Letter of Transmittal Essays - Zika Virus, Health, Medicine

Letter of Transmittal TO: Professor Saporito FROM: Denisha Sydney DATE: December 11 th , 2016 SUBJECT: Recommendation Report on Breastfeeding Practices in A reas of Zika virus Transmission Dear Ms. Saporito : This report provides recommendations on Breastfeeding P ractices in Areas of Zika virus Transmission. There is presently a vast scale plague of Zika infection disease in the Americas. For the vast majority, contaminations brought about by Zika infection prompt to a mellow and fleeting sickness, yet Zika has now been affirmed as the reason for fetal microcephaly and other birth imperfections, and it has been connected to certain neurological issue. This article offers some knowledge into Zika infection disease, administration of ladies who are pregnant or arranging a pregnancy, and the ramifications of Zika infection for rehearsing maternity specialists in the UK. This report will analyze h ealth impacts and dangers that may hinder contamination amid pregnancy which can bring about genuine birth surrenders and is connected with other pregnancy issues. Several nations that have encountered Zika flare-ups as of late have reported increments in individuals who have Guillain-Barre disorder (GBS). Zika virus and infant feeding will continue to follow the research development in the area of infant feeding, especially in the context of the Zika virus outbreak. The steering group will meet at or before 6 months from publication of this guideline, to review any new data and determine whether an update might be indicated. This report is also credi ted to the assistance of Ministry of Environmental Public Health along with my extensive research. For further details, you can contact me anytime at your inconvenience. Denisha Sydney Recommendation Report Breastfeed ing Practices in Areas of Zika V irus Transmission. Denisha Sydney Monroe College This is an introduction to recommend breastfeeding practices in areas of Zika virus transmission, and their implementation s . It may also be used to inform communication to the general public. TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 PROBLEM 6 BACKGROUND 6 BODY 7 CONCLUSIONS 13 RECOMMENDATIONS 14 REFERENCES 15 ABSTRACT / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report will assist the Ministry of Public Health Emergency of International Concern with implementing programs to minimize transmission of Zika Virus infants. Zika infection is a mosquito-borne infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes; a similar mosquito likewise transmits other vector-borne illnesses - dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Right now, there is no treatment or immunization to ensure particularly ag ainst Zika infection disease. This rule is a piece of an assortment of work that investigates accessible confirmation for conceivable adequate restorative explanations behind transitory or lo ng haul end of breastfeeding. It redesigns the between time direction on breastfeeding with regards to the Zika infection distribu ted by WHO on 25 February 2016 . A deliberate audit taking after the methodology of the Cochrane handbook for precise surveys of intercessions was dispatched to decide the danger of transmission of Zika infection through bosom drain or other breastfeeding-related organic liquids (i.e. blood, sweat and salivation), and to survey the nearness of Zika infection what's more, Zika-particular antibodies in bosom drain and other breastfeeding-related natural liquids. The inquiry technique included electronic databases and also the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO Zika inquire about ventures list (8) and the WHO-facilitated International Clinica l Trials Registry Platform. The survey distinguished two case-reports depicting three mother-infant sets. The three breastfeeding moms had affirmed Zika infection disease and were symptomatic inside 3 days of conveyance. Two of the three newborn children conceived of these moms had affirmed Zika infection disease. The Zika infection was recognized in the bosom drain of every one of the three moms, and appeared to be replicative in cell culture in tests from one mother. In any case, the present information is not adequate to finish up transmission by means of breastfeeding. The orderly survey too distinguished three reviews that affirmed the nearness of the Zika infection in serum and salivation of grown-up ladies and men. No reviews have researched the nearness of Zika infection in sweat. The general nature of confirmation for suspected, plausible or affirmed Zika infection contamina tion among newborn children or youthful kids breastfeeding from moms with Zika infection contamination, and the nearness (recognized

Coordinate Geometry and Points on SAT Math Complete Guide

Coordinate Geometry and Points on SAT Math Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Coordinate geometry is one of the heavy-hitter topics on the SAT, and you'll need to be able to maneuver your way through its many facets in order to take on the variety of questions you'll see on the test. Luckily, though, coordinate geometry is not difficult to visualize or wrap your head around once you know the basics. And we are here to show you how. There will usually be two questions on any given SAT that involve points alone, and another 2-3 questions that will involve lines and slopes and/or rotations, reflections, or translations. This makes up a significant portion of your SAT math section, so it is a good idea to understand the ins and outs of coordinate geometry before you tackle the test. This will be your complete guide to points and the building blocks for coordinate geometry- how to find and manipulate points, distances, and midpoints, as well as strategies for solving these types of questions on test day. What is Coordinate Geometry? Geometry always takes place on a plane, which is a flat surface that goes on infinitely in all directions. The coordinate plane refers to a plane that has scales of measurement along the $x$- and $y$-axes. Coordinate geometry is the geometry that takes place in the coordinate plane. Coordinate Scales The $\bi x$-axis is the scale that measures horizontal distance along the coordinate plane. The $\bi y$-axis is the scale that measures vertical distance along the coordinate plane. The intersection of the two planes is called the origin. We can find any point along the infinite span of the plane by using its position with regard to the $x$- and $y$-axes and to the origin. We mark this location with coordinates, written as $(x, y)$. The $x$ value tells us how far along (and in which direction) our point is along the $x$-axis. The $y$ value tells us how far along (and in which direction) our point is along the $y$-axis. For instance, This point is 7 units to the right of the origin and 4 units above the origin. This means that our point is located at coordinates $(7, 4)$. Anywhere to the right of the origin will have a positive $\bi x$ value. Anywhere left of the origin will have a negative $\bi x$ value. Anywhere vertically above the origin will have a positive $\bi y$ value. Anywhere vertically below the origin will have a negative $\bi y$ value. By breaking the coordinate plane up into four quadrants, we can see that any point will have certain properties in terms of its positivity or negativity, depending on where it is located. Distances and Midpoints When given two coordinate points, you can find both the distance between them as well as the midpoint between the two original points. We can find these values by using formulas or by using other geometry techniques. Let's look at each option. No distance is too much for a genius with a plan. Or a genius who is hungry. Either way. Image: Gwendal Uguen/Flickr Distance Formula $√{(x_2−x_1)^2+(y_2−y_1)^2}$ There are two options for finding the distance between two points- using the distance formula, or using the Pythagorean Theorem. Let's look at both. Solving Method 1: Distance Formula If you prefer to use formulas when you take standardized tests, then go ahead and memorize the distance formula above. You will NOT be provided the distance formula on the test, so, if you choose this route, make sure you can memorize the formula accurately and call upon it as needed. (Remember- a formula you remember incorrectly is worse than not knowing a formula at all!) Let us say we have two points, $(7, -2)$ and $(-5, 3)$, and we must find the distance between the two. If we simply plug our values into our distance formula, we get: $√{(x_2−x_1)^2+(y_2−y_1)^2}$ $√{(−5−7)^2+(3−(−2))^2}$ $√{(−12)^2+(5)^2}$ $√{144+25}$ $√{169}$ $13$ The distance between our two points is 13. Solving Method 2: Pythagorean Theorem $a^2+b^2=c^2$ Alternatively, we can always find the distance between two points by using the Pythagorean Theorem. This way takes slightly longer, but doesn't require us to expend energy memorizing extra formulas and carries less risk of us remembering the formula wrong. Remember that you are given the Pythagorean Theorem on every SAT math section, so you never have to fear mis-remembering it. It is also a formula that you've likely had to use much more often than most other formulas, so odds are that it's familiar to you. Simply turn the coordinate points and the distance between them into a right triangle, with the distance acting as a hypotenuse. From the coordinates, we can find the lengths of the legs of the triangle and use the Pythagorean Theorem to find our distance. For example, let us use the same coordinates from earlier to find the distance between them using this method instead. Find the distance between the points $(7, -2)$ and $(-5, 3)$ First, start by mapping out your coordinates. Next, make the legs of your right triangles. If we count the points along our plane, we can see that we have leg lengths of 12 and 5. Now we can plug these numbers in and use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the final piece of our triangle, the distance between our two points. $a^2+b^2=c^2$ $12^2+5^2=c^2$ $144+25=c^2$ $169=c^2$ $c=13$ The distance between our two points is, once again, 13. [Special Note: If you are familiar with your triangle shortcuts, you may have noticed that this triangle was what we call a 5-12-13 triangle. Because it is one of the regular right triangles, you technically don't even need the Pythagorean Theorem to know that the hypotenuse will be 13 if the two legs are 5 and 12. This is a shortcut that can be useful to know, but is NOT necessary to know, as you can see.] Midpoint Formula $$({x_1+x_2}/2, {y_1+y_2}/2)$$ In addition to finding the distance between two points, we can also find the midpoint between two coordinate points. Because this will be another point on the plane, it will have its own set of coordinates. If you look at the formula, you can see that the midpoint is the average of each of the values of a particular axis. So the midpoint will always be the average of the $x$ values and the average of the $y$ values, written as a coordinate point. For example, let us take the same points we used for our distance formula, $(7, -2)$ and $(-5, 3)$. If we take the average of our $x$ values, we get: $${7+(-5)}/2$$ $$2/2$$ $$1$$ And if we take the average of our $y$ values, we get: $${−2+3}/2$$ $$1/2$$ $$1/2$$ The midpoint of the line will be at coordinates $(1, 1/2)$. If we look at our picture from earlier, we can see that this is true. It is difficult to find the midpoint of a line without use of the formula, but by thinking of it as finding the average of each axis value may make it easier to visualize and remember, rather than thinking of it in terms of a "formula." Now, just measure the midpoint of an endless stretch of road- no problem. Typical Point Questions Point questions on the SAT will generally fall into one of three categories- questions about how the coordinate plane works, counting questions, and midpoint or distance questions. Let's look at each type. Coordinate Questions Questions about the coordinate plane test how well you understand exactly how the coordinate plane works, as well as how to manipulate points and lines within it. In the $xy$-coordinate plane, how many points are a distance of 4 units from the origin? A. OneB. TwoC. FourD. More than four For a question like this, it may be tempting to answer C, four. After all, there will be four distinct points 4 units from the origin, two on the $x$-axis (one right and one left), and two on the $y$-axis (one up and one down). But answering this way would disregard the realities of circles. Imagine that we have circle with a midpoint at the origin whose circumference touches each of the points 4 units from the origin. Now, if we remember our circle definitions, we know that all straight lines drawn from the center of the circle to the circumference will all be equal. We also know that there are infinite such lines. This means that there will be infinitely many point that are 4 units from the origin. These points may have "weird" coordinates (as in non-integer values), but they will be points 4 units from the origin all the same. Our final answer is D, More than 4. Counting Questions Counting questions are exactly what they sound like- you will be given a diagram of the coordinate plane (or, rarely, you must create your own) and then you will be asked to count distances from specific point to specific point. On occasion, you may also be asked to count seemingly "odd" measurements, like the values of your $x$ and $y$ coordinates. For instance, For this question, you must first understand what absolute values mean. From there, it is a simple matter of counting the x and y values from their coordinate points. For a question like this, the most efficient path is to work from our answer choices. Since our answer choices are NOT in order of "greatest to least," it will not help us to start with the middle answer choice and work our way from there, as we would normally do when plugging in answers. Knowing that, let us simply work in order from first to last, until we find our right answer. Point A is at coordinates $(-3, -3)$. So let us find the sum of their absolute values. $|x|+|y|$ $|−3|+|−3|$ $3+3$ 6 Since we are looking for the value 5, this answer is too large. We can eliminate answer choice A. Point B is at coordinates $(-4, 1)$ $|x|+|y|$ $|−4|+|1|$ $4+1$ 5 Success! We have found the answer choice that gives us coordinates whose absolute values add up to 5. Because there will only ever be one correct answer on any SAT question, we can stop here. Our final answer is B. Midpoint and Distance Questions Midpoint and distance questions will be fairly straightforward and ask you for exactly that- the distance or the midpoint between two points. You may have to find distances or midpoints from a scenario question (a hypothetical situation or a story) or simply from a straightforward math question (e.g., "What is the distance from points $(4, 5)$ and $(8, -2)$?"). Let's look at an example of a scenario question, Rosa and Marco met up for dinner and then drove home separately from the restaurant. To get home from the restaurant, Rosa drove north 6 miles and Marco drove west 8 miles. How far apart do Rosa and Marco live? A. 8 milesB. 10 milesC. 12 milesD. 14 miles First, let us make a quick sketch of our scenario. Now, because this is a distance question, we have the option of using either our distance formula or using the Pythagorean theorem. Since we have already begun by drawing out our diagram, let us continue on this path and use the Pythagorean theorem. Now, we can see that we have made a right triangle from the legs of distance we have already. Rosa drove 6 miles north and Marco drove 8 miles west, which means that the legs of our triangle will be 6 and 8. Now we can find the hypotenuse by using the Pythagorean theorem. $6^2+8^2=c^2$ $36+64=c^2$ $100=c^2$ c=√{100}$ $c=10$ [Note: if you remember your shortcuts for right triangles, you could have saved yourself some time and simply known that our distance/hypotenuse was 10. Why? Because a right triangle with legs of 6 and 8 is a 3-4-5 triangle multiplied by 2. So the hypotenuse would be $5*2=10$.] The distance between Marco's house and Rosa's house is 10 miles. Our final answer is B, 10 miles. "The worst distance between two people is misunderstanding"- Unknown. Or, you know, 10 miles. Strategies for Solving Point Questions Though point questions can come in a variety of forms, there are a few strategies you can follow to help master them. #1: Always Write Down Given Information Though it may be tempting to work through questions in your head, it is easy to make mistakes with your point questions if you do not write down your givens. This is especially the case when working with negatives or with absolute values. In addition, most of the time you are given a diagram with marked points on the coordinate plane, you will not be given coordinates. This is because the test makers feel it would be too simple a problem to solve had you been given coordinates (take, for example, the question involving absolute values from earlier). So take a moment to write down your coordinates and any other given information in order to keep it straight in your head. #2: Draw It Out In addition to writing down your given information, draw pictures of your scenarios. Make your own pictures if you are given none, draw on top of them if you are given diagrams. Never underestimate the value of marked information or a sketch- even a rough approximation can help you keep track of more information than you can (or should try to) in your head. Time and energy are two precious resourses at your disposal when taking the SAT and it takes little of each to make a rough sketch, but can cost you both to keep all your information in your head. #3: Decide Now Whether or Not to Use Formulas If you feel more comfortable using formulas than using the slightly more drawn-out techniques, then decide now to memorize your formulas. Remember that memorizing a formula wrong is worse than not remembering it at all, so make sure that you memorize and practice your formula knowledge between now and test day to lock it in your head. If, however, you are someone who prefers to dedicate your study efforts elsewhere (or you simply feel that you won't remember the formula correctly on the day of the test), then go ahead and forget them. Use the Pythagorean theorem instead of memorizing the distance formula and wash your hands of memorization altogether. There are multiple ways to solve most SAT math problems, so your choices should best match your own personal strengths and weaknesses Image: ljphillips34/Flickr Test Your Knowledge Now, let's test your point knowledge on some more real SAT math questions. 1. What is the midpoint of the line that begins at coordinates $(-3, 2)$ and ends at $(5, -10)$? A. (6, -4)B. (4, -1)C. (1, 4)D. (-1, -6)E. (1, -4) 2. 3. (Refer to information in question 2) 4. (Refer to information in question 2) Answers: E, D, A, B Answer Explanations: 1. To find the midpoint of the line connecting two points, we must take the average of each of the values along a particular axis. First, as always, it is a good idea to take a moment to map out the coordinates of our given points. This will help us keep track of our information, especially considering there are negatives involved. First, let us take the average of our two $x$-values. ${-3+5}/2$ $2/2$ 1 Now, let us take the average of our two $y$-values. ${2+(-10)}/2$ $-8/2$ $−4$ The midpoint of our line will be at coordinates $(1, -4)$ We can see that this is likely the correct answer, as it neatly fits into our diagram. Our final answer is E, $(1, -4)$. 2. Here, we have a counting question. We are not being asked to find the linear distance between two points, F and W, but to find them along a grid. So let us draw the various pathways from F to W. As you can see, the shortest paths from F to W are all 3 3$1/2$ units long, which makes 3$1/2$ the m-distance. Our final answer is D, 3$1/2$ 3. Again, we have what amounts to another counting question. This is also a definite case of when it is a good idea to draw pictures so that we do not repeat potential $m$-distance routes from F to Z. So let us find our routes. First, start by finding one of the most direct paths, which in this case is a distance of 4 units. Next, trace all the paths that follow the lines from F to Z. If any of our new paths span less than 4 units, it will of course become our new m-distance, but for now we are working under the assumption that the $m$-distance is 4. All of our paths travel a distance of 4 units, making this our m-distance. If you were careful to keep track of all your paths and not count any of them more than once, then you will see that there are 6 routes from F to Z that will measure the minimum distance. Our final answer is A, six. 4. Now, this question may seem tricky because it looks, at first glance, almost exactly like one of our questions from earlier in the guide, which asked us, "How many points are 4 units from the origin?" In that case, the answer was "infinitely many," because all the points 4 units from the origin formed a circle, and there are always infinite points on a circle. In this case, we are being asked to find all the points ${m-3}$-distance from a particular point. This is NOT the same as asking for the number of points 3 units from a point (in this case, point F). Why not? Because the problem defined $m$-distance as the minimum distance traveled along a grid, not the distance in all directions. So if we start tracing all the distances ${m-3}$-units from F, we can start to see the pattern. Once we've mapped out all the possible lines ${m-3}$-units from F in one quadrant of our map, we can expand it outwards to see the shape that emerges. We can see that all the points ${m-3}$-distance from F form a square. Our final answer is B, a square. Think you deserve a treat for all that hard work. The Take Aways Understanding the coordinate plane and how points fit in it are the basic building blocks for coordinate geometry. With these understandings, you will be able to perform more complex coordinate geometry tasks, such as finding slopes and rotating shapes. Coordinate geometry is not an insignificant part of the SAT math section, but luckily success is mostly a matter of organization and diligence. Be careful to keep track of your negatives and all your moving pieces and you'll be able to dominate those point questions and all the coordinate geometry the SAT can throw at you. What's Next? Ready to tackle more SAT math topics? You're in luck! We've got guides for every math topic on the SAT, so come check them out. From probabilities to polygons, fractions to functions- we've got you covered. Running out of time on the SAT math section? Check out our guide on how to beat the clock and maximize your SAT math score. Bitten by the procrastination bug? Our guide will help you overcome all those procrastinating woes and get you back on track in no time. Looking to get a perfect score? We've got your back with our guide to getting an 800 on the SAT math section, written by a perfect-scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Friedrich Nietzsche on Nihilism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Friedrich Nietzsche on Nihilism - Essay Example This essay discusses that every emotion, every act and every move that a man attains to complete is null or does amount to nothing. Hence, this particular thought defines the process by which the individuals today are able to simply believe on what they think is right or factual; other things not happening accordingly with these particular personal notions that they have may be considered null and unimportant. This particular idealism about human existence and the source of human belief on the basis of non-moral thought is called nihilism. Nihilism, as noted, is one particular belief that opens the thought to the possibility of humans succeeding without the particular assistance of moral principles. It primarily focuses on the proof that could be attested as related to the possibility by which human elements for existence such as emotions, dreams, and aspirations are plain abstract creations of the human mind. Through his writings, Friedrich Nietzsche has actually noted the different phases of Nihilism as particularly the real explanation for human existence. Among the said phases of the philosophy of nihilism are to be noted as follows: (a) Anti-moralism: Nietzsche strongly believes that Christianity has blinded the entire society in believing that there are different guidelines to be followed to be able to attain the assurance of being a rightful individual. It has been noted though this particular phase of nihilism that Christendom has actually created a notion that people are absolutely confused with regards the importance of free will and being subjected to moral rules that they must continuously give attention to. The two contradicting issues about personal authority on one's self, according to Nietzsche, is a complete confusion that the belief of Christendom has actually implied upon the human society today. (b) Perspectivism: According to the writing of Nietzsche entitled the Gay Science that God is dead. Likely, this notes the fact that he believes that with God gone, the basis of human morality would also be gone. Hence, through this, people would be able to completely decide on their own and realize their full capacity to be the best individuals that they really could be. It is through this that the nothingness of men could actually become a source of being for everyone. (c) The will to Power: Nihilism implies the need of being truly free of obligation to complete anything or to confide so as to submit to certain laws. By being free, one would be able to know the real essence of the will to power. The need of each individual to become powerful in the real sense shall wipe the nothingness out of human lives. Conclusion If carefully examined, Friedrich Nietzsche's thoughts and has been provoked by the fact that Christianity during his time has actually made it certain that the philosophies and traditions which they preferred to make the human individuals follow were particularly unconventional at some point.

Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 15

Annotated Bibliography Example nalysis of data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), the method takes into account retention and graduation numbers at both entry and transfer institutions. Hence, what they accomplish is to construct a polychotomous definition of success. The challenge facing them include identifying new methods to model limited dependent variables. They are sceptical that the multinomial logit method is apt for the purpose. They believe incorporating multinomial regression techniques into the model is a better way of evaluating student success across institutions. The intended audience for this research paper are educators and fellow scholars. The paper uses esoteric language and complex statistical analysis. To this extent novices and teachers under training may find its content inaccessible. However, the necessity and relevance of the angle of scholarly investigation cannot be overstated. At a time when general standards of literacy, numeracy and employability of students are falling ac ross educational institutions, reworking the model for ascertaining student success might help educators and recruiters to refine their search criteria. Likewise, with federal government putting pressure on institutions of higher to improve accountability, all stakeholders are reviewing the utility of arcane laws such as the Student Right to Know (SRK) Act of 1990. In the same vein, the reporting requirements through Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and Graduation Rate Survey (GRS) are also being reviewed. The project undertaken by Jones-White et al is relevant for all these areas of review. The article talks about a longitudinal case study of an experienced educator (Steven). Starting with Steven’s early days as an untrained teacher, the author brings his first hand experiences to bear on the analysis. It is recounted how, through the Teach for America initiative, the subject taught mathematics at an urban middle school, before moving on to teaching

Latin America ( Physical system ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Latin America ( Physical system ) - Essay Example 269). Recently, the president of Ecuador (Correa) has been in defense of the oil extractions plans in the Amazon (Laht.com, 2014). According to the president, the plans to carry out the oil extraction will have minimal impact to the people and the environment. The government of Ecuador plans to extract oil from Yasuni National Park located in the amazon forest. This forest contains a high level of biodiversity and acts as an ecosystem to thousands of organisms. Altering the ecosystem in favor of the economy will lead to deforestation and climate change. Cutting down of the trees in order to obtain oil will mean reduced carbon absorption. Moreover, this region offers habitat to a different organism, and it is a source of water for human beings. Once the operations begin, the mentioned advantages will be affected negatively. The extraction of oil has several effects on the country. On the positive side, it is going to improve the country’s economy by increasing GDP and providing employment. On the negative side, this event will destroy the habitat and will contribute a lot to global warming due to the emission of industrial waste into the environment. This move by the president sparked several concerns of displeasure. Environmental organizations were concerned on how this move to destroy acres of land in search for oil. However, this move by the president will have numerous political effects in the country. For instance, there have been rising concerns about the president’s leadership, whether he is fit to rule the country (Smith, 2014). People wonder if he has their interest at heart. The president managed to garner political support through the parliament to facilitate his pursuit. The bill was passed in support of the new project. Non-governmental institutions are infuriated by this act. As a result, they embarked on a campaign to oppose the bill. The country is set to experience a political divide. On one hand, some advocate for oil

Information system strategy assignment

Information system strategy assignment Introduction Information systems could be defined as systems for processing and managing information, generally computer-based. IS, as it could be called, is also a serviceable group within an organisation that manages the operations and development of the businesss information and possible transactions. So information system strategy (ISS) could be explained as a method that brings into line information technology priorities with business strategies and defines the approach to take to achieve those business objectives. Since the mid 80s, researchers and business specialists have carried out many studies and produced number of theories in feeding the world of business and may be the field of strategic studies in particular. Nowadays, those theories are counted as the support and basics of any business strategy to be adopted by any organisation. Experts in the field of strategic management, such as Michael Porter and also Michael Earl, are both considered to be among the most influential experts in that area. Through a series of writings, Porter influenced a shift in the focus of the literature on strategies from strategic planning to strategic management. Earls publications also resulted in establishing a range of concepts and frameworks that were created to assist strategic planners in coming up with plans to build and sustain competitive advantage. Michael Porter developed the original theories of the famous strategic approaches that include â€Å"The 5 forces†, â€Å"The 3 generic strategies for competitiveness† and â€Å"The value chain model†. On the other hand, Michael Earl established the â€Å"Multiple methodology†. The Digital Era Digital era has been used as a term since the late 1980s. It carried the shift of transfer from a traditional industry to an industry based on the transactions of information and data through technological methods. Many old aged views of strategy are getting thrown out the window in the digital era, however, some solid views are still being found as the base of strategic thinking in the world of business. In a survey it was found that fast pace of developing e-business application only few businesses did take their time in developing their strategy properly or plan new initiatives (Wilder, 1999). We are experiencing a world that is continuously changing, where companies are being re-established and may be deregulated. New systems and ecommerce functions are providing management with a one off opportunity to rearrange the business rules and change the ways of business forever (Corcoran, 1999). In the world of todays nature of e-business transactions, strategy is being considered to be vital than ever. Yet, many organisations are still not properly cooping with the environment of todays business. These companies look as if they are frightened rabbits caught in the headlights of an oncoming car (Chattel, 1998). It is considered to be important for businesses in the digital era to familiarise themselves with factors that will put them on steady steps throughout competition and run successfully. Businesses should realise that it is possible and easier nowadays to target customers and to customise products to the requirements (needs and wants) of the customer. Also comprehend the fact of being first is seen as more important than producing it well. Businesses should also realise that communication methods have opened up new opportunities for transaction and increased access to customers. For example, television adverts, radio stations, mobile SMS, emails and internet blogs. Todays electronic applications are providing 24hours a day, 7 days a week access to businesses in anytime and from anywhere in the world. These factors have been the short term methods for new business opportunities, but in the long term, there will be a little chance of success without a clearly defined business and IT st rategy. The traditional approaches in ISS Porters five forces model studies the forces that take part in an organisation and illustrates how IS can construct barriers and give competitive frame. Porter defines the competition of the organisation in the relation to the industry where high level of rivalry guides to low level of profits. The threats from new entrants are considered as the heights of the barriers in place to obstruct them and outline the profitability of the industry. Whereas threats from substitutes is the threat by others in copying the product so the margin for the definite profit decreases and consumers are more settled to change. The bargaining power of buyers counts on the price of the product and the influence or the pressure the customer possesses. Likewise the power of the suppliers is resolute by the price the consumer wants the product and how much they are willing to pay or able to spend. Another ISS traditional approach is Porters 3 generic strategies. Porters generic strategies outline methods of achieving above standard performance. To create competitive advantage for an organisation Porter identified three generic strategies: focus and niche, cost leadership and differentiation. The suitable generic strategy will result in positioning the business to empower its strengths and guard against the unfavourable effects of the five forces. The focus or niche strategy was to find a gap in the market where a select product would fit in and do well. For example, the customised cars market, which makes the cars unique and leads in creating a niche for high class and therefore attracting big spending customers. Cost leadership involves having low level profit margins and selling big number of units of a product. Where differentiation, as its called, is when a business produces or provides something totally different from any other businesses in the industry. Michael Porter also discussed that the actions that are available to be taken can be recognised by the adoption of the Value Chain Model. This model, or approach, concentrates internally within an organisation and was expanded as a systematic ground for analysing all the performance that a company carry out and how they cooperate. The value chain approach outlines that products go through several roles in an organisation, where maximising the value adding activities while minimising those that do not add value should be the objective. A different traditional approach from a different scholar, Michael Earl, believes IS Methodology helps businesses meet their objectives fully for the reason that IS methodology is not on internal but external or outward looking. Earl established a multiple methodology with three approaches for business strategy: bottom up, top down and inside out. A bottom up approach takes into consideration the current system, afterwards investigates it for possible gaps, which can be achieved by adopting SWOT analysis. This approach outlines the current condition of the company and what does it want to achieve in the upcoming. The top down considers the organisation from a structural point of view bring into line IS with the business strategy of the organisation through studying the Critical Success Factors (CSF). CSFs are explained through interviews, debates and current policies. And finally, the inside out approach studies different methods to carry research and business through new technologi es that is done by observing the organisation in order to gain competitive advantage. The Traditional approaches in ISS Vs The Digital Era Strategy configuration is considered to be even more challenging in the digital era, not only because of the involvement of the developing objective, but also because of the disadvantages of practising a cleared and defined strategy in a digital industry. Under the influence of the developing era during the last decade, traditional approaches in strategies have became more and more subject of critique. The appearing of the Internet, for example, and other electronic applications has noticeably affected almost all industries. Considering that Porters theories were based on the economic situation in the late eighties. This phase was characterised by cyclical developments, strong competition and stable market structure. Porters approaches looks at the analysis of the current situation related to suppliers, customers and competitors. Strengthening the position itself within the five forces model has developed competitive advantage. Therefore, models in that era are unable to analyse or explain the dynamic changes in the digital era, which do have the power to change all industries. However, the analysis of industrial structures when employing Porters five forces model can serve as an analytical framework for outlining the distribution of resources and choice of business. This model can be adopted in the digital era and also provide a framework for employing new technologies as the internet, also as opportunities to businesses related in the direction of creating value for customers and gaining competitive advantage. Tackling the validity of Porters Five Forces could be analysed as each force by its own. The power of rivalry is assessed when knowing that the characteristics of developed technology, such as the internet, is the access to large numbers of customers, lower costs in operational or functional fields, simplicity of entry into the market, the prospective for adding value to customers, therefore gain competitive advantage. It is vital to outline that progressing competitiveness could be done by offering customers unique values and products, where it is not easy to keep the advantage gained because of the simulation of business forms, processes and technologies. Within regards to the second force, the threat of new entrants that may appear in an industry, digital methods and means has reduced barriers to entry of new businesses in the market because of the cut in numbers of employees and lower costs for required physical property. Companies that run on the internet through economies of s cale can usually prevent new entry of other firms. When a company reaches critical mass and realises the influence of network externalities, can then powerfully compete with companies that have only entered the market, due to the already built relationships with clients or customers and their loyalty. The threat of substitute goods or services is vast for ease of the entry process into the digital market. Customers can simply get on hold of information about other similar products and compare the different specifications of each product and get to a decision if the original product can be substituted at reasonable means with other alternatives and also can be done easily. Internet empowers the bargaining power of customers. They now do not face any obstacles when seeking any information on quality, price or even detailed specifications. In addition, the existence of the web sites that offers price comparison of products and services, so that the procedure of obtaining information in the digital era has become much easier. The fifth and last force within the five forces model is the bargaining power of suppliers. Where internet enjoys both negative and positive factors on the fifth force of the model, which is the bargaining power of suppliers. It is considered that the bargaining power of suppliers tend to provide easiness to customers to approach essential information related to prices, products and markets which limited bargaining power of suppliers. Another negative factor around involving the internet that affected the bargaining power of suppliers is the ease of entry into virtual markets that leads to an increase in competition. Suppliers are able to increase their power by applying a special procedure for supply and be well-known in or working on increasing the quality of their goods or services. The positive factor is that suppliers through technology methods and especially the internet can easily access a large number of customer and other businesses as well. And again, the internet gets rid of any possible intermediaries, which means that if suppliers were serving in the industrial sectors, the ability of intermediaries in influencing customers are reduced to a minimum. Within regards to the Value chain model, the American guru has clearly outlined in one of his publications â€Å"Strategy and the Internet† that information technology has a penetrative effect on the value chain. The outstanding advantage of the internet is the ability to link an activity with others and making data widely available with both, the company and suppliers, customers and channels. Many of the most important applications of the internet in the value chain involve moving physical activities online, while others involve making physical activities more cost effective. To notice how these technological developments will eventually affect the value chain, some historical view is enlightening. The influence of the internet in the value chain should be kept in perspective. While internet purposes have an essential impact on the quality of activities and on the cost, they are not the main influences. Traditional factors such as the skills of personnel, process technology and investments in physical assets also play important roles. The internet is a turning point is some terms, but many traditional sources of competitive advantage remain secure (Porter, 2001). The co-author of â€Å"Unleashing the Killer App: Digital Strategies for Market Dominance† highlights that those traditional approaches are not valid anymore. Larry Downes originated three new forces that require a new strategic framework: deregulation, globalisation and digitalisation. Deregulation happens when governments influence decreases several industries like communications and banking, which are fed by the new opportunities of information technology, firms in these industries were forced to restructure their businesses and to seek for other alternatives. Where globalisation is related to the developments of distribution and communications that have allowed almost all businesses to sell and buy globally. It could be added here, that networked and global markets need new requirements on organisations strategies. And so positioning themselves as quality leaders or price leaders, like Porter suggests in his Generic Strategies model, is not enough any more. Finally, digit alisation is explained as the influence of information technology develops, all stakeholders within a market will have access to even more information. Downes arguments are considered to be convincing. Where deregulation, globalisation and digitalisation have become powerful forces during the past years, but Porters models hardly ever took them into consideration. Todays markets are strongly affected by technological developments especially in information technology. Therefore, it is not beneficial to develop a strategy exclusively on the basis of Porters models. Downes concludes that the job of information technology is the main difference between the traditional strategy approaches and the digital era, which is the new world of the new forces. Where the traditional economy used information technology as an instrument for applying change, today information technology had become the vital factor for change. Conclusion Critique of Porter, by Downes, implies that Porters models concentrates too much on the economic conditions of their era of origin. Therefore, their practicality is restricted under change and developed conditions. It should be added too that Downes new forces are created from the economic conditions of their own era as well. Possibly within the next decades, they will tend to loose their importance due to other developments that took place in that future. In summary, Michael Porters approaches do not have the impact they used to have any more. Nevertheless, that doesnt mean that Porters theories became invalid. What has to be done is to apply them with the knowledge of their limitations in mind and to use them as a part of a larger framework of theories and techniques. This approach, however, is advisable for the application of every business model, brand new or old, from Porter or from somebody else, and in every economy.

Evaluation sheet of key research studies Essay

I decided not to revise anything for the essay part of the exam paper. This was because I felt that I had done enough research for my specialist modules and would be able to recall it when needed. In the weeks leading up to the exam I spent about 30 minutes a day going over various chapters in my study skills folder, and if there was a particular item I had trouble with I would make a note of it and go over it again the next day. Finding time at home to revise was a bit of a problem and I found that the best time was in the evening when the children had gone to bed. This meant that I was sometimes quite tired when I tried to revise and wasted some sessions simply because I could not absorb any information. In future I may choose to do my revision somewhere other that at home, for example, the library. This means I will be away from the distractions of children and phone calls. I will also give my friends and family a copy of my revision time-table so that they know not to bother me. I felt that we were given enough information before the exam to know what to expect though I would have liked to have seen a copy of an old paper and perhaps given the opportunity to have a go at completing one. When we were allowed to look at our paper I read it through once before answering any questions. Once I had done this I first answered the questions I did not need to think about too much before going on to the others, and if there were any I did not know then I left them blank. I then went onto the essay question and decided which to do, though I found making a choice difficult as I did not know how I would get on once I had started. Once I got started on the essay I realised the mistake I had made by not revising my specialist modules. I wanted to be able to include examples, statistics or case studies in my essay by could not remember any. Once I had completed the essay I went back to the questions and any that I did not know the answer to I guessed. I then proof read the whole paper and corrected some errors which I had missed. If I could have done thing differently I would have planned my revision better to avoid distractions. I found that spending 30 minutes a day trying to revise while cooking dinner and running around after the children does not work. Before the exam I was not nervous but I think this was to do with the fact I did not have time to think about it too much. I also think that I did not take it as seriously as I should have and therefore did not revise enough. While waiting outside the exam hall I seemed to â€Å"catch† nervousness from other people but cannot see any way to avoid this. During the exam I was more nervous than I expected and was really aware of how quickly the time was passing. I wanted to work out how much time I could spend on each section, but this seemed to make me feel worse as I could not remember how many points would be awarded for each. After the exam I felt a bit disappointed as I feel my lack of revision meant I could not do my best. Dealing with stress during my revision sometimes helped. It made feel more awake sometimes, though this was often short lived and I usually ended up feeling worn out. Stress often meant I could not concentrate properly and I would try to do too much in one session. In future I will try to avoid the negative affects of stress by taking regular breaks, planning my revision better, finding a better location for my revision, not revising when I am tired and taking revision more seriously. I also think that revision is something that should be a continuous process not only used just before an exam. Reviewing work monthly or termly is something that I will try in the future.

Incredible India Essay

Tourism is a major industry in India and the Ministry of Tourism launched a campaign to promote Incredible India as a tourist destination in 2002. [2] The phrase â€Å"Incredible India† was adopted as a slogan by the ministry. Before 2002, the Indian government regularly formulated policies and prepared pamphlets and brochures for the promotion of tourism, however, it did not support tourism in a concerted fashion. However, in 2002, the tourism ministry made a conscious effort to bring in more professionalism in its attempts to promote tourism. It formulated an integrated communication strategy with the aim of promoting India as a destination of choice for the discerning traveler. The tourism ministry engaged the services of advertising and marketing firm Ogilvy & Mather (India) (O&M) to create a new campaign to increase tourist inflows into the country. [3] Travel industry analysts and tour operators were appreciative of the high standards of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign. â€Å"The promo campaign is making a powerful visual impact and creating a perception of India being a magical place to visit,† said Anne Morgaon Scully, President, McCabeBremer Travel, Virginia, USA. Average travelers too appeared to find the campaign interesting and informative, going by favourable comments on blogs on travel websites Although the ‘Incredible India’ campaign was generally well received, industry observers differed in their opinions on the positioning of India in the campaign. G. S. Murari, Director, Fidelis Advertising and Marketing Pvt. Ltd. stated he was uncomfortable with the tagline ‘Incredible India’ and was of the opinion that since India was not a uni-dimensional country like Singapore or the Maldives, using a word like ‘incredible’ to describe India as a whole was not appropriate. In 2011, Arjun Sharma, Managing Director, Le Passage to India, stated that the campaign has lived its life and it had to be reinvented. [8] The Ministry of Tourism has again engaged Ogilvy & Mather for a period of three year, beginning 2012, to redefine the brand and provide a strategic vision for the campaign. From ancient times, India has been looked upon as a place full of Mystique. In olden days time travelers like Huen Tsang came a long way with a great difficulty just to have felt of the place. But now in modern times, with supersonic jets, the world has become a smaller and has been named as a â€Å"global village†. With the destinations becoming so much closer the tourist are pouring into India from all over the world leading to a fast development of tourism industry and yet it has not grown to its fullest potential. History has lost count of hordes of humanity which have travelled and through this land of vibes and wisdom; explorers, travelers, traders and invaders have been drawn to her shores. Fa Hien and Hieun Tsang came from China in search of Bhuddha’s calm serenity; from Alexander to Tamburlaine and Nadir Shah, Mahmud Ghaznavi, Muhammad Shah Ghauri to Babar, and Vasco-De-Gama to East India Company. All came here to fill their coffers with the wealth of this land; Jews, Parsees, Muhammedans, Christians, Arabs, Persians, Turks, Orientals and Europeanshave been all made welcome here. India has some incredibly beautiful spiritual destinations located all over the country. From the majestic peaks of Himalayas to the ghats of holy Ganga to numerous other holy sites, one can go for an unforgettable spiritual journey through this majestic country.

Personal Development Plan

Personal Development Plan Introduction A Personal Development Plan (PDP) is cited in literature as a key step in defining and exploring one’s goals, and mapping out ways of turning the same goals into reality.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Development Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Keynote Project (2002, p. 1) for example observes that students can use PDP to articulate the skills they are developing in the present and match the same to â€Å"opportunities in the future†. Cassidy (2012, p. 1) provides a more succinct definition of PDP by terming it a â€Å"form of self-managed learning that is owned by the individual and enables a strategic approach to setting learning and development goals†. In an educational setup, it would be expected that PDPs will enable students to receive feedback that will assist them in their personal and professional development, and benefit them with the feedback provided by their tutors. In this writer’s case, PDP will be used as a tool for managing own development. Additionally, the PDP as articulated hereunder will provide this writer with an opportunity to expand on own personal, academic and professional horizons. In other words, this exercise provides this writer with an opportunity to take stock of own position; set goals; and use the unique skills and competencies in the academic as well as the professional setup now and in the future. Additionally, the writer will identify areas that need more effort, and as such, will intentionally pay more effort in such areas in future in order to become effective in present or future roles.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overall, it has been suggested that PDP is important for people who need (or are forced by circumstances) to take responsibility of â€Å"their own development and follow-through† with the same (Cassidy 2012, p. 1). Interpreted, the aforementioned means that every learner needs to use PDP not only because higher learning requires a degree of independent learner-directed learning, but also because it helps the students to identify what their learning needs are, and thus work towards fulfilling the same. Acculturation Acculturation has been has defined as â€Å"a dual process affecting members of two or more cultural groups as each adapts to the presence of the other† (Barjesteh Vaseghi 2012, p. 579). In higher learning, acculturation has become a commonplace thing as students from different cultures meet in the college environment each in the pursuit of an education. Foreign (international) students interact with students from the host country and the first-hand contact between the two groups of students eventually means that the original cultures of either side are affected. Notably, acculturation is important in group or te am dynamics since members need not only get a task done, but also need to work well together as suggested by Tidd, Bessant and Pavitt (2005, p.1). Without students understanding and respecting each other’s cultural differences, chances are that team work would not be successful. Barjesteh and Vaseghi (2012, p. 580) name language shock and culture shock as main factors that contribute to psychological distance among international students.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Development Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Language is especially important for such students because as Schumann (1986, p. 385) notes, verbal interactions enable communication and negotiations among people from different cultures. Trawinski (2005, p. 14) further notes that the ability of a learner to benefit from academic input depends on their ability to understand and convert materials taught in class (most likely in a secon d acquired language) into meaningful information. For such students to benefit from course materials, Trawnski (2005, p. 18) argues that the communicative, integrative and expressive functions of language have to be efficient from both sides of the message divide (i.e. the message sender and the message recipient). This writer went through the full course of â€Å"the process of acculturation† as defined by Brown (1980 cited by Barjesteh Vaseghi 2012, p. 580). Specifically, the writer underwent the euphoria stage where excitement took precedence owing to the newness of the college environment. Next was the culture shock stage where the writer felt a sense of intrusion as the reality of the new surroundings, cultural differences and the loss of familiar signs and social symbols as suggested by Yue and Le (2012, p.134) started becoming a reality. Cultural stress then took over and during this phase, the writer started a gradual recovery of self-identity also understanding, acc epting and being accepted by others. By the time of this exercise, this writer has attained full recovery as suggested by Barjesteh Vaseghi (2012, p. 580) whereby, the writer has adopted, assimilated and accepted the new culture. Additionally, this writer has developed a new identity, which arguably fits well into the college environment.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The full recovery stage is especially essential in learning since this writer can now comprehend different types of communication in the host culture; however, the writer is still working on his verbal communication skills as indicated in the Skills Audit Report in Appendix A. The verbal communication skills are especially important in teamwork since they affect the writer’s ability to take up leadership position, his presentation skills, and his ability to communicate effectively with the team members. True to Lakey (2003, p. 111), people from diverse cultures â€Å"successfully acculturate themselves to the degree that they learn to code and decode messages in a way that they will be recognised, accepted, and responded to by an individual or group which they interact†; and while this writer can confidently state that he has been successful in decoding messages communicated to him, coding his messages in a manner that enables effective communication to his colleagues is still something that he is working towards. Team work and presentation skills Based on the Belbin’ Team roles personal inventory as illustrated in Appendix B, this writer scored highest in IM (Company worker/implementer) by acquiring 14 points, and in PL (Plant) by acquiring 9 points. Following Belbin’s (1993) roles on the corresponding individual types, it is thus apparent that the writer’s positive abilities include self-discipline, hard-work, practical commonsense, and the ability to organise. The corresponding allowable weaknesses indicate that the writer lacks flexibility, and is unresponsive to â€Å"new or unproven ideas† (Belbin 1993, n.pag). The high score in PL (Plant) are further indicative that the writer has additional positive qualities that include knowledge, intellect and imagination. The corresponding allowable weaknesses as indicated by Belbin include an inclination to pay no or little attention to practical details and/or protocol. A s indicated in the Skills Audit Report (Appendix A), this writer’s main weaknesses are in leadership, presentation skills, and in verbal communication. In the writer’s own perspective, the three weaknesses as interrelated owing to the fact that the inability to communicate effectively affects his presentation skills, and this invariably dents his confidence towards being a capable leader. As indicated in Appendix A however, the writer seeks to improve his verbal communication skills, and this will directly affect the presentation and leadership skills as well. Reports and Academic Journal Comparisons Despite the weaknesses noted above, and the indication that this writer is best suited as a company worker/implementer and plant position, it is common knowledge that finding a â€Å"perfect† person is impossible in real life. As such, the writers’ strengths and weaknesses although creating the impression of an imperfect learner/job applicant, also indicate t hat this writer’s qualities of being organised, knowledgeable and meticulous make him an ideal candidate for a team where all the nine skills as indicated in the Belbin model are necessary. Team-based management systems are increasingly considered necessary for enhancing the productivity and effectiveness in organisation as indicated by Gà ¼ndà ¼z (2008, p. 460), Partington and Harris (1993, p. 694) and Katzenbach and Smith (1993, p. 111). Similarly, and upon entering the postgraduate programs, and on proceeding further to the professional environment, this writer expects to be part of bigger teams as working alone in the current team-based workplace environments is to some extent, outdated. A team is defined as the â€Å"small group of people who make contributions to the common goal, who perform in accordance with the goals, who depend on each other with the mutual feeling of responsibility and who have complementary skills† (Gà ¼ndà ¼z 2008, p. 461). In other wo rds, this writer’s skills would need to compliment those of his team mates for purposes of attaining a common goal. The team roles of the writer as indicated in Appendix B â€Å"describes how suitable the member is for the team† as indicated by Belbin (2010, p.120). On their part, Fisher, Hunter and Macrosson (1998, p. 284) observe that team roles as stipulated in the Belbin Model should be used universally (even outside management teams). Notably however, Aritzeta, Swailes and Senior (2005, p. 20) observe that â€Å"Belbin did not report the theoretical foundations of his theory†, and as such, the theory has a limitation. Some critics like Broucek and Randel (1996, p. 403) further argue that the Belbin model is based on an anecdote. Despite the omission of not basing his model on any theoretical ground, Aritzeta et al. (2005, p. 21) observes that the empirical formulation of Belbin’s work can still be linked to established theories. Among authors who sup port the Belbin Model are Fisher et al. (1998, p. 284) who observe that although there are dominant team roles for each individual, it does not mean that he/she cannot play other team roles. The major factors that determine the roles that a person can play in a team include their intelligence, extroversion or introversion, stability or anxiety, and dominance or lack thereof (Fisher et al., 1998, p.285). The aforementioned factors affect how teams interact, and their level of productivity, while team roles obtain the balance needed for team members to work harmoniously and productively. Notably, and as indicated in the Skills Audit Report, this writer still needs to work on his verbal communication skills, his leadership skills, and his presentation skills if his contributions to a team will be realized. Without the finding a solution to the three weak areas, this writer acknowledges that the team roles of being an implementer or a plant that generates ideas through imagination or in novation, cannot be realized without the appropriate communication skills. Personal Planning and Action Plan The requirement of this writer’s role as a team player In the global environment where this writer (and others) lives in, it would be expected that working in teams would expose one to people from different cultures. In the management field therefore, it is essential for this writer to concentrate on finding solutions to the three weak areas identified in the Skills Audit Report (Appendix A), and finding ways to overcome the threats identified in the SWOT analysis report (Appendix C). In the latter, this writer identified homesickness and the global competition in the workplace as the main threats. To overcome them, this writer will therefore need to gain skills and knowledge that will give him a competitive edge over others (i.e. in case of the global competition), and will also need to find ways of overcoming the homesickness (e.g. by calling friends and families) of ten. This writer will also need to find solutions to the major weaknesses facing him and intends to do the following in order of sequence: Become a better communicator Become better in presenting ideas and innovations Become a leader As indicated in the Skills Audit Report (Appendix A), this writer’s main strengths include time management skills, self-motivation, and the ability to work well in teams. The writer’s strengths are further evident in the Skills, Knowledge and Attitude (SKA Analysis) (Appendix D), where time management, office skills, decision-making skills, and flexibility are his skills strong point. Additionally, this writer is knowledgeable in researching and has experience working in his specialty. Attitude-wise, this writer is a realist and as shown in Appendix E (Learning Style Questionnaire), the writer has three dominant learning styles namely activist, reflector and theorist. On self-evaluation though, this writer is more convinced that the refl ector and theorist learning styles are more applicable in his case. A SMART action plan Specific goal: To be a better communicator, presenter of ideas and innovations, and a leader in the next two years. Measurable: To communicate eloquently in the English language; to make presentations to my peers in college and colleagues in the workplace; and to assume emergent leadership positions in college and/or in the workplace. Attainable: Practice my communication skills more alone or with the help of a privately acquired tutor; practice my presentation skills with a friend with the view of perfecting them in readiness for a bigger audience; and vie for leadership positions in college and/or in the workplace. Relevance: The goals are meant to counter the weaknesses identified in the Skills Audit Report indicated in appendix A. Time-Bound: Activity Time Length Measurable Milestones Enabling factors Improve verbal communication skills 6 months Ability to communicate eloquently A budget to acquire a private tutor to help with the verbal communication skills; time; and motivation to learn Enhance presentation skills 6 -12 months Ability to make informative and attention-capturing presentations; eliciting audience response thus indicating effective communication A willing colleague/friend to act as an audience, and one who will be willing to comment and criticise where necessary. Become a leader 12 months Vying for leadership positions and getting support for the same as a sign of people’s confidence in this writer’s leadership abilities The availability of leadership positions; writer’s leadership potential and its appeal to other people in the college or organisational setup. Conclusions and Reflection As inferred in the above sections, this writer is not only studying in a culture that is different from his own, but is also likely to continue with the same working in the global environment where people from different cultures mee t to work for same organisations. As such, as one who intends to obtain a leadership position in future, this writer realises the need not only to understand what is communicated to him, but also to communicate efficiently to others. It is for such reasons that this writer identifies the inadequate verbal communications skills, the inadequate presentation skills, and the lack of leadership skills as the three main weaknesses that he needs to improve on. Notably, and as indicated elsewhere in this PDP, an improvement in one (i.e. verbal communication) will probably have an undeniable effect on the other two, since this writer has the knowledge in his area of specialty, with his main hindrance being in his inability to communicate effectively. As a realist, this writer acknowledges that the vision to become a leader can only be attained after successfully becoming a better communicator and an adept presenter of ideas and innovations. After all, leadership is earned, and such can only happen if one is clearly understood and supported by others. Additionally, leaders commune the mission and vision to their followers, something that would not happen if one is not able to communicate effectively. References Aritzeta, A, Swailes, S Senior, B 2005, ‘Team roles: psychometric evidence, construct validity and team building’, Research Memorandum- Centre for Management and Organizational Learning, Business School, University of Hull, no. 51, pp. 1-39. Web. Barjesteh, H Vaseghi, R 2012, ‘Acculturation model for L2 acquisition: review and evaluation’, Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS), vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 579-584. Belbin, R. M 1993, Team roles at work, Elsevier, London. Belbin, R. M 2010, The management of teams- Why they succeed or fail, Routledge, London; New York. Broucek, W. G Randell, G 1996, ‘An assessment of construct validity of the Belbin self-perception inventory and observer’s assessment from the perspective of the fi ve-factor model’, Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology, vol. 69, pp. 389-405. Cassidy, C 2012, ‘(b) Personal development Plan’, Appendix_3b. Web. Fisher, S, Hunter, T Mackrosson, W 1998, ‘The structure of Belbin’s team roles’, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, vol. 71, pp. 283-288. Gà ¼ndà ¼z, H. B (2008), ‘An evaluation on Belbin’s team roles theory (the case of Sakarya Anatolian profession High School, Profession High School and Vocational High School for Industry)’, World Applied Sciences Journal, vol.4, no. 3, pp. 460-469. Katzenbach, J. R Smith, K 1993, ‘The discipline of teams’, Harvard Business Review, March-April, pp. 11-120. Lakey, P. N 2003, ‘Acculturation: a review of the literature’, Intercultural Communication Studies, Vol. XII, No. 2, PP. 103-118. Partington, D Harris, H 1999, ‘Team role balance and team performance: an empirical studyà ¢â‚¬â„¢, Journal of Management Development, vol. 18, no.8, pp. 694-705. Schumann, J. H 1986, Research on acculturation model for L2 acquisition, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, vol.7, pp. 379-397. The Keynote Project 2002, ‘Personal development planning guide’, The Nottingham Trent University. Web. Tidd, J, Bessant, J Pavitt, K 2005, ‘managing innovation- team building tools’. Web. Trawinski, M 2005, An outline of second language acquisition theories, Academic Pedagogic, Krakow. Yue, Y Le, Q 2012, ‘From â€Å"cultural shock† to â€Å"ABC framework†: Development of intercultural contact theory’, International Journal of Innovative Interdisciplinary Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 133-141. Appendices Appendix A: Skills Audit Report (.pdf file) Appendix B: Team Roles Personal Inventory (.pdf file) Appendix C: SWOT analysis Strengths: Good in time management Strong teamwork skills Orderly and good in plannin g Weaknesses: Very shy Problem with speech Irascible Opportunities: Study in Britain Unmarried Large family Threats: Competitive job opportunities Homesickness Appendix D: S.K.A analysis Skills : Time management Office skills Decision maker Flexible Knowledge : Experience in my specialty. Ability to do research. Readers interested in my specialty. Attitude: Optimistic Realistic Appendix E: Learning Style Questionnaire (.pdf file)

Street Slang For Scriptwriting

Street Slang For Scriptwriting Street Slang For Scriptwriting Street Slang For Scriptwriting By Sharon If youre writing a script, one way that you can bring it to life is to let your characters speak in current street slang. Thats the advice from the creators of Raindance, which promotes independent film in the UK. They have suggested a number of current slang phrases to give your characters some street cred. Here are some that caught my eye: Seagull manager A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves. SITCOMs Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or start a home business. 404 Someone whos clueless. From the World Wide Web error message 404 Not Found meaning that the requested document could not be located. There are lots more fun phrases to see. A full list is here. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Farther vs. Further8 Types of Parenthetical PhrasesJanuary 1 Doesn't Need an "st"

Global Usage of a Language Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global Usage of a Language - Assignment Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that language is a uniquely human experience. The need to communicate and its method (language) are based in the human psyche and passed on from one generation to the next. Language is closely bound up with the forms of human thought. It serves a vast range of communicative needs, from getting the neighbor to keep the music down, to telling jokes, making declarations of love or hate, or praying etc. It also functions in the middle of complex civilizations, not just as a way of communication, but as an indicator of social identity, a sign of association to a social class, ethnic group, or country.  Every word in a language is a term. Every term has both meaning an assumption, and this is why language barriers are more than measly communication barriers, why something is always lost in translation. A language portrays society and emotion in its very essence. It develops as a people develop. Hence to understand a particular language is to live within it and its culture. This is where swear words get their power from, for example damn, shit all have different textual meanings but are conversationally used as swear words. Linguistics is the study of language and concerns itself with all aspects of how people utilize language and what they have to know in order to do so.  All languages change, they have histories, and they live and die along with the societies they belong to. Human languages are typically referred to as natural languages. A common progression for natural languages is that they are considered to be first spoken, and then written, and then an understanding and explanation of their grammar is attempted. Any language that is in a constant state of change is known as a living language or modern language.  A language that ceases to change or develop is classified as a dead language. The most universal process leading to language death is one in which a society of speakers of one language becomes bilingual in an additional language, and gradually shifts loyalty to the second language until they stop to use their original (or heritage) language. This is a process of incorporation which may be voluntary or may be forced upon a people.  

Malignancy (Cellular Pathology) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Malignancy (Cellular Pathology) - Case Study Example In addition, unlike the cancerous squamous cells which appear abnormal and distorted, normal squamous cells look smooth and regular. Deeper analysis focusing on the nucleus would have provided information that identifies and distinguishes normal from cancerous adipose tissue. The malignant adipose tissue have large nucleus with irregular shape and size. In addition, the nucleoli are prominent; the cytoplasm is scarce and deeply colored or, on the opposite, is pale. The nucleus of malignant adipose tissue plays, through its alterations, a big role in the evaluation of malignancy. Changes are associated with the surface, structure and homogeneity, the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, volume, as well as shape and density. Ultra-structural features are associated with changes in chromatin (e.g. reduction in heterochromatin and increase of perichromatin and interchromatin granules, formation of inclusions, and increase of nuclear membrane pores), invaginations, and nucleus segmentation. The nucleus is characterized by its movement towards the membrane, hypertrophy, numerical increase, development of intranuclear and canalicular systems between the nucleolus and the nuclear membrane, and macro and micro-segregation. Mitoses are also a regular feature of malignant adipose tissue. Mitoses numerically increase, atypical mitosis forms with defects in the mitotic spindle develop, which produces dissymmetrical structures, triple or quadruple asters, and atypical forms of chromosomes. Nuclear changes justify genetic defects associated with these changes, and also explain the presence of different squamous cell clones. In malignant adipose tissue that are severely anaplastic, the presence of large nuclei and multinucleate squamous cells shows abnormal divisions (Hermans 2006, pg. 27). The morphological features discussed here symbolize the changes happening at metabolic level, with the augmentation of structures in regards to the