Vet Tech Informative Speech

Veterinary Technicians must have the desire and ability to do it all, from taking blood of a sick family pet to restraining that mopey miniature poodle that has no desire to be at the doctor’s office. Veterinary technicians do it all. If there were a dream career out there for me it definitely would be that of a veterinary technician. To become a certified veterinary technician one must attend a two or three year American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary technician program.After earning the associate’s degree in the technology program one must then take their state board exam, in the state in which they live so they can license practice. In this exam there are oral, written and practical portions. Currently there are 40 states and provinces that certify and register licensed technicians. Volunteering at a vet clinic is the most rewarding opportunity that one could ever have. I have been volunteering in one for three years.Recently a job oppo rtunity has opened for me to be able to work part time walking dogs, cleaning kennels, administering medications and giving baths as a kennel helper which is a good experience towards my goal to be a veterinary technician. Employment of veterinary technicians is expected to grow 52% from 2010 to 2020. This is much faster than the average for all other occupations. A growing pet population is going to require more people to work in this field. In rural areas job opportunities are expected to be excellent.On average veterinary technician’s make $29,710 per year or $14. 28 per hour. Similar occupations are animal care and service workers, medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, veterinary assistants, and veterinarians. Veterinary technician’s duties that are performed on a daily basis and some of the most important are the preliminary examinations of the patient as well as getting a complete medical history of that patient. This helps the doctor beg in the diagnosis process and what tests they would like to perform on the patient.Some other duties that a veterinary technician performs are caring for hospitalized patients, such as monitoring fluids as well as administering medications around the clock. Other duties that it entails are radiology as well as performing laboratory procedures such as blood work, fecal analyses and urine analyses and ear exams. Veterinary technicians don’t just have to work at an animal hospital. They can also work at certain shelters and humane societies, veterinary supply companies, diagnostic laboratories, and some eterinary technicians work at zoo and wildlife centers. Also, state and national park systems, some cities, and some universities or colleges require the services of veterinary technicians. Whether it’s working at a small animal practice, a large animal practice or even working at a shelter, as long as you are helping animals it is rewarding in my eyes to get them happy and healthy again. Working at a veterinary clinic is enabling me to achieve my education goals, because I am required to shadow a licensed veterinarian or work in a licensed veterinary clinic/hospital.This is a great benefit because my coworkers are always asking me questions and explaining the answers if I do not know them. A lot of the emergencies that come into the clinic are some that I have read in my textbook as well, which helps me better assist the doctor, the patient, and the family. Seeing a variety of problems that animals have that come into the clinic can be difficult especially when they are not able to talk to us and tell us what the problem is. This makes the challenge all the more rewarding when you can see that your knowledge, concern, and expertise has made an animal healthy and its owners happy again.

How to Read a Book

The author, Joseph Brodsky, of this passage taken from â€Å"How to Read a Book† from On Grief and Reason, presents the reader with an enigmatic literature dilemma that individuals face in determining what they should read. This dilemma questions how to manage all the literature material that is presented continuously and how to decide what one should read, as there is limited time of one existence. This passage has an educative, informative, and didactic tone to present this dilemma, as it tries to inform and teach the reader about the controversial enigma about literature, and presenting some solutions to the problem, however ending in the beginning. From the beginning of the first paragraph he presents two kinds of antithesis ideas. As the first sentence says, â€Å"Since we are all moribund, and since reading books is time-consuming, we must devise a system that allows us a semblance of economy. † The first idea is that the task of reading is a time consuming one. The other idea is that as human being, we have limited time of existence, therefore limited time of reading. Here the author is presenting one part of the dilemma, of how to manage what to read, as there is limited time. For the author, in the end this management of reading, is only done because human want to learn, for this reason the need, as the author says, â€Å"for concision, condensation fusion – for the work that brings human predicament, in all its diversity, into its sharpest possible focus; in other words, the need for a shortcut. The author embraces an extended metaphor for the search of a shortcut, and marks it as â€Å"some compass in the ocean of available printed matter†. Nevertheless, Brodsky suggests that the role for the compass is â€Å"played by literary criticism, by reviewers†. The author goes on by explaining the trouble of the reviewers` purposes. It says that the reviewer can be someone that does not knows much and is not that smarter that ourselves, a â€Å"hack†, someone that has strong bias one certain subjects, or simply be influence by the publishing industry, or someone with a great literary talent that will make the review even more appealing and interesting than the book itself. The author mentions one of the great literature influences, Jorge Luis Borges, supporting his point that at the end â€Å"you may end up reading reviews rather than the books themselves†. Joseph Brodsky expands his metaphor of the compass in the third paragraph. He does this by interpreting the reader as a castaway adrift in a literary ocean, â€Å"with pages and pages rustling in every direction, clinging to a raft whose ability to stay afloat you are not so sure of. † The author then suggests an alternative solution for this particular dilemma. He suggest that the reader could â€Å"develop your own taste, to build your own compass, to familiarize yourself, as it were, with particular stars and constellations – dim or bright but always remote. † However, he then establishes that this process consumes a lot of time and concluding that at the end this is not a respectable idea. He then proposes another alternative solution, implying that is kind of similar than the first one, that to rely on a â€Å"friends advice†, and find something that is appealing. However, the author continues to find a downside by saying that it is a â€Å"poor insurance, for the ocean of available literature swells and widens constantly. † At the end of the passage the author has just come to the same question of what to do, and just leaves something to thing about. The passage end with rhetorical questions â€Å"So where is one’s terra firma, even it may be but an uninhabitable island? Where is our good man Friday, let alone a Cheetah? This conclusion of the passage can be interpreted that at the end there is no answer. Therefore at the end I think the author did not accomplish what was intended of providing a solution for the dilemma that individuals face in determining what they should read, as the author does not presents a clear and direst answer to the pr oblem. Nevertheless, at the end the author, alludes to the castaway protagonist in Daniel Dafoe’s novel Robinson Cuisses’ â€Å"man Friday† and to the Tarzan’s chimpanzee companion Cheetah. Both of these allusions strongly support the idea of a guidance, which this dilemma does not have to obtain the answer.

Speaker responce Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Speaker responce - Assignment Example 2. Insights from the presentation After hearing Joe Ellis speak about the five things to do in a job, I have come to a conclusion that, in order to be successful, one must always keep things simple on the job. In accomplishing tasks and getting along with colleagues, for instance, there are no complicated rules to follow. The workplace ethics of obedience, punctuality, and respect still apply. Obeying what the boss says and speaking up when something needs to be said is always valued at work. Delivering high-quality work output and accomplishing them on time is always appreciated. Reaching out to co-workers and establishing friendly relationships with them makes for a fun and relaxed working environment. Achieving these goals, however, requires a considerable amount of effort. The next principle I learned from Joe Ellis is the value of being open. Openness results to transparency, seamless flow of ideas, and assertiveness. First, co-workers would be able to deal more effectively with a person who shows his/her strengths and weaknesses. Showing one’s true identity is a way of gaining the trust and respect of co-workers. Second, being open encourages a person to share his/her ideas that can be useful in any business organization. A free-flowing stream of ideas would result to sharing of knowledge among co-workers. Finally, being open makes a person more assertive. Knowing when to speak up and what to say is very important in the workplace. A person who is not inhibited would always say what’s in his/her mind at the right time. Another important thing I learned from the presentation is the value of collaboration in the workplace. There is a saying that â€Å"No man is an island† which is very obvious in the workplace. More and better things can be achieved if people work together. Having the same vision would motivate each member of a business organization to always put his/her best foot forward in order to achieve his/her goals. A person who can work independently and is, at the same time, a team player would encourage his/her co-workers to also do their best in whatever they do. 3. Workplace Issues The first issue in the workplace that I’d like to talk about involves age, gender, race, and class. In the workplace, one would find all sorts of people coming from diverse background. The challenge lies in overcoming and looking beyond those differences to ensure smooth and friendly workplace relationships. The issue of race, for instance, is very critical in a globalized workplace. One would find different types of people coming from different cultural backgrounds. It is expected that tolerance to different cultures will be displayed in the workplace. The issue of gender and sexual preferences is another interesting issue that needs to be dealt with proper care. Each person posses a unique view of his/her gender which, in turn, influences his/her psychological, intellectual, and emotional make-up. Respect and tolera nce to every person’s gender in the workplace, therefore, is highly needed. While it is ideal to have a smooth and congenial workplace relationships, various conflicts among co-workers may happen from time to time. The issue of resolving conflicts is another workplace issue that needs attention. Gossips, backstabbing, insubordination, and unethical conduct are some of the reasons that spark workplace conflicts. This leads me to the basic rule that apply in any workplace – respect. If each co-worker would treat others with respect, then some of these conflicts can be

No topic Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

No topic - Coursework Example The easiest part was the inclusion of moderate physical activity as part of a daily routine. Moderate exercises do not demand too much from the body. For example, a walking fast for thirty minutes was very refreshing. Some of the mild exercises like stationary cycling are things that I enjoy doing. The most difficult part of the recommendations is maintaining a vigorous activity for twenty minutes. The vigorous exercises were made more difficult because I had to do them after finishing the moderate exercises. For example, running vigorously for twenty minutes pushed my lungs to the limit. Managing the strengthening exercises was not a problem. The recommendations made me realizes that I need to create a routine physical activity schedule. Based on my performance, I should walk for at least 30 minutes on a daily basis. The walk will help in improving the ability of my lungs to hold air and strengthen my legs. I should also consider doing core exercises because I noticed that my core strength was very low. I struggled to finish ten sit ups. Finally, I should keep doing yoga exercises because they help with flexibility. The inclusion of these physical activities in my routine would help in increase my overall fitness. Do you believe these recommendations are easy or difficult for the average person to incorporate into their lifestyle? List your reasons for why it is easy or barriers that could make this difficult for the average person. I believe these recommendations are relatively easy for an average person to incorporate in his or her schedule. They are not too intense after some time. It is easy in the sense that the body can handle routine without interfering with normal operations. However, the incorporation of these recommendations is easy based on the types of exercises one chooses. For example, a person who loves basketball can put basketball as her vigorous activity. It makes the whole process fun. The incorporation of these

Strategic performance management systems have beneficial impact on Essay

Strategic performance management systems have beneficial impact on performance, critically discuss - Essay Example A properly formulated performance management process empowers a manager to come up with effective and efficient strategic plans, set ambitious goals and follows closely the activities that work towards achieving his set goals, this leads to value creation that can be sustained for a long time. This paper will therefore aim at critically analysing the process of strategic performance management and how it impacts positively on the performance of the organisation. The Strategic Management Process The process of strategic management involves several steps, they include, first is understanding the strategic context that a business operates in, this involves both external and internal environment. In the internal environment, the first activity that a business does is the identification of the core purpose of the business, values and goal which it intends to achieve (Bisbe & Melaquero, 2012 p304). These then helps the management to come up with an overall vision of the organisations and t he direction it will take. ... The visionary goals of the organisation is the outlook of the company in future, that is how the company will be in the future and includes the achievements it hopes to have achieved by that time, these goals are set on a period of 3 to 10 years (Slack, 2006, p99). In the external environment, the company surveys the market for its products and the rivals in the market, here the business seeks to understand who the main stakeholders in the industry are and why it is necessary for the business to centre its operations on them, this activity is known as the stakeholder value proposition (Smith,2007, P 86). In order to carry out this activity, a business can use several tools that have been created that include Porter’s five forces framework. In the internal environment analysis, a business analyses its strengths and weaknesses where it evaluates its internal performance and the resources that it uses in the discharge of its responsibilities. This process enables an organisation to understand the effectiveness of its production process, how productive and skilled the employees are and how these can impact on the performance of the business (Penger & Tekavc?Ic?, 2009, p12). Model of the business is the next stage that a company undertakes, in this step the business organisation puts together all the key elements of the business strategy and visualises it. Using the Kaplan and Norton’s method, the result of this step will be strategy map while using the Marr’s methodology then the result will be value creation map and value creation narrative (Macmillan & Tampoe,2000, p105). Both of these methods used in this stage produce almost the same results

Digital Divide Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Digital Divide - Research Paper Example The present research has identified that digital divide is the gap between individuals that already have access to Internet (information and communication technology) as well as have the skills and knowledge of making use of the technologies - and those that have neither access nor skills of using those same technologies within a society, community or a geographic area. With the Internet quickly becoming a fundamental medium of information processing and communication, permeating every domain of the society and economy, there is need to develop policies that bridge the gap. Most of the research shows that the issue of the digital divide is more than just access issue, and it cannot be palliated merely by providing the essential equipment. There are three factors that are playing; these are information accessibility, utilization, and receptiveness. More than access to the Internet, people need to have knowledge of how to make use of information and communication technologies once they are made available within a society. In bringing the gap, information professionals can provide reference and information services that assist people in learning and utilizing the technologies that they have access to, regardless of the economic status of those people seeking assistance. There is a need for the education sector to focus on providing a learning environment, which promotes experimentation and exploration of ICT. This is because it is clear that individuals may have access to the Internet but lack the skills required for accessing it. For an instant, in a class of Digital Divide, students may learn a lot about the issues of access to Internet and equity but still may fail to grasp what is possibly the most important aspect: an imperative of becoming involved.

Pornography and Interpersonal Relationships Essay

Pornography and Interpersonal Relationships - Essay Example However, porn poses a problem that affects both the personal well-being and the cultural being of a people. In the modern days, porn surrounds all people in many arrays. Porn is not just watched by the sexually deprived, but also healthy individuals and couples are engaging in watching. Many platforms are attributable to the greater rise in porn watching activities among many individuals. Even so, watching porn is not an attribute of high cases of rape. Rather, porn is turning men off women. The discoveries of self-methods of sexual satisfaction are serious attributes of breaking the relationships that exist between men and women. The generation of internet has facilitated the disposal of porn at people’s homes making it easy to access and watch. As much as porn is not the main cause of the social evils that exist in the today world, it provides a great portion. The negative effects of porn outdo the positive impacts to men, women, and couples. Pornography has created a lot of impact in most of the industries especially the entertainment industry. It has invaded the media and accelerated to many platforms due to the changing and advancement of technology. Pornography affects people negatively whether they watch it often or not. It is noted that porn affects men in many ways. Categorically, the case of Sarah’s boyfriend indicates that young men who get addicted to watching porn result neglecting their life duties. Such life deities include neglecting their relationship responsibilities and misuse of money by investing a great amount on the purchase of pornography materials. Porn may also lead to isolation of young men from the rest of their kind (Hall 146). For instance, as much as Sarah is described as a real woman with a great figure and an appetite for adventure, her boyfriend waits until she is asleep so that he can isolate himself and watch porn.

Film Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Film Reflection - Essay Example It tries to explore the complex character of indigenous relationships, cultures and modern realities specifically the relationship between the fathers and sons in Native America. It is the story of one young Native man called Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) who stays with his mother Arlene (Tantoo Cardinal) in Idaho on the Coer d’Alene Indian Reservation and he has always abhorred his father and is trying to forgive him. After Victor finds out in the beginning of the film that Arnold his father is dead, he and Thomas his childhood friend set on a journey to pick his father’s ashes. During their journey, the two friends struggle with the constraints of forgiveness even as Victor begins to heal. It starts in the reservation in 1998 and there is a flashback to the 4th of July 1976 when there was a celebration of the â€Å"white man’s Independence Day†. It included holding the largest house party. As Thomas narrates over the image of a burning house. Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer) accidentally sets fire to his neighbor’s house. The fire was uncontrollable and it ended up killing the couple who lived there but their baby was rescued by Joseph from the inferno after Thomas the baby was thrown out of the second story window from the burning house. The lucky rescued baby; Thomas (Evan Adams) is raised together with Victor who are almost of the same age by his grandmother. The grandmother offered her appreciation to Victor for saving Thomas and she told him he had done a good thing, but Arnold replied amidst tears that he did not mean to save Thomas. This tension which is the result of Arnold’s admission that he never intended to do good sets the tone for the entire film. Joseph shaves his hair in mourning but keeps drinking in desperation due to the inferno and its results. When Victor at 12 years old sees how his parents drunk, he got

Racism in South Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Racism in South Africa - Essay Example In South Africa for instance, Apartheid, a racist system was introduced in the 1940s by the Nationalist Party (ICFTU, 1984). These comprised of a 4.5 million minority that ruled over 21.5 majority Blacks. They propelled the racist dominance through the establishment of untrammeled system of abnormal powers that affected every other aspect of life. Symbolically Apartheid was inclined towards separation, exploitation and domination of the Whites over the preconceived inferior Blacks. Apartheid defined individuals in any social setup by racial segregation and the formal designation of individuals basing on color. The oppression was however exercised in myriad ways: disenfranchising all, impoverishing most, relegating them to Bantu education and thus permanent economic inferiority, expelling millions from ancestral land, imprisoning hundreds of thousands, and killing many. The machinery of apartheid was supported by laws, which were passed by a sovereign parliament which had the power to pass any law it wished, however oppressive, the courts were powerless to challenge them except on narrow interpretation or administrative law grounds. In short, the legal system was doctored to suit the interest of racism. Race conceptualised as a constraining and external characteristic. According to Durkheim concept of social facts racism could be portrayed as a conditional external repressive system. Created by a minority of individuals in a society and racially imposed upon a majority of the society against their will. The evil that Jim Crow's system exercised upon the Afrikaans was subversive, barbaric and unwelcome and acted contrary to the free will. Practical constrains of racism are evident when segregation soared greater heights that determined of where people lived, whom they could marry, where their children went to school, what they were taught, whether they could be in a particular area (cities especially) without a pass, what swimming pool, library and restaurant they could use, and, of course, whether they could vote. Less formally, the situation was even worse: police brutality was legendary, civil rights in daily life virtually nonexistent, wage differentials immense, and women's household labor virtually domestic slavery (Marcuse, 1995). Consequently the fact that Apartheid was enforced in foreign languange implied that Africans had to be familiar with the same language in order to enhance their aggression and agitate for their basic human rights with one voice. The social fact of language certainly meant that it was difficult, to do otherwise. In broader aspect this could be seen as a constrain that limited the freedom of action to enhance a collective mass psychology to demand and to bring about changes. This constrain behavior imposed upon individuals against there will limited their inalienable rights to free will hence unable to make decisions. And also it was impossible to resist the dominant way of doing things because to change it would require widespread co-operation. This had detrimental effects upon their social well-being. How race has been used to maintain law & order in society. In South Africa ethnic or regional "intrawhite"

The Screaming Truths of Slavery Essay Example for Free

The Screaming Truths of Slavery Essay In the 1700’s to the1800’s slavery is perceived to be a normal system of association existing among humans. Slavery is extensively practiced specially in the Southern part of the Americas. Slaves are being subjected to difficult and severe kinds of work. Negros is the primary race of men that is subjected in a master and slave relationship. Usually, slaves are employed to assist the plantation owners of the work in the agricultural land of the Southern America. Plantations in agricultural lands are mainly maintained because of the servitude of slaves to their white masters. In the era of rampant slavery, there is a great imbalance of the proportion of slaves with the white masters in the South of the Americas. White masters who possess slaves own a minimum of three slaves. There are white masters who own more than fifteen slaves. Slaves have essentially become part of the daily existence of white masters. Slavery is like an appendage of white masters in terms of accomplishments of tasks in the plantation and even in the routines and chores inside the house of the white masters. Slaves are indispensable assistants in doing the rough and course labor. Without the slaves, the white masters will be burdened with great pile of labor loads that are needed in the plantation and other enterprise existing in the agricultural land of the South. However in the advent of resistance regarding the ethical issues and implications on slavery, distressing and astonishing accounts of slaves’ experiences have been uncovered not only among white citizens of the South which lacks the capability of acquiring a slave, but also to the citizens in the North of the Americas. Morality and ethics have been given importance because of the distressing accounts narrated by the Negro slaves. In the course of the resistance in the practice of slavery, the normality and rampant existence of the cruel kind of relationship is greatly admonished. Some of the white inhabitants of the America have undergone through a feeling of abhorrence in the way that slaves are treated by their white masters. Many have loathed the unjust and unfair system of the South. Even citizens outside of the Americas have questioned the practice of the acquisition of slaves for labor purposes. In the present time, slavery is almost already annihilated. However, remnants of the unfair relationship between the dark-skinned race and fair-skinned race are still present and visible. Discrimination has replaced slavery. Discrimination is still always felt by Negros and black-colored skinned people. The agents of discrimination are still the â€Å"superior† race of the white men. In the initiation of the rise of resistance to slavery, there are tough defenders of the advantages and moral value of slavery. There are counter defenses on the accusations among the white men of battery of their slaves. One of the toughest defenders of slavery is George Fitzhugh. And in his â€Å"Sociology for the South or the Failure of Free Society† he has expounded arguments favoring the continuing and flourishing of slavery. He has cited hard facts, economic indicators, and even counter narrative accounts of Negro slaves in strengthening his claims in defending the practice of slavery. In the defense of slavery by Fitzhugh, slavery is seen as the realization of the laws of nature. Slavery is a normal course of the existence of humanity. Slavery is always in accordance with the natural law of survival. In the act employing slaves, the white masters are actually acting in favor of the slaves. In Fitzhugh’s position, slavery is a respectable and generous act. It is because in the act of slavery, white masters are enforced to give good custody to the slaves. Slavery as a decent act by Fitzhugh roots its origin in his perception about human nature. In his statements, human nature is individualistic. Selfishness is the goal of every human being in the world. This selfishness drives man in competing with other men for achieving their wants and goals. This is in coherence with the laws of nature because animals and plants also employ the notion of competition. Stronger and cannier animals overpower and even kill those weaker ones. In the case of plants, those who have the inherent capabilities to survive get more nutrition and minerals than those whose capabilities are menial in surviving the harshness of their natural environment. Thus, it is normal and adequate that in the course of competition, other human beings subjugate other humans. Their triumph over other human beings is a noble cause of their perseverance in struggling for survival. Consequently it is a natural process that men who have prevailed in the struggle for survival be compensated with more facilities of easier life such as larger profit in the course of industry when compared with other men who are incapable of offsetting other men. Therefore, slavery is a result of the white masters’ great capabilities of outweighing the Negros. And the white masters deserve the Negros as their slaves. Slavery is a compensation for the difficulty that white masters underwent. According to the defense of Fitzhugh’s slavery, the Negro must be very thankful of his being bound with the master. It is because the Negros will never need to worry on the means of his daily survival for his white master has given him all that he wanted and will never bereft him of his wants. Fitzhugh stressed that the slaves are actually lucky in the master-slave relationship. When the slave is born, all needs and wants will be provided by the master. The slave will not worry regarding his daily existence because the master will greatly need his assistance. The slave will never be bereft of support from the master. In this light, Fitzhugh declares that the South of the Americas has actually become the model of communism. Another advantage of slavery according to Fitzhugh is the lack of competition among slaves in terms of finding labor. There is also no dispute between the master and the slaves because each part is in the service of the advantage of each other. The slave need not fear the forthcoming of imminent difficulties for he is depending on the white master. Accordingly, this dependency results in the extensive progress of the sense of affection of masters and slaves because this dependency is based on the inherent laws of nature. This dependency also demonstrates the goodness of the white masters to the Negro slaves. Fitzhugh also pointed that in the states that practices slavery, the incidence of crimes, poverty, and dissent are minimal. As the in the South of America, people are happy and calm. Harmony thrives among the inhabitants of the South. The abovementioned are the reasons and arguments of Fitzhugh in his defense of slavery. Because of the preceding statements, Fitzhugh asserted that slavery is a necessary component of a society. Slavery can induce the development of a society for it is transpiring in the light of cooperation and in the symbiotic relationship of the masters and slaves. Further it is in precise agreement in the laws of nature. The arguments of Fitzhugh seem to be reasonable but on the other hand, the accounts of slavery in reality tell differently. Slaves are in total opposite of the accounts of Fitzhugh regarding the harmony of slaves’ lives. In an interview with a past slave named Nancy Boudry, the true story of the lives of Negros has been recounted (Rawrick pp. 113-117). Nancy said that the life as a slave is a life full of difficulty with lengthy periods of work, tough labor, and regular beating from white masters. She told the hardships that she has experience with the everyday life with his master. Another tormenting disproof on the assertions of Fitzhugh is the account of a slave mother who has killed her child (Bassett, pp. 215-216). The crime is committed by the slave mother on the reason of eradicating all the possibilities of her conceived child being subjected in the same existence as her. She is asked if he felt any form of tension when she is performing the act of killing. It is very astounding to know that the slave did not feel any form of tension or fear for herself. All she felt is the relief that her two children have been alleviated from the cruel fate of all colored-skin humans. She has decided to kill her children also because of the brutal treatment of her master towards her. She did not want her children to experience what she has experienced. Aside from accounts of mothers and elderly, there is also a distressing account of a young lady in the hands of his malevolent and evil white master (Jacobs, pp. 142-150). In her account, it will be discovered that slavery is a very painful situation in the eyes of young girl. The hard work and beatings are not the only problem that a growing lady can encounter in a relationship of masters to slaves. Also, sexual abuse is a threat to any growing lady that is possessed as a slave by the white master. The innocence of the growing lady has been replaced by contempt and loathing for her white master. Other narratives of slaves highlight the torment that slaves feel whenever they witnessed their Negro brothers and sisters being maltreated by the white masters. They tell that they can’t contain the sadness that they feel whenever they see such. Though they hardly want to show compassion for their brothers and sisters, it is prohibited by the cruelty of the circumstances where in they are situated. It is also worth noting that slaves are not only been subjected to the ruthlessness of slavery. Also, slaves have experienced the hardships of the civil war, particularly those who inhabit the Southern part of the Americas. In comparison of the South America with the North America, slavery is identified as one of the evils of the South. Failures in the South America are attributed to the practice of slavery contrary to what Fitzhugh is espousing in his assertions. These accounts are only a minute part of the whole accounts of Negros who have suffered from slavery. In reality, it is true that slaves must worry about their future for they are supported by their masters. However, this dependence has subjugated the Negros beyond the level of human beings, slavery made them into animals. And no virtue of humanity is at the side of an act which violates not only the freewill of a person but mostly his disposition as someone that is also human. Therefore, Fitzhugh’s arguments are resting on erroneous and disdainful bases.His position is really not in the side of the society but only in the side of those who benefits from the evils of slavery. References: 1. Rawrick, G. (1972). The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography Vol. 12. Westport: Greenwood. 2. Bassett, P. S. (1856, February 12). A Visit to the Slave Mother Who Killed Her Child. American Baptist Magazine, 215-216. 3. Jacobs, A. (1861). Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. \ 4. Douglass, F. (1845). Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. 5. Furman, R. (1822). Exposition of the Views of the Baptists, Relative to the Coloured Population of the United States, in a Communication to the Governor of South Carolina. 6. Escott. (1999). Major Problems in the History of American South. Houghton: Mifflin. 7. Helper, R. (1857). The Impending Crisis of the South. 8. Longstreet, A. (1835). The Fight. Georgia Scenes: Characters, Incidents in the First Half Century of the Republic. 9. Rose. (1976). Documentary History of Slavery in North America. Oxford University Press.

Strategic Management at Sainsburys

Strategic Management at Sainsburys Introduction The word â€Å"strategy† is often over-used in a fuzzy manner. Therefore this simple and straight-forward definition of strategy given by William E Rothschild, the business leader and an ex-General Electric veteran is one of the best available. He defines strategy as â€Å"What do you want to achieve or avoid? The answers to this question are objectives. How will you go about achieving your desired results? The answer to this you can call strategy.† The highlight of this definition is that it clearly distinguishes strategy from â€Å"objectives.† This assignment examines strategic management at Sainsburys, during various booms and busts from the days of its launch till date. The analysis is done within the various conceptual frameworks of strategic management in general and Michael Porters five forces model, in particular. Strategic Management An articulate, well-laid out and well-executed strategy is the cornerstone of long term prosperity of any business. Strategy operates at various levels, starting with Business or Corporate strategy. Since the ultimate goal of a business is to gain leadership position in one or the other form, business strategy shapes marketing strategy, competitive strategy and growth strategy. Corporate Strategy This is an organisation wide strategy that directs and controls the composition of all business activity. It starts with a clear and quantified mission statement. This area is a preserve of top management. Decisions are taken on: How resources will be allocated across the organisation Portfolio of activities for the firm Clear definition of the objectives One of the key ingredients of good strategic management is organisational leadership and its ability to clarify strategic intent. Driven by vision, it is â€Å"an articulation of a simple criterion or characterisation of what a company must become to establish and sustain global leadership.† (Source: Pearce et al pp 340). Competitive Strategy In an ideal situation of a monopoly, competitive strategy has no significance. But in reality this is never the case. In near perfect competition, leadership position comes to a business only by gaining sustainable advantage over its competititors. At times this also determines the growth paths that a business should take. For instance, evaluating a move away from core competence into a completely unrelated business, or initiating take-over of another business that can offer synergies. The five forces model Michael E Porter proposed the five forces model in 1980 in his book â€Å"Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors.† In this widely respected and accepted framework he suggests that there are five generic forces that act upon a business irrespective of what industry it operates in. These forces are: Competitive rivalry within the industry between existing businesses: The significance of this force in a sector such as the UK grocery retail sector, with large number of players, is the erosion of loyalty because of perceived commoditisation. Threat of new entrants: If the barriers to entry are low because of low capital investment or lack of regulation, it can create further pressure with price cutting. Bargaining power of suppliers: Leads to lack of control over the supply chain Bargaining power of customers: Erodes loyalty and causes switching Availability of substitutes: Once again erodes customer loyalty and causes switching. This is a real pressure on UKs retail sector. To counter these forces and gain competitive advantage a firm can adopt either or a combination of two business strategies: Comparative advantage / cost leadership: This emerges from economies of scale. It is a firms ability to source and produce at cost which is lower than its competitors and therefore earn higher margins. It does not necessarily mean offering lower price in the marketplace. Differential advantage / differentiation: Is a firms ability to create a unique perception about itself vis-à  -vis its competitors in the marketplace. It allows a business to cultivate loyal segments of customers. Sainsburys Background Founded and launched in 1869, J Sainsburys PLC has as rich a history as modern London. John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury launched their first store named Sainsburys at Drury Lane and quickly expanded to a chain of four shops by 1882. â€Å"Throughout companys history, the Sainsbury brand has been synonymous with good-quality, well-presented products, with 50 and 60 per cent of the range being sold under the various versions of Sainsburys brand.† (Source: Varley). An average Sainsburys supermarket today stocks approximately 30,000 products 50% of which are its own label. The company not only wants to deliver high quality products but also wants to be seen as doing this by its customer. (Source: Thompson et al pp 192). The mission of revival: In the last decade, the company has lost its leadership position to Tesco and ASDA.. Currently it has between 16-17% market share, and is placed at third position. In 2004, there was a change at the top level. In 2005, its new chief executive clarified the companys strategic intent by launching an organisation wide revival programme â€Å"Making Sainsburys Great Again† and announced a mission of increasing sales by  £2.5bn by the end of 2007-08. As a result of this turnaround program, at the end of this financial year, Sainsburys â€Å"has reported sales growth ahead of expectations.† (Source: BBC New Website) Competitive strategy: If history of successful businesses is analysed, it will clearly emerge that winners are in the top slots because of the risks they have take. Businesses hungry for long-term success identify gaps and problem areas and attempt to provide solutions to their customers. Leaders at the helm do this with a combination of instinct backed by objective analysis of emerging trends. This is precisely what Sainsburys did in an extremely tough economic and social environment during and after the World War II when external forces were threatening its existence. In a pioneering move in the UK market, the grocery chain re-engineered its store operations by adopting the American format of food-retailing. Its first â€Å"selfservice† store launched in 1950 immediately after the World War II, when food and other resources required for subsistence were scarce, became a success because it solved a major problem faced by customers it busted shopping queues. (Source: Sainsbur ys website). Such moves are evident through out its existence and its march towards becoming one of the best known retailers in the history of British business. Sainsburys today: A move towards consolidation and growth The company plans to focus on three of its core areas: Sainsburys Supermarkets, Sainsburys Online and Sainburys Bank Steps taken since 2004 in the retailing business: Price reduction across a number of products. Improving availability. Introduction of over 3000 new items. Introduction of nutritional labelling branded â€Å"Wheel of health† on over 1500 products. Introduction of â€Å"Try cards† under the slogan ‘Try Something New Today built on healthy eating plank. The initiative aims to add value to the food shopping habits and changing food consumption habits. Its success measured by â€Å"over 7 million ‘Try cards picked up in stores.† Engaging its 3500 smaller scale suppliers by launching a campaign â€Å"Supply Something.† The initiative is aimed at making local supply chain robust. Increasing non-food product categories especially to generate a minimum of  £700m sales. Initiating community participation programs such as â€Å"Active Kids campaign† involving donations of equipment to schools. Attempting to become a responsible corporate citizen by setting targets of reducing carbon emissions and introducing re-cycling. The company has a sourcing office in Hong Kong â€Å"Sainsburys serves 16 million customers each week in 455 supermarkets and 301 convenience stores across the country. The company employs 148,000 colleagues commited to delivering ‘Great Food at Fair Prices.† maintains the companys official website. All the above activities are aimed towards gaining either diffrential or cost leadership or a combination of both. The future There is an increase in sales in the grocery business over the last financial year amounting to Pounds 324 million a growth of 458.6% over 2006. However financial services that accounts for just 1.7% of the total sales has seen a fall of 11.8% over 2006. The organisation states one of it values as â€Å"Getting better Every Day.† In the current tight economic scenario, Shareholders are expecting most of the retailers to use their real estate assets for generating additional liquidity. But in a move completely reverse of the expectation, Sainsburys has tied-up with their lessor British Land. â€Å"Sainsburys also announced it was teaming up with British Land to create a  £1.2bn joint venture to run 39 superstores across the UK. The supermarket says it will invest  £273m into the venture, in which it will have a 50% stake. The stores are currently owned by British Land and leased to Sainsbury for 20 years.† (Source: BBC News Website). Land is the fundamental element in a large scale retail business and store location, store design and merchandise are all important critical success factors. It can be safely concluded that this recent collaborative move by Sainsburys is a deliberate long term. By investing in developing its stores, it can further hope to get a differential advantage over its competitors.

Hore-Belisha :: essays research papers

As you look back and learn about the times surrounding World War II, you don’t come across the name Hore-Belisha, well at least I have not. Who was this man? What was his role, if he had one at all? My article digs into the presence of Hore-Belisha. I will hopefully be able to give you a good understanding of who this man was and what he did.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His name was Isaac Leslie Hore-Belisha (1893-1957). Isaac was the son of a Sephardic Jew and became a major in the Royal Army Service Crops during World War I. As a college student, he was educated at Clifton and St. John’s College. He also became first post war president of the Union. Hore-Belisha, furthermore, worked as a journalist for Beaverbrook until winning Devonport for the Liberals in 1923. Isaac then went on to dividing the Liberal Party by organizing a new National Liberal Party to support The Ramsay Macdonald-Baldwin National Government. Hore-Belisha soon became a big name in the government as he became Financial Secretary to the Treasury. That position impressed Chamberlain, which would prove good later. Isaac then became Minister of Transport (1934-1937), in which he reduced road accidents by simply introducing a driving test, a Highway code, and pedestrian crossing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Isaac was a great governmental figure. Looking back at all his accomplishment, Hore-Belisha has done a lot for his English country. Therefore in May of 1937, Chamberlain chose Isaac for War Office. Chamberlain choice was quite unusual because of the fact that Hore-Belisha was Jewish, but Chamberlain had good reason. Chamberlain looked for a man to be Secretary of State that would stick to Chamberlain’s policy of limited liability. This policy would cause England to have no involvement in Europe. England wanted to stay a neutral country and this was its plan. In addition to staying a neutral country, limited liability would also reduce the cost of the Army to benefit the Navy, the RAF, and the taxpayer. So Chamberlain promoted Duff Cooper, present war minister, to the Admiralty and replaced he with Hore-Belisha. Now being young Jewish man in the cabinet, Hore-Belisha depended on Chamberlain’s support.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trying to prove he was more then Chamberlain’s little toy monkey, Isaac started to make some improvement in the military. Isaac improved recruitment by inaugurating reforms known as the radicalization of the Army. He then went on to make army life more attractive.

Prejudice in Heart of Darkness - Racism in the Heart :: HOD Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness

Racism in Heart of Darkness I find no elements of racism in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. I will admit that I began reading this with a little hesitation based on the fact that I do not like to read about human cruelty. However, after reading the story, I did not feel any negative feelings toward the story or author. I feel one must realize that the occurrences of this story were really happening. I do not feel that by the virtue of performing a task that one is hired to do makes one a racist. Many times social problems are so overwhelming that one individual does not know where to begin in correcting the problem. Marlow was described as unemployed with a childhood dream to go to the uncharted Africa. I feel Marlow went to the Congo with no real knowledge of what was truly happening in the Congo. In addition to this thought, people really do not have the capabilities to know the severity of a problem until one experiences it first hand.   I believe that injustices towards another human race are intolerable. However, social change takes time from many people experiencing the issue. In my opinion, there were several incidents within the story that indicated to me that Conrad's character, Marlow, was not a racist. For example, when Marlow is first at the station, he spies a big shade tree in the distance and decides to investigate. Marlow goes under the tree and finds many African people moaning and waiting to die. Marlow is stunned at what he encounters.   This encounter stays with him throughout his time in the Congo.   Marlow was never cruel to his black crewmembers.  Ã‚   After his helmsman died in the attack ordered by Kurtz, Marlow was quite shaken. He later describes that he will never forget the look on his face. I also feel he did a service to the deceased man by throwing him overboard as opposed to letting him possibly be eaten by the rumored cannibals that were part of the crew. In another incident, Marlow saw the pilgrims poising themselves to shoot the natives that had lined up along the river after retrieving Kurtz.   As opposed to allowing them to shoot them unmercifully, Marlow blows the steamers horn knowing it would scare the natives back into the forest and saving them from the guns.

Christopher Columbus a Hero?

In the 1500’s, people were curious about the world and wanted to advance so they explored, the explorers who discovered different things were regarded as hero’s but even though Christopher Columbus found America, he was no hero. Christopher Columbus unintentionally discovered America, when he landed in the Caribbean Islands, while looking for a direct sea route to Asia. Columbus was a selfish and untrustworthy man but was given honor. He was the cause of slavery, oppression, and mass genocide in the Americas and Africa. Obviously, Columbus was not a hero but the exact opposite. The first fact about Columbus being a villain is that he deculturalized people. When Columbus met the Tainos in North America, he wanted to make them just like Europeans, he was trying to make them all Christian. He forced them to find gold where there was none, and if they did not find any Columbus would kill them. Columbus also forced the natives to become slaves, most of the natives died on their way to Spain. Columbus and his men threw natives corpses over the side of the boat and into the ocean. The natives that did not become slaves worked on plantations or mines where they too would die from the hard working conditions. After they greeted the Europeans to their land with open arms, they were thrown aside like animals. Another important fact that makes Columbus not a hero is lying. Columbus lied to the queen about the explored island, He said that there's a lot of gold and spices, and people there would share anything with anyone. Columbus also lied that he reached Asia, which was his destination spot and then insisted that he discovered this land when the Taino were found their. He said all those things to make the queen believe that he's a good man and to save himself from the death. This doesn't only make him a liar but it also makes him selfish, he even took the prize of reaching the Bahamas from one of his crew mates in order to pay off a debt. The worst thing that Columbus did to gain a â€Å"bad character† name is genocide. When Columbus went to America second time, he brought a lot of Indians back with him to make them slaves to work for his queen. A lot of people died on the way to Columbus's country, and others were dying because they worked hard as slaves in mines and fields, which were hard and dangerous, or they wee sick with a disease, but he wasn’t the cause of not just one genocide but two. The African Americans were mistreated just as much if not worse, his reason for this was a shortage of Indian slaves. He enslaved these people after they were betrayed by their own and trade for guns. There were many deaths and the lives of the Africans were beyond comprehension and this was all thank to Christopher Columbus. Without a doubt, Columbus was a terrible man and doesn’t deserve the recognition of a hero but a villain. An entire culture was ruined when it has been alive for maybe hundreds of years before Columbus arrived. Columbus betrayed his crew and the native after they were being kind and generous to him, just to cover for the lies he told. The Natives and Africans were killed, raped, and enslaved all because Columbus. Many men and women are thought of as hero and they do this by accomplishing something for the greater good of people but this is the opposite of what he has done.

My Career in Psychology Essay

As I was doing the MBTI test, I was thinking about my career goal, and I was hoping, the results gave more motivation to keep studying Psychology. At first, some of the question didn’t make sense to me because they were repeat it, but when I was done with test I started to review the answer sheet and every single that was asked made sense. When I finished reviewing my score my results came to ESFJ. ESFJ fits perfect with me because I love to work with people; I have always felt that I’m connected to everyone around me and I have to value that connection. I’m hoping to continue to work with people after I accomplish my goal of becoming a therapist or a counselor. As an ESFJ, your method of living is to focus externally, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system. The secondary method is internal, where you take things n via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. ESFJ is consider to be the caregiver and therefore, people has the options to choose for their career like nursing, teaching, child care, family practice physician, counselors/ social worker, and etc†¦ Like, I have mentioned before I want to be a therapist/counselor and work with the young population. I wan to give back to my community by teaching others that nothing is impossible. I will guide others by example. When I got pregnant at the age of fifteen, people thought that it was going to be end for me. My family used to tell me that I was not going to finish high school or college, and I have proved that they wrong. I received my high school diploma, and I achieved two associates degree one in Accounting and one in Liberal arts. Through my experiences, I feel more sensitive around other people. I consider myself a caring person who always put others first, and I leave myself last. I’m very please with my MBTI result, and I have no disagreement or question. Now, I know that being sensitive is not a bad thing or weakness. Being sensitive to other is quality because it makes me understand others. ESFJ will keep me motivated to achieve my main goal of becoming a therapist later in my life.

Abuse Institutional Abuse Essay

Unit 204 – Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care The numbers in the bracket after each question relate to the assessment criteria in the standards UNIT 4222-205 1. Define the following types of abuse: (1.1.1) see more:reports into serious failures to protect individuals from abuse †¢ Sexual abuse Sexual abuse is the forcing of undesired sexual behaviour by one person upon another †¢ Emotional/psychological abuse Emotional/psychological abuse may involve threats or actions to cause mental or physical harm; humiliation; voilation †¢ Financial abuse Financial abuse is the illegal or unauthorised use of a person’s money, property, pension book or other valuables. †¢ Institutional abuse Institutional abuse involves failure of an organisation to provide appropriate and professional individual services to vulnerable people. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour that amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, stereotyping and rigid systems. †¢ Self neglect Self-neglect is a behavioural condition in which an individual neglects to attend to their basic needs, such as personal hygiene, feeding, clothing, or medical conditions they might have. †¢ Neglect by others Neglect is a passive form of abuse in which the wrongdoer is responsible to provide care, for someone, who is unable to care for oneself, but fails to provide adequate care to meet their needs. Neglect may include failing to provide sufficient supervision, nourishment, medical care or other needs. 2. Identify the signs and/or symptoms associated with each type of abuse (1.1.2) 3. Describe factors that may contribute to an individual being more vulnerable to abuse (1.1.3) 4. Explain the actions to take if there are suspicions that an individual is being abused (2.2.1) 5. Explain the actions to take if an individual alleges that they are being abused (2.2.2) 6. Identify ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preserved (2.2.3) 7. Identify national policies and local systems that relate to safeguarding and protection from abuse (3.3.1) 8. Explain the roles of different agencies in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse (3.3.2) 9. Identify reports into serious failures to protect individuals from abuse (3.3.3) 10. Identify sources of information and advice about own role in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse (3.3.4) 11. Explain how the likelihood of abuse may be reduced by: (4.4.1) a. person-centred values b. active participation c. promoting choice and rights 12. Explain the importance of an accessible complaints procedure for reducing the likelihood of abuse (4.4.2) 13. Describe unsafe practices that may affect the wellbeing of individuals (5.5.1) 14. Explain the actions to take if unsafe practices have been identified (5.5.2) 15. Describe the action to take if suspected abuse or unsafe practices have been reported but nothing has been done in response (5.5.3)

Photography Analysis Year

This image by Sarah Ann Loretta can be described as a woman slowly drowning g in water . What makes this image stand out is the atmosphere that is being portrayed in it. It's a moody and dark atmosphere that creates the massive impact in the image. There are 3 factors that create the mood. The expression on the woman's face, the lighting and droplets of rain within the image. The photograph has a low depth of field as it is only focusing on the woman's face.It was taken in landscape format to show the length of the woman's body and this was a v ere good effect as it enhances the atmosphere within the image. This was done by creating a liar GE amount of space around the model and giving the photograph a moody and lonely ape arrange. Keeping the position of the model in the centre it creates the mood that nothing is are undo her which sustains the mood of the photograph. The colors of the photograph is mixed between whites,greens and blacks. Tit the background on the photograph being very dark and murky, Loretta enlarges the mood of the photograph by contrasting the model's clothe Eng to an innocent white, and with the model's serious expression with big, deep almost sorrows LU eyes has brought the image together. HTTPS://www. Licker. Com/photos/laurelling/8637194920/ This is a photograph by Laura Galena and it's called â€Å"facing it calmly†. The pH autograph shows a woman in a red dress walking through a dull forest.This image stands out du e to the contrasting colors between the bright red color of the woman's dress and the dull brow won colors. The photograph is taken in landscape format to accentuate the size of the backer mound which creates a mood towards the photograph. It has a high depth of field showing the ammo unit Of detail around the whole image. Candela used natural light to show the contrasting red dress .

Planned Approach to Change Essay

The work of Kurt Lewin dominated the theory and practice of change management for over 40 years. However, in the past 20 years, Lewin’s approach to change, particularly the 3-Step model, has attracted major criticisms. The key ones are that his work: assumed organizations operate in a stable state; was only suitable for small-scale change projects; ignored organizational power and politics; and was top-down and management-driven. This article seeks to re-appraise Lewin’s work and challenge the validity of these views. It begins by describing Lewin’s background and beliefs, especially his commitment to resolving social conï ¬â€šict. The article then moves on to examine the main elements of his Planned approach to change: Field Theory; Group Dynamics; Action Research; and the 3-Step model. This is followed by a brief summary of the major developments in the ï ¬ eld of organizational change since Lewin’s death which, in turn, leads to an examination of the main criticisms levelled at Lewin’s work. The article concludes by arguing that rather than being outdated or redundant, Lewin’s approach is still relevant to the modern world. INTRODUCTION Freud the clinician and Lewin the experimentalist – these are the two men whose names will stand out before all others in the history of our psychological era.  The above quotation is taken from Edward C Tolman’s memorial address for Kurt Lewin delivered at the 1947 Convention of the American Psychological Association (quoted in Marrow, 1969, p. ix). To many people today it will seem strange that Lewin should have been given equal status with Freud. Some 50 years after his death, Lewin is now mainly remembered as the originator of the 3-Step model of change USA. Address for reprints: Bernard Burnes, Manchester School of Management, UMIST, Manchester M60 1QD, UK (Bernard.Burnes@umist.ac.uk).dismissed as outdated (Burnes, 2000; Dawson, 1994; Dent and Goldberg, 1999; Hatch, 1997; Kanter et al., 1992; Marshak, 1993). Yet, as this article will argue, his contribution to our understanding of individual and group behaviour and the role these play in organizations and society was enormous and is still relevant. In today’s turbulent and changing world, one might expect Lewin’s pioneering work on change to be seized upon with gratitude, especially given the high failure rate of many change programmes (Huczynski and Buchanan, 2001; Kearney, 1989; Kotter, 1996; Stickland, 1998; Waclawski, 2002; Wastell et al., 1994; Watcher, 1993; Whyte and Watcher, 1992; Zairi et al., 1994). Unfortunately, his commitment to extending democratic values in society and his work on Field Theory, Group Dynamics and Action Research which, together with his 3-Step model, formed an inter-linked, elaborate and robust approach to Planned change, have received less and less attention (Ash, 1992; Bargal et al., 1992; Cooke, 1999). Indeed, from the 1980s, even Lewin’s work on change was increasingly criticized as relevant only to small-scale changes in stable conditions, and for ignoring issues such as organizational politics and conï ¬â€šict. In its place, writers sought to promote a view of change as being constant, and as a political process within organizations (Dawson, 1994; Pettigrew et al., 1992; Wilson, 1992). The purpose of this article is to re-appraise Lewin and his work.. The article begins by describing Lewin’s background, especially the origins of his commitment to resolving social conï ¬â€šict. It then moves on to examine the main elements of his Planned approach to change. This is followed by a description of developments in the ï ¬ eld of organizational change since Lewin’s death, and an evaluation of the criticisms levelled against his work. The article concludes by arguing that rather than being outdated, Lewin’s Planned approach is still very relevant to the needs of the modern world. LEWIN’S BACKGROUND Few social scientists can have received the level of praise and admiration  that has been heaped upon Kurt Lewin (Ash, 1992; Bargal et al., 1992; Dent and Goldberg, 1999; Dickens and Watkins, 1999; Tobach, 1994). As Edgar Schein (1988, p. 239) enthusiastically commented: There is little question that the intellectual father of contemporary theories of applied behavioural science, action research and planned change is Kurt Lewin. His seminal work on leadership style and the experiments on planned change which took place in World War II in an effort to change consumer behaviour launched a whole generation of research in group dynamics and the implementation of change programs. 978 B. Burnes  © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004For most of his life, Lewin’s main preoccupation was the resolution of social con- ï ¬â€šict and, in particular, the problems of minority or disadvantaged groups. Underpinning this preoccupation was a strong belief that only the permeation of democratic values into all facets of society could prevent the worst extremes of social conï ¬â€šict. As his wife wrote in the Preface to a volume of his collected work published after his death: Kurt Lewin was so constantly and predominantly preoccupied with the task of advancing the conceptual representation of the social-psychological world, and at the same time he was so ï ¬ lled with the urgent desire to use his theoretical insight for the building of a better world, that it is difï ¬ cult to decide which of these two sources of motivation ï ¬â€šowed with greater energy or vigour. (Lewin, 1948b) To a large extent, his interests and beliefs stemmed from his background as a German Jew. Lewin was born in 1890 and, for a Jew growing up in Germany, at this time, ofï ¬ cially-approved anti-Semitism was a fact of life. Few Jews could expect to achieve a responsible post in the civil service or universities. Despite this, Lewin was awarded a doctorate at the University of Berlin in 1916 and went on to teach there. Though he was never awarded tenured status, Lewin achieved a growing international reputation in the 1920s as a leader in his ï ¬ eld (Lewin, 1992). However, with the rise of the Nazi Party, Lewin recognized that the position of Jews in Germany was  increasingly threatened. The election of Hitler as Chancellor in 1933 was the ï ¬ nal straw for him; he resigned from the University and moved to America (Marrow, 1969). In America, Lewin found a job ï ¬ rst as a ‘refugee scholar’ at Cornell University and then, from 1935 to 1945, at the University of Iowa. Here he was to embark on an ambitious programme of research which covered topics such as child-parent relations, conï ¬â€šict in marriage, styles of leadership, worker motivation and performance, conï ¬â€šict in industry, group problem-solving, communication and attitude change, racism, anti-Semitism, anti-racism, discrimination and prejudice, integration-segregation, peace, war and poverty (Bargal et al., 1992; Cartwright, 1952; Lewin, 1948a). As Cooke (1999) notes, given the prevalence of racism and antiSemitism in America at the time, much of this work, especially his increasingly public advocacy in support of disadvantaged groups, put Lewin on the political left. During the years of the Second World War, Lewin did much work for the American war effort. This included studies of the morale of front-line troops and psychological warfare, and his famous study aimed at persuading American housewives to buy cheaper cuts of meat (Lewin, 1943a; Marrow, 1969). He was also much in demand as a speaker on minority and inter-group relations Kurt Lewin 979  © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004(Smith, 2001). These activities chimed with one of his central preoccupations, which was how Germany’s authoritarian and racist culture could be replaced with one imbued with democratic values. He saw democracy, and the spread of democratic values throughout society, as the central bastion against authoritarianism and despotism. That he viewed the establishment of democracy as a major task, and avoided simplistic and structural recipes, can be gleaned from the following extracts from his article on ‘The special case of Germany’ (Lewin, 1943b): Nazi culture . . . is deeply rooted, particularly in the youth on whom the . . . future depends. It is a culture which is centred around power as the supreme value and which denounces justice and equality . . . (p. 43) To be  stable, a cultural change has to penetrate all aspects of a nation’s life. The change must, in short, be a change in the ‘cultural atmosphere,’ not merely a change of a single item. (p. 46) Change in culture requires the change of leadership forms in every walk of life. At the start, particularly important is leadership in those social areas which are fundamental from the point of view of power. (p. 55) With the end of the War, Lewin established the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The aim of the Center was to investigate all aspects of group behaviour, especially how it could be changed. At the same time, he was also chief architect of the Commission on Community Interrelations (CCI). Founded and funded by the American Jewish Congress, its aim was the eradication of discrimination against all minority groups. As Lewin wrote at the time, ‘We Jews will have to ï ¬ ght for ourselves and we will do so strongly and with good conscience. We also know that the ï ¬ ght of the Jews is part of the ï ¬ ght of all minorities for democratic equality of rights and opportunities . . .’ (quoted in Marrow, 1969, p. 175). In pursuing this objective, Lewin believed that his work on Group Dynamics and Action Research would provide the key tools for the CCI. Lewin was also inï ¬â€šuential in establishing the Tavistock Institute in the UK and its Journal, Human Relations ( Jaques, 1998; Marrow, 1969). In addition, in 1946, the Connecticut State Inter-Racial Commission asked Lewin to help train leaders and conduct research on the most effective means of combating racial and religious prejudice in communities. This led to the development of sensitivity training and the creation, in 1947, of the now famous National Training Laboratories. However, his huge workload took its toll on his health, and on 11 February 1947 he died of a heart attack (Lewin, 1992). 980 B. Burnes  © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004LEWIN’S WORK Lewin was a humanitarian who believed that only by resolving social conï ¬â€šict, whether it be religious, racial, marital or industrial, could the human condition be improved. Lewin believed that the key to resolving social  conï ¬â€šict was to facilitate learning and so enable individuals to understand and restructure their perceptions of the world around them. In this he was much inï ¬â€šuenced by the Gestalt psychologists he had worked with in Berlin (Smith, 2001). A unifying theme of much of his work is the view that ‘. . . the group to which an individual belongs is the ground for his perceptions, his feelings and his actions’ (Allport, 1948, p. vii). Though Field Theory, Group Dynamics, Action Research and the 3-Step model of change are often treated as separate themes of his work, Lewin saw them as a uniï ¬ ed whole with each element supporting and reinforcing the others and all of them necessary to understand and bring about Planned change, whether it be at the level of the individual, group, organization or even society (Bargal and Bar, 1992; Kippenberger, 1998a, 1998b; Smith, 2001). As Allport (1948, p. ix) states: ‘All of his concepts, whatever root-metaphor they employ, comprise a single wellintegrated system’. This can be seen from examining these four aspects of his work in turn. Field Theory This is an approach to understanding group behaviour by trying to map out the totality and complexity of the ï ¬ eld in which the behaviour takes place (Back, 1992). Lewin maintained that to understand any situation it was necessary that: ‘One should view the present situation – the status quo – as being maintained by certain conditions or forces’ (Lewin, 1943a, p. 172). Lewin (1947b) postulated that group behaviour is an intricate set of symbolic interactions and forces that not only affect group structures, but also modify individual behaviour. Therefore, individual behaviour is a function of the group environment or ‘ï ¬ eld’, as he termed it. Consequently, any changes in behaviour stem from changes, be they small or large, in the forces within the ï ¬ eld (Lewin, 1947a). Lewin deï ¬ ned a ï ¬ eld as ‘a totality of coexisting facts which are conceived of as mutually interdependent . . .’ (Lewin, 1946, p. 240). Lewin believed that a ï ¬ eld was in a continuous state of adaptation and that ‘Change and constancy are relative concepts; group life is never without change, merely differences in the amount and type of change exist’ (Lewin, 1947a, p. 199). This is why Lewin used the term ‘quasi-stationary equilibrium’ to indicate that whilst there might be a rhythm and pattern to the behaviour and processes of a group, these tended  to ï ¬â€šuctuate constantly owing to changes in the forces or circumstances that impinge on the group. Lewin’s view was that if one could identify, plot and establish the potency of these forces, then it would be possible not only to understand why individuals, Kurt Lewin 981  Ã‚ © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004groups and organizations act as they do, but also what forces would need to be diminished or strengthened in order to bring about change. In the main, Lewin saw behavioural change as a slow process; however, he did recognize that under certain circumstances, such as a personal, organizational or societal crisis, the various forces in the ï ¬ eld can shift quickly and radically. In such situations, established routines and behaviours break down and the status quo is no longer viable; new patterns of activity can rapidly emerge and a new equilibrium (or quasistationary equilibrium) is formed (Kippenberger, 1998a; Lewin, 1947a). Despite its obvious value as a vehicle for understanding and changing group behaviour, with Lewin’s death, the general interest in Field Theory waned (Back, 1992; Gold, 1992; Hendry, 1996). However, in recent years, with the work of Argyris (1990) and Hirschhorn (1988) on understanding and overcoming resistance to change, Lewin’s work on Field Theory has once again begun to attract interest. According to Hendry (1996), even critics of Lewin’s work have drawn on Field Theory to develop their own models of change (see Pettigrew et al., 1989, 1992). Indeed, parallels have even been drawn between Lewin’s work and the work of complexity theorists (Kippenberger, 1998a). Back (1992), for example, argued that the formulation and behaviour of complex systems as described by Chaos and Catastrophe theorists bear striking similarities to Lewin’s conceptualization of Field Theory. Nevertheless, Field Theory is now probably the least understood element of Lewin’s work, yet, because of its potential to map the forces impinging on an individual, group or organization, it underpinned the other elements of his work. Group Dynamics the word ‘dynamics’ . . . comes from a Greek word meaning force . . . ‘group . . . dynamics’ refers to the forces operating in groups . . . it is a  study of these forces: what gives rise to them, what conditions modify them, what consequences they have, etc. (Cartwright, 1951, p. 382) Lewin was the ï ¬ rst psychologist to write about ‘group dynamics’ and the importance of the group in shaping the behaviour of its members (Allport, 1948; Bargal et al., 1992). Indeed, Lewin’s (1939, p. 165) deï ¬ nition of a ‘group’ is still generally accepted: ‘. . . it is not the similarity or dissimilarity of individuals that constitutes a group, but interdependence of fate’. As Kippenberger (1998a) notes, Lewin was addressing two questions: What is it about the nature and characteristics of a particular group which causes it to respond (behave) as it does to the forces which impinge on it, and how can these forces be changed in order to elicit a more desirable form of behaviour? It was to address these questions that Lewin began to develop the concept of Group Dynamics. Group Dynamics stresses that group behaviour, rather than that of individuals, should be the main focus of change (Bernstein, 1968; Dent and Goldberg, 1999). Lewin (1947b) maintained that it is fruitless to concentrate on changing the behaviour of individuals because the individual in isolation is constrained by group pressures to conform. Consequently, the focus of change must be at the group level and should concentrate on factors such as group norms, roles, interactions and socialization processes to create ‘disequilibrium’ and change (Schein, 1988). Lewin’s pioneering work on Group Dynamics not only laid the foundations for our understanding of groups (Cooke, 1999; Dent and Goldberg, 1999; French and Bell, 1984; Marrow, 1969; Schein, 1988) but has also been linked to complexity theories by researchers examining self-organizing theory and non-linear systems (Tschacher and Brunner, 1995). However, understanding the internal dynamics of a group is not sufï ¬ cient by itself to bring about change. Lewin also recognized the need to provide a process whereby the members could be engaged in and committed to changing their behaviour. This led Lewin to develop Action Research and the 3-Step model of change. Action Research This term was coined by Lewin (1946) in an article entitled ‘Action research and minority problems’. Lewin stated in the article: In the last year and a half I have had occasion to have contact with a great variety of organizations, institutions, and individuals who came for help in the ï ¬ eld of group relations. (Lewin, 1946, p. 201) However, though these people exhibited . . .  a great amount of good-will, of readiness to face the problem squarely and . . . really do something about it . . . These eager people feel themselves to be in a fog. They feel in a fog on three counts: 1. What is the present situation? 2. What are the dangers? 3. And most importantly of all, what shall we do? (Lewin, 1946, p. 201) Lewin conceived of Action Research as a two-pronged process which would allow groups to address these three questions. Firstly, it emphasizes that change requires action, and is directed at achieving this. Secondly, it recognizes that successful action is based on analysing the situation correctly, identifying all the possible alternative solutions and choosing the one most appropriate to the situation at hand (Bennett, 1983). To be successful, though, there has also to be a ‘felt-need’. FeltKurt Lewin 983  © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004need is an individual’s inner realization that change is necessary. If felt-need is low in the group or organization, introducing change becomes problematic. The theoretical foundations of Action Research lie in Gestalt psychology, which stresses that change can only successfully be achieved by helping individuals to reï ¬â€šect on and gain new insights into the totality of their situation. Lewin (1946, p. 206) stated that Action Research ‘. . . proceeds in a spiral of steps each of which is composed of a circle of planning, action, and fact-ï ¬ nding about the results of the action.’ It is an iterative process whereby research leads to action and action leads to evaluation and further research. As Schein (1996, p. 64) comments, it was Lewin’s view that ‘. . . one cannot understand an organization without trying to change it . . .’ Indeed, Lewin’s view was very much that the understanding and learning which this process produces for the individuals and groups concerned, which then feeds into changed  behaviour, is more important than any resulting change as such (Lewin, 1946). To this end, Action Research draws on Lewin’s work on Field Theory to identify the forces that focus on the group to which the individual belongs. It also draws on Group Dynamics to understand why group members behave in the way they do when subjected to these forces. Lewin stressed that the routines and patterns of behaviour in a group are more than just the outcome of opposing forces in a forceï ¬ eld. They have a value in themselves and have a positive role to play in enforcing group norms (Lewin, 1947a). Action Research stresses that for change to be effective, it must take place at the group level, and must be a participative and collaborative process which involves all of those concerned (Allport, 1948; Bargal et al., 1992; French and Bell, 1984; Lewin, 1947b).

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Drinking Alcohol - Essay Example There have been studies that indicate that the effect of alcohol on a person’s brain increases the occurrence of accidents (vehicular), violent tendencies and aggressive behavior, more serious psychiatric conditions (depression, anxiety, short attention span); and hampering of the brains abilities to function well. Hypothesis: An increase in the consumption of alcohol increases the tendency for people to become socially aggressive and thereby, the victim of bullying would respond by getting retribution for the physical aggression received from the bully. According to Buddy T. â€Å"in all 50 states, the legal limit for drunk driving is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08. A 120-pound woman can reach a .08 BAC level after only two drinks and a 180-pound man can be at .08 after only four drinks† (2010, par. 2). Experimental Process: Three sets of samples (say 5 victims of bullying to drink alcohol in excess of legal limits, 5 victims not to drink, 5 victims to drink just within the legal limit) would be taken and asked to drink as prescribed. They would then be asked to confront their bullies and react according to their state of mind. The frequency and kind of socially aggressive behavior would then be identified, measured and noted according to the sample and control groups. Validity Procedures: Choose sample randomly but with almost the same gender and age as well as the kind of bullying applied (The direct form involves behavior that aims to physically harm the victim through any of the following means: hitting, kicking, pushing (Carbone-Lopez, et.al, 2010, 333) and fighting, flicking, throwing, shoving, hair pulling (Parentline, 2006,

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Summary for chapters 3,4,5 from (The Economics of women,men,and work) - Assignment Example In this book, Chapter Three is all about family as an economic unit where the lesson tries to throw light on the changes that occurs after the marriage in the couple’s life and the changing family structure. The chapter tries to focus on the implications that these changes have on the market outcomes and new data on the allocation on the housework between the men and the women. The family is such a unit where the adult members are held responsible to make informed as well as rational decisions which will help to maximize the well being of the family. It has been frequently the case that women are more productive than men in home and men are more productive in the market. The main reason behind this is that both men and women are traditionally raised with different expectations. Moreover both the sex receives different education and training. It has also been found that women are basically discriminated in the labor market and it is because of this discrimination that the marke t earnings of the women are lowered as compared to men. The chapter tries to explain the importance of both spouses being employed in the family. If one of the spouses becomes unemployed then the earning of the other would be beneficial in these regards to cover at least the household expenses. After the marriage the complete picture changes and the change is found in the lives of the coupled family. The most affected factor is the income of the family. There is increase in the expenses of the family and men are held responsible for it. Employed women show less interest in the household work and are also characterized to be more educated then men. Allocation of time among the households and the labor market hold optimum importance in Chapter Four. In this chapter, the author tries to thoroughly review the trends in the labor supply of women and men to the market. The lesson wants to focus on the participation of

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The design of health and safety control system - Assignment Example The levels of oxygen in confined spaces can be depleted when there is reaction between some soils and oxygen in the atmosphere; or release of gas such as carbon dioxide that can displace ambient air. Poisonous gases, fumes or vapours can built up in the sewer; enter from connecting pipes; or leak from other areas. Residues left on surface of walls can give off gas, fume, or vapour. Scraping before painting can give rise to particulates that can contaminate the ambient air. Spray painting can give rise to volatile organic compounds depending on the composition of the paint. Volatile organic compounds can have adverse health effects including cancer. The person conducting the operation is at major risk for adverse effects described above. Since the sewer is located below a field where cattle and sheep graze, an open sewer could be a fall hazard for these animals. The control system for this operation includes barricades and procedures for confined space work. According to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 hazards must be identified; risks assessed and precautions determined. According to the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 presence of risks of serious injury as in the operation requires following a safe system of work, and putting in place adequate emergency measures before the start of work. The safe system of work is based on the operation described above. A supervisor should be given responsibility for ensuring that necessary precautions are observed for checking the safety at each stage and being present when the work is in execution. The operator must have sufficient experience in conducting painting work in confined spaces. A determination has to be made if there is the need to isolate the sewer, and it must be checked if the isolation is effective. Before entry cleaning is required to determine whether fume s do not develop from residues while work is

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World Tourism Organization - Essay Example The relevance of this Blueprint for New Tourism is very significant in the struggle to boost tourism and recreation, which in effect boosts the jobs and economies of many nations across the globe. Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of the WTTC, said, "There is now a new consciousness amongst governments that they cannot leave the growth of Travel & Tourism to chance. What is needed is a new vision and strategy involving a partnership between all stakeholders - public and private to turn future challenges into opportunities. The Blueprint for New Tourism spells out how that can be achieved" (Tarsh 2003). "WTTC's latest projection for the industry is that a quarter of a billion people will work in Travel & Tourism worldwide by the end of the decade, with the prospect of sustainable growth in to the future. This projection is supported by WTTC's latest economic research that indicates consistent growth, at 4.6% pa, over the coming decade" (2003). "The strategic importance of Travel & Tourism to our economy can not be underestimated. I am fully supportive of the Blueprint for New Tourism and am delighted to have the opportunity of talking to so many of the industry's top people about how we can respond to the challenge" (Tarsh 2003). Mr. Mr. Correia da Silva's statement is very correct in calling the achievement of such goals a "challenge". The Blueprint is noble and seems efficient, but turning it into a reality from this idea will take a lot more ideas just like this one before anything close to perfection is realized. World Summit on Sustainable Development This is another plan, similar to the blueprint, that is designed to do the same thing, increase tourism, and make sure that tourism is environmentally safe, but profitable. The following comes from the World Summit on Sustainable Development's Plan of Implementation, "Promote sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, taking into account the spirit of the International Year of Eco-tourism 2002, of the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage in 2002, and of the World Eco-tourism Summit 2002 and its Quebec Declaration, and of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism as adopted by the World Tourism Organization, in order to increase the benefits from tourism resources for the population in host communities while maintaining the cultural and

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History of child labor - Term Paper Example At the macroeconomic level, the debate explains arguments such as the rural economy, capital and income inequality. While at the microeconomic level, the arguments include the question on necessity of child labor, wealth paradox and parent altruism. Two sections include a comparison of data from personal research and that from other researchers. Looking at the history of child labor at a microeconomic level, child labor has a negative association with the aggregate income of the state. However, microeconomic child labor depends on the total income at the household level. An article representing research done by Sonia Bhalotra explains a number of arguments based on child labor at a microeconomic level. These arguments include: The study intends to scrutinize the affiliation between household poverty and its impact on child labor. In this case, the situation forces a child to go out there and seek for employment. Furthermore, fewer wages force the child to work for longer hours. This counter s the economic theory, which states that less wages lead to less working hours. In order to capture the need for child labor, the researcher did an assessment on 2400 Pakistan households in which children worked to get money. The results of the study show that boys work when need arises for family survival. On the other hand, the girls had ambiguous results indicating that girls toiled even when the situation was not critical. The concept could be due to either favoring the boy child or associating girls’ education with low returns. From the observation, it is apparent that at times child labor is not necessary even in poor families (Bhalotra, 2000). From past studies, most studies aim at establishing the correlation between household income and child labor. However, there is a clear distinction between wealth and income (Mankiw & Taylor, 2011). A family could earn a little money, but they own a large piece of land. Results from research

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What Is The Relationship Between International Organization And Industrial Change From A Neo-Gramscian Perspective - Essay Example In his 1981 exposition, Cox asks for an informed, open-minded critique of International Relations (IR) that had so far depended solely on "problem-solving" theories that obsequiously deviated in no manner from mainstream diagnoses and prognoses, but embraced states as being immutable and the scheme of things-including individual and institutional relationships within and between states, parastatal organisations and the so-called private players-as Kantian Dinge an sich (literally, "things as they are"). Cox's effort in 1983 was to expand on his earlier thesis: to prove how neo-Gramscianism can take apart and syncretise into new understandings and, thus, modalities of action to subvert the power superstructure of the Global Political Economy, a complex trelliswork of governmental, individual and institutional actors. ... defined as "dominance, especially by one state or social group over others" (Oxford English Dictionary), but is furthermore "understood as an expression of broadly-based consent, manifested in the acceptance of ideas and supported by material resources and institutions" (Bieler and Morton 2003). The term "world order" was of a different class altogether from Immanuel Wallerstein's "world systems theory", a profoundly disturbing assault on development and modernisation theory, in which he said that he aimed to achieve "a clear conceptual break with theories of 'modernisation' and thus provide a new theoretical paradigm to guide our investigations of the emergence and development of capitalism, industrialism, and national states" (Skocpol 1977). Wallerstein (1987) declaimed that the world systems theory was "a protest against the way in which social scientific inquiry is structured for all of us at its inception in the middle of the nineteenth century". Criticising the then prevalent bimodal Dependency Theory, which argues in favour of a bipolar metropolis-satellite structure, he held that it was too simplistic to have a functional worldview organised around it: the meaning that can be read into it is that it would have to be, in a sense, future-proof against times that would only get more-and less-interconnected. In a sense, too, Wallerstein's trimodal world systems theory has been bypassed by current events: mergers between transnational corporations from disparate political dispensations have led to the creation of megacorporations that have turnovers that put the GDP of many developing world economies in the shade. Parastatal organisations, usually non-governmental organisations (NGO), that owe their loyalty either to themselves and their agendas or to

Cost and Benefits of Internal Recruitment for ACE Media Group Essay

Cost and Benefits of Internal Recruitment for ACE Media Group - Essay Example ACE Media Group will also save training and recruitment costs as the employee recruited will not need intensive training to perform his or her duties as a project lead in Malaysia. The director will only need to acclimatize to the foreign business environment but will not struggle to acquaint himself with the policies of the firm. The approach is also beneficial to the organization as it is much easier. The HR recruitment team will have access to sufficient information on potential candidates from its various branches across the world such as Sydney, UK, France Singapore and China. The availability of the information pool will make the selection process easier. In addition, internal recruitment will also facilitate succession planning. ACE Media group will incur several costs associated with internal recruitment. First, they would bear the opportunity costs linked to recruiting old talent who lack new perspectives acquired from outside the organization. Being that ACE Media Group is a big business, it is possible that internal politics will arise among interests groups, and this may jeopardize the unity of workers. Internal recruitment may not help in turning the company around as the recruited employee will tend to stick to the usual strategies and stale ideas due to inbreeding within the firm. External recruitment may bring to the company a new employee possibly a Malaysian who may not facilitate quick settlement in the foreign market due to local politics and prejudice.

Strategy Evaluation in the Transportation Services Sector Essay Example for Free

Strategy Evaluation in the Transportation Services Sector Essay Strengths Improvement in technology In the transportation service sector, the improvement in technology has increased the productivity within the industry by reducing order picking, and delivery times of good and services provided. Additionally, with the improvements in technology, such as bar coding, radio frequency identification tags (RFID), and route optimization software can allow for better tracking of trucks, shipped goods, and the transportation of people (University of Phoenix, 2014). Low employee turnover rates Overall, in the transportation services sector the employee turnover rate is low because of the industrys use of benefits packages and the fact that most employees belong to organized unions. However, in individual segments of the transportation industry, such as trucking and warehousing, turnover rates are higher than the rest of the transportation service sector. The reason is due to an aging workforce and recruiting practices (University of Phoenix, 2014). Industry is trending upwards The transportation service sector is trending upward and is rebounding. It is being led by the for-hire trucking industry, which include services provided through the use trucks, railroads, ships (both inland and ocean going), And airplanes. The transportation service sector has increased 27 percent over the last five years. Additionally, air cargo traffic is projected to double by 2033, and the expected international trade volume will rise 3.1 percent in 2014 and 4 percent in 2015 (University of Phoenix, 2014). People and goods are transported by this industry The transportation service sector includes companies that deliver rail, truck, water, and air transportation; transit and ground commuter,  postal delivery, courier, pipeline, messenger services, storage and warehousing facilities. The volume of passengers and goods that are transported are ever increasing providing a long-term viability and sustainability of the transportation industry. Long term relation with suppliers and customers Once, a provider within the transportation service sector has proven their ability and created and established a value to suppliers and customers; a long-term relationship is possible.A long term relationship is possible providing that the established capacity and value remain constant for both parties involved in a transaction. Weaknesses Capacity restraints Capacity restraints can reduce profitability. When providers from the transportation sector are unable to move people or goods because of capacity constraints the possibility of voided freight contracts, and bad customer service reviews exist. A company that does not look forward and see the capacity requirements of their particular division in the transportation industry can lead to loss of potential growth; thereby decreasing their profits (University of Phoenix, 2014). Extensive governmental regulation Transportation service sector businesses are subordinate to many laws and directives dealing with matters extending from safety and labor procedures to ecological policies and restrictions in trade. Such as, the governmental agencies that regulate the airline industry, which is administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), among others governmental agencies. Combined industries such as deep sea shipping and railroads also draw concentrated examination concerning practices of pricing services and goods(University of Phoenix, 2014). Union influence of workers within the industry Unions have a substantial voice in labor issues, including wages and benefits levels, in many transportation service sector companies. Many of the segments within the transportation industry are labor- intensive.  However, weak union negotiations can lead to strikes by union employees that can harshly impact a company’s undertakings and cash flow (University of Phoenix, 2014). Opportunities Growth in local and regional markets The current growth in population has brought about an increase in city growth. The growth in the towns is opening the demand for more transportation needs for passengers and products in local and regional area that have been lacking transportation and warehousing services due to the lack of population. Growth in international markets The demand for transportation and warehousing is being driven by an increase in international trade as new markets are opening up such as China, Asia, South America and the Middle East. These new market currently do not have enough equipment or building space to handle the increase in international trade that provided for a substantial growth in companies in the transportation service sector internationally. Growth in specialize transportation As new international market begin to open, there is a growing need for more specialized transportation such as transit of a new workforce in other countries. Furthermore, jobs in the warehousing and transportation industry are opening up; hence the need for passenger transport and the need for more transportation of useful goods. Improved online technology As the technology is improved in other areas of the transportation sector, the innovation of online technology has also improved. Therefore, providing for more E- commerce growth in foreign countries than can improve the profitability of companies in the transportation industry. Threats Environmental constraints As the transportation service sector grows to provide for an increase in population, so do environmental constraints such as a rise in pollution created by the addition of more vehicles to the industry worldwide. Likewise, as environment concerns increase so do regulation. A  transportation company must be innovative in designing new equipment looking not only at a rise in alternative fuel vehicles but other green possibilities. Increased competition As new international market open the possibility of new transportation companies opening their doors to business increases. For companies in the transportation industry to be competitive and profitable; they must be open to change and attack these new markets with innovative ideas and an open mind to diversity. Increased security needs As international borders begin to open to trade; so the need to increase security of employee’s persona and company’s assets also is present. Additionally, as more business is crossing borders the needs for stricter guidelines are also required. However, with these more stringent guidelines come increase cost of transporting passengers and goods. As one can see from the SWOT analysis, the transportation service sector is full of potential growth possibilities. However, there are risks and threats that must be avoided when addressing the opportunities that exist in the industry. While the industry is trending upwardly and the strengths outweigh the weaknesses those companies in the industry must strive to be innovative in their approach to the opportunities at hand. One way a company in the transportation industry can address innovation is by embracing diversity. When a business includes diversity, it opens doors to creativity. Moreover, this creativity can lead to new ideas in transportation and warehousing. Being innovative has brought about many new advances in tracking services, goods, and software to promote productivity and profitability in the transportation service sector. Reference University of Phoenix. (2014). Transportation Services Sector. Retrieved from the University of Phoenix, PHL/320 website.