How Sociology Can Prepare You for a Career in Business

Sociology, with its focus on groups, organizations, and human interaction is a natural complement to business and industry. And, it is a degree that is increasingly well received in the business world. Without a good understanding of co-workers, superiors and subordinates, customers, competitors, and all of the roles that each play, it is nearly impossible to succeed at business. Sociology is a discipline that enhances a business person’s ability to manage these relations. Within sociology, a student can specialize in subfields including the sociology of work, occupations, law, economy and politics, labor, and organizations. Each of these subfields offers important insights into how people operate in the workplace, the costs and politics of labor, and how businesses interact with each other and with other entities like government bodies. Students of sociology are trained to be keen observers are those around them, which makes them good at anticipating interests, goals, and behavior.  Especially  in a diversified  and  globalized corporate world, in which one might work with people of various races, sexualities, nationalities, and cultures, training as a sociologist can develop  the perspective and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed today. Fields and Positions There are many possibilities in the business world for those with a sociology degree. Depending on your experience and skills, jobs could range from sales associate to business analyst, to human resources, to marketing. Across business sectors, expertise in organizational theory can inform planning for entire organizations, business development, and training of employees. Students who have focused on the sociology of work and occupations, and who are trained in diversity and how it affects interactions between people might excel in various human resources roles, and in industrial relations. A sociology degree is increasingly welcomed in the fields of marketing, public relations, and organization research, where training in research design and execution using both quantitative and qualitative methods, and ability to analyze various kinds of data and draw conclusions from them are very important. Those who see themselves working in international business development and international trade can draw on training in economic  and political sociology, culture, race and ethnic relations, and conflict. Skill and Experience Requirements The skills and experience required for a business career will vary depending on the specific job you are seeking. However, besides the coursework in sociology, it is also a good idea to have a general understanding of business concepts and practices. Having a few business courses under your belt, or even receiving a double major or a minor in business is also a great idea if you know you would like to pursue a career in business. Some schools even offer joint degrees in sociology and business. Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Oedipus The King By Sophocles - 904 Words

In Sophocles play â€Å"Oedipus the King† a deadly plague has descended upon the kingdom of Thebes, and because of this plague a dark and iniquitous secret begins to unravel itself only to reveal a web of events connecting Oedipus and others as the culprits behind all the havoc ensued. No one is the sole source responsible for the unfortunate events that befall Thebes, as well as the royal family; In fact, those who unknowingly paved the path of destruction were themselves trying to prevent it from ever occurring in the first place. But to what extent are these individuals responsible and who exactly are they? From the very moment he was conceived fate had already entrapped Oedipus in a predetermined path that would connect him to the great catastrophe that would befall Thebes. At the start of the play we learn that Thebes, Oedipus’s kingdom, is in distress due to a plaque that has descended upon them. Oedipus, not knowing why Thebes if facing such tribulations, sends Kreon, his brother in-law, to seek out Apollos oracle to find out what grates his beloved kingdom. Kreon then informs Oedipus that the plaque was cast on them due to a death that was caused by the victim’s blood relative It s blood kin murder that brings this storm on our city.(Lines 113-14) Kreon also states that the victim is none other than the previous king of Thebes, King Laios. Not until the prophet Tiresias arrives and speaks with Oedipus is it revealed to us that the murderer is Oedipus himself, andShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King By Sophocles848 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King, written by Sophocles, follows the tragic story of a king named Oedipus who goes from an all-powerful ruler to a hopeless blind peasant. Oedipus the King was written as a play and performed in front of an audience. Sophocles shows in Oedipus the King that one cannot escape the fate of the gods. Throughout the play Oedipus struggles to find a solution and change all the troubles in his li fe. The play observes the story of Oedipus who defies the gods and through the journey experiencesRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King1714 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"ideal tragedy† is the play â€Å"Oedipus the King† written by Sophocles. In this play, Sophocles utilizes the concept of tragedy as well the theory of the importance of scenes of recognition and reversal to create a setting, tone, and mood throughout the play. Oedipus, the mythical king of Thebes, goes through a horrendous tragedy which includes moments of recognition and reversal. These moments are key to the fame and appreciation for the play, â€Å"Oedipus the King†. Sophocles’ use of Aristotle’s conceptsRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King884 Words   |  4 PagesKing of Thebes, owner of a family tree that identically resembles Medusa on a bad hair day, and the inspiration for a psychologically-riveting complex, Oedipus, tragic hero of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, exposes troubling truths about the human condition and, acting as an exemplary precaution for the entirety of humanity, demonstrates how a self-destructive struggle between love, anger, and fate, conveyed through an unorthodox love affair between mother and son (Who gets custody in a divorce?),Read MoreSophocles Oedipus The King992 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout tragedies in Greek literature, the hero always has one tragic flaw. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ main flaw is his overactive hubris, which in turn clouds his overall judgment. This is evident in the Chorus’ first ode to the city of Thebes as they try to ask the Gods for the banishment of the plague. Their answer does not come from a deity, but from Oedipus himself as he enters the palace and says, â€Å"You have prayed; and you prayers shall be answered with help and release ifRead MoreOedipus The King By Sophocles950 Words   |  4 PagesThe people throughout Oedipus’ life trues very har d to allow him to escape his fate of killing his father and then marrying his mother. In the epic poem Oedipus the King, Sophocles tells the story of the tragic downfall of Oedipus. Although many people see the role of free will that brought upon Oedipus’ doom, no matter what choices were made throughout his life, his ultimate fate would always return. The choices made at the beginning of Oedipus’ life set him up to fulfill his prophecy. His parentsRead MoreOedipus the King by Sophocles1393 Words   |  6 Pages Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great dealRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King Essay1960 Words   |  8 Pages This would have been excellent advice for the main character in Sophocles drama, Oedipus the King. However, the drama was written as a result of Sophocles life and the influence of the humanistic culture in which he lived. Throughout Sophocles life, he gained military knowledge as the son of a wealthy armor manufacturer and received an excellent Greek education with emphasis on Homeric poetry (textbook). Furthermore, Sophocles was very involved in politics and served as a treasurer, a generalRead MoreOedipus The King, By Sophocles1407 Words   |  6 PagesWhen we think about a tragic play or protagonist, most people would think Shakespeare for his common theme of his plays to end with a tragedy. In Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, tells the tale of the protagonist Oedipus. Throughout the play, Oedipus searched for his past to discover the reason why his kingdom is plagued with wilting crops and illnesses. In the end, he becomes a tragic protagonist after discovering his past was related to the previous king’s death. While the search progressedRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King871 Words   |  4 PagesThe plays written by Sophocles, â€Å"Oedipus the King â€Å"and â€Å"Antigone† are bodies of work displayed the meaning of what Aristotle defined as a tragedy. â€Å"Oedipus the King† is a story of a king trying to avoid the fate of his life that has been prophesized before his birth. In â€Å"Antigone† is story of a girl who devoted to her family, and regardless of the orders made the king Creon. In these stories the archetypes and hamartia of Antigone and Oedipus play a major role in the story. In â€Å"Antigone† the characterRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King2037 Words   |  9 PagesSophocles’s Oedipus the King features a chorus that sings several odes over the course of the play. In Sophocles’s play, the chorus is composed of old Theban men and represents the population of Thebes as a whole. The chorus recites a parodos, four stasima, and a brief exodus. Through the choral odes, Sophocles reflects on the events and motifs of the play, including piety and faith in the Gods, the inevitability and the uncertainty of fate, and the dichotomy of right and wrong. After Sophocles establishes

Index Number Free Essays

CPI (Consumer price index) A consumer price index (CPI) measures changes in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by households. The CPI is a statistical estimate constructed using the prices of a sample of representative items whose prices are collected periodically. GDP deflator In economics, the GDP deflator (implicit price deflator for GDP) is a measure of the level of prices of all new, domestically produced, final goods and services in an economy. We will write a custom essay sample on Index Number or any similar topic only for you Order Now GDP stands for gross domestic product, the total value of all final goods and services produced within that economy during a specified period. WPI (whole sale price index) The abbreviation for Wholesale Price Index, which is an index of the prices paid by retail stores for the products they would ultimately resell to consumers. The Wholesale Price Index, abbreviated WPI, was the forerunner of the modern Producer Price Index (PPI). The WPI was first published in 1902, and was one of the more important economic indicators available to policy makers until it was replaced by the PPI in 1978. The change to Producer Price Index in 1978 reflected, as much as a name change, a change in focus of this index away from the limited wholesaler-to-retailer transaction to encompass all stages of production. While the WPI is no longer available, the family of producer price indexes provides a close counterpart in the Finished Goods Price Index. PPI – Producers price index Producers price index focuses on prices of goods and services that are received by the producer. This is different from the retail prices, which include shipping costs, taxes and other levies Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) is designed to assess price movement of essential consumer items at short intervals (on weekly basis) so as to take corrective measures. Laspeyres . This compares the price of the old basket of goods for the old and new prices. Paasche . This compares the price of the new basket of goods for the old and new prices. variables| price| quantity| CPI| Fixed (Laspyere price index)| | GDP deflator| | Fixed| PPI| Fixed (Laspyere price index)| | SPI | Fixed (Laspyere price index)| | WPI| Fixed (Laspyere price index)| | How to cite Index Number, Essay examples

Vanessa Williams free essay sample

Examines singers videos as commentary on critics of her earlier career as scandalized first black Miss America. Vanessa Williams is a black singer, actress, and model who in 1983 was forced to resign from her position as Miss America the first black Miss America. Her resignation came after Penthouse magazine printed a series of photographs taken of Williams some years before, photos seen as pornographic by pageant officials, who in any case seek to avoid scandal at all costs. In the year since that event, Williams has achieved much as an actress and singer, not becoming a major star, but working steadily and reaching the top of the pop music charts. Recently she released a video called The Comfort Zone Collection, and one of the videos on this tape is a visualization of the single that Williams recorded that reached the number one position, Save the Best for Last. An examination of this video shows that the images used may be intended to refer to the scandal and to poke

Janet Napolitano - Press Briefing on the Impact of Sequestration on the Dept of Homeland Security free essay sample

7 Most Common Mistakes on ACT Math How to Avoid Them

7 Most Common Mistakes on ACT Math How to Avoid Them SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips I've tutored many students on the ACT Math section, and they often found it frustrating. Some struggled because they considered themselves better English students and felt overwhelmed by the content and pacing of ACT Math. Others found that even though they considered themselves strong math students, they had a hard time getting the score they wanted in the ACT Math section. But allthese students typically madethe same types of mistakes. In this article, I’ll go over the seven most common mistakes students make on the ACT Math section and how to avoid them. Mistake #1: Skipping Steps ACT Math questions can be very sneaky.Problems can appear at first glance deceptively easy because they only require you to know basic math topics. However, the ACT questions ask for you to apply this basic knowledge in unique ways and often require you to run through several steps to get to the correct answer.If you don’t write out these steps, you can easilyend up with the wrong answer. For example, check out this ACT Math question: I’m going to admit that the first time I attempted this I got it wrong because I did not write down my steps!Hopefully, you’ll learn from my mistake.Together, we will write out the steps and get to the correct answer. There are 4 questions with 3 possible answers, and only 1 of the 3 answer choices will be correct. Therefore, for each question, Elliott has a ${1}/{3}$ chance of answering correctly.Since there are 4 questions, Elliot’s chances of answering all 4 correctly at random are$({1}/{3})({1}/{3})({1}/{3})({1}/{3})$which equals ${1}/{81}$, so the correct answer is E. Initially, I tried to do this problem in my head without writing any steps down. Because I didn't write anythingdown, Imistakenly thought there were four possible answer choices for each question instead of three. Therefore, I got the wrong answer, ${1}/{256}$. Thankfully, my answer wasn't one of the answer choices, so I caught my mistake, but I would have missed the questionotherwise. Don’t miss problems because you didn’t write out all of the steps.This is arguably the easiest mistake to fix.All you need to do is write out all your steps, and you’ll never accidentally miss a problem because you skipped a step!Learn from my silly mistake! Mistake #2: Forgetting Formulas The ACT doesn’t give you any formulas.However, you’ll need to use a lot of formulas to answer questions in the ACT Math section.You need to know these math formulas to answer the questions correctly.We’ve compiled a complete list of all the formulas you need to know for ACT Math. You need to memorize these formulas.Create flashcards to help you memorize.I cannot stress enough how important memorizing formulas is.You’ll see at least 10 questions (out of 60) on the ACT Math section that you will not be able to answer without knowing formulas. Check out this ACT Math question that you couldn’t answer without knowing the formula: If you didn't have yourtrigonometry formulas memorized (SOHCAHTOA), you would have no idea how to answer this question. It's impossible to answer this question without knowing the formula for the tangent of an angle since that is the value you're trying to find. If you remember your trigonometry formulas, you know that the tangent of an angle is the opposite/adjacent.For this question, you need to find the tangent of angle B.The adjacent side for angle B is 2, which means it is our denominator.This means we can eliminate answer choices H, J, and K. However, you cannot find the final answer without also knowing the formula for thePythagorean Theorem.You need to know the Pythagorean Theorem in order to find the measureof the missing side of the triangle, the opposite side to angle B. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, you can find this missing side measure. $$a^2+b^2=c^2$$ $$a^2+2^2=5^2$$ $$a^2+4=25$$ $$a^2=21$$ $$a=√{21}$$ The opposite side will be $√{21}$, and we know that our adjacent side is 2. The final answer is F, ${√{21}}/{2}$. Mistake #3: Not UnderstandingFunctions Functions tend to be one of the hardest concepts, if not the hardest concept, for most students. Students are usually less familiar with algebraic and/or trigonometric functions than they are with other math concepts such as fractions and percentages. Some students have completely forgotten functions or never learned them in the first place. To master the ACT math section, you need to be a whiz at functions. See this ACT Math function question: To answer this question, you need to know the rules of trigonometric functions andtranslations. You will not be able to answer this question without knowing these rules. You first need to use your knowledge of trigonometric functions to read the graph, and then, you need to apply your knowledge of translations rules to find the final answer. First, you need to be able to identify which function is $sin(x)$ and which is$sin(x+a)+b$ on the graph since they're not identified for you.If you know your trigonometric functions, you know that the y-intercept of$sin(x)$ is 0, meaning the graph of$sin(x)$ crosses through the origin. Therefore, the other functionmust be$sin(x+a)+b$. Once you've correctly identified which function is which, you need to figure out how$y=sin(x)$ was changed to make$y=sin(x+a)+b$, which is where your translation knowledge comes in. Based on the given information in the question, you know the two have the same maximum values, meaning the amplitude was not changed.By looking at the graph you can tell$y=sin(x)$ was shiftedto the left or right to make$y=sin(x+a)+b$, but it was not moved up or down. Since there was no up or down movement, b must equal zero since any change in b would cause$y=sin(x)$ to move up or down. Therefore, the answer must be A, but let's check by figuring out what a should be. Because$y=sin(x)$ repeats itself infinitely, you can shift it either to the left or right to create the new function$y=sin(x+a)+0$.Therefore, $a$ could be positive or negative (for example, ${-3Ï€}/{2}$ or ${Ï€}/{2}$, but it could not equal zero, so A is the correct answer. If you've forgotten functions, then you need to review. You must review all math concepts that you’re rusty on in order to succeed on ACT Math.Lucky for you, we’ve written specific ACT Math content guides to help you study any individual ACT Math content area that you might be struggling with, fromtrigonometric functions totranslations,ratios to rotations, points to probabilities and much more. Mistake #4:Panicking at Unfamiliar Question Formats The ACT sometimes asks questions in strange ways, which can scare a lot of students. I had many students who, even though they'd reviewed all of the math content areas, wouldread the question and rather than trying to figure it out would just freak out and give up. The question below is one that presents an unfamiliar question format. You’ll likely recognize it as an algebra question, and if you were asked to find the solutions forx (had you been given numerical values of m and n), you’d likely know how to answer that question.However, instead, this question tells you the valueof x and asks you to figure out what m and n are. Let’s work through this problem together: If the only possible solution for x is -3, that means the given equation can also be represented as $(x-y)^2=0$.We need to figure out what y is in order to find out what m and n are. If $(x-y)^2=0$, then you can separate it into $(x-y)(x-y)=0$.For this to be true, x-y has to equal 0. $$x-y=0$$ The question told us that the only solution for x is -3, so we plug that in and solve: $$-3-y=0$$ $$-y=3$$ $$y=-3$$ Now that we know the value of y, we plug it back into $(x-y)^2=0$ and then multiply and simplify to figure out what m and n are: $$(x-(-3))^2=0$$ $$(x+3)^2=0$$ $$(x+3)(x+3)=0$$ $$x^2+3x+3x+9=0$$ $$x^2+6x+9=0$$ Therefore, $m=6$, so the answer is C. There is no easy solution to this type of mistake.The only way to learn from this mistake is with practice.ACT Math questions are unlike the math questions you usually see in math class. They are much trickier. I recommend taking as many practice ACT testsas you can in order to get used to the style of ACT math questions.You need to train yourself to be able to solve math questions in this new way. Mistake #5: Solving for the Wrong Value As I just said, ACT Math questions can be tricky.They are tricky not only because they ask you to apply basic skills in new ways but also because they sometimes phrase questions in weird, convoluted ways. Althoughthe ACT is often called the more straightforward test in comparison to the SAT (or at least in comparison to the old SAT),some ACT Math questions are far from straightforward.Take for example this question: The question is basically asking how the surface area will change if you double the length, width and height.However, if you misread the question, you could easilyjump to the incorrect conclusion that the surface area was doubled, and the answer is A. Given the formula for surface area, $A=2lw+2lh+2wh$, if we double $l$, $w$, $h$, the new surface area would be $$SA=2(2l)(2w)+2(2l)(2h)+2(2w)(2h)$$ $$SA=2(4lw)+2(4lh)+2(4h)$$ That can be written as $$SA=4(2lw+2lh+2wh)$$ When that is compared to the original $SA=2lw+2lh+2wh$, you can see it’s 4 times the original, so the answer is B. Take your time.I know you don’t have a lot of time on the ACT Math section, but you need to read each question completely and make sure that you know what you’re being asked.The ACT Math section will always throw you an answer choice that will seem correct if you misread the question.They are trying to tempt you to answer incorrectly.Don’t fall for it! Mistake #6: Incorrectly Using Your Calculator You need to be careful with your calculator.It’s a great tool, but to quote the Spiderman comics, â€Å"With great power comes great responsibility.†It’s very easy to feel rushed during the ACT Math questions, and, in your hurry to find the answer, you type the wrong number(s) into your calculator and, therefore, come to the wrong answer. Now, this is typically one of the better mistakes to make on this list because if you type in the wrong number(s) you’ll likely find no matching answer in the ACT answer choices, and you’ll realize you made a mistake. However, you don’t want to be making this mistake.Even if you catch your mistake because there is no matching answer choice, you’ve still cost yourself valuable time that you could have been using to answer another question.Take the time to check that you’ve copied the numbers into your calculator correctly. Type carefully! Mistake #7: Not Pacing Yourself With only 60 minutes to answer 60 questions, you need to learn to pace yourself. To determineyour pacing, you need to first figure out your target score. The questions progress from easy to hard, so no matter what score you're aiming for always attempt the questions chronologically. If you're aiming for a score higher than 30, then you're going to need to answer all or almost all of the 60 questions. That means you must spend under 1 minute per question on the first 30 questions to save time for the harder end questions. If you're aiming for a score below 30, then you can afford to skip some questions. Determine how many questions you need to answer to reach your score and then pace according to that amount of questions. For example, if you're aiming for 20, then you only need to get 32 math questions right. You can allow yourself a minute and a half per question, and you should attempt the first 40-45 questions and skip the hardest ones at the end. Simply choose a random letter and bubble that in for the ones you skip, since there is no penalty for guessing. I won’t go into detail because we have another great guide on how to stop running out of time on ACT Math and how to take advantage of the easy to hard question order. However, I will say to truly master the pacing you need to take many practice tests under realistic conditions.Don’t give yourself even one extra minute on your practice tests because this can artificially inflate your score. Stick to 60 minutes for the ACT Math section. What’s Next? Now that you know the most common mistakes on ACT Math, you might want to take a look at our specific ACT Math content guides to help you study any individual ACT Math content area that you might be struggling with, from ratios to rotations, points to probabilities. Stuck on an ACT Math problem? We'll show you how to figure out when you're really stuck and what to do about it. Want additional help with ACT Math? Don’t sweat it. We've compiled all ourbest free ACT Math guides into one ultimate ACT math study guide. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Asses effects of 2008 Global financal crisis on international business Essay

Asses effects of 2008 Global financal crisis on international business - Essay Example Changing Context After 2008 The context of the global financial crisis began in the year 2006 when the United States experienced a downfall from the real estate market. This accumulated into the lending of banks and other sectors of the economy, all which led to an inflation of prices and the inability for individuals within the economy to continue to pay the same amount of prices because of the economic downturn. The result was a large loss of money that was in the economy and which created difficulties among those that were in the economy. There were several factors that implied that changes needed to be made and which were altered with policies, reforms and different ways of functioning through both policy organizations and those who were involved in lending functions. The context after 2008 led to ways to try to merge back into a functioning economy by changing the macro – economic variables that were associated with the initial crisis (Furceri, Mourougane, 1: 2009). When looking at the context that occurred after 2008, it can be seen that there were several specific changes within the economy that led to the alterations of what was occurring. ... Emerging markets were not as affected; however, those who were a part of the global capital markets noted the first decline since a continuous flow that occurred from the 1980s. This particular crash was as bad as the Great Depression but caused several types of declines because of the complexity that had grown in the economic market. The most affected area was the government with a large amount of increased debt, while the private debt remained flat, making the debt to equity ratio higher and imbalanced. The several occurrences led several to question how to rebalance the economy for the future and to buffer the pressures and declines which could occur within the economy (Roxburgh et al, 7-9: 2009). The changing alternatives in the balances and global market have led to fluctuations that have not only changed the context with certain aspects of the economy but are affecting different institutions. The main institution which has been affected is the government, specifically with a ri se in the deficit by trillions of dollars. There are also changes in the amount of money that is available with sovereign default, which is changing the association with how much can be done to recover within the economy. The changes that are occurring are now not only dependent on an emergence of the economy through the institutions and banks, but also are requiring policy changes that are a part of the economy to provide sustainability. The economic model that is a part of this is one which is creating a change in how policies are approached, specifically because of the credit, assets and amount of deficit that is impacting both the institutions and the basic uncertainties that are within the market (Cuadra, Sapriza, 78: 2008). Alterations in

The individual in western liberal theories of law is vacuous, circular Essay

The individual in western liberal theories of law is vacuous, circular and inconsistent. It could not be anything else because humans only ever exist in specif - Essay Example And, it seems apparent that women and children are the principal victims of such processes and lack equal bargaining power. However, in such an unequal balance of power relations and structures of authority, a universal system of just standards and values seems most urgent in order to have a systematic way to regulate and judge moral and political processes. In other word, define systematically, a rigorous definition and perception of right. Basically, individual rights is a legal term referring to what one is allowed to do and what can be done to an Individual. Police states are generally considered to be oppressive because they offer their citizens few Individual rights. In the following, we will discus the claim that â€Å"The individual in western liberal theories of law is vacuous, circular and inconsistent. It could not be anything else because humans only ever exist in specific sociohistorical, linguistic and ideological contexts† through Feminist and Marxist legal theories. Indeed, it seems important to give in first a short overview on the context in which those theories are involved regarding the general concept of liberalism and individual and/or human right. Liberalism can be understood as (i) a political tradition (ii) a political philosophy and (iii) a general philosophical theory, encompassing a theory of value, a conception of the person and a moral theory as well as a political philosophy. Liberalism is generally viewed as a tradition that has been born out of many ideas of several thinkers and of several social situations, but it is mostly characterized as part of the western tradition. It can be seen also as a reaction to and attempt to reverse oppression which restricts people’s freedoms. Regarding the liberalism, Humans are basically unencumbered selves with the ability to think rationally and make choices about their â€Å"own† beliefs about the good life. Within this tradition, the self is viewed as a predominantly atomistic and

Evidence based nursing practice Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evidence based nursing practice - Research Paper Example 10). DESCRIPTION Evidence based nursing practice is the application of nursing practice based on information gathered from researches (McCann, 2007, p. 2). Usually, this information came from nurses’ experiences in the health care setting. Research data help nurses in deciding appropriate patient care and tend to be more updated than reference books. In conducting evidence based nursing practice project, the basic steps involved are: clinical question formulation, searching and reviewing articles on that clinical question, critical evaluation and comparison of the articles, application of the information from the articles, and outcome evaluation of the changes made in local practice (McCann, 2007, p. 5). Developing a clinical question may arise from clinical practice or to an area where an individual wants to gain awareness. To start a clinical question, it must be specific, concrete, and pointing relationship between patient and exposure. The formulation of an outcome and fac tors to consider are also included in the first step. After establishing clinical questions, the nurse will have to review relevant articles to use. Online indexes, published journals, books, and other references serve as databases and will help in broadening knowledge about the research topic. The next step is critical evaluation and comparison of the articles. In this step, the nurse must make sure that articles were published in peer-reviewed journals, that is, outside experts had reviewed the article prior to publication (McCann, 2007, p. 6). Articles are examined for quality indicators such as validity and reliability. If found out that the information from the article is valid and reliable, the information from the article is applied. Then, outcomes are further evaluated depending on the patient’s response. The response of the patient serves as gauge line for measuring initial objectives. Documentation must be concise and objective, and additional information are implem ented as new heath practice. In 2008, Reavey and Tavernier conducted a study comprising the team formation of staff nurses, unit nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist, nurse researcher, and infection control nurse. The clinical question is to identify the best practice for frequency of central line dressing changes in severely neutropenic patients. The current policy, which is daily dressing changes, resulted in skin breakdown and increases the chance for infection. The patients were dissatisfied also with the frequency and discomfort due to skin breakdown. The team conducted a literature search of relevant evidence. Based on the literatures, the team came up with a proposal that central line dressings must be changed every 7 days or as needed, and gauze dressing changes every 2 days. The expected outcomes were reduced cost spent in supplies and less nursing time required, as well as decreased infection and skin breakdown. The team implemented the proposal and conducted a pilot s tudy measuring outcomes. During 6 months of trial, blood stream infection rate is 4 per 1,000 line days, which is below the benchmark. Based on this result, the current health policy on central line dres

Antidiabetic Effect of Momordica Charantia

Antidiabetic Effect of Momordica Charantia Effect of Momordica charantia fruits on Diabetic Complications Introduction    Momordica Charantia (Cucurbitaceae) or Bitter Melon, is a Tropical vegetable, is a common food in Indian cusine and has been used extensively in folk medicine (Dasgupta, 2011). In Ayurveda, the fruit is considered as tonic, stomachic, stimulant, emetic, antibilous, laxative and alterative. Bitter melon has been used in various Asian traditional medicine systems for a long time. Like most bitter-tasting foods, bitter melon stimulates digestion. While this can be helpful in people with sluggish digestion, dyspepsia, and constipation, it can sometimes make heartburn and ulcers worse. The fact that bitter melon is also a demulcent and at least mild inflammation modulator, however, means that it rarely does have these negative effects, based on clinical experience and traditional reports (Kumar et al., 2010; Patel et al., 2010; Sharma et al.,2011). In the initial study, significant antihyperglycemic activiy of crude powder of M.charantia fruits was observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Among the various extracts aqueous extract showed significant effect on postprandial hyperglycemia in normal as well as STZ diabetic rats after oral administration of sucrose and also showed significant lowering of fasting blood glucose in STZ diabetic rats. Therefore the aqueous extract was subjected to the fractionation and two different fractions namely butanol and aqueous fractions were obtained. The fractions were again administered to the STZ diabetic rats in which both the fractions showed significant antihyperglycemic although the activity was greater in aqueous fraction treated group. The present chapter mainly illustrates the long term multiple dose effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia in high fructose diet fed low dose STZ-induced diabetic rats (HFD-STZ) and high dose STZ induced diabetic rats. Multiple dose study in the animal models provide the better understanding about the overall effect of the selected fraction on the various symptoms and associated compilcations of diabetes mellitus. Prior to the in vivo study, the aqueous fraction has also subjected to the in vitro study using L6 cells to find out its effect on the cellular glucose uptake and insulin signaling. Design of study Aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of T.belerica fruits were subjected to in vitro study using L6 cells to see the effect of fraction on glucose uptake, and insulin signaling. In vivo study was performed using high fructose diet fed low dose STZ-induced diabetic rats (HFD-STZ) and high dose STZ-induced diabetic rats. HFD-STZ rats were selected and grouped on the basis of elevated plasma triglycerides and cholesterol level while the high dose STZ-induced diabetic rats were grouped on the basis of their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level. Multiple dose of aqueous fraction was carried out for one month and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and biochemical analysis including plasma lipid profile analysis and hepatic and renal function tests were performed at regular intervals. Since chronic complications are more pronounced in high dose STZ rats, therefore at the end of the experiments the animals were sacrificed and the kidney of treated as well as untreated control groups were collec ted for the study of the effect of aqueous fraction on the molecular markers involved in oxidative stress induced diabetic nephropathy. Results: (1) Concentration dependent effect of aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on glucose uptake in L6 cells: Treatment of aqueous fractions led to increase of basal as well as insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in concentration dependent manner in L6 cells. Figure 1 shows significant increase of 1.41-fold (p (2) Effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia on mRNA expression of insulin signaling gene in L6 cells: Gene expression profile suggest that the expression of IRS-1 (Insulin receptor substrate, PI3K (Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase), AKT2 (Protein kinase-B) and GLUT4 genes were upregulated by the treatment of aqueous fraction. Thus it is clear that the aqueous fraction of M.charantia stimulates the genes of insulin signaling pathway which may lead to the antihyperglycemic effect of the fraction. (3) Effect of aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia on IRS-1, AKT and GLUT4 proteins in L6 cells: Insulin signaling pathway can influence glucose uptake by the translocation of GLUT4 containing vesicles to the plasma membrane and thus facilitates in the transportation of glucose across the plasma membrane. Drugs affecting the insulin signaling may modulate the glucose uptake in this manner. In the present study, it was observed that similar to the gene expression profile, treatment of aqueous fraction increases the protein expression of of p-IRS-1, p-AKT and GLUT4. Thus it is clear that aqueous fraction of M.charantia do effect insulin signaling pathway in in vitro and as a consequence increase glucose uptake by cells. (4) Effect of aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance and plasma insulin level of High fructose diet fed low dose Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Table 1 shows the remarkable effect of aqueous fraction on fasting blood glucose of treated animals. Highly significant improvement of 31.8% (p (5) Effect of aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on lipid profile of High fructose diet fed low dose Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats High fructose diet generally cause disturbances in lipid profile leading to dyslipidemia which get further deified by the low dose treatment of STZ causing highly elevated plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL level and decreased plasma HDL level. Table 2 shows that the treatment with aqueous fraction for one month significantly improved plasma lipid profile and the significant declination of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was found to the tune of 35.7% (pM.charantia was found sufficiently effective against diabetic dyslipidemia caused by high fructose and low dose STZ in animals. (6) Effect of aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on Hepatic and Renal parameters of High fructose diet fed low dose Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. High fructose diet may cause dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance which are the characteristics of diabetes type 2 and the extent of severity may get increased by the low dose of STZ which may further add the symptoms like hepatic and renal dysfunction in the experimental animals. Table 3 and 4 shows that in the present study treatment of aqueous fraction was found to improve the plasma level of hepatic and renal function markers. It is clear from Table 3 that there was significant decline of plasma AST and ALT level at ever time interval and the lowering of 31.2% (p (7) Effect of aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance and plasma insulin of high dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Most of the beta cells get destroyed in high dose STZ-induced diabetic rats and therefore animals display high level of fasting blood glucose and intolerance towards external glucose administration. Table 5 shows that treatment of aqueous fraction for one month significantly improved the fasting blood glucose level to the tune of 15.4% (p Elevated fasting blood glucose and reduced glucose tolerance are characteristic of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Table 5 shows that the treatment with Aqueous fraction for 30 consective days improved glucose tolerance of the treated animals to the tune of 18.0% (pth and 28th day of treatment respectively. Fasting blood glucose was declined to 15.0% (pth day and 28th day respectively. Plasma insulin level in treated group was found elevated to 42.3% (p (8) Effect of Aqueous fraction of Aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on glycated haemoglobin level of high dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Glycated haemoglobin or HbA1c reflects the average concentration of glucose in blood for a prolonged period of time and HbA1c level are generally found elevated above normal in the untreated or late diagnosed diabetes. Hence the reduction in HbA1c level reflects the effect control of blood glucose level. In the present study animals showing HbA1c level 10 and above were selected for study. Figure 10 shows that the oral administration of Aqueous fraction of M.charantia declined the HbA1c level to the tune of 24.1% (pth day. (9) Effect of Aqueous fraction of Aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on lipid profile of high dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. High dose STZ-induced diabetic animals which develop high HbA1c level and other complications in long duration are generally lean animals with disturbed lipid profile also but the level of triglycerides and cholesterol are not as much elevated as in diet induced model. In the present model medium elevation of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL was noticed and slight declination of HDL level. Table 6 shows that the plasma triglyceride level was found reduced by 25.4% (p (10) Effect of Aqueous fraction Aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits on Hepatic and Renal parameters of Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats It is evident from Table 7 and 8 that Aqueous fraction treated group showed marked decline in plasma AST and ALT as well as urea, uric acid and creatinine level which clearly reflects improvement in hepatic and renal performance as compared to the untreated control group. Effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia fruits on activated stress signaling pathway in the kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats: To determine the effect of hyperglycemia in the kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with aqueous fraction of M.charantia, the expression of p-PKCÃŽ ´ was studied and figure 11 shows no significant change of expression in M.charantia treated rats in comparison to STZ-untreated rats. Effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia fruits on expression of pp-38(MAPK) ,ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 in the kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats The effect of M.charantia treatment on glucose-induced changes in MAPK family members was also studied. MAPKs have been identified as transducers linking high glucose to biochemical deficits in diabetes. p38 mediates responses to osmotic stress including the regulation of genes such as aldose reductase together with JNK which is activated by oxidative stress (208). Aldose reductase-sensitive phosphorylation and nuclear migration of p38 MAPK has been demonstrated in DRG sensory neurons of diabetic rodents and specific inhibition of p38 prevents Na+ channel phosphorylation (346). Figure 12 demonstrates a clear increase in pp38 MAPK in response to increasing glucose. (Yuan et al 2009).But on the contrary no change was observed in pp38 and its associated members (JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 ) Effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia fruits on the expression of IKKÃŽ ², NFÃŽ ºÃŽ ² and antiinflamatory AKT in the kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats In order to assess the effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia on IKKÃŽ ² expression in the STZ induced kidney, the immunoblotting of IKKÃŽ ² and NFÃŽ ºÃŽ ² were performed and its effect on anti-apoptotic molecules such as AKT was also analysed. As it is clear from figure 13, that the fraction did not showed any significant effect in expression level of IKKÃŽ ², NFÃŽ ºÃŽ ² and phosphorylated AKT . Effect of aqueous fraction of M.charantia fruits on apoptotic markers (caspase-3, pp53 and cleaved PARP-1) High glucose concentrations found in diabetic patients trigger cellular apoptosis. As given such an elaborated knowledge of effect of pro-apoptotic molecules the effect of the fraction on these apoptosis triggered protein expression that is activated–caspase-3 was studied and the results in figure 14 and 15 indicates no change in expression of active-caspase-3 and cleaved PARP-1 in treated group when compared to untreated STZ induced rats. Discussion: Momordica charantia is a native to tropics (Hamissou, 2013) and its medicinal properties are mentioned in ancient literatures (Kumar, 2010). It also forms the part of many polyherbal antidiabetic formulations and also known for anticancer, antibacterial, antiulcer, antifertility, antihelminthic, antimalerial, antipsoriasis and immunomodulatory activities (Dasgupta, 2011; Sharma, 2011). The previous study confirmed the significant antihyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract in various animal models and therefore it was further fractionated to obtain butanol and aqueous fraction. Both these fractions showed significant antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats although higher activity was observed in aqueous fraction and therefore the same was selected for the study of secondary complications of diabetes. Aqueous fraction treatment in L6 cells enhanced basal as well as insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in concentration dependent manner. GLUT4 translocation and distribution is vital in the glucose upatake by cells (Leney and Tavare, 2009). Effect of aqueous fraction on GLUT4 expression was studied by treating L6 myotubes with aqueous fraction and as a result expression of GLUT4 significantly increased at both mRNA and protein level. Hence the increase in glucose uptake was due to the upregulation of the GLUT4 expression by L6 myotubes. Present study also suggests that the aqueous fraction increased tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in L6 myotubes and also increased the mRNA level of the same. PI3K xpression was also found increased in treated L6 myotubes. Beside this the aqueous fraction also increased mRNA level of AKT in L6 myotubes and also stimulated the phosphorylation of AKT at Ser-473 suggesting that the stimulatory effect of aqueous fraction of A.indica on glucose uptake is med iated via PI-3-K/AKT pathway. Further the aqueous fraction was subjected to the multiple dosing in HFD-STZ rat model which shares some characteristics with human type 2 diabetes (Salama et al., 2013). Fasting blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance was markedly improved in aqueous fraction treated group which supports the outcome of in vitro study showing increased glucose uptake by treated cells. Dyslipidemia is the characteristic feature of HFD-STZ rats (Panchal and Brown, 2011) and aqueous fraction effectively restored the lipid profile of treated rats by the significant lowering of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and enhancing the plasma HDL level. Declined level of hepatic transaminases and plasma level of urea, uric acid and creatinine indicates towards hepato and reno protective action of aqueous fraction. Since the diabetic complications are more severe in low dose STZ-induced diabetic rats with untreated hyperglycemia of several weeks reflected in elevated level of HbA1c. Therefore the aqueous fraction was also studied in low dose STZ-induced diabetic rats showing abnormally high level of HbA1c. Such animals were treated with aqueous fraction for one month and there was significant improvement in fasting blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance of treated animals. The improvement in fasting blood glucose was well reflected in the declination of HbA1c level of the treated animals by the significant extent. Plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL were significantly reduced and HDL-level was raised significantly which confirms the antidyslipidemic effect of aqueous fraction in diet induced model. There was also marked lowering of hepatic transaminases and plasma level of urea, uric acid and creatinine indicating towards the hepato and reno protective activity of aqueous fr action of M.charantia. Further study was carried on to see the effect of M.charantia on kidney of STZ-induced rats .The study revealed that M.charantia does not showed any significant effect on any of pro-apoptotic or stress-inducing pathway. Thus indicating that this fraction does not exerts significant effect on oxidative-stress induced nephropathy, therefore it was not relevant to move forward towards compounds elucidation and study. Therefore it may be concluded that aqueous fraction of aqueous extract of M.charantia fruits is moderately effective in control of diabetic hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia and also improves hepatic and renal function but less effective against secondary complications like nephropathy.

Is Education Enough for the Real World? Essay -- Womens Education Argu

Is Education Enough for the Real World? Is a college education enough to prepare and teach you about life? A college education is important to prepare you for a career in a specialized field, but it cannot prepare you for the real world. Through my experience as a 23 year-old woman, I can say that I have learned more outside of school to prepare me for my future life. I have had to learn more through outside resources, family, friends, and love-interest relationships to be able to survive as a strong-minded female in today's society. As I read articles on education I was able to find two authors that shared my views about education in today's society: Adrienne Rich and Jon Spayde. In the article "What Does a Woman Need to Know?" by Adrienne Rich, Rich delivers a commencement address to female college graduates about the condition of women's education. As a writer and teacher, Rich states that "there is no women's college today which is providing young women with the education they need for survival as whole persons in a wo rld which denies women wholenesss" (qtd. in Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz 66). According to interviewer and editor Jon Spayde in the article "Learning in the Key of Life," Spayde's essay reflects that education should take place throughout a lifetime and not just through formal schooling. Both Rich and Spayde believe that education should be taken to a farther extent than just what we learn in school. Through history and culture every human being, especially women, can learn a lot about themselves and become strong-minded individuals. Adrienne Rich argues that women have been viewed as existing in the service of men, and it is only through knowledge that we can learn to overcome such a view. Rich believes tha... ...w much I have learned on my own and I am thankful for the resources and the people around me that have helped me become a self-defining human being. My own experiences have taught me to survive in the real world more than my college education. If we are just educated through college, we will not be prepared for problems that the real world confronts us with until we learn from our own experiences. Once we become street-educated we can come to survive real life experiences and learn how to deal with them. The best education can come from what we learn in our own experiences to help teach us valuable lessons about life. Through culture and humanities we can learn about others and ourselves, in order to be able to adapt to our own environment. To become successful in life, we must teach ourselves what we really want to know and obtain the answers we want in our lives.

Graphic communication Essay

Sch 31: Promote communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings. 1.2 Explain how communication affects relationships in the work setting. Communication plays a massive part once building a relationship in the work setting. By regularly keeping effective communication between practioners, parents/careers and children makes a positive working environment. The relationships are mostly based on the type of communication between one another, communication is not just by verbally but also the body language we show, facial expressions and our gestures. Communication with children and young people is very important. When a child is new to the setting you would want them to feel comfortable and safe in your company away from parents/ careers. As of when the children and young people does feel positively about the new environment around then helps the parent/career of that child to feel relaxed and comfortable to hand over their child into your care knowing they will have an enjoyable experience. The main way to build positive communication with the child/ young person is through play, as you talk with them during activities the child would become more relaxed as you ask questions about their games and actions, by showing interest into the child’s/ young persons holistic development will then build a positive relationship with that child/ young person. By showing positive body language in the setting, shows an invitation to the child/ young person that you’re there to play games, do activities and be there to have a conversation. Lowering down to the child’s/ young person’s level which will then put you into the position to engage in eye contact, this will make the child/ young person feel like you are more approachable to communicate with for example; ask you questions. When verbally communicating between you and the child the tone of your voice is very important, the child will pick up on the way you say things more than what you said as this will tell them if you’re being positive towards them; talking with them, or either being direct; talking to them. Not only do you talk to them but also the child will response, or even approach you first to communicate; either for a general conversation or to ask a question. All children are different, either it is by the way they’re brought up, their culture, have different beliefs, and in the way they communicate for example; English is an additional language. If you had a child in the nursery who had English as a second language, and knew few words, verbally communicating with this child wouldn’t be the first thing you would do. There are loads of different ways to do this for example; using picture cars with words, not only will this technique help communicate but also help build the childs English vocabulary. Another being demonstrating, for example; in an activity, lets say gluing and sticking, show the child what to do by demonstrating the activity for them to then copy your actions. Communication is very important, not only with the child/ young person but also their parents/ careers. Parents and careers need to be kept updated with everything that happens with their child/children and information that they need to know about the nursery itself. The stronger the relationship between the practioners and the parent/ career the stronger the trust the parents/ careers have with their child/ children in your care. Information should be shared on a day to day basis between the practioner and the parent/ career abpout everything that happens in the nursery. This information can be shared in different ways depending on the confidentiality. Information for all parents to know who have children at the nursery should be notices such as for example; new children joining the group, allergies that children have prompting the parent/ career about the foods the child should be allowed to take into the nursery, changes to day plans (hours, activities, trips). This sort of information can be transferred by sending out a newsletter to the parents/ careers individually when they drop off of pick up their child/ children, a notice board inside/ outside of the nursery for everyone to read, emailing or texting to the parents/ careers as this could be an easier way for them. On the other hand information more confidential about an individual should just be kept between that parent/career of the child/ children and the practioner who is giving the information. This information can be transferred by a letter, email and a text but in my opinion this sort of nonverbal communication just doesn’t seem formal or appropriate. Information like this should either be told over a phonecall or even face to face at the beginning or end of the school day; Taking the parent / career aside to have a conversation in a private room away from other parents and practioners. The information given would be topics such as, the child’s behaviour; if they are being disruptive, not listening to the staff harming other children, or even if the child seems upset and won’t join in on different activities and games set. Sometimes communicating can’t always be as easy as having a conversation or written communication for example; a child’s information profile. A parent/ career can be harder to approach in different situations for example; the parent/ career has English as an additional language and knows some English but not enough to have a general conversation about the child, in this situation more verbal communication would be easier to approach than written communication. Also a parent/ career with dyslexia, verbal communication is easier to approach, especially when information is need on the childs profile for in the nursery, so in this scenario, the parent or career would have to verbally share this information with the practioner for them to record this information. As long as the parent/ career is knowledgeable of what is happening with their child and the nursery they will feel comfortable and trusting with their child in the care of the nursery. Keeping communication strong between yourself and work colleagues is very important as the information you share between one another is what will keep the nursery running where as if this communication was at a poor standard then no information will get told to everyone, people including staff, the parents/ careers and children. The sort of communication that would be between colleagues mostly on a day to day basis would be verbally, when in the work setting, such things being for example; about activities and games, day plans, child absences, food times and parents drop off and pick up times. Also this all doesn’t need to be verbally if it’s the same information to be transferred to each member of staff every day, there could be for example a chart e.g; in the baby room a chart been posted up on each child’s different feeding and sleeping patterns. Building a strong relationship with colleagues would make life in your setting more comfortable, easier to work with one another and just better to talk to each other. Also by having a stable relationship communicating with each other will keep all of the staff up to date with everything happening. Communicating with colleague to colleague is a different to which you would talk to a child or a parent/ career. Speaking to a colleague would be less formal than anyone else as in the work setting you would build a strong friendship as well as just a work relationship. On the other hand when speaking to a profession outside of the nursery such as a special educational needs coordinator you would communicate in a more formal way and confidentially would be strict. Of a profession like this you would communicate verbally face to face with them, or by even email, sharing the sort of information about a child they’re there to study. The different professions would need trust in you and the rest of the staff to make sure this child/ children don’t feel left out because they’re different and that you respect and look out for them. In conclusion, when working in a nursery setting you are to be prepared to strongly communicate with everyone involved in your work to build that trust and respect. Not only verbally and just speaking but also thinking about how to speak and how to show your body language and facial expressions.

America discovery essays

America discovery essays The discovery of the Americas was originally and accident. It was thought that the new world was the Eastern Indies, which is why Native Americans are called Indians. Even though Columbus set out to find a new route to the Indies to find riches, the later colonies werent necessarily looking to get rich. The biggest motivation for founding the English colonies was for religious freedom. The Roman Catholics took the journey because protestant Englands persecution, some separatists Christians sailed to keep their religion pure, and the protestant Germans fled due to oppression in the mother country. Maryland was founded by Lord Baltimore, who belonged to a prominent English Catholic family, though he set Maryland up partially for a profit, he also set it up as a refuge for his fellow Catholics because the Protestant England was still persecuting Catholics. One of the numerous discriminations was that a couple could not be legally married by a Catholic priest. After arriving in Maryland tension between the Catholics and Protestants grew, forcing the Catholics to throw up their support for the Act of Toleration for all Christians. King Henry VIII broke his ties with the Roman Catholic church, and proclaimed himself the head of the church of England, his actions made some religious reformers undertake a total purification of Christianity, as they took the name Puritans. Puritans grew unhappy with the slow progress of the protestant reformation in England, so a small group vowed to break away entirely from the church of England, they became known as separatists. King James thought that if his subjects thought they could defy him as a spiritual leader, they would soon defy him as their political leader as well, so he chased them out of his land. With no place to go the separatist fled to Holland, but didnt like the Dutchification of their children that followe...

Big Movies essays

Big Movies essays The discovery of cloning can be both beneficial and harmful to society. There are many reasonable methods of cloning. For instance, the use of cloning for medical purposes can be helpful in taking human DNA and creating new body parts. Because of the shortage of donors, this could become a valuable asset to our society. Cloning of human body parts can also be harmful if it gets into the wrong hands. Cloning should be controlled by the government to the extent there is no possible way it will be misused. Cloning in the field of medicine could have practical applications. For example, genes from humans that produce necessary proteins could be included in the animal DNA so that the animal would produce that protein in its milk or blood. That protein could then be extracted and used in treatment for various human diseases or disorders. This could lead to the prevention and/or cure for AIDS and cancer. Genetic defects could also be cured with cloning technology. A genetic defect is a mutation in which the DNA has been altered and caused an abnormality in the body. People who wish to have a child could be tested for possible mutations in the DNA, and a genetic solution could be created and injected into the still developing egg. Mutations are natural, but when an abnormality occurs its a hard thing for a person to live with. Through cloning technology, genetic defects could be treated enabling the person affected the possibility of longer life. When transplants are needed, it could give physicians the ability to create body parts through DNA. For example, a kidney can be grown outside the body using the patients own DNA and used in a transplant without the fear of rejection. Although correcting genes and creating body parts is good, I think it would be harmful for a human to be cloned. For instance, a child that is born from a cloned embryo would have a picture taken of him/her, along with a description of the child a ...

The problem of unpaid labour in latin American economics Essay

The problem of unpaid labour in latin American economics - Essay Example International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006, about 6 million children in Latin America are engaged in the workforce as laborers (Antonopoulos, and Hirway, 2009). On the same score women have been found to be heavily involved in unpaid labor all across Latin American economies. Research conducted by the United Nations on this subject has found that the gap between women and men in paid labor is quite huge. Many women and children still suffer from certain forms of discrimination or slavery at their places of work. Research has also shown that efforts are being made to ameliorate such discrepancies in the workforce and bring some ethics into organizations. Such efforts like bridging the gap in health, education, markets and access to credits as well as protection of labor rights have been devoted to address these alarming disparities. Such initiatives have been important yet not sufficient to bridge the huge gap that already exists and women still feel underrepresented in paid labor (MaganÃŒÆ'a, 2013). It must be recognized that by bridging the gap between paid and unpaid work is a positive goal that influences positively pro-poor growth, social cohesion and general human developments and must be encouraged. As such policy makers must focus their attention to address the gaps that exist in health, education, labor rights and access to credits as these have been found to influence greatly the productiveness of women in the workforce. The ILO defines child labor as any work that interferers with the child’s development. In Latin America many children are engaged in the regional workforce either formal or informal. It is a difficult problem to combat as it as a result of the high poverty levels and entrenched societal customs. It is therefore the aim of this paper to look at such problems of unpaid labor in Latin America and find out possible solutions. The succeeding discussion elucidates the problem in more detail. The number of people engaged in unpaid or

Chapter seven Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter seven - Essay Example The discussions about inflation actually impacted on my thoughts. First, now I know that inflation results from the increase in the costs of production which compels producers/sellers to increase the prices of their commodities. In addition, I learnt about the negative impacts of inflation in an economy (Baumol, W.J. & A.S. Blinder, 2007). As these authors examine, inflation is not a good experience since it can lead to an increase the costs of living, unemployment and abandonment of a country’s currency. These are very important lessons that not only enlighten me, but prepare me as an economist. The knowledge about inflation can help me in making important decisions regarding finances. Since inflation destructive, it should be adequately controlled. If I become a policy maker, I would apply these scholars’ ideas on inflation control. In case it occurs, I can advocate for feasible monetary policies such as credit squeeze, increased interests rates and initiate projects that can stimulate economic growth. This can help in saving the economy from

Dentist Office Proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dentist Office - Research Proposal Example This happens because the government posts a facility’s Medicare acceptance standing on medical assistance literature material and on government websites. The state government further offers free advertisements that attract patients to the healthcare facility (Ketler 49). This is considerably helpful in the foremost days of health care practice when the facility leaders need to strengthen their business practice in the community for them to remit meager business loans and debts from the medical school. There is an assured income source when a health care organization accepts Medicare. The state and federal governments jointly fund Medicaid social programs to avail services on a continual fashion. The government assures payment if the eligibility rule concerns a medical procedure that the organization’s medical practice prescribes (Sisks 52). The health care organization does not have to hunt the patient down in order to secure their income or adjusting treatment fees to make sure that the patient could afford or medical care. This offers security in the projection of anticipated revenues and enable the medical providers meet their monetary obligations. Joining Medicaid would ensure a positive economic impact on the business environment and the entire state economy. Through this, there would be augmented job opportunities, state and income tax revenue within the entire healthcare sector and more owing to the induced multiplier effect of expenditure (Sisks 54). Medicaid has an immensely competitive health insurance market in states that have accepted the social program. Joining such a program would immensely benefit the health care organization by placing it in a competitive community where people value, afford and procure health care, thus promoting good health and affluence in the community, state and the entire nation (Ketler 36). Demerits While the federal government’s departments and agencies assure payment for eligible Medicaid treatment s and procedures, such entities also take control over the recommended fees for such services. This means that medical practitioners do not have the mandate to determine their charges for clinical procedures on Medicaid patients (Russell 82). Apparently, this makes the health care provider a â€Å"middleman† between the government department remitting payments and the patient. The government may control and restrict standard charges, regardless of whether it seems inappropriate for the medical practitioner. The health care center plans to serve its community members, promote good health nationwide, generate income and serve every patient regardless of cost or complexity of reported diseases. However, the government is the chief dictator of medical services that health care practitioners ought to provide under Medicaid. This may push a practitioner to conform to the government’s prescribed course of medical care rather that treating the patient in the best way. A low-in come Medicaid patient may be unable to afford the cost of a definitive cure f the government has not prescribed it in the list of medical care available under the Medicaid social program (Sisks 51) The health care provider capacity is insufficient and may worsen in future. The contemporary provider capacity, especially the capacity of emergency departments, safety net providers and primary care

Media Censorship Essay Example for Free

Media Censorship Essay In this assignment I will be looking over whether or not the state and/or federal government have the right to censor what we watch, listen to or come in contact with looking more closely at video games and if they have the right to control censoring them according to the articles of confederation. The rights of the federal government and state governments have really nothing to do with them†¦ or should have nothing to do with them. I believe it should go back to what is the constitutional right of the people and what is the right of any government agency according to the constitution. Lets break down the constitution to its bare bones and there we will find the purpose of the government and their responsibilities. There are a lot of things in the constitution but you can break it down into just 6 parts. Form a more perfect union: the first colonies weren’t united when first arriving but soon found that there is strength in unity or being bound together to help each other like an alliance if you will, hence the constitution Establish justice: For a democratic union or government to work and thrive in must have justice within it. Provide for the common defense: A basic system of defense had to be established for defending ourselves against our enemies and foreign threats Secure blessings of liberty: We were built on the idea and principle of individual freedoms and liberty, but boundaries needed too be made to ensure that nobody would infringe on those rights, liberties or freedoms. Promote general welfare: This made the government provide systems and services that were for the public good or wellbeing. Insure domestic tranquility: Government must provide order within the people so there will and can be domestic peace. It also has to keep these people, who know nothing about living or being democratic, from going into anarchy. This says it all and I think can play a large role in our issues with censorship. In June of 2011 the Supreme Court took a stand on voting down California’s request to ban sales of all violent video games to minors. It was shot down 7-2. They turned it down because they said it violated the minor’s rights under the 1st and 14th amendments. In my opinion I think it would be very difficult for a state or even a federal government to control what is allowed to be seen and not seen especially when it comes to things like media and even more so in terms of video games. What I view as too violent isn’t going to be the same as what someone in congress might view as violent. That being said it is the governments job to ensure domestic tranquility. I think the bottom line is media is everywhere and if we censor things like video games and other sources of media to minors if they really want it they are going to get it be cause in this tech savvy world we live in if its illegal and u want it you’re going to find it.

Hemingway :: ESSAYS

Hemingway In one of the chapters in the book entitled â€Å"Hemingway† the author Leo Lania tries to explain Hemingway and his work. He explains that a key to understanding Hemingway can be found in the characters of his heroes and in their beliefs. The leading character â€Å"appears in various guises in the different novels and short stories but basically he is always the same type†(Lania8).Whether ordinary soldier or general, smuggler or gambler, Negro or journalist he is a man scarred by experience. He has always been gravely wounded, physically or mentally, either during the war, in the sports arena, during childhood, in fight for existence. At some time or other something terrible has happened to him and the memory persecutes him. Lania also explains that Hemmingway’s principal character is almost always an American from the Middle West. He is â€Å"no intellectual but his primitiveness is only a mask for his sensitivity. In order to master life he needs a moral code he can follow, a believe in certain rules by which to measure his behavior†(11). Neither books, reason nor religion can supply him with this belief. He needs to practical experience. Hemingway’s’ world is at war, â€Å"war either in the literal sense or the ruthless, brutal fight for existence†(11). In short stories Hemingway sums up his philosophy of life in one sentence: ‘A man can be destroyed but not defeated’ â€Å"the speaker is an old bullfighter who although overcomes, does not surrender and therefore proves the victor†(11). In another story a champion boxer provides a similar example. In his latest work, The Old Man and the Sea, the old Cuban fisherman triumphs through tenacity of his fight with the great fish, although in the end the sharks eat away his catch and deprive him of the reward for his indescribable sacrifice. This theme runs continuous through all of Hemingway’s works. â€Å"His outlook may be limited and incomplete, his conception of honor and heroes primitive, even childish†(12). The part played by women in Hemingway’s work is significant. That he handles sex without sentimentality that only strict moralists would hold against him. This was no t only part of his poetic license but also an important contribution to our knowledge us. Hemingway’s lovers â€Å"have nothing in common either spiritually or intellectually, nor do they seek it†(14). They are not partners they are not even enemies. Their relationship is therefore neither exalted nor tragic.

Reflection Essay -- Reflection Essay

The assignment instructed to be completed for my Dean’s Seminar class was a study plan. This plan organized my study habits and helped me with my time management. I learned valuable skills that I will incorporate into my daily routine. By sticking with this plan I will be able to see an improvement and progress in my work . I hope to use this template for the rest of my educational career.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of the study skills that I learned have become integral in my study habits. I began to highlight my book for key works and phrases which help me organize the main points the book is articulating. I do not procrastinate as much as I did because I understand about doing my work when it is assigned will help give me free time. I go out to parties and social events only when I have completed all my assignments. Another organizational skill I use is typing up notes. This method helps reinforce the material from lecture and I am able to comprehend the material as I type it up. A valuable tip that I learned is to split up work so that it is not over consuming. I use this skill in all my areas such as reading a section of text every night. It helps in many aspects of studying. I make use of the my time and work diligently at my work. I make sure I am able to have a peaceful working environment where I can concentrate without outside distractions. I found the ideal place for this is the library. For English, I learned about the writing center which helps students...

Strategic Analysys of Toyota

INTRODUCTION In this fiercely aggressive business world, the goal of most firms is to establish distinctive or unique capabilities to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace through utilising the most of their core competencies. Competencies refer to the fundamental knowledge owned by the firm (knowledge, know-how, experience, innovation and unique information), and to be distinctive they are not confined to functional domains but cut across the firm and its organisational boundaries (2002). Today, business enterprises in developed countries operate in a more complicated, and more regulated, environment. The strategic task, then, is to create a distinctive way ahead, using whatever core competencies and resources at its disposal, against the background and influence of the environment. Through these distinctive capabilities the organisation seeks sustainable competitive advantage. Competition in many domestic and international markets appears to be entering a new phase, in which product quality and performance are becoming more important to customers than price. In such markets, the effective management of the new product development process is the essence of competitive advantage. Due to such changes, a review of the organisations’ strategic capabilities is a must if they are to keep up with the demands of the changing times. This paper analyses the strategic capabilities of Toyota Company in face of the ever-stiffening competition in the automotive industry, as a potential tool to further strengthen Toyota’s position in the automobile market. BRIEF TOYOTA BACKGROUND[1] Toyota Motor Corporation is a famous Japanese multinational corporation, and is considered the world’s second largest automaker of automobiles, trucks, buses, robots, and providing financial services ( 2007). Its founder is Kiichiro Toyoda, born in 1894, and the son of Sakichi Toyoda, who became popular as the inventor of the automatic loom. Kiichiro inherited the spirit of research and creation from his father, and devoted his entire life to the manufacture of cars. After many years of hard work, Kiichiro finally succeeded in his completion of the A1 prototype vehicle in 1935, which arked the beginning of the history of the Toyota Motor Corporation ( 2007). The first Type A Engine produced in 1934 was used in the first Model A1 passenger car in May 1935 and the G1 truck in August 1935, and led to the production of the Model AA passenger car in 1936. In addition to being famous with its cars, it still participates in the textile business and makes automatic looms that are now fully computerised, and electric sewing machines that are available in different parts of the world. It has several factories around the world, which serve to manufacture and assemble vehicles for local markets. The corporation’s factories are located in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, Poland, France, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Despite the many locations of its factories, its headquarters is located in Toyota, Aichi, Japan (2007). It invests a great deal of time and effort in its research into cleaner-burning vehicles, such as promoting a Hybrid Synergy Drive and running a Hydrogen fuel cell in its vehicles (2007). It has significant market shares in developed countries, such as the United States, Europe, Africa and Australia, and has significant markets in South East Asian countries. Its brands include the Scion, its division in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico, and the Lexus, which is Toyota’s luxury vehicle brand ( 2007). Aside from producing cars and other types of automobiles, such as SUVs and coasters, Toyota also, participate in rallying or racing. The company’s presence in Motorsport can be traced to the early 1970s, when Ove Andersson, a Swedish driver, drove for Toyota during the RAC Rally in Great Britain, and in succeeding years, Toyota Team Europe was formed ( 2007). Up to the present, Toyota cars are still being used in a variety of racing events in different countries around the world. These events include the CART in Vancouver, the Le Mans, the Indy Racing League, the NASCAR, and the Toyota F1 Series (2007). As the leader in the industry of automobile manufacture and production, the company adopts a philosophy in terms of its production system, which is named The Toyota Way. The company’s philosophy in production involves a list of fourteen principles that are implemented in the company, and serve as guides to the operation of the company. This includes the following principles: Base the company’s management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term goals; * Foster a continuous process flow to sight problems; * Utilise â€Å"pull† systems to prevent over-production; * Level out the workload of the workforce; * Build a culture that stops to fix problems, in order to get quality perfect at the first try; * Standardised tasks are the company’s foundation for its continuous improvement and the development of the employees; * Use visual control to let problems surface; Use reliable and tested technology, which serves both the people and the company’s processes; * Train leaders who understand the company’s work, live its philosophies, and share it to others; * Train and develop a workforce who follow the company’s philosophy; * Respect the work and responsibilities of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them improve; * Actually immersing one’s self to understand the situation; * Slow but sure decision-making through consensus, through considering a variety of options, and to implement decisions effectively and efficiently; and, * Becoming a learning business organisation through expression and continuous improvement ( 2007) With these principles, the company is guided in terms of its operations and production. Through these principles and philosophies, it can become efficient and effective in manufacturing its products, keeping in mind the welfa re of its employees, the image and brand of the company, and the satisfaction of its employees. PESTLE Analysis Currently, Toyota faces a need for accelerated investment, in order to deploy the new technologies, for pressing geo-political, economic, environmental and societal reasons. Political. Observers will see a continuing progression in the ruinous steps which have forced the industry into a socio-politico-economic corner. Whether this is related to flat demand or to the company’s creation of an ever-wider range of vehicles that many buyers seem to care little about, there is a problem. The company is likewise linked closely to the policies of governments, the earnings of banks. Little wonder then that so many emerging countries are keen to develop an auto sector or that there is such a political pressure to protect it in the developed countries. Toyota Company is currently dominated by little more than a handful of firms, each wielding colossal financial, emotional and political power. The company’s approach to dealing with political institutions has not always been brilliant. It tends to be good on technical issues, although it has not always fully presented the longer-term options, in order to make the choices and their implications clear. Economic. For much of the developed world, and increasingly for the developing world, Toyota Company is a pillar company in auto mobile business, a flag of economic progress. Without Toyota Company in automotive industry, it is impossible to develop an efficient steel business, a plastic industry or a glass sector – other central foundations of economic progress. The Toyota Company has been a core company, a unique economic phenomenon, which has dominated the twentieth century (2007). However, the automobile industry including the Toyota Company now suffers from a series of structural schisms and has become riddled with contradictions and economic discontinuities. For the capital markets and the finance sector, it has lost a lot of its significance, as a result of ever declining profits and stagnant sales. The proliferation of products means that it has become hopelessly wasteful of economic resources. While all these and more sound like a very gloomy assessment of such a vast economic phenomenon, the industry is not in the end despondent. A different future is possible for the industry, a highly desirable one. Social. As part of the development in automotive industry, the Toyota Company actually affects the society as a whole. It employs millions of people directly, tens of millions indirectly. Its products have transformed society, bringing undreamed-of levels of mobility, changing the ways people live and work (2007). The social value of the additional mobility that this industry brings involves the value of the people being able to commute over longer distances easily, among many others. For most of its existence the Toyota Company has been a model of social discipline and control and it is not just that the auto sector offers a ‘pillar’ of something else. There are, on the other hand, particular social issues to address in many developing countries, often those that are the result of an undertone of religious faith. Toyota company has the role to play in helping develop the mobility of such countries and it can be achieved at an acceptable social cost of the country is prepared to learn the necessary lessons from those who have traveled this route before it, and to make the necessary investments. Technological. The Toyota Company works on a scale so awesome and has an influence so vast that it is often difficult to see. The level and diversity of technologies that it must deploy are increasing, which imposes both new investment burdens and new uncertainties and risks (2007). Roughly a million new cars and trucks are built around the world each week – they are easily the most complex products of their kind to be mass-produced in such volumes. The industry uses manufacturing technology that is the cutting edge of science. But still, the potential for developing coordination skills, intellectual capabilities and emotional sensitivities through electronic technologies remain far from fully exploited. There are numerous additional near-term technological opportunities to adapt the company to changing energy availability. The possibilities suggest that automotive technology is unexpectedly robust and provides a powerful defence against energy starvation even if the real price of oil climbs steadily during the next couple of decades. Legal. Toyota Company is subject to numerous technical directives and regulations, as well as legislation of a more legal nature. The legislation covers areas such as competition law, intellectual property law, consumer protection and taxation, and emissions (air quality and fuels). When the auto parts industry reached full development, accelerated technological efforts were made to create a web of local suppliers that would make it possible to meet the growing legal requirements for the national integration of production. Environmental. Other than the vehicles themselves, and the roads and fuel needed to run them; the business is intricately tied to the manufacture of a wide range of components and the extraction of precious raw materials. Indirectly, it brings people road congestion, too many fatalities and a wave of other environmental troubles. The effect to the Toyota Company is that they needed to establish R&D centres to take advantage of research infrastructure and human capital, so that they can develop vehicle products locally to satisfy the requirements of the environmental and safety regulations more effectively. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths. One of Toyota’s most potent strength is that they are one of the world’s best known brands (2007). As they have been in the business for several years now, the experience that they have in manufacturing cannot be overemphasised. They already have built a solid reputation for being a dependable automaker. Additionally, they have the strength of being diverse with respect to their product lines, having affiliated automotive brands including Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo, which allows clients to choose from a variety of car models to fit their lifestyle. They are also known to be supportive of societal causes, in particular the fight for breast cancer and support after the September 11 attacks in the U. S (â€Å"Toyota†, 2007). They pioneered the moving assembly line, which became their mechanism for making vehicles more efficiently and faster, therefore more affordable. Traditionally Toyota's international operations were a source of that allowed the company to maintain its position as the second largest auto maker in the world and to respond to GM's competitive moves. Weaknesses. The company's organisational structure has become inefficient as the company became more complex. This hindered Toyota's ability to manage its international network of subsidiaries, branches, and companies. The weakness of its organisational strategy reflects to the speculations over the likely performance of Toyota in the future, as the company’s financing section is swamped down by hefty outstanding debts. The firm is not in risk of bankruptcy, but the Toyota management is in a tight spot, and has to be extremely vigilant to not make it any tighter. There is also a notable management issues within the company. Finally, because of the increasing competition, the company has witnessed a decline in overall sales, a weakness on their part as they have somehow failed to overcome the challenges that additional competition brings. Opportunities. Toyota Motors Company has the distinct opportunity to have cleaner engine emissions, in alignment with their corporate responsibility to become environment-friendly. Through working with environmental groups to help clean the environment, they also have the opportunity to further enhance their image to the general public. Since they have already started investing in Solar Power, the end is a more viable prospect. Toyota could further widen the scope of their opportunities through specialising and rationalising its worldwide operations on a regional basis and to develop a network organisation in which its subsidiaries would increase their transnational linkages. Besides Toyota learning about the possibilities of producing quality automotive products in their areas of operation at a comparative cost advantage, other relevant factors could bring about new opportunities for exporting vehicles: the parent company's efficiency-seeking strategy; its competitive disadvantage in the small-car segment of the market and the competitors' moves in this market-segment; and the new more flexible regulations in the respective countries in which they have manufacturing plants. Further, with Toyota’s existing capability to innovate on automobiles, they have the opportunity to penetrate a still larger scope of market. Threats. As with any firm in the automotive industry, Toyota faces very tight competitive rivalry in the auto market. Competition is escalating, with the threat of new entrants continuously flowing into the market from South Korea, China and new plants in Eastern Europe (2007). Toyota is also exposed to the risk of movement in the price of raw materials such as steel, glass, rubber and fuel. The key economies in the US, Europe and the Pacific are also experiencing slow downs lately. These economic factors are latent threats for the company under analysis. Further, substitute products such as Natural gas, Electricity, Ethanol, Vegetable oil, Sunlight, Water poses a distinct threat to the sustainability of company sales. While Toyota strategies responded to the local opportunities and competitive advantages that were built over time in different national markets, the competitiveness of foreign operations was also dependent upon the company's management capabilities and its overall position in the industry worldwide. If such factors were to perform under expectation, their competitiveness in the international scene would suffer seriously (2007). RESOURCE AUDIT A resource is a basic element that a firm controls in order to best organise its operational processes. A resource, or set of resources, can be used to create competitive advantage (2002), that is why an audit of the resources of a firm is a must if it is to utilise them to create the latter. The sustainability of a company’s competitive advantage depends upon the ease with which the resources can be imitated or substituted (Peteraf, 1993). When resources are combined they can lead to the formation of competencies and capabilities ( 1990). Financial Resources. 2] Although Toyota Motor’s 2005 financial results showed a full-year net loss, the company still managed to come back in their expressive profits earning in 2007. As seen in the accounting ratios, the company managed to have an expressive positive change of 21. 4% in 200 6 against its low performance in 2005 with only 2. 9% of change. Table 1. Toyota Accounting Ratios Human Resources. [3] Toyota directly employs around 38,340 people in North America. It has made around $16. 8 billion in direct investments in North America. It has in total produced 14. 8 million vehicles, 2. 5 million vehicles sales (2005), 39. 2 million total vehicles sales, and purchased $26. billion worth of â€Å"parts, materials and components† as of December 2005 in North America. It has 1,745 North American dealers and has given around $301 million as philanthropy to the United States since 1991. Physical Resources. [4] To date, Toyota has factories all over the world, manufacturing or assembling vehicles for local markets, including the Corolla. Toyota has manufacturing or assembly plants in Japan, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Brazil, and more recently Pakistan, India, Argentina, Czech Republ ic, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, and the Philippines. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS 1985) in his seminal work of value chain proposed it as a tool to identify and to analyse the origins of competitive advantages and suggested that the activities of the business could be grouped into two: primary and support activities. What activities a business undertakes is linked to achieving its competitive advantage, and Toyota seemed to be best prepared to implement a global strategy, because of the superior competitive advantages of its foreign operations compared with GM and Chrysler. Paradoxically, Toyota's rivals showed a greater disposition to use resources from outside of the United States. It was not until 1994 that Toyota focused on developing a global strategy as a means to enhance its competitive position in the industry. Before then, Toyota largely focused on building a strategy that would allow the company to recover its competitive position in its own home market, which was essential for survival. An analysis of the structural and institutional factors that shaped Toyota's strategic response both to the new industry rules and the short-term challenges posed by other industry competitors explains this paradox. A number of broad sustainability challenges set the context for all of the value chain activities (see appendix 1). These issues apply across the value chain: (1) Population growth; (2) Urbanisation; (3) Child mortality; (4) Maternal health; (5) Infectious diseases; (6) Biodiversity; (7) Loss of ecosystem services; (8) Poverty; (9) Education; and (10) Gender Equality. All these issues are attended to by the Toyota Motor Company in alignment with their efforts to maintain sustainable competitive advantage through preserving the good public image that their clients expect from them. CORE COMPETENCIES Toyota has several core competencies which they could utilise to further gain advantage over their competitors, and currently the company overtook General Motors in its market leadership in the automotive industry. One core competency of the company is their brand management. The strength of their automotive marketing has been such that their brand is known even in the parts of the world where cars are not the common medium of transportation. Another core competency is their supply chain management, which links to their ability to maintain a steady stream of raw materials coming in for production because of their long-term good standing with their steel, glass, plastic and other raw materials supplier. Their highly coordinated logistics system handled by outsourced firms also form part of their core competencies, leading to excellent inventory management and always on schedule production activities. Another marked core competency is their ability at the moving assembly line. Being the pioneer of such mass production system, they were able to get ahead of the competitors manufacturing processes-wise and were also able to save on costs and time. Yet another core competency is Toyota’s focusing on its product development technology under a single product-information-management program through standardising and incorporating them. If sustainable development is to achieve its potential, it must be integrated into the planning and measurement systems of business enterprises. And for that to happen, the concept must be articulated in terms that are familiar to business leaders. Many observers believe that more stakeholders — investors, consumers, nongovernmental organisations and others — will insist that companies to take environmental and social costs as seriously as they take purely financial costs. In addition, investors are expected to increasingly seek out sustainable companies and avoid firms with poor environmental performance, judging the sustainable companies as better risks over the long term. Likewise, consumers are expected to search for products that perform well environmentally. THE FUTURE OF TOYOTA (1982) observed that the automotive industry has been depended upon by other industrial sectors to provide them with means with which to optimise their investment capital because of the transfer of its technology, which basically means that the manufacturing and materials handling processes that revolve around mass auto production will be, in the future, far removed from their original use through consulting engineering firms that undertake to design and equip factories. The tendency for car manufacturers, then, will be to focus on competition that would become more rigorous, giving special attention to profit-gaining activities and concentrating also on arranging for financial, marketing and industrial cooperation among car makers. In the first three months of 2007, Toyota together with its half-owned subsidiary Daihatsu reported number one sales of 2. 348 million units. Toyota's brand sales had risen 9. 2% largely on demand for Corolla and Camry sedans. The difference in performance was largely attributed to surging demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. In November 2006, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas added a facility in San Antonio. [5] Toyota has experienced quality problems and was reproached by the Japanese Governement for its recall practices (2006). Toyota currently maintains over 16% of the US market share