Analysis Of The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment - 1309 Words

Introduction: The blight on human history known as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study was on all counts an immoral and unethical research study. Public Health Services were the ones conducting the experiment, which went on for years (from 1932 to 1972) and throughout the entire thing human beings were used as laboratory animals (The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, 2000). Unfortunately, this study was conducted when racism was still common, meaning that the human â€Å"lab rats† were poor black men, because they were seen as lesser beings. These men were lied to in order to ensure their cooperation with the study. The lies told to them included the omission of what was actually wrong with them, instead of telling the victims that they had syphilis it†¦show more content†¦Caring for individuals is simply having concern for the other person’s well-being and understanding the needs of the other person, such as being conscious of their welfare (Blum, 2001). This was glaringl y absent during this time, considering how many people died because of this experiment. Another principle violated during those forty years was beneficence, which is an obligation to help others or to do good. It could be argued that this study was conducted in order to do good, at least for white people if they learned more about syphilis, but beneficence actually signifies producing good, not just some good (Kohl, 2001). Another strong clue that what happened in Tuskegee was unethical was that it did not follow the framework for research provided in the Belmont Report, where two major pieces included of which are justice and a respect for persons (Miracle, 2016). The racist outlook of the researchers which deemed this study acceptable since black men were considered lesser people entirely vetoed any respect for persons involved as well as any justice for those individuals automatically. Eunice Rivers was an African American woman who won the trust of all the men in the experiment and reassured them in times of doubt. Although she did sincerely care for them, Eunice blindly followed orders and refused to acknowledge the unethical and immoral treatments that happened around her (The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, 2000). Her justification of herShow MoreRelatedBad Blood: the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Essays1709 Words   |  7 PagesANALYSIS OF THE BOOK BAD BLOOD: THE TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS EXPERIMENT Dr. Bradley Moody PUAD 6010 By 22 November 2004 Introduction The book BAD BLOOD: THE TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS EXPERIMENT by James H. Jones was a very powerful compilation of years of astounding research, numerous interviews, and some very interesting positions on the ethical and moral issues associated with the study of human beings under the Public Health Service (PHS). The Tuskegee study had nothing to do with treatmentRead MoreBad Blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Essay2436 Words   |  10 Pagessurrounding Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama, the United States Public Health Service (PHS) and the Rosenwald Foundation began a survey and small treatment program for African-Americans with syphilis. Within a few months, the deepening depression, the lack of funds from the foundation, and the large number of untreated cases provided the government’s researchers with what seemed to be an unprecedented opportunity to study a seemingly almost â€Å"natural† experimentation of latent syphilis in African-AmericanRead MoreTuskegee Experime nt2455 Words   |  10 PagesThe Tuskegee Experiment In 1932, in the area surrounding Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama, the United States Public Health Service (PHS) and the Rosenwald Foundation began a survey and small treatment program for African-Americans with syphilis. Within a few months, the deepening depression, the lack of funds from the foundation, and the large number of untreated cases provied the government’s reseachers with what seemed to be an unprecedented opportunity to study a seemingly almostRead MoreThe United States Of America Essay1421 Words   |  6 PagesSlavery was about â€Å"stolen bodies working stolen land. It was an engine that did not stop, its hungry boiler fed with blood.† (Whitehead 117) Practices during slavery which include but not limited to forced sterilization, phrenology, and various experiments are the underpinnings that are the likely consequences of African American distrust in the health care system. In an attempt to highlight white pseudoscience, Colson Whitehead successfully develops and shows the causal relationship that caused theRead MoreUnethical Government Human Experiments : Unethical1833 Words   |  8 PagesUnethical Government Human Experiments Many people are unaware of the vile human experiments the United States government has condoned. Innocent men and women, became victims of these experiments without their consent or knowledge. These people were soldiers, husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers, who were maltreated and even murdered. It is vital for not only citizens of the United States of America to be aware of how their government tortured its own citizens, but also people around the world fromRead MoreEthical Principles Of The Tuskegee Syphilis1919 Words   |  8 Pages Ethical principles Ethical principles such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice are three principles that every healthcare professional should base their practice on. During the Tuskegee syphilis study these three principles were absent throughout the entire 40 years. According to the Belmont report, the definition of respect for persons states, â€Å"To show lack of respect for an autonomous agent is to repudiate that person s considered judgments, to deny an individual the freedom to actRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Clinical Trials1584 Words   |  7 PagesFurthermore, the ethics of the clinical trials were violated on several occasions in last few decades. Nazi experiments with World War II initiated the world leaders to implement a code of conduct that protects the autonomy of the clinical trial subjects. Therefore, the Nuremberg Code was initiated in the year of 1949. However, this Code failed to protect the human subjects in clinical trials. Tuskegee syphilis trial was one of the few i ncidents that were exposed in front of the entire country. The regulatoryRead MoreThe Ethics Of Using Data Obtained1904 Words   |  8 Pagesresearch, the Tuskegee syphilis experiment and Charcot’s experiments were ethical. Those experiments all crossed the asymptote of ethical conduct. Nobody would disagree with that. But the studies have already been completed. And although they are never to be repeated or replicated, we have a moral obligation to use the data that already exist, for good; never forgetting how they were obtained. Its purpose is to be used responsibly and we owe it to those who died during the experiments and to thoseRead MoreAdvancements in Medical Research Due to Hela Cells1458 Words   |  6 Pagesmessy, than using monkeys. Moreover, HeLa cells grew virtually anywhere and on any surface, including while floating on liquid. A HeLa mass production and distribution center was therefore established at the Tuskegee Institute, ironically at exactly the same t ime that the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study on black subjects was being carried out. Soon HeLa cells were to enable the first disaggregation of chromosomes, numerous discoveries from genetic and viral studies, and the first-ever cloning of a cellRead MoreFilm Analysis : The Problem Of Administrative Evil Dirty Hands3391 Words   |  14 PagesFilm Analysis – The Problem of Administrative Evil Dirty Hands I’ll lie when I must, and I have contempt for no one. I wasn’t the one who invented lying. It grew out of a society divided into classes, and each one of us has inherited it form birth. We shall not abolish lying by refusing to tell lies, but by using every mean at hand to abolish classes. (as cited in Bok ,1999, p 165-166). What are dirty hands? The concept of dirty hands in politics is a widely believed view that those in politics

Ethnicity, Culture And Identity - 1362 Words

Ethnicity, culture and identity are all anthropological topics that effect everyone in the world on a regular and constant basis. These matters are continually being discussed, analysed and debated within our society, issues arise from these matters and anthropologists are strive to understand the changes happening around us. The definitions of each of these words are controversial as everyone interprets them differently. Ethnicity refers to ‘The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition’, culture refers to the patterns of social organisations, economy, and beliefs that are learned and shared by members of a social group.’ and identity is a person s conception and expression of their own and others individuality or group affiliations. However, these definitions are often confused and even merged into one. Culture is something that doesn t not have a specific definition, however we see it around us in many different forms. Culture is traditional knowledge that that is passed down through generations, however ‘culture is flexible and fluid’ but is generally quite stable (Podolefsky, Brown and Lacy, 2012). From war and violence to fashion and appearance, culture shows us the many different and beautiful ways of life around the world. Angela Vandenbroek has said that; ‘Culture has come most often to be a heuristic term used to help anthropologists discuss the symbols, meanings, institutions, systems and behaviours ofShow MoreRelatedBecoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, And Identity1553 Words   |  7 PagesBecoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945 The immigration story of the United States includes groups of individuals from many different countries, one such group was that of the U.S.’s southern neighbor Mexico. In the book, Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945, George J. Sà ¡nchez writes about the Mexican immigrants’ experience migrating to California and settling there, particularly in theRead MoreA Number Of Literatures That Discusses Important Concepts And Themes Of The Research Project914 Words   |  4 Pagesresearch project. The research project demonstrates the concept of ethnicity and ethnicity in Nigeria. It explores the features of pluralistic democratic state, analysing definition of democracy; construction of pluralism and understanding of pluralistic democracy in Nigeria. Furthermore, it examines the comprehension of identity conflict; construction of national identity and the dynamics of identity conflict. 2.2 Concept of Ethnicity Ethnicity has its origin and has been used variously in addressing andRead MoreThe Choice: Ethnic Identity1020 Words   |  5 Pagespublic school, lives within an entirely American culture, and embraces it. He is aware that he comes from a different familial background and is of a different nationality than his parents, but he has made the choice to identify himself with the ethnicity that he has grown to love. He believes that his ethnic identity entirely up to him. A Thai boy choosing the ethnicity of an American child as his own goes against the widespread belief that ethnicity is in our DNA, and there is nothing wrong withRead MoreWhat Does Ethnicity Affect A Person s Identity?1735 Words   |  7 Pagesthe United State, people are often defined by their ethnicity and background rather than their characteristics. It is often difficult to look past a person’s ethnicity because many people make these assumptions in their head before even knowing the person. This issue leads to the question to what extent ethnicity affects a person’s identity in the United States. I believe that ethnic background plays a big role in determining a person’s identity in the United States, these assumptions create phenomenonRead MoreCultural Identity In Unashamed By Lecrae741 Words   |  3 PagesLit Review Essay Cultural identity is the foundation in which identification is used to express his or her role in society. The distinction of cultural identity among a society affects a person’s role by pertaining to art and literature, as well as social organization element of culture. These examples of culture, refer to people all around the world. In the Story, Left behind, a native American student attending school is judged based on his ethnicity. In Unashamed by Lecrae, Lecrae uses musicRead MoreEssay On Ethnicity And Multiculturalism1359 Words   |  6 Pagesrather than following another’s. Ethnicity on the other hand has a solid definition. From the Oxford Concise Dictionary of Sociology, â€Å"Ethnicity defines individuals who consider themselves, or are considered by others, to share common characteristics which differentiate them from the other collectives in a society within which they develop distinct cultural behavior.† (Marshall, 1994) Ethnicity in a sense is the idea and understanding of one’s self. So how does ethnicity and multiculturalism relate toRead MoreThe Changing Literature And Identities Of Third World Culture Essay1146 Words   |  5 PagesThe changing literature and identities of third world culture due to American colonization is shown throughout the collected literature in Rotten English edited by Dohra Ahmad. Through the use of vernacular English, the passages express the unique signatures of different cultures by showing the way the words are said through everyday communication rather than how they are meant to be written in proper English as well as the cultural identities faced by third world cultures. Decades of forced standardRead More The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight In Heaven Essay665 Words   |  3 PagesDefining exactly what shapes ethnic identity in the United States is the hardest question I can imagine being asked. As a child born in the United States, I find this question so difficult because I hav e been exposed to a large variety of cultures within the small boundaries of my own family. This makes it very difficult to determine one, or even a few characteristics that define ethnic identity. In the case of many of these novels, the task of defining ethnic identity is not so complicated. The listRead MoreThe Poston Biracial Identity Development Model1742 Words   |  7 PagesPersonally I feel that I identify myself within the Poston Biracial Identity Development Model. This model is focused for individuals that identify with multiple racial or ethnic groups. The stages of this model are the personal identity stage, choice of group categorization stage, enmeshment/denial stage, appreciation stage, and the integration stage. The personal identity stage is when an individual is independent of race or ethnicity. When I was in elementary school probably around 5 or 6 years oldRead MoreHawaii And The Mixing Of Peoples By Steve Olson Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pagestelling one fr om another and one way we use is using culture. The difference between other culture is it ideas and moral values. Culture plays an important role in many people lives. Although being part of a multi-cultural society helps understands one’s self and it also helps understand one another cultural view of our world. Many people identity are also created by our belief. My ethnicity isn’t the only thing that defines who I am. It’s also my culture, my environment and my personality who define me

Business Society and Planets for Investment - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Society and Planets for Investment Capital. Answer: Introduction: Capital is a part of the basic factors of production along with other factor like labor. It is one of the accumulated assets of any business organization that is being used to generate other assets or business incomes. The word capital includes any kind of goods that is being created by human being and can be used for producing goods and services. Capital includes physical assets like production and plants and financial assets like investment capital or investment portfolio. There are types of capital as well such as knowledge, skills, abilities and others. I have provided a detailed study of the said topic in this assignment. Various forms of the capital is being mentioned here by me and their uses and sources of generation are also included. Business Capitals: I understand that business capital means the financial assets, which are an essential need for business and for the production of goods and services. It is the base of a business, for the reason of maintaining its operations. However, capital doesnt signify financial capital every time. Other forms of capital are like Human capital, Natural capital, Financial capital, Manufactured capital, Intellectual capital and Social and Relational capital. I am explaining the forms of capital below: Human capital: Most of the technologically advanced companies of the world depends on human capital. Labors or employees are, in any case, the most important and integrated asset of business houses which also provides with opportunities (Prpi? et al., 2015). There are costs incurred in employee turnovers, re-trainings and appointments of new employees .Further, there exists damage to the productivity of a company that is being caused by such turnovers and the damages are well documented. Introducing the use of knowledge management and control of employees intellectual power are the next logical steps regarding human capital management (Dees, 2017). Employee productivity can be increased through increased cross training sessions, employee certifications and knowledge enhancement and also work stability can be quantified as a measure of increased productivity and efficiency. Natural capital: Natural capital can be said as an asset for mining industry or extractive industry such as oil refinery. However, with an in depth analysis, it can be said that the asset class is useful for any kind of industry which links natural capital to another important aspect that is sustainability (Dyllick Muff, 2016). Financial: It is the most familiar and popularly known capital form (Hair et al., 2015). However, finance professional can expand their idea of implication of regulatory changes like BASEL III and also changes in lease accounting process for example changes in analysis and interpretation of market data, the tools used to perform such activities and thus, providing number of opportunities for professional growth. Manufactured capital: The assets include physical distribution network and products and services of the company and the way through which these goods and services are being delivered to the customers. It is often implicit in managerial decision making process and financial analysis process that the said capital is an important part of managerial success. In additional to the internal uses of these assets, proper analysis of the cost of such capital and investment return is critical for any organization (Serrat, 2017). Intellectual capital: Intellectual capital refers to the intangible assets which include trademarks, patents and brand equities and these are measured in terms of tens of dollars. There has been much debate regarding the importance and worth of this kind of assets. Leveraging this kind of assets through licensing and agreements, brand extensions, line extensions and agreements provides the organization with an opportunity to increase its value (Adams, 2015). In addition to this, the ideas and the capitals developed by intellectual capital and other intangible assets helps decision makers to gain valuable insight regarding existing operation of the company the future projects. Social and relational capital: As in the cases of organizations, as like brand equities constitutes an increasing part of the total assets, a good rapport or a productive relationship with stake holders has continued to grow in importance exponentially (Cohen Kietzmann, 2014). Social media has taken the world by storm since the introduction of social networking status like face book, twitter and LinkedIn. This has emerged to be a social capital as being the connecting media with anyone and everyone. A less talked about angle regarding social assets is the development and nurturing of relationships with universities, with the think tanks, and the other sources of intellectual capitals (Anheier, 2014). Boeing, Microsoft and other organizations are among the important members who are in the process of building such relational ships and growing power pipelines. Conclusion: I can conclude here that apart from the monitory side, there are other forms of capitals as well. The others forms are like human capital, social capital, nature capital, intellectual capital, manufactured capital, financial capital and other forms. The social capital include the social media platforms and a good rapport with the stake holders, intellectual capital include hiring intellectual people who will be able to deal with critical situations intellectually. The manufactured capital include good and services that is being manufactured by the company. Financial capital implies the financial source of a company and the human capitals refers to the stakeholder of company people or employees. They can be generated as well through various sources and used in various sources efficiently. They have manifold uses. Reflection: I have understood from the whole discussion that there are various forms of capital and there are diversified uses of each of the asset forms. The forms and the uses can be described here. The human capital asset can be used in each and every layer of an organization. Starting from the intellectual labor to factory labor, technologies are never completely successful in replacing human labor. Human capital can be used in managerial decisions, in product making process, delivery of products and in organizational behavior. The Natural Capital is related to sustainability. Sustainability implies the construction of nature friendly buildings and searching for alternative energy facilities and the use of such practices into organizational supply chain can make an advantage for the organization, which provides the business and financial professional with new brainstorming paths. Therefore, I can predict that the asset can be used to create sustainability. The sector needs some investment an d evaluation of this investment return is a crucial management decision. Financial capital can be used in investment for new projects and to invite new projects for any organization. Analysis and interpretation of market data is an area of investment as well for gaining important business insights. They can also be used in maintenances purposes that is factory maintenance, office facility maintenance and in employee reward and recognition that helps in motivating the employees. Again, manufactured capital can be used for efficient delivery of products and services. The source can also be used for importing raw material more efficiently. Intellectual asset can be used in increasing market values, shares values and making proper investment plans and for managerial decisions. This is the base of any organization and business. Lastly, I can say that building a rapport with the targeted customers is a business need for their awareness of business products and this can make them purchase. Again, maintaining a relationship with the stake holders can make the organization work easily. These areas can be catered through social media and regular meetings. Maintaining a good relationship with think tanks is also an important use of it. References: Adams, C. A. (2015). The international integrated reporting council: a call to action.Critical Perspectives on Accounting,27, 23-28. Anheier, H. K. (2014).Nonprofit organizations: Theory, management, policy. Routledge. Cohen, B., Kietzmann, J. (2014). Ride on! Mobility business models for the sharing economy.Organization Environment,27(3), 279-296. Dees, J. G. (2017). 1 The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship. InCase Studies in Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability(pp. 34-42). Routledge. Dyllick, T., Muff, K. (2016). Clarifying the meaning of sustainable business: Introducing a typology from business-as-usual to true business sustainability.Organization Environment,29(2), 156-174. Hair Jr, J. F., Wolfinbarger, M., Money, A. H., Samouel, P., Page, M. J. (2015).Essentials of business research methods. Routledge. Prpi?, J., Shukla, P. P., Kietzmann, J. H., McCarthy, I. P. (2015). How to work a crowd: Developing crowd capital through crowdsourcing.Business Horizons,58(1), 77-85. Serrat, O. (2017). Social network analysis. InKnowledge solutions(pp. 39-43). Springer, Singapore.

Sexual Harrassment Essays - Workplace Bullying, Business Ethics

Sexual Harrassment Sexual Harassment in the Work Place I. Definition Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individuals employment, unreasonably interferes with an individuals work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following: ? The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex. In Oncale v. Sundowner, the US Supreme Court decided just this month unanimously ruling that same sex complaints are covered by the law. ? The harasser can be the victims supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee. ? The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct. ? Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim. ? The harassers conduct must be unwelcome. It is becoming increasingly rare to find the traditional quid pro quo claim of sexual harassment. The current trend is that of a hostile work environment which can be much more difficult for the employer to address. The EEOC considers the following factors in determining whether or not an environment is sexually hostile: ? Whether the conduct was verbal or physical or both ? How frequently it was repeated ? Whether the conduct was hostile or patently offensive ? Whether the alleged harasser was a co-worker or supervisor ? Whether others joined in perpetrating the harassment, and ? whether the harassment was directed at more than one individual. No one factor controls but an assessment is made based upon the totality of circumstances. II. Regarding Employees It is helpful for the victim to directly inform the harasser that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop. However, a victim of harassment need not always confront his/her harasser directly, so long as his/her conduct demonstrates that the harassers behavior is unwelcome. The victim should use any employer complaint mechanism or grievance system available and, if that fails, contact the EEOC which makes a determination on a case-by-case basis. III. Regarding Employers Prevention is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers should take all steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring. An effective prevention program should include an explicit policy against sexual harassment that is clearly posted for the employees to read and be included in any in-service training programs. I heard on the news last week that a company was being sued even though they had a sexual harassment policy. The complainant didnt feel that the company did enough to assert the policy. The employer should also have a procedure for resolving sexual harassment complaints. This procedure should encourage victims to come forward and should not require the victim to complain first to the offending supervisor, if that is the case. This procedure should ensure confidentiality as much as possible and provide effective remedies as well as protection from retaliation. IV. Discussion I would like to share a couple of statistics that Dr. Chwialkowski gave out in my other Public Administration class last week. He found a survey that asked women how many of them had slept with their bosses. Nineteen percent responded that they had. Of those, sixty percent said it furthered their careers. The following is a scenario Dr. Chwialkowski gave out. I would like for the class to input your opinions as to whether or not sexual harassment occurred. Michael is a supervisor who works for the Bowling Green office of the Environmental Protection Agency. Young and athletic, Michael has had more than his share of affairs with young women, but has never been married. He has always had a good relationship with the young women in the office, and often plays tennis and golf with some of them on Saturdays. They frequently tease him about the suggestive calendars and pin-ups that he has hanging in his office, especially of Demi Moore, who is Michaels favorite Hollywood actress. This teasing increased

Water - Wine - Milk - Beer Chemistry Demonstration

Water - Wine - Milk - Beer Chemistry Demonstration Chemistry demonstrations in which solutions appear to magically change color leave a lasting impression on students and help instill an interest in science. Heres a color change demo in which a solution seems to change from water to wine to milk to beer simply be being poured into the appropriate beverage glass. Difficulty: Average Time Required: Prepare the solutions in advance; demo time is up to you Heres How: First, prepare the glassware, since this demonstration relies on the presence of chemicals added to the glasses before the water is added.For the water glass: Fill the glass about 3/4 full of distilled water. Add 20-25 ml of saturated sodium bicarbonate with 20% sodium carbonate solution. The solution should have a pH 9.Place a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator in the bottom of the wine glass.Pour ~10 ml saturated barium chloride solution into the bottom of the milk glass.Place a very small number of crystals of sodium dichromate into the beer mug. Up to this point, the set-up can be performed in advance of the demonstration. Just prior to performing the demo, add 5 ml concentrated HCl to the beer mug.To perform the demonstration, simply pour the solution from the water glass into the wine glass. Pour the resulting solution into the milk glass. This solution is finally poured into the beer mug. Tips: Use goggles, gloves, and proper safety precautions when making the solutions and handling the chemicals. In particular, use caution with the conc. HCl, which can cause a serious acid burn.Avoid accidents! If you are using real drinking glasses, please reserve this glassware solely for this demonstration and take care that the prepared glassware is kept away from children/pets/etc. As always, label your glassware, too. What You Need: distilled water saturated sodium bicarbonate; 20% sodium carbonate ph9phenolphthalein indicatorsaturated barium chloride solution (aqueous)crystals of sodium dichromateconcentrated hydrochloric acidwater glasswine glassmilk glassbeer mug

The Art of Atomic Diplomacy

The Art of Atomic Diplomacy The term â€Å"atomic diplomacy† refers to a nation’s use of the threat of nuclear warfare to achieve its diplomatic and foreign policy goals. In the years following its first successful test of an atomic bomb in 1945, the United States federal government occasionally sought to use its nuclear monopoly as a non-military diplomatic tool. World War II: The Birth of Nuclear Diplomacy During World War II, the United States, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain were researching designs of an atomic bomb for use as the â€Å"ultimate weapon.† By 1945, however, only the United States developed a working bomb. On August 6, 1945, the United States exploded an atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. In seconds, the blast leveled 90% of the city and killed an estimated 80,000 people. Three days later, on August 9, the U.S. dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. On August 15, 1945, Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced his nation’s unconditional surrender in the face of what he called â€Å"a new and most cruel bomb.† Without realizing it at the time, Hirohito had also announced the birth of nuclear diplomacy. The First Use of Atomic Diplomacy While U.S. officials had used the atomic bomb in order to force Japan to surrender, they also considered how the immense destructive power of nuclear weapons could be used to strengthen the nation’s advantage in postwar diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. When U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the development of the atomic bomb in 1942, he decided not to tell the Soviet Union about the project. After Roosevelt’s death in April 1945, the decision of whether to maintain the secrecy of the U.S. nuclear weapons program fell to President Harry Truman. In July 1945, President Truman, along with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in the Potsdam Conference to negotiate governmental control of already defeated Nazi Germany and other terms for the end of World War II. Without disclosing any specific details about the weapon, President Truman mentioned the existence of an especially destructive bomb to Joseph Stalin, leader of the growing and already feared Communist Party. By entering the war against Japan in mid-1945, the Soviet Union  placed itself in a position to play an influential part in the allied control of post-war Japan. While U.S. officials favored a U.S.-led, rather than a U.S.-Soviet shared occupation, they realized there was no way to prevent it. U.S. policymakers feared the Soviets might use its political presence in post-war Japan as a base for spreading communism throughout Asia and Europe. Without actually threatening Stalin with the atomic bomb, Truman hoped America’s exclusive control of nuclear weapons, as demonstrated by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would convince the Soviets to rethink their plans. In his 1965 book Atomic Diplomacy: Hiroshima and Potsdam, historian Gar Alperovitz contends that Truman’s atomic hints at the Potsdam meeting amounted to the first us of atomic diplomacy. Alperovitz argues that since the nuclear attacks on ​Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not needed to force the Japanese to surrender, the bombings were actually intended to influence postwar diplomacy with the Soviet Union. Other historians, however, contend that President Truman truly believed the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing were needed to force the immediate unconditional surrender of Japan. The alternative, they argue would have been an actual military invasion of Japan with the potential cost of thousands of allied lives. US Covers Western Europe with a ‘Nuclear Umbrella’ Even if U.S. officials hoped the examples of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would spread Democracy rather than Communism throughout Eastern Europe and Asia, they were disappointed. Instead, the threat of nuclear weapons made the Soviet Union ever more intent on protecting its own borders with a buffer zone of communist-ruled countries. However, during the first several years after the end of World War II, the United States’ control of nuclear weapons was far more successful at creating lasting alliances in Western Europe. Even without placing large numbers of troops inside their borders, America could protect the Western Bloc nations under its â€Å"nuclear umbrella,† something the Soviet Union did not yet have. The assurance of peace for America and her allies under the nuclear umbrella would soon be shaken, however, as the U.S. lost its monopoly over nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, the United Kingdom in 1952, France in 1960, and the People’s Republic of China in 1964. Looming as a threat since Hiroshima, the Cold War had started. Cold War Atomic Diplomacy Both the United States and the Soviet Union frequently used atomic diplomacy during the first two decades of the Cold War. In 1948 and 1949, during the shared occupation of postwar Germany, The Soviet Union blocked the U.S. and other Western Allies from using all roads, railroads, and canals serving much of West Berlin. President Truman responded to the blockade by stationing several B-29 bombers that â€Å"could† have carried nuclear bombs if needed to U.S. airbases near Berlin. However, when the Soviets did not back down and lower the blockade, the U.S. and its Western Allies carried out the historic Berlin Airlift that flew food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies to the people of West Berlin. Shortly after the start of the Korean War in 1950, President Truman again deployed the nuclear-ready B-29s as a signal to the Soviet Union of U.S. resolve to maintain democracy in the region. In 1953, near the end of the war, President Dwight D. Eisenhower considered, but chose not to use atomic diplomacy to gain an advantage in peace negotiations. And then the Soviets famously turned the tables in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the most visible and dangerous case of atomic diplomacy. In response to the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961  and the presence of U.S. nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev shipped nuclear missiles to Cuba in October 1962. U.S President John F. Kennedy responded by ordering a total blockade to prevent additional Soviet missiles from reaching Cuba and demanding that all nuclear weapons already on the island be returned to the Soviet Union. The blockade produced several tense moments as ships believed to be carrying nuclear weapons were confronted and turned away by the U.S. Navy. After 13 days of hair-raising atomic diplomacy, Kennedy and Khrushchev came to a peaceful agreement. The Soviets, under U.S. supervision, dismantled their nuclear weapons in Cuba and shipped them home. In return, the United States promised never again to invade Cuba without military provocation  and removed its nuclear missiles from Turkey and Italy. As a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. imposed severe trade and travel restrictions against Cuba that remained in effect until eased by President Barack Obama in 2016. The MAD World Shows the Futility of Atomic Diplomacy By the mid-1960s, the ultimate futility of atomic diplomacy had become evident. The nuclear weapons arsenals of the United States and the Soviet Union had become virtually equal in both size and destructive power. In fact, the security of both nations, as well as global peacekeeping, came to depend on a dystopian principle called â€Å"mutually assured destruction† or MAD. While President Richard Nixon briefly considered using the threat of nuclear weapons to hasten the end of the Vietnam War, he knew the Soviet Union would disastrously retaliate on behalf of North Vietnam and that both international and American public opinion would never accept the idea of using the atomic bomb. Since both the United States and the Soviet Union were aware that any full-scale first nuclear strike would result in the complete annihilation of both countries, the temptation to use nuclear weapons during a conflict was greatly diminished. As public and political opinion against the use or even the threatened use of nuclear weapons grew louder and more influential, the limits of atomic diplomacy became obvious. So while it is rarely practiced today, atomic diplomacy probably prevented the MAD scenario several times since World War II.   2019: US Withdraws from Cold War Arms Control Treaty On August 2, 2019, the United States formally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia. Originally ratified on 1 June 1988, the INF limited the development of ground-based missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,417 miles) but did not apply to air- or sea-launched missiles. Their uncertain range and their ability to reach their targets within 10 minutes made the mistaken use of the missiles a constant source of fears during the Cold War era. Ratification of the INF launched a lengthy subsequent process during which both the United States and Russia reduced their nuclear arsenals. In exiting the INF Treaty, the Donald Trump administration cited reports that Russia had been violating the treaty by developing of a new land-based, nuclear-capable cruise missile. After long denying the existence of such missiles, Russia recently claimed the missile’s range is less than 500 kilometers (310 miles) and thus not in violation of the INF Treaty. In announcing the US’ formal withdrawal from the INF treaty, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo placed sole responsibility for the demise of the nuclear treaty on Russia. â€Å"Russia failed to return to full and verified compliance through the destruction of its noncompliant missile system,† he said.

Blackhead Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Blackhead - Essay Example Two of such conditions are mentioned below; tetany and diabetes. Tetany: Calcium ion, Ca+2, is an essential ion in the proper functioning of all cells in the body. Hence, its maintenance in the blood within a narrow range is very important, as both its excess and deficiency can have very unpleasant effects. Normally, it is kept at a concentration of around 10mg/100ml. This is achieved by the antagonistic effect of two hormones; calcitonin and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Calcitonin is released by the thyroid gland in cases of excess calcium ion concentration in the blood, and so it reduces the concentration by causing increased calcium deposition in the bones, and reducing uptake of the ion by the intestines and the kidneys. On the other hand, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is released by the parathyroid glands in cases of a lowering of blood calcium levels from the normal, and so it induces an increased absorption of the ion by the intestines and the kidneys, and an increased decomposition of mineral calcium into the calcium ion by osteoclasts in the b ones, thereby increasing the concentration in the blood and returning it to normal. However, in the condition known as tetany, there is a dramatic decrease in the blood calcium levels, resulting in uncontrolled convulsive contractions of the skeletal muscles. If worsened, tetany can be fatal. Hence, the homeostatic control of calcium levels in the blood is compromised, resulting in dire effects on the body. Diabetes: the blood glucose levels are maintained around a narrow set point of 90mg/100ml. Glucose levels are monitored and controlled with the antagonistic functioning of two hormones, both released by the pancreas; insulin and glucagon. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level by inducing an increased uptake of glucose by the cells, and its conversion to glycogen to be stored in the liver and muscles, a decrease in the conversion of amino acids and fatty acids to glucose, and inhibiting glycogen breakdown in the liver. Glucagon, on the other hand, reduces blood glucose levels by decreasing an uptake of glucose by the cells, so that more glucose is present in the blood, an increase in the breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver, and an increased conversion of amino acids and fatty acids into glucose. However, in the condition called diabetes, be it Type1 or Type2, there is a drastic increase in the blood glucose levels, either due to insufficient insulin production by the pancre as (Type1), or a decrease in the response of the target cells to insulin (Type2). Glucose concentration if increased so much that it is secreted by the kidneys in urine, and as excess urine is formed, this leads to dehydration and glucose accumulation in the blood. However, this glucose can not be utilized by the cells for metabolism due

Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Marketing Management - Essay Example The company employs about 55,000 people in over 200 countries around the world. In India, Cadbury has been operating for more than 55 years as Cadbury’s India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cadbury’s Schweppes. It has been ranked 5th in he FMCG sector in a survey conducted by Business World magazine (Scribd, 2009) In India, the company caters to three main segments: 1. Chocolates – Cadbury’s are the market leaders in India in this segment with over 70% market share. The leading brands in this category include the Dairy Milk, Crackle, Fruit & Nut, Temptations, 5 Star, Perk & Celebration Gift Boxes. The company has been able to change the cultural habits of the Indian that has traditional not eaten chocolates (Leahy, 2009). While the company has about 70% share of the chocolates market and about 15% of the food drinks market in India, as far as the sugar confectionery is concerned, Cadbury’s share is a mere 4% share in this category (Value Notes 2009). The sugar confectionery category contributes mere 12% to the company’s revenue and the company is not expecting any major success in the short run. Competitive brands such as Hershey’s of the US are tying up with well known brands such as Godrej in India (Gopalan, 2007). This would give tough competition to Cadbury’s. This report would evaluate the marketing mix of Cadbury’s in India and recommend the marketing mix to augment the sales of sugar confectionery in the Indian market. The confectionery industry is highly competitive in any market and each company has to compete with many multi-national, regional and national brands (Scribd, 2009). Competition revolves around taste, quality, price, packaging and advertising and promotional programs. Globally the chocolate confectionery market is very strong but the sugar confectionary market is fragmented. The Indian sugar confectionery market includes products such as sweets, jellies and

Three Men in a Boat Essay Example for Free

Three Men in a Boat Essay The author, Jerome K. Jerome, was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, on 2nd May 1859. His early upbringing was done in London and he studied in Marylebone Grammar School at the age of 15, he lost both his parents and had to take up a job as a railway clerk. Later on he took up different vocations- school teacher, actor, journalist. In 1888 he married Georgina Henrietta Stanley. His first publication was ‘Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow’, followed by the famous ‘Three Men in a Boat’. He became famous both as a playwright and novelist. He also served in the French Red Cross during the First World War before his death on 14th June 1927. The theme The complete novel is based upon a boat-trip taken by three friends down the river Thames from Kingston to Oxford. I believe that it was supposed to be a travelogue but it turned out to be a hilarious account of a journey. The story turns out to be humorous due to the brief anecdotes given by the author of previous incidences, the three friends’ behaviors and the occasional humorous uplift given by the author’s dog. The plot The story begins by introducing George, Harris, Jerome and Montmorency, a fox-terrier. The men are spending an evening in Jeromes room, smoking and discussing illnesses they fancy they suffer from. They conclude they are all suffering from overwork and need a holiday. A stay in the country and a sea trip are both considered, then rejected (J. describes the bad experiences had by his brother-in-law and a friend on sea trips). Eventually, the three decide on a boating holiday, up the River Thames, from Kingston upon Thames to Oxford, during which theyll camp, notwithstanding Jeromes anecdotes regarding previous experiences with tents and camping stoves. They embark the following Saturday. George must go to work that morning (George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside at two) so Jerome and Harris make their way to Kingston by train. They are unable to find the correct train at Waterloo Station so they bribe a train driver to take his train to Kingston, where they collect their hired boat and start their journey. They meet George later, up-river at Weybridge. The remainder of the story relates their river journey and the incidents that occur. The book s original purpose as a guidebook is apparent as the narrator describes the passing landmarks and villages such as Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Church, Monkey Island, Magna Carta Island and Marlow, and muses upon historical associations of these places. However, he frequently digresses into funny anecdotes that range from the unreliability of barometers for weather forecasting to the difficulties that may be encountered when learning to play the Scottish bagpipe. The most frequent topics are river pastimes such as fishing and boating and the difficulties they present to the inexperienced and unwary. Character Sketches George- George is one of the two friends of the author and is a bank clerk by profession. He is an incredibly lazy and sluggish person and according to the author, George is very much able to take a nap at anytime, anywhere. He is not among the brightest of people and even his friends tend to think so. They are really taken for by surprise when George makes the sensible suggestion of taking the river trip. He always tries to grab an opportunity ofnot doing a particular work which shows his reluctance to work and determination to escape out of it. Harris- Harris is a vain fellow who pretends to be extremely hard working but usually pushes off the burden on other people. He is outspoken and does not hesitate to tell his friends what he thinks about them even if it may not be pleasant. For instance he outwardly tells George that his new blazer is utterly revolting and that he must not wear it around them (Harris and Jim). When Harris takes on a job he makes a huge fuss out of it like the narrator’s uncle Podger. It may not be anything majorly important but if Harris is going to do it; the world is surely going to know about it. He also thinks very highly of himself and his voice though his friends do not want him to even attempt singing. He is extremely fascinated by tombs and graveyards much to the author’s amazement and dislike. He is also quite short tempered and it is best to let him rant off his anger rather than try and talk to him about it. He would not mind a drink at any time of the day and enjoys the company of his friends. Jerome- Jerome is the narrator of the book. He is a young, single middle-class man living in London. He is fond of history and literature and spends much of his time daydreaming about the days when knights roamed the countryside of England. This daydreaming sometimes gets him into trouble when he does not pay suitable attention to what he is doing. Jerome, like his two friends on the boat trip, is a little vain and conceited, but he realizes it and pokes gentle fun at himself, his friends, and the habits of others like them through his anecdotes, where he and his friends are often the butt of ego-skewering jokes. Jerome has always been fond of boats, but prefers the old fashioned. The author (Jerome) quite often becomes philosophical and the draws comparisons between their journey and the journey of our life. Therefore we can conclude that he even has a romantic and poetic nature. Montmorency- Montmorency is the author’s dog that accompanied by him, George and Harris in their river trip. Montmorency looked like an angel sent to Earth in the form of a small Fox Terrier. He had a gentle noble expression which brought tears to the eyes of elderly folk. When Montmorency first arrived, the author thought that he would not live long. But, he soon changed his opinion about Montmorency when his true nature was exposed. The author had to pay for chickens Montmorency had killed and had to drag him out of hundreds of street fights. Once Montmorency killed the neighbours’ cat and on one occasion he had kept a man stuck in his own tool shed for about two hours. The authors gardener made money by betting on Montmorencys rat-killing skills. He liked to roam around and fight with dogs of a similar disreputable nature. Therefore, he enjoyed places like inns and pubs but not places such as damp boats and scenic places.

Calvinism Essays -- Religion, God

God takes great pleasure in the salvation of men (Lk. 15:4-7). It is His passion, and the sacrifice of His Son is the measure of it (Jo. 3:16; 1 Jo. 4:10). That He would offer His Son for some and not all misreads the divine concern for the lost (Mt. 23:37; Lk. 5:31,32; 15:1-7; 19:10). Scripture affirms that God has done and is doing all that He can wisely and righteously do to save men (Isa. 5:1-7; 53; Jo. 3:14-17; Ro. 3:24-26). It simply will not countenance the insidious notion that fewer saved is better, which is an unavoidable implication of Calvinist theology. Limiting the saving interest of God to some men only is a troubling feature of Calvinism and should concern all who share God's passion for the lost. Hence, the dispute between limited and unlimited atonement is no small matter, as the atonement controversies in the past have shown. That God has unconditionally assigned some to salvation and some to damnation, either before or after the fall, finds no sanction in Scripture. Yet Calvinists say God has either limited the work of Christ to a select few or has limited the Spirit's application of Christ's work to a select few. In either case they limit the atonement unconditionally. Scripture says God wills the salvation of all men (1 Tim. 2:4-6; 2 Pet. 3:9) and that He has provided for all. "All things are ready" (Mt. 22:4). When it comes to salvation, He stands in the same relation to all men. He is the Creator of all (Jo. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16) and the Saviour of all (Jo. 4:42). To say He has undertaken for some and not for all is the voice of limitarian theology and not Scripture. In taking our nature (Heb. 2:14-18)), Christ provided an atonement for all who wear it. He died for every man in particular (Heb. 2:9; 1 Jo.... ...ll address later). They cannot conceive of God's operating on a generous margin, of His making a provision for more than actually enjoy it. Over the years Calvinists have struggled to give their system a friendlier face, a more congenial and universal look. One plan has been to say the atonement is sufficient for all but only efficient for the elect. However, such "universality" is merely theoretical and does not make the non elect any more savable. In this scheme, the atonement is sufficient for all in the sense that, had God intended to save all men, Christ's death would have been sufficient to do so. However, since He never intended to save all, He never included the sins of all in the cross. Thus the atonement is sufficient (theoretically able) to save all but efficient (that is, actually saving) for the elect only because only elect's sins were atoned for. Calvinism Essays -- Religion, God God takes great pleasure in the salvation of men (Lk. 15:4-7). It is His passion, and the sacrifice of His Son is the measure of it (Jo. 3:16; 1 Jo. 4:10). That He would offer His Son for some and not all misreads the divine concern for the lost (Mt. 23:37; Lk. 5:31,32; 15:1-7; 19:10). Scripture affirms that God has done and is doing all that He can wisely and righteously do to save men (Isa. 5:1-7; 53; Jo. 3:14-17; Ro. 3:24-26). It simply will not countenance the insidious notion that fewer saved is better, which is an unavoidable implication of Calvinist theology. Limiting the saving interest of God to some men only is a troubling feature of Calvinism and should concern all who share God's passion for the lost. Hence, the dispute between limited and unlimited atonement is no small matter, as the atonement controversies in the past have shown. That God has unconditionally assigned some to salvation and some to damnation, either before or after the fall, finds no sanction in Scripture. Yet Calvinists say God has either limited the work of Christ to a select few or has limited the Spirit's application of Christ's work to a select few. In either case they limit the atonement unconditionally. Scripture says God wills the salvation of all men (1 Tim. 2:4-6; 2 Pet. 3:9) and that He has provided for all. "All things are ready" (Mt. 22:4). When it comes to salvation, He stands in the same relation to all men. He is the Creator of all (Jo. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16) and the Saviour of all (Jo. 4:42). To say He has undertaken for some and not for all is the voice of limitarian theology and not Scripture. In taking our nature (Heb. 2:14-18)), Christ provided an atonement for all who wear it. He died for every man in particular (Heb. 2:9; 1 Jo.... ...ll address later). They cannot conceive of God's operating on a generous margin, of His making a provision for more than actually enjoy it. Over the years Calvinists have struggled to give their system a friendlier face, a more congenial and universal look. One plan has been to say the atonement is sufficient for all but only efficient for the elect. However, such "universality" is merely theoretical and does not make the non elect any more savable. In this scheme, the atonement is sufficient for all in the sense that, had God intended to save all men, Christ's death would have been sufficient to do so. However, since He never intended to save all, He never included the sins of all in the cross. Thus the atonement is sufficient (theoretically able) to save all but efficient (that is, actually saving) for the elect only because only elect's sins were atoned for.

Yoga for Eye Sight

The great master Swami Vivekananda said that there are four main streams of yoga:Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga. To use all these streams of yoga to build the personality. We are now going to focus on Eyesight Development or Eyesight Improvement. In late 60s the TV came afresh in Bangalore city and everybody was so fascinated, particularly the children glued themselves to TV forgetting all their sports outside. Went on watching 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours and movies after movies and as expected it started happening in 5 or 6 years, 1972-73 we started seeing most of these children wearing very thick glasses.We felt too bad. We said can we solve this problem? Many people said that we are not going to allow our children to watch the TV. That is no solution. This is when we started developing yoga module. The specialised techniques that yoga prescribes for eyesight improvement were selected from various yoga techniques. The precautions we have to take, norms tha t we have to follow were taken care. So we developed this module, iintegrated yoga module for eyesight improvement. We started giving that in Yoga Camps.One week camp, 15 days camp, one month camp and we started documenting the result whether really it is useful or not. The results were very fascinating. When we have an average of 1000 or 1500 sstudents, we have found that the eyesight can improve by one Diapter for short sight sstudents with a practice of every day half an hour for one month. This iintegrated yoga module can bring such wonderful results. Practice for half an hour every day for one month, one Diaptor is going to reduce. Yoga in Education for Total Personality Development SERIES – 2 8 | Yoga for Eye Sight ImprovementWhen we continued children with -5, -6, -7 children were able to normalise their eyesight. Then we started taking up this. Initially we have short theory and then we go for the practice and what is the whole basis for the eyesight improvement that we are talking? Many people think that the accommodation power of the lens is going to change. No. It is Eye Ball Curvature. In short sight the image is falling too far in front of the Fovea. But why is that distortion taking place in the eye ball? This is because of the differential pull of the rectie muscles of the eye ball.So when we do yoga in which we handle the eye excercises to see that the muscles co-ordinate so cohesively that the eye ball starts becoming normal. How do we know it is going to become normal? One of our Opthalimic specialist Dr. Upadhyay in England, measured the eye ball curvature and after 15 days, after one month of yogic practices the eye ball curvature started getting normal. Such results prove that yoga brings in normalisation and it is these techniques that we have used. Trataka is the specialised practice that yoga prescribes. It is one of the six kriyas.Kriyas are essentially meant for clearnsing and to strengthen the nerves which connect the eyes to the brain which handles the different muscles and calming down of the mind, silencing of the mind, slowing down of the breath, does wonders. Therefore in this module we are going to use some Asanas, special breathing practices and mainly the Trataka and the meditation which help the people develop their eyesight. Yoga in Education for Total Personality Development SERIES – 2 Yoga for Eye Sight ImprovementLet us try to understand the structure and functions of the eye so that we can go ahead to understand how Yoga works in improving our eyesight. We all have two eyes. A resting eye is designed for distant vision. Near work always involve lot of work on the small, little muscles of the eye. Each eye is comparable to a pholographic camera. Just like the camera has a diaphragm and an aperture, our eye also has a dark highly pigmented diaphragm called Iris. This Iris cuts off all the light from entering into the eye ball and in the centre of the diaphragm is the little transparen' t hole called the Pupil.The diaphragm is called the Iris, the apercher is called the pupil. Through this pupil only nature allows the light to pass through. What are the functions of a good camera? It should have a very good powerful lens so that it can have a very clear image at its focal point and it should be able to adjust very perfectly to the light conditions and also to the distance of the object from the film of the Yoga in Education for Total Personality Development SERIES – 2 10 | Yoga for Eye Sight Improvement camera. Our eye although is comparable to a camera, is not having a shape of a camera.

Education and Louisiana Content Standards Essay

The word comes from the Latin word currere which means the course to be run. It contains the courses of study that a student has to complete successfully to obtain a degree certifying competence. (It is the What and Instruction is the How) In K-12 schools, it also contains the standards and benchmarks for each of the courses of study. Students must successfully complete the benchmarks in order to complete the course. In this new age, those benchmarks are measured by the Louisiana Educational Assessment Plan (LEAP). During the 1920s, the definition of curriculum as school experiences was developed by progressive educators to emphasize the quality of experiences. What children learn in school is wider than what goes on in the classrooms. It includes experiences in hallways, the cafeteria, playground, etc. These experiences cannot be separated from the responsibility of educators. There are five types of curriculum: FORMAL- The formal curriculum is the intended curriculum, explicit, overt, and written. It includes the planned and advertised menu of courses, the content of those courses, the catalog descriptions, and the regular public activities included in those courses. You will find this in the Louisiana Content Standards and Benchmarks and the Grade Level Expectations (GLEs). INFORMAL-The informal curriculum is also intended, but not explicit or written. This includes such things as citizenship, manners, and social skills and is influenced by the teacher and his or her educational philosophy. It is reflected in the classroom and is often found in the rules and procedures that a teacher implements. It is also evident in the methodologies chosen by a teacher. For example, I have a strong belief in learning styles; therefore, in face-to-face classrooms, I include a lot of hands-on activities for students to participate and engage in. Also, I include activities that involve lots of student interaction. HIDDEN- The hidden curriculum is the covert, or implicit, implied by the very structure of the school buildings. It is learned by exposure of living in  the environment. It is characterized by the reward systems, physical plan of the school, furniture arrangement, etc. When you look at a school, is there a trophy case for sporting events, but not academics? Are classes dismissed every Friday, 6th or 7th period, for a pep rally? If so, that school would value athletics over academics. As you look at the structure of the school, is there a computer room, or is technology eviden t in every classroom? Are teachers allowed to attend professional development activities during the school day? All these things will provide information about the hidden curriculum of the school. Hidden curriculum is researched by critical theorists. NULL-The null curriculum is what is left out, not attended to, or taught. What is missing from your school, or even the Louisiana Content Standards and Benchmarks? Does the school embrace diversity, or just say it does? EXTRA-The extra-curriculum includes those activities that are structured by the teachers and administration. If a school has a football team, a basketball team, track team (etc.) but no history club, Spanish club, math club (etc. ), one might infer that athletics are valued more than academics. If the school has a basketball team and track team and also has National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America, (etc. ), one would infer that all learnings are valued. What is the relationship between Formal Curriculum and Hidden Curriculum? What is the relationship between Formal Curriculum and Informal Curriculum? How do all forms of c urriculum relate to each other curriculum?

Free Essays on Higher Education

Education; it’s the basis of our lives. We try to run from it, but can never escape it. Some try to pursue it; some do not. It can make or break us. It can be the difference between making your future, or breaking your future. Studies have shown that only one in every four high school seniors go on to a four-year college. And that out of them, only one in every 2 college freshman will graduate from the college he or she starts at. So, to put these statistics into reality for you, pick three of your closest friends and realize that studies show that only one of you will go on to a four-year college. College is more than just pursuing a degree to make money. Gaining a college education helps to increase your understanding of your community, Nation, and world. It helps you to make, and obtain many lifelong goals, and to become a more responsible, and reliable citizen. College seems to have become a â€Å"trend† that has swept the country over the past few years. It’s now considered normal to go to college, and you are frowned upon when you do not attend. However; not everyone is cut out to be a college student, and for those of you who aren’t, don’t worry, because there is life without college. Yes, a college education does help your chances of getting a better paying job, but it does not guarantee one. Four years of hard work and dedication, unfortunately does not guarantee you a job after college. But the unemployment of a college graduate is still lower, than those who only have a high school diploma. In most cases, employers look for a college education. More job opportunities are given to you with a higher education. Also salaries can differ greatly between a college graduate and someone with only a high school diploma. A four-year college is not the only option when looking into pursuing a higher education. Technical schools, Trade schools, and Junior colleges are among some of the most popular. They c... Free Essays on Higher Education Free Essays on Higher Education Education; it’s the basis of our lives. We try to run from it, but can never escape it. Some try to pursue it; some do not. It can make or break us. It can be the difference between making your future, or breaking your future. Studies have shown that only one in every four high school seniors go on to a four-year college. And that out of them, only one in every 2 college freshman will graduate from the college he or she starts at. So, to put these statistics into reality for you, pick three of your closest friends and realize that studies show that only one of you will go on to a four-year college. College is more than just pursuing a degree to make money. Gaining a college education helps to increase your understanding of your community, Nation, and world. It helps you to make, and obtain many lifelong goals, and to become a more responsible, and reliable citizen. College seems to have become a â€Å"trend† that has swept the country over the past few years. It’s now considered normal to go to college, and you are frowned upon when you do not attend. However; not everyone is cut out to be a college student, and for those of you who aren’t, don’t worry, because there is life without college. Yes, a college education does help your chances of getting a better paying job, but it does not guarantee one. Four years of hard work and dedication, unfortunately does not guarantee you a job after college. But the unemployment of a college graduate is still lower, than those who only have a high school diploma. In most cases, employers look for a college education. More job opportunities are given to you with a higher education. Also salaries can differ greatly between a college graduate and someone with only a high school diploma. A four-year college is not the only option when looking into pursuing a higher education. Technical schools, Trade schools, and Junior colleges are among some of the most popular. They c...

The 5 Ethical Considerations in Sociological Research

The 5 Ethical Considerations in Sociological Research Ethics are self-regulatory guidelines for making decisions and defining professions. By establishing ethical codes, professional organizations maintain the integrity of the profession, define the expected conduct of members, and protect the welfare of subjects and clients. Moreover, ethical codes give professionals direction when confronting ethical dilemmas or confusing situations. A case in point is a scientists decision whether to intentionally deceive subjects or inform them about the true risks or goals of a controversial but much-needed experiment. Many organizations, such as the American Sociological Association, establish ethical principles and guidelines. The vast majority of todays social scientists abide by their respective organizations ethical principles. 5 Ethical Considerations in Sociological Research The American Sociological Associations (ASAs) Code of Ethics sets forth the principles and ethical standards that underlie sociologists professional responsibilities and conduct. These principles and standards should be used as guidelines when examining everyday professional activities. They constitute normative statements for sociologists and provide guidance on issues that sociologists may encounter in their professional work. The ASA’s Code of Ethics contains five general principles and explanations. Professional Competence Sociologists strive to maintain the highest levels of competence in their work; they recognize the limitations of their expertise; and they undertake only those tasks for which they are qualified by education, training, or experience. They recognize the need for ongoing education in order to remain professionally competent; and they utilize the appropriate scientific, professional, technical, and administrative resources needed to ensure competence in their professional activities. They consult with other professionals when necessary for the benefit of their students, research participants, and clients. Integrity Sociologists are honest, fair, and respectful of others in their professional activities- in research, teaching, practice, and service. Sociologists do not knowingly act in ways that jeopardize either their own or others professional welfare. Sociologists conduct their affairs in ways that inspire trust and confidence; they do not knowingly make statements that are false, misleading, or deceptive. Professional and Scientific Responsibility Sociologists adhere to the highest scientific and professional standards and accept responsibility for their work. Sociologists understand that they form a community and show respect for other sociologists even when they disagree on theoretical, methodological, or personal approaches to professional activities. Sociologists value the public trust in sociology and are concerned about their ethical behavior and that of other sociologists that might compromise that trust. While endeavoring always to be collegial, sociologists must never let the desire to be collegial outweigh their shared responsibility for ethical behavior. When appropriate, they consult with colleagues in order to prevent or avoid unethical conduct. Respect for People’s Rights, Dignity, and Diversity Sociologists respect the rights, dignity, and worth of all people. They strive to eliminate bias in their professional activities, and they do not tolerate any forms of discrimination based on age; gender; race; ethnicity; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; disability; health conditions; or marital, domestic, or parental status. They are sensitive to cultural, individual, and role differences in serving, teaching, and studying groups of people with distinctive characteristics. In all of their work-related activities, sociologists acknowledge the rights of others to hold values, attitudes, and opinions that differ from their own. Social Responsibility   Sociologists are aware of their professional and scientific responsibility to the communities and societies in which they live and work. They apply and make public their knowledge in order to contribute to the public good. When undertaking research, they strive to advance the science of sociology and to serve the public good. References CliffsNotes.com. (2011). Ethics in Sociological Research. cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/topicArticleId-26957,articleId-26845.html American Sociological Association. (2011). asanet.org/about/ethics.cfm

Lewis and Clark expediation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lewis and Clark expediation - Essay Example e expedition, Native Americans’ land was viewed as a mere continuation of American territory, with the Americans seeking to enlarge their territory by acquiring the Native Americans’ land. However, the Native Americans were primarily not objective towards the expedition seeing it as a way of enhancing trade relations with America, thereby increasing their access to commodities. Most Native groups cooperated with the discovery team by serving as the latter’s interpreters and guides, for instance, the Lewis and Clark led expedition include the Mandans, who grew corn on their land and resided in earth lodges. This group of natives agreed to trade with America and assisted the discovery team in finding food, accommodation and provided protection to the team. In addition, other groups of cooperative natives were the Sioux, the Hidatsa, the Chinook, Shoshone and the Arikara. All these groups had a positive impact on the success of the expedition and assisted the discov ery team in creating rapport with other groups (DeVoto, 1953, 29). One of the most notable Native American who assisted the expedition team was Sacajawea, wife to one of the hired Natives. Sacajawea played a key role in maintaining amiable relations between the team and other Native groups. However, there were some Native American groups that were not quite cooperative and who sought to have the discovery team expelled from their land through all necessary means, including warfare (Neuberger, 1962, 15). For instance, the Piegan  Blackfoot  warriors, whom the expedition team encountered at the Marias River. The expedition team was forced to retreat from the Piegan’s land for fear of attack when the Native group attempted to forcefully acquire the team’s weapons. The Lewis and Clark expedition had a major effect on the U.S policy towards Native Americans. U.S considered Native Americans in two conflicting ways that are Native Americans were either United States’ enemies during war, or they were

Strategic marketing planning as an Essential Marketing Tool Essay

Strategic marketing planning as an Essential Marketing Tool - Essay Example Strategic Marketing Planning Strategic marketing plan is a â€Å"management process leading to a marketing plan† (McDonald, 2008, p.7). It is a systematic approach by managers that includes the written or detailed plan of the current status of the company, its goals, and how to attain it. The company obtains information about the mission statement and corporate objectives; analyses the financial performance of the company through the marketing audit; reviews the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; forecasts the marketing impact; sets marketing objectives and strategies; estimates the anticipated outcome; classifies alternative plans and mixes; and projects the budget needed. Marketing planning is essential for business establishments that aim to gain competitive advantage, which is limited to establish brand, build, defend, and maintain. To achieve competitiveness, firms must employ techniques or models such as Porter’s generic competitive strategies. Gene ric Competitive Strategies Porter’s Model was developed to encourage the firm to gain competitive advantage through following the suggested strategies. The famous hypothesis of Porter is â€Å"stuck in the middle† when firms failed to utilise one of the strategies such as differentiation, cost leadership, focus, or combination as illustrated in Figure 1 below. The model of Porter is determined by the forces in the environment that have a direct influence to the firm’s competitive position. These are â€Å"threat of new entry, intensity of rivalry among existing firms, pressure from substitute products, bargaining power of buyers, and suppliers† (Ormanidhi & Stringa, 2008, p.57). Porter argues that companies must examine its competitive position so that they will know their strength and weaknesses that would form into strategies for defensive or offensive actions. Figure 1 Porter’s Model * Grant 1998 cited in Kossowski, 2003, p.6 Differentiation Thi s is one of the business strategies that Porter identifies in the framework. Differentiation is the firm’s strategy to produce â€Å"unique products or services† (Allen, 2006, p.434). This strategy is essential when the companies’ objective is to build customer’s loyalty because it satisfies the customer’s needs and preferences. The product or service is designed based on the customers’ wants; hence, it produces satisfaction. The customers are concerned with the product quality, features, or after-sales support that increases their value. It results to the positive perception of customer regarding the quality of services the company rendered. Due to additional expenses caused by differentiating products, the company must charge a premium price to return its investment. Regardless of this, perceptive customers prefer quality in terms of delivery system, product, and services. Thus, this strategy is limited to customers who are willing to pay despite the higher price. However, product differentiation is relevant in establishing a brand name for its recall. The differentiated products influence the customers’ perception of the firms’ dissimilarity with their competitors. In addition, it eliminates price conscious consumers by focusing on unique products. The research literature is interested with the widely accepted and used model designed by Porter. Akan, et al. (2006, p.45) include the tactics that managers must utilise in applying this strategy that will

Summary on Review of Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary on Review of Literature - Essay Example Even with their limited resources, they do not only produce more jobs but are also more innovative than large firms. Chia (2009) undoubtedly reckoned that Singapore’s SMEs play an important role in the country as they are a critical pillar to Singapores economy, employing 60 per cent of the workforce. There are about 160,000 SMEs, hiring 1.7 million workers and contributing 40% non-oil foreign exchange to Singapore’s GDP (MTI 2009; Shin and Soh 2009). The major problems Singapore SMEs face as a result of the recession include loss of revenues that happens because their sales volumes have drastically been reduced as they could not export many of their products to overseas; insufficient capital to fund some of their operations due to the restrain on lending from banks and other lending institutions as the financial crisis bit harder; a drop in production as industries attempt to cut cost by firing some of their workers (OECD & APEC 2008, pp.103-104). Barton (2009) found out that Asian sub-continent might have found itself in this recession mess because of its over-dependence on Western economy, coming from the crisis spearheaded by the sudden demise of Lehman Brothers and other giants Western financial powerhouses. This condition, according to Holland et al (2009) has caused contraction or shrinking of Asian economies. Even as a leader in private banking, Schuman and Chowdhury (2009) found out that all past efforts have meant little in the face of the current downturn. It is as a result of this that Singapore Government realized that prompt actions must be taken in order to salvage its SMEs while maintaining overall economy growth in the country (Chia 2009; Asia Monitor, 2009). While the recent global recession is receding (Economic Survey of Singapore Second Quarter 2009, 2009), declining GDP, competitiveness, new world order, soaring unemployment rate and long-term job losses are always the most politicized and demoralizing fa ctor which

The Death of Ivan Ilych, 1886

The Death of Ivan Ilych, 1886 This is a critical essay about the Death of Ivan Ilych that was written in 1886. It was the first most important fictional work published by Leo Tolstoy after his disaster and conversion. The religious philosophies of Tolstoy serve as a background to the understanding of the fiction story of The Death of Ivan Ilych. The values that became important to Tolstoy in the second half of his life include: brotherly love, mutual support and Christian charity emerged as the dominant moral principles in the death of Ivan Ilych. The Ivan Ilychs awakening exposes him to the light of a meaningful life and alleviates his fear of dying. The death of Ivan Ilych can be seen as true reflection of and an elaboration of Tolstoys philosophical concerns after conversion. The novel is a fictional answer to the questions that afflicted Tolstoy during the middle of 1870s. Tolstoy died in 1910 after almost a ten year period of continuing ill health. The three themes: the right to life, the inevitability of de ath and inner life as opposed to the outer life are discussed from the critical point of view in the essay. Themes The right life Tolstoy beliefs that there are two kinds of lives: the artificial life which is represented by Ivan, Praskovya, Peter, and nearly everyone in Ivans society and company; and the authentic life represented by Gerasim. The artificial life is characterized by superficial relationships, self-interest, and materialism. It is also inward-looking, not fulfilling, and eventually incapable of providing answers to the vital questions in life. The artificial life is a deception that hides lifes true meaning and leaves one terrified and alone at the moment of death. Alternatively, the authentic life is characterized by pity and compassion. The authentic life promotes reciprocally affirming human relationships that ends isolation and allows for true interpersonal contact. While the artificial life leaves one unaccompanied and empty, the authentic life embraces strength through unity and relieve through empathy. Thus it creates bonds and gets one read to meet death. The authentic life is not the right life because of the following reasons: empathizing with one does not relieve pain; theres no total self-sacrificing love for others and no true interpersonal contact, this is evident when Gerasim considers that just empathizing with Ivans plight and relieving his isolation is more important than the physical support of holding Ivans legs. Also, theres no genuine personal involvement because compassion and love must go both ways; both must benefit from the relationship (Tolstoy, 2010). The inevitability of death As Ivan steadily approaches death, it is also the time that he starts to recognize his death and his search for a compromise with its terrible and nullifying influence. The question of how is one to make sense of the end of ones life, of ones relationships, projects, and dreams, of ones very existence is a dilemma. It is not true that as Ivans approach to life changes, prompted by pain and the prospect of death, his emotions progress from sheer terror to utter joy. Also the avoidance of death that depicts Ivans social situation is founded on an illusion meant to protect people from distasteful realities which only lead to horror, emptiness, and dissatisfaction. However, accepting death and the identification of the right unpredictable nature of life allows for peace, confidence and sometimes joy at death point. The death of Ivan is a lesson on making sense of death by living rightly (Tolstoy, 2010). Inner life opposed to Outer life Tolstoy portrays human existence as a conflict between the inner and the outer, the spiritual life and the physical life in both the artificial and authentic life. For the longer time of his life, Ivan beliefs that he is a purely physical being. He does not absolutely show any indication of any spiritual life in his physical being. Ivan lives for the good of his own flesh and relates only with those who promote his desires. This is not true since Ivan mistakes his physical life for his true spiritual life. Ivan supposes that his existence is the right one, and he rejects to see the mistake of his life. As a consequence of denying the spiritual life, Ivan is not capable of outdoing the physical life. As he holds on to the belief; he experiences agonizing pain, total terror and irresistible unhappiness. However, when the view of his death compels Ivan to deal with his isolation, he steadily begins to realize the importance of the spiritual life. As the understanding of Ivan continues t o grow, he starts to replace the physical life with the spiritual life. It is then he moves past suffering, overcomes death and experiences intense joy. Hence the duty of each person is to identify the twofold of the self and to live such that the less important physical life matches to most important spiritual life (Tolstoy, 2010). Conclusion The three themes depicted from Tolstoys story about the death of Ivan Ilych include: the right life, the inevitability of death and the inner life as opposed to outer life. Tolstoy beliefs that there are two kinds of lives: the artificial life which is represented by Ivan, Praskovya, Peter, and nearly everyone in Ivans society and company; the authentic life represented by Gerasim. The artificial life is characterized by superficial relationships, self-interest, and materialism. Alternatively, the authentic life is characterized by pity, promotes reciprocally affirming of human relationships and compassion. According to the inevitability of death, it is not true that accepting death and the identification of the right unpredictable nature of life allows for peace, confidence and sometimes joy at death point. Finally, Tolstoy portrays human existence as a conflict between the inner and the outer, the spiritual and the physical in both the artificial and authentic life which is not tru e since they are dual things.

Greed :: essays papers

Greed Greed Greed is a selfish desire for more than one needs or deserves. Greed can make honest men murderers. It has made countries with rich valuable resources into the poorest countries in the world. We are taught it is bad and not to practice it. But consider a world without greed, where everyone is as sharing as Mother Theresa was. The progress of humankind would be at a standstill. Greed has given our society faster travel, better service, more convenience, and most importantly, progress. Greed has created thousands of billionaires and millions of millionaires. But why is greed associated with evil? In their day, most capitalists like Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller were depicted as pure evil. Vanderbilt stole from the poor. Rockefeller was a snake. But the name-calling did not come from the consumers; it was the competing businesses that complained. The newspapers expanded on these comments, calling them "robber barons." These are inaccurate terms for these busine ssmen. They were not barons because they all started penniless and they were not robbers because they did not take it from anyone else. Vanderbilt got rich by making travel and shipping faster, cheaper, and more luxurious. He built bigger, faster, and more efficient ships. He served food on his ships, which the customers liked and he lowered his costs. He lowered the New York to Hartford fare from $8 to $1. Rockefeller made his fortunes selling oil. He also lowered his costs, making fuel affordable for the working-class people. The working-class people, who use to go to bed after sunset, could now afford fuel for their lanterns. The people, who worked an average 10-12 hours a day, could now have a private and social life. The consumers were happy, the workers were happy, and they were happy. Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft Corporation is another example of a greedy person. He is the richest man in the world with about $40 billion and he continues to pursue more wealth. Just because he has $40 billion does not mean the rest of the world lost $40 billion, he created more wealth for the rest of the world. His software created new ways of saving time and money and created thousands of new jobs. Bill Gates got rich by persuading people to buy his product. His motive may have been greed, but to achieve that, he had to give us what we wanted. Greed :: essays papers Greed Greed Greed is a selfish desire for more than one needs or deserves. Greed can make honest men murderers. It has made countries with rich valuable resources into the poorest countries in the world. We are taught it is bad and not to practice it. But consider a world without greed, where everyone is as sharing as Mother Theresa was. The progress of humankind would be at a standstill. Greed has given our society faster travel, better service, more convenience, and most importantly, progress. Greed has created thousands of billionaires and millions of millionaires. But why is greed associated with evil? In their day, most capitalists like Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller were depicted as pure evil. Vanderbilt stole from the poor. Rockefeller was a snake. But the name-calling did not come from the consumers; it was the competing businesses that complained. The newspapers expanded on these comments, calling them "robber barons." These are inaccurate terms for these busine ssmen. They were not barons because they all started penniless and they were not robbers because they did not take it from anyone else. Vanderbilt got rich by making travel and shipping faster, cheaper, and more luxurious. He built bigger, faster, and more efficient ships. He served food on his ships, which the customers liked and he lowered his costs. He lowered the New York to Hartford fare from $8 to $1. Rockefeller made his fortunes selling oil. He also lowered his costs, making fuel affordable for the working-class people. The working-class people, who use to go to bed after sunset, could now afford fuel for their lanterns. The people, who worked an average 10-12 hours a day, could now have a private and social life. The consumers were happy, the workers were happy, and they were happy. Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft Corporation is another example of a greedy person. He is the richest man in the world with about $40 billion and he continues to pursue more wealth. Just because he has $40 billion does not mean the rest of the world lost $40 billion, he created more wealth for the rest of the world. His software created new ways of saving time and money and created thousands of new jobs. Bill Gates got rich by persuading people to buy his product. His motive may have been greed, but to achieve that, he had to give us what we wanted.

Backyard burgers

The Back Yard Burgers operates and franchises fast food restaurants across the United States. It has its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. The fast food chain is famous for its charbroiled freshly prepared gourmet hamburgers and sandwiches. The chain has 183 outlets, 44 of which are company-operated and 139 are franchisees. Since its inception in the year 1987 the company has expanded considerably following a well defined marketing and operating strategy. The fast food industry has also witnessed a gradual change over the years and the emerging market trend has enormous potential to tap.The rising competition and changing demographics in this industry has presented new challenges to the existing companies. What are the forces that will drive the market demand and how effectively can the companies adapt themselves to these changing forces are some of the questions that need to be analyzed in a broad perspective. The paper analyzes the existing strategy and brand positioning of the B ack Yard Burgers – the emerging market trends and the capability of the company to adapt to these changing forces.The paper also recommends changes in the company’s operational and marketing strategy to face these challenges in the coming years and establish a strong market presence. Introduction The fast food industry Home cooked food has rapidly given way to over the counter fast food service appealing to the taste buds of the masses. This change in food culture was fuelled by a number of factors that made a huge impact on the American lifestyle. The rising number of women joining the work force leaving them with lesser time to spend in the kitchen and cook for their families is seen as the predominant factor.A number of companies and brands came to the forefront to tap this extensive revenue generating business. Well known brands like McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King have been widely recognized by the consumers. The success model was adopted extensively to generate more outlets over the country and build a global presence. The past four decades has witnessed an enormous growth in the fast food industry in the United States. Small stalls and outlets selling homemade burgers and hotdogs have invaded every nook and corner of the country.Most of the fast food outlets offer hamburgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and other snack items with accompaniments like French fries, soups, beverages, and desserts. Fast and efficient customer service, effective management, and aggressive marketing strategy drive the profitability of companies in this industry. The industry has propelled chains of restaurant outlets across the nation with universal brand positioning strategies. The franchise concept has seen wide acceptance in this business arena. This business requires voluminous processing of ready to eat food items, packaging, and delivery at a fast pace.Hence fast and efficient customer service is of prime importance. Another distinctive feature of this i ndustry is the location of these outlets – supermarkets, railway stations, airports, petrol pumps, and other high traffic areas. Back Yard Burgers – an introduction Lattimore M. Michael founded the Back Yard Burgers in the year 1987 in Cleveland, Mississippi. He started as a grocery store owner and extended his business to providing delicious homemade burgers that became quite famous in the area.Aided with a bank loan and family investment Michael opened the first double drive through restaurant on March 21st, 1987 in Cleveland, Mississippi. This outlet offered charbroiled Black Angus beef burger dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. The popularity of this outlet generated franchisee inquiries and a year later in 1988 a franchise store was opened in Greenville, Mississippi. The success of these outlets paved the way for 180 restaurant outlets across 20 states by the year 2007.â€Å"To deliver the highest quality service and best tasting food in a clean environment for a fair price† states the mission of the fast food restaurant chain. Quality food, exceptional service, and clean dining environment are the key ingredients to the success of Back Yard Burgers. After all it is only great food and good service that will keep customers returning for more. The fast food chain continued to do big business till the mid 90s recording sales of $17. 2 million and a net profit of $682,000 in 1994. The consecutive years witnessed a gradual decline in sales and profit margins.What went wrong and how could this situation be redressed? The study reflects the company strategy and policies adopted over the years, the issues and shortcomings faced by the company and its remedial measures. Back Yard Burgers – The business model The Back Yard Burgers has 183 outlets of which 44 are company-operated and 139 are franchisees. The principal source of revenue for the company is from company-operated restaurant sales, franchisee fees, area development fees, and royalty fees paid by the franchisees. 84. 9% of revenue is accounted to direct restaurant sales and 10.8% to royalty fees from the franchisees. Royalty and advertising fee revenue is calculated on the sales amount reported by the franchisees on a weekly basis. Franchisee fee is realized when the company has assisted the setting up of the franchisee in terms of training, site location, equipment, structural design and operating guidance. The area development fee is applicable when a franchisee has been given the right to develop, own, and operate additional units of Black Yard Burgers outlets in certain geographical areas.Other revenue items include sale of proprietary food product to franchisees and payment from other vendors on volume purchase from the franchisees. The company’s operating strategy endorses a diverse menu that is not only fresh but also competitive with other food chains in terms of quality and pricing. The c ompany also emphasizes the restaurant design having a single drive-thru concept in integration with an indoor dining area. Training and supervision of franchisee and company operated restaurant staff is given due priority to meet the goals of a prompt, friendly and efficient customer service.Growth strategy model The company growth strategy focuses on increasing sales through good quality food and efficient service. Addition of dining rooms to create a pleasing ambience and a memorable dining experience, opening of more franchised outlets along with increasing number of company operated restaurants are synonymous to increased sales and revenue. Back Yard Burgers started with a small double drive through outlet catering to 120 to 140 cars per hour generating sales of $600 per hour at peak times.The concept was widely popular and within a year the company saw growth in number of outlets using the franchisee model. The success of the franchisee model was mainly due to the low startup c ost and seen as an attractive investment option. The setting up of a franchisee on leased land and a building structure required an investment of $260,000 to $400,000 as compared $1 million investment for franchisee of other reputed fast food brands. Back Yard Burgers maintain a dedicated staff for training and assisting the opening of new franchisees and supervising the franchisee operations.The team helps in monitoring and assessing the quality of food being served, cleanliness of the restaurant, and the service efficiency. They ensure strict adherence to company guidelines and policies. The team sends a report to the franchisees with their observations and in case of any lapses in any area the suggestions to overcome these shortcomings are also given. This strategy keeps the company updated with all facts and ensures an overall supervision over all its franchisees. The company enters into a 10-year agreement with the franchisees that is renewable for a fee of $500.The key to succ ess in the franchisee model is uniformity. The uniformity of outlets in terms of design, color-coding, logo, style, menu, and quality is extremely important. Customers are drawn to known brands and the uniformity of the outlets assures them of the brand and quality of service. The franchisee strategy spells success and but with ever changing market trends and rising competition managing this strategy is getting tougher. Market Competition Back Yard Burgers faces stiff competition from three major brands that have gained acceptance and popularity among the masses.Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s are the biggest competitors that Back Yard Burgers has to face today. The global recognition of the McDonald’s brand and its universal presence makes it one of the biggest challenges that Back Yard Burgers face. The visibility of the McDonald’s has spread to such an extent that even toddlers recognize Ronald McDonald. The success of McDonald’s encouraged others to tap this huge market in the fast food industry. This saw a rise in number of fast food outlets in the country.Wendy’s and Burger King are also growing brand names that have given stiff competition to fast food giants like McDonald’s. Their success is attributed to their marketing strategy that involves deep market penetration and brand recognition among children and adolescent who form a large chunk of the consumer base. Back Yard Burgers face stiff competition from supermarkets and convenience stores too that offer the consumers take out meals and discount stores like Wal-Mart too pose a challenge to the company. The home delivery system introduced by companies like Dominos is also eating away the market share of the company.So what are competitive forces that the Back Yard Burgers face? †¢ The brand popularity and image recognition of the McDonald’s trademark logo and character in the form of Ronald McDonald that has become iconic in the fast f ood industry. †¢ The training of personnel in the hamburger industry given by McDonald’s that has provided a new career avenue for the youngsters. †¢ The innovation in the menu and product offerings by Wendy’s targeting the matured consumer base. †¢ The penetration of market segments by Pizza Hut, Dominos, cafeterias, and coffee joints.†¢ The introduction of home delivery system of pizzas by Dominos. †¢ The option available to the consumers with take-away meals from convenience stores. †¢ The widespread openings of discount stores like Wal-Mart. These are some of the major competitive challenges faced by the company. A look into the strategies of big brands like McDonald and Wendy’s highlights the importance of branding. It is the force of a strong brand presence that drives the consumer taste and preference. Brands create a consumer expectation with their consistency and uniformity of service and quality.Strong brand awareness corr elates with loyal consumer base and increased revenues in the fast food industry. An effective strategy to achieve this goal is the company logo that portrays the company’s image in the consumer minds. In the initial stages Back Yard Burger had managed to capture the consumer interest with its homemade burgers and sandwiches. Consumers came back for more of the great taste and quality of food being served to them. As part of its expansion strategy, Back Yard Burgers had entered into a Development Agreement with the YUM! Brands Inc., for sub licensing of the Back Yard Burgers concept and trademarks in the year 2002. YUM! Brands were given the right to open ten Back Yard Burgers outlet as part of multi brand units with Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. But this agreement fell through and further discussions were terminated. Lattimore M. Michael, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Back Yard Burgers, had stated on this development, â€Å"While we are disappointed with today's developments, we are optimistic about the future of the segment of the quick-serve restaurant industry that seeks to provide premium food and service.We will continue to focus on our principal growth strategy of setting our restaurants apart from other fast-food competition by serving freshly prepared, great tasting food comparable to that of the best full-service casual dining restaurants. † SWOT Analysis An elementary step to analyze the company’s strategies and policies is to assess the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats that are faced by the company. A SWOT analysis can provide the framework for identifying and analyzing the company’s opportunities and future course of action to achieve the marketing goals.The strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats for Back Yard Burgers is identified in the subsequent paragraphs. Strengths: †¢ Home cooked quality of hamburgers and other products offered on the menu that the consumers fe el worth the money to pay for. †¢ Cleanliness of the restaurant premises and fast efficient service by the staff. †¢ Rapid expansion strategy using the franchisee concept to tap the regional markets. †¢ Strict control of the over the franchisee operations and management right from the site selection to establishment and starting up of the restaurants.†¢ Well-trained and experienced staff committed to training and assisting the franchisees as part of company franchise program. †¢ Black Angus Beef Burgers charbroiled and grilled to perfection with variety of toppings is one of the USPs of the company. Weakness: †¢ Declining market share with other big brands playing a dominant role. †¢ Weak brand positioning and brand awareness †¢ Low control over franchisees at later stages of operation †¢ Slow growth of revenue Opportunities †¢ Brand development and brand positioning – creating an awareness among the consumers†¢ Tapping t he overseas market †¢ Promoting healthy alternatives to attract the health conscious segment of the consumer base. Threats: †¢ Competition from big brands and other upcoming eateries and joints †¢ Growing awareness of the consumers to healthy eating habits Advertising and Promotion Strategy Since the inception of the company’s first outlet in Cleveland, Mississippi in the year 1987, Back Yard Burgers depended mostly on the word of mouth publicity to spread awareness and promote its home cooked burgers.New outlets that opened in the subsequent years expanded not only the company’s consumer base and revenue but also stressed the need for aggressive marketing strategy to sustain the increased cost of operations. Back Yard Burgers started advertising on the television in the year 1993. The initial advertising campaigns were titled â€Å"the great burger wars† that took a punch at the competitors. In June 1994 the company launched a series of campaigns that featured Dennis R. Phillipi, a popular comedian in Memphis who soon became famous as Dennis the â€Å"Back Yard Burgers Guy†.The commercials projected the burgers as bigger, tastier, and healthier than those offered by the competitors due to its grilled cooking method that melted most of the fat. The advertising campaigns were effective in increasing sales and raising the revenue by 10 to 15%. Launch of new products and subsequent commercials on the television featuring Dennis Phillipi was an effective strategy. The company used the audio of these commercials in radio advertising that was cheaper. In addition the company also used direct mail advertising.The company collects 1% of taxable sales from each franchisee and company-operated restaurants that goes to the national advertising fund. 50% of this fund is utilized for marketing promos through various channels like radio, television, and print media. The rest 50% is used for market research, new product testing, and development, improvising on the operational front. The company’s marketing director monitors product launch and new restaurant opening promotions and marketing managers with a well-trained staff.The management works in collaboration with the franchisees towards advertising and promotion of its restaurants. The advertising fee earned by the company increased from $314,000 in July 1, 2006 period to $318,000 in June 30, 2007 period. The $4000 increase over the earlier period is accounted to the 1% of sales that goes to the national advertising fund as per company policies. The company also recorded an increase in the advertising expense from $668,000 in the July 1, 2006 to $814,000 in June 30, 2007 that attributes to approximately 5% of the net restaurant sales on advertising in the past year.(see annexure for the comparative income statements). The company has been stressing on the advertising and promotion strategy but it has not been very effective. There are some important points that can be highlighted in this respect. †¢ The company has not been able to create brand loyalty and brand awareness in spite of good quality products and effective marketing strategy. This could be attributed to low brand visibility. This can be remedied with aggressive market campaigns that aim at the younger generation since this is the biggest consumer segment for the fast food industry.Strategies that aim for deeper market penetration, fun logo that people can relate to enjoyable food and moments are essential for brand positioning. â€Å"Fun logo† is a concept that the consumers can equate with good times. The simple logo of McDonald’s is easily identifiable and children and youngsters can spot it from a distance – this is one of the best examples of effective brand positioning. †¢ The other concept that the Back Yard Burgers can adopt is the use of bright color-coding for their outlets and the signboards.A bright color scheme attracts th e younger generation and gives it an inviting look. The uniformity in look and feel of the franchisee restaurants and the other company-operated restaurant is essential to make an easily identifiable picture in the consumer minds. †¢ In running a successful brand promotion campaign the essential point is to identify the consumer segment. Who are the consumers and the target focus group for this chain of restaurants? The children and adolescents who form a major chunk of the consumer group typically favour the fast food industry.The working people segment is another segment that will stop by for fast and filling food in their office hours. Fast service food is ideal meal for this segment. Campaigns attracting these two segments will create brand awareness and spell higher revenues for the company. †¢ Last but not the least the quality of food and service efficiency is the crux of the fast food industry. A good and satisfying meal will have the consumers returning for more. The satisfied and happy customer will not only promote brand loyalty but will have high recommendations regarding the food and service to their friends and families.This is the greatest form of publicity that a fast food outlet can expect. External factors affecting the fast food industry There are a number of external factors that have a deep impact on the sales and revenue earnings of the fast food chains. The changing demographics, shift in consumer taste and preference, eating habits, increase in cost of supplies and labor, economic condition of the geographical area in which the outlets are located – all these are some of the factors that affect the profitability of the business. Pricing strategyFamilies and individuals in the higher income group are most frequent visitors to the fast food restaurant. The disposable income plays an important role in determining consumerism in this sector. The prices on the menu card is not so important when it comes to catering to high d isposable income group. But that restricts the customer base and may not be an ideal situation for the company. Today’s lifestyle has incorporated the fast food industry into its daily schedule. The Wendy’s or the McDonald’s have menu cards that suit the pocket of the low-income segment group too.Recently McDonald’s had introduced the Dollar Menu where all items cost $1 only. It was a runaway hit with the teenagers and youngsters. The variance in price has enabled McDonald’s to attract customers from all segments. In response to this pricing strategy Wendy’s and Burger King also introduced low priced meals to suit the pocket of all segments. Back Yard Burgers on the other hand have higher priced burgers at $3. 59. The premium priced menu card has not found acceptance with all consumer segments but the management does not want to compromise on the price of the products.It believes that in terms of quality of the food items the prices are reas onable. Back Yard Burgers wanted to distinguish itself from the cutthroat competition in the industry with premium quality products. The management strategy holds good in terms of quality and service but is it good enough for the survival of the company? A look at the sales figures for the past 3 years gives an indication of the sales and revenue trend. Consumer taste and preference The ever changing taste buds and increasing changes in lifestyle of the consumer has kept the fast food industry on their toes.Rising mobility, increasing number of women joining the workforce and hectic schedules leave very little time for a home cooked meal. The need for faster options in food and service was felt that led to the tremendous growth in the fast food industry. Quick serve burgers, pizzas and sandwiches accompanied by French fries and coke became the ideal meal for the average Americans. A diet rich in fat and sugar attracted the consumers in plenty. This resulted in obesity and a disease prone society. Diabetes, heart problems were some of the impacts that the cheesy diet had on the consumers.Lawsuits were filed against some major players in this field like McDonalds for the growing obesity among children and adolescents. This awakened the consumers of fast food and they realized the necessity for healthy alternatives. Health conscious consumers are more alert of what they eat and how it can affect them. The industry witnessed a radical change in consumer taste and preference. This brought about a sharp decline in revenues for the fast food industry. The fast food chain operators brought about a change in their strategy by adding salads, fruits, and soups to the menu cards.Low calorie burgers and sandwiches are offered in addition to the regular menu items. This offers the customers with choice to healthier meal options. Back Yard Burgers has also adapted to the changing consumer preference by adding nutritious salads and milkshakes to their menu card. Introduction of grilled charbroiled burgers that claim lesser fat and lower calories have attracted the consumer interest and taste. Healthier and tastier alternatives in food items prepared with fresh ingredients are the strategic point of Back Yard Burger’s customer service.This has not only earned it a good reputation among the loyal consumers who return for more of the great quality food and taste but has also strengthened its market position. But the fast food industry cannot ensure consumer loyalty since the interest of consumers is flickering. They always want to try something new and better variety of options in food that they consume. To serve the changing tastes of the consumer and maintain their interest the restaurant needs to constantly make changes to its menu card by adapting to their taste buds.Back Yard Burgers should keep this mind while formulating their operating strategy. With more fast food companies offering a wide range of products and services, Back Yard Burgers s hould also draft changes to its existing operating structure. One way of achieving this objective would be to combine the essential features of both fast food and full service restaurants. A menu card that features in a regular full service restaurant integrated with fast food service will work wonders for the company – boosting sales and revenue with an increasing consumer base.Event catering and home delivery service could also open newer avenues for the company. Manpower Issues The fast food industry is a labor driven sector. It has an extensive requirement of manpower to serve the increasing flow of consumer traffic at the outlets. Skilled labor with fast pace of work is the basic requirement for this job. It is mostly youngsters who are eligible for this job but it can be stressful and at times hazardous. This industry requirement for long hours of duty, on the toe at all times and attentive to the needs of the customer is quite an uphill task.There is no doubt that the emergence and growth of this industry sector has solved the unemployment problem to a great extent. Many youngsters have found a living in this industry but the pay packages earlier were not very attractive. The pay scales have no doubt improved now but the work conditions remain almost the same. The Back Yard Burgers currently employ over 10,000 people throughout their chain of restaurants. Each restaurant employs around 25 employees, of which some are part timers. A company-operated restaurant has a unit supervisor and two co-unit supervisors.Each unit supervisor reports to the district manager. A district manager has about five to eight restaurants in their supervision. Their role constitutes of keeping tabs on all aspects of operations and management of the restaurants in their jurisdiction. Each of these district managers’ report to the Director of Operations. The company endorses strict training and personnel development strategy. All personnel have to go through a pers onnel-training program on fast friendly and efficient customer service, restaurant cleanliness, and proper management of day-to-day operations.The employees have to go through classroom sessions that brief them about aspects of food safety, sanitation, laws, and regulations related to the food industry and operational aspects of restaurant. The company envisages labor to be a critical factor in the coming years since the opportunities have increased manifolds. The demand for skilled labor is rising and this will lead to higher wages and compensation packages. Managing and retaining quality workforce in this industry will be a little difficult task and the key to effective manpower management is to keep the employees happy and satisfied with their jobs.Financial Analysis The Back Yard Burgers has 183 restaurants – 44 company-operated and 139 franchisees as on June 30, 2007. The sales figures indicate total revenue of $12,610,000 as compared to last year sales figure of $11,695 ,000. Restaurant sales accounted for $10,688,000 that is a 10. 3% increase from last year figures of $9,686,000. Out of this 10. 3% increase of revenue, 6. 8% is attributed to the addition of two new company-operated restaurants till Jun 30, 2007 since July 1, 2006. The remaining 3.5% increase in the revenue from restaurant sales is from the existing restaurants. Statement of income for the period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007 The statement of income shows a net income of $209,000 only for the current year as compared to $576,000 in the previous year. An increase in the general and administrative expenses and increased advertising expenditure accounts for the lower net income of the company. The annual turnover of the company in the year 2006 was $44,710,000 as compared to $41,000,000 in the year 2005. The company reported a 9% annual growth in sales.