Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Audrey Hepburn and Personality Theories - 1215 Words

Audrey Hepburn and Her Personality Theories Psy/300 Audrey Hepburn and Her Personality Theories Audrey Hepburn was born in 1929 in Brussels Belgium during a time of economic hardship and personal strife. Her life took an amazing twist from her once food deprived, fatherless, war frenzied, childhood and adolescent years by becoming a 20th century icon. She withheld perseverance for life that drove her into the Land of the Free and ironically into the luxurious world of film-making by becoming one of the most wanted actresses in Hollywood. Through her trials, tribulations, heredity and the surrounding environments this paper will explain how they contributed to molding her personality and what made her such a unique†¦show more content†¦She was said to be a fantastic mother of two boys and quoted â€Å"all that I ever really wanted to be was a mother†. (Flonder, 1998) As a way to pay it forward to those that helped feed her during the war she also gave tirelessly to children of other countries by becoming the Ambassador to the United Nations International C hildren’s Fund. Therefore, she could give to others effortlessly although she suffered from signs of ego-centrism and self- preoccupation. With the events of her past she yearned to be loved and even with great success by the worlds view as an Academy Award winner she continued to search for the truth behind true internal happiness. The Psycho-dynamic Theory concludes that people are motivated by wishes and fears which Audrey had many of and displayed openly that they both drove her in many ways. She actually changed her name to Audrey as to not face the name of her past as well as by wishing for a better life with her new identity. Audrey quoted â€Å"Edna had been through enough already.† (Flonder, 1998) This theory also places emphasis on how one’s personality takes formation during early development and is highly affected by the role of their parents. (Burton Davey, 2006) Audrey clearly had an early physical and loving attachment to her father to state that â€Å"she had no one to cuddle with† once he was gone. (Flonder, 1998) Without this early attachment achieved her recognition of autonomy and selfShow MoreRelatedNon Profit Organization Marketing : An Organization Essay1867 Words   |  8 PagesBuilding on the research findings, the Social Influence Theory was developed in two aspects (source credibility and attractiveness) to discuss factors in choosing the right celebrity endorsers and determined the effectiveness of using celebrity endorsement (Kelman, 1961; Meenaghan, 1995; Gan, 2006; White, 2012). Since this theory was the pioneer to explore celebrity endorsement and widely used in various journals, it had shown that this theory could Source Credibility Model The ultimate goal of usingRead MoreLuxury Marketing- Louis Vuitton Marketing Strategy13307 Words   |  54 Pagesnostalgia in our target group we will attempt to use Old Hollywood celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn who have remained both iconic and relevant over the past century. The key to this strategy is to use strong, confident women who were famous and respected in their time and are still admired by young women today. Examples of these women would be: Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, and Doris Day. These women all have demonstrated theRead MoreLuxury Marketing- Louis Vuitton Marketing Strategy13318 Words   |  54 Pagesnostalgia in our target group we will attempt to use Old Hollywood celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn who have remained both iconic and relevant over the past century. The key to this strategy is to use strong, confident women who were famous and respected in their time and are still admired by young women today. Examples of these women would be: Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, and Doris Day. These women all have demonstrated the utmost

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Global Air Transport Industry - 1515 Words

The global air transport industry is one of the largest industries beating out the pharmaceuticals industry, textiles or automotive industries and the air transport industry is around half as big as the global chemicals and food and beverage industry. If we was to label air transport as a country, it would rank as 21st in the world, equal to Switzerland and doubling Chile or Singapore. There are 13.4 million indirect jobs in industries supplying the tourism industry are supported by visitors that fly in. These include employment and activities of suppliers to the air transport industry, places like aviation fuel suppliers; construction companies that build airport facilities; manufacturers of goods sold in airport retail outlets; suppliers of sub-components used in aircraft; and a wide variety of activities in the business services sector. Companies in the air transport industry support over 9.8 million indirect jobs through the purchase of goods and services. These indirect jobs contributed approximately $697 billion to global GDP in 2012. Direct and indirect tourism jobs supported by air transport create 6.9 million jobs in other parts of the economy, through employees spending their earnings on other goods and services. Direct, indirect, and induced creates 35 million jobs within tourism, contributing nearly $807 billion annually to world GDP. The shopping of employees of directly or indirectly job inside the airports supports jobs in retail like banks and restaurants.Show MoreRelatedSouthwest Airlines /Competition Paper Introduction: Air transport is a global industry and as such1500 Words   |  6 PagesSouthwest Airlines /Competition Paper Introduction: Air transport is a global industry and as such every airline is a likely challenger for every other. It is contrary to expectation that any airline will be able to contest on a large scale without being associated to other carriers. Traffic feed is the industrys lifeblood and stand-alone carriers will be labored to carry low-revenue point-to-point traffic when fr ont with airlines able to offer manifold route alliances. Southwest Airlines is a majorRead MoreA Global Expansion Plan For The Airline Industry, Business, And Employee Relations1333 Words   |  6 Pages Spirit Airlines should do a global expansion plan with bases of operations, not limited to, passenger flight operations, maintenance operations, ramp operations, airport facilities operation, in international countries. Global expansion will and should include hiring and firing of staff, training and development of staff, and financial reporting for existing currencies. Operations in international and/or foreign countries will create significant operational challenges. Differences in governingRead MoreEssay Global Positioning Systems and Air Cargo1340 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper describes the concept of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and how they improve the Air Cargo industry. In this paper we will discuss how GPS came to be and how it is used in every day air travel. The paper will also explain how the GPS systems improve the Air Cargo industry in tracking the shipment from one hub to another. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of navigation based on the integration of 24 satellites, 21 working systems and 3 backups, that relay informationRead MoreA Case Study Of Air Accidents During Turkey Using The Human Factors Analysis And Classification System ( Hfacs ) Essay1104 Words   |  5 PagesA case study of air accidents in Turkey using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) Nurettin Dinler Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics Aviation Safety Management (AVS 5207) Research Paper 2016 Abstract Aviation industry comes into prominence compared other transportation sectors in terms of fast, reliable, safe and economical. Aviation industry therefore is crucial for countries due to not only economic and social development but global integration as wellRead MoreThe End Of Conventional Oil Essay1487 Words   |  6 PagesEnd of Conventional Oil Don’t worry about replacing that luggage just yet! Air transportation will end in the near future if not enough advancements are made to eliminate the industry’s heavy reliance on oil consumption. It is estimated that conventional oil will only be accessible to us for the next 33 years (Dr. Oriet). As the supply diminishes, the price will continuously increase until it is unaffordable for most people and businesses. Although oil has been burned to generate energy since theRead MoreA New International Air Transport Policy Essay1735 Words   |  7 Pageshigher operating costs, low profit, and decreasing margins due to the few features that will be mentioned in this report. The PESTLE analysis is used to analyze the current state of this industry. Political The Crown owns 100 per cent of the â€Å"Airways Corporation of New Zealand LTD† share. This company controls air movements in New Zealand (Airways, n.d.).The government declared in April 2013 that $158 million will be spent on tourism promotion for next four years, this will motivate the airlines toRead MoreEmergency Management And Emergency Preparedness1288 Words   |  6 Pagesimpact of the attacks. Of the many effects that were felt, the following are the major ones. Reduced Air Transport In the wake of the attacks, up to 60% of regular air travel passengers declined to use air transport. A day after the attacks, the US airports recorded a total of 252 commercial flights down from 38,047 flights a day prior to the attacks (Taylor, 2016). With the decline of air transport, major companies recorded massive losses. Loss of Jobs Concerning job losses, it is estimated thatRead MoreThe Commercial Passenger Airline Industry Essay737 Words   |  3 PagesA. Define the Industry The commercial passenger airline industry accommodates millions of travelers every day. Since the industry is global in nature majority of airlines must take a global business approach to accommodate international travel. The airline industry is one of the most common ways for people to travel as well as one of the safest. The industry has changed since the first passenger airline took flight, increase in laws and regulations as well as federal agency to enforce these regulationsRead MoreAdvances And Development Of Tourism : A Literature Of Review1476 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluenced the growth and development of tourism industry in many ways. The issue that will be covered in this literature review is the advances of technology in tourism. The purpose of this literature review will explore the major opportunities for tourism service providers. The literature gathered from a variety of resources in particular areas of Internet and social media, innovation of technology in multimed ia and hotel design, and transport technology. Role of Technology in Tourism NowadaysRead MoreAir Travel Industry QA Essay797 Words   |  4 Pages1. Consider the air travel industry’s microenvironment. Using Figure 3.1, indentify the main companies and other organisations forming the microenvironment. Microenvironment is the factors that impact to organisation ability to serve its customers. In air travel industry, microenvironment can be say that is †¢ Suppliers: Transport industry need vehicle to serve its customers, thus Boeing and Airbus, aerospace company, are main suppliers of air transport. Moreover, serving meal is one of its services

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector Free Essays

string(84) " the various factors that may pose challenge and an 80% response rate are expected\." Chapter 1 – Introduction 1.1 Background The Banking industry is considerably one of the largest industries in Nigeria providing employment for an estimated twenty two thousand people nationwide and generating 9% of the annual GDP of the country. Nigeria is considered to be one of the fastest growing telecommunications nations in Africa, investing heavily in ICT and related information technology Chiemeke et al (2006). We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of its major investors has been the banks, however with their major investments the use of ICT has arguably had an effect on efficiency and has made operations faster nevertheless there has been no major evidence that indicates that they have increased productivity, productivity been an important factor for banks and other organizations as it can help drive economic and organizational growth and most importantly help organization increase their profit. This study delves into the realms of the banking industry in Nigeria in an attempt to discover the impact of the use of ICT has had on productivity. This study will incorporate primary and secondary research in an attempt to determine if the use of ICT has improves productivity in the banking industry and also to get a better understanding of the industry or not and their ICT practices. The outcome will be a set of recommendations aimed at suggesting possible ways to use ICT to improve productivity. This study aims at informing and advising the people in the Nigerian Banking industry considering the how use of ICT can be further used to improve productivity as well as academics who seek to broaden their insight of the industry in such light. The research and discussion will be condensed to a set of recommendations. 1.2 Reason for Research Topic The motivation behind conducting this research into the impact the use of ICT has on productivity in the Nigerian banking industry comes from the lack of such research in the region as a series of similar studies have been carried out in other developed countries. Nigerian is often regarded as the giant of Africa more so they are said to be highest investors in the use of Information communication technology in Africa, the use of ICT has no doubt contributed to the growth of the various industries in the country however there is no direct knowledge as to if the use of ICT has increased productivity in the banking industry, thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the use of ICT in the Nigerian banking industry on productivity. 1.3 Study Aim and Objectives The aim of this study project is to answer the question â€Å"does the use of ICT improve productivity in banking in Nigeria†. In order to meet this aim, this study seeks accomplish the following objectives, identify If the use of I.C.T improved productivity in Nigerian banking industry How can ICT be used effectively to impact productivity. The benefits of ICT in banking. The problems of ICT in banking. 1.4 Project Constraints In the course of writing this dissertation a few constraints where met as predicted in the project initiation document, this constraints include: Access to information: facts and information where needed and they couldn’t be gotten off the internet as such they had to be physically collected from the office of the central bank of Nigeria and relayed back via email. Falling ill: in the process of writing this project the author fell ill two times living the project unattended to for a total of three weeks Lack of prior knowledge: the author had no prior adept knowledge of the points that will be discussed in this study as such the author had to carry out extensive research and reading so as to broaden the gap of knowledge. 1.5 Study Methodology 1.5.1 Literature Review A full review of literature will be given, which will set the scene gives a general overview of the banking industry, the use of ICT and productivity, however it later goes on to give a more information of the Nigerian banking industry which is the subject of this study and its challenges in regards of the use of ICT and how they in turn affect productivity. 1.5.2 Primary Research A survey will be carried out to help determine the impact ICT has on productivity in Nigeria. A survey is a popular strategy used in business and management research. Surveys are often carried out through the use of a questionnaire as the data is standardised and allows for easy comparison and they allow the collection of a large amount of data from a sizeable population in a highly economical way (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2003). All the data acquired in this survey was through the use of a questionnaire issued to certain employees in a number of banks. Having completed the primary research a number of analysis tools and techniques were used to analyse the information, an overview of the tools and techniques used is in chapter 4. The banks that were involved in this study are based in Nigeria. In the course of research for this study the author discovered there has been little or no study on the research in this topic in this region of the world compared to the UK and other European countries as such the author decided to use the Nigerian banking industry as the centre of research. The survey questions are to be spread to as many banks as possible with the hope of getting responses from 15 of the 25 banks in the country; however the survey questions will be spread amongst a minimum of two branches per bank including the headquarters of those banks; however there is no certainty that it will be spread in that order as the survey is online, and also there is no assurance that there be a 100% response rate. The survey should take about 2weeks considering the various factors that may pose challenge and an 80% response rate are expected. You read "The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector" in category "Essay examples" 1.5.3 Case study approach A case study is defined as â€Å"a strategy for carrying out research which involves an empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within its real life context using multiple sources of evidence†, (Robson, 2002). In summary the case study strategy will help guide and gain knowledge and rich understanding of the primary research carried out in this study. Case study strategy has the ability to generate answers to the various questions such as ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’; however a good case study can enable the challenge of an existing theory and provide a good source for new hypothesis (Saunders, Lewis Thornhill, 2003). 1.6 Dissertation Overview Now the scene has been set and an idea of what the study will revolve around has been given as such a brief layout of the writing structure will be given which will include a brief summary of what the various chapters will be about. 1.6.1 Abstract 1.6.2 Chapter 1: Introduction: 1.6.3 Chapter 2: Literature Review This chapter consists of secondary research gathered from books, journals providing knowledge, understanding and insight as to what’s been done in this line of research. 1.6.4 Chapter 3: Case Study (Development of Survey) This chapter focuses on the development of the survey used for primary research in an attempt to gain proper knowledge and understanding and also answer the question the topic of the study possess. 1.6.5 Chapter 4: Evaluation Discussion This chapter contains a step by step analysis of the data gotten from the survey and also a discussion as to what the answers of the survey imply. 1.6.6 Chapter 5: Conclusion This final chapter is a conclusion of the whole project as it summaries the previous chapters and gives a critical reflection of the process involved in the process of writing this study and finally it suggests methods for further improvement. CHAPTER 3: SURVEY RESEARCH 3.1 Introduction This study is based on an investigation into the impact of ICT on productivity in the banking industry. For the purpose of this study no particular bank was the sole focus of the research as information from one source will not be enough to assess the extent as such for this study the survey will be carried out using a number of different banks with the aid of a questionnaire which includes both qualitative and quantitative data. 3.2 Method of Research In conducting primary research a number of activities can be used such as questionnaires, interviews, tests and documentary analysis, but for the purpose of this research the questionnaire method was the only method chosen as it is cheaper, faster, has a larger response base and can cover a lot of ground compared to other methods. 3.3 Qualities of a Good Research Question In carrying out a survey it is important that the questions asked are the right questions and the survey is well structured else it provides inaccurate information which will affect the credibility of the result of the survey. Punch (1998) gives a number of criteria that will help in creating good research questions, these criteria’s include: Clear: The questions should be easy to understand and unambiguous. Specific: The concept should be clear enough to connect the data to the indicators. Answerable: There should be a clear view of what data is required to answer the question and how such data will be obtained. Interconnected: The questions must be related to each other in some meaningful way, rather than be unconnected. Substantively relevant: The questions should be interesting and worthwhile questions for investment of research effort. Punch (1998) further states that questions that do not possess this qualities are generally bad research questions, as they are unclear and not specific enough, Punch (1998) also states two problems that often occur in building questionnaires, they include value judgement and causation, as such in building the questionnaires such characteristics and problems will be avoided. 3.4 Structure of Survey The survey is divided into two sets one for each set of people. The first questionnaire seeks information on the benefits, problems, impact of ICT products on productivity and the impact of ICT measures on productivity, however the questionnaire itself is structured into 6 major sections which seek a particular kind of information which include Demographic information Information on current level of ICT investment. Information on ICT benefits in general to the bank, Information on the negative effect of ICT on productivity to the bank. Information on the impact of IT measures on productivity. Information on the impact of a number of specific ICT tools and their impact on productivity. The second section of the questionnaire seeks information on ICT input and output measures and the impact of ICT measures on productivity, it is divided into 5 sections which include: Demographic information, Information on the impact of ICT on bank outputs. Information on the impact of ICT on bank input. Information on the impact of IT measures. Information on the impact of ICT on financial services. See Appendix 4 for more details 3.5 Design of Questionnaire In designing this questionnaire, a number of questions where adopted and adapted from other questionnaires and articles found in the course of research, a few questions were also developed in completing the questionnaire. The questionnaire is an online based and in designing these questionnaires two types of questions where adopted; open and rating questions, Saunders et al. (2003) describes these questions as: Open Question: These questions are used in questionnaires when the author is uncertain of the participant’s response, such as in explanatory research. Rating Questions: This type of question is used to collect opinion data, a common example is the Likert scale in which it gets the participants opinion how strongly they agree or disagree with a statement. The Likert scale uses a 5 point rating scale which ranges from strongly agree to strongly disagree, Saunders et al (2003). 3.6 Terminologies used in Questionnaire A number of terminologies were used in this questionnaire such as Productivity, IT inputs, IP outputs and IT measures. In order not to confuse the participants or make them fill inaccurate information due to the lack of understanding of the terms, the terminologies mentioned above were well defined and explained in the portion which acts as the introduction to the survey. 3.7 Method of Distribution The method for distribution used in this study is via email as the survey itself is online. This was chosen over paper distribution as it saved the cost of transportation and also the time it will take to get back the forms, scan them analyse and go through the various scanned document, and finally as bank employees constantly have easy access to the internet, it will be easy to access and complete. A message will be written in the email sent; the message will essentially act as a cover letter that describes the purpose of the survey. 3.8 Pretesting the Questionnaire Having completed the design of the questionnaire was tested out on a small group to see if the questions are clear and understandable. Robson (2002) states that pretesting a questionnaire is good as it helps check if the questions are clear, simple, unambiguous and if they do not meet those criteria’s the participants involved in the test should give their thoughts and opinions as to what questions aren’t clear and how they could be made clear. The amount of time taken to complete the questionnaire, this feedback will be used to further improve the structure of the questionnaire 3.9 Changes Made as a result of Pretesting Pre-testing feedback was mostly positive. The people involved in the pre testing where satisfied with the length of the questionnaire based on its purpose, however most people where of the impression that the questionnaire can be completed by the general public, as such at the top of the questionnaire a change was made where it was stated who was qualified to answer the questionnaire. The only major negative comment was on the last set of questions in the second questionnaire, the comment was that the question was not clear and easy to understand enough and as a result of that the questions where rephrased. 3.10 Intended Participants of Survey This survey, compared to most others, does not seek information from the general public, it seeks information from certain employees of the bank as they will be the most capable in answering questions accurately as information is made readily available to them. These employees include: IT Manager Finance Manager The first aspect of the questionnaire seeks information on the benefits, problems, impact of ICT products on productivity and the impact of ICT measures on productivity as such the IT manager or any other person at that capacity will be the most suitable to answer such question. The second section of the questionnaire seeks information on ICT input and output measures and the impact of ICT measures on productivity, as such this portion of the questionnaire can only be completed by the Finance manager or any other person at in such capacity as the information will be made readily available to them. In completing the questionnaire the participants will have to state their roles or positions in the organisation to make sure the information is gotten form the person most adequate to answer it. 3.11 Ethics of a Questionnaire A major concern of people who are involved in surveys is giving their information to a third party as such information can be gathered and misused. The questionnaires will therefore be carried out in anonymity as participant’s identity will not be revealed and the questionnaire will adhere to the data protection act and several other ethical standards that might be put in place. 3.12 Final Version Having completed and made changes to the questionnaire the links where distributed by emails. How to cite The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Sequences of Development free essay sample

The explanation of the sequence and rate of aspect of development from birth to 19 years. Ans. Following the timeline given the below illustrates these sequence of development from birth : 0-6 months – At this stage, the baby has just come out of the womb. There is a huge reliance on the environment and the mother for the survival of the baby. The baby is learning aspects of movement and coordination. He/she is grasping more awareness of surroundings. Food and warmth is exclusively supplied by the mother. 6-9months – The awareness of him/her to the environment becomes sharper. The muscle coordination and movements of the baby become more definite. The baby becomes more â€Å"free† with the environment and interactive. At this stage the young tot can crawl and sit up confidently. 9-12 months – Judging by the baby’s growth, (physically and mentally), It can be said that he/she is moving into the â€Å"toddlers stage†. Here he/she is taking some steps gradually. This stage is quite important in infancy as the muscular development is getting quite advanced. The child is aware of other children around him/her and is interacting with them. 2-24 Months – A lot of more definite changes are happening in the child’s life at this stage. He/She is moving into a greater deal of psychological development. Also, the mental development at this stage is getting quite advanced. The child is learning how to be more reliant on his/her own judgements and interestingly, a lot of changes in behavior can be seen at this stage. The child is much more aware about the environment and can choose options on what to play with, how to play e. t. c. He/she becomes more responsive to education as the brain is much more advanced at this stage and actually â€Å" is eager to learn educational stuff†. The stage is vital in getting a child educationally involved as he/she is â€Å"ready to take on† so to say. 2-3 Years A behavioural pattern emerges here. The child suddenly starts to become a bit resolute and wants to have his/her own way. There is a certain amount of self dependency that is seen here and not seen in earlier stages. It might give his/her parents a fright and they can start to think if there is something wrong with the child. The brain is getting much more developed and the child is eager to learn. There are definite physical changes as well. The body becomes less susceptible to easy injury as the child’s skin toughens. He/she also becomes more immune to infection. 3-5 Years – The child is thinking like a â€Å"mini adult†. There is more confidence in speech. More assertion in expressing self. The child is looking more at the â€Å"behavioural pattern† of his/her parents and other people he/she is in care with. This is one of the most if not, the most important stages in the childs growth pattern as this is where the â€Å" Character forming† element can begin and will definitely form the rest of the child’s life. The main concentration on children at this stage must definitely be a form of positive character development and essence on positive thinking and acting. The child will grown from this stage into more adult ways of thinking and positive self reliance will result. For instance, some children may start to learn how cook and feed themselves even at this stage!! As the physical out look of the child takes on a more mature form, the child’s identity starts to express itself and in a psychological and social sense, the child takes on his/her awareness of self. 5-8 years The child is taking on more responsibility and is seeing him or her self as â€Å"part of the world â€Å" so to speak. The environment takes on a different dimension with him or her and a lot more emphasis is given to friendships and what they mean. The behavioural pattern in the child at this stage is formed for life. The child is having his or her own identity and is willing to share it with the world. An opinion of things start to take form in his or her own mind and as a consequence, certain forms of behaviour emege. It is important to note that at this stage of the child’s development, he or she is directly influenced by what mum or dad says and can be heavily affected by what is said to him or her. This is the stage where abuse can be much more destructive. As he or she may form opinions and be influenced by them easily, life’s truths and hardships will need to be passed down in a very â€Å"gentle† manner to him or her so there is understanding that these steps are taken for the child’s own good. 9-11 Years – The difference between boys and girls between them individually and to each other start to appear sharper and more permanent. The girl child sees herself as more expressive, will start to â€Å"grow â€Å" (in clear psychological and social terms) more and be more assertive. Despite this show of bravado, there is still a huge reliance on adults especially the parent or guardian. The males in their own case , will take strength from being in packs and express themselves more openly. There is a clear segregation of the different sexes at this stage and probably for the first time, a clear distinction between the physical characteristics of each other start to appear to the male/female child and an hints of an attraction start to emerge although initially very very subtly. Despite all this, the child is still very very dependent on his/her mother indeed. 1-19 Years – These years are more environment dictated to the child’s development than ever before. As the child starts to see more of what adults do (especially in the mid teenage years), he or she copies and will start to act it out. For instance, a boy may start to take interest in adult discussions more than before and will be spending time asking dad and mum certain questions. It is essen tial that parents and guardians spend much more time with their teenage children in understanding†them. This has been a very important aspect that has been lacking in parent/children relationships over the years. As this child in this case grows up into ages 14,15, 16, there is a natural â€Å" I wan to know all† syndrome. The support of the parent in understanding the psyche of their children will greatly influence and help them in the child’s journey to becoming an adult. As this is a very important aspect of his/her life, every support must be given from other adults to let this teenager know that life isn’t that challenging as an adult and welcome him of her into this final stage of development in life as one of them with mistakes to learn from and life to live in. Difference in the â€Å"sequence and the rate of development† The sequence in development in a child show the journey through each stage of development in a child and how this child moves through them. The rate of development highlights the progressive time span the child develops from childhood into teenage years. †¢ An explanation of how children and young people’s development is influe nced by {a} A range of external factors : 1, Socioeconomics – The wealth status of a child’s parents and economic environment will inevitably reflect on the child’s development. Children do depend on food, water, warmth and a suitable environment to move about freely. In some countries in the world, this basic requirement is a tall order and inevitably, the level of development in these kids is adversely affected. The access to quality education could also be impeded hence affecting a child’s intellectual, mental progress in life 2, Nutrition – nothing needs be said much about this factor as it is impossible to child to grow as he or she should without adequate food and water. This is key as food and water do have the biggest role to play at this stage of a child’s life. This is not just about three square meals a day but also a balanced diet which will include Proteins, carbohydrates, mineral salts and vitamins. 3, Family and Society – The major psychological development in a child’s life is fed through his or her family (in this context the father, mother, brothers and sisters and cousins external family). As we learn certain ways of life and conduct from our family members, a child will inevitably, pick up certain forms of habits and behaviour which may or may not be socially favoured. The set of friends a child mixes with can also influence the way he or she sees things hence influences the level of development in his or her psyche. 4, Physical Environment – The environment has a part to pay in physical development and otherwise in a child as there are different elements that makes up an environment for a child. E. g some environments such as war zones may not be the best place to bring up a young child.. There have been very strong images of children in Sierra Leone carrying guns and shooting people at a very tender age. Also, it was reported that a lot of children died in Japan following the second world war due to heavy radiation from the atomic bomb . It is not difficult to see why it is said that a child is the product of his/her environment. (b) A range of personal factors 1, Pregnancy stage : If the child while in the womb has been dosed with cocktails and cocktails of drugs, this will in effect, affect the child long term. The child could develop problems with breathing or even more permanent damage to the blood or other organs in the body. This is found quite common in developed nations especially in the west e. g here in the UK. This will be a debilitating situation to the child in their later life. 2, Health – Health problems can be genetic or caused by environmental factors. If the environment a child is raised up is not conducive, the child can be adversely affected by suffering from different diseases such as Cholera, Measles, Polio and so on. In over crowded and poorly ventilated areas, airborne diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis may spread and affect children more easily. , Physical Disabilities – This applies especially in cases of mental disability e. g downs syndrome, degenerative mascular dystrophy and these can restrict a child from exercising their God given abilities to do certain things and carry out certain tasks. This can also be seen in physically disabled children as they are not able to run and perform certain physical tasks. Their development as individuals is severely affected. â € ¢ How Current Practice is influenced by A) Theories of development There are many theories in which the most important influential factors ffecting the growth of children and young ones are based. For simplicity, they can be put into three broad areas which cover what the earlier child behavioural psychologists and sociologists based their conclusions. In terms of children’s educational needs ( on which this question is based on), there are three main areas to consider : 1, Maturationist Theory : This theory is based on the work carried out by Arnold Gessell. He advocated that the development occurs due to biological factors in predictable, sequential stages over time (Hunt 1969). The general belief by child education specialists is that children will learn automatically and naturally as they grow older (Farquhar and Stein,1993). With this theory comes the preparation of children at certain times for basic education. If a child can recite the alphabet, then they are with time and patience by the parents and guardians due for Schol. It is a very stage related progress. Being ready for nursery school, will be a stage when they can perform well in Arithmetic (sums) and can also display a good grasp of basic word spelling. In the current time, this is a method used or applied by schools for children when they seem to be lagging behind on the average level of learning. (2) Environmentalist Theory : With the environmental influence as stated earlier playing a significant part in the overall growth and development of a child, the educational side is revealed by John Watson and B. F Skinner for example, as a contributory factor. The idea is that children learn a lot from their environment and surroundings and as a result, can pick up â€Å"inspiration† in learning from how they can correlate what they learn with what goes on around them. An example of this is when the child can respond to what is on going in the class room that child has been placed. Learning qualification so to speak is based on what the child can see happening around him or her rather than an actual educational assessment. An example of this is the assessment given to children back in Africa in the 1960/70’s. In order to qualify for Primary School education, the child is asked to place his arm over his head in order to see if the hand can reach the ear lobe on the other side of the head. If the ear lobe is reachable, the child is accepted wether in the real sense of the word of assessment he is qualified or not. Children that suffer from slower learning under this theory are brought to be encouraged to use the environment around them as a teaching tool. (3) Constructivist Theory : The theory relates to the idea that children pick up learning attributes for development faster by interacting with friends and family In other words, the rate of learning is faster if the child can see close family as mum and dad as well as close friends around him or her while study. Theorists such as Jean Piaget and Maria Montessori conclude that the children actually â€Å"initiate† the whole learning process. An example can be seen when a toddler suddenly picks up a plastic bowl toy from the ground and places the lid on top. Parents can encourage their children in story telling activities at home and other activities that encourage reading out letters and counting. In the event of difficulty in learning, the child is given more close assessment and detailed teaching guides are put in place to give the young tot some more rigorous level of coaching.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Medication Administration Errors free essay sample

Administrationrsrizontal Violeneed to be considered during the time of administration. verything. Medications should always be Errors By: Amanda Sandstrom Grand Canyon University: NRS-433V April 13, 2013 Problem Statement Medication errors are one of the most common errors in healthcare. Sentinel events lead to research in determining why errors were happening and how they can be prevented. Learning why medication errors occur, and the events leading up to the error is important to understand so policies and procedures can be implemented. Nurses are play a vital role in reporting and preventing medication errors, as the nurses are the last person in the medication administration process. The Institute of Medicine reports 44,000 to 98,000 people die in hospitals annually as a result of medication errors that could have been prevented (Stetina, Groves amp; Pafford, 2005). Deaths caused by medication errors more than doubled in ten years from 2,876 in 1983 to 7,391 in 1993 (Stetina, Groves amp; Pafford, 2005). Medication errors and the complications due to them increase patient stays, costs, and patient disabilities. We will write a custom essay sample on Medication Administration Errors or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Medication administration is a complex process and an error can occur at any point within the process. Prescription, transcription, dispensing and lastly administration are all part of the process. The last process of administration is provided by the nurse who must be vigilant and ensure there were no errors within the whole process before administering the medication. Purpose and Research Questions The purpose of this study was to focus on how nurses experience making a medication error, and being involved in the process in which an error occurred, what constitutes a medication error, and what steps need to be taken after an error occur Questions sought to be answered by this study are: What constitutes a medication error? How are medication errors reported? Are the five rights of medication administration used consistently? The answers sought to these questions, and the purpose of this study was relevant to the clinical problem. The Heideggerian phenomenological method was used in this qualitative research, by conducting an eleven question interview. Literature Review The other used several quantitative studies research. The author also used a survey, and journal articles. The references are not current some of them are actually almost thirty years old. The study itself was conducted seven years ago; however current research was used to support this study. The author did not state any specific weakness, but suggests further research of a more diverse geographical population. Additionally research could be done specifically how nurses vary in their practice according to patient load, acuity, and day to day circumstances in the practice environment (Stetina, Groves amp; Pafford, 2005). The study did find adequate information regarding how and why medication errors occur. Unfortunately with medication errors being such a problem in practice there are many causes, and new systems in place for reducing them that are constantly being updated. There is an abundance of literature on this topic all researching different aspects. This study did find that though all the nurses surveyed identified the â€Å"five rights† as the process of medication administration and prevention of errors (Stetina, Groves amp; Pafford, 2005). Many nurses acknowledged not always adhering to the five rights of medication administration; this was especially evident when it came to right time. Many nurses admitted to not always giving medications at the right time, and felt this was not considered to be a medication error. Conceptual / Theoretical Framework The author did not identify a specific perspective in this study. The framework for this study was finding answers to questions regarding medication administration and how errors occur. Nurses in different practice settings were interviewed to find the answers to the questions. The study set out to explore the understanding and management of medication errors by nurses (Stetina, Groves amp; Pafford, 2005). Conclusion Since nurses administer medications they are the last ones in the medication administration process to intercept a possible error, or they can be the ones making the error. It is imperative to be diligent when passing medications. Many advances have been made with the use of bar code medication administration programs, and electronic medical records with electronic ordering. With the advances in technology many nurses have come to be dependent on these systems. Pharmacy has also become a larger part in inpatient settings and nurses in this study have also come to rely more on them to prevent incompatibility complications. Nurses must always keep their clinical reasoning skills sharp, when administering medication we must consider everything. Medications should always be reviewed with patients prior to administration; since patients know what they take and can alert the nurses to a possible error. Lab work, dosage, patient’s weight, allergies, treatments, and compatibility of intravenous medications all need to be considered during the time of administration. Although all of these tools are valuable it is imperative that we do not become dependent upon them, we must use clinical reasoning and judgment to ensure patient safety. References: Clinical reasoning can prevent mediation errors. 2012, August 22). Retrieved from http://confidenceconnected. com/connect/article/clinical_reasoning_can_prevent_medication_errors/ Hartnell, N. , Mackinnon, N. , Sketris, I. , amp; Fleming, M. (n. d. ). Identifying, understanding and overcoming barriers to medication error reporting in hospitals: A focus group study. (2012). BMJ Quality and Safety, 21(5), 361-368. Stetina, P. , Groves, M. , amp; Pafford, L. (n. d. ). Managing medica tion errors: A qualitative study. (2005). Medsurg Nursing, 14(3), 174-178.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Teratogen essays

Teratogen essays Teratogen is the substances in the external environment that can cause the abnormality to the development of the fetus if the mother engrossed them during pregnancy. Overuse of drugs, timing of exposure, individual factors of mother and child, genetic factors, nutritional factors, metabolic factors, and agents such as alcohol, tobacco, and heroin are the main sources of birth defects (FAS). Drugs and alcohol are the most common teratogen because of the prescription and non-prescription drugs that the mother is consuming during their pregnancy. According to the source, the average American woman use at least ten different drugs over the course of their pregnancy and over 80% of those pregnant mother are alcoholic drinkers and over 30% are smokers (PSY 250). Alcohol is the worst teratogen because it can cause more damage to the baby than any kind of drugs. Fatal Alcohol Syndrome known as FAS is the main source of child abnormality. The potential effects of this teratogen to the developing baby are the damage in central nervous system, some facial problems, and mental retardation (FAS). Moreover, low birth weight, poor wake and sleep patterns, hyperactivity, participateness, temper tantrums, poor social skills, and abstracting abilities are the other effects of alcohol (FAS). Teratogen was problem in early years because the babies are suffering more than their parents. Wi th the help of new technologies that are invented like untrasound, doctors can help their patients to tests if the unborn child has any birth defects. Ultrasound also helps to reveal number of abnormalities, as well as an accurate determination of fetal age, the presence of multiple pregnancies, and even fetal sex (Teratogen). Other kinds of treatment that can help the abnormal children are plastic surgeries and genetic engineering which cost the parents lots of money (Teratogen). Birth defects are avoidable. It is depends on the mother if she wants to avoid it or no...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Gulf War III - How successful was Operation Desert Storm Could it have Essay

Gulf War III - How successful was Operation Desert Storm Could it have achieved more How joint was it - Essay Example Moreover it was the case that Iraq stated that they would bombard Israel with rockets should there be any military incursions into the nation of Iraq. So if based upon the parameters of liberating Kuwait, protecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and protecting Israel than the operation would have been considered a complete success. However, one could argue that there were a number of ancillary objectives such as overthrowing Saddam Hussein, or the liberation of Kurdistan. And taken from this perspective the military incursion would have not been considered an overall success. As a final point, one could also make the argument that one additional objective as argued by Gordon & Trainor (1995) was for the US to demonstrate their military muscle in the middle east. Effectively showcasing their new military technology and superior leadership by Schwarzkopf and Powell. As a result of this action a significant military power in the Middle East had their entire military industrial complex nea rly annihilated. If viewed as a stand alone engagement, it could have been argued that the military engagement could have achieved more insofar as the United States later engaged in hostile action with the nation of Iraq during the second gulf war.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Riordan Manufacturing Staffing strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Riordan Manufacturing Staffing strategies - Essay Example tant deadlines to be met, most of the employers don’t evaluate the pros and cons of hiring an individual and unless there are well developed staffing strategies, this will be an ongoing problem. The focus is,†People are your most important asset is wrong. People are not your most important asset: the right people are." (Jim Collins in his book "Good to Great").Hence it is very important to hire the right candidate for the right job. A well developed staffing strategy helps an organization to eliminate problems before they start. A staffing strategy provides overall guidance on how an organization deals with staff. This includes how the organization identifies with new staff, the types of people the organization wants to staff, and how to retain them. Once this strategy is decided upon, the human resource department frames some policies and procedures to support the strategy. Riordan Manufacturing is a global plastics manufacturer founded in 1991, It employs over 550 people and has projected annual earnings of $46 million. The company is wholly owned by Riordan Industries, a Fortune 1000 enterprise with revenues in excess of $1 billion. However over the years, Riordan’s management realized that employee dissatisfaction was quite high and sales sloped downwards. As the business world has become more complex and jobs more technical† (*Shah, Sterrett, Chesser, & Wilmore (2001), many corporations have turned to strategic planning. Today, organizations have realized the importance of its human capital thus, the need to further develop, retain and attract personnel to achieve business objectives. Riordans management team has realized that the companys most important asset is their employees. HRs proactive approach to recruiting the best and brightest candidates will help to provide future leaders for the company as they continue to grow and meet the demanding challenges. In order to accomplish the organizational goals, Riordan must follow suit in attracting

Monday, November 18, 2019

Evolution of the relationship between the EU and China Research Paper

Evolution of the relationship between the EU and China - Research Paper Example Sino-European relations, during the era of the Cold War, were generally derivative of the imperatives of the cold war as well as the broader associations with the superpowers. Because of the ideological and political constraints of this era, the development of commercial and economic relations took the precedence (UN 7). On April 3, 1978, a trade agreement was signed between China and the European Community (EC). This agreement was extended in 1985 to a wider Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). China got the status of Most Favored Nation (MFN) from the EC and embraced Beijing in the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) provisions from 1980 (Stepan & Ostermann 20). These European Union-China relations, in the past few years, have been growing gradually. Since 2004, the People’s Republic of China has become EU’s second largest trading partner, with the Chinese customs claiming that EU is the biggest trading partner of China. An annual summit between the EU and China’s state/government heads is held, since 1998, to discuss the bilateral and global issues. Moreover, since October 2003, China and EU have recognized each other as effective ‘strategic partners’. The idea that the relations between China and EU have acquired a fresh strategic significance and gained momentum remains fundamental to their strategic partnership (Pastor & Gosset 1). According to the European Union External Service Action, the two sides commenced their relationship in 1975 and the 1985’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force to govern their relationship (Para 1). EU remains the largest trading partner of China, while Chin a is its leading supplier of imports and the second biggest 2-way trading partner (European Union External Service Action Para 2). Therefore, EU and China have had bilateral relationship since 1975. The purpose of this paper is to examine the evolution of the relations between them with the main objective being examining the development of their relationship since 1975 by looking at various aspects of their association. The two sides hold annual summits as well as frequent trade, economic, and political dialogues, including more that 50 sectoral agreements and dialogues, which range from industrial policy to environmental protection, culture or education. Human rights are regularly discussed as a part of the regular political dialogue and during specific dialogues on human rights, held twice a year since 1995. This paper will also clarify that EU and China are allies but not competitors. Events (Economic and Political) Dictating their Relationship and the Key EU Policies The relatio ns between China and the EU have faced some hardships since 2005 with some scholars expressing their deep

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Marketing mix and customer loyalty

Marketing mix and customer loyalty This chapter will discuss the findings of this study as outlined in the previous chapter and conclusions drawn. We will start this chapter by summarizing the whole study. Next, we will discuss the results in light of previous studies conducted by other researchers. Subsequently, we will identify the theoretical and managerial implications of the study. Lastly, we will present limitations of the study and directions for future research. The chapter ends with the conclusion of the study. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationships between the marketing mix used by the company and the relationship quality a company had with their customers and their loyalty. In addition, these relationships were tested under a supply shortage situation, to see whether the supply shortage situation would moderate the relationships between the marketing mix and the relationship quality with customer loyalty. Based on the literature review, four dimensions were identified for relationship quality, namely service quality, trust, satisfaction and commitment. The four dimensions for the marketing mix were product, price, place and promotion. For customer loyalty, four dimensions were also identified, repurchase, increase in repurchase volume, recommend and refusal to switch. A total of four hypotheses were developed in this study to match the objectives of the research. They are as follows: Customers perception of the marketing mix is positively related to customer loyalty. Customers perception of the relationship quality is positively related to customer loyalty. Customers perceived environment uncertainty moderates the relationship between marketing mix and customer loyalty. Customers perceived environment uncertainty moderates the relationship between relationship quality and customer loyalty. The data for this survey was gathered from construction companies registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Malaysia. A questionnaire was mailed to the construction companies based on their CIDB ranking and geographical location, thus ensuring that a representative sample was obtained. A total of 800 questionnaires were sent out and 179 were duly returned, giving this study a response rate of 22.4%. To ensure the goodness of measures, factor analysis and reliability test were conducted to test the data collected. Factor analysis was used to test the validity of the measures and the results showed that the extracted factors fit the conceptualized variables. Cronbachs alpha was used to test the reliability of the variable and the results showed that all variables had a sufficient level of reliability. Bivariate correlation analysis were conducted to determine the inter correlations amongst the independent variables and dependent variable. Regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis and sub-hypothesis. The study found that 3 of the hypothesis were partially accepted whereas the last hypothesis was rejected. 5.2 Discussions The aim of our study was to ascertain whether a supplier in the construction industry should focus on their companys marketing mix (cognitive component) or should they instead focus more on the relationship quality (affective component) they have with their customers, to ensure that their customers stay loyal to them. Further more, these relationships were also tested under a supply shortage situation, to see whether the relationships between the independent and dependent variables would change, providing us with valuable information for future use. This is because the supply shortage situation periodically happens in Malaysia and subsequently impacts the development of Malaysia as well. Similar research was done by Cater and Cater (2009) and De Rutyer and Semejin (2002) in which emotional motivation was the affective component and rational motivation was the cognitive component. Both researches found that both the affective and cognitive component positively influences customer loyalty. However, the affective component seems to be much stronger than the cognitive component in their findings. Our first hypothesis result seems to mirror those of other studies. van Riel et al (2005), Yoo et al (2000) and Kim and Hyun (2010) have established the effects of the marketing mix on brand equity. They found that companies investing in the marketing mix, product, price, place and promotion, would create brand awareness and a positive brand image. In this way, brand equity would be created, and when brand equity exists, brand loyalty follows. For this study, we replaced brand equity with the suppliers equity and brand loyalty with the customers loyalty. The results show that the companys marketing mix has a positive relationship on customer loyalty. The RÂ ² value indicates that 29% of the variation in customer loyalty can be explained by the variation in the marketing mix. The study found that buyers in construction companies placed great emphasis on the product, price and promotion, but not the place. This is slightly different from results obtained from van riel et al (2005), Yoo et al (2000) and Kim and Hyun (2010). In the aforementioned studies, results indicated that all the 4Ps had significant impact on customer loyalty for their respective industries which were the chemical and retail industry respectively. As this study was conducted in the construction industry, we were dealing with industrial products like cement, steel bars, sand, bricks, which are very expensive and represent a large amount in the cost of a building. Therefore, price would definitely be a very important consideration when purchasing. The product range that a supplier can provide is also important in maintaining their loyalty because a supplier who carries a wide range of products will mean that buyers need not source for other suppliers to fulfil their needs. Therefore this result is consistent with our literature review finding that says product and price play an important part in maintaining customer loyalty. Promotions have also been found to be significant in maintaining customer loyalty. Frequent advertisements seem to keep the supplier in the forefront of the buyers mind, thus increasing both their behavioural and attitudinal loyalty. With the current competitive situation that exists in the construction industry with many suppliers in the market and not many buyers, suppliers need to maintain their existing customers by offering discounts and volume rebates. These types of sales promotions are closely related to the dimension of price, thus a very effective method to maintain customer loyalty. This is similar to what has been postulated by Yoo et al (2000) Place (channel of distribution), was found to not positively affect customer loyalty. This is contradicting with other findings previously highlighted in the literature review. Probably this dimension of the marketing mix does not have an impact on customer loyalty because buyers of construction companies do their purchasing virtually via the internet, through the telephone or via facsimiles. Buyers do not need to physically go to the buyers office to place their orders, thus distribution intensity (the number of branches the supplier have all over Malaysia) would not be important to buyers. Also once they place their order with a supplier, the goods can be shipped anywhere in Malaysia as specified in the order. A buyer in Kuala Lumpur can place an order with a supplier in Ipoh for goods to be delivered to Johor Baharu. This is unlike the retail market in which distribution intensity (the number of stores available) helps to promote loyalty because it makes it easier for the consumer to acquire their goods. Our second hypothesis explores the relationship between relationship quality and customer loyalty. Numerous researches have been conducted on this in the B2B as well as B2C contexts. The rational is that when the quality is good, the relationship is successful, thus, leading to customer loyalty. In general, similar results were found in this study, in which we found that buyers in construction companies viewed the relationship quality they had with their supplier as important in maintaining their loyalty to them. The RÂ ² value indicates that 33% of the variation in customer loyalty can be explained by the variation in relationship quality. However, they did not view service quality as an important dimension in relationship quality for maintaining their loyalty to the supplier. Even though past researchers like Caceres and Paparoidamis (2007),Rauyruen and Miller (2006), Hewett et al (2002), Hennig-Thurau and Klee (1997), Storbacka et al (1994), Dorsch et al (1998) and Crosby et al (1990) has advocated that service quality will have an impact on customer loyalty, findings in this study indicate otherwise. This could be caused by the gender and cultural profiles of our respondents as well as the context of the study, which was the construction industry. According to Donthu and Yoo (1998) and Furrer, Shaw and Sudharshan (2000), cultural influences will have an impact on service expectations. All the previous researches mentioned earlier were done in the Western cultural context. Customers in different cultures or countries will have different levels of service expectations because cultures differ in their patterns of behaviour and attitudes. Donthu and Yoo (1998) and Furrer et al (2000) used Hofstedes typology of culture to investigate cultural differences on service expectations. They found that customers in high power distance countries, like Malaysia, were more likely to accept very low levels of service quality or overlook it totally. They would accept or tolerate poor service delivery because of the service providers expertise. For seemingly poor services, the customers of high power distance countries would find excuses for the service providers instead. Thus, in this study, buyers in construction firms in Malaysia do not view service quality as an important dimension in maintaining their loyalty to their supplier as opposed to their Western counterparts. Donthu and Yoo (1998) and Furrer et al (2000) also found that customers in feminine countries like Malaysia which focused on values such as interdependence and relationships did not expect every service encounter to be perfect and would sacrifice the service quality for more important values to them like long term relationships. As 69.3% of our respondents were from the Chinese race, the Confucian dynamic of long term orientation would come into play. The Chinese are more prone to saving face, respect for others and traditions. They do not like to complain and bring shame to others. Thus, in line with this thinking, our findings indicate that trust, commitment and satisfaction are important in maintaining customer loyalty in this study. Also being a very collectivistic country, Malaysian buyers in construction firms would always be looking at how they can preserve harmony in their relationship with the supplier and not rock the boat by complaining behaviour on the service quality provided. They would be willing to overlook the lack or poor service provided by the supplier. Due to this fact, they do not view service quality as being able to maintain their loyalty to the supplier. Gender also plays a role in service quality perceptions and customer loyalty. According to Gocek, Kursun and Beceren (2007) in a research on the role of gender in service quality perceptions in the textile industry, they found that males gave less importance to perceive service quality received compared to females. Males were less bothered about how service quality could enhance their overall satisfaction levels towards their supplier, and ultimately on their loyalty. Thus, in our study, 57.5% of the respondents were males as compared to only 41.9 % females. Therefore based on this, our findings indicated that service quality was not an important dimension in ensuring their loyalty. In line with other research in the literature review, the accepted dimensions of relationship quality like satisfaction, trust and commitment were found to positively affect customer loyalty. Hesket et al (1994), Storbacka et al (1994), Hennig-Thurau and Klee (1997)and Lam et al (2004) posits that when the customer is satisfied, it will impact on the relationship strength and longevity and ultimately on the customers profitability and serve as the key to an organizations success and long term competitiveness. Chaudhuri and Holbrook, 2001 linked trust to loyalty through performance whereas Sirdeshmukh et al (2002) linked trust to loyalty through value creation. Buyers need to feel that they can trust their suppliers and these can be exhibited by frontline employees (trustworthy behaviour) and management practices (trustworthy practices). Most researchers identify commitment among exchange partners as key to achieving customer loyalty. Morgan and Hunt, 1994, Dick and Basu, 1994 and Oliver, 1999, all agree that relationship commitment is similar to loyalty because of the consequences exhibited like positive word of mouth, rebuy or repurchase a product/service consistently and refusal to switch. Our third hypothesis was also partially accepted, in which the supply shortage situation moderates the relationship between the marketing mix and customer loyalty. In other words, the supply shortage situation affects how the suppliers marketing mix is perceived by the buyers, and this would affect their loyalty. As postulated by Wagner and Gopalakrishna (2001) and Kotler (1974), suppliers in the construction industry should be making intelligent adjustments to the marketing mix to focus on the opportunities presented by the supply shortage situation. Price still remains the most important component of the marketing mix, especially for buyers in construction companies because the procurement of building materials represents a large amount of the building cost. Therefore, suppliers must resist the urge to raise prices as shortage conditions on the grounds of supplier opportunism because by doing so, they will loose their customers instead. Suppliers must also ensure that they do not cut down on production or product lines because of a shortage in the mistaken belief that it would not affect their customers loyalty. Even though there is a shortage supply situation in the construction industry, this does not mean that certain essential building materials are not required by the contractor during that time. In fact, the whole range of building materials from the structural, intermediate to the final stages in the construction process is required, regardless of whether there is a supply shortage for certain materials or not. Therefore, it is important for suppliers to be cognizant of this fact, and ensure that they carry a wide range of product solutions for their customers needs, even though during a supply shortage situation. The place (channel of distribution) also becomes important during a supply shortage situation in maintaining customer loyalty. This is because during a supply shortage situation, buyers will try to reduce their risk of being unable to obtain their supply. Therefore, a rational buyer will maintain their loyalty with a supplier that has intensity of distribution (having many branches all over Malaysia) to ensure that they will be able to get their supply of building materials. A contractor based in Kuala Lumpur, might very well have jobs all over Malaysia, thus by buying from a supplier that has many branches all over Malaysia, this will ensure better coordination in deliveries to various job sites all over Malaysia due to the fact that there would be personnel from the supplier stationed in the relevant geographical area. The buyer would feel more comfortable and confident, thus enhancing their loyalty to the supplier. Our study indicates that promotion becomes less important during a supply shortage situation. This could be because in a shortage situation, products are able to sell themselves. Suppliers need not have promotions and advertisements to maintain their presence in the mind of their customers during a shortage. Their buyers are very much aware of their suppliers and their importance during a time of shortage Our final hypothesis was rejected, indicating that the supply shortage situation does not affect the relationship between relationship quality and customer loyalty. In other words, the supply shortage situation has no affect on how the buyer views their relationship quality and their loyalty with the supplier. This is contradictory to findings in the literature review which posits that a supply shortage situation is perceived as a risk. Thus, buyers will try to engage in risk reducing activities such as looking for other suppliers, thus making them less loyal to their existing supplier. However, our findings can be answered by a research done by Wood (2008) in the B2B context for wireless telecommunications. He found that when the buyer was very satisfied with his relationship (indication of good relationship quality) it would instead reduce the inclination of the buyer to search for new alternatives, thus positively influencing the buyers intention to remain with the supplier even during a supply shortage situation. This positive satisfaction with the relationship will instead negatively influence the buyers perception of other available suppliers in the market, thus ensuring the buyers loyalty to his/her existing supplier. 5.2.1. Major results of the study Based on the explanation and discussion above, a summary of the major results are presented as follows: The marketing mix element of price presented by a company has a positive affect on their customers loyalty The marketing mix element of product presented by a company has a positive affect on their customers loyalty The marketing mix element of promotion presented by a company has a positive affect on their customers loyalty The marketing mix element of place presented by a company does not have a positive affect on their customers loyalty The relationship quality element of service quality does not have a positive effect on customer loyalty The relationship quality element of trust has a positive affect on customer loyalty The relationship quality element of satisfaction has a positive affect on customer loyalty The relationship quality element of commitment has a positive affect on customer loyalty The relationship quality has a stronger affect on customer loyalty than the marketing mix The supply shortage situation affects how customers view the marketing mix presented by the company and this would affect their loyalty. The supply shortage situation does not affect how customers view their relationship quality with a company, thus not affecting their loyalty. 5.3 Implications of the study Based on the research findings, several implications related to the theoretical and practical aspects of management will be discussed. 5.3.1 Theoretical implications The theory of cognitive-affective-conative-behavior was used in this study to explain the formation of customer loyalty. This theory suggests that customers loyalty is influenced by both cognitive and affective components. The cognitive components reflect that customers will make conscious evaluations based on information or knowledge such as the price or quality. (Oliver, 1999, Sawmong and Omar, 2004). Cognitive components in this study are represented by the 4Ps, namely product, price, place and promotion. (van Riel et al, 2005,Yoo et al, 2000, Kim and Hyun, 2010) The affective components reflect the fact that customers emotions or feelings are likely to play an important role in their behaviour. (Oliver, 1999) The affective components in this study are represented by relationship quality. (Hewett et al, 2002, Rauyruen and Miller, 2006, Caceres and Paparoidamis, 2007) The conative-behaviour is accompanied by the desire to an intended action. (Oliver, 1999) It can be exhibited through various ways through the customers behaviour; most commonly cited are repeat patronage (behavioural loyalty) and positive word of mouth (attitudinal loyalty). The findings in this research is consistent with the postulated theory. Both cognitive and affective components have an effect on customer loyalty. In this study, the RÂ ² for marketing mix was 29% and for relationship quality is was 33%. This indicates that the relationship quality has a strong affect on customer loyalty than the marketing mix. Research by Cater and Cater (2009) and De Rutyer and Semejin (2002) support this statement. In these researches, the affective component was found to be stronger than the cognitive component. Customers therefore seem to value the emotional we like more than the rational we benefit. Cater and Cater (2009) surmises that because of this findings, customers are not as rational as they should be, or much more likely, that rational benefits are perceived as minor in their decision making. In this case, the heart rules the head in the making of decision of continued loyalty. 5.3.2 Managerial implications From this study, we can draw several managerial implications as follows: The marketing mix presented by a company plays an important role in influencing their customers loyalty. Therefore, managers should not neglect the elements of price, product and promotion in their marketing strategies. Price is a very important consideration in purchasing in the construction industry as building materials are very expensive and make up a large amount of the construction cost. All buyers in construction companies would be very price sensitive due to this fact. Managers must ensure that they price their products competitively, according to the going rate. Pricing too high will have a negative affect unlike consumer goods which provide an impression of quality. ( Yoo et al, 2000) Managers should also pay attention to promotions to keep their company in the forefront of their customers mind. With the current competitive situation that exists in the construction industry with many suppliers in the market and not many buyers, suppliers need to maintain their existing customers by offering discounts and volume rebates. These types of sales promotions are closely related to the dimension of price, thus a very effective method to maintain customer loyalty. This is also similar to what has been postulated by Yoo et al (2000). Lastly, managers should make sure that their companies carry a wide range of products as this will ensure that their customers need not source for other suppliers to fulfil their orders. The relationship quality that a company has with their customer is also important in maintaining their customers loyalty. Managers should pay attention to their companys relationship management strategies and ensure that their customers are satisfied, trust and committed to the relationship they have with the company. Managers should focus on frontline employees especially sales personnel to ensure that they exhibit trustworthy behaviour. Management must ensure that they are ethical and honest in their dealings with customers, thus fostering a climate of trust. (Sirdeshmukh, 2002). To cultivate commitment, managers should place more emphasis on activities that produce strong positive feelings of affiliation and camaraderie between their company and customers. (Kumar et al, 1994). In general, satisfaction is a persons feeling of pleasure or disappointment resulting from comparing a products perceived performance in relations to his or her expectations. (Storbacka et al, 1994) Thus, ma nagers should focus on product and service quality and put in the effort to creating a high perception of these elements to ensure that their customers are not disappointed, but delighted instead. Supply shortages periodically occur in the construction industry. Thus, managers need to know how to manage their customer loyalty during such times. This study shows that the supply shortage situation affects how customers view the marketing mix presented by the company and this would affect their loyalty. Therefore, managers should be making intelligent adjustments to the marketing mix to focus on the opportunities presented by the period of uncertainty (shortage). By recognizing the changing environment, organizations can still retain their customers and enhance their profitability. (Kotler, 1974, Wayne and Gopalakrishna, 2001). As product, price and place have been found to affect customers loyalty during a supply shortage situation, managers should focus on these three elements. This means that they should not simply increase prices, reduce product lines and cut down on channels of distribution. Instead, managers should ensure that they price competitively, ensure that they carr y enough product lines and not shut down any branches/cut down on sales personnel during a shortage situation. As promotions was found to not affect customer loyalty during a supply shortage situation, managers can then save some spending and cut down on their sales promotion and advertising budgets. The supply shortage situation does not affect how customers view their relationship quality with a company, thus it does not affect their loyalty. However, this does not mean that managers should neglect the quality of the relationship they have with their customers. Managers should continue to do what they have been doing during normal periods. Ensure that your customers are satisfied and happy with the existing relationship they have by continually meeting their requirements and delighting them always. Overall, in a normal situation, to maintain their customers loyalty, a company should pay more attention to the relationship quality because it has been found to have a stronger affect. However, this does not mean that managers can neglect the marketing mix, because it has also been found to have an affect on customer loyalty. Therefore, prudent managers should pay attention to both cognitive and affective components to maintain their customers loyalty. However, when a supply shortage situation occurs, managers who focus on their marketing mix can reap substantial gains in their customers loyalty as opposed to the relationship quality. For managers, this provides them with valuable information on which aspect to focus on to advance their customers loyalty. Therefore, they can formulate strategic plans that suit the existing situation. 5.4 Limitations of the study The results should be interpreted in light of the limitations of the study. They are as follows: The sample surveyed. Our population for the study comprised of all organizations registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Malaysia. There are many more contractors which are not registered with the CIDB. Therefore, the results should be carefully considered as being representative of the construction industry as not all organizations in the construction industry were sampled. It should be noted that 62% of the respondents were private limited corporations which were locally owned. As such, smaller contractors might not have enough representation in this study. This study was conducted in the construction industry, thus it may limit the generalization to other industries and business to business settings. The study is based on perceptions. As such, the inherent limitations of perception studies are acknowledged. The respondents responses represent what they consider to be facts rather than what the facts actually are. Another limitation might be that the data was collected via a self administered questionnaire. There is concern in the study that customer do not always perform as they say they will and might not answer truthfully for a variety of personal or organizational reasons. The study asked for the questionnaire to be answered by someone in the organization who has done purchasing and experienced a supply shortage situation before. It should be noted that there is room for bias as we cannot ascertain that the respondent that answered the questionnaire fulfils that criteria. Due to the time constraints, a cross sectional study was conducted. As such, changes in the variables under study over time, especially the dimensions of relationship quality and customer loyalty may limit the possibility to infer causation. 5.5 Directions for future research While this study advances the knowledge of customer loyalty in the construction industry, it also provides additional opportunities for future research. Future researches should consider having more or different marketing mix dimensions instead of using the 4Ps. This might lead to different findings for customer loyalty. The same applies for relationship quality, in which different dimensions are used instead of the generally accepted ones of trust, satisfaction and commitment. Future research can also enhance this study by having a larger sample that covers all organizations in the construction industry, irregardless of whether they are registered with CIDB. Hardware companies are also involved in the construction industry by supplying building materials to contractors. They also frequently encounter supply shortage situations, thus, for future research, they can also be considered. Because nothing is manipulated in this study, it is difficult to make causal inferences from the data. Perceived marketing mix and the relationship quality could be illusive reflections, distinct from the actual efforts put in by the company. To investigate more thoroughly the causal impact of each independent variable towards loyalty, future researchers could design and conduct experiments manipulating the levels of the independent and the moderating variables. 5.6 Conclusion The main objective of this study was to examine the relationships between the marketing mix used by the company and the relationship quality a company had with their customers and their loyalty in the construction industry. In addition, these relationships were tested under a supply shortage situation, to see whether the supply shortage situation would moderate the relationships between the marketing mix and the relationship quality with customer loyalty. Overall, this study has provided some empirical evidence that a companys marketing mix and the relationship quality with their customers has positive impact on their customers loyalty. The marketing mix components had varying degrees of significant relationships to customer loyalty. Product, price and promotion were found to have positive relationships with customer loyalty. Place was found not to have an affect on customer loyalty. The relationship quality components also had varying degrees of significant relationships to customer loyalty. Trust, satisfaction and commitment were found to have positive relationships with customer loyalty. However, service quality was found not to have any affect on customer loyalty. Overall, relationship quality was found to have a stronger affect on customer loyalty in the construction industry. Perhaps the main contribution of this study is the evidence that the significance of cognitive and affective components in customer loyalty changes during a perceived environment uncertainty. Cognitive components become more important to customer during a supply shortage situation than affective components. Cater and Cater (2009) theme of rational we benefit rules against the emotional

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights - Frame Narrative Essay -- Wuthering

Wuthering Heights:  Ã‚   Frame Narrative  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Frame narrative is described as a story within a story. In each frame, a different individual is narrating the events of the story. There are two main frames in the novel Wuthering Heights. The first is an overlook provided by Mr. Lockwood, and the second is the most important. It is provided by Nelly Dean, who tells the story from a first-person perspective, and depicts the events that occur through her life at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nelly Dean is a native of the moors and has lived all her life with the characters whose story she tells. Although she is an uneducated woman, Emily Bronte manages to express Nelly as a capable storyteller in two explanations. The first is how Lockwood comments on her intelligence and expression, and believes she is one of the more intelligent minds of the moors: Excepting a few provincialisms of slight consequence, you have no marks of the manners which I am habituated to consider as peculiar to your class. I am sure that you have thought a good deal more than the generality of servants think. You have been compelled to cultivate your reflective faculties for want of occasion for frittering your life away in silly trifles. The second explanation of Nelly’s thought and expression is through the wisdom she has achieved through the harsh discipline she has endured over her life, and through the good libraries at the Heights and Grange that have given her knowledge and a wide vocabulary.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Miss. Dean never mentions anyone ... ...es: he minded little what tale was told since he had what he wanted.†   Ã‚      Her criticism of the other characters and her loyalty towards them not only make her a good narrator, but also an excellent servant and a confidant to the characters. Even though she is a servant, her intelligence and knowledge of self-worth create equality between her and the other characters, giving her the ability to speak her mind. Nelly’s narration comes from being closely and privately involved in the lives of the characters in the story. She not only acts as a witness to the events in their lives, but also as somewhat of a judge and critic to their actions. Nelly is our guide through the story, and without her voice, we would never be aware of the strange and amazing events that occurred in Wuthering Heights.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Monday, November 11, 2019

Tda 2.6

Assessment Task- TDA 2. 6 Help improve own and team practice in schools. 3. Understand the work of a team. This essay will demonstrate my knowledge about working as a team, the importance of it and who forms the team at the school where I work. I will look at the aims of my school and where I fit into that as a voluntary Teaching Assistant and I will also show how other members of the team all work together to reach the same goal. One person alone could not complete the entire workload a school requires to function.To teach, to feed, to make safe, to make a happy place all needs the work of a very dedicated team who work together to achieve the same goal, at Priestsic Primary and Nursery school where I work this is: â€Å"To create a safe, healthy and stimulating environment in which the children feel secure and are willing and eager to spend their time. † And this team is also encouraged to: â€Å"allow the children to reach as high a level as their ability allows increasing their pleasure, understanding and confidence. †Priestsic Primary School-Teaching Assistant Student Booklet 2010. This is all achieved by individuals who work together, sharing ideas and knowledge to make a really good team a great one. The school staff are not the only ones encouraged to practice teamwork â€Å"Children are encouraged to work as part of a team and to respect other people’s beliefs and feelings. † Priestsics Home School Agreement 2010 This message is enforced in the Schools Home School Agreement which is given out to parents at the start of a child coming to school.There is no doubt that my school values teamwork in everyone who is associated with it. The morale of the school is very high and I have seen for myself that everyone I ask a question of, they are willing to help and if they don’t know an answer they will find someone for me who does. It is enjoyable to be at a school where everyone is happy to help each other and it is absolute ly motivational and if I feel this way as a partial outsider, then the children must also feel very proud that they belong to a school with staff members who really care about them and their education.The purpose and objectives of the team in which I work is to be focussed and knowledgeable about literacy and Maths. The teacher in the class that I work in is the Literacy co-ordinator for the Year and the teacher in the opposite side of the classroom is the Maths co-ordinator so the two teachers work very closely together, they complement each other. One takes charge of the Literacy activities and the other devises the Maths activities and they share these within the classrooms.My working environment is split into two sides with a dividing curtain, my teacher has 30 children and the other teacher has 30 children and together they make up Year Two at the school. The two teachers are constantly consulting each other about Maths and Literacy matters and they share ideas between themselv es. I work with both of the teachers and they will often give me a group of children to work with who perhaps need more support and they will introduce activities to me by explaining what they are and if I need to give specific help to someone they will give me the time to do this.The qualified Teaching Assistants in the class will help the teachers set up the activities and help with the planning and then I help, when I go in , executing the practicalities like setting out tables or making displays. â€Å"members of the team will need to understand their role and how it fits with the role of other members of the team†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Burnham and Baker 2010 When I first began my placement at Priestsic Primary and Nursery School I was given a â€Å"Teaching Assistant Student booklet† and it defines my role by stating: What will be expected of you:The children spend quite a lot of time sat on the carpet, particularly during numeracy and literacy. You will be expected to either su pport particular children or to be sat in the classroom preparing resources/displays. It goes on to say that You may also be expected to: Sharpen pencils File children’s work Supervise children’s milk time. This is my role as a student and it is what I do whenever I go into my placement. The qualified Teaching Assistant works very closely with me whose role it is to: †¢ Work under the direct instruction of teaching/senior staff, usually in the classroom. To attend to the pupils personal needs. †¢ To prepare the classroom as directed. nottinghamshirecountycouncil. gov. uk. I usually help the Teaching Assistant with her role so as to free up the teacher so she can carry out her role, which includes: †¢ Teaching all areas of the primary curriculum †¢ Organising the classroom and learning resources to create a positive learning environment. †¢ Plan, prepare and present lessons that cater for the needs of the whole ability range within the class and to †¢ Work with others to plan and co-ordinate work.TES. co. uk So the teacher, Teaching Assistant and Student Teaching Assistant all work very closely together in the classroom to support the children, we also rely on the help of the midday supervisors to look after the children at mealtimes, they ensure that they sit and eat nicely that the children clear up after themselves and they ensure acceptable standards of behaviour are maintained in the playground afterwards. If they do not they inform the teacher and necessary action will be taken, such as that child missing the next playtime.Teachers also need the help of the Administration staff who answer the telephone and act as a first point of contact for the school. They send out any necessary letters, they monitor and control visitors with the help of the Site Manager who is responsible for who comes onto the site and the security of the building. Our Site Manager at the school will also help the Teacher if she needs chairs or tables getting for displays, he cleans up any spillages and he changes the toilet rolls and is responsible for the general groundwork of the school.All of these people who help form the team at school are ultimately responsible to the Head teacher whose role it is to: †¢ Lead and manage the school †¢ To ensure the achievement of educational standards †¢ To promote and safeguard the welfare of the children. †¢ To work in partnership with the governing body, staff and parents generating the ethos and values which will underpin the school. TES. co. uk Every single person who works at a school has an important job to do even the cleaners who make a great job of keeping the classrooms clean and tidy.Without the skills set of all these people the school would not function properly and so for that reason I respect everyone who I work with. I might not know about a hazardous substance so I would have to rely on the expertise of a cleaner or the Site Manager to tell m e if I could use it or not. I do not understand the workings of the curriculum so I would need the help of the teacher to explain it to me. I think that it is absolutely vital to respect the skills and expertise of other practitioners, especially at the moment when I am so new to the school working environment.I never take anyone for granted and always listen to what they have to say. Everyone is different and even if two people have done the same course to come back and teach a class they will have different ways of doing so. I would personally never dream of going into school and try to tell somebody what to do because I feel that I don’t have the knowledge yet to do so, as described by Burnham and Baker 2010; â€Å"If a member of your team has been working in schools for a long time and a new person comes in and tells them that things should be done in a different way, it will cause bad feeling and resentment. I could not agree more with this statement and feel that you w ould gain more respect by showing that you are open to ideas and suggestions from other members of staff. It is invaluable to me to have done so from first going into school, I have learnt so much from different people and I have found that everyone treats me the same way in which I treat them, friendly, honestly and respectfully. I thoroughly enjoy working as part of a team that makes up a school.Although I am still learning about where everybody fits in I feel that every time I go into my school I learn something new about peoples roles and how they work in the successful team that is Priestsic Primary and Nursery school. Everyone values each other and no one is selfish, the staff share ideas and work together professionally to maintain the schools aim â€Å"To create a safe, healthy and stimulating environment in which the children feel secure and are willing and eager to spend their time. Teamwork is not only important in schools it is probably the most important thing in schoo ls where Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Midday Supervisors, Admin staff, Cleaners, the Site Manager and the Head teacher all work together to make the school a happy, safe, educational place to be. BIBLIOGRAPHY Priestsic Primary School – Teaching Assistant Student Booklet 2010. Priestsics Home School Agreement 2010. Burnham and Baker 2010. nottinghamshirecountycouncil. gov. uk. TES. co. uk