Multifunctional Metal Organic Frameworks Environmental Sciences Essay

Herein, I report MOFs with high selectivity of CO2 over CH4 and N2O every bit good as catalytic activity for transesterification. The ground why we research MOFs selective capturing CO2 is that CO 2 has more consequence on planetary heating than other GHGs. As a affair of fact, the CCS ( Carbon Capture & A ; Storage ) undertaking is pulling planetary attending now. In order to lend to this work, I have been analyzing fabrication techniques and word picture of MOFs which can be used to capture C dioxide and catalyze transesterification reactions.IntroductionAs society is turning and altering fast, the ingestion of fossil fuels has increased quickly. As the consequence, we are confronting well serious jobs, one of which is planetary warming caused by nursery gases ( GHGs ) including C dioxide ( CO2 ) , methane ( CH4 ) , azotic oxide ( N2O ) , ozone ( O3 ) , H2O vapour ( H2O ) and so on. Actually, many scientists have been seting attempt into happening steps which can be used for slowin g the planetary heating rate. They focused on the remotion of CO2 exhausted from pollution beginnings into the air. As portion of such attempts, the Carbon Capture & A ; Storage ( CCS ) undertaking is presently afoot worldwide. In the undertaking, many scientists are seeking for the stuffs to capture GHGs and reassign them safely for hive awaying them into deep inside the ocean. One of the stuffs being developed are Metal-Organic Frameworks ( MOFs ) . MOFs are porous stuffs incorporating metal ions and organic molecules or ligands ( ions or molecules that bind to cardinal metal atoms to organize coordination composites ) . The advantages of MOFs are robustness and flexibleness ( Millard and Yaghi, 2005 ) . There is besides a turning involvement in MOF-based catalytic systems because of their high recyclability and responsiveness ( Farrusseng, 2009 ) . MOFs have the ability to catalyse many reactions used in industrial production. One of the reactions which MOFs can catalyse is transesterification reactions ( the procedure of interchanging the organic group R1 of an ester with the organic group R2 of an intoxicant ) , which is an of import procedure for the synthesis of biodiesel. Biodiesel made from works oils such as vegetable oil and tree oil is a nontoxic and environmental friendly fuel. Therefore, biodiesel synthesis is being considered as a possible option to fossil fuel exhaustion ( Meher, Sagar, and Naik, 2006 ) . Many scientists have studied many methods of MOFs synthesis, one of which is a molecular self-assembly ( the procedure by which molecules adopt a defined agreement without counsel or direction from an outside beginning ) . After that, they characterized these MOFs by utilizing several analysis setup such as X raies diffractometer, PXRD ( Powder X-rays Diffraction ) , TGA ( Thermogravimetric Analysis ) , EA ( Element Analysis ) equipment, cryogenic volumetric CO2 adsorption/desorption analysis equipment and GC ( Gas Chromatography ) .Exploration of MOFsIn the 1965, Tomic mentioned stuffs which would today be called MOFs, metal-organic polymers or supramolecular constructions. Besides in the same twelvemonth, Biondi et Al. reported on Cu ( aaˆÂ ¦A? ) tricyanomethanide being a crystalline, polymeric compound. In 1990, Hoskins and Robson reported on the design of scaffold-like stuffs utilizing Cu ( aaˆÂ ¦A ) centres and tetracyanotetraphenylmethane. From the 1900s, constructions, belongingss and possible applications of MOFs as storage house have been studied. Nowadays several hundred different MOFs have been indicated. The characteristic of MOFs is that they contain cardinal metals linked through organic ligands, which form 3-dimensional models and the ligands normally bond via O atoms or N atoms. Furthermore, these stuffs have attracted a great attending in the last several decennaries. Applications in gas storage, contact action, and drug storage and bringing have been studied by many scientists. Particularly, among abilities above, gas storage and catalytic activity are being researching actively.Adsorption of Carbon Dioxidefig.1 MOFs capturing CO2 ( Robert, 2009 ) Recently people all over the universe think we need to cut down emanation of nursery gases and besides are doing assorted attempts to halt environmental catastrophe caused by planetary heating. There are several C dioxide emanations decrease engineerings: salvaging energy, high-efficiency energy use, non-fossil energy use like clean and renewable energy, transition engineering between renewable energy and fossil fuels, CCS ( Carbon Capture and Storage ) , ecological or biological intervention engineering and so on. Among these assorted decrease engineerings, particularly CCS is good known as the most effectual en gineering ; hence, many developed states are already concentrating on the most investing and research for CCS technological development ( Wee, 2008 ) . Harmonizing to Andrew, MOFs represent a category of porous stuffs that offer these advantages for CO2 storage. A good porous web should retain its construction even when all the guest molecules are hone. Therefore, it is need test the thermic stableness and hardiness by utilizing thermic hydrometric analysis ( TGA ) . Walton et Al. conducted experiment for proving hardiness of the MOFs they made. As the consequences, they got the isotherms over a broad scope of temperatures. They figured out that inflexions in the isotherms become more defined with increasing effectual pore size and this observation was gotten without any alteration of MOFs construction. This means the MOFs they synthesized can capture C dioxide any temperature and can recycle them because they do non demo any alterations of their construction. Besides, the key to dividing CO2 from power works fluke gases is to make a porous stuff that selectively captures CO2 molecules ( red-grey-red rods stand foring O=C=O ) and non nitrogen and H2O molecules. here, the porous stuff is a metal-organic model consisting of Co atoms ( purple ) linked by an organic bridging ligand ( 1,4-benzenedipyrazolate, with N and C atoms shown in bluish and gray, severally ) ( Robert, 2009 ) .Catalysis of MOFseq1. General equation of tranesterification reaction.Meher says, aa‚ ¬Aâ€Å"Biodiesel is deriving more and more importance as an attractivce fuel due to the consuming dodo fuel resourcesaa‚ ¬A? . Biodiesel is made by certain reaction called transesterification ( the procedure of interchanging the organic group R1 of an ester with the organic group R2 of an intoxicant ) . Harmonizing to Meher, this fuel is biodegradable and non-toxic stuffs and less release nursery emanation as compared to petroleum Diesel. The MOFs made by assorted methods can catalyse this reaction, transesterification. There is MOFs holding Cu as cardinal metal. Since Cu has late gained prominence as a accelerator for legion transmutations and MOFs incorporating Cu ( Cu ) are indissoluble in H2O and common organic dissolver such as DMF, DMSO, CH2Cl2, and EtOH, the responsiveness of the MOFs as heterogenous accelerators ( They have stage of which differs from that of the reactants. Besides, they can be reused several times ) was examined in the transesterification reaction of broad scope of esters with intoxicants. In our lab, we by and large use phenyl ethanoate and phenyl benzoate as a substrate and methyl alcohol as a dissolver. The basic equation of transesterification is like this: phenyl ethanoate methyl alcohol phenol methyl ethanoate eq2. Transesterification by utilizing phenyl ethanoate and methyl alcohol ( or phenyl benzoate ) ( or methyl benzoate ) Aside from MOFs holding Cu as cardinal metal, there are MOFs incorporating Zn ( Zn ) , dicarboxylic acids as chelator ( substance that binds peculiar ions, taking them from solution ) and bipyridyl ligands as spacer ( connection of 2D planar to organize 3D construction ) . They besides show good catalytic activity for transesterification reaction. Both of Cu MOFs and Zn MOFs are reclaimable because they are heterogenous accelerators without losing their catalytic activity. Consequently, these MOFs are greatly helpful cut down pollution caused by chemical compounds which are being ended up in the air or dirt every bit good as facilitation of biodiesel production for options to fossil fuel depletion.DecisionFrom last several decennaries, many scientists have put attempts to synthesise stuffs to slow planetary heating occurred by nursery gases emanation. One of the stuffs they made is MOFs, which can capture C dioxide that have the most impact on planetary warming acceleration among man y other nursery gases and catalyze transesterification reaction which is used for biodiesel ( alternate fuel ) production. In visible radiation of these advantages, MOFs can be first-class accelerators and great options for fossil fuel.

Bright Light Innovations: the Starlight Stove

Opportunity analysis and critical issues hidden in this case As the increasing pace of globalization, more and more companies seek opportunities to involve in the international trade. Expanding the market share and maximize the profits is the purpose of those companies. However, it is unlike the education. Most universities especially public universities are non-profit organization. Their purpose is not to earn enough money; on the contrary, the purpose of universities is to provide training and knowledge for students in order to benefit the society.In return, students pay appropriate fees and government provide monetary support to the university so that university can gain the ability to do the research and develop its hardware and software. In this way, university can have a sustainable development. So university can benefit from seeking opportunities in international expansion. First, students from different countries and cultural background can share their experience. It is a goo d chance for students and universities to participate in international market.Secondly, international universities can share resource with local universities. On the one hand, it can help develop the universities from developing countries; on the other hand, international universities can also gain advanced experience they are lack of. Thirdly, international universities can maximize their influence by cooperating with local government or some research institutions. In this case, Bright Light Innovations aims to opening its market in Nepal. In order to explore this market, the company considers a series of criteria.The first one is the â€Å"total population† and â€Å"population growth†. This factor established the foundation of consumption power. Jianfa Shen points out that the population is one of the factors to affect the market demand (Jianfa Shen, 1998). The more people live in the country, the larger potential market exists. The second one is the â€Å"natural climate†. Climate change determines the consumer’s consumption behavior to some extent (Seljom, 2011). Considering that the temperature of Nepal is very low, the Bright Light Innovation provides stove to local people who are in the need of warm.The third one is the â€Å"living habit of local people†. According to Jaime Alonso-Carrera’s study, â€Å"individual preferences are subject to both habit formation and consumption spillovers† (Jaime Alonso-Carrera, 2004). The case shows that most people in Nepal uses firewood as the main source of the energy. Due to this reason, the products of stoves meet the needs of local people. What’s more, the company also considers â€Å"political policy†. Whether the local government support or against the kind of products is the factor to affect the entering in the international market.The fourth hidden critical issue in this case is the â€Å"infrastructure† in Nepal. Well infrastructure contr ibutes to the potential growth of the company (Weiland, Scott J. 2012). If the company needs to set up a factory in the local place, infrastructure including electric, water, traffic and others should be considered. Finally, â€Å"income† determines the purchasing power in the local market. More income means more potential consumption to some extent. Alternatives and product lunch in foreign marketThe reason why Bright Light selects Nepal as its target market is that the market and the company can benefit from each other. Following factors can be contributed to the access of the products to Nepal. First, the local government can benefit from the company. Bright Light decides to set up a plant in local place; it helps the government solve the problem of employment. More people can be employed as the factory setting up; besides, the company can reduce much cost by setting up a factory in local place. Second, Bright Light helps protect the environment to some extent.As its stove is more efficient than traditional one, people will use less firewood. In this case, the forests can be protected and the environmental problem can be solved. Thirdly, family productivity increased 20 percent or more per day. People can have more free time to do other jobs rather than logging. Fourthly, Bright Lights contributes revenue to the government. The government can gain revenue from the tax. Finally, the stove can produce electric and the generated electric can be widely used in the home or in the school.The new products bring benefits to the government and the local people and the company gain revenues and profits from selling the products to the local people. The relationship between the company and the customers and government seems very important. Without permission, the company cannot enter this new market. In regard of the government (Nepal) that will not provide permission to try the new product, the company can consider other ways to enter this market. The Bright L ight can follow other companies which have been in Nepal and familiar with the local policy and culture.In this way, the Bright Light can build a partnership with that company; besides, the Bright Light also need to know the export or import policy of the Nepal so that it can fits the regulation by doing some changes. These two ways help the company meet the requirement of the government and have the right to enter the new market. Product promotion and advertising recommendations In rural areas, adult literacy rate is low in developing countries. A study shows that high literacy rate has significant positive effect on foreign direct investment inflow (CHEE-KEONG CHOONG, 2010).People in this area don’t know the words. So they don’t know the brand and the instructions of the products. It will lead to the low brand loyalty and cause a series of problems of products recognition. Some people may don’t understand how to use it and some people may don’t know how to solve the problems when something wrong with the stove. In other words, it directly affects the marketing strategy plan of the company. Schmitt, Natalie M. points out that the advertisement of the brand or label should be easy to recognize for customers so that it helps build up the brand-loyalty (Schmitt, Natalie M. 007). Following ways with advertisement can solve the problem. Focusing on verbal and audio can be a way of advertisements. In this way, people can better understand how the products functions and gradually set up the brand-loyalty to the products; besides, newspapers and videos also an efficient measure to send information to final customers. The usage and instruction of the products can be advertised on the newspaper in the form of pictures so that local people can easily understand. Other forms of advertising may also function well.The Bright Light can exhibit its products on the local trade fair or other expos. In this way, people can not only know the products, but also can try the new products. Although the goal of the company is to maximize its profits, it should devote itself in the social charity. It is not only a kind of social responsibility, but also is a kind of advertisement. The report of such philanthropy is an efficient way to improve the image of the company and it helps to build up a brand-loyalty to customers. Furthermore, becoming the sponsor of special event is another way to make a promotion.Special event always attract large number of audience and media. In this situation, it can be advertised on the display boards. It is a useful way to expanded publicity. Pricing strategy and competitive situation analysis In order to price the product, Bright Light should consider the costs and profits when selling to the customers. As customer feel that the product is worth of the money, then the product or the brand will impress the customers. The cost of a stove manufactured is $60. The company decides to sell the stove at $80 but worries about the margin profits.If the company set the price at higher level, fewer consumers are willing to buy. Customers may choose substitute instead of the new product (stove). In this way, the Bright Light may lose the market share; however, sometimes consumers are willing to afford the high price because of the special features added to the product. Draganska illustrates his point in his study that customer are willing to pay the comparatively high price when the product has special characteristics and satisfy the consumer’s preference (Draganska, 2006). The new stove has such feature that it can generate electric as well as heat.In consider of the purchasing power of Nepal, the company decides to find a micro financing organization to provide loan for local people who are willing to purchase the stove. It is a way not only help the poor people afford the stove, but also stimulates the consumption on stoves. Pricing strategy should also put the competitive situation into consideration such as the â€Å"threat a price war†, â€Å"channel conflict†, or â€Å"legal or ethical considerations†. If Bright Light set its price for the stove, other competitors may follow tis price and even set the lower price to compete with Bright Light.In this situation, Bright Light may lose its customers. Direct competitors also can imitate the products designed by Bright Light; however, if Bright Light has better quality with cheaper price, the product can be competitive. Because the target market could be low-income family, low price strategy and loan strategy can meet their requirements. Substitute products of the starlight stove from other competitors should also be considered to the pricing strategy. It is a kind of indirect competition. Substitutes can quickly dominate the low income market share; however, Starlight stove has its core competence.The new product (stove) is more efficient and it needs less firewood, what the most important i s that it can generate electric. Core competition plays a significant role in improving the barriers for other competitors and R&D capability is regarded as the most important source for core competence. Due to this reason, it is obvious that the company makes innovation on the new product and the starlight stove is a competitive product. The company needs to pay attention on constantly innovation to make sure the company stays ahead of potential rivals (Yu-fen Chen, 2007).In order to keep its core competence, the company needs to apply for the patent from the Nepal government so that the company can raise barriers to imitation. In general, by analyzing the strength and weakness of the competitors and figuring out the opportunities and threats of its own, the starlight stove can be outstanding with competitive price and accepted by the local people. References Chee-Keong Choong and Siew-Yong Lam. (2010). The Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Malaysia: A Revisit. Global Ec onomic Review, 39(2), 175-195. Draganska and Michaela. (2006).Consumer Preferences and Product-Line Pricing Strategies: An Empirical Analysis. Marketing Science, 25(2), 164-174. Jaime Alonso-Carrera. , Jordi Caballe and Xavier Raurich. (2004). Consumption Externalities, Habit Formation and Equilibrium Efficiency. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 106(2), 231-251. Jianfa Shen. (1998). China's Future Population and Development Challenges. The Geographical Journal, 164(1), 32-40. Marywood U. , and Weiland, Scott J. (2012). An examination of the relationship among perceived infrastructure, perceived business climate, perceived workforce, and business growth in Northeastern Pennsylvania.Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 72(7), 2489. Pernille and Seljom. (2011). Modelling the effects of climate change on the energy system–A case study of Norway. Energy Policy, 39(11), 7310-7321. Schmitt, Natalie M. (2007). Consumers' freedom of cho ice–Advertising aimed at children, product placement, and food labeling. Journal of Public Health, 15(1), 57-62. Yu-fen Chen. (2007). An empirical analysis of core competence for high-tech firms and traditional manufacturers. Journal of Management Development, 26(2), 159-168.

Being Good

Outline Impression defining B person 1 Official impression 2 sense of common sense C paper II history of etiquette old British style B postal family 1 original 2 extended C regulations old-fashioned / unused new wind III type of etiquette common sense aspect B-style 1 social 2 business IV When using A when the appropriate time is B 1 What kind of conditions should be changed 1 Indicator 2 Parallel V vs. Personal opinion Really important thing B Etiquette is a relative reason 1 Correct If you take time to write down the definition of a good meaning in the vocabulary, you might find your answer there. What do you think is the definition of good? It is wonderful if the answer is positive; otherwise, you should find a lesson that you have learned before, which is a belief that you should feel this when you are good It creates. When you realize what you need to do or if you realize that your motivation has disappeared under certain circumstances, please move the change in the right direct ion. This usually means saying no to someone you usually say; it can also mean standing on someone you have never seen before. This is hard work, but it is worth it. I will decide what a good person personally meant to you. Some people think that being a good person is as easy as not hurting other people. But that is not necessarily about what you do, but about what you do for others. Being a good person also includes helping others like other people. You need to decide what you think is a good person. Please select a character model. Having a character model gives you an example of how it corresponds. This person should have the qualities you want to achieve. Think about how you can better embody the quality you admire. Think about how to apply these qualities to work, creative pursuits, personal relationships, meals and lifestyles. The most precious thing I had with my children happened when we volunteered. Being a good parent is part of a good example. It is a good citizen, to re cognize the plight of people in need, respond to it, and show your responsibility through actions. I clearly remember taking my daughter Emily to send clothes and food collected in our community to the low income community in Chicago. I will never forget how she responded to the face of appreciated people accepting donation. Every time delivery is over, I will have breakfast for my dad / daughter at a local coffee shop. So I will talk about when other people will lend my hands and how to hand them over to those who appreciate these items. In addition to providing opportunities to teach feelings, these breakfast experiences are a good combination of moments for us two people.

What are the key differences between the two major political parties Essay

What are the key differences between the two major political parties Democratic Party vs Republican Party - Essay Example Even though the issues affecting Americans have been recognized by the leadership of the two parties, it is the way to tackle such issues that has created two distinct categories of leadership styles all these years. This paper will closely examine the two parties’ policy approaches in the history of American democracy and find out the major differences that the said parties exhibit through the leaders they have often elected. The paper will try to establish if the two parties have influenced the way a democratic or a republican party elected presidential candidate is bound to approach the implementation of certain issues of public interest or even act on matters that face the country during their reign. There are quite a few of ideological differences based on the Republicans’ and the Democrats’ policies. Such differences were recently cited to have polarized the nation in the recently concluded elections in the United States that saw president Obama clinch a second term in office. To begin, the democrats have in a way tried to create a favorable environment for economic expansion, expanding individual opportunity and assisting the poor so that it has reduced the gap between the rich, the middle income earners, and the poor. The Republicans, however, believe that by the government creating a conducive environment or benefits, so to speak, only help in creating ‘a nation of takers’ (Harwood, 2013). This brings out the Republicans as those interested in making the richer become richer while the middle class and lower class citizens continue to find their path to economic empowerment. If this fact is anything to go by, then this might explain the incumbent pr esidents â€Å"coalition† that made his re-election possible. It is mostly the low income earners and the youth who formed a formidable force that propelled the presidents’ efforts for a second term in the White House. Steinhauer (2013) further elaborates this and states that due to subsequent victories by the Democrats for the presidential race that has been largely sparked by the voting pattern influenced by the rich Hispanic votes in favor of the Democrats, the Republicans have attempted to formulate a plan. For instance, they were pushing immigrants to immigrate to the U.S. or reside permanently if their stay was illegal. The Democrats, on the other hand, have discouraged immigration due to pressure on the existing resources. This push might be unrealistic but is a good indicator of the approaches the Republican Party has taken in reaction for the response such voters have always given to their initial policy stance (Fried, 2008). They have been known to push for s trict measures like deportation and use of electric fences and even use of excessive force to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country. The economy has been a major battle front for the two parties. It is evident that the two parties have approached spending, for instance, in a different way. Many have cited that the Democrats have often struggled to repair a broken economy inherited from their Republican counterparts who have promoted massive spending, especially on the military. While the Democrats believe that America should be a self-sustaining model of financial spending by the federal government, the Republican version of self-sustenance has been to enormously spend on the military so that

Personalized Medicine Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personalized Medicine - Case Study Example They considered that work belongs to â€Å"dummies.† Their work ethic was to milk the restaurant till it went dry. They would steal money, avoid hard work and get rid of customers as soon as they got there. This new work ethic is outrageous; work ethic is based on hard-work and diligence, which is not the case in this Sheehy report. The new ethic at Sheehy’s work place was a type of â€Å"gamesmanship.† Employees cared about themselves and developed mysterious tactics of getting more money. I have experienced this kind of attitude in different work places. I once worked with employees who were dishonest and they would do anything to get that extra money. The company I worked for dealt with cosmetics and so our job was to sell and promote their products. Some attitudes that Sheehy has described may seem exaggerated but they are not very different from those I have experienced. My colleagues were a little discreet when carrying out their evil plans, unlike those in Sheehy’s report who purposely tried to provoke the management. My colleagues used to steal money cautiously because they did not want to lose their job. They called this â€Å"beating the system,† they complained of doing so much and getting minimal salaries. This meant getting what they wanted without following the company’s policies. ... The future of American business is not bright, with this kind of work ethic. A business where employees steal does not develop as expected. A business where customers are treated horribly cannot grow either, customers make the largest percentage of a business and without them there is no business. The future of American business is doomed unless the management does something about it. Some managers employ unqualified staff who do not respect them or their businesses. For instance, Sheehy reports that the majority of people working in his work place were students who were only there to make money (Shaw, 2010). These students did not take their job seriously and so they shouldn’t have been employed. They were doing harm to the business than good. They stole money and drove customers away and they did this without even hiding it from the management; they did not mind provoking their manager. With this kind of work ethic, there can never be a great future for American business. An y business should be taken seriously and to run a good business, both the employees and the employer must have same goals and objectives. Goals that create a profitable business; where employees understand the policies of the business, and where the employer meets the needs of the employees satisfactorily; this will lessen these kinds of encounters. 3. Explain whether it is more reasonable to expect workers, especially in a capitalist society, to be more devoted to their jobs, more concerned with quality and customer service, than Sheehy’s coworkers were. In this capitalist society, it is reasonable to expect employees who are devoted to their work and more concerned with quality and customer service than Sheehy’s colleagues. Sheehy’s coworkers are not the

Emotional intelligece Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emotional intelligece - Research Paper Example In order to attain high level of emotional intelligence, one is required to firstly, recognize their emotions. Managing one’s emotions help in avoiding conflicts and embarrassing other people. For example, when a person says something wrong in a meeting, you only need to correct them after the meeting, but not when the meeting is on session. Secondly, one needs to manage their emotions. This helps you communicate effectively with colleagues in a clear manner without creating any misunderstanding. Thirdly, you need to recognize other people emotions. This way, you are able to avoid any conflicts that could have occurred and it helps in maintaining personal and group peace. Lastly, one needs to effectively respond to others emotions. By doing so, you make other experience a sense of belonging in any company. Also, in order to improve emotional intelligence, one needs to be empathetic, have self-regulation, motivate others and be aware of himself or herself.   Working with lead ers of different emotional intelligence from that of his or her employees would be a challenge. However, this is achievable through acquiring skills that will improve the relationship. Such skills include understanding and observing the way they react to other people, understanding their environment, performing personal evaluation, cross examining the way they react to stressing conditions, being responsible of their actions and understanding the way their actions affect others.

A comparison of the UK housing market with the Bulgarian housing Essay

A comparison of the UK housing market with the Bulgarian housing market - Essay Example Irrespective of the developed, developing or under developed countries, people usually have the habit of taking loans for purchasing or constructing a house. The difficulties in getting loans have prevented people across the world to think about purchasing a home at present and the real estate business people were forced to reduce their activities because of the less demand for buildings. Even though the latter half of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 have shown some sign of a revival, many people are still hesitant in spending much on the housing market. UK and Bulgaria are two European countries in which lot of construction activities were going on earlier. But the global recession has badly affected these countries and the construction sector and the housing market are going through a bad patch. UK is one of the strong and developed countries in the world whereas Bulgaria is economically poor compared to UK. Both the countries have democratic administration at present though the head of UK is the monarch at least on paper. Bulgaria was under communist regime earlier. Stevenson (2010) has reported that the economy is emerging out from recession and grew slightly in the fourth quarter of last year in UK. Moreover, industrial production also increased in last November more than expected (Stevenson, 2010). As per the article Best Bulgarian Real Estate – Your Trust Worthy Bulgarian Real Estate Partner (2008), the Bulgarian property market is the current investment hotspot and offers countless opportunities to any open-minded investor. A recently released report by the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction, property prices in Bulgaria have increased by 145% in the last three years. Moreover the value of the Bulgarian properties has risen 5 times after the country joined the European Union in 2007 (Bulgarian Real Estate

Brand analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Brand analysis - Essay Example One of the major advantages of Leatherman’s products is the 25-year guarantee (Hoovers). The Argentum, a tool designed by an Argentine silversmith called Adrian Pallarols is manufactured by the company specifically to attract the luxurious community while the younger generation is targeted via the manufacturing of the compact Juice tool. The Company has its principal strength in the duration of the guarantee offered for its products (25 years). Not many organizations offer such a warranty thus making its products the best. The organization provides its customers with sufficient support or back up and awareness of the products they sale hence keeping the customers coming back for more products. The organization has a dedicated staff that adds up to its minimized price offers for their products. In addition, all parts of the tools made by the company are replaceable (SHOT). In respect to the Company’s weaknesses, it manufactures customized tools (SHOT). These tools demand increased payment as compared to normal products hence their low production due to inability to stabilize/moderate the prices of the same. The large range of tools produced by the company accompanied by a list of styles in which to fold pocket tools and the long warranty offered by the company provides the organization with a huge opportunity of capturing or reaching a larger market (Davis). Furthermore, Davis believes that the use of websites for presentation of company products presents an opportunity to expand their market share due to the augmenting use of the internet. Manufacturing of the compact Juice tool for the younger generation as well as the Argentum for the rich/luxury creates room for increased sales thus more profit. Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. is not the only company in the industry; hence, stiff competition from companies like Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc poses a huge threat to the company. Another threat is infringement especially incases of retaliatory damages inv olving the use of these products (Davis). One of the competitors is Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc. Just until 2007, the company was called Swiss Army Brands boasting a monopoly in the marketing of the Victorinox Swiss Army knife in the Caribbean, USA and Canada (Hoovers). In addition, the company distributes Victorinox wear for men, consumer and professional Victorinox Cutlery, Swiss Air Force watches as well as products of Swiss Army Brand like writing materials, watches and sunglasses. The company runs a flagship retail store in SoHo district of New York City as well as distributing these products in retail and wholesale prices. The other is Wenger North America or simply Wenger N.A. distributes Swiss Army knives, footwear, watches, luggage, business accoutrements, and outdoor gear to the US and the Caribbean. Hoovers affirms that the Swiss Army knives distributed by Wenger N.A. are not associated in any way with Victorinox Swiss Army knives. The company provides these products on th eir website but at a discounted rate as well as providing customers with videos and manuals as guidelines to the use of their products. Most of these products are sold in chains and a host of specialty sports retailers (Hoovers). Buck Knives Inc. as the third largest competitor boasts skills that comprise four generations in the knife-making business. The company manufactures hunting, pocket and

Schools for the Underprivileged Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Schools for the Underprivileged - Assignment Example Secondly, the school must serve as an example for the existing public schools in the region (Shabnam, 2010). The public school system in the US is struggling to give the most basic levels of knowledge. The educational method in the US is predominantly based on the memorization of content rather than an intellectual development of the students. There is little emphasis on gaining an in-depth understanding of the contents and an acquisition of practical knowledge. A majority of students in underprivileged regions of the US have spent five years or more in a public school. These students are unable to identify basic scientific concepts, even though, these concepts are taught in the school. Test scores of these students are often lower than 35% (equivalent to 7/20), and many students fail to final exams for passing to the next grade (Muda, 2014). The organization has been created with the objective to provide schooling for underprivileged children. The mission includes providing high-quality education in basic subjects such as mathematics, science, and arts with an emphasis on understanding and practice of newly acquired knowledge. The program objectives comprise of: - Involve children, parents, school staff, volunteers and the community in a common project that would impart a sense of civic service, morality and respect for the traditional culture in which they were raised. The need for this program arises from the inequality of the US educational system. There is a considerable amount of research literature available which indicates the high level of inequality in the educational system of the United States. Children who grow up in low socioeconomic areas are more at the risk of experiencing difficulties in school and to drop out later. According to Goos, Damme, Onghena, & Petry (2004), elimination of these inequalities requires a concerted effort.

Strategic Plan Internal Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic Plan Internal Analysis - Essay Example The bargaining power of buyers is high and consumers have access to more options in the mobile market characterized by the introduction of affordable smartphones from companies like Samsung and executive devices from Apple which have proved to be of high innovative power compared to BlackBerry. These companies have lured customers with user friendly technologies enabling their devices to be useful in all communication and productivity purposes. The availability of more choices for consumers has reduced the power of Blackberry to demand for higher prices for its products. Carriers like Verizon and Telus purchase in large volume in order to meet their subscribers demand. When the demand of an item declines like in the case of Blackberry, vendors are forced to enter into contracts with other manufacturers to ensure demand is met and shift from low-profit grossing brand is addressed economically. Despite the fact that there are barriers to competition established by the government in the Canadian business market, the consumers’ ability to choose their products is reflected in the orders booked with suppliers like Blackberry by an individual telecom carrier (Levi, 2011). In the competitive smartphone world, Blackberry lagged behind one or more phases in the adaptive cycle of innovation due to misalignment. This happened after the launch of the iPhone, a product customers considered mobile innovation meeting customer expectations in both design and capabilities. The 2007 iPhone design was extremely intuitive and user friendly, a competitive product that is responsible for declining sales towards 2010. Additionally, An android platform was then introduced by Google and focused on a user interface design for their operating system. In 2008, Levi (2011) reports that Blackberry introduced the Blackberry Storm smartphone to face the competition and offer consumers an optimal experience and a better design. Unfortunately, this

Smoking Health Promotion Essay Example for Free

Smoking Health Promotion Essay During the nights they had to sleep with a machine to help him breath but during the days he would still manage to get outside for a smoke while he was in recovery. Feelings. Obviously this was a bad thing that was happening to this patient as smoking can slow down recovery because it effects how the body works with regards to oxygen intake and oxygen circulation (Thibodeau Patton 2010). As smoker though, I can see how the patient would of benefitted emotionally as smoking can relieve stress and boredom, though these temporary fixes dont outweigh the health problems it was obviously causing the patient. One of the nurses on duty and myself tried talking to the patient about their smoking and the first thing we needed to know is if they ould like help to quit. As this is important because to change, the patient has to want to change (Cocoran N, 2007). The model from Prochaska and diclemente (1984) illustrates this point very well with their trans theoretical model of change. We tried to explain how smoking could effect this patients ability to heal and also problems caused to their breathing during the night. I understood why the nurse was suggesting this and that I should be promoting health also but if the patient needed to smoke for that short term fix, then why shouldnt they be able to. Personally I felt ike a bit of a hypocrite because I smoke myself and to promote it to someone else that they should not smoke did not seem right, but as a nurse, professionally I know we have to do this, and I have to remember that it is the patient in the bed who needs to recover from surgery, not me. What sense I made of this. I brought this up with the nurse later on and asked if it wasnt better for the patient to have some emotional relief from smoking while they were in hospital, rather than saying they cant smoke and the patient becoming stressed out. The nurse said that I wasnt understanding health promotion properly. She explained that if the patient chooses to smoke whilst in hospital it is up to them, but that she was concerned with the long term effects of smoking, so the nurse was thinking about him even when he would be discharged from our ward. I understood what the nurse was doing now and saw logic behind what she was saying the patient and explaining to myself. My understanding as to why smoking effects the bodies healing ability is due to a number of reasons. Smoking destroys the cilia in the throat which helps us fght intections and rids us ot bacteria and micro-organisms (Layman 2 ). Also when eople smoke they intake carbon monoxide and other substances that obstruct and kill alveoli which passes oxygen into the blood (Norris and Siegfied 2012) and for tissue to heal it needs a good blood supply that is richly saturated with oxygen (Chambers and Leaper, 2011). We tried to explain this to the patient in a simple way so that there was not any medical Jargon. What did I do The patient seemed to be up for the idea of stopping smoking but I had feeling it was a little bit of lip service because he was being polite. We told the patient that there are numerous ways to help quit smoking. There was a smoking cessation nurse who would offer advice, tips, and plans to help to quit. We mentioned that there were numerous products help quit smoking such as chewing gum, patches, tablets and sprays. The patient asked about Electronic Cigarettes and I argued that it is a little healthier because all the toxins are not present that you would get in regular tobacco, but its not really an aid to quitting because there is still nicotine in the electric cigarettes and that is what we get addicted to. What could I of done During the time we were explaining to the patient about thinking to stop smoking here wasnt much I feel I could have done or added to what the nurse was already saying. The nurse covered most of the routes that help and support could have been provided. Action Plan If I came across this again I would hope that I know enough now to explain to a patient why they should think about not smoking whilst in recovery and also keeping it going long term so that they can benefit from it after they are discharged. I could give them some leaflets and things and getting them in contact with the smoking cessation nurse. I could empathise why they are smoking whilst they are in hospital ut maybe try and use a diversion tactic to try and get them avoiding smoking whilst they are in recovery on the ward.

An overview of New Zealand: History and culture

An overview of New Zealand: History and culture This paper is a report on the various factors that make up New Zealand. You will find discussions of the history, significant locations, government, economy, tourism, and food. History New Zealand became a recognized location in 1840 when the British made it part of their empire (History, n.d.). The Maori people were the first inhabitants of the islands in the tenth century, but they were flooded by the British culture later on. New Zealand was first discovered by European explorers in 1642; however, then encounter ended in bloodshed. The next meeting took place over one hundred years later in 1769 when both the French and British arrived without each other’s’ knowing. They began trade with the Maori people, who valued highly the arrival of weapons and began the Musket Wars among enemy tribes (The History, 2014). The British developed their plans to colonize New Zealand as they heard rumors of France’s similar ideas (The History, 2014). In 1840, many chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British Crown. This established British law in New Zealand and created a large basis for what the country is known to be today (History, n.d.). However, with the large influx of British settlers, many hostilities grew and began the New Zealand Wars, or the Land Wars, for twenty years. By 1870, Britain withdrew its troops, â€Å"not wishing to invest any further in a costly overseas war which was likely to continue indefinitely† (The History, 2014). Today, â€Å"New Zealand†¦is an independent nation within the British Commonwealth† (The History, 2014). This means that although the country is under the British Monarch, New Zealand has its own active administration for government (The History, 2014). Map (NZ Map, 2014) Government â€Å"New Zealand is a democratic country in which the Members of Parliament (MPs) are chosen in free and fair elections† (NZ’s System, 2014). Parliament is made up of the House of Representatives and the Governor-General. The House of Representatives consists of 120 members, while the Governor-General is a representative of the Queen. The 120 members are elected by vote and are allowed in office for a term of three years. They hold the New Zealand government accountable for its actions and policies and pass laws over the unwritten constitution. New Zealand is defined as a constitutional monarchy, and so they have Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State. The Queen and Governor-General â€Å"remain politically neutral and do not get involved in the political contest† (NZ’s System, 2014). New Zealand also has lower levels of government bodies, such as territorial local authorities, district health boards, and school boards of trustees (NZ’s System, 20 14). Economy With a population of around four and a half million, their current GDP is around $132 billion at a 2.5% growth (New Zealand). A third of this GDP is made up by the export of goods and services. New Zealand’s economy runs on free market principles through a mixed economy. Its three largest economic sectors are manufacturing, services, and agricultural (Overview, 2014). New Zealand’s currency is called the Kiwi dollar and was â€Å"amongst the top 25 sovereign currencies in the world† at the end of 2012 (Economic Overview, 2014). Today, the Kiwi dollar equals about $1.29 in US Dollars (Rates Table, 2014). Visiting Cities Auckland – While it is the largest city in New Zealand, home to over one and a half million people, it is not the capital. Auckland is located near the top of the North Island and is the main transport hub into the country. Its location touches into beaches and rainforests, but also volcanic areas. The region has 48 volcanic cones, which provide for great views of the city and harbor (Destinations, n.d.). Rororua – This city is south of Auckland, but is still on the North Island. â€Å"Rotorua is known for bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs, as well as showcasing [their] fascinating Maori culture† (Destinations, n.d.). The bubbling mud pools are caused by the Pacific Rim of Fire: a â€Å"geothermal wonderland.† With the surrounding nature, Rotorua is a home-away-from-home for many adventure activists. It has world-class mountain bike trails, as well as horse riding, lake swimming, bungy jumping, ziplining, and more (Destinations, n.d.). Napier – This city is located within Hawke’s Bay of New Zealand. It is known mostly for its art, architecture, culture, and history of the 1930s. The reason for this is that an incredible 7.9 earthquake hit Hawke’s Bay destroying a vast majority of Napier’s buildings and killed almost 260 people. â€Å"Rebuilding began almost immediately, and much of it was completed in two years† (Destinations, n.d.). Wellington – According to Lonely Planet, Wellington is â€Å"the coolest little capital in the world.† It is located at the southern end of the North Island touching the harbor. It is known for its arts and heritage with many museums, art galleries and theatres. This city continues the adventure with more mountain bike trails and kayaking. New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, is located in Wellington too (Destinations, n.d.). Christchurch – This city is fairly large taking over a majority of the middle of the South Island. It lies along the ocean and touches the Alps. To the 340,000 residents of the city, it is known as ‘The Garden City.’ While this location continues the historic beauty and forest-filled adventure, much was destroyed in 2011 from an earthquake. A large portion of the neo-gothic architecture in the central city was ruined along with many other buildings. Despite the destruction, Christchurch still hosts much beauty and fun. A special attraction is the Orana Wildlife Park, which is an open range zoo (Destinations, n.d.)! Queenstown – This is the southern-most city to be visited on the trip in the South Island. According to New Zealand Tourism, Queenstown has become â€Å"world famous for its iconic scenery, friendly people, golf courses, wineries†¦bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking, and river rafting all year round† (Destinaitons, n.d.). Currently, most notably, area around Queenstown is recognized as the makings of Lord of the Rings, with locations that helped to create Middle-earth. Queenstown is clearly the most visited location in the country with a population of 19,200, but over two million visitors every year (Destinations, n.d.). NZ Tourism In 2011, New Zealand hosted over two and a half million visitors, and has expected that number to grow by over 650,000 each year (Tourism Factsheet, 2012). With tourists from around the world, there are some key differences to New Zealand (Key NZ, n.d.). The currency is a dollar, but the make-up is different from that of the US. New Zealand has coins valuing 10, 20, and 50 cents as well as $1 and $2 – then bills of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Banking is generally the same and allows for exchanging currencies (Key NZ, n.d.). For driving, the lanes are swapped with drivers on the left side of the road. New Zealand also uses the metric system, where travel is measured in kilometers instead of miles. Other driving laws are the same: must wear a seat belt, no mobile phone usage, and no drinking and driving. Visitors from other countries can drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months with their home country license (Key NZ, n.d.). New Zealand entertainment is made up of three parts: food, spirits, and fun. The cuisine style is tied to mostly Eurasian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Polynesia, and most of Europe. New Zealand is most well-known for meats like lamb, pork, and venison, as well as seafood such as salmon, crayfish, bluff oysters, mussels, and scallops. The wines of New Zealand are remarkable and are desired around the world. While people in the US must be 21 to drink alcohol, they must only be 18 in New Zealand. Also, unlike than many states in the US, New Zealand has six different casinos throughout the country (Key NZ, n.d.). Aside from all of the scenic adventures in the forests, beaches, mud pools, etc., New Zealand played host to the Lord of the Rings films. â€Å"Since 2004, an average of 47,000 international visitors each year have visited a film location† (Sector Marketing, 2013). Another small, but notable difference is the time zone. â€Å"New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day† – being 12 hours ahead of the GMT (Key NZ, n.d.). In comparison to the US, New Zealand is 18 hours ahead. A shocking factor when traveling to and from New Zealand is losing and gaining a day, which happens because of crossing the International Date Line. While this time difference is very large, a similarity is the use of daylight savings time, which a majority of the rest of the world does not use (Key NZ, n.d.). Food Delicacies In the Maori culture, a hangi feast is recommended (Destinations, n.d.). The hangi is a method of cooking, which has been used by the Maori for over 2000 years. To cook the food, it is placed in a pit oven which has heated rocks buried inside. While it is a well-known way of cooking, it has become very traditional and is only used on special occasions. The style of cooking is typically used for chicken, seafood, and vegetables, but can also be used for steamed pudding (Food Wine, n.d.). New Zealand has some of the most famous seafood in the world. Marlborough green-lipped mussels are not only delicious, but are known to have health benefits such as arthritis relief. Bluff oysters are especially desired in New Zealand and around the world – they even have their own festival in May: the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival. New Zealand also hosts a scallop festival in September called the Whitianga Scallop Festival. The forth seafood delicacy is called Whitebait. They are tiny fish caught during the springtime and are often made into fritters (Food Wine, n.d.). Works Cited Destinations. (n.d.) Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.newzealand.com/us/destinations/ Economic Overview. (28 Oct, 2014). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/investing-in-nz/opportunities-outlook/economic-overview Food Wine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/favourite-new-zealand-foods/ History. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.newzealand.com/int/history/ Key New Zealand Facts and Information. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/keyfacts.html New Zealand. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.heritage.org/index/country/newzealand New Zealand Map. (20 Nov, 2014). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.mapsofworld.com/newzealand/ New Zealand’s System of Government. (19 Dec, 2014). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/new-zealands-system-government Overview of the New Zealand Economy. (9 Apr, 2014). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/overview Rates Table. (29 Dec, 2014). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.x-rates.com/table/?from=USDamount=1.00 Sector Marketing: Information on key tourism and special interest sectors. (10 Apr, 2013). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/sector-marketing/film-tourism/fast-facts/ The History of New Zealand: a brief overview of the pre-historic, colonial and modern periods. (29 Dec, 2014). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://history-nz.org/ Tourism Factsheet. (9 Aug, 2012). Retrieved December 29, 2014 from http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/media/tourism+factsheet.htm

The Causes Of Depression Psychology Essay

The Causes Of Depression Psychology Essay The emotion of sadness is normal in response to everyday stressful or upsetting events like losing a loved one or running into financial difficulty. These feelings are usually only temporarily and should resolve once the grieving period is over or once the disturbing event has been resolved. When the feeling of sadness remains for longer than is reasonable or it starts to interfere with an individuals daily activities or personal relationships it may signal the onset of depression. The causes of depression Modern day imaging technologies like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have demonstrated significant differences in the anatomy of depressions patients brains compared to those of people who do not suffer from depression. The specific parts of the brain displaying these abnormalities include the mood, higher thought, sleep, appetite and behavioural centres in the brain. Unfortunately these imaging modalities do not give information on the cause of these abnormalities. One of the challenges with diagnosing and treating depression effectively is that it is caused by a combination of factors instead of just one easily identifiable factor. It has long been accepted that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. The one common factor is that it is always linked to the brain. The genetic factor is proven by the fact that depression tends to run in families and if an individual has a close relative who suffers from depression it naturally increases that individuals risk of also developing depression. Certain genes are being studied by scientists as it is suspected that these genes combined with other factors can increase a persons risk of developing depression. Genes are suspected to be responsible for the regulation of neurotransmitters and if scientists can identify these genes they can accurately predict which patients will respond to specific anti-depressant drugs and which wont. It is however possible for people with no family history to also develop depression. The biological aspect of depression is very closely related to the genetic one, since an individuals genes will influence the biological working of his or her body. Scientists believe that depression may also be caused by an imbalance in the important neurotransmitters of the brain. This theory is difficult to prove but the effective use of serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in some patients support this theory. The important neurotransmitters that play a part in the onset and development of depression are serotonin, acetylcholine, catecholamine and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). Scientists believe it is as a result of the hormonal changes women are exposed to during their monthly cycle that may also influence the neurotransmitters in the brain. One example is of a recent study which exposed the link between serotonin and oestrogen. As the oestrogen levels drop after ovulation the serotonin levels in a womans brain also drops causing her to feel anxious or depressed. In the same way the rapid hormonal changes after giving birth is believed to be one of the mayor factors leading to postpartum depression. Unfortunately menopausal women are not spared as they too are exposed to changing hormonal patterns during this stage of their lives. Environmental factors that may trigger depression include the loss of a loved one, divorce, losing a job or failing at an important task. Short term sadness is a normal response to these triggers and should not be confused with depression that is a more severe, debilitating mental illness. People differ in how they deal with everyday troubles and this can be traced back to the psychological make-up of each individual. When faced with a stressful situation people can revert to coping mechanisms, some of which they may have learned from childhood. Where one individual may rely on alcohol to ease their psychological pain another may rely on comfort eating or cigarettes. Unfortunately these coping mechanisms can either trigger the onset of depression or worsen already existing depression. Alcohol and drug abuse are often seen in men, more than in women, but both these coping mechanisms can cause and worsen depression. Another example is an individual who suffers from insomnia, also a psychological response, which can lead to depression. Some psychological disorders like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can co-exist with depression. It is also possible for depression to develop as a result of these disorders. Diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Parkinsons disease can cause depression. The depression symptoms can be worsened by the presence of the disease and the disease symptoms can be worsened by the presence of depression. In these instances treating the depression can alleviate the symptoms associated with the disease. Risk factors for depression Depression is a severe mental illness which can afflict anyone, even children, at any stage of their life. There are however prevalent risk factors associated with depression. These risk factors include: People who are aged 49 54. Being of the female gender Living in poverty Alcohol or drug abuse Serious illness Age associated with depression The median age at which depression occurs for the first time may be 32, but the highest depression rates are seen among people aged 49 to 54. One of the reasons may be due to hormonal fluctuations in women caused by menopause. Another important reason may be due to the development of serious illnesses associated with this age group. Diseases that may develop during at this life stage include heart disease and cancer. Financial tension related to specifically retirement goals may be another factor that can influence the onset of depression. Gender associated with depression The relationship between the hormonal changes in a womans body and the occurrence of depression has already been discussed. Apart from these hormonal changes women are exposed to more sociocultural stressors as they have to fulfil multiple roles like earning an income, raising children, and running a household. It is also estimated that many women have suffered from a history of sexual abuse further increasing their risk for developing depression. Poverty associated with depression People who live in poverty struggle to make ends meet causing them to be in a continuous stressful state, feeling overwhelmed and incapable of taking control over their own lives. Loss of control, like that seen in poverty and at the onset of a serious illness, is a major contributing factor in the development of depression. Alcohol or drug abuse Although alcohol abuse is seen in women and men alike, it tends to be more prevalent amongst members of the male gender. Men tend to be less emotionally open and willing to discuss their problems rather turning to alcohol or drug abuse. The sedative effect that these substances have can make it harder for an individual to accept responsibility for their own lives or the lives of their families. In turn this may lead to feelings of inadequacy and consequently depression. Serious illness Diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Parkinsons disease can cause an individual to feel like they have lost control over their own lives. When an individual becomes dependant on home care or the care of family members feeling like they are a burden to others combined with the financial burden of a serious disease can worsen their depression.

Virginia V. Sebelius Essay example -- Health Care, US Government

Health care has been a much needed but problematic institution for the United States over the last several decades. Particularly private companies have been the main cause of high premiums and the denial of coverage for the previously ill. In attempts to remedy these issues, Congress in conjunction with the President of the United States Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The PPACA is a federal state that focused on the reformation of the private health insurance market, provide better coverage for those with existing conditions, and improve the conditions of Medicare. Within this statute there is the section 1501 mandate, the Minimum Essential Coverage Provision, which requires every citizen, besides the exempt, to maintain a minimum level of health care by 2012. Those choosing not to participate will be subject to a momentary tax with their annual income tax returns. Since its creation, this particular mandate has caused a great deal of cont roversy. In early 2010, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed into law, a statute that forbade any type of mandate that would force citizens to purchase health insurance. They believed such a mandate would cause an immediate and continuing burden of the State and its citizens. Although it was created months before the PPACA statute it is clear the Virginia statute come in direct conflict with the federal mandate. It is the responsibility of the courts to solve this conflict between the two parties, Virginia and Kathleen Sebelius. The Commonwealth of Virginia has lodge a complaint with the about the constitutionality of the PPACA statute. Through the state’s Attorney General, it challenges the enforcement of the statute due on part to section 1501 of th... ...only a choice between participation or retaliation. In New York v. U.S., the courts found that Congress cannot directly force states to legislate is accordance to their scheme. Forcing a state to participation or penalty is coercive in nature. This would counter the federalist structure outlined in the tenth amendment. In closing the constitutionality of this mandate is a minimum sketchy and often steps over the delicate boundaries allotted to Congress. Although there are a multitude of precedents to rule in favor of the defendant, doing so could leave a means in which to bring Congress unrestricted powers. Our goal is not to create a police State where the federalist structure becomes miniscule to the greater good of the poor, sick, and unfortunate. Although, the court supports the intentions of the PPACA statute the means of accomplishing them cannot be backed.

Womens Emacipation In Asia :: essays research papers

Have Women Gained Emancipation in Asian Countries? This is a question I’ve been asking myself a bit recently. But what is emancipation? Emancipation is equality amongst gender; the right of women to be treated the same as men. But in this part of the world is this happening? In many modern, more developed countries, women are more likely to be treated the same and given the same opportunities in education and employment. But in less developed countries, people are still prejudiced towards women, seeing them as if they have a lower value than men. Nowadays in nearly every Asian country, women have the right to vote and the right to have the same education as men. Many schools in Asia are now entitled to be single sex schools, in an effort to encourage people to give their daughters a good education. Many Asian countries have also recognised women as their leaders, Indira Gandhi in India, Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan and Aun San Soo-kyi in Burma, etc. But as much as I hate to admit it, even in my country, Indonesia, women are treated differently to men. Women are more likely to be kept at home and raised to be housewives. Women may be given the same opportunities in education, but still the best jobs are given to men. Old ways and ancient traditions, where men are entitled to work and make a living for their families can perhaps explain this. The subject of female emancipation arose during the recent Indonesian presidential election. Before Ms. Megawati was nominated as one of the candidates, many people who claimed to be political experts didn’t believe that a woman had the ability to lead a nation, as if they had forgotten Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto. Their reasons and excuses were contrived and silly, which made them look foolish. They said that there is a religious law, which forbids women to lead a country. Thankfully many people didn’t recognise such a law. To many people it was a surprise when Ms. Megawati did stand for the election and still more so when she lost. To top it all, she was expected by many to win, since her political party was the ultimate winner. Many international experts believed that she could help bring Indonesia out of its economic depression, but it was not to be. It is difficult to know why women are treated differently, it is a deep rooted cultural thing.

Path-Goal Leadership Theory Essay -- Path-Goal Leadership Theory

Path-goal theory deals with the leader's style to motivate followers, to accomplish set goals (Northouse, 2010). The path-goal theory is simply the implication that a leader works with an individual to establish a goal. The leader does this by individual motivation to achieve the proposed goal, while working through obstacles that may hinder achieving that goal (Whitener, 2007). The basic assumption of path-goal theory is that the following motivates subordinates: the capability to perform the work, their efforts will result in a certain outcome, and the payoff will be worthwhile (Whitener, 2007). The path-goal theory is a pragmatic approach that the leader uses to motivate the followers to achieve the set goals. The path-goal theory is derived from the expectancy theory and contains four types of leadership behaviors: directive, supportive, participative, and achievement-oriented (Whitener, 2007). Directive leaders provide clear task instructions, timeline for task completion, and standards of expectancy and how to accomplish the task (Northouse, 2010). Supportive leaders are friendly and approachable, treat followers as equals, and attempt to make the work pleasurable for the follower (Whitener, 2007). A participative leader shares decision making with followers and integrates their suggestions and feedback into the task goals (Northouse, 2010). Finally, achievement-oriented leaders challenge followers to achieve excellence by encouraging them to work at the highest level of achievement possible (Northouse, 2010). However, each of the behaviors can be used individually or collectively as different situations call for different behaviors (Whitener, 2007). Follower characteristics describe how an individual will interpret ... ...ality, it is my belief it will prove also efficient. By automating the asset tracking processes, our people will be freed up to think and plan as opposed to do and react. In addition, our management will have the accurate and timely information they need to make strategic and tactical asset procurement, tracking and retirement decisions. Works Cited CSC. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.csc.com/global_alliances/alliances/32254-sap Kinicki, A., & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills and best practices (customized 4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Northouse, P. (2010). Leadership theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, Ca.: Sage Publications, Inc. Whitener, J. K. (2007). Year of wonders: The wonder of leadership. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 9(2), 214-222,226-230,234-235. from ABI/INFORM Global.

Pointing Out Positive Traits of Workers Essay

When both workers and leaders reach for a common goal, it is possible for that leader to work in a less formal basis with his or her staff.   If a leader believes in McGregor’s Theory X, then he or she will likely believe that their subordinates must constantly be motivated and micromanaged in every aspect of work projects.   However, if a leader subscribes to Theory Y and believes that people, inherently love to work and do not need to be constantly motivated and micromanaged, then the process of project completion can go much more smoothly. These leaders can have both positive and negative influences on their subordinates and it is possible that one or more individuals may be conflicted in their leader’s role in their organization while other co-workers may get along well with that leader and take instructions easily.   So both contingency theories that demonstrate the effectiveness of a leader as related to his or her ability to adapt to different personal styles of their followers is important, as well as trait theories in realizing that a leader does not always have to formally lead.   For these reasons, a leader can relax, be more informal, and have a happier staff with common goals. Many leaders may believe that formal management of staff is always necessary if they have failed to adapt to meet the demands of differing personalities at the workplace.   Contingency theory proposes that this adaptation is extremely important in work settings.   If a leader has had negative experiences with others and has not properly gauged the importance of changing his or her style to constantly changing work environments, these negative relationships and actions may cause the manager to be more strict and uniform with all subordinates in his or her charge.   This can create a hostile work environment, where the leader/manager gauges only negative outcomes and relationships with others and does not take the time to reshape thinking and improve morale. At this point, a more relaxed and adaptable leader would need to step in and help employees to feel more comfortable and capable.   In a simple sense, the leader’s role in contingency theory, is to help reshape the work environment to demonstrate that the leader believes the best of his or her subordinates.   This will create more loyalty and support from followers to their leader and help get the tasks at hand handled more efficiently.   This example demonstrates how strict and formal leadership can have negative consequences, but how an adaptable and personable leader can manage less and more informally with a staff willing to be loyal to him or her and complete goals as a happier team. Similarly, leaders that subscribe to McGregor’s Theory X will focus more on control and delegation and not take the time to realize the ambitions of his or her subordinates.   This style of always formally leading can have many negative consequences on morale, especially if this leader is harsh with punishments and slow with praise.   This type of leader would, most likely, not likely be very rewarding, in that Theory X followers believe that workers are inherently lazy, will only do what they are told to do, and have little sense of responsibility. This is the opposite of what is needed for a healthy team environment, one which a Theory Y proponent would encourage.   The Theory Y type of leader would not constantly, formally manage and would, instead work very hard in helping subordinates realize their worth and potential in the work team.   In this way, human potential can flourish naturally and responsibilities for one’s own actions can be noted.   This less formal style on the part of the leader and more autonomous direction of the worker is very beneficial to morale, team-building, and achieving organizational goals. In conclusion, it is not always best to formally lead others in a managerial sense.   In looking at these two important leadership theories, it can be said that employees are usually much happier when they have the feeling that their leader believes in them and their ability to positively contribute to the team.   In many circumstances, leaders must be formal in order to instruct and follow-up with some individuals that may be struggling. But, it is of the utmost importance that a leader believes that every follower will respect him or her and help see a goal to its fruition.   Additionally important is the ability for the leader to recognize how to adapt to different people and different sets of circumstances.   Loyalty from subordinates will follow if this leader recognizes when to be informal and when to step in and formally guide.   If a leader yields to all of this then morale will be high, the manager can relax more, and goals will be met.

Healthy Living Report Essay

Healthy livingâ€Å" Campaign report 1. Background research to the issue To find the way linked to my group topic and target made us to meet many times and discuss about social issues among students and young people. It made my group to think a lot what topic for campaign would be interesting to us – while working for this, and similarly what would be interesting for other people especially for students in Middlesex University. First of all, everyone in my group pay attention on unhealthy food and ingredients which make daily food able to be fresh for long term and even dangerous. My group decided to start doing campaign â€Å"tricky food† and we all fell into research on dangerous ingredients in popular supermarkets’ food. As we published in our Wiki page â€Å"Unhealthy substitutes used in food production† had to be our campaign stage. (Wiki, ResearchS08G1). From long list of various chemicals and acids which are used in food our group made a decision to focus on Aspartame the most. Aspartame is artificial sweetener which is 200 times sweeter than sugar and commonly used in food industry. In the internet is not difficult to find many articles and discussions about it, some people claim that it is very dangerous to human’s health because of its force to cause cancer, nerve disorders, birth defects and other healthy imbalances. From the other side of view, probably from the business side, some people are ready to prove that aspartame is not so bad, the right amount of it in food is not dangerous and it is cheaper to use in food industry than sugar. However, this sweetener is widely used and found in drinks such as diet coke, energy drinks and even some juice. In the United States aspartame is regulated by FDA – Food and Drug Administration which has set the ADI (acceptable daily intake) for aspartame 50mg/kg and similarly in the European Union – by European Food Safety Authority ADI is 40mg/kg. (American Cancer Society, Learn About Cancer 2011). Well, when the national administration has set the secure quantity of this sweetener it became allowable to use it in food widely. Due to that my group decided that there are no argues with food industry and during our campaign it is hard to change sweeteners usage in nourishment and we made another decision: to change campaign topic and target substantially. Every one of us is surrounded by bright adverts and slogans to be eco-friendly, to eat healthy food, to avoid junk food, to choose food without any preservatives and so on. My group and I also decided to join in those who are providing healthy living style. We started to do another research linked to it, to search what vitamins human need to recover healthy organism after winter and which fruit and vegetables have beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Also very important issue that UK is on the leading position in regards to obese citizens in Europe (Wiki, ResearchS08G1). Regarding to New York Times (2010, The World is Fat) in almost half of developed countries, one out of every two people is overweight or obese. In the figure is clearly visible that England was and will be second nation after United States which has overweight, till 2020 it can reach 70 per cent limit! These facts made us to take care for obese issue in United Kingdom. As a united group of different countries: two Lithuanians, Polish and two English we see our target to start informing students about this growing problem by providing healthy eating habits and healthy life style including exercises and view of it. 2. Process of campaign planning Firstly, we had chosen to run the campaign about â€Å"tricky food† and especially aspartame but as I mentioned in the first part of report, during the research we found facts that aspartame is legal sweetener and the right amount of it is not dangerous to human’s health. With our campaign we would be having too less force and evidence in order to avoid this sweetener use in food industry. Regarding to this, we left the idea about tricky food and during more than two meetings we were discussing about many topics which could be interesting and worthy to pay attention. It was not easy part of planning our campaign because we all understood that to find the topic with strong target and serious attitude it is difficult. We mentioned points such as how we could include more people to our team, how we could represent information for them and for our university, should we stay only in university or shall we go further: inform people about issue in our living areas, in the social websites, etc. how we could do our event and what to do so as to attract an attention. We were sure that we will have leaflets with useful information, that we will set up facebook page for our campaign and we will do our event in the university. In our meeting we had not have one  person as a chairperson, we all were equivalent and we all were suggesting our ideas. My idea was to look deeper how we are living, what are ours daily diet, daily routine – are we healthy enough or should we change something in our lives. While suggesting the topic Healthy living I also had an idea to raise the charity fund. Even more, to visit children schools or other meeting places and inform them about our campaign and targets. Unfortun ately, I had not got any assent from my team members for this action. However, I sent some emails to charities such as British Red Cross and Save the Children. I informed them about our campaign and targets, mentioned that we would like to do our campaign as a charity. While giving healthy food (fruit or veg) in university my team could collect some donation for one of the charities and later we could collaborate by doing volunteering jobs or events providing healthy living. I have got an answer from British Red Cross, they were interesting in our action and targets. Unfortunately, I had got that answer too late because we were already doing our campaign on ourselves without any outside organizations. 3. Work as a group From my view at this point I am quite happy while working with my group. As in every team work we faced with some advantages and disadvantages but the final result was nice. The best times and really strong team work were when all group members were attending the meetings. Sure, it had happen only few times, however, those meetings were pretty good. We had never have any argues or complaints, our discussions were always polite and with respect to each other. We always listened to each other’s ideas and discussed them together with giving some agreements or reasoned rejections. Usually our meetings were with three attended group members. Nevertheless, we were able to consider what would be the next step, what research we had to do until next meeting and all jobs or duties were apportion between every team member equally. Even more, if we were having enough spare time after meeting, some of us were going to library to do research together or to write down the minutes into the wiki page. For more questions or advice we were chatting online, by sending emails we arranged for the next meeting. On the other hand, this low attendance made some difficulties to organize all team work, it always takes time to text messages to inform other members about further actions. Because everyone has jobs it was difficult to find right times in order to meet all together, some group members were paying more attention for their jobs than to studies and especially for this campaign. Due to these issues our campaign was small and weak, its background were just two people who pay more attention to every organizing step. 4. Your action I value my action in the group as big part of whole campaign. The background and topic of Healthy living was my idea suggested in the group meeting. I came with the wide idea of it and I had some plans how to reach the main aim. As I mentioned above, I offered to do a campaign as a charity: while providing fruit or vegetables for students we can collect donation for a charity, later collaborate with that organization and hope for getting some support. Personally I always like to communicate with organizations such as charities or other help centres, I have previous experience by searching the support for some events that is why I feel free and confident while asking others to promote my plans. This time I had asked some charities but unfortunately I have not got any help from them. First of all, I think I had to call them straight away and reject sending emails and waiting for answers, second , I think I had to let them know more about my action, about our campaign, purpose and all details so as to make them interesting enough to support us. Finally, if I would be able to have enough force to influence others I would have asked other my group members to help me and to pay more attention on our campaign because I felt too weak to take this huge part alone. Anyway, at the end of March and beginning of April I was communicating with Community Fundraiser from British Red Cross. She replay to my email a bit too late than I was expected but it is always nice to let other communities know about my actions and attitude. I can be brave to say that I was that person in my group who was the most enthusiastic about campaign planning and actions. It was not difficult to take care and organize the event during which we were giving free apples, apple shaped stickers and leaflets with interesting information about fruit. In order to get apples each of us asked local shops to support us by giving some apples. I am living Hendon, so here I found many local shops where I am shopping almost every day and I visited them with my special request. First of all, while talking to the manager of the shop I let him know who I am and what I am doing, later I asked him to support our campaign and in the same way I made him sure that he is making big help not only for my group but also for some students who maybe will start thinking more about healthy life style. Some shops rejected my request but I did not give up and went ahead. Finally, I found one shop near to the Hendon Central Station which was very helpful and polite. People who are working there wished me luck and even know they look at me as at friendly shopper. 5. Supporting other campaigns Our group was working alone without any collaborate with other campaigns from our module. As we all got the topic food almost all campaigns were linked to healthy products. Some of them had chosen specifically one product (energy drink, junk food – hamburgers, etc. ) and they run campaigns in order to change people attitude and inform them how dangerous it is. Differently, we had not chosen any products – we looked into whole lifestyle which includes food, exercises and attitude. I really appreciate other people job, how they did their campaigns, how they had represented their ideas and what targets they had. Only one thing what I might to change could be the way how they did their events. Most of all campaigns were too silent, working only on social websites such as Facebook or Twitter, I would rather do it loudly in the centre of our university. References: Wiki, S08G1 â€Å"Healthy Living†, research 2012 [online], http://mcs1000campaigns. middlesex. wikispaces. net/ResearchS08G1 American Cancer Society, Learn about cancer 2011. [online], http://www. cancer. org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/AtHome/aspartame The New York Times, The World is Fat 2012, [online], http://economix. blogs. nytimes. com/2010/09/23/the-world-is-fat/

African American civil Essay

Analyze the changes that occurred during the 1960s in the goals, strategies, and support of the movement for African American civil rights. Before the 1960’s, African American civil rights were severely encroached upon. All aspects of American life, from hospitals to schools to water fountains, were segregated,. Literacy tests, poll taxes, the grandfather clause, and pure intimidation kept African Americans out of the polls. The 1960s, the peak years of the civil rights movement, showed changes in the goals of the civil rights movement, evolving from desegregation to voting rights to equal economic opportunity; the accompanying strategiesshifted accordingly with the goals, litigation being more popular during the first goal; and the civil rights movement gained support from whites, including some prominent leaders, but lost some black support, as it progressed. The goals of the African American civil rights movement changed as a catalysts provoked change, or the goals were achieved: the first goal, desegregation, lasted from 1947-1963; the goal of voting rights extended from 1963-1965, and the last goal – equal economic opportunity and improving urban conditions, officially lasted from 1965-1968. In the early 1960s, the civil rights movement focused on targeting the rampant segregation. The movement continued to win desegregation victories through the other strategies, finally culminating in Johnson’s 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation in public accommodations and was specific to prevent the loopholes that other desegregation laws had contained. However, in September 1963, the Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed, killing four black girls. The shock and disgust that the African American community felt at the bombing caused the civil rights movement to schism. The two options were to shift the movemen t or become violent. As a result, the movement changed to focus on achieving voting rights, so that blacks could elect political.

How can a criminal record affect your life? Essay

What is a criminal record? A criminal record is a document that lists a person’s criminal and penal convictions pronounced by the courts of Canada in accordance with federal laws such as the Criminal Code of Canada. However, violating a traffic rule of the Quebec Highway Safety Code is not a criminal offence and would not result in a criminal record. In fact, offences to provincial penal laws do not result in criminal records. When you are convicted of a crime, that conviction may have effects that stick with you for years to come. It can affect what kind of job you may get, where you can go to school, as well as other things. If you have a criminal record, it is important to fully understand what that means. Never hesitate to ask questions of your lawyer or your probation officer. Many youth believe their criminal record is wiped clean when they are eighteen. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. Changes in the law have made it more difficult to leave your record behind and get on with your life. If you have committed a less serious crime, your record will be sealed. This means you don’t have to tell anyone except a judge that you have been convicted of a crime as a youth. So, employers won’t be able to find this out. What crimes are serious and less serious? Certain types of criminal convictions can result in the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. The most common example of this is the DUI case. Other types of cases, such as drug cases, can affect your driver’s license too. A criminal conviction can also affect a person’s ability to obtain or keep virtually every professional license that is regulated by the state. Some professions require that the crime be related to the duties of the profession before the license will be affected; others simply require the crime to be one of â€Å"moral turpitude.† Following are classes of crimes: If you were convicted of a Class A crime (Murder, Attempted Murder, Arson 1, Assault 1, Robbery 1), or a â€Å"sex crime† you will never be able to seal your record. If you were convicted of a Class B crime (Possession of Stolen Property, Burglary, Sale of Drugs, Theft 1), you must wait 10 years, and not be convicted of another crime in order to seal your record. If you were convicted of a Class C crime (Forgery, Possession of a Firearm, Taking of Motor Vehicle without Owner’s Possession), you must wait 5 years, and not be convicted of another crime in order to seal your record. If you were convicted of a crime for which you had to only perform public service or take a class, your record will be sealed when you are eighteen. There are many factors at work in the case of the professional who is accused of crime; it is critical that the advice of a competent, creative, and insightful defense attorney be considered, since a conviction can have ramifications far beyond the case itself. There are several disadvantages to having a criminal record: A criminal record may harm your chances of getting a job in certain fields (e.g.: jobs related to security, finance, etc.); A criminal record may cause serious hassles while traveling. In fact, to obtain a visa to enter some countries, you must prove that you do not have a criminal record. For example, the United States will deny entry to tourists or immigrants who have criminal records for some criminal offences: polygamy, prostitution, drug trafficking, spying, etc.; If you have a criminal record, and you are convicted of another crime, you will most likely be punished more severely than a person who does not have any previous convictions; A criminal record may prevent you from joining a professional order, from  obtaining licenses or permits, or from getting certain insurance policies. We have all made mistakes in our lives. But for some people those mistakes come with the penalty of a criminal record filed by the RCMP, the courts and any local police involved when the charges were laid. The result is a detailed trail of criminal activity, which permanently labels the person as such, even if no subsequent criminal behavior is ever committed. We live in a society that encourages us to constantly improve ourselves. We are told to make changes when life choices have not worked out. We are educated to better ourselves, to be more responsible and productive and to become more useful members of society in general. But how to do that when a criminal record is forever telling the world of your past? It is particularly in terms of employment that we are evaluated on our personal history. In a job interview what you have done defines who you are. A history of criminal activity not only creates restrictions on employment. It also affects travel to the United States, job advancement, volunteer work, child custody and adoption, ability to be bonded, personal credibility, peace of mind and more. Many job opportunities are simply not available to persons with a criminal record. The existence of any criminal record, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is a negative label and a disadvantage in life. Furthermore, a file will exist even in cases where the person was found not-guilty in court. Criminal convictions listed on a criminal record often stigmatize a person. Not long ago, a person’s criminal record stayed with him for life. Today, however, you can obtain a pardon for your offences. To do so, you must demonstrate your best behavior and avoid any criminal convictions for a specified period of time after you have served your sentence.

Hustle As Strategy by Amar Bhide in Harvard Business Review Essay

Hustle As Strategy by Amar Bhide in Harvard Business Review September-October(critical review of the article) - Essay Example (Porter, 2004). Author therefore seems to have taken a narrow view of how organizations can actually just rely on their own resources to gain competitive advantage and give less consideration to what competition is doing. Porter however, claims that operational efficiency is not the strategy though Porter believes that it is necessary but not the sufficient condition.(Porter, 1996). Author however, seem to have taken a view that operational effectiveness can actually materialize into successful strategy. Debating strategy from this perspective therefore can be considered as important because this is where strategy is actually directly linked with the maximization of the profits. (Davies, 2000). Author however, seem to differ by offering an indirect suggestion towards the use of differentiation as one of the (Porter, 1989) Such approach toward strategy therefore outlines that strategy is not just limited to understanding and exploring how to leverage the organizational resources in or der to compete effectively. (Speed, 1989). Within this perspective the debate presented in this article points out that strategy should be of evolutionary nature where only such strategies will survive which can produce best results. The author has given different examples of financial institutions where the international firms continued to re-evaluate their strategies in order to fit them according to what is working best. (Elfring, and Volberda, 2011) The evolutionary approach towards the strategy outlines that firms cannot withstand the competition but rather focus on developing their competencies in order to successful evaluate and challenge the competition. This also outlines that the firms must continue to focus upon the use innovative tools and techniques to successfully challenge the competition. (Henderson, 2007). This approach also outlines that the author has taken a broader view of how the firms can actually use their core competencies in order to compete. This thought o n strategy suggests that once the firms take care of developing their core competencies and resources, competition matters less to them. (Morden, 2007). These core competencies often translate into the competitive advantages for the firms and the firms resultantly develop into stronger and innovative organizations. It is also critical to understand that the firms pursuing such strategy must not be complacent and continue to evolve themselves according to the external situation. As such the link between the organizational strategies as well as the external environment is critical and the author has suggested the same. Overall, the author seems to have presented an evolutionary school of strategy for firms in this article. 2) One of the most important strengths of this article is based upon the fact that the author has produced a relatively different and fresh approach towards the strategy. By outlining different practical examples from financial services industry, author has critical ly offered a glimpse into how the managers think and evaluate their options before taking on any action. As such it is important for the managers to consider different aspects of the strategy making before it can actually be materialized. (Pretorius, & Maritz, 2011). What is unconvincing however is the fact that the author has just focused upon the financial service