Wisdom Essays - Bible, Solomon, Virtue, Old Testament, Philosophy

Wisdom Wisdom, in my opinion is ?The knowing of many things?. Wisdom is what all people should strive for during their entire life. For being wise is having the power of knowing and judging what is right and good, you have the power to discern what you should and should not do. You can look at situations in life and have the wisdom to know what you should do. Wisdom is the development of things learned in the past. Whether this is learned by experience or from the experience of others, it is a collection of knowledge. An example of someone with exceeding wisdom would be Solomon, when Solomon became king, God asked him what he wanted, and Solomon was quite smart when he asked for wisdom. God granted his desire for wisdom, and he became the most intelligent king that ever lived. His finances exceeded anything you could ever imagine. He had piles of silver at the end of the streets in the city because there was not enough storage for it all. He lived a long and very prosperous life, and ruled Israel with authority and he was very respected by all. Anything that he was faced with, he knew what to do, and when he didn't he knew where to find out from, he would turn to God and he would show him direction in what to do. So obviously I think it is very important to get all of the wisdom possible. So to sum up what I think wisdom is, it is learning from the past, and the present to know where to go in the future, it will help to give direction and help make important decisions. Creative Writing

Global Poverty Trends and Global Trade Challenges The WritePass Journal

Global Poverty Trends and Global Trade Challenges Introduction Global Poverty Trends and Global Trade Challenges ) defines poverty as a deprivation of basic human needs. These comprise of material and non-material needs that are required to facilitate a comfortable life. High levels of poverty lead to social exclusion, which limits the capability of individuals or groups to actively contribute towards community or national development as a result of limited resources (Nolan Whelan, 2010). Several efforts have been made to increase the income of people across the globe to enable them afford basic needs. Most of the people that have affected by poverty are from developing countries in Africa, Asia, and South America (World Bank, 2013). There have also been efforts aimed at increasing the affordability of these basic items. Such efforts include placing subsidies on basic commodities, which have been successfully implemented in countries like Egypt   (Reuters, 2013). Even with these efforts in place, there are several other factors that limit the success of these efforts, especially in developin g countries (Alkire Foster, 2011). Some of these factors include corruption, brain drain of educated professionals and unequal price distribution, which often creates a wide gap between the rich and poor. According to statistics from the World Bank, a total population of 1.22 billion across the globe lived under the poverty line (spending $1.25 per day). Comparing this to 1990 where the statistics were at 1.91 billion living under the poverty line, an improvement has been made (World Bank, 2013). This is a clear indication of the effectiveness of strategies that have been implemented to fight poverty. This paper intends to present an in-depth discussion of poverty and transformations that have taken place within the past four decades. It also seeks to examine the social, political and economic challenges that result from global trade and inequality. Poverty and its Causes As mentioned in the previous section of this report, poverty is the deprivation of basic material and non-material needs. It is classified into absolute and relative poverty. The present-day absolute poverty line has been set by the Word Bank at $1.5 and $2.5 a day (Couch et al., 2010). Relative poverty is referred to as an estimate of inequalities in income. It is usually calculated as the percentage of people that live below a certain income median (Couch et al., 2010). Given that economic conditions vary from one country to another, the causes of poverty in different countries also differ. Pointers of poverty include unemployment, homelessness, famine, poor sanitation, high infant mortality rates and illiteracy (Gilder, 2012). With reference to developing countries, one of the key causes is the rapid increase in population. A good example of this is India, where the annual population increase for the last 45 years has been at an average of 2.2% (Karuna, 2012). This translates to a n addition of 17 million people annually, which causes a strain on the available resources, making it difficult to sufficiently cater for their basic needs.   Governments have the responsibility of ensuring that the livelihoods of their citizens are improved. However, vices, such as corruption, limit the possibility of attaining the poverty reduction objectives. According to (Johnston, 2009), corruption diverts, distorts and delays growth in economy. As a result of corruption, the elite or wealthy in the country continue progressing while the poor or less privileged plunge deeper into poverty.   The poor are also denied access to health, education and other social services that are needed to empower them to effectively contribute towards national building (Fisman Miguel, 2008). Illiteracy also contributes towards an increase in poverty because it limits the capability of individuals to be innovative or entrepreneurial, resulting in an overdependence on natural resources or fore ign aid (Teal, 2011). Other factors that contribute to the poverty statistics include unemployment, inflation, lack of capital to support entrepreneurship and a general lack effective policies that are meant to eliminate poverty. Khan and Bashir (2012) argue that poverty is a complicated phenomenon, which makes it quite challenging to exhaustively explain its causes. Some of the theorists in this field, such as Furnham   and Gunter (1984) are of the view that people who are prone to poverty are those who have little or no regard for the future. Instead, they use up their resources to â€Å"live for the moment† (Andersen Taylor, 2007). Other theorists argue that the poor have feelings of inferiority, hopelessness and powerlessness, which are passed on from generation to generation. As a result, it becomes difficult for their economic predicaments to be solved. Whilst these views are based on the notion that the poor have themselves to blame for their situations, other are of the view that among the poor, there are those who have the will to work hard if they are given the chance. However, they are limited by their inability to access education that is a prerequisite for obtaining well-paying jobs (Gi lder, 2012). Poverty Trends over the last 40 years Even though it is challenging to get accurate statistics on the actual changes that have taken place in poverty statistics over the last ten decades, a general improvement has been recorded in poverty eradication efforts (World Bank, 2013). In a report by the UN that explored poverty trends between 1981 and 2005, the findings indicated that even though the developing world still has the highest poverty levels, there has been a significant reduction in the severity and depth of extreme poverty, 0.5 billion less people living under the poverty line in 2005 than in 1981 (United Nations, 2010). This is arguably a positive move, given that these are the regions that record the highest levels of population growth. One of the factors that are responsible for these trends is expansion in the global economy, which has resulted in higher average per capita income levels, both in developing ad developed nations (Collier Dollar, 2002). Comparing the current income with the 1960s, there has been an average growth in GDP levels at an average annual rate of 4.1%, while the high and middle income countries have had their GDPs increase by averages of 3.2% and 4.2% per annum respectively. The chart below represents the global poverty trends between 1981 and 2005 (United Nations, 2010). Despite the improvements indicated in Fig. 1 above, a projected increase in populations of developing countries points out the necessity of their governing bodies to ensure that they formulate appropriate policies that will ensure sustenance in economic growth (World Bank, 2012). This is a prerequisite for poverty eradication. Even though it is a general view of the majority that poverty affects developing countries, developed nations are also directly affected by it. For instance, the United States of America has a total population of 46 million living in poverty (Povertyusa.org, 2013). Unlike the general poverty line that is set for the global statistics, a family of four with an annual income of less than the set threshold of $23,050 can be referred to as living in poverty (HHS, 2012). In the UK, the threshold is at  £100 per week for an adult,  £183 per week for a household with two adults and  £268 for a household of four, which comprises of two adults and two children (Cl ay et al., 2012). Poverty trends within the past few decades also indicate the notable differences in economic growth in different countries. For instance, between 1999 and 2005, there was a significant general decline in the population living on under $1.25 a day (United Nations, 2010). However, the highest decline occurred in the Pacific and East Asia, which were then characterized by explosive growths in the economy and improved living standards, especially in China. The chart below represents the trends of people living under $1.25 a day in different world regions (United Nations, 2010). From the trends on the chart above, it is evident that while the overall number of people living below $1.25 a day is reducing, Sub-Saharan African countries are among those facing challenges in attaining this poverty reduction goal. On the other hand, countries from East Asia and the Pacific are among those that have managed to register a significant reduction of the number of people living below this poverty line (United Nations, 2010).The Effects of Poverty on Business There are several effects that poverty has on the business environment. The most direct impact of poverty on business is that there is a minimal potential of growth. This is especially the case for businesses that deal in products or services that are not basic. The reason for this is that the majority of the target market lacks the disposable income to purchase products out of their basic needs. This explains the concentration of businesses in urban centres, where the average income is usually the highest. One of the main outcomes of poverty is crime, where the poor engage in different criminal activities to get themselves out of poverty. Some of the main crimes include robbery and corruption. According to kipo, any crime that results from poverty has a significantly adverse impact on business. For instance, violent robbery scares potential clients and a result, limits the levels sales. In addition to the potential reduction of business sales, businesses are also at a risk of losing their revenue to insecurity. From the findings presented in fig. 2 above that indicate a drop in the levels of poverty, it can be inferred that the consequences for the business environment is also positive. This is exhibited by the overall growth in the number of businesses across the world. Challenges Arising from International Trade and Global Inequality As globalization gradually increases in the present-day business environment, there are different opportunities and challenges that are presented as a result of this (Bigman, 2002). Some of the opportunities that globalization has presented include elimination of national barriers to facilitate trade between nations and increased foreign direct investments in developing and emerging economies to capture the available market opportunities (Foskett Maringe, 2010). This has also contributed to an overall increase in the average per-capita income across the world. However, with these opportunities come underlying challenges that mainly result from global inequalities and international trade (Apple, 2013). The implications that the international trade and global inequality have on business are discussed in this section. Social Challenges As the effects of globalization continue to be felt across the world, one of the key challenges that occur as a result of this is brain drain. Often referred to as capital flight, this is the movement or immigration or people with high levels of skills, knowledge and intelligence from a particular country to another (Agrawal et al., 2011). This mainly affects developing countries, where their academic elite immigrate to developing nations in pursuance of better opportunities. Even though it can be argued as a positive move for the individuals who are moving out, the cumulative impact on the home nation is adverse (Docquier Rapoport, 2012).   The World Bank estimates that by 1990, the human capital that had moved from Africa to other developed countries could be equated to 40% of its wealth (approximately $360 billion) (Ndulu, 2004). Developing countries are usually characterized by capital scarcity and therefore, further loss of this scarce resource to developed countries undermin es the sustainability and development potentials of these developing nations. Professionals that move to developed countries could otherwise positively contribute towards the long-term improvement of the business and socio-economic statuses of these countries. However, their moves can be justified because of the limited opportunities presented in the developing countries (Agrawal et al., 2011).   Another challenge lies in the diversity of cultures, religions and other social frameworks (Collier Dollar, 2002). Globalization has been characterized by increased diversities that have brought about tensions in several business aspects, especially human resource management (Docquier Rapoport, 2012). Currently, one of the most sensitive challenges in human resource management is cultural diversity. Thus, it is vital for human resource managers to ensure that the business environment is balanced enough to accommodate people from different economic backgrounds (Crane Matten, 2004). Othe r social challenges include racial discrimination, human trafficking and threatening of family units as members move into other nations in search of better lives. Global inequality can also refer to the unequal distribution of professional or entrepreneurial skills across the globe. The effect of this on business is that it makes it difficult for businesses operating in some regions to get employees with the desired skills locally. As a result of this, companies spend more money either training employees or hiring expatriates from other countries. Economic Challenges The inequalities that exist in different nations also pose economic challenges on the countries, their citizens and companies that invest in those countries (Nolan Whelan, 2010). One of the economic challenges is because of the different currencies that are used in different countries across the world. Fluctuations in these currency exchange rates have a wide range of repercussions on the company revenues (Bigman, 2002). Global trade has also resulted in the rise of new international powers, commonly referred to as emerging economies. These include Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICS) (Collier Dollar, 2002). Whilst this can be considered as a move in the right direction for these economies, the fact that they are recording faster economic growth rates that other economies has an effect on the international trade structures, the flow of human capital and natural resource-consumption patterns (Bigman, 2002). Another economic challenge is brought about by the inequalities in income levels of different countries, which may cause multinationals to take advantage of this to pay workers in developing countries poorly and overwork them as they seek cheap labour (Collier Dollar, 2002). An example of this was highlighted by (Chamberlain, 2011) that   in South China, workers at Apple work for excessive hours to meet the international demands of the company’s   products. Foxconn   is also another example of companies that provide workers, especially in developing countries with draconian working conditions, which occasionally lead to employee suicides (Chamberlain, 2011). Political Challenges Political challenges that affect global trade comprise of those that are outside the control of governments and those perpetrated by the government or the political elite (Henry Springborg, 2010). One of the challenges is created by governments is corruption, especially in developing countries. Countries that are known to be corrupt often have political leaders who require favours from companies in form of bribes or job positions before being allowed to operate smoothly (Reuters, 2013). One key disadvantage of this is that companies that stick to their ethical codes of conduct may either be denied investment opportunities or may have their operations disrupted by rogue government officials. This results into an imbalanced competitive environment in favour of corrupt businesses. Some of the most corrupt countries in the world are North Korea, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Somalia, which are all developing countries (Reuters, 2013). High tax tariffs and interest rates on loans are also polit ical challenges that increase capital expenditures of investors and a result, reduce their profit margins (McGrew, 2000). Political challenges that are caused by factors out of the government’s influence include revolutions, wars, strikes and terrorism (Campante Chor, 2012). One of the most recent events that paused challenges to businesses in Arab countries was the Arab spring that started in 2010, which affected many Arab countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East (Willis, 2012). Others include constant terrorism activities that take place, perpetrated by extremist movements. For instance, Nigeria is among the countries that, regardless of the rich oil reserves that they have, are accustomed to high levels of corruption, and terrorism. As a result if this, large oil companies like Agip, Shell and Mobil have had challenges operating in the country (Shah, 2014). Conclusion There are several definitions of poverty that have been given by different researchers. However, as earlier presented in the paper, it is a complicated issue whose causes cannot be exhaustively established. This paper has provided an overview of the global poverty by providing an in-depth definition of absolute and relative poverty. It has also outlined some of the key causes of poverty across the globe. Global poverty trends over the past few decades have also been discussed in this paper. Even though the trend indicates a reasonable decline in global poverty levels, some countries have not managed to eliminate poverty as much as others. Some of the countries that have effectively managed to reduce poverty significantly include those in East Asia and the Pacific. On the other hand, poverty still remains a challenge in several countries in regions like Sub Sahara Africa. With a high anticipated population growth by 2050 that is likely to increase the strain on available resources, go vernments ought to implement strategies that will contribute towards economic growth so as to sustain these growing populations. Whereas globalization has provided several opportunities for global business, it has also posed several social, political and economic challenges, especially due to the existent global inequality. Some of these challenges have also been discussed in this paper. Aspects that should be addressed in future research include the possible future global trends of poverty. References Agrawal, A., Kapur, D., McHale, J. Oettl, A., 2011. Brain drain or brain bank? The impact of skilled emigration on poor-country innovation. Journal of Urban Economics, 69(1), pp. 43-55. Alkire, S. Foster, J., 2011. Counting and multidimensional poverty measurement. Journal of Public Economics, 95(7), pp.476-87. Andersen, M.L. Taylor, ‎H.F., 2007. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Updated: Understanding a Diverse Society. Mason: Cengage Learning. Apple, M.W., 2013. Thinking Internationally and Paying Our Debts: Critical Thoughts on Diversity, Globalization, and Education. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 49(3), pp.118-20. Bigman, D., 2002. Globalization and the Developing Countries: Emerging Strategies for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. Cambridge: CABI. Campante, F.R. Chor, D., 2012. Why was the Arab World Poised for Revolution? Schooling, Economic Opportunities, and the Arab Spring. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 26(2), pp.167-87. Chamberlain, G., 2011. Apples Chinese workers treated inhumanely, like machines. The Guardian, 30 April. Clay, S. et al., 2012. Family Resources Survey. London, UK: Office of National Statistics Department of Work and Pensions. Collier, P. Dollar, D‎., 2002. Globalization, Growth, and Poverty: Building an Inclusive World Economy. Washington, DC: World Bank. Couch, K., Smeeding, T.M. Waldfogel, J., 2010. Fighting poverty: Attentive policy can make a huge difference. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 29(2), pp.401-07. Crane, A. Matten, D., 2004. Business ethics, a European perspective: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Docquier, F. Rapoport, H., 2012. Globalization, brain drain, and development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(3), pp.681-730. Fisman, R. Miguel, E., 2008. Economic gangsters: corruption, violence, and the poverty of nations. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Foskett, N. Maringe, ‎F., 2010. Globalization and Internationalization in Higher Education: Theoretical, Strategic and Management. New York: Continuum. Furnham, A. Gunter, B., 1984. Just world beliefs and attitudes towards the poor. British Journal of Social Psychology, 23(3), pp.265-69. Gilder, G., 2012. Wealth and Poverty: A New Edition for the Twenty-first Century. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing. Henry, C.M. Springborg, R., 2010. Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. HHS, 2012. 2012 HHS Poverty Guidelines. [Online] Available at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml [Accessed 30 December 2013]. Johnston, M., 2009. Poverty and Corruption. Forbes, 22 January. Karuna, O., 2012. 10 main causes of Poverty in India. [Online] Available at: preservearticles.com/201107189264/what-are-the-main-causes-of-poverty-in-india.html [Accessed 30 December 2013]. Khan, R.E.A. Bashir, H.N., 2012. Trade, poverty and inequality nexus: the case of Pakistan. World Applied Science Journal, 18(5), pp.722-26. McGrew, A., 2000. Sustainable globalization?: the global politics of development and exclusion in the new world order. In Allen, T. A, T. Poverty and development into the 21st century. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ndulu, B.J., 2004. Human Capital Flight: Stratification, Globalization, and the Challenges to Tertiary Education in Africa. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 2(1), pp.57-91. Nolan, B. Whelan, C.T., 2010. Using non†monetary deprivation indicators to analyze poverty and social exclusion: Lessons from Europe? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 29(2), pp.305-25. Povertyusa.org, 2013. More than 46 million Americans live in Poverty USA. [Online] Available at: povertyusa.org/ [Accessed 30 December 2013]. Reuters, 2013. Food price rises put restive Egypt on edge. Reuters, 13 March. Reuters, 2013. The 10 Most Corrupt and Least Corrupt Countries in the World. Reutersr, 3 December. Shah, A., 2014. Nigeria and Oil. [Online] Available at: globalissues.org/article/86/nigeria-and-oil   [Accessed 6 January 2014]. Teal, F., 2011. The price of labour and understanding the causes of poverty. Labour Economics, 18, pp.7-15. United Nations, 2010. Report on the World Social Situation 2010: Rethinking Poverty. New York: United Nations United Nations. Willis, M.J., 2012. Politics and Power in the Maghreb: Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco from Independence to the Arab Spring. London: C. Hurst Co. World Bank, 2012. World Development Indicators. Washington, DC: World Bank: Development Data Group. World Bank, 2013. Poverty Overview. [Online] Available at: worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview [Accessed 30 December 2013].

Muti media marketing Indiviual Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Muti media marketing Indiviual Report - Essay Example The factors that will be considered for carrying out this report will be based on the internal audit for multimedia marketing, situational analysis (marketing audit) of the multimedia marketing campaign as well as the competitor analysis of the campaign. For conducting internal audit for multimedia marketing, a detailed study about the overall marketing environment about the company will be done and also stress will be laid upon all the marketing activities that the company follow and can follow in the future. Moreover, stress will also be laid upon the other competitive strategies that can be adopted by the company in order to further enhance the online marketing campaigns. In order to design these campaigns, a thorough study about other online marketing campaigns will be studied upon. The report will be primarily based on a poster which has been created to demonstrate a new APP. Rigorous studies about the APP i.e. SHAT will be done and the implications and the uses of the APP will be highlighted. Apart from that the report will be based on the effectiveness of the use of multimedia marketing campaigns in the company and the level upon which these strategies can fetch effective marketing results. It will also highlight about the factors upon which the multimedia marketing campaigns such as the use of poster can be relied upon for promoting a new APP and the comparison of offline marketing campaigns with the online campaigns will be done as well (Westwood, 2010). I. Reasons for Selecting Multimedia Marketing with Situational and Competitor Analysis The main reason a poster campaign has been prepared for Samsung is to incorporate a multimedia marketing approach to build a strong network of information over the internet which will prove to be user friendly for many clients (Shelly & Fermat, 2012). Moreover, the poster campaign has been desired to expand the company’s marketing operations by actively involving in building virtual marketing campaigns as it i s in high demand in the marketplace in today’s marketing environment. Samsung, being one of the top-most mobile companies required to make certain radical technological changes in order to equip itself with the ever-changing business environment. In order to conduct the situational analysis, the stress is laid upon the overall business environment of the company, the business process that the company is following, and the overall business situation of the company i.e. Samsung. It is found that Samsung as a company is undergoing its business operations in a very dynamic business environment. Samsung has cemented itself as a top company for consumer electronics products. It is considered as one of the topmost mobile phone brands in the whole world. Based on the situational analysis of the company, it stands as a major player in the mobile world and the company is continuously striving to improve its product features and launching new and successful devices, for instance, Samsun g Galaxy series (Clarke, 2005). The market standing of the company is excellent and it is continuously striving for further development. Also, the company is co

Comparing genres Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comparing genres - Essay Example Knives, guns, chainsaws, physical violence is extreme in nature and is frequently used in horror movies. On the other hand, action movies are packed more with body blows and gun fire. Violence is relatively less intense in action movies. Karate and Ju-Jitsu are often used by the protagonist to paralyze the enemy. Movies like ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Bad Company’ suffice this notion as the protagonists in both movies use guns and their own bodily actions to neutralize the opponent. One thing is evident that the protagonist (the good guy) in action movies is never brutal; he never kills an innocent person and generally avoids bloodshed. Sex scenes are quite similar in both horror and action genres. In action movies, the protagonists are usually found making out with attractive females, movies like the ‘A-Team’ and ‘Lethal Weapon Series’ are good examples. In horror movies, usually a couple is shown engaged in sexual activity and the monster or the evil creature enters the room and starts killing people. Most probably the idea is to stir the emotional extremities of the audience by first engaging them in a relax mode by showing seductive erotic scenes and then shocking them by showing blood and gore. ‘Friday the 13th’ and ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ are known for such cinematic strategies. Racism is present in both genres but horror movies show a more disgusting way of spewing this issue. Movies, like ‘Scream’, ‘Cloverfield’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ show very degrading aspects of racism by nearly humiliating black community. Action movies in comparison are packed more with sophistication therefore the racism is also portrayed very intelligently. ‘Lethal Weapon Series’ shows a clumsy cop following the orders of a smart white police officer. Moreover in the movie ‘Training Day’, the black police officer is portrayed as the criminal who

The French Revolution in Paris in the Year 1789 Research Paper

The French Revolution in Paris in the Year 1789 - Research Paper Example This is the capital city of France and it experienced a number of events in the year 1789 that saw its revolution. This was the Renaissance or period of discovery all over the world and Paris is one city that experienced the Renaissance first hand. This paper will discuss various events, their causes and consequences in Paris in the year 1789, most specifically the French Revolution. The Renaissance is one of the most interesting and disputed periods of European History. Many scholars consider it as a period with its own unique characteristics. It was a historical era with a lot of discovery made on literature, politics, art, religion, social life and music. The renaissance period is also known as the period of rebirth because aspects such as learning, literature and arts were reborn after a long dark period where they had almost been forgotten. There had been long years of cultural darkness since most of the learning and culture of the ancient time had been forgotten. It is during t his period of rebirth that led to the French Revolution in Paris city of France in the year 1789. In Paris, the French Revolution was also called the Revolution of 1789. During this time the people of Paris were being driven by three ideologies, liberty, equality and brotherhood (Kent 1). These are the goals that the citizens as well as leaders of Paris wanted to promote but this could still not promote the gruesome Reign of Terror which lead to a number of losses of lives. The French Revolution started as a result of the economic crisis that France was facing after having supported the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783 (Wilde 1). The financial crisis led to an increase cost of living with the burden being felt majorly by the peasants and bourgeois who were the main tax payers. As a result there was the big question of who should solve the situation, the clergy, nobility or the common people? (Kent 1). There was another question of why all these groups should not be treated equally in terms of payment of taxes. With these questions, the people wondered if they were all equal, why was there a king to govern them. Thus, the French Revolution was a result of economic and social problems; people were tired of the monarchy and wanted a change. As a result of all these problems, The Estates-General met at Versailles on May 5, 1789 and they were divided over a fundamental issue on whether they should vote by head giving advantage to the Third State or by estate whereby the two privileged orders might outvote the third, the Commons (Cody 1). Thus, the bitter struggle on this legal issue drove deputies of the Third State to declare themselves the National Assembly in June 17, 1789, and threatened to proceed without the other two orders, Clergy and Nobility (Cody 1). The King Louis XVI was not pleased and locked the Commons out of his meetings; however, they stayed around his Tennis Court advocating for a written constitution on June 20th 1789 (Wilde 1). On July 10 the National Assembly was renamed the National Constituent Assembly by the third estate, meaning that it was an assembly for ‘the people’ as opposed to what it was earlier as an assembly of the Estate (Wilde 1). This would ensure that the needs of the common citizens were looked into in contrast with the earlier situation where only the high class citizens, nobility and clergy, got their needs while the commoners suffered. The height of the

Analysis of Construction Company, India

Analysis of Construction Company, India Annual Report Analysis of  Hindustan Construction Company Limited Tejas Vaidya Construction Sector Analysis: Construction in India has become a key contributor to the economy of India in the recent years. It ranks 2nd in employment and contribution to the economy only after the agriculture sector. This sector also ranks 2nd when it comes to FDI inflows. However the last three years have been a challenging period for this sector. This sector has now come into the forefront with the ‘Make in India’ campaign being driven actively by the Prime Minister of India. Key aspects of the sector are as follows: The Indian Construction is valued at about USD 126million and projected to grow to USD 140million by 2017. The Construction industry contributes about roughly 10% to the GDP, a contribution of Rs. 6708 billion in the year ending March 2013. 50% of the construction industry demand comes from infrastructure and the rest comes from industrial activity, railways, residential and commercial development combined. Being a labour intensive sector, it employs 3.5crore people including direct and indirect jobs. The government has highlighted infrastructure as a key sector to turn around and sustain the momentum of GDP growth that had slowed down in the last 3 years. This industry is skewed in terms of major players; there are a handful of companies from both public and private sector. The public sector players are: IRCON, NBCC, RITES and EIL. The major private sector players are: LT, HCC, MN Dastur Co and Ansals. There is immense scope for development in this sector and it is seen as a booming sector, primarily due to the following reasons: The estimated shortage for housing in urban India is 18.8million units whilst that in rural India is 47.4million units. The current standards of infrastructure are unable to sustain the growing population and there is hence a dire need for re-generation and renovation to meet demands in urban areas. The Government of India has released a new urban development campaign that will help develop 100 ‘smart cities’ across India. Cities will be supported to gain investments from private capital and make effective use of PPP model to strengthen their infrastructure and services. 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) is permitted in construction and infrastructure development projects. Apart from this, a high degree of recent regulatory advancements have been seen in this sector which include the following: Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission The National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy, 2007 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) Infrastructure Investment Real Estate Regulation Development Bill, 2013 Model State Affordable Housing Policy for Urban Areas, 2013: About HCC: Hidustan Construction Company was established in 1926 by Seth Walchand Hirachand Doshi. It is an integrated group that operates in the areas of construction, infrastructure development and real estate. Being one of the largest private sector construction companies in India, it has been involved in projects ranging from highways and bridges to hydel-power projects to nuclear facilities.HCC’s standalone turnover stands at Rs. 4,113.5 crore and net profit stands at Rs. 80.6 crore, after reporting losses for the last two years. Financial Report Analysis HCC has a multitude of ongoing, new and completed projects in this year across various states in India and also in Bhutan. A total of 202 projects are listed. The state wise spread of the projects is as follows: Chairman’s Address to Shareholders The chairman starts by highlighting the terrible state of the economy, of governance and of the infrastructure sector over the last two years. However he shares a spirit of optimism over the formations of the stable NDA government. He states that the GDP growth has been languishing at the sub 5% levels this year 2013-14. As a result the construction sector is also badly hit. Overall, HCC works in a discreditable framework in India since the sector that is most affected by economic slowdown is infrastructure. The chairman, Ajit Gulabchand lists the problems endemic to the construction industry and they are: Environmental clearances to new infrastructure projects Lack of effective decision making Non-payment of claims by government public sector clients The chairman also highlights the performance of HCC as a standalone company which has been impressive amidst turbulent economic conditions. Turnover has increased 7.2% to Rs. 4113cr and has seen an increase for 67% to 640.7cr. The company has been successful in driving down costs. A key project Lavasa is back on track and taken up by Steiner AG, a wholly owned subsidiary which has remained profitable since the last 3 years. The chairman ends with sharing his optimism with respect to a stable BJP-led NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Management Discussion Analysis In this section various aspects of the business and business environment of HCC, both internal and external is discussed. The macro economic review The performance of the economy coming into the year 2013-14 is analysed. Chart A highlights the GDP growth rate in the 5 preceding years. Chart B highlights the growth of the construction sector. It is observed that current account deficit as a ratio to GDP has narrowed significantly and there as also been an increase in foreign inflows. India’s Infrastructure Sector   The current situation of the infrastructure sector is analysed. It is observed that the sector faces several challenges in spite of long term demand being consistent. The lethargic decision making of the old government has negatively affected the sector. Infrastructure financing need to improve significantly by dealing effectively with internal and external factors. Delays are also observed on 15-20% projects along with rise in number of projects without commissioning date. HCC- Key developments Traditional focus on transportation, power and water supplies has continued. Areas like industrial construction projects, complete engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) have been explored. The improvements implemented in efficiency of project operations, inventory management, structure of the organisation and liquidation of receivables have been noteworthy. The company has also undertaken re-evaluation projects to expedite slow-moving financially challenging projects. Performance Highlights   The company has been successful in maintaining its top line at par with 2012-13 amidst adverse economic, financial regulatory environment primarily due to its thrust on cost control. Revenue from operations stands at Rs. 4113cr up 7.2% while EBIDTA stands at Rs. 641cr up by 64.1%. The company has also successfully paid of its dues from the Corporate Debt Restructuring package availed last year. Investee Companies Includes HCC’s portfolio of business through subsidiaries: Infrastructure: focuses on investment and asset creation through PPPs. During 2013-14, the business focused on executing existing projects and raising capital. Real Estate: The focus area of this business has been the development of complete integrated townships. Total Service Contractor: An extension of engineering construction division driven primarily by Swiss acquisition Steiner AG. IT: Expansion into IT done with Highbar Technologies. Engineering Construction Division   This division is distributed across power, transport, water and industrial sectors. Transport: Two major contracts were won viz. tunnel T49 in Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla railway line and RCC Bridge over river Sone in Bihar. In addition progress is satisfactory on Delhi metro projects won earlier. Power: This sector has been affected in terms of new undertakings however projects under execution performed well. This includes Hydro and Nuclear Power projects. Water Supply Irrigation: The company has completed water supply projects in Gujarat. New contracts secured at Yettinahole, Karnataka as well as in Pune. Industrial: Includes civil and fabrication contracts in Hindalco-Orrissa, Reliance-Jamnagar, ISPRL-Visakhapatanam and Padur, Karnataka. Marine Works: A contract for reconstruction of a dry dock and wharves is progressing satisfactorily in Mumbai. Infrastructure Division   HCC’s infrastructure business was handled by its wholly owned subsidiary HCC Infra. Projects were majorly developed either on PPP or on DFBOT mode. The company’s entire portfolio comprises NHAI highways with concession periods ranging from 18 years to 30 years. The asset portfolio of HCC is mature which it plans to monetise to raise capital. The asset portfolio is also briefly touched upon. Real Estate Division The real estate division is further divided into two businesses, Lavasa and commercial real estate. Having received environmental clearances, 2013-14 saw the development at Lavasa go into the next phase. A restructuring meant all employees involved in construction were shifted to Steiner India and Lavasa remained a pure developer. Focus has been on collection and salesat Dasve and Mugaon. Dasve in ready withal operational basic infrastructure. Work on infrastructure and utilities development of the second town Mugaon has gathered pace. Gadle Dam, built to supply water for the construction of Lavasa neared 90% completion. Commercial real estate has also seen satisfactory progress with the work on 247 Business Square and 247 Business Avenue, Vikhroli Corporate Park Phase II and Mean Township Developers projects progressing. The company also won bids for Parleshwar CHS, Mumbai and Charosa Wineries. Steiner AG   HCC acquired the remaining 34% stake in the Swiss company which makes Steiner AG a 100% owned subsidiary. Profit level has been maintained as last year at CHF 8.2million. Key undertakings of the company post acquisitions are described. Steiner launched its new corporate identity and design in September 2013. The brand essence ‘Taking the lead together’ which is being implemented on all channels. Highbar Technologies Focus has been on IT implementation from point of view of business transformation, rather than just technology implementation. 14 new customer added to make the count of customers 78. Multiple awards have been won. Expertise developed in areas of ERP, business intelligence and CRM. Operations Support   The operations of the different divisions are supported by Management Systems, Intellectual Property Rights, Branding and Human Resources. Integrated Management System (IMS) adopted based on standards based on standards stipulated by ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 to streamline processes. Re-certification audit for ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001:2004 and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 conducted to confirm compliance. HCC continued to create and protect intellectual property through multiple mediums. On the branding front, HCC continued with it brand enhancement initiatives in both external and internal mediums. Brand value was enhanced by standardised brand practices and delivery of big and complex infrastructure. Awards won by HCC During the year the company won CIDC Vishwakarma Award 2014 for Best Project for Pir Panjal Tunnel, Dun Bradstreet Award for ‘Social Impact’ project of the year 2013 for Nimoo Bazgo Hydel Power Project and Construction Week Award. Human Resources Substantial improvement initiatives like annual turnover per employee, upper ceiling on indirect/ preliminary expenses at the sites and Head Office cost being limited to a percentage of turnover were undertaken. The organisation structure, work and people allocation was re-calibrated to further improve efficiency and focus on various business areas. The company is also working towards implementing performance-oriented culture. Financial Review   In this section the abridged profit and loss accounts have been illustrated. Key financial aspects have been highlighted along with key financial ratio. A detailed analysis of the financials has been included in the later part of this report. References: Annual Report AY 2013-14 –  http://www.hccindia.com/pdf/HCC_Annual_Report_FY2013_14.pdf http://makeinindia.com/sector/construction/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_industry_of_India https://www.equitymaster.com/research-it/sector-info/construction/Construction-Sector-Analysis-Report.asp http://www.indiainfrastructure.com/reportpdf/research_catalogue.pdf K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research Page | 1

Being Caucasian at the Brown versus Board Art Exhibit :: Race Racial Segregation

NARRATIVE: running out of white things to wear First and foremost- it was empty. In two years this was my first time to the Krannert Art Museum. I don’t know quite how this could be, because I’m an art student. But the building is on the complete opposite end of the city from both where I live and where my classes are, so I can’t fault others for not traversing here on occasion. I walk into the Brown vs. Board of Education exhibit, and I see no one. The only people there were my friend Diane and myself, both of us are Caucasian. There was silence. Except for my dubious observation that it was indeed the display we were looking for. If the large black on white lettering describing the exhibit wasn’t enough, the black and white photography would alone have been a dead give away. I couldn’t help but think: ‘how clichà ©.’ There were a series of maybe six photos of two women: one white, the other black. The series showed them in confrontation over a chair. Who had the seat, or â€Å"power† so to speak. It wasn’t a terribly innovative piece in my mind. How many times have we seen the struggle between the two races in varying artistic genres? It was very straightforward and too simplistic for my tastes. The message was very blatant and clear, though, that the struggle between whites and blacks is indeed far from over. Turning around, I saw white dinner plates on podiums in the center of this first room. Each plate has a different inscription printed on its face. The texts mostly commemorate different individuals for their contributions to the civil rights movement. I’d have to say that this was an interesting portion of the exhibit. But I only think so looking back. At the time they were just nice shiny plates with some notable individuals names written on them. Now it seems like they have more significance. Like since they seem carefully and finely crafted it gives them more symbolic merit. Plates are common in ancient art exhibits, but they are a rarity in contemporary displays. It seems like a tactic in creating something that will be around for centuries and not be forgotten. The entrance to the second room is a striking surge of color.

Unequal Resources

What do we mean by hierarchy? Hierarchy is system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. 2. What do we mean by high-status people? High-status people could mean people with money that have power or people like celebrities that have power in Hollywood. 3. What do we mean by low-status people? Low-status people could be people don't know much about what is going on or don't have much say in anything that is going on around them. How do you define persuasion? Persuasion is the action or fact of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or believe something. 5. What is the difference between persuasion and dominance? Persuasion is convincing someone to believe in something and dominance is like someone making others going along with what they believe In. 6. How does Social Dominance Theory compare to Charles Darning's theory of survival of the fittest?Survival of the fittest is all about the strongest/ smartest pers on serves as for the social dominance theory Is a theory of Intercrop relations that focuses on the maintenance and stability of group-based social hierarchies. Ranking Vases of Power Exercise on Page 217 Least effective = 1 Most effective = 6 2 3 6 Deliver positive/remove negative consequences. Mete out negative or remove positive consequences. Have a high position In the group. Model behavioral and personnel qualities that others respect. 5 Possess expertise. Possesses resources or Information. 4 P. S.Sorry I lost my paper but all the questions are answered and they are all there. Unequal Resources By synonymously 1. What do we mean by hierarchy? Someone making others going along with what they believe in. 6. How does Social Survival of the fittest is all about the strongest/ smartest person services as for the social dominance theory is a theory of intercrop relations that focuses on the Deliver positive/remove negative consequences. Have a high position in the group. Model behav ioral and personnel qualities that others respect. Possesses resources or information.

The Life of an Average College essays

The Life of an Average College essays The Life of a Average College Student In college life, there are many things that are involved in being either a successful or unsuccessful student. Some of the factors that influence either positive or negative progress are things like girlfriends, friends, beer, hard alcohol, partying and sleep. Although there are a lot of influences on schoolwork, partying and alcohol have the greatest impact on a person's academics achievement. To be a successful student in college today, a students not only has to go to class, but has to spend a majority of their time working on their studies. They have to sacrifice some time to get the work done. Its simple to say that the more time you put in the better you'll do. That's the difference between being an "A" student and a "B" student. It is simply something that is needed in order to get those grades everyone is trying to get. It's also something that everyone won't be able to obtain. Being an unsuccessful student on the other hand is something I think everyone can do easily. Who can't be a bad a student? Being a bad student has things that go along with it just like being a good student. There are things that influence how the student is doing. Some of these things include laziness, drinking, and girls. Laziness is something the majority of college kids take part in. I bet eight out of ten students would prefer to sleep in and skip school. That is exactly what happens and is a determinant of getting poor grades. Like sleeping and drinking, I know is a part of a poor college student's life. I would have to say on average that nine out of ten students take part in drinking during their college years. This is a very easy way to get side tracked in school, and also a good reason to miss classes, cause we all know how those hangovers are. Girlfriends are a great thing to have they, can either make or break a student. A person can either have a girl that will b ...

Illustrate the concepts of pluralism and corporatism Essays

Illustrate the concepts of pluralism and corporatism Essays Illustrate the concepts of pluralism and corporatism Essay Illustrate the concepts of pluralism and corporatism Essay An Illustration the constructs of pluralism’ and corporatism’ by using them to two suitably selected West European States The constructs of pluralism and corporatism occupy two of the opposite terminals of the Western European democratic spectrum. While one seeks to increase the range of parliamentary democracy in the post?industrial age, the other strives to cut down the capacity for enhanced engagement in democracies by bowing to the caprice of the economic market instead than the will of the bulk of the people. Surely, the statement about which manner of democracy ( corporatism or pluralism ) is the correct’ method for partitioning political power in the 20 first century, is non dead. Though corporatism can non deny its links with the European experiment of fascism during the 1920’s and the 1930’s ( in peculiar the economic fascism’ as practised by Mussolini’s Italy ) and though pluralism has likewise organic theoretical ties to socialism, both remain in grounds in European Union provinces today, although no longer in the totalitarian signifier that characterised th eir embodiments during the first half of the 20th century. For the intent of comparing, two states have been selected for analysis as illustrations of pluralism and corporatism. These states are the United Kingdom and Austria and – needfully – the text herein will be split into two to compare the states while besides dovetailing at times in order to underline the similarities between the democracies of Britain and Austria. First, nevertheless, a definition of the constructs of pluralism and corporatism must be ascertained so as to set up a fixed conceptual model. Pluralism Pluralism is a wide, far making term that can be interpreted in a assortment of different ways and that besides goes under a figure of assumed names. Rationality’ , representative government’ , majority rule’ , republicanism’ , populism’ and the will of the people’ ( as termed by Rousseau and the libertarian doctrine of the Gallic Revolution ) have all been used to depict the ideological drift behind pluralism and all of these by and large left-of-center constructs are interconnected. What is certain is that pluralism is an ideological agencies to a political terminal that would procure the most democratised vision of authorities possible, encouraging diverseness in multicultural Western populations via the encouragement of unfastened argument on any figure of societal, political, cultural and economic jussive moods. There are bounds to pluralism. It is of import, for case, to observe the cardinal difference between consentaneous regulation a nd political consensus ( which characterises pluralist idea ) . Consensus represents a looser restraint than unanimity, more unfastened to conventions about developing a sense of the meeting’ and leting more room to burden differentially parts to debate that differ in quality. [ 1 ] Corporatism Corporatism is the diametral antonym of pluralism in so far as it envisages political policy as the merchandise of the argument of the few’ instead than the many’ with the minority in this case represented by large concern, industrial capital and economic trusts. Corporatism is linked to the right wing of political sentiment in western idea, which is per se distrustful of the liberty of political power as promulgated by pluralism mentioning the ill-famed tyranny of the majority’ as a counterweight to claims that corporatism is simply a facade for totalitarian visions of neo?fascism. Therefore, the main split between pluralist and corporatist political orientations is located within their differing reading of the impression of the province. The corporate province is a state-with-a-purpose. It has moved beyond its traditional functions of maintaining the peace, keeping the currency, diplomatic negotiations and defense mechanism. In add-on, it offers management solutions’ to the electorate, which requires more and more money and power to transport them out. [ 2 ] The United Kingdom: A Pluralist State As the oldest lasting experiment with parliamentary democracy in Western Europe, Britain is the best illustration of a pluralist province in action. Pluralism in the UK is chiefly meted out in the tremendous power wielded by interest’ or pressure’ groups a cardinal symptom of pluralism in pattern. This has by and large proved to be a fruitful historical matrimony between representative organic structures and the policy?making cabal of the authorities with the famously secular composing of the UK ( integrating an increasing rhythm of devolved and decentralized authorities ) cited as a aglow illustration of the victory of pluralist political relations. Westminster has a deep?rooted tradition of paying attentiveness to coerce groups with non?governmental administrations ( NGO’s ) stand foring any figure of people on a assortment of socio?political issues from anti?smoking conferences toFathers for Justice. Yet while it is true that involvement groups permit non?politicised constitutions to take part more to the full in the parliamentary democracy, there is besides turning concern that they stifle every bit much as trigger societal alteration by subjecting the necessary development of post?modern society to unneeded cheques and balances. The United Kingdom is frequently cited as an utmost illustration of the power of groups in forestalling necessary alteration in society. [ 3 ] Furthermore, the application of force per unit area groups in the mainstream political domain does nil to extinguish the influence of large concern, the pulse of corporatism. Rather ; empirically, it would look to be true that concern groups exceed other types numerically. [ 4 ] The recent debut of 20 four hr imbibing high spots the on-going primacy of the corporate anteroom in inciting domestic policy in Britain. Oesterreichs: A Case Study in Corporatism. Austria has a long association with corporatism in domestic political personal businesss. Detractors attempt to worsen the nexus between the Austrian experiences of National Socialism with the go oning trust upon corporate sentiment in explicating policy. However, the trust upon corporatism is every bit much a residue of its geopolitical state of affairs ( close to the boundary line of the former Communist iron curtain’ that split Europe in two ) as it is due to a national disposition to autocratic political relations. Corporatism has been manifested in Austria by the laterality of concern over representative organic structures such as trade brotherhoods for the supposed greater corporate good of the state. In this manner, corporatism was translated into the corporate province that sought to protect Austria’s natural material interests [ 5 ] against both of the neighbouring East and West axis. However, the restrictions of corporatism in Austria have been greatly accentuated in the past 20 old ages as a radically changing societal and demographic composing of the state has fostered an increasing dependance upon parliament and the pluralism of party political relations. The private and public cabals have in fact moved closer to a brotherhood than an uneasy armistice or confederation as was frequently the instance in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Furthermore, the historical merger of corporate concern, labor and authorities has paved the manner for the modern-day Austrian theoretical account of the political third way’ – a via media between capitalist economy and the organic structure politic that seeks to heighten the chance for political engagement for all. This is the same ideal of the third way’ of political relations as championed by New Labour. Thus, in the terminal, corporatism in Austria has been forced to bow to the primacy of pluralism in post?industrial political theory. Decision Sophisticated modern-day democracies can non boom via attachment to merely one paradigm of democratic political sentiment. For illustration, the gradual eroding of province boundaries has lessened the influence of corporatism in Austria while the worlds of the planetary economic market render pluralism in the UK as much a slave to large concern as any other portion of the public political domain. This convergence of theory in Western European states has proved to be the accelerator behind the mention to the terminal of history and the last man [ 6 ] ( Francis Fukuyama ) whereby domestic party political relations is reduced to little more than a autotype of the dominant democratic ethos of neo?liberalism and the grim rise of planetary free market capitalist economy. Mentions Birch, A.H. ( 2001 )Concepts and Theories of Modern Democracy: Second EditionLondon: Routledge Buchanan, J.M. and Congleton, R.D. ( 1998 )Politicss by Principle, non by InterestCambridge: Cambridge University Press Crepaz, M.M.L. ( October 1994 )From Semi?sovereignty to Sovereignty: The Decline of Corporatism and Rise of Parliament in Austria, in,Journal of Comparative Politics, Volume 27, Number 1 Fukuyama, F. ( 1993 )The End of History and the Last ManLondon and New York: Penguin Jordan, A.G. and Richardson, J.J. ( 1987 )Government and Pressure Groups in BritainOxford: Clarendon Katzenstein, P.J. ( 1987 )Corporatism and Change: Austria, Switzerland and the Politicss of IndustryNew York: Cornell University Press Loughlin, J. ( 2004 )Subnational Democracy in the European Union: Challenges and OpportunitiesOxford: Oxford University Press Mosley, I. ( 2003 )Democracy, Fascism and the New World OrderLondon: Imprint Academic Richardson, H.S. ( 2002 )Democratic Autonomy: Public Reasoning About the Ends of PolicyOxford: Oxford University Press Wootton, G. ( 1970 )Interest GroupsEnglewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall

Change Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Change Experience - Essay Example People are always ready to resist change as an effort to retain their well-known methods of operations. Resistance to change was the main challenge of the new information system in the pharmaceutical marketing. People offered both intentional and unintentional resistance to the new operating system in their operations. Intentional resistance involved avoiding using the system intentionally. This meant that people adopted the traditional method to obtain information about a certain product. In such cases, people were fully aware of the benefits of using the new system but they opted to bypass it. In the unintentional resistance, people developed a negative attitude toward the new system. The negative attitude was developed from consideration of the cost and the efficiency of the new system. Although the conventional method of prescription is efficient and fast it lacks accuracy. The new system, on the other hand, enhances accuracy but it is time-consuming and hence inefficient (Rokeac h, 1973). Learning new ideas is always a challenge to many people and, this had an effect on the new system. Although the system is user-friendly, most people working with the system were incompetent and, this contributed to their resistance. Having been trained using the traditional operation system meant that the new system was a challenge to both my career and industrial operation. Throughout our training, we had been taught how to have as much information as possible concerning a certain pharmaceutical product.... Learning new ideas is always a challenge to many people and, this had an effect with the new system. Although the system is user friendly, most people working with the system were incompetent and, this contributed to their resistance. Having been trained using the traditional operation system meant that the new system was a challenge to both my career and industrial operation. Throughout our training, we had been taught how to have as much information as possible concerning a certain pharmaceutical product (Borkowski, 2005). This meant that we had used all our resources, time learning, and memorizing information about pharmaceutical product. When I first encountered the new information system, I felt betrayed. This is because I considered my education system as a waste of time and resources. I considered the new system as nullification of our education and experience in the pharmaceutical industry. I also felt betrayed since any ordinary person could use the new information system to perform a similar task as that performed by a trained pharmacist. Revolutions resulting from adopting technology in various firms and industry are inevitable. This indicates that learning or adopting new technology is the best method of enhancing sustainability in the modern business world (Funigiello, 2005). This awareness challenged me to learn how to use the new information system. Despite the challenges and feelings of betrayal, I had to learn how to use the new information system in order to save my profession. Learning how to use the system involved substituting my ordinary knowledge about prescription with the working of the new system. The second action involved

PICOT research question created and abstracts to support Assignment

PICOT research question created and abstracts to support - Assignment Example RESULTS: Baseline and six-month quality of life measures did not correlate with recorded arrhythmias. However, perceptions of diminished general health correlated significantly with symptoms of exercise intolerance, lightheadedness/dizziness, palpitations and chest pain/pressure. By multivariable logistic regression, more severe perceived episodes, symptoms of exercise intolerance and lightheadedness/dizziness were independently associated with diminished quality of life. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings of this study indicate that symptomatic  heart failure  patients suffer from poor quality of life and that interventions are needed to improve quality of life and decrease symptom severity. Nurses who care for  heart failure  patients play an essential role in symptom evaluation and management and could significantly improve overall quality of life in these patients by carefully evaluating symptomatology and testing interventions and educational programmes aimed at improving quality of life (Hickey, et al., 2102). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 318 patients with chronic systolic HF recruited in 48 German primary care practices, we evaluated the patient-reported European HF Self-care  Behaviour  scale (EHFScBs) assessments (range 12-60, where lower scores indicate better self-care). Potential determinants included socio-demographic (e.g. age, living status), clinical (e.g. NYHA class, LVEF, NT-proBNP levels, co-morbidities), behavioural (e.g. smoking and alcohol intake), psychosocial (SF-36 scales and KCCQ domains, e.g. quality of life and self-efficacy) and  depression  status (PHQ-D), plus previous health care utilisation. Mixed regression modelling was applied. RESULTS: Patients had a mean (SD) age of 69.0 (10.4) years and were 71% male. They had a good overall EHFScBs score of 24.7 (7.8) (n=274). In the final regression model (n=271), six determinants were retained (ÃŽ ²; descriptive p-value):