Natureview Farm Case

Natureview Farm Case Natureview Farm is a small yogurt manufacturer with annual revenues of $13 million. It produces three different size cups – 8 oz. cup, 32 oz. and 4 oz. cup multipack. However, Natureview’s goal is to increase its annual revenue to $20 million in two years. With a solid relationship with its current, successful strategy in the natural foods channel it is considering expanding into the supermarket channel. Conversely, it does not want to hurt the company brand it has created as a premium yogurt brand in the natural foods market and betray those loyal, natural foods customers who made their business what it is today.In the case, Natureview is considering three options to expand its operations to reach its $20 million annual goal:1. Expand six SKUs of the 8-oz. product line into one or two selected supermarkets. The reasons behind this option are:A) Eight-ounce cups represent the largest dollar and unit share of the refrigerated yogurt market, providing significant revenue potential.B) Other natural food brands had successfully expanded their distribution into the supermarket channel. As a leading natural foods brand for yogurt, they can capitalize on the growing trend in natural and organic foods in supermarkets.C) A major Natureview competitor plans to expand into the supermarket channel. Supermarket retailers would likely only have one organic yogurt brand. Therefore, there is a first-mover advantage.2. Expand four SKUs of the 32-oz. size nationally. The reasons behind this option are:A) Currently generated an above-average gross profit margin for Natureview (43. 6% vs. 36. 0% for the 8-oz. line).B) Fewer competitive offerings in this size and Natureview had a strong competitive advantage in their product’s longer shelf life.C) Although slotting expenses would be higher, promotional expenses would be lower since the 32-oz. size was promoted only twice a year.3. Introduce two SKUs of a children’s multi-pack into na tural foods channel. The reasons behind this option are:A) Company had strong relationships with leading natural food channel retailers, and expansion into supermarket channel could potentially jeopardize the relationship.B) Distribution targets were very achievable for the two SKUs.C) Gross profitability of the line would be 37. % while expenses would be lower; quite attractive. This option may even yield the strongest profit contribution of all strategies taken into consideration.D) Natural foods channel was growing seven times faster than the supermarket channel.For each of the alternatives provided above, these are the issues that need to be encountered respectively:1. It has the highest level of competitive trading promotion and marketing spending. It would require quarterly trade promotions and a meaning marketing budget. It would also cost Natureview $1. M per region per year. Its SGA would also increase by $320,000 annually. Therefore, it would be a costly approach. Also, to achieve its target, Natureview needed to take advantage of its relationships with the top 11 supermarket retail chains in the Northeast and the top 9 chains in the West and occupy majority of the retail space.2. The difficulty was that new users would not readily â€Å"enter the brand† and adopt a multi-size product. Furthermore, to achieve full national distribution within 12 months it would be a difficult task in of itself.Natureview would need to hire more sales personnel who had experience selling to more sophisticated supermarket channels and establish relationships with the supermarket brokers. This would increase SGA expense costs by $160,000. To add to the complexity of the decision, a competitor was rumored to be launching a line called Bright Vista, which would directly compete with Natureview. Moreover, supermarkets were considering launching their own private-label versions of organic yogurt. Therefore, launching the 32-oz. has its issues of being less noticed in a myriad of different products available.3. Introducing the multi-packs requires R&D and Operations costs. It also conflicts with the premium brand positioning it had worked hard to establish due to supermarkets’ emphasis on sales promotions and inconsistent prices. There were also fears that Natureview’s marketing department was unprepared to handle the demands on resources and staffing that entering the supermarket channel would impose. Supermarket distributors were more demanding in logistics and technology than what Natureview was familiar with. However, it is thought that soon, natural foods channel would embark on similar demands.After reviewing all the alternatives and its issues and benefits, I found that moving into supermarkets could have both positive and negative repercussions. Refraining to expand into supermarkets could put Natureview at a competitive disadvantage, considering there are rumors of Natureview’s competitors expanding into supermarket channels. Supermarkets are potentially a huge market for organic yogurt, considering 97% of all yogurts were purchased through this channel and 46% of organic food consumers shop at supermarkets. Two natural food companies have already entered supermarkets and in doing so have increased their revenues by over 200%.Executing a first mover strategy would be crucial if this plan were to be implemented in order to gain brand equity from new consumers who are transitioning into the organic food market. Furthermore, because price inhibits 58% of consumers from buying organic products, Natureview would have to execute a competitive pricing strategy against non-organic yogurts. However, the expenses associated with it (i. e. the trade promotions and SGAs) are quite expensive to take in. The goal is to obtain an increase in revenues by at least $7M. Costs incurred would be at least $2. M annually just expanding into two regions. Therefore, if Natureview would expand to all four regions, the y would incur $5. 2M in just marketing and SGAs. It is quite an expensive approach, especially since there is the fear that your current customers may disown your brand and look for others. You’ll be charging less per unit and you lose the distinctive brand value that’s associated with your brand, which is a premium yogurt manufacturer. Alternatively, my recommendation would be to introduce the multi-packs for children. Your current 8-oz. product is a cash cow; leave it that way.The method to expand would be to enter a product development strategy and use the same channels for distribution. You’ve built a strong relationship with natural food retailers; continue it by product differentiating. Implement the multi-packs as an option for consumers in the natural food retailers and continue to keep the premium price brand positioning. The last thing you want to do is enter a price war; therefore, keep the same channel distribution you are using but instead, introduc e new products through product differentiation.

Conflict Theory Essay

A. What is Conflict Theory? Farley (2000:73) contends that conflict theory arose primarily from the work of Marx and was continued in the work of C Wright Mills and Ralf Dahrandorf. The general underlying assumption associated with conflict theory is that society is made up of groups with competing self-interests. Often the competing groups have unequal power. People compete for resources that are in scarce supply. Generally, the resources that are in short supply involve wealth and power. Conflict theory generally consists of the following four points. 1. Conflict Built into Society Societies naturally tend toward conflict. This occurs because wealth and power are distributed unequally; therefore, different social groups have different and conflicting interests (Farley, 2000:73). 2. One Group Becomes Dominant Because competing interest groups have unequal power, one group usually becomes dominant. The dominant group then uses its power to control most or all other aspects of the social structure. The dominant group can ensure that society operates in a way that serves the interests of the dominant group. As a result the dominant group controls a vastly disproportionate share of scarce resources such as wealth and social status (Farley, 2000:73-74). 3. Consensus is Artificial When a consensus appears in a society, it is usually artificial and is unlikely to persist over the long run. A Functionalist might argue that consensus is â€Å"necessary† and is, therefore, automatically something desired by all concerned. The conflict theorist contends that a consensus in a society is either based on coercion and/or repression by the dominant group. 4. Conflict in Society is Desirable Conflict is desirable because it makes possible social change which may lead to more equitable distribution of wealth and power (Farley, 2000:74). 5. Ideology A central assumption of Marxist theory is that the distribution of wealth by  and large determines other aspects of society, such as the political system and the characteristics of culture. This includes the norms, values, and beliefs of the culture. The norms, values, and beliefs of the culture are such that they legitimize the control of wealth. Everyone, the rich and poor alike, accept the cultural beliefs as just and correct. Another term for these beliefs is IDEOLOGY. Marx, however, argued that beliefs in the dominant ideology is not in the interest of the subordinate group. Marx referred to the pattern of the subordinate group’s acceptance of an ideology that goes against it’s own self interest as false-consciousness. a. False Consciousness A consensus can also be achieved when a minority group accepts an ideology that is not in its self interest. This is false consciousness. It can occur because the dominant group exerts disproportionate control over the sources of influence and public opinion. It might also come about because the dominant group, through sheer power and force, can create an atmosphere where the subordinate group feels that resistance is futile. In either case, the apparent consensus is fundamentally unstable and is not likely to persist over time (Farley, 2000:74). b. Class Consciousness Racism can only be dealt with by changing the institutions that are the source of racism. Marx called upon the oppressed to realize how dominant ideology serves to oppress the subordinate group. Arrival at this understanding is called class-consciousness. B. Marx Karl Marx’s writings on class conflict, differing class interests, the ownership and control of the means of production, and the exploitation by one class over the other were precursors to the development of conflict theory. Marx saw class and class conflict as the moving forces in history. A dominant class owns the means of production and exploits other classes. It is then in the interests of the dominated classes to overthrow those in positions of dominance and to establish a social order more favorable to their interests (Kitano, 1985:42) (also see Farley, 2000:74-75). C. C Wright Mills and the Role of Intellectuals in Society â€Å"Only when mind has an autonomous basis, independent of power, but powerfully related to it, can  mind exert its force in the shaping of human affairs. This is democratically possible only when there exists a free and knowledgeable public, to which people of knowledge may address themselves, and to which people of power are truly responsible† (C Wright Mills, 1956) V. A Comparison of Functionalism and Conflict Theory Both perspectives can be viewed as two faces of the same society. For example, one of the basic problems facing a nonwhite individual in the functional model is that of high alienation and loss of identity. However, racial conflict, with its ideological apparatus and action system, functions to alleviate alienation and to facilitate an ethnic identity. Group solidarity is enhanced, group boundaries are clarified, and the linkage between the individual and the group is strengthened through personal commitment and social action. In time, the group identity can be extended to the larger system through communication; the individual is exposed to larger social networks and to national core values (Kitano, 1985:43). Farley (2000:75-76) provides two observations regarding the nexus between conflict and functionalist theory. He contends that a synthesis of the two theories is possible. A. Both Theories are Partially Correct Society might operate according to both perspectives. Order and stability might exist in the presence of extreme income inequality. It is possible, for example, that a given institution might serve to make society efficient while at the same time serving the interests of the dominant elite. B. Societies Go through Cycles of Stability and Conflict Societies go through cycles of stability and conflict. Under different circumstances, people behave differently. At one point in time a society may be stable and orderly, where minorities are able to get ahead through hard work. At another point, however, society might be characterized by disorder and conflict where minorities might advance only via protest and rebellion (Farley, 2000:86). VI. The Social Structural Perspective and Social Problems Functionalist and conflict people tend to disagree on two basic elements. One  revolves around the definition of the social problem. The other is the location of the problem (Farley, 2000:76). A. The Definition of Social Problems What is considered a social problem? It is human reaction that makes something a problem. 1. Functionalist For a functionalist, any thing is a problem if it threatens the smooth and efficient running of society. Conflict of most kinds is seen as problematic because conflict threatens consensus. Conflict can potentially have serious consequences if it causes the disruption of society. 2. Conflict Theory For a conflict theorist, on the other hand, social problems include things like poverty and racism and, more generally, the inequitable distribution of wealth and other scarce resources (Farley, 2000:77). B. The Location of Social Problems Where do the two perspectives place the source of social problems (Farley, 2000:77-78)? 1. Functionalist The cause of social problems for a functionalist lies predominantly in the characteristics of the disadvantaged group. For example, functionalist might argue that a minority group lacks the necessary skills that would yield the greatest rewards in society. Or, perhaps the group in question has a culture that is incompatible with the dominant culture. In either case, the burden of change is placed mostly on the disadvantaged group. 2. Conflict Theory Conflict theorists see the source of social problems as being embedded in the exploitative behavior of the dominant group. It is assumed from the conflict perspective that if someone or some group is suffering or placed in a disadvantageous position, there must be some other group (that is more powerful) that benefits from the misery of the disadvantaged group (Farley, 2000:77-78). VII. The Social Structural Perspectives  and Majority-Minority Relations Ethnic stratification refers to a system that distributes scarce resources on an unequal basis according to race and ethnicity (2000:79). A. Functionalist Theories about Majority/Minority Relations A paradox of sorts exists for the functionalists. Inequality, they argue, is desirable in society because it ensures that the most qualified people will get the most important jobs in a society. On the other hand, functionalists contend that ethnic inequality has the potential to cause serious disruption of society (Farley, 2000:78-79). 1. Inequality Functionalist would argue that inequality is necessary in order to create incentives. Some jobs are more necessary than others. They also require more training. To ensure that these jobs are filled by competent individuals, they have to provide more greater rewards. 2. Is Ethnic Stratification Necessary? A functionalist might argue that the stratification must meet some kind of societal need. The problem is that, while a society might need to be stratified (in order to ensure important jobs are filled, etc.), it is not at all clear why ethnic stratification is functional. 3. Ethnocentrism: The Source of Ethnic Stratification In order to understand ethnic stratification, one has to understand ethnocentrism, according to the functionalists (Farley, 2000:80). a. Society’s Need for Consensus Functionalist would argue that ethnocentrism in moderation is functional for a society. The explanation for this lies in society’s need for consensus and to have a shared identity. The only way a society can cooperate is when it shares basic values. Ethnocentrism contributes to this in several ways. b. Ethnic Stratification: An Unfortunate By-product An unfortunate side effect is that aggression might be also directed against an ethnic minority within the society. 4. The Elimination of Ethnic Stratification The methods advocated by functionalists to diminish the effects of ethnocentrism is to: Reduce the cultural differences between the majority and minority group Eliminate legal and other barriers set up by the dominant group which excludes minorities. Ensure that the minority groups  develop skills that would allow them to participate in a society. This approach leads to assimilation, which is the process whereby minorities are fully integrated into the system and becomes culturally similar to the majority group. (Farley, 2000:80). B. Conflict Theories about Majority/Minority Relations The conflict theories tend to see majority minority relationships as a matter of domination and exploitation. The conflict perspective is, in essence, a critique of functionalism. Many argue that functionalism is merely a justification for inequality (Farley, 2000:81). 1. Ethnic Stratification: Not an Unfortunate By-product Ethnic stratification exists because it serves the interests of the dominant elite. It occurs because of the exploitative nature of the majority group as a whole or because of the exploitative nature of a wealthy elite within the majority group (Farley, 2000:83). 2. Inequality is Inherited, Not Earned The necessity of stratification for productive purposes is also called into question. Stratification cannot act as an incentive because inequality is inherited, not earned. In order for inequality to work the way the functionalist claim, there would have to be free mobility between generations. Example: The daughter of a share cropper, who is very bright, should have the same chance of becoming a medical doctor as anyone else. 3. Planned Shortages It is also argued that the shortages found in highly demanding jobs often exist because professional organizations restrict entry into the profession — not because there is a shortage of qualified people (Farley, 2000:83). C. Varieties of Conflict Theory in Race and Ethnic Relations 1. Marxist Theories Farley (2000:85) contends that Marxists see inequality as being based mainly on class. There are two – those who own the means of production and the rest of society who works for wages. Marxist see racism as a mechanism that keeps the working class from recognizing their own interests. It divides workers. While minorities fight with each other, wages remain low and profits remain high. Marxists believe that workers would be best serves by putting aside their racial and ethnic differences and to act on their common class interests. 2. Split Labor Market Theories Split-Labor Market Theory argues that there are three classes: There owners of the means of production, higher paid laborers and lower paid laborers. The owners are interested in getting the best workers for the lowest wage. The higher paid workers, on the other hand, are trying to protect their jobs from competition from lower paid workers. One means the higher-paid workers use to protect their interests is to discriminate against lower-paid ethnic workers (Farley, 2000:85). 3. Internal Colonialism Internal colonialism theory argues that societal inequality as largely racial and ethnic (Farley, 2000:85). The dominant racial or ethnic group establishes a system of inequality for the benefit of the dominant racial or ethnic group. The oppressed (Blacks, Mexicans, Native Americans) are involuntarily brought under the rule of the dominant group. Internal colonialism argues that the dominant group promotes a racist ideology, it attacks the culture of the people who are dominated. It isolates the dominated from mainstream labor markets. The dominant group rationalizes exploitation through myths of the cultural inferiority of the oppressed. VIII. Culture of Poverty Oscar Lewis, author of La Vita (1965), coined the term â€Å"Culture of Poverty† (also see Edward C. Banfield, The Unheavenly City Revisited, 1974). The essence of Culture of Poverty theory holds that poor people share deviant cultural characteristics. The poor have lifestyles that differ from the rest of society and that these characteristics perpetuate their life of poverty. According to the Culture of Poverty thesis (in Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994:173) â€Å"the poor are qualitatively different in values and that these cultural differences explain continued poverty.† The Culture of Poverty Theory is a functionalist theory. Eitzen and Baca-Zinn (1994:173) maintain that there is a strong implication embedded in the Culture of Poverty that defects in the lifestyle of the poor [cultural deprivation] perpetuate  poverty. Such defects are passed from one generation to the next. Under these circumstances it is extremely difficult for people, once trapped by the Culture of Poverty, to escape poverty. Characteristics that typify the Culture of Poverty exist across a variety of racial and ethnic groups. While these characteristics (see below) are certainly present in poverty populations, Culture of Poverty Theory leaves the impression that they typify all poor people. THAT IS A FALLACY! The following characteristics typify the culture of poverty. Some may be accurate in some settings. Some may have had explanatory powers a few decades ago, but today are no longer accurate. Some are contradictory. They all tend to present negative connotations. All are highly stereotypical. Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty 1. Parents are more permissive in raising their children. They are less verbal with their children. Family-heads display a strong disposition toward authoritarianism. 2. Children raised in poverty also have drastically different orientations in life when compared to middle-class children. There is an absence of childhood. Children experience an early initiation to sex. 3. Families often form based upon free unions or consensual marriage. This partially explains the trend toward female-headed homes. 4. The poor are more fatalistic. One might expect that a poor person would believe the following idea: â€Å"What will be will be and I can’t change it.† 5. The poor are less apt to defer gratification. Banfield argues that the essence of the poor subculture is its present-time orientation. He asserts that the poor do not know how to defer gratification (see Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994:173). 6. The poor are less interested in formal education. Source: Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994, and Farley, 1988 The Culture of Poverty theory argues that the characteristics presented above enable the poor to adapt to poverty. For example, the lack of childhood happens because sometimes poor children have to begin working at an early age. Moreover, poor children have to â€Å"hustle† to survive. There is no time to be young. To act young is a sign of weakness. The absences of privacy and competition for limited goods are self-explanatory characteristics of poverty. Perhaps the strong disposition toward authoritarianism is necessary  because of the hard choices that poverty provides. A. The Moynihan Report The Culture of Poverty is a functionalist approach to poverty. It assumes a â€Å"right† or â€Å"correct† culture and a deviant culture. The poor are poor and are likely to remain poor because their culture deviates from the norm. The Moynihan Report (1965) is an example of a study that (perhaps inadvertently) borrows aspects of the Culture of Poverty to explain African-American poverty. Its goal was to explain continued poverty in the 1960s. The Moynihan Study accurately pointed out that much of the poverty associated with the Black community was due to a history of slavery and economic oppression (unemployment). It also called attention to the necessity of altering one’s lifestyle as a means to cope with poverty. Moynihan, however, ultimately came to concentrate on the characteristics of the Black family that required changing, rather than the system of oppression that needed changing. B. A Critique of the Moynihan Report and the Culture of Poverty 1. It Blames the victim The most important criticism of the report is that it put the blame for poverty on the victim. Blaming the victim places the burden of change on the victim and removes it from society. From the Culture of Poverty perspective, poverty is viewed as the fault of the poor in that, their culture, not social injustice, causes and perpetuates poverty. The implied assumption is that until the poor changes their â€Å"culture,† no amount of government intervention will solve the problem of poverty. 2. Negative Emphasis on Female-headed Families Another objection to the Culture of Poverty thesis revolves around the negative emphasis placed upon female-headed families. Female-headed families do not ensure a life of poverty. Children of single-parent family perform well in school. They do not have greater problems with mental health. Poverty, of course, affects both. Poverty, not single-parenting, generates social problems like illiteracy and crime, not single-parenting. Furthermore, single-parent are usually women and women are placed in economically disadvantaged positions due to the structure of the economy that pays women only 68 percent the salary that it pays men. THIS IS NOT  CULTURAL. It’s SYSTEMIC. 3. The Attack on Divorce There appears, imbedded in culture of poverty theory, an attack on divorce. There is no evidence that divorce, itself, causes poverty. Sometimes divorce can lead to better social adjustment. Since 1957, as the number of divorces has risen, the percentage of people saying they are happy with their marriage has also risen from 67 percent to 80 percent (footnote missing!). People who focus on the problems associated with single-parent families also forget the positive impact of the extended family. The extended family supports single-parent families by providing grandparents, aunts, and even friends. 4. Most Black Families are Not Poor Other problems with the Moynihan Report pertain to the implied image that the majority of Black families are typically broken homes. The poverty rate for Blacks is about 30 percent. That means that 70 percent of Black families are above the poverty line. Furthermore, while focusing on the characteristics of the Black family, the Moynihan Report does not attack aspects of the social structure that put one group at a disadvantage when compared to another. With the Black family, the disadvantage flows from historically based discrimination (which included forced breakups of families while under slavery), high levels of unemployment, and welfare laws that encourage one parent families. 5. Poor People Do Not Have Radically Different Lifestyles Finally, the culture of poverty contains the assumption that families living in poverty have radically different outlooks than middle-class families. Elliot Liebow in Street Corner Man (as referenced in Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994:173) suggests that most poor people, in fact, attempt to live by society’s values. Their struggle is frustrated by externally imposed failures. Most people who are poor would prefer to escape poverty via a good job. Good jobs that poor people are eligible for are rare. Liebow suggests that the characteristics associated with the culture of poverty are those that appear when individuals try to achieve goals defined by society, but who fail to achieve society’s goals because society has not provided means to achieve those goals. These are the proverbial blocked opportunities. 6. One-Way Adaptation? Culture of Poverty proponents argue that the poor adapt to a lifestyle which allows them to deal with poverty. They tend to assume that one these lifestyles have been adopted, they become institutionalized with poor culture making it very difficult fort the poor to escape the culture of poverty. One might ask that if it is so easy to adopt to poverty lifestyles, that it might be just as easy to adopt to a middle class lifestyle one that lifestyle is provided. C. Concluding Observations Concerning the Culture of Poverty In short, rather than blaming the victim for his or her biology or for his or her culture, public policy planners might more appropriately focus their attention on the economic characteristics of society. The United States is one of the richest countries on earth. Simultaneously it has the greatest levels of inequality in the First World. Social structure, not genetics or culture causes poverty. Solutions to poverty are political. In 1973 after LBJ’s â€Å"War on Poverty† the poverty rate fell to an all-time low. One might look to other First-World counties for inspiration. Scandinavian counties, for example, have very low levels of poverty and they are culturally diverse. IX. Culture of Poverty and Welfare Policy Farley (2000:91-92) argues that this debate is directly relevant to welfare policy in the United States. [Remember: your perspective of the source of the problem influences how you perceive solutions] A. The Functionalist Perspectives From the functionalist court comes a positive and negative viewpoint. Both points of view see the existence of poverty as being related to family structure. 1. Moynihan Moynihan argues that the existence of single parent is a major cause of poverty. He contends that government programs are necessary to alleviate poverty in these homes. 2. Murray Murray, on the other hand believes that welfare makes it possible for people to survive poverty without working. He argues that welfare support reinforces the culture of poverty. B. The Conflict Perspective Conflict theorists are skeptical of both points of view. Rather than   structure being the source of poverty, structural problems, like the concentration of the poor in inner cities, is the source of poverty. While functionalist desire to rehabilitate the individual that is poor, conflict theory advocates structural solutions like job creation in inner city neighborhoods.

Childbirth and Midwifery Caring Person Essay

Midwifery became my passion at the age of 10, when my step-mother became pregnant. This sparked off my fascination with all aspects of pregnancy, insisting that I attended every antenatal appointment that I could. From this I discovered what a vital role midwives play in caring for mother and baby in the months leading up to the birth, the labour and the postnatal period. After having this interest for quite some time, I feel my aim now is to prosper in this subject by attending a university course; this will enable me to gain a greater understanding of the medical and practical side of midwifery. As two of my core qualities is to care and nurture, I feel I possess two of the vital attributes to pursue a career within the Health and My aspiration for a career in midwifery is reflected in my A-level choices, where good time keeping, self-motivated study skills and ability to cope under pressure and stress are essential. From studying Biology I have gained further knowledge of human biology, learning more about how our major body organs function and genes and genetic engineering. I found this particularly interesting as it is linked to reproduction. Since studying Psychology, I have gained a better understanding of people and how their minds perform. I can apply this knowledge to the way I interact and understand people in certain situations as my interpersonal skills have been expanded. Both of these subjects tested my ability to recall large volumes of knowledge, which has given me practice for similar situations that I will face whilst studying for a degree. Studying modules in Health and Social Care such as communication and values, and positive care environments has given me a greater awareness of how to communication verbally and physically to people, and how this is interpreted by them. Investigating disease has made me conscious of how easily diseases are spread, their effects and ways of preventing them. This is particularly important when working in a hospital environment, and being around pregnant women and young babies, as they are highly susceptible to infections. I am currently working on an Extended Project Qualification, my title is ‘What are the risks associated with teenage pregnancy and what are the roles of their midwives? ‘ Whilst carrying out this project I have learnt more about the challenges midwives face, and how they overcome them. It has also given me an insight into a specialist area of midwifery, caring for young people. Outside my academic studies, I volunteer at my local hospital. My role is to hand out beverages to the patients, and talk to them. This is important as it boosts their morale. I regularly volunteer on the maternity and gynaecology ward, and have experience on many other wards. This has given me an insight into the roles of different health professionals, and witness part of the process of midwifery. From this I have become more confident and comfortable in a hospital setting, and have a greater awareness of current NHS practices. This experience has also expanded my interpersonal and communication skills, I feel it also represents the committed and caring attitude of my personality. I have a part-time job in a clothes shop. From working in a retail environment and coming into contact with members of the public I have learnt how to work under pressure. It has also improved my organisational and time keeping skills and demonstrated the hardworking side of my character. I am excited by the prospect of having a high level of responsibility and independence that corresponds with university life. I am aware of the demands and challenges that I will face during my studies and within in a medical career, but my commitment and desire to become a midwife has been strengthened by my life and work experiences and the job satisfaction that I will gain from it. To gain practical experience I have recently applied

Starbucks Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Starbucks Analysis - Assignment Example In addition, the products of Starbucks are of high quality (Company spotlight: Starbucks 2010, p. 30). This is because Starbucks has been focusing to give its customers the best coffee and is not willing to compromise the quality. Notably, Starbucks also enjoys strategic locations and has an aesthetic appeal of its stores. This enables Starbucks to be accessible to customers from premium locations, high traffic regions, office buildings, and other countries with potential customers (Michelli 2007, p. 58). This enables Starbucks to take advantage of prime markets easily because of the design of the stores and the strategic location, presenting the customers with a level of convenience. The company has an effective human resource management team and strategies. This explains why its employees are highly knowledgeable and retained or long periods. The fact that Starbucks has social responsibility initiatives has led to goodwill among its customers, promoting the company’s sales. Lately, Starbucks has launched a diverse product mix, which will serve to satisfy the needs of different customers and is an outstanding strength. Worth noting is the fact that many customers of the Starbucks Company exhibit loyalty to the brand and have been regular customers for over 20 years. Moreover, Starbucks has also embraced technology and introduced mobile through its partnership with the Apple Company. The â€Å"App† makes use of either android or Apple software and contributes to the company’s growth (Senatore, Yang, & Wing 2011, p. 41). One of the notable weaknesses of the Starbucks Company is that its products are expensive. In the effort to give a unique Starbucks’s experience, Starbucks products are premium and may lack customers in the developing world. Worth noting is the fact that Starbucks has established numerous stores in certain regions leading to overcrowding. This eventually leads to self-cannibalization (Starbucks Corporation 2014, p. 15).

Kodak and Fujifilm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Kodak and Fujifilm - Essay Example Since 1976, Kodak captured large market of camera and film in US (85% and 90% respectively). Photofinishing processes of Kodak soon became industry standard in terms of quality. It always had competitive advantage over its competitors due to the operation and scope of its business. This assisted Kodak for having sustainable growth for around 90 years. However, from 1980s and 1990s, Kodak began to encounter problems in terms of revenues, marker share, technological explosion, and competitors (Schreiner, 2012). As Kodak strives for survival, its biggest competitor Fujifilm enjoys the renaissance of innovation. For Canon and Nikon, innovations with sensors, Fujifilm emerges as a genuine threat to Kodak. In 2010, Fujifilm maintained its place in Fortune Global 500. Even though, the company is now striving to keep up with its current position by diversifying into new similar businesses. Fujifilm was established in Japan in 1934. It has made its place as a leader in videotape, motion pictu re photography, floppy disk, and audio tape industries. It is also involved in manufacturing camcorders, still cameras, chemicals and paper, photofinishing equipment, information and imaging products for medical and office use markets. The company introduced dry plates, motion picture film, and photographic paper. While Kodak goes bankrupt on 13 January 2012, its long time competitor Fujifilm is flourishing fairly well. ... It was so hierarchical that low-level employees needed to wait for top-management in every situation. To get over this inflexible hierarchy, he made himself accessible, and visible and encouraged employees to take more responsibility. Leadership of Kodak has also been inconsistent. The strategy of the company changes with every new chief executive. The biggest management flaw at Kodak was their monopolistic attitude. On the other hand, Fujifilm was efficient in anticipating change and taking quick decisions. Fujifilm took advantage from the weaknesses of Kodak and snatched the market share in a short span of time (Kotter, 2012). Impact of Management Differences The execution strategy of Fujifilm is what gave it an edge over Kodak. In 1980s, when Fujifilm observed the omens of digital doom it established a three-step strategy. i. To earn as much revenues from the film business as possible ii. To prepare for converting to digital iii. To establish new business lines (The Economist, 201 2) Fujifilm looked for new venues for its specialization in film for instance, developing optical films for flat panel screens such as LCD. Since 2000, it invested approximately $4 billion in the business. It paid off very soon. In a short span of time, Fujifilm began to enjoy a market share of 100% in this area. CEO of Kodak, Fisher decided that its specialization lay in imaging. Therefore, he turned out digital cameras and offered it customer with a feature of posting and sharing pictures online. This production could have made Kodak more creative and nimble but he failed to outsource. Yet, Kodak managed to build a monumental business from digital camera but it persisted for only few years before the phones having camera wrecked it

The Crime of Mayhem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Crime of Mayhem - Essay Example For example, earlier this summer there was a report of a â€Å"woman whose dismembered body was found inside a suitcase and black plastic bag in a West Virginia creek [who] apparently was stabbed to death† (http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0806/354752.html). This appears to be a classic case of attempted disposal of the evidence following a murder. Another case, reported in 2005, was that of a Purdue University graduate student whose dismembered remains were found in a vehicle that has been abandoned in parking garage (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20050901/ai_n15613591). In this case, the victim’s wife was the prime suspect, as he was reported missing â€Å"the same day his wife was expected to plead guilty to injuring him in a stabbing last Christmas in their Lafayette, Ind., apartment.† There is some international intrigue involved in this scenario, as the victim’s wife apparently fled to China following the crime. Mayhem has proven to be a shocking and depraved crime that has served such purposes as disposal of evidence, victim torture and sexual gratification of the perpetrator. As such, it is a severe aggravating factor when other crimes are present, as they often

Is CSR a myth a study of the sourcing strategies of the UK food Essay

Is CSR a myth a study of the sourcing strategies of the UK food retailers - Essay Example The study suggests that future marketing opportunities is in providing the consumers with products that deliver value and these should contain ethical social values. This is because the UK consumer is still ethically consciousness and is willing to pay the price for it. However, the retailers are quick to charge a premium while also passing on the burden of cost-effective sourcing to the suppliers. The retailers need to understand that to retain loyal customers they would need to take care of the concerns of the consumers. Some retailers have gone to the extent of selling most of the products in the region where it is produced. This enhances customer relationship and is also cost effective as the supply chains are shorter. Moreover chances of contamination increase in larger supply chains. Overall, the UK food retailers discharge their CSR only to a limited extent. They also adhere to the fair-trade norms to the extent that they have to fulfill the government regulations imposed upon them. They need to attend to the concerns of all the stakeholders and have to ensure that their sourcing is cost effective. Volume purchases at the international level fetches them this benefit. However, not all retailers follow this strategy and some have actually integrated CSR into their strategy not because of the benefits that it gives but because they recognize that they must give back something to the society.

Advancements in Molecular Imaging Research Paper

Advancements in Molecular Imaging - Research Paper Example r imaging involves many processes, hence, it encompasses many fields; target discovery, cell biology, chemistry, disease modeling, data processing, imaging and clinical research. The field is undergoing a lot of advancements that would enable it perform other tasks. Currently, further research efforts have been concentrated towards ensuring that the technology can bring about discovery of newer and more efficient ways to treat diseases and various pathologies in living organisms. With emergency of new tools, researchers are now able to solve problems that were previously difficult to solve. There are now different various molecular imaging tools that have enabled scientists to experiment on gene products in vivo. Notable technological advancements in this field include the discovery of new optical imaging techniques which is a forward step in molecular imaging in that, researchers are now able to work efficiently and proficiently (Baldwin, 2010). Some latest advancement in molecular imaging includes MRI, PET and optical imaging. Pet has ensured that there is an improvement in tumor detection so that tumors are treated and managed early and better. New MRI systems that have been developed have an improved field strength and enhanced radiofrequency. Tumor detection and management has also been made moirà © efficient through the technology of monoclonal antibody imaging. This is one of the latest discoveries in the field, and it has ensured that researchers of tumors are able to come up with better ways of discovering and treating tumor cases. This has revolutionalised clinical diagnosis of tumors (Baldwin, 2010). This is also referred to as radioimmunoscintigraphy (RIS) and it involves the use of laboratory developed molecules (monoclonal antibodies) that are able to attach themselves to particular cancer cells. From this, it is possible to visualize the pictures of the cancer cells inside the body. The monoclonal antibody is usually labeled with a radioactive atom

What competitive advantages would Amazon have over Wal-Mart Stores in Assignment

What competitive advantages would Amazon have over Wal-Mart Stores in doing business outside the United States - Assignment Example Wal-Mart is the second largest employer in the world. It is one of the most important organizations in the world. Its annual sales stood at $419 billion in 2010 (Roberts & Berg, 2012, p. 2). Its goods and merchandise products are sold to both the upper income level and lower income group people in US. The chief motto behind Wal Mart’s success is that it offers goods at unbelievingly low prices to it customer. Efficient logistics and inventory and by using the concept of just – in- time Wal-Mart became a world leader in retail market (Roberts & Berg, 2012, p .144). Amazon that was founded in 1995 was honored by Business Week in 2009 with its customer service award. It created a new way of shopping by placing orders over the e internet. Amazon is listed in the fortune 500 companies with revenue more than $19 billion. Customers were highly satisfied with the service and the timely dispatch of its goods (Dunne, Lusch & Carver, 2010, p.529). Amazon began its business b y sel ling books online. Presently Amazon offers songs sample of songs for the convenience of the retailers to hear it from their computers. It also offers a unique facility known as mass customization where in a previous customer is shown a page of listed books and other goods catering to the customers’ choice and preference (Ander & Stern, 2004, p. 75). Literature review Amazon and Wal-Mart have expanded their network of retail chains outside US recently. Amazon has set up its retail stores in countries like China in 2004 and India lately. It latest venture outside US was in Brazil. It expects to set up a digital book store in the country (Israel, 2012). It wishes to cater to the kindle e- reader and publish books in Portuguese as per the demands of the publishers and industry of Brazil. Amazon’s strategy to launch a digital book store would be a good strategy as far as the infrastructure system in Brazil is concerned. In Brazil, the infrastructure system is poor and the t axes implied are high. The biggest advantage Amazon would have in setting up a digital store in Brazil is that it will help the people in saving money and cut the expenses made on paying high duty taxes. This move is directly with the mission and vision statement of the firm which is to become a leader in low cot strategy. The online retail market in Brazil is expected to grow at 25 percent from 2012 onwards so it provides the golden opportunity for Amazon to penetrate the market now. The strategy adopted by Amazon in Brazil is to sell its popular kindle model at a price lower than its competitors. It has also entered into contracts with publishers to set up a portfolio of 10,000 digital books. Now, this strategy adopted by Amazon can prompt other competitors to set up their base in Brazil too (Israel, 2012). The paper next discusses the case of Wal-Mart next when it tried to set up its stores there in 1995. In 1995, Wal-Mart entered Brazil and opened its chain of retail shops (Dola n, 2004). But it failed to be successful as was reported in the article Latin America: Bumps in Brazil  by Kerry. A. Dolan. It had 25 shops and was the sixth largest retailer in Brazil but compared to it the rival firm then Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao which had 499 shops , Wal mart failed to a large extent because of their failure to increase acquisitions. There were problems with the distribution system too as customers had to wait for long hours to get their products. In March 2004, Wal mart purchased 118 Bompreco stores but it was located in the poorer section of

A Historiographical Examination on Ernst Junger's Ideas Essay

A Historiographical Examination on Ernst Junger's Ideas - Essay Example During and after the war, he wrote and edited many books and right-wing journals. These included Storm of Steel (1920), Die totale Mobilmachung-1930 (The Total Mobilization), Der Arbeiter-1932 (The Worker), On Marble Cliffs-1947, On Pain, Der Vormarsch amongst others. Through his real life and writing, he has influenced German literature and modern studies of WWII. The backbone of his writings, ideas and ideologies are greatly influenced by his military career and experiences in WWII. His writings give a peek into his thoughts and ideologies, and these have been reviewed by many writers and critics who in the end judge him variously as a militarist, a nationalist, or as a fascist. And others say he is among the greatest writers of modern Germany and a personification of the conservative revolutionary movement. Nevin asserts that Junger is one of the most controversial 21st Century writers in Europe with a remarkable writing career spanning five periods of the history of modern Germany1. In his book, Ernest Junger and Germany: Into the Abyss, Nevin avers that Ernst Junger was ‘politically incorrect writer par- excellence’. He treats him not as the ‘national institution’ the public and press viewed him, but as a contradictory figure whose actions include his parable attacking despotism in 1939 and refusing to join the Nazi party when he was assumed to be a fascist. These confirm Junger’s contradictory and controversial nature2. Though a brilliant writer, Ernst Junger is dismissed as militarist and nationalist, a trait clearly witnessed in his Die totale Mobilmachung-1930 (The Total Mobilization) and Der Arbeiter-1932 (The Worker). In the two books, Junger paints a dictatorial state coordinated along military lines embodied by the star worker3.

World War I - Why did the Senate choose to Ratify the Treaty of Essay

World War I - Why did the Senate choose to Ratify the Treaty of Versailles - Essay Example Article 10 of the League Covenant required a pledge that all the Nations in the League come to help one another in case of an attack against any of them. The lack of a clause that such action could only be materialized through a unanimous vote of the council infuriated the Senate. Clearly the only solution was to stay away from any European conspiracy and conclude a separate peace with Germany. While Wilson’s Fourteen Points forced Germany to sign a blank check as an account for the damages of the War, they had to go through an inevitable bout of isolationism, which could have resulted in the rise of Hitler and the II World War. Moreover the major European nations like Britain, France and Italy felt that Wilson’s view of the League of Nations may affect their national interests – thus impeding his vision of a World Parliament. The Senate’s opposition was based mostly on its fear that the situation will lead to other major European conflicts, which was not at all unfounded. Moreover, America as a nation had an isolationist stance at that time, never wanting to get involved in international political turmoil. The Senate wanted to be left alone and not be dragged into the new world order. They were strongly against the Versailles Treaty and refused to ratify

The importance of learning Essay Example for Free

The importance of learning Essay The importance of learning is not caged around the four corners of a classroom. Surely we do not want to be the stereotype of an out-of-touch scholar, at home among abstractions but bewildered by the mention of reality. Or the student, who, after four-five years of studying in a university, asks, â€Å"Where’s the clinic? † With the hardships that a student experiences (poverty, isolation in study, underworked muscles, deadlines, and projects), there must be an outlet in which he could forget and enjoy, at least temporarily. Joining an organization that offers learning through recreation and other extra-curricular activities could be an effective outlet. Extra-curricular activities like joining an organization would help you boost your confidence. In charismatic groups, they don’t just pray and praise. They sing, dance, read, go camping, and do lots of other stuff that involves fun. But many are not able to use their talents for the simple reason that they have not even discovered yet where and how to reveal them. An organization is the perfect place that could help you expose your talents. More so, it gives you a sense of belonging, a feeling that says, â€Å"Ah, so here’s the flock that I should fly with! † Fraternities and sororities can be an option, since they promise protection and support from brothers and sisters. Be careful to choose the right ones, though. Therefore, it is important that you do not restrict yourself in one corner. Move on to the larger scope of things. To develop fully as individual and become well rounded person, one must discover his or her potentials and share them to others. And what better way than to join extra-curricular activities! Of course, joining an organization or group entails the hardships in managing time and adjusting to a new group of people. But then, if you love the group you are in or are interested in improving yourself, all these problems could not possibly overshadow the fun and the lessons you’ll learn. The Student Accountancy Society is one of the busiest organizations in the University of Northern Illinois. Yet it is just amazing how these accounting students still manage to keep up with their studies, get remarkably high grades, and at the same time excel in different extra-curricular activities. â€Å"It is a matter of time management and setting priorities. It is difficult, because sometimes you have to sacrifice your studies if needed in the organization,† says the one member of the group. However, despite his hectic schedule, he sees to it that he catches up on whatever he would miss in his classes. It is no joke being in an organization because they have other things to do aside from their ordinary student life: accounting seminars, quiz bowls for different levels, tutorial sessions before major exams, outreach programs, book assistance and others. Since learning is not only achieved inside the four walls of the classroom some of our very own accounting students â€Å"go out to the world† and stand out bringing a good name to the school. But behind the glory and high reputation is the struggle of every accounting student to survive. He has no assurance until where and when he’d last in the â€Å"battle. † According to some professors however, IQ is not the only thing that matters in the working but EQ as well, and that the department aims to form the students holistically and not just academically; hence, students are enjoined to get involved in sports, public, speaking, and others. Accounting students often get the impression of being so much focused and are so serious that they do not have time for fun. Well, actually they do. They have this Meet the Intern Night that they hold once a year which is a in a way, encouraging Accounting freshmen to be part of the group. It is also the time when different levels show their talents and compete in different fields. At the forefront of the university is a student. No amount of forced hypnosis, teaching methodology or subtle encouragement could sway him in finding or nor finding any meaning to, say, a seminar with the internationally acclaimed with an internationally acclaimed speaker. He should be the one to look for motivation and self-esteem; he should be the one to impose volunteerism and creativity; he should be the one to regulate the daily dragging routine of a true leader who shuns leadership, opportunity, work and achievements. The students should be the ones to drum on their head s the importance of extra-curricular activities, the purpose of student body or the meaning of a student organization. Work Cited â€Å"Extra-curricular activities. † 2008. Collegeboard. com, Inc. 16 October 2008 http://www. collegeboard. com/student/plan/high-school/113. html

Cultural Differences Between Countries

Cultural Differences Between Countries Abstract Objectives To explore to what extend the cultural differences between countries affect the education of emigrant children and also address the issues related to it. Background The importance of cultural differences is getting more and more in the present age. There exist a number of multi-cultural societies and a lot of people have to work or collaborate across geographical or cultural borders. This phenomenon is also affecting the educational system of countries around the world. The children from a different cultural background have to face a number of issues while studying in a foreign school. Nevertheless, emigrant children have equal rights to study in a school. Education is a fundamental right for children regardless of their cultural background. Methods Literature search was done on Pub Med, Google books, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Questia.com and ZETOC. The key words that were used for searching were emigrant, education, cultural differences, and cultural issues. Selection Criteria Several studies were selected for critical appraisal which has different methodological approaches. The study made use of qualitative, quantitative as well as mixed approaches. A scale was used in the quantitative research study which displayed the critical analysis done by the author. Introduction The world has now turned into a global village. The advances in information technology have made it easier to travel across geographical borders and communicate across time and space. But unfortunately the technological revolution hasnt done anything to facilitate better communication inter-culturally. In order to have an effective collaboration between cultures, efforts must be made to develop common shared meanings. For that purpose, we have to understand the cultural differences among us and share cultural information. Background Globalization has lessened the importance of boundaries between countries. People now travel across borders for job, education, trade, and leisure. The past decade has witnessed an immense increase in the number of emigrants in almost all developed countries. Countries like USA and UK are flooded with emigrants. Majority of them reach here for job assignments and business purposes. The new environment may not be quite welcoming to these people. They may find a number of factors there that hurt their cultural values and beliefs. For this purpose, most of the companies provide cross-cultural training for their expatriate employees. But the effect of these cultural differences on their family members is often neglected. The most affected group among the emigrant population is the children. They often have to face a variety of issues while studying in a new educational system. And they are the most affected by these cultural differences. Adler (1997) proposed that culture, values, attitude and behaviors are interconnected and influence each other in a society. Values are aspects that have a direct or indirect impact on our decisions. Values can be both conscious and unconscious. Values of an individual are affected by his culture. It is through attitudes that a person expresses his values and makes us react in a particular manner. Thus a persons attitude is being revealed indirectly through his actions. Any form of human action can be considered as behavior. Thus the overall culture of a society is affected by the behavior of its people. Hence culture cannot exist without peoples behavior. The education system of each country is different and is influenced by the native culture and norms. Hence the emigrant children will be encountered with certain issues that could happen due to these cultural disparities. The situation of emigrant children into schools and other educational institutions will be depend upon the type of school, duration of attending, evidences for achievement etc. In some countries like Germany, migrant children enroll at a late age and at a lower rate compared to their peers. Another aspect that invites criticism regarding enrolment is the placement of emigrant children in lower than their age-appropriate schools. This situation cannot be avoided in schools where they are no transitory classes. But with this the emigrant kids remain in this situation due to lack of motivation and support for catching up with native kids of same age. Hence these kids end up as low performers with less academic qualifications. They are considered as secondary citizens. Even when this is an issue that needs immediate concern, there is a dearth of research being done in this area. Critical Appraisal There has been many studies done on the cultural issues of emigrants but research on the specific cultural problems affecting the education of emigrant children is limited. Culture itself is very sensitive area. Huijser (2006) defined culture as a groups set of shared norms and values, expressed in the behavior of its group members. According to Schein (1991), culture is the shared norms, values and modes of behavior that characterize a group of individuals. His model views culture at three levels-the visible artifact level, values, and basic underlying assumptions. The first level focuses on the visible aspects of culture like food and clothing. The second level is mainly concerned with the beliefs about what is right and wrong. The third level reflects on the basic beliefs about human nature and its relationship with others. The emigrant life as well as that of expatriates can be related more to the artifact or value levels. A number of writers have applied the culture concept to national cultures and have developed dimensions on which national cultures differ (Trompenaars, 1993) There are six dimensions on the basis of which cultural differences can be analyzed (Adler 1997). These dimensions are: Understanding the nature of people The persons relationship to the external environment The persons relationship to other people The primary mode of activity. Peoples orientation to space The persons temporal orientation. Apart from the above, language and communication skills can also be considered as dimensions to cultural differences (Gudykunst, 1986; Tannen, 1990). An emigrant can be defined as a national who is living in a foreign land on a temporary basis for work reasons (Sayad 2004). The extent to which the cultural beliefs are different from one country to another is known as cultural distance (Kogut Singh, 1988). Thus cultures vary from country to country based upon the dimensions (Brouthers Brouthers 2001). The cultural distance can be challenging for emigrants since they have to adapt to a new different culture (Black Mendenhall, 1992). The work performance, ability to accomplish tasks as well as socialization is being affected by this cultural distance (Stahl Caliguri, 2005). It is always useful to identify and understand the personal characteristics of individuals who could reduce the distance between the emigrant and the natives since the emigrants would get into close ties with these people (Harrison, Shaffer Bhaskar-Shrinivas, 2004). If there is high cultural distance, that means there exists customs and values which are unfamiliar to the emigrant. Gaining experience in different cultural context would help the emigrant to develop a global mindset and can cause an overall transformation of identity (Kohonen 2005; Sanchez, Spector Cooper, 2000). Adapting to a different environment demands the emigrant for self-examining ones own behavior and as the disparity between home and host culture increases, greater the need for self-examination. A sense making process is considered to be behind this event and there also exists a sense of coherence which integrates the personal characteristics with ones own previous experiences (Glanz, William Hoeksema, 2001; Stahl, Miller Tung, 2002). Those individuals who are capable of adapting effectively are considered to be social brokers who could integrate the opinions and suggestions obtained from people with local interpretation schemes or cultural expectations. Those who have migrated to a destination country at a younger age and completed primary and high school are mostly economically powerful as they know the language and are culturally inclined (Chiswick and Miller, 1996). In US studies related to the immigrant children have shown that blacks and Latinos have lesser grades than natives, while a child of second generation born to a native mother also has a higher chance of attaining graduation (Bankston and Zhou, 2002). Educational and societal systems in a country affect the immigrant children in a wide variety of ways (Dronkers and de Heus, (2010)). Educational systems in different countries are organized in different ways. The performance and achievement of emigrant children with respect to education is measured based on standardization, differentiation and the availability of resources in the destination and origin countries (Shavit and Mà ¼ller, 1998; Wà ¶ssmann, 2003; Buchmann and Hannum, 2001). If a countrys educational system is more differentiated taking into account the social characteristics, it is seen that the native students outperform immigrant students in the country (OECD 2007). A study by Ammermà ¼ller (2005) showed that those students who have options to choose different school types have a better chance of performing well. In order to study the effect of characteristics of both origin and destination countries and the educational system in these countries, Levels et al. (2008) took into consideration the political, cultural and economic macro-characteristics. Educational performance of immigrant children is affected by the countries educational system only if the child has received a part of the education in origin country. According to Rumbaut (2004) there is difference in the academic performance of immigrant children who migrated at an early age to the destination country and those who have migrated at a later age. The choice of schools and educational institutions and their differentiation is largely influenced by the choices of parents in case of younger children (Pfeffer 2008). Thus the knowledge of parents in this respect is an important resource. It is also observed that those immigrants who have are of a lower class in the society in terms of education, economy and knowledge of educational ins titutions etc. will choose a lower stream of educational institution for their children. The lack knowledge of the language and culture acts as a base for this to happen. (van de Werfhorst and van Tubergen, 2007). Dronkers, (2010), revealed that the individual cultural and family background of the students influenced the way they performed in the academically. In case of education system migrant students are always at a disadvantage. The scientific performance of students in politically unstable countries is poor. The scientific literacy of immigrants are influenced or in one way affected by the cultural, social and economic characteristics of the origin and destination countries. There exist a large difference in the culture of one country and other, these results in less understanding among the different groups in the country and the immigrant population (Owen, Eisner and McFaul, 1981). Conclusion There are various issues the affect the emigrant children, one of the most important issue concerning them is their education. Numerous studies and researches have been conducted in this regard. Cultural variations in a country affect the educational performance of emigrant children. Religion an important aspect of culture in a origin and destination country also effect the emigrant education (Dronkers Fleishmann (2010). Researches done in Europe to a large extend cover the countries both in Europe as well as outside Europe. Important countries where researches were done are Canada, England, France and the USA. Various scientific studies have been carried out in this aspect based on these countries in Europe. One of the main drawbacks in this kind of a study is that not many countries are included in the study and not all groups of emigrants are taken into consideration. APPENDIX Policy Framework There are many frameworks of policies in the western countries including UK regarding protecting the rights of immigrant population. Discrimination of immigrant people especially children are addressed through various laws formulated in the country. Government has certain policies and rules that help the immigrant population to blend with the culture of the host country; this is to prevent the immigrant children from feeling the discrimination that can affect their educational performance (Portes and Zhou, 1993). Migrant Integration Policy Index(MIPEX), this helps the national governing bodies measure the access the migrants have in politics, labour market and other spheres (Niessen, Huddleston and Citron, 2007). Thus it is noted that the immigrant children perform well academically in a country where the immigrant policies are well established. British Race Relation Act and European Union Council Directives help provide equal treatment for all in the country.

Impact of Policy on Same-Sex Couples

Impact of Policy on Same-Sex Couples Same-Sex Marriages Executive Summary The public policy explored in this analysis will include section one from the family code titles, marriage relationship. This issue is more prevalent than most would imagine. In 1990 the American bureau of census reported 145,130 same-gender unmarried couples living together. That number is reported to have increased to 594,691 by the year 2000 (Pawelski et al., 2006). According to President Bush, it is up to the individual state to determine any â€Å"legal arrangements other than marriage†. This leaves the definition of marriage up to the individual governments. It is essential to define the different unions as well as have a strong understanding of the implications of each within the state of Texas. According to Bogenschnider, Theory of Paradox consists of three camps that view issues from different angles. The concerned camp tends to be more conservative with their views on the family. It also strives to protect the traditional family values. The sanguine camp is more concerned with the welfare of the children, as well as the individual rights of people of all sexual orientations. The impatient camp seeks progress and respects all members of the community regardless of the concern for the traditional family values. The concerned camp views same-sex marriage as an insult to the historical family unit and the foundations from which the family system was derived. This group is concerned with the research indicating that many stressors responsible for creating significant amount of anxiety and distress for those in the homosexual relationships. This camp is also concerned that regardless of their lifestyle homosexual individuals are still required to â€Å"conform† to traditional heterosexual family styles in order to adopt, regardless of the findings. (I don’t understand this sentence, regardless of what findings?) The teenagers facing their homosexual lifestyle were also found to be more at risk for negative behaviors, including substance abuse and suicide. The concerned camp desires to see the traditional family unit remain intact for the welfare of all individuals, especially the children. The sanguine camp views recent family changes positively as indicators of the capacity of families to adapt to new environments rather than symptoms of decline. The sanguine camp considers the positive results of these family changes for individuals, especially women. The sanguine camp contends that children have the capacity to overcome the emotional upheaval and long term consequences of divorce. They tend to focus on people who have thrived in the midst of family change. The sanguine camp regards marriage, commitment and nurturance as unchanging core American values no matter what. Contenders of this view declare that the dramatic changes in the last quarter century were not about family value but about norms and standards regarding appropriate or inappropriate behavior. For example, cohabitation before marriage became common and one of four children born outside of marriage but majority still want to be married. Regarding policy-making, the greatest concern for the sanguine camp is individual freedom. They want to keep the American core values and establish the institutional supports to help families during rapid changes. The impatient camp acknowledges the change and growth in the diversity of alternative families and their structure. Qualitative research is respected and much of the evidence regarding childrens behavioral and cognitive outcomes incorporates teacher responses along with parent responses. The research supports the changes towards same-sex marriage and welcomes significant positive research findings that support their cause. This camp suggests that families do face challenges, but ultimately have numerous opportunities to demonstrate their resilience though this alternative lifestyle. The recognition of same-sex marriages would alleviate significant amount of stress from those families who are a part of a homosexual partnership. The recognition of this partnership would allow for society to also recognize the partnership leading to a more accepted perspective. The children in these families, as demonstrated by the research results, remain near the average mark in development. However, they continue to have difficulty comprehending and accepting the lifestyle affecting their emotional and social developments. State of Texas can alleviate this stress for these individuals by recognizing these same-sex marriages and providing the same right to homosexual couples that it safeguards for heterosexual individuals. Providing this recognition will allow for all families in the state of Texas to have the same resources, rights, and privileges creating a stronger, more united state, community, and families. Public Policy Project: Same-sex Marriages The public policy explored in this analysis will include section one from the family code titles, marriage relationship. This issue is more prevalent than most would imagine. In 1990 the American bureau of census reported 145,130 same-gender unmarried couples living together . That number is reported to have increased to 594,691 by the year 2000 (Pawelski et al., 2006). According to President Bush, it is up to the individual state to determine any â€Å"legal arrangements other than marriage†. This leaves the definition of marriage up to the individual governments. It is essential to define the different unions as well as have a strong understanding of the implications of each within the state of Texas (question 1). A civil union is a legal mechanism, sanctioned by civil authority, intended to grant same-sex couples legal status somewhat similar to civil marriage. In the United States, civil unions have been established only in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. In theses tates, same-sex couples are granted the same state-level rights, benefits, and protections as those granted to heterosexual married couples. No other states recognize civil unions. As such, same-sex couples considered to be legally united in either of those states are treated as single individuals when they cross into other states. A domestic partnership is a relationship between two individuals, often but not necessarily of the same gender, who live together and mutually support one another as spouses but who are not legally joined in a civil marriage or a civil union. Some same-sex couples enter into domestic partnership agreements to create legally enforceable contracts involving property, finances, inheritance, and/or health care. Domestic partnerships do not reach the same legal threshold as civil unions or civil marriages and, accordingly, do not afford couples the rights, benefits,and protections of civil marriage (Pawelski et al., 2006). The definitions are helpful but in the state of Texas any same-sex unions/marriages are banned. Protecting the sanctity of life and marriage at the 79th Texas state Congress 2005, Texans voted on a constitutional amendment defining marriage in fall of 2005. SJR 6 defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Texas voters adopted this amendment on November 8, 2005. Texas now joins 14 states that statutorily and constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. Significant research has been conducted on this topic from many perspectives. It is essential to understand the effect of same-sex relationships on the family system and the individuals within that system. It is very difficult for those in a same-sex relationship to cope with the stigma that society has placed on these relationships. Same-sex relationships have many of the same characteristics that heterosexual relationships possess. According to the research of Todosijevic, Rothblum, Solomon (2005) there are many factors contributing to the success of the same-sex relationship. Given the mixed results on demographic similarity and relationship satisfaction among same-sex couples, it is possible that couple similarity in level of outness may be more important for relationship satisfaction than couple similarity on demographic variables. For example, similarity on actual age (a demographic variable) may be less important than developmental stage in the coming out process (including level of disclosure to others). Couples who are discrepant on outness may have conflict around such issues as where to live (e.g., in an obvious gay neighborhood), whether to bring a partner to work-related social events, and how to introduce their partner to family members. Beals and Peplau (2001) found that discrepancy in openness among partners was not predictive of relationship satisfaction. In another study on this topic, Jordan and Deluty (2000) investigated the correlation between openness and relationship quality in 305 lesbians in committed relationships. Their results indicated that the degree of openness regarding sexual orientation was positively correlated with relationship satisfaction. They also concluded that discrepancy in openness in disclosure between partners was negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. In addition, Jordan and Deluty (2000) discovered that negative affectivity (e.g., depression, anxiety, fear, anger, guilt, sadness, neuroticism) was not significantly correlated to relationship satisfaction. While, in a 45-year-long study of marital stability and marital satisfaction in 300 heterosexual couples, Kelly and Conely (1987) found that negative affectivity in both genders was negatively related to relationship satisfaction. This demonstrates the significance of same-sex relationships and how they appear much healthier than those of heterosexual partners. It is important that same-sex couples experience satisfaction in their relationships, but also find acceptance within the homosexual community. They experience a significant amount of distress from outside of the homosexual community. As a result they rely heavily on their peers to provide support. The gay lifestyle is a stressful lifestyle. In a study by Todosijevic, Rothblum, and Solomon (2005), gay couples reported experiencing a significant level of anxiety regarding contraction of HIV/AIDS. Further, gay and lesbian couples indicated facing stress from their families due to disapproval of the lifestyle such as â€Å"rejection, lack of support, and lack of understanding by the family due to their sexuality† (p. 165.) In their study of two hundred adolescents and early adult lesbians, Cantor and Neulinger (2000) reported that 47.5% of the interviewees disclosed having made some attempts at suicide at some point in their life. Thirty one percent of these lesbian adolescents and young adults who reported suicide attempts contributed it, at least partially, to their sexual orientation. Furthermore, in high school age males, 36% of the homosexual students surveyed reported having made a suicide attempt at some point in their life compared to 8.9% of their heterosexual counterparts (where is this information coming from?). Data such as this indicates the moral dilemma for the homosexual community, which creates unnecessary stress for homosexual individuals and their families. There are many milestones in life that homosexual individuals have a more difficult time achieving. Society paints a particular picture within which individuals are anticipated to fit snugly. Society expects homosexuals to conform to the norms that it has diligently created over the course of the history. A study was done recently that examined how the courts evaluate same-sex couples when they are attempting to adopt children (Connolly, 1998). The researchers found that the courts expect same-sex couples to conform as best possible to the traditional model of families. Since these couples are not allowed to marry, they are expected to demonstrate their commitment to each other in ways that heterosexual couples do not have to exhibit. Homosexual couples must realize that their demonstration of commitment must be more pronounced than heterosexual couples. They must also work to overcome their persuasion into the model in which the rest of society fits. As more and more same-sex couples are adopting or having children through artificial insemination, concerns regarding the integrity of family structure and developmental outcomes of children in these alternative families are brought to discussion. Golombok, et al. (2003) examined the quality of parent-child relationships, socioemotional and gender development in a community sample of lesbian parents with seven-year olds, and had a control group of heterosexual two-parent families. Demographics of both the lesbian and heterosexual families were similar. There were no statistically significant differences in mother-child relationships with regard to warmth toward child or emotional involvement. Family structure, not mothers sexual orientation, showed significant effects for overall parenting quality and enjoyment of motherhood. There were also no statistically significant differences in the frequency of conflicts with the child. Family structure, with single mothers, having more severe disputes (It seems like this sentence is missing something). Lesbian mothers also reported smacking their children less than heterosexual mothers. Lesbian mothers also engaged in more imaginative play with their children than heterosexual mothers, as single mothers did more often than heterosexual mothers. Fathers showed statistically significant higher levels of emotional involvement and frequency of smacking with their children than co-mothers. Socioemotional development showed no statistically significant difference in conduct problems, hyperactivity, emotional symptoms or positive social behavior as reported by mothers and teachers. The study also showed no differences in children’s behavior according to gender when comparing boys and girls in both heterosexual and lesbian families (Golombok, et al., 2003). Flaks, Ficher, Masterpasqua, Josephs (1995) compared lesbian couples with heterosexual parents and their children, ages three to nine. Their study found that sexual orientation of custodial parents is not a significant variable in successful development of the child and that there were no differences in children coming from divorced heterosexual or same-sex parent families. The purpose of their study was to address concerns of the courts when involved in custody cases. They showed no significant differences with parents sexual orientation or gender of child in outcomes of cognitive development or behavioral adjustment. The study did find that lesbian parents had more parenting awareness skills than heterosexual parents; this was statistically significant. This finding, with further statistical analysis, was shown to be related to gender, with mothers having better parenting skills than fathers. Wainright, Russell, Patterson (2004) examined family type heterosexual parents and same-sex parents, and outcomes in school, psychological adjustment and romantic relationships. Romantic relationships and sexual behavior was not associated with family type. The quality of the parent-child relationship determined better school adjustment. Anderssen, Amlie, Ytteroy (2002) reviewed twenty-three evidenced-based research studies from 1978 to 2000, assessing outcomes for children with lesbian or gay parents. Historically, the Scandanavian courts have not ruled against custody related to sexual orientation of the parent. However, evidenced based research regarding outcomes of children of same-sex parents is needed, since legal rights to adopt or become foster parents is not afforded to same-sex couples as they are to heterosexual couple. Emotional functioning was the outcome most often studied, followed by sexual preference, stigmatization, gender role behavior, behavioral adjustment, gender identity and cognitive functioning. No differences in emotional functioning were shown between same-sex (lesbian) parents and heterosexual parents. There were no differences in sexual preferences in offspring with parental sexual preference. Due to expressed negative attitudes which was received from outsiders, children of same-sex parents experienced stigmatization and teasing. The studies showed that few youngsters were teased no more than other children, and they developed stable relationships with peers as children of heterosexual parents (who said this?). There were no differences in gender role behavior, behavioral adjustment, and cognitive functioning. This significant research shows that the homosexual community faces difficult boundaries, restrictions, and stereotypes, but this community still manages to maintain relationships, raise their children, and live out daily life with less negative outcomes than heterosexual individuals. This leads into the Theory of Paradox with three stances on the subject of same-sex marriages showing negative and positive conclusions (question 6). Striving to protect the traditional family values, the concerned camp tends to be more conservative with their views on the family. The sanguine camp is more concerned with the welfare of the children, as well as the individual rights of people of all sexual orientations. The impatient camp seeks progress and respects all members of the community regardless of the concern for traditional family values. The concerned camp views same-sex marriage as an insult to the historical family unit and the foundations from which the family system was derived. The research indicates many stressors that are responsible for creating significant amount of anxiety, distress, and other negative reactions for those in the homosexual community. The research indicated that regardless of the homosexual lifestyle these individuals are still required to â€Å"conform† to traditional heterosexual family styles in order to adopt, regardless of the findings (This sentence is not clear. Regardless of what findings? Are there findings contrary to the outcome of court decisions on qualification of homosexual parents to adopt?). The teenagers living a homosexual lifestyle were also found to be more at risk for negative behaviors, including suicide. The concerned camp desires to see the traditional family unit remain intact for the welfare of all individuals, especially the children. The sanguine camp views recent family changes positively as indicators of the capacity of families to adapt to new environments rather than symptoms of decline. The sanguine camp concerns the positive results of these family changes for individuals, especially women. The sanguine argue that children have the capacity to overcome the emotional upheaval and long term consequences of divorce. The contenders of this view tend to focus on people who have thrived in the midst of family change. The sanguine camp believes marriage, commitment and nurturance to be unchanging core American values no matter what. According to the sanguine, the dramatic change in the last quarter century was not about family value but about norms and standards regarding appropriate or inappropriate behavior. For example, cohabitation before marriage has become common and one of four children is born outside of marriage but majority still want to be married. Regarding policy-making, the greatest concern for the sanguine camp is individual freedom. They want to keep the American core values and establish the institutional supports to help families through rapid changes. The impatient camp acknowledges the change and growth in the diversity of alternative families and their structure. Qualitative research is respected and much of the evidence regarding childrens behavioral and cognitive outcomes incorporates teacher responses along with parent responses. The research supports changes towards same-sex marriage and welcomes significant positive research findings to support their cause. This camp finds that families do face challenges, but ultimately have numerous opportunities to demonstrate their resilience through this alternative lifestyle (question 7). The families affected most by the failure to recognize same-sex marriages are those homosexual couples who have children. The family members of homosexual couples are also affected by the stereotypes that are involved with the homosexual lifestyle. Principle one addresses the question of if policies or programs set unrealistic expectations for families assuming financial and caregiving responsibilities of dependent, seriously ill or child with special needs. Principle two addresses family stability and explains that policies and programs should help maintain the stability of couples relationships, especially when children are involved (Bogenschneider, 2002). When looking at the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) from the perspective of a homosexual family, it does allow for incentives to marry in the state that recognizes homosexual marriages. With the current statue of DOMA, children may not have continued financial support from one of the parents if the homosexual parents separate (NCRF, 2004). Massachusetts legalization of same-sex marriage allows for the children of these families to have some financial security if their parents should divorce or if one of the parents were to die. The issue with the DOMA policy is that it does not allow for financial protection to non-biological children of same-sex relationships (Coolidge Duncan, 2001). Carlson (2004) found that DOMA actually protects the sanctity of heterosexual marriages by not allowing homosexuals to marry legally. The justification here is that homosexual relationships are sterile and that the children from these relationships will not have any kinship to, at a minimum, one of the parents and it could possibly be both of the parents. Carlson (2004) also found that marriage is an evolution in itself (questions 2-3). Question 4: Examine the Implementation of the Policy and Statute (p. 307) – how has the Department implemented this policy? How has subsequent legislation (if any) revised this policy? Note: This flows right into question 5 below. Question 5: Go to page 306 and answer question #1 (Family Impact Questions): Reviewing rules, legislation, and laws to point out how legislation does or does not address families’ needs. The goal of the previous research and the comprehension of the policy is to allow the policy holders to see the detrimental results that have occurred as a result of the failure to recognize same-sex marriages. Homosexual families are suffering as a result of the failure to acknowledge the relationships that are closest to them. Children, according to the research, are well adjusted and develop normally but they are not able to develop socially because of the limitations that are placed on them from being a part of a homosexual family system.. They encounter numerous roadblocks and challenges as a result. The systems that surround them are also aversely affected creating much distress for all individuals that come in contact with each member of the family. The homosexual partners also experience significant distress as a result of the failure of the state of Texas to recognize any union between two individuals of the same sex. These individuals fight uphill battles daily with the simplest household activities, such as medical care/insurance, monetary matters, and significant custody concerns if children are involved. The recognition of same-sex marriages would allow these homosexual families to experience more acceptance and give them the opportunity to continue with normal, daily activities without hindrance (question 8). The recognition of same-sex marriages would alleviate significant amounts of stress from those families who are a part of a homosexual partnership. The recognition of this partnership would allow for society to also recognize the partnership leading to a more accepted perspective. The children in these families, as demonstrated in the research results, remain near the average mark in development, but continue to have difficulty comprehending and accepting the lifestyle affecting their emotional and social developments. Texas can alleviate this stress for these individuals by recognizing these same-sex marriages and providing the same right to homosexual couples that is provided to heterosexual individuals. Providing this recognition will allow for all families in the state of Texas to have the same resources, rights, and privileges creating a stronger, more united state, community, and families. References Anderssen, N., Amlie, C., Ytteroy, E. (2002). Outcomes for children with lesbian or  gay parents. A review of studies from 1978-2000. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 43, 335-351. Bogenschneider, K. (2002). Family policy matters. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates:NJ. p.94-97. Brewer, P., Wilcox, C. (2005). The Polls—trends: Same-sex marriage and civil  unions. Public Opinion Quarterly, (69) 4, 599-616. Cantor, C., Neulinger, K. (2000). The epidemiology of suicide and attempted suicide among young Australians. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 34(3), 370-387. Connolly, C. (1998). The description of gay and lesbian families in second-parent adoption. Behavioral Sciences the Law: Special issue: Families and Courts, 16(2), 225-236. Flaks, D., Ficher, I., Masterpasqua, F., Joseph, G. (1995). Lesbians choosing  motherhood: A comparative study of lesbian and heterosexual parents and their children. Developmental Psychology, 31, 105-114. Golombok, S., Perry, B., Burston, A., Murray, C., Mooney-Somers, J., Stevens, M., et al. (2003). Children with lesbian parents: A community study. Developmental Psychology, 39, 20-33. Jordan, K., Deluty, R. (2000). Social support, coming out, and relationship  satisfaction in lesbian couples. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 4, 145–164. Kelly, E., Conely, J. (1987). Personality and compatibility: A prospective analysis of  marital stability and marital satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 27–40. Lewis, R., Derlega, V., Berndt, A., Morris, L., Rose, S. (2001).An empirical analysis of  stressors for gay men and lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 42, 63–88. Meyer, I. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and  bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674– 697. Pawelski, J., Perrin, E., Foy, J., Allen, C., Crawford, J., Del Monte, M., Kaufman, M., Klein, J., Smith, K., Springer, S., Tanner, J., Vickers, D., (2006). The Effects of marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership laws on the health and well-being of children. Pediatrics, (118)1, 349-364. Pope, S. (2004). The magisteriums arguments against same-sex marriage: An  ethical analysis and critique. Theological Studies , 65(3), 530-555. Todosijevic, J., Rothblum, E., Solomon, S. (2005). Relationship satisfaction,  affectivity, and gay-specific stressors in same-sex couples joined in civil unions. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 29, 158–166.

Politics of and Without Difference Essay -- Politics Political Multicu

Politics of and Without Difference The sociological concepts of "Politics of Difference" and "Politics Without Difference" are more similar than their names suggest, but they are at the same time extremely different. Both political ideals come from progressive civil rights principles beginning during the Enlightenment in Europe and evolving throughout The Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 60's. The fundamental basis of the two concepts is that all people are created equal, and that all people should have equal political and civil rights. The disagreement between proponents of these two concepts begins with the question "Is it possible that the ideal of equal treatment of all persons under the law and the attempt to eliminate group differences under the law in fact perpetuates oppression of certain groups?" (Harris, 1995). Supporters of the ideal of "Politics of Difference" argue that the answer to this question is yes. Without minimizing the value of the concept of assimilation central to the "Politics Without Difference" ideal, the supporters of "Politics of Difference" feel that it has at times prevented full equality for some oppressed groups. By definition, the ideal of "Politics Without Difference" is a concept of total assimilation of every group so that no readily identifiable majority is evident. Supporters promote the equal treatment of all groups as the primary way to achieve justice. This concept asserts the equal moral worth of all persons (regardless of their group characteristics) and the right of all to participate in the institutions of society (Harris). Supporters of "Politics of Difference", while conceding the value of the ideal, contend that it has not truly liberated some oppressed g... ...ferences will always be a major factor in Texas school policy development. South Texas must lead the way for the rest of the state in truly including every group and overcoming cultural differences. Stakes are higher here than in any other region in Texas. The futures of generations of children in Texas are our legacy whether we win or lose in our efforts to meet everyone's needs. References Astuto, T. A., Clark, D. L., Read, A. McGree, K., Fernandez, L. P., (1994). Roots of reform: Challenging the assumptions that control change in education. P. 26. Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation. Bloomington, Indiana. Kerchis, C., Z., and Young, I., M., (1995). Social movements and the politics of difference. In D. A. Harris (Ed.), Multiculturalism from the margins: Non-dominant voices on difference and diversity (pp. 1-28). Westport, Conn., Bergin and Garvey.