Economics of Risk and Problems Essay

Please, complete the following two applied problems in a Word or Excel document. Show all your calculations and explain your results. Submit your assignment in the drop box by using the Assignment Submission button. Problem II Volkswagen is considering opening an Assembly Plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the production of its 2012 Passat, tailored for the US market. The CEO of the company is considering two potential options for the size of the plant: one is a large size with a projected annual production of 150,000 cars, and the other one is a smaller size plant, which is cheaper to build, but can only produce up to 80,000 cars per year. Depending on the expected level of demand for these cars in the US, Volkswagen has to decide which option is more profitable. The discount rate is 6% and for simplicity purposes, the CEO is only evaluating a two-year horizon. The initial factory setup cost, the expected demand scenarios, profit, and probabilities are shows in the below table. Calculate the Net Present Value in each of the two options. Which option should the CEO choose and why? Please, show all your calculations. Business – General Business Economics of Risk and Uncertainty Applied Problems. Please, complete the following 3 applied problems in a Word or Excel document. Show all your calculations and explain your results. Submit your assignment in the drop box by using the Assignment Submission button. 1. A generous university benefactor has agreed to donate a large amount of money for student scholarships. The money can be provided in one lump-sum of $10mln, or in parts, where $5.5mln can be provided in year 1, and another $5.5mln can be provided in year 2. Assuming the opportunity inte†¦ Find needed answers here – https://bitly.com/1oJN1Cd Select difficult classes that will stimulate your interest instead of conventionally easy classes. Challenge yourself and you will reap the rewards. You’ll be able to learn a lot more and this can help you create a network of people that can assist you later on when you’re seeking out a career. Business – General Business Economics of Risk and Uncertainty Applied Problems. Please, complete the following 3 applied problems in a Word or Excel document. Show all your calculations and explain your results. Submit your assignment in the drop box by using the Assignment Submission button. 1. A generous university benefactor has agreed to donate a large amount of money for student scholarships. The money can be provided in one lump-sum of $10mln, or in parts, where $5.5mln can be provided in year 1, and another $5.5mln can be provided in year 2. Assuming the opportunity interest rate is 6%, what is the present value of the second alternative? Which of the two alternatives should be chosen and why? How would your decision change if the opportunity interest rate was 12%? Please, show all your calculations. 2. Volkswagen is considering opening an Assembly Plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the production of its 2012 Passat, tailored for the US market. The CEO of the company is considering two potential options for the size of the plant: one is a large size with a projected annual production of 150,000 cars, and the other one is a smaller size plant, which is cheaper to build, but can only produce up to 80,000 cars per year. Depending on the expected level of demand for these cars in the US, Volkswagen has to decide which option is more profitable. The discount rate is 6% and for simplicity purposes, the CEO is only evaluating a two-year horizon. The initial factory setup cost, the expected demand scenarios, profit, and probabilities are shows in the below table. Calculate the Net Present Value in each of the two  options. Which option should the CEO choose and why? Please, show all your calculations. 3. An angel investor is considering investing in one of two start-up businesses and is evaluating the expected returns along with the risk of each option in order to choose the better alternative.

Causes & Effects of Academic Cheating

Dusan Micovic EN105 Prof. Rutt 13/10/2012 The Causes and Effects of Academic Cheating Cheating has been an issue for years in academic settings, whether in the primary grades, high school or college. However, definition of cheating remains unclear. It is so widespread and it overlaps with so many academic activities that it does not have a specific, clear, uniform policy on what constitutes academic dishonesty. Parental pressure can also lead to cheating.According to Professor Daniel J. Bauer, parents sometimes coerce their children into attending college by relating horror stories to them about people who never attended college. Parents will tell their teenagers that they will never succeed in life without a college education. These well-meaning parents may even expect nothing but A's on their child's transcript. This parental notion overlooks the possibility that a vocational program may indeed be a better fit for a student.It also increases the pressure these individuals feel to s ucceed, whether in high school or college, or risk losing the love of their parents. Failing a test, for example, is not an option, so they feel they must pass at any cost, even if it means cheating. In a survey by Rutgers University, students felt that cheating is a necessary method to ensure success through high school, college and later in life. Education News has conducted a survey and found that students who are poorly prepared are more likely to cheat than those who studied or completed assignments.Poor preparation is usually a result of laziness, which is indeed one of the biggest obstacles towards academic success. Seeing as overcoming laziness and developing effective study habits might be long and tough road, students prefer taking a shortcut. According to Orment, attitude of the teacher or professor is another possible factor that could drive students to cheating. If the mentor is not prone to offering help outside of class, or is too harsh on grading, this could lead stu dents to cheat.Another practice that can lead to cheating, that researchers mentioned, was weighting a final examination so heavily that failing the test automatically fails a student. The ultimate goal of education is to teach students some crucial concepts and techniques. However, many students don’t have those academic foundations because of the excessive cheating. When cheating is successfully repeated, it easily becomes a habit. Their creativity and sense of responsibility will drop over time, and dependency of cheating will grow.They will leave the education system, with a belief that things in life will always come easy, handed to them on a silver platter. Soon after they step into the work environment they will notice that they were wrong. Accumulated lack of knowledge and skill will make them realize that they are simply not ready. Although cheating can be just a harmless tool of support for years in school and college, it could also produce some serious consequences in the long run, due to its overuse and abuse.

Lsi – Gm591 Leadership and Organization Behavior

LSI GM591 Leadership and Organization Behavior September 9, 2011 According to my LSI, my Primary personal thinking style is avoidance at 80% and my back-up personal thinking style is affiliative at 75%. I agree with my primary personal thinking style, avoidance and my back-up personal thinking style, affiliative. With the avoidance style, I can live life more positively and I can confront the people that cause my distress. With the affiliative style, I can acquire stronger interpersonal skills that will help form healthy relationships. Some of the statements about avoidance are true about me, while others aren’t. Example of true statements are: having few strong interests, having difficulty making decisions, uncomfortable discussing feelings and self-doubting and self-blaming. Some of the false statements are: lacking initiative, having difficulty establishing relationships, preoccupied with my own concerns, recently experienced something traumatic and feeling overwhelmed by circumstances. If you tally the true and false statements up, then you would see that I have more false statements than true ones, which tells me that I am less avoidance-oriented now. However, if you look at the definition of avoidance, as avoiding situations that may cause distress, then I would be a more avoidance-oriented person. When I get upset with a friend or family member, then I tend to shut down completely and avoid them for a few days till I am able to discuss what is wrong with me. I also agree with the affiliative style being my back-up personal thinking style because I don’t have a hard time meeting people, I don’t lack effectiveness at work, I don’t avoid group activities, I am able to relax around people and I don’t feel unimportant or disliked. I might feel lonely sometimes, but everyone does at one point or another. Being in the affiliative style benefits me with being liked and feeling a sense of belonging. I would identify achievement as limiting personal thinking style because it was my lowest scoring percentile at 21%. Being achievement-oriented involves recognizing where your efforts make a difference, deciding on a desired outcome, and setting specific goals to help you accomplish it. I would say that my achievement style is lowered because I feel like my efforts makes little differences, I on’t set goals, and I lack interest. However, I don’t lack initiative at work, I take responsibility for my actions and I don’t blame other people for my problems. In school I don’t do homework to achieve or excel, I just do it to get it done and hopefully pass. My dependent, approval, and conventional personal thinking styles all being at 69% percentile could be preventing me from being an achiever. Fo r me to become more achievement-oriented I need to start pleasing myself and stop focusing on what I think I should be doing and instead do what is important to me. I am not a manager yet, but I am pursuing that degree and field now. After reviewing my LSI and learning what it all means, I am going to have a hard time achieving a manager type persona. I think that a manager needs to be encouraging and have a high percentile in the humanistic-encouraging style and mine is only at 25%. I am not uncomfortable with interacting with others, nor do I lack close relationships, nor do I have a problem working in groups. However, I do have a difficult time communicating in terms of speaking in public and telling people what do to or how to do something. Improving my humanistic-encouraging style will improve my ability to lead, manage and teach. Looking back now, it’s weird to see some connections with my growing up strategies with certain personal thinking styles. I remember my mom never making me do any homework or bribing me with rewards if I got all A’s or anything like that, so I have a feeling that had an affect on why I don’t feel a big need to be more achievement-oriented. When my mom got upset with my brother, and me she would just run to her room and I guess, â€Å"avoid† us. So, now when I am upset with a friend, I â€Å"run† away and let it just pass by. My mom was always encouraging me to do things and always said that I can do whatever I put my mind to, so I don’t know why my encouraging style is in the lower percentile. I have learned a lot about myself while taking and reviewing my LSI results. This exercise made me aware of knew things about myself, while letting me admit to myself some other things. For example, I had a feeling I had avoidance problems, but taking this survey and it finding out that information made me think that it is actually real and hurting me more than I thought. I would love to improve my avoidance personal thinking style.

Civil Proceedings - John Tobin and the Department of Industrial Assignment

Civil Proceedings - John Tobin and the Department of Industrial Accidents - Assignment Example The plaintiff seeks that his case should be remanded to a lower judge so that more evidence can be gathered related to the statute applicable to his case. In addition, he seeks to prove that he is entitled to receive social security benefits and employee pension despite being inactive for two years in the labour market. The employees appeal was submitted in and heard by a single judge in the Appeals Court. The Appeals Court upheld the orders of the reviewing board of the Department of Industrial Accidents. His request that this issue should be remanded to a lower judge for further consideration of evidence and findings stands rejected. Furthermore, the Court rejected the employees contention based on the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) (CASE). John Tobin started working as the custodian of Stoughton Police department in 1978. In 1988, he injured his shoulder while cleaning an overhead light fixture. Consequently, surgical procedures were performed on his shoulder; He received two payments out of the workers' compensation benefit on 15th October 1988 and 29th October 1991. John Tobin had been unemployed for two years and over the age of sixty-five by 29th October 1991 when he received the second payment. The administrative judge passed an order that John Tobin is not entitled to receive employee benefits. He appealed against the order to the reviewing board but two out of the three judges on board affirmed the orders passed by the administrative judge. The issues relate to whether John Tobin is entitled to receive employee benefits as he is above sixty-five years of age and has been out of labour market for over two years. Additionally, if he is entitled to receive compensation payments as he was injured prior to the amendment in the General Law, which laid down certain restrictions on compensation payments. The orders of the reviewing board were affirmed so they won this case. The Appeals Court rejected the employees argue that the General Laws c. 152, Â § 35 are in contravention of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Declaration of the Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution.

Developing An Authentic Productive Assessment Dissertation

Developing An Authentic Productive Assessment - Dissertation Example The paper tells that giving the students a feeling of pride in their work, like the mini diorama by displaying it for all to see and appreciate during a special occasion helps in the development of their self-esteem. Not to encourage external motivation, such an act provides internal satisfaction more because they would realize that their hard work and creativity becomes all worth it at the end. The fact that I scored mostly average to above average in this assessment validates my ideas of how a good authentic assessment should be. I am aware that the tasks develop a whole range of skills not only in literacy but in work habits, creativity, and planning. It also promotes communication and collaboration among the students as they share with each other their own ideas, thereby learning from each other. However, I must not be complacent because there is still much work to be done in the pursuit of an excellent authentic learning assessment. Going for further knowledge and information beyond what is available from the texts themselves and the insights of the students is another wonderful suggestion from one of my peers, as it develops research skills in the students. Thus far, I am glad that I was able to modify what could be a traditional assessment task to a more authentic one by giving the students opportunities to construct their own knowledge and communicate it to the whole class. I am sure that in doing so, I shall be able to engage the students’ interest in the task, and the positive experiences will heighten their learning.

Levels in Undergraduate Family Nursing Education Personal Statement

Levels in Undergraduate Family Nursing Education - Personal Statement Example The district nurse, my mentor started talking to them, and what I observed was worth noting. The visible anxiety gradually calmed down. This was an effective communication, and this was essential in this scenario to pacify them. When I went back home that night and when things started settling down, I thought I would go over the whole incident and find out what was special about this incident, and how this incident can help me in any future incident in the professional practice (Ghaye and Lillyman, 2000, 53-87). This was a set of home health care, and from the incident, it was clear that the incident had considerable acuity. I was a student nurse, and therefore, it was a learning experience for me. The major goal of nursing care in this situation, given Mr. Xs advanced cancer, is palliation and restoration of maximum health function. I was entirely inexperienced, so I decided to observe what my mentor did in this situation (Ghaye, 2005, 7-37).  While reflecting, I gradually came to understand, well-developed communication skills are therefore essential tools for nurses. It was a face-to-face situation, and perhaps there is no substitute for it. I witnessed how effective and appropriate communication helped to establish a therapeutic helping relationship and enabled my mentor to determine their care needs and how it promoted trust and confidence and facilitated care appropriate for this situation. They were anxious and angry.  

Literature review on the determinants of managers' perfomance Dissertation

Literature review on the determinants of managers' perfomance - Dissertation Example In attaining this end, a number of scholarly articles and journals would be critiqued and examined to investigate the phenomenon. The research would look at four themes in management performance. This include the following: 1. Trust and management performance. 2. Job satisfaction and manager performance. 3. Salary disparity amongst managers and managers' performance. 4. Management styles and management performance. These four elements of managers' performance would be critiqued and examined by evaluating scholarly journals and scholarly sources. These would culminate in the identification of the most important elements and aspects of the determinants of of managers' performance. Trust and Managers' Performance Huff and Kelley (2003) identifies that trust is important to gain commitment from staff members. McEvily et al, identify that psychological and sociological micro foundations of trust form the main macrobusiness culture of the organization (2003). Paliczkiewicz (2012) undertake s a critical study of the relationship between managers' trust levels and their performance. In the literature review, Paliczkiewicz identifies that trust is central to the performance and operations of managers. He identifies that trust is the foundation of the linkage between managers and their workers. This is because trust defines the relationship between the manager and his followers. ... They need to ensure that their workers appreciate what is happening with them and remain optimistic and sure of continuing the relationship in order to navigate the organization to a better and more fruitful era. Huff and Kelley's study sought to examine the relationship between internal trust and external trust and how it is varied as a result of changes in cultural context (2003). To this end, Huff and Kelley (2003) interviewed 1,282 managers in Asia and the United States. This was to examine the differences in individualist and collectivist societies around the world. It was established that trust is important and internal trust is higher in collectivist societies like those in Asia. This is because the people valued internal trust and internal cohesion. However, external trust and linkages with external stakeholders were higher in individualist societies like the United States. The research indicates that managers would get the best results if they are able to identify the cultur al context and build a culture around that. Attaining the Best from Trust Relationships Another angle through which management results are determined is the way they utilize their trust relationships with their employees. Based on this, Davis et al, (2000) conducted a research into the main factors and indicators that leads to high performance is the extent to which they are able to nurture and enhance their trust relationships. Davis et al (2000) formulated three hypotheses which are tested in the research to attain results. They are: H1: Where Managers are trusted, employees work hard to attain higher results. H2: Higher trust leads to higher net profits H3: Managers can increase employee trust The research confirmed the three hypothesis. There was

Business communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Business communication - Essay Example f the experience that you have procured amid your time in therapeutic deals there are a few profession ways to consider where you will have the capacity to utilize this experience specifically. Inside of a pharmaceutical organization you may have the chance to move into any of the accompanying parts: Specialist Representative - Hospital Sales, Biotechnology, NHS Liaison P.R. Preparing - Central or Regional area Field Management - 1st line deals administration Product Management - Specialist showcasing If you move into the pharmaceutical administration division there are different roads to consider. Promoting, Medical Education, P.R. Preparing, Recruitment Whatever parkway you picked, the beginning preparing that you get as a therapeutic agent will be major in building your future vocation. Graduates with applicable capabilities in life sciences, drug store, pharmaceutical, nursing or dentistry. Newcomers typically get a starting period (up to six months) of extreme preparing, after which they may shadow experienced deals staff before beginning to take a shot at their own. Medical delegates are the key purpose of contact in the middle of pharmaceutical and therapeutic organizations and medicinal services experts, advancing item mindfulness, noting questions, giving guidance and presenting new items. Ctb.ku.edu. (2015). Chapter 10. Hiring and Training Key Staff of Community Organizations | Section 5. Developing Personnel Policies | Main Section | Community Tool Box. Retrieved 23 June 2015, from

E-mail marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

E-mail marketing - Assignment Example Garrett (2008) defines email marketing as a form of direct marketing that utilizes the structure of the electronic mail as a way of communicating audience. This communication can be commercial or fundraising messages (Garrett). Goettel (2009) defined email marketing as a technique of promotion through which organizations send e-mails with the intention of developing relationship of a business with its present or previous clients also to promote customer loyalty and repeat business. Anuja (2006) states that Internet is growing with fast speed and due to this rapid growth there is need for the speedy and more powerful technique of marketing. It is assessed that people spend more time on the web in reading a magazine/newspaper, watching TV or other media. It creates infinite more sense to concentrate and advertise through online marketing because it is cheap and hits business prospects directly (Anuja). Yuan (2009) outlined that email marketing is one of the most efficient marketing ways to advertise and support an organization’s service or product. Each day, businesses utilize emails to carry out business activities. One of the main significant advantages of email marketing is that it facilitates organizations to communicate worldwide customers/audience by putting small effort. There is no physical boundary for email marketing. It is tremendously low-price to initiate an email campaign when contrasted to other marketing channels. The cost to transmitting emails is extremely low. Typically an email will cost less than a cent (Yuan). Email is an extremely influential marketing tool. Still in presence of spammers abusing the medium, email can still be utilized and is yet valued through users for rich, timely, and enticing information plus advertisements (Casmer). 6. Yuan, Cheow Yu. "Email Marketing - Advantages & Disadvantages of Email Marketing ." 2009. 23 10 2009

Internet Bullying and the Law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Internet Bullying and the Law - Research Paper Example Cyber bullying needs to be restricted by legal rules and regulations because these laws will deter cyber bullying, these laws are in compliance with ethical standards and cyber bullying needs to be stopped because it is hurting the future of the society. One of the main reasons due to which cyber bullying should be recognized as an illegal act is that it will lead to deterring individuals from indulging in such behaviors. Strict cyber cullying laws are required in order punish those who have already committed the act and even those who are planning to indulge in the act. Individuals are rational beings and they make decisions on the basis of costs and benefits associated with a particular act. If an individual feels that the cost of committing a crime is lower than the benefits that can be derived from indulging in that particular act, they are more likely to indulge in the act. If strict laws restricting cyber bullying are put into action, individuals will take these laws and punishments associated with an act before committing the act and are more likely not to indulge in the act (Vito, 2012, p.52). Anti cyber bullying laws should be in place because these laws are completely ethical and in compliance with ethical standards. According to the ethical standard of utilitarianism, those actions should be considered as legal that result in higher number of benefits and lower number of costs as compared to any other action that may be taken in the same scenario. Anti-bullying laws have more benefits to offer to society as compared to costs. Cyber bullying has resulted in several negative consequences for the entire society. For example: a number of suicides have been reported to take place as a result of cyber bullying. The suicide of Megan Meier a 14year old girl has been attributed to cyber bullying as it was figured out that she was publically harassed by others over

Eating out Vs. Eating In Essay Example for Free

Eating out Vs. Eating In Essay Throughout the years the economy has changed drastically, putting us into a terrible recession. Gas prices have increased, taxes have increased, and many foolish, young girls are having babies that they cannot support, causing them to go on welfare, making hard working citizens such as you, and me pay for their needs. Food is an essential part of daily life. Why waste even more of my hard earned money by eating out, when I can easily save it, and be much healthier by eating in? I am on a tight budget, very family oriented, and conscious about my health, so eating at home, rather than going out is more beneficial because it’s healthier, cheaper, and more comfortable for me to be in my own environment. I don’t know about you, but to me, there is nothing better than a full wallet, a full belly, and being able to kick back, relax, and enjoy the comfort of my home. First off, eating at home is much healthier than eating out. Preparing food at home allows me to control the ingredients that I add to the meal, and I can be sure that the food and dishes are properly cleaned, since I did it myself. Being a huge germ-a-phoebe, I always wash my dishes in hot water, and use lots of soap. I find relief in knowing that only myself, and my family have used our utensils; no one else. Furthermore, I always make sure to thoroughly clean my food before I cook it, to ensure that it is not rotten, and all the bacteria is removed. I do this mostly with meats, lettuce, fruits, and vegetables. I am very conscious about my weight, and my health, so I eat in portions, grill instead of fry, and try to cut out as many carbs, sugars, and fats as I can. However, restaurants do not try to cut out any of those things. In fact, restaurant meals are often fried, and contain high sodium, oil, and fat, which can cause high cholesterol, and weight gain, making them very unhealthy. It also cuts down my options on their menu a great deal. I find it very important to eat healthy so I can keep my energy levels up, maintain a strong mind and body, and prevent myself from possibly developing any health issues in the future. Statistics show that 1 in 4 people a year, suffer from food poising caused by eating out. When I eat at a restaurant I always worry about who is touching my food, if their hands are clean, what they put in my food, or if the food is old, or cleaned properly. I also worry about the eating utensils, and if they are cleaned thoroughly. If they are not, I could be ingesting millions of germs and bacteria from a complete stranger who ate there before me. Restaurants are public places with many people inside; some of which could be ill. If I were to come in contact with them, I could easily catch their germs, and become ill as well. When I eat at home, prepare and clean my own food, and use utensils that I cleaned myself, I never have to worry about any of those health risks caused by eating out. Secondly, eating at home instead of at a restaurant enables me to cut down on my budget, and save more money. Usually, there is always food at my house. My mom always buys macaroni and cheese, soup, lunch meats, cereal, or hot pockets. Whenever I don’t have a taste for any of those things, or if there is none left, my mother and I take a five minute walk to our local Jewel-Osco, where they always have great deals. Just the other day, we bought a four pack of boneless chicken breasts, a pound of pasta, pesto sauce, mushrooms, garlic, lemons, and a 2-liter of soda, for a total of roughly $32 dollars. Restaurants, on the other hand, have to ensure on making enough money to buy more ingredients, pay their employees, pay bills, etc. , so food prices at restaurants are always higher than food I buy at the grocery store, and prepare myself. For example, when my family of four goes out to our favorite Italian restaurant, Giacomos’s, and we order the same exact meal my mother and I purchased at Jewel, it is $16 dollars a plate per person, plus $2 dollars per glass of soda, 25% of the bill as a tip for the waiter, and around $10 dollars in gas to drive there. That totals out to be around $100 dollars, meaning we save roughly $70 dollars just by eating in. A U. S. survey shows that a family can save around $2,000 dollars a year, just by eating at home. Last but not least, I am much more comfortable eating at home, rather than eating out at a restaurant for many reasons. A few years ago, I was with my friend, Sarah at Panera Bread, and a middle aged man came and sat down at a table right next to us, even though there was many empty tables further away. While I was eating, I started to tell Sarah a joke, and when I reached the punch line, we both burst out laughing, and so did the man. After that, he kept staring at me eat, while listening intently to more of our conversation. I felt very annoyed, uncomfortable, and I just wanted to leave. Sometimes restaurants are also very crowded, and noisy, and they have disgusting looking bathrooms that have toilet paper all over the floor, and they smell like rotting pee. Like I mentioned, I am a germ-a-phoebe, and I’m also claustrophobic, so it is very hard to find peace, and comfort in an environment like that. Furthermore, any time I go out to a restaurant, or in public, I always try to look my best just in case I run into a cute guy, or someone I know. This of course takes time. I have to put on makeup, do my hair, and try on a hundred different outfits until I am completely satisfied with how I look. Most of the time I’m satisfied with tight fighting clothing that squeezes my whole body, causing extreme discomfort. Yet when I eat at home, I don’t have to waste time doing any of those things. I can be a bum if I want to, and wear sweatpants. I don’t need to put on makeup, I can throw my hair up in a messy bun, and not have to worry about impressing anyone. Most importantly, I don’t have to stress out about it being too crowded or noisy in my home, since I only live with three other people. I can even sit on my couch, relax, and watch my favorite TV shows while I eat, all snuggled up, comfy, and stress free. More so, I can use my own clean, and fresh smelling bathroom without having to wait in line, or squat above the toilet seat. Can’t beat that. In conclusion, I prefer eating at home rather than eating out because it is healthier, cheaper, and much more comfortable. Not to mention much more sanitary also. I don’t have to worry about food poisoning, nosey strangers, being broke, getting ready, or being uncomfortable. Restaurants cook mainly fatty foods, charge way too much, and are usually crowded and noisy. After a long, hard day at work, I can’t wait to kick my shoes off, change into comfy PJ’s, eat a healthy dinner, and relax in my quiet, stress free house, saving time and money, while finding comfort in the privacy of my home, sweet home.

Prioritizing the IT Project Portfolio Paper Essay Example for Free

Prioritizing the IT Project Portfolio Paper Essay Lilas Web design is a fairly new business. Lila has about 45 employees, and is in the middle of interviewing for an IT project manager. The Information Technology (IT) project will play an important role in Lilas business. The new IT project manager will be looking into getting the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tools. This tool will help in the supporting process for helping in selecting the right project. With the new PPm all of the new project will be selected and evaluated. The PPM will also help to identify those projects that have a good success. Lilas Web design has so many factors when thinking about prioritizing the IT projects. The PPm is a very powerful tool that Lilas Web design will have. The PPM will help focus on the management of each IT projects. The new IT project manager needs to evaluate the importance and review the strategic objectives. The IT manager will have to take a look at Lilas strategic plan. Strategic plan is where the IT project manager will strengthen operations, set priorities, focus energy, and work on the common goal of the company. This is so that the IT project can be evaluated through the following criteria. Will the project create or drives more revenue for the company. Will the project cut the cost of doing business? Is this project mandated by federal, country, state, and local law? Is there any competitor in business who has undertaken a similar project? The model that we will be using for helping with prioritizing information technology projects is called the Credit Union Return on Technology (CURT) according to References Denbo, Adam, and Rand. Guthrie. Prioritizing IT Projects: An Empirical Application of an IT Investment Model. http://www.iima.org/CIIMA/CIIMA%20V3%20N210%20Denbo.pdf

Ugandan Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)

Ugandan Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) A social analysis of the current Ugandan poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP), known as the poverty eradication action plan (PEAP, 2004/5-2007/8) Introduction Uganda, with the help of a number of international organisations, has created a poverty reduction plan known as the PEAP. This project began in 1995, but came intro fruition around 1997. The goal of the PEAP is to reduce poverty from 44% in 1997 to 10% in 2017 (World Bank Group, 2008). This policy was created in order for Uganda to be eligible for financial aid from the World Bank and IMF under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative (Gariyo, 2001, p. 2). The aim of this essay is to critically examine the recent progress of the PEAP from the relevant documents. This includes examining the PEAP itself from 2004/5-2007/8 as well as look at the poverty assessment projects that have been taking place. The three main issues in this subject are how the plan deals with the concept of poverty, how the poverty assessments are reflected in the PEAP, and the way in which the PEAP has addressed gender issues amongst the poor in Uganda. The objective is to provide a critical analysis of the current situation within Uganda with regards to PEAP, and how effective this plan has been at reducing poverty. Concept of Poverty in the PEAP The concept of poverty within the PEAP has changed since its initial introduction. The original drafts of the plan were focused upon state-led rural development. The plan was then revised and it was decided to concentrate more on social issues. The PEAP plan looks at poverty as primarily being about the issues of economic development, business competitiveness and market growth (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2005, p. 16). The main measures of poverty within the PEAP are household expenditure and income, and when this falls below a certain level a person or family is considered poor. This poverty line is quite simplistic, but also absolute, as it represents the level needed to secure basic food and other needs. The gap between incomes is also measured to look at inequality within society (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2005, p. 38). The poor in Uganda are also identified as those who have problems of regional inequality, with those in the North and rural areas being worse off than those in the Central and urban areas. The study also identified that female-head households of widowed or absent husband families are poorer. The issue is whether or not this definition of poverty is accurate or correct for the region, as this will obviously affect the success of the policies. Targeting the wrong groups of people or introducing measures that do not really address the issues of poverty in Uganda will not reduce real poverty. There are those that argue just taking into account consumption and income is not enough to determine poverty and that basic needs and rights need to be taken into account (Kingdon and Knight, 2004, pp. 1-3). However, the situation in Uganda means that the issue of consumption equates to the provision of basic needs. There is a definite cut off between consumption and being able to afford basic food and other amenities. In this case, the measure of income and consumption is adequate. However, the factor that is not taken into account as much within the PEAP seems to security. This is often more of a subjective view than something that can be identified with quantitative data. The security of people within society and their feelings about their situations are crucial to their ability to move out of poverty and improve their lives. The problem with the PEAP view of poverty is that it is perhaps too narrow with regards to the full view of poverty. Whilst it includes issues of consumptio n and income and indeed social functionality, it leaves out some of the elements of security. It could be argued that the appeal to empowerment for women and other people is to do with feelings and security, but perhaps it is not enough (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2005, p. 55). The results of the study seem to suggest as such. Whilst economic growth has improved and poverty head count has been reduced since 1997, the factors of inequality have risen since 2003. In the North the affects of the PEAP policy have been limited because of a lack of security regarding land and the ability for people to move into new industries easily. Therefore, it can be said that whilst the income and consumption indicators of poverty have improved, it is not certain whether this has actually alleviated poverty because the issues of security and the opinions of the poor seemingly have not been taken into account fully. However, more about this will be discussed in the next section – looking at how the poverty analysis is involved within the PEAP. The ana lysis PPA will be crucial as to whether or not the lack of emphasis on well-being has altered the effectiveness of the PEAP. There is some evidence however to support this less complex and subjective analysis of the status of poverty in Uganda. McGee (2004, pp. 517-521) showed that contradictions and arguments with regards to what is exactly happening to poverty in Uganda is unhelpful. Instead, a less oppositional approach is better, with a focus on the income and consumption of those in Uganda. This may not be the most accurate measure of poverty, but it is an effective and productive way to produce policies that will have a positive impact on the economy and therefore alleviate poverty. However, poverty assessments carried out as part of the World Bank strategy have shown that many of these assessments, including those of Uganda, put too much emphasis on increasing income and investment. These policies are weak in addressing the real causes of poverty such as social inequality, and ignore issues of politics and history. Therefore, it must be said that whilst Uganda is one of the more thorough nations with regards to its assessments, it still lacks a subjective view and focuses too much on income issues rather than looking at the root causes of poverty (Hammer, Pyatt and White, 1999, pp. 819-821). Despite this and the concerns that too much emphasis on investment and improved income will not result in a reduction in poverty, the results initially seem good. A study by Nkusu (2004) shows that an emphasis on investment, aid and income factors has led to a much healthier economy and structural reforms that have reduced poverty overall. However, it is still unclear as to weather these policies are taking into account the results shown in the participatory poverty analysis. The next section will examine how the PEAP uses these analyses within its policies, and how effective this usage is. Participatory poverty analysis in the PEAP It seems that whilst the original PEAP was endorsed and approved by the IMS for its effectiveness at sticking to the principles of participation, in recent years the plan has somewhat moved away from the original focus (Canagarajah and van Diesen, 2006, pp. 663-666). The World Bank and IMF understand the need to listen to the poor and their needs in order to solve problems of poverty. Without this, the root causes of poverty will not be found and despite economic growth the average poor person will not be better off as the rich will gain. The problem is not so much with the Ugandan policies but the limits put upon them by the World Bank and IMF. In order for these poor countries to receive the financial aid they need to progress, they must meet certain criteria for economic reforms set out by the IMF and World Bank. However, this essentially means the countries like Uganda have little say in the policies that need to be created in order for them to improve their economy. Therefore, the suggestion by the IMF and World Bank to listen to the poor is misleading. They have suggested this method in order to deflect attention from their conditions imposed on financial aid. This means that the participation of people in Uganda in the forming of policies is reduced, because the government must limit the information they are exposed to in order to make sure the policies are put in place to get aid and promote growth. This makes it harder for Uganda to listen to its people regarding policies that they would like to see to improve their living conditions (Rowden and Irama, 2004). The problem with these policies as outlined in the household surveys is that economic growth is not being shared amongst the people who need it, and instead poverty is increasing. The poverty rate is increasing because the economic growth in Uganda at this point favours the richer people and international community, thanks to the biased policies needed to get funding from the IMF and World Bank (Economic Policy Research Centre – Makerere University, 2003). There are some indications that the people within Uganda are being listened to when possible. Findings looking at groups of poor children in Uganda found that measures looking at just income and consumption were not enough, and so other methods were taken into consideration by asking those who were poor (UNESCO., 2005). The poverty assessment reports however show that despite the focus of the PEAP on economic growth, this is not the reason for increase poverty in Uganda. The poverty status report in 2003 shows that despite economic growth, people still remain below the poverty line. The main reasons for this are unequal economic growth, and a lack of security in areas such as Northern Uganda (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development 2003a, pp. 147-149). Whilst these issues are identified in the PEAP, the main focus of policy is still on economic growth, because this is the only way the economy can be improved through financial aid. However, there are areas within the poverty assessment reports that are being utilised by the PEAP. One of these areas is healthcare, which in the assessment reports is identified as a key area that leads to poverty, and that the more people that are poor the more that will need to be spent to maintain people’s health (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development 2002, pp. 101-105). The original poverty assessment report identified similar problems including issues of district divide, and the obstacles for people trying to improving their own lives (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development 2000). The PEAP looks at some of these issues and puts policies in place to address, particularly with regards to health. The PEAP has made an effort to focus on preventive measures of health care so that the poorest members of society have greater access to services so that they can be more productive (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, 2005, pp. 163-165). Despite this, the conclusions of the PEAP stick mainly to issues of economic growth rather than social problems. It is true that during the 1990s high economic growth resulted in a reduction in the amount of people under the poverty line. However, as the country has improved its services, the further economic growth has been hampered by the limits of policies demanded by the IMF and World Bank in order to meet aid conditions. This means the economic growth has been a means towards an end of gaining aid to increase growth rather than simply looking at the social factors affecting the poor (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, 2005, pp. 211.213). Gender Analysis in the PEAP Another issue that needs to be addressed is whether or not the PEAP is addressing issues of gender effectively. Gender is clearly a big issue in a country where female-run families are worse off than male-led families due to lack of opportunities and rights for women to improve their economic status. Initial findings suggest that although the poverty participation process involves looking at those who are marginalised within society due to gender or other issues, the analyses do not effectively discuss gender issues (Wordofa, 2004, pp. 68-71). A study by Zuckerman and Garrett (2003) found that many of these poverty assessment reports in various developing countries only addressed gender issues in a superficial manner. Uganda in fact would not use gendered participation within its original report research but would then try to aggregate gender back into the policies later on. This tactic results in policies that do not accurately address the true concerns and issues associated with gender in Uganda in terms of poverty (Zuckerman, and Garrett, 2003, pp. 6, 12). Common examples of this are looking at different households in terms of age, but not reflecting differences in consumption levels according to gender. This is particularly damaging for a country like Uganda where some of the poorest members of society are women. This means despite good economic growth, the needs of many of the poorest are not being dealt with. As Whitehead and Lockwood (1999, p. 14) show, the way in which the Uganda PEAP deals with women’s issues is very superficial. There is a section regarding women, but it is not linked into the rest of the policies in general making it an isolated and superfluous section of the document. However, this study was conducted in 1999 and since then the reports have been looked at more closely, with more emphasis on gender issues. Despite this, there still remains a level of isolation between these findings and the policies as a whole. Zuckerman (2002) shows that there is some progress being made with regards to this, and those early failings have been dealt with in some ways. The reports now have women actively participating in order to form policies that will help get them out of poverty. However, it is still shown that despite this participation, the gendered participation has not filtered through to the policies in the PEAP as a whole. The problem is that these views from different genders are then generalised when added to policy, and therefore have little effect on gender differences. If this participation is to work then there needs to be a greater effort to make distinct policies to address gender differences rather than re-aggregating into a generalised whole. Conclusion The Ugandan PEAP has certainly been one of the most successful of these types of poverty reduction scheme in terms of reducing the poverty indicators of poor income and high levels of consumption to income. This has meant that overall the economy is doing better in Uganda, and people have higher incomes than before. This however is too simple a definition of poverty, and other factors such as the feelings and well-being of the poor, security issues and social structures need to be taken into account. The PEAP has improved since its inception in the 1990’s in terms of recognising these issues, but the core policies have changed very little. The main focus of the PEAP is still to improve economic growth, for two main reasons. Firstly because this was a successful policy throughout the 1990’s in helping to reduce overall poverty, and secondly because such economic policies are required by the IMF and World Bank in order to Uganda to receive the aid it needs to progress. The improvements in participation have meant that PEAP documents now address issues of gender and empowerment. However, these issues are addressed in a superficial way and the voices of marginalised are not affecting policy change. This means that despite continued economic growth, the wealth divide has increased and the percentage of people in poverty has increased in recent years. The policies are helping those who are better off to increase their wealth rather than improving the opportunities for the poorest members of society. As pointed out in reports, the country is reaching its targets with regards to alleviating poverty in economic growth terms and structural reforms (Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, 2003b). However, these targets are not reducing overall poverty because they are allowing the participation in policy making of marginalised groups. The chronically poor who need the most help most likely to stay poor, supporting the claim that these policies of economic growth are not helping reduce poverty in Uganda (Okidi, and Mugambe, 2002, pp. 2-4). Bibliography Canagarajah, S., and van Diesen, A., 2006. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Approach Six Years On: An Examination of Principles and Practice in Uganda. Development Policy Review, 24(6), pp. 647-667. Economic Policy Research Centre – Makerere University., 2003. Reports on Socio Economics and Labour Force. Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Available at: http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/survey%20documentation/unhsii/survey0/outputInformation/reports.html Gariyo, Z., 2001. Civil Society and Global Finance in Africa: The PRSP Process in Uganda. In Civil Society and Global Finance edited by Jan Scholte et al, 2001. Kingdon, G.G., and Knight, J., 2004. Subjective well-being poverty versus income poverty and capabilities poverty?. Global Policy Research Group. Available at: http://www.gprg.org/pubs/workingpapers/pdfs/gprg-wps-003.pdf Nakamatte, N., et al., 2002. UPPAP – Kimwanyi Site Report. Available at: http://www.finance.go.ug/docs/Kimwanyi%20site%20report%20Final%20Draft.pdf Nkusu, M., 2004. Financing Ugandas Poverty Reduction Strategy: Is Aid Causing More Pain Than Gain?. IMF Working Papers, 04/170. Okidi, J.A., and Mugambe, G.K., 2002. An Overview of Chronic Poverty and Development Policy in Uganda. Economic Policy Research Centre, Uganda. Available at: http://www.chronicpoverty.org/pdfs/11Okidi_Mugambe.pdf Rowden, R., and Irama, J.O., 2004. Rethinking Participation: Questions for Civil Society about the Limits of Participation in PRSPs. Civil Society Observer, 1(2), April 2004. Available at: http://www.actionaidusa.org/images/rethinking_participation_april04.pdf Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2000. Uganda Participatory Poverty Assessment Process. Available at: http://www.w1.co.ug/uppap/docs/National%20Report%20New%20Edition.pdf Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2002. Uganda Participatory Poverty Assessment Process – Deepening the Understanding of Poverty. Available at: http://www.w1.co.ug/uppap/docs/NationalRpt.pdf Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2003a. Uganda Poverty Status Report. Available at: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2003/cr03301.pdf Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2003b. Uganda’s Progress in Attaining the PEAP Targets in the Context of the Millennium Development Goals Background Paper for The Consultative Group Meeting. Available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/UGANDAEXTN/Resources/CG_2003_GoU_PEAP_targets.pdf Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development., 2005. Uganda: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Poverty Eradication Action Plan (2004/5-2007/8). International Monetary Fund, August 2005. Available at: http://www.finance.go.ug/docs/PEAP%202005%20Apr.pdf UNESCO., 2005. Children in abject poverty in Uganda: A study of criteria and status of those in and out of school in selected districts in Uganda. Available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001414/141482e.pdf Whitehead, A., and Lockwood, M., 1999. Gender in the World Bank’s Poverty Assessments: Six Case Studies from Sub-Saharan Africa. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Discussion Paper, 99 (June 1999). Wordofa, D., 2004. Poverty-reduction policy responses to gender and social diversity in Uganda. Gender and Development, 12(1), pp. 68-74. World Bank Group., 2008. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). (Online). Available at: http://go.worldbank.org/KG9Q84BQE0 (Accessed 30th June 2008). Zuckerman, E., 2002. ‘Engendering’ Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs): the issues and the challenges. Gender and Development, 10(3). Available at: http://www.genderaction.org/images/Oxfam%20GenderDevt%20Journal%20Article-EZ%20PRSPs.pdf Zuckerman, E., and Garrett, A., 2003. Do Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) address gender? A gender audit of 2002 PRSPs The relative success of PRSPs to address gender. Southern African Regional Poverty Network, 2002. Available at: http://www.eldis.org/go/display/?id=13395type=Document

Anorexia Nervosa Essay -- Health, Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder in which an individual starves them self, characterized by the refusal to consume adequate food or loss of appetite, and therefore endangers their health that originates from emotional or psychological causes. â€Å" (Paraphrased from Eating Disorders. Page 3) Anorexia nervosa (â€Å"nervous anorexia†) is an eating disorder that is characterized by a loss of appetite that endangers an individual’s health that originates from emotional or psychological causes. Under certain circumstances, anorexia nervosa may develop because of a physical disease or conditions, such as shock, nausea and allergic reactions (Shannon, 2007). The signs and symptoms of anorexia include but are not limited to dramatic weight loss, refusal to maintain minimum body weight that is normal for their age and height, consuming a specific selection of foods like those low in fat and calories. Also avoiding food in social situations like cooking, social events, and making up excuses for their refusal to eat. In addition, another sign is frequently focusing on preoccupations with their body image and weight and constantly in pursuit for flaws. Their distorted body image that they have of themselves is apparent in statements about being overweight even though they are thin. Focusing on an excessive exercise regimen and wearing baggy clothes are also signs. In females, a symptom of anorexia is missing three consecutive menstrual periods and in males a decrease in sexual desire. The types of anorexia depend on whether it is combined with bulimia, and they are classified as classic anorexia and binge eating and purging anorexia. Classic anorexia or restricting anorexia, is when an individual consumes small amounts of food an... ...e evaluated by a medical doctor, which consist of vital signs, hydration level, and electrolytes (Shannon, 2007). A balanced diet according to one’s specific needs, in order to gain weight, is constructed by a dietitian. In combination with therapy, medication can be prescribed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist to help cope with the symptoms of anorexia, for example, antidepressants can be prescribed to alleviate depression and anxiety. In addition, other medications prescribed focus to increase one’s weight and to decrease obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Shannon, 2007). Recommendations of residential and inpatient treatment by a medical doctor are given if the physical and psychological problems are severe and may take place in a hospital setting or eating disorder treatment center and of course include outpatient treatment for anorexia (Shannon, 2007).

Essay --

A genetic disorder is a sickness caused by one or many abnormalities or absentees in the genes or chromosomes. One interesting genetic disorder such as cancer, are found genetic but, can also be caused and affected by many by environmental factors such as being exposed to asbestos which may increase the risk of lung cancer and many other cancers. While on the other hand most disorders like Williams Syndrome are genetic and are primarily rare and only affect a limited amount of people about one in every several thousand. Because it is a genetic disorder that is estimated between 1 in 10,000 people worldwide, primarily caused by a micro-deletion on the seventh chromosome is what indicates the disorder being Williams Syndrome. Because Williams Syndrome is very uncommon within a large crowd among people, the causes that are known to trigger the disorder are very few. The causes or conditions that are known to trigger Williams Syndrome is by the deletion of twenty-six to twenty-eigh t genes on chromosome #7. Many people may conclude that just because Williams Syndrome is a â€Å"genetic† disorder meaning that it has to be inherited from their parents are incorrect. Most people may not inherit Williams syndrome because the chances of his or her child to inherit the syndrome is a low 50/50 chance. That is because when the deletion of the 26 – 28 genes that takes place within the chromosome number seven are of what randomly chosen events that particularly occur in the male or female eggs or sperm .When dealing with Williams syndrome many symptoms may come upon the person with this disorder. Some of the symptoms may be not be that eye catching or life threating but some, however some can be life threating. In resulting the person to ... ...consequences of having Williams Syndrome. Some examples would be that a type of cardiovascular disease will soon follow Williams Syndrome called Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis. Resulting ones largest blood vessel to get narrower and narrower causing the person to catch ones breath very often even if not exercising , abdominal pain, and sometimes if fatal heart failure. Furthermore Williams Syndrome is not a disorder that is to be thought of kindly. Just because it occurs 1 in 10,000 people does not mean it is not deadly. It has been estimated that 82 percent of people who die of Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis disease (a disease that follows Williams Syndrome) are 65 and older. And b2cause there are no cures for William syndrome even with the help of today’s modern science and technology people with it must be monitored and treated for symptoms throughout their lives.

Critique on Open City Essay -- Film Movies

Critique on Open City â€Å"Open City† is a neo-realist film that followed the movement in Italy during World War 2. The film is neo-realistic because it has that ‘reality’ like feeling to it by following specific characters through their daily stressful lives that are screwed up from poverty and war. It has many qualities that make it in some ways ‘closer’ to the characters. While watching, the viewer is sucked into the story and immediately feeling emotional with the families and the other various characters in the film. The main reason is Rossellini's choosing dramatic music and kids with big eyes. This film is divided into two separate parts. First, is a story that shows a situation in Italy during the Nazi occupation of World War II. There are a couple of members of a secret underground movement that try to keep the Nazis away from them. This movement is made up of poor Italians, who are troubled by the war and other Nazi ideologies. One of the members of the revolutionist group is engaged to a mother of the young boy, and the wedding is about to take place in a matter of days. But all sorts of problems follow, and all of this is based on how the Nazis will finally catch up with these traitors. The second, more effective and emotional part of the film is a tragic melodrama. At the beginning, the movie appears to be very dark and gloomy. This is shown from the riot at the bakery and the young revolutionist running away from authorities. There was so much trouble that the family went through to eat, and survive. The tension increases so smoothly yet it drives the nerves of the watcher during the family argument scene (which proves to be very effective). The only relief of any kind is portrayed by the younger generation. They are the only ones that manage to actually have explosives. Smart move by the director as the kids are the only sense of any kind of future since there was so much trouble the day the Nazi’s entered the OPEN CITY. Some more devastation is the mistreatment of women by Nazi soldiers when families are evacuated from their houses. The soldier still tried to molest the women despite her vulgar responses to his gripping. The following scene when the revolutionist was caught and taken by authorities had a very good build up to it. Rossolini showed us all the trouble in a matter of minutes and to add to it, the running of the woman... ...res about. In this scene though he pointlessly attempts to protect the Jesus statue from the nakedness of the other statue the same way he tries to protect his friends from the ‘enemy’ or fascists. This is another good example of how Rossellini seems to be more of a documentary-style reality film. This film was part of the Italian Neo-realism era that did not use standards in filmmaking. They used a few different elements like non-professional actors doing most of the minor roles. The film was mentioned in class to be shot in 1945 when the war was still occurring and it was great timing for shooting in Italy. Mainly because the scenery they used was real. In the long-run, the film’s main topic was based on a widely spoken about important issue at the time- war. Open City is one of the most interesting films due to many aspects. Mainly for giving a picture of a situation which at the time happened not too long before the end Nazi occupation and enhanced the effect by being a melodrama. At times the film felt like a documentary, but that’s what made it quite interesting as well. These historical facts guarantee that Rossellini’s film is important, even if not always perfect. Critique on Open City Essay -- Film Movies Critique on Open City â€Å"Open City† is a neo-realist film that followed the movement in Italy during World War 2. The film is neo-realistic because it has that ‘reality’ like feeling to it by following specific characters through their daily stressful lives that are screwed up from poverty and war. It has many qualities that make it in some ways ‘closer’ to the characters. While watching, the viewer is sucked into the story and immediately feeling emotional with the families and the other various characters in the film. The main reason is Rossellini's choosing dramatic music and kids with big eyes. This film is divided into two separate parts. First, is a story that shows a situation in Italy during the Nazi occupation of World War II. There are a couple of members of a secret underground movement that try to keep the Nazis away from them. This movement is made up of poor Italians, who are troubled by the war and other Nazi ideologies. One of the members of the revolutionist group is engaged to a mother of the young boy, and the wedding is about to take place in a matter of days. But all sorts of problems follow, and all of this is based on how the Nazis will finally catch up with these traitors. The second, more effective and emotional part of the film is a tragic melodrama. At the beginning, the movie appears to be very dark and gloomy. This is shown from the riot at the bakery and the young revolutionist running away from authorities. There was so much trouble that the family went through to eat, and survive. The tension increases so smoothly yet it drives the nerves of the watcher during the family argument scene (which proves to be very effective). The only relief of any kind is portrayed by the younger generation. They are the only ones that manage to actually have explosives. Smart move by the director as the kids are the only sense of any kind of future since there was so much trouble the day the Nazi’s entered the OPEN CITY. Some more devastation is the mistreatment of women by Nazi soldiers when families are evacuated from their houses. The soldier still tried to molest the women despite her vulgar responses to his gripping. The following scene when the revolutionist was caught and taken by authorities had a very good build up to it. Rossolini showed us all the trouble in a matter of minutes and to add to it, the running of the woman... ...res about. In this scene though he pointlessly attempts to protect the Jesus statue from the nakedness of the other statue the same way he tries to protect his friends from the ‘enemy’ or fascists. This is another good example of how Rossellini seems to be more of a documentary-style reality film. This film was part of the Italian Neo-realism era that did not use standards in filmmaking. They used a few different elements like non-professional actors doing most of the minor roles. The film was mentioned in class to be shot in 1945 when the war was still occurring and it was great timing for shooting in Italy. Mainly because the scenery they used was real. In the long-run, the film’s main topic was based on a widely spoken about important issue at the time- war. Open City is one of the most interesting films due to many aspects. Mainly for giving a picture of a situation which at the time happened not too long before the end Nazi occupation and enhanced the effect by being a melodrama. At times the film felt like a documentary, but that’s what made it quite interesting as well. These historical facts guarantee that Rossellini’s film is important, even if not always perfect.

Scale Effects Development and the Flattening of the Globe

Economic growth can be viewed from two angles. For many decades, economists had put primary importance on factor endowments, good economic policies, and democratic institutions, as the main determinants of economic development. Some economists though refused to accept the hypothesis which states that â€Å"economic development is the only measure of institutional efficiency and real potential growth. They argued that some variables, like climate and geography, can have significant bearing on the developmental course of a country (hence, the term â€Å"scale effects development† is used to describe the degree or extent of regional variables used as a measure of economic growth). Hence, it is possible that these variables actually dictate the general framework of the economic policies of a country. Alternative Hypotheses Masters and McMillan (2001) tested this hypothesis by looking at a sample of 90 rich and poor countries. The authors concluded that one factor differentiating developed countries from poor ones is the frequency of winter frosts. Winter frosts reduce borne diseases and kill plant parasites. Frosts also allow agricultural lands to experience a seasonal buildup of organic matter, leading to rich, fertile topsoil. In short, frosts boost economic development Acemoglu et al (2001) argued that countries with low mortality rates experienced economic development. Investigating a variety of 17th to 19th century European colonial strategies, the author found that where settler mortality was low, because geography and climate were conducive to health, Europeans moved in and established good institutions. Places where settler mortality was high, because of bad geography and diseases, Europeans stayed away and created bad institutions. Whether the institutions are good and bad, it was noted that geography and climate has a significant bearing on the pattern of world distribution of income. Countries with good institutions (as a result of good geography) have high levels of income; those with bad institutions (as a result of bad geography) have low levels of income. International Trade, Resource Availability and Land Use International trade has resulted to the smoothing of economic transactions among countries with different socio-politico-economic systems. This ‘smoothing’ process can be seen as the overall end of the modernization process. Modernization requires the removal of trade barriers, privatization of government corporations, and most importantly, the establishment of an efficient resource base. Modernization can be an effective mode for economic development if all countries adopt its basic principles. In addition, the platform of modernization only works if the factor endowments of a particular country (land an, capital, and labor) are utilized efficiently and exchanged to other countries (comparative advantage). In short, modernization as a process makes the economic world smaller and vulnerable to market fluctuations. The World is Flat Friedman (2005) recounts a journey to Bangalore, India, after he realized globalization has changed core economic concepts. He suggests the world is â€Å"flat† in the sense that globalization has leveled the competitive playing fields between industrial and emerging market countries (in terms of income and comparative advantage). In his opinion, this flattening is a product of a convergence of world economic integration and scale effects development. He termed this period as Globalization 3. 0, differentiating this period from the previous Globalization 1. 0 (which countries and governments were the main mechanisms for growth and development) and the Globalization 2. 0 (which multinational companies led the way in driving global integration).

Mines by Susan Straight Author Report Essay

1. Summary and Response. A. Born in Riverside, California, Susan Straight became an award winning regional author. Straight came from a simple beginning, a diverse family and no friends who were writers. Straight wrote her first story at the age of sixteen and wrote sports articles in junior high. As a junior in high school, she began writing short stories again. Straight does like to travel, but enjoys returning home as well. Straight makes no error in advocating the use of writing workshops, so that writers have the opportunity to expand their talent. Straight has been published in various national publications, covered novels for young readers as well and even a children’s book. Straight has received several literary awards for her work and is now a Professor at the University of California. Her short story â€Å"Mines† was included in Best American Short Stories, 2003. The Golden Gopher, another of Straights short stories, received the 2008 Edgar Allan Poe Award. Straights last three novels are Highwire Moon (2001), A Million Nightingales (2006) and Take One Candle Light a Room (2010). Straight has many essays: â€Å"Reckless† (2007), â€Å"El Ojo de Agua† (2007) and â€Å"The Funk Festival at Los Angles Coliseum, Los Angles, May 26, 1979† to name a few. For her younger readers Susan authored Bear E. Bear (1995) and The Friskative Dog (2007). B. â€Å"Mines† is a story about a mother who’s also a corrections officer, trying to keep her children from becoming part of the uneducated youth prison culture. Clarette is a strong, self-sacrificing woman. She has no personal life, due to her distant husband; in essence, she is a single mother. Clarette has conflict with her husband, who seems to be fine with their children growing up to be what society expects. Clarette is trying as best she can to expand their options in their lives. Her job at the Youth Authority takes a physical and emotional toll on her. Because of the job’s nature, Clarette sees the delinquency of the youth, grasping why she should keep going and giving her children an alternative future. She sees the â€Å"wards,† as â€Å"fools.† Just as that they are misguided and immature. Her determination is proven after the fight at the Youth Authority, where she gets up and spits on the spot she was assaulted, returning to work. Nothing is easy for her, but she just won’t give up. C. I sincerely enjoyed reading â€Å"Mines.† At first I just thought it was going to be   about her job, this was just fine with me. Even though her job does play into the story, it is not just about that. Straights descriptions of the scenery, characters, emotions and social influences were beautifully done. Even upon the first reading I indentified with Clarette, since I am also a single mother and did work for a while as a corrections officer myself. It made me recall all the wasted lives I encountered on a daily basis and that some of them acted like it was no big deal. Although these were grown men, it seems like it is now just something that is socially accepted. The short story was a very easy read for me and one that I read several times with no effort. I felt that she was a decent human being, caring, loving and rational. She, like most mothers, put her children before herself, giving up some of her life and that made her more human to me. I felt sorrow when she is injured in the fight at her job and pride when she spat on the cement before she goes back inside. I also felt satisfaction, when she opened the classifieds to look for the upright. 2. Research. A. There are three main points that I would like to cover, in the interview that I   chose on Susan Straight. The title is simply, â€Å"Birnbaum v. Susan Straight.† * All of her fiction has been about how people from places like Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Canada and Switzerland have come to a place like Riverside, California. Since her fiction is regional, it helps us  understand better just one part of our country, instead of trying to be so broad that we lose some things in detail. Susan travels to the places in her writings, to get the back-story, making sure that all is accurate and it appears that she enjoys it a lot. When Susan committed to writing A Million Nightingales, she states, â€Å"I spent five years and I read about a hundred books and historical documents and went to Louisiana twice with my neighbor, who is from east Texas† (5). She uses things that are in court documents to help with historical information as well. For example, slaves were never taught to read or write, also they were never taught to read or write, also they were considered property. So for her, court documents are the way to go. â€Å"I read a lot of court documents and I have to tell you I read things like estate sale documents from 1797†¦On the right   side of the document is listed the human property that’s being sold and on the left the physical property and it goes on for several pages. On the right hand side you have all the slaves and the slaves only had first names. They couldn’t have last names† (6). Susan also states, â€Å"The way I know about my family by marriage-slave ancestry-is only through all the stories everyone tells† (6). It is amazing how she researches so much and incorporates that to make sure the story is correct. That does give the reader a more true understanding on what is goin g on in the setting, time period and characters minds. It does appear that she does also keep up with the social and political aspects of the time. Speaking about expectations set by society of her daughters and government mistreatment in response after a natural disaster, due to ethnicity. Susan speaks of the hurricane that destroyed New Orleans, â€Å"New Orleans was 70 percent African-American and it becomes much easier for the federal government-in my community, in the black community, this is common knowledge, people say, ‘Of course they don’t want to rebuild New Orleans.’ I think what people in Louisiana feel, not just in New Orleans but outside the city as well, especially south and in St. Bernard Parish, is  that rejection you feel when the federal government says, ‘Well I don’t know if it’s really worth it.’ Of course, if it’s your birthplace, you want to feel as if you are worth it† (10). Leading me to realize that there is still racial discrimination, even now, in politics as well as society. Susan’s daughters are described as readers of literature, diverse in the music that they enjoy and just like any other fine young lady. Susan is quoted speaking of her daughters as â€Å"really smart besides being beautiful, and that’s frightening. It’s frightening because a lot of times people still expect them to be dumb or want them to be dumb. Because they are beautiful light-skinned black women† (4). â€Å"There are no pure races,† states Susan, which does make you think (4). Susan does give supporting information to prove her quote, simply by reminding the reader of Louisiana in the late 1700s. â€Å"You had Swiss mercenary soldiers who had their own laws and rules. French settlers, French-Canadian trappers who didn’t even speak the same French as the French settlers. African slaves from seven, eight, nine different nations who spoke Congo, Bambara. And then you had German settlers. And then Native Americans who had their own distinct languages†¦And the truth is, if there is English and if there is French, if there is African it all melds to become this Creole language-what is it then, and what are we then?† (7). While a student at the University of Massachusetts, Susan did study with James Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin is known for his activism, in the civil rights movement, as well as his writing on African American life in the United States. When Susan got to the University of Massachusetts, she had been â€Å"a sportswriter and editor, and I’d only been writing fiction for a year.† Mr. Baldwin would assist Susan with her stories, helping develop characters that she thought were minor and had her think on a larger scale. Susan says that Mr. Baldwin â€Å"was immensely helpful the way he taught me to think about these larger questions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Susan was unsure that Mr. Baldwin knew what he was talking about, but came to realize â€Å"he was right.† Susan also credits Jay Neugeboren, a professor â€Å"for years† at the University of Massachusetts, as the person â€Å"who really taught me to line-edit. He taught me to go through my work and make it as perfect as it c ould be† (15, 16). References: Straight, Susan. â€Å"Birnbaum v. Susan Straight.† The Morning News. The Morning News, 02 Aug.2006. Web. 21 Jun. 2011. Straight, Susan. Interview by Dominique McCafferty. Riverside Public Library. Riverside Public Library [Riverside, CA]. Spring 2005. Web. 06 Jun. 2011 Straight, Susan. www.Susan Straight.com. www.Jwelches.com. n.d. Web. 30 Jun. 2011

Aura in Walter Benjamin’s Illuminations Essay

In Walter Benjamin’s book Illuminations, two particular chapters are relevant to the corpus of works that make up film study. â€Å"Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproductions† and â€Å"The Storyteller† outline a progressive history from oral traditions to the modern traditions such as film that resulted and the bumps that have been encountered along the way. Central to these two chapters is the idea of aura. Aura, though difficult to define, is a concept that is easy to perceive because of its engaging qualities. From oral to written to visual representations including film, the story is the nucleus that produces entertainment and ideally educates the audience. To be entertained does not require much of the audience, but education is an engaging process that preserves culture and maintains the aura. Because of the absence of proverbs, morals, or other trite composite statements, the effective storyteller is kin to the guru. The advice the storyteller offers is found throughout the course of the story and the listener or reader is able to draw the meaning out from the speech or pages of their own accord. As a patient fisherman learns at the end of a long day, not all adventures are fruitful. The timeless quality of the works of Nicolai Leskov can encourage the reader to lose track of the parts of the story that, when later assembled, can be taken as advice. In this way, an attentive reader may find advice or counsel for many situations and the story can continue to unfold through the suggestions that good counsel offers. The â€Å"White Eagle† encourages quotation of different passages in order for a summary to be made and offered as a sacrifice to the luke-warm reader. However, the storyteller’s traditional place is not one of summaries, annotated bibliographies, or cliff notes. Time was meant to be integral in the creation of a story which is only preserved in the social fabric of history. The uniqueness of any event, object, or idea depends upon its temporal qualities. Time and space dictate absolutely everything according to Quantum Physicists who are considered to be on the forefront of the combination of all knowledge. These revolutionary inter-disciplinarians have shown that gravity depends on time and space, that speed depends on time and space, and that even decisions depend on time and space[1]. The decision to tell a story depends on the time, traditionally evening when there is less work to be done, and the space, made up of gathering people encouraging the story to be told. Without these two conditions, ample time to tell the story and one’s willingness to listen, a story cannot take place. Because storytelling is an interchange between the one telling the story and the one who is destined to re-tell the story, the oral tradition is dependent upon listeners for its survival. However, since the transference of the events of the tale are not verbatim, the re-telling is in fact an original telling because the details have been molded to fit the circumstances of the re-telling. If the audience is comprised of mainly children, perhaps more attention will be made to the magical parts of the story. If the audience is teenage boys, more emphasis and elaboration may be made on the graphic images in the story. In the best case scenario â€Å"the perfect narrative is derived through the layers of a variety of retellings† (Benjamin p. 93). When a storyteller chooses to relay some advice that has been intertwined in the fabric of a story which is dependent on the social fabric of the group without an audience present for the telling, the unraveling of oral traditions begins. Written history has certainly provided benefits to society that are too numerous to even attempt to summarize. The unfortunate fact is that none of the advancements resulting from changing production methods have benefited the beautiful intergenerational tapestry of storytelling. A common misconception is that a novel is in continuity with oral tradition when it is, in fact, quite a discontinuity. The novel has different properties and different purposes. For one, the novel is composed in solidarity, far from the social fabric where meaning was derived and solely existed. The reader is forced into solidarity as well and his interpretations may no longer have any bearing on those around him. That is not to say that personal meanings are unimportant, only that writing signifies the beginning of a new timeline in tradition whose grand purpose is â€Å"to carry the incommensurable to extremes in the representation of human life† (Benjamin p. 87). As personal importance and interpretation is difficult to verify, society centralizes on information which depends on its verifiability for survival. Writing is the conveyance of information and in modern times information is of paramount importance. The outcome of wars or the accrual of wealth often results from the timely reception of pertinent information. Reported events are subject to immediate verifiability which causes most contemporary novelists to tread lightly when including supernatural or mystical events in their novels. As the transference of quick and efficient information is increasing, â€Å"the communicability of experience is decreasing† (Benjamin p. 86). Storytelling in a social context was recreating the enjoyable social setting the storyteller once experienced that was moving enough for him or her that he or she decided to provide the same experience for future generations. Even further back in the tradition are the actual events themselves. A character in the story was once a person who, through fortuitous circumstances, participated in the events that produced the story. Although exaggerations have been added for entertainment value and alterations have been made, the attempt was always to communicate an awesome experience. In Leskov’s â€Å"The Left Handed Craftsman,† the namesake is not by far the protagonist, but his involvement with the steel flea from Brittan resurrected the tale which was, among many other things, a tribute to ancient craftsmen. The relationship of the storyteller to his material is that of a craftsman to his medium. Benjamin asks â€Å"whether it is not his [the story teller or craftsman] very task to fashion the raw material of experience, his own and that of others, in a solid, useful, and unique way† (p. 108). If the writer is as acutely aware of his or her audience as an oral story teller would be, it is possible to craft a utilitarian product. The solitary production method of writing that removes the writer from his or her immediate context makes this very difficult to achieve. What is lost is the mystical aura that electrified and preserved oral storytelling for so many generations. Writing by hand inevitably led to the printing press and other forms of art, such as visual art, which soon became easily reproducible. The degradation continues as the mode of production evolves. With the advent of the lithograph, whose origins lie in etching and engraving, works of art were beginning to lose their aura. Just as a written novel is not the same as the oral story from which it may have been derived, reproducing visual art leaves the third printing, especially when dealing with wood as was the case with etching and engraving, less clear than the first printing. In rhythm with the march of advancement, technology made pictorial reproductions more effective and efficient in their representations of real life. The march continued past the incorrigibly life-like photograph to film, silent at first, then at a speed that could keep up with speech. In contemporary times, film reproductions of actual events are so accountable that they can be used as evidence in court cases. As wonderful (for the plaintiff) as that may be, the aura that was so present and integral to the authenticity of storytelling is vanishing into the background just as wood engraving has been subsumed by photography. The ramifications of interest here are those of social orientation, specifically social perceptions. In film, the viewer is not allowed the uniqueness of visual perception that can be found when viewing a piece of art in a gallery. The perspective is derived from variations in the height of the viewer, distance of the viewer from the art, other people possibly surrounding the viewer and the background that changes in the case of traveling art pieces. Film, â€Å"being based on changes of place and focus which periodically assail the spectator,† gives the viewer only two options: eyes open or eyes closed. To view is to give in to the filmmaker’s point of view. The social context that has been created is that the other viewers have given in as well. As for the integrity of the aura, the production method of film, which is far removed from the stage-like presentation of storytelling, is even more fabricated because of the fragmented production method of feature films. Additionally, the aura is lost to the audience of whom nothing more than keeping their eyes open is asked. In hopeful efforts one asks, can the aura be resurrected in film if a storyteller is united with the power of film? Indigenous tribes in modern times are the least removed from their oral traditions and thus the most hopeful for a positive response to the above question. In terms of production, the â€Å"Video in the Villages Project†, headed by most notably Vincent Carelli, is a prime example. The project essentially taught indigenous people from various tribes throughout Brazil how to operate video equipment as well as to edit the final project. The indigenous people were the think tank and the executive board for the choosing of the subject of the separate films. The aura was also lost in the final project which can neither be defined as a documentary or a feature film. The people in â€Å"A Day in the Village,† have chosen to show some of their daily routines. As the events are displayed in a fragmented way, one can assumed they were also taped in a fragmented manner. There is no central story, just the theme of activities of this tribe. As for the aura emanating from a guru like storyteller, there is none. A film like the Inuit produced and directed â€Å"The Fast Runner† is the telling of an Inuit tale in the context of a tribal gathering. The storyteller is present throughout the whole tale but he is, obviously, on screen. With film, the context is always mutable because the same film can be shown simultaneously in innumerable locations. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Prague, and Minsk could all choose to premier a film at the exact same time but the social context is completely unique in each of these situations. The languages change and the people in the theater or viewing space are unique to that particular showing. According to Benjamin â€Å"The manner in which human sense perception is organized, the medium in which it is accomplished is determined not only by nature but by historical circumstances as well† (p. 222). If the historical circumstances can be so easily changed, the meaning can also just as easily be changed. To the people in the sweat lodge hearing that story, the aura could have been part of the captivating presence that maintained the story and created a central meaning for that society. But to an urban citizen who has had no direct contact with these traditions, the aura is not engaging and the meaning, if any has been found, is personal. The active participation of the audience is the same as any other film: unnecessary. There is no tradition in this context and the film will survive even if no viewer is enchanted to listen attentively enough to later replicate the story. The fragmented production of this feature film, like any other, degrades the aura of the original story to a level which is unnoticeable. This film’s attempts to be part of the Hollywood entertainment genre, which almost categorically excludes the necessarily engaging aspects of oral traditions from which the story derives, fails to maintain its original aura. The lessons of our ancestors have always been an important aspect of physical and cultural survival. Through film and indigenous attempts at film, the aura has been lost and it does not seem that it can be resurrected. Cultures are being subsumed into â€Å"melting pots† that neglect individuality and suppress autonomy. Information is more important than the unique nuances a storyteller can combine with sound advice to preserve and at the same time progress a culture. If the good of all is in question, the storyteller must survive. The only issue is if there will be a context for the storyteller to survive in.

Explain why certain types of environmental pollution

As such and to begin with our study, It is recommended that we need to first revisit some of the salient and prerequisite overview of shipping before we move on to having detailed review and study of shipping finance In subsequent modules In view of the facts that: the overview to be gone through In this module Is closely related to and specifically associated with shipping finance, and most Importantly, contents of this module are ongoing to be mentioned and re-examined again In subsequent modules concerning sloping finance For our study, this module Intends to cover the following major topics and areas:- A.The four shipping markets, B. The sea transport system (or the economic model of sea transports C. The shipping market cycle, D. Ship registration, E. One-ship company and Mare injunction, F. Maritime lien, G. Merger and acquisition in the shipping industry, and H. Ship investment strategy and criteria. As a start of this module, it is widely noted that the central role of shippi ng offers sea rainspout to facilitate global trade and promote economic development.In addition, the shipping industry is an integral part of the international trading system and its core function is to facilitate international trade through connecting the sources of supply and demand for commodities. Indeed, shipping, trade and economic development all go hand in hand: it is estimated that over 95% of international trade In terms of volume is carried out through shipping, and over the past decades, shipping has developed into a high profile industry which has become a riving force for the creation of wealth in the world and well being of the people.Module 1 – Overview of Shipping and Shipping Finance Page 2 Shipping Is essential to the functioning of the global economy and Its dependence upon moving goods from production to consumption sites. Raw materials and finished goods have been the mall cargoes in international trade. In later decades, trade In Intermediate goods for further processing has grown steeply and In parallel with the so-called fragmentation of production processes. Fragmentation Implies that the production recess Is split Into several geographically different locations so that each component Is produced where the production costs are most favorable.Trade In these components constitutes an important share of seaborne trade. World seaborne trade rises with economic growth. The development of world gross domestic product (GAP) and the seaborne cargo flows show this. Fragmentation and specialization further increase the volume traded relative to the production volume. Furthermore, shipping with the world economy, exploring and exploiting the ebb and flow of trade. Today, it as become a tightly knit global business community, built on communications and free trade.Henceforth, when studying shipping and its relevant topics (shipping finance is one of the most important topics of shipping), one must bear in mind that there is a close link be tween shipping, international trade and economic development since the demand for sea transport is well-driven by international trade and economic development (regional or global) – based on which the up-and-down of the shipping business is by and large in line with the movement of international read and development of global economies.Diagrams 1 and 2 below displays the relationship between world GAP cycles, volume of the sea trade COED industrial production, and the most important influence on demand for sea transport is largely the world economy (which also drives international trade): A.The Four Shipping Markets The international shipping industry can be divided into and sea transport services are provided by four closely related shipping markets, each trading in a different commodity: the freight market trades sea transport, where the ship-owner charters he ships and concludes freight agreements, the sale and purchase market trades second-hand ships, where the ship-owner trades (buys or sells) the ships, the unbinding market trades unbinding and new ships, where the ship-owner orders the unbinding of the ships from the shipyard, and the demolition market deals in ships for scrapping, where the ship-owner finally sells the ships for scrapping.International trade and economic development Demand and supply of shipping Demand and supply of shipping finance The four shipping markets Shipping market cycles Shipping investment strategy and criteria freight market sale and purchase market unbinding market demolition market Demand and supply of sea transport Module 1 – Overview of Shipping and Shipping Finance Page 5 These four markets are somehow linked by cash flow and push the market traders in the direction they prefer and want. In addition, because the same ship-owner may be trading in all four markets, their activities and the relationship with cash flow are closely correlated and can be summarized in Diagram 4:

A Comparison of Piaget, Freud, and Erikson

A Comparison of Piaget, Freud, and Erikson Essay A Comparison of Piaget, Freud, and EriksonbyRandy HartenstinePsychology 1513-51Extra Credit PaperApril 8, 1999Hartenstine 1The field of psychology has grown to be respected as a science. Objectivity and the scientific method are both part of the psychologists mode of operation. However, even the greatest of psychologists can only theorize about what makes human beings act the way they do. Absolutes are not part of psychology. Everything is relative and open to speculation. Theorists give us their views or ideas about life. In the field of psychology, there have been many different areas of interest. Human development is one of the most popular areas of interest for those who study psychology. Freud, Erikson, and Piaget are all great theorists with different ideas concerning human development. Each theorist developed ideas and stages for human development. Their theories on human development had human beings passing through different stages. Each theory differed on what these stages w ere. These theories also differed with their respect towards paradigmatic assumptions, learning and development, and relationship towards educational practice. Freud is known as the father of psychology. Although some of his work has been dismissed, most of it still holds weight in the world of psychology today. Freud believed that inner forces fueled human development. He believed the most powerful of all inner forces was our sexual being. Freud linked everything with sex. This includes any bodily pleasure whatsoever. Thus, when Freud discusses the sexual needs of children, they are not the Hartenstine 2same kind of sexual needs that an adult would experience. Children experienced sexual gratification in different ways. Sucking their thumbs or retaining their excrement could be seen as sexual gratification for small children. Freud also specified certain areas of our body as erogenous zones. Those areas included the mouth and genitals. This all fit in to Freuds obsession with sex. An obsession that could be linked to the era that Freud lived in. It was a very conservative period in history. Sexual feelings were often repressed. Freuds theo ry on human development could be labeled the psychosexual stages of development. Freud believed human beings passed through different stages in their life based on which part of their body gratified them. Freuds psychosexual stages of development are five in total. The Oral stage takes place from birth to about one year. During this stage, a child is orally oriented. The mouth is the childs erogenous zone. Everything a child touches is put in his mouth. Freud believes children do this because it gives them pleasure. When a child sucks his thumb, it does so because it gratifies them. According to Freud, the gratification is sexual. The second stage in Freuds psychosexual development theory takes place between the ages of two and three years of age. The erogenous zone shifts location, thus moving from one stage to another. The second erogenous zone in Freuds stages of human development is the anal region. Freud believes childrenHartenstine 3experience sexual gratification during bowel movements and when they withhold bowel movements. Some children may even experience pleasure handling, looking at, or thinking about their own feces. Once the Anal stage of development has been completed, the next stage of development for Freud is the Phallic Stage. This usually occurs at about three years of age. The shift in erogenous zones moves from the anal region to the genital organs. This stage is also known as the Oedipal Stage of psychosexual development. This name comes from the legendary king, Oedipus, who killed his father and married his mother. During this stage, children take interest in their sexual organs. Soon they notice differences and similarities between themselves and their parents. Each sex wants to be with the parent of the other sex, for girls this is referred to as theelektra complex. Once the children realize they can not be with their mother or father, they identify with the parent of the same sex. The next stage is called the stage of Latency. A lack of change or absence of erogenous zones characterizes this stage. After the realization that the child can not be with a parent sexually, the child shifts its attention to same-sexed relationships. Boys will shift their sexual urges and drives to something acceptable, such as sports. This is a time of relative calm. The last stage of Freuds psychosexual development is the Genital Stage. The erogenous zone returns in a very powerfulHartenstine 4way in the genital organs. This stage takes place from puberty into adulthood. True sexual desire and sexual relationships mark this stage. Erikson took Freuds ideas and enhanced them. He added stages for the adult years. He also shifted his attention to identity rather than sexuality. Erikson developed the psychosocial stages of development. He is known for his eight stages of life. Eriksons first stage is during infancy. It deals with trust versus mistrust. The child develops an outlook on life and whether the world can be trusted or not. Th e child develops trust if the parents give the child something it can rely on. According to Erikson, the child develops a sense of optimism or pessimism during this stage. The next stage in Eriksons psychosocial development is during early childhood and is known as autonomy versus shame and doubt. The child becomes autonomous and realizes he can say yes or no. This stage will determine whether a child develops a sense of self-certainty. Eriksons next stage takes place during the ages of three to six years. This stage is marked by initiative versus guilt. This stage is important in developing the childs sense of enterprise. The child develops initiative when trying out new things and is not scared of failing. The fourth stage of Eriksons developmental theory takes place at about six years of age and lasts till puberty. This stage deals with industry Hartenstine 5 versus inferiority. The child learns skills of the culture and must deal with feelings of inferiority. Adolescence brings about the next stage for Erikson. This stage is known for identity versus identity confusion. During this stage, Erikson believes adolescents must develop a sense of self-awareness or knowing who they are. They develop a sense of identity. The sixth stage for Erikson is known for intimacy versus isolation. READ: WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN AND HIS MARCH TO THE SEA William Tecumseh She EssayThis stage takes place during young adulthood. The person seeks commitments from others. If he is unsuccessful, he may take on isolation. Erikson believes this stage is important in learning love. The seventh stage for Erikson takes place during adulthood. It is marked by generativity versus stagnation. During this stage, the adult is concerned with guiding the next generation. This stage according to Erikson gives the adult a sense of caring. Eriksons last and eighth stage takes place at a mature age. Old age is marked by integrity versus despair. During this time, the people may achieve a sense of acceptance of their own life, which in turn allows for the acceptance of death. When one passes through this last stage, Erikson believes that a person has achieved wisdom. Piaget also believed in developmental theory. Her stages were cognitive stages. These stages were based on what the child can do. Acc ording to Piaget, a child passes through four stages in its life. Piaget was interested in the childs Hartenstine 6abilities and senses, not sexual desires like Freud was. Piaget believes the first stage of development should be a cognitive one. Her first stage is known as the sensorimotor stage. It takes place from birth to about two years of age. During this time, a child learns motor meaning, object permanence, and the th beginning of symbolic representation, also known as language.The child will change from someone who responds only through reflexes to one who can organize his activities in relation to his environment. It does this through sensory and motor activity. The next stage in Piagets cognitive development theory is the pre-operational stage. This takes place from about two to seven years of age. During this stage, the childs language develops. They develop a representational system and use symbols such as words to represent people, places, and events. From about seven t o thirteen years of age, Piaget believes children enter the concrete operational stage. They can solve problems logically. They can understand rules and form concepts. Some children become moralistic. The last stage Piaget believes is the formal operational stage. This stage takes place from about twelve years of age through adulthood. Once someone has reached this stage, one should be able to think abstractly, manipulate abstract concepts, use hypothetical reasoning, and use creative language. These three theories on human development each have their Hartenstine 7own good and bad points. One problem all theories must deal with is paradigmatic assumptions. These are ideas that the theorist has taken for granted as facts. An example is Freuds notion that women suffer from a lack of self-esteem or self worth all their lives because of penis envy. Freuds assumption could have derived merely because of the time when he lived, and it was a time when women were treated as second class citizens. Freuds assumption that sex is the driving force behind everything could also be a product of his times. Sexual feelings were often repressed. The problem with paradigmatic assumptions is that each person grows up in a different culture and some theories dont apply to everyone. The problem with psychology remains that it is not an exact science. It is difficult to develop good paradigmatic assumptions because of that. Erikson assumes a child must learn these virtues or skills in this order. But, what if a child does not? Someone may never have a meaningful relationship, but they may develop wisdom. This would undercut Eriksons assumptions that everyone must pass through these stages in this order. Piaget also has some assumptions in her theory. A person that never learns to add may be able to think hypothetically. These mistakes only show that psychology still has its flaws. Each of these theories has some value because they are Hartenstine 8not totally wrong. These theories have withstood criticism and are some of the best. Each theory is similar by time and their sequence of life events; where they differ is in their focus. Freud focuses on sex, Erikson focuses on the self and social orientation, and Piaget focuses on the childs abilities and senses. Each theory is also useful when applied to its relationship to educational practices, and these different ideals guide teachers in the mystical theories of forever trying to understand human development, the mind, and its behaviors. READ: Human Resource Management Of Standard Chartered Bank EssayHartenstine 9Work CitedCoon, Dennis. Introduction to Psychology: Exploration andApplication, 7th Edition. Minnesota: West PublishingCompany, 1995. Freud, Sigmund. The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud. Brill, A. A.: Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc., July 1979. Piaget, Jean, et al. The Psychology of The Child. Berkeley andLos Angeles: University of California Press, Ltd., 1972.