Online Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online Assessment - Essay Example RESPONSE 1 Samba Bank uses two Cialdini weapons of influence (Polanski 1-6), which includes reciprocity and scarcity intentionally. Notably, reciprocity dictates that whenever we receive value, we get an impulse to give value back (Cialdini 3-8). Indeed, in some cases, we may even get inspired to give back more value than we received. Indeed, whenever we receive value free in the marketing, it is for impelling reciprocity. Hence, we have so many promotions, discounts, and gifts in the market to trigger us into buying more (Cialdini 3-8). In the case of Samba bank, this weapon applies where the bank hospitalizes customers with expensive kinds of coffee, dates, and chocolates, which get customers satisfaction. The reciprocity effect is that the bank will maintain its customers and encourage them to do more transactions. As branch manager, I also use this weapon mostly when dealing with a customer who is out of the country and his time deposit has matured. I seek to satisfy such custome rs when they call the bank for a renewal instead of following the formal paper work process of renewal. As such, I renew their accounts over the phone and wait for their signatures until they come. Hence, I satisfy their needs with an aim of maintaining them and gaining reciprocity when they return. Moreover, I unfreeze customers’ accounts while they are abroad if the cause to freeze was a simple issue like expiry of their ID. In this way, the customers will be able to use the account while travelling and update their ID when they return. This results to reciprocity as such customers invest in the bank for a long time. I also ensure that customers seeking business loans get the money within a short time with an aim of gaining reciprocity when their businesses grow. Scarcity is other weapon used in Samba bank to derive a perception that a financial product or service is limited or diminishing thus, creating more demand for the product (Cialdini 199-207). Indeed, the scarcity w eapon creates promotions, which seemingly end at a certain time but actually never ends. They only encourage more sales at the end of the promotion time (Cialdini 199-207). In Samba bank, there are random offers to attract more customers to the bank or increase the cash flow. Indeed, the bank offers a chance for customers to deposit smaller amounts than normal to upgrade their accounts. For example, the bank allows customers to upgrade from the Blue to Gold segment on depositing only $ 25000 instead of the normal $75000. This compels customers to deposit in their accounts with money from other banks thus increasing Samba’s cash flow. Moreover, the bank offers the customers a chance to enjoy free credit card life at no annual fee for a short period. This attracts new customers to the benefit of the bank. RESPONSE 2 Samba bank uses various marketing strategies that relate to the concepts/theories in Ariely’s Predictably Irrational book. Such concepts include the cost of zero cost concepts and the power of price concept. The concept of cost of zero cost implies that humans consider losses and profits before purchasing but when something is free, customers do not consider the losses (Ariely 50-56). Indeed, customers get the perception that the product on offer has more value than its face value. Indeed, people would wait for long to get a free thing (Ariely 49-54). As such, this concept is very powerful in triggering customer’

Look at the attachments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Look at the attachments - Essay Example provement of others’ health from the very beginning of my life, and I used to read various topics which are related to health care, public health issues, and the latest medical developments. Though I was not sure as to which stream in health care I would select, I was convinced that I would be in to health care as I grew. In fact, I can claim that this concern for the health of others runs in my family. To illustrate, my cousin has a B-Pharm and is working at Beximco Pharmaceutical in Bangladesh. When I felt for sure that my future lies in pharmacy, I decided to go and observe myself as to how the pharmacy system works. Thus, I reached Bangladesh and worked under my cousin. Evidently, this period helped me learn a lot about pharmacy. As I sifted through the drugs in the pharmacy and disposed the expired ones, I learned a lot about the importance and nobility of the profession. I think it is necessary to mention yet another incident that further strengthened my desire and conviction. When I reached the age of 18, my grandmother fell sick and it was soon found that she was suffering from cancer. As there was no effective medication at that time, she died of the disease. This incident acted as a wake up call in my life. Seeing her pain and suffering, I understood the need to find a cure for the disease. Again, the solution to the question lies in studying pharmacy. Thus, it becomes evident that pharmacy has been my passion. My immediate goal is to join a medical firm as a clinical pharmacist. From my experience and knowledge, I know very well that a clinical pharmacist has various challenging responsibilities including advising physicians on the effects and side effects of drugs and correct use of drugs. In addition, a clinical pharmacist is responsible to coordinate the pharmacy technicians’ duties like preparing, labeling, and delivering different medications and to ensure that the same is done in accordance with local, state and federal laws. Admittedly, in

Professional And Scientific Roles Of The Biomedical Scientist Nursing Essay

Professional And Scientific Roles Of The Biomedical Scientist Nursing Essay Biomedical science is a fast paced and constantly developing field of biological analysis in the healthcare sector with long term career prospects, biomedical science involves carrying out investigations on samples of human tissue and body fluid in order to diagnose disease and correctly monitor the treatment of patients that have been affected by disease. With over 55,000 registered healthcare scientists in 51 different disciplines work in areas such as biomedical science makes up for 5% of the National Health Services workforce budget (Evered, 2010) Without biomedical scientists, operating theatres would simply be unable to function, it is biomedical scientists that provide the results of tests required for clinicians to accurately diagnose and treat such diseases as diabetes, cancer and aids (Institute of Biomedical science, 2010). It is essential that biomedical scientists have adequate communication skills that allow them to clearly communicate with colleagues. Biomedical scientists in the healthcare sector; particularly in disciplines such as diagnostic pathology, work closely with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for the purpose of maximum efficiency in such prioritised tasks as the diagnosing and treating of patients. In a diagnostic pathology laboratory a biomedical scientist will share information with pathologists (doctors that have specialised in the in depth workings of cells and human tissue), clinical scientists (scientists that support clinicians with laboratory workings), other biomedical scientists and medical laboratory assistants (assistants in the laboratory responsible for labelling samples and organisation of the laboratory). As a team the diagnostic pathology laboratory will be able to identify the exact cause of a problem in a particular patient and then discuss an appropriate route of treatment for that specific patient. In order to practice biomedical science within the healthcare sector in the United Kingdom a biomedical scientist must first become registered with the regulatory body of biomedical scientists (and the majority of other healthcare professions); known as the Health professions council. The Health Professions Council is the board responsible for ensuring that trainee biomedical scientists are fit and safe enough to gain professional registration, the Health Professions Council also ensure that current biomedical scientists remain fit enough to practice within the healthcare sector and keep up to date with their techniques and analysis procedures, this is done through a process of continual professional development and audit, which will be explained later on in this essay. Registration usually consists of completing an accredited (BSc) Biomedical science degree programme followed by a period (at least one year) of training in an institute approved laboratory, upon completion of training, trainees must present the Health Professions Council with a registration portfolio, a trainees portfolio must meet the Health Professions Councils criteria listed in its Standards of proficiency documentations, at which point the Health Professions Council will appoint the trainee the title of being a Biomedical scientist; in order to protect service users from poor diagnosis/treatment or misconduct Biomedical scientist is a legally protected title meaning it is a criminal offence to fraudulently or prematurely practice biomedical science within the healthcare sector without being appointed this title, this is in order to ensure that only registered and qualified biomedical scientists that meet the regulatory boards standards can practice in the health sector in the UK (Health Professions Council, 2010). The Health Professions Councils standards of proficiency were first published in July of 2003 however are constantly being updated as the board acquires more in depth knowledge into both the practical and safe workings of the healthcare sector, and the patient experience when dealing with healthcare professionals. The Health Professions Council has also published a legal document concerning the standards of conduct, performance and ethics, this document is important in the smooth running of the entire healthcare system in general, it is in place to ensure that suitable procedures are related to specific patients and that no discriminatory or unfair behaviour takes place between either; managerial staff in the healthcare sector and staff of lower prestige, or staff in the healthcare sector and patients (or in fact anyone else that may be using a biomedical scientists services in order to determine a health related issue). The professional roles of a biomedical scientist can be portrayed by looking at the Health Professions Councils standards of conduct, performance and ethics literature, this provides strict guidelines on the expectations of Biomedical Scientists, both in and out of their natural working environment, the document lists 14 points with a detailed summary of each one describing how registered professional of the Health Professions Council must act towards patients following such rules as act(ing) in the best interest of service users [and] respect(ing) the confidentiality of service users (Health Professions Council Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics, 2008). The (Health Professions Council Standards of conduct, performance and ethics, 2008) also describes how registrants must professionally enhance their skills in order to benefit patients, protecting them from the dangers of incorrect diagnosis/treatment, stating that you must keep your professional knowledge and skills up to d ate [and] you must act within the limits of your knowledge, skills and experience, and, if necessary, refer the matter to another practitioner. The international regulating body that the United Kingdom is based within is known as the world health organisation; this is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. (World Health Organisation, 2010) The major areas of investigation that biomedical scientists are concerned with include the following; Cancer Screening Treating food poisoning Blood donation services Infection control Drug testing AIDS and HIV diagnosis and treatment Rapid response labs for accidents and emergencies Drug therapies The above regions in biomedical science can be divided in to groups that recognise different aspects of practice in the healthcare sector; these include contemporary diagnostic practice, research, and development. Cancer screening, treating food poisoning, infection control and AIDS and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (A virus that results in the bodys immune system attacking itself) development are all determined by contemporary diagnosis practice, growing cell cultures allows a biomedical scientist to isolate and reproduce a specific strain of cells or bacteria; this can then be viewed under a microscope to identify any mutations or pathogens that may be causing a problem to the patient at subject (Institute of Biomedical Science, 2010). There are of course much more complex steps to this procedure, and many other tests that are used to identify different types of disease. Biomedical scientists dedicated to the research side of the profession are continually looking for new and innovative treatment methods that would improve our knowledge of the relevant subject area and ultimately allow us to find new ways of treating or curing disease. Biomedical scientists working in the development side of the profession are involved in searching for the most cutting edge techniques that can hopefully aid the healthcare sector in obtaining faster and more accurate results for patients whilst also aiding in the enhancement of drugs used for treatment, allowing a faster and more concise experience for service users whilst improving quality of life. The scientific roles of biomedical scientists requires them to possess critical skills in knowledge and data with the basic ability to assess and determine problems, it is often the case that a biomedical scientist will specialise in a specific area of the subject that interests them the most, this is known as a discipline, upon graduation there are four main disciplines that biomedical scientists specialise in, these are; microbiology, histopathology, biochemistry and haematology (Institute of Biomedical Science, 2010). Medical microbiologists are specialised biomedical scientists that are committed to diagnosing disease and illness through two main methods of analysis, traditionally biomedical scientists culture the patients specimen onto plates or into broths, in order to isolate and identify bacteria (Gullon, Institute of Biomedical Science, 2010), however using modern molecular techniques biomedical scientists are able to identify specific DNA, within the specimen or bacteria (Gullon, Institute of Biomedical Science, 2010). Cytologists also study human tissue and fluid at a cellular level, using a microscope to determine the cause and correct treatment of disease. Histopathology is a branch of medicine that is concerned with the causes and processes of disease, a pathology department contains a variety of healthcare professionals working as a team to diagnose disease, a typical pathology department will contain the following staff; pathologists, clinical scientists, biomedical scientists and medical laboratory assistants. Histopathology is the examination of tissues and organs that have been removed from patients to provide information on further treatment and diagnosis. The biochemistry discipline of biomedical science relates to clinical chemistry, this is the analysis of body fluids such as blood and urine to study the chemical and biochemical mechanisms of the body in relation to disease. Haematology, often referred to as transfusion science is another discipline that biomedical scientists are able to specialise in, people that have suffered from severe blood loss require a replacement of blood, and biomedical scientists that are involved in the transfusion science service are concerned with identification of individual blood groups and compatibility tests of donors blood with that of the patient. (Barry Hill, Institute of Biomedical Science, 2006) The people providing this service work in a blood transfusion laboratory where their duties include preparing and providing blood for service users that have experienced road traffic accidents, acute blood loss, anaemia, clotting problems and also leukaemia (during chemo- and radiotherapy) (Barry Hill, Institute of Biomedical Science, 2006), An important aspect of a career in this area is the constant screening of blood for diseases and viruses such as HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. In order to ensure that diagnosis and treatment is as accurate as it can possibly be, diagnostic laboratories have a standard quality assurance/quality control procedure in place, this involves looking over samples at least twice, and checking that the patients sample and information is correct before giving feedback on the issue to the patients doctor or whomever is acting up on the results of the patient (Health Professions Council, 2010). As previously mentioned it is important for biomedical scientists to keep up to date on the latest techniques and analysis procedures when working in the health sector, this comes under the title of continuing professional development (CPD), every time a registrant renews their registration they must confirm that they have met the criteria of CPD, if a registrant is selected for audit by the Health Professions Council they must provide evidence of CPD. The Health professions council define continual professional development as being; A range of learning activities through which health professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain their capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice (Health Professions Council, 2010, www.hpc-uk.org) Biomedical scientist in the health sector should have a detailed knowledge of the normal physiology of the body as well as the pathology of disease (The Biomedical Scientist, 2010), this is a typical example of where continual professional development may require a biomedical scientist to continue reading up on information, as with the constant discoveries and new analytical procedures that are being brought to light on a daily basis it is important that only the most precise understanding of the physiological workings and reactions of the body should be taken into account. Upon beginning this essay I was sceptical of what I could achieve by looking into the type of work a biomedical scientist undergoes in the healthcare sector, however I now have a realistic insight into what becoming a biomedical scientist entails, attaining a degree in biomedical science does not lead to one particular career, or even one particular field, the subject is broad and opens a horizon for graduates to focus on many different types of work in the healthcare sector that suit them best, from the research I have done into the different aspects of biomedical science I feel a career in a national blood bank haematology department would suit me very well however my opinion could easily diverge as the course progresses and I learn more about the roles related to such a career. Word Count: 2,151

Stoics :: essays research papers

Stoicism was a group of philosophers in the First Century who made laws that they thought should be followed by the citizens of Rome. Two of these laws were the concepts of rationality and nature. Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome at the time and he also the most known Stoic. His concepts were vital to the survival of the Stoics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concept of rationality is what tells a human being what’s right and wrong and what should be done and what is good for the human and the state by thinking. â€Å"the reason also, in respect which we are rational beings, is common: if this is so, common also is the reason which commands us what to do, and what not to do; if this is so, there is a common law also; if this is so, we are fellow citizens; if this is so, we are members of some political community; if this is so, the world is in manner of a state.†(1) Marcus Aurelius says here that the citizens who are ration beings as a part of the whole political spectrum, should combine to make he world one state. He wants the world to join as one state and governed by one, the people are all part of the same political system, so they should join together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his Meditations Aurelius talks about every action having a purpose. â€Å"Let no act be done without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to the perfect principles of art.†(2) He says here that the reason we have is because everything we do has a purpose. The purposes are there because they are the unwritten rules of art. These rules are abided because they just happen. The art sets its own rules through the purposes of the acts that are done. No act should be done if it does not follow the rules of art. Yet, the rules of are made by the act’s purposes. This meaning everything has a reason why it is done and the purposes are legitimate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A man’s life does not become worse unless he makes it worse. â€Å"That which does not make his life worse, nor does it harm him either from without or with in.†(3) In this quote, Aurileus tells the Stoics that the things that don’t harm him won’t make his life worse inside or outside including the soul. This meaning that a person should do what they feel is right, because it will not hurt them physically or mentally.

Poverty in the World Essay

Many third world countries are faced by the challenges of poverty and unproductivity of land. The survival of the people who live in such nations depends mostly on aid from developed countries. There is a fact about the developed countries that needs to be addressed before the aid is delivered to the poverty stricken nations. The developed countries have gained that title due to the fact that they are way too ahead in terms of technology and industrialization. The returns they get from both domestic and foreign trade are redirected on further investment. Incase other nations faced by catastrophes; these returns are used to cover those in need of help. The intervention by these developed nations is a form of quick measures to calming situations down. Back at home, it is funny how the citizens from such nations struggle to make ends meet. Once foreign help is delivered to the nations that are faced by natural, human, or climatic catastrophes the people living in those countries assume that the aid comes from very rich countries. The truth of the matter of foreign aid is that once help is delivered from a certain country be it in form of money or food there are strings attached. If one country demands for help from another, there are possibilities that the national debt of that nation grows. On the other hand, if the help is in form of a donation through the international organizations it is likely that the help addressed the issue at hand and not the future. Going back to the issue of foreign aid and reduction of poverty; two crucial elements come to play. These include the issue being addressed and the type of aid being delivered. Foreign aid is mostly volunteered to suffering nations by developed nations. In other times, organizations and NGOs take responsibility to raise money that can be used to provide for the suffering lot. By assessing the nature of the issue that is being addressed, it can be told whether the form of aid aids in reducing poverty. Looking at the situation at the horn of Africa, the type of help that is being delivered to the starving communities in that region is food and medical supplies. Looking closely at the matter and others similar to that, it will be found out that foreign aid is not a form of borrowed capital but rather a last option. Foreign Aid cannot reduce poverty due to five reasons associated with the problems and the nature of help. First, foreign aid is delivered to rescue and not to prevent; second, it is given when the situation is almost escalating out of proportion; third, nations or parties that require foreign aid are marginalized and the living conditions don’t allow for any form of secondary benefit from the aid; fourth, starvation and disease outbreaks are mostly the problems requiring foreign aid to address the issue quickly; and finally, the nature of aid cannot be invested neither can it be used while other resources are redirected to other activities. The above reasons make foreign aid seem like some form of nutritional therapy’ whose importance is lengthening the period of survival as one witnesses the problems. The US and other nations have been donating relief food and vaccination to African nations and some Asian nations as well for a long time. However, it the aid is form of funds the situation changes from aid to assistance that requires repaying as times advances. Foreign aid d oes not come to the poor in form of basic needs but rather basic rescue. It would be otherwise if foreign aid was in form of compulsory jobs for the poor or mandatory quality education.

Bad Parenting or Child Abuse?

Dear Editor, I am writing in the relation of your article â€Å"Bad Parenting or Child Abuse†. I think it is a good idea for Connor McCreadie to be taken away from his family because he is such an unhealthy child and he needs to change his lifestyle before it gives him harm. This article tells me that it is bad parenting because Connor’s mother has a lack of discipline and a lack of effort for her child.He should be taken away because he needs to become a much healthier child and the Child Protection Authorities can help with this issue. The Child Protection Authorities can help with this issue by teaching Connor how to eat right and making him exercise more. If he doesn’t get taken away, he could gain more weight and lose his life, or he can harm himself or commit suicide because of all the teasing and bullying he gets. If his Mother doesn’t want him to be taken away, she should change how she feeds and looks after Connor.Connor’s Mother could chan ge their lifestyle by getting much healthier food, making Connor try to eat fruits and vegetables, making him exercise more and not letting Connor eat/snack every 20 minutes. This would really help them and make Connor a much healthier child. This article would really help parents who have obese or unhealthy children. Parents who have obese or unhealthy children have the risk of losing them. Some children are so unhealthy they could lose their lives, and some even commit suicide or harm themselves because they get teased or bullied. You’re sincerely, Tay Tates

Motivation and Leadership Theories

Motivation and Leadership Theories Introduction Leadership is a concept that has been applied in organizations to encourage people to achieve goals. Leaders motivate the followers to achieve the goals of an organization. Therefore, leadership and motivation should be applied together to achieve the intended objectives (Certo, p. 149).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Motivation and Leadership Theories specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Transformational theory Leaders apply transformational strategies to change the old systems and install new systems in an organization. In an organization, this can be achieved by collaborating with all stakeholders (Certo, p. 152). From the case study, Jonathan is seen as a transformational leader who is attentive to his workers. Jonathan is focused on the performance of his group by allowing flexibility in the job environment. He assigns his workers different duties each weak, so the workers do not get bored by doing the same task each week. On the other hand, Dan is supervisor who is adamant to allow his worker change work strategies. Hence, Alex complains about doing the same task each weak. Dan does not believe that the best way of learning is doing the same thing over and over again. Alex condemns the way Dan handles the workers. Participative theory Participative theory suggests that ideal leadership style requires the input of others. This helps the member of the group to feel relevant in that organization and engaged in decision making process (Certo, p. 123). In the case study, Jonathan applies this theory by encouraging his employees to notify him when the items are running low. He also empowered them to obtain items from the vendors. Motivation theories For employees to perform their duties to the expectations of an organization, they need to be motivated. Several people have suggested varied theories to find out the workers can be greatly motivated. Contribution theory The theory was dev eloped by Rensis Likert. According to Likert organizations can be broken down into primitive authoritarian, benevolent authoritarian, consultative and participative systems of management. He suggests an organization that embraces this approach is more likely to have motivated workers than organizations that adopt other system. In the case contest, Dan is flexible enough to allow his workers do their work on the own receives feedback from them regarding the job. He discusses job issues with Stephanie and lets her actively participate in determining how the work is to be done. Despite the fact that the work seems difficult Stephanie is motivated because she new assignments as chance to learn new things. On contrast, Dan doesn’t discuss work matters with his employees to find out how better the work can be done. This has left Alex disgruntled and disappointed with his leadership style.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Needs Hierarchy theory This theory postulates that employees are not only motivated by rewards in form of salaries and other bonuses but by also by satisfying employees various needs. Such needs are physiological, security, social, esteem and self-actualization. Any organization that tend to focus on satisfying employee needs is bound to have Motivated workforce In the case study Jonathan understands this and tries appreciating the work done by his employees. He allows his employees to socially and achieves self-actualization about their work performance. Dan on the other hand limits employee’s freedom of socialization by not letting them have a sense of security and association. Conclusion To motivate workers, managers should understand that special attention needs to be paid to worker needs and expectations from organization. They should strive to achieve good working relationship with the workers for proper motivati on and performance. Certo, Samuel. Modern Management: International Version. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd, 2011. Print.

The Persian Gulf War Essays - IraqUnited States Relations, Kuwait

The Persian Gulf War Essays - IraqUnited States Relations, Kuwait The Persian Gulf War On August 2nd, 1990 Iraqi military forces invaded and occupied the small Arab state of Kuwait. The order was given by Iraqi dictatorial president Saddam Hussein. His aim was apparently to take control Kuwait?s oil reserves (despite its small size Kuwait is a huge oil producer; it has about 10 per cent of the world?s oil reserves ). Iraq accused Kuwait, and also the United Arab Emirates, of breaking agreements that limit oil production in the Middle East. According to Saddam Hussein, this brought down world oil prices severely and caused financial loss of billions of dollars in Iraq?s annual revenue. Saddam Hussein had the nearly hopeless task of justifying the invasion. He plead the fact that Kuwait had been part of the Ottoman province of Basra, a city in the south of Iraq. However, the Ottoman province collapsed after World War I and today?s Iraqi borders were not created until then. There was also a further and more obvious blunder in a bid to justify this illegal invasion. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, had namely recognized Kuwaiti independence in 1963. Furthermore, Hussein claimed that Kuwait had illegally pumped oil from the Iraqi oil field of Rumaila and otherwise conspired to reduce Iraq?s essential oil income. By invading Kuwait, Iraq succeeded in surprising the entire world. The USA ended her policy of accommodating Saddam Hussein, which had existed since the Iran-Iraq war. Negative attitude toward Iraq was soon a worldwide phenomenon. The United Nations Security Council passed 12 resolutions condemning the invasion. The ultimate decision was to use military force if Iraq did not withdraw unconditionally by January 15, 1991. Then, when the deadline was set, it was time to start preparing for the worst-the war. President George Bush confronted little difficulty in winning Americans? support for the potential war against Iraq. However, the government found it difficult to decide upon and state one overriding reason for going to war. Was it to oppose aggression or was it just to protect global oil supplies? Other powers were more directly concerned as consumers of Persian Gulf oil, but they were not as eager to commit military force, to risk their youth in battle and to pay for the costs of the war. Critics of President Bush continued to maintain that he was taking advantage of the issue of energy supplies in order to manipulate the U. S. public opinion in favor of war. After consulting with U. S. Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney in early August 1990, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia invited American troops onto Saudi soil. He had seen Kuwait?s destiny; therefore, he wanted protection. It was also the interest of the USA to stop any further advantage of the Iraqi army. The deployment was called ?Operation Desert Shield.? These troops were armed with light, defensive weaponry. On November 8, 1990 President Bush announced a military buildup to provide an offensive option, ?Operation Desert Storm,? to force Iraq out of Kuwait. The preparation of the operation took two and a half months and it involved a massive air- and sea lift. Finally, in January 1991, the U. S. Congress voted to support Security Council resolution 660. It authorized using ?all necessary means? if Iraq did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15. Shrugging off this final warning, Saddam Hussein resolutely maintained the occupation of Kuwait. The United States established a broad-based international coalition to confront Iraq militarily and diplomatically. The military coalition consisted of Afghaniez, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakiez, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The war also was financed by countries which were unable to send in troops. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were the main donors. More than $53 billion was pledged and received. Before the war, it appeared obvious that Iraq would have very little chance against the Coalition. The relative strength between the parties was extremely unequal. The most critical difference was that the Coalition had a total of 2600 aircraft, over three times more than Iraq?s 800 aircraft. Most Arab observers thought Hussein would

Thanksgiving, Variety and the 6 Human Needs

Thanksgiving, Variety and the 6 Human Needs Turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie AND whipped cream. The essential elements to the perfect Thanksgiving meal. We all know that one of the best things about Thanksgiving dinner is the sheer variety of the spread. This Thanksgiving I found myself thankful for the variety that is present in my life- and for a richness that extends beyond the Thanksgiving table. Variety is identified by Anthony Robbins as one of the Six Human Needs. I have been aware for a long time that variety is important to me- and have even found that I crave monotony from time to time to break up the variety! The need for participating in diverse activities has been at the source of my business model: I have created a job for myself where a mix of projects shows up daily. For instance, in one single day this week, here were just a few tasks I tackled: Spent two hours on the phone with the GM (General Manager) of an international manufacturing company in China, perfecting his resume and learning about factories in China. Edited the homepage for The Wisdomkeeper Connection LLC (I pulled out my women’s spiritual training for this one!) Edited a research report on barriers to career advancement for women and people of color and how those barriers can be overcome through effective networking (yes I took women’s studies in college!). Provided material to the author of Social Networking Job Search for Dummies, Joshua Waldman, for use in a coupon book he will be distributing on his book tour. Stuffed 187 holiday letters to past clients (ah†¦Ã‚   a repetitive task). Spoke with two new resume writers who will be joining The Essay Expert team. Yes, I have a LOT of variety in my work. As far as I’m concerned, the more different types of projects I can work on the better.   While this inclination makes it hard to target a niche market, it seems to work for me. Variety is a close sibling to richness, and I appreciate that my life is rich as well as varied. Spending time with family over the holidays was a wonderful way to learn about where I came from and to enjoy the next generation for who they are (and are becoming). I am thankful that I can take my work with me so that I never have to worry about missing business-related messages as I celebrate the holidays. With computer and cell phone in tow, I can go almost anywhere any time- and never run out of vacation days! This capability opens up many opportunities for a rich and fulfilling life, whether it’s attending workshops, spending time with family, or just exploring a new locale. In January I will be traveling to New York for a week to support my mom who is having elective surgery. That trip will add to the variety and richness in my life, as well as meet four more of the 6 Human Needs: Significance, Connection/Love, Growth and Contribution. Who could ask for anything more? I’d love to hear how you generate variety and richness in your life. What are you creating as the New Year approaches?   Please share below! Category:UncategorizedBy Brenda BernsteinNovember 28, 2011 2 Comments Larry says: November 29, 2011 at 10:53 am Youre the second person who mentioned whipped cream related to Thanksgiving to me this year, something Id never heard of before. But in its place, Id substitute another need which you overlooked, apple pie. Thanksgiving requires both pumpkin and apple pie. Best of luck to your mom for her surgery. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: November 29, 2011 at 11:37 am In my family its pecan pie! Wow I cant imagine a Thanksgiving without whipped cream Thanks for your well wishes Larry! Log in to Reply

Human Resources Management of Kwik-Fit Financial Services Term Paper

Human Resources Management of Kwik-Fit Financial Services - Term Paper Example The call center contacted the highly probable people in the list and sold the insurance policies and other financial services to these people. This model was successful initially and continued to improve until the time when the company was taken over by Ford. Though the value of the company went up when this was again subsequently taken over by another venture capital group, there was no change in the downward trend that has started. This has arisen primarily because, the call centers are human-centric and a dissatisfied and unhappy staff does not augur well for the company. The number of people who work in the company for a longer stint slowly comes down as the company started to lose ground. The company was on the verge of growth. As a matter of fact, the company was one of the call centers established in the region and had about 850 employees on its rolls. The employees found themselves de-motivated due to a number of take-overs that has been happening in the company and a number of grievances that were not given a hearing. The annual staff turnover in the company was at around 52% and a vacancy rate that was well over 21%. Naturally, with such large turnover and vacancy rates the company had started doing badly and the company was financially falling down2. The business model of the company was simple. The probable leads list come from their own company Kwik-Fit Auto center from which the best of the probe are picked up and they are followed up from the call center. The large scale vacancy and the large turnover of the staff both compounded the problem at the call center and started to bring the company down to the red. The human resource turn over in the company happens because of large scale unhappiness over the working of the company and the people do not fancy working in the company anymore. Of course, the pay does matter. But it is more often the working methods and the environment that compounds the issue and accelerates human turnovers in the company.  

Qualitative Characteristics of Financial Information Essay

Qualitative Characteristics of Financial Information - Essay Example The information is not just useful for the capital providers but also to the other user groups such as government, regulatory bodies etc. The next level of conceptual framework is the fundamental concepts i.e. qualitative characteristics of financial information and elements of financial statements. The third level is the implementation level, which contains recognition, disclosure and measurement concepts through principles, assumptions and constraints (Appendix 1). The qualitative characteristics of financial information are an important part of the total conceptual framework because they act as a bridge between the first level and third level of the framework. However, the definition of quality threshold of materiality and the conflicts between prudence and neutrality, and relevance and reliability has always been debated. In addition to the discussion of these constraints, this essay presents the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 2010 provided by IASB as to how the new framework has placed these characteristics. ... The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 2010 or commonly referred to as Framework 2010 states the objective of financial reporting that is to provide the financial information related to the reporting entity that can be helpful to investors and creditors in making appropriate decisions (McConnell, 2011). Therefore, in order for the financial information to be useful, it must possess some characteristics such as materiality, prudence, neutrality, relevance and reliability. An information is considered material if its misstatement, modification or omission can influence the economic decisions of the users, taken on the basis of that information. Materiality depends on the magnitude of the error in circumstances when the misstatement or omission has taken place. The financial statements are prepared in an uncertain environment due to many events such as useful life of fixed assets, collectability of doubtful receivables, and warranty claims. These uncertainties are recognized b y exercising prudence while preparing the financial statements. Prudence means making careful judgement in making estimates in the uncertain conditions, so that the income or assets are not overstated and expenses or liabilities are not understated (IASC Foundation and IASB, 2008, p.25). Neutrality means that the financial information should be free from any bias and does not influence decision making in order to achieve predetermined outcome. Financial information is useful if it has the quality of influencing decisions by helping the users in evaluation of past, future and present events related to the reporting entity. The past information regarding the financial position and performance is frequently used for predicting the future performance and position. Information is

The Moderating Effect of Culture on the Success Factors of Information Essay

The Moderating Effect of Culture on the Success Factors of Information Systems Projects - Essay Example Although a wide variety of factors can affect this phenomenon, this paper examines the cultural factor. This study provides an understanding of cultural impacts from the national level, based on Hofstede’s and Trompenaars models of culture. The research tries to identify if the differences existing between the countries can affect success factors of Information Systems implementation; these factors include learning, incorporating the user into the design, the communication and finally the distributed work -- all giving useful insights for the design and use of these systems. The research design is situated within the theoretical constructs of Trompenaars and Hofstede who both advanced sociological notions of culture as contextually related to international business interactions. These models inform the research’s overall approach, as evidenced in the utilization of interview data sources. The interview subjects reflect categorical distinctions as influenced by these the orist’s frameworks. In these regards, four individuals from Greek and four individuals four Dutch culture will be interviewed as they cultural distinctions represent significant diversity of thought and perspective. Furthermore, the study follows Trompenaars and Hofstede in interviewing individuals from different levels of the corporate hierarchy within both of these cultural climates. These semi-structured interviews will be analyzed through qualitative description methods. Furthermore, a theory driven approach thematic code approach as articulated by Boyatzis (1998) is implemented as a means of structuring the qualitative analysis of these interviews. Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Most of the literature concerned with Information Systems treats them as a unified and universal subject. This approach can create serious misunderstandings and is one of the important factors that have caused the failure of many Information Systems projects. Existi ng theories of Information Systems use are criticized for lacking cultural sensitivity (Stolh, 2001). They have not foreseen that all these various systems are going to be used in different organizations and countries where perceptions and ways of acting can severely vary. As such, preferences are not unified into a standard model, even though norms and ways of doing things can vary strongly form culture to culture.While technology itself is compelling, emerging Information Systems are used by people in social contexts, so it is critical to explore how people belonging to different cultures are affecting and being affected by Information Systems (Sornes, Stephens, Browning & S?tre, 2004). What is currently known is that comparisons between cultures are very dissimilar (e.g. US and Japan) (Sornes, Stephens, Browning & S?tre, 2004). A large amount of research has taken as subject countries with an Anglo-Saxon background. Within the EU a large number of countries with diverse cultures exist without an Anglo-Saxon background. The research will be based in two of these countries (Greece and The Nederland). Information System projects involve group-oriented activities, organized and executed in teams, therefore, they are subject to all the benefits and problems of group dynamics, interactions, coordination, and communication (Ewusi-Mensah, 1997). Some of the underlining problems are managerial, technical, inappropriate economic evaluation techniques, but also culture related factors. Developing Information

Housing Economics (For Housing Studies Degree) Essay

Housing Economics (For Housing Studies Degree) - Essay Example (King 2009:80). One of the guises where the government intercepts in housing markets is by offering subsidiaries to households and landlords. This is mainly to make the housing sector more affordable, to support landlords to construct more or better quality residences, or to make sure the housing stock is of adequately high quality. (King 2009:80). Subsidy means the ways and means to make housing more affordable and cheaper than it otherwise would be. Hence, the subsidies will indirectly reduce the cost of housing and probably will facilitate more households to have access to it. As per Oxley and Smith (1996), housing subsidies mean an implicit or explicit flow of funds encouraged by the government activity which minimises the cost of housing construction or consumption else the cost would have been still higher. (King 2009:80). The demand -side subsidy is one where the government will subsidise the private sector mainly through improvement grants and housing allowance, and owner occupiers through many guises of tax exemptions and reliefs. The supply- side subsidies include rent control where the landlords could not raise the rent beyond the limit set by the government or to increase the income level so that savings can be made which can be used for housing. The rent loss to landlords will be compensated by the extension of tax relief for owner occupiers and extending government grants to housing associations. (King 2009:80). This type of subsidies meant to be granted to households directly or paid to service providers directly in lieu of the households. One-time subsidy is given for the building, purchase or completing either an existing or new housing unit or to rehabilitate the existing houses. Within the government’s budget, these grants are usually funded through an unambiguous appropriation process which throws their total cost translucent to the general public.

Frederick Douglass and His Activism Research Paper

Frederick Douglass and His Activism - Research Paper Example At the age of six, he witnessed the cruelty of masters to slaves. Being a black child, the law required him to become a slave just like his mother. Frederick did not have a chance to attend school except for a little guidance from the wife of his master (Schmitt 6). However, this opportunity did not last long. Frederick took every opportunity to learn and his efforts made him a good orator. He used this skill to create a positive impact in society. Frederick spent his life advocating for justice in society. He was a vessel of justice in society. Frederick adopted principles that guided his life and actions (Reed 4). Despite his status as a slave, he believed in himself, and was always confident that one time he shall achieve what he believed. He did not let the determination to change his situation and that of others die. Although slavery shattered his ego and value as a man, he fought tirelessly and eventually rose above this. Contrary to what others could do or did, Frederick start ed the fight against the horrors of slavery when he was still a slave. He opposed the serious whipping that slaves received from their masters. With the little knowledge of formal education that he received from his master’s wife, he opened a school for slave children. ... Because of his skills as an orator, he created an impact among people. However, he could not disclose specific information for fear of recapture back to slavery (10). The abolitionists promoted him to an antislavery agent because of his intriguing speeches on the suffering if slaves. This promotion granted him an opportunity to lobby for end to slavery. He used this opportunity well as he traversed different cities making speeches at different campaigns. Out of faith in himself, he had learnt how to write and in 1845, he released his first autobiography. This autobiography carried the story of plight in a slave home and his experiences as a slave. From the story of his life, he painted a picture of the real sate of a slave in the minds of many. The autobiography, a narrative of his life preached his message everywhere as it sold as far as Britain. However, publishing the narrative increased the risk of recapture back into slavery. Therefore, he left for Europe. Being in a foreign lan d did stop him from delivering speeches advocating for the end of slavery. Having gained experience in lecturing, he continued doing that in Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. The commitment to fight for the freedom of fellow man earned him fame. Advocates in England helped him buy his freedom from slavery. Now a free man, he was determined to do much more to end slavery, which denied human beings basic rights. Frederick returned to United States with a new strategy in his mind. He ventured into journalism for the sole purpose of being the voice of the oppressed in society. He launched the North Star, a paper expressing his views on slavery. In a short time, he wrote different papers supporting his activism in

Case study of Cherie Cosmestics Ltd Elegante Division

Of Cherie Cosmestics Ltd Elegante Division - Case Study Example or a company’s top level management to put into place reliable systems that can effective coordinate communication process and other important aspects of management. The communication function of effective management is responsible for creating reliable communication channels as well as structures that can be followed by all company workers. It is important to understand that all branch managers in a large company work towards a similar goal, that of success and increase of market share, for this reason, there is a need for collaboration and consultations among the managers. However, it is important that all these consultations and collaborations have to follow certain laid down procedures to avoid conflict of interest and the need to outdo each other at the expense of company goals and objectives and the spirit of good governance. Communication is an important function of any business activity, it ensures that directives are set effectively and implemented by company workers (Kuhn 2005). Effective communication has been the chief cornerstone of any development in any organisation; in fact, it is what enables company and organizational managers to carry out their basic functions and duties in the organisation. Communication skills, whether formal or informal have always been cited as the basis for the success of any business activity (Cheney 2007). Systems that do not have poor communication mechanisms often end up having misplaced priorities with people doing what they feel is pleasant to them and not what is stipulated in the company’s effective practice. The problems affecting the management function at Cherie Cosmetics Limited can be traced down to a breakdown in the communication process. In the first place, the company’s vice president has not taken steps to address the challenges and bring about sound management systems and communication in the company. There appears that some managers like Heather have the passion of working in this company and

Frederick Douglass and His Activism Research Paper

Frederick Douglass and His Activism - Research Paper Example At the age of six, he witnessed the cruelty of masters to slaves. Being a black child, the law required him to become a slave just like his mother. Frederick did not have a chance to attend school except for a little guidance from the wife of his master (Schmitt 6). However, this opportunity did not last long. Frederick took every opportunity to learn and his efforts made him a good orator. He used this skill to create a positive impact in society. Frederick spent his life advocating for justice in society. He was a vessel of justice in society. Frederick adopted principles that guided his life and actions (Reed 4). Despite his status as a slave, he believed in himself, and was always confident that one time he shall achieve what he believed. He did not let the determination to change his situation and that of others die. Although slavery shattered his ego and value as a man, he fought tirelessly and eventually rose above this. Contrary to what others could do or did, Frederick start ed the fight against the horrors of slavery when he was still a slave. He opposed the serious whipping that slaves received from their masters. With the little knowledge of formal education that he received from his master’s wife, he opened a school for slave children. ... Because of his skills as an orator, he created an impact among people. However, he could not disclose specific information for fear of recapture back to slavery (10). The abolitionists promoted him to an antislavery agent because of his intriguing speeches on the suffering if slaves. This promotion granted him an opportunity to lobby for end to slavery. He used this opportunity well as he traversed different cities making speeches at different campaigns. Out of faith in himself, he had learnt how to write and in 1845, he released his first autobiography. This autobiography carried the story of plight in a slave home and his experiences as a slave. From the story of his life, he painted a picture of the real sate of a slave in the minds of many. The autobiography, a narrative of his life preached his message everywhere as it sold as far as Britain. However, publishing the narrative increased the risk of recapture back into slavery. Therefore, he left for Europe. Being in a foreign lan d did stop him from delivering speeches advocating for the end of slavery. Having gained experience in lecturing, he continued doing that in Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. The commitment to fight for the freedom of fellow man earned him fame. Advocates in England helped him buy his freedom from slavery. Now a free man, he was determined to do much more to end slavery, which denied human beings basic rights. Frederick returned to United States with a new strategy in his mind. He ventured into journalism for the sole purpose of being the voice of the oppressed in society. He launched the North Star, a paper expressing his views on slavery. In a short time, he wrote different papers supporting his activism in

Comments and Opinions While News Reporting Essay Example for Free

Comments and Opinions While News Reporting Essay

Oligopolistic Market Model and Oil Prices

Oligopolistic Market Model and Oil Prices Executive Summary The report is prepared to explain how oligopolistic market model is the best model to relate to the current increase in the price of Oil. The Oil petroleum Organization is analyzed deeply which clearly depicts the oligopoly style of marketing by the members of OPEC. It has also examined by lot of research and based on recent reports that the OPEC tries to influence the oil prices by controlling the supply of oil production with the consent of all the members and tries to fix the oil prices in order to gain heavy profits. OPEC works on the same rule as followed by oligopoly market structure and hence clearly indicates its relation to each other and is best example of oligopoly market style. 1.0 Introduction The Oligopoly market structure is the market which has few producers and large number of buyers which gives these producers an advantage to control the market. According to (Scholasticus, 2010), the buyers have very less alternatives and do not have enough knowledge about the market. The producers inflate the prices of their goods to attract more customers by reducing prices leading to deflated price level.ÂÂ   Based on Scholastics writing in one of its articles, the producers have perfect knowledge of the consumers but consumers do not have any information about the producers or their act of influencing the prices has a negative effect on national economy. 2.0 Discussion 2.1 Features of Oligopoly Market There are few producers and large number of buyers. The producers deal in differentiated products. (Jayasuriya, 2011, p. 87) One of the producer or firm become the leader of the group and makes others to agree or dominates them to fix the prices which results in price leadership. The competition in an Oligopoly market is intense and both price and non-price methods are used to attract more customers. For example in lot of advertisements, producers mention We will not be beaten on price. The price will be matched with the competitor selling price (Labs S. S.) In Oligopoly market, firms or producers get together to share a market and decide on prices. Because of an uncompetitive market structure, they enjoy heavy profit by raising the prices or lowering the prices to attract more customers resulting in entry barriers to this market. (Labs S. S.) According to recent study by Stanley St Labs., the competition is very different in oligopoly as compared to other markets forms. In other markets, it is violent because of the high competition to gain the market share but in oligopoly, the firms are interested to gain the market share by collaborating to earn heavy profits. Firms are mutually interdependent which means if one firm changes its prices, it will affect the sales of other firms. 2.2 Kinked Style Demand Curve According to (Stewart Rankin, 2008, p. 141), the oligopoly market structures have kinked demand curves and the demand curve for the product has two sections called inelastic and elastic section. demand curve.png Kinked Demand Curve The elasticity of demand depends on the amendments of rival companies price or service output. The assumption made here is that the all the companies would want a considerable market share along with heavy profits: There is no increase of price by one particular firm. This is elastic demand. There would be an adverse impact on the total revenue of the company. In a situation where the rival company reduces it prices in order to maintain its market share, it would be an inelastic demand curve. Due to reduction in prices again, this would impact the total revenue of the company. The Price warsÂÂ  between the firms does not benefit anyone but it benefits the consumers in fact. (ecoteacher) Based on the above graph, we state it faces kinked style demand curve because of these reasons: It shows price rigidity. It controls the market segment. Leader decides the market Price and others agree to it. It results in Mergers/cartels and collusion to control market. Producers decide on prices with the consent of others. It has Horizontal and Vertical Integration. 2.3 Few Industry examples given by Economists teachers society of South Australia are: The grocery market in Australia is oligopoly which is dominated by Woolworths and Coles. They have lot of stores in Australia and have an extensive distribution system across Australia. It is difficult to compete with these firms as it requires huge investment to gain the kind of market share as they have. The Automobile Industry is a form of oligopoly market. The world Oil production market or Oil refining is also another oligopoly dominated by the seven sisters multinational oil companies like BP, Shell, and Exxon. The telecommunications market in Australia was initially aÂÂ  monopoly but as new telecom service providers started operating, it resulted in a group of few giant telecom providers competing for a greater market share. 2.4 INTRODUCTION OF OPEC According to the OPEC Organization, OPEC is the intergovernmental organization (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) consisting of 12 oil producing and exporting countries across America, Asia and Africa continents. The members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates Venezuela. (About Opec, 2011) A report (OPEC organization, 2011) states that it was formed on September 14, 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq, by five Founder Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It was registered with the United Nations Secretariat on November 6, 1962 (UN Resolution No 6363). OPEC organization (2011) indicates their principal objectives as: To develop and maintain the petroleum policies for the Members Countries to safeguard their interests. To ensure the stability of the prices in the international oil markets to eliminate the unnecessary price fluctuations To provide a regular supply of petroleum to the nations while expecting a fair return on the petroleum industry investment. 2.5 OPEC: Oligopolistic market model TheÂÂ  Organisation of Petroleum Exporting CountriesÂÂ  orÂÂ  OPECÂÂ  is an oligopoly market which is dominated by the Arab oil producers as they hold the maximum amount of oil refineries which gives them an opportunity to dominate others and decide on prices. Cartel is another name for an oligopoly of producers of a commodity. (About Opec, 2011) The Members of OPEC tries to influence the world oil prices with the consent of all and they set the production quotas and become an effectiveÂÂ  cartelÂÂ  by restricting the sales. They deeply analyse the current market situation and anticipate future demand and supply to see various fluctuations of prices in the markets. After analysing the market scenario, they decide to raise or lower the oil production as agreed by all the members to maintain price stability and make the oil available for consumption. (corporation, 2003-2011) According to (Oil :Crisis and Collusion, 2011), OPEC was organized with the purpose of manipulating the oil prices by controlling oil supplies to the market. It controls approximately 80% of the worlds oil reserves and 40% of the worlds production among their 12 member states. As discussed earlier, it is dominated by Gulf States who can easily turn the taps on and off when required to influence the market prices. Even when the economy was facing an issue of recession, it did not have any effect on oil industry and were still making heavy profits. Hence, we can say that OPEC does play an important role in making decision of oil supply to the market which may affect the oil prices in a greater extent. The members have larger number of oil reserves and can increase or decrease the production or supply whenever they want. As they very well know that all the developing and developed nations wants oil and has almost become the necessity of life like food in todays lifestyle, so they try to earn as much as they can by controlling the prices with the kind of power they hold in their hands. However, we may say that OPEC has oil reserves and cannot produce more oil as they do not have any more oil reserves as overestimated by us. There can be lot of other reasons as well which may give rise to the oil prices like any commodity price fluctuation due to the demand and supply effect. (Savage, 2008) 2.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Oligopoly Market Structure The cost of a service of product in under oligopolistic tend to be lower in comparison to that of a monopolistic firm, but more than a competitive market. There is stability in pricing; however the prices would lead to reduction if any other firm reduces. This will impact the profitability of the companies giving a benefit to the customer. As there are barriers to join oligopolies, it gives the firms cost advantages. This is because they would cater to mass production. Consequently it encourages having highly competitive production processes which than improvises the service delivery. (William Boyes, 2008) 3.0 Conclusion To conclude, we can say that OPEC is an oligopoly form of market structure where few nations who have oil reserves decide on the current production and supply of oil with each other consent which directly influences the price of oil. Hence, oligopolistic market structure model explains the behaviour of oil industry and its effects on the market prices. In a recent report (corporation, 2003-2011) states that United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia and China also produces oil and are expected to reduce the need for gasoline in future through its improved techniques and research and development in other forms of energy which will also reduce the affect of dominance of OPEC on the price of oil.

Ford Motor Company - Supply Chain Strategy :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework Essays

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An analysis of the current situation revealed the following issues in the current spply chain: Ø Information flow impaired beyond level one suppliers. Ø Development of Information Technology in the supplier base. Ø Competitors headed to a virtual organisation. The decision to be taken is whether to virtually integrate the supply chain (create a virtual marketplace accessible to authorised personnel) or carry on operating the traditional way automakers have. The recommendation is to virtually integrate by creating an online centre where for a small fee, using only an Internet browser suppliers will have access to the centre’s large database. This facility will be extended to dealers and customers. The implementation costs will be approximately, but there will be significant amount of savings by the way of purchase discounts and lower transaction costs on materials, and parts. Also as there is reduced buffer stock due to speedy real time information flow leading to reductions in inventory and storage costs. Additional revenue will be generated from transaction fees and advertisements placed. CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS PHYSICAL FLOW OF GOODS Ford has a large supplier base for material procurement in a complex network of business relationships. Ø The supply base consists of several tiers of suppliers. Ford directly deals with tier one suppliers and these deal with the next tiers. If feasible the lower tier suppliers ship materials directly to Fords’ manufacturing unit. Ø Long-term contracts with suppliers have been negotiated to ensure uninterrupted supply and minimum inventory levels. Ø Ford has provided its suppliers with techniques like Just-In-Time, (JIT) Total Quality Management (TQM) And Statistical Process Control (SPC). Ford benefits by procuring materials at reduced cost and supplier involvement in the company operations like design process, leading to cost saving for both parties. Ø The Ford Production System (FPS) is designed to make the operations leaner, efficient and more responsive to the customer needs, hence reducing production costs and improving profit margins. Ø The Regional mixing centres optimise schedules and delivery of finished vehicles via railway, to provide customers the right product at the right time and place, Ford Motor Company - Supply Chain Strategy :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework Essays EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An analysis of the current situation revealed the following issues in the current spply chain: Ø Information flow impaired beyond level one suppliers. Ø Development of Information Technology in the supplier base. Ø Competitors headed to a virtual organisation. The decision to be taken is whether to virtually integrate the supply chain (create a virtual marketplace accessible to authorised personnel) or carry on operating the traditional way automakers have. The recommendation is to virtually integrate by creating an online centre where for a small fee, using only an Internet browser suppliers will have access to the centre’s large database. This facility will be extended to dealers and customers. The implementation costs will be approximately, but there will be significant amount of savings by the way of purchase discounts and lower transaction costs on materials, and parts. Also as there is reduced buffer stock due to speedy real time information flow leading to reductions in inventory and storage costs. Additional revenue will be generated from transaction fees and advertisements placed. CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS PHYSICAL FLOW OF GOODS Ford has a large supplier base for material procurement in a complex network of business relationships. Ø The supply base consists of several tiers of suppliers. Ford directly deals with tier one suppliers and these deal with the next tiers. If feasible the lower tier suppliers ship materials directly to Fords’ manufacturing unit. Ø Long-term contracts with suppliers have been negotiated to ensure uninterrupted supply and minimum inventory levels. Ø Ford has provided its suppliers with techniques like Just-In-Time, (JIT) Total Quality Management (TQM) And Statistical Process Control (SPC). Ford benefits by procuring materials at reduced cost and supplier involvement in the company operations like design process, leading to cost saving for both parties. Ø The Ford Production System (FPS) is designed to make the operations leaner, efficient and more responsive to the customer needs, hence reducing production costs and improving profit margins. Ø The Regional mixing centres optimise schedules and delivery of finished vehicles via railway, to provide customers the right product at the right time and place,

Self Discovery in Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment and Camus The Outs

Self Discovery in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Camus' The Outsider      Ã‚  Ã‚   In every society, it is important for individuals to adhere to a set of principles in order to maintain order. In Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment and Camus' The Outsider , however, both protagonists ignored the values of their society. Raskolnikov and Meursault felt their own beliefs were significant, and through their actions they were able to express them. As a result, one man was judged as a social deviant, while the other man suffered psychologically. Through dealing with this strife, Raskolnikov and Meursault gained a better understanding of their values and personal worth.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the beginning both men rejected the fundamental values of society and formed their own ideologies. Raskolnikov, for instance, believed that "we have to correct and direct nature. But for that, there would never had been a single great man"1. In fact, he had written an article titled "The psychology of a criminal before and after the crime". It stated that 'ordinary' men live according to the law and exist only to reproduce the human race, yet 'extraordinary' men may break laws "if in his own conscience it is necessary to do so in order to better mankind"2. Raskolnikov believed that indeed, he was an "extraordinary man"3, but like Meursault, his beliefs were untested. As a result, he murdered an old pawnbroker women in order to prove himself. Meursault, as well, acted against the social norm. For example, even though it was expected of a son, he did not show sorrow at his mother's funeral4. He did not think this was shallow, however, he just refused to falsel... ... was finally able to declare them. Raskolnikov and Meursault were not afraid to cross the boundaries their societies had set for them. They were free-thinkers, and although they were seen as heretics, men like these play an important role in the growth and improvement of any society.    Works Cited and Consulted: Akeroyd, Richard H. The Spiritual Quest of Albert Camus. Alabama: Portals Press, 1976. Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: Random House, Inc., 1988. Dostoevsky, Feodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Jessie Coulson. Ed. George Gibian. New York: Norton, 1989. Frank, Joseph. Dostoevsky: The Miraculous Years, 1865-1871. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995. King, Adele. Camus. Oliver and Boyd Ltd. 1964. 120. McCarthy, Patrick. The Stranger. University of Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Distinction between Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Essay

Microeconomics is the study of individual economic units of an economy whereas macroeconomics is the study of aggregates of an economy as a whole. For example, when we study of an individual sugar mill manufacturing sugar, our study is micro analysis but if we study the entire sugar manufacturing sector of the economy, our study is macro analysis. Also please note if we study the problem of production of a firm, our analysis is micro study but if we study the problems of production of the whole economy, our analysis is macro study. Both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are inter-dependent and complementary. The main difference between the Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are as follows: Microeconomics Macroeconomics 1. It is the study of individual economic units of an economy It is the study of economy as a whole and its aggregates. 2. It deals with individual income, individual prices and individual output, etc. It deals with aggregates like national income, general price level and national output, etc. 3. Its Central problem is price determination and allocation of resources. Its central problem is determination of level of income and employment. 4. Its main tools are demand and suply of a particular commodity/factor. Its main tools are aggregate demand and aggregate supply of economy as a whole. 5. It helps to solve the central problem of what, how and for whom to produce in the economy It helps to solve the central problem of full employment of resources in the economy. 6. It discusses how equilibrium of a consumer, a producer or an industry is attained. It is concerned with the determination of equilibrium level of incoem and employment of the economy. 7. Price is the main determinant of microeconomic problems. Income is the major determinant of macroeconomic problems. 8. Examples are: individual income, individual savings, price determination of a commodity, individual firm’s output, consumer’s equilibrium. Examples  are: National income, national savings, general price level, aggregate demand, aggregate supply, poverty, unemployment etc.

Commanding Heights: Battle of Ideas Essay

_The Commanding Heights: The Battle of Ideas_ episode explains the economy’s change in structure between 1914 and 1970, as well as the functioning of the markets and government during that time. John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich von Hayek both had influential roles on the economy in the 20th century due to their opposing arguments regarding aggregate demand and classical liberalism, respectively. Keynes’ â€Å"planned economy† idea and Hayek’s â€Å"market economy† both fought to shape the economy into what they hoped was ideal for modern day society. Between the two, Keynes’ argument seemed to have the most success, especially in times of great need, which is why I found his the most compelling. After World War I, Germany and Austria were forced to pay the costs of the war, which was near impossible for them, until they began to print more money in order to compensate for their lack of funds. Printing more money caused a hyperinflation to occur, where prices skyrocketed and people’s savings decreased in value. By 1929, the market began to crash; banks started closing and millions of people lost all of their money. It was at this time that the government and the economy were in desperate need of a plan that would revive them from this devastating crash. At this point, John Maynard Keynes came in with his theory in an attempt to save the economy from the Great Depression. He wrote a book explaining why the Great Depression occurred and what the government should do to prevent such an economic downfall from ever happening again. As Robert Skidelsky, a British economist, said, â€Å"Concepts we take for granted today, like gross domestic product, the level of unemployment, the rate of inflation, all to do with general features of the economy, were invented by [Keynes]† (Ch.4 Europe, 1931). His idea was that the government should spend money in order to keep full employment, even if it meant bringing about a deficit. In the long run, the increase in spending would benefit the economy overall. Roosevelt, being the President of the United States during this period, used this idea by creating government agencies to give citizens work. As Daniel Yergin, an American author, mentions, â€Å"[Roosevelt and the New Deal] instituted a program of regulating capitalism in a way that had never been done before, in order to protect people from what they saw as the  recklessness of the unfettered market† (Ch.5 Washington, D.C., 1933). Regardless of the effort Friedrich Hayek put in to convince citizens that the government should not be given more control over the economy, the majority followed Keynes’ view. Once World War II hit, numerous job opportunities opened up for the preparation of the war, and the Great Depression was defeated. After the war ended, many countries took to following Keynes theory, resulting in successful economies and in some cases, socialism. Hayek still did not think Keynes’ plan was going to work and wrote a sarcastic novel to disclaim this. The message he was getting across with this book was that â€Å"too much government planning means too much government power, and too much government power over the economy destroys freedom and makes men slaves† (Ch.6 London, 1944). In truth, Germany’s market had diminished and hyperinflation had caused the German currency to become worthless, leaving them in need of a new leader to change their situation. This is when a new director of economic affairs, Ludwig Erhard, was appointed. He had similar views to Hayek, including the belief that price controls were not stopping inflation from occurring, nor were they helping the economy in any way. For this reason, Erhard got rid of price controls, leaving citizens with more freedom, and less desire to make trades in the black market. This is an example of Friedrich von Hayek’s view of how the economy should be run. He thought Keynes’ idea was giving the government too much power over the economy instead of giving that influence to the citizens. Hayek followed the view of a libertarian named Ludwig von Mises who believed â€Å"markets, like people, needed to be free from government meddling† (Ch.3 Vienna, 1919). He thought that the economy would fail because of the control over wages and prices. In the end, Keynes theory prevailed, which is why I find his argument more compelling. With the evidence to back him up, he seemed to be on the right track in terms of how the government should react and how the economy should be run. Many people prospered from his ideas and beliefs. I believe that he made society feel more secure in terms of finances and their overall style of living.

Mass Media and Its Influence in Shaping Ideas Essay

Dramatic advances in mass communication and transportation during the past 50 years have truly created a global village; a mass society. Things occurring anywhere are now quickly known everywhere. Mass media both overwhelm us with information and help us to sort it out. The development of mass media has had a great influence on our lives. We have come to depend on it for information and so forth. In doing so, we allowed it to affect important aspects of our lives. Media, why is it has been a hot topic of discussion in our nowadays society? We find that in our country, Malaysia, the mass media plays a very crucial role in influencing and changing the thinking of our current society. Taking this one issue as an example; the issue that has been a viral recently, which is Public Resurrection Rally or also known as Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat. Apart of being famously spread through media in internet such as online news and videos, surely the main mass media including television, radio and newspaper also made a wide coverage on this issue no matter they are supporting it or not. However, for sure when they differ in their goals and interests, hence the way they report about the issues also differ. This different ways of reporting thus causes varying acceptance in society. Quoting one finding by Shanto Iyengar in his book entitle ‘Is Anyone Responsible? ’ while he was doing an evaluation on the effects brought by news on television concerning political issues, he found that the carriage of the issue through the news on the TV has developed an understanding of the general public towards the political problems occurred. Meaning to say here, it could be the media who the one creating the issue permitted, or it could be media too who provides the solution for it. We cannot deny the enormity of the power and influence of the media in shaping the flow of thinking of our society. When there is only one issue raised by the media, then the issue will also be followed by the society either through their leisure or through serious discussion, through their words, as well as through their status shared on Facebook or Twitter. And that’s why, Iyenger again mentioned together with his friend; Donald Kinder in ‘News That Matters’, â€Å"when television news focuses on a problem, the public’s priorities are altered, and altered again as television news moves on to something new. † Sometimes, the issue raised is only one. However, different ways of putting up the stories may cause different way of viewpoint. It may be that with dealing on an issue will make people have a good look toward one party or side. Meanwhile, it can also be that with another way of handling an issue may causes people to have bad sentiment at one side. Mass media, if they are honest, thus the true way of thinking can be mould among the society. Conversely, if they deviate and go off from the principle they should be, then so goes the pattern of thinking that will exist in the community. Thinking of how great is the influence of media in determining the current mindset of society; media thus should be honest and trustworthy in carrying any issue or theme into the community. Seeing the reality of nowadays media, it is not easy for them to stand as a natural institution or unequivocal to any party. When the media were in favour of any party, then the way they play with an issue or problem will always favour to the side they support. Sometimes, mistakes and glares made by the side supported no matter how big would it be are usually hidden or removed by creating offense related to the other side which have different ideology or schools of thought. Any media if it is used for the benefit of one party, surely it will be a mouthpiece of the party. Hence, all reports, news, issues taken will surely favour them. Media should act as a tool to educate the community. Media plays an important role in developing the mindset of society, whether to form a good and clean mindset or the other way around. Media should not be exploited to manipulate people to have the wrong way of thinking. The effect will lead to duping of the society itself.

Communication Factor in Employee Motivation Essay

Communication Factor in Employee Motivation - Essay Example This message is then sent through a channel. Once this message is received, the receiver translates the original message from the words and symbols into a concept or information that he or she can understand. Throughout the transmitting of the message, two processes are received by the receiver: content and context. Content is the actual words or symbols of the message which is known as language. This is the spoken and written words combined into phrases that make grammatical and semantic sense. We all use and interpret the meanings of words differently, so even simple messages can be misunderstood. And many words have different meanings to confuse the issue even more. Context is the way the message is delivered and is known as Paralanguage. It includes the tone of voice, the look in the sender's eye's, body language, hand gestures, and state of emotions (anger, fear, uncertainty, confidence, etc.) that can be detected. Although paralanguage or context often causes messages to be misunderstood as we believe what we see more than what we hear; they are powerful communicators that help us to understand each other. Indeed, we often trust the accuracy of nonverbal behaviors more than verbal behaviors. [4] A message is not communicated unless it is understood and decoded by the receiver. By the two-way communication or feedback the sender knows that it has been properly received. This feedback tells the sender that the receiver understood the message, its level of importance, and what must be done with it. Communication is an exchange, not just a give, as all parties must participate to complete the information exchange. [4] How Effective Leaders Communicate Communication is now understood as the exchange of information which is understood. Following this concept, communication is easy. However people don't seem to understand what and do effective leaders communicate to make them effective. Effective leaders stress the importance of 'active listening'. The key to effective leadership communication is to be able to draw good ideas out of others. To lead effectively, therefore, you need to be good at active listening. This means asking questions about what other people think and probing them on the pros and cons of their proposals. Asking people for their opinions is the best way of showing that you value them, another essential leadership trait, if you want to engage and retain key talent. [9] Another characteristic that effective leaders possess is the vision of the future that they provide to the members of the organization. Although creating an uplifting and inspiring vision is difficult enough, it is not where most would be leaders fail. They fail in communicating the vision in a way that continues to enlist the dedicated, emotional commitment of the people throughout the ranks. [10] To communicate this vision, communication whether it is a private direct communication or with a few is absolutely vital to ensure that the intended message is getting through. There is no other way for a leader to genuinely understand how the message is being received, including whether people actually do believe it. Employees respect this characteristic as the leader seems interested in the other person. [10] The one thing a leader can always have in common with another person is his or her best interest. A message should be communicated in such a

Managing Business Activities to Achieve Results Assignment - 2

Managing Business Activities to Achieve Results - Assignment Example The director is significantly responsible for determination of firm’s vision and mission. Recruitment: The recruitment activities are highly diversified and do not comprise only the interviewing process of job applicants. The manager in the department is responsible for managing the overall process of recruitment including communication with potential client firms and implementation of recruitment process. The manager is essentially responsible for resolving issues associated with the hiring process and taking necessary managerial decisions thereof. Another important responsibility of the recruitment manager is to take care of internal recruitment (succession or promotion, layoff and new recruitment) and demand of external recruiters. IT: Organisations are increasingly incorporating technologies in their business activities and ABC Company is no different in this regard. Most of the tasks at operational and managerial level are coordinated through email, virtual networking and intranet. As a result, information technology forms an important functional department of the firm. The firm also interact with its external clients through emails. Hence, IT department is necessary for efficient management of soft and hard technologies that are employed in the firm. Training: The training department is essential in ABC Company for supporting the recruitment department. The department ensures that internal employees are imparted with sufficient and requisite training necessary for performing in their respective arena. Additionally, the training department evaluates qualifications of job seekers and candidates so that they can be set up with appropriate job interviews. Business development: The process of business development in the recruitment agency comprises continuous interaction with existing and potential client organisations for better understanding of their requirements regarding candidates. The process of business development

Self Percieved Body Image of Adolescent Girls Essay

Self Percieved Body Image of Adolescent Girls - Essay Example The study will also attempt to identify the ideal perceived body image of each respondent and ascertain how far this is from the individuals’ actual body size and their perception of their own body size. This study was chosen due to the increase of young girls at various youth groups discussing the way they look and feel about themselves, what they eat and do not eat. Also, I personally cannot remember a time in my adult life when I have felt totally happy and secure with my own body image or that of my family and friends, consequently I wanted to determine if this was true of other women and preliminary questioning of my friends suggested that the majority of women also feel this pressure to conform to a stereotypical, and very narrow, ideal of acceptable body shape. The study arouse out of my curiosity of when this phenomena begins in a woman’s life, and by questioning adolescent girls I wanted to discover if their self perception is in any way different to my own. The fact that this is a very emotive issue, and for ethical reasons it was decided that the youngest girls questioned for this particular piece of research would be 14 years of age. At the starting point of the s tudy I felt I did not have enough knowledge of when the issue arises to question younger girls, and did not want to make them prematurely aware of body image issues without any structured support system other than counselors available. From a practice-based perspective this would give further background information to then offer the right support and self esteem workshops to all adolescent girls who make use of the settings in which I work, before embarking on this crusade personal reassurance was needed and that the issue existed. This was done with guidance from the respondents themselves as to what practical measures could be put into place. The methodologies I utilised were those of applied research and action research, where ‘the agenda for the investigation

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

High School Experience - Essay Example Therefore, my expectations in the International school have been a little different from my prior exposure. I encounter a new set of challenges. First, I had a problem getting along with my colleagues who I could see they were taken aback by my presence. In several occasion, I had been frustrated because I was unwelcome to join the groups. Every time I did, they would abruptly stop talking and stare at me. This made me run over weeks without making even a single friend. For this reason, I have had a problem learning about the programs and activities of my new school. In my former high school, learning was easy, and I could get along with my teachers. However, in my new school I have had a problem understanding the teachers. Learning has been different, as I have been used to writing notes on the chalkboard. Here, the teachers teach as student writes their note. This made my learning so difficult at first, but I have come to understand, and now things are much better. I took the time getting to know my new teachers. The school has a huge population and getting an appointment is much difficult. This made learning a bit difficult in the beginning, as I could not seek help from most of the teachers. Moreover, my new school is among the best performing in the State, and this is the reason that made my parent seek transfer from my former school. Therefore, the expectation of teachers from the student has been higher compared to what I have been used. This got me in trouble, as I could not perform well compared to another student. I felt like in the wilderness alone for a long period until I improved my grades. It is through class work that I first made friends. Out of sheer frustration to get my class work done, I had to consult my classmate. However, with time my new friends introduced me to sports. I have been a football player, but I could not get it easy in my new school. I resulted in playing basketball. It was my first time playing

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 14

Case Study - Essay Example This group is limited in the sense that there is a lack of women specially who watch porn and develop the tastes for having the vaginal matches with their favorite porn stars. This will therefore require a wider understanding of the different social and ethical factors related with viewing porn and its overall acceptability in an individual’s life. What is significantly more important however is the fact that the overall market is probably at its developing stage and the demand is driven by the external factors i.e. porn market? The number of stakeholders in this market therefore is relatively large as well as diversified and therefore the overall market development may be slow as well as may not develop at all considering the ethical considerations. The main issue for the plastic surgeons to develop FCGS as a viable business therefore is to maintain a balance between the different stakeholders while at the same time ensure that all the ethical considerations are followed in their true spirit. This would therefore involve not only the perfection of the technologies which are being used during the surgery but also develop and lobby to the influential groups in order to help recognize this business as an ethical and viable business which can fulfill the particular needs of the customers. The above situation analysis points towards the different reasons and causes of the problems discussed in the case study regarding the female genital cutting. A cause and effect analysis of the problem will indicate that the roots of the major problem are in the overall acceptability of the FCGS. Various stakeholders groups seem to stamp their claim on the human rights and ethical consideration of this practice however, what is critical is the question of free choice of the customers who are willing to go through the overall process of FCGS. A limited PEST analysis of the situation would suggest that the political factors are stronger in

The Benefits of Interventions for Work-Related Stress Essay Example for Free

The Benefits of Interventions for Work-Related Stress Essay Objectives. This quantitative metaanalysis sought to determine the effectiveness of occupational stress–reducing interventions and the populations for which such interventions are most beneficial. Methods. Forty-eight experimental studies (n = 3736) were included in the analysis. Four intervention types were distinguished: cognitive–behavioral interventions, relaxation techniques, multimodal programs, and organizationfocused interventions. Results. A small but significant overall effect was found. A moderate effect was found for cognitive–behavioral interventions and multimodal interventions, and a small effect was found for relaxation techniques. The effect size for organization-focused interventions was nonsignificant. Effects were most pronounced on the following outcome categories: complaints, psychologic resources and responses, and perceived quality of work life. Conclusions. Stress management interventions are effective. Cognitive– behavioral interventions are more effective than the other intervention types. (Am J Public Health. 2001;91:270–276) Jac J. L. van der Klink, MD, MSc, Roland W. B. Blonk, PhD, Aart H. Schene, PhD, MD, and Frank J. H. van Dijk, PhD, MD The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of interventions designed for patients with emotional difficulties is a relevant topic in general practice.1 Such considerations also apply in occupational health care. With the increases in workloads of the past decades, the number of employees experiencing psychologic problems related to occupational stress has increased rapidly in Western countries.2 At the societal level, costs are considerable in terms of absenteeism, loss of productivity, and health care consumption. In Britain, it is estimated that 40 million workdays are lost to the nation’s economy owing to mental and emotional problems.3 At the individual level, there are costs in terms of high rates of tension, anger, anxiety, depressed mood, mental fatigue, and sleep disturbances. These problems, usually referred to in aggregate as distress, are often classified as neurasthenia, adjustment disorders, or burnout. Incidence rates in the Netherlands vary from 14 to 50 cases per year per 1000 patients.4 Interventions designed to reduce occupational stress can be categorized according to focus, content, method, and duration. In regard to focus, interventions can be categorized as (1) aiming to increase individual psychologic resources and responses (e.g., coping) or (2) aiming to change the occupational context. The first category of intervention is usually referred to as stress management training. However, stress management is the common denominator of an assortment of interventions ranging from relaxation methods5 to cognitive– behavioral interventions6,7 and client-centered therapy.8 The second category refers to interventions such as organizational development9,10 and job redesign.11 We distinguished 4 intervention types according to categorizations used in previous reviews12–14: cognitive–behavioral approaches, relaxation techniques, multimodal interventions, and organization-focused interventions. Cognitive–behavioral approaches aim at changing cognitions and subsequently reinforcing active coping skills.6,7 Relaxation techniques focus on physical or mental relaxation as a method to cope with the consequences of stress. Multimodal interventions emphasize the acquisition of both passive and active coping skills. The fourth intervention type involves a focus on the organization as a whole. Several reviews have been conducted of interventions designed to reduce occupational stress.2,5,12,14–16 The general finding of these reviews is that such interventions are effective. However, the reviews have been qualitative in nature and thus provide limited information on which type of intervention is most effective and for whom. Recently, Bamberg and Busch conducted the first meta-analysis on occupational stress–reducing interventions.17 However, they included only cognitive–behavioral interventions in their quantitative analyses. In the present quantitative review, the following research questions were posed: (1) Are stress interventions effective, as suggested by qualitative reviews of the literature? (2) If so, which type of stress intervention is most effective, and on which outcome measures? In addition to these research questions, exploratory analyses were conducted to determine what moderator variables (e.g., job characteristics, preventive/remedial nature of interventions, length of treatment) were related to the effectiveness of the interventions. Methods Search and Inclusion Criteria Two strategies were used to locate appropriate studies. First, 4 databases—Medline (1966–1996), ClinPsych (1980–1996), Current Contents (1997), and Nioshtic (1970– 1996)—were used to conduct a computerized search. Three groups of terms were composed for this search: (1) terms linked to stress-related psychologic problems (psychologic stress, work stress, job stress, neurasthenia, burnout, minor psychiatric problems, mental fatigue, minor depression, neurosis, distress, nervous breakdown, and adjustment disorder), (2) terms related to the intervention (therapy, treatment, protocol, program, intervention, primary care, prevention, and employee assistance program), and (3) terms related to the population (employee, occupational, vocational, rehabilitation, work, job, absenteeism, and sickness leave). Within each group of terms, searches were added. Subsequently, these searches were combined. Second, a manual search of relevant reviews, book chapters, and articles was conducted, with the objective of finding relevant references missed in the computerized search. To be included in our database, a study had to meet several criteria. First, the intervention was required to be specifically designed to prevent or reduce psychologic complaints related to occupational stress. Second, in terms of the target population, participants had to be recruited from the working population because of imminent or already-manifested stressrelated psychologic problems not diagnosed as involving a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., depression or posttraumatic stress disorder) or a stress-related somatic disorder (e.g., hypertension, coronary heart disease). Third, an experimental or quasi-experimental design involving a no-treatment control group had to be used. Within the quasi-experimental studies, we required that the experimental group and the control group be recruited from identical populations and have identical baseline values on dependent variables. In this high-quality group of primary studies, we applied no ranking for methodological quality aspects because the consequent choice of a weighting factor in the quantitative analyses would introduce an element of subjectivity. Fourth, outcome variables had to be well defined and of sufficient reliability. Finally, we required that the study be published as a journal article in English. Definitions The variables used in the meta-analysis included intervention-related variables, outcome variables, and population characteristics. February 2001, Vol. 91, No. 2 Intervention-related variables were (1) type of intervention, (2) total number of hours, (3) number of weeks, and (4) number of sessions. The latter 3 variables could be considered indexes of the intensity and extent of the intervention. Because they were relevant in assessing the cost-effectiveness and practical applicability of a program, we used these variables as moderators in the exploratory analyses. As described earlier, 4 intervention types were included; 3 involved a focus on individuals and 1 involved a focus on the organization. In several reviews, a third focus has been discerned: the interaction between the individual and the organization.14,18 Thus far, however, intervention studies conducted with this focus have been uncontrolled.19 The outcome variables included were placed into 5 categories: (1) quality of work life, including such aspects as job demands, work pressure, job control, working conditions, and social support from management and colleagues; (2) psychologic resources and responses, including measures of self-esteem, mastery, beliefs, and coping skills20; (3) physiology, including measures such as tension, electromyographic activity, (nor)adrenaline, and cholesterol level; (4) complaints, including stress or burnout rates or symptoms, somatic symptoms, and mental health status and symptoms (because of their significance in general health practice, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were considered as separate subcategories); and (5) absenteeism. A number of population characteristics, such as sex, age, years of employment, occupational status, and baseline stress level, may be important moderators of treatment effects and thus may provide information on which types of interventions are effective and for whom. However, for most of these characteristics, the specific information required was not available in the studies; the exceptions were baseline stress level and occupational status. The predictive influence of these characteristics on treatment effects was investigated in a number of exploratory analyses. In line with Newman and Beehr12 and with Murphy,2 2 baseline stress level categories were distinguished, preventive and remedial. In the present meta-analysis, a study was considered preventive if no participant selection had taken place in regard to stress levels. A study was considered remedial if participants were selected by means of a criterion. As noted by Karasek and Theorell, occupational status may be indicative of level of job control.20 On the basis of Karasek and Theorell’s ratings, we categorized study samples as â€Å"high control† or â€Å"low control.† Two studies involving samples with mixed occupations were classified as low control because most of the participants in these studies had low-control jobs.21,22 Two studies were excluded from these exploratory analyses because of a lack of sufficient information.23,24 Statistical Analysis The Advanced BASIC Meta-Analysis program25 was used in conducting statistical analyses. In this program, several statistics (e.g., F, t, r, and P) can be entered, and a product–moment correlation is obtained. These effect size correlations are transformed to Fisher z scores. Subsequently, mean Fisher z scores are calculated and transformed back to effect size (r) values. If F or t values were reported, we used these values; if such values were not reported, they were computed if the required information was available. If this computation was not possible, P values were used; effects reported as nonsignificant were rated as P=0.5.26 A problem in meta-analyses is that studies with a relatively large number of outcome measures disproportionately affect the metaanalytic results. To counteract this problem, Rosenthal and Rubin27 proposed a method of computing a mean effect size in which the intercorrelation of outcome measures is taken into account.25(pp45–47) For all analyses, outcome variables were combined according to this method. We used all outcome measures reported in a study in calculating effect sizes. We report effect sizes in Cohen’s d, which can be derived directly from r values. Cohen’s d represents the standardized mean difference between the intervention group mean and the control group mean. Thus, a d value of 1 indicates that the intervention group performed 1 standard deviation above the control group on a particular outcome variable. Results Description of Studies Forty-eight studies10,21–24,28–67 conducted between 1977 and 1996 met the inclusion criteria; findings from these studies were published in 45 different articles. None of the 48 studies had a curative orientation in the usual sense (i.e., target population consisting of people seeking help). Four studies were considered remedial, because there was selection in regard to baseline stress level. Forty-one studies involved employees with jobs categorized as high in job control. Five studies evaluated an organizationfocused intervention, 18 evaluated a cognitive– behavioral intervention, 17 evaluated a relaxation technique, and 8 evaluated a multimodal approach. In all studies, several outcome analyses were conducted. The result was 99 intervention–outcome combinations. American Journal of Public Health 271 Twenty of the studies involved a followup assessment. In most cases, follow-up was either uncontrolled or reported in a way that allowed no retrieval of statistical metrics. Therefore, only the first postintervention assessment was included in the meta-analysis. The mean interval between preintervention and postintervention assessment was 9 weeks for interventions that focused on individuals (SD= 6 weeks). This deviation was merely due to dif- ferences in intervention duration. Differences in interval between intervention types were not significant. The interval for organizationfocused programs was considerably longer (38 weeks) owing to longer program durations and longer postintervention assessment intervals. Pretest-to-posttest dropout rates varied from 0% to 40%. The mean dropout rate for programs that focused on individuals was 11%; differences between intervention types were nonsignificant. Organization-focused programs had a mean dropout rate of 26%.