lower social class people are more culture-bound which shows their behaviour of buying detergents. Family: Family members can strongly influence buyer behaviour. The buyers spouse and children has a direct influence on everyday buying behaviour. In case of Brazil, majority of NE women see the cleanliness of clothes as an indication of the dedication of the mother to her family in spite of washing through laundry soap requires an intensive labour. This fact influences the consumer to buy the different detergents mostly laundry soaps at Brazil. Most of the families with washing machine prefer to buy detergent powder (there only 28% household own the washing machine at NE) instead of laundry soap. Economic Situation: A persons economic situation will affect product choice which is clearly visible at Brazil. The low income consumers of NE would like to buy Omo, the best brand of the market but their tight budget leads them to buy cheaper local brands from the nearby small shops. Perception and Beliefs: In Brazil, the consumers (primarily low income) evaluate the detergent against the six key attributes as shown in exhibit 6 along with price. Since Campeiro scored very low on all the attributes and resulted with only 6% of market share. The consumers of NE are very particular about the various attributes of detergents like power of the detergent (its ability to clean and whiten clothes with a small quantity of product) judged by the quantity of foam it produced. The low income consumers are also very much attached with boxes and regarded anything else as good for only second-rate products. The major factors which influence the consumer behaviour are discussed above. Most large companies also research consumer buying decisions which are closely related with the factors of consumer behaviour. A typical buyer decision process can be shown as below: Fig:3 Buyer Decision Process Model (Source: Philip Kotler, Gary Armstrong, Veronica Wong John Saunders, Principles of Marketing, 1999) In the given case, the purchase of detergent is a regular purchase for any family. Since the most of the families owned a washing machine at SE, so they are much focussed to buy the detergent powder. At NE only 28% households own the washing machine. The important fact here is that both the consumers of NE and SE are well aware about the brand and recognises Omo as the best detergent powder in the market. But at NE, approx 53% consumers cant afford to buy the Omo due to their low-income. The Northeasterns are also not fond of shopping at big retails like Wal-Mart, instead of they prefer to buy the detergent from the near buy shops. As per the details provided in the case, it seems that the Unilever brand is not available in 75000 small store of NE where the products of their competitors are available. In this situation, the consumers have limited option to buy. Answer 1 (ii) The market in terms of the main brands/players and their strategies At present in the NE detergent market, there are only two major players- Unilever and Procter Gamble. There are a few local players are also available in the market but mostly they are in the laundry soap market. Unilever is a US$56 billion company, headquartered in London (UK) with 300,000 employees in more than 150 countries. Unilever started its operation in 1929 and now become a pioneer of the consumer goods industry in Brazil. Unilever launched the first detergent powder as Omo in the Brazilian market. As mentioned in the case, Unilever is a market leader in the detergent powder category, having 81% of market share with three brands: Omo (one of the Brazils favourite brand) Minerva (Only brand sold as both detergent powder and laundry soap) Campeiro (Unilevers cheapest brand) Omo is a premium product with 52% of market share at a price of $3/kg. The main USP of Omo is the high ability to remove stains. Minerva is relatively cheaper brand as compare to Omo with 17% share in the detergent powder at a price of $2.4/kg. Minerva is the only Unilever brand which is competing with local brands in laundry soap market and is the market leader. In the laundry soap market Minerva have 19% share at a price of $1.7/kg. On the other hand, Procter Gamble is a US$40 billion company, headquartered in Cincinnati (US) with 98,000 employees in 80 countries. PG entered in the Brazilian market in 1988 and acquired the detergent business of a Brazilian company named as Bombril and its three brands: Quonto (migrated as Ace) Odd Fases (migrated as Bold) Pop (low-price brand) PG is the second player with 15% share of the Brazilian detergent market. Ace is the main brand of PG and competitor to Unilever products (Omo and Minerva) with 11% share in the detergent powder market at a price of $2.4/kg. The other products of PG have only 6% share of the market at a price of $2.3/kg. PG did not manufacture laundry soap. At present the NE detergent powder market worth of US$106 million is growing with a remarkable annual rate of 17%. Since the manufacturing process is very capital intensive, so the entry barrier is very high in this market. On the contrary, the laundry soap market worth of US$102 millions is growing at a slower annual rate of 6%. Since the production of soap is very cheap, thus there are low barriers to entry. Currently PG are targeting towards the low-income consumers of the NE market. PG drawing on worldwide RD and marketing expertise is closing up and will attack to this segment. There were also threats of small local brands targeted at low-income consumers. Unilever is also looking to explore the growth opportunities in the detergent market to low-income consumers of NE. But Unilever is facing some internal resistance from Mr. Fernanda Machado (Category Manager for detergents). Answer 1(iii) Present situation of Unilever and its Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats With the data available in the case study, the Unilever SWOT analysis is as below: Table :1 SWOT Analysis Answer 2 Strategy for Unilever in Brazil Unilever would follow the Target Marketing Strategy (Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning) strategy for the low-income consumers in Brazil. The following diagram explains the various steps involved Target- marketing process: Source: Solomon, Marshall, Stuart, Barnes and Mitchell Marketing: Real People, Real Decisions 1st European Editions Fig: 4 Steps in the Targeting Marketing Strategy Segmentation: The detergent market at Brazil is already segmented into two parts: High Income consumers living at Southeast Low income consumers living at Northeast The Northeast market could be classified under Geodemography segment due to most of the consumers have low income and share similar characteristics. Targeting: Detergent Market segment is registering a 17% annual growth in Brazil and there is a big potential market in NE with 48 M of Low Income consumers. The Purchasing power of the low income consumers has increased by 27%. Positioning: Here Unilever had to develop a strategy for the target segment with a product that meets the consumers requirement and expectations. Based on the current situation as mentioned in the case, I feel that the Unilever has the following options to penetrate the low income consumers at Brazil: Option 1- Unilever could reposition the Minerva further down market in relation to Omo Brand Option 2- Unilever could re-launch of the Campeiro as a low-cost brand Option 3- Unilever could develop a cheaper version of the Omo brand Option 4- Unilever can create a new Brand or launch a new brand from its portfolio in Brazil. Option 1 will be less costly option to implement by Unilever since Minerva brand is already present in the mind of Brazilian consumers. But I feel that it was not well positioned in the market. Minerva is a product target to the middle income consumers and there was no details mentioned in the case about them. Thus repositioning Minerva to further down for low income consumers will reduce its market share from 17% (refer Exhibit 7) to even lower therefore it will create a new opportunity for other competitors in the market. Option 2 will become costly and ineffective for Unilever because already Campeiro is recognized as a low cost and low quality product (with ref. to exhibit 8). Hence changing the image of Campeiro in consumers (low income) mind will take a very long time to achieve. Option 3 could not be implemented by Unilever because Omo is a high quality and high price product (ref. to exhibit 5, 7, 8 9). It would also create confusion between the two version of Omo (High quality and the cheaper version) in the detergent powder market. There is also a possibility that the consumers of Southeast also start consuming the cheaper version on Omo and it will lead towards the reduced sale of High quality Omo. So Unilever should not attempt to develop a cheaper version of Omo. Option 4 based on the SWOT analysis (refer table 1, Page no. 7); Unilever could plan to develop a new product for the low income consumers. Since Unilever is having a very vast range of detergent brands. So instead of investing to develop a new product, Unilever might also choose a product from its Latin America portfolio, a brand which satisfies the needs of low income consumers with in Brazil. Unilever can use either of PULL or PUSH strategy in order to penetrate the Low income consumer market of Northeast Brazil. The Push strategy: There was no doubt that the best detergent available on the Brazilian market is Omo. With ref to the exhibit 7, Unilever dont have any competitor for their Omo brand being the costliest product in the detergent powder market. As per option4, Unilever should introduce the extension of Minerva Brand instead of developing a new brand. The extension of Minerva brand as Minerva Blue 10/10; with more cleaning power while retaining the fragrance and less emphasis on softness; packaged in the cardboard boxes. Now the following Marketing Mix should be implemented to penetrate the Northeast market: Minerva Blues target groups are the low income consumers who buy local brands and detergents from the small stores located in Northeast. The Marketing Mix for PUSH strategy is as below: Product: The Minerva Blue would be packaged in two sizes 1 Kg and 500 g. The Minerva Blue would be designed attractively so that the even illiterate consumers can recognize it very easily. The packaging should be designed in such a way that it would be easy to open and also protect the powder from humidity. Price: The price of Minerva Blue should be cheaper than Campeiro. Unilever have to identify a cheaper packaging formula so that it can reduce the whole sale price of Minerva Blue below than Campeiro. Unilever could use the following approach to price the Minerva Blue: Formulation cost: $ 1.00 Packaging cost: $ 0.30 Promotional cost: $ 0.30 Distribution cost: $ 0.05 Total cost: $ 1.65 Place: As per the details mentioned in the given case, Northeasterns are not in favor to shop from big outlets, they prefer to shop from small stores. The big issue is that Unilever detergents are absent from 75,000 stores in Northeast where the products of other competitors like PG and as well as local brands are available. Distribution of the products in Northeast is the major weakness of Unilever. In order to cover all the 75,000 small stores of Northeast, Unilever should have to introduce its own units of vans, visiting every single store trying to list all Unilever detergent brands. Unilever could also distribute its Minerva Blue brand in SE, as per exhibit 2, approx 21% of the population of Southeast is in class E. Promotion: Since the consumers of Northeast are buying from the nearby small stores. Thus Unilever should focus to have promotions and visibility of their products in those stores. The promotion should be in such a way that when a consumer entered into a small store must realize that the Unilever had created a brand Minerva Blue only for him, his own version of Omo. Unilever could follow the conventional methods of advertising ATL (Above the Line) campaign to deliver the right message to the low income consumers through media such as television, radio, print and banners to promote its brand. As per the given details, the Brazilians are avid television watchers irrespective of their income. Unilever could also promote their product in popular parties of Northeast like Carnival, Forro Festivals and Maracatu. The low income consumers might be reluctant to buy a product advertised as FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE, because it gives a message of inferior quality product. So Unilever should never use in an ATL communication the term of FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE . Pull strategy: With ref. to the case, there are total 7 products in the detergent powder market where 75% of market share captured by Unilever through its 3 products all combined: Omo, Minerva and Campeiro (ref. to exhibit 7). Thus introduction of a new product from its portfolio will create cannibalization for Unilever. The same concern is also raised by Mr. Fernanda. So instead of introducing a new brand in the market, Unilever should focus to expand its detergent powder market share by adding new consumers. This can be achieved only by pushing the low income consumers to buy Unilever products. In other words, upgrade the laundry soap consumers to detergent powder consumers. The marketing MIX for PULL strategy is as below: Product: Unilever had to promote their all 3 brands: Omo, Minerva and Campeiro in the small stores of Northeast. Promotion: The promotion strategy would remain same as PUSH strategy. On top of that in store promotions are very important. Unilever could offer a very attractive offer to the low income consumer which insist the NE population to buy the Unilever products like Buy 1 Campeiro and get one free or can earn some points which could lead them to get a free Omo etc. The above strategy will attract new consumers for detergent powders. Simultaneously Unilever could also signup business contracts to promote the Unilever products with the Washing machine dealers. So whenever any consumer buys a new washing machine the dealer would suggest them to use only the Unilever Brand detergent powders. Place: The distribution strategy could be the same as mentioned in the PULL Strategy. In addition to that, Unilever should ensure that in any small store their all 3 brands must be available at any moment with different SKU which gives an opportunity to the capable consumers to upgrade themselves for high price detergents. Unilever should also ensure that if the small store owners/managers can offer an exclusive section of Unilever products where only Unilever products are available. So in such case consumer dont have any options to buy any other detergent. Price: Currently Campeiro is the only brand focused to low income consumers which is available for $ 1.70 to retailers compare to its actual cost $ 1.45. Thus at wholesale price Unilever is able to have the margin of approximately 17%. Hence Unilever could reduce its margin by redefining the formula of Campeiro which could add some more attribute as per the need of NE consumers like clean and whiten clothes with a small quantity with good quantity of foam, add some perfume etc. Conclusion: Being the low income consumers doesnt affect their brand conscious. These consumers are always looking for good and reliable quality product at a fair price. These consumers might not be able to afford the best brand of the market, but they do see the high price of such products as an indication of value. More than three-quarters of the global population is low income, and many of them have been historically beyond the reach of organized retailers. In the given case study of Brazilian Fabric Wash Market, the population of Northeast is well aware about the Unilever Brand: Omo but due to high price they cant afford it. To serve low-income consumers successfully, Unilever must first account for their lower purchasing power. To penetrate the Low income market, Unilever might use the concept of 4 As as below: Promote offering through mix of outlets Reduce Cost to serve Shorten Supply Chain Select and support retailers Localize sourcing Reduce packaging size for low price per unit Focus development on customers Employ innovative thinking to meet Fig: 4As Diagram Sources: Jame Andereson, Net Blog Serving the worlds Poor, Innovation at the base of Economic Pyramid Based on the above discussion of PUSH and PULL strategies, PULL strategy would give the result in a longer term but the PUSH strategy would give the result immediately. So I would recommend PUSH strategy as the Best Strategy for Unilever in Brazil. In the short term, Money need to be invested and therefore diverted from premium brands to low price brand. It gives Unilever a momentum and advantage in a fast growing market. With the right strategy, low income consumers will be ready to pay for a new brand and Omo buyers will not move which will make Unilever a leader in low-income consumer marketing.

River Journey In Brazil :: essays research papers

Dear Irene, I would first like to thank you, for encouraging me to enter the competition and I could not believe that I won. As soon as they called out my name on the radio, I went running around my house, crazy, jumping up and down on my small bed, which I think I ruined the springs in it. Although it’s a pity you could not come with me, because the fact is that I had a spectacular holiday. There was a variety of choices on where to go, but none of them interests me except for one that I have not tried yet, and that was ‘Rafts and river journeys’ in the Amazon river, Brazil. I have never, in my life, experienced river journeys and I heard it could be a lot of fun and dangerous so I can face my fears. My best friend, Mike, and I went on a first class ticket in Brasilia Airlines that was very comfortable for a six-hour trip. As we landed on the capital of Brazil, Brasilia we didn’t imagine that this city can be strikingly beautiful, and fortunately is a lot better than Jeddah. We then met our raft experts in the airport. They were both female, which was really unexpected, because the experts are usually male, well one of them is called Joila and the other one’s called Lavita, I find Lavita very attractive. She had a tall, fit body, long blonde hair and a face more beautiful than Cindy Crawford. They took us to the city. The city had unspoiled landscapes, different types of antique markets around a distinctive building, there were several skyscrapers in the middle of the city, but that didn’t spoil the scenery, if you were in the middle of the city you would see lime-green mountains at a very long distance. They drove us to their camp, which was far out of the c ity and nearby the Amazon River. The campsite was in a charming location, along the campsite was pale green bushes around the campsite, caravans just beside the entrance was very big because it is used for their office, a small lake can be seen just a few hundred metres beside the camp for us to practice, there is an exotic view if you looked on top of the small hill, it was as if you were on top of the world. Lavita firstly showed us to our small white caravans for us to unpack.

Essay --

What are our objective for today? †¢ Overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) †¢ Overview of health insurance coverage requirements in 2014 †¢ Explore media resources to learn about the Affordable Care Act †¢ Overview of Kaiser’s plan to advertise and implement affordable care †¢ Review and evaluation of Kaiser’s presentation of the ACA †¢ Affordable Healthcare is Here! †¢ On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became federal law. It is one of the most significant reforms of the Healthcare system in a century (Hicks & Nicols, 2012). Beginning January 1, 2014, affordable Healthcare insurance will be made available to all American citizens and residents. †¢ Affordable Health Care 2014 †¢ The Affordable Care Act was developed to increase the accessibility, quality, and affordability of health care insurance in the United States. Individuals who are able to afford health care, must obtain health care coverage by 2014. The consequence of course is a monthly fee and/or tax penalties (this excludes those that meet certain financial criteria) †¢ (unknown, Understanding Health Care Reform, 2013) What Affordable Care Provides The law provides for: ï  ¶ Health benefits to all ï  ¶ Free preventative services ï  ¶ Improves Medicaid and CHIP programs ï  ¶ Mandates larger companies insure employees ï  ¶ Creates a Marketplace to compare and enroll in low cost insurance plans (unknown, Affordable Care Act Summary, 2013) What Affordable Care Eliminates The law eliminates: ï  ¶ Pre-existing conditions ï  ¶ Insurance companies dropping coverage ï  ¶ Gender discrimination in charges (unknown, Affordable Care Act Summary, 2013) Types of coverage? ïÆ'Ëœ Through your employer †¢ You are already covered and don’t have to do anything unless contacted by your insu... ...back in 2010. The delay in implementation of health care reform created disinterest and a sense that reform would never happen. ïÆ'Ëœ Mixed messages * Political partisan issues- all of us have heard the republican party criticizing health care reform. This has been confusing to some and infuriating to others, but it has definitely impacted the confidence most people have in health care reform (Moore, 2013). One of the fundamental goals of any individual is for health and well-being. Health care reform seems like an answer to our prayers. It promises a change in health care delivery; to provide better care for more people at reduced costs. Whether or not the Affordable Care Act accomplishes this goal remains to be seen. In the long term, we may find it was a brilliant plan, by educated minds, to provide our country with a healthy and more promising future.

The Role of Music in Thomas Hardys Writing :: Biography Biographies Essays

The Role of Music in Thomas Hardy's Writing Music played a role of marked importance in the life of Thomas Hardy. Hardy was surrounded by a family and a community in which music enhanced everything from church services to social gatherings at the local alehouse. His family was full of active musicians; his father and grandfather were instrumentalists in local church bands, his uncle was a violin player, and his mother often sang traditional ballads. Like many village musicians, Hardy had the ability to read music and play the violin. Although he owned a written collection of music, Hardy, like other villagers, focused on an oral musical tradition. Hardy could play several hundred songs on the violin, and was exposed to countless others at family, village, and church gatherings. This music, and the rural tradition out of which it grew, were foundations on which Hardy built a literary identity. Through the incorporation of music into his works, Hardy strove to preserve the musical traditions of his familiar rural settings. In his prose, Hardy used music as a means to evoke emotional responses from his characters. The introduction of music into a lush, fertile nature, such as that described in chapter XIX of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, resulted in a heightened sensuality of the character. As Tess walked through the outskirts of the garden, the music of Angel's harp intensified both her physical and emotional states. In chapter VI of Far From the Madding Crowd, Gabriel Oak sought respite from his sorrow through "the sound of the well-known notes [that] cheered his own heart."(Hardy) By playing his flute in the malthouse, Gabriel shared his joy in music with the townspeople. Hardy incorporated a traditional piece of rural life into his novels using folk songs and church music. He presented folk music in Tess of the d'Urbervilles as a symbolic link between Tess's past and her present circumstances. Tess is reminded of a lullaby sung to her as a child as she is trying on her wedding gown. At that point she realizes the significance of the familiar tune with the current events in her life. In Under the Greenwood Tree, Hardy relied on traditional church hymns to develop the Christmas caroling scene with the Mellstock Church Choir. The tradition of caroling in these rural societies exemplifies the role of church music in the lives of the rustic people. Hardy extensively used music in both the structural composition and thematic development of his poetry.

My Interpretation of the Chrysanthemums

My Interpretation of â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is one of John Steinbeck’s popular short stories. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† represents inequality of gender, limitations, and feminism. The story is about a married woman living in the early 1900s who longs for a more exciting, meaningful existence. Elisa Allen is intelligent, accomplished, attractive, and ambitious. Yet she feels confined in her life and marriage. Steinbeck uses the world around Elisa to give the reader a comparison to her life. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley at her husband, Henry Allen’s, ranch in the foot-hills.Steinbeck opens the story up by describing to us how the fog closes off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from the rest of the world. â€Å"The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed of the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world† (438). This comparison shows how Elisa feels inside. Even her house compares to a prison. â€Å"Behind her stood the neat white farmhouse with red geraniums close-banked around it as high as the windows† (439). Elisa spends most of her days alone, behind her wire fence. She feels cut off from society.Elisa’s husband works as a successful rancher but doesn’t involve the smart and interested Elisa with the business of the ranch. In his eyes she belongs in the house or the garden. They don’t have an intimate relationship and it lacks any kind of romance. In the beginning of the story, she watches from a distance behind the wire fence as her husband talks with the men in suits but Henry does not invite her over. Elisa wants to travel and be free to do as she pleases but is suppressed by society because of her gender. She becomes intrigued when she meets a traveling repairman by his way of life.When Elisa expresses interest to him about his life, â€Å"It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things. † The wanderer tells her, â€Å"It ain’t the right kind of life for a woman† (445). Elisa feels a little off-put by his response and tries to argue with him. Elisa asks â€Å"How do you know? How can you tell? † He protests â€Å"I don’t know ma’am, of course I don’t know† (445). We are given the impression of strength and capability in Elisa. We can tell Elisa’s a good nurturer because of the way she tends her garden and keeps a clean organized home.Her chrysanthemums are the biggest healthiest chrysanthemums around. Despite all that she has no children. Elisa puts all of her motherly energy into her flowers to fill the void of childlessness. Henry makes the statement to Elisa how she could make anything grow. â€Å"You’ve got a gift with things, some of those yellow chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across. I wish you’d work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big† (439). I believe this represents El isa’s fertility and Henry’s lack thereof. Steinbeck describes Elisa’s clothing in the beginning of the story as masculine. A man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clod-hopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold the snips, the trowel and scratcher, the seeds and the knife she worked with. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she worked† (438-439). This description reflects her lack of sexuality. Shortly after she meets the traveler she begins to shed some of these items, like the gloves and hat. At first she feels irritated by the insistency of the man because she had no need for someone to repair her pots or sharpen her scissors.Her attitude changes toward him when he expresses interest in her flowers. The thought of her chrysanthemums shared with another part of the world makes Elisa feel like a little part of her might escape. Her demeanor suddenl y changes. He makes her feel intellectually and physically stimulated. Her feminine sexuality awakens. She turns the conversation of the chrysanthemums into something sexual. â€Å"When the night is dark-why, the stars are sharp-pointed, and there’s quiet. Why, you rise up and up! Every pointed star gets driven into your body.It’s like that. Hot and sharp and lovely† (444). She completely surrenders herself to him as manifested by her kneeling before him â€Å"like a fawning dog† as she hands him the chrysanthemum shoots. But despite all that, the traveler holds no interest in her or her flowers. This symbolizes society’s rejection of women in the workforce no matter their talents. Elisa has hope of a more interesting life. She takes special care in dressing for dinner. She stares at herself naked in the mirror. She pokes her chest out and tightens her stomach.She puts on sexy lingerie and a dress that brings out her beauty. She puts make-up on. By Elisa looking more like a beautiful sexy woman, she is stepping into her femininity. When Henry gets home and starts dressing for dinner Elisa nervously waits on the porch for a reaction on her appearance from her passionless husband. â€Å"She looked toward the river road where the willow-line was still yellow with frosted leaves so that under the high grey fog they seemed a thin band of sunshine† (447). Sunshine symbolizes happiness, she’s slightly hopeful for some happiness in her life.When Henry walks out onto the porch he feels off-put by her appearance. She fishes for a complement. Henry tells her she looks strong and she comments back to him â€Å"I am strong. I never knew before how strong† (447). Before they leave Elisa goes into the house and takes extra care in putting on her hat and her coat, which I think is interesting because she doesn’t put on gloves so there is still a feeling of feminine sexuality there. She isn’t hiding herself like in the beginning of the story. As Elisa and Henry drive to town she sees a black speck in the road.She immediately knows what it is, her chrysanthemum shoots she had given the traveler. He tossed them out on the road. She feels betrayed by this man. He didn’t care about her flowers, he only wanted her money. Her hope dwindles. Elisa starts to step back into herself. This act symbolizes how society deems woman as unimportant just as how the traveler sees her flowers as unimportant. She then asks her husband if they could have wine with their dinner. She tries to satisfy some of her needs through this small act of abnormality. She then asks her husband about going to watch the men fight.Henry says he will take her but doesn’t think that she will like it and was unaware that she was interested in such things. Elisa asks if any women go to the fights, Henry tells her there are some that go. Elisa changes her mind because she understands that it is not acceptable for a lady in those times to watch such things. Now she could have gone to the fights, of course, but fear holds her back. I believe in that moment she loses hope for a brighter, more exciting existence. â€Å"She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying—weakly like and old woman† (448).Notice how she covers her body again. I think the assumption can be made by the last sentence in the story that Elisa’s life doesn’t become what she subconsciously hoped. She realizes her closed off, uneventful, lonesome way of living will continue. She grows old with this same unsatisfactory life, no children, passion, or exploration. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is an interesting story because it was published in 1937 when a married woman’s only place in society was at home, yet it is unashamedly written in the point of view of the woman.This story was carefully written by Steinbeck so we as readers don’t condemn her for her actions. We could have felt that she was betraying her husband in a way by flirting with the wanderer. Instead we sympathize with her and understand her feelings, and why she does the things she does and feels the way she feels. It is almost like John Steinbeck could see into the future and what was to come. Did he see society’s unequal treatment of women and men? Did he feel that it was wrong to treat women as if they had no other use in society?I believe he did. He uses this story to show the society of that time the inequality of men and women, and the way it makes a woman feel. The reader reads this story and doesn’t even realize that what they are feeling is compassion for Elisa Allen because of limitations that are set on her and every other woman at that time. This story could have been a very strong political tool in its time for feminism. Bibliography Steinbeck, John â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† The Seagull Reader Stories. Ed. Joseph Kelly. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 437-448. Print

Quality Check Point

After talking to some neighbors and friends, my husband decided to purchase a Tort 235 MPH blower. The customer service representative talked him into purchase the extended warranty service as well. After analyzing, the product decided to give it a rating from one to ten on the following specs: ; Quiet and powerful – 8 – The Tort blower is more powerful than most handheld gas-powered blowers are. The Tort is quieter and clean- running, it does not pollute the environment. Variable speed motor – 9 – The variable speeds are a great feature because you can blow around lanes without damaging them ; Low cost – 9 – With a cost of gas the electric Tort has seemed to be the right choice at the time. ; Lightweight – 7 -we have a good size yard so the weight seems to be an advantage but after using the unit the straps were quiet uncomfortable. ; Cord limited to 150 feet -2 – this product is design for small yards, one of the features no o ne option to let us know before we purchase this blower.The cords also get tangle very easily around bushes and rocks having to frequently stop to free it. ; Vacuum bag awkward. – 3 -the vacuum tube attachment is quite long and with the bag over your shoulder is very uncomfortable. The vacuum gets clog up very easy with wet leaves and it gets to be a burden because we have to take it apart to unclog it. ; Extended Warranty Service- 1 – The motor burned out on this unit Just two months after we purchase it.Trying to get a hold of a live person seems to be a challenge; we either get an automated service saying that we are calling after hours, to leave a message or to call during business hours. If we called during business hours, we either were put on hold for a long erred and after that, we got someone on the line that could hardly speak English, a total disappointment. After reviewing all the pros and cons of the Tort blower, I would rate this product at a five because even If works great on dry leaves It Jams very easily with wet leaves.It Is very uncomfortable to use for a long period due to the cord- getting tangle up easily around bushes and the vacuum attachment are too long making It Is very uncomfortable. References: Consumerists. Org retrieved from Google on December 7, 2010. Management: Challenges for Tomorrows Leaders (5th deed. ) P. S. Lewis, S. H. Goodman. M. Faint, and J. F. Michelson Thomson South-Western, 2007 Mason, OH seemed to be the right choice at the time. Lightweight – 7 – we have a good size motor burned out on this unit Just two months after we purchase it. Trying to get total disappointment. After reviewing all the pros and cons of the Tort blower, I would rate this product at a five because even if works great on dry leaves it Jams very easily with wet leaves. It is very uncomfortable to use for a long period due to the cord- making it is very uncomfortable. J. F. Masochistic Thomson South-Western, 2007 Mas on, OH

Discrimination Against Homosexuals in the Military Essay

Since 1993 more than 14,500 service members were fired under the law of †Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† (sldn. org). In 1950, President Harry S. signed the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which set up the discharge rules for homosexual service members. People wanting to serve their country were being discriminated and discharged because of their sexuality. Then in 1982, Ronald Reagan proposed a defense directive that states â€Å"Homosexuality is incompatible with military service† and people who engaged in homosexual acts or stated that they were homosexual or bisexual were discharged. In 1992, Bill Clinton, as a presidential candidate, promised to lift the ban. Finally in 1993, when Bill Clinton was elected president, he proposed a compromise that he named â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†. This law issued a defense directive that military applicants should not be able to be asked about their sexual orientation (Washington Post). Homosexuals being discriminated in the military have grabbed the attention of people all around the world. The question on whether or not homosexuals should have the right to serve in the military was a hotly debated topic in politics for the past few years. Even after the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, will our society be ready to accept others? The research started with searching â€Å"Homosexuals in the military†. Then â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† and personal stories of gays in the military was found. Unfortunately, no books could be found on this topic, but articles from top newspapers became a valid choice. Documentaries and podcasts were also looked at. Good sources were easy to find because the topic was so controversial in the US, so the news articles came in handy. The repeal of â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† was all over US news websites, and news clips from YouTube were found. Last fall, a pentagon study was released that said a majority of the US forces, more than 70%, said that serving with homosexuals would have no negative effect on them. Forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan had a different response. 58% of combat marines said that they would prefer not to serve with homosexuals. Since the repeal in late September, the effect has been positive on quite a lot of people. The main people who are opposed to the repeal are the military chaplains. The majority of the 3,000 active chaplains are conservative Christians. A retired chaplain, named Brigadier General Douglas Lee, is one of the 66 retired chaplains that wrote a letter to President Obama, urging him to not go through with the repeal. In a video showing the effects (positive and negative) of the repeal, shows Brigadier General Douglas Lee talking about â€Å"Don’t ask, Don’t Tell†. He says, â€Å"Homosexuality is one of a multitude of sins. Chaplains help people wrestle with the sins that bisect them and their lives. The problem with this repeal is that this particular sin is being legitimized as being normal and okay†. The problem with the non acceptance of the chaplains is that many and most conservative Christians believe that homosexuality, like all of the other sins in the bible, is a lifestyle choice (Pbs. org). According to another Pentagon Study, thirty-five other countries allow homosexuals to serve openly with no negative effect (Sldn.  org). Consider two men, both wanting to serve their country, one is gay and one is straight. They get all of the same test scores, and pass, yet only the straight guy is let in, not because of anything else other than his sexuality. If the same circumstances had happened, instead with a man and a woman, it would be sexist. If one was white and the other was black, it would be racist. All of the victims of these situations would have protection under the law and could sue, except for the homosexual. The homosexual has no legal protection from the government (Library in a book: Gay Rights). The repeal could be the first step to changing this. September 20th 2011, Obama stated, â€Å"As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service†(UStoday. com). Military bases around the US have been holding sessions for service members to educate them on the repeal of â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†. They say, â€Å"You are not expected to change your religious or moral beliefs, however you are obligated to treat all others with dignity and respect† (Pbs. org). It seems as though that our society has been coping positively since the repeal. There are always going to be some people who will not stray from their views, but the percentages are going up and more and more people are willing to except homosexuals serving freely in the US.

“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy Essay

The poem, â€Å"Barbie Doll†, is about a girl who was growing up in a society which regard highly of female beauty. The title illustrates that most females were expected to be like Barbie dolls. These dolls cast pressure on the girl to be like supermodel. In this story, the girl failed to meet the standards of society and viewed as a social outcast.The first paragraph describes a growing girl who was presented with dolls, miniature GE stoves, irons and lipsticks. This will ensure that the girl will know which gender roles she should be and not too deviate from the accepted social custom. The mood of the poem changes when the author describes, the magic of puberty. Here, it refers to a time of emotional crisis that the girl went through as she matures. She is constantly teased for not looking like the typical Barbie dolls. The second paragraph began with mentioning the girls positive aspects, such as She was healthy, tested intelligent, possesses strong arms and back and abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity, These sentences portray the girl image (female) to male characteristics. The tome in the poem changes again when the author stated, the girl went to and fro apologizing, and everyone still say she had a fat nose and thick legs, the society again, scorn at the ugly appearance of the girl. In the third paragraph, line twelve to sixteen, the girl is expected to fake her natural behavior, emotion and characteristics. The fan belt was used to exemplify that one cannot endure the pressure placed by society to meet their standards and will wear out eventually. Consequently, she cut off her nose and legs. Therefore, the last paragraph expressed her death as consummation at last. Dont she look pretty? Everyone said. In this line, the author wants the reader to make good judgment to the senseless situation in which society judge beauty to female. I think that children, especially boys, are not born with hatred or feelings of enmity towards female who have physical figures below social standards. They are all programmed that way by selfish or ignorant male adults. If these male adults can only take a look at themselves and see that all they have done is to destroy. The lives of their opposite sex, driving down their  self-esteem to the deepest pit, then this society will be a better place to live in.

A study on the bobath concept

A study on the bobath concept The Bobath Concept was established by the physiotherapist Berta Bobath and her husband Dr Bobath. Prior to the Bobath Concept emphasis was put on an orthopaedic approach using a range of treatments including massage, heat and splints (Raine, 2009, p.1). However, whilst treating a stroke patient, Berta Bobath found that facilitating movement in the affected limb had a profound effect on regaining function and with input from her husband they formed the Bobath Concept (Raine 2009, p.2). The Bobath Concept is still used by many practitioners with Lennon (2003, p.456) finding that out of the 1022 practitioners that took part in a questionnaire relating to stroke rehabilitation 67% preferred to use the Bobath Concept. However, despite significant use within neurological rehabilitation it has not been proven to be superior to other treatment approaches (Kollen et al, 2009, p.90). There are a number of neurological rehabilitation approaches available to practitioners. In studies analysing the use of approaches within physiotherapy for stroke patients it is apparent that the Bobath Concept and Motor Relearning are by far the most popular approaches with Johnstone and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) being used by some therapists (David and Waters 2000, p.74). This essay will aim to critically discuss the use of the Bobath Concept in stroke rehabilitation with reference to its current criticisms and lack of evidence to suggest its superiority compared with the other approaches Stroke is caused by deprivation of oxygen to part of the brain causing loss of consciousness and neural damage (Baer and Durward, 2004, p.76). Johansson (2000) suggest that the notion of plasticity comes from Merzenich and colleagues who found evidence to suggest that cortical maps can be modified by sensory input, experience and learning as well as in response to a lesion within the brain. This could therefore explain why the facilitation of movement advocated in the Bobath Concep t works well. The British Bobath Training Association (no date) suggests that the contemporary Bobath Concept consists of the facilitation of movement within the patients environment utilising a problem solving approach to enhance the motor control of the body. This concurs with the International Bobath Instructors Training Association (IBITA 2008, p.1). At the time of its inception the Bobath was revolutionary as it promoted the regaining of function in the affected limb instead of merely finding ways to compensate for the affected limbs dysfunction which in turn leads to the regain of motor control of the affected limb (Graham et al 2009, p.57). The Bobath Concept has developed over time and as a result the IBITA have put together a document to outline a set of current theoretical assumptions of the Bobath Concept to include: ‘1. Linking participation, activities and underlying impairments 2. Organization of human behaviour and motor control 3. The consequences of injury and dysfunction in the execution of movement 4. Recovery Neural and muscle plasticity Motor learning 5. Measurement of outcome’ (IBITA 2008, pp.1). The IBITA state that the Bobath Concept has promoted the link between treatment activities and the patient’s activities of daily living for a number of years and that specific goals must be set for the individual patient (IBITA 2008, p.2). This suggests that the Bobath Concept is a very individual approach and there are no set criteria that address every patient in the same way. Lennon and Ashburn (2000, p.670-671) performed a focus group with expert therapists. Both groups in the study suggested that goal setting was an important component of the therapy. However, one group stated that goals were decided in the assessment and based upon the patient’s problem areas where as the other group stated that goals were based on regaining motor control and movement. It can be seen in these groups that although goals were seen a s important therapists may not be making them patient specific. There are drawbacks with this study in that the group was very small however as the study was a focus group this would have been necessary to remain in control in the group situation. Furthermore, the therapists were chosen though selection from their interest group (Association of chartered physiotherapists with an interest in neurology and physiotherapists interested in the care of older people) and as a result it is unclear whether these therapists are actually Bobath focused practitioners. Raine (2007, p.147) argues that in their study they found that goal and task orientation that was functional to the patient was a major feature of Bobath therapy. The participants were all members of the BBTA and had extensive Bobath training and therefore it would be accepted that their understanding of the assumptions behind the Bobath Concept would be great as they are teaching the concept to others. However, the study does not show the carryover of these assumptions to the practitioners that are not members within the BBTA.

Congress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Congress - Essay Example The US Congress consists of 435 voting members in the House of Representatives and 100 voting members in the US Senate, totaling to 535 members of the legislature. This paper will seek to discuss the organization and structure of Congress, membership of Congress, general Congressional authority, and modern problems facing Congress. Organization and Structure of Congress The United States Congress’ organizational structure is based on the Constitution, enacted legislation with presidential assent, and rules created by Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning it is made up of 2 bodies with legislative power; Senate and the House of Representatives (Smith et al, 2011). Prior to being sent to the executive, legislation has to pass through both chambers and approved. The Senate has one hundred members with the US Vice President being the chamber’s president and being the only official ion government who serves in two government br anches, although in a largely ceremonial role and votes when there is a tie. The actual functional leader is the majority Leader of Senate who is selected by either party depending on which has the most members (Smith et al, 2011), while the minority leader is head of the other party. The lower chamber of Congress is the House of Representatives made up of some 435 members with voting privileges. This chamber is led by the House Speaker elected by members of the party with a majority (Smith et al, 2011). The second most powerful member in this chamber is the majority leader of the house whose selection is also carried out by the party with the majority, while the party with the minority is headed by the Minority leader. Because of these differences in organizational structure, the voting rules in both houses are also different. For the House of Representatives, majority vote of those present is considered in passing legislation, while a supermajority of 60 is used in Senate. Subcomm ittees and committees do most of the duties carried out in both chambers of Congress where legislation under proposal is first considered (Smith et al, 2011). If a committee approves legislation, it becomes a bill and moves to the Senate or House of Representatives to be considered and ultimately voted on. Membership in Congress In the House of Representatives, members represent people living in a district and serve for a term of two years. The results of the US Census are used to apportion Congressional Districts to states with each state having at least one congressman or woman. Regardless of census results, every state has two Senators, each of whom serves six years (Bianco, 2010). Election of Senate members is staggered to ensure that a third of the house is up for election after two years. These groups of Senators are referred to as classes and each state has senators from different classes. The House of Representatives, as suggested by its name, is considered the most represen tative for the American population. Tied to their election, members of Congress work for periods of two years, each of which is referred to as a Congress, beginning from the start of the year after an election (Bianco, 2010). In order to become a member of the House of Representatives, one must be 25 years of age, while a Senator must be at least thirty years of age. With regards to citizenship, the US Constitution holds that hopefuls for membership to the House of