Are Women Better Parents Than Men Essay

Bringing up the children has been the mother’s duty since time immemorial. However, things are changing fast as there are single persons opting for adoption and couples unwilling to tide it through together who are opting to take up the job single handed. There is much to support the mother’s role as the primary caregiver of the family and the young ones, especially through reasons embedded in tradition as well as convenience. However, there have been many examples of single men coming forward, with the nurturing spirit surfacing strongly. Would they fare equally well as any woman or would they be at sea, if confronted by the daunting task of caring for a real child 24/7? The external responsibilities that a male usually carries out in a family—set up as the breadwinner and the protector—give him a tough aura that comes in the way of visualising him performing the mother’s role. However, this cannot be used as a benchmark to determine whether the man is capable of providing children with equal, if not more, tenderness, love and care. The perception that precedes any male when it comes to parenting may well have become redundant now, or is it still the same? Are men likely to fare badly at parenting, or have they become more sensitive to the needs of children in a changed environment? In fact some would rather believe that they better than the mothers as well. So do men actually make better parents than women? All individuals are different from one another and may respond or perform at different levels as per their individual capabilities. However, if a generalist idea has to be formed it would be so that women generally make the better parents as they have the innate maternal instincts that allow them to take the best care of their children. Women would have subconsciously built a bond with the child even before it is born. Carrying a child in the womb for nine month is sufficient for strong emotional ties to be formed that are beyond understanding of average human relationships. Nature has implanted the nurture and care automatically in women. Bringing up life in its first few years is extremely important and to ensure safety and survival the women are attuned intrinsically to this need. For the men this part might be the difficult bit. They are seen largely making valuable contributions in a child’s development after he/she has achieved control over bodily functions and has reached a certain level of comprehension. However, there are certain ways in which a father or a male can contribute in the upbringing of children that women cannot do complete justice to. Men are generally rational and logic driven and decisions/choices and actions are based on sound reason. The way a father can allow a child to go all out and grow up would not be possible with mothers, who are more protective and would be daunted by the slightest crunch in the heart. Of course, the exceptions are always there but the go getting spirit, courage and fierce determination can be imparted very well by the male only. It is important as it makes the child more worldly wise and equipped with a skill that will not be taught in any school as a part of the curriculum. An initial advantage that lies with the woman is that she is the one who is physically and mentally programmed naturally to do a better job of parenting. Women generally are more sensitive and attentive to even the smallest needs exhibited by the children. They are inherently good listeners, blessed with more patience to deal with hours of bawling. It can be very challenging to keep comforting little children as they are not able to express or communicate at times about what bothers, pains or frightens them. Mothers are usually patient at such time and are willing to put aside hours to calm and reassure them. The important part worth taking notice of is that the young years are really crucial in the formation of a self-confident and a secure individual. If the children are neglected and ignored, they are likely to shape up as insecure somewhere and no matter how much of inputs and care are given after they grow up, that deficit cannot be made up for. I personally think that women are more capable of adding this tremendous value to a child’s life. However, in the light of recent developments I would like to differ and cite the alternative point of view. The equations in today’s world are changing and the women are actively seeking employment and pursuing very challenging careers. Though the idea of motherhood is very fascinating, the actual process of bringing up a child can be very demanding. And here is where the male’s rational, organised and practical outlook counts. They can make it tick even in such a very demanding situation and hence men are capable of being better parents. I would still say that there is no doubting the fact that mothers make better parents as they are known to be more balanced, especially in crunch situations. If we were to take a neutral scenario where the financial pressure and the emotional mess of a broken household are absent, women are capable of dealing superbly with the task. Usually, the women are projected as emotional wrecks, poor decision makers and incapable of providing a secure future only in situations where they are not educated enough to go out and earn. Other than that, there are ample examples where independent single women have done a splendid job of parenting. I feel that the women are capable of a healthy left brain- right brain activity balance and create and nurture life adeptly. I do agree that there are some very valuable skill sets that may be the exclusive domain of women, but there is much that men may be capable of doing. Men are usually not known to be very expressive about their ideas or their feelings. They are more of the doers. The fact that I really appreciate about fathers is that they are capable of imparting many critical life lessons to their children without actually making them look like lessons. Children emulate their elders. A practical parent would teach the child to evaluate situations without really reacting at the drop of a hat. Men are good at controlling their emotions and by exhibiting more of the controlled reactions in crisis situations teach them calm, analytical approach. Then, there is the general conduct adopted toward the various people that instils etiquette, politeness and fist lessons in people skills. The other issue with the females is that even when the child has grown up, they may still be clinging on somewhere. Men will not be so edgy about letting go. I really feel that men are better parents as they are capable of a more hands off approach. TIt comes across as a logical conclusion of this debate that the role of both man and woman is equally significant as parents and it is not necessarily so that women make better parents. Most women make good parents as they are better listeners and tend to be more attentive to one’s needs. Being more sensitive than males, women can forge a closer relationship with their children. Father is commonly seen as the rationalist, but this is not always true. Some fathers can make better parents than mothers; and this could be largely attributed to an individual’s personal upbringing, the childhood he or she experienced and the values that they believe in. If one has had a loving family unit and an environment that made him/her feel loved, it inspires a quite confidence and self-assurance which further gets translated into further parenting. Therefore, it is really immaterial as to whether men or women make better parents. Anyone, with a more mature and balanced outlook is likely to do a better job of parenting—being hands off when required and involved when desired.

Transfer Functions

ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ TRANSFER FUNCTIONS AND BLOCK DIAGRAMS 1. Introduction 2. Transfer Function of Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) Systems 3. Block Diagrams 4. Multiple Inputs 5. Transfer Functions with MATLAB 6. Time Response Analysis with MATLAB 1. Introduction An important step in the analysis and design of control systems is the mathematical modelling of the controlled process. There are a number of mathematical representations to describe a controlled process:Differential equations: You have learned this before. Transfer function: It is defined as the ratio of the Laplace transform of the output variable to the Laplace transform of the input variable, with all zero initial conditions. Block diagram: It is used to represent all types of systems. It can be used, together with transfer functions, to describe the cause and effect relationships throughout the system. State-space-representation: You will study this in an advanced Control Systems Design course. 1. 1. Linear Time-Variant and Linear Time-Invariant SystemsDefinition 1: A time-variable differential equation is a differential equation with one or more of its coefficients are functions of time, t. For example, the differential equation: d 2 y( t ) t2 + y( t ) = u ( t ) dt 2 (where u and y are dependent variables) is time-variable since the term t2d2y/dt2 depends explicitly on t through the coefficient t2. An example of a time-varying system is a spacecraft system which the mass of spacecraft changes during flight due to fuel consumption. Definition 2: A time-invariant differential equation is a differential equation in which none of its coefficients depend on the independent time variable, t.For example, the differential equation: d 2 y( t ) dy( t ) m +b + y( t ) = u ( t ) 2 dt dt where the coefficients m and b are constants, is time-invariant since the equation depends only implicitly on t through the dependent variables y and u and their derivatives. 1 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ Dynamic systems that are described by linear, constant-coefficient, differential equations are called linear time-invariant (LTI) systems. 2. Transfer Function of Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) SystemsThe transfer function of a linear, time-invariant system is defined as the ratio of the Laplace (driving function) U(s) = transform of the output (response function), Y(s) = {y(t)}, to the Laplace transform of the input {u(t)}, under the assumption that all initial conditions are zero. u(t) System differential equation y(t) Taking the Laplace transform with zero initial conditions, U(s) Transfer function: System transfer function G (s) = Y(s) Y(s) U(s) A dynamic system can be described by the following time-invariant differential equation: an d n y( t ) d n ? 1 y( t ) dy( t ) + a n ? 1 + L + a1 + a 0 y( t ) n ? 1 dt dt dt d m u(t) d m ? 1 u ( t ) du ( t ) = bm + b m ? 1 + L + b1 + b 0 u(t) m m ? 1 dt dt dt Taking the Laplace transform and considering zero initial conditions we have: (a n ) ( ) s n + a n ? 1s n ? 1 + L + a 1s + a 0 Y(s) = b m s m + b m ? 1s m ? 1 + L + b1s + b 0 U(s) The transfer function between u(t) and y(t) is given by: Y(s) b m s m + b m ? 1s m ? 1 + L + b1s + b 0 M (s) = = G (s) = U(s) N(s) a n s n + a n ? 1s n ? 1 + L + a 1s + a 0 where G(s) = M(s)/N(s) is the transfer function of the system; the roots of N(s) are called poles of the system and the roots of M(s) are called zeros of the system.By setting the denominator function to zero, we obtain what is referred to as the characteristic equation: ansn + an-1sn-1 + + a1s + a0 = 0 We shall see later that the stability of linear, SISO systems is completely governed by the roots of the characteristic equation. 2 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ______________ __________________________________________________________________ A transfer function has the following properties: †¢ The transfer function is defined only for a linear time-invariant system. It is not defined for nonlinear systems. The transfer function between a pair of input and output variables is the ratio of the Laplace transform of the output to the Laplace transform of the input. †¢ All initial conditions of the system are set to zero. †¢ The transfer function is independent of the input of the system. To derive the transfer function of a system, we use the following procedures: 1. Develop the differential equation for the system by using the physical laws, e. g. Newton’s laws and Kirchhoff’s laws. 2. Take the Laplace transform of the differential equation under the zero initial conditions. 3.Take the ratio of the output Y(s) to the input U(s). This ratio is the transfer function. Example: Consider the following RC circuit. 1) Find the transfer function of the network, Vo(s)/Vi(s). 2) Find the response vo(t) for a unit-step input, i. e. ?0 t < 0 v i (t) = ? ?1 t ? 0 Solution: 3 R vi(t) C vo(t) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise: Consider the LCR electrical network shown in the figure below. Find the transfer function G(s) = Vo(s)/Vi(s). L R i(t) vi(t) vo(t) CExercise: Find the time response of vo(t) of the above system for R = 2. 5? , C = 0. 5F, L=0. 5H and ? 0 t < 0 . v i (t) = ? ?2 t ? 0 4 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise: In the mechanical system shown in the figure, m is the mass, k is the spring constant, b is the friction constant, u(t) is an external applied force and y(t) is the resulting displacement. y(t) k m u(t) b 1) Find the differential equation of the system 2) Find the trans fer function between the input U(s) and the output Y(s). 5ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Block Diagrams A block diagram of a system is a pictorial representation of the functions performed by each component and of the flow of signals. The block diagram gives an overview of the system. Block diagram items: Summing point Takeoff point Block Transfer function +_ The above figure shows the way the various items in block diagrams are represented. Arrows are used to represent the directions of signal flow. A summing point is where signals are algebraically added together.The takeoff point is similar to the electrical circuit takeoff point. The block is usually drawn with its transfer funciton written inside it. We will use the following terminology for block diagrams throughout this course: R(s) = reference input (command) Y(s) = output (controlled variable) U(s) = input (act uating signal) E(s) = error signal F(s) = feedback signal G(s) = forward path transfer function H(s) = feedback transfer fucntion R(s) Y(s) E(s) G(s) +_ F(s) H(s) Single block: U(s) Y(s) Y(s) = G(s)U(s) G(s) U(s) is the input to the block, Y(s) is the output of the block and G(s) is the transfer function of the block.Series connection: U(s) X(s) G1(s) Y(s) G2(s) 6 Y(s) = G1(s)G2(s)U(s) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ Parallel connection (feed forward): G1(s) + U(s) Y(s) Y(s) = [G1(s) + G2(s)]U(s) + G2(s) Negative feedback system (closed-loop system): R(s) E(s) +_ The closed loop transfer function: Y(s) G(s) Y(s) G(s) = R(s) 1 + G(s) Exercise: Find the closed-loop transfer function for the following block diagram: R(s) Y(s) E(s) G(s) +_ F(s) H(s) 7 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) __________________________________________________________________ _____________ Exercise: A control system has a forward path of two elements with transfer functions K and 1/(s+1) as shown. If the feedback path has a transfer function s, what is the transfer function of the closed loop system. R(s) +_ Y(s) 1 s +1 K s Moving a summing point ahead of a block: R(s) Y(s) G(s) + R(s) Y(s) +  ± G(s)  ± F(s) 1/G(s) F(s) Y(s) = G(s)R(s)  ± F(s) Moving a summing point beyond a block: R(s) Y(s) + R(s) G(s) Y(s) G(s)  ± +  ± F(s) G(s) F(s) Y(s) = G(s)[R(s)  ± F(s)] Moving a takeoff point ahead of a block: R(s) Y(s) R(s) Y(s) G(s) G(s) Y(s)Y(s) G(s) Y(s) = G(s)R(s) 8 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ Moving a takeoff point beyond a block: R(s) Y(s) R(s) Y(s) G(s) G(s) R(s) R(s) 1/G(s) Y(s) = G(s)R(s) Moving a takeoff point ahead of a summing point: R(s) Y(s) + Y(s)  ± F(s) R(s)  ± F(s) +  ± Y(s) + Y(s) Y(s) = R(s)  ± F(s) Moving a t akeoff point beyond a summing point: R(s) R(s) Y(s) + Y(s) +  ±  ± F(s)  ± R(s) F(s) R(s) + Y(s) = R(s)  ± F(s) Exercise: Reduce the following block diagram and determine the transfer function. R(s) + _ + G1(s) G2(s) G3(s) _ Y(s) + + H1(s)G4(s) H2(s) 9 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise: Reduce the following block diagram and determine the transfer function. H1 + R(s) +_ + G H2 10 Y(s) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Multiple Inputs Control systems often have more than one input. For example, there can be the input signal indicating the required value of the controlled variable and also an input or inputs due to disturbances which affect the system.The procedure to obtain the relationship between the inputs and the output for such systems is: 1. 2. 3. 4. Set all inputs except one equal to zero Determine the output signal due to this one non-zero input Repeat the above steps for each of the remaining inputs in turn The total output of the system is the algebraic sum (superposition) of the outputs due to each of the inputs. Example: Find the output Y(s) of the block diagram in the figure below. D(s) R(s) +_ G1(s) + + H(s) Solution: 11 Y(s) G2(s) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) _______________________________________________________________________________ Exercise: Determine the output Y(s) of the following system. D1(s) R(s) +_ G1(s) + + Y(s) G2(s) H1(s) + + D2(s) 12 H2(s) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Transfer Functions with MATLAB A transfer function of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system can be entered into MATLAB using the command tf(num,den) where num and den are row vectors co ntaining, respectively, the coefficients of the numerator and denominator polynomials of the transfer function.For example, the transfer function: G (s) = 3s + 1 s + 3s + 2 2 can be entered into MATLAB by typing the following on the command line: num = [3 1]; den = [1 3 2]; G = tf(num,den) The output on the MATLAB command window would be: Transfer function: 3s+1 ————s^2 + 3 s + 2 Once the various transfer functions have been entered, you can combine them together using arithmetic operations such as addition and multiplication to evaluate the transfer function of a cascaded system. The following table lists the most common systems connections and the corresponding MATLAB commands to implement them.In the following, SYS refers to the transfer function of a system, i. e. SYS = Y(s)/R(s). System MATLAB command Series connection: R(s) Y(s) G1 G2 SYS = G1*G2 or SYS = series(G1,G2) Parallel connection: G1 + R(s) SYS = G1  ± G2 or SYS = parallel(G1, ±G2) Y(s)  ± G2 Negative feedback connection: R(s) Y(s) +_ G(s) SYS = feedback(G,H) H(s) 13 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ R(s) Y(s) +_ G1 G2 H Example: Evaluate the transfer function of the feedback system shown in the figure above using MATLAB where G1(s) = 4, G2(s) = 1/(s+2) and H(s) = 5s.Solution: Type the following in the MATLAB command line: G1 = tf([0 4],[0 1]); G2 = tf([0 1],[1 2]); H = tf([5 0],[0 1]); SYS = feedback(G1*G2,H) This produces the following output on the command window (check this result): Transfer function: 4 ——-21 s + 2 Exercise: Compute the closed-loop transfer function of the following system using MATLAB. R(s) +_ 1 s +1 14 s+2 s+3 Y(s) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Time Response Analysis with MATLABAfter entering the transfer function of a LTI system, we can compute and plot the time response of this system due to different input stimuli in MATLAB. In particular, we will consider the step response, the impulse response, the ramp response, and responses to other simple inputs. 6. 1. Step response To plot the unit-step response of the LTI system SYS=tf(num,den) in MATLAB, we use the command step(SYS). We can also enter the row vectors of the numerator and denominator coefficients of the transfer function directly into the step function: step(num,den).Example: Plot the unit-step response of the following system in MATLAB: Y (s) 2s + 10 =2 R (s) s + 5s + 4 Solution: Step Response 2. 5 num = [0 2 10]; den = [1 5 4]; SYS = tf(num,den); step(SYS) Amplitude 2 or directly: step(num,den) 1. 5 1 MATLAB will then produce the following plot on the screen. Confirm this plot yourself. 0. 5 0 0 1 2 3 Time (sec. ) 4 5 For a step input of magnitude other than unity, for example K, simply multiply the transfer function SY S by the constant K by typing step(K*SYS). For example, to plot the response due to a step input of magnitude 5, we type step(5*SYS).Notice in the previous example that that time axis was scaled automatically by MATLAB. You can specify a different time range for evaluating the output response. This is done by first defining the required time range by typing: t = 0:0. 1:10; % Time axis from 0 sec to 10 sec in steps of 0. 1 sec and then introducing this time range in the step function as follows: step(SYS,t) % Plot the step response for the given time range, t This produces the following plot for the same example above. 15 6 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) _______________________________________________________________________________ Step Response 2. 5 Amplitude 2 1. 5 1 0. 5 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 Time (sec. ) You can also use the step function to plot the step responses of multiple LTI systems SYS1, SYS2, †¦ etc. on a single figure in MATLAB by typing: st ep(SYS1,SYS2,†¦ ) 6. 2. Impulse response The unit-impulse response of a control system SYS=tf(num,den) may be plotted in MATLAB using the function impulse(SYS). Example: Plot the unit-impulse response of the following system in MATLAB: Y(s) 5 = R (s) 2s + 10 Solution: Impulse Response um = [0 5]; den = [2 10]; SYS = tf(num,den); impulse(SYS) 2. 5 2 impulse(num,den) Amplitude or directly 1. 5 1 This will produce the following output on the screen. Is that what you would expect? 0. 5 0 0 0. 2 0. 4 0. 6 Time (sec. ) 16 0. 8 1 1. 2 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 6. 3. Ramp response There is no ramp command in MATLAB. To obtain the unit ramp response of the transfer function G(s): multiply G(s) by 1/s, and use the resulting function in the step command.The step command will further multiply the transfer function by 1/s to make the input 1/s2 i. e. Laplace transform of a un it-ramp input. For example, consider the system: Y(s) 1 =2 R (s) s + s + 1 With a unit-ramp input, R(s) = 1/s2, the output can be written in the form: Y(s) = 1 1 1 R (s) = 2 ? s + s +1 (s + s + 1)s s 2 1 ? ?1 =? 3 2 ?s + s + s ? s which is equivalent to multiplying by 1/s and then working out the step response. To plot the unitramp response of this system, we enter the numerator and denominator coefficients of the term in square brackets into MATLAB: num = [0 0 0 1]; en = [1 1 1 0]; and use the step command: step(num,den) The unit ramp response will be plotted by MATLAB as shown below. Step Response 12 10 Amplitude 8 6 4 2 0 0 2 4 6 Time (sec. ) 17 8 10 12 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 6. 4. Arbitrary response To obtain the time response of the LTI system SYS=tf(num,den) to an arbitrary input (e. g. exponential function, sinusoidal function .. etc. ), we can use the lsim command (stands for ‘linear simulation') as follows: lsim(SYS,r,t) or lsim(num,den,r,t) here num and den are the row vectors of the numerator and denominator coefficients of the transfer function, r is the input time function, and t is the time range over which r is defined. Example: Use MATLAB to obtain the output time response of the transfer function: Y(s) 2 = R (s) s + 3 when the input r is given by r = e-t. Solution: Start by entering the row vectors of the numerator and denominator coefficients in MATLAB: num = [0 2]; den = [1 3]; Then specify the required time range and define the input function, r, over this time: t = 0:0. 1:6; r = exp(-t); % Time range from 0 to 6 sec in steps of 0. 1 sec Input time function Enter the above information into the lsim function by typing: lsim(num,den,r,t) This would produce the following plot on the screen. Linear Simulation Results 0. 4 0. 35 Amplitude 0. 3 0. 25 0. 2 0. 15 0. 1 0. 05 0 0 1 2 3 Time (sec. ) 18 4 5 6 ECM2105 – C ontrol Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ TUTORIAL PROBLEM SHEET 3 1. Find the transfer function between the input force u(t) and the output displacement y(t) for the system shown below. y(t) b1 u(t) m b2 where b1 and b2 are the frictional coefficients.For b1 = 0. 5 N-s/m, b2 = 1. 5 N-s/m, m = 10 kg and u(t) is a unit-impulse function, what is the response y(t)? Check and plot the response with MATLAB. 2. For the following circuit, find the transfer function between the output voltage across the inductor y(t), and the input voltage u(t). R u(t) L y(t) For R = 1 ? , L = 0. 1 H, and u(t) is a unit-step function, what is the response y(t)? Check and plot the result using MATLAB. 3. Find the transfer function of the electrical circuit shown below. R L u(t) y(t) C For R = 1 ? , L = 0. 5 H, C = 0. 5 F, and a unit step input u(t) with zero initial conditions, compute y(t).Sketch the time function y(t) and pl ot it with MATLAB. 19 ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 4. In the mechanical system shown in the figure below, m is the mass, k is the spring constant, b is the friction constant, u(t) is the external applied force and y(t) is the corresponding displacement. Find the transfer function of this system. k u(t) m For m = 1 kg, k = 1 kg/s2, b = 0. 5 kg/s, and a step input u(t) = 2 N, compute the response y(t) and plot it with MATLAB. b y(t) 5.Write down the transfer function Y(s)/R(s) of the following block diagram. R(s) Y(s) K +_ G(s) a) For G(s) = 1/(s + 10) and K = 10, determine the closed loop transfer function with MATLAB. b) For K = 1, 5, 10, and 100, plot y(t) on the same window for a unit-step input r(t) with MATLAB, respectively. Comment on the results. c) Repeat (b) with a unit-impulse input r(t). 6. Find the closed loop transfer function for the following diagram. R(s) E(s) Y(s) G(s) +_ F(s) H(s) a) For G(s) = 8/(s2 + 7s + 10) and H(s) = s+2, determine the closed loop transfer function with MATLAB. ) Plot y(t) for a unit-step input r(t) with MATLAB. 7. Determine the transfer function of the following diagram. Check your answer with MATLAB. _ R(s) +_ s s + + 1/s s 20 1/s Y(s) ECM2105 – Control Engineering Dr Mustafa M Aziz (2010) ________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Determine the transfer function of the following diagram. R(s) +_ +_ 50 s +1 Y(s) s 2/s 1/s2 2 +_ a) Check you result with MATLAB. b) Plot y(t) for a unit-impulse input r(t) with MATLAB. 9. Determine the total output Y(s) for the following system. D(s)

Marketing and Market Research

Faculty of Academic StudiesSchool of Business and Professional BTEC Level 3 in Business – 90 Credit Diploma (QCF) Unit 3 Introduction to Marketing Assignment 1 Scenario You work for a professional organisation for marketers. One of the activities that the organisation undertakes is to evaluate the marketing activities of different companies and produce a list of ‘A’-classed marketers. You are asked to carry out research into two possible contenders for inclusion on the list. You need to complete the following tasks as part of your research project. Task 1 Describe how marketing techniques such as branding and relationshipmarketing are used to market products in two organisations. You need to choose one product or service from each organisation to undertake the task. (P1) 2Compare, discussing the similarities and differences, the marketing techniques described in Task 1 used for the product or service chosen in each organisation. (M1) 3Evaluate the effectiveness of the use of techniques in marketing products or services in one of your selected organisations. You need to judge the effectiveness by weighing up the pros and cons of the techniques used. D1) 4Describe the constraints and limitations under which marketers operate, making use of examples to explain your points. (P2) Task 2 Choose one of your selected organisations and investigate its use of market research. You need to complete the following tasks as part of the continuation of your research project. 1. Describe how your selected organisation or any other organisation uses market research to contribute to its development plans. (P3) 2. Explain the limitations of the market research used to contribute to the development of your selected organisation’s marketing plans. (M2) 3.Make three justified recommendations for improving the validity of the marketing research used to contribute to the development of your selected organisation’s marketing plans. (D2) 4. The results o f a questionnaire given to 200 customers of a local fresh sandwich bar to find out about the current range of sandwiches on offer and the standard of service included findings that: †¢ 75% want more children’s sandwiches †¢ 82% want the shop to open longer †¢ 65% said that the staff were unfriendly †¢ 50% said that the contents of the sandwiches should be fresher †¢ 80% said they would prefer more wraps.Use the results of this market research to produce part of the marketing plan in terms of objectives to be set. (P4) Task 3 Explain how and why groups of customers are targeted for selected products. Select six different groups for products or services of your choice for example, Saga holidays for the over 50s. At least two of your choices must be from the Business-to-business market; remainder can be from the consumer market. Describe the customer profile for each of the six target groups and then explain how and why these groups are targeted. (P5) Ta sk 4Choose one of your selected organisations and investigate its use of market research. You need to complete the following tasks as part of the continuation of your research project. 1. Develop a coherent marketing mix for a new product or service. (P6) 2. Develop a coherent marketing mix that is targeted at a defined group of potential customers. (M3) Grading tips: Pass Grade P1 – Make sure you understand the various techniques that are listed in the content section of the specification. Try to find out if the companies you choose use any of these techniques.P2 – Try to find examples of where these laws have been contravened (broken to any degree). Useful websites are those belonging to Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority. P3 – Remember that market research covers a wide area and you can include everything the business does to collect information about its marketplace. P4 – You need to demonstrate that you can apply the results of market research to marketing plans. The statistics are telling certain information that could result in objectives being formulated.P5 -Make sure that you understand the main bases for segmentation. The better a business can describe its target market, the better chance there will be of success. P6 – Make sure you understand what the elements are of the marketing mix, and how these can be altered to service the targeted market. Merit Grade M1 – For this task you need to find out the similarities and differences that exist between these techniques and discuss these in relation to the two products. Try to stay focused on answering the question and do not end up writing all you know about the techniques.M2 -You need to understand that the various laws and codes of practice are there predominantly for the protection of the consumer. Try to imagine what it would be like if there were no laws to protect the consumer – this may make it easier for you to answer the tas k. M3 – Look at the marketing mixes of various products. You may like to research this on the Internet and see how some successful products are managed in terms of their marketing mixes. This research should help you in developing a marketing mix for a selected product. Distinction GradeD1 -Evaluation is about considering in detail the advantages and disadvantages of something, and coming to conclusions as a result of this analysis. All the techniques can be criticised concerning their usefulness. Find out what these are and then make judgements about the effectiveness of the techniques used. D2 -You need to know that it is important to try to make your market research as valid as possible. This could mean making the sample of sufficient size or making sure that questionnaire answers are not ambiguous, as that could lead to misleading results.

HRM and leadership 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

HRM and leadership 2 - Essay Example The management of its human resources can be considered to be so well done that its employees in certain countries have tended to side with this corporation whenever any move was made by both the various individuals or rival companies to disrupt its operations (Malone & Roberts, 1996). While in many cases, the process of globalization alongside the liberal economic policies which have come with it and have come to be accepted in many countries have worked towards weakening the strong foundation upon which many trade unions have been built, this has not been the case with those unions that are related to General Motors. One would take the trade unions of Britain and Germany as examples of just how efficient the human resource management of General Motors has become. Despite the fact that the internationalization of the car industry has intensified the economic competition among the various carmakers in the world, General Motors has not had to encounter any of the frictions that other companies in similar business have had to encounter with their trade unions In most cases, the liberal policies that have been adopted by various governments because of globalization have tended to work more in favour of the employers than the workers do. These policies advocate for the flexibility of the labour market and this has meant that the labour market, especially in the automobile industry, has been deregulated and that automakers have been empowered in areas the hiring of workers, their firing, the choice of how much to pay them, as well as the choice of the use of labour (Heffelfinger, 2009). As a result of this, informal employment and other cheap forms of labour have become prevalent because automakers prefer them not only for the cheapness of wages paid to them, but also for the fact that they do not have to cover them in such matters as insurance and safety. This has made it very difficult for trade unions to be able to organize workers into a powerful force because m any of these informally employed people are not members of unions. This has not been the case with General Motors and this is because of the fact that this corporation has chosen to adopt a stand where it cares for all of its employees on a global level, so that many of those who work for it tend to be secure in their jobs, hence being more productive (Brondo & Baba, 2010). The management of General Motors has ensured that it provides the necessary leadership to its employees in matters pertaining to their employment so that the latter have come to appreciate their working conditions as well as feeling secure in their employment, especially in the current world of economic uncertainties. Fair Working Environment The swift change in the development of equipment as well as the globalization of the economy has led to the acceleration of structural adjustment. With the division of labour on the international scene, some of the companies in the automobile industry of developed countries have opted to shift those operations that they consider labour intensive to other countries, such as China and India, where there is cheaper labour. This has led many of their employees in their home countries to lose their jobs and this may account, to some extent, to the high job cuts in the automobile industry in the western countries (Dietrich & Krafft, 2011). This has not bee

Stock Rate of Return Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stock Rate of Return - Essay Example In other words, SRR = Capital gain + Dividend yield. It is actually the benefits reaped by an investor relative to the cost of the initial investment. On the other hand, Return On Common Equity (ROCE) relates to the net income before dividend payments on preference shares etc. It is the rate of return on investment for the company's common shareholders. A firm’s ROCE reveals the profit it generates with the invested money of shareholders. The ROCE is also useful for comparing the profitability of a company to that of other firms. The Stock Rate of Returns and the Return On Common Equity are related to each other in the following ways. (i) Can determine (ROCE) by subtracting preferred dividends from net income and subtracting preferred equity from shareholders' equity, given: ROCE = Net Income - Preferred Dividends / Common Equity, where as the other (Capital gain + Dividend yield) gave the (SRR). (ii) Return on stocks may also be calculated by dividing net income by average sh areholders' equity. (iii) Investors may also calculate the change in ROE for a period, first by using shareholders' equity at the start of the period as the denominator and then using shareholders' equity at the end of the period as the denominator.... irical evidence reported by Penman suggests that, in the 1980-1997 period, median ROCE for NYSE and AMEX firms were on average much lower than Rates of Return on the S&P500. Putting aside the periods from 1990 to 1992 when value's heavily weighted sector declined owing to the S&L crisis, the 51% premium of growth shares is historically low at present versus the 56% average since 1980. Excluding data from the "tech bubble" period when growth P/Es were in excess of two times value multiples; it is still left with a historical average premium of 48%, close to the current value. Recessions tend to begin at the start of the decade, e.g., 1980, 1990, and 2000/01. They last for 18 to 24 months before giving way to a strong recovery that lasts for about two years until the Federal Reserve starts to raise interest rates in order to dampen inflation fears. Usually, mid-cycle and mid-decade, the economy cools and the rate of growth is cut in half as was the case in 1984/85 and 1994/95. If histo ry repeats itself in 2005, the economy will move at a slower pace owing to higher interest rates and energy prices. (1)What is an accounting analysis (2)How does one assess the quality of a firm's accounting and trade on the basis of an accounting analysis (3)What evidence is there of empirical returns to accounting analysis in the context of IPOs Accounting analysis describes the extent to which the use of different accounting methods affects reported results like financial statements of a business. Different financial statements including Trading, Profit and Loss Accounts, Income and expenditure Accounts, Balance sheets etc are recorded with entries for valuation. Thus the accounting analysis could be other wise termed as the financial statement analysis. Accounting analysis

Define the concepts 'realism', 'fantasy', and 'utopia' Essay

Define the concepts 'realism', 'fantasy', and 'utopia' - Essay Example Realism Realism is widely-known since it contains cosmopolitan elements most people would agree to be the truth. It is a concept used to rationalise everything in the world, unifying how everyone sees reality through measurable and specific attributes (Morris, 2003). However, realism is not fully grasped by every individual due to innate differences. Each person experiences some parts of reality but not fully, making individual persons and their existences separate from absolute reality. This detachment from absolute reality is constant through time and space. Because each person has a unique set of experiences and memories by being in various places and periods in time, it would be impossible to say that how a person sees reality is the absolute truth since a person’s collection of knowledge and memories affects how reality is felt and experienced (Berger, 2008; Searle, 1995). It false to assume one person sees ultimate reality, but is socially acceptable that every person se es reality according to how one reacts to it, believing this to be the truth. The idea took a long time to form and even longer time to conceptualise due to difficulties in uniformly defining realism and reality. Before realism was coined, cultures come to accept everything simply what these things seem to them without any further questioning. The advent of Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution started people questioning what reality is, and defines this further through the growth of various fields of knowledge such as sciences and humanities. This makes it easier to create a representation of what reality truly is by delineating what defines something real and what makes it unreal, as agreeable to the majority. However the emergence of a culture giving priority or power to entities bearing the highest amount of money or capital such as rich or influential people skewed this balance of equal opportunities in presenting individual realities, giving them greater capacities to delive r their ideas and perceptions of their own reality to others compared to those lacking resources to do the same. If the powerful person or entity communicates its reality in attractive forms like literature among impressionable people with limited experiences, these audiences will be convinced of its absolute truth, twisting the people’s individual perception of realism and taking its face value for convenience. But people who totally reject and disagree with this reality do so because they either have an entirely different sense of realism based on their own experiences, or they already created opposing belief systems far from how powerful entities sell their reality. This keeps distrusting people unresponsive to mass-produced reality and fully aware of its differences with their own, shaping their own senses of realism. Fantasy and Utopia Realism has its antitheses: fantasy and utopia. For many, fantasy is something unchained, imaginary and a form of escape from one’ s insight on reality (Jackson, 1981). In this made-up world, ideas and thoughts are not confined by others’ definition and view of reality. Impossible things in realism is acceptable as true or absolute in fantasy, including the reversal of social codes, gender, good and evil, or anything most people find troublesome in the reality they experience. Fantasy bluntly or subtly rejects the reality in most people by showing the

Social determinants of health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social determinants of health - Essay Example The reason for such a step was to annul the mounting disparities that were arising in the health status of people all over the world. The Commission observed that these disparities were primarily due to the differences in the living conditions of the people as well as the resources they had access to. According to the Commission, inequity is recognized as unfair or unjust disparities that exist in health status that can be averted and so can be solved (Who Regional Office for the Eastern Medi, 2008). The WHO defines social determinants of health as the social conditions in which people live and can have an impact on their health. The factors that influence the possibility of people living a healthy life include poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, education, poor housing and poor employment (Farrell, McAvoy, Wilde, & Agency, 2008). Structural determinants trace their origin to the socioeconomic and political conditions at both the national and international scale. Such determinants are connected to elements that are governed by sheer power and authority with respect to the ownership and distribution of resources as well as the status and reputation associated with it. These relationships are required to promote health and prosperity in the area. The economic conditions of the country as well as the political, historical and environmental conditions are some of the determinants of health. These determinants are mirrored in the social determinants, which are defined as the living conditions of the people which may influence their lives (Who Regional Office for the Eastern Medi, 2008). Health inequities arise as a result of the marginalization, paucity and bigotry that a certain class of people is subject to. The situation does not exist in developing countries solely. In relatively advanced countries such as Australia, where people have access to, and a greater

The role of employee engagement in the delivery of enhanced Assignment

The role of employee engagement in the delivery of enhanced organizational performance - Assignment Example The psychological contract has been further explained in the light of the managerial roles. The managers expect that their subordinates will seek out for new challenges and foster loyalty towards the organization, at the same time the employees also expect that the organization will offer them sufficient work flexibility and growth opportunities. An employee will increase their individual output and responsibility if the organization gives more priority towards its staffs and offers them with perks and rewards. Thus it has been clearly stated that a proper leadership style along with a proper organizational culture will lead to increased employee engagement which as a result will improve the overall organizational performance. This report is a part of the unit assignment for the full time students of the Manchester Metropolitan University. The report contains the discussion over the work engagement of an employee in his organization and how it has been affected by the organizational behaviour. It highlights the relationship between the organizational output and the employee engagement. The role of managers and supervisors has also been discussed, which acts as a major factor in improving the organizational output by increasing employee engagement. This report has been backed up by several relevant articles and theories in order to justify the findings. This paper will help managers to identify the organizational behaviour responsible for higher employee engagement and increased organizational output. The managers will be able to relate their organization to this study and make necessary amendments in the firm policies which will eventually lead to voluntary employee commitment. This business report has been prepared on secondary data collected from various journal articles and theories from relevant organizational management books. Several real life examples which are cited in the paper have been collected from

1.Identify one method and critically evaluate it paying attention to Essay

1.Identify one method and critically evaluate it paying attention to the underlying theoretical underpinnings - Essay Example For instance, there are high chances that if the social workers are conscious about cultural issues there will also be high chances that they will offer competent services that are culture based and are likely to improve the quality of health care to various users of the service provided. Culture is a complex phenomenon and it requires the service providers to view themselves, local communities, their workmates and the settings of their employment from different angles. Social workers are often face difficulties in dealing with different cultural issues (Laird, 2008). Social workers ought to be accommodative to different cultural values of the service users and they must adopt a neutral position when they deal with people from various cultural backgrounds. There is need for them to respect the values of people from all backgrounds in order to be effective in the dispensation of their duties. There is need for the social workers to liberate themselves from cultural conditioning that emanates from professional as well as personal training so that they can develop their own world views based on experience which can help them develop sound interventions when dealing with groups from a diverse cultural background (Sue, 2006). In this assignment, I will focus on the model for cultural competence by Purnell as shown in the appendix. This model is primarily descriptive and it focuses on individuals, families, communities as well as the global community at large. The model is an amalgamation of different theories and it can guide through development of planning strategies, tools for assessment as well as personal interventions. This model was specifically designed to work as a framework that can be used to assess culture used across various disciplines as well as settings of practice. Whilst this model can provide an excellent guide to professionals, social workers may not have ample time to go through it. However, the social workers can gather a lot of information

Research Methods in Business and Economics Essay

Research Methods in Business and Economics - Essay Example The article is written with a scholarly fervour and is not intended for the general audience. There is an erudite tone kept throughout the article, and it is assumed that the readers are professional and well read. The structure of the paper is also professional with introduction given first and then comprehensive literature follows. The study gives a sufficient introduction and literature review. The article has given considerable illustrations of the theoretical concepts mentioned in the research. Resource based view is discussed and through empirical studies and findings it is explain in terms of competition, performance and capability. Client-specific and non client-specific value addition is also differentiated and competition is discussed in the case of high client-specific value addition. The author has sometimes, in the article, gone with the flow and has jumped quickly from one concept to another. It is understandable that the nature of research is such to discuss and link many concepts but at times in the paper considerable time is not given to a concept. For example firm performance and capability is not discussed greatly in the paper. This may be because the researcher believes that the audience is well versed with the concept beforehand. The paper is indeed written for professional people but still some clear distinction and explanation of the concepts would have increased the reach of the study. Presentation of Findings The author has presented the findings of the study in a professional manner with tables and statistical information given to the readers. A longitudinal study is usually difficult to conduct as it requires use of complex statistical instruments, but the author seems to have worked well in this regard. The statistical information is also given in proper tables so that it is easy to read. The best thing about the research is that the hypotheses are presented very clearly. The study is no doubt a complicated study with focus on diverse concepts and their impact on each other. It was therefore important to present the methodology and hypotheses in a clear manner and this is done in the study rather effectively. The

European Description Essay Example for Free

European Description Essay The fear when youre in a social situation in which you may be exposed to some kind of harm, or so as you may think. It can arouse a panic attack, the persons fear is noticeable and they would rather avoid such situations. It is normally diagnosed in people under 18, and can last for about 6 months. This fear is not created because of a drug, and if a general condition is present, it is not related to it in any way. European Description: Often starts in adolescence and is experienced around small groups of people. It can be seen in both males and females. In some cultures, direct eye-to-eye contact can be stressful, and nausea, hand tremor and panic attacks may be seen too. Most of this is related to low self-esteem and there is always a prevailing fear of being criticized. In extreme cases, total isolation may be experienced  Treatment:  Most phobias can be treated through therapy, however in very extreme cases, pharmacotherapy (includes the use of antidepressant drugs) may be needed. (APA 1998) The cognitive behavioral therapies reassure the patient that there is nothing that could possibly harm them. This is done by approaching a situation which may be frightening for the patient and then breaking it down into pieces to allow ways to cope with that (such as muscle relaxation). These therapies have been in practice for a while and have been proven fruitful. A limitation of this treatment is lack of therapists to take care of such situations. An article also suggested that serotonin reuptake inhibitors also help in such conditions. Is the sudden, rapid, unusual kind of behavior which may be vocal or physical called tics. It normally attacks someone before the age of 18 and there is no research to know its cause; it is neither the side effect of a drug nor a general disease. The period can last for about a year, and the tics occur as frequently as a few times a day. European Description: A tic is defined as a sudden and involuntary movement, which is of no use but may be suppressed. Common tics include blinking of the eye, sniffing, shrugging your shoulders whereas more complex ones can be more physical, such as skipping around, or even causing harm to one self. It is an uncommon, chronic disorder which occurs more in males compared to females and has been proved hereditary. De la Tourrettes Syndrome is when theres a lot of overlap of vocal and physical tics which can be observed during childhood or adolescence, and can lead on into a patients adult life too. Tics may be suppressed and can be put off by going to sleep! Recent research: + Magazine Article  Sleeping Patterns in children with Tourette syndrome: a polysomnographic study  To evaluate data on sleep quantity/quality and tics during night sleep in children with Tourette syndrome  Polysomnography of teenage and young kids who suffered from Tourettes were taken [ they did not have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ]. The control for this experiment was a group of 16year old sex and IQ matched teenagers. Their sleeping patterns were noticed to have added short movements, which lasted about 15 seconds and their tic activity and sleeping span were studied. It was seen that kids who suffered from TS showed major changes in their sleeping span and slept for longer than the control group. it was also seen that they were awake most of the time, rather than fully asleep. The number of stages that they went through had no difference. Movement was seen to be similar, but TS patients showed a little bit more movement.  It was seen that there is no direct link between sleep span and movements in your sleep. Children with TS have disturbed sleep which is because of their tics during the day. There is a need for further research on this issue Treatment: A placebo-controlled trial of risperidone in Tourette syndrome  A study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of risperidone in children and adults with TS  The study lasted for 8 weeks and patients were selected randomly for a placebo controlled trial. Total tic score was being measured.  34 participants (26 children and 8 adults) from 6 to 62 years were available. Total Tic scores were similar at baseline (26.0 +/- 5.1 for risperidone vs 27.4 +/- 8.5 for placebo). After 8 weeks of treatment (mean daily dose of 2.5 +/- 0.85), the 16 subjects on risperidone showed a 32% reduction in tic severity from baseline, compared to a 7% reduction for placebo patients. The 12 children randomized to risperidone showed a 36% reduction in tic symptoms compared to an 11% decrease in the 14 children on placebo. Two children on risperidone showed acute social phobia, which resolved with dose reduction in one subject but resulted in medication discontinuation in the other. A mean increase in body weight of 2.8 kg was observed in the risperidone group compared to no change in placebo. No extrapyramidal symptoms and no clinically significant alterations in cardiac conduction times or laboratory measures were observed.  Therefore it was seen that Risperidone appears to be safe and effective for short-term treatment of tics in children or adults with Tourette syndrome. Longer-term studies are needed to evaluate the durability of efficacy and safety over time.

English Mamet Miller Essay Example for Free

English Mamet Miller Essay Crucial to the dramatic impact of any stage play are the entrances and exits of the characters, as well as the motivations which drive these entrances and exits.   In both Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman and David Mamets Glengarry Glen Roos, pivotal events and sequences of events are set in motion by the entrances of exits of the plays characters. The   entrances and exits of the characters and, most importantly, the entrances and exits of the plays main characters, are keyed to the thematic impulses of the plays. In Death of a Salesman it is the very existence of an exit for Willie Loman that drives the plays message regarding classicism and the American Dream.  Ã‚   In Glengarry Glen Ross, the action of the play is framed almost entirely by the entrances and exits of the players on or off of an unchanging set than from various set-changes which set mood and pace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Millers Death of a Salesman offers one of the most famous and memorable exits of a plays main character in American theater. Mamets Glengarry Glen Ross offers ironic and darkly comical entrances and exits by its main character Shelly Levine. The most prominent impact of a characters entrances and exits on stage to an audience is to signal to the audience that the character or characters in question will either be apart from the ensuing action, or be initiated into it. For audiences the arrivals end exits of a plays main character are poignant and obvious symbols of a change in the direction of the plot, pace, and mood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Millers Death of a Salesman exemplifies how the entrance and exit of a plays main character can frame the entire action of a play. The plays first dramatic action, other than the revelation of the non-realistic and semitransparent set, is the entrance of Willie Loman who comes onstage carrying two large sample-cases. (Miller).   The image of a man, past sixty, striding onto an unrealistic set with two suitcases transmits a considerable amount of information to the audience in a   single dramatic gesture. Loman, merely by entering the stage, can be obviously determined to be a middle-aged man, lost in hazy memories of the past, facing an uncertain future, carrying a heavy load, and ready to travel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These qualities are precisely those which drive the plays dramatic plot and its themes. The plot involves Willie Lomans battle to make a home and living world for his family, to find meaning in his existence, and to salvage dignity from an undignified station in life. The theme of the play, which deals with economic disparity and the dissolution of the average working person, is clearly articulated purely by the image of Willie Lomans initial entrance onto the hazy, dreamlike set.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lomans exit, which closes the play, is similarly concise in dramatic impact and vision. Before making his famous exit to his own death Loman turns to emphatically address the audience. He says, Theres all kinds of important people in the stands; and the first thing you know. This direct appeal to the audience, spoken just before Lomans final exit from the stage, invites the audience to identify even more deeply with Loman and his plight just prior to his death. The breaking of the invisible fourth wall (or at least the bending of it) invests Loman with humanity and realism, bringing the audience as close to him as he possibly can, before throwing himself to his fate.   (Miller)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this way, the dialogue spoken by characters as the enter or exit the stage can be rightly considered a part of the exit or entrance itself and is, in a well-made drama, keyed compositionally into the thematic purpose of the entrance or exit. When Loman speaks his last word to the audience Shhh! the audience knows, even before his exit, that he is about to do something extremely important,. perhaps more dramatic and more important than any action up to that point in the play.   The dialogue is, itself, signaling both his exit and the plays climax. Lomans physical exit from the stage is accompanied not only by spoken dialogue, but it is immediately followed by an off-stage cacophony which directly contradicts Lomans Shhh!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This abrupt shift, from a call to silence, to a roaring crash, which modulates to a single cello note, wraps the play together thematically as well as granting the complex plot a suitable denouement.   The swift transformation from impelled silence to the off-stage crash takes the audience through a grand dramatic arc in the space of a few moments and encapsulates the plays essential message about the sanctity of the individual. By framing the entirety of the play with Lomans exceedingly well-composed and envisioned entrance, Miller conveys the essence of his theme through two dramatic gestures, each of which incites the reader or audience to identify more closely and more intensely with Lomans plight and fate and in so doing, embrace to the same degree the plays thematic message.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mamets Glengarry Glen Ross offers a similar thematic impulse as Death of a Salesman, in that it explores the dissolution and degradation of a little man in American society. However, Mamet, rather than opting for warm, empathetic audience identification, seeks to lead his audience to his thematic message by way of a study in ambition and moral ambiguity. Shelly Levine aspires to be a thief and a selfish and materialistic person.   The impact of his selfishness and materialism is conveyed, often ironically, through his entrance sand exits in the play. An example of this is in Act Two when Levine bursts onto the (ransacked) office-set with tremendous glee and confidence. He says:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Get the chalk.   Get the chalkget   the chalk!   I closed em!   I closedthe cocksucker.   Get the chalk and put me on the board.   Im going to Hawaii!   Put me on the Cadillac board, Williamson!   Pick up the fuckin chalk.   Eight units. Mountain View   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Meanwhile, it is clear to the audience by the mere fact of the office being in shambles, that Levines victorious tone is   completely inappropriate. This is an ironic gesture, created by Mamet from the dissonance created by Levines up-beat entrance and the shambled state of the set he enters on. The irony generated in this gesture is central to the plays themes of selfish dissolution and culpability.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Like Miller, Mamet incorporates important dialogue into the entrances   and exits of the characters and, like Miller, he utilizes audience expectation and the sudden change of the plays pace and mood to transmit important thematic information tot he audience. In this, both playwrights partake of musical composition where the various entrances and exists of melodic themes and passages indicate a shift in mood and thematic direction for the listener.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Similarly, Aaronows exit into the side-office in the same scene discussed above indicates a pending plot complication. His line We had a robbery. which comes just before he moves from the office-space to the inner-room indicates a shift in the plot. The line indicates that the motion of leaving the main office is somehow tied to the fact of the robbery. And at this point, the audience feels intensely, the ironic impact of Levines enthusiastic entrance earlier in the scene.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The energy of the scene is tied directly to the plays themes and, in fact, encapsulates them for the audience. Levines initial excitement and dialogue are indicative of the ambition which drives him; Aaronows line and subsequent stage-movement   indicates both the moral ambiguity of Levines ambition and the potential repercussions for this naked ambition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Both Miller and Mamet decline to give their main characters entrances and exits of noble stature or consequence (as one might expect from a Shakespearean or Greek tragedy). Instead, the players entrances and exits are ironic, chaotic, elegiac, or fragmented. For miller the lack of grand entrances and exists invested with nobility symbolized the fragmentation and degradation of an individuals mind, body,m and spirit. For Mamet, the rather hectic and ominous entrances and exits of the characters in Glengarry Glen Ross   symbolize the disorder and fragmentation of modern society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As important to the dramatic impact of the play as dialogue or plot, the entrances and exits of a plays charters produce a dynamic relationship with the plays sets and situations. As noted above, Mamets construction of a pivotal scene in Act 2 is structured around an ironic entrance by the plays protagonist.   Millers unforgettable climax is structured around the tragic exit of Willie Loman; the plays Requiem in effect becoming an extension of this last exit, for it is the absence (the exit) of Loman which provides the impetus and motion of all that concludes beyond his leaving the stage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Shelly Levine is guided meekly away in handcuffs by detectives at the close of Glengarry Glen Ross, the audience is left with the impression of tragedy, but also with a sense of ironic justice. The meekness of Levine, in contrast to the ambition which has propelled him through the events of the play and given rise to the plays complications is reduced, at last, to helpless culpability.   Ã‚   This resonance drives Mamets theme of social disintegration for it is not merely a moral failing on Levines part which incites the plays final, ironic tragedy, but the hopelessness of ambition and competition in an economically driven society, which values money over human relationships or moral fortitude.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By staking so much dramatic impact on the entrances and exits of their characters, both Miller and Mamet, create a sense of constant motion, excitement, change and energy, giving a sense of the ephemerality of an individuals existence. In effect the entrances and exits of Loman and Levine demonstrate the ineffectuality of the individual in an impersonal society, but they also manage to convey (usually by irony) a sense of the injustice which accompanies their characters ignoble entrances and exits.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For Miler, the sanctity and nobility of the individual was more important even than death for Mamet the destruction of the individual through submission to material ambition was viewed as thoroughly corrupting, so much that his protagonist perceived victory only at the moment of his actual defeat. For Loman, some form of self-reclamation took place in his final, tragic exit form the stage; for Levine, self-reclamation is left as an ambiguous and unlikely possibility.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both Death of a Salesman and Glengarry Glen Rooss depend on important entrances and exits by their main (and minor) characters to shape the flow and pace of the plays scenes, plots, and character development but also to transmit through gesture, word, and motion the thematic meaning, or message of the work. In each case, the use of dialogue, set-changes, and dramatic irony accompany the entrances and exits of their characters as a method for inverting (or subverting)the traditional, flourished and noble entrances of classically tragic characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Miller and Mamet each chose to articulate the story of little men. In keeping with these portrayals, they necessarily constructed entrances and exits for these characters and the characters the interacted with in order to present the theme of the individual in modern society, with a vie toward examining the moral implications of materialism, ambition, and classicism in American society. the entrances and exits of their characters proved to be crucial technical elements for transmitting these important themes.

the Firm Strategy Structure and Rivalry

the Firm Strategy Structure and Rivalry Sialkot is known as the export city of Pakistan. Out of many cottage and small scale industries, sports industry is one of the most prominent in the city. There are total 3559 sports goods industries in Pakistan out of which over 98 percent are located in the city of Sialkot and its suburbs.[1] Imported sports brands like Adidas (Germany), Puma (Germany), Nike (USA) and Slazenger (UK) started getting their products manufactured from the Sialkot sports industry. This international collaboration was a big achievement. In 1994, official soccer balls were required for FIFA football World Cup, USA 94. Sialkot sports equipment exporters were selected for this supply.[2] However, the industry is now experiencing loss of market share because of lack of modernization that is latest technology usage, poor information infrastructure, competition with China, India and Japan, low capital for industry expansion, lack of technical education, innovation and international standards in production, frequent power outages, poor management skills and lack of coordination among related industries in the sports cluster. Using the Porters Diamond model for analysis, we can better understand the current situation of the sports industry (exhibit 1). Porters Diamond model[3] helps in understanding the role of clusters in competition and enables a government to gauge how an industry can become competitive on a global level. Demand Conditions: Sialkot sports industry had been generating major revenue by exporting sports wear and sports equipment to the international market. But there has been a recent downfall in the industry. The international market demands innovation in sports products, use of better technologies and international standards in production. Firm Strategy Structure and Rivalry: There is a strong competition with China, India and Japan. International brands like NIKE, Adidas etc. are getting their products made from these countries because of cheap labor and raw materials there. China specially is a big threat to the industry.[4] Factor Conditions: Small scale industries are run by a familys own savings. As savings are limited, expansion of industrial units is not possible and it could soon get exhausted. So, capital is a hurdle in advancement. Power outages are one of the biggest problems of Pakistan these days. It causes problems in the form of delays in production. Employees are not well equipped with the management skills. Because of obsolete technology usage, the industry is lagging behind the market. Infrastructure needs to be enhanced according to modern demands. Raw materials which are required include synthetic rubber, rubber, leather (pebble grained leather), wood, aluminum, nylon, gut etc. These are all locally produced. Related Supporting Industries: Despite the presence of big sports cluster including locally based suppliers of raw materials, the cooperation among the private-public partnerships seems to be low. Differences in prices are created because of lack of coordination among the related industries. Individuals are not well trained about the technology advancement. Entrepreneur fervor is there but innovation is lagging behind.[5] Analysis: Regaining markets share will require a number of changes. In order to analyze the importance of the sports industry and to judge whether there is really any need for upgrading the sports cluster, the SWOT analysis is carried out which shows the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the sports industry of Pakistan (exhibit 2). According to it, the sports industry has sustained up till now because of the long history of exports which has enabled it to maintain active and reliable linkages in international markets. Though small in number, the labor force possesses multiple skills regarding production, for example, in the manufacturing of cricket bats, tennis rackets, and footballs which is keeping the industry functioning. However, sports industries are small-scale cottage industries with weak management capabilities of the employees and a tough price competition in the market, making their survival difficult. Moreover, absence of international standards and accredited testing laboratories is also adding to the weaknesses. Lack of product innovation and extensive power outages are also affecting it negatively. Furthermore, employees are not well trained about the latest technologies in the market and are thus reluctant in adopting them which is putting the industry behind day by day. Keeping the employees well trained about latest technologies will enable them to keep track of the latest trends in the market. Also, in small scale industries the investors are poor and illiterate so the production methods and machinery are outdated. Moreover, there are good opportunities for the sports industry to flourish like low rate of mark-up on working capital loans, very low income tax rates and better trade access in EU and USA. Some threats to the industry involve technical and environmental barriers to trade, licensing and international standards requirement by the international markets and producers of raw materials. Lack of education resulting in poor technology advancement has become a threat to the industry.[6] China/ East Asia production is also posing serious threat to the industry. Recommendations: In order to improve the export conditions of the sports industry, the following Five Year Plan needs to be implemented. Five Year Plan: The Five Year Plan would focus on: Addressing barriers (poor information infrastructure, lack of technical know-how, less capital, power outages, illiteracy, poor management skills, lack of modernization) Sports products innovation and diversity Educating entrepreneurs about advanced technology Labor skills enhancement to bring innovation and diversity in products Overarching Strategy: To enhance and strengthen the existing sports cluster and move it towards competitive advantage To bring reforms which would enable the sports industry to overcome the market share losses Year 1 A Cluster Monitoring Cell comprising of dedicated departments would be established by the government which would monitor the activities of the sports industry cluster and would try to bring reforms to the industry. Existing employees would be educated about the latest technology trends prevalent in the market. Technical centers would be setup under governments educational programs, launched and funded by the Education Department to provide adequate training to the employees. Workshops for counseling regarding investment and other matters would be provided to the new comers in the business. This would be taken care of by the Training Department. Research Department would point out industries in the cluster which justly require funds. Funding Department would then collaborate with the government to provide loans and easy installment facilities to the owners in order to reduce the risk of going out of business. The information infrastructure needs to be improved by the Information Resource Bureau for proper flow of information across the multiple industries in the sports cluster. Government intervention plans would be made and implemented in order to reduce threats. The Research Department would indentify when intervention is required. Human Resource Department would set criteria for hiring employees. Government would launch scholarship and exchange programs under the Education Department of Cluster Monitoring Cell in order to overcome the reluctance of employees in getting educated. Year 2-3 In continuation to Year 1 Plan: In order to cater to the needs of a wide range of markets, diversity in production would be introduced. Responsible organizations like Cluster Monitoring Cell and Government would focus on capacity building so that better advantage could be taken of opportunities available to the industry. Issues regarding World Trade Organization would be overcome through proper seminars, trainings and workshops which would be conducted at least four times a year at different locations. Strict laws would be implemented, violation of which would result in penalties. Export services provided by the government would be strengthened. Solar, wind and hydel power generating units would be installed at the industry by the government to deal with power outage problem. Year 4-5 In continuation to Year 2-3 Plan: A comprehensive national level strategy plan will be made which would involve all the stakeholders. Focus would be on sustainable development of the industry. For that, reliance on subsidies and monetary support will be discouraged. Government would intervene to limit the ever increasing number of industries by allowing only those industries to export that have a certain capacity for capital investment. Conclusion: Sports industry is one of the most revenue generating industries of Pakistan. There is an urgent need to adopt the above recommendations before it is too late. These would help in bridging the gap between the various related industries in the sports cluster. Technical know how, information about WTO issues and latest technologies need to be infused in the minds of the entrepreneurs so that they could help in better running of the industry. Government needs to intervene in the industry matters at the right time in order to control the situation before industries are met with market shares losses. Bibliography: Ghani, Dr. Jawaid A. SIALKOTS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, No.96-10 (September, 1996). Karim, Yasir,Sports Industry in Pakistan Porter, Michael E., Chapter 7, Clusters and Competition: New Agendas for Companies, Governments and Institutions in On Competition, (Boston:Harvard Business School Press,1998). Web Resources: DAWN Media Group (29th August, 2009) Pakistan set to recapture football market, available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business/09-pakistan-set-to-recapture-football-marketszh-06, accessed 17th March, 2010. Sialkot Export (no date) Sports Wear, Sports Goods in Sialkot, available at http://www.sialkotexport.com/sports.aspx, accessed 17th March 2010. Dr. Jawaid A. Ghani, SIALKOTS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, No.96-10 (September, 1996), p.7 Sialkot Export (no date) Sports Wear, Sports Goods in Sialkot, available at http://www.sialkotexport.com/sports.aspx, accessed 17th March 2010. Michael E. Porter, Chapter 7, Clusters and Competition: New Agendas for Companies, Governments and Institutions in On Competition, (Boston:Harvard Business School Press,1998), p.211 DAWN Media Group (29th August, 2009), available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business/09-pakistan-set-to-recapture-football-marketszh-06, accessed 17th March, 2010. Porter, Chapter 7, Clusters and Competition: New Agendas for Companies, Governments and Institutions , p.210-213. Yasir Karim, Sports Industry in Pakistan, pp.9-10 Yasir Karim, Sports Industry in Pakistan, p.11 Porter, Chapter 7, Clusters and Competition: New Agendas for Companies, Governments and Institutions , p.211 Karim, Sports Industry in Pakistan, pp.9-10

Cosmetic Surgery: Risky and Unnecessary Surgery Essay -- plastic surge

Is cosmetic or plastic surgery helpful, or damaging to an individual’s mind and body? The two main branches of plastic surgery are reconstructive and cosmetic (â€Å"Plastic Surgery Addicts†). This is the reason why the terms cosmetic and plastic are used interchangeably in the medical field. Some people may think that all surgery is the same, although cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries are not identical. The difference is that reconstructive surgery is used to fix parts of the body that are damaged (Lee). Cosmetic surgery is used in removing, altering or rearranging tissues of the body (Lee). The word plastic does not actually refer to real plastic. â€Å"Plastic surgery† comes from the Greek word â€Å"plastikos†, which means to shape or mold (Olesen 10). The significant issues of cosmetic surgery, such as self-esteem problems, surgeons making mistakes, risks and people becoming addicted make me believe that it is unnecessary. There is a one in 250,000 chance of dying when going under the knife, but why risk going under for cosmetic surgery at all? (Olesen 50).Plastic surgery is not something that has just been recently developed. It has been around since as far back as 800 B.C. in India (â€Å"Cosmetic†). As one of the punishments, people’s noses were removed. Surgeons would try to repair them to the best of their ability. War also played a large role in plastic surgery. This was considered reconstructive surgery because soldiers who had it done were usually severely hurt in battle. Cosmetic surgery became more modern and well known in the 1960’s and 70’s (â€Å"Health Questions†). Cosmetic surgery is sure to expand its influence in the future as technology continues to improve. There are many reasons why patients have low self-esteem and assum... ...y." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Print. Matthews, Sarah. "Addicted to Plastic Surgery: The Facts." Plastic Surgery. 29 May 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. Mimon, Diana. "Tara Reid Talks About Plastic Surgery." About.com. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. Olesen, R. Merrel., and Marie B. V. Olesen. Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2005. Print. Pilcher, Georgie. "How Could She?; This Woman Faked Cancer to Con Money for Plastic Surgery." EBSCOhost 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. "Plastic Surgery Addiction." Breast-Plastic-Surgery.Org. 5 Jan. 2008. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. "Plastic Surgery Addicts." Medical News Today. 6 Nov. 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. "Teens and Cosmetic Surgery." Issues and Controversies on File 9.22 (2004): 465-72. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. "What Is Cosmetic Surgery? What Is Plastic Surgery?" Medical News Today. 30 June 2009. Web. 5 May 2010.

Genesis Flood of the Christian Bible and the Flood of Gilgamesh :: Epic of Gilgamesh

The Flood of Noah and the Flood of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh has been of interest to Christians ever since its discovery in the mid-nineteenth century in the ruins of the great library at Nineveh, with its account of a universal flood with significant parallels to the Flood of Noah's day.1, 2 The rest of the Epic, which dates back to possibly third millennium B.C., contains little of value for Christians, since it concerns typical polytheistic myths associated with the pagan peoples of the time. However, some Christians have studied the ideas of creation and the afterlife presented in the Epic. Even secular scholars have recognized the parallels between the Babylonian, Phoenician, and Hebrew accounts, although not all are willing to label the connections as anything more than shared mythology.3 There have been numerous flood stories identified from ancient sources scattered around the world.4 The stories that were discovered on cuneiform tablets, which comprise some of the earliest surviving writing, have obvious similarities. Cuneiform writing was invented by the Sumerians and carried on by the Akkadians. Babylonian and Assyrian are two dialects of the Akkadian, and both contain a flood account. While there are differences between the original Sumerian and later Babylonian and Assyrian flood accounts, many of the similarities are strikingly close to the Genesis flood account.5 The Babylonian account is the most intact, with only seven of 205 lines missing.6 It was also the first discovered, making it the most studied of the early flood accounts. The Epic of Gilgamesh is contained on twelve large tablets, and since the original discovery, it has been found on others, as well as having been translated into other early languages.7 The actual tablets date back to around 650 B.C. and are obviously not originals since fragments of the flood story have been found on tablets dated around 2,000 B.C.8 Linguistic experts believe that the story was composed well before 2,000 B.C. compiled from material that was much older than that date.9 The Sumerian cuneiform writing has been estimated to go as far back as 3,300 B.C.10 The Story The Epic was composed in the form of a poem. The main figure is Gilgamesh, who actually may have been an historical person. The Sumerian King List shows Gilgamesh in the first dynasty of Uruk reigning for 126 years.11 This length of time is not a problem when compared with the age of the pre-flood patriarchs of the Bible.

Black Boy Essay -- essays research papers

In the book Black Boy, we see many black people in the south dealing with many hardships. One of the most prominent problems for blacks seemed to be the "Jim Crow" laws. These laws withheld blacks from society, breaking them apart from whites and making it very hard for them to live an even close to normal life. Black people couldn’t express their own ideas at all. They had to call all white men "sirs" and all white women "ma’am". They couldn’t act the slightest bit superior to whites. It was almost impossible for black people to make a decent living in the south, and they also had to take the abuse dealt to them by he whites without even attempting ant resistance. Blacks in the south also had to deal with the separation aspects of the "Jim crow" laws. They had to sit in the back of the buses, they had to use separate water fountains and bathrooms, they were looked upon almost like they had some sort of disease. These are just a few of the "Jim Crow" laws that the black people had to deal with. Richard was not the only one in this book dealing with racism. All the people around him were also coping with it also, friends co-workers and family had to face the challenges of a racist environment. Throughout the book we see these other people dealing with the problems of an extremely racist society. We also see how each person in Richards life deals with it differently. There are a few people and insience that stick out in my mind especially. The first one would have to be an incident with Shorty. Shorty has dealt with racism his whole life, and he has learned to deal with it as he has grown. We see a great example of how Shorty deals on page 269Shorty is faced with the problem of no money, such as many other southern blacks were, and we see that he is willing to do anything for any amount of money. " You can kick me in the ass for a quarter" (269,wright) As this happens Richard witnesses the whole thing and we can see that he is very disappointed in the way Shorty dealt with the situation. He can’t understand how he can put himself in that kind of degrading position, and Shorty simply answers. " But a quarter can’t pay for what he did to you!" But we can see Shorty thinks differently. A... ...urt black skin. By this point in the book Richard learns to deal better with racism, but he still has attitude about being treated differently then the white kids or adults. One final incident the Richard had to deal with was when he was working at the hotel. This incident didn’t completely have to deal with him but he got involved. When the door man at the hotel slapped his black girl friend in the ass as they were walking out of the hotel, Richard got pretty upset that he did that considering that the doorman was white. It was like he couldn’t understand how white people didn’t like blacks, but yet the would use such sexual connotations towards the black women, We see Richard react, as he stops and just looks at the doorman. After Richard decides not react violently, and got somewhat of a threat from the doorman when he just continued. This was Richards way of "scaring" the white man without starting something physical. We see Richards way of dealing with the racism change throughout the book. When he is younger we see how he can’t help but get defensive, and as he gets older he learns to control himself better.

Employee Handbook Privacy Section Essay

According to Connelly, Roberts, and McGivney, LLC (1998), â€Å"in today’s workplace computers and electronic communications are the norm rather than the exception† (p. 1). With technology, rapidly advancing electronic communication is becoming essential. This creates a challenge for organizations on how and what to monitor when it comes to its employees. This paper will address the issue of privacy in the global workplace and give suggestions on what privacy rights issues should be addressed, as well as what the company’s position should be in response to its privacy rights. Lastly, it will define how organizations privacy protections may limit the company’s liability and how privacy protections enhance employee motivation and productivity. Privacy Rights to be Addressed The majority of employees expect to have a certain amount of privacy in the workplace. Nevertheless, there are times where the employer may have a justifiable reason to monitor or investigate the employee’s within its organization. The following provides some business practices that may be imposed to assure the honesty of the organization and the employees within the organization. One privacy right that should be addressed is drug testing. Drug testing helps to ensure the safety of the workplace. According to Jankanish and Husbands (1993), â€Å"drug and alcohol testing programs should fit within existing arrangements for ensuring the quality of work life, employee rights, the safety, and security of the worksite, and employer rights and responsibilities (e.g. protection of the public interest)† (p. 105). The testing should ensure the worker’s rights and confidentiality of the results. Another issue to be addressed is background checks on potential new hires. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has set guidelines and standards for organizations to follow when implementing a background check. According to Alison Doyle (nd), â€Å"the FCRA defines a background check as a consumer report. Before an employer can get a consumer report for employment purposes, they must notify you in writing and get your written authorization† (p. 1). Even if an employer is just running a basic check for inquiry purposes they must still get permission from the employee. The purpose of the background check is to ensure that information that was provided from the applicant is truthful, and some organizations require certain security clearances, or the individual may be applying for a position that works closely with children. The employer still needs to have permission from the applicant in ord er to run these background checks. Lastly, the employer needs to protect the privacy of employee personal information. According to Brian Koerner (nd), â€Å"twenty five percent of all identity thieves are known by the victim – whether it be a friend, relative, or co-worker† (p. 1). Employers need to take steps to keep personal information such as social security numbers, home addresses, and phone numbers safe. This information if obtained by the wrong person could lead to identity theft. Employers need to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken to keep employee information confidential. This can be done by utilizing an employee number rather than the employee’s social security number, make sure that personal information is not posted where it is easily accessible, only allowing acceptable personnel to handle confidential information, and dispose of information and documentation appropriately (about.com). Limiting Liability It is important that companies understand the different potential corporate and personal liability when preparing, planning, implementing or maintaining a n employee privacy handbook section. Companies must remain aware of potential issues that may need to be addressed in order to remain proactive and avoid liability pitfalls. There are many areas of potential liability an organization that includes negligence, liability under the privacy act, loss, or misuse of personal records, and criminal liability. In order to provide an organization with the most liability protection, they must be aware of what these liabilities are. Negligence is the failure to provide reasonable care, which result in damages to another person or company. If a company or organization does not take reasonable care to provide adequate protection for their employees or customers’ information and the employee or customer suffers damages, the organization may be legally responsible for the amount of loss suffered. In order to avoid negligence, organizations must be proactive and provide adequate security. The Privacy Act was created to ensure that companies are obligated to provide protection in ways that they retain, collect, use, and disclose personal information (Bushkin, p. 1). Companies covered by the Privacy Act are required to protect private and personal information they hold. Companies must avoid misuse and loss as well as unauthorized access. Whether it is physical protection or electronic protection, companies must provide a reasonable level of security. Companies who act negligent and cause excessive damages to individuals or customers may face criminal liability. Companies must act appropriately when dealing with private or personal information. Intentional misuse of personal or private information may result in criminal proceedings. Companies must take reasonable measure to ensure that the security systems in place adequately protect their employees and customer’s information. It is unlikely that an organization will be held responsible for information lost due to security attacks provided that they have acted reasonably in their attempts to protect the information (Givens, p. 1). Companies can face significant damages and a direct loss in business as well as liability to third parties if they do not proved the necessary security measures. By designing, developing and implementing a strong security policy as well as educating employees on how to handle private and personal information, companies can protect themselves and t heir employees from potential liabilities. It may be necessary for companies to audit their employees to ensure that information is not being misused. Addressing the laws required in the employee handbook regarding privacy will consist of the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA). A PIA is an analysis of how information is handled: (1) to ensure handling conforms to applicable legal, regulatory, in addition, policy requirements regarding privacy, (2) to determine the risks and effects of collecting, maintaining, and disseminating information in identifiable form in an electronic information system, and (3) to examine and evaluate protections and alternative processes for handling information to mitigate potential privacy risks (September 26, 2003). When addressing the laws regarding privacy in the employee handbook the following processes will occur. Whenever any agency makes a determination under this section not to amend an individual’s record in accordance with his or her request, or fails to make such review in conformity; or fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is necessary to assure fairness in any determination relating to the qualifications, character, rights, or opportunities of or benefits to the individual that may be made on the basis of such record, and consequently a determination is made which is adverse to the individual; or fails to comply with any other provision of this section, or any rule promulgated there under, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual, the individual may bring a civil action against the agency, and the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction in the matters under the provisions of this section (September 26, 2003). The court may order the agency to amend the individual’s record in accordance with his request or in such other way as the court may direct. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo. The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed (September 26, 2003). The court may enjoin the agency from withholding the records and order the production to the complainant of any agency records improperly withheld from him (September 26, 2003.) In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of any agency records in camera to determine whether the records or any portion thereof may be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in this section and the burden are on the agency to sustain its action (September 26, 2003). The court may assess against the United States reasonable a ttorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed (September 26, 2003). In any suit brought under the provisions of this section in which the court determines that the agency acted in a manner, which was intentional or willful, the United States shall be liable to the individual in an amount equal to the sum of actual damages sustained by the individual as a result of the refusal or failure, but in no case shall a person entitled to recovery receive less than the sum of $1,000; and the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court (September 26, 2003). An individual’s name and address may not be sold or rented by an agency unless such action is specifically authorized by law (September 26, 203). This provision shall not be construed to require the withholding of names and addresses otherwise permitted to be made public. Matching agreements, no record, which is contained in a system of records, may be disclosed to a recipient agency or non-Federal agency for use in a computer-matching program except pursuant to a written agreement between the sources agency and the recipient agency or non-Federal agency specifying (September 26, 2003). Having this section in the privacy handbook takes some ethical considerations because providing key rules and regulations in protecting someone’s personal information is extremely important. Due to the amount of technology in this day of age moreover, the amount of identity theft it is crucial to protect personal information. Having trust and security is an ethical consideration for the fact that someone will feel protected by the laws and the company. Corporations are faced with challenges everyday on how to protect their employees. By implementing and using the employee handbook privacy, section this will help to keep these companies records safe and secure for the employees. Technology has made it too easy for hackers to access information so by regulating how the information is kept will help to ensure the safety of the employee’s information. What this paper covered is the issue of privacy in the global workplace and gave suggestions on what privacy rights issues should be addressed, as well as what the company’s position should be in response to its privacy rights. Lastly, it defined how organizations privacy protections may limit the company’s liability and how privacy protections enhance employee motivation and productivity. With all of these guidelines in place the employees will have a better sense of security in the workplace. References Bushkin, Aruthur A. The Privacy Act of 1974 A Reference Manual for Compliance. Retrieved October 30, 2006 from http://www.cavebear.com/nsf-dns/pa_history.htm Connelly, Roberts, and McGivney, LLC. (1998). Privacy Issues in a High-Tech Workplace. Retrieved October 29, 2006 from http://library.findlaw.com/1998/Mar/1/130358.html Doyle, A. (nd). Background Check: Employment. Retrieved October 29, 2006 from http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/backgroundcheck/a/background.htm Givens, Beth. Legislative Hearing, Privacy Rights. Retrieved October 30, 2006 from http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/outsourcing-privacy.htm Jankanish, M. & Husbands, R. (1993). Worker’s Privacy. Retrieved October 29, 2006 from http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9221087468&id=eisbpZMK4qkC &pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=what+privacy+rights+issues+should+be+addressed&sig=zL07cCOHNB7lOgu2Z9RwX8sBASg Koerner, B. (nd). Is Your Employer Protecting Your Personally Identifiable Information? Retrieved October 29, 2006 from http://idt heft.about.com/od/workplaceidentitytheft/p/workplacePII.htm The Privacy Act of 1974. 5 U.S.C.  § 552a  § 552a. Records maintained on individuals as Amended, Updated page September 26, 2003. Retrieved on October 30, 2006 from http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/privstat.htm