Secret Essays - The Secret Sharer, Joseph Conrad, Secret Sharer

Secret Sharer By Joseph Conrad "The Secret Sharer" by Joseph Conrad is a story of deep mysterious thought. The main character is a young captain who becomes aware that he does not yet know his ship, or his crew, or, indeed, himself. His character is one of complicated emotion and deep inner struggle. It's emphasis on the "double" (or alter ego) portrays the bond between an innocent person and one who is technically a criminal and reveals how easily the fates of each are interchangeable. Conrad has a unique style on which his specific diction and somewhat advanced vocabulary, coupled with complex sentence structure and plot development, hold the potential to confuse and frustrate the average reader. Conrad attempts to engage their minds and create original thought. In depth description is also very characteristic of Conrad's style and is found throughout "The Secret Sharer." Because of his stylistic writing, some readers may find themselves lost in his description and loose the story line in the process. It is, however, these ornate descriptions that Conrad uses to present his underlying meaning of his story. His character development is also somewhat established through this. There is a recurring theme to "The Secret Sharer." Alienation and repression of inner urges are the dominating themes. One can almost believe the young captain is so filled with uncertainty of himself that he manufactures a self-analytical double to help him find his way. From the beginning of the story Conrad begins to use symbolism. The first four paragraphs that set the place and time also include the first usage of symbolism. In the first paragraph Conrad describes the setting of the story and in doing so subtly lets it be known that the captain is feeling alone and different from the rest of his crew. For example, ".... For there was no sign of human habitation as far as the eye could reach." "To the left a group of barren islets...had its foundations set in a blue sea that itself looked solid, so still and stable did it lie below my feet." In these words Conrad could be saying how the captain feels that the sea is his only solid foundation in life, his stronghold and the one thing that is stable in his life. Through the description of the vast sea and open air Conrad portrays a man who feels alienated and insignificant. Repetition of the use of the word alone and metaphors of things and situations that cause loneliness are used throughout the entire introduction. The secret sharer of the captain's boat is an escaped murderer by the name of "Legatt." Legatt is physically and psychologically identical to the captain. Whether or not Legatt is real is something that will be debated by scholars for years to come. Did the captain simply create this other self to rid him of his loneliness? Was Legatt a way for him to express his inner urges to sin and rebel against society? If so then how do we explain the skipper of the ship "Sephora" looking for him? These are all legitimate questions that really only Conrad would know the answers to. They do, however, give us a basis for further discussion of symbolism in this story. One way to explore the symbolism of the story is through the sleeping suit that Conrad repeatedly refers to. When Conrad brings Legatt into the story he uses words that imply a fantasy or mystical world. For example, "the darkling glassy shimmer of the sea", "a faint flash of phosphorescent light... flickered in the sleeping water with the elusive, silent play of summer lightning in a night sky.", "his face, a dimly pale oval in the shadow of the ship's side." and "he appeared ghastly, silvery, fishlike." All of these passages strongly suggest the presence of a fairy tale like atmosphere. The illusions to light, shimmers of the water, and the references to Legatt being a "shadow of the ship's side" and "ghastly" imply that Legatt could very well be a figment of the captains imagination. He could have been developed in the captain's subconscious as a real person who ended up succeeding in providing companionship and living out the other "self" inside the captain. Legatt is exactly like the captain in all respects except for the fact that he is also the part of him that the captain has always repressed and hidden even from himself. He is the part that we all hide deep inside us. The part of us that wants to go against the grain and do

CanGo’s Issues and Recommendation Essay Example

CanGo’s Issues and Recommendation Essay Example CanGo’s Issues and Recommendation Essay CanGo’s Issues and Recommendation Essay CanGo’s Issues and Recommendation Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: CanGo’s Issues and Recommendation 1. Can Go should write an effective mission statement or a value statement. This promotes the business in providing it with direction and a strategic vision. The statement should be revised every five or so years to give it a push forward and to make new goals and objectives. The Goals and objectives should be the company’s guiding feature in formulating the mission statement. This can be done by first listing down the firm’s core and unique strengths and weaknesses. The type of the company’s primary customers, both internal and external, should then be listed. A review of how the customers relate to the firm’s strengths should then be done. After this, a short description of the findings should then be written. This should encompass what the customer is interested in the company for, how he is satisfied and if he acknowledges the company for his satisfaction. The customer-strength pairing outcomes that are similar should then be combined and the outcomes should be listed in their order of relevance to the firm. After this is done, the top three to five statements should be combined into a paragraph. This should be done by listing in order the most relevant to the least relevant statements to the firm and then taking the top five. The paragraph shall become the new company mission statement and consultations could be done with the customers to confirm if they would want to conduct business with a company with that mission. Employees of the firm should also be brought in the loop and they should be able to understand, support and act on the statement. If Can Go Company does this it shall have a good mission and vision statement. 2. The Can Go Company should also develop a good strategic management process. Since the manager or proprietor of the company has an idea of what they want their strategy to be they should document the strategy and document it. From here the strategy should be translated into actionable terms. After this a business plan should be created. The plan should state the strategies of the firm and the actions the firm plans to carry out to achieve the strategies. Objectives, aggressive but attainable targets, actionable metrics and initiatives to boost performance should then be identified and included in the plan. A performance score sheet should then be developed. This should be accompanied by a process that enables the deliberations on progress in comparison to the strategy. This should be implemented in all sections and departments of the company. This should then be reviewed periodically, preferably after every month. Incentives and rewards should then be linked to the strategy of the company. This ensures that the desired behaviors are maintained and a competitive attitude towards performance is achieved. Budgets and investments should then be linked to the strategy. This enables the strategy to achieve completeness. This is because it is supported by the economic resources of the firm. With the budget and the capital investments of the firm supporting the strategy, it is placed as the most important part of the company, which it should as it leads to the success of the company. The Can Go Company should implement these steps in order. This should make their company change and use a lot of its resources but the benefits of this are long te rm and will be enjoyed many years to come.

Best Podcasts for Law Students

Best Podcasts for Law Students Blogs can be helpful for new law students, but many people enjoy listening to podcasts as well. Podcasts can be a great way to get information and give your very tired eyes a break from reading online. To help you update your podcast subscriptions, here is a list of some of the best podcasts for law students. Best Law Podcasts Enchanting Lawyer Podcast: This podcast is hosted by Jacob Sapochnick who runs his own solo practice and focuses on helping lawyers understand how to run and grow a business. Tips will be shared for using social media to grow your business and general marketing tips. Gen Why Lawyer Podcast: This weekly podcast is hosted by Nicole Abboud who interviews Gen Y attorneys who are accomplishing great things in their legal careers. She also talks to non-practicing attorneys who are using their legal knowledge to explore other ventures. Law School Toolbox Podcast: The Law School Toolbox podcast is an engaging show for law students about law school, the bar exam, legal careers, and life. Your hosts Alison Monahan and Lee Burgess offer practical tips and advice on academic matters, careers, and more. You might not always agree with them, but you won’t be bored listening. The goal is to impart useful, actionable advice in an entertaining manner. Lawpreneur Radio: This podcast is hosted by  Miranda McCroskey  who hung out her shingle over ten years ago to found her own firm. Her goal is to create a community where members are both lawpreneurs who’ve figured out how to successfully start their own firm and the vendors who support them. If you are ever thinking of hanging out your own shingle, check this out. Lawyerist Podcast: The  Lawyerist  is a popular legal blog and is also a podcast. In this weekly podcast, the hosts Sam Glover and Aaron Street chat with lawyers and interesting people about innovative business models, legal technology, marketing, ethics, starting a law firm, and much more.​ Legal Toolkit Podcast: This podcast is a  comprehensive resource for professionals in law practice management. Your hosts Heidi Alexander and Jared Correia invite forward-thinking lawyers to discuss the services, ideas, and programs that have improved their practices. Legal Talk Network:  The Legal Talk Network is an online media network for legal professionals that produces a large number of podcasts on a variety of different legal topics. The programs are available on-demand through various channels, including on the Legal Talk Network website, iTunes, and iHeartRadio. The flagship show called  Lawyer 2 Lawyer  has over 500 shows for you to listen to and download. If you are looking for a podcast to fill some extra commute or downtime, this may be the one for you. Resilient Lawyer: This podcast is hosted by Jeena Cho who offers mindfulness training for lawyers and is the author of The Anxious Lawyer. Jeena interviews a number of attorneys who share their stories about practicing law and finding a path to happiness. Thinking Like a Lawyer: This podcast is brought to you by the folks at Above the Law. Your hosts are Elie Mystal and Joe Patrice. They discuss a variety of topics, promising an entertaining and fun listen for those interesting in talking about the world through a legal lens.

Old Elevators Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Old Elevators - Research Proposal Example s old elevators; this proposal is made taking into consideration the potential financial support of the state – especially if eco-friendly technology will be used (see the example of the ECO-Space EB technology supported by KONE, 2010). In the Canada’s economic Action Plan published recently by the government (see the website of the Department of Finance but also the Canada News Centre – government of Canada – where a similar initiative is promoted) it is made clear that a significant amount of money will be invested on the modernization and the update of the federal infrastructure – the University could be included in the specific program. It is proposed that the new elevators are of eco-friendly technology in order to guarantee the financial support of the state in their replacement; at the next level, a detailed project of the tasks required for the completion of this project will be submitted so that all funds necessary will be easily estimated in advance. Through this study the following benefits are expected to result: a) modernization of the University’s infrastructure without having to cover all expenses – since the state is expected to support the project, b) implementation of technology that is more friendly to the environment – this initiative could also urge other institutions and organizations across the country to proceed to a similar project. In order to complete this study, the following questions need to be answered: a) which will be the most appropriate technology for the specific organizational sector, i.e. which elevators would be appropriate for the specific environment – the needs of the University but also the market trends would be taking into consideration for replying to this question, b) which is the average cost of the new elevators – a market research should be developed for replying to this question, c) which would be the financial support of the state – i.e. would the state cover the whole cost or just part of

The Modern Epictetus's Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Modern Epictetus's Philosophy - Essay Example The passage is quite explicit in explaining that when we interpret an event or action by associating it with well-defined adjectives, it expresses certain inhibiting or exhibiting features which provoke a reaction that defines our attitude and perception towards it. According to the passage, death is dreadful. In truth, it is we, who have associated death with being ‘dreadful’ and therefore, whenever we come across death, we react accordingly. That is why the philosopher says that we must understand the more complex nature of conscious and subconscious mind that forms impression which influences our actions and therefore, instead of blaming others, we must try to change our attitude and perception. Various philosophers like Aristotle, Pluto, Hume etc. have espoused philosophies regarding a different aspect of our life’s ideologies and the concept of living a moral and ethical life. The philosophy is part and parcel of every human being and he or she exhibits it th rough the wisdom and individual perspectives towards the various aspect of their daily life. The philosophers through the ages have attempted to explain the sequence of events or happenings around us that directly or indirectly influence our actions and reactions in our daily life. It tries to interpret everything and anything in the wider empirical consideration of our experiences of conscious and unconscious manifestations of our being. It, therefore, can be said that each of us, follow a definite philosophy which guides our actions and our efforts to gain knowledge and accordingly base our judgments of the people or event. Hence it becomes a crucial aspect of our thought processes that link the person or things with the represented verdict that has been pronounced by our mental imagery and once declared as such, we often refuse to change that impression.  Ã‚  

Acupuncture as a nonconventional treatment for chronic neck pain Essay Example for Free

Acupuncture as a nonconventional treatment for chronic neck pain Essay Acupuncture as a nonconventional treatment for chronic neck pain Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   IntroductionNeck pain has been classified as one of the commonest problems among the people. This condition arises from various disorders or it may originate from tissues located at the neck (Hush, et al., (2009).The neck is also known as a cervical spine. The necks structure is characterized by vertebrae which run from the upper torso to the skull’s base. The stability of the spine is associated to ligaments and muscles that run along the vertebrae (National Institutes of Health. (2013). A neck’s main importance is its mobility and the support it accords to the head. It is prone to injuries because it is not offered much protection like the rest of the spine. Injuries normally cause less and restricted mobility and triggers NAIP. Unfortunately neck pain are not accorded seriousness, most people treat the neck pain as temporary. There are unique cases where the symptoms do not go away and hence diagnosis and corresponding treatment is required (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2013).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Researchers (De Loose, V., Burnotte, F., Cagnie, B., Stevens, V., Van Tiggelen, D. (2008). have found out that the pains are caused by several factors such as wear and tear, sprains and abnormalities of the neck tissue. There is evidence of neck pains arising from other pains such as arm or shoulder pains (De loose, 2008). Normally activities such as extreme bends of the neck, falls and vehicle accidents can cause neck injuries. In certain situations damage of the neck can damage the spine causing paralysis. Researchers have also found out that Spondylosis which occurs in people above the age of 40, adds strains to neck joints creating a path for chronic neck pain. But the condition is treatable through both conventional and nonconventional methods.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Researchers and doctors have identified acupuncture as a nonconventional treatment method which is a very effective method for treating chronic neck pains. Researcher (Blosssfeldt, 2004), says that, acupuncture is gaining momentum as a popular nonconventional treatment method for chronic neck pain. He also adds that, the method has been well tolerated and has low risk of adverse effects. (Liang et al, 2008) says that, a combination of both traditional and modern acupuncture technique usually result in a documented and improved neck pain patterns. (Blossfeldt, 2004) adds that acupuncture is widely accepted and it is utilized as a complementary therapy useful in neck pain management originating from cervical spondylitis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Researchers have carried out studies relating to acupuncture systematic review with an aim to find out on acupuncture effectiveness. The studies have found effectiveness evidence as inconclusive (salter et al, 2004). There are studies which have produced results which are positively favoring acupuncture and there are other results which have produced negative findings on the effective of the method (salter et al, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the varying results, this research was developed to find out on the effectiveness of acupuncture method as a non-conventional method in treatment of chronic neck pains in relation to other research findings. In respect to national health statistics and reports, Survey data analysis can be used by medical professionals to measure the pain levels of patients before and after acupuncture treatment. Gathering results from various studies and comparing with the structures of acupuncture and preventive measures of neck pains can help us determine on the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment method. In this literature review the researcher will review on 1) how to establish the viability of acupuncture therapies in the treatment of chronic neck pain; 2) understanding of how sham, shallow and randomized acupuncture therapies are utilized in the treatment of chronic neck pain; 3)provide a conclusive evidence of the success of acupunctu re as an ideal method of relieving pain; 4)establish the effects of the three acupuncture therapies in the treatment of individuals with chronic pain of the neck; 5)offer recommendation of the viability of acupuncture as a treatment option that can be used by people with chronic neck pains. The researcher will also compare the duration of acupuncture treatment with other methods and also the cost associated and risk factors thereof.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   METHODOLOGYTarget PopulationThe research data collected in this study focused on patients suffering from chronic neck pain. The individuals used in the research fell within the age of 21 and 55 years old. Although there are many patients who report about neck pain ailments in different health care facilities across the United States, patients withinthe ages of 21 and 55 years old were ideal for this research study. This was due to the fact that they were easier to track their progress of healing over a longer period of time. Elderly patients over the age of 55 years were not best placed in this research considering the various attributes in the healing processes of such people, which was proven to be relatively lower. Most of the data aboutindividuals with chronic pain of the neck was randomly collected in health care facilities in the State of California, United States. The majority of these patients were diagnosed with chronic neck pain and were put under a special focus while three acupuncture methods of therapies were performed(Witt 2004, p. 99). The study generally involved a thorough investigation of 191 patients in California’s health care. It is important to acknowledge that the various patients were deliberately initiated to acupuncture treatment as their decision to try the alternative medical practice after unsuccessful treatments in the mainstream medical procedures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There were certainly no limitation on the sex of the patients; hence the research involved both male and female patients. Additionally, there was no specified number of male or females in the study, as patients, treatment and progress of treatment of patients was randomly taken. Further, it was assumed that both male and female patients presented similar responses to the different acupuncture therapies performed in the study(Sun et al, 2009, p. 850).The research was not limited by either ethnicity or race, although believed to have different characteristics in regard to various medical procedures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Variables of the studyThe dependent variables in this study included the neck pain as an ailment caused by various aspects such as physical injury and disease or condition among others. The rates of cases involving chronic neck pains during the period of this study were generally unprecedented as the causes of such ailments greatly varied. Chronic neck pain among the patients varied in regard to the specific causes, which in this case included degenerative disc disease, neck injury, neck strain, herniated disc as well as pinched neck(Sun et al, 2009, p. 850). The first step in the treatment procedure involved a thorough diagnosis of common neck infections that caused the chronic pain. The research exploits treatment of such neck pains using acupuncture which falls into three categories including optimized acupuncture, shallow acupuncture and sham acupuncture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research LimitationsThe key limitations were based on neck pain due to common infection like virus infection of the neck and lymph nope swelling, as well as other infections such as tuberculosis of the neck, meningitis, and infection of spine bones around the neck. It was difficult in the study since some of patients did not present themselves on the day of the study. The study also used a large number of patients which was a challenge for the researcher. The different patients involved in this study had chronic neck pains attributed to extremely different causes, which included physical injuries, some rare infections, and virus infections among others(Witt 2004, p. 99). The patients with this problem are generally taken through the three acupuncture therapies, regardless of the cause of their condition(Hush 2004, p. 1533). The fact that all patients are uniformly taken into similar medical procedures without being categorized in relation to their specific cause of chronic neck pain remain as the greatest limiting attribute of this research. Additionally, time was a limiting factor since the time allowed for the research was not enough to efficiently tackle critically the objectives of the study.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research criteria and Database usedIn this study, the items were collected through searching peer reviewed journal articles and therefore, the researcher thoroughly searched in various databases for article that provided information for patients suffering from chronic neck pains, specifically those individuals between the age of 21 and 55 years old. The researcher further categorized the data collected to form two groups of patients of the age bracket of 21 and 34 years and those between 35 and 55 years old. The creation of these two groups was essential as taking a wider range of people of ages 21 to 55 years old would present relatively a higher deviation in the healing processes of the patients, as those above the age of 35 years present a much longer period of healing as compared to the youthful 21 to 34 years group. The researcher focused the search on SPORT Discus, Academic Search Premier, BMJ Research Articles and Gov., database.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Keywords used in the studyThe key terms the researcher commonly used while searching for the relevant articles included: Chronic neck pain, cervical pain types of acupuncture, alternative medicine, Sham acupuncture, Shallow acupuncture and Randomized acupuncture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   OVERVIEW OF ACUPUNCTURE PRACTICEPracticing acupuncture started many centuries ago as a type of medication in China. It is the practice of implanting needles at certain points of the human skin as a form of therapy. In acupuncture practices, there is no involvement of drugs but only the needles are enough to accomplish the therapy (Liang et al, 8). The practice originated from China and has been noted to spread all over west of Europe (Liang et al, 8).As argued by the model on Chinese medicine, the specific places that the acupuncture needles are placed lies on the path named meridians where the dynamic energy goes through, hence allowing its access to control and regulate the flow of energy which is believed to be the cause of force imbalance (Willich et al, 2006, p. 98).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Populations and AcupunctureAcupuncture has been practiced in several parts globally, especially in Europe even though it is in its inception stages in the United States. According to NHI survey done in the year 2007 that also considered the use of CAM in America,where 1.4% of the respondents were found to be using acupuncture before then. The 3.1 million of the American population claimed they only practice it majorly for severe migraine and repetitive pain. The study showed that half of the respondents used acupuncture to treat chronic neck pain (Sun et al, 2009, p. 850).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The practice should obviously be regarded by physicians as an ideal treatment preference due to the backing it has received from those individuals who have used it in the treatment of chronic neck pain. Subsequently, the study did not restrict the adults basing on their gender due to limited research.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   CHRONIC NECK PAINChronic neck pain is an ailment that is characterized by pain in the neck that lasts for an unusually long period of time, commonly over a period of three months(Blossfeldt, 2004). Although different from the common medical conditions of neck pains that last for only days, chronic neck pain is typically an ailment that takes even years without success in its treatment in the mainstream medical practices(Irnich, 2002). Chronic neck pain is usually associated with a number of disorders, as well as diseases that can involve any of the tissues around the neck(Witt 2004, p. 99). For instance, the common causes of this condition are strains of the neck, injury of the neck like a herniated disc, pinched disc, or whiplash, and degenerative disc disease. In addition, chronic neck pain is also linked to common infection like virus infection of the neck and lymph nope swelling, as well as other infections such as tuberculosis of the neck, meningitis, and infection of spine bones around the neck. Some patients also had chronic neck pains caused by extremely different causes, which include physical injuries, some rare infections, and virus infections among others. Further, chronic neck pain is also caused by certain infections like virus infection of the neck and lymph nope swelling, as well as other infections such as tuberculosis of the neck, meningitis, and infection of spine bones around the neck.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   RISK FACTORS OF CHRONIC NECK PAINSChronic neck pain is generally caused by numerous factors ranging from physical injury to certain infections around the neck body tissues. Since neck pain affects the muscles around the body areas of the neck, it becomes painful to move the neck (De Loose, 2008, p. 475). In order to avoid or to prevent neck pains for the patients, it is always essential to consider staying away from activities may twist the neck and subsequently aggravate the already painful section of the neck(Witt 2004, p. 99). Therisk factors for the pain usually include injury from involvement in activities like motor vehicle accidents, horse riding, contact sports and bull riding among others, degeneration of cervical disc also known as Spondylitis, neck bent and twisting positions (De Loose, 2008, p. 475).In addition, it is also advisable to have activities that will enhance neck strengthening exercise, as well as neck bracing, reduc e TV watching usage of safety belts in motor vehicles and going to the gym for exercise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   TYPES OF ACUPUNCTURE USED IN CHRONIC NECK PAIN TREATMENTOptimized acupuncture therapyThe practice of optimized acupuncture therapy involves the utilization of traditional acupuncture, which is usually followed by intradermal needle therapy, commonly referred to as INT(Hush 2004, p. 1533). The use of OAT usually consists of the use of nine acupuncture points typically selected for an optimized acupuncture therapy group on the advice and consensus of the national expert committee of the OAT procedures. In this case, four points are subsequently located by physician intending to perform the OAT. The points selected are usually the cervical positive reactions planes found in the top and bottom of the cervical planes as well as horizontally away from the corresponding cervical vertebra(Witt 2004, p. 99). The study found that this type of acupuncture practice is highly sensitive and hence the need to be performed by an individual with more than five of practice experiences   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sham acupuncture therapyThe practice is put into use only as a tool for control in the scientific research in order to measure the efficiency of real acupuncture in various disease treatment. This type of acupuncture involves the use of skin penetrating shallow needles on the specified sham groups’ tender points.The tender points that are used in this method of acupuncture therapy are categorized as the key areas recommended for the acupuncture, which are the Ah Shee, also referred to as â€Å"oh yes point†. The points are crucial in this therapy and have to be used throughout the treatment procedure. Typically, the location of sham points is commonly defined by 25mm lateral extending to the standard location used for the OAT group.They include: the sham point of Dazhui (GV14) 25mm, which is 25 mm vertically below the usual standard GV14, sham points of (S115) Jianzhongshu and Huatuojiaji, which is 25 mm lateral to standard S 115 (Liang et al, 8). After the sham acupuncture, individuals undergoing the process or patients are treated through the use of point pressing (De Loose, 2008, p. 475). The findings show that a patient does not notice whether it is sham or real acupuncture being used. The results showed that the variation between real and sham practices are caused by habituation or the control effects. If the real acupuncture is efficient compared to the sham, then the habituation and control effects such as expectations of the patient, behavior and beliefs are present.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shallow acupuncture therapyShallow acupuncture group undergoes similar procedures as the other OAT groups.However, the physicians are required to insert the needles in a vertical manner in order to reach the subcutaneous level at a specified depth of not more than 3 mm (Salter et al, 2004). Needle manipulation or any other sensation is prohibited in this particular group. Ultimately, after the shallow acupuncture, the patients are additionally treated by INT through the use of a similar method as in the other OAT groups. It was found that the therapy do not fully treat the pain fully due to its shallow penetration hence the need for additional treatment that follow the same procedures. It results to a more efficient treatment in comparison to other therapies though takes much time (Salter et al, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ACUPUNCTURE AS AN IDEAL METHOD COMPARED TO PHYSIOTHERAPYZhuang (2012); Robertshawe, (2008), compares the use of acupuncture and physiotherapy in the treatment of chronic neck pain in a research that took place in China. The research involved screening of a total of 310 patients. The patients were then randomly split into two equal groups, where one group was treated using acupuncture method, while the other group received treatment through physiotherapy. The outcome of the treatment of the two procedures revealed that patients treated under acupuncture procedures had better results in relieving neck pain, particularly after a period of three months. It is essential to acknowledge that physiotherapy is an alternative medical practice that can be used in the treatment of chronic neck pain. While acupuncture therapies generally used sterilizes needles that are usually inserted in the area around the neck depending on the type of acupuncture u sed, physiotherapy does not involve the use of needles. Physiotherapy utilizes several types of manipulation as well as exercise to relieve pain. The common illustration of the use of physiotherapy is the stretch, strengthen and straighten up exercise movements of the neck (Robertshawe, 2008; Willich, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTWhite, (2001); Ji-Eun, (2010), researched about the adverse effects following a use of acupuncture to treat patients with chronic neck pain. In his survey, which included a prospective survey of 32,000 consultations with physiotherapists and doctors, the researcher, Adrian White aimed at ascertaining the incidence of adverse effects that are related to acupuncture treatment, as practiced by British doctors during that time. The research utilized data that were collected for the June of 1998 to February of 2000, from a total of 78 acupuncturists. Altogether the resulting significant effects were 43, subsequently giving only a rate of only 14 patients of the 10,000 patients included in the data. The results of this study showed that only 0.14 percent of the patients who used acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain experience adverse effects (White, 2001). All the adverse effects were reported to have had cleared within the period of one week after the therapy. Similar diminishing effects were characterized at a longer period, except for only one incident that lasted for several weeks. The result derived from the data of acupuncture treatment did not report any serious adverse effects. The rates can only be classified as minimal considering that it was only 14 adverse effects out of the total 10,000 patients who were analyzed with the data provided (White, 2001; Ji-Eun, 2010). Generally, these effect rates do not give significant risk per individual patient.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   RECOMMENDATION ON ACUPUNCTURE’S VIABILITYThe article by Chen, et al., (2010), offers exclusive views on acupuncture given by various physicians. The research by Chen among other authors who contributed to the article, there study targets collecting information that addresses the role of acupuncture in the management of pain in regard to opinions of physicians who manage such conditions. The research was conducted between 2007 and 2008 using a nationwide e-mail to 1083 physicians who were in active acupuncture practice in the United States. Chan et al., (2010) found that the overwhelmingly majority of the responders of the survey had a positive attitude and favorable experience of the use of acupuncture as an alternative modality in the management of chronic pain. The results of the survey subsequently indicate that acupuncture is considered effective by physicians in the management of chronic neck pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   CASE STUDIES:Acupuncture for patients with chronic neck painWitt et al., (2006) undertook the study in examining how effective acupuncture as an alternative treatment for neck pain treatment in comparison to patients who used routine medical care. The study used a random approach of more than 14000 individuals aged above 18 suffering from neck pain symptoms within a period of 6 months. Also took a non-acupuncture for 15 sessions within a period of 3 months. The acupuncture category were given injections without any other acupuncture treatment. The group which was controlled was not treated using acupuncture but both groups could use any other mode of treatment. The study found out that patients using routine care and add on acupuncture treatment showed significant improvements in both pain and quality of their lives in comparison to patients who only used routine treatments. Therefore, the results concludes that acupuncture can be used alo ngside routine treatments to achieve optimal results.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Efficacy and safety of acupunctureVas, et al, (2006) conducted a study to establish the effectiveness of acupuncture vis a vis placebo. Both methods were to be utilized to treat chronic neck pains that were not complicated. (N=123) patients, who were over the ages 17 and who possessed chronic neck pains for over 3 months were used. They were randomly selected into 2 groups, the acupuncture group and placebo group. For 3 weeks, the acupuncture group was treated with 5 acupuncture treatments. The treatment characteristics were, 30 minutes treatment followed by 10 minutes manual treatments. While the placebo group was subjected to transcutaneous nerve stimulation, which was characterized by 30 minutes of treatment and the potentiometer was being adjusted after every 10 minutes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The findings from this study were that, acupuncture as a form of neck treatment had minimal side effects. For overall effectiveness, acupuncture was found to have higher effectiveness than placebo. Researchers conclusively said that, acupuncture was effective.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   DISCUSSIONIn its broad context, this research has dwelled in covering all the related material on acupuncture and especially its effectiveness in treatment of acupuncture. Most are the studies which have found considerable effectiveness and a few studies have found less significant improvement in acupuncture use. The researchers (salter et al, 2006; Liang et al 2012; Chen et al 2010; vas et al 2006) have favorably recognized acupuncture as an effective non-conventional treatment method.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the review above, it is evident that all the methods of acupuncture are effective in treatment of chronic neck pains. Sham, optimization and shallow acupuncture all have a capacity of effectiveness when administered well. The various studies by salter have provided solid practical evidence and information on patients’ health upon using all the three types of acupuncture in treatment of patients and individuals (salter et al 2004). For example in 2007, a national health interview survey in America found that, 1.4% of respondents have used acupuncture to treat chronic neck pains. That percentage reported success, which is a testament to acupunctures effectiveness (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Blossfeldt, 2004) in his research notes that, acupuncture optimized technique success rate was a favorable 68%. Blossfeldt also noted that, on short term basis, acupuncture was 78% effective, while on long term basis it was 49% effective. Salter also found out on effectiveness of acupuncture. The neck pain questionnaire that he used for a period of 3 months, found out that, of the 34 % of the patients who have neck pains, 14% of these have effectively used acupuncture therapy (salter et al 2004) another researcher Liang, who conducted studies in china in association with other scholars, they found out that optimized acupuncture as a method of treating chronic neck pains was very effective.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although I extensively performed research on a wide range of databases, there are some articles that may have been missed out. Since I was individually conducting this research alone, it is possible that the large number of crucial articles were subsequently overlooked. In addition, there are many external factors that could have influenced the entire result of the use of acupuncture as an ideal treatment for chronic neck pain. The majority of studies slightly differ in a number of issues such as data collected, population, or any of combinations of these factors. White (2001) precisely researched about the adverse events following a use of acupuncture to treat patients with chronic neck pain, with an extreme number of respondents. Chen, L. et al., (2010), had a relatively smaller number of responders, and also had collection of data to be collected only through email in his research on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of chronic pain in the neck. These are some of the factors that were out of the scope of the research, hence determining the effectiveness of acupuncture was difficult, since the aspect of effectiveness could easily be isolated from some external factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The analysis of the specific information provided by the studies of the literature review of this research paper indicates that either of the three methods of acupuncture can effectively treat the chronic neck pain. The procedural practice of sham, shallow and optimized acupuncture, though different, they present similar way of performing the acupuncture therapy, equally offering effective treatment for chronic neck pain. Liang et al, (2012) asserts that the three types of acupuncture to be based on the thought that decrease or alienation of pain can be enhanced by releasing the chemicals responsible for blocking pain. Issues of age in the study have been considered as the research only focused on individuals between 21 years old and 55 years, as they are likely to have a faster period of healing as compared to adult elderly groups of more than 55 years old. Generally, the use of acupuncture is illustrated as effective as it has previously been used to treat patients with chronic neck pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The loopholes evident in the research include the possibility of a prior knowledge in determining the differences that may emerge upon consideration for gender in the treatment program. In the entire study, there is no single explanation of the ratio of females against the males in finding out the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment procedures. The study focused on a general perspective of patients with chronic neck pain regardless of their respective sex or gender. The knowledge of the differences that exist between males and females could have some effects on the understanding the use of acupuncture. In addition, the paper did not focus on the causes of the various neck pain, which could also compromise the results of the study, considering that such plans are typically attributed to a wide variety of causes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Topics that can be considered for further research are establishing the element of gender in determining the effectiveness of acupuncture while treating chronic neck problem. The various studies illustrated in the research paper did not point out the importance of understanding differences in the healing process of male and female patients with chronic neck pain. I suggest a study be conducted with a major emphasis on the aspect of gender differences between patients in order to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for neck pain in male and female patients. If this study is conducted, it will be possible to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment between male and female patients within the same health condition of chronic neck pain. References Blossfeldt, P. (2004). Acupuncture for Chronic neck pain: a cohort study in an NHS pain Clinic.22(3): 146-151. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15551941Chen, L., Houghton, M., Seefeld, L., Malarick, C. Mao.Jianren. (2010). A Survey of SelectedPhysician Views on Acupuncture in Pain Management. 11(4), 530-534 Salter, G.C, Roman, M., Bland, M. J MacPherson, H. (2006). Acupuncture for chronic pain: apilot for randomized controlled trial. 7(1): 3-14. Retrieved fromhttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/7/99 Liang, Z. H., Di, Z., Jiang, S., Xu, S. J., Zhu, X. P., Fu, W,. Lu, A. P. (2012). The optimizedacupuncture treatment for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis: a study protocol of amulticenter randomized controlled trial. 13(1): 2-18. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22776567 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.(2013). neck pain. Retrieved fromhttp://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00231Chen, L., Houghton, M., Seefeld, L., Malarick, C., Mao, J. (2010).a survey of selected physician views on acupuncture in pain management. Pain Medicine, 11(4), 530-534. Retrieved from SPORTDiscus. De Loose, V., Burnotte, F., Cagnie, B., Stevens, V., Van Tiggelen, D. (2008). Prevalence and risk factors of neck pain in military office workers. Military Medicine, 173(5), 474-479. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Hush, J. M., Michaleff, Z., Maher, C. G., Refshauge, K. (2009). Individual, physical and psychological risk factors for neck pain in Australian office workers: a 1-year longitudinal study. European Spine Journal, 18(10), 1532-1540. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Irnich, D., Behrens, N., Gleditsch, J. M., Stà ¶r, W., Schreiber, M. A., Schà ¶ps, P., Beyer, A. (2002). Immediate effects of dry needling and acupuncture at distant points in chronic neck pain: results of a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial. Pain (03043959), 99(1/2), 83.Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Ji-Eun, P., MyeongSoo, L., Jun-Yong, C., Bo-Young, K., Sun-Mi, C. (2010). Adverse Events Associated with Acupuncture: A Prospective Survey. Journal Of Alternative Complementary Medicine, 16(9), 959-963. Retrieved by Academic Search Premier. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2012). Acupuncture: an introduction. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htmNational Institutes of Health.(2013). neck pain.Retreived from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htmRobertshawe, P. (2008). Acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck tension.Journal Of The Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, 14(3), 187. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Sun, M., Hsieh, C., Cheng, Y., Hung, H., Li, T., Yen, S., Huang, I. (2010). The therapeutic effects of acupuncture on patients or individuals with chronic neck myofascial pain syndrome:: a single-blind randomized controlled trial. American Journal Of Chinese Medicine, 38(5), 849-859. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Vas, J., Perea-Milla, E., Mà ©ndez, C., Navarro, C., Leà ³n Rubio, J., Brioso, M., Obrero, I. (2006). Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic uncomplicated neck pain: A randomised controlled study. Pain (03043959), 126(1-3), 245-255. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. White, A. (2001). Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32,000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. 10(1), 3-14 Retrieved from BMJ Research Articles Willich, S. N., Reinhold, T., Selim, D., Jena, S., Brinkhaus, B., Witt, C. M. (2006).Cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients or individuals with chronic neck pain.Pain (03043959), 125(1/2), 107-113. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier Witt, C. M., Jena, S., Brinkhaus, B., Liecker, B., Wegscheider, K., Willich, S. N. (2006). Acupuncture for patients or individuals with chronic neck pain. Pain (03043959), 125(1/2), 98-106. Retrived from Academic Search Premier. Source document

Essay --

P Gene as an Inherited Biomarker of Human Eyecolor1 The variants within the key pigmentation gene, melanocortin-receptor 1 (MC1R), in particular have been ubiquitously linked with high risk traits and skin cancers involving both pigmentary and non-pigmentary functions and likely interaction with variants in other genes. In conclusion, the genetic variants within the genes involved in skin pigmentation besides influencing phenotypic traits are important determinants of risk of several skin cancers, (National Center For Biotechnology Information). Using a sample of 629 normally pigmented individuals, we found that individuals were less likely to have blue or gray eyes if they had P gene variants Arg305Trp (P = 0.002), Arg419Gln (P = 0.001), or the combination of both variants (P = 0.003). These results suggest that P gene, in part, determines normal phenotypic variation in human eye color and may therefore represent an inherited biomarker of cutaneous cancer risk. To evaluate whether the P gene is associated with human eye color in nonalbino individuals representing the normal phenotyp...

Motivation in Hospitality

E XECUTIVE WHITE PA P E R A new study on employee motivation and performance lays the groundwork for creation of the SITE Foundation Motivation Index . MOTIVATION In The Hospitality Industry Introduction About the Research The CANE Model Implications for Employers About the Researchers Where to Get the Study INTRODUCTION E mployee turnover within the U. S. fast-food and hotel industries costs those industries in the neighborhood of $140 billion annually. In more bite-sized terms, it will cost roughly 100% to 200% of an employee’s base salar y to recruit and train a replacement. Although the turnover rate for these ndustries hovers between 78. 3 percent and 95. 4 percent on a national basis, some fast-food restaurants and hotels experience much lower rates, and have significantly greater success retaining employees. Overall, higher levels of motivation and motivated performance translate into a 53 percent reduction in worker turnover. It is generally understood that employment in these industries is often considered to be temporar y, or stop-gap employment, with workers leaving eventually for what they will consider â€Å"greener pastures. † And certainly, different economics are at work depending on the region, the type of establishment, etc.However, turnover rates also vary within the same economies, the same chains, the same cities, and the same regions. All things being equal, then, what accounts for the differences in turnover rates? And more importantly, what can managers do to reduce turnover at their properties? The Site Foundation is seeking to answer those questions by studying employee motivation and performance in the fast- food and hotel industries. The study – Motivation in the Hospitality Industry – measures key indices of motivated behavior using the widely recognized CANE (Commitment And Necessary Effort) Model of Motivation.The following describes key findings from research to date and offers methods managers can use to reduce turnover in their fast-food or hotel operations. About The Research Hotel and fast-food employees from twenty-two job sites located in the Orlando, Florida area were surveyed in October Published by: T he SITE Foundation Copyright 2004. All Rights Reser ved. This paper is an edited version of a full report by the same name written by Steven J. Condly, Ph. D. , Educational Studies Dept. , College of Education, University of Central Florida, and Robin DiPietro, Ph. D. , Rosen School of Hospitality Management,University of Central Florida. EXECUTIVE WHITE PA P E R Employment in these industries is often considered to be temporary, or stop-gap employment, with workers leaving eventually. 2003. All told, 545 responses were received. Mid-scale hotels contributed 14. 9 percent of the responses; fast-food restaurants contributed 85. 1 percent. A follow-up phase conducted in February 2004 surveyed the same job sites. The survey instrument was modeled after the CANE Model (Richard Clark, 1998). The CANE Model helps us to understand the various aspects of why people are motivated to perform a specific task. The CANE ModelThe following chart illustrates the dynamics at work in the CANE Model. It is followed by an explanation of the ten predictor variables and questions in which the employee might express the effect of the variable on his or her behavior. (Commitment And Necessary Effort) Perceptions of Capability Self-Efficacy Agency Self-Efficacy 2 Effort Affect x Emotion Mood Task Value x Goal Commitment Importance Interest Utility Choice Persistence IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS Simply put, the study demonstrates that certain behaviors have various impacts on turnover in various ways, and these differences suggest strategies employers ight use to reduce turnover. These include: T urnover is less when employees have a high level of value for their work. These employees persist more than colleagues who report low levels of value. Employers can help employees valu e their work through consistent praise, recognition, and special incentives. T urnover is less at work sites where employees feel supported by the organization. Organizations can increase the level of support their employees feel by listening more, understanding employee issues, and taking action accordingly. Employees who feel better about their jobs persist more, exert more ffort, and are less likely to leave. EXECUTIVE WHITE PA P E R THE CANE MODEL Ten predictor variables identified by the CANE Model guided the investigation of the hospitality industry. These included: self-efficacy, agency, emotion, mood, importance, interest, utility, choice, persistence, and effort. Self-Efficacy The belief that one can organize and execute courses of action to obtain desired goals (Bandura, 1997). Can I Do This? Do I Have What It Takes? Agency The belief that you will be supported in doing a task or allowed to perform the task in accordance with your goals. W ill I Be Permitted To Do This and Be Supported?Can I Do This Under These Circumstances/Conditions? Emotion Negative emotions produce avoidance behaviors (tardiness, inattentiveness, job abandonment); positive emotions energize (choosing a task, staying longer on a task, etc. ) How Do I Feel About This Task Or Job? Mood Moods bias people’s thoughts, not their actions. How Am I Feeling In General? Importance People tend to commit to tasks when they identify with the task. Is This Task â€Å"Me†? Interest People can commit themselves to tasks even when the only thing they get out of it is pleasure from doing the task. Do I Like This? Utility Willingness to perform A to secure B.Task utility is often the most powerful motivator. If the answer to the question at the right is â€Å"nothing,† people are unlikely to commit to the task. What’s In It For Me? Choice Buy-in or the first step. This is that actual goal that people have selected; it differs from intention in that it involves some sort of action or response and not mere thought or words (Kuhl, 1986). Do I Agree With This? Persistence Continued choice in the face of obstacles. When people persist, they generally succeed. Can I Continue To Do This? Effort An energy-based behavior involving actual thinking rather than rote performance.When people exert effort, they increase the likelihood of succeeding in a task. Is It Worth The Effort? Older employees tend to be more motivated, persistent, exert a greater effort, and are less likely to leave in the face of difficulties. Salaried employees are more motivated than hourly employees. Women are more likely to say their work is more interesting, more important, and more useful; however, turnover for women is higher than men. When employees feel they cannot perform certain tasks, managers should reduce the size of complexity of the task into smaller â€Å"chunks. † This helps the employee to build self-efficacy.Employees who perceive their work conditions to be unfa ir and/or unreliable need evidence that the system is there to help them be effective. If negative perceptions are cor rect, management should rectify them. Conclusion: When tasks are being avoided or devalued, a carefully targeted incentive system can solve the problem in both the short- and long-terms. About the Researchers This summary of a SITE study is an edited version of a full report by the same name written by Steven J. Condly, Ph. D. , Educational Studies Dept. , College of Education, University of Central Florida, and Robin DiPietro, Ph. D. Rosen School of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida. WHERE TO GET THE STUDY For copies, contact The SITE Foundation: Frank J. Katusak, Executive Director 304 Park Avenue South 11th Floor New York, NY 10010 212-590-2518 f. [email  protected] org; www. sitefoundation. org 3 WE’VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE CARROT Give Sales Force Motivation the Attention it Deserves Improve sales representa- Improve team field f orce per- tive performance an average of formance by up to 45% with a 22% with a carefully designed, properly structured incentive implemented and monitored program incentive programNinety-two percent of sales Q uota-based incentive pro- representatives surveyed indi- grams are proven to yield the cated they achieved their goals greatest results because of incentive programs Your Program Costs Can Be Based on Results and Payable Upon Success Research Shows Why Certain Incentive Programs Work While Others Don’t Get a free summary of the research, â€Å"Incentives, Motivation and Workplace Performance: Research & Best Practices,† conducted by the International Society of Performance Improvement, 2002. Contact Frank Katusak at 212-590-2518 or f. [email  protected] org. The complete study is available for $50.

Dove: Evolution of a Brand

Dove should employ a strategy that takes full advantage of building an emotional connection with its target customers. Dove’s target customers are women. Women are 50% of the world’s population, and they are the key decision-makers for soap purchases in most households. Dove has already made clear that its target is women through it Campaign for Real Beauty. Dove needs to expand on its brand image through use of the internet, including social media. Dove needs to continue to differentiate itself from competitors. Dove is not just a soap, not just a moisturizer, not just a set of products.Dove has a very important socio-political constituency it seeks to represent as a brand. That constituency is all people, especially women, who want to change the standard image of beauty portrayed in the media and develop a new and far more diverse standard. Dover isn’t about making women feel more beautiful; Dove is about making more women feel beautiful. It positions itself as the brand that celebrates women and their diversity of beauty while helping them achieve their personal ideal of self-beauty through use of its high quality products. Dove needs to continue with its bold strategy which goes completely against the grain.The strategy of portraying the messages/point of view of the consumers as opposed to the message of the brand/company. Allow the brand to become what the target consumer says it is. In other words, allow the brand to represent the unified voice of women as much as possible around the idea of beauty. This bold strategy brought Dove a lot of attention worldwide and kept it in the media, including heavy attention on the worldwide web. Regarding the internet, it is thanks to the internet that Dove’s brand image and message(s) can spread like wildfire very rapidly around the globe.The internet presents an amazing opportunity for brand managers to promote their brand to their target consumers almost instantaneously through a number of different media formats and outlets. And, it allows the customer to interact with the brand in ways that did not exist before the internet. This customer interaction is very key to Dove’s ongoing brand strategy†¦when people feel involved, they develop a greater sense of ownership of or commitment to a brand. The brand identity can really begin to represent personal identity. And, I think that is what Dove wants.Dove wants women to see Dove products as part of their personal identity because they are proud to use Dove products due to its brand identity standing for what they personally stand for. Brand strategy is the how, what, when, and to whom you plan on communicating your product or service. Having a clear and concise brand strategy leads to stronger overall brand equity — how people feel about or perceive your product, and how much they are willing to pay for it. A company or product’s brand is what customers perceive about the company/product.And, the brand message needs to be consistent whether it is sent out through traditional media or over the internet. As a tactic using the internet, Dove can use the power of audiovisual imagery to paint Dove’s brand image and share it with millions of people instantly. YouTube, Google Video, Facebook, etc are all powerful tools where people consume media, comment on it and share it. Dove should use its consumers in its videos†¦ ordinary women. And, it should use compelling stories and messages to support its brand message of Real Beauty.And, it should encourage â€Å"word-of-mouth† spreading of these images and message. In other words, Dove can tap into the power of viral marketing to boost its brand awareness and solidify its consistent brand image. Its basic message is that 1) Dove products are high quality beauty care products for women who are all beautiful in their own way, 2) Dove products supports all women in realizing and achieving their ideal personal image of beauty, 3) Dove rejects the current singular standard of beauty portrayed in mass media as too narrow and destructive to women as a whole.Dove should have contests as well as rewards for its loyal customers who engage with the brand through social media and on official Dove websites. Everyone likes gratitude. And, companies should show gratitude towards their supporters. This will lead to greater brand loyalty. And, the online involvement can be so effectively but inoffensively intrusive into customer’s lives. For example, Lay’s Potato Chips ran an incredible contest over Facebook for customers who were challenged to create the next Lay’s flavor.It was a huge success by all accounts. Everyone I knew had heard of the contest and had participated by submitting ideas or sampling the top 3 flavors once they arrived in stores. The winner received $1million. The idea and execution were brilliant. And, Facebook was the platform. Dove can do this sort of thing as wel l or Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc. I believe video contests would be most effective for Dove because of the power of that medium to share the voice and image of women in their natural state.Dove can also even engage celebrities in this effort to boost the attention and appeal†¦ celebrity women in their natural state without airbrushing and heavy makeup. Dove already has positioned itself very well to differentiate itself from its competitors and to target a large key customer segment. It now needs to take advantage of that position and further engage the emotional connections of its customers to build great brand loyalty.

machiavelli, Aristotle, August essays

machiavelli, Aristotle, August essays Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince examines the nature of power and his views of power in the leadership that he observed in his time. Machiavelli discusses power over the people, dictatorial power, and the power with the people. The struggle to retain, hold, and apply one power is human nature and this nature is agreeable with Aristotle's argument that "man is a political animal." In The Prince, Machiavelli discusses two distinct groups of people, the political elite, including nobles and the public. Machiavelli claims that ambition and dictatorial power drive most nobles and princes. Because shared power is only effective between the prince and his people and not between the prince and the nobles because the people depends on the prince and the prince needs his people but since nobles and the prince are driven by the same motivations shared power would be useless. "Whether men bear affection depends on themselves, but whether they are afraid will depend on what the ruler does" (p.60-61). While Machiavelli emphasizes power over in relations between the political elite, he discusses a different kind of power in the relationship between a prince and the public. Machiavelli notes that a prnice can share power with the people, since a prince can trust the people much more than he can trust the nobles. Nobles" can not be satisfied if a ruler acts honorable but the people can be thus satisfies, because their aims are more honorable than those of the nobles are for the latter only want to oppress and the former only wants to avoid being oppressed" (p. 35). The people are not unforgiving and greedy so the prince can place more trust in the people. Since the prince can trust the people the people will feel empowered and the people will in turn protect the prince rather than revolt against him, "when you arm them, these weapons become your own" (p 72). In this way the prince power is greater. The prince's pursuits for power the nat...

Prohibition Era Timeline

Prohibition Era Timeline The Prohibition era was a period in the United States, lasting from 1920 to 1933, when the production, transportation, and sale of alcohol was outlawed. This period began with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and was the culmination of decades of temperance movements. However, the era of Prohibition was not to last very long, for the 18th Amendment was repealed 13 years later with the passage of the 21st Amendment. Fast Facts: Prohibition Description: Prohibition was an era in American history when the production and sale of alcoholic beverages were outlawed by the U.S. Constitution.Key Participants: Prohibition Party, Womans Christian Temperance Union, Anti-Saloon LeagueStart Date: January 17, 1920End Date: December 5, 1933Location: United States Timeline of the Prohibition Era Although Prohibition itself lasted only 13 years, its origins can be traced all the way back to the temperance movements of the early 1800s. Many early advocates of temperance were Protestants who believed alcohol was destroying public health and morality. 1830s The first temperance movements begin advocating abstinence from alcohol. One of the most influential dry groups is the American Temperance Society. 1847 Members of Maines Total Abstinence Society convince the state government to pass the Fifteen Gallon Law, the first prohibition law. The legislation banned the sale of alcohol in amounts smaller than 15 gallons, effectively limiting access to alcohol to the wealthy. 1851 Maine passes the Maine law, banning the production and sale of alcohol. The law includes an exception for medicinal uses. 1855 By 1855, 12 other states have joined Maine in banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Political tensions began to grow between the dry and wet states. 1869 The National Prohibition Party is founded. In addition to temperance, the group promotes a variety of social reforms popular with progressives of the 19th century. Topical Press Agency  / Getty Images 1873 The Womans Christian Temperance Union is founded. The group argues that banning alcohol will help reduce spousal abuse and other domestic problems. Later, the WCTU will focus on other social issues, including public health and prostitution, and will work to promote womens suffrage. 1881 Kansas becomes the first U.S. state to make prohibition part of its state Constitution. Activists try to enforce the law using a number of different techniques. The most peaceful demonstrate outside saloons; others attempt to interfere with business and destroy bottles of liquor. 1893 The Anti-Saloon League is formed in Oberlin, Ohio. Within two years, the group becomes an influential national organization lobbying for prohibition. Today, the group survives as the American Council on Alcohol Problems. 1917 December 18: The U.S. Senate passes the Volstead Act, one of the first significant steps toward the passage of the 18th Amendment. The law- also known as the National Prohibition Act- prohibits intoxicating beverages (any drink containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol). 1919 January 16: The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified by 36 states. Although the amendment bans the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, it does not actually outlaw their consumption. October 28: The U.S. Congress passes the Volstead Act and establishes guidelines for the enforcement of prohibition. The law goes into effect on January 17, 1920. New York Times Co.  / Getty Images 1920s With the passage of Prohibition, a large black market develops around the country. The darker side includes gangs of bootleggers led by figures such as Al Capone, the boss of an organized crime syndicate in Chicago. 1929 Prohibition agent Elliot Ness begins in earnest to tackle violators of Prohibition, including Al Capones gang in Chicago. It is a difficult task; Capone will ultimately be arrested and prosecuted for tax evasion in 1931. 1932 August 11: Herbert Hoover gives an acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination in which he discusses the ills of Prohibition and the need for its end. PhotoQuest  / Getty Images 1933 March 23: Newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Cullen-Harrison Act, which legalizes the manufacture and sale of certain alcoholic products. Support for Prohibition continues to wane, and many call for its removal. 1933 February 20: The U.S. Congress proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would end Prohibition. December 5: Prohibition is officially repealed by the passage of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Discuss the various ways in which modern investors manage the risk in Essay

Discuss the various ways in which modern investors manage the risk in their portfolios - Essay Example Many of the participants in risk trading take particular points of view, and suffer losses when their points of view are not realized. It may also be that the risks in some of the more complex positions currently being taken are not always well understood by the institutions arranging the deals. In addition, risk control systems in some institutions are so weak that management cannot determine when institutional survival is being jeopardized. There are also aggregate problems, because the failure of one institution can bring about failure of others. Finally, there are presently few sources of aggregate statistics that would permit informed observers to assess exactly what the potential dangers in individual institutions’ positions might be. On the positive side, the percentage of capital at risk in derivatives trading has been estimated at some 10 percent of the total capital of the world’s banks. In addition, individual companies have sustained large losses from derivatives trading without creating serious externalities. For example, when Barings Bank failed in 1995, many of the other banks trading with Barings had become aware of the unusual risks it was taking and had reduced their positions with Barings (J. Rosenhead, J. Mingers, 2001). Basically, the perception of risk is the result of an investors thought processes. Let us say that the investor speculates that a new factory will be able to produce V volume of goods that can be sold for P price. The question is: Where do V and P come from? Some say that V and P spring from the imagination while others maintain that V and P are a result of a deliberate cognitive process of logic and dispassionate judgment. Perhaps these, and other conjectures concerning the thought process of the human mind, are all part of a businessmans assessments of the projected values of price and volume. These values, when properly manipulated with costs,