Discuss the development of Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until Essay

Discuss the development of Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until recent times in China or overseas - Essay Example Despite the increasing market share of modern drinks such as soft drinks and alcohol drinks, tea has never lost its popularity, especially in recent years, when people are increasingly aware of the importance of organic foods and drinks, tea is being considered one of the most natural and healthy drinks which is promoted by more and more people around the world† (Wang 2011, p. 13). At the beginning tea was used for phytotherapy and mainly on the territory of churches. Monks started drinking tea because they liked its sedative effect and also to demonstrate the respect for nature. Chinese tea ceremony was also born as a result of respect for nature and the necessity of peace and was held as a part of religious ceremonies. The interesting fact is that for many centuries the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism were mixed in the magic Chinese tea ceremony. Later Chinese people learned to value the pleasure they received from tea-drinking and its social meaning. Tea ce remony has turned from a religious ritual into the important part of social, cultural and traditional events (Baldwin et al, 2006). Chinese people has enjoyed tea-drinking for more than 4000 years. According to the legend, Yan Di, one of the three ancient rulers, tasted all the kinds of herbage to find methods of treatment. Once, when he was poisoned by some kind of herbage, the drop of water from manuka appeared in his mouth and saved him. Tea was applied as a medicine for long. During the rule of Chow dynasty it had religious status. In spring and in autumn people ate the leaves of manuka instead of vegetables (Wang, 2000). With the popularization of Buddhism in Northern and Southern dynasty, its dewy effect was used by monks for meditation. Tea as a drink was thriving during the rule of Tang dynasty and became a popular product in shops. The appearance of a book about tea became one of the most important events of this

50 First Dates Essay Example for Free

50 First Dates Essay The movie 50 First Dates is a romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal. The movie is a notion of a day that keeps repeating itself. However, in this movie the recycling takes place entirely inside the mind of Lucy Whitmore played by Drew Barrymore. Barrymore plays a young woman who was in an accident that caused her to suffer from Goldfield Syndrome, a fictional form of anterograde amnesia in which each day’s events disappear from her memory overnight. This is caused by damage to the hippocampus, inside the temporal lobe, as the hippocampus controls memory functions. Furthermore,she also innocently believes every day to be the birthday of her father which happens to be the day of the accident. In order to shield her from the pain of repeatedly learning about the accident, Marlin and Lucy’s brother, re-enact the activities of Marlin’s birthday every day. The character Oola is a friend of Sandler, whom helps come up with clever ideas to help Lucy fall in love with Henry everyday. Oola is affecting his neurotransmitters by the daily use of marijuana. Marijuana works as an agonist, in this movie. Adam Sandler, a womanizing marine life veterinian whom cares for animals in an aquatic amusement park has too many sexual conquests until he realizes that he is falling in love with Lucy. Sandler, sheds his philandering ways and devises new ways to meet her again every day, hoping that one day she will retain her memories and feelings for him. He eventually convinces Marlin that hiding the truth from Lucy is worse than explaining it to her each day, so they begin to leave video tapes for her to watch each morning, explaining her situation and her relationship with Henry. Lucy also writes notes to herself in a diary. Over time, she begins to reciprocate Henry’s feelings, even accepting his marriage proposal. Lucy is surrounded by a great deal of support and love throughout her dilemma. Lucy also receives deception from her brother and father and the basically the whole town because they protect her from knowing the truth. Personal Reflection: The results of this movie provide evidence that people suffer with anterograde amnesia which can effectively evaluate aspects of their quality of life and that the quality of communication life style. This movie also provides evidence that people with Amnesia also refers to an inability to recall information that is stored in memory. The causes of amnesia may be organic or functional. Organic causes may include brain damage through injury, or the use of specific drugs but usually sedative drugs. Amnesia may be one of the symptoms of some degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Functional causes are psychological factors, such as defense mechanisms. People with amnesia also find it hard to imagine the future, because our constructions of future scenarios are closely linked to our recollections of past experiences. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis used advanced brain imaging techniques to show that remembering the past and envisioning the future may go hand in hand with each process sparking strikingly similar patterns of activity within precisely the same broad network of brain regions. Fortunately, in the majority of cases amnesia resolves itself without treatment. However, if an underlying physical or mental disorder is present, it should be treated. Psychotherapy may sometimes be effective for some patients. Hypnosis can be an effective way of recalling memories that have been forgotten. Family support is crucial in helping a patient with amnesia get better. Psychologists and psychiatrists say that reality orientation aids may help to nudge patients back into their environment if they are surrounded with familiar objects, photographs, smells, and sounds. Personal Implications: In 50 First dates, it was designed to tell the story of Lucy a woman whom suffers from a severe memory loss and can not remembered anything that is happening but remembers the past. Goldfield’s syndrome is a fictive name for a specific form of Anterograde amnesia used in the romantic comedy. The condition causes Lucy to lose of all her memories of the day, save the memories prior to the accident, due to that she is unable to convert her short-term memories to her long-term memories during her sleep. This results in her waking up every day believing it is the day of the accident, October 13, 2002. So, while the name is fiction, it is based upon a real condition. The neurological condition that Lucy suffers from, Goldfield Syndrome, is entirely fictional. True anterograde amnesia affects either short-term memory, which can last minutes or seconds, or intermediate-term memory, which can last days or weeks. Although, falling asleep has nothing to do with the condition, and sleep actually intensifies many chemical effects which help memory.

Genetic Enigneering Is Morally Wrong :: Genetic Reseach Manipulation

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Genetic engineering has been one of the most controversial ethical issues since 1997; when Dolly, the first successfully cloned sheep, was announced. Dolly has redefined the meaning of â€Å"identical twin†; not only does she look exactly like her mother she also has the same genetic make up. This experiment was not only impossible but unthinkable. Yet, Dr. Ian Wilmut revealed Dolly on February 23, 1997, at seven months old ( Travis 1). On the surface genetic engineering may appear to be the solution to all of society’s ills and the worlds problems. In all actuality it may have tremendous and unknown side effects. The issues that surround genetic engineering undoubtedly make it immoral and ethically wrong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Genetic Engineering as defined by Susan A. Hagedorn is:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manipulation of an organism’s genetic endowment by introducing or  eliminating genes through modern molecular biology techniques. A broad   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  definition of genetic engineering also includes selective breeding and other means   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  of artificial selection ( â€Å"Genetic Engineering† 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After hearing of the â€Å"creation† of Dolly Americans soon learned the harsh fact surrounding her creation. Dr. Wilmut’s success was accompanied by 276 failures. This success rate is no where near clinically acceptable. To start the developing of the eggs they were shocked with electric pulses; twenty nine of the 277 of these eggs began to divide. The eggs, at that point were implanted into adult female sheep; thirteen of which became pregnant, and only the one of 277 eggs were born - Dolly ( Wilmut 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Long term prospects of mammal cloning remain in question. this is no where near clinically acceptable for experimentation on humans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the months following the news of Dolly, President Clinton requested, â€Å" a through review of the legal and ethical issues associated with the use of this technology... with recommendations on possible federal actions to prevent its abuse† (Shermer 1). The answer is clear-- there is no safe place to draw the line on when genetic engineering is acceptable and is not. Governments can not say that the uses are strictly limited to curing disease because then there becomes a question of what is a genetic disease. For example, we may feel comfortable defining a mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene as causing disease if it leads to chronic respiratory infections from birth to death at the age of twenty five. However a different mutations in the same gene might caused little or no problem is this also cystic fibrosis? Genetic Enigneering Is Morally Wrong :: Genetic Reseach Manipulation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Genetic engineering has been one of the most controversial ethical issues since 1997; when Dolly, the first successfully cloned sheep, was announced. Dolly has redefined the meaning of â€Å"identical twin†; not only does she look exactly like her mother she also has the same genetic make up. This experiment was not only impossible but unthinkable. Yet, Dr. Ian Wilmut revealed Dolly on February 23, 1997, at seven months old ( Travis 1). On the surface genetic engineering may appear to be the solution to all of society’s ills and the worlds problems. In all actuality it may have tremendous and unknown side effects. The issues that surround genetic engineering undoubtedly make it immoral and ethically wrong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Genetic Engineering as defined by Susan A. Hagedorn is:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manipulation of an organism’s genetic endowment by introducing or  eliminating genes through modern molecular biology techniques. A broad   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  definition of genetic engineering also includes selective breeding and other means   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  of artificial selection ( â€Å"Genetic Engineering† 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After hearing of the â€Å"creation† of Dolly Americans soon learned the harsh fact surrounding her creation. Dr. Wilmut’s success was accompanied by 276 failures. This success rate is no where near clinically acceptable. To start the developing of the eggs they were shocked with electric pulses; twenty nine of the 277 of these eggs began to divide. The eggs, at that point were implanted into adult female sheep; thirteen of which became pregnant, and only the one of 277 eggs were born - Dolly ( Wilmut 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Long term prospects of mammal cloning remain in question. this is no where near clinically acceptable for experimentation on humans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the months following the news of Dolly, President Clinton requested, â€Å" a through review of the legal and ethical issues associated with the use of this technology... with recommendations on possible federal actions to prevent its abuse† (Shermer 1). The answer is clear-- there is no safe place to draw the line on when genetic engineering is acceptable and is not. Governments can not say that the uses are strictly limited to curing disease because then there becomes a question of what is a genetic disease. For example, we may feel comfortable defining a mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene as causing disease if it leads to chronic respiratory infections from birth to death at the age of twenty five. However a different mutations in the same gene might caused little or no problem is this also cystic fibrosis?

Methods of Studying Human Behavior Essay

Among the various methods of studying human behavior such as naturalistic observation, survey research, correlation research, and experimental method, survey research method is the most appropriate method that can be used to investigate the relationship between violence and alcohol use. Survey research method offers best alternative for the study because it can easily study relationship between violence and alcohol use by easily determining the target population that shall participate in the survey. Moreover, survey research method facilitates collection of data regarding violence and alcohol use behavior (Dube et al, 2001) by use of interviews or questionnaires among the selected survey sample. As a result of obtained information the from survey method, it is easy to draw conclusion regarding alcoholism and violence because survey usually targets similar responses from selected respondents on their take on the research topic. However, precaution should be taken so that carefully categorization of participants to ascertain the accurate and credible results. In other words, to assure validity of the data obtained, participants should have some observable similarity when using survey method. Moreover, results obtained heavily depend on the respondents’ ability to tell the truth and respond honestly. Therefore, if respondents are dishonest, then the result shall be misleading. In other words, survey method requires full self report from the selected sample. In this case of using survey methodology in studying the relationship between alcohol use and violence, ethical considerations are of essence. One such consideration regards, consent form the respondent that he/she is of opinion that will voluntarily share needed information being requested. More critical on ethical considerations, regards the nature of questions asked to respondents in the sense that if the questions asked are embarrassing nature, the respondent may not be in position to respond honestly (James, 1890). For example, young couple may find it embarrassing to answer questions related to their suffering in marriages unlike the old couples who may be open enough to share. Q2. Difference between negative and positive reinforcement: Negative and Positive Reinforcement Both positive and Negative reinforcement concept is an interesting area in psychological arena. To differentiate, positive reinforcement entails activities aimed at increasing recurrence of a certain behavior because the behavior was rewarded or a person committing the behavior receives what he or she wanted by performing the behavior. For example, hardworking ion college attains good grades and scholarship encourages recurrence of working hard behavior. While on the other hand, negative reinforcement, regards consequences of a behavior that discourages its repetition. For example poor performance, results to poor grades that discouraging laziness behavior in studying. Though, negative reinforcement should not be viewed as punishment because it can be explained and its objective clearly defended as to produce positive results. However, shaping behavior requires integration of both positive and negative reinforcement since they both create a strong behavior conditioning tool determining whether or not a certain behavior is likely to be repeated or changed to a desired one. This is because behavior tendency to be repeated is determined by either positive or negative consequences. For example, working hard in college secure one with good skills for job execution which is a positive consequence, but failing results to low skills and low chances of good job then it becomes a negative consequence to performance behavior. An example from personal life is that of alcohol abuse that was coupled by legal charges. This behavior resulted to negative reinforcement in terms of charges, fines and detainment. In a holistic view, these negative consequences did not mean something bad to mean as I learnt later. On my part and encounter the fines, charges and detainment was the beginning of the new life in terms of positive reinforcement of sobriety that was impossible to attain without couple of negative reinforcements. Though the situation was an integrative scenario in terms of negative and positive reinforcement, ethical consideration needed at this moment is the utilization of common sense. Q3. Which theory of psychological thought: Theories of Psychology Psychology as a scientific disciple that seeks to study, understands, and explains human behavior, for me theory of behavioral Psychology or school of thought for Behaviorism proves to be the most appropriate theory for understanding psychology. Behaviorism states that all behaviors are shaped based on the consequences encountered as a result of the behavior or experiences (Skinner, 1948/1986). For example, when you meet a friend and you smile at him or her and she smiles back at you, this may encourage smiling behavior at friends. But when you smile and friend ignores you, then the behavior is likely to be discouraged. Therefore, consequences that facilitate to shape behaviors are either favorable or unfavorable, but it depend how we perceive and view consequences and experiences. This behaviorism theory is a crucial as a center stage for understanding behavior change in the sense that when practice good habits it leads to lifestyle changes and we are able to live positively. For example, practiced and lived life free from alcohol abuse. Thus, the theory helps my deeper understanding of need for practicing changes from changed lifestyles, we adopt new desirable behaviors. Therefore, I firmly assert that I am what I do. However, although behavioral theory is my preferred theory, environmental issues plays a big role in the acquisition of behavior. For example, social settings, nature of friends and our role models matters. Additionally, it is a point of worth to note the Cognitive Psychology theory remains crucial because informs of internal aspects of human behavior based on consequences of past experiences. Q4. Psychological disorders and their treatment: Anxiety disorders Statistically, over 20 million patients are reported to be affected by anxiety disorders in America. Based on this number of persons that are affected by the anxiety disorder, there is need to pay close attention to the disorder. There are numerous types of anxiety disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Phobia, and Panic disorder which are related to stress (David, 2008). In a position of a counselor, I would use the following symptoms to diagnose anxiety disorder as follows: panic disorder patient exhibits hot flashes, racing heartbeat, fears of being death or crazy, nausea and terror. Panic disorder is best treated by a combination of psychological, physical and physiological treatment. Secondly, social phobia anxiety disorder will comprise of symptoms such as confusion, blushing, diarrhea and palpitations which are all physical symptoms. Social phobia can be treated best by behavior and social changes along side use of medication and therapy. The third disorder PTSD is accompanied by symptoms such as avoidance behavior, Hypersensitivity such as sleep, anxious, Re-experiencing an event, Loss of interest in surroundings. Treatment approach to treating PTSD includes exposure therapy, medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group therapy. References David, Buss, (2008), Evolutionary psychology: the new science of the mind, Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Dube SR, Anda RF, Felitti VJ, Croft JB, Edwards VJ, Giles WH, (2001): Growing up with parental alcohol abuse: exposure to childhood abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Child Abuse, 25(12):1627-1640 James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. New York: Holt Skinner, B. F. (1948/1986). Walden II. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall [Psychology: The Evolution of a Science]

United States Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. The Society is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with state Divisions and more than 3,400 local Units. The Society is the largest source of private, nonprofit cancer research funds in the United States. The Society's prevention programs focus on tobacco control, sun protection, diet and nutrition, comprehensive school health education, early detection, and treatment. A variety of service and rehabilitation programs are available to patients and their families. Through its advocacy program, the Society educates policy makers about cancer and how it affects the individuals and families they represent. For more information contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. The American Cancer Society's international mission concentrates on capacity building in developing cancer societies and on collaboration with other cancer-related organizations throughout the world in carrying out the strategic directions of the American Cancer Society In 1947 the American Cancer Society also began its public education campaign about the signs and symptoms of cancer. They were termed â€Å"Cancer's Danger Signals†. The original 7 danger signals were: 2. A lump or thickening in the breast or elsewhere. 5. Persistent indigestion or difficult swallowing. 7. Any change in normal bowel habits. Ten years later, the order was rearranged putting the â€Å"unusual bleeding or discharge† in the first place. The signals were retitled and reworded slightly through the years, until the wording was changed in 1969 to the acronym CAUTION. The first letter of each sentence was lined up to spell CAUTION. Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing. The warning signals remained as above until their use was discontinued in the early 1980's. Some of the Society's patient service programs include: Transportation: Trained volunteers drive patients to and from treatment. This program is called Road to Recovery in some areas. Reach to Recovery: Trained volunteers who are breast cancer survivors visit women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The volunteers serve as positive role models, talk with women about their feelings and concerns, and provide written materials about breast cancer and related subjects. â€Å"TLC† is a â€Å"magalog† designed to provide information and special products, such as wigs, swimwear, turbans, hats, bras, and breast prostheses. Look Good†¦Feel Better: In partnership with the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation and the National Cosmetology Association, this free public service program is designed to teach women with cancer beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Man to Man: This group program provides information about prostate cancer and related issues to men with prostate cancer and, in some areas, their spouse or significant other. Children's Camps: In some areas, the Society sponsors camps for children who have, or have had, cancer. These camps are equipped to handle the special needs of children undergoing treatment. Hope Lodge: Temporary accommodations are provided in some areas to cancer patients during their treatment. I Can Cope: This patient and family cancer education program consists of a series of classes. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and community representatives provide information about cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as assistance in coping with the physical and emotional challenges of a cancer diagnosis.

Dorian Gray Summary essays

Dorian Gray Summary essays The plot of Oscar Wildes Dorian Gray carries the reader in several different and twisted directions. From the first chapter in which Dorian is a young man just beginning to understand adulthood to the gruesome murder of his friend Basil Hallward, the true ruthless attitude of Dorian Gray rises to the surface. A ruthless carefree attitude which resembles that of one whom he aspires to imitate, Lord Henry Wotton (Harry). However, Dorian soon becomes engulfed in a dramatic world of dissonance, ultimately showing that he in fact is much different and far more despicable than that of Lord Henry. As an audience, our first introduction to Dorians new wicked persona is brought about in chapter seven, just following his broken engagement of marriage with Sibyl Vane. From this point on all evil which Dorian partakes in becomes evident in Basils portrait of him. Dorian not only leads two people to suicide, corrupts the mind of Adrian Singleton, but also takes the life of one whom once held dear to his heart in Basil. The unique factor amongst all this wrong doing is that nobody suspects him of these acts. Dorians soul as he so wished, it brought about in the portrait, while his outer being stays the same. Though both Dorian and Harry live lives dedicated to self fulfillment and pleasure, Dorian has crossed lines which not even Harry could imagine. Lord Henrys preached theories and ideas are a deliberate attempt to bring down established norms and question conventional feelings of truth. But, that is where it stops. Even Basil Hallward notes that Lord Henry doesnt believe half of what he says. Furthermore, in regards to the mysterious yellow book, Harry unlike Dorian feels that As for being poisoned by a book, there is no such thing as that. Art has no influence upon action(161) Throughout the chapters Harry continuously lives his settled life of attending parties, going t ...

How to Balance Equations - Printable Worksheets

How to Balance Equations - Printable Worksheets A balanced chemical equation gives the number and type of atoms participating in a reaction, the reactants, products, and direction of the reaction. Balancing an unbalanced equation is mostly a matter of making certain mass and charge are balanced on the reactants and products side of the reaction arrow. This is a collection of printable worksheets to practice balancing equations. The printable worksheets are provided in pdf format with separate answer keys. Balancing Chemical Equations - Worksheet #1Balancing Chemical Equations - Answers #1Balancing Chemical Equations - Worksheet #2Balancing Chemical Equations - Answers #2Balancing Chemical Equations - Worksheet #3Balancing Chemical Equations - Answers #3Balancing Equations - Worksheet #4Balancing Equations - Answer Key #4 I also offer printable worksheets for balancing equations on my personal site. The printables are also available as PDF files: Balancing Equation Practice Sheet  [answer sheet]​Another Equation Worksheet [answer sheet]Yet Another Printable Worksheet [answer key] You may also wish to review the step-by-step tutorial on how to balance a chemical equation. Online Practice Quizzes Another way to practice balancing equations is by taking a quiz. Coefficients in Balanced Equations QuizBalance Chemical Equations Quiz

Overview of the Law of the Primate City

Overview of the Law of the Primate City Geographer Mark Jefferson developed the law of the primate cit  to explain the phenomenon of huge cities that capture such a large proportion of a countrys population as well as its economic activity. These primate cities are often, but not always, the capital cities of a country. An excellent example of a primate city is Paris, which truly represents and serves as the focus of France. A countrys leading city is always disproportionately large and exceptionally expressive of national capacity and feeling. The primate city is commonly at least twice as large as the next largest city and more than twice as significant. - Mark Jefferson, 1939​   Characteristics of Primary Cities They dominate the country in influence and are the national focal point.  Their sheer size and activity become a strong pull factor, bringing additional residents to the city and causing the primate city to become even larger and more disproportional to smaller cities in the country. However, not every country has a primate city, as youll see from the list below. Some scholars define a primate city as one that is larger than the combined populations of the second and third ranked cities in a country. This definition does not represent true primacy, however, as the size of the first ranked city is not disproportionate to the second. The law can be applied to smaller regions as well. For example, Californias primate city is Los Angeles, with a metropolitan area population of 16 million, which is more than double the San Francisco metropolitan area of 7 million. Even counties can be examined with regard to the Law of the Primate City. Examples of Countries With Primate Cities Paris (9.6 million) is definitely the focus of France while Marseilles has a population of 1.3 million.Similarly, the United Kingdom has London as its primate city (7 million) while the second largest city, Birmingham, is home to a mere one million people.Mexico City, Mexico (8.6 million) outshines Guadalajara (1.6 million).A huge dichotomy exists between Bangkok (7.5 million) and Thailands second city, Nanthaburi (481,000). Examples of Countries That Lack Primate Cities Indias most populous city is Mumbai (formerly Bombay) with 16 million; second is Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) with more than 13 million.China, Canada, Australia, and Brazil are additional examples of non-primate-city countries.Utilizing the metropolitan area population of urban areas in the United States, we find that the U.S. lacks a true primate city. With the New York City metropolitan area population at approximately 21 million, second-ranked Los Angeles at 16 million, and even third-ranked Chicago at 9 million, America lacks a primate city. Rank-Size Rule In 1949, George Zipf devised his theory of rank-size rule to explain the size cities in a country. He explained that the second and subsequently smaller cities should represent a proportion of the largest city. For example, if the largest city in a country contained one million citizens, Zipf stated that the second city would contain one-half as many as the first, or 500,000. The third would contain one-third or 333,333, the fourth would be home to one-quarter or 250,000, and so on, with the rank of the city representing the denominator in the fraction. While some countries urban hierarchy somewhat fits into Zipfs scheme, later geographers argued that his model should be seen as a probability model and that deviations are to be expected.

The Development of Motivation Theory in Business Essay - 1

The Development of Motivation Theory in Business - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Maslow’s theory asserts that people are motivated by the quest to satisfy their needs or deficiencies. Maslow grouped needs into five categories with the needs occurring in a specific hierarchy where the lower needs had to be satisfied before advancing to those of higher order. Physiological needs are basic survival needs like food while safety needs are personal security needs such as the need for a steady job. Social needs are social acceptance and support needs while egoistical needs are desired by an individual to be valued by others. Self-actualization is the aspiration of an individual to acquire the finest out of his/her abilities. From the hierarchical system, Maslow deduced that those needs which had already been satisfied no longer provided motivation for action. Due to lack of empirical support for Maslow’s theory, Alderfer postulated the Alderfer’s Existence-Relatedness-Growth (ERG) theory, which condensed Maslow’s n eeds to three. These three needs were existence or physical survival needs, relatedness or social needs and growth or need for personal growth and development. Alderfer, however, did not insist on a hierarchical system rather he claimed that the needs ought to be experienced simultaneously. Alderfer’s theory got more appeal from practitioners and had greater empirical support. Though the needs theory has limited empirical support, some of its assertions like the self-actualization principle have gained currency among managers and executives who perceive this high-level need as a potent motivator. Herzberg claimed that motivation emanates from the job itself and not from other external characteristics. He explained that those factors leading to job satisfaction or motivators are distinct from those that cause job dissatisfaction; that is, hygiene or maintenance factors. The hygiene factors are factors surrounding the task which do not lead to satisfaction but prevent dissatisf action if well maintained. Examples of such factors are job status and remuneration.

Business Environments in the Single European Market Essay

Business Environments in the Single European Market - Essay Example The common market refers to a phase in the process of international integration, which according to a ruling of the Court of Justice, aims at doing away with all the barriers to trade between communities with a view of bring together national markets into one large market, forming conditions that are as close as possible to a legitimate internal market. It is important to tone that the Lisbon Treaty does not take into consideration the ‘single market’ concepts and those of the ‘common market.’ The words ‘common market’ were replaced the outcome of this stage of the process of integration, by the treaty, which on the operations of the European Union, according to the Treaty’s Article 26 is composed of an area that do not have internal frontiers whereby the free movement of individuals, capital, services and goods is ensured according to the Treaties’ stipulations (Barnard, 2012, p.99). There are several challenges that the community had to deal with during the stage of common market so as to attain the objective of single market. First, the formation of the common market needed the eradication of all export and import duties that existed between the member states of the community before the European Economic Community was formed. The member states successfully eliminated the custom obstacles even before the deadline set by the Treaty had expired and how they begun to put up some other barriers between them, immediately after they dismantled the tariffs, especially the technical barriers that were even more hard to deal with in some instances (Blanpain, 2012, p.65). The formation of a common market that looked like an internal market does not only mean that there was the trade liberalization among the member states that were taking part but also called for free movement of individuals, factors of production such as services, capital and labor. Furthermore, it involves a free formation of corporations and indivi duals in all the boundary of the member states so as to be in a position of exercising their business or professional activities (Rogovsky and Salais, 2012, p.73). Therefore, in order to talk about a common market, there has to be the availability of four major freedoms between the participating member states, including freedom of movement of services and goods, due to the eradication of the barriers of trade; freedom of movement of workers who are salaried and those that are not, as a result of the eradication of all the barriers to their entrance together with residence in the other member states; the freedom of formation of corporations and persons within the boundaries of the member states as well as of the offering of services by them within the countries that host them; and the freedom of movement of capital for the purposes of business and individual. Freedom seems like the key or main word of the common market (Lejour & Mooij & Nahuis, 2001, p.65). This paper will also raise awareness about the enlargement of

Health promotion and public health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Health promotion and public health - Essay Example Children are vulnerable to various health risks. In the current age of fast foods and high-sodium, high-sugar foods, these children are also vulnerable to issues which relate to obesity. In a survey of children’s BMI, it was revealed that obesity rates have almost tripled from 5% to 14% among children aged two years to five years; for children ages 6 to 11, the rates have also increased from 4% to 19%; and among adolescents, the rates have gone up from 12 to 19% (Northborough, 2008). These rates are duplicated in other parts of the globe, with increasing rates being the predominant trend. Obesity is a major threat to health, especially the health of children because it makes them vulnerable to dangers of early onset of diseases including diabetes, heart diseases, and organ failure. In effect, childhood obesity brings about major risks to the child’s general health, increasing his health, social, and financial needs (Northborough, 2008). Due to their obese conditions, th ey have a higher risk for chronic diseases during their adult years. They would likely have higher blood pressures, higher cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, and early calcifications in their arteries. They would also be confronted with societal bias and stigmatization which can impact on their emotional health (Northborough, 2008). They would likely be teased, bullied and socially shunned due to their obesity. As a result, they would be more vulnerable to emotional issues including depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Due to these issues, the more that they would also live a less active and less social lifestyle (Northborough, 2008). This would drive them further into a sedentary lifestyle which would increase their weight even more and increase their physical and emotional risks. This often starts off children into the cycle of emotional

Hispanic Community Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hispanic Community - Personal Statement Example As far as I am concerned, if they cannot speak my language, then they are not in the right place. Countless who are connected inside the immigration arguments presupposes that there have been two sets of people inside this realm, immigrates along with non-immigrants. Their point of views draws a profound dark line amidst citizens, marking a characteristic where, in reality, does not subsist. Most members of our community looks like me. However, within my area more and more Mexicans, Muslims and Africans are moving in. Where as most of us would know, these people are very much different from what I look like, physically, mentally, even emotionally. On the other hand, for the longest time that they have been dealing with people who are locals in my community, they may have adopted already our way of life. As you may observe the majority of citizens within our town is White. Hispanics are the principal minority and their population is growing rapidly. With these figures of races, our town does not require to cope with a lot of prejudice or even discrimination. Since the composition of the (city) marginal population progresses, the quantity of immigrants existing here has sustained its quick increase in current years. The colored populations are made up of about 7.4% inside Rock Island County's inhabitants during the year 2000. Local administration administrators said that they anticipate the integer of Hispanics living within the Quad-Cities to practically increase twofold within the following 15 years, revealing a national drift. The greater part of the Hispanic folks repositioning towards the (city) hailed from Mexico, visioning of an enhanced life which can probably be afforded within their native soil.I think leaders within my community are giving special attention towards immigrants. Just like Ms. Camarillo-Martinez she said that she anticipates Hispanic depiction taking place on the Moline City Council as well as municipality boards to boost. Before now, numerous committees impart reports towards the council. Ms. Camarillo-Martinez said, "The connection among the government along with the Hispanic society is really nice.''Despite the fact that programs were present following World War II which permitted Mexican migr to be employed inside the United States of America on a provisional basis, thousands and thousands of Mexicans unrelenting to locate their way towards North of the boundary without records. During 1986, an official pardon program granted documentation for about 2.5 million Mexicans employed inside the U.S.I can see that people inside my community treat each and everyone with respect, may it be a local or an immigrant. I think that everyone must be in this manner so that cruelty and unkindness within the community would be lessen or may possibly be taken out permanently. I am a (type of race). Accordingly, within the United Kingdom, (type of race) are more apt than inside the United States to illustrate citizens from the Caucasus, even though it could still be exercised as a racial arrangement. Physically we (type of race) have (light skin also with our eyes; we have slim noses, along with lean lips) - your description. Some of us usually have wavy or straight hair.The local media embodies citizens like me, through televisions, newspapers, radios, etc. Just like in this newspaper, stating that why must a scheme which will recompense its staff poverty income receive subventions and special

Evaluate the ways in which employee and industrial relation issues are Essay

Evaluate the ways in which employee and industrial relation issues are related to strategic HRM - Essay Example d strategic management of human resource assets could allow a company to outperform the competition therefore it is important to understand how strategic HRM can help a company. Businesses may have access to the same level of technology and the tools for production but access to the right kind of human resources is often far more important. Once recruited, keeping employees engaged becomes a difficult task as individuals have to be motivated and developed according to their needs in order to keep them performing at their peak. Strategic HR management can help a company achieve that by earmarking those individuals who show promise and following a system where the highest performing employees are rewarded as well as promoted while the worst performers are asked to leave the company. GE is one company which uses a system of forced employee ranking based on their performance for the company and that system is an important part of the strategic management of human resources for them (Welch, 2005). The system used by GE is simple. Employees are ranked according to their performance without any ties and then the top 20% are rewarded with training, bonuses, stock options and other rewards. Half of all bonuses and management time is spent with the middle 70% but the bottom ten percent of the pile is simply shown the door at the end of the year. They may be shifted to other departments or other divisions of the firm but they are not retained if their performance does not rise sufficiently (Welch, 2005). Welch (2005) suggests that in terms of strategic HRM, the middle 70% is the most valued asset for a company since they do most of the work. With training and attention, this group can produce many stars for the company in the future. However, for the bottom ten percent, performance evaluation reports, employee performance meetings and a record of the missed targets need to be maintained so that when the time comes for the parting of ways, there is no uneasy surprise for

Changes in Firm's Capital Structure add Shareholder Value Research Paper

Changes in Firm's Capital Structure add Shareholder Value - Research Paper Example The higher the level of debt the higher the level of risk. But nevertheless the higher the level of risk the higher the possible returns on a given level of investment. Shareholder value comes from the demand for and supply of company shares. If the management of the company were to decide in favor of more equity issues, then depending on the demand for the company shares the company value would rise or fall. With that, the shareholder value also would rise or fall. A risk is inevitably associated with the value of the firm viz. managers or agents always prefer a higher level of debt because it increases the value of the firm or its assets. Indeed the risk also increases though from the viewpoint of the manager it’s irrelevant because equity issues would glut the market with company shares and bring down the value of the company. As a result, the existing shareholders cannot be happier. They would get a windfall if they sold their shares now. Similarly when more debt is issued the company becomes entitled to more tax benefits. That, in turn, increases the value of the firm and thereby the shareholder value. The capital market structure of the firm can be examined with reference to a number of theories. The Modigliani-Miller Theorem is the earliest of such theories to consider the relevance of capital structure to determine the value of a firm. In recent times these theoretical constructs have been developed in line with an ever increasing tendency to consider the leverage issue of the company. Leveraging by managers to achieve exclusive personal goals is nothing new. In fact, it’s the conflict of interests between the principals or owners (or shareholders) and the agents (or managers) that have thrust the issue of leverage to the fore. In other words, the complex issues revolving around the capital structure of the firm are basically influenced by this conflict in which managers tend to have more information about the probable outcomes of future investments.

Evaluate the ways in which employee and industrial relation issues are Essay

Evaluate the ways in which employee and industrial relation issues are related to strategic HRM - Essay Example d strategic management of human resource assets could allow a company to outperform the competition therefore it is important to understand how strategic HRM can help a company. Businesses may have access to the same level of technology and the tools for production but access to the right kind of human resources is often far more important. Once recruited, keeping employees engaged becomes a difficult task as individuals have to be motivated and developed according to their needs in order to keep them performing at their peak. Strategic HR management can help a company achieve that by earmarking those individuals who show promise and following a system where the highest performing employees are rewarded as well as promoted while the worst performers are asked to leave the company. GE is one company which uses a system of forced employee ranking based on their performance for the company and that system is an important part of the strategic management of human resources for them (Welch, 2005). The system used by GE is simple. Employees are ranked according to their performance without any ties and then the top 20% are rewarded with training, bonuses, stock options and other rewards. Half of all bonuses and management time is spent with the middle 70% but the bottom ten percent of the pile is simply shown the door at the end of the year. They may be shifted to other departments or other divisions of the firm but they are not retained if their performance does not rise sufficiently (Welch, 2005). Welch (2005) suggests that in terms of strategic HRM, the middle 70% is the most valued asset for a company since they do most of the work. With training and attention, this group can produce many stars for the company in the future. However, for the bottom ten percent, performance evaluation reports, employee performance meetings and a record of the missed targets need to be maintained so that when the time comes for the parting of ways, there is no uneasy surprise for

Choose the topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Choose the topic - Assignment Example The video could work for beginners as well as those well versed with the optics of the practice (Yoga for Complete Beginners a 20 Minute Home Yoga Workout!). The guide is clear on the steps that one needs to take into the yoga practice. One needs to find some sense of peace as well as appreciate what the exercise has to offer in the line of health benefits as well as mental serenity. Some of the health benefits associated with the practice include flexibility and muscle strength and tone. The exercise performed during the process go a long way in ensuring that the individual can strengthen their body tissue. That is by learning what it takes and what the body needs (Yoga For Complete Beginners a 20 Minute Home Yoga Workout!). The exercise also helps in respiratory functions since it can improve on one’s respiration. One can increase their body energy, as well as vitality. That makes sure that those partaking in the process can maintain healthy lifestyles, as well as some sense of cognitive stability. Yoga helps people relax and unload their minds as well as engage their bodies in some gainful exercise. The exercise also helps in weight reduction. The video helps people practice yoga in their comfort zones such as at the comfort of their

My Trip to America Essay Example for Free

My Trip to America Essay The plane was taking off. Gravity pulled me lean on the back of the seat. Seeing the trees, roads, cars and buildings became more and more blurry in my sight, I felt my brain was blank. Hey, Im really going to leave tomorrow†¦ I called my best friend the night before I left. Dont forget to swim across the Pacific Ocean to visit me. She said after the long silence. Yes, for me at that time, America was truly just Hollywood and Disneyland on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. But soon enough, I would find out the real America by myself. Before I knew, I was already breathing the air of San Francisco, my first stop. The Hip-Hop music coming from the radio was really loud, and people were trotting. I could even feel the fast beat of that city in the car. Something was not in that rush though — the pigeons. They were taking a walk leisurely on the street, did not afraid of people, as though if the hurry did not belong to them at all. That scene was never to be seen in my country. When the last piece of furniture was moved into my apartment, my dad signed: we have a home in America now. chicago il. In the first summer, I used to touch the unacquainted address on the envelope every time we got letters, practiced to recite telephone number and close my eyes to feel the wind. So my new life just had begun unconsciously. Almost nothing fitted what I imagined about the High School. Because it was a lot better than what I supposed. I thought I would be lonely, no one would talk to me, but actually at the end of the first of school, I already had known someone who I could consider as friend. Things were indeed not easy though. I held the map of the school building, and finally found my way to classroom after asking three people for direction. Teachers were nothing like the strict teacher in China, they were patient and funny. They were willing to be students friends. I used to say, Sorry, my English is very bad. at the beginning of the school year every time when I finished talking with someone. Once I was sitting outside of school gate on the stairs and talking to a girl, when I said my formal conclusion sentence, she said Oh no, your English is very good! and gave me a shinny smile. In my memory, the sky of that afternoon was as limpid as a lake with glittering sunshine Honestly, I did not understand or feel much every morning when we put our right hand on the left chest and say the oath towards the flag. Until one day the school showed the commemoration of 9. 11 on the TV, I saw many teacher cried. I suddenly realized that America is their home, was just like someone attacked their home and hurt their sister or brother. The oath to the Stars and Stripes is not just about a verb, a pose; its about the feeling of home. Most sunny days of chicago are mild. I will sit in front of the desk and look up to those cotton-candy-like clouds through the window. Or I will always take a walk in the dusk on some clean and quiet bypath, the tip of the church, which is tinged by the orange afterglow and the tall Chinars along the path, which sings softly in the wind, always make me think I have crashed in to a fairyland. I know that I felt and still feel the love when I was singing the national anthem of my country, China. And America is where I live and study now. It is my second home. I am getting the excellent education here, I have met lovely and patriotic people here, and I have seen the charming scene here. I am experiencing a totally different lifestyle here. Close my eyes, I still can see the tears on my grandparents face in the airport; I can still smell the thick Natee on every street of San Francisco; I can still remember once there was a girl who was too nervous to decide whether to wear a pink or white T-shirt on the first day of school. After a year and a half living in America, Im still that happy little girl, except when I think about America, it is not more far away across the Pacific Ocean, it is where my new life is, it is my home. And another thing is that I can be the person to show others the direction to the classroom now.

Characteristics Of Communicative Language Teaching English Language Essay

Characteristics Of Communicative Language Teaching English Language Essay The focus of every lesson or part of a lesson should be the performing of some action learning how to do something, to communicate something which he/she could not do before learning the lesson. Learner can get answer to his/her question i.e. why is he/she learning a particular lesson or any linguistic item. The learner understands the importance of learning the same as it is going to help him/her in day-today communication. So, here a learner understands and then acts. All these actions can be approached on a variety of different levels of sophistication, and bearing them in mind throughout the teaching/learning process. The Whole is more than the sum of its parts One of the most significant features of communication is that it is a dynamic and developing phenomenon. In other words it cannot easily be analyzed into component features without its nature being destroyed in the process. It is possible to identify various formal features of the way language is used communicatively and these can be studied individually. But the ability to handle these elements in isolation is no indication of ability to communicate. What is needed is the ability to deal with strings of sentences and ideas and in the oral modes processed in real life situations. Thus, a crucial feature of a communicative method is that it operates with stretches of language above the sentence level, and operates with real language in real situations. Interestingly, this principle may lead to procedures which are themselves either synthetic or analytic. A synthetic procedure would involve students in learning forms individually and then practicing how to combine them; an analytic procedure would introduce complete interactions of texts and focus for learning purposes on the way these are constructed. So, language used in the whole context is more useful than only studying the parts of it. The processes are as important as the forms A method which aims at developing the capacity of the learners to communicate in a second language will focus at repeating continuously until they are able to communicate well in a target language. So that the learners are able to practice the forms of the target language, i.e. English within a given framework. It simply means when the language is used for communication, the language forms are used for a process of communication. There are three such processes Information gap Communication is part and parcel of every human being. When two or more people are conversing in day-today life, one may know something which is not known to the other. The purpose of the communication is to bridge this information gap. In classroom situation pair work undertaken to complete an incomplete picture is the best example of transferring information as each member of the pair has a part of total information and attempts to convey it verbally to the other. Choice Another crucial feature of communication is that the learners have option, both in terms of what they will say and, more particularly, how they will say it. From the point of view of the speaker this means that s/he must choose the ideas which s/he wants to express with appropriate linguistic forms. Foreign language learners may face problems in making choice in this regard. Feed back This process is implicit in the above two processes. When two persons take part in an interaction, there is normally some aim behind communicating and in what way other person reacts is evaluated in terms of that aim. So, the strategies involved in this process are important. Learning by doing It is now widely accepted that education must be ultimately learner-centred more than the teacher-centered. The teacher may go on teach, but if the learner is not making any effort, then there is no point of teaching. The teacher must involve the learner and must be judged in terms of its effects on him/her. Another consequence is that learning becomes to a large extent the learners responsibility. The teacher helps, advises, and teaches, guides, the learners themselves have to learn. The learner has to be involved in the activity. Only by practicing, acting, actually doing, the learners can learn to communicate. Mistakes are not always a mistake While developing communicative ability of the learners, trivial mistakes of grammar or pronunciation does not matter as long as the learner gets his/her message across. In the initial stage of learning to communicate in a foreign language, mistakes are bound to happen. The learners commit mistakes because they are trying to do something which they have not been told or shown how to do, how to speak which they have not mastered. It means they are not really making mistakes. If the teacher corrects each and everything at every level, the learners may lose their confidence of using the language for communication. 3.6.4 Principles of Communicative Language Teaching Richards (2006) summarizes the following principles of CLT: Authentic language in real context should be introduced in the classroom whenever possible. It is the language used for day-today communication or functional purpose. By teaching language, learner should be able to make out speakers or writers intention. So that they will be communicatively competent. There should be connectivity among all the language skills such as listening, speaking, reading and writing together since they are regularly used in real life. The target language is a vehicle for classroom communication, not just the object of study. Hence, attention should be given to teaching language for communication. One function may have different linguistic forms. As the language is taught for the functional purpose, a variety of linguistic forms are presented together. Students have to learn language properties i.e. cohesion and coherence which are helpful to combine sentences together. It is essential for them as they work with language at the discourse or super sentential (above sentence) level. In CLT, games, role plays, group work, pair work, etc. play an important role as they have certain feature in common to learn language effectively. Errors are tolerated and treated as a natural outcome of the development of communication skills. Proper situations should be created by the teacher so as to promote communication in the classroom. The social contexts of the communicative situations are essential for giving meaning to the utterances. The grammar and vocabulary that the students learn follow from the functions, situational context and the role of the interlocutors. 3.6.5 Communicative Ability and Communicative Competence For effective communication one must have ability to communicate properly and have communicative competence. According to H. G. Widdowson, communicative abilities are those skills in which the system is realized as use. Communicative abilities embrace linguistic skills but not the reverse. Communicative abilities are ways of creating or recreating discourse in different modes. (Widdowson, 1978. 67) These opinions about communicative abilities suggest that these are the abilities which involve linguistic as well as other skills essential for conversation, communication or discourse to take place. On the other hand communicative competence has been defined in various ways. According to Littlewood, communicative competence means, a degree of mastery of a very considerable range of linguistic and social skills which depend in part on the learners sensitivity to meaning and appropriacy in language and on his/her ability to develop effective strategies for communicating in the second language. (Littlewood, 1981.87) K. Johnson and K. Marlow say that communicative competence is the ability to be appropriate, to know the right thing to say at the right time. (Johnson and Morrow, 1981.2) International Encyclopedia of Education defines communicative competence as the effective use of language in social contexts. (The International Encyclopedia, 1985.834) According to Widdowson, communicative competency is the ability to produce sentences for communicative effect. (Widdowson, 1978.1) It is revealed from the above definitions that communicative competence is The ability to use language appropriately in a given social context. The ability to be appropriate to know the right thing at the right time. Linguistic competence plus an understanding of proper use of language in various contexts. Knowledge which is additional to linguistic competence. Ability to communicate something which is grammatical, proper, socially accepted, formally possible, fluent in a particular context. In this way communicative competence includes both grammatical knowledge and the ability to use this knowledge to perform different kinds of functions like enquiring, suggesting, greeting, denying, advising, reporting, apologizing, inviting and promising. 3.6.6 Dimension of Communicative Competence Grammatical Competence Sociolinguistic Competence Communicative Competence Strategic Competence Discourse Competence Fig No.3.3: Components of Communicative Competence Grammatical Competence Grammatical competence, which refers to Chomskys notion of linguistic competence, is indispensable for the practice of linguistic formation of the language. The focus is on suitable structure which helps the learners to use the language appropriately and freely. Sociolinguistic Competence Sociolinguistic competence refers to an understanding of the social context in which communication takes place, including role-relationships, the shared information of the participants and the communicative purpose for their interaction. Discourse Competence Discourse competence refers to the interpretation of individual message elements in terms of their inter-connectedness and of how meaning is represented in relationship to the entire discourse or text. Strategic Competence Strategic competence refers to the coping strategies that communicators employ to initiate, terminate, maintain, repair, and re-direct communication. In CLT classrooms, the teachers need to create activities that would necessitate learners to practice well in the target language. 3.6.7 Classroom Activities in CLT There are various types of exercises and activities in communicative approach which help students to achieve the communicative competence, and engage learners in communication (Richards, 2001). Communicative activities play vital role in communicative language teaching. These activities are helpful for the teachers to broaden their repertoire of techniques and activities so as to enable the learners to communicate more effectively in foreign language. Communicative activities are purposeful and objective oriented. According to Littlewood, the communicative activities can be represented diagrammatically as follows. (Littlewood, 2003.86) Structural activities Pre-Communicative activities Quasi Communicative activities Functional Communicative activities Communicative activities Social interaction activities (This diagram is adopted from Littlewoods Communicative Language Teaching, P.86) In these two major categories, the first types (Pre-communicative activities) serve to prepare the learner for later communication. The two sub-categories of pre-communicative activities are: Structural activities: Focus is on the grammatical system and on ways in which linguistic items can be combined. Quasi- Communicative activities: Focus is on one or more typical conversation exchanges. Some resemble drills, but other is closer to dialogues. Drills and dialogues can be combined so as to provide a bridge from formal exercise to communicative use. Communicative Activities also have two sub-categories: Functional Communicative activities include such tasks as comparing sets of pictures, noting similarities and differences, working out continuously following directions and so on. In these activities learners must work towards a definite solution for a problem. Social interaction activities comprise exchange of words, converse with others, improvisations and debates. Here, teachers prepare learners about the varied social contexts in which they will need to perform outside the classroom using different social interaction activities. There is no clear dividing line in reality between these different categories and subcategories; they represent differences of emphasis and orientation rather than distinct divisions. E.g. cued dialogues can be undertaken both as pre-communicative activity and as communicative activity. Similarly it would be arbitrary if we try to specify how much attention must be paid to communicative function before an activity can be called quasi- communicative, or how significant social meaning must become before it falls into the social interaction sub category. This distinction depends on the varying orientation of individual learner. Difference between pre-communicative and communicative activities The following chart shows the difference between pre-communicative and communicative activities. Pre-communicative (non-communicative) activities Communicative activities A Aims to develop grammatical competence Aims to develop communicative competence B Focus on the product of isolated utterances. Focus on the appropriate selection of utterances for communication. C Practice of language patterns or elements Practice of total skill of communication. D Function is to prepare the learner for later communication. Function is to make the learner to actually communicate. E Learners have controlled practice. Learners use language creatively. F Teacher intervention No teacher intervention G Emphasis on form, not on context. Emphasis in on context, not on form. H One long item Variety of language items. I Examples: drilling, question answers, sentence patterns, etc. Examples: Role simulation, dramatization, group discussion, dialogue, debate, etc. 3.6.8 Learners/Teachers Role in Communicative Language Teaching In CLT classroom teachers play a vital role in teaching/learning process of English. Teachers select learning activities according to the interest of the learners and engage them in meaningful and authentic language use. There are various roles to be played by the teachers in order to facilitate the language learning process. According to Hedge (2000.63), a communicative classroom involves the teacher in setting up activities, organizing material resources, guiding students in group works, engaging contributions, monitoring activities, and diagnosing the further needs of students. Richards Rodgers (2001) also describes the roles of the teacher as: needs analyst, counselor, and group process manager. Similarly, Harmer (1991) as cited in Nunan and Land (1996) describes the roles of the teacher as: Controller, assessor, promoter, participant, resource, tutor and investigator. Of all these roles, Nunan and Lamb suggest that it is the teacher as organizer that is the most important and difficult from the perspective of classroom management. In order to perform all these roles effectively, teachers should be competent enough in all aspects of language teaching. In line with this, Hedge (2000.67) states that, teachers need to build competence and confidence in fulfilling these various roles and in-service training is necessary within institutions to ensure that, in any moves towards implementing communicative approaches in the classroom, teachers are properly supported. 3.6.9 Role and Relevance of CLT Concepts in Present Research Since the main aim of the present research is to investigate teachers and students difficulties in teaching/learning process of English language, and support the teachers with an in-service training programme by using Communicative Approach which is essential in an ESL (English as a second language) environment, it is noteworthy to furnish the role and relevance of CLT concepts in the present study. Language is an inevitable phenomenon which permeates the human life. Of all languages, English is the most important language for communication. Naturally, English has become the language of worldwide communication rather than a language of literature. Hence the prime need of the learners is not to know the theoretical knowledge of English but to have an ability to understand and be understood in that language. In the past it was sufficient to focus only on structural accuracy when learning a language was an entirely academic advantage and an obsession to acquire a new language. But in todays world, language teaching is no longer considered a luxury but an obvious need. The language teaching methods in the past were based on linguistic competence. The establishment of basic principles of CLT was a reaction in opposition to the previously prevailing language teaching methods. Communicative language teaching aims at developing and improving knowledge and skills that facilitate the learners to make their message effective and successful. The main goal of communication is the successful transmission of information, not the achievement of grammatical correctness. By widening the horizons with other kinds of competence, CLT initiated progressive and effective ways of teaching. CLT uses and teaches as it is used in every day real life. Students are given the notion of language as real, lived experience. Socio-linguistic, discourse and strategic competences are integral part of communicative language teaching. The use of CLT in the second language classroom is a means of changing the attitude of the students towards language learning as well as positively influencing their way of learning. Over-emphasis on grammatical correctness and fear of making grammatical mistakes has negative effects on students. Such as being stressed at class and experiencing sense of failure. CLT creates congenial atmosphere in the classroom in different ways: the teachers emphasise on fluency and correctness to learn the target language than correcting the structures and giving instructions on language rules or grammar (Mangubai etal, 2004.292) The focus of CLT is on success rather than failure. The students are encouraged to rely on their own ingenuity and performance skills namely their strategic competence when speaking. Its emphasis is on the learner. (Savignan cited in Magngubhai 2004, 292) The four basic components of communicative competence summarized by Hymes (as cited in Cook, 2003) are argued by some applied linguists as vague theoretical ideas which can hardly be put into practice. The applied linguists draw attention to the fact that ideas of appropriateness and correctness very much depend on the cultural norms of a particular society. They are in a way right in their argument. Language itself is an intrinsic part of culture. Hence, learning a language also implies learning a culture as well. CLT integrates socio-cultural context with language teaching programmes and thus aims at developing students sense of what is right and what is wrong in English. Linguists have pointed out, according to academic research that they have not found one single best method for all learners in all contexts and that no single method appears to be naturally superior to other methods. It is neither possible always nor appropriate to apply one and the same methodology to all learners whose objectives, environments and learning needs are varied and different. CLT is considered one of the best methods for use in the second language classroom for several reasons: One, it gives confidence to the students to learn the second language and use it as and when required. Two, CLT draws attention to the importance of socio cultural skills. Three, the learners are given the realistic idea of language and are provided with a sense of what is appropriate and right in a given culture. Four, the learners learn English language and English culture simultaneously. It is vital and imperative both for teachers and learners, living as they do in a globalized world, to adopt and maintain the effective methods of language teaching/learning offered by CLT. Constant migration of people has become part and parcel of todays globalized world. Hence, English teaching/learning has become inevitable for anyone intending to move onto other states/countries either for higher studies or better careers. In this context, it is necessary to consider the lag between the aspiration for better prospects in life and the existing situation of teaching/learning of English language in schools especially the municipal corporation schools. Hence, the present research study is undertaken to bridge this gap by finding ways and means to know the difficulties of teachers and learners and develop a methodology that will enable them to improve the standards of teaching/learning process of English at school level. 3.7 Procedure of the Test to the Students A total number of 200 students from class VIII and IX standard of various Municipal Corporation Schools were gathered in one of the municipal schools in two spells and the tests on four language skills were given, data was collected, analysed and interpreted in the next chapter. 3. 8 Flowchart of the Research Design The research work during July 2008 to March 2011 was done as per the steps shown in the following flowchart. A Flow Chart Submission of the research report Selection of the problem DTP and binding of final computerized research report Review of related literature Formation of objectives Writing rough research reports and corrections in it Formation of hypothesis Suggestions for further research study Sample selection Findings, conclusions and recommendations Preparation of research tools Implementation of Pilot study Verification of Objectives Testing of hypothesis Data collection with the help of questionnaires and its analysis Analysis and interpretation data Pre-observation of the lessons and its analysis Data collection from students tests in all four language skills Implementation of the training programme for the teachers Post-observation of the teachers lessons Discussion with the teachers and Guidance to the teachers 3.9 Summary This chapter has discussed about the methods and procedures of the research study. It includes research design, the methodology employed for the teachers, procedure used for the research, the sampling design, participants, data collection, in-service training programme, its benefits, and communicative approach for the teachers and its relevance in the present research and analysis techniques. It has also discussed the procedure of the test for the learners. The next chapter includes analysis and interpretation of the data collected through the questionnaires from the teachers and observation of their lessons and also analysis and interpretation of the students tests in all four language skills questionnaire. Data was classified, analysed, interpreted using the statistical method and conclusions are drawn.

Early Marriage Essay -- marriage of children adolescents

Early marriage is the marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18. Causes: According to UNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre, the "practice of marrying girls at a young age is most common in Sub-Saharan African and South Asia". There are specific parts of West Africa and East Africa and of South Asia where marriages before puberty are not unusual. However, the Centre also notes that marriage shortly after puberty is common among those living traditional lifestyles in the Middle East, North Africa and other parts of Asia. Marriages of female adolescents between sixteen and eighteen are common in parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe. Some are forced into this union, others are simply too young to make an informed decision. Consent is made by somebody else on the child's behalf. The child does not have the opportunity to exercise her right to choose. For this reason, early marriages are also referred to as forced marriages. In its most extreme form, forced marriages are the result of abductions. In Uganda, young girls are abducted and forced to marry senior leaders in the guerrilla movement known as the Lord's Resistance Army. The marriages are used as a reward and incentive for male soldiers. There are a number of reasons why tradition of child marriages continues. Fear of HIV infection has encouraged men in many countries to seek younger 'partners'. Early marriages is one way to ensure that young girls are 'protected'. Families in rural Albania encourage their daughters to marry early to avoid the threat of kidnapping. In conflict torn Somalia, families married their daughters to militia members in exchange for protection for the girl, as well as for themselves. Where poverty is acute, early marriage is also seen as a strategy for economic survival. In Iraq, early marriages are on the increase in response to poverty inflicted by the economic sanctions that have been imposed on the country. In situations such as this, the risk of exploitation is great. A recent study of five poor villages in Egypt, for example, found that young girls were being married off to much older men from the oil rich Middle Eastern countries via brokers. Many girls are forced to marry early suffer from prolonged domestic violence. Furthermore, early marriage is often linked to wife abandonment. This plungers young girls into extreme poverty and increase... ... cases of domestic violence were committed against wives who were under the age of 18. Improvements: Prevention of the practice comes through education of parents and children--married or not--about the dangers of early marriage. UNICEF has launched two programs to tackle the problem in South Asia and Africa, the two regions with the highest rates of child marriage in the world. In South Asia, UNICEF runs the Meena Initiative, which educates people about the danger of preferring male babies and focuses on the unfair treatment girls receive in the family as well as their lack of access to healthcare and education. The initiative also attempts to raise consciousness about harmful traditional practices such as dowry, sexual harassment and early marriage. In Africa, UNICEF has launched a radio program called the Sara Adolescent Girl Communication Initiative in ten eastern and southern African countries. The program implores its listeners to keep girls in school. It also cover topics such as HIV/AIDS, domestic responsibilities for females, Female Genital Mutilation and early marriage. For more information about UNICEF programs focused on early marriage, visit www.unicef.org

Cultural Adaptation and Career

How cultural adaptation influence professional belief and career development of Chinese students in UMN?Introduction The influence of cultural diversity is some of the most critical issues facing the United States today. Census data show that the non-white population is rapidly increasing – this is a huge reserve of human potential, which makes the multicultural focus a top priority for vocational education and development. These diverse cultural groups include some international students coming to the United States to take advantage of higher education opportunities. After completing their studies, many of these students choose to stay in the United States in order to pursue work and build family. The career development and consulting needs of this multicultural workforce are very different from the established norms. It is important to understand and solve their needs for the country's cultural and psychological adjustment. Therefore, counselors and professional professionals in universities and workplaces need to have specific cultural information and skills that contribute to effective vocational education/consulting. Most of the differences between cultures come from various worldviews that people hold. Lee and Rice (2007) and Dee and Henkin (1999) point out that in this society, the worldview of racial and ethnic minorities is different from that of European Americans. The worldview contains all cultural norms, customs, folk cultures and cultural adaptation behaviors that are passed on to future generations in an identifiable group. Values, interests, family and interpersonal relationships largely depend on these worldviews, and these worldviews are assumed to influence career choices. The worldview of ethnic minority customers will influence their career decisions in ways that may differ from most people. In order to provide culturally appropriate services, professional professionals in universities and workplaces must have a keen understanding of the team's worldview. In order to understand more about the concept of worldview related to career development, Marsella and Leong (1995) suggest positioning individual clients in the continuum of national cultural identity and determining the relative importance of individual or cultural characteristics to individuals. For example, when a person is fully integrated into society, interest/preference may be more relevant to career development. However, for a more traditional individual, cultural influence may play a more important role in career development. Marsella and Leong (1995) suggest that career counseling for different customers should consider three factors: cross-cultural similarities, and culturally unique aspects that influence members and personal characteristics. Another way to better understand the worldview is to study the individual's level of cultural adaptation. Marsella and Leong (1995) pointed out that cultural adaptation has become an important variable in psychological research because it helps to highlight and explain the huge heterogeneity existing in ethnic/ethnic immigrant groups. Cultural adaptation levels have been found to influence psychological and physical health variables, including work values, career orientation, and career choices (Kubat ; Kuruuzum, 2009).In short, with the increase in the multicultural nature of the U.S. labor force, it has become imperative to appropriately address the unique career development needs of customers from different ethnicities. Marasella and Leong (1995) indicate that by understanding the customer's worldview, unique career development needs can be met. Research on ethnic identity and cultural adaptation can help to learn a worldview.Many international students are looking for jobs in the United States, which is a factor in increasing the multicultural workforce. For this reason, using this population for world outlook (cultural adaptation and ethnic identity) and career development studies will be particularly useful. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between professional beliefs and cultural adaptation levels of international students from China. It has been found that cultural adaptation and career development may be related to several other important factors, for example,People's specific nationality: Even if they come from the same continent, the cultural adaptability of people from different countries is also different (Jacob ; Greggo, 2001);People's age: Age is positively related to professional identity (ie older people may have stronger professional identity). The negative correlation between age and cultural adaptation indicates that it is difficult for older people to adhere to the norms of the new culture (Suinn, Ahuna ; Khoo, 1992, 1995; Shufen ; Brown, 2001);Level of education: Interestingly, studies by Shu Fen and Brown (2001) show that education levels are negatively correlated with cultural adaptation. This suggests that better-educated individuals may not be comfortable, and vice versa.Term of residence in the United States: There is a negative correlation between the length of residence in the United States and cultural adaptability, indicating that people with shorter residence periods tend to have less culture. There is a positive correlation between living time and professional identity, which means that people who live longer in the United States have stronger professional identities (Suinn, Ahuna ; Khoo, 1992, 1995; Shu-fen ; Brown, 2001);Gender: There seems to be a conflict regarding the influence of gender on cultural adaptation. Although there was no significant relationship between gender and cultural adaptation and professional identity and gender, the study (Lopez ; Ann-Yi, 2006) also showed that the process of cultural adaptation was affected by gender.In this study, information on nationality, age, US resident status and gender will be collected. It also will study the influence of the above factors on cultural adaptation and professional beliefs, with particular emphasis on the influence of gender.Propose of the studyThe main purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between cultural adaptation and factors that influence the professional beliefs of international students from China. The adaptation of a cultural group to another cultural group can be demonstrated by changing language preferences, adopting common attitudes and values, joining common social groups and institutions, and losing individual political or ethnic identity. Professional beliefs are people's assumptions about themselves and what they must do to succeed in the world of work. Specifically, this study will examine whether these international student's cultural adaptation will affect current employment status, career planning, acceptance of uncertainty, openness, university education, sense of control, sense of responsibility, career path flexibility, after training. The attitude of transition, relocation and other occupational beliefs are perseverance and hard work.The study will examine whether the relationship between cultural adaptation and professional beliefs is influenced or mitigated by gender. Research questions Are there any influence from cultural adaption on professional beliefs and career development of Chinese students in UMN? How cultural adaption influence professional beliefs and career development of Chinese students in UMN?MethodsParticipants are Chinese students in UMN. The questionnaire will be delivered through university email. There are also potential follow-up interview.Two scales will be used in this study:First one is Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA). Suinn, et al have developed SL-ASIA as a self-reported measurement of cultural adaption (Suinn, et al, 1987). There are 26 options including language, behavior, generation/geography history and attitude in this scale. In the score, the total value is obtained by summing the answers to all items. The final cultural fitness score is then calculated by dividing the total by 26. The conservation level on SL-ASIA ranged from 1 to 5, the low range was 1 to 2.33 (Asian mark), the medium range was 2.34 In order to obtain a structural validity assessment, Suinn, Ahuna and Khoo (1992) used 324 Asian students from Colorado (137 first generation, 76 second generation, 31 third generation, 26 fourth generation and 14 fifth generation participants who performed factor analysis on SL-ASIA. Their results showed that five interpretable factors accounted for 69.7% of the variance between different variables. The other one is Career Beliefs Inventory (CBI). The Occupational Belief Scale (CBI) (Krumboltz ; Jackson,1993) is built based on data collected from 7,500 people, ranging in age from 12 to 75 years. The original 122 items has been separated into 25 scales consisting of 96 projects. Grades. These projects were written in the eighth grade. Participants stated their agreement to a statement based on the 5-point Likert scale, strongly agreeing that the active wording project scored 5 points, and strongly disagreed with a score of 1 point. The negative wording items are reverse scores, so strong opposition will get scores of 5 points, and strong opposition scores of 1. These scores are then converted into proportional scores ranging from 10 to 50. The difference factor between them and the project score is 10, so the proportional score is ten times that of the time average score.(After collecting data, I will use SPSS or R to build a model and do some simple analysis between SL-ASIA factors – language, behavior, generation/geography history and attitude – and professional beliefs. Based on this conclusion, I will give some recommendations about career development of Chinese students in US.)Reference:Dee, J., ; Henkin, A. (1999). Challenges to Adjustment to College Life in the United States: Experiences of Korean Students. International Education, 29(1), 54-70.Jacob, E. J, ; Greggo, J.W., (2001). Using counselor training and collaborative programming strategies in working with international students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 29 (l),73-88.Kubat, U., ; Kuruuzum, A. (2009) . An Examination of the Relationship between Work Values and Personality Traits in Manufacturing Industry. International Journal of Business and Management Studies, 1(1), 37-48.Krumboltz, J. D., ; Jackson, M. A. (1993). Career assessment as a learning tool. Journal of Career Assessment, I, 393-409.Lee, J., ; Rice, J. (2007). Welcome to America? International student perceptions of discrimination. Higher Education, 53(3), 381-409.Lopez, F. G., ; Ann-Yi, S. (2006). Predictors of Career Indecision in Three Racial/Ethnic Groups of College Women. Journal of Career Development, 33(1), 29-46.Marsella, A., ; Leong, F. (1995). Cross-Cultural Issues in Personality and Career Assessment. Journal of Career Assessment, 3(2), 202-218.Suinn, R., Rickard-Figueroa, K., Lew, S., ; Vigil, P. (1987). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: An Initial Report. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47(2), 401-407.Suinn, R. M. Ahuna, C, ; Khoo, G. (1992). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: Concurrent and factorial validation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1041-1046.Suinn, R. M., Ahuna, C, ; Khoo, G. (1995). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identify Acculturation Scale: Cross-cultural information. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 23, 139-148.Shih, S., ; Brown, C. (2000). Taiwanese International Students: Acculturation Level and Vocational Identity. Journal of Career Development, 27(1), 35-47.

Johnson & Johnson Global Business Environment

Johnson & Johnson: Successfully Strategizing for the Changing Global Business Environment I. Introduction Johnson & Johnson is the world's largest healthcare company. Founded in the United States in 1886, the company has been profitable for 75 straight years and currently operates 250 subsidiary companies in 57 countries. Its products fall into three segments: pharmaceuticals, with 39% of total sales; medical devices and diagnostics, with 36%; and consumer products, with 25%. Additionally, the company employs 119,200 people worldwide and sells its products in 175 countries.A truly global corporation, Johnson & Johnson has securely positioned itself to overcome the challenges its ever-changing business environment poses, as well as take advantage of the opportunities presented. With a focus primarily on Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical segment, this paper seeks to explore the complex multinational environment within which the company operates as well as the opportunities and threats that the environment poses. Next, the paper will analyze Johnson & Johnson's current positioning, describing its value-chain and competitive positioning.The paper will close by evaluating how Johnson & Johnson both can seize these opportunities to realize the goals of the company. II. Analyzing the Environment In industries as competitive as pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer goods, analyzing the environment is vital for being able to make sound strategic decisions. Since Johnson & Johnson strives to anticipate the external factors that affect its international business environment, as well as adapt to those changes, it is important that it understands the environment in which it is operating.The two sets of external forces that face the company are competitive and contextual. A. Competitive Environments – Five Forces Model Michael Porter’s five forces model provides a way of analyzing Johnson & Johnson’s competitive environment. Due to a lack of available information about the bargaining power of suppliers as it applies to Johnson & Johnson, this paper will address the four other forces: the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of customers, and the rivalry among industry competitors. 1. The Threat of New Entrants – High Barriers to EntryThe threat of new entrants is not of particular concern to Johnson & Johnson. Barriers to entry, especially in the industries of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, are extremely high if not unsurpassable. The world’s top pharmaceutical companies have extensive manufacturing capabilities, distribution systems, and economies of scale that have been built up over decades and would be virtually impossible for a new entrant to replicate. These top firms also have patents that protect their current products, as well as established research pipelines that ensure the continual development of new products.Also, they have strong brand names and la rge marketing budgets with which to defend them. Finally, the exceptionally high capital requirements for founding a pharmaceutical company and the sharp retaliation that new entrants could expect from the established competitors render the threat of new entrants very low. The medical device industry has similarly high barriers to entry. While entering the consumer goods market is easier, relatively, the vast number of competitors makes this industry very competitive, thus a strong brand name is vital for standing out.As the world’s most respected company according to Barron Magazine, new entrants to the consumer goods market do not pose a threat to Johnson & Johnson. 2. The Threat of Substitutes – The Rise of Generics The threat of substitutes is much more problematic than that of new entrants, especially in the pharmaceutical segment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that generic drugs be bioequivalent to their brand name counterparts, making them seri ous substitutes. Once a patent expires, generic manufacturers are quick to reverse-engineer the formerly proprietary drugs and sell generic versions at a fraction of the cost.Virtually all the top pharmaceutical companies, Johnson & Johnson included, face an influx of upcoming patent expirations. The impending loss of sales when generic versions of the drugs inevitably become available is a serious threat to the profitability of many players in the industry. For example, Risperdal, a drug for schizophrenia made by a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson’s called Janssen-Cilag, was a significant source of profits, with sales that totaled $3. 5 billion in 2005 and surged 21% percent in the first quarter of 2006, to $1. 2 billion.However, when the patent for Risperdal expired in December of 2007 and became available in generic form in October of 2008, the company’s revenue from pharmaceutical sales stagnated. In fact, in July of 2007, Johnson & Johnson announced plans to elimin ate up to 4,800 jobs, citing patent expirations as the main motivation to trim the workforce and thus save money. If the company does not prepare for the difficult transition between enjoying market exclusivity and losing that security as those patents expire, it will face more negative consequences. 3. The Bargaining Power of Buyers – Influence of GenericsIn the pharmaceutical industry, buyers include patients, medical doctors who prescribe drugs, pharmacists, hospital boards, insurance companies, and other health authorities. The bargaining power of patients goes hand in hand with the threat of substitutes. When drugs are patent-protected, pharmaceutical companies enjoy a monopoly where they can set prices to include high profit margins. Since there are few to no substitutes for their products during this time, customers have little choice but to pay these prices, especially if their lives depend on the drugs.However, once cheaper, generic versions of the drugs become avail able, buyers gain more power. Patients’ switching costs, an important element in determining the bargaining power of buyers, are fairly low, and price-sensitive buyers will likely switch to generic versions once available. Johnson & Johnson’s main tool in combating this problem is its strong brand name. Many customers have more trust in brand name products and are willing to pay extra for this perceived security. The other groups within buyers of pharmaceutical products, while fragmented, have more power than patients.Within the American healthcare system, insurance companies and health maintenance companies (HMOs) have considerable bargaining power, as they decide which drugs to endorse and provide. Since they have an interest in lowering costs, they exert a strong downward pressure on drug prices, partly due to the threat of the availability of generics. European governments’ national healthcare systems have a similarly high level of power, if not higher due t o strict price controls. Thus, pharmaceutical companies have a need to establish successful relationships with these groups and market towards them heavily. 4.The Degree of Rivalry – Fierce and Changing Competition Competition in the pharmaceutical industry is intense and growing in intensity. While the numerous competitors remain fairly fragmented, mergers and acquisitions have increased rivalry, as the top firms’ areas of expertise began to overlap. Rivalry is especially intense in saturated markets, such as the pain reliever segment, in which Johnson & Johnson competes with its products Tylenol and Motrin. In growing markets, innovation is a key driver of competition since pharmaceutical companies depend on â€Å"blockbuster† drugs for a large proportion of their revenue.With only one out of every 10,000 discovered drugs approved to be sold, stakes are high to find the cash cow drugs that recuperate the increasingly high costs of development. Since â€Å"me too† drugs are not as profitable, innovation drives the race to be first-to-market. While the main competitors in the pharmaceutical industry are concentrated in the United States, Europe, and Japan, an increasing number of players – especially generic drug manufacturers – are appearing in developing countries, such as China and India. These companies are driving the shift in the industry toward becoming more commoditized.Also, numerous biotech upstarts, which are smaller, more agile, and have lower overhead costs than their conglomerate competitors, are growing in power and taking market share. As the dynamics of the industry change, the established companies will find themselves facing stiff competition from all sides. B. Contextual Environment – PEST Analysis A PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis is a useful tool for understanding the larger environment within which the company operates. Companies can use this tool to identify a multitude of important aspects of their environments that may impact their businesses. . Political Environment – Changing Politics and Policies First, the politics on local, regional, national, or international scales can exert strong forces on businesses. Since Johnson & Johnson operates worldwide, it must keep track of the political developments that may affect its business. For example, in the Czech Republic, health care is the subject of a major political debate. Changes in the healthcare system may affect to whom Johnson & Johnson needs to market, and with whom it needs to negotiate if the company wants its products covered by the Czech healthcare system.Also, Johnson & Johnson should be aware that the Czech Republic has a weak Parliament that will change in 2010’s elections. The company needs to anticipate which policies may shift under the new government. Finally, Johnson & Johnson should be aware that the Czech Republic will serve as president of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of 2009. This is the best time for the Johnson & Johnson branch located in the Czech Republic to lobby for any policy changes regarding the company’s interests and the business environment. 2.Economic Environment – The Crisis and the Euro The economic climate is also important for Johnson & Johnson to analyze in order to predict when its business may face challenges, as well as when it can seize an opportunity for growth. Operating in the European Union and larger European community means that Johnson & Johnson has felt the effects of the current economic crisis. Aware of the crisis, the company has been able to plan for its impact, and fortunately, the effects on Johnson & Johnson have not been severe, as medical products remain necessities even in periods of economic downturn.In respect to the Johnson & Johnson branch in the Czech Republic, the economic environment is one that quickly transitioned from a communist, plan ned economy to the free market. Though the Czech Republic has embraced free market principles since the fall of the Soviet Union, it is important that Johnson & Johnson recognize that this change was relatively recent, and certain aspects of working in the Czech Republic may still be affected by this history. Finally, discussions surrounding the use of the euro and the benefits and disadvantages of a common currency are debates that Johnson & Johnson should be aware of in this time period.While Slovakia adopted the euro in January 2009, the Czech Republic has kept its own currency. A switch to the euro in the Czech Republic could have a wide range of effects, some positive and some negative, and Johnson & Johnson should understand the implications for its business if that change occurs in the Czech Republic. For example, adopting the euro would make transactions with other countries more convenient, and Johnson & Johnson should be prepared for a possible increase in transactions or the speed in which transactions take place in order to take advantage of the opportunities this change could provide.It should also be ready for the numerous practical difficulties with tasks such as accounting that may occur with a change in currency. Keeping these economic scenarios in mind is the kind of forward-thinking that is crucial to Johnson & Johnson's success. 3. Social Environment – Aging Population and Public Health Problems There are two major social changes on the horizon that will both affect Johnson & Johnson as well as provide tremendous opportunities. The first is the aging population.The gigantic baby boomer generation, consisting of those born between 1946 and 1964, has had a huge social and economic impact on the world since its birth. This trend will continue as the generation is beginning to enter old age. The influx of senior citizens will create huge demands throughout all realms of medical care. Johnson & Johnson can expect to see increased sales ac ross all three of its segments – pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, and consumer goods – in the coming decades, and must plan production accordingly to be able to meet the needs of this huge generation as they enter their most medically-dependent years.Additionally, in order to cater to the aging population, Johnson & Johnson is pioneering developments in preventative medicine as well as less invasive surgery techniques. Another major social change affecting Johnson & Johnson is the phenomenon of surging rates of various health problems, especially in developed societies but spreading worldwide, from obesity and diabetes to cancer and mental disorders. Though highly problematic for society, companies in medicine-related industries such as Johnson & Johnson are finding themselves with an increasing number of people to treat and cure.As a company that invests heavily in research and development, Johnson & Johnson has the opportunity to lead the way in find ing ways to address these serious public health issues. 4. Technological Environment – Promising New Fields As many pharmaceutical drug markets become saturated and the blockbuster drug strategy becomes obsolete due to the major changes occurring in the industry, innovation and breakthrough medical technologies are essential for finding blue oceans in which to compete.Predictive medicine, which entails predicting diseases based on genetics and preventing them, and personalized medicine, which involves managing a patient’s health based on his or her individual characteristics as opposed to following the more traditional â€Å"standards of care† model, are growing fields into which Johnson & Johnson can expand. The company’s strong emphasis on research and development and its leadership in the medical devices and diagnostics segment put it in an excellent position to become a frontrunner in making new discoveries in these promising new technological fields. C. Determining Threats and Opportunities 1.Threats – The Uneducated Consumer and Mergers and Acquisitions One of the biggest threats facing a company like Johnson & Johnson is the uneducated consumer. Especially within the consumer products and pharmaceuticals markets, with the increasing availability and lower cost of generic products, a key component of continued competitiveness is the discerning consumer who has preferences when it comes to treatment options. Johnson & Johnson must continually work hard to make sure that people are aware of its products and the quality that it ensures through effective branding and promotional practices, as well as consumer education.Patent expirations are also a constant concern for Johnson & Johnson as proprietary information is an integral part of sustained revenue streams. Mergers and acquisitions (M) present both potential opportunities and threats for Johnson & Johnson. The company has pursued M that have served to expand the compan y’s resources and help penetrate new and diverse markets. For example, Johnson & Johnson recently acquired Mentor Corporation in order to expand its operations in to the aesthetic and reconstructive medicine market.Also, an important new medical product called the Fibrin Pad was developed with the cooperation of three Johnson & Johnson-owned subsidiaries. These are just a couple examples of how Johnson & Johnson is able to both grow and innovate through M. On the other hand, M between other companies in the healthcare industry have the potential to upset Johnson & Johnson’s value chain and competitive advantages. Johnson & Johnson must pay close attention to the actions of rival companies in order to maintain its market-leader positions and barriers to entry against competitors. 2.Opportunities – Research, Synergies, Emerging Markets, and the Aging Population Johnson & Johnson’s greatest opportunity is found in its heavy investment in research and develop ment. This is especially important for its medical devices and diagnostics and pharmaceutical divisions. It is necessary for the company to be on the leading technological edge when it comes to medical devices to ensure that it can offer the most accurate and up-to-date machines available. As for the pharmaceutical sector, patent expiration and generic drugs demand constant innovation and addition to Johnson & Johnson’s pipeline of products for sustained success.Strong pipelines in its pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors are a major source of confidence in the company’s long-term success. With eight new late-stage compounds in the pharmaceutical sector and the introduction of several new products to new markets in the medical devices sector, Johnson & Johnson seems to be advancing its pipeline quite progressively. It also strives to be a consistently innovative company, and around 40% of its current products have been developed within the last 3-4 years. In 2008 , Johnson & Johnson spent $7. billion on research and development. The reinvestment of 11% of sales in to R, versus the industry average of 3%, demonstrates a source of competitive advantage for the company. Synergies between product branches are yet another source of opportunities for Johnson & Johnson. Through the well-coordinated efforts of its pharmaceutical and consumer products divisions, Johnson & Johnson was able to make the formerly prescribed drug Zyrtec available as an over-the-counter drug, which came to be the company’s most successful product launch in 2008.This is yet another example of how the company is able to pool its resources in order to find ways to fulfill both the needs of both its customers and stakeholders. Other opportunities for Johnson & Johnson are present in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. Its products are currently available to only 25% of the world’s population. However, through its decentralized management app roach and the adjustment of its products and strategies to match local needs and preferences, Johnson & Johnson is reaching an ever-increasing consumer base.One method Johnson & Johnson has been able to reach a broader consumer base through is the de-featuring of products, such simplified blood-glucose meters, which allows for access to lower-income customers and dampens the parasitic effect of cheap substitutes. One final opportunity exists in the demographic trend towards an ageing population. People are living longer, and because of this, new types of medical needs are arising all the time. Many types of medical treatments and surgeries are being developed and becoming more commonplace, such as hip replacements and plastic surgery.Patients want to be able to fix their ailments and expect a quick and uncomplicated recovery afterwards. It is up to Johnson & Johnson to develop and provide the best possible equipment and supplies to do this and fulfill the company promise of customer success. III. Establishing European and Global Opportunities A. Expansion into New Markets – Developing Countries Despite the many challenges of working in both the European and global business environments, it is clear that these environments also allow Johnson & Johnson to strengthen and continue to grow its business.With income and living standards on the rise in many European countries such as Turkey and the Czech Republic, where sales have already increased, and across the globe in developing countries like China and India, Johnson & Johnson has many opportunities to sell its products in new markets or expand more in markets it has previously penetrated. In order to take advantage of the broadening market field, Johnson & Johnson has begun to offer products that will appeal to people in less affluent nations. Its objective is clear: make products that are affordable for most of the world.To do this, Johnson & Johnson has created de-featured versions of products that can be sold at a lower price, thus becoming accessible to more patients. B. Domestic Market Defense – Competition and Mistakes While Johnson & Johnson expands to serve more customers in new markets, it must also maintain its secure position domestically. Though the consumer segment only accounts for only 25% of its total sales, the company realizes that keeping up its reputation and remaining a household name will help it as it moves into foreign markets. To put it simply, Johnson & Johnson must remain synonymous with quality, safe products.Next, Johnson & Johnson must be ready to compete with an even greater number of competitors, such as Pfizer, Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly. Despite being the world's largest healthcare company, it still faces competition and has run into problems when it has attained the market lead, grown too confident in its product, and then lost the lead. Because Johnson & Johnson has twice lost its lead with one particular product, a heart stent, it now seems aware of this problem in its business strategy and therefore will be prepared for similar situations as it continue to penetrate new markets.IV. Analyzing Johnson & Johnson’s Current Position A. Value Chain Analysis – Synergies, Cost Reductions, and Relationships A value chain analysis of Johnson & Johnson reveals several key sources of value generation. Johnson & Johnson consists of 250 companies that operate in 57 countries worldwide. The widespread nature of its operations and decentralized management practices allow for a high degree of local autonomy and adaptation. This makes Johnson & Johnson very efficient in discovering and reacting to changing consumer demands across the globe.Also, the convergence of knowledge and information from branches across the globe gives the corporation a great advantage in the development of new products and technologies. Flexibility and detailed, location-specific knowledge coupled with heavy investments in technology, most n otably IT, are the main production-based value drivers of the corporation. They allow for timely, adaptive responses to changing needs and the ability to achieve first leader power in emerging markets. Johnson & Johnson is making progress in finding ways to reduce costs.Standardization initiatives in its pharmaceutical sector enabled the company to streamline operations and cut costs by $1. 6 billion in 2008. Cost savings are also created by means of acquisitions. For example, Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is expected to generate up to $600 billion in â€Å"cost synergies† by unifying the efforts of the two companies. Johnson & Johnson also emphasizes the importance of relationships with both its consumers and employees in its company credo.A talented and dependable workforce is important for innovation and efficiency in operations for any corporation. The company demonstrates its desire for employee welfare with healthcare services and carefully developed online resources. With an employee turnover ratio of less than 5%, Johnson & Johnson demonstrates that it is capable of attracting and retaining the right kind of people to help it remain successful. B. Competitive Positioning – Differentiation and Resource Allocation As stated in the annual report, Johnson & Johnson is a company focused on broad-based human healthcare.It offers a plethora of products throughout its pharmaceutical, medical devices and diagnostics, and consumer products divisions. These products are made in response to both local and global consumer demands, representing solutions for many different customer segments. These factors are evidence that Johnson & Johnson has chosen the competitive strategy of differentiation. Using this strategy affords Johnson & Johnson a sense of prestige and quality and this is evident in its pricing practices.However, the company does use competitive pricing strategies and is continually trying to find ways to lower costs without sacrificing quality or reputation. Johnson & Johnson is constantly seeking to expand its product portfolio across all divisions and spends large amounts of money in R&D to that end. A Johnson & Johnson representative said, â€Å"Be the first, be the best. † This is the most effective way for the company to enter new markets and secure a strong position by being the first to offer the right products in the right locations in a time efficient manner.Johnson & Johnson’s ability to perform these actions successfully is due to the sprawling nature of its subsidiaries and the amount of resources dedicated towards making sure that they all work with each other and share information. Johnson & Johnson holds a very strong competitive position versus other corporations due to the amount of its resources and depth of its operations. It is able to maintain its position as market leader in several product categories, as well as penetrate emerging markets, be cause of its ability to adapt quickly and intelligently.The company must remain vigilant, however, as complacency can result in loss of market share. V. Assessing Effectiveness and Conclusion In today’s fast-paced business environment, any firm needs to consistently reevaluate its strategic positioning, but in industries as competitive as the ones in which Johnson & Johnson competes, continual evaluation is vital for long-term success. By any quantitative measures, Johnson & Johnson is a very successful company, and the fact that it has earned a profit for 75 straight years suggests that there is a definite plan for long-term success.The company’s famous credo, known as â€Å"Our Credo† and written by former chairman Robert W. Johnson in 1943, may have a role in this success. The credo outlines Johnson & Johnson’s responsibilities to its customers, employees, communities, and finally its stockholders. It also establishes the principles that guide the comp any, from making high quality products and recognizing employees’ merit to protecting the environment and experimenting with new ideas. Johnson & Johnson’s credo has endured, unchanged, for over 65 years. While it does not explicitly state long term goals, the principles within it express the company’s intrinsic values.According to the company’s website, â€Å"Our Credo is more than just a moral compass. We believe it’s a recipe for business success. The fact that the Johnson  & Johnson is one of only a handful of companies that have flourished through more than a century of change is proof of that. † Johnson & Johnson has indeed flourished. It consistently tops the corporate reputation charts and is a role model for social responsibility. Moreover, the company is clearly prepared for the many challenges its ever-changing international business environment poses.Due to its strategic positioning and eye on the future, Johnson & Johnson will likely survive another century. REFERENCES Academic Visit to Johnson & Johnson, Prague, Czech Republic. â€Å"2008 Annual Report. † Johnson & Johnson Gassman, Oliver, Gerrit Reepmeyer and Maximilian von Zedtwitz. â€Å"Leading Pharmaceutical Innovation. † Springer â€Å"The Global Pharmaceutical Industry. † Duke University â€Å"Mental health drug market tapped out? † CNNMoney. com â€Å"Our Credo Values. † Johnson & Johnson. â€Å"Patent Expirations Behind J&J Cuts, C&T Looks Closer at Patents. † Cosmetics and Toiletries