Hope in Humanity Village Health Works - 991 Words

When the Belgians colonized Burundi, they made a grave error by favoring the minority Tutsis over the majority Hutus. Even after the Belgians left and Burundi became an independent nation, the segregation remained. As a result of tension after tension, in 1994, the Hutus began their mass killing of Tutsis. In Strength in What Remains, renowned writer Tracy Kidder shares the overwhelming account of escape and second chances experienced by Deogratias Niyizonkiza, a young Tutsi medical student, during the gruesome genocides that occurred in Burundi and neighboring Rwanda. During his journey, Deo encountered people who were extremely hostile against him, but he also came across many who were willing to help him during his time of greatest need. Thus, despite all the cruelty Deo has witnessed and experienced, his story restores faith in humanity because of the acts of benevolence that followed the horrors. Some readers may argue that there was no goodness present in Burundi during the gen ocide; there was blood and murder everywhere Deo went. However, one must consider the few people who helped Deo escape. First, when Deo barely reached the border between Burundi and Rwanda, he gives up. He was sleeping when a middle-aged woman wakes him up and urges him to continue. â€Å" ‘I’m too tired,’ he told the woman. ‘I’m just going to stay here’ † (127). But she was persistent and he could not help but oblige. At the checkpoint, the woman convinced the interrogators that Deo is her son andShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Family History1343 Words   |  6 PagesKnowing our family history is essential to understanding ourselves and basic humanity and diversity. Family history helps to keep memories alive and allow each generation to have an idea of who they are and where they come from. It helps to provide meaningful connections to our ancestors. Old photos, letters, and journals give us a glimpse into what our ancestors were r eally like. Family histories are passed down to generations in the form of stories. As a young kid, I used to cajole my grandfatherRead MoreBecoming A Pediatric Specialty As A Career1109 Words   |  5 Pagesthere is also a love of humanity†. These few words by Hippocrates will forever resonate in my thoughts. My journey since childhood has been guided with a solid belief that a blessed life comes from serving others. My heart is filled with compassion every time I witness a person who is mentally ill. In my perspective, I feel a moral and an instinctive obligation to help a person with a psychological or emotional ailment. Caring for people is not only rewarding to me, but the hope is that one day, thoseRead MoreThe Assassination Of The Syrian Revolution1642 Words   |  7 Pagesare accounted to military personnel and civilians killed as a direct result of the fighting while the indirect deaths are a result of Syria’s failing institutions and health conditions. Pover ty has stricken much of the country and accessibility to medicine makes it so civilians have no way of taking care of themselves accordingly. Health institutions are limited as well since many hospitals have been destroyed and doctors have either fled, been captured, or killed. The doctors that remain are severelyRead MoreGiging Birth At Home Or, In A Medical Clonic1315 Words   |  6 Pagesdistance, they seldom make it. So, the birth takes place in the home, or under a tree. With our help a new medical clinic can be built closer to many of the villages, offering a safe environment for the birth of a baby. The clinic also offers hope to children and adults for vaccinations, medication for Aids, help from a Public nurse, education on health procedures and many other opportunities. The clinic will cost $40,000 to build. Contributions can be made during the months of December and January.Read MoreThe Problems Of Humans Are Many1041 Words   |  5 Pagesproblems of humans are many. Children are dying from hunger, war, poverty, disease, and pollution of the air and water. Humanity is in trouble. Dissolution of the social units that once supported community caring, such as the family, neighborhood, tribe and village, leave nothing but the schools to teach humans how to think, how to act, how to feel. The outcome is crime, loss of hope, vulgar desires for superficial symbols of success, a corrupt political response, more hurt, drugs, unwanted pregnanciesRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Patient774 Words   |  4 Pages‘One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient’’- Francis F Peabody. As I continued my journey in internal medicine and hematology, I realized that ethical practice and empathy are the essence of medicine every single day. My interest in Internal Medicine developed during my 12 month long internship at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the largest teaching hospital serving patients with all types ofRead MoreMy Experience At The United States1150 Words   |  5 Pagesnon-profit organization such as Mending Kids, or by starting my own, my goal is to make this dream a reality. More specifically, I hope to bring together nurses, anesthesiologists, and other surgeons to form a team committed to annually volunteering our services. In addition to providing free healthcare, these trips would allow students the opportunity to shadow surgeons and work abroad, providing them with experiences that may inspire them to pursue careers in healthcare. To inspire even just a few othersRead MoreThere is No Hope of Doing Perfect Research Essay examples937 Words   |  4 PagesThe airplanes, penicillin, pacemaker, rubber, and plastic are some of the examples. A perfect research may fail to produce anything beneficial. My goal in this paper, therefore, is to demonstrate that, while there is no hope of doing perfect research, only research presents hope for perfecting life. 1. What is Research? There is no consensus on the definition of research. It might mean different things to different people and disciplines. For instance, one organization defines research as somethingRead More Half the Sky Movements Efforts to Empower Women Worldwide1779 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout history, women have been victims of oppression. Even though there have been attempts to shed light on the issue that women face worldwide, it seems as if humanity still does not understand its importance. Society has tried to mold everyone to believe that white heterosexual men are superior to those who do not fit the hegemonic norm. However, there have been women and men who dedicated their lives to fight this worldwide issue. Amongst those people are Nicholas Kristoff and Cheryl WuDunnRead MoreConflict Between Northern Uganda And The Civil War Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagesrush to the hospital gate to observe in sorrow as dying victims were rolled into the surgery ward. Watching this daily routine w as the beginning of her distrust in humanity and social withdrawal. I had no help to offer besides a listening ear. The more she talked about her ordeal, the more she opened up. There was always a glimmer of hope in her eyes after telling her story. Despite the below average class performance, poor sleep patterns she was good at whatever her hands touched. Be it crocheting

Business Ethics Analysis Essay - 4857 Words

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1. The Description and Outline of Newmont Nusa Tenggara’s Case Study Newmont Mining Corporation is an American company, which is the second largest gold and copper producer in the world. It started mining in Indonesia at Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara and Minahasa Raya, Sulawesi. In 1999, Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) was established with 45% share Newmont Mining Corporation, 35% share Sumitomo Corporation from Japan, and 20% share Pukuafu Indah from Indonesia. NNT’s business in Indonesia is based on established management principles, well-established systems and procedures, and strong financial capital. Even though they were well prepared, they still failed to apply certain ethical standards.†¦show more content†¦Later, it has been found that the waste contains heavy metals and chemical elements, which will disturb the local marine ecosystem, killing fish and reducing biodiversity as the bay becomes more and more shallow. And also NGOs found that some diving locations are polluted, since the coastal corals have changed color from blue to brown. However, the Environmental Minister of Indonesian Government deemed that this type of destructive practices as â€Å"Environmentally Friendly†. It is argued that NNT acted unethically for gaining advantages for itself through marine ecosystem destruction in West Nusa Tenggara. She also discusses other aspects of significance in this case study. For example she notes that although NNT believes that its long-term welfare is tied to local people, NNT failed to keep the commitment to endorse: treating all parties with respect and equity, promoting transparent participatory approaches, being a catalyst for integrated sustainable development, building trust through partnership with stakeholders, and demonstrating integrity, creativity and excellence in all behaviors. As the community refused to share their land with NNT’s mine, port, processing plant, satellite, township, roads, and tourism project because NNT confiscated the fertile farmland without the landowner’s permission. Besides land confiscated which lead to a loss of livelihood, the communities also get the impact for NNT’s heavy water use which caused springs andShow MoreRelatedCase Analysis : Managing Business Ethics Essay874 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"right† side? The research mentioned in Trevino’s and Nelson’s book, â€Å"Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How to Do It Right,† suggests that preparing for specific ethical challenges before a situation occurs can adequately prepare the workforce to better handle real-world applications when an ethical situation transpires. The notion that ethics is teachable inspires the following case analysis. The case analysis involving chemical safety will discuss the facts and iss ues, stakeholders, decisionRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article The New ( Old ) Case For The Ethics Of Business 977 Words   |  4 PagesJournal of Business Ethics in 2015, portrays an argument for business ethics centered on the approach that business processes may represent a calling or natural ability to contribute to an overall goodness, or good. Summary The article â€Å"The New (Old) Case for the Ethics of Business,† describes Wolcott’s views on how business students are educated in the belief that business professionals must acquire additional ethical requirements in their field. Students are also taught the field of business may beRead More Starbucks Business Ethics Case Analysis Essay examples1451 Words   |  6 PagesStarbucks Business Ethics Case Analysis INTRO Ethical issues in business are a common placed every day occurrence that will never cease to exist. We will discuss an ethical issue that involves a large American corporation and its practices when dealing with suppliers of produce that is essential but not solely used by this business. We will present several point of views backed by literary findings that suggest ethical practices may or may not be at hand. BODY Mr. DonaldRead MoreEssay on Business Ethics Case Analysis976 Words   |  4 PagesBusiness Ethics Case Analysis Ethics and social responsibility in an industry are very important. In certain industries such as the alcohol industry there seems to be an increase for social responsibility. Due to the nature of the industry producers of alcohol are under greater pressure to be socially responsible. They are in a market that provides the basis for individuals struggling with addiction. Thanks to this growing problem alcohol companies may find it increasingly difficult to implementRead MoreEssay on Empirical Literature Article Review of Leadership Ethics1195 Words   |  5 PagesReview of Leadership Ethics Lillie Johnson LDR 800, Ethical Dilemmas and Stewardship June 4, 2013 Empirical Literature Article Review of Leadership Ethics The opportunity to evaluate original research serves as one of the many foundations to both scholarly writing and research (Grand Canyon University, 2013). Therefore, to enhance this process I will critique empirical research articles for the purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness in understanding leadership ethics. So, using the literatureRead MoreEthical Issues Of The Managerial Accounting Profession1186 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to its complexity in today s business world it may generates sort of excesses that can negatively affect the business environment as well as the social life. Therefore, it becomes necessary to stress on the ethics and morals that should be prevalent in the business community. The term ethics in the business environment expresses the expected attitude of the individuals in organizations that carry out certain activities and services. Clearly, today’s business environment has obvious ethical issuesRead MoreThe Ethics Of Business Ethics1064 Words à ‚  |  5 Pages　　　　Business Ethics Ethics can be viewed as the rules and values that determine goals and actions people should follow when dealing with other human beings. However, business ethics can be defined as moral principles of a business. It examines moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. Generally, it has both normative and descriptive dimensions. Organization practice and career specialization are regarded as normative whereas academics attempting to understand business behaviourRead MoreStandards For Financial Decision Making926 Words   |  4 Pagesand the acceptance of model behavior by guardians of business. Literature Review. The authors use a systematic review of literature in the research. The literature review is categorized into three parts: general principles of decision-making, the role of guardian and conservator in decision-making, the relationships between fiduciary duties and financial decision-making. The researchers analyze NGA standards, court standards, code of ethics for guardians, accreditation standards, and state standardsRead MoreMartin Marietta Case Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesMartin Marietta: Managing Corporate Ethics (A) In an industry  overwhelmed with fraud and corruption, Martin  Marietta was ready to revamp their reputation to become an ethical company. This concept  catapulted a decade of creating, developing, and tweaking an ethics program. Martin Mariettas goal was to maintain a work place with descent people doing quality work (page 1). But with this idea came a series of difficult  challenges the company needed to overcome. Martin Marietta  arose to the  challengeRead MoreAnalysis Of Compania De Minas Buenaventura S.a Essay1623 Words   |  7 PagesProducer of the best geological information in Peru. †¢ Seeks to expand its reserves production and earnings. †¢ Listed on Lima Stock Exchange (BUE.LM) since 1971 and on The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BVN) since 1996. Buenaventura’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is oriented to the Board of Directors of the company. It set some important aspects and basic behaviors that all members of the company must follow. The document is divided into 5 parts [2]. 1. Purpose, where it is established the main goal

What Is Cheating Free Essays

If a survey was conducted to find out what most persons considered cheating in a relationship the majority of people would say, any sexual involvement with another person that is not your spouse or partner. The WordNet defines cheating as the act of being unfaithful to a spouse or lover. Adulterer, cheater, two-timer or â€Å"player† are all words that describe someone that cheats. We will write a custom essay sample on What Is Cheating? or any similar topic only for you Order Now These are all words to describe someone that is unfaithful, disloyal, dishonest and untrustworthy in a relationship. What really is cheating in a relationship? Cheating is not just an act of sexual involvement. Cheating is any emotion or act that is a hindrance to an exclusive and committed relationship. Dawn and David were married for five years with two kids. David had spent most of his time at the office while Dawn took care of the kids. David was in the real estate business so he was always meeting new people. One day he met a lady, Stephanie. Stephanie and David exchanged email addresses so that they can further discuss real estate business. An innocent chat that was supposed to be strictly business lead to something more emotional. Over a period of six months David and Stephanie developed feelings for each other. Every night and day he found himself constantly chatting to Stephanie. One night they both expressed that they truly loved each other even though they were in committed relationships. David got a divorce and started a relationship with Stephanie. In this incidence David and Stephanie did not have sexual intercourse. However, they developed a strong bond where eventually they fell in love. David spent most of his time chatting with Stephanie. Stephanie got to know his feelings and thoughts something that only his wife should be able to relate to. He isolated his wife and looked to another figure as someone he could communicate with. Some might say that expressing feelings through instant messaging and texting to another individual other than your spouse or partner is not cheating. Why? – Because they can’t see or touch you. How is this not cheating when eventually you are developing feelings for that particular individual? Cheating is developing an emotional bond with another person that is not your spouse or lover. Lust, a strong sexual desire. Yes, this is the word to describe what goes on in spouse’s or partner’s head when they attend a strip club or watch pornography. Some may find it fascinating and just simply fun to attend a strip club. They might consider this not cheating because they are just â€Å"hanging† with the guys or having fun. How is this not cheating when they are lusting after an individual that is not their â€Å"significant other†? If you lust after a guy or girl that you just saw walking down the street or have been working with for years, you are cheating. Cheating is lusting about someone that you are not committed to. Many persons would say that it hurts more to know that their wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend has â€Å"slept† with another person. They would consider this act truly cheating. It is when a sexual act is committed they betrayed. I want to know how they would truly feel if they knew that their significant other developed a bond with another instead of just â€Å"fooling around†. How would they feel if they knew that there was no sexual involvement but they still love them because of who they are? How would they feel if they said that they are leaving them for the girl/guy that works at the strip club? Will it be too late for them to realize that lusting and developing emotions are considered cheating? How to cite What Is Cheating?, Papers

Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibilities

Question: Discuss about the Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibilities. Answer: Introduction: Over the period, it has become apparent that accounting as a practice not only treated as the practice of reporting but also more than that. In this context if the corporate social reporting or the CSR is taken into consideration, then it can be explicitly demonstrated as the combination of both voluntary as well as non voluntary disclosure made by an organization. Other than the economic importance, it has also carried larger value towards the society. According to Asare and Asmild (2012), the corporate social reporting has shed light on the below mentioned aspects: it explore the societal impact of any corporate activities performed by organizations irrespective of the field they operates; It measures the effectiveness of social as well as environmental activities carried by the organizations; Details of the corporate resources the organization has been dealing with. It can be said that the corporate giants are immensely powerful and thus they have the power to trump the interest of any economy. At the same time as it operates in a broaden area, the utilization of natural resources is getting higher on day by day (Campbell, 2012). Therefore, they have the primary responsibility to roll back the economy what they used. This primarily leads corporate organizations to involve in corporate social responsibility works. While talking about the cost and benefits of preparing corporate social report, the foremost problem lies with the presentation of information. Many times, it has observed that the corporations are publishing the CSR report. However, the goals of such reports are extremely narrowed down (Crisan and Borza, 2012). The report at time failed to display the objectives of the organization. Again, the mismanaged of data is another cost to the preparation of CSR report. While preparing the report, it has seen that the data were largely manipulated to represent the organization better than the real picture. On the other hand, setting unreachable goal in the report itself another cost of preparing CSR report. In opposite to the cost of preparing CSR report, if the benefits are considered here, then it can be said that it largely augmented the understanding of risk and opportunities for sustainability projects (Shin, 2012). Upon successful preparation of such report, organization can assess their capabilities at their own. At the same time, it also open the loopholes they have and where to work in future. Again, a successful preparation of CSR report indicates that the corporation is highly successful in the contemporary marketplace and consequently, the stakeholders gain additional confidence to engage themselves in the operation of the said organization (Crisan and Borza, 2012). It has seen that there are several accounting concepts that can be applied while discussing the CSR of any organization. First of all the concept of social accounting is the most appropriate one. Again, the environmental accounting is another aspect that can be applied while talking about CSR. When organizations like NGOs, charities, even government agencies are working with CSR, the role of social accounting came into existence (Crisan and Borza, 2012). It provides a framework of how they can monitor the CSR activities through community based monitoring. On the other hand, the environmental accounting largely dealt with firms that create such end product that has adverse effect on the economy. Through, environmental accounting, the governing bodies devised various policies and asked the organizations to abide by these policies so that the environment did not get affected. Though, CSR has gain importance over the last 10 to 15 years, there are instances when it become lesser important aspect. Many times, the corporate scandals prove that even if organizations are publishing CSR report, in practical, they are not following them. Again, it is also true that due to the biasness in the report it loses its importance at the initial stage (Crisan and Borza, 2012). On the other hand, firms with good corporate image exemplify the activities they are doing for societal benefits. Such activity leads small and medium size entrepreneurs to involve in CSR. Hence, it can be said that irrespective of the cost of preparing CSR report, it should be made as mandatory not voluntary for larger corporations. However, in case of small and medium size entrepreneur, it can be voluntary. However, whatever the nature of it, the objective of preparing CSR must have been fulfilled. References Asare, K. and Asmild, M. (2012). Banking efficiency analysis under corporate social responsibilities.IJBAAF, 4(2), p.146. Campbell, B. (2012). Corporate Social Responsibility and development in Africa: Redefining the roles and responsibilities of public and private actors in the mining sector.Resources Policy, 37(2), pp.138-143. Crisan, C. and Borza, A. (2012). Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibilities.IBR, 5(2). Shin, J. (2012). Vietnamese's recognition and expectation for Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).jias, 16(3), p.253.

Environments Shape Organizations

Whats a Good PSAT Score for a Freshman

What's a Good PSAT Score for a Freshman SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're gearing up for a high PSAT score in junior year, then you may choose to take the PSAT as a freshman for practice. Taking the PSAT in 9th grade will help you identify your current scoring level and figure out how you can improve for the future. As a freshman, you can choose between two tests: the PSAT/NMSQT that 11th graders take or the PSAT 8/9, a version of the test specifically geared toward 8th and 9th graders. These two tests have comparable, but slightly different, score ranges. This article will go over the scoring and percentiles of both so you know what would make a good PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 8/9 score as a freshman. How Is the PSAT Scored? The PSAT NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and the PSAT 8/9 use slightly different scoring systems, but they match up pretty closely. Let's take a look at both. The PSAT/NMSQT gives you two scaled scores between 160 and 760. One is for Math, and the other is for Reading and Writing together. Adding these scaled scores together, the composite score range on the PSAT falls between 320 and 1520. The PSAT 8/9 gets shifted down 80 points, falling on a scale between 240 and 1440 total, or 120 to 720 for each section. It's moved down to make up for the fact that it's a slightly easier test than the PSAT/NMSQT. A perfect score on the PSAT 8/9, while strong, doesn't equate exactly to a perfect score on the PSAT NMSQT. Similarly, the PSAT/NMSQT is shifted 80 points down from the SAT's score range of 400 to 1600 to make up for its slightly less challenging content. You can picture the score ranges like a slide, with the SAT at the top, the PSAT/NMSQT just below, and the PSAT 8/9 underneath that. To calculate your final scores, College Board considers everyone's performance on a given administration. Once it figures out your scores, it assigns them a percentile. If you score in the 75th percentile, to give an example, then you scored higher or the same as 75% of other test-takers. The remaining 25% scored higher than you. By looking at how scaled scores get translated into percentiles, we can answer our original question of what makes a good PSAT score for a freshman. Objectively speaking, we can look at what PSAT score is higher than the scores of the majority of other test-takers. Is your score above average, or did you fall below the halfway mark? PSAT Scores and Percentiles Since freshmen can take either the PSAT/NMSQT or the PSAT 8/9, we'll look at the data for both tests. By looking at how scores fall into percentiles, we can figure out what makes a good score on either test for a freshman. First, let's consider the percentile chart for the PSAT/NMSQT. PSAT/NMSQT: Percentile Chart Since the majority of PSAT/NMSQT test-takers are juniors, followed by sophomores, the College Board unfortunately doesn't release stats on the scores and percentiles of only freshmen. Instead, it groups all students who are 10th graders and younger together when presenting data on how scaled scores convert to percentiles. If you feel like you're scoring lower than average, don't worry! The majority of students represented in this data have a whole year of schooling on you. The chart below matches up thePSAT/NMSQT scores of younger students with percentiles. This chart is sourced fromCollege Board's 2018 score report. PSAT/NMSQT Score Reading and Writing Math 760 99+ 99+ 750 99+ 99+ 740 99+ 99 730 99+ 99 720 99+ 99 710 99 99 700 99 98 690 98 98 680 98 98 670 97 97 660 97 97 650 96 97 640 95 96 630 94 95 620 92 95 610 91 94 600 89 92 590 87 91 580 85 89 570 83 87 560 80 85 550 78 82 540 75 80 530 72 77 520 68 74 510 65 71 500 62 68 490 59 64 480 56 60 470 52 56 460 49 52 450 45 48 440 42 43 430 39 39 420 35 35 410 32 30 400 28 26 390 25 21 380 21 17 370 17 14 360 14 11 350 11 8 340 8 6 330 6 5 320 4 4 310 3 3 300 2 2 290 and below 1 and below 2 and below As you can see, you don't have to get a perfect score to make it to the 99th percentile. Using this information, keep reading to learn what can we conclude makes for a good score for freshmen on the PSAT/NMSQT. What's a Good Score for Freshmen on the PSAT/NMSQT? Since freshman year is early to take the PSAT, your target scores can certainly be lower than they would be when you reach 10th or 11th grade. In fall of freshman year, you haven't taken any full high school classes yet. You may have already done a good deal of prep for the PSAT though, and you have lots of time to do more before taking the PSAT as a sophomore and/or junior. With this in mind, let's consider good scores to be in the 70th percentile or higher. These are the section and composite scores you'd need to achieve on the PSAT/NMSQT to score in these higher than averagepercentiles. Percentile Reading and Writing Score Math Score Composite Score 70% 520-530 500-510 1020-1030 80% 560 540 1090 90% 600-610 580-590 1180 99% 700 710 1370 An average section score in the 50th percentile would be a score of about 460 on each section. To get an above average score,you'd want to get 470 or higher in both sections. Want to get a head start on the PSAT NMQST? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: Now let's consider the other version of the PSAT you can take as a freshman, the PSAT 8/9. PSAT 8/9: Percentile Chart The data in the chart below solely reflects the scores and percentiles of 9th graders who took the PSAT 8/9 in the fall of 2018. Remember that the PSAT 8/9 score range goes from 240 to 1440, or from 120 to 720 for each section. This information is sourced from the College Board's official 2018/2019 report on the PSAT 8/9. PSAT 8/9 Score Reading and Writing Math 720 99+ 99+ 710 99+ 99+ 700 99+ 99+ 690 99+ 99+ 680 99+ 99 670 99+ 99 660 99 99 650 99 99 640 98 98 630 98 98 620 97 98 610 96 97 600 95 96 590 94 96 580 93 95 570 91 94 560 89 92 550 87 91 540 85 89 530 82 87 520 80 85 510 77 82 500 74 79 490 71 76 480 68 72 470 64 69 460 61 64 450 58 60 440 54 55 430 50 51 420 46 46 410 42 42 400 38 38 390 34 33 380 30 28 370 26 24 360 22 20 350 18 17 340 15 14 330 11 11 320 8 9 310 6 7 300 4 6 290 3 4 280 2 3 270 1 2 260 1 2 250 1 2 240 and below 1 and below 1 and below Based on these percentiles, let's take the same approach as we did above to figure out what makes a good score for a freshman on the PSAT 8/9. Let's see what you'd need to score to make it into the 70th percentile and above. What's a Good Score for Freshmen on the PSAT 8/9? Unlike the data on the PSAT/NMSQT, this data is entirely based on 9th graders. It's also more recent, so it should give the most realistic view of what you'd need to score on the PSAT 8/9 to do better than average. This chart shows the scores you'd need to achieve to make it into the 70th, 80th, 90th, and 99th percentiles. Percentile Reading and Writing Score Math Score Composite Score 70% 480-490 470-480 950-960 80% 520 500-510 1010-1020 90% 560-570 540-550 1100 99% 650 650 1270 You can use all this data on scores and percentiles to set goals for whichever test you choose to take as a 9th grader. How can you achieve your target scores? That all depends on how much you prepare.Read on for a few tips for prepping for the PSAT leading up to freshman year. By prep, I mean studying, not popped collars. How to Prep for the PSAT as a Freshman One of the first steps in getting ready to take the PSAT is defining your target scores. What are you aiming for? What do you hope to score at this point in your education? To figure this out, I recommend taking a timed PSAT practice test. Score your test, and figure out where you're currently scoring and what areas you can improve in. For a lot of freshmen, the math section might be especially challenging with new concepts and problems. To get yourself ready, you could seek out PSAT practice materials and self-teach or get tutored in the new concepts and vocabulary you'll need to know. By finding your areas of strength and weakness, you can adjust your studying to meet your own individual needs. Official PSAT practice tests and sample questions are the best representation of what you'll see on the test. You can also use older practice tests to prep, as well as practice tests for the new SAT, as the exams will be very similar. When you score them, write down any mistakes you made or questions you're unsure about. Taking the time to thoroughly understand and correct your mistakes is the best way to ensure you answer similar questions correctly the next time. The PSAT is a national standardized test, so even when the specifics change, the question types generally stay the same test after test. By thoroughly studying question type and format, you can gain a strong familiarity with the commonly asked questions. You may even reach the point where you feel that your official PSAT is very similar to practice tests you've already taken. The PSAT is challenging for its content, the complex wording of questions, and the strict time limits. By timing yourself as you practice, you'll improve your ability to answer questions quickly and efficiently. You can try out strategies of speed reading and skimming for key content, as well as how to identify and fix grammar rules fast. While there may be some content that you just haven't studied in school yet, all this studying will at least help your test-taking skills. You'll get better at working quickly under time limits, applying time-saving strategies, like process of elimination, and handling the pressure of taking College Board exams. Even if you decide not to take the PSAT as a freshman, it's a great idea to start early with a PSAT practice test to gauge your level, map out your study plan, and familiarize yourself with the test. By the time you reach junior year, you'll be prepared to take the PSAT NMSQT when it counts for National Merit and ultimately, the SAT. What's Next? Are you deciding between the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT NMSQT? Read all about the PSAT 8/9 here and whether or not you should take it at this point in high school. In sophomore year, you might also be considering the PSAT 10. This guide explains what this College Board exam is all about, while this article discusseswhether you should take the PSAT 10 or the PSAT NMSQT. Are you starting to think about SAT prep? Read all about if you should start prepping for the SAT as a freshman or what a good freshman SAT score would be. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Literature - Essay Example In other stories, particularly children’s books, setting hardly plays any role at all. The setting of three short stories – Ernest Hemingway's  Soldier's Home, Colette's  The Hand  and Katherine Mansfield's  Miss Brill  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ will be discussed in this essay. I will look at the public and private aspects of each setting to show that even when setting is not integral to the plot, it can reveal important truths about the characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soldier's Home, from its very title, alerts us to the setting of the story (Meyer). However, it is not so much the physical positioning of the story that the title refers to as a genuine philosophical question, which can be asked of anyone whose travels irrevocably change them, war or no war: when a person changes, how can their home still be good enough?  The Hand, alternately, is one of those stories mentioned above in which the setting is almost irrelevant, as the action is a lmost entirely internal, externally restricted to the couple's bed. In  Miss Brill, the protagonist focuses on and is enchanted by the setting. The three authors imbue their setting with different levels of importance: the seaside park features as a place of enjoyment in Miss Brill's routine, and her presence there directly causes the climax of the plot.  Krebs' house in  Soldier's Home  exacerbates his feeling of despair without actually causing it; Colette's protagonist remains unaware of her physical surroundings as she focuses exclusively on her new husband's â€Å"monstrous† hand (reference). In each story there is a public setting and a private setting. This essay will define these settings for each story before contrasting the ways in which this literary device is used.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1925, Ernest Hemingway published a collection of short stories called  In Our Time, one story of which was  Soldier's Home. This story features Krebs, a young man who returns to America from World War I in 1919, a year after the war has ended and long after other local soldiers have returned home. He â€Å"did not want to leave Germany† (Hemingway), and now feels like an outsider. The public and private dichotomy of settings in  Soldier's Home  is complicated, because Krebs experiences degrees of privacy: in his bedroom, he admits to himself that â€Å"he did not really need a girl†; when on the front porch, he â€Å"liked to look at them† but when in town, â€Å"their appeal to him was not very strong† (Hemingway). In the privacy of his bedroom and the pool room, Krebs can escape the changes and simply  be, thoughtlessly. In the public areas of his house and the local town, he must  come face-to-face with manifestations of  how the war changed him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the settings beyond his private bedroom, Krebs is unable to handle other pe ople, their needs and personalities. He is unable to participate in a romantic relationship because he â€Å"did not want any consequences† – the German and French girls, possibly prostitutes, with whom he fraternized in Europe characterize â€Å"simple† relationships (Hemingway). This crisis runs so deeply within him that, in the kitchen, he tells his mother that he does not love her, by which he means he cannot love anyone. The war has taken so much of him that he cannot deal with other people.   

Trompenaars. Leading Change and Organizational Culture Essay

Trompenaars. Leading Change and Organizational Culture - Essay Example Thereafter, Trompenaars points out the common mistakes that are made by managers while dealing with culturally diverse workforces. The first one, according to him, is that most organisations still consider cultural issues secondary, and give them less priority on the belief that culture has nothing to do with the main business transaction (Craven). According to Trompenaars, if cultural issues are to be tackled, it is necessary to identify the origin of cultural values. Then only the organisations can develop effective norms and values. In other words, simply learning the norms and values of a culture will not help solve the issue. The second mistake, according to Trompenaars, is that organisations do not identify culture as a compliance issue. However, he reminds the fact that if cultural issues are not identified and solved, it can even lead to legal disputes. In the opinion of Trompenaars, in the 21st century, it is necessary for organisations to develop transcultural competence, which means the competence to reconcile dilemmas or to integrate opposites (Craven). At this point is wise to see what Levine, Phipps, and Blythe prefer to say about cultural differences. According to Levine, Phipps, and Blythe (16), linguistic and cultural pluralism is more than the mere coexistence of different languages; and it is about transcultural circulation of values across borders, the negotiation of identities, the inversions, even inventions of meaning, often concealed by a common illusion of effective communication. Trompenaars points out the fact that the currently available leadership literature is regionally biased. He gives the example of English, French, and Chinese literatures. It is pointed out that there is the need for more works on multi-cultural teams. In other words, the new leadership should transcend culture. According to Trompenaars, to effectively handle cross-cultural diversity, it is necessary to adopt reconciliation. According to Trompenaars, the first step of reconciliation is to let others be themselves. In simple terms, reconciliation is the understanding of how the perspectives of other cultures can help ones own culture. In others words, reconciliation calls for the fusion of two extremes; considering and accommodating the other culture. Trompenaars point out the fact that there are different ways of dealing with other cultures; ignoring other cultures, abandoning ones own culture, and reconciliation. In his words, in the modern world of business, an important factor for success of organisations is their ability to ‘celebrate differences’. In the opinion of Trompenaars, cultural is not a secondary entity, but is the contextual environment around all transactions in an organisation; financial, market, political, and technological. According to him, the success or future performance of an organ isation is no more identified based on its financial performance, but on its ability to handle local cultures. So, he proposes Process Principle Optimization based on five major principles instead of the usual ROI. The five principles, according to him, are corporate effectiveness, the client, the employee, the shareholder, and societal responsibility. So, according to him, the modern businesses should seek ways to improve their local learning so that they can increase their global access. In other words, in the modern business world, integration of values helps organisations ensure sustainable business performance for the long term. 2. According to Trompenaars, the modern leadership and management, to be effective, should have transcultural

Critique 3 peer reviewed literature review nursing journals Essay - 1

Critique 3 peer reviewed literature review nursing journals - Essay Example arch focuses on the topic: For patients in a home setting with wounds, does use of tap water to cleanse wound affect rate of infection and healing compared to use of normal saline to cleanse wounds in a month period. Riting Fernandez (2004) espoused that potable tap water is a good alternative for cleaning wounds in the home environment, based on clinical home trials. Likewise, the same research shows that the use of saline solutions that include Povidine Iodine solutions is an effective cleansing solution for contaminated wounds. The literature review reveals an obvious gap in knowledge or a conflict in what is currently known. The literature shows that there is confusion as to which is a better wound cleansing alternative in the home environment, in terms of the use of tap water or saline solutions. The literature review strongly supports the hypotheses or research question. The literature indicates that more research will increase current nursing assessment knowledge. The three journal literatures emphasize the effectiveness of the two wound cleansing alternatives. The three journals offer convincing evidences to affirm their wound cleanings findings. The literature shows different researches on the topic. The research literature shows that the additional literature is indeed to update the current nursing assessment knowledge on wound cleansing. Additional literature delves on supporting tap water and saline solutions to clean wounds. Nursing skills research also shows that the nurses must incorporate additional knowledge on other wound cleansing methods. The overall value in the literature review. The overall value of the literature in developing the knowledge database to implement the research equates to ensuring the correct acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis. Lack to research material may wrongly create a false rejection of the hypothesis. In the same light, the lackluster gathering of literature may trigger the wrong acceptance of the right

Chronic Urinary Tract Infections Treatment Case Nursing Essay

Chronic Urinary Tract Infections Treatment Case Nursing Essay RP, a 72-year-old Caucasian female, was brought to the emergency room (E.R) from Hillcrest Adult Foster Care via ambulance. Preadmission report to F-300 stated that she came to E.R confused, lethargic and weak, complaining of acute pain upon urination. She also urinated small amounts ( Upon arrival to F-300 RPs labs revealed significantly lowered thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH), a lowered red blood cell (RBC) count, along with decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit (HH). Her white blood (WBC) count was elevated, as expected with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Primary Diagnosis and Priority Secondary diagnosis The primary medical diagnosis was chronic urinary tract infections, with a secondary diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Patient History RP has a history of chronic UTIs, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease (stage III), and chronic anemia. She has several admissions the past few months related mainly to UTIs and dehydration. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY/ETILOGY OF THE PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS AND PRIORITY SECONDARY DIAGNOSIS UTIs are the results of infection, mainly from bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. This leads to a condition referred to as cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). Most common of the UTIs are from infection known as infectious cystitis. A bacterium, the most common cause of infectious cystitis, is from the external urethra, this spreads inwards to the bladder (distal to proximal). Once a bacterium migrates to the bladder and starts the process of growing, it can migrate to other parts of the body (Ignatavicius Workman, 2006). UTIs present with symptoms that include frequency, urgency, retention, burning, foul odor, and incontinence. According to Wikipedia, four stages must be met in order for bacteria to grow. These include an infectious agent, one that must be able to grow, multiply and enter the body. Once we have the agent, the bacteria must find a portal of entry, (how it enters the body). Once in the body it needs an adequate reservoir, a place where organisms can thrive and multiply and the susceptibility of host, how bacteria affects the body after entry. Determents include age, overall health and other co-morbidities of the host and the susceptibility to pathogens. Most UTIs first grow in the perineal area due to irritation; in RPs case this may have been caused by lack of personal hygiene due to being overly fatigued, brought on by her hypothyroidism. Minton (2009) stated, Thyroid is the most important hormone in the body. Because it stimulates the production of cellular energy, production of all other hormones will be negatively impacted when thyroid hormone levels are less than optimal. Every aspect of health is affected by low thyroid function. Hypothyroidism is signaled by fatigue and loss of energy. According to textbook, hypothyroidism is the result of decreased metabolism from low levels of thyroid hormones (THs). Low levels of THs may be a result of several different reasons: thyroid cells may fail to produce sufficient amounts, or the cells themselves are damaged. The patient may not be ingesting enough of the substances needed to make THs, especially iodide and tyrosine. Low levels of THs affect most tissue and organs causing decreased cellular energy. The patient could become confused, lethargic, and have slowing of intellectual functions. ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL IMPACT OF RELEVANT MEDICAL HISTORY ON THE PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS AND PRIORITY SECONDARY DIAGNOSIS RP has a history of chronic UTIs that has caused numerous admits to the hospital over the last few months. UTIs that are left untreated may and can cause damage to the kidneys and start the process of renal failure. Chronic infection of the kidneys causes scar tissue, which decreases the function of the renal system. With renal failure, the body cannot rid itself of certain toxins that may contribute to UTIs. Chronic UTIs may lead to chronic pyelonephritis, repeated upper tract infection of bacteria that migrates from the bladder superior (toward the kidney) to the kidneys. RPs diagnosis of chronic renal failure may be heightened by the chronic UTIs. Hypothyroidism and anemia, that cause fatigue and loss of energy, will discourage you from providing adequate hygiene. This encourages bacterial growth, which may start the chain of events leading up to a UTI. RP resides at an extended care facility that may not have adequate staff to assure that she receives the necessary amounts of iodide and tyrosine needed stimulate TH production. She is also very confused which would decrease her understanding of the importance of proper nutritional intake. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT: CHRONIC URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS And Hypothyroidism A urine sample must be obtained either by a clean catch method or if client unable, by straight catheter method. A catheter method was used on RP, due to her confusion and retention. Urinalysis testing for leukocyte esterase (n=negative) and nitrate (n=none), along with a WBC (n= 0-4) are specifically for diagnosis of a UTIs (Mosbys 2006). Normal urine should appear clear with a yellow tint present (Mosbys 2006). A noticeable smell should not be present in uninfected urine; RPs urine had a pungent odor noted. RPs leukocyte esterase was 3+ and her nitrate was positive. WBCs were to numerous to count. These results determined that RP did have a UTI. Blood work was noted that RPs thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 0.05 (n=2-10). This confirmed the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. NURSING MANAGEMENT: URINARY TRACT INFECTION Recommended textbook intervention is to monitor for signs of UTIs. This includes, but not limited to: frequency, urgency, dysuria, incontinence, pyuria. In some older adults the only sign may be an increase in mental confusion or frequent, unexplained falls. RP was on Q-4 hour vital sign assessment, paying close attention to any increase in temperature and/or heart rate. The patient remained afebrile throughout admission. Heart rate remained between 80-90 beats per minute. Respiratory rate remained between 16-20 breaths per minute. Due to her confusion, bed alarms and padded side rails were used. She had a high fall risk assessment; therefore fall risk precautions were implemented upon admission. She was placed on strict intake and output (IO), and her fluids were monitored. She was instructed to drink required amount of fluid per day (1500ml). Staff member offered bedside commode every two hours to encouraging voiding. She and family members were informed as to the importance of RP to remain dry. This will limit the environmental factors needed for bacterial growth. RN (preceptor) communicated with adult foster care on the needs of the client after discharge. Lab results were also monitored closely for any change that would indicate worsening infection. PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT: URINARY TRACT INFECTION AND HYPOTHYROIDISM Textbook recommends medications that treat bacteria and the promotion of client comfort. Cure is dependent on the antibiotic level achieved in the urine. Long-term antibiotic therapy is recommended for chronic UTIs (Ignatavicius Workman, 2006). RP received, via intravenous therapy (IV), Azactam (antibiotic) per Dr. order, to treat her infection. Paroxetine mesylate (antianxiety agent, antidepressant) 30 mg by mouth daily, used to decrease anxiety. Also given Levothyroxine (hormone) as a thyroid supplement. PROVIDER AND MANAGER ROLE: NURSING CARE PLAN Priority Nursing Diagnosis P Impaired urinary elimination R Incontinence due to urinary tract infection C Acute lower tract pain 7/10 upon urination, Priority Patient Goal The patient will be able to state absence of pain or excessive urination by discharge AEB: Pain upon urination 0/10, Decreased urge to void, Empting bladder completely Three Priority Nursing Interventions The nurse will monitor patient for incomplete emptying of bladder by using bladder scan post void. The nurse will encourage patient to drink water at each meal. The nurse will instruct patient on the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Evaluation of Progress toward Patient Goal The patient was able to recite some signs of UTIs to nurse. She recognized pain on urination and foul odor as signs of an infection. The patient was reluctant to drink water at any one time. She continued to have incontinent periods, but this was less frequent on day of discharge. The patient partially met the goals put forth for her. PROVIDER AND MANAGER ROLE Member of the discipline and the Role of the Multi-Disciplinary Team As a member of the discipline I was inclined to have verbal interactions with the ER staff before RP had arrived to F-300. Consulted with housekeeping to assure the RPs room was cleaned and ready for admission. Ward clerk assured that tests were ordered. Dietician was consulted to help with nutritional needs. Discharged planner made transportation arrangement to return patient to long care facility. Social worker discussed local community resources of support with the family. Provider of Care Role As provider of care for this patient, I kept this patient cleaned and dry when incontinent. I utilized the fall risk precautions to provided safety. Implemented steps to encourage patient to accept and understand a bladder training routine. Monitored patient labs and reported abnormal results to the doctor. Manager of Care Role As manager of care I evaluated the client for her fall risk and implemented fall risk precautions. Delegated the placement of bed alarms and tabs to the LPN assigned to us. My preceptor and I discussed the possible ways to teach client prevention of developing UTIs. Collaborated with nursing home staff on ways to improve clients care at extended care facility. Growth in the Manager of Care Role In completing these tasks I was able to see the complete picture of the patient. I was educated on the disease process and the effect other co-morbidities had on providing an environment that encourages an infection. In caring for RP I was able to developed and strengthen my delegating skills, learning to rely on others and not solely on myself.

Deviancy in Society Essay -- essays research papers fc

There are many different kinds of deviancy in today’s society. In this essay I will tell you the meaning of deviance, the different kinds of deviancy, the biological, social, and psychological factors on deviant behavior, and how they differ from each other. According to James M. Henslin, Editor of Down to Earth Sociology, â€Å"For society to exist, people must be able to know what to expect of others.† â€Å"People develop norms to provide regularity to social life.† â€Å"Deviancy is the violation of these rules and expectations.† So according to Mr. Henslin, we all have deviant tendencies in us at some point in our lives. We all violate rules and expectations others have created whether it is a minor or large-scale offense. In today’s society, the word deviant is used very commonly and its meaning becomes distorted. People might associate the word deviant with being twisted, nasty, or perverted. â€Å"Deviance is not a term for negative judgment.† It just means anyone to violate the expectations of others. The norms that we create cover three basic aspects of human behavior: our appearance, manner, and conduct. The rules of appearance and manner, if broken, are usually called civil disobedience and conduct is usually called criminal disobedience. The first major type of deviance that will be mentioned is against the appearance norm. The expectations of appearance concerns clothing, make-up, hairstyle, and other â€Å"social extensions of a person.† There are even certain expectations on things...

Segmentation, Targeting & Positioning

University of Zimbabwe Graduate School of Management *Marketing Ma*nagement Question: Kotler (1988) has stated that: â€Å"The heart of modern strategic marketing can be described as STP – segmenting, targeting and positioning. ’’ Discuss this statement using appropriate examples. Introduction Market segmentation By definition market segmentation is the division of a market into different groups of customers with similar needs. Or to express it in another way, market segmentation is the division of a mass market into identifiable and distinct groups or segments, and each has common characteristics and needs and displays similar response to marketing actions. ‘’In essence it is the process of dividing a varied and differing group of buyers or potential buyers into smaller groups, within which broadly similar patterns of buyers exist. ’’ (Wilson and Gilligan, 2007, p. 318). There are several ways in which companies can segment their markets. Just as you can divide an orange up into segments you can divide the population as a whole into different groups of people or segments that have something in common. Marketers therefore look for variables they can use to divide up the population. According to Kotler (1997) the commonly used variables are: Geographic segmentation, demographic segmentation, psychographic segmentation and behavioural segmentation. Products can be aimed at a lifestyle. People are grouped according to the way they lead their lives and the attitudes they share. For example, young professionals may drive a sports car because of the image they want to portray. Married parents might want the same things, but have to provide for their children, which is a large extra cost. They will need a family car to suit their lifestyle. Thus you will find a couple that has just married and have no children, will go for a Mazda 3, while older couples with three or so children will go for a Mazda BT-50 because it is bigger and can accommodate the whole family. However the range and variety of marketing decisions suggest that any attempt to use a single basis for segmentation may result in incorrect marketing decisions as well as a waste of resources. Thus increasingly today you will find marketing strategies combining two or more basis for segmentation of their market. TARGETING Once the firm is satisfied that the segments warrants attention there are various ways in which a firm can then target a market. The first is a single product offering. In other words, the marketer targets a single product offering at a single segment in a market with many segments. For example, British Airway’s Concorde is a high value product aimed specifically at business people and tourists willing to pay more for speed. Identifying marketing targets enables organisations to find opportunities and tap into them. It gives firms the information needed to focus on the buyers that are interested in what they have to offer. This saves both time and money in an ever-changing society. However if you pursue one segment of your target market and the demand for your product decreases, so will your financial strength. In essence, you are putting all your eggs in one basket. When your firm becomes well established in a particular market segment, it may be difficult for you to move to another segment. This may occur due to your market reputation or popularity. For example, if Lorimark HR Consultants becomes known for helping college graduates find jobs, unemployed professionals may perceive them as only having the expertise to serve that market. Another downside of target marketing may that a large segment of the population may be left out in the cold. Though demographics and segmentation might give an overall view of the intended market, consumer spending habits change greatly, depending on trends and economic factors. With society taking on more of a unisex lifestyle businesses should be careful when using for example gender to target market. An example of a product that was traditionally targeted at women and is now being targeted with variations in strategy at men is hair colouring. Men now pay particular attention to their hair in much the same way as woman. Thus target marketing should be done with extra care taking into account all factors that may have an effect on the organization’s profitability and the perception or position it wants to create in the market. POSITIONING Thus positioning is all about perception and is inextricably linked to segmentation. It cannot be defined until the market has been divided into unique segments, and target segments have been selected. As perception differs from person to person, so do the results of the positioning map. Positioning reflects the â€Å"place† a product occupies in a market or segment. A successful position has characteristics that are both differentiating and important to consumers and the characteristic may or may not reflect reality. A position is effectively built by communicating a consistent message to consumers about the product and where it fits into the market in terms of the features, performance, quality, conformance, durability, reliability, style and design — through advertising, brand name, and packaging and all the other elements of marketing mix. Kotler, 1997, p. 301) For years OK Zimbabwe has constantly and consistently bombarded the minds of consumers’ with the message ‘†¦. where your money buys you more. ’ Thereby creating in the mind of the consumer that OK has the best prices and your dollar with OK can take you a long way. Another example w ill be that of Colgate and Surf by Unilever, these products are stuck in the minds of consumers (positioned), such that if someone is buying any other toothpaste or washing powder, not necessarily Colgate or surf, they will still refer to the product as Colgate or surf respectively. It is ‘the’ product in mind of the consumers. That is positioning. What is our current position? What does the space look like – what are the most important dimensions in the category? What are the other products in that space and where are they? What are the gaps, unfilled positions or ‘holes’ in the category? Which dimensions are most important? How do these attitudes differ by market segment? What position do we want to have? Some of the positioning opportunities for a product include: Finding an unmet consumer needs – or at least one that is not being adequately met now by completion? Identifying product strength that is both unique and important. Determining how to correct a product weakness and thereby enhance a product’s appeal. For example Ponds â€Å"new and improved†. Changing consumer usage patterns to include different or additional uses for the product. Identifying market segments, which represent the best targets for a product. How do we create a new positioning? Physical product differences. Communications- finding a memorable and meaningful way to describe the Positioning is not what you do to a product; ‘positioning is what you do to the mind of the prospect’. (www. s-m-a-r-t. com/Exp_brandpros. ) Accessed 3 September 2009. Other questions that the marketer should contend with in terms of positioning are: whom do I have to defeat to own the position, do I have the resources to do it, can I persist until I get there and are my tactics supporting the positioning objectives I have set. The positioning map below will show how the motor industry positions their products in the market. Positioning map: +High (price) From the above positioning map it can be concluded that products tend to bunch in the high price/low economy (fast) sector and also in the low price/high economy sector. There is an opportunity in the low price/low economy (fast) sector. Maybe Hyundai or Kia can consider introducing a low cost sport saloon. However it is all down to the perception of the market about the product. Conclusion Undertaking a Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning process is probably one of the most important processes management should undertake both at the onset of a new offer creation as well as part of a periodic revision of the portfolio of offers and strategies used by organization. A market research is always the starting point in the STP process; otherwise the organizations resources will be misdirected. References: Aaker A. David, (1995). Strategic Market Management, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Armstrong J. Scott, (2006). Strategic Marketing Management – A Business Process Approach. Brand pros available at http/www. s-m-a-r-t. com/Exp_brandpros. Accessed 3 September 2009. Grahame Dowling, (2004). Creating Corporate Reputation. Identity, Image and performance. Oxford University Press Inc. Kotler P, (1997). Marketing Management, Analysis, Planning, Implementation and Control, 9TH Edition, Prentice Hall. Malcolm H. B. McDonald, (1996) Marketing Plans, How to prepare them how use them, 3rd Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann. Wilson and Gilligan

Prohibition and Organized Crime essays

Prohibition and Organized Crime essays In October 1919, congress voted and approved the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment by thirty-six states and turned it into law as the National Prohibition Act of 1920 just one year later. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, transport, import or export of alcoholic beverages. The Eighteenth Amendment is comprised of three main sections: 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited 2. The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress. So how did it happen? How did a liberty loving people decide to give up a private right that had been used by millions all over the country since the first settlers arrived? Why would they solicit the extinction of the fifth largest industry in the nation? Interestingly enough, why would the new Eighteenth Amendment be the first to restrict citizens when the first seventeen limited government? Now there were two exceptions to the great Amendments: you couldnt buy alcohol and you couldnt own slaves. 2. Prohibition changed the way people lived and in the end redefined the role of government and how it began to dictate the lives of its constituents. Big Brother is not a recent phenomenon but one that began almost one hundred years ago during the time of Prohibition. George Washington himself was quoted as saying The benefits arising from moderate ...

Almost Famous essays

Almost Famous essays Directed and written by Cameron Crowe Starring Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee and Frances McDormand Cameron Crowe views his life and experiences of his mid teen years as a rock critic for Rolling Stone Magazine, whom he shows through the eyes of his alter-ego, William Miller (who is played by Patrick Fugit), in the critically acclaimed film, "Almost Famous." William follows around a "mid level band struggling with their own limitations in the harsh face of stardom." which is known as "Stillwater." This movie follows "Stillwater" showing everything William writes about and Sees, and shows the life of 70's Rock n, Roll in its last drive before being killed by disco. The Setting for the movie was in San Diego in the early 1970's. Williams's sister Anita (Zooey Deschantel) is shown as a "rebel" who believes in everything her mother is against. She causes conflict and problems at home but decides to leave home when she turned 18 to become a stewardess. Williams mother Elaine, whom is a conservative woman, also a very liberal woman, whom "decided to celebrate Christmas on a day in September when she knew it wouldn't be commercialized." Elaine is a very good mother who tries teaching William "the cliff notes on life." She supports his journey even if she didn't agree with them, and helped give an honest statement to a few of the rock and rollers a time or two. She also put William in first grade when he was five, never telling him till he was eleven. He thought he was thirteen. No wonder he had not gone through puberty yet. William, now fifteen is fully in love with the music of Rock and writes articles and submits them to "Creem Magazine" and a few underground papers. He meets up with legendary rock critic and editor of "Creem Magazine," Lester Bangs. Lester teaches William the ropes of being a rock journalist and tells him certain rules to follow and the tr ...

Fifth Section Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fifth Section - Essay Example One-year strategic objectives are to identify a market which most effectively exploited its capabilities, the market for cordless segments, and develop this market. The brand in turn should acquire a distinctive identity. That combination, a system of production which gives the company a particular advantage in its chosen market segment, a world-wide reputation for product quality, and a brand which immediately identifies the aims and aspirations of its customers, will make Able Corporation one of the most profitable manufacturers. Five-year strategic objectives are: (1) to develop innovative products and solution which meet needs of target audience and allow Able Corporation to sustain strong market position; (2) to penetrate new market segments of PEPT; (3) to become a leader in cordless market segment. A ten-year strategic objective include: (1) to transform itself from a medium-ranking company with uncertain future to Europe's leading PEPT producer; (2) to build two plants in Eas tern Asia and (3) to penetrate Asian market; (3) increase market share in 50 % (McDonald, Christopher 2003). Business strategy looks at the relationship between the firm and its competitors, suppliers, and customers in the markets which it has chosen.

Seminar on Marketing Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Seminar on Marketing - Personal Statement Example Again, the key is on strategic planning and execution of the plan. Marketers should be able to draw a specific image of their products or service offerings and be able to implement them efficiently. For a typical customer like me, it never occurred to me that marketers are designing each touch point in order to create the brand image that they desire. Yes, I have had spent countless hours chatting and socializing with colleagues at Starbucks but never really understood how the specialty coffee retailer orchestrate everything in order for me to enjoy my stay and differentiate itself from another coffee house like Dunkin Donuts. Through the concepts and tools I have learned in class, I am now able to grasp while Starbucks invest in "green coffee beans," why the place really looks laid back, why they don't offer quick meals, and most importantly why their products are priced at least $3 while I can get coffee from McDonalds are less than 50 cents. Marketing has opened a new road to discovery and understanding for a consumer like me. I hope to utilize everything that I have learned from the seminar discussions in my future career.

Low Phonemic Awareness Skills Among Disadvantaged Families Dissertation

Low Phonemic Awareness Skills Among Disadvantaged Families - Dissertation Example Empirical research into language use shows that there exists a wide gap between language use among children from well up families and those from economically disadvantaged families. Most children from disadvantaged families have low phonemic skill awareness compared to those from well up families. The purpose of this research is to identify ways in which the problem of phonemic awareness among children from poor background. The research will use a sample of 50 students from whom phonemic awareness skills will be evaluated. To provide credible conclusions and recommendations, this research will take a quantitative approach. Previous Research Phonemic awareness is a topic that has garnered a lot of attention among researchers in the recent past, owing to the persistent language problem that has indicated phonemic awareness weakness among many students in institutions. Dickinson and McCabe (2004) researched on the existence of phonological problems among children with a bilingual orient ation. The deduction of this statistical survey is that there indeed exist numerous factors that contribute to weakness in language among these students. Among these factors, Dickinson and McCabe (2004) identified that the standards of living played a key role in determining the success of language learning among children. Although this research was not directly designed on measurement of poverty levels, it was possible to outline the link between educated parents and a better economic social status (Koutsoftas, Harmon & Gray, 2009). The major conclusion of this research was that children who were fostered by learned parents had a better phonemic expression. Nichols et al (2004) found that Latino children and children from low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to fail to develop phonemic awareness and concepts in print owing to the fact that they lack preschool experience, causing them to lag behind when compared to children from different ethnicities and better socioeconomi c backgrounds. Latino children are at risk because English is not their first language meaning that they will categorize phonemes in their primary language as that is how their linguistic minds are programmed. Children from these categories are seen to either lack the prior knowledge or misunderstand the instructional discourse, along with the language of the text and teacher, resulting in delayed acquisition of crucial concepts that are in print (McGee & Ukrainetz, 2009). Notably also, findings from this study indicated that gender was not linked to development of phonemic awareness. These students require instructional intervention that looks into their needs and in a broader perspective. McDowell et al (2007) found that children, who undergo early reading challenges, receive less practice than other children, miss opportunities to develop reading comprehension strategies and are likely to have a negative attitude towards reading. Callaghan and Madeleine (2012) attributed the diff erence in phonemic awareness between children from low socio-economic backgrounds and their peers from high or middle socio-economic backgrounds to varying levels of emergent literacy. This variability is in turn explained by previous home environments, level of oral language and provision of good early intervention programs. In contrast, Neuman and Dickinson (2011) suggest that genetic predispositions

Win Some Lose Some Essay Example for Free

Win Some Lose Some Essay Casinos are more and more common in small communities. With this being said small communities are changing into a gambling economy. There are both negative as well as positive impacts of casino gambling on the economy. In some cases the positive aspects outweigh the negative. Casinos are good sources of economic development, creating jobs and providing resources needed to build a better economy. A casino is a good choice as to help with economic development. This is a great way to attract people who bring in revenue. Take the Northern Quest Resort Casino as an example; it is located in Airway Heights which is a small city. A once small town is now popular with the excitement of a casino. Before the casino there was just an airport, and an Air force base. Now that there is a casino there are a lot more stores, housing, and people. The growth of the economy is slowly increasing with Wal Mart, Village Center Cinemas, Spokane County Raceway, and of course the casino. When the casino was created many new jobs and opportunities were made for local people. There were many jobs before the actual casino was open which was construction and after it was built there were numerous jobs inside of the casino. The construction jobs declined once the casino was complete but there were still jobs inside of the building. The Kalispel’s HR department preferred to hire Indians only. The Kalispel Tribe and Northern Quest Resort Casino created approximately 1,600 jobs and about $1.1 million each month in local or locally affiliated goods and services. (Northern) However, the downside of a casino is that the community turns into a gambling economy and there can be negative consequences. State governments continue to have concerns surrounding organized crime’s attraction to Indian gaming. (Native) Residence in the area gets addicted to gambling, to the thought of winning big. Gamblers have the belief that if they keep playing then they will win. Addiction makes people do irresponsible things. Debt is major problem when it comes to gambling. People will go as far as theft, embezzlement, or even suicide. These actions make for a broken family. Counseling is the best way to go for a gambler’s addiction. In the end it all comes down to the people in the community and their own choices they make. Choosing whether to gamble or not is entirely up to them. They have the right to do whatever they please and do whatever is best for them. It also presents problems in neighboring communities. In the result of the casino local industries had lost business due to the competition. For example The Davenport hotel had lost numerous guests to the Northern Quest Casino after they added the hotel. (Kamstra) Local businesses are losing revenue due to the casino but in a way the casino is actually bringing in more people than before. The revenue has grown rapidly and the combined revenues of all gaming enterprises in the United States are reported to be on the order of $75 billion per year. (Henson) The casino has a tremendous profit and where is the money going? The Northern Quest Casino is owned by the Kalispel tribe of Indians, money then goes back to the tribe. A wellness center was built not too long ago with the funds. If Kalispel tribal members wish to go to college then the tuition is fully paid for through the tribe. The Kalispel tribe also provides financial support to regional nonprofit organizations; they have donated over $5 million so far. The Kalispel Charitable Fund focuses on education, health care, arts culture, social services and environment conservation in the Spokane and Pend Oreille counties. The Northern Quest Resort Casino partners with the Harvest food bank to help fight hunger in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The revenue from the casino also goes into the local community, schools, police, and produces tax revenue to keep the casino there. The casino mainly brings money into the government, charities, and workers. (Charitable) Luckily the Northern Quest Casino is not far from the Spokane International Airport, this means that many traveling people can stop by during a layover and try their luck. Along with all of the gamblers there are people who would want to see the scenes or come for events taken place at the casino. The Northern Quest Casino has a hotel, a club, sporting events. They put on concerts and pow wows as well. Events like these bring in many crazed fans and many Native Americans. During European colonization Native Americans’ lives were changed. Native Americans lost their land, caught diseases, and were forced to do many things. They were forced to assimilate and were forced to convert to Christianity. They basically lost everything, including their freedom. In a way people owe it to Native Americans to let them evolve as a sovereign nation and improve their economies. For once Native Americans are at their best. Gaming is giving Native Americans their tribal economic independence. Native American tribes have come a long way with becoming a sovereign nation compared to the past, they get to set their own gambling regulations and have their own casinos. As of mid-2006, 224 of the 561 federally recognized tribes operated gaming operated gaming enterprises. (Henson) The Spokane tribe of Indians located in Wellpinit is one tribe that is trying to get their economy going. They currently have two casinos, three gas stations, camping grounds, an amphitheater, and a marina where boat houses can be rented out. One casino is located on the reservation and the other is located in Chewelah. Their goal is to have a successful casino in Airway height just like the Northern Quest casino sometime soon. The Spokane Indians put on many events throughout the year such as Jam Fest, Native American Heritage Day, Poker Run, art auctions, many pow wows, and they put on concerts every weekend during the summer at the amphitheater. The growth in the number of Indian nations having gaming enterprises is increasing. This industry keeps evolving as tribes with services expand. Casinos have definitely brought in many rewards and benefits to the tribes and surrounding areas. Works Cited Charitable Fund. Kalispel Tribe. 2009. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. . Davis, Mary B. Native America in the Twentieth Century: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Pub., 1994. Print. Henson, Eric C. The State of the Native Nations: Conditions under U.S. Policies of Self-determination : The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. New York: Oxford UP, 2008. Print. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians ‘ website gives a great example of the good of having a casino which is they give to a charity. Kamstra, Brooke. Personal interview. 17 Feb. 2012. I felt it was suitable to put that the casino has been a competition ever since it added a hotel. The personal interview was from an employee at The Davenport hotel. Northern Quest Resort Casino. Kalispel Tribe. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. .

Characteristics Of Globalisation Economics Essay

Characteristics Of Globalisation Economics Essay Since the early 1960s a large number of theories on foreign direct investment(FDI) have emerged. This proliferation was to a large extent, due to Hymer (1976),and the subsequent recognition that FDI is a manifestation of market imperfection and firm specific advantages. This is the implicit and explicit assumption in most modern theories. The multiplicity of factors involved in production,combined with barriers to the free movement of goods and services, together with the differences in production environment, are all reasons for also been an increasing number of studies regarding other modes of foreign investment. These new forms of FI activities such as join venture , licensing, franchising, etc seem to have taken on an increasingly important role in recent years everywhere, including developing countries (Oman,1984). Foreign direct investment (FDI ) is the vehicle by which firms achieve their strategic objectives. Accompany must posses some asset such as product and process technology or management and marketing skills that can be used beneficially in the foreign affiliate in order to invest in production in foreign markets. According to Kindleberger(1969) , For direct investment to thrive there must be some imperfection in markets for goods or factors, including among the latter technology. Or some interference in competition by government or by firms, which separates markets. The industrialized nations have remained the major contributor as well as the major recipient of FDI though FDI flows to the developing world have more than doubled between 1990 and 1999 . According to Chakrabarti (2002) in 1999 , nearly 58percent of 30 global FDI flows went to the industrial countries ,37 per cent to developing countries , and just 5 per cent to the transition economies of eastern Europe. FDI embodies two typical assets : first ,capital and second ,technology or a number of intangible advantages. So, FDI is more likely to be important in industries with significant firm-specific ,intangible ,knowledge-based assets. Foreign direct investment contributes most to the development process whn affiliate is wholly owned and fully integrated into the global operations of the parent company. Once the parent investors commit themselves to incorporate the output from host country into a larger strategy to meet global or regional competition-there is evidence of a dynamic integration effect, which provides newer technology , more rapid technological upgrading ,and closer positioning along the frontier of best management practises and highest industry standards , than any other methods for the host economy to acquire such benefits. There is evidence of more intensive coaching for supplier in quality control, managerial efficiency , and marketing than any other means for firms in the local econom y to gain these skills (Nunuez,1990). FDI will improve competitiveness and, thus, create employment and increase the welfare of the host nation (Dunning, 1994). This is a result of inward investment increasing the number of entrants in the indigenous industry which forces all competitor firms in the industry to become more competitive by reducing costs and improving efficiency and quality. Much FDI activity is achieved by way of a joint venture between a foreign company and an indigenous company and this may bring advantages such as risk diversification, capital requirement reductions and lower start-up costs (Perlmutter and Heenan, 1986). Indirect impact will manifest itself in the creation of spillovers and linkages typically in suppliers and customers whereas the dynamic impact will affect the competitive environment. Inward investment is likely to stimulate the production of global competitors in the recipient country (UN,1995). Market size and growth, barriers to trade, wages, production, transportation and other costs, political stability, psychic distance and host governments trade and taxation regulations, performance requirements, cultural distance, GDP per capita and infrastructure are factors affecting FDI location (Dunning, 1993). While economic growth, and technology transfer to the host country are important consequences of FDI, development of technological infrastructure and human capital are critical prerequisites, and so antecedents for FDI (Noorbakhsh and Paloni, 2001). Moreover, while psychic distance has been pertinent so far in FDI decisions (UNCTAD, 1997; UN, 1998), its importance might gradually reduce with increasing globalization and development of new/digital economy. According to Sethi et al. (2002 p. 701), institutional and strategic factors into theory . . . need to be considered in tandem to explain the change in trend of FDI flows. The inflow of FDI includes a raise in the production base, the introduction of new skills and technologies and the creation of employment. Foreign investors increase productivity in host countries and FDI is often a catalyst for domestic investment and technological progress. Increased competition associated with the entry of an MNE upgrades the competence and product quality in national companies, and opens up possibilities for export (Ahn and Hemmings, 2000).

Anton Chekhovs Selected Stories :: Selected Stories Essays

Anton Chekhov is a master at showing aspects of real life; how fed up people are, how it really is without the everyday pleasantries, and how exploitable people are by one another. Chekhov uses these three aspects with great mastery to show his form of real life in his "Selected Stories." Chekhov shows how fed up people are with one another in his short story the "Jailer Jailed." This story is about a man, who is a prosecuting attorney, is actually living in his own jail; being married to his wife who lets him do nothing but wait on her hand and foot. "I understand what it means to be in jail!" This quote explains just how the man feels living his life the way he is. The above is a direct example in life as how fed up people are. It just makes weird sense that a man with so much power with people doesn't have a prayer with his wife. "Milksop" is another one of Chekhov's stories showing how real life is, but this particular one depicts life without its pleasantries. This story is about a reporter who wants to be invited to this prestigious party but can't go because he works for the press. This shows real life without its pleasantries. Because the man couldn't get into the party because he was a reporter, his public power failed him. "A Nincompoop" also shows real life as Chekhov sees it, but this particular one depicts how exploitable people are by one another. This story begins with a women's payday. But, to her surprise her employer starts to deduct for things she has broken and for other dumb reasons. When he gets all done all she is left with is eleven out of sixty rubles. But she takes them gladly anyway. Then her employer asks if she thinks this is fair, and she agrees. Then her employer says that she is stupid and gives her the

A Memory For All Seasonings Essay

Memory is one of the most important functions of the mind. Without our memories, we would have no identity, no individuality. The following article is about a mnemonist, a person with an extraordinary power of remembering. The title includes a pun, a form of humor based on a play on words. The usual phrase to describe something constant and dependable is â€Å"for all seasons†; here the phrase is changed to â€Å"for all seasonings.† (Seasonings is another word for spices, such as salt, pepper, and curry.) What hint does this give you about the mnemonist? (Early in the article you will find out.) One evening two years ago, Peter Poison, a member of the psychology department at the University of Colorado, took his son and daughter to dinner at Bananas, a fashionable restaurant in Boulder. When the waiter took their orders, Poison noticed that the young man didn’t write anything down. He just listened, made small talk, told them that his name was John Conrad, and left. Poison didn’t think this was exceptional: There were, after all, only three of them at the table. Yet he found himself watching Conrad closely when he returned to take the orders at a nearby table of eight. Again the waiter listened, chatted, and wrote nothing down. When he brought Poison and his children their dinners, the professor couldn’t resist introducing himself and telling Conrad that he’d been observing him. The young man was pleased. He wanted customers to notice that, unlike other waiters, he didn’t use a pen and paper. Sometimes, when they did notice, they left him q uite a large tip. He had once handled a table of nineteen complete dinner orders without a single error. At Bananas, a party of nineteen (a bill of roughly $200) would normally leave the waiter a $35 tip. They had left Conrad $85. Poison was impressed enough to ask the waiter whether he would like to come to the university’s psychology lab and let them run some tests on him. Anders Ericsson, a young Swedish psychologist recently involved in memory research, would be joining the university faculty soon, and Poison thought that he would be interested in exploring memory methods with the waiter. Conrad said he would be glad to cooperate. He was always on the lookout for ways to increase his income, and Poison  told him he would receive $5 an hour to be a guinea pig. Conrad, of course, was not the first person with an extraordinary memory to attract attention from researchers. Alexander R. Luria, the distinguished Soviet psychologist, studied a Russian newspaper reporter named Shereshevskii for many years and wrote about him in The Mind of a Mnemonist (Basic Books, 1968). Luria says that Shereshevskii was able to hear a series of fifty words spoken once and recite them back in perfect order fifteen years later. Another famous example of extraordinary memory, the conductor Arturo Toscanini, was known to have memorized every note for every instrument in 250 symphonies and 100 operas. For decades the common belief among psychologists was that memory was a fixed quantity; an exceptional memory, or a poor one, was something with which a person was born. This point of view has come under attack in recent years; expert memory is no longer universally considered the exclusive gift of the genius, or the abnormal. â€Å"People with astonishing memory for pictures, musical scores, chess positions, business transactions, dramatic scripts, or faces are by no means unique,† wrote Cornell psychologist Ulric Neisser in Memory Observed (1981). â€Å"They may not even be very rare.† Some university researchers, including Poison and Ericsson, go a step further than Neisser. They believe that there are no physiological differences at all between the memory of a Shereshevskii or a Toscanini and that of the average person. The only real difference, they believe, is that Toscanini trained his memory, exercised it regularly, and wanted to improve it. Like many people with his capacity to remember, Toscanini may also have used memory tricks called mnemonics. Shereshevskii, for example, employed a technique known as loci. As soon as he heard a series of words, he mentally â€Å"distributed† them along Gorky Street in Moscow. If one of the words was â€Å"orange,† he might visualize a man stepping on an orange at a precise location on the familiar street. Later, in order to retrieve â€Å"orange,† he would take an imaginary walk down Gorky Street and see the image from which it could easily be recalled. Did the waiter at Bananas have such a system? What was his secret? John Conrad would be the subject of Anders Ericsson’s second in-depth study of the machinations of memory. As a research associate at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Ericsson had spent the previous three years working with William Chase on an extensive study of Steve Faloon, an undergraduate whose memory and intellectual skills were  considered average. When Ericsson and Chase began testing Faloon, he could remember no more than seven random digits after hearing them spoken once. According to generally accepted research, almost everyone is capable of storing five to nine random digits in short-term memory. After twenty months of working with Chase and Ericsson, Faloon could memorize and retrieve eighty digits. â€Å"The important thing about our testing Faloon is that researchers usually study experts,† Chase says. â€Å"We studied a novice and watched him grow into an expert. Initially, we were just running tests to see whether his digit span could be expanded. For four days he could not go beyond seven digits. On the fifth day he discovered his mnemonic system and then began to improve rapidly.† Faloon’s intellectual abilities didn’t change, the researchers say. Nor did the storage capacity of his short-term memory. Chase and Ericsson believe that short-term memory is a more or less fixed quantity. It reaches saturation quickly, and to overcome its limitations one must learn to link new data with material that is permanently stored in long-term memory. Once the associations have been made, the short-term memory is free to absorb new information. Shereshevskii transferred material from short-term to long-term memory by placing words along Gorky Street in Moscow. Faloon’s hobby was long-distance running, and he discovered that he could break down a spoken list of eighty digits into units of three or four and associate most of these with running times. To Faloon, a series like 4 , 0 , 1 ,2 would translate as four mi nutes, one and two-tenths seconds, or â€Å"near a four-minute mile†; 2, 1, 4, 7 would be encoded as two hours fourteen minutes seven seconds, or â€Å"an excellent marathon time.† When running didn’t provide the link to his long-term memory, ages and dates did; 1, 9, 4, 4 is not relevant to running, but it is â€Å"near the end of World War II.† Chase and Ericsson see individual differences in memory performance as resulting from previous experience and mental training. â€Å"In sum,† they write, â€Å"adult memory performance can be adequately described by a single model of memory.† Not every student of psychology agrees with Chase and Ericsson, of course. â€Å"I’m very suspicious of saying that everyone has the same kind of memory,† says Matthew Erdelyi, a psychologist at Brooklyn College. â€Å"In my research,† he says, â€Å"I find that people have very different memory levels. They can all improve, but some levels remain high and some remain low. There are dramatic individual  differences.† It is unlikely that there will be any agreement among psychologists on the conclusions that they have thus f ar drawn from their research. The debate about exceptional memory will continue. But in the meantime it is interesting to look deeper into the mind of a contemporary mnemonist. Ericsson and Poison, both of whom have tested Conrad over the past two years, believe that there is nothing intellectually outstanding about him. When they began testing Conrad’s memory, his digit span was normal: about seven numbers. His grades in college were average. Conrad himself says that he is unexceptional mentally, but he has compared his earliest memories with others’ and has found that he can recall things that many people can’t. His first distinct memory is of lying on his back and raising his legs so that his mother could change his diapers. As a high-school student he didn’t take notes in class—he says he preferred watching the girls take notes—and he has never made a list in his life. â€Å"By never writing down a list of things to do, and letting it think for me,† he says, â€Å"I’ve forced my memory to improve.† Conrad does believe that his powers of observation, including his ability to listen, are keener than most people’s. Memory, he says, is just one part of the whole process of observation. â€Å"I’m not extraordinary, but sometimes people make me feel that way. I watch them and realize how many of them have disorganized minds and memories and that makes me feel unusual. A good memory is nothing more than an organized one.’ One of the first things Conrad observed at Bananas was that the headwaiter, his boss, was â€Å"a very unpleasant woman.† He disliked being her subordinate, and he wanted her job. The only way he could get it was by being a superior waiter. He stayed up nights trying to figure out how to do this; the idea of memorizing orders eventually came to him. Within a year he was the headwaiter. â€Å"One of the most interesting things we’ve found,† says Ericsson, â€Å"is that just trying to memorize things does not insure that your memory will improve. It’s the active decision to get better and the number of hours you push yourself to improve that make the difference. Motivation is much more important than innate ability.† Conrad began his memory training by trying to memorize the orders for a table of two, then progressed to memorizing larger orders. He starts by associating the entree with the customer’s face. He might see a large, heavy-set man and hear â€Å"I’d like a big Boulder Steak.† Sometimes, Peter Poison says, â€Å"John  thinks a person looks like a turkey and that customer orders a turkey sandwich. Then it’s easy.† In memorizing how long meat should be cooked, the different salad dressings, and starches, Conrad relies on patterns of repetition and variation. â€Å"John breaks things up into chunks of four,† Ericsson says. â€Å"If he hears ‘rare, rare, medium, well-done,’ he instantly sees a pattern in their relationship. Sometimes he makes a mental graph. An easy progression—rare, medium-rare, medium, well-done—would take the shape of a steadily ascending line on his graph. A more difficult order—medium, well-done, rare, medium—would resemble a mountain range.† The simplest part of Conrad’s system is his encoding of salad dressings. He uses letters: B for blue cheese; /-/for the house dressing; 0 for oil and vinegar; F for French; T for Thousand Island. A series of orders, always arranged according to entree, might spell a word, like B-O-O-T, or a near-word, like B-O-O-F, or make a phonetic pattern: F-O-F-O. As Ericsson says, Conrad remembers orders, regardless of their size, in chunks of four, This is similar to the way Faloon stores digits, and it seems to support Chase and Ericsson’s contention that short-term memory is limited and that people are most comfortable working with small units of information. One of the most intriguing things about Conrad is the number of ways he can associate material. Another is the speed with which he is able to call it up from memory. Ericsson and Poison have also tested him with animals, units of time, flowers, and metals. At first, his recall was slow and uncertain. But with relatively little practice, he could retrieve these â€Å"orders† almost as quickly as he could food. â€Å"The difference between someone like John, who has a trained memory, and the average person,† says Ericsson, â€Å"is that he can encode material in his memory fast and effortlessly. It’s similar to the way you can understand English when you hear it spoken. In our tests in the lab, he just gets better and faster.† â€Å"What John Conrad has,† says Poison, â€Å"is not unlike an athletic skiil. With two or three hundred hours of practice, you can develop these skills in the same way you can learn to play tennis.† (1945 words) I Comprehension Quiz Choose the best way of finishing each statement, based on what you have just  read. 1. The psychology professor discovered John Conrad’s incredible ability to memorize: a. in school b. on a test c. in a restaurant 2. Conrad agreed to let the professor study his memory because: a. Conrad was interested in psychology b. Conrad wanted to increase his income c. Conrad needed to improve his memory 3. The famous Russian mnemonist Shereshevskii used a memory trick called loci to remember objects by: a. associating them with events in Russian history b. imagining them placed along a street in Moscow c. picturing each one in his mind in a different color 4. The memory trick used by Steve Faloon was the association of certain numbers with: a. running times b. important dates c. both the above d. none of the above 5. Conrad had been: a. a gifted student b. a below-average student c. an average student 6. Part of Conrad’s motivation for developing memory tricks to aid him as a waiter was: a. his desire to get his boss’s job b. his great admiration for the headwaiter c. his fear of not finding any work 7. Imagine that four customers have requested that their steaks be cooked in the following way: well-done, medium, medium-rare, rare. According to John Conrad’s â€Å"mental graph† technique, this order would be remembered as: a. a steadily ascending line b. a steadily descending line c. a mountain range 8. From this article a careful reader should infer that: a. everyone has about the same memory capacity and can develop a superior memory through practice and motivation b. a good or bad memory is an ability that a person is born with and cannot change to any great degree c. there is still no conclusive evidence as to whether outstanding memories are inborn or developed II Finding Support For or Against a Hypothesis As the article points out, some psychologists today believe that extraordinary memories are simply the result of development through hard work and the application of a system. According to them, an average person could achieve a superior memory if he or she tried hard enough. Find evidence from the article to support this hypothesis. Then find evidence from the article that goes against this hypothesis. What is your opinion of this controversial question?