The Digital Forensics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Digital Forensics - Research Paper Example A distributed network can be on a broad scale and may involve many enterprise computer networks. Likewise, the currently installed network security controls are bypassed by the worm because distributed traffic anomaly is complex and small to detect. However, combining with multiple small data packets can impose a significant impact, as they all share the same frequency and domain that is already happening in the current scenario. For this reason, a method for detecting threats originating from the distributed network was introduced by (Zonglin, Guangmin, Xingmiao, & Dan, 2009). The methodology includes a detection of patterns of the distributed network along with network-wide correlation analysis of instantaneous parameters, anomalous space extraction and instantaneous amplitude and instantaneous frequency. In the current scenario, network administrators can apply instantaneous amplitude and instantaneous frequency, which is a part of this model, of network transmission signals can i nvade network unknown patterns and categorize them into frequency and time domains separately. Moreover, they can also deploy an anomalous space extraction methodology that is based on network transmission predictions. This methodology will facilitate network administrators to exceed the boundaries of PCA based methods that are already failed to provide strong correlations. Furthermore, the third component that is a network-wide correlation analysis of amplitude and frequency can discover overall network transmission originating from distributed networks, as the current controls are only sensing them in a small amount or quantity. After determining the exact source of the unknown worm, the next challenge is to analyze the infected nodes within the network. It is obvious that without a specialized tool, it is a daunting or almost impossible task to detect anomalies on low levels i.e. network ports. There is a requirement of pinpointing unknown threat activities within the network, fo r this purpose, a powerful tool is known as Wire shark will serve the purpose. Wire shark is a freeware tool that analyzes network packets and processes them for illustrating detailed contents of the packets (Scalisi, 2010). Moreover, the tool contains numerous features that can facilitate the threat detection process. The first step that a network administrator will take is to identify the type of traffic or ports that need to be targeted. The second step is to start capturing packets on all ports of all the switches (Scalisi, 2010). However, there is a requirement of modifying port numbers. As per the current scenario, all the network ports will be scanned including the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) port. The tool has a feature of only scanning specific ports that need to be targeted. However, in a corporate network environment that will not be possible, as an Intrusion detection system (IDS) and Firewalls may conflict with the tool. Moreover, different subnets on the netwo rk will also require complex and time-consuming configurations. Furthermore, the network administrator can always set the time limit for capturing specific network port data.

Essay Globalization Consumerism And Sustainable Development Environmental Sciences Essay

Essay Globalization Consumerism And Sustainable Development Environmental Sciences Essay Sustainable development has been a globally paradigm in different areas. Citizens lifestyle has an important relationship with the sustainability of a city. In living environment area, world-wide experts have adopted the Agenda 21 and tried to find the appropriate way to achieve a sustainable living lifestyle. According to Agenda 21, the major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries, which is a matter of grave concern, aggravating poverty and imbalances. However, as the global population increasing, how to balance the relationship between resources supply and demand is still a research question. For communities and individuals, special attention should be paid to the demand for natural resources generated by unsustainable consumption and to the efficient use of those resources consistent with the goal of minimizing depletion and reducing pollution. In other word s, the communities and individuals should look for an appropriate living style towards achieving sustainable goal. Although government has been put much efforts to encourage people to do some reduction of pollution, reduction of energy consumption, and waste recycling, actually there is still a long distance to reach the goal of sustainability, and there should be a series of fundamentally changes for individuals to adopt to pursue a green, sustainable society. Globalization Globalization means quite different things to different people. In general, globalization is a process that promotes world-wide exchanges of national and cultural resources. It includes economic globalization, social cultural globalization, and environmental globalization. In recent decades, the world markets have become increasingly integrated. As Lindert and Williamson 2011 pointed out, world market integration is not a new phenomenon, but it has steadily increased since the 1820s if we exclude the period between the two World Wars. A long-term correlation between the globalization of international markets and environmental degradation is quite obviously. The globalization of markets also brought about the globalization of environmental problems. Global climate change, ozone layer, reduction of biodiversity, over consumption of natural resources, desertification are all global environmental degradation brought after the economic globalization. The industrial revolution use large am ount of natural resources as materials in the process, as well as the deterioration of their quality as a consequence of pollution. The acceleration of economic growth led to the increasing of world population that promoted the deterioration of environment. Lifestyle and sustainability Concept of sustainable development The concept of sustainability means that something is maintained for a period of long time. The concept of sustainable development came out of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in 1972.() Since the publication of the UN Brundtland Commission report  Our Common Future  in 1987, the concept of sustainability has become associated with the integration of economic, social, and environmental development to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The conference was held to let all nations agree to act to reduce pollution together to share the resources equally. Since 1972, it has become clear that what we do has an impact on the environment, from the climate change, desertification, and the destruction of forests to the disappearance of species. By introducing the word sustainable, the discussion on environmental development got a social and economic dimension, especially by the inclusion of the Nort h- South dialogue and discussion of the rights of future generations. This finally led to the world community holding the United Nations Convention on Education and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 where the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Framework on Climate Change, the Rio Declaration and 38 of the 40 chapters of Agenda 21 were agreed. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was set up to review progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and other UNCED documents. The Commission meets every year and more than 1,000 N.G.Os are accredited to participate in the Commissions work. Concept of lifestyle The concept of lifestyle comes from social science and refers to a bundle of practices or ways of behaving that are meaningful for individual as well for the community. Lifestyle includes different ways of socializing with others and different types of consumption of everything, from houses to clothes, food, and leisure time activities. Lifestyle could reflect individuals attitude and values and at the same time signals these to others through visible, or conspicuous, consumption. Sustainable lifestyle can thus be defined as bundles of practices that are tied together by attitudes related to sustainable development, or as ways of living that in practice lead to sustainable development. In 1992 at the UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro, there was an international agreement on promoting sustainable development and thus also promoting sustainable lifestyle. Following the line of the Brundtland report, the conference reached consensus on the so-called Agenda 21 programme, which contains detailed guidelines and objectives, in a nonlegally binding language, and advice on how NGOs, citizens, and other actors can be involved in the process. The slogan was act local -think global and during the 1990s Local Agenda activities were initiated in many countries by both authorities and NGOs. In 2007-08 such initiatives received renewed interest, with global climate being high on the political agenda. Local Agenda 21 was no longer a catchword, though the concept of sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles was then used together with climate discussions. The processes of Local Agenda 21 build on the idea that changes must come from below, from changes in the everyday life of ordinary consumers. Current lifestyle When talking about living lifestyle, tobacco use, poor nutrition, obesity, elevated stress, and suboptimal sleep will come into ones mind, these are major contributors to the pandemic of lifestyle-related conditions, morbidity, and premature death (E dean) Preventable lifestyle-related conditions such as ischemic heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema (largely smoking related), hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and some cancers, are not only leading causes of disability and premature death in high-income countries, but increasingly in middle- and low-income countries.  (stop) Compared to the impact of environment brought from lifestyle, the bad lifestyle seems to have much effect on individuals health. However, from long-term sight, bad lifestyle will bring waste of resources, pollution of environment and at last hinder the development of society. When talking about the lifestyle related to consumerism, green consumerism should be advocated. What is green consumerism? In short, who and why buy. current global levels of domestic energy consumption and waste production have been acknowledges as important contribution to detrimental environmental change (United Nations 1998) Political and academic interest in this component of sustainable development implementation has stimulated debates in post-industrial nations concerning the social practices of contemporary consumerism (Macnaghten and Urry 1998) and how we will live in the future (De Young 1993) n response there has been a call for the development of national policies and strategies to encourage changes in consumption patterns (UNCED 1992:64). One approach has been the promotion of environmentally-friendly lifestyles which often take the form of media or community campaigns (for further analysis see Hobson 2001). These campaigns encourage individuals not only to decrease the amount consumed, but also to alter the nature of goods consumed (lUCN/UNEP/WWF 1991; Librova 1999). Changing Lifestyles Towards Sustainability From a policy perspective, it is relevant to discuss how to promote more sustainable lifestyles. Changes can be initiated from the bottom-up, where people experiment with changing lifestyles, or from the top-down, where authorities make initiatives to promote changing lifestyles. Authorities can promote changes by political initiatives such as economic incentives or green taxes and through information and labeling of green products and campaigns focusing on changing attitudes. Furthermore, authorities can focus on establishing the physical infrastructure which supports sustainable lifestyles: public transportation, renewable energy production, recycling waste system, and so on. What follows describes, first, the people who have made radical changes to their lifestyles and, second, evaluations on initiatives to get ordinary people to change their lifestyle in a more sustainable direction. In the last couple of decades, some citizens have chosen more radical lifestyle changes and have joined so-called eco-villages. Some of the catchwords of this approach are closed cycles and self-sufficiency: water and waste should be recycled, energy locally produced from renewable resources, and the technologies organised in neighborhoods to strengthen and revitalize local social life. The ecological vision is followed by the social vision of a holistic everyday life a life that is not split between work, family, and home. In this sense, the eco-villages follow in the footsteps of the collectivist movement of the 1960s and 1970s and are a reaction against the lifestyle in detached suburban houses. Furthermore, in some of the eco-villages there is a spiritual relation with nature and an ethical concern for future generations. The people deciding to build and live in these eco-villages thus establish other physical, social, and cultural structures around their everyday life as part o f living a sustainable lifestyle. In the environmental debate, it has been questioned to what extent this type of experiment is part of a broader solution to sustainable development or whether these structures are only isolated pockets. Some of the alternative technological solutions, such as solar heating or wind power, had their hesitant first beginnings in these alternative environments. However, some of the eco-villages and other grassroots experiments had such alternative visual expressions that might have frightened the not-so-dedicated others from choosing sustainable lifestyles. This raises the question of whether sustainable lifestyles are only for those who want to live an alternative life or whether they should be mainstreamed and made available for a broader audience. In the twenty-first century, however, this debate might seem less topical, as grassroots approaches and more mainstream approaches to sustainable lifestyles appear to converge Many public initiatives have tried to persuade citizens to live a more sustainable life, and there are also examples of studies following the extent to which these types of efforts have an effect. In general, social science approaches dealing with these issues can be divided into psychological and sociological approaches. As an example of the psychological approach, a study performed by Abrahamse and others in the Netherlands followed the effects of an Internet-based tool that used a combination of tailored information, goal setting, and feedback on households direct and indirect energy consumption. An evaluation after 5 months showed that households gained a significant direct energy saving of 5%, whereas there was no measurable effect on indirect energy consumption. It is thus possible to document a small but significant relation between knowledge and action. From a sociological approach, the UK campaign Action at home, which is part of the Global Action Plan that originally developed in the United States during the late 1980s, has been evaluated by Hobson, and this evaluation questions the simple relation between knowledge and change of behavior. The Action at home campaign was a 6-month voluntary programme where households were provided with information, support, and feedback in a local setting enabling local support and networking between participants. An evaluation based on qualitative interviews suggests rethinking the ideas on information, barriers, and behavioural change. Information should be seen as a much more constructivist approach, where people use and develop arguments through conversations with others, rather than by receiving objective knowledge. The focus should be on the whole array of social structures sustaining specific behaviors, rather than on only barriers to action, and finally the understanding of behavioral chan ge should rather focus on how debate can bring unnoticed routines that are never consciously thought of. Though there are disagreements in the understanding of behavior and the role of information between the social and the psychological approach, it is possible to draw some general recommendations on how to best persuade people to change to a more sustainable lifestyle: Communication should be as specific and personalized as possible, and information should be as adjusted to the lifestyle of the citizens as possible, thereby making the advice meaningful and useful for the citizens attitudes and practices. With climate change high on the political agenda, especially before the climate summit conference in Copenhagen in 2009, sustainable lifestyles have gained renewed interest among the public, politicians, and academics. Will this interest be a short bobble followed by resignation? Will it be the start of mainstreaming sustainable lifestyles so they spread and become the norm? Or, will there continue to be a development fuelled by the tension between initiatives by different actors? Sustainability is a contested concept, and developments in the structures and practices of everyday life continue to change and thus provide new challenges for what a sustainable lifestyle is or should be. In the future, there is also a need to continue experimenting, debating, and developing new approaches to sustainable lifestyles Linking lifestyle and climate change literature The concept of lifestyle in the behavioural sciences has been studied in connection with social class [31,81,64 -66,86,87,47 ], culture-specific consumption patterns [ 22,30,52,79 ] as well as individual choice [25,7,6 ]. Social theorists have described how the disappearance of norms and economic limitations, mass consumption and the market have gradually removed restrictions and made the individual lifestyle a more appropriate way to describe differences in action, world views and consump-tion. Research suggests that the consumption behavior of individuals constitute a more or less coherent con-sumption pattern because individual tastes and prefer-ences conform to socially determined structures [13,19]. The fact that conspicuous consumption [17,77] is seen as a status symbol of wealthy people makes the less afflu-ent aspire to emulate this lifestyle [ 5 ]. Individuals use consumer goods to preserve their position in the social hierarchy [ 12]. A convergence of lifestyles has been accelerated by homogenisation in the human system over time and space due to the globalisation of the built environment, occupations, industry, trade and advertis-ing. Lifestyle is also described in an operational sense through the correlation between the level and pattern of consumption and socio-economic and demographic parameters such as age, family size, occupation, income, gender, education and ethnicity. Consequent energy and emission outcomes vary widely ( Table 1) calling for more inclusive action strategy to avoid leakages. The focus of change needs to be on the hotspots and patterns of energy consumption. Attempts to change energy consumption pattern are likely to lead to a change in energy consump-tion behaviour that make up the complete pattern. In the energy literature in the late 1980s, the energy researchers introduced the lifestyle concept into the study of energy consumption and established a positive correlation be-tween better lifestyle and high-energy consumption for both households and individuals. Kaya identity [34] has been used to show how both the individual and aggregate consumption pattern are an important driver of emission level along with the technology choice. Recent literature Suggestion

Frankenstein essay :: English Literature

Frankenstein essay The monster is called such because of his appearance; Frankenstein could be judged a monster because of his actions. Who do you think is most monstrous and why? Support your opinion with references to Shelly’s book, Pullmans play and any other interpretations you have seen. To answer this question we must first define the term monster. There are many ways a person can be a monster. If someone does not look good they are defined as a monster, if someone kills people they are defined as a monster, and if their beliefs are different to ours we also call them a monster. Keeping all this in mind it is very hard to label someone or something a monster, but in this essay I will try to describe who is more monstrous- the creator Frankenstein or his creation the monster. Frankenstein could be called a monster because he is trying to play god. He created the monster from the bodies of the dead so this makes him a monster because he will be causing masses of emotional pain to the relatives of the dead. However this could also be a strong proof of his humanity because his experiments show the curious nature that is in every human; he has just taken it one step further and decided to act on his curiosity. Atheist’s who don’t believe in life after death could even call him good hearted because he is recycling! Another reason for Frankenstein being monstrous is that he decided to try and play god a second time when he wanted to create the monster a bride. However this was done at the monsters request so it could be argued that this shows the humane side of Frankenstein because it shows compassion for others. He realized the monster was lonely so decided to create him a companion. The monster could be called more monstrous than Frankenstein because of two reasons. One he looks like a monster and as he is made from the rotting flesh of dead he probably smells like one too. The second reason is because he kills innocent people; this is portrayed in all versions of the story that I have seen/read so far. Pullmans play explains the murder by saying it was a revenge act against Frankenstein who in abandoning him caused him lots of emotional pain. The monster wanted to see him hurt. Most versions of the story agree with this view but brook’s version explains the murder of the child as an experiment. The monster had seen flowers can float so wanted to see if humans could float as well.

Case Analysis Ford Motor Company Essay

Introduction Ford Motor Company is one of the largest multinational automaker in the world and part of the Detroit Big Three, along with GM and Chrysler. Since its inception in June 16, 1903, Ford has gone through many ups and downs. Competition from domestic and international manufacturers, globalization, advancements of technology and the great economic downturn in 2007-2008 meant that Ford had to rethink several of its strategic decisions if it had to survive in the marketplace. When Henry Ford started the company, automobiles were a luxury good that could only be afforded by the rich. He wanted to provide these vehicles to the general public at an affordable price, because Ford believed that this product had the potential to transform society. As such, he focused on production and supply chain efficiency related to the implementation of the assembly line manufacturing process and Ford’s vertically integrated supply chain to produce automobiles at a mass scale. The US auto market was pr imarily dominated by the US Big Three, but this changed during the early 70s and 80s. The increase in gas prices and need for fuel efficient vehicles saw consumers seeking out for Japanese imports, which met the new fuel efficiency standards. The market already was beginning to get competitive. In order to act, Ford tried to cut it costs by downsizing its workers and plants, whereas the need was fuel efficient cars. Ford later regained some of its market in 1988 by diversifying its product offerings by purchasing luxury European brands. It tapped the Chinese market as well beating GM in 1997. Ford had to cut many of its workforces and sell many of its plants during these periods in order to keep costs at a minimum level. The economic downturn of 2007-2008 saw the automobile manufacturers taking a big hit. They were reduced to a position where they needed to ask the US government for a $34 billion bailout. Many uncertainties remained as to what had to be done to sustain in the future. The biggest strategic change came with the decision to hire Alan Mulally in 2006. Mulally made many effective and important changes to Ford’s corporate structure, such as, the ONE Ford plan to create a leaner, more efficient global enterprise and return the company to profitability. Under his guidance, Ford had to restructure its entire business as it was the only way to survive in the highly competitive market. Every step taken by Ford has been risky, but they have yielded result. Ford has overcome challenges of  heavy competition, economic depression and threat of bankruptcy. It is a prime example of how exceptional leadership and strategic skills can help overcome hardships despite turbulent times. Situation analysis 3I Analysis Immediate Competitors Ford Motor Company is operating as one of the leading competitors in the US Automobile Market with 18.4 % of the total market share. The two major competitors of Ford are Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors (GM) with market shares of 11.4% and 20.4% respectively. These leading players of the US Automobile market, together, are known as â€Å"The Detroit Three† and are operating as the key local competitors of the US market. Among the other major global competitors of Ford, Toyota and Honda are competing with market shares of 10.5% and 8% respectively. Impending Competitors Comparatively smaller players of the US Automobile market may pose a threat to Ford Motor Company in near future. Competitors such as Kia (4.3%), Hyundai (5.6%), and Nissan (6.8%) are also trying to firmly hold their position in the automobile market. Mazda, BMW, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Volvo, and Suzuki are also operating as impending competitors of Ford within the automobile market, contributing to 26.3% of the remaining market shares. These competitors can potentially extend their business operations in future and change their strategies that may directly or indirectly affect the operations of Ford Motor Company. Invisible Competitors In spite of potential risk factors, the automobile industry of US is a lucrative industry to compete in. Hence, China and India are expected to expand their automobile business to US very soon. China has already displayed automobiles of Brilliance, Geely, Great Wall, and BYD at the US Auto Shows. BYD specializing on fuel efficient cars may pose a major threat to Ford Motor Company in future. The European market can also become a  potential threat by launching new and sustainable automobiles in the US market and may succeed due to advanced innovation and sustainable manufacturing processes. General analysis Economic: Gas prices quadrupled during the 70s and 80s when the Middle Eastern OPEC nations halted exports to the US and other European nations. The global economic downturn of 2008 saw the US auto sales declining by 37% compared to the last year. Ford, GM and Chrysler had to go to Washington DC to ask the government for $34 billion bailout. In 2011, the earthquake in Japan disrupted production and rising gas prices affected consumer demand. Political/Legal: New vehicle sales in 2009 received support from the federal government when US president Barack Obama signed the â€Å"Cash for Clunkers† bill into law in June. Rules and regulations on vehicle mileage and emission standards are established by the federal government. After talks with the automakers, the Obama Administration eased the requirements to 54.5 mpg, with a 3.5 percent per year increase in fuel efficiency for light trucks through 2021, but kept the requirement for passenger cars at 5%. Environmental: When a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March 2011, Japanese automakers and parts suppliers experienced major disruptions in their operations and declared that productions would probably not reach normal levels before fall. The increasing global focus on sustainability and need to develop alternate power sources for vehicles, increasing population has led to increase in fuel demand, thus leading to higher gas prices and an increased impact on the environment. Recently the Obama Administration and the auto manufacturers were in negotiations over new standards that could reduce global warming emissions by millions of tons per year and decrease oil imports by billions of barrels during the life of the program. Technological: Today’s consumers are technology-savvy than ever before and with the vast amount of information available on the internet they have access to an almost unlimited amount of information to compare products to determine the vehicles that meet their needs. An alternative to fuel known as biofuel or â€Å"farm fuel† E85 might reduce US dependency on foreign oil and develop a domestic industry that supports farmers. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are still in the early stages of development but have the potential to reduce US dependency on foreign oil significantly and lower emissions that cause climate change. Social: Many of the newer models of cars target the Generation Y buyers, as they are important to automakers because they help set trends, from popularizing social media sites to technologies. Industry analysis Threat of product substitutes: High. In the 70s and 80s, the three large US automobile manufacturers which produced larger, heavier and less fuel efficient vehicles saw decline in sales while sales of Japanese imports, which met the new efficiency standards, increased. Electric/gasoline powered hybrid vehicles are the most widely used alternative powered vehicles today and many companies offer fully electric vehicles as well. As the population increases, roads and highways become more congested. Many urban areas are developing or enhancing public transportation systems such as light rail systems and subways, as well as increasing bus routes and schedules. Intensity of rivalry: High The US automotive industry faces heavy competition not only through domestic companies (Ford, GM and Chrysler), but from foreign competitors as well. In 2006, Ford, GM and Chrysler faced intense competition from foreign manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda. Supplier power: Medium The auto industry obtains resources from a wide array of firms globally. Although the number of suppliers has decreased since the recession, some of the survivors are growing and beginning to diversify. Many suppliers rely  heavily on the auto industry for a large part of their revenue. Some suppliers even went out of business during the economic downturn and decline of the US auto industry, and more were hurt by the earthquake in Japan in 2011. It is extremely important for auto manufacturers to develop and maintain strong relationships with their suppliers to gain access to their best technologies and receive priority order fulfillment in case of material or product shortages. Buyer power: High Today’s technology-savvy consumers have access to a vast amount of information to compare products to determine the vehicles to meet their needs. Many well-informed consumers choose to shop and negotiate pricing between dealerships, while others prefer not to negotiate pricing at all. As US manufacturers lost market share to their Asian competitors, they realized the need to revise their business plans to place a much higher priority on customer satisfaction, thus creating customers for life. Threat of new entrants: High Factors such as capital requirements, economies of scale, need for distribution channel and threat of retaliation make it unlikely for a new entrant to emerge within the US. However, new entrants can succeed in the US market, as evident by the Asian automakers. Automakers established in foreign markets have been able to gain a foothold by exporting to the US and targeting a niche market. New entrants to the US auto market will eventually come from China and India among others. Marketing and Sales: Ford is now focused on building only the two remaining brands Ford and Lincoln. They now offers product mix to meet the demand of people of all classes They reach the customer through traditional media like radio, newspaper, TV commercials and by also using the social sites. They are also sponsoring famous shows and events like American Idol Service: According to the J.D. Power 2011 Automotive performance, Execution and Layout study all Ford’s newer vehicles have earned the fuel efficiency rating that were above the segment average The F-50 truck is the only large pickup that received the award for both performance and appeal in 2011 Supportive Activities: Human Resource: Ford is best in cutting off company’s employees to improve production or to face any awkward situation like loss for example In 80’s to cover up the loss resulting of not having fuel efficiency facility it cut off its workforce and close plants In August 2001 Ford eliminate 4500 to 5000 of its salaried employees using early retirement incentives In early 2002 ford closed 3 North American assembly plants for which 35000 worldwide jobs were cutoff In 2006 Ford cut 25000 to 30000 hourly jobs and 12% of management positions. It further cut 10000 white-collar job. In 2012 it closed 14 facilities as part of massive restructuring plant Technology development: Ford has invested a lot in the development of fuel efficiency and currently they have 12 vehicles with best in class fuel economy. Not only in fuel efficiency they are also improving in initial quality and appeal  (performance, execution and layout) Though they are laggards but atlast they managed to develop self-parking and blind spot detection facility. In 2011 they invested in hybrid and plug-in-hybrid and they also introduced turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine They are in the way to introduce intelligence vehicle technology Procurement: Ford signed an agreement with Azure Dynamic Corp. to install plug in hybrid power trains in the F series super duty trucks. Financial analysis Market Share (in volume): From the above two pie charts, the market winners and losers in 2011 can be interpreted financially with the number of cars and light trucks they sold compared to the market sales as a whole (in volume): Profit over time: The following data represents Ford Motor’s net income from year 2001 to 2010: During 2001, Ford has been in bad shape financially making a loss of $162412 million. From before that time Ford was having a hard time to come back and had undertaken downsizing strategy from quite a time to lower its cost as per their profit structure. This trend continued in 2001 as well but the entrant of a CEO in July 2001 made a slight change in the strategy though it kept on with the legacy of downsizing, it also discontinued models that were unprofitable. Hence, with this strategy profits were expected but this didn’t work out, mainly because of the unstable environment of the terrorist attack in September 11, 2001. From year 2002 onward till 2005, Ford was making a bit of profit but still heavily relied on downsizing its employees from time to time. But Ford started making some major losses from 2006 onwards and in order to make this work Alan Mulally was appointed as the CEO. Hence, it came in light that Ford needed a complete restructure in order to cut down costs, lower its debts, increase its revenues, and earn higher profits. Hence, downsizing strategy continued as well but this time with the introduction of new products, discontinuing the outdated ones keeping up with changing consumer trends. With some great decisions the company was recovering and hence, lowered its net loss by 78% in 2007 compared to 2006: however, once again unfavorable economic conditions in 2008 with global downturn pulled the net loss deep down which was more than the net loss made in year 2006 which resulted in the use of downsizing once again. With this Ford applied for bailed out funds, which was rejected and was the cause for their popularity gaining more customers. And hence, with proper planning, and complete restructure of Ford, it earned profits during 2009 and 2010 with effective strategies. As seen in the graph below, Ford has definitely experienced lower sales from 2001 to 2010: but it managed to come back in 2009 and 2010 with providing cars that customer wants: which they didn’t follow earlier.

African American Essay

On October 23rd, 2006, a then 24 year old Dorothy Webb stood outside her Mississippi home. Fearing eviction from her home for non-payment of rent, Dorothy decided to do something drastic to save the only home she had grown to love. She walked to ‘the bottom’ which was almost 9 miles away, in an attempt to make a deal with a local drug dealer to sell crack cocaine and earn a profit. â€Å" I was truly scared because although I’ve been in the midst of the drug game as an outsider, I knew the consequences of selling drugs down south. They put my momma away for 8 years because my brother was selling drugs out of her house and she wasn’t even involved. I knew that if they could do that to her to and she didn’t even do anything, I was in real danger of getting even more time if I got caught. But it was between eating and living or being on the streets, so I made a choice that I could live with. I wanted to live in my house with food in my mouth. † According to Dorothy, she waited for days before she sold the drugs that she obtained from ‘the bottom‘. â€Å" I danced and danced around the idea in my head many days before I made my first sale, but I finally did it and it didn’t feel bad to me. By the end of it all, I had made ten sales, I had food in my mouth, and my rent was paid up so I could stay in my house,† Dorothy admits. Dorothy states that she only made those 10 sales, which was enough for her to pay rent and buy food until she was able to get back on her feet. â€Å"Almost a year after I sold the drugs, I was doin’ real good†¦ real good. I had kept my house and I had a job and a car all in that one year. I just kept workin’ and workin’ till one day, the police came to my house and arrested me for selling drugs to an undercover officer, and I was devastated. I mean, I know it was wrong to do so and against the law. I knew that I would get in trouble, but I never could have imagined that it would be as long as I was told. I mean c’mon! Murderers do less time than drug dealers do so where does that leave me, this one person tryin’ to live? During my sentencing, I cried until no more tears could flow. I was facing 20 years for the 10 sales that I made in the last year. After my sentencing, I ran to Illinois to be with my family until I was caught last week on a technicality† (D, Webb, personal communication, February, 2008). Dorothy Webb remains in a St. Clair county Illinois jail awaiting transport to Mississippi where she will start serving out her sentence. Dorothy’s story is not unlike many other African American men and women whom face years of their lives behind bars for drug trafficking and other related drug charges. Irreversible effects from drug related racial profiling and disparity should be stopped in relation to the African American community by way of rehabilitation for offenders and judicial officials. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Cocaine is a white powder substance originating from the coca plant dating as far back as the 11th century. It was used in the early 1800s to treat an assortment of common ailments ranging from hiccups to pneumonia. Presently, cocaine has been deemed very addictive and has been illegal in the United States for over 100 years. Cocaine can be snorted through the nose or used to intravenously. Crack cocaine is a free based substance that is used for smoking. It is produced by combining baking soda and cocaine and is cooked to generate a hard, rock-like material. Because the crack cocaine has been altered, using more baking soda than cocaine, it results in being a cheaper drug that requires less to cause a ‘high’ feeling (Lu, Taylor, & Riley, 2001, p. 399). From a socio-economic standpoint, the black community, consisting of mostly the poor or working class can afford crack, while whites whom generally consist of middle class families, thus financially stable, chose cocaine as a drug of choice. It is relatively clear that many users of crack cocaine consist of mostly individuals from the African American community. Many admit to using and selling the drug, however, evidence shows that white Americans produce an even higher population of illicit drug abusers and those whom traffic drugs as well. Although drug abuse among blacks is easily visual in ‘crack houses’ and even effortless drug sales on street corners, whites are not as flamboyant when it comes to drug use, conversely, middle America is now pressed with an overwhelming methamphetamine dilemma. Nevertheless, many professionals concerned with the sociological aspects of drug solicitation in African American communities across the nation scrutinize the domino effect resulting from wide-spread drug quandary such as child abandonment, school dropout rates, and deteriorating homes. In fact, Kennedy states that â€Å"Law enforcement naturally and logically focuses on those communities where illegal drug use has created the most harmful and most visible effects†¦ More generally, illegal drug use is seen as devastating African-American communities in a way that is not seen outside the inner city. People losing jobs, kids dropping out of school, parents neglecting or abandoning their children–all of these social costs are more readily seen in the inner city than in the more affluent white communities where illegal drug use seems to be relatively benign. Even more to the point, illegal drug use in the inner city is seen as crimogenic–the inner -city user of illegal drugs is thought to be more likely to steal or commit some other crime to finance his drug use† ( 2003, p. 154). The theoretical reasoning behind the abuse of crack cocaine in the black community has been speculated as the end result of a people in dire need, monetarily and emotionally, nonetheless, these outcomes resulting from drug infested communities do not constitute the racial disparity that is currently occurring throughout the nation, however, the issues do cause a need for probable concern . The illicit use and distribution of crack cocaine is steadily ricocheting through the African American community. In fact, according to Angeli, â€Å"The increase in the rates of incarceration of young black males is due primarily to the focus of the ‘war on drugs’ on black drug users. For drug offenses, the African American proportion of arrests increased from 24% in 1980 to 39% in 1993, even though African Americans comprise only 13% of monthly drug users. From 1986 to 1990, the number of minority jail inmates increased more than twice as fast as the number of white inmates, and the increase in the number of arrests of minorities for drug offenses was almost ten times the increase in arrests of white drug offenders† (1997, p. 1213). It is undisputable that this jump in the number of incarceration of blacks was initiated due to the passing of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, congress enabled sentencing commissions to guide the legislature of punishments for crack and cocaine possession offences. Subsequently, the commission ruled that â€Å"At every quantity level federal defendants convicted of a crack cocaine offense receive the same sentences as powder cocaine defendants convicted of an offense involving 100 times as much cocaine (Angeli, 1997, p. 1212). It seems that these laws were put into place to purposely capture blacks in the system given that the Judicial system is aware that all crack possessions are in the hands of blacks by a very larger margin than any other race. This can be corroborated with current percentages contrasted to earlier figures from the1920s before these laws were enacted. Compared to the early 1900s, when African Americans only made up less than 20% of the prison population for illicit possession of alcohol and drugs, while foreign-born whites accounted for over 40%. In 1992, 92. 6% of drug offenders were African American and 4. 7% were white and possessed pure cocaine (Elden, 2005). At present, over 1/3 of the total black male population is wedged in the judicial system involving imprisonment, parole, or probation, thus proving that race seems to be the issue in the current war on drugs. In previous combats in the war on drugs, other races were equally targeted just as contemporary matters of racial disparity. In the early 1920s, foreign born immigrants, whom made up much of the American population then were the predominately incarcerated culprits for drug trafficking and or distribution. Contemporary legislature has made the proper amendments to finally put an end to the racial disparity regarding blacks and crack cocaine sentences. In the later part of 2007, in the case of United States v. Kimbrough, Defendant Derrick Kimbrough was initially convicted and sentenced to 168 to 210 consecutive months for three counts of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams of crack cocaine. This decision was lessened by district courts to a total sentence of 120 months for all three charges and 60 consecutive months for possession of a firearm in connection to his arrest for the drug charges. This one case is a landmark case that will begin with the release of those whom have served a significant amount of time towards less severe charges related to crack cocaine and will lessen the amount of time given to those whom are tried and convicted of illicit drug crimes involving crack cocaine. SUGGESTIONS Although the damage has been done, thus forever disparaging the trust of black people in today’s justice system, things can still be done in an attempt to reverse illegitimate imprisonment of blacks for miniscule drug offenses. The war on drugs should simultaneously preserve our country’s promise to liberty and justice to each individual, equally regardless of race, stature, or background. If in fact the war on drugs is to combat all forms of illicit drug use and or trafficking, subsequently, all drugs should be charged consistently relative to quantity. Not only is the 100 to 1 ratio law unfair but it is also racially charged. It is apparent that the judicial system is aware of this racial activity that is continually produced by the members of government and courts, and have thus began to amend laws. However, regardless of these current revisions, more lenient laws should also be inserted concerning all first time offenders. For quantities less than 20 grams, no time should be served at all and incidents should be regarded as a misdemeanors, requiring community service and or fines. Amounts less than 10 pounds should result in months and not years in jail time as well. Additionally, rehabilitation programs for drug offenders as well as court officials should be created. Just as drug rehabilitation programs for drug abusers aid in job placement programs and drug dependency, drug distributors should also have to attend similar programs that are geared towards the rehabilitation of drug dependency as a way of career. If these offenders could understand the fundamentals behind their professions, it would be probable that they would return to their communities, not as an vandals, but as a productive member of society and their community. It may also be a good idea to implement drug addicts into their program as well, in order to reveal insight into the lives of those whom they have destroyed. If these programs could be implemented and utilized, it is very probable that there would be a significantly less amount of repeat offenders as well. Lastly, many officials believe that many members of law enforcement have very little role in the prosecution of crack cocaine holders. However, law enforcement officials are responsible for obtaining criminals. Racial disparity begins in this area first. As stated earlier, officers logically pursue areas where drugs have the most detrimental effects, however If equal focus would be put upon all races to prohibit the distribution of drugs, eventually, all areas of drug distribution would eventually subdue, principally the methamphetamine business. CONCLUSIONS Although the end results of drug use or distribution are riveted throughout the African American community, either through school dropout rates, child abandonment or neglect, and job loss, the effects of unfair drug sentences are equivalently devastating. More than 1/3 of the black male population have been witness to some form of the judicial prejudice through incarceration, parole, or probation, and the number is steadily increasing each year. It is more than probable that race is the intended target for these drug wars that are presently occurring, whilst this has happened previously in an earlier time. During the early 1920s, foreign-born immigrants were the targets during the first war against drugs in the United States, while African American men made up less than 20% of the total incarcerated population. At this time, the judicial system has commenced realization of these racially charged attacks on the African American community, thus lessening the sentencing of crack cocaine offenders. This was proved in a recent landmark case, The United States v. Kimbrough. In this case, Derrick Kimbrough’s lengthy 168 to 210 consecutive month sentence was cut down to a little more than half at 120 consecutive months. Although the court system has made this advancement in this area, further innovations must also be met as well. Progression within drug distribution rehabilitation programs should also be implemented. For instance, former drug distributors should be enrolled in some of the same programs that drug abusers undergo. These offenders should be allowed to hear the testimonies of the many lives that they have destroyed due to drug distribution and dependency as a profession. Additionally, programs should be executed, allowing each offender job placement and job training so that their likelihood of returning to that lifestyle will be greatly reduced. Members of the courts should also be counseled as well to allow insight into the lives of the people that they convict, therefore, sentencing will be fair and relevant to each case, instead of an overall depiction of that type of society. Members of law enforcement should also take rehabilitation classes that will allow them to equally focus on all areas of society that is ridden with drugs instead of primary focus on the black community. If these measures were considered and utilized, United States would be on its way to a less racially prejudiced society.

Marketing Research Course Outline Essays

Marketing Research Course Outline Essays Marketing Research Course Outline Essay Marketing Research Course Outline Essay Course Outline MARKETING RESEARCH 1. COURSE OBJECTIVE The main objective of this course is to inculcate research acumen by imparting, skills sets required to conduct research in the area of marketing and consumer behaviour. The course contains the methodical theories, procedures and tools / techniques required for carrying out research in various functional areas of the organization. Also, it tries to imbibe basics of statistical software package SPSS among the students to make them good in analyzing and interpreting the problem under study. . PEDAGOGY The course will focus on both individual and group learning. Class discussion, lectures and presentations thereof, and a project will be some of the learning methods. 3. TEXT BOOK 1. Naresh K. Malhotra, Marketing Research: An applied orientation. New Delhi: Pearson Education Asia. Reference 2. Nargundkar, R. 2008 . Marketing Research: Text Cases. 3rd edition, New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill. 5. Session Plan Sessions| Topics| 1-3| Introduc tion to MR- classification of MR, MR process, Nature, introduction to SPSS 14. software in research| 4-6| Research Design – Definition, classification of research-exploratory, descriptive, causal research, Emphasis on exploratory research and primary data collection using Qualitative and Quantitative methods, Survey and Observation techniques. | 7-8| Measurement and scaling – Types of scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) and scale evaluation techniques (reliability and validity)| 8-10| Developing Questionnaire – Definition and process in depth| 11-13| Sampling – Definition, size, unit, etc. classification of sampling- probability and non-probability techniques | 14-16| Data collection, preparation, analysis and reporting – tabulating, hypothesizing, testing (chi-square, correlation, regression), interpreting and analyzing etc. , | 17, 18| Guest lectures and presentations| 19-23| Real time research based on the classroom learning. | * Dates wi ll be announced during the progress of the course.

Essay Sample on Magazine Design A Brief Analysis

Essay Sample on Magazine Design A Brief Analysis Magazine Design Brief Essay: Introduction The essay basically tries to give a brief synopsis at the brilliant idea of the yet to be established new health magazine that is set to surely hit the readers and meet the need of quality and accessible information that revolve around the broad topic of health and health factors. Objectives of the Magazine The underlying objectives that led to the invention of these brilliant idea of coming up with a health magazine that will surely suit the end needs of the readers generally include. It will focus on the topic of social justice and the main focus will be on health related issue on the subject matter of social justice. Targeted readers The targeted readers of the magazine will definitely comprise all those individuals who need to be motivated on the general topic of social injustices, and with specifications of the various injustices that revolve around the general subject matter of health and health related issues. Some of these health related issues generally revolve and comprise of the rape cases, social injustices like defilement of young children and minors. It generally is perceived as a social injustice but generally underneath it it attempts to prescribe the health related issues facing the topic of discussion. By looking at these factors viewers that will be of tangible benefit to the topic under siege will generally comprise the readers who will want to be motivated, it will also comprise of those particular individuals who will be motivational speakers in the health related topics of Health, Students studying health and health related issues will also benefit from the information in the magazine. In general the magazine has come at the right time to serve the right purpose. Insights about the readership The genesis of the idea came from the underlying factors that comprise the social injustices. This fact was merged with the understanding of the health related area under siege and a culmination of these various factors gave rise to the understanding of the various targeted explanations and information that was meant to be inculcated in the project. The Magazine therefore aims at giving a detailed analysis of the mentioned topic. With this in mind readers will be able to get tangible information on their sexuality, issues related to social injustices of rape cases, defilements of minors. Ethical and moral issues have also been studied as the society looks at those factors that are ethical and how ethics constitute to be termed as an injustice and also how it affects the area under siege. Layout of The magazine The layout of the magazine generally involves the broad aspects of the magazine. It is specifically chosen as it will efficiently provide a detailed scope of the whole picture and apart from that the various readers will also be able to efficiently absorb any data that is relevant to them. The magazine will also provide in its general preview a sense of utmost rest as the various issues will be demystified in the general scope of the magazine. It will also be of good use to the readers as it will serve many diverse purposes and may be used for decorations in many different related topics. Images Chosen The images chosen were based to reinforce and reiterate the point emphasized by the dedicated different writers. By basing on the various images of ladies who are raped and children’s who represent minors who have undergone the ordeal of the social injustices of defilement, the various pictures are meant to arouse pity from the different readers and to reiterate the various points emphasized by the writers. Conclusion In summation the magazine will be a hit. These is enough to explain the fact that it is what the society expects and hopes to receive and has come at the right time and the most efficient manner. The magazine has tapped the need of information on the broad topic of social injustices and other related issues on the category of health and health related issues. Feel free to get a custom essay on Magazine Design topic from professional writers at CustomWritings.com quality essay writing service. All custom essay papers are written from scratch!

How to Write a Business Report for English Learners

How to Write a Business Report for English Learners If you would like to learn how to write a business report in English follow these tips and use the example report as a template on which to base your own business report. First of all, business reports provide important information for management that is timely and factual. English learners writing business reports need to make sure that the language is precise and concise. The writing style used for business reports should present information without strong opinions, but rather as direct and accurately as possible. Linking language should be used to connect ideas and sections of the business report. This example business report presents the four essentials that every business report should include: Terms of Reference Terms of reference refer to the terms on which the business report is written. Procedure The procedure describes the method that was used to collect data for the report. Findings The findings describe the data or other important information the report produced. Conclusions Conclusions are drawn on the findings which provide reasons for recommendations.   Recommendations The recommendations are specific suggestions made based on the conclusions of the report.   Read the short example business report and follow the tips below. Teachers can print these examples for use in class in lessons using sound teaching writing strategies. Reports: Example Report Terms of Reference Margaret Anderson, Director of Personnel has requested this report on employee benefits satisfaction. The report was to be submitted to her by 28 June. Procedure A representative selection of 15% of all employees were interviewed in the period between April 1st and April 15th concerning: Overall satisfaction with our current benefits packageProblems encountered when dealing with the personnel departmentSuggestions for the improvement of communication policiesProblems encountered when dealing with our HMO Findings Employees were generally satisfied with the current benefits package.Some problems were encountered when requesting vacation due to what is perceived as long approval waiting periods.Older employees repeatedly had problems with HMO prescription drugs procedures.Employees between the ages of 22 and 30 report few problems with HMO.Most employees complain about the lack of dental insurance in our benefits package.The most common suggestion for improvement was for the ability to process benefits requests online. Conclusions Older employees, those over 50, are having serious problems with our HMOs ability to provide prescription drugs.Our benefits request system needs to be revised as most complaints concerning in-house processing.Improvements need to take place in personnel department response time.Information technology improvements should be considered as employees become more technologically savvy. Recommendations Meet with HMO representatives to discuss the serious nature of complaints concerning prescription drug benefits for older employees.Give priority to vacation request response time as employees need faster approval in order to be able to plan their vacations.Take no special actions for the benefits package of younger employees.Discuss the possibility of adding an online benefits requests system to our company Intranet. Important Points to Remember A report is divided into four areas:Terms of Reference- This section gives background information on the reason for the report. It usually includes the person requesting the report.Procedure- The procedure provides the exact steps taken and methods used for the report.Findings- The findings point out discoveries made during the course of the report investigation.Conclusions- The conclusions provide logical conclusions based on the findings.Recommendations- The recommendations state actions that the writer of the report feels need to be taken based on the findings and conclusions.Reports should be concise and factual. Opinions are given in the conclusions section. However, these opinions should be based on facts presented in the findings.Use simple tenses (usually the present simple) to express facts.Use the imperative form (Discuss the possibility ..., Give priority ..., etc.) in the recommendations section as these apply to the company as a whole. Continue learning about other types of business documents using these resources: MemosEmailIntroduction to Writing Business Plans Business memos are written to an entire office. When writing business memos make sure to clearly mark for whom the memo is intended, the reason for writing the memo and who is writing the memo. Memos tend to inform colleagues of office and procedural changes that apply to a large group of people. They often provide instructions using the imperative voice. Here is an example memo with follow-up important points to use when  writing business  memos in English. Example Memo From: Management To: Northwest Area Sales Staff RE:  New Monthly Reporting System We’d like to quickly go over some of the changes in the new monthly sales reporting system that we discussed at Monday’s special meeting. First of all, wed once again like to stress that this new system will save you a lot of time when reporting future sales. We understand that you have concerns about the amount of time that will be initially required for inputting your client data. Despite this initial effort, we are confident that you will all soon enjoy the benefits of this new system. Here is a look at the procedure you will need to follow to complete your areas client list: Log on to the company  website  at picklesandmore.comEnter your user ID and password. These will be issued next week.Once you have logged on, click on New Client.Enter the appropriate client information.Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have entered all of your clients.Once this information has been entered, select Place Order.Choose the client from the  drop down  list Clients.Choose the products from the  drop down  list Products.Choose the shipping specifications from the  drop down  list Shipping.Click on the Process Order button. As you can see, once you have entered the appropriate client information, processing orders will require NO paperwork on your part. Thank you all for your help in putting this new system into place. Best regards, Management Important Points to Remember Use the following structure to begin a memo:MEMOFrom: (person or group sending the memo)To: (person or group to whom the memo is addressed)RE:  (the subject of the memo, this should be in  bold)The term memorandum can be used instead of memo.A memo is generally is not as formal as a written letter. However, it is certainly not as informal  as a personal letter.The tone of a memo is generally friendly as it is a communication between colleagues.Keep the memo concise and to the point.If necessary, introduce the reason for the memo with a short paragraph.Use bullet points to explain the most important steps in a process.Use a short thank you to finish the memo. This need not be as formal as in a written letter. ReportsMemosEmailIntroduction to Writing Business Plans To learn how to write a business email, remember the following: Business emails are generally less formal than  business letters. Business emails written to colleagues are generally direct and ask for specific actions to be taken. Its important to keep your business emails short, as the easier it is to reply to an email the more likely it is that a business contact will reply quickly.   Example 1: Formal The first example shows how to write a formal business email. Note the less formal Hello in the salutation combined with a more formal style in the actual email. Hello, I read on your  website  that you offer Music CD copying for large quantities of CDs. Id like to inquire about the procedures involved in these services. Are the files transferred online, or are the titles sent by CD to you by standard mail? How long does it usually take to produce approximately 500 copies? Are there any discounts on such a large quantity? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I look forward to your response. Jack FinleySales Manager, Young Talent Inc.(709) 567 - 3498 Example 2: Informal The second example shows how to write an informal email. Notice the more conversational tone throughout the email. Its as if the writer were speaking on the phone.   At 16.22 01/07 0000, you wrote: I hear youre working on the Smith account. If you need any information dont hesitate to get in contact with me. Hi Tom, Listen, weve been working on the Smith account and I was wondering if you could give me a hand? I need some inside information on recent developments over there. Do you think you could pass on any information you might have? Thanks Peter Peter  ThompsenAccount Manager, Tri-State Accounting(698) 345 - 7843 Example 3: Very Informal In the third example, you can see a very informal email which is very similar to texting. Use this type of email only with colleagues with whom you have a close working relationship. At 11.22 01/12 0000, you wrote: Id like a suggestion for a consulting firm. How about Smith and Sons? KB Important Points to Remember Email is much less formal than a written letter. Emails are usually short and concise.If you are writing to someone you dont know, a simple Hello is adequate. Using a  salutation  such as Dear  Mr  Smith, is too formal.When writing to someone you know well, feel free to write as if you are speaking to the person.Use abbreviated verb forms (Hes, Were, Hed, etc.)Include a telephone number to the signature of the email. This will give the recipient the chance to telephone if necessary.It is not necessary to include your email address as the recipient can just reply to the email.When replying eliminate all the information that is not necessary. Only leave the sections of text that are related to your reply. This will save your reader time when reading your email. ReportsMemosEmailIntroduction to Writing Business Plans

REACH. Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Essay

REACH. Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals - Essay Example This paper discusses what REACH entails and how it affects EU by it regulations. Apart from the sole of ensuring regulation of trade in chemical substances, REACH performs several duties, like safeguarding human health at all levels and the protection of the environmental too. Secondly, they inform organizations involved with chemical manufacture of the risks likely to result from their actions (Workplace Law Group 612). In addition, they monitor the movement and use of chemical substances within the EU. Lastly, they promote creativity in substance manufacturing by ensuring operations are in accordance with ethics. REACH has the strictest law ever implemented by the EU and it took them almost seven years before coming up with this complex decree. REACH ensures that corporations dealing with chemical substances exceeding a tone are registered with the European chemicals agency. Before they accent to a registration, there are certain requirements that qualify one for registration for example substances that do not pose harm to human health (Leeuwen, & Vermeire 6).Moreover, it should not be of a high concern in terms of chemical content. REACH laws also deals with prohibition of trade for substances lacking registration and certification from European chemicals agency. However, there are exempted cases for radioactive items and certain wastes. Food substances and military equipment are also exempted form certain cases. Controversy aroused from its duties when they harmonized and improved the past legislative framework. Reach as a body began to function on June 1 2007, thereafter going through a session of complete registration in 2008. The organization has approval by environmental bodies such as â€Å"Environmental management system† and OHSAS 18001 who have confirmed credibility for REACH’s activities. This body has the mandate of monitoring the supply of chemical products imported to the EU zone. They perform their duties using certain

Select a social injustice occurring in the United States today and Essay

Select a social injustice occurring in the United States today and answer, Which mode of change-making would best correct your c - Essay Example The Concept of Marriage The Law of God, as well as the law of the land, strongly holds that marriage is a sacred ceremony; a union that ties the knot between couples. It has been established in the society of America, and all over the world that marriage is between a man and a woman. Today, there has been a controversy where the gays and lesbians are involved--that same-sex marriage is a form of immorality and in religious view, an abomination. It is true that many of the homosexuals were asking the government to legalize the so called--same sex marriage. In fact, there were many â€Å"gay rights movement† moved and sentiments aired. This had been regarded as social injustice, thus needed to be addressed. Traditional couples enjoy marriage privileges and benefits like procreation, known, or at least presumed paternity, child and spousal support, stability in family life, and survivor’s rights, as far as the U.S Constitution is concerned (â€Å"Constitutional Topic†). Same-sex couples also wanted to enjoy those benefits. According to some of them, they could also feel the same level of personal commitment the way the traditional couples do. Morally speaking, this had really created a smoke of non-acceptance and discrimination towards the society because this kind of set-up--gay men and women marriage was not acceptable. Some of the religious denomination discriminated such kind of marriage, but the homosexuals still urge the government for its implementation. Sometime in 1990, homosexual advocates protested for their ‘constitutional right’ to have a marriage license, and be accepted in the community. Although, there were religious leaders that stood against this ‘immoral activity,’ it was still accepted by the government. They sought to modify the civil marriage for them to be included. Indeed, many religious groups have shown their views and sentiments regarding this issue. They see marriage as based on sacred prac tice; they argue that if the government would change the definition of marriage it is equivalent to reducing its sacred value (â€Å"Constitutional Topic†). The Controversies Homosexuality has gained different labels such as ‘immoral,’ ‘improper,’ ‘unacceptable,’ etc. In early 1956, a pioneering national lesbian organization was established known as the The Daughters of Bilitis. In 1973, homosexuality was removed from official list of mental disorders by the American Psychiatric Association. Also, the state of Wisconsin prohibits the discrimination against gay men and women on the basis of sexual orientation. In addition, gays were permitted to serve in the military provided that no homosexual activity should be done, through the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tel† policy as instituted for the U.S military. In effect, there was opposition to the said enactment; thousands of men and women in the armed forces were discharged. Mode of Change-Making: Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage It was reported that gay couples have been fighting for the legalization of same-sex marriage. In fact, some of them in Washington DC have been waiting for the government to issue them marriage licenses since March 3, 2010 (â€Å"Tying the Knot†). In spite the discrimination from the society and other religious group, in December 2010, same-sex marriage proposal has

Criminology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Criminology - Assignment Example Department of Justice. 2008). Approximately 73% of rape victims know their assailants which will be discussed in more detail later. For now let’s just add few numbers concerning rapists who are, as mentioned, familiar with their victims, 38% being friends, 28% intimate partners and 7% relatives (RAINN 2007). When looking through data displayed on RAINN website, although with exceptions, we can say that a rapist is a married man, already having criminal record, often under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The crime usually occurs in victim’s home, during evening hours and involves mostly the use of physical force. As the list of numbers grows, so is the dual feeling of disgust and disbelief after facing these facts. How is it possible that today, in the 21st century, in the western, modernized world, when animals have rights and get treated with dignity, rape persists as a phenomenon in these proportions. Explanations are abundant and diverse, but for the purpose of this paper we look into Lee Ellis’ book â€Å"Theory of Rape: Inquiries into the Causes of Sexual Aggression". Ellis devoted separate chapters of the book to three distinctive theories dealing with rape. Feminist theory claims that rape is largely the result of male domination in sociopolitical and economic affairs and subsequent use of sexual intimidation and exploitation by males to maintain their supremacy. Supporters of this theory assert that rape is simply a crime of power and has very little to do with actual sex. â€Å"Women are often seen as little more than property for which men compete† (Ellis 1989). Women have never been seen as equal to men, therefore there is a need to dominate them, and, as Ellis observes, the incidences of rape will rise as women increasingly defy the status quo in the society. Every new little victory for women as gender could mean more attempts of male population to continue domination. Ronald Akers and

Leadership and Change management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership and Change management - Essay Example An effective form of leadership can be recognized as one of the chief determinants for an organization to attain competitive position in the fiercely growing business market (Andriopoulos and Dawson 197-199). The report aims to demonstrate the fundamental concept of leadership and its major significance in organizational success or failure. With regard to proactively recognize the roles and importance of leadership, the discussion of this project report enables to understand the leadership styles and functions of Jeff Bezos, the founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amazon.com, Inc. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW With regard to the study of Collins (2002), certain crucial factors like increased level of internationalization along with globalization and prevalence of extreme business market competition denote the emerging need of performing effective leadership practices within an organization. These effectual leadership practices can encourage the employees to perform better than th e existing efforts perform by them. Moreover, the practices help in enhancing the empowerment skills of every organizational member and generating new ideas in the workplace, resulting in accomplishing predetermined business targets of the organizations (Collins, â€Å"The Effectiveness of Managerial Leadership Development Programs: A Meta-Analysis of Studies from 1982-2001†). ... k of the recent activities and (3) learning about the challenges of working responsibility that occurs during the development level of leadership in an organization. Relating to this significant concern, the above discussed methods clearly define the selection of appropriate individuals as leaders who possess the ability to endure the indistinctness, relativity of knowledge along with the possessiveness of determining and continuing to learn innovative methods of working tasks (McCauley, â€Å"Leader Development: A Review of Research†). 3. COMPANY HISTORY Amazon is regarded as one of the foremost and renowned online retailers, which deals in selling various sorts of products over the web (internet). The company was founded by Jeff Bezos in the year 1994 and started its e-commerce business in the year 1995. With the rapid pace of technological developments along with the fiercely growing online business market, the organization has been recognized to develop its brand position through developing quality products or services to the global clients through online. Currently, the organization tends to offer a huge collection of products or services that include books, electronic goods, computer parts and accessories along with clothing and furniture items to the global customers over the medium of internet (Krishnamurthy, â€Å"Amazon.Com - A Business History†). 4. HISTORY OF THE FOUNDER Jeffrey P. Bezos (Jeff Bezos) is viewed to be a highly renowned name in the global online retailing business industry. The leader became much popular for his exceptional leadership skills that eventually made Amazon to become one of the successful and giant online stores in the respective business industry. Relating to the earliest days of Bezos, the leader graduated from Princeton University

Epistemology versus Ontology in Research Design Article

Epistemology versus Ontology in Research Design - Article Example These elements will provide the examples for the use of ontology instead of epistemology. Therefore, it may be said that this paper has been written on the assumption that ontology is better suited than epistemology for the research design. Finally, there will be a conclusion that will summarize the findings that have been acquired through this paper. The presentation of these findings or reasons as to why ontology is better suited than epistemology will be summarized in a systematic manner. Epistemology: This is a field of study that is closely related to philosophy. Epistemology, through the definition of theories and concepts, seeks to study a body of knowledge by applying the relevant definitions. It is a field of study that uses tools like analysis and interpretation. For the application of epistemology, it is important to have a body of ready to use or analyze factual data. This field combines the study of data with the application of philosophical tools, so as to garner broad generalizations. These generalizations adhere to various truths and beliefs, as may be depicted in the overall perception of the philosophical dimensions of the knowledge being studied. There is a strong scope for the use of logic and reasoning in this area. Justification of findings through various mathematical and statistical modes is also an important part of the field of epistemology. (www.wikipedia.com) Ontology: Ontology is a vast field of study. Its scope is greater than that of epistemology. This can be demonstrated by the fact that epistemology simply seeks to derive various findings through a study of the facts. Ontology on the other, seeks to find all the relevant knowledge that can contribute to a more systematic study of facts for more accurate findings. In the field of ontology, there is a focus on the defining of various parameters from varied perspectives. This helps the researcher reach certain generalizations so as to arrive on the common features of the parameter being studied. These common features can be summarized to form an accurate depiction of the issue at hand. (www.wikipedia.com) At this point, it is imperative to describe the research area. The research area is knowledge management. This part of the paper will contain the reasons throughout the conception of the area, as to why epistemology is less suitable than ontology for this particular research design. The title of the paper is 'Evaluating the Impact of Culture to Knowledge Management Designs, Tools and Implementations in Greece MNCs.' Research Problem This study seeks to investigate the impact of culture in the design, tools and the implementation of knowledge management in Greece. A cross-sectional study on five industries will be used as a sample in order to test the correlation of KM design, tools, and implementation and culture in Greece. At the end of the study, a proposed KM design, tools and implementation procedure will be recommended which can be used for other MNCs in Greece. This

Business Ethics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Business Ethics - Article Example In this way they make money. The SEC put out a warning that they will be looking closing at hedge funds that make over 3%. Is it right for the SEC to do this? There are a bunch of moral questions involved in this issue. One could place moral questions on the role of hedge funds. Is it right for hedge funds to purchase stocks expecting to make a profit because they know the stock's value is overly price. 2. The SEC should not put out such warnings because they will be capping the profit initiative, the ability of people to make a profit whenever they see it. This sounds more like a right under our free market system. Another argument is that it is not possible to truely regulate the market without be unfair to those who have made an earnest buck in the market. Some investors may be lucky, or some hedge fund operators may have done good due diligence research and they should be awarded whatever profit that comes their way. 3. The SEC should put out such warnings. Hedge funds have been known to create create market changes based on pure speculation, resulting in market busts where a lot of people lose their money.

Epistemology versus Ontology in Research Design Article

Epistemology versus Ontology in Research Design - Article Example These elements will provide the examples for the use of ontology instead of epistemology. Therefore, it may be said that this paper has been written on the assumption that ontology is better suited than epistemology for the research design. Finally, there will be a conclusion that will summarize the findings that have been acquired through this paper. The presentation of these findings or reasons as to why ontology is better suited than epistemology will be summarized in a systematic manner. Epistemology: This is a field of study that is closely related to philosophy. Epistemology, through the definition of theories and concepts, seeks to study a body of knowledge by applying the relevant definitions. It is a field of study that uses tools like analysis and interpretation. For the application of epistemology, it is important to have a body of ready to use or analyze factual data. This field combines the study of data with the application of philosophical tools, so as to garner broad generalizations. These generalizations adhere to various truths and beliefs, as may be depicted in the overall perception of the philosophical dimensions of the knowledge being studied. There is a strong scope for the use of logic and reasoning in this area. Justification of findings through various mathematical and statistical modes is also an important part of the field of epistemology. (www.wikipedia.com) Ontology: Ontology is a vast field of study. Its scope is greater than that of epistemology. This can be demonstrated by the fact that epistemology simply seeks to derive various findings through a study of the facts. Ontology on the other, seeks to find all the relevant knowledge that can contribute to a more systematic study of facts for more accurate findings. In the field of ontology, there is a focus on the defining of various parameters from varied perspectives. This helps the researcher reach certain generalizations so as to arrive on the common features of the parameter being studied. These common features can be summarized to form an accurate depiction of the issue at hand. (www.wikipedia.com) At this point, it is imperative to describe the research area. The research area is knowledge management. This part of the paper will contain the reasons throughout the conception of the area, as to why epistemology is less suitable than ontology for this particular research design. The title of the paper is 'Evaluating the Impact of Culture to Knowledge Management Designs, Tools and Implementations in Greece MNCs.' Research Problem This study seeks to investigate the impact of culture in the design, tools and the implementation of knowledge management in Greece. A cross-sectional study on five industries will be used as a sample in order to test the correlation of KM design, tools, and implementation and culture in Greece. At the end of the study, a proposed KM design, tools and implementation procedure will be recommended which can be used for other MNCs in Greece. This

Organization within its environment Essay Example for Free

Organization within its environment Essay Organization exist as part of a wider environment Or part of society and as such their influence by the environment in which their operate. It is usual to consider the environment through form of analysis known as pest analysis which has 4 main categories ; political this looks at the government involvement through legislation that they provide outlining the legal frame work within which every business must exist and taxation policy which are dependent on company success and therefore their profit ECONOMIC Factors affecting the financial functioning of the organization and value of money in the economy which will affect the ability to purchase as well as produce goods n services . It looks at the potential growth in a economy and how the value of money changes as well as trade SOCIAL This refers to factors affecting the population and supply of labour by looking at the influences on individuals whether their are employees or customers . It will look at the taste n preferences of plp in society, culture of plp the profile of the workin population nn the number of plp in the job market which influences expectations and behaviour at work TECHNOLOGICAL Factors affecting the processes of production such as changes in computer technology and communication and new manufacturing processes MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS Management involves creating and internal environment in a business which makes use of the inputs or factors of production to be transformed tp create outputs of goods and services .it is therefore the responsibility of management to create conditions that allows people to perform to their best ability to be efficient and effective. MANAGEMENT is able to do this through their basic functions of planning organising directing amd controlling the organizations resources in order to achieve the goals of the company MANAGEMENT THEORY Organisations considered to be employee oriented so they are likely to be  more productive and as a result become more profitable. Similarly employees who are mistreated are more likely to reject the policies of the organization. Based on this o.b helps to analyze how and why employees behave in a particular way and the schools of management thought provide different theory used for the of management. Each school of thought IS based on different assumptions about people and the organization for which they work and understanding of the developments of management thinking will help to understand the process of management that offer good employee benefits and have proper working conditions.

Effective Teaching Strategies for Deaf Students

Effective Teaching Strategies for Deaf Students What protocol would you put in place to ensure that pupils hearing aids and other amplification equipment are working optimally and used appropriately and that other aspects of your role in relation to audiology are met? Give the rationale for the procedures that you have specified. How would you evaluate the effectiveness of procedures that you have established? Rationale From the outset it is essential to determine what a ‘protocol is? As stated in the online Ask Oxford Dictionary protocol has many definitions, the one I believe provides a clear definition in this instance is â€Å"The accepted code of behaviour in a particular situation†. (Ask Oxford, Nov 2009) An educational establishment where children are using hearing aids and other amplification equipment would benefit from a protocol being in place. This would ensure that children using amplification equipment are accessing the curriculum at an optimal level. Teachers of the Deaf have a duty to ensure that each childs equipment is working and allowing them to learn and thrive within their educational environment by carrying out the protocol that is in place. It is therefore the duty of the teachers of the Deaf to carry out checks on the equipment. A protocol is therefore required to ensure that all Teachers of the Deaf are carrying out the same procedures and there is consistency through out the school. â€Å"Teachers should aim to give every pupil the opportunity to experience success in learning and to achieve as high a standard as possible.† (NCDS, 2005, p.5) By carrying out the checks, Teachers of the Deaf establish good practice and in turn aim to allow pupils to succeed. The children benefit when the protocol, which the school employs, is shared with parents and carers. Listening and learning take place in both the home and school environment. This would extend the â€Å"accepted code of behaviour† to the home life optimising the childs access to everyday learning experiences. With the need for a protocol established it is also necessary for that protocol to become a routine as to how, when and why Teachers of the Deaf should apply the specialised knowledge they have within their specific educational establishment. â€Å"Teachers of the deaf are specialist teachers, whose firm base in audiological knowledge is a fundamental part of their specialism† (Malthy and Knight, 2000, p.vii) Putting into practice a clear set of guidelines allows for each individual, working with children using these devices, to know who is responsible for each area and who to report faults to. This is the case, especially when multi-agency teams are involved in an individuals learning. To answer the question outlined I intend to: Describe the setting to which the protocol applies to Discuss the aims of the protocol and whom it applies to Review and evaluate the effectiveness of the protocol in relation to practice and research Protocol Setting The setting to which this protocol applies to is unique, in Scotland, in the sense that it is a mainstream school where hearing-impaired children are fully integrated into mainstream classes. Children have access to a full curriculum, which enhances their educational experience. (See Appendix 1 for a full policy statement) Teachers of the Deaf are also used in a unique way they are class committed in a mainstream environment with no more than four hearing impaired children in their class. It is important now to emphasise that the teachers have a responsibility and a duty of care to hearing and hearing impaired pupils in class. It is recognised in Watson. L and Parsons.J (1998) that the majority of Teachers of the Deaf are working in mainstream schools either as part of a unit or in peripatetic work but in this setting children are fully integrated into mainstream classes. This setting provides a real life setting for the children as hearing and hearing-impaired peers work together as they would in everyday life. This allows an inclusive ethos to develop educating respectful and open-minded individuals. It allows for the development of a safe and secure environment where all children feel valued and equal. Aims The aims of the protocol are clearly set out in the Aims of the Audiology Programme (Appendix 1). They are in bold and easily identified on the page. This is of great benefit to Teachers of the Deaf and other individuals that encounter the document. The mix of visual diagrams and the clear print allows this section to be user friendly and less intimidating to the user. The initial statement presents a positive and motivating aim for everyone involved. I will look at each aim individually and discuss how effectively the protocol (Appendix 2) achieves those aims. All pupils with a hearing impairment will be assessed regularly through a range of tests. Included in the protocol are the schools own testing strategies, which are of great importance as they make the protocol more meaning full to the individual establishment as these tests will differ depending on establishment. In Appendix 2, the protocol outlines the different checks that would take place to ensure that pupils hearing is assessed regularly. The G.A.P assessments are included in each child record and include a variety of linguistic and speech tests that are outlined in Appendix 2 and are carried out by the in house Speech Therapists. The Ling Speech Sound Test could be included in this however; it is outlined in the actual protocol. It will be used to gather information on how well a pupil is able to identify frequency elements in sounds. Ideally, this should be carried out before teaching and listening takes place to ensure that the amplification equipment is working optimally. If the test highlights any frequency issues, the stetoclip can be used to investigate further. In the event of everything, appearing to be working properly the issue can be raised with the educational audiologist on their visit to the school. They can then investigate and adjust amplification equipment to ensure opt imal teaching and learning conditions are maintained. Tympanometry tests are carried out and a record kept in each pupils file. This provides information on the middle ear. It looks like an audiogram, which can be difficult to interpret. If the information from this was translated into a report that was more understandable Teachers of the Deaf could use this information and translate it positively into their teaching environment so that it makes learning more accessible to the child and in turn meets the needs of the pupil. Other tests included in the protocol are Pure Tone Audiograms aided and unaided. These tests are usually used to determine the degree of deafness. The tests are carried out using different frequencies and intensities. The tests can be conducted through air conduction, using headphones or bone conduction using a bone conduction headband. Air conduction: this is where the individual wears headphones, the tester then selects pure tones from different frequencies and intensities. This test relies on the person being tested to be honest. Once the test is completed the range of deafness is apparent however the cause is not. Bone conduction: this is conducted in a similar way to air conduction. Maltby and Knight (2000) explain that it determines the nature of deafness. The signals are passed through the skull bone and travels to the cochlea. â€Å"The difference between the air conduction result and the bone conduction result is known as the air-bone gap and this indicates the extent of any conductive hearing loss.† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.34) The results produced are displayed on an audiogram. It is important to emphasise that these tests are not carried out by Teachers of the Deaf but by audiologists. However, it is important that Teachers of the Deaf are aware of them and how results can be used to improve a pupils residual hearing. This brings me to the point I made earlier on how the audiogram can be difficult to interpret. It would be of great advantage to teachers, parents, and other professionals if the information were transposed into a report, which can be used to benefit the child. The use of pupils residual hearing will be maximised Many factors can contribute to ensuring that a childs residual hearing is maximised. In Appendix 2 it outlines the documentation and assessments, each individual will undertake during their time in school. This part of the protocol needs to be looked at as Record of Needs is being replaced with Additional Support Plans and Co-ordinated Support Plans. This highlights the need for the protocol being a working document and not something that is just produced to meet audiology requirements. In completing these assessment such as Pure Tone Audiograms aided and unaided and Tympanometry Records all agencies involved will be able to contribute to the action that should be taken within the educational environment to maximise the pupils residual hearing. In addition to this it is of great importance to consider the acoustic setting as this contributes to how well residual hearing is maximised. This leads on to the next aim. The acoustical settings for learning will be monitored and acted upon where necessary. In every classroom, there is background noise and this contributes to how effective a hearing aid can be. â€Å"Hearing aids work well when there is little or no background noise† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.61) However, this is unrealistic to attain within an educational environment. Children are often working in groups and teaching can take place in whole class settings where they can be further away than what would be desired for optimal hearing. The hearing aid volume can be increased however this will amplify the background noise that is present also. A quiet learning environment is one, which would provide optimal learning conditions however in a mainstream school this is unlikely. The increased class effects noise. Areas, which contribute to background noise within a mainstream class are, movement, chairs being pushed and pulled, bags being accessed and the rustling this produces, increased amounts of talking, group activities going on independently when other direct teaching is taking place. All of these can lead to a poor acoustic setting. It would therefore be beneficial for the protocol to include measures for the Teachers of the Deaf to assess this before teaching in this environ ment. They could use a sound level meter, which encourages the teacher to put his or herself in the position of the deaf child and try to remove any pieces of furniture, which are not essential which sounds can reflect off. The teachers are also able to position themselves around the class identifying where the best place for a deaf child to sit within the class is. This allows for greater access to teaching and learning and ultimately reducing some of the background noise. As the background noise does not only come from the people inside the class, it is important for the teacher to do this so that outside noises are reduced. Traffic, toilets, general outside activity, weather can all be heard in the classroom. (Maltby and Knight 2000) It would therefore be of great value for the protocol to offer ways of minimising background noises within the classroom setting however it doesnt provide ways of making the classroom acoustically sympathetic. Reducing background and reverberation could be set out in guidelines and could provide suggestions. â€Å"An acoustically good environment is crucial for effective classroom listening †¦ schools provide an acoustically hostile environment that particularly disadvantages hearing aid wearers.† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.54) Therefore, guidelines within the protocol should encourage the use of carpets, curtains blinds, acoustic ceiling tiles and soft materials, which can in turn absorb and reduce the amount of background noise. (BATOD, 2001) This will help promote the fruitful learning environment outlined in Appendix 1. As classrooms are, in general, noisy places to be it would also be of great value that the protocol takes into account classroom management strategies, laying out rules for talking and listening. Establishing a whole school approach would provide consistency for not only the children but also the Teachers of the Deaf who undoubtedly have varied teaching styles and approaches. â€Å"†¦It is the teachers responsibility to maintain discipline and cooperation and thus reduce noise levels. Ensuring only one person talks at a time. (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.58) Fm and Sound Field systems help reduce the amount of background noise as this amplifies one source of sound benefiting the hearing aid or cochlear implant user. This will allow for enhanced teaching and learning taking place and allow the learner to become more focused and interactive with the lesson in hand. It is therefore of great importance that they are utilised effectively. Sound Field systems not only benefit hearing-impaired children in the class but those of hearing children as well. This is due to the teachers voice being amplified and making it clear for all present in the room. Brett and McCraken (1998) have referred that some authorities are not using the system successfully and in turn not providing children with the heightened sensory provision. The system not only increases the volume of the person using it but also helps eliminate noises in the classroom, which can be controlled such as movement, chairs moving, quiet discussions. This has outlined the importance of monitoring the acoustic setting for the children it has also highlighted areas in which the protocol could be improved to optimise the service provided to the children. Including these areas would make Teachers of the Deaf and Teachers of the Deaf in training more aware of areas which can be detrimental to the learning environment and moreover have a negative impact on the childs learning. The amplification needs of each pupil will be assessed and addressed. Each child is an individual and in turn, each child has individual needs. So it is of the utmost importance that Teachers of the Deaf regularly assess the equipment each child uses. This will ensure that faults are highlighted quickly and fixed without any real issues arising for the child and their learning. Brett and McCracken (1998) outline the particular needs of a Hearing Aid wearer and provide outline for assessing the equipment. These include making sure that hearing aids are well fitted and that the individual is able to hear in a range of environments. These are of great importance in a school as children are moving from area to area rather than being stationary in the one environment. This is where the acoustic setting assessments are monitored and acted on if necessary. Tests are carried out, which were discussed in the first aim, to gather information. This information can then be used to make decisions regarding amplification equipment of each individual making sure that Teachers of the Deaf are meeting the needs of each child. The amplification equipment and technology will be working to optimum effect and will be used effectively. It is essential that this aim is addressed in the protocol as teachers and parents should be checking the childs amplification equipment on a daily basis. This will allow problems to be detected quickly and rectified. In turn, this will maximise the potential learning that, the child has access to and allow the child to engage fully in their learning and the social interactions, which can take place within the classroom. This is concurred by Maltby and Knight; they believe that auditory equipment if working properly will enhance the learners experiences and the overall progress which a child can make. This setting is one, which uses oral communication, and not signing so any problems with amplification equipment is extremely detrimental to the childs development. â€Å" †¦ without effective exposure to the sounds of the environment and particularly of speech the opportunity to develop spoken language will be diminished.† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.38) The mainstream protocol for this setting outlines how to check all different kinds of amplification equipment. However it may need updated as, no child now wears the Sprint (the body worn processor) as this just adds to the bulk of the protocol and the amount of paper which you have to go through especially if you are new to the school. In addition to this upon evaluating the protocol, I also feel that there should be a checklist record for each child, keeping track of any issues with equipment. This could be a simple tick list to ensure that time constraints do not impose an issue for the teachers. This would provide useful information for the educational audiologists when they visit asking if there have been any problems. This is of greater use in the lower end of the school where the children are less able to vocalise any issues, which they may be having. As it is just now, there is no such method of recording and Teachers of the Deaf are making notes on an informal basis with no consistency being formed throughout the establishment. Parents should be considered also; they could be consulted on what would be easily managed for them at home, so that the protocol can be continued there, as it is of great importance that the equipment is at an optimal level there also. Appendix 2 outlines the checks, which should be carried out on a daily basis. Daily checks begin with a visual check. By looking closely at the casing of a hearing aid or cochlear implant cracks can be identified. Moulds and tubing can be looked at and the build up of wax or condensation can be apparent. It has been argued that it is not the role of the Teacher of the Deaf to clear wax obstructions from tubing and ear moulds (NCDS, 2005) in the case of children there might not be anyone else. In meeting the overall aim of the protocol â€Å" †¦ to provide a fruitful learning environment†¦Ã¢â‚¬  it is essential that we do what we can to meet each childs individual needs. In the setting which this protocol applies, as stated before it is an oral one, it is important that the older children become responsible for checking their equipment and that the Teachers of the deaf promote each individuals independence and provide support for these checks only when needed. In this setting, other equipment is used also Radio aids and Sound Field systems are in place to provide further amplification. These have been included in the protocol along with whose responsibility it is to check these and how often the checks should be carried out. â€Å"Deaf pupils who are being educated orally without any sign support will be highly dependent on amplification, both in the form of personal hearing aids and other equipment, for example radio aids.† (Gregory, Knight, McCracken, Powers and Watson, 1998, p.138) This quote highlights the greater importance placed on amplification equipment in a mainstream school and the necessity for it to work optimally. This equipment is what the children solely rely on to communicate effectively with. Radio aids should be checked monthly using a test box. This can highlight any problems with equipment and it will ensure that the hearing aid is producing sound at a high intensity this should also be carried out across a number of frequencies. It is also important that hearing aids and processors also be checked monthly to ensure that they are in line with the manufacturers specifications. Teachers of the Deaf are not responsible for these tests and are not fully trained in the technologies used to carry out these tests however they should be aware that they take place and of their importance in ensuring that amplification equipment works at its optimal level. In this setting and as stated in the protocol (Appendix 2) the Depute Head is responsible for ensu ring these tests are completed. I am of the opinion it would be beneficial for the protocol to outline what a Teacher of the Deaf should do when the equipment is not working properly. For example if shoes or links are faulty are there temporary replacements, or are there contacts in place with manufacturers to highlight faults. It would not be the responsibility for the Teacher of the Deaf to contact manufacturers directly but that of the Depute Head however there needs to be a record or pro-forma included in the protocol for passing this information on the Depute Head to guarantee that any problems are rectified quickly. Evaluation The technology surrounding audiology and amplification equipment is evolving so the first point is that the protocol should be regularly evaluated and adapted to ensure that it fits the requirements of the equipment being used. As I stated previously there are steps and procedures included in the document that no longer apply to children in the school, I am not saying this should be discarded completely however it can be removed from the working document until required, if ever required again. The steps are clear and it is identify who is responsible for each job; however some equipment is checked annually. I feel that as there is a heavy daily reliance on these pieces of equipment and there is a strong argument that these checks should be more frequent. This would allow for problems and issues to be identified and rectified more quickly. Especially when these equipments help achieve the aims outlined in the protocol (Appendix 1) In addition to more frequent checks it would beneficial to have a check list and record sheet this would benefit, not only Teachers of the Deaf but parents, audiologists and other professionals that work with the children. It would allow for quick reference for any issues children are having with their hearing aids or cochlear implants and would highlight any recurring problems. This information would be recorded in a consistent format providing continuity throughout the school. It would also be provided to parents to allow them to keep checks on their childs equipment. With everyone using the same format, the child can be encouraged to become more responsible for maintaining and checking their own equipment. Not only does audiology evolve but also education and the way we approach teaching and education is continually evolving so the protocol should be updated with these changes. That is in Appendix 1 the policy statement outlines that the establishment follows the 5-14 guidelines. This is still the case however the Curriculum for Excellence is becoming the more dominant tool in the planning and implementing of lessons and therefore should now be included also. The greatest indication of how successful the protocol has been is whether it is still meeting the needs of the children it poses to serve. It would therefore be good sense to establish a working party within the establishment to evaluate how well it is doing this, and adapt it to be more successful or it could be added for discussion to the agenda of the Hearing Impairment meetings, which are held regularly. This would incorporate views of everyone working with the document and not just a selected few on the working party. Conclusion The protocol, which appears in Appendix 2, is one, which is already in place, and I have broken it down and looked at the aims that it says it achieves. As a Teacher of the Deaf, this protocol is established and has to be adhered to. It is an important agreement, which has to be followed by all Teachers of the Deaf, to ensure that the needs of each child within a class are being met. â€Å"One way to ensure the teacher of the deaf and other professionals working with deaf children are meeting their obligations is to devise an audiology protocol.† (Course Team University of Birmingham, 2009, Unit 4 p.80) I feel that this protocol has plus points and negative ones. It achieves all of the aims outlined however it has not been updated in some time. With new equipment, needing to be included i.e. our new FM system and older amplification equipment, which is not currently in use needing to be removed. It would also benefit from additions, some parts being condensed into a daily check sheet, which would be more time efficient as it operates within a mainstream school. This would allow for even younger children becoming more familiar with the checks they should carry out. Moreover, I feel there should also be a place for a parental part of the protocol as they are a vital part of their childs life. Even though it is heavy on wordage, it does include pictures of the equipment in question allowing for quick finding of the part of the protocol, which relates to children in your class. The protocol does establish the roles of individuals and the duties and responsibilities that they have. It also states timelines for different checks whether they are daily, weekly or annually. It outlines what should be present in each class for carrying out checks, e.g. First Aid Kit. To conclude I do feel that this protocol does suffice but would benefit from regular updates as needs change and children within educational establishments continually move on. As a teacher and particularly for Teachers of the Deaf it is important to meet the needs of every child. As a profession we endeavour to do this and having a protocol allows for consistency and continuity throughout the stages. We have ambition for all our young people and we want them to have ambition for themselves and to be confident individuals, effective contributors, successful learners and responsible citizens. All Scotlands children and young people need to be nurtured, safe, active, healthy, engaged in learning, achieving, included, respected and responsible if we are to achieve our ambition for them.† (December 2009, Scottish Government) In managing the protocol more successfully, we will achieve the above aim as set by our Government and all the aims outlined within the document of the establishment. In doing this the needs of all children that are taught, within the setting, are met.