How to Write a Business Proposal

A business proposal is perhaps one of the most critical documents you need to learn how to write. It is what spells the difference between success and failure, whether you’re a freelancer or you have a company of your own. In today’s cut-throat business world, entrepreneurs find themselves spending hours upon hours submitting business proposals to potential clients, and not get any results. On the other hand, there are those that are like snipers, able to get the contract after just submitting one business proposal. So how do they do it? Well, this article will teach you show you how to do just that.The Basics of a Business ProposalBefore you even go and start writing that business proposal, you must first understand what it is and learn the basics. A business proposal is a written document that offers a particular product or service to a potential buyer or client. There are generally two kinds of business proposals: solicited business proposals (which are submitted in response to an advertisement published by the buyer or client) and unsolicited proposals (submitted or given out to potential buyers or clients even though they are not requesting for one).Business Proposal vs. Business PlanQuite often, the terms â€Å"business proposal† and â€Å"business plan† are used interchangeably, giving you the impression that they are one and the same. But they are not. A business proposal is created to offer a product or service to a buyer or client. On the other hand, a business plan is a â€Å"formal statement of a set of business goals† and how these would be achieved. The latter is only part of what is included in a business proposal.3 Ps of a Winning Business ProposalThe secret behind writing a winning business proposal and one that will just be set aside is the presence of what I call the 3 Ps: problem statement, proposed solution, and pricing information.Problem StatementA successful business proposal must be one that is able to describe to the client what their needs are in a plain and simple manner. This is extremely  vital because how can you expect the client to believe that you can help them solve their problems if you don’t even know are these problems? Here’s an example of a well-written problem statement of a business proposal: With the presence of social media in today’s advancing world, Puffin Media Inc. hesitated to make the leap from traditional marketing to social media marketing. Their marketing tactics seem to be losing effectiveness and the company feels as if they are missing out on a large segment of their market. In addition, their competition has began acquiring the majority of the business in the market and have brought Puffin Media’s growing revenues to a halt.Proposed SolutionThe main objective of submitting a business proposal is to offer a solution to a problem faced by a prospective client. This part should be as detailed as possible, and able to addr ess each and every need you have discovered. Here’s an example:The solution that is recommended for Puffin Media Inc. is to deploy their company on all of the major social media channels; however, there is a major difference in creating social media platforms versus creating a brand you can promote on those platforms. A marketing campaign must be created utilizing these media channels and creating immediate engagement with your audience. In order for this to be successful, you know how to make sales. Initially, acquire some fans, followers, subscribers, and connections and invite them to join you in particular discussion or attend a specific event. The purpose of this is not only to promote Puffin Media Inc, but also to solicit feedback from the target audience.Pricing InformationFor many clients, the pricing information is what will make them decide whether they would offer you the contract or not. How to write this part greatly depends on the solution or solutions you inclu ded in the previous segment. If the solution proposed will only entail a short period of time, a Fee Summary will suffice. For longer projects, segment these payments to specific milestones in a Fee Schedule list.Things to Remember When Writing a Business ProposalNow that you know the essentials of a winning business proposal, it’s time to go ahead and start writing, right? Well, not exactly. The next part is to be able to find out what to put under the 3 Ps so that you can develop a business proposal that gets their attention and awards you that contract.Do Your ResearchNot all clients and buyers will give you the explicit details of their wants and needs, especially if you’re submitting an unsolicited business proposal. Extend your research to include the competitors of your potential client, and their customers as well. This will ensure that your business proposal will be as comprehensive and as detailed as possible. Put Yourself in their Shoes.Another thing to reme mber when writing a business proposal is to always put yourself in the shoes of your potential clients. Doing this will help you provide information on things that they would most likely ask, such as â€Å"Why should we pay you this much amount for the solutions you’re offering† and â€Å"How can these changes benefit me?† Why You?If you determined that a company or client has certain needs, chances are others would have done the same. That means that there will be others that have submitted their respective proposals to the company or client. That being said, it is important to make sure to highlight your talents, experience and other qualifications to convince the client why they should choose you or your company.Writing that Business ProposalWhen you got all of these, then you’re finally able to start writing your business proposal. One of the best ways on how to write a persuasive business proposal is to use a business proposal software. Business prop osal software programs helps you write your business proposal without having to worry about how they should be put together and the content that you need to include. These programs contain two kinds of proposal templates that you can use and re-use, depending on which one you need to write. In addition to the stored templates, you can create your own proposal templates through these programs based on previous proposals you’ve created, making it even more  convenient for you and your business.A Final Word†¦Although business proposals present the same information and have the same layout, it’s important to take time and make each one unique. Each project is different, even if it’s with the same company. Remember, a business proposal must show how you or your company can help a potential client.

Article Summary “Strategy as Simple Rules”

„Strategy as Simple Rulesâ€Å" by Kathleen Eisenhardt and Donald Sull A) Article Summary Basically the article describes how and why companies like Yahoo, AOL or Enron use simple rules in rapidly moving markets. In the past companies were able to apply complex strategies due to a simple business landscape and stable markets, but nowadays most markets are not stable any more. Markets are fast moving and so complex themselves that companies are forced to react and to simplify their strategies. Associated essay: The Proverbs of Administration Herbert Simon SummaryThe authors' central statement is that the traditional approach of staking out a defensible position misses the key to success in rapidly moving markets. That key is the ability to recognize and capitalize on fleeting opportunities. For dotcoms like Yahoo or AOL it's more important to pursue opportunities than to establish position or to leverage resources. As Kathleen Eisenhardt and Donald Sull analyzed dozens of companies in unpredictable markets, they have discovered that simple rules can be divided into five categories:How-To Rules show key features of how a process is executed. For example Enron focuses on the risk management process in its commodities trading business with two rules: 1) Each trade must be offset by another trade that allows the company to hedge its risk and 2) every trader must complete a daily profit-and-loss statement. Boundary Rules define a framework in which managers have to focus on the right opportunities and to sort out the ones which are outside the pale.Example: Cisco focuses on the acquisition process with three rules: 1) The target must have no more than 75 employees 2) 75% of those employees must be engineers and 3) the target must be within 50 miles of headquarters. Priority Rules rank the accepted opportunities. Intel for example focuses on the process of allocating manufacturing capacity with one rule based on a product's gross margin. Timing Rules synchronize managers with the pace of emerging opportunities and other parts of the company.Example: Nortel focuses on the product development process with two rules: 1) The team must know when the product has to be delivered to the key customer in order to win their business and 2) the product development cycle can be no longer than 18 months. Exit Rules tell managers when to pull out of former opportunities. One high tech company focuses on new business creation by pulling the plug on new initiatives that fa il to meet certain sales and profit goals within two years.Key processes: Each of these companies has zeroed in on one or two key processes that are critical success factors. They then set up a few simple rules to guide activity in these processes in a way that balances risk with the need to move quickly. Deciding if Simple Rules will Work for You: Most dotcom managers are faced with a vertiginous number of opportunities: partnerships, acquisitions, licensing deals, new products, new markets, new ideas, all with the potential to make or break the company.Simple Rules may be the right approach for your company to use in managing this creative chaos. B) Application The article was very interesting, it made my pensive and stimulated some new thinking. The most important thing for me – as I am a type of human being that likes complicated situations which need clever decisions to get an advantage over other competitors – was the warning about to try to apply complex strateg ies in rapidly moving markets. You'll probably work 100 hours a week if you complicate your strategy. Therefore I feel this article and t's theses as very helpful for my future career. But it is also very doubtful whether I can use this information from the outset. I think it's going to be very difficult. A lot of experience will be necessary, especially to know which opportunities should be taken and how the accepted opportunities should be ranked. Furthermore it is complicated to sort out â€Å"yesterday's opportunities† for a prospecting manager. It depends also on the industry the company belongs to. If you behold a company like Yahoo, it will be clear that applying simple rules is not the worst decision.But if you look at a traditional company like ExxonMobil, you'll see that opportunities are limited and you have to gain market share with a clever, thought-out strategy. Altogether I would say to know the three approaches and the five categories of simple rules is alread y a big advantage and one day I'll be certainly able to apply this information, especially as I am looking forward to work for a company which is part of a new business landscape. C) Opinion When I started to read and recognized company names like Yahoo, AOL or Enron, I knew this article was not the newest one.And although Yahoo is still a relatively successful company I am not quite sure whether they have always applied the right strategy. But the principle to use simple rules in a fast moving market probably is the right solution. And even I liked the article at all, I did not like the structure. Maybe because I read it on the internet and not in the Harvard Business Review Magazine, but for an article which supports a simple way of (business) life, it has a quite confusing structure. But OK, this does not bother me too much.After I had eventually printed it and had read it a second time, I was even more fascinated. Additionally I was enamoured of the caricature on the first page. It shows how complex the business landscape nowadays is and how difficult for a managers it is to find the right way between those many possibilities or to do the next step right without a signpost or somebody who can help you to capture an opportunity at the right time or to let the wrong opportunities go. In summary I think the article is full of thought provocative examples as well as being an easy read. I highly recommend it!

Comparative religion Essay

When classifying the world’s major religions they can easily be split up into two groups: Eastern religions and Western religions. The Eastern religions consist of Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. The Western religions consist of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Almost all of these religions have come about within existing religious frameworks. Eastern and Western religions share many qualities while differing in many as well. Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism are monistic, meaning they see god in all things. The Eastern mind sees God everywhere, in all things, and sees everything as sacred. Their ultimate reality is an entity and not necessarily a god. â€Å"God† is not personal and not to be thought of as a brother or father, but as so much more. Eastern religions see one kind of reality. They view all beings as equal in value. The individual is not actually real and the separateness of humans from creation and from one another is an illusion to be overcome. Human nature is viewed as naturally ignorant and we better ourselves by being enlightened. Following dharma is the good life, which is being in harmony with universal order through personal duty. In Eastern religions, enlightenment is attained within the individual. In Buddhism, it is nirvana; In Hinduism, it is the yoga; In Taoism, it is wu wei. Reincarnation is a central belief; so some things are not that big of a deal, such as justice or injustice. They believe there is one true god and all religions speak of him. There are many paths to god. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic faiths, which mean they believe in one god. The Western mind considers it heresy to believe that God pervades all things, and makes a strong difference between what is sacred and what is profane. The god of Judaism, Christianity and Islam is a god of history not of nature, the world reflects him but he isn’t to be found in it. God is personal and tended to be thought of in terms of what we know, such as a father figure, etc. Western religions are dualistic, meaning there are two kinds of reality, material and non-material. It is viewed as heaven and hell. Each of these western religions believes that humans are here to submit themselves to god. There are sharp distinctions made between humans and the rest of the natural world. The individual is the same throughout eternity, and the separateness of humans from creation and from one another  is real and permanent. Human nature is viewed as sinful and we become better by taking control of our sinful nature. The good life is obeying the laws of god. In Western religions, enlightenment is attained through significant people conveying god’s word to the ordinary people. This occurred through the prophets Adam, Abraham, Moses, Muhammad, Jesus. There is only one chance at life, and this is probably why Western religions seem to have more emphasis on justice. They believe there is only one true god and one true religion and all non-believers will spend eternity in â€Å"hell.† Eastern and Western religions also share many traits. Each of the groups has come about within other religions. Buddhism grew out of Hinduism, and Christianity and Islam grew out of Judaism. Each believes there is more to reality than what we experience with our senses. Eastern and Western religions alike have specific creeds, guidelines, doctrines or orderliness. Hinduism has the Bhagavad-Gita; Buddhism has the four noble truths; Christianity has the Bible; Judaism has the Hebrew Bible and the Torah; and Islam has the Koran. In the texts of these religions, many of the stories are moral stories meant to help us and not always factual. In these Eastern religions, they all meditate and reach a state of enlightenment. These Western religions all pray to god and have faith that god will help and have mercy on them. Each gains a better sense of self although by different means. They each teach to have compassion, love your fellow man, help those less fortunate, and live the best life you can. The most important similarities would be the thought and knowledge of existence outside of our realities. Morals are also where they balance with each other. Man’s destiny is viewed by both groups as lying in his own hands. Man can choose to enlighten himself or save himself, or choose not to. These are the most significant views shared. This is where they share the most common ground. The most important differences would be that eastern religions see truth in all religions and western religions see truth only in their religion. The way natural things are viewed set the groups apart significantly. Eastern religions see everything having value and western religions see only people  having value and nothing else. Western religions have had prophets to speak god’s word. Eastern religions say everyone can reach ultimate reality. These are the ideas that separate eastern religions and western religions so greatly. There are some common themes in all religions. All religious beliefs allow us to understand and categorize our world and our place in it. There is value in all religions that honor life and individuals potential. They are all concerned with ultimate reality, only seen from different angles. A common theme is charity. All religions emphasize charity and helping out those who need it. Happiness is a common theme, which is what is drawn together from religious experience. Wisdom is attained as a result of religion and its practice. The Eastern religions could teach the Western religions tolerance. Western religions only see themselves as â€Å"right† and dismiss all other views. This is not easily justified and just reaffirms eastern thought that humans are naturally ignorant. So that alone discredits the assumption on the western part that they are â€Å"right.† The Western religions could teach Eastern religions about dualism. One could say that although this reality is a certain way, who is to say that the next or continual one will be similar? They could see dualism within the reality. My approach to religion was greatly affected by my upbringing. I was raised as a Baptist. I blindly followed just as all children do. When I reached the â€Å"Age of Reason†, I took a serious look at the faith and came to my own conclusions. I figure that if the way I learned it is the way that it is, then there is no use in practicing it. If god is vengeful and could damn me to hell for eternity, then I don’t want anything to do with him. That certainly does not sound Supreme to me. I have a hard time believing the doctrine that we were created for the sole purpose of serving him and fighting down the human spirit. I would rather try to see life as being something to enjoy and make the most of it. I am considered â€Å"agnostic† and do not know where most men are sure. I feel that most organized religion has been around to control and limit people. Eastern religions appeal to me  because they are not necessarily based on doctrine. I view all beings as equal, t ry to live a good life, and don’t attempt to speak of things that I cannot conceive. Religion is definitely becoming more of a tolerable subject among those who are intolerable. The persecution of religious groups seems to be slowing down, very slowly. The future of religion is identical to the future of human existence. As long as human beings are around, they will use religion to place themselves in this world and understand themselves. As humans, we tend to be very self-important and make ourselves feel better about ourselves, and give ourselves meaning so we do not feel that we do not have a significant place in the world.

A Danger to Fourth Amendment Rights 302 WK3 Essay

A Danger to Fourth Amendment Rights 302 WK3 - Essay Example The Terry case seems to have turned around the powers of the citizens and the government. Since the government is run for the people, by the people, and belongs to the people, it is important that people the people’s demands supersede the constitution. The decision in Terry’s case can be viewed as the beginning of the end for the United States of America and her citizens. There was official destruction of freedom from tyranny that according to Douglass’ prediction led to Americans being assumed guilty until confirmed innocent. This caused America loss of what sets her apart from other nations. The erosion of freedoms is clear at the Travel and Security Agency agents who openly molest the Americans through naked body scans and enhanced body searches, an act that even the police cannot do. According to Hamilton (2006), this violates the fourth amendment that states as follows: â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. And no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized,† Law .cornell.edu (N.d., Par 1) . Douglas’ position was more of a prophetic warning for only free country in the world at that time. It would have been better if the majority adopted his position, as it would have helped them in making the fourth amendment more powerful. In such a case, the rights of the people would end up more valued than the rights of the law enforcement officials. The Warren court gave the police more powers and created a model dangerous to the freedoms of the fourth amendment since the court wanted to replace the conventional construct with confidentiality based theory of the amendment. Thus, the Warren liberal court replaced the

From civil rights to black power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

From civil rights to black power - Essay Example Blacks, many working- and middle-class Whites themselves became angry and suspicious, charging that Blacks had already made too many gains at Whites expense. President Nixon who referred this as â€Å"the Silent Majority" of Americans who supported "law and order" and other white Americans worried about their economic prospects and their own future, law and order meant using the power of the government to keep Blacks in their place; they had already achieved too much, and now must accept their second-class status in American society.(1) From the 1970s on, conservatives, Republicans, and White Southern politicians have used code words about welfare, law and order, affirmative action, drugs and crime, teenage pregnancy, and the breakdown of the family to attract concerned Whites, who feel that Blacks are responsible for their own problems, not the government, not the of Blacks to law and order and the rights of Whites has helped shaped a White backlash against civil rights and further gains for Blacks civil rights since the 1970s. Unfortunately, this White back clash has only made young Blacks more angry, cynical, and suspicious about the government and White Society. Regarding the emergence of civil rights and black power movement we can explore a detailed study related to these occurrences. On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman issued two executive orders, one instituted fair employment practices in the civilian agencies of the federal government; the other provided for "equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." This was a major victory for civil rights advocates in the quest for full citizenship.(2)Courtesy of the Chicago Daily Defender, Chicago, Illinois.)This was one beginning moment among others from which the racial sufferers gained inner strength to fight for the complete freedom. The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968) refers to the reform movements in the United

Just Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Just Health - Essay Example "Is health, and therefore health care and other factors that affect health, of special moral importance?" 2. "When are health inequalities unjust? 3. â€Å"How can we meet health needs fairly under resource restraints?" (Daniels, 2008) This essay will evaluate the conceptualization of healthcare, global poverty, and world hunger on a common moral basis related to human need through an analysis of these ‘Three Questions of Justice’ in the works of Amartya Sen, Ronald Dworkin, John Rawls, and other modern scholars. In relating the issue of human needs to human rights through the lens of the moral imperative, the essay will seek to understand how societies and groups build political consensus and collectively address issues of human suffering through political organizations. This analysis includes an exploration of the theoretical and practical limits of humanitarian activity related to egalitarian economic rights frameworks and the goals of universal healthcare that are f ound in democracy, capitalism, and human rights. The moral awareness of the individual creates the categorical imperative to act, join into groups of free-association, build policies, and reform institutions to provide universal healthcare globally. This is based in human altruism fundamentally by definition. The issues of resource scarcity in society are only limited if the individual chooses to perceive them that way or they are controlled forcibly in a way that is inconsistent with the equality of human need defined through altruism. Similarly, they will only be enacted as policy or viewed as â€Å"universals† in society if enough people share these goals in group organizations collectively. Reform of institutions to implement economic rights or universal healthcare popularly is based in the shared moral awareness. The means of funding this process is limited only by resource restraints as individuals conceive them, and these are not inherent to society. Rather, the cost o f universal healthcare is negligible compared to what society wastes on what can be considered non-essential goods and services or â€Å"socialism for the rich† as it operates under the hegemony of corporate democracy in modern America. Because the coercive aspects of wealth distribution are resisted politically, an ideal solution to Daniels’ â€Å"Three Questions of Justice† can only be implemented if people base their social decisions and policies on selfless, compassionate, and altruistic understanding of human needs and global development, highlighting the need for mind-change (metanoia) in the individual as the basis for the reform of institutions and policy. The shared fundamentals of both humanism and religion provide a basis for the realization of these goals in human society, yet education in moral values can be seen as the preferred method of achieving for lasting change in institutions and governance. II. Healthcare - Human Need Creates the Moral Impe rative One way to interpret Daniels’ ‘Three Questions of Justice’ as they relate to the evolution of culture and civilization historically is to view healthcare issues related to global poverty, hunger, clean water, and sanitation of a special

Organisations and Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Organisations and Behaviour - Essay Example In an organization where such culture exists emphasis is given on trust rather than orders (Grint 2005). This type of organizational culture has the following advantage: it can help to keep communication and cooperation with organization at high levels. Still, there is always the chance that certain employees take advantage of this culture for ignoring their obligations, according to their position; b) Role: the specific type of culture is based on bureaucracy; emphasis is given on rules and orders of superiors while hierarchy is highly respected. In organizations with such type of culture it is quite difficult for severe failures to exist at the level that employees’ activities are fully aligned with the rules set by the top management team (Grint 2005). On the other hand, this type of culture can harm team-work and communication within the organization at the level that employees would not feel as members of a team but as followers who have not the right to state their view in daily business operations; they have just the obligation to follow the orders given to them. In such environment employee performance cannot be easily kept at high levels; c) Task; it is the organizational culture that promotes the use of project-type tasks within each organization (Grint 2005); this type of culture promotes decentralization, leaving room for employee initiatives, a practice that can significantly enhance employee performance; however, this type of culture can set the integration of a business in risk if roles are highly decentralized; and d) Person: it is an organizational culture that highlights the value of person, as member of an organization (Grint 2005); such culture is applicable in family-owned firms or small firms but it cannot be used in large businesses (Grint 2005). 1.2 In the context of a business, the term structure is used in order to show ‘the form of an organization meaning especially the hierarchy of positions and relationships’ (Kn ights and Willmott 2007, p.197). Organizational structure, as described above, can be divided into three categories: a) Tall structure; it is met in organizations where the levels of hierarchy are many (Christensen et al. 2007); such structure can be useful for ensuring the control by the top management team of all business activities but it can threaten trust and communication; b) Flat structure; it refers to organizations with just one or two levels of hierarchy (Christensen et al. 2007); such structure enhances communication and team-work but it is difficult to be applied in large organizations; c) Matrix; the term denotes the dependency of each employee by many superiors, simultaneously; such structure is more appropriate for organizations in the public sector while in the private sector it could not be applied at the level that in the private sector independent departments usually exist for covering business needs (Christensen et al. 2007). On the other hand, in small businesse s such structure could be possibly applied. 1.3 The ‘chain of command’ principle is based on the idea that within organizations the full independency of individuals is not acceptable, meaning that ‘each employee should necessary have a superior to whom he had to report’ (O’Fallon and Rutherford 2010, p.76). This principle is applicable in organizations since it does not set as a prerequisite the excessive power of the superior over the employee but just the like the dependency of the employee

Effects on humans and environment by acid rain Essay

Effects on humans and environment by acid rain - Essay Example Polluted rainfall is also harmful to those who suffer from asthma and those who have breathing difficulty.   It is also proven by scientists that even healthy people can have their lungs destroyed as a result of inhalation of these harmful fapors (Ahmed, 2012; Clark, 2001). Acid rain also affects people and the environment through the soil from which our food is grown. It weakens toxic metals that decomposes and are assimilated into soil. The toxic metals might then be absorbed by water and consumed by animals or vegetation and consequently affects human health upon consumption. It also has effects on our environment particularly in forests; the deposition of the acid leads to degradation of tree plantations by lowering maturity of trees and other plantations, promoting their susceptibility to natural threats like drought, storms, forest fires and insect infestation. It also results to leaching and depletion of natural nutrients in forest soil that in turn loses valuable nutrients like calcium. This affects the sensitivity of the soil with time. On surface waters, acid rain minimizes the survivability of animal life in lakes and streams. It might as well eliminate most of the organisms in these water bodies (Ahmed, 2012; Clark, 2001). Acid rain therefore leads to destruction of plants and kills many organisms that live in ponds and other water bodies. It also has adverse effect on human health. This is so because destruction of the environment by acid rain affects our lives as

Principal of business Leadership Research Paper

Principal of business Leadership - Research Paper Example Business leadership is a process of organizational influence in which a single person or a group of people can enlist the support and aid of others in the business organization so as to accomplish its common goals and objectives. Leaders may not have formal authority but have the power to drive people to do something so as to achieve a common goal or task. Any business, no matter the size, requires effective leadership. For this reason, many scholars have come up with numerous principles to guide business leaders on how they can be effective in their leadership roles and responsibilities. This essay will discuss the principles of business leadership that effective business leaders should abide by. This paper will focus on how to be an effective business leader. There are very many scholarly and non-scholarly sources that talk about what makes an effective business leader (Frey, Kern, Snow & Curlette p 212). Most sources that are reviewed in this essay link the success and performance of a business organization with effective business leadership. The performance of a business organization is also closely associated to specific leaders of that particular organization. Hersey, Paul, Blanchard, Ken and Johnson (55) argue that the influence of effective business leaders is very powerful and can never be ignored. Business leadership requires individuals who have the capacity to influence others positively towards the realization (Kaiser, Hogan and Craig p 96). That is why effective business leaders are guided by business leadership principles as they execute their leadership roles. This principle calls for a business leader to be clear on what they want to ‘be’, ‘do’, ‘have’ and ‘know’. In being clear on what a business leader want to be, he or she should know what he/she is. This means that he/she should identify his/her beliefs and values so as to understand

Century World Affairs Essay Example for Free

Century World Affairs Essay The Caribbean Island of Cuba became a republic after its liberation from Spain at the hands of the USA. American presence, both in military, financial and diplomatic terms however continued as a means of providing stability and solvency to the island nation. The Cuban President’s were incompetent and unpopular with the general populace, thus, producing revolt. From 1925 onwards, although technically still a democratic republic, the country became an elite dictatorship with an army officer named Fulgencio Batista, having seized control of the Cuban army, pulling the strings from behind the curtains. The government remained corrupt and incompetent with a rising sense of resentment amongst the general population on their state of affairs. Following 1940, he was the official President of the country until his departure from office in 1944. In 1952, he seized power again and ruled by decree until 1955 when he was elected President in an election with only himself as the candidate. To mark his victory, the new President issued an amnesty for political prisoners and opponents. One of the prisoners was Fidel Castro, who had been jailed for his involvement in the 26th of July incident in 1953, whereby he had led a column of men to ambush the Cuban military installations at the Moncada Barracks. Castro wasted no time in resuming his revolutionary activities and in 1956, accompanied by Argentine Ernesto â€Å"Che’ Guevara, launched an invasion of Cuba, setting sail with his followers from the coast of Mexico. Initially, the rebels were crushed by Batista’s forces but the well organized defense of the guerilla headquarters in the Sierra Maestra Mountains sent the wrong signals to Batista’s forces. Fledging support for the rebels also made matters worse with constant guerilla attacks against Cuban army installations and personnel leading to a fall in moral within the Cuban military ranks. With a demoralized army, Batista panicked as the prospect of a full fledged civil war became imminent and fled the country, allowing Castro to march easily into Havana and form government. America was deeply aligned with Batista’s government all along the way as American businesses had deep rooted interests in the island nation. There is evidence that Castro’s invasion of Cuba in 1956 could have been funded by the CIA, although these claims remain unsubstantiated. However, given the fact that Batista’s increasingly authoritarian actions were a cause of much embarrassment for democratic Washington, it could be believed that there might have been funding with an attempt to â€Å"tame† Batista and soften his dictatorial style. Major American involvement came in 1961, when Cuban exiles trained by the American CIA launched an invasion of Cuba to topple Castro’s government but were defeated at the hands of the Castro’s army within three days. This event came to be known as â€Å"the bay of pigs invasion†. The revolution survives till today having succeeded in the provision of idealistic social development targets, although the economy remains small and largely dependent on sugar cane exports. BOLIVIA After centuries of Spanish colonial rule, Bolivia gained independence and became an autonomous republic in 1825, having had to fight a bloody war with colonial Spain. While great leaps were made in socio economic development, the indigenous population remained poor and following the Chaco War (1932-1935) where the country suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Paraguay, resentment against the traditional ruling class grew further as the loss of life and territory was humungous. Following the Chaco war, The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) was created. It represented the middle-class and had a Marxist approach modified for a nationalist and socialist agenda. The party was part of the military civilian regime of Gualberto Villarroel from 1943 to 1946 but was soon expelled from the country by opponent forces. The MNR then staged a brief and bloody civil war in 1949 against the Bolivian government but failed to make any breakthrough. It was in the elections of 1951, that the MNR finally hit jack pot. Having won the elections, it was denied the right to Presidency by the Opposition parties who claimed that the elections were rigged. Following months of protests, agitation and civil unrest, not to mention the various attempts by the MNR leadership to stage a coup, events took a new turn when MNR revolutionaries together with the La Paz police force took control of La Paz, the de facto capital of the country. What followed was a bloody, half hearted battle on the side of the Bolivian army. Mass deflections and poor moral gave the MNR a victory and a chance to form government. During its 12 years in power, the MNR was responsible for bringing universal adult suffrage to Bolivia, put land reforms into practice and promot rural education. The largest tin mines were nationalized in 1952. However, the most remarkable feat of the revolution was the fact that it incorporated the indigeneos population into the normal way of life. US policy remained largely neutral in Bolivia’s case. The US had war in the Korean Penensuila to deal with at that time. However, the overthrow of the MNR by the Bolivian army in 1964 is sometimes refered to as a CIA backed initiative, suggesting that American policy was largely anti MNR, even if neutral from the outset. CHILE Chile gained independence from colonial Spain in 1810, when it was established as an autonomus republic. It was in 1970 that Chile made history of sorts when it elected by a narrow margin a Marxist government under President Salvador Allende. Whereas all previous communist governments in the world had emerged from chaos and upheavel, the population of Chile legally elected their communist government. The government, however, comprised various left wing groups and Allende suffered from his inability to bring stakeholder conflict resolution. Allende’s problems intensified as he went along. His nationalization of major industries scared away private investment and created dissent amonsgt portions of the population. His problems were further aggravated by capitalist plots and US hostility, esp by the CIA. Allende still took matters at the forefront and continued reforms to the economy and the social sector, demanding international aid and recognition to help him implement his plan for the social and economic development of Chile along socialist lines. While he had many supporters, his opposition was also plenty. While Allende struggled to keep the pieces together in the face of internal coalition bickering, resent amongst portions of the population and US hostility, the opposition and the army merely hoped that Allende would lose the 1973 election and allow for a more centrist President to take power. However, this was not to be as Allende’s government survived the 1973 election, with millions amongst the population voting for Allende a second time. Following a constitutional crisis and widespread economic woes and allegations that Allende would soon turn the country towards dictatorship, the military intervened and overthrew his government on September 11, 1973. As a woman Revolutionary As a woman revolutionary in the Cuban revolution, one of the things I would have done differently would have been to secure closer ties with America for economic reasons, instead of becoming a tool in the cold war. Closer relations with America would not imply a compromise on Marxist principles. It would rather imply an act of logical sense as America is geograpgically close to Cuba and its products are in high demand there. Closer ties with the USSR and the East European Communist bloc make less sense as these countries were geographically distant. In a way, closer economic ties with the USSR have a higher opportunity cost. Appeal of Marxist thought in Latin America Marxist thought has had a profound effect on Latin American politics. As early as the 1920’s, Marxist movements were springing up in various countries. The reasons are simple. Rising poverty, deplorable conditions of the indigenous Indian population at the hands of the ruling class (of Spanish descent), economic and social backwardness and corrupt and/or incompetent governments forced people to seek alternative ways at addressing the issues at hand. It was these conditions that fueled Marxist thought in Latin America. For many countries, the concept of equality appealed further then ever as they saw the present system merely as an extension of the colonial system, with the capitalist mindset at play. Equality of income, rights and stature in society was a totally new concept and presented a welcome change from capitalist individualism. Lack of freedom under strict military governments and persecution at the hands of intelligence agencies as a result of political motivations made matters worse. Furthermore, Marxist ideology to seize the opportunity and to fight for ones right further fueled anger amongst an already resentful population. Revolution provided an opportunity for the hard pressed populace to vent their anger at incompetent governments. Another important factor at play was hostility to the USA. The USA was seen as a powerhouse of capitalism and US business interests in Latin America were no secret to the local population. The USA had done little to support the population against their incompetent leaders and the perception of the USA was thus that of a Capitalist agent bent on world dominance. The success of Marxism in the USSR esp. it’s powerful transition from a petty backward country to a world economic and military super power standing eye to eye with the USA provided much food for thought. With the exception of Cuba, communism never really found its deep roots in any country in Latin America. True the Allende Presidency in Chile, the MNR regime of Bolivia from 1952-1964 and the present day regime of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela are near examples, it is worth mentioning that these have been mere off shoots of Marxist theory, aiming to bring changes to the original theory and apply them in a more local context. Thus, generally, Marxist thought has provoked a more centre left approach amongst the population of Latin America. It is also worth mentioning that the impact of Marxist thought on Latin America has been so profound that many of the leading figures that the theory is synonymous with are derived from this region. Fidel Castro became a symbol of defiance for the Capitalist West. Allende is renowned for his foray into democracy through democratic elections, bring communism to a country through peaceful means Similarly, Che Guevara is today not only a symbol of communist ideals of using force to attain their goals but is also recognized as the undisputed founder of modern Guerrilla warfare, a tactic, still utilized by communists and non communists alike to this day in their fight against imperialism, capitalism and injustice. Works Cited Watson, Jack. Success in 20th Century World Affairs. London: John Murray, 1991. Adam Hart -Davis. World History – A visual guide. London: Longman , 2007. Smith, Alison. Mastering 20th Century World Affairs. London: Longman, 1991. Selected Readings from The History Channel Website www. Historychannel. com

Comparison of The Economies of India and China

Comparison of The Economies of India and China The economies of India and China are among the largest economies in the world. However the differences in the size, composition and other quantitative and qualitative features stand in stark contrast when comparing China and India. India, has a much smaller economy, about only a fifth of Chinas. Its exports are a fraction of Chinas, as are its imports. Indias economy is mostly dependent on its large internal market with external trade accounting for just 20% of the countrys GDP. This is a huge difference from China, given just how large a part of Chinas economy is due to International trade. In fact, Indias balance of payments (BoP) on its current account has been negative. However this is probably due to its ever increasing oil import bill and its overall Balance of Payments (BoP) was positive since the late 60s due to remittances from Non Resident Indians and increased foreign direct investment. However, the darker side to blistering growth rates achieved by China is captured by indices of inequality. While the current Gini Index, a measure of inequality of income/wealth, of India is 36.8, the same for China is 46.9, which is remarkably high. However China has successfully reduced the proportion of population living below the poverty line to 10% while India has 22% of its population living below the poverty line. given the sizes of both populations, the difference is massive, and finding the causes of this difference is crucial. A significant question that many economists have tried to answer is the reason behind Chinas superlative economic growth. Consensus is now broadly reached with the explanation that it was a combination of several factors, not least the proactive actions of the government, coupled with already favorable historical circumstances that are responsible. Chinas very strengths in these areas have been Indias weaknesses. Political Economy The histories of China and India have been very different and critical in explaining the growth contrast. China has been by and large a stable, centrally run state through its history with limited periods of instability and lack of a single authority. Indias history has been exactly the reverse. Since 1949 the government, under Chinas socialist political and economic system, has been responsible for planning and managing national economy. Foreign trade is supervised by the Ministry of Commerce, customs, and the Bank of China, the foreign exchange arm of the Chinese banking system, which controls access to the foreign currency required for imports. Ever since restrictions on foreign trade were reduced, there have been broad opportunities for individual enterprises to engage in exchanges with foreign firms without much intervention from official agencies. INFRASTRUCTURE Compared to India, China has a well developed infrastructure. Some of the important factors that have created a stark difference between the economies of the two countries are manpower and labor development, water management, health care facilities and services, communication, civic amenities and so on.. Although India has become much developed than before, it is still plagued by problems such as lack of civic amenities. In fact unlike India, China is still investing in huge amounts towards manpower development and strengthening of infrastructure. EDUCATION In Education, 99.1 % of Chinese children attend school for 9 years, ensuring a high level of literacy. In India, literacy is 50 to 60% . China and India face similar challenges in their higher education sector with intense competition for admission to the best institutions and universities. But China is far ahead on the supply side with nearly 100 high quality institutions and is investing heavily in creating many more, leaving India far behind. As a result China is turning out many more top quality students than India. China has opened up higher education for both private and foreign investment. Foreign investors can come in by tying up with local Chinese partners. Unlike India, China is experiencing a great deal of two-way international student traffic. China has become one of the worlds great study-abroad destinations. Currently more than 60,000 foreigners study in Chinese universities, and that number is swelling each year. China is the number-one choice for U.S. students who want to study in Asia . China is active and aggressive about becoming a major player in international education. HEALTH In general, for both countries, infectious diseases of the past sit alongside emerging infectious diseases and chronic illnesses associated with ageing societies, although the burden of infectious diseases is much higher in India. Whilst globalisation contributes to widening inequalities in health and healthcare in both countries there is evidence that local circumstances are important, especially with respect to the structure and financing of health care and the implementation of health policy. For example, India has huge problems providing even rudimentary health care to its large population of urban slum dwellers whilst China is struggling to re-establish universal rural health insurance. In terms of funding access to health care, the Chinese state has traditionally supported most costs, whereas private insurance has always played a major role in India, although recent changes in China have seen the burgeoning of private health care payments. China has, arguably, had more success than India in improving population health, although recent reforms have severely impacted upon the ability of the Chinese health care system to operate effectively. Both countries are experiencing a decline in the amount of government funding for health care and this is a major issue that must be addressed. In China earlier extensive public provision of health and education: universal education until Class X, and public services to ensure nutrition, health and sanitation. In India the public provision of all of these has been extremely inadequate throughout this period and has deteriorated in per capita terms since the early 1990s A Close Look: Special Economic Zones (or SEZs) in India and China China pursued an inward-looking developmental strategy from the 1960s to the late 1970s. From late 1978 onward, Deng started to exert a critical role in Chinese politics and the opening of China. In May, fourteen coastal cities became open cities. Deng and other top leaders approved the setting up of the first SEZs in Guangdong and Fujian; they enjoyed geographic proximity to neighboring advanced economies and are coastal cities with access to sea-ports. In addition to picking the right locations for SEZs, Deng and other reformists also carefully appointed leaders to head the major SEZs. In general, these leaders tended to be open minded and possessed a wealth of political experience. Their dedication to work and their upright and honest styles helped them to avoid scandals that could tarnish the reputation of reform. Liang also cracked down hard on official corruption to defuse accusations against the SEZ. Under Liangs leadership Shenzhen created a number of benchmarks in Chinas economic reform in the early 1980s. One was the so-called Shenzhen efficiency, exemplified by the completion of one floor of a high-rise office building within only three days. In addition three new offices responsible for economic policies in the SEZ were placed under the jurisdiction of the Mayors Office: the General Office of the city government, the SEZ Development Company, and the SEZ Construction Company. This centralized and efficient economic decision process in the hand of local leaders paved the way for rapid formation and operation of the SEZ, which was much needed for the newly established zone in its very early years. First, joint ventures and foreign-owned enterprises were allowed in the SEZs, but needed special approval outside them. Second, prices and distribution of goods were not regulated by the market within the SEZs, but by central plans outside the zones Third, SEZs had jurisdiction in approving much larger investment projects than non-zone localities. Fourth, SEZs enjoyed preferential treatment in tax and tariff reductions and exemptions. For example, the corporate income tax at the SEZs was set at a preferential rate of 15 percent, even lower than the 18.5 percent in Hong Kong.25 Finally, SEZs were granted preferential fiscal arrangements. Fiscal autonomy generated tremendous fiscal incentives and exerted heavy pressure for Shenzhen to reform and develop. These privileges enabled investors to enjoy the lowest corporate income tax rates and tariffs on imports and exports, as well as a freer play of markets in SEZs. SEZs become the premier place in China for attracting FDI. Initially, Shenzhen was short of funds necessary for building streets and urban infrastructure. However, within four years, the city accomplished urban development worth 100 million yuan with only 18 million yuan of loans. It built two industrial districts as well as fifty-five streets of a total length of 100 kilometers. In comparison to India we find that Indian SEZs lack in precisely the areas in which Chinese SEZs seem to have an advantage, such as infrastructure, tackling bureaucracy, corruption, etc. While SEZs in India are generally set up all around the country SEZs in China are mostly on the coast, along one side of the country due to better connectivity to the outside world and advantages in exports. Conclusion Popular opinion is that India cannot catch up with China in the near future, at least in the next few years. China leads India in foreign investment, a key contributor to economic growth, by a margin of 10 to 1, because foreign investors, who can place their money anywhere, see more opportunities and fewer obstacles in China. Ironically, Indian democracy is viewed as a hindrance vis-a-vis the stability of Chinas authoritarian regime on its liberalizing market and docile unions. India also lacks a Hong Kong and a Taiwan, next-door technology, and capital hubs that when combined with the mainlands abundant, cheap, and productive human resources create powerful complements. China dominates in manufacturing and has the market size and spending power domestically The constraints on the growth of Indias GDP appear to be insufficient investments according to most economists, including FDI and investments in infrastructure. The most commonly cited constraints on investments is the confusion and slowness of policy change as well as confusion and tardiness at the bureaucratic levels, as contrasted with the single mindedness of the Chinese state. However, changes are gradually being seen in these areas, and political reform could strengthen the role of the government and combat inefficiency. Also the provision of high quality and long lasting infrastructure is beginning to occur. If government initiates these reforms and provides the requisite infrastructure to attracts investment, the possibility that India catches up with China in terms of economic growth does not look so impossible.

Ethical Challenges in Consent to Research Participation

Ethical Challenges in Consent to Research Participation Belmont Report (basic principles underlying the ethical challenges): Autonomy respect for persons beneficence justice [AS1]What should participants understand to understand they are participants in research? (Wendler et al. 2008). In order for a participant to give valid consent, the PIL at minimum should include 20 elements as detailed out in section 4.8.10 of ICH GCP guidelines so that comprehensive information is provided to them. The CIOMS guideline lists 26 essential elements to informed consent. Hence, this question encompasses one of the major ethical challenges faced during the consenting process. According to participants perspective, is all the information included in the PIL relevant to their decision-making? It is often noticed in practice that participants feel overwhelmed by the information provided to them, and as a consequence they skim over information which they feel is not applicable or relevant to them. But then the next question arises, what about the elements that are considered non-relevant by the patient? Does it contain important information which the patients would otherwise be missing out on? As result it is unclear as to what should be the adequate content of the PILs to satisfy the needs of the patient and delivering the minimum sufficient (encompassing all perspectives) information at the same time. Failure to find a balance in this respect might undermine the validity of potential participants consent is it as informed consent or not? Fortun et al. 2008 noted that participant recall and understanding of clinical trial information was poor despite a comprehensive 13 page PIL. A systematic review also highlighted that providing patients with more information results in lower participation rates (Edwards et al. 1998) To determine what information potential participants need to understand in order to give valid informed consent, it is useful to identify the purpose or justification for requiring consent in the first place. Once we answer this question, we can then determine what information individuals need to realize this purpose or goal (Wendler et al. 2008). Informed consent serves at least two purposes. First, the requirement for informed consent allows competent individuals to understand whether participation in research is consistent with their interests. Second, informed consent allows individuals to decide for themselves whether they will enrol in the study in question. For this purpose, potential participants should be provided with the information they want to decide whether to enrol in the study, which goes back to our earlier challenge of the content of consent. Not[AS2] just the content of PIL, but the quality of its content should also come under ethical scrutiny. Both the content and its quality together will help the patient to make a reasoned choice. In order to truly understand something, one must exercise two capacities (which together constitute the meaning of decisional capacity in healthcare) the capacity to understand the meaning of the information provided, and the capacity to appreciate the relevance of this information to ones own situation and come to a decision [Iltis, 2006, 181]. In terms of the actual words used in PIL, the complexity of the technical language in which consent forms are written remains a problem, though this can easily be remedied. (Macklin). But its not just that. Its even the simple terms like describing research using other terms, for example, explaining that the project involves a study or a clinical trial, seems unlikely to help those who do not already understand research. For example, a potential participant understands the studys risks, potential benefits, procedures, and alternatives. What else should the patient understand to understand that the project in which they are being invited to participate involves research? And what additional information should investigators disclose to help them understand this fact? Another facet to this linguistic challenge is when considering translation to local (or regional language). For example, some languages do not include a word for research. Does it follow, as some commentators speculate, that these individuals cannot understand that a study involves research, hence, may not be able to provide valid informed consent? At the other extreme, explaining every aspect of clinical research seems impractical, if not impossible. Understanding the history of clinical research and its abuses alone might require a lifetime of study. Between the insufficiently minimalist and impossibly maximalist extremes lie many questions, and the need for guidance. Must investigators disclose and must potential participants understand the scientific design of the study? Do they need to understand that the study is phase I, and how that differs from phase II and phase III studies? Too much information can be as bad as too little; both tend to interfere with the ability of research participants to grasp what is relevant Macklin et al. After the information has been provided, the next question is, has the information been received? As Nijhawan et al. states, it is very difficult to evaluate a participants viewpoint about trial since there is no established method to measure the level of understanding that a participant has about the information given. There are various factors involved in this. A participants level of understanding would be affected by a degree of misunderstanding that can occur because of incorrect or inadequate language translations as well as their level of education. (Ferguson, 2002) The national and international guidelines state that the comprehension of PIL should be accessible to a 12 year old. However, only 50% of patients feel that the provided information is clear and concise, with many patients having to read the document numerous times to gain a grasp of the medical terms contained within the PIL. There is also considerable debate about patients perception of the goal of research, which is termed as Therapeutic Misconception in an article by Appelbaum et al. It states that a further difficulty arises from the failure to distinguish between experimental research and therapeutic medicine in the context of clinical research. Surveys have shown that many patients who are enrolled as subjects develop the misconception that the goal of the research is a therapeutic one, and they agree to be enrolled in the often unrealistic hope that they will benefit directly from participation in the study which yet again undermines the validity of informed consent. Another [AS3]related difficulty involves the widespread variation in subjects comprehension and appreciation of the nature of risk. The Belmont Report reminds investigators that they have responsibility for ensuring that the subject has comprehended the information provided to them, and that the obligation to ascertain that the subject has adequately understood the nature of the risk entailed by the research increases in proportion to the seriousness of the risk (Section C). Studies have shown that most adults have a limited ability to think in terms of probabilities and to appreciate risk, even when steps are taken to enhance their understanding [Iltis, 2006, 181, 185]. It is generally agreed that the amount of information provided should be based on the typical reasonable adults understanding of risk, although there is much disagreement about how to define this, given that interpretations of both linguistic and numerical ways of expressing the possibility of risk vary considerably, as does the amount of risk different people are willing to assume. Moreover, what might be risky for one person, it necessarily wont be the same for another. While the investigator can provide the prospective participant with scientific data relating to types and probability of risk in order to assist her in making a decision, it is the value they attach to risk which will ultimately determine whether or not they chooses to participate. Thus great care has to be taken to ens ure that research risks and potential adverse events are presented to prospective participants as unambiguously as possible. Then [AS4]again there are problems relating to research involving vulnerable populations, some of whom may have diminished or impaired mental capacity and may not be capable of providing consent at all. (Macklin) A balance needs to be established between the obligation to protect more vulnerable or less autonomous research participants, on one hand, and, on the other, the need to conduct research involving minors and persons with reduced mental capacity in order to provide these populations with access to results or interventions which may benefit them clinically. Persons with diminished mental capacity and children who have not yet reached decisional maturity should not be automatically denied the benefits of medical research, but neither should they be excluded without justification from decisions made about whether or not they become involved in research. What is crucial is that additional safeguards be put in place to ensure that these groups are protected from exploitation, in particular while explaining the nature of the research when obtaining their consent. Where this is not possible, and it is felt that the research has sufficient clinical value to proceed, stringent requirements f or obtaining proxy or surrogate consent should be put in place. Consent forms should reflect this need for additional protection. [task article] Given the current socio-legal research environment, it is difficult to know whether, in practice, researchers and research review bodies err in overestimating or underestimating the decisional capacities of persons with mental illness. Either type of systematic error can be costly. Allowing persons with mental illness to participate on the basis of defective consent would violate the most basic ethical tenets governing human research and can amount to exploitation. Yet, by erring too much in the other direction-that is, by overemphasizing the vulnerabilities of persons with mental illness-researchers and review bodies could unfairly exclude competent individuals with mental illness from opportunities to participate in research. The ethical costs of excluding willing individuals with mental illness from participating in research are not sufficiently emphasized. Unjustified exclusion from research, however well intended, is a form of discrimination. Moreover, in the abse nce of adequate research on the most severe forms of mental illness, individuals with these illnesses are relegated to receiving treatments for which there is only inferential evidence of efficacy. For these reasons, a major ethical challenge for psychiatrists and other professionals engaged in mental illness research is to develop ethical principles and practices for selecting research participants that ensure proper respect and protection without reinforcing incorrect assumptions about individuals with mental disorders. Another major ethical challenge faced during obtaining consent is assessing the patients voluntariness. Macklin et al. paper questions, can the complete voluntariness of patients decisions to participate in research always be guaranteed, especially when the person conducting the research is the patients own physician? Objective of a researcher is to perform systematic investigations involving human beings to develop generalizable knowledge whereas as a practitioner their focus is on diagnosing and treating the illness in individual or group to meet their health needs. So an interesting, albeit ethical, dilemma arises. Should the physician fulfil their sole obligation of focusing on the well-being of the patient, yet in the context of trial conduct, the physician (now an investigator) has competing obligation to generate high quality data. The trial distracts from good personal care. Declaration of Helsinki 2000 Article 28 says: The physician may combine medical research with medical care, only to the extent that the research is justified by its potential prophylactic, diagnostic or therapeutic value. When medical research is combined with medical care, additional standards apply to protect the patients who are research subjects. [macklin] There are problems concerning the way research is presented to patients who are potential subjects when the investigator is faced with such a dual role. When researchers are also clinicians caring for their patients, they face a conflict of interest that is non-financial. The need to accrue a sufficient number of patients in a study could affect the way a researcher conducts the informed consent process. Patients tend to trust their doctors, even when the intervention is research rather than a treatment proven to be effective. Practically in such a situation, patients often rely on the responsible doctor for decisions about whether to take part in a research study, the treatment available and its associated risks, despite the information available in the PIL [Bjorn et. Al, 1999] Hence, a sense of patience and training as a researcher is required from the investigators end. Investigators should receive education in research ethics that addresses rules and norms governing research; sensitivity to ethical implications of decisions and actions; and skills in ethical problem solving, including ascertainment and disclosure of conflicts of interest. [task article] Conclusion: Informed Consent is not enough. There are multi-factorial challenges to this single concept. With subject populations that are mostly medically naive and for whom the whole concept of clinical research and the umpteen terms and concepts associated with it are alien; the true essence of an informed and autonomous decision is fundamentally lost. The consent process thus gets reduced to mainly a narration-followed-by-signature process. Over the last few years, this gap in principles and practices of ethics and consent has been acknowledged and innovative concepts and attempts are being fostered, to make the informed consent process more ethical. Pranati et al. [AS1]Information Overload [AS2]Language Barrier [AS3]Comprehension and perception [AS4]Vulnerable patients

Grendel By John Gardner Essay -- essays research papers

Grendel lives in a dark and gruesome underground cave with his mother and dozens of cold, unmoving creatures. He is very curious and, in his early years, finds a way to escape this terrible place and enter the world. Every night he wanders outside his cave, exploring the land around him. One night, he gets trapped in a tree. A band of human beings led by King Hrothgar approaches and, after some hesitation, attacks Grendel. They close in for the kill, but Grendel's mother arrives just in time to save him. Years after his encounter with Grendel, Hrothgar's power and influence grow until he rules an immense territory. He builds a glorious meadhall, the greatest in the land, and names it Herot. He builds roads to connect his kingdom and hires an immensely gifted Harper to play at special occasions. Grendel is fascinated by the Harper's music and tries to join the humans, but he is attacked by the frightened guards and must flee. Feeling lonely and rejected, he visits an ancient dragon that lives within the kingdom. The dragon speaks for some time, and his wicked, tired cynicism infects Grendel. He puts a charm on the young monster, making him impervious to human blades. After this, Grendel becomes a creature of pure destruction. At the onset of each subsequent spring, Grendel carries out several raids on Hrothgar's meadhall. He is very careful about this, leaving just enough men behind to rebuild and grow for the next spring. Several years after he builds his meadhall, Hrothgar ...

Violent Media’s Effect on Youth Essay -- Violence

There is no doubt that mass media impacts the people who consume it. While the media was originally designed to inform people, it has now become so much more. Modern media, especially in the area of violence, can have effects on the viewer’s behavior. Unfortunately the negative effects associated with the progression in the media’s communication technology, have begun to outweigh the positive impact of this representation of media. Media is both an important and time-consuming aspect of modern child’s life due to the fact that children from ages eight to eighteen spend about 44.5 hours a week (6.5 hours a day) partaking in media. The media is consumed in forms of the computer and it’s functions with the Internet, television, and interactive video games. All this time consuming these forms of media added up takes up more time than any other events in their lives besides sleeping. It has been said that the presentation of violent media to young children and adolescents has the most harmful effects on children in varying ways. This is supported by the fact that violence in forms of suicide, homicide, and trauma are the leading causes of death in children and young adults, outweighing the cause of death by sickness. Media programs aimed at young audiences have gone as far as becoming very similar to adult programs in terms of content in language and violence. A typical child in the U.S. watches 28 hours of TV weekly, seeing as many as 8,000 murders by the time he or she finishes elementary school at age 11, and worse, the killers are depicted as getting away with the murders 75% of the time while showing no remorse or accountability. (â€Å"Violence in Media† 1) In the U.S. this is an average of 20-25 viol... ...guided along by a parent. Works Cited â€Å"Childhood Exposure to Media Violence Predicts Young Adult Aggressive Behavior, According to a New 15 - Year Study.† Apa.org. American Psychological Association, 9 March 2003. Web. 2 February 2010. â€Å"Children And Media Violence† MediaWise.org. National Institute On Media & The Family. Fact Sheet. June 2009. Web. 2 February 2010. â€Å"Children One Click Away From Violence, Adult Content.† Wpbf.com. West Palm Beach News, 4 February 2010. Web. 5 February 2010. McCrindle, Mark. â€Å"Many Ingredients Make This Gen Y Cocktail of Violence.† Theage.com. 5 February 2010. Web. 5 February 2010. Torr, James D. â€Å"Violence in Media.† Current Controversies. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Print. â€Å"Violence in the Media- Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects.† Psychology Matters. 2009. Web. 23 February 2010.

Technology and Civilization: Course Description

Key themes that will be surveyed in this course Include a) technology, culture, race and gender, b) religion and technology, c) the relationship between science and technology, d) the management of technology, and e) how users shape new technologies. Further Information about natural science courses can be found at www. Ants. York. Ca. Class Format: The class is scheduled to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:pm. Classes will begin with a lecture followed by a discussion period of class readings.You will then be asked to fill out Work's Attending Physician's Statement and submit it before you are allowed to write the exam at an alternate date and time. Depending on your situation, you may also be asked to fill out a Deferred Standing Form as well. Further information about missed exams and the required forms can be found at: www. Registrar. York. Ca/exams/deferred/ If you miss an exam for a non-medical emergency, please contact your course director via email within 48 hours and outline your situation. If your explanation is accepted, you will be asked to provide further documentation.After examining your documentation, the course director will decide whether to grant or deny you permission to write your exam. Students with physical, learning or psychiatric disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in teaching style or evaluation methods should discuss this with the Course Director early in the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Course Website: The course website is: http://model. York. Ca Once you go this website, you must enter in your Passport York User ID and Password n order to access courses.The course is listed under the Faculty of Science. Will be posted on the course website. Although these notes are extensive, it is still imperative that you come to class. This is because our in-class lectures will highlight what material is most important to know. This will allow you to focus your attention on what you really need to know to do well on exams. Also, don't forget that attendance is worth 8% of your mark. is a student-run academic support service designed to help York University undergraduate students excel in their Natural Science courses.Their team of dedicated tutors will clarify course material and offer general guidance on assignments, enabling you to complete them independently with a higher degree of success.

Cultural Sensitivity Paper Essay

The culture that I have chosen to write about for this paper is the culture of India. It can be both a demographic culture and a spiritual culture, depending on the particular beliefs of the client. The people of India have multiple beliefs about health. India has both conventional and traditional beliefs about medicine and illness. Food and religion are giant factors when it comes to certain Hindu people, depending on his/her personal beliefs. People from Indian culture hold the preparation of food and the food itself in very high esteem. An exercise of Indian culture that is widely accepted includes only eating certain types of foods, not eating certain foods during illness or not eating any food at all according to the type of illness contracted. This practice is called â€Å"apathyam and pathyam† (in Sanskrit). It has also been said that if this practice is followed correctly than the majority of diseases and illnesses can go without being treated by medicine. Religion is also a major part of the culture in India when it pertains to disease and caring for illness. The majority of the people living in India practice Hinduism. According to most Indian religions, the people believe that it is vital to bathe regularly under running water. This can be problematic for patients that are confined to the bed or that have urinary catheters or colostomy bags because he or she may feel â€Å"unclean† and in some cases believe that he/she is unworthy to pray. Vegetarianism, meditation or prayer, and karma are other facets of Hinduism that might affect one’s beliefs about illness and seeking care or illness. Each caretaker for a person of Indian culture or someone that practices Hinduism must be aware of the practices and traditions concerned with both and must be willing to provide sensitive care accordingly. This can majorly affect whether or not an individual will choose to seek care. If a client thinks that their caretaker will not be willing to assist him/ her according to their cultural or religious beliefs, the client may chose not to s eek care at all, which could negatively benefit them. The main concern would be to let the client know that you are willing to abide by and care for them in accordance to the client’s beliefs. If the caretaker is unaware of some of the stipulations, the caretaker should be unafraid to ask. Most times the client will be happy to help give you the knowledge you may need to care for him/her. As a caregiver for a person of Indian culture or who has a strong Hindu belief system I would be interested to know the details of â€Å"apathyam and pathyam† so that I could respectfully assist them with the clients diet if he/she becomes ill. I would also assist them in any way I could with bathing so that the client could feel like he/she is â€Å"clean† enough to practice prayer or meditation freely. Knowledge about client’s personal beliefs is vitally important to the extremely personal role a caregiver could play in a client’s life.

Water Diuresis in Man Practical Report Essay

INTRODUCTION The body needs to maintain equilibrium to function properly in everyday life. The most important substance it must regulate is water; water is everywhere in our body and its balance is essential for proper body function. A very carefully regulated process is solute concentration. If there is a sudden increase in water which enters the extracellular fluid, sodium ions will then contribute less to the extracellular solute concentration as the ratio between water and solute has now changed. Osmolality is the amount of solute in a kilogram, hence the osmolality in the extracellular space has also decreased. Water diuresis is the increase in urinary water excreted with little or no change in the solute excretion. Excess water needs to be excreted to maintain a good balance of water and solute inside the body. The aim of this practical is to test the effects of strenuous exercise and desmopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) on urine flow and urine sodium concentration. We will be testing the hypotheses that vigorous exercise will decrease urine flow and increase urine sodium concentration, whereas desmopressin will have the opposite effect of decreased urine flow and increased sodium concentration. Use the class data (refer to the appropriate figures in your discussion). (a) What happens to the rate of urine production (i.e. urine flow) for the three procedures (i.e. control, desmopressin and exercise)? Use your knowledge of statistics to evaluate the evidence that the responses after the treatments (i.e. desmopressin and exercise) differed from that in the control subjects. Explain the following (including the underlying mechanisms): i. why there is a delay in the onset of the diuresis after water loading in the control subject (A); ii. the effects of administered desmopressin on the diuresis (subject B); iii. the mechanisms by which a single session of vigorous exercise affects the diuresis produced by the water load (subject C). After drinking water, the control and test subjects had gradual increase of urine flow, reaching a peak then decreasing again, whereas the desmopressin subject had decreased urine flow after taking the hormone, thereafter plateauing. According to the Dunnett’s t test between the urine flow of the subjects, the urine flow of the treatment subjects was significantly different to that of the control. There is a delay in the onset of diuresis after loading in the control subject as it takes time for the water to be filtered in the body. Water is absorbed from the gut into the extracellular fluid. Osmoreceptors from the posterior pituitary detect the water through cell stretch and initiate responses that control ADH secretion (Widmaier et al., 2014). Fluids are filtered through the kidneys and the excess water is transported to the bladder where it will then be excreted. Desmopressin decreases the urine volume excreted. Desmopressin is a synthetic substitute  for anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). ADH acts on the kidneys to reabsorb water. Due to increased water reabsorption, diuresis (urine volume) is decreased. A single session of vigorous exercise sharply decreases the urine flow and hence, diuresis. During exercise, you lose sodium and water by sweating so the kidney works to reabsorb the water so you are not dehydrated. This results in more concentrated urine. (b) If a control subject was dehydrated at the beginning of the practical class, how would you expect this to affect their response to the water load? They would retain some of the water and hence would have decreased urine excretion compared to someone who is well hydrated. (c) What effect does alcohol have on water diuresis? What is the mechanism of the action of alcohol on a water diuresis? Alcohol inhibits the pituitary secretion of ADH, which acts on the kidneys to reabsorb water. Because ADH levels drop, the kidneys do not reabsorb as much water and hence produce more urine, causing increased water diuresis. (d) Use the class graphs and statistical analysis of the urine sodium concentration to determine if this is different for the control and desmopressin subjects. Do you think there a relationship between urine flow and the urine sodium concentration? According to the statistical analysis, the difference between the control and desmopressin subjects for sodium urine concentration were significantly different. Looking at the class graphs, this is also true; the graph values vary significantly. There seems to be an inverse relationship between urine flow and urine sodium concentration. When the urine flow is high, the urine sodium concentration is relatively low and vice versa. (e) Use the class graphs and statistical analysis of the sodium excretion rate to determine if this is different for the control and desmopressin subjects. Do you think there a relationship between urine flow and the sodium excretion rate? According to the statistical analysis, the sodium excretion rate for the control and desmopressin subjects are not significantly different. This can also be seem from the class graphs; they  follow similar values. There does not seem to be a high correlation between urine flow and sodium excretion rate. After taking desmopressin, the subjects’ sodium secretion rate is similar to the control’s, however, the urine flow is noticeably decreased after drinking water. Looking at the exercise subjects, their sodium excretion is lower than the other subjects after drinking water, however their urine flow after a few samples is significantly increased. (f)Complete the following table: Stimulus Type/Site of Receptors ADH Response Physiological response on Urine Volume Physiological response on Blood Volume Increased osmolality (dehydration) Osmoreceptors High ADH levels Decreased Decreased Decreased osmolality Osmoreceptors Low ADH levels Increased Increased Increased blood volume Baroreceptors Decreased ADH secretion Increased Increased Decreased blood volume Barereceptors Increased ADH secretion Decreased Decreased CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that strenuous exercise decreases urine flow and hence will increase the concentration of urine. Desmopressin decreased urine flow and due to this increased water excretion, also decreased the concentration of urine. REFERENCES: Widmaier, EP, Raff, H & Strang, KT (2014). Vander’s Human Physiology. The Mechanisms of Body Function. MCGraw Hill, Chapter 14, page 499.

Gentrification in a Global Context

April 3, 2013 ENG11 Professor: Jonathan Katz Student: Darina Markyanova Draft#1. Essay #3 Gentrification. Gentrification is believed to have occurred as early as the 1870’s in Europe, and later on its spreads out in North America and Australia. However, it was first observed in 1964 in Camden Town, North London by Ruth Glass. She is found an actual term and clearly describe its definition. â€Å"Gentrification is a renewal of an urban area, accompanied by displacement of poorer residence by more affluent ones† (Williams 547).As known gentrification it’s a process that has been marred by a lot of controversy, but I believe it’s have a positive influence on any neighborhood and its community. However, some would disagree with that, because gentrification also has a negative influence on previous residents, who usually becomes a victim of displacement. Consequently, gentrification has two sides: it could be positive and negative. â€Å"Maria Marquez, 37, has slept on the sofa for past 12 years to give her mother and son two bedrooms in their apartment in Chicago’s gentrifying Logan Square area.But eventually, she says, we’re gonna get kicked out. It’s a matter of time. † (Hampson 1). Displacement of lower class residents appear through process of gentrification. It happens when urban developers transform low income neighborhoods into new and upscale communities. This is result in the eviction of the poor from their affordable housing as these urban developers target to replace them with wealthier tenants. Often these old, broken buildings that requires multiple repairs and renovations quickly been replaced by luxury homes as loft apartments and condominiums.In the fact that most of the original low income tenants cannot afford to live and pay for the new houses, so they are forced to move into lower social communities. As low class social residents move out, businesses that served them also forced to either s ell out to richer companies that can serve the new wealthier tenants or to completely close down. â€Å"99-cent stores †¦bodegas are gone. There’s large delis now†¦ inexpensive beer – you can’t even buy that in the stores. The stores have imported beers from Germany†¦ feta cheese instead of sharp Cheddar cheese.That’s a whole other world. † These tremendous changes forces some people to leave theirs gentrified neighborhood and look for new home else where. On the other hand those new upscale communities becoming a safer and cleaner place to live due to garbage pick ups, intensive police enforcements; necessary presence of door mans and well maintained properties by handy man. â€Å"The gang bangers are not around as much, and you don’t see the prostitutes on the corners like used to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hampson 4). This is shows that quality of life tremendously had changed and improved.However, even though the idea of gentrificati on might have some good for the development of urban poor areas, it comes with its pitfalls which include possibility of that crime will go up. For example, many poor and young individuals in more populated environments with rich residents will be urging to get involved in social vices overrides and commitments of crimes. Finally the frustration that follows on the eviction of the previous tenants usually results in confrontation between new tenants and the old tenants who see the new ones as the root to all their problems.As a result rich residents become to considering the people in the ghettos as potential criminals. Meanwhile previous residents is feeling neglect by the central government, because over the years ghetto have been enforced and put under intense surveillance of low flying helicopters and 24 hours police ground patrols. This has led to restrictions and curfews on residents on the ghettos. The fact that heavy police presence around ghettos has aggravated the already soar relations between ghetto and the more affluent tenants.As prove to this â€Å"†¦ the police are now here to protect ‘them’ and not ‘us’†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lee 2). This is having led to complete segregation of these two sets of population. The rich are unable to go ghettos out of fear of being harmed while the ghetto cannot go into rich neighborhoods out of fear of arrests by law enforcing officers who have been placed in these locations to prevent any accidents that could happen to the rich. Today gentrification has been identified in almost every industrial country.It happens everywhere and the truth is – if community is close by to the area that under development, eventually it will get gentrified in the countless time. Besides changes that affiliated with gentrification usually positive, for all of that, as I stated above countless number of evidences and factors why gentrification is so superior and so beneficial for any community that dev elops and grows. Though this is may be controversy as usually poor residents get â€Å"lost† and divided into two opposite cultural and social levels in their area, where they were lived and grow up.

Come up with a plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Come up with a plan - Essay Example Establishing a high completion/proficiency percentage shows me that the students are progressing in knowledge because they are accomplishing the tasks assigned through differentiation. To accomplish this goal, I will first determine what students know about the unit of instruction before I begin to teach it. These diagnostic tests will show me where students should begin their studies. The class is stratified roughly into three categories (Above, At and Below Grade Level). I will anticipate the diagnostic test showing the strengths and weaknesses of students across these categories. Based on the results of the diagnostic, students will be allowed to self-select multiple learning activities that have been developed for their current level of understanding. Allowing students to self-select provides a level of intrinsic motivation that dictated assignments do not, especially for students that struggle to learn or who possess negative attitudes towards authority. Students working above g rade level will be provided with opportunities to conduct semi-guided research, interview individuals in the community that have strong links to a particular topic in the unit of study or attend to a project that deepens their understanding of the unit.

Water Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Water Pollution - Essay Example Furthermore, the waste materials lead to a decrease in the level of oxygen, that the wildlife inside the water have access to, and this weakens their body systems, as well as proves a significant problem for the coming generations of all these plants and animals. People living in and around the area also usually consume these fish and other types of sea food from the water bodies and fall sick due to eating contaminated food too. In the 1970s, the River Tees in England faced heavy pollution for over a decade which caused a great amount of problems including the absence of Common Seals and Grey Seals from the river. However, in recent times, the estuary has undergone major improvements and the seals can now be seen once again on the Seal Sands. The absence of flora and fauna speak volumes about the drastic levels of pollution that Tees was forced to face. (D.W. Pattenden) The water underwent a large number of changes including a difference in taste, colour and volume and this has caus ed a vast amount of problems for most of the people in the area too. The river Tees is situated in the Northern part of England, rising on the Eastern slope of Cross Fell in the Northern Pennies. It flows in the eastward direction and joins the North Sea near Middlesbrough between Redcar and Hartlepool. The river flows 120km from its source and many people say that the water that forms a part of the river is often very discoloured due to heavy pollutants present within it. A Hazen scale is now used in order to understand the colour of the water. The main cause for pollution of the river was heavy industrialization and thus contaminants in the form of industrial wastes and dumping, and over 500 tonnes of these toxic contaminants were being dumped into the river each day. This caused the river to become the most polluted water body in Britain. The main effects of all these wastes were that the water temperature of the river grew to a great extent, causing a decrease in the dissolved o xygen it contained. And thus, it was no surprise that no plants or animals were able to survive properly in the water of Tees. Due to the decreased levels of wildlife survival, the problem was sought to be tackled by the concerned government departments and the main solution that they brought to the scene was declining permits and tightening the discharge permits to industries and companies situated in and around the river. In the year 1972, these changes began to be adopted and the dirt in the area soon began to decrease. (Natural Britain, The River Tees, County Durham) A great part of the land from the river Tees had also been reclaimed in order to use for building businesses, bring about leisure development, as well as maintenance for public recreation. Various actions were taken in order to clean the environment around the river, cleanse the waste and garbage material as well as take initiative to treat the domestic sewage and industrial discharges coming from the factories and industries. The main idea was for industries to understand that they cannot be harming the environment or giving rise to new technology at the cost of wildlife and nature; the heavy pollution of the river has also caused problems for people eating the contaminated fish from the very water body and thus is a threat to not only the wildlife but also to the people who live in and around the area. (Biodiversity – Rivers) After having tested the water, it was found out that the water contained toxic levels of lead and lethal levels of bacteria and protozoa which were stemming the

The Aesthetics of the Dell Corporate Blog Assignment

The Aesthetics of the Dell Corporate Blog - Assignment Example This is important as the blog contains a lot of information for the viewer. The Dell Corporate also acts as a landing page for all of the company’s other smaller blogs about events, education as well as health care. The dominant colors are white and sky blue keeping in line with the very minimalistic, business-like layout of the page. The page starts out with an excerpt from the latest blog entry on the left hand side with links to new blog posts on the right hand side. As we scroll further down, 80 percent of page space is dominated by latest blog posts on the left hand side, while the left hand side is reserved for miscellaneous links differentiating the Dell blogs by language and location. There is also a search bar on the left hand side. Ample white space on the page lets the design breath nicely and ensures that page looks well put together and clutter free despite the huge amount of information it contains. The text font is an ode to the minimalist approach and is the st andard clean web typography font Arial in 9 point size. The headings are an 11.5 font size in Arial font, colored sky blue. Overall, the blog is clean, readable and very corporate! The Writers of the Blog   Most of the blogs are written by Lionel Menchacha who is the chief blogger for the Dell corporate blog. Other writers include Matt Domsch, Linux Technology Strategist and Bill Gorden, GM smart phones division. These folks have been at Dell from 10 to 25 years and are uniquely knowledgeable about its businesses and processes. Content Included In the Blog The content on the blog mostly includes news about the company. The posts are informative and the blog is regularly updated with new posts. The blog successfully outlines the company’s activities throughout all of its international units. Posts like â€Å"Making the Cloud a Possibility in Government† and â€Å"Why Big Data is a Big Deal for Energy† clearly demonstrate the emphasis on industry knowledge by De ll. The blog also contains informative posts for public, these includes topics such as cyber bullying etc. The Dell corporate blog is basically a landing page. This means the company has a large number of smaller blogs about every one of its interests and this landing page is used to manage and house all these blogs. The corporate blog features content from across the wide range of smaller bogs. Content of the Most Recent Post The most recent post on the blog is titled, â€Å"Our Story: Tracing Dell’s Solutions Heritage with Precision†. The author is Michael Dell, CEO Dell Corporation. This post is marked â€Å"Direct2Dell† specifying that the post was written exclusively for the main corporate blog and not one of other little blogs. In this post, the CEO outlines how the company entered into the workstations market during the mid-90s. It is written in the general interest of employees, shareholders and customers. The post is basically an introduction to an embe dded YouTube video about the same. The Target Audience Dell’s corporate blog serves as a newsletter of sorts for the employees. The posts are frequently based upon the latest developments within the business and products of Dell. According to an introduction the blog, it is intended for the â€Å"millions of Dell customers and employees interested in technical support, learning and conversation about the power to do more with technology.†Ã‚  (Direct2Dell) The Best Features of the Blog The best