Life Piercing Pregnancy Issues Teratogens Essay

Life Piercing Pregnancy Issues: Teratogens Ever since the dawn of time, pregnancy has been an important event in the life process of women. Some may argue that the maturation of the infant is solely their responsibility. However, the carrier’s habits can influence the baby’s development significantly. Some may leave the baby unharmed, while others might cause pregnancy issues. To further elaborate this topic, the following lines will discuss the effects that teratogens may have on the baby and his life. Alcohol consumption and smoking cigarettes have always had negative consequences for the consumer. In fact, all cigarette packs across Canada have warnings about the potential proceeding side effects. Moreover, exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can cause many negative postnatal outcomes and might cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASDs). Individuals that suffer from FASDs experience life lasting behavioral, physical and cognitive disabilities. It is important to discuss the topic of teratogens in order to educate the concerned adults. Mostly everyone knows that smoking and consuming alcohol during pregnancy lead to negative outcomes, but they do not know the specific details of what may go wrong. In order to clarify such a serious matter, it is important to discuss this topic in depth. Owing to this fact, this report and facts will be based on a scholarly research article by the â€Å"US department of Health and Human Services/Centre for Disease and Control andShow MoreRela tedModule Quizzes Essay14245 Words   |  57 PagesThe student petitions for a third time to open the module. Dr. Pozos will: Not open the emodule Where are office hours held? They are held online through issue Tracker If there is a technical problem with BioEspresso, and as a result are not able to finish your assignment, what happens? You are responsible for submitting an issue tracker immediately How many times can you take the emodules? Three times You have the option to do an extra credit assignment. Which of the following are required

A Travel Free Essays

I will talk about my trip to Egypt and Palestine, and I visited two cities in Egypt, Luxor and Aswan. I also visited two cities in Palestine, Jerusalem and Beit Lehem. I travelled in the beginning to Egypt and the program for my trip includes I visit first Luxor city and then visiting Aswan. We will write a custom essay sample on A Travel or any similar topic only for you Order Now Luxor and Aswan are located south Egypt, and travelled by train from Cairo to Upper Egypt, where the distance was about 700 kilometres. When I arrived to Luxor I went to area called alleyway rams and there are statues in this way and these statues were with sphinx’s body and the head of a ram. On other side of the River Nile there are temples and tombs which include the valley of Kings and valley of Queens. ‘Luxor has world’s greatest open air museum’ the tour guide said. After that I went to Aswan it is located on River Nile. I visited many of the archaeological sites like island of Elephantine in the River Nile, and I visited Abu Simbel area which located in Nubia, south Aswan about 300 kilometres. Abu Simbel area includes the Great Abu Simbel temples includes two temples: first temple called Great Temple for the King Ramesses II and anther temple called Small Temple. After I visited Egypt I flew to Palestine, and when I arrived I went Jerusalem city which located in west bank in Palestine. I went to Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of Rock Mosque and are located in the old city Jerusalem and these mosques are very old. And then I went to Beit Lehem city is located in west bank and located south Jerusalem city about 10 kilometres. I visited where Jesas was born because Beit Lehem city as birthplace of Jesas. When I finished my visit I went back again to Egypt, and I stayed a few more days and then returned to Sweden. How to cite A Travel, Papers

Role and Task Of The Marketers Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Role and Task Of The Marketers. Answer: Introduction The report presents a brief overview to the marketers and it also explains the role and task of the marketers. On the other side it describes the consequences of marketers in the modern world. Marketers Marketers are the person who identifies and analyze the goods and services for the customers. It also analyzes the market conditions and factors as the behalf of the company. It is the duty of a marketer that he analyzes the external environment and it should also evaluate the consumers need, wants and desires. The marketing executive plays a significant role in an organization for increasing sales in the market. The roles and duties depend upon the nature and size of the business. The Marketing executive should plan for the future activities to achievement of long term goals. The sales executive should use sales budget to determine expected sales, revenue and profits of the company. A marketer should analyze the nature and size of the product (Esposito, 2010). Sustainable consumption Sustainable consumption refers to the use of products and services that have negligible and minimum impact on the environment so the customers can meet their needs and requirements. Now days marketers are not doing enough in directing their target markets towards their sustainable consumptions. In these days products are not producing according to consumers desires. The marketers only think about the personal benefits because they only earn profits and money. They do not think about the customers desires and requirements (Del Vecchio, 2010). Now days sellers sell those products which do not provide satisfaction to consumers and affect the environment adversely. Mostly defective and low quality of products and services are sold by the sellers. Therefore, consumers face many difficulties and problems. In this way marketers are not being able to maintain good relations with customers in the market. In todays world there is high competition among marketers. The marketers do not maintain the product quality and quantity, they only focus on profits. The sellers charge high prices of the products but the products do not provide satisfaction to people. In this way, customers get disappointed and they do not be able to keep believe and trust on marketers. They do evaluate the external market and environment which influence the product and services adversely. The marketers are not performing good work on the behalf of the company. In this way the company bears loss and it also affects the position and goodwill of the company. The companies also face many difficulties in measuring return of investment and it also affects the long term sustainability. The Marketers performance also affects the human resources and quality of product (Peet, Robbins Watts, 2010). Winning sustainable marketing strategies The winning sustainable marketing strategies are discussed as below. Refocus on the target audience: The marketers should focus on the target audience and customers. The marketers should introduce those products whom the customers love more. They should improve the quality of products and services. They should think about the interest of consumers instead of own interest and profits. Focus on the customers needs and motivation: The marketers should analyze and identify the customers needs, wants and requirements and they should sell the products and services as per the customers requirements. The sellers should sell the products and services at reasonable and appropriate prices (Spaargaren Oosterveer, 2010). Maintain trust and co-operation: The sellers should maintain good trust and co-operation with customers. In this way they can maintain long term relationship with consumers and achieve organization goals and objectives. Analyze the environment: The primary task of the marketers is to analyze the environment of the market for introducing products and services in the market. The various factors affect the target market and products so they should evaluate the internal and external environment of the company. In this way they can find out and identifies the market condition and situations. During the evaluation if they find any difficulty and variations then they solve these difficulties and problems before introducing the products in the market (De Wit Meyer, 2010). Optimum utilization of resources: The marketers should do optimum utilization of resources. They should maintain the good quality of products and services. In this way they can fulfill the expectations of consumers and they can provide happiness to them. Marketers plays vital role in every company for introducing products and services in the market. They maintain good relationship between organization and customers. They do publicity activities such as promotion and advertisement for the company and provide support to the company. They collect feedback from customers on the behalf of the company. They can reveal the competitors products and services. In this way they come to know the information of competitors, thus the company can win in the market and it can make good identity among the competitors. So it can be said that marketers should perform their work with honestly and faithfully. They should satisfy the consumers requirements and provide support to achievement of organization goals and objectives (Jain Haley, 2009). Conclusion Now it is concluded that the marketers play significant role in the market so they should perform their roles and responsibilities effectively. References Esposito, J.J., 2010. Stage five book publishing.Journal of Electronic Publishing,13(2). Del Vecchio, G., 2010.Creating ever-cool: A marketer's guide to a kid's heart. Pelican publishing. Jain, S.C. and Haley, G.T., 2009.Marketing planning and strategy. Cincinnati South-Western Publishing Company 1985. De Wit, B. and Meyer, R., 2010.Strategy: Process, content, context. Cengage Learning EMEA. Spaargaren, G. and Oosterveer, P., 2010. Citizen-consumers as agents of change in globalizing modernity: the case of sustainable consumption.Sustainability,2(7), pp.1887-1908. Peet, R., Robbins, P. and Watts, M. eds., 2010.Global political ecology. Routledge.

Lcci Exams free essay sample

EDI accepts that candidates may offer other answers that could be equally valid. Â © Education Development International plc 2009 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the Publisher. The book may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover, other than that in which it is published, without the prior consent of the Publisher. Â  Nice-Food a manufacturer of dairy products in your country has recently been fined $1 million dollars for failing to meet hygiene regulations. The company is to invest $10 million in new machinery and equipment to comply with industry standards and training staff in all hygiene regulations. Write a news release, in a maximum of 150 words, announcing this information to the media. We will write a custom essay sample on Lcci Exams or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (You may invent any additional details but they must be relevant to the subject of the question) (Marks are awarded for the content, style and layout of the news release) (Total 20 marks)

3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeares Othello

3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeares Othello In Shakespeares Othello, themes are essential to the working of the play. The text is a rich tapestry of plot, character, poetry, and theme – elements which come together to form one of the Bards most engaging tragedies. Othello  Theme 1: Race Shakespeare’s Othello is a Moor, a black man - indeed, one of the first black heroes in English literature. The play deals with interracial marriage. Others have a problem with it, but Othello and Desdemona are happily in love. Othello holds an important position of power and influence. He has been accepted into Venetian society based on his bravery as a soldier. Iago uses Othello’s race to ridicule and belittle him, at one point calling him â€Å"thick lips†. Othello’s insecurities surrounding his race ultimately lead to his belief that Desdemona is having an affair. As a black man, he doesn’t feel he is worthy of his wife’s attention or that he has been embraced by Venetian society. Indeed, Brabanzio is unhappy about his daughter’s choice of suitor, due to his race. He is quite happy to have Othello regale stories of bravery to him but when it comes to his daughter, Othello is not good enough. Brabanzio is convinced that Othello has used trickery to get Desdemona to marry him: â€Å"O thou damned thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her, For I’ll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magic were not bound, Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy, So opposite to marriage that she shunned The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, Would ever have t’incur a general mock, Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom Of such a thing as thou†Brabanzio: Act 1 Scene 3. Othello’s race is an issue for Iago and Brabanzio but, as an audience, we are rooting for Othello, Shakespeare’s celebration of Othello as a black man is ahead of its time, the play encourages the audience to side with him and take against the white man who is mocking him just because of his race. Othello Theme 2: Jealousy The story of Othello is propelled by feelings of intense jealousy. All of the action and consequences that unfold are the result of jealousy. Iago is jealous of Cassio’s appointment as lieutenant over him, he also believes that Othello has had an affair with Emilia, his wife, and harbors plans for revenge on him as a result. Iago also appears to be envious of Othello’s standing in Venetian society; despite his race, he has been celebrated and accepted in society. Desdemona’s acceptance of Othello as a worthy husband demonstrates this and this acceptance is due to Othello’s valor as a soldier, Iago is envious of Othello’s position. Roderigo is jealous of Othello because he is in love with Desdemona. Roderigo is essential to the plot, his actions act as a catalyst in the narrative. It is Roderigo who goads Cassio into the fight which loses him his job, Roderigo attempts to kill Cassio so that Desdemona stays in Cyprus and eventually Roderigo exposes Iago. Iago convinces Othello, erroneously, that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello reluctantly believes Iago but is finally convinced of his wife’s betrayal. So much so that he kills her. Jealousy leads to Othello’s degradation and ultimate downfall. Othello Theme 3: Duplicity â€Å"Certain, men should be what they seem†Othello: Act 3, Scene 3 Unfortunately for Othello, the man who he trusts in the play, Iago, is not what he seems he is scheming, duplicitous and has a deep malevolent loathing for his master. Othello is made to believe that Cassio and Desdemona are the duplicitous ones. This mistake of judgment leads to his downfall. Othello is prepared to believe Iago over his own wife because of his faith in his servant’s honesty; â€Å"This fellow’s of exceeding honesty† (Othello, Act 3 Scene 3). He doesn’t see any reason why Iago might double cross him. Iago’s treatment of Roderigo is also duplicitous, treating him as a friend or at least a comrade with a common goal, only to kill him in order to cover up his own guilt. Fortunately, Roderigo was savvier to Iago’s duplicity than he knew, hence the letters exposing him. Emilia could be accused of duplicity in exposing her own husband. However, this endears her to the audience and demonstrates her honesty in that she has discovered her husband’s wrongdoings and is so outraged that she exposes him.

Do physical exercises with satisfaction

Do physical exercises with satisfaction 15 Exercises which will help every student stay healthy A lot of students just forget about their physical health, doing their regular reading and essays writing. It can influence your academic performance in a bad way. Sometimes, it is very important to put all your things away and just exercise to feel better and healthier. There are a lot of useful exercises, which are very easy for you to do in order to stay energetic. And you even shouldn`t have any special equipment to do the following exercises. Supine Pelvic Tilts This is the advanced crunch, which aims at the whole core region. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Your arms should be out to your sides and palms should be faced up.   Exhale and press your low back into the floor, using your abdominal muscles. Hold this position for some time. Inhale and create the arch in your low back. Don`t lift your hips. Return to your starting position after holding this position briefly. Side Plank with Bent Knee Lie on your right side with your legs stacked one upon the other and your knees bent. The right elbow should be bent under your shoulder. Raise your torso, engaging your abdominal muscles. Return to your starting position. Repeat this exercise on the other side. Side Lying Hip Adduction Lie on your side on a mat with your feet stacked in neutral position and with your legs lengthened straight away from your body. Your shoulders and hips should be aligned vertically to the floor. Place your upper arm on your upper hip and your lower arm under your head for support. Bring your lower leg forward until it lies in front of your upper leg. Exhale and raise your lower leg off the floor. Don`t raise the leg too high. Don`t allow the hips to roll back and forward. Raise the leg until you feel tension develop in your low back or your hips begin to tilt. Inhale and return to your starting position. Repeat such moves with the opposite leg. Squat Jumps Stand with your arms by your sides and your feet hip-width apart. Shift your hips back and down. Lower yourself until your heels about to lift off the floor. Keep your head directly facing forward. Make some jumping movements. Land quietly and softly on the mid-foot. Your head should be aligned with your spine. Keep your core muscles engaged in order to protect your spine. Contralateral Limb Raises This exercise is excellent for your troubling upper body areas. Lie on your stomach with your legs outstretched behind you. Your arms should be out overhead with the palms facing each other. Exhale and float one arm a few inches off the floor. Hold such position for some time. Inhale and return to your starting position. Don`t make any moves in your hips or low back. Supermans Lie on your stomach with your legs outstretched behind you. Your arms should be out overhead with the palms facing each other. Reach both your legs away from torso and float both arms until they lift a few inches off the floor. Your head should to be aligned with your spine. Inhale and return to your starting position. Don`t make any moves in your hips or low back. Glute Bridge This is an excellent entry exercise to the power of controlled and slow movements. Lie on your back in a bent-knee position. Your feet should be flat on the floor. Put your feet hip-width apart. Lift your hips up off the floor. Your abdominals should be engaged. Inhale and lower yourself back to the starting position. Side Lunge Stand with your feet parallel, hip-width apart. Keep your head over your shoulder. Your hands should be in the comfortable position. Shift your weight onto your heels. Inhale, step to the right and shift your weight toward the right foot. Exhale and push off with your right side in order to return to the starting position. Repeat the same movement for the opposite side. Standing Calf Raises – Wall It is a great area to improve your shins. Stand near the wall with your toes facing forward and feet hip-width apart. Place your hands on the wall in order to support your balance. Rise up to your toes and hold such position for some time. Inhale and lower your heels back to the floor. Side Plank with Straight Leg It is very important not to forget to breathe on this exercise. Lie on your right side with your left leg stacked on top of the right. Your right elbow should be positioned under your shoulder.   Lift your knees and hips off the floor. Your abdominals should be engaged in order to brace your spine. Return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise on the other side. Cobra This exercise will help you to get ready for your busy day. Lie on your stomach with your hands positioned under your shoulders. Your legs should be straight. Press your hips into the floor. Curl the chest away from the floor and lengthen the torso. Keep your shoulders rolling down and back. Lower your upper body beck to the floor. You should stop the exercise immediately if you feel the pain in the low back. Downward – facing Dog The controlled and slow movement is very important for this exercise. Come to an all-fours position on the floor.   Your hands should be under your shoulders. Engage your abdominals to support the spine. Rise up your hips. Press your heels toward the floor. Don`t lift your head.   Reach the heels toward the floor. Inhale and return your body to the starting position. Front Plank Lie on the stomach and put the elbows close to your sides. Flex the ankles and straighten your legs. Lift your thighs and torso off the floor. Keep your abdominal muscles strong. Don`t forget to breathe. Hold such position for at least 5 seconds. Lower your body back towards the floor in order to return to the starting position. Push-up This is the good old exercise. Come to a knees and hands position. Your hands should be under the shoulders. Bring yourself to the plank position. Keep the abdominals engaged. Bend the elbows, lowering your body toward the floor. Don`t allow your chin and chest to touch the floor. Press upward through your arms and straighten the elbows. Forward Lunge with Arm Drivers   This advanced exercise hits some core areas. Stand with your arms raised in front to shoulder height, feet together, and arms raised. Lift one foot off the floor, balancing on the standing leg. Hold this position for some time, before making a step forward. Then, shift your body weight to the front foot. Lower your body your front thigh becomes parallel with the floor. Your hands should reach to the point below your front knee. Keep your elbows straight and back flat. In order to return to your starting position, push off with your front leg.

German Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

German Question - Essay Example Though most Germans were not for the idea of democracy as they did not view it as the best option for a government, they were also not proud of their country in general. The first state in German was called The First Reich which declined in the 1300’s into a loose confederation of principalities. Between the year 1618 and 1648, the Protestant and Catholic fought due to the division of local rulers which led to the decline of the political culture but unity was restored when a monarchy came to power. The Kingdom of Prussia and the Prussian aristocracy also known as the Junkers served to unify the political leadership and was known for its organization and military discipline. In 1871, the Second Reich was created under the rule of Wilhelm I, the Prussian King, who then became the emperor and he devised new ways to ensure political stability and economic growth. These included sponsoring the rise of German corporation and industrial class and supporting monopoly arrangements to ensure the increase in investments and profit while on the other side imposing high tariffs on imported grains. It also became a military and economic power globally by the end of the 19th century and Bismarck pushed its social stability further by creating a welfare state and this resulted to growth in Germans’ pride in their country grew to an extent of being called arrogance.1A difference in religious and regional views emerged and the Christian Democrats and Liberal parties started a push for representative democracy and laissez-faire. Even though there was cooptation by the welfare state, the working class was a bitter lot since no unions were allowed and it was excluded from power.2 The newfound sense of superiority saw the country go into an arms race with other countries like Britain, France, and the US thus leading to a seemingly more powerful Germany which led to tension between Europe and the U.S thereby sparking the world war one. Germany’s aspiration to be the normal country is not a smooth process, as in many ways it will hardly be one due to its past. This is because it is not easy for people to forget Holocaust when the Germans did the unforgettable and cruel act to the Jews.3 A sensitive relationship between Europe and U.S and specifically between Germany and the U.S grew after the WW1 and its one of the factors that affect how the two agree on matters such as the war against terrorism. The tactic that the U.S decided to employ to fight against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan was not accepted by Germany who advocated for more peaceful means than an all waged out war. Although Europe as a whole supports the fight against terrorism and they are in the somewhat good relationship with the U.S, Europeans seemingly with the U.S policies for their own safety. From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem as though they are allies but their ties seemed weak at Munich 2004 when former secretary of defense William Cohen questioned w hy Germany did not refuse to send their troops to Iraq to help in the struggle if they thought that it is important for Iraq to be peaceful so as to ensure the security of the America and Europe. Germany instead took their troops to Bosnia and Kosovo and Afghanistan, where they serve in the NATO-commanded international force and stated that they are making their contribution to the European security elsewhere.

Engineering Design Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Engineering Design Practice - Essay Example 1) As per the requirements of the Approved Document B it is must for the architect to plan and design a structure in a manner that it should comprises of ample necessities like early conflagration caution apparatuses and proper, secure and efficient evacuation passages. 2) To control the intensification of inferno in the interior of a structure it is necessary to utilize the material that can bear and defy the blazes distribution over it and in case it catches fire, there should be a sluggish rate of temperature release, reasonable as per situation 3) The indoors are ought to be constructed in a way that in case of fire it is supposed to be steady for the utmost period and it must defend against the fire dispersion among two buildings with an tolerable system for the smoke discharge 4) The outside walls and roof of construction must defend against the fire to reach over from a construction to any more having stared to operation, height and pose. The blueprint of structure must be well architected to ease fire-fighters in shielding lives A performance oriented process for structural inferno design is akin to the modus operandi of devious structures to wind masses and seismic effects. The role of a structural component will be definite and a set of objective tests will be prearranged that allocates the assessment of fire recital in relation to the key practical decisive factor on the other hand, Prescriptive method characterizes a structural conflagration design moderately accurate in requisites of the resources involved, contour and extent of structural rudiments, depth of fire safety materials and construction detail etc. The design proposals are mostly based on the practice with matching or analogous standard inferno tests. It is necessary to carry out more than one test for a specific perimeter in array to verify the results obtained from the previous test as in earlier investigations by experts it is revealed

Gun Control Essay Example for Free

Gun Control Essay Abstract Some reasons why colleges should look at the laws that they put in place and try to change them. Students should have the right to conceal weapons on college campuses. The guns provide the protection that may be necessary in certain situations. Like the Virginia Tech Shooting, many people could have been saved if only one person had a gun. Having a gun gives a sense of safety to many people on the campus, especially for women with a greater risk of intruders and rapists. For these women, knowing that they have a way to defend themselves can set their minds to ease. Though some believe that the allowance of guns would increase violence on campus, no other college that has allowed concealed firearms has had an issue. Another concerning issue would be that having guns on campus would be easier for students to commit suicide; there are just some things in life that authorities cannot control, and that is one of them. The right to have a concealed weapon on campus should be conveyed freely. Position Paper Legalize Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Liberty senior, Craig Storrs, says, â€Å"It makes me feel secure knowing I would be able to defend myself if something does happen, like Virginia Tech or if I get stopped on the street for a mugging or something like that† (Barry, 2011). The topic of legalizing concealed weapons on college campuses has been argued for many years. Some colleges have legalized concealed weapons on campus and have not had problems, but many will not even think about legalizing concealed weapons. Carrying a concealed weapon at the age of 21 is a right including a college campus, because it offers protection and safety to students (Students for concealed, 2008). Background of Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Since the Virginia Tech shooting, many colleges have changed their on-campus laws concerning firearms. In eight states, the legislation is considering if students and staff would be able to carry a concealed weapon into college buildings. Many officials did not want to have another repeat the Virginia Tech shooting. Two years before the Virginia Tech shooting, the lawmakers of Texas rejected a bill to allow concealed weapons onto college campuses. Since then, the bill has come back with better arguments for the right to have a concealed weapon on college campuses. Corey Zipper, a twenty-one year-old psychology major, went to the state capitol to talk to the officials to pass the bill. Corey Zipper stated, â€Å"We get the mature thing a lot – that college students aren’t mature enough. And the alcohol thing – that we’re all just boozed up all the time† (Burnett, 2011). He also states that the law states that â€Å"a person much be 21 years old, have a clean record and no psychiatric disorders, and take a 10-hour instruction course that includes time at a firing range† (Burnett, 2011). In 2009 Texas passed the bill to legalize having a concealed weapon on college campus (Burnett, 2011). It Gives Protection Allowing students to carry a gun could save their lives. Life can be unpredictable, so when something happens people should be prepared. If by being prepared means they need to carry a gun, then why would the state want to take that right from someone? A person has the right to protect his/herself and others, and a responsible firearm owner would do such. Many lives could be saved by the simple action of allowing concealed weapons on college campuses (Concealed Guns, 2011). Background of Virginia Tech Shooting On April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, student at Virginia Tech, began his shooting around 7:15 A.M. in a co-ed dormitory. He first killed Emily Hilsher and Ryan Clark. The Virginia Tech Police Chief said, â€Å"We secured the building, we secured the crime scene† (Caruso, n.d.). The authorities did not put the college on lock down and had classes as schedualed. Seung-Hui Cho did not leave the campus; around 9:15 A.M. he started to kill again. He went into the engineering and science building and chained the doors so no one could escape. He then went into classroom after classroom; he killed 25 more students and five faculty members. Twenty-nine people were wounded. In the end Cho also took his life (Caruso, n.d.). It was reported that nineteen of the thirty-two victims that were killed were over the age of 21. The age of 21 is the legal age for the right to conceal a weapon in Virginia. If these students would have been able to carry a firearm onto campus, then perhaps these lives could have been saved. Instead of thirty-three lives taken that day, there should have been one. Innocent people would not have died (Students for concealed, 2008). Concealed Weapons Should not Depend on Location It is stated in the Constitution that a person has the right to bear arms at the age of 21. This law does not give specific places that are prohibited. People should not have to put their concealed weapon away because of where they are (The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, 1982). Public Places People can Carry Weapons Though colleges are small, some places that allow concealed weapons are smaller. When a person goes to the movies, they are allowed to carry a concealed weapon. No one would ever know because the weapon is concealed. Other places would include a shopping mall. When people are shopping, the last thing they are thinking is that the people next to them might have a gun on them (Students for concealed, 2008). Make College Students Feel Safer The right to conceal a weapon could put some students at ease. Knowing that they have a way to save themselves in dangerous situations may make the students more relaxed. If a student comes across a dangerous situation, then they are prepared. These students do not have to worry about what to do (Marin, 2012). College Intruders and Rapists It is easy for intruders to get into dorms. In New York, two men got into a building by sneaking in behind another guy after he swiped his card. When the college police were called they came and took the men without calling the cops. If this were to happen again, these men would be taken to the authorities. Knowing that it is easy for strange people to get into housing, it not be a good idea to rob students the right to have a concealed weapon. This would give some students that okay to live life and other the need of protection that they might not be able to find anywhere else (Rearick, 2011). One in four women have the chance of being raped in college. Guns could help defend so many different women. They could have gotten out of the situation if they just had a way of defense. Sometimes women are physically too weak to run from situations like that and the allowance of a gun would provide that opportunity to them (College Crime Today, n.d.). Counterargument: Guns on Campus Would Promote Violence . â€Å"Some professors might be afraid to issue bad grades if they know that students could be carrying guns† (Students for concealed, 2008). Some people believe that allowing student to carry firearms would push them to be violent. If the students are allowed to carry firearms, then they will not be afraid to use them. If there was an argument with another student, then these students would be tempted to use the gun to scare or even harm the other student (Students for concealed, 2008). Logical Response: Guns on Campus Would not Promote Violence There has been over thirty colleges campuses that have allowed concealed weapons on their campuses. These campuses have had no issues with gun violence, and there has not been a gun theft or accident in all these years. This shows that it is a possibility to carry conceal weapons and still get a great education with no distraction with no violence. Studies show, â€Å"concealed handgun license holders are five times less likely than non-license holders to commit violent crimes† (Students for concealed, 2008). Counterargument: Guns on Campus Would Encourage Suicide Some believe that allowing students to obtain firearms would increase the likelihood suicide. They would have all the resources they need now that they are able to carry concealed firearms. This would make it easier for these students to commit suicide without anyone knowing until after the fact. This would then increase the suicide numbers dramatically. Allowing a student to carry a firearm that could potentially use to kill themselves is not the way to help (Students for concealed, 2008). Logical Response: Guns on Campus Would not Encourage Suicide According to detectives, â€Å"Studies show that 90% of suicides are committed in the home† (Students for concealed, 2008). Since the legal age to own a concealed weapon is 21, most students at this age live off campus. This would not affect the numbers as much as the colleges think it would. If people really wanted to commit suicide, then nothing would stand in their way. Allowing them to conceal a gun will just give them an easier way out (Students for concealed, 2008). Conclusion During the Virginia Tech Shooting many lives could have been saved. Students could also feel safer knowing that they have something there to protect themselves and others if needed. Though students could turn to violence many are very responsible to be carrying this gun in the first place. They just cannot get a gun; they have to go through the process. Another concern would be suicide, but since most of the students live off campus anyway nothing would stop that. It would be a lost cause to put a ban on concealed weapons when there is nothing to prevent suicide in the first place. Once the right training classes are taken, it should not be a problem for a person to be able to carry his/her gun that he/she worked hard to get and paid for. The right to have a concealed weapon on campus should be expressed freely. References Barry, L. (2011). Liberty university oks concealed guns on campus. Retrieved from http://www2.newsadvance.com/news/2011/nov/16/5/liberty-university-oks-concealed-guns-campus-ar-1463719/. Burnett, J. (2011). Texas Lawmakers aim for guns on college campuses. Retreieved from http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133466058/texas-lawmakers-aim-for-guns-on-college-campuses. Caruso, K. (n.d.). What Happened: The Virginia Tech Massacure. Retrieved from http://www.virginiatechmassacre.com/what-happened-virginia-tech-massacre.html. College Crime Today. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.womens-self-defense-instruction-online.com/college-crime.html. Concealed guns. (2011). Retrieved from http://concealedguns.procon.org/. Frantz, A. (2011). Texas considering concealed handguns on campus. Retrieved from http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/22/texas-weighing-concealed-handguns-on-campus/. Marin, J. (2012). Guns on college campuses. Retrieved from http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/03/guns-on-college -campuses/. Rearick, J. (2011). Intruders spark safety concerns. Retrieved from http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1576/intruders-spark-safety-concerns-1.2660011#.TxkPxJit-fQ. Students for concealed carry on campus. (2008). Retrieved

Jack Welch Essay example -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Jack Welch - Leadership Secret 1- Harness the Power of Change It is important in today’s changing economy that business leaders are not afraid to make necessary changes to succeed. When Jack Welch became CEO of General Electric in 1981, it was a lethargic business, satisfied with its output and entangled in bureaucracy. He understood the competition that overseas markets presented and the need for a new global strategic plan. He was able to envision the true potential of his resources and implemented drastic changes such as the Stretch, Work-Out, and Number One, Number Two business concepts (which will be discussed later) to achieve his goals. - Leadership Secret 2- Face Reality This is the most important rule in Jack Welch’s business strategy. Too many business leaders become comfortable with their performance and refuse to see the need for change. A business leader must understand the importance of accurately defining their company’s current position if they are planning on making successful changes. And once problem areas are discovered, managers must act immediately to correct them. When Welch took over at GE, he quickly addressed the common practice of sugar coating financial paperwork that only left a false since of security and insisted that every business unit in the GE empire must be the number one or number two competitor in its respective marketplaces or it would be fix, close, or sold. - Leadership Secret 3- Managing Less is Managing Better Managers need to provide the vision for their employees and instill confidence. Too many times, employees are held back by not having the power to make even the simplest of decisions without approval. Managers should empower their employees and trust that they are giving their total effort. This will give managers more time to work on plans to achieve the long-term goals of the company. - Leadership Secret 4- Create a Vision, Then Get Out of the Way â€Å"People always overestimate how complex business is. This isn’t rocket science. We’ve chosen one of the world’s most simple professions.† In Jack Welch’s words, business is simple. A leader needs to supply his employees with the information, the resources, the vision, and the atmosphere to succeed and reward them when they do. Welch does not concern himself with the details of GE’s many business units; he only needs to ma... ...direct more attention to the services side of an industry. The growth rates for product services increases more rapidly than that of product productions, so there is great incentive to direct your primary resources to provide service after the sale. - Leadership Secret 27, 28, 29- Turn Your Business into an e-Company The Internet is the future of business. Bring your company up-to-date and provide customers, not only with product descriptions and information, but with a way to shop, communicate and interact with your company via the web. The Internet also provides less chance for human error in the ordering process because fewer individuals have to handle information. And, most importantly, the Internet speeds up operations, whether it is use for sending information to employees or receiving custom orders from customers. - Conclusion Jack Welch has definitely revolutionized the business approach. He has proven, over the years, that his techniques and concepts are extremely effective and that business leaders, worldwide, should heed his advice. This book provides a small glance into the methods and methodology of, arguably, one of the greatest managers of our time.

Affirmative Action is Reverse Discrimination Essay

Racial discrimination has long been an issue especially in the United States which is considered as a melting pot of different people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Black people have experienced extreme even radical form of discrimination for centuries, but now, the black people found an ally in the affirmative action policy. This policy, after some time of implementation sparked debate since some people, even the blacks themselves, say that giving racial preferences is never a good thing. The policy has affected admission aspects in schools and employment in jobs. Two job applicants, a white male and a black male, even with the same qualifications, the black male will likely get the job because of racial preference provided by affirmative action. Black people are being given a definite advantage and white people would find this an unfair treatment. The same goes for school admission policies where minorities are being given a higher preference over white people in order to maintain a diverse student body. Thesis Affirmative action laws were made to eliminate or reduce discriminatory acts but there are numerous claims that these laws have reversed the tide. Affirmative actions laws may no longer be considered fair in this current setting since it only results in reverse discrimination and it is no longer an effective means of providing opportunities for minority groups. This reverse discrimination is constituted by racial preferences for blacks. This racial preference clouds the judgment of many educational institutions and employers since racial background is being analyzed instead of just the plain qualifications which some white people might find inappropriate. Affirmative action was envisioned to put an end to racial discrimination especially against black people. Under this policy, black people were given higher preferences in job and in admission policies in universities. This is however not an answer to eliminating discrimination. Instead of giving higher preferences to those people who are being discriminated such as the black people, a better alternative solution to racial discrimination would be to find steps to eliminate discriminatory acts and leveling the field so that all people from different ethnic backgrounds will be presented with equal opportunities. Since the black people are being given higher preferences, this may appear as a form of discrimination against white people. Affirmative action, instead of fulfilling its intention of eliminating discrimination, rather contributes to it. One of the major focuses of the affirmative action debate is its inclusion in university admission policies which show higher preferences for black applicants. Many people have been calling for the ban of the use of affirmative action in the public arena. Voters in California, Washington and Michigan have already submitted amendments to their state constitutions that would prohibit the use of affirmative action in the public setting (Prince & Ryan, 2007). According to actor and columnist Joseph Phillips, affirmative action is not an issue of nondiscrimination, it is now about racial preferences. He emphasized on the point that racial preferences is not an effective way of fighting racism, instead, it brings about negative stereotypes especially in the educational sector wherein it pertains to a person’s intellectual capacity and academic capabilities (Prince & Ryan, 2007). In a Supreme Court ruling in 2003 which involves the University of Michigan which makes use of racial preferences in its admission policies, the court highlighted the goal of having a diverse student body which is brought about by affirmative action but critics say that this decision by the court would only spark more law suits and that the critics of affirmative action would continue to put pressure on the Department of Education to discontinue the use of the policy (Marklein, 2003). Evidences have been presented regarding the effects of affirmative action; however, these evidences always seem imperfect and ambiguous. A review of the policy during the Clinton administration indicated that active federal enforcement of the policy in the 1970s resulted in government contractors moderately increasing the hiring of minority workers. Studies have indicated that there is only a meager increase in the employment of black males. Employment share of black males in contractor firms in 1974 was 5. 8 percent and this figure only increased to 6. 7 percent in 1980. On the other hand, the increase in non-contractor firms was from 5. 3 percent to 5. 9 percent. Also, a substantial number of black government employees got their jobs or promotion to managerial rank because of affirmative action even if qualifications are questionable (Galston). In the education sector, it was only during the height of the affirmative action policy that the enrollment of black people was on a steady rise. From only 4. 9 percent in 1955, black enrollment went up to 7. 8 percent in 1970. The figure further increased to 9. 1 percent in 1980 and 11. 3 percent in 1990. On the other hand, according to a report from the Census Bureau, Hispanics holding bachelor’s degrees or other advanced degrees went up to 9 percent in 1994 from only 5 percent in 1970 while the rate for blacks is 12. 9 percent from 4. 5 percent (Galston). Another issue that rises with affirmative action is that minority groups may gain an image of inferiority since the whites may think that a black student was able to enter the university or a black person is able to get a job only because of affirmative action even if the black person has all the necessary qualifications (Hoffman). Overall, the past 30 years has been fruitful for the black people as they generally lived better lives with better education and income all because of racial preferences. This has resulted into what Seymour Martin Lipset classifies as a â€Å"growing differentiation† within the community of black people from the growing black middle class to the ghetto poor. The affirmative action program would work better if it would remove barriers for those who have the credentials to succeed instead of giving them a definite advantage in admissions. Anti-Thesis Supporters of affirmative action make use of the argument that it is necessary for the people compensate for years of discriminations against blacks. Many black people approve of affirmative action because it provides recompense against the discrimination that they have experienced and endured in the past but not all black people share this kind of insight. Steele said that, theoretically, affirmative action is in moral symmetry with fairness. She described the policy as reformist and corrective as well as repentant and redemptive. The country is trying to make up for its sins and wants to correct it but black people will lose more than what they will gain from the policy (Steele). Some also argue that it is difficult to remove stereotyping and discrimination without the policy and that it is needed to maintain diversity. Another argument states that affirmative action should continue because racism still exists in this society. The argument that affirmative action is needed for the white people to compensate for the discrimination against blacks is shrouded in hatred and appears as a form of retaliation against the white people. However, retaliation will not improve the situation. It might even spark more discrimination against black people if affirmative action policies continue to be implemented and this could lead to more hatred and discrimination against the minority groups. According to Kimberle Crenshaw, a professor of law at the University of California, affirmative actions removes the obstacles so that people from the minority groups can qualify and compete. With affirmative action, blacks, Hispanics and other minority group find it easier to get a job because of racial preferences geared toward these minorities (Prince & Ryan, 2007). Affirmative action exists because there is discrimination, if there is no discriminations, affirmative action would not be needed in this society. The fact that affirmative action exists is because there is still discrimination and it is still needed in the current setting. Those who believe that affirmative action is in conflict with their interest must be made to see what benefits it provides to the society. Racism is still dominant in the United States which is why affirmative action must stay (Noguera, 1996). According to Linda Chavez, founder and president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, the Michigan University case speaks of admission and scholarship programs for minority groups which make use of substantially different standards and must include the racial background. People against the policy said that they will take their case to the ballots but the court has already made it clear that it is the university’s prerogative to include race in the admission policy to ensure the diversity of the student body (Marklein, 2003). The 2003 Supreme Court ruling allowed admission officials to consider race in the selection process. Colleges and universities have no obligation to use racial preferences but they may adopt such policies to meet a satisfactory level of student diversity. Arthur Coleman, a former official under the Department of Education said that adopting diversity is a choice and is not mandated by any law or policy. According to a survey by Public Agenda, 79 percent of Americans agreed that it is important for schools to have a diverse student body while only 54 percent approved of affirmative action programs. In a separate poll conducted by Gallup before the court handed out its ruling, only 49 percent said that they are in favor of affirmative action while 43 percent said that they are not in favor (Marklein, 2003). Synthesis Affirmative action was made to eliminate discrimination but discrimination would not likely be eliminated if the method used to eliminate it is discriminating in itself since it results in a reverse discrimination. Instead of blacks being discriminated, the white people are now the ones being discriminated because of racial preferences given to black people in school admission policies and employment opportunities. Arguing that affirmative action is fair because blacks were once discriminated to a great extent is not valid since it is only driven by hatred towards white people who were discriminating the blacks and other minorities (Steele). Also, continuing affirmative actions only causes white people to hate the blacks because of the racial preferences that they are being handed. White people who believe that they have the qualifications but are turned down while a black person gets in may think that affirmative action gave him a disadvantage and not because the black person is really qualified (Hoffman). Affirmative action will not eliminate racial discrimination but it rather contributes to it. The policy may have its benefits every now and then, but generally, it is no longer applicable in the current setting as more and more white people are feeling the negative effects of the policy. It does remove barriers so that people from minorities can compete but it comes with a price. They gain an image of inferiority because people may think that it is only because of affirmative action that they have reached a certain level of success and not because they are really qualified (Hoffman). The Supreme Court has handed out its decision in the Michigan University case and the decision maintained that the school may use the race as part of the admission policy to maintain the diversity of the student body. Even without affirmative action, colleges can use race as a basis of application to meet a desired rate of student diversity since having a diverse student body promotes a better learning environment (Marklein, 2003). Ultimately, data indicates that affirmative action is no longer effective which means that it is time to adopt an alternative policy (Galston). A better way of embracing diversity would be to encourage minorities from a young age to work for their goals and get a good education. Assisting people from poor socio-economic backgrounds to gain resources and motivation should also be done so that they will also be competent when it comes to school admission and job-seeking. This is a lot better than giving them preferential treatment because they would not be treated as inferiors (Hoffman). Conclusion To conclude, affirmative action may have been an effective way of reducing racial discrimination against minorities, but now, it is no longer applicable to be used in the current setting since it results in reverse discrimination. The white people are now put in a seat that was once held by other minorities. Affirmative action might trigger hate targeted towards the blacks and other minorities because of the reverse discrimination. The policy which gives racial preferences also connects inferiority with minority groups. A better way of eliminating discrimination is by leveling the playing field not by racial preferences but by providing equal opportunities for whites and minority groups. References Prince, Andrew & Ryan, Erica. 21 November 2007. Is it Time to End Affirmative Action?. National Public Radio. Retrieved July 8, 2008 from http://www. npr. org/templates/story/story. php? storyId=16337441 Marklein, Mary Beth. 24 June 2003. Despite ruling, affirmative action debate is far fr

Analysis of Anselm’s Ontological Argument Essay

This premise does not state that God’s strengths as this argument is to prove his existence, not whether or not God is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-good. The second premise means this greatest possible being is either an imaginary being that one has thought of or, a being that we not only is not only thought of but also exists. The third premise and its sub premises states because existing in reality is greater than existing in thought, then the God we have thought of exists in reality or there must be a greater, or more perfect, being that does exist and that being is God. This leads to the conclusion, if you accept the premises then you accept the existence of the greatest being possible, God. This concept of God’s existence is also led with the idea that God is a necessary being, a being that is not dependent of something greater in order to exist. If God relied on another being, like how a children rely on parents to conceive them, then this being called God is not God because it would be imperfect. Therefore, there must be another to call God that meets all the requirements for perfection. One of the first popular objections was created by Gaunilo of Marmoutiers. The premise and conclusion to Gaunilo’s argument is identical to Anselm’s argument except with the replacement of the word â€Å"God† with â€Å"the Lost island† and the word â€Å"being† with â€Å"island†. As simple as that, though Gaunilo’s argument is completely absurd, Gaunilo’s reductio ad absurdum also proves to be as deductively valid as Anselm’s argument. However, this â€Å"Lost Island† could in no way exist. The absurdity and validity of â€Å"the lost island† quickly brought up questions as to how Anselm’s Argument cannot be absurd. Anselm’s argument was not proven invalid until Immanuel Kant, a german philosopher during the 18th century, proposed an objection that would be the decisive blow to the Ontological argument (Immanuel Kant. Wiki). Kant’s objection is how existence is not a predicate (Mike, screen 25). A predicate is used to describe something the subject (this being God in Anselm’s Argument) is doing. In Aselm’s Argument, Anselm premise rely on that being conceived and existing in reality is something that describes God. This rationality does not follow because to exist or conceive does not describe the subject, it only tells us whether it exist or not. Much like how fictional characters do not exist, describing cartoon for example would tell us details of what this cartoon looks like, what its habits are and common antics it goes through, but not whether it exists or not. The question of existence must fall in a separate argument that does not define the character. As there are Arguments to prove God, there are debatable arguments to disprove the God. The First version of â€Å"The Argument from Evil† goes as follow: 1. If God were to exist, then that being would be all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good. 2. If an all-PKG existed, then there would be no evil. . There is evil. [Conclusion] Hence, there is no God (Sober, 109) The first premise is the definition of what God would be if he were to exist. That is a being that has the power to do anything, had knowledge of everything throughout the span of time and is in all ways good. The second premise is created with the first premise in mind. To expand on the second premise i t states, if God were all-powerful he could stop any form of evil from happening, if he is all knowing then he has knowledge of when evil will occur and if he is all-good then God would stop all evil from happening. If god cannot stop all evil from happening then the definition of God must be incorrect. He then must not be powerful enough to stop all evil, and/or he doesn’t know when evil until it has already occurred and/or good is not all good in that God does not wish to stop all evils. The third premise is stating the fact that there is evil in the world. The conclusion derived since that there is evil, then is what may be defined as God must be lacking in one or two of his qualities and therefore God, by definition, does not exist at all. In order for God to be compatible with evil, God must only allow the evils that would, in turn, lead to a greater amount of good and must take the route that leads to the least amount of evil to gain the greatest amount of good. The soul building defense was created in mind that evil and God co-exist in our world. The defense is that without any evil in the world, our souls would not nurture, or, understand the concept of evil. This defense does not hold true because there has been many evils in the world that seem unacceptable, even though it may have been for the purpose of soul building. God, and all-good being, would then only allow the evils that are essential in soul-building. This would only mean that evil that man commits against man. The reason for this is because anything that happens in nature exceeds soul-building essentials. Another defense is God having given us free will, humans ultimately are the causes of this evil. That is true but the common objection to this is that human do more than enough evil to ourselves, it is going too far to have God throw tornados, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes at us too. At what point do human have such control over nature. The last defense is that God simply works in mysterious ways. Who can explain why natural events take so many lives and injure many others or why some children have to go through great deals of suffering and live through it? It is God’s way and ultimately, no matter how incomprehensible the evil is, it is for the greater good. Certainly the question to God’s existence has been pondered upon by philosophers for over a very long period of time with no progress as whether God exists or not. The ontological argument created by Anselm withstood a great deal of criticism until it was disproved by Kant over 600 years after the fact.

Free Essays on A Masterpiece From a Masterpiece

â€Å"When he wielded a sword, no matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade his hand was too strong, the stroke he dealt (I have learned) would ruin it. He could reap no advantage† (Heaney 181). The epic poem Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney tells the story of a hero named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of many monsters. This Anglo-Saxon story has become one of the most important Old English pieces. Throughout the epic, the Anglo-Saxon story teller uses many elements to build a certain depth to the characters. One of the many themes of the story is Biblical against Paganistic. Throughout history, this book has been translated many times, however, the themes of the book have for the most part stayed the same. Through time the rewriting and touching up by various sources causes the characters to portray more Christian characteristics. Seamus Heaney uses both Biblical and Paganistic views throughout the story to describe certain things. Grendel is Biblically and Paganistically described in this excerpt: So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world. Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’s clan whom the Creator had outlawed And condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel The Eternal Lord had exacted a price:†¦(Heaney 9) The Biblical reference in the epic serves to give the reader an idea of the extent of Grendel’s evil declared to him because of the past. The Paganistic views are used to help the reader by trying to give a logical explanation for Grendel’s murderous behavior. This type of writing is exhibited well within the whole book. In this the epic poem there are many characters introduced. There are three dynasties from which of the characters come from: the Danes, the Geats, and the Swedes. Al... Free Essays on A Masterpiece From a Masterpiece Free Essays on A Masterpiece From a Masterpiece â€Å"When he wielded a sword, no matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade his hand was too strong, the stroke he dealt (I have learned) would ruin it. He could reap no advantage† (Heaney 181). The epic poem Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney tells the story of a hero named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of many monsters. This Anglo-Saxon story has become one of the most important Old English pieces. Throughout the epic, the Anglo-Saxon story teller uses many elements to build a certain depth to the characters. One of the many themes of the story is Biblical against Paganistic. Throughout history, this book has been translated many times, however, the themes of the book have for the most part stayed the same. Through time the rewriting and touching up by various sources causes the characters to portray more Christian characteristics. Seamus Heaney uses both Biblical and Paganistic views throughout the story to describe certain things. Grendel is Biblically and Paganistically described in this excerpt: So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world. Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’s clan whom the Creator had outlawed And condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel The Eternal Lord had exacted a price:†¦(Heaney 9) The Biblical reference in the epic serves to give the reader an idea of the extent of Grendel’s evil declared to him because of the past. The Paganistic views are used to help the reader by trying to give a logical explanation for Grendel’s murderous behavior. This type of writing is exhibited well within the whole book. In this the epic poem there are many characters introduced. There are three dynasties from which of the characters come from: the Danes, the Geats, and the Swedes. Al...

Advantages and Disadvantages of Building Restoration

Advantages and Disadvantages of Building Restoration Using examples explore the advantages and disadvantages of allowing redevelopment and reconstruction of historic buildings. For the purposes of this discussion it is primarily important to determine what is meant by historic and to rationalize the terms redevelopment and reconstruction. The terms will be used in the context of preserving and conserving buildings. This includes maintaining their predominant features and characteristics, whilst enhancing new features in keeping with the style and building constraints relating to traditional use of materials and resources. According to English Heritage buildings exist across the UK that span over a thousand years. They also work with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and local authorities to allocate buildings such as these according to their criteria for listing – or categorizing for the purposes of their historic importance. These are identified using the following criteria: Those having architectural interest: bu ildings which are nationally important for the interest of their architectural design, decoration and craftsmanship; also important examples of particular building types and techniques. Those deemed of historic interest: this includes buildings which illustrate important aspects of the nation’s social, economic, cultural or military history. A variety of places that have a close historical association with nationally important buildings or events. Places which have group value, especially where buildings are part of an important architectural or historic group or are a fine example of planning (such as squares, terraces and model villages) [1] English Heritage define historic in relation to a number of factors. All buildings constructed before 1700 are automatically listed. Similarly this is the case with most properties up to 1840. A number of post 1945 buildings are also included in these terms. A comprehensive breakdown of listed buildings statistics across the UK is illustrated below: 38% are domestic dwellings 15% date from before 1600 nearly 20% date from the 17th century 31% from the 18th century 32% from the 19th century 3% from 1900-1944 0.2% from 1945 or later [2] Introducing conventional features can have negative consequences on properties such as those defined above. Not only for cosmetic or domestic purposes but also in relation to implementing safety measures into a property. and accessibility by way of lifts and hand rails etc for the benefit of people with disabilities. There is also a trend for interpreting properties of historical interest into entertainment or ‘edutainment’ orientated experiences which can be argued devalues the historic importance and often encourages historical inaccuracy from the learning perspective. The final consideration to be made in relation to this essay question is the notion of whether old buildings should remain preserved exactly as they are without any enhancement, improvements, additions or restorations. That they should reflect the period they were constructed in and be immortalized as a historical or scientific study. This paper will seek to exemplify many of these issues relating to the redevelopment and reconstruction of historic buildings which covers a broad argument for discussion. The English Tourist Board published a paper in 1991 entitled ‘Maintaining the Balance’ which proposed new schemes designed to ensure that historic town environments worked in sync with their communities whilst providing the visitor with a traditional experience. Visitor Management Plans were adopted and Town Centre Managers were recruited as means of taking these initiatives forward. The conservation and preservation of built heritage often involves maintaining tight restrictions and limited planning opportunities which is not conducive to new housing projects or business opportunities which could generate enterprise and economic benefits. Inste ad many of the UK’s classified historic towns remain stagnant and non progressive. [3] Similarly there are currently plans to renovate and restore the city centre of Amsterdam in keeping with its cultural heritage. The city centre is divided by two groups of residents. One enjoys the aesthetic benefits of living in this area, while the second are simply living centrally for the purposes of work and being close to amenities. This second group is unconcerned with the historical importance of the city and is not prepared to invest in maintaining or developing it as such. Often when areas such as this are under preservation orders high costs are incurred for maintenance and renovation in the style accustomed to the period. This in turn raises the rents of properties which become too high for existing residents to afford, eventually forcing them out of their homes, as is feared in Amsterdam. [4]

EU Regulatory Directives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

EU Regulatory Directives - Essay Example The directive covers ten categories of electronic and electrical equipment which may be sold within the EU and abroad. Townsend (2011, p. 587) illustrates that the compatibilities which electronic and electrical equipment must comply with include designing equipment during the production process in a manner which facilitates reuse, repair, recycling and disassembly. This compatibility is guided by the WEEE’s principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The major goal of the directive is described by Vaisvila and Vaicikonis (2006, p. 43) as the minimization of the disposal of unsorted municipal refuse or waste and thus facilitate the achievement of a separated WEEE collection. Additionally the directive provides that the management systems within electrical and electronic industries must be designed and organized both in individual basis and collectively so that the directive is not violated by these industries. Hidy, et al. (2011, p. 990) add that apart for provision o f recycling and recovery targets, the WEE directives provides that export of electronic and electrical equipment can only be achieved through compliance with the WEEE directive. Furthermore the directive provides that manufacturers of this equipment must take responsibility for the costs associated with the picking of waste from the collection centers and also for the processes of refurbishing the equipment in readiness for reuse or recycling. Quinnell (2005, p. 71) explains that the large appliances which are used in households such as washing machines and refrigerators are covered by the WEEE directive. Small appliances such as hair dryers, vacuum cleaners and toasters are also provided for. Moreover, IT equipment such as computers and their accessories, calculators and mobile phones are covered by the WEEE directive. The disposal of stereos, radios and TVs are also covered under the consumer equipment category. Other equipment covered by the directive include toys and leisure equ ipment, lighting equipment, electronic and electrical goods such as saws and drills, medical and monitoring devices and appliances. Moreover the WEEE directive covers automatic dispensers such as coffee dispensers within its regulations as illustrated by Townsend (2011, p. 605). This means that the manufacture and dealing in these categories of equipment within the European Union must adhere to the WEE directives as it is provided within the European law. Enforcing the WEE Directive within the UK Yoshida and Yoshida (2010, 21) points out that the member states within the European Union are responsible for enforcing the WEEE directive. This means that the European Union member states are mandated to enforce the directive within their boundaries. Hidy, et al. (2011, p. 994) explain that the enforcement of the directive is achieved through the adoption of effective monitoring and inspection systems. These systems must be implemented by the member countries and thus applied in ensuring that manufactures and exporters of electrical and electronic appliances meet the requirement of the directive. Additionally, the member states of the union are responsible for imposition and execution of penalties on producers and retailers who fail to comply with the legal provisions of the WEEE directive. WEE Within the USA According to Hristev (2006, p. 62), within the US the enforcement o

Chesed & The Book of Ruth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chesed & The Book of Ruth - Essay Example Chesed term also refers to the first day of God’s creation. The first day is referred to as Torah, which means the day of one. The day is associated with the creation of light. Light is a representation of goodness and loving kindness. The day signifies oneness of God. The first day accompanied all other days. The physical symbol of chesed is man’s reflection in water. Additionally, the concept of chesed is also manifest in man’s reflection of man’s heart to a man. In Hebrew, Chesed is similar to faithfulness born due to a sense of caring and mercy. The book of Ruth is characterized by Ruth. Ruth is the daughter-in-law to Naomi. After, the sons of Naomi die in Moab; Ruth insists that she must leave with Naomi to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:8-22). After, a successive journey back to Bethlehem, Judea, and Naomi orchestrates the meeting of Boaz and Ruth in eh barley field, which belonged to Boaz. Naomi took the initiative out of love and kindness for her daughter-in-law. Additionally, the plans of Naomi worked according to the plan. Naomi advised Ruth to hide until Boaz was asleep in order to lie down near his feet. After, Boaz woke up; Ruth had an easy time convincing him to marry her in order to form a oneness, chesed. Although, Boaz knew that Ruth was already seeing another man, he was willing to wait for the renouncement of Ruth by the other man before accepting Ruth’s offer (Ruth 3:1-18). The plan was in tandem with the traditions of the kinsman-redeemer. The relationship between Boaz and Ruth is sealed when Boaz is satisfied that no others man has claim over Ruth (Ruth 4:1-12). The epilogue explores Naomi’s joy and loving kindness especially when Boaz marries Ruth. Fortunately, Ruth has descendants of King David (Ruth 4:13-18). This implies that the aspect of chesed applies in all areas of life. The unity that Ruth and Naomi maintained led to the oneness between Boaz

Hospitality-Accounting Professions in Hotel Essay

Hospitality-Accounting Professions in Hotel - Essay Example The role of the accountant should be emphasised in order to gain competitive advantage. Another unique and contributing factor of accounting in shape of improved planning, controlling, co-ordinating and evaluation of firm's performance. In addition, both industry and regulatory bodies should work together to promote the fair accounting practices in the industry. While keeping in view the case of Australian hospitality industry in competition with the international hospitality industry, Australia should use fairness as an approach to compete with the global competition. I would like to express my gratitude to all the people who have been instrumental in the completion of this paper. First, my mentor, who has been very patient in guiding me throughout this undertaking. I would also like to thank the Australian hospitality industry managers who have dedicated their time and thoughts. I would also like to thank my friends and loved ones that have supported me until the completion of the paper. Lastly, I would like to thank our Lord Almighty for giving me the fortitude to accomplish this feat. To you be all the glory! Perhaps the foremost social and ethical responsibility levied upon private and public organisation in recent decades is the adoption of fair and just accounting practices. This responsibility is being increasingly codified in laws and various accounting standards. Its influence is becoming increasingly pervasive through a constant series of new and improved standards as well as steady enlargement in the size and scope of administering agencies. The improvement in public scrutiny and controlled market discipline is largely dependent upon the meaningful and accurate disclosure of information. This not only helps the shareholders but also helps the organisation to conduct business in a safe and efficient manner by achieving their targets through improving their risk management processes. The researchers find many gaps in the appropriate disclosure of risk by the organisations. Many surveys have been conducted, a wide variety of studies and interviews from the information users and shareholders have pointed out towards gaps in the currently disclosed information. The demand of provision of accurate and timely information is increasing. (AICPA, 2005) describes the following uses of the business reports. Promote a common understanding of terms and alternatives that facilitate negotiations between users and companies about the (Murphy, 1999) sees Financial reporting and financial statements in particular can be thought of as a less through which one can view a business. Financial reporti

Case Study: Hospital Fall of an Elderly Patient

Case Study: Hospital Fall of an Elderly Patient A case study of a critical incident based on a hospital fall of an elderly patient with memory problems who has had several falls at home and has been admitted to a community hospital for assessment. It is suggested that the consequences of patient falls are a serious issue for patients and society. A fall is defined as an unexpected, involuntary loss of balance by which a person comes to rest at a lower or ground level (Commodore 1995). The older population is growing in number, and falling is common in this group. Up to one-third of people over the age of 65 fall each year, with half reporting multiple falling episodes (Bludau and Lipsitz 1997). Fall-related injury is the sixth highest cause of death in older people Savage and Matheis-Kraft 2001). Half of those aged over 75 years who fracture their hip as a result of a fall die within one year (Rawskey 1998), and those who survive rarely regain complete mobility (Marotolli 1992). Falls are also a leading cause of head injury, the most serious being subdural haematoma (Tideiksaar 1998). Falls are associated with major morbidity, functional decline and increased healthcare expenditure (Tinetti 1994). In a hospital setting, 10 per cent of older patients who have fallen die before discharge, and a clustering of falls in one patient results in increased mortality (Tideiksaar 1998). In the United Kingdom about 310,000 fractures occur each year in older people (Woolf and Akesson 2003). Fourteen thousand people a year die each year as a result of an osteoporotic hip fracture, with up to 33 per cent of hip fracture patients dying within one year of fracture (Department of Health (DoH) 2001). It is posited that the effects of falls extend beyond obvious physical and direct cost. Even if falls do not cause physical injury, the psychological effect can be long-lasting. â€Å"Post-fall syndrome† results in hesitancy and a loss of confidence leading to loss of mobility and independence (Cannard 1996). Arguably, this can cause shame and unwillingness to admit to falls. Consequently, falls are underreported. They may not even be remembered by fallers, especially those with cognitive imp airment (Lord et al 2001). It is debated that the term â€Å"fall† is now considered contentious because those who fall are perceived quite negatively as old, frail and dependent (DoH 2001). Family members are also affected by falls: they may be concerned for the safety of an older family member, his or her ability to remain independent and the possibility of long-term care. There have been few studies investigating nurses’ views of falls in patients, although Fitzgibbon and Roberts (1988) found that nurses experience fear of blame, anxiety, guilt and distress following a fall by a patient in their care. As a consequence of the effects of a fall on the patient, health professional and healthcare organisation, various risk assessment tools and prevention strategies have been developed. This paper will examine the critical incident of a fall by an elderly lady who has had repeated falls at home. She was admitted to hospital for assessment because of the falls at home. However, when she was an inpatient she fell on the ward to which she was admitted. For the purpose of this assignment and for confidentiality reasons as expounded in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2004) code of professional conduct, the patient will be know as patient A. Patient A is a 77 year old female who is in frail health. She has experienced numerous falls at home and is showing symptoms of dementia. Patient A was admitted to a general hospital because her diabetes was extremely unstable. Unstable diabetes is a known risk factor for falls in older people with dementia (Lord et al 2001). During her stay in hospital, patient A became disorientated and fell â€Å"en route† to the bathroom. She sustained a neck of femur fracture that required surgery and consequently a long hospital stay. On discharge she was referred to her community hospital rehabilitation unit for assessment. The process of ageing creates irreversible changes in all body systems that can lead to reduced efficiency or performance over time. As physical ability and reactions change, so does cognitive ability. For most people this will have little or no consequence for daily living or independence. However, for older people with cognitive impairment or dementia, changes in mood, memory and thought processes in addition to changed physical health can result in increased risk and vulnerability that includes an increase in the potential for falling, as in the case of patient A (Oliver et al 2007). These risks are greatly compounded by admission to hospital or institutional care (Oliver et al 2007). As already mentioned falls are the most common patient safety incident reported from inpatient services and are responsible for at least 40 per cent of all accidents in hospital (National Patient Safety Agency 2007). By nature of the nurse-patient relationship, nurses are well placed to identify the multiple risks that older people can encounter in hospital from illness and from the care environment, and can work with the patient and care team to identify ways of reducing them. Falls in older people can occur for a wide variety of reasons. In addition to physical disorders, they can also be a feature of a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia. Hospital environments can also present significant challenges and threats to older people with mental health problems, particularly because their functional and/or organic decline can increase vulnerability and their risk of having a fall (Lord et al 2001). It is also suggested that those with dementia are less likely or able to take the initiative in managing their own health in general and that this increases the likelihood of falls (DoH 2001). With regard to patient A, she was exhibiting memory loss and behaviours symptomatic of dementia. She had not engaged with the medical services for some time and her physical health had degenerated leaving her frail and unable to cope with activities of daily living. As a consequence her diabetes had become dangerously unstable resulting in her collapsing at home and then being admitted to hospital where the fall that fractured her hip took place. As mentioned, the consequences of falls are varied but, can be life-limiting and at worst, life-threatening (DoH 2001). As well as the consequences of physical change, the effects on mental state can further delay the recovery process, for example, by inducing depression (Lenze et al 2004). Risk assessment processes therefore should identify those most likely to fall, offer guidance on interventions to reduce those risks and be subject to frequent multidisciplinary review. It is posited that the role of nursing in helping the person with memory loss/dementia to cope with and adapt to changes created by illness relies on a continuous process of assessment of the whole person (Kitwood 1997). The environment, in which this process takes place and the patient’s response to it, should be given equal consideration. Patient A was admitted to a specialist rehabilitation unit that particularly cares for the elderly and their needs. Part of the unit’s remit is to assess an individuals’ risk of falling and put strategies into place for the prevention of further falls, and to that end the unit’s environment is managed in such a way that helps to prevent falls. It is posited that the need to assess risk from the outset of care is paramount for the care to be meaningful, relevant and appropriate (NMC 2004). The support of the nurse in offering interventions that promote recovery and maximisation of potential towards independence or less dependence should decrease the risks of falls and fractures. Assessing the risk of falls can highlight areas of greatest vulnerability and, therefore, direct the formulation of the plan of care towards deficits or areas of unmet need. Debatably, the patient who has been admitted to hospital because of deterioration in mental state or cognitive function will be most at risk because of that change. The person may decline to stay, become distressed at separation from a partner or family, and feel persecuted or vulnerable. Although, patient A was admitted for clinical reasons it is debated that as she had underlying cognitive and memory problems her mental state quickly deteriorated. Biological features may add to the clinical presentation and behavioural changes may create practical difficulties with managing safety (Oliver et al 2004). This was the case with regard to patient A. There are numerous rating scales in existence that measure behaviour, mood and functional abilities of older people (Burns et al 2004). Assessment of physiological aspects of recovery, for example: pain monitoring, tissue viability, nutrition and mobility is often more evident in clinical practice. However, it is suggested that for those with cognitive impairment or dementia, risk-rating scales should be able to combine evaluation of physical and psychological areas of need, as well as the behavioural and functional components of presentation. If a patient is unable to address risks, nursing staff need to consider their role in addressing need and act on the patient’s behalf if necessary. Although comprehensive assessment of the patient’s presentation, needs and abilities is a continuous and evolving process (Oliver et al 2004), it became clear that patient A had immediate threats to her safety and therefore needed to be quickly evaluated and prioritised so that appropriate interventions could be initiated with immediate effect.. It is proposed that the use of a risk factor-based approach to assess older people who fall can prevent more than 50 per cent of falls (Close 2001). Therefore, an assessment tool for falls that took into account both the physical and the psychological risk factors was used to assess patient A on admission to the unit and at specified times thereafter. This enabled issues to be addressed that would otherwise not have been elicited via the Single Assessment Process concept of risk assessment (Burns et al 2004). The assessment tool was used in combination with patient A’s care plan. It is suggested that the combination of an assessment tool with a care plan, as in the Fall Risk Assessment Scale for the Elderly (FRASE) tool (Barry 2001), is an example of best practice. However, the FRASE tool does not allow for assessment of mental impairment so this was added to the tool used for patient A. The tool used enabled the nurses and other multi-disciplinary team members to assess patient A’s risk of falling and it included components such as previous fall history, sensory deficit, medication, presence of secondary diagnosis. Balance/gait, age, mobility status and length of time since admission was added in following assessments. This is important as long stays in hospital can enhance functional decline and consequently â€Å"fall risk† (Oliver et al, 2004). In conclusion, for an older person with cognitive impairment or dementia for whom admission to hospital was necessary, the increased exposure to risk requires swift, comprehensive assessment and intervention to reduce the likelihood of falling. An appropriate risk assessment tool should illicit areas of greatest need or deficit, be proactive in suggesting appropriate interventions and form part of a multiprofessional and multifaceted approach to preventing falls in hospital. References Barry E (2001) Preventing accidental falls among older people in long stay units, Irish Medical Journal, 94, 6, 172-176 Bludau J, Lipsitz L (1997) Falls in the elderly: In Wei J, Sheehan M (Eds) Geriatric Medicine: A Case-based Manual, Oxford, UK, Oxford, Medical Publications Burns A, Lawlor B, Craig S (2004) Assessment Scales in Old Age Psychiatry, (2e), Martin Dunitz, London Cannard G (1996) Falling trend, Nursing Times, 92, 1, 36-7 Close J (2001) Interdisciplinary practice in the prevention of falls: a review of working models of care, Age and Ageing, 30, Suppl 4, 8-12 Commodore D (1995) Falls in the elderly population: a look at incidence, risks, healthcare costs, and preventative strategies, Rehabilitation Nursing, 20, 2, 84-89 Department of Health (2001) National Service Framework for Older People: Standard Six: Falls, The Stationery Office, London Fitzgibbon M, Roberts F (1988) Prevention of accidents to hospital patients, Recent Advances in Nursing, 22, 33-48 Kitwood T (1997) Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First, Open University Press, Buckingham Lenze EJ, Munin MC, Dew MA (2004) Adverse effects of depression and cognitive impairment on rehabilitation participation and recovery from hip fracture, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19, 5, 472-478 Lord SR, Sherrington C, Menz HB (2001) Falls in Older People: Risk Factors and Strategies for Prevention, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Marotolli R (1992) Decline in physical function following hip fracture, Journal of the American, Geriatrics Society, 40, 9, 861-866 National Patient Safety Agency (2007) Slips, Trips and Falls in Hospital: Third report from the Patient Safety Observatory, London, NPSA Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004) The NMC code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics London: NMC Oliver D, Connelly JB, Victor CR (2007) Strategies to prevent falls and fractures in hospitals and care homes and effect of cognitive impairment: systematic review and meta-analyses, British Medical Journal, 334, 7584, 82-89 Rawskey E (1998) Review of the literature on falls among the elderly, Image: the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 30, 1, 47-52 Savage T, Matheis-Kraft C (2001) Fall occurrence in a geriatric psychiatry setting before and after a fall prevention program, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 27, 10, 49-53 Tideiksaar R (1998) Falls in Older Persons: Prevention and Management, (2e), Baltimore MD, Health Professions Press Tinetti M (1994) A multifactorial intervention to reduce the risk of falling among elderly people living in the community, New England Journal of Medicine, 331, 13, 821-827 Woolf A, Akesson K (2003) Preventing fractures in elderly people, British Medical Journal, 327, 7406, 89-96 Hewlett Packard (HP): Leadership Crisis Hewlett Packard (HP): Leadership Crisis Case prepared by Rajgopal Iyengar. In the recent years Hewlett Packard (HP) board of directors have been in the limelight for wrong reasons. Four CEOs were hired and replaced in the last decade and three CEOs changes were within a span of 1.5 years. The board has not been able to find the right leader to fit into the HPs Cultures of doing things. The uncertainties in leadership has led to a huge loss for HP in terms of decreased market value, dissatisfied shareholders and blurred strategic vision. In this paper we study the HP CEOs since 1999, their leadership style, their vision and things that went wrong leading to their ouster. Hewlett Packard History (Till 1990s) The company was founded in a  one-car garage  in Palo Alto by  William (Bill) Redington Hewlett  and  Dave Packard. HP is the  worlds leading PC manufacturer. The company focussed on manufacturing of networking and data storage components in addition to designing, development and delivery of software. The key products manufactured were personal computers, enterprise servers, network and storage products, printers and imaging products. HP marketed its products directly and via online to its customers that included individual consumers, SME (Small Medium Enterprise) and large enterprises. HP also had a solid presence in the service and consulting business for the products it manufactured. HPs culture and management practises know HP Way was based on teamwork, transparency, open door management policies and flexibility in work place. HP treated the employees as assets and strived to provide a better work life balance to the employees. The business goals were profit oriented rather than increasing revenues. In late 1980s, HP started building low margin PCs contrary to the companies principle. By 1990, HP was the one of the top technological companies in the world, a market leader in both printers and UNIX based servers, with a growing presence in PC business. HP had a strong leadership under the founders Bill Hewlett (till 1987) and Dave Packard (till 1994). Hewlett Packard History (In 1990s) In the early 1990s, HP focussed on three major businesses: The test and measurement instrument business, the UNIX server business the HP Printers Computer business. The test and measurement business UNIX Server business provided high margins that were in line with the HP Way of working. However the printer business sold low cost printers at high volume and derived high profitability from the ink cartridges. HPs sales grew by 20% between 1992 1996 with an increasing dependency on the low margin PC Printer business. By 1997, HP was among the top 3 manufacturers of PC. HP faced severe competition from Dell and the Asia crisis in 1998 made HP loose margin on PC business. Lewiss Platt the then CEO of HP hired consultant to determine the problem HP was facing. The consultant suggested hiring an outside CEO with a marketing and sales background who can exude Charisma and increase the companys profile. In May 1999, the board decided on Carly Fiorina. Carly Fiorina (1999-2005) Carly Fiorina was born  in  Austin, Texas, on the 6th of September, 1954. Her father  Joseph Tyree Sneed III  was a very talented and multifaceted person. He was a law school professor, dean, and federal judge. In addition he was also an abstract and portrait artist. Fiorina attended Channing School in London, and later attended  Charles E. Jordan High School  in  Durham, North Carolina, for her senior year. She received a  Bachelor of Arts  in  philosophy  and  medieval history  from  Stanford University  in 1976. Fiorina received an  MBA  in  marketing  from  University of Maryland, College Park  in 1980 and later received a  Master of Science  in  management  from the  MIT Sloan School of Management  under the  Sloan Fellows  program in 1989. ATT and Lucent In 1980 Fiorina joined ATT as a management trainee and rose to the level of senior vice president for the companys hardware and systems division. Fiorina led the spin-off of ATT and Lucent; she also played a key role in planning and implementing of the 1996  initial public offering  of stock and company launch strategy.  In late 1996 she became the president of Lucents consumer products business. In 1997, she was appointed as chairman of Lucents consumer communications joint venture with Philips consumer communications.   Changes under Carly Fiorina Leadership Carly Fiorina moved in quickly and tried to revitalize the HP environment. She pruned the reporting units from 82 to 12 and amalgamated back-office functions. She modified the HPs profit sharing program to a performance based incentive program to motivate individuals. She completely rejigged the sales and marketing function. She topped the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business list from Fortune magazine for 5 consecutive years. However her leadership style was controversial and many HP employees disliked her. She was regarded as self-centred, demanding leader who completely destroyed the HP culture. Carly spearheaded the merger of HP Compaq that was opposed by the analysts and board members. These differences lead to a public spat between the board members and the CEO. Eventually the deal was approved with a slight majority of 2.1% where 49% opposed the decision and 51% agreed. The Compaq acquisition did not go well as envisaged by Fiorina. Operating margins dropped from 9% in 2000 to 4% in 2005 (Refer Exhibit1 ). Share prices also continued to drop from $34 in 2000 to $21 in 2005(Refer Exhibit2). Following a string of disappointing financial results the board eventually asked Fiorina to resign on Feb 2005. Mark Hurd (2005-2010) Mark Vincent Hurd  was born in Flushing, New York USA on January 1, 1957. He graduated form Baylor University in the year 1979 with a BBA degree. Hurd was the CEO President of NCR Corporation when he decided to move out and join HP. Mark Hurd increased the revenue of NCR by 7% and net income by five times from the previous year by taking a gamut of operational efficiency initiatives. At NCR Mark Hurd held a variety of positions in general management, operations, and sales and marketing. He also served as head of the companys  Teradata  data-warehousing division for three years. Hurd was a member of the  Technology CEO Council, a consortium of chairmen and chief executive officers of IT companies that develops and advocates public policy positions on technology and trade. Changes Under Mark Hurd This time the HP board decided to hire a person with a strong operational experience and hands on execution capabilities. Mark Hurd was well known in Silicon Valley for operational and cost cutting capabilities. Although Mark had never managed a very large company the size of HP, he had a very good success rate. Mark believed in Management by involvement. He tried to get a deeper understanding of the business by dirtying his hands. Mark believed in the concept of management by walking around.. He would stroll through multiple levels of the company and try to get an understanding of the environment. He strongly believed a company can become great if the CEOs ,boards, and management all think alike. Mark Hurd said: I believe in the principle that Company comes first, Employee second and Self is last Mark Hurd was very aggressive in his approach. Within few months of joining he announced broad restructuring initiatives and laid off 14,500 employee. He reorganized the corporate sale group by reducing the group size and assigning the sales team to specific products. He believed a strong knowledge of the product was essential to sell the product. He gave executives lot of flexibility in managing their budgets and held them accountable for their performance. During the 2008-2009 recessions he deducted 5% from the employee salary and 20% from the executive salary to meet the targets. These cost cutting initiatives helped in boosting HPs share value and profitability. The operating margin increased from 4% in 2005 to 9% in 2010(Refer Exhibit3). Share value of HP rose by 129% under his tenure(Refer Exhibit4). The profit generated was used by Mark Hurd to acquire companies in the software and service space like EDS, Mercury Interactive, Peregrine Systems Palm. Things were not completely fine under the leadership of Mark Hurd. Although the company performed well, the employee morale was down. The cost cutting and tightened management completely killed the HP Way work culture. The RD spending plummeted from 4.5% in 2004 to 2.3% in 2010(Refer Exhibit5). The number of patent applications also plummeted during Mark Hurds tenure resulting in loss of strategic advantages for HP. In 2010, HP was mired in controversy and scandal that led to the resignation of Mark Hurd. A company contractor by the name Jodie Fisher filed a sexual harassment case against Mark Hurd. Investigations revealed Mark Hurd had filed inappropriate expenses to skirt the relationship with the women that violated the HP Code Of Conduct. Mark Hurd was asked to resign by the board of directors. HP was again without a leader. Leo Apotheker (2010-2011) Leo Apotheker was born in Aachen, Germany on Sep18 1953. Apotheker studies economics at the  Hebrew University  in  Jerusalem. Apotheker worked in finance and operation function of several European companies before joining SAP in 1988. At SAP, his growth was phenomenal. In 1995, He became CEO and founder of SAP Belgium and SAP France. In 1997, he was made the president of SAPs South West Europe region and by 1999, the president of SAP EMEA sales region. In 2002 Apotheker joined the SAP AG executive board and became the president of global customer solutions and operations from. He was appointed deputy CEO of SAP in 2007; and promoted to co-CEO of the company in April 2008. On February 7, 2010, the SAP supervisory board decided to terminate Apothekers executive board membership. This decision led Apotheker to resign from SAP. HP Under Leo Apotheker The search for the next CEO was riddled with pessimism from the outset. The dispute over Mark Hurds resignation made the task of search committee very difficult. The board was divided over the selection of internal versus external candidate. The resignation of Mark Hurd complemented with the sacking history of past CEOs had created negative publicity about the company in the job market. Highly talented external candidates were not interested in the job. Leo Apotheker was appointed as the CEO of the company in Oct 2010. The appointment of Leo Apotheker received a gloomy response from the market because of multiple reasons. Firstly the credibility and track record of Leo was not great. An article in Wall Street Journal highlighted: Its very discomforting that Mr. Apoteker has never run the show alone. He abruptly resigned from SAP in less than a year Secondly Leo had no understanding of the HP hardware business. Hence he was a misfit for the HP job. The other disturbing fact was Leo was not interviewed by all the members of the board or even met them. Clearly the indifference of the board towards the selection was evident. Tenure of Leo Apotheker was short-lived and disappointing. Initially Leo worked on the strategy designed by Mark Hurd, but in a short time he started making drastic changes to the strategy. He terminated the initiative of HPs venture into the Tablet market and suggested spin off of the PC division. He also suggested purchasing a business analytics company called Autonomy at 10 times the original price. These incoherent action and adhoc strategy was punished by the market. Stock prices plunged and HP lost 45% of its value(Refer Exhibit). Taking cue of the market dissatisfaction, the board of directors fired Leo Apotheker. Meg Whitman (2011 Till Date) Whitman was born on 4 August 1956 in  Long Island, New York. She was the daughter of Margaret Cushing and Hendricks Hallett Whitman Jr. Whitman graduated from  Cold Spring Harbor High School  in 1974. Margaret took maths and science in Princeton university because she wanted to be a doctor. However, after a summer vacation stint in selling magazine advertisements she got inclined to marketing. She studies economics,   and earned a B.A. with honors in 1977. In 1979, Whitman did her  M.B.A.  from  Harvard Business School. Whitman started her career at Procter and Gamble as a brand manager. She later worked as a consultant for Bain and Company and rose to the rank of Senior Vice President in the organization. She joined Walt Disney in 1989 and became the VP of strategic planning. She quit Walt Disney after 2 years and joined Stride Rite Corporation. In 1995 she was named the CEO of Florists Transworld Delivery. Whitman joined  eBay  as CEO on March 1998. At the time the company had only 30 employees  and revenues of $4  million. She grew the company to approximately 15,000 employees and $8  billion in annual revenue by 2008.Whitman resigned as CEO of eBay in November 2007, but remained on the board and served as an advisor to new CEO  John Donahoe  until late 2008 Whitman has received numerous awards and accolades for her work at eBay. On more than one occasion, she was named among the top five most powerful women by  Fortune  magazine. HP Under Meg Whitman The appointment of Meg Whitman was not taken well by the market. Analysts felt Meg Whitman was inexperienced in managing a complex hardware software based business of HP that was already suffering from scandals, low morale, murky vision and unstable leadership. Meg Whitmans strategy was to focus on strengthening the internal business of HP. She wanted to continue with some of the strategies initiated by Leo Apotheker except the spinoff business. Whitman decided to restructure the business by dropping 30000 jobs and using the money to fuel new product development and improvement of sales force6. She merged the PC Printer business to improve the operational efficiency. Clearly Whitman has a strategy in place to get back HP on its feet. She is strengthening internal HP departments, spending money of new product development that are inline with HP Way of working. She has also managed to set a low expectation in the market for the setting low Future The leaders appointed by HP board were not able to align with the HP Culture and make the difference. It needs to be seen whether Meg Whitman will be able to recuperate HP and restore the past glory.