Case 1 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

1 - Case Study Example 1. Innovation: Innovative approaches to cost-cutting like simpler ticketing system, personal TV for every passenger, uniform and efficient flight machines, usage of technology to reduce wastage, time etc have contributed to the successful establishment and sustenance of JetBlue during economic slowdown. Providing work-from-home opportunities for ticket reservations and planning also added to their cost-savings in infrastructure and staff. 2. Standardization: Low and uniform operating costs were an advantage to the then market conditions that demanded short passenger trips. Standardization in their services, like uniform class and trained interchangeable crew members also helped in saving costs and improving efficiency. 3. Competitive advantage: JetBlue’s cost-cutting strategies worked well while providing services better than counterpart low-cost airlines. JetBlue focused on cutting non-value adding costs to provide better quality. They invested higher amounts in equipment that required low maintenance; for example, personalised televisions versus meals; leather seats versus fabric ones. 4. Hiring: Neeleman’s strategy of hiring the best and experienced people in industry, like Dave Barger, and enthusiastic customer service professionals was advantageous of not only acquiring more customers but also in retaining their customers during testing times. 5. Customer focus: Their strong customer focus and genuine service helped increase customer base by word of mouth and also earn customer loyalty. Eventually, JetBlue has established a brand of its own with unique features and services. 6. Marketing strategy: JetBlue’s fun-filled and eye-catching marketing strategies that were supported equally by their practices were visible to and experienced by their customers, which helped improve their brand value. 1. Firm value and debt: JetBlue’s high debt makes

Emergency Preparedness Essay Example for Free

Emergency Preparedness Essay Emergency preparedness is vital for the safety and security of the general public. Disasters, according to Powers (2010), are events that cause damage to lives and property during which community resources cannot keep up with the demand. In the unfortunate event of a disaster, having a plan in place as to how a it will be managed allows for the smoothest possible outcome with the fewest amount of casualties. The three levels of emergency preparedness prevention are each an important part of being ready for a disaster. The planning involves the time before the disaster, the acute disaster scene, and the long term management of the disaster survivors (Rittenmeyer, 2007). At the disaster scene, a triage color code system is used to organize and prioritize patients and the level of care they require. There are many types of disasters that can affect the public. see more:short essay on disaster management Three technological disasters will be addressed, all involving exposure: biologic, chemical and radiation. Nurses and other health care workers may encounter a disaster where their skills are needed, whether it be on the job or as a citizen. It is important that health care workers understand the components of disaster management, triage at the scene, and different types of agents to which patients may have been exposed. Levels of Disaster ManagementEmergency Preparedness Prevention There are three levels of a disaster management plan: primary, secondary and tertiary. Each of them is important to allow for the best possible outcome in the event of a disaster. Primary Prevention Primary prevention involves everything that can be done before the actual disaster occurs. This includes training personnel, educating the public, and creating evacuation plans. Rittenmeyer (2007) describes disaster planning as assessing the risk of a disaster occurring as well as the capacities that will be available during a disaster. First, a risk assessment to determine what hazards a particular community is vulnerable to is done (Powers, 2010). Based on the findings, a disaster response plan is created for the greatest risks to the community. Training and practice for the disaster(s) are the core components of primary prevention. For instance, in a hospital setting, nurses can attend a seminar on evacuation as well as participate in an evacuation drill to simulate a real disaster. The simulation provides the opportunity to become familiar with the disaster plan and how it will be carried out. Secondary Prevention Secondary prevention, or relief response, is the interventions that take place during the acute disaster stage (Rittenmeyer, 2007). Patients are triaged based on level of acuity for further treatment. If exposure to a toxin or microorganism has occurred, the nurse may be assisting with decontamination and/or applying chemical suits and respirators. As Powers (2010) mentions, nurses in the field may be assessing the needs of the community that has been affected to determine who needs shelter, food, water or vaccinations and helping them to obtain what they need. Disaster relief also includes performing rescues, relocating people who are displaced, and preventing disease and/or disability (Rittenmeyer, 2007). For instance, during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, nurses and other health care workers were deployed to assess, stabilize and evacuate patients to safer ground (Klein Nagel, 2007). Tertiary Prevention Tertiary prevention, or disaster recovery, begins when the initial crisis is over and involves long term support for the needs of the population affected by the disaster. Activities that take place during the recovery phase include rebuilding affected infrastructure, hospitalization for the injured, rehabilitation and therapy to cope with the disaster. These will vary according to the type of disaster that has occurred. Rittenmeyer (2007) states that during the recovery phase the effectiveness of the disaster plan should be evaluated and the plan then altered based on the findings. Triage Color Code System In the event of a disaster, the triage color code system is beneficial for three major reasons (Klein Nagel, 2007). First, triage determines who needs rapid medical care. Next, triage reduces the amount of patients sent  to hospitals by separating minor versus major injuries. Thirdly, triage distributes casualties among available medical facilities to keep any one facility from being deluged with patients. The system most widely used during a disaster triage is the IDME color code system. The mneumonic IDME stands for the levels of acuity of the patients. Each level is assigned a color. They are as follows according to Husted (2012): IImmediate (Red); DDelayed (Yellow); MMinimal (Green); and EExpectant (Black). The categories have criteria that the responder should be familiar with in order to triage the patients into the appropriate color. Based on the patient’s level of injury, each is given a triage tag, commonly placed on the wrist. Using this system, patients are treated in order of the urgency of their injury. The red category is reserved for critical patients. These patients are seriously injured but do have a chance of surviving. The yellow category is for patients that need first aid but should not deteriorate rapidly if care is not immediate. The green category is for patients that are considered the â€Å"walking wounded†. These patients may have minor injuries such as abrasions or contusions and can either self treat or be taken care of by a someone without medical training. The final category is the black which is for patient who is unresponsive and without a pulse or has a catastrophic chest or head injury (Husted, 2012). Types of Disasters Three types of disasters that could occur are exposure to biologic, chemical and radioactive agents. It is important that medical personnel are familiar with the types of possible toxins and agents to appropriately treat those affected while protecting themselves as well. Exposure to Biologic Agents This type of exposure is a deliberate release of a virus, bacteria or other germ (Briggs, 2006). These agents are used to cause illness or even death. They are naturally occurring agents and can be spread via inhalation, orally in food or water, or through the skin (Briggs, 2006). Examples of biologic agents, also know as bioterrorism agents, are smallpox, the plague, and anthrax. Exposure to Chemical Agents The release of a hazardous chemical that is released and may harm people’s health is termed a chemical emergency (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Chemicals can be natural or created. Examples of possible chemical health threats are nerve agents and vesicants. Nerve agents such as Sarin and VX affect nerve function. Vesicants cause erythema and vesicles on the skin and can also injure the eyes, the airway and internal organs. The nerve agent Sarin was used in 1995 in a Tokyo subway, affecting over 5,500 people (Briggs, 2006). Chemical agents are now deemed terrorist weapons. Exposure to Radiation Briggs(2006) describes ionizing radiation’s effect on the body. Radiation alters the cells in the body, damaging or killing them. External irradiation occurs when the whole body has been exposed to radiation from an external source such as an x-ray. Contamination occurs when radioactive material comes into contact with the body, either externally or internally. Contamination by radioactive agents can occur through contact with the skin, being inhaled or ingested. Conclusion Emergency preparedness is extremely important for the safety of the public. By having a disaster management plan in place, the acute disaster scene will not be just chaos but will have a sense of order amidst the mayhem. The injured will be organized by the triage color code system to ensure the treatment of those in greatest need first and delaying treatment for those that can wait. It’s important to understand the differences in biologic, chemical and radioactive exposure in order to best treat patients should an unthinkable disaster occur. References Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., Brizee, A. (2010, May 5). General format. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ Briggs, S.M. (2006). The  ABCs of disaster medical response. International Trauma and Disaster Institute, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts. Retrieved from http://www.gs-interactive.net/ITDI/ABCs2ndEDition.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Retrieved from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/hazards-specific.asp Husted, E. (2011). Principles of triage during a mass casualty incident. (PowerPoint Slides). Retrieved from http://www.ohioresponds.gov/docs/Triage.pdf Klein, K.R., Nagel, N.E. (2007). Mass medical evacuation: Hurricane Katrina and nursing experiences at the New Orleans airport. Disaster Management and Response: DMR: an official publication of the Emergency Nurses Association, 5(2), . Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17517364 Powers, R. (2010). Introduction to disasters and disaster nursing. In E. Daily (Ed.), International disaster nursing (pp. 1-10). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://www.wadem.org/documents/chapter_one.pdf Ramesh, A. C., Kumar, S. (2010). Triage, monitoring, and treatment of mass casualty events involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents. Journal of Pharmacy and BioAllied Sciences, 2(3), 239-247. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3148628/ Rittenmeyer, L. (2007). Disaster preparedness: Are you ready?. Men in Nursing, 2(3), 18-23. Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=726331#

The Factors Influencing Procurement Route Construction Essay

The Factors Influencing Procurement Route Construction Essay Recent developments in the field of construction have led to a renewed interest in procurement which helps us to induce the technical complexities by organizing and delivering the construction projects using various specialised methods towards the priorities of the client. In addition, it creates perfect relationship between many organizations working on the project regarding their responsibilities and risks. This paper attempts to report the Principal of Heriot Watt University (HWU) about the advanced procurement strategic approach for the new auditorium which is planned to build at the HWU with supremacy. However, it comprises of 200 comfortable tiered seating providing excellent visibility, high specification technology, multimedia theatre with air conditioning, a full size interactive screen and computer driven presentation facilities. 2.1 Assumptions It is required from the initial stage of the project which clearly paves the way for the satisfactory completion of the project. The following assumptions are considered in this report. Capital Cost Cash flow is energetic in the organisations which determine the size of the project which is considered primarily. Likewise, updated cost information was shared by the quantity surveyor to the client who correlates them to the contractor. Recent evidence suggests that during urgency the implication of cost is partially neglected whereas the initial cost and lifecycle cost is always preferred. Time The two main factors governing the time of the project are Design of the project and Methods adapted in the construction site by the contractor. Data from several sources identified that above features are considered accordingly to the clients priority. Quality Quality depends upon the materials used during construction permitting the design specifications. Lifecycle costing is reflected in the quality of the construction work used to reduce the maintenance and replacement cost leading to the better economics overall in the future. The principle of procurement is the eternal triangle which favours the client towards high quality, lowest cost and short time period. All the three factors are mutually concerned in a project if one is given high preference then the other two will suffer. Performance It mainly relies upon the designer who prepares the plan and structural designs for the project, essential for aesthetic appeal and eco-friendly. The choice of materials and the constructors plays the key role in performance and also for the future maintenance and refurbishments. Risk Factors The common risks faced during the construction projects are ground conditions, artificial obstructions and defectiveness in workmanship, material tests and samples, weather. In addition, delay and disputes from both the parties, unapproved payments and the discrepancies from the Government policies and Law arbitration. Planning à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Early acquisition planning is done to select the procurement route. Environment à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Sustainable environment is attained through planning Flexibility à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Changes can be done in the on-going project or in future 3.1 Procurement Strategy In general procurement is defined as the obtaining of goods and services[1] which in construction field refers to the construction materials, plant and services in order to design, schedule, manage, organize, execute and commission the project until delivering to the client. A variety of method have been developed and introduced to assess building through procurement which is obtained by group of multiple organizations experience and expertise. The procurement strategy describes the contribution that the effective procurement will make to the fulfilment of the organizations vision and strategic objectives [a]. Secondly, procurement strategy identifies the main objectives, constraints, funding, and risk and asset ownership of the project which later enhances to achieve the target of the client. Besides, it promotes high standards of professionalism and high quality of management information. Furthermore, reduction in cost is attained through aggregated purchasing power and minimizes the exposure through effective risk management. 3.2 Necessity for Procurement To achieve the value for money To coordinate smoothly with the organizations and to supply focus on chain management To obtain sustainability by making value for money decisions over the life of the asset and not solely on capital costs [b]. To 3.3 Procurement Routes The procurement routes are accomplished with great involvement and knowledge of the individuals and organizations who worked in the industries for years in distinct disciplines. Procurement route is defined as the systems and procedures for commissioning the work. This route is concerned mainly for the strategic approach of the project which simplifies the construction execution by coordinating with the specialist teams of the project. 3.4 Factors influencing Procurement Route Central to the entire discipline of the procurement is the concept of assessment about the ability of the economic operators of the project to satisfy the requisite of the client. The key aspects of this route are employers requirements, tender period/contractors proposals, selecting the specialised contractor and construction. Into the bargain, the following factors are also taken care in this method such as cost certainty, cost reduction, contract period, quality and standards, constructability and litigation. As well as this route is concerned it depends upon the cost and time of the project at the expense of quality which is well suited for perfect carriage of the project. Next, the factors which encourages this route are listed below [3] User familiarity with design and build procurement arrangements Preference of a client or consultant The desire for the single point responsibility for the client Greater certainty of outcomes, initially and in the longer term Despite the fact, follows the present guaranteed maximum price (GMP) which is prepared at the time of agreement and if the contractor finishes the work below GMP then remaining amount will be shared between the client and contractor in most case. Situations Where Design Build Arrangement Used Widely In the case of simple and standard forms of construction are required. Example: Warehouses Where the building needs only minimum architectural works. Example: Farm buildings Where proprietary system is used in buildings as it reduces the design and approval time. Example: Buildings with Automations (such as automatic doors) Where the projects requires local contractor specialists. Example: Specialised in Flooring and Masonry To execute Fast-track projects Example: Hospitals In projects where cost certainty is most preferred. Example: Housing Units 3.5 Types of Procurement Route There is a large volume of published studies describing the role of procurement route obligatory for producing the required project outcomes and have a profound effect towards finishing point. In general there are many procurement routes available which are listed as follows: Traditional / Conventional Design and Build / Package deal arrangement Construction Management Management Contracting Two stage tender Turnkey Public Private Partnership Framework Agreement PFI/PPP Even though there are many routes available, traditional, design build, construction management and management contracting are the major methods used generally. On the other hand, according to my opinion for this auditorium project we can adopt Design and Build route or Traditional route. 3.5.1 Traditional Procurement Route This is the standard method which is in practice for the past 150 years in the construction industry. In this route the client appoints the contractor, architect and consultants to guide the project from the initial stage to pursue perfection in planning and design. Furthermore, the client owns the whole responsibility of the design and project team. Here the contractor involved in the tendering documentation and negotiation processes of the proposed project. The valuation and payment in the administrative department is authorised by clients consultants. To put in a nut shell this method benefits the client in cost and quality with some expense of time. Nevertheless, can be used in a number of situations on the basis of pricing results in a lump sum contract, a measurement contract or a cost plus contract and whether the project is a single one project or a part of a program under single specific term[c]. Secondly, for instance with reference to the proposed auditorium project the three organisers consultants, architect and contractor are employed initially and the project thoroughly managed by the client from the preliminary works. 3.5.2 Construction Management Route 3.5.3 Design and Build Procurement Route The Design Build method is one of the more practical ways of client friendly approach used worldwide to take particularly when the buildings to be produced are either very specialised, and the contractor is an expert in that speciality or when they are generic[d]. Initially, the concept aimed to reduce the conflicts that exist between the architect and the contractor which resulting in poor reputation for the construction project and gave great assurance the timely completion of work at lower cost. However, the client needs to consider the trio of design, cost and quality of the project in advance before employing the contractor. Besides, the desires of the employer (client) is clearly proposed to the contractor to make him/her fully involved in the project including both design and accomplishment which encourages least involvement of the client. The nature of this procurement route is minimizing the design deviations from the original design which aids in cost and time saving for t he employer. Moreover, one major issue in early procurement research is concerned is the quality which is rapidly growing because this method is popularly expanding towards profitability. To gain more projects and profits the design build contractual firms are focusing deeply on the quality in addition to time and cost which is a positive result in favour of this method. The client gets the total financial commitment in advance before the work is initiated and then the contractor shields the complexity of the client in the construction. At first this method is characterised by the tender documents which is developed according to the clients requirements which is published to welcome the different proposals from the potential contractors with numerous quotes of project rates. The potential contractor who wins the tender, meeting the clients priorities will be employed by the client to develop design and complete the design proposals. Here, the contractor performs solely under the client towards t he start of the project by having his own design team and construction team. On the contrary, the contractor is wholly responsible for the design, construction planning, organization and control of the project and also he has the upper hand to engage subcontractors and the specialist sub-contractors for the project. In some case, the client may/may not seek consultant to guide and supervise the contractors work in the project. . Implementation of the Design Build Procurement route As far as the auditorium in the HWU is alarmed the major thing to be considered was the time and cost of the project. If the proposal is given by the contractor it should be performed within the certain time limit such as the project must be finished in between the summer holidays because the students shouldnt grieve from the construction activities. Moreover, the proposed project should not exceed the financial budget of the university. Therefore, design build procurement method is highly recommended for this project which augments the successful completion of the project. However, if the university requires a consultant they can seek help from the Built Environment faculties to oversee the project which saves the consultant cost for the university. Benefits of this route There are several benefits why this route is adopted for this project which are responsible for successful completion of the project on time and for perfect delivery. It follows the two phase selection process that narrows the field of the final proposers to those that are most highly qualified based on experience, capability and capacity[e]. The intricacy in the technical aspects is fully eliminated because the contractor (single authority) is answerable for all the issues faced in the design and building of the project. The work moves forward speedily as there is no need for tendering again for the buildings. Because this method the contractor can reassure the client regarding the financial help needed for the project, how to receive the funding from the lenders as he is aware and well experienced in the field There is no need that a client should be an experienced individual in the construction field as contractor hold the whole obligation. As the contractor is involved from the very beginning he can produce specialised construction knowledge and methods. There is a direct link between the client and the contract as there is an agreement signed before the start of the project. The time consumption is less in this route, as the traditional methods are eliminated in this process. As cost certainty is major concern for this route which benefits the client both economically and technically. There is a possibility of dropping pre tendering and initial tendering costs. The functional building at the reasonable cost can be achieved. As the contractor is in charge for all sub-contractor appointments the client can escape and escape from those burden. Also there are no claims for the contractor if he/she fails to meet the clients needs and has a delayed in time for completion. Following this method maximum risk is transferred, although commercial response in design in order to address contract conditions can result[d]. Many argue that this route agonises from lack of architectural merits, but the fact is it clearly benefits the client by disregarding the risks which arises from those designs. Criticism Faced in this Route Although this method has a huge number of benefits it also suffers from some common drawback such as, Since this route is using simplified construction formats and activities there might be reduction in design quality. Neglecting the innovative design is highly followed in this method which results in the discouragement of architects innovations. The contractors view is always on the capabilities of the firm instead of the requirements of the client. The aesthetic appearance of the project is surrendered towards the cost effective solutions and easy work executions. The long term life and maintenance of the building is not considered by the contractor because low cost budget. The influence of contractor over the quantity surveyor leads to some controversial happenings/activities at the time of payment approval. Bibliography Dunican Cartlidge (2009). Quantity Surveyors Pocket Book. Great Britain: Elsevier Ltd. 197. Allan Ashworth (2006). CONTRACTURAL PROCEDURES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Pearson Education Limited. 77.

Realtor - Adding Value During the Purchase of a Home :: Free Essay Writer

Realtor - Adding Value During the Purchase of a Home Convenient. It’s the word that consumers want to come before anything they do. Make it easy. Make it simple. This comes into play more so than ever when the consumer is buying a house. Real Estate companies are beginning to offer their customers convenience. Buying a house can be considered one of the most time consuming and difficult purchases a person may ever make in a lifetime. To ease the strain and possibly keep a home buyer or seller as a customer for life, services are being offered where the utilities will be hooked up before moving in, phone turned on, cable ready to watch, boxes of trash from moving can be picked up without missing a scheduled day, and there might even be mail waiting in the box when the moving truck pulls up. Realtors are getting more involved in simplifying the process. Another aspect for Prudential is contractor referral services. Move in, don’t like the carpet this time, the realtors will sup-ply you with lists of names. DOES THE REALTOR GET A PERCENTAGE OF THE CONTRAC-TORS PAYMENT. DO THE CONTRACTORS PAY TO BE ON THE LIST. According to Prudential, the process to get started is simple and will boil down multiple calls to the different utilities to one 20-minute phone call to a Homessentials’ representative. According to Jerry Y. Speer, current president of the Pennsylvania Association of realtors, the "package services" have been around for 10-12 years. He said over the years a lot of com-panies have offered incentives for their clientele but he "hasn’t seen these becom any big success." Some by using coupon books that give new homeowners discounts at local stores. Although Speer can’t see these "incentives" as a reason why a person would choose a particu-lar Realtor or buy a certain house.

Conflicting Principles of Life in William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”

William Faulkner’s â€Å"Barn Burning† presents the conflict between two forms of justice: (1) justice based on kinship and (2) justice based on human dignity. The conflict between these two forms of justice was presented within the text through Sarty’s perspective of Ab’s actions who sought to achieve ‘freedom’ from his previous agreements by defiling the rights of other individuals. Set after the period of the Civil War, the text presents Sarty’s conflicts as he tried to understand his father’s motivations for the actions that have led his family to further hardships in life. It is important to note that Ab, Sarty’s father, has a led a life geared towards self-fulfillment as his actions throughout his life have been motivated by his desire to attain material wealth. Note for example that even if Ab was considered as a ‘soldier’ in the ‘fine, old, European sense,’ of the term, his motivations for choosing to join in the battle was neither to save the South from the Northern invasion nor to protect his region’s views regarding slavery (Faulkner 1743). This is apparent if one considers that as Ab and Sarty reached the De Spain mansion, Ab ironically tells his son, â€Å"Pretty and white, ain’t it†¦. That’s Nigger sweat. Maybe it ain’t white enough yet to suit him. Maybe he wants to mix some white sweat with it† (Faulkner 1737). This statement was neither motivated by Ab’s disgust for slavery nor by his disgust in the African American’s position in life. His statement was motivated by his sense of outrage against the wealth and power symbolized by the plantation. His outrage statement was thereby meant to be a bitter view against the wealth and power that he could not achieve in life. The conflict, within the text, thereby arises as a result of Sarty’s inability to understand his father’s motivations and reasons for his actions. As was mentioned above, his father chose to defile another individual’s rights in order to free himself from his obligations. This is apparent as his father burned the barn of the man who has slighted him. Sarty recognizes the harm that was inflicted upon his father however he does not consider this a sufficient reason to defile the right of another individual. As a result of this, he was placed in a position where he will either amend the harm inflicted on the other individual in order to protect his father and thereby maintain his loyalty to his family or he will refuse knowledge of his father’s actions thereby allowing his father’s misdeed but enabling justice for the other individual. The conflict is thereby defined by the necessity to choose, on Sarty’s part, what he considers to be ‘the right’ decision within the text.

Oedipus Symbolism Essays

Oedipus Symbolism Essays Oedipus Symbolism Paper Oedipus Symbolism Paper Oedipus Symbolism Many stories from ancient times as well as present times use symbolism to prove a point or to help with the understanding of the story. Symbolisms are used in stories and plays of all kinds to help get a point across or to help clarify the meaning of the story, and the play, Oedipus the King, is no different. There are many things throughout the play that are symbolic and very important to the understanding of the play. Two of the major symbolic things in the play are blindness and binding. Both of these things have a deeper meaning than simply the literal meaning of the words used to describe them. Blindness is used as a symbol to understanding, and is seen as a physical blindness and well as a spiritual blindness with both having equal importance in showing that just because a person can see something does not mean that they understand what they are seeing or what they are supposed to see. The binding is used to help show that the prophecies of the gods will be fulfilled regardless of what man does to try and stop them. The physical binding is used to symbolize that regardless of what types of interventions are implemented, some things are just destined to be. These symbolic meanings are what make this play such an intriguing and memorable one. The first of the two symbolic things is blindness, which is used as a symbol to understanding. There are many references throughout the play about sight, seeing, blindness, and vision. Even though all of these words can essentially refer to the physical sight created by the human eyes, that is not what all of these words refer to in the play. Teiresias was a man who was physically blind and unable to see the things around him through his eyes, however when it comes to spiritual sight he could see everything clearly. Teiresias understood everything that had happened and he warned Oedipus that he did not want to know who killed his father, but Oedipus kept prying. Oedipus was the exact opposite of Teiresias when it came to blindness because Oedipus was able to physically see but was blinded spiritually as he was unable to see the truth of his life. Once everything became clear to Oedipus, he blinded himself physically by gouging out his own eyes because he was ashamed of the things that he had done. He did not like the truths that had been unveiled and he made himself physically blind after he gained his spiritual sight. Wilkie and Hurt) The second of the two symbolic things is binding. As an infant, Oedipus’ feet were literally pierced and bound together by his parents, and he was sent away to be killed. His parents did this because it had been prophesied that he would someday kill his father and sleep with his mother. However, he was not killed, but he was taken in by another family who r aised him. The physical binding of his feet left a permanent scar on him and it caused him to walk with a limp when he grew up, and it also played a large role in how he came to get his name. The binding has more than just a physical meaning though. It can also be looked at as if he was bound to the fact that he would kill his father and fulfill the things that had been prophesied by the gods. Even though his parents had tried to stop destiny by having their child sent away to be killed, in a way it seems as if they actually enabled the prophecy to be fulfilled. If Oedipus had known that it was his father that he met at the crossroads, then he probably would not have killed him. Likewise, if he had known that his mother was the prize for solving the riddle, then he probably would not have accepted the challenge or the prize. All of the people, including Oedipus, were bound to the predictions of the gods and there was nothing that any of them could do to change it. The scars on Oedipus’ feet were symbolic of being bound to the prophecy and the scars were what allowed the truth of who he really was to be proven to be true. (wikipedia. org) The symbolism throughout the play is what makes the play so memorable. Sophocles did not need to have a blind man be the one who revealed to Oedipus the truth of who murdered his father, but the fact that the man was blind simply makes the story that much better. He was blind only in the physical manner, while Oedipus was blinded spiritually. It offers the thought that just because one can see with their eyes does not mean that they are actually looking at the information right in front of them. A person may have perfect vision and be completely blinded to the truths of their being or their surroundings. The symbolism of the binding is also an important one because it shows that some things are destined to happen regardless of what interventions are utilized. The same story could have been told without the different symbolisms but it would most definitely not e the same. It may have had the same story line and the same outcome as far as who the characters were and what they did, but the meaning behind the story would have been lost. Stories with symbolism generally pull people in and tend to engrave on their memory the meaning behind it. Without symbolism this would simply be a story with far less meaning. Wilkie, Brian, and James Hurt. Lite rature of the Western World Volume I: The Ancient World Through the Renaissance. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001, 1997, 1992. Print â€Å"Oedipus the King. † Wikipedia. org. n. p. n. d. Web. 30 Sept. 2011

Chalchiuhtlicue - Aztec Goddess of Rivers and Oceans

Chalchiuhtlicue - Aztec Goddess of Rivers and Oceans Chalchiuhtlicue (Chal-CHEE-ooh-tlee-quay), whose name means She of the Jade Skirt, was the Aztec goddess of water as it collects on the earth, such as rivers and oceans, and so was considered by the Aztecs the patroness of navigation. She was one of the most important deities, as protector of childbirth and newborns. Chalchiuhtlicue was linked to the rain god Tlaloc, in some sources as his wife and feminine counterpart. In others, she is Tlalocs sister and some scholars suggest she was Tlaloc himself in a separate guise. She was also associated with the Tlaloques, Tlalocs brothers or perhaps their children. In some sources, she is described as the wife of the Aztec god of fire god Huehueteotl-Xiuhtecuhtli. She is also associated with different mountains in different Aztec communities. All rivers come from the mountains in the Aztec universe, and the mountains are like jars (ollas) filled with water, that spring from the womb of the mountain and wash down to water and protect the people. A Watery Rule According to the Spanish conquistador and priest Fray Diego Duran, Chalchiuhtlicue was universally revered by the Aztecs. She governed the waters of the oceans, springs, and lakes, and as such she appeared in both positive and negative guises. She was seen as a positive source who brought full irrigation canals for growing maize  when she was associated with the corn goddess Xilonen. When displeased, she brought empty canals and drought and was paired with the dangerous snake goddess Chicomecoatl. She was also known for creating whirlpools and big storms making water navigation tricky. She was also the goddess who ruled over and destroyed the previous world, known in the Aztec mythology as the Fourth Sun, the Mexica version of the Deluge Myth. The Aztec universe was based on the Legend of the Five Suns, which said that before the current world (the Fifth Sun), the various gods and goddesses made four attempts to create versions of the world and then destroyed them in order. The fourth sun (called Nahui Atl Tonatiuh or 4 Water) was ruled by Chalchiutlicue as a world of water, where fish species were marvelous and abundant. After 676 years, Chalchiutlicue destroyed the world in a cataclysmic flood, transforming all the humans into fish. Chalchiuhtlicues Festivals As the partner of Tlaloc, Chalchiuhtlicue pertained to the Aztec group of gods supervising water and fertility. To these deities was dedicated a series of ceremonies called Atlcahualo, which lasted the entire month of February. During these ceremonies, the Aztecs performed many rituals, usually on the mountain tops, where they sacrificed children. For the Aztec religion, the tears of children were considered good omens for abundant rain. The festival month of February dedicated to Chalchiuhtlicue was the sixth month of the Aztec year called Etzalcualiztli. It took place during the rainy season when the fields were beginning to ripen. The festival was conducted in and around the lagoons, with some objects ritually deposited within the lagoons. The festival involved fasting, feasting, and auto-sacrifice on the part of the priests, and the human sacrifice of war captives, women, and children some of which were dressed in the costume of Chalchiuhtlicue and Tlaloc. Offerings included maize, the blood of quail birds and resins made of copal and latex. Children were also sacrificed to Chalchiuhtlicue at the height of the dry season just before the rains were due; during the festivals dedicated to Chalchiuhtlicue and Tlaloc, a young boy would be sacrificed to Tlaloc on a mountaintop outside of Tenochtitlan, and a young girl would be drowned in Lake Texcoco at Pantitlan, where whirlpools were known to occur. Chalchiuhtlicues Images The goddess Chalchiuhtlicue is often illustrated in the pre-Columbian and colonial period books called codices as wearing a blue-green skirt, as her name illustrates, from which flows a long and abundant stream of water. Sometimes new-born children are portrayed floating in this water flow. She has black lines on her face and usually wears a jade nose-plug. In Aztec sculpture and portraits, her statues and images are often carved out of jade or other green stones. She is occasionally shown wearing Tlalocs mask. The allied Nahuatl word chalchihuitl means drop of water and sometimes refers to jade. The word is also used in connection with Tlalocs goggles, which may themselves be a symbol of water. In the Codex Borgia, Chalchiuhtlicue is wearing a serpent headdress and dress ornaments with the same markings as Tlaloc, and her half-moon nose ornament is the serpent itself, marked with stripes and dots. Sources Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst. Almere Read K, and Gonzalez JJ. 2000. Mesoamerican Mythology: A Guide ot the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs of Mexico and Central America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Berdan FF. 2014. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press.Brundage BC. 1983. The Fifth Sun: Aztec Gods, Aztec Worlds. Austin: University of Texas Press.Carlson JB. 2015. The Maya Deluge Myth and Dresden Codex Page 74. In: Dowd AS, and Milbrath S, editors. Cosmology, Calendars, and Horizon-Based Astronomy in Ancient Mesoamerica. Boulder: University Press of Colorado. p 197-226.Garza Gà ³mez I. 2009. De Calchiuhtlicue, Diosa de rà ­os, lagunas y manantiales. El Tlacuache: Patrimonio de Morelos 2009:1-4.Heyden D. 1983. Water symbols and eye rings in the Mexican codices. Indiana 8:41-56.Leon-Portilla M, and Davis JE. 1963. Aztec Thought and Culture: A Study of the Ancient Nahuatl Mind. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.Taube K. 1993. Aztec and Maya Myths. Fourth Edition. Universi ty of Texas Press, Austin, Texa.s Van Tuerenhout DR. 2005. The Aztecs. New Perspectives, ABC-CLIO Inc. Santa Barbara, CA; Denver, CO and Oxford, England.

Central American Economy essays

Central American Economy essays In this paper, I will discuss about Central American economy using dependency theory. I will talk about the problems of being heavily dependent on traditional agricultural exports and maquila industry exports to the United States. Then I will suggests an alternative to export oriented economic development model. I will briefly go through Central American history and current situation, listing some problems and potential problems. To emphasize the problems, I will talk about my own experiences in Costa Rica, using "Garan" to explain maquila factory. Then I will suggest some alternative models of growth and suggest what is needed to be done. For comparison, I used Central Americas data and Japans data. Because Japan is a small country with limited resources, similar to Central American countries, Central America can learn a lot from Japan. Also I included some opinions and information from a person from the area. Central America is a region relatively untouched by the United States and other developed countries. Still its development is heavily influenced by the United States because to achieve the rapid development, Central America needs to listen to other developed countries or they would not receive any aid and other form of supports. IMF and World Bank have not really done any work in Central America because they have not seen the potential growth in this region. One critical fact about achieving steady long term growth is that a country must have a strong and steady government that citizens follow, and can retain peace. Without a strong government, any growth is fragile and a crisis awaits when a problem comes up. When talking about growth and development of one country, one needs to look at the overall economic growth as well as types of growth that this country is having. There are three important facts in order to achieve development of one country. First, the country should strive to achieve independence and...

Bibliography Annotated Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Annotated Bibliography Example This essay will discuss John F Kennedy as one of the widely known international figures who fought for social justice fearlessly. John F Kennedy is one of the most mythologized figures in contemporary American history who was known for his debonair good looks, oratory skills and charismatic persona. Kennedy is also termed as one of the 20th century’s most memorable presidents who left a legacy that continues to enjoy the spotlight up to date. He was born in a rich, Irish-Catholics family that was connected to politics (Pascale 60). He and his eight siblings enjoyed a privileged childhood of elite private schools, sailboats, servants, and summer homes even though he used to suffer frequent serious illnesses during his childhood and youth (Bryant 28). Despite health challenges, Kennedy strove to make his own way whereby he wrote one of the best-selling books while still at Harvard and volunteered for hazardous combat obligation in the Pacific during World War II. Serving in the World War II made Kennedy a hero after which he quitted and worked as journalist for a short spell, and later entered into politi cs where he served in the House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953 and the Senate from 1953 to 1961. John F Kennedy become the president of the United States of America during some of the most tumultuous years of the 1960’s civil rights movement that was led by renowned civil rights activists like Dr Martin Luther King Jr (Dudziak 58). Civil right movement was fighting for equality for persons of African-American origin and Kennedy give the movement an ample support. As a matter of fact, many admirers think of Kennedy in terms of his youthful vibrancy, his popularity amongst the people and his commitment to social justice, especially for African-Americans. He was elected as the US president in 1960 partly

To what extent has globalisation changed the nature of work Essay

To what extent has globalisation changed the nature of work - Essay Example Globalisation refers to spread as well as connectedness of communication, technologies, and production across the world. This spread has encompassed the interplay of cultural and economic activities. Some people argue that globalisation entails the efforts of World Bank and international Monetary Fund to create a global market, which will ensure the free flow of goods and services.  Because of globalisation, the interdependence and connectivity of the world’s businesses and markets has become a reality. In the last two decades, globalisation has witnessed a dramatic alteration, with advances in technology making it possible for people conduct international business, communicate, and travel. Some scholars argue that the principal driving forces of globalisation in the recent past include the rise of the internet, as well as the massive advancements in telecommunications. This has seen the alternation and numerous changes in the nature of work (Morgan 2001, p. 33). This essay supports the argument that globalisation has indeed brought many changes in the nature of work. In the first part of the essay, the impact of globalisation on the nature of work at the macro level and the broad context will be analyzed. In the second part, the essay will discuss how globalisation has affected the nature of work through communication and transport. Thirdly, the essay will look into the impacts of globalisation on the nature of work in terms of employment, trade unions, as well as traditional industries. Further, the essay will focus on the impacts of globalisation on human resources, working conditions in developing countries, and the impacts on human work. The impact of globalisation on the Macro level One of the changes brought about by globalisation in the nature of work includes the impact of globalisation at the macro level. In the global context, the intensification of social relations across the world has linked distant localities. As a result, the local event s borrow much from the events taking place worldwide. At the macro level, the arena of work has witnessed numerous changes as a result of globalisation. Globalisation has interlinked the world economy; this has had impacts on the mobility of labour and capital. With globalisation, it has become possible to move capital from one place to another. Likewise, globalisation has affected the mobility of labour across the world. This has led to the emergence of new jobs in places where they never existed. In addition, the movement of capital has led to the introduction of new industries, which have changed the work done in such places (Morgan 2001, p. 35). Another change of globalisation on the nature of work is that it has led to changes in the global exchanges, especially in the arena of financial exchanges and world trade. This has resulted to the acceleration in the liberalisation and deregulation of trade, which has been aided by transfers of capital and currency exchange. Internation al trade has opened up the market to market forces; this has seen the reduction in tariffs, control of exports and imports, as well as other means of protection. Consequently, this has affected the nature of work done by the people across the world. States have also weakened their regulations, leading to an increase in market competition. As a result, traders have had the opportunity to change the nature of work since they can deal in goods, which their countries do not produce (Morgan 2001, p. 36). Globalisation has also altered the nature of work with the rise in the number of multinational corporations acting worldwide. With little reference to national boundaries, multinational corporations have organized themselves. As such, they have designed

Choose two (2) activities from the list of seven (7) reflective, Assignment

Choose two (2) activities from the list of seven (7) reflective, analytical and experiential activities presented below. Each ac - Assignment Example I am a resident of United States and have gone to China for my job in a multinational company. There I have experienced a different culture altogether, which does not match with the culture of China. At first I was very much excited to embrace a new culture but slowly I understood that it is very stressful to get adapted and embrace a totally new culture. The first problem that was faced by me was the communication problem. But what really made me survive in the new country and saved me from my work and personal life complications, is the Zen meditation. I first came to know about the practice when one day a meditation class was arranged for the team members of the company. The meditation concept was decided by our employer, who understood our stressful condition and gave us the opportunity to improve our mind state and concentrate on our work. I was very much excited about the concept as I have never experienced such classes. The meditation class was held after the working hours. Af ter attending the class I liked the whole concept of the activity and was very much interested to know more about the activity (Thorby, 2011). Analysis Zen meditation is developed within the Japanese Zen Buddhism. The Zen practice is very effective to human body as it provides deep relaxation both physically as well as mentally. The meditation connects us with the subconscious part of our mind and assists us to link with our consciousness with the inner world of our mind. Thus, the practice helps us to connect with the inner garden of our mind in time and reduce stress to give us easiness. It takes us to that level where we can reduce our daily tension in our work and non-work life. When we are contended with our action, behavior and have reduced stress that we are going through, we improve our connection with the outside world. This increases the joy and vitality of our life and makes us more creative. This will increase the vitality and joy of our life and makes us concentrate on the creativity. The regular practice enhances and strengthens the self concentration, brings improvement in the balance of our body and helps to increase our mental strength. It assists in integrating those parts of our body, which has blocked vitality and perception that provides us with safer platform in life. The meditation practice mainly focuses on the central part of our body and mind. The practice is very easy and can be exercised easily be practiced without having any religious inclinations. The concept was first developed in Soto School and in this school Zen means sitting. The practice is also called ZaZen which gives us the meaning true sitting (Stevenson, 2012). It is totally a new culture to me and following the Soto tradition and meditating in the same way as they do is quite impossible if not practiced well. We all know that as an instrument of feeling and perception, our body is the main focus of our mind. If our body is relaxed we are bound to stay happy. Any type o f stress or tension disturbs our relaxed minds and thus it also harms our thought process and thus we become irritated very fast. Thus, it is very important to make our body relaxed, so that it does not affect our mind and thought process. Another critical activity of our body is breathing and apart from body it is

To avoid running late Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

To avoid running late - Essay Example 23-29) have pointed out that majority of people remember 50% of the things that they observe; however, one remembers 70% of the things if it involves observing, as well as, loud reading. From this aspect, it is very imperative to plan things before commencing a day, or for a week that helps an individual in avoid running late. However, although one will be writing the plan by himself/herself, still, it is significant that this practice includes loud reading that is fundamental for remembering things efficiently. Besides planning, ‘move ahead’ is an interesting slogan that can be very helpful in managing time effectively. It is a usual practice of keeping the alarm clock near the bed that may allow the individual to hit the snooze button; however, move ahead inclines a person to keep the alarm clock far away of the bed that will enforce the individual to go & find out the clock, and until then, there would be no sleep left amusingly. Lastly, it is imperative to keep notice of every day habits from shower to breakfast, and such observations allow individuals to divide their ten or twenty minutes in effective

A Code of Ethics for Corporate Code of Ethics Essay

A Code of Ethics for Corporate Code of Ethics - Essay Example In fact, responsibility and respect toward those in need of help may simply disappear if people disregard universal codes of conduct and are driven by personal prejudices. Nevertheless, caring for and participating with people of different tastes and identities would jump-start an upward trend of a company’s reputation. There are several reasons why it works. First, genuinely human intentions coming from a company make people more devoted to it. Second, consumerism is driven by people’s choices. Third, being ethical complements universal tendency for goodness, though it makes companies grow rich. In accordance to my workplace dilemma, it was essential for me to take the right part in the situation. Racial profiling is impossible when talking about code of ethics in medicine. Otherwise, the universal codes of ethics among paramedics would fail to be true. Egocentricity and biases are those drives which influenced the law enforcement and my partner. As I see, sociocentric thought fulfilled their narrow-minded vision of the situation (Paul & Elder, 2006). It appeared for them to be of rationality not to take care of the man bleeding from his neck. However, I disregarded this viewpoint, even though it was predominant at that time, and refused such a self-serving perspective going apart from ethnical minorities. As a result, it was a good a chance to improve, since the man had positive consequences after we provided him with a medical care.

Learning management system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Learning management system - Essay Example Educational and industrial applications are the most common classes of learning management systems. The educational learning management systems allow education institutions to manage several online courses with the use of an interface and set of resources. An academic learning management system is designed to provide instructor-led courses and facilitate forums as well as interactions between learners and instructors or fellow learners. Learners complete class assignments and turn them to markers or instructors for grades or feedback – which are reserved in a grade book within the learning management system. The learning institutions see the learning management system as either a system for information technology or academic affair. The major academic learning systems include e-learning courseware, personal learning environment, and course management system. These systems create a class roster, control registration processes, upload and manage documents with curricular content, and deliver course content through web-based interfaces. They also create and publish course cale ndars, and allow interactions and discussion forums (Tumbleson 22). In the business organizations, the learning management system forms an integral part of Human Resources especially in the management of the training delivered to employees. Such training may include the compliance training and professional development training to increase employees’ awareness and manage their talent and skills. The industrial learning management system delivers training modules that are not instructor-led and no discussion forums to allow interaction with others. The systems help to track users during the training and report which modules they have or not completed. They facilitate employees learning and skills development to ensure that they are certified and compliant with the current regulations. Further, the systems provide methods of testing and assessment,

To avoid running late Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

To avoid running late - Essay Example 23-29) have pointed out that majority of people remember 50% of the things that they observe; however, one remembers 70% of the things if it involves observing, as well as, loud reading. From this aspect, it is very imperative to plan things before commencing a day, or for a week that helps an individual in avoid running late. However, although one will be writing the plan by himself/herself, still, it is significant that this practice includes loud reading that is fundamental for remembering things efficiently. Besides planning, ‘move ahead’ is an interesting slogan that can be very helpful in managing time effectively. It is a usual practice of keeping the alarm clock near the bed that may allow the individual to hit the snooze button; however, move ahead inclines a person to keep the alarm clock far away of the bed that will enforce the individual to go & find out the clock, and until then, there would be no sleep left amusingly. Lastly, it is imperative to keep notice of every day habits from shower to breakfast, and such observations allow individuals to divide their ten or twenty minutes in effective

Learning management system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Learning management system - Essay Example Educational and industrial applications are the most common classes of learning management systems. The educational learning management systems allow education institutions to manage several online courses with the use of an interface and set of resources. An academic learning management system is designed to provide instructor-led courses and facilitate forums as well as interactions between learners and instructors or fellow learners. Learners complete class assignments and turn them to markers or instructors for grades or feedback – which are reserved in a grade book within the learning management system. The learning institutions see the learning management system as either a system for information technology or academic affair. The major academic learning systems include e-learning courseware, personal learning environment, and course management system. These systems create a class roster, control registration processes, upload and manage documents with curricular content, and deliver course content through web-based interfaces. They also create and publish course cale ndars, and allow interactions and discussion forums (Tumbleson 22). In the business organizations, the learning management system forms an integral part of Human Resources especially in the management of the training delivered to employees. Such training may include the compliance training and professional development training to increase employees’ awareness and manage their talent and skills. The industrial learning management system delivers training modules that are not instructor-led and no discussion forums to allow interaction with others. The systems help to track users during the training and report which modules they have or not completed. They facilitate employees learning and skills development to ensure that they are certified and compliant with the current regulations. Further, the systems provide methods of testing and assessment,

National Buy Nothing Day Essay Example for Free

National Buy Nothing Day Essay ​A hard-working, single mother receives her pay-check that to her horror reads a measly $225.30. She doesnt use the money for her, instead she uses that money to care for her two children, she needs to pay the rent, and the electricity but her kids need food to grow. As she heads to the bank to cash the check she passes the neighborhood local store and no cars are outside and the light are dim. Nothing comes to her mind as to what seems different, she proceeds to head over to the bank, and notices that there is no clerks and no long lines? So many things run through her mind so she parks her beat-down car, that clanks and rattles. As she becomes even more worried there is a bright white paper that reads, Due to the over-consumption rates, the government has issued a National Buy Nothing Day, we are sorry for any inconviences. Her world is instantly shut down and she becomes scared as to how she is going to feed her children. This is exactly what I fear will happen if a National Buy Nothing Day is issued, so in my opinion, a National Buy Nothing Day would be a bad idea. ​A National Buy Nothing Day would become a huge inconvenience to many people over the world. Many people in the United States work minimum wage jobs and have a family to care for. 75% of the population works pay check to pay check just to give the basics to their family, and majority of the money is spent on food that they hope will last them the whole month until they are paid again. Sadly, more times than you would like to see parents unhealthy and always tired because they put their children before themselves, and what if the National Buy Nothing Day just so happened to fall on pay day. The heartbreak that would radiate from the couple, and the worry that rushes through their mind as to how they are going to feed their kids tonight and when t hey are going to be able to come back and cash that paycheck? Now that the parents view is shown, imagine the reaction of the kids that come home and see that there is no food on the table and the have to be told from their parents tha t they have to go to sleep hungry tonight. Thats heartbreaking for anybody, and everybody. ​Along with an inconvenience to many Americans, a National Buy Nothing Day would hurt the life of a teenager, very significantly. Teenagers  are the main percentage of individuals that add to the rate of over-consumption. Even though they are the big spenders in this era, they often rely on the quick stops to help them proceed with their school day. 8 out of 10 teenagers have a car in high school and with having a car comes a huge cash flow. Many teens can barely wake up in time to go to school and this often leads to them not eating, and scientists have proven that this can greatly affect their performance with anything they do in the day. So they make a quick stop at either McDonalds, or in New Mexico Blakes Lotaburger for a quick burrito, so they can eat something to fuel their bodies for the day. High school athletes rely on eating more than anyone, because they need that fuel to burn off, either at their zero-hour basketball practices or their afternoon football practice. So, the Buy Nothing Day would send these athletes hungry to school and the only thing they will eat is their lunch, and with starting school at 7:00 and not even eating until 12:00, thats a 5 hour long span of lacking concentration in class. ​Medication is more times than others bought on a daily for many individuals with medical problems and the vast majority of this is children. 30% of individuals die annually because of lack to medications that can save them, and 10% of them are children. Thats almost half the percentage! Children are more venerable to illnesses and harsh sickness than adults due to the fact that their bodies are still developing. What if on the National Buy Nothing Day that one child that has for instance, epilepsy, runs out his precious medication that prevents seizures. At any moment in the day he could experience pain in their head and in a blink of an eye, they are having a seizure. On the daily, 2/3 children die a day from seizures and helpful medication prevents this from ever happening. How must it feel for a mother to know that you cant go and buy your child medication because the government just shut down all stores for a day that may open the eyes to consumers? Anxiety that passes th rough mother knowing their child is at any time vulnerable to a life-taking illness. ​Of course, many feel differently. One argument cited by many others is that a National Buy Nothing Day would open the over spending ways of many Americans. Yes, maybe this all we need to open our eyes but would just like other events that were supposed to help us, more times than others we just go back to our old ways. Like for instance, in the time of The Great Dust Bowl, Farmers were  plowing heir fields non-stop and destroying the once fertile land. Then once the Dust Bowl came wiping out anything that was in its way, Farmers soon realized that their ways were in desperate need of reform, but what happened again? Farmers were back to their old ways and doing what they just did before. Its the mind of the American people that determine everything we do. Now should it be the governments job to show us our wrongs? Why no! We can say were going to change but do we ever really do? For a national objective to work, everyone has to consent to it. ​Although a National Buy Nothing would open the eyes of many consu mers everywhere, it can greatly impact others in different ways. Like the mother who cant find a way to feed her beautiful, small bundles of joy, or the teenager that cant buy his breakfast for the day, more negatives aspects come out of this than the good.

Advantage And Disadvantages Of Fixed Wings Engineering Essay

Advantage And Disadvantages Of Fixed Wings Engineering Essay Law enforcement agencies have utilized fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts to help enforce laws since the 1920s. This paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts. Take a brief look at some of the missions and technical equipments that are utilized by law enforcement agencies. Look in depth at two of their fix wing aircrafts utilized and how rotor wing aircrafts help save lives and enforce the law. Since 1920, law enforcement agencies have used fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts to assist in enforcing the law. In 2007, data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics showed that large law enforcement departments provided aerial enforcement in the District of Columbia and 46 states. There were 295 airplanes and 604 helicopters being operated, which flew more than 330,000 missions. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/aullea07.pdf The types of airplane that are in use by law enforcement are Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Pilatus PC-12 Spectres, P-3 Orions, Citations, Learjets, Gulfstream jets, King Air 350s and 200s and some larger airliner-type aircraft. Some of the helicopters are the American Euro-copter EC120/130/145, AStar AS350/355N/350 B2, Dolphin HH-65C, Blackhawk UH-60, Maverick, Raven II R44, Cayuse OH-6 and McDonnell Douglas MD 600. The types of missions these aircrafts conduct are surveillance, drug interdiction, fugitive searches, routine patrol or support, search and rescue , personnel transport, prisoner transport, SWAT operation, traffic enforcement, speed enforcement, homeland security, photographic, medical support and evacuation. Both types of aircrafts have their advantages and disadvantages in airborne law enforcement. http://www.kansas.com/2010/08/01/1427779/aviation-sees-growth-in-law-enforcement.html. The advantages that helicopters have over fixed wings are they can land and take off without the need for run ways. Their airfoil shape rotors are like the wings of an airplane, as the rotor spins, air flow faster over the tops of the blades than underneath, thus creating lift for flight. Their unique rotor design allows for them to takeoff vertically, fly in any direction and hover over an area. Their ability to hover provides coverage for ground units and are able to land in assisting in foot pursuits. Helicopters can be equipped with a winch for the purpose of lowering or picking up personnel or equipments on the ground. It is valuable asset in conducting rescues at sea or on mountains, where there is no place to land. Its size allows for maneuverability around tall structures at lower altitudes. manhttp://library.thinkquest.org/J0112389/helicopters.htm. The helicopters are force multipliers for ground units, because they can monitor the tactical environment, give alerts or observe things which the ground units are unable to detect. Additionally, they can respond and cover ground more quickly than ground units. The flight deck of a helicopter can be equipped with multiple electronic equipments. Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) also know as glass cockpit that provides flight and system information to the crew, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera allows the crew to see images created from infrared energy, moving map system show their location, satellite phones provide direct communication, digital video downlink gives real time images, night vision goggles can be used in low light situation, loudspeakers for communication or message deliver to the ground, tear gas dispensers help control crowds, police and aviation radios keep the crew in contact with other officers and air traffic controls . The equipments aboard the helicopters are vital in helping enforcing the law as the incident on the 14th of November 2008, when the San Diego Police Department helicopter used the FLIR camera video to help indict a man for beating another man with a crutch in the middle of the street at night. Without the FLIR system they would have not been able to see the incident happening. http://www.policeone.com/police-products/tactical/night-vision/videos/5954944-police-helicopter-catches-bizarre-street-fight-on-flir-camera On the night of 30th January 2013, a 60 year old captain of the Panamanian cargo ship Gray Shark was having a heart attack. The NYPD police responded to the emergency call and conducted a dramatic nighttime helicopter rescue in New York Harbor. The NYPD harbor medical team stabilized the captain before calling in the help of a police helicopter to airlift him off the ship. A basket was lowered from the helicopter to hoist him up and then flew him to Staten Island University Hospital North where he was listed in stable condition. This rescue shows one of the many advantages that a rotor wing aircraft posses. http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/176246/police-helicopter-rescues-ship-captain-who-was-having-a-heart-attack The disadvantages helicopters have are that they cost more to operate and maintain. A fully equipped helicopter can cost from $500,000 to $3 million to purchase and the flying costs ranges from $200 to $400 per hour. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-30- cophelicopters_N.htm Maintenance, fuel, leasing and financing cost are three times then the cost that of operating and maintaining airplanes. Its abilities to fly lower and hover creates noises that are easily detectable. The capacity of passengers that a helicopter can carry is limi ted and varies from type. The Robinson RA-44 can carry 2 to 4 personnel and others like the Blackhawk UH-60 can carry 11 personnel or the Bell UH-1 that can be configured to carry 15 personnel. The general commercial helicopters in the law enforcement agencies have a flight time of two to four hours, with top speed from 50 to 200 knots and an average range of about 200 miles. The operations of fixed wing aircraft have some advantages over rotor wing aircrafts in law enforcement. They can perform a wide range of missions which requires them to stay airborne longer then a rotor wing aircraft is able too. Fix wing aircraft can carry more payloads and engine performances are great then those of rotor wing aircrafts. Aero surveillance, homeland security, speed enforcement and transport of people or gear are mostly the missions perform. http://www.lawofficer.com/article/patrol/fixed-wing-aircraft-law-enforc They are equipped with a variety of high tech equipments just as their rotor wing counterparts. The cabins are pressurized and allow for higher altitude flights, which enables them to conduct surveillance 5,000 ft to 6,000 ft and not be undetected. The costs to maintain and operate a fixed wing aircraft are cheaper than rotor wing aircrafts. On average per flight it cost about $54 for maintenance and $45 for fuel compared to a rotor wing aircraft. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/aullea07.pdf One example of a cost effective fixed wing aircraft is the light sport aircraft. The general cost of the aircraft is between $60,000 and $130,000 to purchase. The cost for fuel and maintenance is only $50 per hour. They can fly at speeds ranging from 35 to 125 knots which makes them an excellent platform for performing a broad range of law enforcement missions. It can carry up to 500 lbs and travel twice as far as a helicopter. http://nij.gov/nij/topics/law-enforcement/operations/aviation/types-of-aircraft.htm One of the best aircraft that the Custom Border Patrol ha s in their inventory is the P-3 AEW Orion airplane. This is a unique aircraft is integration with the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft electronics and radar system, which allows for it to see surface and air contacts 200 NM in all directions. The aircraft has a large fuel capacity of 60,000 lbs that allows for flight time up to 10 to 13 hours on station. It has a maximum range at low altitude is 2,500 NM and at high altitude 3,800 NM and a maximum average cruising speed of 300 to 330 knots. It can carry a crew of 12 to 21 personnel. The normal crew consists of four systems operators, three pilots, two flight engineers and three maintenance crew members. They work closely with the Navy and Coast Guard to coordinate the location of drug smuggling boats or planes. The primary missions are interdiction, over water operations, surveillance and homeland security. The use of this aircraft between the Jacksonville, Florida and the Texas office have contributed to the capture and seizure of 50 metric to ns of drugs worth a roughly about 2 Billion dollars since 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqCtrB_FZvE The DA42 MPP (Multi Purpose Platform) GUARDIAN is a specially designed aircraft to carrying multi-functional aerial surveillance equipments. The advantage of this aircraft is its extremely low operating costs and its abilities to conduct surveillance operations. The investment in this aircraft pays for itself through the saving in fuel cost. It can operate at a wide range from a minimum of 75 knots to a maximum of 152 knots fully equipped. When conducting surveillance the aircraft can fly for up to 12.5 hours with refueling. At 50% power setting its maximum range is more than 1,350NM. Currently there is no other small aircraft that can match the flexibility of the GUARDIAN. The GUARDIANà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design incorporates hard points located under the fuselage for mounting belly pods and uses a modular attachment approach. The nose section of the aircraft is detachable which allows for mounting nose pods. This aircraft can carry a gyro-stabilized, daylight and thermal video camera, digital aerial cameras and laser scanner, a micro wave up and downlink system with a range of more than 100 NM that provides high quality transfers, satellite downlink beyond line of sight, UHF/VHFradios and a military radios is part of the standard equipment onboard. The GUARDIAN also can operate as an UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or OPV (Optionally Piloted Vehicle) that provide support abilities for longer operation times and if require to operations in regions that are generally too dangerous for manned aircraft to operate. http://www.diamond- sensing.com/fileadmin/uploads_airborne/files/DA42_MPP_web_v290108.pdf http://www.diamond-sensing.com/index.php?id=da42mppguardian Some of the disadvantages of fix winged aircrafts are that they require a runway to take off and land. It takes more time to assemble and brief the flight crew for the type of mission being flown. Conges tions and traffic on the run way may delay on taking off or landing. Depending on the size of the aircraft the pilot or co-pilot are unable to see the other side of the aircraft. They are unable provide ground assistance as their rotor wing counterparts are capable of doing, such as land and assist in a foot pursuit. Unable to hover or perform orbits like the rotor wing counterparts they cannot monitor the tactical environment very well, thus unable to observe or alert ground units of what they are unaware of. This limits their ability to land on ships or areas where there are no run ways. A major tool used for search and rescue that airplanes are unable to carry is a rescue winch. Both fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts have their advantages and disadvantages, but they are both very valuable asset in the mission of state and federal law enforcement agencies in protecting homeland security, defending the Nationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s borders, fight against terrorist and enforcing the l aws of the United States.

Sport Utility Vehicle Essay -- Vehicles, Cars and Trucks

For as long as there have been roads to drive on, Americans have had a love affair with their cars and trucks. Ever since consumers became interested in car design and styling in the 1920s, the car manufactures have invested in innovation to quench the thirst of the American car buyer (Pauwels, Silva-Risso, Srinivasan, and Hassens, 2004, p. 143). When I was young, September was the time of year when the car manufactures showcased the new models, generating excitement and of course new sales. In the 1990s and 2000s, a new breed of vehicle was introduced, the sport utility vehicle (SUV). This was a marketing term for vehicles similar to the station wagons of the 70s but built on a truck chassis. These vehicles were perceived as rugged and capable of being used off road. Since they were considered trucks, they were less regulated as cars and had poor fuel economy. Nevertheless, these vehicles grew in popularity due to their versatility and low gas prices at the time. However, gas prices in the United States increased in the summer of 2003 before declining in the fall of the year to levels that prevailed in the spring of 2003. Gas prices began another increasing trend in January 2004, which lasted through May of that year before beginning to moderate once again. The average per gallon price reached in May 2004 was 39.1 percent higher than the May 2003 average, and the May 2004 average was 22.5 percent higher than the average price reached in September 2003 (United States Department of Energy, 2011) A reasonable expectation is that increases of this magnitude in gas prices would motivate consumers to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicle for their transportation needs. The trend during the 1990s in the United States had been char... ...data reported year over year sales decreases for full size SUVs. Examples of their reporting includes a decrease of sales for Ford Expedition of 33.6%, Cadillac Escalade down 16.3%, and Chevrolet Tahoe down 11.9% (Healey, & Eldridge, 2004, pp. 10). Today, with gas prices hovering between $3 and $4 per gallon, the customer demand for SUVs has moved from full-sized SUVs to the more fuel midsized and crossover economical models where miles per gallon is significantly higher than models sold in 2003, generally offsetting the increases of gas prices. In general, this hypothesis test along with the supporting data validated that there was a correlation between the price of gas and the sales of full-size SUVs by way of increased manufacture price incentives. This correlation could have been used to direct corporate strategies for future models in the SUV market class. Sport Utility Vehicle Essay -- Vehicles, Cars and Trucks For as long as there have been roads to drive on, Americans have had a love affair with their cars and trucks. Ever since consumers became interested in car design and styling in the 1920s, the car manufactures have invested in innovation to quench the thirst of the American car buyer (Pauwels, Silva-Risso, Srinivasan, and Hassens, 2004, p. 143). When I was young, September was the time of year when the car manufactures showcased the new models, generating excitement and of course new sales. In the 1990s and 2000s, a new breed of vehicle was introduced, the sport utility vehicle (SUV). This was a marketing term for vehicles similar to the station wagons of the 70s but built on a truck chassis. These vehicles were perceived as rugged and capable of being used off road. Since they were considered trucks, they were less regulated as cars and had poor fuel economy. Nevertheless, these vehicles grew in popularity due to their versatility and low gas prices at the time. However, gas prices in the United States increased in the summer of 2003 before declining in the fall of the year to levels that prevailed in the spring of 2003. Gas prices began another increasing trend in January 2004, which lasted through May of that year before beginning to moderate once again. The average per gallon price reached in May 2004 was 39.1 percent higher than the May 2003 average, and the May 2004 average was 22.5 percent higher than the average price reached in September 2003 (United States Department of Energy, 2011) A reasonable expectation is that increases of this magnitude in gas prices would motivate consumers to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicle for their transportation needs. The trend during the 1990s in the United States had been char... ...data reported year over year sales decreases for full size SUVs. Examples of their reporting includes a decrease of sales for Ford Expedition of 33.6%, Cadillac Escalade down 16.3%, and Chevrolet Tahoe down 11.9% (Healey, & Eldridge, 2004, pp. 10). Today, with gas prices hovering between $3 and $4 per gallon, the customer demand for SUVs has moved from full-sized SUVs to the more fuel midsized and crossover economical models where miles per gallon is significantly higher than models sold in 2003, generally offsetting the increases of gas prices. In general, this hypothesis test along with the supporting data validated that there was a correlation between the price of gas and the sales of full-size SUVs by way of increased manufacture price incentives. This correlation could have been used to direct corporate strategies for future models in the SUV market class.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sing :: essays research papers

What Do Children Feel Guilty About? Christopher Williams and Jane Bybee of Northeastern University were interested in discovering the frequency of guilt provoking events in adolescents. They wanted to establish proof for the hypothesis that age-related changes in children were attributed to developmental changes in cognitive reasoning. Past research has indicted that children with high levels of guilt are less delinquent, more compassionate, and more academic excitable children expressing less guilt in similar situations. It has been sited that at its best guilt can bring about the aforementioned but is can also be attributed to depression and obsessive compulsive disorders. In this study, there were 240 participants (123 male and 117 female). they were grouped according to grade. There were 85 fifth graders (40 male and 45 female), 90 eighth graders (44 male and 46 female), and 65 eleventh graders (39 male and 26 female). The subjects evaluated hailed form ethnically diverse neighborhoods of the northeast. The racial breakdown of the participants was as follows: 94 Caucasians, 110 African Americans, and 36 Hispanic. The study was conducted in each of the student_s respective classrooms. The students were prompted to share three instances when they felt guilty. The investigators wanted to know the specific incidences which evoked the guilt and the reason for feeling guilty. The three dimensions under observation were the type of situation which had occurred, the individuals involved, and the specific instances which led to the guilty feelings. There were seven situation parameters for classifying the guilt. They are guilt over transgression, of inaction, of neglect of responsibilities, of anticipation, over failure to attain ideals, of inequity, and not at fault. The second dimension included the individuals contributing the feelings of guilt and the third dimension detailed the possible guilt producing incidents (lying, truancy, property damage, et.) Analysis of collected data indicated that the type of situation evoking guilt varied with age and gender. From the 5th to 11th grades, there was a dramatic increase in the percentage of students reporting guilt from inaction, neglect of responsibilities, and failure to attain ideals. It was also noted that females sited guilt over inaction twice as often as male students. Responses of students in higher grade levels mentioned girl- and boyfriends as the individuals evoking feelings of guilt. In the younger students, parents and siblings had a greater impact of causing guilt feelings. Unsurprisingly to me, the guilt-producing incidences most common to the 8th

Finding Scripture: Knowledge, Purpose and Suffering Essay

For Part 1 of this assignment, you will complete this worksheet by finding the Scriptures listed below. Watch the â€Å"Suffering and Death† video located at http://lc.gcumedia.com/zwebassets/courseMaterialPages/cwv101_vpv01GUI.php Please keep your answers brief. Solid academic writing is expected. Refer to the GCU Academic Writing Guidelines in the Student Success Center. Give a brief summary after each passage listed below. Knowledge: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 – writings that those who followed Christ would be accepted by God 2 Peter 1:21 – those that believed, followed what God said Hebrews 1:1 – God taught his people everything  Psalm 19 – Even though God can’t talk back to us, he can hear everything that we speak of. Write 2-3 sentences explaining how the four passages above might shape the Christian worldview: Through all of life’s lessons we have one person to thank and that’s God. He is always there when we need him, even though he may not be able to give us the answers we are looking for he will lead us in the right path. Give a brief summary after each passage listed below. Purpose: Genesis 37-50 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 – God has created a place and time for all of us. No matter what situation we are in, he will always be there for us Romans 8:28-39 – No matter what happens to us God has a purpose for us, and will always show our love towards him Write 2-3 sentences explaining how the three passages immediately above might shape the Christian worldview: Explains to us that no matter what happens in life, God is always there. He will never give us something we can’t handle. He has a purpose for everyone, even though we may not understand it at the time we will make it through. See Part 2 of this assignment on the next page. Part 2 – Journal on Suffering Use the space below to compose a journal of 250-500 words on suffering by answering the following: Describe a time when you entered a prolonged period of suffering and how you responded in body, soul, and spirit. In other words, how did you deal with that time mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually? What did you run to in order to find comfort and to ease the stress and pain of that trial? In what ways did that time challenge, refine, or confirm your worldview? APA is not required for this assignment but solid academic writing is expected. A time where I entered a prolonged period time of suffering was when my grandpa passed away September 8, 2009. I was only 21 years old, and I spent the last week of his life by his side in a nursing home. Grandpa and I were very close, and I cherished every moment we spent together. During his last week my aunt and cousin (whom are witnesses) went over a bunch of different scriptures each night and they would explain the meanings behind them and why they were so important for us to read at that time. The day of his funeral I cried and felt so empty inside until I walked into the church. Even though I cried throughout the whole funeral service, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. It was one of the hardest times I have ever had to deal with. Weeks, even years have passed, we have lost seven more family members since then, and I still can’t overcome the fact that my grandpa is no longer with us. My heart still feels like it has a part missing and it won’t ever be full. I eventually turned to my cousin and aunt down in Tennessee to talk about everything that I was feeling. It helps a little bit but it’s still very hard. One thing that I found myself turning to for the first year after grandpas passing was alcohol. At the time I thought it was going to help me stop feeling the way that I was. Soon I found out that it was just making things worse. So to keep myself busy, and to keep me away from turning to alcohol I started working more, hanging out with friends at home instead of the bars, and I also got back into school. I don’t feel like grandpas passing changed/refined/ or confirmed my worldviews at all. With my aunt and cousin being witnesses, they would talk about the differences with how they read the bible and the Christians read the bible which made me do a lot of thinking on things, but it never changed my worldviews.

How My Creative Thinking in Nursing Care Help Me Solving Problems with Patients in Long Term Care

When we have made a commitment to work with and develop nursing theory, it is important to keep in mind that this activity is crucial to establish scientific foundations in nursing. The first line of teaching and learning in nursing is based on linear thinking, arguing to promote the student's vision of cause / effect when, for example, this is in the process of providing the patient with an anticoagulant for DVT prevention at a patient and requires monitoring by protocol, bleeding adverse effect, or also monitor the heart rate, or blood pressure levels, and heart rate when the patient requires to receive anti-arrhythmic or digoxin. In the latter case, with a retro feedback mechanism, put into action when the resident and blood sample taken to measure the Digoxin level in order to adjust the dose, seeking the drug's effectiveness and thus the patient's clinical stability. During the development of nursing theory, it is important to realize as we are thinking when we find or look for a problem to solve. For this creative thinking plays an important role. Researchers have described various methods of creative thinking among them these three: Evolution: This is a method of continuous incremental improvement. We can gestate new ideas from existing ideas, or seek and find a solution derived from another, obtaining at the end a solution that we would not have imagined from the beginning with a single step. The result will be something totally different to the original. Synthesis: This method of thought goes into action when two or more existing ideas are combined to create a third, new idea. Reapplication: This method of creative thinking comes into play when we see something otherwise stated, entirely new. The key is to see beyond the prior application of any idea or method and thus demonstrate if the other application is feasible. When we encounter a problem in some cases may emerge any negative attitude may hinder and even block our creative thinking. For you I have noticed that, when unforeseen circumstances I get the load of 25 or more patients in the institution where they take care of patients in long term care must run at a faster pace than usual, with proper care to prevent errors but when there is an unexpected situation arises in my mind: â€Å"a situation more, adding to the complex repertoire of tasks to accomplish!. This idea looks something like this:† Oh! Now this? â€Å". If so, at the time of first reaction, I was adding a bigger problem than the situation itself, having to deal with and solve it before continuing with the rest of the investigation of the case. The next question that arises if this occurs I would be: Why am I thinking and / or feeling this? This happens with the patient TH has relationship with his previous medical history? Psychological/cultural context? It has happened before? Why has this happened? Is there any background prior to solve this? At this point I realize that I am involved in an active process of search, first to understand the phenomenon, and then how to solve it. This positive attitude (curiosity) helped me to think creatively. Another attitude that has helped me is to believe that most problems can be solved; all a matter of time, energy and resources. Also, and especially, to attack the problem from the moment when it is detected, since otherwise, can add what I call collateral problems. Even more, I can say that I stay alert not to make value judgments or criticisms that may that may contaminate the process of addressing the problem with my own prejudices, alienate adding unnecessary elements in time and possibilities to solve this problem. References Harris, R. (1998). Introduction to creative thinking; Retrieved from: https://www. virtualsalt. com/crebook1htm. Rapadoupulus, Irena; Omeri, Akram. Transcultural nursing theory and models: The challenges of application. Contemporary nurse. 28(1-2):45-7, 2008. Apr. Editorial. Jennings, BM. Nursing Theory development, successes, and challenges. Journal of advanced nursing

Same-sex marriage research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Same-sex marriage research - Essay Example Recent census data reveal that the number of committed same-sex couples in the United States continues to rise, as does the number of same-sex couples raising children. Legal recognition of these relationships is vital to protecting the emotional and economic well-being of these families. Furthermore, legal recognition must be on an equal plane with heterosexual marriage-'separate but equal' is never equal." (Gomes, 15) In the article, Gomes also suggests why the issue of same-sex marriage is so controversial and the various arguments held by the advocates as well as critics of same-sex marriage. Therefore, Gomes's article has made a central contribution to the understanding of the various issues concerning same-sex marriage. According to the article by Gomes, there are several reasons why the advocates of same-sex marriage believe that it should be made legal. The advocates of same-sex marriage argue that the individuals have the prime right to enjoy their freedom and any attack against the practice should be treated as an assault against their personal liberty. According to the article, "The failure to recognize same-sex marriage and to allow adoption by non-biological life partners results in a harmful lack of legal protections for children of gay parents.

Diagnosing a Need for Organizational Change Case Study

Diagnosing a Need for Organizational Change - Case Study Example In this regard, the disaster that befell the shuttle Challenger provided a strong focal point from which organization within bodies could be viewed. The Challenger broke into pieces moments after takeoff on January 28 1986. Prior to this culmination of events, there had been revealing signs that were overlooked by the bodies in authority. A commission was formed to look into the matter and it filed its report after carrying out its research. In light of the above, NASA made most of the recommended changes brought forth by the commission that was looking into the Challenger disaster. Despite this, the occurrence of the Columbia accident on February 1, 2003 opened a new chapter into the effectiveness of the recommendations, and most importantly, shed some light on the issue of organizational culture that tends to undermine the effectiveness of organizations. Organizational culture is the aspect or custom of workers of an organization tending to carry out their activities in a way that may not be fully recommended, but in their organization, it is the norm (Carnall, 2007). While trying to counter this, models have been set up to ensure the best productivity of organizations. Such is the Burke-Litwin model for organizational change. It aims at bringing change to an organization through the creation of connections between performance and the factors within or without the organization, which has an effect over the performance (Burke, 2010). The model relies upon a framework through which the analysis of both internal or organizational factors and external or environmental factors can be linked together to ensure superb performance of an organization. It links both theoretical aspects and practical ideas to result in the best performance (Burke, 2010). This is done in twelve dimensions each of which caters for a particular aspect of the organization. Therefore, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report and recommendations as put under the Burke-Litwin model wou ld give a better view as follows: 1. External Environment. Following the Columbia disaster, CAIB realized that a number of external factors also indirectly resulted in the catastrophe. Such included such aspects as performance pressures from the public that tended to rush the organization into action hastily. Moreover, the budgetary allocations for the agency proved to be insufficient following shifting national priorities. 2. Mission and Strategy. Furthermore, CAIB analyzed NASA’s mission, and in comparison to the strategy employed to achieve that mission, the two were found not to tally. Moreover, the employees’ perspective was not in tandem with that of the top management (James, 2007). 3. Leadership. CAIB’s report found the leadership of NASA solely to blame for the disaster. It stated that the leadership lacked open-mindedness and could have acted quickly upon realizing that the space ship was damaged. However, this was not done hence exposing the laxity of leadership at NASA (James, 2007). 4. Organizational Culture. The report found out that NASA had come to adopt a culture through which matters were casually schemed through thereby leading to loopholes that provided avenues for such disasters. The foam responsible for the disaster had