P&G Japan: The SK-II Globalization Project Essay

SK-II’s success is not only prestige skin care product or advanced technology but also its marketing approach to build the new brand. P&G succeeded to connect between the core technology or product concept and local market. Through Japanese market among the world’s toughest competitors, P&G developed potential source of innovations. In addition, SK-II’s marketing strategy built a new approach, Market research, Concept, Packaging, Positioning, Communications strategy. It was a big challenge that P&G shifted from Mass marketing, such as Olay brand, to Class marketing. SK-II’s marketing strategy. The primary issue concerning the case is the transformation of â€Å"SK-II† from a local brand to a global brand. This case allows us to evaluate how companies can â€Å"internationalize† their brands, and the obstacles and issues that they face while addressing this issue. Until now, SK-II can be characterized as local product in Japan with a sizable r egional customer base in Taiwan and Hong Kong. SK-II brand is positioned at the high- end of skin care and provides high margins for the P&G. To adopt Japanese independent sales style for skin-care, they were sold through special stores by well- trained beauty counselors. At first, to examine the underlying reasons behind the difference between Japanese and other corporate management, I sum up the significant reasons why P&G’s Japanese operation was a failure until 1984 as follows: 1. P&G did not take the time to determine the local needs based on the culture and common practices among Japanese customer. The product development was based on Western markets and it was assumed that it would streamline itself to other areas of the world. 2. Stagnation in innovation is a failure for almost any business. With technology always moving forward at a fast rate, it is imperative for all retail products to constantly put forth effort in  research and development. R&D is one of P&G’s strong points, yet the mismanagement of the division led to complacency in the development work. Due to the lack of improvements and the time lost, it allowed other competitors to release superior products quickly and efficiently. This ultimately led to a significant decrease in market share for P&G. 3. The Japanese distribution system is complex and difficult to assimilate to. P&G did not research and strategize to form new efforts in distributing the products efficiently and take advantage of the benefits of the distribution system commonly used. Instead of fixing the problem, P&G turned towards reduced pricing which drove the distributors away and caused sales to drop. Corporate management methods and the actual managers at headquarters in US and EU have certainly won many achievements in the US and Europe and elsewhere. In many cases, however, Western managers and Western management teams are ill prepared to succeed in Japan. In many cases, like P&G, drastic changes in thinking and management methods and personal changes at headquarters would be necessary to succeed in Japan. However, there are not many Western companies, which act on this knowledge. In this case, there were two major changes that P&G implemented to improve its operations to increase its profitability. Firstly, P&G increased R&D budget and secondly, they restructured with a plan called Organization 2005. Organization 2005 dealt with corporate cultural changes in becoming less risk averse and more productive with use of time. They encouraged innovation and creative high risk decisions with new products at a rate of more than once a month. Process changes included compensation reform with greater incentives based on performance, stock options to all employees, streamlined administrative aspects of marketing, payroll, and budgets on a more global/regional level. Structural changes included changing from 4 regional units to 7 global business units (GBUs) that were responsible for executing the global strategies of the company. Each GBU were tasked with creating a uniform production process for all their regional products so that they can be more cost effective and more open in new product rollouts. They also reduced the number of brands and only kept the ones with high sales and global potential. More power was given to lower level managers and the levels of bureaucracy were reduced by eliminating the amount of steps to the top. Among the human resources organization corporate cultures that have  changed Japan, foreign companies such as P&G has been the most influential. In fact, deregulation of labor aimed at strengthening international competitiveness and increasing the fluidity of employment has steadily eroded the traditional system of lifetime employment, seniority-based wages, and enterprise welfare at Japanese businesses. Many Japanese companies are now moving more toward a performance- based system when it comes to rewarding and promoting employee to be global company. In order to figure out whether SK-II is a product that can be global brand, we need to identify reasons for SK-II’s success in the Japanese market. First, by based on research of Japanese market, P&G made clear targeting and positioning, and developed new products which fulfilled customers’ needs, built the effective distribution. As a result, P&G could establish differentiation advantages for the following. †¢ Product: â€Å"Foaming massage cloth†, Elegant dispensing box â€Å"Foaming massage cloth† increase skin circulation through a massage while boosting skin clarity due to the microfibers’ ability to clean pores and trap dirt. †¢ Price: Premium price †¢ Place: Luxury and counter at department store †¢ Promotion: Counseling by beauty counselor, TV advertising, Beauty magazines P&G utilized and rebuilt its distribution channels of using trained personnel at beauty counters throughout Japan. SK-II’s success had been achieved in a culture where the customers, distribution channels, and competitors were different from in other countries. For example, Japanese customers more educated, average Japanese women spent 4.5 minutes on her face cleansing, and most sophisticated users of beauty products in the world. On the other hand, in China customers due to Olay’s education recently moved from a one-step skin care process to a three-step cleansing and moisturizing process. However, unlike China, Europe had a large and sophisticated group of beauty-conscious customers who is already practiced a multistep regimen. As we see it is model is transferable but they have to modify some of models characteristic depending on customers behavior, competitors and market factor. P&G Japan’s competitive advantage is firm-specific but SK-II’s advantage is country-specific. I would suggest that de Cesare would be to expand SK-II brand within Japan. The company should continue to build on SK-II’s success in Japan. By building on brand’s  success in the proven domestic market, Procter & Gamble would be able to fully utilize the company’s competitive advantages. In this case, the company has achieved only 3% of the market share of the $10 billion beauty product market, and in addition the Japanese skin care market is forecasted to grow at 28% two-year growth rate. Given these opportunities, de Cesare is well advised to strongly expand SK-II brand within Japan. There are other attributes that make Japanese market attractive; these include brand name recognition and development of new products such as anti-aging and skin whitening that could expand the SK-II product line. Since the Japanese market is highly competitive and requires constant innovation, the Japanese division need to constantly introducing new products that could possibly be introduced to other markets as well. Increased market share and profitability of SK-II brand would also increase the brand’s standing among various Procter & Gamble brands; this increased awareness of SK-II brand could potentially pave the way for brand’s internationalization later on. The Japanese market is also one of the biggest markets for prestige skin care products, not only that, the country is also expected to see the skin care market (both main and prestige) grow by 28% over the next 2 years. However, there are some risks if the de Cesare chooses to only expand into the Japanese mark et. This could potentially make P&G Japan isolated from the rest of the world markets. P&G Japan could be oblivious to changes in the world market, and miss opportunities that could have allowed collaboration in R&D with other divisions that could have led to introduction of new and innovative products. To remain a major market player, P&G needs to keep expanding its products at a global level. I do not believe that the choices between expansion into China or Europe or increasing sales in Japan are all mutually exclusive with each other. All three of the markets can be critical to the successful globalization of P&G and its brands. The European market will probably prove to be the most difficult to penetrate, yet by concentrating on specific cities and markets, there is still potential for P&G’s superior product to prevail. This option would be the lowest priority of the three. P&G will need to keep up with technology and continue with new developments if they want to remain a leader in the prestige market in Japan. In terms of short term profitability, the Japanese market is unmatched. Cesare has forecasted an  earnings growth potential of 200% in 6 or 7 years based off a $150 million sales level. However, the focus should be on the Chinese market based on the long term potential for growth and profitability. All the other major market players are already present in the market so P&G don’t want to fall too behind with their competitors. Although China has a relatively small subset of their population that can afford the expensive SK-II product, it also has the highest growth rate of skin care use at an astounding 28%. With China’s economy and GDP growing at a fast rate, the potential for more able consumers of the 1.2 billion residents is seemingly limitless. In my conclusion, the first priority is they would be to expand SK-II brand within Japan to keep expanding its products at a global level. The next, they should be focus on the Chinese market based on the long term potential for growth. As the lowest priority, the European market will probably prove by concentrating on specific cities and markets.

Movie review of Los Mineros

Discuss some of the labor and living condition issue in this film In the film, Mexican miners were living under terrible situation. They had been treated inhumanly. Their living environments were extremely unhygienic, there was no fresh running water or appropriate place to dispose garbage. Because of the unfair treatment between Anglo miners and Mexican miners, most miners and their families were suffering from starvation. Moreover, Mexican miners ‘ working conditions were inconceivable.They were working for 12 hours a day, averagely. Due to â€Å"Duel – wage system†, Mexican miner ‘s pay rate was deducted by half of what an Anglo miner would be paid. 2. What events affected the miners (Mexican Revolution, WWI, Depression, WWII) Mexican Revolution was a changing point for the miners. Some labor organizations began collecting labor forces long before the revolution stared, such as the Obreros Libres (Free Workers), leaded by Praxedis Guerrero. The Obreros Li bres was a major labor union in southeastern Arizona (P. 106).After the revolution, in order o protect the rights of Mexican labors, Mexican government passed the constitution of 1917. Meanwhile, WW I offered another chance for the Mexican labors. Because of most American labors were fighting the war, the whole country was experiencing a productivity impairment. It provided a lot of employment opportunities for Mexicans, such as in mining and agriculture industries. They became an important labor force in the U. S. 3. What were the relationships like between the Anglo miners and Mexican miners? Mexican miners and the company 00b, segregation, ) ?Back then, Anglo communities had some serious racial discriminations on Mexicans. Compare to Mexican miners' living conditions, Anglo miners were living in â€Å"pleasant surroundings†. They received twice as much money as Mexicans. However, as Anglo miners, they did not have to work for 12 hours a day and their Jobs were less dangero us than Mexicans In addition, they had their own â€Å"county club†, where they can relax and socialize. The quality of a Mexican miner ‘s life was far below an Anglo miner's. How did WWII affect the Mexican American miners? Community?

Cross Cultural Studies in Gender Essay

Most research into gender roles has occurred in Western societies, and generally shows a clear divide in gender roles, most encouraging masculine behaviour in boys, and feminine behaviour in girls. However, in order to further explore the idea of nature vs. nurture (biological vs. social approach); it is important to research gender roles in a variety of countries. If clear themes, it may indicate that gender role development is nature, as would show that men are similar to men across the whole world, and likewise for females, showing there must be something determining the way men work, whereas if there are clear culture differences, it would imply social factors determine gender. Cross cultural research has been explored for many years by anthropologists. Some of the earliest work came from Margret Mead in the 1930’s. Comparing three Papua New Guinean tribes, the Arapesh, the Mundugumor and the Tchambuli, she discovered different behaviours displayed by both men and women in each individual tribe. In the Arapesh, men and women were seen to be gentle, responsive- fitting the Western stereotype as feminine. In the Mundugumor tribe, she found males and females to violent and aggressive- the Western stereotype of masculinity and finally in the Tchambuli tribe, she found role reversal to Western stereotypes, as males were more emotionally dependant and flirtatious, whereas the females were dominant, impersonal and definite. Although at first, Mead concluded that her research showed that gender roles came through cultural determinism as big differences were found between males and females in different cultures, implying that gender roles were driven by social factors. However, after later analysis and extending her research to look at other tribes in Samoa, she changed her view (1949) to that her research actually showed cultural determinism, as despite differences in the roles males and females played in each society, in all the societies she looked at men were more aggressive than the women, contributing to the idea that gender role is determined by nature, as there are some behaviours which are innate and universal, e. g. ggression in men, but that degree to which they are expressed is relative to the particular culture. This fits under the biosocial approach, as her research suggests there are some behaviours which are universal, but the degrees to which these behaviours are expressed depends on social factors, such as culture. Mead’s study was a natural experiment, meaning the tribes were observed in their usual environment, suggesting she was noting their true behaviour. However, her method has been heavily criticised by other psychol ogists such as Freeman (1984). Her research was conducted through interviews and observations of the tribes, but Freeman who also worked with Samoan tribes was told that Mead provided the tribesmen with what she wanted them to say. Although this questions the validity of her research, in later years there has been lots of cross cultural research to show differences and similarities and divisions of labour and behaviour by gender in every society (Munroe and Munroe 1975). Further research to support the nature side of the argument is from Whiting and Edwards 1975. Through looking at 11 non-western societies, they found that gender roles were organised in similar ways across a range of traditional cultures. They found girls were encouraged to spend more time with their mothers and were more likely to be given domestic and childcare jobs, whereas the boys were likely to be assigned jobs outside the house such as herding animals. This lead to girls spending more time with younger infants and adults, whereas boys spent more time with their peers, and so It seemed younger girls were found to be more responsible and nurturing than boys who in early adolescence began to get more responsibility. Whiting and Edwards concluded that the behavioural differences observed came about because of the tasks they are given. Girls are taught how to be responsible at a young age as they are exposed to female role models, and develop skills of caring for younger siblings. In another, Whiting and Whiting (1988) observed children in their natural environment with parents, siblings and peers. There were universal differences that girls were more nurturing and boys showed more dominance. However, the fact there were key differences between boys and girls such as what they were socialised into, and what they were encouraged to achieve, implies that both upbringing and biology play a role in development; socialisation just magnifies the biological difference, hence differences across cultures such as between US and India. Bee (1995) supported the idea of socialisation being the most important factor in determining gender, as he stated children became the company they keep. However, researches such as Omar et al found similarities in varied countries such as Switzerland, Ethiopia and the US. Their research indicated that all boys show higher levels of competitiveness and aggression than females, indicating there are underling biological factors. Further support for the nurture argument comes from Berry et al (2002). They studied male superiority on spatial perceptual tasks in 17 societies. He found that this superiority is only found in relatively tight knit, sedentary societies but absent in nomadic societies. This shows that the magnitude of sex differences is linked to culture and ecology. In tight knit societies, the division of labour is greatest because women stay at home whilst men travel, whereas in nomadic societies, both men and women travel and hunt so there is less division of labour (Van Leeuwen 1978). Therefore, this implies that social factors dictate gender role, due to the cultural differences in division of labour found. Berry’s large study of a variety of societies indicates his results can be representative of the general population and we can generalise results. However, Kimura (1999) offered an alternative biological interpretation, that in hunting societies, those with poor spatial perception are likely to die, thus eliminating such genes from the gene pool. This explains why in nomadic societies, there would be less gender difference in spatial abilities. Further biological support comes from Buss et al (1989). Involving 10,000 participants from 37 cultures, he found universal themes in what males and females looked for in marriage partners. Women desired males who had good financial prospects, whereas men placed more important in physical attraction and youthfulness. Both sexes agreed intelligence, kindness and reliability are important. Due to the fact these finding were universal, and the scale of the study implies we can generalise, it suggests gender roles are biologically determined. However, an alternative argument may be that women look for providers, not because of biology, but because of the fact women tend to earn less in society, and in some countries, have fewer rights, which is a social issue determining differences in gender roles. But despite the fact that labour division are the same in most cultures- irls are brought up to be nurturing, responsible and obedient, likely to raise the children, whereas boys are raised to be more independent, self-reliant and high-achieving, and provide for their family, suggest that it is biology that determines sex roles. However, it is difficult to decipher whether division is the direct outcome of biological differences or whether it is a more indirect outcome of biological differences. Eagly and Wood argued that all cultures shape their socialisation processes along with the lines of inborn biological tendencies. However, there has been research to counter this. Sugihara and Katsurada (2002) found that Japanese men do no not seek to be macho like Americans, but instead value being well-rounded in the arts (usually associated as femininity), showing that labour divisions are not the same in all cultures. As well as looking at the divisions of labour between difference cultures, there has also been research into the differences between gender roles in collectivist and individualistic cultures. In 2002, Chang, Guo and Hau, compared 145 American and 173 Chinese students by giving the students a 10 item Egalitarian Gender Role Attitudes Scale, which measured their attitudes to gender equality at home and in the work place. Chang et al found that American students emphasised the important of equal gender roles at work, whereas the Chinese students emphasised the importance of equality at home and in the family. Although this does indicate differences, this may be due to the nature of their home country. In communist China, equality at work is taken for granted. Further exploring this, Leung and Moore (2003) compared Australians of English and Chinese decent using Bem’s SRI and fond differences in line with the Hofstede’s dimensions. Both male and female English Australians showed masculine traits which are valued in individualistic cultures, whereas Chinese Australian’s; male and female, showed feminine traits valued in a collectivist culture. Both research studies imply that cultural values and expectations have a strong on the development of gender roles and expectations (nurture). A big problem with much research is how you measure sex stereotypes. Williams and Best (1990) study highlighted some of the problems linked to this. 2,800 university students from 30 different nations were given a 300 item adjective checklist (ACL) and asked to decide for each adjective whether it was associated more with men or women. They found a broad consensus across countries- men were seen as more dominant, aggressive and autonomous, whereas women were more nurturing, deferent and interested in affiliation. This suggests there are universal gender stereotypes about gender roles, indicating, they are derived though our genes. However, this study proposed many problems in how they measured sex stereotypes. Firstly, the participants had to pick either male or female, there was no equal category (although there was a ‘cannot say’ category) which may have resulted in the division in gender roles being exaggerated. Furthermore, the task was related to stereotypes, not actual behaviours. Some argue that such stereotypes have a significant effect on socialisation within the culture, and this are related to behaviour, but the data does not demonstrate this. Finally, because all of the participants are students, it indicates there behaviours are similar e. g. intelligences, and exposed to similar influences which may explain the broad consensus. Another problem is a lot of the cross-cultural research has been collected by western researchers, therefore, even though they were collecting data in western and non-western societies, the method of research will be developed by western psychology. This may indicated imposed etic, and the data collected is meaningless and demonstrates cultural bias. To overcome this, Berry et al (2002) concluded that there should be a greater use of more genuine indigenous research, opposed to indigenous researchers carrying out the method of western psychologists. To conclude, despite methodological problems, due to the universal similarity in gender roles found in various investigations, it indicated that biology drives gender roles. However, difference found between cultures indicates social factors are also important, so there is a complex interaction between both factors, so the biosocial approach may be a more suitable approach, as it is less deterministic and acknowledges both aspects. As well, it is important to account for historical changes. Much research was done in the 1970/1980’s when the gender gap in many western countries was much larger than is it today, as it is now accepted that both males and females work, and parental equality. However, males still occupy more powerful positions than women, and women perform more domestic duties. But it is an important factor to consider when looking at data.

Business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Business law - Essay Example There are three main factors to be considered in securing a safe venue; getting a proper developing, implementing and managing (D.I.M.) process, obeying standards of practice and dealing with crowd management (Matt 2012). The D.I.M. process begins with identification of risks and categorizing them followed by classifying the risks depending on their severity and lastly selection of a risk treatment method. Treating risks is done in four ways; risk avoidance, risk transfer, risk retention and risk reduction (Matt 2012). Risk avoidance is done through discontinuation of the program or lack of inclusion of the content. Risk transfer is done through hiring of a third party and ensuring they sign a waiver thus limiting liability .Risk retention is carried out through the company retaining the risk and taking up responsibility for compensation of injuries or financial risks occurred. Risk reduction is done through immediate implementation which is crucial since it is done after risk identi fication to lessen the impact of a lawsuit. Employee involvement is recommended together with written documentation on the happenings.in large scale venues, it is cost effective to hire a risk manager to oversee the plan so as to reduce liabilities resulting in repeat customers. Standards of practice are safety codes representing opinion consensus with the approval of an industry’s professional segment. They are requirements needed of an establishment and minimize liability associated with negligence when adhered to and increase liability when disregarded by the defendant. Crowd management is a fundamental aspect of risk management since it helps in the provision of a safe and enjoyable event. This means management of guests’ movement, emergency assistance and accommodation of special needs guests. There are six elements in crowd control and handling; clear signage for ease of movement, staff training on dealing with any happening, good communication system, emergency action plan, written policies regarding intoxicated patrons with disruptive behavior and implementation and evaluation of plans after every event (Matt 2012). These steps help in maximizing risk reduction when implemented correctly. Negligence has been the root cause of risk management cases causing ripples in the sport industry like the example below was due to failure to provide a secure and safe environment. In the December of 2002,Michelle Heenan, a single 39 year old North Philadelphia resident who worked as an administrative assistant at a local hospital, together with company went to attend a Guns n Roses concert at the Wachovia center, previously known as the First Union center. Slightly after 11pm, after a few curtain raising acts an announcement was made that the main act would not perform thus the show was cancelled. The irate fans vented their anger by throwing food and drinks from the upper decks everywhere (Matt 2012). On sensing the lurking danger, this being a rock c rowd, Heenan ran towards the nearest exit and in the process, got caught up in the frenzy, fell and ended up injuring her ankle which got a plate and three screws inserted. Her injuries cost her two months of work and permanent inability to participate in activities such as skiing and rollerblading. Heenan filed a suit against Comcast Spectator and Spectrum Arena

The Data Protection Act and Role of the Information Commissioner in Coursework

The Data Protection Act and Role of the Information Commissioner in this Act - Coursework Example Moving with the information that belongs to the University in a personal purse especially in a bar is another offense apart from leaving it behind in a bar since the information content which is of high value to the University would be compromised (Van, 2005). When not on official duty, it is adept to leave behind any information and materials that belong to the college. This information does not only apply to college situation but also another place of work since at one moment an individual would either lose all data due to ignorance and malice. Since ignorance has got no defense, Susan should not be proud of backing up information when she just walks with the backup files anyhow, back up should be protected and kept at the most preferred place (Bell, 2001). Processing the data outside the rights of data subject under the act is wrong. For instance, Susan processed the data for Peter to use outside the organizational act for his business purpose. This is unlawful and both Susan and Peter should face the law for infringing the sixth principle law of personal data act (Bainbridge, 2001). Susan should be penalized; she went against the seventh principle which states that organizational measures shall be taken against unauthorized processing of personal data. Hence, on admitting to pocket the  £1000, she already compromised organization’s data integrity (Miller, 2011). As the president, everyone had to blame Susan for the fault is that she was the sole authority responsible for data security and integrity within the organization. Since she breached the second principle law that governs personal data, nobody should alter the sole purpose of the data (Bell, 2001). In addition, confirming the second and third principles of data protection which Susan did not adhere to stresses on the use of personal data, which should be in a manner compatible with the purpose and reasons as to why the data was stored in the database system.

The US senator - selection and role Research Paper

The US senator - selection and role - Research Paper Example The US Senate is called the Upper House of the United States Congress. Every State has two senators irrespective of its geographical area or population. The US Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol, Washington. The Senate enjoys a lot of nationally important powers; regarding approval of treaties, cabinet secretaries, military officers and federal judges and many more.Elections to the Senate are conducted on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. Each state of the US is represented by two senators. Before 1913, senators were selected by the legislatures of each state. However, after the 17th Amendment, popular election was made mandatory. The one who wins the highest number of votes is considered the winner. Before the 17th Amendment, Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution allowed each state to select two senators. It seems that the purpose of the legislation makers was to enable the senators to function free from any pressur e the part of public. However, problems soon came up. For instance, the conflict between Democrats and Republican Party resulted in vacant senator seat in Indiana for two years. This was followed by innumerous cases of bribery and other unlawfulness. It was in 1911 that Senator Joseph Bristow suggested an amendment of the constitution that won huge support. As a result, the 17th amendment took birth which starts â€Å"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators fro each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ... However, this opinion seems baseless as most popularly elected senators would have been elected as senators even without any amendment. So the assumption that the 17th amendment had any effect on the federal power seems baseless. Again, the assumption that state always opposes the federal power is baseless. In fact, it is a well-acknowledged fact that states are always on the run for more federal grants and are always dependent on it. However, certainly there are serious set backs of this amendment. Basic qualifications required to become a Senator There are three basic requirements put forward by Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution. Firstly, the senator should be aged 30 years or more and secondly, the person should be a citizen of the United States for the past nine years and thirdly, should be presently residing in the state he or she wants to contest in. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution introduces provision to remove any senator who has acted against the State. Term of Service and benefits Each senator shall serve for a staggered six years term. However, the senators are divided into three classes in the senate and the service of one class expires after every two years. So, the election to one-third of the positions comes every two years. Each senator enjoys a lot of benefits starting from an annual salary of $ 174,000. In addition, they receive retirement and health benefits on retirement which are similar to other federal employees. The Senators representing state attitude The state division in the US is very crucial in the national politics. In such a huge country, it seems an impossible proposition to divide the national data and find state-wise patterns. Hence, giving the states equal representation in the Senate through their senators is

Care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease Essay

Care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease - Essay Example Helen Erickson, Evelyn Tomlin, and Mary Ann Swain developed the modeling and role-modeling (MRM) theory. This grand theory of nursing provides holistic care to clients by understanding their needs and providing client-centered interventions to meet the needs. It identifies the nurse as a â€Å"facilitator† who uses the modeling and role-modeling processes to help individuals â€Å"achieve a perceived optimal state of health and well-being†. Nurses use the process of modeling to develop an â€Å"understanding of the client’s world as the client perceives it† by accepting the individual’s belief. While the planning and implementation of client-specific nursing interventions are ongoing, the role-modeling process follows. This theory uses five aims of intervention as a standard in providing individualized care.The MRM theory also integrates Maslow’s theory, Piaget’s theory, and the concept of object attachment. The theory describes many c oncepts and their relationships in nursing and individuals since its original intentions were to guide the nurse-patient relationship. The nursing concepts include facilitation, nurturance, and unconditional acceptance, while concepts in individuals include similarities and differences in people. The commonness among human beings includes basic needs, holism, lifetime development, and affiliated individuation, while differences include inherent endowment, adaptation to stressors, mind-body relationships, and self-care.... The commonness among human beings include basic needs, holism, lifetime development, and affiliated individuation, while differences include inherent endowment, adaptation to stressors, mind-body relationships, and self-care (Erickson, 2010). There is an interrelationship of these differences and similarities. Following its publishing in 1983, there has been extensive research, examination, and adaptation of the MRM theory in diverse settings. It further guides undergraduate nursing curriculum, weight reduction programs, chronic illness management, and practice in hospitals (Frisch & Bowman, 2011). Strength and Limitations Some general strengths of the MRM theory include clarity, simplicity, and generality (Erickson, 2010). Theorists Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain clearly explained the theory while providing examples of their experiences to give a holistic understanding. The theory has a simple structure since it focuses on two steps of modeling and role-modeling. However, the interacti ons of its major concepts with the role of nursing add depth and complexity to the theory (Erickson, 2010). Nevertheless, its standard form allows its applicability in many nursing and patient situations by researchers and clinicians. However, its major limitation is that inexperienced nurses find it difficult to apply (Frisch & Bowman, 2011). While clinicians learn to perceive the client’s world by â€Å"unconditional acceptance† of the client as a unique individual easily, the theory requires experience and understanding of nursing in order to avoid confusing the role of a â€Å"caring professional† with that of a â€Å"caring friend† (Frisch & Bowman, 2011, p. 536). The MRM theory’s focus on client-centered care is

Dangers of social networking for employees Research Paper

Dangers of social networking for employees - Research Paper Example However, social networks also brought many challenges in the organizational world. The misuse of social networks by the employees is causing big headache to the organizational world. Employees are spending too much time in front of the social networks and failing to complete their routine works in time. They are providing vital company information to the competitors knowingly or unknowingly through social networks. Competitors are exploiting the possibilities of social networks to know the business secrets of organizations through employees. It is necessary for the organisations to regulate the activities of employees in social networks. The traps existing in the social networks are unaware to many of the employees. Employees should be encouraged or trained to use the social network in a judicious manner while working in an organization. This paper analyses the dangers raised by social networks to the employees. Dangers of social networking for employees (Tomexy, 2011) At the time of introduction of social networks such as twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Skype etc, nobody thought that it may affect human life as it does now. Initially the purposes of social media were; spending leisure time, relaxation, enjoyment and instant communication etc. However, after few years from introduction, social media have changed everything. It is difficult to describe the influence of social media on current human life in few words. Virtually, all the segments of current human life are influenced by social media now. Irrespective of culture, race, gender, age or socioeconomic background, people from all parts of the world are interested in social media activities. However, teenagers and employees are more active in social media websites. Social media bring lot of opportunities to the business people and teenagers. At the same time, it brings lot of challenges also. Business is one segment in which social media brings lot of opportunities as well as challenges. Social netwo rking marketing spending has been increased a lot in the past. According to a report, it has increased from $884 million to $2.34 billion in between the period 2007-2009 (Dickey & Lewis, 2010, p.140). Currently, organizations are utilizing social media not only for the recruitment of employees, but also for marketing products and services as well. Social media brought lot of opportunities to the employee community. It is easy for them to share their thoughts and relieve their personal and professional stresses through social networks. However, there are plenty of dangers hiding in social media for an employee. Many of the social media savvy employees in the past suffered a lot from social media. If not used judiciously and carefully, social media can bring more harm than good to an employee. This paper analyse the dangers involved in social media as far as an employee is concerned. Discussion Unlike many other media or channels of communication, social media has the ability to furni sh two-way communication. It should be noted that television and newspaper like communication channels are incapable of helping people in interacting each other instantly. Instant two way communication is good as well as bad as a far as employee is concerned. Instant two way communication helps employees to get the feedback or vital information from the other end quickly and take decisions based on that. However, while performing two way communication, employees often forget about the value of time and they may forget other important matters as well. Most of the employees engage in casual talks with others along with the professional matters while they use social media for communication. Casual talks often end up in waste of

Conflicts ad Ethcs Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Conflicts ad Ethcs - Coursework Example A personal situation where conflict existed was between me and the fire brigade on the steps to take to put off the fire at my shop. In the end, it seemed the conflict only wasted time because we had diverse objectives. Mine was to try and save my property though it was impossible while the fire brigade’s was to try and put out the fire before it spread. The best conflict management style that we decided to adopt was collaboration. We decided to partner in order to achieve a common goal. Each of us was allowed to table their ideas, and in the end it leads to a win-win situation. Collaboration works in complex situations and trust is key. This method seemed to be the most appropriate for this situation. The ten basics for ethical communication are; seek to elicit the best in communication and interaction with other group members, speak non-judgmentally, listen when others speak, only speak from experience and perspectives expressing your thoughts, needs and feelings, speak to understand others, respect other’s boundaries, avoid speaking for others, manage personal boundaries, avoid interrupting and side conversations and finally everyone must have equal time to speak (Corvette, 2006). In accommodation, all the ethical guidelines were

Cllinical Skils in haematology and bone marrow transplantion Nursing Essay

Cllinical Skils in haematology and bone marrow transplantion Nursing Module - Essay Example Although blood transfusion is an apparently acceptable treatment, this is not the final therapy for many types of anaemias, and they would need definitive therapies for those clinical indications. As a nurse, engaged in the care of such patients, work in this area needs considerable specialized clinical skills which are based on specific knowledge in this area. In this work, I will discuss the care of a patient with aplastic anaemia and explore the requisite clinical skills for such a patient on the basis of existing and current knowledge and also seek to examine the rationale of investigations, management, and nursing plans of such a patient from those perspectives and to investigate the alternative treatments in a patient with aplastic anaemia that I was assigned care of (Young, NS., 2002). Normal Erythropoiesis: Hematopoiesis is the process by which the formed elements of the blood or the cells in the blood are produced. The process is regulated through a series of steps beginning with the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell. Stem cells are capable of producing red cells, all classes of granulocytes, monocytes, platelets, and the cells of the immune system. Commitment of the stem cell to the specific cell lineages appears not to be regulated by known exogenous growth factors or cytokines (Choi, JW., 2006). Rather, stem cells develop into differentiated cell types through incompletely defined molecular events that are intrinsic to the stem cell itself. Following differentiation, hematopoietic progenitor and precursor cells come increasingly under the regulatory influence of growth factors and hormones. For red cell production, erythropoietin (EPO) is the regulatory hormone. EPO is required for the maintenance of committed erythroid progenitor cells that, in the absence of the hormone, undergo programmed cell death. The regulated process of red cell production is

Walden and Transcendentalism Essay Example for Free

Walden and Transcendentalism Essay Henry Thoreau’s masterpiece, Walden or a Life in the Woods, shows the impact transcendentalism had on Thoreau’s worldview. Transcendentalism is a philosophy that asserts the primacy of the spiritual over the material. Transcendentalism puts the emphasis on spiritual growth and understanding as opposed to worldly pleasures. Thoreau’s idea of transcendentalism stressed the importance of nature and being close to nature. He believed that nature was a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. A walk in the woods therefore was a search for spiritual enlightenment. One should look ‘through’ nature, not merely ‘at’ her. In Walden, Thoreau’s idea of transcendentalism is broken into three areas. The first is the importance of the spiritual world as opposed to material wants. He accentuates this idea by explaining how the physical world only exists so that souls can experience life to the fullest. Thoreau speaks a great deal about physical property in the first chapter, entitled â€Å"Economy†. He keeps a detailed record of the economic cost of his venture into the woods and explains to his readers his pity for the people who have numerous material possessions. Thoreau states, â€Å"When I have met an immigrant tottering under a bundle which contained his all†¦I have pitied him, not because that was his all, but because he had all that to carry. †[1] The second transcendentalism theme is the idea of individuality- the idea that an individual is unique and should act according to his personality and ideals. Individuality is a basic idea of the transcendentalists and they firmly believed that one should search for ‘self-discovery’. Thoreau observed, â€Å"Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. †[2] He emphasized the â€Å"style† as an individual style, one that was distinctive to each person. He even told his readers in Walden that he went into the woods to search for knowledge and truth. Self-discovery and individuality were also attributed to any other characters in Walden that were mentioned. Thoreau takes great pains to describe each character, even down to the farmer’s â€Å"wrinkled, sibyl-like, cone-headed†[3] infant in chapter 10, â€Å"Baker Farm†. He makes sure his readers understand the unique attributes of each individual in his experiences. As Thoreau once said, â€Å"It is what a man thinks of himself that really determines his fate. † The final prominent transcendentalism theme expressed in Walden is the importance of experiences. Transcendentalists believed personal experience is how one learned. Literally, people learned everything the hard way. Thoreau demonstrated this clearly in the experiment of living in the woods for two years. He explains in Walden that he wanted to experience living simply for an extended period of time. Notice that Thoreau did not speculate, draw conclusions, or even ask someone who had tried it. The only way, in his mind, that he was going to learn about living simply was to undergo it personally. In speaking about life in the chapter, â€Å"Where I lived and What I Lived For†, Thoreau said,â€Å"†¦if [life] proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. †[4] He emphasized living and feeling everything to be able to understand life and its meaning. Walden is often viewed as simply a proponent of environmental care and nature. However, it persuades the reader to do much more than take care of nature. In fact, nature is not even the most prominent ideal in Thoreau’s writings. The thesis of Walden is clearly stated in the first few pages of the book. Thoreau writes, â€Å"With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor†¦None can be an impartial or wise observer of human life but from the vantage ground of what we should call voluntary poverty. †[5] The entirety of the â€Å"Economy† chapter is devoted to material possessions and Thoreau’s idea that the physical pleasures exist only to help the soul endure. Very little time is spent on the goodness of nature. When it is mentioned, it is shown, as was stated above, that nature serves as a sort of looking glass to spiritual ideals. Because this book was quoted often by radical groups in 1960-70, Walden became a sign of disobedience and rebellion to the conservative community. However, there are a few ideas of which Christians can approve. The first is non-materialism. Thoreau quotes Matthew 6:19 saying, â€Å"By a seeming fate, commonly called necessity, they are employed, as it says in an old book, laying up treasures which moth and rust will corrupt and thieves break through and steal. It is a fool’s life, as they will find when they get to the end of it, if not before. †[6] He takes great pains throughout the entire book to make sure his readers understand that material possessions should not be the only thing in which people place all of their happiness. The second idea Christians can applaud is the idea of individuality. As was mentioned above, Thoreau kept the Transcendentalist idea of a person’s individual worth in his writings. Because of this belief, he was one of the most outspoken human rights activists in his lifetime. He wrote A Plea for Captain John Brown supporting John Brown’s efforts to end slavery. Thoreau said, â€Å"I do not believe in erecting statues to those who still live in our hearts, whose bones have not yet crumbled in the earth around us, but I would rather see the statue of Captain Brown in the Massachusetts State-House yard, than that of any other man whom I know. I rejoice that I live in this age, that I am his contemporary. †[7] His belief in the basic human rights of every man stemmed from his support of individuality and the unique worth of every person on this planet. Even though there are a few ideas that Christians can applaud in Walden, there is one of which they should be wary. This idea is the idea that rebellion and disobedience towards government is acceptable if one believes the government is wrong. Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his eulogy for Thoreau, articulated this idea, saying that Thoreau opposed the government. Thoreau disrespected government officials by refusing to obey tax laws and paid for it by spending a brief time in jail. However, many people, instead of realizing the negative influence Thoreau was creating, idealized him for his ‘patriotic’ stance. Thoreau says in Walden, â€Å"One afternoon, near the end of the first summer†¦I was seized and put into jail, because, as I have elsewhere related I did not pay a tax to, or recognize the authority of, the state which buys and sells men, women, and children, like cattle at the door of its senate-house. †[8] He did not recognize the authority of the government because of the slavery in the country. Even though slavery is immoral, Romans 13:1 clearly states, â€Å"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. †[9] The Bible articulates that Christians must be subject to those whom God has placed into authority. Thoreau discourages this idea and instead institutes an attitude of rebellion. Christians should be cautious of this attitude and worldview. Very few instances occur in which Christians should rebel against authority. The only instance where they should rebel is under a government which demands that its citizens disobey God’s orders. Walden was written many years ago and yet, society can still learn from the author’s words. Whether the ideas are detrimental or helpful, everyone can agree that Thoreau was a strong Transcendentalist with a distinct mindset. This mindset affects everyone who reads his works. Emerson once articulated that Thoreau inspired many around him through his idealistic thinking. Thoreau has inspired, and will continue to inspire, numerous people through his book, Walden or a Life in the Woods. [1] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 56. [2] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 175. [3] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 161 [4] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 74 (brackets added) [5] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 16 [6] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 9 [7] ThoreauOn John Brown, Virginia Commonwealth University, http://www.vcu. edu/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/thoreau/johnbrown. html (accessed September 15, 2010). [8] Henry David Thoreau, Walden ; and Civil Disobedience (New York: Barnes and Nobles Classics, 2003), 137 [9] Passage: Romans 13:1 (ESV Bible Online), Good News / Crossway Home Christian Books, Gospel Tracts, and the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible, http://www. gnpcb. org/esv/search/? q=Romans 13:1 (accessed September 15, 2010).

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Essay Example for Free

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Essay In the recent Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), orthopedic cases are projected to increase in the Trinity Hospital over the next five years. The assessment displayed that orthopedic cases are likely to flow from 11,800 to 17,338 (+46%); joint and spine procedures by 30%; and outpatient joint and spine procedures are expected to rise by 350%. The assessment highlighted the orthopedic services and the needs of the Trinity community. Some of the needs were shortage on physicians and specialist, gear, physical therapy services, and surgical suites. When looking at the business side of things you must understand supply demand. When demand rises and supply goes unchanged, a shortage will follow leading to greater costs equilibrium and if demand does not change and supply drops a short happens. This means there will be an increase in the overall revenue because of the rise in the demand for the orthopedic services. The community has a high demand for orthopedic services so it is and the population size for the aging community is growing so it is likely these services will be at an all-time high in five years. A recent needs assessment displayed that the current orthopedic cases are expected to rise 46%, with a 30% growth in inpatient joint and spine procedures. As expected outpatient joint and spine procedures are projected to grow by 350%. The orthopedic center is in a high demand area and the numbers show a defined market area within. There are also two private local hospitals in competition with very good orthopedics programs, which makes the need for Trinity’s to have a strong orthopedic program. Research shows that the main location is within the community with a projected population growth of 4%, this sets the demand for a quality orthopedic program to cover the growing community. The needs assessment shows that with an established orthopedic center, it is possible that we are able to provide everyone in the Trinity community with quality service for. It would be very feasible to develop the new center right away in order to meet the demands of the community and provide adequ ate treatment and services with adequate equipment. The orthopedic center development should allow us to incorporate an international trend of providing quality healthcare for all citizens in the community and spending less money. Regardless of the ability to pay we must also look into ways to reduce spending and still providing quality healthcare. The development of a plan that will allow patients to be treated despite financial ability  and health insurance could also help us meet the demand in the community. While our country does not offer a national healthcare system, our facility can incorporate the international trend. In addition to developing an integrated health system developing a selective groups of physicians and healthcare workers to provide adequate services. Currently there are two groups that are moving in the area. Fortunately one group has recently secured office space to open a branch of orthopedic practice on campus with the Trinity community, which helps us move to the integrated healthcare system. This benefit s the Trinity community by providing more services and quality programs to assist more patients. The ultimate goa at Trinity is to provide quality healthcare to all citizens of the Trinity community Robotic surgery and current digital equipment would be complementary to the new orthopedic center in surgical units. In addition to this we are able to accommodate the demands of orthopedic cases we deal with in the facility within our surgical units adequately. The development of the surgery facilities provide the advantage to recruit orthopedic groups that desire to be closer to Trinity and apply for privileges for the facility. There are currently twenty operating rooms that are equipped with the basic setup necessary to accommodate the orthopedic program. The rooms are equipped with two CT scanners, MRI scanner, X-ray, nuclear medicine, mobile PET scanner, and ultrasound services. The nursing staffs at Trinity are devoted and skilled which helps increase orthopedic nursing certification rate to 75% showing that this is a strong area in the facility. Although we may not be highly recommended the drive towards patient quality care it is a major part of the increase in demand of services. Even though all our service lines compliment the orthopedic program, it is clear that we can work hand- in- hand to develop a valued healthcare system and meet the demands, not only for patients but all hospital staff as well. The recent research shows that we could cut cost by building a new 5000 square foot physical therapy/rehab center adjacent to the Trinity campus. The new building costs estimates to about 600,000 verses 700,000 to purchase the space adjacent to the Trinity campus. In order to expand the services by adding a radiology department and have two MRI machines could cost approximately $3,000,000. Currently in the capital reserves we have 25,000,000 so this would be feasible for this service line expansion. Adding an orthopedic center could potential gain approximately 2100 new surgical cases and also gaining about 6500 visits in physical therapy. This can bring the profit margin to about $2,171,500. According to the five year projection plan, it is projected that there will be about $25,000 in gross charges per orthopedic surgical case. It is also clear that there is a $275 in gross charges per physical therapy treatment. 31% is the ratio of cost in charges when calculated. The Medicaid, Medicare and self- pay patients are at an all-time high right now so it is projected that the orthopedic program will increase in revenue and gain more pay-in patients. Developing a bundle payment program can allow the patient insured and uninsured an opportunity to get quality care and treatment in an affordable manor. A community hospital with the orthopedic center in it will be great in the future to help increase utilization, and also make-up for the decreased volume seen with the damage of the OB program and decay of general surgery volumes. An increase in the utilization could help our key financial indicators and also develop an effective profit plan for years to come. In order to increase the amount of specialists that are in the center we will need to target the patients who need total joint care. Developing a patient navigation system for these pacific patients can be a huge way to market the new service line to the community also coordinating care and appointments for the patients. This will also be a chance to provide physicians with the ability to sustain private practices and still work in the facility and have hospital privileges. It is suggested that we continue to work closely with those practices that are moving in the same direction as Trinity help outline the exact plan that has been developed for the marketing. A key marketing strategy that can be used in the marketing area is advertising. Highlighting the high quality services and giving the physicians satisfaction rate which is 90% could convince new patients to come to Trinity. Adding the orthopedic group adjacent to the Trinity campus, a referral service could be developed. The system should be set up as Trinity refers the orthopedic cases to the physicians group who will then in return refer all of their patients to the new orthopedic center for surgery, physical therapy, etc. Working directly with the physicians can give a more unified unit where everyone is able to benefit and also help increase their revenue equally among the practices and the hospital. Marketing can weigh in  on the expanding growth of the orthopedic specialists that are on staff and the new orthopedic center. Patients will be provided with referral information if the patient is in need for physician’s services on Trinity campus. We can also give referral for physicians who are not directly connected to the Trinity facility but have privileges at the facility. These physicians are able to use the referral services and in return refer patients to our facility and the new orthopedic center. Resources Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J., Richardson, W. C., Donaldson, M. S. (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. McLaughlin, C. P., Kaluzny, A. D. (1999). Continuous quality improvement in health care: Theory, implementation, and applications. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers

The Olympic Games Employment Opportunities

The Olympic Games Employment Opportunities The primary objective of this dissertation was to find out the socio-economic benefits and impacts of the London 2012 Olympics for London since development and regeneration began in 2007. As such, this dissertation aimed to identify the associated advantages and any negative impact of being the host of an Olympiad, but at this stage of the research made no forecast about the scale of impact. As a result while the dissertation progresses there will be arguments, analysis and evaluations to establish whether there is justifiable cause for the UK government and LOCOG spending billions on a one off event, all in the name of aiding social welfare and economic advancement. This dissertation initially provided an overview of both earlier and continuing research to aid the discussion around aspects of legacy and economic growth since 2005 consistent with the argument of Veal and Frawley (2009). Drawing on the lessons from past Games, this dissertation will also focus on the three phase economic benefits of the London 2012 Olympics. Establishing the impact of the Olympics on residents and countrymen alike was another aim in the dissertation. For this dissertation this inquiry was carried out in form of a survey. The results revealed a great deal, firstly it showed that the younger generation found inspiration from the games with 71% of respondents stating they would take part in some form of sport and exercise. Additionally the results also showed most of the respondents were unsure whether the games were value for money this resonates with the thoughts of Dennis (2012). The most astounding revelation was that 66% of the respondents believed the games wer e inspirational, captivating and moreover worth all the cost. The dissertation brought to light that the London 2012 games are more socially and economically beneficial at the pre-game and games year but these benefits and impacts are not proportionally evident elsewhere in the UK. The post-game phase analysis showed that there was great uncertainty in regard to economic growth and legacy of Olympics, with Greece 2004 an example of when things go wrong. Despite this, there is still room for further research on the social impacts of Olympic Games. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The Olympic Games generates lots of enthusiasm and great expectations. More than simply a sporting event, hosting the greatest show on earth is seen by some as a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide new infrastructure and deliver benefits to local residents and communities. (Vigour et al, 2004) From the time when Pierre de Coubertin, founded the modern Olympics in the late 19th century, cities and countries have sought to redefine themselves by staging the Olympic Games. To the host country, the games offers global exposure and worlds interest in its cultural wealth, creating job opportunities during and after the games, attracting revenues from tourism, and inspiration for the nation. Included in this search for Olympic glory was the Great Britain. After three consecutive failed bids, the Olympics were finally awarded to London on the 5th of July 2005. The optimism and passion towards the London 2012 project from the bid team became infectious spreading across a nation that was very much inspired and expectant. Despite this, once Londons name was pulled out the proverbial hat, critics like Gross (2012) and Dennis (2012) led the great Olympic inquisition in the years after the bid was won. Gross (2012) describing the bidding process of London 2012 as a gruelling and often f arcical campaign, that accompanied itself with a  £11.5bn tab. He said the true extent of funding has been hidden, the process is hardly transparent? However earlier in 2005 it became apparent that the funding would be from both the public and private sectors. According to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) (2005) a  £2bn fund coming from London Olympic Committee Organising the Games (LOCOG) was accrued from the private sector through a combination of sponsorship, merchandising, ticketing and broadcast rights. The ODA (2005) budget which catered regeneration and infrastructure projects was from the public sector, the funding was the breakdown was as follows; 63.3% from Central Government 23.3% from National Lottery 13.4% from the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency Additional criticism emanated from the France 2012 bidding team, they indicated that Londons bid was based on promises not linked to reality (Moulds, 2009) as they believed the budget was cut too low. Monroe (2007) was in agreement after researching Olympic budgets of the past four Olympics, she too said the budget was ambitious to say the least. An aura of vindication befell the critics as it came to light that the London 2012 Olympics budget was not going to plan. The Olympic budget soared from  £2.4bn to  £9.3bn in 2008, leaving only  £475m in the contingency fund (BBC, 2012). However, LOCOG and ODA stated this was not frivolous spending but rather a means to an end. The Games were targeted as a stimulus for social development and economic growth alongside being a step-change in the transformation of the East End of London. Per se bidding for the Olympics is a calculated risk that can either turn to gold or leave the hosts in the starting blocks. More related to the scope of my study, is the socio-economic contribution of an Olympics and the post games legacy. Ascertaining this will be done by exploring the economical, geographical and social implications for London as the host of the 2012 Olympics. The reason for the focus on London is in line with the Barton (2004) report that highlighted that for large economies such as the United States and United Kingdom, the economic impact of hosting major sporting events appears to be more significant primarily at the local or regional level, fewer impacts seen in cities beyond the Olympic Hubs. What is also noteworthy is that this dissertation not only seeks to establish the socio-economic impacts of hosting the Olympics, but also to determine how sustainable these benefits are in the future through a three phase economic assessment. In other words how the games can maximise the so called legacy. The challenge however lies in how to measure and quantify future rewards of an event tha t has just happened. Magnay (2009) perhaps offers an insightful elucidation of this paradigm. Magnay (2009) states that in their simplest forms, socio-economic impacts are either tangible or intangible. In essence this means that the pre-games and games-year phases show evident tangible benefits such as physical infrastructure, the tourism, employment and consumer spending. On the other side lie the intangible benefits or the legacy, evident in the life after Olympics. In the post games there is greater uncertainty in particular for London 2012 as a consequence of the current economic downturn. One of the challenges encountered in this research is the scarcity of studies that look at a link between socio-economic agendas and the legacy. In principle a theoretical gap with which my dissertation aims to tackle, following the works of Blake (2005), Barton (2004), Gratton and Preuss (2008). This dissertation will also contribute in no small way towards complementing literary and traditional ideology on the legacy, socio-economic impacts of Olympic Games. This is in hope that this dissertation could serve as groundwork for further research in the study of hosting global sporting events. Nonetheless, hosting the Olympics is certainly a pricey business; as a result of this it gives a basis to create an opportunity to conduct such research (Blake, 2005). Additionally away from the academic exposure and learning experiences derived from the research, this dissertation will be providing an informed insight into the chosen area of study. CHAPTER 2: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Magnay (2010) stated the LOCOG chief executive has previously indicated, the games are a principal asset to the country. As a result of this statement there is a need to establish if the games are truly asset or a burden. This can be done by showing whether hosting the Olympics amounts to a greater socio economic benefit in comparison to the incurred cost from inception through to the eventual clear up. Additionally the dissertations will investigate the factors which justify the increase of the Olympic budget during a significant and sustained economic downturn. Since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the lead committee for both summer and winter Olympics, to arrive at a suitable conclusion the aim is to use statistics and other information relating to both these variations of Olympiad as relevant sources of adding to the ensuing argument. This is because the bidding, planning, organisation and funding protocols all follow the same procedures, as a result comparisons can be done in regard to procedure and protocol. However what is pertinent to point out is that any comparisons between London and winter Olympics will be limited to social impacts and cost overruns. OBJECTIVES This dissertation is an opportunity to present an unbiased view on the London Olympics and the possible impacts, while making an informed judgement on it according to the evidence presented. This dissertation will raise important economic, political and social issues surrounding the Olympics and possibly give further insight to the following areas. To identify the nature, characteristics and features of sporting mega-events, with specific reference to the London 2012 Olympic Games. To critically review the literature on cost, impacts and benefits of hosting the Olympics, eventually leading to an appropriate conclusion that summarises the extensiveness and complexity of the concepts surrounding socio-economic impact of the London 2012 Olympics. To evaluate the net benefit of the Olympic Spectacle to London from the perspective of tourism, employment and redevelopment view point. To identify the risk alongside the challenges and implications of hosting the Olympics by looking at previous host cities such as Greece 2004, Sydney 2000 to name a few. To ascertain the thoughts of Londoners and the wider UK population on issues regarding the economic, social, health and environmental benefits of the Games particularly through regeneration and sustainable development in London. CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW Expenditure on facility and infrastructure preparation, as well as revenues from visitor spending, event receipts and media exposure, forms the baseline of much mega event analysis. (Hiller, H 2000). Thà Ã‚ µ socio-economic evaluation of the à Ã… ¾lympicц¢ is of importance to the hà Ã‚ ¾Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬ ¢t city, itц¢ rà Ã‚ µgià Ã‚ ¾n à Ã‚ °nd to a lesser extent cà Ã‚ ¾untry. This by is far is the primary driver for assertiing thà Ã‚ µ và Ã‚ °luà Ã‚ µ à Ã‚ ¾r wà Ã‚ ¾rth à Ã‚ ¾f hà Ã‚ ¾Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ting thà Ã‚ µ à Ã… ¾lympic Gà Ã‚ °mà Ã‚ µÃƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ (Carlin, 2007). The depth of the possible factors affecting London as a result of the Olympics are well beyond the scope of this dissertation, and therefore briefly looking at these vast factors will not evoke the thoughts and arguments desired to deliver a good literal critique. As a result my dissertation will be looking to expand on the academic and research issues in relation to the benefits of hosting the Olympics. It is fair to say that there are complexities surrounding this subject matter, nonetheless the investigations and research conducted during the dissertation aided by pub lished material and resources will help to develop the argument about socio-economic benefits of Olympics. Over the years there has been a flurry of academic literature including the likes of Bellamy (1995) and Collins (1997), their research assessed the economic impact of global sporting events to the host city and in some instances the wider economic impact on the nation. However much of the literature on major events is concerned with the economic impacts, McLeod (1999) also explored broader issues including sports participation, social impact, and urban regeneration. On the face of it these studies championed the hosting games as a very strong catalyst of economic growth and society improvement. In other words this research was very pro Olympics. Other proponents further augmented the short-term and long-term benefits by stating the Olympics will birth benefits such as construction of venues, facilities and improvement of infrastructure the trickledown effect of these is increased tourism, as well as improved public welfare and job creation (French and Disher, 1997; Rose and Spiegel 2 009). Moreover Spiegel (2009) states that the Olympics Economic Effect results in an injection to economic growth thanks to the foreign investment and Olympic tourists. This results in higher tax revenues for the government. In contrast Hiller (1998) argues against this by stating there is a lack of comprehensive analysis; the focus of these previous studies was on positive benefits, while negative impacts are largely hidden. Other scholars (Noll and Zimblist 1997, Rosentraub 1999, Baade 1996), unearthed some disparities with this previous research and they found that the tangible economic impacts of Olympics were being overstated and often the measurable economic impact of Olympics is very small in relation to the wider economy but was however more evident in the host city or region (Barton, 2004). As stated before the vast majority of publications that focused on the merits of mega events were derived from a variety of empirically and statistical models that looked at both pre-event and post-event benefits. This dissertation does not intend to employ such techniques regarding the subject of Olympics; rather, focusing on a qualitative approach to these stated benefits. More often than not the Olympic Authorities make their bid consideration based on the economic and social advantages of these said events. However before delving into the depth of the research, it is important to establish what is meant by socio-economic impact. Cullum (2007) described socio-economic impact as a way to determine how development projects, i.e. Olympics, might affect the social and economic conditions of people and communities. In essence the trajectory of such impacts will be inclined towards regional economic boost, social regeneration, and lastly bringing communities together. Even so, Carlin (2007) reiterates that taking on events such as Olympics and World Cups is a predetermined hazard. In a way it is possible to argue that the British Olympic Association (BOA) was caught up in the promise of bountiful riches, global exposure and getting one over the French when they pursued this venture. This over exuberant was reflected in the continued revision of the Olympic budget. London expected its 2012 Games to cost under  £2bn at the bid stage but the budget rose to  £9.4bn in 2007 and in 2012 it was expected to exceed  £11bn (Carlin, 2007; Simon, 2006; Dennis, 2012). So is London 2012 likely to suffer as a consequence of underestimated costs and overestimated benefits? In order to tell whether the London 2012 Olympic budget and investment are justifiable, it is necessary to examine some key benefits. These key issues will encompass areas including economic, social and health benefits that the Olympics bring to a host city and country. 3.1. SCOPE OF STUDY Before 1976, there were not many studies of the economic benefits of hosting the Olympic Games (Field, 2007). Since then, PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PWC) alongside other researchers offered a glimpse into these Olympic economics. In the summer Olympic Games held from 1984 to 2008, the findings showed varying degrees of measurable economic success. Some of this was as a result of estimates regarding the economic and demographic impacts of hosting the Olympics (Malfas et al, 2004). The challenge however was the difficulty in quantifying any economic benefits; even so studies (Blake, 2005; Malfas et al 2004; Szymanski, 2010) show that in terms of the economic impact of hosting an Olympics, the definition of Olympic Economy has been flippantly used as a result distorted its true meaning. Through using a three-dimensional and three phase impact study, Matos (2006) alongside Wei (2006), found that these purported benefits were combination of the pre-game phase, the games-year and subsequentl y the post-games phase. There are short-term benefits occurring at the pre-games and games year phases. The post-game phase is characterised by the anticipation of long-term benefits that are less tangible, those come about owing to the promotion of the London as a tourist destination and a potential location for investment. Gornostaeva (2011) added to this by stating Olympics are not merely a glorified sports day; a means of image building or competition between cities but a very useful instrument to aid socio-economic advancement. Nevertheless, Dennis (2012) once again argued against this by affirming that the research on the economic benefits at times focuses only on the financial performance of games. As a matter of fact they present narrow focus on the economic performance of the Games (Malfas et al, 2004); it eventually forgoes examination of vital links between Olympics economics and wider factors affecting communities, business and stakeholders within the host cites. Economics of London 2012 by Szymanski (2010) is one study that offers a broader examination of the varying economic impacts. Szymanski (2010) stated employment, tourism, consumer spending and GDP movement are the main barometers of success in regard Olympic Games economics this will be explored in the dissertation accordingly. 3.2. ECONOMICS OF LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS Employment The London 2012 Olympics will be the biggest civil engineering project in Europe, create more than 30,000 new jobs a year, and pump an extra  £20bn in the UK economy, to cement London reputation as one of the worlds main financial centres Ahmar (2008) indicated that employment is probably the best definition of what is considered one of the main centrepieces of economic indicators. He expand further by stating the employment impact depends on the characteristics of the host economy, the size of the labour force, and the state of the labour market which later determines the sourcing of labour. This is because it mirrors trends in both the economic and social dimension. On one hand a higher employment rate implies a higher disposable income rate, optimised utilisation of labour force and boost in consumer spending. On the other hand the social aspects of employment are reflected through health and life expectancy for instance. But Wagner (2007) questioned what this meant for London as a whole. ODA (2009) estimated that it is likely to spend around  £2bn in temporary employment of staff, security, and they also stated that 45% of the labour force will be recruited from the Inner, Outer and Greater parts of London. The economic impact of previous Olympic Games and the employment opportunities on the host cities are shown in table 1.1. Table 1.1: Economic impact of Olympic Games and Employment opportunities on the host cities.  £ (million) Economic Impac Cumulative Jobs Created** Barcelona (1992) 190 196,640 Atlanta (1996) 30 77,026 Sydney (2000) 2,884 90,000 Athens (2004) 3,589 100,400 Beijing (2008) 3,500 180,000 London (2012 2,000 132,000 TABLE 1.1 SOURCE: ODA (2008) *CUMULATIVE JOB FORECAST Barber (2008) and Brunet (2008) observed the employment trend from 2006 till 2012; they found unemployment in East London had dropped by a margin of 41% (Barber, 2008). The ODA had previously forecasted at least 55% of the useable labour resource will be from London by the time the games arrived in 2012. But there were contradictory sentiments emanating from the local councils. According to the Hackney Citizen (2012), ODA promised jobs were to be created for the many local people in London but this would seem not to be the case. It was found there was a disproportionate distribution of opportunities among the unskilled, semi-skilled and specialist jobs. This is because the majority of jobs available suited specialised workers, because building stadia and arenas requires workmen who specialise in building and engineering services as opposed to the local carpenters and builders. Gornostaeva (2008) also shed light on the possibility of the discrepancies of these figure; he stated that ODA employment estimates included volunteers because these opportunities were identified as volunteering work targeted to get the unemployed people to do low skilled jobs at the Olympics. With this sentiment he argued that volunteers should not be included in the employment figures because volunteers were trained for specific low skilled jobs. Moreover, there was little or no evidence showing that these volunteer skills were transferable to the post-Games economy. Despite these reservations, 2012 continues to reflect a significant drop in the rate of unemployment across the capital, with more evident employment rises occurring in the host boroughs (Barber, 2012). Table 1.2 shows a summary of expected impacts on employment. The employment estimates use similar assumptions as those used in the macroeconomic impact assessment by Blake, (2005) and PWC, (2005) Table 1.2: Summary of expected impacts on employment from years 2005 to 2016 Spatial Level *Pre-Event (2005-2011) During Event (2012) Post Events (2013-2016) Overall (2005-2016) UK 2,955 3,261 1,948 8,164 London 25,824 3,724 9,327 38,875 North East London 7,344 311 311 7,966 TABLE 1.2 SOURCES: BLAKE, 2005; PWC, 2005. EMPLOYMENT FIGURES Of course it can be argued the games are achieving one of their primary objectives but research pertaining to Olympic induced employment advises caution (Baade and Matheson, 2002; Ahmar 2008). Baade and Matheson (2002) revealed that prior to the event and leading into the Games year employment also shows a boom. Madelano (2012) expanded on this by stating that there is a disproportionate rise in employment coming from London, leading some to believe that we are floating inside a rose-tinted Olympic bubble. With this in mind, does London have the resources and strategy to sustain post Olympics employment? Beth (2012) paints an ominous picture with the headline Olympic Jobs Legacy Misses Target, the government had two key schemes set up in 2010 intended to get unemployed people into jobs during and after the Games. However these initiatives have been dogged by delays and cuts in funding. This contradicts Boris Johnsons pre-election promise to provide jobs. Irrespective of this, some of the researchers (Gornostaeva, 2008 and Beth 2012) have shown that the benefits employment as a by-product of Olympics are over-estimated but this does not mean that there are none. It would therefore be of interest to gauge whether the locals believe that the post-Olympic job promise has been fulfilled. Tourism The economic benefits of the Olympic Games as direct result tourism are widely researched. They are routinely listed among the principal legacy effects of hosting the games, along with new age sporting facilities, cultural and social investment and improved infrastructure (ETOA, 2008). The burst of tourist interest in relation to the 2012 Games was the USP for the ODA and LOCOG because the London economy and society are said to be the key beneficiaries. Early estimates in 2008 predicted that the visitor economy would be at least  £2bn. PWC (2008) claimed the Olympics would attract induced visitor numbers thanks to enhanced media exposure. They outlined three stages of the tourism effect. Preà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Olympic tourism This is typically described as taster tourism effect. This is because the visitors at this point in time are related directly with the planning and preparation for the games. Eventà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ time tourism Also as the games year tourism. This stage is characterised by two types of tourist. The first are leisure tourist- they travel to see the Olympic villages and park. Whereas the sport tourists travel to actually see the events and make the biggest proportion of foreign ticket purchasers. Postà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Olympic tourism PWC (2008) state this type of tourism is characterised by two important sources: Gamesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ prompted private leisure tourism and soà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ called MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, events) tourism. Even if we did assume that tourism could be enhanced by the Olympics, what sort of evaluation timescale is appropriate and what sort of empirical information is meaningful? (Dimeo, 2009) The London 2012 Olympics will no doubt attract foreign visitors in their thousands; the longstanding argument is that their increased spending brings a boost to the local economy. Shaun Woodward, the then tourism minister, in 2006 said the tourism potential is enormous. Grohmann (2010) of Oxford Economics forecasted the arrival of 379,156 foreigners in the period pertaining to the Olympic Games. Others have felt that up to 800,000 extra visitors (Visit London and Visit Britain 2010) would be drawn to the capital because of the Games. It is important to note that visitors create the single most important economic benefit to Olympic host cities. The only issue surrounding tourism data is that unlike investments for infrastructure, tourism expenditure is not recorded or controlled centrally. Nonetheless Wallace (2010) produced the table 1.3 that showed the three phase impacts of Olympic tourism. Table 1.3: Impact of London 2012 Olympic Games on Tourism Pre-Games Games Year Post Games Year Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 *2012 **2013 **2014 Visitor Number (million) 14.5 14.9 15.2 15.6 16.2 15.4 15.6 Total Spent ( £ billion) 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 2.0 1.7 1.4 Avg Spent 1.5 2.0 1.6 Growth % 2.9 1.8 2.7 3.7 -4.9 1.3 Avg Growth Rate per Annum % 2.5 3.7 2.6 TABLE 1.3 SOURCE: WALLACE (2010) *FORECASTED IN 2010 **FORECASTED 2011 The table 1.3 revealed a trend similar to that of Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics. The trend was characterised by an increase in visitor numbers 4 years prior to the Olympics because of the pre-games events held most notable in 2010 and 2011 with an eventual decline after 2012. Wallace (2010) suggested that because London is a central tourist hub, it would generate just over  £10bn in tourism revenue in those three aforementioned games phases. Steward (2008) adds to this by saying that Olympic tourism is a cash cow because not only does tourism bring in revenue but it puts great emphasis on the social and cultural benefits that arise from hosting games. Steward (2008) also adds London is unlikely to cause tourist displacement, because without the Olympics, it is still an attraction in its own merit. ETOA (2008) bring another viewpoint in regard to argument on the benefits of Olympic tourism. ETOA (2008) found that hosting the Games might actually have a negative impact on tourism to the host city. They state that there has been difficulty predicting the number of foreign visitors in some earlier studies such as Papanikos, 1999 and Dwyer et al 2003. The scarcity of empirical research limited the extent to which Olympic tourism impacts were examined, as a result most of the analysis was conducted through case study discussions. Weed (2007) found it difficult to provide information even on the basic question of whether the host city experienced a longer term boost to its tourist economy. The trickledown effect of this gap in literature is that the more challenging issues, like the negative impact on other tourist destination in the same country, are not addressed (Dimeo , 2009). In spite of these concerns, supporters for sport-related tourism uphold the conviction that holding the Olympics can bring widespread tourism associated upshots. However, this debate is not just about the host city, it is about the Olympics as the linchpin in a global tourism marketplace (Dimeo, 2009). ETOA (2008) supports this by adding Olympic tourists are unlike regular tourists, they are not interested in tourism, and they are interested in sport. These said tourists spend less on non-Olympic recreation activities; the trickledown impact of this will significantly affect government revenues as these negated activities include specific taxes on alcohol and gambling (Blake, 2005). So their spending habits are very unpredictable and difficult to forecast. As such this unpredictability has been quite evident with London 2012 tourism market. As recently as July 2012, the government revealed that visitor numbers were not meeting the expected targets. This therefore means the likes of Wallace (2010) and Steward (2008) were off the mark. In comparison to the last two Olympics, the London Olympics brought less tourist revenue to recession-hit Britain which was a sharp contrast to the expectation set out by ODA. The reason behind Londons apparent tourist short fall is a result of London effectively closing for normal business. For that reason both tourists and the residents are scared off immediately before and during the events because of overcrowding, transport disruption amongst other things. This absence in the market then creates its own negative effect across the region. In line with sentiments Dimeo (2009) and Wnorowski (2011) , although Olympic tourism has it benefits, post 2003 studies found that growth in Olympic tourism dropped in games year and most significant drop was immediately after hosting the Olympics. The disparity between government expectation and reality leaves a quandary for future Olympic tourism studies. Conceivably a benchmarking criterion is needed to ascertain how to weigh up tourism input benefits. These benchmarks could be offset against the cost of construction facilities, how these facilities can be transformed for community use after the event and the general disruption to the host city. When it comes down to it many of the claims about Olympic tourism impacts are based primarily on the increased tourism experienced in Sydney 2000. Blowe (2005) adds to this by saying what the proponents of these Olympics fail to consider is that London is among some of the major Central Business District (CBD) in the world, however it also houses a rather inadequate transport system. Therefore rather than spending vast sums on this one event, improving the Tube and rail network would provide a bigger boost for the city and the country directly influencing tourism. Olympics and the host city economy As far as the definition of Olympic Economy is concerned, there have been several opinions by scholars. Most notably Carlsen (2003) explained Olympic Economy is the direct and indirect revenues that come about as a result of hosting the Olympic Games. Alternatively Chalip (2005) said it was a focused Economy, which promptly boosted the economy of host ci

Lord of the Flies Essay -- Lord of the Flies Essays

Hidden inside every human being is the urge to obide by law and authority and to act civilised, but hidden much deeper is the temptation to resist acting lawfully and resort to savagery. Sometimes, these two impulses conflict with one another and people are confused as to which desire to follow through with. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and John Polson’s Hide and Seek are two prime examples that demonstrate the conflict between civilised behaviour and savagery through their characters’ cultured manners, savage impulses and struggles as they decide who they really are as people. The instinct to follow rules and act in a civilised manner is highlighted throughout the first four chapters of Lord of the Flies, but is especially perceptible in the boys’ behaviour when they first arrive on the island. The first chapter, The Sound of the Shell focuses on Ralph’s discovery of the island and his joy at the fact that there are â€Å"No grown-ups!† (p.12) present and so he can do as he pleases. His companion Piggy however, is obedient to the authority of his home life as he will not run, swim or blow the conch when Ralph does because his aunty told him not to â€Å"on account of his asthma†. (p.13) The repetition of Piggy’s referral to his aunty and her rules emphasise his conformity. The formation of an assembly, the ruling of Ralph as chief and the creation of rules on the island such as â€Å"‘hands up’ like at school† also comply with the social standards of order and democracy that they had to obide by in Eng land. Jack, representing a figure of authority, leads his choir who comply with his commands even though they are not at home anymore. â€Å"The choir belongs to you, of course.† (p.31) The choirs’ great compliance to their leader foreshadows t... ...shouldn’t’ be there, but does not actually tell her to go away. Brutality is also evident in Emily’s actions - while smiling threateningly she destroys a doll infront of the little girl. A close-up camera angle is used during this act to reinforce Emily’s evil intentions. The characters’ battle to resolve the conflict between following their natural instincts and satisfying their ultimate desires to kill is achieved in both texts with the impulses of violence prevailing. From the analysis of the characters’ actions, words and personalities from the novel Lord of the Flies and the movie Hide and Seek, it is evident that both texts represent the conflict existing between morality and sin through their use of the narrative devices of repetition, alliteration and foreshadowing as well as the film techniques of intruding close-up angle shots and manipulative lighting.

Russia :: essays research papers

As I picked up Vodka, Tears, and Lenin’s Angel, by Jennifer Gould, I thought that I was about to read a novel that would be boring with nothing but facts and statistics. As I began to read it, the novel became much more interesting. Jennifer Gould, a journalist, decided to go to Russia. She was there to research Russia and its culture. I would have never believed some of the situations and conversations she had with so many people. The topics that made me change my mind about Russia in general were the Internat, the cars and drivers, the homeless, and sexpionage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While reading about the Internat, I started to get disgusted. One of the reasons for this is that Russia sent healthy children to orphanages with ill kids. They were not like orphanages hear in the United States, with reasonable housing conditions, education and a chance to live with a family to provide them the better things in life. Instead, as a punishment they would be beaten, or sent to a psychiatric facility and drugged or tied to their beds for months. The law will not allow foreigners adopt healthy children. In place of the healthy kids, they would find a Western doctor that would diagnose the sick children as healthy. I believe that is not far to the children or the family who is adopting the child. Also, in the summer the orphanages close down and the majority of the kids go to camp. Once the camps are filled the extra kids get sent to psychiatric facilities. A man named Vitaly Llynin told Jennifer, â€Å"Some children are sent to the orphanages because they are too hot-te mpered and get into too many fights.† The children say that they do not understand why they go to these hospitals. An administrator believes that the children deny the fact that they are there because they are ashamed. None of the children receive counseling. Instead they are given antidepressants and tranquilizers. I personally can not believe that any person would think that this kind of action is okay.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another subject that I found a little disturbing was how the people drive and who are the drivers. To me, Moscow sounds like its road are worse then Pennsylvania. There are no traffic laws. People can make illegal anywhere they want. Streets turn from one way to two way frequently. They have many potholes.

Paideia: A Concept Contributing to the Education of Humanity and Societal Well-Being :: Philosophy

Contributing to the Education of Humanity and Societal Well-Being ABSTRACT: For the sake of humanity, outward compulsion must change into inward check. This is possible with the help of "paideia." I use "paideia" instead of the equivocal German word "Bildung," which comprises the meanings of "education," "formation," and "cultivation." The core of my recently developed concept of "paideia" is that the educating individual does what has to be done in a certain situation. He or she works alone or together with the other. In doing a work the educated individual tries to avoid any disadvantage for the other. The finished work represents the realization of both, the individual as well as the other in a step toward self-realization. This philosophy of education integrates into one single concept the two main traces of theories of education in European countries, namely the theories of "self-being" and those of "selflessness." The concept of "paideia" is a possible answer to actual problems such as the gap between the rich and the poor, the increase of vi olence, existing political radicalism, exploitation of natural resources and so on. According to this situation, not all people are educated very well. I claim that the expounded philosophy of education is able to contribute to the education of humanity. The combination of "self-being" and "selflessness" guarantees the optimal realization of sense in a given situation. This ensures that the common work of the individual and the other can develop very well, so that both are intertwined in the result. I. From Outward Compulsion to Inward Control For many years our present society has been characterized by sociologists and philosophers as being determined by three factors: first science and technology, second mass media including new forms of communications like the Internet, and third individualism and pluralism. These three characteristics of the present situation point to the diminuation of human possibilities. For on one side we live in a society of alleged unlimited possibilities with respect to science, technology, communication and personal individuality. On the other side, however, real thinking and doing, real talk and real self-shaping seem to grow poor or become impossible. The prize we are obliged to pay for our present society, the prize of our possibilities is ironically that of the impossibility of our special possibilities, be they personal or social. So the strive for perfection unmasks itself as an unplanned deterioration in many realms of social and personal life.