Philosophical mindset Essay

Philosophical mindset is the tendency to look at the clearer and broader side of events rather than the events itself. One importance of developing a philosophical mindset is on how we view life in order to be successful. Our philosophical mindset is essential because it is the foundation of our principles that will govern our outlook in life. We act, think, and make decisions based from them. As we undergo different series of events in our life, we need to dig deeper and analyze the factors underlying these events before we make sound decisions so that we can eventually achieve success. The more we understand life, the more meaningful it becomes and ultimately the more we enjoy it. According to the movie The Secret, â€Å"what the mind conceives, the body achieves†. This means that everything that we achieve depends on how we perceive them based from our principles. Socrates said, â€Å"Know thyself†. Before we can develop our philosophical mindset, we have to understand first our self. We don’t merely discover what we want and how do we want to achieve them but we look deeper into why do we want them and why do we want to achieve them that way. In here, we try to see things not as they are but we see them based from reasons behind it. This is the reality of life. Our philosophical mindset will govern how we deal with things not as they appear but as to the reasons why they appear like that. It will lead us to the right decisions based from facts because we have to have a thorough investigation and analization before we decide on something. This elaboration of the importance of philosophical mindset coincides with the previous post which discusses the importance of mindset in evangelism. As quoted, in the area of evangelism, philosophical mindset helps one to understand, respect, and appreciate others point of view. One verse in the bible could be understood differently by each individual depending on the experiences that they have in life. Having a philosophical mindset will let a person see the underlying factors why somebody believes that way or this way.

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Free Human Resources Literature Review richard | October 20, 2011 4 0 Rate This Article Table of Contents [show] LITERATURE REVIEW 1. 1 Human Resource Management In a rapid competitive business environment, the procedures of outlining the role, function and process of Human Resource Management (HRM) within a dynamic and uncertain environment are ongoing for many decades.In the early 1980s numerous books and articles were published by American Business Schools professors to support the widely recognition of HRM concept, and the environmental volatility in today’s contemporary business that specifically identify conflict and heterogeneity (Soderlund and Bredin, 2005). Due to its diverse origins and many influences, HRM covers essential aspects of central concern in organisations such as individual, practice, educational theory, social and organisational psychology, sociology, industrial relations, and organisational theory (Soderlund and Bredin, 2005)..To date there is no widely acceptable definition for HRM and what it entirely involves in our daily business world (Brewster and Larsen, 2000). Fewer satisfactory definitions have been propounded by different writer such as (Soderlund and Bredin, 2005), whom perceived HRM as 1) an ‘executive personnel responsibility’, that mainly concern with management activities; 2) classified HRM as management philosophy that concerns with people treatment and, finally 3) discerned HRM as interaction management between the firm and its people.Due the conflicting theoretical conception and hypothetical disagreement about the general acceptance of the definition, Price (2007) definition would be used to in this literature because it better explained and cover huge areas of the study. According to Price (2007): â€Å"A philosophy of people management based on the belief that human resources are uniquely important to sustained business success.An organization gains competitive advantage by using its people effec tively, drawing on their expertise and ingenuity to meet clearly defined objectives. Human resource management is aimed at recruiting capable, flexible and committed people, managing and rewarding their performance and developing key competencies†. The dynamic and uncertainty in HR contemporary organisations are tremendously moving towards a radical dimension (Analoui, 2007).Recent debate by many researchers have laid more emphasis about matching and incorporating the HR-department with other strategic functioning departments within organisation (Soderlund and Bredin, (2005); Analoui, (2007); Price, (2007). 1. 2 HR IN A CONTEMPORARY ORGANISATION HR is essentially crucial in today’s contemporary organisations because it induce high-performance management through the use of employees; by enhancing their levels of customer’s service, productivity, growth, profits and quality control (Armstrong, 2000).Lado and Wilson (1994, p 701) outlined a separate interconnected a ctivities, roles, processes and other aspects that are aimed to attracting, maintaining, and developing the firm HR activities in contemporary organisations, such as: 1) planning; 2) recruitment and selection 3) training; 4) performance management; 5) benefits and rewards; 6) compensation; 7) and 8) career development (Banhegyi et al. , (2008) and (Robbins & Coulter, (2002). 1. 2. 1 Planning Planning in Human Resource has been discussed in different HRM contexts for many years (Wren, 1994). HR planning was initially an important aspect of ob analyses and was often used as bases for determining strengths and weaknesses among the employees and to develop the skills and competences they needed (Gallagher, 2000). As individual career plans started to gain more popularity, companies gradually started to pay more attention to the certain skills and competences among individual employees as a way of aligning and dealing with the companies’ succession planning (Kuratko and Morris (20 02). As this aspect been scrutinised rigorously by many researchers, HR planning is still a complicating and complex issue of debate within the HR practices (Schuler, 1986).In 1978, McBeath addressed his view of HR planning by highlighting a set of issues that he regarded as being important with respect to the HR planning. These were; An estimation of how many people the organization needed for the future A determination of what ability, skills, and knowledge requires to compete An evaluation of employees ability, skills and existing knowledge A determination of how the company could fill the identified competence gaps Storey (1995) argues that HR planning today is a very important task of every contemporary organization’s HR department.According to him, HR planning mainly involves the identification of skills and competence within the organization, the filling of identified competence gaps, and the facilitation of movements of employees within the organisation. An essential part of the HR planning is the succession planning which aims to ensure the supply of individuals and filling of gaps on senior key positions when they become vacant and replenish competences to areas where they are most valued (Wolfe, 1996). 1. 2. 2 Recruitment and selectionIn organization the system that responsible for placing diversifies talents throughout is refers to as recruitment and selection processes. The process of recruitment and selection is an ethical approach by a firm to seek and attract the most competent and suitable applicant for a vacant position (Analoui, 2007). Price (2007) inferred that recruitment strategies can be divided in three significant approaches: suitability – the most qualified applicant for the position, malleability – moulded within the cultural norms, and flexibility – the most reliable and versatility employee.These factors are quite complicating and can be easily mistaken during the process of hiring employees. Suitability is a critical aspect hence it mainly concerned with the process of hiring the most suitable applicant for the position. The process of selecting and retaining potential employees is the greatest organisational competitive battle in modern days (Pfeffer, 1994). Having the greatest talent simply implies that the firm will be able to compete aggressively in the market.This phenomenon are quit prevalent in our daily business life and has also pushes organisations to gain a niche by employing the most renowned managers to lead the thriving future. 1. 2. 2. 1 Channels of Recruitment Russo et al. , (1995) cascaded channels of recruitment into external and internal recruitment, and formal and informal channels. Internal recruitment channels mainly involve the use of intercommunication between other strategic areas of the organisation and the entire HR department. This approach enhances the firm to prioritise and target in-house or current employees (Russo et al. 1995; Analoui, 2007). Inter nal recruitment can be fully considered when it is fair and transparent, since favouritism might occur; while external channel of recruitment base on the contrary. 1. 2. 3 Training In today’s contemporary organisation, employees ‘skills and knowledge can make a positive impact on the firm‘s productivity (Guzzo, Jette & Katzell, 1985). Organisations have to counter some difficulties while training a single or more employees (Ostroff & Kozlowski, 1992). Previous literatures argue the affordability of some organisations that eprive themselves for a single individual employee particularly when human resources are limited: this can hinder the productivity on the short term and destabilize the organization (Bishop, 2003). He continues to stress that such perception about training implies that organisation should embark on a cost reduction strategies and focuses on in-house or on-job-training (OJT). Formal training is just one of the possibilities for organisations to en hance the personnel performance level, as important roles are covered also by organizational socialization (Chao, 1997) and multitasking (May, 1997).It was suggested in the early 1990s that organisational socialisation is a fine process for newcomers to source out information’s about the organisation, learn about the necessary tasks and how to perform their responsibility; clarifying their roles and relate with others inside the organisation (Ostroff & Kozlowski, 1992). This philosophy was also supported by Rollag & Cardon (2003) as they indicated that the process of socialisation within a firm enhance newcomer to incorporate and learn in a well conducive atmosphere. . 2. 4 Performance Management The concept of measuring performance or managing performance within organisations is to strategize how firms can get the utmost benefits from their employees (Dransfield, 2000). The approach to measuring performance can be classified as a three-step approach that composed by objectiv es, appraisal and feedback. The first step is the setting of performance objectives that are quantifiable, easy to measure and simple to communicate throughout the organisation (Dransfield, 2000).After that, the process of performance appraisal should take place (Bredin, 2008). The management of performance includes design of work systems, facilitation of knowledge utilisation, sharing and creation, and appraisal and reward systems (Cardon & Stevens, 2004). However, this phenomenon has been supported by different researchers claiming that performance management/appraisal is an outstanding process to determine and supervise employees output within the firm, so as it would be less complicating to ssess and achieve maximum performance (Zhu & Dowling, 1997). It is an excruciating process to implement and evaluate a systemic approach that can accurately pinpoint employee who is responsible for results within an organisation (McKenna & Beech, 2008). However, outcomes of individual behavio urs such as job satisfaction, employee turnover, absenteeism (Dyer and Reeves, 1995); motivation and commitment (Seibert, Silver, & Randolph, 2004), are proximal hence human resource processes are interconnected.In as much that the human resource practices are intended to achieve result in this area; there effect can also have a tremendous influence on the aforementioned outcomes (Bloom, 1999). 1. 2. 5 Benefits and rewards Eliciting high contributions within an organisational environment is highly essential for the firm as well as the employees (Appleby and Mavin, 2000). For instance, expectancy theories have explicated aspects of anticipated rewards in line with employee’s motivations.This indicated that every employee will have to face with a logical decision in accordance to the present economical circumstance (Tannenbaum and Dupuree-Bruno, 1994). As a result to that employee considerable effort will manifests into an intended realisations and fulfillment of a specific des ire outcome. Such manifestation enhances the explanation of the crucial aspect of organisational reward system and how it can be sustain and elicit the firm human capital investment Tannenbaum and Dupuree-Bruno (1994).The conceptions of both internal and external rewards are highly valued by organisations and its employees. Not only the obvious fact that employees yearns more about promotional opportunities, higher pay or better benefits, but also their desires and anguish spins from autonomy, personal growth and valued responsibility. Different authors have suggested the positive relationship, size and the implementation of innovative ideas in human resource practice as a result to economic of scale (Baldridge and Brunham, (1975) and Moch and Morse, (1977).This conception has locus the local firms at greater disadvantage in-terms of retaining or recruiting top-notch talent (Tannenbaum and Dupuree-Bruno, 1994). Figure 2: model for reward management Source: Bratton & Gold, 2003, p. 2 82 1. 2. 6 Compensation According to Patel & Cardon (2010) compensation is vital for contemporary organisation as it contributes to attract and retain high skilled workers with superior salaries, and it encourages a desired stakeholder behavior regarding recognition and legitimacy. Minbaeva et al. (2003) inferred that compensation would enhance motivation among personnel too.Even though non-financial compensation can really work as a positive stimulus for the workers, providing monetary benefits is necessary to increase the productivity of the employees on the individual or group level (Gomez-Meja, 1992). Balkin and Swift (2006) suggest a more flexible approach toward the payment issue. They proposed to relate it to the life stage of the organisation with a higher rate of non-monetary benefits during the first years of activity, and a re-equilibration whenever the company enters the mature stage.Non-monetary paybacks are represented by stock options, stocks or other form of equity s haring that enhance the participation and the motivation of employees, while spreading the risks over a larger number of people (Graham et al. , 2002). The aforementioned ownership sharing represents also a long-term planning for compensation, as Graham et Al. (2002) stated, but also short-term rewards exist. These are represented by profit sharing policies aiming to encourage the employees toward group work, or to control the organizational outcomes (Heneman & Tansky, 2002). 1. 2. 7 Career development (CD)Many practitioners and scholars within human resource development (HRD) field have claimed that the utmost crucial aspect of the practices is career development (McLagan, 1989; Weinberger, 1998; Swanson & Holton, 2001). However, this area of studies has been given little attention (Upton, Egan & Lynham, 2003). With the intense competition in the 21 century, many organisations have realised that in order for them to stay competition they have to improve their employees and enhance their career development (Boudreaux, 2001); rather than individual career development (Swanson & Holton, Upton, Egan & Lynham, 2003).Therefore, many organisations are now taking a proactive measures towards equipping their staffs and educationally (Leana, 2002) or create a climate that supports their staffs at all levels of the organisation to be more resultant and productive (Sullivan, 1999); which Boudreaux, (2001); Brown, (1997) referred to as ‘‘shared responsibility’’. However, learning within an organisation is quite critical and expensive; (McDonald, Hite & Gilbreath, 2002). The most common learning methods within organisations are informal (i. e. n-the-job coaching, sessions, lesson learned, development assignment) Power, Hubschman, & Doran, (2001) and formal learning (i. e. as training/workshop and other forms of professional training conducted by professional bodies internally or externally (McDonald, Hite & Gilbreath, 2002). 1. 3 The importance of HR in organisation The sole aim of HRM is to guarantee that the firm human capitals are being used in the fullest capability to produces the greatest organisation results that meets with the firm needs Nadeem Moiden, (2003) and Gilley and Gilley, (2007).Therefore, the philosophy of empowering employee’s capabilities is coined to the conception that HR is extremely crucial for sustainable competitive advantage and organisational success (Koch &McGrath, 2003). HR in organisation is also crucial because its assist managers and employees through a change process (Hendry, Jones, Arthur & Pettigrew, 1991). Businesses can gain enormous competitive advantages when their employees are used effectively to drawing on their expertise and ingenuity to meet clearly defined objectives.When organisation recruit the most effective, capable, committed and flexible people; and managed and reward them accordingly their performances, competencies and efficiency would help the firm productivity i mmensely (Price A. , 2007). Managers that tactfully execute organisational goals depend on the HR practices to deliver excellences so that they can achieve the utmost business performance (Becker, B. and Gerhart, B. , 1996). However, the HRM field has been isolated and misunderstood by many researchers and practitioner, failing to realise that without employees there would be no functioning organisation Argote, McEvily and Reagans (2003).As employees remain the most expensive and reliable asset of the organisation, the practices of HR will remain a vital area of discussion (Becker, B. and Gerhart, B. , 1996). 1. 3. 1 Advantages and disadvantages of HR As many other departments within an organisation encounter, challenges are inevitable and are present in our daily business lives. There are three main disadvantages, or some may refers to a challenges facing HR, namely: 1. Managers â€Å"need to support corporate productivity and performance improvement efforts† (Dessler, 2008, p 87). 2. Employees play an expanded role in employers’ performance improvement efforts† (Dessler, 2008, p 87). All the basics contents associated with high-performance organisation, such as high-technology team-based production, are rather futile without high levels of employee competence and commitment. 3. The challenge, derived from the first two, is that â€Å"employers see that their human resource units must be more involved in designing – not just executing – the company’s strategic plan† (Dessler, 2008, p 87). 1. 4 Strategic HR roles in dynamic and uncertainty environmentsStrategic HRM (SHRM) roles consist of strategies executions and formulations. The strategies execution has been the predominant aspect of the SHRM’s strategic job. Strategies formulators always set and margin their formulations in line with the corporate and competitive strategies and aligned the firm policies and practices towards their strategic formulation s (Dessler, 2008). In recent years, there has been a trend shift and researchers have now identified SHRM to take an active role with the top managers in the firm to formulate the company’s strategic plans.The gliding competitive environment due to a globalized economy has lead to that many employers are pursuing improved performance by improvement of commitment and competence level of their employees. Dessler, (2008) outlined four strategic tools that could be used to enhances employees abilities and proficiencies, such as employees satisfaction, loyalty, motivation and satisfactions. 1. 4. 1 Employee satisfaction Employee satisfaction is the individual satisfaction as a professional person, that is, the individual has an effect on his attitude.Organization member to its operating characteristic is the cognitive evaluation, employees get through the more realistic values and expectations of the gap between the value obtained after the meeting whether or not all aspects of wo rk attitudes and emotional responses. It involves the work of the degree of organizational commitment and work motivation is closely related (Saari, L. M. , & Judge, T. A. , 2004). Superior-subordinate communication is an important influence on job satisfaction in the workplace, in which the way a subordinate perceives a supervisor‘s behavior can positively or negatively influence job satisfaction.Nonverbal messages play a central role in interpersonal interactions with respect to impression formation, deception, attraction, social influence, and emotional expression (Burgoon, Buller, & Woodall, 1996). 1. 4. 2 Employee loyalty Employee engagement is personified by the passion and energy employees have to give of their best to the organization to serve the customer. Engagement is characterized by employees being committed to the organization, believing in what it stands for and being prepared to go above and beyond what is expected of them to deliver outstanding service to the customer.Engaged employees feel inspired by their work, they are customer focused in their approach; they care about the future of the company and are prepared to invest their own effort to see that the organization succeeds (Cook, 2008). Engagement can be summed up by how positively the employee: Thinks about the organization; feels about the organization; proactive in relation to achieving organizational goals for customers, colleagues and other stakeholders. Employee loyalty can be divided into active and passive loyalty.The former refers to the subjective staff loyal to the company with the desire (Cook, 2008). This desire is often due to a high degree of organization and employee goals and now there are consistent with organizational help for employees‘ self-development and self-realization factors. Passive loyalty is when the employees themselves do not wish to remain in the organization, but due to some constraints, such as high wages and welfare, transportation, etc. , have to stay in the organization. Once these conditions disappear, the staff can no longer feel organizational loyalty (Cook, 2008).The basic elements of enterprise employees, their enthusiasm on behalf of corporate morale, awareness of their work reflected in the subtle strength of enterprises (Pepitone and Bruce, 1998). 1. 4. 2. 1 Wages and benefits systems Salaries and benefits in the eyes of employees affect their loyalty is one of the important factors. â€Å"Money is not the most important, but no doubt a very important†, whether corporate or professional loyalty, loyalty is established on the basis of material, good pay system to ensure the basic material needs of the employees, will have good professional loyalty, and corporate loyalty (Cook, 2008). 1. 4. . 2 Enterprise human resource management system As indicated above human resource management is compulsory for each company and one of the most important courses; how to send staff to the right on the job, motivate employees, training and study staff, will be affected to some extent, staff loyalty. In the development of the unscientific, resulting in unfair business, become a mere formality, which often occurs. Negative phenomena that affect the performance of their staff, or even result in employees slack, complain more, rumors filled the air, to lose morale. Figure 3 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Source: Maslow, (1943) 1. 4. 2. Retaining top employees Excellent staff should have: First, high loyalty, company loyalty by recognizing the company’s values, to share weal and woe, and common development; second, right attitude, initiative, and study to make improvements, work hard and willing to do, know that they are doing, those things that do and should not do, great development potential; Third, professional ability, can work independently, with skill, and can continue to improve (McKeown, 2002). The roles of great employees are being productive and increased passion for and commit ment to the organization‘s vision, strategy and goals (Cook, 2008, p. 31-32). . 4. 3 Employee Motivation Motivating employees was highlighted as an indispensable part of HRM in many studies (e. g. Pinnington and Edwards, 2000; Dessler, 1997; Stone, 2005). Pinnignton and Edwards (2000) divided motivational incentives into two parts: motivating individuals and motivating groups. The former one pays the attention on individual needs and the later one highlight the equity principia. Some incentives played big roles in motivational process, for instance, the good communication between organization and employees (e. g. Ivancevich, Konopaske and Matteson, 2008; Stone, 2005; Dessler, 1997), High Job satisfaction (e. . Lambert, Hogan and Barton, 2001; Wright and Bonett, 2007), Good Payment and treatment (Carpenter and Sanders, 2004) and so on. Meanwhile, relating to the interesting issue on employee turnover often happened in the company, job satisfaction is one kind of factor that inf luences the turnover intent of employees. Lambert, Hogan and Barton (2001) pointed out that job satisfaction is a key mediating variable between the work environment and turnover intent, and suggested that managers take the focus on the work environment to improve employee’s job satisfaction, and ultimately lower turnover intent.Carpenter and Sanders (2004) opined that the investment in TMT (Top Management Team) could be way for attracting and retain talent for organization. Thus, it is required, and should be considered into the HRM process too. 1. 4. 4 Employee satisfaction Employee satisfaction is mainly concern with the satisfactions that derived from the individual as a professional person. One common research finding is that job satisfaction is correlated with life satisfaction (Rain, et al, 1991). This correlation is reciprocal, meaning people who are satisfied with their lives tend to be satisfied with their jobs vice visa.However, some research have argued this conce pt that that job satisfaction is not significantly related to life satisfaction because of their variable such as nonworking satisfaction and core self-evaluations are taken into account (Rode, J. C. 2004). Organization member to its operating characteristic is the cognitive evaluation. Employees get through the more realistic values and expectations of the gap between the values obtained after the meeting whether or not all aspects of work attitudes are emotional responses.This consists of the extent of firm involvement and related motivational activities (Saari, L. M. , & Judge, T. A. , 2004). Burgoon, Buller, & Woodall, (1996) one of the most suitable means of influencing employees satisfaction is the manners at which superior relate and communicate with subordinators. The meshing and mashing of interpersonal relationships between the two distinctive groups or status plays a significant roles in terms of respect, attractions, formative impression or emotional expression, deceptio ns and social influences (Burgoon, Buller, & Woodall, 1996).Weiss and Cropanzano, (1996) inferred that such immediacy and friendliness will cumulate the essential elements of job satisfaction (Weiss and Cropanzano, 1996). The way employee’s feels and thought that their jobs being appreciated are very much essential in terms of employees job satisfactions (Organ, D. W. , & Ryan, K. , 1995); turnover (Saari & Judge, 2004); and absenteeism (Wegge, et al, 2007). Job satisfactions ultimately looks at the general aspects of satisfactions employees gained from their work in entirety (Mount & Johnson, 2006)

(BKK)Managing Diversity Awareness Campaign Essay

(BKK)Managing Diversity Awareness Campaign - Essay Example al., 2006). One of the prominent reasons behind an increase in the differences amongst the employees lies with the inability of the managers or supervisors to manage the employees, resulting to gender inequality in the workplace. An important example of this can be the increasing tendency to develop and provide growth opportunities to the male employees in comparison to the females. Hence, there exists a need to develop several alternatives by which gender can be managed in the workplace, and which would lead to the establishment of a sustainable organization (European Union, 2008). Gender management is important, as it increases the scope of gender diversity and enables the employees to focus upon their respective goals. In this respect, the employees are able to perform their tasks as team members for effective attainment of organizational objectives (Powell, 1994). The diversity awareness campaign will be aimed at â€Å"Gender diversity in the workplace†, which is needed to be managed in order to prevent the emergence and development of differences with respect to employees. One of the most widely used tools to manage gender diversity in the workplace, which plays a crucial role in avoidance of conflicts is leadership. The diversity awareness campaign would focus upon a number of strategies to manage gender diversity in the workplace (UNDP, 2010). Leadership must be considered as the first priority of an organization, as it is regarded as an important driver of change. Leaders can play a lead role in facilitating gender diversity by providing quality training to the employees and ensuring that every employee works as a team and have equal opportunity to participate in the organizational decision making processes. Furthermore, a leader helps in establishment of gender equality through focusing upon formulation of gender equality initiatives (AHRI, 2012). ‘Focus’ is

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Humans, Technology, Nature and Spirituality - Movie Review Example Spirituality mainly fortifies the link between nature and individuals; hence, someone can interact with nature through religion. Nonetheless, technology appears to destroy the bond between persons and nature. According to the film, Baraka technology appears to destroy nature instead of connecting individuals to it. I, therefore, concur with the movie Baraka, as it shows the unique relationship that individuals share with nature. For instance, the film shows scenes whereby individuals are connecting with nature through worshipping, and this shows a special relationship between humans, nature, and spirituality (Fricke, 2008). Such spirituality connection is seen through the intimacy between the Australian aboriginals with nature. They have an exceptional spiritual correlation that allows them to bond with nature. The Australian aboriginals also preserve nature due to their religious beliefs. Therefore, I also trust that spirituality enables us to protect nature and ensure that no one devastates it. Through our beliefs we can conserve the population, for instance, personally I believe that nature is a special form of healing. I meditate regularly, and due to this, I ensure that the surroundings are well preserved. However, at times our beliefs appear to disrupt us, and we end up destroying the environment (Fricke, 2008). Hence, unlike technology spirituality appears to be the linking force between persons and nature.

ISO 9000 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ISO 9000 - Essay Example It also checked compliance with standard documented procedures. The 2000 version was a game-changer as it introduced process management in companies. The 2000 version included the involvement of upper executives in quality delivery and improvement of the effectiveness through performance metrics. The 2008 version introduced clarifications to the requirements of the existing 2000 version. The new changes and clarifications aimed at improving consistency with earlier versions. The next version, 2015 version is under preparation. The standard undergoes auditing to improve, correct and prevent problems from arising. The auditing can be external (by an external independent body) or internal (by internal staff trained for the purpose). Auditing involves continuous review and assessment to ensure that the system is working. The 1994 auditing focuses on compliance while the 2000 version includes risks, status and importance Implementing ISO 9000 increases organization effectiveness, profits, promotes trade with other countries and makes marketing better. It also helps retain customers and improve satisfaction. In addition to improving employee motivation ISO 9000, reduces waste and increases company productivity. However, ISO 9000 faces various criticisms. Some criticize it for the large amount of money, paperwork and time needed for registration. Some view the standard as a failure especially if a company seeks certification before quality. Others accuse ISO standards of not gauging whether a company is following the right procedure for

English - Cognitive Linguistics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English - Cognitive Linguistics - Research Paper Example 134). This is because there has been extremely inadequate attempt to provide an exposure analysis of cognitive linguistics in the recent past. Additionally, cognitive linguistic offers a definition of conceptual account of ideational purpose of language in which individual experiences is designed by construal operations (Liddell 2008, p. 314). Cognitive linguistic entails the entire structuring of affective classification and configuration of ideational ascribed to cognitive agents such as intention, volition, perspective and attention (Charteris-Black, 2004, p. 61). In regard to this, cognitive linguistic brings about concrete conception of language that portrays basic cognitive abilities. Some of the basic abilities reflected by cognitive linguistics are ability to build structured conceptualization in various organizational levels, ability to come up with proper interaction between different aspects of a structure, ability to take a situation at different categories of abstraction s, and the ability to observe a single situation in different dimensions (Lakoff and Nunez, 2000, p. 123). According to cognitive linguistic, the study of language entails analyzing its function in transmitting information. (Fairclough, 2009, p.9). Additionally, when using language in communication, communicator employs creative elaboration, transfer, and mapping (Kemmer and Arie, 2005, p. 115). All this is done to understand the meaning of the language. On the other hand, language does not bring about meaning. It depends entirely on cognitive resources and cultural models to make meaning. Grammar guides the language users by prompting them to perform complicated cognitive operations. In reference to cognitive linguistic, the meaning of a language depends on the context where it is used. Cognitive linguistic also rehabilitate and redeem some basic aspects of language such as metonymy and metaphor. These aspects form the rhetorical language periphery (Brugman, 200, p. 89). These aspe cts are also very powerful in mapping human thought. They have a definite role in the understanding of religion, poetry, philosophy mathematics, science, and everyday thinking and speaking. As observed from previous cognitive linguistic study, language encompasses various categories and processes (Wodak and Michael 2001, p 67). On the other hand, cognitive linguistic model describes the interrelationship between events and objects. This model describes the cognitive capability of an individual in getting the meaning of a language (Herskovits 2006, p. 78). As stipulated by cognitive linguistic, language and thought are embodied. Individual impartial structures and sensorimotor is also known to play a crucial role in shaping conceptual structure. In cognitive linguistic, conceptual structure is made of prototypes. As a result of this, grammar is a mere neutral system (Taylor 2002, p.9). On the other hand, in communication, the capabilities that organize language are always specific to the language used. Some basic capabilities that organize language include conceptual integration, recursion, analogy, view point and perception. The application of cognitive linguistic in critical disclosure analysis is based on various theories. The commonly known theories are metaphor theory and mental space theory (Kress and Robert 2002, p. 40). Metaphor theory has experienced consistent development over the last few years. According to the theory, metaphor forms the basis of all human

Sudanese Girl Photography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sudanese Girl Photography - Essay Example It is in this regard that photography can be used to present real objects and events which cause responses among viewers that are analogous to the experience of the actual event as presented by the photograph. This photo plays a communicatory role and significance of trauma in the African soil which is caused by famine and the resultant poverty and disease which has left many dead including innocent children. Carter’s photo communicates effectively without any form of verbal mediation (Ryan, 2006). This is illustrated by the fact that there is no supplementary message to explain the events which occurred in a desert in Sudan. The photograph is imagery with a frail young child with an approaching vulture. The surrounding demonstrates a desert with all dryness which further reveals the desperate situation which innocent children on the African soils are facing (Wittliff, 2008). Even through Carter’s photograph has been described as artistic perfection, the social cultural and moral feelings which emanate from the work of art reveal a desperate situation which would have been prevented. It is in this regard that photographic communication is seen as a powerful tool which would communicate messages that cause psychological trauma and a sense of human desperation (Ryan, 2006). ... This photography was very important to the photographer and significant to an extent that the psychological trauma that it elicited caused him to commit suicide later on (Wittliff, 2008). This photograph has played a significant role in the portraying photography as a powerful work of art which if presented well can communicate volumes in the most effective and psychosocially stimulating. Mona Lisa Mona Lisa is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci which represents one of the most famous works of art in the world. This is demonstrated that the painting has been described as the most visited, viewed, written and sung about painting in the world (Lukehart, 2005). This painting presents a composition with monumental value. This is through the expression of the subject within the painting in the most enigmatic way and therefore attracting fascination and interest in da Vinci’s work or art by millions across the world. The talent which da Vinci illuminates with through this painting has sparkled mysteries and debates on Mona Lisa and as a result causing increased interest within the audience (Radan, 2009). The painting has been one of the greatest mysteries especially as pertaining to the identity of the subject. Additionally, the nature of the subject’s smile has caused mysteries and mixed thoughts. The painting is set within a mountainous landscape which illustrates the artist’s ability to resent heavily shaded model in the softest manner. The figure of the woman within the painting and her expression are the most significant feature of the painting. The expression of Mona Lisa has been described as being both aloof and alluring (Radan, 2009). This is the

Medicare and Medicaid Cuts Essay Example for Free

Medicare and Medicaid Cuts Essay The debate on health care spending has been highly contested and remains the top most agenda on the Obama administration. The U. S government has been pursuing effective health care reforms for quite a long period of time. Focus has been on developing a plan that reduces government spending on heath and home care reimbursements while increasing the regard for insurance cover. An important aspect of these reforms is the reduction in budgetary spending on Medicare and Medicaid programs (Meena, et al. 006). President Obama in 2009 announced the $ 313 reduction in Medicaid and Medicare efficiencies as a move to accomplish the proposed savings essential for facilitating the administration’s heath-care plan. Currently, the cut on Medicare reimbursements paid for health care access costs by psychiatric patients, the elderly and the disabled stands at about 21%. In justifying these cuts, the U. S government points out that the funds would be less essential in the light of a new health care reform. However, at the current economic status and the increasingly declining rates of hospital revenues, this move has resulted into the rationing of medical and home care services, high payroll taxes, and closure of departments and hospitals. According to a study conducted by the American Hospital Association (AHA) regarding these cuts, about one in every five hospitals have already reduced a number of health care services such as outpatient services, post-acute care and behavioural health; as they have had to reduce overhead costs resulting from the cuts (Shen, 2003). These cuts will affect millions of people especially seniors, military families and the disabled who depend greatly on Medicare. This is because accessibility to physician help will be minimized. In support of medical practitioners, The American Medical Association (AMA) argues against these cuts on the basis that they are derived through an unreliable method of determining the physicians’ reimbursements and which according to them ought to be reviewed. It is imperative to also note that the effects of these cuts are being transferred to the public through increased insurance costs. Effects on Access, Cost and Quality of Psychiatric Care There is evidence that patient’s access to health and home care has been increasingly diminishing in the past few years and even got worse following the recent 21% Medicare cuts. Physicians argue that this has been prompted by the increased costs in the provision of medical care services due to the reimbursement cuts. For instance, by the year 2005, medical care provision costs had been projected to be about 40% more than the in 1991 (White, Dranove 1998). In 2008, about $ 879 million was spent by hospitals in Michigan in subsiding services for the patients affected by the cuts. There have also been care rationing, reduction in provision of vital medical services and closure of hospital departments has been prevalent. This means that access to heath care services by concerned individuals has reduced significantly. A number of medical practitioners have been forced to stop providing psychiatric services to patients due to high overhead costs (Meena, et al. 2006). The reduced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements have made it impossible for psychiatrists to effectively provide care to long-term-care clients as well. There are reports of psychiatrists declining to provide consultation services in nursing homes as result of the lower rates of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements received. According to the chair of the Geriatric Psychiatry committee for the Maryland Psychiatric Society, Allan Anderson, the cuts are a drawback to the willingness of the psychiatrists to provide care for the Medicare-based patients (Mulligan, 2002). Geriatric patients currently are underserved. Psychiatrists argue that due to a reduced access to psychiatric care such in cases demanding early interventions, most psychiatric patients are ending up complications. Doctors note that the cuts make it difficult for them to meet the requirements of their practice such as administrative issues and thus end up restricting their caseloads on Medicare. Currently, Medicaid does not take responsibility of the complete co pay for patients on both the Medicaid and Medicare and this has made a number of clinics to close to avoid the extra burden of absorbing the costs of treating these patients. For instance, Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic incurred a loss of about $ 34. 2 million in years 2002 and 2003 due to these cuts and it is such losses that are pushing clinics to close down minimizing access to health acre even more. Access to healthcare for the Medicare patients is increasingly becoming expensive and complicated given that the ability to pay currently determines this access (White, Dranove 1998). Most heath facilities have had to cut down on their provisions of vital services that the seniors, the metal disabled and the military personnel within the community rely on to protect their bottom lines. Affected patients are being forced to skip visits to hospitals and this has prompted the providers to restrict access through costs. Impact on Psychiatrists and Other Medical and Home Care Providers A study of about 14,000 anaesthologists and surgeons indicate that most medical care providers will change their practice thus jeopardizing health care provision. A third of those studied said they will cease to practice as Medicare psychiatrists. This will adversely affect their quality of life. Practical challenges are forcing the providers to halt providing some Medicare related services, cutback on staff, minimize time allocated for Medicare patients and/or halt further purchase of equipments essential for serving such patients (Konetzka, et al. 2005). This will limit the doctor’s practice adversely. Some medical and home care providers have been forced to quit their practice following the high overhead resulting from the high costs incurred in attending to Medicare patients. Hospitals are being forced to resize on Medicare patients’ staff since hospitals have had to absorb care costs. Individual practitioners are more affected. Reimbursements cuts are prompting hospitals to focus on other non-reimbursement-dependent care services while closing down departments as well as cutting back on services to enable hospitals protect their bottom lines. This trend is prevalent even in community hospitals. In this regards, hospitals and home care provision establishments have had to reduce the number of practitioners providing these services and hence most are on the verge of losing their jobs should the cuts continue as anticipated (Mulligan, 2002). This implies that the government will only be solving on problem while creating multitude of others such unemployment. Many hospitals have also resulted in freezing of workers’ salaries and hence compromising their motivation. Impact on Taxpayers According to Randall (2009), the 2005’s 3 % reimbursement cut resulted into a $ 49 billion in terms of cost on permanent reforms. Currently, the Medicare reimbursement cut stands at 21% at a reform cost of about $ 210 billion. Medicare and Medicaid programs are funded by pay roll taxes. According to the health care reform bill, there will be an expansion of the pay roll tax associated with the Medicare to cover unearned income. It is projected that beginning year 2018; insurance firms will be required to pay an excise tax of about 40% for plans where family premiums range from $ 27, 500 and above (Sam, 2006). Experts note that these payroll tax effects will be transferred to employees in terms of lowers wages and benefits or in terms of higher premiums. This comes at a time when the government is focused on laying strict measure to ensure that people have health insurance. Further, it is also projected that from year 2013, adjustable spending accounts which currently enable users to skip various expenses on health care, will reduced or limited. In regards to the high income earning population, families earning in excess of $ 250, 000 will be required to spend way above what they spend currently on medical payroll taxes. Moreover, the now exempt unearned income will also be subjected to 3. 8 percent in payroll taxes. Individuals and families are definitely feeling the weight of these Medicaid and Medicare cuts through increased payroll taxes. This is because the federal government is focusing on insurances an alterative to help patients meet their health care costs. A 2005study by the Kaiser Family Foundation on employer health benefits indicates that family coverage premiums had increased by an average of about 9. 2 percent (Sam, 2006). Health insurance expenses have made it costly to employees as they are subjected to deductions for the same. At the same time, the mean per month contribution by employees on family plans increased to $ 226 in year 2005 form 2000’s $135. These are some of the costs that the citizens are bearing at the expense of the reduction in Medicare and Medicaid cuts.

Book Review Of Sugar and Slaves

Book Review Of Sugar and Slaves The story Sugar and Slaves: The Rise of the Planter Class in the English West Indies paints a clear picture of the English life in the Caribbean about four centuries ago. Using a variety of sources available, Richard Dunn explores the origin and the development of the plantation slave society in the region. He focuses on the sugar production techniques, the violent nature of the slave trade, the hurdles faced in introducing and adapting English culture in the tropics, and the disgusting mortality rates for both blacks and whites enriched these colonies. A summary of the book The narration begins in 1624, when the English took control of the tiny island of St. Christopher. From that lonely outpost emerged a cohesive and potent master class of tobacco and sugar planters that spread to Barbados, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, and Jamaica. The book vividly portrays how the English planters created a living hell in a Caribbean Garden of Eden and how they accommodated themselves to the human wreckage involved in turning the islands into highly successful sugar-producing colonies. An analysis of the book The author brings to light the plight the natives of the Caribbean had to endure when the English invaded and conquered the islands. He points out cases of rape, forced labor, displacement from ones homes and deculturalization. The English ruled this colony with brutality. At the books beginning, the author points out how the early English planters made their beautiful islands almost uninhabitable on page (xxiii). Midway through his story, he expresses he highlights that it is appalling and distressing that from New England to Virginia to Jamaica, the English planters in seventeenth-century America developed the habit of murdering the soil for a few quick crops and then moving along. On the sugar plantations, unhappily, they also murdered the slaves on page (223). Most tragic is his exacting account of how English colonizers turned their small islands into amazingly effective sugar-production machines, manned by armies of black slaves (xxi) and how this altered English cultural value s, and ideas. In the authors perspective, this is a dejecting story of human degradation; brutalilizing Africans, and of the self-brutalization of the English planters and overseers. He sums up by writing that the English sugar islands, were disastrous social failures by the early eighteenth century on page (340), expressing his contempt for the sugar planters. The brutal treatment the enslaved Africans went through had to trigger some form resistance to the British planters ways as the author highlights on page (256) of the book by writing The acid test of any slave system, writes Dunn, is the frequency and ferocity of resistance by slaves . However, even in Jamaica, Britains most rebellious colony, African revolts had little effect in bringing an end to slavery. Much more important in destabilizing the British death-dealing sugar economy were hurricanes, earthquakes, malaria epidemics, and French mercenaries. Ironically the authors points out that, the English planters, who treated their slaves with such contemptuous inhumanity, were rescued time and again from disaster by the compassionate generosity of the Negroes (262). He goes on to argue that, the enslaved Africans lived indefinably difficult lives, dying prematurely, their attempts to resist brutalization were exercises in futility, and in the end awaiting redemption from of the Bri tish oppressors. This is a very saddening experience. The question of objectivity can be pointed out in regard to the authors judgment in this book. Richard Dunn seems to be outraged and impatient with mans inhumanity to man, with unconscionable behavior, and quite pointedly with numerous inconsistencies of freedom-loving British planters making life a living hell on for Africans. In addition the author delineates the land owner ship and concentration of power. Land is owner by fewer individuals than before. The process began in Barbados with switch from small scale cotton and tobacco production to extensive sugar production in 1640s.Power too was vested in the hands of few belligerent British planters during this period. Moreover inherited ideas and values continued to matter in the British Caribbean but only in limited ways. The writer notes on page (264) that In their basic living arrangementsfood, clothing, and shelter-the early settlers, he explains, hung on to English customs. However the author only sees only cultural stubbornness or stupidity in clinging to English habits that did not conform to the tropics. They foolishly wore cool-weather garb, ate the wrong food, and built houses absurdly. In all other matters, the English planters tragically abandoned what might have rescued them from the human catastrophe they were creating: they rejected the idea of representative assemblies in order to convert the assemblies into platforms for the master class, sabotaged the militia system because it interfered with sugar production, censored religion in order to prevent slave unrest, made common law a mockery by withholding due process from three-fourths of the population, and discounted education. Illustrating how the English adapted painfully to the strange new tropical world they labored to control, The writer points out on page (40): Seventeenth-century Englishmen attuned their lives to the weather, to seasonal change, and to the annual cycle of birth, growth, maturity, and death. But in the West Indies, they found a year-round growing season, year-round summer, and year-round heat. They were used to a moderate climate: moderately warm, moderately cold, moderately rainy and moderately sunny. But in the tropics they had to adjust their eyes to brilliant sunlight, and a palette of splashing colors: vegetation startlingly green, fruits and flowers in flaming reds and yellows, the mountains in shimmering blues and greens, shading to deep purple, the moon and stars radiant and sparkling at night, and the encircling sea a spectrum of jeweled colors form cobalt to silver. They found the Caribbean atmosphere to be volatile: blazing heat suddenly relieved by refreshing showers, and soft caressing breezes capriciously dissolving into wild and terrifying storms. In climate, as in European power politics, the Indies lay beyo nd the line. The authors stylistic ingenuity especially his to paradoxically narrate and describe the happenings in the Caribbean during the tumultuous era of the British planters, broadens the readers analytical view of the English invaders who did not go to Virginia or Massachusetts but forced their way into their tiny islands. On pages (337-38) He writes: Despite . . . close contacts, the islanders rapidly diverged from the mainlanders, most particularly from the Puritan colonists in New England. . . . The New Englanders, through their numerous elective offices and frequent town meetings, encouraged (indeed almost required) every inhabitant to participate in public life, but in the Indies the big sugar planters completely dominated politics. . . . In New England the young were deferential to their elders, repressed their adolescent rebelliousness, and often waited into their thirties to marry and set up on their own, while in the islands there were no elders, the young were in control, and many a planter made his fortune and died by age thirty. In short, the Caribbean and New England planters were polar opposites; they represented the outer limits of English social expression in the seventeenth century. Conclusion This story clearly illustrates the dehumanizing experience the Africans in Caribbean had to endure at the hands of the English colonizers. The English planters did not only invade the Caribbean, they conquered every aspect of life the natives had. They did away with the culture, they rejected the idea of representation in the assemblies in order to convert the councils into platforms for the upper class, dismantled the militia system because it interfered with sugar production, censored religion in order to prevent slave unrest, made common law a mockery by withholding due process from  ¾ of the population, and discounted education. The story is same on the mind and lips of many Africans in the world over as it is an actual representation of the happenings in broad African society during the invasion and colonization era. The authors shock and dismay at the brutal treatment meted on the Africans in the Caribbean by the British is totally agreeable. It was dark period in the history of mankind although some have argued that the colonizers introduced civilization in the African society and I totally disagree. Their invasion did more harm if this story is anything to go by.

The Care Programme Approach And Its Impact Social Work Essay

The Care Programme Approach And Its Impact Social Work Essay This essay will outline and analyse the Care Programme Approach (CPA), a social policy which was introduced in England in 1991. it will critically analyse and evaluate how and why this policy (CPA) was introduced. In doing so, it will attempt to explore the social problems with which the policy was concerned, its ideological origins, its aims and its nature. Finally, this essay will assess the effects of the implementation of the CPA based on issues of access and outcome. What is social policy? According to one website Ive consulted: The name social policy is used to apply to the policies which governments use for welfare and social protection; to the ways in which welfare is developed in a society, and to the academic study of the subject. In the first sense, social policy is particularly concerned with social services and the welfare state. In the second, broader sense, it stands for a range of issues extending far beyond the actions of government the means by which welfare is promoted, and the social and economic conditions which shape the development of welfare. http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/socpolf.htm Social problems with which the policy (CPA) was concerned There are several social problems with which the CPA was concerned and some of them are: The 1984 murder of social worker Isabel Schwarz by a former mental health client as cited by Sharkey (2000) prompted a government inquiry that was led by Sir Roy Griffiths in 1988. His report Community Care: Agenda for Action was the forerunner to the National Health Service and Community Care Act of 1990 (NHSCCA) which sets out the foundation for present day Care Programme Approach in England. The care programme approach was also instigated by the Christopher Clunis unmet needs as noted by the Ritchie Report in 1999. The report criticised the demeaning failures of the health and social services to work together in relation to the needs of people with mental health problems and to protect the public. The emergence of advocates groups such as MIND, the Mental Health Foundation and Informal Carers pressure group in the 1980s were also major social factors that led to the development of the CPA (Mor ris (1993). Those groups raise fundamental civil liberty issues surrounding the legal rights of people returned back into the community from psychiatric hospital and the need for appropriate services. Another major concern according to Means and Smith (1998: p48) was the official report on Ely Hospital, Cardiff, which confirmed staff cruelty to patients at this mental handicap hospital. They argued that The level of media publicity generated by these incidents became so high that a policy response became inevitable (ibid). CPAs ideological origins There are several factors that affected the development and establishment of the Care Programme Approach (CPA). However, the key factors that influence the implementation of the CPA are: political, economic and social. From the earliest stages of the Poor Laws through to the present day social security system, political factors have influenced welfare provision. Like most other policies, the CPA emerge as a result of the conservatism New Right ideology of minimum state intervention, privatisation, the idea of justice and the emergence of global market forces. The conservative government lead by Margaret Thatcher from 1979 through to the 1990s believed, politically, in reducing the power of the local authority and local government with the notion that care in the community must increasingly mean care by the community (Lavalette and Pratt 1998: 237). Mrs Thatcher expressed the view that the sacrifices which the family and voluntary organizations have played in community care from the V ictorian era to present day should not be seen as second best or degrading. Her philosophy was built on the importance of mixed economy, choice and given power back to the users of services. Mrs Thatcher was politically concerned with the political structures of the local labour government and the need to give more power to the market forces (private sector) to energize the economy. The care programme approach policy was also partly motivated by economic factors. The New Political Right regards the free market as the best way forward for organising society. They believed that a competitive market and a mixed economy of welfare is vital in encouraging competition which inspires innovation and efficiency which will inevitable provide better and cheaper services than a nationalised and bureaucratised services. This was a move away from the accepted orthodoxy of the Keynesian economics which sees government intervention in the provision of social care as necessary for the stability of the economy. The mixed economy is therefore seen by the New Right as not only promoting equality and choice but also cost effective. Many believed that the political underlying principle of giving service users choice would cover up the huge spending on the uncoordinated health and social care budget. As a result, both health and social care services were forced to introduce financial and management systems in relation to the purchase of care. For example, social workers became care managers and the purchasers rather than the providers of care. Regarding social ideology concept, the major social ideology was that, people with mental health problems, were expected to be integrated back into the community with clear and structured care plans. The fatal attacks by dangerous mentally ill people such as Christopher Cluniss who was misdiagnosed and prematurely discharged then ended up killing an innocent person, were major social factors which affected the development of the CPA. The case of Clunis raised significant social issues of the risk and danger posed by people with mental health problems, especially those not receiving proper care. The case also raises major trans-cultural social issues in relation to the significant number of black men placed on supervision register. The aim of the policy The Care Programme Approach was introduced in order to provide a clear framework for the care of people with mental health problems outside hospital (Means and Smith1998: p156), which Thompson et al (2000:573) said this include: Systemic multidisciplinary assessment, planning, monitoring, and reviewing a care plan, the inclusion of users and carers in the formulation and delivering of care and identification of a lead person or key worker and that, all of this is undertaken within a framework that is flexible and responsive to the clients changing needs (ibid). Nature of the CPA According to Thompson et al (2000) the CPA was introduced in 1991 and is intended to be the cornerstone of the governments mental health policy. This process applies to all people that are experiencing severe mental health problems who are clients of mental health services, whether on an informal or formal basis. The policy outlined four stages which should be applied to all clients in all cases. The First stage is, to carry out an assessment based on the circumstances of the client, including any support needed by carers. Secondly, to negotiate the care package in agreement with the client, carers and relevant agencies that are designed to meet the identify need within available resources. The third stage is to implement and monitor the agreed package by the appointment of a key worker now known as care co-ordinator. The care co-ordinator is responsible for the assessment and planning process. He or she could be a mental health nurse, social worker or occupational therapist. The las t stage is, to review the outcomes of the care plan and if necessary undertake revision of services provided. The policy is based on person-centred approach and one that has been important for health and social care to develop integrated policies and procedures around models of assessment, diagnostic evaluation, integrated working relationships around care plans and monitoring people in care and community by means of integrated budgets. Whereas, practice under previous systems were not person-centred instead, they involved offering people limited number of inflexible choices which were more or less organised to meet requirements of service providers rather than the service users and their carers. With mental health placed in psychiatrist hospitals or prisons these residents are controlled and manipulated by those in charge. The effects of the CPA The policy helped services maintain contact with service users, stressed the need for service users involvement in decision making; ensures that there is coordination and communication between all the professionals that are involved in the assessment and delivery of the patients care needs, but failed to provide comprehensive co-ordinated care. This lead to several criticism been made about the policy for example, it has been criticised that working together often leads to role insecurity and role ambiguity, thus creating a major hindrance to working together. The policy has also been criticised for mostly being used for inpatients instead of people in the community. This was referenced by Sharkey (2000) as an important point citing the Christopher Clunis case due to the failure to offer culturally sensitive services to meet his needs and citing the example of Lavallette and Pratt (1998: 104) in which they commented that mental health policies and practice based upon white European, middle-class norms of behaviour can result in a system which does not understand that people from other cultural backgrounds may express symptoms of mental health or ill health in different ways. This is useful in enabling the understanding of how Christopher Clunis was failed by all the professionals who saw him. For example, Sharkey (2000: p83) refer to the Ritchie Report that A GP whom Clunis had visited had struck him off his list because he was abusive and threatening. The Mental Health Foundation carried out a recent studies which aim was for respondents to talk openly about their mental health issues in relation to employment. They sent out about 3,000 questionnaire and those who replied , 86% were white UK, 3% Black African Caribbean, 2% Black Asian and 4% were other European white including Irish. What the findings has shown is that ethnic minority are uncomfortable to talk about their mental health problems for fear of discrimination and oppression. They also highlighted 85% of those with long term severe mental health problems are unemployed. These can contribute to the stress and anxiety experienced by users, carers, friends and families. For example, living with someone with serious ongoing mental health problems can cause increased strain, worries and distress together with loss of friends and social contracts (example intimate relationships), social isolation (due to stigma attached) and difficulties in coping with particular symptoms. At the same time, the protection of the public from the risk of harm is of paramount importance because patients discharged without adequate supervision or the provision necessary to meet their housing, social and health needs would increase risk to themselves and members of the public as evident in the case of Christopher Clunis. The CPA has also been criticised as a policy that it is largely dominated by medical module of treatment and social issues are neglected by practitioners and this has been highlighted by Thompson (2009) that spirituality is very important component of a persons well-being and despite this concern, peoples spiritual needs are often seen to be neglected during treatment or in developing and managing care plans for day-to-day activities. In some cases, as noted by rethink.org, a charity campaigning for mental health awareness, spirituality is even seen as a manifestation of the individuals psychosis or delusions by some members of society. Even though the polic y was introduced so that people with severe mental health problems could be assessed and assigned a care coordinator so they dont present a risk to themselves or the public, there have been some problems with users of services slipping through the net and ending up either homeless or causing ham to themselves or others (sometimes even committing fatal attacks). For example, Taylor (2010) wrote on the Metro Newspaper about a man with mental health problem who hadnt been offered treatment on several attempts ended up killing a pregnant woman. Conclusion Even though this policy has helped people with severe mental health issues to be integrated well into the community and live supported or independent lives, some people with mental health problems are still seen by the policy makers as a burden and stigmatised as a threat to the community. They are routinely being denied the human rights of freedom of movement, family life, and equal access to paid jobs and adequate financial support which may then lead to homelessness and readmission in institutional care.

Disrespect in The Sailor who Fell From Grace with the Sea and Wonderful

Disrespect in The Sailor who Fell From Grace with the Sea and Wonderful Fool   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout various works of world literature, respect is a major concern amongst the characters. This manifests itself in how the relationships between characters in the work are characterized. Sometimes lack of proper respect can be an auxiliary cause for conflict, while in other cases it can be the root of it. In Japanese culture, respect is considered very important in the relationships between different people; for example, it is customary to bow to one's elders and respect those of superior knowledge and ability. Failure to show such respect is taken offensively and considered extremely disrespectful. This important concept of disrespect is quite prevalent in both The Sailor who Fell From Grace with the Sea and Wonderful Fool, where the relationship characterization of the two main characters reflect this idea through the conflicts. In the former, Ryuji shows disrespect by patronizing Noboru, which causes conflict; in the latter, Gaston's lack o f response to the gangster Endo's disrespect is an auxiliary cause to the main conflict between them.    In Yukio Mishima's The Sailor who Fell From Grace with the Sea, Noboru has a very high opinion of his intellectual acumen. "At thirteen, Noboru was convinced of his own genius (each of the others in the gang felt the same way) . . ." (Mishima 8). Noboru, along with the other members of his gang, view themselves to be mature and intelligent. They believe that societal hierarchy restricts their intellect. They feel it to be their "special privilege" and that "[the gang members] are the ones who do the permitting . Teachers, schools, fathers, society - we permit all tho... ...ren are susceptible to this sort of flattery, and like it. However, since Noboru views himself as the farthest thing from a child, he is deeply offended; he views this patronization as disrespect. In Wonderful Fool, Gaston's unresponsiveness to Endo's disrespect becomes a secondary cause to the main conflict between them. Endo does not want Gaston around because to him Gaston represents sentimentality; therefore Endo tries to get rid of him by verbally berating him and at one point striking him. These conflicts resolve in different manners, however this concept of disrespect is a contributing factor to those conflicts and provoke the antagonism of each work.    Works Cited Endo, Shusaku. Wonderful Fool. London: Peter Owen Publishers, 1995. Mishima, Yukio. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea. New York: Vintage International, 1993.   

Compare and Contrast Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Essay examples --

Compare and Contrast Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Human beings have always been curious about the meaning and purpose of life. Religions try to answer the curiosity people have about there being a higher source, typically identifying this greater domination as God. Some beliefs teach that there is only one G-d this is defined as a monotheistic religion. Some examples of monotheistic religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Although each sect has a different perspective on teachings and beliefs they have one common thread; the belief in a singular deity. Each religion has a different perspective but most important is where the religions generated from. Major religions started in various parts of the world. Judaism, Christianity and Islam share the same birthplace the Middle East. Jerusalem is not only the home to Judaism but Christian and Muslim Religions as well. Equally important is the expansion of religions. For example Judaism and Christianity are also practiced in Europe, North America, Russia and elsewhere. Islam can be found in Europe, Central Asia, North and West Africa and elsewhere. (30-41) Diverse religions spread throughout the countries allowing for the expansion of followers. The Birthplace of the religions is just as significant to the different sects; which, the religions are composed of. Each religion has different branches where each sect varies on beliefs. For instance, Judaism is broke into three major branches Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. This are consider the sects of today. One major argument between the groups is the interpretation and validation of the Torah. "The argument is rather the torah was written by G-d and given to mosses completely intact. The Second argument is the ... ... he was sent to earth to save human beings from sin and death. The teaching's of Jesus center around love. The way to salvation is do good works. Also too have faith in G-d and the Christ's resurrection. Last but not least is Islam. The basic beliefs of Islam are summed up in this statement of Faith. "I believe in Allah, his angels, his books and prophets and the Day of judgment". The Angel Gabriel brought Allah's message to Muhammad They believe the purpose of life is to submit to G-d, and obtain paradise after death. They way to achieve salvation is to follow the Qur'an, and Five Pillars of Islam. Although many religions have different sects; which, may share different ideas just like in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is evident that these religions believe in one god. The teaching and traditions of each religion make each religion unique in its own way.

More Evidence Needed to Support George Ritzers McDonaldization Thesis :: George Ritzer McDonaldization Thesis

More Evidence Needed to Support George Ritzer's McDonaldization Thesis The McDonaldization Thesis presupposes some familiarity with Ritzer's earlier work, The McDonaldization of Society (1993), in which he defines McDonaldization as "the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world" (1). These principles include efficiency, predictability, calculability (or an emphasis on quantification), and control (especially via non-human technologies). Taken together, they constitute the formal (functional or instrumental) rationality that undergirds McDonaldization. In the present work, Ritzer continues to sound the alarm by depicting McDonaldization as "a largely one-way process in which a series of American innovations are being aggressively exported to much of the rest of the world" (8). Although the author acknowledges that the McDonaldization thesis is rooted in Weber's reflections on rationality, specifically the notion of the "iron cage of rationality," he prefers the "simplicity" of Mannheim's thinking on the subject. The latter, for example, locates the fundamental irrationality of highly rationalized systems, such as McDonaldized ones, in threats to the ability to think; whereas, the former emphasizes threats to human values, an area the author deems unnecessarily messy for the purposes of his theoretical analysis. The author further justifies this position by noting the cognitive demands of the present post-industrial system in which human beings live. Indeed, it is the dehumanization resulting from the simultaneous increase in functional rationality and decrease in substantive rationality, which rationalized systems demand and perpetuate, that animates the author. The author introduces the concept of the "new means of consumption" to illustrate the ways in which not only business, but cultural, practices are threatened by McDonaldization. Defined as "those things owned by capitalists and rendered by them as necessary to customers in order for them to consume" (91), examples of the new means of consumption include fast-food restaurants, credit cards, mega-malls, home shopping television networks, and cybermalls. The critical point for the author is that each changes the ways individuals consume. For example, the exportation of fast-food restaurants and American eating habits, with their emphasis on food as something to be consumed as quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively as possible, alters the way people eat and, thereby, "poses a profound threat to the entire cultural complex of many societies" (8). There is a distinct normative dimension to the concept of the new means of consumption, which is evident in the author's insistence that they "constrain" individuals "to buy more than they need" and "to spend more than they should" (119).

Mobile Phone Research

Department of Communications and Multimedia Research on Commonest Automobile in Yola Peace Adewunmi Funmilayo An Assignment Submitted to the Department of Communication and Multimedia School of Information Technology and Communications In partial fulfillment of The requirements for the completion of CMD 450 (Advertising Research) Prof. Samuel Tesunbi Course Instructor Yola, State of Adamawa, Nigeria 22nd April, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ INTRODUCTION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. PURPOSE OF STUDY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ METHOD†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. LITERATURE REVIEW†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. RESULTS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. RECOMMENDATION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. REFERENCE PAGE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. POWER POINT APPENDIX†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ABSTRACT The research brand preference of mobile phones among AUN students is an independent market research. This study would help in identifying the most preferred mobile brand in the American University of Nigeria (AUN) as well as the most used mobile brand.Using quantitative method, 300 students were selected using convenient sampling, therefore 300 questionnaires were distributed among AUN students, After analyzing the information gotten from the survey Using SPSS Blackberry bold 5,4 Blackberry curve and Blackberry torch mobile phones were the most used and preferred mobile brand in AUN followed by I phone’s 4 and 5 then Samsung S3 and S4. INTRODUCTION A mobile pho ne is a handheld device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area.Modern mobile phones support a wide variety of other services such as text messaging, MMS, E-mail, short range wireless communications like infrared and Bluetooth, internet access, business applications, gaming and photography. Mobile phones have become an essential part of every person’s life, it is now one of the common means of communication over time, therefore communication has been made easy most businesses have grown exceedingly, a lot jobs are less stressful, family and friends have been able to strengthen their relationship through the use of mobile phones.Using Nigeria as an example, back in late 90’s when mobile phones were not so common brands such as Samsung, Nokia, Bird, Sendo etc, were the only available mobile phones in black and white, as time went on yellow and blue screens came along until years later when camera phones and c olored screens emerged, this has given a lot of people the opportunity to choose from all kinds of brands all over the world.Looking back to the mobile phone brands were available and the mobile brands available know, it is safe to say the next thing on everyone’s mind is what mobile brand to use, the different functions and services mobile phone producers have to offer would determine how and why a person or a group of people would be loyal to a particular mobile phone brand. In this case blackberry PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE The purpose of this study is to identify the most preferred brand of mobile phone used among students of the American University of Nigeria.After analyzing the results gotten from the survey blackberry emerged the most preferred brand of mobile phone among students at AUN. This results would help a start-up business for mobile phones know which brands to stock in this case blackberry, I phones and Samsung phones, having the knowledge of how loyal AUN stud ents are towards a particular brand is also paramount to a phone dealer in cases of phone loss, phone damage and replacement, This study could be used as a point of reference for gathering information about mobile phone preference among students of AUN. LITERATURE REVIEWIn recent times mobile phones have become a part our lives, the introduction of the 1st generation of mobile handsets networks in the early 1980s started a gradual process that has fundamentally changed the way people communicate. Even children from the age of 12 have mobile phones some parents say it is a way of monitoring their children’s activities. Charles Guertler, (2001) said I got my first phone in the seventh grade over the years I have owned a phone, I have noticed my dependence on the device increase. Personally, I cannot see how I would get through my day-to-day life without my cell phone.Over the many years I have owned a phone, I have noticed my dependence on the device increase. I got my first ph one in the seventh grade. It was a simple phone; it did not have any special features. I primarily had it so that I could call my mom if I was staying late after school or if baseball practice ended early and I needed to be picked up. Throughout the years, every new phone I got became more advanced, and I started using it to do more things. I am now on my fifth phone, which is a Blackberry. I use it for everything.Living without a mobile phone is as good as walking corps, because you hardly know what’s happening around you, Alessandra et all. (2009) expressed that mobile culture has evolved, where the phone becomes a key social and cultural tool. Having a mobile phone is like having a license or an I. D card, without it METHOD The independent market research a study on mobile phone preference of only students of the American University of Nigeria, consisted of using a sample size of 300 students Which were selected using convenience sampling , 300 questionnaires were distribu ted among the selected students at different times. 25 questionnaires were handed out and filled on the 5th of April, 2013 in Dorm BB, DD, FF and the cafeteria from 10:00am -6:00pm. 93 questionnaires were filled out on the 6th of April, 2013 at Volpi girls, Volpi boys, cafeteria, Dorm EE and AA from 5:00PM-8:35PM. 82 questionnaires were answered on the 9th of April, 2013 between 6:00pm-9:00pm at Art and science, POH, Dorm DD and EE. The SPSS would be used to interpret the data. RESULT/DISCUSSIONS Gender| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Male| 145| 48. 3| 48. 3| 48. 3| | Female| 155| 51. | 51. 7| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | In table 1, 51. 7% of female answered the questionnaires and 48. 3% of male answered the questionnaires it is obvious that more females answered the questionnaire than the males. Age| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| 16-20 yrs| 137| 45. 7| 45. 7| 45. 7| | 21-24 yrs| 115| 38. 3| 38. 3| 84. 0| | 25-30 yrs| 48| 16. 0| 16. 0| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | | | | | | | In table 2, students were asked to pick their age range and the majority came from the age range of 16-20 years with 45. %, 21-24 years with 38. 3% and lastly 16% from the age range of 25-30years. Household income| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| N150,000-350,000| 24| 8. 0| 8. 0| 8. 0| | Above N350,000-500,000| 58| 19. 3| 19. 3| 27. 3| | Above N500,000-1,000,000| 68| 22. 7| 22. 7| 50. 0| | Above 1,000,000| 150| 50. 0| 50. 0| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | Above is a table that shows the overall household income per month, 50% agreed that their household income per month is above 1 million, 22. % said that their household income is N500, 000-N1, 000,000, 19. 3% said N350, 000-500,000 and 8% agreed that their household income is N150,000-N350,000 therefore a majority of AUN student household earn from N350,000-above N1,000,000 monthly. Level of Education| | Freq uency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Associate Degree| 21| 7. 0| 7. 0| 7. 0| | Bachelors Degree| 85| 28. 3| 28. 3| 35. 3| | Masters Degree| 134| 44. 7| 44. 7| 80. 0| | Doctorate Degree| 60| 20. 0| 20. 0| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| |The results above shows the percentage of the breadwinners level of education, ranging from Associate degree to Doctorate degree, the majority of the respondents breadwinners acquired Masters degree with 44. 7%, 28. 3% for breadwinners that have Bachelors degree and leaving those with Doctorate degree at 20% followed by breadwinners that only had Associate degrees with 7%. Mobile brand| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Blackberry| 98| 32. 7| 32. 7| 32. 7| | I phone| 68| 22. 7| 22. 7| 55. 3| | Samsung| 47| 15. 7| 15. 7| 71. 0| | Nokia| 21| 7. 0| 7. 0| 78. 0| | use more than 1| 66| 22. | 22. 0| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | Respondents were asked which of these mobile phones they have ever used 32. 7% of them have used blackberry phones, 22. 7% said they used I phones, some respondents agreed with 22% to have used more than one of the above listed mobile brand, 15. 7% use Samsung and 7% used Nokia. It can be said that majority of the respondents used blackberry phones. No of times they replaced phones| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Once| 110| 36. 7| 36. 7| 36. 7| | Twice| 48| 16. 0| 16. 0| 52. 7| | three times| 57| 19. 0| 19. 0| 71. 7| | four times| 58| 19. | 19. 3| 91. 0| | more than 4 times| 27| 9. 0| 9. 0| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | In other to know how many times their preferred mobile brand was replaced, 36. 7% of the respondents agreed to have replaced their phones once, while 19. 3% said four times,19% said three times, 16 % said twice and 9% agreed to more than four times, this boils down to the fact Majority of respondent have replaced their phones more than twice. Source of knowledge| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| TV ad| 43| 14. 3| 14. 3| 14. 3| | Radio ad| 18| 6. 0| 6. 0| 20. 3| | Newspaper ad| 26| 8. 7| 8. 7| 29. | | Internet banner| 86| 28. 7| 28. 7| 57. 7| | Word of mouth| 64| 21. 3| 21. 3| 79. 0| | more than 1 medium| 63| 21. 0| 21. 0| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | All respondents were asked through which medium they got to hear about their particular mobile brands, majority of them with 28. 7% heard through the internet banner, while 21. 3% through word of mouth and 21% through more than 1 medium of the mediums listed above, 14. 3% for TV, 8. 7% through the newspaper and 6% through Radio. B| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Blackberry| 123| 41. 0| 41. 0| 41. 0| | I phone| 95| 31. | 31. 7| 72. 7| | Samsung| 52| 17. 3| 17. 3| 90. 0| | Nokia| 21| 7. 0| 7. 0| 97. 0| | Sony Ericson| 4| 1. 3| 1. 3| 98. 3| | L. G| 5| 1. 7| 1. 7| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | The table above shows what mobile brand the respondents are using,41% which happens to be the majority use blackberry phones followed by 31. 7% using I phones, 17. 3 % using Samsung and Nokia 7%, L. G with 1. 7% and lastly Sony Ericson with 1. 3%. Reason| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Brand name| 29| 9. 7| 9. 7| 9. 7| | Touch screen| 49| 16. 3| 16. 3| 26. 0| | Voice controls| 13| 4. 3| 4. 3| 30. 3| Dual cameras| 8| 2. 7| 2. 7| 33. 0| | 1,000s of Apps| 17| 5. 7| 5. 7| 38. 7| | Mega pixel camera| 8| 2. 7| 2. 7| 41. 3| | Download files| 21| 7. 0| 7. 0| 48. 3| | checked more than 1 reason| 155| 51. 7| 51. 7| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | Reasons for phone preference were asked and 51. 7% checked more than 1 reason and 16. 3 % agreed they preferred their phone because it has touch screen. Latest mobile| | Frequency| Percent| Valid Percent| Cumulative Percent| Valid| Touch screen| 45| 15. 0| 15. 0| 15. 0| | Voice controls| 44| 14. 7| 14. 7| 29. 7| | Dual camera| 51| 17. 0| 17. 0| 46. 7| | 1,000s of Apps| 61| 20. | 20. 3| 67. 0| | mega pixel camera| 23| 7. 7| 7. 7| 74. 7| | some and All of the above| 76| 25. 3| 25. 3| 100. 0| | Total| 300| 100. 0| 100. 0| | The table above shows a list of latest mobile facility and respondents were asked which one of them they were aware of 25. 3% picked some or all of the above , 20. 3% agreed to 1000s of application, 17% said dual cameras,15% touch screen, 14. 7% voice controls and 7. 7% said it was because of a mega pixel camera. Gender * Mobile brand Cross tabulation| Count| | Mobile brand| Total| | Blackberry| I phone| Samsung| Nokia| use more than 1| | Gender| Male| 43| 34| 18| 17| 33| 145| Female| 55| 34| 29| 4| 33| 155| Total| 98| 68| 47| 21| 66| 300| 55 females use blackberry while 43 males use blackberry therefore female s use more blackberry than males, in the case of I phone the ratio of both male and female are the same, for Samsung female s use Samsung more than males, males use Nokia more than females. Both male and fe male agree equally in using more than 1 mobile brand. Gender * source of knowledge Cross tabulation| Count| | Source of knowledge| Total| | TV ad| Radio ad| Newspaper ad| Internet banner| Word of mouth| more than 1 medium| | Gender| Male| 25| 9| 12| 52| 13| 34| 145| Female| 18| 9| 14| 34| 51| 29| 155| Total| 43| 18| 26| 86| 64| 63| 300| This table above shows more male heard about their mobile through Television than women, an equal number of males and females heard about their brand through radio, while more females heard about their mobile brand through newspaper than males this is surprising cause it is only natural to think males are more interested in newspaper than females but reverse is the case. 52 males heard about their mobile through the internet banner and 34 for women, a very interesting part of this table shows that 51 females got to now about their mobile brand through word of mouth and only 13 males heard through word of mouth therefore it is safe to say women are li kely to act upon what they hear more than men. More male got to know about their mobile brand through more than 1 of the mediums than females. RECOMMENDATION Mobile phone dealers should concentrating in stocking * Blackberry Z10 * Blackberry bold 4,5 and 6 * Blackberry torch 1, 2 and 3 * Blackberry curve 3 and 6 * Samsung S3 and S4 * A little of Nokia phones especially the touch light brand References