Saturday, August 31, 2019

Network Attached Storage Devices

If you have multiple computers on your network, you're a candidate for a network-attached storage (NAS) device. Some NAS servers simply act as a shared volume for backing up and sharing files across your network, while others can do a lot more, such as sharing a printer among your networked PCs, acting as a media streamer or even a surveillance system by supporting IP cameras. You'll find NAS devices with a single drive and those with multiple drives that allow for greater data protection and higher capacities. Here are two examples of some of the best rated network-attached storage devices available: Synology Disk Station DS412+ is four-bay NAS (network-attached storage) server in a way is the follow-up to the award-winning DS410 that was released more than two years ago, and makes an excellent upgrade. It now offers an excellent drive bay design, much faster speeds, support for USB 3. 0, and a lot more. Running the Disk Station Manager (DSM) 4. 0 operating system — and upgradable to future versions, such as the upcoming DSM 4. — the new server offers a vast number of features with a stellar Web interface that operates much like a native operating system. Each of its four drive bays comes with a tray that you can easily pull out. After that, you'll need a standard screwdriver to attach or detach a standard SATA hard drive. The server supports both 2. 5-inch (laptop) and 3. 5-inch (desktop) hard drives, of any capacities. This means with all four bays occupied by 4TB hard drives — the top capacity of 3. -inch hard drives to date — the server offers up to 16TB in RAID 0 or 12TB in RAID 5. RAID 0 is optimized for top performance and capacity. RAID 5, which is the most popular RAID setup for multiple-drive-bay NAS servers, balances performance and storage space while still guarding data against a single-hard-drive failure. The bottom line: Synology DiskStation DS412+ makes an excellent NAS server for advanced home and small-office networks. The Synology DiskStation DS712+ : The new dual-bay server is now much faster and much better designed, supports up to 16 IP cameras, and can be scaled to up to seven hard drive bays, when coupled with a DX510 Disk Station Expansion Unit (not included), for a maximum 21TB of total storage space. The DS712+, however, also shares a few minor shortcomings with other Synology servers. These include the overly simplistic desktop setup utility, called Synology Assistant, and the primitive Data Replicator backup software. The server also comes with only one IP camera license, meaning you'll have to pay more if you want to use two cameras or more for a surveillance system. The DS712+ supports both desktop (3. 5-inch) and laptop (2. 5-inch) standard SATA hard drives, of any capacities. Out of the box, the dual-bay server can host only two hard drives, but it comes with an eSATA port that works with Sinology's DX510 DiskStation Expansion Unit to host another five drives. It also has three USB ports, two on the back and one on the front. These ports can be used to host more external storage devices or printers. The front USB port can also be used to quickly back up the entire contents of a USB storage device, such as a thumbdrive, via the quick-copy button right above the port. Unfortunately, none of these USB ports supports USB 3. 0 standard. While this is not an end-of-the-world shortcoming, it's rather disappointing considering that USB 3. 0 has been out for a long time, and other lower-end NAS servers, such as the Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ v2, already support it. The bottom line: The Disk Station DS712+ is one of the best dual-bay NAS servers on the market, for both home and office environments. It's also one of the few that offer storage scalability for those who want to start small and add more capacity later. In conclusion, after researching NAS, they basically come in all sizes, based on what your uses are for, from picture/music sharing with family to file backup, that can be accessed from any computer, but logging on to your drive.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Mali Empire and New World Encyclopedia Essay

Timbuktu was established by the Taureg, a nomadic group, in the tenth- eleventh century along the caravan routes that were along the west coast of Africa (New World Encyclopedia 2007). Timbuktu was in a good spot for trade but not for defending against attacks, and Timbuktu was constantly attacked by Taureg raiders (New World Encyclopedia 2007). Timbuktu was never able to grow due to the raids, but Gao, Timbuktu’s neighboring city grew to be the political capital (New World Encyclopedia 2007). As Timbuktu developed and became a city that traded gold, ivory, slaves, and salt Timbuktu became immensely wealthy (New World Encyclopedia 2007). Since Timbuktu was so wealthy it was a target for many European empires seeking wealth (New World Encyclopedia 2007). It started to decline in the 16th century by the Portuguese traders choosing to send the goods upriver instead of down river (New World Encyclopedia 2007). As Timbuktu developed into a more intellectual center in the early 15th century it became known for its religious study of Islam (New World Encyclopedia 2007). While Islam was the main religion of Timbuktu, most of the rural population were non-Muslim traditionalists (New World Encyclopedia 2007). The University of Sankore, also known as the most prominent Islamic institution, was established in 1581 C. E. and taught mostly centered around the Qur’an (New World Encyclopedia 2007). In Timbuktu there were more than 120 library’s in which housed millions of books, and some of which have not been found yet (New World Encyclopedia 2007). As stories of Timbuktu’s wealth reached Europe many explorers journeyed downward into Africa to have their own taste of the wealth (Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa 2013). As countless European explorers journeyed to Timbuktu and never returned The Geographic Society of Paris offered a reward to whatever explorer that could make it there and 2 back and live to tell the tale (Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa 2013). The first explorer to reach Timbuktu was Gordon Laing in 1826, but he didn’t make it back alive (Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa 2013). The first explorer to reach Timbuktu was Rene-Auguste Caillie in 1828, by disguising himself as an Arab traveling in a caravan (Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa 2013). When Rene returned to Europe he wrote three volumes over how unimpressed he was about the city in that it being a mud-walled city, in the middle of the desert, and not having any gold (Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa 2013). Although in 1512 when Timbuktu was at its peak and Leo Africanus visited he stated: The rich king of Tombuto hath many plates and sceptres of gold, some whereof weigh 1300 pounds†¦ He hath always 3000 horsemen†¦ (and) a great store of doctors, judges, priests, and other learned men, that are bountifully maintained at the king’s expense. (New World Encyclopedia 2007) Although from Shabeni’s point of view of Timbuktu in 1787 he stated: On the east side of the city of Timbuctoo, there is a large forest, in which are a great many elephants. The timber here is very large. The trees on the outside of the forest are remarkable†¦ they are of such a size that the largest cannot be girded by two men. They bear a kind of berry about the size of a walnut, in clusters consisting of from ten to twenty berries. Shabeeny cannot say what is the extent of this forest, but it is very large. (New World Encyclopedia 2007) In 1591 Timbuktu started to slowly decline due to the Morisco mercenaries armed with guns (New World Encyclopedia 2007). One of the few reasons Timbuktu is still in existence is 3 because it is a major tourist attraction that attracts people from all over the world to see the mystical city (New World Encyclopedia 2007). 4 Alistair Boddy-Evans (2013). Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa. [ONLINE] Available at: http://africanhistory. about. com/od/mali/p/Timbuktu. htm. [Last Accessed September 10 2013]. unknown (2007). Timbuktu. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/Timbuktu. [Last Accessed September 10 2013]. unknown (2013). Sankore Madrasah. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sankore_Madrasah. [Last Accessed Sepember 10 2013].

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Training Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Training - Assignment Example One factor that could be attributed to the failure was the training. My training manager used an inappropriate method to deliver the training; therefore, I did not make the desired progress in my work. I failed to meet my goals and I was instructed to write this report. After discussing various issues in the paper, three recommendations were made. First, the organisation should employ professional trainers who will give the employees many alternatives on the training techniques. Second, a needs assessment ought to be conducted to ensure that the employees are provided with the right information. Thirdly, the organisation should consider giving training that will enhance loyalty. 2. Introduction In all organisations, human resources are regarded as powerful sources of the firm’s success. Therefore, it is important for managers to take interest in their employees since they are held responsible for their performance. Managers should ensure that they understand their employeesâ⠂¬â„¢ needs and provide training in order to enhance their abilities. This largely impacts the firm since it determines its goals achievement (Yang, 2010:2). In this case, the line manager understands that I was competent, in that, the quality of work did was outstanding. However, I failed to pass the level I expected showing that I did not meet the set targets. The organisation understands the importance of training. ... The use of unsuitable methods in the trainings must have resulted to my failure to achieve the goals set. In order to improve my productivity and achieve the set organisation’s goals, there are certain objectives I need to set. First, I will persuade the training manager to use the correct methods in order to ensure that the training is beneficial. Second, using the skills learnt in the successful training, I will increase my productivity and achieve the set goals. 3. Training Training is described as the practice of providing learning opportunities to the employees through mentoring, coaching, workshops or other methods in an effort to challenge, motivate, and inspire them (Frazis and Speltzer, 2005:49). This process is meant to help them play their roles efficiently and execute their functions with ultimate capability and in the set standards. The process of training provides the employees and the managers with the tools needed to develop their careers, perform tasks more ef fectively, enhance their knowledge base and efficiently work among different employees and work conditions (Heathfield, 2013). A large number of managers recognise training as an effective tool for improving performance among the employees. Training helps in the development of employees’ skills, increase in their quality of work and the enhancement of productivity. The managers usually set targets, which they expect the employees to meet comfortably. Successfully meeting these targets indicates excellent performance while failure indicates poor performance. All employees, including those who succeed in meeting the organisation’s goals, need training to improve their morale and build loyalty for their organisation (Yang, 2010:2). 3.1 Who

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Strategic Management-Case study Nike Research Paper

Strategic Management-Case study Nike - Research Paper Example The other factors entail the customers who are capable enough to compel firms to bring down its prices by triggering competition between the particular firm and its respective competitor. Suppliers can also restrict the profits of the firms by way of demanding higher prices. Fresh participants or competitors with new facilities and zeal to capture the market can escalate the investments for a firm in order to stay in the competition and compete with the fresh force. Lastly, alternate choices also negatively manipulate the profit of the firms as it can facilitate in taking away the customers of a particular firm by luring them with the alternate choices. Therefore, all these factors need to be evaluated while designing an effectual strategy of a firm. The evaluation would provide a complete understanding of the ways by which the profit can get affected in an industry (Porter, 2011). Firms should get a complete understanding of the mentioned forces and structure plans particularly to cut down on the profits that are being taken away by the other market contestants or competitors. Firms require taking heed of those forces and planning accordingly so as to continue its sustained existence. Firms should take steps to counterbalance the power of the suppliers by setting specifications for the procured materials so that it becomes easy for the firm to change vendors without affecting the operations as well as increasing the related costs. In order to reduce the effect of the powers of the customers, firms need to develop and spread out their services as well as products so that it can hold on to the customers from losing to its opponents. It is a common phenomenon for the opponents to alter its prices in order to capture the market. Owing to this reason firms need to manufacture products which should vary notably from the products of its competitors. Therefore, firms need to design strong

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Marketing Campaign & Strategic Planning Assignment

Marketing Campaign & Strategic Planning - Assignment Example Once the customer is loyal to a company then an imaginary contract is signed between the company and the customer which becomes hard to break. A loyal customer will be hard for the other companies to influence and in this way loyalty will act as a revenue sustaining agent for the company. Another major benefit of satisfied customers is that they become an un-paid marketing agents for the company’s brand, as they are unintentionally carrying out a word of mouth campaign for the company which further gives a boost to the sales of the company. It is true that a satisfied customer increase the profitability of a company, but a dissatisfied customer decreases it by two folds. It is important for a company to pay special attention to what the customers wants rather than giving them something they hardly value. A dissatisfied customer will always share his/her poor experience with others which will further hurt the brand name. According to an article of customer service facts, a happy customer will share his/her experience with 4-6 people however a dissatisfied customer will tell it to 9-15 people. (Customer Satisfaction Facts) In this way a bad experience of one customer can take away 9-15 possible customers. This high risk of bad mouthing of a dissatisfied customer increases the marketing costs of the company which in the struggle to regain the initial position runs heavy advertisements and promotions to re-capture the place in the customers mind. (Richins et al

Monday, August 26, 2019

Banking Concept Of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Banking Concept Of Education - Essay Example Saudi Arabia, many of the students and educators have not realized that system of education is not just ineffective, but to a larger extent harmful. Going to our classes, we all had one goal in mind getting as much information for the test and getting out. Now that I am studying in America I realized how it is. The whole situation seems like feeding us information on a silver spoon. We were expected to stay quiet for the whole 60 minutes. Not knowing that it was wrong, we did what we were told to do. In the essay, The Banking Concept of Education, Paulo Freire argues that modern education is widely recognized as a chance for teachers to feed students with information as the students submissively accept it. In my years as a submissive recipient of information both in the Saudi Arabia and USA, I have come across numerous educators who fit Freire’s cynical description (Freire Paulo, 13). However, not teachers are the same, in that I have also realized a professor whose style of teaching is different from those Freire scorns, and she created a beautiful environment and splendid environment during the learning process. Her meth ods proved that it is very possible to develop a learning environment where students do not suffer from â€Å"narration sickness†.... The class that changed my opinion of education was the chemistry class. The professor, who was as highly educated as the rest of the faculty educators, initially stacked to the idea that she could learn as much from us the students as we from her. Freire demonstrates a number of qualities of the Banking Concept of Education, and argues these qualities are available in each and every classroom, and are reflected by â€Å"oppressive society in general† (Freire Paulo, 75). One of the first qualities demonstrated by Freire is that: the educator educates and the learner is taught. In our chemistry class, the professor had very little to do with the learning process. Every student submitted a new chemistry models every week, and our peers in the class provided with a feedback on our work. The professor was just there to show guidelines and to expound on complex chemistry concepts that we could not understand as a class, and to ask leading questions to prompt discussion. By reading o ur work and having the students explain to her, the professor also learned many things (Freire Paulo, 43). This logic is firmly related to Freire’s second listed quality which states that: the educator knows everything and the learner knows nothing. However, since most of the feedback came from other students, it was usually the opinion of students that was valued highly in the class. According to Freire, knowledge arises only through invention and reinvention, through impatient, restless, continuing, inquiries pursued by human being in the world, with the world and with each other. That is, true comprehension can only be fashioned though questioning, conversation, and

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Effects of divorce on the mother - child relationship Term Paper

Effects of divorce on the mother - child relationship - Term Paper Example However, another striking finding is that it is possible to look at the effect of divorce on a more positive perspective such that mothers may actually develop certain strategies that would help them cope with the present situation, allowing them to experience a better relationship with their children. Introduction With the growing rates of divorce all over the world, it seems that the ceremony of marriage has lost its essence. Celebrities changing spouses almost as frequently as they change clothes become a part of everyday entertainment. In a highly liberated society, it does not come as a surprise when a couple separates even after years of marriage – in fact, it is almost anticipated. Several reasons have been identified, most of which, centered on the desire for freedom. As such, it appears as though freedom has become more valuable than love and stability. Indeed, in this modernized, less conservative world, marriage being a life-long commitment is already passe. However , it seems that many have overlooked the fact that more than just a ceremony, marriage is an institution which serves as a foundation of the family; hence, divorce not only breaks the marital bond but the family as well. The effect of divorce on children has become the focus of attention especially since their social and psychological development, in line with the socio-cultural learning theory of Vygotsky, is determined largely by their relationship with their parents, who serve as guides that shape their identity. When children grow up in the presence of both parents, they acquire traits and develop social skills that would equip them as they interact outside the home. As such, when a parent has to leave after divorce, the foundation is destabilized; thus, affecting the way that children interact with others. Nevertheless, perhaps, the most affected relationship in children’s life after divorce is that with their mother since most often than not, children are left in the cu stody of the mother after the couple separated. For this reason, many studies have been conducted on knowing the effects of divorce in mother-child relationship. These researches explored various facets of the relationship being influenced by the separation. Summary of Related Articles I. Brenner, J & Hyde, J. (2006). Parental divorce and mother-child interaction. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 45(3), 93-108. The study was conducted due to the predominance of researches which only focused on the negative effects of divorce in the interaction of mother and child, without adequate consideration of the perspectives of both individuals. Brenner & Hyde (2006) attempted to assess the behavior of both mother and child after divorce but unlike other studies on this matter they analyzed using a positive perspective. The previous research that led to their study is that of Gately and Schwebel, whose findings indicate that children of divorced parents actually improve in terms of maturity, c onfidence, empathy and sexual identity. This research gave them the idea that it is possible that divorce may be beneficial to mother-child relationship. Moreover, the researchers also utilize the concept of Vygotsky which serve as the theoretical framework in the analysis of results. The study made use of quasi-experimental design consisting of two groups of subjects: intact and broken families. The subjects consist of one hundred sixty pairs of

Daniel Richter's Facing East from Indian Country. Book Report Essay

Daniel Richter's Facing East from Indian Country. Book Report - Essay Example In the course of this era, some of the aboriginal groups changed to try to fit in the American society, and although Indians changed, they did not forget their language and their traditions. This essay will discuss how initial contacts involving the Europeans and Native Americans occurred in earlier days. Christopher Columbus, an American author, was born in 1451 and died in 1506. Columbus reputation has for long had controversies, with the fact that his achievement in navigation cannot be alienated from violence that represent the European contribution to the new world. Columbus discovery of America led to destruction of most of the native groups found in America at the time of discovery. Columbus arrived in America while trying to explore the Asian markets, north Americas native people, populated most part of the continent. The connecting of the eastern and western regions marked the foundation of an organized history, a process known as Columbian exchange. This involved a substitu tion of goods, for example, crops across the Atlantic Ocean. This distorted the economies of the world; Native Americans approved animals such as, horses and cattle. Foods such as, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn were brought in by these populations and have so far been embraced worldwide. Jacques Cartier came from the French court to explore North America, and in Chaleur Bay, he encountered aboriginal people who were the Micmac people. Their meeting was the first time the French and the natives traded furs. At first, the aboriginal people were friendly, but they changed their attitude and became hostile when they realized that the foreigners had come to interfere with their existence. Cartier tried to establish peace among the people since his arrival. Prior to the coming of Christopher Columbus, it was thought that the aboriginal people did not have any history. In contrast, these people had developed a culture, which was not written; they displayed their culture through song, dance and other artistic performances. Though Columbus claimed to have discovered America, many inhabitants had already settled in for many years. Columbus’s arrival marked an era of contact Europeans and Native Americans that went on for an unusually long time. Captain John smith’s interactions with Indians were because of his relationships and dealings with their most influential leader, Powhatan. He had earlier been captured by Powhatan; this led to the progress of their relationship. They formed an alliance in which smith would provide the colonists with food, this later developed to hostility of the highest degree. By the time John Smith, left Virginia there was a conflict between the English and Powhatan. As compared to other Europeans at that time, John Smith seemed to be open-minded about the natives, referred to them as social, and referred to their leaders as kings. John smith, was welcoming and persuasive, he even tried to integrate into the communities he visited , learned their language. His ability to persuade changed the attitude of Powhatan towards him. In his speech, Powhatan pleads with John Smith for peace, his words indicate anxiety and doubt surrounding the arrival of white settlers, and foretell conflict between the Native Americans, and Europeans that would have influence on the history of both groups. He wants the uneasiness and

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Music Therapy Description Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music Therapy Description - Term Paper Example Music therapy is defined as "a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using music experiences and the relationships that develop through them..." (Bruscia KE, 1998) In these Modern times of great advancement in science and technology, music to therapy shows great promise in the expanding field of health care. Music therapy helps greatly in the field of medical sciences especially for cancer patients, in management, for children suffering from ADD to help soothe and calm the bodies and minds of such patients. Research has shown that music with a strong with them and beat stimulates the brain waves bringing about deeper concentration alertness. On the other hand, music with softer notes and slower tempos tend to calm and soothe the body bringing about a Meditative state of mind. Depression seems to be one of the major causes of certain types of illnesses. Though depression mostly occurs among older adults, there is no getting away from the fact that even the youth could experience some type of depression at any time in their lives. It is here that music therapy serves as one of the most cost-effective, but very much accessible interventions which could be applied in times of anxiety, distress and for other such symptoms of depression. Researchers Hanser SB; Thompson LW., (1994) after their research concluded that music therapy had great potential as a very beneficial intervention especially for the elderly who had limited access to professionals in health care. Home-based program – during the home-based program, the individuals learned the techniques of stress reduction by listening to music. This technique is carried out by a music therapist on a weekly basis when he visits the patient at home.  

Friday, August 23, 2019

Comparison Report of McDonalds and Burger King Essay

Comparison Report of McDonalds and Burger King - Essay Example Burger King is another franchise in the food and beverage company that is giving McDonald's a run for its money. Founded in 1954 in Florida (Burger King, n.d.), it has been able to spread throughout the nation and worldwide achieving a great fan base in more than 74 countries (Burger King, n.d.). The restaurants are privately owned under the umbrella corporation Burger King and have a reputation of housing the world famous WHOPPER sandwich among others. Not limited to the United States, the company has been able to break language barriers and provides food and beverage services to more than 11 million customers daily (Burger King, n.d.). With its wide array of foods to choose from its menu, it gives people a great selection of food substances to choose from accommodating all ages, tastes, and preferences for all meals and snacks becoming a household name in the regions it serves.Having a Facebook page allows the company to interact freely and directly with its customer base in the re gion. Here they are able to advertise the products they offer and keep tabs on customer satisfaction. According to the page, however, they have more complaints than compliments meaning they need to use these customer responses to their services and products to improve on them. It is clear that they are more into advertising, which may compromise their business, and based on their fan base, compared to McDonald's, they need it.The two companies, being in the same industry, are similar to some degree.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The pros and cons of teen sex Essay Example for Free

The pros and cons of teen sex Essay Sex, or the lack there of, will always be a topic among teens. Teens date, and teens have relationships. Most of these relationships will inevitably come to a point where one must chose whether to seize the moment and have sex with their partner, or they will set standards ahead of time saying they will not have sex until marriage. Every teen is either on one side of the fence or the other; they either will have premarital sex, or they will abstain. These two stances shed light on why sex is out of control today, what the world thinks about sex, and what religion says about sexual immorality. The facts are evident: teens have sex. It seems almost impossible to calculate the number of teens who are actually having premarital sex, because, of course, they dont wish to confess. Some teens though, have no choice but to confess because their actions lead to severe consequences such as pregnancy. Forty-three Percent of adolescent women become pregnant at least once before age 20 (Internet 1). That fact alone concludes that the choice of waiting for sex is in close running with the choice of not waiting. In the United States alone, more than 2,800 adolescents become pregnant each day. 1,300 of these girls give birth, 1,100 have abortions, and 400 have miscarriages (Internet 1). These astounding facts prove that sex may be considered out of control among teens today. In the olden days, around the Victorian period, sex was far from the topic that it is today. Also, during this time premarital sex was unthinkable. What happened between then and now that caused such an uproar? The world says that sex has become out of control because it was hushed for so long. But, for the last 20 years, sex has most defiantly not been hushed. If hushing up had been the cause of the trouble, ventilation would have set it right. But it has not (Lewis 92). As the world talks more and more about sex, and as the consequences of pregnancy Page 1 decrease through birth control methods, the issue of sex starts getting out of control. Birth control has had a huge impact on the increase of sexual activity. But, it wasnt until the early seventies that it became an issue in America. In 1972 the Supreme Court completely legalized birth control (Corfman 3). Also around this time came the invention of the pill. This wonder drug completely revolutionized the way humans viewed sex. People were no longer afraid of sex since the consequences of pregnancy almost vanished. Intercourse was promoted as an expression of love, and since then has become a casual affair to most of the  world. The world view states that intercourse is merely the ultimate way to express love. This statement completely isolates sex from marriage and downsizes it to become almost equal with a kiss which is also an expression of love. All around is heard the saying that sex is nothing to be ashamed of. This cliche is mostly true, but that does not mean sex should be talked about so openly. In fact, talking about the sex in the state that it is now should almost be shameful. C.S. Lewis uses a great illustration to express this point. Lewis says that there is nothing to be ashamed of in enjoying food, but there would be everything to be ashamed of if half the world made food the main interest of their lives and spent time looking at pictures of food and drooling and licking their lips (Lewis 92). As the sexual entertainment industry continues to grow people continue to degrade sex until it reaches the point of being almost meaningless. They view sex in the shameful way that Lewis refers to. Becoming obsessed and controlled by their physical lust, they let their emotions and desires control their actions. Naturally, sex is a desire of every human being. The way that humans control this desire is what separates the wo rld view from the Christian view. The world promotes pursuing urges and desires; seizing the day. A great example from the world view is Andrew Marvells poem, Page 2 To His Coy Mistress. In this poem Marvell possess a great love for a woman. Rather than waiting to have his Mistress, he wants her immediately. For he says times winged chariot is hurrying near because he wants his mistress to see there may not be much time left. Marvell wants her so much that he talks about tearing pleasures. This phrase gives the image of desiring something, such as a gift, so much that it must be immediately torn into rather than slowly opened. Seizing the day comes into play in the last line, we cannot make the sun stand still. Since he cannot stop time and feels it coming closer, he wants to seize the opportunity before it passes him by (Marvell 241). Seizing the day is a great motto, but according to many religions it should not be applied to sex, especially before marriage. The majority of Christians abstain from premarital sex based on what the Word of God says. Of course not every Christian obeys what the Bible says in regards to sex; and, not everyone who abstains from premarital sex does so based on Biblical beliefs. But, for the sake of the topic, this half of the paper will assume the abstinence stance because of what the bible says about the subject. The  first stance on sex and marriage held by Christians is that the two cannot be separated. Lewis again gives a great illustration of food to show that it is completely unnatural to separate two things God created to be together. He states that Christians do not believe that there is anything wrong with sexual pleasure, any more than there is with the pleasure of eating. But Christians do not believe that one should isolate sexual pleasure and try to get it outside of marriage, any more that one should try and get the pleasures of taste by just chewing and spitting it out again, rather than swallowing and digesting (Lewis 97). The World has completely separated sex and marriage; idolizing sex while degrading the importance of the covenant of marriage. Page 3 To Christians, a healthy attitude towards sex starts with a high view of marriage. For it says in Gods Word that Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, For God will judge the adulterer and the sexual immoral (Hebrews 13:4). Christians esteem marriage and take it very seriously. Bible believing churches do not believe in divorce, except of course in extreme cases. These high standards of marriage motivate people to think highly of sex. Guarding the sacredness of the marriage bed occurs by refusing to steal from it while single. Having complete intercourse is not the only way to steal from the marriage bed. Any sort of sexual immorality that God does not agree with steals from the sacredness of sex. The majority of people these days are stealing from the sacred gift that God has given for humans to experience during marriage. Sex and marriage are very spiritual things. When someone commits their life to Christ they die to self, and become alive in Him. Therefore the man is not his own, his Body belongs to God and he should honor him [God] by fleeing from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 18-20). When two people that belong to Christ marry and have sex they become one (1 Corinthians 6:16). It joins a couple in an inseparable way, that is why divorce is not an option. After the two become one, if they are to divorce it is like cutting up a living body. Therefore sex is as much a spiritual mystery as it is a physical fact. Whether someone chooses to believe this statement or not: sex is a serious action with very serious consequences. No matter what stance a person takes in regards to abstinence, everyone must see the facts that sex is out of  control. Either people need to be smart when indulging in premarital sex, or they need to abstain completely. It has come to the shameful state where it now stands because people have abused the scared gift God created to be experienced only between a husband and wife.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Marketing Strategies and Marketing Management Styles

Marketing Strategies and Marketing Management Styles INTRODUCTION: MEANING OF MARKETING AND MARAKETING MANAGEMENT: Marketing as a business function will change with the movement of products and service from the producer to the user. Ability to sell at a profit is the critical test. The marketing system that delivers out high standards of living consists of many large and small companies seeking success. Many factors contribute to making a company successful great strategy, dedicated employees, good information system and excellent implementation. Many peoples minds are stereotyped fixed that large companies operating in highly developed economies use marketing involves with inside outside the Organization Swat Analysis. Any large small scale organization can build in. MARKETING: Marketing has often been described as the as of selling products. But people are surprised when they hear that the most important part of marketing is not selling! Selling is only the tip of the marketing iceberg. Marketing is a societal process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating, offering, and freely exchanging products and services of value with others. Marketing is a social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and values with others. It is an integrated process through which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value fro customers in return. Marketing is used to create the customer, to keep the customer and to satisfy the customer. With the customer as the focus of its activities, it can be concluded that marketing management is one of the major components of business management. The evolution of marketing was caused due to mature markets and overcapacities in the last decades. Companies then shifted the focus from production more to the customer in order to stay profitable. The term marketing concept holds that achieving organizational goals depends on knowing the needs and wants of target markets and delivering the desired satisfactions.[It proposes that in order to satisfy its organizational objectives, an organization should anticipate the needs and wants of consumers and satisfy these more effectively than competitors. MARKETING MANAGEMENT: Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing promotion, and distribution on ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational goals. Marketing management is a business discipline which is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firms marketing resources and activities. Marketing managers are often responsible for influencing the level, timing, and composition of customer demand accepted definition of the term. In part, this is because the role of a marketing manager can vary significantly based on a business size, corporate culture, and industry context. For example, in a large consumer products company, the marketing manager may act as the overall general manager of his or her assigned product. From this prospect it consists of 5 steps, beginning with the market environment research. After fixing the targets and setting the strategies, they will be realized by the marketing mix in step 4. The last step in the process is the marketing controlling. Marketing management design effective, cost-efficient implementation programs, firms must possess a detailed, objective understanding of their own business and the market in which they operate. In analyzing these issues, the discipline of marketing management often overlaps with the related discipline of strategic planning. Definitions: Market: A market consists of all the potential customers sharing a particular need or want to might be willing and able to engage in exchange to satisfy that need or want. Marketing: The term Marketing has been defined in various ways by different marketing management experts. These definitions can be group in two major categories namely classical or old definitions and modern definitions. Marketing is the performance of business activities that directs the flow of goods and services from produces to consumers or users. AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION Marketing is social and managerial process by which individuals and group obtain what they need and what through creating, offering and exchanging the products of value with orders. Marketing is defined by the American Marketing Association as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. The term developed from the original meaning which referred literally to going to a market to buy or sell goods or services. Seen from a systems point of view, sales process engineering views marketing as a set of processes that are interconnected and interdependent with other functions, whose methods can be improved using a variety of relatively new Approaches Marketing Management Marketing management is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideal goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives. What is marketing channel and its work:- Most producers do not sell their products directly to the final users between them stands a set of intermediaries performing a variety of functions. These intermediaries constitute a marketing channel (also called a Trade channel and Distribution channel). Marketing channel are sets interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption. Marketing channel decisions are among the most critical decisions. The companys prices depend on whether it uses mass merchandisers or high quality boutiques. The firms sales force and advertising decisions dependent on how much training and motivation dealers need. Marketing. Several definitions have been proposed for the term marketing. Each tends to emphasize different issues. Memorizing a definition is unlikely to be useful; ultimately, it makes more sense to thinking of ways to benefit from creating customer value in the most effective way, subject to ethical and other constraints that one may have. The 2006 and 2007 definitions offered by the American Marketing Association are relatively similar, with the 2007 appearing a bit more concise. Note that the definitions make several points: A main objective of marketing is to create customer value. Marketing usually involves an exchange between buyers and sellers or between other parties. Marketing has an impact on the firm, its suppliers, its customers, and others affected by the firms choices. Marketing frequently involves enduring relationships between buyers, sellers, and other parties. Processes involved include creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings. Delivering customer value: The central idea behind marketing is the idea that a firm or other entity will create something of value to one or more customers who, in turn, are willing to pay enough (or contribute other forms of value) to make the venture worthwhile considering opportunity costs. Value can be created in a number of different ways. Some firms manufacture basic products (e.g., bricks) but provide relatively little value above that. Other firms make products whose tangible value is supplemented by services (e.g., a computer manufacturer provides a computer loaded with software and provides a warranty, technical support, and software updates). It is not necessary for a firm to physically handle a product to add value-e.g., online airline reservation systems add value by compiling information about available flight connections and fares, allowing the customer to buy a ticket, forwarding billing information to the airline, and forwarding reservation information to the customer. It should be noted that value must be examined from the point of view of the customer. Some customer segments value certain product attributes more than others. A very expensive product-relative to others in the category-may, in fact, represent great value to a particular customer segment because the benefits received are seen as even greater than the sacrifice made (usually in terms of money). Some segments have very unique and specific desires, and may value what-to some individuals-may seem a lower quality item-very highly. Some forms of customer value. The marketing process involves ways that value can be created for the customer. Form utility involves the idea that the product is made available to the consumer in some form that is more useful than any commodities that are used to create it. A customer buys a chair, for example, rather than the wood and other components used to create the chair. Thus, the customer benefits from the specialization that allows the manufacturer to more efficiently create a chair than the customer could do him or herself. Place utility refers to the idea that a product made available to the customer at a preferred location is worth more than one at the place of manufacture. It is much more convenient for the customer to be able to buy food items in a supermarket in his or her neighborhood than it is to pick up these from the farmer. Time utility involves the idea of having the product made available when needed by the customer. The customer may buy a turkey a few days before Thanksgiving without having to plan to have it available. Intermediaries take care of the logistics to have the turkeys-which are easily perishable and bulky to store in a freezer-available when customers demand them. Possession utility involves the idea that the consumer can go to one store and obtain a large assortment of goods from different manufacturers during one shopping occasion. Supermarkets combine food and other household items from a number of different suppliers in one place. Certain superstores such as the European hypermarkets and the Wal-Mart super centers combine even more items into one setting. Marketing Strategy: Once the company has obtained an adequate understanding of the customer base and its own competitive position in the industry, marketing managers are able to make key strategic decisions and develop a marketing strategy designed to maximize the revenues and profits of the firm. The selected strategy may aim for any of a variety of specific objectives, including optimizing short-term unit margins, revenue growth, market share, long-term profitability, or other goals. To achieve the desired objectives, marketers typically identify one or more target customer segments which they intend to pursue. Customer segments are often selected as targets because they score highly on two dimensions: The segment is attractive to serve because it is large, growing, makes frequent purchases, is not price sensitive (i.e. is willing to pay high prices), or other factors; and The company has the resources and capabilities to compete for the segments business, can meet their needs better than the competition, and can do so profitably. In fact, a commonly cited definition of marketing is simply meeting needs profitably. Marketing environment: The term marketing environment relates to all of the factors (whether internal, external, direct or indirect) that affects a firms marketing decision-making or planning and is subject of the marketing research. A firms marketing environment consists of two main areas, which are: Macro environment: On the macro environment a firm holds only little control. It consists of a variety of external factors that manifest on a large (or macro) scale. These are typically economic, social, political or technological phenomena. A common method of assessing a firms macro-environment is via a PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Ecological) analysis. Within a PESTLE analysis, a firm would analyze national political issues, culture and climate, key macroeconomic conditions, health and indicators (such as economic growth, inflation, unemployment, etc.), social trends/attitudes, and the nature of technologys impact on its society and the business processes within the society. Micro environment: A firm holds a greater amount (though not necessarily total) control of the micro environment. It comprises factors pertinent to the firm itself, or stakeholders closely connected with the firm or company. A firms micro environment typically spans: Customers/consumers, Employees, Suppliers, The Media. By contrast to the macro environment, an organization holds a greater degree of control over these factors. Elements of the environment: The marketing environment involves factors that, for the most part, are beyond the control of the company. Thus, the company must adapt to these factors. It is important to observe how the environment changes so that a firm can adapt its strategies appropriately. Consider these environmental forces: Competition: Competitors often creep in and threaten to take away markets from firms. For example, Japanese auto manufacturers became a serious threat to American car makers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Similarly, the Lotus Corporation, maker of one of the first commercially successful spreadsheets, soon faced competition from other software firms. Note that while competition may be frustrating for the firm, it is good for consumers. (In fact, we will come back to this point when we consider the legal environment).Note that competition today is increasingly global in scope. It is important to recognize that competition can happen at different levels. At the brand level, two firms compete in providing a very similar product or service. Coca Cola and Pepsi, for example, compete for the cola drink market, and United and American Airlines compete for the passenger air transportation market. Firms also face less direct-but frequently very serious-competition at the product level. For example, cola drinks compete against bottled water. Products or services can serve as substitutes for each other even though they are very different in form. Teleconferencing facilities, for example, are very different from airline passenger transportation, but both can bring together people for a meeting. At the budget level, different products or services provide very different benefits, but buyers have to make choices as to what they will buy when they cannot afford-or are unwilling to spend on-both. For example, a family may decide between buying a new car or a high definition television set. The family may also have to choose between going on a foreign vacation or remodeling its kitchen. Firms, too, may have to make choices. The firm has the cash flow either to remodel its offices or install a more energy efficient climate control system; or the firm can choose either to invest in new product development or in a promotional campaign to increase awareness of its brand among consumers. Marketing mix: In the early 1960s, Professor Neil Borden at Harvard Business School identified a number of company performance actions that can influence the consumer decision to purchase goods or services. Borden suggested that all those actions of the company represented a Marketing Mix. Professor E. Jerome McCarthy, at the Michigan State University in the early 1960s, suggested that the Marketing Mix contained 4 elements Product, price, place and promotion. Product: The product aspects of marketing deal with the specifications of the actual goods or services, and how it relates to the end-users needs and wants. The scope of a product generally includes supporting elements such as warranties, guarantees, and support. Pricing: This refers to the process of setting a price for a product, including discounts. The price need not be monetary; it can simply be what is exchanged for the product or services, e.g. time, energy, or attention. Methods of setting prices optimally are in the domain of pricing science. A number of modes of pricing techniques exist, which span: Elasticities (whether Price Elasticity of Demand, Cross Elasticity of Demand, or Income Elasticity of Demand) Market skimming pricing Market penetration pricing Placement: This refers to how the product gets to the customer; for example, point-of-sale placement or retailing. This third P has also sometimes been called Place, referring to the channel by which a product or service is sold (e.g. online vs. retail), which geographic region or industry, to which segment (young adults, families, business people), etc. also referring to how the environment in which the product is sold in can affect sales. Promotion: This includes advertising, sales promotion, including promotional education, publicity, and personal selling. Branding refers to the various methods of promoting the product, brand, or company. These four elements are often referred to as the marketing mix, which a marketer can use to craft a marketing plan. The four Ps model is most useful when marketing low value consumer products. Industrial products, services, high value consumer products require adjustments to this model. Services marketing must account for the unique nature of services. Definition of Feasibility Studies: A feasibility study looks at the viability of an idea with an emphasis on identifying potential problems and attempts to answer one main question: Will the idea work and should you proceed with it? Before you begin writing your business plan you need to identify how, where, and to whom you intend to sell a service or product. You also need to assess your competition and figure out how much money you need to start your business and keep it running until it is established. Feasibility studies address things like where and how the business will operate. They provide in-depth details about the business to determine if and how it can succeed, and serve as a valuable tool for developing a winning business plan. Important of the feasibility: The information you gather and present in your feasibility study will help you; List in detail all the things you need to make the business work; Identify logistical and other business-related problems and solutions; Develop marketing strategies to convince a bank or investor that your business is worth considering as an investment; Serve as a solid foundation for developing your business plan. Even if you have a great business idea you still have to find a cost-effective way to market and sell your products and services. This is especially important for store-front retail businesses where location could make or break your business. For example, most commercial space leases place restrictions on businesses that can have a dramatic impact on income. A lease may limit business hours/days, parking spaces, restrict the product or service you can offer, and in some cases, even limit the number of customers a business can receive each day. Description of the Business: The product or services to be offered and how they will be delivered. Market Feasibility: Includes a description of the industry, current market, anticipated future market potential, competition, sales projections, potential buyers, etc. Technical Feasibility: Details how you will deliver a product or service (i.e., materials, labor, transportation, where your business will be located, technology needed, etc.). Financial Feasibility: Projects how much start-up capital is needed, sources of capital, returns on investment, etc. Organizational Feasibility: Defines the legal and corporate structure of the business (may also include professional background information about the founders and what skills they can contribute to the business) Market Feasibility: Includes a description of the industry, current market, anticipated future market potential, competition, sales projections, potential buyers, etc. Discusses how the business can succeed. Be honest in your assessment because investors wont just look at your conclusions they will also look at the data and will question your conclusions if they are unrealistic. Feasibility studies contain comprehensive, detailed information about your business structure, your products and services, the market, logistics of how you will actually deliver a product or service, the resources you need to make the business run efficiently, as well as other information about the business. Marketing Feasibility Study: The purpose of the Marketing Feasibility Study is to determine the suitability of this property for profitable development, and to define optimal products and amenities in accordance with projected market demand, and to project sales absorption and annual revenues from development of this property. Things to Include in a market feasibility study include: Description of the Industry Current Market Analysis Competition Anticipated Future Market Potential Potential Buyers and Sources of Revenues Sales Projections NEED FOR THE STUDY: To know about marketing feasibility. To know what are elements covered in marketing feasibility of SUZLON INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED. To identify how marketing feasibility impacts on the success of company. The basic need for the study is to known the consumer demand, through customer competition in the market and other environment factor, to observe the market relative to infrastructure service allowance terms of credit distribution mechanism system. the base needs for the study is to know the company position, company profile and customer satisfaction towards suzlon infrastructure service limited. SCOPE OF THE STUDY: The study is mainly concentrates on wind turbine generators only. The present study has been taken to understand marketing feasibility towards wind turbine generators. The sample size was 50 customers only The study was undertaken only in Andhra Pradesh branches its scope of limited. The present study has been taken to understand the customer satisfaction towards suzlon infrastructure service limited in major places in Andhra Pradesh. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: To know whether the companies have knowledge on renewable energy, are they knowing the benefits of wind turbine generator and to find there willingness to buy the product. To know the marketing feasibility of SUZLON INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED To know the feasibility of selling wind turbine generator. To identify how the buyers response towards turbine generators in SUZLON INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED. To observe the advertising methods whether those are suitable to SUZLON INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED or not. To offer suggestions to the SUZLON INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED related to improve the marketing feasibility. METHODOLOGY: RESEARCH DESIGN: The research design is mainly exploratory in nature as it involves researching the demand potential for the existing product. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA: The method for data collection was primarily by way of survey conducted in industries and big organization using an appropriate questionnaire. SECONDARY DATA: No secondary data is interpreted, since the survey its self enough to find the market potential. Since the product is not in the survey region and other region data will not suitable for a wind generator. SAMPLING METHODS: Sample size was required to be a size of 50 respondents in and around Hyderabad, Other districts of A.P. As the consumers were mainly industries and big organization consumers, method of convenient sampling was chosen. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY: The survey was conducted in and around of Hyderabad city and other states of A.P. Convenience sampling was used, which is non-probability sampling method Respondents were apprehensive and expressed reservation in giving information on the communication infrastructure and also on the future needs. Research was restricted to time limit. Time is the major constraints, which reduces the sample size. INDUSTRY PROFILE A wind turbine is a machine for converting the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy. It the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as a pump or grinding stones, the machine is usually called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is then converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind generator. Wind machines were used for grinding grain in Persia as early as 200 B.C. This type of machine spread throughout the Islamic world and were introduced by Crusaders into Europe in the 13th century. By the 14th century Dutch windmills were in use to drain areas of the Rhine River delta. In Denmark by 1900 there were about 2500 windmills for mechanical loads such as pumps and mills, producing an estimated combined peak power of about 30 MW. The first windmill for electricity production was built in Denmark in 1890. and in 1908 there were 72 wind-driven electric generators from 5 kW. The largest machines were on 24 m towers with four-bladed 23m diameter rotors. By the 1930s windmills were mainly used to generate electricity on farms, mostly in the United States where distribution systems had not yet been installed. In this period, high tensile steel was cheap, and windmills were placed atop pre-fabricated open steel lattice towers. A forerunner of modern horizontal-axis wind generators was in service at Yalta, USSR in 1931. This was a 100 kW generator on a 30 m tower, connected to the local 6.3 kV distribution system. It was reported to have an annual load factor of 32 percent, not much different from current wind machines. In 1941 the worlds first megawatt-size wind turbine was connected to the local electrical distribution system on Grandpas Knob in Castleton, Vermont, USA. This 1.25 MW Smith-Putnam turbine operated for 1100 hours before a blade failed at a known weak point, which had not been reinforced due to war-time material shortages. In the 1940, the U.S. had a rural electrification project that killed the natural market for wind-generated power, since network power distribution provided a farm with more dependable usable energy for a given amount of capital investment. In the 1970s many people began to desire a self-style. Solar cells were too expensive for small-scale electrical generation, so practical people turned to windmills. At first they built ad-hoc designs using wood and automobile parts. Most people discovered that a reliable wind generator is a moderately complex engineering project, well beyond the ability of most romantics. Practical people began to search for and rebuild farm wind-generators from the 1930s. Jacobs wind generators were especially sought after. Later, in the 1980s, California provided tax rebates for ecologically harmless power. These rebates funded the first major use of wind power for utility electricity. These machines, gathered in large wind parks such as at Altamont pass would be considered small and un-economic by modern wind power development standard. In the 1990s, as aesthetics and durability became more important, turbines were placed a top steel or reinforced concrete towers. Small generators are connected to the tower on the ground, and then the tower is raised into position. Larger generators are hoisted into position atop the tower and there is a ladder or staircase inside the tower to allow technicians to reach and maintain the generator. Originally wind generators were built right next to where their power was needed. With the availability of long distance electric power transmission, wind generators are now often on wind farms in windy locations and huge ones are being built offshore, sometimes transmitting power back to land using high voltage submarine cable. Since wind turbines are a renewable means of generating electricity, they are being widely deployed, but their cost is often subsidized by taxpayers, either directly or through renewable energy credits. Much depends on the cost of alternative sources of electricity. Wind generator cost per unit. Power generation from wind has emerged as one of the most successful programmes in the renewable energy sector, and has started making meaningful contributions to the overall power requirements of some States. Energy is a major input for overall socio-economic development. Use of fossil fuels is expected to fuel the economic development process of a majority of the world population during the next two decades. However, at some time during the period 2020-2050, fossil fuels are likely to reach their maximum potential, and their price will become higher than other renewable energy options on account of increasingly constrained production and availability. Therefore, renewable are expected to play a key role in accelerating development and sustainable growth in the second half of the next century, accounting then to 50 to 60% of the total global energy supply. After the creation of a separate Ministry in 1992, special emphasis was given in the Eighth Plan to generation of grid quality power from renewable. The total installed capacity of power from renewables today stands at nearly 1350 MW with contribution from wind power of nearly 1000 MW. Wind power installations worldwide have crossed 8500 MW producing about 14 billion KWh of energy annually. A total capacity of about 5500 MW has been installed in Europe, 1700 MW in USA, and 992 MW in India. India is now the fourth largest wind power generator in the world after Germany, USA and Denmark. The State of the World 1998, a world-watch Institute Report on progress toward a sustainable society, released earlier this year, has noted that renewable energy production in the world is expanding rapidly. Wind generation is the fastest growing energy source in this decade and is expanding at 25% per year. The Report recognizes India as a new Wind Superpower. With declining trend of cost and increase in the scale of wind turbine manufacturing, wind promises to become a major power source globally in the first few decades of the new millennium. MNES (Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources) are implementing the worlds largest wind resource assessment programme, which forms the backbone of their wind exploitation efforts. Preliminary estimates indicate a potential of about 20,000 MW. Scientific surveys are being intensified to identify specific viable and potential sites. A recent study undertaken to re-assess the potential, places it at about 45,000 MW. Assuming a grid penetration of 20%, a technical potential of about 9,000 MW is already available for exploitation in the potential States. 160 sites have so far been identified in 13 States. Survey work is in progress in 24 States / UTs. The States of Rajasthan and West Bengal have also shown wind potential recently. Today, we have a wind power installed capacity of 992 MW in the country, out of which about 940 MW is accounted fo

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Ecological Theory Typical And Atypical Child Development Social Work Essay

Ecological Theory Typical And Atypical Child Development Social Work Essay Analyse the contribution of Ecological theory to our understanding of typical and atypical child development, and discuss this model in relation to the factors and possible interventions for child abuse The importance of insight regarding the parent/child bond has always been a component of social services custom, but the significance has not always been indentified of the interaction that the environment plays on a parents ability to act in their childs best interests (Department of Health, 1999). A significant breakthrough in the knowledge of child abuse appears to have emerged through the application of an ecological model of child maltreatment, The ecological paradigm is currently the most comprehensive model we have for understanding child abuse (Gallagher 2001; 76). Such a perspective has generally been derived from theory based on Bronfenbrenners (1979) pioneering work, in which he defines to which The ecology of human development involvesthe progressive, mutual accommodation between an active, growing human being and the changing properties of the immediate settingsthis process is affected by relations between these settings and by the larger contexts in which these settings are embedded. (Sidebotham, 2001; 105). The importance of an ecological standpoint in the perception of abuse is, firstly, that it widens the boundaries of the unfavourable effects of maltreatment on children beyond just the parent-child relationship to consider the familial and social context in which such abuse occurs. Second, the ecological model is transactional; in the sense that it acknowledges the individual and the immediate and wider influences as actively interacting with each other. However, it should be noted that this ideology holds some limitations in the sense that it would not seem to account very well for child sexual abuse. Any pairing together of juxtapositions forms of behaviour as occurs with child abuse or child maltreatment, is bound to result in some loss of specificityIt would be foolish to think that ecological models are the final word on child abusethere is not single solution to abuse (Gallagher 2001; 77). Specific hazardous factors contribute to parents abusing their children. Although maltreatment does not often occur without numerable of these factors interacting in the same household simultaneously. Firstly, the risk of abuse increases in any household exposed to significant stress, regardless if this stress arises from unemployment, poverty, neighbourhood violence, a lack of social support, or an especially demanding infant (CDC, 2006). Bronfenbrenners predominant layer, or microsystem, refers to the collaborations that occur within the childs immediate environment. The childs own genetic and social characteristics affect the habits, behaviour and patience of their peers, For example, a temperamentally tiresome infant could disaffect their parents or even create friction between them that may be sufficient to damage their marital relationship (Belsky Crnic, 1995). Also, the relationship between any two individuals in the microsystem is likely to be influenced by the introduction of a child. Fathers, for example, clearly influence mother-infant interactions, happily married mothers who have close supportive relationships with their husbands tend to interact much more patiently and sensitively with their infants than mothers who experience marital tension, little support from their spouses, or feel that they are raising their children on their own (Cox et al, 1992). In regards to the emphasis on family, the notion to which a parent regards their competence and rates the performance of their parenting role is also a relevant matter. Parenting competence has been noted as problematic among abusive parents (Marsh Johnston, 1990) and linked with increased abuse possibility. Whilst acknowledging that improvement of parenting capacity is an important objective one must be cautious in concluding that improved competency in parenting directly results in a reduction in child maltreatment as observations on interactions based under experimental conditions rarely reflect in daily life (Gallagher,2001;248). Direct exposure to abuse can have a dangerous impact as abused children tend to function less adaptively than their non-abused peers in many areas (Cicchetti, Rogosch, 1993). According to Hipwell et al (2008) Children in a caring and loving environment feel more secure in their immediate surrounds in regard to the microsystem, they develop greater self-confidence, are altruistic and show higher signs of being empathetic. These children are also shown to have larger IQs throughout their schooling life, and show lower levels of anger and delinquent behaviour. As Bronfenbrenners ecological model would present, higher degrees of affection can even buffer a child against the negative implications of otherwise precarious environments (Bartley Fonagy, 2008). Several studies of children and teens growing up in poor, dangerous neighbourhoods show that the single ingredient that most clearly distinguishes the lives of those who do not become delinquent from those who do is a high level of mat ernal love (McCdord, 1982). The Mesosystem is the connections or interrelationship among such microsystems as homes, schools, and peer groups. Bronfenbrenner argues that development will be increased by supportive and strong connections between Microsystems. For example, children who have instigated attached and secure relationships with parents have a tendency to be accepted by others and to have close, supportive peers during their development (Perry, 1999). According to McAdoo (1996) a childs competence to learn in a schooling environment is dependent upon the quality of the teaching provided and also the degree to which their parents place value upon education capital and how they interact with the teacher and vice-versa. However, this can also impact negatively at this level as when deviant peer groups or friends of the child devalue scholastics, they will tend to undermine that childs school performance in spite of teacher and parents best efforts. Numerable research has revealed that exposure to abuse had a severe negative impact upon a childs academic functioning. Schwab-Stone et al (1995) concluded that as the consistency of maltreatment increased this had a direct negative correlation with academic performance. Likewise, Bowen (1999) found in a sample of over 2000 high school students that exposure to community and school violence put limitations on school attendance, behaviour and results. Warner and Weist (1999) revealed that children from low income families who are witnesses to household and neighbourhood violence demonstrated atypical symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. The symptoms continue upon the latter to include atypical externalising behaviours such as anger, inability to form relationships and a decline in academic performance. Surviving on a low income in a bad neighbourhood does not make it impossible to be the caring, affectionate parent of healthy, sociable children. But it does, undeniably, make it more difficult (Utting, 1995, p. 40). Children from low-income households may display more behavioural troubles than their better-off peers. However, according to Gorman-Smith (1998) family factors, including parenting practices do not predict childrens exposure to violence. He suggests that other community factors rather than their household income will influence and operate on children and those family factors are not powerful enough to mediate or moderate their effects. Such studies have often found there to be an important correlation between communities in which citizens have described a high level of community cohesions and children safety, with an increase in child abuse being linked with a negative sense of community identity. Self-care has the most negative effects for children in low-income neighbourhoods with high crime rates (Marshall et al, 1997). Children who begin self-care at an early age are more vulnerable to older self-care children in their communities who can damage or abuse them. These children are more likely to have adjustment problems in school and are more likely to use after-school with socially deviant peers who do not value school and undergo criminal activities. Predictably, then the positive effects of organised after school programs on academic achievement are greater for children in low-income neighbourhoods (Mason Chuang, 2001). Bronfenbrenners penultimate layer, or exosystem, consists of contexts that children and their peers may not be aware although nevertheless will influence their development. For example, parents work environments are an exosystem influence. Childrens emotional relationships at home may be influenced considerably by whether or not their parents enjoy their work (Greenberger, ONeal, Nagel, 1994). In a similar fashion, childrens experiences in school may be influenced by their exosystem, by a social integration plan taken on by the school council, or by job cuts in their community that result in a decline in the schools revenue. Negative impacts on development can also result when the exosystem breaks down. For example, Sidebotham (2002) has shown that households that are affected by unemployment, poor housing and poor social networks are more likely to be involved in increased occurrences of child abuse. Whose comments are justified next to Beeman (1997) who concluded that a lack of so cial support and a high consistency of negative attitudes towards available networks all contribute towards the chances of child maltreatment. The majority of the research on the impact of mothers employment concludes towards a small positive influence on most children (Scott, 2004). Children whose mothers are in employment are more confident and show more admiration for their mothers in contrast to those mothers who do not work. The effect of the mothers work on influencing attitudes and results in school become less apparent, with many studies showing no difference (Gottfried, Bathurst, 1994). Muller (1995) in his large study on the latter topic distinguished a small but comprehensible negative difference on the effect on maths results if that childs mother was in employment. However, this difference seemed to be based on the fact that mothers who do not work as much are less engrossed with their childs work and are less likely to oversee the childs work continuously after school, rather than from a long-lasting deficit brought about by maternal employment in the early years. Thus, working mothers who find ways to provide such supervision and who remain involved with their childrens schools have kids who do as well as children whose mothers are homemakers. Research evidence intuitively shows that when a man becomes unemployed, it places a strain on his marriage; which in turn leads to an increase in marital conflict and both mother and father show more signs of depression. The effects of these conflicts eventually show the same characteristics as families who are experiencing divorce; both parents appear less coherent in their attitudes towards their children, become less loving and less effective at monitoring them. Similarly, children, in turn respond to this situation as they would during their parents divorce by exhibiting a series of atypical behaviours which can include depression, anger or becoming involved in delinquent behaviour. According to Conger et al (1992), the likelihood of abuse at all levels, shows an increase during times of households unemployment. However, according to Berger (2004) parents who are experiencing divorce but who have a supportive framework and emotional support from friends are increasingly more like ly to provide a safe and affectionate environment for children in comparison to those who are occupied in social isolation. Gorman-Smith and Tolan (1998), in their study of the effects of divorce, did not find that family structure and other familial influences had an independent involvement towards the prediction of exposure to abuse in comparison to that of other risk factors such as the breakdown of traditional social processes in the community. Low income parents are characterised by contributing towards their childs atypical development as Evans (2004) concludes that parents of such a nature are less likely to communicate with their children, spend less time engaging with them in intellectually stimulating activities and in turn are harsher and more aggressive in their discipline techniques. Not all children follow the same development pathways and there are certain factors that influence their development. For example, children below the poverty line are half as likely to recall the alphabet and have the ability to count by the time they enter the first years of schooling. This development according to Brooks-Gunn (1995) also applies, and is maintained through to adolescence as older children in poverty are twice as likely as their counterparts to repeat a year of school and are less likely to go onto higher education. In keeping with Bronfenbrenners model, parental values on the best way to deal with discipline will be largely in coherence with the larger culture in which they reside. According to Lockhart (Ecology of Development; 345), by striking a child it will usually stop the chid from repeating the behaviour. Although research evidence suggests that children who are spanked, like children who are abused at later ages are less popular with their peers and show higher levels of aggression, lower self-esteem, more emotional instability, higher rates of depression and distress, and higher levels of delinquency and later criminality (Mostow Campbell, 2004). Bronfenbrenners concluding layer is that of a macrosystem which entails a broad, overarching ideology in which the child is embedded, and whose principles dictate how a child should be treated and how discipline should be distributed. These principles differ across macrosystems (cultures) and sub-cultures and social classes and can have a direct influence on the types of experiences a child will have in all levels of their ecological system. To cite one example, Belsky (1993) discusses how the incidence of child abuse in families (a microsystem experience) is much lower in those cultures (or macrosystems) that discourage physical punishment of children and advocate nonviolent ways of resolving interpersonal conflict. Similarly Clarke (1997) revealed how at the level of the macrosystem, a Government policy that ensures parents have the option to take paid or unpaid leave from their jobs to see to family matters could provide a significant intervention towards child abuse allowing pare nts more free time to observe their childs development and resolve difficulties that may arise within their child. The debate that encircles the surrounding links between culture and child abuse is a complex notion, which has resulted in a myriad of concerns. For instance, recent statistics of child maltreatment has indicated that ethnic minority children are substantially more at risk of abuse than their Caucasian counterparts (U.S Department of Health, 2006). However Lassiter (1987) has countered, showing that these minorities may be over-represented to the relevant services. Lassiter argues that biased statistics do not take into consideration other influencing factors such as socioeconomic status and the level of schooling received. Without considering socioeconomic factors that may also influence the parent and child, research risks inadvertently concluding that factors that increase abuse potential are because of race or ethnicity, or are universal. The contextual risk variable that looks to have the biggest part in forecasting child maltreatment is having a family member who has also been a direct victim of some form of previous abuse. For example, A parent suffering from the stress of having been victimised herself or having another family member who has been victimised may be overwhelmed and more disturbed by the childs behaviour and may, therefore, have a lower threshold for viewing the childs externalizing behaviour as problematic. Primary or universal support targets the community as a whole, with generic initiatives, campaigns and community-based services that support parents and families without entry criteria. Their aim is to prevent problems such as child abuse and family breakdown (Healy Darlington, 1999). MacMillan (1994) in describing child abuse interventions found it necessary to distinguish between the differing forms of prevention, including that of primary intervention to which he describes as any manoeuvre that is provided to the general population or a sample of the general population or a sample of the general population to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment;, and secondary prevention, early detection of a condition with the aim of shortening the duration of the disorder, and tertiary prevention, prevention of recurrence of maltreatment and impairment resulting from abuse. MacMillan further explained the difficulties in prevention in regards to psychological and emotional maltreatment, which accounts for a high number of reported cases but difficulty arises when evidence needs to be collated, and if emotional abuse is accepted as a form of abuse, then the distinction between primary and secondary prevention or indeed tertiary prevention becomes less clear. Osofsky (1995) in his research on primary prevention has called for a nationwide campaign that would address to change the attitudes toward maltreatment and lower peoples tolerance of child abuse. Support for an ecological approach to child welfare is evident in the Framework for the Assessment of Children and their Families (Department of Health et al, 2000), which stresses the need to consider not only the factors relating to the child and their parents, but also the wider context in which children live when assessing their needs, acknowledging the impact of social and community factors on childrens welfare. This is also justified through the Every Child Matters document which refers to the concept of Making a positive contribution; being involved with the community and society. Involving local communities in the prevention of child abuse was acknowledged by Nelson and Baldwin (2002) who asserted that the Every Child Matters model has the potential to involve communities enthusiast ically in partnership with agencies in identifying problems and seeking solutions and that the process can help to build communities which are more informed, aware and thoughtful about child protection. Although the presence of risk factors, such as a poor environment or unsupportive relationships with primary caregivers, or being looked after outside the family, increases the likelihood of a negative outcome for the individual, studies of competence and resilience have shown that, regardless of background, children are generally resourceful. Competence has been shown to be a mediating variable that predicts positive or negative outcomes (Smith, Cowie, Blades, 2001; 569).

Monday, August 19, 2019

Robinson Crusoe :: essays research papers

From the beginning of some life, people make many choices that affect their personal growth and livelihood, choices like what they should wear and/or what they should do. Even the littlest choices that they make could make a big difference in their lives. In the book, Robinson Crusoe retold by Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, while on the island, made many choices, big and small, that affected his personal growth and contributed to why he survived for so long. On the island he made a lot of smart decisions of what to do in order to stay a live. On his second day he made a choice to go back to the ship to explore what was there. He spent a lot of time building his home when he could have done something more important. He also took a risk and helped out a person that he did not know. These were some of many choices that Robinson Crusoe made throughout his many years on the island. While on a trip off the coast of England, rough winds threw Robinson Crusoe and his crew of sixteen members off course. Right after one of the crew yelled out “land ahoy'; the ship hit a rock and went down. Everybody drowned except Robinson Crusoe, who washed up on a nearby island; he was the only survivor. The next morning he realized what had happened and became scared of dying, because without food or clothes he could not survive. Not knowing what to do, he made a small shack and settled on the island for that night. The very next morning he made a choice to build a raft and go out to the broken boat and explore for items he could find. He was hardworking and smart even in a bad situation. His decision to go back to the boat and risk a chance of being killed by sharks changed his life span. It also proved that he was smart. By making smart decision and thinking wisely, it proved that he was a smart man. “I at once found some food, for I was hungry'; (15). If he had not gone back to the ship he could have starved to death. Robinson needed food and his choice to get it made him survive for a longer time. Even though Robinson had food and shelter he had nobody there to keep him company.

Emotion and Memory of the Holocaust Essays -- Historical Knowledge of

In the aftermath of the Jewish Holocaust, an outpouring of eyewitness accounts by both survivors and perpetrators has surfaced as historical evidence. For many, this has determined what modern popular culture remembers about this atrocious event. Emotion obviously plays a vital role in the accounts of the survivors, yet can it be considered when discussing the historical significance of the murder of six million European Jews by the Third Reich? Emotion is the expression of thoughts and beliefs affected by feeling and sensibility of an individual regarding a certain event or individual. In terms of the Holocaust, emotion is overwhelmingly prevalent in the survivors’ tales of their experiences, conveyed in terms of life, death, and survival. As scholars often point out, the Holocaust evokes strong sentiments, and transmits and reinforces basic societal values. Through in-depth observation of various forms of media sources, this paper will argue that emotion and the lack thereof, as a repercussion of the Holocaust, through the testimonies of those who survived its trials and tribulations, has played an enormous role in determining historical knowledge of the genocide. In analyzing the stories which survivors of the concentration camps and their perpetrators have put forth as historical evidence supporting the findings of scholars, one must pose the question: where does fact end and emotional distortion of the subject begin? It is critical to approach this question with great care, so as to note that not all historical accounts of the Holocaust by survivors and perpetrators are laden with emotional input and a multilayered interpretation of the event. In her acclaimed article â€Å"Memory, Distortion, and History in the... ...e Museum.†. History and Theory, Volume 36, Number 4, Theme Issue 36. December 1997 8. Greenspan, Henry. On Listening to Holocaust Survivors. Westport, Ct. Praeger Publishers. 1998. 9. Kramer, Stanley. Judgement at Nuremberg. 1961. 10. Levi, Primo. Survival in Auschwitz. New York, N.Y. Touchstone. 1996. 11. Lewy, Guenter. The Nazi Persecution of the Gypsies. Oxford, England. Oxford University Press. 2000. 12. Spielberg, Steven. Survivors of the Holocaust. 1996. 13. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. http://www.ushmm.org/learn 14. Wiesel, Elie. Night. United States of America. Bantam Publishing Group. 1958. 15. Wyszogrod, Morris. A Brush with Death. Albany, N.Y. State University of New York Press. 1999. 16. Young, James. â€Å"Toward a Received History of the Holocaust.† History and Theory, Volume 36, Number 4, Theme Issue 36. December 1997.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Robert Wrhinghim in James Hoggs Novel, The Private Memoirs and Confess

Robert Wrhinghim in James Hogg's Novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner Works Cited Not Included   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  James Hogg's classic novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, portrays the fictional story of Robert Wringhim, a strong Calvinist who justifies murder by quickening the inevitable. Robert commits infamous acts of evil, believing that these murderous actions glorify God by annihilating sinners not chosen to be saved. I believe that a combination of factors involving both nurture and nature shape Wringhim into the suffering creature that he becomes. The greatest of these factors include Paranoia Schizophrenia, Multiple Personality Disorder, and the rejection of society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To my limited medical knowledge, I understand Wringhim to suffer from a severe case of Paranoia Schizophrenia among other forms of mental illnesses. There is evidence for this theory in the novel. For example, it is typical for victims of this medical condition to have an immense fear that literally controls their life. In the early pages of the book, Wringhim discusses this paranoid fear which consumes his life. ?My heart quakes with terror, when I thought of being still living in a state of reprobation, subjected to the awful issues of death, judgment, and eternal misery( Hobbes 118). This fear of ?death, judgment and eternal misery? controls him and becomes all he thinks about. He goes on to describe that he prays three times a day and seven times on the Sabbath to cope with this fear of damnation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, even though Wringhim is obsessed with the security of his salvation earlier in the novel, this fear appears to diminish by an overwhelming sense of security that he is elected to be saved from the eternal flames fire, after his father bargains with God for Robert?s soul (130). Although there is little evidence to support this theory, it is not unintelligent for one to believe that Wringhim?s original fear of eternal damnation persists throughout his lifetime, even after he realizes he is one of the elect. Page 153 shows Robert struggling with the question of whether he is truly elect or not. This shows that his paranoid fear still persists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After examining Wringhim?s murderous actions and the mental state he was possibly in, it can be concluded that Wringhim murders the ?enemies of the Lord? because it helps... ...er is rejected by society and goes on to cause great evil even though his heart longed to do good. The monster?s own creator rejected his creation leaving the monster with an immense feeling of misery. Robert Wringhim?s and the monster?s lives are very similar in the sense that those who should accept and love them were the first to reject them and then all of society followed forcing them to cause great evil to revenge their hurt. Revenge for society rejecting him could have been another factor that played in his decisions to murder. ?My life has been a life of trouble and turmoil; of change and vicissitude; of anger and exultation; of sorrow and of vengeance? (117).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Furthermore, it was not merely through nurture or nature that lead Robert Wringhim to commit these murders; it was the combination of both. Nature and nurture should not be classified into two separate categories or theories, because they have a correlating relationship and work off of each other. Hogg demonstrates this through Robert Wringhim using both nature (Paranoia Schizophrenia), nurture (rejection of society), and a mental disorder that combines both classifications (Multiple Personality Disorder).

Saturday, August 17, 2019

KFC Swot

KFC SWOT analysis The Kentucky Fried Chicken mission statement The Kentucky Fred Chicken mission statement is â€Å"To sell fast food in a fast, friendly environment that appeals to pride conscious, health minded consumers† vision statement : â€Å"†To be the leading integrated food services group† so the world ‘s best tasting starts with the fresh ingredients , the chicken farms &how they raised up †¦ let’s start analyzing the portofolioes: **According to the BCG –matrix: Stars | Cash cows|Xtreme meals,individual meals| Family meals ,sandwiches & coleslaw| Dogs| Question marks| Nuggets, green salads| Desserts , crispy strips, rizo | They should analyze the question marks and the dogs & turn them into stars or cash cows may be investing offers. (N. B:R&D has to work more on their products) Market segmentation & targetting : They classified the market into 3 distinctive markets: a. Individual meals : targetting teenagers , youth & mid-age g roups b. Related article: KFC MacroKids meals: targetting the children by offering them toys & enhancing the play room in their restaurants c. Family meals : for families ranging from 4-6 persons Swot analysis: Strenghts : Customers needed some snacks so , they were the first to introduce what’s called a â€Å"SNACK BOX† which consists of 2 pieces of chicken .. in addition to the cheap price they offer. Weakness: Lack of introducing new items or investing in the old menu †¦.R&D department has to be more focused †¦.. Opportunities: KFC had the opportunity to be reachable world wide in addition to the americana logo which is percieved as a 100% quality offered . KFC has positioned itself as the â€Å"finger lickin good â€Å" brand which is characterized by its special taste formula . Threats : KFC started to fear competitors like Mc donald’s who nowadays offer more healthier food which make customers more focused on more healthier food rather than fried chicken .

Friday, August 16, 2019

Carol Ann Duffy Notes

The poem closes with reminders of oppression, control and confinement. Possibility that was once limitless for the dolphins now has ‘limits' imposed upon it that will become impossible to bear. The realisation will probably hasten the creatures' death, signalling that there is as much at stake from a psychological perspective as there is from the physical circumstances. Stifling of natural impulse and behaviour can have fatal consequences. The ‘plastic toy' is a further reminder of the indignity visited on this majestic creature of the ocean. The phrase until the whistle blows is potentially ambiguous. In one level it simply refers to the controlling device used by the keeper but on another the poet might be reminding us that this sort of cruelty will continue until somebody exposes it for what it is. Duffy does effectively ‘blow the whistle' on such practices. The final line, with its reference to ‘our mind', neatly links the plural possessive pronoun with the singular noun ‘mind' indicating a collective voice for a species. The tense change to ‘we will' draws attention to the contrast between what the dolphins had, what they have now and can expect in the future. As a result, the dolphins assume an almost mythic status in that they appeal to archetypal impulses in us and in nature; they are not just the creatures who form part of it. ‘The Dolphins' may just as easily be read as a poem about human disillusion, betrayal and loss of direction as it is about animals. As an interpreter of experience it offers us a new language into which we would do well to translate ourselves. Foreign Duffy's preoccupation with language is dealt with here form the perspective of its cultural significance as much as its ability to say anything. To the immigrant, the country to which he or she has moved out of economic necessity will always be ‘foreign' but the indigenous population will regard them as foreigners. The fact that living in a foreign culture is something that is not easy to get used to is emphasised in the opening line of the poem. Despite living in a city for ‘twenty years' it remains ‘strange'. The immigrant is aware of his or her own ‘foreign accent' as it sounds to others. The strain of thinking in one language and having to translate into the speech of another cannot always be sustained and this is sensitively pointed out through the physical detail in the final stanza: ‘And in the delicatessen, from time to time, the coins / in your palm will not translate. ‘ The breakdown in communication in an everyday, exposed transactional situation is intensified through the words ‘Inarticulate' and ‘point'. Duffy's empathic feeling for such people is further expressed in her presentation of other actions such as ‘writing home', a way of maintaining contact with others of the same culture. The ‘local dialect' in the immigrant's ‘head' is coupled with the memory of his or her mother singing. These are details with which any sympathetic person might identify and throw into sharp relief the actual experience of seeing racist graffiti ‘sprayed in red' (line 12). Duffy's use of the simile, ‘Red like blood' to describe the paint is effective because of its monosyllabic directness of observation. It also resonates with a famous and terrible speech given by the Conservative politician Enoch Powell who, on 20th April 1968 warned that increased immigration into Britain would result in a ‘river of blood'. There is, then, a stark contrast between the uses of language as a sign system of cultural inclusion (stanza 2) and its deliberate use as a weapon of racial exclusion (stanza 3). The ‘hate name' of the racists is sprayed on a ‘brick wall' the harshness and unyielding nature of which is symbolic of the mentality of those who do such things. The unfamiliar, snowy weather and artificial ‘neon lights' create the impression for the immigrant that the country moved to is ‘coming to bits'. This image of fragmentation is, though, not entirely imaginary as he or she has a life splintered from all that is familiar and constantly experiences a sense of alienation. The italicised words at the close of the poem give voice to the immigrant but this only gives away a difficulty with English. The unfinished verbs, ‘Me not know' and ‘It like they only†¦' are drawn attention to by Duffy in order that the reader may ponder what it would be like to face the same language problem. The final words of the poem, ‘Imagine that' remind us of the opening and there is quite a clear impression that Duffy is adopting an undisguised didactic stance. As a skilled and empowered user of the English language herself she is drawing attention to the lot of those who are marginalised because of their deficiency in its use. Head of English The poet is introduced to the class by the Head of English who has very fixed views about what poetry should be. As in ‘Comprehensive', the school in question is a multi-ethnic institution. It is significant that the teacher should be dismissing the live woman poet because she does not conform to the Keatsean ideal in the teacher's mind. She is not dead and she is not male. How anyone with ‘English second language' is expected to relate to dead white English men is clearly a challenge laid down in the poem. The five six line stanzas are indicative of a controlled, contained environment, the institution and the teacher are reflected in this. Duffy does not choose to use rhyme throughout (as the teacher predicted) but reserves some obvious rhymes for the teacher to use. This is a very subtle use of a poetic technique to satirise someone who is complaining about its absence from modern poetry. So, simultaneously, Duffy is using a poetic technique to show that the teacher is wrong about it being absent from modern verse whilst showing that the rhyme, being obvious, is the sort needed by the teacher. The reference to Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is significant for a number of reasons. His poems do rhyme very regularly, and a number of them are redolent of British imperialism and nationalism in the Victorian period. This is actually grossly offensive in a multicultural context. ‘Winds of change' is a wittily ambiguous phrase since it refers to the words of Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister 1957-63 speaking of political events such as the civil war in the Congo following the granting of independence from Belgium. It also tells us that the teacher is referring to flatulence, as well as reinforcing her own entrenched views. Duffy is ironically drawing attention to the fact that Calliope, ‘the Muse' and source of afflatus, breath of inspiration for poets is interrupted by an unwelcome allusion to noxious gases. The control possible in adopting a persona in the dramatic monologue is clear. Single word sentences, a hallmark of Duffy's verse, work very well in capturing the terse, rude attitude of the teacher. ‘Still. ‘ (stanza 2); ‘Right. ‘ (stanza 4); and ‘Well. Really. ‘ (stanza 5) show that she is singularly unimpressed by what she has heard. Here, it is what is implied by Duffy's economical use of language that is so effective in building an impression of what this woman is like. The idea of someone being in charge of an English Department who cannot see that it is she who actually has the ‘outside' view is worrying. The fact that she devotes a whole lesson to assonance also indicates the deadly boring teaching methods she employs. She obviously teaches technique out of context in the same way that she cannot accept modern poetry as belonging to a literary tradition. Like any poor English teacher she views tradition as something strictly to do with an unreachable past. It is striking that it is the silent space between the fifth and sixth stanzas that the poet has been allowed to read. Despite having encouraged pupils to ask questions ‘after all we're paying forty pounds', the teacher's response to the poet's reading is telling as she instructs the class to ‘run along'. The reader wonders just what ‘insight' the teacher has actually gained. Also, her pupils are unlikely to derive much from her teaching. More worrying, though, are the entrenched attitudes of a person who should not be in charge of the most expansive of subjects studied at school.