The Effects Of Interpersonal Trauma And Disruption Of...

Developmental Trauma or Developmental Psychopathology researched by Maughan Cicchetti (2002) report on the consequences of interpersonal trauma and disruption of caregiving systems on the development of affect regulation, attention, cognition, perception, and interpersonal relationships. Åžar (2014: 171-179) states that research into patients with dissociatve disorders report the highest prevalance of childhood abuse and/or neglect of all mental health disorders and asserts that dissociation can result from deep-rooted developmental stress. This project will concentrate on the links in developmental trauma with the forming of dissociative traits and discuss whether dissociation is essentially related to the developing self. An in depth look at what is developmental trauma and the aetiology of dissociation will be covered. Using clinical examples, the implications for clinical practice in child psychotherapy will be considered. There is not scope here to look at each dissociati ve phenomena in great depth so this project will concentrate on dissociation as a whole. Developmental Trauma, the Key Aspects Trauma or traumata as described in Rycroft (1995) ‘are experiences which disrupt or pervert development.’ They define it as ‘any unexpected experience which the subject is unable to assimilate.’ Developmental, or as it is sometimes called, complex trauma, is concerned with a child’s prolonged exposure to traumatic events such as, neglect, abuse, abandonment, violence andShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Children2825 Words   |  12 Pagestraumatic experience that can have many unfortunate consequences on a child’s development and successful long-term functioning. The initial effects of abuse commonly reported by children include feelings of fear, shame, anger, rejection, hopelessness, and a perceived sense of worthlessness. However, many of these initial effects only increase over time and continue plaguing victims into adulthood. Adults experiencing long term effects of childhood sexual abuse report high frequencies o f anxiety attacks,Read MoreAdolescent Cognitive Development After Trauma4747 Words   |  19 PagesAdolescent Cognitive Development After Trauma Raquel A. Figueroa Liberty University COUN 620-B02 Abstract In a generation of hopelessness, adolescents seek a purpose for their existence. They seek refugee from violence, abuse and maltreatment. The overwhelming pressure opens the door for instant gratification in drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, and fail to make appropriate adjustments in compromising circumstances. There is a correlation between traumatic experiences and adolescentRead MoreAttachment Theory, Biological Influences5410 Words   |  22 PagesThe issue of attachment is one that influences an individual throughout their life, affecting many aspects of their development. It is first formed during infancy between the child and their primary care giver and is maintained over the course of their lifespan. The level of attachment that is formed during infancy creates a foundation for psychological development in the course of the individual’s life (Santrock, 2013). Attachment security can be an indication of the quality of an individual’s future

Environmental Scanning - 1136 Words

Environmental Scanning To assure the success of a business over a long period of time the business must be able to conduct regular analysis of their success. They must be able to determine where they are today and have a goal of where they would like to see themselves 5-10 years down the road. In order to conduct a true analysis of the company, one must complete an environmental scan of their organization. Thus scanning for events, trends, issues and expectations that they may be faced with in the future. Furthermore, examining all internal and external environment challenges. Internal environmental challenges may be with employees, shareholders or board of directors or the overall culture of the organization. External environmental†¦show more content†¦In return, they have a strong financial backing, brand reputation, strong marketing and advertising teams. Apple plans to take these strengths and prosper off of them. Taking the amount of brand awareness they have built along with their benefit of retail stores the company can plan to use their strong marketing and advertising teams to launch a new product. Weaknesses Some of the weaknesses that Apple was able to pinpoint was their high prices and incompatibility with different operating systems. Since Apple already has a great deal of loyal customers Apple could combat this weakness and provide its customers with a reasonably priced compatible product, thus keeping and retaining more Apple Customers. During the analysis the company was able to outline opportunities in which they viewed as a benefit for the organization. One’s that if the organization were to take advantage of them they may be able to grow the organization. Some of the opportunities include growth of tablet and smartphone markets, obtaining patents through acquisitions and strong growth of mobile advertising market. Although the opportunities would most likely help to grow the company, its best that Apple also keep their treats in plain view. Knowing the companies threats will help them combat them as they come about. Some of the threats that Apple was able to outline were breached IP rights, Android OS growth, 2013 tax increases andShow MoreRelatedEnvironmental Scanning1926 Words   |  8 Pages   ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING Environmental  scanning  is  a  process  of  gathering,  analyzing,  and  dispensinginformation for tactical or strategic purposes. The environmental scanning processentails  obtaining  both  factual  and  subjective  information  on  the  businessenvironments  in  which  a  company  is  operating  or  considering  entering.Environmental scanning is the process in which a firm continually collects andevaluates information about its external environment. There are six  main categoriesof environmentalRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning1483 Words   |  6 PagesIncreasing demand for Temple s upscale homemade confections recently poised CC on the brink of major expansion. In the next decade, CC can expect to encounter changing trends within the baking industry, each impacting the company s long-term environmental objectives in remote, industry, and operational contexts. Remote environment Labeling Ââ€" Anticipated changes in food labeling legislation will determine the manner CC labels its cakes nutritional content. Expanded labeling information requirementsRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning and Aspects’2062 Words   |  9 PagesWhat is environmental scanning? Environmental scanning is the communication of external information about facts that could influence an organization on its’ strategic decision-making process. It is a method of analyzing relevant gathered information and use to determine strategic and premeditated action on the business environment. The environmental scanning process seek obtain both realistic and subjective information on the business environments where a corporation is functioning or consideringRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning of Nintendo662 Words   |  3 Pages1. Environnemental scanning Macro Environment Macro environment is said to be the most general layer of the environment. This consists of broad environmental factors that have an impact on the organization. The PESTEL framework helps us to identify the future trends which might impinge on Nintendo and therefore identify the key drivers of change. On the other hand the five forces framework helps to understand how the competitive dynamics within and around the video game industry are changingRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning Techniques1335 Words   |  6 PagesENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING Environmental Scanning can be defined as the process by which organizations monitor their relevant environment to identify opportunities and threats affecting their business for the purpose of taking strategic decisions. Factors to be Considered for Environmental Scanning The external environment in which an organization exists consists of a bewildering variety of factors. These factors (could also be termed as influences) are events, trends, issues and expectationsRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning Paper1500 Words   |  6 Pages Environmental Scanning Kendra McQueen MGT/498 March 14, 2016 Amy Novoa Environmental Scanning Environmental scanning is an overarching term encompassing the monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of information relevant to the organizational development of a strategy (Wheelen, Hunger, amp; Hoffman, Bamford, 2015,). The use of an environmental scan can analyze the competitive advantage of a company, evaluate the strategies a company uses to gain an advantage over their competitors and createRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning Paper1834 Words   |  8 PagesAbstract Environmental scanning is the first portion to an organization’s strategic management and is very important to the corporation. Environmental scanning is gathering information for the external and the internal of the company. A SWOTT is the best way to gather the information. A SWOTT is determining the strengths, the weaknesses, the opportunities, the threats, and the trends of the organization. Starbucks is a coffee shop that sets out to be different from the competitors. The company doesRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning System for a Hotel1548 Words   |  7 PagesDEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AN ESSAY ON Steps to Establish Environmental Scanning System For a Hotel Identify the steps you would take to establish an environmental scanning system for a Hotel business and critically evaluate the process as an aid to effective strategic management Present business scenario across the world is very complex and unpredictable. The globalisation, changes in demographics and technological advancements and political changes influence the business a greatRead MoreAnalysis Of Accor Hotels : Company Profile947 Words   |  4 Pagesthe most widely recognized approach for considering the external business environment (Gupta, 2013). PESTLE analysis stands for Political, Economic, Social, and Technological, Legal and environmental analysis and describe a framework of macro environmental factors utilized as a part of the environmental scanning component of strategic management. Generally, all the PESTLE factors might not important for all types of industry its depends up industry nature or size. This PESTLE analysis is based onRead MoreEnvironmental Analysis : An Organization And Evaluating The Level Of Threat Or Opportunity They Present Essay2769 Words   |  12 PagesEnvironmental Analysis Environmental analysis is a process for identifying all external and internal elements that can affect the performance of the organization and evaluating the level of threat or opportunity they present. Opportunity and threat assessments are then incorporated into decision making process in order to better align strategies with the organizations environment (Investor Words, 2015). Every destination needs to know about their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

Income Tax Calculation Australia

Question: Part One: Income tax rates Martha is a resident who is 40 years old and has $170,000 of taxable income for the current income year. Calculate her basic income tax liability. Requirements DEFINE + Relevant Sections + FORMULA + Show Calculation + Income Brackets - Tax Rates Part Two: Ordinary income In 1979, a doctor who lived and worked in Sydney purchased a 20 acre parcel of rural land on the outskirts of the city for $100,000. Over the years, he used the property as a hobby farm for growing fruit trees and as a weekend retreat for relaxation. Recently, the surrounding area has become more developed and the property has increased in value substantially. The doctor has also recently run into financial difficulties as a result of a malpractice suit and he is considering selling the property. Advise him as to whether he would be required to include any amount in his assessable income as a result of the sale. Part Three: General deductions Compare the decision in FC of T v Anstis (2009) with the decisions in Lunney and Hayley v FC of T (1958) and FC of T v Maddalena. Is it possible to reconcile the outcomes in these cases? Part Four: Provisions that deny or limit deductions Discuss some of the circumstances in which entertainment expenditure is deductible? Answer: Part 1: In Australia, taxes on individual income are on the basis of PAYG system which refers to Pay as you go. Under the PAYG system, assesses are required to pay taxes on the income generated in that particular year. A progressive tax rate is followed (ATO 2013). The threshold limit for non-payment of taxes for any financial year is said to be $18, 200 whereas the highest tax rate is said to be 45%. According to Section 24K, income derived from office or employment shall be taken to be accrued in a particular territory, only if the entire activities are performed in the same given territory and after the approval of the Commissioner for the remuneration generated to be approvable (Commonwealth Consolidated Acts 2015). Considering that Martha is an Australian resident for taxation purposes, and has generated the income from employ-employee relationship, she is liable for the tax paid within the territory she has been operating in. The formula for calculating her basic tax income liability would be: $17,547 plus 37c for each $1 over $80,000. Therefore here in, it would lead to a basic tax liability of $17,547 plus (37c x $90,000) = $17,547 plus $33,300 = $50,847. Below mentioned are the various income and tax brackets for 2014-15: Part 2: Ordinary income According to Section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1996 (Cth), ordinary income refers to any income generated from the following sources (ATO 2013): Money earned in return for the transfer of services (wage) Normal profits from the regular course of business Any form of return on investment (dividend, interest, royalty, etc). Any form of receipt of capital nature comes under the purview of capital gains, and not ordinary income. For example, if the monthly payment of a certain individual X is $2,000 against his services as a bartender, the same will be taken into consideration as income generated from ordinary concepts, i.e., ordinary income. Therefore, they shall be considered as income by regular means and the basic tax calculation shall remain as was explained in the above part. The income and tax bracket for the same remains to be: However, any form of revenue generated from the sale of capital assets come under the purview of section 102-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth). Any income generated from the sales of a capital asset like land is subjected to the rules of capital gain taxation, and hence the calculations differ from the regular tax computation of ordinary incomes (Commonwealth Consolidated Acts 2015). In the given case, the doctor does not have to include any revenue generated from the sale of the land he purchased in 1979 at $100,000 as assessable income; however the proceeds from the same deducted by the indexed cost of the same as on the present date would be subjected to capital gains taxation. Part Three: General Deductions According to Section 8.1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth), any form of payment which is incurred in the ordinary course of transactions for the purpose of generating the assessable income in order to arrive at the taxable income is known as deductions. These deductions are subject to deduction from the gross income of the individual or business house (ATO 2014). In the case study of FC of T v. Anstis (2009), a taxpayer had reduced the expenses of conveyance apart from travelling to university, supplies for children during teacher rounds, administration fees and depreciation on computer as deductions against the Youth Allowances she was entitled to, for the generation of her tax return in 2006. However, this was challenged by the ATO Commissioner, but later on passed as allowable deductions (Morgan 2014). In the case study of Lunney and Hayley v. FC of T (1958), the two tax payers were ships joiner and dentist who were under the practice of deducting their personal conveyance fares from home to work, and vice-versa. However, the FC of T challenged that these were personal expenses and cannot be taken in as allowable deductions (Commonwealth of Australia n.d). In the case study of FC of T v. Maddalena, the verdict was given that any form of fees given to investment planners are not to be considered as allowable deductions from assessable incomes, as these are much earlier incurred, and are directly not related with the earning of assessable income (ATO n.d.) The similarity between the first two cases is that the conveyance fees was involved as a source of deduction, and the difference between case 1 and case 23 is that the prior one was approved as allowable deduction, whereas the latter ones were not passed as deductibles. Part Four: Provisions that deny or limit deductions Except for certain cases, entertainment expenses by means of providing employees with food/drinks/recreation or travel/accommodation expenses, are not deductible under Section 35-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth). However, if food/meal/recreation or travel/accommodation is being provided for the purpose of generating more assessable income, they become deductible in nature and can be done so. For instance, in the case study of Amway of Australia vs. Commissioner of Taxation (No. 2) 2003, a significant cost was incurred for organizing the Australian Leadership Seminar, which was backboned with the purpose of generating better tie-ups with distributors and more business volume subsequently. These costs were passed as entertainment expenses and were still subject to deduction (Purdon 2004). Reference: ATO (n.d.). Taxation determination. [Online], available from ATO Website: https://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/view.htm?DocID=TXD/TD9560/NAT/ATO/00001PiT=99991231235958 (Accessed January 9, 2015). ATO (2014, August 13). Individual income tax rates. [Online], available from ATO Website: https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/ (Accessed January 9, 2015). ATO (2014, June 1). Definitions. [Online], available from ATO Website: https://www.ato.gov.au/definitions/ (Accessed January 9, 2015) ATO (2014, May 27). Definitions. [Online], available from ATO Website: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Income-and-deductions/In-detail/Other-income,-deductions-or-offsets/Entrepreneurs-tax-offset/?page=21 (Accessed January 9, 2015) Commonwealth Consolidated Acts (2014). Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 995.1. [Online], available from Austlii Edu Website: https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/itaa1997240/s995.1.html#cgt_event (Accessed January 9, 2015) Commonwealth of Australia (n.d.). Deductibility of travelling expenses between residence and place of employment or business. [Online], available from Law ATO Gov Website: https://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/view.htm?locid=%27ITR/IT112/NAT/ATO%27PiT=99991231235958 (Accessed January 9, 2015) Morgan, FJ (2014). Anstisv FCT - Self-education expenses allowed as a deduction as being incurred in deriving assessable Youth Allowance income (what out theres an appeal) [C3]. [Online], available from FJM Tax Website: https://www.fjmtax.com/tax-newsletter/2094-anstis-v-fct-self-education-expenses-allowed-as-a-deduction-as-being-incurred-in-deriving-assessable-youth-allowance-income-what-out-theres-an-appeal-c3.html (Accessed January 9, 2015) Purdon, A (2004, May). Non-deductible entertainment expenses no such thing as a free meal! [Online], available from Television Education Network Website: https://www.tved.net.au/index.cfm?SimpleDisplay=PaperDisplay.cfmPaperDisplay=https://www.tved.net.au/PublicPapers/May_2004,_Accountants_Education_Channel___Tax,_Non_Deductible_Entertainment_Expenses___No_Such_Thing_as_a_Free_Meal_.html (Accessed January 9, 2014).

The American Budget Deficit. free essay sample

An in-depth examination of the American budget deficit and how it has been affected by different administrations and varying social conditions. In this paper the author examines the US Federal Budget during the Clinton administration and how he reduced the deficit to a surplus amount in 1998. He moves on to discuss the changing American economy and provides examples of why he considers that there are times in a nations life when deficits are necessary and even beneficial. The author suggests that use of debt spending during wars and times of recession help to boost the economy but can be detrimental to the Stock Market. He further examines levels of taxation and compares the effect that different administrations have had on the federal deficit. From the paper: Determining the correct, or economically benign, level of deficit and debt is a subject for endless debate. Economies do not operate by a simple law of cause and effect, of plus and minus, of deficit and surplus. We will write a custom essay sample on The American Budget Deficit. or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They are complex interweaving of many economic and psychological factors, both domestic and international. Although a huge deficit is never to be praised, there are times in a nations life when deficits are necessary and even beneficial.

4 Inspirational Stories from the Hood to Make You Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself!

4 Inspirational Stories from the Hood to Make You Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself! Last summer, I made a promise at the end of a blog about participating in College Summit, a program that prepares inner city high school students to attend college: I announced I would return to the program in 2015. And I kept my promise! From July 23-26, 2015, I worked with four student leaders to find their unique stories and put them down on paper. I was inspired by all of them in different ways, and I’d like to share their stories with you. As you read about these young leaders, consider the things that stop you in your life. My four students each encountered situations that could have brought them down, but they did not give up on themselves or their dreams. Here are their stories (complete with typos and grammatical anomalies). Their names have been changed for purposes of this article. Benita Benita, in an initial writing exercise, referred to a â€Å"family situation† but did not say what it was. We told her we wanted to know more, and she said she didn’t write more about it because she would cry. I told her it was okay and welcome if she cried. In the next exercise, she revealed, tears streaming down her face, that her dad was arrested in front of her eyes when she was 12 years old, and then was quickly deported. He had been trying to do what he could to put food on the table. After her dad’s departure, Benita quit playing soccer; she and her two siblings quit school; and her mother quit eating for seven months. But the family ultimately was able to turn their lives around. Benita rejoined the soccer team; all the kids went back to school; and her mother opened a dance studio. Benita’s dream: to become a history teacher in the neighborhood where she grew up. How remarkable that this young woman wants to give back in the setting that holds so many painful memories. She is creating new and more positive ones. My dad would take us to Disneyland once a month or even once every week. Our family was very cheerful and probably the happiest people anyone knew. When we would be home or somewhere else we didn’t really have enough food for us to eat. But that didn’t matter to us, all we cared about was being so happy and energetic family. Jorge Jorge’s brother Paul was the first in their family to graduate high school and to go to college. He was Jorge’s idol. When Paul dropped out of college, Jorge began to doubt whether he himself had what it took to make it through college. He spoke about how he started to give up on himself, but he said it looks likely that he will graduate this year. What he didn’t mention (and what I found out from one of the college coaches at the program) was that he has a 3.8 GPA and super high SAT math scores for someone from his background. Jorge is passionate about computer science and he has started to regain confidence in himself. I see every reason why he is going to be the first in his family to graduate from college. First period I had a computer science class in which we created our own website, our own game, our own graphics and pictures, and a program for a small robot made out of Legos. Most people thought that this class was boring and pointless, but I honestly thought that this was one of the most fun classes. I wish that I had a computer with all the programs at home to finish it or continue onto something else on my own. Jennifer A fireball from the moment we started working together, Jennifer never shied away from the task at hand. This girl from the ghetto is tired of walking by drug addicts every day. She wants more for herself and for her friends and family. Daring to be different from her neighbors, she has excelled in music and theater wants to be an obstetrician. She’s the one who bandages up the bleeding when her family gets scraped up. And I’ve never heard someone so excited while talking about mitosis! Jennifer is unafraid of the 13 years of schooling she will undergo to reach her dream. Being happy with what I do is an awesome feeling but knowing that it could take me places I could never imagine is even better. I am Jennifer Johnson. I’m from the ghetto. And despite all the negative things that are happening around me I did the things that made me the happiest, and became somebody. Sandra I wouldn’t have guessed that this tiny quiet girl, who at first was reluctant to talk and told us all she had nothing to write about, was captain of her school’s 4-time winning cheer team. Her story of how she got there was inspiring, and even more inspiring was watching her unfold into a true writer. I compete to fight to the top, although there is no path there. I like taking a step forward knowing I can trip. My shoes aren’t always tied, and there will always be cracks and bumps on the floor, but I will tie my shoes, and nothing will stop me from taking another step forward and wanting to run. If you let your untied shoes, your role model’s downfall, your background, or a family crisis stop you from playing full out for your goals, I hope the spirit of Benita, Jorge, Jennifer and Sandra inspires you to keep reaching, fighting, and celebrating.

Part-Time Job Search Guide Everything You Need to Know

Part-Time Job Search Guide Everything You Need to Know Not every job search is for a full-time career path. Sometimes you want a second job to make ends meet, or something flexible to help you balance other parts of your life. Whatever the case, we’ve got you covered in your hunt for a part-time job! Determine What You WantFirst, figure out what you want out of your part-time job- what are your goals? Do you have specific needs? Do you need a job with benefits? Do you need a flexible or unusual schedule so you can have a second job or manage schoolwork? Are you juggling work and family obligations? Whatever your niche, we can help you find those targeted opportunities.Do you need to obtain benefits in addition to your normal paycheck?10 Companies That Offer Part-Time Jobs with BenefitsDo you have to fit your job into a life that’s already filled with lots of obligations?Top 12 High-Paying Part-Time Jobs with Good Work-Life BalanceBest Part-Time Jobs for Moms in 20175 Great Part-Time Jobs for College StudentsIf you have the flexibility to flip your schedule a bit from the typical setup, you could consider a night job.15 Great Part-Time Jobs for Night OwlsAnd if you’re homebound, or prefer to work from the comfort of your PJs, go for a work-from-home setup.What Are Some Part-Time Jobs You Can Do from Home?Find a Gig that Pays the BillsIf your main goal for your part-time gig is â€Å"money† (which is totally valid too!), then there are plenty of opportunities are out there, no matter the number of hours you have available to work every week.These Part-Time Jobs Can Earn You $75K a Year9 Part-Time Jobs That Pay Very Well10 Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs15 Part-Time Jobs That Pay More Than $40 Per Hour (And How to Get Them)21 Part-Time Jobs That Pay More Than $20 An HourPrepping Your Resume to Get the Job You WantOnce you’ve figure out what kinds of part-time jobs you want to pursue, it’s time to dig in and revamp your application package. As always, that starts with a good old- fashioned resume overhaul. Don’t rush through a proper resume just because you’re pursuing a part-time gig. Competition is always tough, and you want to put your best foot forward to let hiring managers know you’re serious about the job.10 Things You Should Remove From Your Resume in 2017Resume Format Guide: What Your Resume Should Look Like in 20178 Warning Signs You Need to Update Your ResumeWhat Is the Best Format for a Resume?11 Steps to Writing the Perfect ResumeHow to Create a Resume Packed with Action WordsGet Ready for the Interview ProcessNot all hiring processes are one-size-fits-all- your part-time job search may include interviews that seem more casual, or are slightly different from the standard interview suit/firm handshake/firing squad template. Basically, you should be prepared to be flexible and act fast to jump on opportunities.6 Part Time Job Interview Strategies You Must KnowAsk These 10 Questions to Impress Your Hiring ManagerThe Most Popula r Macy’s Interview QuestionsHow to Look Like a Star in Any Job InterviewHow to Prepare for a Remote InterviewTurn It Into Something More PermanentAnd after you’ve got your part-time job, you may decide it’s time to take it full-time. We’ve got your back on that, too! It’s common for companies to take on employees to see how they adapt into the company culture before hiring them on permanently. Also, it makes sense that you, if you find you’re gelling with your coworkers, manager, and the company culture, might want to stick around for a while, and for more hours a week.10 Tips for Turning Your Contract Job into a Permanent One10 Ways to Turn Your Part-Time Job into a Full-Time OneGood luck! If you have any tips or stories about your own part-time job hunt, we’d love to hear them.

Apple Company Recommendation Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Apple Company Recommendation Proposal - Essay Example The internal analysis of the company has made it evident that the principal reason behind their declining market share is lack of innovation. Apple is best known for innovative and breakthrough products, but since the last couple of years the company is failing to satisfy customer expectations. On the contrary, Samsung has been able to secure the elite position in the smart phone segment through innovative design and aggressive marketing strategy. Despite creating hype, the latest offering from Apple, iphone 5, failed miserably in the market. Hence, the only solution for Apple is to come up with a new strategy that supports expansion of the business operations and fosters innovation. Discussion Reports suggest that currently Samsung holds 47% of the market share in the smart phone category and Apple holds 38%. However, the scenario was completely different in the last year. Apple was the market leader with 73% share, while Samsung and other companies embraced remaining 27% share. Fig ure 1 – Smart phone market Share Comparison of 2012 and 2013. The drastic shift in the market share figures of Apple makes it obvious that â€Å"something went wrong† for the company. A number of studies shed light on the fact that lack of innovation is the major cause of their failure. Moreover, the smart phone product line of Apple has also remained unchanged since its launch in 2006. The new versions were launched only with some add-on features and applications. However, to satisfy the dynamic needs of customers as well as tap new customer segments, it is necessary to offer enhanced and trendy products. The classic example of Nokia’s failure in the market due to the lack of innovation clearly substantiates the current state of Apple. ... In the meantime, it should be also noted that the operating system of the phones bundled by Apple is also getting outdated. A recent consumer study on smart phone OS preferences, has reflected that consumers are finding iOS to be stale while the latest buzz, Android to be much more user friendly and exciting. Since the first release of iPhone, it really has not come through leaps and bounds. On the other hand, the competitors of Apple were capable in delivering high quality and pioneering products at a cheaper cost (Tapscape, 2013). Apple has positioned itself as a luxury brand and thus targets high end customers. The primary target segment of the company is customers who are willing to pay a higher price for better experience and prefers using technically upgraded and updated products. As a result of that, price reduction will seriously hamper the Apple’s positioning strategy. Therefore, the only way to make global expansion and regain the lost market, the company needs to co me up with something inventive and modern. Methodology and Analysis In order to find a solution to the problem, the study has considered collection of data from both primary and secondary sources. Secondary data were mostly collected from authentic electronic sources and journal articles. On the other hand, the primary data was collected directly from the consumers of high end mobile phones. According to Treloar (1999), product innovation involves coming up with something new or sufficiently different (p.253). Likewise, Linder (2006) and Holmquist (2012) believe that innovation plays a crucial role in driving profitable growth. The author further mentioned strong research and development is one of the key

Global Marketing Strategy. Project Shakti Essay

Global Marketing Strategy. Project Shakti - Essay Example Still, it is undeniable that unless a business is a monopolist, it will have to face competition in the market. As a result, a market will always consist of many business organizations competing for the same customers and the same profit making opportunities. Therefore, it is the duty of the management of the organization to device strategies and mechanisms that it can use to be ahead of its competitors. This is referred to as gaining competitive advantage (Chaston, 2012). In the global markets, an organization faces competition from a variety of organizations. Therefore, the company has to build and sustain its competitive advantage in order to succeed in such an environment. How can Shakti contribute to HLL’s bottom line? It is for this reason of gaining global market competitive advantage that HLL formed project Shakti. Shakti can contribute to HLL’s bottom line by using implementing a number of strategies. One key strategy is the creation of new brands. The Shakti p roject can come up with new and unique brands in the market to assist in catching the attention of already existing customers (PWC, 2011). In addition, new customers will also be attracted and thus, this will be an easy way of creating customer loyalty for the organization. The management will also have gained competitive advantage since; it will be the only provider of that product in the global market. Therefore, it is highly probable that the price of the product will not be affected by other market prices. Creation of new products should also be accompanied by high quality products and efficiency in production. With high quality products, customers will be able select the organization’s products out of the products of the competitors. This will help HLL in building global competitiveness since it will be a step further as compared to its customers. Use of Price Leadership Strategy Shakti can also achieve HLL objective by using the strategy of price leadership. Instead of being the follower, the organization could focus on always being the price leader. This way, it will be able to set its prices according to its costs of production. Price leadership is a strategy that assists in building competitive advantage since; the organization will be the one setting the prices of the competitors. Therefore, the organization has the advantage of being able to choose the quantity to supply to the market while, the competitors’ supplied quantities are dependent on the supply of the price leader (Hill & Jones, 2012). What economic value is Shakti creating? What social value? Social Values Shakti is creating a lot of economic and social values in the Indian Society through a number of ways. One social value that stands out is the empowerment of women (Rangan & Rajan, 2005). In India, a large number of women are underprivileged and marginalized. Having women being involved in the Shakti project was a way of making women feel needed and of importance to the s ociety. It is thus a way that promotes social values in the society since women are able to hold a place in society. The society also develops since; with men already at work and women now occupied with the Shakti project, there will be no idlers and thus the society will achieve more. Economic Values The Shakti project also comes with a number of economic values; one of the main economic values is the introduction of information technology to the Indian villages (Rangan & Rajan, 2005). In addition, creating the communities portal is a way of enlightening the villagers and introducing them to new ideas and information sources. With access to a wide variety of information, the villagers might also become more innovative thus enhancing the economic value of the village. The villagers can

The Fair Value change with respect to the Financial Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Fair Value change with respect to the Financial Crisis Essay The world has come under the grips of a global financial crisis. Such events with big accounting and financial impacts are few and forlorn but when they do come, they bring with them uncertainty and pessimism as well as the desire to bring about some change so as to curtail such events from taking place in the future. With regards to standard setting, this is being achieved through the debate surrounding fair value reporting. Banks and many other troubled financial institutions that bore the brunt of the tidal wave of the credit crunch are calling on the Financial Accounting Standards Board to ease their stance in relation to fair value accounting whereas investors and financial analysts are standing forward to block this move. Fair value accounting had been brought into place after much deliberation by standard setters over the years. Its application worldwide was a reflection of the need for financial statements to reflect the assets held by firm on their balance sheets at prices they could be realized at today in the markets, in a fair deal and an arm’s length transaction. This was recognized as something that provided a fair outlook of the current financial position of banks and other institutions and was held very closely guarded by the FASB (Katz 2009). The chairman of the board’s adherence to the need for fair value to continue and his defense of the methodology in a testimony before the US House of Representatives Financial Services Subcommittee in March of 2009 is a strong indicator of where standard setters actually fall in the debate. However, in April of 2009 the board voted to relax the fair value rules under strong political pressure and in an uncharacteristically rapid fashion for a body that is known to engage in long debates and continued discussion before enacting any changes in the accounting standards. This change has sparked unique responses from the two sides of the debate. Banks and other financial institutions have been delighted with the measure. They had come out in open opposition to fair value rules following the financial crisis stating that it unfairly influenced their accounts. They argued that the use of the fair value criteria resulted in them show items in their balance sheet as significantly lower value than they would be actually realized at, thereby giving them a relatively bleak financial outlook with very pessimistic figures (Katz 2009). The impetus for the move was that if this could be alleviated to some extent, then banks would be better able to report their true financial situation and reduce some of the write-offs that have wrecked the industry, thereby even putting them in a better position to issue more loans and perhaps precipitate faster recovery from the crisis. The optimism of the banks with regards to the proposed shift by the FASB was reflected in the markets as the stocks of major banks such as Citibank and Bank of America went up in the New York Stock Exchange. Investors and financial analysts however have been strongly against the move being put forward by the FASB in April. They argue that fair value accounting results in showing the actual financial health of the financial institution and changing the rules would result in a distorted perspective being put forward to the investors. It is further seen as being a highly transparent view of the financial health as it leads to assets being valued at the amount they could be traded today which is a reflection of the economic times as well as the trend of decision making that has been going on in the industry. Thus after the changes have been brought into place, investor group are showing growing unhappiness at what is viewed as something potentially harmful. They were also wary of the involvement of political pressure in the move, which if freely allowed to influence international standard setting would compromise the integrity of the field and harm investor confidence as well. The FASB did come out in support of the investor though by additionally requiring more disclosure of the methodology employed by firm for valuation after the FASB allowed them significantly more room for judgment regarding it through relaxation of the rules. It further did not allow the financial institutions to apply the changes retrospectively which would have altered their 2008 statements as well. It also restricted the application of some proposed changes such as those relating to valuing impaired securities by keeping it only for debt securities. FASB’s shift has been in a manner that can be considered characteristically different from its formal procedure. The world of standard setting has been slow with prolonged discussions before any changes are brought forward. With regards to the current change, it was made considerably rapidly by bringing in remarks for discussion, pursuing a review of one day and then handing out the proposed changes which is a testament to the tricky financial times and political pressure. The shift that was brought about included allowing the firms considerable room for â€Å"judgment† with regards to gauging prices of some of their investments represented on the financial statement as well as those for mortgage backed securities (Katz 2009). This did meet with opposition from other bodies such as the CFA Institute and investors groups, the former arguing that such arbitrary changes damage their credibility while the latter is in woe of the difficulties investors will face now. They have even gone out to condemn to some extent the U-turn taken by the chairman of the FASB whereby he shunned the changes proposed to fair value methodology in front of congressional subcommittee but then agreed to put in place the same measures hardly a month later. Thus it can be seen that the current financial crisis has altered the direction standard setting in accounting has taken. It can be said that this is a fairly damaging trend. While it may result in short term gains for fighting the financial crisis and help shore up loans and lending, it could be damaging in the long run as political pressures and advocacy groups may damage the credibility and transparency of standard setting and financial statements presentation. It could also be adverse for the investor who may not trust the standards as providing fair information and affect their behavior. Furthermore, the integrity of the institute may well have been compromised in this case by the u-turns being adopted by the chairman of the FASB. Bibliography Katz, Ian (2009, April 2). FASB Eases Fair-Value Rules Amid Lawmaker Pressure. Retrieved June 17, 2009, from Bloomberg Web site: http://www.bloomberg.com

Issues Addressed in A Raisin in The Sun Essay -- Lorraine Hansberry

Black and White In the words of Jim Cocola and Ross Douthat, Hansberry wrote the play A Raisin in the Sun to mimic how she grew up in the 1930s. Her purpose was to tell how life was for a black family living during the pre-civil rights era when segregation was still legal (spark notes). Hansberry introduces us to the Youngers’, a black family living in Chicago’s Southside during the 1950s pre-civil rights movement. The Younger family consists of Mama, who is the head of the household, Walter and Beneatha, who are Mama’s children, Ruth, who is Walter’s wife, and Travis, who is Walter and Ruth’s son. Throughout the play the Youngers’ address poverty, discrimination, marital problems, and abortion. Mama is waiting on a check from the insurance company because of the recent passing of her husband. Throughout the play Walter tries to convince Mama to let him invest the money in a liquor store. Beneatha dreams of becoming a doctor while embracing her African her itage, and Ruth just found out that she is pregnant and is struggling to keep her marriage going. The Youngers’ live in a very small apartment that is falling apart because of the wear and tear that the place has endured over the years. Mama dreams of having her own house and ends up using part of the insurance money for a down payment on a house in an up-scale neighborhood. The Youngers’ meet Mr. Lindner, who is the head of the welcoming committee. Mr. Lindner voices the community’s concerns of the Youngers’ moving into their neighborhood. Is the play A Raisin in the Sun focused on racial or universal issues? Some say that this play is racial in that the family is black, and what the family is going through could only happen to people of that race. One prominent racial is... ... have a garden. This play is more universal in that the majority of the issues the characters face are easily related to people of all races. Most people want to be able to provide for their family, own a home, and find out where they come from. Most couples argue and bicker about money or children and not being able to provide for them. Everyone has dreams, big and small, no matter what race, and there is something that anyone can relate to. A Raisin in the Sun is universal because the play communicates problems in the play and conveys them in a way that everyone can relate. â€Æ' Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Norton. Ninth. Ed. Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, Kelly J. Mays. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005. 1942-2002. Cocola, Jim and Douthat, Ross. SparkNote on A Raisin in the Sun, 16 Sep. 2008. .

History Of The Cuban Missile Crisis History Essay

The Bay of Pigs was the operation that was designed as any agencies of subverting the authorities without uncovering that the United States engagement in the operation. The program was originally called for the gradual build-up of anti-Castro forces within Cuba into a political and military motion. However the programs rapidly changed into a all-out invasion, with the budget spread outing from $ 4 million good over to $ 46 million and the CIA preparation and providing anti-Castro Cuban expatriates to Cuba. In 1956 Fidel Castro led a Guerrilla Force in a rebellion against the authorities place of Fulgencio Batista. During the old ages in 1959 Batista fled the state, and Castro so became leader of Cuba ‘s new radical government. Castro made credence of these atomic missiles from the Soviet Union which so led to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Anterior towards this revolution the United States had a important influence in Cuba ‘s economic and political personal businesss, But Castro ‘s new authorities refused to be influenced by the United States. The United States grew in fright that Castro would set up a new communism government in Cuba, so the United States applied economic force per unit area and in 1960 an trade stoppage that cut off trade between the United States and Cuba. In an attempt to destruct Castro ‘s authorities, the United States trained and armed a anti-Castro Cuban exiles populating in the United States. These expatriates invaded Cuba in 1961, with a landing at the Bay of Pigs. Castro ‘s ground forces easy defeated the expatriates. His triumph during the Bay of Pigs invasion strengthened Castro ‘s control over Cuba. During this most Cubans resented the United States intercession in Cuban dealingss and they railed behind Castro, who declared that Cuba was a Communist state. The Cuban Missile Crisis marked the point at which the Cold War began to dissolve. The Cuban Missile Crisis ( known as The October Crisis in Cuba ) was a confrontation between the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War. In September 1962, the Cuban and Soviet authoritiess began to sneakily construct bases in Cuba for a figure of medium- and intermediate-range ballistic atomic missiles ( MRBMs and IRBMs ) with the ability to strike most of the Continental United States. This action followed the 1958 deployment of Thor IRBMs in the UK and Jupiter IRBMs to Italy and Turkey in 1961 – more than 100 U.S.-built missiles holding the capableness to strike Moscow with atomic payloads. On October 14, 1962, a United States U-2 photoreconnaissance plane captured photographic cogent evidence of Soviet missile bases under building in Cuba. The resulting crisis ranks with the Berlin Blockade as one of the major confrontations of the Cold War and is by an d large regarded as the minute in which the Cold War came closest to turning into a atomic struggle. [ 1 ] The United States considered assailing Cuba via air and sea and settled on a military â€Å" quarantine † of Cuba. The U.S. announced that it would non allow violative arms to be delivered to Cuba and demanded that the Soviets dismantle the missile bases already under building or completed in Cuba and take all violative arms. The Kennedy disposal held a slender hope that the Kremlin would hold to their demands, and expected a military confrontation. On the Soviet terminal, Nikita Khrushchev wrote in a missive to Kennedy that his quarantine of â€Å" pilotage in international Waterss and air infinite to represent an act of aggression impeling world into the abysm of a universe nuclear-missile war. † from the Cuban Missile Crisis, peculiarly after Khrushchev was relieved of his place as leader, there was a conjunct attempt on both parts for weaponries control, ensuing in the sign language of many bilateral understandings. the Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted the importance of a clear and direct system of communicating between Moscow and Washington. During the crisis, the two leaders communicated with each other through missive authorship, which proved to be a really slow signifier of communicating, peculiarly in such a tense clip. So, in 1963, an understanding was reached, the Hot-line Treaty, ab initio utilizing teletype, telegraph and radio-telegraph communicating links. Of class with the development of new engineerings, these communicating links have been upgraded. At the recent fortieth anniversary conference on the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was noted that â€Å" the lessons learned from the missile crisis might help those of us who are interested in cut downing the hazard of atomic calamity in the twenty-first century † . In decision, a the major ground that a military struggle was averted was the cooperation between Kennedy and Khrushchev and their committedness to peace. Neither was willing to pay war, specially non Russia since their missile bases in Cuba were unfinished. Kchruschev would non hold been willing to support Cuba from American invasion anyhow, suppose a war did interrupt out. Many things could hold changed the class of the crisis to the point of catastrophe: if Kennedy had chosen to utilize air work stoppages, if Russia had crossed the quarantine line, if Kchruschev did n't hold to peace, if the missile bases had been finished. Fortunately these things were n't, and the universe was saved from a potentially ruinous atomic war.

Economics and Swot Analysis Essay

Before we start with the swot analysis of IBM lets understand what actually the SWOT is . The full form of SWOT is strength ,weakness opportunity and threat . so the basic meaning of swot analysis of any company is to judge this four factors of any company at certain given period of time . On the other hand the full form of PEST is Political, Economic, Social and Technological and the analysis of these four factors of any organization is called pest analysis. SWOT ANALYSIS : Strengths: 1. Founded in 1896 as the Tabulating Machine Company by Herman Hollerith, in Broome County, New York it is very much old and organization of high repute . 2. the leading IT Manufacturer and service provider . the 4th largest technology company and 2nd most valuable global brand . And they are consistently in top 10 for last 20 years . 3. Company is handling 95% of all business in the 1000 most profitable companies in the US. Having his branch in almost 200 places in this world. 4. Its value almost $70 billion. They have over 450,000 employees worldwide. 5. The first company who decide to establish dedicated labs for research on technology innovation . Weakness 1. The company has become too large that the operating cost of the company is very high . 2. The workforce who are working is very much efficient but also very expensive in nature 3. IBM is mainly dependent on corporate clients the nature of them is changing day by day . 4. They have vary much low share in pc market which is a growing segment right now Opportunities 1. Increased globalization is an important opportunity that can be exploited by IBM in order to balance the fluctuations in different economies. 2. IBM’s small-medium business (SMB) has improved over the years but there is definitely a need to increase its market share to have an overall competitive edge. 3. IBM needs to maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace and innovation is key and working with IT-related companies to create new products in the ever changing market; use patents to generate revenue. Threat 1. The fact that they are completely dependent on Microsoft (in their computer services division) could be a huge problem if anything ever happened to them. 2. Hackers and sensitive information can be exposed and exploited by individuals and IBM needs to be innovative with regards to firewalls and protective software. 3. The supply chain has very few suppliers, leaving IBM very little to negotiate with or switch to HP, Sun Microsystems are all competitors and are all threats to IBM’s bottom line. Their competitors are able to create cheaper products and make more a considerable profit. Smaller companies that can move faster and provide less expensive products and services than IBM can become very costly to IBM’s more lucrative bundles focusing more on larger companies with big budgets PEST ANALYSIS Political factors: The heavy taxes in the UK make the IBM server products increase the weakness on the price factor, especially on the premium price IBM products. Economic factors: The healthy economic environment with strong and stable GDP in the all regions provides a good market for the product and service business of IBM. Although the GDP increase rate is not fast, the stability could balance this disadvantage element. The service industry in the world contributed nearly 73.4% to the GDP in 2006. That indicated that the high value added service market in the world is matured, and the customer experience on the service would be higher or more difficult to be satisfied. Socio cultural factors: Population and the internet users, in 2006, the population in just U.K it was nearly 60,609,153, and according to CIA, (2007), more than half of these people (37.6 million in 2005) were internet users. The well known about the internet indicated the opportunities of relevant products and services Technological factors: Internet, A survey from CIA, (2007) shows that there were 6,064,860 Internet hosts in 2006, and more than 400 Internet Service Providers in 2000. In this sophisticated market, the opportunity and competition will exist together.

Concepts of Facing Reality through the texts The Riders by Tim Winton, Retrun to Bali and film Snow falling on Cedars

Concepts of Facing Reality through the texts The Riders by Tim Winton, Retrun to Bali and film Snow falling on Cedars Reality is something that everybody has to face and deal with. Facing reality can sometimes have a significant effect on themselves as well as those closest to them. This idea is shown throughout the novel, "The Riders", by Tim Winton, the 60 minutes episode, "Return to Bali", and the film "Snow Falling on Cedars". The realities that the characters in these texts were confronted were presented in the ideas of facing reality is a physical or mental journey, that pain and suffering might be endured and that there will be a change in their life.The novel "The Rider's shows that when confronted with reality, you will face it through a physical or mental journey. Scully took both a mental and physical journey. Moving from one place to another all around Europe searching for his wife, Jennifer. "She'll be in Greece". This is what Scully had thought, though he was soon to find out that he was wrong and that he didn't know his own wife as well as he once thought.Ismael, or IshmaelThe mental journey is shown along the way. How his state of mind changes as each part of the novel is changed. This shows the mental journey in progress. At the end of the novel he ends up with a much better state of mind then what he had when he was in Paris and the other countries around Europe. A circular storyline shows the physical journey and the third person view shows the mental journey, by having different perspective the reader was able to interpret how Scully was truly feeling."Return to Bali" shows the physical journey, how they had to travel from their homes in Australia to Bali where they were recently bombed. This physical journey was short compared to the journey, which Scully...

Too Many Things To Write About

Too Many Things To Write About â€Å"If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at once and the same time, then I’m neurotic as hell. I’ll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days.†Ã‚  - Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar A common complaint But writing anything is progressive. Even writing the wrong story, if there is such a thing. Putting words on paper, crafting plot, molding character, solving structure are all positive, advancing efforts in the evolution of a writer. All that time stressing and not writing is wasting time you could spend writing. I have a partial novel on a flash drive. I doubt Ill ever complete it, because Ive found other writing I love better. However, the weeks and weeks I spent writing those thirty thousand words taught me what I wanted and didnt want to write. It was an over-zealous project for me at that stage of my career, but the lessons were legion. I admire that unfinished piece as many stair steps toward what I ultimately published. Ideas. . . we all have them. Some of us incessantly ponder them in their heads. Others of us just write lists of them. Others carry through and complete the stories. Most of those stories wont see the light of day, will be rejected, or will simply become dead ends. But those writers. . . the ones who go through the sweat of crafting those ideas into words, will have taken the biggest strides forward. Those are the ones who will one day strike gold Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and heres to writing badly in order to find the good.

Human development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Human development - Essay Example Willingham dispels this is as mere speculation, but public opinion considers this as the long-awaited evidence to justify how to judge people and identify their capabilities. The advancement of neuroscience over the years has been at an awe-inspiring speed. However, it has attracted diverse misconceptions and myths in terms of the cognitive ability of the brain. Several scientific findings have led to these assumptions and myths, and there applicability in the class setting by teachers is largely debatable. The left-brain versus right-brain distinctions continues to elicit varied reactions from the media and the populace. The analysis by scientists about the functioning of each hemisphere provides a better interpretation on understanding students, girls, and young children. In terms of students, it is not true that right-brained students should avoid the education system and concentrate on their artistic side. Such assumptions may prejudice the thinking of parents who may choose not to educate their children through the normal schooling system, claiming that their brains hinge on the right hemisphere. Considering the information is not entirely credible, it may be risky to use it in learning materials. There are books that already present such information to students and teachers. Neuroscientists have tried to diffuse the unnecessary propaganda, but their efforts are fruitless. Both hemispheres of the brain coordinate to process information. In case one side is better, it is only by a slight margin with marginal advantages. In consequence, this means that educational material should consider whole-brain thinkers and individual needs of students, rather than focusing on faulty and unsubstantiated myths. The cognitive differences between boys and girls are statistically real, but at the same time, are too insignificant to determine provision of instructions across the genders. Evidently,

International Business (Globalization) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Business (Globalization) - Essay Example Nevertheless, it is significant not to run away by means of the plan that the kind of globalization we have been discussing also involves multinationals turnover, on a number of outsized scale, to translational: International businesses are at present largely restricted to their where they originated from, only if we consider their overall business operations and activity; they stay heavily nationally rooted and carry on to be multinational, to a certain extent than translational ,organizations . (Palmisano 2006) While full globalization in this organizational sense may not have occurred on a large scale, these large multinational corporations still have considerable economic and cultural power. Multinationals can impact upon communities in very diverse places. First, they look to establish or contract operations (production, service and sales) in countries and regions where they can exploit cheaper labour and resources. While this can mean additional wealth flowing into those communities, this form of globalization entails significant inequalities. It can moreover, it may lead to outsized scale job loss in especially for those whose industries were in the past located. The wages paid in the recent settings can be nominal, and workers privileges and conditions pitiable. For instance, a 1998 study of exceptional economic zones in China showed that manufacturers for organizations such as Ralph Lauren, Adidas and Nike were the ones paying low wages, to the extent of 13 cents per hour Second, multinationals continuously look new or else under-exploited markets. They look to increase sales - often by trying to create new needs among different target groups. One example here has been the activities of tobacco companies in southern countries. Another has been the development of the markets predominantly populated by children and young people. There is increasing evidence that this is having a deep

Issues, Theories & Practice in Organizational Behavior (Hospitality Essay

Issues, Theories & Practice in Organizational Behavior (Hospitality Industry) - Essay Example s by proposing ways through which the hotel can use to improve the human resource aspect while adopting the globalization trend moving into the future. Globalization can be defined as a way through which companies move from the native countries and start their operations in other countries. It entails several aspects like operations, products among others. It can be identified as a means through which companies avail their services in many countries around the world. In recent times, the desire for companies to attain globalization has been on the rise. Going international makes many companies discover new markets. In the hospitality industry, the globalization trend has been extensively employed as there are numerous hotels within this industry which have an international outlook. The demand for high standards of hospitality services can be identified as the global feature driving these companies towards globalization. The demand for hospitality services has been on the rise as international business increases across the globe. The rate of movement by people around the world has increased tremendously in the 21st century. The demand for hospitality services like hotel rooms continues to increase annually as the years progress. Hotels continue to expand their services in the aim of satisfying their clients. Loyal clients of hotels have been the main reason for the desire to globalize within the hospitality industry. The competition within the industry continues to rise as new organizations come into the market (Aaker, pg 5). Globalization has become the new way to create an extra market for the organization within the hospitality industry. The creation of an international brand is crucial for many organizations within this industry. People travel from numerous places in the world, and with an international brand, a hotel can easily sell the name once it enters into the new market. While creating an internationally recognized brand is an essential requirement for

Comparison Of Learning Theories

Comparison Of Learning Theories There are three main categories of learning theories, behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Behaviourism is concerned with observable behaviour; it classified learning as acquiring new behaviour based on environment. Cognitivism basically is concern with person thinking process. On the hand congnitivism philosophy of learning based it premise that as person reflect on past experiences they construct their own meaning of experiences and knowledge. These three theories will be discussed with some focus on their likeness and differences. Since, they all have implication to teaching and learning. Such as, keeping students thinking process in mind; looking at students responses and the consequences of those responses. Introduction There is not single set of learning theory that if devotedly followed guarantee educators perfect results in the classroom. However, the study of learning has generated much discussion for many years. It has been at the core of educational psychology. Although the importance of learning as a topic of study is agreed by psychologists; they often disagreed on the mechanics of how learning process occurred. (Wittrock, 1977) cited by (Good and Brophy 1995) defined learning as the process of acquiring relative permanent change in understanding, attitude, knowledge, information, ability and skill through experience. This paper seeks to explain congnitivism, behavioural and constructivist theorists of learning, examining the similarities and differences between the theories, gives examples of how theses theories could used in the classroom. Cognitive theories focusing on how people process information and learn. They discuss concept such as memory, problem solving and decision making. David Ausubels (1963) cognitive theory distinguishes reception learning from rote and discovery learning. It is concern with how students or persons learn large amount of meaningful material thought a verbal expository teaching method (Woolfolk1990 P. 292). He suggested that learning is based on presenting information in a hierarchical sequential, organized, manner to learners. This aid and encourage meaningful learning, connection and retention of new information. Since, information presented is usually related to previous learned subsumer. A subsumer is a concept or idea that includes others concept (Woolfolk, 1990). Simple put, for learning to become meaningful there must be a possible fit or incorporation between learners existing cognitive structure and the information to be learned. To do this Ausubel postulates that educator should always start with advance organizer. Advance organizers are simple statement used to introduce higher- level concepts to be learn. They provide a structure for new information in a general manner and covers the concepts to be learnt (Slavin, 2003). To illustrate, as a teacher I at times uses the KWL chart to teach certain topics, such as the continents. First I gave the students a KWL chart; I encourage them to record what they already knows about the continents, then want they wants to know about continents and finally what new information they learned. Therefore with knowledge of advance organizers in mind educators should be cognisant of students prior knowledge and pre-requisite capabilities should be determined before giving any instruction. When teaching new concepts teachers should incorporate and commence with advance organizers. Instructions or concepts should be integrated which will encourage integrative review, links and transfer of information. Moreover, to facilitate transfer of knowledge teachers should present information in a progressive way starting with lower- level skills before moving up to higher-level skills. Additionally, a much as possible learning material taught in one subject area should facilitate learning in another subject area. For example, students can be encouraged to make links between some English words and Spanish words or Latin words. Also, in the classroom, instructions should include both discovery and receptive teaching. To facilitate this, after given instructions teachers should follow up with questions and assessments which will provide opportunities for students to encode material in their own way and apply the concept learn. Furthermore, provide instructions in simple steps, organizing information in sequential and logical ways which will be easy to follow. This will also aid and facilitate mastery of information at each stage. This hierarchical format of giving instruction was supported by Gagnes theory. Robert Gagne (1979) has proposed a theory of instructions (Woolfolk, 1990). Gagne postulate several types of learning which needs different types of instructions. According to (Good Brophy, 1995) Gagne identified five major types of learning. They are attitudes which are internal state that influence personal choices, for example how student feel after reading a poem. Motor skills involve using your reflexes such as tying your shoes. Information entails facts and knowledge stored in the memory, for example addition and subtraction facts. Using intellectual skills that allow learners to discriminate between concrete, define concepts, and solve problems using rules. Finally, use personal ways to guide learning, acting and develop solutions to problems. Additionally, (Woolfolk, 1990) said Gagne was more interested in the quality, permanence and usefulness of students learning. To achieve this, he postulated that teacher used nine instructional events. First teachers must gain students attention. This can and should be done using a variety of approaches and methods. For example, to get my Kindergartens attention I sometimes incorporate music, drama, nursery rhymes, or poems to introduce my lessons. These are expected to grab students attention and interest since children generally like these activates. After students attention is gain, Gagne proposed that teachers communicate to learners of the objectivities of the lesson. This can be done by reviewing prerequisites, oral questioning or quizzes. Teachers can also provide demonstrations of learning products or outcomes (Slavin, 2003). For example, when teaching students how to use different shapes to build a house I will present then with a model of what they can finally make themselves. When attention is gain educators must stimulate students recall of prior learning. This involves getting students to retrieved information they have learned. Then, present the stimulus that is presenting the material to be learnt, followed by providing learning guidelines. This could be anything from guided discovery activities, explanations or demonstrations, however, information presented should be in a logical and understanding way. After doing this (Woolfolk ,1990) said learning does not stop there. Since, teachers has to insure learner demonstr ate understanding of taught information. Gagne proposed this is done by his next step which involves providing guidance to learners. Gagnes sixth instructional event involves questioning students for understanding, their responses allow teachers to evaluate learners comprehension this also provides reinforcement, feedback and assess performance, which Gagne posited as his seventh and eight instructional level. His theory indicates that after each topic is taught teachers should assess pupils performance, this can be done via formal or informal evaluation. Finally, educators must enhance retention and facilitate transfer of knowledge to other top and subject areas and real life situations. With this information in mind, educators must be mindful that different instructions are required for different learning outcomes. For example in my classroom when I want my class to identify letter a I do not focus on the letters sound but on its formation or differentiating it from others. Furthermore teachers must be purposeful in selecting instruction strategies, understanding the limitations and advantages of the strategies they choice. Additionally, strategies choice should be based on the students, content and situation of it used, for individual differences are to be considered. Likewise, lessons should commence with declaration of what and why students are required to learn the information. Additionally, Pavlovs and Skinners theory were behaviourist. Behaviourism is concern with observable and measurable aspects of human behaviour (Good Brophy, 1995). This means that their theories focused on observable, measurable behaviour. Classic conditioning is a term used to describe learning which has been acquired through experience. According to Legge Harari, 2000). Pavlov used animals mainly dogs in his experiments to demonstrated classical conditioning, he arranged for the study of salivary conditioning. The dogs he used showed a salivation response when they where offered food (unconditional stimulus). The food was offered a number of times with the sound of a buzzer (conditional stimulus). After this, the sound of the buzzer alone could produce the salivation response. This theory has some links to classroom situations. For instance, a bell ringing is used in schools to indicate the end of instruction time, recess time, or use a whistle to get students attention during physical educati on exercises. Like Pavlovs theory B. F. Skinner agreed that some human reflexive behaviour is clearly encouraged by specific stimuli. However, Skinner proposed that reflexive behaviour accounts for only a small proportion of all actions (Slavin, 2003). He proposed the use of pleasant and unpleasant consequences. He work focused on placing subjects in controlled situations and observing their behaviour. Operant conditioning is sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning is a method of learning involving reward and punishment of behaviour (Legge Harari, 2000). Skinners theory has has some important principles, is that, behaviour changes according to its immediate consequences. Pleasant consequences strengthen behaviour, unpleasant consequences weakens it (Slavin 2003). Simple put a person will repeat a behaviour if the consequences of that behaviour is pleasing or pleasant. Slavin also, posit that pleasant consequences are call reinforcer, unpleasant consequences are called punishers. Reinfo rcers are any consequence that strengthens or increase behaviour. Reinforcers can be positive or negative and both are used to strengthen behaviour. Positive reinforces which are favorable events that are presented after the behaviour, such as, praise, grades and stickers. Negative reinforcers are unfaviourable Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavorable events to strengthen a behaviour.( ww.psychology.about .com) Obviously, teacher can apply Skinners and Pavlovs theories. They can decide what behaviours they want students to emulate, and reinforce these behaviours when they occur. For example in my class when I want my students to practice raising their hand to indicate they desired to give an answer, I praise them when they do so and over time I get the desired behaviour I want. However, as teacher we must be careful not to praise or reward work that do not deserve praise. Since, students may not strive to work to their fullest capabilities. Also, after determining of the objectives teachers must analyze the task into prerequisite skills and sub-skills. Additionally, rewards for academic effort should be meaningfully, such as extra recess time, opportunities to work on the computer or extra credit on key projects. Furthermore, students should know what behaviour you desire and when students exhibit the desired behaviour and they are reinforce, you tell them why. Additionally, as educators we must ensure reinforcement is truly reinforced. For example, when presenting class rules, set up both negative and positive consequences for breaking or following the rules. Also, use cues to help establish new behaviours. Sometimes at the beginning of the school year I Call students attention to the notice board, which usually has list of material they should have or will need when official class begins. Moreover, teachers must remember to reinforce appropriate behaviour as soon as possible. For delayed reinforcement are usually less effective than immediately reinforcement. In addition, one must keep in mind anything children like can be use as an effective reinforcer, although all can not be utilize in the classroom. However, as a teacher I sometimes use what whatever practical reinforcement to motivate my students. Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding of the world we live in. According to Slavin (2003) it draws many of it philosophy on the work of Piaget and Vygotsky, they emphasis the social nature of learning, and both suggested the use of different abilities grouping to promote conceptual change. Jean Piaget (1896-1980), is one of the most influential child psychologies. He proposed a theory of cognitive development which has many implications on teaching and learning. In Piagets theory he viewed cognitive development on two biological tendencies organization, and adaption( Legge Harari 2004). Organization as Piaget saw it involved organising experiences and observation into cohesive systems. Adaption involves adjusting to the environment. It is a process by which individual create matches between their pervious learnt information and new information that might not exactly fit together. This is where individuals demonstrate patterns of behaviour or thinking described by Piaget as schema (Slavin 2003 P.30). This involves using two techniques assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation involved trying to understand something new by fitting it into what one already knows. For example, the first time many children see the moon they call it a ball. They are assimilating the information into their current view of the world. If the child observation does not fit into their existing schemas they accommodate or change schema. When the individual has strik e a balance between assimilation and accommodation that person has achieved equilibrium because existing schemes and change schemas now fits. Therefore, with the above information in mind teachers or educators should facilitate assimilation process by matching new learning experiences with learners existing thinking patterns. However, the match between new experiences and existing thinking scheme of learners should not be too exact, for no or little accommodation will occur. When planning teachers should create opportunities of experiences that generate novel ideas and divergence views this will require some reconstructing of thinking and belief. Also, when presenting new information to learners it is essential that this is done in a sequential and meaningful way this will facilitate organization of information and encourage learners to organize their thought into main ides, concepts and generalisation; this helps students to consider past learning in a divisive and integrated way which can becomes problem solving tools. According to (Woolfolk 1990) Piaget also postulates a stage theory. He suggested that all children regardless of factors such as race and gender go though different stages of development, and that at each stage they think qualitatively different to the stage before. In the first stage sensorimortor, (birth to 2 years) is the time when infants gain knowledge about the world though manipulating objects and innate reflexes. They learn that an object will continue to exit even if it is out of sight Woolfolk (2003). The preoperational stage (2 to 7 years) children can now use imagery based on his or her memory of previous behaviour in the same situation (Good Brophy, 2008). Preschoolers language develops at an incredible rate. However their thinking remains egocentric and central. Therefore, teachers should use visual aids whenever possible. When given instructions to preschoolers, educators can allow them to act it out as well as give them oral information and do not expect students in the preoperational stage constantly see the world from others perceptive. Moreover opportunities must be provided for group word, this facilitates co-operation, and reduce subjectivity. The next stage is the concrete operational (age 7 to 12) Children at this age are in schools they are able to solve concrete (hands on) problems (Slavin 2003). They heavily depend on concrete experiences to facilitate his or her thinking. Therefore, teacher must provide opportunities for learner in this stage to meaningfully manipulate objects. For example, when I am teaching topics such as addition or time I give student models of clocks or counter to aid their understanding. . Also, importantly students must have occasions to interact with the physical and social environment The final stage (age 12 and beyond) of cognitive development is defined by the childs ability to think abstractly and use logical hypothesis testing to solve problems. Teachers must therefore integrate new examples and illustration from previously taught lesson to extend old learning. Also provide higher level problems to engage student in critical abstract thinking. In my teaching my questions and problems are set at different levels such as requires knowledge to answer, others required comprehension skills while other may need analysis skills. Vygotsky (1896-1934) is a Russian psychologist who made significant contributions to developmental and constructivism theory. He proposes a theory of development in which he presented several key concepts Legge Harari 2004). He viewed cognitive developments as a result of a dialectical process, where a child learns through shared problem solving experiences with someone else. It is primarily through their speech that adults are assumed to transmit to children the rich body of knowledge that exists in their culture. As learning progresses, the childs own language comes to help as his or her primary tool of intellectual transformation (Slavin 2003). Another concept is his theoretical construct of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) which provides an explanation of how a child develops with the help of others (Woolfolk 2003). It is the gap between what children are already able to do and what they are not quite ready to accomplish by themselves (Slavin 2004). He explains how children develop through contact with others such as parents, teacher, siblings or a peer.The person interacting with the child undertakes most of the responsibility for guiding the problem solving, but gradually this responsibility transfers to the child. Vygotsky also posited scaffolding. It is similar to scaffolding around a building. In that, it can be removed after the need for it ends. For instance, when a child is shown how to something and has mastered the idea he or she can now complete this assignment on his or her own. Vygotskys theory can be applied to the classroom, he suggests the teachers Is important in the process of the transmission of knowledge .This means teacher must ensure information given are accurate and useful to learners. Moreover, they must provide opportunities for peer tutoring, cooperative learning arrangements among student with mix-abilities. Personally I can attest that this approach works. Since, I have successful use this in many of my lessons. Allow students to gradually take on more independent responsibilities, removing the scaffold. Teachers responsibilities are to facilitate learning, what teachers do in the classroom are important to the overall effect of students learning. Therefore, teachers endeavour to making learning occur must be his or her best efforts. In so doing teachers can draw of all of the theories discussed in the essay. However, one must be mindful that these theories ha some thins in common and differences. Behaviourism is concern about behaviour that can be observed while cognitive psychology assumes that humans have the capacity to process and organise information in their mind. It is concerned less with observable behaviour and more with the thought processes behind it. Constructivism like congnitivism focuses on thinking processes and problem solving but also considered students reactions which is an important feature of the behaviourist theory. All three discussed theories attempt to explain and describe how learning occurs and viewed education and the instructional process as a whole. However, behaviourism formed the basis for all learning theories. Cognitivism and constructivism both stressed the importance of forging relation between previous learnt information to new information. In other words, learners are expected to relate new information to prior knowledge and experiences. As stated before there is no ideal educational theory. However the approach teachers used in their daily instructions are important. The approaches they use should be based on a variety of issues, such as the age of the students, their cognitive processing level, the subject matter and difficulty of the required task in order to successfully achieve all the objectives.

Lemonhead :: essays research papers

Lemonhead Nobody knows why Ethan had an enormous lemon shaped head. It was a major debilitating factor in his life that prevented him from doing many activities. He couldn’t wear a football helmet or hats. Ethan couldn’t even play in the play places at McDonalds because his head wouldn’t fit through the tubes. Ethan wasn’t born with a lemon shaped head he just kind of slowly grew into it. When he was seven it was only about the size of a watermelon and was just starting to take the shape of a lemon. By the time Ethan hit middle school his head was about a foot and a half wide and two feet tall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people would ask Ethan why he had such a large head. His responses over the years to questions about his head differ. When he was ten he would cry and run away, but when he was fourteen he would respond with witty sarcasm. A girl named Whitney once asked â€Å"wow†¦why is your head so big† and he responded with â€Å"why is your nose so big, I guess god hates me and you† If Ethan was in a really bad mood he would just simply give them the finger and say â€Å"why do you ask dumb questions.† Some people revered Ethan for his comicalness and for his personality but others called him lemon head or big head and made fun of his large head. Ethan never took too much offense to the teasing though; he figured they were just ignorant. After all Ethan was not short of friends he had plenty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ethan was the kindest hearted and most outgoing person you’d ever meet and he rarely ever hated life. He didn’t let the size of his head affect his life in a negative way. In fact Ethan rarely cared what his head looked like. But he began to care when Daria moved into the house next door.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Daria was the new girl in town and Ethan noticed her as soon as she stepped out of the moving van that brought her here. She was stunningly beautiful she had brown hair that flowed around her as if it was always in a breeze. She had the most gorgeous blue eyes and had creamy light brown skin that could make any heart melt. She was perfect in every aspect in Ethan’s eyes. As soon as Ethan could gather up enough courage he went next door to talk to her.

Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal Essay

PURPOSE OF THE TEXT: Jose Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere during the time of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines. The novel is a reflection of what the Filipinos were going through during that time. He wrote it to open the eyes of the Filipinos to the reality that they were being oppressed. Rizal’s book persistently unmasks contemporary Spaniards in the Philippines of every kind. He exposes corruption and brutality of the civil guards which drive good men to crime and banditry. He focuses on an administration crawling with self-seekers, out to make their fortune at the expense of the Filipinos, so that the few officials who are honest and sincere are unable to overcome the treacherous workings of the system, and their efforts to help the country often end up in frustration or in self-ruin.The Noli is Rizal’s exposà © of corrupt friars who have made the Catholic religion an instrument for enriching and perpetuating themselves in power by seeking to mire ignorant Filip inos in fanaticism and superstition. According to Rizal, instead of teaching Filipinos true Catholicism, they control the government by opposing all progress and persecuting members of the ilustrado unless they make themselves their servile flatterers. STYLISTIC FEATURES: Rizal exaggerated a bit, as in his portrayal of characters like the friars Damaso, Salvi, and Sibyla; the two women who were preoccupied with prayers and novenas, and, the Espadaà ±as but, on the whole, the novel follows the basic rules of realism. Humor worked best where a more serious presentation of the general practices of religion during that time (and even up to present time) would have given the novel a darker and pessimistic tone. Rizal’s description of the lavish fiesta showed the comic antics at church and the ridiculous expense for one day of festivities. TONE: The superstitious and hypocritical fanaticism of many who consider themselves religious people; the ignorance, corruption, and brutality of the Filipino civil guards; the passion for gambling unchecked by the thought of duty and responsibility; the servility of the wealthy Filipino towards friars and government officials; the ridiculous efforts of Filipinos to dissociate themselves from their fellowmen or to lord it over them–all these are ridiculed and disclosed. Nevertheless, Rizal clearly implies that many of these failings are traceable to the misguided policy of the government and the questionable practices of the friars. TITLE: â€Å"Noli me tangere† is a Latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible, meaning â€Å"Touch me not.† In John 20:13-17, the newly-risen Christ says to Mary Magdalene: â€Å"Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.† STORY/CONTENT: The first of two canonical 19th-century novels, Noli Me Tangere revolves around Crisostomo Ibarra who, after a seven-year stay in Europe to study, comes home to his town of San Diego, brimming with the desire to contribute to the development of the townspeople. More specifically, as a reformist, he aims to make education accessible to more people. His idealism, however, cannot bear fruit because of insidious forces bent on destroying him. Ibarra learns that his father, Don Rafael, had been embroiled in a conflict with Padre Damaso, who eventually causes his humiliation and death. It is not only political power that the friar wields; he has also used power to seduce the mother of Maria Clara, Ibarra’s sweetheart. Ibarra has another enemy in the person of Padre Salvi, who lusts after Maria Clara. It is also Padre Salvi who almost causes Ibarra’s death at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the school. Things come to a head when Ibarra is implicated in a failed uprising instigated by Padre Salvi. The young man is imprisoned but is eventually rescued by Elias, whose life Ibarra has saved in the past. As the novel ends, the thoroughly disillusioned Ibarra sees a bleak future. CHARACTERS: * Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the main character, is a young illustrado who has been studying in Europe for 7 years according to the wishes of his father. Influenced by his father, his studies and his observations of other countries, he has developed patriotic and progressive ideas which he wishes to put into action in his country. He is very much like Rizal himself. Quoted as saying that to achieve liberation, they need the â€Å"catuiran ng lakas† , or the use of force. * Marà ­a Clara de los Santos is Ibarra’s faithful, pure and modest sweetheart. She is the portrait of an ideal woman, partly drawn perhaps from Rizal’s love Leonor Rivera. * Padre Dà ¡maso was once a good friend of Ibarra’s father. He was, until the start of the novel, the domineering and condescending curate of San Diego, where the property of the Ibarra family is located, and continues to be a powerful figure in San Diego. Biological father of Marà ­a Clara, as he takes adva ntage of Doà ±a Pia, mother of Marà ­a Clara and wife of Capità ¡n Tiago * Padre Salvà ­ is the new parish priest of San Diego, who lusts after Maria Clara. * Elà ­as, a common laborer whose family has suffered much, dreams of revolution. He may be said to represent another side of Rizal. * Pilosopong Tasio is an old man who received an excellent education in his youth but was persuaded into discontinuing his studies, which he was told would lead him away from his faith. The character is based on Rizal’s older brother, Paciano. * Sisa is the mother of two young boys who disappear. With her mother love, her grief and her frustration, she is thought to represent the suffering motherland. * Crispà ­n- brother of Basilio. Dies at the hands of the â€Å"sacristan mayor† and Padre Salvà ­. * Basilio- brother of Crispà ­n and son of Sisa and Pedro. Last person to see Elà ­as alive. * Capità ¡n Santiago de los Santos – also known as Capitan Tiago, he accepts Marà ­a Clara as his own daughter. * Doà ±a Victorina is a native woman who desperately tries to look like a Spaniard. She was so determined to marry a Spaniard that she was willing to settle, late in life, for a toothless stuttering man. She convinces him to pretend to be a doctor to raise their status and society. * Don Tiburcio is a former customs official who pretended to be a prestigious medical doctor in town as his bread and butter. He is the lame, stuttering husband of Doà ±a Victorina. * Doà ±a Consolacià ³n is the muse of the cuartel. She is the violent wife of the Alferez and has treated Sisa cruelly. * Alfonso Linares is the godson of Padre Damaso and a distant cousin of Don Tiburcio from Spain. He is hard pressed to be Maria Clara’s fiance instead of Ibarra. * Padre Sibyla is a Dominican friar who is the curate of Binondo. His character is a stark contrast to that of Padre Da maso. PROBLEM: There was a cancer in the time of our national hero Jose Rizal that he elaborately depicted through his novel â€Å"Noli Me Tangere,† metastasized in every fiber of Philippine society back then, having its roots in the prolonged oppression of the Filipinos by our Spanish colonizers. Today, we see cancer in the Philippines again, and our people and environment have shriveled badly from this cancer, which is on its terminal stage. What is the main problem with the Philippines? Put in another way, what is Philippine society’s cancer today? The main problem with the Philippines can be seen from the perspectives of different sectors; and thus, there can be many answers to this question. From the point of view of the citizens, the main problem is the dirty politics of traditional politicians. There is no end to election fraud and accusations of election fraud. Then there are also politicians in power who bicker and accuse endlessly. Some even kill their political opponents, and the murders they commit to keep themselves in power are barbaric. Thus, our nation is in a constant mode of being destabilized from all sides – from those in power and those who are not in power. From the point of view of entrepreneurs or the market, the main problem is graft and corruption in government offices. It has become abnormal not to pay â€Å"under-the-table† to get a business permit or a government clearance. From the point of view of politicians, the main problem is a personality-based politics, wherein celebrities without any platform nor preparation for public service win by a landslide at the polls and end up mismanaging their public office and the public funds. From the point of view of public administration employees or civil servants, the main problem is their low pay such that they need to earn extra from extortions and sideline-selling to adequately provide for their families. From the point of view of the Church, the main problem is the Government’s interference on matters of faith as it pushes bills that undermine morality and one’s religious beliefs, although advocates of those bills see them as timely remedies to socio-economic problems. Just like the Indian tale of â€Å"The Blind Men and The Elephant,† wherein not one of the six blindmen saw the elephant, but rather one claimed it was a wall, another a spear, another a snake, another a tree, another a fan, and the last one a rope, because each of them experienced only a part of the elephant and not its entirety, so also each sector of our society see but facets and symptoms of the cancer that has kept us way behind the nations that used to learn at our heels. What is our cancer? What cannot we touch? Rizal’s writings and martyrdom sparked the hearts of the Filipinos towards a fight for freedom from our foreign oppressors. But ironically, whereas our people’s struggles before were against foreign domination, our modern-day â€Å"Noli Me Tangere† is about the Filipinos’ struggle against fellow Filipinos entrusted with the role to lead and serve the nation. This is our cancer today: Filipinos are against fellow Filipinos. MESSAGE: Noli Me Tangere or Touch Me Not†¦ was the a controversial novel of Rizal aside from the predicaments he encountered just to publish this novel. He did it to ridicule the friars and let the Filipinos be awoke of the oppression and learn to fight. It contained all the immoralities of the spaniards. So I think the messege we can get from it is learn how to fight in a peaceful manner, fighting doesnt need a bolos, a sumpit or lantakas but it can also be possible using your pen, your wisdom. As a Filipino we should learn to be united in deeds and be educated and learn to argue rationally.