Monday, September 30, 2019

Investigational New Drug Review Process

INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG REVIEW PROCESS Investigational New Drug Review Process Prashanth Kumar Ponugoti Northeastern University INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG REVIEW PROCESS Abstract Investigational New Drug (IND) review process begins from the time the sponsor files investigation new drug application and the purpose of the review is to confirm the safety and efficacy of the patient for the drug.Moreover in the process of review if the review committee notifies any deficiencies by the new drug then there will be a clinical however if there are no deficiencies the drug will be approved for new drug application and will be under continuous review to make sure , that the drug does not cause any potential harm. This entire step wise process of review is explained in the following paper INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG REVIEW PROCESS The following flow chart gives an overview of the IND review process Applicant (Drug Sponsor)IND Review by CDER Statistical Pharmacology/ Toxicology Medical Chemistry Spo nsor Submits New Data Safety Review Safety acceptable for study to proceed Clinical Hold Decision Notify Sponsor Complete reviews Reviews Complete and Acceptable? Sponsor Notified of Deficiencies No Deficiencies Study Ongoing INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG REVIEW PROCESS I. Applicant (Drug sponsor): An applicant or the sponsor is a person or a group who takes responsibility and initiates for the investigation of new drug.A person other than an individual that uses one or more of its own employees to conduct an investigation that it has initiated is a sponsor. The sponsor may be an individual, partnership, government agency, private agency, or any other organization and moreover the sponsor does not conduct the investigation process unless the sponsor is a sponsor-investigator. The applications are submitted to Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Food and Drug Administration Document and Records Section 5901-B Ammendale Rd. Beltsville, Md. 20705-1266 II.Investigational New Drug Application: Sponsor thinks about new drug application when he has a successful results in preclinical studies (The studies conducted in animals to find the use of drug in human and ensure safety and efficacy) in other words it is the step taken after the successful preclinical studies to continue further studies that is clinical trial in humans. During the conduct of preclinical trial, step by step information of the process is recorded as data and stored. Thus stored information is helpful in filling an IND. The information is as follows A. Animal Pharmacology and toxicology studiesB. Manufacturing Information C. Clinical protocols and investigators information Animal Pharmacology and toxicology studies: The studies conducted in animals to ensure the use of the product is reasonably safe for initial testing in humans. Manufacturing Humans: This is the information obtained from manufacturing, storage, composition, storage and stability, for manufacturing of drug substance and produ ct. Clinical protocols and investigators information: protocols for proposed clinical studies to assess whether the initial-phase trials will expose subjects to unnecessary risks.Information on the qualifications of clinical investigators—professionals who oversee the administration of the experimental compound–to assess whether they are qualified to fulfill their clinical trial duties. The IND is not a marketing approval but The IND is the means through which the sponsor officially obtains this exemption from the FDA: however, its main intention is to detail the data that provide documentation that it is indeed reasonable to proceed with certain human trials with the drug. Types of INDs i. Investigator INDs ii. Emergency Use INDs and iii.Treatment IND After the submission of the IND to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) committee it checks thoroughly the medical, chemistry, toxicological, and statistical data INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG REVIEW PROCESS The se terms are explained below in detail III. Medical Review: Medical also called as clinical review is conducted by medical officers or physicians to ensure the initial use of the drug in patients and are safe to use . This review is also conducted by the non medical officers based upon the data available from the re clinical studies.Medical review plays a major role in new drug review process and is an initiating step for the test of the drug in humans: however it is an important step to be conducted and based upon the results obtained from the review it has a further scope to apply for next steps that is to file new drug application. During this review process the medical reviewers or physicians evaluate the clinical trial protocol for to determine A. If the participants will be protected from unnecessary risks; and B. If the study design will provide data relevant to the safety and effectiveness of the drug.However the safety of the drug is taken by the sponsor during the phase I studies but during phase II, III, and IV Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must also ensure the safety of the medicament in humans for market approval. IV. Chemistry Review: Each review committee has an chemistry review department for reviewing the chemistry of the drug and the agenda of this chemistry department is to address issues related to drug identity, manufacturing control, and analysis. The reviewing committee ensures that the investigational new drug is adequately reproducible and stable.If the drug is neither adequately reproducible nor stable then the chances of approval for IND are less because they are not sure about the drugs action in the body, and don’t know what it does. So the major purpose of chemistry review is i. To ensure that the compound is adequately reproducible ii. To ensure that the compound is adequately stable In addition to this the sponsor should discuss any manufacturing and chemistry differences between the drug product proposed for the cli nical use and drug product used in animal toxicology studies.However these differences might affect the safety profile of the drug product and need to be stated if there are no differences. V. Pharmacology or Toxicology Review: This committee is a group of pharmacologists and toxicologists who evaluate the results of animal testing made during the clinical trial and compare it with the potential effects in humans. That is to ensure safety of the humans for the new drug. i. Pharmacology and Drug Distribution (21 CFR 312. 23(a)(8)(I)): This is nothing but absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the drug in the animals.These results should be obtained by conducting them in animals, so it should be recorded with an example. Moreover this should not be a reason for the clinical hold because these rae the studies conducted in phase one of the IND and where FDA feels it as sponsor great responsibility factor for the drug in achieving safety and efficacy to the humans. ii. Tox icology Data (21 CFR 312. 23(a)(8)(ii)(a)): INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG REVIEW PROCESS Toxicology data is required from both vitro and vivo studies, because particular studies depend upon nature of the drug and phase of human investigation.VI. Safety Review: After submission of the IND to the CDER then the committee takes about good 30 days to conduct review in every factor to achieve safety and efficacy and to avoid potential harm to the human. The review is an ongoing process however CDER notifies the sponsor immediately if there are any potential high risks associated with the drug upon usage in humans. If a notification is sent to sponsor then it is clear that the application is put on hold and the sponsor should conduct enough studies to clear the hold.This hold will be removed and allows the sponsor for further studies only when changes made to the clinical hold achieve the safety and efficacy and does not case potential risks. If the sponsor is not notified with any information from CDER from the day of IND submission to the 30 th day then on the 31st- day further study can be proceeded as submitted. VII. Clinical Hold Decision: The Clinical hold is issued in during the thirty day review period and this is due to the following factors 1. The drug causes potential harm to the humans 2.If drug is not having enough stability 3. The IND does not contain sufficient information required under 312. 23 to assess the risks to subjects of the proposed studies 4. The plan or protocol for the investigation is clearly deficient in design to meet its stated objectives. And CDER can hold the studies during the initial phases of the studies that is when filed for IND if observes potential risks on the data submitted initially. The Clinical hold will be removed if the sponsor addresses the issue based on the hold before the order is removed.In addition the clinical holds are reviewed by higher authorities of CDER to assure scientific quality and consistency in the Center's clinical hold decisions. IX. Notify Sponsor: X. Sponsor Notified of Deficiencies XI. Study Ongoing Xii. Conclusion†¦.. Page 17 and page 18 lo matter unnnadhi †¦ use gooogle search for material if required and provide the refrence where ever u grab the material†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Refrences: http://www. accessdata. fda. gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch. cfm? fr=312. 42 http://www. fda. gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDER/ManualofPoliciesProcedures/ucm082022. pdf

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Baker v. Carr (1962)

In 1962, the US Supreme Court had decided over the Baker v. Carr case. The Baker v. Carr case was a landmark US Supreme Court case which at last withdrawn from its political question doctrine to come to a decision about the reapportionment concerns. The said case was brought up by the urban voters in opposition to the Tennessee Secretary of State and Attorney Gen. in the United States District Court of Middle Tennessee. Tennessee was unsuccessful to reallocate the state legislature for about 60 years in spite of the growth of the population and redeployment.Charles Baker was a voter who filed a case against the state-and Joe Carr was a state officer who was in command of elections- in federal district court. Moreover, before the US Supreme Court gives their decision about the case, majority of the legislative districts throughout Ohio and in several states didn’t have the same numbers in terms of their population rates (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr†. The Columbia Encyclopedi a, Sixth Ed. P. 3865, 2004). This would definitely signify that a representative may possibly represent about 100,000 populations in each district whereas the others may possibly represent 500,000.In Ohio, every country had its own right to have a legislator in the Ohio government prior to Baker v. Carr. During 1960, Franklin County had more than 300,000 inhabitants whereas Vinton County had merely 11,000 populaces. In the previous system, every country has a legislator but in Baker v. Carr case, each county did not longer have the right to receive a legislator (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr†. OhioHistoryCentral. org, 2006). The focal points of this study are to:(1) know the historical background on Baker v.Carr case;(2) discuss the facts of the case and its court’s ruling and;(3) be aware of the impact of Baker and Carr case on American government and society.Discussion A. Historical BackgroundThe complainant Charles Baker resided in Shelby County, Tennessee- the county whe re Memphis is situated- and was a Republican. Baker’s protest was that even though the Tennessee State Constitution necessitated that legislative districts be redrawn after 10 years as stated by the federal survey to give districts of substantively even inhabitants, , Tennessee was unable to redistrict since from the population count during 1900.During the court case of Baker, the district of Shelby County-where Baker resides- had more populations just like other rural districts have. Baker’s argument pointed out that this inconsistency caused him unable to have the â€Å"equal protection under the laws† as stated by the Fourteenth Amendment. On the other hand, Joe Carr was litigated in his status as the Secretary of States for Tennessee. Joe Carr did not set the district lines because it was done by the state parliament but then, a case was filed against him as the person who was the most liable and accountable for the district maps’ publication and for conducting elections in the state.The State of Tennessee claimed and disputed that legislative districts were fundamentally political and not judicial as had been engrossed by a number of Court’s opinion in Colegrove v. Green in 1946 which Justice Felix Frankfurter announced that: â€Å"Courts ought not to enter this political market† (see â€Å"U. S. Supreme Court: baker v. Carr, 369 U. U. 186 (1962). † Findlaw. com, 2006). B. The Facts of the Case Charles W. Baker and several Tennessee inhabitants suspected that a 1901 decree designed to allocate the seats for the General Assembly of the state was practically disregarded.The lawsuit of Baker comprehensively discussed on how the reapportionment efforts of Tennessee disregard substantial and important economic development and population modification within the state (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr 369 U. S. 186 (1962)†. Oyez. org). C. Court’s Ruling C. 1 The Laws Applied: *U. S. Const. amend. XIV; U. S. C onst. art. III *42 U. S. C. 1983; Tenn. Const. art.The most awaited result was finally given in March 1962, almost a year after it was originally disputed. The ruling of Baker v. Carr was considered as one of the major wrenching in the history of the Court.The Supreme Court stated that the federal courts have the authority to regulate and decide the constitutionality of the voting of a state’s districts as stated in a 6-2 ruling. Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. put in writing the common opinion, declaring that the constitutional right of the complainant or plaintiff to receive their votes count impartially provided them the essential and required lawful interest to carry out the court case. He disputed that the case did not include a â€Å"political question† which stopped and prohibited judicial review.A court may possibly regulate the constitutionality of the apportionment decisions’ of the State without intervening with the political judgments of the legislat ure. Moreover, Baker v. Carr case was sent back to the federal court (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr (1962). Infoplease, Pearson Education 2005). Justice William O. Douglas wrote down conforming judgment. He announced that: â€Å"If a voter does not anymore have the full constitutional value of his franchise (right to vote), and the legislative branch fails to take appropriate restorative action, the doors of the courts must be open† (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr (1962). Infoplease, Pearson Education 2005).However, in a conflicting view, Justice John Harlan II disputed and wrote that: â€Å"The federal equal protection clause does not prevent a State from choosing any electoral legislative structure it thinks best suited to the interests, temper, and customs of its people. If a state chose to distribute electoral strength among geographical units, rather than according to a census of population is†¦ a rational decision policy†¦ entitled to equal respect from this Court† (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr (1962).  Infoplease, Pearson Education 2005).ConclusionThe court declared that there were no questions that need to be answered in Baker v. Carr case and the parliamentary apportionment was a justified concern. Justice William Brennan had cited previous cases in which the Court interfered to amend constitutional infringements in issues which pertain to state government and the officials by whom state affairs are organized (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr 369 U. S. 186 (1962)†. Oyez. org). D. The impact of Baker and Carr case on American Government and SocietyThe impact of Baker and Carr case on American government and society was that the said landmark decision had made a way for many lawsuits on legislative apportionment. Because of the Baker v. Carr case, by the year of 1967, voters from Ohio altered and revised the state constitution. The revision made a ninety-nine seat state House and a thirty-three seat state Senate. The said revision set up and cr eated too that every representative and senator should receive about the similar number of populations as required by the US Supreme Court. The Baler and Carr case and the modified constitution of Ohio was an uninterrupted outcome of urbanization.In the middle of the 20th century, several individuals departed from rural areas and transferred to cities. The major cause for the said relocation was the deteriorating chances in the countryside. While in the cities, they ever more provided good high paying jobs and various employment opportunities. In Baker v. Carr case, the U. S. Supreme Court tried to make an effort to amend the subsequent dilemmas in political representation (see â€Å"Baker v. Carr†. OhioHistoryCentral. org, 2006).References:1. â€Å"Baker v. Carr†. OhioHistoryCentral. org, 2006. http://www. ohiohistorycentral. org/entry. php? rec=1399.2. â€Å"U. S. Supreme Court: baker v. Carr, 369 U. U. 186 (1962). † Findlaw. com, 2006. http://caselaw. lp. fin dlaw. com/scripts/getcase. pl? court=US&vol=369&invol=186.3. â€Å"Baker v. Carr 369 U. S. 186 (1962)†. Oyez. org. http://www. oyez. org/oyez/resource/case/25/.4. â€Å"Baker v. Carr (1962). Infoplease, Pearson Education 2005. http://www. infoplease. com/us/supreme-court/cases/ar02. html.5. â€Å"Baker v. Carr†. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Ed. P. 3865. Columbia University Press, New York, 2004).

Saturday, September 28, 2019

ABB OUTSOURCING TO IBM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

ABB OUTSOURCING TO IBM - Essay Example Most of the tasks that are outsourced are considered to be core to the business. Tasks such as billing, pay roll and data entry are some of the services that are outsourced to other companies. Outsourcing involves signing contracts that can last for many years and can also involve a lot of money. There are some very well known outsourcing companies or service providers across the world. IBM is one of the best known of the service providers who offer outsourcing services to other companies. One of the recent contracts that the company signed was with the Swedish company ABB. At the time when it was outsourcing its IT services, ABB had been suffering from serious financial problems. The executives decided to outsource the services as they thought that this would greatly help to lower the production cost incurred by the company. The company executives settled on IBM since it is a top player in the Information technology field (ABB Press Release, 2003). Being a Swedish company, ABB decided to use an international company that is based in the US. This off shoring agreement was valued at 1.1 million dollars. IBM was supposed to perform IT related services for ABB for ten years, as from the year 2003. IBM took over the IT infrastructure in ABB’s 14 stations in Europe and North America. This represent around 90% of Client Company’s IT based infrastructure. IBM was tasked with the duties of server management as well as the management of personal computers, operating systems, help desks and corporate networks that were part of the larger ABB group (The Hindu, 2002). IBM is a multinational company that deals with IT services among other things. This means that they have the machinery to ensure that all IT operations work out as they are supposed to. This explains ABB’s confidence in choosing IBM as the ideal company to carry out its IT functions. Different organizations have a variety

Friday, September 27, 2019

The value and importance of the small firm to the world economy Essay

The value and importance of the small firm to the world economy - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that in the recent times, the role of small firms has been recognized to be extremely important for socio-economic development. Gà «rgjaliu-Thaà §i stated that small firms in the current world economy are closely associated with employment and poverty eradication. It is claimed that small firms decentralize economic control and offer individuals a stake in the future. However, there has been constant debate being made-over the importance of small firms. Amid these constant debates, the proponents of small firms have stated that successful small firms are crucial for the global economic development. It has been claimed that small firms are the major source of innovation and development of entrepreneurship. In this section critical analysis of the article, first, the researcher wants to demonstrate the statistics presented in the article. Correspondingly, Day argued that most firms across the world are small firms based on the number of emp loyees employed. Taking the example of the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) business environment, the author has stated that 95 percent of firms in the UK employ less than 10 employees which imply that small firms are the predominant aspect of the socio-economic growth of the UK. Cromie firmly asserted that marketing in small firms is equally important as in the case of large firms. It is crucial that activities pertaining to marketing in small firms are relevant as well as appropriate considering the problems that it intends to resolve and the life cycle position of the firms.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

IT security Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

IT security - Coursework Example In this scenario, most of the data stored is extremely secret and not intended for common people screening in addition to the outside business access. In addition, a lot of companies are exclusively dependent on their business and economical data which is proficiently stored in computers like any web based enterprise. In case of such businesses we can have customer records, private employee’s information, employee’s salary details, advertising and sales data and bank account information stored on electronic database systems. In this scenario, without this business and economical data, it would frequently be extremely difficult for a company to work effectively. For this reason new and more enhanced technology based structures and security systems are implemented to protect such kinds of sensitive business data and information which can later on be used for effective decision making. However, better business information security systems include a variety of processes, ex pertise, safety products and measures. In addition, the software applications that offer virus protection scanners and firewall information safety are not sufficient on behalf of their performance to defend huge and extensive information stores. Thus, a group of systems and practices are required to be implemented to successfully discourage illegal entry and interpretation to information systems and databases (Crystal, 2011), (Anderson & Schneier, 2008) and (Grimaila, 2004). Information security is becoming extremely important for all the businesses. This report presents a comprehensive analysis of one of the biggest global business Wal-Mart. This report will analyze some of the prime IT security procedures that Wal-Mart organization currently uses. This report will also outline that how these security procedures are used and what threats they are designed to combat. Wal-Mart is one of the biggest worldwide retailers. It is one of biggest financial power, a glowing ruler for argumen t and an intellectual experience. In addition, the Wal-Mart is the mind-piece of Sam Walton, who is having a personal thinking to offer customer lesser prices than they get somewhere. That fundamental policy has made the Wal-Mart's culture and presently formulated as a biggest business monster. At present Wal-Mart business setup is exceptionally massive. Moreover, it has amazing power to create employment marketplaces worldwide as well as transform the method all companies generally do their jobs (Wilbert, 2011), (Walmart, 2011) and (William F. Achtmeyer Center for Global Leadership, 2002). WAL-MART: BUSINESS OVERVIEW Wal-Mart business setup was established in 1962 by the Sam Walton, with a first Wal-Mart store that was started at Rogers, Arkansas. This business attained annual sales of $1 billion after 17 years of its development. At the end of January 2002, Wal-Mart business Stores, Inc. turned out to be a world’s biggest seller, along with $218 billion of annual sales. Add itionally,

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

European Union Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

European Union Law - Essay Example On concern is the manner at which the individuals are identified for their tasks and the level of professionalism upon which they execute these missions. Evaluation and Analysis Upon placing the whole idea under the international sporting arena, a series of issues raise for the concern. Such issues are developed along the regions of concern, such as the accountability crisis, the aspects of infringe of the international human rights, and the suitability of the firms. Such concerns are further magnified when the provisions of the charter for fundamental rights are considered. However, the development in the international sporting arena across various states of Europe has lead to the invoke of this model of security. A paramount concern towards the adoption of this measure is the violent based riots that broke out in the autumn of 2010 across various sporting destinations in Europe. The event indicated the existence of a major loophole on the ability of the private military and securit y companies in providing security in this model of assignments (Reg A6-0471/2006). Various issues of concern were developed while considering this option. Amongst them is the efficiency of the responsible firms in addressing such crisis. Also considered was the policy that sees the involvement of the police when the crisis gets out of control. However, the first issue still remains much prominent in the whole debate. Subsequently, the other side effects that may be associated to the deployment of these private security firms are also eminent (Zarate 1998). The enactment of the legislation that foresees the deployment of the Private Military and Security Companies in offering security services in international sporting arena, across member states of the European Union, has series of loopholes for consideration (Krahmann 2005). Amongst them is the concern over the training of the staff involved in the execution of the security measures. Reading from the findings of the report on autum n of 2010 riots, the manner in which the Private Military and Security Companies entrusted with security handled the matter leaves much to be desired. This is with regards to the numerous concerns on the violation of the international human rights as well as the provision of the charter of fundamental rights. Illegal detentions, as well as the utilization of uncouth tactics in the interrogation of the suspects were highly highlighted (Avant, 2005, p56) On this regard, it is vital to analyze the wave of mandate accredited to the Private Military and Security Companies. Chief focus is laid against issues such as the detention and he interrogation of the suspects. Focusing on the policy in exercise, the key objectives are nested on the containing of the violence, apparently referred to as hooliganism. This is achieved via the evaluation of the weakness in the current system and establishing methodologies of sealing the loopholes. However, the process deployed by the legislation from th e European Union seems to undermine the imperial threat that lead to the crisis in the initial consideration. This reflects on the capability and the potential of the private military and security companies in addressing security crisis of the magnitude experienced in 2010. In effort to address such loopholes, the proposed act seeks to establish a mutual co-relationship between the law enforcement

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Columbian Exchange Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Columbian Exchange - Essay Example It is noted that the fish were very expensive and so this factor did not give everyone the path to get the species. Apart from being expensive, the Spanish, who by then were the most interested people to get the fish, did not like the fact that the fish came from Jews and Muslims. It seems then that there was a sense of rejection between the two communities with the Spanish. Since the Spanish wanted to be connected with the species, the only option was to look somewhere else where the same kinds of species could be found (Wilford, pg78). The immediate alternative was the indie, and so they planned their way to that destination, and Columbus being the torchbearer. First, before gearing up to the land where they could get the longed for species, Columbus was to get permission from both the Queen and the King (Mann, pg25). Columbus did not succeed in getting the permission to invade the land from the two on the first request, though he kept persisting until the ninth time, when he was given the go ahead. With the small ships he got from the authority, Columbus knew the dream has come true and so he sailed to the Indie in the year 1492. The whole missing hard challenges, as according to the records, he made four trips to the Southern America and Caribbean (Mann, pg11). On October 11 in the year 1492, Columbus landed the Caribbean Islands and there he landed capturing the local Taino Indians and later trading them as slaves. The above marked the first trip. The second one was much bigger and took place one year later after the first visit. Still hoping to get Indians and trade with as slaves as well as hoping to loot gold, he persisted in his journey and invasions. Notably, 1498 was the year that marked the third expedition of the Columbus. He is acknowledged to be the first European to set his foot on the American Mainland. According to scholars, it is worth noting that the above three dynamics portended future trends. Columbus had no

Monday, September 23, 2019

Human Error in Aviation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Error in Aviation - Research Paper Example Studies show that out of the aviation accidents that occur in the US, 60% to 80% are due to human error. Loss of or poor Crew Resource Management (CRM) facilitates most of these accidents. US airlines fail to give their crew proper training and CRM, which are very vital in preventing human errors in the aviation industry. Another important factor in human errors and aviation accidents is the ‘Swiss cheese model’ in which defensive systems consists of slices or pieces, as well as holes resulting from opening, and displacement of the slices, which result in human error. Since human errors occur due to psychological and physiological factors, aviation psychology is an effective solution for human failures in aviation. In addition, there should be proper training and CRM for aviation crew focusing on human factors. Accidents are part of our everyday life. Most of these accidents are attributed to the mistakes we make. Many theories link accidents to systems failure other than human errors. However, there is increasing focus on human error as one of the major causes of accidents. Error classification method was developed to explain the various causes of human error in aviation. Error classification method analyzes the ways in, which people contribute to system reliability or the system failure. Many aircraft accidents result from human error other than systems failure. When investigating accidents, there should be a focus on human errors that might have led to an aviation accident. This is because system failures result from the engineers’ failure or errors in making the craft. This research essay seeks to justify the argument that human errors are the main factors behind aviation related accidents. According Reason, high technology systems consist of defensive layers that either are engineered or rely on people and administrative procedures (6). Engineered defensive systems include physical

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Impressionist’s Gender Roles Essay Example for Free

Impressionist’s Gender Roles Essay Manet’s Olympia (circa 1863) is a classic example of the reclining nude. This appears to be a private space as there is an attending woman included in the painting. In contrast to this Berthe Morisot’s landscape painting is a public piece, depicting people on a promenade. For Manet’s painting, the viewer relates in a blatant voyeuristic way, gazing upon the nude just as the nude gazes back at the viewer in a poised repose. Morisot’s painting is striking because she depicts women out and about, not confined to a garden persey, but out in the open (two women and a small female child). In both paintings, the women depicted appear to be of high class, since the woman in Manet’s painting has a servant and the two women in Morisot’s painting have parasols indicating that they have enough money for accoutrements. Manet’s painting is a classic gaze painting, meaning there are tones of voyeurism but that the subject gazes back at the viewer with her head held high as though she were not indeed naked. In Morisot’s painting, there is a marked distance between the subjects and the viewer allowing the viewer more freedom to gaze upon these women and their stares do not penetrate the canvas back toward the viewer. It is interesting to note that Manet’s painting depicts a nude woman who stares blatantly back at the viewer while Morisot’s painting depicts clothed women who do note even recognize the viewer’s presence into their world. Thus, the difference between and male and female painters is taken note of in this instance: The female painter does not allow her subjects to look back while the male painter has a fully nude woman strongly gaze upon the viewer.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Ethical Implications of the Current Government Drone Strike Polices Essay Example for Free

The Ethical Implications of the Current Government Drone Strike Polices Essay Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) first made their appearance in 1919 when Elmer Sperry, who also invented the gyroscope and autopilot, attacked a captured German ship with the first UAV loaded down to with explosives((U. s. army unmanned, 2010). At the time this was a revolutionary weapon, but if we fast forward 80 years from the time of that experiment, UAVs became a common and prolific part of the modern battlefield. Although there is little debate as to the legality of their use on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, in recent years there are been much debate as to the role they should play in the larger American declared Global War on Terror or GWOT. While the government believes that it is acting in the best interest of the American people, more and more scholars and foreign governments are questioning the legality and ethical implications of the current UAV polices governing strikes outside of Iraq and Afghanistan. UAVs first saw action in the opening days of the GWOT in Afghanistan and during its first year of action UAVs attacked approximately 115 targets. This took place just shortly after Hellfire air-to-surface missiles were test fired and approved for use on Predator UAVs. When the war began in Iraq in 2003 UAVs were there helping to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s government and destroy military targets. Drones were utilized in either a direct support role of ground troops in an overwatch capacity with the ability to assist in command and control and the second in a hunter-killer capacity where the UAVs searched for targets (Callam, 2010). The role of UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan in these roles was seen no differently than the use of traditional aircraft, but their use was quickly expanded beyond what has traditional been seen as the battlefield. The program and its policies drew criticism and questions related to international law. It was not long after UAVs were weaponized that the CIA saw the potential of their use internationally. On November 3, 2002, after the Air Force rejected the mission over legal concerns, the CIA attacked a vehicle in Yemen with a UAV killing all six passengers (O’Connell, 2010). The difference between theses strikes and the ones conducted by the military lies in the fact that the military was striking targets in a recognized warzone while the CIA was operating over the sovereign territory of another nation. The UN Commission on Human Rights noted that this was done with the consent of Yemen and they had the, â€Å"responsibility to protect their citizens against the excesses of non-Sate actors†¦ actions must be taken in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law. Further, in the opinion of the Special Rapporteur, â€Å"the attack in Yemen constitutes a clear case of extrajudicial killing. † (Jahangir, 2003). Another stark example of the drone program involves the hunt for Baitullah Mehsud who was the leader of a militant group in Pakistan that attacked a police academy in that country. Five months later he was targeted and killed in an UAV attack in northwest Pakistan, but it was not the only strike carried out in an attempt to kill him. In fact, sixteen other strikes were used in a failed attempt to kill one man and in the process between 207 and 321 other people were killed (Callam, 2010). The large difference in the number of people reportedly killed is due in large part to the methodology used in determining how many people were killed (Beswick, 2010). Currently it is known that the United States has carried out UAV attacks in at least six countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. In addition to their expanded area of use their numbers have grown exponentially from 167 in 2002 to approximately 7,000 in 2010 (Deri,2012). The number of attacks has grown as well. According to the New American Foundation, between 2004 and 2007, 9 strikes were carried out in Pakistan. While that number has since fallen, it was as high as 118 strikes in 2010. The US military now trains more UAV pilots than traditional pilots and according Committee on Oversight and Government Reform no private entities are developing new manned aircraft (Deri,2012). While there is no question the use of these weapon systems is legal in countries where there is combat that meets the definition of armed conflict under international law such as Afghanistan, but their use in countries like Pakistan depends on how terrorism is classified. Previously, the government considered terrorism a crime and responded though diplomatic means and law enforcement procedures. It was not until the bombing of embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that the government responded to terrorism with military action by firing missiles at targets in Sudan and Afghanistan. In this case the government invoked the right to self defense in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations (Maggs, 2005). After the government began the drone attacks over countries they were not in direct conflict with, the UN Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council with concerns over, â€Å"the lack of transparency regarding the legal framework and targeting choices. † He requested information from the government and they declined to provide any official response to the UN, but cited a statement made by a government legal adviser named Harold Hongju Koh. Mr. Hongju Koh stated in a speech to the Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law in 2010 that there are a number of legal bases to justify the use of targeted killing. He stated that, â€Å"As a matter of international law, the United States is in an armed conflict with al-Qaeda, as well as the Taliban and associated forces, in response to the horrific 9/11 attacks, and may use force consistent with its inherent right to self-defense under international lawâ€Å" According to that statement, the government no longer believes terrorism is a crime, but now considers it as being part of an armed conflict. Acts of terrorism are not limited to the United States and al-Qaeda is active in other countries such as the United Kingdom, these other countries do not consider themselves at war with al-Qaeda. Sir Christopher Greenwood a British Judge on the International Court of Justice believes that, â€Å"In the language of international law there is no basis for speaking of a war on Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group, for such a group cannot be a belligerent, it is merely a band of criminals, and to treat it as anything else risks distorting the law while giving that group a status which to some implies a degree of legitimacy† (O’Connell, 2010). Why would the government change it view that terrorism is a crime to an act that has taken place during armed conflict? If they still considered it a crime, the government actions would be dictated by the Constitution and international law. Specifically, the Fifth Amendment which states that no person shall be, â€Å"deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law† and International Human Rights laws which also prohibits the killing of individuals without any judicial process. Abiding by these laws would severally limit the government’s ability to combat terrorism due to the remote locations and unfriendly locations many of the leaders operate out from. Being an American citizen does afford you any protection under the current counterterrorism target selection process either. Attorney General Eric Holder on March 5th of this year stated that if any Americans are working with al-Qaeda it is legal to place them on a capture/kill list. He stated that, Some have argued that the president is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who is a senior operational leader of Al Qaeda or associated forces, this is simply not accurate. ‘Due process’ and ‘judicial process’ are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security. The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process† (Savage, 2012). According to the statement by Mr. Hongju Koh, there are two main justifications that the government is using to rationalize the program of targets killing. The first is that we are in armed conflict with al-Qaeda and the second is that we are acting in self defense. While there is no official definition of armed conflict, The International Law Association Committee on the Use of Force studied the court cases and laws surrounding this issue and found in their final report that there are two â€Å"essential minimum criteria†¦ the existence of organized armed groups† and those groups must be, â€Å"engaged in fighting of some intensity†(Gardam, 2010). Al-Qaeda has a weak command and control structure and its organization has been described as nothing more than a â€Å"diffuse network of affiliated groups†, ruled more by ideology than anything else(Brahimi, 2010). The government has also stated time and again stated that al-Qaeda command and control is diminished and while dangerous are a weak organization. These facts lead to the conclusion that al-Qaeda is in fact not an â€Å"organized armed group† and the War on Terror is not so must a war against a organization, but a â€Å"war of ideas† as stated by Paul Wolfowitz former Deputy Defense Secretary. The second justification is that we are acting in self defense under Article 51, which allows the use of military force in response to an attack. Mary Ellen O’Connell a leading international law researcher pointed out in her paper titled â€Å"Unlawful Killing with Combat Drones†, that The International Court of Justice ruled that the right to self-defense must only result from, â€Å" an attack that involves a significant amount of force† (O’Connell, 2010). Also, when acting in self defense, the level of force used must take into account such things as collateral damage and the loss of innocent life. As shown in the hunt for Baitullah Mehsud, little respect for human life has been shown on behalf of the government. While terrorist attacks can be spectacular and attention grabbing, they are never sustained actions involving â€Å"a significant amount of force†, therefore the drone strikes should not be considered actions taken in self defense. In conclusion it would seem that the government use of drones overseas fails to meet the standards for self defense or actions taken during armed conflict. It would seem as indicated by the UN’s report on Human Rights that large parts international community question the legality of targeted killings by UAVs. The United States is leading the way in both drone technology and it use around the world, and they are failing to lead the way and set an example. In the future the government may find other countries using drones in ways they regard as illegal using the United States prior conduct as part of their justification.

Friday, September 20, 2019

English Literature Antigone Characters Ismene

English Literature Antigone Characters Ismene Antigone Characters Ismene Antigone Antigone by Sophocles is theatrical work that reflects upon Greek mythology and culture. Antigone has several themes and circumstantial settings that can be indirectly referred or related to in modern society. Sophocles uses various and strategically placed characters to present his play as well as his themes. The play mainly revolves around Antigone who acts alongside her elder sister, Ismene. Both are daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta. From the start, the audience is given a vague idea of both Antigone’s and Ismene’s characters. Both sisters have suffered the anguish of having lost their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. It is at the beginning of the play that we see Antigone’s braveness. She notifies Ismene of her intentions to bury Polyneices despite the fact that such an act is punishable by death, for Creon considers Polyneices to be a traitor and that by not having his body buried, Polyneices suffers a posthumous punishment. She makes this declaration whil e being fully aware of the penalties involved and this brings to light several other things about her character. The audience is able to see that she is confident in her actions and will justify anything that she does. Meanwhile Ismene can be viewed as being afraid and uneager to agree to an action. She confronts her sister’s statements by saying, â€Å" But think of the danger ! Think what Creon will do ! † (34, Prologue). This statement by Ismene create a vague feeling in the audience that Ismene is a pessimist. This view is further reinforced when she says, â€Å" And do what he has forbidden ! We are women / We cannot fight with men, Antigone ! † (46-47, Prologue). Hence Ismene is seen seeking a way out by giving excuses that are in a sense linked to negative stereotypes and this makes a reflection of her pessimistic nature. Antigone’s actions at the beginning of the play reflect her impulsivness and rash manner in handling situations. Rather than try to confront Creon regarding the burial of her brother she goes ahead to bury him. Her impulsive manner is also seen when she doubts Ismene’s promise that she will not divulge any information to anybody else regarding Antigone’s plans to bury her brother. She does this despite the reasonable consideration that Ismene is her only sister and family member left. Her actions at this point also reflect on her indifference in carry ing out actions that reflect on others. She does not seem to care about the fact that burying her brother may have unfavorable consequences on Ismene who would lose her sister and at the same time be in a dilemma. Ismene would have to risk telling the authorities and get her sister prosecuted so as to be a true patriot and to save her own life or keep mum and be prosecuted for aiding and abetting an offense alongside her sister whom she will eventually loose, regardless of what she decides to do . This scenario presents a strong argument that Ismene is considerate and rational as she eventually decides to keep Antigone’s plans secret and continues to do so even when Antigone attacks her. She responds by saying, â€Å" But a loyal friend indeed to those who love.† (85, Prologue). This demonstrates Ismene’s passive and unvengeful nature. Antigone bears responsibility well and can therefore be seen to be responsible. When brought before Creon, she admits her actions in burying Polyneices without much ado, she audaciously confesses, â€Å" I do. I deny nothing † (52, ODE I, Scene II). She goes ahead and justifies her action, and calmly makes it clear that she is not afraid of the punishment due to be imposed on her.. In contrast Ismene bears a sense of responsibility just like her sister. When brought before Creon, she admits her role in Antigone’s ‘crime’ without hesitation, she says, â€Å" Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty. † This and the ensuing exchange that follows between the sisters also brings to light other aspects of the sisters personalities. One of the aspects that is brought out by this exchange is that of loyalty. Both Ismene and Antigone are loyal to each other even in a situation where it is at the expense of death. Ismene is ready to die alongside her sister. At the same time Antigone cares too deeply for Ismene and does not want Ismene to suffer the punishment of death. The idea that loyalty exists between the two sisters is reinforced by the fact that Ismene, while in the face of death, defends her sister. When Antigone is declared as having lost her mind by Creon, she says, â€Å" Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver, King.† (153, ODE I, Scene II). Other events that had occurred earlier in the play portray this feeling of loyalty and the sisterly love that exists between Ismene and Antigone. Both sisters place family duty above everything else. Ismene’s earlier caution at the beginning of the play can now be interpreted as an act of sisterly love and concern. Eurydice who is Creon’s wife cum queen and Antigone are emotionally impulsive. Antigone commits suicide when she is sentenced to death and confined to a vault of stone. Eurydice in turn commits suicide when she hears about the death of her son, Haemon. Hence both characters can be seen as compulsive and quick to act rather than face the harsh reality of suffering. All in all it can be said that Sophocles primarily uses the various characteristics presented by Antigone, Ismene and Eurydice to develop his play. Although of these characters are the same gender their characteristics differ greatly and this lies in with the underlying themes of the play.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls :: An Inspector Calls J.B. Priestley Plays Essays

Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls Do you agree that Eva Smith is presented as a victim in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’? How does J.B Priestly use the Inspector to make the Birling family aware of their responsibilities to individuals such as Eva Smith and how successful is he? When Eva Smith is presented to the audience by the Inspector, she is immediately shown to be the victim of the play. The Inspector highlights and describes how each of the members of the Birling family has used Eva Smith. The Inspector shows that each character has victimised her and that each of them has a part to play and a partly responsible for her death. The Inspector soon shows us that he thinks she is a victim as he describes her as â€Å"A pretty, lively sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm.† The Inspector tries to make each family member, including Gerald Croft, guilty for how they have treated Eva Smith. ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a play all about the social attitudes of the time. The play shows the attitudes of high class people such as the Birlings and how they see other members of the community. The Birlings are a rich family and they don’t feel that they should care for other people. They think that they should only be responsible for themselves and there family and not get involved with helping less well off people. Mr Birling put it that â€Å"if we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody†¦it would be very awkward†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The play shows how Eva Smith is a victim of the attitude of society in 1912. It shows how hard it was for her as she was young, had no family and was unemployed, meaning she had no income to provide for herself. The play shows how some women were forced to beg charities for help to survive or how some young women were even forced into prostitution to provide themselves money to live on. The play highlights the bad way in which women, in a position similar to Eva Smith’s, were treated at that time by society, especially wealthy members of the public with high social statuses such as the Birlings. The Inspector targets each member of the Birling family and shows how they, as individuals, victimised Eva Smith and made her life harder. The Inspector firstly shows how Mr Birling treated her. Mr Birling is the father of the family and has a high status in the community. Mr Birling is a successful business man. He is involved in local politics and is hoping to be given a knighthood.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Fire as technology and influence on society :: essays research papers fc

Fire and Me: A Growing Experience Throughout human history, people have made discoveries and innovations which made their lives easier and more efficient. Many of these creations have advanced our culture, while others have paved the way for future advancements and inspired new ways of thought. One example of this is the discovery of fire, which revolutionized the way humans act and think. Fire has a unique connection to humans, evolving alongside humanity, each growing in ways that wouldn't have been possible without the other. We can only speculate as to how humans began to control fire, yet it can safely be assumed that humans are not the only species able to work with fire. Chimpanzees have been taught to light cigarettes, and orangutans have been observed maneuvering sticks, which they caught on fire, for a short time before the fire burned out (Goudsblom 25). The interesting thing; however, is that fire is universally used by humans (Goudsblom 20). Human cultures which have never had interactions with other human societies have developed control over fire. By control of fire, it is meant that a culture is able to consistently manipulate fire, keeping a fire burning for extended periods of time. This shows humans who have been isolated from all other cultures have learned to control fire themselves, rather than this control of fire being taught to them from an outside source, such as a separate culture which has already harnessed fire. This would imply a natural connection between humans and fire as all humans can control fire, and no other species other than humans have been successful in consistently using fire. Why did primitive man harness fire? At first glance, fire appears to have few natural advantages, and yet has many potentially harmful effects. Fire is destructive, devastating anything which comes across its path. This devastation is irreversible as once something is burned it cannot be returned to its unburned state (Goudsblom Intro). These characteristics are far from attractive, and yet humans, rather than fearing fire, came to adopt it. The adoption of fire could be attributed to several factors which occur during a natural fire. First, game can easily be seen fleeing a fire since the underbrush has been burned away, and some animals can be found killed and cooked by the fire. After a fire has died, warmth can still be found in the embers of the blaze (Goudsblom 14).

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

How Did the Decision to Conduct an ROI Study Influence the Design of Coaching Program Essay

How did the decision to conduct an ROI study influence the design of coaching program. Nations Hotel Corporation is one of the reputed USA based hotel company, with an international presence in 15 countries worldwide. Hospitality industries are quiet competitive in nature and today’s success rule of hospitality includes knowledge, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency which provides pleasure of stay and departure to their guests. Any addition or subtraction in these components can increase or decrease the rating of any organization. Nations Hotel with 98% brand awareness and 72% as customer satisfaction ratio were still far from the race of preferred choice amongst the customers. Hence there, arose a need to identify the gap , so a study was conducted by the Nations hotel learning organizations (NHLO), as a result need for high leverage training program (Chapter 1-Introduction to employee training and development- High Leverage Training Program) was determined, which can improve the operational efficiency, help in retention of high performing employees and increase the level of customer satisfaction, so a structured coaching program was proposed in front of senior executives, which can have impact on business . (Chapter 1-Introduction to employee training and devlopment -ASTD Competency model, this model shows the role of training and how it will impact the business strategy). Since these strategic trainings, are expansive in nature , senior executives of Nations hotel were concerned with the calculation of Return on Investments (â€Å"Chapter -6, Training Evaluation-ROI) on coaching project, calculation of direct and indirect cost and benefits achieved through the coaching program became crucial factor in designing the program. Instead of directly going ahead with the coaching program for all employees , Nations hotel selected 25 employees randomly for the training( chapter 6-Training and evaluation-Pilot Testing, random assignment). This small selection of team was an effective decision , as identifying the strength and weakness of the coaching program brought an opportunity to make changes before ,this coaching program became available to all employees, besides this factor, another strong reason was individual coaching was a huge investment for Nations hotel, so through pilot testing evaluating the effectiveness of training and cost , and conducting need assessment was better approach to calculate the ROI for the coaching program, so that finally while evaluating the results and business impact after conducting the coaching program for the executives, Nations hotel can make a decision on further expanding this coaching program for rest of the employees. Hence the coaching program was designed in 14 steps, which comprised of the following steps. 1. Voluntary participation 2. Need for Coaching 3. Self Assessments 4. Commitment for data 5. Roles and responsibilities 6. The match 7. Orientation session 8. The engagement 9. Coaching session 10. Goal setting 11 . Action planning 12. Active learning 13. Progress review 14. Reporting. These steps helped in calculating various components of ROI which includes both the calculation of tangible and non tangible benefits, evaluation of confidence level amongst the newly trained employees, monetary value gained or lost, impact on turnover, measurement of service improvement, and last but not the least job satisfaction amongst employees after this coaching program, which will finally have impact on business. (Chapter 6-Training Evaluation-Results & Return on Investment). Question 2. Discuss the importance of getting participants committed to provide quality data. Determining the effectiveness of training program is referred as evaluation. Kirkpatrick’s four level framework measures the outcomes of an effective training program, which includes following four levels of evaluation, also there is a fifth level of evaluation, which is out of the Kirkpatrick’s framework of evaluation, and is known as Return on Investment. (Chapter 6-Training Evaluation-Kirkpatrick’s four level of framework of evaluation criteria) Level 1 Reaction: It provides feedback about the content of the program, participant’s engagement, data gathered in this level helps in improving the training program Level 2. Learning: Knowledge and skills of trainees are tested through norm referenced test, criterion referenced test or quizzes, observations and work samples, and data collected at this level, helps to judge the skill based outcomes of trainee from the training. Level 3. Application: These are also known as affective outcomes, which are measured through collection of data via interviews and attitude surveys, to measure the skill enhancements after training. Level 4. Results or Business Impact: How much training program has paid off for the company, such as improvement in customer care inclined or declined on turn around time after the training, measuring such outcomes falls, under this level, which is measured by collecting data through performance records, observation, information system Level 5. ROI: This step compares the monetary benefits to the organization with the cost of training, such as by collecting data for both tangible and intangible benefits, which includes direct and indirect cost , level of confidence , job satisfaction , cost benefit analysis etc.. Result of one level of evaluation, becomes the benchmark for the next level of evaluation, this can be best explained by the example of Nations Hotel, where careful and quality data recorded in action plan and company records by executives helped the NHLO team in making of convincing ,coaching business impact program. The ROI process in Nations Hotel, involved gathering data through out the coaching, so that evaluation result can be evaluated in all the above mentioned five levels. Since participants (executives, senior executives, coach) provided data at every level of evaluation, which helped in further clubbing of all the data, that was collected at all five levels separately, were than integrated to provide an overall evaluation of the program, and measure how effectively the program is impacting the strategic goals of the company, careful and accurate data collection at all levels helped the NHLO team to measure the result of coaching program at every step, so that any flaw at one level , can be rectified easily before moving to the next step, for example the benefit cost ratio of NHLO was 3. 21, that is it, suggests that on every dollar spend,$3. 21 was returned, but in absence of accurate data this figure would have been misleading , and could have resulted in fiasco. Not only Nations Hotel, infact most of the companies follows similar process for evaluating the levels, by collecting data at every level, and than utilizing the data for moving ahead with the next level. These data’s were further converted into monetary value, through various ways, which was further utilized in analyzing the ROI on training. In absence of quality data, training will have no impact neither for an individual in terms of cognitive, skills application, and affective outcomes nor for any organization in terms of positive business impact and ROI, which an organization aimed for. Hence quality data from the participants has a huge impact in determining the credibility, reliability and relevance of the training program ,so active participation from the trainees and providing reliable data, is essential for an effective training program (Chapter 6-Training evaluation-Outcomes used in evaluating training programs)

Monday, September 16, 2019

Not just children Essay

The essay is effective in that it provides some convincing examples of potential internet dangers that can be experienced, with emphasis on how these â€Å"bad guys† can get away with their deeds with no law to control their actions. I must agree that â€Å"people who use the internet should not be exempt from many of the rules and regulations that govern their conduct elsewhere. † Its arguments about general online business holds much merit. I do agree that there should be laws against copyright violation, fraud, child pornography, trust violation, and child-stalking. However, the essay’s great failing is that it does not address the issue of freedom of expression as much as I think it needed to in the context of the topic, especially concerning pornography. Internet pornography is certainly a complicated topic, considering that many children have internet access. The essay contends that pornography must be controlled, particularly because of these children. Although the welfare of children should indeed be of concern to us, I subscribe to the idea that â€Å"if you don’t want to see, don’t look. † Encountering pornographic sites (or going anywhere on the internet for that matter) generally requires an active decision by a person. I take the view that sites on the internet are public only in the sense that they are accessible when a person chooses to access them; but that these sites are not publicly displayed in the sense that a billboard on the street is. Since seeing content generally involves the decision of a person to visit, making whatever information accessible to whomever chooses to access it seems to be reasonable. There have been times when a search using a seemingly innocuous phrase turns up results with nudity or pornographic content, especially when I’m using a search engine with filters turned off. It seems to me that encountering sites with offensive or objectionable content is unavoidable, even if one does not want to come across them. I feel that children’s access to pornographic sites should be restricted. I recognize that total censorship would be very difficult to impose, but still, measures should be enacted to deter or hinder young children from accessing such sites. One solution that has been proposed to solve this problem advocates a change in the domain naming system that will easily identify sites that are â€Å"for adults only† (i. e. , pornographic sites). For example, if sites with adult content ends in â€Å". xxx† rather than the usual domain identifiers, users will know that the site contains adult content, and therefore, can steer clear from it. Using this system, it will also be easier to filter out those kinds of websites. However, if there is any censorship, it will affect everyone, not just children. I still subscribe to the notion that it should be the parent’s/elder’s responsibility to protect children from the darker side of the internet. History has shown that anything that is suppressed by the government does not really disappear, but goes underground. Censorship in any form is a blow to the whole notion of the freedom of expression of the public. With this freedom comes responsibility, and it might actually be better to allow the public to take care of themselves (on the internet) in this regard.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Cousins and Strangers: A Harmonious Meeting

Moya’s Cousins and Strangers is a monograph which encapsulates disparate aspects of a particular cultural phenomenon—the position of Spanish immigrants in Argentina. The author uses writings from primary sources such as letters to form the basis of his understanding of this phenomenon, taking an approach to history that seems to present ‘certified’ knowledge in terms of authenticity and verified details.The book covers the historical period from 1850 to 1930, when, in an unprecedented exodus, millions of people migrated from the vastly-overpopulated Europe to Latin America. This paper focuses on a comparative review of Moya’s macro-structural and microsocial approaches, found in chapter one and three respectively.The first chapter is an apt illustration of Moya’s style. He examines emigration from Spain in a macro-structural light, examining the reasons for the movement of millions from one continent to another. In terms of the methodology he has utilized, Moya observes that he does not validate the qualitative method, since he has found that the quantitative one is more likely to present accurate results, and is less vulnerable to the risk of manipulation:[T]his gross discrepancy between my findings and the qualitative evidence once again confirms the potential for deception inherent in qualitative sources and the peril of relying solely on this type of material. It validates the need for quantitative methods in social history. (p. 233)Although Moya’s own book is based on qualitative research through the examination of census records, newspapers, magazines, and personal narratives, therefore, he still recommends that qualitative research cannot be the sole measure of a phenomenon or its attributes. As Moya observes, no study which aims at â€Å"the uncovering of past social realities† (p. 233) can afford to engage merely in the gathering of data through qualitative means.According to him, if the researcher does not discover and implement quantitative means of gathering data, he or she is merely participating in a kind of â€Å"literary criticism—the analysis of texts† (p. 233). This is not to deride literary criticism, but to illustrate a primary difference between literary and historical writing—the demands of the latter imply that the writer or researcher engage in methods of exploration that are focused on ‘real,’ empirical contexts, and not just on opinions on existing documentation, which would be akin to a literary analysis rather than an exposition of freshly discovered facts.Moya begins the first chapter by addressing his central research question directly to the readers: â€Å"Why did [the] Mataronese and 2 million other Spaniards migrate to Argentina between the midnineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth?† (p. 13) He goes on to outline the primary reasons, and quotes data from sources which have previously been negl ected as being of much value, such as an incidental remark made by Argentinean Vice-Consul Carrau, who described the â€Å"push-pull scheme† as the primary reason for the migration (p. 13).According to this method, which Moya describes as â€Å"a useful heuristic device† (p. 13), migration takes place because â€Å"push† factors drive people out of a particular location, while â€Å"pull† factors entice them into venturing into a geographical area which may fulfill the migrating people’s requirements. As Carrau observed, â€Å"the strikes and labor unrest that have driven 5,000 workers into public charity push hundreds across the ocean, attracted by the flourishing economy of the River Plate† (p. 13).However, Moya is a discerning researcher and does not accept easy answers. He points out that there is â€Å"one basic flaw† in the identification of such a reason for emigration:We could find a myriad of places in which labor unrest, fam ine, wars, starvation, and a whole array of â€Å"push† factors never led to emigration and in which fertile, empty lands, flourishing economies, high wages, and other â€Å"pull† factors never enticed immigration. In other words, push and pull conditions have concurred in countless areas and countries of the world from time immemorial to the present, yet mass transoceanic migration occurred only during a particular historical epoch: from the midnineteenth century to the Great Depression of 1930. (p. 13)It is clear from the outset, therefore, that Moya does not wish to apply generalizations to his area of research; nor does he want to give more credibility than is due to the â€Å"push and pull† argument, even if it is true in this case. As the author observes, the same conditions have existed over several cultures in disparate locations and periods in history, but none have led to migration on such a large scale. Consequently, it is clear that Moya’s int ention here is to identify particular rather than universal reasons for the Spanish migration to Argentina. As he declares, â€Å"one could easily compile similar lists for periods and places where no migration took place† (p. 14). Although the question of why migration took place is itself â€Å"simple,† therefore, â€Å"the answer is not† (p. 14).This, however, is not to suggest that Moya debunks the push-and-pull theory in the context of this exodus. He acknowledges that â€Å"As the trend matured, a more balanced approach began to emphasize the complex interplay between the premigration heritage and the host environment, between continuity and change† (p. 4). As he observes, the concept of adaptation of peoples to new cultures, and their subsequent assimilation into the host culture, form â€Å"the a priori position of this study† (p. 4).Although most works on cultural migration focus on the movement itself and on its possible causes, Moya choo ses to go back to an earlier time, covering the three decades prior to the migration, to analyze â€Å"the pre-arrival traits† (p. 4) of the migrant community, thus prioritizing the dynamics of interaction with their new environment that the migrants faced, and the ways in which environmental changes impacted their adaptation to their new host culture.A particularly useful feature of Moya’s text is that he also provides occasional commentary on his methods, and uses such instances to himself outline the possible drawbacks of his approaches. For example, in his chapter on migration, he discusses the validity of the macro-structural approach: â€Å"During the decades when macro- structural conditions obstructed emigration, the microsocial networks became inactive but not inert, the chain became dormant but did not die† (p. 68). In the light of this recognition, Moya bases his next section on the microsocial approach, utilizing it to complement and sometimes counte r the evidence and recommendations suggested by the macro-structural approach.The primary factor which encourages Moya to implement the microsocial approach in his quest to discover why the immigration took place is the fact that there was a socio-historical precedent for such migration: â€Å"Emigration from Matarà ³ to Buenos Aires dated back at least to the middle of the eighteenth century and was originally related to transatlantic trade† (p. 61). At this point, Moya’s microsocial approach takes the text into a hitherto-unexplored area of interpretation, as he takes the argument back full circle to Vice-Consul Carrau, and the manner in which his appointment as an official impacts our quest to discover the reasons behind the migration:Yet the real clue to understanding Mataronese immigration to Argentina lay not in the protocol and formality of that appointment but in the less formal reality it concealed†¦ [I]f one scrutinizes the consulates, odd and unconvent ional consuls appear. Indeed, the Argentine vice-consul at Matarà ³ was neither a diplomat nor an Argentine. Sr. Carrau was a Matarà ³ druggist with personal and commercial overseas relations, married to the daughter of Josep Riera Canals, an americano, or successful returnee who maintained business and family relations with Buenos Aires. (p. 63)Moya goes on to outline other such business and personal connections between Carrau’s succeeding consuls and Buenos Aires as well. He comes to the discovery that â€Å"in provinces that lacked social linkages with Buenos Aires, like Valladolid and Cà ³rdoba, the results in terms of attracting immigrants proved disappointing† (p. 64). Thus, Moya considerably expands the scope of his analysis by including such non-formal reasons for immigration as social precedents and interconnectedness between the act of immigration and intra-city links, which must have provided the incentive for their Spanish â€Å"cousins† to enter areas in Argentina which had established links with immigrant cultures.In his microsocial analysis, Moya also looks into such empirical factors conducive to immigration as the availability of roads and other transport routes that may have facilitated travel. He points out that such factors as the transportation (sometimes illegal) of such refuges in cargo and passenger ships are an important consideration in identifying why the Spanish migrants decided to go to Argentina, rather than any other neighboring location. For example, he observes that from 1840 to 1860, there were only four ship routes from Europe to the River Plate, and only five ports in Spain, out of which only one, Genoa, was the primary point of departure for emigrants (p. 64).Other ports remained inaccessible to immigrants; Moya’s research of passenger lists from the time revealed that Barcelona, for example, had no record, of any vessel carrying more than eight such passengers, barring one exception, which wa s also limited to only sixteen passengers. Also, Barcelona was not a stop on many of the routes. It was only in the 1880s, when â€Å"the use of larger and faster carriers and more frequent ocean crossings enabled steamships from the Genoa route to make stops in Barcelona† (p. 64) that Large-scale migration to Argentina began. Thus, Moya resources empirical causes for the mass migration, which gives us a realistic picture of what actually happened, rather than relying on sociological or ethnological theory to outline the reasons for why the migration took place.Among Moya’s strengths is the fact that despite his target area being a large demographic population and also covering a long historical period, he does not focus excessively on the broader, more generalized aspects of such research, but instead provides detailed information, often in the form of charts and tables (e.g., pp. 16-17) which provide the reader with a quick at-a-glance format in which to assess infor mation. Also, he does not restrict his work to national boundaries by prioritizing either Spain or Argentina as the point of focus, but rather focuses on the migrating population itself. This gives his work an objectivity that transcends issues of cultural and ethic domination.ReferencesMoya, J. C. (1998). Cousins and strangers: Spanish immigrants in Buenos Aires, 1850-1930. Berkeley: The University of California Press.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

The Host Chapter 37: Wanted

There was a pattern to the wins. If Jared and Kyle played together, they won. If Jared played with Ian, then that team would win. It seemed to me that Jared could not be defeated, until I saw the brothers play together. At first it seemed to be a strained thing, for Ian at least, playing as teammates with Kyle. But after a few minutes of running in the dark, they fell into a familiar pattern-a pattern that had existed since long before I'd come to this planet. Kyle knew what Ian would do before Ian did it, and vice versa. Without having to speak, they told each other everything. Even when Jared pulled all the best players to his side-Brandt, Andy, Wes, Aaron, Lily, and Maggie as goalie-Kyle and Ian were victorious. â€Å"Okay, okay,† Jeb said, catching Aaron's goal attempt with one hand and tucking the ball under his arm. â€Å"I think we all know the winners. Now, I hate to be a party pooper, but there's work waiting†¦ and, to be honest, I'm bushed.† There were a few halfhearted protests and a few moans, but more laughter. No one seemed too upset to have the fun end. From the way a few people sat down right where they were and put their heads between their knees to breathe, it was clear Jeb wasn't the only one who was tired out. People began to drift out in twos and threes. I scooted to one side of the corridor's mouth, making room for them to pass, probably on their way to the kitchen. It had to be past time for lunch, though it was hard to mark the hour in this black hole. Through the gaps in the line of exiting humans, I watched Kyle and Ian. When the game was called, Kyle had raised his hand for a high five, but Ian had stalked past him without acknowledging the gesture. Then Kyle caught his brother's shoulder and spun him around. Ian knocked Kyle's hand away. I tensed for a fight-and it seemed like one at first. Kyle threw a punch toward Ian's stomach. Ian dodged it easily, though, and I saw that there was no force behind it. Kyle laughed and used his superior reach to rub his fist into Ian's scalp. Ian smacked that hand away, but this time he halfway smiled. â€Å"Good game, bro,† I heard Kyle say. â€Å"You've still got it.† â€Å"You're such an idiot, Kyle,† Ian answered. â€Å"You got the brains; I got the looks. Seems fair.† Kyle threw another half-strength punch. This time, Ian caught it and twisted his brother into a headlock. Now he was really smiling, and Kyle was cussing and laughing at the same time. It all looked very violent to me; my eyes narrowed, tight with the stress of watching. But at the same time, it brought to mind one of Melanie's memories: three puppies rolling on the grass, yapping furiously and baring their teeth as if their only desire was to rip out their brothers' throats. Yes, they're playing, Melanie confirmed. The bonds of brotherhood go deep. As they should. This is right. If Kyle really doesn't kill us, this will be a good thing. If, Melanie repeated morosely. â€Å"Hungry?† I looked up, and my heart stopped beating for a slightly painful moment. It seemed that Jared was still a believer. I shook my head. This gave me the moment I needed to be able to speak to him. â€Å"I'm not sure why, since I've done nothing besides sit here, but I'm just tired.† He held out his hand. Get a hold of yourself, Melanie warned me. He's just being courteous. You think I don't know that? I tried to keep my hand from shaking as I reached for his. He pulled me carefully to my feet-to my foot, really. I balanced there on my good leg, not sure how to proceed. He was confused, too. He still held my hand, but there was a wide space between us. I thought of how ridiculous I would look hopping through the caves, and felt my neck get warm. My fingers curled around his, though I wasn't really using him for support. â€Å"Where to?† â€Å"Ah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I frowned. â€Å"I don't really know. I suppose there's still a mat by the ho-in the storage area.† He frowned back, liking that idea no better than I did. And then a strong arm was under my arms, supporting my weight. â€Å"I'll get her where she needs to go,† Ian said. Jared's face was careful, the way he looked at me when he didn't want me to know what he was thinking. But he was looking at Ian now. â€Å"We were just discussing where exactly that would be. She's tired. Maybe the hospital†¦?† I shook my head at the same time Ian did. After the past horrible days spent there, I didn't think I could bear the room I'd once misguidedly feared. Especially Walter's empty bed†¦ â€Å"I've got a better place for her,† Ian said. â€Å"Those cots aren't much softer than rock, and she's got a lot of sore spots.† Jared still held my hand. Did he realize how tightly he was gripping it? The pressure was starting to get uncomfortable, but he didn't seem aware. And I certainly wasn't going to complain. â€Å"Why don't you get lunch?† Jared suggested to Ian. â€Å"You look hungry. I'll take her wherever you had planned†¦?† Ian chuckled, a low, dark sound. â€Å"I'm fine. And honestly, Jared, Wanda needs a bit more help than a hand. I don't know if you're†¦ comfortable enough with the situation to give her that. You see -â€Å" Ian paused to lean down and pull me quickly up into his arms. I gasped as the movement tugged at my side. Jared didn't free my hand. My fingertips were turning red. â€Å"-she's actually had enough exercise for one day, I think. You go on ahead to the kitchen.† They stared at each other while my fingertips turned purple. â€Å"I can carry her,† Jared finally said in a low voice. â€Å"Can you?† Ian challenged. He held me out, away from his body. An offer. Jared stared at my face for a long minute. Then he sighed and dropped my hand. Ow, that hurts! Melanie complained. She was referring to the sudden lance of pain that shot through my chest, not the return of blood to my fingers. Sorry. What do you want me to do about it? He's not yours. Yes. I know that. Ow. Sorry. â€Å"I think I'll tag along,† Jared said as Ian, with a tiny, triumphant smile hovering around the edges of his mouth, turned and headed toward the exit. â€Å"There's something I want to discuss with you.† â€Å"Suit yourself.† Jared didn't discuss anything at all as we walked through the dark tunnel. He was so quiet, I wasn't sure he was still there. But when we broke out into the light of the cornfield again, he was right beside us. He didn't speak until we were through the big plaza-until there was no one around but the three of us. â€Å"What's your take on Kyle?† he asked Ian. Ian snorted. â€Å"He prides himself on being a man of his word. Usually, I would trust a promise from him. In this situation†¦ I'm not letting her out of my sight.† â€Å"Good.† â€Å"It will be fine, Ian,† I said. â€Å"I'm not afraid.† â€Å"You don't have to be. I promise-no one is ever going to do something like this to you again. You will be safe here.† It was hard to look away from his eyes when they blazed like that. Hard to doubt anything he said. â€Å"Yes,† Jared agreed. â€Å"You will.† He was walking just behind Ian's shoulder. I couldn't see his expression. â€Å"Thanks,† I whispered. No one spoke again until Ian paused at the red and gray doors that leaned over the entrance to his cave. â€Å"Would you mind getting that?† Ian said to Jared, nodding toward the doors. Jared didn't move. Ian turned around so we could both see him; his face was careful again. â€Å"Your room? This is your better place?† Jared's voice was full of skepticism. â€Å"It's her room now.† I bit my lip. I wanted to tell Ian that of course this wasn't my room, but I didn't get a chance before Jared began questioning him. â€Å"Where's Kyle staying?† â€Å"With Wes, for now.† â€Å"And you?† â€Å"I'm not exactly sure.† They stared at each other with appraising eyes. â€Å"Ian, this is -† I started to say. â€Å"Oh,† he interrupted, as if just remembering me†¦ as if my weight was so insignificant that he'd forgotten I was here. â€Å"You're exhausted, aren't you? Jared, could you get the door, please?† Wordlessly, Jared wrenched the red door back with a bit too much force and shoved it on top of the gray one. I now really saw Ian's room for the first time, with the noon sun filtering down through the narrow cracks in the ceiling. It wasn't as bright as Jamie and Jared's room, or as tall. It was smaller, more proportionate. Roundish-sort of like my hole, only ten times the size. There were two twin mattresses on the floor, shoved against opposite walls to make a narrow aisle between them. Against the back wall, there was a long, low wooden cupboard; the left side had a pile of clothes on top, two books, and a stack of playing cards. The right side was completely empty, though there were shapes in the dust that indicated this was a recent occurrence. Ian set me carefully down on the right mattress, arranging my leg and straightening the pillow under my head. Jared stood in the doorway, facing the passageway. â€Å"That okay?† Ian asked me. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"You look tired.† â€Å"I shouldn't be-I've done nothing but sleep lately.† â€Å"Your body needs sleep to heal.† I nodded. I couldn't deny that it was hard to hold up my eyelids. â€Å"I'll bring you food later-don't worry about anything.† â€Å"Thank you. Ian?† â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"This is your room,† I mumbled. â€Å"You'll sleep here, of course.† â€Å"You don't mind?† â€Å"Why would I?† â€Å"It's probably a good idea-best way to keep an eye on you. Get some sleep.† â€Å"Okay.† My eyes were already closed. He patted my hand, and then I heard him get to his feet. A few seconds later, the wooden door clunked softly against stone. What do you think you're doing? Melanie demanded. What? What did I do now? Wanda, you're†¦ mostly human. You must realize what Ian will think of your invitation. Invitation? I could see the direction of her thoughts now. It's not like that. This is his room. There are two beds here. There aren't enough sleeping areas for me to have my own space. Of course we should share. Ian knows that. Does he? Wanda, open your eyes. He's starting to†¦ How do I explain it so that you'll understand right? To feel about you†¦ the way you feel about Jared. Can't you see that? I couldn't answer for two heartbeats. That's impossible, I finally said. â€Å"Do you think what happened this morning will influence Aaron or Brandt?† Ian asked in a low voice from the other side of the doors. â€Å"You mean Kyle getting a bye?† â€Å"Yeah. They didn't have to†¦ do anything before. Not when it looked so likely that Kyle would do it for them.† â€Å"I see your point. I'll speak to them.† â€Å"You think that will be enough?† Ian asked. â€Å"I've saved both their lives. They owe me. If I ask them for something, they'll do it.† â€Å"You'd bet her life on that?† There was a pause. â€Å"We'll keep an eye on her,† Jared finally said. Another long silence. â€Å"Aren't you going to go eat?† Jared asked. â€Å"I think I'll hang out here for a bit†¦ How about you?† Jared didn't answer. â€Å"What?† Ian asked. â€Å"Is there something you want to say to me, Jared?† â€Å"The girl in there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jared said slowly. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"That body doesn't belong to her.† â€Å"Your point?† Jared's voice was hard when he answered. â€Å"Keep your hands off it.† A low chuckle from Ian. â€Å"Jealous, Howe?† â€Å"That's not really the issue.† â€Å"Really.† Ian was sarcastic now. â€Å"Wanda seems to be, more or less, cooperating with Melanie. It sounds like they're almost†¦ on friendly terms. But obviously Wanda's making the decisions. What if it were you? How would you feel if you were Melanie? What if you were the one†¦ invaded that way? What if you were trapped, and someone else was telling your body what to do? If you couldn't speak for yourself? Wouldn't you want your wishes-as much as they could be known-respected? At the very least by other humans?† â€Å"Okay, okay. Point taken. I'll keep that in mind.† â€Å"What do you mean, you'll keep that in mind?† Jared demanded. â€Å"I mean that I'll think about it.† â€Å"There's nothing to think about,† Jared retorted. I knew how he would look from the sound of his voice-teeth clenched, jaw strained. â€Å"The body and the person locked inside it belong to me.† â€Å"You're sure that Melanie still feels the -â€Å" â€Å"Melanie will always be mine. And I will always be hers.† Always. Melanie and I were suddenly at opposite ends of the spectrum. She was flying, elated. I was†¦ not. We waited anxiously through the next silence. â€Å"But what if it were you?† Ian asked in little more than a whisper. â€Å"What if you were stuffed in a human body and let loose on this planet, only to find yourself lost among your own kind? What if you were such a good†¦ person that you tried to save the life you'd taken, that you almost died trying to get her back to her family? What if you then found yourself surrounded by violent aliens who hated you and hurt you and tried to murder you, over and over again?† His voice faltered momentarily. â€Å"What if you just kept doing whatever you could to save and heal these people despite that? Wouldn't you deserve a life, too? Wouldn't you have earned that much?† Jared didn't answer. I felt my eyes getting moist. Did Ian really think so highly of me? Did he really think I'd earned the right to a life here? â€Å"Point taken?† Ian pressed. â€Å"I-I'll have to think about that one.† â€Å"Do that.† â€Å"But still -â€Å" Ian interrupted him with a sigh. â€Å"Don't get worked up. Wanda isn't exactly human, despite the body. She doesn't seem to respond to†¦ physical contact the same way a human would.† Now Jared laughed. â€Å"Is that your theory?† â€Å"What's funny?† â€Å"She is quite capable of responding to physical contact,† Jared informed him, his tone suddenly sober again. â€Å"She's human enough for that. Or her body is, anyway.† My face went hot. Ian was silent. â€Å"Jealous, O'Shea?† â€Å"Actually†¦ I am. Surprisingly so.† Ian's voice was strained. â€Å"How would you know that?† Now Jared hesitated. â€Å"It was†¦ sort of an experiment.† â€Å"An experiment?† â€Å"It didn't go the way I thought it would. Mel punched me.† I could hear that he was grinning at the memory, and I could see, in my head, the little lines fanning out around his eyes. â€Å"Melanie†¦ punched†¦ you?† â€Å"It sure wasn't Wanda. You should have seen her face†¦ What? Hey, Ian, easy, man!† â€Å"Did you think for one moment what that must have done to her?† Ian hissed. â€Å"Mel?† â€Å"No, you fool, Wanda!† â€Å"Done to Wanda?† Jared asked, sounding bewildered by the idea. â€Å"Oh, get out of here. Go eat something. Stay away from me for a few hours.† Ian didn't give him a chance to answer. He yanked the door out of his way-roughly but very quietly-and then slid into his room and put the door back in its place. He turned and met my gaze. From his expression, he was surprised to find me awake. Surprised and chagrined. The fire in his eyes blazed and then slowly dimmed. He pursed his lips. He cocked his head to one side, listening. I listened, too, but Jared's retreat made no sound. Ian waited for another moment, then sighed and plunked down on the edge of his mattress, across from me. â€Å"I guess we weren't as quiet as I thought,† he said. â€Å"Sound carries in these caves,† I whispered. He nodded. â€Å"So†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he finally said. â€Å"What do you think?†

Friday, September 13, 2019

Ansoffs Product Market Expansion Grid Making Tool

Ansoffs Product Market Expansion Grid Making Tool Strategy plays a huge role in a business’s success or failure. A strategy has to be chosen in accordance to a company’s vision, mission, goals and objectives. One of the major decisions that today’s marketing managers have to take is to follow what strategy and when is the right time to implement the strategy. With the ever-increasing competition in the market, along with the continually changing customer interests, it has become difficult for managers to decide upon a strategy which can ensure a substantial amount of success, even if steps are taken carefully. The more than ever informed customers are also forcing managers to change on a regular basis. This report explains the basic fundamentals of Ansoff’s Product Market Expansion Grid and the four strategies that can be deployed after using the grid. The grid can be used to predict any growth opportunities that may exist in the market for the company to expand its business, either in terms of market or in terms of products. Based on the strategy indicated to by the grid, the managers can decide on further actions which should be taken to be more profitable. The later phase of the report describes how Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates telecom giant, entered the Nigerian market in the fifth place and still were able to penetrate the market deeply within a significant small amount of time. The managers could successfully learn from their experiences in the Egyptian market they had entered before embarking their journey of Nigeria, and that proved to be very helpful. The report also discusses the various promotions that were undertaken by Etisalat and the reason those promotions were chosen. The report emphasises on the importance of research and using the findings of the same to enhance business profitability and success. Introduction With the ever-changing lifestyles of customers in the contemporary world, businesses have realised the importance of customers in the success or fail ure of the organization. To get along with the changing business environment and customer interests, companies are transforming themselves. Today, customers are ruling the business practices and telling the companies about the type of products and services that they desire. As a result, companies have also transformed from being product oriented to being customer oriented. They are now focusing on customers, tracking them, collecting personal information about them, which would help them to understand them better and provide customized offers. Bottomline: customer is the king. One of the main reasons for this is the fierce competition existing in the markets in which these businesses operate. With the on-going changes in the organizational practices, there resides the need to revive the strategies that a company work upon, of which marketing forms a major part. Good marketing has evolved to be vital component for any successful business. It needs careful planning and execution. To i ncrease the probability that a business will succeed, companies are continually revamping and reforming their marketing practices. One of the tools helping the companies to refine their business practices is the Product-Market Expansion grid, proposed by Ansoff, to detect new intensive growth opportunities.

Healthcare delivery compare and contrast Research Paper

Healthcare delivery compare and contrast - Research Paper Example outline the historical aspect of care delivery in the US for the preceding 100 years and recognize the changes in healthcare delivery that resulted from industry forces. Moreover, a comparison would be made between the past healthcare delivery methods or models and the recent ones in light of expected future changes in the research paper. Specially mentioning, one of the driving forces, which changed the overall healthcare system of the US, is the augmentation in healthcare expenditures. This extensive growth in healthcare expenses eventually restricted in offering quality care to the people belonging to the nation by a certain level. Apart from this, the other driving force, which changed the entire healthcare delivery system of the nation, is the advancements made in technology. Notably, diverse market forces are viewed to be challenging in making changes in the US healthcare segment. It is expected that the above framed driving forces would certainly make the US to realize about the significance of developing the healthcare segment, based on which effective care can be provided to the patients (Etheredge et. al., 2014). While determining the changes in healthcare delivery methods or models, it would be vital to mention that today’s healthcare is quite complex, which required to be upgraded for accomplishing intended targets. In this similar context, certain alterations particularly in healthcare delivery methods of the US have been apparently noted that resulted from diverse industry forces. These changes can be measured in the form of lessening both unnecessary as well as underutilization particularly of expensive resources, standardizing varied levels of quality of care and optimizing healthcare facilities among others (Conklin, 2002). In addition, the other changes include raising healthcare expenditures such as in terms of advancing healthcare delivery models or methods and effectively utilizing accessible resources among others. In recent times, the