Advantages of owning a franchise Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advantages of owning a franchise - Term Paper Example Over the recent years, franchising has become a beneficial venture and has attracted many entrepreneurs. Franchise refers to the license describing the relationship between two individuals; the franchisor and franchisee (Inma, 2005). In this case, the license includes support, control, trademarks and fees. Franchising allows the goodwill, reputation, expertise, and technical knowledge of the franchise to be used together with the investment of the franchisee so as to produce and sell goods and services. In other words, a franchise is a form of business that involves one organization using another organization’s successful business model. Owing to its effectiveness in combining the skills, investments, expertise, and knowledge of the franchisor and the franchisee, franchising has become more and more popular among business people over the last few years. There are several advantages of owning a franchise which are having: continual support, financial assistance, and proven prof itability. Continual Support One main advantage of franchising is that the franchisee is subject to continued support from the franchisor. Owning a franchise helps one to get various forms of support such as pre-opening training in which one is trained about the technologies, operations, marketing and financial aspects of a business. During pre-opening training, the franchisee is trained on how a particular business operates and how to handle matters that the business may face (Kong 2011). In other words the franchisee enjoys ongoing support as the situation dictates, the franchisor acting as a mentor to the franchisee. In this respect, the franchisee and their employees may receive continuous training as and when the need arises. Given that the franchisor benefits from the success of the franchisee, they are bound to go an extra step to ensure that the franchisee succeeds in business. This being the case, the franchisor will always be ready to offer continuous technical support to the franchisee which is good for the wellbeing of the business and both of the parties. The franchisee can also be offered financial support for advertising and promotion by the franchisor. It is important for an entrepreneur to understand the different aspects of the business they intend to engage in. In many cases, businesses wind up simply because the entrepreneur lacks the requisite skills and knowledge, technologies, finances, or support. While these are some of the challenges that people who engage in other forms of businesses face, a person who starts a franchise has higher chance of succeeding. With this kind of support, the franchisee is able to start and grow his/her venture very fast without many problems associated with lack of knowledge and finances. Financial Assistance The second advantage of franchising is that unlike it happens with other forms of businesses, a franchisee can easily receive financial support to start and run a franchise. It is well known that many q ualified franchisees do not have enough capital to run an outlet. The franchisor may finance the franchisee either directly or through third parties (Beshel 2001). With respect to third party financing, the franchisee is financed by a third party but the franchisor acts as guarantor. If the cost of general advertizing is high, the franchisor may also offer financial assistance to the franchisee so as to help in increasing sales. This is aimed at generating more income to recover the advertizing costs. In other cases, the franchisor may opt to temporarily exempt the franchisee from paying the franchising fees or remitting a share of the profit so that the franchise may achieve stability. With the franchisor offering financial support, the franchisee is able to set up an outlet even if he has limited capital. Proven Profitability Franchises are generally associated with high success levels and, therefore, high profitability. Operating a sole proprietorship,

Implementing Talent Development Strategies Essay Example for Free

Implementing Talent Development Strategies Essay The organizations that are running the talent development programs may soon begin to find the high quality people who can be able to lead and to motivate others in order to achieve the highest levels of performance and productivity in the organization. This means that identifying the organizational education culture for the organization, people and top performers of the organization will revolve around some factors that lead to the development of an all round business professional. (Davis and Cutt, 1988). These include strategizing market and product or the services, instilling the manufacturing know how to the people, educating people on the distribution channels, financing strategies among others. Educational issues cover many issues such as cash and expense flow, position of the firm’s cash flow. The people undergoing the talent development will require getting instructions from skilled staff members to make solid decisions and to understand the technical issues that are involved. Education programs will include development of self awareness knowledge, effective problem solving and having good interpersonal communication. (Davis and Cutt, 1988). Training In the organizations if internal training programs are necessary for talent development, they should therefore be updated regularly. The management should also review these programs to see that they are up to date. Again, working in the training program should be a temporary move by employees who are in need of improving their career skills by sharpening their technical as well as presentation skills. (Davis and Cutt, 1988). An organization that is implementing the talent implementation program is likely to receive problems and resistance. This is because young employees are often faced with many problems sometimes that may come immediately after they begin their careers. (Davis and Cutt, 1988). The first problem which involves being offered jobs that they are not trained in. secondly, the firm may face the problem of too much experience which is caused by narrowing down of the career. In addition, the organization may face the problem of using techniques of talent development in order to protect ones career especially towards the person’s retirement. The above problems show that the development of new talents will stop if the firm fails to give appropriate conditions. This may be achieved through employee training. (Davis and Cutt, 1988). An OPD professional might help implement the strategies as well as address or resolve any problems or issues in the implementation of the talent program by making it clear to the organization the organizational requirements to maintain an organization’s competitive edge and to ensure the survival of the organization. The professional may provide means of developing the organizations effectiveness. The professi9onal is required to understand the strategic goals of the organization and to translate this in to the day to day running of the organizational processes. (Davis and Cutt, 1988).

How did pop art challenge beleifs in consumerism Essay -- Essays Paper

How did pop art challenge beleifs in consumerism Introduction: In order to discuss pop art I have chosen to examine the work and to some extent lives of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol who were two of the main forces behind the American movement. I intend to reflect the attitudes of the public and artists in America at this time, while examining the growing popularity of pop art from its rocky, abstract expressionist start in the 1950s through the height of consumer culture in the 60s and 70s to the present day. Roy Liechtenstein, (fig 1) was born in 1923 into to a middle class Hungarian family living in New York, there was no artists on either side of his family and throughout Liechtenstein’s schooling there were no art classes. He used to paint in oils and draw, sometimes sketching musicians he saw playing in Harlem and the Apollo Theatre as a hobby. It was not until ‘1939’ the summer of his last year at high school that he enrolled in art classes in the Art Students League run by a man called Reginald Marsh. Liechtenstein’s influences regarding his painting style at this time had been the European avant-garde artists such as Picasso. These cubist and expressionist styles were rejected buy by Marsh who favoured painting the masses of New York life such as carnival scenes, boxing matches and the subways catching the detail in fleeting brush strokes, in a non-academic easily recognisable way. This style of recognisable American art that used everyday scenes are dir ectly related to the consumer orientated Pop Art that Liechtenstein was to develop later in his life. Andy Warhol, (fig2) no one, including Warhol him self knows his exact birthday but its thought to be around 1928-1931. Born in Forest city Pennsylvania and christened Andrew Warhola (which he changed in 1949 while living in New York). There are several contradicting stories about his life although he left two autobiographies the factual authenticates are not known, however his parents emigrated to the States from Czechoslovakia in 1909, his father came first to avoid national service and his mother nine years later. His father who worked as a coal minor in West Virginia didn’t play a big role in brining up Warhol, as he was away form home allot. After his death Andrew his mother and his brothers had a very poor existence, during school holidays Andrew sold fruit and helped as a window... ...cles for the American consumer only disconnected from there origins ‘Fig5’. Warhol’s idolisation of the super stars of that era is what set him apart from his contemporaries and immortalised him in popular culture the most famous or these being Marilyn Monroe ‘Fig6’. And this was no accident as his personal goal was to become a star in his own right and he consciously generated a cloak of mystery which made it almost impossible to distinguish the man from the legend â€Å"you can only become famous if everybody is talking about you†(Warhol). Bibliography: All dressed up (the sixties and the counter culture), Jonathon Green, Pimlico 1999. The 50s, Peter Lewis, Book Club Associates, 1978. Fifties source book, Christopher Pearce , virgin imprint W.H Allen & co, 1990 Warhol, Klaus Honnef, Benedikt Taschen Verlag Gmbh, 2000 Lichtenstein, Janis Hendrickson, Benedikt Taschen Verlag Gmbh, 2000 Pop Art, Michael Compton, Feltham-Hamlyn, 1970 Pop as art: a study of the new super realism, Amaya-Mario, London: studio vista, 1965 Pop Art U S A – UK, Japan catalogue committee (isbny8226086), 1987 Cross overs: art into pop/pop into art, Walker John A, London Methuen, 1987

Rhetorical Analysis of “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” Essay

Being proud of one’s culture and language is often times lost when immigrating to a new country. Although criticized and attacked for her culture, Gloria Anzaldua describes in â€Å"How to Tame a Wild Tongue† that she refuses to let others force her to reject her culture for the sake of belonging and informs Americans and Latinos attempting to suppress Chicano culture specifically that she will persevere through the hardship to keep her identity alive and thriving. Anzaldua calls her readers to understand that the Chicano language and heritage should be recognized and that they be identified as a distinct people; that they are more than nothing. Anzaldua begins with engaging the reader by providing a personal experience of when she was sent to the corner of the classroom for â€Å"talking back† to her teacher when her intention was just to tell the teacher how to pronounce her name (374). In her second section â€Å"Overcoming the Tradition of Silence† (37 4), Anzaldua adds internal incite on the culture of the Chicano and the barriers of her language, supporting her credibility and supporting ethos with another personal account. She displays these different scenarios from her point of view, showing her audience what it feels like to live through these situations as a Chicano. Switching back and forth from English to Spanish, Anzaldua cleverly uses this form of diction to establish ethos with the reader. She puts the reader somewhat in her shoes when growing up in America, not knowing every English word she was read or heard. It makes the reader feel rather awkward or embarrassed for not knowing what the Spanish words mean. Another form of ethos is present when she states, â€Å"If you really want to hurt me, talk badly about my language† (378). Anzaldua uses ethos again to demonstrate that what people value highly, their language, is what she values sincerely, claiming â€Å"I am my language† (378). Anzaldua establishes logos by enlightening us as to why Chicano Spanish is different from Standard Spanish, explaining that the significant differences in the Spanish Chicanos speak developed after 250 years of Spanish/Anglo  colonization (376). She again uses logic in determining that even though by the end of this century Spanish speakers will embody the largest minority group in the U.S, English will be the mother tongue of Chicanos and Latinos due to the fierce influence of the degradation of the use of Spanish (378). Works Cited Anzaldua, Gloria. â€Å"How to Tame a Wild Tongue† From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader. 2nd ed. Ed. Stuart Green and April Lidinsky. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2012. 322-36. Print. Documentation Statement: I received no help on this assignment.

Pfizer Marketing Strategies Essay

Pfizer Inc., discovers, develops, manufacturers, and markets leading prescription medicine for humans and animals and many of the world’s best-known consumer brands. Their innovative, value-added products improve the quality of life of people around the world and help them enjoy longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The company has three business segments: health care, animal health and consumer health care. The top three worldwide pharmaceutical companies in sales are from GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Merck respectively. In 2001, Pfizer increased its’ market share and became the sales leader. They have continued to lead the industry since. The main reason for their tremendous growth is that their pharmaceutical products are able to improve the quality of life of their customers. Those products are Aricept, Celebux, Diflucan, Lipitor, Neurontin, Norvasc, Viagra, Zithromax, Zoloft and Zyrtec. Research and development is vital to the success of any pharmaceutical company. Pfizer spent 7.1 billion on research and development in 2003; this is the only pharmaceutical company that is capable of investing this much. Their future, as one company, with a single purpose and mission, is sharply defined. Pfizer Inc. wants to be the company that does more good, for more people, than any other on the planet. Innovation is critical to improving health and sustaining Pfizer’s growth and profitability. They are deeply committed to meeting the needs of their customers, and we constantly focus on customer satisfaction. Pfizer is now implementing a strategy to drive performance within the global business, building on the business model and management ethic that they applied in the United States. The most important priority is to improve sales performance through the launch of new pharmaceutical products, encourage doctors to continue to prescribe existing products, and attempt to increase consumption and enlarge the over-the-counter market. Pfizer is a strong and reliable brand, with a solid competitive position and diversified product line that appeals to a wide customer base. However, Pfizer needs to communicate with their clients more effectively in order to capitalize on their opportunities. Their current objective focuses heavily on increasing profitability and sales volume of the new products, such as Lipitor,  Norvasc, Celebrex and Neurontin. They are seeking to increase efficiency by reorganizing of the structure of the company. Pfizers’ focus on research and development is matched by an equally strong emphasis on marketing. The company promotes its human pharmaceutical products to health care providers including doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy benefits managers, and managed care organizations. Pfizer also promotes its products directly to consumers in the U.S. via direct-to-consumer (DTC) print and television advertising. Pfizer has responded to the Food and Drug Administration’s 1997 decision to loosen restrictions on DTC advertising of prescription drugs by increasing DTC promotional spending each year Pfizer’s strong marketing and sales operations have enabled the company to become the â€Å"partner of choice† for the marketing of innovative products developed by others. Pfizer is extremely skilled in creating alliances with other pharmaceutical companies via co-promotion agreements. Through co-promotion and licensing agreements, Pfizer promotes and markets such highly promising products as Celebrex, Bextra, Aricept, and so on with alliance partners. Pfizer provides cash, staff, and other resources to further develop, market, promote, and sell the products in exchange for a share of revenues. For the over-the-counter market, Pfizer advertises in newspapers, magazines and uses outside media, especially for essential pharmaceutical products. An example would be the cardiovascular medicine â€Å"LIPITOR†. Potential customers gain product knowledge through advertisements when reading newspapers and popular magazines. For doctors, Pfizer spends a substantial amount of money for physician-type advertisements, such as small catalogs, relevant posters, printed 3D diagram regarding the specified product because the doctor is their main customer. Once the patient is exposed to the advertisements inside the clinic, they have more product knowledge and confidence. Pfizer continues to have sales promotions each year to support the 2-3 products they develop annually. These sales promotions are focused on  hospitals and general practitioners. Before the new product is going to launch, Pfizer announces relevant details to these people first and advises them of all of the available support. Once launched, a clinical study paper and samples are delivered to the doctors when Pfizer representatives are visiting them. Antibiotics are classified into four groups: Penicillin, Quinolones, Macrolides and Cephalosporins. Patients will develop a resistance through continued use of same antibiotic, which is why Pfizer continually develops new antibiotics. Sales promotion, advertising, and product knowledge are all very important aspects of marketing for Pfizer to launch their new products. While Pfizer has a number of strong products in its portfolio, it is Viagra that has received a large amount of attention recently and its success will be important for Pfizer. However, the huge cost of Viagra has been a highly discussed issue, with a number of governments struggling to reach decisions over reimbursement issues. However, Viagra’s high cost may lead to the use of cheaper, alternative treatment for the condition. There have also been a number of safety issues surrounding the use of Viagra. Because of the high consumer awareness of Viagra due to extensive media coverage, the continued safety concerns, combined with the impending launch of alternative oral treatments, this could have a significant adverse affect on the sales of Viagra. Pfizer appears to have continued high expectations for Viagra, possibly implying an over dependence on the success of one product. The high sales and marketing investment by Pfizer to promote Viagra could damage the company’s profitability if revenues from Viagra do not live up to expectations. Pfizer is a company that has a stronghold on its’ market, due to having superior research and development department, as well as one of the most innovative ways to approaching potential customers and business partners. All of this contributes to their competitive advantage and enables the company to always stay a step ahead of their competitors. Although the health care industry is ever changing and threats and opportunities often appear, Pfizer has a stable base for the future in this business field. As the company motto states: â€Å"Life is our Life’s Work!†

Introduction for a new edition of Patti Smiths Just Kids

Introduction for a new edition of Patti Smiths Just Kids From today’s perspective, the ideas promoted by the representatives of ‘flower children’ generation through sixties and seventies, appear rather overly idealistic and naà ¯ve.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction for a new edition of Patti Smiths Just Kids specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, there can be little doubt as to the fact that, while advancing these ideas, the affiliates of hippie and punk movements never ceased acting in an intellectually honest manner. It is not only that they genuinely believed in the beneficence of an idea of humanity’s liberation from religious/capitalist oppression, but they were able to incorporate this idea into the very fabric of their everyday living – they actively practiced their beliefs (Tarr 6). The validity of this suggestion can be illustrated in regards to a new edition of Patti Smith’s memoir Just Kids, in which she provides readers with an insight onto different aspects of her early biography, mainly concerned with author’s pursuance of a romantic relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. As it appears from Smith’s memoir, ever since her childhood years, she has grown utterly fascinated with the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud: â€Å"I had found solace in Arthur Rimbaud†¦ He possessed an irreverent intelligence that ignited me, and I embraced him as compatriot, kin, and even secret love† (21). In its turn, this defined the qualitative essence of author biography’s consequential phases, because even though that, formally speaking, Smith’s first encounter with Robert Mapplethorpe was essentially accidental, it nevertheless appears to have been dialectically predetermined. After all, in Smith’s eyes, Mapplethorpe was nothing short of a walking embodiment of Rimbaud’s values. In fact, even Mapplethorpe’s very appearance used to remind Smith of her favorite French poet: â€Å"He (Mapplethorpe) wore a huge Baudelairean bow and an armband identical to the one worn by a very defiant Arthur Rimbaud† (35).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In its turn, this explains why, even after having broken up with Mapplethorpe as her boyfriend, Smith never ceased remaining a very close friend with him. Apparently, their relationship was deeply spiritual, which is why it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that it lasted right up until Mapplethorpe’s death in 1989. Apart from having succeeded in enlightening readers on the nature of her spiritual closeness with Mapplethorpe, reflected by the essence of both individuals’ artistic aspirations, Smith also succeeded in helping younger readers to gain a better understanding of what accounted for the actual realities of her ‘countercultural livin g’ in New York. As it appears from the memoir, there used to be a strongly defined spirit of genuineness to the ‘cultural revolution’, which was taking place at the time. According to Smith, unlike what it is often being the case with today’s artists and musicians, whose activities seem to be motivated by the prospect of a monetary reward alone; at the time of ‘cultural revolution’, the activities of America’s intellectually advanced artists and musicians have been motivated by purely idealistic considerations, on their part: â€Å"We imagined ourselves as the Sons of Liberty with a mission to preserve, protect, and project the revolutionary spirit of rock and roll. We feared that the music which had given us sustenance was in danger of spiritual starvation† (245). Nevertheless, it would be wrong to think that the themes and motifs of Smith’s memoir are being solely concerned with author’s irrational strive to ideal ize just about all the aspects of ‘cultural revolution’, in which she participated rather passionately. For example, even though in Just Kids Smith never stops admiring Mapplethorpe’s photographic art, she nevertheless remains perfectly aware of the fact that it was namely her boyfriend’s addiction to drugs, which served him as a foremost artistic inspiration: â€Å"Robert’s early work was clearly drawn from his experiences with LSD† (98). At the same time, however, there is no even a trace of judgmentalism to how Smith elaborates on her and her friends’ drug-related experiences.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction for a new edition of Patti Smiths Just Kids specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the author, throughout sixties and seventies, the very atmosphere of intellectual liberation, which dominated in New York’s artistic circles of the time , was naturally causing ‘flower children’ to experiment with drugs. Such Smith’s idea is being explored in regards to a number of socially prominent New Yorkers of the era, such as Sam Shepard, Jim Carroll and Allen Ginsberg, which in Just Kids appear to be the individuals who thought of expansion of their intellectual horizons as such that represented their lives’ foremost priority. Therefore, it would not be much of an exaggeration to suggest that Smith’s memoir does not only represent a high literary but also philosophical value (Rogers 47). After all, it is namely intellectually flexible Americans’ endowment with cognitive open-mindedness, which traditionally served as a driving force behind the process of this country remaining on the path of a continuous social, cultural and scientific progress. Given the fact that this idea is being subtly promoted throughout memoir’s entirety, readers’ exposure to the semantic content of Smith’s memoir should prove utterly beneficial. By gaining a better understanding of the essence of young Smith’s experiences, anxieties and aspirations, readers are not only being provided with an opportunity to learn about what used to account for the particulars of author’s ‘countercultural’ living, but they are also being prompted to adopt open-mindedness as an integral part of their own lives. Bibliography Rogers, Jude. â€Å"The Boy Looked at Patti.† New Statesman, 139.4990 (2010): 47-48. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Smith, Patty. Just Kids. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2010. Print. Tarr, Joe. The Words and Music of Patti Smith. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2008. Print.

The Rights and Responsibilities of Green Card Holders

The Rights and Responsibilities of Green Card Holders A green card or lawful permanent residency is the immigration status of a foreign national who comes to the United States and is authorized to live and work in the United States permanently.  A person must maintain permanent resident status if he chooses to become a citizen, or naturalized, in the future.  A green card holder has legal rights and responsibilities as enumerated by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency. U.S. permanent residency is known informally as a green card because of its green design, first introduced in 1946. Legal Rights of U.S. Permanent Residents U.S legal permanent residents have the right to live permanently in the United States provided the resident does not commit any actions that would make the person removable under immigration law U.S. permanent residents have the right to work in the United States at any legal work of the residents qualification and choosing. Some jobs, like federal positions, may be limited to U.S. citizens for security reasons. U.S. permanent residents have the right to be protected by all laws of the United States, the state of residence and local jurisdictions, and can travel freely throughout the U.S. A permanent resident can own property in the U.S., attend public school, apply for a drivers license, and if eligible, receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare benefits. Permanent residents can request visas for a spouse and unmarried children to live in the U.S. and can leave and return to the U.S. under certain conditions. Responsibilities of U.S. Permanent Residents U.S. permanent residents are required to obey all laws of the United States, the states, and localities, and must file income tax returns and report income to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. U.S. permanent residents are expected to support the democratic form of government and not change the government through illegal means. U.S. permanent residents must maintain immigration status over time, carry proof of permanent resident status at all times and notify USCIS of change of address within 10 days of relocation.  Males age 18 up to age 26 are required to register with the U.S. Selective Service. Health Insurance Requirement In June 2012, the Affordable Care Act was enacted that mandated all U.S. citizens and permanent residents must be enrolled in health care insurance by 2014. U.S. permanent residents are able to obtain insurance through the state health care exchanges. Legal immigrants whose income falls below federal poverty levels are eligible to receive government subsidies to help pay for the coverage. Most permanent residents are not allowed to enroll in Medicaid,  a social health program for individuals with limited resources until they have lived in the United States for at least five years. Consequences  of Criminal Behavior A U.S. permanent resident could be removed from the country, refused re-entry into the United States, lose permanent resident status, and, in certain circumstances, lose eligibility for U.S. citizenship for engaging in criminal activity or being convicted of a crime. Other serious infractions that could affect permanent residency status include falsifying information to get immigration benefits or public benefits, claiming to be a U.S. citizen when not, voting in a federal election, habitual drug or alcohol use, engaging in multiple marriages at one time, failure to support family in the U.S., failure to file tax returns and willfully failing to register for Selective Service if required.

Seven learning styles and how to teach them

Seven learning styles and how to teach them Attention teachers- are you making the most of your time in the classroom? The truth is, if you’re applying a â€Å"one size fits all† approach to teaching then you’re probably not making the most effective use of your abilities. Today’s most effective teachers realize that their classrooms are actually microcosms of students with a range of learning styles- and each student has a specific way of absorbing and processing new information that they respond to best. It can be challenging, but teachers who make a real effort to reach each student by taking their individual learning style into account are best positioned to have a positive and lasting impact in their classrooms.In general, there are seven recognized learning styles- and a range of useful strategies for engaging learners who respond best to each. If you want to maximize learning in your classroom and help your students achieve their goals, consider devoting some time to figuring out which of the following learning styles works best for each and build a program that takes this important information into account.Visual/SpatialA visual learner responds well to seeing new concepts and ideas in visual form- things like charts, tables, figures, and diagrams that incorporate helpful colors and shapes- and learn best by seeing things laid out in front of them. Visual learners are typically observant, creative, and well-organized people who are focused and enjoy carefully laid out plans.If you’re eager to engage a visual learner, make sure your learning program incorporates helpful visual aids and cues and encourage students to use visual tools themselves during the learning process- including sketching out ideas and using note taking and drawing (think flowcharts and mind maps). Also, consider placing them at or near the front of your classroom and decorate your classroom with lots of visual aids.Solitary/IntrapersonalThese students typically straddle a range of learning st yles (including logical, physical, verbal, auditory, and visual learning). How can you spot this type of learner? These are typically private, independent, and introspective students who are driven by self-motivation and self-determination. They often seem like they’re well-suited for tasks like programming, coding, researching, and writing.The truth is, although it can be challenging to fully engage a solitary learner in a crowded classroom, do your best to guide them through the use of visual learning tools, books, designated quiet areas for self-study, and clearly defined sharing/solitary time in the classroom- it will be time well spent.VerbalIf you’re working with a verbal learner, don’t forget that words matter most to them- in all of their many written and spoken forms. These learners are typically intellectual and bookish sorts who show a clear preference for writing and reading, so incorporating things like text-based lessons, vocabulary and word activi ties, and poems are good ideas. It shouldn’t be a surprise that many of these learners wind up in careers involving law, journalism, politics, and writing and administration.If you’re working with a verbal learner be sure to have verbal and written discussions of new concepts and ideas. Take into account if they’re naturally introverted or extroverted- the more outgoing they are, the more they’ll benefit from presentations and interactive talking, while introverted verbal learners will likely respond well to things written down. Be sure to use this information to your teaching advantage.Physical/KinestheticThese energetic learners enjoy the â€Å"hands-on approach,† and enjoy physical and tactile activities to support their learning. They typically gravitate towards athletic pursuits. Look for ways to incorporate learning tools that engage their senses and include movement when possible. Role-playing tends to work particularly well with physical le arners- although this can be a challenge in a classroom full of students. If you can find a way to make use of these strategies you’ll tend to be more successful at engaging these learners.Logical/MathematicalThese data-driven, number-focused learners typically are logical and successful in the classroom and veer towards careers in research, science, accounting, and programming. They respond well to puzzles, brain teasers, and tasks involving pattern recognition, classification and grouping, statistics, and numerical and hierarchical information. Aim to incorporate these in your lesson plans whenever possible.Social/InterpersonalThese types of learners are typically easy to spot- they have a natural predilection for teamwork and interacting and collaborating with their classmates. Although social learners tend to be natural leaders, extroverts, and good communicators, this isn’t a hard a fast rule and can really vary. Another thing worth noting is that social learners can respond well to other learning styles, usually set in a collaborative/interpersonal backdrop. Try incorporating a variety of group activities within your lesson plans to benefit these learners.Auditory/MusicalThese learners tend to respond really well to audio-based lessons, cues, and stimuli. They often prefer to have things explained to them out loud, and really do well with activities that incorporate talking, audio recordings, and music. Your voice and the voices of others in the classroom are great tools when working with auditory learners. Although maintaining a quiet and orderly classroom can be important, your best bet when trying to engage these learners is to incorporate some well-placed sound into your lessons.If you’re looking to better engage your students and maximize learning in your classroom, consider factoring in the diverse learning styles covered here when developing your lesson plans.

Portrayal of Guilt and Retribution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Portrayal of Guilt and Retribution - Essay Example Fantastic elements are added and metaphorically situated within the two stories to stray away from the sense of what is practical or what is practically considered to be "right" and the abundance of fantastic depictions, therefore, creating a conflict between the self and the society - thus drawing the connection with the Kantian philosophy of the State, justice and moral nature of man. Kant introduced the idea of "Categorical Imperative"1 and that morality is fundamentally a priori in nature and therefore it claims that one's moral choices are always good as it is grounded in Reason and it is never a matter of choice or personal taste and it universally seeks to be good and is a truth in itself. Thus the moral a priori truth that it holds all of us under the same universal law of good and bad becomes the apparatus of perception by which we define our acts and how we view guilt and retribution without regard to the relative context from which such immoral acts emerge. Thus, Michael K oolhaas' guilt exists even when he knows that he acted against a wrongdoing committed against him, who is the actual criminal. This case of denial of justice does not necessarily redeem Kohlhaans from his acts of wrongdoing and even he knows it. This classic idea of moral retribution can be further explained by the idea of morality and duty as proposed by Kant. Does the fantastic elements plan to create the effect of the sense of extreme (arousing the sense of impropriety within the reader itself, who otherwise would sympathize with Koolhaas') and monstrous betrayal, absurd extent of revenge taken, heavy assortment of passion and desire, and the complicated motifs of human actions that do not necessarily always have simple and reasonable explanations to them - the complicacy of the human mind, therefore, becomes the subject of this novella where the fight with morality is better portrayed by the use of such fantastic metaphors and symbols or events. Or does the over-explanations use d to play truth becomes fantastic to us' Does the restless energy of Kohlhaans' immoral acts and the restless energy that consume the plot of the story create a revenge that is so emphatic and complete that it almost creates a sense of improbability within us' Or does the emphasis on Marquis' innocence (supported by the bizarre reason of the Count being the father of her child) create a feeling of disbelief within us or our suspension of disbelief like that of the Colonel is only justified by the fantastic elements that invade the storytelling' A plot that emerges out of the consequences of the given situation only in Marquise Von O makes the story border on the fantastic Gothic elements that disregard the presence of the universal morality but rather portrays the subterranean forces of human immorality that are fantastically co-existent within us and how we are still capable of dealing with such truths too!  Ã‚  

Multicultural Counseling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Multicultural Counseling - Essay Example Hence besides acquiring knowledge of the shared values, it also becomes necessary to acquiring knowledge of the different values in the class system among the African Americans. After all each individual is unique and needs to be looked at it from this perspective, in the counseling process. The common cultural values prevalent in African American communities are essentially those of the African American communities originating in West Africa. These cultural values on various points clash with those of the dominant white cultural values. For instance the American cultural values are oriented towards individualism, competition, material accumulation, nuclear families, religion, religion as distinct from the other parts of culture and domination of nature. This is in sharp contrast to the to the values dominant in the African American communities with importance given to the collective over the individual, kinship and affiliation, extended families, spirituality, connectedness, harmony with nature, and holistic thinking. Centuries of racist practice have made all African Americans view the whites as a dominating community and the variance in cultural values have caused the African American to have the view that the white cultural values are being thrust on them, and do not want anything to with them, as a sign of their freedom from white dominance. This feeling is bound to be more intense in the lower classes of society, as there is a tendency to lay the blame of their social position on the attempts of the whites to dominate them. Changing socio-economics among the African Americans have brought with it a growing middle class of society to the African Americans. This class of African American society, while retaining the common cultural values is more amenable to understanding and accepting the values of the dominant white community (Baytops, Day-Vines, & Patton, 2003). Cultural

Question repository and test paper generator Literature review

Question repository and test paper generator - Literature review Example The online examination system provides a user friendly interface with all the features of any original examination system. The online examination system conducts exams using multiple-choice questions, gap-fills and open questions. The online examination system provides a platform where the teachers can easily conduct tests as they do not have to waste time on checking the test of each individual student and students can easily give exams. The system is convenient for students as they don’t need to worry about things like pens and teachers will only need to prepare the basic question-bank once with the system allowing addition of additional questions later.The online examination system has two users classified as Administrators and the students. (Jin & Lin, 2012) The administrators are the typical examiners and are responsible for the management of users, tests to be conducted, subjects, questions and results. These administrators also manage system backup and recovery strategi es. The second user of the system is the student who uses it to sit for examinations. The students take exams in the front desk using usernames and passwords given to them by the administrators. The system shall distribute questions to the student automatically and start the countdown for the students to complete the test within the stipulated time, and submit answers to the server. Depending on the type of exam, the system divides the questions into objective and subjective questions, with papers being corrected by the system and the teachers. The system shall aggregate final results, and students can check their scores on the system breaking the time and space constraints of traditional test, and achieve paperless office. The online examination system supports the management of users, questions, subjects and results of course. The system is fully automated and it evaluates thoroughly and does calculations of the tests done providing test summary and results summary to both the tes t conductor and the student. Students can check their results online. The online examination system shall be all browsers compatible to give all its users the best experience with different browsers. In each management section there shall be a provision of a searching option providing a ‘what you see is what you’ get editor to make preparations of questions easier. The system shall also provide some Indic language support. Advantages of online exam system The advantage of the online examination is that it can be conducted for candidates in remote areas and evaluation of answers can be fully automated for multiple choice questions. Depending on the type of the questions and the requirements, essay type questions can be evaluated through the system. The system allows for examinations to be conducted at any time as per the availability and convenience of the users and reduction of costs substantially since there is no paper work involved like printing exam papers and prepa ring paper admissions. (Peter, 2004) The examination results could be viewed just after the exams and there is an option to display the correct answer or hints, for formative testing. There are no distribution expenses for the question papers since the papers would not be distributed to different locations. There are no invigilators involved and also there is no

Skilled Human Resource Management In Africa Essay

Skilled Human Resource Management In Africa - Essay Example The topic of our discussion is brain drainage from the continent that is not yet established and due to such actions of individuals they tend to loose many important resources that could have been utilized in the betterment of their economic position. The world is currently facing diversion in terms of human resources from one part of the world to the other, it is fair to say that educated people do not want to stay in their country until and unless their country is fully supporting them and providing them with every basic of life, countries like America and England do not have a drainage problem due to many reasons which are also related to their currency value, however Africa is facing a serious problem as it cannot afford its skillful people to leave it which is happening. Almost every country is having a class that is willing to stay in it and work with dedication, but such organizations are providing its employees with something wonderful and they are motivated to work for the same without thinking about any struggle to earn more. As early as the 1500s, the African slave trade had already brought thousands of Africans to the new world. In what the mid period, Africans were exported from their homelands to the America to deve lop and sustain plantation agriculture and to work the mines of South America in a new and unfamiliar environment, the Africans were indentured for specified periods, but as the economic advantages of their forced labor became clearer, the period of serving soon came to be expanded to the duration of their lives. The Africans brought not only their labor, but also skills and knowledge in areas useful to the white colonizers. In Africa, the captives had been farmers, builders, artisans, craftsmen, healers, and even the rulers. For many of the African immigrants, the journey to the United States involves a global migratory pattern, leaving because of Africa's worsening economic and political problems, or to pursue education, or to join up with family members, these immigrants typically reach the United States in stepwise fashion, sometimes living in several other countries before managing to secure a visa for their ultimate destination in the United States. Relative to other immigrant population groups such as Hispanics or Asians, the African immigrants have a low rate of naturalization. Many consider themselves as visitors in United States, intending to return home when economic and political conditions improve. Africa's brain drain is taking place as the continent stands at the crisis of economic development and Africans appeal for the establishment of democratic institutions and political accountability. Africa's dilemma starts from the fact that the colonial and post-colonial policies of economic, political, and cultural development have been framed from a Euro American perspective that offers little or no relevance to the needs of the people on the continent. For instance, the rapid expansion in secondary and postsecondary education since 1945, although essential for economic and cultural development, was undertaken without any assessment of how school leavers would be incorporated into the labor market. The inability of the labor market to absorb school leavers has resulted in massive underemployment and unemployment. Unable to find jobs, both skilled and unskilled workers are compelled to search for jobs in Western

Literature Review and Critique of the Experiential Learning Model Research Paper

Literature Review and Critique of the Experiential Learning Model - Research Paper Example 127) while also providing an opportunity for the participants to practice and refine their learning. According to Kolb (1984), learning is the â€Å"transformation of experience into knowledge† (p. 38). According to Kolb’s experiential learning model, learners grasp information via concrete experiences (CE) and abstract concepts (AC) and then transform this information using reflective observation (RO) and active experimentation (AE). This paper will review available literature to find out the effectiveness of experiential learning model when applied in a learning situation. Literature Review Definitions of Experiential Learning Experiential learning occurs when learners interact with other people, information and/or experience. It includes the process of practice, interaction and reflection that follow one another with an emphasis on feedback. According to Fenwick (2001) the "basic conceptualization of experiential learning is an independent learner, cognitively reflec ting on concrete experience to construct new understandings, perhaps with the assistance of-an educator, toward some social goal of progress or improvement. (p. 7) Kolb's Experiential Learning Model Kolb developed his experiential learning model in 1974. In his model, Kolb emphasized the role that experience plays in the learning process. He believed that learning occurs in a four stage repetitive cycle. Although learning can start occurring at any of these stages, the concrete experience stage is considered to be the first step in the learning process. During this stage, an individual is performing a task or experiencing a certain situation. Reflection consists of reviewing what has been done or experienced. Conceptualization involves the interpretation of the events that have been noticed and understanding the relationships among them. Finally, experimentation enables a learner to actually apply what has been learnt in new life situations. "Immediate, concrete experience is the ba sis for observation and reflection. These observations are assimilated into "theory" from which new implications for action can be deduced. These implications or hypotheses then serve as guides in acting to create new experiences" (Kolb, 1974, p. 28). Ricci (2000) completed a phenomenological study of the experience of learning in adult higher education. The study was conducted with twelve undergraduate college students, ages 20-50. The study revealed the essential nature of the complex interaction of several components (themes) in adult learning, while also highlighting the unique expression of learning structure by each individual. The study supported the perceiving and processing dimensions of Kolb's model; however, it also revealed more factors, such as learner's self-motivation, the learning situation itself, and other environmental factors that facilitate successful learning (Ricci, 2000). Similarly to Ricci's study, Decker's (1996) study examined whether the Interpersonal and Intercultural Adjustment curriculum moved the student through the four stages ofthe experiential learning cycle proposed and described by Kolb. Decker also sought to identify the essential curricular and pedagogical components of the curriculum that contributed to the effectiveness of the course. A qualitative research methodology consisting of participant observation, narrative analysis, and ethnographic interviewing provided strong support to the hypothesis that students did show evidence of movement though Kolb's four stages of learning. The

The Founding of the Caliphate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Founding of the Caliphate - Essay Example People’s right like social security, family structure, rights of women and children were tremendously improved in his time but his sudden death in 632 created disarray in the society (Ahmad 246–248). He never specified anyone as his successor who will rule the Muslim ummah after his death. Soon after his death, a debate started over the selection of the next leader among two groups of the regions, Al-Tabari and Ibn Hisham, however, these debates were not reaching to any implications. Background One of the Helper groups of Muhammad was Banu Sa’ida. It was a Jewish tribes from Medina who helped the Muslims when the emigrated from Makah to Medina. They were also included as the allies of Muslims in the constitution of Medina. But soon after Muhammad’s death the group gathered and decided to take the authority of Medina. They said that their tribe has precedence in religion and merit in Islam that no Arab tribe had and now is the time to take the authority bac k. They said that Allah has conferred merit on them and they were the ones who fought more heavily than any other for the glorification of Islam and Muhammad against his enemies in the Holy wars (Edmund). They were acclaiming that it was through their swords that people came near to Muhammad and Islam and now after His (PBUH) death, it is only their right to keep the authority for them and not for anyone else. On the other side, many of them were also thinking that emigrants of Quraish, the first companions of Muhammad who came with him to Medina, would refuse their authority. This news reached to Umar, the companion of Prophet who approached to Abu bakr with this news. Abu-Bakr was preparing for the burial of Muhammad’s body (PBUH) at that time and was in a state of shock. But Umer insisted his presence outside. He informed him that Helpers have gathered in the porch of Banu Sa’ida and willing to confer the authority to Sa’d Ibn Ubada. Abu-bakr joined Umer with his companions and sat in a meeting with Banu Sa’ida to resolve the issue of authority. Umar ibn al- Khattab wished to make a speech there but Abu Bakr asked him to let him speak first and afterwards he speaks whatever he wants to. Speech of Abu Bakr To settle the situation at that time and to avoid any kind of chaos in the state, Abu-bakr made a historical speech. He started his speech by praising Allah and said that Allah sent Prophet Muhammad to His creatures to lighten up their hearts and to show them the right path of worshiping Allah and Allah alone. He said that they were living in darkness and worshipping various gods and considering them as intercessors for them with God, though they were only made of stones and carved wood. In such situation it was a tremendous thing for the Arabs to abandon the religion of their forefathers and accept Islam as the true religion. He said that it was the Allah’s blessing that Emigrants (people of Makah) were the first HE sele cted for His religion. Allah showed them the right path with the guidance of Prophet Muhammad and they soon recognized the truth that Allah is the only one worth worshiping. Emigrants were few in numbers in the beginning, their tribes were against them but they never got afraid and stand stiff against all the enemies of Islam. Abu Bakr said that Emigrants are Prophet’s friends and among his clan and he believes that they are the best entitled of all the men to

Literature Review and Critique of the Experiential Learning Model Research Paper

Literature Review and Critique of the Experiential Learning Model - Research Paper Example 127) while also providing an opportunity for the participants to practice and refine their learning. According to Kolb (1984), learning is the â€Å"transformation of experience into knowledge† (p. 38). According to Kolb’s experiential learning model, learners grasp information via concrete experiences (CE) and abstract concepts (AC) and then transform this information using reflective observation (RO) and active experimentation (AE). This paper will review available literature to find out the effectiveness of experiential learning model when applied in a learning situation. Literature Review Definitions of Experiential Learning Experiential learning occurs when learners interact with other people, information and/or experience. It includes the process of practice, interaction and reflection that follow one another with an emphasis on feedback. According to Fenwick (2001) the "basic conceptualization of experiential learning is an independent learner, cognitively reflec ting on concrete experience to construct new understandings, perhaps with the assistance of-an educator, toward some social goal of progress or improvement. (p. 7) Kolb's Experiential Learning Model Kolb developed his experiential learning model in 1974. In his model, Kolb emphasized the role that experience plays in the learning process. He believed that learning occurs in a four stage repetitive cycle. Although learning can start occurring at any of these stages, the concrete experience stage is considered to be the first step in the learning process. During this stage, an individual is performing a task or experiencing a certain situation. Reflection consists of reviewing what has been done or experienced. Conceptualization involves the interpretation of the events that have been noticed and understanding the relationships among them. Finally, experimentation enables a learner to actually apply what has been learnt in new life situations. "Immediate, concrete experience is the ba sis for observation and reflection. These observations are assimilated into "theory" from which new implications for action can be deduced. These implications or hypotheses then serve as guides in acting to create new experiences" (Kolb, 1974, p. 28). Ricci (2000) completed a phenomenological study of the experience of learning in adult higher education. The study was conducted with twelve undergraduate college students, ages 20-50. The study revealed the essential nature of the complex interaction of several components (themes) in adult learning, while also highlighting the unique expression of learning structure by each individual. The study supported the perceiving and processing dimensions of Kolb's model; however, it also revealed more factors, such as learner's self-motivation, the learning situation itself, and other environmental factors that facilitate successful learning (Ricci, 2000). Similarly to Ricci's study, Decker's (1996) study examined whether the Interpersonal and Intercultural Adjustment curriculum moved the student through the four stages ofthe experiential learning cycle proposed and described by Kolb. Decker also sought to identify the essential curricular and pedagogical components of the curriculum that contributed to the effectiveness of the course. A qualitative research methodology consisting of participant observation, narrative analysis, and ethnographic interviewing provided strong support to the hypothesis that students did show evidence of movement though Kolb's four stages of learning. The

Seamus Heaney Mid-Term Break Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Seamus Heaney Mid-Term Break - Essay Example Having learned of what happened while away at school, Seamus spent the school day at the sick bay or clinic where he heard the school bell ring between classes. In his mind, the bell was similar to the paling of the church bells during a funeral. The last bell of the day signaling the end of class after all. Returning home, he did not have a very clear picture of what tragedy had just beset his family. So he met with the mourners with a sense of detachment. Henry was touched by the way that his father â€Å"Big Jim† Evans showed emotion at the death of his younger brother. Knowing his father to be a strong and somewhat stoic man, this was one of the few times that Seamus actually saw his father saddened by an event. Sadness is a very powerful emotion that the man seemed able to convey to his oldest son only by shaking his hand and letting him know what a â€Å"big blow† the death of the middle son was. Why did the Old Man stand for Henry when he arrived and shook his hand? In the family, he was the eldest son and as such, he was second to his father in commanding the respect of the community. By standing up to greet him, the Old Man acknowledged his presence and his authority in the family. Indeed, their situation was quite unusual and that is why Henry seemed lost and confused when the Old Man and others began to stand up to greet and speak to him upon his arrival. This is one of the saddest poems that I have ever read. From the beginning of the second line, it was already evident that this was not a poem that was going to end with a happy recollection of a time past. Using assonance and alliteration, Seamus Henry managed to emotionally involve his readers in the death of his brother. Describing the ringing of the school bell in relation to a funeral indicates that he felt heavy at the thought of time slowly passing. A lyrical poem, one

Early Western Philosophy of Religion Essay Example for Free

Early Western Philosophy of Religion Essay of the classical three laws of rational thinking. Claiming that every proposition is either true or not true, the first law summarily excludes the possibility of a middle-of-the-road alternative between two extremes. The second law states that it is not possible for something to be both true and not true at once and in the same contextual framework. The third law ascribes specific traits to everything. In other words, no two things are similar to each other (De Riemer, 2009). Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the torchbearers of the Gregorian mission, challenged the validity of the law of the excluded middle by raising questions about the moment of death, when a person is alive and yet to die. Such a brief transition, according to him, does not conform to the basic assumption stated in the law of the excluded middle, for the dying instance falls in a temporal void where this law is nonfunctional (Stump Kretzmann, 2001, p. 112). He, however, supported the law of noncontradiction on the basis of having certitude of knowledge about a given statement. Thus, he argued that â€Å"If there is one sun, there are not two† (Ibid, p. 163). In a way, Augustine endorsed inductive reasoning to substantiate his viewpoints on the foundational laws of thought. However, when it came to analyzing the law of identity, he discarded epistemological reasoning and embraced the core of Christian worldviews. The law of intrinsic essence of every being was, according to his opinion, a hypothesis that is relative to the monistic identity of the highest form of Being, e. g. God Himself. In other words, it is possible to develop collective identity given that it finds a stake similar to God’s image (Ibid, p. 87). Cosmological accounts of creation have been put forward by many of the early as well as modern thinkers. Various scientific theories have proved beyond doubt that our universe is not infinite. This proposition is tempting enough to ask what lies beyond the periphery. St. Thomas Aquinas, the medieval theologian and one of the seminal thinkers of his time, argued vociferously in favor of God’s existence on a cosmic level. His magnum opus Summa Theologiae is considered to be one of the treasure troves of philosophical treatises on creationism. Aquinas takes natural theology as the starting point of his argument. For nature, laws of existence are not rigid. It is possible for natural things to be born and destroyed, implying that everything is and is not at the same time. But it is truly impossible for anything to outlast its own expiration. What this means is that any form of existence is preceded by another form and that this chain continues backward till the creation of something that served independent of its own necessity for the sake of its succeeding creations. That something is nothing but what we believe as God (Meister, 2009, p. 67). I, despite being an atheist, strongly endorse the line of reasoning Aquinas used to prove God’s existence. He arrived at his intended position by means of teleological assumptions and subsequent cancellations – if A is true, A cannot be not true. This method of double negation, I believe, holds the secret to success of his originative theological account. References De Reimer, H. T. (2009). Infallible Logic, A Visible and Automatic System of Reasoning. Charleston, South Carolina: BiblioBazaar, LLC. Meister, C. (2009). Introducing Philosophy of Religion. New York: Taylor Francis. Stump, E. , Kretzmann, N. (2001). The Cambridge companion to Augustine. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Marketing Strategy Of Newspaper Education Essay

Marketing Strategy Of Newspaper Education Essay Marketing environment of today is not only competitive but equally volatile. Therefore the organizations have to put in everything into it not only to survive but to gain competitive edge. The advent of globalization has placed every premium on organization to shift their focus from competitive advantage to sustainable competitive advantage. It thus becomes important for organization to devise strategy on how to survive. Strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal such as competitive advantage. It reflects the values, expectation, and goal of the organization. To achieve marketing objective of profitable satisfaction customers need, for an organization in high-growth moderately competitive market along with economic growth, a well-developed marketing strategy is required. Such strategy considers portfolio of product and takes into account the anticipated moves of competitors in the market. Marketing strategy Marketing strategy is process of organization to concentrate it limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage with the ultimate goal of customer satisfaction. It is a method of focusing an organizations energies and resources on a course of action which leads to increase sales and target market. Marketing strategy is a wide term which combines product development, promotion, distribution, pricing relation dominance. Marketing strategy is a written plan which combines product development, promotion, distribution and pricing approach that will be achieved within a stated time frame. It determines the choice of the target market segment, positioning, marketing mix and allocation of resources. Marketing strategy is a process of selecting and analyzing a target market and creating as well as maintaining an appropriate marketing mix that will satisfy the target market. It is a long term plan to achieve certain objective. A marketing strategy is therefore a marketing plan to achieve marketing objective. It is detailed planning involving marketing research and then developing marketing mix to delight the customers. Developing strategy involves establishing clear aim objectives around which the framework for policy is created. Having established its strategy, an organization can then work out its day-to-day tools and tactics to meet the objectives. Marketing thus can be seen as the process of developing implementing a strategy to plan co-ordinate ways of identifying, anticipating satisfying customers demand in such a way as to make profit. It is the strategic planning process that lies at the heart of marketing. It helps in integrating an organizations marketing goals, policies and action plan into a cohesive whole. THE TIMES newspaper Position: The Times is a Uks leading news paper covering national news. For much of its history it has been regarded as Britains newspaper of the record is preserved in the British library. The Times began publication in 1785. At that time it was called as Daily universal Registered. Published in broadsheet for over 200 years, the newspaper switched to the tabloid format in 2004 in an effort to better serve the younger reader and to appeal to commuter using public transport. This newspaper is owed by News Corporation; originally an Australian company reincorporated in the US in 2004 and moved its headquarters from Adelaide to New York city. The Time is the original times newspaper, leading its name to many newspaper around the world, which include The Newyork Times, The Times Of India, The Times Of Malta, The Irish Times. The newspaper covers the price in UK is 90ps on weekday and 1.50p on Saturday 2pounds on Sunday which termed as The Sunday Times. History of the news paper: The Times was founded by John Walter on 1stJanuary 1785 as The Daily universal Registered, with Walter in the role of editor. Walter change the title after 940neditions on 1stjanuary 1788 to The Times. In 1803 John Walter handed over the ownership and editorship to his son of the same name John Walter sr. since then the ownership and editorship passed on to many. The Astor family sold The Times to the Canadian media entrepreneur Roy Thomson in 1966. Thomson merged The Times with Sunday times to Times newspaper limited, a subsidiary of news international. News International is entirely owned by the News Corporation group, headed by Rupert Mrdoch on 3rdmay, 1966, The Times began printing news stories on the front page on the paper. The front page had previously been dedicated to advertisement and paid announcement, which had contributed significantly towards the cost of producing the newspaper. The times were closed down from 1stdecember 1978 to 12thNovember, 1979, due to industrial dispute between the Thomson Corporation and print Unions. No times newspaper was printed during this period. Since then the newspaper is printed from Monday to Saturday in compact tabloid formats as of December 2008, it has an average daily circulation of 6,00,962 copies. Long considered the UK newspaper of the record, The Times generally seen as a serious publication with high standard of journalism. The British Business Survey 2005 named The Times as the UKs leading daily newspaper for business newspaper. Importance of strategy in marketing newspaper. Newspaper is unique business and in that competition is the minute-by-minute battle. News is something you dont already know. With net able to supply the information almost instantly, newspaper has little choice but to put everything they publish everyday up on the internet in the hope to keeping people on their site and returning to their site the next day. Strategies for marketing the newspaper have evolved over the years as the concept of cost per unit of circulation, with its inherent incorporation of cost per order and retention, has taken hold. More recently, acceptance of tiered subscription pricing strategies and the valuation of subscribers based upon advertising revenue have added another level of complexity and opportunity. The Times as a newspaper has adopted various marketing strategies to be in competition and to satisfy its reader and also to attract the new reads. Some of the various strategies adopted by The Times. The marketing strategy of the Time as leader in the market was significant in the year 2003 led the times to revolutionize the newspaper industry by lunching the compact version of paper. The strategy of redesigning the paper from broadsheet to compact version was born out of the recognisation that with long working hours, extensive commuting habit many media source there was a need for quality news in a convenient size. Initially the compact version of paper was launch in London with TV postal campaign targeting the busy professionals on move. The campaign idea was rooted in consumers truth, the commuter experience of trying to read broadsheet on train in rush hours. The campaign stressed the benefit of the new compact by illustrating how inconvenient the broadsheet can be. The Time was the forefront of the compact version movement and this vision was rewarded by a significant growth in circulation readership. The Times has enjoyed a substantial circulation increase since the launch, with sales growth in an otherwise declining market. All communication was united by the campaign endline,Its not big but it is clever. The Times adopted the strategy of introducing new innovative ideas for increasing its readership. The Times was the first to launch sport handbook, now produces eight each year covering football, rugby, formulaone,golf,tennis athletic . The main aim of this move was to attract people with high interest in sports (sport fans). Over last 2years The Times commitment to sport has developed significantly with an all star line-up writer from across the sporting spectram. Times also sponsor various activity which includes Sky Business news and The Times bfi London Film Festival for which the newspaper is the lead sponsor. The Times also has a strong portfolio of dedicated sections throughout the week. Screen on Thursdays, a stand-alone film section, which carries the latest film reviews, industry news and gossip. On Friday, Bricks and Mortar presents the latest facts, figures and fantasies from the world of property. Also new in 2003 was the relaunched Saturday Times which included four new sections. The Knowledge, a weekly insiders guide to life in London, The Eye, a guide to whats on the big and small screens, Weekend Review, the intelligent read for high and low brow culture, and Body Soul, a supplement dedicated to health and well-being. Body Soul is the only section of its kind in the UK newspaper market. Promotion strategy of TheTimes The Times promotional strategy is to work closely with branding activity to reinforce the values of the product. As the brand campaign continues to focus on re-appraisal through key editorial areas such as sport, entertainment and health and well-being so too will the promotions. The Times promotional activity has traditionally been communicated through combination of TV and Radio advertisement which ensure targeting specific audience. A second element to The Times promotional strategy is developing and fostering alliance with appropriate partners. For promoting their newspaper The Times for the first time in 17 years replaces its current tagline for The Sunday times as Sunday paper will launch to coincide with papers full color redesign. It will be supported by 3million TV, press outdoor ad campaign. This is mainly done to focus on the diversity of Newspapers audience. According to director of the paper, this marketing strategy will help the newspaper to build customer loyalty rather than encourage one-off sales. According to companys marketing sales director vanneck, the main basing marketing for Sunday times on the reason that people will buy it week-in week-out .they will sail the newspaper on the brand, content, the sub-brand. This will help the paper to build the brand loyalty. Pricing strategy: In the era when free newspaper are booming, paid -for newspaper are reconsidering their pricing strategy. Pricing is a key strategic tool in the battle for increased circulation. Different strategies are adopted by the newspapers to increase readerships loyalty and profitability. Over the period of years the times followed the various pricing strategy to compete with its rivals such as the guardian, the independent, the telegraph and many more. In early 90s the times as a market leader in the industry followed a predatory strategy. It reduced its price, the managers were of the opinion that this will help in increasing demand elasticity over a period of time and it would eventually rise sufficiently to componsatefor the price cut. This price cut strategy helped the times it increase its market share among other newspapers. In June 1994 the telegraph reacted to the growing share of market for the times by cutting its price and the independent followed. The Times soon responded to this by cutting its price further, although price settled down at slightly higher level soon after. By July 1998, the times price was 35p while that of Guardian ,the telegraph and the independent were 45p.THE TIMES sales was almost double than that of its competitors. This relative position stayed more or less unchanged for next five years. By 2002 there was slight decline in overall market for UK broadsheet. The sales of the times were running jus t over 7, 00,000daily. The decline in the newspaper ,market was mainly because of growth of internet and 24 hours TV news channels. The nature of competition changed, as a result the price competition took back seat and the times, raised its price to 60p in 2005. Along with this it introduced a new format for their paper, this increased the sale to about 6, 60,000 per day. In 2007 the time further increased its price by 5p and was priced at 65p without having any effect to its daily sales figure. The aggressive pricing strategy adopted by the times has a long lasting effect on sale pattern of UKs newspaper industry. Distribution channels: Newspaper have a unique characteristics in that they are delivered to approximately 54,000 retail outlet worldwide every day, the content changes substantially from day-to-day and the demand for them will expire by lunch time on the day of the sale. Although some other product s might share one or two of these characteristics their combination in newspaper means that the process of getting this product from supplier to consumer is substantially different from other in the industry. As a result newspaper have a distribution system that is dedicated to that one product. Unlike supply channel for many product, which are retails driven, the supply chain for newspaper is publishers led. Publishers appear a strong degree of influence over pricing volume nature of services Newspaper publisher print their newspaper by using print centers which are owned by the publisher directly or other provide printing services to publisher on agency basis. This newspaper prints are than supplied to wholesalers from there to retailers and finally to the consumers. In addition to delivery by wholesalers, some newspaper are supplied directly to consumer through subscription. The Times to reach to its customers directly, comes up with various subscription issues such as UK paper subscription, US paper subscription, E-paper subscription, overseas subscription, Times Archives etc. It also offer various discounts and offer on various subscription. Sometimes it gives gift vouchers along with subscription to attract the readers. Not only this the times also offers complimentary membership to culture+, an art and entertainment program exclusive to subscriber of times and Sunday times. Some of the highs of this subscription includes free admission to hundred of galleries, museums and historical houses priority booking for the most of the talked about plays and shows exclusive offers from sky etc It also offers various discounts to students for their subscription. SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE TIMES; SWOT stands for strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats, and it is one of the important tool to highlight the business present situation and where it could be in future. It is a strategic planning which specify the main objective of business and identifies the external and internal factors that are favorable and unfavorable for achieving the goal and objective of particular business. It mainly focuses on Strength: attributes of business those are helpful in achieving the objectives. Weakness: attributes of business those are harmful in achieving the objectives. Opportunities: external conditions those are helpful in achieving the objectives. Threats: external conditions those are harmful in achieving the objectives. Strength: strength of the business are positive element. It gives business edge over the competitor. The main strength of the times as newspaper are Being a market leader, it has a key to their success as it boosts reputation in the market. Its marketing strategy has proved to be effective. The Times has an extensive customer base which is major strength regarding sales and profits. The Times has competitively high percentage of market share among other newspapers. Weakness: weakness of a business is something which is needed to be improved as it may have negative impact on the business. Reputation is important for the times as market leader. So it is important for it to come up with new product and services from time-to-time to be in the competition. Charging for their content on internet may have negative effect on their business. Opportunity: These are external factors, changes, trends, or needs that could help the business to evolve and grow. For the time there are ample of opportunities available such as Capturing new market by offering new product such as overseas subscription, sports handbook etc can help the times to increase its readership. It can expand its online presence by improving and providing wide range of services through their websites. Forming strategic alliance could help the times to raise its circulation and increase its readership. Expanding product line can also help the time to capture major market share among its competitors. Threats: These are external factors which may restrict, damage, or put the business at risk. These are factors which are outside companys control and may prove harmful for growth. The possible threats that can affect the times newspaper are Price war between the competitors may unsteady the pricing strategy of the times Raising operation costs could be the major downfall for the times as it affects the overall profits of the business. Many free journal available can affect the readership of the paper at large E-business strategy of newspaper industry; Once the strong print business sector, newspapers are now struggling with declining circulation, shrinking classified advertisement and proliferation of competition. But despite of significant challenges, the industry also finds itself at a crossroad that presents significant opportunity for this business to evolve and grow. In past few years a number of interesting trends emerged, one of the most significant being digital media publishing and online monetization. Internet effect on newspaper is uninterested, how to accommodate the digital age remains one of the industrys key dilemmas. Now the industry is changing the marketing strategy and the emergences of digital media from wireless device to e-reader to social network, almost all newspaper have their own website. Both TV internet bring news to consumer faster n in more visual style than newspaper. This competing medium also offers opportunity to use moving image and sounds. This print business sector recognizes the opportunity of going global and continues to invest in growth by taking the advantage of digital media. News is something you dont already know but with net able to supply this information almost instantly, newspapers have little choice but to put everything they publish everyday up on internet in the hope of keeping people on their site and returning to their site next day. Popularity of newspaper website depends up on the content of the site. Normally the content of the website is splinted in to six areas which includes The news stories After week though- this are archive stories Columnists opinion pieces E-mail services giving people a concise rundown of stories that are likely to interest them direct to their inboxes Digital facsimile of printed Newspaper Finally there are add-ons crosswords, competition games the likes. E-business strategies of the times; The times group has used a variety of online strategies to increase their online readers. In September 2008 they commissioned to build a James Bond themed Microsoft entitled Be a bond baddie The main aim of the move was to promote Times online coverage of James Bond on their website give added value to PR of the time raise awareness for Times online readership generate large amount of traffic repeats visitors. Times online were thrilled with the result interim of traffic uptake application. Not only this Times online entered into editorial initiative aimed at improving spellings for school Childers around UK. This program was launched as their educational initiative with the aim of attracting peer group. The main objective behind this program was to uplift the Times circulation, to contribute to establishing The Times as a market leader in education. the result was successful as number of registration exceeded expectation site continues to experience the high volume of traffic with over 50,000nviews since launch. Times Online, the website of the Times Sunday times has launched a global internet edition. Most overseas visitors to the website are directed to new paper as a default view which rebalanced away from domestic content will feature more foreign news comments. UK readers are able to switch back forth between the two editions. According to times editor, Robert Thomson, going global was an important movement in the long distinguished history of paper Its primary aim is to give a traditionally less parochial front page (peter Bale, online editor of times) This strategy of going global was adopted with the intension of capturing the worlds market developing a reader loyalty. With growing competition the newspaper is coming up with different strategy to capture major market share by increasing its readership. The Times is launching an internet television services. It now has a news agency style video feed which is a starting point for broader introduction of video service. It will help in generating more content will help in becoming village seqarefor videos. It will also invite reader to send their video to the news site will add future texture by providing link on the site. This will help the reader to get more reliable information on video. Not only is this to attract the reader The Times planning to launch separate website for its Sunday edition The Sunday Times. This website will be available to reader by the end of this November. Newspaper industry very well incorporated the technological changes in their business. Having website has helped in increasing its readership significantly. But the cost of having such website is quite high. The struggle has always been how to make money by charging for content while also keeping as many as people returning to the site. And also course there is ever present back of the mind fear that the diverse online content will stop people buying newspaper. To cope with this situation, The Times, in terms of overall UK market introduced a crossword archive subscription services in 2008.Not only this they started charging for their online content. The general manager of Times paper Paul Hayes said the free ride is over day of free content have gone. The Times was first to charge for their content on net. According to The Times manager, every aspect of site need to support itself with its own revenue stream that is why they stared charging for its archives, for digital version of paper its law report. Despite of charging The Times has around 2million unique users. The main aim of the Times is to be the best newspaper in the world. The goal is to deliver accurate, intelligent engaging information to an ever large, ever more discerning audiances.The role of The Times as newspaper has evolved due to changes in information provision. Proliferation of satellite, TV channels, radio stations, the internet has helped the times to satisfy every need of its readers. Future of newspaper in 21st century; The future of newspaper has been widely debated as the industry has faced down soaring newsprint price, slumping ad sales, loss of much classified ads, drop in circulation. In recent years number of newspaper has slated for closure, bankruptcy or serves cutbacks. Revenue has plugged while competition from internet media has squeezed print publication. The debate has been more urgent, as a Deeping recession has shaved profits as once expensive growth in newspaper web revenue has leveled off forestalling what the industry hoped would become important source of revenue. The issue is whether the newspaper industry is being hit by cyclical trough, or whether new technology has reduced obsolete newspaper in their traditional formats. Facing these challenges, newspaper are considering combining to survive. Newspaper industry has always been cyclical the industry has weathered previous troughs. But with television arrival explosion of internet the first decade of 21stcentury increased the panoply of media choice available to reader while further cutting into newspapers begancy as source if news. Both TV internet bring news to the consumer faster in a more visual style than newspapers. This competing medium also offers opportunity to use moving image sound. Technological revolution has meant that reader accustomed to waiting for daily newspaper can now receive up-to-the -minute update from web portals. This new revenue stream, newspapers website, often takes away fraction of sum generated by the previous ads circulation driven revenue stream so newspaper have been forced to curtail their overhead while simultaneously trying to entice news users. Expanding reach of broadband internet access, many newspapers have faced several problems such as falling ad revenue plugging circulation. Ultimately the newspaper of future may bear little resemblance to newsprint edition familiar to older reader. It may become a by bird, part print part internet or perhaps eventually go fully digital. However the transition from print page to whatever comes next will likely be fought with challenges, both for newspaper and for its customers. The paper in newspaper may go away but the news will still remain. The paper is dynamic, but its just a device. Replacing it with pixel is better experience.(according to bill Keller, executive editor of Newyork times) Many more changes may happen in the worlds fast growing Newspapers market. The world is becoming more digital but the technology has helped newspapers as much as the internet. Making technological changes work for them or instead of them, will decide whether newspaper remain vital or road kill on the information superhighway. Newspaper had justified their existence with energy, creativity integrity. Thus, as of now it can be concluded that newspaper has remained open has welcomed technological changes. It has changed in every scene be it appearance, or marketing or using web according to time advent of technology to serve its objective of providing information keeping in mind the interest of customers.

stuff :: essays research papers

Why I should be the Supreme Ruler of the Universe   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In these five paragraphs, I will be discussing why I should be the supreme rule of the universe. I will explain my strong points in ruling such as my ability to converse with people on a down to earth basis. My ability to help the people of the world by giving them not just what they want, but what they need. Also I will be able to save the world by setting stricter laws prevent damage to the earth. To get deeper into the subject everyone will have a say in what I do to help the world and it's inhabitants. My people skills will help my ability to rule because then I would be able to talk to my people of the world by discussing key topics like the earth and it's atmosphere. My way with people will also help to show how I treat my co-workers and fellow countrymen. I will really test my people skills when I go to my other countries and discuss trade and life in that part of the world. I would really want show the people that I am not afraid of what the world throws at. I am afraid of only one thing and that's whether the people of earth are content in how I am running it. Hopefully I will show that my skills are adequate and that I am capable of putting them to work in a useful way. In some way I believe that you will all make the right decision in placing me as supreme ruler of the universe. I hope all the people of earth will be satisfied with what I give them and what show them. Surely I will give them what they want but I do hope I will be able to give them what they need. That being, that all will have food shelter and adequate money resources. There will be no ghettos or gangs or drugs. I will give the world the chance to live in a happy place where there is no violence or drugs because that is how I see the world should and will be. Everybody will get his or her share because everyone is equal. Not one person should feel that they are not getting their piece of the pie because I hope to make sure that no one is left out.

Contemporary society Essay

Identify the principal agents who expose white collar crime in contemporary society. What factors motivate people to expose such crime, and what factors inhibit them from doing so? What specific policy measures can be adopted to encourage exposure of white collar crime? The principle agents who expose white collar crimes in contemporary society are informers, whistleblowers and investigative reporters. Informers would consist of the people like politicians who usually give information to receive a lesser sentence or the like for their own involvement. This is very popular here in IL where the politicians are tried and convicted and then become witnesses testifying against one of their fellow conspirators. These informants are motivated by their sense of self-preservation. However, they can be reluctant to tell as there may be a fear of retaliation to them or to their families. Also, there are whistleblowers who, in my opinion, are usually driven by moral and ethical values. These brave people are the ones who brought companies, like Enron, to the forefront. They are your everyday employees who see something wrong, and bring it to the attention of those who can enforce the laws that are in place. Moreover, they could be reluctant to tell anything due to fear of being blacklisted, loss of employment, or being ostracized among other negative reactions. Sometimes the negative social and financial repercussions outweigh the benefits of doing what is morally right. Last, there are investigative reporters. These professional bring issue to the forefront, when it appears that they are being overlooked by society. A good example of this is a news story that showed, at different construction sites, workers asleep on the job, wasting tax payer money. Another story involved politicians being investigated for giving contracts to friends and family. Investigative reporting is motivated by professionals who want to bring to the forefront the crimes of companies and government, but I believe that it is also driven by ratings. Some things can be shown because it won’t affect sponsorship, but some things are shelved for fear of losing corporate sponsorship. In order to encourage exposing white collar crimes, policies preventing the accusing from retaliating should be put into place. Also, some form of compensation should be met to those who risk their livelihood to do what is right. Not an excessive compensation, but compensation nonetheless. However, I do not believe anything will ever completely help. Companies will still be able to  blacklist and financially and socially ruin a whistleblower. It cannot be prevented. Also, they can still pull their money out of local stations. The companies have a lot power, and they are hard to fight. 6. How can corporations ensure that their employees behave ethically? Corporations can ensure that their employees behave ethically, by showing a good example of ethical behavior at the top. It begins with the CEO and senior management. If they display ethical behavior, the employees will follow suit. The work environment would become a do as I do vs. do as I say environment. Also, a clear and sound structured work environment is necessary. Internal controls need to be in place to create a check and balance system. This system would leave less room for unethical behavior. Last, continuous training on what is expected from the company and company policies would also be effective. A reminder on what is expected and accepted (or not accepted) is a good way to keep employees in line with company objectives.

Perinatal Mental Health Midwife

Application for Temporary perinatal health midwife There is increasing awareness of perinatal mental health as a public health issue. The Government is keen for midwives to further develop their role in public health. Midwives need to be adequately prepared to take on a more developed role in perinatal mental health if practice improvements are to be made. I am aware that death from psychiatric causes has been the leading cause of maternal death for the last few years. Although the most recent Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health indicated that this is no longer a leading cause, mental health problems before and after childbirth have a significant impact on the health of women, family relationships and children’s subsequent development. I believe that midwives need to be able to detect women with current mental health problems and those at high risk of a serious mental illness following delivery, in order to improve the care and support offered to them throughout their contact with maternity services. One of the most serious areas where we see ongoing harm is in adult mental health. Recent research shows that a large proportion of adult mental health problems can be laid at the door of early childhood. We need to consider the likely future effects of not breaking the cycle while these people are young. The ACE Study estimates that 54 per cent of current depression and 58 percent of suicide attempts in women can be attributed to adverse childhood experiences, which also correlate with later high levels of alcohol and drug consumption. In order to screen systematically and sensitively, and to enable them to refer on appropriately, I feel that midwives need to understand why they are asking questions about mental health; how to encourage women to disclose past and current problems; what the risks of recurrence and relapse are; and what services are available in their area of practice. 1|Page I feel very strongly that having post graduate qualifications and experience like my own in counselling and different approaches to psychotherapy are essential attributes for this post. The facts about childbirth and mental illness are startling (reference, Oates M 2001): About one in ten women will develop postnatal depression after delivery. < After psychosis (puerperal) postnatal develop will women 500 in one> Suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the UK. A woman is 20 times more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in the two weeks after delivery than at any time in the two years before or after. Despite this, talking about and confronting the issue of mental illness during pregnancy or the postnatal period still poses challenges for healthcare professionals. Motherhood is loaded with emotive expectation. This contributes to a large number of cases of perinatal mental illness going undiagnosed. This can have serious consequences including poor bonding between mother and baby; reduced quality of life for the mother, baby and father; prolonged disability caused by living with an untreated serious mental illness; and potential risk to the health and safety of the mother, baby or other family member, either through neglect or harm due to illness. As a midwife with 20 yrs of clinical practice and with some experience as a service user, I was pivotal in setting up the current bereavement service and have been Counselling women and their families at West Middlesex Hospital since June 2009. I also have experience of providing supportive psychotherapy to a diverse range of clients with differing pathologies in a primary care and private setting since 1999. In my Role as Midwifery Matters facilitator (2007-2009) South East Strategic Health Authority, I regularly travelled across the patch, giving presentations to multi professional audiences. I am confident in designing, producing and presenting a 2|Page range of presentations, including role play, power point, interpersonal workshops and formal lecture format. I have experience in writing academic papers (published) and information leaflets, guidelines and information posters. I am a naturally creative person who enjoys implementing evidence based practice change at a strategic and operational level. I am very excited about the opportunity to be potentially involved with designing an E-learning package. Whilst working with other experts in this industry I have gained some knowledge in the process of elearning development. I think that routine antenatal and postnatal care present an excellent opportunity to screen the mental health of pregnant women and women with a new baby. To do this effectively however, requires working more collaboratively across different professions to meet the needs of our patients. Having the post of a specialist midwife in mental health could allow me to provide focused care to pregnant women with mental illness. This could include co-morbid substance & alcohol misuse problems. I envisage the role as working closely with a perinatal psychiatry team at W. M. U. H and as an important point of liaison between the other midwives, especially safeguarding and case loading midwives, obstetricians, health visitors, child and family social services, obstetricians in the hospital, and mental health services. A useful means to achieve partnership working would be for the S. M. M. H to attend the weekly midwifery team meeting. Here, all midwifery community and labour ward teams meet to discuss the caseload and update the antenatal progress notes. This provides a valuable opportunity for potential referrals to be discussed, both with the specialist mental health midwife and the perinatal lead psychiatrist/obstetrician. Many women will prefer and only require additional support and advice from a midwife with specialist expertise, rather than see a psychiatrist. However, some pregnant women will need to see a perinatal psychiatrist for expert advice, for example, if having severe mental illness, or to discuss medications in pregnancy or breastfeeding. 3|Page The referrals could be women with a history of mental illness during childbirth or preexisting mental illness who are now pregnant. However, quite often at booking or routine antenatal checks, midwives may pick up new onset psychological distress in pregnant women who have no history of mental illness. Women may at first feel more inclined to disclose things to a midwife rather than a psychiatrist or doctor. This may include apprehension or fear centred on the impending delivery itself, increased general anxieties about coping, depression or other psychological symptoms. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines (2007) on antenatal and postnatal mental health have sought to address this, suggesting that at a woman’s first contact with primary care, at her booking visit and postnatally (usually at four to six weeks and three to four months), healthcare professionals (including midwives, obstetricians, health visitors and general practitioners) should routinely ask the following two screening questions to identify possible depression: During the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless? During the past month, have you often been bothered by having little interest or pleasure in doing things? A third question should be considered if the woman answers â€Å"yes’ to either of the initial questions: Is this something you feel you need or want help with? As a specialist mental health midwife, I would want to scope the current service and rapidly undertake a gap analysis to work towards providing equal access to perinatal mental health services. I could provide consultation and advice with the knowledge and skills that I already have and from which I accrue whilst undertaking my MSc in Psychodynamic approaches to Mental Health. I could perhaps investigate the possibility of providing a link to the local mother and baby unit. 4|Page In This role I could also act as a useful resource for other staff and support other midwives with their clients. They can be involved at an early stage in antenatal care and assist with monitoring women who may be developing or at risk of mental illness in childbirth. They can link up between physical and mental healthcare and can work in partnership with pregnant women to develop care plans for their individual needs. Having this post would give me the opportunity to hopefully address the stigma around mental illness and childbirth and improve screening and detection of women who need further specialist help — ultimately improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for new mothers and their families and long term financial benefits to the Trust and the N. H. S. A study of provision of perinatal mental health services has already been undertaken in two English strategic health authorities: views and perspectives of the multiprofessional team. Reports and policy recommendations have highlighted the need for early detection, appropriate referral and management. (Rowan1, McCourt 2 & Bick 3 (2010) This study has reported the in-depth views of relevant healthcare professionals on the extent to which perinatal mental health services are meeting policy and practice guidance. Their views highlight that although there have been developments in service provision, gaps persist particularly with respect to appropriate ongoing identification of needs and appropriate follow-up of women. Real challenges for the maternity ervices persist in relation to complex boundary issues that impacts on opportunities to support effective continuity of care and funding issues. Additionally, examples of good practice may still depend on the initiative and commitment of individual professionals, rather than the support of the organisation, including dedicated resources. Further research is required to ascertain the extent to which resource issues and t he drive to cut NHS healthcare budgets are limiting appropriate service provision for women with perinatal mental health needs. 5|Page There is always a need to elicit the views of the women who use the service. I would approach this by Iinking with our existing Maternity Service Liason comittee and carrying out appropriate patient satisfaction surveys and audit. References Felitti V & Anda RF (2008) ‘The relationship of adverse childhood experiences to adult health, wellbeing, social function and healthcare’ in R Lanius & E Vermetten (Eds) The Hidden effects of unresolved trauma. 134Epidemic: The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease, Cambridge University Press, Mary Ross-Davie, Sandra Elliott, Anindita Sarkar, Lucinda Green British Journal of Midwifery 14(6): 330 – 334 (Jun 2006) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 007. Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance. NICE clinical guideline 45. London: NICE. Oates M. 2001. Perinatal maternal mental health services. Recommendations for provision of services for childbearing women. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists Cathy Rowan1 RM, PGCEA, MA. Christine M cCourt2 BA, PhD. Debra Bick3 RM, BA, MedSc, PhD. (2010) Evidence based Midwifery:Volume 8 (2010)  » issue 3  » Provision of perinatal mental health services in two English strategic health authorities: views and perspectives of the multi-professional team.. 6|Page