Policy Implementation and Application Assignment

Policy Implementation and Application - Assignment Example It is important for you to note that, the current ethical standards have brought ethical behavior in our organization to the forefront of public consciousness. Today after getting knowledge of the past, and getting to know the role played by ethics in running a business, the question is no longer, whether ethics is vital, but how to maintain the ethical behavior in an association. I wish to notify you that, how you handle customer related issues as the mangers and leaders of the organization, determines the size of our customer base. I therefore, wish to make an appeal that you exercise the courteous behaviors at all times in handling the issues poised by our esteemed customers at all times. I wish to reiterate to you that, in today’s community, individuals do not at all times do what is right, they may be right aware that doing certain things will bring greater consequences that they would not like but go ahead and perform them. It is, therefore, your responsibility as the le aders of ECG to make sure that the organizational culture supports the ethical conduce and social responsibility. As the ambassadors of our company, you must be the voice that individuals look to, to understand what they are up to at all times. I wish to reiterate that as the top leaders and managers of ECG, you are expected to alleviate vices that are detrimental to the success of our organizational activities such as harassment, discrimination, and abuse of office. You are expected to uphold professionalism in running the affairs of our company at all times. Various aspects of the company such as recruitment and promotion of personnel warrants stringent adherence to the laid procedures. You are expected to recruit personnel into the company with respect to merit and competence. Discipline is paramount at ECG and thus, as the leaders and managers of the organization; you are expected to identify the errand members of the organization, hence subject them to disciplinary measures acc ordingly. It is important for you to note that the conduct of the employees under your respective capacity as leaders depends on your respective management styles. Concerning this, therefore, I appeal for your close monitoring of the organization’s employees to ensure that they adhere to the stipulated rules and regulations. I wish to inform you that, as the leaders and managers of ECG in various capacities, you ought to make it a continual habit to treat every worker fairly. It is important for you to note that fair treatment of the organization’s employees dictates their level of commitment to the activities of the organization. Therefore, try to win the confidence of the employees under your respective leadership at all times whenever you are attending to their needs or interacting with them. Try to inculcate good morals and sense of hard work in all employees at all times. I wish to let you know that, the manner in which the ward of tenders at ECG is done, contrave nes the recommended procedures. I therefore, call upon the members who sit in this committee to portray high professionalism and integrity while handling all the affairs related to the progress of the. Kindly, note that, the ethical dilemmas can cause effects to association’s reputation, and its financial performance. You are expect

Report outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Report - Outline Example g cart into the UK will assist the marketer or company on whether there are factors that will play a role in achieving the business plan or it will highlight the obstacles that will act as a barrier in bringing an American hot dog cart into the UK (Griffin, 2010, 161). PEST analysis will be significant in measuring the growth or plan of bringing an American hot dog cart into the UK. It will highlight the political, economic, social and technological factors that may influence both negatively or positively the plan of introducing the cart into the UK market (Griffin, 2010, 161). The 4Ps will assist in marketing the cart into the UK markets as they will provide both the marketer with information regarding the product, price, place and promotional strategies used by to capture the markets (Cowan, 2012, 61). It will involve market Penetration into the UK market. Secondly, there will be market development of the product in the UK. Thirdly, there will product development of the American hot dog cart into the UK market. Lastly, the American hot dog cart will be exposed through a stage of diversification to improve on the carts used for transporting hot dogs (Dransfield, 2004,

Genetically Modified Plants And Animals Biology Essay

Genetically Modified Plants And Animals Biology Essay The genome of both animals and plants has been altered for many years through various traditional breeding methods and organisms with favourable characteristics have being artificially selected to breed successive generations. These methods, however, have been limited to naturally occurring variations. Recent advances in genetic engineering have made it possible for scientists to precisely control any genetic changes introduced into an organism. Genes from one species can, through genetic engineering, be incorporated into an entirely different species. Any organism which has had its genetic material altered is defined as a genetically modified organism (GMO). The definition states that a GMO includes any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. It is important to note that in the case of humans, even if they have had their genes altered as a result of, gene therapy for instance, they are not considered to be GMOs. A major purpose of the field of genetics is to classify genes according to their function. The scientific study of genes in living organisms can be separated into three different strategies. The first two, which analyse natural variation and random mutagenesis, are the primary methods of forward genetics where the genotype of an abnormal phenotype is studied. In the case of random mutagenesis, it is often difficult to trace a phenotype back to a specific gene as many chromosomal loci are simultaneously targeted. Thus a third type of research strategy, reverse genetic techniques, has been developed in the past three decades. This method, where a specific gene is modified and the phenotype is subsequently investigated, provided tools for the research of gene function in a targeted manner. Among the most frequently used animals are Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode) and Mus musculus (house mouse), and plants Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) and Triticum aestivum (common wheat) which have each been essential for the identification of genes implicated in aging, cell differentiation, development, and other significant biological functions. Transgenic rats are of great importance in neuroscience as they have been extensively used in behavioural paradigms (Abbott 2004) while recently, the first transgenic primate disease model, for Huntingtons disease, was created (Yang et al. 2008). Research has progressed through the use of various techniques. One of these techniques is the loss of function method where an organism is modified so that one or more genes lose their activity. This method has allowed researchers to analyze defects caused by particular mutations and has been extremely useful in identifying the function of a gene. Another method is the knockout experiment which involves the creation and manipulation of a DNA construct in vitro. In a simple knockout, this construct contains a copy of the required gene which has been slightly changed to lose its function. The modified gene is then taken up by embryonic stem cells, and it replaces the organisms own gene. These stem cells are then injected into a blastocyst which is implanted into a surrogate mother. Furthermore, the gain of function method is frequently performed in conjunction with the knockout method so that the function of a desired gene can be more finely identified. The process is very similar to knockout engineering, but in this case the construct amplifies the function of the gene, by adding extra copies of the gene or inducing more frequent synthesis of the protein. Information on the localization and interaction of a protein can be obtained through tracking experiments. In this method the wild-type gene is replaced with a fusion gene, which is a combination of the wild-type gene with a reporting element such as Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The reporting element allows visualization of the products of the modification. Moreover, expression studies can display the time and location of the synthesis of the protein. In this technique the promoter is reintroduced into an organism but the coding region is replaced by a reporting element or an enzyme catalyzing the production of a dye. A further advancement in expression studies has been the process promoter bashing, where the promoter is altered so as to find which pieces are crucial for proper gene expression and are bound by transcription factor proteins. The use of these, and other, methods to investigate critical questions in genetics has become standard practice. In particular, GMOs have been essential for 1) Identifying a genes function and any molecular elements related to it; 2) Creating models of human diseases; 3) Determining and confirming drug targets and specificity and 4) Investigating chronological aspects of gene function. 1) Identifying a genes function and any molecular elements related to it Targeted mutagenesis has been used extensively in the field of neuroscience. One of the very first groundbreaking experiments using targeted mutagenesis was carried out by Eric Kandel at Columbia University. Using the tetracycline inducible system, they expressed a calcium-independent form of the calcium dependent kinase, calcium-calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII), which is specific for the forebrain. They also observed a decline in spatial memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). This major breakthrough displayed how both temporal and spatial control over molecular elements can help to identify the function of a particular gene and its role in brain function. Plant modification techniques have been invaluable tools for genetic research. Through the use of these methods, geneticists have gained detailed knowledge on the function of specific plant genes, their expression and the properties of the proteins they encode. One important trait that has been studied using transgenic plants is plant mechanical strength, which has an agronomic significance. Transgenic rice from the Indica variety was used to elucidate the molecular mechanism controlling the mechanical strength of crops. Mutations on the BC1 gene, which is expressed mostly in developing sclerenchyma cells and vascular bundles, were introduced into rice and resulted in a decrease of cell wall thickness and cellulose content and an increase in lignin level. This suggested that BC1 has a vital role in the biosynthesis of the cell walls of mechanical tissues. 2) Creating models of human diseases Another significant use for GMOs is the development of models for human disorders. This can be done by introducing a mutated gene or eliminating a gene which has a putative role in the disease. GMOs have been tremendously useful in modelling a wide range of illnesses, especially in the field of neuroscience. These include Alzheimers disease (AD), Huntingtons disease, cerebral ischemia and neuropsychiatric disorders. AD, for instance, is characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyper-phosphorylated tau protein and by amyloid ÃŽÂ ²-peptide (AÃŽÂ ²) plaques. Mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), apolipoprotein E (APOE) and presenilin 1 and 2 (PS1, PS2), have all been shown to have a role in the disease. Research on transgenic mice has indicated that an overexpression of APP and PS1 causes AÃŽÂ ² plaque formation and leads to memory deficits, which are both symptoms of AD. The significant role of GMOs in testing potential causal mechanisms o f human disease is consequently highlighted. Recently, researchers at The University of Western Ontario working with scientists in Brazil used a unique transgenic mouse line to discover a previously unknown mechanism causing heart failure. The study showed that if the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which decreases cardiac activity, is reduced the probability of heart failure increases (ScienceDaily, 2010). Fundamental discoveries made first in plants have been central in our understanding of human biology, specifically cells, genes, molecular chaperones, transposable elements, programmed cell death, and gaseous hormones. Research on  genetically modified A. thaliana has helped in the identification of genes involved in human disease.  Scientists have shown that eighty-eight genes on chromosome 5 of A. thaliana are very similar to the 289 genes linked to human disease syndromes which have been established for comparison with D. melanogaster. As the majority of these are also greatly conserved between D. melanogaster and C. elegans, A. thaliana biology can be modified and used as a model to increase our knowledge of human disease. Many of these genes encode proteins which have a conserved function. For example, DNA excision repair genes (linked to xeroderma pigmentosum) and ATP-dependent copper transporters (linked to Wilsons and Menkes disease). In the latter the A. thaliana homolog ue is more similar to the human homologue than to the D. melanogaster or C. elegans counterparts. 3) Determining and confirming drug targets and specificity The development of genetic models for diseases has greatly assisted in drug discovery and in identifying drug targets. Genetic modification can be extremely specific, for instance removing a gene which codes for a particular receptor subtype. This specificity ensures almost complete selectivity and is thus preferred to classical pharmacological approaches. For example, through the use of both the knock-in and knockout methods scientists can examine the function of receptor subtypes. Specifically, transgenic mice have been used to establish the purpose of specific GABA receptor subunits in the diverse actions of diazepam. Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, acts on GABAA receptors which consist of ÃŽÂ ±1-, ÃŽÂ ±2-, ÃŽÂ ±3-, or ÃŽÂ ±5- subunits. The mice where modified to carry point mutations in the benzodiazepine receptors of each of their subunits, and the investigators were thus able to genetically separate the distinct functions of diazepam (e.g. sedative or anxiolytic) acting at otherwise similar GABAA receptors. Plants are very significant as novel therapeutic drug leads. Nicotine, the main biologically active compound in N. tabacum, binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nicAChRs) in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce a wide variety of biological effects. The nicAChR family consists of receptors made of ÃŽÂ ²-subunits and a series of structurally varied ÃŽÂ ±-subunits. The differences in the ÃŽÂ ±-subunit amino acids and in the subunit composition create variations in the receptors binding site and give the members of this receptor family unique drug specificity. Through the use of transgenic N. tabacum it was demonstrated that a significant number of the plants contained compounds that are selective for brain receptors linked to the a7 nicAChR. Compounds which have this selectivity are of particular interest as drugs that act on these receptors may be useful to treat degenerative brain diseases such as AD. 4) Determining and confirming drug targets and specificity In addition, GMOs have been used to analyse second messenger signaling pathways and also to determine vital developmental timing of gene function. The latter was demonstrated by using a tetracycline inducible knock-out of the serotonin 1A receptor. When the receptor was knocked out during development, it caused the knockout mouse to experience increased anxiety. When the receptor was knocked out in adults, however, the anxiety levels were normal. It was thus shown that the 1A receptor is associated to a developmental factor necessary for normal emotional behaviour. Transgenic plants have also been effectively used to analyze regulated gene expression, as the expression can be investigated at various stages and in different tissues. The environmental factors that influence gene expression and that have been studied in transgenic plants include temperature, light intensity, anaerobic stress, and wounding. The development of flowers requires the collaboration of specialized tissues. Research was carried out on transgenic petunia to determine the genes controlling the development and differentiation in the flower. By analysing the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene, which is found in high concentrations in flowers, the researchers were able to identify an upstream region that is responsible for the tissue-specific and developmentally regulated expression. Conclusion In summary, this technology has played a considerable role in genetics. The most common applications of GMOs in the field of genetics have been highlighted: dissecting biological mechanisms, modelling human diseases, discovering and validating pharmaceuticals, and investigating crucial time windows in gene function. While there are many other types of approaches for creating GMOs and many other uses for these organisms, the role of GMOs in genetics has being the main focus, as the impact on this field has been substantial. New approaches to creating and using GMOs are continuously being developed, including adjustments and combinations of the discussed techniques, which will surely further impact genetics.

Hamlets Childish Behaviour and Contempt of Others :: essays research papers

Hamlet identifies with an adolescent of the 1990’s more than he does with the youth of his own time. Hamlet is immature, sarcastic, depressed and takes action during the heat of passion which is very much like the behavior of the youth in the 1990’s. Love, control over action, and the ability to overcome depression are just a few ways to prove maturity. It is obvious Hamlet loves Ophelia in his own way â€Å". . . the celestial and my soul’s idol, the most beautified Ophelia . . .† (Hamlet. II, ii, 109- 110), but his way is not mature enough to include trust toward his lover. The trust that Hamlet should have given her was the key of his madness. This madness that Hamlet cannot trust his love with is the same madness that he loses total control over because of his immaturity, it then causes him to do things, such as kill Polonius, that a person that was mature could stop. The madness that Hamlet assumes is understandable but he can never get over the actual death of his father by still wearing black a year later, and the hasty marriage of his mother to Claudius. Compared to Horatio who is calm and cool throughout the play, and Fortinbras who collected an army to fight for his uncle’s land and honor, Hamletâ⠂¬â„¢s maturity level for his time is low, especially for being a prince. Today Hamlet’s age group is more immature than during his own time so he relates to the youth of the 1990’s better than he does with the adolescents of his own time. Sarcasm, and blunt rudeness is often used by Hamlet in order to offend people that, during his time, he should not have offended. Hamlet often used the hasty marriage of his mother to offend Claudius. The first time that Hamlet offends Claudius in the company of another person is when Claudius is supposed to be helping cheer Hamlet up. â€Å"A little more than kin, and less than kind.† (Hamlet. I, ii, 65) is just as rude during Hamlet’s time as almost anything that a person could say today, it just takes a little thinking for the people of today to get what Hamlet means. The second person that Hamlet is openly rude to is Polonius. Hamlet, in front of Claudius and Gertrude, insults Polonius by calling him â€Å". . . a fishmonger.† (Hamlet.

Your mom

The old view (historians in the 1950's) was that NAZI Germany was a â€Å"totalitarian† state. Hitler was the all-powerful dictator. Orders flowed downwards from Hitler. The system of government was like an efficient, well-oiled machine. Recent research by historians (1970's/80's) now disputes this view. It is now accepted that Nazi Germany was NOT a â€Å"well-oiled machine†. It was more like a medieval court – with a king (Hitler) surrounded by powerful barons (his leading subordinates). The barons constantly battled with each other.The king stayed above this conflict, occasionally backing one side or the other. The best way to get a decision was to get to Hitler personally. His orders, when he bothered to issue them, were all that counted in the last resort. This was a chaotic way to run a modern country. It was certainly NOT â€Å"totalitarian†! Historians are currently disputing these issues: 1) Some historians argue that despite the above â€Å"chao s†, Hitler's will still counted above all else. Hitler was such a CHARISMATIC leader that he did not need to issue clear orders, but everyone knew, or could guess, what he wanted.In practice veryone in government tried to carry this out. This is the â€Å"intentionalist† viewpoint. Things happened inside Nazi Germany because Hitler them to. 2) Other historians say many decisions were taken inside Germany without Hitler's will. People in government had to get on with the Job. Often Hitler Just had to accept what they had decided to do. This is the â€Å"weak dictator† interpretation. It is also sometimes called the argument: that the structures of government, not Hitler's intentions, decided many issues. 3) Other historians argue that Hitler governed Germany in the way he didThey argue it was a good way to â€Å"divide and rule. † While the â€Å"barons† were busy scrapping with each other, Hitler's power would never be challenged by any of them. 4) A different point of view is that Hitler really WAS a â€Å"weak† dictator. He was indecisive so he tried to put off making decisions. The details of government work bored him. He preferred foreign affairs. So he left the boring day-to-day business of governing Germany to others. He only got involved when he had to, for example to settle disputes between his â€Å"barons. â€Å"

Poverty in the United States Research Paper Essay

Today, â€Å"the number of people in the U.S. who are in poverty is increasing to record levels with the ranks of working-age poor approaching 1960s levels that led to the national war on poverty† (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). When looking at the increasingly important issue of poverty in the United States, one cannot help but wonder how this will affect future generations and the stability of the nation as a whole. In order to fully understand the problem at hand, poverty must first be defined, have the causes and effects of it examined, look at it from a world-wide perspective, and then consider how it will affect the future of the United States. The goal of this document is to bring to the readers attention the potential consequences of ignoring poverty in the United States and motivate them to do something about it. â€Å"Poverty is the deprivation of well being that occurs when people cannot satisfy their basic needs† (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012). There are two kinds of poverty: absolute poverty and relative poverty. Absolute poverty, or destitution, refers to the lack of basis needs such as food, water, clothing, shelter, health care, education, and the necessary supplies to live hygienically (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012). When poverty is measured in relative terms, it is defined contextually by the median income of where people live (Smeeding, 2006, p. 71). Relative poverty does not imply that that the person is lacking anything, just that they are living below a certain level of income (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). For example: a person with an annual income of $150,000 living in a neighborhood with an average annual income of $500,000 is relatively poor even though they by no means lack the ability to provide the basic essential needs outlined by absolute poverty. Both types of poverty vary from location to location, but absolute poverty tends to be more of a universal definition while relative poverty is strictly dependent upon the Running head: POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES 3 location in which a person lives. â€Å"Since the 1960s, the United States government has defined poverty in absolute terms. When the Johnson administration declared ‘war on poverty’ in 1964, it chose an absolute measure. The ‘absolute poverty line’ is the threshold below which families or individuals are considered to be lacking the resources to meet the basic needs for healthy living; having insufficient income to provide the food, shelter and clothing needed to preserve health† (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). â€Å"A 2001 poll in the United States asked: ‘In your opinion, which is the bigger cause of poverty today- that people are not doing enough to help themselves out of poverty, or that circumstances beyond their control cause them to be poor?’ Responses were nearly evenly split between ‘people not doing enough’ (48 percent) and ‘circumstances’ (45 percent)† (Iceland, 2006, p. 70). There are many speculations as to what the causes of poverty in the United States are and studies show that the main causes are both social and economic, both of which will be discussed here. Problems leading to poverty in the United States include family status, the level of education of the head of household, age of the head of household, and race. â€Å"In 1991, 8.3% of children in two-parent families were likely to live in poverty; 19.6% of children living with father in single parent family; and 47.1% in single parent family headed by mother† (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). That means that an average of 33.35% of children coming from a single parent family are likely to live in poverty compared to a mere 8.3% of children living in the traditional, two-parent, family. Another great factor leading to poverty is the level of education of the head of household. â€Å"Studies have shown that people who invest in their education or skills can expect higher incomes† (Iceland, 2006, p. 70-71). Obviously, income has Running head: POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES 4 a direct correlation with poverty as it is in the essence of its definition. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, â€Å"the median earnings of household headed by individuals with less than a 9th grade education was $20,805 while households headed by high school graduates earned $40,456, households headed by holders of a bachelor’s degree earned $77,605, and families headed by individuals with professional degrees earned $100,00† (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). In 2009, households headed by individuals age 15-24 averaged an income of $30,750 annually, while households headed by individuals age 25-34 averaged $50,188, and households with a head age 35-44 averaged $61,083 (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). Along with this study, there were no indicators as to what the primary cause of this was; however, it’s possible that work experience and additional education may be factors. While this is more of a combination of a social and economic factor to poverty, it is more of a social one because it deals directly with the head of household. The factor related to poverty to look at is race. In 2003, the poverty rate amongst African Americans in the United States was 24.4%, almost double the national poverty rate of 12.5% (Iceland, 2006, p. 81). This could be due to the oppressions of society through racial discrimination or profiling, or simply the effects of the oppression that once was- slavery and the racist discrimination of the early 20th century. â€Å"Poverty increases the risk of homelessness† (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012), and children who grow up in low income families have less of a chance to get a good education and attempt to better themselves and their income (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012). With this in mind, it makes sense that the African American community makes up a large majority of the poor in the United States. Their beginnings in this nation were the lowest, poorest conditions of anyone in that day. Many believe that they simply have not been able to Running head: POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES 5 climb out of the hole they were placed in to when they were enslaved back in the 1700’s. â€Å"Another factor that contributes to higher poverty rates among African Americans is human-capital skills differentials. This refers to differences in average levels of education, quality of educational opportunities, and subsequent work experience. The gap in average levels of education has declined over the past few decades. Nevertheless, the quality of schooling received by children varies widely, and African Americans are more likely to attend inferior schools with fewer resources† (Iceland, 2006, P. 84). Attendance to schools with fewer resources is a direct result of their economic situation, which causes the poor to stay poor in this case. Another example of race being a factor of poverty in the United States can be seen when observing the hispanic culture. In 2003, the Latino poverty rate was at 22.5%, just below that of the African American community (Iceland, 2006, p. 85). This is in large part due to immigration, as â€Å"immigrant families are at greater risk of poverty than nonimmigrant families† (Iceland, 2006, p. 85). Also, â€Å"in places with many immigrants, the competition for low-wage jobs also appears to drive down wages for these immigrants† (Iceland, 2006, p. 86). For as much as Americans focus on equal opportunity and not discriminating based upon race, it would appear that poverty does discriminate based upon race and does not provide all races with equal opportunities in the United States. Obviously there are exceptions, and not everyone who grows up in poverty stays poor. Nonetheless, there is still a trend of minority races having higher poverty rates in the United States. â€Å"21% of all children in the United States live in poverty; about 46% of black children and 40% of Latino children live in poverty† (â€Å"Poverty in the United States,† 2012). Now that the factors leading to poverty and effects of them have been examined, it is time Running head: POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES 6 to look at poverty from a world-wide perspective. Mahatma Gandhi said, â€Å"Poverty is the worst form of violence.† All across the world, this violence is real, and to many, a way of life. The poverty line is much lower in some other countries due to an uneven distribution of wealth. In the USA, the wealthy middle class brings the median up and causes the poverty threshold to be higher. However, different factors such as the level and trend of poverty and inequality amongst nations, along with considerable detail on the sources of market incomes and public policies are used to compare poverty levels from nation to nation (Smeeding, 2006, p. 69). With that said, absolute poverty is much more rampant in some other countries than it is in the United States. For example: in 2008, of the estimated 1.29 billion people living in absolute poverty, 400 million of them lived in India and 173 million lived in China. That’s almost half of the world’s poor living in just those two countries, while the United States hosted just 39.1 million. Everyone reacts to their circumstances in a different way. For example: â€Å"in Zimbabwe, a number of girls are turning to prostitution for food to survive† (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012). Some turn to violence or steal to get what they need to survive. For many Children living in poverty, their lives are deemed a failure before they are ever given a chance to succeed. â€Å"Research has found that there is a high risk of educational underachievement for children who are from low-income housing circumstances† (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012). In some countries, young children can be seen begging in the streets for money. As Abraham Maslow showed in his hierarchy of needs, when people don’t have their basic needs- food, water, shelter, safety, comfort, etc.- it can be very difficult to focus on much more than those. For children living in absolute poverty, these are the very things that they seek after on a Running head: POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES 7 daily basis. The number of homeless children in America rose from 1.2 million in 2007 to 1.6 million in 2010 (â€Å"Poverty,† 2012). Children are the future of this great nation. If so many are forced to grow up in sub-par circumstances without the necessary tools and opportunities to be successful, how can the United States fulfill its potential as a nation. Poverty rates are on the rise once again. It is everybody’s responsibility to do something about it. Give what can be given. Feed the homeless. Care for them. Provide the poor with an opportunity to better their lives. â€Å"Give a man a fish and you’ve fed him that day, teach a man to fish and he can eat for the rest of his life.† Sometimes all that needs to be given is a little bit of time and energy to reach out and attempt to better someone else’s circumstances. In this paper, poverty was defined, the causes and effects of poverty were examined, it was looked at from a world-wide perspective, and the long term effects of poverty in the United States were considered. People can never know what they are truly capable of until they truly apply themselves. Just because poverty has always been an issue in the world does not mean that it always has to be. Take it from a man who spent his life serving the poor and trying to better the world around him: â€Å"be the change you wish to see in the world† -Mahatma Gandhi. Running head: POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES 8 References Poverty. (10/6/2012). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty. Poverty in the United States. (9/24/2012). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States. Iceland, J. (2006). Poverty in America: A handbook. Berkley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press. Smeeding, T. (2006). Poor people in rich nations: The United States in comparative perspective. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20(1), 69-90.

Civic Engagement Essay Example

Civic Engagement Essay Example Civic Engagement Essay Civic Engagement Essay Civic Engagement and Political Awareness in the Youth of America Change is inevitable and the popular one hit wonder, Video Killed the Radio Star, echoes a nostalgic desire to appreciate the past. The simple, yet meaningful verse, â€Å"we can’t rewind we’ve gone too far,† drives home the notion that the past is in the past, and one can only move forward. The song directly relates to technological changes in music at that time period. The lyrics give the impression radio will be replaced by visually stimulating music videos; however, the future has proved that radio has not been replaced; music has merely been enhanced by the continuous change of technological advancements. Political scientist and professor, Robert Putnam illustrates in his book, Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital, how one of the primary culprits in the decline of political awareness and civic engagement is the new media, for example, the Internet. Further studies suggest this is not necessarily the case. Video Killed the Radio Star mirrors the relentless argument of whether the mass media has hindered or assisted in political awareness and civic activity in adolescents and young adults. The radio made people famous, and even after music videos became popular, music was still streamed through a radio and continues to be used to this day. Studies have shown that civic engagement and political awareness has declined, at all age levels, and yet there is evidence that the mass media can have a positive effect on cultivating social capital, especially in the interest of young voters in America. The issue at hand is not mass media, but how mass media can be used as a means to stay informed on community issues and how it can create a sense of community. In the article, America’s Youth and Community Engagement: How Use of Mass Media is Related to Civic Activity and Political Awareness in 14- to 22-Year-Olds, the authors begin by providing troubling evidence, â€Å"Voter turnout in congressional and presidential elections has dropped since 1960†¦ Americans are less involved in political activities ranging from signing petitions to attending rallies† (Pasek, Kenski, Romer, and Jamieson 115). Putnam compares the decline in civic engagement to the massive decline of bowling leagues; however, as bowling memberships are declining, the number of people bowling has increased. He explains the concept of a bonding capital and a bridging capital within the social capital as a whole. The theory of bonding and bridging can also be described in terms of strong ties and weak ties of networking. Professors Homero Gil de Zuniga and Sebastian Valenzuela explored Putnam’s research further in their article, The Mediating Path to a Stronger Citizenship: Online and Offline Networks, Weak Ties and Civic Engagement, finding it inclusive that bridging, or associating with weak ties provide one with a greater networking base, and therefore more information and resources. Bridging and weak ties are when an individual socializes with people who are different from themselves. Bonding and strong ties are individuals who are linked to each other on varying levels of intimacy; for example, one’s inner circle of friends and family. Putnam additionally points out that bonding and bridging strengthen each other. Because of the decline of bonding, there is a decline in bridging, which he links to the drop of organizational forms of capital due to the mass media. Like Putnam, authors Zuniga and Valenzuela agree that â€Å"larger networks foster civic participation so long as they provide access to weak ties,† yet they take into consideration that the internet is vast with diversity and is not â€Å"geographically bounded,† and therefore â€Å"argue that the online context should be more strongly associated with weak-tie communication than the offline context† (405). According to Zuniga and Valenzuela, this connection shows that internet based networks and weak ties will be more effective than the relationship between personal, offline networking and weak ties. The authors mentioned earlier, Josh Pasek, Kate Kenski, Daniel Romer, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson conducted a telephone survey to assess â€Å"12 different uses of mass media as well as awareness of current national politics and time spent in civic activities† in respect to the youth and how mass media is related to political awareness and civic activity (115). If the conclusion made by Zuniga and Valenzuela is accurate, then the new media will have a positive effect on the younger population’s role in developing social capital. Historically, when print media flourished, it served as a way to stay in touch with the community of readers with no face-to-face interaction and â€Å"made possible the development of the modern nation state† (117). Internet is just another mechanism to build social networks, in which interpersonal communication is absent, like the newspaper. However, unlike the newspaper, internet provides individuals with an extensive opportunity to network with people who are not in their inner circle, thus weak ties are created. Furthermore, Pasek, Kenski, Romer, and Jamieson examine how some forms of media are more effective than others, and explain how media that solely exists to entertain adolescents and young adults can aid in promoting group activities with individuals that can share their experiences and develop a sense of community. They are still experiencing social participation, even if the activity is not directly associated with civic activities. The authors evaluated the 12 different uses of mass media and assessed each media variable based on if it improved political awareness or civic engagement, or both. The researchers also included demographic predictors that would correspond with the study: age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. It is apparent that adults would have a higher amount of political knowledge. â€Å"The average education level in our sample was 10. years of schooling†¦ Of respondents, 78. 9 percent were currently students,† which would give them the edge since there are more opportunities to become involved in community service activities and clubs the schools have to offer. Some schools require community service to graduate. Socioeconomic status also plays a role in political awareness and civic engagement. This correlates directly to the fact that individuals who are w ealthier have the resources and means to educate their children and are probably highly educated as well. Race and gender is yet another factor in evaluating political knowledge and civic engagement, whereas â€Å"whites appear more politically aware than Blacks, Hispanics, and other non-Whites†¦ however, race has not been as strongly related in one direction or the other [in regards to civic engagement, and]†¦ women, on average, belong to more associations and organizations than men but tend to exhibit less political knowledge† (123). The results of How Use of Mass Media is Related to Civic Activity and Political Awareness in 14- to 22- Year-Olds, revealed that if media usage increased in frequency, it had a negative impact on political awareness and civic engagement, which is to be expected. Although reading remained positive, the results showed individuals took longer to develop a well-rounded political knowledge base if their reading increased. This is the cause of a decrease in active engagement with others. The authors could not predict if newspapers increased civic activity, however, it was evident that it increased political awareness. Civic activity was strongly related to political awareness, and the findings also concluded that the Internet increased civic engagement, along with listening to news on the radio, following shows on television, and reading magazines. Not only were civic activities found to be directly related to political awareness, but the media had an overall positive effect on civic engagement and political knowledge. In his research, Putnam fails to assess new ways to approach civic engagement and political awareness, and instead looks to the old. Relating civic engagement to the decline of bowling leagues seems futile to the reader, especially to a young adult. As society changes, activities change; people change. The youth of today are more interested in modern technology, which is why more candidates should reevaluate how they approach the younger generation in regards to the elections and make use of the Internet during elections. Because young voters are growing up in a time when technology is usually readily available to them, they look mostly to the web for political information. Youth turnout for the 2004 elections showed â€Å"marked increases. † Most likely prompted by the war in Iraq, intense efforts were made to ensure younger generations were actively engaged throughout the campaigns. New media tools were also used, with websites put up that focused on attracting the younger population to politics; â€Å"an estimated 28 percent of 18- 29-year-olds received most of their information about the campaigns via the Internet in 2004, making them the age group most reliant on new media for political information about the election† (Xenos and Bennett 444). However, in the article The Disconnection in Online Politics, Michael Xenos and W. Lance Bennett stress the fact that although younger voters are participating online, they are less likely to visit a site that is sponsored by a specific party or electoral candidate. Unfortunately, politicians are very slow when adapting to the modern world of technology, and do not make use of the web to attract young voters. On sites like Rock the Vote, they give young voters access to interactive features, and yet links to websites with related political information and resources are not easily accessible. Young voters only attain a morsel of information from youth engagement websites. Between 2002 and 2004, Xenos and Bennett conducted an extensive analysis of political sites that focused on youth involvement, as well as electoral sites, and they found the â€Å"overall pattern is one of overlap† (456). The candidates’ websites were not designed to attract young voters. They merely addressed the same issues on their sites as seen on the youth sites; however, on the electoral sites they clearly were not reaching out to the younger population of voters. Professional consultants correlate politicians’ indifference to youth voters because senior citizens have a higher voting rate. Xenos and Bennett express their disappointment, â€Å"younger voters who ignore politicians largely do so because politicians largely ignore them† (457). It is ironic because voters are less involved in politics due to politicians’ lack of interest in their appeals, and politicians show disregard for the youth because of their low voting turnout and vice versa. If politicians, our leaders, are putting the youth aside, who is going to devote the time to inform the younger generation of the importance on civic activities and political awareness? In correlation with the decline of adult involvement in social participation and volunteering, people simply do not have the time or energy to devote to their own needs, let alone join a civic organization. In today’s society, both parents work to make ends meet. There are usually a higher percentage of female volunteers to male volunteers, but now that women are taking on raising children, housework, and working an additional 15 hours per week than men, the idea of becoming involved in community activities is overwhelming. The economy is in a stale state, and since the 1970s, the percentage of single mothers has increased dramatically (Freedman 246). Children are being isolated more often than not, which can also result in the disregard for community and civic engagement. Mentoring programs are unreliable, and many adolescents and young adults are left in the dark without an adult role model: â€Å"In his essay â€Å"Building Community, John Gardner [Miriam and Peter Haas Centennial Professor at Stanford Business School] offers both consolation and wisdom about the historical process of community erosion and renewal†¦ â€Å"disintegration of human communities is as old as human history†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"We can’t know all the forms community will take, but we know the values and the kinds of supporting structures we want to preserve. We are a community building species. We might become remarkably ingenious at creating new forms of community for a swiftly changing world. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Freedman 248) Robert Putnam insists on looking to the old, and if he must, he should look at the potential of civic renewal in the volunteering of senior citizens. Over the past thirty years, the population of Americans over the age of 65 has doubled and will continue to increase. Marc Freedman, the author of the article, Towards Civic Renewal, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, expresses his faith in the nation’s retirees to change the deterioration of volunteerism in the U. S. , where children are in need of the most help. If children at an earlier age gained better insight into what it means to have a sense of community and belonging, they would have a better awareness of civic engagement and a broader knowledge base of politics on the state, local, and national level. Senior citizens also have the time, and there is evidence that implies older adults are looking to stay active in their communities; â€Å"As one recent U. S Administration on Aging-sponsored survey reveals, a full 37. percent of older Americans say they would volunteer if asked, while an additional 25. 6 percent already volunteering indicate that they would like to devote more time to service,† and they prefer to work with the younger generation (Freedman 249). Not only will it help the children, but it will also help the senior citizens. 55 percent of seniors feel a sense of uselessness when they retire†¦ a 25-yr National Institute of Mental Health study finds, for example, that â€Å"highly organized activity is the single strongest predictor, other than not smoking, of longevity and vitality† (Freedman 250). The local and federal government is known for lost proposals. Perhaps some of them would have been successfully planned out and put into action if accepted, and Freedman makes the idea of senior involvement seem feasible. Freedman provides the reader with examples of effective programs in community involvement created by the older population; one example is a â€Å"union-sponsored initiative that helps nonviolent juvenile offenders find and keep blue-collar jobs. Freedman goes onto explain to doubtful readers that are thinking, where is this money going to come from? America’s budget is steadily falling into a rabbit hole, and yet the author is confident in the â€Å"†talent, experience and commitment† of older adults,† and their ability to organize well and get tasks completed quickly and effectively (252). Civic engagement and political awareness is declining because of the absence of an inspiring role model in the youth of today, and this program shows r omise of creating a healthier sense of community for the older and the younger generations. Reiterating authors’, Homero Gil de Zuniga and SebastianValenzuela’s earlier consensus, the decline in civic engagement is not the consequence of the mass media and modern age of technology. The importance of weak ties through the Internet is actually seen through the web of networking that people from all over the world create, which ignites a stronger relationship in civic participation than networking face-to-face with weak ties. This finding was reinforced by the study on various media uses in the article; How Use of Mass Media is Related to Civic Activity and Political Awareness in 14- to 22- Year-Olds, where the end result is conclusive with Zuniga and Valenzuela’s evidence. The media can enhance civic engagement and political awareness if used sparingly and in the right context. â€Å"The mind is a double edged sword. It has immense power and it is capable of accomplishing both useful and destructive feats. † (Atharva Veda http://thinkexist. com/quotes/atharva_veda/). It is not the media that is destructive. The minds of the populace are ignoring the real issue at hand. The mind could be used more effectively in developing new ideas to encourage civic engagement and political awareness in the younger population. The media actually promotes civic participation and therefore is directly related to political awareness; overall the media has a positive effect on social capital. It is the communities’ job to instill these values on the children so they can grow into informed adults and have their own opinions and ideas, passing those values onto their children and so on. Bibliography Freedom, Mark. Towards Civic Renewal. Journal of Gerontological Social Work 28. 3 (1997): 243-63. EBSCOhost. The Haworth Press, Inc. , 11 Oct. 2008. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. tandfonline. com/doi/abs/10. 1300/J083v28n03_08. Pasek, Josh, Kate Kenski, Daniel Romer, and Kathleen H. Jamieson. Americas Youth andCommunity Engagement: How Use of Mass Media Is Related to Civic Activity andPolitical Awareness in 14- to 22-Year-Olds | DeepDyve. DeepDyve Millions ofArticles At Your Fingertips. Sage, 27

Decision-Making Model Analysis essays

Decision-Making Model Analysis essays There are many decisions that people make in life; however, the effort that goes into the decision shows the quality. So how does one make sound choices and good decisions, and what tools are available to aid in the decision making process? In the following are some decision-making models such as rational, political, process, garbage can, and the seven-step process. Provided is an example on how these tools when applied within my work organization enable good sound decisions. One methods of critical thinking is the Rational. This process uses a logical, chronological methodology, based off pre set goals and objectives and finding numerous solutions, choosing the one that best fits the objectives. This is a very simple model; however, it assumes that there will be no biases. A second method is Political, which is more common in business situations. In this method, the decision maker may have multiple people working on a project. Each player may have a different agenda or solution and all will pitch their idea to the decision maker. The decision makers will chose the solution he feels would correct the problem. This method commonly has less conflict because players usually follow the decisions once a leader makes a decision. Another method is Process, which is similar to the Political process except that there are more guidelines and a standard to enforce an outcome defined by predetermined guidelines. The Garbage Can method is more realistic within the business world as it is a judgment method. This model is not well defined, team players may change, and problems, solutions and decision makers may not necessarily relate to each other. Finally, there is the seven-step path, which will be covered in more depth and used in a situation within my work environment. The seven-step process consists of the following: stop and think, clarify goals, determine facts, develop options, consider consequences, choose, and monitor and modify. ...

Prohibition Era Timeline

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

Attend an online religious service and describe prior misconceptions Assignment

Attend an online religious service and describe prior misconceptions - Assignment Example The teacher did indeed wear traditional robes, but I was surprised to note that not a single attendee wore anything even resembling a saffron colored robe. Jeans, sweatshirts and western dress was the norm. I learned from watching this that there is no proscribed dress code for attending a Buddhist teaching service, at least not with this teacher. The setting looked like a conference room that was equipped with a microphone so the teacher’s voice filled the room. The room was bright and airy without a single candle. A second misconception I had about Buddhist teaching was that it was more interactive. For some reason, I always pictured the teaching of The Buddha occurring as conversations under that tree. I was surprised to find that the flow of the teaching ceremony closely resembled that of other religions I have attended. In a Christian church, a rough outline of the worship service consists of an invocation, a hymn; the pastor’s message another hymn and then a bened iction. The same was true for this teaching session. The session opened with chanting, the teacher spoke for about an hour and a half on the link between common sense, philosophy and realization, and then several sessions of meditation concluded the meeting. The purposes of the meditation and chanting seemed to serve the same purposes as prayer and congregational singing in a Christian service. I was surprised to see that the two religions operated in such similar ways. A final misconception that disappeared by watching this video was the idea that Buddhist teachings were somehow delivered in riddles. I expected the instruction to be more mystical, more open to interpretation and opaque. What I witnessed was clear instruction on the link between unhappiness and want, desire and ego. The teacher clearly taught how common sense without philosophical depth leads to a shallow existence without a realization of one’s self and the world around us. The teaching was clear, even thoug h the teacher had limited English proficiency. After watching this service, I feel that I have a better grasp on how Buddhists apply the principles of their religion in the modern world. I understood the basic teaching of the Buddha, but I understood them in abstract. This teacher was very adept at using real life situation that occur in modern times to illustrate how to apply the teachings in the lesson. Following the themes of common sense, philosophy and realization, he spoke candidly about applying the teachings of The Buddha in our interpersonal relationships, our relationships with material goods and out perception of ourselves. I learned that Buddhist teachings are compatible with everyday life in a way that I did not understand before viewing this video. The teacher used humor often in his teaching, which was unexpected for me and seemed to make everything updated. I understood that The Buddha taught about how to be happy by overcoming our own desires for wealth, fame and po wer, but I don’t think I realized just how incredibly ingrained these desires are in each one of us, including myself. I gained a deeper understanding through this video of the mindset that is expected in Buddhism. The teacher taught that depending on common sense alone to get us through difficult times alone could lead us to unhappiness because we become self-satisfied and self-centered. We must also have a philosophy

Managment Issues in the Global Family Business Essay

Managment Issues in the Global Family Business - Essay Example It has been said that most family businesses do not last more than two generations and that wealth barely lasts more than three generations (Lee 2008, p.8; Paisner 2007, p.7). Paisner (2007) notes that less than thirty percent of family-owned businesses have sustained their activities for more than two generations before shifting management, and even fewer businesses have managed to maintain their activity to the third generation. This implies that thousands of family businesses wrestle with myriad issues. Successor development, management transition, ownership transfer, creativity, and future focus are some of the issues that becloud the success of family businesses. Italian Family Business presents some of the key characteristics that determine the success or failure of family ventures all over the world. Multi, the owner of the restaurant, has to grapple with management issues and fights tooth and nail to prevent Guido from taking away the family business, something that many othe r similar businesses are grappling with. A look at the major characteristics of entrepreneurial businesses illuminates some of the gaps that might have landed Multi and his family into trouble. There is an unspoken misconception that creativity is only reserved for musicians and writers. This belief is commonplace in most family businesses. In others, there is an underlying conception regarding the usual manner of conducting business. Both mindsets can stifle business creativity, which is an antecedent to innovation, making it hard for family businesses to survive beyond two generations.

North Movie Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

North Movie Review - Essay Example The researcher of this essay states that this movie is an ideal example of the failure of a marketing plan. The movie is â€Å"North†. Released in 1994, â€Å"North† is a movie based on a novel by Alan Zweibel. Though it was directed by famous Rob Reiner, who directed movies like â€Å"When Harry Met Sally†, â€Å"The Princess bride† and â€Å"the Sure thing†, that were well-known and greatly accepted by the critics, still the movie lacks a strong plot. The story revolves around a kid named North, is panic stricken about his parent’s arguments and wants to divorce them. The researcher also states that actors in the movie did well. However, some portion of the movie was just superfluous and can be trimmed. The audience feedbacks and the critic’s reviews disclose an important characteristic, â€Å"Audience too has brains and they are not fools.† Technology, special effects, lots of money, good actors etc. all will go in vain if th e storyline is not appealing. The researcher then concluds that not only a movie was badly written and had meaningless characters in it, such as a cowboy, a beach bum and the Easter bunny, but also the movie has a negative impact on the kids of the society because all the kids got influenced by the movie and kept on threatening to leave their parents like North did in the film. One more thing can be concluded from the review is that a plan should be tested on the maker himself before he decides to launch it in the market. Similarly the director would have analyzed the taste of his audience before making â€Å"North†.

Business Strategy in Kellogg Company Term Paper

Business Strategy in Kellogg Company - Term Paper Example The main external environment that necessitates firms to develop strategies include the general environment which entails demographic, economic, political/legal, socio-cultural, technological, global and physical trends, the interplay of the industry environment that often impact on the relationship between its customers and suppliers and competitors environment and analysis (Ireland, Hoskisson, & Hitt, 2008:59). Business strategy is a key plan of action for companies after the assessment of the above market factors and business environment and is often aimed at positioning the company, influencing the market balance and exploiting changes in the industry. This paper examines business strategies that have been employed by Kellogg Company and the reasons why such strategies have proved to be successful to the firm. Kellogg Company Business Strategy Kellogg Company is the leading producer of cereal and convenience foods such as cookies, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruits snacks, fro zen watts, and veggie foods in the world. Kellogg Company manufactures its products in more than seventeen countries and markets them across the world (Kellogg Company, 2012). The core reason for the establishment of Kellogg Company was for the Company to produce high quality, nutritious and great tasting food. The company has made tremendous growth and this can be evidenced by its ever-expanding market share and increased profits. The success can be attributed to the existence of key business strategies that ensures the growth of Kellogg Company amidst increased competition and entry of other players and dynamics of the market. Key Terms Kellogg Vision To be the food company of choice Mission statement To drive sustainable growth through the power of our people and brands by better serving the needs of our consumers, customers and communities. Objectives Encourage and support of among all sectors of the population Use of resources to run and sponsor community programmes for its con sumers and public Increase the association between Kellogg and physical activity Use the cereal packs to communicate the ‘balance’ message to consumers Introduce food labeling that would enable consumers to make decisions about the right balance of food Goals Remain consumer centric Product innovation Priority to win Continuous efficiency improvements Core Competence Baking The Vision and Mission Statements Business strategies of firms can be evaluated based on the design and definition of their vision and mission statements. This is because of the crucial role that vision and mission statement play in current business environment as they convey the aspirations of the organizations. Kellogg Company has exploited this concept and has formulated a vision and mission statements that focuses on sustainable growth of the company, social responsibility, its stakeholders (people) and its brands. Whereas the vision statement of Kellogg Co

Compare and contrast the American approach to anthropology through Essay

Compare and contrast the American approach to anthropology through 'Culture and Personality' with the approach of the British 'Functionalist School' - Essay Example It has been observed that there are usually four parts or sections of Anthropology that includes Archaeology, Physical, Linguistics and Cultural anthropology. The idea of four-field anthropology mainly emerged from the United States and European continent. Cultural anthropology mainly relates to the advancement of the American culture during the early 19th century. American anthropologist often seeks to comprehend about how people in the American society intended to understand and appreciate the world around them. On the other hand, the approach of the British Functionalist School differs with the Americans especially in terms of studying the culture and anthropology of the society2. Contextually, this particular essay intends to present a comparative analysis about the approach of the Americans to anthropology on the basis of the culture and personality with that of the approach or thinking process of the British Functionalist School. Culture and personality forms a core part of the subject area of anthropology especially in context to the American way of thinking for this particular subject. This particular aspect of personality mainly deals with the approach of comprehending the relation amid the personality traits of individuals with that of his/her cultural significance. In the process of understanding the interlink amid culture and personality within the American process of thinking, certain ideas such as cultural pattern and personality traits are provided with utmost importance. Erik Erikson and Ruth Benedict were among the pioneer leaders who worked towards understanding the approach of the American anthropology in the domain of personality and culture3. The American approach to anthropology mainly includes gaining knowledge from the textbook about past culture as well as personality and interlinking the same with the assumptions and theories developed by numerous scholars for this particular subject matter. However, this

Play Money Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Play Money - Research Paper Example In the recent weeks, the shares belong to this company have been steady with drops ranging between 0.1-0.5%. These drops have not been affected by any company events in the past week. It is likely that the fall in stock shares is because many people are opting to hold the shares. Analysts have projected that some shares like those ones belonging to Bank of America are expected to hit an all-time in the year 2014. Exxon Mobil shares record a growth of 0.6%, which means gains for my investment (Yahoo Finances, 2014). It is necessary to hold the shares to see if the prices would rise in the next few weeks. The following shows the table in terms of the losses and profits made in this period. This is based on the stock prices as of 5th May 2014 from Yahoo Finance. The investments have not performed well compared to the S&P 500 index. The index has shown a steady increase from 186 to 187 between April 17 and May 5. The index had a few fluctuations from 187 to 186 (Yahoo Finance, 2014). This has not been shown in the investments which have maintained prices and dropped during this period. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index has shown a steady increase in the past one month with a few slumps. Exxon Mobil is ranked third among the biggest gainers and Microsoft appears among the biggest losers. The S &P 500 index has been ranging between 188 and 189 based on stock price value. The prices have been relatively steady with minimal changes. For example in May 2nd the stocks indicated a 0.16% change in shares prices. The Russell 2000 index has, also, been steady in the long term (Russell Investment, 2014). It has shown a positive growth of 0.18% in the last month and 0.26% as of May 2nd 2014. Therefore, it seems that all these indices have been steady with very minimal fluctuations. The performance of the investments has been reflected in the tracking of these major stock indices. This

Compare and contrast the American approach to anthropology through Essay

Compare and contrast the American approach to anthropology through 'Culture and Personality' with the approach of the British 'Functionalist School' - Essay Example It has been observed that there are usually four parts or sections of Anthropology that includes Archaeology, Physical, Linguistics and Cultural anthropology. The idea of four-field anthropology mainly emerged from the United States and European continent. Cultural anthropology mainly relates to the advancement of the American culture during the early 19th century. American anthropologist often seeks to comprehend about how people in the American society intended to understand and appreciate the world around them. On the other hand, the approach of the British Functionalist School differs with the Americans especially in terms of studying the culture and anthropology of the society2. Contextually, this particular essay intends to present a comparative analysis about the approach of the Americans to anthropology on the basis of the culture and personality with that of the approach or thinking process of the British Functionalist School. Culture and personality forms a core part of the subject area of anthropology especially in context to the American way of thinking for this particular subject. This particular aspect of personality mainly deals with the approach of comprehending the relation amid the personality traits of individuals with that of his/her cultural significance. In the process of understanding the interlink amid culture and personality within the American process of thinking, certain ideas such as cultural pattern and personality traits are provided with utmost importance. Erik Erikson and Ruth Benedict were among the pioneer leaders who worked towards understanding the approach of the American anthropology in the domain of personality and culture3. The American approach to anthropology mainly includes gaining knowledge from the textbook about past culture as well as personality and interlinking the same with the assumptions and theories developed by numerous scholars for this particular subject matter. However, this

Readymade Garment Industry in India Essay Example for Free

Readymade Garment Industry in India Essay

The California Water Crisis Philosophy Essay

The California Water Crisis Philosophy Essay Water is an essential ingredient to life. It is used everyday throughout our daily lives, and it is no where short of irrelevant. It is also important to us Californians, and we must treat it this way. The California community however, is facing a water crisis, one that will affect our community negatively if we dont put this problem into realization and act to prevent it. All the water that will ever be is, right now (National Geographic Spokesman). That means that what we have now is all we have. Not only that, but just about everything on Earth uses water is someway or another. Clearly, it is important to man, so it deservers to be treated as such. This however is sadly not the case. The respect it deserves doesnt seem to be the respect that is given to it. Filthy water cannot be washed (West African Proverb). That means if we dont respect it now and allow it to become worthless, it will stay worthless. Many of us around the world know, but do we as Californians know? For many of us, we are unaware of the growing danger. It spreads quicker and faster, yet we do nothing to stop it. The California water crisis is one that our community must take head on to change the path of our future. Common Social Injustices Communities Face No community is considered perfect. They may come close, but will not be one-hundred percent. In order for a community to function however, it takes people. People are basically the community itself, and without people it is nothing. A man not only needs to know how to fish, he needs to have the freedom to do it. Thats where community comes in. We have to help each other, and we feel government has a very important role there in. (Bill Ayres). Problems can occur however. A community can be full of hard working people, but viewed in a different perspective by others. This is how communities can face social injustices, and be seen as gang ridden, filled with violence, or discriminators against people. Problems like this can really break a communitys image down. The California community itself faces these similar issues. Problems in My Community The Californian community is leaning towards disaster. Our community is already harmed by budget problems and gang violence. Our image is bad enough, and it will become worse if we let severe issues like this slip through are hands. The water crisis is a problem in which our water is quickly being depleted, as well as water improperly stored. Not only is there a as well as our money drained from our pockets. Not only is our water being affected, but everything that has to do with water is in danger. This includes crops as well as materials made from water. This creates an unwelcoming future for California and is something as a community that we cant let happen. Our water supply is quickly depleting more then expected. This is due to poor water storage techniques. The amount of water wasted because of faulty storage techniques is more than ridiculous. Not only are we losing water, but we are losing money. Money that could have gone towards schools and healthcare becomes money that is spent on spilled water, just because we cant keep it in its container. Another major issue of our water crisis is our Californian government. They are seen as weak decision makers, as well as weights that drag us down from our goals. The disappointing part is how its true. Because of how they make decisions, our water has to suffer. Budget cuts caused by our government dims the light of healing our water crisis. Education that is needed may not be given, provoking kids not to aim high or even make them join gangs. This appears to be a cycle that we are not breaking, and is in well need of repairs. Poor water storage leads to less water. Less water means less water for our farms. Agriculture is a big part of California, producing many types of fruits and vegetables. Though the climate is perfect the water is not. When we damage one of Californias biggest industries, it has to come with consequences. Farmers could be put out of jobs and produce prices could increase. Also, the money we make from selling these crops will not be as much. This shows just how far this problem can spread. Action is another problem. When we dont enforce our actions, no change will come. We must enforce the change. It is important, since the only way to solve this crisis is action. There simply not enough water to go around. Cities too need it, and we can only divide water so much. Communities in California must see that we may come to a situation where the government issues a water mandate. There is no doubt that this situation must be avoided. Solutions to the Problem Though we are headed in such a dark direction, it is not too late for change. Minor alterations are all it takes to lead our community to a brighter future. Simple changes are all it takes. One of them includes watching our government. Though there job is to help us, they arent doing a very good job of it, and we simply stand idle as they do nothing. Better monitoring of the people we put in charge can go a long way. Another solution includes limiting our supply of water. Many Californians are wasteful when it comes to water. When our water is at stake, we must watch how we use our water. My Recommended Solution In My Opinion, the best possible solution for this problem is action. When we act, we get closer to the solution. Not many people in our community realize that this is becoming a bigger and bigger problem everyday. When nothing is done, nothing is accomplished. Simple fixes to this problem will carry Californian communities a long way if we simply do it. Not only must we take action, but we need to watch the people in charge. That means our government. What they do is entirely our business. When they make changes to things important to us such as water, we must look twice and make sure there making the right decisions. When they were creating certain water protection policies, we knew that it didnt seem right. It was heavily flawed and filled with loopholes. Not only did we know what was going on, but they managed to get away with it. It goes to show that you are only as strong as your actions, not just thoughts alone. CONCLUSION Though we are facing quite a problem, we must again to continue to act to fight against it. Our community has faced many challenges in the past, and we must continue to succeed in solving these issues. If we learn what the problem is and act accordingly to it, much can be accomplished. The California water crisis is a threat to us and everything that has to do with water. The threat is real, and we are the only ones capable of fixing this. Though it seems that there is no light at the end of this tunnel, we must keep digging towards it. WORK CITE Wilson, John M. A crisis we cant ignore.  CaliforniaWater.  1 Jun. 2007. WEB. 7 May. 2010.

Chemical Suicide: A Danger to First Responders Essay -- Social Issues,

As a first responder, police officers can often encounter many different cases where an individual is reported to be unconscious inside a vehicle. Usually upon arrival, the officer will try and make contact with the subject to investigate the situation. Often times, the officer will discover that the person has either a medical condition, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or just hasn’t gotten enough sleep (Randall, 2011). However, in recent years there has been a growing trend occurring in the United States that is affecting the safety of first responders. In this trend people are releasing chemicals within confined spaces, such as a vehicle, to commit suicide. Chemical suicides are very dangerous to anyone within the vicinity because the fumes are extremely toxic (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Individuals that attempt to rescue a suicidal subject could be putting themselves at risk of exposure, which can cause serious injury or death. Being a first responder, it is imp ortant to understand the increasing threat of chemical suicides and how they are typically performed, the warning signs and proper safety procedures to use, and the treatments to this type of chemical exposure. Chemical suicides are believed to have originated in Japan in 2007, and there have been counts of over 2000 cases having occurred within the country since then (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Slowly, this method of suicide has been steadily increasing in the United States since 2008, where there has been at least 72 known cases documented (Goode, 2011). Of these cases, 2 of them had taken place in 2008, 9 in 2009, 36 in 2010, and at least 27 cases by the middle of 2011 (Scoville, 2011). While these numbers are only a tiny fraction of the amount of suicid... ... 2010). When treating for hydrogen sulfide exposure, nitrite therapy may be included in order to aid recovery (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). If exposure to hydrogen cyanide occurred, then the individual should also be given a specific cyanide antidote kit (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Overall chemical suicides are a threat that is unfortunately expected to continue rising throughout the United States. It is essential to keep training as well as communicating to first responders about the dangers that they impose. Every first responder needs to be made aware of how these suicides are being performed, as well as the warning signs, proper safety procedures, and what treatments to use if encountered. The more that this information is being circulated, the better chance there is at limiting the injuries and deaths associated with this type of second hand chemical exposure.

Henrik Ibsen :: essays research papers

	Henrik Ibsen was born in the Stockman Building in Skien, Norway. He spent part of his childhood on Venstøp Farm after his father went bankrupt. In 1843, he was apprenticed to a chemist in Grimstad. That was when he began writing satire and elegant poems in the style of the time. He wrote his first play in 1849, a five-act tragedy in verse, Catiline, which was published in 1850 under the pseudonym Brynjolf Bjarme. The Warrior's Barrow was written and performed in 1850, as the first of Ibsen's plays to reach the stage. However, it was not published until much later. Ibsen lived in Christiania (now Oslo) from 1850 to 1851 to complete his upper secondary education. From 1851 to 1857, Ibsen was playwright in residence and director of the theatre in Bergen. 	While there, he wrote St. John’s Night (written in 1852), Lady Inger of Osteraad (written in 1854, published in 1857), The Feast at Solhaug (written in 1855, published in 1856), and Olaf Liljekrans (written in 1856). All these plays were inspired by folk songs, folklore or history, all of which are leitmotifs that run through Ibsen’s works. Ibsen became creative director of The Norwegian Theater in Christiania in 1858. The next year, he wrote the historical play The Vikings at Helgeland. The Pretenders was written in 1863. Beside Bjornstjerne Bjornson’s Sigurd Slembe, The Pretenders is considered the main work of historical fiction produced during this era. Henrik Ibsen married Suzannah Thoresen (1836-1914) in 1858. Soon after, he wrote the poem "On the Heights"(1859) and the play Love’s Comedy (1863). The years in Christiania were difficult for Ibsen. He was given a means of escape when a group of his friends, headed by Bjornstjerne Bjor nson, collected enoughmoney for him to move to Italy in 1864. Shortly after moving, Ibsen began a major drama about Julian, but he did not complete the work until 1873, when it was published as Emperor and Galilean. The Epic Brand, a major epic-lyric poem, led to the lyric drama Brand (1866), Ibsen’s first real success as a writer. His next major work followed close on the heels of this success when he penned Peer Gynt in 1867. 	Ibsen moved to Dresden in 1868, then to Munich in 1875. In 1869, he wrote the comedy The League of Youth. The realistic style used to stage the drama Pillars of Society (1877) focused on various problems of the day.

Economics Project Market Failure Essay

Ans. A market failure takes place when – Free markets allocate resources inefficiently. The production in an economy is not Pareto optimal as shown on the PPF graph. At A the production is inefficient and at X it is impossible with the current resources. Market failures can take place in all these situations – 1. There is a lack of merit goods such as food in the economy which leads to market failure. 1. There is overprovision of demerit goods which could harm society. For example – drugs, cigarettes etc. 1. There is a lack of public goods as private firms are not ready to produce them as they are not profitable. 1. There is a huge income gap. The rich are too wealthy and the poor are very poor. 1. There is environmental degradation or any negative externality which causes a market failure. 1. There are too many monopolies formed all of which exploit consumers by charging unrealistic prices. 1 of 6 Economics Project – Market Failure Research Question 2 – How does the government deal with market failures? Ans. The government can take the following steps – 1. Taxation – Income tax, sales tax and other ad valorem taxes help generate government revenue to provide merit and public goods. Taxes can be imposed on the production of demerit good to reduce production. Taxes can also be imposed on firms which pollute the environment causing negative externalities. 1. Subsidies – Payments from the government to firms are given to encourage the production of merit and at times public goods. For example – food for everyone, public transport, post service etc. 1. Legislation and Regulation – If taxes and subsidies fail to work then the government can use the law and imply regulations. The government could limit or ban the production of demerit goods such as cigarettes as well as heavily penalise firms which do not comply with the eco – friendly standards set by the government. 1. Tradable Permits – These are used to control the total greenhouse emissions of an economy. The government calculates how much CO2 can be emitted and divides this among all the firms. Some firms might not want high permits and might sell some of theirs. Others might buy from them as they are unable to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions. 2 of 6 Economics Project – Market Failure Research Question 3 / 4 – How effective is the use of taxation and subsidies? What are the opportunity costs? Ans. The efficacy is as follows – Uses of taxes – 1. Raises revenue for the government which is spent on providing public goods such as defence and merit goods such as food for the poor. It can also be used to offset the interest on national debt. 1. Environmental taxes help reduce pollution and other negative externalities. Landfill taxes, plastic bag taxes etc. are new taxes which reduce social costs. Demerit taxes help to reduce the production of demerit goods which are harmful for society such as cigarettes. Causes for inefficacy of taxes and opportunity costs – 1. Most demerit goods have an inelastic demand. Thus, the producers can pass on most of the burden of the tax on the consumers by hiking the prices. However, as the demand is inelastic it does not react much to the rise in price and thus the quantity consumed remains the same thus defeating the main purpose of taxation. 3 of 6 1. The government does not have proper information when setting the level of environmental taxes as social costs cannot be easily equated to monetary values. Also, firms may commit fraud by reducing pollution when checks take place and polluting the environment liberally at other times. 1. High taxes on companies may cause higher unemployment. As the profit margins of private firms decreases they would tend to cut down on costs and thus might make some of their labour force redundant. Uses of subsidies – 1. To reduce inflation as this causes prices to rise. Due to inflation many low – income households are unable to purchase basic necessities such as food and clothing. The subsidies help bring the prices of these goods down. 1. Encourages provision and consumption of merit goods which lead to positive externalities or social benefits. It ensures that there is no under provision and under consumption of merit goods. Food for everyone can be merit good. 1. Maintain or increase the revenue of producers during tough times such as a recession or economic downturn. Subsidies help producers raise their profit margins and would therefore save them from getting bankrupt during a recession. 4 of 6 Causes for inefficacy of subsidies and opportunity costs – 1. Subsidies tend to distort the market prices as at times only certain industries and firms are given subsidies. This can lead to misallocation of resources and can end up in a market failure itself. 1. Subsidies provide arbitrary assistance. If a certain firm is favoured by the government it will be given more subsidies. Furthermore, fraud can take place as subsidies can be allocated unwisely. 1. The financial cost of the subsidies can at times be too high. This leads us to think whether that much government revenue could be put to another use such as defence or street – lighting. This is a major opportunity cost of giving subsidies. 1. The ones who pay for the subsidy, consumers (taxpayers) might not always benefit from the subsidies and thus the ones who pay are not always the ones who benefit thus making subsidy payments unfair.

Allotropes of Carbon Essay

Allotropes are the existence of an element in more than one form. Carbon is one of the elements that contain many allotropes. Each allotrope of carbon has its own different properties. The allotropes of carbon are diamond, graphite, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanobuds, amorphous carbon, glassy carbon, lonsdaleite, and carbon nanofoam. Diamond is the best know allotrope of carbon. It is the hardest known natural mineral which makes it very rough. In the structure of the diamond, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms and has a tetrahedral shape, meaning it is a nonpolar molecule. Diamond has a very melting point and has a density of 3.51 grams per cubic centimeter. Graphite is the second allotrope of carbon. Its atoms of carbon are arranged in layers. Within each layer of carbon atoms, the atoms join to form six-membered rings and each carbon atom is connected to three others. Two of the three bonds is a single covalent bond and the other bond is a double covalent bond. Graphite is very soft and slippery because the layers are not chemically bonded and can slide over the other. Graphite also has electrical conductivity and is less dense than Carbon since its density is 2.22 grams per cubic centimeter. A third allotrope of carbon is the fullerenes. Each atom is bonded to three other atoms of carbon just like in the graphite structure, however, the atoms join to form both five-membered rings and six-membered rings. The chemical properties of fullerenes are still being researched by scientists and they are also studied for potential medical use in the belief that they can be put into specific antibiotics to target bacteria and cancer cells. Another allotrope of carbon is carbon nanotubes. They have a cylindrical or circular cylinder shape. The name nanotube comes from their size because they only have a diameter of a few nanometers. They are made up of layers of graphite in the form of a cylinder and they are often closed at both ends(wikipedia). They exist as single or multi walled nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes have many properties that make them useful in many things. They are extremely strong, and they have special electrical properties. Their  unique electrical properties make them a very good conductor of heat. Nanotubes can be made in two ways. One is by mixing the soot of nanotubes of carbon in water and surfactant. The solution is rotated into a substance that is able to collect the nanotubes. Then a liquid is injected to help the formation of the rectangular shape, which later rolls itself into a cylinder shape. The other way is to decompose methane with a catalyst. Carbon nanobuds are a newly discovered allotrope of carbon. They have fullerene like buds that are covalently attached to the outer walls of nanotubes. It is basically a combination of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. This is because nanobuds have a combination of the useful properties of both nanotubes and fullerenes. Carbon nanobuds are exceptionally good field emitters. Amorphous carbon is the name used for carbon when it does not have any crystalline structure. Some short range order can be seen but there is no long range pattern of atomic position. Amorphous carbon is used to describe the carbon materials found in soot and coal that is neither graphite nor diamond. Another allotrope of carbon is glassy carbon. Glassy carbon is a class of non-graphitizing carbon that is mostly used as an electrode material used in electrochemistry. It was first made by using cellulose but later it started being produced with a similar material phenolic resin. The making of glassy carbon is by taking organic precursors and exposing it to a series of heat treatments. Glassy carbon is impermeable to gases. The oxidation of certain glassy carbons in oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor are much lower then of any other carbon. They are also highly resistant to acids. Lonsdaleite is a hexagonal allotrope of the carbon allotrope diamond. This allotrope is also known as â€Å"hexagonal diamond†. It is believed to be formed when meteoric graphite falls to the Earth. The great heat and stress of the impact causes it to turn into diamond however it retains the graphite hexagonal crystal lattice. Lonsdaleite has a transparent brownish yellow color. It has a hardness of 7-8 on Mohs hardness scale. The reason why it  has a lower hardness then diamond is because of the imperfections in the naturally occurring materials. Lonsdaleite can also be made by the thermal decomposition of a polymer at the atmospheric pressure under argon starting at 110 degrees Celsius. A final allotrope of carbon is carbon nanofoam. It consists of a low density cluster assembly of carbon atoms strung together to form a three dimensional web. Each cluster of carbons are about 6 nanometers wide and have about 4000 carbon atoms that are linked together in graphite like sheets that are given negative curvatures. This is because there are heptagons within the regular hexagonal pattern(saskschools). Carbon nanofoam is a poor conductor of electricity and they have many unpaired electrons. It is believed that the unpaired electrons are due to bonding defects. http://www.chemsoc.org/ExemplarChem/entries/2003/bristol_shanley/carbonallotropes/ http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/chem20/networks/allotrop.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotropes_of_carbon

Coach Carter Way Essay

The American Educational institution is stereotypical in a sense that’s it’s built around the American Dream concept. The American educational institution set that platform for the future. Students go to grammar school, junior high, and high school in aspiration to go on to higher education. In the movie coach carter, the struggle, is what’s built character in the players to become elite, therefore, pressing the stereotype that knowledge is power In this situation, Cruz a player says –‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. You’re playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously g ive other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. â€Å"This central quote of the film packs a powerful emotional punch. Clients will often focus on a fear of failure before realizing that it is success that is more frightening. Success entails making sacrifices, and trading the comfort of mediocrity with the intensity of glory. â€Å"It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us† because in the dark we can hide and remain anonymous. When we start to shine, we open ourselves up to the world and to possible criticism. Shining brightly also means obtaining greater amounts of responsibility The film Coach Carter was very captivating. To others it may seem a little clichà © like another â€Å"Piece of the Action† with Sidney Portiere or â€Å"Lean on Me† with Morgan Freeman. Both films are American stereotypical educational institutions in their own rights. However, Coach Carter intersects where they are parallel, by not just giving the students tough love, but giving the players more than hopes of being great athletes. The Coach, Ken Carter gives these players affirmations and inspirations so that they may go on to become great men. In the film Coach Ken emphasizes academics, leadership and gained the respect of his players. The American educational institution is stereotypical in a sense that it is built around the concept of the â€Å"American dream†. This concept sets the platform for the future. You go to grammar school, junior high and on to high school all in aspiration to go onto higher education. Also to think that with higher education there is greater opportunity. â€Å"Well, let me tell you what I see. I see a system that’s designed for you to fail. Now I know you all like stats so let me give you some. Richmond High only graduates fifty percent of its students. And of those that do graduate only six percent go to college; which tells me when I walk down these halls and I look in your classrooms, maybe only one student is going to go to college. Well damn, Coach Carter, If I ain’t going to college, where am I going to go? Well that’s a great question. And the answer for young, African American men in here is this: probably, to prison. In this county, thirty three percent of black males between eighteen and twenty four get arrested. So look at the guy on your left, now look at the guy on your right. One of you is going to get arrested.† (Coach Ken Carter, Coach Carter Film, 2005) In this Film Coach Ken Carter emphasizes on the dire need for academia. Throughout the movie he belts out the many statistics that the Richmond basketball players are up against. He rules with an iron fist. He also acknowledges that many of the players are not performing well in their current classes and forces their parents to get active, and forces the players to improve their grades. He helps them make this change by enforcing s contract, study time and discipline. In Coach Carter acknowledging that these players need a strong academic support system he pushed them harder so that they may have that option for higher education. â€Å"You said we’re a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.† (Jason Lyle, Coach Carter Film, 2005) In the film Coach Carter, the struggle, is what built character in the players to become elite. Coach Carter showed leadership by his motivation to inspire these young men. His leadership came from his passion to teach and coach. This film was a direct reflection of his integrity and leadership. In this docudrama Coach Carter did not fill these young men with a false hope. He served a purpose in letting these young know that they could break the statistics and the institutionalized stereotypes placed upon their education based upon numbers. He laid the foundation for the expectation of an American dream. In the film Coach Carter, Coach Carter gains the respect of the players by being driven and unwavering. He allowed them to find themselves, he valued them and he taught the players self worth. He did not just talk a good talk he walked the walk. He was a true example of practice what you preach. He lived every single work he spoke to the players and they respected that. â€Å"I came to coach basketball players, and you became students. I came to teach boys, and you became men.† (Coach Ken Carter, Coach Carter Film, 2005) His goal was to gain the respect of these young men while teaching them that it is more the life than the four corners of their block and what was going on in their life at the present. He did not just gain the respect of just the players he gained the respect of his colleagues and the parents. In conclusion Coach Ken carter defied the odds of the stereotypical American institutional education system for young men of color in an impoverished area such as Richmond California. He emphasized on academia which heightened the expectation of his players. He gained the respect of his players by being a man if his word, showing great restraint and growing the distance to be the role model that they needed. He is indeed a leader because he pushed the envelope and exposed them to thought patterns I’m not sure they could have ever conceived on their own. Coach Ken CARTER broke the mold.