Role Of The Federal Government On The Economy And Social...

During the 1830s the Democratic Party was formed around President Andrew Jackson and his primary issues that took up most of his term banking and tariffs. The Democrats favored American expansion to new farmlands and new territories. The Democrats also ended elites, industrialists, and the Bank of the United states, which would they felt would build up an industry that was at the price of yeoman farmer. The Whig Party were an organized group in opposition to Andrew Jackson, who they felt would destroy America and the industry. The Whig Party was led by Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams who were in search for a compromise and balance in government, territorial expansion, and domestic manufacturing. These two parties had very different views†¦show more content†¦The peal of shouting that arose rent the air, and seemed to shake the very ground. But when the Chief Justice took his place and commenced the brief ceremony of administering the oath, it quickly sank into comparative s ilence; and as the new President proceeded to read his inaugural address, the stillness gradually increased; but all efforts to hear him, beyond the brief space immediately around were utterly in vain. Jackson s policies for a small government sparked interests in plantation owners in the south and farmers in the west. Jackson demised the National Bank, in his vision it handed infinite amount of power to the government and place the lower class at a disadvantage. Jackson wanted the power to be with the people not the government;however, the process of this act limited time for the opportunity for social reform 5. The Jacksonian democrats consider that modern infrastructure and industry were mandatory for American prosperity, they felt that the states were responsible to promote market capitalism and sponsor projects. Democrats concluded that modernization should be designed to promote the agrarian vision.2 The Democrats had this vision of owning land;however, lots of Native America n Indians still resided in the state of Georgia. Jackson fought against congress to have the indians removed completely because he felt it would be inhumane. One of the primary

Pros And Cons Of Online Education - 1438 Words

In today’s modern society, lack of education has become an obstacle to personal achievement. More often than not, being successful and having a lucrative career is dependent on obtaining a higher education. To meet this increased demand there has been a rise in the number of schools that now offer online courses and degrees as a viable, convenient, and cost effective option for an increasing number of their student populations. The online option has become popular with a large number of students. With this popularity, it was inevitable that a debate would arise over whether the proliferation of online learning in our country is moving us in the right direction. Education has inarguably become easier because of online programs, but has†¦show more content†¦This provides a counterargument and a base from which he can make his stand. Bustamante works methodically toward dispelling this popular opinion in several steps. First, he describes for his readers how Rio Salado C ollege in Tempe Arizona took a calculated risk in developing their online program. He then states for his readers the claim made by the critics that â€Å"students would not adjust well to such a radical change in their learning environment† (Kirszner and Mandell 217). Bustamante expects his readers to logically follow along with his refutation of the critics and come to see the value of online learning for themselves. He accomplishes this by cataloging the enormous success of the online program at Rio Salado, which now has enrollment numbers of around 41,000 online students, as well as, over 600 online courses. Bustamante’s point is this: how could a program that has proven to be successful, not be a step in the right direction? He is building support for his position by refuting the opinions of the critics with quantifiable evidence, and at the same time, he is alleviating any of the same concerns in the minds of his readers. Bustamante further describes for his audi ence how the college was proactive in responding to what they believed was a shift in student needs. He describes how they moved forward beyond the normal college experience despite their detractors. This is anShow MoreRelatedTechnology: Its Effect on Education Essay1087 Words   |  5 PagesEducation is â€Å"The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life† (Education). Technology comes in many forms including the Internet. It can be used in many different ways, one being educational purposes. 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Essay Counselling free essay sample

In this assignment I will explore how diversity, equality and anti-discrimination practices need to be addressed in the counselling room. It will also explore how the BACP ethical framework helps inform and guide our counselling work and the legal requirements of being a counsellor. Clients come to counselling from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. Pederson (1994) sites Diversity as a broad definition of multicultural counselling which covers â€Å"ethnographic variables such as ethnicity, nationality, religion and language; demographic variables such as age, gender and place of residence; status variables such as social, educational and economic; and affiliations including both formal affiliations to family or organizations and informal affiliations to ideas and a lifestyle (p229)† Counselling has traditionally been an ethnocentric or â€Å"culturally encapsulated† activity based on the prevailing white, middle class, which has a central notion of normality based on distinctive mainstream approaches, values and assumptions such as the individual is encouraged to be independent and autonomous and these are highly valued and rewarded in society. Communication is expected through the medium of english with limited physical contact and direct eye contact and we have been brought up to control our emotions. Time and adherence to it is viewed as a commodity and holidays are based on traditional Christian religious festivals who favour a single god concept. Historically there is a hierarchy and patriarchal system of white male leaders where status and power have been measured by economic possessions, academic titles and positions with the belief that we are superior and more civilized to other races and cultures. There would be reluctance to give up this power in our society and it is understandable, I would not want to change my attitudes and behaviours, this is very difficult. I grew up and live in the above dominant culture where I am perceived as a white able bodied female therefore what issues would I need to consider when working with a client who presents with the difference of gender reassignment as I personally have no experience whatsoever of trans woman relationships. I would be basing my perspective on my prejudicial ideas that there are only two sexes – either man or woman so I would struggle with where does this person fit in the gender stereotypes as it is a direct challenge to my socially constructed attitudes and assumptions to what is expected. I would find this an extremely difficult and uncomfortable area to work with and it would bring up countertransference feelings of anxiety, fear, shame, feeling wrong, being cruel, and guilt for me because I would wonder if the person was abnormal or mentally ill. I have prejudices and biases about transgender and I am aware that this does not just apply to me, it will apply to us all. I have an idea but I do not necessarily understand the whole picture. This is where I would have to challenge my own thinking and feelings as I am aware that I am being judgemental, labelling this difference. I am not sure I can or know how to be empathic with what appears to me to be a disturbing mental disorder which I have little tolerance of because I am ignorant and I would struggle accepting a transgenders identity. I am aware that I am projecting my bias on to the client and this would be treating another human being less favourably on the grounds of their sex which is discrimination and I am adding to this stigma with my reaction and adding to the oppression. As a trainee counsellor I am aware that I am expected to work with a wide range of backgrounds and different views and I need to be committed to equality and diversity. It is an integral part of my counselling training that I need to be tolerant of and have the ability to work with different preferences to my own. I therefore would need to address this inequality and discrimination and work on what would most helpful for the client and what could I leave outside the counselling room. I would need to treat the client non-judgementally and equally regardless of their gender and not disadvantage them and accommodate her in line with the Gender Recognition Act 2005, the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Sex Discrimination Act 2005. Firstly, I believe it is important for me to show courtesy, respect and value the person as a human being. I feel I would need to respect their right to privacy and appreciate that it may not be easy to discuss their beliefs and values as their self-esteem and self-worth may be fragile because being transgender is not a choice and they may have difficulty accepting themselves. It may also help to be mindful of the language they use and be sensitive to framing and asking questions such as â€Å"What would they preferred to be called, which pronoun? And how would they like to be referred to in terms of gender? so that I show the client my understanding of their different perspectives and experiences and try to understand their internal frame of reference. It is also important to be aware to never ask if they plan to or have had surgery as it is not acceptable to ask questions about their bodies. Also it is advisable to never â€Å"OUT â€Å"someone who is transgender without their permission as this could have an impact on their physical safety and employment etc. Their privacy needs to be honoured. Also it is important to not assume that they have come to counselling to talk about this issue, they may want to bring up other issues such as their sense of powerlessness, being labelled or feeling different or isolated. . I am aware that I would not be able to work with this group and I would be discriminating a client of transgender on the basis of gender. I would be adding to the oppression that the client may be experiencing. I would need to take this to supervision as I do not feel that I am acting in the client’s best interests and I would be worried about harming the client. I also would be concerned as I would not want the client to feel rejected, judged angry and mistrustful of me as this may alienate them. It may be in their best interests to be in therapy with a counsellor who is the same as or has the same perspective and experiences that they do. A shared understanding of the issues and meaning may make it easier for them to disclose, not being similar may make it harder to be empathic and establish a working alliance and the relationship could prematurely terminate. Therefore should a client make a request to see another professional or I feel that I need specialised information or specialised assistance to make sure their needs are being met then a referral could be made with a client’s consent. I would also need to make a referral should either the client or myself move to a new area to honour and respect both sides. Also the work between a client and counsellor is confidential and there is a responsibility on the counsellor to not discuss what has been talked about outside of the sessions to any third party. However the counsellor also has a responsibility to the wider community which means that confidentiality is adhered to the two key BACP principles of Fidelity which is honouring the trust placed in the practitioner and Autonomy is respect for the client’s right to be self- governing. Therefore if a counsellor felt that either the client or someone else were in danger or risk of harm then the counsellor would discuss with the client first the possibility of breaking confidentiality. However the counsellor retains the right to break confidentiality without prior consultation with the client should they consider the urgency of the situation requires an immediate action such as a doctor or the emergency services to safeguard the physical safety of the client and others. Disclosures of acts of terrorism, drug trafficking and by order of civil or criminal court will also require the disclosure of minimal information. As well as confidentiality, I am required to adhere to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ethical framework which promotes social inclusive and anti-discriminatory good practice. The aim of this framework is to set and monitor standards to enable ethical and effective therapy and this code of conduct is the ethical framework which promotes human rights and the client’s safety making therapy accessible to all clients. It also helps counsellors with a way of responding to issues and helps them to think of the consequences of actions in an ethical way encouraging counsellors to take greater responsibility for their practice and develop accountability for their decisions. There are five sections and they are as follows – values ethical principles, personal moral qualities, guidance on good practice and professional conduct procedures. There are five sections which are the values of counselling, ethical principles, personal moral qualities, guidance on good practice and professional conduct procedures. The fundamental values are a commitment to respecting human rights and dignity, protecting the safety of clients, ensuring the integrity of practitioner/client relationship, enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application, alleviating personal distress and suffering. Fostering a sense of self that is meaningful to the person(s) concerned and Increasing personal effectiveness and enhancing the quality of relationship between people and appreciating the variety of human experience and culture as well as striving for the fair and adequate provision of counselling and psychotherapy services. Iris Murdoch stated that ethics â€Å"is essentially about the sovereignty of the good† and that it is the right thing to do. We need to be inclusive and embrace diversity. Diversity challenges the assumption that one style of counselling is transferrable across all cultures. Diversity is about valuing the person and recognising the difference between people, it is a relatively new, complex and challenging area which goes beyond equal opportunities. We need to accept that people see the world differently have different perspectives and have different world views that have equal validity. We need to promote equality, human rights and value difference and strive to practice anti-oppressive values in society to become better counsellors. In conclusion a counsellor needs to be honest about their own biases and prejudices which need to be taken to supervision when working with difference and diversity in the counselling room. Diversity is a challenging and complex area where the barriers need to come down.

Sustainable Buildings

Question: Describe about the construction process. Answer: 1.1 Introduction Building and construction signify an important and complex part of the environment that fulfils the defined tasks and functions. Buildings provide both the working space as well as the living environment that improves the lives of different individuals in various parts of the world. The kind of structures that exist in the environment affects peoples health, well-being, as well as their satisfaction, which affects their social lives in different parts of the world. Notably, these structures have a lot of economic value. The hold an immediate commercial and economic value thus creates job opportunities in various parts of the world. Again, they help in triggering energy and substance flows. The process is paramount since it affects the global and local environment. Hence, they affect sustainable development. It is prudent to represent the mandatory features and properties in the design of buildings to make them suitable for both economic and social participation. They must also follow certain conditions to fulfil both the legal and statutory requirements together with the use of relevant specifications that customers deem fit for their benefits (Ciegis, Ramanauskiene and Startiene 2015). Before the implementation of any building structure in any environment, it is imperative to consider some requirements such as the ecological, social, and economic qualities that will embrace the utilization of the structure. Additionally, it ensures that the structure fulfils its function about the environment and society. Moreover, they should also warrant some degree to economic efficiency. Urban planning is an essential element in the design of structures since it outlines the necessary requirements for a particular structure. Social quality is also another significant factor during construction. It encompasses various attributes such as the cultural value of existing building as well as the quality of urban planning and design. The government should do much to ensure that they enforce the best policies that will embrace sustainable development in every part of the world (Berman, De Sousa, Linder and Misky 2016). That calls for the participation of every stakeholder including the government as well as the landowners. Every stakeholder must play his or her in the implementation and execution of sustainable building. That should enable them to understand and drive the form and extent of their influence in the most prudent manner. The guideline is useful for a broad range of individuals including the landowners as well as the government. The most helpful strategy to ensure a successful implementation of the above policies includes modelling the structure to the given assessment task. That will promote the success of the design in various environments. Again, it is proper to identify the respective stakeholders that will take part in the implementation of different policies within the organization (Sabnis 2015). The documents are useful to a wide range of individuals who will utilize various components to obtain an insight into the best approaches to embrace green building. Most of the structures that ICT companies builds can hurt the society in some ways. They demand a massive amount of energy and materials that lead to different adverse effects on the environment. Most ICT companies aim to increase energy efficiency. That can begin with facilities and later emerge as diverse methods to improve various sectors of the economy. Various schemes exist to promote sustainable design, construction, as well as the operation of buildings. Additionally, the concept refers to the structure as well as the process that preserves and controls the environment during the construction process. Ideally, the life cycle stages of development include site selection, design, construction, operation and maintenance, renovation and demolition. Every phase presents some challenges that might hurt the environment. Currently, there exist new building technologies that ensure sustainable building process. The primary concern of the approach is to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment. That helps in creating a green economy that embraces the lives of both plants and animals. The concept presents some concerns that every stakeholder should embrace to preserve the environment. 1.2 Target audience Some individuals can use the document to ensure that they contribute positively to the development of the green economy. That will make sure that the environment remains healthy for various elements, hence improving the quality of life. The section also expounds on various concerns that aim at the establishment of environmentally friendly buildings. The content of the report is useful for any company in the ICT that takes part in any of the following activities: The design and construction of various facilities such as the data centre. Operation and maintenance of such facilities Aim to improve the green procurement criteria to building as well as supply space Additionally, the approach presents some benefits that will improve the performance of various industries in any economy. Such benefits may include: Lower operating costs An increase in profits and market share Improvement in marketability Greater tenant attraction Reduced risks during the development process Competitive advantage that ensures the success of the business 1.3 Design and build specification The structure should maximize the use of materials to ensure the development of a well-structured layout. That will make sure that it meets the needs of different stakeholders as well as to serve the intended purpose. Notably, it should minimize the use of resources. That will ensure that it does not endanger the lives of different stakeholders in the community. Most importantly, the structure should embrace good health among the occupants now as well as in the future. That will ensure that the design is consistent with all other green building guidelines. The process needs to address some important aspects that will guarantee its success in the industry. 1.3.1 Sustainable sites The selection of the site might prove challenging and complicated. However, it is prudent to ensure that the site poses little environmental threat for the construction to be effective. The structure should ensure that it upholds the most appropriate strategies that will prevent soil erosion, waterway sedimentation, as well as airborne dust generation (Huedo, Mulet and Lpez-Mesa 2016). The site should be near the urban centre. That will utilize the supporting infrastructure thus preserving green space and wildlife areas. In case the management needs new land, they should consider the redevelopment of brownfields. Additionally, they should find an alternative transport to ensure the movement within the premise. Over the centuries, public transport, and the use of foot as a means of transport plays a significant role since it minimizes the greenhouse gas emission. 1.3.2 Water efficiency Water is one of the resources that constitute an important part of life. It is useful in various aspects of life, and every stakeholder in the construction industry should ensure that they minimize any level of wastage (Roosa 2016). That will help to preserve the exploitation of the environment. The design process should increase water efficiency within the building. That will decrease the amount of water needed for operations. The use of water efficiency landscaping emerges as one of the most important techniques that will reduce the irrigation requirements. Additionally, it is paramount to use the most innovative wastewater management technologies to avoid any wastage of water. 1.3.3 Energy and atmosphere Building and construction typically require a significant amount of energy to run most operations within the premise. It is prudent to ensure that it does not waste energy since that might pose some problems to the environment. The stakeholders should make sure that they install and calibrate energy systems to perform with the intended efficiency level. That will be possible once they reduce the overall power level of the acceptable energy performance. 1.3.4 Material and resources Most construction processes require a high amount of energy. That is common through the manufacture and transport of raw materials across the regions. Again, some of these operations may result to landfill waste. The reduction of the menace requires an efficient use of equipment and components, which gives room for recycling. Additionally, it is paramount to specify the level of used construction materials to reduce the need for virgin materials. Outsourcing materials locally can help to reduce the overall cost, which makes the process cheaper. 1.3.5 Sustainable building The process should take advantage of the elements that contain recycled materials such as the Stewardship Council forest products. The use of such products enhances the ultimate environmental sustainability and lowers the embedded carbon footprint present within the structures. 1.3.6 Indoor environmental quality The design should embrace the use of low-emitting materials in the construction to promote the well-being of the occupants. That should utilize various materials such as coatings, adhesives, as well as paints. Again, it is proper to use the right ventilations that promote outdoor air ventilations. Additionally, they should not allow for outside pollution that may affect the health of the occupants. 1.3.7 Innovation in design It is proper to make design decisions as early as possible since it can reduce the energy consumption of a building. That should encompass various elements such as the orientation and location of the buildings. These aspects can compromise shading and ventilation decisions. 1.3.8 Regional priority The idea is useful when determining the variation in climates among different regions. That will ascertain the requirements of the building to meet the demands of various stakeholders. Maximizing heating efficiency in different structures located in the colder regions helps to improve the lives of the different individuals in different regions of the world. On the contrary, cooling and water usage may gain more importance in the design process of structures located in hotter regions. The design should ensure that it account for the safety of those individuals living within the premise. 1.4 System requirements System requirements help in providing the guidelines that assist in the implementation of the programs. It is useful since it enables the project managers to understand the needs of the project before the implementation. Various programs help in increasing the uptake of sustainability-related techniques and practices in the built environment (Loorbach and Shiroyama 2016). Critical to the success of all programs is a source of funding and support to create, promote, and continue the effort undertaken by those programs. For instance, technical support is of much importance since it creates the capacity for sustainable construction and overcoming ignorance about new and innovative sustainable construction techniques that may differ from the ways things occur in different parts of the world. The organization designated to promote sustainability can directly provide the technical assistance. Again, it can effect indirectly by providing funding for assistance by external providers. Unlike technical support, which provides assistance for specific projects, training opportunities help to inform facility stakeholders on topics ranging from general sustainability, sustainable construction principles as well as rating system requirements to technical details of specific technologies and needs. Even though organizations may fail to implement training internally, they may find ways to increase the number of personnel attending existing sustainable building training events such as subsidizing the cost of training, providing release time to attend, or merely encouraging attendance at training sessions. Additionally, guidance documents help in distilling the broad range of available information on sustainability into a more concise format that contains information that relates to the particular context. These materials contribute to offer some benchmarking techniques to ensure the delivery of the best design in the industry. Demonstration projects contribute to illustrate what sustainable construction benefits the context of the project, without necessarily committing to an ongoing policy of constructing in the same way for future projects. Rather than mandating that organizations adopt sustainability practices, another approach is to reward teams that remain at the front to offer some level of motivation. That will enable the organization to aim at promoting sustainable development in their construction techniques. Lastly, it is useful to ensure modification of the group practices to ensure that the structures meet the requirements of the economy. The flow chart below illustrates t he necessary processes that the construction should follow to promote green economy in different parts of the world. That will embrace the health and well-being of various individuals that reside within the structures. 1.5 Conclusion Every stakeholder should embrace green economy that will promote the lives of individuals. The construction process should involve the use of the best materials and practices that will improve the well-being and lives of various individuals across the world. Most importantly, it is the role of the government and every citizen to maintain the policy. References Berman, L., De Sousa, C.A., Linder, T. and Misky, D., 2016. From blighted brownfields to healthy and sustainable communities: Tracking performance and measuring outcomes. Reclaiming Brownfields: A Comparative Analysis of Adaptive Reuse of Contaminated Properties, p.311. Ciegis, R., Ramanauskiene, J. and Startiene, G., 2015. Theoretical reasoning of the use of indicators and indices for sustainable development assessment. Engineering Economics, 63(4). Huedo, P., Mulet, E. and Lpez-Mesa, B., 2016. A model for the sustainable selection of building envelope assemblies. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 57, pp.63-77. Loorbach, D. and Shiroyama, H., 2016. The challenge of sustainable urban development and transforming cities. In Governance of urban sustainability transitions (pp. 3-12). Springer Japan. Roosa, S.A., 2016. Sustainable Development Becomes the Norm. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 36(1), pp.5-7. Sabnis, G.M. ed., 2015. Green building with concrete: sustainable design and construction. CRC Press.

Ferguson Foundry Limited Essay Example

Ferguson Foundry Limited Essay CASE ANALYSIS: FERGUSON FOUNDRY LIMITED (FFL) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction After reviewing the financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010, Mark Ferguson, President of Ferguson Foundry Limited’s (FFL), was disappointed with the results. Operating Income was $367,600 below expectation, despite having sold 2,000 wood stove units greater than budgeted. To determine which areas FFL’s actual performance was better or worse than expected, a variance analysis will be conducted. However, it is important to note that variance analysis alone can only emphasize areas that need improvement, and not determine the reason for these discrepancies. A further investigation is warranted once determining the issues outlined through variance analysis. Analysis Qualitative and Quantitative There are many areas within FFL’s production which have been proven to be unfavourable, and where immediate improvement is necessary. Of particular concern is the variable overhead, where an unfavorable variance of $180,600 was discovered (Appendix F). Within this variance, the variable overhead costs, both manufacturing and non-manufacturing of the Deluxe model are what seem to be causing inefficiencies. The Deluxe model accounts for $157,200 of the $180,600U mentioned above. Other Key Areas of Concern Outlined Through Variance Analysis: * Appendix I: Although the selling price of the basic model increased by $25, a $100 reduction in the selling price of the Deluxe model counterbalanced this increase, and negatively affected income. Appendix E: The difference between the budgeted and actual sales mix had an adverse effect on revenues. The Deluxe model had a greater CM/unit of 210, and was budgeted at 55% of the sales mix, however, it only ended up accounting for 40% of the actual sales mix. * Appendix H: The market share of FFL resulted in being less than expected (10% to 9%), in a market which was larger than expected/budgeted (133,333 to 100,000 units). Recommendation and Implementation We recommend a proper rectification of the issues with regards to FFL’s unfavourable variances. We will write a custom essay sample on Ferguson Foundry Limited specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Ferguson Foundry Limited specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Ferguson Foundry Limited specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Firstly, is it of utmost importance to have all the necessary components of management (i. e. supervisors, directors, and managers) on the job and ready to manage. Once FFL has the personnel to solve these significant issues, the following must be corrected, in order: Direct labor inefficiencies and high overhead costs, most importantly. Then, they can â€Å"fine tune† and solve higher than usual selling and administrative expenses and high fixed overhead costs. Further instructions with regards to solving these issues are outlined in Appendix K. However, if FFL is not capable of reorganising the company by itself, external help is necessary to implement specific changes that will improve FFL’s bottom line. REFERENCES Bhimani, Alnoor et al. Management and Cost Accounting. Pearson Education Limited, 2012. Print. APPENDIX A DIRECT MATERIAL VARIANCES Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX B DIRECT MATERIAL VARIANCES CONTINUED *540,000 + 912,000 = 1,452,000 *315,000 + 1,045,000 = 1,360,000 Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX C DIRECT LABOR VARIANCES Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX D DIRECT LABOR VARIANCES CONTINUED Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX E SALES VARIANCES 7200/12000 = 0. 6 4500/10000 = 0. 45 Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX F VARIABLE OVERHEAD VARIANCE *Variable Selling Administrative Expenses are labeled as Non-Manufacturing in this table. Total Variable Overhead for Basic and Deluxe = 27,000U + 18,000F = 9,000U Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX G FIXED OVERHEAD VARIANCE *750,000 ? 115,000 = 6. 217 Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX H MARKET VARIANCES Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX I VARIANCE OVERVIEW Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable APPENDIX J ANALYSIS OF THE UNFAVORABLE VARIANCES Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavorable Note: $421,300 represents the sum of all unfavorable variances that have brought down the company’s annual earnings. Note: F = Favorable and U = Unfavo rable APPENDIX K RECOMMENDATIONS: REDUCING THE TOTAL UNFAVOURABLE VARIANCE

European Alliances essays

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Outdoor learning its importance for childrens development

Outdoor learning its importance for childrens development When growing up I loved playing outside, in the local park or being taken to many country parks by my father. I class myself as being lucky to have grown up in a generation where playing outdoors was a regular occurrence, where boys and girls played together in mixed ability and mixed age groups. Having had two children myself I wanted to continue the great experiences that I had in the outdoors with my father. However I noticed a difference in the way that they and their friends accessed the outdoors. Both my children are boys but they still accessed the outdoors differently from each other and girls that they played with also had sufficiently different ideas about the outdoors. Having discovered that boys and girls all seemed to have different ideas about the outdoors I wanted to investigate this further. I particularly wanted to understand any differences in the way they accessed the outdoors as I remember being distinctly referred to as a tom boy. Chapter 2 Literature Review There has been much research focused on the outdoors, outdoor play, and outdoor education including sustainability and recreation activities. Taylor and Morris (1996) suggest that Outdoor learning is an important and integral part of a high-quality early childhood education curriculum. (pp 153) There are many skills encompassed within the term outdoor play or outdoor learning, therefore before starting there is the need to try and define the term outdoor play or outdoor learning. The Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) (2009) suggests that the term outdoor learning is a broad expression that can encompass play, education, skills, sustainability and the natural environment and may be referred to as experiential learning for children which takes place within the outdoors. Additionally The Collins English Dictionary (2009) refers to outdoor as the open air (pp 412), to play as occupying oneself in a game or recreation (pp 442) and to learning as gaining a skill or knowledge by practice (pp 337) therefore outdoor play could be defined as engaging oneself in a game or activity outside where you can gain new skills and knowledge. Consequently throughout this study the term outdoor learning will be used to refer to outdoor education, outdoor play and outdoor recreation activities . This study will encompass the role of outdoor learning including its importance for childrens development, the safety and risk involved in childrens outdoor learning and the anxiety that this causes for carers, gender issues relating to how boys and girls use the outdoor learning environment, and geographical, community and social perspectives focusing on the impact that they can have on a childs involvement with outdoor learning. To begin with we will cover the role of outdoor learning. The importance of outdoor learning and the beliefs that it contributes to childrens development and progress date back to Rousseau (1762) and Froebel (1826). These beliefs have been continued, explored and researched in depth with new emphasis being placed on Forest Schools and outdoor learning. Philosophies and theories about outdoor learning tend to focus on the natural environment and the effect that this can have on childrens development. (Frost 1992, Fjortoft, 2001and 2004, Bilton, 2004, Lester and Maudsley 2006, Forest Education Initiative 2007, Tovey 2007, and White 2008a) Boyd (1963) writes of Rousseau and how he was one of the first people who advocated developmentally appropriate education. Rousseau (1762) also wrote of the importance of growing up in the countryside and how this would create a more natural and healthy environment than the city. Froebel (1826) advocates the need for children to be provided with places to play where they can be nurtured and developed through experiences with the natural environment. Stevinson (1923) and Macmillan (1927, 1930) also promote the need for children to be in the outdoor environment. MacMillans The nursery school and The nursery school garden articulates the need for children to have free movement and experiences within the natural world around them. Much attention has also been given to the need for children to play and learn in the natural environment and the important role that outdoor learning plays in childrens growth, development and social skills. (Stevinson 1932, Fjortoft and Sageie 2000, Riley 2003, Bilton 1994, 2004, Callaway 2005, Moore and Wong 2007, Joyce 2007, Shackell et al. 2008, and Balls and Burnham 2008) Stevinson (1932), McMillan (1930) and more recently Frankel (2007) have stated that natural outdoor environments are good for the health and development of children and the improvement that playing outside has on childrens concentration, behaviour and speaking and listening. They have also suggested that we should provide suitable provocative environments where new provocations and opportunities are made possible. Studies have also been made and have shown that children benefit in other physical ways from playing in the outdoors and the natural environment. Positive effects and implications on motor development such as balance and co-ordination which will help children master their own bodies abilities in relation to the natural physical environment have also been recognised (Fjortoft 2001; Lester and Maudsley 2006). Dowling (2006) believes that outdoor learning can support childrens development and is a natural way of learning in an environment which is full of sensory experiences. The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) (2004) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (2005 and 2008a) have also stated that outdoor learning can give depth to the curriculum and can enhance childrens physical, social and emotional development. Although much has been written that advocates the role of outdoor education it has been difficult to find a study that disputes the role of outd oor learning in the development and education of children. Despite this evidence Edgington (2002) and Fjortoft (2004) believe that much of the developed world and on a micro-level; some practitioners have neglected the use of the outdoor environment. They suggest that this can be due to both weather related issues and concerns over the potential risks involved with playing and learning within the outdoors. Certainly, my own experiences in settings have shown that when the weather is bad the practitioners and the children stay inside, on only one occasion have I seen practitioners and children outside regardless of the weather. Additionally consideration needs to be placed on childrens safety when involved in outdoor learning. Numerous people have suggested that todays children do not have free access to the outdoors due to parents concerns over safety and risk. Perceived problems such as traffic and fear of crime or abduction have led to parent anxiety which can have a profound effect on childrens play and has led to many children being kept at home safe from harm (Ball 2002, Portwood 2005, Palmer 2006, Tovey 2007, Carruthers 2007, DCSF 2008b, and White and Stoecklin 2008). Nevertheless there is considerable discourse about the need for children to encounter risk. However we should also consider the difference between risk and hazard in terms of childrens safety and development. RoSPA (2010) identifies a hazard as something that has the potential to cause harm and risk as the likelihood that harm from a particular activity or hazard will actually be realised. By helping children to understand the risks involved in certain activities they can begin to make informed choices regarding their actions as Cook and Heseltine (1999) state Children need challenge so that they can learn about risk, their own capabilities and to develop the mechanism for judging it in controlled settings (Cook and Heseltine, 1999, pp 4). Joyce (2007) also states that encountering risk helps children to learn about responsibility. The DCSF (2007, 2008c, and 2008d) express the need for children to experience a balance between risks and fun. They suggest that not everything should be made safe and that children need to recognise and understand about risk as it is an essential part of growing up. Conversely Stine (1997) and Knight (2009) suggest that we should try to make things as safe as possible but still facilitate childrens risk taking. They acknowledge that by allowing children to take risks we will enable them to learn respect for the environment, keep themselves safe and develop competence. However Stephenson (2003), Carruthers (2007) and Sandester (2009) have suggested that too many safety issues about risks within childrens play are leading to too many rules and regulations which have made it difficult for practitioners to provide suitable activities, implicating that making a setting hazard free will make it c hallenge free. Despite this fact many other researchers have discussed the importance of rules, regulations and risk assessments. They agree that using risk assessments and involving children within this process will ensure children s safety, whilst still allowing practitioners to offer adventurous and risk taking activities. (Bilton 2002, 2004, Callaway 2005, White 2008a, and Knight 2009) Nevertheless Bache (2006) comments that risks are exaggerated and that all children no matter how well supervised will undertake some risk. Furthermore where a child lives may impact on their attitudes towards outdoor learning. Within the literature reference is also made to geographical, community and social issues in relation to outdoor play or the lack of it. Hart (1979), Nabhan and Trimble (1994) and Garrick (2004) have all commented on and researched childrens outdoor play and their findings showed that geographical perspectives such as having access to wild areas or a simple garden played a part in the way children accessed the outdoors within their immediate and wider environment. They also highlighted the importance of having experiences with nature and the emotional experiences and intimacy children can develop from this such as a sense of place and belonging. Additionally Valentine and McKendrick (1997) suggest that although many cities and towns provide children with formal facilities such as playgrounds most children would prefer to play in flexible environments such as open spaces and waste ground. However we should also consider the social factors in regards to childrens outdoor play. In reference to social issues Tizard, et al. (1976) conducted a study that showed children from working class backgrounds opted to spend 75% of their time outside and that their co-operative play was more evident outside than inside. They also wrote of how working class children were more likely to play outside than middle class children. Millard and Whey (1997) also conducted studies on children in English housing estates and findings from their interviews and observations of children highlighted childrens enjoyment of physical active outdoor play and the opportunities that it gave them to socialise. However Carruthers (2007) writes of how many children no matter of their class; outside of school hours and without adult supervision; would naturally gravitate towards outdoor spaces and the natural environment where they would make their own games. Saracho and Spodek (1998) have also written about social classes and outdoor play and how children from working class backgrounds are more mature in their outdoor play and that their attention spans and concentration are much greater when playing outside than those of children from middle and upper class backgrounds. However these are only two perspectives and there is no other research evidence to either support or disclaim these findings. Besides which deliberation of childrens gender should also be taken into account in terms of outdoor learning. Gender focused studies have highlighted play choices made by boys and girls when playing and learning outside and inside. Many have concluded that boys undertake more physical play outdoors, whilst girls are more sedate. Suggestions have also been made that boys sometimes tend to dominate the outdoor space and that there can be danger that outdoor spaces can come to be seen as boys territory. This has reflected gender stereotyping found in other studies about how boys and girls make choices within their play. (Tizard et al. 1976, Sanders and Harper 1976, Braggio et al. 1978, Hart 1978, Lott 1978, Henninger 1985, Bates 1986, Hutt et al. 1989, McNaughton 1992, Cullen 1993, Bilton 2004, Jarvis 2007, and Maynard and Waters 2007) There has been insufficient research to disclaim these findings and all found research has shown that there are gender differences in the way children play. The literature suggests that great importance has been placed on the outdoor and natural environment and how it provides rich opportunities for the growth and development of children. There has also been much written about the adults role and the type of environment that practitioners should provide. This has not been covered within this literature review but we need to take note that these play a significant role in the way children will access the outdoor learning environment. There has been some reference to social and geographical issues and how these could aid or hinder childrens views of what the outdoors may provide for them. Significant research has also been placed on risks and safety and whether both parents issues and beliefs and practitioners beliefs have had an impact on the way that children within our society are accessing the outdoors. However gender issues have only touched upon the choices that children make when playing outdoors. This has led to me believing that t here is a need to understand if there are differences in the way that girls and boys actually access the outdoors; do boys spend more time outside than girls? Are the children hindered by what is on offer? This study is focused on gaining a deeper understanding on each of these issues in two early years settings. Chapter 3 Methodology This chapter will identify the methods and techniques that have been used to gather the primary research for this study and the context in which the study was undertaken. Firstly the overall methods that have been used to collect data will be discussed and explained using a rationale. Next it will address any issues of validity and reliability during the research process. Finally the ethical issues which may arise will be identified and any measures that have been taken to address these will be discussed. This research study will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to discover whether there are any differences in the ways that boys and girls access outdoor learning. The qualitative research will be obtained through semi-structured interviews with foundation stage practitioners and non-participant observations of children engaged in outdoor learning. Bell (1987) refers to qualitative data as Understanding individuals perceptions of the world. (Bell, pp 4) Bell (1987) has identified one way in which qualitative research may be suited to this study. Through the use of interviews and non-participant observation this study will be concerned with listening to, observing and understanding individuals. Nixon (1981) suggests that studies involving children should be most appropriately researched using qualitative methods such as observations and interviews. As this study is child based using interviews and observations will provide rich and deep data which in turn will enable me to fully comprehend both practitioners perceptions and childrens integration with outdoor learning. Despite this two quantitative methods (questionnaire and tally chart ) were also used within this study in order to gain numerical data in regards to the amount of time spent outdoor learning by both boys and girls and the types of activities that they undertook when outdoor learning. As discussed this study uses four different methods of data collection; interviews, non-participant observations, questionnaires and tallies. Therefore my study encompasses different sources of evidence to compare and combine in order to reach a better understanding of my research question. Cohen (et al.) (2000) refer to this as triangulation. Roberts-Holmes (2005) suggests that Triangulation gives the researcher the opportunity to check out their evidence from a range of sources (Roberts-Holmes, 2005, pp 40) By using triangulation within this study I will be able to back up and enrich numerical data with information about the participants and their explanations and understandings. The data collection methods for this study will now be discussed in more detail outlining the advantages, disadvantages and rationale for each. 3.1 Observations The first and second methods of data collection for this study were qualitative and quantitative observations. These observations were carried out in two different settings in Kettering; these were a Nursery setting and a Reception setting within a primary school. Nisbet and Entwistle (1974) suggest that when undertaking observations the observer needs to make them self invisible so that they do not affect the observed. To do this you need to have previously met the children and as closely as possible follow the same procedures for observation as the setting you are conducting your research in. Therefore the researcher made sure that she attended the settings on a number of occasions before conducting the research so that she was able to build relationships with the children beforehand and reduce the reactivity effect. Greig et al. (2007) believe that observations are helpful in two ways; observing a child in the natural environment will give the research a real world edge direct experience facilitates the researchers ability to understand complex individuals and situations (Greig et al. 2007, pp 122) As this research was designed to find out how individual children access outdoor learning, observation provides an ideal base to start from. They will also provide many insights into the first hand experiences of the children. However as Scott and Morrison (2006) propose observations may be Affected by the values and judgements brought to the observation by the observer (Scott and Morrison, 2006, pp 168) The observer may have a specific agenda and see what they want to see, however the researcher in this case had conducted many previous observations and was able to observe the children naturally leaving the specific agenda of differences between boys and girls behind. The observations were carried out in a way that all children were treated as and observed as individuals. Despite the many disadvantages of observations especially the amount of time consumed writing the observations up they did enable the researcher to gain an insight into the childrens outdoor learning. The use of quantitative observations in the form of tally charts also enabled the researcher to gain numerical data which added more depth to the study. 3.2 Semi-Structured Interviews The second method of data collection for this study was semi-structured interviews. These were conducted with the practitioners at each setting where the research was carried out. The interviews aimed to find out the practitioners views of the way the children within their care accessed outdoor learning and if they had noted any specific differences between boys and girls. One of the important reasons for choosing semi-structured interviews as a research method was that they can provide a more personalised approach and as Bell (2005) suggests adaptability. By using a semi-structured approach to interviews the researcher was able to take on the role of facilitator by asking set questions but also allowing the development of any issues as they arise throughout the interview. Roberts-Holmes (2005) recommends that when conducting an interview you must have a sound knowledge of the subject that you are researching so that you can remain focused and conduct an informed interview. Through completion of the literature review the researcher was able to identify key areas which would need clarifying during the interview process. Also by conducting a face to face interview any misunderstandings on the part of the interviewer or interviewee could be checked and clarified immediately. However a disadvantage of the semi-structured interview according to Opie (2004) and Bell (2005) is the danger of bias creeping in (pp 166). They suggest that this can occur in many ways either intentionally or unintentionally and by selecting questions which are phrased to support your argument. This was a difficult process to go through and the questions were written and re-written many times to ensure that they were not pre-conceived in anyway. Therefore this issue was addressed within the research process. Additionally there is also the issue of the time involved in scribing the interviews, arranging times to suit all the individuals involved and gaining informed consent. These issues were addressed by firstly writing to the settings involved and asking for their consent to be interviewed. (See appendix) Furthermore arranging times and places which would suit the individuals helped in the process of the interview. In regards to time related issues although transcribing the interviews was time consuming, the researcher did however gain particular insight into the way these practitioners identified outdoor learning in terms of the children in their care. 3.3 Questionnaires The third method of data collection for this study was questionnaires. These were sent to parents of children within the two settings used for this study. The questionnaires aimed to give numerical data to this study. This data was gained by asking closed questions stating amounts of time children spent outdoors and how they played when outdoors. However open questions were also used so that parents or carers could expand on their findings, therefore resulting in more detailed data and also possibly identifying other issues which may not have been addressed by the researcher. Furthermore the researcher used questionnaires as they seemed to be less time consuming especially within a time limited study such as this. Moreover it could be suggested that questionnaires are unbiased as the researcher is not able to influence the answers. However, Scott and Morrison (2006) suggest that there is the potential for questionnaires to have potential bias built into them through the researchers a genda. When drafting the questionnaire there were extreme difficulties in phrasing the questions so that they were not biased towards the researchers own agenda. However after many draft copies and conducting a pilot of the questionnaire the questions became less biased and more open towards the respondents. Bell (2005) suggests that a further disadvantage of the questionnaire is the non-response. However in this instance the researcher sent out one hundred questionnaires and received seventy five back this in itself could be seen as a disadvantage in terms of the time needed to collate all of the data. Despite the disadvantages of this method of research, the high response to the questionnaires enabled the researcher to obtain numerical and qualitative data. 3.4 Selecting the Settings and sample children The researcher chose to carry out the research in two early years settings which gave children free flow access to the outdoors. This allowed the researcher to observe children without any limitations in regards to the way children access the outdoor learning that is available to them. The settings were a sure start nursery and a reception unit within a primary school, which gave the researcher access to a range of ages of children to observe, as there may also have been differences regarding age as to how the children accessed outdoor learning. The settings were also chosen as they were known to the researcher which meant that professional relations had already been built with staff at the settings. However, although these relationships were already in place, this was not regular and there was no personal contact with the researcher which may have biased the study. The practitioners involved in the interview process were also chosen from the two settings involved within the study. The practitioners involved had many years of experience within the early years and in regards to childrens development. This meant that they were able to give the researcher a deeper insight and understanding in to the way they had seen children access outdoor learning in their prospective settings. The children involved in the research were randomly chosen from the children whom the researcher had been given permission to observe. However to ensure an even mix of children within the research two boys and two girls were chosen from each setting which meant that eight children were involved overall. After the eight children were chosen their parents/carers were informed again and they were also made aware of their right to withdraw their child at anytime. 3.5 Validity and Reliability Cohen et al. (2007) define validity as an Important key to effective research for if a piece of research is invalid then it is worthless (pp 133) They suggest that validity can be addressed through the depth and scope of the data attained and in the extent to which triangulation has been used. Therefore the issue of validity has been addressed through the use of many different techniques to research the study. This will give the researcher greater confidence in their findings especially if they all result in the same conclusion. Additionally in terms of qualitative data consideration needs to be given in regards of respondents answers to questionnaires as their opinions and perspectives will contribute a degree of bias within the study. However Agar (1986) argues that the in-depth responses and involvement of respondents in the research will secure a sufficient level off reliability and validity. On the other hand Cohen et al. (2007) argue that this may be insufficient and therefore the data collected must be representative in terms of the question to be answered in order to have validity. This issue of validity has been addressed in terms of the types of questions asked in both the questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. As this study involves both qualitative and quantitative data and Cohen et al. (2007) suggest that in terms of reliability these are both different, the researcher will strive to address issues in both contexts. In regards to quantitative data both Bell (2005) and Cohen et al. (2007) suggest that the type of data collection used needs to be able to be reproduced and present similar findings in order for it to be reliable. The questionnaires used in this study are easily reproduced and may give similar findings, however there may also be the case that the results may not be entirely similar as they represent individuals opinions which will differ on every occasion that the questionnaires are reproduced. Brock-Utne (1996) promotes the use of qualitative research and recognises the holistic approach that it gives to research studies and suggests that the reliability in this case can be seen as dependability. Moreover Cohen et al. (2005) suggest that observations if carried out especially if they can be repeated and are given the same interpretations can also be reliable. Therefore the methods of observations and interviews can be both reliable and dependable; however again there is always the possibility that different outcomes may be gathered depending on the times, settings and individuals involved in the observations. The research within this study can be deemed both valid and reliable due to the triangulation methods used and that each method of research used can be easily replicated and completed again and again with the majority showing similar findings. Additionally all of the research methods used are directly related to the question identified and as Burton et al. (2008) promote the validity and reliability of any research carried out Will be largely determined by the extent to which the findings are directly related to the issues or problems identified at the outset..the selection of appropriate methods and how systematically the have been employed (pp 168) Also the disadvantages and advantages of each method of data collection used in the study have been carefully considered before being used within the context of this study. 3.6 Ethical Issues Any researcher should consider ethical issues when conducting primary research with people as Burton et al. (2008) advise all researchers have one shared responsibility and that is a duty of care to all individuals involved in the research process. BERA (2004) is an association which sets out specific guidelines for researchers who are undertaking educational research they to propose that researchers need to ensure that no harm comes to the participants. BERA (2004) also establishes that the researcher should ensure that all participants within the research are fully aware of their rights and roles. Bell (2005) agrees with this and also suggests that researchers need to gain informed consent from all participants involved within the study. This issue was addressed by communicating with all participants their rights and confidentiality before the research was undertaken. Letters were sent to each setting included within the study which clearly outlined the study and asked for consent to carry out interviews and observations (Appendix ), telephone calls were also conducting in regards to arranging times. Another ethical issue outlined by BERA (2004) is that In the case of participants whose age.may limit the extent to which they can be expected to understand or agree voluntarily to undertake their roleIn such circumstances researchers must also seek the collaboration and approval of those who act in guardianship (pp 7) This issue was addressed by the researcher sending out letters to all parents/carers or guardians of the children within each setting asking for their consent for their child to be observed. The letters outlined the study, confidentiality and anonymity, and the right to say no or to withdraw from the study at anytime. Parents/ carers or guardians were also informed again if their child was chosen for the research and again were informed of their right to withdraw their child at any time. (Appendix ) BERA (2004) and Bell (2005) also recognise the importance of making sure that any participants involved in the study are not put under any stress, discomfort or intrusion during the research process. This issue was addressed by the researcher visiting both settings on a number of occasions so as to reduce intrusion and for the children to become familiar with another adult in their setting. Consideration also needs to be given to the questionnaires used and the ethical issues surrounding this. The researcher made contact with the participants of the questionnaire through covering letters. These letters fully informed the participants of the outline of the study and how the data collected from the questionnaires would be used; participants also had the right not to reply and to withdraw their information at any time throughout the process of the study. In conclusion due to the time limitations and small scale of this study there are bound to be limitations of the research process, some of which were discussed previously. However much deliberation and careful consideration was given to the reliability and suitability of the research methods used, which provided both q

No Mo Accidents :: essays research papers

No More Accidents Bike helmet safety is a big problem in our society. People do not realize that a bike helmet to a biker is the same as a seat belt to a motorist. We as bikers need all the protection that we can get since we don’t have the tank-like protection of a ’88 Ford Tempo. So now I am going to tell you a story of a personal experience, the basics to a helmet and some statistics Even though bike helmets are designed to lessen the impact in one particular spot and disperse the force throughout the helmet. The helmet however is not the most safest thing to but in our society. Most manufactures today tend to make helmets that have a lot of holes and are made for fashion instead of for being a good helmet. The plastic coating on most helmets is there to prevent less friction when you are sliding down on your head. The air holes on the helmet provide better air flow and a fresh new style but they lessen the fact of the force upon impact will have less of a space to disperse the force into. Do not get me wrong all the bicycle helmets on the market pass at least the minimum of the standard. In Austrailia the market had to lower the standard of their helmets because they were soo expensive, so that people would buy their helmets. Being in a bike accident is a very tramatizing thing to go through. I went through several accidents, but one accident in particular knocked some sense into me about helmet safety. One summer morning I woke up like every other day. I did all the normal things one would do in the morning like taking a shower, eating breakfast and getting dressed. After I got myself all set up to go out for the day, I called up one of my friends to go do something. It was another one of San Francisco’s beautiful weather days so we decided to go bicycle riding and to play some basketball. So, then I start to head out of my house to get my bicycle ready for departure about 10am. Now I am on my way to my friends’ house. The first half of my ride was pretty basic, all it was just a nice cruise down hill. The second part however was not so much difficult as I just had to keep my eyes on the path. No Mo Accidents :: essays research papers No More Accidents Bike helmet safety is a big problem in our society. People do not realize that a bike helmet to a biker is the same as a seat belt to a motorist. We as bikers need all the protection that we can get since we don’t have the tank-like protection of a ’88 Ford Tempo. So now I am going to tell you a story of a personal experience, the basics to a helmet and some statistics Even though bike helmets are designed to lessen the impact in one particular spot and disperse the force throughout the helmet. The helmet however is not the most safest thing to but in our society. Most manufactures today tend to make helmets that have a lot of holes and are made for fashion instead of for being a good helmet. The plastic coating on most helmets is there to prevent less friction when you are sliding down on your head. The air holes on the helmet provide better air flow and a fresh new style but they lessen the fact of the force upon impact will have less of a space to disperse the force into. Do not get me wrong all the bicycle helmets on the market pass at least the minimum of the standard. In Austrailia the market had to lower the standard of their helmets because they were soo expensive, so that people would buy their helmets. Being in a bike accident is a very tramatizing thing to go through. I went through several accidents, but one accident in particular knocked some sense into me about helmet safety. One summer morning I woke up like every other day. I did all the normal things one would do in the morning like taking a shower, eating breakfast and getting dressed. After I got myself all set up to go out for the day, I called up one of my friends to go do something. It was another one of San Francisco’s beautiful weather days so we decided to go bicycle riding and to play some basketball. So, then I start to head out of my house to get my bicycle ready for departure about 10am. Now I am on my way to my friends’ house. The first half of my ride was pretty basic, all it was just a nice cruise down hill. The second part however was not so much difficult as I just had to keep my eyes on the path.

Dippin Dots UK

Case 34: Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream and Coffee? 1) What elements in the external environment might affect Dippin’ Dots’ strategy? * The threat of new entrants into the industry creates more competition. * The power of the suppliers and buyers. As the present competition and potential new competition in the â€Å"frozen desserts† segment, have a major effect externally. * There are already substitutes to the Dippin’ Dots’ products, but there is still threat of new substitutes. * Intense rivalry is among Dippin’ Dots’; there are many imitators of this product. * Due to the market prices, the economy has a great impact on sales. ) What internal resources does Dippin’ Dots have that might help it support its competitive strategy? * A Unique Value Chain * Professional business connection with McDonalds. * The human intellectual knowledge was what separated Dippin’ Dots’ from others. * Jones was a microbiologist, * R& D is one major key in the Dippin’ Dots’ market, after all that’s how Mr. Jones started. * Example Mr. Jones developed the â€Å"microencapsulating†. * Entrepreneurial leadership was how Dippin’ Dots’ was created, and have leaded them to a creative mindset. * One of the 500 fastest growing companies, ranked #4 on the Entrepreneur magazine’s 2004 list. Total quality management lead to the quality of products and processes that Dippin’ Dots’ creates. 3) What is Dippin’ Dots’ competitive strategy, and what is the basis of its competitive advantage? * Total Quality Management: * The quality standards are maintained throughout the organization. * The overall product is a competitive strategy in itself. * Procedures, processes and resources needed to implement quality management, and are determined by the quality of the product, the satisfaction of the customer, cost analysis, revenue, and management performance. The Growth and Expansion * Interest is increasing for Dippin’ Dots’, and other entrepreneurs contacted Jones about opening up stores to sell. * Dippin’ Dots’ has grown into a multimillion dollar company gaining more dealers. * Franchise Dippin’ Dots’. 4) How has an entrepreneurial strategy and the management of innovation helped Dippin’ Dots establish its competitive edge? What challenges remain for Curt Jones? * Entrepreneurial Strategy * Family Business Model * Adaptive new entry * Ability to begin franchises, and get their names out there. * Management Innovations Incremental innovations through the development of new ways to make Dippin’ Dots’ even more of a threat. * Sustainability to be able to continue to grow their business. * Curt Jones got a patent for public disclosure of the invention. * Challenges for MR. Jones * There is always going to be completion that could impact the company, especially their popularit y. * Advertising can be an issue, there is a lack of it in the market, and is only marketed in certain areas. * Finding was to continue to make Dippin’ Dots’ rare and difficult to imitate, because so many frozen dessert companies are trying to come close to imitate the ice cream dots.

Anselm Kiefer essays

Anselm Kiefer essays Kiefer was born in 1945 and was raised in postwar Germany he was greatly affected by the atmosphere and his paintings reflect his attitudes and feelings towards his countrys history. Some of his works also spring from his interest into general history, mythology, philosophy, opera literature, and other art. His works are massive multimedia pieces that tend to be abstract. He uses a great deal of symbolism and representationalism in his works. Most of his works are large heavy mixed media pieces that usually have three-dimensional attachments made out of lead. He seems to have a great interest into the ancient practice of alchemy and this interest also seems to influence his works. Other elements that he sometimes mixes into his paintings are wire, straw, wood and various other materials that he affixes to his works to symbolize many different things in many of his works. He is a fascinating artist and I would truly enjoy the opportunity to study some of his works in person. Mere photographs and computer imagery does not do his work justice. ...

Socrates and Thoreau essays

Socrates and Thoreau essays The main difference between Socrates and Thoreau was the their views on the relationship between people and government. Socrates believed that the people are work for the government. They are supposed to obey the orders of the government and serve the government to the best of their abilities. On the contrary, Thoreau believed that the people shouldnt do everything the government says. He thought that the government did only bad things such as slavery and wars, and that people didnt need government. Socrates believed that the government made peoples lives better, more ordered, and civilized; Thoreau thought the government took things away from the people. In my opinion, both of these philosophies worked under the special circumstances that Socrates and Thoreau were in; however, neither would work in todays American society. Socrates lived under the democratic Athenian government, which was the first democratic society in the history of mankind. In order for this new system to work, the people fully supported the government and did everything for the good of the society. Socrates philosophies fit these circumstances perfectly. In todays society, Socrates philosophies would be viewed as ridiculous ideas. Because of all the scientific and economic developments, people no longer just focus on making a living and nothing else. People have time to read newspapers, find out about what the government is doing, and think about whether the things that are going on are right. In another word, nobody would just blindly follow the government. When they feel that the government is doing something to the detriment of the people, they would make their voices heard and try to get it corrected. Also, people nowadays are not doing whats best for the society. They usually do whats best for them. People no longer feel obl igated to obey the government and do whats best for the society. ...

M&ms color distribution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

M&ms color distribution - Essay Example The color of the candies has changed over the years depending on the market demands and other issues. For instance, the red color had been eliminated in the year 1976 after it was believed that it contained components that could cause cancer. It was replaced by orange color but it was later returned to the shelves after it was discovered that it was not after all carcinogenic. Each flavor has different color and is made of different ingredients making it to have a distinctive taste and look. The color is distributed through certain percentages. M & Ms color distribution has always been something that has intrigued different types of people. As a result, there are different people who have tried to analyze the colors. This article compares Josh Madison’s analysis and that from Consumer Affairs Office. According to the consumers’ affair office, the following are the statistics for the distributions of the colors: 25% brown, 10% blue, 6% green, 7% orange, 17% red, 18% yellow and 17% purple. Josh Madison analyzed the color distribution of the candies using the random sampling method. He did not take several packages of the candies from different locations. Instead he analyzed the candies from a single case which had a total of 48 packages. This would ensure that he was able to analyze packages that came from the same production store. He then took to counting all the candies with different colors in each package and compared it with the total number found in the whole sample as a way of checking the errors. These are results that were obtained from the analysis: 18.36% were blue, 14.16% brown 18.44% green, and 20.76% orange, 14.20% and 14% yellow. Blue was observed to be the most popular color but the statistics from the sampling were lower than the expected value of 24%. Comparing the statistics from the two analyses it can be observed that the distribution of the different colors is quite different. For instance,

English paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

English paper - Essay Example In The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia series, both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis created a world where good and evil clashed. The flow of the stories draws a great deal of parallelism in Christian faith. In both stories, we witness how evil corrupts good men and women and how temptation can cloud the mind and wreck havoc on the soul. Perhaps the most logical explanation why these great writers wrote the stories the way they are is because of their strong Christian influences. Born in Africa in 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was introduced to Catholicism by his mother, who converted when he was 8 years old but then died only four short years later (de Koster, 2000). He remained close to the church throughout his life and this Catholic influence is perhaps one reason for his emphasis on the concept of original sin and the fall of man within his trilogy. In The Lord of The Rings, the story was centered on the idea that a ring was a source of evil. In the Christian bible, the story of the ring can be considered as an analogy of the apple in the Garden of Eden. All throughout the story of the Lord of the Rings, the recurring theme of temptation and corruption versus natural source of good was present. The Hobbits to resist pull of the One Ring better than the humans presumably because the humans had already fallen o ut of the Garden of Eden and therefore have already demonstrated a greater susceptibility to evil. As evidence of this claim that humans are more susceptible to corruption of the senses, Boromir was easily seduced by the ring as compared to Frodo. However, since the Hobbits remain connected in some distant way with humans and are susceptible to the ring if exposed to it for long periods of time, which can be seen in both the Gollum and in Frodo Baggins (Tolkien, 1991). The character of Fodo represents a great conflict between good and evil. The

Response Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Response Paper - Essay Example However, what I find surprising is the reason for all the denial; despite the rigidity to change by the activists, it was very apparent that calligraphy was bound to flourish. But again, only one question, whose answer is very evident, comes to my mind. Were these radicals unable to see the obvious fact that calligraphy, as part of writing, would flourish? Well, anyone rigid to change never sees the other side of their perspective. Likewise to the real world, there are very clear examples scenarios similar to those illustrated by the author. One such instance is in politics, transitioning from one form of leadership has always faced myriad obstacles from those who resist the change; the result? Political chaos. Interestingly, such resistance to change relate perfectly even to my life experiences. Many are times I have opposed moving from one residential area to the other for reasons not so justifiable; this clearly reflects the human nature of resisting change. The most interesting part of this writing how it brings out the power of the pen. In other words, calligraphy, as a form of writing, is so powerful that amidst the sheer opposition by the activists, it penetrated the Chinese as if it was not being opposed. But I cannot stop asking myself what methods of resistance the activists used; if they were serious, they would manage to bar calligraphy since it was truly a form of feudalism. On the same note, were the Chinese contented with feudalism? What quickly comes to my mind is that the activists were not so vigorous in their opposition. At the same time; the feudal stipulations profoundly influenced so many Chinese to the extent that it would consume way more effort to convince them otherwise. Just, in the same way, as a Christian, it would take a lot of persuasions to convince me against the stipulations of the Bible. In one way or the other, this text still emphasizes the link between the Chinese past and its